June 20, 2001 – Once again this year, Cardow Jewelers owner William C. Dowling has quietly awarded a four-year scholarship to the University of the Virgin Islands to a deserving public high school graduate on St. Thomas.
This year's recipient is Zurah Joseph, a member of the Class of 2001 at Ivanna Eudora Kean High School. He plans to concentrate his studies in chemical engineering and biochemistry and to pursue a career in a marine environmental field.
The scholarship, covering tuition and textbooks, is designed to support public education in the Virgin Islands. Each year since 1981, it has been awarded alternately to a graduating senior at either Charlotte Amalie High School or Ivanna Eudora Kean High School.
Applicants must commit to work toward a college degree with the intention of using their education locally to benefit the Virgin Islands. They are asked to submit an essay detailing their educational goals and career aspirations toward that end. According to Michael Lotterman, Cardow human resources diretor, who monitors the scholarship program, recipents are expected to maintain a 2.0 grade point average and to "drop by to share their progress."
Joseph, the son of Sedley Joseph and Christabel Registe, was selected from qualified applicants by Eudora Kean senior class counselor Annette Bertrand. In his essay, Joseph wrote, "Everyone wants to leave and go to the United States, but after staying on [the UVI] campus for a summer program, I fell in love with everything about the university. Furthermore, I plan to return to contribute any knowledge I have acquired to improve the conditions of our oceans."
