Character is Key, ABIC Scholarship Winners Told

Hamilton, Bermuda. July 13, 2006

Character is forged in tough times, US Consul General to Bermuda Gregory Slayton told the 2006 Association of Bermuda International Companies Education Awards scholarship winners yeterday.
Mr. Slayton was the guest speaker at an ABICEA Luncheon held at La Coquille Restaurant and attended by ABIC representatives, scholarship winners and family members.
"In the ups and downs in my life, in the boom and bust of Silicon Valley, I have learned there are three things that can help the process of character development - family,faith and friends," he said.
"If you have a strong family whether you are at the top of the mound or whether you are on the otherside of the trough, your family will always be there for you. You have to have friends willing to tell you the truth. And itīs critical to have something beyond yourself to believe in."
Mr. Slayton said he is very supportive of any initiatives to assist aspiring Bermudians in an industry that boasts a vast array of career opportunities. "Itīs excellent to be here with a group of young dedicated students, without hard work and a lot of self discipline, you wouldnīt be here," he said.
"Being smart and being Bermudian is not good enough but being smart combined with hard work, character and integrity is enough to do a great deal in this world. Character is the one asset you can develop and be responsible for and nobody can take it from you."
ABIC-EA Scholarship Committee Chairman and Managing Director HSBC Insurance Solutions (Bermuda) Limited Roy Fellowes said ABIC members raised a record $540,000.00 for scholarships this year.
With this funding, 21 students received scholarships valued at $30,000 to be taken over a two year period and ABIC is also fulfilling second year commitments for 15 students awarded scholarships in 2005.
"This year saw a record number of scholarships awarded to Bermudian males. Ten of the 21 recipients are male (48 percent) and out of the total applicants only 31 percent were male therefore more than half fo these male applicants were considered to be at the top of their class."