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Historic first for UWI Open Campus

Posted by CaribShout on November 13, 2009 at 8:38pm

The 2009 Open Campus Valedictorian, Denise Gordon from Montserrat, received a standing ovation for her inspiring address. CASTRIES, St Lucia -- The University of the West Indies (UWI) celebrated an historic first with the inaugural formal Graduation Ceremony of its newest campus, the Open Campus, at the Beausejour Indoor Sports Facility in St Lucia on Saturday, October 21, 2009. Almost 150 of the over 700 qualified graduands from all fifteen contributing Caribbean states to the UWI came to St Lucia to be presented to the Chancellor of the University, Professor Sir George Alleyne. Also present to celebrate the occasion were four Caribbean Heads of State, including Dame Pearlette Louisy, the Governor General of St Lucia; Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, Governor General of St Kitts & Nevis; Dame Louise Lake-Tack, Governor General of Antigua & Barbuda; and Sir Carlyle Glean, Governor General of Grenada. In attendance too were the Education Ministers from Montserrat and St Kitts & Nevis. Speaking to a full audience, the Chancellor spoke to the graduates about leadership qualities and encouraged the graduating class to aim high for success. He mentioned that the UWI is looking to the future with the establishment of the Open Campus to offer higher quality service to the region. He said that, “The Open Campus has, in a short time, traversed a challenging but rewarding journey, and I am sure the future will unfold many more accomplishments.” The Chancellor reiterated the importance of maintaining connectivity between individuals and institutions and urged the graduates to keep in touch with each other and the University. The mood at the graduation ceremony was one of enthusiasm and joy. Honorary Graduate, Dunstan St Omer, distinguished artist of St Lucia, addressed the gathering. Speaking on behalf of his fellow Honorary Graduate, Dr Peggy Antrobus, he said, “ To be honoured by (our) people at the highest intellectual level of our Caribbean nation is also to realize a dream, that no matter how small a nation, it could not survive without a university of some kind.” To the graduates, Dr St Omer said that, “You have gained new knowledge, learnt important lessons for life, made lasting friends, and collected memories that will be with you for a lifetime.” He called on the class of 2009 to strive towards the nobility of his own generation as it is their heritage and their responsibility and that there has never been a time in our common Caribbean history when nobility was in greater demand. “A country that does not grow is a country that’s dying and you are fortunate to herald the new age, the new Renaissance. We in St Lucia and the West Indies are depending on you to lead us into our Golden Age”. This year's first Open Campus Valedictorian, Denise Gordon from Montserrat, spoke on behalf of her fellow graduates and her address earned her a standing ovation. She said that, “It is indeed an honour to be selected as the 2009 class Valedictorian for the Open Campus. It has been a life-changing experience as it provided us with an opportunity to expand our horizons even with all the challenges. We are proud to have been a part of this remarkable transition. We salute the vision of The UWI, which has facilitated the opportunity for us to further our studies with the high standards this institution is well-known for. As the first graduates of the Open Campus, we have left behind a legacy I trust will encourage the Open Campus team to continue the hard work.” A first class honours graduate in the Bachelor of Science in Management Studies, she spoke to the need for all in the region to come together in community and to leave fractiousness behind in order to build the region. She charged her fellow graduates to take this challenge forward with them with all they had experienced and learned in the Open Campus, by saying “ This evening, I ask that we bid farewell to mistakes made, attitudes that continue to hinder our progress and mindsets that threaten to retard our future development.” The Chancellor shook the hand of each graduate who attended the ceremony resplendent in their gowns before receiving their canisters from the Open Campus Registrar, Simone Augier. Also witnessing the historic moment in the audience, were the eminent Open Campus Council members, members of the diplomatic corps in St Lucia, other government ministers, faculty, parents, friends, and relatives of the graduates. The Graduation ceremony concluded with the ceremonial recession of the Chancellor's and Academic Processions and then by the outgoing Class of 2009. Families and friends of the graduates from St Lucia and all across the region were witness to this emotional and proud moment. This inaugural Open Campus Graduation Ceremony was streamed online on Graduation Day so all Open Campus graduating students and their friends and family members who could not make it to Saint Lucia, were able to see the ceremony live.
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