APR Energy, a Florida-based company that contracts with the V.I. Water and Power Authority to provide electric power on St. Thomas, on Saturday donated $15,620 to the enable 16 students and six chaperones from the St. Thomas-St. John Youth Scholastic Chess Club to attend a championship event this December.
The donation was part of the company’s Community Development Program, which invests invests in neighborhoods around the world by supporting healthcare, infrastructure and STEM education initiatives, according to the company’s news release.
The U.S. Chess Federation’s 2018 National Scholastic K-12 Grade Championship will be held Dec 14 through 16 in Orlando, Florida.
St. Thomas/St. John Youth Scholastic Chess Club is a nonprofit organization in USVI that promotes educational, social, decision-making, critical thinking and leadership skills to every student in the community, the release said. APR Energy presented the donation to Sinclair Wilkinson, president of the group, during an October 20 ceremony at a local competition on St. Thomas.
“The impact APR Energy provides to communities around the world isn’t limited to just the delivery of power; we also help to ensure that the local neighborhoods we serve are empowered with resources that profoundly impact the community in positive ways,” said John Campion, chairman, APR Energy. “Providing the opportunity to the St. Thomas/St. John Youth Scholastic Chess Club to compete in the national chess tournament ensures that we’re paving a path to success for each and every one of these students.”
Wilkinson praised the company for its donation.
“Within our Youth Scholastic Chess Club, our coaches, parents, students and I think that APR Energy is an ‘unsung hero’ whose services affect every aspect of our daily lives,” Wilkinson said. “APR Energy’s contributions enable our chess students to realize one of their dreams: to travel off island and participate in a premier national chess tournament designed for students like them to gain additional competitive experience, improve their knowledge, skills and overall academic performance.”
APR Energy has been delivering power to St. Thomas since 2012 through its WAPA contract.
With the assistance of WAPA, APR Energy identified the opportunity to provide a meaningful STEM experience to children in the USVI, according to the news release.
“WAPA is pleased to partner with APR Energy in providing an opportunity for our young people to compete nationally,” said Clinton T. Hedrington, Jr., chief operating officer. “WAPA has had a years-long relationship with APR Energy, and today’s donation speaks volumes about their commitment not only to WAPA but to the Virgin Islands community we both serve. This is an incredible donation and WAPA salutes APR Energy for its investment in STEM Education in the Virgin Islands.”