The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) on Thursday announced the foundation’s 2019-2020 academic scholarship awards and grants to 80 undergraduate and 7 graduate students. Marie Thomas-Griffith, chair of CFVI’s scholarship committee and member of the CFVI board of directors, said, “At CFVI, we are committed to continuing our efforts to increase the level of support available for talented and dedicated Virgin Islands students.”
CFVI said because of the generosity of its donors, the 87 Virgin Islands’ students will receive financial support to attend schools such as George Mason University, Boston University, Drexel University, Florida State University, Berklee College of Music, Temple University, Howard University and the University of the Virgin Islands.
CFVI scholarships and grant awards for this academic cycle total more than $205,000, in amounts ranging from $500 to $5,000. This year, the single largest source of CFVI scholarship support was provided by Heavy Materials, LLC, which awarded $57,500 in scholarships to 23 students.
Also awarded for the first time this year was $17,000 in Next Generation Scholar Grants of $1,000 each to graduating high school seniors who identified themselves as members of a family in which they will be in the first generation who would be college or university graduates. CFVI said it believes that equal access to higher education is a key to making positive change within the community, and is honored to be able to provide this additional support to dedicated students.
According to the release, since 1996 the foundation has awarded an increasing number of scholarships. To date, more than $3 million has been awarded in scholarships to over 1,000 Virgin Islands students. This year the foundation is pleased to report the establishment of 12 new scholarships to be awarded for the first time.
CFVI is encouraging families, organization or business is interested in providing scholarships to consider establishing a fund at the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands. The scholarship application, review, and award process is managed by the foundation, it said. All you need to do is name your fund and begin fundraising for 2020.
Because of CFVI’s angel donors, scholarship funds at the foundation are able to operate without any administrative fees. Angels make annual gifts of $500 or more to the foundation, CFVI said.
2019 Scholarship recipients:
- Michelle Adams
- Alex Adams
- Hakim Alexander
- Aaliyah Ambrose
- Jean-R Apollon
- D’Briault Atemazem
- Ludovic Atemazem
- Nouzie Aubin
- Ella Barr
- Iris Battiste
- Jeremy Bellot
- Janae Bruce
- Amal Bryson
- Pooja Chainani
- Chinique Charles
- Alex Cintron
- J’Mari Clarke
- Ashley Clendenen
- Nirisha Commodore
- Nichel Daniel
- Daicya Dawson
- David Dawson III
- Karmical Dore
- Devanny-AL’Leyah Dorelien
- Monae Edmead
- Jendayi Edmeade
- Crystal Fahie
- Suleika Farquhar
- Elizabeth Ferguson
- George Francis II
- Stacy Frederick
- Gia Freeman
- Hezekiah George
- Jemoi Gerald
- Johanna Gonzalez Weekes
- Mahlana Graham
- Makayda Gustave
- Keshawn Hardy
- Andrea Harrigan
- Ketura Harrigan
- Micah Hill
- Shaniqua Hodge
- Jernijah Isaac
- Nyalah Jackson
- Takia Joseph
- Estelle Jules
- Michelle Laudat
- Elisabeth Leerdam
- Diamond Lewis
- De’Umee Liburd
- Juchara Margetson
- Terrencia Martin
- Liliana Martinez
- Addis Miller
- Asel Mustafa
- Tywreh Nelson
- Nayeli O’Shaughnessy
- Radiance Peets
- Teon Persaud
- Gwendeline Pimentel
- Kahlifah Powell
- Angelina Prince
- Omaira Rachid
- Aria Rawlings
- Gabriel Reed Jr.
- JahQuan Richards
- Dy’Quoya Roach
- Jada Romer
- Jalen Roper
- Joseph Sibilly Jr.
- Shayahn Soto
- Aliyia St. John
- Deon St. Jules
- K’Nesha Thomas
- Knea Thomas
- Ki’Andre Thomas
- Micaya Tuitt
- Alana Urena
- Khaysaun Vanterpool
- Amanda Warner
- Elisa Webbe
- Travis’a Williams
- Brianna Williams
- Tommy Wise
- Ellaina Wyllis
- D’Shae Xavier
- Marquise Xavier