By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE College of The Bahamas Union of Students yesterday donated $1,365 to the National Emergency Management Agency to aid in hurricane relief efforts to the southern Bahamas.

COBUS officials, led by union President Keyron Smith, said their initial efforts were aimed at assisting the 149 students enrolled at COB who descended from those islands affected by Hurricane Joaquin.

Mr Smith said under the direction of COB’s campus life director, Daruin Toussaint, COBUS officials organised and executed a number of fundraising efforts in the hope of assisting students.

Through a “ringing of the bell” dollar drive and a fashion show hosted at the institution’s Big Pond campus in conjunction with Miss Bahamas World, COB raised $1,365 presented to NEMA on Wednesday.

In the wake of the massive category four storm, the college allowed students from those islands adversely affected to travel back to their home islands and submit outstanding assignments “through special dispensations” arranged by the school.

Captain Stephen Russell of NEMA accepted the cheque donation yesterday, calling the presentation the start of a relationship he foresees as “mutually beneficial” to both sides.

NEMA and the College of the Bahamas hope to set up a working relationship between the two entities, with plans to organise a youth arm of NEMA at the college in the coming years.