The Education Minister used Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's 'audacity of hope' to congratulate 14 achievers from the BTEC and Adult Education School IC3 Initiative.

Minister Randolph Horton referred to the black Senator — who achieved the US Democratic nomination on Monday — by telling the young people that "no matter how helpless a situation is, there is always hope".

Mr. Horton was joined by Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and E-Commerce Terry Lister, former Minister Michael Scott and chairman of the BTEC Board of Directors Gavin Arton, as well as family and friends of the award recipients at XL House.

Those presented with their IC3 Certification Awards were: Antoine Bean, Blair Bean-Walls, Evan Douglas, Carliss Franklin, Dawrae Gibbons, Shamir Gibbons, Ahmed Hill, Stephanie Howes, Dennis Martin, Halimah Nasir, Dajuan Simons, Sabur Taalib-Bey, Cheron Trott and Che Tweed.

Congratulating the men and women, Mr. Horton said: "I am very proud to be here to share this special occasion with you."

Explaining that he himself had faced problems at school, Mr. Horton said: "Yours is a journey I can relate to. It wasn't always sweet. Many years ago I was in a similar position.

"I can only imagine the feeling of helplessness, seeing your classmates graduate and feeling left behind. But today your effort to transform that helplessness into hopefulness is complete."

The Minister claimed that during his third year at Berkeley Institute he had been a "rebellious young man".

"I was more interested in rebellion than in learning literature and English, especially English and Latin," he said.

"I was destined to be left behind as my classmates moved forward, but the threat of being left behind made me pull my socks up. Things eventually changed for the better in my young life.

"I always believed no matter how helpless a situation is, there is always hope. Helplessness transforming into hopefulness.

"Senator Barack Obama calls it the audacity of hope. One is indeed audacious and I am the living proof. You young people are living proof.

"That same audacity is in the palm of your hand at this very moment. I sat in your seat and now I'm sitting in a different seat — one which you would probably not want to be sitting in, but the distance between the two is not a long walk, as long as you dare to take that first step.

"Today you are taking that first step — a bold step, now directing yourselves to completing the journey you have begun."

Mr. Horton told them: "The international IC3 certification you have earned, you are not only equipped to compete with Bermudians but the international marketplace.

"I am proud of your accomplishment. Now leave here and take your place in the Bermuda workforce."

Donna Daniels, AES executive director, explained that the BTEC (Bermuda Technology Education Collaborative) and AES initiative grew out of a meeting two-and-a-half years ago between Diane Miller, a BTEC director, and Mr. Scott, then Minister of the Environment, Telecommunications and E-Commerce.

"During their social meeting, their conversation turned to discussing the plight of young black males in the community who were sitting on the wall," she said.

"The question they posed was 'What could be done to educate young men who had dropped out of the educational system and empower them with the necessary skills to navigate a digital world and to achieve a certification that would be recognised by potential employers, colleges and universities both locally and internationally?'

"The vision was to offer the IC3 Internet and Computing Core Certification Programme under the expert tutelage of Mr. Steve Lawrence, master certified information technology teacher, to a group of young male students attending the AES who expressed an interest in IT.

"In order to execute the vision a committee of key stakeholders led by Dr. Lynn Bak of BTEC was formed."

Ms Daniels said the programme first launched in February 2007 with 13 male students, and resumed in October with 12 students. A new course is due to start later this year.

She said: "We are here today to celebrate 14 young adults who are capable of using computer technology — from basic hardware and software, to operating systems, and computer software applications.

"We are very proud of you here today."

Course instructor Mr. Lawrence, a BTEC computer science teacher at CedarBridge Academy, was also presented with a plaque as "the unsung hero" of the initiative.

Dr. Lynn Bak said: "He has worked hundreds and hundreds of hours with these talented young people to make this happen."