St. Catherine’s Academy graduates 162
BELIZE CITY, Mon. June 2, 2025
St. Catherine’s Academy (SCA) celebrated over 140 years of service to Belize with its commencement exercises at the Mercy auditorium in Belize City last Saturday morning, May 31, where 162 graduates received their high school diplomas, 93 of them having graduated with honors – 74 of which were gold and 8 platinum.
Rihanna Tucker, valedictorian
They achieved honors by embracing Catherine McAuley’s Christian values. “They have faced challenges with integrity, creativity and courage”, showing leadership with purpose in service to their community, “guided by conscience and rooted in compassion”, SCA principal Salome Tillett EdD noted in her annual report. The SCA girls not only distinguished themselves in academics, but also in sport as the SCA Seahawks won their 30th consecutive volleyball championship for Belize City secondary schools, and their 21st national championship, while others distinguished themselves in football, softball, basketball and athletics. Others have excelled in computer science, robotics and writing, while the Seahawks pushed the physical envelope by pioneering the first swim and learn relay event for SCA students from Belize City to St. George’s Caye and back in collaboration with the Belize Defence Force and the Coast Guard, which included a 70-year-old alumna’s participation.
Others represented the school beyond our borders in the mock Organization of American States assembly for high school students in Washington DC, at the Mercy student leadership conference in Detroit, and in an educational mission to Singapore. Many of the graduates participated in passion projects for three years in conservation of the environment through recycling of waste materials, the protection and rescue of stray animals, and in service to their community to help build a better world.
Among the special honorees were the top 3 SCA students – valedictorian, Rihanna Tucker; salutatorian, Kyeldani Pott; and 3rd place, Marcella Vidal. Kyeldani also received the Catherine McAuley Mercy Student Award; and a special recognition was given to Mrs. Arleen Riverol for her 36 years of service.
Guest speaker, Dr. Victoria Vanessa Habet, SCA Class of 2006, urged the young women to focus on “mind over matter”, as she had found that, no matter the personal, social or other worldly limitations, her time at SCA had helped her to grow confident that her mind would be powerful enough to overcome. She cited her own path to enlightenment, as she ignored the naysayers who sought to dissuade her that perhaps a medical career was not for her. She built on her undergraduate degree in biological sciences and chemistry, to become a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Her ground-breaking research has led her to develop such expertise as to become a leader in her field, now sharing her knowledge with others as a lecturer at Harvard University. Her message inspired the graduates to follow in her footsteps, for each to seek her true vocation.
In her valedictory address, top student of the class, Rihanna Tucker likened their journey through the four years at SCA to “pages in a book we’ve been writing together … crumpled at the edges from tears and loud laughter, splashed with the bright highlighters of discovery, and softened by the warmth of friendships that turned into family.” And “Like every good story, our chapters were filled with several plot twists that shifted like tides and felt like riddles, but it was in those moments that we developed something deeper. Saint Catherine Academy didn’t just teach us academics—it taught us how to pause, breathe, adapt, and rise. Through Mercy values like compassion, service, and courage, we learned to find grace in uncertainty.” She cited how the past four years had helped them “develop resilience by enduring changes, by facing them with empathy for others and confidence in ourselves.” They came out of their shell, found their voices and stepped up to achievement. After thanking all her teachers, the Sisters of Mercy, all her friends and their families, her mom and dad, Rihanna reminded her fellow graduates, the Class of 2025, “… don’t rush your next chapter. Let it unfold. Make it messy. Make it yours. Hold on to your pens and continue to doodle plans, explore new settings, forge new alliances, but never stop writing! God has given us endless pages – go forth and create the next volume of your book!”
“We have learnt to lead with integrity, and to use our voices to uplift the dignity of others”, avowed salutatorian Kyeldani Pott, as she also thanked her teachers, parents, families, friends and the Sisters of Mercy, whose legacy of compassion and service continue to inspire them to go out into the world as young women leaders.
Edward P. Yorke High School graduates 142
BELIZE CITY, Wed. Jun. 4, 2025
The King’s Room, located at the Princess Hotel on Newtown Barracks, was the venue for graduation ceremonies of Edward P. Yorke High School on Sunday, June 1.
