Scholarship Programme has seen its first graduates.

Established in 1996, the programme's purpose has been to "develop and coordinate the availability, direction and funding for the educational resources vital to the future of Bermuda's Insurance industry''.

Its aim is to help develop Bermuda's insurance companies over time by having well educated and prepared Bermudian staff to employ.

Each year, the programme awards three scholarships to Bermudian students majoring in insurance.

It also provides a mentor programme that matches insurance and actuarial science students with young professionals working in the field.

Chairman and co-founder of BFIS Brian Hall said: "This is an ongoing project, and BFIS currently has a further nine Bermudian scholarship students at various stages of their degree programmes.'' Catherine Lapsley, executive director of BFIS, explained that the performance level is great for recipients of this award.

"Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA (Grade Point Average),'' she said. "This can be especially hard when you are doing a double major.'' The graduates were Joyce DeCoute and Rebecca Lindo who both majored in insurance at the University of Hartford and Jaquita Ingham and Shanna Tyrrell who have completed their initial studies at the College of Insurance. All four have maintained a GPA of 3.7 or higher.

As for the future, this accomplishment is only the beginning. Ms Ingham said she will be returning to the College of Insurance in July to start her Masters in Financial and Risk Management.

Ms Tyrrell will also be returning to the College of Insurance and will be working towards her MBA.

Ms DeCoute's immediate plans are to start work at Oil Insurance Limited. While Ms Lindo will be joining Oil Casualty Insurance limited.

Ms Lindo said: "If it wasn't for BFIS, I wouldn't have graduated. It's a really good learning experience.'' Mr. Hall added that the programme "provides internship opportunity during the summer months''.

Summing up the sentiments of all, Ms Ingham said: "We would like to thank BFIS for all their support through the years.'' "These four people represent the evolution of a vision created four years ago to produce young Bermudian professionals for this industry,'' Mr. Hall noted.