ST. CROIX — The Company House Hotel in downtown Christiansted hosted some of St. Croix’s top performing millennials under the age of 30 on Sunday afternoon. The recognition event, organized by the Office of Senator Kurt Vialet, was a way of acknowledging young St. Croix natives who have made a name for themselves in a myriad of fields. While most of these millennials were present to receive their recognition award, there were several who were on the U.S. mainland in high-profile roles, while others continue to study.
“I am here and I’m looking out into a crowd that just makes me feel so good,” Mr. Vialet said during opening remarks. The senator shared the genesis of what morphed into a full-blown ceremony honoring those recognized: It began with a Facebook post and the reaction it received amazed the senator. Before long, his inbox had multiple messages with individuals seeking to know who was next, along with those making suggestions as to who should be on the list. He was also commended in person for the effort.
“Our Virgin Islands students are doing well. They are doing extremely, extremely well,” he said. “But we need to make sure that everybody understand that we have qualified Virgin Islanders who are ready to contribute, and that’s the overarching goal of this whole thing: we need to make sure that they understand that we have qualified Virgin Islanders who are willing to contribute, and we don’t have to continue to use the old guard for everything.”
Honorees present for the event spoke of their accomplishments and appeared pleased with the recognition. Those who could’t make it had relatives collect the token on their behalf.
Mr. Vialet stressed the importance of the recognition not only for the current honorees, but for those coming behind.
“This started as an idea where I believe that it is important for us to have a generation of individuals who could aspire to be just like who you are,” he said, looking into the audience. “Aspire to accomplish what you have accomplished; to dream and know that it can be possible; to rid themselves of negativity and know that accomplishment is possible for Virgin Islanders.”
Honorees included the following: (See video of event below.)
- Charles Goodings, Jr.
- Mackiesha Veronica Taylor
- Gyasi Clarke
- Raydiance K. Cherubin:
- Trevon Nelson
- Sacha Alexander
- Erick G. Willie
- Kurrisa K.J. Vialet
- Jaielean Jagrup
- Gemel Joseph
- Sayd Saleem
- Gilissa Schjang
- Tarik McMillan
- Jamal Samuel
- Cherise M. Burton
- Keywan A. Johnson
- Ashlee Douglas
- Shamari Haynes
- Ralph W. Motta
- Elle A. Nielsen
- George Armstrong, Jr.
- Thandi M. Masilela
- Troy Williams
- Wilson Ferrance, Jr.
- Shanya P. Hanley
- Kevin Dixon
- Kareem Eugene
- Carina L’ui Felix
- Shaleeka Cornelius
- Chris Sealey
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