On October 27, 2023, the UWI SPEC (Sport and Physical Education Centre) in St. Augustine hosted the graduation ceremony for the University of the West Indies (UWI) Faculty of Social Sciences.
In celebration of her accomplishments in theater, film, and music, singer Heather Headley was awarded an honorary doctorate of letters.
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Headley, who was raised in Barataria and was born in Trinidad, thanked the university in her graduation speech. She apologized for not being able to attend in person due to work and personal obligations, but she expressed her gratitude for the honor via a recorded greeting.
The “Wish I Wasn’t” singer remarked, “Growing up in Trinidad, I was very aware that UWI held an estimable and incomparable reputation, and that has not changed. So it is with humble pride and great excitement that I accept this degree. My thanks to the institution.”
Headley has had a prosperous music career. She rose to stardom through her appearances on Broadway and was honored with a Tony Award in 2000 for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for her performance in Aida.
Hits like He Is, I Wish I Wasn’t, and In My Mind are featured on her two gold-certified albums, This Is Who I Am and In My Mind. She was also the recipient of a 2009 Grammy for Best R&B Gospel Album for Audience of One.
Headley discussed the importance of “the hyphen” in life—the years between conception and death—in her speech. She talked about how one can’t influence the first date—which marks one’s birth—but one may have some control over the end date by making healthy decisions and living a good life. She emphasized that one had complete power over the hyphen and urged the graduates to make it matter.
The powerhouse vocalist stated to the new graduates, “You alone have that control. You alone have that power.”
In her final words to the graduates, Headley expressed her hope for them to achieve great things and her pride in being a member of a young generation ready to make a difference.
“I’m proud to be in your number. I’m proud to be a daughter of the soil that you are now poised to cultivate and make better. As a Trinidadian, as a Caribbean woman, and now as an honorary graduate of the UWI.”
Folade Quamina-Ifoma, Headley’s cousin, collected her degree in her place.
Following his graduation with first-class honors in international relations and a minor in social development policy and planning, Kyle Bisnath gave the capstone address.
To begin, Bisnath expressed his sincere gratitude and sense of pride.
“Today, we stand on the cusp of a new beginning, armed not just with knowledge but with the power to shape our destinies.”
He told his fellow graduates that despite their differences and unique tales, “the pursuit of knowledge and the promise of a brighter future.”
According to Bisnath, the graduates had exceeded expectations and had “burned the midnight oil, pushed ourselves from sunset to sunrise, and sacrificed all in the pursuit of knowledge.
“As we step into the world beyond the gates of UWI St Augustine, we must remember that this educational qualification, for which we have worked so hard, is not merely a ticket to a job. It is a passport to a life of purpose and meaning.”
He added, “It is a reminder that we have the power to effect change, to inspire others, and to leave an indelible mark on the world. We are, after all, global citizens.”
In order to climb mountains, he exhorted them to dream large, take chances, embrace the unknown, and never let fear of falling stop them.
Bisnath informed the grads that they were honoring their group accomplishments and that they had the ability to influence human history.
Bisnath continued, “Carry this responsibility with humility, integrity, and a deep sense of purpose because the answers to age-old questions are held in the minds of the people sitting in this very room, here and now.”
A local news media interviewed Reanna Medina Hinkson, who received her diploma in public management, following the ceremony.
Hinkson stated, “It was a thrilling experience, even though the (COVID-19) pandemic had occurred. My program wasn’t affected too much by this, as most of the courses were already online.”
Currently, Hinkson is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in sociology.
Loraine Gonzales received her management studies bachelor’s degree. As she considered her journey, she remarked, “When we started, we were totally online. We just had assignments for the pull program. It worked to our advantage, but at the same time we are now meeting our peers.”
Gonzales intended to pursue her master’s degree, but she wasn’t sure when she would begin.
After receiving his degree in international relations with a minor in social development, planning, and policy, Emilio Hernandez was beaming as he spoke with a local news media.
He acknowledged that the pandemic made it difficult for him to attend classes, but he was thankful for the friends he gained while attending UWI.
“Having that physical interaction really helped in contributing to the university experience.” He added that the one benefit of going to college during a pandemic was the extra time for studying.
Hernandez is a master’s student at the St. Augustine UWI campus studying international relations.
It is noteworthy that 56 students received first-class honors diplomas, 18 graduated with distinction from the master’s program, and five received PhDs.
