Congratulations Ms. Belshe! Graduation Ceremony - UVI Class of 2020!!

This is one happy young lady!

Ms. Alayna Belshe, our Communications Coordinator, graduated in the Spring of 2020 with a major in Communications. She was also awarded Honors in Foreign Language (Spanish, by the way). Due to COVID, the ceremony was postponed until today’s Virtual Event that was live-streamed around the world.

We are so proud of Alayna and so thankful that she has chosen to work here at her Alma Mater.

Alayna says, “I am so grateful to VIMSIA, not only did I start my educational journey here but also my career! My joy of learning began right here on these grounds and I am so happy to be here every day.”

Alumni Spotlight: Leah Trotman Wins Truman Scholarship

Congratulations to Leah Trotman VIMSIA Class of 2017

Leah was recently recognized in the St. Thomas Source for being one of the 62 recipients of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship for graduate studies.

Excerpt from the St. Thomas Source:

Trotman is now working on her bachelor’s degree in international relations with a minor in public health. Agnes Scott College, located 15 minutes from Atlanta, was the perfect choice for Trotman, she said, “because of its focus on the social challenges of our time and how we can engage as global citizens.”

She said a faculty member, Kai Issa, has been her mentor as she’s pursued her studies in global leadership.

Trotman is the daughter of Joycelyn Hewlett, a journalist and attorney, and LeRoy Trotman, an educator and musician. She attended All Saints Cathedral School through sixth grade and then the Montessori School & Peter Gruber International Academy, where she received an international baccalaureate degree. With its international scope, her high school program gave her the opportunity to travel to several places, including China.

Leah Trotman walks near Iguazu Falls in Misiones Province, Argentina while abroad in 2019. (Photo by Charlotte Howland)

In her college freshman year, she traveled to Guatemala; in 2019 she spent a semester in Argentina at the Universidad del Salvador in Buenos Aires, a Jesuit university where Pope Francis studied. At the end of her studies, she traveled extensively in Argentina and Chile.

“It transformed who I was as a learner,” she said. “Taking time to explore these countries taught me how to separate self-worth from productivity – it was really a fun time.”

She capitalized on the fluency in Spanish she acquired during high school, becoming confident enough to debate one of her professors about the thorny issue of racism, something that definitely exists in Argentina, she said.

“People commented on my hair and skin color – that also happened to me in China, where people grabbed me and pulled at my braids,” Trotman said.

She used that experience to fuel her research on racism in Argentina, where comments on her racial difference seemed to come “more out of love or curiosity.”

She said growing up on St. Thomas gave her the confidence to deal with some of these difficult experiences.

“When you’re born in the Caribbean, you’re surrounded by people who look just like you at all levels of power. No one ever told me I couldn’t do anything.

Fifth Annual Alumni Lunch

The PGIA hosted the fifth annual Alumni Luncheon on Wednesday, December 18.  We love this time of year as alumni return to campus and share wisdom and advice with current DP students!  Our alumni discussed everything from the transition to college and getting involved in a new community to academic choices and leveraging their experience in the IB.  It's so exciting to see our Volts making their way out in the world! 

Top row, from left to right: CJ Fahie '16 (Indiana Institute of Technology) , Naomi Laing '16 (University of the Virgin Islands), Gregory Christian '19 (High Point University), Ricky James '19 (Florida Atlantic University), Jalen McClean '19 (Jacksonville University), David Dawson '19 (Drexel University), Karl Dinang '19 (New College of Florida), Axel Bartsch '19 (Occidental College)

Bottom row, from left to right: Alison Bartsch '17 (Stanford University), Leah Trotman '17 (Agnes Scott College), Kiyalyn Bump '16 (Dalhousie University), Daicya Dawson '19 (Rider University) 

Volts Represent USVI at Concacaf

VIMSIA junior Jimson St. Louis and senior Ammiel Maynard.

Sports fans will want to follow the USVI U-20 soccer team as they compete in a 34-nation tournament that will determine our region’s teams that will participate in the FIFA U-20 championships next year. The team includes current Virgin Islands Montessori School & Peter Gruber International Academy (VIMSIA) students Ammiel Maynard & Jimson St. Louis, alumni Grant Farrell ’18 and Seidon Nemeth ’18, displaced-by-Irmaria student Quinn Farrell, and former student Orion Mills (older brother to current student Jacob Mills). The USVI will play 5 games November 1-9, including meeting the USA team Saturday November 3! Games can be viewed on the concacaf website. Go USVI, go VIMSIA VOLTS!

VOLTS Alumni at World Cup Qualifiers

3 Alumnae Volts representing USVI at World Cup Qualifiers

Virgin Islands Montessori School & Peter Gruber International Academy alumni Ariel Stolz ‘13, Isis Collier ’15, and Alison Bartsch ’17 are currently in Trinidad representing their country at the CONCACAF Caribbean Qualifiers for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.  All three started soccer with Senor Araujo and played for our Varsity Volts with Coach Elger.  After a tough but expected loss to world-class Trinidad in the first game, the USVI team bounced back to beat Grenada 3-0 in the second, then lost their third match 0-3 to Dominica.   Our young and developing team is proud to be demonstrating success at the international level. Their final match is Sunday vs St. Kitts & Nevis.  #GoVolts  #GoUSVI

BLAST FROM THE PAST

As a new staff member, I am lucky to discover and learn about VIMSIA's rich history! Check out these wonderful photos from years past...

Ms. Shournagh McWeeney teaching a Primary class, circa 1970. Over 45 years later, her legacy as a key educator, leader, and friend of the VIMSIA family is stronger than ever.  

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All School Group Photo, 2010. Taken at what is now our solar awning space, this shot includes VIMSIA's first high school graduate. Since then we have sent graduating classes of up to 17 students off to take on the world!

Time flies when you're having fun!  

Alumni Update - Kai Bartlette

Kai Bartlette stopped by campus today.  It was so good to see her, I love when Alumni stop by to visit us!  Kai was in our first IB graduating class, in 2011.  She went on to Providence College and has just graduated with a major in Mathematics and a minor in Spanish.  Kai is home for the summer, but will begin work on her PhD in Applied Mathematics this fall at Colorado School of Mines.