Pictured, left to right: Kalin Griffin, William Sturrup, Gavin Watchorn, Alexia Knowles, Alannah Vellacott, Brandon Jennings, Casuarina McKinney-Lambert

Nassau, The Bahamas - Finishing high school for some marks the end of an academic journey, a time to start looking for a job. For a handful of them however, it marks the beginning of a new journey that prepares them to be leaders in The Bahamas and stewards of the environment. The Bahamian Environmental Stewards Scholarship (BESS) programme is designed for students who have finished High School and are interested in the marine sciences. Those selected to the programme participate in a 14-week course at The Island School living on a sustainable campus, learning about the marine environment, and taking part in on-going research projects. Participants go on to complete a four-month internship with a conservation minded organization, such as Bahamas National Trust, The Nature Conservancy, or the Bahamas Reef Environmental Education Foundation (BREEF).

The scholarship programme has, in the past, received a large portion of its funding from U.S. based individuals and corporations. That is changing. Reaching out for support locally "represents one of the many ways we are actively strengthening ties and building bridges within The Bahamas," said Kalin Griffin of The Cape Eleuthera Island School. "The generous support of Bahamian philanthropists and companies, such as Solomon's Fresh Market will help prepare the next generation of Bahamian leaders to face national issues like renewable energy, waste management, and environmental stewardship." This initiative was apparent last week as AML Foods Limited President and CEO Gavin Watchorn presented BESS with a cheque to support the programme.

BESS scholars for the 2011-12 academic year are Alexia Knowles of Eleuthera, Brandon Jennings and William Sturrup of Nassau, Ann-Marie Carroll of Grand Bahama, and Brian Higgs of Abaco. BESS alumna from Fall 2008 Alannah Vellacott, and BESS programme coordinator Kalin Griffin and BREEF Executive Director Casuarina McKinney-Lambert were on hand to accept the cheque from Watchorn at the future site of the Solomon's Fresh Market in Nassau. The $5,000 donation will support one scholar's journey through the programme and marks the beginning of a relationship. "Our clientele are very interested in supporting programmes like this," said Watchorn of the BESS programme, and the partnership will extend beyond the donation. Other plans include an informational video and collateral materials which will promote BESS inside Solomon's Fresh Market, which is scheduled to open this fall.

ABOUT THE BESS PROGRAMME

In 2007, The Island School launched the BESS Programme targeting the next generation of Bahamian leadership who will be most important for the social, environmental, and economic stability of this island nation. BESS students enroll in a year-long, high school post-graduate programme that includes a semester at The Island School and a six-month internship at a conservation-related organization such as BREEF, the Bahamas National Trust, and The Nature Conservancy.