A 41 yearlong legacy of leadership in the Bahamian community could not have happened for The College of The Bahamas without the talents, sacrifices and perseverance of the faculty, staff, students, administrators and alumni who have walked its halls.

So it was more than fitting to honour a cadre of selfless builders of that legacy and alumni who represent the best of the institution at the college’s 2nd Annual Flamingo Ball held at the Melia Nassau Beach Resort on Saturday, June 13.

By the end of the evening Executive Director of the Bahamas National Trust Eric Carey; Principal of Graphite Engineering Ltd. and PACE Foundation Chairman Sonia Brown; President of the Grand Bahama Port Authority Group of Companies Ian Rolle; Neurologist Dr. Charles Rahming; Atlantis Senior VP Stuart Bowe and Managing Director of Caystone Solutions Wendy Warren were inducted into the COB Alumni Society Hall of Fame.

Additionally, eight other COB alumni were honoured for their inspiring achievements and ten former employees were awarded for their contributions to building the institution.

An elated Nakira Wilchcombe, Environmental Manager at the Grand Bahama Port Authority, named one of two Alumni Trendsetters for the COB Class of 1995, said she was honoured to have been selected.

“I enjoyed my years at COB and I certainly hope that my children could follow in my footsteps as well, so it is indeed an honour,” said Mrs. Wilchcomobe, one of three environmentalists honoured. “After completing my education at COB I was able to go to a university abroad and pass with flying colours and continue to excel. So I thank God for the foundation that He has given me.”

Environmental attorney Romauld Ferreira, named an Outstanding Alumnus for the Class of 1985, called it “a great honour,” as he recalled his early days at the college.

“I always wanted to bring law and environment together and I remember I was walking through the yard of The College of The Bahamas, on my way to McDonalds to get a job, and I saw a friend of mine and he said ‘what are you doing?…you have to apply to COB’ and it just happened to be registration and I applied and I got a scholarship to study chemistry with biology and I ran with that. I never looked back,” he said.

An institution whose mission of supporting and driving national development makes it inextricably linked to the future of The Bahamas, the college is transitioning to become the University of The Bahamas. COB President Dr. Rodney Smith said the occasion highlighted the best of the past as the institution moves into the future.

“The size of the country does not matter. What matters is the passion, the willingness, the drive, the determination to succeed beyond any odds whatsoever. I believe with all my heart that we have the potential. We have the option to create an internationally recognized institution of higher education in The Bahamas known as the University of The Bahamas,” said President Smith.

“I have no doubt in my mind that this will happen; it has already begun. You will see even more things happening over the next few weeks and few months.”

Honoured with the Flamingo Heritage Award were former administrators, Dr. Rhonda Chipman-Johnson and Mrs. Joyce Thompson; former faculty Mrs. Inez Peet and Dr. Thaddeus McDonald (posthumous) and former staff Mrs. Arlene Albury (posthumous) and Mr. Eric Hepburn. Music faculty Mrs. Audrey Dean Wright and Physical Plant employee Mr. Tyrone Coakley also received the President’s Service Award.
Flamingo Ball Committee Chair Dr. Ian Strachan said it is absolutely essential that the college, an institution so vital to the survival of The Bahamas, pause to remember and honour those without whose gifts, service and sacrifice, the institution would have been unable to meet the mark. COB alumni, he suggested, are also an integral part of building a robust academic community.

“As we remember those who worked at the college and gave their best years to it, we also remember those who stand as beacons of excellence in our society, those who walked the halls of our college as students,” said Dr. Strachan, a COB alumnus.

“Remembering them is also vital as we seek to remind the nation of the marvelous legacy of leadership which only the college can boast among tertiary institutions in The Bahamas. Our alumni are living proof that the public’s investment in a university makes very, very good sense.”