assistance this year.

Education Minister Milton Scott revealed this before handing over some $1.5 million to winners of the Bermuda Government scholarships, awards, and loans at a special reception at CedarBridge Academy's cafeteria.

Sen. Scott also disclosed that he intended to persuade Cabinet to increase the Government Scholarship from $12,500 to $15,000 a year.

Last year the former United Bermuda Party Government awarded students more than $1.34 million.

Eight received Government Scholarships and six won the $7,500 Teacher Training Award.

This year there were five Scholarship recipients: Shawnee Basden, Ty-Ron Douglas, Cherisa Franklin, Zeudi Hinds, and Nadia Wade; six recipients of Teacher Training Awards: Cynthia Adams, Zalika Millett, Candace Richardson, Clay Smith, Da-Von Wade, and Shuaib Worrell; and close to 40 first and full-time winners of other loans and further education awards.

Sen. Scott told the students, their friends and families that the recipients of the awards represented "the creme de la creme'' of those applying.

The Minister thanked the committee members who had the "arduous'' task of processing and interviewing so many applicants.

He noted that many applicants had been frustrated by the lengthy process but, in fact, the awards ceremony was taking place ahead of schedule.

He also encouraged the students to take advantage of the opportunities that attending college would present to them and invited them to come back to Bermuda and contribute to the community.

"Be a part of the solution not the problem,'' Sen. Scott said, adding that the students would be needed in the workplace.

He noted that with the increased presence of computers in society, the Island needed to get back to a more personal approach in life.

He invited the recipients to put the personal touch back into education and the society at large.

Bermuda's best: Some of this year's Bermuda Government scholars and teacher training award recipients are pictured at the ceremony at CedarBridge Academy recently. Pictured, from left, are Cindy Adams, Zeudi Hinds, Shawnee Basden, and Zalika Millett.