Hayley Trujillo, valedictorian
One hundred and forty-two students, comprised of boys and girls, were the recipients of their diplomas, chief among them, Hayley Trujillo, the valedictorian, who was an honor student for all for years of her schooling at the high school.
Hayley wants to be a cardiovascular surgeon and she plans to continue her education by attending St. John’s Junior College.
In addressing her fellow graduates, she said, “The future that awaits us can be grand, but it’s up to us to shape who we want to be. Choosing our path doesn’t mean we have to know exactly where we are going. It just means that we have the control, the steer to decide our future, even if it looks different than what others expect. Choose a path that is meaningful, that represents you.
“What legacy will we leave behind as we walk away from these familiar halls? Will our footsteps echo with purpose and resilience, or will they fade into the background of forgotten dreams? How will we choose to shape our destinies, knowing that every decision carries the weight of our future selves? Let these questions guide us as we embark on the journey of self-discovery and transformation. We ensure that our choices today align with our aspirations for tomorrow by setting clear goals, reflecting on our values, and making decisions that are in harmony with our long-term vision, [as] we navigate our paths with purpose and intention.”
The guest speaker for the occasion was the Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Cordel Hyde, whose speech was non-political and was well received by the graduates. It is the second time that Hon. Cordel Hyde has been chosen as guest speaker for the high school.
Mrs. Karen Canto, the principal of the high school, praised the speech that Hon. Cordel Hyde gave. “It was an excellent speech, and it was not politically motivated, and our graduating class were well pleased and moved by it,” said Mrs. Canto.
She also said that the school year was a difficult one, because four people who were affiliated with the school had passed away. They included the chairlady, Emelda Usher, who died in December last year; Jorge Navarro, the head of the Mathematics Department, who died in February 2025; Cayden Stewart, a student who died from drowning in March this year; and Brian Castillo, a former teacher of the school, who was killed in a golf cart accident about two weeks ago. She said all of them were honoured at the graduating ceremony.
The number of graduates was the second largest since the inception of the school, and it was only topped by one year in which the number was one hundred and forty-five.
Muffles Junior College graduates 146 students, 34 online
BELIZE CITY, Wed. Jun. 4, 2025
Graduation exercises were held by Muffles Junior College at the college campus, located just outside of Orange Walk Town, on Sunday May 25.
One hundred and forty-six students, comprising of male and female, graduated, among them 34 online students for the first time in the history of the college.
Muffles Junior College is the only tertiary level education institution that has a license from the Government to allow online students. The online students have to be 21 years and older to participate in college’s online programs.
The college provides 10 academic programs which include business management, accounting, economics, tourism, information and communication technology, psychology, sociology, law, biology, and natural resource management. It’s a 2-year program.
“We try to curtail our ceremonies, so we don’t have any guest speaker and valedictorian,” explained Adrian Leiva, the Dean of the college.
“But we do have a first-year Student of the Year, and a second-year Student of the Year,” he said.
The first-year Student of the Year is Janina Stamp, and the second-year Student of the Year is Yahir Escalante.
Muffles Junior College has been in existence since 1992.
Ninety-eight students graduate from Independence Junior College
BELIZE CITY, Thurs. June 5, 2025
Commencement exercises were held for 98 students of Independence Junior College (IJC) on Saturday, May 31, at the Omar Longsworth Auditorium in Independence Village.
Asia Cardinez, valedictorian
The ceremony began with a processional by the graduating class which comprised of male and female students. Then there was the invocation by Brother Japhet Torres and the singing of the national anthem by the graduating class.
Following that there was the salutatory address by Mrs. Amy Zabaneh, and the singing of the school song by the graduating class. After that Mrs. Marie Young, the Dean of the college, gave her report highlighting the accomplishments of the college for the past school year.
The guest speaker, Dr. Sharmaine Saunders, was then introduced by Ms. Marita Linarez, a graduate of the college.
