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November 23, 2010 vol xvi, number 11 Events Calendar Nov. 25 UVI Closed - Thanksgiving Day Nov. 25-27 Paradise Jam Women’s Games STT Nov. 26 UVI Closed - Fortsberg Day Dec. 2 GERS Town Hall Meeting STX Dec. 3-5 Woodworkers Expo STT Dec. 4 UVI Christmas Concert STT Dec. 6 VI-EPSCoR Conference STT Dec. 9 Creative Luncheon Series STX Dec. 10-12 Woodworkers Expo STJ Dec. 20-31 UVI Closed - Christmas Recess UVI Bucs Down Goucher College on the Road I t was a nippy 40-some- thing degrees in Washing- ton D.C., and the players on UVI’s men’s basketball team were experiencing many fi rsts. It was the players’ fi rst road trip to the U.S., it was their fi rst opportunity to play an NCAA Division III school, and for many, it was their fi rst time in the nation’s capital. “It was a once-in-a-life- time event for most of us,” Head Coach Sean Georges said of the experience. The group visited the White House, the Capitol Building, the U.S. House of Represen- tatives and many sites along the way. They also visited the offi ce of Virgin Islands Del- egate to Congress Donna Christiansen. Georges said it was especially exciting to get private tours of D.C. from UVI alumnus Dwayne Pe- tersen, who works in Chris- tiansen’s offi ce. He was equally excited about the response at the games. “The fan support was tremendous,” Georges said. Many UVI alumni and Virgin Islanders living in the area attended, he said. “It was a nice time to bond with the team,” said senior player Nahshon Jef- fers. However, he added, there was no time for sitting around, as the team prepared for three games. The fi rst game was against Montgomery Col- lege in Rockville, Md. The Bucs fell 86-77. “It was very productive even though we lost,” Jeffers said. “We had them in the fi rst half.” The team was victorious with a 66-59 win over NCAA Division III Goucher Col- lege in Towson, Md. New- comer Khalid Gerard Jr. led the team with 21 points. In T he St. Thomas-St. John Agriculture and Food Fair Organizing Committee cancelled this year’s annual event, which was scheduled for Nov. 20-21, on the grounds of the Reichhold Center for the Arts on St. Thomas. The committee cited unfortunate circumstances beyond the control of organizers, including the fl ooding of the fair- grounds, diffi culties in securing a suitable alternate site, overnight security for vendors and major losses suffered by farmers during the recent heavy rains. Refunds are available for fair applicants. For more in- formation call the UVI Cooperative Extension Service at (340) 693-1080 or the Department of Agriculture at (340) 774-5182. The dome of the U.S. Capitol Building stands in the background as UVI’s Men’s Basketball Buccaneers team, coaches, trainers and athletic directors pose. The team played three games in the Wash- ington, D.C., area, Nov. 5-7. Ag Fair Cancelled I t is still pre-season for the UVI Men’s Bucca- neers basketball team, but they are off to an ex- citing start, taking a win in Paradise Jam on Nov. 20. The UVI Bucs toppled Pontifi cia Universidad Católica of Puerto Rico 70-54. Freshman Shamal Caines made an excellent showing with 13 points and 12 rebounds. The season opens in February and Georges has one command for his team: “win, just win.” Bucs Win at Paradise Jam See Road Trip on Next Page GET CONNECTED TO UVI news, activities and accomplishments at . . . www.uvi.edu dateline: UVI 2 John Brewer’s Bay St. Thomas, VI 00802 dateline: UVI is a production of the UVI Public Rela- tions Offi ce. Contact us by telephone at 340-693-1056 or by fax at 340-693-1055. UVI to Offer Hospitality Degree the last game UVI lost 109-75 to the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va. “I see the team getting stronger and stronger,” Georges said, noting his seasoned seniors and new strong players. He said the biggest challenge is putting the old and new members together in a combination that wins games. Seniors Jeffers, Alvaro de Lugo III and Lesean Moses have been joined by Gerard, a transfer from the mainland, and freshmen Shamal Caines, Collin Pfi ngst, and Joshua Ogunmokun. Georges promised that the Bucs will deliver “a new brand of basketball,” with more up-tempo games and players taking more shots. After 4 years on the squad, Road Trip Continued taking shots is still a challenge for Jeffers. “I never used to shoot,” the guard said of his early days on the team. “I’m not a selfi sh player. I always pass the ball.” But with increased pressure from Georges, Jeffers has begun to shoot more. “Now I put myself in a scoring position,” said Jeffers, who will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration. As for more road trips to the states, Georges said he would like to make them a yearly part of the pre-season, pending funding. T he University of the Virgin Islands Board of Trustees approved the establishment of a Bachelor of Busi- ness Administration degree program in Hotel and Tour- ism Management at its quarterly meeting on Oct. 30, on the St. Thomas campus. Trustees unanimously approved establishment of the program within the UVI School of Business. The program, which has been supported by Virgin Islands tourism industry partners, will provide the op- portunity for students to obtain academic and practical knowledge to manage various levels of tourism in the Virgin Islands, as well as other markets. The design of the program is based on the recommendations of local industry partners, tourism professionals, and course re- quirements from successful hospitality bachelor’s degree programs in the U.S. mainland. The USVI Department of Tourism, the USVI Economic Development Author- ity and the VI Department of Education have donated $150,000 to UVI to support the program. Members of UVI’s Brothers With a Cause (BWC), St. Thomas campus chapter, listen to presenter Dr. Jerry Smith at a BWC Professional Seminar Luncheon on Nov. 19. Dr. Smith, a physi- cal therapist, is CEO and owner of Therapy Works and is UVI’s athletic trainer. He spoke to the young men about the importance of professionalism. Anthony Morton, a business relations man- ager at First Bank VI, also presented. He cited daunting statistics related to young black men in the United States. “Gentlemen, without a doubt, black men need college degrees now, more than ever before,” Morton said. “You guys are at UVI and this is the way to go.” Male Motivation