First Belize grads receive degrees from U.K. University

More Belizeans than at any time in our history are attending university…but whether you study at U.B. or abroad, coming up with the thousands of dollars to pay for tuition, books, room, board and travel is no easy task for students or their parents. That’s why a programme offered for Belizeans interested in a business career is becoming one of the hottest tickets in Belizean education. News 5’s Patrick Jones was on hand last night for the first graduation.

Patrick Jones, Reporting
Surrounded by their parents, family and friends, Janelle Catzim, Ishmael Quiroz and Shawn Chavarria on Tuesday night became the first Belizean graduates of the Ashcroft International Business School at Anglia Polytechnic University in the United Kingdom. Chancellor of the institution, and the man who five years ago established a scholarship programme that facilitated the students? university education, says Tuesday?s graduation is a proud achievement for all concerned.

Michael Ashcroft, Chancellor, Anglia Polytechnic University
?Well I think first of all with the first three today, I think the most impressive is Janelle who has come away from Anglia Polytechnic University with the first class honours degree and I think that?s a tremendous tribute not only to her but to Belize and the university is very proud of her.?

And Ashcroft took time out during his remarks to emphasize her achievement.

Michael Ashcroft
?Janelle, not only are you a credit to Belize, but you are a credit to the Anglia Polytechnic University and I cannot tell you as a fellow Belizean as Chancellor how proud I have been this last three years to keep hearing of the progress that you are making and finally being rewarded with that first class degree. I even feel a little emotional about it now. Well done.?

The graduation ceremony was short and simple. And after receiving her certificate, Catzim was chosen to give an account of the students? experience during the course of their studies. She reported that while there were challenges, the Belizean students were good ambassadors for their county and that the three years spent at the Ashcroft International Business School have changed their lives.

Janelle Catzim, B.A.(Hons) Accounting Financial Analysis
?And the principle that knowledge is not powerful unless applied became familiar to me at first at APU and it?s a principle I plan to take with me forever.?

?I still think that I need to get a bit more work experience to help me develop certain skills that I think the university setting or even a school setting would not provide. But certainly after gaining a few years of experience, I would like to pursue a post graduate degree and also professional accounting qualifications.?

Nine other Belizeans…three newly enrolled each year…are currently pursuing business studies at the university. Since its inception in 2000, the Ashcroft Foundation has disbursed over eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars under its Belize scholarship programme.

Michael Ashcroft
?But I do not see this as a cost, but as an investment in the young people of Belize and for the future of our country. For those who receive the scholarships it is to those students who not only have the ability and the character, but are those who are committed once that university degree is finished to come back and to share those skills and to contribute to the nation of Belize.?

Guest speaker, Prime Minister Said Musa, congratulated the graduates on their achievements and said all of Belize is proud of their accomplishments.

Prime Minister Said Musa
?You young people, Janelle and Shawn and Ishmael, you have bright future ahead of you. Belize needs the skills that you bring, that you have earned from this institution in Britain. In fact, I was hoping that you could have helped me out this week– as I have been toiling and working with trying to come up with a decent enough budget to present to the nation on Friday. But I don?t think it?s too late. So I may still call on you. After all, one of you will have this degree in accounting and financial analysis, the other in corporate management and the third in financial service management, all the skills that we need. Certainly, all the skills that a Prime Minister will need in Government. I don?t even have a degree in economics. So you can see how much I need you.?

And the graduates say they are ready to make their contributions to the country?s development.

Ishmael Quiroz, B.A. Corporate Management
?It?s a very exciting time. I think it?s the culmination of our studies at A.P.U. It feels good to have accomplished that. It was challenging, but we just needed to remain focussed and stick with it and never forget Belize.?

Patrick Jones
?Now that you have graduated, you have your degree in your hand, what?s next for you??

Ishmael Quiroz
?Well I?ve already taken up employment. I?m working at Beltraide and I think its going to give me a good exposure to serve Belize. I will enjoy it.?

Janelle Catzim
?It was amazing. I think us being together as Belizeans really helped us a lot.?

Shawn Chavarria,B.A. (Hons) Financial Services Management
?Well it?s very exciting. It?s good to have the family and everyone here to share this with me and of course all the representatives from the university. It?s nice to see them again. It brought back some good memories of time spent at the university. So it?s good.?

Patrick Jones
?What was it like studying in the United Kingdom, studying in a new environment??

Shawn Chavarria
?It?s something you really can?t explain. It?s different for everyone. I?m sure Janelle and Ishmael and I had different experiences, but words can?t put into perspective how I think the contribution it had not only to my life but future things to come.?

Ashcroft says the main reason why he?s providing the scholarships is to help Belizeans to help themselves.

Michael Ashcroft
?I felt it would also foster closer U.K./Belize relations and the standard of education at university level in Britain is very high and I?d like over a number of years to have a number of students that have been sponsored by the Ashcroft Foundation back here in Belize as Ashcroft scholars contributing to the economy of Belize.?

Patrick Jones, for News5.

Applications are announced each year in September with interviews held in January for the school year beginning in September of that year. The three scholarships include full tuition, room, board, books, travel and living allowance.