PHOTOS: 19 graduate from SDA school

The secondary level graduates at the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) School yesterday proved themselves to be a batch of high achievers.

Nineteen students graduated from the educational institution and most were faced with one common problem – they struggled to carry the vast number of individual awards they had received.

President of the North Caribbean Conference of SDA Pastor Silton Brown attributed the graduates’ overall success to the high-quality educators who are teaching at the privately owned institution. He noted a similar trend in Adventist schools worldwide.

“Over my 40 years of watching Adventist education in many parts of the world – in several islands of the Caribbean, there has never been a time when Adventist education is so comprehensively and consistently performing at a high level of excellence as is happening right now. And I’m glad that the BVI SDA school is not behind, and I thank your staff members for the performance,” the clergyman said.

Leader of the parliamentary opposition Andrew Fahie joined in lauding the school for its accomplishments.

He was met with cheers when he noted that the SDA school was home to two Gen-Y Factor winners. They are 2017 winner Shauna-Kay Miller who also is a teacher at the school, as well as last year’s victor Durnel Sanderson who was among the graduates yesterday.

“We have two Gen-Y factors right here! What other school could brag about that? We also have some of the best CXC results here as well… Nothing compares to the BVI Seventh Day Adventist school,” Fahie said while he congratulated the graduates.

Premier Dr D Orlando Smith, in the meantime, said he is proud of the 19 graduates. Among them were top students Sharayah John and Rondel Hemerding, who respectively copped 17 and 13 awards.

“You have completed an important phase in you life… but this is just the beginning. Now the hard work begins,” Premier Smith said. “As you continue in life’s journey, you will be inspired by many things and persons around you. Let me encourage you to draw from those inspirations to fuel your energy.”

Premier Smith then told members of the graduating class to “earn medals, set records, break records, and be the best” in their fields.

The key note address was delivered by Class of 2012 graduate, Kyra James. She told the graduates to allow God to be the source of their light, to invest in themselves, and to trust the timing of their lives.