Bermuda College launches it's 50th Anniversary Celebrations!

Bermuda College’s 50th anniversary celebrations launched under sunny skies on Monday, July 1 in the BF&M Circle Courtyard. The College Act 1974 was signed in to law on July 1 and approximately 60 special guests and College administrators, faculty and staff gathered under a canopied tent to commemorate the historic event.

Interim President, Mrs. Branwen Smith-King spoke of the original vision for a local college to “nurture the minds of young people in Bermuda, and allow students to flourish with ideas and to pursue dreams”, adding, “As we look back at over half a century of excellence on this campus, we can proudly say that this vision has been fulfilled.”

The College’s reputation for academic excellence was a common theme in the remarks of several speakers, with the success of its alumni a note of particular pride. BC’s alumni have gone on to distinguish themselves as noted professionals and leaders in industry locally, and overseas. The result of the amalgamation of three distinct post-secondary institutions – the Hotel and Catering College, the Bermuda Technical Institute, and the Academic Sixth Form Centre, Bermuda College has evolved into Bermuda’s only institution of higher learning, accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

Education Minister, the Hon. Diallo Rabain said that partnerships such as the institution’s dual enrolment and its promise programme with the Ministry of Education and its robust nursing programme “underscores the college’s integral role in our community”. He noted that the College’s achievements were “numerous and impactful”, and that its affiliations and collaborations with US, Canadian and UK and Caribbean institutions “reflect its dedication to broadening the educational opportunities for all Bermudians.”

Dr. George Cook, who succeeded the first president of the College, Dr. Archie Hallett, said, “We started out from scratch basically… Standards were set and the outlines of the programmes were established because the format that we established then, (which) has persisted all the way through to the present day.”

Chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr. Nasir Wade spoke to the College’s legacy and the commitment of its founders, who “took an idea and transformed it into something that we could stand on today”, adding, “…building off of a firm foundation is what is necessary for success. I want to thank all of those who played a part in the legacy of Bermuda College (so) that we are at our 50th anniversary.”