Students in the concurrent diploma program earn diplomas from both Bridge Academy and Texas Tech High School.

Haiti International Partnership Graduates 6 TTU K-12 Seniors

By Leslie Cranford, Section Manager

Whether just a few or hundreds of graduates are walking the stage, commencement is always a festive occasion for everyone involved with getting those students through their primary and secondary education.

Bridge Academy, TTU K-12’s educational partner in Haiti, hosted its 2023 commencement in June. Six of the students were enrolled in the concurrent diploma program, earning two high school credentials at once. One diploma is awarded from Bridge Academy and a second from Texas Tech University High School. The international concurrent diploma program gives partner students a better chance at applying, being accepted into, and attending universities in the United States.

Tatiana Behrmann, the principal of Bridge Academy, described the ceremony.

“Parents, staff and students were proud and excited to congratulate our students' hard work and especially their resilience as they faced unimaginable obstacles throughout the past four years,” Behrmann said, referencing the political unrest in the city and country between 2019 and 2021. “We were honored to have Jared Lay speak at this event, which only confirmed the unwavering support that Bridge Academy receives from our partner, the Texas Tech family.”

Lay, director of recruitment and international partnerships for TTU K-12, joined the ceremony virtually, bringing regards from the TTU K-12 administration and congratulating the students on their milestone.

“Their in-person commencement was held in Port-au-Prince, of course, but I was happy to join the ceremony online,” Lay said. “I personally wanted them to know how proud the TTU K-12 family was for them making it to graduation. This group went through a lot of tough times, but they kept on going. Principal Behrmann and other school leaders conducted a beautiful commencement that had around 75 to 100 friends and family in attendance. It was a great day.”

Bridge Academy signed its partnership with TTU K-12 in September 2019; the school graduated its first concurrent diploma students in 2021.

The 2023 Bridge/Texas Tech High School graduates were Matheo Beauvoir, Larissa Bellabe, Thalia Bouchereau, Randolphe Douge, Soraya Francois and Luc Emile Mertyl.