Kirani James to receive honorary doctorate from UWI

Grenada’s athlete, Kirani James has been named among the 13 individuals to receive honorary doctorates from the University of the West Indies (UWI) during the upcoming graduation ceremonies across the five campuses of the university. He will be awarded on 9^th November at the Global Campus.

These ceremonies have been scheduled to take place between 12^th October and 9^th November, 2024. And, James will be conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) for his excellence in athletics. Kirani James is one of the only nine athletes in the history to win world titles at all the three levels including youth, junior, and senior.

He has also registered history by becoming the first Olympic Gold medallist of Grenada on 6^th August 2012 in 400m race. He clocked the time of 43.94, earning the island nation its first ever Olympic medal and became the first non-US runner to break the mark of 44 seconds.

Kirani James is still considered a prominent figure in international track and field to date. Today, he is considered as one of the most decorated 400m runners of all time. Recently, a week ago James has claimed silver medal at the prestigious Diamond League Final in Brussels, making his nation proud and proving why he is referred as one of the best sprinters worldwide.

This acknowledgement by the University of West Indies is a testament to the unwavering commitment and dedication of the athlete towards his excellence in the field of sports.

The University Council approved the conferral of 13 degrees at the graduation ceremonies across the five campuses of University of West Indies. They continued with their annual tradition of honouring the sterling contributions of a select group of the region’s notable luminaries.

While shedding light on those 13 short-listed individuals for the honorary degrees, the UWI Five Island Campus noted that this year’s honorary graduands have had long and impactful careers in the areas of advocacy and activism, medicine, tourism and culture, sport, education, science, business and in the industry of music.

The entire schedule of the ceremony

12^th October, 2024: Five Islands Campus

• Antigua and Barbuda’s Curtly Elconn Lynwall Ambrose, for his contribution to Cricket – Doctor of Laws (LLD).
• Antigua and Barbuda’s Dr W. Aubrey Webson for his work in Human Rights Advocacy – Doctor of Laws (LLD).

19^th October, 2024: Cave Hill Campus

• Governor General of St. Vincent and The Grenadines, Dame Susan Dilys Dougan for her public service and work in Education – Doctor of Laws (LLD).
• Barbados Elton Deighton Elombe Mottley for his contribution to the development of Culture and the Arts – Doctor of Letters (DLitt).
• Barbados Trevor Hassell for his contribution to Medicine – Doctor of Science (DSc).
• Barbados Ralph Taylor for his work in the Tourism sector – Doctor of Laws (LLD).

24^th October to 26^th October, 2024: St. Augustine Campus

• Trinidad and Tobago/Britain, Maniram Ragbir for his work as a Plastic/ Reconstructive Surgeon – Doctor of Science (DSc).
• Guyana’s Patricia Rodney for her work as a Medical Practitioner and Human Rights Defender – Doctor of Science (DSc).

31^st October to 2^nd November, 2024: Mona Campus

• CD of Jamaica, Donald Anderson for his work as an Entrepreneur/Market Researcher/Sport Administrator – Doctor of Laws (LLD).
• Jamaica’s Monte Blake for his pioneering work in music – Doctor of Letters (DLitt).
• Jamaica’s Courtney Campbell for his work as an Entrepreneur/Philanthropist – Doctor of Laws (LLD).
• CD of Jamaica, Conrad Douglas for his contribution to the development of the Bauxite Industry – Doctor of Laws (LLD).

9^th November, 2024: Global Campus

Grenada’s Kirani James for his excellence in Athletics – Doctor of Laws (LLD).