Magen Jennings has brought honor to herself, Antilles School and the Virgin Islands; she has been one of approximately 1,500 Semifinalists in the 36th Annual National Achievement Scholarship Program, an academic competition for Black American high school students.
She now has the opportunity to continue in the competition for over 700 Achievement Scholarship awards worth over $2.5 million, that will be offered for college undergraduate study next year.
Magen is the daughter of Attorney Archie Jennings and Lorraine McFerran of Globalvest Securities.
"Receiving this recognition is an impressive and very high honor. Only the most promising high school seniors qualify as semi-finalists. I am very proud of Magen and very pleased for her," said Headmaster Mark Marin. "It is a great accomplishment, which reflects on Magen's individual talent and I think, on our very capable faculty who encourage our students to think critically."
The Achievement Program was initiated in 1964 to honor outstanding black students and to increase their educational opportunities.
Selection for the program, which is sponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, is based on achievement on the 1998 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) as high school juniors.
Over 100,000 black students entered the year 2000 Achievement Program when they took this exam. The Semi-finalists are the highest-scoring entrants in the states that make up their geographic region.
Magen must be named a finalist in order to be eligible for an Achievement Scholarship. Award recipients will be those judged to have the strongest potential for academic success in college. Three types of scholarships will be awarded – 440 by the National Merit Corporation, 160 by corporations and more than 100 scholarships colleges. Winners will be announced in the spring of 2000.
Two other Antilles students, Elizabeth Streibich and Abraham Tarapani,were recently named semifinalists in the 45th Annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

The Virgin Islands Cycling Federation Mountain Bike Team returned from Tortola on Sunday after competing in the final leg of the Caribbean Cup Mountain Bike Series.
Four racers competed from St.Croix, including Jamie Bate; Jamie Keys; John Harper; and Mike McQueston. Two riders from St. Thomas, Charlotte Morris and Chris Haigh, also competed.
One word describes the race courses and the island — steep. An uphill race, which Morris competed in, put St. Croix’s Beast to shame. The downhill was long and technical, but that didn’t stop Keys from taking first in the Sport Division. Morris took second in the Women's category.
Before the cross country event on Sunday morning, the BVI Cycling Federation held a pasta party/carbo load on Saturday night. The traditional meal is a chance for riders and support teams from several Caribbean islands to mingle.
The cross country race was on Sunday. Again the course was very technical with steep climbs and some incredibly rocky and rooty sections. A couple of rain showers during the race made it all the more interesting, turning much of the course into a hike-and-bike.
Overall the V.I., particularly St. Croix, did well, with Keys winning the cross country race in the Sport Division and McQueston taking third. Morris raced to another second place in the Women's Cross Country.
The St. Croix team’s travel to Tortola was made easier through a charter flight with Crucian International Airlines.
Next year the Cup will run March through June, on St.Croix, Antigua, Tortola and St. Kitts.
Back on St. Croix, the VICF is gearing up for the fall/winter season by promoting weekly group rides and sponsoring races. Group rides are on Fridays and start at the Schooner Bay Market at 4 p.m. The federation is actively looking for membership and hopes to develop a larger rider base.
Anyone interested in becoming involved with cycling or who would just like to find out a little bit more about it should contact President Mike McQueston at 772-2343 or email him here.

The University of the Virgin Islands is the recipient of a grant in the amount of $3.5 million from the National Science Foundation to bring about major changes in the university's science, mathematics and technology programs over the next five years.
The grant was accepted by Dr. Camille McKayle, UVI mathematics professor, at a meeting sponsored by the White House initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Washington, D.C.
The aims of the grant are twofold, according to McKayle:
1) To increase the number of students entering UVI who choose majors in science, mathematics
or technology, and
2) to enhance the competitiveness of these same students as graduates for acceptance in to graduate programs in those fields.
The grant will provide funding for scholarships to academically promising students who major in science, mathematics or engineering fields.
An articulation program developed by the UVI science and mathematics division works in conjunction with both Columbia University in New York and Washington University in St. Louis.
These agreements allow the students to begin their studies at UVI and then transfer to either mainland school to complete their degree.
Summer programs and Saturday academics on both St. Thomas and St. Croix campuses will be supported by the grants as well, McKayle said. Another part of the funding from the generous grant will be used to purchase a new, world-class telescope for the University's Etelman Observatory. Noting that the university has collaborations with astronomical studies programs at
several universities, she said, "this is pretty exciting stuff."
As part of the grant also, UVI's science and mathematics faculty will design and implement curricular changes helping to make student research an integral part of the undergraduate experience.
The university's commitment to the success of the project is illustrated by the fact that University
President will be overall Principal Investigator of the project, with McKayle as Program Director.
For more information, contact Dr. Camille Mckayle at (340) 693-1389.

