Wednesday, October 7, 2009

                                 Students, sharply dressed in new lab coats, test new equipment as Past Students, Mrs.                                  Allison Peart, (l.) Senior Vice Principal of Excelsior, and Mrs. Merline Bardowell,

                                 Executive Director of the National Commission on Science and Technology, look on.

Amid much elation and a sense of triumph over obstacles, the newly refurbished science lab was officially handed over to the school at a formal ceremony last Friday October 2.

Conceived by the Excelsior Past Students Association (EPSA) as part of the school’s 75th anniversary commemoration in 2006, and completed at a cost of more than J$9.6 million, the renovated facility boasts an increased capacity in a number of critical areas.

                                              Christopher Honeywell, President of the XLCR

                                               PSA  addresses  handing-over ceremony

Christopher Honeywell, President of the Excelsior Past Students Association, in his address  at the handing-over ceremony, said that the project was chosen because his organization is pledged to boosting science education at Excelsior.

“The Association is committed to nurturing an interest in scientific education and to develop a circle of dedicated scientific and creative minds who, will solve problem and overcome challenges for the advancement of our society,” he stated.

The Digicel Foundation, whose officials also participated in the function, played a critical role in getting the project off the ground by largely underwriting the cost of the initiative. Major General Robert Neish, the head of the Foundation, lauded the team which helmed the project and noted how impressed he was with the management of the project.

Calling the science lab project his organization’s flagship initiative, Neish said he was impressed with the proposal for the project and had decided to get on board. He was further heartened, he said, that the team spearheading the project had been very efficient and transparent to the extent that the project was completed on schedule and within the budget.

In thanking the Excelsior Past Students Association (EPSA) and The Digicel Foundation, Principal Mr. Deanroy Bromfield, expressed the appreciation of the school to both groups and implored the students to show appreciation to the EPSA for its efforts, and to take special care of the facility.

“Our students normally perform very well at the science subjects and with these newly refurbished labs, they can only continue to get better” said Mr. Bromfield. 

Work will continue on the Science Block Rehabilitation Project and with the first phase now complete, attention now turns to the renovation of the Biology and the Integrated Science Laboratories. Additional funding for the project has come from a number of dedicated Excelsorians as well as from corporations and other sources.