Buchanan — Buchanan City, Grand Bassa was a colorful place on Wednesday, February 17, after the Grand Bassa Community College allowed 218 students to leave its walls with degrees in different disciplines.
By Elton W. Tiah, Contributor
The Wednesday graduation was the fifth commencement of the college since it was established in 2008.
Out of the 218, 75 graduated obtaining associate degree in Nursing, while 30 earned associate degree in Agriculture. Several others earned associate degrees in Business Administration, Teaching Education and Sociology.
Graduates of the Information Communications Technology (ICT) and Engineering departments earned certificates in their respective area of studies.
Dr. Samuel Monwell, president of Grand Bassa Community College said “I have come to present to the people of Grand Bassa and Liberia 218 qualified and competent graduates.”
Dr. Monwell mentioned that the graduates were amongst several students who risked themselves to acquire higher education at the community college, stressing that the bridge had been a major impediment to their education.
He further said, “While it is true that they’re leaving the college, we want to remind our leaders to kindly help ensure that the bridge which links Buchanan with Pensberry Community, where the college is situated needs serious attention for the rest of the students and faculty.”
For her part, Madam Delores Hogan Johnson, former District 84 Representative of Florida USA, served as keynote speaker. She encouraged the graduates not to see their first degrees as the end of their education.
“I see this day as a dream come true; seeing most of you leaving this community college is good but you have to keep the focus and continue your education.”
Keynote Speaker Johnson furthered “The leader of the college will be excited when you do great things that brings happiness and proud to the college but if your character out there is bad then you have made us shame.”
She didn’t only provided gifts for all of the 218 graduates, she also contributed US$1,500 to the graduating class project. She then crowned it up by setting up a financial aid program for deserving students at the college.
Also speaking, Senator Jonathan Lambert Kaipay, who spoke for the Bassa Legislative Caucus, said owning a college is a pride for the county.
Sen. Kaipay threatened, however, not to support the national budget this year if the bridge which links Buchanan and the community college is not captured in it for repair or reconstruction.
He further explained, “I am going to work with the rest of the members of the Grand Bassa Legislative Caucus in order to ensure that the bridge is captured in the next budget.”
Well-wishers and relatives who had attended the program, expressed happiness about the college. They hailed former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for decentralizing tertiary education by initiating community college projects across the country.
They encouraged President George Weah to continue his support to the college.