Saltus graduate Marquis Jones has earned the distinction of being named as the inaugural Bacardi Limited Undergraduate Scholarship Award recipient yesterday at Bacardi Limited?s global headquarters.

?Bacardi?s goal is to ensure more Bermudians have the opportunity to study and become qualified accountants and return to the island where the local economy and businesses will benefit from their skills,? Ralph Morera, senior vice president and chief financial officer of Bacardi said. The annual scholarship and bursary awards provide financial assistance to Bermudian students majoring in accounting at accredited universities or colleges overseas.

The Bacardi Limited Scholarship Committee awarded Mr. Jones, of St. David?s, its annual $20,000 Undergraduate Scholarship Award, renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study.

In addition to the monetary grant, Mr. Jones has been awarded a paid summer internship during the course of his studies at Bacardi?s headquarters.

The Bacardi Limited Scholarship Committee also announced that Germiko Hill of Southampton and Nichole Shaw of Warwick as the inaugural recipients of its two annual Overseas Education Bursaries of $5,000.

These bursaries, which are renewable for two years, will provide financial assistance to these two well deserving students to pursue their undergraduate degrees in accounting at an accredited university or college overseas.

Mr. Jones is a recent graduate of the Saltus Graduate Year programme and has been accepted to study accounting at the University of Pittsburgh in its School of Arts & Sciencesfor the 2006 fall term.

?I have always said I would be capable of succeeding in life and attain my dreams if given the opportunity. By being awarded this most generous scholarship, Bacardi has provided me with such an opportunity,? Mr. Jones said.

?I will use this opportunity to take my education to a higher level and make Bermuda proud.?

?These exceptional students are the island?s future accountants,? Gaston Tano, corporate controller and Bermuda managing director of Bacardi Limited said.

To be eligible for the scholarship or bursaries, students must have completed a minimum one year of post secondary education locally at one of the high schools offering post secondary programmes or at an accredited institution overseas.

Additionally, the scholarship and bursaries will be granted to students demonstrating excellent academic skills, community involvement, leadership ability and acute financial need.

The application deadline for the next review and selection period is May 15, 2007.

For more information on the Bacardi Limited Scholarship Award and/or the Overseas Education Bursaries, contact the Scholarship Secretary, Alana Rogers with Bacardi?s Human Resources & Administration Department at 295-4345 or via email at anrogersbacardi.com.