DSC holds graduation ceremony

The graduates

Over 250 students graduated today from the Dominica State College (DSC) in its 8th Commencement Ceremony at the Windsor Park Stadium in Roseau, which ran under the theme ‘If Opportunity Doesn’t Knock, Build a Door’.

President of the DSC Dr. Donald Peters reminded the graduates that their achievement today is more than the acquisition of an education but rather the experience of “the first phase of your life-long learning experience. The rest is up to you. All we ask is that you go into the world and perform like a DSC graduate”.

Remarks were also heard from chairman of the school’s board of governors Professor Gerald Grell who acknowledged the students as the critical mass for the explosive development of Dominica, filled with the energy of entrepreneurship, and armed with a spirit of optimism.

He said the board was honored to have continued for another year and keep the college development and academic programs moving apace.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW STORY

[nggallery id=48]

DSC Vice President Dr. Helen Francis-Selman said to the graduates: “The College shares in the celebrations of your accomplishments, proud to have you represent its name.”

Meanwhile, in a keynote address, UWI professor and scholar Sir Hilary Beckles encouraged the graduates to work towards developing character and personality, the key ingredients – along with education – to success in the challenging economies of the region and the world over.

With that he has extended an open invitation to the graduates of the DSC to the UWI Cave Hill Campus in Barbados to continue their academic pursuits.

“Our economies are not growing as fast so our future across the region requires a new approach. Graduates are required to be self-reliant, motivated and self-confident. This will require that you take full responsibility for yourselves,” he said.

The knighted scholar has lauded government’s drive to produce at least one university graduate in each household by 2015 and reminded them that the move is one that will need “great investment.”

“Learning households are those that lead nations,” he said.

The college’s 2010 valedictorian, Verna Alfred, in an address to her fellow students, quoted the words of the famous Dr. Seuss, “You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You are on your own; you know what you know, you are the one who’ll decide where to go.”

Prime Minster Roosevelt Skerrit, who founded the Dominica State College during his tenure as Minister of Education, was not present at this year’s commencement ceremony. However his ‘fill-in’, Ambrose George, encouraged the graduates and by extension all of the island’s youth, on his behalf, to “make the best of the educational opportunities available”.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

32 Comments

  1. you know who
    October 22, 2010

    congratulation to you fireman vidal on your achievement, am so proud of you. keep it up, press on always, the sky is the limit.

  2. student
    October 22, 2010

    YES HE DID FOUND THE DSC, HE WAS THE DRIVING FORCE AND IT WAS HIS VISION THAT PUSHED THE DSC I KNOW BECAUSE I WAS PART OF THE TEAM. GIVE JACK HIS JACKET WHEN IT IS DUE

  3. But
    October 21, 2010

    Grads,,,,,,,well things tight…Prime Minister built a wealth of 8 Massive Villas

    well try see if Skero will give you all monies maybe he have some hidden away in Cayman from what close sources are working on…

    Your Pm have plenty doe….but de country so poor…

    try see how you can Kick this DLP Govt out of office….Saspo….please…

  4. Dominchen en tierre!
    October 21, 2010

    Congratulations Nurse Alfred. I remember your earlier days as a Practical Nurse with Alancia in Grand Bay. Always saw the potentional in you and with the King standing solidly behind you, we expected nothing less. There are still higher hights to be attained as the sky is the limit. Never let your achievements cause you to feel that you are more than others. Continue the culture of “humility and success” Congratulations Gregory!

  5. skittle
    October 21, 2010

    congratulations to all especially u rasta

  6. monica lavinier
    October 21, 2010

    congratulation to my dear friend verna alfred on her great achievement. u have done well girl. we (the fantastic 5) are soooooooooooo proud of u. though we did not do as good as you but we all made it to the end. thank God!!!!

    congratulations to the 2010 graduate nurses. remember to thank the father almighty for the great things he has done.

    whoop whoop

  7. Scorpion
    October 21, 2010

    CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ONE AND ONLY RASTA STUDENT.. (SITTED ON THE FRONT ROW)… YOU MAKE US PROUD.. WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU..!!!!!!! KEEP IT UP!!!!!!

  8. Congrats
    October 21, 2010

    Congratulations to all those who graduated from the DSC especially nurse Alfred. Congrats! Marigot is proud of you.

  9. angelic
    October 21, 2010

    Congratulations are definitely in order for you nurse Alfred. I am proud of you.job well done! Congratulations also to all the other nurses. Nursing is an honourable profession.. god bless you all and dont let Ms Edwards down..Congrats to you also Mrs. Edwards and the faculty staff for educating these nurses. HATS OFF !

  10. Marigot
    October 21, 2010

    Congratulations nurse Alfred! We are very proud of u. Keep steering yourself in the direction that u want to go.

  11. gully boy
    October 21, 2010

    i hope it have work for dem peoples in de country skerrit

  12. WOW
    October 21, 2010

    best advice for you Grads is start the protest of street demonstration saspo..
    most radical changes are brought about by students leading the cause…

    its your country so thats my best word of advice to you!!! take that to the bank…

    this DLP Regime is way……..too corrupted!! the worst in our Dominican History

    Kick them out!!

