New hardwood basketball floors installed at BCB gymnasium unveiled at a ceremony at the school on Wednesday, August 31. The floors were donated by the University of the Virgin Islands and EDC company, Neltjeberg Bay Enterprises, LLC donated $25,000 toward the refurbishment and installment.
Education Commissioner Sharon Ann McCollum, Ph.D., and the administration of the Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School (BCB) at a ceremony in the school’s gymnasium on Wednesday, August 31, unveiled the school’s newly installed hardwood basketball floors, made possible through generous donations from the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) and St. Thomas-based EDC company, Neltjeberg Bay Enterprises, LLC (NBE).
The high-quality, parquet flooring was donated to BCB from UVI earlier this year and refurbished this summer. NBE donated $25,000 toward the installation of the floors. Commissioner McCollum praised the public-private partnership that supported the effort.
“I extend heartfelt gratitude to our donor and to Dr. David Hall of the University of the Virgin Islands. When we approached Dr. Hall, he was very warm and very welcoming, and immediately agreed to partner with the public schools,” Commissioner McCollum said. “Once again, this is a true example of the public-private partnership and what it can do to impact our schools, our children and our community.”
Bertha C. Boschulte Principal Carver Farrow said the installation of the new floors will allow his school to accommodate national basketball tournaments that had long been hosted at other schools on St. Thomas.
“We really needed these floors because when teams from other areas come here for tournaments, such as Paradise Jam, they could not use BCB,” he said, further explaining that the basketball court’s old flooring was made from the less-durable PVC material. Mr. Farrow went on to say that the donation and installation of the new floors were significant because BCB had been the only gymnasium in the territory without wooden basketball floors.
Jazmine Grell, an NBE representative, said both she and the company’s owner have a great interest in the sport of basketball. As a result, NBE has been an avid supporter of basketball programs on St. Thomas. Grell said the company learned of the need at BCB through its involvement in community and school-based events and decided to chip in.
Peter Seipel, territorial director of athletics, said he looked forward to hosting many basketball tournaments at the BCB gymnasium. “We expect many games and tournaments to be played on this wonderful floor that we will put together for the community and this school in the months and years ahead,” he said.
The new floors were installed at the BCB gymnasium August 2016.
| Education Commissioner Sharon Ann McCollum gives remarks at the unveiling of BCB Middle School’s new hardwood basketball floors on Wednesday, August 31. |
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BCB Middle School Principal Carver Farrow presents Education Commissioner Sharon Ann McCollum with a certificate of appreciation at the unveiling of the school’s new hardwood basketball floors on Wednesday, August 31. Peter Seipel, left, territorial director of athletics and James Bernier, right, territorial director of capital projects and facilities look on. |
| Education Commissioner Sharon Ann McCollum and donor representative Jazmine Grell attend the unveiling of BCB Middle School’s new hardwood basketball floors on Wednesday, August 31, 2016. |
| Julius E. Sprauve 6th Grader Ashaun Hedrington shoots some hoops on the new hardwood basketball floors at the BCB gymnasium on Wednesday, August 31. |
