UVI Receives $250,000 In Donation Pledges For Scholarships

Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars were pledged to the University of the Virgin Islands for scholarships in the name of Rachel Hamilton, a UVI alum and treasured employee of Territory East Asset Management, LLC (“TEAM Consulting”), a longtime St. Croix company and beneficiary of the Economic Development Commission (EDC) program. Hamilton passed away a couple of years ago, and in her honor the Rachel Hamilton TEAM Consulting Memorial Scholarship was presented on Friday, March 3, at the Employee Appreciation Reception at Research and Technology Park on St. Croix. The funds will help many UVI students finance their educations over a five year period.

“This gift would not be possible were it not for our longstanding relationship with TEAM Consulting, and Rachel was a big part of that. She helped give more than $100,000 to the University during her time with the company,” said Mitchell Neaves, vice president of Institutional Advancement at UVI. “Her tragic death was a great loss to the company and to the university.” Neaves added, “We hope to see many more companies following in the footsteps of TEAM Consultanting in terms of helping our students achieve greatness.”

David Jackson, the manager of TEAM Consulting, spoke candidly at the reception about being orphaned as a child and receiving a scholarship that changed his own life. He reminisced about meeting Rachel when she first applied for an internship at the company. He’d been so impressed with her that he offered her not only a permanent job, but tuition assistance as well. “It was an honor to know Rachel and to work with UVI,” Jackson said. “That’s why we’re here tonight to set up the scholarship.”

Rachel Hamilton

“We are happy to see one of our Economic Development Commission beneficiaries not only investing capital into the community and providing job opportunities, but also investing in our young people by partnering with our educational institutions,” said Wayne Biggs, Jr., acting assistant Chief Executive Officer of the Economic Development Authority, who also attended the reception. “By creating this scholarship fund at the University of the Virgin Islands, Territory East Asset Management LLC will directly benefit residents seeking higher education at UVI and, as a result, assist in developing the Territory’s workforce.”