Philipsburg- Commissioner responsible for Education Affairs Sarah Wescot-Williams, met with St. Maarten students last Friday in Florida's state capital, Tallahassee where according to Wescot the meeting was well received by the students.
Students studying at Florida State University (FSU), Tallahassee Community College (TCC) and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), were invited to the meeting by the St. Maarten Tallahassee Student Association which was chaired by the organizations President Dominique Hodge.
A presentation was given by Commissioner Wescot about the current process to attain country status within the Dutch Kingdom. An update was also provided about other developments such as infrastructural projects, national health insurance plan, and expansion plans of the St. Maarten Medical Center as well as developments in education just to mention a few.
Calvin Mardembrough provided clarity about Study Financing matters. At the meeting, Ramon Alexander, a young dynamic graduate of FAMU who is presently working at the Mayor's office, volunteered to assist students who were experiencing some bottlenecks at their school.
During the meeting, representatives from FAMU were present to provide information and answer student questions.
The St. Maarten Students Association has been in existence since December 2007. It was formed by Calvin Mardembrough and has been lead by Dominique Hodge, a graduate of Milton Peters College, (presently enrolled at FSU) who was re-elected last December as the organizations President.
The objective of the association among others is to create a better social and cultural atmosphere for all St. Maarten students in Tallahassee; to assist all St. Maarten students with their transition; to assist in resolving any problems that St. Maarten students may encounter while studying in Tallahassee and to promote awareness of St. Maarten culture to the benefit of the students and the Tallahassee community in general.
"During my deliberations with educational officials from the three Florida universities in Tallahassee, all were impressed by the St. Maarten students and implore their attitude and behaviour while studying at their institutions. They were very proud of them.
"The St. Maarten Student Association is a very active group. I was very impressed with them and they shared their plans for 2009 which also includes information sessions with parents and students here in St. Maarten during the summer break," Commissioner of Education Sarah Wescot-Williams told the Government Information Service (GIS).
