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UVI Having a Buccaneer Bacchanal

In 1962, a pirate ship was shipwrecked off the rocky shore of John Brewers Bay. Growing weary of the seafaring life, Captain Paiewonsky and his crew decided to build a fortress atop the hill overlooking the beach, to bury their treasure. The fortress was called the College of the Virgin Islands.

Recognizing that the pen is mightier than the sword, the Buccaneers put aside their swords and picked up their pens to develop the skills and talents of the citizens of the Virgin Islands.

This year the University of the Virgin Islands carnival float, which depicts a sunken galleon amongst the rocks, was constructed by a team of University volunteers, and was designed and built by Reichhold Center for the Arts co-director Denise Humphrey. 

Sitting pretty atop the sunken ship is the University's queen - Miss UVI Joneisa Smith shown at left with members of her cohort - portraying a siren whose charms may have led to the ship's demise. Her mermaid-like costume consists of an aqua body suit adorned with sea green sequins at the bodice and a skintight fish tail bottom of iridescent blue and green squares with a seafoam organza ruffle.

The Buccaneers on the parade route are the UVI Bucs - members of the University's basketball team, wearing their UVI Bucs jerseys, UVI's Mr. Cool Kyza Callwood, and members of the UVI Spirit Squad of male and female Buccaneers.

The Spirit Squad Lady Buccaneers are wearing tricorn hats, peasant shirts, a blue jacquard vest with silver sequined trim, black sateen skirts, and black boots. The Male Buccaneer dancer and mocko jumbies are wearing tricorn hats, belted black sateen vests, black cuffs with white lace and dark pants.

These costumes were designed by Denise Humphrey, co-director of the Reichhold Center, and fabricated by Lisa Durity-Mollineau of Trinidad.

In 2009, Dr. David Hall was appointed the fifth president of the University of the Virgin Islands. As the newest "captain" of the UVI "ship", President Hall has charted a new course on the "Quest for Greatness."

These UVI Bucs are leading the way!