Class of 1979 · Stellar Students

Motta instructs students who are severely cognitively delayed. Motta was awarded St. Croix teacher of the year in October 2017. “So often the students that I teach are not the ones that you are going to read about their academic accomplishments — you are not going to read about their successes in life. But for many of my students, we have to teach more than communication. We teach them life skills and independence,” Motta said when she won the St. Croix award.

Lynton Scotland is the Chief Procurement Officer at W.L. Gore and Associates. In that role Scotland leads Global Sourcing and Logistics activities at W.L Gore with a focus on delivering value to the enterprise from Strategic Sourcing, Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) and Procurement/Logistics Operations Excellence.

Prior to joining W.L. Gore, Lynton held several senior positions with major US Corporations and was co-founder of an energy company.

He was the Global Strategic Sourcing Leader for the DuPont Protection Solutions business within DuPont; senior executive and co-founder of Sustainable Star (a renewable energy company focused on solar photovoltaic and the sale of gas and electricity); Vice President of Operational Excellence at NRG Energy Incorporated with responsibility for the corporate project management office and the “FORNRG” (Focus On ROIC @ NRG) initiative.

Lynton is a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Dayton in Ohio and is the former Chairman of the Board of Urban Promise Wilmington (an organization focused on youth education and leadership development in Wilmington, Delaware). Lynton is also a member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC), an organization of senior level black business executives in corporate America; co-chair of the Community Impact initiative and a former board member of the Executive Leadership Foundation.

Lynton earned a BSCHE degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Dayton; a Master of Science in Statistics from Rutgers University and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. He also completed the University of Pennsylvania Wharton Professional Development Program and is a former adjunct professor at the County College of Morris in New Jersey. Lynton was recently recognized in the 17th Anniversary issue of Savoy Magazine to the prestigious list of 2018 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America.

http://savoynetwork.com/driving-community-impact-lynton-scotland/

In 1977 Turner entered her first international competition. She won the 1977 Hal Jackson’s Miss Virgin Islands Talented Teen pageant and traveled to Hollywood, California where she was a finalist at the ABC-TV syndicated competition. The following year she won the Virgin Islands’ Knights of Columbus oratorical contest with her speech ‘Society Needs A Mother” and used the cash reward to travel to San Diego, California to attend the prestigious Stage 7 dance school for the summer. During her senior year Turner won Miss World Virgin Islands and traveled to London, England to compete in the internationally broadcasted finals.

At age 17, Turner enrolled at Howard University and three years later graduated cum laude from the school’s five –year undergraduate Theatre Education degree program. While pursuing her degree, she performed with the Washington, DC based La Verne Reed Dancers who were billed with such performers as Bill Cosby and Luther Vandross. As an ensemble member of the Washington Theatre Arts Production, she appeared on college campuses across the country and was a lead dancer in a Louis Johnson choreographed production of “The Wiz.” Additionally, Turner worked with choreographers Bob Banas and Joe Tremaine and was an extra in the film, “The Kennedy Story.”

Turner would return to pageant competition in 1984 and won the International Model of the Year in Las Vegas, Nevada. She would follow that with a Miss United States Virgin Islands crown in 1986 and travel to Panama City, Panama for the Miss Universe pageant. Turner received international attention from a UPI pre-pageant bathing suit wire photo. The following year she would become the first Black woman to capture the Queen of World Tourism title in Madrid, Spain and was invited to major conventions in Europe, Asia and South America. In 1990 Turner captured the coveted title Miss Black USA.

The multi- talented Turner was the 1987 celebrity spokesperson for the Virgin Islands Tourism Board and featured in the Virgin Islands’ 1988 and 1989 CEBA Award nominated $15 million U.S. Virgin Islands print and television advertising campaign. Her television appearances include “The Great Escape/Discover America” (ABC), “The Magic Cruise” (ABC), “Front Runners” (ABC), “This Week in Black Entertainment” (BET), “Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon” (ABC), “Martin” “ROC”, and “Fox Summer Games (all FBC).”

As the 1990 Miss Black US, Turner resided in Manhattan, New York and completed a six-city tour as a guest speaker with Dorothy Height, president of the National Council of Negro Women. Her numerous appearances included singing the National Anthem for the United Negro College Fund’s New York Marathon, performing as guest artist and keynote speaker with the Assault on Illiteracy Program in Washington, DC.

