Sugar Ray Thomas
Brown’s Town Community College (BTCC) hosted its’ graduation ceremony for the class of 2017 on Thursday, November 16, at the main campus, in Brown’s Town, St Ann.
The ceremony was hosted under the theme “Committed to Service: Enhancing Brand BTCC.”
Showers of congratulations and loud applauses for the graduates, who were adorned in their stunning bright, blue gowns, mingled throughout the auditorium at the ceremony that signified a major achievement in their professional and academic journey.
One hundred and thirty-two full time students met all the requirements for graduation, but several were absent as a result of work obligations, further studies at other institutions or being overseas, among other challenges.
The ceremony also saw five academic, five administrative and three ancillary staff members being recognized for five to fifteen years of service to the institution.
Following the procession of the graduates, scripture lesson and prayer, the welcome and opening remarks were made by Dr Michael Whittingham, chairman of the board of management of the Brown’s Town Community College.
In bringing greetings, Dr Donna Powell-Wilson, executive director of the Council of Community College of Jamaica, expressed how proud she was of the partnership between the council and BTCC. She said the college continued to prepare students for a bright future and for the good of Jamaica.
To the graduates, Dr Powell-Wilson urged them to make use of “new possibilities”, which she said were “imminent and limitless.”
GRADUATION REPORT
In delivering the graduation report, principal of Brown’s Town Community College (BTCC) Claudeth Fletcher, explained that the school remained committed to service as they sought to “carry out the mission to provide education and training of the highest quality to our clients by providing the widest possible access.”
CHARGE TO GRADUATES
The charge to the graduates was given by guest speaker, Travis Benain, director of educational programmes of Jamaican Youth Empowerment through Culture, Arts and Nationalism (JAYECAN) and future attorney-at-law.
Mr Benain was introduced by Jonell Hoskins, student’s union treasurer at the main campus of BTCC.
In his motivating presentation, Mr Benain, who is also a past student of the college, said that in his life journey, there were detractors, who told him that he would not become an attorney or a valedictorian at the BTCC. In 2012, he proved his detractors wrong and graduated in 2012 as valedictorian at BTCC and he is now well on his way of becoming an attorney as he will be called to the Bar in December.
“Not everything you want will come right way, but the one thing you must do is accept the fact that you are in control of your own destiny,” he charged the graduates.
“The time is now for you to evoke the change that the world needs. You are the change bearers. You are the torch bearers. You are not the future, you are the present. You are the group of persons that this country needs and desires right now,” he declared.
NOT ENDING HERE
Valedictorian Cassandra Walker in her speech lauded the lecturers, parents, family members and almighty God for helping them (the graduates) to complete their journey.
“The journey does not end here. It is now up to us to go out in the world and hoist the flag of Brown’s Town Community College high,” she told the graduates.
The valedictory speech was followed by the graduates singing their rendition of R Kelly’s, ‘The World’s Greatest.’
The Brown’s Town Community College Choir, the Krystal K Band and saxophonist Johnny Wilson provided various musical selections throughout the graduation ceremony.
The vote of thanks was given by Roshee Hinds and the graduation ceremony closed with the lighting of the torch followed by the recession of the 2017 graduates of the Brown’s Town Community College (BTCC).
