NCU graduate Monae Williams defies the odds
Published:Saturday | August 30, 2025 | 12:07 AM
When Monae Williams walks into a room, her energy is unmistakable. Hailing from St Thomas, she has always been determined to stand out — not just in personality, but in her life choices. That determination led her to Northern Caribbean University where a life-changing phone call shifted her path entirely.
“Jacqueline Anderson-Robinson, [CPFSA transitional living programme coordinator], called me one day and asked about my GPA. I told her it was above 3.0 and she said, ‘Consider yourself lucky, because the Supreme Ventures Foundation (SVF) will be sponsoring you going forward. I didn’t apply for it — God did,’” she explained, smiling.
In 2021, as part of its 20th anniversary celebrations, Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL) pledged $100 million through its foundation to help 20 outstanding young people in state care. The support covered four years of tertiary education, including tuition, boarding, a stipend, and other expenses.
For Williams, being chosen as a scholarship awardee was a lifeline. It allowed her to focus fully on her studies, engage in campus life, and build connections with peers and mentors who expanded her sense of what was possible. She expressed particular gratitude for the annual pep sessions hosted by the SVF, which inspired the cohort and provided support beyond financial aid.
“Those pep sessions? Life savers! They came right when I was on the brink of giving up. They re-energised me and connected me with people who taught me that your network will one day be your net worth.”
University life came with its fair share of challenges — endless assignments, group projects, sectionals, and exams that often felt like “life sentences”. Still, Williams credits God and her close-knit circle of friends for helping her push through. Along the way, she says, she has learned to see life from a new perspective, while, professionally, she has mastered the art of working with people from all walks of life.
Graduating earlier this month was a monumental milestone for Williams. She is the first on her mother’s side and the second on her father’s, to reach this academic level. “For my little family, it’s a blessing to know that, despite all I’ve been through, I could still walk across that stage,” she said.
As for her next steps? She’s leaving that in God’s hands. “Wherever He sends me, that’s where I’ll go,” she declared.
Williams expressed deep gratitude to SVF, saying, “Thank you for believing in me and giving me the chance to do my best at what I love. May God bless you so you can continue doing even bigger things for others”.
Her advice to students chasing their dreams is simple: “Put God first, stay focused, and don’t be afraid to speak up about your situation. Sometimes you have to be ‘nuff’, as closed mouths don’t get fed.”