The University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) is pleased to announce that its annual commencement ceremony for the Class of 2024 has been rescheduled to Thursday, 22 August 2024, at its George Town campus.
The ceremony was originally planned for 4 July but was postponed due to the imminent arrival of Hurricane Beryl. The event will celebrate the achievements of around 250 outstanding graduates and include a special tribute to the late Bendel Hydes, a pioneering Caymanian artist.
The late Bendel Hydes will be posthumously awarded an Honorary Doctorate of the Arts. Hydes, who passed away at the age of 71, was widely celebrated as the founding father of Caymanian visual art. His groundbreaking work and enduring support for the arts laid a solid foundation for the Caymanian professional art sector and contributed significantly to the vibrant cultural landscape enjoyed today.
UCCI is also honoured to welcome Vanessa Slowey as this year’s keynote speaker. Vanessa is an acclaimed former CEO and transformational leader with a career spanning over three decades on the global stage. Her extraordinary journey includes shattering the glass ceiling and championing diversity, establishing high-performance teams that have continually surpassed expectations under her visionary leadership.
Dr. Robert W. Robertson, President and CEO of UCCI, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming ceremony: “While we regret the delay caused by Hurricane Beryl, we are excited to move forward with this important event. We remain thrilled to honour Bendel Hydes posthumously with an Honorary Doctorate and to welcome Vanessa Slowey as our keynote speaker. This ceremony will be a meaningful celebration of our graduates’ resilience and achievements.”
Dr. Livingston Smith, VP of Academic Affairs and Workforce Education at UCCI, added: “This commencement ceremony is not just a celebration of our graduates’ academic achievements, but also a tribute to the rich cultural heritage of the Cayman Islands. By honouring Bendel Hydes, we are recognizing the profound impact of arts and culture on our society. His legacy serves as an inspiration to our graduates, reminding them of the importance of creativity and cultural expression in shaping our nation’s future.”
The commencement ceremony on 22 August will be live streamed on UCCI’s Facebook page and on Cayman Marl Road, allowing friends, family, and community members who cannot attend in person to join in celebrating the graduates’ achievements.
For more information about the commencement ceremony and UCCI, please visit www.ucci.edu.ky
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