The Ross 'Blackie' Talbot Charity Classic (RBTCC) yesterday awarded students a total of $130,000 in scholarships.

There were 14 Bermudian students who won the awards, which ranged from $5,000 to $15,000.

The 2008 awards were granted to nine students and the second awards to five students from 2007 as part of their continuing awards.

Chairman of the organisation, Clement Talbot said: "These funds are awarded to Bermudian students that lack the necessary financial means to continue their overseas education.

"We had a record number of 35 applicants this year and only wish we had the funds to assist each and every one of the students who applied for an educational award."

He said that on a positive side, it gave him great pleasure to advise that the RBTCC was in a wonderful position to assist 14 worthy students this year.

The funds come from the $130,000 that was allocated to the education awards from the successful 2008 Ross 'Blackie' Talbot Charity Classic fund raising efforts.

To date the RBTCC has assisted 20 students by providing more than $200,000 in education awards.

The awards were presented to the students by the chairman of the RBT Education Awards Selection Committee, Senator Jeanne Atherden who said: "The scholarships are the direct result of the overwhelming support the RBTCC received in collaboration from the community, the most generous support of our sponsors and our very successful, 'Monster Raffle'."

The successful applicants were: R. Andra Bassett, Venessa Bean, Terrence Daniels, Shakira DeRosa;

Sharnell Paynter, Tiffany Paynter, Deitra Trott, Robin Tucker and Deneca Zuill.

The 2007 second awardees were: Dominique Anderson, Melissa Haynes, Nicole Outerbridge, Samantha Savoury and Riccal Thompson.