Senator Capehart Hosts Students From Legislature’s Summer Employment Program

(L to R): red folder, Tiara Pelanco, Engineering Intern; blue shirt, Adam Jones, Quantum Technology; Senator Diane T. Capehart; former Senator Michael Thurland, Quantum Technology Group. (Submitted photo)

Sen. Diane T. Capehart hosted employees from the Legislature’s Summer Employment Program at her office on Aug. 23. She began the event with a prayer for the young people and their families, and ended with a speech to wish them well as they venture off to college and back to school.

The senator employed nine students this summer, three of whom aspire to be engineers and were placed at the Department of Planning and Natural Resources. The students described their summer work in various units such as the Environmental Protection and Air Pollution divisions, where they worked to process the backlog of permits.

(L to R): Norman Edwards, Legislature Human Resources Director; Diamonique Lawrence, 16; Faith Greaux, 16; Rzai Denbow, 17; Senator Diane T. Capehart. (Submitted photo)

Summer student, Rzai Denbow, employed as a camp counselor, travels tomorrow to attend college at Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York, to study mechanical engineering and play college basketball. He recently graduated from the St. Croix Country Day-Good Hope School with a 3.95 GPA. Faith Greaux, 11th grade, and Diamonique Lawrence, 12th grade, both age 16, return to the St. Croix Educational Complex to complete their high school diplomas. They both intend to attend college to pursue engineering programs.

Sen. Capehart also discussed Tiara J’nai Polanco, 14, who was sponsored by the Office of Senator Diane T. Capehart, Quantum Technology Group and other local contributors this summer to attend the National Leadership Forum: Engineering at Georgia Tech University. She was the youngest participant and placed fourth out of 150 students. Because of Tiara’s summer program success, she is the newest Intern at Quantum Technology Group.

“It was my greatest pleasure to open doors for our youth to gain exposure to real life experiences. Without a doubt, I will continue the path of identifying resources that provide a better quality of life for our youth,” said Capehart.

Capehart gives special thanks to the summer employment partners, Virgin Islands Department of Labor, Virgin Islands Police Department, Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Elite Basketball Camp, KJ Trucking and Water Company, Virgin Islands Department of Health, Quantum Technology Group, her staff and the Human Resources Division at the Legislature of the Virgin Islands for their hard work and support of these young people.