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SIT's Annual Graduation Held at World Learning in Brattleboro, Vermont
Graduates come from all over the world
BRATTLEBORO, VT (May 26, 2007) -- On Saturday May 26th, the School for International Training held its annual graduation. The peaceful World Learning campus was visited by over 200 SIT attendees to receive Masters’ in Teaching as well as Intercultural Service, Leadership and Management, while others received peace building certifications.
Overlooking the Connecticut River, the graduation ceremony felt like a summer festival with music, food, and cheer. Graduates came from all over the world to attend the event, which took place at the World Learning headquarters in Brattleboro, Vermont. Graduates enjoyed a full day of celebration with a keynote speaker, percussion music, and food and beverage.
The keynote speaker, Francis Wamui Njoroge, was also a recipient of SIT's Master in International and Intercultural Management degree. He has had an extensive career in East Africa and since 2004 has been working with refugee communities in the Darfur region for US and Canadian relief organizations. He shared insightful words from his experience at SIT and from his work in East Africa. Among others speaking at the graduation were World Learning CEO and SIT president Carol Bellamy, Adam Weinberg, the Executive Vice President and Provost of World Learning, and Susan Plimpton, who is the Chair of the Board of Trustees for World Learning.
SIT Graduates wear special traditional academic regalia that presented a unique visual image at the graduation. Graduates choose from over 120 robes especially crafted from Africa, Asian, and Latin America. Over 100 of the robes worn in the graduation support women cooperative and empowerment groups from Burma, Ghana, and El Salvador.
Just one of over 200 graduates, Catherine Mbindyo, finished her capstone paper and presentation required before receiving the Master’s degree in the Program for Intercultural Service, Leadership and Management. She started SIT two years ago coming from Kenya. Her mother is visiting from Kenya to see her presentation and graduation for the last week. She is most excited, as she says, "to start to put things into practice."
Another graduate, Melanie Arsenault Centeno, will continue her work with George Washington University Study Abroad Office. She was happy to see some of the friends she missed from her on-campus phase at SIT.
Shodi Abdulvasiev, who graduated on Saturday, has also been an employee at SIT while he finished up his capstone and presentation. His family traveled down from Falmouth, Maine to see him graduate. Abdulvasiev says he is "waiting to hear back from jobs." He cannot wait to move on to his career in sustainable development in which he earned a degree from SIT.