The Virgin Islands Education Department’s Division of Sports and Athletics honored dozens of deserving athletes and their coaches at the St. Thomas/St. John Sports and Athletics Awards Ceremony Tuesday afternoon at Charlotte Amalie High School.
Hosted by Territorial Director of Sports and Athletics Ophelia Williams-Jackson, the ceremony recognized athletes from elementary to high school across a range of disciplines, including track, basketball, volleyball, cheer, and more. In addition to being awarded for their athletic performance, students were also celebrated for their leadership and academic achievement.
Jackson praised the student-athletes for their grit and determination, especially as they balanced the demands of competitive sports with scholastic excellence. “It’s easy for people to discount sports at this stage as child’s play,” she said. “But for some of these athletes, it’s business, and we need to recognize that.”
The following schools were represented: Ulla F. Muller Elementary School, Jane E. Tuitt Elementary School, Yvonne E. Milliner Bowskey Elementary School, Joseph Sibilly Elementary School, Julius E. Sprauve School, Lockhart School, Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School, Charlotte Amalie High School, and Ivanna Eudora Kean High School.
The young standouts beamed with pride as their names were called at the first-of-its-kind ceremony. Tall, golden trophies, customized to each honoree’s sport, glimmered under the stage lights of the Charlotte Amalie High School auditorium. Cheers erupted as each athlete crossed the stage.
Among the proudest in the room was Brian Bedminster, father of Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School cheer captain, Brianna Bedminster. “We pushed her hard,” he laughed, “and we’re going to keep pushing her.”
Bedminster has big aspirations of becoming a model and actress and credits cheer with helping her come out of her shell. “I’ve always been shy to do things like getting up on stage, but cheer is really helping me get over that fear,” she said. She also expressed deep gratitude to her parents, coach, and teammates for pushing her to shine beyond the sidelines.
Bedminster was not the only student-athlete envisioning the future that afternoon. Charlotte Amalie High School track star and triple-honoree Joeltica Rogers stole the show with her remarkable balance of athletic performance and academic excellence. She was awarded for her achievements in junior varsity cross-country and junior varsity track and field, as well as being named the Top Scholar for holding the highest academic average among high school athletes.
Rogers, a rising junior, hopes to run track at the University of Florida. “It took hard work, discipline, consistency, and determination to achieve this,” she said. Her face lit up as she recounted her parents’ unwavering support throughout the season. “I wouldn’t be here without them, and I accept this honor with the utmost humility.”
Before leaving the ceremony, she took a moment to inspire younger athletes. “If you know what you want, go after it with passion. Work hard for it and accept success with absolute humility.” She left the stage, taking her own advice: juggling trophies but laser-focused on her goal of becoming a Florida Gator.
The final award of the evening was presented to Ivanna Eudora Kean High School Tackle Football Head Coach, Elroy Donovan Jr., whose dedication to his players’ growth on and off the field earned him the distinguished title of Coach of the Year. Though he was unable to attend the ceremony in person, his words — read aloud just before the close of the ceremony – left a lasting impression on everyone present.
“I do not want to be a coach known for the number of championships I won but for the number of lives I changed,” Donovan said.
The auditorium fell silent.
Even in his absence, Donovan’s message struck a chord. It reminded everyone in attendance that sports are not just about scoring points or breaking records; they are about shaping character, instilling discipline, and planting seeds for lifelong success.
Once the final trophy was collected, it was abundantly clear: this ceremony held deeper significance than a pat on the back for what these young athletes had accomplished. It was a powerful affirmation of who they are becoming — a reminder that the U.S. Virgin Islands is raising more than competitors. It’s raising champions.
