UVI Graduate Urges New Students to Succeed

University of the Virgin Islands graduate Kishma N. Allen ‘09 shared a few words of inspiration with new students on Tuesday, Jan. 7, at an orientation welcome sponsored by UVI’s Student Government Association. Allen encouraged students to work hard toward their degree. “It is easier than you think and you can get it done,” said Allen, who graduated magna cum laude with a degree in accounting. She said she started school seven years late, had a child, and was working full-time when she emptied her bank account to start college. Allen encouraged students to set their bench marks high as they are competing for jobs and other opportunities on a global scale.

UVI graduate Kishma Allen signs copies of her book “It's Your Vision, Can YOU Make it Happen?"  Her book has been used in several workshops and mentoring programs across the United States. It features a cover review by UVI President Dr. David Hall, along with comments and reviews by Virgin Islanders who have dedicated themselves to the improvement of the community. The Amazon review describes the books as a “step-by-step, practical guide (that) includes the tools and the inspiration necessary to find the courage and motivation to successfully pursue any dream to discover the manifestation of your desires.”

FFA Recognized at St. Thomas-St. John Agriculture and Food Fair Opening

FFA Presidents Clemon Lewis and Tressel Benjamin address the crowd.

The future of agriculture in the Virgin Islands was on stage as the presidents of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) organizations on St. Thomas addressed the crowd at the opening ceremony of the 30th Annual St. Thomas-St. John Agriculture and Food Fair on Saturday, Nov. 16. Tressel Benjamin, from of the Charlotte Amalie High School Chapter, and Clemon Lewis from Ivanna Eudora Kean High School were on hand. Lewis also had the honor of cutting the ribbon officially opening the two-day fair.

Charles Leonard encouraged fairgoers
to visit St. Thomas' various farmers' markets
.

Produce and livestock, and a wide variety of arts and crafts, were the focus of the 2013 St. Thomas/St. John Agriculture and Food Fair held on the grounds of UVI’s Reichhold Center for the Arts on St. Thomas. This year’s theme was "Celebrating our 30th – Investing in Nutrition and Good Health." St. Thomas farmers Cyril LaPlace and Charles Leonard were honored as the livestock and crop farmers of the year, respectively, for 2013. Leonard, one of St. Thomas' most successful farmers, also won the award last year. The winners in the fair's best tasting sweetbread contest were Senator Myron Jackson, who took first place, and Ellen Murraine who took second place.

The St. Thomas/St. John Agriculture and Food Fair is sponsored annually by the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service (CES) and the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture, with support from Fintrac.

Clemon Lewis, President of the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School FFA organization joined opening 
ceremony dignitaries to cut the ribbon opening the 2013 St. Thomas-St. John Agriculture and Food Fair.

UVI Students Attend 2013 National Health Disparities Conference on St. Thomas

This science project poster created by UVI students, from left, Sarah Wolf, Shaniece Liverpool and Keturah Solomon, took 

third place in the student poster competition at the National Health Disparities Conference.

Some 50 UVI students participated in 2013 Disparities Conference’s Undergraduate and Graduate
Forum on Nov. 13. The student forum was sponsored by the Bennie and Martha Benjamin Foundation.

Rev. Dr. H. Beecher Hicks

UVI President Dr. David Hall
stressed the vital importance
of the task facing conference
participants during his
welcome address. 

The Rev. Dr. H. Beecher Hicks, Jr., servant pastor of the Metropolitan Baptist Church of Largo, Md., provided the keynote address at the the Seventh Annual National Conference on Health Disparities, scheduled for Nov. 13-16, at Sugar Bay Resort on St. Thomas. The University of the Virgin Islands was a major sponsor of the conference, which had the theme: “Reducing Health Disparities Through Sustaining and Strengthening Healthy Communities.” It focused on policies and programs designed to reduce the impact of health disparities, with panels addressing issues of particular importance in the Caribbean region.

Disparities Conference attendees applauding the keynote presentation.

Pinkett, Website Committee Receive Presidential Appreciation Award

Left to Right: Dr. David Hall, Moneca Pinkett, Gary Metz, Patricia Towal,
Tyrone Pascal and Don Bailey

University of the Virgin Islands President Dr. David Hall presented the Presidential Achievement Award to UVI Webmaster and Website Committee Chair Moneca Pinkett and to the UVI Website Committee on Oct. 26, during a UVI Board of Trustees meeting held on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. 

