93 HLSCC grads urged to promote unity in the BVI

The 93 graduates who comprised the H Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) Class of 2018 have been urged to promote unity in the British Virgin Islands.

That advice came from National Democratic Party leader-elect, Myron Walwyn, who is also the Minister for Education.

During the graduation ceremony held at the college’s Paraquita Bay campus yesterday (June 28), Walwyn said the graduating class should consider directing their education towards the overall upliftment of the territory.

He also beseeched the graduates to explore new ideas and expand their vision and commit, their knowledge,  and skills to hurricane recovery.

“These Virgin Islands were built by many hands and we will need all these hands yet again to assist us in rising again – including yours,” Walwyn said.

“Graduates, regardless of the differences we may have, I put it to you that we have more in common than we have differences. One of the things we have in common is these Virgin Islands, and that love, if it is genuine love, will cause us to put aside the things that seem to be dividing us and bring us together as one people because we are indeed one people.”

He further said the territory cannot and will not overcome its challenges as a divided nation.

“In the words of Dr Martin Luther King, we must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”

The Education Minister further thanked the class for deciding to stay and complete their education, despite the challenges posed by the weather events of 2017.

“I know first-hand that the environment was not what you were accustomed to. We had a myriad of issues that compromised the learning environment for you and I am sure you have heard it before – what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I am sure that each and every one of you is stronger mentally now than you had ever been before,” he added.

Also addressing the class was Premier Dr D Orlando Smith who urged the graduating class to think ahead and ‘plan now’.

“Do not wait until you get there. Envision in your mind what your future looks like and then actively take the necessary steps to get there,” he said.

Candidates for graduation

Meanwhile, nine students were given Certificates of Achievement and 93 awarded Associate of Science degrees. Seven graduates had doubled in sciences and the arts and were accordingly awarded.

The President’s awards went to Emmanuel Oluwajomiloju Borokinni and Eula Alica-Nesia Thomas for having the highest cumulative Grade Point Average for full and part-time students, respectively.

In the area of Corporate Awards, Jahmaine Liburd and Rebeka Josil received the Arias Fabrega Book Scholarship and Stacy Alicia Christopher-Smith was awarded the Ernst and Young Award.

The Faculty of the Year award went to Rochelle Smith, a lecturer for the Humanities, Social Sciences and Communications Department.