First District Representative Hon. Andrew A. Fahie (left) collects his award at the 15th Annual Norwell Harrigan Scholarship Luncheon at the Sugar Bay Resort and Spa in St Thomas, USVI on November 3, 2013. Photo: Team of Reporters

Mrs Maria Ayala collects her award at the 15th Annual Norwell Harrigan Scholarship Luncheon at the Sugar Bay Resort and Spa in St Thomas, USVI on November 3, 2013. Photo: Team of Reporters

Mrs Stephanie Benn collects her award at the 15th Annual Norwell Harrigan Scholarship Luncheon at the Sugar Bay Resort and Spa in St Thomas, USVI on November 3, 2013. Photo: Team of Reporters

Mr Dion Parsons collects his award at the 15th Annual Norwell Harrigan Scholarship Luncheon at the Sugar Bay Resort and Spa in St Thomas, USVI on November 3, 2013. Photo: Team of Reporters

Booklet cover for the 15th Annual Norwell Harrigan Scholarship Luncheon held at the Sugar Bay Resort and Spa in St Thomas, USVI on November 3, 2013. Image: VINO

The event was the 15th Annual Norwell Harrigan Scholarship Luncheon held at the Sugar Bay Resort and Spa in St Thomas, USVI and Hon. Fahie was recognised alongside Mrs Maria Ayala, Mrs Stephanie Benn and Mr Dion Parsons for their contributions to their various communities.

“Through the annual course of action by the League of British Virgin Islanders,” Hon. Fahie stated in his remarks, “they continue to make opportunities available to future BVIslanders to assist them in pursuing their dreams of receiving a higher education thereby reminding them that as British Virgin Islanders and Virgin Islanders overall, success is in their DNA.”

He said the event was not just another recognition service and does a number of other outstanding things all at once. According to the First District Representative, the organisation connects the "BVI’s past" with its present while connecting to the future and significantly reminds persons where they came from as a people.

Hon. Fahie expressed gratitude for the recognition received for the work done by the honourees in their various communities even as they continued to keep hope alive in many young persons so that they could fulfil their purpose for existing.

The former Education Minister charged his fellow honourees with continuing to serve beyond the call of duty so that future generations could be better.

He urged the scholarship recipients, Nikaida Wheatley and Kayana Walters, to carry on the mantle of reminding present and future Virgin Islanders that success is in their DNA.

“A person who gets good grades and graduates from university, but doesn’t know how to apply what they learnt to help better life for his fellow man, is a person who has only gotten an education,” Hon. Fahie stated, “however, a person who can apply what they learnt to improve life for his fellow man, is an educated person,” he added.

He related an encouraging anecdote which received loud applause from the gathering. In speaking of his struggles over the past ten years with weight loss, Hon. Fahie told the audience that he decided to do as the eagle and rise above his challenges, reducing from nearly four hundred pounds to one hundred and forty five pounds today.

“Through my struggles today, I can identify more with the struggle of others in their challenging areas and assist them to become who they were created to be,” he added.

The Norwell Harrigan Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of Dr. Norwell Harrigan who joined the College of the Virgin Islands in 1968. Dr. Harrigan became the Associate Director and subsequently Director of the Caribbean Research Institute from which he retired in 1984.

This scholarship offers financial assistance for two years to [British] Virgin Islanders who have graduated from a secondary school of the [British Virgin] Islands or the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, to attend the University of the Virgin Islands.

The annual scholarship has offered financial aid for several students in their pursuit of higher education and proceeds of the event go towards the scholarship fund.

Meanwhile, Premier Dr The Hon. D. Orlando Smith commended the League for continuing the legacy of Dr Harrigan and charged recipients to continue to take pride in their contributions and achievements.

Equally in praise, Third District Representative Hon. Julian Fraser, RA congratulated the honourees for their accomplishments and contributions to the community while noting that it is good that their work has not gone unnoticed.

Also in attendance at the luncheon event of Sunday, November 3, 2013 from the Virgin Islands were Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn, Third District Representative Honourable Julian Fraser, RA and Mrs. Kharid Fraser, former Legislator Elvis J. Harrigan, Regional General Manager of Delta Petroleum Bevis A. Sylvester, VI national hero and businesswoman Patsy Lake, and the former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works, the esteemed Julian Willock.