The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC) is expressing its appreciation to one of its past students, Karel Edwards, for her recent donation of lab coats to the institution.
Edwards, a current Chemistry PhD candidate at McGill University in Montreal Quebec, donated nine lab coats to Biology and Chemistry students of the college in a recent handing over ceremony.
Deputy Director of the SVGCC, Dr. Karen Thomas, expressed gratitude for the donation by commending Edwards on “demonstrating a strong community spirit by giving back to the institution and to the community.”
Jo-Ann Marshall-Thompson, CAPE Biology lecturer and former lecturer of Edwards, stated that she was happy that Kayrel’s time at the SVGCC was instrumental in giving her a solid foundation for her academic success. Marshall-Thompson is hopeful that similar partnerships can be established with the college’s Science department.
Edwards in commenting on the donation said “I have noticed that when students have easy access to materials such as lab coats, goggles, books and other laboratory equipment, learning becomes much easier for them. Through the generous donation of the Chemistry Department at McGill I was able to procure lab coats to donate to students in St. Vincent & the Grenadines.” Edwards is also calling on other alumni to pay it forward by making similar contributions to the institution.
Kayrel Edwards graduated from the SVGCC in 2013 and was awarded the Most Outstanding Student at the 2013 CAPE exams. She was also one of seven national scholars that year. Edwards’ current PhD thesis at McGill University focuses on enhancing the properties of bioplastics made from natural polymers harnessed from wood, lobsters, seaweed, etc.