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HomeNewsArchivesSIMMONDS-BALLENTINE TAPPED TO LEAD LEAGUE

SIMMONDS-BALLENTINE TAPPED TO LEAD LEAGUE

April 27, 2003 – New leaders were elected to head the board of the League of Women Voters of the Virgin Islands during its annual meeting Saturday.
Attorney Rosalie Simmonds-Ballentine was chosen as president, taking over from Erva Denham, who has held the post for the last two years.
"I am certainly honored," Simmonds-Ballentine said. "There have been a number of wonderful women who have led the league in the past, and it will be an honor to follow in their footsteps and make an impact in this community."
Eleanor Cerge was elected first vice president and Susan Seipel was elected second vice president. Other board members chosen were Norma Levin, Ariel Farrington, Ray Barry and Colette Monroe.
Happy to surrender her post to Simmonds-Ballentine, Denham said that serving as president of the league was "by far the most wonderful crash course in government and civics that I've ever encountered." She add a little pitch: "To better understand government, join the league."
Dr. LaVerne Ragster, University of the Virgin Islands president, was the guest speaker for the annual event. She spoke about the programs and changes taking place in the university.
Ragster told the league that there has been a rise in enrollment after years of decline. And, she said, UVI students "have the opportunity to go to over 170 schools in the United States for our student exchange programs."
The university is offering two new degrees: an associate in applied science and an education specialist degree, which is a little beyond a master's.
"The university is going to help this territory build a technology center," Ragster said, referring to the Research and Technology Park to be established on St. Croix. She said work is expected to begin on the facility soon. One of the benefits is that faculty and students will get a chance to collaborate on the park, she added.
Also, Ragster said, UVI is seeking to partner with the National Science Foundation to start an Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. The EPSCoR program helps schools secure funding for research. "If we're going to advance, we've got to do these kind of things," she said.
A past president of the league, Ragster encouraged organization members to continue in their advocacy work. "I think that the league should be one of the strongest organizations in the territory because its mandate is correct," she said.
She further encouraged the league to partner with the university. "I hope you will come along, because we definitely would love you as a partner," she told league members.

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