Eight students from Akhepran International Academy (AIA) have returned home with a broader vision of leadership, service and their own potential after representing The Bahamas at the 2026 Pilot International and Anchor Clubs International Leadership Summit in Oklahoma City.
For the young delegates, the journey marked far more than participation in an international conference. It was the first international appearance by AIA’s newly established Anchor Club – placing the students among young leaders from around the world within months of the club’s formation. AIA was represented by students Jacquay Saunders, Alijah Butler, Shaday Cash, Lorrie Deus, Jade Pinder, Kyler Seymour, Trae Vincent and Zacari Stevenson, accompanied by six advisors. The delegation travelled to Oklahoma City on July 14 for the annual summit, along with other Bahamian Anchors from New Providence, Grand Bahama and Abaco.
Throughout the conference, the students participated in leadership workshops, networking sessions and an international service project. They exchanged ideas with fellow Anchors and members of Pilot International while gaining firsthand exposure to an organization built around friendship, volunteerism and service to others. The experience also allowed them to see Bahamian leadership operating at the
international level. During the 2026 Pilot International Installation Banquet, Terrez Curry was installed as
an International Secretary, while Karen Ferguson Bain was installed as President Elect of Pilot International. Their appointments placed two more Bahamian women in influential executive positions within the global service organization and provided the AIA students with powerful examples of where commitment, preparation and service can lead.
Newly installed Pilot International President Lisa Palmquist also paid tribute to former International President Debbie Archer, the first Bahamian to lead Pilot International. Palmquist praised Archer’s grace, intelligence, professionalism and exceptional leadership, sharing that Archer’s tenure inspired her own ambition to one day become International President. The tribute underscored the lasting influence Bahamian women have had on the organization and gave the students an opportunity to witness the
impact of leadership that extends beyond national borders.
For the AIA delegation, those moments brought the concept of global leadership to life. The students were not simply hearing that young Bahamians could grow into positions of international influence; they were standing in a room with women from their own country who had already done so. That experience is especially significant for a first-year Anchor Club. Its international debut demonstrated that the club is already becoming a meaningful avenue through which AIA scholars can develop confidence, build relationships and translate service into leadership.
The summit also reflected a central part of the Academy’s educational approach: learning should extend beyond the classroom and prepare students to contribute meaningfully at the community, national and international levels. As Akhepran International Academy celebrates its 16th anniversary, the students’
journey represents the continuation of the vision on which the school was built—teaching ancient wisdom, values and knowledge while preparing children to become conscientious citizens and proactive global leaders.
Through its “Trinity of Teaching,” AIA helps scholars discover their Skills, develop their knowledge through Science and Subjects, and understand the Spirit and Purpose guiding their lives. The Anchor Club’s international debut brought all three together, giving students the opportunity to use their abilities, expand their understanding and see how purposeful service can create an impact far beyond themselves.
Source: Felicity Darville
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