The UWI Open Campus 7th annual Recognition of Graduates Ceremony was held at the Rodney McArthur Rey Auditorium on December 9, 2021. For 2022, the Campus is offering courses in new areas of study.
According to the University’s Country Manager, Dr. Phyllis Fleming Banks, more and more young people are currently registering to take advantage of courses in areas of social work and epidemiology. She said that these young students are continuing their studies while building their careers at the University which is rated with the top 1.5% of universities worldwide.
Those graduates who were recognised back in December would have been honoured with respective degrees being publicly bestowed upon them by Dr. Phyllis Fleming-Banks, herself. Just as they were honoured, she too felt honoured to bequeath such honour upon them on such an auspicious occasion. Following, we make a flash back to that memorable event when some 36 graduates — a record number for Anguilla — were recognized:
The ceremony began with the national song being sung by Pelican graduate, Amorelle Bryan Hodge. Following was the playing of the university song, and a moment of silence was observed in respect of the sudden passing of Pelican graduate, Patrina Hutchinson. Pastor Rondy Isles-Carty, another graduating Pelican, then offered a prayer of invocation and thanksgiving.
In her welcome remarks, Dr. Fleming Banks cordially greeted a cadre of government dignitaries and education officials. Those present included: the Honourable Premier, Dr. Ellis Lorenzo Webster; the Honorable Minister of Education, Ms. De-Ann Kentish Rogers; the Honourable Deputy Governor, Mr. Perin Bradley; the Honourable Ministerial Assistant, Mr. Merrick Richardson; Permanent Secretary, Dr. Bonnie Richardson-Lake; Chief Education Officer, Mr. Bren Ronmey; President of the Anguilla Community College, Kenneth Williams; President of the UWI Alumni Association (Anguilla Chapter) Ms. Kemoloy Murphy; Vice-President of the Alumni Association; Dr. Maglan Lewis and Treasurer of the Alumni Association, Mr. Vonlee Harris.
Dr. Fleming-Banks stated that, on behalf of the staff faculty and students, it was indeed her distinct pleasure to welcome the audience to the annual Recognition of Graduates Ceremony. “This is an afternoon of celebration,” she said, “and we are delighted and honored to know that you have taken the time to join us.”
She explained: “Traditionally, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, every year the Chancellor of the University of the West Indies would conduct a formal graduation ceremony for open Campus graduates in one of the non-campus territories. In addition, the UWI Open Campus country sites around the region, including Anguilla, would also host local recognition ceremonies to honour there local graduates.
“While these smaller ceremonies can never replace the main one,” she noted, “they do allow our graduates to publicly share their accomplishments with those wh o have been most instrumental on their academic journey. The pandemic has not only forced us to move our formal graduation ceremonies online, it has also meant that most countries have had to forego the local graduation ceremonies.
“However, we here in Anguilla are certainly blessed with the privilege of still being able to gather and celebrate in this manner, despite the challenges. So, today we gratefully join in celebrating and applauding the accomplishments of our 2021 graduates.”
The Honorable Dee-Ann Kentish Rogers gave cordial greetings in her recognition to the graduates, and encouraged them to define themselves by continuing their educational pursuits: “Good afternoon Pelicans!” she saluted.
“You have the pleasure of being nurtured by one of the top institutions in the world, and you must feel proud. In many questionnaires and job interviews, you may be asked what was the defining moment in your lives. In a global world that is looking for your brand, your market, and your niche, you will feel the pressure to sum up your life to one single experience. But I have experienced that an accomplishment such as this one, here today, though it is momentous, it is not defining. What will define you is your continuous journey of education.”
Following was the featured singing of Mariah Carey’s “Miracles When You Believe”, by Pelicans Amorelle Hodge and Charlene Roach. Chief Education Officer, Mr. Bren Romney then congratulated the graduates:
“You are indeed a special group,” he commended. “You are a special Class. You have had to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic and its global impact, and you have shown great fortitude, resilience and perseverance. The Department of Education is elated by your success. Well done and congratulations.”
President of the Anguilla Community College, Dr. Kenneth Williams, was also on hand to congratulate the graduates. Dr. Williams, himself, is twice a Pelican, having graduated from UWI campuses in both Cave Hill, Barbados and Mona, Jamaica. “It is my pleasure to bring greetings to you from the Anguilla Community College, from our faculty, staff, administrators and our students,” he said.
“It is my honour to address you today. UWI has played a very important part in the Caribbean region in moving our people forward. Education is a very important precondition for true development. And you are in a very privileged place. You have gained knowledge here, and you must work to transfer that knowledge to wisdom. We urge you to continue to take that knowledge which you have and be wise.”
The graduates, all Diploma and Degree recipients, then ascended the stage to be awarded by Dr. Fleming-Banks, assisted by and Dr. Maglan Lewis. A familiar prose poem, “Desiderata” was then rendered by Pelican Erlyn Wilkerson, after which congratulatory remarks were spoken by Dr. Michelle Queeley, Dean of Studies at the Anguilla Community College.
In delivering her Graduate’s Response, First Class Honours student, Ms. Anthea Connor, testified about the efficiency of UWI’s support system that helped her over her tearful struggles: “It was our tears that help us to get here,” she said. “The tears that many of us cried were a part of the growth process.”
Ms. Connor went on: “UWI stretched, pushed, pulled and challenged me in ways that forced me to push past the boundaries of who I was. I cried tears, but these were just the outward manifestation of the water that was sustaining me through the process of transformation. Yes, it was tough but we are here today because our tears sustained us.”
She continued, “Fellow graduates, do not take it for granted how monumental a step it is for us to be even here. Pursuing tertiary education in an online setting is no cake walk. It is not for the weak. Though you may be learning at your own pace, and from the comfort of your home, still this mode of being educated comes with its unique challenges. But despite those challenges, I must say that the university’s tutors and support system provided us with tremendous benefit.”
At the end of the ceremony, the Vote of Thanks was delivered by Pelican Kemoloy Murphy, and the UWI Alumni Pledge was recited by Pelican Vonlee Harris.
Dr. Fleming-Banks said that since last year’s Recognition of Graduates Ceremony, a new batch of students have been oriented to begin a new semester. She encourages young people, particularly, to fall in line at the UWI Open Campus to embark upon a course that would be ultimately resourceful for their future life-long development.
