On Sunday May 16, 2004 Shangri-La Durham Thompson graduated from St. John's University with a doctorate in Educational Leadership along with seven other Bermudian educators. Shangri-La also achieved a graduate certificate of excellence.

Dr. Durham-Thompson earned her B.Sc. degree from A & T State University in 1976, two Masters of Education degrees from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1979 and Miami University, Oxford, Ohio in 1993.

Attending her graduation were her mother, Mrs. Julia Durham, her husband, Stanton Sr. and her sons, Stanton Jr. and Shan-on; Her brother Coolidge and wife Paula Durham, along with their son, Coolie; her sister, Dr. Donna Durham-Pierre and her daughter Kenya, as well as her sister Shelby Durham-Jackson. Also attending were her aunts, Joan Furbert-Forde and Hilda Romaine, along with her daughter Erika Berkeley and Erika's daughter Beyonce. Vicky and Ward Miller of North Carolina were also in attendance.