The Maugan s Alumni Center is sche d uled to open this spring, and the Alumni Board is planning an event to celebrate our new facility. Stay tuned for details as they develop! Longwood's new alumni center was made possib le by a generous $2.5 million gift from Frank 0. and Kathari n e Allen Mauga ns '47. Ka tharine Ma ugans was a Buckingham County schoolteacher who entered the Navy in 1952 and served in the armed forces for 30 years, retiring with the distinguished rank of captain.
It's time to start thinking about the 2016 Alumni Awards. This program recognizes four Longwood alumni each year. The Office of Alumni Relations is currently accepting nominations for the 2016 awards at www. lo ngwood.edu/ alumni/awards. Please think about whether you know someone whose accom plishments fit into one of the followin g catego ries:
William Henry Ruffner Award
The highest and most prestigio us award bestowed by the Alumni Associa ti on. It recognizes alumni who have achieved outstanding s uccess and national d istinct ion in both their pe rsona l a nd professional lives- t he embodiment of the citizen leader.
Thomas Jefferson Professional Achievement Award
Recognizes alumni who have distin guishe d t hem se lves as significa nt contributors to their profe ssi ons , who stand above their peers, and who are reco gn ized within their professions as le aders and role m odels for future generations of citizen leaders.
Jabez Lamar Monroe Curry Humanitarian Award
Honors alumni who, through their outstandin g involvement and commitment, have enriched the lives o f others and improved the w e lfare of their communities
The award recogn izes pers o na l ach ievements and the humanitarian ideals that reflect a selfless dedication to service for the good of others.
Rotunda Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Presented to alumni who are under the age of 40 and who have demonstrated excellence in their careers and/or in citizen leadership.
Did you know that the chi ld ren a nd gra ndchildre n of Lon gwood alumni may now apply to Longwood at no cost?The Office of Ad missions is waiving t he application fee for these legacy students.
Longwood will host its third annual Alumni Weekend at Great Wolf Lodge in Will iamsb urg on March 6-8, 2015. We hope you will be able to attend and reconnect with friends and their families.
If you have not checked in with us on Face book, stay connected with the Longwood Alumni page for the most up-to-da t e informat io n on events, activities and fellow alumni. If your contact information has changed, please let us know so we can invite you to our events. You can update your information at www.lon gwood.ed u/alumni/ upform htm.
We hope to se e you on campus this year for an alumni event, concert, lecture or just an informal visit. Until then, I will look forward to our paths crossing soon.
Kathleen Early '92 President, Longwood Alumni Associatio n
On the cover: John Bemelmans Marciano, grandson of the creator of Madeline and author-illustrator of three books in the series, shares a story with children attending the Virginia Children's Book Festival at Longwood.
on pomt is published twice a year
Editor: Sabrina Brown
Creative Director: David Whaley
Phot ogra ph er s: Andrea Dailey, Mike Kropf '14 434-395-2020
Scholar's Paradise
Agreement with the Follk Art Society of America will make Longwood the epicenter of folk art research
llThe Folk An Society of America has entered into an agreement with Longwood to gradually transfer the society to the university, making Longwood the home of an invaluable collection of academic materials in what is an increasingly important field of scholarly research.
Longwood will become a major repository for the FASA archives-an irreplaceable trove of more than a thousand books, catalogs and other primary sources chat detail much of the rich history of folk art across the world.
The archives will be located in an envi ronmentally protected space in Farmville to be known as the Folk An Research and Study Center In addition to the books and catalogs, the archive consists ofletters, posters, exhibition announcements, photograph s, printed matter, slides, videotapes, written records and other memorabilia These records will be digitized and made widely available for research and study.
In its many iterations-from indigen ous art to out sider art-folk art at its root is characterized by the artist's lack of formal traini ng. While countless collectors and enthusiasts have acq uired vast collections of folk art, it was not until recently that academic study of the discipline began to flourish. With several prominent art historians delving into folk art, the field is exploding with serious inquiry
"The affiliation of the Folk An Society of America with Longwood University will ensure the future of the society and its programs," said former FASA pr,esident Ann Oppenhimer, a former arc history instructor at the University of Richmond "We plan to continue the Folk Art Messenger magazine, the annual national con ference and especially the preservation of the archives, which have been collected over a period of 30 years. These h istorical records will form the basis for a national study center that will benefit Longwood
students as well as scholars in the important and everexpanding field of self-t aught, visionary and folk art."
Ann and William Oppenhimer, major benefactors cif Longwood University and the Longwood Center for the Visual Ans, founded FASA in 1987 with a group of local Richmond collectors The society grew under their watchful guidance and is now a viable nati onal organization with more than 600 members. In its new form, it will be
officially named the Folk Arc Society of America at Longwood Center for the Visual Arts, or FASA@LCVA.
Ann and William 0ppenhimer founded the Folk Art Society of America in 1987.
"That the LCVAis in a position to secure one of the most important repositories of folk art archives in the United States is a testament to our reputation as an innovative, groundbreaking museum and om dedication to fully integrating important art with academic material," said Rachel Talent Ivers, LCVA director. "The Folk An Society of America is a well-respected organization, and we are delighted to have it transition under the LCVA umbrella "
The LCVA is home to a sizeable folk art collection supported by numerous gifts over several decades. In addition to the Oppenhimers' donations, gifts from Thomas and Donna Brumfield and current FASA president Jim Sellman and his wife, Barbara, have bolstered the collection's value and importanc e. -Matthew McWilliams 9
Lancer Park building named in honor of longtime supporter
D Wherever there is construction at Longwood, there's Otis Brown.
While he is usually welcoming a guest of honor to a groundbreaking or building dedication, Brown was the one being honored Dec. 11.
In recognition of the key role he Otis Brown played in the development of Lancer Park, a 454-bed student residence complex just off campus, the complex's central building was named Brown Commons. The b uilding houses meeting space in a large common room, food services and a workout facility. An energetic visionary with a quick wit and big dreams, Brown spearheaded the formation in 2004 of the Longwood Real Estate Foundation, which developed Lancer Park, and served as its president until earlier this year He also served
on the Board ofVisitors as vice rector. Brown drove the university to expand off-campus, university-managed housing for students in both Lancer Park and Longwood Landings.
