Workshop Draws Addiction Professionals on St. Thomas

A diverse audience of some 43 professionals – including police officers, first responders, mental health counselors, social workers, paramedics, dental health professionals and nurses – attended a workshop on addiction and the role treatment with buprenorphine can play in helping addicts on Friday, Aug. 15. Held on UVI's St. Thomas campus, the workshop featured Jorge Nogales Marin, Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Director of Psychological Consultants of Puerto Rico, at right, who discussed the serious national health concern posed by the abuse of and addiction to powerful pain relievers known as opioids. He provided overview of a training program now available that incorporates the use of a medication called buprenophine to help addicts overcome opioid abuse. The workshop was presented by the Universidad Central Del Caribe of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands Department of Health's Division of Mental Health and UVI's Counseling Services Office. For details, contact Andrea Hamm at 340-693-1136.

UVI Serves "Academic Chili" at Cook-Off

A contingent of UVI cooks and would-be cooks participated Sunday August 17th in the 24th annual Texas Society of the Virgin Islands "Chili Cook-Off." Pots of the seasoned specialty simmered most of the day as hundreds of people, many of whom attend each year, ambled along Brewer's Bay Beach. UVI's chili seemed to be a favorite, as taste-testers waited in line, some for seconds and thirds. Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr. was among those who sampled UVI's version as he made the rounds. Pictured from left to right are Tregenza Roach, Suzanne Darrow, Tracy Hodge and Richard Hall.

UVI Welcomes New Students

UVI President Dr. LaVerne E. Ragster greets a new student at the Orientation 2008 Welcome Reception and Pinning Ceremony held on Aug. 12, on the St. Thomas campus. A similar ceremony was held on the St. Croix campus on Aug. 11. At the ceremonies freshmen were pinned with a UVI button by administration and welcomed as future UVI alumni. Orientation activities were held on Aug. 11-15 on both campuses.

UVI Students Present Research

Biology major Mutahammis Kareem of St. Croix, center, discusses his Summer Science Symposium entry with UVI Professor Dr. Michael Thomas, right. Research for the entry titled “Total Phenolic Content of Breadfruit” was conducted by Kareem, Al’Lima de Lugo and Andrea Dorsey. The Summer Science Symposium was held on Aug. 1, in the Administration and Conference Center on UVI’s St. Thomas campus. It features research conducted by UVI students during the summer.

CES 4-H Summer Academy Draws 260

Summer was filled with fun as well as learning opportunities for some 260 young people ages five to 14 who participated in the 2008 UVI Cooperative Extension Service's 4-H Summer Academy programs on St. Thomas and St. Croix. Closing ceremonies – shown here for St. Thomas on July 30 and St. Croix on July 31 - drew an estimated 400 family and friends. In classroom and hands-on sessions the youngsters sampled a range of subjects from snorkeling to steel pan. Nutrition education, math instruction and computer technology were also covered. New this summer were Hispanic culture studies and sign language. For details, contact the Cooperative Extension Service at 340-692-4080 on St. Croix or 340-693-1080 on St. Thomas.

VIMAS, CRABBS Sponsor Students' SCUBA Course

St. Croix Educational Complex students Kurrisa Vialet, left, and Adrian Cuencas completed their open water SCUBA certification in July as part of the ongoing series of activities and programs marking 2008 as the International Year of the Reef on St. Croix. UVI's Marine Advisory Service partnered with the CRABBS (Caribbean Reef Association of Bubble Blowers of St. Croix) dive club to sponsor an essay contest that asked students to detail why they would like to become certified divers and what they hope to do with the certification. The winners took their SCUBA certification course at N2 the Blue Dive Shop in Frederiksted. Contact Emily Tyner of the UVI Marine Advisory Service at 692-4144 for more on the International Year of the Reef events.

Reichhold to Unveil 30th Season on Aug. 7

UVI's Reichhold Center for the Arts will provide a sneak preview of its 30th Anniversary Season at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7, during a St. Thomas/St. John Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event. The preview and Business After Hours session will take place in the Reichhold Theatre.

The 30th Anniversary Season will feature big names in music and dance, and an expanded Family Series. Also included will be performances by Spectrum Band and Caribbean Ritual Dancers. A free buffet, the Chamber's "famous $2 bar" and chances to win tickets to Reichhold shows will be offered. For details, call 340-693-1563.

UVI Promotes Four Security Officers on St. Thomas

The University of the Virgin Islands recognized members of the Security Department at a Promotion Ceremony held on July 31, in the Sports and Fitness Center on the St. Thomas campus. The promotees, pictured from left to right, are Captain John Payne, Sergeant Willmond Wattley, Sergeant Theodore Glasford and Sergeant Barbara Maynard.

UVI Recognizes New Security Officers

At a University of the Virgin Islands Security Department Promotion Ceremony held on July 31, on the St. Thomas campus, four security officers were recognized. Those recognized, pictured from left to right are, Officer Rodrique Leslie, Officer Rashaun Lindquist, Officer George Battiste III and Officer Marilyn Harris.