The University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine Campus, celebrated its 2025 graduating class in a ceremony that combined reflection, inspiration, and a call to action for the region’s emerging leaders.
Mr. Dante S. Gains, Valedictorian for the Faculty of Social Sciences, delivered the keynote address, urging graduates to rise above challenges and embrace the responsibility that comes with education.
In his speech, Gains acknowledged the collective sacrifices of his generation, including balancing work, study, and personal struggles, and emphasized that perseverance and discipline are lessons that no AI or technology can replicate.
He highlighted the unique Caribbean legacy of resilience, creativity, and courage, reminding graduates that they are “children of calypso and code, of cane and courage,” and that their voices matter in a rapidly changing world.
Gains encouraged his peers to carry light into the world—grounded in wisdom, compassion, and courage—as they step into careers that will shape economies, heal communities, and educate future generations.
Echoing UWI’s motto, “Light rising from the West,” he described the Class of 2025 as torchbearers, ready to illuminate the world with knowledge, vision, and humanity.
