Eleven students determined to raise their grades and do better in school are being recognised for their achievements with the Most Improved Student Contest.

Bermuda International Business Association (BIBA) selected the students after keeping track of their grades. The contest was open to Middle school students.

?Some students posted amazing improvements not only in their grades, but attitude and behaviour as well. And we were impressed with every student, whether a nominee or winner,? said local programmes and marketing coordinator, Kristin White.

Tyrone Pedro of Whitney Middle School and Me-Esha Pace of Dellwood Middle School were two of the eleven students with the most outstanding improvement. Tyrone went from having a 68 percent average to an average of 91 percent. Me-Esha had a grade-point average of 2.0 in June which she brought up to a 3.5 in December.

Tyrone said he never tried hard when he was in Middle Two but decided to improve his grades for his mother.

?I didn?t put 100 percent into my work because I wasn?t very interested. I knew that I would be able to improve and make my mom proud,? said the 13-year-old student.

?She?s a lot happier and I?m doing better in all my classes so it?s paid off.?

The programme works with teachers and peers nominating students. Me-Esha said she was happy that she was recognised by her classmates.

?I am going into high school so I decided to get my grades up,? she said. ?Then I entered into this contest and that was a lot of my motivation too.?

The other students included: Janice DeBraga of Mount Saint Agnes Academy; Danielle Furbert of Bermuda High School for Girls; Courtney Lambert of Clearwater Middle School; Asha Martin of Sandys Secondary Middle School; Crystal Smith of Spice Valley Middle School and Idris Smith of Saltus Grammar School.

The eleven students will be spending a week in Georgia next month to visit several universities including Spelman and Morehouse Colleges, Emory University, University of Georgia and Savanna School of Art and Design.

Tyrone said: ?You?re never too young to start looking for colleges.?

He added that he wants to be an entrepreneur and wants to move to the US one day because ?Bermuda is too small?.

Me-Esha said: ?I think it?s right on time to start looking at colleges and seeing what they have to offer.?

Ms White explained that she gave a presentation about attending college and realised that there was very little interest for students to get a further education.

?I wanted to show middle school students the college life. I wanted them to go to senior school, knowing that something amazing awaited them at the end of that road. I wanted them to improve their grades, and get used to that feeling of success and so the contest was born,? she said at the award ceremony for the students last night.

The students received plaques in recognition of their efforts and both Me-Esha and Tyrone said they would continue to work hard in school.