"He's an inspiration ," said Louise Waller, director of the Longwood Real Estate Foundation. "His ideas, energy, relationships and vision have made it possible for Longwood to develop and grow over the past 10 years. His boundless energy drives us all to think big, and he himself has more ideas in a morning than most of us have in a lifetime!"
"When I think of Otis Brown, I think of that Butch Cassidy line, 'I've got vision, and the rest of the world wears bifocals,"' said Ken Copeland, vice president for finance and administration. "Otis saw what Lancer Park could be before anyone else and made it happen , and that's a testament to his foresight and incredible personal drive. He has literally shaped the future of this universi ty " 9
Minnie Adkins (b, 1934), born and active lsonvillle, Ky., Black Bear, 1997 polychromed wood, 12 x 31 x 7 inches, Collection of William and Ann Oppenhimer.
Storybook Beginning
Creators of Madeline, Despereaux and Fudge draw crowds for first Virginia Children's Book Festival at Longwoiod
BY KEN T BOOTY
Suzanne Snowden left home for the Longwood campus at 5:30 a.m. on Oct. 10, the first day of the inaugur al Virginia Children's Book Festival. She and her daughter wanted to be sure to get a good seat for the session with bestselling young adult novelist Judy Blume, one of several prominent children's authors and illustrators featured at the event "I read all of her books 40 years ago, and now my daughter is also a big fan and reads all her books. And my son likes her Fudge series," said Snowden after Blume's appearance via Skype on a large screen in Jarman Auditorium. Mother and daughter, seated in the first row, were in a perfect position to enjoy the session and ask the author questions
Mac Barnett, author of the Caldecott Honor book Extra ¼rn, also invited audience participation, handing out copies of his popular Battle Bunny and asking youngsters to redo the cover. "Cross out your names and write your own name on them. You get to cross out my name while I'm standing right here."
Author-illustrators Timothy Basil Ering and Todd Parr painted alongside their audience in an illustration workshop. " We're learning from our mistakes," said Ering, while helping Percy Davis, a student at New Life Christian Academy in Farmville, with a green finger-painting of what he called "a weird creature with tentacles."
1 I was surprised at how well-embraced the festival was by the local community. A wide cross-section of authors have e:Kpressed an interest in attending next year, which should be even more exciting.'
-Dani Murray '02, Virginia Children's Book Festival Advisory Board
"That was really worth it," said Snowden, who lives in Chesapeake and is studying to be a librarian
Festival director J uanita Giles agreed it was a success.
"The festival was better than we could have hoped," said Giles, who is determined to make it an annual event.
"There were a couple of bumps, which is to be expected, but the authors said it couldn't have been better "
Hosted by Longwood Oct. 10-11, the free festival drew about 1,300 teachers, children, parents and other children's book lovers to campus from around the region Festivalgoers apparently couldn't resist the opponunity to rub shoulders with the creators of Madeline, Despereaux, Otto and other beloved characters. Some participants even " collaborated" with speakers on re-envisioning book covers and developing future plot lines
So don't be surprised if the next Madeline book takes place not in Paris but in Mexico, over Christmas break, where Madeline encounters an evil cousin named Don Loco Pants. That's what kids, i ncluding 30 second- and thirdgraders from the Fuqua School in Farmville, came up with in a session with John Bemelmans Marciano, grandson of the series' creator and the author-illustrator of three books in the series.
"You have to have a problem, and you have to get out of it," said Marciano, describing what makes a good story His mother was one of the inspirations for Madeline.
one of his books for a young fan.
Several alumni helped in various ways or attended the festival. Dani Murray '02 of Farmville, a member of the festival's local advisory board, helped with last-minute fundraising, as a volunteer coordinator and as an escort for one of the authors.
"I was surprised at how well-embraced the festival was by the local community," said Murray, CEO of Boston Personal Assistant, who will help with next year's festival. "A wide cross-section of authors have expressed an interest in attending next year, which should be even more exciting."
Sheila Connors Roalf ' 70, of Prince George County, attended Judy Blume's appearance (she asked Blume's son, " What was she like as a mom?"} and a Mac Barnett work-
Earlier in that session, Ering read Hamilton and the Almost shop ("He had the kids fully engaged, and my husband
Fearless Squid/egger ("I like to go damming," he explained, and I as well"). "and I wondered 'What if those clams could run away?' "It was a wonderful festival. I'm glad I came, and I would So I wrote a book about it."}. Parr read The Underwear go again," said Roalf, who retired in 2014 after a 43-year Book, with humorous do's and don't's about wearing career with the Prince George underwear. County schools.
Parr and Ering raved about the festival and the Longwood Several workshops were presented Center for the Visual Arts, where their workshops were held. by Kathryn Starke '98, M.S.'09, of "An environment like this encourages kids to be creative and Richmond, an elementary school to meet the author and to connect the dots, " said Parr, who reading specialist, literacy consulthas written and illustrated more than 30 books ant and author. "I feel like I'm
The 16 fourth-graders from Prince Edward County Ele- home," she said on the festival 's mentary School who attended one of Mac Barnett's ses- first day. sions-they had read Battle Bunny a few days earlier- Civil rights in Children's Literawere excited to meet him, said reading specialist Deb Gantt. cure was the topic of a panel discusSuzanne Snowden's daughter, Katie Barnett, 11, was sion at the Moton Museum that was moderated by equally excited to "meet" Judy Blume via Skype. "Who's Dr. Larissa Smith Fergeson, professor of history at Longyour favorite character?" Katie asked her "Who's yours?" wood. It included several write rs, among them National Blume countered. "Sally J. Freedman," replied Katie Book Award winner Kathryn Erskine and Edwild a Allen "That's my most autob iographical character. That's the kind Isaac, who participated in the 1951 student strike at Moton. of kid I was ," Blume told her young fan , who recently "While it's true that it's important for children of all backstaned a blog of book reviews grounds to be able to see themselves in literature," said A screening of the film Tiger Eyes, based on a book by Meg Medina, whose young adult novels feature strong Blume, preceded her appearance. The 2012 film was di- Latina characters, "it's just as important for the stories rected by Blume's son, filmmaker Larry Blume, who ap- to be good.'' peared in person to moderate.
Teri Kanefield, who told the story of the 1951 Moron strike and its leader, Barbara Rose Johns, in her book The Girl from the Tar Paper School cited the importance of w riting about issues of injust ice in children's literature
"We've come a long way on many fronts - more children today are growing up with a much more inclusive attitude-but we have a long way to go," she said.
