The Caribbean Writer Dedicates Anniversary Issue to Ayiti/Haiti

The 25th anniversary issue of UVI's "The Caribbean Writer" has been published and is available in bookstores in the Virgin Islands - including the UVI Bookstores on St. Croix and St. Thomas. The issue - Volume 25 - focuses on Ayiti/Haiti. For more information, see this UVI News Release.

Cover art by Pasko Merisier

Learning to Sea - The USVI

The first installment of the new video feature "Learning to Sea - The USVI" will be broadcast during today's (Wednesday, July 6) 7 p.m. newscast on the territory's CBS affiliate TV2. Each three-minute episode of the 13-week series will feature a marine animal in its natural habitat. Filmmaker Ziggy Livnat and a UVI research team captured the unique footage. See a complete newsrelease at this direct link.

Learning to Sea in the USVI Promo clip from For The Sea Productions on Vimeo.

29 Certified as Future Global Leaders

UVI's 17th Annual Summer Institute for Future Global Leaders graduated 29 students on Wednesday, June 1, on the University St. Thomas campus. The students received Global Leadership certificates and three hours of college or graduate school credit after having completed the intensive two-week leadership course. Details are available in a news release - with a larger image available - on the UVI website - http://www.uvi.edu/ - or from this direct link: http://www.uvi.edu/sites/uvi/Pages/Spotlight_News_Show.aspx?newsId=318&s=PS.

Alumni Phonathon Part II - Wednesday

Alumni Phonathon Part II - Tuesday

Volunteers Open Alumni Phonathon Part II

UVI special alumna Tiffany Chichester, center, was the first volunteer to secure a donation in UVI's 2011 Alumni Phonathon Part II. Volunteers began placing calls to special alumni today (Monday, May 23) at the Administration and Conference Center on the St. Thomas campus. UVI held Part I of its Alumni Phonathon in March when it reached out to regular alumni. Today, the attention turned to special alumni – persons who attended UVI or CVI (the College of the Virgin Islands) for a minimum of 12 months, but did not graduate. Chichester herself is a special alumni, attending the University in 2004. She is flanked by Phonathon organizer and UVI's Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Affairs Linda I. Smith, left, and UVI alumna Jessica Edwards ('07, '08).

Volunteers, at right, include UVI students, alumni, special alumni, faculty and staff. Along with securing contributions to support student scholarships and UVI's areas of greatest needs, the Phonathon provides direct contact with all the University's - updating contact details and sharing the latest on UVI's initiatives and activities. Their efforts continue from 5:30 to 9 p.m. each night through Thursday, May 26.

Current UVI student Twanna Hodge, left, ('13) reaches for the bell to announce another pledge received. She is cheered on by UVI alumna and current employee Sadio Thomas ('05).

Summer Institute for Future Global Leaders Opens

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. State Department Cheryl Benton speaks with Kanual Singhal of Texas Women's University at the opening of the 2011 Summer Institute for Future Global Leaders. Below, Hershelle Gaffney of Bennet College asks Cheryl Benton a question.


The 2011 Summer Institute for Future Global Leaders opened on May 17, welcoming 36 students from 23 universities throughout the United States and the Caribbean. The students will engage in two intensive weeks of leadership training, specifically addressing this year’s theme, “Global Leadership in Times of Diminishing Resources.”

Cheryl Benton, deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Public Affairs, was the keynote speaker at the opening ceremony. She explained the mission of the State Department and her role as deputy assistant secretary. In her address, Benton detailed recent missions to countries like Azerbaijan, explained careers available within the department and told the crowd how the department is able to function with limited resources. She also answered questions.

“I’m proud to say that I’m the new face of diplomacy,” Benton said about her role. After meeting with students, Benton said she was encouraged by their passion and goals. “The future of the globe is in really good hands,” she said.

In addition to traditional coursework, participants must develop a leadership prospectus and present it to the group. For more information, click here to visit the Summer Institute for Future Global Leaders webpage.

UVI's Recaldo Richardson Wins Student Addy

UVI Ad Club President Recaldo Richardson, front row, third from left, received the Student Addy Award for Best of Show at the 2011 ADDY Awards, presented by the American Advertising Federation (AAF) of the U.S. Virgin Islands, on Saturday, April 30. Richardson won for his student project advertising campaign titled "I Am Drama: School of Theatrical Arts.” UVI Ad Club members celebrated on stage with Richardson while receiving a standing ovation from the audience. A news release is available from the UVI homepage - http://www.uvi.edu/ - and from this direct link.

Entrepreneur Kiril Sokoloff Donates $5 Million to UVI

UVI has received a $5 million gift commitment over five years from investment strategist and entrepreneur Kiril Sokoloff. Mr. Sokoloff is the founder of 13D Research (USVI) LLC (13D). His gift was announced at a news conference on May 2. Details and photos are available at this news release.

UVI Community Remembers 'Miss V'

Students, faculty, staff and friends gathered for a memorial tree planting ceremony for UVI alumna and long-time employee Junie Violenes - affectionately known as "Miss V" - on the St. Thomas campus on Friday, April 29. A celebration of her life, including the lighting of candles, poetry reading, music and tributes, followed in the Student Activities Center. Violenes died on Thursday, April 21. Funeral services will be held at Wesley Methodist Church, in Anna’s Retreat on St. Thomas, at 1 p.m. today - Saturday, April 30.