In 1991, on St Croix, seven fifth graders at Pearl B. Larson School made a pledge to continue their education beyond high school. Now these seven students are enrolled at UVI under full tuition scholarships sponsored by the Sidney Lee Dream Foundation.
In 1991, when former St. Croix Senator Sidney Lee, along with Pearl B. Larson former principal George Hampson, adopted Mrs. Greenridge's fifth grade class, the goal was to give the students an incentive to stay in school.
"What we're trying to do primarily is to stop dropouts," Sidney Lee said. "The idea was if they would stay in school and not drop out and apply to college and not drop out, we would set aside some money for their schooling."
"This is a way of pulling children up," Hampson said. "Many of them were not thinking of college."
Dora Burroughs, a sophomore at UVI, said she wouldn't have been able to pursue her dream of obtaining a nursing degree without the commitment of Lee, Hampson, and the Sidney Lee Dream Foundation.
"They are encouraging me to go on more and I'm trying to do better," Burroughs said." I don't really have the money to go to college and now that I have the scholarship, I'm putting it to use."
The goal of the Sidney Lee Dream Foundation is based on that of the I Have a Dream Foundation, which began in New York City in 1981. A successful New York businessman, Eugene M. Lang, promised the 61 graduating sixth-graders at his old elementary school in East Harlem that if they graduated from high school, he would provide financial assistance to help them pay for college.
Lee wants to see the same type of educational incentive program begin on St Croix and St Thomas.
"It's a big thing and the economy is bad," Lee said. "Students are leaving the islands. They need to be helped. There are people who have the funds to do this."
Hampson, who has retired from teaching, said there are plenty of educational incentives for students with high grade point averages, but few for "average" students to challenge themselves with a post-secondary education, if given the opportunity.
In addition to Burroughs, the UVI students receiving Sidney Lee Dream Foundation Scholarships are: Natricia Taylor, Ideola Francis, Deneisha Joseph, Kamilah Joseph, Rosetta Daniel, and Joanna Jarvis.
The students must continue in a two or four year degree program without interruption to retain their scholarships.
"If they go to Alaska, we'll follow them," Hampson said.
The Sidney Lee Foundation is a model for what private citizens who recognize the need can accomplish. UVI welcomes such contributions to the future of Virgin Islands' youth. For further information on creating or contributing to scholarship opportunities at UVI, please call the Institutional Advancement Office at (340) 693-1040.
