St. Croix went head to head, answering questions like "Where did Columbus land on St. Croix?" and "What member of the Independent Citizen’s Movement was elected governor from 1975 to 1978?" on Friday, competing to win the V.I. History and Culture Quiz Bowl.
The answers are: Salt River and Cyril E. King, respectively.
Students from four St. Croix elementary schools, three junior high schools and both public high schools squared off, taking turns answering questions. And when the dust settled, Ricardo Richards steamrolled over the competition to win the elementary school division. Arthur Richards Jr. High topped the middle school roster’s scores and St. Croix Central High came out on top among high schools.
Lauren Larsen, who oversaw the competition in his capacity as social studies coordinator of the V.I. Department of Education, said this was the first time in several years the public schools have held the history and culture bowl, and he hoped this year’s competition would spark an ongoing and growing interest in the subject.
"This hopefully will help students to appreciate their own community and culture and better understand their own history," Larsen said, “and hopefully it will promote a better understanding among young people as to what it means to be a Virgin Islander.”
Historian Edgar Lake, who was one of the judges, said he hoped the competition would encourage a sense of curiosity and excitement about their history and culture among students. "I think this is a good start," Lake said. 
If the goal was to inculcate an appreciation of V.I. history and culture, then the mission was accomplished, going by what students on the winning teams said after the competition.
"Love your culture so it will always stay with you," said Jewell Joseph, a member of the Ricardo Richards Elementary team.
Her teammate, Be-Once Marsh, said: "Everyone should learn about your culture."
The high school students were a little more verbose, but expressed the same sentiments.
"Some people don’t know the importance of knowing their history," said Areannah Agathe, a member of the St. Croix Central High team. "I knew a little about V.I. history when we started, but after all the studying we did, I feel I know a lot more now," she added.
Full rankings and team memberships below:
Elementary
1st Place: Ricardo Richards
2nd Place: Lew Muckle
3rd Place: Eulalie Rivera
4th Place: Alfredo Andrews
Junior High
1st Place: Arthur Richards
2nd Place: Elena Christian
3rd Place: John H. Woodson
High School
1st Place: St. Croix Central High
2nd Place: St. Croix Educational Complex
Team rosters:
Alfredo Andrews Elementary
Coach Celia Everington
Team members: Keyendah Henry, Queenzayanna Acoy, Caliyah Helliger, Jael King, Nashalie Torres, Daymarie Guerrero, Lewverna Welch, Helena Gonsales, Z’kylah Serrano, Janalyse Gilbert
Lew Muckle Elementary
Coach Joyce Tyson
Team Members: Ethalian Henry, Melissa Ferrara, Rheanna LaPlace, Thai-Lee Messick, Aija Prime
Ricardo Richards Elementary
Coach Zahra O’Reilly
Team members; Taj Bates, Jewell Joseph, Jamoy Hardy, Quincy King, Giovane Barnes, Be-Once Marsh, Renisha Wade
Elena Christian Jr. High
Coach Stanley Farrelly
Team members: Whitney Warner, Lynesia Richards, Aniah Fontaine, Jozane Prescott, Ameera Mustafa, Kevin Mitchell, Odani Evans, Chelsea Valery, Raeshon Philbert, Jamihl Levine
Arthur A. Richards Jr. High
Coach Joseph Chapman
Team members: Narius Marc-Louis, Naomi Papin, Oswald Marh, Tavian Armstrong, K’Main Clouden
John H. Woodson Jr. High
Coach Tish Samuel
Team members: Vernice Jagrup, Yudelka Acevedo, Nemesis Velasquez, Tarra Serrant Krystal Gordon, Wentworth Gumbs, Kevin Matthew, Christinique Farrington, Eric Henneman, Naomi Douglas,
St. Croix Central High
Coach Kissa Tutein
Team members Areannah Atathe, Aleta Tyrell, Shelia Fabio, Mhaleek Nichools, Bria James, Hernick Augustine, McCathie Eugene, Shamiyah Burke, Rueben James, Donte Harris
St. Croix Educational Complex
Coach Diana Garcia
Team members: Iris Baptiste, Cariece Brown, Acassia Ferguson, Breon Jordon, Shidoya Parilla
