The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus celebrated its first Master of Business Administration cohort among 144 graduates at the morning session of its 2026 graduation programme in Antigua and Barbuda.

The ceremony included graduates from the School of Business and Management and students from other UWI campuses. Several received first-class honours.

Olympic champion Thea LaFond received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree and spoke about overcoming setbacks through changes to her training and mindset.

Chancellor Dr Dodridge Miller and valedictorian Catalia Valentine also addressed graduates under the theme “Built to Adapt, Ready to Lead”.

Governor General Sir Rodney Williams and Prime Minister Gaston Browne were among those attending. Browne’s sister was among the graduates, according to the ceremony’s commentary.

A second ceremony was scheduled for 84 graduates that afternoon, including the campus’s first Master of Public Health cohort.

The Five Islands programme opened a series of 16 graduation ceremonies across UWI’s campus network.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: UWI Honours Late Student Rolanda Benjamin Grant With Posthumous Award.