Pond Island:--- Saturday 18 June 2016 – The University of St. Martin celebrated its 22nd commencement ceremony on Saturday 18th June 2016 at Sonesta Maho Beach and Casino Resort. This year 33 proud graduates completed their Associates, Bachelors and Teaching Certificates. The night was filled with excitement and joy as the graduates, dignitaries, and Representatives of partnering Universities; including President, Dr. David Hall of the University of the Virgin Islands and Rector Magnificus, Dr. Francis de Lanoy of The University of Curacao, cherished and showed great appreciation to the long-awaited celebration.
The President of USM Dr. Francio Guadeloupe stated “this is a groundbreaking event as we celebrate the first time that a mother and son graduated together” Carlens Michel, and Marie Michel-Elisme shared their celebration together as they both completed their Associate's degrees. Both mother and son expressed the joyous feeling of success as they stated: “it was hard work but definitely worth it”.
The commencement address was delivered by The President of the Board of Directors Mrs. Valerie Giterson Pantophlet who encouraged the graduates to go out in the work field and continue striving for excellence. The Keynote speaker Ms. Ivy Dofoe, who is a developmental psychologist and behavioral scientist in training, shared her experience and motivating speech of her journey in completing her Ph.D. degree which she will finish in July 2016.
USM aids to offer quality career and academic education that will provide students with a solid foundation to enter the field of their chosen career as well as to pursue further academic studies. The theme of the evening; Agents of Change: Consistently Contributing Towards an Educated Workforce emphasized on the brand promise that USM is set out to deliver. The Board of Directors of the University of St. Maarten Foundation would like to thank the Government of Sint Maarten, Businesses, USM Commencement Committee, Management & Staff, Faculty, Students, friends of USM, Ms. Prichard (Sagan) Gibson and others who have contributed to the 2016 Commencement Ceremony and to the success of the University of St. Martin.
The University of St. Martin celebrated its 22 commencement exercise.
