Excelsior Community College holds press launch for 40th anniversary

Sheldon Williams, Gleaner Writer

Forty years have passed since Excelsior Community College (ECC) came into existence, and the milestone was acknowledged at a press launch in the Wesley Powell Learning Resource Centre on Tuesday in the presence of alumni, current students and staff.

Alumnus Phillip Paulwell, minister of science, technology, energy and mining, who attended the institution in 1979, shared his memories.

He recounted an encounter he had with the founding principal, Ted Dyer, who was speaking to someone about the absence of past students of Excelsior becoming prime ministers.

"Wolmer's had one and JC," Paulwell remembered Dyer saying but he then expressed that, "at least they cannot blame Excelsior for mashing up the country," he joked.

Paulwell also made mention of the increase in enrolment of students at the college, jumping to 6,000, which was deemed noteworthy, especially since some persons thought it would have been a challenge.

Dr Donna Powell-Wilson, executive director of the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica, lauded the institution for what it represents and what it has achieved.

"For the last 40 years, Excelsior has maintained its commitment to providing exceptional training and education to some of Jamaica's best minds. Having been the first community college to be established, Excelsior has and continues to provide exceptional and outstanding leadership to the development of the community college network, not only locally, but with the expansion and growth of the system across the Caribbean region, " she said.

NECESSARY SKILLS

Powell-Wilson also encouraged the institution to continue to equip its students with the necessary skills needed to be competitive in the global marketplace.

" I would like to challenge you to create a vision that is synonymous with excellence, innovation, honour, integrity and outstanding quality and service. Just as community colleges have developed over the years to where we are today, we must continue to stay abreast with the rapidly changing global economy. Beyond domain knowledge and skills, Jamaicans must equip themselves with 21st century competencies and a thirst for lifelong learning," she said.

The institution has outlined a number of projects that will be pursued, beginning later this year, which will include establishing entrepreneurial centres in each schools within the college, constructing a multipurpose building on the main campus and establishing e-learning labs for the Mountain View Community.

Other persons in attendance included Morin Seymour, chairman, ECC committee of management; Dr Nadine Scott, principal of the college; Reverend Dr George Murrain, superintendent minister, Methodist Church, Jamaica District; and Naomi Jacobs, chair Of ECC.