Bermuda Rhodes Scholarship
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Press Announcement
(See also: Royal College Of Surgeons, 2 May 2012 & Bermuda Sun, 12 April 2012 & Royal Gazette, 26 April 2012)
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The Bermuda Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee is pleased to announce that Ms. Alisha Gabriel has been selected as Bermuda's Rhodes Scholar 2012. Alisha is the daughter of Charlene Gabriel of Paget and the grand-daughter of Corinne and Rendell Tungate of Paget.

Alisha attended Mount Saint Agnes Academy, The Home Education Academy and Bermuda High School for Girls. She spent her final years of secondary school at Academie Ste. Cecile International High School (ASCIS) where she achieved top grades and received an award of merit for her Ontario Secondary School Degree. While at ASCIS, Alisha was elected Head Girl of the Student Council and was named a Global Young Leader. In her role of head girl she founded the Christians in Action (CIA) society, created the first Diversity Day and introduced graduation rings and a new school logo.

Alisha is currently studying at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and expects to graduate in June 2012 with a Bachelor of Medicine, Surgery and Obstetrics. Throughout medical school, Alisha has earned high honours and was the recipient of the Paget Parish Scholarship, the OIL Scholarship, the Montpelier Re Scholarship and the Knowledge Quest/Green Family Scholarships. Alisha was awarded the RCSI Biomedical Medal and was chosen as a finalist for the Dennis Gill Paediatrics Medal. Due to her excellent academic standing, Alisha won the RCSI alumni research grant and conducted research on Solar Disinfection (SODIS) of drinking water for communities in the developing world.

Alisha has held various leadership positions, including Education Officer of the Surgical and Canadian Societies, Executive Committee Member of the Royal Society of Medicine, Class Representative and Caribbean Society Board Member. Alisha is also the founder and president of the first Bioethics Society at RCSI which has encouraged reflection and debate on important ethical issues. She has also written a paper on end of life care which was accepted for publication in the RCSI medical journal.

Since the age of twelve, Alisha has been a keen long distance swimmer and has competed in championships in Ireland, Canada, Bermuda and the United States. She was captain of the RCSI University Varsity Swim Team and represented RCSI in the Irish National University Championships. She has won two medals for her relay events and was also nominated as Sports Captain of the year in 2010. In Bermuda, Alisha was a swimming instructor for Aquamania and was a member of the Dolphins Swim Club.

Alisha's passion for health care has led her to spend five years working as a summer student at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. Alisha conducted and designed a research project, at the hospital, to study the transmission of MRSA through the use of stethoscopes. Alisha is also the Founder and Chairman of the first Bermuda Medical Students’ Society which aims to advise and provide mentorship for Bermudian medical students.

Alisha enjoys music and has been trained by her mother who is a church organist and choir director. Alisha achieved honours in her grade seven Royal Conservatory of Music piano examinations and has also volunteered as a leader of song at St. Michael’s and St. Theresa’s churches in Bermuda. She was also member of the Trinity College folk choir and the RCSI music society.

Alisha has also volunteered her time working with children at Southampton Pre-School, Teen Haven, Bermuda Riding for the Disabled and with the RCSI Reach Program.

Alisha has been accepted at Hertford College and intends to read for an MSc by research in Public Health at the Department of Public Health, Oxford University.  Alisha will go up to Oxford in October, 2013 after completing her internship in Canada.

John C.R. Collis
Clarendon House, Church Street
Hamilton HM11, Bermuda
Tel: 441 299 4910 & Fax: 441 292 9337
Email: johncollis@jexec.bm
www.rhodes.bm