The Website Committee was honored for the redesign of the UVI website. The responsive, user friendly website was launched in August. “Through a lot of hard work by a very committed committee, and through the leadership of our Webmaster Ms. Moneca Pinkett, we were able to redesign the website in nine months and the whole process not only met a presidential goal, but was done in an outstanding way,” said Dr. Hall.

The Presidential Achievement Award is given to an individual or group whose dedication and leadership have positively impacted the University.

The Website Committee members that were present to receive the award were Public Relations Specialist Gary Metz, Interim Dean of Students on the Sheen Campus Patricia Towal, UVI student representative Tyrone Pascal and Research Specialist III Don Bailey.

Red Ribbon Week Contest Winners Announced

The University of the Virgin Islands’ Drug and Alcohol Prevention Committee on the St. Thomas Campus announced the winners of Red Ribbon Week’s Dorm Blocks and Commuters Door and Area competition and Clubs and Organizations Poster competition on Nov. 4.  Red Ribbon Week was held on Oct. 23-30. The theme was “A Healthy Me is Drug Free!”

UVI students competing in the Dorm Blocks and Commuters Door and Area competition decorated areas on campus that depicted the theme. The winners are:

·         First place - Warriors (East Male & Female)

·         Second place - Predators (South & North C, D, E)

·         Third Place - Invaders (Middle & North A & B)

Clubs and Organizations competitors created posters that best depicted the drug free theme.  The winners are:

·         First place - Rotaract of UVI

·         Second Place - Sigma Psi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

·         Third Place - ACS Chemistry

Academic Center Brings UVI to St. John

UVI junior Zenobia Howe taking classes via teleconference from the University's St. John Academic Center

When University of the Virgin Islands junior Zenobia Howe returned to St. John and enrolled at UVI she was prepared to catch a 15 minute bus ride to Cruz Bay, take the 25 minute ferry ride to St. Thomas, and make her way from St. Thomas’ east end to the University’s St. Thomas Campus in the west.

However, Howe was pleased to discover that she did not have to. Nestled at the edge of Cruz Bay on the third floor of the Marketplace, is the UVI St. John Academic Center. This fall Howe is able to take all her classes at the center via teleconference. With four state-of-the-art interactive classrooms, computers, a lounge, study room, library, a program coordinator, librarian, and an information technology technician, Howe is able to attend classes without the commute.

On this fall day, Howe is catching up on her studies on a brightly colored sofa in the center’s lounge with her laptop propped up beside her. Although the lounge usually draws several students on a typical day, she is only sharing it with fellow student Irah Christian and UVI Academic Center Librarian Ashley Till. Howe says that the Academic Center staff is very helpful and knowledgeable. They assist with finding research materials, papers and with assignments. “It’s like a little study hall where everyone helps out everyone else,” she says. “We are all here almost every day. You get a very close knit relationship with everyone.” Howe says that she is not able to bond with her classmates after classes in the traditional sense, but does not feel left out either. She finds it easy to communicate her needs to professors via email.

Howe says that without the center she would not be able to work to support herself and attend classes full-time. “It is a pretty big deal to not have to go to St. Thomas every day,” she says. “I got to work. I have to pay rent.”

Howe is a communication major at UVI. She chose this field to raise awareness and open up minds. “I wanted to be a voice,” she says of the communications field. Instead of pursuing a career in media, she is considering becoming an entrepreneur. Currently, she is enrolled in a digital entrepreneurship class. Howe has been tasked with creating a website for an online business. “My website will be good by the end of the semester,” Howe says. “That is one of the classes I am really excited about.” She plans to create a one-stop shop for natural and holistic products and lifestyles. Howe has seen some sites that include natural products, but none have all products. “Everyone is going ecofriendly and green,” she says.

UVI Student Zenobia Howe in St. John Academic Center lounge

Recently, Howe was able to attend a 13D Entrepreneurship Lecture with featured speaker Dr. Dennis Kimbro, best-selling author on self-made millionaires. She attended via teleconference from the St. John Academic Center. Howe says she was inspired, motivated and empowered by his lecture. She plans to enter UVI’s 13D Entrepreneurship competition later this year. “Communications, I love it,” she says. “I am still going to keep up with it, but as I go forth I will use everything I learned to become an entrepreneur.”

