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 UVI The monthly newsletter of The University of the Virgin Islands June 14, 2002 vol. viii, number 6 Members of the University of the Virgin Islands Class of 2002 were regaled and re- minded at com- mencement exer- cises on May 18 and 19 on the St. Thomas campus and St. Croix cam- pus, respectively. “Join the bands of those who do good and work against those who do evil,” Gov. Charles Turnbull told the graduates. A UVI professor emeritus, and one of the people who lobbied the gov- ernment 40 years ago to form a college, Turnbull noted the institution’s accomplishments over the years. Touting commencement as “the special event that adds the most capital to St. Croix,” President Orville Kean told the graduates on St. Croix that it had special meaning to him. “This is my last commencement exercise and for me it is a moving and touching moment.” He told both classes that education is a lifelong endeavor and that each student should continue on a path to success. Keynote speaker Marie V. McDemmond, Ed.D., president of Norfolk State Uni- versity, implored the graduates to value their UVI education as spe- cial because of UVI’s status as a Historically Black College or Univer- sity (HBCU). “If we are to continue our great legacy of ex- cellence, a future that is very different from the past is before us,” she said. Using an analogy of farming throughout her speech Martha Joseph, the student commencement speaker on the St. Thomas campus, received intermittent applause and a standing ovation from graduates and faculty. She told her fellow graduates that they have broken new ground, and warned them against allowing it to be- come “fallow” - defined by the American Heritage Dictionary as ground that is ploughed but left unseeded during a growing sea- son, or something characterized by inactivity. “You have worked hard, you have ploughed, but do not leave that land seedless. This will only lead to fruitlessness,” said Joseph, a summa cum laude graduate who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English/sec- ondary education. She applauded Dr. Kean and the V.I. govern- ment for the advances the University has made with their assis- tance. Joseph urged leaders to work together to make UVI the “intellectual eye” of the Virgin Islands and one of the most respected institutions in the Caribbean. Guest speakers charged the “distinctive and committed” St. Croix graduates with committing themselves to the island. Senate President Almando “Rocky” Liburd noted that the community is suffering from a lack of morals and values. “We want you to help fix it,” he said. “Stay here and make a contribution. The true test is how many of you are going to stay here and weather the storm.” Delegate to Congress Donna Christiansen had a similar mes- sage for the graduates on St. Croix. “This is not the time to wait on government, to watch our future unfold from the sidelines. This is our island, this is our future, and as quietly as it has been kept, the future of the Virgin Islands.” In the words of St. Croix student commencement speaker Zahra O’Reilly, a magna cum laude graduate in elementary education, “the voyage begins.” UVI Graduates 287 in Ceremonies on Both Campuses (Left) Graduates on the St. Thomas campus listen as speakers address them. (Right) On St. Croix graduates beam as they walk down the aisle to their seats. Workers put the finishing touches on the Sports and Fitness Center’s new sign. The sign is on the southern side of the build- ing facing the Cyril E. King Airport. “When anyone flies in, this is the first thing they see,” said UVI’s Athletic Director Peter Sauer, who lobbied for the sign’s funding. Spotlights will be installed soon so that “even when you fly in at night, it’s the first thing you see,” Sauer said.

 2 John Brewer’s Bay St. Thomas, VI 00802 GET CONNECTED TO UVI news, activities and accomplishments at . . . www.uvi.edu UVI’s Summer Institute Prepares Students for Global Leadership Martha Joseph is not psychic, but she does know who will govern the Caribbean nation of Dominica in the next 15 years - she will. Joseph was one of 48 students attending the Uni- versity of the Virgin Islands 2002 Sum- mer Institute for Future Global Lead- ers in the Caribbean. The goal of the challenging, two-week Summer Insti- tute is to prepare university students for global leadership roles. Students participated in lectures, field trips, workshops and seminars. More than a dozen presenters, including entrepre- neurs, deans and an ambassador, lec- tured around the theme “Global Leadership in a Dynamic Environ- ment.” At the end of the Summer Institute all students produce a cus- tomized leadership prospectus they plan to adopt. Preparing for the role of Dominica’s Prime Minister, during the next 15 years Joseph will earn a master’s degree in Caribbean education studies, seek membership in various Caribbean associations, publish a book on women’s issues and found her own political party. She noted that Dominica has regressed since the retirement of former Prime Minister, Dame Eugenia Charles. Joseph plans to make a differ- ence by being “that female leader that the Caribbean needs.” While Joseph’s focus is the Caribbean, Antoinette Mabry’s focus is on global marketing. After spending seven years working in the marketing field, Mabry knows the discrepancies minorities face. Minorities and consumers from various ethnic groups spend billions of dollars annually, in a market where they are often ig- nored or misrepresented, the graduate student at Clark Atlanta University said. As a global leader in multi-cultural marketing, she hopes to bridge that gap. “Given the recent events of 9/11, the war on terrorism, turbu- lence in the financial markets and world economies, innovations in medicine, etc., we believe that future leaders should be well equipped to deal with dynamic elements in our glo- bal environment,” said Dr. Solomon Kabuka, director of the Summer Insti- tute. Inventor Liston Abbott, the key- note speaker at the opening cer- emony, agreed. He told students that leaders must be dynamic. “Don’t feel that because you’re going in one di- rection, you can’t change your direc- tion,” he said. “You’ve got to be able to adapt.” Abbott also urged the young leaders to master interpersonal com- munication, noting that it is the foundation for all communication. The Summer Institute, held annually in May, is open to college juniors, seniors and first-year graduate students from colleges and universities in the Caribbean and the U.S. This year’s participants included one law student. The Summer Institute is supported an- nually by international, regional and local organizations and uni- versities. Participants in UVI’s Summer Institute for Future Global Leaders in the Caribbean convene for practical problem solving.  
 June 17 Board of Trustees Meeting, STT June 14-17 Play: “For Better For Worse,” STT 21-24, 28-30, July 1 June 28-July7 Caricom Basketball Tournament, STT June 27 SBDC Workshop, STT

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