As an established tradition, Cuttington University on Sunday, June 13, 2021 matriculated five hundred and twenty-five (525) freshmen and senior students at her Undergraduate program in Suakoko, Bong County. The event was held at the Samuel D. Ferguson Hall.
The occasion, which was held during the weekend, commenced on Saturday, June 12, 2021 with a short indoor program; followed by the traditional “Bonfire,” where incoming freshmen and outgoing senior students along with the University’s President and other executive administrators of the institution converged to share their thoughts and experiences of campus life at Cuttington University.
The Matriculation event is normally held during the course of every first semester of each academic school year at the University and usually brings together incoming freshmen and outgoing senior students, as well as parents, guardians, well-wishers, and friends of the students, alongside the President of the University, Vice and Associate Vice Presidents, staff, deans and faculty members of various colleges at the University.
The academic ceremony is often purposely intended to formally welcome new students at the institution as well as wave farewell to the outgoing seniors who have successfully gone through the ranks and files of the University’s academic norms, pending their final activities for graduation.
This year’s CU Undergraduate School Matriculation witnessed the presence of two hundred and sixty-three (263) freshmen students and two hundred and sixty-two (262) outgoing seniors, totaling the number to 525 students. The event was remarkably proven to be quite different, considering the huge attendance of those who had gone to grace the occasion.
As part of the Matriculation’s normal protocols, both the freshmen and senior students were seen beautifully attired in their distinct normal white and black regalia which symbolized or portrayed uniformity at the program.
Climaxing the activity on Sunday morning with a comfortable intercessory church service at the Samuel D. Ferguson Hall, the Rev. Fr. Thomas H. Williams, Priest-In-Charge of the St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Gbarnga, Bong County and Archdeacon of the Lofa-Bong-Nimba Archdeaconry of the Episcopal Church of Liberia, who is also an alumnus of Cuttington University, delivered as inspiring sermon on the theme: “Every Successful Journey Has A Small Beginning;” with text taken from the Holy Bible book of St. Mark 4:31-32.”
Delivering his sermon, he consoled as well as admonished the students to remain focused, determined, and to always acknowledge God in whatever they do as their success in life greatly depends on Him. He also advised the students to do away with pleasure and focus on their studies, noting that it is the primary reason for which they are at the institution.
Meanwhile, the new President of the University, Dr. Romelle A. Horton, inspired the incoming freshmen and outgoing senior students in her Matriculation Address at the occasion. Addressing the audience in general and the students in particular, Dr. Horton indicated to the incoming freshmen students that she foresees greatness in them and that the University will professionally do all it can to develop their potentials and virtues through profound academic and moral efforts.
Waving farewell to the outgoing seniors, however, the CU President offered the students her congratulations and wished them all the best in their present and future endeavors. Dr. Horton further admonished the students to be “Holy and Wise” and to always strive for excellence, which is an ideological doctrine that the University greatly subscribes to; translated in Latin as “Sancte Et Sapiente.”
She further emphasized that as part of Cuttington’s commitment to molding the minds of Liberian students and helping to develop their professional skills and expertise through quality and desirable education, her administration will steadfastly uphold such principle which is sacred to the University’s fundamental academic mission.
The CU President, in her first Matriculation Address at the University’s main campus, situated in Suakoko, Bong County, was during the event seen in an exuberant mood as she praised her staff and faculty members for their level of work and commitment displayed in making the University a great place. Dr. Horton also thanked the audience for showing up at the event.
At the Matriculation, however, both the President and the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs of the University administered the oath of affirmation in admittance of the incoming freshmen students at the CU Undergraduate School as a way of formally welcoming them to Cuttington and admonishing them that societal events hope on positively challenging school-goers.
In addition to that, the incoming freshmen students, accompanied by the outgoing seniors, were told to perform “Thelighting of candles,” a unique aspect of the Matriculation which normally symbolizes the removal of darkness from their eyes that they may now drink deeply from the fountain of knowledge at Cuttington University and that their light shine to the rest of the world.
Historically, Cuttington University was established on February 22, 1889 by the Episcopal Church as an institution of higher learning in Liberia. It is the oldest private University in Liberia and one of the oldest universities in Sub-Saharan Africa. The institution has over the years accommodated and continues to accommodate students from different parts of Africa and other regions of the world. The University runs three (3) campuses, including her main campus in Suakoko, Bong County, Junior College in Kakata, Margibi County, and Graduate School in Montserrado County.