May 14, 2003 – The University of the Virgin Islands will hold its 39th annual commencement exercises this weekend, graduating approximately 300 students. The St. Thomas graduation will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday in the UVI Sports and Fitness Center. The St. Croix commencement will be at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday on the grounds of the Estate Golden Grove campus.
Dr. Donald E. Thompson, division director of human resource development at the National Science Foundation, will be the keynote speaker for both campuses. The St. Thomas student commencement speaker is Cira Burke, and the St. Croix student commencement speaker is Ellenor C. Paul.
Several outstanding students will receive degrees. Sharyn Niles, a participant in the Boston University Early Medical School Selection Program, will march with her UVI classmates on St. Thomas after spending two summers and her senior year at Boston University. Niles will receive a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and will continue her studies in medicine at Boston University Medical School.
On the St. Croix Campus, computer science major Giovanni Garcia has the highest grade point average in his degree level. Garcia will receive a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science on Sunday.
In some cases, family members will receive degrees at the same time. On St. Thomas, Joseph H. Francis Jr. will graduate with his daughter, Shanelle Francis. Joseph. Francis will receive a Master of Arts in education and Shanelle will receive a Bachelor of Arts in business administration.
On the St. Croix campus, twins G. Theresa Gibbs-Jackson and Gerarda Cecilia Gibbs will both receive Master of Arts degrees in education.
Tickets are required for both ceremonies. Parking for the St. Thomas commencement will be available at the Reichhold Center for the Arts, where free shuttle service will be provided.
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