AUC Community Engagement

Sint Maarten Science Fair Foundation celebrates and thanks its 2023 sponsors

The Sint Maarten Science Fair Foundation (SMSFF) held a special event at Holland House on Friday, November 17th to honor the Gold, Silver, and Bronze sponsors of the 2023 Science Fair.

The sponsors’ contributions enabled the foundation to fulfill its mission of promoting STEM education in Sint Maarten and to organize a very successful Science Fair 2023. The foundation also shared its vision for 2024, which includes raising the standards of the local science fair to match the global benchmark, hosting science-related events throughout the year, and providing workshops to prepare students for the enhanced 2025 science fair.

The Science Fair 2023 was a remarkable showcase of scientific talent and creativity among the secondary school students of Sint Maarten. Over 60 students participated with great enthusiasm and presented their projects to more than 400 primary school students and hundreds of community members. The projects covered a wide range of topics and disciplines, such as renewable energy, robotics, biotechnology, and more.

The foundation is grateful to all the sponsors for their ongoing support and partnership, which are invaluable for creating a renewed platform for scientific research education among the schools of Sint Maarten. The foundation looks forward to continuing the collaboration in the future and welcoming new sponsors who share the same vision and passion for STEM education.

The 2023 sponsors include:
• Gold: Nagico Insurance, Belair Community Center, Driven Media;
• Silver: SZV Social & Health Insurance, Island Cooking Gas, St Maarten Port Services, Compass Insurances, Telem Group, PJIA;
• Bronze: American University of the Caribbean, Health Care Laboratory St. Maarten; The Windward Islands Bank, Klass Electronics, Stand Strong, SOL Sint Maarten.

Project HELP times have been modified to allow participation in mandatory activities. The morning shift will return to campus by noon. The afternoon shift will leave campus at 1:30. Lunch will be provided for both shifts.

Signup: https://signup.com/go/bLJTkXV

Announcing Project HELP November 2022
Signup Here: https://signup.com/go/YzUkHhr

Psychiatry Interest Group joins Men’s Mental Health Awareness Project for lanyern lighting in remembrance of lives lost to su***de.

Thanks to our first semester AUC students for volunteering for the Dutch Marine Disaster Simulation

The Intercoastal Cleanup has been rescheduled for this Saturday at 6-8 AM.
Signup Here:

Post Storm Coastal Cleanup SignUp.com makes it easy to coordinate school events & classroom activities, fundraisers, snack schedules, potlucks & more!

Due to the pending storm, the following activities have been cancelled for Friday and Saturday:
-Dutch Marine Disaster Simulation
- Intercoastal Cleanup

Those that signed up will receive information by email for rescheduling.

** Breast Abnormalities Screening Project to be held September 17th 2022 **

The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor in collaboration with the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) and the Positive Foundation is pleased to announce the return of our breast abnormalities screening program for women.

This initiative started in 2017, to educate the community about breast abnormalities, while empowering women to use key strategies to proactively monitor their health. The program experienced great success prior to COVID-19 and the organizers are excited to relaunch these health screenings with the community’s support. The first event is scheduled to be held on September 17th, plus multiple events will follow in October and November of this year.

The program will provide free health screenings along with educational information about the symptoms of breast cancer and risk factors that may cause the development of breast cancer. Screenings also include a clinical breast examination by Dr. Naira Chobanyan, Professor of Clinical Medicine at AUC, and a clinical oncology expert.

“I would like to encourage the women in our community to come out to the breast abnormalities screening program, as screening is done to detect breast cancer early. Breast cancer affects millions of people and their loved ones yearly and is the second most common type of cancer in women. Breast cancer does not discriminate, know your status and learn what signs to look for, it can save your life”. Said Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Omar Ottley.

In photo from left to right:
Department of Public Health policy advisor Sharine Duncan, Section Head Youth Healthcare CPS Dr. Daphne Illis, Department Head CPS Mrs. Eva Lista-de Weever, Elektralyets Foundation President Mercedes "Elektra" van der Waals Wyatt, Minister VSA Omar Ottley, Section Head of General Healthcare Maria Henry, Professor of Clinical Medicine at AUC Dr. Naira Chobanyan, Postive Foundation President Shelly Alphonso and AUC representatives Khalilah Peters and Natalie Humphrey.