More Than 650 Graduate During University of The Bahamas’ 50th Anniversary

Nassau, THE BAHAMAS — One of the University of The Bahamas’ largest commencement classes in recent times, 654 persons, have joined the ranks of over 22,000 alumni of the institution during its momentous 50th anniversary year.

Thousands of jubilant family members and friends, along with UB faculty, staff and students packed the Imperial Ballroom at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort for the Spring 2024 Commencement Ceremony on Thursday 30th May. They celebrated the perseverance, ingenuity and remarkable achievements of the graduates who have overcome national and global challenges to forge new paths of progress. The ballroom was filled with a symphony of cheers, whistle- and horn- blowing and the shaking of cowbells.

“We are proud and also grateful,” said UB President (Acting) Janyne Hodder of the significance of the 2024 Commencement Ceremony. “Grateful to those who came before us and those who support us now. Education is a collective endeavour, a partnership, and its success depends on a deeply shared national commitment to nurture the very best in everyone, and to create the new knowledge that can lead to innovation, discovery, and a better life for all.”

Chair of UB’s Board of Trustees, Mrs. Allyson Maynard-Gibson, K.C., joined the chorus of commendations and expressed her faith in the graduates’ capacity to make a positive difference in the world.

“Unquestionably, you are prepared and have the capacity to lead, innovate, and excel in your chosen fields of endeavour,” said Mrs. Maynard-Gibson. “Please remember, that no matter how much we embrace technology, including artificial intelligence, human beings, not robots, are citizens. You are the world’s future. You will create the world in which you and all humankind can flourish.”

Ambassador at Large His Excellency, Gerry Deveaux, delivered the 2024 Commencement Address after receiving an Honorary Doctorate degree from UB.  Deveaux, an internationally-acclaimed producer and creative director, urged the graduates to aspire for excellence and use their “superpower” of being Bahamian to bring further recognition and acclaim to their beloved country.

“Each and every one of us has the responsibility to use our ‘Bahamian superpower’ to the best of our ability to make The Bahamas the most shining example to the world,” he said. “We have an actual duty to untap all of the tremendous potential of our beautiful country, through the excellence of ourselves. That means each and every one of us has a duty to be as excellent as we possibly can be.”

In sharing his story of perseverance and reflections on behalf of his fellow graduates, BA in Music major, Sgt. Daniel Saunders, recipient of the President’s Award, expressed his gratitude to those who have helped him succeed. Saunders completed his baccalaureate degree while being a full-time officer on the Royal Bahamas Police Force and a member of the police force band.

Barrington Archer relished in earning his Master of Business Administration degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

“It taught me a lot of the things that I would do naturally in work actually have names, have science behind them and it actually gives me more credence and credibility when I speak to other people,” said Archer. “And it helps me to be able to support my arguments, the way that I speak to others and drives me forward in the work world.”

Brittanaya Smith, who earned a BSc in Biology and a Minor in Chemistry, said UB helped to break generational barriers in her family.

“One thing I must say I’m appreciative for is I’m the first female in my family to graduate, and I feel like it’s a really great start,” said Brittanaya. “I’ll say ‘start’ because this is just the beginning for me towards med school.”

Ayoka Seymour, who graduated at the top of her class in the School of English Studies and works in the Office of Alumni Services, also testified of the tremendous impact UB has had on her life.

“UB definitely had the greatest impact on me than any other aspect of my life,” said Ayoka. “Everything I do now, I was introduced to at UB. I did a theatre class, and now I work at the Dundas in my free time. I did a Junkanoo class and now I rush every year. I’m going to be a linguist—I was a linguistics minor. Everything that I’m interested in, I developed at UB.”

In a celebration of its core values, UB’s commencement ceremony had as its theme: 50 Years of Knowledge, Truth and Integrity.