LYFORD CAY, Bahamas --  Back Row (left to right): Joshua Thompson, Daniel Jennings, Felisha Rosendahl, Yanice Bailey, Francesca Curry, Marisa Maura, Aaron Ballesteros, Theron Smith

Front Row (left to right): Bernard Farquharson, Johanna Kleijn , Emily Lupu, Christie Sweeting, Jade Candiotti, Brianna Eccleston, Kira Friese, Marisa Taylor, Linnea Chisholm, Sophia Taylor

Lyford Cay International School (LCIS) hosted the graduation ceremony for the school’s 7th, and largest, graduating class in the school’s 50-year history on May 31, 2012 at the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort. “ LCIS started with just nine students and we have grown into a fully accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) school, one of less than 200 hundred schools worldwide that offers all three IB Programs, “ said Principal, Stacey Bobo. “We are certainly proud of the fact that in this, our 50th year, we are sending off 18 young adults to various Universities and Colleges in eight countries across the globe. Never before, has the international quality of our school been more apparent than with this graduating class,” she continued “Our graduates proudly represent The Bahamas, The United States, Costa Rica, Italy, Mexico, Trinidad, Great Britain, Switzerland, France, Sweden, Romania, Germany and the Netherlands.”

It was fitting that the Director of the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas, Amanda Coulson, delivered the keynote address as this year’s graduating class contains some extremely artistic students. Ms. Coulson told the 2012 class: “To be creative means to add things to the world, find new ways of expressing things and sometimes to even invent. It is not only the artist who invents, it is the scientist, the entrepreneur, just as any resourceful manager or great leader of any kind.” She reminded the graduates that they should privileged to have received their level of education and assured them that many are not so fortunate and she challenged them to put their education to good use.

Previous “Lyford Lyfers” include:
Class of 2011 – Samuel Jennings
Class of 2010 – Alexis Roberts
Class of 2008 – Jordan Kemp, Fritz Stubbs, Natascha Vazquez
Class of 2006 – Eduardo Vazquez

The Class of 2012 is:

LCIS 2012 Valedictorian, Francesca Curry is both Bahamian and Italian and is an LCIS “Lyfer” having attended LCIS for 14 years.  Francesca will start her studies in Fine Arts at SACI, in Florence, Italy and then move on to Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. She was an Honor Roll student, Interact Club member and the organizer and founder of the Green Bag initiative in 2011.

LCIS 2012 Salutatorian, Bernard Farquharson is a Bahamian citizen who has been at LCIS for four years. Bernard is on his way to study Performing Arts at Rollins College, Florida. While at LCIS, Bernard has been a Principal’s List and Honor Roll student, a member of the Interact Club, a Stephen Dillet Primary School enrichment program volunteer, E Clement Bethel National Arts Festival Champion and Glee and Ars Nova Club member.

Yanice Bailey is a citizen of the United States of Trinidadian descent who has been attending LCIS for four years. Yanice is on her way to attend John Jay College in New York, to study Criminal Justice and is looking forward to a career in the US Marines. Yanice received a Leadership Award while working as a Summer Hire at the US Embassy.

Aaron Ballesteros is a US citizen of Mexican descent who has been at LCIS for four years.  He is off to St Mary’s University in Texas to start his studies in medicine.  Aaron was a finalist in the Kingdor National Parkinson’s Disease speech competition and participated in the MUN conference in Philadelphia and at Harvard University.

Jade Candiotti has three nationalities, Swiss, Italian and French.  Jade has been at LCIS for two years.  She is on her way to the University of Dublin in Ireland to study Veterinarary Science. Jade has been a member of GGYA, the school’s volleyball team, volunteered at the Palmdale Veterinary Clinic and did a summer internship at Dolphin Encounters.

Linnea Chisholm is a Swedish citizen.  She has attended LCIS for six years and is on her way to start her career in Fashion Design at NABA in Milan, Italy. While at LCIS, Linnea has been a member of the victorious LCIS senior girls soccer team, the under 17 National Soccer team, the Interact Club, the student council, coach for Swim America, Lightbourne House Captain, organizer of the ABC Fashion Show and created her own business of fashion bags called LVC designs.

Brianna Eccleston is a Bahamian and U.S citizen who has been at LCIS for four years. Brianna is on her way to St. Mary’s University in Nova Scotia, Canada to study Business and Marketing. She was recipient of the Secondary School Faculty Award 2011, a member of the Interact Club, GGYA, Junior Achievement, track athlete, coach for Swim America and organizer of the ABC Fashion Show. Brianna also took part in the Uganda Trip of 2011.

