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Meet the Faces of Excellence: The UWI St. Augustine Announces 2025 Valedictorians

For Release Upon Receipt - October 15, 2025

St. Augustine


St. Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago, October 15th, 2025– The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is pleased to announce the valedictorians who will grace the stage at this year's graduation ceremonies, taking place from October 23 to 25, 2025, at The UWI SPEC, St. Augustine. Six exceptional students who have demonstrated dedication and academic prowess will represent their respective faculties as valedictorians for the graduating class of 2025. The ceremonies will showcase the 2025 graduation theme, “Pelicans in an AI-Driven Future: Where Tradition Meets Tomorrow.”

Furthermore, this year’s graduation ceremonies coincide with the University’s 65th anniversary under the banner “Beyond 65: From the Caribbean for the World” and against this historic backdrop, the valedictorians stand as powerful symbols of The UWI’s enduring legacy of excellence. Proudly representing their respective faculties and chosen for their outstanding achievements, steadfast perseverance and embodiment of UWI pride, the valedictorians will deliver an address that not only inspires but also reflects the transformative journey and shared experience that are uniquely The UWI.

Beyond the ceremony, these exceptional graduates have also pledged to give back by supporting the outreach visits to schools, sharing their stories and inspiring the next generation to dream boldly and pursue their own UWI journey.

 

2025 Valedictorians - Top Row (L–R): Ms. Ayanah Mohammed, Mr. Dante Gains, and Mr. Josef Paty. Bottom Row (L–R): Mr. Joshua Lamy-Ramsden, Ms. Aruna Mahadeo, and Mr. Jehoshua Williams.

 

The valedictorians for the class of 2025 are as follows: 

1.    JOSEF ANTHONY PATY

(Representing the Faculties of Science and Technology & Food and Agriculture)

Graduating: Thursday 23rd October 2025 │ 10:00 a.m.

 

2.    JEHOSHUA J. WILLIAMS

(Representing the Faculties of Engineering and the Law)

Graduating: Thursday 23rd October 2025 │ 4:00 p.m.

 

3.     DANTE GAINS

(Representing the Faculty of Social Sciences)

Graduating: Friday 24th October 2025 │ 10:00 a.m.

 

4.    ARUNA MAHADEO

(Representing the Faculty of Social Sciences)

Graduating: Friday 24th October 2025│4:00 p.m.

 

5.    JOSHUA LAMY-RAMSDEN

(Representing the Faculties of Humanities & Education and Sport)

Graduating: Saturday 25th October 2025 │ 10:00 a.m.

 

6.    AYANAH MOHAMMED

(Representing the Faculty of Medical Sciences)

Graduating: Saturday 25th October 2025 │ 4:00 p.m.

Valedictorians represent the best of The UWI St Augustine’s graduating class. Each year, the process of choosing valedictorians starts with the nomination of five students from each Faculty at The UWI St. Augustine Campus. Nominees are selected based on academic performance (possessing first-class or upper second-class honours) and their involvement in extra and co-curricular activities. Once these nominees confirm their interest, they prepare an address to deliver to a panel and are scored based on content, organisation, expression, presentation and public speaking skills. After very careful deliberations and based on the highest scores, valedictorians are selected. 

 The UWI St. Augustine Campus extends its warmest congratulations to the valedictorians and the entire graduating class of 2025, applauding their remarkable achievements as we look forward to witnessing their continued success as they embark on the next chapter of their academic and personal journeys. 

For more information and details about The UWI St. Augustine Graduation Ceremonies, please visit https://sta.uwi.edu/graduation/    

 

The biographies of the six (6) valedictorians follow: 

 

JOSEF ANTHONY PATY

(Representing the Faculties of Science and Technology & Food and Agriculture)

Graduating: Thursday 23rd October 2025 (10:00 a.m.)

For Josef, The University of the West Indies wasn’t where he imagined his journey would begin. After finishing secondary school, he worked for two years and was later accepted to universities in the United States. Then the pandemic changed everything, and The UWI St. Augustine became the most practical and ultimately, the most rewarding choice. Josef’s time at The UWI became a powerful mix of passion, purpose, and creativity. He thrived in his studies, scoring almost total in Wildlife Resources and Management and earning international recognition when his StoryMap on Climate Change won the ESRI ArcGIS Your Caribbean Story competition. From serving as Guild President and DSSD Student Champion to helping shape Carnival 2025 events, Josef found ways to channel his leadership and love for culture into lasting impact. Beyond campus, his artistic and entrepreneurial sides flourished through performances, choir, and his seasonal decoration business, Jingled by Josef. Grounded by his vibrant family traditions and strengthened by personal loss, he carries forward those lessons of resilience and authenticity as he now pursues his MSc in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development, still guided by curiosity, kindness, and an unwavering belief in purpose.

 

JEHOSHUA J. WILLIAMS

(Representing the Faculties of Engineering and the Law)

Graduating: Thursday 23rd October 2025 (4:00 p.m.)