The festival featured extensive involvement from Longwood faculty and staff members, who served on panels and roundtable discussions, and as volunteers and board members. Teachers and librarians from school divisions throughout Virginia, along with elementary students, attended some of the sessions Everything was free.
Giles came up with the concept for the festival three years ago, sticking with the idea through the birth of two children, a full year of planning and the effort required to raise $30,000 in funding. The benefits of the event made it too important to give up , she said.
" Reading makes such a difference in people's lives," said Giles "It opens up an entire world of imagination and has been shown to set up children for academic success. A kid and a book-it seems so simple, doesn't it? " 8
Popular author Judy Blume appears via Skype in a session moderated by her son, Larry Blume.
Todd Parr, author of It's Okay to Be Different and The Feelings Book, autographs
Webinars provide information about crucial student services
Parents and families of current Longwood students can get answers to some frequently asked questions about several importa nt student services through a series of webinars deve loped by the Office of First Year Experience and Family Programs.
The webinars, which were developed in collabo ration with other campus offices, focus on course registration, housing registratio n, financial aid, and fraternity and sorority life.
"We recog ni ze that it can be difficult to not know what students are doing and whether they are staying active in these processes," said Rachel Dodd, assistant director of FirstYear Experience and Family Programs. uey attending these live webinars, from the comfort of their own homes, parents and families can have a better understanding of what resources are available and how they can help their students:' •
UPCOMING WEBINARS:
Jan 27: Resources on Ca mpus to Support Acad emic Success, 5:30 p.m., hosted by the Center for Academic Success
Feb. 10: Financial Aid and FAFSA, 5:30 p.m., hosted by the Office of Financial Aid
For information on how to register and access the webinars, please go to www.longwoo d.edu/fam il y programs or call 434-395-2 4 14.
Living Laboratory
Hull Springs Farm grows with classroom, wetland mitigation bank
I]Longwood has already established several research proJ·ects at historic Hull Springs Farm in West,: moreland County. Now that environmental research has a new home on the picturesque plantation that abuts the lower Machodoc River, which feeds the Potomac.
In late August, President W Taylor Reveley N dedicated the Anne Carter Robins Mallory classroom at Hull Springs Farm. The classroom, made possib le by a gift from the Anne Carter Robins and Walter R. Robins Jr. Found ation, is named for Mallory, a devoted Richmond social worker and a great believer in the power of education to transform lives of inner-city children. She died in 2005.
"She thought gening kids educated was the way to solve prob lems," said John O'Grady, president of the Robins Foundation. "I'm so proud her name is on this building."
With 662 acres and 8,400 feet of tidal shoreline, Hull Springs Farm is the site of several research projects, from studies on coastal aquatic animals to erosion mitigation efforts. And the university has even bigger plans for the facility in the future.
"This is truly one of the great place-based learning opportunities in the country," said Reveley.
What a Way to Go .
Digging It
Members of the newly created alumni advisory board for the Dr. James W. Jordan Archaeology Field School gathe red in October for their inaugural meeting. Dr. Brian Bates '92 (center row sta n ding, far left), field school director, briefed the group on ideas for new initiat ives. Present for the first meeting were (front row seated, from left) Jason Coffey '00, Phil Adams '98 and Lynsie Russ '13; {center row seated, from left) Lyndsay Green '08 and Jessica Fields '08; (center row stan d ing, from left) Bates, Craig Rose '00, Katie Gardner '03, Beth Young '98 and Colin Jones '11; (back row standing, from left) Mary Farrell '09, Pat McCloskey '00, Chrissy Green '01, J eff erson Green '03, Don Purdon '14 and Nie Smith '98. Also on the board are Dan Schrier '09 and Randy Wade '97. The field school, establis hed in 1980, was renamed in honor of Jordan, a longtime Longwood professor of anthropo logy, in fall 2012.
At the same gathering in August, a groundbreaking symbolized the creation of the wetland mitigation bank at Hull Springs Farm. Approximately 26 acres of the farm are being restored to their natural forested wetlands scare. Longwood plans to preserve additional wetlands acreage and restore natural streambeds, totaling more than 200 acres, all of which will be preserved through a conservation easement.
In addition to preserving the land, the establishment of the wetlands mitigation bank provides unique research oppommities for Longwood students. Wetlands both act as a natural filter to contaminan ts and reduce harmful runoff to economically critical bodies of water like the Chesapeake Bay, while providing a natural habitat for hundreds of species.
"This is a true gem right here on the river," said Bart Mitchell '90, president of the Longwood University Foundation, which manages the property. Mitchell said Mary Farley Ames Lee '38, who donated the farm to Longwood, would be "very pleased with our future plans and with what's been done so far."- Matthew Mc Williams
Research on funeral industry finds personalized services on the rise
Ar a rect:nt wake in New Orleans, the deceased was seated at a table with a cigarette in one hand and a beer in the other. Bizarre? Maybe, but it's part of a trend.
The traditional send-off of the dearly dt:parted is increasingly giving way to an array of personalized touches, say two Longwood sociologists who studied changes in the funeral industry.
These days the bereaved are being comfoned
"Funeral directors are being called the new wedding planners," said Burger.
At the other end of the spectrum, an increasing number of people wane to cut costs. Crt:mations-which cost about 90 percent less than traditional services-have been increasing since the early 1980s and account for 47 perct:nt of funerals in the United States. (The average crema-
with not only lifelike poses of tht: deceased at • 111( wakes but technology-enhanced st:rvices in .,,,·~( parks and arenas, eco-friendly burials and fl' weddinglike receptions, said Dr. Virginia • , I'·~
tion costs about $1,200; the average funeral about $13,000.)
Consumers also are saving money by purchasing a casket from online retailers and having it ddivert:d to tht: funeral home. Beard and research partner Dr. William • r " As long as the casket meets EPA standards, even if it was built at home, a funeral home has to accept it, said Burger.
• Burger Cremations, which now account for 4 nearly half of funerals, often feature ever more creative ways of disposing of the ashes.
"Some people say, 'I want to go out with a bang,"' said Beard. "This is the 'me' generation, and a lot of people, especially baby boomers, want to honor the deceased with a customized funeral. That's why we're seeing things like caskets that look like footballs and [hearing] Bob Dylan instead of'.Amazing Grace."'
