ELEVEN retired Portmore Community College (PCC) staff members were recognised for their unmatched service to the institution at a recently held long service award ceremony. Celebrating over 250 combined years of service, the brunch-styled ceremony held on August 9 saw the cohort of awardees, including the college’s two former principals, receive words of commendation, plaques, and floral arrangements as tokens of appreciation.

Among the recipients were Shirley Whylie, the founding principal of PCC, and Karen Hewitt Kennedy, who took over as principal following Whylie’s retirement. Other awardees included former academic staff members such as Eunice Campbell, principal lecturer and head of the Department of Arts and Humanities; Johoan Chambers-Blackwood, principal lecturer and coordinator; Dr Verona Williams, principal lecturer and head of the Department of Business and Professional Studies; John Sherman, head of the Computer Studies Department, and campus director at Old Harbour Campus, and vice-principal of student affairs; Ern Green, head of the Business and Professional Studies Department and vice-principal of academics; Sonia Robinson-Hayden, lecturer; Dr Adolph Cameron, immediate past vice chairman of the board; and Reverend Karl Henlin, immediate past board chairman.

Spearheaded by the newly appointed board chairperson Dr Tamika Peart, the event highlighted the unwavering support and dedication of those recognised. She congratulated the group for their contributions to the institution over the years.

“Portmore Community College is more than an educational institution. It is a beacon of service. It is a testimony to our collective commitment to national development. Today, these awards are not just timely but essential as they acknowledge the continuous work and devotion that have propelled us forward,” she said.

“May we all continue to uplift this knowable institution and preserve its traditions while embracing new opportunities for growth and excellence. Let us continue to celebrate today’s awardees who have contributed to the strength and spirit of PCC. Their service exemplifies the values upon which this institution and our country were built.”

PCC Student Guild President Theodore Dyle offered commendation on behalf of the student body.

“Your leadership has inspired us to dream big, work hard, and strive for a better Jamaica. We are truly grateful for your presence here today as we come together to celebrate your remarkable achievements.”

Meanwhile, guest speaker Demoy Nash, acting deputy director in the Department of Agriculture in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining, also encouraged the awardees.

“You are the heroes and heroines of Portmore Community College, and we pause today to recognise and celebrate you. The lives you have impacted will impact several generations. They will do more than you have done because the number of them is greater. You sowed a seed, and that seed is going to form a forest. Your name will forever live on because you are a hero in your own right because you have transformed lives.”