On July 2, Antigua and Barbuda’s higher education sector entered a new era, as the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS) hosted its very first commencement ceremony at the SJPC House of Restoration to honor over 200 trailblazing graduates who make up the institution’s historic founding class. The celebratory event drew a diverse crowd of attendees, including graduates, their families, academic faculty and staff, senior government officials, key industry stakeholders, and invited guests, all gathering to mark the start of a transformative new chapter for public tertiary education across the dual-island nation.
The 2026 graduating cohort left the institution with a wide range of credentials, spanning associate degrees, professional diplomas, and specialized certificates. Graduates completed programs across 11 diverse academic and professional fields: business administration, culinary arts, K-12 and higher education, engineering disciplines, health care services, hospitality management, information technology, liberal arts, creative industries, and core scientific fields.
In his official address to the graduating class, Education Minister Daryll S. Matthew framed the landmark ceremony as the fulfillment of a years-long, ambitious vision to expand accessible, high-quality public tertiary education in Antigua and Barbuda. He extended warm congratulations to the founding cohort on their historic achievement, urged graduates to leverage their newly gained skills and knowledge to drive forward national development, and highlighted the growing School of Agriculture as a standout example of ABCAS’ commitment to expanding workforce readiness and addressing critical labor gaps across the country.
The full ceremony featured a packed schedule of symbolic and celebratory moments. ABCAS President Dr. Ezra Jonah Greene delivered opening remarks, while 2026 Rhodes Scholar Resa Nelson delivered the featured commencement address. Valedictorian Fiona Benjamin, an Associate of Arts graduate in Secondary Education TVET from ABCAS’ Dr. Alister Francis Campus, delivered the traditional valedictory address, before the entire class took part in the iconic symbolic turning of tassels to mark their official graduation. The institution also formally recognized Salutatorian Micaiah Graham, an Associate of Science graduate in mathematics and natural sciences from the Dr. Alister Francis Campus, for his exceptional academic performance.
Two particularly moving moments resonated with all in attendance. The first was the recognition of Tahjé Browne, a national competitive cyclist and graduating student, whose well-documented perseverance and resilience through personal and academic challenges left a lasting impression on the crowd. The second was a heartfelt tribute to Brianna Clarke, a promising culinary arts student who passed away before completing her degree. ABCAS reserved an empty honorary seat for Clarke during the ceremony and presented her posthumous graduation credential to her family, cementing her place forever in the college’s historic founding class.
As the ceremony drew to a close, the Class of 2026 departed with a unique distinction that no future graduating cohort will ever hold: the honor of being ABCAS’ very first graduating class. Their successful completion of studies does not only mark a major personal milestone for each graduate, but also lays the foundation for a lasting legacy for both ABCAS and the future of tertiary education in Antigua and Barbuda.