ENVIRONMENT Minister Neletha Butterfield had every reason to be more bullish than ever at the graduation exercises for students of CARE, the school she started for computer education 21 years ago in the basement of her parents' home.

The school then was equipped with one computer and an adding machine, and its sole student was a young man who needed help in upgrading his skills.

Now CARE is looking to acquire its own premises, and Mrs. Butterfield has put the community at large on notice that they will be hearing plenty from her in due course as she pursues that goal.

CARE stands for Children and Adults Reaching for Education. As it expanded over the years it moved out of the Butterfield basement at Pembroke West to various locations, including premises as far away as Southside, St. David's. It is now in Hamilton, where students, young and old, from one end of the island to the other can be found being tutored from as early at nine in the morning until late at night.

CARE's main focus now is to give a 'heave up' to individuals who did not otherwise complete their high schooling, to get their GED.

The well-attended graduation exercises were held in the New Testament Church of God in Hamilton. The church's Overseer, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Goodwin Smith, was the guest speaker. Mrs. Butterfield told the gathering how proud she was over CARE's 21-year record of educating the community.

"I am proud to say that a total of 355 students and 150 inmates of the country's correctional institutions have received their high school diplomas; and over 4,500 young people have received computer-assisted instruction," she said.

"In 2002 we were successful in obtaining a contract from the Ministry of Education to assist students with behavioural problems. In doing so,we have met the challenges and are proud to say that although it has been difficult were are proud of each and every one of those students."

There are at present 18 students enrolled in that programme from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Monday through Friday; and there are 22 students ranging from age 16 to 60 in night classes.

Mrs. Butterfield paid tribute to her staff, especially to her administrative assistant Bry-Letha Williams, teacher Yvonne Bean and school counsellor Zina Woolridge and her brother Roger Butterfield and father Charles Butterfield.

She had a special award for Dr. Muriel Wade-Smith for the inspiration received from her in the launching of CARE, and the advice and educational direction given graduates down through the years.

In our photos, (TOP), displaying her Special Achievement Award is Tiffany Trott, accompanied by her mother Linda Trott and uncle Lorin Rubaine. The award was presented in memory of the late Phyllis Butterfield, mother of the founder of the school.

Pictured below is Dabia O'Brien, who sports her award, flanked by her mother Valeria O'Brien, grandfather Kenneth Adderley and friends Terry Furbert and Eula Gibbons.