Grenadian students among hundreds of City Tech Graduates

NEW YORK, June 2, 2010 – A Grenadian student was the toast of about 2,000 graduates of New York City College of Technology on Wednesday.

Lerone Bleasdille of St. David delivered the Valedictorian Address on behalf of the 2010 graduating class at Madison Square Garden in New York.

He was among a handful of Grenadian students who received their diplomas at the 70th Commencement Ceremony of the Brooklyn-based College of the City University of New York (CUNY).

Bleasdille, who left his full time bank teller job to take up a scholarship provided by CUNY in the aftermath of Hurricanes Ivan and Emily, challenged his colleagues to use adversities as stepping stones to fulfil their career dreams.

"Fellow graduates today we become the representatives of City Tech, members of the privileged group responsible for showing the world that we produce quality. I want to challenge each of you to keep learning and to live your passion," Bleasdille said at the ceremony which was also attended by his mother and other family members.

Bleasdille (summa cum laude) and Kadell Joseph (magna cum laude), the son of Grenada Board of Tourism Director, William Joseph, both graduated with honour degrees in Bachelor of Technology in Computer Systems.

Craig John, another Grenadian student, also completed an Associate Degree in Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging.

It was a proud moment for John, the grandson of former Chief Education Officer, Carlyle John and the nephew of pharmacist Rupert John. They were among family members including his mother Deslyn Hosten who journeyed from Grenada to New York to witness the graduation. His father Clement John who lives in Maryland and Harrison Copeland who is in charge of the Radiology Unit at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn as well as aunts in England and Trinidad also attended the commencement ceremony.

John, who is from Mt. Craven, St. Patrick, attended the McDonald College.

In the citation, the College said that “out of devastation emerged opportunity for Lerone Bleasdille, New York City College of Technology’s 2010 valedictorian. He arrived at City Tech as a result of Hurricane Ivan in 2004, which decimated most of the buildings in his native country, Grenada.”

Bleasdille’s mother, then an administrator in the Prime Minister’s Office, learned that CUNY, in partnership with the Grenada Mission, was offering 15 college scholarships to Grenadian students as a humanitarian initiative. At the time, Bleasdille was working in a local bank as a commercial teller. He applied for and won one of the CUNY scholarships, and chose City Tech because it offered computer science-related majors. The scholarship paid for his tuition during his years at City Tech.

Grateful for the support he was given, Bleasdille, who served as president of City Tech’s Student Government Association (SGA) and later as senator-at-large and treasurer, recognised the need to provide scholarships for international students who ordinarily were ineligible due to residency requirements. He and some fellow students established the merit-based SGA Trust Award, for which international students were eligible, which provides $2,000 each to three full-time students.

Bleasdille has served as lead reporter of the College’s student newspaper, New Tech Times, president of the Martial Arts Club and vice president of the E-commerce club, in addition to his student government posts. While gravitating towards a career in technology, Bleasdille says he found himself as a creative writer at City Tech, winning first prize in both the poetry and short story categories in the City Tech Literary Festival Competition.

Bleasdille credits his drive and multiple interests partly to the example set by his late father, Leroy Neckles, who died in 2008. Neckles, a U.S.-educated business turnaround specialist, told him: “Leaders are never people who want to lead; they are the people others ask to lead.” He said, “I always remember that statement; because it means you’re doing something right when people believe in you.”

Bleasdille also credits his mother, who raised him, for her indomitable spirit, and unquenchable support. “She’s read all my stories and poems. While my father set the education bar high, my mother built my character,” he said.

Consul General Derrick James congratulated the students who graduated on Wednesday noting that they all excelled in their various areas of specialisation.

“What is even more encouraging is that a son of the soil was chosen to be the Valedictorian for the graduates,” he observed.

He said that Grenadian students continue to demonstrate to the world that they can excel and compete among the best in the face of extreme challenges.