Chicago Students Visit The College of The Bahamas
Photo shows the group of students from Chicago and their chaperones with the four Bahamian students at the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture. In the centre are Minister of Education, Youth Sports and Culture, Carl Bethel; Permanent Secretary Elma Garraway; and Member of Parliament for St Thomas More, Frank Smith, representing Arawak Homes. At back left is Valdez Russell, Liaison Officer at The College of The Bahamas, who was responsible for much of the planning.
In collaboration with the Bahamas Communications & Public Officers Union, The College of The Bahamas, through its Office of Research, Graduate Programmes and International Relations (ORGPIR) facilitated a visit to The Bahamas by 13 Chicago public school juniors during the week of June 17th – 22nd. The group which was hosted to a week of visits, tours and courtesy calls with key government, business and College officials, was invited to The Bahamas by The College, to explore the possibilities for student exchanges and study abroad opportunities with the institution.
The students were sponsored by former College of The Bahamas Council Chairman, Franklyn Wilson, who had also sponsored a group of Bahamian students who visited Chicago earlier in the year to investigate scholarship opportunities in the Windy City.
The group was led by Michelle d'Arville-Downing, a Bahamian and longtime resident of the United States, who is a postsecondary education specialist in Area 24 of Chicago Public Schools. Mrs. d'Arville-Downing was especially thrilled with the meticulous and thorough organization and planning that had gone into ensuring the success of the trip.
It was a trip of many highlights for the students and their six chaperones; some of the most memorable included a day in Harbour Island, a day at The College of The Bahamas, a day at Atlantis, a tour of Arawak Homes and a courtesy call on Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, the Honourable Carl Bethel, when four of the Bahamian students who went to Chicago met up with their Chicago counterparts.
The students and chaperones commented freely on the sterling service, generosity and hospitality of the Bahamians they met during their visit and added that they will carry with them wonderful memories of The Bahamas that will last a lifetime. In addition, they assured College representatives that they would be sharing with their colleagues and partners in Chicago their enlightening experiences and new knowledge of the excellent educational system they found in The Bahamas.
Chicago students outside the College of The Bahamas dining room before their lunch reception with Dr Linda Davis, Vice President Research, Graduate Programmes and International Relations.
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The College of The Bahamas
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