23/12/2025
UVI News Release
DATE: December 12, 2025
For immediate release
UVI Announces $150,000 Scholarship from Virgin Islands Energy Office to Support New Renewable Energy Technology Program
The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) announced that the Virgin Islands Energy Office (VIEO) has awarded a $150,000 scholarship contribution to support students enrolling in the University’s new Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Renewable Energy Technology (RET) program. In a check presentation ceremony held yesterday at the UVI RTPark Solar Farm, VIEO Deputy Director Michael Jaffurs formally presented the check to Dr. Gregory Guannel, Director of UVI’s Caribbean Green Technology Center (CGTC).
The scholarship will be available to eligible students beginning in Spring 2026 and is intended to expand access to UVI’s growing academic pathways in renewable energy and sustainability. The fund will support U.S. citizens and legal residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands who declare the AAS in Renewable Energy Technology or the forthcoming Certificate in Renewable Energy Technology, as their major.
Dr. Guannel said the scholarship represents a major step in building local capacity within the renewable energy sector. “This generous investment from the Virgin Islands Energy Office ensures that more Virgin Islanders can access the training needed to participate in the Territory’s clean energy transition,” said Dr. Guannel. “By reducing financial barriers, we can help students gain the technical skills that are urgently needed in our community and across the region. We are sincerely grateful to the VIEO for its partnership and commitment to supporting the next generation of renewable energy professionals.”
Virgin Islands Energy Office Director Kyle Fleming stated, “By leveraging a DOE grant to invest $150,000 in scholarships for UVI’s Renewable Energy Technologies program, the Virgin Islands Energy Office is doubling down on a common-sense synergy: aligning our federal funding with a homegrown workforce development pipeline that will build, maintain, and expand the clean energy systems our community continues to embrace. This scholarship ensures that the federal funding secured by the VIEO reduces cost barriers for Virgin Islanders seeking to gain the expertise needed to lead the Territory’s energy transformation.”
Prospective students interested in the AAS in Renewable Energy Technology or the upcoming certificate program are encouraged to apply for Spring 2026 admission.
The AAS in Renewable Energy Technology was launched in 2024 by the UVI College of Science and Mathematics and CGTC to develop a capable workforce that will help the USVI, the Caribbean region, and the U.S. accelerate its renewable energy revolution. The two-year AAS in RET degree program educates students and future professionals in basic electrical concepts, renewable energy technologies, and installing and repairing photovoltaic (PV) systems. Completion of the RET program, including the required internship and course labs, will prepare students to confidently enter the renewable energy workforce. The program is also designed to be a step towards a baccalaureate degree in physics or applied mathematics. Graduates of the RET program will have the knowledge required to pass the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) photovoltaic system (PV) Associate examination, an internationally recognized certification for PV installation companies and practitioners.
For more information about the program or scholarship eligibility, visit www.uvi.edu. For additional information, contact the UVI Office of Public Relations at [email protected].
About the University of the Virgin Islands
Founded in 1962, the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) is a public, co-ed, land-grant, historically black college and university (HBCU) with campuses on St. Thomas and St. Croix, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and an online division serving students globally. UVI offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs designed to prepare students for leadership and impact. As the only HBCU outside of the continental U.S., the university is a leading institution of higher learning in the Caribbean committed to academic excellence, student success, research and community engagement. Learn more at www.uvi.edu.
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Photo Caption:
From left, Michael Jaffurs, Kyle Fleming, and Dr. Greg Guannel hold a $150,000 check supporting renewable energy training at the University of the Virgin Islands.
