A business administration student who has been helping Prospect Primary pupils to learn martial arts has been rewarded with a donation for his education programme.

Kent Bean, who spent eight weeks offering a free kung fu class to students in the Bermuda Education Network’s (BEN) Horizons programme, was awarded a $1,000 stipend by the Continental Society.

Society president Tracey Packwood said: “We really wanted to support Kent in his efforts to help the school and the kids in the school.

“We are very keen on supporting education, so we wanted to give him some money to help support his college tuition.”

Mr Bean said he was grateful for the contribution, and happy to have the opportunity to give back to the community.

“It felt good,” he said. “I think it’s imperative for young people like me to give back, but for me to be rewarded for doing that is amazing.

“I really loved working with the kids at Prospect and I am really happy to be able to help BEN. They have helped me and my family, because my little brother Kentaro is in BEN’s Horizons programme.

“I will never forget the kids at Prospect and I hope to be able to teach some of them again next year.”

Mr Bean began taking martial arts courses when he was a child. Since then, he estimated that he had earned about 117 prizes, including many gold medals in international competitions.

When he came back to the Island in between his studies at Acadia University, he decided that it was important to do something to give back to the community. Teaching kung fu was a natural answer.

“It’s very positive,” he said. “Not only does it teach them how to have more control and be a better person physically, it helps them mentally and spiritually as well.

“It taught me humility and discipline.

“I’d say it played a vital role in getting me through the tough times and making me who I am today.”