Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor

Billionaire businessman Michael Lee Chin is robed by Northern Caribbean University (NCU) president, Dr. Herbert Thompson, at NCU's graduation exercise yesterday. Lee Chin was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Laws. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

"Now is the best time to start thinking about the legacy you are going to leave behind and build the best reputation, because that will be your passport for life."

So urged National Commercial Bank Chairman Michael Lee Chin in a motivational address to the graduates of Northern Caribbean University (NCU) in Mandeville yesterday. Lee Chin also received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the university.

The prevailing showers did not prevent thousands from converging on the central Jamaica hillside campus for a ceremony marked by pomp and ceremony. And theguest speaker's family members came out in droves to witness the latest honour bestowed on their kin.

But inasmuch as the NCU family was still basking in the euphoria of the third-place win by the Imagine Cup team that had returned from Seoul, South Korea, earlier in the day, they hung on to Lee Chin's every word. And the Jamaican billionaire fed their hunger amid cheers and nods of assent from his audience.

Walk the talk

"In building a good reputation," he continued, "you must state clearly what you stand for, demonstrate consistent behaviour and walk the talk every day." Assuring the graduates that they had control of their behaviour, he urged them to aspire to greatness by having big dreams and maintaining an enduring value system.

In his technology-aided report to the gathering, university president Dr. Herbert Thompson summarised the period under review as "a good year". These include the 100th anniversary; accreditation of several more undergraduate and graduate degrees; expansion of departments and sports facilities and ongoing construction of a church, seminary and the nursing school.

The university's television station also began broadcasting live at the weekend, and the radio station is about to receive a licence to broadcast nationally.