TM

How it Began . . .

It was May 15, 1973 that

Dr. Doris L. Johnson served

as the commencement

speaker at Prairie View A&M

University (PVAMU) that a

relationship between the

Bahamas and PVAMU

began. Incidentally, Dr. Johnson was recommended by Dr. Robert A. Henry, Head of the Music Department, her life-long friend and colleague. (Henry served as Music Director/Trainer for the Lucayan Chorale which included his students from the Bahamas - Maxwell Poitier, Gladstone Adderley and Cora Johnson).

Following the commencement, Dr. Johnson and Dr. Alvin I. Thomas, president of PVAMU entered a discussion on gifting something to the Bahamas on the eve of the independence.  Dr. Johnson asked that provide scholarships to Bahamians who were deserving of advancing their education in teaching, agriculture and engineering and making a contribution to the new nation.  He offered to provide 10-full scholarships but Dr. Johnson asked to provide 20-half scholarships because the persons she had in mind would be willing and in position to pay some of the fees to attend the university.  Dr. Thomas accepted the proposal and thus was born the Prairie View A&M - Bahamas Friendship Scholarship Program.  Between August 20 and September 1, 1973, 30 Bahamians arrived at PVAMU to further their education - students ranging in age from 18 to 55; the majority being the more seasoned-students, teachers, accountants, musicians and public servants. Among that group were Thaddeus McDonald, Cecil G. Dorsette, Sr., Erna Massiah, Henrieta Newton,  Andrew Albury, Alexander Beckles, Prince Brian Hall, Roger Smith and Frederick V. Roberts.

In 1974 the first group of students formed the Bahamian Student Association met with President Thomas, who suggested the expansion of the program.  The result was to include support from the Bahamas Government so that more students would come to PVAMU.  The plan, PVAMU would provide for the first two years, the government the third year and the student the fourth year and PVAMU would provide summer jobs to assist the students.  In March 1974 the Bahamas delegation - Dr. Johnson, Education Minister Livingston Coakely, Agriculture Minister Godfrey Eneas, Director of Tourism Baltron Bethel and Dallas Tourism Manager Milton Bailey, arrived at PVAMU to further the relationship.  The government agreed to the program. In fall 1974 another 24 students arrived at the university and students continued to come as part of the program through fall 1980.

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To date there have been about 200 - 250 Bahamians who have earned degrees at PVAMU.  Some notables among them who have returned to the Bahamas for service and employment are - Jack Thompson, Sidney McPhee, Peter Turnquest, Deborah Jackson, Lionel Evans, Marco Rolle, McKinley Bain, Trevor Turnquest, Andrew Albury, Charles Albury, Cecil Dorsette, Rickey Davis, Eulie Bastian, Earl Bastian, Patrick Delaney, Deborah Jackson, Jueith Knowles, Janet Davis Dorsett, Thaddeus McDonald, Erna Massiah, Phillip Dorsett, Janet Hutchinson, Teresa Thompson Bonamy, Velma Veronica Wilson, Teresa Kemp, to name a few.

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Click Below to Review Bahamians at PVAMU Slide Show