Housing Parks and Recreation Commissioner Ira Hobson has backed down on that plan to increase park usage fees to $3,200 from $600 for the season for local baseball and softball leagues.
Karl Callwood, executive director of the Susthens Vialet Softball League, told Radio One.
Sports over the weekend that "based on a meeting we had with Commissioner Hobson," fees will "stay the same as last year."
Hobson himself confirmed to the radio station Monday that "no fees will be changed for 1999."
As justification for the announced increases, the department had cited electricity and maintenance costs of $1,900 a month for the Emile Griffith Ballpark alone. League officials had countered that if the increases were implemented, they would have no choice but to cancel their seasons.
Sen. George Goodwin, chair of the Senate Housing, Parks and Recreation Committee, had voiced strong opposition to the huge fee hikes, terming "an increase of this magnitude . . . totally unfair and unacceptable."
At the beginning of September, Goodwin called on Hobson to rescind the increases "until they are approved by the governor." Further, the senator said, before it even considers increasing fees, the department "needs to address the deteriorated condition of the baseball fields on St. Thomas."
Hobson used the term "relax" on Monday to describe the action he subsequently decided to take, stating, "I have decided to relax the fees."
However, he added, his department will re-evaluate the fee structure for the year 2000.

Housing Parks and Recreation Commissioner Ira Hobson has backed down on that plan to increase park usage fees to $3,200 from $600 for the season for local baseball and softball leagues.
Karl Callwood, executive director of the Susthens Vialet Softball League, told Radio One Sports over the weekend that "based on a meeting we had with Commissioner Hobson," fees will "stay the same as last year."
Hobson himself confirmed to the radio station Monday that "no fees will be changed for 1999," that is, for the next three months. Further, he said, "Anything for the youth, I am going to waive the fees, period — this year and every year."
As justification for the announced increases, the department had cited electricity and maintenance costs averaging $1,900 a month for the Emile Griffith Ballpark alone. League officials had countered that if the increases were implemented, they would have no choice but to cancel their seasons.
Sen. George Goodwin, chair of the Senate Housing, Parks and Recreation Committee, had voiced strong opposition to the huge fee hikes, terming "an increase of this magnitude . . . totally unfair and unacceptable."
At the beginning of September, Goodwin called on Hobson to rescind the increases "until they are approved by the governor." Further, the senator said, before it even considers increasing fees, the department "needs to address the deteriorated condition of the baseball fields on St. Thomas."
Hobson used the term "relax" on Monday to describe the action he subsequently decided to take, stating, "I have decided to relax the fees."
He took credit for having lighting installed at "most of the parks" and said work was planned for several parks on St. Croix as well as at the park in Smith Bay on St. Thomas.
The moratorium on fee increases is temporary, he said, and the department will re-evaluate the matter for the year 2000. "We all have got to come together, to work together," he said, noting that his department budget has been slashed to $5.4 million from $9.5 million since he became commissioner. He said he will aggressively seek private-sector partnering in the department's adopt-a-park program, especially among hotels and restaurants.

Rotary East will not meet at the Elysian on Wednesday, Sept 29.

The next meeting beween union leaders and government administrators, originally scheduled for Tuesday, has been postponed until Friday.
In a letter to chief government negotiator Karen Andrews, Tito Morales, president of the Central Labor Council, said none of the labor leaders would be available to meet on Tuesday.
"We are requesting that the meeting with the governor and the lieutenant governor be rescheduled for Friday, Oct. 1 at 9 a.m. at Government House."
Morales asked that an agenda for the meeting to sent to him in advance. Morales was not available for comment Monday evening.
The first meeting between the two sides took place last Friday evening. The government said nothing was accomplished.
In another development, two more schools were shut down Monday due to an apparent job action by teachers. For more on that story click here.

