USVI STEM enrollment hits 91% as RTPark expands youth pipeline

The University of the Virgin Islands Research and Technology Park's after-school STEM initiative began this school year with strong uptake, filling 437 of 480 available positions within two weeks of registration.

The program rolled out across all 14 K-8 public schools in the territory this week. Seats nearly doubled from last year's 350 to the current 480, yet demand kept pace with the expansion. Islands showed uneven interest: St. Thomas reached 98 percent capacity and St. Croix 95 percent, while St. John lagged at 43 percent. RTPark plans to send representatives to lower-enrollment schools with hands-on demonstrations to spark student interest.

Eric Sonnier, RTPark's chief executive, told board members that principals are already noticing shifts in student aspirations. The principal at Eulalie Rivera School reported seeing more students express interest in STEM-related work. The growth has been dramatic: participation jumped from 95 students in fiscal year 2025 to 356 in fiscal year 2026.

Connecting school to jobs

Beyond elementary and middle school, RTPark's Professional Pathways program has placed 16 interns with employers, and 19 companies have requested participants, 11 of them existing RTPark partners. Unlike summer-only arrangements, these positions continue throughout the school year on an ongoing basis.

The initiative trains UVI students in communication, networking, project management and résumé development while pairing them with real workplace experience in technology and knowledge-based sectors.

Remote work obstacles persist

Sonnier identified one remaining barrier to the territory's workforce strategy: streamlining how mainland firms can employ Virgin Islands residents in remote roles. A recent case involved what he described as "hiccups" in the hiring process, with complications around payroll, taxes and administration.

RTPark has championed a "Remote Worker Employer Facilitation Act" for over a year, proposing simplified registration for employers, clearer payroll withholding rules and safeguards for compliant companies. As the current legislative session winds down, Sonnier acknowledged passage may prove difficult but pledged continued advocacy.