Sir Richard Branson to Receive Honorary Doctorate from the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC)
…Largest Commencement Ceremony Slated For July 28, 2024 with Approximately 1000 Graduands for the First Time
Kingston, Jamaica, July 17, 2024 – Sir Richard Branson, UK Billionaire who owes his fortune to a conglomerate of businesses with the ‘Virgin’ brand name, including Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Galactic will join 3 outstanding Jamaicans who are slated to receive honorary doctoral degrees from the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC) at its Commencement Ceremony. The prestigious event slated for Sunday July 28, 2024, at the National Arena in Kingston at 10:30 a.m. will honour Honourable Edmund Bartlett, CD, MP - Honorary Doctorate in Hospitality and Tourism Management Award; Mr. Adam Stewart, CD, Hon. LLD, - Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration Award; Dr. Patricia V. Smith - Honorary Doctorate in Behavioral Sciences Award; and now, Sir Richard Branson - Honorary Doctorate in Business & Entrepreneurship.
Sir Richard Branson is a British entrepreneur, adventurer, philanthropist, and founder and head of Virgin Group Limited. He launched Virgin Records in the early 1970s and eventually
established the multinational Virgin Group which covers industries such as Music; Journalism and Nonfiction; Business and Industry; and Space Exploration. He is also instrumental in several purpose-driven organizations through Virgin Unite (the nonprofit arm of the Virgin Group). In 2007, he was honoured with the Citizen of the Year Award from the United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA).
Sir Richard Branson, in commenting on the honour said, “I feel elated to be considered for this Honorary Doctorate in Business & Entrepreneurship. The main part of UCC’s mission is to prepare students to become innovative, and exceptional business and community leaders, with integrity and social responsibility. I am pleased with their approach, and align myself with this mission”.
Professor Colin Gyles, University President, said “The UCC selected individuals who have excelled in their chosen fields over decades. These awardees not only created change and are driven-innovators in their respective fields, but they represent the core values of our university”. Under the theme ‘It’s a New Beginning…Arise and Take Your Place’, UCC will see its largest commencement ceremony to date, facilitating approximately 1000 graduands and in excess of 6,500 guests at the National Arena, with thousands more joining the occasion online, globally. Professor Gyles added, “This is a testament to the hard work and persistence of our recruitment team; the passion and professionalism of our lecturers, and the tenacity of our students. We had a record of 774 students in last year’s commencement so this year, it is in fact, a success for us”.
The Commencement Address will be presented by the Most Honourable Edmund Bartlett. He has served as Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism for approximately 13 out of the 17 years and has been transformational and innovative in his approach to Jamaica’s tourism industry positioning Jamaica as the one of the leading visitor destinations in the Caribbean. Also within the tourism industry, is Mr. Adam Stewart, who heads the world-renowned Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts, as the Chairman and CEO of Sandals Resorts International, which consists of 24 properties in eight countries. He is also the Executive Chairman of the ATL Group which comprises the Jamaica Observer newspaper, and Appliance Traders Ltd. Dr. Patricia Smith founded Sweet P Home Care Inc, a New York-based home health care business in 1999. She is a multi-millionaire; stemming from her years of success as a businesswoman in the field of health care and nursing, she published her biography ‘I Persist’ in 2022.
These awardees will join the list of other honorary graduates such as US Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke; Professor the Honourable Errol Morrison, scientist and former President of the University of Technology, Jamaica; Bruce Bowen, former President and CEO of Scotiabank Jamaica; Richard Byles, Governor of the Bank of Jamaica; Professor the Honourable Henry Lowe, Executive Chairman of the Environmental Health Foundation of Jamaica, Gary ‘Butch’ Hendrickson, Chairman and CEO of Continental Baking Company Limited; Leighton McKnight, chartered accountant and philanthropist; Hon. Godfrey Dyer, tourism and business titan; Professor Sandra Reid, leading Professor of Psychiatry at UWI Trinidad; Hon Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland, USA; Hon. Dorothy Pine-McLarty, Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica; and Dr. Tricia Bailey, US Entrepreneur and the wealthiest Jamaican-born woman.
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