127 graduate from Sophia Training Centre

Mar 22, 2018 News

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• Catering student is valedictorian

  By Feona Morrison

Yesterday saw the graduation of 127 students from various courses being offered by the Sophia Training Centre. The students who were referred to as trainees and were predominantly male successfully completed certificate courses in catering, information technology (IT) and office administration (OA).
There were also courses in masonry, plumbing and sheet metal, refrigeration and air conditioning, and welding and fabrication. Each course lasted six months.
This is the 31st graduation ceremony for the Sophia Training Centre. This recent programme began on September 11, 2017 with 167 participants.
The graduation ceremony, which was attended by Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton, was held at the National Cultural Centre. Also in attendance were Programme Coordinator at the Department of Social Protection Ms. Sharon Patterson; Director of Youth, Ms. Melissa Carmichael; Assistant Director of Youth, Ms. Leslyn Boyce; Senior Training Officer at the Sophia Training Centre, Mr. Brian King; and other senior personnel.
Emerging as Valedictorian was Lafia Yearwood who was also the best graduating student for the catering course. Lois Nurse was runner-up in this same course, which had 27 participants of which 25 were females.
The IT and OA courses had 28, of which 24 were females. Jamal Cassius was adjudged the best graduating trainee for this course. Ameka Semple was the runner-up.
In relation the masonry course, Michael Adolphus was the best graduating trainee. His runner up was Joshua Fraser. Thirteen males participated in this course. Gavin Cliffe was the best graduating student in the plumbing and sheet metal course. Eli Armstrong was runner-up.
The refrigeration and air conditioning course had 20 trainees, of which 16 were males.
The best graduating student for this course was Omalie Seymour, while De Andre Summer emerged as the runner-up. Finally, 19 males completed the welding and fabrication course. Rudolph Mc Calmon was the best graduating trainee. Rayshawn Simon was the runner-up.
The students were awarded trophies, certificates and gift bags.
Awards were also given to the most improved trainees and also trainees who excelled in Mathematics, English Language, Entrepreneurship and drama.
Delivering the feature address was Ms. Patterson who urged the graduate to seek every opportunity to learn new things.
She said, “I want to encourage you to consider yourself as eternal students in the school of life. Always (be) willing to learn something new; learn as much as you can, whenever you can and do not turn down opportunities to learn new things.”

She told the students that they would need discipline and determination to be successful in life. She advised the students that they would also need to possess these qualities not only in the classroom, but also in the work environment and in every sphere of their lives.
“You will face challenges everywhere you go but I want to urge you do not quit. Continue to display the determination and discipline you have displayed that have brought you to the end of this programme and your life would be a reflection of many success stories,” Ms. Patterson advised.
Ms. Patterson also urged the students that as they embark on a new chapter in their life, they should be grateful to their parents and guardians who have stood behind them in difficult circumstances and their instructors who have nurtured their knowledge and skills.
Ms. Patterson told the students never to think of themselves as failures even though they might fail sometimes.
“Do not allow failure to define you. I want to encourage you to do not despise small beginnings. You will not be able to start your own establishment immediately. You may not even get a job in your particular field of study immediately. But I want to encourage you to do not sit and wait until there is a perfect fit.”
She added, “Instead, continue to develop your growth edge, gather skills and knowledge in other areas. In doing so, you will help to broaden your scope and prepare for other opportunities.”
Graduation indicates that one is moving from a particular chapter in his/her life to another, she said. She therefore congratulated the students, their parents, family members and instructors, who she said, have supported them along this journey.
The majority of the graduates live within the perimeter of Georgetown. However, some of them travelled from as far as Number Five Village, West Coast Berbice, Kuru Kuru Settlement, Soesdyke/Linden Highway and Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara, to attend classes.

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