Former GC Foster students answer call to rekindle alumni ties

As part of efforts to grow and strengthen its local past students’ chapter, GC Foster College recently staged a week-long alumni engagement programme designed to boost participation and reconnect former students with the institution.

The gathering, which took place from September 28 to October 4, included local sports personalities such as Mount Pleasant Academy’s assistant coach Davion Ferguson and Manchester Spurs assistant coach Anniece Ebanks.

Caroney Gregory, marketing and promotion officer, said past students came and shared their experiences, challenges, and opportunities in their respective fields and gave words of motivation to the current crop of students.

“We are trying to revamp and strengthen the local chapter of GC Foster College Past Students Association. So the week of September 28 to October 4, we decided to host a past student week where the past students would come in and engage with the present students and staff.

“We had a cross-section of participants because once they graduate, we do not limit them to just becoming coaches or physical education teachers,” she said.

The presenters included persons in media, security, marketing, and a variety of sport professions.

They included well-known personalities such as Ferguson, Ebanks, Evan Hewitt, Courtney Dowdie, Chris Neil Palmer, Michael McIntosh, and Jermaine Hamilton.

The event was well received, and the students had a lot of questions, Gregory added.

However, she noted that it was all geared at reactivating and building up the local chapter of their student body,

“This was the first one, but we intend to continue. All the presenters were presented with memorabilia, and we continue to partner with them to come in as guest lecturers going forward.

“We are trying to rebuild our local alumni chapter. We have a strong US alumni chapter, and we are trying to strengthen the local one, and we believe this was a great way to get started.”

Gregory said a local body needed a dedicated and passionate executive, a group of forceful and aggressive, passionate individuals to lead the way,

“I am sure over time, everyone will come on board once they see that some amount of positive, impactful work is happening.

“We just need to revisit our structure and organisation objectives, vision, and mission and put them into practice.

“We want to let our past students know we are proud of them, and we continue to solicit their support for the greater development of our nation.”

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com