Ten UWI alumni receive Pelican Awards

TEN DISTINGUISHED alumni of the University of the West Indies (UWI) from five countries across the region were conferred with Pelican Awards, last Saturday.

Pelican Awards are made to graduates of The UWI who have excelled in their areas of endeavour, and made significant contributions to their communities and to the development of the regional institution.

The Alumni Association of The University of the West Indies (UWIAA) Open Campus held their second annual Pelican Awards Ceremony on Saturday at the Bay Gardens Beach Resort and Spa in Saint Lucia.

The highly prestigious Pelican Award is the highest award that a UWIAA Chapter may bestow on a graduate. Alumni are nominated and selected by their peers to receive this special accolade that indicates how very proud fellow alumni are of their national, regional and/or international success and renown. A Pelican Awardee is considered to be a role model for The UWI population globally and in particular, for the current cohort of students who are themselves future alumni.

The 10 awardees were:

I Dr Jillia Bird OD, MS, from Antigua and Barbuda for her sterling contribution to health and excellence in Optometry in

the Caribbean.

I Dr Reginald Alford Walwyn OBE; MB.BS; MRC Ophth, from Antigua and Barbuda, for his sterling contribution to Medicine and Leadership and excellence in Ophthalmology in the Caribbean. Walwyn, now 93 years old, was among the first 33 students who entered The UWI 70 years ago.

I Dancia Penn Sallah OBE, QC, from the British Virgin Islands, for her sterling contribution in the field of Politics and excellence in Law in the Caribbean.

I Dr Heskith Vanterpool, from the British Virgin Islands, for his sterling contribution to Health and excellence in Gastroenterology and Cardiology in the British Virgin Islands.

I Gerard Farara QC, from the British Virgin Islands, for his sterling contribution to Law in the Caribbean and beyond (USA and Hong Kong).

I Dr Beverley Steele, from Grenada, for her sterling contribution to Education in the Caribbean.

I Her Excellency Dame Pearlette Louisy, from Saint Lucia, for her sterling contribution to Education and Leadership in the Caribbean. I Dr Veronica Simon, from Saint Lucia, for her sterling contribution to Education in the Caribbean.

I His Excellency Dr Didacus Jules from Saint Lucia, for his sterling contribution to Education in the Caribbean.

I Renee Baptiste CMG, from St Vincent and The Grenadines, for her sterling contribution to Law and Politics in the Caribbean.

CONTRIBUTED Ten UWI alumni receive Pelican Awards from Open Campus Alumni Chapters. Standing (from left): Drs Ian and Jacqueline Walwyn (receiving on behalf of their father Dr R. Alford Walwyn); Dancia Penn, QC; Dr Heskith Vanterpool, Dr Beverley Steele, Dr Jillia Bird, Dr Veronica Simon, Dame Pearlette Louisy, Dr Didacus Jules, Rene Baptiste. Seated front row (from left) Director Alumni Relations, Celia Davidson-Francis; Vice Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles; Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal Open Campus, Dr Luz Longsworth; Chancellor Robert Bermudez; Open Campus Alumni Officer Sandra Griffith-Carrington.