BY ABIC
The ABIC Education Awards programme was founded in 1977 and is one of the largest and most broadly supported scholarship programmes in Bermuda, highlighting commitment of the international business sector to Bermudian students. The long-term goal of the programme is to help develop highly trained Bermudians who will return to Bermuda to help strengthen international business, and therefore the entire Bermuda economy.
The awards are supported by more than 50 ABIC member companies and an interview committee of 18 volunteers from donor companies and colleagues in the industry looking to encourage young Bermudians to join the sector.
Over the past 44 years the programme has supported 700 Bermudian students pursuing full undergraduate or postgraduate degrees at accredited colleges or universities. Applications are invited from students graduating from both the government and private sector schools, as well as from students already enrolled in degree programmes.
The scholarship awards are made based on a combination of the applicant’s financial need, academic ability and field of study. Other criteria include the applicant’s awareness of the contribution of international business to Bermuda and their personal level of involvement in and commitment to the community.
The undergraduate award is $15,000 per year for a two-year period while the postgraduate award is valued at $20,000 for one year. Approximately 50 to 60 applications are received from students annually and, this year, due to the extreme generosity of our ABIC members, we are able to award 19 students.
Prior to interviewing, the shortlisted students attend an interview workshop given by PwC HR leaders and each awarded student is matched with a mentor. The mentor is an experienced professional who will provide one-on-one contact, support, knowledge sharing, perspective and wisdom that will help the scholars with their education and career decisions.
Two additional grants were awarded this year to students who have already been selected for an ABIC award. The Michelle Outerbridge Memorial Award is valued at $5,000 and sponsored by the ABIC membership. Michelle was a 2000 scholarship recipient and is remembered for her enthusiasm for life, academic ability and all-round vitality which left a lasting impression on all that met her. This year’s recipient is Nadir Young.
The Shernelle Outerbridge Memorial Award is sponsored by Zurich in the amount of $15,000. Mrs Outerbridge, the late CEO of Zurich Investment Services Limited, was a 1984 award recipient. This special memorial award is a fitting tribute to Mrs Outerbridge’s character and achievements and specifically her contribution to business in Bermuda. This year’s recipient is Andreaz Glasgow.
At the conclusion of the awards luncheon held at The Harbourfront Restaurant, Andreaz had this to say: “I am honoured to have been selected as a recipient of the 2021 ABIC Education Awards and the Shernelle Outerbridge Memorial Award.
“These awards enable me to pursue my university education in New York where I will attain my Bachelors of Business with a concentration in Marketing and Management.
“I am grateful to the scholarship committee for seeing and believing in my abilities and qualities as an individual and a future business leader.
“The granting of these international business scholarships ultimately are investments in our community and our island.
“I like to live by this quote of Winston Churchill, ‘Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.’
“While I never define my obstacles as ‘failures’, I mark my success by my repeated perseverance through adversity.”
