The University of the Virgin Islands will sponsor a Centennial Symposium in honor of the 100th birthday of the late Gov. Ralph Paiewonsky on Sunday, March 16th. The symposium will take place from 3:30 until 5:30 p.m. in the Administration and Conference Center on the University's St. Thomas campus.

Dr. Auguste E. Rimpel, Jr., chair of the UVI Board of Trustees, will make opening remarks. Dr. Bernard Paiewonsky, chair of the Planning Committee of the UVI Board of Trustees, will attend the symposium that will honor his father. Faculty, faculty emeriti, students, trustees, staff and the public are encouraged to attend.

Members of the UVI community, Governor John P. deJongh, Jr., Delegate Donna Christian-Christensen, as well as local legislators, have been invited to give remarks prior to presentations by Professor Emeritus Dr. Marilyn Krigger and UVI Professor of Economics Dr. Simon Jones-Hendrickson. A panel discussion entitled, "Looking Forward: The Role of the University of the Virgin Islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Eastern Caribbean region in the 21st Century," will be moderated by Dr. Paul Leary. Panelists include Myron Allick, Jennifer Nugent-Hill, Osbert Potter, Athniel Ottley, Dr. Frank Mills. UVI Humanities and Social Sciences Division Chair Dr. Malik Sekou will serve as discussant.

UVI President LaVerne E. Ragster says it is fitting that the University has made this birthday commemoration part of the University's Charter Month anniversary celebration. "UVI is proud to be able to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the founder of the institution, the late Gov. Ralph Paiewonsky," Ragster said. "His dream for the institution and the level of accomplishment that we have achieved are the inspiration for this symposium. We will review the progress that we have made as a University toward fulfilling the dream."

For further information about the University's Charter Month activities, please access this direct link, or contact the UVI Public Relations Office at 693-1057.