(CNS Business): The International College of the Cayman Islands launched its alumni association and mentoring programme at a dinner held at Abacus this week. With a large percentage of the alumni living in the Cayman Islands or visiting the country on a steady basis, there has been a strong need for an association that provides a platform to be involved with the school in meaningful ways, says alum Anita Fausett-Khan. “When we were students, we got so much from the faculty and our fellow students, that in many ways we have become like another family,” she said.

“Launching the Alumni Association will be able fill that need to continue to be involved with the school and give back to the International College some of what we have learned as we have advanced and grown in our careers. The alumni association is long overdue and I feel that once more alumni find out about it they will be eager to get back in touch and be involved,” Fausett-Khan added.
Ken Tibbetts, who is part of the group spearheading the alumni association, says it is graduates’ strong sense of pride in the college that will be a driving force in this new organisation.

“The Alumni Association will be a way for us to come together creatively and generate new ideas on how we can give back and continue to build this remarkable institution,” he said. 

In addition to Fausett-Khan and Tibbetts, the core group organizing the association includes Kadian Taylor-Smith, Lastenia Tibbetts, Leticia Vassell and Bridget Thompson. They are in the process of setting up the administrative and legal details with a view to planning a general meeting early next year.

International College president, Dr Tasha Ebanks Garcia, is confident this core group of alumni will play a critical role in making this an active and vibrant organisation.

“We view our alumni as huge assets to the International College,” she said. “They have the potential to serve a valuable role in the lives of our students and in the health and the direction that our organization goes. We are using this event to start a pathway to bring the hundreds of graduates that have passed through our doors together through an association.”

The event also launched the Alumni Mentoring Programme, which is designed to match alumni with new students who may need some extra help in adjusting to college life. This is especially true for new students who have been out of school for several years and need some help in figuring out how to juggle work, family responsibilities and the demands of college. In addition, the alumni programme is a good resource for those students who may feel a little weak in one subject area and just need a little extra help in going through the material, explained Dr Ebanks Garcia.

“Alumni who have gone through this before are in the perfect position to give guidance to new students who are just starting back again and need that extra bit of support to be successful in their academic career,” she said.

The recently elected representatives of the ICCI Student Government were also introduced at the alumni dinner.

“We are really excited about the new student government that we have formed and we are already starting to plan some student events and fundraisers for the school,” says student president James Wilson.

Alumni of the International College who are interested in being involved with the organisation can contact Anita Fausett-Khan at anita.fausett-khan@myicci.com or Ken Tibbetts at dtibbetts@myicci.com.