4°c A few clouds
18°c Sunny
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Haitian students to graduate in special convocation at U of W
From left: Jacquet Duval, Vanessa Kettia Laurent, Helena Vickaina Lafleur, Jean Widny Pervil and Samy Archille, seen here at the University of Winnipeg in 2010. (TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES) Photo Store
Four of five students who arrived at the University of Winnipeg in September 2010 following a devastating earthquake in Haiti will be graduating on Friday in a special convocation ceremony.
The ceremony will be held at Convocation Hall at 10 a..m.
Jaquet Duval, Jean Widny Pervil and Samy Archille will be presented three-year Bachelor of Business Administration degrees by president and vice-chancellor Dr. Lloyd Axworthy and chancellor Bob Silver. Helena Vickaina Lafleur will receive a three-year Bachelor of Arts (Politics) degree. A fifth student, Vanessa Laurent, continues her studies at the U of W and is expecting to graduate in the coming months.
On Jan. 12, 2010, a catastrophic earthquake shook Haiti, killings tens of thousands of people and destroying the country’s educational infrastructure. When their schools collapsed, the five students were buried under rubble until rescue workers arrived. Many of their classmates and professors did not survive.
The Haitian Students Task Force was formed by Axworthy shortly after the earthquake, with the U of W resolving to cover significant costs to allow the five students, all in their twenties, to continue their studies including airfare, tuition, residence fees, meal plans and counselling.
"These are the leaders who will help rebuild Haiti," said Axworthy. "Our goal has been to strengthen the resiliency in these five young adults while providing a safe place to live and study. We are proud of their success and know that together we have created long term bonds of respect and friendship."
The graduating students say they are enormously grateful to hold Canadian university degrees and stress that Manitobans have been welcoming, kind and supportive. "The love and attention we have been given from every single person in the province has been so much help," said Widny Pervil, who hopes to become a university professor one day. "We will always be grateful."
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 23 articles for today)
Firefighters put out blaze in North End home
7:09 AM 0Fire crews are in cleanup mode after a blaze ripped through a Manitoba Avenue home early this morning.
The two-storey structure ...
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Peeping Tom portrayed as sexual deviant in court
- Rainfall warning issued for southern Manitoba
- A new mom's booze-fuelled hell
- Apple trick on Ellen falls short for city woman
- Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris evacuated after suicide inside the landmark church
- Mother cries, yells as driver appears in court charged with killing boy on patio
- Gay Archie character to kiss partner in Pop Tate's
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Rainfall warning issued for southern Manitoba
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- US woman credits 'mother's instincts' in chase of 4-year-old daughter's abductor
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Driver crashes into tree near golf course
- Arrests made after raids on local head shops
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Susan Griffiths dies in Switzerland
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Police make grow-op bust
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- MP Bruinooge says Bill 18 could infringe on religious freedoms
- Bethania CEO put on leave during investigation
- Elijah Harper: The humble man who said no
- Two charged in golf course burglary
- Doc's memoir portrays ERs as frantic, funny, frightening ... but never dull
- WAG's 100 Masters exhibit drawing more than art aficionados
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Fans' patience is rewarded at last: 'Arrested Development' will be reborn Sunday on Netflix
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Marsh Madness: Photographers Fred Greenslade and Joe Bryksa capture spring migration's grandeur at Delta Marsh
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Province removing red tape in alcohol sales
- Animals are animals, new ads say
- Skin picking gets status as distinct disorder, should help sufferers access help
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Manitoba's changing spiritual landscape
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Dogs can experience separation anxiety and depression just like humans
- Paul McCartney to play Winnipeg Aug. 12
- Ontario steps in to help save ELA
- Saskatchewan professor wants to test the health benefits of nose-picking
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Retail sales in province see 2 per cent increase in February
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.