History

For over twenty years the College of Arts, Science and Technology Past Students’ Association (CAST Past Students’ Association), as it was then, was kept alive by a number of dedicated and committed past students who operated what was referred to as a "car trunk operation" - an informal system where members kept different aspects of the records and contributed their time and resources on a voluntary basis to the development of the Association.

Past presidents R.M. ‘Jim’ Parkes, Maurice Fletcher, Noel Gunning and Gloria Dawkins along with their executive members charted a path for the Association on which we are now building.

Reminisce with us as we remember with pride some of the past experiences of the Alumni:

• The day the Alumni handed over the keys for the house it had purchased for Miss Louise McKenzie (Miss Mac) who worked in the cafeteria for over forty (40) years. It is worth noting that Miss Mac was around from the origins when she prepared the meals for the construction workers who built CAST.  She retired in 1999.

• The support for the Annual Awards functions over the years, where persons are honoured for their contribution to the development of the University;   • In 1995 when the former College Band “The Farques” performed at the Eucalyptus Lawn at one of our Awards functions; • The first cheque that was paid by the Alumni for a scholarship to a needy student, a tradition which exists today. • The official opening of the Alfred Sangster Auditorium in which the Alumni played a role; • The completion of the Swimming Pool to which so many members had contributed while they were students but did not get the chance to enjoy;      • The transition from College to University, the passing of the Act and the pride we experienced when the Jamaican Prime Minister, Hon P.J. Patterson made the announcement. That also resulted in a change in the name of the Association to the University of Technology, Jamaica Alumni Association (UTech Alumni): • The graduation of the first batch of postgraduate students (Masters, Architecture).

We remember too, some of the hilarious stories associated with dorm life from our alumni who lived on campus.

Today we can confidently say that we have grown with the institution.  We now have an office on campus from which we now centralize our operations; we have witnessed the installation of the first Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor of the University of Technology, Jamaica, and the appointment of the first Professor.

We are grateful to the many persons who, over the years, worked towards the building of a vibrant Association.  They lived the dream and now it is on the threshold of becoming a reality.

All past students of CAST/UTech are encouraged to get involved with the Alumni Association, benefit from the joys of networking and camaraderie among the membership, and give of your time and resources so that together we can make a significant contribution to the further growth and development of our alma mater.