Hundreds
of St. Augustine’s and St. Joseph’s Alumni gathered in Atlanta, Georgia in the
United States last weekend for their first International Alumni Reunion.
With
both Principals from Banjul and flown into the States by the Alumni
Organization the stage was set for an historic weekend.
The
weekend kicked off on Friday evening with a welcome reception and awards night.
In
that ceremony past athletes and educators were honored for their services to
the school. The event which brought together generations of athletes was
climaxed by singing of the St. Augustine’s High School fight song RECTA SAPERE.
As
one reveler confided, “It was nostalgia at its best. To see all these past students
gathered under one roof and sang so well the song that we all believed in was
quite sobering.”
Rightfully
so, it was solemn and dignified. The place went serene when the award named for
the distinguished St. Joseph’s Alum, Dr Ya Harr Majaga Njie was presented to
the Principal of St. Joseph’s Ms Kippy Coker.
With
the Catholic song, “DI NA LA GIS E BES”, playing in the background, many tears
flowed, as her mates recalled this academic giant and loving classmate that
went home too soon.
The
great long distance twin brothers, Peter and Paul Ceesay were in the house to
be honored, and so were Marie Louis Mendy, Oumie Andrews, Kebba Jow, Rohey
Sonko, Aziz Corr, Ann Therese Ndong Jatta, Olga Davis, Peter Prom and many
more.
The
West African Masquerade Hunting Society (WAMS) also did their part in bringing
the house down with a great performance.
On
Saturday morning, a symposium chaired by renowned Gambian academic Dr Malanding
Jaiteh was held. At the symposium, the two Principals, Fr. Bruno Toupan and Miss
Kippy Coker gave the Alumni Organization a picture of what transpires in the
schools today.
They
both encouraged the Alumni Organization to work harder to support the efforts
that are being made presently to elevate the two schools to where they once were.
For
his part Fr. Toupan encouraged the Alumni to come together and rally for the
cause citing the school “was your foundation and giving back would be
appropriate and timely.”
Miss
Coker thanked the Alumni group citing this was unheard off. She assured them of
her support and that of the Board of Governors in this journey. Another Saints
Alum that took part in the symposium was Dr Lamin Conteh.
Conteh
called on Alumni all over the world to join the Alumni bandwagon and do their
part to resurrect the glory of the two schools. This he said is an obligation.
This was followed by a poolside Barbeque hosted by Mary Ndure Goswell.
To
be continued
