L to R: St. Croix District students Vivia Lionice Webster, Elicia Watley, and Lynda Gordon won iPhones and a year of free service from Viya in the Department of Education Division of Virgin Islands Cultural Education's Student District Built Heritage Contest.
Six students and four teachers were recently awarded iPhones and MiFi devices, in addition to a year of free internet service—a prize package worth $18,000—as part of their winnings in Department of Education Division of Virgin Islands Cultural Education’s V.I. History Month contests, held in partnership with Viya.
In the Student District Built Heritage Contest, Virgin Islands students were provided coordinates and historic facts about a series of sites within their districts and asked to photograph themselves at the locations. St. Croix students Vivia Lionice Webster, Elicia Watley, and Lynda Gordon participated and won iPhones; and Zoey Richardson, Joshanique Hendrickson, and Alyson Monsanto, winners in the St. Thomas-St. John District, were also awarded iPhones.
L to R: St. Thomas-St. John District students Zoey Richardson, Joshanique Hendrickson, and Alyson Monsanto won iPhones and a year of free service from Viya in the Department of Education Division of Virgin Islands Cultural Education's Student District Built Heritage Contest.
In the Teacher Door/Corridor Challenge, Virgin Islands teachers were challenged to design Emancipation-related décor at their schools and submit photos of the artwork. Submissions were made public on the Department’s Facebook page, where followers judged the original artwork on the merits of creative use of materials, direct correlation to V.I. liberation themes, and organization and content. The submissions in each district that received the most likes emerged as winners and won Mifi devices and one year of free service. In the St. Croix District, Abigail Magaan-Lopez received 271 likes, Lizette Llanos received 147 likes, and Karissa Thurland-Perez received 123 likes; in the St. Thomas-St. John District, SharraMae Estigo received 298 likes.
In the Teacher Door/Corridor Challenge, St. Thomas-St. John District teacher, SharraMae Estigo, received 298 Facebook likes--the highest number across the two districts.
“I am pleased to extend congratulations to each of our winners on this well-deserved honor,” said Education Commissioner Dr. Dionne Wells-Hedrington. “I cannot thank Viya enough for its unwavering partnership in activities such as these that allow our students and teachers to connect with Virgin Islands history and culture in unique and tangible ways. I have heard nothing but good things about the many positive experiences that were enjoyed by everyone that participated. We look forward to continuing to partner with Viya in the future.”
Viya’s Vice President of Public Relations and Governmental Affairs Jennifer Matarangas-King stated, “Viya is committed to keeping our community connected to culture. We were proud to sponsor this educational contest that linked technology with important VI History initiatives for our students and teachers. Congratulations to the talented students and creative teachers, who participated in this year’s contest. Special thanks to the community for engaging with the Department of Education’s Facebook page to judge the competition. We look forward to continuing this tradition with the VI Department of Education’s Division of Cultural Education.”
The Department’s 2023 V.I. History Month celebration in March placed emphasis on topics surrounding emancipation and post-emancipation with use of the theme, “Emancipation Now: Understanding History, Living the Legacy, and Creating a Just Future for All Ah We.” July 3, 2023 will mark the 175th anniversary of the 1848 Emancipation Revolt in the Virgin Islands.
