Office of the Principal, Barbados. 2/11/17 - On October 14, 2017, the Open Campus of The University of the West Indies (UWI) recognised the accomplishments of graduates for the 2016-2017 academic year at an official ceremony held at The Spice Basket, Beaulieu, St. George’s, Grenada.
This year, six hundred and fifty seven (657) students (512 undergraduates and 145 postgraduates) graduated with degrees, certificates and diplomas in a wide range of subject areas. Of note is that sixty three (63) of these represented the first cohort of students to graduate from the Global Affairs Canada (GAC) funded group of Open Campus programmes. These included the Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies (4), the Post Graduate Diploma in Management and Educational Leadership (3), the MSc in Management Studies (27) and the MSc in Management and Educational Leadership (29).
A total of one hundred and thirty-nine (139) graduands attended the official Graduation Ceremony, crossing the stage with pride towards Mr Robert Bermudez, newly inducted Chancellor of The University of the West Indies, who graciously shook the hand of each graduate in turn, while congratulating them on their success. The new graduates then received their scrolls from the Campus Registrar, Mrs Karen Ford-Warner.
As in previous years, the ceremony was preceded by a musical interlude provided by the Royal Grenada Police Band. In attendance were a number of national and regional dignitaries including Dame Cecile La Grenade, Governor General of Grenada, Sir S.W. Tapley Seaton Q.C., Governor General of St Kitts and Nevis and Sir Rodney Williams, Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda and Lady Sandra Williams. Their presence was even more meaningful given that all three Governors General are proud UWI alumni.
Other dignitaries in attendance included Honourable Gregory Bowen, Acting Prime Minister of Grenada, accompanied by Permanent Secretaries, and several other highly placed government officials. The Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of The UWI, members of the University’s Executive Management, other top-level University officials, as well as family and friends of the graduates, were also in attendance.
This year, an Honorary Doctorate of Letters (DLitt) was conferred on a native of Haiti, Dr Edwidge Danticat. Dr Danticat was born in Haiti in 1969 but migrated to the United States when she was twelve years old. Growing up surrounded by storytellers, she began writing at a tender age. As an immigrant teenager in the United States, she turned to literature to better understand both countries. At Barnard College in New York City, Dr Danticat earned a Bachelor of Arts in French Literature and later, at Brown University, a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Dr Danticat has taught creative writing at the New York University and the University of Miami and has worked with Haitian and American filmmakers, Jonathan Demme and Patricia Benoit, on documentary projects related to Haiti.
Her essays and short stories have appeared in over 50 periodicals and her books have been translated into twelve languages, including Japanese, French, Korean, German, Italian, Spanish, and Swedish. Among her several awards are the 1999 American Book Award, the Italian Super Flaiano Prize, the 2007 National Book Critics Circle Award, the 2008 Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and the 2011 OCM Bocas Non-fiction Prize for Caribbean Literature. She has previously received honorary degrees from Brown University, Smith College, and Yale University.
Following an eloquently delivered citation by Dr Veronica Simon who, this year, filled in for Campus Orator, Dr Francis Severin, Dr Danticat delivered a stirring speech. Drawing from her own life experiences, she encouraged the graduates to use the university education they received to launch out into the deep and find creative ways to make positive changes in their communities and by extension, the world.
Jamaican born, but Vincentian raised Mr Nick Francis, who completed a BSc in Youth Development Work with an awe inspiring 4.3 GPA, was this year’s Valedictorian. A hardworking, focused young man from humble beginnings, Nick’s natural leadership abilities found expression from an early age, in several youth groups within his school, church and community. Indeed, it was his passion for youth work that brought Nick to the virtual halls of The University of the West Indies Open Campus in 2012, after having successfully completed an OAS certification in "Building Capacities of Young Political Leaders in the Caribbean" in the previous year.
During his years at the Open Campus, Nick was actively involved in the Guild of Students in various capacities. A youth advocate and activist, Nick also served as President of the Young Democrats - the youth arm of the New Democratic Party in St. Vincent and the Grenadines - from 2009 to early 2017. Nick currently serves as a Youth Development Consultant within the Caribbean Democrat Union, a sister party network supported by The Westminster Foundation for Democracy. He fervently believes that youth are assets to national development and works ardently to create a space for them to thrive in Caribbean societies. As is customary, Nick delivered the Valedictory Speech on behalf of his colleagues from across the region.
Amidst loud bursts of applause from all present, the formal ceremony concluded with the Class of 2017 being presented with their individual scrolls – the tangible evidence of their individual academic achievements. An official reception generously hosted by the Government and people of Grenada for the graduates and their guests, brought the celebration to a close.
