Feryal Khan, a small business owner from East Canje, Berbice, is the 2023 Best Graduating Student for the University of Guyana, Berbice Campus (UGBC).
Khan, 36, completed a Bachelor of Science in Management which is offered by UG’s School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation with a GPA of 3.95.
“I am elated and extremely honoured to be awarded this title. My hard work, dedication to my studies and ability to persevere through all the challenges were certainly worth it. I have made my mom proud and I am certain, had my father been alive, he would have been one proud dad,” Khan said, according to a release yesterday from UG.
Khushal Singh was named the University’s 2023 valedictorian across the entire University. The 26-year-old completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Management with a perfect GPA of 4.0.
Khan is the youngest of three children for her parents, Hallima and her deceased father Fajir Khan. The release said that she attended the Cumberland Primary School and then went on to complete her secondary education at the Berbice High School where she was named her school’s Best Graduating Student for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate exams in 2004 and Best Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination student in 2005.
Khan, who resides with her 76-year-old mom is an ardent Muslim, the release said.
“My father was a hire car driver who plied the Georgetown to Berbice route for some twenty-six years and my mom was a small business owner prior to retiring. My parents always made sure our home was comfortable and conducive to studying and my father ensured that all of his children must attain a university education,” she said.
Like many others, Khan said she faced many challenges but was able to overcome them as she was determined to be successful. “Having to attend classes in the online dispensation meant working via WhatsApp groups, and scheduling late night zoom meetings to plan presentations and work on assignments,” she said.
For the past sixteen years, the release said that Khan has been operating a small business which she indicated has worked out well for her as it provided the flexibility to pursue her academic dreams.
According to Khan, her overall experience at the University of Guyana was “enriching, rewarding and offered insights into different perspectives. In addition, it allowed me to not accept issues at face value but rather it built on my ability to critically think and analyse for myself”.
The following students also received awards for UGBC:
The Second-Best Graduating Student – for the student who has completed a Bachelor’s Degree with the second highest GPA – Rose Ann Hutson
The Best Graduating Student – in the Diploma/Certificate/Associate Degree programmes, who has attained the highest GPA – Angelica Ramgobin
The Director, UGBC Award for the Best graduating student with a Bachelor’s Degree who has attained at least a Pass with Credit and has made the greatest contribution in other areas of University activities – Chavez Tyril Edwards.
Almost 200 students of the UG Berbice Campus were set to walk the graduation stage yesterday at the University Lawns, Tain Campus.
