Western Carolina University awarded degrees to 140 Jamaican students during summer graduation this month who will return to their home country to become teachers.

Since 1970, a collaboration between Western and the Caribbean country of Jamaica has allowed more than 2,000 Jamaicans to upgrade their teaching skills by earning degrees from Western. The Jamaican students comprised 30 percent of the 500 summer graduates.

Of the 140 students from Jamaica, about 115 earned a degree in middle school education, and 25 earned master’s degrees in educational supervision.

Malcolm J. Loughlin, Western’s associate dean of distance and continuing education, was recognized during the summer graduation ceremony for his instrumental role in the program.

“For over 30 years, you have served as teacher, mentor and guide,” Burton Fox, director of Latin American and Caribbean programs for the university, said to Loughlin when presenting him a plaque. “You have set a standard to be followed through your spirit, humor and candor, which have endeared you to your fellow professionals in Jamaica.”

The plaque was presented on behalf of the governor general of Jamaica, Sir Howard Cooke.

Loughlin also received a certificate from the U.S. Department of recognizing “more than 30 years of exemplary service to the American-sponsored overseas schools in Latin America and the Caribbean.”