The following is an excerpt from Dr. Saunders speech:
“It is such an immense honor to join you today on a day filled with joy, pride and promise. Thank you to the leadership of Independence Junior College for this opportunity. And thank you to the class of 2025 for giving me a reason to believe that the future is in very good hands.
“Today, we don’t just celebrate your success. We celebrate your transformation. Our theme today comes from Udai Yadia, who reminds us: ‘Believe in your greatness, because what you believe is what you become.’ Let that sink in. This isn’t just a quote to print on a mug or caption on Instagram. This is a blueprint for your future. What you believe shapes your choices. What you believe decides how you bounce back from failure. What you believe determines whether you settle for ordinary – or strive for greatness.”
She then went on to relate a story about a boy called Eli who lived in a small village, who did not have much money, who did not have much expectation, and whose prized possession was a red bicycle. The moral of that story was that no matter how farfetched it may seem, nothing is beyond our dreams and desires.
Following the speech by Dr. Saunders was the presentation of gifts, the distribution of certificates, and the conferral of degrees to the graduating class.
Next was the valedictory address given by the valedictorian, Asia Cardinez, a student who excelled in business management with concentration in accounting.
Here is a portion of her address:
“It is with immense pride and gratitude that I stand before you this evening as the valedictorian of the class of 2025. This moment is more than just a culmination of years of hard work and dedication, it is the product of numerous late nights, passion, sacrifice and a clear vision. As I prepared for this speech, I struggled with how best to encapsulate the myriad experiences that define our time here. How does one distill two years of deadlines, friendships, emotional breakthroughs, laughter, tears and even cafeteria adventures into a few fleeting minutes? The truth is – you simply cannot. Instead of attempting to summarize it all, I want to share four meaningful moments that have shaped me and reflect the essence of our shared experiences.”
Following her speech there was the distribution of awards to parents and program awards, and the announcement of special awards by Omar Longsworth, the principal of Independence High School.
The vote of thanks was given by Mr. Rudy Villanueva.
Independence Junior College opened an evening division on August 27, 2007, with 45 students enrolled and housed temporarily at Independence High School’s facilities. This was an initiative by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the administration board of management of Independence High School. Since then the college has almost tripled in size.
Sixty graduate from Delille Academy
BELIZE CITY, Thurs. June 5, 2025
At the twenty-seventh graduation exercise of Delille Academy that was held on Friday, May 30, at Our Lady of Divine Grace Chapel, 60 students, some of them females and some of them males, received their diplomas from the academy, which is a Catholic high school located in Dangriga Town, Stann Creek District.
Yolanda Vega, valedictorian
The valedictorian was Ms. Yolanda Vega, the top student of the academy who is chosen by the 4-year grade average. Ms. Vega’s average was 3.86.
The following is an excerpt of her speech: “Protocol having been established: honoured guests, respected teachers, beloved family and friends and my many incredible fellow graduates, today, we stand at the edge of a new beginning, a moment filled with pride, potential and the powerful promise of what lies ahead. Our theme: ‘Stars of the future, empowering a new era of possibilities’ isn’t just a poetic phrase. It is a reminder of who we are and what we are capable of. Because, if high school has taught us anything, it is that stars were not born shining; they formed under pressure, over time, through challenges and changes. Just like us. We have navigated exams, PBL projects or, as our teacher would say, Project Base Learning, not to mention unexpected obstacles when doing our projects, and more than a few sleepless nights. But through it all, we have grown. We have discovered what we are passionate about, what we are good at, and perhaps most importantly, what we still want to learn.”
She said that her favourite quote comes from the book of Ephesians 2:10: “Designed and created with a purpose”.
The guest speaker was Mr. Cardel Ovado, an IT technician at Stann Creek Ecumenical Junior College in Dangriga, who recalled his own “time at Delille Academy clearly, like it was just a few years ago,” which indeed it was, “because it was so recent, in fact, that I still have my uniform tops at my house.” He counselled the Class of 2025 that, “though it might be a hard and lonely road to walk sometimes, to do it right, push on in the era of all things that are possible.” He stated that he would like to leave them with this message: “Be authentic, stay your course, and trust God with everything.”
