In his sermon, Rev. Dr. Roderick Hewitt, Minister, Hope United reminded the congregation of the importance of imparting good family values and living responsibly with accountability to God for the gifts which He has bestowed on us.

The UTech Choir delivering a rendition of the song, ‘ I Am Determined’.

Dr. Curling is a Senior Research fellow with the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), Ontario Canada.  He served as co-chair, together with former Ontario Chief Justice Roy McMurtry on Ontario’s Commission of Inquiry into the Roots of Youth Violence.

While admitting that no single set of factors can explain all violence, Curling disclosed that his research revealed that youth are most likely to be at immediate risk of involvement in serious violence if they:

• Have a deep sense of alienation and low self-esteem
• Have little empathy for others and suffer from impulsiveness
• Believe that they have no way to be heard through other channels
• Have no sense of hope and,
• Believe that they are oppressed, held down, unfairly treated and neither belong to, nor have a stake in the broader society.

 The Roots of Youth Violence

Zooming in on the root causes of youth violence, Dr. Curling outlined a plethora of factors found to be directly related to youth violence in Ontario – poverty, racism, lack of education, poor community design, mental health factors, family issues such as lack of a father figure, and lack of economic opportunity. Curling emphasised to the gathering of academics, private sector leaders, members of the diplomatic corps and students in attendance that, “poverty does not directly cause crime.”  Rather it is “poverty without hope, poverty with isolation, poverty with hunger, poverty with marginalization or outright exclusion” that can lead to immediate risk factors for violence.

The CIGI Research Fellow argued further that poor planning and poor design of the built environment can be as much of a risk factor for youth violence as poverty.  He explained that a suitable place to socialize and play is as important as educational needs.

Dr. Curling expressed the view that the most effective institution that can resolve the problem of youth violence is the educational system.  “The educational system has to put its best – not its most willing or most compassionate – its best and most highly paid…if we have people here in Jamaica who can train young Jamaicans to defeat the entire world in track and field – again and again, then we have people who can catch youth violence in the bud and transform it into productivity, into civility, into the good life.  But it must be a priority, nothing less will do,” he argued.

Children’s Advocate, Mrs. Mary Clarke, who brought greetings at the lecture, underscored Dr, Curling’s thesis that in order for Jamaica to have a secure future, we should encourage continued research and investment in preventative programmes  to deal with the issue of youth violence. 

Children’s Advocate, Mrs. Mary Clarke bringing greetings at the anniversary lecture.	Dr. Alvin Curling (3rd left) shares a light moment with former Governor General Prof. the Most Hon. Sir Kenneth Hall prior to the start of the lecture.  Sharing in the moment are Lady Hall, (left) and Mrs. Hyacinth Curling, wife of Dr. Curling.

President, Prof. the Hon. Errol Morrison, OJ in his welcome to students who were present from high schools across Jamaica, noted that the University places high importance on research, new thinking and finding new ways of solving problems.  The President encouraged the students to make UTech their university of first choice upon completion of secondary school.  Prof. Gossett Oliver, Vice President, School of Graduate Studies, Research and Entrepreneurship in giving an overview of the School also encouraged students to develop an “inquisitive mind” that will foster the kinds of vision and applied research that can make life better for others.

Dr. Winston Dawes, Adjunct Associate Professor of Sports Medicine, UTech has the rapt attention of high school students in attendance at the opening ceremony for Research and Technology Day.

Guest speaker, Dr. Winston Dawes, Adjunct Associate Professor of Sports Medicine, UTech and Senior Medical Officer, May Pen Hospital told the audience that research should not be viewed as a “frightening, bookish or expensive” undertaking. He gave the example of a Rastafarian who ‘discovered’ that components of the ganja plant reduced the pressure in his eyes.  That simple observation led to research in producing eye drops with similar effects.  Dr. Dawes noted that many of our indigenous plants in Jamaica such as sorrel, soursop and banana have been found to have tremendous anti-cancer, anti-cholesteral, anti-viral or blood-cleansing properties.  He encouraged the audience to look around in our own environment and to start doing more research here in Jamaica to produce commercially viable products that can redound to the benefits of our people and our economy.

The Day’s event included tours of exhibits in the auditorium as well as within faculties.  An all day Speakers Forum saw UTech researchers presenting on findings of his or her research work.

Students look curiously at displays  mounted at the Alfred Sangster auditorium on Research and Technology Day, Tuesday, March 16, 2010.

Research Forums

During Anniversary Week the School of Graduate Studies, Research and Entrepreneurship led the organisation of two research forums involving recipients of the University’s Research Development Fund (RDF) who made presentations on their research work being undertaken. The RDF was created to fund staff research work that contributes to the University’s and national development.

