The University of the Virgin Islands will award more than 340 degrees at the 49th Commencement Ceremonies on May 11 and 12, on the St. Thomas campus and the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix, respectively. More than 220 degrees will be awarded at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 11, in the Sports on Fitness Center on the St. Thomas campus. More than 120 degrees will be awarded at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 12, on the grounds on the Albert A. Sheen Campus.
The class speaker on the St. Thomas campus will be Linda Ritter. The class speaker on the Albert A. Sheen Campus will be Charnele M. Burton.
Admission to the St. Thomas campus Commencement Ceremony is by ticket only. Parking on the St. Thomas campus will be available in the parking lot of the Reichhold Center for the Arts. Shuttle service will be provided from the Reichhold Center to the Sports and Fitness Center.Former U.S. Congressman, Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus and President of the NAACP Kweisi Mfume will be UVI's 2013 commencement keynote speaker. Mfume has had an illustrious career as a lawmaker, activist and commentator - starting first as a member of the Baltimore City Council. In local government service, Mfume led efforts to diversify city government, improve community safety and enhance business development. As a congressman, Mfume consistently advocated landmark business and civil rights legislation. As head of the NAACP he raised the organization's national profile, raised significant outside contributions and helped to restore its prominence among the nation's civil rights organizations. Mfume has served on many boards, is the recipient of 10 honorary doctorate degrees and has won hundreds of other awards, proclamations and citations.
Both ceremonies will be broadcast live on Da Vybe 107.9 FM and will stream live online.
WUVI 1090 AM, UVI's student run radio station, will carry a live stream of both commencement ceremonies on http://wuvi.am. The St. Croix commencement ceremony will also be broadcast on 1090 AM.
In respect to all of the graduates, their families and friends, the use of air horns, whistles and other noisemakers will not be permitted at either ceremony.