77.8 F
Cruz Bay
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesHovensa Donates Computer Lab to Junior High School

Hovensa Donates Computer Lab to Junior High School

Aug. 29, 2007 — A new computer lab at the Elena L. Christian Junior High School on St. Croix features 31 new workstations, each with a desktop Hewlett-Packard computer with a flat-screen monitor, two new laser printers and an electronic projector.
The $100,000 lab, equipped and funded by Hovensa, can accommodate 30 students at a time, along with one instructor, according to a Hovensa news release. Contractors retained by Hovensa constructed the lab during the summer in what previously had been a loft in the school’s library, based on drawings and specifications approved by the school’s principal, Willard John, and the Office of Technology of the V.I. Department of Education (DOE), said Hovensa Vice President Alex Moorhead.
A ceiling-high partition and door were installed on the open end of the loft to physically separate it from the library for security, noise and temperature control. A separate power circuit and air-conditioning system was installed to supply electric power to the equipment and cool the lab.
The project was the result of a collaborative effort by Hovensa, the St. Croix Foundation and the DOE, Moorhead said. The St. Croix Foundation, which solicited Hovensa’s involvement, funded the installation of a burglar-alarm system in the lab, and the Office of Technology provided software for the computers using licenses owned by the DOE. The Office of Technology also provided Internet access.
“Hovensa was pleased to make this contribution to the Department of Education in conjunction with the St. Croix Foundation’s initiative to develop the Elena Christian Junior High School as a model public school for emulation at other public schools in the Virgin Islands,” Moorhead said. “The project provided an opportunity for Hovensa to pursue its vision to partner with the community to achieve excellence in education.”
Company officials enjoyed working with John, “whose enthusiasm was infectious,” the release said. John plans to use the lab to provide computer training both to students and parents.
Back Talk Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.