The Tribune

THE College of The Bahamas has welcomed Leandra Mackey, the 2016 president’s scholar, for the newest arm of the President’s Scholars Programme experience, pre-orientation.

The pre-orientation platform was intentionally designed for incoming scholars to become oriented to campus life and to begin relationship-building with key staff and faculty prior to the formal orientation and advisement process.

Last month, Ms Mackey, a biochemistry major, who will attend COB this fall, met Dr Eslyn Jones, vice president, student affairs, Dr Veronica Toppin, chairperson of chemistry and environmental life sciences (CELS) and Joyann Thompson, assistant professor of biology.

Ms Mackey was given advice on how to manage the rigours of college life. Along with the financial provision given to the PSP scholar, Ms Mackey also has available to her mentorship from President Dr Rodney Smith, access to a scholar study lounge, leadership coaching, counselling and health support, opportunities to study abroad and the list goes on.

On June 10, she was awarded a $40,000, four-year scholarship to attend COB. She beat 30 of her fellow classmates from the Government High School for the award.

During the orientation Ms Mackey said: “I’m going to do this (programme) proud and do better than (the) 3.5 (GPA).”

The college will support her at every level during her college career and anticipates that she, along with fellow 2015 scholar Elise Barnett, will do well in the coming semester.