Sheniqua Robinson's Testimony - Bill No. 36-0150, Bill #36-0150 — Government Operations, Veterans Affairs and Consummer Protection, February 10, 2026
Honorable President of the Legislature, Honorable Senators, distinguished guests, and members of the Virgin Islands community: Good Afternoon. My name is Sheniqua Robinson, and I am here before you today with deep gratitude and pride to testify in recognition of Ms. Thelma Leona Petersen-Springer, whom I affectionately called "Ms. Springer", a woman whose life’s work had been dedicated to the children of the Virgin Islands. I am not here today speaking from theory or observation, I am here as one of her children. As a former majorette twirler from the tender age of 6, under Ms. Springer’s organization, The Dynamic, The magnificent, The one and only, Frederiksted Majorettes, I experienced firsthand the discipline, structure, and care she poured into young people. For many of us, this organization was not just an extracurricular activity, it was a safe space, a training ground, and in many ways, a second home. Ms. Springer understood something powerful: that when you give a child purpose, consistency, and belief, you give them a future. …
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Honorable President of the Legislature, Honorable Senators, distinguished guests, and members of the Virgin Islands community: Good Afternoon. My name is Sheniqua Robinson, and I am here before you today with deep gratitude and pride to testify in recognition of Ms. Thelma Leona Petersen-Springer, whom I affectionately called "Ms. Springer", a woman whose life’s work had been dedicated to the children of the Virgin Islands. I am not here today speaking from theory or observation, I am here as one of her children. As a former majorette twirler from the tender age of 6, under Ms. Springer’s organization, The Dynamic, The magnificent, The one and only, Frederiksted Majorettes, I experienced firsthand the discipline, structure, and care she poured into young people. For many of us, this organization was not just an extracurricular activity, it was a safe space, a training ground, and in many ways, a second home. Ms. Springer understood something powerful: that when you give a child purpose, consistency, and belief, you give them a future. She taught us far more than routines and performance. She taught us commitment, self- respect, teamwork, and pride in who we are as Virgin Islanders, especially being from West. As an OG West Gyul, She demanded excellence, but she gave love just as fiercely. She showed up consistently, selflessly, and without fanfare. For many children, including myself, Ms. Springer filled gaps that society often overlooks. She kept us focused when distractions were plenty. She kept us seen when it was easy to be forgotten. And she kept us disciplined without ever stripping us of our joy. What made her community support exceptional was not just longevity...it was impact. The children she guided are now adults contributing to this territory as leaders, parents, professionals, creatives, and public servants. Her legacy is alive in us. Ms. Springer represented the quiet power of community leadership, the kind that doesn’t wait for recognition, but earns it through decades of service. Honoring her today is not just acknowledging one woman; it is acknowledging the importance of investing in children, culture, and mentorship. On behalf of the many young people whose lives she shaped. Thank you for seeing her, and thank you, Ms. Springer, for seeing us. I am proud to stand before this body and say: because of her, we were better prepared for the world. Thank you