Antiguan D’Andre Farrel named valedictorian at Canadian university, sets sights on becoming judge
An Antiguan who moved to Canada alone at 17 and worked several jobs to finance his university education has been named valedictorian of the Faculty of Arts at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
D’Andre Farrel, a first-generation university graduate from St. John’s, will receive a Bachelor of Arts with honours in political science and a minor in business during the university’s fall convocation Friday, Nov. 13.
His selection as valedictorian recognizes a university journey marked by academic achievement, student leadership, athletics and a commitment to helping others.
Farrel, who hopes to attend law school next year and eventually become a judge, said his ambitions were shaped by Saint Mary’s graduates he encountered while growing up in Antigua and Barbuda.
“Their experiences showed me that coming from a small island did not have to limit the size of my ambitions,” Farrel said in a university profile published Nov. 5.
His journey began when he left Antigua and Barbuda for Canada at 17, taking on the challenges of living independently in a new country while adjusting to university life.
Farrel said the friendships and support he found in student residence helped make the transition easier. He celebrated his 18th birthday in the university’s Vanier Student Lounge and later became a residence assistant, helping other students adjust to campus life.
He also volunteered as a Pack Leader, supporting new students as they navigated their university experience.
Those early experiences helped shape his involvement in student leadership, where he eventually assumed some of the highest student governance responsibilities at Saint Mary’s.
Farrel served as vice chair of the Saint Mary’s University Students’ Association before becoming its board chair and chief governance officer.
He also represented students on the university’s Board of Governors and Academic Senate, participating in discussions and decisions affecting the wider university community.
“Those experiences taught me to listen, consider different perspectives, and take responsibility for decisions that affect others,” he said.
His contributions to student governance earned him the Bryan J. Rice Award for Excellence in Student Governance in both 2025 and 2026.
Beyond student politics, Farrel was active in athletics and campus organizations.
He competed on the university’s varsity track and field team and was recognized as a U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian for the 2023-24 academic year, an achievement reflecting his ability to balance academic work with university athletics.
He also participated in the Caribbean Society and Debate Society, representing Saint Mary’s at the Canadian Parliamentary National Championships during his first semester.
His Caribbean background also influenced his efforts to improve campus dining.
While serving on the university’s Food Committee, Farrel advocated for greater meal variety, including Caribbean-inspired dishes.
“Coming from the Caribbean, I naturally had a few opinions about our dining options!” he recalled.
The committee helped introduce a spice rack at Dockside, one of the university’s dining facilities, while pushing for more diverse food options.
Despite his extensive involvement in campus activities, Farrel also had to manage the financial demands of studying overseas.
He worked several jobs during his university years, including positions with Aramark, Facilities Management and as a fitness associate at the Homburg Centre.
Those jobs helped him pay his expenses and become more financially independent.
Farrel recalled that his position in Facilities Management was particularly meaningful because it allowed him to cover more of his living costs, including purchasing clothing suitable for Canada’s colder winters.
He jokingly described the position as his first “big-boy job.”
Academically, Farrel developed a strong interest in international relations, political theory and the legal responsibilities of governments and international institutions.
His honours thesis, titled “Selective Humanitarianism: The Discursive Construction and Constraint of the Protection of Civilians Norm in the UN Security Council,” examined how political considerations influence the protection of civilians during armed conflicts.
The research explored how countries discuss their responsibilities toward civilians and how competing political interests can restrict humanitarian action.
Farrel presented his findings at the Canadian Undergraduate Security Conference at the Royal Military College Saint-Jean in Quebec.
He credited his professors with helping him develop the analytical skills and confidence necessary to pursue complex political and legal questions.
One of his most memorable courses was international relations, taught by Dr. Doucet, who later supervised his honours thesis.
Farrel recalled how the professor used a scene from the animated film “Toy Story” to explain espionage and intelligence gathering.
The class also included an international relations simulation in which students represented fictional countries, negotiated treaties and formed alliances.
He said the exercise was so engaging that students continued jokingly treating one another as potential spies after the simulation ended.
Farrel also singled out political science professor Stella Gaon as one of the most influential figures in his academic development.
He described her History of Political Thought course as one of the most challenging he completed at Saint Mary’s.
Although he initially struggled to see the relevance of some political theories to contemporary society, he said the course eventually transformed how he approached political questions.
Gaon later led the Political Science Honours program and encouraged him to challenge his assumptions and support his arguments with evidence.
Farrel said her combination of academic expectations and personal support helped him grow as a student.
Now preparing for the next stage of his career, Farrel is already gaining experience in a legal environment.
He works in internal appeals within the legal department of the Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia.
He hopes to begin a Juris Doctor degree in fall 2027 and eventually pursue further graduate studies in law.
His long-term goal is to establish a career in advocacy and public service, with the ambition of one day becoming a judge.
But Farrel said his personal success would mean more if it helped create opportunities for others, particularly young people from disadvantaged communities who face financial barriers to higher education.
He credited his family, mentors and other supporters with making his own educational journey possible.
“My own education was made possible by my family, mentors and people who believed in me,” he said. “I hope to give others some of the opportunities I received.”
As he prepares to graduate, Farrel said he will particularly miss the friendships and relationships he developed with students, professors and university staff.
He described Saint Mary’s as a welcoming community where people supported him through difficult periods and helped him feel that he belonged.
He encouraged current university students to take advantage of opportunities beyond the classroom, including volunteering, joining organizations and building relationships with people from different backgrounds.
“Get involved. Volunteer, join a society, attend events and introduce yourself to people you might not ordinarily approach,” he advised.
He also encouraged students to get to know their professors and university staff, noting that some of the most influential people in his life were individuals he met simply by introducing himself or asking for guidance.
For Farrel, graduating as valedictorian represents another milestone in a journey that began on a small Caribbean island and has taken him into university leadership, international academic research and the Canadian legal workplace.
His ambitions now extend beyond his own professional advancement to helping other young people overcome the obstacles he encountered.
“Ultimately, I want my success to create possibilities for others,” he said.
Saint Mary’s University will hold its fall convocation ceremonies Friday, Nov. 13, with the proceedings available to watch online through the university’s livestream.
Source: Saint Mary’s University, Nov. 5, 2026.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Antiguan D’Andre Farrel to graduate as valedictorian at Saint Mary’s University in Canada on November 13.