CedarBridge Academy has celebrated the 92 graduates of its 2026 class, including the first students to complete the school’s Signature Learning Programme.

Principal Kenneth Caesar hailed the graduating class as unlike any before it — challenged by a new programme and emerging victorious.

Mr Caesar said: “Four year ago, Bermuda embarked on a new era in education. For the senior schools, it was the introduction of the Signature Learning Programmes.”

He highlighted CedarBridge’s focus on science, technology, engineering and maths trades and professions, adding: “Today, we get to celebrate the students before us who will be the first graduating class to receive a Bermuda Signature School Diploma.”

He said that of the 92 students graduating, 85 obtained a Bermuda Signature School Diploma including two who earned the diploma with distinction and six who received the diploma with honours.

Mr Caesar said the graduates also included five members of the Class of 2025, who had now completed the Bermuda School Diploma requirements, while three students earned a Bermuda School Certificate.

He said that students had been accepted into colleges and universities in the US, the UK and Canada. The majority have decided to continue their education at Bermuda College.

He added: “I started my college career at Bermuda College. Bermuda College to me is the best institution to start and we need to stop judging high school graduates on if they are going overseas or not, and have faith in our own institution.”

Fabiola Adams, guest speaker and the valediction of the 2024 CedarBridge graduating class, said that her time as a duel-enrolment student at both CedarBridge and Bermuda College helped set the groundwork for her educational track overseas.

She said Bermuda College offers excellent opportunities, smaller class sizes and access to lecturers and academic support, urging those who are to attend the school to make the most of it.

Ms Adams, who recently graduated from Howard University magna cum laude, with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry at the age of 20, advised the class to monitor their progress and hold themselves accountable as they move forward.

She said: “There will be times when you have to go the extra mile to achieve your goals. When I decided to graduate in May 2026, which was within my two-year goal, I had to make the choice of simultaneously taking classes at Howard and two other universities.

“Last fall, I took seven classes: five at Howard, one at Georgetown University and one at Catholic University. It was no walk in the park, especially given that I was the only undergraduate student in a class of doctoral students at Georgetown University.

“It was challenging. There were weekends where my friends were relaxing, travelling or enjoying campus life while I was studying, but every sacrifice was connected to a larger goal.”

She advised those pursuing higher education to take advantage of the range of resources available to them, recalling her own need for tutoring in calculus at Howard.

Ms Adams added: “One of the greatest challenges you will face after you leave here is not academic, it is distraction. Do your assignments. I mean it.

“The freedom of university is real. It is intoxicating. The late nights, the social events, the temptation to lay in bed scrolling until the sun comes up — but those assignments don’t care about your social life.

“They will be sitting right there waiting for you, or worse yet, already graded with a zero that just tanked your grade.”

Ms Adams also told the graduates to represent CedarBridge with pride moving forward, stating that the reputation of a school resides in its alumni.

She said: “Each of you today will join the ranks of the alumni of this great institution, which has produced some very powerful and productive people in our community, despite the negative perception held and perpetuated by some individuals.

“You now have the responsibility to change that narrative. I am proud to say I certainly did.”