yesterday.

For the once-divided college was officially united onto a single campus.

A host of dignitaries, including Premier David Saul and Opposition Leader Jennifer Smith, students and alumni were on hand yesterday for the official celebration marking the completion of the Stonington Campus.

The morning got underway with a "coming home'' flag-run relay in which a group of former faculty and students carried the school flag from the old campus on Robert's Avenue, Devonshire to the Stonington campus on South Road, Paget.

Gilbert Institute and Paget Primary students carried the flag -- to a steady ring of applause and school bells -- into the college's courtyard and presented it to college president George Cook.

During his opening address, Dr. Saul pointed out that the unification of the college had been almost 25 years in the making, but added that it had been well worth the wait.

After thanking all those who supported the college's development, Dr. Saul expressed his personal pride in witnessing the unification since he aided in the drafting of the original Bermuda College Act in 1974.

A time capsule, containing a variety of items including newspapers, photographs and a computer keyboard, was buried outside of the College Centre to be dug up at a yet-to-be-determined date.

Vice president of the student council Odia Vassel pointed out to the guests that unification meant that the students would be able to move with ease between their classes.

Sumaya Lambe, a business major, told The Royal Gazette that a unified campus was "much better, especially if you have no form of transportation''.

Electronic science student, Lauren Matthew said aside from the transportation issue, the unified campus will improve school spirit.

"It will help school spirit because we're all together now,'' he explained.

"We are no longer divided.'' The sentiment was echoed by a group of arts and science majors sitting around watching the festivities.

"With Robert's Avenue, it divided us up,'' three young undergraduates claimed. "And Robert's Avenue was run down. It's a nicer environment over here.'' With the raising of the school flag and a resounding three cheers to strains from the "Chariots of Fire'' theme, more than 25 years of effort were realised.

Nicole ONWARD AND UPWARD -- From left to right, Kimmie Mello of the Bermuda College support Staff, Paget Primary's Shae Wade and Kushae Hypolite of Gilbert Institute yesterday raised the Bermuda College's flag at the official ceremonies to declare the campus complete.