UVI St. John Academic Center Program Coordinator Kent Wessinger has been working to ensure that operations at the center run smoothly for several years now. “It is rewarding in the fact that I am able to invest something significant into the community in which I live,” he says. “One of the main objectives is to remove a travel barrier and that is important to me. One of the things that the St. John Academic Center has been able to do is open an opportunity for students at UVI that ordinarily would not get the opportunity if this center was not here.”

Wessinger says that the technology at the Academic Center is at the highest level. “We have students from diverse backgrounds that are able to participate in our classroom experience that ordinarily would not be able to participate if the technology were not there,” he says. “A lot of single parents can’t make that commute over to the St. Thomas Campus because they have commitments to their children. So now they can participate in classes. They bring a level of maturity that was not there before.”

Wessinger says that the students in the center get personalized attention as the student body is smaller. Students receive assistance with their advisement, tutoring, and with life situations. “We see a high level of success with our students here,” says Wessinger. “Students want to be here. That level of engagement and relationship matters to the students.”

As the center’s librarian, Till provides academic support to students by teaching them how to access and navigate the library’s academic resources that are also available to students on the St. Thomas Campus and the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. “They get their own personal librarian three days a week,” she says. Students receive tutoring, are assisted with research papers and get life skills, such as filling out resumes or writing letters for internships. Till says all librarians at UVI teach information literacy skills.

She believes the academic center is vital to the people of St. John. “It provides access for students that would not ordinarily have access,” Till says. “For a lot of students here, staying on campus is not an option.” Often students work or are non-traditional students.

  

Wessinger believes that the St. John Academic Center is the model for education going forward. “There are travel barriers and other barriers that exist in higher education,” he says. “If we can’t tailor education and models of education after our student body we put ourselves in a position where we isolate our students and we build walls and barriers against students that actually fortify our institutions.”

He believes UVI has implemented a model for higher education in the Caribbean. “We have the technology to make this happen throughout the Caribbean right here,” says Wessinger.

UVI Unveils New Home for College of Science & Mathematics on St. Croix

The University of the Virgin Islands unveiled the new home of its College of Science and Mathematics on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Located in the recently completed UVI Research and Technology Park building, the College’s facilities on St. Croix now feature two modern videoconference-ready classrooms, two state-of-the art laboratories, and offices for 13 faculty and staff. These are located on two levels and account for more than 8,000 square feet of floor space. Click here to read a full News Release.

The new home of UVI’s College of Science and Mathematics on St. Croix is located in the recently completed Research and Technology Park building on the Albert A. Sheen Campus.

Members of the St. Croix Student 

Government Association served as tour guides during the opening of the new home of UVI’s College of Science and Mathematics on St. Croix on Saturday, Oct. 26. Shown, from left, are Senior Senator Helena Shoy, Public Relations Officer Lennoxsea Thompson, President Kevin Dixon, Secretary Wendy Aurelien, Treasurer D’Lisa Williams, and Vice President Sheena Tonge.

A wind turbine on the grounds of UVI’s RTPark building is reflected in the striking windows of the Park’s first-floor lobby. The RT Park offices and a second-floor Conference Center are housed in this part of the building. 

One of the College's two new videoconference-ready classrooms, above, will boost the campus’ overall seating capacity, while allowing more efficient communications from St. Croix to 
UVI classrooms on St. Thomas and St. John.


SGA President Kevin Dixon 
leads a tour at UVI’s College 
of Science and Mathematics 
during its unveiling to the public 
on Oct. 26, 2013.

UVI Increases Transfer & National Exchange Students

NSE student Austin Dubbs previously attended Montana State University. He is an ecology and marine biology major.

The start of something new is always fun and exciting; and this fall semester’s orientation held the typical excitement for UVI’s new and transfer students. One of the most anticipated orientation activities on the St. Thomas campus is “Rep Your Country” – which features a mini procession of students bearing flags from the country or territory that they are from. Following the procession, a student places his or her country’s flag on the stage and all students representing that country are asked to stand. What was not typical is the large number of students who stood up to represent the United States.

Preliminary numbers reveal that the number of new transfer and National Student Exchange (NSE) students attending UVI has increased for fall 2013. The University’s new transfer students increased by 75 percent from fall 2012 to fall 2013. The number of NSE students increased by 29 percent on the St. Thomas Campus and by 57 percent on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix, during the same time period.

