Bermudian Laurion Burchall has decided to pay back $54,000 of scholarship funding he received in the early 1990s so that another student may be given the same hand-up to pursue their university goal.

Without the financial assistance of two Bank of Bermuda Foundation scholarships, Mr. Burchall would have been unable to afford to have gone to Brown University in the US to study computer science.

That would have meant he would never have been in the position to accept a job with global computer giant Microsoft in Seattle, where he has lived and worked for the past 10 years.

The former Saltus student has been inspired to give back to those who helped him when he most needed assistance, with the desire that by doing so the money can be "recycled" to help another Bermudian student achieve their dream.

Mr. Burchall received a total of $54,000 from two Bank of Bermuda Foundation scholarships that allowed him to go to Brown University from 1991 to 1995 where he graduated with a bachelors degree in computer science.

While at the the Rhode Island university, computer firm Microsoft visited on the lookout for future employees and this led to Mr. Burchall accepting a job with the company as a software engineer.

"To study four years at Brown University even back then cost $100,000.

"Without the scholarships it would not have been possible for me," said Mr. Burchall, who is now 33.

A recent talk given at Microsoft on behalf of Brown University was the inspiration that made Mr. Burchall decide to return the favour of the scholarship funding so that others might be given the benefit he received.

"The talk was on the importance of giving back and seeing how the help from others assisted in our education and led to us getting a good job," he explained.

"I'd like someone else from Bermuda to have the same opportunity to get the same education and have the doors open up ? giving them the opportunity that I had. I feel it is the correct thing to do."

Mr. Burchall has already paid back a portion of the scholarship money and said he intends to continue to do so over the next few years.

He received assistance through the Bank of Bermuda Foundation's IT Scholarship and Fessenden Trott Scholarship.

David Lang, Bank of Bermuda Foundation director, said: "We applaud Laurion Burchall's generosity in making this donation to the Bank of Bermuda Foundation with the request that it goes towards scholarships for Bermuda's young scholars.

"Certainly, Mr. Burchall has made a unique gesture that hopefully challenges all Bermudians to consider giving back to the very community we have benefited from and assist the younger generations in reaching their dreams."