In addition to being the featured cover model for the 1990 December issue of Being Single magazine, she co-hosted their Pinnacle Awards in Palm Springs, CA. Turner was featured as one of the ten most beautiful women in the 1992 Fox Summer Games Swimsuit Special and also featured in Keith Sweat’s number one video, “Keep It Coming,” and After Seven’s video “Baby, I’m For Real.”

Currently, Turner has parlayed her experiences in leading a successful financial advisory practice. Today, she is a Senior Vice President for UBS Wealth Management Americas where she leads a Pension Advisory business focusing on Caribbean Pension Plans. Additionally, she provides comprehensive investment management solutions and wealth planning, as well as a wide range of specific offerings to wealthy individuals and families.

She is the recipient of the “1986 Outstanding Young Woman of America,” “Merit Award (Howard University), and “Outstanding Achievements (USVI Government).”

Jasmine is a graduate of Howard University with a Master’s of Computer Science and a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts, Theatre Education, cum laude. She holds a Series 7, 63, 65 and California Life Insurance licenses.

She currently resides in Los Angeles, CA and San Juan, Puerto Rico where she enjoys cooking, reading and spending time with her family.

http://caribbeanheritage.org/turner/

Dona Browne Jones is an educator who believes there is no task in life that is so great that you cannot accomplish it because if God calls you to it he has equipped you for it. You should therefore allow excellence to be a habit and not an act.

Born and raised in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Ms. Browne Jones is a proud member of St. Croix Central High School class of 1979 and an alumni of the University of the Virgin Islands class of 1990 where she received her BA in Social Sciences. She is actively pursuing her Masters of Arts in Special Education.

Ms. Browne Jones has worked at St. Croix Central High School for over 20 years in the Department of Social Studies and Modified Instruction. She is presently teaching at Arthur Richards Junior High School where she is serving as the Department Chairperson of Special Education. Ms. Browne Jones is “Teacher of the Year” for the 2017 – 2018 School year.

Ms. Jones is a cancer survivor and volunteers with the American Cancer Society. She has been the President of the Board of Directors and the chairperson of the Relay for Life. She presently represents the American Cancer Society nationally. Earlier this year, she served as a panelist for the Department of Defense Ovarian Cancer Research Program.

She has received numerous awards for her work and leadership in the American Cancer Society as well in her local community. She has been honored nationally for her poetry writing. She is also the recipient of awards for her productive and innovative professional contributions to the school community.

She is the proud mother of Ahlia Ie’Lora Jones-Paul, Naiema Tai Jones-Arnold, Akeil Earl Jones, and Sylvanie Janet Maxwell. She has one grand-daughter Amariah Leora Paul.

COL Fawkes’ most notable accomplishments are as follows: Attended the first State Officer Candidate School held in the Virgin Islands. First Female Aide-deCamp to a General Officer selected within the V.I. National Guard, First Female Virgin Islander to become a pilot and serve in the Virgin Islands National Guard, First and only female State Army Aviation Officer within the National Guard comprising of the fifty states and Territories (1995-2002) and the First female aviator within the National Guard to pilot the C-23B Sherpa Aircraft (1992).

COL Fawkes’ awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal, 2nd Award; Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal; Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, 5th Award, National Defense Service Medal, with Bronze Service Star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, 2nd Award, Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 30 Year Device Gold Hourglass and “M” Device. She served overseas for two years in Cuba. At the time of her retirement, she served as the Director of Plans, Operations and Training, Joint Task Force, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. COL Fawkes is married to Mr. Avery Anthony Fawkes.

www.stcroixcaribbeanweddings.com/2014/03/one-two-three-jump/

Annette Harrigan is a proud graduate of St. Croix Central High School’s class of 1979. Not only was she voted Prom Queen by her peers, but, three later, she also won the title of Miss St. Croix 1982-1983. The Miss St. Croix competition was held at Island Center before a packed crowd. An unprecedented event, there were twelve competitors vying for the title; the first in the history of the Miss St. Croix pageant. Also unprecedented, male escorts accompanied the twelve hopefuls during the evening gown segment. Contestants were judged according to the follow categories: swimwear, casual wear, talent and question & answer.