The principal, Mrs. Dena Villafranco also spoke at the graduation, giving the principal’s report for the school year and highlighting the school’s accomplishments.
Wesley College, 144 graduates “United with a Purpose, Ready for the World!”
BELIZE CITY, Thurs. June 5, 2025
Wesley College’s Class of 2025 – 144 graduates were “United with a Purpose, Ready for the World, Together We Rise!”, as their theme, at their commencement exercises held at the Belize City Civic Center in Belize City on Wednesday evening, June 4.
Kailee Godfrey, valedictorian
The Class of 2025 had many accomplishments and successes to celebrate, as principal Sherrilyn Welch noted, such as helping to save the planet by eliminating single-use plastics at the school, through a partnership with “Sea of Life” which installed a reverse osmosis system to provide safe drinking water for the school. In the next academic year, the school plans to install a cooling system for the water, and to provide each student with a reusable drinking water bottle, capacity 500 millilitres, for daily use.
Students were able to acquire job skills in the new Rita Lopez Sewing Academy, established this past year in partnership with the Optimist Club of Belize; and the school started a Literacy Program to help students who needed assistance with reading. The school also won Gold for both entries to the Festival of Arts competition.
Two student athletes won bronze medals at the Central American Junior Scholastic (CODICADER) Games in El Salvador last September – Tamia Bennett in the high jump, and Kaylee Godfrey with the SCA girls volleyball team. Godfrey also won the Most Valuable Player award for a 2nd year, as she led the Wesley girls to their 2nd consecutive Central Secondary Schools Sports Association (CSSSA) basketball championship; and they won 2nd place at the national championships. The Wesley boys also won as sub-champions in CSSSA football and CSSSA softball, and the Wesley team won 1st place in the high school category of the Belize City Council’s Relay Triathlon. Willia Usher became the most decorated female athlete at the National Secondary Schools Sports Association (NSSSA) athletics championships in Corozal, where Javen Norales also won 2 Gold medals; and both Tamia Bennett and Willia Usher will represent Belize at the upcoming CADICA Games in El Salvador.
“I urge you all to be the best version of yourself,” Welch concluded, as she advised them to choose their words with care, to think before they speak, rather than to simply blurt out what they think, for words once uttered cannot be recalled. They may be forgiven, but not forgotten.
“High school wasn’t just about textbooks, exams or uniforms. It was about growth,” valedictorian Kailee Godfrey declared. “The kind that happens when you fail a test, but learn resilience; when you disagree with someone, but learn respect; when you feel alone, but find friendship in unexpected places.” She thanked her classmates who voted for her to become Wesley’s Head Girl in her senior year, as she encouraged them: “Together we rise! Not just as graduates, but as a generation ready to lead, to serve and to soar. … Not just for ourselves, but for the world that needs our voices, our hearts, and our vision.”
The school also awarded outstanding students for extracurricular activities, as Godfrey and Tamia Bennett shared the award for Best Female Student Athlete, while Kirkland Dawson won Best Male Athlete. Godfrey also won the Leadership and Service award as Head Girl, and Academic Excellence awards in Mathematics and Science, and overall best academic performance to become the valedictorian, which included a one-year scholarship to junior college. She has chosen to major in Biology at St. John’s Junior College.
Adrianna Reneau was similarly awarded for her 2nd place academic achievement to become the salutatorian; and Jennifer Fajardo for her 3rd place academic performance to be chosen to deliver the vote of thanks, as she also achieved the best academic performance in the Business department. Kayla Choc was recognized for her 4th place academic performance, for which she was chosen to introduce the guest speaker, Pastor Herman Blease. Darwin Salazar was recognized as the 5th place top academic achiever; and Ashelia Welch was awarded for best achievements in the Social Sciences and in Caribbean History. Jahari Andrews was awarded for outstanding achievement in general academics, and Willia Usher and Akon Wallace were awarded as the Most Improved students of the past academic year.
The school also recognized its most outstanding benefactor, Fabian Chang, Wesley College Class of 1977, who has become its most generous patron since his son graduated from Wesley in 2009.
Past principal Brenda Armstrong led a closing prayer.