On Tuesday morning, 11 students from the U.S. Virgin Islands were awarded $1,500 each through the Adams-Mahepath Scholarship during a ceremony held at Sterling Optical on St. Croix and virtually via Zoom for recipients in the St. Thomas-St. John district.
Family members, representatives, and employees gathered to celebrate the students’ achievements. Sterling Optical has been serving the local community since July 1997.
Now in its 24th year, the Adams-Mahepath Scholarship was established in 2002 and has since awarded 261 scholarships, totaling over $500,000 in value.
“Education is a key motto of our company, since it provides information, helps critical thinking, and fosters upward social mobility,” said Dr. Lisa Adams, a certified therapeutic optometrist at Sterling Optical and speaker at the event. “Today, eleven young high school or incoming college students will receive a scholarship check in the amount of $1,500 addressed to their college or university,” she added.
Adams explained that recipients were selected based on GPA, SAT scores, community involvement, and a biographical essay. This year’s awardees plan to pursue degrees in fields such as nursing, psychology, social work, biochemistry, computer science, business, and aviation.
During the ceremony, two student recipients were highlighted. Amrael Williams, a sophomore at the University of the Virgin Islands, was recognized for her academic excellence and service. Williams volunteers as a junior counselor for the Central Pathfinder Club and transcribes documents for the Smithsonian Transcription Center. She won first place in the Agricultural Fair Poetry Contest in both 2019 and 2024. A former valedictorian, Williams maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout high school.
Jarelle Berkeley, Jr., from the St. Thomas district, was praised for his strong focus on aviation. He took Advanced Placement courses in English, Chemistry, and Physics, graduated with a 3.75 GPA, and ranked 12th out of 216 students at Charlotte Amalie High School. Berkeley also won the engineering category at the school’s science fair and plans to become a pilot.
“When I found out that I received the scholarship, I felt very grateful for being given this honor,” said Williams. “Anything that helps you toward college, you’re always grateful for. It takes some of the pressure off so you can focus on your academics and getting into college life in general.”
Williams said she hopes to one day become a forensic psychologist.
In a statement, Sterling Optical reiterated its commitment to education as a vehicle for upward mobility and human advancement, saying the company remains dedicated to helping students in the U.S. Virgin Islands realize their full potential.
St. Croix District Recipients:
- J’Neolise Green (St. Croix Educational Complex): Attending Winston-Salem State University, majoring in Social Work
- Angelica Griffin (St. Croix Seventh-day Adventist School): Attending Walla Walla University, majoring in Physics
- Ellany Lopez (St. Croix Central High School): Attending Georgia State University, majoring in Biomedical Science
- Kalyani Walter-Sundaram (Good Hope Country Day School): Attending University of Minnesota Twin Cities, majoring in Pre-Veterinary Medicine
- Vivia Webster (St. Croix Educational Complex): Attending Tulane University, majoring in Biochemistry
- Amrael Williams (St. Croix Seventh-day Adventist School): Attending University of the Virgin Islands, majoring in Psychology
- Geia Williams (Free Will Baptist School): Attending University of the Virgin Islands, majoring in Nursing
St. Thomas-St. John District Recipients:
- Siara Abbott (Charlotte Amalie High School): Attending University of the Virgin Islands, majoring in Computer Science
- Jarelle Berkeley, Jr. (Charlotte Amalie High School): Attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, majoring in Aeronautical Science
- Kezia Corbett (Ivanna Eudora Kean High School): Attending University of the Virgin Islands, majoring in Nursing
- Sahid Letang (Antilles School): Attending Jacksonville University, majoring in Business Administration
Joel Mahepath, president and CEO of Sterling Optical, congratulated the students and expressed his hopes for their future.
“I want to congratulate each of the 11 recipients today. We’ve done this scholarship for 24 years, and it’s the lasting legacy that we would like to continue. Continue to do great things and be successful human beings in any community you go,” said Mahepath.
Adams also offered thanks to the community for its ongoing support.
“I want to thank the people of the Virgin Islands who make it their business to invest, participate, and purchase their eye exams with Sterling Optical. It is a local business, and we always give back to the community. Without you, we couldn’t do this,” she said.
