UVI Students Vying for $60,000 in Business Startup Funding; Prize Giving Set May 4
Fourteen University of the Virgin Islands students in eight teams will compete for $60,000 in business startup funding during the final round of the first 13D Student Entrepreneurship Competition scheduled for Friday, May 4, on the University's St. Thomas campus. The prizes - $30,000 to first place, $20,000 to second place and $10,000 to third place - are designed to help team members launch their own businesses based on plans they devised while participating in the competition.
UVI's School of Business is inviting the entire Virgin Islands community, especially business owners and government officials, to attend the competition, according to UVI Business Professor Dr. Glenn Metts, who shepherded the competition through its first year.
A news release is available from the UVI homepage - http://www.uvi.edu - and from this direct link.
Got News? UVI Broadcast Communication Students Seek Input for Weekly Radio Program
Students in UVI's Broadcast Communication class are seeking University news to broadcast on their twice weekly "Voice of the University" program on Radio One (AM 1000). The show airs on Wednesdays and Fridays from 2 to 3 p.m. Today's show is scheduled to include Dr. Glenn Metts and several of the 13D Entrepreneurship Contest finalists discussing the competition and an in-studio interview with UVI Director of Admissions Dr. Xuri Allen.
St. Thomas Campus Forum on Security Scheduled for May 3
UVI will conduct a campus forum on security enhancements at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 3, on the St. Thomas campus. The session - which will take place in the Dining Pavilion - will allow for a discussion on security enhancements for the campus, particularly on the possible installation of security gates. The entire UVI community - students, faculty and staff - is encouraged to participate. A similar discussion was held earlier this spring on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix.
UVI's Administration & Finance Component Schedules Joint Staff Meeting for May 4
UVI's Administration and Finance Component, including the Physical Plant, the CEA's Office, the Bookstore, Security, Purchasing, Accounting and Human Resources, will be involved in a joint staff meeting scheduled for 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 4, in the first-floor conference room of the Administration and Conference Center. Some of the component's offices and departments will be closed for the joint meeting. Assistance will continue to be available from the Accounting Office, by calling extension 1430. The Security Office will be open and dispatcher service will be available. The shuttle bus will run until 2:30 p.m. and resume operation at 4 p.m.
UVI Summer Programs Tailored to Diverse Audience
In addition to its two, regular academic Summer Sessions, UVI offers a host of other summer programs tailored to meet the needs of a diverse audience ranging from UVI students, to grade school students and the general public. Details on 10 special programs that will be available this summer are featured on a new Summer Enrichment Programs page available from the Community tab of the UVI website - www.uvi.edu - and from this direct link.
Programs included are: Coral Reef Discovery Week, SAT Prep, Summer School Credit Recovery, Mathematics Behind the Science Bridge, the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience, the Summer Sophomore Research Institute, the Summer Institute for Future Global Leaders, Upward Bound Summer, 4-H Summer Academies and the Summer Bridge Program. Brief descriptions of the programs, dates and locations they are available, contact information and links to more information are included.
UVI to Host High School Principals, Heads of Private Schools and Senior Counselors
UVI's Access and Enrollment Services will host two afternoon programs in May for high school principals, heads of private schools and senior counselors, with the focus on sharing information and engaging in dialogue with University representatives. UVI President Dr. David Hall, Provost Dr. Karl Wright, and selected members of the University's administration, will be on hand to highlight the direction in which the University is headed and to discuss the future of the institution as it enters its second half-century. They will also share strategies to encourage U.S. Virgin Islands students to experience the new and exciting opportunities at UVI.
The session on St. Thomas will take place at 3:30 p.m., on Tuesday, May 8, in the first-floor conference room of the Administration and Conference Center. The St. Croix session is slated at 3:30 p.m. in the Great Hall of the North West Wing of the Albert A. Sheen Campus. For more information, please call (340) 693-1165.
