This event, under the theme " Reaching New Heights in Higher Education," will be held at the Westin Hotel beginning at 7pm and the keynote speaker is Past President of the Dominica State College Mr. Hubert Charles.
Besides remarks from the Board of Directors, remarks are also scheduled to be made by Minister of Education, Ms. Omayra Leeflang and Commissioner of Education, Mr. William Marlin. The Class of 2010 address will be delivered by Mrs. Mary Magdalene Bary, an Education major, who graduates with Cum Laude honors.
Some seven (7) students will be receiving an Associate of Arts Degree in Business. These students include Maria Alexis, Michel Hyman, Esthesia Lastennet, Moreland Leblanc, Everonique Levenstone, Deborah Richards, and Kevin Spence.
Thirteen (13) students will be receiving an Associates of Arts Degree in General Liberal Arts. These students include Vesta Benn, Iota Claxton, Clifford Gumbs, Altagracia Hawley, Corinne Isaac, Christine Lake, Nieves Morillo, Jennifer Oduber, Joan-Ann Porchette, Cassandra Richardson, Zamada Solomon, Liesel Toss, and Roxana Williams.
Besides Mary Magdalene Bary, the other Bachelor of Arts degree in Education recipients are Jhonella Aventurin-Fitzpatrick, Rhea Courtar, Sharleen Dickenson, Leandra Edwards, Shanirah Illidge, Iesheda Jeffers, Jaya Nair and Noelani Riley.
Julo Drigo is the sole student receiving his Bachelor in Arts Degree in Business Administration, a program that is done in collaboration with the University of the Virgin Islands.
Tiffany Hassell is the sole graduate with the Bachelor of Business Administration degree, a program offered by USM in conjunction with Mount Saint Vincent University in Canada.
Sonia Constance Cannegieter will be receiving her Certificate in Teaching from USM.
USM will also be recognizing two graduates who have received their Master of Arts in Education from the University of the Virgin Islands, via a program facilitated at USM with UVI. These are Nina Joseph and Valerie Giterson Pantophlet.
"The University of St. Martin is proud again to deliver to St. Maarten another group of professionals who will contribute to its making. The joys of earning a degree and knowing the efforts it has taken is priceless and I congratulate each and everyone of the graduates for a job well done. I am very proud of all of you and wish you all the very best in your further endeavours or educational career. Do not stop here...the journey continues...,"says USM President Mrs. Josianne Fleming-Artsen.
The keynote speaker Hubert Charles is a Dominican educator with extensive national, regional and international experience. He has worked in education in different capacities for a number of years. He has also worked for UNESCO in places like South Africa, Mozambique and Nigeria. The published author and educator also served as President of the Dominica State College. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in History and Economics from the University of the West Indies and a Master of Arts in History and Anthropology from John Hopkins University. Mr. Charles was recently appointed Ambassador to the USA by the Dominican Government.
USM faculty member Danny Fleming is scheduled to deliver the invocation and benediction at the Commencement Ceremony while musical selections are scheduled to be performed by Gisella Hilliman, the Class of 2010, and Andre Robley.
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, approximately 494 Associate of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees have been conferred by USM.
