Alumni Join Effort to Develop New Strategic Plan



St. Thomas - click to view larger pic

 UVI alumni and special alumni joined the effort to develop the University's next strategic plan in sessions held Dec. 7 and 8, on St Croix and St. Thomas, respectively. Sixteen alumni on St. Croix and another 15 on St. Thomas gathered to provide input into the process. Their suggestions will be added to those offered by students, faculty, and staff who have already attended similar, wide-ranging sessions designed to develop a series of common themes on which the next strategic plan will be based.



St. Croix - click to view larger pic

 Input has also been received from the Board of Trustees. The effort is organized by the University’s Planning Task Force (PTF). The PTF will develop a draft strategic plan which will be presented to the University's formal shared governance process prior to being submitted to Planning Committee of the Board and the full Board of Trustees for approval in June 2011. The new strategic plan will be launched in the fall of 2012.



St. Thomas - click to view larger pic



Participating in the alumni session on St. Croix were Malkia Morton (’11), Darlene Baptiste (’98), Cassandra Dunn (’87), B. Patricia Welcome (’87), Wendy Wheeler (’01, ’03, ’05), Benon Kisuule (faculty), Ellsworth London (’10, ’12), Beresford Edwards (’96), Wayne E. Petersen (’09), Prospero Lewis (’74, ’84), Nissa Bailey (’04), Ann-Merrie Hendrickson (’10), Shelly Anslyn Jones (’08), Abdul R. Ali (’10), Sammuel Sanes (’09) and Marthious Clavier (’09).




St. Croix - click to view larger pic



St. Thomas - click to view larger pic





Participating in the alumni session on St. Thomas were Basil Ottley (’94), Jacqueline A. Sprauve (’94), Delaun Mercer (’97), Deanna E. Rogers (’85), Alyssa Ryan (’11), Rick S. Grant (’09), Joss Springette (’00), Allie-Allison Petrus (’01), Beverly Petrus (SA), Verna Rivers (’88), Mariga R. Fleming (’68), Joel J. Buchanan (’93), Denise Humphrey (SA), Claudette Georges (’86, ’88, ’94, ’04, ’06) and Carla Sarauw (’89). SA = Special Alumni 


 

St. Thomas - click to view larger pic



“O Christmas Three!” Performances Set Today (Dec. 1) at UVI on St. Thomas Campus

UVI Theatre entertained students at four area grade schools – part of the group is shown above at E. Benjamin Oliver Grade School – this week with performances from the children’s holiday musical “O Christmas Three!” The musical, written and directed by UVI Playwright-in-Residence Dr. Doug Larche, features more than 40 UVI students, faculty and staff members. It consists of a trilogy of children’s Christmas plays published by Dramatic Publishing and performed originally across the U.S. and Canada.

The trilogy consists of “Peas on Earth: A Birds-Eye View of Christmas,” “Dorcas the Christmas Duck (Or Vincent the Violet-Nosed Vulture) A Cautionary Christmas Tale” and “The Last Straw: A Christmas Fable.”


Two performances of the full trilogy are set for today – Thursday, Dec. 1 – at the UVI Administration and Conference Center on the St. Thomas campus. Those shows are set for 4 and 7:30 p.m. Admission is free for children and students of all ages. Adult admission is $10.

Cast members, from left, for “Dorcas the Christmas Duck,” “Peas on Earth” and “The Last Straw.”



ATM Now Available on Albert A. Sheen Campus

Automated Teller Machine (ATM) services are now available to the community on UVI’s Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. A ribbon cutting was held at the ATM prior to UVI’s Board of Trustees meeting on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011. Shown, from left, are UVI Board of Trustees Chairman Alexander A. Moorhead, Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr., UVI President Dr. David Hall and Norma Cruz, manager of the Sunny Isle branch of First Bank.  The ATM is located on the 100-level of the Melvin Evans Center, across from the Security office, and is available 24/7.

World Food Day 2011

Many members of the University and Virgin Islands communities came together for the 2011 World Food Day activities held on UVI’s Albert A. Sheen Campus on Sunday, Oct. 16. The goal – accomplished thorough a day of food, fun, competition, workshops, entertainment and, most important, sharing – was to increase awareness and understanding and to provoke year-round action to alleviate hunger. World Food Day on St. Croix was sponsored by the UVI Cooperative Extension Service in partnership with the UVI Agricultural Experiment Station and the V.I. Department of Agriculture.

Click here to view the World Food Day 2011 program. http://www.uvi.edu/sites/uvi/Publications/world_food_day_prog_2011.pdf

St. Croix SGA Students to Attend National Student Government Summit

SGA executive members take the oath of office at the installation ceremony on Sept. 15, on UVI’s Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. From left are President Siejah Mike, Vice President Estica Caesar, Treasurer Kevin Dixon, Secretary Solgisselle Torres, Assistant Secretary Anisha Thomas and Public Relations Officer JoAnn Thomas-Lewis. - SGA Photo by Douglas Simpson

Members of the Student Government Association (SGA) on UVI's Albert A. Sheen Campus will receive training at the National Student Government Summit hosted by the American Student Government Association scheduled for Sept. 29 through Oct. 2, in Washington D.C.

The Summit is an annual, four-day conference, featuring nearly 50 workshop sessions, 40 brainstorming roundtables, two acclaimed keynote speakers and more than 24 intense, information-packed hours of practical help, research and advice on how to improve student government. The 2011 conference will be the largest student government conference in America. More than 700 student government leaders and advisors from all types and sizes of colleges and universities nationwide are expected to attend. In 2010, 628 student leaders and advisors from 110 institutions in 38 states participated.

