Graduates Take a Bahamas Trip to Paradise

By Shelley Marmor

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Eight of the 20 Seminole high school graduates arrived at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island on July 23. The class of 2006 in attendance, Ruben “Sonny” Billie, Kaylin Henry, Kevin Frank, Niki Josh, Audrey Snow, Celeste Stockton and Kelie Tigetail, celebrated the milestone of graduation during a week-long trip to the islands.

Upon arrival to the world famous Atlantis resort, the graduates dined at a luncheon in the Providence Room. During the meal representatives from the Education department, including Director Louise Gopher, and Family Services welcomed the grads and congratulated them.

Gopher made a presentation with a DVD of Jim Shore, general counsel for the Tribe, receiving his honorary doctorate degree from Florida State University. She told the group of eight that “if Jim Shore can do it, you can do it;” in hopes of encouraging them to pursue higher education.

Intervention Specialist Julie Bennett, Higher Education Advisor Erlinda Iley and Family Services’ Adult Education Advisor Jasmine Porter also attended. This group was available all week to assist the graduates with any questions or concerns they might have had about their next phase of education.

Chairman Mitchell Cypress also addressed the graduates at this time. He congratulated them all for graduating high school and also acknowledged the five present liaisons. The chairman also recognized the 12 graduates who were unable to attend the Bahamian trip: David Anderson, Leanna Billie, Angelo Colon, Rollie Gilliam, Brett Huff, Richard Keyser, Kurya Kippenberger, Casey McCall, Clifford Sanchez, Joshua Smith, Kristecia Tommie and Maricruz Yzaguirre.

Following the chairman, Liaisons Raymond Garza, Immokalee, Richard Henry, Tampa, O.B. Osceola Jr., Naples, William Osceola, Trail, and Sally Tommie, Fort Pierce, all briefly addressed the grads. Tommie, and all the other liaisons, offered messages of congratulations and she also advised everyone to be safe. She reiterated that although the Bahamas is only a 35 minute flight from the U.S. that it was a different country, with different laws that must be followed.

Tommie and the chairman then presented the grads with beach bags containing useful items for any trip to the Bahamas. The bags contained a beach town with the Tribal logo, sunscreen, a mini fan and a digital camera.

On day two of the trip, the group of grads, parents, staff and Tribal officials embarked on a city tour of Nassau. The first stop was Fort Fincastle, a 200-plus year old fort constructed in 1793 by then Royal Governor Lord Dunmore. Fort Fincastle is located at the top of the Queen’s Staircase, the second stop on the tour.

The picturesque Queen’s Staircase is the island’s most visited tourist attraction. It features 65 limestone steps, all carved out by slaves in the 18th Century. Each of the steps is said to honor one year of Queen Victoria’s 65 year reign. Every member of the group made their way down the very steep steps to the bottom to the grotto.

Other sites on the tour were: Bahaman Prime Minister Perry Gladstone Christie’s house, Fort Charlotte, Cable Beach, Parliament House and more. The tour ended at another one of Nassau’s famous landmarks, Graycliff Restaurant. Graycliff Restaurant is the first ever five star restaurant in the Caribbean. It was even featured on the 1980s TV show Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous; host Robin Leach named it one of the world’s top 10 restaurants.

Following lunch the group walked about one block to downtown Nassau for a little shopping and sightseeing. This area of town is home to many designer shops, souvenir shops and museums. The historic Straw Market, a flea market type shopping area, was also a popular spot for the grads.

On day three, the group met in the Atlantis lobby at 8:30 a.m. for one of the most exciting day trip offered in the Bahamas–the Exuma islands adventure. The Exumas are a remote Bahamian island chain located about one hour by boat from the hotel on Paradise Island. Before reaching Ship Chanel Cay, where the group spent the day, the boat made a stop at Allen’s Cay.

On Allen’s Cay, several brave souls got off the boat to feed grapes to the natives–the Allen’s Cay rock iguana. Chairman Mitchell Cypress joined Trail Liaison William Osceola and Tampa Liaison Richard Henry on the beach, while many of the not-so-brave grads like Juanita Osceola and Sonny Billie cooled off in the crystal blue waters surrounding the island.

After leaving Allen’s Cay, the grads and the rest of the group headed to Ship Chanel Cay for a day of snorkeling, sun tanning and whatever else they could want to do. One of the day’s highlights was the sting ray feeding. The Exuma crew had everyone line up single file and lay a piece of fish in their hand; the sting rays would swim directly over everyone’s hands and take the food.

The Exuma crew also did a shark feeding. Species including lemon sharks and nurse sharks made their way to the shoreline as the crew members threw out pieces of grouper for them to eat. When they called for volunteers to help bring the sharks near the shore, brave Kellie Tigertail stepped up to the challenge. She showed no fear as she helped wrangle the sharks.

On day four the grads, Tribal officials, parents and staff were treated to a sunset cruise followed by dinner at Luciano’s of Chicago. The dinner banquet coincided with the five course gourmet Italian dinner. Sally Tommie opened the banquet program with encouraging and congratulatory remarks.

“You’ve made a grand step in completing high school,” she said. “You’re all defiantly on setting an example and paving the way.”

Tommie introduced, first Chairman Mitchell Cypress, and then the Tribal liaisons. Each person acknowledged all the hard work the grads invested in their schooling. The chairman opened by saying he had a good time with the graduates, especially the previous day on Exuma. He recalled his feelings when seeing a shark close up.

“I don’t know if you can sweat under water, but I think I did,” he said.

He also encouraged each person to continue their education as far as they want to, saying the Tribe will support them in that endeavor. Cypress commended the hard work of the Education department for helping facilitate the needs of all Seminole in school.

Following the chairman, Naples Liaison O.B. Osceola Jr. addressed the graduates and attendees. He told the grads they were “off to a good start.” Next, Trial Liaision William Osceola welcomed the grads to “the adult world” and told them to start thinking about higher education as soon as possible.

“Don’t lay back too long; time moves fast,” he said. “Keep doing what you’re doing and we’ll come to your college graduation.”

After his speech, Osceola shook hands with each graduate. Tampa Liaison Richard Henry followed. He was not only there as a Tribal representative, but the proud parent of grad Kaylin Henry. Henry talked about the importance of a positive attitude in all aspects of life.

“You can have all the skills,” he said. “But if you don’t have the right attitude you won’t make it.”

Immokalee Liaison Ralph Sanchez followed Henry. He congratulated the class of 2006 and said he knew they just completed “a long haul.” Sanchez said the grads should pursue higher education because they are the future of the Tribe.

“Set your goals high,” he said. “We’d like to see you come back and run the Tribal Council.”

Following speeches from all the Tribal officials, parents and grandparents of the grads in attendance offered congratulatory remarks. As the banquet came to a close the chairman handed out certificates of appreciation to each graduate.