Educational success was on full display Wednesday. A graduation event measured students moving forward in their early lives toward becoming productive and well-rounded citizens.

We’re referring to the graduation ceremony of the Teranga Academy, an English immersion program formed between Bowling Green Independent Schools and Fugees Family Inc., a nonprofit described on its website: “Through holistic English immersion and intensive, personalized interventions, our students achieve grade-level proficiency in three years or less. Our model is one of excellence and rigor, setting high expectations and standards for students, families and educators.”

Student and administrator reflection on the occasion Wednesday illustrates the importance — and growing success — of the venture to further assimilate newcomers to this country and sharpen their tools for their futures.

Evidence of success? Furahisha Jerry, who was born in Tanzania but is Congolese. His family fled the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

He struggled at his previous school “especially for English class, so my parents decided to transfer me to a brand new school, which is Teranga, a place that they believed can develop my English,” Jerry said. “But still, English was a big challenge for me. With the help of Teranga, I overcame it in a strong and resilient way.”

It’s not difficult to glean from his comments a pride and happiness — and a sense of optimism and purpose — that this young man displays.

A positive focus and a strong educational foundation gives students a real shot at success in life. We are proud of the academy’s design and outcome — it is a valuable tool and a reflection of the care and dedication all involved bring to those students who are in need of additional care at the outset of their arrival to America.

“We have a lot of structures built in place so that students do feel like they are a part of something,” said Principal Kristi Costellow. “And that’s the hope — that we’re all working together and we’re in it together.”

A job well done.