By FELICITY DARVILLE

Anthony Bostwick has had such a unique and varied life experience that he stands as a tower of wisdom for his family, friends and mentees. He has given selflessly of his time and efforts into a number of noble causes, and this weekend, his alma mater will pay special tribute to him for his contributions.

Mr Bostwick received his early education at St John’s Prep School, George Street, Nassau, Bahamas. He graduated from St Augustine’s College High School in 1984 - an experience that would shape his path for success in the future. St Augustine’s College (SAC) was founded in January 1945 by the Very Reverend Frederic U Frey, OSB, the then Prior of The Bahamas, and the school’s first Headmaster from 1945 to 1963.

The history of St Augustine’s College is so closely interwoven with that of St Augustine’s Monastery that at the inception, it is impossible to distinguish the two. The college, like the monastery, is based on the Benedictine tradition and for many years the teachers were all Benedictine.

The college was founded in response to a need in The Bahamas for an environment in which Bahamian youth could have access to the traditional Benedictine cultural heritage. St Augustine’s School, as it was then called, opened its doors to its first group of students on January 4, 1945. The students were housed in a small two-storey house known as The Niche in the Priory yard near St Francis Xavier Church in Nassau.

In 1946, plans were already taking shape for the transfer of St Augustine’s to its location in Fox Hill, then an isolated part of the island, in the Eastern district of New Providence. The Monastery and original College complex which dominated the entire campus from the hilltop were designed by the famous “Hermit of Cat Island”, Monsignor Jerome Hawes. On January 13, 1947, the first classes were conducted in the new building which then became officially known as St Augustine’s College. The enrolment was 50 boys and the school day lasted from 8am to 6pm. There was a 2.5 hour break between noon and 2:30pm. during which the students went home for lunch. From 5pm to 6pm there were sports – cricket, softball, basketball, volleyball, and track and field under the direction of Father Elias. There was a supervised study period in the assembly hall from 6:30pm to 8pm.

In 1967, St Augustine’s became a co-instructional high school with boys and girls sharing the same teaching facility, but in separate classes. Earlier that year, in February, the appointment of an alumnus as Headmaster, the Very Reverent Bonaventure Dean, OSB, heralded a new era in the school’s history. Under his supervision, the College became fully co-educational, and there was a reorganisation of the administration. Enrolment experienced phenomenal growth from 35 students in 1945 to more than 1,000 in September 1986. In 1971, the College reverted to a six-year programme with an annual enrolment of 900 students.

In the words of Father Frey, St Augustine’s was to be a “community institution…used for the good of the people of The Bahamas. We intentionally have avoided making it parochial in the sense of limiting it to Catholics or using it as a training college for candidates to the clergy.”

To date, thousands of successful individuals making meaningful contributions in The Bahamas and the world have graduated from SAC, also known as “The Big Red Machine” when referring to its lengthy history of sporting prowess. Under the motto, “The Lord is My Light”, the school continues to evolve successfully, currently under the guidance of principal Marici Thompson.

The St Augustine’s College Alumni Association (SACAA) continues to seek to unite the graduates of this great institution. SACAA President Dr Anastasia Brown announced the latest event, the SACAA Lighthouse Awards and Gala, set to take place this coming Saturday, October 19, 2024 at the Atlantis Resort Grand Ballroom.

There, Mr Bostwick will be amongst 21 individuals receiving honours from their beloved alma mater. Mr. Bostwick will receive the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award.

After completing his high school education at SAC, Mr Bostwick went on to attend St Augustine’s College in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1988. Following his studies, he dedicated 31 years of service to the Bahamas Water & Sewerage Corporation (WSC), where he held key managerial positions, including cash flow, customer services, and credit collections manager for New Providence and several Family Islands.

Throughout his career, Mr Bostwick played a vital role in expanding WSC’s operations across The Bahamas. He successfully established commercial and operational offices, ensuring the growth of the company’s commercial activities, financial stability, and infrastructure development. He was instrumental in securing and managing international and government loans that supported the corporation’s capital expansion programmes, leading to significant improvements in potable water distribution throughout the islands. As Manager of WSC’s Business Development Unit, Mr Bostwick was appointed WSC/IDB Liaison Project Officer, collaborating on numerous projects funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). His expertise led him to participate in various international consultancies and research studies across the Bahamas.

Mr Bostwick holds certifications in financial modelling and data management, with specialised skills in private and government sector placement, industry structuring, and regulation. He furthered his education by completing executive education and earning a graduate course certificate in infrastructure market economy in public-private partnerships (PPP) from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He also holds a Post-Graduate Certificate in project management, project planning, appraisal, and management from the University of Bradford (UK), sponsored by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). Additionally, he earned a certificate in project management—contract compliance, performance monitoring, and dispute resolution—from the Institute for Public-Private Partnerships (IP3) in Washington, DC.

Mr Bostwick is also a proud, honourably discharged veteran of the United States Marine Corps Reserve (USMC). During his military service, he completed airborne training and received specialised training in project accounting and military supply stock control, along with multiple advanced military certifications.

Beyond his professional and military achievements, this SAC alumni is deeply involved in community service and leadership. He is an active member and leader in various fraternal organisations, honour societies, and sporting clubs. He was a founding member of the Board of the Public Parks and Beaches Authority (PPBA) and previously served as a Board Member of the Bahamas National Trust. A committed environmentalist, he has been involved in conservation efforts and outdoor activities. Notably, he earned a silver medal at the 1983 Carifta Games and continues to enjoy fishing, scuba diving, and other local sporting pursuits.

For over 40 years, Mr. Bostwick has also been a senior member of the world-renowned Valley Boys Junkanoo Organisation, participating in cultural celebrations and competitions that have shaped Bahamian heritage. His long-standing involvement in both his professional field and the community showcases his dedication to national development and cultural preservation.

Other alumni receiving honours include: Algernon Cargill; Daphne DeGregory-Miaoulis; Dwayne A Davis; Brynda Knowles; Shantel Cox-Hutchinson; Jeffrey Leonard Lloyd; Devynne Charlton; Dr Monique A Francis-Hinsey; Hiltina Scott; Melissa A Darville; Nicholas Rees; Bishop Valentino Williams; Charles Michael Wright; Dr Linda Davis; Senator Michael Halkitis; former Government Minister Melanie Griffin; James Clarke; Dr Dion Cunningham; and the Davis family, receiving the legacy award. For more information, visit www.thesacalumniassociation.org.