VIHC Heath Award Winners
Heath Award Winners 2009
The V.I. Humanities Council congratulates the Sixth Annual Heath Award Winners, Ms. Nurseen Davis of St. Thomas' Charlotte Amalie High School and Mrs. Phyllis Rivera-Ryan of St. Croix's Claude O. Markoe Elementary School. Established in 2003, the Heath Award recognizes the achievement of two public school teachers who have exhibited outstanding ability and unfailing dedication to teaching the humanities. Each award winner received a cash award of $1,000 and a commemorative certificate.
Mrs. Nurseen Davis,
Charlotte Amalie High School, St. Thomas
Nurseen Davis, chair of the English Department of Charlotte Amalie High School, captured the award for the St. Thomas-St. John District. As chair of the English Department of Charlotte Amalie High School, Davis helped lead her school to victory in the Poetry Out Loud contest coordinated by the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts, with student Shawntay Henry representing the Virgin Islands and bringing home the national championship last year. Under her leadership, the school will send another student, Tabari Davis, to represent the territory in the national contest this year. "I'm overwhelmed and surprised," said Nurseen Davis, after learning she won the award. Davis, who has taught for the past 24 years, holds a bachelors degree in English and a masters degree in education from the University of the Virgin Islands. She serves on the Charlotte Amalie High School accreditation committee, helps to stage the Peter Gruber Foundation's annual Laws of Life Essay Contest, prepares students for the annual Community Arts Showcase, and assists inmates through the prison ministry at the Philadelphia Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Mrs. Phyllis Rivera-Ryan
Claude O. Markoe Elementary School, St. Croix
Contribution: Phyllis Rivera-Ryan, a choir and band director at Claude O. Markoe Elementary School, won the honor for the St. Croix district. She received a bachelors degree in music from North Carolina Central University, a masters degree in education from Cambridge College, and is pursuing doctoral studies. For the past 20 years she has been instrumental in the Claude O. Markoe Elementary School Steel Band and Choir, coordinating music programs and talent shows, and composing and arranging songs and games that feature Virgin Islands musical forms such as calypso and quelbe. Songs such as the Virgin Islands March, Queen Mary, and LaBega Carousel are standard in the steelband's repertoire. Under her leadership the school choir has been selected to perform in Disney World, for Virgin Islands cruise ship passengers, and in Barbados. "I'm just so grateful, and blessed," said Rivera-Ryan, who also serves as musical coordinator for the Bethel S.D.A. Church. This is the second consecutive year that Claude O. Markoe Elementary School has captured the award.
Heath Award Winners 2008
The V.I. Humanities Council congratulates the Fifth Annual Heath Award Winners, Ms. Lisa Etre of St. Thomas' Ivanna Eudora Kean High School and Mrs. Cedelle Petersen-Christopher of St. Croix's Claude O. Markoe Elementary School. Established in 2003, the Heath Award recognizes the achievement of two public school teachers who have exhibited outstanding ability and unfailing dedication to teaching the humanities. Each award winner received a cash award of $1,000 and a commemorative certificate.
Ms. Lisa Etre
Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, St. Thomas
Contribution: Lisa Etre's life reflects her commitment to nurturing, directing, and educating youth through art that depicts Caribbean history and culture. She has produced annual youth art exhibits and has facilitated the production, merchandising, and sale of her students' artwork — creating an avenue for student earned income, student art scholarships and the art department of Ivanna Eudora Kean High School. She is an alumnus of American University in Washington, D.C. and has completed graduate studies at El Instituto Allende in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and the University of New Mexico. Her artwork has been featured in Island Magazine and on the Cosby Show.
Mrs. Cedelle Petersen-Christopher
Claude O. Markoe Elementary School, St. Croix
Contribution: Cedelle Petersen-Christopher has 18 years of contribution to the humanities as a former teacher and current librarian. Known as a local storyteller, Petersen- Christopher promotes literacy and the preservation of Virgin Islands culture. She often shares her skills of puppetry, singing, dancing, and acting with her students at Claude O. Markoe Elementary School on St. Croix, as well as the wider community. Petersen- Christopher participates annually in the re-enactment of the Fireburn of 1878, sings traditional Virgin Islands cariso, and teaches fourth to sixth graders how to read on her Saturday radio program. She has a master of arts degree in library science from Cambridge College in Massachusetts, and a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from the University of the Virgin Islands.
Heath Award Winners 2007
The V.I. Humanities Council congratulates the Fourth Annual Heath Award Winners, Ms. Anna Marie Gordon of St. Croix's Central High School and Mrs. Neomie Touissant Williams of St. Thomas' Gladys Abraham Elementary School. Established in 2003, the Heath Award recognizes the achievement of two public school teachers who have exhibited outstanding ability and unfailing dedication to teaching the humanities. Each award winner received a cash award of $1,000 and a commemorative certificate.
Ms. Anna Marie Gordan
Central High School, St. Croix
Teaching Experience: 14 years
Contribution: Ms. Gordon has contributed greatly to the humanities. As a seasoned English teacher, her commitment and love for teh discipline has inspired several of her former students to become teachers themselves. Ms. Gordon has explored other areas in the Humanities through extra-curricular activities which include tutoring her school's music band, co-chairing students for the Quiz Bowl Team, and directing her church's youth choir.