Mrs. Joan Francis, Archival Assistant in the Institutional Archive and Museum Unit on Wednesday, March 17, 2010   presented an outline of the research project entitled, “Development of a Virtual Museum and Heritage Site (VMHS) for the University of Technology, Jamaica. The project aims to provide a technologically enhanced medium of showcasing a variety of the University’s products and services such as sculptures, paintings, students exhibition’s, sports memorabilia, historical sites and speeches in the Virtual Museum and Heritage Site using three dimensional models to create visual appeal and aid in branding the University of Technology, Jamaica.

Mr. Copeland Stupart, Lecturer in the Caribbean School of Architecture, Faculty of The Built Environment discusses his paper at the Research Forum titled, “The diversification of Jamaica’s tourism through “dark” cultural heritage development” held at a research forum on Monday, March 15, 2010.  His research explores heritage conservation in the town of Falmouth, Jamaica. It addresses why the “dark” heritage of the African Diaspora in the Caribbean is an underdeveloped tourist resource. It also seeks to develop an action plan for the conservation, upgrading, and revitalization of heritage sites in Falmouth for the purpose of developing cultural heritage tourism centered on Falmouth’s “dark” historic resources.

 

Prof. Rosalea Hamilton, VP, Development, UTech bringing greetings at the concert.  She said that the relationship with the Papine community is very important to the Universit, reiterating the University’s commitment to provide education and training for empowerment of our youth.	Guest speaker, Mr. Oneil Josephs, Lecturer in the School of Engineering, UTech, recounts his experience growing up in the inner city.  He  challenged  the young persons present to cease the opportunity for education and training as the way out of poverty and dependence.
Children from the Hermitage Basic School perform a song accompanied by their teacher on drum.
New Providence Primary School performs a Jamaican folk dance.
Students of the Lister Mair Gilby Senior School for the Deaf enjoying themselves as they go through their dance routine on stage.
An enthusiastic group of children join guest artiste, Cameal Davis, 2008 Winner of Digicel “Rising Stars” on stage during her performance.

 

The show was divided into four segments, each focusing separately on icons, Wycliffe Bennett, Trevor Rhone, Rex Nettleford and Sonny Bradshaw.  Wayne Brown and Albert Huie were honoured earlier in the day at the literary festival.  Produced by Director/Choreographer and Costume Designer, Dr. Monika Lawrence, the showcase provided a rich composition that superbly reflected on the lives of these great Jamaican treasures.  Performances in dance, song or speech from their work were tastefully interspersed with vignettes or video clipping recordings of interviews done at various stages of their career -- to great cathartic effect.

Among those enjoying the cultural treat were members of the diplomatic corps, former President Dr. the Hon. Rae Davis and his wife Gem, members of the business community, staff , students and cultural enthusiasts.

 

 

The Dance Ensemble performs the piece, “St. Thomas” in tribute to Wycliffe Bennett.
Choir Director and former UTech student, Latoya Hall-Downer (right) and vocalist and Tutor Rishille Bellamy-Pelicie giving an emotional rendition of the song, “For Good.”
These students perform a hilarious excerpt from the celebrated Trevor Rhone play, “Old Story Time.”
Fae Ellington recites a tribute entitled, ‘Legacy of Bennett’ written by Paula Ann Porter.	Guest performers, the E-Park Band of Peter Ashbourne, Desi Jones, Dean Fraser (pictured on saxophone), Glen Browne and Michael Sean Harris pay musical tribute to the great jazz legend, Sonny Bradshaw.
Guest performers, Stella Marris Dancers giving a very spirited performance of Gyn Nyjami in tribute to the late Prof. Rex Nettleford.
“Simply the Best”: The always entertaining Fae Ellington takes a grand bow, much to the amusement of the entire cast gathered on stage  during the closing curtain. The choir closed out the show with a rich rendition of “Simply the Best,” aptly summing up an excellent show!  Congratulations to the Cast and Production Team!  Well Done.

 

At the launch ceremony, held at UTech’s Lillian’s Restaurant, JP Chairman, Charles Johnston presented a cheque for just under $130,000 to Prof. Rosalea Hamilton, VP, Development, UTech which represented the first monthly instalment raised from sales in February 2010.  Dr. Hamilton in thanking JP for collaborating with UTech disclosed that “each year UTech receives more than 1,500 scholarship applications and we are only able to process on average about 22% of these. It means therefore that there is a need for some additional $166 M to meet the annual demand,” she said.  The Peel the Benefits campaign will be run for a period of one year.

 

Rolf Simmonds (3rd L), Commercial Director, JP Tropical Foods piles on ripe bananas on Olympians Shelly-Ann Fraser and Asafa Powell, much to the amusement of Charles Johnston, Chairman, Jamaica Producers and Prof. Rosalea Hamilton, Vice President, Development, UTech.

