The President of the Republic, Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan was the guest of honour at the 2019-2021 graduation ceremony for students who successfully completed their studies at the Seychelles Business Studies Academy (SBSA), held at the International Conference Centre Seychelles (ICCS), yesterday afternoon.

This year’s recipient of the President’s Cup, was Phillipa Servina. She was an excellent role model with an outgoing and respectful personality.

Altogether, 120 students followed the course on a full-time basis and 18 on a part-time basis, whereby they studied different programmes such as Accounting and Finance, Business Management and Administration and Administrative Skills.

In her address at the ceremony, the Director of SBSA, Josianne Bristol, congratulated the students on their achievements and to put what they have learnt into good use.

“Today, is your time to be proud, to reflect on how far you have come and all that you have achieved. A time to plan for a brighter future and definitely a time to be thankful to all those who have help you reach this far in your life’s journey. You all represent the core of what SBSA is all about. I urged you today to continue being our success stories. To continuously put into practice and attitudes you have gained at the academy. As graduates of SBSA you are indeed professionals. My congratulations to you all once, again,” said Mrs. Bristol.

To note, 3 graduates scored a Distinction for Diploma in Business Management and Administration and 4 graduates for the Diploma in Accounting and Finance. After the presentation of the Certificates, Advanced Certificates, and Diploma for the different programmes, two of SBSA staff; Monique Gertrude and Antoinette Dubel, who also graduated were congratulated. To note, Mrs. Dubel is a Housekeeper and has decided to acquire new skills through this training.

This was followed by rewarding those graduates who have shown Best Effort in three full-time programmes. Angie Boniface received the Best Effort in Certificate in Administrative Skills, Angelic Prassad, Best Effort in Diploma in Accounting and Finance and Stephanie Quatre, Best Effort in Diploma in Business Management and Administration.

The Most Outstanding Performer award is, each year, presented to the graduate who has produced excellent results in his or her respective programme. This year, the award went to Hillary Talma for the Certificate in Administrative Skills, Ronnda Sophola for the Certificate in Business Administration, Anisha Morel, Diploma in Business Management and Administration, and Alessandro Pool-Charlette, Diploma in Accounting and Finance.

The AAT Award is bestowed on the Diploma in Accounting and Finance graduate who has excelled academically in all the AAT external exams. The Award recipient was Alessandro Pool-Charlette.

Sylvie Nibourette received the City & Guilds Award. This award is presented to the Diploma in Business Management and Administration graduate who has performed exceptionally well in these external exams.

The Seychelles National Youth Council once again presented an award, aptly named “Making the impossible, possible” and this award went to Roshnie Morel.

The annualSBSA Governing Board Award, jointly sponsored by all members of the Governing Board, is conferred to the graduate who has demonstrated outstanding contribution by being an exceptional ambassador to the academy. This award went to Nylah Lespoir and Isa Gamatis-Henriette.

Alessandro Pool-Charlette also received the first SBSA Medal of Academic Excellence.

Other than President Ramkalawan, guests at the ceremony included the Minister for Education, Dr. Justin Valentin, Principal Secretaries, Directors of Education, the Chairperson of the SBSA Governing Board, Mr. Oliver Bastienne, Members of the SBSA Governing Board, Official from the Ministry of Education, Sponsors, WBE partners, the graduate’s relatives, and SBSA Management and Staff.