Students Honored for Edward Wilmot Blyden Essays

UVI senior Leslyn Tonge was recently awarded the top prize in the University's Edward Wilmot Blyden Essay contest, held as part of the annual Alfred O. Heath Lecture Series and the 50th Golden Jubilee Celebration. Other winners in the contest were graduate student Amad Martin and junior Tasha Cornielle. The contest - open to UVI students – was conducted in conjunction with a symposium on the life and accomplishments of St. Thomas native Edward Wilmot Blyden. The symposium served as this year's Heath Lecture in March.

Tonge who is majoring in communications was awarded $300. Martin, who studied physics, and Cornielle, who is a biology major, each received $50 prizes as co-runners up. Student participants each attended the Blyden symposium and composed essays discussing Blyden’s contributions to Pan-Africanism, his impact on the Virgin Islands and V.I. leaders who were inspired by Blyden.

The essay contest was sponsored by the Sankofa Saturdays Youth Cultural Initiative and the Black Heritage Committee of UVI’s Student Government Association. Attending the presentation, held May 31, on UVI's St. Thomas campus, were Dr. Chenzira D. Kahina – Managing Director of Per Ankh, Inc., Victoria Bennett – the aunt of winner Amad Martin, Ayesha Morris – interim executive director of the Virgin Islands Humanities Council, Dr. Opal Palmer Adisa – board chair of the Virgin Islands Humanities Council and DaraMonifa Cooper – founder of Sankofa Saturdays.


Attending the Blyden Essay Contest awards presentation were, front row-from left, UVI President Dr. David Hall, student winners Tasha Cornielle, Amad Martin and Leslyn Tonge. In back, from left, were Dr. Chenzira D. Kahina, Victoria Bennett, Ayesha Morris, Dr. Opal Palmer Adisa and DaraMonifa Cooper and advisor for UVI's Student Government Association Black Heritage Committee. Click to view larger image.



Reaching Out to Alumni

Phonathon action continues tonight from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Administration and Conference Center on St. Thomas. See item below for details.

Alumni Phonathon 2012 Continues Through June 7

UVI alumni, students, faculty and staff turned out for the opening evening of the 2012 Alumni Phonathon on Monday, June 4. The volunteers are making calls, updating contact information, processing pledges and helping to organize call sheets. Calling will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. nightly through Thursday, June 7. "The first night was a spirited experience," said UVI Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Affairs Linda I. Smith ('98, '03). "Volunteers were excited to connect with alumni throughout the Territory, the Caribbean, and the U.S. mainland. Tonight sets the tone for the rest of the week."

Vice President for Institutional Advancement Dionne V. Jackson, who was also on the phone on Monday, urged everyone to "come out, roll up your sleeves and help make calls to our alumni on behalf of our beloved institution. Your assistance will help us reach our 50 percent Alumni Giving rate this year. This is your chance to be part of the success story!"

The annual Alumni Phonathon has become one of the University's primary vehicles for communicating with its alumni body. During the effort, particular attention is paid to updating alumni contact and career information. Volunteers will each receive a special thank-you gift and dinner will be provided. Prizes will be awarded to the top callers each night and to the overall top callers for the four days of the Phonathon. The 2012 Alumni Phonathon is sponsored by the UVI’s Office of Institutional Advancement.

To volunteer, contact UVI’s Office of Institutional Advancement at (340) 693-1047 or send email to acarmon@uvi.edu or pfahie@uvi.edu or lsmith@uvi.edu.

We Are UVI... Sharing CVI/UVI Stories

Can you identify this week’s “We Are UVI” contributor. To find out for sure, visit “We Are UVI” at: http://weareuvi.blogspot.com/.

“We Are UVI” is the University’s Golden Jubilee blog. It features individuals sharing their CVI/UVI stories .........from the past 50 years. New submissions are added each week, this one was posted Sunday, June 3.

This week's post joins stories from Sinclair Wilkinson ('72), Rafe Boulon, Jr. ('76), Carmie Thompson ('10), Frank Mills ('67), James Rakocy, Arah Lockhart ('78), Utha Williams ('82), former UVI President LaVerne Ragster, Marthious Clavier ('02,'08), John Lucas, Maxine Nunez, Rosary Harper, Yegin Habtes, Gloria Callwood, Laurent Javois (’76), Helen Dookhan ('79, '84, '98), Curtis Gilpin ('80), Carolyn O’Neal-Morton ('85), Ali McClean ('93), Constance Gumbs ('87, '91), Malcolm Kirwan ('67) and Sharleen Fahie ('86, '93).

Ivory Carter Crowned Miss UVI 2012-2013

Ivory Carter was crowned Miss UVI 2012-2013 during the Miss UVI Ambassadorial Competition held Saturday, March 31, at the Reichhold Center for the Arts on St. Thomas. Raynyse Nesbitt was named first runner up. Latoya Rouse and Najuma Dunn also competed for the title and are a part of the court. A news release and photo of Miss UVI 2012-2013 with seven previous winners of the Miss UVI crown is featured on the UVI homepage - http://www.uvi.edu/ - and from this direct link.

