Cooks, volunteers, supporters, and fun seekers partied with a purpose at the University of the Virgin Islands’ (UVI) Afternoon on the Green fundraiser last month to raise money for college scholarships. Two St. Thomas high school students were awarded scholarships to attend UVI and more than a dozen cooks were recognized for their popular food entries.
Carrah Henderson, a senior at Charlotte Amalie High School and K'Visha Johnlewis, a senior at the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School were awarded the Edward E. Thomas Volunteer Scholarship to attend UVI in the fall. Henderson aims to pursue a bachelor's degree in accounting while Johnlewis plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. The Edward Thomas Volunteer Scholarship fund was created in honor of local businessman and Chairman of the UVI Research and Technology Park Board, Edward Thomas, to aid students who have demonstrated a commitment to community service.
In the cooking competition, Prudencia Freeman won the overall people’s choice award for her baked macaroni and cheese dish. Freeman won a MiFi device and one year of service compliments of Viya. First and second place winners were announced in the following categories:
Main Dishes
1st Place: Marriott Frenchman’s Cove – Fried Chicken
2nd Place (tied): Prudencia Freeman – Barbeque Chicken
Carolyn Jackson – Meat Pates
Jahmed Mills – Smoked Dino Beef Ribs
Seafood
1st Place: Vivica Turnbull – Salmon Balls
2nd Place: Chef Nibbs – Shrimp Alfredo
Vegetarian Dishes
1st Place: Queen Bee Ital Palace – Lentil Balls
2nd Place: Nixon Sunny – Cabbage Moringa Leaf Thoran
Soups
1st Place: Gail Brathwaite – Seafood Chowder
Side Dishes
1st Place: Janice Sprauve – Potato Stuffing
2nd Place: Queen Bee Ital Palace – Chip & Dips (black bean, guacamole, hummus)
Bread
1st Place: Josephine Lindquist – Coconut Babka
2nd Place: Josephine Lindquist – Garlic Parmesan Bread-on-a-Stick
Desserts & Sweets
1st Place: Beverly Taylor-Abraham – Carrot Cake
2nd Place (tied): Lena Steele Williams – Lean's Love that Cheesecake
Wild Sage Restaurant – Vegan Chocolate Cake
Native Drinks
1st Place: Sylvia Thomas – Gooseberry Drink
2nd Place: Sylvia Thomas – Guavaberry Drink
“It was such a delight to see the community come out and experience not just the food and entertainment, but also for attendees to learn about many of the University’s programs, services and initiatives that were on display,” said Dr. Pamela Moolenaar-Wirsiy, dean of Innovation and Student Success and interim Vice President for Institutional Advancement at UVI. “Afternoon on the Green is a great opportunity for the University to make new friends and rekindle relationships. We were pleased to meet with many UVI alumni under the alumni tent, a new addition to this year’s event.” Dr. Moolenaar-Wirsiy added, “I wish to congratulate Ms. Henderson and Ms. Johnlewis whose dedication to community service has earned them prestigious scholarships to UVI. We look forward to welcoming them both as freshmen.”
Dr. Kyza A. Callwood, chairman of the planning committee, stated, "We could not be more grateful to all of the individuals and organizations that came together to support this year’s Afternoon on the Green. It takes a village to pull off an event of this magnitude, and we could not have done it without the generosity and community spirit of the cooks, volunteers, sponsors, the UVI staff and everyone who came out in support of the event,” he said.
Event sponsors included VIYA, VI Council on the Arts, First Bank, Haugland VI, VI National Guard, Community Foundation of the VI, WTJX, BVI Tourist Board, VI Department of Health Maternal & Child Health and Communicable Disease Division, Tradewinds Chiropractic, Paradise Chiropractic & Wellness Center, the VI Waste Management Authority Custom Builders, West Indies Company/ Bellows International, RT Park, Lew Henley’s Sewage Disposal, Charles Electrical Services, Holsum, Tropical Shipping, and Fabien’s Trucking.
For more information about Afternoon on the Green, visit aog.uvi.edu.