Paulette Mullings Bradnock, Dr. Patricia Martin DeLeon and Annette Harper.

Alumni, Friends and other supporters of The Excelsior family came together on Saturday October 9, 2010 in the Ballroom of the JFK International Hotel to celebrate the 41st. Anniversary of the Excelsior Alumni Association (USA) Inc.

It was indeed an elegant affair as the splendidly attired guests turned out to honor three past students of Excelsior who have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields. To those who had the privilege of attending Excelsior, these honorees Professor the Hon. Errol Morrison, OJ, President of the University of Technology of Jamaica, Dr. Patricia Martin-DeLeon, Professor of Biological Sciences and member of the Board of Trustee at the University of Delaware, and, Mrs. Audrey Anderson, Senior Deputy Governor of the Bank of Jamaica and Deputy Supervisor of Banks and Financial Institutions in Jamaica, embodied the ideals of the founder of Excelsior, Dr. Wesley A. Powell, (WAP).

The tone for the evening’s festivities was set as the guests entered the ballroom to the soothing sounds of Road International. Master of Ceremonies Annette Harper (XLCR, 77) got things off to a flying start as she welcomed everyone in her own inimitable style. Vincent Smith (XLCR, 79) led everyone in a rousing rendition of both the Jamaican and American Anthems, followed by Rose Davis (XLCR, 80) who gave the invocation.

President Paulette Mullings Bradnock, elegantly attired as per usual, then welcomed the gathering, introducing this year’s honorees, and reporting on the achievements of the past year and outlining her hopes for the Association in the coming year. She also acknowledged the presence of the members of the other chapters who came from Florida, Jamaica and Toronto to join in the festivities. Florida was represented by it’s President Althea Brown Robinson, Jamaica by it’s President Winsome Halliman and her husband Leebert (Coach of the Manning Cup Football Team), and Toronto by it’s Vice President Hurbert Jackson Kumaasi.

After a brief interlude for dinner the festivities began. Professor the Hon. Errol Morrison was presented with the President's Distinguished Alumnus Award for Academic Excellence in the Field of Medicine and Education, Dr. Patricia Martin-Deleon was presented with the President's Distinguished Alumnus Service Award for Excellence in the Field of Medicine and Research and Mrs. Audrey Anderson was presented with the President's Distinguished Community Alumnus Award for Excellence in the Field of Banking and Finance. Mrs. Anderson was unable to attend so Trevor Johnson accepted the award on her behalf. Dr. Deleon and Professor Morrison had the audience in stitches when in accepting their awards they regaled us with a number of amusing stories of their days at Excelsior under “WAP”.

Also in attendance were a number of representatives from other Alumni Associations along with representatives from the Jamaican Consulate, Vice Counsel General Tracey Blackwood and Nick Perry from the New York State Assembly.

All in all, it was a wonderful evening as Road International kept everyone on their feet until sometime after 2:00 AM when it was time to call it a day.