by Staff Reporter
Graduating class 2013
Several students obtained Associate Degrees and Diplomas at the Montserrat Community College’s (MCC) graduating ceremony. The ceremony, after a call to order by Principal Paul Payne, and prayer by Rev. Dr. Ruth Allen, had for the chairman, Mr. Glenroy Foster, one of the first 2005 graduates of the College, took place in the Auditorium at the Cultural Centre on December 18, 2013.
As is the custom the Principal gave a detailed report of the past academic activities. Mr. Payne happily reported: “the year ended on a very positive note. Of course there was the high pass rate in CAPE examinations, but more significantly, the Government of Montserrat provided funds to upgrade the computers at the College, especially the well-used but outdated Computer Lab and to upgrade the operating and production software.”
He noted that “the new school year (2012/2013) began with forty-two full-time students in the 2-Year Associate Degree Programme. There were nineteen returning students, three having fallen by the way, and twenty-three new students. This increase from twenty-nine in the previous year, resulted in a forty-five percent increase and marked the highest number of students to date, in this CAPE Associate Degree Programme.”
The principal also reported that as it concerns overseas exams, the top performing student this year was Ruian Zhu who passed the six CAPE Units that he sat, while T’Sean Blake, Nish Brown, Jhovan Daniel, TiVonne Howe, and Anjeanette Williams all passed five subjects with another 16 students, obtaining passes in four CAPE Units. While 64% of the passes were at Grades IV and V, Tiffannie Skerritt obtained two passes at Grade I, one at Grade II and one at Grade III.
According to Mr. Payne, sixteen of the eighteen students who completed the 2-year Associate Degree Programme in 2013 obtained the CAPE Diploma and of these twelve achieved the Associate Degree. In addition, two students from last year’s final-year group, completed the requirements of the Associate Degree in 2013. He said that “this equates to a 78% success, the second most successful group in the Colleges brief history, surpassed only in 2009, when 20 out of the class of 21 (95%) attained the Associate Degree.”
Tiffannie Skerritt, Nadia Brown and Trecia Meade entertained students and guests in song as they performed a cover of the popular Christmas tune “Give love on Christmas day”. Nish Brown
Guest Speaker Debra Lewis
joined and played a Piano solo of Celine Dion’s hit – “The Prayer”.
Debra Lewis, head of the office of the Deputy Governor, delivered the address to the 2013 graduating class. She told the grandaunts, that unlike any other generation in the history of Montserrat, their generation was “uniquely poised for success”, but nonetheless they must pay particular attention to some self-made barriers. Such barriers she says include phrases we repeat such as “I can’t”, “I am afraid” and “I don’t know”. Miss Lewis took time out to impress upon the parents and teachers that they should allow the graduates to follow their own dreams rather than the ones parents and teachers may have for them. In concluding, she told the class to go forward and be comfortable with being themselves.
Jhovan Daniel was applauded as the top student and even though absent, addressed the audience through his father Mr. Julian Daniel.
Mrs. Esternella West handed out awards and certificates to deserving students.
The proceedings culminated with a vote of thanks by Mr. Szjohn Griffith followed by the presentation of the 2013 graduating class. The college is in its 10 year of operation as a tertiary educational institution.