Delegate Donna Christian-Christensen has called on Congress to "do more" in terms of making U.S. resources available to ensure a "free, fair and peaceful" process in Haiti's coming elections.
Christian-Christensen was a member of a congressional delegation that visited Haiti two weeks ago to review progress being made toward the holding of elections.
In recent years, the United States has provided aid, expertise and military assistance through a multinational peacekeeping force to help stabilize democracy and build a healthier economy in Haiti. But "we have done far less than we should have," the Virgin Islands delegate said.
"In the upcoming elections," she said, "we have the opportunity to correct this and make an important contribution to the future of the Haitian people, the Caribbean region and our hemisphere." She added, "The integrity and the outcome of this election will determine Haiti's future. I want us to be on the right side of that history."

Gov. Charles W. Turnbull has called a meeting of senators at Government House for Monday night to discuss the bond issue legislation he submitted to the Legislature last week.
The meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m., was called around the same time the legislation was presented, according to Sen. Lorraine Berry, chair of the Finance Committee.
Berry said the bill is "troubling" to her. She is awaiting an analysis from the post auditor before saying more, though.
"The whole process bothers me," she said. "Every three months we're borrowing money. I want the post auditor to see if this is in the best interest of the people."
Berry added that she doesn't see how the gross receipts taxes can be committed as the revenue to pay back the bonds when the gross receipts are already included in the budget revenues.
A legislative session has been scheduled for Friday to consider bill no. G-23-0013, which would authorize the issuance of bonds through the Public Finance Authority. The governor has asked for the authority to issue bonds in the amount of $130 million.
A second part of the legislation seeks authorization to issue an additional $180 million in bonds if legislation currently moving through Congress to amend the Organic Act is not passed. The additional $180 million would be used to pay off current bonds, thereby freeing up revenue streams to be used for working capital.
The governor's bill would also require all agencies in the future to issue bonds through the PFA.
The federal legislation got a step closer to passage Monday when it was approved by the House of Representatives.
The House bill, introduced by Delegate Donna Christian-Christiansen, would change the Organic Act to allow the Virgin Islands to borrow working capital by issuing bonds, which is in keeping with other jurisdictions.
It must next pass the U.S. Senate before going to the president for signature into law.

In a letter to Gov. Charles W. Turnbull released Monday, Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg accused Turnbull of deliberately avoiding dealing with the controversial Public Services Commission issue.
Donastorg demanded that Turnbull immediately nominate new members to the PSC board.
Donastorg wrote, "You indicated during your campaign that restoring a sense of fairness and balance to the Public Services Commission was part of your 'grander vision.' Unfortunately, since assuming office, you have failed to appoint new citizens to the PSC. By allowing the sitting commissioners to retain their posts, you are giving your tacit approval to their unorthodox and likely illegal past actions."
The PSC has been steeped in controversy since Georgetown Consulting Inc. – an independent consulting firm – recommended a rate decrease for the Virgin Islands Telephone Corp. but the commission dismissed the recommendation. The ensuing controversy resulted in the PSC's legal counsel, Maria Tankenson Hodge, resigning.
Currently, there are four expired or vacant positions on the nine-member board, plus the seats of the two senatorial nominees, leaving only three current members. Members serve three-year terms but may continue to serve after their terms have expired until their successors are sworn in.
A spokesperson from Senate President Vargrave Richards' office said Richards on April 21 sent the names of Sens. Gregory Bennerson and Donald "Ducks" Cole to be the non-voting senatorial members.
"It's now up to the governor to send his nominations to the Legislature," the spokesperson said.
Donastorg further states in his letter to Turnbull, "You have failed to take a single step to remedy the PSC's past actions or to prevent future misdeeds. It is unconscionable that you would allow this issue to fester, and at this point I can only surmise that you are one of the many officials either 'afraid or being paid.' "
Donastorg pushed for months to obtain enough signatures on a petition to call a Senate Committee of the Whole meeting to investigate the circumstances of the Georgetown Consultants dismissal and other PSC matters.
He finally got the signatures required right after the Senate passed the so-called "Prosser bill" by a vote of 8-7.
The controversial bill would have permitted businessman Jeffrey Prosser, who owns Vitelco, to exchange 1,000 acres of land he proposed to purchase on St. Croix and $10 million in capital projects he pledged to build for 30 years of full tax breaks for 10 of his companies. The measure was vetoed by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull.
The Senate PSC hearing was held in June. But despite Georgetown's report that a rate decrease was due to Vitelco customers, there has been no further action by the PSC.
The commission met in August, but sources said nothing significant was addressed.
For further information on the board, go to Boards and Commissions under the Data section of St. Thomas Source.