UVI Bulletin Board for February-March 2019

UVI Bulletin Board for February-March 2019

Agrifest 2019 Set for Feb. 16-18: “VI Agriculture: Still Growing in 2019”

The public is invited to attend the 48th Annual Agriculture and Food Fair of the Virgin Islands from Feb. 16-18 at the Rudolph Shulterbrandt Agricultural Complex, Estate Lower Love on St. Croix.  The theme is “VI Agriculture: Still Growing in 2019!”  The entrance fee is $6 for adults, $4 for children, and $5 for senior citizens. The fair will open daily from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., with the opening ceremony scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16. 

“The annual Agfair is planned with the public’s interest in mind.  The Board of Directors of the Agriculture and Food Fair of the Virgin Islands invites all residents to attend this cultural, educational, and social event.  Farmers, cooks, exhibitors and other participants await your presence,” said Errol Chichester, acting commissioner of the V.I. Department of Agriculture.”

Agrifest 2019 will also feature Farmer of the Year Award presentations and grand quadrille dancing with music by Stanley and the 10 Sleepless Knights.  Other entertainment will include a Caribbean Gospel “Singspiration,” VI’s own 2019 Road March Champion Fusion Band, Reggae show, and Calypso show.  Family fun will include interesting and attractive exhibits, demonstrations, entertainment, challenging competitions, games, prize-winning animals, a variety of delicious local food and beverages, along with fun fellowship of sharing with friends and relatives from neighboring islands.  This year, the “Fair Wear” competition is back by popular demand. In addition to participants from all three Virgin Islands, guests are expected to arrive from Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, and Grenada.

More information is available in a news release on the Media Section of the UVI website – 

http://www.uvi.edu/ – and from this direct link. 

Sale to be held of Vehicles at the University of the Virgin Islands

Sale of University property vehicles IFB 201901 (A, B, C, D, E, F)

The University of the Virgin Islands will be accepting sealed bids for the items noted below. Bid documents can be picked up from the Purchasing Department between the hours of 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting on Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, through Monday, March 4, 2019.

A.            One (1) 2001 Chevy Astro Cargo Van (Color: White, Condition-poor)

B.            One (1) 2002 GMC Sonoma (Color: White, Condition- Poor)

C.            One (1) 2002 Chevy S10 (Color: White, Condition-Poor)

D.            One (1) 2011) Jeep Wrangler (Color: White, Condition- Fair)

E.            One (1) 2011) Jeep Wrangler (Color: White, Condition- Fair) F. One (1) 2002 Ford Passenger Van (Color: Gold, Condition- Fair)

Vehicles are located at the Physical Plant building on the St. Thomas Campus.

Items will be sold “AS IS”. Only sealed bids will be accepted for the purchase of these items.

Bid submission must be delivered to the University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas Campus Purchasing Office no later 3 p.m. on Monday, March 11, 2019.

Within five working days after the unsealing of the bids, the successful bidder will be notified by telephone and/or mail.

For more information, contact Austin Rogers at (340) 693-1482 or by e-mail [email protected]

Sale of University Property Vehicles IFB 201902 (A, B, C, D, E)

The University of the Virgin Islands will be accepting sealed bids for the items noted below. Bid documents can be picked up from the Purchasing Department starting Monday February 4, 2019, through Monday, March 4, 2019, between the hours of 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A.            One (1) 2002 Honda CRV (Color: Brown, Condition-Fair)

B.            One (1) 2000 Chevy Astro Passenger Van (Color: Green, Condition-Poor)

C.            One (1) 2003 Chevy Astro Passenger Van (Color: White, Condition-Poor)

D.            One (1) 2003 Ford Explorer (Color: Black, Condition-Poor)

E.            One (1) 2011 Chevy Colorado Crew (Color: White, Condition-Damaged)

Vehicles are located at the Physical Plant building on the St. Thomas Campus. Items will be sold “AS IS”. Only sealed bids will be accepted for the purchase of these items. Bid submission must be delivered to the University of the Virgin Islands, Purchasing Office on the St. Thomas Campus no later 3 p.m. on Monday, March 11, 2019.

Within five working days after the unsealing of the bids, the successful bidder will be notified by telephone and/or mail.

For more information, contact Austin Rogers at (340) 693-1482 or by email [email protected]

Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program Launch on St. Croix

For the first time, students from St. Croix will have an opportunity to participate in the popular Youth Ocean Explorers (YOE) program this summer.

Based at the University of the Virgin Islands, YOE is a marine science-based summer enrichment opportunity that aims to increase students’ interest and engagement in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and the ocean sciences. The program has been conducted on the UVI St. Thomas Campus for three years.

With funding from the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, the program will make its debut on St. Croix from July 8-12, 2019 and July 22-26, 2019.

During two fun interactive and hands-on one-week sessions, students from grades seven to twelve who are registered for the St. Croix program can expect to learn about the various inhabitants of the ocean, the importance of coral reefs, threats to the island’s marine ecosystems, and actions that can be taken to help reduce those environmental threats.