Raised in Belle Vue, St. James, Jehoshua grew up in a modest but deeply loving home with his parents and two sisters. Though finances were limited and his community was often labelled a “hotspot,” his upbringing was rich in faith, discipline and compassion. When the time came for tertiary education, The University of the West Indies felt like both a natural progression and a family tradition, following in the footsteps of his eldest sister. Enrolling in the LLB programme, he quickly learned that success would demand endurance. Each semester brought new trials, yet through faith and determination, he triumphed, culminating in one of his proudest achievements: publishing two academic papers in The UWI St. Augustine Law Journal (UWISALJ). Beyond academics, Jehoshua immersed himself in leadership roles, community initiatives, and student life, gaining maturity and confidence along the way. Now pursuing his Legal Education Certificate at Hugh Wooding Law School, Jehoshua has his sights set on a career in litigation, followed by academia. He envisions earning his LLM and contributing to Caribbean jurisprudence as both a scholar and mentor. For him, to “Be UWI” means to be a game-changer, to face adversity with grace, embrace every opportunity and lead with faith and purpose.

 

DANTE GAINS

(Representing the Faculty of Social Sciences)

Graduating: Friday 24th October 2025 (10:00 a.m.)

Born and raised in Belmont, Dante entered The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, guided by his family’s encouragement to embrace the challenge and community that The UWI offered. Yet his early years were marked by struggle, periods of demotivation and failure that tested his confidence. Mentors along with supportive friends who became like family, helped reignite his purpose and remind him that, as Churchill said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” That courage shaped his evolution from student to teacher, as he discovered through guiding CSEC students, that education is as much about self-mastery as it is about knowledge. Beyond academics, Dante’s creativity flourished in the arts, through theatre, music, composing, event coordination and even entrepreneurship, as he owns a laundry business. Teaching at his alma mater, Fatima College, allowed him to blend education and performance while giving back to the place that once nurtured his own curiosity. For Dante, to Be UWI is to carry light, the light of sacrifice, resilience and service. Looking ahead, he hopes to unite education, enterprise and public service, stepping into politics not for personal gain, but to uplift and empower communities.

 

ARUNA MAHADEO

(Representing the Faculty of Social Sciences)

Graduating: Friday 24th October 2025 (4:00 p.m.)

Growing up in a large, close-knit family in Central Trinidad, Aruna was surrounded by guidance, laughter, and love. When she began her journey at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, she learned to balance academic rigour with well-being. Her time at The UWI was defined not only by grades but by moments of impact and growth. She fondly recalls volunteering at the 2025 Math Fair, directing traffic, managing crowds and bringing enthusiasm to every task, as one of her most rewarding experiences. Through the World of Work programme, she gained invaluable exposure to the professional world, including internships that connected her to diverse teams and international opportunities, like presenting at a global event for Woodside Energy. Now pursuing her Master’s in Economics, a passion first kindled at Naparima Girls’ High School, Aruna aspires to contribute to national policy-making and use her knowledge to shape a more equitable society. Grounded by her family’s unconditional support, inspired by her lecturers’ example, and driven by gratitude, she continues to chart her path with quiet strength and purpose.

 

JOSHUA LAMY-RAMSDEN

(Representing the Faculties of Humanities & Education and Sport)

Graduating: Saturday 25th October 2025 (10:00 a.m.)

From Freeport, Trinidad, Joshua grew up in a home where faith, family, and creativity intertwined. The love and support of the strong women in his life formed the foundation for his artistic journey and prepared him for life at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, where he pursued his passion for theatre and performance. For Joshua, The UWI was more than a university; it was the cultural heartbeat of the Caribbean and the perfect space to ground his craft in regional identity. Immersed in Caribbean performance traditions, from Carnival to Jouvay Popular Theatre—he learned that art is not just entertainment but a powerful form of storytelling, preservation and resistance. Directing for the first time shifted his perspective from performer to storyteller, cementing his dream of becoming a director. A defining moment came when he performed in the 2024 student production of The Lion and the Jewel, directed by the late Marlon De Bique, an experience he describes as transformative. Balancing classes, rehearsals, and leadership roles was demanding, but Joshua learned to thrive under pressure, turning challenges into opportunities for growth. Each day in the Department of Creative and Festival Arts, he says, “felt like a movie: unique, dramatic, and unforgettable.” Looking ahead, Joshua hopes to pursue a Master’s in Directing for Film in England, focusing on Caribbean stories and mentoring young creatives.

 

AYANAH MOHAMMED

(Representing the Faculty of Medical Sciences)

Graduating: Saturday 25th October 2025 (4:00 p.m.)

From Barrackpore to the halls of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Ayanah’s journey has been rooted in the values of family, community and perseverance. Choosing The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, was a deliberate decision, one that offered academic excellence, affordability and the comfort of home. Yet what she discovered at The UWI extended far beyond the classroom: mentors who guided her, patients who taught her empathy, librarians and security guards who reminded her of everyday kindness and peers whose shared laughter and late-night study sessions became cornerstones of her experience. Her medical journey, though demanding, was one of immense growth. What saw her through was passion, purpose and a solid support system that held her steady in moments of doubt. Outside of medicine, Ayanah embraces life in full colour: reading, cooking, hiking, painting, and finding joy in sunsets, beaches, and travel. Known for her unfiltered honesty and spirited debates, she brings authenticity to every space she enters. Reflecting on her UWI experience, she says she is “the same but different”, her values intact, but her worldview expanded and her sense of self deepened. Looking ahead, she hopes to specialise in medicine, explore the world, and build a life filled with purpose—and perhaps love. For Ayanah, to “Be UWI” is to embody passion, pride and the endless pursuit of becoming one’s best self.

 

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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