Miss UVI and Her Court…

Miss UVI 2012-13 Ivory Carter, seated, is attended by, from left, Latoya Rouse, Miss UVI 2011-12 Daniella Henry, Raynyse Nesbitt and Najuma Dunn. - Click on any photo for a larger view.


St. Thomas Queen’s Committee …

Miss UVI 2012-13 Ivory Carter, seated, is attended by, from left, St. Thomas Student Activities Supervisor Melvin McBean, Committee Member Murchtricia Charles, Committee Co-Chair Shamari Haynes, Committee Members Samantha Daniel and Amanda Bannis, St. Thomas Committee Chair Raydiance Granger, Committee Advisor Robert Chen, St. Croix Queen’s Committee Chair Krystal Wynter, St. Croix Queen’s Committee Co-Chair Arielene Davis and St. Thomas Student Government Association President Leslyn Tonge.

St. Croix Queen’s Committee…

Miss UVI 2012-13 Ivory Carter, seated, is attended by, from left, St. Croix Student Government Association (SGA) Co-Advisor Derval Prince III, SGA Senator Jmail George, Committee Acting Advisor Necola Charles, St. Croix SGA President Siejah Mike, Miss UVI 2011-12 Daniella Henry, Queens Committee Chair Krystal Wynter, Committee Co-Chair Arielene Davis, SGA Treasurer Kevin Dixon, SGA Vice President Estica Caesar and St. Croix Associate Campus Administrator for Student Affairs Miriam Osborne Elliott.

Miss UVI 2012

The Queen’s Committee of the UVI Student Government Association will present the Miss UVI Ambassadorial Competition at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 31, at the Reichhold Center for the Arts on the St. Thomas campus. The theme is “Past Meets the Present.” Tickets – $15 for UVI students, $20 general admission and $25 at the door – are available at UVI Bookstores on St. Croix and St. Thomas. Vying for the title are Contestant # 1 Ivory Carter, Contestant # 2 Latoya Rouse, Contestant #3 Najuma Dunn and Contestant #4 Raynyse Nesbitt.

We Are UVI...

Click here to view - We Are UVI

New UVI Lab Expands Research Capability of V.I.

St. Croix Educational Complex students, from left, Clemrick Bryan,
Jirah Famucol and Stephanie Rhoden discuss a summer research project.

UVI students, faculty and
administrators at the lab opening.

The Virgin Islands Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (VI-EPSCoR) and the University of the Virgin Islands’ Center for Marine and Environmental Studies will host a grand opening of the University’s new Environmental Analysis Laboratory at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 26, at the former UVI Accounting building (near Faculty East), on the St. Thomas campus.

The 1,800 square-foot lab provides space
for up to 14 scientists and researchers.

The lab will serve the growing needs of the territory and the region, offering research services for specialized environmental analyses, including marine and freshwater quality testing, microbiological analyses, toxicological and other chemical analyses related to environmental health and quality. It will significantly improve the capacity of Virgin Islands scientists and students to conduct more rigorous and highly complex laboratory-based research. Office and laboratory space for faculty, staff and graduate research personnel will also be available.



Research Specialist Kevin Brown
provides a tour of the lab.

“There is tremendous potential,” Dr. Richard Nemeth, said of the environmental lab, noting that he hopes to host visiting scientists from federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, the U.S. Geographical Survey and the Centers for Disease Control in the future. Dr. Nemeth is the VI-EPSCoR research program coordinator and a UVI research professor.

 

Click on photos to enlarge view.

More information is available from a news release on the UVI website - http://www.uvi.edu/ - or from this direct link.

UVI Seeking Historic Photos

UVI is seeking historic photos from alumni, faculty, students and the general public for a book that will celebrate the University’s 50th Golden Jubilee.


Examples would be photos from sporting events, class activities, dormitories and queen contests. Early photos from the 1960s through 1980s are especially needed. Clearly labele...d originals should be brought to the UVI Public Relations Office, Room 229 of the Administration and Conference Center, on the St. Thomas campus, and to The Caribbean Writer office, on the St. Croix campus. They may also be mailed to UVI Public Relations, #2 John Brewers Bay, St. Thomas, V.I., 00802.

All photos will be returned. Please attach labels to the back of photos with contact, as well as complete descriptive, information. High resolution scans (full size at 300 dpi) are especially welcome and should be sent to uvijubilee@gmail.com. Photo credit and special thanks will be included in the book. For more information, contact the UVI Public Relations Office at (340) 693-1057.

Afternoon on the Green 2012

View the UVI Afternoon on the Green 2012 promotion video on the UVI YouTube channel.

Afternoon on the Green