Parishioners, educators, and proud relatives filled the seats at the Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas Friday night to witness the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Scholarship Awards Ceremony. They came to honor eight high school students from public, private and parochial schools from the St. Thomas-St. John District.
Honorees were chosen for their community service contributions as well as submitted essays. In their essays, students were asked to express how their experiences demonstrate the principles expressed by the late Civil Rights leader.
Students from Charlotte Amalie High School, Antilles School, Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School, Gifft Hill School, Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, St. Thomas-St. John Seventh-day Adventist School, V.I. Montessori School and Peter Gruber International Academy and All Saints Cathedral School took turns answering that question before the congregation and Rabbi Julia Margolis.
When they had finished, Margolis congratulated each scholarship winner and presented them with their prize. Included for each was a copy of the book, Shared Dreams: Martin Luther King and the Jewish Community.
“Our congregation is really happy to have you here tonight … each student honors their high school, their parents, their teachers and their principals,” Margolis said.
Four of the awardees cited King’s concerns for the environment in their presentations. Edward Foerstel from All Saints chose that as his focus, saying the most difficult challenge to improving the environment will be “uniting countries and our people” in taking a unified approach.
Portia Miles from Antilles School has put her concerns for the environment into service with the University of the Virgin Islands Marine Science Division. Miles said that towards the end of his life, King was “increasingly turning his attention towards the environment.”
VIMSIA’s Jackson Auchincloss also expressed concerns about “climate change that affects the most vulnerable populations.” To alleviate the problem, Auchincloss said he would like to redesign construction systems and methods and work on developing electric cars.
Donnalee Isaac from Eudora Kean focused on King’s efforts to promote “respectful dialogue among people.”
Danya Esprit from Sts. Peter and Paul spoke about her work with a group that visited the Dominican Republic to feed the poor.
Szuri Malaika Zene Joshua from Seventh-day Adventist said she was using her role as a student leader to encourage others to think of ways to serve humanity. “The greatest impact I can do for my community is to serve others,” Joshua said.
Justin Richards from Gifft Hill highlighted King’s work to relieve the struggles of the poor as well. He said he wanted to work towards addressing the delivery of healthcare services and relieve healthcare disparities.
Anthony-Marvin Adimado from CAHS addressed King’s efforts to build unity among people, and his wish to use artificial intelligence systems to erase language barriers.
Keynote speaker, UVI Provost Camille McKayle, praised students for delivering “eight amazing essays,” and for taking on the challenge of linking the inspiration for their service efforts to King’s teachings. “I encourage you to look at the life of Dr. King for attributes that you can incorporate into your lives,” McKayle said.
McKayle also heads the university’s division of Science and Mathematics.
