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April 29, 2011 vol xvii, number 4 Events Calendar April 29-30 Earth Day Fair STJ May 7 Graduation Ball STX May 8 Graduation Ball STT May 14 Commencement STT May 15 Commencement STX May 26 SBDC Awards STX May 27 SBDC Awards STT Unlock the ‘Fountain of Youth’ at Wellness Center L orenzo Donastorg said he knows what the ‘fountain of youth’ is and he wants to share that with the rest of St. Thomas. “Everybody is trying to fi nd the foun- tain of youth,” Donas- torg said. “We have the answer in front of us all the time.” The answer is exercise, he said. Do- nastorg is the coordina- tor of UVI’s new Well- ness Center on the St. Thomas campus. “Part of my goal in being here is trying to reach out to every group, especially those at UVI – students, faculty, staff and alumni,” said Donastorg, who has a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science and sports studies, with a minor in chemistry and technology management. The Wellness Center opened to much acclaim in September 2010. Donastorg, who was hired in February to lead the center, is fi red-up about increasing the membership, but more impor- tantly, getting people to live healthier lives by being physi- cally fi t. “It’s not like you come in and you’re just left to yourself,” Donastorg said. “Anyone can come in and see me personally, and I can give them a work out regimen,” he said. But even if Donastorg is not available, the Wellness Center’s staff will be available to familiarize users with the equipment and help them get started. “He started me off here,” Gwendolyn E. Brown said proudly of one of the center’s student employees, Ciaran Phillip. Brown said that when she fi rst joined the cen- ter she was new to all the equipment. She asked Phillip to start her off slowly. “Now I’m taking classes fi ve days a week,” Brown exclaimed. “And my blood chemistry is outstanding,” added Brown, who is diabetic and hyper- tensive. “My purpose is to be healthy and this is the best place for me because it is affordable,” said Brown, who is also a UVI alumna. “The pounds will come off, and that’s a treat.” The 6,250 square-foot center is located southwest of Miss UVI Crowned Top: Lorenzo Donastorg, right, ex- plains UVI’s Wellness Center mem- bership and classes to Margaret Brandy Semper. Right: Melbin Acosta, front, and Kyle Mueller, foreground, workout at the Wellness Center. See Wellness Center on next page Daniella Henry was crowned Miss UVI on April 9. Henry also won the Miss Intellect, Miss Popularity and a share of the Best Business Wear segments of the competition. Shamelle Farrington was named fi rst runner-up and won the competition’s Best Ambassadorial Presentation segment. Danielle Christian was named second runner-up and won the Miss Photogenic, Best Performing Talent and Best Evening Wear segments of the competition. Briana Henley won the Miss Conge- niality and a share of the Best Business Wear segments. GET CONNECTED TO UVI news, activities and accomplishments at . . . www.uvi.edu dateline: UVI 2 John Brewer’s Bay St. Thomas, VI 00802 dateline: UVI is a production of the UVI Public Rela- tions Offi ce. Contact us by telephone at 340-693-1056 or by fax at 340-693-1055. Susan L. Taylor Tells Women to Find Their Calling the Sports and Fitness Center. It has a mirrored aero- bics and dance studio with a sprung wood fl oor, a fi tness equipment room with weight training and cardiovascular equipment, and men’s and women’s locker rooms. In ad- dition, the center offers fi tness classes such as Optimum Performance Training (OPT) Sculpt, Boot Camp, Zum- ba, Line Dancing, RIPPED and Kickboxing. UVI Physi- cal Education courses are also held in the center. UVI freshman Hanisha Pamnani’s regimen includes using the fi tness machines and taking classes. “I love Zumba,” she said, “love, love, love it.” Margaret Brandy Semper, who stopped by one Friday morning to get information, wanted to take a class on the spot. “I’m so excited and motivated,” about the center, she said. “I can smell the newness of it.” Donastorg is certifi ed by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) as a personal trainer, corrective exercise specialist and performance enhancement special- Wellness Center Continued ist. He is also RIPPED and CPR/AED certifi ed. Donas- torg noted that the results of exercise outweigh the cost of membership to the center. “I want to make people want to come down here,” he said. Expect fi tness and weight loss challenges, and a special faculty/staff fi tness program in the future, Donastorg said. “I want to get the gym fi lled with people,” he said. “It will happen. It’s just a matter of time.” Membership packages are available for the general public, faculty/staff, alumni and senior citizens. The cost for students is covered in their tuition/fees. For more information call UVI’s Wellness Center at 693-1075. Editor’s note: Please consult with a physician before begin- ning any exercise program. L oss, pain, grief – everyone has experi- enced those things at some point in life. But they are not all bad, said Susan L. Taylor, renowned as the editor of Essence magazine for almost four decades. “All the breakups, all the shakeups, all the things that happen in your life are heaven sent,” she said. “They are sent for your awakening.” Each person though, must ask themselves, “what is it that this pain, this shame has come to teach you,” she said. Taylor was the featured speaker at the Alfred O. Heath Distinguished Lecture Series of the University of the Virgin Islands. In a presentation titled “Women and Health: the Search for Bal- ance,” Taylor told the audience that they should begin each day with thoughtful re- fl ection, exercise and a healthy breakfast. She explained that because women usually have so many things to do, they often begin and end their day in a rush, which has nega- tive effect on women’s lives in the long-run she said. “Wake up every morning and say ‘I’m loving me,’” she said. Most of Taylor’s lecture focused on the emotional and spiritual health of women. She challenged women to fi nd their purpose in life. “Are you answering your calling,” she asked. Susan L. Taylor