South Florida:

Etana, 'the Strong One', rocked the ballroom at the Signature Grand in Davie, Florida, last Saturday, selecting to close her 30-minute set with the song that propelled her successful musical career, One Address.

In sync with the organiser's theme: 'Challenges. Change. Opportunity', the female reggae sensation delivered a scintillating performance, giving credence to the Cornwall College Alumni Association's South Florida chapter that they knew how to culminate a weekend of activities in fine style.

Saturday night's 21st-anniversary dinner dance was night two of three days of fundraising activities geared at advancing the welfare and interest of the present student population and the Montego Bay-based school. This is through the provision of bursaries (scholarships), special contributions to departments, including academics, sports and extra-curricular projects.

The sold-out event was attended by 500 patrons, with strong support coming from other alumni associations, including Mount Alvernia High, Montego Bay High School and Westwood.

Cornwall College's own 1976 graduating class had in attendance some 45 of its members from across the United States of America.

In the last 10 years, the Cornwall College South Florida chapter has contributed some US$200,000 to their alma mater and has embarked on a series of projects aimed at installing solar panels designed to reduce the institution's dependence on electricity, and renovation of the playing field to include a sprinkler (irrigation) system. This project, the alumni's president, Chester Phillips, said is to be completed by the start of the 2016-17 academic year.

Part of a larger plan is to include a mini-stadium and perimeter fencing of the campus, in addition to new classrooms and a 1,500-seat auditorium.

"We also want to install wireless capability in the school, to include lecture halls with whiteboard capability," Phillips told patrons.

He noted that the school was in dire need of support from past students, friends, the community and well-wishers, adding that the annual event was the major fundraiser for the association and also serves as a major reunion for past students and their families.

Phillips took time out to recognise the outstanding contribution of immediate past president Lance Gibbs and alumni Ricardo Williams.

The weekend was complemented by a meet and greet and a brunch.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com [1]