 |
News > Students Celebrated at Honours Convocation in Grand Bahama
Nearly 200 Students Celebrated at Honours Convocation in Grand Bahama
The College of The Bahamas honoured approximately 200 exceptional students enrolled in a range of academic programmes at the Northern Bahamas Campus in Grand Bahama on Tuesday, November 8th The students were recognized during the 2011 Honours Convocation held at the campus in East, Grand Bahama for earning a minimum GPA of 3.00 during the Fall 2010 and Spring 2011 semesters and making the President's and Dean's honour rolls. Ten students made the President's List, attaining at least a 3.50 GPA and 187 others made the Dean's List with a minimum GPA of 3.00. Using his own personal story of adversity and perseverance to inspire the honourees, veteran educator Mr. Donald McCartney, who gave the keynote address at the convocation urged them to tenaciously pursue their dreams. 
Mr. McCartney said there is no magic bullet, secret formula or quick fix to success. "You do not make $200,000 a year spending two hours a day on the Internet, lose 30 pounds in a week, rub 20 years off your face with a cream, fix your love life with a pill or find lasting success with any other scheme that is too good to be true," he warned while advising the COB students to take responsibility for their own actions, never depend on others for things they can do themselves and complete assignments in a timely manner. 
"Teaching and learning is at the heart of everything that we do, and the students are at the heart of everything that we do. I was just telling one of the students wearing the honour pin about something called the Pygmalion effect and that's the idea of a self fulfilling prophecy. When the faculty member sees that pin they will know and say ‘that that kid is really smart. I really need to listen to what he has to say and how meaningful it is,'" she said. "But it's a pin that I hope they will wear out into the community, their churches and throughout their lives and recognize each other as a COB honour student." Olivia Lewis-Rolle, 21, who is studying for her Bachelor of Education degree in Primary Education said she was humbled by the honour. "It's an awesome privilege. I never thought they would go all out like this for us in this way. The programme that I am enrolled in is very taxing. I worked very hard. If you don't pace yourself and keep your deadlines, you could lose your mind. The key is to pace yourself and you'll be off to a good start. We're kind of in the bush in the back here but that does not affect me. I know what I have to do and I will make the sacrifice to do it," she said. Kamara Clarke, 19, a Business Management and Marketing major said she is inspired because The College chose to honour its students this way. "It serves as an encouragement. Sometimes people come to school and they don't really feel like they really (can) pass. They're going through the motions and don't really care if they are doing excellent. But I think to be honoured in front of the students serves as an encouragement to do even better than you did before," she said. "COB is no piece of cake. COB has standards and they have work ethics where you really have to push yourself. I don't believe in working hard but I do believe in working smart. In order to be in COB, you have to know time management because it's a lot of work. You have to study and manage your time wisely." Romal Russell, 24, Area Vice President for The College of The Bahamas Union of Students (COBUS) said many students look forward to the Honours Convocation each year. "It gives us something positive to look forward to and it sends a message that there was a job well done, and gives us something to work towards in the future," he said. Each student was presented with an honour roll pin as a tangible mark of their distinction and academic excellence.
Office of Communication |
|
::
|
News Archive |
Downloads Require Adobe Acrobat Reader |
|
|
::
|
The College of The Bahamas Weekly Bulletin |
|
|
|
| The College of The Bahamas :: Oakes Field :: P.O. Box N-4912 :: Nassau, The Bahamas :: Tel (242) 302.4300 :: Email cob@cob.edu.bs |