The University of the Southern Caribbean (USC) hosted its 93rd annual graduation ceremony yesterday at its St. Joseph campus, marking a day of dual celebration: the conferral of honorary doctorates on three distinguished regional trailblazers and major institutional milestones for the growing Caribbean higher education institution.
Three standout leaders from across the private sector, industry and legal public health circles were recognized with honorary degrees for their decades of impact across the Caribbean region. Leading the group is veteran entrepreneur Sieunarine Coosal, group executive chairman and managing director of the Coosal’s Group of Companies, who accepted an honorary Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa. This marks Coosal’s third honorary doctorate, following previous recognitions from the University of the West Indies and the University of Trinidad and Tobago. USC officials praised Coosal as a “distinguished entrepreneur, industry leader and philanthropist,” highlighting his transformative leadership after taking the reins of the family-owned firm in 1991. Under his direction, Coosal’s Group grew from its origins into one of the Caribbean’s most diversified large conglomerates, leaving an indelible mark on civil engineering, construction, manufacturing and cross-regional infrastructure development across Trinidad and Tobago and beyond. Beyond his business achievements, the university highlighted Coosal’s long-standing commitment to humanitarian action, including his ongoing support for affordable housing, educational access and community development projects through partnerships with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity Trinidad and Tobago.
Joining Coosal in receiving honors was Fitzroy Harewood, president of Point Lisas Nitrogen Limited and a graduate of USC, who was awarded an honorary Doctor of Business, Honoris Causa. The third recipient, Claire Chunlan Aleong-Hosten, a former USC valedictorian and accomplished attorney, accepted an honorary Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa. Aleong-Hosten previously held senior roles with the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization based in Washington D.C. The honorary degree presentation was led by USC President Dr. Colwick Wilson and Provost Len Archer, with official photos captured by photojournalist Ishmael Salandy.
Beyond the honorary recognitions, the 2026 commencement brought key updates on USC’s student body and academic programming. Dr. Wilson announced that a total of 503 students from 17 countries across the Americas and Caribbean crossed the stage this year, including graduates from Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, Grenada, Barbados and the United States. In a notable shift that reflects growing gender parity in higher education across the region, women accounted for 84% of the graduating class, totaling 423 of the 503 graduates.
The School of Science, Technology and Allied Health produced the largest graduating cohort, with 232 students receiving degrees. Of that group, 176 graduates came from the university’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, accounting for 35% of the entire 2026 graduating class. It was this program that brought the ceremony’s biggest institutional announcement: USC has secured full accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), one of only two nationally recognized nursing accrediting bodies in the United States. Dr. Wilson confirmed that the program received the maximum possible initial accreditation period of five years, a milestone he described as transformative for the institution and its students.
“This achievement represents a defining moment for USC, one that advances our commitment to excellence in nursing education within the Caribbean region,” Wilson said. He added that the ACEN accreditation will open new doors for graduates, expanding access to advanced graduate study globally, qualifying graduates to sit international professional licensing examinations, and strengthening the global recognition of USC nursing credentials.
Delivering the official valedictorian address, Shafiya Castello, a graduate of the School of Business and Entrepreneurship, reflected on the unique journey of the 2026 graduating class, centering her remarks on themes of resilience and personal growth amid challenge. “Success is not simply about reaching a destination; it is about the growth, the challenges and the perseverance that shape us along the way,” Castello told the crowd of graduates, family, faculty and staff.
She extended gratitude to instructors, university staff, family members and peers for their unwavering support throughout the academic journey, while acknowledging the unseen struggles many students navigated to reach graduation. “There was a time when the goal was not excellence, but simply to keep going. Behind every assignment submitted, every exam written and every late night spent studying, there is a story of resilience, determination and growth,” she said. Castello closed her remarks with an emotional tribute to her late mother, a dedicated teacher and woman of faith whose legacy continues to shape her commitment to education. “Though she is no longer here physically, her lessons continue to guide me, and her belief in the power of education lives on through me,” she shared.