The first graduation from the Anguilla Community College was an event of pomp and ceremony at the Mount Fortune Seventh-day Church at East End on Wednesday morning, October 29. It was an historic, momentous and joyous occasion in the life of the tertiary institution – a proud moment of achievement for the graduates and, by extension, the people of Anguilla on a whole.
Twenty students graduated with Associate Degrees or Postgraduate Diplomas. Five of them obtained Associate Degrees in Business Studies with specialisations in Accounting, Human Resources or Management and Finance. And four graduated with Associate Degrees in Business Studies with specialisations in Food and Beverage Management or Accommodation Management Studies. The College was also proud to award Postgraduate Diplomas in Education to eleven students.
Thirteen students were awarded the International Vocational Qualification 6161 Construction – with one or more specialisations in Air-conditioning and Refrigeration, Electrical Installation or Plumbing. Many of the students in this City & Guilds Programme earned merits or distinctions for their performance during the course.
Eight other students were awarded Certificates for Basic Geriatric Care.
The Valedictorian for the first Anguilla Community College Associate Degree Graduation was Mr Trixton Larney; and a special award was presented to Mrs Maria Reid for being the Most Outstanding Student in the Postgraduate Diploma in Education course. Mr Leon Morancie received the Community College’s Spirit Award.
The Commencement Address was delivered by Professor Arthur Richardson, former Professor of Education at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies, and an Anguillian national. Other speakers were Governor Christina Scott; Chief Minister, Mr Hubert Hughes; Mrs Chanelle Petty Barrett, Permanent Secretary, Education, who spoke on behalf of the Minister, Mr Jerome Roberts who is off island; Mrs Rhona Richardson-Roydon, Chairperson of the Board of Governors of the Community College.
The Invocation was delivered by the Right Reverend Errol Brooks and the Benediction pronounced by the Rev Dr Wycherley Gumbs, Superintendent of the Methodist Circuit and President of the Anguilla Christian Council.
A number of distinguished visitors attended the historic occasion. They included Dr Mary Nicholas, President of the College of Agriculture, Science and Education in Jamaica; Dr Donna Powell-Wilson, Executive Director of the Council of Community Colleges in Jamaica; Dr Carl Dawson, President of the H Lavity Stout Community College in the British Virgin Islands; Dr Haldane Davies, Special Assistant to the President of the University of the Virgin Islands; Mrs Bernice Critchlow- Earle, Head of Hospitality at the Barbados Community College and Board Member of the Anguilla Community College; Dr Francis Guadeloupe, Interim President and Dean of Academics at the University of St Maarten; Ms Patricia Lourens Phillips, Minister of Education, Government of St Maarten; and Mr Howard Isaacs, Principal at the Montague Teachers’ Training College in Jamaica.
The Anguilla Community College has expressed gratitude to LIME Anguilla for being the platinum sponsor for its first graduation ceremony. The College has also thanked all other sponsors for their contribution in making the graduation ceremony a success. The Institution says it is particularly proud of its first graduates and extends its congratulations to them.
