Established in 2002, the Adams-Mahepath Scholarship has awarded over $500,000 to 250 deserving students, supporting the educational dreams of Virgin Islands youth. Joel Mahepath reflected Tuesday on the program’s impact, highlighting the joy of celebrating families and witnessing scholarship recipients return to contribute to their communities. “What I love most about this program is being able to celebrate families,” he shared. “Seeing these recipients come back and give back to our community is incredibly rewarding.”
This year’s scholarship recipients were chosen based on their GPA, SAT scores, and community involvement. Their impressive contributions include restoring the butterfly garden at St. George’s Botanical Garden and creating a storytelling project spotlighting local stories after hurricanes Irma and Maria, among others.
During the Zoom simulcast ceremony from Sterling Optical offices in both districts, Lisa Adams-Mahepath encouraged the students to strive for excellence. “We look forward to hearing from you after your first semester – and hearing that you’ve gotten all A’s,” she said with a smile. Her words were met with enthusiastic nods and hopeful expressions from the students and their proud families.
Joel Mahepath left the students with a motivational message, emphasizing “focus” and “purpose” as keys to achieving their goals. ”
The 2024 Adams-Mahepath Scholarship recipients are:
- Sj’Kinah Dujon, from Good Hope Country Day School, will attend the University of South Carolina, majoring in chemical engineering.
- T’Nashe Maynard, from St. Joseph High School, will attend the University of Kentucky, majoring in nursing.
- Rodney Moorehead Jr., from St. Croix Central High School, will attend Howard University, majoring in chemical engineering.
- Ameer Norman, from St. Croix Central High School, will attend the University of the Virgin Islands, majoring in accounting.
- Sydney Philbert, from St. Joseph High School, will attend Purdue University, majoring in plant genetics.
- Levonna Ravariere, from St. Croix Seventh Day Adventist School, will attend the University of the Virgin Islands, majoring in biology.
- Yllyse Schjang, from St. Croix Central High School, will attend the University of the Virgin Islands, majoring in accounting.
- Amonik Thomas, from Free Will Baptist School, will attend Howard University, majoring in biology.
- Alivia Arroyo, from V.I. Montessori School and Peter Gruber International Academy, will attend Nova Southeastern University, majoring in public health.
- Darnell Birmingham, from Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, will attend Berkeley School of Music, majoring in music.
- Carrah Henderson, from Charlotte Amalie High School, will attend the University of the Virgin Islands, majoring in accounting.
- Szuri Joshua, from St. Thomas-St. John Seventh Day Adventist School, will attend the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, majoring in social work.
- Matthew Meyers, from Antilles School, will attend the University of Maryland, majoring in computer engineering.
The scholarship program, part of the broader community-focused vision of Sterling Optical, which expanded to St. Thomas in 1999, is meant to uplift students, according to the Mahepaths, proving the lasting value of investing in education and community growth.
