There has been much ceremony and commendation for twenty-two accomplished and proud students at the Open Campus of the University of the West Indies in Anguilla. After much study and dedication, they will be graduating with degrees, diplomas and certificates at the sister campus in Antigua on October 10.
A recognition ceremony, in the run-up to that date, was held at the World Harvest Assembly Hall in The Quarter, Anguilla, on Thursday evening, September 10. It was presided over by Dr. Phyllis Fleming-Banks, Manager of the UWI Open Campus British Overseas Territories Sites in the Caribbean.
The three-part event comprised the 2015 Continuing and Professional Education Certificate Ceremony; the Presentation of the 2015 Graduands and the Induction of the Executive Members of the Anguilla Chapter of the UWI Open Campus Guild of Students.
Dr. Fleming Banks stated in part: “Today, we present evidence that the UWI Open Campus on Anguilla is fulfilling its mandate. We are pleased to salute the twenty-two online graduands who will officially receive their certificates, diplomas and degrees at the 2015 Graduation Ceremony in Antigua on Saturday, 10th October. Twenty-two Anguillians is a record number.
“We also congratulate the forty-eight of the fifty-six participants who completed our onsite, face-to-face Continuing and Professional Educational Skills Development Courses during this past summer. Additionally, we are pleased to honour our Student Guild Executive Members.”
Minister of Education, Mr. Evans McNiel Rogers, said: “It is a proud moment for me and for Anguilla. It was in 2008, at a CARICOM meeting in Antigua, when the UWI Open Campus was established – when your humble servant represented Anguilla. I have been an advocate for the UWI Open Campus throughout my tenure 2005-2010 and up until now. It wasn’t easy in those early days because there was a lot of opposition from the campus territories because we [the other islands] were taking away the economic benefits from them.”
Mr. Rogers continued: “It is my pleasure to bring congratulatory greetings to you on the completion of the various programmes at the UWI Open Campus in Anguilla. The Open Campus presents a unique opportunity for furthering your studies, under the auspices of a world-renowned institution, without having to leave your place of residence. It is therefore an attractive option for many who prefer to work while advancing themselves through higher education.”
The Minister told his listeners that if they were progressive persons interested in developing themselves professionally, “further education is not an option. It is a necessity.” He added: “I commend all of you for recognising the value of education and ensuring that you successfully completed your programmes. Education and learning is a life-long process, and again I congratulate all of you and wish you the very best in your endeavours.”
Mrs. Chanelle Petty Barrett, Permanent Secretary and a UWI Alumna, also highly commended all of the students. “As a proud product of the
University of the West Indies myself, I am pleased that so many of you have taken advantage of the opportunity to study with this particular institution,” she said. “UWI is renowned for the vigour of its programmes. It does not compromise on standards. So I have no doubt that, in pursuing your studies, you have been tried and tested so that any certificate you receive is not a gift but was earned through hard work.”
Mrs. Petty Barrett advised the students to think critically, noting that all aspects of life require critical thought; secondly, they should embrace the opportunity to grow personally and professionally even though such opportunity may come in the form of a challenge; and thirdly, quitting was not an option. She stressed that they should remain focused, committed and steadfast to the end.
The UWI Open Campus in Anguilla Graduating Class 2015 comprises the following students: David Alcid, Gloria Butcher, Kiel Connor, Cameca Edwards, Godfrey John, Dhanrajie Ramnarine, Oralyn Reid, Roshima Roberts, Trasmine Simpson, Mitzie Temple-Richardson, Matasha Welcome, Euridith Browne, Takoma Carty-Pemberton, Chevonne DaSouza, Lanvin Gumbs, Vanessa Mendonca-Anderson, Heidi Ravariere, Jameel Rochester, Latoya Scarbro, Jennyvile Smith, Beverley Thompson and Angela Whyte.
As reported earlier, the abovementioned students will graduate on October 10.
The forty-eight other students and the Continuing and Professional Education Courses in which they participated were as follows:
Law for Human Resource Practitioners (facilitated by Mrs. Keesha Carty): Deanna Cabrera, Erimel Franklin, Susan Hodge, Kevin Carty, David Gumbs, Charlene Roach, Bernice Edwards, Violet Gumbs and Peron Sepersaud.
Supervisory Management (facilitated by Mrs. Anuika Webster-Lake): Nicolson Connor, Everlette John, Ruiz Philip-Thomas, Shondell Hodge, Rajid Lake, Delma Titre, Kerlyn Hughes and Mary O’Brien.
Introduction to Counselling (facilitated by Dr. O. Linda Banks): Sherrie Brooks, Carmencita Davis, Toya Carty and Danette Webster.
Finance for Non-Finance Managers (facilitated by Mrs. Donna Banks):Hyacinth Augustine-Bradley, Maeza Demis Adams, Nicola Webster, Nicolson Connor and Everlette John.
Conversational Spanish (facilitated by Mrs. Sharon Lake): Ellena Codrington, Ellenita Harrigan, Germaine Hodge, Shirba Hughes, Roshell Miller, Jossie-Ann Richards, Hermina Webster, Cameca Edwards, Suzette Harrigan, Vanroy Hodge, Monesha Lake, Kenneth Millette, Roshima Roberts and Denise Webster-Horsford.
Small Business Management (facilitated by Mr. Marcel Fahie): Keria Hughes, Daryl Ruan and Melisse Jennings.
English Language Preparation (facilitated by Ms. Michelle Queeley, the first online Doctoral Programme student at the UWI Open Campus in Anguilla): Thrishina Hodge, Rochelle Reed, Tiffany Reece, Javier Richardson and Jammar Ruan.
Those who received certificates of induction as Executive Members of the Anguilla Chapter of the UWI Open Campus Guild of Students, were as follows:
Britnee Wiliams, President; Trevor Queeley, Vice President; Kirsten Webster-Herbert, Secretary; Arlene Browne-Richardson, Treasurer; Rene Henry, Public Relations Officer; Carla Richards, Liaison Officer Accounting; Tamara Young, Liaison Officer Education; Simone Ferguson, Liaison Officer Business Studies; and Leonise Francis, Liaison Officer Social Work/Youth Development.
The members of the Guild of Students are to provide assistance to students at the UWI Open Campus and were welcomed by Mr.Colwayne Pickering, who has enrolled in the Master’s Degree Programme.
