Sterling Optical Celebrates 25 Yrs of Awarding Students the Adams-Mahepath Scholarships
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M.A. Dworkin
USVI - When a business is appreciative of its community and the community is appreciative of the business - there is a special kind of respectful magic that fills the air between the two entities. Call it a melding of the minds, a bonding between the parties, a mutual sense of endearment. It seems in business, it is a rare occurrence, but when it does come about, it can be as satisfactory as hearing you possess 20/20 vision.
Dr. Lisa Adams and Joel Mahepath, owners of Sterling Optical on St. Croix and St. Thomas, have earned this respectful type of endearment from many of their customers. They have earned this mutual bonding in a humble way, by displaying a deep and genuine commitment for every single customer who walks through the doors of their immaculate and smartly designed retail establishments.
This husband and wife “Super-Givers Team” have opened up their hearts and stayed the course of a decision they made twenty-five years ago, to go beyond their daily optical services and reach out into the community and give-back by rewarding exceptional students, graduating seniors from high schools on both islands, with the Adams-Mahepath Scholarships.
The celebration on August 4, 2026, at both their St. Croix and St. Thomas’ location brought out the dignitaries to help celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Adams-Mahepath Scholarships.
“I want to say thank you for 25 years of giving by the entire Sterling family. It has been a very important contribution to our community,” Governor Albert Bryan Jr. said from the Sterling Optical office on St. Thomas. “There can be no great woman or man without great challenges. So when the challenges come to you, hold onto your dreams,” the Governor offered some words of inspiration to the 13 students who were present at the awards ceremony. “And follow the example of leadership set down here by Dr. Adams and Joel, let the ladder go down and help somebody else who is in need…Thank you so much each and every one of you for the hard work you have done.”
For the 13 students who were recipients of the $1,500 scholarship awards, it was not only a time of thankfulness but a time to reflect back on their own achievements and to hear from others just how important and inspirational the scholarships were to those who received them in years past.
Senator Marise James, of the 36th USVI Legislature was one of the Guests of Honor. She spoke about the enduring legacy of the Adams-Mahepath Scholarships:
“It is especially heartwarming to me that you have been doing this for so long because when I look at the booklet you put together on the last 25 years, I see in 2006, my daughter Camille Paul was one of the recipients. And because of this scholarship she went on to graduate from Vassar and is now a Physician’s Assistant with the National Guard here,” Senator James went on to express her heartfelt gratitude. “I want to say to Lisa and Joel that not every business does what you do in awarding scholarships. Even though many of them have the means to do it, I’m proud you are a business in the community where you serve the students and you give back to them, to all our children. You are a business in our community that truly cares about our community.”
Several of the recipients spoke to the St. Croix Times as to their aspirations for the future:
Jahnivyah Greenidge, St. Croix Central High School, attending Full Sail University, majoring in Music Production:
“Full Sail University focuses on entertainment and the media arts. They have a Hall of Fame week where you can network with accomplished professionals. In this way I can continue to build my brand,” said Ms. Greenidge. “I want to become a successful music producer and bring my talents home to St. Croix. We don’t have many music people doing that here, a few on St. Thomas. UVI doesn’t really offer any courses in that area of music. And I want to be able to give back to the Virgin Islands my home that I love.”
Mycal Marshall, Good Hope Country Day, attending Lynn University, majoring in Aviation Operations:
“My main goal is to be an airline pilot. One of my aspirations is to do aerial firefighting. I am still determining whether to go into being an airline pilot or aerial firefighting,” said Mr. Marshall. “Some of the aircraft that are used to fight fires are modified from commercial planes. And there is extensive training needed to fly the firefighting missions. My first year at Lynn will be a good deal of focus on operations behind the scenes of aviation.”
Talyzandra Garcia, St. Croix Educational Complex, attending UVI-St. Thomas, majoring in Hospitality & Tourism:
“I’m going to UVI on St. Thomas so I can be going away to school but still be home. I did an internship at the Department of Tourism and I was working out at the cruise ship dock and at the airport. So I got to see everything that goes on in those areas,” said Ms. Garcia. “It was a lot of fun being able to talk to the tourists and show them different places that I love on the island. I was in the middle of Frederiksted after the ship docked, with the vendors and the music and showing the tourists the different places they could go and things they could buy. It was very educational and helped prepare me for my future. Eventually I’d like to go into event planning.”
Ace Poyah, St. Croix Educational School, attending University of South Carolina, majoring in International Business:
“To really understand International Business you have to learn about the trade that takes place between countries. It involves being able to assimilate with the different countries in understanding their policies, their ideologies and their cultures. Today, of course there are the tariffs and geopolitical tensions that are playing an important part in relations. And as America pivots from manufacturing in China to elsewhere, for example Taiwan or Japan or here, it also involves finding the best supply routes,” said Mr. Poyah. “I’ve always just loved business. My Mom owned the Ace Roti Shop. Some of my earliest memories were in the back of the kitchen watching her make the curry. I guess I’ve always been around business in one way or another.”
Esteemed St. Croix Senator Kurt Vialet, sent a representative to convey his words as he was involved in Senatorial hearings on St. Thomas.
“I am proud to recognize the Adams-Mahepath Scholarship which has empowered generations of students to pursue higher education. Today we celebrate 25 years of transforming their lives,” stated Senator Vialet. “On behalf of my family, my staff and myself, we thank Dr. Adams and Joel Mahepath and Sterling Optical for their contributions to this scholarship program.”
The legacy the Adams-Mahepath Scholarships has left is indeed an enduring roadmap for others to follow. This act of giving brings forth the best of what life is about in the Virgin Islands. The USVI is built on personal relationships, on establishing goodwill between all of its residents. No matter how difficult the challenges, the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands have always banded together to fight the good fight and bring us all through the darkest of days. Dr. Lisa Adams and Joel Mahepath understand these deep-rooted values and for twenty-five years they have stepped forward to bring them into reality.
“Today is always a happy day for us at Sterling Optical,” said Dr. Lisa Adams in her closing remarks. “We get to invest in the future of our island, our young people. Today, these twenty-five years of presentations mark a milestone.”
Joel Mahepath added:
“Thank you to the St. Croix and St. Thomas communities for the support you’ve given us for the past twenty-five years.”
