Two Bermudian students have been awarded places at United World Colleges to study for its two-year International Baccalaureate programme beginning this September.

Bermuda High School pupil Tara Kessaram was awarded the H.W.T. Wilson Scholarship to attend Armand Hammer College in New Mexico, USA, and Warwick Academy head boy Stanley Amaro was awarded a place at Mahindra College in India.

UWC Bermuda Selection Committee co-chair Craig MacIntyre said: "This year we received an exceptionally high number of applicants -- 13 -- from four of Bermuda's secondary schools.

"We are grateful for the continued support of all of Bermuda's secondary schools in promoting UWC to their students.

"All of the candidates were of a very high standard, and on behalf of the Selection and National Committees, I commend them for their efforts and achievements, and wish them every success in their very bright futures.

"We are very pleased to send Tara to the Armand Hammer College and Stanley to India where he will be only the second representative from Bermuda.

"Finally, we must extend our gratitude to our individual and corporate patrons whose continued financial support enables us to provide students from Bermuda with this unique educational experience.'' UWC is a global educational institution which was created to foster international understanding by bringing together students from all over the globe for two years of pre-university education.

There are ten colleges spread through Canada, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Norway, Singapore, Swaziland, UK, USA and Venezuela.

Students are selected by UWC National Committees in countries throughout the world on the basis of personal merit and potential, irrespective of race, creed, colour, gender, family background or ability to pay.

Those selected, study for the International Baccalaureate which is recognised for university admission world-wide and combines a balanced and comprehensive academic curriculum with a community-service requirement.