Submission of Papers for conference presentation are invited from academicians and should be submitted to beldona@udel.edu by May 3, 2010.

Academics and educators, tourism policy researchers, industry consultants, business and hospitality practitioners, professionals from allied fields and students in related disciplines and other participants who wish to attend this conference may visit the University’s website at www.utechjamaica.edu.jm/fobm_conf or contact Joan Lawla, School of Business Administration, UTech at 512-2100 or jlawla@utech.edu.jm

Final year Students being interviewed by prospective employers from the private and public sectors.

 

This group of students designed creative uniforms to match their research concept.

These students’ research focused on Sustainable Development in Northern Jamaica and on employee safety in hotel kitchen operations.

The conference unites more than 60 universities in Region 3, which covers the South Eastern United States and Jamaica.  The Conference aims to foster awareness on developments and improvements in the field of electrical and electronics engineering. The IEEE is the world’s largest professional engineering association and is dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity.

Dr. Osborne is renowned throughout the Commonwealth Caribbean for his training and advisory work in concrete technology, construction and the maintainance of buildings.  He has been chief or sole presenter at an estimated 70 training workshops and seminars across the region, including Guyana and Belize, for which he has produced a significant amount of teaching and training material.

The students receiving the book grants were from Faculties of the Built Environment, Business and Management, Engineering and Computing and Education and Liberal Studies and the College of Health Science.  Book grants are awarded on the basis of academic merit and financial need.

Women’s 100m
This event featured Stephenie McPherson, an SHTM Baking Technology student and Carrie Russell from FELS up against six other participants. UTech took the doubles with Stephenie McPherson getting the gold with an 11.95secs finish and Carrie, the silver in 12.00secs.  G.C. Foster placed third.

 

Women’s 200m
The finals of this event saw Anneisha McLaughlin, an HRM major student, blazing ahead of G.C Foster’s Audra Segree to place first with a 23.16 secs time.  UTech’s Alecia Cutenar, a Food Service Mangement student placed 4 in 24.06 secs.

Women’s 400m
As with the 100m dash, UTech captured the gold and silver with the likes of Stephenie McPherson’s 53.30 secs and Christine Day’s, OS & T, FELS student, 55.06 secs.
GC Foster was third and fourth.

Women’s 800m
Utech did not shine as bright in this event and finished 4th and 5th through the efforts of Christine Day and Venecia Barker of SOBA.  Still …. these points were appreciated as they raised our  score.

Women’s 1500m
UTech’s fate was the same as in the 800m dash as our nearest rival was Venecia’s 5:29.87  which only allowed her 4th place.  G.C. Foster placed 2nd and 3rd; however, the spotlight was UWI’s entrant Tanice Barnett who finished in 4:41.45 UTech also had a 7th place finish in the person of Ronique Rookwood of the College of Health Sciences, 6:22.39.

Women’s 3000m
Ronique Rookwood also gave us a vital point when she finished 5th – 13:02.95 in the 3000 meters run, UWI taking the golden spot and GC Foster the silver and bronze.

Women’s 100m Hurdles
Kaymarie Jones, a Communications student of FELS, hurdled her way to take the gold in 14.07 secs; accompanying her was Janelle Gordon, a Food Service Management student who ran 14.74 secs; UWI placed third.

Women’s 400m Hurdles
When the 400m hurdles race ended, on the lips of spectators was “UTech, UTech” as we again took the gold and silver with Latoya Campbell of SHTM running a time of 1:00.71 and Andrea Reid of COHS, 14.74 secs.  UWI Mona finished third.

 

Women’s 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m Relays
In the 4 x 100m relay, UTech managed to keep off G.C. Foster with a nail-biting finish of 45.23 secs over GC’s 45.24 secs.  We were also winners in the 4 x 400m relay, running a time of 3:51.67 over GC’s 3:52.01.

Women’s 800 Medley
This event saw us ahead of our game again running a time of 1:45.55 secs to beat GC Foster’s 1:49.72, Portmore Community College finishing third.

Women’s High Jump
In this category, Janelle Gordon (FSM) and Salcia Slack, COHS, completed the doubles for UTech by clearing the bar at 1.65 m and 1.55m, respectively; UWI and GC Foster completed the top four.

Women’s Long Jump Triple Jump
UTech’s two entrants in this event did not disappoint as Salcia again showed her class in leaping 5.96 m into the sand pit to take the gold.  The bronze medal, 5.50m, went to Megan Reid a student of FELS.

In the Triple Jump, our athletes bettered their efforts with Salcia taking the gold, leaping 12.32m and Megan the silver, 12.23 m.