For the talent portion of the show, Annette chose to portray Anna Heegaard, who was the mistress of Then Governor-General Peter Von Scholten. Anna used her influence to help free slaves in the early 19th century while St. Croix was under Danish rule. The role that Heegaard played was tantamount to the release of many slaves and this significance was the reason Annette chose to depict her.

Miss Harrigan went on to become a professional in the telecommunications industry while raising her son who is now a freshman in college. Annette Harrigan was born on St. Croix and now resides in California.

As one of 2013’s newest members of the Academy of Arts and Sciences and designer for both the recent movie “42” and the HBO hit series, “The Newsroom,” Charles is no stranger to the lightning-fast pace at which Hollywood works. To keep in step with these demands, he brings the technology industry’s most advanced digital design tools to his work behind the scenes.

“We are able to produce and perfect our graphics today in ways that would have seemed impossible just a decade ago,” he said. “The tools I have now are nothing less than magical.”

Charles began his career in Los Angeles in the early 1990s after earning a Bachelor’s degree in communication design from Pratt Institute in New York. Since then, he has seen digital technologies transform sets, props and other graphic elements while serving as graphic designer for more than 50 feature films. In addition to “42,” his vast list of film credits includes “The Avengers,” “Public Enemies,” “Miami Vice,” “Leatherheads,” “Charlie Wilson’s War,” “Love and Other Drugs,” “Larry Crowne,” “AI: Artificial Intelligence,” “Minority Report,” “Be Cool,” “50 First Dates,” “Seabiscuit,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “Murder by Numbers,” “Stuart Little” and “That Thing You Do,” among others.

On the set, he is known for his attention to detail and ability to bring originality and authenticity to each project’s visuals. That’s where digital comes in, he says. Not only signs, but windows, floors, walls, ceilings, artwork and even wine and beer bottle labels are designed and printed on one of Charles’ two Roland large-format printers.

“It’s all about adapting to the vision for the production,” said Charles. “The more tools you have to build on a design theme, the more creative and inspiring your results will be. I never recycle anything I’ve used before. I have to build it fresh in my own mind and then work with the most advanced technologies available to bring a concept to life.”

To accomplish all of this, Charles researches his graphics extensively, searching for images and concepts that can help him implement the artistic trends at the time of a film’s setting. To flesh out each idea and image, he relies on a digital workflow, including his Roland printers, which offer the speed, precision and versatility he requires.

For “The Newsroom,” Charles worked closely with production designer Richard Hoover to implement visual themes for the show.

“What had to be achieved was a very large, translucent newsroom, visually designed so that from every room and every angle, you saw large, imposing graphics, yet were left with a sense of ease,” said Charles. For the show’s primary newsroom set, more than 2,000 square feet of graphics were produced and installed. The resulting iconic backdrop has framed some of television’s most powerful recent performances.

For “42,” Charles was called on to create a highly authentic backdrop for the film’s story line. Among the hundreds of graphic elements he produced were full-scale replicas of 1940s billboard advertisements typically displayed throughout Ebbets Field and other famous ballparks during this time period.

“In all my years of working on films, ’42’ stands out for the sheer number of huge graphics needed and the extremely short time frame, even by movie standards,” said Charles. “We literally printed miles of graphics for this film.”

He continued, “What is most incredible to me about all of this is watching these backdrops roll off my printers, panel after panel. Not only can we wrap an entire room on demand today, but we also now have mature, proven specialty inks that allow us to create the unexpected. White and metallic inks, in particular, enable interesting special effects and finishes that used to require hours of hand rendering even just a few years back. We also have an ever-expanding selection of new materials to print on, including beautiful fabrics that withstand the elements while adding elegance, richness and texture to a graphic.”

For “42,” Charles took his printers on set six weeks before final production was to start. In all, he designed graphics to recreate 10 stadiums, along with airports, train stations, and local streets in five major cities, including Brooklyn and Harlem, New York.

He said he truly understood the term “mega advertising” as he began designing ads for the stadiums, each one measuring an average of 30 feet wide by 20 feet high, with half spanning over 40 feet in width.

“It is such an honor to be a part of this industry and especially to now be a member of the Academy,” Charles said. “I get to work with so many exceptionally talented people — and to experience every day as a unique creative adventure. It has been a wild, wonderful ride so far, and I look forward to all that the future holds.”

 https://www.rolanddga.com/gallery/professionals/interiors/martin-charles