St. George’s University honored graduates of its School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) and School of Graduate Studies (SGS) during a Commencement Ceremony held on January 31 at Patrick F. Adams Hall. Though the ceremony took place in January 2026, the graduates are officially recognized as the Class of 2025, having completed their academic requirements in December.
In a first for the University, two SAS and SGS commencement ceremonies will be held this year, with a second celebration scheduled for May 30. Set against the backdrop of SGU’s 50th Anniversary year, the ceremony celebrated not only academic achievement but perseverance, purpose, and service.
Degrees were conferred across a range of disciplines within the School of Arts and Sciences, and Graduate Studies, reflecting SGU’s commitment to developing leaders in science, business, education, and beyond.
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Three pillars for success
Delivering the commencement address was Grenadian Olympic champion Dr. Sir Kirani James, one of the most accomplished sprinters in Caribbean history and a global ambassador for sport and service. Sir Kirani shared his deeply personal connection to SGU, noting that his father worked on campus for nearly 20 years.
“SGU holds a special place in my heart,” he said. “This truly feels like a homecoming.”
Sir Kirani centered his remarks on three pillars that guided his career: striving daily to be the best he can be, representing family and community with pride, and remaining resilient in the face of adversity.
“In life, your biggest competitor will always be yourself,” he told graduates. “Try to be a little bit better every day—because it adds up.”
Encouraging graduates to lead with integrity, he added, “do good work not to be rewarded, but because it is the right thing to do. Represent more than just yourself.”
In recognition of his extraordinary achievements in athletics, service as a sporting ambassador, and commitment to community development, SGU conferred upon Dr. Sir Kirani James the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (honoris causa).
University leadership also inducted him into the Gamma Kappa Chapter of the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health—the oldest public health honor society in the world—acknowledging his contributions to global public health and his impact beyond the track.
Accepting the honors with humility, Sir Kirani expressed heartfelt appreciation to the University community for the recognition and reflected on his family’s longstanding ties to SGU.
“Getting honored like this is always unexpected,” he said. “When it does happen, it truly feels like a blessing. With the history that my family and I have at SGU, it really comes full circle.”
Honoring a legacy of service
A highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the University’s Distinguished Service Medal to Dr. Lucy Eugene, who is retiring after 16 years of service.
Dr. Eugene joined SGU in 2010 as professor and chair of the Department of Business and Management Studies and later served as associate provost before being appointed dean of SAS in 2019. During her tenure, she helped secure national accreditation, advanced program recognitions, modernized classrooms and laboratories, and established the School’s first nursing simulation laboratory.
“I am grateful to St. George’s University for having given me the opportunity to make a contribution to education, which is my first love,” Dr. Eugene said. “What we do, we do for you. Service is always about the students.”
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“No reward without labor”
Sharif Motala, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in information technology, delivered the valedictory address on behalf of the School of Arts and Sciences.
A four-year Provost’s List recipient and former president of the Management Information Systems and Information Technology Association, Motala credited faith, friendship, and perseverance for his success.
“I accept this honor not as a reflection of individual achievement alone, but as a testament to the collective resilience, discipline, and determination of an entire graduating class,” Motala said.
Recalling his secondary school motto—Non Palma Sine Labore (no reward without labor)—he reminded his peers that “achievement is never accidental. It is earned through consistent effort and perseverance.”
The valedictorian shared the milestone with his older brother, Sufyan Motala, who graduated the same day with a Bachelor of Science in accounting and finance/management. The moment marked a proud achievement for them both and for their family.
The older Motala said he felt “overwhelmed and mostly joyful,” especially watching his younger brother deliver the valedictory speech.
“Our parents are very proud and excited. Their smiles are not leaving their faces right now,” he shared.
A foundation for the future
Representing the School of Graduate Studies, Chrystelle Johnson, MD ’18, MPH ’21, MBA ’26, reflected on the demands and rewards of graduate education.
“We balanced coursework with professional duties, family responsibilities, and personal obligations,” she said. “We discovered what it meant to be tenacious when motivation runs low, but expectations remain high.”
Quoting William Butler Yeats, she added: “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. These programs didn’t just impart knowledge—they ignited something within us.”
Dr. Johnson reminded fellow graduates that their diplomas mark not an ending, but a beginning.
“The diplomas we receive today are not the finish line,” she said. “They are our foundation.”
