(a) There is hereby established the Wilhelmina Lewis Memorial Fellowship to be awarded annually to four employees in active service of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands who have received their undergraduate degrees at the University of the Virgin Islands.
(b) Of the four recipients chosen, two shall be residents of St. Croix and two shall be residents of St. Thomas-St. John.
(c) Recipients of this Fellowship shall have been accepted by an institution of higher learning for the purpose of securing a graduate or professional degree in electrical or civil engineering, architecture, finance, accounting, agriculture or health care.
(d) The head of each Executive Department shall nominate one employee annually for the Wilhelmina Lewis Fellowship Award.
(e) Recipients of the Fellowship Award shall be selected by an appropriate committee of the Board of Trustees of the University of the Virgin Islands pursuant to rules and regulations established by said board.
(f) Each fellowship awarded shall be in the amount of $5,000 per year for a maximum of two years.
(g) Each recipient shall pledge that upon completion of their studies they will return to the Virgin Islands and seek employment in the Virgin Islands Government in their field of endeavor.
(h) There is authorized to be appropriated during each fiscal year a sum not less than $20,000 nor more than $25,000 for all proper and necessary expenses of the fellowship awarded in accordance with this section. All funds appropriated for the Wilhelmina Lewis Memorial Fellowship shall be appropriated to the University of the Virgin Islands for the purposes of this section. Upon appropriation such funds shall remain available until expended.