The bt:lls and whistles sought by some people couldn't come at a bener time for funeral homes. They're making up for lost revt:nue - from cremations, caskets purchased from online retailers and pre-planned funerals-by offering mort: services.
Technology is facilitating change in the funeral industry. One recent trend is webcasts and DVDs of funerals, helpful for those with loved ones scattered around the country. Some funeral homes have switched to selling their caskets and pre-planning services online to reduce overheard costs. Custom slideshows, videos and online guest books or memorial pages are commonplace
"If I was surprised by anything, it was the number of options out there," said Beard, adding that she and Burger plan to next study advertising, historical and contemporary, in the funeral industry.- Kent Booty
Symbolically breaking ground for the creation of the wetland mitigation bank at Hull Springs Farm are Bart Mitchell '90 (left), Longwood University Foundation president; Helen Warriner-Burke '56; President W. Taylor Reveley IV; John Daniel; Otis Brown; Dr. Alix Fink. dean of the Cormier Honors College and associate professor of biology; and Hazel Duncan, executive director of the foundation.
Facing Immigration
National issue gets up close and personal for students involved in detention center program
For many people, the immigration debate is a headline or a minute or two on the nightly news. For a group of Longwood students, the debate is real people whose lives are stories of dreams and despair.
Immigration and the issues surrounding it have come alive for these students, who help teach English classes at ICAFarmville, a holding facility for undocumented immigrants waiting for their cases to be decided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The program was initiated by a Longwood faculty member in spring 2014, and about 55 srudents have been involved so far. Any Longwood student can participate in teaching classes; some students also interview detainees as part of their course work in Spanish or criminal justice.
"It's opened my eyes. I've spoken with 18-year-olds who had to flee their homes due to gang violence and come here with no support. Others have lived here all their lives and didn't know they were illegal until they got a traffic violation. The only thing some of them did was come here illegally. I don't think people realize what goes on in these immigrants' heads when they come here."
The experience has reinforced Franklin's plans to work with refugees, possibly through the United Nations. Last summer, she worked with refugees at the Catholic Charities office in Roanoke.
Goodwin's work at ICA-Farmville has made her consider even more strongly a career in teaching English as a Second Language, either to children or adults. In high school, she
U.S.News ranks Longwood among best regional publics
Longwood is for the 17th consecutive year ranked among the best colleges in the annual U.S.News & World Report survey.
In the 2015 U.5.News "Best Colleges" report, released in fall 2014, Longwood moved up to No 30 from No. 31 in the ranking for all Regional Universities in the South Among Public Regional Universities in the South, Longwood moved up from No. 12 to No. 11.
"Once again, we are pleased that Longwood is being recognized for the outstanding educational experience we provide our students;• said Sallie McMullin, dean of admissions. "This recognition speaks to the quality of our student s, alumni, faculty and staff. I'm not s urprised by this recognition, or the others we have received, given that Longwood produces exce ptional g raduates who excel in graduate school, caree rs and as citizen leaders. We are a ll Lancer proud!"
Longwood ha s moved up three spots among all Regiona l Un iversities in the South since the 2013 ranking, released in September 2012.
The U.S News rankings a re based on assessment by peers and counselo rs, retention of students, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving. Longwood is ranked among the 620 regional universities, which are those that offer a full range of undergraduate majors and master's programs but few, if any, doctoral programs. The South region encompasses 12 states.
~This has been a life-changing experience," said Emily Beahm 'l 7, a liberal studies/elementary education major and Spanish minor from Broadway who has been involved in the project since it began She said the detainees come to this country for different reasons but all are "yearning for the American dream, which is easily anainable for us but difficult for them. Ir's hard for them to leave their families at my age, or even younger, and go to a country where they know nobody If! were in their position, I'd do the exact same thing."
Dr. Rent:e Gutierrez, the assistant professor of Spanish who started the program, said Beahm's experience is exactly what she and Dr. Connie Koski, assistant professor of criminal justice, hope their students will get out of the program.
"It's vitally important for students to put skin on a situation," said Gutierrez. "What our studt:nts usually encounter is a hash tag, not a living, breathing person. This is fun for students. They're petrified at first, but that nervousness doesn't survive the first conversation. By the second visit, they're excited to be there."
ICA-Farmville, operated by a private contractor for the federal goverrunt:nt, houses about 550 adult men who, for one reason or another-often simply a traffic violation-have come to tht: anention of the immigration system. The average stay is 21 days; those requesting political asylum are there six to eight months.
This past fall, students helpt:d teach two English classes at the center. Kacie Goodwin '15 led the Monday evening classes, and Lily Franklin '16 led those on Wednesday evenings. Both were assisted by 10 other student volunteers and either Gutierrez or Koski. About 60 detainees anended each class.
"I value this experience more than anything I've ever done," said Franklin, a political science major and international studies minor from Roanoke.
taught ESL to elementary students in summer school.
"This is completely different from my previous teaching, but I've enjoyed it so much," said Goodwin, a liberal studies major and Spanish and business administration minor from Richmond "It's opened my eyes to other people's lives, to what they go through. They're teaching me as much as I'm teaching them."
Last semester, 10 students in Koski's Introduction to Policing class interviewed detainees as the basis for their final class project on the detention center.
"This project is humanizing immigration for them," said Koski. "Once students hear these stories, undocumented workers are no longer 'those' people. They see that they're just people like you and me. It's been amazing to see students' transformation. They're all going to be voting citizens, and this will enable them to participatt: more intelligently in the immigration debate."
The project also enables students to practice their Spanish with native speakers. "I want my students face-to-face with people who don't speak English," said Gutierrez. "Odds are you're going to be working with someone not from your culture. The cultural exchange is invaluable-on both sides."
In addition to these opporrunities, the center has provided internships for two Longwood students. One of those students, Marcos Lopez-Sandoval '14, was hired there as an operations officer after he graduated in August. His supervisor, deputy director Doug Kingery, called Lopez-Sandoval "ont: of the best hires we ever made."
