Pelican Awardees | UWI Alumni

Mr. Donat Grant

A software engineer, Donat Grant attended the University of the West Indies and earned a Bachelor of Science (Honors) degree in pure and applied physics. He later completed a Master of Science degree in computer information systems at Nova Southeastern University.
A philanthropist at heart with over 25 years of service, in 2012 Donat founded the non-for-profit Missions for Health (M4H) organization which from the beginning has conducted annual dental missions to Jamaica. Donat has made an inestimable contribution of time, talent and financial resources to needy communities in Florida and Jamaica, and directly to support the advancement and continued excellence of the UWI.
In 2020 Donat created an M4H endowment starting with US $20,000 to benefit students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in dentistry at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus.
The M4H organization also funds dental scholarships through the UWI Alumni Florida Chapter for students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in dentistry at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus.
Mr. Grant was appointed to the Dental Management Committee, School of Dentistry, UWI Mona campus in 2019 and has continued to serve in this role. He is also a vice president of the Florida Chapter of UWI Alumni Association.

A professional engineer with over 45 years of experience in mechanical, plumbing, fire protection engineering design and construction management, is the president and founder of Hammond & Associates, Inc.
Eric Hammond earned his diploma from the University of Technology and his mechanical engineering degree from The University of West Indies.
Eric’s expertise spans across civic, public safety, multifamily, office, transportation, higher education, and healthcare. Eric has led the company from a single person company to over 20 team members.
Eric Hammond has been part of the South Florida community for the over 33 years and in that time, he has had the opportunity to manage and design several high-profile projects. Eric is licensed in Florida, Georgia, New York, and Minnesota.
Eric is active in his community, giving back to the next generation of engineering leaders within the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.

The longest serving member of the chapter, in 2000 Miriam White worked closely with her husband the late Ronald White, to restructure the UWI Guild of Graduates in Florida to form The Florida Chapter of the University of the West Indies Alumni Association.
Miriam White holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Studies from the University of the West Indies, and a Master of Science in Health Care Administration from the New School for Social Research in New York. She has spent over 26 years in Management in the health care field and has had extensive administrative experience with two major health care insurance providers namely Blue Cross of Jamaica and Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield, New York.
Miriam has served on numerous committees for the chapter and her ongoing commitment to service to the UWIAA-FL Chapter is widely recognized. She provides guidance and institutional advice to new members and the executive of the Chapter.
The first scholarship of the association, the Ronald & Miriam White Scholarship, was created to recognize Miriam and Ron's long and outstanding service and commitment to the Florida Chapter of the University of the West indies.

An associate professor of business administration in the College of Business at St. Thomas University, Dr. Justin Peart's teaching and research focus on entrepreneurship and marketing in less developed countries.
Dr. Peart earned a baccalaureate degree in computer studies at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica, and a doctorate degree in business administration at Florida International University (FIU).
Dr. Peart has been a leader of study-abroad programs to Europe and Haiti, where he was instrumental in developing a coffee cooperative (Café Cocano) that exports organic beans to the USA. He also helped with the formation of a solar energy project and an artisan cooperative for women.
Justin also lectured as part of a team that offered a social entrepreneurship master’s degree program in Cuba.