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St. Thomas campus students were joined by the AY Drum Corps and others from the community – including several students from Charlotte Amalie High School – for a Walk/Rally & Speak Out Against Substance Abuse and Crime on Wednesday, Oct. 27. The march ended at the UVI Recreational Center, where the speak-out took place. Activities on St. Thomas continue today (Oct. 28) with a Student Peer Educators and Public Safety Presentation at 8 p.m. in the Dining Pavilion, and Friday, Oct. 29, with a Weird Costume Contest and Karaoke at 11:30 a.m., also at the Dining Pavilion. The Psychology Association won the St. Thomas campus Red Ribbon Week Door Decoration contest. View a UVI Red Ribbon Week news release.

Red Ribbon Week St. Croix Campus

Click on photo to enlarge. Photo Courtesy St. Croix Source

Hundreds turned out to the Wear Red March and Rally held Monday, Oct. 25, on the St. Croix campus. The marchers, including UVI students and many from the community were led by Central High School’s marching band, majorettes and dance squad, shown here in the lead. The V.I. Police Department’s K9 Unit also gave a presentation. Other highlights of the week were health screenings, blood drives and a special Jeopardy Game. A door decoration contest will conclude the week’s activities with judging scheduled for Friday, Oct. 29. Contest prizes will be awarded on Tuesday, Nov. 3. View a UVI Red Ribbon Week news release.

World Food Day Observance Attracts Hundreds

Hundreds on St. Croix turned out for UVI’s annual observation of World Food Day on Sunday, Oct. 17, on the St. Croix campus. World Food Day brings attention to the plight of the hungry and undernourished in the territory and the world. It also provides an opportunity for a deeper understanding of the complex solutions required to reduce hunger.

This year’s event featured workshops focused on tomato, citrus and poultry. Junior and senior high school students participated in the “Youth Super Chef” competition. The “Citrus Splash” competition featured breads, desserts, preserves and drinks made from citrus fruits. Two tons of non-perishable food was collected in the “Kids CAN Make a Difference” food drive. The food will be distributed to food banks.

World Food Day activities are sponsored by the UVI Cooperative Extension Service in partnership with the V.I. Department of Agriculture and the UVI Agricultural Experiment Station.

Why UVI?

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Why UVI?

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UVI Hosts Homeland Security Conference

Security consultant John Avolio, above, opened the 1st International Caribbean Atlantic Homeland Security Conference on Wednesday, Oct. 13.

One of the keynote speakers was Lynn Canton, at left, executive director of Region II of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Region II includes New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. “The conference represents an effort to build bridges between federal emergency response and security agencies and our local responders and security providers,” said conference coordinator and chair Dr. Edward Tarver, above right, an associate professor of chemistry at UVI.

UVI Students Jerome Rogers, left, and Mohammad Mustafa presented the results of their summer research program studying data mining. Above right, Dr. Nadine Noorhasan, director of the Division of Environmental Protection at the V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources also spoke. Dr. Noorhasan graduated from UVI in 2000.The plenary session speaker was Dr. Mitchell Erickson, director of Northeast and Caribbean Operations for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The conference will conclude with a panel discussion and public forum at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 13, in the UVI Administration and Conference Center on the St. Thomas campus.

Mary Joe Williams Selected VI SBDC’s 2010 State Star

Mary Joe Williams, third from right, is honored as the 2010 State Star of the Virgin Islands Small Business Development Center, during the 30th annual conference of the Association of Small Business Development Centers held in September in Texas. Shown, from left, are President and CEO of the Association of Small Business Development Centers Charles “Tee” Rowe, State Director of the Florida SBDC Jerry Cartwright, State Director of the Virgin Islands SBDC Leonor D. Dottin, Williams, Associate Administrator of the Office of Small Business Development Centers at the U. S. Small Business Administration Antonio Doss and Vice President for ACT! Sales at Sage North America Jim Mullery. (Click on photo to view full size.)

Mary Joe Williams has been selected as the 2010 State Star of the Virgin Islands Small Business Development Center (VI SBDC), according to an announcement by SBDC State Director Leonor D. Dottin. “I am delighted to make this announcement, and to recognize Ms. Williams for extraordinary contributions to the work of the Virgin Islands Small Business Development Center and small business in the Virgin Islands,” Dottin said.

Williams is a training coordinator and business counselor at the SBDC’s St. Thomas / St. John Service Center. She was chosen by the VI SBDC for being an outstanding performer, making a major contribution to the Virgin Islands SBDC program, and showing a strong commitment to the small business community. A full news release is available from the UVI web site - http://www.uvi.edu/ - and from this direct link.

Community Supports Health and Wellness Day

The Health and Wellness Screening Day held on Sept. 24, on UVI’s St. Thomas campus attracted more than 240 participants from UVI and the general community. Attendees were able to take advantage of free health screenings for blood pressure, blood glucose, blood cholesterol and HIV, along with eye exams and massage therapy. The event was sponsored by the Health Services Office. Students look on as Toni Gillman, Health Services temporary evening nurse, performs a massage. Gillman, a registered nurse who is trained in Holistic Nursing and Vibrational Medicine, offers massages at the Health Services Office on the St. Thomas campus from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and by appointments.

Miss UVI Competes in National Pageant

Miss UVI Jonesia Smith represented the University at the Competition of Black College Queens, held annually by the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc. The competition was held on Sept. 25, in Atlanta. Top, on the night of the competition Smith, center, is all smiles as, left, the Honorable Glenda Hatchett, star of the popular “Judge Hatchett” television show and competition host, solicits final applause from the audience. Left, Smith prepares for the “Queen’s Tea” segment of the competition.