Gutierrez might want to eventually expand Longwood's work at the facility, which is located two miles from campus. At least two and possibly three English classes will be taught at the center this spring semester. Long-range possibilities include offering lower-level Spanish classes there for Longwood students, or teaching other academic courses for detainees.-Kent Booty
"Rankings don't reflect the elements of a Longwood education that truly distinguish us from other institutions-our sense of camaraderie, our spirit of citizen leadership, our campus community;' said President W. Taylor Reveley IV. "But w e are proud nonetheless to see Longwood recognized as one of the top universities in the region It's a tribute to our dedicated faculty and staff and the high bar of excellence they set every day:' -Kent Booty
Where in the World is the Longwood Scarf? In Utah
The Longwood Scarf traveled with Ann Harris Gussett, M.S. '80, wife of former Longwood professor Dr. James Gussett, to Utah's beautiful southeast corner on a recent Road Scholar trip. Road Scholar educational adventures are created by Elderhostel, a provider of lifelong learning programs
Working with undocumented immigrants at the Farmville Detention Center has been an eye-opening experience for students including Katie Baldacci '17 (second from left) and Katie Goodwin '15 Guiding the students are Dr. Renee Gutierrez (far right), assistant professor of Spanish, who started the program, and Dr. Connie Koski, assistant professor of criminal justice.
STUBBS HALL OPEN HOUSE O Nancy Britton Shelton '68 and Mary Angel '15 @ Members of Alpha Sigma Tau
Members of Zeta Tau Alpha BLACK ALUMNI WEEKEND O Black alumni and friends gath!ar
Photos by Cameron Burns '16
FALL ALUMNI REUNION 0 Candy Dowdy '69 and Bonnie Harrup Scimone '69 (;) Class of 1969 @ Class of 1974
of 1974
Photos by Caleb Briggs '15
ATHLETICS BENEFIT CELEBRATION @ Arlene Cundiff '69 (I!) Dr. Chad Knowles '94 f.D Kathleen Early '92 and Kendall Lee '01 Joseph Bartholomew Ill '96 and Elaine Jones (I) Elwood and Troy Austin
VIRGINIA BEACH MEET THE PRESIDENT RECEPTION !I) Rebecca Winner Schnekser '05, Laura Beth Stricker '11, Amanda Renwick Lloyd '04, PresidentW. Taylor Reveley IV and Brandon Fry '12 (&I Sandra Wise Hanna RICHMOND SYMPHONY RECEPTION al) President Revefey, Rector Colleen McCrink Margiloff '97 and Marlo Reveley f.i Patsy Garrett Watson '75 and Shirley Blackwell $) Paula Clay Prouty '85 and Dr. James Gussett
Calendar of Events
JANUARY
THROUGH JAN. 31
Exhibit: Old School: Historical Methods in Contemporary Practice-Camera Obscura. Lo ngwood Center for the Visual Arts. Information: 434-395-2206.
9
Concert: Longwood Honors Band. 7:30 p m., Jarman Hall Auditorium. Info rmation: 434-395-2405.
22
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium: Featuring Tim Wise, author and one of the nation's most prominent anti-racist essayists and educators. 4 p.m., Jarman Hall Auditorium. Reception following in Rowe Gallery, Lancaster Hall. Information: 434-392-1438.
FEBRUARY
6
THROUGH MARCH 28
Exhibit: Electric Sheep. Opening reception, 5-7 p.m. Feb. 6. Longwood Center for the Visual Arts. Information: 434-395-2206.
12-15, 19-22
Theatre: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Center for Communication Studies andTheatre. 7 p.m. Feb. 12-14 and 19-21; 3 p.m. Feb. 15 and 22. Tickets required. Info rmation: 434-395-2474 or www.longwood.edu/tag/theatre.htm
20
Concert: Black, Brown and Beige ensemble featuring Lisa Edwards-Burrs, soprano, Naima Burrs, violin, Timothy Holley, cello, and Russell Wilson, piano. 7:30 p.m., Wygal Hall Auditorium. Information: 434-395-2405.
MARCH
10
Concert: Jazz Ensembles. 7:30 p.m., Jarman Hall Auditorium. Information: 434-395-2405.
26
Concert: Chamber Music Series featuring Matt Haimovitz, cello. 7:30 p.m., Wygal Hall Auditorium. Information: 434-395-2405.
APRIL
9-12,16-19
Theatre: A Midsummer Night's Dream. Center for Communication Studies andTheatre. 7 p.m. April 9-11 and 16-18; 3 p.m. April 12 and 19. Tickets required. Information: 434-395-2474 or www.longwood.edu/tag/theatre htm
11 THROUGH MAY 6
Exhibit:Theatre, Art and Graphic and Animation Design Senior Exhibition. Opening reception, 5-7 p.m. April 11. Longwood Center for the Visual Arts. Information: 434-395-2206
14
Concert: Wind Symphony and Jazz Ensembles. 7:30 p.m., Jarman Hall Auditorium. Information: 434-395-2405.
17-18
Milestone Reunion: For the classes of 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960 and 1965. Information and costs: 434-395-2044 or alumni@longwood.edu.
29 THROUGH AUG. 29
Exhibit: Enduring Legacy-Recent Acquisitions. Longwood Center for the Visual Arts. Information: 434-395-2206.
All events are free unless otherwise noted.
LONGWOOD LANCERS TM
One Step Closer
Carey selected in NBA Development League Draft as he pursues his professional dream
Former Longwood basketball star Tristan Carey '14 is one step closer to his dreams of playing in the NBA with a new job as a Rio Grande Valley Viper.
The 6-4, 185-powid guard, who led Longwood in scoring, rebounding, made field goals and made 3-pointers as a senior, was selected in the second rowid of the 2014 NBA Development League Draft in November and is currently playing for the Houston Rockets development team. Carey was the 32nd pick in the 122-player, eight-round draft and the third pick of the Vipers.
"It was an exciting moment," said Carey, who first heard the news on Twitter. "I was at my brother's football game and had my phone on me. I saw it there, and then when I got back home I had a text message from my agent."
Carey's sisters and mother were with him to share in the good news but had to say goodbye just one week later when he left for the Vipers' training facility in Hidalgo, Texas. He'll be training there alongside 16 other NBA hopefuls in
the NBA's equivalent of the minor leagues. Rio Grande Valley is one of the D-League's most successful organizations, winning two D-League Championships with more than 20 former players going on to play in the NBA.
Carey is the first Longwood player to be selected in the NBA Development League Draft and the second Lancerjoining 17-year NBA veteran Jerome Kersey-to be drafted by an NBA organization.
The jump to the NBA Development League follows a stint overseas in which Carey played for the Marso NYKK club in Hungary. Carey was the only American and only fluent English speaker on the team, but the opportunity to continue his basketball career on a professional level outweighed the adjustments he knew he would have to make.
