The University of the South Pacific (USP) honoured 63 students and recent graduates for academic excellence at its Medals and Prizes Ceremony in Suva yesterday, recognising 15 Gold Medalists among recipients of gold medals, special prizes and certificates across multiple disciplines. The event, held as part of USP’s graduation week, showcased high achievers from campuses across the region and highlighted the university’s growing research output.
The Right Honourable Siosiua ‘Utoikamanu, Pro‑Chancellor and Chair of Council and the Interim Management Group, presented the awards alongside sponsors and Heads of Schools. ‘Utoikamanu told the gathering that the 63 awards reflected a “very high standard of academic performance” and noted the strength of regional scholarship, pointing in particular to joint recipients of the PhD Thesis Award as evidence of growing research capacity at USP.
To qualify for School Gold Medals and other top honours, students had to meet stringent criteria, including a cumulative grade point average of no less than 4.0, among other requirements. The range of prizes covered discipline awards and special categories designed to recognise both scholastic achievement and contributions to the university community.
Among the evening’s most prestigious honours, the Vice‑Chancellor and President’s All‑Rounder Gold Medal — awarded to the female graduate with the best combined academic record and community service — was presented to Busra Shaheenaz Sakib. Sakib said the award reflected long hours balancing study, internships and paid work, and credited her mother, lecturers and campus programmes for their support. She is currently pursuing postgraduate study while working and said she intends to continue toward a master’s degree.
Mathematics graduate Maliumoeao Fa’asolo was named the Most Outstanding Graduate with a major in Mathematics. Fa’asolo described the recognition as humbling and meaningful, saying it represented not only personal effort but also the “support, sacrifices and encouragement” of family, a mentor and friends. He said his time at USP had been transformational both academically and personally and that the award would motivate him to pursue further opportunities.
The selection pool for the 2026 medals and prizes included graduates from ceremonies already held in September 2025 at USP’s Laucala Campus and in the Solomon Islands, as well as those from the October 2025 ceremony in Tonga. Students graduating at the upcoming Laucala ceremonies on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 April 2026 were also included in the consideration for this year’s awards. USP’s formal graduation ceremonies will take place at the Vodafone Arena in Suva on those April dates, when hundreds of students are expected to receive their degrees in the presence of families, staff and the wider university community.
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