ALUMNI AFFAIRS OFFICE NEWSLETTER Fall 2008 Volume 1, Issue 4 Inside this issue: Alumni Update South Atlantic Chap- ter’s Summer Fun 1 Alumni Honorees 2 Ms. “G” and the Reunion Choir 3 Dr. Ragster Visits Nevis Alumni and Current Students L. Martin Everette Bank of Nevis GM 3 A Message from the new St. Thomas/St. John Chapter President Jacqueline A. Sprauve ‘94 The UVI dream has been a reality for over the past 46 years. A milestone of this reality will be the Institution’s 50th anniversary in 2012. Changes to the leadership of the Board of Trustees and the Alumni Association took place earlier this year and the selection of a new President to lead UVI is underway. Alumni are encouraged to embrace this era of new lead- ership and become more involved in the life of the Insti- tution. It is time we changed alumni participation from approximately 25 to more than 50 percent. Let’s capitalize on our “uniquely Caribbean” charac- teristic and strengthen our affinity with UVI. We can begin by sharing our talents, skills, time, network contacts and finances. Where will alumni rank on UVI’s 50th anniversary score card? The day was hot, the entertainment was fun, the barbeque was aromatic, and everyone had a good time at the VI Picnic in Lithonia, GA, held on July 27. Hosted by the University of the Virgin Islands South Atlantic Region Alumni Chapter, the event drew alumni from near and far. “The real treat for me was the arrival of Pearl Boynes (class of ’73) who is the oldest alumna in our chapter,” said Chapter co-President Imani Mar- ley-Husbands. “She and her niece made a four-hour drive to participate. She has a wealth of knowledge on CVI/UVI .” UVI President Dr. LaVerne E. Ragster and members of the Office of Institutional Advancement (OIA) were on hand to greet and speak with alumni. Marley-Husbands said that with continued support from UVI and a different venue, the 2009 event is expected to be held during the third week of July. The South Atlantic Association Chapter is co-led by Imani Marley-Husbands and Tracey Lettsome. On July 3, President of the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Dr. LaVerne E. Ragster treated past and present UVI students, who are also nation- als of Nevis, to lunch at Ba- nana’s Bistro on St. Kitts. President Ragster used the gathering to update students and alumni on changes within the Institution. She spoke of the fall 2008 semester tuition increase and encouraged currently enrolled Dr. LaVerne E. Ragster (front row 2nd from right) with past and present students. Photo courtesy of SKNVibes.com. students to visit the financial aid and scholarship offices to help defray costs. Those present included newly appointed Bank of Nevis General Manager L. Everette Martin’91 (see page 3) and Ernie France ‘94, General Manager of St. Kitts/ Nevis Trad- ing and Development Co. President Ragster was in the Federation to meet with the Min- ister of Education and Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College officials about UVI’s articulation agree- ment with the college. There are more than 400 UVI alumni from the Federation. South Atlantic Alumni Chapter Hosts a Virgin Islands Picnic www.uvi.edu Mocko Jumbies dance above UVI President Dr. LaVerne E. Ragster at the Alumni Picnic held in Lithonia, Ga. Photo by A. Elliott UVI’s New Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Affairs Linda I. Smith ‘03 has been hired as the director of Annual Giving and Alumni Affairs in the Office of Institutional Advance- ment (OIA) at the Univer- sity of the Virgin Islands (UVI). Smith will lead UVI’s Annual Giving Campaign. Smith holds a Master of Public Administra- tion degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration with a concentration in management from UVI. The two-time UVI alumna said the love for her alma mater and the fact that UVI is the only institution of higher learning in the Virgin Is- lands are all things to be passionate about. "UVI has molded and shaped my life so much that I've always wanted to come back to make a difference," Smith said. Her office is located in the Great House on UVI’s St. Croix campus. She can be reached at lsmith@uvi.edu. She replaces Mitchell Neaves, who previ- ously held the position of director of Annual Giving and Alumni Affairs. Neaves is now UVI’s director of Major Gifts. UVI’s Annual Giving Fund supports the ongoing and unforeseen needs of the institution. Each year Annual Giving funds are used to fortify pro- grams of central importance to our students. You can make a difference. Become a member of the Annual Giving Fund today! Select a membership level that reflects your support for the University. Send Tax-Deductible Contributions to: Office of Institutional Advancement #2 John Brewer’s Bay St. Thomas, VI 00802-9990 Tel: 340-693-1040 Fax: 340-693-1045 Annual Giving Circles UVI Partners - $10,000 or more Paiewonsky Circle - $5,000-$9,999 Founder’s Circle - $1,000-$4,999 Trustees’ Circle - $500-$999 President’s Circle - $200-$499 Who’s Who Among UVI Alumni •Dr. Henry H. Smith ‘76: vice provost for Research and Public Service was recently named interim vice president of Institutional Advancement. As interim vice president Dr. Smith will also serve as executive director of both the Foundation for the University of the Virgin Islands (FUVI) and the Foundation for the Reichhold Center for the Arts (FRCA). •Cynthia Richards ‘73: who has worked in St. Thomas libraries since 1968, was named librarian of the year by the St. Thomas-St. John Library Association. Richards currently works at the Ralph Paiewonsky Library on the St. Thomas campus. •Percival Clouden ‘72: was appointed CEO of the Economic Development Authority. Be- fore joining the EDA Clouden worked for Banco Popular of Puerto Rico. He brings over 30 years of banking experience to the EDA. •James Weeks ‘98: released his “Sacred Journey” fine art calendar. The first in a series, the premier issue focuses on the Yoruba of Nigeria. Weeks is an award-winning ST. CROIX — The St. Croix campus is happy to announce the opening of the new Bucs Fitness Club. The 900 square-foot gym, which serves students, faculty and staff features strength training and aerobic equipment. Located behind the Student Activities lounge, the fitness club is equipped with lockers, showers, wall mirrors and two flat screen televisions. To maximize the benefits of the facility the Athletic De- partment plans to hire a certified athletic trainer to assist coaches in outlining a stu- dent-athlete program. ST. THOMAS — The old Harvey Stu- dent Center, campus cafeteria and book- store on the St. Thomas campus is now UVI’s new Administration and Confer- ence Center. The building was con- structed in 1938 as the officers’ quarters for the St. Thomas Naval Air Station. In the late 1940s it became the Trade Winds Hotel and operated as such for 20 years. In 1962 the building housed CVI’s dormitories, multi-use cafeteria, recreation and assembly hall. The new Administration and Conference Center houses the University’s major administrative offices and a new conference center - all under one roof! Facilities News On Saturday June 7, the St. Thomas-St. John Chapter of the UVI Alumni Association recog- nized four alumni at its 6th Annual Alumni Recognition Breakfast in the Dining Pavilion on UVI’s St. Thomas campus. Trevor A.C. Connor, DDS (Class of 1983), received the Distinguished Alumni Award. Debra Elisa Gottlieb (Class of 1995), the Budget Director at the Office of Management and Budget, was given the Alumni Honor Award. Eltino S. Pickering (Class of 2004), the drillmaster of the Superior Court Rising Stars Youth Steel Orchestra received the Alumni Horizon Award and Senator-at-Large Carmen Wesselhoft (Class of 1985) was presented with the Alumni Award of Excellence. UVI President Dr. LaVerne E. Ragster welcomed the more than 100 people in attendance as she spoke about the recent developments of which UVI alumni can be proud. The University’s reaffirmation of accreditation until 2017, the completion of new facilities on both campuses, the imminent ground-breaking for construction of the future UVI Wellness Center and plans for a hotel at the end of Brewer’s Bay beach, all point to a University that is “offering more and more,” Dr. Ragster said. Although Dr. Connor could not attend the event in person, his videotaped message, produced by students in the Reichhold Center for the Arts’ Summer Youth Moviemaking Workshop, was well received. “I wish the University of the Virgin Islands much success for the future,” Dr. Connor said, while congratulating the other honorees. “Thank you for bestowing this award on me. I am humbled by the esteem it signifies,” said Gottlieb. “This award and my presence here today mean more to me than I can express.” Gottlieb’s son, Odari Thomas, who was named Student of the Year of the Charlotte Amalie High School Class of 2008, will enroll at UVI in the fall. “We are going to continue the tradition,” said Gottlieb. UVI President Dr. LaVerne E. Ragster presents Debra E. Gottlieb with the Alumni Honor Award. Alumni Association Honors Four Fall 2008 Page 2 Alumni Update is pub- lished by the UVI Alumni Affairs Office to provide news and information pertinent to the UVI family. LaVerne E. Ragster, Ph.D. President Henry H. Smith, Ph.D. ’76 Interim VP for Institutional Advancement Deanna E. Rogers ‘87 Alumni Trustee Patrice K. Johnson Director of Public Relations Nanyamka Farrelly ‘99,‘06 Gary Metz Imani Marley-Husbands ’96 Michelle Smitherman Contributors www.uvi.edu 340-693-1047 Fall 2008 Alumnus Named Bank of Nevis General Manager Page 3 Alumni Affairs Office Visit us on St. Croix UVI Great House Room 105 #2 Estate Golden Grove Kingshill, St. Croix 00850 Mailing address St. Croix Campus RR#1 Box 10,000 St. Croix, VI 00850-9781 Visit us on St. Thomas Faculty West #7 #2 John Brewer’s Bay St. Thomas, VI 00802 Mailing