The University of the Virgin Islands will receive a gift of $25,000 from Cruzan VIRIL Ltd. at a check presentation at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17th, at the Cruzan Rum headquarters on St. Croix. Gary C. Nelthropp, president and Chief Executive Officer of Cruzan VIRIL Ltd., will present UVI President Dr. LaVerne E. Ragster with the donation to support scholarships at UVI.
"The support shown by Cruzan VIRIL Ltd. over the years has been consistent and valued. Our students have benefitted from this relationship, which has given so many the tools they've needed to excel. The University thanks Cruzan VIRIL Ltd., for continuing to ensure that UVI is able to 'Specialize in Futures'," Dr. Ragster said.
Marvin Pickering, senior vice president and chief financial officer for Cruzan VIRIL Ltd., and a proud graduate of UVI's Class of 1985, said UVI has been and continues to be vital in providing higher education experiences for the people of the territory. "Once again we are pleased to be able to make this investment in the future of the Virgin Islands," he said, adding that Cruzan VIRIL Ltd. is honored to provide scholarship support to UVI students. "We look forward to continuing this relationship," Pickering said.
"This partnership between the University of the Virgin Islands and Cruzan VIRIL began under my father's leadership, some 21 years ago, and continues today and into the foreseeable future," said Cruzan Chief Executive Officer Gary Nelthropp. "Cruzan VIRIL is totally committed to doing our part to assist in ensuring that the Virgin Islands has a homegrown, well-educated talent pool to support industry and government. It makes a lot of sense for us to do what we are doing in this regard."
Since 1987, Cruzan VIRIL Ltd. has made annual contributions, now totaling $535,000 in support of University of the Virgin Islands scholarships and the Foundation for the University of the Virgin Islands' (FUVI) Golf Classic. In 2000, Cruzan VIRIL Ltd. established an endowed UVI scholarship in recognition of the late Knud Oliver Parris, the longest tenured employee of Cruzan VIRIL Ltd. at the time of his passing twelve years ago. He was employed at the distillery for more than 45 years.