2019 SBSA graduation |14 March 2020
The graduates in a souvenir photograph with guests (Photo: Louis Toussaint)
Kelly Mathiot wins President’s Cup
Kelly Mathiot has been awarded the President’s Cup and is one of the 136 students who have graduated after successfully completing 11 programmes offered by the School of Business Studies and Accounting at certificate, advanced certificate and diploma levels.
The School of Business Studies and Accounting’s (SBSA) 2019 graduation ceremony was held yesterday at the University of Seychelles’ theatre at Anse Royale, in the presence of students, parents and lecturers.
Also present at the event were Designated Minister Macsuzy Mondon; Education and Human Resource Development Minister Jeanne Simeon; Employment, Immigration and Civil Status Minister Myriam Telemaque; members of the National Assembly; principal secretaries; chief executives; members of the SBSA governing board; as well as representatives of various sponsors who collaborate with the school.
Kelly Mathiot clinched the President’s Cup for her outstanding performance in both her studies and extracurricular activities. She was presented with the cup by Designated Minister Mondon and Minister Simeon.
She also received a laptop from President Danny Faure, a scholarship from the Agency for National Human Resource Development (ANHRD) and prizes from member of the National Assembly for Mont Fleuri, Jean-François Ferrari; chairperson of the SBSA governing board Oliver Bastienne; Seychelles Commercial Bank; Absa Bank; Cable & Wireless; Fidelity Corporate Services; National Information Services Agency and Enterprise Seychelles Agency.
Kelly, who studied for a diploma in Business and Accounting, expressed how proud she is of herself to have managed to persevere through the three years and come out with the President’s Cup.
She plans to pursue further education in accounts and finance, specialising in forensic accounting at the Asia Pacific University in Malaysia.
This year 45 graduates received a diploma in Business Studies and Accounting, 46 got a diploma in Office Management and Administration. This will be the last cohorts that graduate from the two diploma programmes as they have come to the end of their validation period and the school has gained validation for two new updated diploma programmes.
Seventeen graduates also received certificates for having completed the Association of Accounting Technician (AAT) in-service courses, while eight graduates received their certificates upon completion of the basic training in QuickBooks Accounting Software, eight graduates also received certificate in Office Administration, and two got certificate in Business administration.
All full-time graduates received certificates for attaining an extra qualification through the Absa Ready to Work programme – which is a Pan African flagship initiative.
Under this programme, learners were able to achieve qualifications in work skills, people skills, money skills, and entrepreneurial skills.
Eleven prestigious awards were also presented to the SBSA graduates:
- Beverly Brioche won the Seychelles National Youth Council award;
- Shamelly Maria, best effort in Office Management and Administration;
- Adrianna Volcère, best effort in Business Studies and Accounting;
- Kysha Valentin, outstanding performer AAT Foundation Certificate in Accounting;
- Monica Benoit, outstanding performer AAT Advanced Diploma in Accounting;
- Rebecca Barra, outstanding performer in Office Management and Administration;
- Hannah Monthy, outstanding performer in Business and Accounting;
- Curtis Otar, outstanding performer in the ATT Exam;
- Shamelly Maria, outstanding performer in City and Guild exam;
- Steve Monnaie won the governing board award.
Addressing the graduates, SBSA director Josianne Bristol said success comes from hard work, perseverance, dedication and definitely from working together, pushing for the same goals.
She noted that SBSA continues to accomplish excellence in education, training and overall development of learners and that the successes this past year demonstrate the ability to grab all opportunities as much as they can.
“That is why we encourage, support and applaud their participation in various extra-curricular activities, be it sports, cultural or participation in forums and symposiums. With such exposure our learners build strong characters and extra skills that turn them into graduates ready to face the working environment and certainly the environment of higher education,” said Mrs Bristol.
“We have done our best to nurture you and fulfill your potentials. From here onwards, it is up to you to push forward for greater achievements. I know that life at SBSA has not been a garden of roses. But the challenges you have faced will only serve to make you stronger, to make you more equipped to face the bigger challenges yet to come,” she said.
Mrs Bristol also remarked that SBSA believes in the all-round development of its learners and because of this they have seen an increase in students who apply to the school as well as an increase in male applicants.
She further explained that 2019 was another year filled with accomplishments for the academy where the highlight was maintaining their title as the best professional centre at the annual Sports Awards ceremony for the sixth year running.
She also added that six percent of all learners received distinction in 2019, 22 percent passed their exams and only two percent failed. She further added that 57 graduates have been able to access the government-funded scholarships.
Shamelly Maria, who clinched two awards, said she is happy to have achieved excellence during her three years at SBSA and noted that her sole focus now is to apply to universities to further her studies.
At the end of the ceremony, a vote of thanks was read by Jeff Barbe who explained that it was not easy at all during the past three years, but with encouragement from lecturers, parents and with God’s grace they have succeeded and are now moving on to bigger and better things thanks to SBSA.
Christophe Zialor