May 15 Deadline Set for Applications for Heyward G. Hill Memorial Scholarship
Applications are being accepted by UVI's Office of the Provost through June 30, 2011, for the $5,000 Heyward G. Hill Memorial Scholarship for the 2012-2013 academic year. Full-time, matriculated junior and senior UVI students, with a 3.0 GPA and an interest in international affairs are eligible. Students must be U.S. citizens. Application forms and information on all requirements, including an essay on how applicants think the scholarship will help them pursue a career in international affairs, have been forwarded via e-mail to UVI students. They are also available from the Scholarships page of the Financial Aid section of the UVI website - http://www.uvi.edu - and from this direct link.
UVI's Afternoon on the Green Winners Announced
The University of the Virgin Islands announces the winners for the 2012 Afternoon on the Green, held in March on the St. Thomas campus golf course. Brianna Hairston won the "People's Choice" competition for her vanilla cupcakes, by receiving the most texts to the Choice Wireless text line.
The recipients of the Afternoon on the Green Edward C. Thomas Service Awards for 2012 were Makiijah Crabbe, who was named UVI Student Volunteer of the Year, and Alicia Donadelle, who was named UVI Community Volunteer of the Year. See the complete list of winners for the food competition.
A news release is available from the UVI homepage - http://www.uvi.edu - and from this direct link.
Olympic Opportunity Available for Virgin Islander
BBC Radio Scotland is looking for a citizen of the Virgin Islands who is living, working or studying in the United Kingdom - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - to participate in a project inspired by the upcoming Summer Olympics in London.
BBC Scotland, a part of the BBC national broadcasting system, is seeking poems to record and broadcast o...n the air from individuals from every country competing in the Olympics or Paralympics. This includes the U.S. Virgin Islands.
If you know someone from the U.S. Virgin Islands who is currently living, working or studying in the United Kingdom, please ask them to get in touch with the UVI Public Relations Office - (340) 693-1057 or send email to pr@uvi.edu. If they are interested in participating we'll share the details along with contact information for BBC Radio Scotland.
UVICEDD Announces Parent Empowerment Workshops for May 14, 16
UVI's Virgin Islands University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (VIUCEDD) has announced that parent empowerment workshops - entitled "Dream Big: Take Control of Your Transition Plan!" - will be offered on St. Croix, on May 14, and St. Thomas, on May 16. The workshops are sponsored by VIUCEDD, the Inter-Island Parent Coalition for Change, the Florida Outreach Project, the Helen Keller National Center, and the State Office of Special Education.
The workshops are designed for parents with children in middle school and high school. Presentations on making life transitions, including options available after high school, and personal success stories of overcoming life challenges, will be featured. Speakers will include weight lifting champion and martial arts expert Cody Colchado, who is blind and hard of hearing, Washington D.C. student advocate Divya Goel. Panelist will include: human resources consultant Michelle Taylor and special education teacher Jolee Colchado, who is the mother of a child with special needs.
The St. Croix session will take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Evans Center Room 401 on UVI's Albert A. Sheen Campus. On St. Thomas, the workshop will be offered at the V.I. Small Business Development Center in Nisky Center. Refreshments will be provided and advance registration is encouraged. For details contact Jerae Forde at 776-9200, extension 2334, on St. Thomas or Sandra Pierre-Louis, at 692-4267, on St. Croix.
Can You Identify This 'We Are UVI' Contributor?
Visit "We Are UVI" at http://weareuvi.blogspot.com to see if you are correct. "We Are UVI" is the University's Golden Jubilee blog featuring individuals sharing their CVI/UVI stori...es from the past 50 years. This submission was added on Sunday, April 29.
It 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) and Curtis Gilpin ('80). New submissions are added each week.
Other Current Items...
UVI 48th Annual Commencement Scheduled for May 12 and 13
The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) will conduct its 48th Annual Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 12 and Sunday, May 13, 2012. The Commencement keynote address will be given by Spelman College President Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum.
Commencement on UVI's St. Thomas campus will begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, in the UVI Sports and Fitness Center. Attendance is by ticket only. Tickets can be obtained from members of the UVI Class of 2012. The Commencement marshal is UVI Professor of English and Linguistics Dr. Vincent O. Cooper. UVI's St. Croix Commencement will begin at 4:30 p.m. on the grounds of the Albert A. Sheen Campus on Sunday, May 13. The Commencement marshal is UVI Professor of Economics Dr. Simon B. Jones-Hendrickson and the Commencement co-marshal is UVI Associate Professor of Business Dr. Gabriel Ogunmokun.
