(a) The Virgin Islands Maritime Industry Educational Scholarship is established and administered by the Virgin Islands Board of Education to provide support to individuals interested in pursuing a career in the maritime industry in the Virgin Islands. The scholarship aims to encourage and assist qualified students in obtaining the education and training necessary for a successful career in various maritime-related fields.
(b) “Maritime industry” means all industries and sectors directly related to maritime activities, marine shipping, logistics, sciences, or engineering and mechanics; maritime law, economics, technology, tourism and recreation, or safety and security; environmental maritime studies; diving and underwater technology; yachting and recreational boating; fishing and aquaculture; mariculture; port management; naval architecture; and other related disciplines.
(c) The Board of Education shall develop guidelines, procedures, and criteria for the application process, scholarship selection, the disbursement and repayment of funds, and shall establish a fair and transparent selection process to select scholarship recipients.
(d) To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must have resided in the Virgin Islands for not less than three years preceding the date the application is submitted. An applicant who has been living outside of the Virgin Islands temporarily while pursuing a course of study or while serving in the armed forces of the United States is a resident for purpose of eligibility for the scholarship. The applicant must also be seeking enrollment into accredited colleges, universities, vocational institutions, or other recognized educational programs and pursuing a degree in the occupational areas set forth in subsection (b), which has been approved by the Board of Education.
(e) Subject to the availability of funds, the Virgin Islands Board of Education shall award scholarships in an amount not to exceed $10,000 per year and must be applied to the payment of tuition, lodging, transportation expenses, or any other related expenses in connection with the studies pursued. Scholarships may not be granted for more than four years. The Virgin Islands Board of Education shall disburse scholarship funds when the recipient has been accepted for enrollment at an educational institution and shall thereafter disburse funds at the beginning of each academic year or as directed by the educational institution.
(f) (1) A scholarship recipient must execute a contract with the Board of Education agreeing to return to the Virgin Islands not later than 90 days after completion of the course of study. The scholarship recipient shall work in the maritime industry in the Virgin Islands for as many years or portion thereof as the person received the scholarship. The obligation to work in the marine industry in the Virgin Islands must be completed not more than seven years after the recipient has completed the course of study.(2) A scholarship recipient who diligently attempts to gain employment in the Virgin Islands maritime industry for a period of not less than two years without success, may petition the Board of Education for a review of their employment obligation and for a release from the contract. The Board shall evaluate each petition on a case-by-case basis and shall consider the scholarship recipient’s efforts and the employment market in the maritime industry at the time the petition is filed.(3) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a scholarship recipient who fails to comply with the requirements in paragraph (1) is liable to the Government of the Virgin Islands for the amount awarded under the scholarship.
(1) A scholarship recipient must execute a contract with the Board of Education agreeing to return to the Virgin Islands not later than 90 days after completion of the course of study. The scholarship recipient shall work in the maritime industry in the Virgin Islands for as many years or portion thereof as the person received the scholarship. The obligation to work in the marine industry in the Virgin Islands must be completed not more than seven years after the recipient has completed the course of study.
(2) A scholarship recipient who diligently attempts to gain employment in the Virgin Islands maritime industry for a period of not less than two years without success, may petition the Board of Education for a review of their employment obligation and for a release from the contract. The Board shall evaluate each petition on a case-by-case basis and shall consider the scholarship recipient’s efforts and the employment market in the maritime industry at the time the petition is filed.
(3) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a scholarship recipient who fails to comply with the requirements in paragraph (1) is liable to the Government of the Virgin Islands for the amount awarded under the scholarship.
(g) The Virgin Islands Board of Education shall maintain accurate records of the administration of the scholarship, including the number of applicants, the selection process, and the distribution of scholarship funds. The Board shall submit an annual report to the Governor of the Virgin Islands and the Legislature of the Virgin Islands summarizing the Board’s administration the scholarship and detailing the scholarship’s outcomes and impact.
(h) The Virgin Islands Board of Education shall disseminate information about the scholarship to public and private schools, particularly to high school students; to vocational and alternative schools; to the University of the Virgin Islands; and to other educational or community institutions that serve the youth. The scholarship information, application details, and deadlines must be made readily available on the Board of Education’s website, and other appropriate platforms.
(i) The Legislature of the Virgin Islands shall appropriate funds for the Virgin Islands Maritime Industry Educational Scholarship to the Virgin Islands Board of Education. The Board shall use the funds appropriated for the Virgin Islands Maritime Industry Educational Scholarship solely for the purposes provided for in this section.