At Oak Ridge Military Academy in North Carolina, US, Wesley Robinson, Christie Goodwin and Sean Burgess are known as the Bermuda Triangle".

The three students are among eight Bermudians at Oak Ridge, a military school of 215 students between Winston-Salem and Greensboro.

And they have each made names for themselves.

"They are such a strong force at our academy," said Oak Ridge's president, John Admire, a retired Marine Corps Major General, and "among the most respected students on our campus". Wesley, an 18-year-old senior from Devonshire, is the highest-ranking officer in the corps of cadets. He is the first Bermudian in Oak Ridge's 149-year history to be promoted to lieutenant colonel and to become the battalion commander. "Wesley is a confident and compassionate leader," said Lt. Col. James Flanigan, a retired army officer. "He leads by example and is a positive role model for our cadets." Last semester, Wesley was picked for the all-conference and all-state soccer teams. He is also a member of the defending state championship honour guard drill team and a forward on the defending basketball conference tournament championship team. Sean is in his second year at Oak Ridge and is one of four company commanders and is also the defending North Carolina track state champion in the 110-metre high hurdles, and a soccer team letterman. "Sean's sincere and serious leadership style commands respect from his classmates," said Lt. Col. Flanigan. Both Sean and Wesley's decisions to come to Oak Ridge were primarily influenced by Christie, from Hamilton Parish. A senior in her third year at the school, she is a first lieutenant and platoon executive officer - and one of just 32 girls at the school.

"I initially came to America considering a girl's finishing school," said Christie. "It was my mother who was at first more impressed with Oak Ridge than me." She was the one who influenced Wesley and Sean's decisions to attend Oak Ridge. Now, Christie has turned the school's worst platoon into its best, which is now consistently graded as honour unit of the week.

This year, five other Bermudians enrolled at Oak Ridge: Randall Clarke of Pembroke, Jaynae Dillas of Devonshire, Che Edmead of Hamilton Parish, Wendall Santucci of Smith's and Tony Suhartono of Smith's. Randall, Tony and Che are "soccer team stars" and Tony is on the swim team.

Jaynae is a member of the girls' varsity volleyball team and honour guard drill team and Wendall plays in the school band and is a developing small unit leader in his company.

One classmate said the strength and successes of Oak Ridge's Bermudian students "are tributes to the positive values, character and courtesy of Bermuda and its people".

For a military school, Oak Ridge is unusually diverse. The students come from 23 states and 17 foreign countries, including Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

"But it's the young Bermudians who are distinguishing themselves," said Major General Admire.