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First-Year UWI Pelicans Find Their Place at UWI Life 2025 Celebration

For Release Upon Receipt - September 26, 2025

St. Augustine


St. Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago, September 26, 2025 – The UWI Life event, a hallmark of The University of the West Indies (The UWI) campus’s First Year Experience (FYE) programme, took place this past Friday 19th September 2025 at The UWI Sports and Physical Education Centre (UWI SPEC). Held annually, UWI Life empowers new students for their academic journeys ahead and establishes a sense of belonging and community at the Campus.

From an exhilarating performance by soca superstar Nailah Blackman to a rallying speech by Campus Principal Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, first-year students of The UWI St Augustine Campus were recently celebrated in style as the university held its highly anticipated 2025 UWI Life Orientation event at The UWI SPEC.

 

 

 Soca star Nailah Blackman energising the crowd with her performance for first-year students at UWI Life 2025, held on Friday, September 19, 2025, at The UWI Sports and Physical Education Centre (SPEC).

 

Hosted by well-known media personalities Jason “JW” Williams and Something Mo’ (Monique Hills), this year’s event opened with a lively musical mix by DJ Charlotte and the university’s Spirit Team, serving as FYE Ambassadors and leading the new students in lively chants.

With this year’s theme, “Pelicans Get Ready to Soar”, doubling as a rally cry to push past limits, Professor Antoine used the opportunity to call on students to maximise their use of the opportunities available on campus to become well-rounded changemakers and respond to the multifaceted issues facing the region and the world today.

 

 Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal, Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, delivering her opening remarks at UWI Life 2025, held on Friday, September 19, 2025, at The UWI Sports and Physical Education Centre (SPEC).

Professor Antoine explained, “Life is not one-sided; there are so many aspects. Centuries ago, we used to be Renaissance people and so, we want you to think not in silos. We are in a complex world with (issues like) climate change and the emergence of AI, for example. So be as well-rounded as you can be. Life is really multi-level, and we embrace that at the University of the West Indies.” To achieve this, Professor Antoine encouraged the new students to get involved in co-curricular courses and activities where they will be able to develop their soft skills and also network. Through these activities, she also noted students will be able to expand their worldview.

Professor Antoine added, “I want to encourage you to take part in co-curricular studies, as it is very important, especially in our very complex world, that you are able to appreciate various aspects of life and of civilisation. What we really want is a well-rounded individual, a well-rounded student.”

Keeping the crowd entertained throughout the festivities were DJ Charlotte and The UWI St Augustine Spirit Team with soca superstar Nailah Blackman delivering the main performance of the day by performing her cadre of hits, including 2023 Road March contender “Come Home” and “Baddish”, which is a collaboration with Jamaican superstar Shenseea.

 

 The UWI Spirit Team bringing good energy and school pride to the stage at UWI Life 2025 , held on Friday, September 19, 2025, at The UWI Sports and Physical Education Centre (SPEC).

 

Students had the chance to represent their country and show their national pride in a “Rep Your Country” segment, and knowing they were excited to make new friends during their studies, the hosts gave them a head start during a “Speed Friending” activity where students greeted and spoke with someone new.

As an incentive to take home attractive prizes, students were quizzed on fun facts about the university, including its history, operations and regulations. In a UWI Life first, students closed off the event by doing a conga line to The UWI Sports and Physical Education Centre field, where they displayed a human formation of the letters U.W.I., which were photographed to commemorate the occasion.

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 About The University of the West Indies

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is the Caribbean’s premier higher education institution and one of only two regional universities in the world. With five campuses across the English-speaking Caribbean and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe, The UWI continues to be a beacon of academic excellence, research innovation, and societal impact. Consistently ranked among the world’s best by Times Higher Education (THE), The UWI is a global leader in addressing critical challenges, including climate change, sustainability, and development.

 As The UWI St. Augustine Campus celebrates its 65th anniversary in 2025 under the theme Beyond 65: From the Caribbean, For the World, it pays tribute to its Caribbean roots while highlighting its contributions to solving global challenges. This milestone underscores the campus's significant role in producing ground-breaking research and fostering talent that transcends regional boundaries to shape a better world. The UWI St. Augustine’s researchers, academics, and graduates continue to make an international impact, exemplifying the university’s mission to serve the region while influencing the world.

 Learn more at www.uwi.edu 

 

 

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