UVI's 2009 Carnival troupe joins in the St. Thomas Carnival's Adults Parade on May 2. This year UVI goes green with the theme: “Let Our Energies Combine for Carnival 2009.” UVI students shown here model costumes for the Troupe's four sections which represent four sources of alternative energy: Shown are, from left, Crystal Schouten (Sun), Justine Charles (Wind), Ehjaylyn Henry (Earth) and Yaira Bermudez (Water). UVI Troupe t-shirts are on sale at the UVI Bookstore - Shirts cost $10 for children, $12 for adults small to XL, and $15 for adults 2XL. Click here to view a slide show with more views of the UVI costumes.

Francielli Baker Named Miss CYFAR 2009

Nine year old Francielli Baker was crowned Miss CYFAR 2009 during a pageant held April 4, at the Gladys Abraham Elementary School on St. Thomas. She was among five girls – ages six to nine – participating in this first-ever Miss CYFAR competition. CYFAR is the Children, Youth and Families At Risk (CYFAR) program, a federally funded after school program administered by UVI’s Cooperative Extension Service. Baker also won the contest’s Best Talent and Miss Congeniality awards. Joining her in the pageant were Francier Baker (Best Evening Wear and first runner up), Majestik F. Estrada Petersen (Miss Photogenic and second runner-up), K’ Nyzha K. Henry (Miss Intellect and second runner-up) and Adajah Y. Benjamin (Miss Cooperative – and second runner-up). The girls competed in introduction, speech and dance categories. They also took part in a question-and-answer session and modeled sports wear, professional wear and evening wear. About 100 parents and friends were in attendance.

Photo by Dale Morton

Carice Glasgow Makes History As Miss UVI

Photo Montage by Evworth Charles

In a history-making pageant, UVI sophomore Carice Glasgow, a computer science major, was crowned Miss UVI 2009-2010 at the Miss UVI Ambassadorial Competition held March 28, 2009. Glasgow's win marks the first time that a student enrolled on the St. Croix campus won the title. The competition's first runner up was JaeDee Caines. The second runner up was Christina Clement, who also won the Most Popular and Miss Congeniality titles. The pageant took place before a standing-room only crowd at the Cafetorium on UVI's St. Croix campus.

Dr. David Walton Presents A.O. Heath Lecture

More information on Dr. David Walton's work is available from this news release.

The University of the Virgin Islands competed in its inaugural swim meet of the 2009 season on Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Alberque Olympico Natatorium in Salinas, Puerto Rico. Head Coach Kevin Tyrrell said the highlight of the meet was UVI competing in its first-ever relay. “We have worked for two years to field a relay team at a LAI league competition and the wait was worth it,” said Tyrrell. Team members, shown at the meet, are, from left, back row: Kamal Russell, Joey Barnwell and Marcus Sydney, and front row: Sanlin Robinson and Barrett Goff.

Wellness Center Groundbreaking Held on St. Thomas Campus

UVI broke ground for a new $2.1 million Wellness Center on its St. Thomas campus on Thursday, Jan. 29. The 6,200-square-foot building will feature exercise facilities, a dance floor, aerobics area, weight room and changing rooms. It will be located to the southwest of the Sports and Fitness Center. On hand for the ceremonies were, from left, Trustee Dr. Yvonne E. L. Thraen, President Dr. LaVerne E. Ragster, Acting St. Thomas Campus Executive Administrator LilyMae Durante, Trustee Roy D. Jackson, Board of Trustees Vice Chair Henry C. Smock and Athletic Director Peter Sauer. The U.S. Department of the Interior awarded UVI about $1 million to help fund the construction.

UVI Carnival Mass Camp Dates Set

Members of the UVI Carnival Committee met to plan the University’s “Going Green” floupe entry in the 2009 V.I. Carnival Adults Parade. Carnival Mass Camp will be housed in the Recreation Center on the Melvin Evans golf course the first Friday of each month – February 6, March 6 and April 3. Floupe registration and deposits will be accepted beginning February 6. It’s not too late to sign up for one of several sub-committees including planning, marketing, fundraising, costume design/construction and music/food/transportation. For more information please contact Junie Violenes at 693-1111 on St. Thomas or Hedda Finch-Simpson at 692-4228 on St. Croix.

UVI Plants ‘Tree of Hope’

UVI President LaVerne E. Ragster plants the “Tree of Hope” on the St. Thomas campus on the occasion of the inauguration of 44th U.S. President Barack H. Obama on Jan. 20, 2009.

Drill Tests St. Croix Campus Readiness

The tranquility of the St. Croix campus was shattered on the morning of Friday, Jan. 16, when word of an emergency drill reached students, faculty and staff. The scenario, involving an “explosion and fire on campus with injuries,” was designed to test the effectiveness of the St. Croix campus emergency response procedures. By the time St. Croix Rescue, EMS, the V.I. Fire Service and other first responders arrived on the scene, “injured” student actors were stumbling from the Student Center, gasping for air. Acting Campus Executive Administrator Nereida Washington took charge inside the designated Incident Command Center, assisted by Security Chief Ralph Cook and a host of administrators who were designated to evacuate residence halls and classroom buildings. Once the drill was completed, HOVENSA Fire Chief Bob Miller said the drill had served its purpose. “It is a constant learning environment and we’re in the best place to learn at – a college.”

Dozens Gather at UVI Campuses for Inauguration Watches

UVI students, faculty and staff gather at the St. Thomas campus Dining Pavilion on Jan. 20 to view the inauguration of President Barack Obama. There were three inauguration watch areas on the St. Thomas campus and one on the St. Croix campus. All areas were filled with spectators. Some spectators recorded the historic event.