Centre for Continuing Education grad pays it forward
Caroline Knuckey graduated from the Centre for Continuing Education’s Business Administration certificate program last week. She's using her education to help bring new professional and academic opportunities to people in Ghana.
For Caroline Knuckey, it wasn’t just a graduation certificate. It represented a chance to fulfill her dream, and to help others achieve their goals.
Knuckey graduated at the Centre for Continuing Education’s 16th annual Graduation and Awards Ceremony last week, and received an award for having the top marks in the Business Administration certificate program.
Her journey to McMaster began more than 30 years ago, when Knuckey first emigrated to Canada from Ghana. Since then, she has focused on two things: raising two children, both graduates of McMaster, and helping others. She often returned to Ghana over the years, assisting women with children and helping people go to school. However, she never had the time or finances to help herself.
All of that changed after winning a contest sponsored by McMaster’s Centre for Continuing Education, which covered the tuition of the Business Administration certificate. Knuckey was able to go back to school without having to worry about the finances.
Education is of major importance to Knuckey. She found it is one of the only ways out of poverty.
In Ghana, she saw many people who lived in poverty and wanted an education. “I always said to myself, if my mother didn’t have a good education, I wouldn’t be where I am today, and that’s because somebody helped her. So it is my duty to help somebody else,” she explained.
Since completing the certificate, she has been able to strengthen her case for developing a program to help people in Ghana start their own business, or go to school.
“I’ve never asked anyone to pay me back, because $300 or $400 is a lot of money when somebody has absolutely nothing,” said Knuckey. “I just say to them, ‘If ever somebody comes up to you and asks for help and you can help them, do so. And that way, you pay me back.'”
“I am thrilled Caroline has taken full advantage of the free tuition contest by completing the Business Administration Certificate, and it’s great to see her using new knowledge and skills to help others,” said Todd Rich, a program manager at the Centre for Continuing Education. “Caroline embodies the kind of student we want to attract – smart, altruistic, and committed to life-long learning.”
“I’m very happy to be here and to have finished this,” added Knuckey. “I really appreciate the opportunity that the Centre for Continuing Education has given me and the help I received from everyone involved.”
