Seven out of eight of this year's Government scholars were presented with their awards by Education Minister Terry Lister yesterday at the Cabinet Building.

The students, who range in age from 18 to 21, will be attending colleges in the US, Canada and the UK in the upcoming academic year.

Shammah Williams, a 19-year-old graduate of Bermuda Institute, is studying biology at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama, where he is the freshman class treasurer.

Saltus Grammar graduate Zuri Darrell, 18, will attend University of Virginia to study business administration. Zuri, who also attended Berkeley Institute, has represented Bermuda as a member of the Under-17 national soccer team.

Rosita Bassett, a 19-year-old Berkeley and Bermuda College graduate, is currently enrolled in the nursing programme at Hampton University where she is a member of her university choir.

Andrew Robinson, an 18-year-old Saltus Grammar graduate, is currently studying for a degree in business administration at the University of Guelph, Ontario.

Zayna Foggo-Osseyran, 20, is enrolled at City University, London, where she is pursuing qualification in actuarial science. She is a graduate of the Mahindra United World College of India and the Berkeley Institute.

Eighteen-year-old Vanessa Smith, a graduate of Warwick Academy, will attend Queen's University in Ontario, Canada where she is studying commerce.

Arnario Shillingford, a 20-year-old Warwick Academy graduate is studying commerce at McMaster University, in Hamilton, Ontario.

Nicole Mitchell, 21, attended Bermuda High School for Girls and is currently studying computers and information science at Queens University.

Mr. Lister who said he was "pleased" by the achievements of the young scholars.