There was something extra special at the Commencement Exercises of the Class of 2007 of the Southampton Seventh-day Adventist Church's General Education Development (GED) outreach programme.

It was not so much the fact that the graduates received their diplomas from Premier Ewart Brown following his challenging address to the overflow congregation in attendance.

Probably it was due more to the heart-warming stories related about the personal sacrifices and great ambitions of the nine graduates themselves ¿ and, equally important, about the dedicated interest of their tutors in giving freely of their resources in the total effort.

Singled out for special mention by the Premier was Mrs. Margaret Goulbourne. In 2004 she took the initiative to involve Southampton and other SDA churches in Hamilton and the East End in Government's programme. Since then the churches have enabled 160 to graduate with GEDs.

The Premier also thanked industry partners, including Philip Gagle, president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants who shared the spotlight in the pulpit with him, the church Pastor Llewellyn Williams and Mrs. Carol Bassett of the Ministry of Education.

The GED programme functions through Government's Department of Corrections under direction of Mrs. Sharon Wilkinson. And aside from the SDA churches, other entities involved include the Adult Education School, CARE Learning Centre under MP Neletha Butterfield and Teen Services.

They provide mandatory pre-testing, and arrange official testing of community school students. The GED comprises five subjects ¿ literature, writing, mathematics, science and social studies ¿ and students must pass each individually as well as score a minimum number of total points.

"This is a special night for all present, the volunteers, students and their families," said Dr. Brown.

He added that he had heard great stories about the GED programme, such as single mothers getting free childcare enabling them to study, and about grandmothers coming back to school to finish up what they started four decades ago.

Photos: Graduating class comprises Katrina Whitecross-Boys, Latroya Caines, Corville Hylton, Jacqueline Hamilton, Rev. Nelson Rewan, Roan Bicarie, Gloria Landy, Rockel Mundy and Samantha Crockwell. They are accompanied by programme director Mrs. Margaret Goulbourne. Also shown (below left) are three of the graduates and family members and others (top) attending the service. Below right: Rev. Rewan is seen with his wife and their offspring who attended the graduation. He was roundly applauded when exercising his honour of thanking the class tutors and support staff for their help given. For him, the event was a special celebration as his 60th birthday was the day before the graduation. He explained how he had to leave elementary school at age 13 in order to support his mother schooling his siblings, including brother Llewellyn Rewan, who graduated from the Bermuda Technical Institute. Nelson did not enter the trades, but became a sales representative and now works at Butterfield & Vallis. At age 19 he married and soon afterwards began building his own house. His family grew. He became Associate Pastor of the Sound View First Church of God. The Pastor and several members of his church witnessed his graduation, as well as that of his fellow graduate Gloria Landy, who happens to be the church secretary. Pastor Rewan is seen with his wife of 40 years, Carolyn Annette, four of their five daughters, Tina Foote, Nelsalene Lestere and her husband Gerard with three-month-old daughter Naarah, Evelyn Rewan and Juliette Carpenter. Daughter Sheena Rewan was absent, being indisposed with the flu. Grandchildren included Dardanelle Foote and Nelson Carpenter. Also seen is Miss Sheyla Iris, who 'adopted' the Rewans as a second family when she was young.