Yesterday was the 31st Commencement at the Bermuda College.

The day was filled with celebration and a number of highpoints for the college.

The college graduated its first female in one discipline, another was admitted into an international honours society, while its commencement speaker was a former graduate of the college.

Natasha Monika Stowe was the first female to receive a Certificate in Electrical Wiring Technology from the Bermuda College. She graduated with distinction.

Antoinette Hollis was another student to set a milestone for the college.

She is the first student to be inducted into Mount St. Vincent University ?s Senate of Distinction for a Bachelor of Arts in Child Youth Studies which means Mount St. Vincent identified her as having one of the highest grade point averages in the world.

Another landmark event for the college was that for the first time the Commencement Address was given by a former graduate of the Bermuda College, Kenneth Caesar.

Mr. Caesar graduated six years ago and is the first student to sit on the Board of Governors.

He is currently a teacher at West End Primary but will soon head to Howard University to begin a Masters degree.

He told the graduates Bermudians needed to be ?less selfish and more selfless?, stressing the need for more people to volunteer around the community.

?I am convinced people in my generation and younger have not heard of the word sacrifice,? he said.

He said that, in order to ensure future generations of Bermuda succeed people need to sacrifice their time and knowledge.

And he asked graduates to think of their graduation day not as a endnote but the beginning of another chapter in their lives, one in which they will continue to learn and share with others.

Mother-daughter team Jean and Janell Castle agreed that role models are imperative for younger generations to succeed.

Jean Castle felt she provided a positive example for her daughter, who graduated on the same day as her.

?I think by working real hard myself, I think she took the lead from that.?

Mrs. Castle graduated with distinction from Mount Saint Vincent University in association with Bermuda College.

She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Studies.

Her daughter also graduated with distinction, obtaining an Associate Science Actuarial degree.

Another important aspect of the Commencement was the induction of two new Honorary Fellows.

This year the college chose to honour Marva Phillips and Frederick Ming.

The celebratory mood took a back seat when Dr. Charles Green, President of the Bermuda College, took a moment to remark on the death of Ronald Eugene Christopher.

Mr. Christopher was the eighth road fatality this year and whould have graduated yesterday.

His mother accepted his Certificate in Electrical Wiring Technology with Merit.