Cal-Nika Bridgewater told her fellow graduates at the 23rd commencement at Bermuda College yesterday that if you persist, you shall prevail.

Governor Thorold Masefield was joined by his wife, Premier Jennifer Smith, Opposition leader Pamela Gordon, MP's, Senators and public officials to celebrate with the 109 students who became Bermuda College graduates yesterday.

Several hundred more guests, family members and friends gathered under the huge tent on the playing field at the Paget college and listened as Acting College President Dr. Larita J. Alford told the graduates that they should: "Dare to dream."

After the degrees had been conferred upon the graduates, Premier Jennifer Smith gave a congratulatory speech and told them that learning was a continuous process.

She said they should remain open to opportunity and said: "Carry yourselves with pride as you are recipients of a quality Bermuda education. Never be satisfied with anything less than the very best that is within you. You carry the hopes and aspirations of all those who have supported you."

In her graduate address, Ms Bridgewater said persistence meant students would prevail and that it was essential to accomplish any goals they may have in life.

She said that persistence involves pressure and that no goal could be achieved without pressure, be it academic pressure, social pressure or financial pressure. Ms Bridgewater said text books did not have all the answers, and sometimes you had to find things out for yourselves.

And she told graduates: "Work does not stop here today, build on this and go forth and make your mark wherever you go."

A presentation was then made to honour two new Fellows of the College, former educator Frances Burch, and executive director of the Bermuda Maritime Museum, Dr. Edward Harris.

Dr. Harris made the commencement address and said the students were fortunate to have a dedicated and devoted staff. "We are but passing ships, the transient trustees of all we have inherited and all you will create," he said. And he told the graduates that they must be prudent and keep one eye on the future and one eye on the past in whatever they do. He said that the students had a role to fill, to perhaps leave this world a better place.