President Daniel Tatum and noted Virgin Islands physician Dr. Alfred Heath will each be awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University. Virgin Islands Delegate to Congress Dr. Donna Christensen will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
Hotel Rates for UVI Travelers Updated
The UVI Purchasing Department has issued updates to its lists of inter-island ticket prices and hotel room rates for use by employees traveling on UVI business. The lists are available from the Purchasing section of the UVI website - http://www.uvi.edu - and from these direct links:
Summer 2012 Financial Aid Update
UVI's Office of Financial Aid has announced the release of the Summer 2012 Financial Aid Guidelines and the Summer Aid Application form. Please visit the links below for the Summer 2012 Financial Aid Information. Completed applications must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office for review and processing.
For additional information concerning Summer Aid, please contact UVI Financial Aid Offices - St. Croix: (340) 692-4193; St. Thomas: (340) 693-1090.
CATS, Brothers With a Cause Sponsoring Academic Jam on St. Thomas, St. Croix
The UVI CATS Center and Brothers With a Cause are conducting Academic Jams on UVI's campuses on St. Thomas and St. Croix. They are designed to help students prepare for Spring Semester final exams. The Academic Jam began on Monday, April 16, and continues through Friday, May 4.
On St. Thomas, sessions are held in Room 118 of the CA Building. Click here to view the St. Thomas Academic Jam Schedule. For more details, visit the CATS Center in the CA Building or call (340) 693-1226.
On St. Croix, sessions will be available in the following locations: CATS Center/Computer Lab - (EVC 700 Level); The Writing Center - Tutorial Centre; and Math & Science - Tutorial Center. Contact the CATS office for additional assistance on other subjects at (340) 692-4140.
UVI Selected as Tom Joyner Hercules Scholarship Recipient for June 2012; Applications Available
The University of the Virgin Islands has been selected as the recipient of the Tom Joyner Hercules Scholarship for the month of June, 2012. Applications are available in UVI Financial Aid Offices on the St. Thomas campus and on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. Winners of the $1,500 scholarship will be announced every Thursday throughout the month of June.
Applicants must be fulltime undergraduate students with a demonstrated financial need and a 2.5 or better grade point average. Complete requirements for the Tom Joyner Foundation Hercules Scholarship are available from the Financial Aid Offices. The application deadline is May 1, 2012. All application packets must be submitted to UVI's Financial Aid Office.
St. Thomas Campus Bookstore Sets Book Buyback Period
The UVI Bookstore on the St. Thomas campus has announced that a Book Buyback Period has been scheduled for April 30 through May 4, and again on May 7. Buy Back hours will be 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Students must present a student ID to participate. A Bookstore receipt is needed and textbooks will be inspected for condition. For details, contact the Bookstore at (340) 693-1561.
UVI Schedules Summer Class in Website Creation
UVI will offer a new class on How to Create a Website during the upcoming summer session. The class will cover all phases of setting up a web site. Students will have a chance to secure their own URL (a web address like www.yoursite.com), secure hosting for the site and develop the pages that will be seen by everyone. Creating the art, music, backgrounds and the message are all part of this class. No prior experience is assumed when it comes to creating a web site. For more information call UVI Professor of Communication Dr. Alexander Randall at (340) 514-9995.
Scholarships Available for Advanced Degrees, Cultural Projects
The Board of Directors of the Virgin Islands Academic & Cultural Awards Endowment (VIACAE) Scholarship is accepting applications through May 4, 2012 for its scholarship program. Virgin Islands residents pursuing advanced degrees (J.D., M.D., or other doctorate degrees) or cultural projects are encouraged to apply for the Virgin Islands Academic & Cultural Awards Endowment Scholarship.
Created by the Virgin Islands Legislature in 1970, this program provides financial support to eligible V.I. residents to advance their academic and professional studies, and also to eligible V.I. residents engaged in cultural projects that will benefit the people of the Virgin Islands. Recipients may receive up to $10,000 per year. This is a V.I. territorial scholarship program that is administered by the University of the Virgin Islands.
