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Fendall, Liberia, February 19, 2026—
The University of Liberia (UL) celebrated academic excellence on Wednesday, inducting 48 standout freshmen into the College of Gender Studies and Interdisciplinary Research’s Honors Scholars Program. The ceremony recognizes students who maintained elite academic standings throughout their first year of study.
The induction, held at the Fendall Campus, served as a cornerstone of the college’s 9th Annual Research Symposium. This year’s event carried double significance: it marked the 12th induction in the program’s history and officially launched the festivities for the University’s 105th Commencement Convocation.
Eight of the new inductees are women, while 40 are men. The inductees were selected from various colleges across the university based on their high academic performances over the course of their first year’s stay at UL.
The Honors Scholars Program creates a platform for excellent academic education in Interdisciplinary Research with the goal of empowering students with sustainable research knowledge and skills needed to solve critical national issues. The program’s mission is to train the University’s brightest students in using effective research skills to identify and offer solutions to critical national problems.
In addition to inducting the 48 new scholars, five graduating honors scholars, who have completed their coursework, presented their research papers during the symposium.
All the papers addressed the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. Each scholar had seven minutes to present, followed by a five-minute question-and-answer period from the high table and the audience.
Among the presenters were Jude Zondoe T. Summerville, who spoke on “Assessment of Groundwater Quality in Chicken Soup Factory Community”; Jeremiah J. Doryen, whose presentation was titled “Assessing the Impact of Gender on Women’s Political Participation and Representation in Liberia: A Case Study of the House of Representatives (2023-2025)”; and Vahcelia D. Vah, who presented “Pageantry Exploitation and the Financial Implications for Girls Participating in Miss Earth Liberia,” among others.
Madam Lorpu Garmai Blackie, dean of the College of Gender Studies and Interdisciplinary Research, said admitting students to the program is a rigorous process. She said students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.33.
“And these students must maintain the grade point from the beginning of their sophomore year to when they enroll in the program up to the time they complete,” said Dean Blackie.
According to Dean Blackie, honors scholars across the globe are highly recognized. At the University of Liberia, she said this great initiative started in 2011, when the first group was recruited.
Delivering a special statement, Dr. Layli Maparyan, President of the University of Liberia, said the occasion brings together two of the University’s most enduring commitments. First, she cited the advancement of rigorous scholarship, and second, the celebration of academic excellence.
“It is therefore fitting that today’s engagement is framed under the theme ‘Contribution of Equitable Research to Sustainable Development.’ At 75 years old, the University of Liberia stands as a national symbol of intellectual leadership and social responsibility,” said President Maparyan.
From its founding as Liberia College, which became a university in 1951, Dr. Maparyan said the University of Liberia has long viewed research not merely as an academic exercise but as a public good—a powerful tool for national development, policy reform, and social transformation.
As the inductees advance in their scholarly journeys, President Maparyan encouraged them to pursue research that is ethical, bold, and impactful, saying work that addresses the needs of the nation and beyond contributes to sustainable development.
“When research is equitable, when it is inclusive in design, when it is participatory in method and responsive in outcome, it becomes a force that uplifts communities and leaves no one behind,” the President said.
Dr. Maparyan also commended the College of Gender Studies and Interdisciplinary Research for its continued leadership in promoting research that is socially conscious, policy relevant, and development oriented.
Through the annual symposium, President Maparyan said the college has established a vital platform for scholarly dialogue that fosters innovation, critical thinking, and solutions rooted in equity and justice.
“To our honor scholars being inducted today, let me extend heartfelt congratulations,” she said. “Your induction is both an honor and a responsibility. You’re being recognized not only for academic excellence but also for your potential to lead with integrity, curiosity, and purpose.”
Addressing the graduating honors scholars, President Maparyan commended them on their training within the esteemed unit of the University of Liberia. She emphasized that their responsibilities are aligned with their aspirations as they approach graduation, marking the conclusion of their undergraduate studies.
Dr. Edna Johnny, president of the University of Liberia Faculty Association, delivering the keynote address, thanked the inducted scholars for their contributions to themselves, their families, and the university.
Speaking on the theme “Reimagining Research as Community Partnership for Sustainable Development in an Era of Crisis and Change,” Dr. Johnny noted that researchers often neglect to involve stakeholders in their work.
“They just engage them at the end when they have their findings. As such, it may not address the most relevant or pressing questions for the audience,” she said.
She also pointed out that researchers often conduct studies without engaging the communities affected by their work.
“We do not communicate our findings effectively. Traditional research methods were often designed to be detached, with the researcher acting as an independent, dispassionate observer, separate from the subjects of study,” she said.
However, Dr. Johnny said recent analyses have shown that development systems are changing rapidly.
