Cultural Education Awareness Award honors St. Thomas Majorettes group
Published: June 22, 2010
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Glenn “Kwabena” Davis, state director of V.I. Education Department’s Cultural Education Division, left, at V.I. Council on the Arts Executive Director Betty Mahoney, right, presented Desha Powell, assistant director of the St. Thomas Majorettes with the Cultural Education Awareness Award.
The Virgin Islands Education Department’s Division of Cultural Education, and the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts presented its St. Thomas Cultural Education Awareness Award to the St. Thomas Majorettes at a brief ceremony June 14 at Lockhart Elementary School.
Glenn “Kwabena” Davis, state director of the Division, presented the official certificate and Betty L. Mahoney, VICA executive director, presented a check for $3,000 to the Majorettes’ Assistant Director, Desha Powell.
The first group to receive this joint award was the Love City Leapers at VICA’s BIG READ kick-off on Jan. 22 at the Administrator’s Office on St. John. The joint presentation to the Ricardo Richards School Moko Jumbies has been scheduled for later this month.
Davis spoke about the importance of demonstrating appreciation for the people and culture of the Virgin Islands, adding that he was satisfied with the St. Croix four judge panel who voted unanimously for the St. Thomas Majorettes whose depictions represented several elements of Virgin Islands culture including the environmental, the value of appearance in dress ways, artistic and crafts design.
Mahoney in her presentation remarked that the group’s costuming, which was both very colorful and beautiful, showed a great deal of creativity and modesty which reflected Virgin Islands pride in dress. In addition, she stated that the varied components of performance during the Carnival parade clearly depicted numerous aspects of Virgin Islands culture.
Powell, surrounded by dozens of the majorettes, thanked both agencies and promised to keep the standards high, and to further ensure that at home and abroad, the culture of the Virgin Islands is displayed and well represented.
Davis said that it would be three years before any of the winners can become eligible to compete for this award.
