Orissa Thomas of Elmore Stoutt High School has been named the 2025 Secondary School Spelling Bee Champion following a competitive final held this week among secondary schools across the Territory.

Thomas secured first place after several rounds of spelling. Joy Ogbonnaya of the Ciboney Centre of Excellence earned second place, while Donte Rogers of the Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies placed third.

The 2025 Inter-Secondary School Spelling Bee finals included participants from Elmore Stoutt High School, Cedar International School, the Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies, and the Ciboney Centre of Excellence.

The competition provided students an opportunity to engage in academic competition while strengthening their literacy skills through spelling and pronunciation. The event remains a key fixture on the educational calendar, promoting language development and inter-school collaboration.

The Miss British Virgin Islands Pageant will not be staged in 2025, according to an official statement issued Wednesday, June 11, by Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism, Honourable Luce Hodge Smith.

The announcement came following consultations between the Miss BVI Pageant Committee and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development. Officials cited a comprehensive review of this year’s planning timeline and participation levels as the basis for the decision.

“While the pageant will not take place in its traditional format, we remain committed to upholding this important national event’s longstanding legacy and high standards,” the statement read.

Minister Hodge Smith acknowledged the efforts of Committee Chair Ms. Jno Lewis and her team, commending them for their work in preparing for the 2025 staging.

“Their hard work and dedication continue to play a vital role in the ongoing success of the Miss BVI platform,” she said.

Although the pageant has been canceled for this year, the Ministry assured the public that planning is underway for the event’s return in 2026.

“The Miss BVI Pageant remains a proud celebration of young women’s talent, intelligence, and cultural pride across the Virgin Islands,” the statement continued. “We encourage all eligible candidates to consider participating in the future.”

Further updates on future pageant plans are expected to be released in the coming months.

K’Meeya Chung and Dakarai Wheatley-Adams were crowned Miss and Mr. H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) tonight during the 2025 edition of the Mr. & Miss HLSCC Pageant, held at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium.

Themed “The Dream of a Visionary,” the pageant is part of a series of events commemorating HLSCC’s 35th anniversary. Five students competed for the titles, which recognize outstanding student ambassadors.

Female contestants Chung, Shakira Hendrickson, and Jmya Mark competed in five segments: Introduction and Business Wear, Ambassadorial Presentation, Talent, Evening Wear, and the Question and Answer round. Male contestants Wheatley-Adams and Shimei Peters also took part in the same categories.

The competition began on Friday, May 30, with the personal interview segment, followed by the main event this evening. The pageant aims to develop leadership and public speaking skills, and winners will receive scholarships and represent the College at various engagements throughout the year.

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