The University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus, Anguilla, has teamed up with the UWI Alumni Association and the family of the late Julian R. Harrigan, to launch the Julian R. Harrigan Memorial Scholarship Fund in his honour. Mr. Harrigan served as the University of the West Indies representative for Anguilla for over 20 years. He became the UWI representative on Anguilla during his tenure as Permanent Secretary for Public Administration.
Dr. Phyllis Fleming Banks, Manager for the British Overseas Territories UWI Open Campus Sites, described him as being instrumental in promoting the University’s programmes on Anguilla beginning with the UWI Challenge Programme in the late 1980s and further to the commissioning of the UWI Open Campus Building at Pope Hill. She said, “as we know Mr. Harrigan passed [several years ago] and in all of the UWI work on Anguilla, his name stands tall. In this regard the UWI Alumni Association Steering Committee, together with the staff at the UWI Open Campus, decided to do something in his honor for the 20 years that he has contributed to the development of UWI, Anguilla”.
Representing the Harrigan family Joan Harrigan Farrelly, sister of Julian, said: “Our family know how very important education was not only to Julian but also to our parents who strongly believed in education being the key to opening doors for all of us to live a better life. We feel very honoured that the University of the West Indies recognizes him for all of his work and dedication, but also because of his interest in education not only for himself and his family but in ensuring that the island of Anguilla prosper through education – thus the launch of this wonderful scholarship”. She revealed that the family would be honoured to sponsor the very first scholarship and subsequently made an annual contribution to the fund: “I think this scholarship is going to help us to ensure that we are regenerating and keeping his memory alive not only in our hearts but on the island as well”. The scholarship will be for areas Julian were particularly involved with – and the first will be given to a selected candidate for semester one of the 2016-2017 school year.
On April 9th the UWI (Open Campus) Alumni Association will host its inaugural annual fundraiser which will go towards the scholarship fund. Mrs. Fleming-Banks said: “At this launch we are hoping that more people who celebrate Julian’s achievements and contributions would come on board and contribute to the scholarship fund which will be for young people here in Anguilla to further their education through the University of the West Indies Open Campus, in particular, for which Julian dedicated many tireless hours in ensuring that we have the building for the Open Campus”.
Mrs. Fleming-Banks noted that one of UWI’s main values is for its graduates to realize the importance of giving back to the community. She estimated that Anguilla has about 500 UWI graduates and it is hoped that they too will remember one of main hallmarks of UWI alumni, as set out by the University Chancellor at graduation: become involved in their communities and nurture and mentor youth. The pelican atop the university’s logo signifies that charge. Mrs. Fleming-Banks indicated that it is on the cards for the government to be invited to contribute to the fund as it grows.
Julian’s widow, Ellen Harrigan, and brother, Quincy Harrigan, also expressed their gratitude and pledged support towards the development of education on Anguilla through the Julian R. Harrigan Scholarship Fund.
The University of the West Indies Open Campus offers programmes from certificate level all the way to Doctorate.