“I chose UVI because I wanted to experience something completely different from what I am used to,” says NSE Student Juanyta Shuler, who comes to UVI from Prairie View A&M University in Texas. “I was intrigued with the Caribbean culture, its history and its location is exotic.” She continues, “I wanted to go somewhere away from the states so that I could expand my network worldwide.”

Shuler is not alone. The number of NSE students on the St. Thomas Campus has been increasing for many years. Since the 2009-2010 academic year, the number of NSE students on the St. Thomas Campus increased by 288 percent. In the 2009-2010 academic year, there were nine NSE students attending UVI on the St. Thomas Campus. By the 2013-2014 academic year there are 35 NSE students. Since the 2011-2012 academic year, the number of students on the Sheen Campus increased by 57 percent. In the 2011-2012 academic year, there were seven NSE students attending UVI on the Sheen Campus. There are 11 NSE there this academic year.

“Everyone here has been very welcoming and jovial,” says Shuler, a social work major taking classes on the Sheen Campus. “My UVI experience has been wonderful. I've made a lot of new lifelong friends,” she says. “I love the school's academia; it is very prestigious and challenging.” As UVI Student Government Association Social and Cultural Committee chairperson Shuler has the opportunity to immerse herself in Caribbean culture. “I love the fact that UVI encourages their students to get involved around campus and to build their resumes and networking skills,” she says.

NSE Student Linda Forester has also chosen to be active in campus life while on the Sheen Campus. She serves as the SGA events coordinator, Salsa Club treasurer, and is on the Resident Hall Council. Forester comes to UVI from California State University, Bakersfield. She still remembers what UVI looked like when she arrived. “I remember pulling up to the campus and saying wow this campus is gorgeous,” says Forester. “I love the fact that the campus is very welcoming and supportive of students who want to add to campus life or start new clubs.” She also loves the majority of her professors, the culture and the great food served on campus.

UVI Interim Dean of Students and NSE Program Coordinator on the Sheen Campus Patricia Towal and St. Thomas Campus NSE Coordinator Dahlia Stridiron credit the growing popularity of the program to increased outreach. For the past two years, Towal and Stridiron have attended the National Student Exchange Placement Conference. They met with 180 NSE coordinators from universities all over the country. “We have really connected with a lot of the other coordinators,” Towal says. “They play a critical role in placing students.”

Coordinators at the conference walk away with promotional gifts and information about the unique benefits of attending UVI. “Where else are you going to get a class of 10 to 15 students taught probably by a Ph.D. instructor,” Towal says. “If you come here college ready you are going to be in freshman classes taught possible by a Ph.D. or master’s level instructor. You are going to be known and supported because we are going to get to know you personally.”

She continued, “We offer all the courses that you would normally be looking for but we are also going to give you this cultural kallaloo. You’re going to experience different languages, dialects, foods, cultural events, history and cultural atmosphere here that you’re not going to get on the mainland. Even if you’re coming from another HBCU, the Caribbean experience is very different.”

NSE Student Maddison Rokosh following a turtle.

NSE student Maddison Rokosh, a biology major, is enjoying her time on UVI’s St. Thomas Campus. Her favorite thing about attending UVI is the MacLean Marine Science Center. “I really enjoy my marine labs where I get to snorkel, scuba dive and collect data, while enjoying the warm, beautiful water. I've also really enjoyed being able to take the kayaks the MMSC has out for free and exploring neighboring bays with classmates.”

“Everything has been great,” says Rokosh. She is originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Rokosh came to UVI from the University of Louisville in Kentucky. “I have made many friends from NSE and from the island. I have been enjoying the beautiful water, beaches and mountains.”

NSE Student Austin Dubbs, an ecology and marine biology major, was enrolled at Montana State University before coming to the University’s St. Thomas Campus. He says he is enjoying the UVI experience. “The lifestyle is much different than what I am accustomed to back home,” says Dubbs, who is originally from Montana. “I love that I have opportunities every day to go to a wide variety of beaches on the island and am able to explore a different culture.” He adds, “What I like most about UVI is that everybody is really friendly; that it is a small campus so everybody has a chance to know a lot more people and get the chance to get close to a wide variety of people.” Dubbs plans to study reef sharks after graduation.

UVI’s NSE students come from universities all over the nation. This year’s students came from the University of Alabama-Birmingham, the University of New Mexico, the University of Kentucky, the University of Montana, the University of Alaska, and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, among others.

