The University of the Virgin Islands celebrates the 48th anniversary of its founding during the month of March, which is recognized as Charter Month. This year's Charter Month festivities coincide with the inauguration of Dr. David Hall as UVI's fifth president.
The University of the Virgin Islands was chartered on March 16, 1962, as the College of the Virgin Islands (CVI) - a publicly funded, coeducational, liberal arts institution - by Act No. 852 of the Fourth Legislature of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The University will conduct a Charter Day ceremony, a lecture as part
of the Alfred O. Heath Distinguished Lecture Series, and a 5k Walk/Run on St. Croix.
The Charter Day ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 in the first floor conference room of the Administration and Conference Center on the St. Thomas campus and will be transmitted by videoconference to the Great Hall, North West Wing on the St. Croix Campus.
One of the highlights of this year's Charter Day ceremony will be the honoring of individuals who recently completed service as members of the UVI Board of Trustees. They are:
• Mr. Roy D. Jackson, CPA
• Dr. Bernard Paiewonsky
• Dr. Auguste E. Rimpel, Jr.
• The Honorable Audrey L. Thomas
• Ms. Juanita M. Woods
Mr. Roy D. Jackson, Sr., CPA
Mr. Roy D. Jackson had been a member of the Board since 1997. He served on the Academic Research and Student Affairs; Buildings and Grounds; and Finance and Budget Committees. Mr. Jackson also served as Chair of the Finance and Budget Committee for 10 years.
Dr. Bernard H. Paiewonsky
Dr. Bernard Paiewonsky had been on the Board since 1996. He served on the Development and Planning Committees and served six years as Chair of the Development Committee. Dr. Paiewonsky also served six years as Chair of the Planning Committee.
Dr. Auguste E. Rimpel, Jr.
Dr. Auguste E. Rimpel, Jr., had been a member of the Board since 1993. Dr. Rimpel served as Chair of the Board beginning in 1997 and, as an ex-officio member, served on each of the standing committees of the Board.
Hon. Audrey L. Thomas
The Hon. Audrey L. Thomas, who had been a member of the Board since 2004, served on the Academic Research and Student Affairs Committee and on the Committee on Trustees. Judge Thomas served as Chair of the Academic Research and Student Affairs Committee for two years.
Ms. Juanita M. Woods
Ms. Juanita M. Woods had been a member of the Board since 2003. She served on the Academic Research and Student Affairs Committee; the Development Committee; and the Planning Committee of the Board. Ms. Woods served as Chair of the ARSA Committee for two years.
At 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 18, the University will host Dr. Steve Perry, the principal of Capital Preparatory Magnet School in Hartford, Connecticut. Dr. Perry, who gained notoriety on CNN's "Black in America" documentary, will speak in the Reichhold Center for the Arts on UVI's St. Thomas campus as part of the Alfred O. Heath Distinguished Lecture Series. Dr. Perry is the author of "Raggedy Schools - The Untold Truth" and is an outspoken proponent of parental involvement and intervention in the education of Black children. Admission is free. For information call 693-1042.
The UVI St. Croix campus will host the 9th Annual Queen Mary Walk/Run at 6 a.m. on Friday, March 26. Walkers and runners will proceed from the K-Mart at Sunshine Mall in Frederiksted, St. Croix along the Queen Mary Highway to the UVI St. Croix campus. The entry fee is $10 for UVI students and children, $15 for UVI faculty, staff and adult community members. This year $2 from every registration fee will benefit the UVI Haiti Relief Efforts. To register call 692-4236.