BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS CELEBRATES INAUGURAL TRANSFORMING LIVES ACADEMY GRADUATION

KINGSHILL – In partnership with the University of the Virgin Islands Center for Excellence in Leadership and Learning (UVI Cell), the Virgin Islands Bureau of Corrections today celebrated its inaugural graduation of its “Transforming Lives Academy.”

The ceremony was held at the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility today with staff and inmates in person and virtually via Zoom with family members, stakeholders, and the Commissioner of Education, Racquel Berry-Benjamin.

Director Testamark stated, “she was delighted and exceedingly proud of the staff efforts including the correctional instructors, custody and security staff, and program administrators for doing all necessary to create opportunities for our inmates. She further expressed that the Transforming Lives Academy is the first-ever program of this magnitude that offers inmates the opportunity to complete high school coursework and requirements and receive their High School Diploma from Penn Foster High School in a live-format graduation ceremony at the Bureau. Our organization continues to rise because of educational, technical, and strategic programs implemented using the WHY-factor, which takes the very best of positive psychology and purpose to develop remarkable results.”

Suzanne Darrow-Magras, Director of UVI Cell, led the graduation ceremony as its Mistress of Ceremony. The program included a Procession, Pomp, and Circumstance, playing of the National Anthem and the Virgin Islands March, and an invocation by BOC’s Chaplain Ludger Berkitt. Commissioner Berry-Benjamin, Guest Speaker Stephan Hyacinth (Inmate), BOC’s Construction Superintendent Anthony Wheeler, BOC’s Programs and Grants Manager, Peter Abrahams, and Rodney Miller (Inmate) offered remarks. These individuals provided all graduates with words of wisdom and positive energy in being courageous, stepping forward to accomplish educational pursuits, and becoming a trailblazer and role model for education.