SIT graduation ceremony |31 July 2020
Ms Marie proudly displays her trophies (Photo: Joena Meme)
Young Praslinois takes home President’s Cup
Twenty-year-old Claudia Marie, successful graduate of the City & Guilds diploma in construction industry, has been rewarded for her hard work and perseverance with the President’s Award.
The Praslinois received the award during the Seychelles Institute of Technology’s (SIT) graduation ceremony hosted at the ICCS yesterday afternoon.
A total of 85 SIT students graduated during the afternoon ceremony, while 75 others had graduated earlier yesterday morning.
In attendance were Vice-President Vincent Meriton, Minister for Education and Human Resource Development Jeanne Simeon, principal secretary for tertiary education and human resource development Linda Barallon, SIT director Hubert Barbé, the governing board of the institute and family members of the graduates.
Ms Marie, who collected the President’s Award from VP Meriton, noted that her achievement was largely thanks to the support of her family and lecturers who always pushed her to excel.
She also clinched the City & Guilds Shield as the learner with the highest number of distinctions in her year.
She completed the City & Guilds International Vocational Qualification (IVQ) diploma in construction with three distinctions, two merits and a pass.
Aside from her academic work, the President’s award also recognised her exemplary behaviour and attendance, and took into account her active involvement in extracurricular activities.
The ecstatic 20-year-old explained that her winning the prestigious award had not always been a given since she started out at SIT on a conditional offer.
“SIT had been my first choice after leaving S5 but I did not qualify to get in. I did not have all of the required subjects to be admitted in the course but SIT took a chance on me with a conditional offer, and I’ve worked hard to prove that they were right in doing so,” stated Ms Marie.
As part of her award package, Ms Marie received the President’s Cup, a laptop, a government scholarship through the Agency for National Human Resource Development (ANHRD) and various other prizes.
With her diploma in hand, Ms Marie is hoping to now pursue a bachelor’s degree either in architecture or quantity surveying in Malaysia.
Other awardees of the day included:
Marcus Accouche – Most improved performer (SNYC award)
Curtis Saminaden – Outstanding performer for advanced certificate programmes
Victoria Gutierrez – Outstanding performer for certificate programmes, best performer in certificate in painting and decorating
Stephane Fred – Best performer in advanced certificate in electrical installation
Elker Estico – Best performer in advanced certificate in masonry
Adrian Asemota – Best performer in mechanical engineering
Dylan Larue – Best performer in motor vehicle mechanics
Jean-Luc Gabriel – Best performer in advanced certificate in refrigeration and air conditioning.
Herron Bamboche – Best performer in advanced certificate in electrical and electronics.
Darren Dogley – Best performer in advanced certificate in plumbing.
In his keynote address, SIT director Hubert Barbé congratulated the new graduates on their achievements.
Mr Barbé noted that many of the graduates’ hopes and projects were impacted by the economic uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, but he also highlighted the many opportunities that are still available.
Some jobs relating to their field remain accessible while new avenues for innovation and entrepreneurship have been created, Mr Barbé pointed out.
“Today we are also witnessing the last cohort of learners graduating with the City & Guilds IVQ technician diplomas. Our newly validated national diploma programmes introduced since 2018 will now take priority. The first cohort will complete the three-year programmes in December 2020 and will graduate in 2021,” Mr Barbé added.
Elsie Pointe
