D&E’s 2020 Spirit Week – The Making of a Virtual Homecoming & Family Weekend

Homecoming & Family Weekend was to take place the weekend of September 18-19, 2020, with the tag line “It’s 2020 and we look forward to SEEING YOU!” However, as summer approached and with the challenges presented due to COVID-19, it soon became clear our top priority was to keep all members of the D&E family safe. The decision was then made to move Homecoming & Family Weekend to a virtual format, and to include several student performances and activities. As we began to look at different programs and academic offerings, our virtual format quickly transformed into “D&E’s 2020 Spirit Week.” From the Spirit Week Welcome with President Chris A. Wood, followed by the Chapel and Memorial Service led by Benfield-Vick Chaplain the Rev. Laura Brekke Wagoner, to the premiere videos featuring the art work of our Class of 2020 students, the events personified our D&E Spirit. The week continued with D&E’s Appalachian Ensemble, theatre students’ presentation of “Where I’m From,” the “Augusta Sampler” presented by D&E’s award-winning Augusta Heritage Center, D&E Highland Dancers, “Time to be Creative” and an opportunity to hear from D&E athletics in “Senator Nation Unite.” Literally, and virtually, there was something for everyone. But wait, we didn’t stop there! We became D&E ZOOMERS, offering virtual academic gatherings for nurses and educators, an “open mic” for poetry and a special presentation of “Finding Common Ground Through Constructive Public Discourse” sponsored by the Morrison-Novakovic Center for Faith and Public Policy. Next, it was time for ZOOM gatherings for athletics and Greek organizations, concluding with the tradition of announcing D&E’s royal court and the crowning of Miss D&E and Mr. Senator, and celebrating class reunion milestones. What you saw was a wonderful week filled with D&E Spirit! What we wish you could have experienced was the excitement through several weeks of planning that led up to Spirit Week. For it was “behind-the-scenes” that we saw the enthusiasm of the students when asked if they would be interested in showcasing their specific talents, and the thoughtful way faculty and staff came together to represent D&E academics and share special areas of learning most guests who come to campus would not generally see. From communications, creative activities, selection of campus locations and time of day for filming, cue card preparations, video edits and cuts, special speakers and maximizing the use of new programs – 2020’s virtual Homecoming & Family Weekend was a true testament to Senator Nation at its finest. Everyone worked very hard on each aspect of their presentation to ensure that, even though we would not be able to gather in person, YOU would still be able to experience all that is D&E – Thank you to ALL! What? You missed it … no problem! You can still view the D&E Spirit Week videos at www.dewv.edu/alumni/events

Congratulations to D&E’s 2020-2021 Royal Court Miss D&E Jakeya Perri, Mr. Senator Gustavo Lemos Cabral, Senior Princess Karin Rosario, Senior Escort Thaddaus Breckenridge, Junior Princess Dru Mills, Junior Escort Lucas Sosa, Sophomore Princess Anya Miller, Sophomore Escort Jordan Hyland, Freshman Princess Roy Gannon and Freshman Escort Ryan Clement.

“Time to be Creative” gave a preview of the Maker Space in Booth Library. Clockwise from top right, Assistant Professor Woody Woodcock demonstrated the printing of a “D&E Strong” T-shirt; Wendy Morgan ’12, director of alumni engagement and support, gave instruction on how to repurpose old T-shirts into a cozy lap quilt; and Assistant Professor Dr. Renaud Stauber gave an overview of the facility.

Appalachian Ensemble musicians, from left, Branson Raines (mandolin), Gray Buchanan (fiddle) and Johnny Henline (guitar) played the tunes for dancers Rebekah Brown, Carmensita Woodward, Charlotte Layman and Gabrielle Pealer. Student Tevror Gauckler, left, and Instructor of Theatre and Film Lonnie Martin ’02 prepare to film “Where I’m From,” the spoken word presented by theatre students in the Beginning Acting Studio Class. Performers were Gauckler, Jovon Howard, Kyia McGill, Hope Roy and Emma Watson.

Kasey Corley, a junior from Elkins, was the lucky student who won the Spirit Week lap quilt. The Senior Art Expo featured the artwork of 2020 graduates, clockwise from top left, Christian Paugh, AnnMarie Timbrook, Abby Sowards, Katie Little and Mattie Missildine.

Davis & Elkins College Highland Dancers, clockwise from top left, Charlotte Layman, Ellie McCutcheon, and Gabby Pealer presented a brief history of Highland dance in Appalachia, dance instruction, and a beautiful performance.

Winning D&E Strong T-Shirts and tote were Spirit Week’s farthest ZOOMERS, Masato and Makiko Takaishi, from Fujisawa, Japan. They are the proud parents of freshman student Jutaro Takaishi.