181 Graduate from Eshs; Roberts Valedictorian
Elmore Stoutt High School celebrated 181 graduates at its June 25, 2026 ceremony, with Tarina Kenya Kenessa Roberts named valedictorian and Kaliq Teshawn Jennings salutatorian. Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley praised the role of education in the Territory’s progress, while Education Minister Sharie B. de Castro and Principal Vannessa K. Garraway highlighted strong academic results, including 134 honours recognitions and 100 graduates leaving with college credits.
One hundred eighty-one students from Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) graduated in a ceremony held at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex on Thursday, June 25, 2026. Tarina Kenya Kenessa Roberts was named Valedictorian and Kaliq Teshawn Jennings was named Salutatorian for the Class of 2026.
Natalio Wheatley addressed the graduating class, invoking the Territorial Song: "educating your people is the golden key to maintain the success of this territory," and reminding students that the Territory’s progress rests on a foundation of education. He reflected on a time when formal, government-administered education was limited in the Virgin Islands and credited early church-run schools, then the introduction of the ministerial system and the leadership of the first Chief Minister and Minister of Education, the late H.
Lavity Stoutt, with expanding access to secondary schooling. The premier noted that next year marks the 60th anniversary of the ministerial system. Wheatley said ESHS stands as evidence that when BVI residents have more control over their lives, the people benefit, pushing back on claims that the Territory cannot govern itself.
He urged the graduates to honour the opportunities afforded by self-governance, to pursue advancement, and not to turn their backs on future generations. Honourable Sharie B. de Castro (AL), Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, announced that all 10 of the Territory’s top graduating students this year came from ESHS.
Of the school’s 181 graduates, 134 earned Honours or High Honours. Garraway said 73 percent of the cohort received honours and noted that 100 graduates are leaving with college credits earned through H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, giving them a head start on further study. The high number of honours graduates and dual-enrolled students underscores ongoing investments in education and strengthened pathways to higher education and the workforce in the BVI.
Officials at the ceremony praised the work of teachers, parents and administrators in preparing students for college and careers and reiterated government support for continued investment in education. Graduates, family members and education leaders celebrated both individual achievement and what officials described as a broader sign of the Territory’s educational progress and readiness to build on those gains for future generations.
Primary source: VINO