LENICE BARNETT, executive director of the Students' Loan Bureau, is among two persons to be conferred with honorary doctorates from Northern Caribbean University (NCU) during the university's commencement service this Sunday.
Lenice Barnett, a well-known Jamaican businesswoman, is credited with revolutionising the Students' Loan Bureau. Mrs. Barnett holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with honours and a master's degree in human resource development. She has years of experience in commercial and central banking and has served as a director on various boards. Mrs. Barnett is also a mother of two NCU graduates.
Dr. Lloyd Dayes, world-renown professor of neurosurgery will be the other recipient of an honorary doctorate. Both persons will give main addresses at this year's graduation exercise at the Mandeville-based university.
PROFESSOR OF NEUROLOGY
The world-famous Dr. Dayes, an alumnus of West Indies College (now Northern Caribbean University), has served in the medical field for over 45 years, and is professor of neurology at the Loma Linda University School of Medicine, where he single-handedly started the department of neuro-surgery. Dr. Dayes, who comes from humble beginnings in Woodford, St. Andrew, Jamaica, currently lectures in the field of neurology and gives motivational speeches to students in countries around the world. He completed his ministerial training at the then West Indies College, then moved on to the field of medicine.
OUTSTANDING JAMAICANS
An avid researcher who has done postgraduate work at Oxford University, this outstanding Jamaican has memberships in 26 professional organisations, and has obtained multiple degrees and fellowships, including an honorary law degree from the Royal College of Surgeons, of which he is a Fellow. Dr. Dayes has authored more than 60 scientific articles and publications.
He has been principal researcher on numerous research projects especially in the areas of neurological and neuro-immunological diseases and is currently active in brain tumor research on the most malignant tumor of the brain, Glioblastoma Multiforme.
The commencement ceremony this year will be broken into two time slots as the university seeks to accommodate the increasing number of graduates and their family members. On Sunday, August 14, the university will be graduating 904 students, with the largest numbers coming from the College of Business and the College of Teacher Education and Behavioural Science.
During the commencement ceremonies, the President's Medallion will be awarded to NCU's director of health services, Ms. Charmaine Holness, for her dedication and service, especially to the university and also to the people of Jamaica, in the field of health. Ms. Holness, who is also the institution's chief nurse and an NCU alumna, has been instrumental in coordinating a number of community outreach clinics across the island.
She has served as the zone secretary for the School Nurses' Association in Manchester, St. Elizabeth and Clarendon and as assistant secretary, public relations officer and treasurer for the West Indies College alumni association, Manchester chapter.
She currently serves as vice- president for 'Friends of Hargreaves', a support body attached to the Hargreaves Memorial Hospital in Mandeville.
The President's Medallion is awarded to any worker or past student who has given sterling service and contributed to the growth and development of the university.
