Outstanding educators honoured

The Joint Committee for Tertiary Education (JCTE) awarded Dr. Randolph Watson, former principal of Bethlehem Moravian College, the prestigious award of Outstanding Educator at its Ninth Anniversary and Awards Function held recently at the Hilton Kingston Hotel. Dr. Watson was honoured for contributing significantly to the field of education over 40 years, serving his country with a high degree of professionalism and integrity. Special recognition awards went to other prominent educators, Mrs. Norma Darlington, principal, Shortwood Teachers College, Mr. T.E. Dwyer, former principal, Excelsior Community College and Mrs. Helen Stills (posthumous) principal Knox Community College.

At the ceremony, which was organised under the auspices of the University Council of Jamaica and held biennially, the JCTE also honoured 23 students chosen by tertiary institutions in Jamaica, for being the most outstanding students in their institution.

Students honoured were: Mr. Ainsworth Barronette, B & B Institute of Business; Mr. Victor Newsome, Bethlehem Moravian College; Mrs. Joan Pinkney, Caribbean Graduate School of Theology; Miss Thalia Johnson, Edna Manley College of the Visual & Performing Arts; Mr. Garth Anderson, Church Teachers' College; Mr. Orville Hall, Excelsior Community College; Mr. Verdayne Smith, G.C. Foster College or Physical Education & Sport; Miss Cheryl DaCosta, Institute of Management & Production; Mr. Ewart Henry, Institute of Management Sciences; Mr. Norman Francis, Institute for Theological and Leadership Development; Mr. O'Neil Morgan, Jamaica Theological Seminary; Mr. Dwayne Blidgen, Knox Community College; Miss Joyanna Shaw, Liberal Arts College of Jamaica; Mr. Marvin Tyrell, Mico College; Miss Charlotte Allen, Moneague College; Miss Alexis Chin, Montego Bay Community College; Mrs. Meline Huchinson, Northern Caribbean University; Miss Merlianna Parry, Sam Sharpe Teachers' College; Miss Nathalee Brooks, Shortwood Teachers' College; Mrs. Evanne McKoy, St. Joseph's Teachers College; Mr. Clavery Allen, University of Technology, Jamaica; Mr. Delroy Taylor, University of the West Indies, Mona.

In his address, guest speaker of the function, Dr. J. Michael Korff-Rodriguez, Counsellor of the Office for Public Affairs, Embassy of the USA, focused on the importance of higher education and its impact on the economy as well as on the values of a democracy and its citizens.

"If we want to inoculate individuals against poverty and long-term bouts of unemployment, and reduce crime and social dependency, we would begin by making certain that every person in this day and age has some education beyond high school," he said quoting the president of the American Council on Education.

The Awards Ceremony followed on the JCTE's Ninth Annual Conference, which had as its theme: "Directions of Tertiary Education", with a focus on workplace needs, institutional directions, and quality assurance.

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