“The NSE Program is a wonderful opportunity for UVI students to broaden their educational experience,” says Stridiron. “Students that participate in the program often report that this was a life changing experience. I believe that every student should participate in an exchange opportunity for at least one semester prior to graduating.”

Towal says that many of the students stay for one semester, but like it so much they opt to stay for two.

UVI’s transfer students come from all over the United States and the Caribbean. From fall 2012 to fall 2013, new transfer students on the St. Thomas Campus increased by 105 percent. On the Sheen Campus, new transfer students increased by 24 percent. UVI Director of Admissions and Recruitment Dr. Xuri Maurice Allen credits the increase in part to enhanced out-of-territory recruitment efforts in recent years. He also believes students are beginning colleges closer to home to attend local community colleges or other two year institutions.

 “A number of persons are opting to remain home to save money and then transfer to UVI,” says Dr. Allen. UVI has always had good relationships with two year institutions in the Eastern Caribbean like H. Lavity Stoutt Community College in Tortola, Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College in St. Kitts, Dominica State College and Antigua State College. There also appears to be increased interest from St. Lucia’s Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and Anguilla now has Anguilla Community College. “Our transfer numbers should continue to be robust as UVI has entered into memorandums of understanding with Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College and the Nevis Sixth Form College,” Dr. Allen adds.

UVI St. Thomas Campus Dean of Students Dr. Doris Battiste supports the NSE program and student transfers. “Anytime you have a campus where you have a large diverse population it contributes to student development,” says Dr. Battiste. “Everyone learns from each other and I think our role in Student Affairs is to enhance student learning outside of the classroom.” She continues, “I think the diversity helps students to appreciate other cultures and also help them to grow and respect the differences that exist in all of us.”

Brothers With A Cause Introduces 2013-2014 Officers on St. Thomas

UVI Special Assistant to the President Dr. Haldane Davies introduces the 2013-2014 officers for the Brothers With A Cause (BWC) student organization on UVI’s St. Thomas Campus. Shown are, from left, Alvin Nesbitt-public relations, Lorenzo Scotland-treasures, Samuel Williams-secretary, Charles Martin, Jr.-vice president, Brandon Rhymer-president, Dr. Davies and BWC Advisor Stevie Henry. 

Attorney Carl Richardson was the guest speaker at the induction ceremony for the Brothers With A Cause student organization on the St. Thomas Campus on Sept. 6. Richardson’s topic was “Striving for Success.” He shared how he used what little money he had from his father, along with faith and choosing his friends wisely to successfully complete his undergraduate work at UVI. His UVI education provided the opportunity to earn MBA and JD degrees.

The presentation followed the induction of 14 new members at the Administration and Conference Center on the St. Thomas Campus. UVI President David Hall also addressed the group, which now has 30 members. The BWC goal is to increase the recruitment, retention and graduation rates of young men in the University’s service area through strategic intervention at the K-12 and higher education levels. Male students interested in learning more about Brothers With a Cause should send email to sttbrothers@gmail.com. 

UVI Artist in Residence Dion Parson Presents Cymbal Kit to Music Department

UVI Artist in Residence Dion Parson, center, presents a cymbal kit to the University’s Music Department. Accepting the donation are Dr. Lorna Young-Wright from the Music Department and President David Hall.

UVI Artist in Residence Dion Parson presented a cymbal kit to the University’s Music Department on Thursday, Sept. 19. Parson works with UVI students and instructors in a number of areas, such as the Jazz Band, and teaches a UVI class in applied percussion. He hopes the cymbal kit will serve as a basis for building a complete, professional drum kit on which UVI students can practice and perform.

The kit is valued at approximately $1,800 and was provided to Parson for the donation by the manufacturers, Dream Cymbals and Gongs of Toronto, Canada, with whom Parson has an ongoing professional relationship. Parson said the hand-made kit, which includes a 14-inch “hi-hat,” 18-inch and 16-inch “crash” symbols and a 22-inch “ride,” is “top of the line equipment, not what you would find in a typical student set.”

Music Professor Lorna Young-Wright said receiving the cymbals was wonderful. “I am very pleased about the donation.” UVI President Dr. David Hall also thanked Parson, and said the University is delighted to have him serving as Artist in Residence. “This is just one small way that his contribution is going to enhance our program. I see this gift as a symbol of what we hope will be additional equipment for the music program.”