Young Scientists Share Work at Eighth UVI Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium

UVI students from left, Jeremiah Duffy, Benise Tavernier and Keturah McCrae explain their research project to UVI graduate student Lia Ortiz, at right.

Young scientists Jeremiah Duffy, Benise Tavernier and Keturah McCrae were among the more than 20 students presenting the results of recent research projects at the Eighth Annual Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of the Virgin Islands on Friday, July 30. The trio’s subject, one close to the hearts of most Virgin Islanders, was titled “Studying the Historical Ethnoecology of the USVI-St. Thomas Fishing Community.”

Other projects covered a range of topics from traditional botanical remedies and mobile robotics to odd triperfect number problems and data mining. A complete list of the student participants and their research topics is available in the symposium’s program book, which is available at this link. The symposium was organized by the Emerging Caribbean Scientists Programs office in UVI’s College of Science and Mathematics. A news release is available on the UVI web site – http://www.uvi.edu/ – and from this direct link.

During the symposium, the University also presented certificates to 23 students who participated in UVI’s “Math Behind the Science” 2010 summer bridge program. These students were recent high school graduates, the majority of whom will attend UVI in the fall. The program is designed to enhance the mathematics preparedness of college-bound students who are interested in pursuing careers in science, mathematics, engineering, technology or medicine.

Some of UVI’s symposium participants gather for a group shot after Friday’s Eighth Annual Summer Research Symposium.

These students received certificates from UVI’s “Math Behind the Science” summer bridge program.

Alumni Honored at Recognition Breakfast

The University of the Virgin Islands Alumni Association St. Thomas St. John Chapter honored four alumni on Saturday, July 24th at the 8th annual Alumni Recognition Award Breakfast on UVI’s St. Thomas campus. International Capital and Management Company President Cornel A. Williams (1987) received the Alumni Honor Award. Associate Attorney Joss N. Springette (2000) and Guy H. Benjamin Elementary School Principal Dionne A. Wells (2003) received the Alumni Horizon Award. Court Administrator of the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands Glendia B. Caines (1977,1987) received the Alumni Award of Excellence. Pictured are Williams and St. Thomas-St. John Chapter Vice President Pamela Toussaint (1998, 2005).

St. Croix Campus Upward Bound Students

Students in UVI’s Upward Bound Program on the St. Croix campus gathered last week­ for this group photo. (Click the photo for a larger view.) The St. Croix component of the overall UVI program – see related photo post on July 15 – has enrolled 25 students who will be entering the ninth through 11th grades in the fall. As on St. Thomas, the federally funded, summer program provides St. Croix students with a taste of college life. They live in the campus residence hall, take college preparatory courses that focus on writing, math and science, and participate in a range of enrichment activities. Last week, the St. Croix students were featured on the TV2 news after they joined with other students in a leadership conference sponsored by Innovative Communication Corp. Michelle Albany-Crispin, the Upward Bound assistant director who oversees Upward Bound on St. Croix, said the students will conclude the 2010 program on Friday, July 30. For details, visit the Upward Bound web pages in the “Community” section of the UVI web site – http://www.uvi.edu/.

Project to Address Health Threats Posed by Climate Change

Dr. Jennifer C. Friday, above, president of the Friday Consulting Group, and Delegate to Congress Donna Christensen, see inset, address the opening session of an 18-month project designed to raise awareness of the increased risk of diseases and illness that predicted climate changes pose to the Virgin Islands. The session was held on Friday, July 16, at UVI’s Administration and Conference Center on the St. Thomas campus. The project is a collaborative effort between UVI’s Caribbean Exploratory Research Center and the Public Information and Community Outreach Office of the Medical University of South Carolina. The project is funded by the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health. It is also supported by the Virgin Islands Department of Health. Below, participants break out into discussion sections. For more information contact Project Director Dr. Gloria Callwood at (340) 693-1291.

President Hall Addresses Congressional Subcommittee

UVI President David Hall addressed the House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, July 15. The Subcommittee is led by Del. Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-Guam). The hearing was held on the topic of "Technical Assistance Program: Evaluating Its Ability to Meet the Needs of the Insular Areas." Other testifiers included Michael Ada, secretary of commerce for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Charlene Leizear, director of the Technical Assistance Division of the U.S. Department of Interior's Office of Insular Affairs, and Anu K. Mittal, director of the U.S. Government Accountability Office's Natural Resources and Environment Team.

Virgin Islands Writing Project Concludes

Participants of the Virgin Islands Writing Project (VIWP) Summer Institute, held on the UVI St. Thomas campus, pose for a group shot on the institute’s last day. The VIWP is part of the National Writing Project, a nationwide network of educators working together to improve the teaching of writing in the nation’s schools. The VIWP provides high-quality professional development programs to teachers in a variety of disciplines and at all levels, from early childhood through university. The four-week institute was held June 21-July 13. For the first time, the VIWP conducted two institutes - one on St. Thomas and one on St. Croix. Fourteen teachers participated on UVI’s St. Thomas campus and eight participated on the St. Croix campus.

UVI 4-Hers Learn to Sew

The University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service hosts 4-H Summer Academies on St. Thomas and St. Croix for children ages 5-14. The students are grouped according to their ages. The Sea Environment/Natural Resources or Sewing group in the St. Thomas Academy serves ages 11-4. The students are currently constructing boxer shorts. Their next project is sewing a back pack. The Summer Academies run until Aug. 6. Above, Kamille Willis sews fabric. Below, Jonisha Aubain and Audri Van Gores trace a pattern.

Upward Bound Students Get Taste of College Life on St. Thomas Campus

Students, instructors and organizers in UVI’s St. Thomas campus 2010 Upward Bound Summer Program gathered for this group shot on July 12. Twenty-two St. Thomas students – who will be 10th, 11th and 12th graders in local schools this fall – are spending part of their summer getting a taste of college life compliments of the federally funded Upward Bound Program. The students live on-campus and are taking classes that focus on writing, math and science. The program also features a variety of field trips and other activities. This year three exchange students from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania are participating in Upward Bound on the St. Thomas campus. Another 25 students are participating in this summer’s Upward Bound Program on UVI’s St. Croix campus. For details, visit the Upward Bound web pages in the “Community” section of the UVI web site – http://www.uvi.edu/ or use this direct link.
Click on photo to see larger image.

Royalty Attends St. John Festival Parade

Photographer Dale Morton, a UVI employee and alum ('83, ‘97), found this trio of reigning royalty - all with ties to the University of the Virgin Islands - participating in the St. John Festival Parade on Monday, July 5. Shown, from left, are Miss US Virgin Islands Universe Janeisha John, a 2009 UVI grad, and current UVI students Miss Virgin Islands Sheniqua Robinson and Miss St. Croix Marcellina Ventura.

St. Thomas Campus Honors Outgoing Provost A.I. Musah

UVI’s outgoing Provost Dr. Al Hassan I. Musah was toasted and lightly roasted at a St. Thomas campus reception on Wednesday, June 30, 2010. Above, Dr. Musah, center, reacts to comments from one of his friends and colleagues who spoke. In brief remarks Dr. Musah encouraged members of the UVI community to continue their support of President David Hall’s efforts to lead the University from good to great. Dr. Hall noted Dr. Musah’s dedication to students and thanked him for his five years of dedicated service as Provost.

At left, Dr. Hall presents Dr. Musah with several tokens of the University’s appreciation. A reception for Dr. Musah is scheduled at 4 p.m. today (July 1) on the St. Croix campus.