Russell named Valedictorian for LIS 2009 Class- Lucaya International graduation bid farewell to eleven seniors, this year’s class valedictorian was Shane Russell, a Grand Bahamian who came to Lucaya International School after graduating from Sunland Lutheran School and deciding to persue the International Baccalaureate degree. During the night Shane gave an address to the class and the guests, as he highlighted the class's trials and tribulations over the last two years he summarized “We have learned many things some admirable, some less so, but all are pieces of the puzzle that makes who we are. What determines our futures and our destinies from this moment onwards is not who we are or where we come from but how we choose to apply our experiences and in which endeavors we invest them. While we may not all be destined for fame and fortune, I believe that we are all entitled.” Photo: Franklyn Williams

Grand Bahama Island - Teachers, School Board, family and friends came out to celebrate the accomplishments of the 2009 Graduating Class of Lucaya International School on Friday, May 29th . The Graduation ceremonies were held in Portabellos at Our Lucaya for eleven students, most of whom are headed to colleges and universities in the US, Canada and Europe.

Led by Acting School Director of LIS, Nigel Kirkby, graduation ceremonies highlighted the unique characteristics of each graduate and gave attendees a little insight into the student’s personalities. During the exercise, awards were given out for various subjects. Teachers were quick to note that honours were not always given to the top student, but also to those who worked diligently within the subject and showed consistent interest. Taylor DeVries won awards in History and Visual Arts; Sasha Farah in French, Sabrina Winter in Biology, Alex Romanekov in English, Shane Russell in Chemistry, Spanish and Math’s, Anthony Marrevee in Geography and Marjolein Luijckx in Physics. Sabrina Winter took home the School Director’s Award for her never ending determination and consistent smile.

Pictured is (left to right) Sasha Farah who received the French subject award from her French IB teacher Mirjam Berghuis. Photo: Franklyn Williams

The night also afforded the Head Boy and Head Girl, Taylor DeVries and Sabrina Winter, a chance to bid farewell to their class and school mates. The students gave a heartwarming tale about their last few years together as a class and some entertaining tributes to earlier times and possible futures.

This year’s class valedictorian is, Shane Russell, a Grand Bahamian, who came to Lucaya International School after graduating from Sunland Lutheran School to pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma instead of going straight off to college. During the graduation ceremony Shane gave an address to the class and the guests.

“… High school is an uncertain time in any young person's life and, indeed, forms a significant part of our most important life experiences. It is in high school that we begin to question our place not only in society but in life itself. High school is where we define ourselves for the first time and for most it is a frightening experience. However, as you can clearly see, before you sit not a motley bunch of naive children but a group of young adults who have vision and a palpable sense of success about them,” said Russell.

Eleven Lucaya International students graduated from the school this year. Eight took the International Baccalaureate two year program may afford them advanced placements at their chosen colleges. These students will receive their actual IB Diploma results during the summer, but all have already received offers from well-known Universities and Colleges, including: University of British Columbia, Messiah College, Centre College Kentucky, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, University of Waterloo in Canada, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill and University of Delft in Holland. Photo: Erik Russell

As he highlighted the class’s trials and tribulations over the last two years, he summarized, “We have learned many things; some admirable, some less so, but all are pieces of the puzzle that makes who we are. What determines our futures and our destinies from this moment onwards is not who we are or where we come from but how we choose to apply our experiences and in which endeavors we invest them. While we may not all be destined for fame and fortune, I believe that we are all entitled.”

Out of the eleven graduating students, eight successfully completed the rigorous two year International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. In addition to the effective preparation and study habits they have developed over the course of this program, students will also receive course credit at their chosen college or university. All eight have been accepted to well-known Universities and Colleges, including: University of British Columbia, Messiah College, Centre College, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, University of Waterloo, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.

“It is wonderful to see a group of students who have worked so hard over the past two years develop into a group of self assured young adults” noted Acting School Director Kirkby.

This is the eighth graduation for the school and the fourth year of the IB Diploma programme. Diploma students now have the additional benefit of a newly constructed International Baccalaureate Centre, a 5700 square foot purpose built building which provides an additional six classrooms and a study lounge .

Recently, a successful IB information night attracted many local students. “The success of the last four years proves how well the IB Diploma Programme can benefit students ” noted Kirkby. LIS is the only school in Grand Bahama to offer the IB Diploma and the only school in the Bahamas that offers the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE). “We are still accepting students for the next academic year throughout the High School.”

Before the ceremonies concluded, students were invited to move their graduation cap tassels to the right and were officially pronounced graduates. A formal dinner followed with student’s families, friends and Teachers. Afterward the students enjoyed dancing and taking lots of pictures. The Class of 2009 were jubilant as they posed for a final class picture – and so proud to be graduating seniors.