ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE GRADUATING CLASS

The graduation ceremony will be held on Saturday, 24th June, 2006 at the  Athi River campus starting 10.00 a.m. (Guests should be seated by 9.30 a.m.)

THE GUEST OF HONOUR WILL BE: AMB. BETHWEL KIPLAGAT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE AFRICA PEACE FORUM

 All graduating students are asked to note the following events and their dates:

Accounts Clearance Ongoing from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. in the Accounts Offices (both campuses)

Picking of graduation Cards: From Friday 12th May at Daylink Office (Nairobi) and Corporate Affairs Office (A/River)

Picking of Dinner tickets: From `Monday 5th–Friday 9th June at Daylink Office (Nairobi) and Corporate Affairs Office (A/River)

Checking of Grades: Monday 12th `June at Registrar’s Office in Nairobi and Athi River Campuses (Ensure that you have applied for graduation)

Graduation Dinner: Saturday, 17th June at Safari Park Hotel, Thika Road starting 6.00 p.m.

Graduation Chapel: Tuesday 20th June at Nairobi Pentecostal Church, Valley road starting 1.00 p.m. (Graduands to be seated at 12.30 pm).

Picking of Graduation Gowns: 22nd and 23rd June at Athi River Campus.

Graduation Rehearsal: Friday 23rd June at 10.00 a.m. at Athi River Campus

Transport for guests will be available from Nairobi: Campus between 7.00 a.m.–8.30 a.m. in the morning at a cost of Ksh.200 return. Staff and Students will travel free of charge. Student buses will leave Nairobi Campus at 7.00 a.m.

All graduands should assemble at the PAC at 8.00 a.m. An official photographer will take your photo as you receive the certificates. The photo will be available for sale after graduation. You can also order a graduation videotape with the Corporate Affairs Department.

Environmental Training Hosts Media Breakfast: Daystar University, in collaboration with the Sida-Makerere Regional Training in Environmental Journalism and Communication, this week hosted a media breakfast at the Grand Regency Hotel, Nairobi.

      The breakfast attracted media practitioners from the Kenya Broadcasting Network (KBC), Kenya Times, The People daily and Eco-preneurs Network. 

      Daystar faculty who attended the breakfast included Mr. Maurice Onyango from the Commerce Department, Mr. Peter Ngure, from the Science and Technology

Department and Ms. Mary Kizito, Mr. Evans Mutua and Dr. Levi Obonyo from the Communication Department.

Mr. Peter Ngure gave a talk on Environmental Concerns in Kenya highlighting water pollution as the leading environmental problem in Kenya.  Mr. Ngure noted that the top 3 diseases in Kenya were water borne or spread through contaminated water. 

      Communication Department head, Dr. Levi Obonyo, presented a paper on “Raising the Environment Agenda in the Media: The Role of Academia.”  In his paper, Dr. Obonyo called for a more closer and sustained relationship between the media and the academia.  “Our relationship with the media does not simply stop with equipping the professionals that man these institutions, but to partner in generating knowledge through research and channeling that information to the media”, he said.  Dr. Obonyo called on the media to work together with academicians in highlighting environmental issues and bringing to light the importance of environmental conservation.

Nkumba University Dean of Students Visits Daystar  

Daystar University recently hosted Nkumba University’s dean of students, Mr. David Christopher Kasasa. Nkumba University is community-founded institution located in Uganda.

      Mr. Kasasa was in the country accompanying the university’s basket ball team which was in the country for the East Africa Basket Ball Games held at the Nyayo Stadium. 

During his visit, Mr. Kasasa interacted with the staff of the students’ development office where they exchanged ideas on student affairs among them, dealing with students’ discipline, counselling, spiritual nourishment, and sports and recreation. 

