The Government High School (GHS) Alumni Association is proud to announce the 3rd Government High School Alumni Phoenix Awards Ceremony. Under the esteem patronage of Dame Janet Bostwick, the GHS Alumni Association will recognize and celebrate former students on Saturday 5th April 2025, at the University of The Bahamas Performing Arts Center.
The Government High School Alumni Association was formed to replace The Government High School Old Scholars Association of The Government High School. The Old Scholars Association, which was formed in 1941 and stopped functioning in the 1960s. The Government High School Alumni Association, was established in September 2022 and like TGHS Old Scholars Association, its primary purpose is to: create and reinforce lifelong intellectual, professional, and personal connections amongst its members; to serve GHS community and to strengthen the link between the alumni’s membership and GHS; to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of members of GHS Alumni and to generate and maintain the active interest of all alumni as a support association with pride in the heritage of GHS. As the Government High School will be celebrating 100 years as an institution in April of 2025, we are poised and geared up for this grand Centennial Celebration with the hope that this Alumni Association will bridge the gap with all former students.
Alumni from The Government High School have been synonymous with every major accomplishment in The Bahamas. From leading the Burma Road March, leading the charge to Majority Rule, leading the move to independence, being the first woman elected to the House of Assembly as well as becoming the first woman Governor General among an array of other accomplishments. Alum members also include Governor Generals, Members of Cabinet, Leaders of religious organizations, Members of Parliament, senior civil servants, and executives of many established private entities in The Bahamas and around the world. Members of The Government High School Alumni contributions are measured in terms of the character of lives of the men and women who wore the Royal Blue and white since its establishment in April 1925
The first Phoenix Award was held in January 2023 and recognized former students Robert Bailey and his sister Mrs. Louise Bailey Symonette, who attended GHS in 1925 as well as Sir Lynden Pindling, , Sir Randol Fawkes, Roberta Turnquest, A.D Hanna, dame Ivy Dumont, Sir Cecil Wallace Whitfield, Ruth Miller, Hugh Sands, Sir Orville Turnquest and many more. In 2024 the GHS Alumni Phoenix Award was presented to Rupert Roberts, the family of Paul Adderley, Sir Gerald Cash, and Kendal Isaacs, Mrs. Anatol Rodgers, Hon. Justice Jeanne I. Thompson Janet and Henry Bostwick, Pat Rahming, Mrs. Emma Cooper, Mrs. Orry J. Hanna-Sands and many more. The Awards are a testament to the schools symbol the Phoenix, which represents ‘Raising up from the Ashes.’ In 1925 when GHS was established, secondary education was not available to Blacks and women. GHS gave scores of under privileged students the opportunity to raise from the depts of lack of education to helping to shape and build the modern Bahamas.
During the GHS 3rd Annual Phoenix Awards ceremony, on Saturday 5th April 2025, days away from the Government High School Centennial Celebration Sunday April 27th, when GHS will celebrate 100 years as an institution, the GHS Alumni Association will recognize several outstanding alums from 1960 to 1969 as well as former administrators and a 1934 graduate who have been nominated by a larger group of alumni members. Families of former students as well as administrators will receive Posthumous Phoenix Awards and former GHS students who are still with us will receive Lifetime Achievement Phoenix Awards in recognition of exceptionally outstanding leadership and for their valuable service and contribution to The Government High School and The Commonwealth of The Bahamas. The Awards will be received by the Families of the following:
- Keva Bethel
- Dr. Hervis Bain
- Dr Bernard Nottage
- Peter Bethel
- Perry Gomez
- Neville Dorsett
Also nominated by the larger TGHS community, the following persons will receive The Government High School Alumni Phoenix Lifetime Achievement Award. This award has been dedicated to recognizing former students for outstanding achievements in their professional lives, for personal integrity and stature and service to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the global community.
- Vincent Vanderpool
- Paul King
- Gloria Gilbert
- Angela Cleare
- Dr Emmanuel Francis
- Camile Johnson
- Robin Roberts
- Minalee Woodside-Hanchell
- Sheila Culmer
- Margaret Hepburn McKay,
- Jaunianne Dorsett
- Marcus Bethel
- Delores Agartha Francis-Williams
- Nigel Lewis,
- Francina D. Horton, nee Darling
- Anthony “Boozie” Rolle
- Dorothy Darling-Yearwood,
- Rhonda Chipman-Johnson
- Bernard ‘Porky’ Dorsette
- Dwight Sawyer
- James Smith
- Sandra Archer.
In addition to the announcement of the Government High School Alumni Phoenix Awards Ceremony, TGHS Alumni Association is please to announce its GHS Centennial Celebrations events.
January 1st 2025
Start of GHS Alumni Centennial Celebrations Dollars for Scholars
March 2025
Centennial Celebrations Merchandise distribution
April 1st-30th 2025
GHS Alumni Centennial Celebrations Exhibition at Government High school
April 5th 2025
3rd Annual GHS Alumni Phoenix Awards.
April 12th 2025
GHS Alumni Centennial Celebrations Diner Grand Bahama
April 13th 2025
GHS Alumni Church service Grand Bahama
April 20th 2025
GHS Alumni Centennial Celebrations Gala at Atlantis
April 26th 2025
GHS Merchandise Day
April 26th 2025
Presentation of GHS Alumni Centennial Celebrations Dollars for Scholars cheques by graduation classes at special assembly
July 2025
GHS Alumni Association’s election
The Government High School Alumni Association is committed to creating and reinforcing lifelong intellectual, professional, and personal connections amongst its members; to serve the GHS community and to strengthen the link between the Alumni’s membership and GHS; to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of members of the GHS Alumni and to generate and maintain the active interest of all alumni as a support association with pride in the heritage of GHS.
For more information about the GHS Alumni Association persons can visit the Alumni’s website tghalumni.com or tghsalumni.org
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