Alumni and Friends Plug in

Although we were unable to have in-person events for alumni and friends on campus and in the different regions, D&E Senators found a way to stay connected this past year. And what a time we have had … Next up, it was a “first ever” livestream theatrical event presented by the Davis & Elkins College Stage and Screen Program. “Proof” was presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York. The play featured the talents of senior theatre major Hope Roy; Alexxis Tswago, a junior majoring in psychology; freshman, Kyia McGill, a theatre major; and guest artist Jason Young, artistic director of The Vintage Theatre Company. Instructor of Theatre & Film Lonnie Martin ’02 said, “Necessity is the mother of invention. The need for a safe and socially distanced creative environment has created an opportunity to give our students some real hands-on experience in live multicamera production for broadcast.”

In October, Professor of English Dr. Bill King hosted the 22nd annual D&E Writers’ Series with his good friend Karen Salyer McElmurray, an award-winning fiction and creative nonfiction writer. This series took place over two days, featuring a fiction writing workshop and readings with McElmurray from her new novel, “Wanting Radiance.”

December was a time of celebrating holiday traditions and memories with alumni and friends around the world. From California to Maine, Great Britain to Macedonia, it was two nights of good times and great memories as we shared with others our family traditions from the comfort of our homes. In January, we were cooking with D&E’s First Lady Lisa Wood as she invited us, virtually, into her kitchen at Hearthstone and prepared a family favorite recipe – Lemon Garlic Chicken. You can watch the video here: https://youtu.be/COQ6SA0ZIMg On April 1st we enjoyed “Throwback Thursday” for a virtual Happy Hour hosted by the Events Committee and other members of the National Alumni Council. It was a great evening to grab a favorite beverage, catch up on life and remember the good ‘ole days at D&E.

On Earth Day, April 22, we kicked off the first presentation of D&E’s Top Hat Series! “How to Plan a Successful Garden” was presented by Dr. Crystal Krause, associate professor of biology and environmental science. Dr. Krause shared the importance of pollinators, location and other helpful hints for us to grow a successful garden. You can watch the video here https://youtu.be/ZnJZUUAIUXs Stay tuned for more presentations with the Top Hat Series, as we continue to learn and seek knowledge from D&E professors and special speakers.