It has only just begun for Berkeley Institute graduating senior Ryan Robinson Perinchief, the winner of this year’s Alpha Beautillion.

Mr Robinson Perinchief, 16, has become the second male student from the Berkeley Institute to win the Annual Alpha Beautillion in the last couple of years.

He was grateful to have been selected to participate in the Rites of Passage programme.

Mr Robinson Perinchief also said he was honoured to be given the opportunity to represent the Berkeley Institute in the Alpha Beautillion event.

“It was an eye-opener for me to see the loads of support and love that I received on the night of the event from my closest friends and family, church family, school friends as well as extended family who came out to support me during the night of the Alpha Beautillion,” he said.

The Alpha Beautillion was an event held on Sunday night at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts at CedarBridge Academy.

Participants were asked to give a five-minute speech on the topic of gaming in Bermuda. There was also a performance component to the evening.

Mr Robinson Perinchief performed a rendition of the song The Revolution Will Be Televised by Gil Scott Heron.

He said the most challenging part of the night was having to recite the lyrics while a video was being played behind him.

Prior to the beautillion there was a six-month Rites of Passage programme organised by the Bermuda Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

It consisted of a series of workshops led by members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the Toastmasters Bermuda public speaking club and the Digicel human resources department.

Participants were also encouraged to volunteer with the Matilda Smith Williams Seniors Residence and mentor young people in the Math Attack education programme at Dellwood Middle School.

At the end of the summer, Mr Robinson Perinchief plans to study abroad in Brazil for a year with the Rotary Youth Exchange Programme.

Through the scheme he will have the opportunity to live with a host family in a foreign country and experience a different culture.

After that Mr Robinson Perinchief plans to further his education by studying law at Durham University in England.

Mr Robinson Perinchief encourages others to take part in the Alpha Beautillion programme, but has a few pieces of advice for next year’s participants.

“I would advise the Beaus to give the Alpha Beautillion your full attention and commitment,” he said. “If you decide to commit to the Alpha Beautillion, give it your all, do it all the way.

“It’s an honour to be chosen by your school, so take advantage of the opportunity, and make sure to give your absolute best during all the workshops and the final Alpha Beautillion event.”

Now that the Alpha Beautillion has come to an end, Mr Robinson Perinchief admits there’s one thing he will miss.

“I will miss the camaraderie that I had with the other guys,” he said. “Win or lose we are all friends, and we got a chance to get to know each other more. At the end of the day we all support one another.”