The University of the West Indies has named 13 honorary graduands for its 2026 graduation ceremonies, recognising outstanding contributions to Caribbean life across journalism, sport, diplomacy, medicine, agriculture, law, culture, music and public service.
The awards were approved by the University Council and will be conferred at ceremonies scheduled between October 10 and November 14, 2026, across the university's campuses. Among the honourees is Dominica's own Thea LaFond, who will receive a Doctor of Laws (LLD) at the Five Islands Campus ceremony on October 10 for her contribution to sport.
LaFond, who competes under the name Thea LaFond-Gadson, is an Olympic champion who was born in Dominica and raised in Maryland after migrating to the United States at age five. She began competing internationally for Dominica while still in high school and went on to earn a full scholarship to the University of Maryland, where she became a multiple-time All-American. Her career has since brought global recognition to Dominica in athletics.
Also honoured at the Five Islands Campus ceremony is Mr. Don Rojas of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, who will receive a Doctor of Letters (DLitt) for his contribution to Caribbean and American media. Rojas, a US-based multimedia journalist, was invited to Grenada in 1979 by then Prime Minister Maurice Bishop to help build media infrastructure for the Grenada Revolution. He served as editor-in-chief of the Free West Indian and later as Bishop's press secretary, travelling globally with the Grenadian leader.
Rojas went on to establish the first communications department for the NAACP, founded The Black World Today digital newspaper, and served as executive editor of the New York Amsterdam News. He also co-founded UWI tv, for which he received the UWI Vice-Chancellor's Award in 2017.
The Cave Hill Campus ceremony on October 17 will honour Mr. Doug E. Fresh of the United States for his contribution to hip-hop music, and Reverend Dr. Lucille Onita Baird of Barbados for her work in the church, community leadership and social commentary.
At the St. Augustine Campus, ceremonies from October 22 to 24 will recognise Ambassador Colin Granderson of Trinidad and Tobago for diplomacy, Professor Shaneeta Johnson of The Bahamas for surgical sciences and health care, and Mr. Winston R. Rudder of Trinidad and Tobago for agricultural development, public service and sustainable development.
The Mona Campus ceremonies from November 5 to 7 will confer degrees on Mr. Arnold Bertram for Caribbean scholarship and public advocacy, Mr. Damian Marley for culture, Mrs. Dawn Robinson-Spence for culture, and Mr. Milton J. Samuda for public service, advocacy and administration.
The Global Campus ceremony on November 14 will honour Mr. Melvin L. Claxton of Antigua and Barbuda for journalism and Ms. René Baptiste CMG of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for governance, law and culture.
The honorary degrees continue UWI's tradition of celebrating individuals whose careers have shaped the Caribbean and its diaspora. For Dominica, LaFond's recognition adds to a growing list of national achievements on the world stage, following her historic Olympic gold medal.
