24 Liberian Journalists Receive Bachelor Of Arts Degrees In Journalism

Hundreds of students walked out of the walls of the University of Liberia(UL) as graduates on May 28th, Wednesday, following the completion of their studies in various disciplines. The graduating class has been christened, "Royal Class."

The convocation ceremony will began at 10:00 a.m on the main campus of the nation’s highest institution of learning.

Meanwhile, among the UL graduates, 24 received Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communication having successfully completed their academic sojourn.

Graduate Philip N. Wesseh is the Dux of the ‘Mass Comm’ class. Mr. Wesseh is Managing Editor of The INQUIRER newspaper.

Professor Joe Worlorbah Mulbah, the current head of the Mass Communication Department, has in the meantime expressed explicit confidence in the qualification of the graduates. Others who obtained their B.A. degrees in Mass Communication include: Martha Akorsah, Augustine Boakai, J. S. Datuama, Olando Chea, Shafa M. Daffa, Calixte S. Degni, Samuel R. E. Dixon, Fallah Augustus, J. Moses Gray (foreign News Editor, The INQUIRER), and Sarah Hayes Cooper.

Others include: Amelia D. Kollie, Kamara A. Kamara, J. Fombah Ndebeh, W. N. Peters, J. Foley Pusah, Khalifa V. Sheriff, Adolphus Taylor, Johnny W. Washington, Isaac Williams, A. Alvin Wingord and Ebenezer S. Browne.

The Independent INQUIRER Newspaper Editor and Managing Editor, Messrs J. Moses Gray and Philip N. Wesseh, were among the 24 Liberian journalists who graduated on May 28th from the University of Liberia, with a Bachelor of Arts Degrees (BA) in Mass communications.

Journalist Gray is the President of the University of Liberia Press Club and Editor In chief of the University of Liberia Monitor Newspaper. Seven members of the University of Liberia Press Club (ULPC) were among the graduates. The seven members include Messrs Augustus Fallah, Vice President; Khalifa V. Sheriff, Programs Coordinator; Sarah Hyes-Cooper, Treasurer and Calite Hussen, among others ULPC graduates.

Meanwhile, On May 28th, over 900 scholars proudly walked away from the walls of the University of Liberia (UL), after either obtaining a Master or Bachelor Degree in various disciplines.

The commencement program, which took place on the main campus of the UL, brought together several well-wishers including officials of government, the diplomatic corps, relatives and loved ones of the "Royal Class", as the class was christened. . From the Graduate programs, 19 candidates received Master of Arts Degree in Regional Planning; 7 candidates got Master of Arts Degree in International Studies; 8 candidates received Master of Education in Educational Administration and Supervision, and 8 candidates received Master of Arts in Educational Administration and Supervision.

The Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law produced 28 graduates with the Degree of Bachelor of Law (LLB), while 12 persons from the A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine received the Degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD). The School of Pharmacy produced 4 candidates with Bachelor of Pharmacy.

From the undergraduate colleges, the College of Business and Public Administration produced 570 graduates who got Bachelor Degree of Business Administration in Accounting, Bachelor of Science in Economics, Bachelor in Management and Bachelor of Public Administration.

The Liberia College produced 106 graduates who received Bachelor of Arts, while the William V. S. Tubman Teacher’s College produced 7 graduates with Bachelor of Arts Degrees. The William R. Tolbert, Jr. College of Agriculture and Forestry produced 25 graduates with Bachelor Degrees. The T. J. R. Faulkner College of Science and Technology put out 87 graduates.

Serving as Guest Speaker, Mr. Wulf Gatter, a German environmentalist, stressed the need for environmental consideration to be given a priority to avoid future environmental degradation.

Mr. Gatter lauded the University of Liberia administration for creating an environmental study at the institution, while challenging the UL to develop a course which will encourage young men and women to adopt scientific, technical and analytical skills needed to conduct systematic environmental assessment in Liberia.

He called on Liberians to be proud of the only state-owned higher institution of learning, because it is one of the oldest on the African continent that continues to produce men and women who are making leeways in the international circle. He said despite the challenges facing the institution, the Ben Roberts Administration continues to prioritize academic excellence as its hallmark.

He then challenged the graduates to make the difference, adding "as you walk through the walls of the university, much is expected of you. And you can do such by sharing the knowledge that you have acquired with your fellow countrymen for the betterment of Liberia."

For his part, the president of the Board of Trustees, Rev. Dr. Walter D. Richards congratulated the president, faculty and staff of the UL for their hard work, dedication and commitment in preparing the graduates for their hard-earned achievement.

He told the graduates that the knowledge they have acquired from the university will remain important in their lives and nation especially at this time of the nation’s history, while at the same time encouraging them to go beyond their academic achievement and avoid complacency.

Meanwhile, three distinguished personalities were conferred with honorary degrees. Dr. A Romeo Horton, Rev. Dr, Jonathan C. Taylor, and Mr. Wulf Gatter, who served as guest speaker, were awarded Doctor of Business Administration, Doctor of Humanities, and Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Sciences respectively by the University of Liberia.