Solomon Islander awarded with USP Gold Medal in Geography to make it the second for Solomons in USP history

A Solomon Islander has been awarded with a University of the South Pacific (USP) gold medal for the best graduating student with a Bachelor of Arts in Geography at the university's graduation last Friday along with other high achievers who are mostly from Fiji.

He is Mr Dako Nating who hails from Isabel Province and is currently teaching at the USP Campus in Kiribati as an Assistant Lecturer.

Mr Dako Nating previously completed a Bachelor, Postgraduate Diploma in Marine Science and Master of Science in Marine Science in 2000, after which he went to work at the USP Campus in Kiribati. He completed his Masters thesis on "Mangrove meiofauna biodiversity of the southern & western coasts of Santa Isabel, Solomon Islands & Southwest Viti Levu, Fiji".

However, during his time in Kiribati Mr Nating enrolled in another Bachelor's degree majoring in Geography which he undertook through the USP distance learning mode. He completed the program late last year.

Despite not attending last Friday's ceremony, his name was still included under the list of gold medalist graduants being circulated in a booklet during the graduation ceremony. It is understood Mr Nating's fine achievement is the second to be awarded to any Solomon Islands student in the history of the University of the South Pacific. The first gold medal being attained by a Solomon Islander from USP was also received by another Isabel Academic and current USP Lecturer, Dr Culwick Togamana.

Over 1000 students graduated from various disciplines, in a ceremony full of pomp and colour on Friday last week. Gold medalists from the four Faculties – Arts and Law, Business and Economics, Islands and Oceans and Science and Technology were also acknowledged during the ceremony. This graduation was the first in 2007 for USP.

The University of the South Pacific (USP) is the premier provider of tertiary education in the Pacific region and an international centre of excellence for teaching, research and consulting on all aspects of Pacific life. USP comprises a vibrant and culturally diverse community of staff and students from its twelve member countries: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, as well as many other countries worldwide.