Dr. Earla Carey Baines, Acting President, The College of The Bahamas, and Dr. Ian Strachan, Vice President of Advancement, The College of The Bahamas, talk about the events planned to commemorate The College’s 40th Anniversary.
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Nassau,
BAHAMAS – “A Legacy of Leadership” is The College of The Bahamas’ theme
for a year of events dedicated to celebrating its 40th anniversary as
one of the country’s most strategic institutions.
The
College was created by an Act of Parliament in October, 1974. A
calendar of national events will engage faculty, staff, students, alumni
and the public in various
endeavours, from the first annual Homecoming and Flamingo Ball to the
recognition of 40 outstanding alumni and COB Pride Day and T-Shirt Day
observance.
Acting
President of The College Dr. Earla Carey-Baines put The College’s
development and relevance over the last four decades into perspective
during a press conference held recently to announce the 40th anniversary events.
“The
College of The Bahamas is a national development imperative and our
success as an institution and community of higher learning are tied to
the success of The Bahamas,”
she said.
“All
of the changes that we anticipate in the future will build upon a solid
foundation in academia. This year we will pay homage to our
developmental successes and the
faculty, staff and students – both current and former – who have
contributed honourably to our legacy of leadership and service.”
Vice
President of Advancement Dr. Ian Strachan, under whose portfolio the
events are being executed, noted that the commemoration of the 40th anniversary milestone
provides an opportunity to reflect on The College’s many achievements and relevance in national life.
“There
are a number of things geared towards raising awareness of the
accomplishments of the institution and instilling pride in our student
body and engaging the public,”
Dr. Strachan said.
“We are celebrating this 40th
anniversary under the theme “A Legacy of Leadership” and we believe if
you look at our track record as an institution we have,
indeed, been a leader in higher education and our alumni have taken
their roles in almost every endeavor of our national life, whether we
are talking about parliamentarians, physicians, educators, journalists
you name it,” he added.
One of the banner events is The Flamingo Ball that will be held June 14th, 2014 at the Melia Nassau Beach Resort. The College will honour 40 of its outstanding
alumni at the gala ceremony and induct 5 of them into its Alumni Hall of Fame. The deadline for nominations is February 7th, 2014.
The
Flamingo Heritage Award will also be presented to two faculty, two
staff and two administrators – both past and present – who have made
outstanding contributions to
the development of the institution. The deadline for nominations is
March 28th, 2014.
Nomination forms for both awards can be accessed online at www.cob.edu.bs.
Dr.
Strachan also announced that a committee will propose the naming of
several classroom buildings in honour of outstanding Bahamians, thus
adding to the character of
the institution’s Oakes Field Campus.
40th Anniversary Calendar of Events:
February - Pictorial Exhibit of the History of the Northern Bahamas Campus
March 7th -Tree Planting at the Northern Bahamas Campus
March 20th-COB Pride Day (National T-Shirt Day)
-COB Student, Faculty, Staff Talent Show
-Essay Competition
June 14th - Flamingo Ball, Melia Nassau Beach Resort
July - Inaugural COB Yearbook
November -Service Project, Northern Bahamas Campus
-November 2-9, Homecoming