Mrs. Neomie Touissant-Williams
Gladys Abraham Elementary School, St. Thomas
Contribution: Mrs. Touissant-Williams is the choir director at Gladys Abraha Elementary School. The elementary school produced a CD whereby the choir showcased their vocal talents in preserving Virgin Islands' music. Mrs. Williams spearheaded the CD project entitled, "Folk Music of the Virgin Islands" which was funded by VIHC. She is dedicated to teaching and contributing to the Humanities.
Heath Award Winners 2006
The V.I. Humanities Council congratulates the Third Annual Heath Award Winners, Mr. Gerard Emanuel of St. Croix's Central High School and Ms. Sandra Reed of St. Thomas' Lockhart Elementary School. Established in 2003, the Heath Award recognizes the achievement of two public school teachers who have exhibited outstanding ability and unfailing dedication to teaching the humanities. Each award winner received a cash award of $1,000 and a commemorative certificate.
Mr. Gerard Emanuel
Central High School, St. Croix
Degree: Master of Arts, Public Administration – University of the Virgin Islands
Teaching Experience: 7 years. He teaches Caribbean History, Comparative Government, Street Law and World History.
Contribution: Mr. Emanuel gives back to his Virgin Islands community by instructing Central High students in the Superior Court's Moot Court Competition, coaching school-aged youths, presenting at various historical or political events, participating in Humanities projects, and providing research and source materials for various publications including "The Umbilical Cord" and "Clear de Road."
Ms. Sandra Reed
Lockhart Elementary School, St. Thomas
Degree: Master of Arts – University of the Virgin Islands
Teaching Experience: 16 years
Contribution: Ms. Reed is a member of the Mongo Niles Cultural Dancers and has used her experience as a quadrille dancer to direct the Lockhart Quadrille Dancers – a youth quadrille group that is in high demand in the community.
Heath Award Winners 2005
The V.I.Humanities Council congratulates the Second Annual Heath Award Winners, Ms. Lisa Lenhardt of St. Croix's Central High School and Ms. Frances Rutnik of St. Thomas' Ivanna Eudora Kean High School.
Ms. Lisa Lenhardt
Central High School, St. Croix
Degree: Bachelor of Fine Arts – California Institute of the Arts
Teaching Experience: Dance
Contribution: "Through dance, I feel that I have contributed to the humanities by raising self- awareness and encouraged perseverance in students' lives by teaching dances of all styles that are challenging yet rewarding." - Lisa Lenhardt
Ms. Frances Rutnik
Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, St. Thomas
Degree: Master of Arts, Art Education – College of St. Rose, Albany, N.Y.
Teaching Experience: Fine Art
Contribution: "As an educator, I believe it is my responsibility to help children recognize their own artistic vision…" - Frances Rutnik
Heath Award Winners 2004
The V.I.Humanities Council congratulates the Second Annual Heath Award Winners, Mr. Anselm Richards of St. Croix's Central High School and Ms. Glenn Davis of St. Thomas' Ivanna Eudora Kean High School.
Mr. Anselm Richards
Central High School, St. Croix
Teaching Experience: Art
Contribution: Anselm Richards, has dedicated 28 years to teaching art in all forms. Mr. Richards is a recipient of several awards, including Morris F. DeCastro Fellowship for Excellence in Government Service, University of the Virgin Islands Award for Outstanding Achievement in Art Education and Virgin Islands Department of Education 4 C's Award of Excellence for Commitment, Caring, Cooperation and Competence. Mr. Richards's philosophy, according to an article in the online newspaper The St. Thomas Source, is that if students "know you are supportive, that even when they make bad mistakes, you are still there for them, there's no limit to what they will do."
Mr. Glenn "Kwabena" Davis
Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, St. Thomas
Teaching Experience: Virgin Islands Culture
Contribution: Mr. Davis, has been teaching the value of Virgin Islands culture for most of his life. A graduate of the then CVI, Mr. Davis began teaching at Ivanna Eudora Kean High School over 10 years ago. During that time, Mr. Davis has cultivated a garden with local herbs, taught students how to identify the plants and to prepare local foods and juices. He has emphasized the importance of traditional forms of music and dance such as quelbe and quadrille. He is a charter member of Community to Revive Our Culture, founder of Voices of Love Community Choir, director of Association of Concerned Native Virgin Islanders and board member of the VI Council on the Arts.
Dr. and Mrs. Alfred O. Heath congratulate St. Thomas Heath Award winner, Ms. Frances Rutnik.
In Memory of Mrs. Heath
Mrs. Heath enthusiastically co-sponsored the Heath Award for Excellence in the Teaching of the Humanities, which enables the Council to recognize local teachers who make a difference in the lives of our children. Her sudden and untimely passing on December 21, 2005 created a great void within the Council. Mrs. Geraldine Heath was a caring friend and true supporter of the Virgin Islands Humanities Council. As a board member, Mrs. Heath served in every capacity— from being vice chair for two years 2004 and 2005 to chairing the Institutional Advancement Committee. Mrs. Heath's involvement, buoyant optimism in the face of any challenge and passion to educate and empower others will be sorely missed.