“Some activities involve geocaching, where the students do a scavenger hunt kind of activity, and it allows them to hunt for the information. “Instead of us lecturing the kids, it’s more fun, it’s more engaging, it’s more hands-on. I think that, by far, is what sets our program apart,” said Howard Forbes Jr., who serves as the Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service coordinator for St. Thomas and St. John.

More information is available in a news release on the Media Section of the UVI website –  

http://www.uvi.edu/ – and from this direct link. 

UVI Board Approves Free Tuition Policies & Procedures

In a special session on Jan. 23, the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Board of Trustees approved policies and procedures to aide with the implementation of Act No. 8155, the Virgin Islands Higher Education Scholarship Program, which requires that financial aid be granted to residents of the Virgin Islands for post-secondary education at UVI.  The Board voted unanimously to approve the policies and procedures, with several amendments.

“This is a very historic accomplishment for the University and the Territory,” said UVI President David Hall. “The Board should be proud for putting this issue on the Territory’s agenda and for the overwhelming support that we received from the Legislative Branch and the Executive Branch.”

Act No. 8155 or the Virgin Islands Higher Education Scholarship Program (VIHESP) was signed into law by former Gov. Kenneth Mapp and introduced by Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach, who was a senator at the time.

The scholarships will be available to all Virgin Islanders who graduate from a private, public or parochial high school regardless of age, date of graduation or household income.

Recipients of the tuition aid, which would supplement students’ federal scholarship awards, university scholarships, and private donations, will be required to maintain a GPA of 2.50 and to work in the Territory for a specific length of time after completing their studies. The University will collaborate with the Department of Labor to secure job placement for scholarship recipients.

More information is available in a news release on the Media Section of the UVI website –  

http://www.uvi.edu/ – and from this direct link. 

UVI Board Approves Free Tuition Policies & Procedures

In a special session on Jan. 23, the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Board of Trustees approved policies and procedures to aide with the implementation of Act No. 8155, the Virgin Islands Higher Education Scholarship Program, which requires that financial aid be granted to residents of the Virgin Islands for post-secondary education at UVI.  The Board voted unanimously to approve the policies and procedures, with several amendments.

“This is a very historic accomplishment for the University and the Territory,” said UVI President David Hall. “The Board should be proud for putting this issue on the Territory’s agenda and for the overwhelming support that we received from the Legislative Branch and the Executive Branch.”

Act No. 8155 or the Virgin Islands Higher Education Scholarship Program (VIHESP) was signed into law by former Gov. Kenneth Mapp and introduced by Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach, who was a senator at the time.

The scholarships will be available to all Virgin Islanders who graduate from a private, public or parochial high school regardless of age, date of graduation or household income.

Recipients of the tuition aid, which would supplement students’ federal scholarship awards, university scholarships, and private donations, will be required to maintain a GPA of 2.50 and to work in the Territory for a specific length of time after completing their studies. The University will collaborate with the Department of Labor to secure job placement for scholarship recipients.

More information is available in a news release on the Media Section of the UVI website –  

http://www.uvi.edu/ – and from this direct link. 

Registration Open for the Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program on February 1

Registration for the Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program will be open on Feb. 1, and interested applicants can register for this 4-week marine science based summer enrichment program at vimas.uvi.edu.

New features to the 2019 program include a St. Croix equivalent program as well as the launch of a program for younger students.

For additional information, contact Howard Forbes Jr. at (340) 693-1672 or email

[email protected].

Afternoon on the Green Committee Announces Theme Winner

The Afternoon on the Green 2019 Planning Committee is pleased to announce the winner of the theme competition.

Based on an overwhelming display of likes and poll votes, the winning theme is…

“Welcome Back to the Green, Rebuilding Our Dreams in 2019.”

Congratulations to Tausha David!!!

To redeem your prize, please contact the Public Relations Office at 340-693-1059.

Cooks Sought for Afternoon on the Green

We know you’ve heard that Afternoon on the Green is on March 24, 2019!

Well what is Afternoon on the Green without our sweet and delicious delicacies?

So, we are calling all cooks to sign-up!

Never participated before? Here’s your chance to display your mouth-watering treats at one of the Virgin Islands most anticipated events.

To register as an individual, click the link below:

(https://www.uvi.edu/files/documents/Institutional_Advancement/Afternoon_On_the_Green/AOG%20Cook%20Ltr%202019.pdf)

To register a group, click the link below:

(https://www.uvi.edu/files/documents/Institutional_Advancement/Afternoon_On_the_Green/AOG%20Group%20Cook%20Ltr%202019.pdf)

For more information, call Cherilyn Browne at (340) 693-1040.

Volunteers Needed for Afternoon on the Green

We know you are ready for Afternoon on the Green on March 24, 2019!

But first, do you enjoy serving others or maybe working with kids or even bartending and organizing?

If so, then we need YOU!

Here’s your chance to be a part of one of the Virgin Islands most anticipated events. Featuring the best foods and drinks, the most fun and games, friends and families.

Who says volunteering can’t be fun?

To find out how you can help, please contact Kyza Callwood at (340) 513-9346.