October 2009

The mortarboard is a global symbol of academia and graduations, and as we prepare for our annual Presentation of Graduates on October 30 and 31, we have devoted much of this edition to the people, traditions and symbols associated with graduation ceremonies.

We were as struck by our cover photograph’s startling likeness to a mortarboard as its photographer, Ian Parker, was. A professor of neuroscience at the University of California, Prof Parker was hiking into a canyon at the side of the Escalante River in Utah when he saw the intriguing rock formation that he aptly titled: “The Mortarboard.”

The mortarboard as a symbol of higher learning and the solidity represented by this rock, combined to reinforce an idea we feel is central to the development of any civilisation. It is the concept that education is the sturdiest rock upon which to build anything of substance.

We pay tribute to those who have accumulated wisdom through the shaping hands of life experience and who use their knowledge to guide those who come behind. We pay tribute to those who submit themselves to the task of learning and now stand ready to contribute to their communities. And we pay tribute to the long traditions of excellence that we strive to emulate each day.

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GRADUATION 2009

Our Graduation ceremonies are occasions of celebration and reflection. We pay tribute to those who have accumulated wisdom through the shaping hands of life experience and who use their knowledge to guide those who come behind. We pay tribute to those who submit themselves to the task of learning and now stand ready to contribute to their communities. And we pay tribute to the long traditions of excellence that we strive to emulate each day.

Follow the links to read more about our valedictorians: Joni Lee Pow, Chava O’Sullivan, Kailash Jaikaransingh and Dr Tennille Auguste.

Five outstanding people will receive honorary degrees at the St Augustine Campus graduation ceremonies of The University of the West Indies. Find out why Angela Cropper, Christopher Laird, Robert Riley, Prof. Arnold Rampersad and Yesu Persaud are excellent choices for such honours.

Other Top Stories

Sport
Uwi Spec Half-Marathon
Put on your running shoes
Graduation Ceremonies
The Graduate
The Coming of Age Ceremony
Graduation Ceremonies
The Honoree
Prof. Arnold Rampersad,Inside a biographer
Graduation Ceremonies
The Honoree
Yesu Persaud In the service of his brother

UWI Calendar October 2009 - November 2009

Presentation of Graduates 2009
Friday 30 and Saturday 31 October 2009
Sport and Physical Education Centre, St Augustine
Live Concerts CD launch: Livin De Music
Friday 6 and Saturday 7 November, 2009
Learning Resource Centre, UWI, St Augustine
14th Annual Prizes Award Ceremony
Wednesday October 28, 2009
Daaga Auditorium, UWI, St. Augustine
Developments in Caribbean Community Law
Monday 9-Wednesday 11 November, 2009
Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port of Spain
UWI SPEC International Half-Marathon 2009
Sunday 1st November, 2009
6am, UWI SPEC, St Augustine

Race Relations Panel Discussion
JFK Lecture Theatre
Wednesday 28 October, 2009
Humanities Prize Award Ceremony
Learning Resource Centre, UWI, St Augustine
Monday 26 October, 2009

Also In This Issue

  UWI Graduation Ceremonies 2009: The Circumstance of the Pomp
  From the principal: Our fine cadre of leaders
  UWI 5th Anniversary of Telehealth Programme : Technology that cares
  From the Regional Endowment Fund
  Cropper Foundation for creative writers
  Students introduced to work life at Methanex
  UWI SPEC International Half-Marathon : One thousand strong
  Graduation Ceremonies 2009: Valedictorians
  Graduation Ceremonies 2009: Honorees
  Graduation Ceremonies 2009: On Art and Imagination
  Graduation Ceremonies 2009: At the service of my brother
  Aesthetics of the Crossroads