The Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School held its Twentieth Graduation Ceremony at the Rodney MacArthur Rey Auditorium on October 21, at which there was a capacity crowd comprising officials, parents and members of the public, who showed overwhelming support for the school and its students.

The 2009 Graduating Class

Facing Our Trials, Emerging Victorious, was the theme of the ceremony at which 78 students of the Class of 2009 graduated. The majority of them will now be available for employment while the others have entered the Sixth Form to continue their studies. They were all congratulated by Minister of Social Development, Evans Rogers, for having shown a good deal of hard work and much success in their CXC examinations and in preparing themselves for the future.

The 2009 Graduating Class

The keynote address was delivered by retired top public servant, Mrs. Evalie Bradley, whose last appointment was Principal Assistant Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office, and prior to that Labour Commissioner and, in earlier years, Establishments Secretary. She said she was moved by the young and intelligent faces which gave her hope that all was not lost for the youth of Anguilla. “You have the ability to make a difference as you continue to chart your own destiny and I dare say you are doing so in a positive way, having reached this far,” she told them. She admonished them that the emergence of a character built on faith, a positive attitude, and moral and ethical fortitude, could only come from within themselves. “Trials in life must be seen as stepping stones and building blocks for a sound character – the bedrock of a genuine successful and victorious life,” she advised.

Mr. Lennox Vanterpool directing the Concert Band

“All of you won’t go off to college or university, but I encourage you to develop and train in whatever area your innate ability leads you,” she went on. “Be the best at whatever you choose to be. Financial, social, political and administrative systems are becoming more complex and dynamic to manage. Good governance and management are now demanding a more advanced level of strategic and critical thinking and so it is my belief that those of you who have the capacity… must position yourselves to fill these voids in time to come. Globalisation is demanding a more competitive generation of qualified individuals and you can make a difference. Set high goals and persevere until you achieve what you want out of life.”

Mrs. Evalie Bradley

Mrs. Bradley cautioned the graduates to be mindful of the destructive consequences of drug abuse and promiscuous and risky sexual behaviour. She pointed to the increasing rate of HIV/AIDS “and the negative concomitant effects on the development of bright young minds and otherwise healthy bodies, and the economic cost of such wastage to our society.”
She hoped that they would cultivate the strength and endurance to face the trials coming their way and to emerge victorious in steering a course “through the turbulent seas of life.”

The Principal, Mrs. Ingrid Lake, emphasised that every student, who entered the school, had a right to graduate but that when a student failed to assume his or her responsibilities, that person forfeited the right to participate in the graduation exercise.

She therefore commended the graduates for assuming the responsibility to follow basic rules and guidelines. “I must also commend you for completing the third leg of your educational journey and I must congratulate you for the successes you have thus far achieved,” she continued. “Undoubtedly, your success can be attributed to your diligence and positive approach, the involvement, encouragement and support of your parents, and the dedication, perseverance and hard work of your teachers. We are proud of you and you ought to be proud of yourselves.”

Mrs. Ingrid Lake

Mrs. Lake encouraged them to embrace unexpected situations as they provided opportunities to learn and grow. “They make us more aware of the potential we have,” she went on. “As you go through life, continue to cultivate the virtue of respect, increase your determination and quest for knowledge and continue to believe in yourselves and the power that God has given you.”

The Principal urged the graduates to assess what was taking place in the society; to recognise that they have a vital role to play and a responsibility to influence their peers in a positive way to effect a positive transformation. “You have a responsibility to embrace and apply the knowledge, skills and attitudes you have acquired to make meaningful economic, political and, most importantly, social transformation,” she also told them “…You have a responsibility to leave this island better than you have found it.”

Earlier the Principal, assisted by other teachers, presented certificates and awards to the graduates. There were special awards from National Bank of Anguilla, Webster Dyrud Mitchell and First Anguilla Trust Company. There were also presentations of the Calder Simon Award and the Chezroy Desouza Award.

Some of the leading persons at the Graduation

Kyle Hodge scored the best CXC results. Kishon Rogers received the Chezroy Desouza Award, which is given to a student who has reformed his life in a positive way. The Most Outstanding Graduate was Shakiem Saunders. The Calder Award was presented to Emmette Thompson. It is an annual award given to a male student who excels both in the classroom and on the sports field.

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