The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE College of the Bahamas’ northern campus held its Spring 2015 commencement ceremony for some 48 graduates on June 4 at the Grand Lucayan Resort in Freeport.

Family, friends, and well-wishers packed the Grand Ballroom, where some 37 baccalaureate degrees, six associate degrees, and other qualifications were conferred on candidates successfully completing their course of studies.

College President Dr Rodney Smith encouraged the graduates to strive to become servant leaders. He said there are many self-serving leaders who are only interested in self-recognition and a reward of some kind.

“They only want to give when it is something in it for them,” he said of the self-serving leader.

He said they must be leaders who are willing to serve others.

Dr Donald McCartney, a Bahamian professor at Barry University in the United States, delivered the commencement address.

He told the graduates to use their wisdom to transform the nation and impact the world.

“These are no ordinary times… these times call for a new generation of Bahamians,” he said. “You must build the new Bahamas.”

Dr McCartney said that the graduates must represent a new breed of future leadership for the country.

A very important piece of advice he offered was for them to divest themselves of excessive baggage that will hold them down and hinder their progress.

“You must be prepared to take risks and leave your comfort zone and take a chance,” he said.

Dr McCartney told the graduates that they must also recognise the power of God. He then shared with them the profound words of boxing great Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines who gave all credit to God for his talent and what he had been able to achieve in the sport of boxing.

Said Mr McCartney: “Graduates, let there be no doubt in your minds about the fact that all that you are and all that you hope to be are because you were raised up from nothing into something by… God. He alone has the capacity and the ultimate power to raise you up…to something. He alone deserves all the praise.”

The Northern Bahamas Campus Award for Academic Excellence went to Christal J Bartlett, who received her BBA in management.

Ms Bartlett was also commencement class speaker.