Marlon Vickerman, Features Writer

Professor Roy Augier (left) congratulates Father Gregory Ramkissoon (right) and Franklin Wright at the graduation ceremony at the University of the West Indies' Mona campus last Friday. Both men were presented honorary doctorates at the ceremony - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer

While last Friday was a 'blue' day for the University of the West Indies' (UWI) Mona campus, it was not one of those days associated with mourning. It was the institution's annual 'ceremony for the presentation of graduates', more popularly known as graduation, and several hundred graduates came out decked in their blue and red gowns.

As was to be expected, parents, guardians, friends, well-wishers and probably curious passers-by turned out in numbers for the three-hour function, which saw a record 252 graduates walking down the aisle with a coveted First Class Honour. This is the highest number of First Class Honours to have ever been awarded in the UWI, Mona campus' history.

By the time the ceremony commenced, it was made quite clear that the relatives of some of the graduates had been practising their 'I'm so proud of you' shouts since the day of their matriculation. "Yeas", "Hoorays", "whoo-hoos" and "That's my boy/girl" were among some the endless list of ear-shattering screeches that rang out as parents jumped to their feet bellowing as their offspring walked up to the platform to accept their degrees and certificates.

Weather the trying times

In her address, Class of 2007 valedictorian Rochelle Roye reminded her fellow graduates that courage was not defined by those who fought and did not fall, but by those who fought, fell and rose, and their being at the graduation ceremony signifies that they had been courageous enough to weather the trying times, thus taking hold of excellence.

After the ceremony ended, flashing cameras, hugs, kisses and smiles were in abundance. The UWI steel pan band knocked familiar melodies in the air and the graduates gradually disappeared with hopes of soon emerging as leaders in their career paths.

marlon.vickerman@gleanerjm.com