Attending on the behalf of the St. Croix SGA will be President Siejah Mike, Vice President Estica Caesar, Treasurer Kevin Dixon, Secretary Solgisselle Torres and Advisor Hedda Finch-Simpson.

Debra Thompson is VI SBDC State Star

The University of the Virgin Islands congratulates Debra Thompson - the 2011 State Star of the VI Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Thompson was chosen by the VI SBDC for being an outstanding performer, making a major contribution to the VI SBDC program, and showing a strong commitment to the growth of the network. She was recently honored at a special awards reception honoring the America Small Business Development Center’s 2011 State Stars on Friday, September 6, 2011, in San Diego, California. Pictured left to right: ASBDC President Charles "Tee" Rowe; Constant Contact Director of Regional Development Annie Powell; VI SBDC State Star Debra Thompson; VI SBDC State Director Leonor D. Dottin; and Associate Deputy Administrator of the SBA Michael Chodos. For more information on starting or maintaining a small business in the Virgin Islands, visit the VI SBDC website at: http://www.sbdcvi.org/

UVI Honors Outgoing CFO Vincent Samuel

Members of the UVI community gathered Tuesday, Aug. 30, to share their gratitude for outgoing Vice President for Administration and Finance and Chief Financial Officer Vincent Samuel, who has decided to return to the University’s faculty, teaching in the School of Business. Samuel’s almost 30 years of association with UVI – from student, to faculty, to administrator – were recalled with humor and deep thanks by current and former administrators, as well as members of the UVI staff. Retired long-time UVI administrator Malcolm Kirwan, above right, elicited some of the broadest laughter from Samuel, who is flanked by former UVI President Dr. LaVerne Ragster. Dr. Ragster hosted the ceremony. UVI President Emeritus Dr. Orville Kean and President Dr. David Hall, along with a number of UVI trustees, were also among the speakers who recalled the critical roles Samuel has played over the years at the University. Finally, Samuels explained that his great concern for the young people of the territory was a key factor in his decision to try to make a more direct impact on their lives through teaching.

Phonathon III Slated for Aug. 29 to Sept. 1

UVI Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Affairs Linda I. Smith ('98, '03), left, welcomes a few of the many volunteers who will take to the phone lines for UVI's Special Alumni Phonathon III on Aug. 29 through Sept. 1. Present for the early orientation session were, from left, Dr. Xuri Maurice Allen, Toriefa Alexander ('08), Peggy Fahie ('92) and Dr. Maude Jacobs ('78, 84). They will be reaching out to UVI's special alumni - those who attended the University for 12 months or more but did not graduate from UVI - to update contact information, share the institution's latest news and seek financial support for UVI students.

Follow the links below for a look back at the Phonathon II action.

Day One Day Two Day Three

Cruzan VIRIL Adds $40,000 to Support UVI Scholarships

On hand for the check presentation were, from left, Cruzan General Manager Dennis P. Potter, Cruzan Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Marvin L. Pickering (UVI '85), Cruzan President and Chief Executive Officer Gary C. Nelthropp, UVI President Dr. David Hall, UVI Vice President for Institutional Advancement Dionne V. Jackson, Cruzan Accounting Assistant Narissa T. Mapp (UVI '07) and Cruzan Assistant Office Manager Magdalen Joseph (UVI '98).

A $40,000 contribution in support of student scholarships was presented by long-time University of the Virgin Islands supporter Cruzan VIRIL Ltd. at a check presentation on Thursday, Aug. 11, at the Cruzan Rum distillery on St. Croix.

Cruzan VIRIL Ltd. President and Chief Executive Officer Gary C. Nelthropp and Chief Financial Officer Marvin L. Pickering were on hand to make the presentation to UVI President Dr. David Hall and Vice President for Institutional Advancement Dionne V. Jackson. The gift brings the total Cruzan donation to the University, since 1987, to $655,000.

“In these fiscally tight times in the territory, this gift from Cruzan Rum is even more important than in past years,” said President Hall. “The University has fewer resources to operate with now than in the past. Therefore we need the generosity of the private sector in order to support our students in their quest for academic excellence. This gift goes to the heart of UVI and comes from the heart of Cruzan Rum."

A full news release is available from the UVI website - http://www.uvi.edu/ - and from this direct link.

Budding Scientists Display Results of Summer Research

Twenty UVI science students presented posters displaying the results of research they have conducted in the Virgin Islands this summer at the annual Summer Science Symposium on Friday, July 29, at the UVI Administration and Conference Center on the St. Thomas campus. Their research was conducted while participating in the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience and the Sophomore Summer Research Institute programs. The symposium is a part of UVI's continuing effort to promote excellence in learning by fostering student research and improving their communication skills in science and mathematics. Click here to read a news release on the symposium.

UVI applied mathematics majors Tyriq Isles, left, and Kyle Williams explain their project – exploring ways to better assign ship berthing positions at commercial docks – to UVI Eastern Caribbean Center research analyst Ayishih Bellew. The team based their study on St. Thomas' Yacht Haven cruise ship dock. Their project mentor was Dr. Marc Boumedine. Bellew was among many interested individuals who turned out to hear the students explain their work.

Lavida Brooks, left, and Gemel Joseph explain their project involving DNA extractions from white mangroves to UVI President Dr. David Hall. Dr. Alice Stanford served as their mentor.