Bahamas Academy (BA) graduating senior, who also happens to be a College of The Bahamas freshman, Deontre McPhee is the top graduate coming out of the 2014 Technical Cadets Corps Programme (TCCP) in New Providence. She walked away with the Bahamas Electricity Corporation General Manager Award.
"I was shocked but happy," said McPhee, 17, of her accomplishment. She did not expect to be named top cadet when she joined the program.
"When I first came into the program I wasn't crazy about technical subjects, but as I progressed I began to love it. In my third year I began to do electronics and fell in love with it, and I guess that helped me," said McPhee.
She started out in the TCCP as one of four girls among a class of boys. After three years, she was the lone girl standing to graduate. She said it was not only through her efforts that she was able to accomplish what she did, but the efforts of the young men in the class helped her along the way.
"The boys never made me feel bad about being the only girl, and they never tried to belittle me. They really motivated me," said McPhee. "And even when I got the top award and the BEC manager's award, they really made me feel a part of the team," she said.
Even though she's been studying freshman courses at COB for the past year, McPhee will attend her commencement ceremony at BA today with her high-school class.
The top cadet wrote seven Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) examinations in 11th grade, including English and mathematics. She passed all with 'B' grades. By virtue of sitting her exams early, she did not have to return to BA for her senior year. She enrolled at COB, where she is studying accounts, but remained in the TCCP program.
After her second year, she plans to enroll in a double major to continue her accounting studies and do a degree in electronics, as well.
"It's a weird combo, but I like accounts and now I also like electronics," she said.
McPhee said she has had a good first year at COB, even though she was scared enrolling as a 16-year-old; her classes at COB have never interfered with her TCCP classes.
She is happy with the decisions she made, because she doesn't believe she would have been as focused as she now is had she not gone to COB. She said many of the classes she has taken have helped with her character and her focus.
McPhee was one of 89 cadets to complete the TCCP program.
Angela Pratt-Rolle, undersecretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology told the recent graduates that they have joined other cohorts of TCCP graduates who have made their mark in society; as such, they are expecting great things from them.
"We expect that you will be innovative and discover technological solutions to environmental issues or wherever the need arises," said Pratt-Rolle. "We expect you to be entrepreneurs and create employment for others, rather than wait to see who will employ you. We expect that, as an employee, your abilities and your work ethic will ultimately propel you to be a leader in your operation. We expect that you will be upstanding and contributing citizens of The Bahamas. We expect that you will be fine examples of the success of TCCP, so that others will follow in your footsteps."
Pratt-Rolle told the graduates that, for three years, they made tremendous sacrifices to fulfill the program's requirements, something that she said was no easy task because it involved juggling an internship and performing in school. Their ability to endure to the end she said showed their determined spirit.
Pratt-Rolle also recognized the instructors who complement the hands-on-training with academic instruction. She said it was an aspect of the program that needed to be highlighted because too many people believe that technical and vocational education is something you resort to when all else fails.
"The reality is that the technical field requires persons who are literate and prepared to apply themselves to the task at hand. According to Tony Wagner, author of 'Creating Innovators', in Finland's highly successful educational system, 45 percent of the students choose a technical track, not an academic track, after completing their basic education."
Pratt-Rolle, who has visited Finland, said that the country has one of the most progressive education systems in the world because it has a healthy attitude toward technical and vocational education. She said that it was the exact opposite in The Bahamas, when it comes to technical education.
"We know that we need it to advance our society, but we are still holding on to a traditional academic system, to the frustration of thousands of students and our own national development."
Pratt-Rolle called on technical education agencies to map out a plan to elevate the critical component of the national development in the public eyes.
She also told the program's coordinators that, in the 25th year, she hoped they would do an assessment of the program to see whether it had realized its objectives within the past 25 years and determine what else TCCP can offer to attract a wider segment of the student population.
The Technical Cadet Corps Programme, introduced by former Minister of Education Dr. Bernard Nottage, will celebrate 25 years of existence in 2015.
Since then, 2,300 students have graduated from the program. Just under 600 of that number are graduates of TCCP Grand Bahama.
General Manager Awards
Deontre McPhee - Bahamas Electricity Corporation
Daniel Jageassar - Bahamas Telecommunication Company
Jarvis Ferguson - Water & Sewerage Corporation
Roy Hepburn - Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas
Most Improved Awards
Jamaro Sturrup - Electronics
Jevon Thompson - Computer Software
Noelicia Turnquest - Engineering Drawing
Aaron Gibson - Computer Repair
Daniel Johnson - Water Management
Naquana Evans - Electrical Technology
Shanice Brown - Radio and Television
Arvadio Ferguson - Pre-Engineering
Jarvin Sturrup - Electronics
Most Outstanding Awards
Alexi Rolle - Computer
Software
Antone Scott - Engineering Drawing
Jeremy Sands - Computer
Repair
Doneisha Forbes -- Water Management
Justin Cunningham -- Electrical Technology
Terisha Paul -- Radio and Television
Jevante Hutchinson - Electronics
Wesmond C. William - Pre-Engineering
English Language Awards
Justin Cunningham - Most Outstanding
Shawndia Rolle - Most Improved
Mathematics Awards
Daniel Jagessar - Most Outstanding
Tevin Pratt - Most Improved
Cadet of the Year (highest grade point average)
Daniel Jageassar, Temple Christian Schools - Bahamas Electricity Corporation
Justin Cunningham, Nassau Christian Schools - Bahamas Electricity Corporation
Terisha Paul, St. Anne's High School - Bahamas Telecommunications
Noelicia Turnquest, Kingsway Academy - Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Scholarship
Roy Hepburn, Anatol Rodgers High School - Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Scholarship
Teacher Award (students select teacher who has had the most impact on them)
Barry Johnson
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