address St. Thomas Campus #2 John Brewer’s Bay St. Thomas, VI 00802 Nevisian and UVI alumnus L. Everette Martin was recently ap- pointed as the general manager of the Bank of Nevis Ltd. and its sub- sidiaries by the bank’s board of directors. Martin graduated summa cum laude from UVI in 1991 with an asso- ciate’s degree in account- ing. He also holds a mas- ter’s degree in interna- tional banking and finan- cial studies. Martin, who had a successful 16-year career at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, has held a myriad of positions includ- ing his last position as director of the Bank Su- pervision Department. Qualities that he brings to the new position include leadership and manage- ment capabilities, training and experience in banking and supervision, and knowl- edge in international bank- ing services and capital market development services and supervision. In an online news story Martin said that he is ex- cited about the opportunity to join the Bank of Nevis management team. L. Evertte Martin ‘91 Who’s Who Among UVI Alumni continued photographer and is currently writing a book about African spirituality. Visit www. sacred- journeyworldwide.com for more information. •Henrita Barber ‘78: reflects on life in her new book, Mus- ings of an Island Girl: A Col- lection of Articles on Life, Love & Family—Originally published in the Virgin Islands Daily News 1996-2000. The book includes articles on Bar- ber’s family history, growing up in “paradise,” love, respect for women, middle-age, death and much more. Visit www. musingsofanislandgirl.com for more information. •Leo Frederick ‘75: a former research scientist for G.D. Searle, has recently em- barked on new career as the owner of a Batteries Plus franchise store in Mt. Pros- pect, Illiniois. Frederick’s shop sells a variety of bat- teries and will custom build hard to find or out of date batteries. Ms. ‘G’ and the CVI/UVI Choir Reunion Dream PHOTO IN THIS BOX. We all have dreams, but to make those dreams come true takes great faith. For 20 years Dr. Gloria Quinlan, former choir direc- tor of the College of the Virgin Islands (CVI) and later the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), had a dream that one day she would reunite with her for- mer choir members. In March, that dream came true. Joined by her hus- band Quincy Quinlan, a UVI alumnus and Rhodes Scholar, she was also ac- companied by 26 members of the Huston-Tillotson Uni- versity (HTU) Concert Choir, where she is a pro- fessor. Reunion activities in- cluded a reception at UVI, a reunion concert, church service and a beach picnic. “We are still on a high from that incredible experience! It was such a joy to see everyone after so many years and to make such beautiful music again,” Quincy Quinlan said in a letter to reunion par- ticipants. “I believe that every- one who came was inspired, enriched, and uplifted, so that people are already talking about doing it again,” Quinlan said. Shown (left to right) are Mykal, Gloria & I. Quincy Quinlan, Bernice Harvey and Yvonne Mike. Photo by Dale Morton ALUMNI TIDBIT: Get involved with your alma mater and enjoy the benefits of becoming a chapter member. “We are still on a high from that incredible experience!’’ Quincy Quilan The reunion concert was the main event. Held at the Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School, more than 90 people performed. About 70 former CVI/UVI choir members at- tended the event, which drew an audience of about 300 people. The reunion steering com- mittee was headed by Jenni- fer Toussaint, along with Jemima Parris, Dale Morton, Yvonne Francis and Dr. Utha Williams. Reunion t-shirts, with the UVI and HTU logos were made to commemorate the reunion. You can purchase a DVD of the event by contact- ing Dale Morton at 340-693- 1086. To see photos of the CVI/UVI Choir Reunion event, visit www.ibug.com/ University of the Virgin Islands Alumni Affairs Office #2 John Brewer’s Bay Charlotte Amalie, VI 00802-0990 www.uvi.edu UVI Alumni Association Membership Application (Please Print Clearly) Name: □Mr. □Miss □Ms. □Mrs. □Dr. Gender: □Male □Female Email Address: Mailing Address: City State Zip Code Contact Numbers: Home Work Mobile I, hereby register as a member of the University of the Virgin Islands Alumni Association’s Chapter (listed at www.uvi.edu/pub-relations/alumni/chapters.html) and pay the: □Annual membership dues of $35.00 or □Lifetime membership dues of $250.00 (one time only) SHARE YOUR NEWS WITH US!! Please share information about your achievements with us or update your alumni record. Send details to the alumni affairs representative via: fax 340-693-1045 or email alumni@uvi.edu Become a member of a UVI Alumni Chapter in your area. Complete the membership application and mail to the Alumni Affairs Office. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - Education is not about filling the pail, but lighting the fire. - William Butler Yeats