A weekend of celebration culminated in the Commencement Exercise for the thirty-five seniors graduating from Triple C School. The celebration activities started with a Baccalaureate Service on Sunday night, June 7th with the seniors being inducted into the Alumni Association. The high point of their celebration was receiving their diplomas and certificates at the Commencement Exercises on Monday, June 8th, from the Hon. Franz Manderson, the Deputy Governor.

At the Baccalaureate Service, Mason Chisholm, Class of 2005 was the keynote speaker. As Mason shared with the graduates some of his memories of his own graduation, he expressed that though he was happy to leave school he was not excited because in that moment he didn’t know what would be next for him. “I was graduating with a sort of fearful uncertainty about the next phase of life,” Mason shared. “How was I to trade the desks I used for making the grade for the desk for making the pay?”

Mason reminded the graduates that there is hope. Because of good work ethics and his faith in God he could stand there and say that he is where he is supposed to be, working in a job that truly allowed him to excel. This started through an internship that he applied for during a summer break which opened the door to his present job. Mason expressed that he was blessed to also be part of a ministry, Pauze Entertainment, where he can share his faith and God through the medium of rap. Mason asked the graduates, “Not sure what you want to do? Ask yourself what do you like and what are your interest; and ask God to reveal a path to serve Him with those interests and He will guarantee your needs will be provided for!”

For the Commencement Service, the Chairman of the Board, Mr. James Watler, welcomed all the family members, friends, and well-wishers of the graduates at the Family Life Center. As part of the schools tradition, the service began as robed faculty, with candles symbolically lighting the way and formed a receiving line.

Andrea Bodden, graduating with a 4.11 average, delivered a very emotional Valedictory address. Andrea started off her speech recognizing those who helped her to reach this milestone in her life, with a special thank you to her parents for their love and support. Andrea also acknowledged that without God that day would not have been possible and told her classmates that, “God is forever gracious and as long as you believe in Him, He will never let you down.” As she prepared to close, Andrea encouraged her classmates not to focus on success but on the bigger picture. “Always look at the bigger picture and remember that if you do something right, good things like success will follow.” Erynn Walton, Salutatorian, gave a very heart-felt speech, as she reminisced about the fond memories that were created with her classmates. She also took time to give special thanks to everyone who played a special role during her time at Triple C School.

Andrea Bodden was the subject awards recipient for History, Mathematics and Christian Education. Erynn Walton received the subject award for English. Samuel Larson received the subject award for Science. Claire Ruby received the subject award for Business Studies. Subject awards are given in 6 disciplines to those students who have the highest average over a 4 year period.

Lianni Tibbetts received the Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Leader award presented by Barry Bodden, the Chamber of Commerce President. Lianni was also the recipient of the Kiwanis Grant celebrating their 40th Anniversary, presented by the Kiwanis President, Tonicia Williams. Claire Ruby received the CICSA Credit Union Scholarship award for Business presented by the CEO, Corinne Glasgow.

Andrea Bodden received the Ernst & Young award, presented by Chris Gauk from Ernst & Young, for outstanding academic achievement. Samuel Larson received the ACSI (Accrediting Agency) Distinguished Award and the Outstanding Senior Award, an award that recognizes scholarship, leadership, citizenship, loyalty, and peer and teacher rapport.

Pastor Winston Rose of the Church of God Chapel – Bodden Town presented the Creative Christian Character Award to Samuel Larson. This award is given to students who have accepted the Lord as their personal Savior and who are living out their witness for the Lord both in and out of school. Samuel was also the recipient of the Myles Music Achievement Award. Four students were recipients of the Save Our Youth awards. Receiving the SOY Community Service Awards were Leanni Tibbetts and Kevin Redden. Selena Foster and Jordan Adam were recipients of the SOY Achievement Award. The High School Visual Arts Achievement Award, sponsored by The National Gallery, was presented to Matthew Scott. The Triple C School PTA Scholarship Award for extra-curricular excellence went to Brandon Williams and Krystal Arch.

Kadi-Joy Merren-Pentney, Class of 2004, gave the Commencement address. Kadi-Joy reflected on how she felt 11 yrs ago when she was sitting in the graduates place with a mixture of emotions as she wondered what the next few years would be like. Noting that the class scripture was Psalm 23: 1-4, Kadi-Joy reaffirmed that truth of the scripture that they do not have to be afraid because God will be there for them no matter what. Kadi-Joy reminded the students that as they step into the working world or during their time in university their faith and morals will be tested on a daily basis, but she encouraged the graduates to stay true to what they believe, no matter!

As she came to the close of her speech, Kadi-Joy shared the story of the potato, the egg, and coffee beans which a father had placed in boiling water to demonstrate a lesson to his daughter who was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. The results from each item being boiled was that the potato became soft and weak, the egg became hard inside, but the coffee beans changed the water and created something new. “The moral of this story,” Kadi-Joy said, “is that in life things happen around us and to us, but the only thing that truly matters is how you choose to react to it and what you make out of it.” Kadi-Joy challenged the graduates right then to decide who they want to be and to start living their life to fulfill that goal.

Triple C School is very proud of the Class of 2015 and all that they have accomplished during their
individual time at Triple C. Triple C School has a long and distinguished history of academic excellence in the Cayman Islands. Founded in 1941 as a mission of the Church of God Chapel, the school has grown and changed with the times as Cayman has moved from the island that time forgot to one of the world’s major financial centers. The central goal, as expressed in the Mission Statement remains: “To provide an internationally competitive education in a Christ-centered environment.” Nothing else will do as we prepare citizens for tomorrow and eternity.

Picture 1: Class of 2015
Picture 2: Andrea Bodden, Valedictorian, receiving her diploma from the Hon Frans Manderson
Picture 3: Erynn Walton, Salutatorian, receiving a bible from Miss Corinne Glasgow
Picture 4: Mason Chisolm, Class of 2005, the keynote speaker at the baccalaureate service.
Picture 5: Matthew Scott receiving the High School Visual Arts Achievement Award presented by Kerwin
Ebanks from the National Gallery
Picture 6: The four students Save Our Youth awards recipients: Leanni Tibbett, Kevin Redden, Jordan
Adam, and Selena Foster.
Picture 7: Commencement speaker, Kadi-Joy Merren-Pentney, Class of 2004
Picture 8: Samuel Larson receiving the ACSI award from Robert Lankford, Vice-Principal