For two of the 280 students awaiting their degrees from the University of the Virgin Islands Thursday, graduation day was far more than marking an academic accomplishment. Their time at UVI served as a middle ground between their native St. Kitts and Nevis and the hustle-bustle demands of the U.S. mainland — and beyond.
Computer science major Zeidan Bass and accounting major Trevincia Browne both wrote to the university’s website Friday to say studying in the U.S. Virgin Islands helped them find their confidence.
Bass, whose brother and cousins also studied at UVI before him, came to the territory in 2023 — his first time away from home. It took some getting used to.
“For the first three months of the semester, I ate by myself, attended events by myself, and I had no friends. It wasn’t until later on in the semester that I immersed myself in the community. The people here were never mean; it just took some adjusting,” he told UVI Today. “If I came straight from Saint Kitts to the mainland, it’s much more fast paced. The adjustment here was easy.”
If Bass started as a loner, he quickly found his tribe. In 2024, he was elected Student Leadership Council president and will be a student speaker at the St. Thomas graduation ceremony.
Browne, graduating magna cum laude, told a similar story, saying studying at UVI brought her out of her shell. In 2024, Browne started chairing the student government’s entrepreneurial committee. It was a role that required networking, leadership, and public speaking.
“I found myself stepping into spaces I never imagined,” said Browne, also from St. Kitts and Nevis, told UVI Today. “I had the opportunity to speak in front of large crowds, which is something I have never done before and that experience helped me grow in confidence.”
The 2026 Commencement Ceremonies take place Thursday at the Elridge W. Blake Sports and Fitness Center on St. Thomas, and Friday at the Island Center for the Performing Arts on St. Croix. Both ceremonies are scheduled for 1 p.m.
“It is with great pride and joy that I congratulate the Class of 2026 on reaching this extraordinary milestone,” UVI President Safiya George said in a written statement. “Your journey reflects resilience, determination, and excellence. As you leave UVI, you carry forward the knowledge, skills, and spirit needed to lead, innovate, and make a lasting impact in your communities and beyond.”
Degree candidates represent a wide range of academic programs across UVI’s schools and colleges, including doctoral, graduate, bachelor’s, and associate degrees, according to the university.
The Class of 2026 student speaker on St. Croix will be SaVaughna John-Baptiste, who will graduate Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture.
The university also plans to issue an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters to Rena Brodhurst as recognition of her career in journalism. The longtime publisher and editor of The St. Croix Avis “helped shape public discourse in the territory and championed the importance of a free and independent press,” according to the university.
The keynote speaker will be Adam O’Neal, known professionally as Adam O., who will also receive an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in recognition of his contributions to music, entrepreneurship, and community engagement.
The ceremonies will be livestreamed via UVI YouTube, UVI Facebook, UVI Events Calendar, www.uvi.edu, and the Government Access Channel.