 

Women’s Shot Put – Discus - Javelin Throws
Shauna Kay Woolery, our only finalist in the Shot Put event finished in 3rd place with a throw of 13.48m; however she could only managed 4th place with her 37.55m throw in the Discus, her team-mate, Salcia Slack throwing 36.40m to finish 5th.

Salcia bettered her finish in the Javelin event by throwing a distance of 41.32m beating her closest rival GC Foster’s Deborah Rose’ 38.45m.  We also had a 6th place finish in Donneisha McKenzie’s 24.80m

Men’s 100m Dash
Kimani Roache an FOBE student and UTech’s only entrant in the finals of the 100m event, did us proud by copping the gold in a time of 10.69 secs.

Men’s 200m Dash
Nicholas Maitland and Keneil Lee both students of SOBA were our representatives in the Men’s 200m event. Nicholas took the silver in a time of 21.28 secs while Keneil place 5th in 21.81 secs.

Men’s 400m Run
As with the Women’s 400m dash, the men would not be outdone.  Darrion Bent, a student of SOBA and Oliver Smith, a student of SHTM, copped the gold and silver in a time of 47.07 and 47.47 secs, respectively, UWI placing 3rd and 4th.

Men’s 800m Run
UTech’s Ricardo Cunningham raced to the finishing line in a time of 1:53.92 to take the gold in this even while Antoneil Prince his team-mate, finished 4th.  Both are students in SHTM.

Men’s 1500m and 5000m Run
This event saw us finishing 3rd and 5th, again through the effort of Antoneil Prince and Ricardo Cunningham’s 4:11.60 and 4:15.91, respectively.

Antoneil Prince placed third in the 5000m dash, time -17:03.88 while Damia Russell gave us a point with his 18:40.11 finish.  GC Foster took the gold and silver in this event.

Men’s 110m Hurdles
This event was taken by UWI Mona Hansle Parchment’s 14.83 secs; however, our representatives did us proud, copping the gold and silver courtesy of FELS’ Simon Dickens’ 15.85 secs and SOBA’s Dean Francis’ 18.90 secs.

Men’s 400m Hurdles
52.16secs was enough to give us the top spot when Ramon Cooper of FOBE represented UTech in this event.  Dean Francis’ 56.43 secs could only allow him a 5th place.

Men’s 4 x 100m, 4 x 400m x 1600 Medley Relays
UTech continued to shine in the above events:  we placed 2nd (41.34 secs) in the 4 x 100 relays, 1st (3:09.23) in the 4 x 400m and in the 1600m, 1st (3:28.60).

Men’s High Jump, Long Jump and Triple Jump
Jhuan Bryan and Rayan Campbell of SBLM were our 1st and 4th place finishers in the high jump event, leaping 2.00m and 1.8m, respectively.

In the long jump, we got the gold and bronze courtesy of Ramon Cooper’s 7.39m and Rayon Robinson’s, 7.16m.  The latter is a BBA student.

It was Ramon who again brought us the silver in the Men’s Triple Jump event with a leap of 15.12m.

 

Men’s Shot Put, Discus and Javelin Throws
Throws of 18.73m and 14.74m gave us the gold and bronze medals in these events, O’Dayne Richards of SCIT and Damion Johnson doing the ‘damage.

In the discuss throw it was O’Dayne again who brought us the gold, 49.47m, while Ramone Bedward of SHTM added his valid point in measuring.

The Javelin Throw again brought us gold through Aundrae Clarke, a student of SOBA - 54.47m.  Of course we cannot discount FOSS’ Omar Bryan’s 42.46m throw which added a valid point to our total score.

 

Point standing at the end of the Championship were:

 

Let us congratulate the UTech Track and Field Knights for a job well done.  The women scored a total of 221 points to place first in their category while the men’s 214.5 placed them at the top in theirs.  UTech was therefore the overall Champion of the 2010 Intercollegiate Track & Field Championship!

Congratulations to the team, trainers and coaches for a job well done!

Excellence in Sports

The University congratulates Mrs. Gradle Grant, Lecturer in the Caribbean School of Sport Sciences on her recent achievements in the two Golf Tournaments.

Pictured above, Mrs. Gradle Grant (L) accepts her award from Miss. Natasha Russell, International Representative, Jamaica Baptist Health International

She was awarded second place in the Ladies Flight at the UWI Mona Alumni Association Jamaica Chapter (UWIMAA) Golf Tournament held at the Constant Spring Golf and Country Club on Saturday, March 6, 2010: and first Place at the BMW AMCHAM Golf Classics 2010 held at the Caymanas Golf and Country Club held on Saturday, March 13, 2010. As part of the winning purse Mrs. Grant was also awarded an airline ticket from JETBLUE Airlines to any destination in the USA.