Monroe University, the New York-based institution offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs from its campus in Castries, held its annual Commencement today for graduates from across Saint Lucia and the Caribbean region. Nearly 100 of the new graduates are from Saint Vincent & the Grenadines.
The joyful event took place at the Royalton St. Lucia Resort & Spa Auditorium in Gros Islet. Monroe President Marc Jerome and other senior University leaders joined local campus administration, faculty, and staff, as well as special dignitaries, at the graduation ceremony, which recognized and celebrated the academic achievements of 318 students in the Saint Lucia campus Class of 2026.
In addition to students from Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, and the United States, the graduating class included students from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Nicaragua, Nigeria, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Sint Maarten.
One student from each country proudly carried their nation’s flag as part of the opening processional. The Saint Vincent & the Grenadines flag was proudly carried by Trevique Johnson, an undergraduate Business Management major who graduated with summa cum laude honors.
Monroe is proud to have partnered with the Government of Saint Vincent & the Grenadines since 2024 to make a university education more accessible and affordable for local students through a First-Generation Scholarship Program that supports students who are the first in their families to attend university.
Professor Antonia Laurent-Goodman served as Grand Marshal for the opening processional. Nathalie Jolie-Fanis, faculty with the General Education department, served once again as emcee. Saint Lucia’s national anthem, Sons and Daughters of Saint Lucia, was sung by Linda Berthier, an adjunct faculty member with our School of Allied Health Professions. Rohan Bennett, a member of the graduating class, sang The Star-Spangled Banner.
Among those offering welcoming remarks to the graduates and their guests were President Marc Jerome and Senior Vice President Dr. Alex Ephrem. Graduates were also honored to hear from The Honorable Kenson Casimir, Minister for Education, Youth Development, Sports, and Digital Transformation, who shared a wonderful congratulatory message on behalf of the Government of Saint Lucia.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Damian Eisenghower Greaves, a distinguished Caribbean scholar, educator, public health specialist and executive leader. His illustrious career spans the fields of education, government, parliamentary services, healthcare policy and administration, and cultural development.
Dr. Ernest Ottley, Dean of Academics in Saint Lucia, announced students earning academic awards. Dr. Jacinth Coultman, Vice President for Academic Affairs, proudly presented the graduates to President Jerome for the formal conferring of degrees.
In addition to those mentioned, the University community was joined at Commencement by a number of special guests and dignitaries, including: Governor General H.E. Felix Finistere and his wife Lady Selma Finistere; Her Excellency Lieff Escalona, Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to Saint Lucia; Ms. Dina Melehi, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco; Dr. Winston Phulgence, Principal of Sir Arthur Lewis Community College; and Monsignor Patrick “Paba” Anthony, who gave the invocation.
