July 30, 2004 – Twelve students enrolled in the University of the Virgin Islands program leading to an associate in applied science degree in process technology are working as summer interns at the Hovensa refinery.
This is the second year that Hovensa has hired students enrolled in the UVI program as summer interns.
UVI in collaboration with Hovensa began offering the applied science degree program on the St. Croix campus in the fall of 2002. Hovensa provided funding for development of the program and makes its training facilities at the refinery available for classroom instruction.
According to a Hovensa release, the program was developed to help meet the need for trained operation technicians at the refinery and in other industrial firms in the territory. Students are prepared for work as operation technicians in process industries, which include petroleum refining, chemical manufacturing, power generation, food processing and work in utility and wastewater treatment facilities.
The internships are for eight weeks. Taking part this summer are Jomo Akinrin, Sauda Ali-Coureur, Nictora Brandy, Clement Daniels, Victoria Henry, Ramona Hobson, Richard Mitchell, Dwight Nicholson, William Peter, Melanie Pope, Eddison Thomas and Salim Yacub
Students completing the degree program can secure jobs with starting salaries as high as $38,000, the release states.
In May, seven persons became the first graduates of the program. All seven were hired by Hovensa.

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