By Frederick Halley
– at ‘reignite’ Toronto meet to launch new chapter
DEPUTY Vice-Chancellor (Academics) Professor Michael Scott has reminded past students of the University of Guyana that theirs is a rich history that causes them to excel at whatever they set their minds to.
“All University of Guyana’s alumni are beneficiaries of a rich history which serves as a giant torch that illuminates collective efforts,” Professor Scott said.
“It is the responsibility of the alumni to shine and assist those coming after them and to support the alma mater,” he said last Wednesday evening as University of Guyana alumni and friends gathered to form the newest chapter of the UG PRIDE, as the alumni associations are being called, in the reception hall of the Tropicana, Scarborough, Toronto, Canada.
Graduates from over fifty years ago shared fond memories with more recent graduates from the 2000s.
It is no accident of history that both the Guild of Graduates and the Alumni Association were born of collective support and love for the University of Guyana. This love and support have constantly created and recreated tremendous ripples nationally and internationally.
Keynote speaker Harry Hergash (Class of 1969) expressed gratitude to the university for their focus on alumni, and especially for reigniting of the Alumni Association in Toronto and igniting others in Guyana and in the Diaspora.
As one of the University’s first graduates and a founding member of the former Toronto Guild of Graduates, Hergash said, “It is my hope that my speech will be of benefit to the new persons who will take the throne.”
He further stated, “Those of us who started in 1963 were poor students and UG afforded us the opportunity of a tertiary education without having to go abroad which was customary at the time, which meant you had to come from rich parenting to be able to afford tertiary education.”
Hergash also noted that the formation of the Toronto Guild of Graduates created a bond with their alma mater and fellow classmates, and expressed the hope that with time, all those who attended UG will feel the same sense of pride, and reach out to contribute to its continued development.
“Ask not what UG can do for you, but what you can do for UG,” said Anyin Choo, University of Guyana alum (Class of 1996) quoting John F. Kennedy. Choo is now Consul-General of the Guyana Consulate in Toronto, which was one of three organisations which collaborated to produce “Re-ignite”.
SIMPLY INSPIRATIONAL
According to UG Deputy Vice- Chancellor, Professor Paloma Mohamed, who heads the office of Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement (PACE) with the mandate for finding and fostering relations with alumni, “The outpouring of goodwill and the moment of passing the baton from the stalwarts to new blood in the PRIDE was nothing short of inspirational.”
And for Trovona Azzez, “It is really rare to recognise a moment of great change when you are living it, but this is the threshold of a new era.” Christina Chowgrir said the moment reminded her of Science.
Canadian oil exploration company CGX Energy Inc was the signal sponsor of the event.
Princess Alexander, President of Alexander Learmond Group, another sponsor, said she was delighted to support UG though she never went there herself, having migrated to Canada as a young girl. She said she returned to Guyana after 30 years and happened upon a meeting of the 50th Anniversary planning committee (2012) and “fell in love with the students and never let go.”
These sentiments clearly resounded around the room, as old Faculty like Malcolm Paris and young alumni like Alexander Ramessar and former Mayor of Linden, Carwyn Holland stepped up to speak about the critical role that the University of Guyana played in their exportability and present careers.
The university’s significance was demonstrated as many other alumni have reached the pinnacle of academic and professional success.
The UG Alumni Georgetown PRIDE was represented by Dr. Nigel Gravesande and Michael Brotherson.
The Toronto Guild of Graduates was born in 1993 upon cooperative efforts of 10 persons who heard that an endowment fund was being set up by Dr. Yesu Persaud to upgrade UG’s facilities. In this process, 250 attendees were attracted, and a total of Cdn$50000 was raised. This effort was sustained over the last 20 years by support from friends and alumni.
The goal of the Alumni Association is to connect graduates and past faculty and staff of The University in Guyana in a reciprocally beneficial relationship of investing, nurturing, fundraising, mentorship and development.
Persons eagerly volunteered for the interim Alumni Association body when the call was made at the launch. Individuals were asked to encourage fellow Alumni to attend and join the other Alumni launches for this year which include; London, August 3; and Washington DC in October 2018.
