A cadre of Bermudian students were praised for their recent completion of an intensive four-day leadership conference in Virginia.

Fifteen Berkeley Institute and CedarBridge Academy students took part in the PeerForward Summer Leadership Workshop held at the Virginia Commonwealth University.

A Government spokeswoman said the PeerForward programme is based on the concept that positive peer influence is one of the strongest drivers of college attendance and career readiness.

She said: “Research consistently demonstrates that one of the most influential people in a young person’s life is another young person. Similarly, a student’s decision to pursue postsecondary education is strongly influenced by whether their friends also plan to attend.

“Through PeerForward, students are equipped to become trusted leaders who encourage, mentor and motivate their peers towards higher education, career planning and personal success.”

Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, attended the workshops to both observe the programme in action and support the Bermudian delegation.

Ms Furbert told students at the programme’s gala celebration that she was struck by the level of engagement demonstrated throughout the workshop.

She said: “What I found in the room today was engagement, real engagement. Ideas were developing in every corner. I saw teamwork, collaboration, critical thinking and young people planning for their futures together.

“This is the type of learning that truly lands and changes lives. I wasn’t just impressed, I was encouraged.”