The Island School Graduates Four Environmental Leaders

Jasmine a BESS Scholar testing bonefish

On Wednesday December 10th, The Island School graduated 48 students from the fall 2008 semester.  Among them were four Bahamas Environmental Steward Scholars (BESS) who are participating in a year-long program that includes an Island School semester and a semester internship at a conservation-related organization.  BESS graduates include Bradley Watson of Nassau, Alannah Vellacott of Freeport, Jasmine Whitcombe of Freeport, and Theodore (Ted) Thompson of Governor’s Harbour. 

“This experience has taught me the importance of what I can give back to my community. Being here I have learned how to see how valuable The Bahamas is and that we must protect its resources for the future,” explains Ted Thompson, “My semester here has motivated me to bring people together to create change.” 

Bradley in Celestial Navigation class

Beginning in January, the students will take on internships at the Cape Eleuthera Institute and the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF).  The internships give them the opportunity to get hands-on experience with world-class research projects on aquaculture, bonefish and flats ecology, and shark conservation, as well as national policy and education initiatives related to the environment.     

The BESS program is coordinated in partnership with BREEF and has received support from the Lyford Cay Foundation and business leaders of Nassau and The Bahamas. 
 
 
 
 

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The Island School is a three-month semester leadership program for high school students.  Participants have come from over 300 schools to study the tropical marine environment and take place-based courses in math, history, English, and art. The Cape Eleuthera Institute is a marine research facility that works with universities to model sustainable systems and find solutions for resource management. For more information visit www.ceibahamas.org and www.islandschool.org. Both programs are supported by the Cape Eleuthera Foundation.