The Tribune

A SURPRISE videotaped message from Sir Durward Knowles, the first Bahamian Olympic gold medal winner, encouraged more than 70 graduates from Atlantic College’s class of 2015 last week.

The 97-year-old sailing champion and philanthropist encouraged the graduates to listen to their parents, their teachers and make their country proud at the Grants Town institution’s first Bachelor’s degree programme.

The Evangelistic Temple auditorium was filled with family, friends, well-wishers and dignitaries, including Dr Bernard Nottage, acting Minister of Education and local MP, who witnessed the 20th anniversary commencement exercise.

Sir Durward, with typical humour, told the audience that they were probably wondering what he was doing there – as was he. He talked about Dr R E Cooper, the president and founder of Atlantic College and how crazy he must have been when he built a school on Hay and East Streets. He said he couldn’t even find the school when he was first invited there.

He also talked about his own trials and his life, but he took time to encourage the graduates to make something of their lives, especially after the sacrifices they have made to get to this point.

Dr Cooper told the graduates that the message from Sir Durward was one that they will always remember and that they had been given a “charge” to go on with their lives and make everyone proud.

Dr Cooper, who has been at work for 38 years in serving God and humanity, said: “We must seek funding sources as our vision for Grants Town is to establish a multi-faceted campus that the whole world can be proud of right in the heart of the inner city”. In his Baccalaureate service for the graduates the previous Sunday, Dr Cooper had asked “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” in comparison to the story of Jesus in the Bible.

“Well, we have been producing quality educated citizens for 20 years out of the inner city,” he said. “So we know that good things can come out of Grants Town.”

The school has delivered diploma programmes for high school dropouts as well as Associate and now Bachelor degree programmes, all without any major funding source. “God is faithful,” said Dr Cooper. “We must continue the work that has been going on now for 20 years.”

James Schaeffer IV, of Old Fort Bay Partners and a former top aide to President Bush, was the commencement speaker and Dr Melony Thompson, vice-president of Atlantic College, presented the awards.

Atlantic College plans further events to celebrate its 20 years.