Dominican UWI alumni honored

 The awardees from left:  Dr. Lennox Honychurch, Mr. Jeffers Parillon, Ms. Nadia Riviere, Dr. Hazel Shillingford-Ricketts, Professor Gerald Grell, and Dr. Alwin Bully.
The awardees from left: Dr. Lennox Honychurch, Mr. Jeffers Parillon, Ms. Nadia Riviere, Dr. Hazel Shillingford-Ricketts, Professor Gerald Grell, and Dr. Alwin Bully.

Alumni of the four Campuses of the University of the West Indies (UWI) gathered at the Fort Young Hotel on Saturday, September 27, 2014 to participate in an evening of socializing and reminiscing during the First Annual UWI Alumni Dinner.

Six Dominican alumni were honored during the event.

In her welcome remarks to those in attendance, Kimone Joseph, Officer-In-Charge of the UWI Open Campus, expressed that an event to bring Dominica’s UWI graduates together had been overdue.

“Many of you here have been faithful participants of our activities and events like our four Public Lecture Series and our Film Wrap Sessions,” said Joseph. “Yet, we wanted to host a special event that would provide an opportunity for you as alumni and friends to connect with each other and with the staff of your University.”

Joseph explained that the other main reason for the occasion was to begin to raise funds for the Site’s Library.

“Currently, our Library requires improvement. It is located in the older wing of the Site, and it does not have the modern ventilation that the other wing has,” said Joseph. “We also realize that while the space itself is large enough, it needs to be more active, inviting and vibrant. Furthermore, we need to invest in recommended texts for courses offered at the Site.”

In his address to the gathering, Dr. Francis O. Severin, Director of Open Campus Country Sites, said that he was optimistic that the event would be a start of an improvement in the relationship between the alumni and The UWI.

“Your presence here tonight is encouraging and promising, and I am hoping that this will be a commencement of a continuing and enduring relationship. You must assist your University,” said Severin. “If our University is to become independent and its faculty to enjoy the much-vaunted academic freedom and its research is to be truly scientific and objective, then we must depend on financial support and endowments from our alumni.”

The six alumni honored were:

-Professor Gerald Grell, Cardiologist and Former UWI Pro-Vice Chancellor, was presented with the Distinguished Faculty Award for his contribution as a faculty member of the UWI, his exemplary work in academia and his service to society.

-Dr. Hazel Shillingford-Ricketts, Ophthalmologist and Former Vice President of the UWI Alumni Association Dominica Chapter and Dr. Lennox Honychurch, Anthropologist and UWI Open Campus Council Member received Lifetime Achievement Awards for their service to The UWI, enthusiasm for research and professionalism.

-Dr. Alwin Bully, Cultural Advisor and Member of the Rex Nettleford Foundation was awarded the Arts & Culture Award for his service to the UWI and Dominica in the fields of art and culture.

-Jeffers Parillon, Executive Member of the Cochrane Improvement Committee was presented with the Community Service & Outreach Award for his service to the UWI Open Campus Dominica, and his deep love for community service and involvement in sporting activities.

-Nadia Riviere, former Chair of the Open Campus Dominica Student Guild received the Up & Coming Alum Award for her dedicated service to the Open Campus Dominica Site.

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12 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    October 2, 2014

    Congrats jeffers! Made my day seeing your accomplishment.

  2. miss perfect hair
    October 1, 2014

    Congratulations Nadia, and to all the other recipients. Continue the great work you do, to better our country, stay positive.

  3. October 1, 2014

    Congrats to everyone well deserved

  4. October 1, 2014

    Congrats sis from your bro

  5. Chris Parillon
    October 1, 2014

    Congratulations to all recipients. Well done

  6. Jaime Lewis
    September 30, 2014

    Congratulations to all!

  7. Rev. Dr Tom Parillon
    September 30, 2014

    congratulations to my dear brother, Jeffers. We are proud of you.

  8. Kiang Kiang
    September 30, 2014

    Who is that lady in red? Wow!

  9. Anonymous
    September 30, 2014

    Distinguished group indeed!!! Cream of the Dominican crop!! Congratulations and blessings to them all!

  10. yh
    September 30, 2014

    congrats Jeffers Parillon from Cockrane

  11. jane messam
    September 30, 2014

    Congrats to all

  12. Sout Man
    September 30, 2014

    What a distinguished, talented and honorable bunch! Congratulations!

    Let’s make the CCJ as strong and distinguished as the UWI.

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