Commencement to be held at Westin Hotel
Some 55 students will graduating and added to the University of St. Martin (USM) alumni roster on Saturday, June 18, 2011 when the island’s institution of higher learning holds its Seventeenth Commencement Exercise under the theme "Enriching Lives Through Higher Education."
The USM graduation will be held at the Westin Hotel beginning at 7pm and the keynote speaker is Principal of the Sister Marie Laurence School Ms. Vivian Roberts.
"This is a momentous occasion for USM as it is the largest number to date that has graduated at the University of St. Martin. It is also the first time ever that USM is breaking tradition and is having one of its own alumni as Keynote speaker for the seventeenth commencement," says USM President Ms. Annelies van den Assem.
In addition to remarks from the Board of Directors, remarks are also scheduled to be made by the Prime Minister of St. Maarten, Mrs. Sarah Wescott-Williams and Minister of Education Dr. Rhoda Arrindell. This is the first graduation where a prime minister and education minister from St. Maarten will be addressing USM graduates.
Recently appointed President of USM Ms. Annelies van den Assem will also be making some remarks while the Class of 2011 address will be delivered by Mr.Alex "Sujah" Reiph, a General Liberal Arts major, who is also well known for his community involvement, his Conscious Lyrics Foundation, and radio programs.
Some twenty (20) students will be receiving an Associate of Arts Degree in Business. These students include Stephanie Auguste, Arun H. Balani, Cedinio Baly, Peterson Bourjoly, Ingrid J. Delgado Embus, Endene D’Haity, Kennedy Drapin, Felicia Euson, Edsel Gumbs, Chirag Jagwani, Simon Jeffrey, Iva Jno Baptiste, Mohit Kamal Kapoor, Rishma C. Mirchandani, Jamila K. Oliver, Jeriza Rijo-Cedeno, Anacarla C. Rombley, Janel Thomas-Mairs, Tessa Williams, and Paul Wilson.
Eight (8) students will be receiving an Associate of Arts Degree in General Liberal Arts. These students include Judith Bain, Christel E. Brandy, Jemima A. Conquet, Micaela Hart, Tamara Leito, Alex "Shujah" Reiph, Tiffany Samuel, and Erika Van Putten.
Three (3) students will be receiving an Associate of Applied Science in Business Information Management. These are Cheyenne Le Zandra Douglas, Isabelle Hodge and Maria Peterson.
The Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education recipients are Robin A. Boasman, Kimberley Duzong, Katie P. Hassell, Altagracia Hawley, Natorii Illidge, Corinne Isaac, Georginette Lake, Latiesha Lynch, Sergia Milton, Casandra Richardson, Shiera M. Richardson, Jennifer Rombley, Amaris Slac, Andrea A. St. Luce, Erika Van Putten, and Roxana R. Williams.
Jolicia Alexander, Vanessa Bruney, Ashma John and Tamisha Wigley will be receiving their Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration, a program that is done in collaboration with the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI).
N’Kesi Cramer, Gerline Isaac, Audrey Jack and Hector Ravelo are the four graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management, a program offered by USM in conjunction with CURISES and the University of the Netherlands Antilles (UNA).
Kenneth Cook will be receiving his Certificate in Teaching from USM.
"The graduating students are 55 examples of determination. They are 55 young individuals who have been educated and trained at USM ready to take on the responsibility to help shape the future of this new country St. Maarten," says USM President van den Assem.
The keynote speaker Ms. Vivian Roberts has over 25 years in education. She can be considered a true USM product since she holds an Associate and Bachelors from the University of St. Martin and did her Master’s degree with the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) in a program jointly offered by USM and UVI.
Pastor Elmead Allen is scheduled to deliver the invocation and benediction at the Commencement Ceremony while musical selections are scheduled to be performed by God’s Chosen.
Founded in 1989 by the late Dr. Claude Wathey and Hushang Ansary, the University of St. Martin began as the Mullet Bay Training Institute and now offers a wide array of degree and non-degree classes. Throughout USM’s 20 year existence, over 500 Associate of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees have been conferred by USM.