UVI to Award Nearly 300 Degrees at 2023 Commencement Ceremonies

The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) will confer 280 degrees to graduates at its Commencement Ceremonies being held this week. 

The ceremonies will take place on Thursday, May 11, 2023, under the tent on the Albert A. Sheen Campus in St. Croix, and on Friday, May 12, 2023, at the Elridge Wilburn Blake Sports and Fitness Center on the Orville E. Kean Campus on St. Thomas. Both ceremonies will begin at 1 p.m.  

“Our entire University is filled with tremendous pride as we celebrate our graduating students. This is a shinning achievement not only for UVI but also for the Virgin Islands community as our graduates leave our halls with a wealth of knowledge, skills, experiences and determination to make an impact as they transition to the next stages of their lives,” said UVI President Dr. David Hall. “We have every confidence that these men and women will become our future leaders, visionaries and difference-makers, carrying with them a great sense of responsibility to apply their hard-earned successes to real-world problems.”  

Prolific author, renowned orator, and distinguished academic Dr. Michael Eric Dyson will deliver the keynote address. 

In addition to Dr. Dyson, the University will bestow honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees upon distinguished Virgin Islanders Clema S. Williams-Lewis and Edward Elroy Thomas, Sr. at the St. Croix and St. Thomas campuses, respectively, in recognition of their outstanding accomplishments and contributions to the Virgin Islands community.   

This year’s class speaker on the Albert A. Sheen Campus is Michael Bell, who will be awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication, Art and Theatre. Kaylor Bass, who is graduating Summa Cum Laude after earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, will address the Class of 2023 as the class speaker on the Orville E. Kean Campus on St. Thomas.   

Parking on the St. Thomas campus will be available in the parking lot of the Reichhold Center for the Arts. Shuttle service will be provided to accommodate persons parking at Reichhold Center, the Administration and Conference Center (ACC), and the upper campus.  

The ceremonies will be live-streamed on UVI’s YouTube page – (https://www.youtube.com/user/UVIvideos), Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/UVI.edu/) and Twitter page(https://twitter.com/uvi_edu). The ceremony’s live stream can also be found at www.uvi.edu. 

DaVybe 107.9 FM will also broadcast the commencement ceremonies.  

Additional information related to commencement day activities can be found at http://commencement.uvi.edu.   

2023 Commencement Statistics  

 Statistics contained in this press release refer to degrees conferred in the fall (December 2022) and the spring (May 2023) unless otherwise noted. Students whose degrees were conferred in December are also listed in the commencement booklet for the May ceremonies. They also have the option of participating in the ceremonies. 

A Glimpse at the UVI Class of 2023 – Graduate Stories 

Michael Bell – Never Passing Up an Opportunity to Learn & Excel 

As Michael Bell’s high school career was winding down in 2019, he told his mother he would get a job and make money instead of attending university. 

Family and friends, however, insisted he pursue post-secondary education, and the rest, as they say, is history. 

Bell followed the advice and is graduating from the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) as a four-time Dean’s List honoree. 

“There are many people who are responsible for me starting and ending this journey and I want to acknowledge all of them. I am a better version of myself because of them. I am not always the most confident person, but these people have pushed me to succeed,” he stated. 

Among friends, mentors and family who have been instrumental in supporting him, Bell singled out grandmother and his parents, saying: “Each of you is a treasured resource and a priceless blessing in my life. Your unwavering belief in me has been a source of strength and inspiration. So, thank you for your unconditional support and love during this auspicious journey.” 

He also had high praises for UVI’s faculty and staff, including Dr. Maria Flemming, Dr. Vanda Espinosa, Ms. Michelle Albany, and Ms. Anyha Lord-Jerris, who he thanked for their “unfailing support, dedication, and commitment” to the support of all the graduates. 

“I want to say a special thank you to a true champion of education, an inspiration, and a devoted faculty member of the Communications Department, Professor Dr. Sharon A. Honore. If it were not for her continued expertise and guidance, I would have missed out on some truly unique experiences, such as my participation in the University of the Virgin Islands Association of Black Journalists (UVIABJ) Chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), of which I am now the proud President, recently traveling to Washington, DC to participate in the White House Pressing briefing with former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance-Bottoms and Vice President Kamala Harris, or to Las Vegas Nevada for the annual NABJ National Conference, being a contributor to the Voice 2.0; and host and coordinator for our annual UVIABJ communication summits and film festivals,” Bell added. 

To learn more about Michael’s journey see this link - https://magazine.uvi.edu/michael-bell/  

Deanna Hunt - “I am really and truly a masterpiece of God’s creation.” 

Deanna Hunt’s degree from the University of the Virgin Islands will prominently bear her name, but the Computer Science major is quick to acknowledge that there are many individuals without whose help and support she would not have been able to achieve her goals. 

In junior high school, the late Shirley Fleming inspired Hunt to learn the basics of coding as she spent her after school time working on the computer.  

“That is what piqued my interest in the field,” said Hunt. “After she passed away in 2017, I was really down, and it took a little while to pull myself together. She laid the foundation for the passion I have, and I dedicate this degree to her and others who have been instrumental in my success.” 

Hunt first expresses her gratitude to God for making it through her college years. 

“Through the ups and downs of being a college student, I can really say that God molded me and guided me through the years,” she said. “I am really and truly a masterpiece of God’s creation.” 

Hunt also benefited from the strong guidance of her parents, Owen and Roslin Hodge-Hunt, who migrated to the U.S. Virgin Islands from Antigua and St. Kitts, respectively, and who she describes as her biggest cheerleaders. Older brothers Delano and Devar Hunt also get credit for their support. 

“They are always there for me. They pushed me in my personal growth and development, and I am so grateful to them for all they have done,” said Hunt. 

Grandmother Shirley Hodge and aunt Verlin Ivanna Hodge, who both recently passed away within the past two years, were also significant sources of support. 

“My aunt homeschooled me before I got into a classroom. They always looked out for me and encouraged me to do my best. I am standing on the solid foundation they laid,” she recalls. 

Additionally, Hunt extends her gratitude to her friends and loved ones for the continuous support throughout the years. 

Born in St. Thomas, Hunt applied to and was accepted by a few universities in the continental United States, but she chose to stay home and take advantage of the unique UVI experience. 

“My main concern was being in a setting where classes were large. As a result of attending UVI, I was able to experience many one-to-one interactions with my professors and had the opportunity to connect with students and form lasting friendships,” she said. 

See this link to learn more about Deanna’s Journey - https://magazine.uvi.edu/deanna-hunt/  

For more information visit www.uvi.edu or contact pr@uvi.edu.