"I just wanted to play," he said. "It didn't matter longterm or shon-term where that was."
Now Carey is a little closer to home and a little closer to reaching his NBA dream. -Chris Cook
Lancers celebrate at Richmond fundraiser
Lancer fans helped raise more than $62,000 for athletics scholarships and ope rations support at the second Longwood Athletics Benefit Celebration in October.
Held atThe Omni Richmond Hotel, the event brought together hundreds of Longwood supporters for an evening of live and silent auctions, photo ops in a booth stocked with an array of Longwood paraphernalia, live music, dancing and opportunities to get to know more than 50 Longwood student-athletes who filled the Longwood bus for the trip to Richmond.
Among the Longwood alumni, coaches, faculty and staff enjoying the celebration were PresidentW. Taylor Reveley IV; Board of Visitors members Eileen Mathes Anderson '83, Katherine Elam Busser, David H. Hallock Jr. and Marianne Moffat Radcliff '92; and Bart Mitchell '90, president of the Longwood University Foundation.
More than 100 items were included in the auction, including unique pieces of Longwood history, autographed memorabilia, vacation and spa packages, and a custom Longwood Vespa. Among the most popular items were the Lancer-themed Vespa, a round of golf at The Greenbrier Course in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., and a condo stay in Folly Beach, S.C., all of which drew bids of more than $1,000 each.
Money generated from the auction directly benefits Longwood's athletics programs and student-athletes t hro ugh scholarships, equipment, travel expenses and general operations.
Protective Instincts
Goalkeeper Carlos Canas '17, a criminal justice major from Manassas, Va., has been a mainstay in the Longwood net since he arrived on campus, but off the soccer field he shoulders an even bigger load. Canas has been a volunteer firefighter with the Farmville Fire Department for nearly two years. He has been on calls to house fires and traffic accidents, all while balancing the rigors of being a student-athlete at Longwood. To see a LongwoodLancers.com exclusive video about Canas' off-field adventures with the fire department, visit www.LongwoodLancers.com/Canas.
(top) Basketball Head Coach Jayson Gee (left) and his wife, Lynette, and PresidentW.Taylor Reveley IV and his wife, Marlo, accessorize at the photo booth. (bottom) Partygoers keep an eye on their favorite items during the auction.
Tristan Carey '14 has a new job as a Rio Grande Valley Viper in Hidalgo, Texas.
Coaching Session
Golf, men's and women's tennis are under new leadership
Longwood's women's golf, and men's and women's tennis teams are under new leadership as these spring sports prepare for their 2015 seasons.
Shannon Briggs, a native ofVancouver, B.C., is the fifth head coach ofLongwood's historic women's golf program. Briggs is a former collegiate golfer at Grand Valley State University and has competed professionally on the CP Women's Tour PGA of Canada. Briggs was most recently a cenified professional golf coach at the international golf training center, GolfTEC.
''I'm excited to join the Longwood family, not only for the opportunity to lead this program, but also to become a part of this great university," Briggs said. "When I visited campus, I was drawn to the experience Longwood provides for its student-athletes and the school's commitment to balancing academics and athletics."
Bruce Myers, formerly of North Carolina A&T and Randolph-Macon, took over the women's tennis program in September, extending a coaching career that began as head coach of both the men's and women's teams at his alma mater, Randolph-Macon. Myers was formerly
a top-ranked Mens 35 pro in the USTA Philadelphia Section in 2011.
"I am excited to join the Longwood family, not only for the opportwiity to lead this program but also to become a part of this great university," Myers said. "I had not been to Longwood's campus in over 20 years, and so much has changed since I played a tennis match on the courts. Longwood has cenainly grown up and come of age, and I am excited to both coach and compete in the Big South Conference."
Marty Perry, formerly of Bridgewater College and the University of Chicago, is the new head coach of the Longwood men's tennis program. Perry led the Bridgewater men's and women's programs to back-to-back top-three finishes in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference in 2012 and has a resume that includes three Division Ill National Coach of the Year awards.
"I am deeply honored to be named head coach of the Lancer men's tennis program at Longwood," Perry said. "I would like to thank [Athletics Director] Troy Austin for providing this opportunity and entrusting me with the leadership of the program. " -Chris Cook
Soccer player scores in academics, athletics
Longwood women's soccer player Kelsey McDonald ' 15, a business administration major from Kennett Square, Pa., made history this season when she was named to the Capital One Academic All-America third team. •.
A senior defender, McDonald is Kelsey McDonald 15 the first member of the women's soccer program to receive the honor and Longwood's first Academic All-America selection in the Division I era. Only eight other athletes in school history have been named to
an Academic All-America team, most recently baseball player Evan Weinstein '04 in 2003 and 2004.
A four-year starter for the Lancers, McDonald owns a 3.99 grade-point average and was chosen to carry the College of Business and Economics' banner at commencement this spring. She was named to the All-Big South second team, the Capital One Academic All-District III team and the All-Big South Academic Team following a senior campaign in which she led Longwood in minutes played and scored twice from the defensive backfield. Even more impressive, she has maintained her academic success while playing nearly 6,000 minutes of soccer for the Lancers.
Crosstown matchup with Hampden-Sydney draws capacity crowd
Longwood and Hampden-Sydney College faced off on the basketball coun in November for an exhibition game in front of a capacity crowd at Willett Hall.
Tickets for the general public sold out the day before the game, and Longwood students lined up beginning at 9 a.m. to get their tickets. It was the first matchup between the neighboring schools since 2004 and the first since Longwood joined the Division I ranks in 2007-08. HampdenSydney competes in Division III.
"It was really great to see so many people in Farmville come out to show their support for both teams," said Longwood men's basketball Head Coach Jayson Gee.
Longwood took the win, with a final score of 95-60. Redshirt senior point guard Quincy Taylor '15, a sociology major from Wichita, Kan., (pictured on left in photo) stole the spotlight in the game, scoring 22 points with six assists in his Longwood debut.