Kira Friese is a German and US citizen and has attended LCIS for seven years. Kira will be studying Interior Design at the Florence Design Academy in Florence, Italy. While at LCIS, Kira was on the Principal’s List, an Interact Member, organizer of the ABC Fashion Show, member of the victorious LCIS senior girls’ soccer team and coach for Swim America.

Daniel Jennings is a Bahamian and British citizen.  Daniel is an LCIS “Lyfer” having attended LCIS for fourteen years. Daniel will be studying Biomedical and Neuroscience at the University of Southampton, UK.  While at LCIS, he was a finalist for the Kingdor National Parkinson’s Disease speech competition, a member of the LCIS basketball and soccer teams, champion at the E Clement Bethel National Arts Festival, member of the LCIS MUN team at Philadelphia and at Harvard University, summer medical internships and received B grades in BGCSE Math and Biology in Grade 9. Daniel is the youngest of the class, graduating at 16 years old.

Johanna Kleijn is a citizen of The Netherlands. She has been attending LCIS for nine years. Johanna will begin her studies in medicine at the University of Amsterdam.  While at LCIS, she was a Principal’s List and Honor Roll student, a Swim America coach, Student Council member and Head Girl.

Emily Lupu is a US citizen of Romanian descent who has been attending LCIS for two years. Emily is on her way to Rollins College in Florida to study International Business.  While at LCIS, Emily was an Honour Roll student, a member of the Student Council, a soccer coach and a member of the MUN team at Harvard University.

Marisa Maura is a citizen of The Bahamas and is an LCIS “Lyfer” having attended LCIS for fourteen years.  Marisa will begin her studies in Optometry at Daytona State College in Florida. While at LCIS, Marisa wrote her BGCSE exams in Grade 10 and received A’s, was a volunteer BGCSE Math coach, a member of the Dragons volleyball team and numerous community service projects.

Felisha Rosendahl holds dual citizenships, Bahamian and Swedish.  Felisha attended LCIS in Kindergarten and returned in Grade 11. Felisha will be attending Lynn University in Florida where she will study Visual Arts and Cinematography. While at LCIS, she was a member, and MVP, of the victorious soccer team competing in Jamaica.

Theron Smith is a Bahamian student who has been at LCIS for two years. Theron will begin his studies in Neuroscience at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada.  While at LCIS, Theron was a participant and Security Council member of the MUN team at Harvard University.

Christie Sweeting is a Bahamian student who has attended LCIS for three years. Christie will be taking a gap year to work with children and will then move on for a degree in Early Childhood Education. Christie has been a valuable player for JBLN baseball and was MVP for two years. She was a part of the humanitarian LCIS trip to Uganda in 2011.

Marissa Taylor is a Bahamian and Costa Rican citizen.  She has attended LCIS for thirteen years and is on her way to Universidad Veritas in Costa Rica to begin her studies in Interior Design, where she is then planning to transfer to SCAD. While at LCIS, Marissa was a member of the Dragons soccer team, competing in Nassau and Freeport, participated in numerous art workshops with Bahamian artists such as Antonius Roberts, Jackson Petit and John Cox and created a fashion magazine and more than 16 individual pieces of art during her final two years. Marissa was also a member of the Lyford Cay Junkanoo Band, Steel Drum band, and formal band for 7 years.

Sophia Taylor is a Bahamian and Costa Rican citizen.  She has attended LCIS for thirteen years and is on her way to Universidad Veritas in Costa Rica to begin her studies in Photography.  While at LCIS, Sophia was an Honor Roll student, a member of the victorious LCIS Dragons soccer team and the National under 17s Girls soccer team, high school band member, was the recipient of several photography awards, nationally and internationally, including Fash/Art, the Stan Burnside Emerging Visual Artist Award, a Swim America coach, a soccer coach and has created her own photography business.

Joshua Thompson is a Bahamian student and has attended LCIS for three years. Joshua is on his way to Fleming College in Toronto, Ontario, Canada to continue his studies in Visual Arts.  While at LCIS, Joshua has been a competitive swimmer, participated in art workshops with Jackson Petit, Arjuna Watson and John Cox and created over 30 pieces of art in the last two years.

Congratulations to the 2012 Graduating Class on their accomplishments.

For further information, please contact Gillian Watson at 362-4774 ext 251.

Back Row (left to right): Joshua Thompson, Daniel Jennings, Felisha Rosendahl, Yanice Bailey, Francesca Curry, Marisa Maura, Aaron Ballesteros, Theron Smith

Front Row (left to right): Bernard Farquharson, Johanna Kleijn , Emily Lupu, Christie Sweeting, Jade Candiotti, Brianna Eccleston, Kira Friese, Marisa Taylor, Linnea Chisholm, Sophia Taylor