DR. JOSEPH TAIT LAUNCHES GROUNDBREAKING STEAM INFUSION PROGRAMME AND SCHOLARSHIPS FUND AT JAMAICA COLLEGE
GOING BEYOND BORDERS
Dr. Joseph Lloyd Tait a New York-based retired veterinarian and JCOBA-NY's primary benefactor graduated from Jamaica College in 1953. He continued his studies at Mico Teachers College before matriculating at New York University, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1962. He subsequently attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1968 - the only person of colour in his graduating class.
His history of trailblazing continued when he became the first person of colour to establish a veterinary medical practice in New York City, the first person of colour appointed President of the NYC Veterinary Society, and the first person of colour appointed to the New York State Board of Veterinary Medicine.
True to the Jamaica College ethos of service, Dr. Tait sought to improve the lives of young people in the community who he feels should be accorded top priority. His passion for providing underserved youth with guidance through mentorship led him to establish a healthcare-related educational scholarship assistance fund and internships for bright, talented, committed young people striving for academic excellence with strong connections to the Harlem community.
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Dr. Tait served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Harlem Commonwealth Council, its subsidiaries, and affiliates from September 2004 until his retirement in April 2016.
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During Dr. Tait's tenure, his vision for the future of the Harlem Commonwealth Group sparked and promoted sustainable economic development opportunities, which benefited countless Harlem residents.
Acutely aware of the challenging socio-economic conditions community residents continue to endure, he specifically focused on implementing economic development initiatives that evolved from making numerous New York City real estate holdings profitable in addition to structuring programs to meet the demand for quality education choices.
As a catalyst and renown authority in the field of Veterinary medicine, Dr. Tait has been a constant voice on the lecture circuit, sharing his wealth of knowledge and professional expertise around the globe.
The True Blue spirit has always flowed through his veins, and in 2019 Dr. Tait returned to his alma mater in grand fashion, where he cemented his legacy by establishing the JAMAICA COLLEGE STEAM INFUSION PROJECT (JCSIP)
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This first in the nation USD 500,000 (JMD 77.5 million) signature initiative, with a clarion call of ‘Going Beyond Borders’, will infuse and integrate a culture of Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) education into the Jamaica College academic curriculum. Building on the strategic and pioneering work of JCOBA-NY, JCSIP is a timely spark and technological foundation to deliver a world-class STEAM Center of Excellence at Jamaica College, thus heralding a pivotal interchange towards a 21st Century model for education in Jamaica. Inclusive in JCSIP is the Dr. Joseph L. Tait Bursary Fund with initial funding of USD 50,000 (JMD 7.6 million). This scholarship fund will benefit talented and deserving Jamaica College Students and the first recipient was J’voughnn Blake, the outstanding student-athlete who is now attending Dartmouth.
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"It is easily the most significant financial contribution to our academic programme."
~Principal Wayne Robinson
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Anchored by deep-rooted humility and genuine altruism, Dr. Tait loathes the spotlight. Quite frankly, if it were up to him, this ginormous game-changing gift to Jamaica College would have been done quietly without even a whisper of publicity. That is the nature of the man and the levers behind his generosity of spirit. However, the JCOBA-NY would be remiss not to share Dr. Tait's magnanimity with our members, supporters, and stakeholders. This story must be told, and JCOBA-NY is particularly gratified to see an articulated vision decades in the making come to fruition.
Thank you, Dr. Tait.
Fervet Opus in Campis.
STRATEGIC AGENDA
JCSIP
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Creating a dedicated STEAM Lab
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Providing resources for the STEMA Club
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Supporting incremental STEM initiatives relevant to the school community
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Retrofitting the Science Labs
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Creating an AutoCAD Lab
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Creating a dedicated Maths Centre
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Upgrading the Auto Mechanics Workshop
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Creating an interactive Audio Visuals (A/V) Centre
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Developing a Drone program for experiential learning
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Infusing Robotics into the JC curriculum
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Preparing classrooms for interactive, internet-based learning
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Upgrading the Information and Computing Technologies (ICT) infrastructure to support the TAIT STEM initiative
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Leveraging the "ARTS" to drive and inculcate creativity, innovation, communication, and contemplation to explore and discover ingenious ways of problem-solving and to develop the best (analytical and creative) thinkers of tomorrow