Weslene Walters poses with her friends from the Tortola Toastmasters Club shortly after H. Lavity Stoutt Community College’s graduation ceremony last Thursday. By NGOVOU GYANG

Weslene Walters, 51, has always dreamed of going as far as possible in her academic pursuits, but finances and a full-time job delayed that dream.

Weslene Walters poses with her friends from the Tortola Toastmasters Club shortly after H. Lavity Stoutt Community College’s graduation ceremony last Thursday. By NGOVOU GYANG
At age 45, Ms. Walters decided to head back to college, and last Thursday she joined 190 students of H. Lavity Stoutt Community College who lined up to collect degrees during their graduation ceremony.

Ms. Walters was also the part-time student with the highest grade-point average.

“No matter the struggles, don’t give up: There’s always someone to help you along,” the Fort Recovery housekeeper said with her associate’s degree in accounting tightly tucked underneath her arm.

Dr. Melvin Turnbull, the keynote speaker at the event, encouraged the graduates to set lofty goals.
“The first thing you have to do is think big,” Dr. Turnbull advised. “You cannot allow yourself and your thoughts and ideas to be limited to just being an associate level graduate. You cannot allow the letters behind your name to limit your potential and what you are able to accomplish.”
Keibryan Barzey plans to follow that advice and hopes other men in the community will do the same.

“Try hard, do your best, and get something good out of it,” he advised while surrounded by family and friends.

Mr. Barzey, who earned an associate’s degree in architectural engineering, said he will be off to Oxford University at the end of summer.

“I chose architecture because, to be honest, I want to be able to design my own house in the future,” he added.

SEE THE JUNE 15, 2017 EDITION FOR FULL COVERAGE.