The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) will confer 280 degrees during its 2026 Commencement Ceremonies, taking place on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at the Elridge W. Blake Sports and Fitness Center on the Orville E. Kean Campus on St. Thomas, and on Friday, May 15, 2026, at the Island Center for the Performing Arts on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. Both ceremonies will begin at 1 p.m.
Degree candidates represent a wide range of academic programs across UVI’s schools and colleges, including doctoral, graduate, bachelor’s, and associate degrees.
“It is with great pride and joy that I congratulate the Class of 2026 on reaching this extraordinary milestone,” said UVI President Dr. Safiya George. “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.”
Student Speakers & Special Honors
The Class of 2026 student speaker on the Orville E. Kean Campus (St. Thomas) is Zeidan Bass, who will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.
The Class of 2026 student speaker on the Albert A. Sheen Campus (St. Croix) is SaVaughna John-Baptiste, who will graduate Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture.
The University will also confer an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) upon Rena Brodhurst, in recognition of her distinguished career and lasting impact on journalism and the Virgin Islands community. A longtime publisher and editor of The St. Croix Avis, Brodhurst helped shape public discourse in the territory and championed the importance of a free and independent press.
Additionally, Adam O’Neal, known professionally as Adam O., will serve as the keynote speaker for the 2026 Commencement Exercises and will also receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in recognition of his contributions to music, entrepreneurship, and community engagement.
Commencement Broadcast & Livestream Information
The ceremonies will be livestreamed via:
The ceremonies will also be broadcast via the Government Access Channel.
Parking & Shuttle Service – St. Thomas
To accommodate guests attending the ceremony on the Orville E. Kean Campus, parking regulations will be suspended from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, 2026.
Shuttle service will be provided to transport attendees to the Elridge W. Blake Sports and Fitness Center from the following campus locations:
Guests are encouraged to arrive early and utilize shuttle services to ensure timely seating.
Additional Information
Guests are encouraged to visit the official commencement website for full details,
including ceremony logistics, graduate information, and updates:
https://www.uvi.edu/commencement/
UVI Graduate Stories - A Closer Look at the Class of 2026
‘UVI is my Launch Pad’ – Presidential Scholar Trevincia Browne Shares Her Growth at UVI
For Trevincia Browne, an accounting major from Saint Kitts & Nevis, attending the
University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) was much more than just an academic experience,
as it enabled her to discover strengths within herself that she had not explored before.
“I used to be more reserved and soft-spoken and often stayed within my comfort zone.
But when I came to UVI, I found myself stepping into spaces I never imagined,” said
Browne, adding, “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.
I was also selected as the invocation speaker for the class of 2026, which I’m truly
honored by. I always say that UVI really showed me my true potential.”
Despite once being more reserved, her experience at UVI has been quite the opposite,
as she has grown into a passionate leader within the UVI community.
To learn more about Tevincia’s see this link:
https://uvitoday.blogspot.com/2026/05/uvi-is-my-launch-pad-presidential.html
‘Unforgettable’ – Former SGA President Zeidan Bass Reflects on an Incredible 3 Years at UVI
For Zeidan Bass, a Computer Science major from Saint Kitts, choosing to attend the
University of the Virgin Islands in 2023 to pursue his higher education was a no-brainer.
Following in the footsteps of his brother and his cousins, he felt as though he was
“following a family tradition.”
Being an international student from Saint Kitts, Bass said that UVI was the perfect
place to prepare him for life on the mainland. “If I came straight from Saint Kitts
to the mainland, it’s much more fast-paced. The adjustment here was easy. As much
as it’s a U.S. territory, the one thing you never lose is the Caribbean uniqueness,”
said Bass.
While many students find the transition to be challenging – particularly those coming
from abroad – Bass says he had a “head start. After earning an associate degree at
a community college, he found the academic transition seamless.
The one aspect that took him a minute to adjust to, however, was the social transition.
To learn more about Zeidan’s Journey see this link:
https://uvitoday.blogspot.com/2026/05/unforgettable-former-sga-president.html
