B. W. Harris Episcopal School Alumni Liberia
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Spt. Darkina S. Cooper
President of B. W. Harris Episcopal High School Alumni Association (BWHESAA-LIB).
Spartan Cooper is an accomplished and highly qualified Development Expert with over
15 years of experience in various sectors, including the private and public sectors and
international non-governmental organizations (INGOs). Darkina has a strong background in
Economic Development and Stakeholder Engagement, Investment Aftercare Services, and Public
Policy Reforms. He is skilled in using the Problem Driven Iterative Adaptive Approach (PDIA)
and has expertise in Small Business Development and Commercial Banking.
Darkina worked as the National Policy Adviser and Stakeholder Engagement Expert for
the UNIDO/GROW2 program, providing policy analysis and recommendations to the Agricultural Sector.
Darkina also serves as the Chairman of the Independent Investment Committee (IIC) of the Liberia
Agriculture Commercialization Fund (LACF). He has also worked with the African Development Bank Group
(AfDB) as a local Investment Aftercare Expert and with the European Union/Ministry of Agriculture as an
Agri-Policy Expert and Research Analyst conducting research on Climate Smart Agriculture.
Darkina holds a Master's degree in Labour Economics for Development from the University of Turin,
Italy, an MBA in Finance from Cuttington University Graduate School & Professional Studies, Liberia,
and a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Liberia. He has also completed various
professional certificates, including the Implementing Public Policy and Leading Economic Growth programs
from the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education Program.
BRIEF HISTORY OF B.W.HARRIS
In 1954, Bishop Bravid Washington Harris of the Episcopal Church of Liberia in New York asked Dr. Joseph G. Moore to evaluate the work of the Episcopal Church there. Dr. Moore came to the conclusion that the Trinity Parish Day elementary school and St. Thomas Parish Day secondary school should be consolidated and the programs enriched to better prepare Liberian students for higher and professional vocation at the university level. The Episcopal Church in the United States of America (ECUSA) provided the initial funds to facilitate the consolidation and training. Most of the teaching staffs for both schools were retained and the transition continued throughout the 1950s.
B.W. Harris Episcopal Elementary and Junior High School officially opened on June 29, 1960 under the leadership of Mr. Emmanuel W. Johnson. There were then a total of 250 students in classes through eighth grade. An additional grade was added every year. The school's first graduating class consisted of 6 students in 1966.
An annex building accommodating the science laboratory, library and other facilities was constructed in 1965, funded by a donation of $65,000 from the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) in the United States.
In 1990, the First Liberian Civil War forced the school to close. The buildings survived but a significant portion of the school's infrastructure was looted. The school reopened in 1993 under principal Reverend Father Dee Wellington Bright offering classes to grades 1-9. The kindergarten division was rehabilitated in 1994, as was the grade 10 with additional grades added each subsequent year until the school returned to the 12th grade level.
The school was forced to close down again in 1996 due to fighting in Monrovia. The school facilities were looted. A tutorial program was started in August 1997 and regular classes resumed for the 1997-1998 academic year. In December 1997, Mrs. Gertrude Findley was appointed as Principal. The first class 33 post-war graduates was produced in June 1998.
Past principals of the school include Father Emmanuel Johnson, Father E. G. W. King , Mr. J. Wah-Doe Bedell, Mrs. Zoe Davis Traub, Mrs. Daisy Ricks, Father J. Jelico Bright, Rev. Robertha Phillips, and Mr. Anthony Deline.
Beginningin February 2012 is Mrs. Lurleen King Falla became the first graduate to become principal. She served in that position until 2015.
In 2015, Hilary Collins became the 2nd graduate to become principal of the school, a position he presently holds.
Spartan Ansumanah S. Jallah - 1st Vice President
Spartan Miatta Oberley Kuteh - 2nd Vice President
Spartan Kadiatu Y. Massaley - Financial Secretary
Spartan Lady Lawrene Dennis – Treasurer
Spartan Nicholas A. Dennis – Secretary General
Spartan Robertetta Pailey Pabai – Chaplain
School Ode
Progredimur B.W. Harris School
Forward, Forward March We Go
To Victory B.W. Harris School
Thy Praise We Sing Forever More
Let Us Shout
Let Us Sing
Let Our Cheer---full Voices Ring
Sweet Music Swells, The Chorus In The Air
Trailing The Whole Creation Fair
Refrain
B.W.--- B.W.
Harris School---- Harris School
Our Cheerful Hearts Unto Thee We Raise
B.W.---B.W.
Harris School----Harris School
O May Thou Name For…ever Reign
Praises To God B.W. Harris School
Praises To Him O King Of Love
Thanks Be To Thee For B.W. Harris School
Sing praises To Our God Above
Sing O Sing---Sing O Sing
Unto Our King-----Unto Our King
Let Our Cheer…full Voices Ring
Until At Last We Meet Him In The Sky,
To Win The Everlasting Prize
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Spartans are the greatest team ever assembled, and I am a part of that team. I accept that by being a Spartan, my actions must be in complete alignment with the team's mission, vision, and values. Perseverance will get us through every challenge...