The UVI Research and Technology Park welcomed 157 young learners Friday morning at its headquarters to celebrate Pi Day. The event, hosted in partnership with Farm Education for All and the Children’s Museum of St. Croix, aimed to introduce kindergarten and pre-K students to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Agriculture, and Mathematics through hands-on learning experiences.
Participating schools included Lew Muckle Elementary, Juanita Gardine Elementary, Ricardo Richards Elementary, Church of God Academy, Claude O. Markoe Elementary, Alfredo Andrews Elementary, Eulalie Rivera Elementary, Pearl B. Larsen Elementary, Church of God Holiness Academy, and the UVI Inclusive Early Childhood Education Center. Students were divided into two sessions — one in the morning and another in the afternoon — to ensure an engaging experience for all.
According to a press release from UVI RTPark, the program is part of its STEM Enrichment Program, an initiative that underscores its commitment to fostering early curiosity and engagement in STEAM disciplines — critical fields for the future workforce of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“The earlier you introduce children to STEAM fields, the more comfortable and confident they become as they grow. We want to ensure they’re not intimidated when they hear words like Science, Technology, or Mathematics,” said Marisha Perkins, RTPark STEM Enrichment Coordinator.
The event featured interactive activity stations where students explored concepts such as biology under a microscope, rocket launches, engineering challenges, agriculture, color theory, and building with magnets and gears. They also participated in a chemistry station, creating chromatography butterflies, and a physics station, where they experimented with air-powered cars. Additional activities included coding, engineering, and other interactive learning experiences. Farm Education for All and the Children’s Museum of St. Croix provided sensory-based learning stations featuring kinetic sand, slime, and mini pizza-making demonstrations.
“Everything is play-based learning,” said Perkins.
Eric Sonnier, executive director of UVI RTPark, emphasized the importance of community-focused initiatives like this.
“Seeing the smiles on these young students’ faces today as they built, experimented, and discovered new things was a reminder of why we open our doors for events like this,” said Sonnier. “The RTPark isn’t just an innovation hub for businesses — it’s a space where learning and creativity thrive at every level. By welcoming students into our space, we reinforce the message that technology and innovation belong to all of us. We want to inspire the next generation to see themselves in this future. This event is just one example of how our Community Advancement Division is helping to shape a resilient, technology-driven economy for the Virgin Islands.”
