Head of University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus, Montserrat opened the UWI graduating exercises with brief remarks as she said in her welcome performing the duties of the chairperson. “I have come to accept that graduation exercises are an important part of the education process; they provide an opportunity to celebrate achievement,” she said.
Ms. Gracelyn Cassell, Head of the Open Campus Montserrat in a well prepared tightly packed program, began the exercises with a prelude of the University Song followed by the Academic Procession led by herself as head.
Prayers led by Rev. Dr. Beatrice Allen preceded her opening remarks.
Following her welcome of everyone to the ceremony “to recognise our Graduates,” She shared what she described would allow guests and graduates to “truly appreciate what has been achieved today…an equally brief overview of what is now the UWI Open Campus which is in its 5th year of Operation.”
She gave the background of the College of the West Indies established in 1948 with a single campus in Jamaica; the various steps as the College was granted full University status with the Role of the Extra-Mural Centres in 1962, with all of the objectives.
She listed the names of all who served the Montserrat campus from 1964 through to 1974 – 2005 when Dr. Sir Howard Fergus, preceded her.
She listed that 38 persons would have been impacted from 2004 since, capitalising on advances in online technologies, using a platform of over 50 sites and offering a wider basket of degree, diploma and certificate programmes for Caribbean people outside the established Campuses.
She closed by the announcement of an “Additional reason for celebration: UWI Open Campus Principal’s Award for Excellence was recently introduced (2012) and Mrs. Delena Lynch-Mason, Senior Administrative Assistant at the Montserrat Site was nominated by her Head of Site and received the 2013 award in the Administrative, Technical and Service Category.”
The program continued with the introduction of the feature address speaker, Miss Esco Henry, the Hon. Attorney General of Montserrat. Miss Henry addressed the graduates who were all present, but for a small number of absentees, with apologies.
She told the audience: ”The University of the West Indies has come of age, having been founded some 55 years ago in 1948…
“The stated aim of the University is to help “unlock the potential for economic and cultural growth” in the West Indies thereby allowing for improved regional autonomy. The motto “A light rising from the West”.
She said she would, “focus on the core concept of education and in this regard, this short discourse will seek to tease out four main pillars of the central theme – TRAIN THE MIND – where continuous effort must be concentrated by us all if we are to deliver on the lofty ideals conceptualised by the founders of the University.”
The concepts she referred: Education; Re-Train the Psyche; Activate the capabilities; and Mentor and empower.
In conclusion she cited: “In the words of the Apostle Paul we need to take urgent steps to “renew the mind” and reject the prevailing world view where it conflicts with what is moral and just. If we do this consistently, we will be able to “unlock the potential for socio-economic and cultural growth” in our country and join our brothers and sister in the UWI family as “a light rising from the West.”
She closed as she offered, “congratulations on your achievements as the latest graduates of the UWI family. May you experience continued success in all you do; and God bless you all.”
Following graduating remarks by one of the graduates, Miss Ms. Denelta Weekes and entertainment with the reading of poems by Ms. Maureen Greer Lee Harrigan, Lady Eudora Fergus delivered relevant degrees and certificates to the graduates. Three with honours in BSc Accounting: Misses Nadia Duberry, Gloria Ohiagu and Blondel White (one absent); Ms. Denelta Weekes with BEd. Primary Ed. with First Class Honours. 17 persons received Care of the Elderly certificates.
A vote of thanks by Miss Nadia Duberry BSc led to the Closure of the ceremony with the
Academic Procession led by head Gracelyn Cassell.
