The 2002 graduation exercises was attended by many family members and friends of the graduates, several Members of the Legislative Council and also President-elect of the University of the Virgin Islands Dr. Laverne Raxter.

A total of 87 students graduated during the College’s 9th graduation exercises held at the Paraquita Bay campus on Thursday June 13th. The College offers three levels of certification the Certificate of Achievement, the Certificate of Higher Education and the Associate Degree. Students were successful in areas including Business Administration, Computer Studies, Corporate and Trust Administration, Engineering/Architectural Drawing, Human Services, Management Studies, Arts and Science.

Nine of those students graduated cum laude, with a Grade Point Average of 3.4+. They are Alfida Cruz-David, Siobhan Flax, Althea Davis, Sherese Fahie, Paul Hazel-Alleyne, Marsha Mitchell, Tasheena Penn, Rosa Turnbull and Anthony Yearwood.

“Our achievements are the result of the combined efforts of the administration, faculty and staff, who have given dedicated service to the mission of this institution,” said HLSCC President Dr. Charles Wheatley. 
He mentioned that the College also receives strong support from the government of the British Virgin Islands and the political directorate and enjoys special relations with a number of international educational institutions, such as Wright State University, the New England Culinary Institute (NECI), Missouri Southern State College, the State University of New York at Buffalo, the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI).

To the graduating class, President Wheatley told them to “multiply the excellent ambassadorial work of their predecessors” by reaching out and rescue their brothers and sisters in need; educating and empowering their fellowmen, especially the weaker ones; accessing all the resources available to help their fellowmen and learning to ‘be’ and not only learning to ‘know’.

Chief Minister the Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal is Chairman of the Board of Governors of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College. He said he was pleased to see the variation in accomplishments of this graduating class. “This tells me that the Community College is responding to the needs of the community and it tells me further that we cannot afford to rest on our laurels, but continue to respond to the needs of these islands.”
He said with the need to expand the College comes the need to increase employees and constantly upgrade the facilities. “This calls for strong political will whether to continue to support the institution or allow it to linger on. We cannot afford to do the latter!”

The Chief Minister pointed out that the Members of the Legislative Council have never wavered in their support for the institution and suggested that its future therefore is secure.

Minister of Education and Culture Hon. Andrew Fahie extended congratulations to and saluted all of the graduates on their accomplishments. He restated government’s commitment to education, saying the economy can only remain viable if people continue to educate themselves.

Dr. Julio León, President of Missouri Southern State College delivered the keynote address. He has been a member of the faculty there for 33 years and President for the last 20 years. “This College is a treasure and the most precious asset these islands have,” he said of the HLSCC. 
There are currently two students from the HLSCC at Missouri Southern State Sergio Estridge and Randy George. A relationship between the two institutions allows students from HLSCC to complete their Bachelor’s Degrees at Missouri Southern State.

In conjunction with the University of the West Indies School of Continuing Studies here, several students graduated with their Associate Degree in Legal Studies, Certificate in Business Administration, Certificate in Paralegal Studies and Certificate in Public Administration.

Resident Tutor Mr. Ian Austin told the graduates that they have now come to the end of a major challenge in their lives and it is now time to move on to the next challenge. 

It was in 1995 that the UWI and the HLSCC held the first joint graduation ceremony. According to Mr. Austin, the 2002 ceremony may be the last for the two institutions. He said this shouldn’t be construed as a breach in the relationship nor a signal of a diminishing in the quality of the relationship.
“It’s really about HLSCC growing and establishing itself as a national tertiary educational institution and about the School of Continuing Studies taking its place as an independent autonomous educational delivery mechanism of the University of the West Indies,” he explained.

The student respondent was Marsha Mitchell. She recounted that at times during the year, some of the students felt low in spirit. But she pointed out that they were able to make it through because they had the support of the staff.
Ms. Mitchell, who won the President’s award for achievement of the highest cumulative GPA for a full-time student, told graduates they should continue to seek to acquire new skills to meet the challenges of this technologically advanced and changing world. 

Rosa Turnbull won the President’s award for achievement of the highest cumulative GPA for a part-time student. The computer studies award for outstanding performance went to Tasheena Pann, the sports award for outstanding performance went to Edwin Telemaque and the Virgin Islands Studies award for outstanding performance went to Jessica Joseph.
The H. Lavity Stoutt Community College was established in 1990 as the British Virgin Islands Community College under the College Act of that year. The institution was subsequently renamed in honour of the founding Chairman of the College’s Board of Governors, the late Chief Minister, Hon. H. Lavity Stoutt.

It began its operations with 135 students. Total enrolment during the current academic year stood at 961 students.
The College’s growth is also reflected in the continuing development of existing academic programmes and the creation of new offerings to address identified needs, with the concomitant expansion of the physical plant to house these programmes.

In this regard, the College has been designated the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States’ regional Centre of Specialization for training in Applied Marine Studies. In the hospitality studies area, the College has recently launched a culinary programme in collaboration with the New England Culinary Institute. A distance education programme has been developed in collaboration with Educational Video Conferencing Inc., whereby degree programmes and professional development seminars will be delivered via real-time video-conferencing.

The College’s Virgin Islands Studies Programme, established in 1997 to serve as a source of information and analysis on the Virgin Islands, continues to encourage and stimulate research on Virgin Islands heritage.

In keeping with its commitment to enhancing appreciation of the cultural and the aesthetic, the College mounts a vibrant Performing Arts programme, incorporating “Classics in the Atrium”, “Jazz Showcase” and the annual British Virgin Islands Summer Arts Institute.