Madam President,
This morning, I rise before this Honourable House to share information about Bermuda College's recent graduation events and to provide details of this exceptional Class of 2024.
Madam President,
Like most universities and colleges, Commencement represents the culmination and highlight of the academic year for Bermuda College. This year’s Commencement, held on May 16th, 2024, under the big tent on its sports field, featured TikTok celebrity and New York Times Best Selling author of "Baking Yesteryear", B. Dylan Hollis, as the keynote speaker. The Graduate’s address was delivered by Mr. Jon Hendrickson, a Diploma in Culinary Arts graduate and aspiring chef.
Madam President,
There were 98 graduates, with almost 62% of the Class of 2024 earning either merit (GPA 3.0 – 3.49) or distinction (GPA 3.5 – 4.0), including 9 Phi Theta Kappa Honour Society graduates. The Associate of Arts (Business Administration) programme produced the largest graduating group with 19 graduates.
Madam President,
Allow me to share the number of graduates for each program: -
Division of Arts & Science
- The Associate of Arts (Art & Design) – 8 graduates;
- Associate of Arts – 9 graduates;
- Associate of Arts (Early Childhood Education) – 2 graduates;
- Associate of Arts & Science – 6 graduates;
- Associate of Science – 2 graduates;
- Associate of Science (Actuarial Science) – 1 graduate;
Division of Business, Hospitality & Technical Education
- Certificate for Accounting Technician – 3 graduates;
- Certificate in Applied Science Technology – 6 graduates;
- Certificate in Electrical Wiring Technology – 2 graduates;
- Certificate in Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Technology – 2 graduates;
- Certificate in Motor Vehicle Technology – 2 graduates;
- Certificate in Plumbing Technology – 5 graduates;
- Diploma in Culinary Arts – 6 graduates;
- Diploma in Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Technology – 7 graduates;
- Diploma in Plumbing Technology – 3 graduates;
- Diploma in Hospitality Management – 1 graduate;
- Diploma in Wood Technology – 1 graduate;
- Associate of Applied Science (Culinary Arts) – 1 graduate;
- Associate of Applied Science (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning) – 1 graduate;
- Associate of Arts (Business Administration) – 19 graduates;
- Associate of Science (Computer Information Systems) – 6 graduates;
Division of Nursing and Allied Health
- Associate of Science (Nursing) – 4 graduates;
- Associate of Science (Pre-Health Science) – 1 graduate.
Madam President,
Special recognition must be given to the seven dual enrolment graduates who earned their associate degrees and certificates before receiving their high school diplomas. Three full-time Associate Degree students hailed from The Berkeley Institute and CedarBridge Academy, and four full-time students completed Technical Education certificates. Additionally, six College Promise graduates, four of whom graduated with distinction and two with merit, exemplify the success of our support programs.
Madam President,
As a reminder to my Honourable Colleagues and the listening audience, as a means to provide additional support to our public-school students, the College Promise program was introduced in 2020. This program enables any student from CedarBridge Academy and The Berkeley Institute graduating with a 3.0 GPA or higher, to attend Bermuda College tuition free. This initiative has empowered many young men and women, and I am immensely proud of their achievements and future prospects, and I wish them all success in their next steps.
Madam President,
Other Outstanding Award recipients include: -
- Most Outstanding Arts Graduate – Leilani Trott
- Most Outstanding Art & Design Graduates – Alana Frith & Nicole Smith
- Most Outstanding Actuarial Science Graduate – Justine Tuzon
- Most Outstanding Early Childhood Education Graduate – Patrice Pedro
- Most Outstanding Science Graduate – Fabiola Adams [Dual Enrolment]
- Most Outstanding Arts & Science Graduate – Chiaje Rudo [Dual Enrolment]
- The Distinguished Dean’s Award – Chiaje Rudo [Dual Enrolment]
- Overall Most Outstanding Division of Arts and Science Award Graduates -Fabiola Adams [Dual Enrolment] & Justine Tuzon
- Most Outstanding Information Technology Graduate – Logan Arruda
- Most Outstanding General Business Graduate – Anthony Gutzmore
- Best Culinary Arts Graduate – Jon Hendrickson
- Business Administration & Hospitality Dean’s Award for Excellence – Sari Smith
- Most Outstanding Accounting/Finance Graduate – Kahlil Smythe
- Most Outstanding Management Graduate – Shania Wedderburn
- Most Outstanding Plumbing Technology Graduate – Jamere Jarvis
- Most Outstanding Computer & Programming Graduate – Troy Wade [Dual Enrolment]
- Most Outstanding Materials & Mechanics Graduate – Joshua Fleming [Dual Enrolment]
- Most Outstanding Electricity Electronics Graduate – Paulo Aguiar [Dual Enrolment]
- Most Outstanding Applied Science Technology Graduate – Jaysun Paynter [Dual Enrolment]
- Most Outstanding Electrical Wiring Graduate – Zachary Johnson
- Most Outstanding Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Graduates – Damon Mallory & Bradley Adams
- Director of Nursing & Allied Health Leadership Award – Natalie Young
- Excellence in Clinical Nursing Practice Award – Vernalyn Williams-Singh
- Nursing Academic Achievement Award – Natalie Young
- Nursing Impact Award – Georgia Wharton
Madam President,
Congratulations are also due to the five students who graduated with their Bachelor of Business Administration in association with Bermuda College through the long standing partnership with Mount Saint Vincent University.
Madam President, During the evening, the College’s Athora Division of Professional and Career Education (APACE) also held its awards ceremony, issuing 161 awards across 26 different career areas. This includes 37 employees from the Department of Corrections who received leadership and management certificates as part of their succession planning initiative, and 26 students who earned introduction to bartending certificates, many of whom are now employed in the industry.
Madam President,
Several public high school students and graduates were included in the APACE awardees:
- Endeavour Maritime Springboard Programme, Cohort 2024 – 11 students
- Certificate for Nursing Assistants – 9 students
Madam President,
In keeping with the Government’s commitment to supporting Bermudians facing obstacle to higher education, I am pleased to announce that twenty-five graduates from the academic divisions and fifteen students completing APACE programming have benefitted from grant funding.
Madam President,
I ask that you and this Honourable House join me in congratulating the Bermuda College Class of 2024 and the APACE Award Recipients.
Together, they have discovered and followed their path at Bermuda College!
Thank you, Madam President.