The University of Guyana (UG) recently hosted its annual awards and prize-giving ceremony at the George Walcott Lecture Theatre, on its Turkeyen Campus, to honour outstanding performers across various fields within the faculty, with over 100 students who have secured a GPA [Grade Point Average] of 3.7 and above earning a place on the prestigious Dean’s Honour Roll, a UG release stated yesterday.
In addition, more than 20 graduating and continuing students from the 2022/2023 academic year received awards across various categories, showcasing their dedication and talent. These accolades, ranging from The Vice-Chancellor’s Special Award to the Denise Jourdain Award, symbolise not only academic excellence but also the spirit of determination and resilience, the release noted.
Dean of the Faculty of Education and Humanities, Dr Roslin Khan, in delivering the charge to the students who have earned a spot on the Dean’s Honour Roll, said that the students have shown that they have the determination and drive to achieve academic excellence, many of them doing so despite facing significant challenges.
Meanwhile, UG Vice-Chan-cellor (VC), Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin, who delivered an address to the students, urged them to continue striving to achieve greatness in everything they set out to do. “I just wanted to say to you that while you are where you are now, you are to aspire always to the highest of heights, and I know you’re doing it already.”
Deputy Chief Education Offi-cer at the Ministry of Education, Martin DeSouza, who also delivered remarks, emphasised the importance of commitment and community engagement. He encouraged awardees to seize every opportunity for growth and education, regardless of their circumstances, highlighting the transformative power of knowledge.
And speaking on behalf of the undergraduates inducted into the Dean’s Honour Roll, Nazima Raghubir urged her colleagues to utilise their time spent at UG wisely and to do all that they can to inspire positive change in their communities and country as a whole. She further called on all students to rally around UG and show their support for its continued advancement as the nation’s premier tertiary institution.
Several staff members of the faculty who acquired their doctoral degrees between 2020 and 2024 were also recognised for their exemplary work. Professor Mohamed-Martin emphasised the significance of these achievements, not only in elevating UG’s global ranking but also in enhancing the quality of education provided to all Guyanese. “To be ranked higher on the international scale of education has to do with the number of people in your faculty who have appropriate terminal degrees. And so just having this many more added to the faculty, will increase UG’s world ranking, its delivery to students and its commitment to quality education to all Guyanese.”
Among those faculty members recognised for the successful completion of their doctoral degrees were: Dr Estherine Adams, Dr Claudette Austin, Dr Romona Bennett, Dr Tamashwar Budhoo, Dr Carolyn Cummings, Dr Nequesha Dalrymple, Dr Volda Elliott, Dr Yassanne Garraway-Lashley, Dr Adrian Gomes, Dr Winifred James Kippins, Dr Lidon Lashley, Dr André Lewis, Dr. Kara Lord, Dr. Mark McGowan, Dr Gentian Miller, Dr Penelope Monfort, Dr Jeremy Peretz, and Dr Pamela Rose.
Raynell Gordon, who spoke on behalf of the postgraduate inductees, thanked the lecturers for their dedication and encouraged awardees to become agents of change, committed to improving the lives of those around them.
The following is the full list of awards for the Academic Year 2022/23:
Humanities Programmes
Trichell Williams: The Vice-Chancellor Special Award for the best graduating student (other than the winner of the President’s Medal or the Chancellor’s Medal) in the Faculty of Educa-tion and Humanities.
Renee James: The Joyce Alder Literature Prize for the best graduating student in Literature.
Trichell Williams: The Lilian Dewar Prize for the best-graduating student in the Department of Language & Cultural Studies – English programme.
Nalissa Mathoo: The Denise Jourdain Award for the best graduating student in the Bachelor of Youth and Community Develop-ment program.
Education Programmes
Jaime Koulasar: The Vice-Chancellor’s Special Award for the best graduating student (other than the winner of the President’s or the Chancellor‘s Medal) in the Faculty of Education and Humanities.
The Guyana Teachers’ Union Awards for the Best Graduating Student in the Bachelor of Education programme: Jaime Koulasar – Best Graduating Stu-dent in the Bachelor of Education (Mathematics); Wenola Liver-pool – Best Graduating Student in the Bachelor of Education (Home Economics); Raynell Gordon – Best Graduating Stu-dent in the Post-Graduate Diploma in Education; and Ornetta Waldron – Best Runner-up Graduating Student in the Post-Graduate Diploma in Education.
Two Education prizes were also awarded to: Anoushka Ramnarine – Best Graduating Student in the Practice of Education in the Post-Graduate Diploma in Education Programme; and Tayana Thom-Fernandes – Best Runner-up Graduating Student in the Practice of Education in the Post-Graduate Diploma in Education Programme.
The Continuing Students awards
In the Humanities Program-mes – the University of Guyana Awards for Students in the Humanities programmes, who have obtained a GPA of not less than 2.7.
First Year – Christina Edwards; Second Year – Tahirih Gerrard, and Raymond Yusuf; Third Year – Kavita Persaud, and Tamari Bowen.
In the Education Programmes – the University of Guyana Awards for Outstanding performance at the Annual University Examinations. These were awarded to two students per programme year in the Faculty of Education and Humanities – Education Programmes.
First Year – Surojinie Netram, and Esther Farier; Second Year – Vinicia Khan, and Daniela Gibbs.
The Department of History Prize went to Somawattie Mahadeo – Best First Year student majoring in History.
The Eusi Kwayana Award is given to two first year Bachelor of Education students, who are proceeding to the second year of the programme, having completed year one in the normal period of time, with a GPA of not less than 3.0 and with no failed grades. They are: Surojinie Netram, and Esther Farier.
Additionally, several staff members who received promotions were honoured, these include: Charmine Lewis, Stefani Parris, and Vashti Racktoo – promoted to Secretary; and Amrita Narine promoted to Personal Assistant to the Dean.
Lecturers promoted to Senior Lecturer (between 2020 and 2024) included: Dr Tamirnd Nnena De Lisser: Dr Lidon Lashley, Dr Michelle Semple-McBean, and Dr Mark Tumbridge.
