PHILIPSBURG: --- The atmosphere was electric as the St. Maarten Academy celebrated its Class of 2025, a cohort that has proven that "Today's Dreams, Tomorrow's Reality" is more than just a theme—it is a lived experience. In a ceremony marked by soaring academic statistics and deeply moving personal testimonies, two voices stood out to define the evening: Principal Kim Lucas Felix and keynote speaker Ramzan Juman.
Together, their speeches painted a picture of an institution that is not merely a school, but a "proving ground" that forges character, resilience, and world-class scholars.
A Legacy of Academic Domination
Principal Kim Lucas Felix took to the podium with a report that would be the envy of any educator in the Caribbean. Addressing parents, faculty, and graduates, she revealed that the Academy had once again secured a 100% school pass rate.
The numbers were staggering. Among the 54 CSEC and 31 CAPE candidates, the school produced results that placed them firmly on the regional map. Principal Felix proudly announced that 10 students had made the Regional Merit List, meaning they ranked within the top 10 students across the entire Caribbean in their respective subjects.
"When we say that we are the number one school on this island, we have our figures to back it up," Felix declared.
The evening highlighted individual brilliance, including CSEC valedictorian Hadil El Aswad, who returned 12 Grade 1s with all A profiles, and CAPE valedictorian Kisherno Webster, who swept through units of Computer Science, Information Technology, and Pure Mathematics with top grades. Perhaps most notably, student Furley Feliz Valerio earned the number one spot on the regional merit list for the second consecutive year, securing first place in Digital Media Unit 1.
From Survival to Success
While Principal Felix highlighted the transcript's triumphs, Keynote Speaker Ramzan Juman highlighted the triumphs of the spirit. A member of the Class of 2007 and now a successful cloud and infrastructure engineer, Juman offered a raw and honest counter-narrative to the night's perfection.
Juman admitted he wasn't the "greatest student" during his time at the Academy. His high school years were marked by a battle for survival, fighting bone cancer in fourth form, suffering a broken leg, and battling lung cancer in fifth form. Yet, he stood before the Class of 2025 as living proof that current struggles do not dictate future success.
"Being average in one chapter doesn't mean you can't be exceptional in the next," Juman told the graduates. "Progress matters more than perfection. Setbacks don't define you, but how you respond to them does."
His journey from a struggling student to a top college graduate and successful engineer underscored the school's ability to provide a foundation that works for everyone, not just those on the merit list.
A Foundation Built on Resilience
Both speakers acknowledged that the Class of 2025 has faced unique challenges. Juman reminded the audience that these graduates navigated their education through the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple hurricane seasons, local elections, and a major ransomware attack on the island's utility provider.
"You're living proof that courage and progress can turn storms into strength," Juman noted. He emphasized that in the real world, Academy graduates stand apart because they have learned to think under pressure and defend their ideas—skills forged in an environment where "showing up" was never enough.
Principal Felix echoed this sentiment, urging her students to leave the Academy's "protective wings" with dignity. She credited the tireless dedication of the staff, including the "ladies of the DSC" and the supportive Board of the Foundation for Academic and Vocational Education (FAVE), for ensuring students had the resources to succeed despite external struggles.
Tomorrow is Only a Night Away
As the ceremony concluded, the message was clear: whether through achieving regional academic dominance or overcoming life-threatening personal hurdles, the foundation laid at St. Maarten Academy is solid.
Principal Felix left the graduates with a final charge to carry themselves with confidence and keep their faith central to their lives. "Despite what is thrown at you, know that you can conquer it all," she said. "Tomorrow is only a night away."
For the Class of 2025, tomorrow looks incredibly bright.
