June 9, 2003 – On Friday, V.I. Rum Industries Ltd., the makers of Cruzan Rum, will present a donation of $25,000 to the University of the Virgin Islands to support scholarships.
The presentation will be made by Donald C. Nelthropp, V.I. Rum Industries president, to UVI President LaVerne Ragster in an 11 a.m. ceremony at the Cruzan Rum headquarters on St. Croix.
The company has made annual contributions to UVI since 1987 and its giving now totals more than $400,000, according to a UVI release.
"We believe that by partnering with the university in this manner we can contribute to a well-educated work force and assist in promoting a better quality of life for our community," Marvin Pickering, V.I. Rum Industries senior vice president and chief financial officer, said. Pickering graduated from UVI in 1985.
Joseph Boschulte, UVI vice president for institutional advancement, expressed the university's appreciation "for its long-term partnership with Cruzan Rum." The company's generosity over the years "has provided opportunities to many students and has helped ensure top-quality faculty," he said.
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