Some universities select a single valedictorian, but The UWI is lucky to be able to honour as many students as there are ceremonies. The six Class of 2022 valedictorians demonstrate a dedication not only to scholarship, but to service and stewardship.
Faculty of Social Sciences
BSc in Public Sector Management with Law for the Social Sciences (Special)
First Class Honours
Kobe Sandy is no stranger to the limelight. As Guild of Students president, Sandy has taken the stage in many forms as a student activist and advocate. He plans on furthering his education with a masters in Strategic Leadership and pursuing a career in politics, much like his idol, Patrick Manning.
“The Guild has contributed significantly to my development in every sphere of my life. It has prepared me to take on the rigours of the world, and in short order, refined my character. Being selected has allowed me to see that my labour of love for the university was not in vain, but was heard, felt, and there was an impact.”
Faculty of Social Sciences
BSc in Psychology Special
First Class Honours
If Portia Gopaul had listened to her own negative thoughts, she would not have graduated this year. As a Psychology major, she has a keen understanding of what it means and takes to be well, which is why after a gruelling final year, she is taking a year off to rest before continuing her studies in Counselling Psychology.
“All my life I have been pretty good at academics, and I came into UWI thinking it would be just like everything else, but the final year broke me in a way I didn’t know I could be broken. I wanted to give up.”
However, she didn’t. With the support of family, friends and church, she was able to overcome.
“After hearing testimony from one of my friends, I realised that all of this was an opportunity for growth. That was my first real obstacle in life and it was the turning point for me where I realised that I was much stronger than I knew.”
Faculty of Humanities and Education, Faculty of Sport
BA in Literatures in English
First Class Honours
Despite her myriad experiences as an actress, director and writer, Patti-Anne Ali credits The UWI with helping her delve even deeper into the philosophy and ideology of an artist-activist. The daughter of writers and cultural activists, as well as an employee of the National Theatre Arts Company, Ali was able to bring the exposure of her upbringing and the knowledge from her career to her degree.
“I grew up with the artist-activist modelled at home whether consciously or not; that was the ethos of our family, to create and support the arts, and that’s what I want to continue to do. I want my work to provoke thought and move hearts in the direction of passion and purpose.”
Faculties of Food and Agriculture and Science and Technology
BSc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics (Special)
First Class Honours
Ashleigh Lai is well on her way to achieving her goal of being a registered dietician and specialising in paediatrics. Completing her degree was the first step; being selected as valedictorian was a bonus. Her success can perhaps be attributed to her simple, but effective work ethic.
“The thing about life is, if you don’t try, you’ll never know you can do it. I didn’t expect to become valedictorian; all I did was literally try. And that’s what I would say to other students: starting UWI is scary, but you can do it. Trust me, you can. Just be you, and be proud of you.”
Faculty of Medical Sciences
BSc in Pharmacy
First Class Honours
The shift from face-to-face to online learning was particularly difficult for Kiana Gajadhar, especially as it was coupled with leaving the St Augustine campus for her native St Lucia in the midst of a pandemic. Eventually, the Pharmacy major was able to seek out professional help and make the necessary adjustments to get back on track. The experience also further solidified her commitment to practise medicine holistically.
“Yes, academics are important, but also take time to build your holistic self. One thing that helped when I was on campus was the social events. It’s good to find a balance. The balance helps you build your spiritual self, your academic self, your social self, and it just helps you feel like a full person.”
Faculties of Engineering and Law
BSc in Industrial Engineering
First Class Honours
When Reyshard Deokiesingh started at The UWI, he was a commuting student making the long trek from Siparia to St Augustine almost daily for classes. The commute was a minor obstacle compared to others he faced while completing the programme: he switched majors, and more recently, one of his closest friends passed away.
“It made me a bit more determined because he was a very determined person. Down to the last week in the hospital, he was trying to find out about school, and that really made me push to complete, to be the best I could in honour of him. If he had that kind of determination, what could keep me back?”