  13. Shaper
    October 20, 2010

    congratulations are in order for All the Graduates and that is fitting, however i am obligated to say congratulations to Verna and all the past students of Both the St Andrew And North-East Comprehensive school another proud moment for us

  14. International Manager
    October 20, 2010

    Congratulation to you Verna, You made the king and your International manager very proud.. we are very proud of you and your well deserved accomplishments. Keep up the good works, and stay as sweet as you are.

  15. Lizavier4Jesus
    October 20, 2010

    Thank you, to Pic Lens–the picture providers–for those very colourful portraits. I know that my niece was studying to become a nurse since before 2008, I hope that she is one among those 350 students’ graduates.

    To all of you graduates, remember that the struggle for the fullness of Life does not stop here. Graduation from college is just evidence that you are ready to face the challenges. All the best to you all.

  16. PAIN
    October 20, 2010

    Graduates, congrates and remember to TIE you all waist tight for the job market.

  17. Wesley
    October 20, 2010

    Nurse Verna Alfred i feel proud seeing you reach thus far…I knew you worked hard and that you deserved the best…May God continue to guide you on your upward path because i know you can grow higher…. but please whatever sage you reach please try to let it benefit us here in Dominica.
    Go girl the sky is the limit.

  18. FIRE
    October 20, 2010

    CONGRATULATION TO ALL 350.CONGRATULATION TO THE RAS AT THE CENTER ON PICTURE No.5 .NUFF RESPECT.REPRESENT.

  19. Zengleden
    October 20, 2010

    Congrates to you guys in Dominica! Just hope that u folks gona find some job or stuff like that to kepp you guys smiling! Hope you guys find some decent job so as not to fall into the cracks of society!

  20. aka hangdem 4kerz
    October 20, 2010

    CONGRATS TO THOSE GRADUATES I WISH YOU WELL AND DO HOPE YOU GET THE
    OPORTUNITY TO FUTHER YOUR EDUCATION .HATS OFF, YOU HAVE DONE WELL SO FAR.

  21. Sout Man
    October 20, 2010

    Dominica State College – you certainly make every Dominican proud. The students are elegantly dressed !
    Congratulations to the students and staff of the DSC. Job well done! You HAVE GONE through this milestone; let’s continue unto the next educational conquest.

    @ poule coutouni: Are you saying that the late Prime Minister Hon. Pierre Charles should get some credit for the founding of the DSC? He was the Parl. Rep. for Grand Bay. Remember?

    Nice pics, DNO!! I hope this made up for the criticism of the lack of pics for the secondary schools athletics meet. But, who knows; Dominicans are hard to please.
    Observation: (Little humour): I didn’t know that Shaquille ‘Shaq’ Oneal had a son in Dominica! Oh, oh!!

  22. spy
    October 20, 2010

    congrates ns Alfred, EXCELLENT MY FRIEND.

  23. s
    October 20, 2010

    Congrats to all the graduates! Please people do not turn this post into any political arguments. This is the students time to shine!

  24. rising star
    October 20, 2010

    congrats to all the graduate.. this is just one mile stone completed there is many more to go still.. dont stop there. dream and dream big. do the best you can while you can. not everyone have the right to speak into your life.. go out there and make yourself proud.. Trust in God he never leaves you.. to my peeps, bianca, carlene, diane. johnney, nikki, mc keon, and all the others congrats one more and my sister nurse rosain

  25. LCM
    October 20, 2010

    Congratulations to all.

    We have all heard this before, “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country”
    Its just the begining, but so fa you guys on the right path.

  26. Shhh!
    October 20, 2010

    Congrats to all who made it and reach thus far.

  27. KOKAY THERE
    October 20, 2010

    Congrats to all i must say congrats to all…good luck in the work place

  28. sally water
    October 20, 2010

    Congrats graduates..keep learning, DSC is just one fish in the bucket.

  29. Celia Maxwell
    October 20, 2010

    Congrats to Registered Nurse Verna Alfred on being the valeditorian 2010. I always knew you could do it and I saw it in you from way back when. Remember our talk on Dawbiney ward in the staff room, from there on I encouraged you and you have went on to shine. Go girl, the sky is the limit. Also congrats to all the other nurses. Let your nursing light so shine before your patients and clients that they may see your good works and cherish your father above and you as well. Big up.

  30. STAFFEE
    October 20, 2010

    That’s a very large crop. Congratulations to all. Remind yourselves that this is one step closer to your career.

  31. diaspora
    October 20, 2010

    Mr. Ambrose George(minister of education) what happens if some students families cannot help them to move on to college or university would your government give them scholarships what is it you could do for those who would like to go and further their education out side DA. I am very proud of all the students just keep looking a head.

  32. Poule Coutouni
    October 20, 2010

    SKERRIT did not. certainly did no,t FOUND THE DSC! SO EVERY THING IN THIS BLASTED COUNTRY MUST BE ABOUT SKKERIT?

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available