According to reports The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) now has the highest alumni contribution rate of any historically black college and university (HBCU) in the nation after achieving an alumni giving rate of 52.49 percent for fiscal year 2014. “We are number one,” said UVI President David Hall, who made the announcement on Wednesday, Oct. 22 during an alumni celebration.

“There is no HBCU that has numbers like this. If you go outside the HBCU realm, there are very few institutions that go beyond 52 percent,” he said.

Claflin University (43%), Spelman College (37.3%), Morehouse College (29.3%), Tuskegee University (23%), and Livingstone College (21.4%) fills out the top 5 HBCU giving rate percentage according to the US News Report.

UVI Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Affairs Linda Smith:

“As the only HBCU in the Caribbean, the community has rallied around initiatives and campaigns, and they have provided us with support – helping us to reach and maintain our historic goals,” Smith said. “To everyone who believes in paying it forward or giving back, we thank you for believing and making a difference in the lives our students. This is our hometown university.”