The University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus Anguilla is paying tribute to another Anguillian UWI student – Ms. Rikiesha Leveret. She is the recipient of a Volleyball Scholarship at the UWI Cave Hill in Barbados, where she is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Education.
Now in her third year, Rikiesha is the first Anguillian to receive a Volleyball Scholarship to attend the UWI. A former track and field athlete, she attributes her passion for volleyball to her aunts who introduced her to the game at age fourteen. Leveret was a key member of the Dynamite and the Anguilla National Female Volleyball teams before transitioning to University. As a member of the Cave Hill Blackbirds she participates in a variety of tournaments, including the Barbados Local League and the UWI Games.
Leveret credits Mr. Winston Duncan, former President of the Anguilla Amateur Volleyball Association, for encouraging her to take the game seriously and obtain the UWI scholarship. “He was relentless,” she says. “We recorded an array of videos and used them to support my applications to several schools before landing the UWI Scholarship. My family and I are grateful for Mr. Duncan’s efforts in procuring this scholarship. This is the first of its kind for Anguilla, and it has opened up the way for more local volleyball players and other athletes. Mr. Duncan has assisted me and many students in obtaining sports scholarships at UWI and other Universities and we thank him for believing in us.”
Ms. Leveret, who is scheduled to graduate next year, says that she chose to study Education because she developed a love for teaching while working as an IT Teaching Assistant at the Adrian T Hazel Primary School. She is encouraging other young persons on Anguilla to consider the opportunities available to them at the UWI. “It is hard being a Student Athlete. You have to train long hours, play tournaments and still find time to study and go classes, but the discipline and the results are rewarding and you get a world-class education at a top-rated University,” she said.
In congratulating Ms. Leveret, Manager for the UWI Open Campus British Overseas Territories, Dr. Phyllis Fleming Banks, said, “Rikiesha is a trailblazer and a great example of perseverance and hard work. We salute and applaud her and wish her continued success as she completes her studies and continues to make us all proud.”
– Press Release
