Emerald Gems held a promotion offering high school students in their junior year who play basketball the opportunity to participate in a week long robust and fun trip to Minnesota Twin Cities Area to learn the behind the scenes of NBA Franchise Minnesota Timberwolves and more!

We’re excited to announce the six high school junior student athletes selected to participate in the Emerald Gems Foundation, Inc. Education & Basketball Enrichment Program – Minnesota Twin Cities Area Trip!

As a result of receiving a limited number of applications, we decided to prioritize the eligibility criteria and select the applicants based on the most requirements met in order to fill the six spots. 

Please congratulate these students for achieving success on and off the basketball court, and for taking advantage of this positive learning opportunity!

Program Winners:

  • Rhea K. Benjamin – Charlotte Amalie High School

  • D’Shanee Blake – Ivanna Eudora Kean High School

  • Akil Emanuel – St. Croix Central High School

  • Zion Jones – St. Croix Central High School

  • Zackaria Khaled – St. Joseph Catholic High School, St. Croix

  • Nyhne Daniel – St. Joseph Catholic High School, St. Croix

EDUCATION & BASKETBALL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM GALLERY COLLECTION

We would like to acknowledge our partners in this endeavor, The Minnesota Timberwolves and Sun Country Airlines and sponsors Roger and Nancy McCabe Foundation, Loews Minneapolis Hotel, Spectrum Screenprinting and Da Vybe Radio, Seven The Steakhouse and Morrie’s Cadillac. With their support, our goal to continue providing positive learning experiences for VI Youths are being realized.