The University of the Virgin Islands is celebrating the 57th anniversary of its charter this month with a wide range of events. UVI will host a Charter Day Ceremony at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 20, on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., who is the first governor of the Virgin Islands to be a graduate of UVI, will be the keynote speaker. Gov. Bryan’s remarks will be video conferenced from the Sheen Campus to the first-floor conference room of the Administration and Conference Center Building on the St. Thomas Campus.
“We want the community to come out and celebrate with us,” said UVI President David Hall. “We have come a long way and have done great things. We have a bright future, and we just want the community to be a part of that.”
All men in the community are invited to take part in a 100 Man March being held by UVI’s Brothers With A Cause student organization. The 100 Man March will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the edge of the campus and will end at the Great Hall.
The Charter Day ceremony will include a special reflection on the first president of the College of the Virgin Islands, Dr. Lawrence Wanlass, who passed in December 2018. Former Board of Trustees’ members, Jennifer Nugent-Hill and Edward E. Thomas, whom the board recently recognized with the distinction of Trustee Emeritus status, will also be honored.
On the St. Thomas Campus, those who arrive early will be treated to jazz music under the leadership of Music Director Dion Parson. On St. Croix, the Voices of Inspiration Community Choir will also be present.
A special Charter Day Ice Cream Social has been planned for after the ceremony. The UVI community is invited to mix and mingle and possibly win prizes. Sorbetiere homemade sorbet and various ice cream flavors will be served on the North West Wing lawn on the Sheen Campus and on the Administration and Conference Center Terrace on the St. Thomas Campus.
Other Charter Day Activities:
· The University launched its celebration of its charter with a Charter Day Concert held on Saturday, March 16, at the Prior-Jollek Hall at Antilles School. The concert featured the UVI Concert Choir, Concert Band, Bass Ensemble and Saxaphone Quartet.
· The university will host the annual walk/run on March 22 on the Sheen Campus. This year the One Mile Walk/Run will take place promptly at 6:30 a.m. and will start at the Bookstore. The first 20 registered participants are guaranteed a commemorative T-shirt. Pre-registration for this event is open on race day until 6 a.m. Registration is $10. Prizes will be awarded to the first and second overall male and female walkers/runners and the first male and female UVI alumni, UVI student, UVI staff and UVI faculty walker/runner. A light breakfast will be provided at the end of the event.
Pick-up registration forms from Shay Roberts at UVI’s Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. Payment of cash or check payable to the University of the Virgin Islands must be accompanied by the completed form.
Parking will be available on the Sheen Campus.
· Three young women will vie for the title of ‘Miss Charter Day’ at 7 p.m. on March 20, in the cafeteria on the Sheen Campus. The contestants are Shakia Bruney, Love Pluviose and Christine George are the contestants. For additional information, contact Amanda Bannis and Jana Austrie at 692 4228, or visit the Office of Student Activities.
· On March 29, the community is invited to the “UVI Pride Edition” of Sip & Paint at 5:30 p.m. in the first-floor of the Administration and Conference Center Building on the St. Thomas Campus. Grab light refreshments and let your creative spirits fly. Space is limited. Registration is $25 for students, $35 for faculty, staff and alumni and $40 for non UVI family and friends. This event is sponsored by Student Activities.
The University of the Virgin Islands was chartered on March 16, 1962, as the College of the Virgin Islands — a publicly funded, coeducational, liberal arts institution — by Act No. 852 of the Fourth Legislature of the U.S. Virgin Islands. According to that law, UVI’s cornerstone objective is to provide for “…the stimulation and utilization of the intellectual resources of the people of the Virgin Islands and the development of a center of higher learning whereby and wherefrom the benefits of culture and education may be extended throughout the Virgin Islands.”