FRIDAY, MAY 4: A businessman has donated half a million dollars to fund scholarships at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS).
Michael DeGroote, a Bermuda-based Canadian tycoon and philanthropist, has stumped up the cash to fund learning opportunities at BIOS for students from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Two other donors – Dalhousie graduates living in Bermuda – have added a further $100,000 to the fund to create the DeGroote Family and Bermudian Alumni Dalhousie/BIOS Fund.
The ultimate goal is to raise between $1 and $2 million to establish a long-term scholarship programme linking the two institutions.
Mr DeGroote said: “BIOS and Dalhousie University are both doing world-renowned work in oceans education and research.
“We are pleased to contribute to such an important partnership between Canada and Bermuda.”
Floyd Dykeman, VP of external relations at Dalhousie, added: “We are very thankful for the DeGroote family’s and our alumni’s generosity. It will be invaluable to our oceanography students and will certainly strengthen the ties between our institutions.”
Dr Nick Bates, BIOS interim director, said: “This is a tremendous boost for the fund. We look forward to building a robust programme with Dalhousie.”
The DeGroote gift was announced at a lunch held at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club earlier this week for Dalhousie graduates in Bermuda.