Lindsey Trost, a visiting student from California State University, Northridge, who spent the Spring 2025 semester on exchange at the University of the Virgin Islands’ Orville E. Kean Campus, has been named a recipient of the Dr. Richard R. Bond Community Engagement Award by the National Student Exchange (NSE).
The NSE Student Achievement Awards honor participants who make the most of their study away experience through academic excellence, community engagement, and creative initiatives. While at UVI, Trost enriched campus life by founding the UVI Drama Club, establishing it as a recognized student organization, and leading the University community in its first-ever student-driven theatrical production.
Trost’s vision and leadership quickly captured student interest. She organized multiple interest meetings, secured the rights to perform “Murder at Regent Manor,” and cast the play after holding open auditions. Over three weeks of rehearsals, she not only prepared the cast but also coached her peers in foundational acting skills.
In collaboration with staff at UVI’s Reichhold Center for the Performing Arts, Trost designed staging and lighting to bring the performance to life. The result was two sold-out shows—an extraordinary milestone for a newly established student group and its debut production.
“Lindsey exemplifies the spirit of the National Student Exchange—arriving with a vision and elevating the community she joined. By founding the UVI Drama Club and delivering two sold-out performances in collaboration with the Reichhold Center, she created lasting opportunities for student expression and leadership. We celebrate her achievement and the meaningful imprint she leaves on UVI,” said Dahlia Stridiron-Felix, UVI NSE coordinator.
“Lindsey Trost embodies what it means to be a transformative force while on exchange,” said National Student Exchange President Debra Sanborn. “Her creativity, initiative, and community-building efforts left an indelible mark on the UVI campus and beyond.”
Each NSE Student Achievement Award includes a $500 stipend and is named in honor of former NSE consortium leaders. Trost’s recognition demonstrates the powerful impact of student exchanges, both for individual growth and for the host universities that benefit from fresh ideas and leadership.
See a short interview with Spring 2025 UVI Drama Club President Lindsey Trost and Vice President Jaden Sibilly as they share insights on the club’s debut production, “Murder Mystery Mayhem.”: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1VhgRgiyYg/
For more information, contact pr@uvi.edu.
About National Student Exchange
Founded in 1968, the National Student Exchange provides study away opportunities to students at 165 member institutions across the United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More than 127,000 studentshave participated in the program, which complements university initiatives for globalization, diversity, and engagement.
For more information on NSE, visit www.nse.org.
About the University of the Virgin Islands
The University of the Virgin Islands is a public, co-ed, land-grant institution that offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs. Located in the beautiful U.S. Virgin Islands, UVI is the only HBCU (Historically Black College and University) outside the mainland United States. The University is dedicated to student success and committed to educating and empowering students through an environment that promotes creativity, innovation and excellence in teaching, student learning, research, and community engagement.
