On Saturday January 5, 2008, about 220 prospective university students attended the College Expo 2008 under the theme: The Road to University. Over 20 volunteers from universities in the United States, the Caribbean and Canada hosted this event with the aim of promoting higher education in the Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis, hence encouraging young people to utilize a university education as an option for the advancement of life.
Organizer of the College Expo 2008, Ozelle Martin, a legal studies major at St. John’s University mentioned that this year’s Expo was more interactive than the previous one. She further stated, “instead of having the volunteers just make oral presentations, I wanted to make the seminar part of the Expo more interactive and therefore it was important to have exercises that would actively involve the members of the audience”.
Martin also stated that she felt it was important for attendees to understand the importance of selling one’s self on one’s college application as this play a crucial role in determining their admission into university. She furthered mentioned that at the end of it all she hopes that there would be a significant increase in the number of young people pursuing a university education.
The format of the program depicted the critical areas of focus for a person preparing for university coming from St. Kitts. The subject matters discussed included: The Importance of Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, The College Selection Process, The University Application Process and the student representatives shared their actual college experiences. Attendees were also able receive university brochures and applications from most of the universities represented.
The student representatives were Vanessa Pinard of Florida Atlantic University, Damian Browne from Florida International University, Nisharma Rattan- Mack, Elizabeth Jong, Jenson Morton, Jeanelle Kelly and Kennedy Pemberton from the University of the West Indies, Chenelle Heyliger and Charmaine Heyliger of the University of the Virgin Islands, Lisa- Marie Nisbett for Long Island University, Oneika Jenkins of York University, Vincia Woods and Janielle Maynard of Howard University,
Nyanya Browne out of Spelman College, Chanee Bridgewater and Terelle Patrick of Baruch College, Junelle Phillips out of the State University of New York at New Paltz, Terrance Martin from Midwestern State University, Stacey Greene representing DeVry University, Steve Whittaker of Yale University, Orencia Sutton from St. John’s University, Javee Morris of Cameron University, Davima Broadbelt from Columbia University, Glence Glasgow of St. Mary’s University, Kayin Queeley of State of New York at Plattsburgh, Janelle Powell representing Trent University, Sherisse Edmeade of Grambling State University and the event organizer, Ozelle Martin of St. John’s University.
The organizing committee of the “College Expo 2008- The Road to University” wishes to express sincere gratitude their 4.0 Sponsor- Digicel, TNO Sound and DJ Legal, all the Media houses in St. Kitts and Nevis and Mr. Kirkland Seale of IMOGEN.
