March 9, 2007 – University of the Virgin Islands senior Amarae Blyden-Richards was selected as the student ambassador for the Friends of Denmark Society (FODS) of St. Thomas/St. John. In that position Blyden-Richards will spend three weeks this July in Denmark sharing V.I. culture, history and customs with select Danes through a student exchange program between organizations in the V.I. and Denmark.
"I was excited and there is some degree of pride associated with it," Blyden-Richards said of her selection as ambassador. Blyden-Richards' writing, communication and presentation skills pushed her above the other three individuals from St. Thomas/St. John that applied for the position, said FODS Student Exchange Committee Chairwoman Dr. Judith Grybowski. The application process included a panel interview and an essay. Blyden-Richards' essay focused on the remaining Danish architecture in the territory and furniture from the 17th and 18th centuries. "She was exceptionally well received," Dr. Grybowski said. "I'm getting very positive feedback from the members that met her," she added.
Blyden-Richards credited her experience as a former host of WTJX's teen television talk show "Graffiti Street," and her skills in marketing, for which she holds a retail-marketing certificate from Florida International University, as some of the things that prepared her for the ambassadorship.
The 21-year-old business administration major is also a resident assistant at UVI's St. Thomas campus dormitories. She spent a summer in Spain through a UVI "Study Abroad" program and a year on National Student Exchange at Florida International University.
In preparation for the trip, Blyden-Richards will participate in the FODS Transfer Day activities scheduled for the end of March.
"I'm excited. I'm ready to get started with the whole process," Blyden-Richards said.
A student ambassador was selected from St. Croix and will travel to Denmark with Blyden-Richards to represent the territory. Prior to the students' departure, two student ambassadors from Denmark will visit the territory.