Lancer Madness
In front of a capacity crowd, the men's and women's basketball teams showed off their best moves in Willett Hall Oct. 29 to kick off the 2014-15 season. The Lancer men, beginning their second season under Head Coach Jayson Gee, and the women (third from top), entering their fifth year under Head Coach Bill Reinson, treated the crowd to a number of events, including a skills competition, shooting contest and a dunk contest. Steve Robertson (top), who works in athletics marketing, showed off his 'Lancer pants; and the Longwood cheerleaders, Stampede drum line and dance teams (second from top) gave Lancer fans a sneak peek of what to expect at home games this season. One of the night's highlights was a two-handed s lam (bottom) by Shaquille Johnson '16, who hurdled over teammate Lotanna Nwogbo '16 to reach t he basket.
Bruce Myers
Shannon Briggs
Marty Perry
Band of Brothers
2006 ROTC commissionees remain close despite assignments around the globe
BY BETH COPE
year after he finished Longwood's A.irmy ROTC program, Marvin Simms '06, was on the ground in Fallujah One of four Longwood ROTC graduates commissioned in 2006, he'd been sent there by a mitlitary contractor to hdp the Marines sniff out insurgents using a new approach- "biometric" identifiers like fingerprints, DNA and iris scans.
His reception wasn't exactly friendly.
"The Marines literally said, 'Who are you, and what are you doing here?' They were like, we don't want you here," he said.
newly commissioned officer, he said. "I was leading 200 soldiers, and I'm the lazy one out of my year group."
Mulloy, the only one of the four to go into active-duty work (Bernazani, Simms and Bovill all joined the Army Reserve), had deployed in December 2007 to serve as a scout platoon leader in Baghdad. Essentially, he was expected to be an expert on a l 0-kilometer square of the war-torn city.
"I had to know the streets where my vehicles could and couldn't drive, who are the power brokers in the area, who lives in those homes and what are their religious affiliations," he said. "We had vehicles, but primarily I would walk, and I would talk to anybody who was willing to talk to me."
For his part, Bovill shipped out to Iraq in July 2008 to join Simms in his biometric work. He couldn't provide
1 We're not trainiing them for war; we're developing their leadership so they can have a role in whatever job the Army has for them. It's not enough to teach them soldier stuff. My role is to train them to be leaders.' -Sgt. Herbert Lefler, Longwood ROTC Instructor
Eventually, they changed their tune - after all, Simms was helping track down those responsible for creating and planting IEDs (improvised explosive devices). It was important work, and, when he thinks back to the role he played, he gets chills.
"I was 23 years old. I was in charge of the entire Al Anbar Province. I still get goose bumps thinking about it. I had generals looking at me asking me questions," said Simms.
Sgt. Herbert Lefler, an instructor in Longwood's ROTC program, says that sore of experience is a major motivator for his students.
"I mean, not all of them are Indiana Jones, but, to a greater or lesser extent, there's a desire for adventure," he said. "The way I look at it, doing ROTC is an investment. And having some adventures and seeing some of the sights are kind of the payoff."
Simms' fellow 2006 commissionees-1im Bovill, Eric Bernai.ani and Patrick Mulloy- also used ROTC, which is a joint program with Hampden-Sydney College, as a springboard into exciting positions of responsibility overseas.
Bernazani, for example, headed to Basra in September 2008 for a gig that, like Simms, he's still amazed he got.
Because there were so many deployments at the time, the officer corps was depleted and Bernai.ani was made a company commander, "which is really almost unheard of" for a
details of the mission but offered a useful comparison: "Think of it as maybe a toned-down, more realistic version of what you see on 'NCIS,'" he said, referring to the television program about a Navy criminal investigation group.
A few months into Bovill's work there, he and Simms managed to slip away for a day, heading to Baghdad to meet up with Mulloy.
They wandered around the Green 2.one, a secure area in Baghdad, and checked out a palace formerly owned by Saddam Hussein (even posing for a picture with Mulloy perched atop one of Hussein's throne-like chairs). Simms said meeting in Iraq was eerie after not having seen each other since graduation day 18 months earlier. "There's nothing like seeing two of your best buddies then hearing about a bomb that went off in a local market, killing dozens of locals."
All four of the Longwood alumni set out on the path that led to Iraq in fall 2002, when they enrolled as freshmen in ROTC - the first class of cadets to begin the program after 9/11. They knew what awaited them after graduation, and they were eager to take part.
"9/11 certainly had us motivated, for lack of a better word,'' said Simms. "When you're around guys that you know have your back no matter what, the anxiety just subsides a little bit. You're all a little scared but you know that your buddy next to you is gonna be right along there with you."
And Longwood's ROTC program is all about preparing young people for that experience-not just to be soldiers, but officers.
"We're not training them for war; we're developing their leadership so they can have a role in whatever job the Army has for th,em," said Sgt. Lefler. "It's not enough to teach them soldier stuff. My role is to train them to be leaders."
Nearly a decade after being commwioned, the four friends continue ro excel in their fields. Their combined experiences include time in Afghanistan, Germany and Singapore; intelligence work for the CIA and FBI; and contributions to the war effort as contractors, both at home and abroad. They've all risen to the rank of captain, Mulloy still as an active-duty officer and the others through the Reserves. And they're still in touch.
"I look at these guys - we're all still friends - and I'm just flat-out impressed," said Bernazani, the self-described "lazy one," who is now based in Singapore with his wife and two kids, when! he manages Army Foreign Military Sales and training exchanges at the U.S. embassy. He's also still particularly dost: to David Clark, who took part in ROTC as a Hampden-Sydney student.
Simms, who started as a contractor, is now a federal employee with the FBI. He considered becoming an agent at the bureau, but his home life made him reconsider: He and his wife have two toddlers, and "family comes first."
Bovill is also still in the intelligence world, working as a contractor supporting the National Ground Intelligence Center in Charlottesville to provide information to soldiers in the field. "Generically, I support counterintelligence investigations. That's probably about as detailed as I can get on that," he said, "but we have direct impact on a daily basis, and that's pretty satisfying."
Finally, Mulloy has his hand in intelligence, too, though he has moved from commanding troops to helping prepare the next gerneration of soldiers. He works as an instructor at an Army training facility near his wife's family in Arizona, which he says is a good break from his more stressful work abroad. His son will soon be 2.
This past fall, Mulloy and his family headed to the East Coast for Bovill's wedding, where he stood alongside his old buddy as a groomsman.
Bovill, who grew up a military kid, said his friendship with Mulloy is something special, particularly because longstanding relationships weren't a hallmark of his childhood.
