Two young Bermudians have been awarded Butterfield Bank scholarships which will enable them to pursue Master's degrees in the Arts.

They are 25-year-old Summer Lani Wood, who receives the Fine Art scholarship, and 26-year-old Chiwun Carlos Smith, who receives the Applied Art scholarship.

"Summer was also our 2003 recipient when we just had one award for $5,000," Tracy Outerbridge, assistant vice-president at Butterfield Bank, said. "It is very gratifying to see her tremendous growth and be able now to assist her through her Master's programme".

Of Mr. Smith, Miss Outerbridge said, "We were very impressed not only with his work but also his drive and enthusiasm to expand his company to hire more Bermudian graphic designers, thus improving he local economy in the long run."

Miss Wood is a recent graduate of Mount Allison University, where she gained her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, with a major in Hispanic studies. She is now heading to the University of New South Wales in Australia where she will pursue her Master's degree in art and design education. This she will combine with a teaching certification to fulfil her goal of teaching visual art at high school level.

Miss Wood is a graduate of the Bermuda High School for Girls, and George School in Pennsylvania, from which she gained her International Baccalaureate diploma.

She is a past winner of all categories of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, and has extensive experience as a volunteer or instructor in a wide variety of community projects both here and abroad. These include Riding for the Disabled, and teaching natural history at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo aqua camp. Her academic career includes many leadership roles at all places of learning she attended. A former member of Mount Allison's Fine Arts Society, Miss Wood was also a co-founder and director of Fashion Expo, a fine arts/fashion fusion project.

She has participated in art exhibitions here and abroad, and is a member of several local galleries.

Her parents are Adela Ruberry and Mark Wood of Sandys parish.

Mr. Smith>graduated from the Ontario College of Art with a Bachelor of Design degree, and founded his own design company, Blotgraphix, with operations both here and in Toronto, Canada.

He enjoys giving back to Bermuda through designing many local products, and also volunteers his graphic design skills to a wide variety of charitable and non-profit organisations, including the Wheelchair Tennis Association and Child's Wish.

The young Bermudian entrepreneur will now pursue graduate studies to advance his graphic design skills with a view to increasing his company's capabilities and providing more provide job opportunities for his fellow citizens.

Mr. Smith is an active tennis player and part-time mentor to youngsters at the Manders Island Tennis Academy. He is a member of the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association, the Professional Tennis Registry (international), Grotto Bay Tennis League, Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club, and the Bermuda Society of Arts; and also enjoys basketball and sailing.

He is the son of Jennifer Robinson and Brent Smith, both of Pembroke parish.