News Releases

Global recognition for UWI's outstanding Student Leaders

For Release Upon Receipt - May 8, 2018

St. Augustine


The University of the West Indies (UWI) celebrates the achievements of two outstanding students: Darrion Narine and Alpha Sennon. Darrion Narine, Guild of Students President, was elected to the position of Vice Chair for Inclusion and Engagement on the Commonwealth Youth Council’s (CYC) 2018 executive board, while Alpha Sennon was recently named winner of the 2018 Rice Award for Leadership and Innovation By A Young Professional in International Development. Sennon is an MPhil in Agricultural Extension student and the founder of WhyFarm.

Speaking about his win, Alpha emphasised the way the Rice Award could help UWI students to “take any idea and apply it to their education, to then take action for development and to create social impact.” He said the award aligns well with the goals of his company WhyFarm, which is a non-profit organisation that aimed at developing a new generation of food producers by using Agricultural Education Entertainment strategies to capture the youth like the adventures of comic book Agri-hero, AgriMan.

“Agriculture is a profitable career option,” he believes, and hopes that WhyFarm continues to grow through the help of investors, funders and partners. Their medium-term goal is to launch a cartoon series for AGRIman Agventures.

Guild President Darrion Narine saw his new role as VC of Inclusion and Engagement for CYC as a “super exciting”, one that would allow him the opportunity to include “marginalised, specially abled and poor individuals who are often sidelined.”

When asked about how he would balance being a Commonwealth Youth Council Executive and full-time Guild President, Darrion was quick to point out that “these jobs are not a one-man show. Luckily, I have an exceptional team of 24 councillors who have a passion and drive that they have charged me with the responsibility of directing. Without them, there is no Guild council.” He thanked The UWI St. Augustine for helping him develop and honing his skills, saying: “As I continue to grow, I will always have #PelicanPride.”

Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal, Professor Brian Copeland expressed his unwavering confidence in the abilities of both students: “I wish to congratulate our Guild President Darrion Narine and agri-ambassador Alpha Sennon. They are living models of innovation drive on a global scale. Their accomplishments exemplify how The UWI community is making its presence felt in the global academic community. My best wishes and I’m excited to see the great things they will accomplish with these new platforms.”

Photos and Video

 

Photo 1: Alpha Sennon

Photo 2: Darrion Narine

 

Video: 2017 Be UWI video with Alpha Sennon: https://www.facebook.com/UWISTA/videos/10154707401598893/.

 

 

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About The UWI

Since its inception in 1948, The University of the West Indies (UWI) has evolved from a fledgling college in Jamaica with 33 students to a full-fledged, regional University with well over 40,000 students. Today, The UWI is the largest, most longstanding higher education provider in the Commonwealth Caribbean, with four campuses in Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Open Campus. The UWI has faculty and students from more than 40 countries and collaborative links with 160 universities globally; it offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Food & Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities & Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences and Sport. The UWI’s seven priority focal areas are linked closely to the priorities identified by CARICOM and take into account such over-arching areas of concern to the region as environmental issues, health and wellness, gender equity and the critical importance of innovation. Website: www.uwi.edu

 

(Please note that the proper name of the university is The University of the West Indies, inclusive of the “The”, hence The UWI.)

 

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