The College of Science, Technology, and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (Costaatt) marked its 25th anniversary with a vibrant graduation ceremony on November 22 at the Centre of Excellence in Macoya. The event highlighted exceptional achievements across diverse fields, including graphic design, mass communication, accounting, and radiography. Among the standout graduates was Zoe Laydoo, who earned her BA in Mass Communication with an impressive GPA of 3.963 and delivered a heartfelt valedictorian speech. Laydoo emphasized the power of storytelling in fostering human connections and paid tribute to her peers who balanced work, family, and studies to achieve their degrees. Shakira Jones graduated magna cum laude in Accounting, while Niema Rahaman, Kareena Rampersad, and Travis Ali shared the Wilma Collins Award of Excellence in Radiography. Leah Hanley received the Academic Excellence Award in Library and Information Studies. The ceremony also commemorated Costaatt’s institutional accreditation milestone in 2010 and featured reflections from Aventa Group CEO James Walker, who encouraged graduates to embrace confidence, critical thinking, and perseverance. Minister of Tertiary Education Senator Prakash Persad highlighted the challenges and opportunities posed by AI and climate change, urging students to remain resilient. Acting President Naseem Koylass praised the graduates’ determination and announced the new Dr Gillian Paul Award for Academic Excellence and Community Service. The event concluded with the conferral of degrees across multiple disciplines and the presentation of the Partnership Award to Republic Bank and the National Petroleum Institute of TT for their support in Costaatt’s cashless initiative.
