Some sixteen universities and colleges in the Caribbean, Canada and the United States were represented at the 2008 College Fair held at Campus B in Anguilla on Monday, November 3, to give students an opportunity to learn about higher education programmes to assist them in their plans to study abroad.

The opening ceremony was ably chaired by Sixth Form student, Olufunmike Devonish-Banks.

Representatives of Universities and Colleges in Anguilla

The College Fair was organised by the Anguilla Careers & Guidance Unit, the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School and the Department of Library Services. The representatives of the various universities and colleges were welcomed by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Chanelle Petty-Barrett. She told them that with a number of young Anguillians at their institutions they had no doubt realised that Anguilla had some of the brightest students in the region.

Addressing students as well as adult persons who might wish to further their studies, Mrs. Petty-Barrett told them: “This College Fair is about you. This year provides you with a prime opportunity to access firsthand information about various tertiary level institutions which will enable you to make informed decisions about your future personal and professional development.” She outlined a number of critical areas of information which the potential students should seek clarification on to assist them in choosing the institutions at which they might wish to study.

Music Teacher Daphne Jacobs-Richardson directing student choir

She urged them to make the right choice. “It is a personal choice,” she advised them. “It is about which institutions best meet your needs and aspirations. It is not about which institutions your friends want to enroll in. It is about you and what is the best fit for you and your family. From the Ministry’s standpoint, this fair is about investing in human capital, ensuring that our human resource base is well-equipped to assist Anguilla to meet the challenges ahead and to chart the course of our development as a nation.”

Ms. Veda Harrigan, speaking on behalf of Chief Education Officer, Rhonda Connor, told the representatives of the educational institutions that their presence was an indication of their commitment to providing tertiary education opportunities for Anguillian students and to demonstrate their policies to engage in vigorous recruitment.

Front row: Veda Harrigan, Chanelle Petty-Barrett and Worrel Brooks

“This is commendable and we in Anguilla are indeed grateful,” she added while encouraging the Anguillian students to make maximum use of the opportunity.
Mrs. Anita Ruan, Head of the school’s Careers and Guidance Unit, also joined in welcoming the recruiting university and college representatives. She was grateful to the Caribbean Commercial Bank, the Anguilla Development Board and the Anguilla Government which were represented as sources of funding for students.

The institutions represented included the University of Arkansas, Trent University, the University of the Virgin Islands, University of the West Indies, St. George’s University, Monroe College (where Joleyne Robin of Anguilla is a student), Schiller University, University of Technology in Jamaica, Johnson & Wales University, Westfield University (at which Trevor Hodge of Anguilla is one of the officials), and the University of St. Maarten.

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