Tyana Joseph, Central High Student, Awarded $20,000 Scholarship By Rotary Mid-Isle

ST. CROIX — Rotary Mid-Isle announced on Friday Tyana Joseph as the winner of its annual $20,000 Ocwen Mortgage Servicing, Inc/Rotary Mid-Isle Scholarship.

The scholarship provides Ms. Joseph, a graduating senior at St. Croix Central High School, with $5,000 per year for four years, according to the release.

Ms. Joseph has a class rank of # 2, and plans on attending Agnes Scott College, a women’s college to study biology in preparation for a medical career. She is also an entrepreneur and has started with a friend a cottage industry of making fashion accessories with a madras theme, and has already been able to sell numerous T-shirts, bracelets, hair bands, and earrings that are professionally packaged and displayed, according to the release.

The OCWEN scholarship for seniors at the two St. Croix public high schools is offered annually to an outstanding student with special talents. It requires the recipient to maintain a grade B or above average during college to continue.

Rotary Mid-Isle also announced winners of the Carlton Hodgson Memorial Scholarship as Iris Battiste and Jordan Lawrence, both graduating seniors from the St Croix Educational Complex. Ms. Battiste and Mr. Lawrence will receive scholarships in the amount of $1,000 per year for four years. The scholarship is normally offered to outstanding students with financial need, who have excelled despite significant challenges.

Ms. Battiste has been attending U.V.I. as she continues to take classes at S.C.E.C., while working as an intern at a local law firm. Accounting is Ms. Battiste’s big interest and future field of study, and she takes pride in continuing her education at U.V.I., the release says.

Mr. Lawrence also plans a career in accounting, and is headed to North Carolina Agricultural & Technical College. His name may also be familiar to local tennis fans, as he is an outstanding player who might end up as a professional if the accounting field dries up, says the release. 

“We had a record number of applicants this year and are so pleased to be able to award these deserving students with much needed funds to assist in their college education,” said Kim DeLine, Rotary Mid-Isle president.  “Through partnerships with key organizations in our community, as well as the support of our many fundraising efforts by community members, we are able to come together to significantly impact the lives of youth in our community in significant ways.”

Feature Image: From left to right:  Kim DeLine, Rotary Mid-Isle President, Rotarian Nina York, Tyana Joseph, Iris Battiste and Jordan Lawrence (Image Credit: Rotary Mid-Isle).