More than 1,000 people attended the 27th Speech Day and Prize Giving of Aloha College - held at the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos in Marbella on June 26th.

The Junior School Ceremony started at 9.30 with a welcome address by Elizabeth Batchelor, Headmistress of the Junior School. The audience was delighted with some beautiful singing from the Junior School Choir and a brilliant Flamenco fusion performance from Miss Anouk’s Flamenco Dance Group. Many prizes were awarded for exceptional work and effort and a special prize was awarded to David Miladinovic who not only behaved as a model student during the year but also came second out of two million participants in the recent World Maths Day Competition. The Junior event culminated with the graduation of 58 Year 6 students - Ambassadors of Aloha College Junior School - and the grand finale saw the whole Junior School on their feet singing the ‘Leavers Song’.

The Senior event began two hours later with an opening address from the Chairman of the Board of Governers, Frank Martinez, followed by the Headmaster’s address. Birgit Bloom, who will be retiring this year after 18 years of service to Aloha College, was honoured twice in the ceremony and also said a few words to a very appreciative audience. Proud parents and friends then watched as 43 Aloha College graduates, resplendent in their vivid blue gowns and caps, received their graduation certificates from Senior School Headmaster, Robert Clarence. These 43 students have spent the last two years studying for the International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations. The IB represents an enormous amount of hard work and is now the most revered qualification for university entrance worldwide. The graduates will now be moving on to the world’s best universities. With the words from Don Eugenio Lopez (Director of the IB Programme) - “Ladies and Gentlemen - I present to you the Class of 2009!” all 43 graduates threw their caps high into the air in a flurry of relief and excitement. Many a tear was shed by students and parents at the realisation that this once-in-a-lifetime experience marked the end of a key stage of their young lives and the start of the next.

Another highlight of the event was the arrival of the 2009 Yearbook - a comprehensive, 240 page record of the past academic year and a lovely memory for the students.

Aloha College wishes their graduates the very best of luck in their future careers.