…initiative is first of its kind at school

THE NEW YORK Tri-State Chapter of the Bishops’ High School (B.H.S.) Alumni Association is spearheading a conference this week at their alma mater in Guyana, to provide the school’s senior-year students with a variety of perspectives on career choices, higher education and vocational opportunities, as well as lessons in personal enrichment and empowerment.

According to a statement issued by the Alumni Association, the initiative is the first of its kind at B.H.S. and will take place at the school’s campus on Carmichael Street on Thursday, October 5, and Friday, October 6, under the theme, “After Graduation – What’s Next – Exploring Pathways on the Road To Personal And Professional Development.”
The two-day conference will be preceded by a reception today to welcome conference presenters from both the Diaspora and Guyana, who were selected for their professional expertise and experience.

“Our chapter has discussed spearheading a student conference at the school for some time. We view it as a way for our members to give back by imparting their knowledge and experiences to the current student body. We assembled a committee that we felt would be able to execute that vision, and we are happy that this has finally come to fruition,” said Wayne Knight, President of the New York Tri-State Chapter.

Similarly, Yvonne Atherly-John, chairperson of the Conference Organising Committee at the Alumni Association’s New York Tri-State Chapter said organisers were proud to inaugurate the conference, which they hoped will be a regular feature for the Lower and Upper 6th form students “as they prepare to take the next major step in their lives, a step which many of them may yet be unsure of, or which many may consider daunting.”

Some 30 presenters from fields such as Entrepreneurship, Law, Information Technology, Medicine, Culinary Arts and Engineering to name a few, are expected to participate and presentations will cover a variety of topics through lectures, workshops, small-group discussions, panel discussions, and problem-solving and team-building exercises.
Some of the subjects to be explored include Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Cover-Letter writing, and interview preparation and skills. Alumni presenters will also cover issues such as Communications, Entrepreneurship, Financial Literacy and Mentoring.

Among the local alumni presenters are Nigel Hughes, who will speak about “Preparing for the petroleum industry and careers in oil and gas;” Selwyn Asafa George, Executive Director of W&T George and Company Limited (WTG) whose topic is “Realising your potential through critical thinking,” and well-known retired Director for Health Sciences Education, Dr. Sarah Gordon on “Mentoring – Finding the right professional and emotional support.”

From the Diaspora, Dr. Janis Davis-Street will offer a presentation on Communication – Skills and Traps; Master Craftsman Jonathan Locke, the Owner of Timehri Studios, a custom furniture manufacturing company will speak on “Winning that first job” and Philip Peroune, Associate Director of Admissions in the office of International Admissions at Monroe College in New Rochelle, New York, will hold a special session for students and their parents on the all-important question of navigating and financing the college admissions process.

“This is an innovative, exciting conference that delivers a new dimension to the Bishops’ High School experience. The inter-generational exchange, two days of high-intensity exposure to men and women with global experience who walked the same hallways and sat in the same classrooms, will be priceless for the students attending the conference,” said Ms. Winifred Ellis, Headmistress of the Bishops’ High School.