Missions and Outreach Team

Missions and Outreach team will next week hold the Evangelism Week in Kagwe, Kiambu from 15th to 21st May.  The event will be held in conjunction with Gatamaiyu Pefa Church.      Sixty members from the Missions and Outreach team will participate.  Activities slated for the event include door-to-door witnessing, crusades and revival meetings.  Meetings for prayer and preparation are being held every Tuesday at 9:00pm in Lecture room 2

      Upcoming events being organized by the Mission and Outreach team include a weekend challenge to be held at the Jomo Kenyatta high School in Nakuru from 9th – 11th June and the great mission to Burundi to take place from 4th –14th August. 

      Let us pray for direction and provision for these upcoming missions.

Sing Africa Set For Rwanda

Sixty members of the Sing Africa group will this weekend leave for a one-week mission to Rwanda.  The students, who will be accompanied by the Assistant Chaplain, Rev. Mary Kinoti and Sing Africa’s founder and Daystar Alumnus, Mr. Timothy Kaberia will leave on Saturday, 13th May.

      Sing Africa will take part in a number of activities in Kigali to include visits to children’s homes, medical camps to be held in collaboration with medical practitioners in Kigali and gospel outreach programs.

The group is also scheduled to hold 3 concerts in the Rwandese capital. 

      While in Rwanda, Sing Africa will be hosted by the Christian Life Assembly (CLA) church in Kigali.  They are due to return on Sunday, 21st May.

Afrizo To Perform At State Fete

Daystar’s Afrizo singing group has been invited to the State House Garden Party where they will entertain guests during the Madaraka day celebrations to be held on Thursday, 1st June at State House.

      Afrizo, led by faculty member, Mrs.  Hellen Mtawali, has been invited on numerous occasions to perform at various state functions. 

      The group will be accompanied by the Vice-Chancellor, Rev. Prof. Godfrey Nguru, and Mr. Gordon Mutugi from the Corporate Affairs office.

Vice-Chancellor To Leave For The U.S

The Vice-Chancellor, Rev. Prof. Godfrey Nguru is scheduled to leave for the U.S. on Monday for fundraising activities.  While in the U.S., the Vice-Chancellor will be joined by Dr. Tom Englund with whom they will visit various churches in the country.

      Prof. Nguru returns on Thursday 25th May 2006. During his absence, Prof. Samuel Katia will act on his behalf.

CMT To Hold Video Production Workshop.

The Christian Ministry Training (CMT) department will hold an 8-week workshop on Video Scripting, Production, and Editing at the Nairobi campus.

      The workshop, which will be held from 29th May to 21st July 2006, will be facilitated by Imbi and Bill Kinnon.  It is hoped that the script produced during the workshop shall be developed into a production for one of the up coming Film festivals.

      Those interested in attending the workshop are asked to get application forms from the CMT Department in Nairobi Campus.  Please note that the class can take only 15 participants. Charges are Kshs.  6,500/- per week.

Focus on Faculty

The two-week workshop on Biblical Worldview to Christian Education commences on Monday, 15th May 2006 at 8:30 a.m. in lecture room 4, Nairobi campus.  

      All those who have registered with the secretary should report to the Nairobi campus at 8:15 on the said day.

Visiting Faculty

Jim Vreugdenhil, an Education Consultant with Mount Hope Education Consultants, USA, arrives in Daystar on Friday, 12th May.

      Jim, who will be accompanied by his wife, will conduct a seminar on “A Biblical Worldview to Christian Education” which will be held from Monday,

15th May to Friday, 26 May 2006 at the Nairobi Campus.      

Mr. Vreugdenhil has been a major facilitator for the Forum for Christian Educators movement in Kenya.

Staff Transport Cards

All staff working in Daystar on behalf of a contracted company, or on a part time basis, and who are using the University transport, are requested to report to the University transport office for issuance of transport cards.  Kindly bring with you:

•     A letter from the Human Resources Department (for those on practicum and part time lecturers) or a letter from your employer (for contracted company staff)

•     One passport size photo

•      Photocopy of national ID

Please note that transport services will not be offered to those who will not have a transport card or University staff identification card starting Friday, 19th May 2006.