The Anguilla Community College has now become a household name on the island as it continues its functions in the forefront of education. Many students, attending a wide selection of formal and life-style courses, are proudly receiving certificates and awards of excellence from the College, now a well-recognised and developing institution.
The latest such event – the Seventh Annual Certificates and Awards Ceremony – was held on Saturday, December 1, at the Teachers’ Resource Centre under the theme “Expanding Your Possibilities.” The occasion was witnessed by a number of relatives and friends of the students who were officially welcomed by the Dean of Academic Studies, Bernard Wattley.
Bren Romney, an Adjunct Lecturer in Economics at the Community College, and Head of Information Technology at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, who chaired the ceremony, said in part. “Out of the many events that can potentially occupy the calendar of a college, I believe that, more than any other, this one expresses the College’s character and ethos.
“The advancement of the Anguillian populace through access to higher education is central to the College’s mission. As such, we are particularly proud of the commitment, hard work and perseverance of our student body. This is what we are now celebrating. Ceremonies of this nature are both a time for celebration and for giving thanks…I hope that the students will bask in their success – they have every right to do so.”
Vice Chairperson of the Board of Governors, Mrs. Rosena Brooks, extended hearty congratulations to the students for their success. She also congratulated the staff of the Community College, lecturers, relatives, friends and well-wishers for the important role they continued to play in the lives of the students. “It is appropriate for the Anguilla Community College to aim for excellence and recognise it in its human resource,” she stated. “In so doing, the recipients are gratified that their efforts are noticed. In addition, this recognition serves to motivate others to strive for the highest standards.” She urged the students to continue to strive for excellence and never to be satisfied with mediocrity.
President of the College, Professor Delroy Louden, described the Certificates and Awards Ceremony as a very exciting event for the students and in the life of the young Anguilla Community College. “I am glad that you decided to come to this College because there are some exciting things happening in this infant institution,” he told the students. “The unique features include small classes, individual tuition where people can meet and get support – and we have a faculty which is dedicated…This is the beginning of your illustrious journey. It is an important start. What you must do is to crown the start by getting others to come on board and support you and extend the possibilities of moving forward. We live in age where education is a life-long learning. It simply means that the skills you learn today would not be sufficient to take you through your life course. You will have to pick up additional skills and that is what is so unique about the Community College. We are not fixed in our offering. We can be flexible and, at the same time, we have compassion and caring as our hallmark in meeting your demands.”
The feature address was delivered by Pastor Gleason Brooks of the Church of God (Holiness) and a Technical Teacher at the Comprehensive School. “I am affirming to you that you can do anything that you set your mind to do,” he advised the students. “The expansion of your possibilities starts within your mind. What you believe about your ability, or potential, determines how long or short your list of possibilities will be…You have to come outside the box that fear causes you to put yourself in. It therefore begins with what you believe about yourself and what you can do. I am encouraging you not to limit yourself. I do not only say it because I am a Minister, but because I believe it and it has been evident in my own life. We must be confident not just in what we can do on our own, but we must be confident in what God can do in and through our lives.”
The names of the students selected for certificates and awards, presented by Professor Louden, were announced by the Registrar of the Community College, Carla Harris. A summary shows that Excellence Awards were presented to Associate Degree students with an A+, A or A-; and to students who did short courses and topped their class. Sixteen students in all were awarded for excellence. Students, who attended classes, and satisfied the requirements for passing their courses, received certificates. Recognition was also given to all lecturers and two of them, Michelle Queeley and Sherman Williams, were presented with awards. Two community partners – Webster Dyrud Mitchell and CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa – were also awarded.
The list of awardees, prepared by Ms Harris, is as follows:
Excellence Awards in the Division of Hospitality Studies
For the Associate of Science in Hospitality & Tourism Management
1. Trixton Lamey, Highest Grade Point Average for Academic Year 2011-2012 and Excellence and Best Performance in Fundamentals of Accounting, Microeconomics and Excellence in Food Preparation and Service
Excellence Awards in the Division of Social Sciences
For the Associate of Science in Business Studies
2. Jody Ann Dunn, Highest Grade Point Average for Academic Year 2011-2012 and Excellence and Best Performance in Introduction to Customer Service for the Hospitality Industry and Excellence in Foundation Concepts in Mathematics 2
The other Excellence Awards in the Division of Hospitality Studies were awarded to students in the
Food Preparation and Service Class
First place (tied)
3. Winifred Joseph-Davis
4. Shermeka Richardson
Followed by:
5. Leon Morancie
6. Claudina Phillippa Delaney
7. Kareem Webster
The other Excellence Awards in the Division of Social Sciences were awarded to students in the
Foundation Concepts in Mathematics Class and Fundamentals of Accounting Class:
8. Claudine Proctor for Excellence and Best Performance in Foundation Concept in Mathematics part 1 and part 2.
9. Claridania Guerrero Samuel for Excellence in Foundation Concept in Mathematics 1 and Excellence and Best Performance in Fundamentals of Accounting
10. Laurelei Frazer for Excellence in Foundation Concepts in Mathematics 2
Excellence Awards to Students in the Division of Continuing & Adult Education
CXC Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Programme – students received Grade I
11. Laverne Hughes for English A
12. Melvern Hughes for Electronic Document Preparation and Management
Excellence Awards for Graphic Design Semester 1
13. Hari Cuffy
Excellence Awards for Graphic Design Semester 2
14. Sharol Hinds
Excellence Awards for Web Design Semester 1
15. Russell Mitchell
Excellence Awards for Basic Computing Semester 2
16. Gillian Maricia Romney
Presidents Award To 2 Lecturers
· Mr Sherman Williams received the President’s Award. Mr Williams has taught in each of the 3 semesters thus far in the Division of Social Sciences and the Division of Hospitality Studies.
· Ms Michelle Queeley received the Award for Unbroken Commitment. Ms Queeley teaches English A in the CXC CSEC programme and at this time is the lecturer who has been with the ACC the longest.
Presentation of Awards to 2 Community Partners
· Webster and Dyrud was the strongest financial supporter of the Anguilla Community College Week which preceded the inauguration of the College’s first President, Dr Delroy Louden. The award was accepted by Ms Pam Webster, the Principal of Webster and Dyrud
· CuisinArt showed true community spirit and facilitated the Anguilla Community College Food Preparation and Service Exam in their kitchen facilities. It made the management of the exam far more effective and it was done gratis. The award was accepted by Ms Colleen Gumbs.
The English A Students who posed with Michelle Queeley were:
· Jason Horatio Benn – English A
· Laverne Vanessa Hughes – English A
· Judy Jeremiah – English A
· Rushelle Oliver – English A
