CASTRIES, St. Lucia, Oct. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Monroe College, the New York-based institution offering Associate, Bachelor's, and Master's degree programs from its campus in Saint Lucia, held its Annual Commencement last Sunday for local graduates. Independent Senator Dr. Adrian Augier delivered the keynote address.
Commencement took place at the Sandals Grande Saint Lucian Spa and Beach Resort in Gros-Islet. Two separate ceremonies were held to allow for proper social distancing of all participants. Due to pandemic-related quarantine requirements for visitors to the island, Monroe College President Marc Jerome led the ceremony virtually from New York, while local campus administrators, faculty, and staff joined the 86 graduates in person.
In addition to students from Saint Lucia, the graduating class included students from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Vincent and The Grenadines. Also among the graduates were seven students from Dominica and St. Kitts who had attended Monroe's campuses in New York. They chose to participate in the St. Lucia campus' ceremony so that friends and family could more easily attend. The names of the graduates are listed on the College's website.
School of Business and Accounting Professor Solange Charles Belizaire served as Grand Marshal for the opening processional. The Venerable Christian Glasgow, Anglican Archdeacon of St. Lucia, gave the invocation. Among those offering welcoming remarks to the graduates and their guests were College President Marc Jerome; Dr. Alex Ephrem, Senior Vice President at Monroe; and Augustus Small, Dean of Administration for the Saint Lucia campus. The Government of St. Lucia sent a congratulatory message that was shared during the ceremony. Dr. Sonia Alexander, who oversees Academic Affairs for the Saint Lucia campus, announced the students earning academic awards.
Among the Saint Lucian dignitaries in attendance were:
- Honorable Dominic Fedee / Minister for Tourism, Information and Broadcasting, Culture and Creative Industries
- Honorable Andy Daniel / Speaker of the House of Assembly
- Honorable Jeannine Michele Giraudy-McIntyre / President of the Senate, representing the Governor General
- Honorable Guy Joseph / Minister for Economic Development, Housing, Urban Renewal, Transportation and Civil Aviation
- Honorable Shawn Edwards / Member of Parliament
"While Commencement is always a joyful day, it is especially so now after the tough year our students and their families faced with the pandemic," said Marc Jerome, president of Monroe College. "They stayed strong, focused, and resilient, and we are all incredibly proud of their accomplishments."
Approximately 1300 students have earned their degree through Monroe College's Saint Lucia campus since its establishment in 2007. The campus, located on Vide Boutielle Highway in Castries, offers students a broad array of degree programs through its Schools of Allied Health Professions, Business and Accounting, Criminal Justice, Hospitality Management, and Information Technology. The College also operates the International Hospitality Training Institute in partnership with the Saint Lucian government to prepare local residents for entry-level hospitality positions with cruise ships, hotels, resorts, and restaurants.
ABOUT MONROE COLLEGE
Founded in 1933, Monroe College is a recognized leader in urban and international education. The College is proud of its innovative programs to increase college access, affordability, and completion outcomes, especially among first-generation students. The strength of its warm, supportive culture is reflected in the personal connections fostered among students, faculty, and staff.
Monroe educates close to 8,000 students each year, offering Certificate, Associate, Bachelor's, and Master's degree programs from campuses in the Bronx, New Rochelle, and St. Lucia. Students may also take courses online. For more information and admissions criteria, please visit http://www.monroecollege.edu.
SOURCE Monroe College
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