Mohamed Daramy Vice President OPWA USA, Washington Chapter
Distinguished guests, fellow alumni, ladies and gentlemen, I want to take this moment to thank the OPWA President, Mr. Ayodele Warburton, for entrusting me with delivering this year’s closing remarks.
What a truly momentous occasion this has been. As we bring this Thanksgiving reception to a close, celebrating 101 years of our beloved Prince of Wales School and 38 years of the Old Prince Waleans Association, I stand before you with a heart that is truly full, full of gratitude and pride.
First and foremost, I want to sincerely thank our guest speaker, Ms. Janet Adams, for that uplifting and inspiring message. Your words truly set the tone for everything we have experienced today. To our partners in faith, the church and the mosque, thank you. Thank you for showing us what unity in purpose looks like. And to the proprietor of this beautiful hall, we are deeply grateful for your generosity in hosting us. To our Grand Chief Patrons, Chief Patrons, and Patrons, we thank you.
Your guidance is not just support, it is the foundation upon which OPWA stands. And to our distinguished guests, thank you for being here. Your presence makes this celebration complete. Since the beginning of this year, we have also been blessed to welcome seven new members into our team. Seven new hands, seven new minds, strengthening our shared mission. Together, we continue to move forward in a meaningful way, advancing the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics STEAM program, a program that is not just academic but transformational. It brings learning into real life, building critical thinkers, problem solvers, and innovators, young people prepared not just for jobs but for impact. In doing so, we are contributing to something bigger than ourselves, economic growth and national development.
We are also proud, deeply proud, to have supported fellow alumni in securing school opportunities and job placements, because at OPWA, we believe success is not meaningful unless it is shared. To the tireless Executive Committee and all members of this association, thank you. Your commitment keeps the spirit of Prince of Wales School alive, strong and unshakable.
As we depart from this gathering today, let us not just leave as attendees of a celebration. Let us leave as Waleans, proud Waleans, grateful Waleans, committed Waleans. Let us carry this pride into our communities, into our families, and into every space we enter. Let us continue building together a legacy of excellence. Here’s to the next chapter of growth and impact. Thank you all. May you have a safe journey home. And always remember, Forward ever, backward never.