DIGNITARIES, past and present students, parents and well-wishers converged on Campion College last Wednesday to witness the ground breaking for the Jonathan Stewart Library and Media Centre. The state-of-the-art learning facility is named in honour of the late son of Jamaica Observer Limited’s (JOL) chairman and chief benefactor of the project Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart.

The momentous occasion was preceded by a year-and-a-half long campaign to raise funds to the tune of US$350,000 (JA$58,800,000) to supplement the Stewart family’s donation of US $350,000 (JA$25,750,000). However, the fund-raising drive by the school yielded US$740,000, surpassing its target and according to Campion College Vision 2020 chairman, Andrew Mahfood, this was largely through donations from several organisations, families and individuals.

Campion, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2010 is ranked by regional examination board — Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) — as the region’s top performing institution in both the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

With the exception of minor renovations, the institution has not changed its library since inception. According to principal, Grace Baston, the construction of the Jonathan Stewart Library and Media Centre will improve the learning experience and potential of students by “…decreasing the digital divide that exist between students who have resources at home and those who do not.” This, according to Baston, is imperative to ensure that no student is left behind in a technologically advancing world.

In his address on behalf of the donors, Adam Stewart, CEO of Sandals International and past student of Campion College, declared that the Stewart family felt in necessary to honour his deceased brother (Jonathan Stewart) in this way as he was an avid patriot, and investing in the future of Jamaica through education is something he would love to do.

Construction of the Jonathan Stewart Library and Media Centre is slated for completion in May 2012. The facility will be the first of its kind in Jamaica with an eco-friendly architectural design, pioneering the institution’s mission and vision into the future.

Notably in attendance were Andrew Holness, minister of education; Daryl Vaz, minister with responsibility for Information; Rev Ronald Thwaites, opposition spokesperson on education; Most Reverend Donald Reece, Archbishop Emeritus of Kingston; and Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart.