Ayhesha Charles of Bellevue Chopin has been named valedictorian of the Dominica State College (DSC) Class of 2026, earning the institution’s highest academic honour as hundreds of students celebrated their graduation at Windsor Park Sports Stadium.
Charles, a Building and Civil Engineering student, addressed fellow graduates during the college’s 24th commencement ceremony, encouraging them to view success as a lifelong journey of learning, resilience and personal growth rather than the achievement of a single goal.
Speaking to the graduating class, she reminded students that courage and determination would be just as important as knowledge as they entered the next stage of their lives.
“Success is not about having all the answers. It is about having the courage to keep learning, growing, and moving forward,” Charles said.
She urged graduates to embrace opportunities with confidence, approach challenges with determination and treat setbacks as lessons rather than limitations. Charles also encouraged her classmates to carry forward the values they developed during their time at the college and to pursue lives defined by purpose, integrity and service.
“As we step into this new chapter, let us remember the values this institution has instilled in us and strive not only to build successful careers, but also lives of purpose, integrity and service,” she told the audience.
Charles concluded her address by encouraging the graduating class to take ownership of their futures, reminding them that meaningful change begins with individual action.
“Let us remember that the future is not something we wait for. It is something we create,” she said.
Her selection as valedictorian also marked a notable achievement for the college’s technical and vocational education programmes. According to DSC, Charles is a graduate of the Building and Civil Engineering programme, highlighting the continued growth and academic excellence of technical disciplines within the institution.
The commencement ceremony celebrated the accomplishments of 316 graduates across a wide range of academic and technical programmes, with college officials describing the Class of 2026 as one that reflects the institution’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence, workforce development and preparing graduates to contribute to Dominica’s future.
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