By Jarion Richardson Speakers at Bermuda College's Commencement ceremony yesterday told the graduating class to take their credentials and go after the opportunities that existed.

More than 300 guests packed under a white tent on the playing field at the Paget facility to witness what one guest speaker called: "The results of hours of study, hundreds of days of work, the reality of dozens of dreams and the attainment of one goal... great reward from great labour.'' "Sustaining education is the force of the future,'' Dr. Pauulu Kamarakafego, commencement speaker and the newest Honorary Fellow of the College, told the audience.

Dr. Kamarakafego added: "You have been educated to make yourselves wise, more knowledgeable, better informed, ethical, responsible, critical, capable of continuing to learn, more productive and creative in your home, with your families, in your workplace and in Bermuda.

"Your education increases your capacity to transform your vision of society to operational realities.'' Dr. Kamarakafego pointed out that success was not as lost as some thought it was with Bermudians holding senior posts abroad such as Laurion Burchall of Microsoft Corps., Dr. Colin Duerden of Canadian Maritime and pilot Mervyn Trott of US Airlines.

He told the audience: "When those people from the past ensured that you in the future could receive an education, that investment was a sustainable exercise.

"The best way to produce a good country and sustain it is to educate its young people.

"Our reminder today is about responsibility of one's self, to your family, your work and, above all, to the society that you are an intricate part of.'' College President Dr. George Cook told the graduating class: "So as there are great opportunities, so are there great challenges.

"In you, we know Bermuda's future is in good hands,'' he told the class, thanking and reassuring them of their "credentials of substance''.

Class representative Jennifer Ann Vicente told the audience: "Many opportunities don't approach us, we must approach them.'' She explained that while many did not know where they were going, they had to be true to themselves.

She ended her address by quoting Walt Disney: "If you can dream it, then you can do it.'' Board of Governors chairman Randolph Horton told the graduates: "Knock and knock on these doors of opportunity. Knock and keep on knocking until they open the doors.

"Dare to go against the tide.''