Achievements of ?survivors? who graduated against all the odds were hailed at a special ceremony yesterday.

Among the hard-working students who secured diplomas from the CARE Learning Centre was brave road crash survivor Dejon Simmons.

Jashun and Jamel Thomas, the brothers who went missing in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, were also honoured.

Defiant Dejon, 17, received third degree burns to 90 percent of his body when his bike caught fire and engulfed him in 2004.

After spending a year in hospital, including six months in a coma, he has fought back from the harrowing crash and is now heading to Bermuda College to study arts and science. He spoke yesterday of his hopes to one day become a doctor.

Asked how he felt about the ceremony, he said he was ?happy? and added: ?I just feel good about everything.?

Jean Lamontagne, the Thomas brothers? mother, said the prospect of a graduation ceremony was far from her mind during the frantic time she spent searching for her sons in storm-ravaged New Orleans. They were found at a shelter in Louisiana with only the clothes on their backs after an agonising two-week hunt.

?I never thought we would get to today,? she said. ?That?s why it?s so emotional because they have achieved something.?

Congratulating all pupils, she added: ?I?m proud of everyone who graduated today. Education is very important but it?s very hard for young men ? you have to give them an extra push.?

Jashun later said he wanted to be a computer expert; Jamel aims to become a rap star.

The brothers left Berkeley Institute without graduating and were both full of praise for CARE after completing their twice-weekly evening study programme in small classes.

?They are very supportive and make it easy for you to ask questions,? said Jamel as he clutched his diploma certificate.

Jamel, 19, and Jashun, 17, were visiting New Orleans when Katrina struck last August. The boys disappeared amid the chaos the hurricane left in its wake. More than 1,800 people were killed and hundreds of thousands left homeless and scattered all over the US by the storm.

More than 150 proud relatives packed St. Paul AME Church, Court Street, yesterday afternoon to celebrate the achievements of dozens of teenagers, many of whom will now continue with their studies.

CARE director Neletha Butterfield said she was overwhelmed by the success stories ? and praised all the teenagers for overcoming ?struggles and challenges?.

During the ceremony, she said that Dejon?s determination ?showed all of Bermuda what can be done when you are a survivor?.

She said the Thomas brothers were also survivors and were ?very, very close?, helping each other all the time in class. She called on them to continue the great work they were doing.

The Environment Minister added: ?I salute not just them, but their parents and the community.?

Other General Education Diploma graduates yesterday were: Renee DeShields; Rockal Evans; Sebastian Matcham; Jana Outerbridge; Marissa Santos; Andre Shakir; Tyril Simmons; Selessia Smith; Noellesha Trott; Ashley Wall; Derek Weeks; Aubrey Young; Keimar Clarke; Shade Simmons; Rebecca Tucker and Tamisha Williams.

Highest score prizes went to Rebecca Tucker (science and reading); Noellesha Trott (social studies); Shade Simmons (maths) and Jana Outerbridge (language writing). Rebecca Tucker also achieved the best overall score.

CARE ? Children and Adults Reaching for Education ? was launched by Ms Butterfield in 1983 in the basement of her home.

The computer-based alternative learning base gives opportunities for students who fall through cracks in the public education system to achieve academic success through non-traditional methods.

Based on Brunswick Street, it has helped more than 400 adults graduate with a high-school diploma, and has taught more than 250 inmates in prison.

It is open virtually every week of the year, providing either academic programmes for adults, reading basics, high school qualifications for teenagers, or after school, weekend and summer learning classes for small children.

Students aged 15 or above who drop out or fail in public education can complete their schooling at CARE, studying for a minimum of six hours a week until they are ready to pass the General Education Development (GED) exam, the high school diploma recognised in America and now readily accepted by Bermuda employers.

Meanwhile, Ms Butterfield revealed yesterday that she was set to become a full-time Minister, as part of Cabinet shake-up stemming from a new pay deal for politicians still to be approved by the Senate.

As a result, she said would be stepping back from her work at CARE.

The Minister, who won praise in the ceremony for her hands-on approach and knowledge of individual students, added: ?I will probably go away from it altogether.

?It?s going to be difficult but I?m sure they will call on me from time to time.?