In a heartwarming celebration of athletic excellence and academic dedication, three-time Olympic gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was awarded the Alumni Exemplar Sports Award at the University of the West Indies' 75th-anniversary event held at the Jamaica Pegasus on Saturday, November 24, 2023. Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice Chancellor, of the University of the West Indies (UWI), presented the UWI Alumni Exemplar Sport Award to Dr. The Hon. Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce, OD, OJ.
The first UWI Exemplar Award was presented to Dr. Hon Usain Bolt, World and Olympic champion sprinter. Mrs. Celia Davidson Francis, the Director – UWI Alumni Relations, noted that this award was created to enhance the link between sport and the graduate population and to highlight the outstanding achievements of UWI’s graduates and Honorary Graduates.
The UWI 75th anniversary gala presented several Distinction Awards to UWI Alumni including Dr. Paul Aiken, Dr. Leith Dung, Mr. Joseph Pereira, Prof Errol Miller, Mrs. Suzanne Folkes Goldson (posthumously), Mr. Derrick Mckoy, Dr Paulette Kerr, Mr. Cedric Palmer, Professor Peter Figueroa, Professor Sir George Alleyne, Professor Anthony Chen, Professor Emerita Yvette Jackson, Dr Caryl James, Ambassador Hon. Dr. Richard Bernal, OJ (posthumously) Dr Praimanand Singh ad Mr. Hansle Parchment. Special awards were presented to Prof Minerva Thame, the first female Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, and Dr Joy Spence, OD, graduate, and Hon. Graduate of the UWI, the world’s first female Master Blender, and Dr. Jordanne Levy, the medical doctor and 2023 Miss Universe Jamaica, who recently placed in the Top 20 at the Miss Universe finals.
