Akeem Richards from Montserrat has been honoured as the 2024 Top Matriculant at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus.
He was presented with the award in recognition of his “exceptional academic prowess and a strong commitment to community service”, according to a press release from the university.
The annual Matriculation Ceremony, held this year at the campus in Antigua on 13 September, is a significant event in UWI’s academic calendar, officially welcoming the newest cohort of students.
This year’s ceremony was especially noteworthy as Richards, born in Jamaica and raised in Montserrat, took centre stage with his outstanding achievements.
Richards, who was the 2019 valedictorian at Montserrat Community College, also earned a spot on the Caribbean Examinations Council’s Merit List.
He was recognised as the second-highest performing student in information technology across the entire Caribbean for CAPE IT.
Beyond his academic accolades, Richards has been deeply involved in national initiatives, contributing to both the National Hydrographic Coordinating Committee and the Census Mapping Committee.
Speaking at the ceremony, Professor C Justin Robinson, pro vice-chancellor and campus principal, highlighted the UWI Five Islands Campus’ role in regional development and fostering future leaders.
Campus registrar Dr Camille Samuel, who chaired the event, emphasised that Richards’ achievements reflect the campus’s ability to nurture talent from across the Eastern Caribbean.
Samuel added that the university’s range of programmes reflects its responsiveness to the region’s evolving needs, particularly in areas such as healthcare, artificial intelligence, and sports.
The event concluded with the signing of the matriculation register, a symbolic tradition that officially inducted students into the UWI community.
The UWI’s Five Islands Campus, based in Antigua and Barbuda, was established in 2019 and focuses on areas such as healthcare, education, and tourism to serve the Eastern Caribbean.
