Thirty-six students
graduate from USM
MAHO--A record number of 36 students received their Associates’ and Bachelors’ degrees during the 11th commencement ceremony of University of St. Martin (USM) at Sonesta Maho Theatre Saturday night.
Eight students were also recognised for obtaining their Masters’ degrees in Education through a programme carried out in conjunction with University of the Virgin Islands (UVI).
Sherina Hathiramani, who graduated magna cum laude, received the Academic Achievement Award for attaining the highest Grade Point Average (GPA) in the Associates’ degree programme.
Bachelor of Arts degree in Education graduate Yadira Boston received the Board of Directors Award for making the “greatest contribution in service to the university.” Boston is President of the Community Tutoring Foundation, which offers GED tutorials to persons desirous of completing their high school education, among other things.
Conneir Thelwell was presented with the President’s Award for performing in an outstanding capacity both in the classroom and in extracurricular activities.
The Outstanding Faculty Award went to Roberto Arrindell.
Tamara Groeneveldt and Estella Martinburg both graduated cum laude.
This is the largest batch of students to graduate from the institution since USM relinquished ties with Johnson and Wales University in 1994. The ceremony was themed: “Strengthening Alliances, Forging Ahead.”
Of the 36 graduates, 13 received their Associate of Arts degrees in General Liberal Arts, 16 their Associate of Arts degrees in Business, two collected their Bachelor of Arts degrees in Education, two their Bachelor of Business Administration degrees and three students received their Certificates in Teaching. The Bachelor of Business Administration programme was carried out in conjunction with Mount St. Vincent University.
Education Commissioner Sarah Wescott-Williams encouraged graduates to continue to forge ahead, as “the finish line is not the end and being ‘as good as’ is not enough.” She said the island needed the “best and the brightest” now. “This is the opportunity to forge ahead” and “leave your mark,” she said. She said USM continued to strengthen its existing ties and form new ones in its thrust to educate the island.
USM President Josianne Fleming-Artsen said in a press statement released prior to the graduation ceremony said, “We have a decent (number) of Associate of Arts graduates who will now move on to more specialised areas and we are hoping that more of these individuals look towards the education field, because we need our own home-grown educators.”
She urged parents and friends to encourage students to stay in St. Maarten at least for two years and earn a degree here prior to pursuing higher education abroad.
“Another great achievement we can boast of is that St. Maarten now has another batch of leaders,” she said alluding to the eight graduates who formally received their Masters degrees in Education last weekend at UVI.
Keynote speaker for the ceremony was UVI President Dr. Lavern Ragster. Other speakers included Representative of USM’s Board of Directors Millicent de Weever, outgoing Student Government Association (SGA) President and 2005 graduate Stuart Johnson and Chairman of the Board Jan Welage.
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