Applications are available at the Provost's Office on both UVI campuses. Electronic applications and additional information are available from the Financial Aid section of the UVI website - www.uvi.edu - and from these links:
- Financial Aid - Scholarships
webpage
/import/sites/uvi/Pages/Financial_Aid-Scholarships.aspx?s=PS - Scholarship Application - /import/sites/uvi/Forms/VIACAE_scholarship_application.pdf
- Residency Certification - /import/sites/uvi/Forms/VIACAE_residency_certification.pdf
- Program Flier -
/import/sites/uvi/Forms/VIACAE_scholarship_flier.pdf
For more information and eligibility requirements contact Mavis Gilchrist, Program Manager at 693-1200.
Testing and Registration Notes...
UVI Schedules Math, English Placement Testing
The University of the Virgin Islands is conducting Math and English placement testing on the following schedule. The tests are computer-based and are administered simultaneously. A picture ID is required. Calculators will not be permitted on the math placement test. A preparation guide is available at this link: http://bit.ly/taGZ6q. For reading and writing, sample tests can be found at www.accuplacer.org.
St. Thomas Campus
Tests: English and Math
Dates and Times:
Tuesday, May 8 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. & Tuesday, June 19 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Place: English testing - Classroom Administration Building (CAB) Computer Lab 103.
Math testing - Classroom Administration Building (CAB) Computer Lab 101 A & B.
Albert A. Sheen Campus - St. Croix
Tests: English and Math
Dates and Times: Tuesday, May 8 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. & Tuesday, June 19 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Place: English testing - North West Wing, Room 131
Math testing - North West Wing, Room 133
For more information, contact Linda Wymer (lwymer@uvi.edu) or Steven Greenstein (sgreens@uvi.edu).
Online Registration for UVI's 2012 Fall Semester
Online registration for UVI's 2012 Fall Semester is continuing. Fall Semester classes begin on Aug. 20. More information is available from the Registrar's section of the UVI website - http://www.uvi.edu - with updated web registration instructions available from this direct link.
Online Registration for UVI's 2012 Summer Sessions Now Available
Online registration is now available for UVI's 2012 Summers Sessions I and II.
Summer I Classes are scheduled from Monday, May 14 through Monday, June 18. In-person registration will be available on May 10-11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Summer II Classes are scheduled from Thursday, June 21 - Friday, July 27. In-person registration will be available on June 19-20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
More information is available from the Registrar's section of the UVI website - http://www.uvi.edu - and from this direct link. Or, you can contact the Registrar or Associate Registrar (Albert A. Sheen Campus) at registrar@uvi.edu.
Golden Jubilee Items...
Golden Jubilee Commemorative Plates Available at UVI Bookstores
Commemorative plates, prepared for UVI's Golden Jubilee celebration, are now available for sale at the UVI Bookstores on St. Croix and St. Thomas.
UVI Looking for Historic UVI Photos for Golden Jubilee Publication
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 labeled 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.
Submissions for UVI Golden Jubilee Time Capsules Sought
Submissions of commemorative items for inclusion in UVI Golden Jubilee time capsules on both campuses are sought by the Time Capsule Subcommittee of UVI's Golden Jubilee Committee.
Contributions will be accepted from UVI students, alumni, departments and staff members through Oct. 31. Please submit items to be considered for inclusion in the time capsule. Indicate the contributor's name, department and campus, and include contact information. Items can be mailed or dropped off as follows:
- Albert A. Sheen Campus - St. Croix: Raquel Silver / rsantia@uvi.edu / extension 4061 / Research and Extension Center Room 106
- St. Thomas campus: Dr. Angela Dikou / adikou@uvi.edu / extension 1284 / Quarters B Room 202
The time capsule will be capped in December 2012. Members of the subcommittee are Raquel Silver and Dr. Angela Dikou (faculty), Sharon Pickering (student), Maria Friday, Shelly Ansyln-Jones and Lorna J. Williams-Sutton (staff/alumni).