The Ruby Rutnik Scholarship Fund has announced that two recent graduates of the Gifft Hill School have won scholarships for the 2024-25 school year.
De-necia Baxter and Liandra Dagou will each receive an award of $2,500 towards their tuition as they begin their college careers at the University of the Virgin Islands.
“Neicy” Baxter was commended by the faculty at Gifft Hill School for being “inquisitive,” “ambitious,” and “collaborative.” A member of the Student Council and the volleyball team, she has volunteered at organizations such as the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park and the Boys and Girls Club on St. John. Island residents may find her face familiar since she has worked at local restaurants, including Cruz Bay Landing, Johnny Lime, and Miss Lucy’s.
In discussing an issue of importance to her – the prevalence and dangers of social media – Necie wrote, “the namelessness and distance provided by digital communication make it easier for individuals to engage in harmful behaviors and aggravate feelings of anxiety, stress, and social isolation among young adults …. Encouraging open conversations and setting healthy boundaries around social media use can help teenagers develop resilience and navigate online spaces more safely.”
Liandra Dagou has been president of the National Honor Society and the Student Council and also served as a co-captain of the volleyball team at Gifft Hill School. The Rev. Fr. Anthony Abraham, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, commended her for serving as president of the church’s youth group, where she showed “exceptional moral character, remarkable self-discipline … and passion for service and helping others.”
A steelpan player, Liandra believes that “schools should provide more opportunities for creative expression and the arts” as part of their training in sciences, languages, and other subject areas. “Students exposed to the arts can better express their emotions” and “develop substantial problem-solving skills,” she wrote.
Both of this year’s scholarship winners are planning to pursue degrees in nursing at UVI.
The Ruby Rutnik Scholarship Fund was created 27 years ago to honor the memory of Ruby Rutnik, who was a senior at American University when she died in a car accident in 1996. Heartbroken by their tragedy but resilient in spirit, her family organized a softball tournament in 1997 for female high school students throughout the Virgin Islands as a way to fund the scholarship.
In 2014, the Rutnik family decided to end the tournaments and use the funds already raised to establish an endowment through the Gifft Hill School on St. John. Since its inception, the fund has awarded a total of nearly $200,000 to more than 70 recipients.
The scholarship is open to any young woman who has resided on St. John for at least five years and is pursuing a degree in higher education.
Those wishing to contribute to the scholarship fund are asked to make their checks payable to Gifft Hill School, noting RRSF on the bottom of the check, and mail it to GHS, P.O. Box 1657, St. John, VI 00831.