"I grew up all over the world, and I never really had that foundation," he said last fall, a week before his wedding. "I met Pat when I was 17 years old, and I'll be 30 in a couple of days. That's something I highly value." @
Eric Bernazani (left),Tim Bovill, Patrick Mulloy and Marvin Simms made up the first class of cadets to enter Longwood's ROTC program after 9/11. After gradua1tion and being commissioned in 2006, they all spent time in Iraq. In 2008, Bovill, Mulloy and Simms gathered in Baghdad, where they posed for this photo in a palace formerly owned by Saddam Hussein.
Fitness Innovator
Alumna partners with Longwood to deliver physical education to high-school students in the digital age
whose daughter, an active athlete, sustained an injury and couldn't fulfill her physical education high-school requirement in a traditional class.
Conner-Gray's experiences at Longwood taught her to seek a solution-not lament the problem. "My Longwood education developed my sense of responsibility for making things better," she said of her motivation to create OnFit, an innovative, online health, physical education and optional driver education course aligned with state and national standards. Conner-Gray, of Midlothian, partnered with Longwood to develop the course, which allows enrolled students to earn high-school credit while engaging in health and physical education plans within their abilities.
IJOne student can't participate in PE class after sustaining a concussion. Another is a gymnast and needs an extra study period at school so he can practice four hours each evening.
It's critical that children devdop lifelong fitness habitsabout a third of children aged 6-19 are overweight or obesebut, for some teenagers, taking traditional physical education
Person of Interest
in school is challenging. Whether they are physically injured, have schedule conflicts from a rigorous academic schedule, have a medical condition or are simply homeschooled, many teens find themselves in need of nontraditional health and physical education instruction.
Enter Bonnie Conner-Gray '82, M.S. '94. By day, she's a health and physical education teacher at the James River Juvenile Detention Center in Goochland, where she works with a comprehensive, high-expectation education program that enables youth to leave the center better-equipped for a productive life. She's also a devoted Lancers fan and a mom
"Some students are able to exercise while they are rehabilitating a sports injury. Others need to swim laps at the local pool," said Conner-Gray. "Still others simply need a set fitness plan and sports/lifetime activities that work better with their particular schedule."
OnFit can be customized for any student, and the format allows instructors to provide individual attention. Students use training devices like heart-rate monitors and activitytracking devices to keep a fitness log.
The course launched through Longwood's College of Graduate and Professional Studies in March 2013. What ConnerGray is most proud of is that OnFit helps teenagers develop healthy habits that will last long after high school.
"In a lot of ways, students model adult behavior when they go through the OnFit program. By developing and adhering to a fitness routine and active lifestyle that work within their schedule or other limitations, they are really developing skills that will stay with them for a lifetime. That leads co healthier, happier adults," she said.
Cwrenrly, students enrolled in the program are taught by experienced, Virginia licensed, health and physical education teachers, but Conner-Gray and Longwood administrators hope to add mentors from the university's graduate programs to support chat role, helping graduate students gain valuable experience. -Matthew M cWilliams
Milestone Reunion set for April 2015
The annual Milestone Reunion will be held April 17-18, 2015. The classes of 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960 and 1965 will be welcomed back to c:ampus to reconnect with friends and see what's new on the Longwood campus. About 75 alumni from the cla:sses of 1939, 1944, 1949, 1954, 1959 and 1964 and their families enjoyed the 2014 Milestone Reunion.
For more informat ion, contact the Office of Alumni Relations (434-395-2044, alumni@longwood.edu) or visit longwoodlink.com.
Make your next gathering of Longwood classmates and friends a bit more special with Longwood LootLongwood-themed goodies for your guests! Request a box of Longwood Loot by emailing (alumni@longwood.edu) or calling the Office of Alumni Relations at 434-395-2044 with the details for your event. Be sure to give us at least two weeks notice. All WH ask in return is for you to email us a high-resolution photo taken at your gathering.
Longwo o d Traditions
Alumni Relations engages students and raises awareness through videos and posters
Jeris Hill Johnson '88 remembers fondly the once-a- month birthday dinners in the old dining hall.
"We would have steak and shrimp, and thc:y would bake a huge cake. We could get a piece-or two, or three," Johnson said in an interview for videos about Longwood traditions being made for the Alumni Relations office.
In one of two projects designed to boost student engagement, Johnson , an Alumni Board member, was one of 15 alumni-ranging from the Class of 1977 to the Class of 2014-asked to reminisce on camera. The result will be six short videos, one each focused on the following themes: involvement and leadership, traditions, honor code, the Rotunda, meal times and holidays.
"We want students to realize early on that they'll be Longwood alumni for the rest of their lives," said Nancy Shelton '68, associate vice president for alumni relations. "We want them to be engaged for more than just their four years here."
The videos, which will be completed by multimedia direc-
tor Andrea Dailey this spring, are primarily for students but also will be posted on Facebook for alumni. They also may be used in Longwood Seminar sections.
"We're excited about the videos, which is something fun and should be engaging to students," said Jen Cox, director of commuter life, who is working on both of this year's student engagement projects with Shelton and Larry Robertson '90, dean of students.
In the other project, called " Bulletin Board in a Bag," eight different informational posters about Longwood traditions, buildings and customs were offered in fall 2014 to resident assistants to be displayed in residence halls. The posters were designed by David Whaley, director of design.
The projects, being done this year in collaboration with the Office of Residential and Commuter Life, are part of an ongoing effort to make students more aware of their future alumni status, the Alumni Relations office and the Alumni Association. - Ken t Booty
Send us your Class Notes
Longwood magazine has a Class Notes section with personal and professional news about our alums. If you have recently gotten a promotion or a new job, celebrated the birth or adoption of a child, gotten married or received an award, please tell us about it so we can share it with your classmates.
Please provide the following information:
For all submissions: full name, year graduated, degree received, contact information.
For weddings: date of ceremony, spouse's name, spouse's degree and class year if Longwood alum.
For births/adoptions: full name of child (including last name), date of birth/adoption, parents' names, parents' degrees and class years (if Longwood alumni; both parents do nc,t have to be alums).
For awards: title of award, name of sponsoring organization , when you rec:eived the award and why.
For professional news: current job title, company, location of company, when promotio,:i received or new job started.
Please email your submissions to: alumni@longwood.edu
Bonnie Conner-Gray '82, M.S. '94
Jeris Hill Johnson '88 (left), Jake Milne '99 and Amanda Renwick Lloyd '04 appeared in alumni videos.