BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WITH a sense of pride and accomplishment, 16 young people yesterday (Jan. 14) graduated from the TOPS (Training for Optimal Performance of School-Leaders Programme; a component of the Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation’s (SIDF) Recognising Everyone’s Ability to Climb Higher (REACH) programme.
The event took place in a graduation-hall-transformed St. Kitts Marriott Ballroom, where the parents, friends, loved ones and well-wishers had gathered to support the 16 graduands.
The graduands are Aaron Bennire, Bria Berry, Jayresia Blanchard, Iana Franks, AkousaGyimah, Kezia Hanley, Malik Mustafa, JavontayOttley, Kejohn Richardson, Tessa Ritchin, Lannique Saunders, Romelia Scarborough, Raynette Warner, T’Ajai Warner, NovelleWebbe and Ezbon Weekes.
The three-month programme was designed to prepare young people fresh out of school, and who were in search of gainful employment to transition into the world of work as seamlessly as possible by developing their professional and personal skills.
Participants in the programme received training in four Microsoft Office Specialist courses – Word, Access, Power Point and Excel - and three Life and Work Skills courses – Effective Public Speaking and Presentation, Customer Service and Business Communication - and were required to pass at least one course in each category in order to successfully graduate.
The 16 graduands were part of an initial class of 35.
Passing all seven courses were Scarborough, T Warner and Webbe, while Bennire, Gyimah, Saunders and W Warner passed six courses. Passing five courses were Berry, Blanchard, Franks, Hanley and Ritchen, with Ottley and Weekes passing four courses. Richardson passed three courses.
Malik Mustafa was also a member of the graduating class but was absent from the ceremony.
Special awards were presented to Saunders for performing the best in her class in the Microsoft Office Specialist Courses of Excel and Power Point. She had tied with Webbe who also received a special award in the latter in addition to receiving special awards for being the most proficient in Word and Access.
Faced beamed with happiness and applause rang through the graduation hall when Webbe was named the Most Outstanding Participant for the TOPS class of 2014.
In giving brief remarks to the gathering, the young woman said initially she thought the courses would be a breeze but was proven wrong as it progressed. She also indicated that perseverance was key to getting the class to the point of graduating.
In delivering remarks at the ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of the SIDF Terrence Crossman said the TOPS/REACH initiative is part of the SIDF’s thrust to advance the economy of the Federation through the development of human resources.
Minister of Education the Hon. Nigel Carty congratulated the students on their achievement, naming them the “top of TOPS”.
The graduating class left the ceremony not only with their documents of international certification as Microsoft Specialists, but were given invaluable tidbits of advice by featured speaker Faron Lawrence, General Manager of SKN Homes.
He congratulated the students on their achievement and encouraged them to continue their climb, especially since they are competing in a global community.
He implored them to hold high the principle of honesty, be able to adapt to change, have the right attitude and be problem solvers.
Congratulations to the top of TOPS 2014!
