Monitor, Byron Morgan, FoothillsForum/Rappahannock News, Sarah Hazlegrove, Dave Hooper ’00, FXBGAdvance, Sam Hovan, TheKenbridgeVictoriaDispatch, Victoria Kindon, Mike Kropf ’14, Nicole Perkins ’05, Paula Prouty ’85, Justin Pope, Pam Soddu ’73, SoVaNow.com
Advisory Board
Wade Edwards, Larissa Smith, Courtney Hodges, Victoria Kindon, David Locascio, Justin Pope
Board of Visitors
Ronald O. White, Rector Midlothian, Virginia
Fabiola Aguilar Carter Richmond, Virginia
Vellie Dietrich-Hall Charlotte Court House, Virginia
Kathleen M. Early ’92 Richmond, Virginia
Charles Fagan ’87 Manakin-Sabot, Virginia
Nadine Marsh-Carter Richmond, Virginia
Jeffrey Nottingham Raleigh, North Carolina
Kristie Helmick Proctor ’04 Mechanicsville, Virginia
Ricshawn Adkins Roane Great Falls, Virginia
Kathryn Roberts ’97 South Boston, Virginia
David Rose Richmond, Virginia
Brian Schmalzbach Midlothian, Virginia
Shawn L. Smith ’92 Richmond, Virginia
Editorial offices for Longwood magazine are maintained at the Office of University Marketing, Communications and Engagement, Longwood University, 201 High Street, Farmville, VA 23909. Telephone: 434-395-2021; email: browncs2@longwood.edu. Comments, letters and contributions are encouraged.
Printed on recycled stocks containing 100% postconsumer waste.
To request this magazine in alternate format (large print, braille, audio, etc.), please contact Longwood Disability Resources, 434-395-2391; TRS: 711.
Published August 2024
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Summer is a great time to find meaningful moments to relax and recharge. It also gives me an annual chance to reflect on the aspects of Longwood that have traditionally been our strengths, and how we may draw on them to ensure the Alma Mater thrives into the far future.
One of those great strengths is the family of alumni that pour so much into this university, not only philanthropically but also through their time, energy and achievement. We had a chance to celebrate seven of them this spring at the annual Alumni Awards dinner, always a pleasure and delight to attend.
Commencement weekend this year was also a chance to mark our strengths, as we celebrated a class of graduating seniors whose high-school graduation ceremonies were canceled in the wake of the pandemic.
We also took the opportunity during Commencement weekend to celebrate two nationally important milestones that have deep roots here in Farmville and Prince Edward County: the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision, which included a case from Prince Edward that stemmed from the historic 1951 student strike at R.R. Moton High School, and the 60th anniversary of Griffin v. Prince Edward County, which forced the county to fund and reopen desegregated public schools. We celebrated those whose lives were impacted by the struggle for equal access to education in a special ceremony the Sunday after Commencement.
Our strengths are most fundamentally the people who make up the Longwood family—from the strong and academically gifted freshman class that will join us this fall, to the thousands of alumni who hold the Alma Mater close to their hearts, to the faculty and staff who turn the gears of this great institution daily.
In the midst of shifting ground nationally, that strength is recognized as critical to the future of our Commonwealth and country. In July, CNBC named Virginia its No. 1 state for business, citing specifically as one of its greatest assets Virginia’s top-of-the-nation public education system, of which Longwood is a standout part.
I hope that you enjoy this issue of the magazine and that you will make plans to return to campus for Homecoming this November, where we can celebrate together.
All my best,
W. Taylor Reveley IV President
President Reveley (right) with the 2024 Longwood Alumni Awards winners: Mary Beth Wusk ’88 (left), Travis Lyles ’15, Paige Turnes ’94, Dr. Ken Perkins, Janie Wall Evans ’67, Dr. Peggy Childress Agee ’75 and Patti Bowman Carey ’82.
New rector brings previous experience on Board of Visitors
Longwood’s Board of Visitors voted unanimously in May to elect Ron White as rector for the 2024-25 year.
White, who is vice president for member and public relations for Southside Electric Cooperative, served for more than two decades in the U.S. Army in roles including military aide to the U.S. ambassador to Haiti.
He is currently in his second four-year term on the board, succeeding Katharine Bond ’97, who leaves the board after completing a maximum two terms. White served as the board’s vice rector in 2022-23 and his first four-year term from 2010-14.
The board also unanimously elected its executive committee for 2024-25: Jeff Nottingham, vice rector; Shawn Smith ’92, secretary; and Ricshawn Adkins Roane, member-at-large.
In June, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced three new board members whose terms began July 1:
• Kathleen Early ’92, corporate secretary of Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and past president of the Longwood Alumni Association
• Charles Fagan ’87, president and CEO of Velera
• David Rose, senior vice president and manager of public finance, Davenport & Co.
In March, Youngkin appointed Vellie Dietrich-Hall, president and CEO of HPS Enterprises, to complete a vacated term ending in 2026.
Student tour guides answer questions and demonstrate Longwood’s friendliness during campus tours for prospective students and their parents.
Playing to Our Strengths
Largest freshman class since Covid expected this fall
In the midst of a year that had unexpected national delays and challenges, Longwood is on pace to bring in this fall its largest freshman class since before the Covid pandemic, building on an expanding reputation, the authenticity of the Longwood “brand” and an emphasis on customer service that translates to personal engagement with students and families.
One of the biggest challenges facing all colleges and universities in this admissions cycle were the changes to and delays in the rollout of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), a complex document that must be filled out for all students seeking help paying for college.
Longwood faced down this challenge with a seemingly simple strategy, said Dean of Admissions Jason “Ferg” Ferguson, M.S. ’12.
“They live in the areas where they work, which means they can go to band concerts or basketball games or highschool plays and develop much deeper
WE DOUBLED DOWN ON WHAT WE ARE GOOD AT, AND WE’RE GOOD AT HELPING PEOPLE.’
—JASON ‘FERG’ FERGUSON, M.S. ’12 DEAN OF ADMISSIONS
“We doubled down on what we are good at, and we’re good at helping people,” he said. “I say it all the time: The reason people have such a good feeling when they walk away from campus is that we are genuinely who we are.
“So when the FAFSA delays started impacting the cycle, we started communicating with families and students often. The Financial Aid Office offered virtual or in-person one-on-one sessions with anyone—and I mean anyone—who needed to talk it through.”
Another factor contributing to Longwood’s success this cycle was the restructuring of the Office of Admissions to base counselors in primary recruitment areas instead of in Farmville.
relationships with students than they could previously,” said Nicole Gilson ’18, associate director of admissions.
More challenges are almost certainly in store for higher education, but Longwood is well-positioned to face them, said Ferguson.
“The college admissions landscape is shifting, there’s no doubt about it, and every college and university—no matter the size—is dealing with that. What’s encouraging is that Longwood has a great sense of momentum, and there is the desire for the college experience that we offer.”
Ron White
Top of Mind
Student focus attracts new business dean
Dr. Khawaja Mamun is the new dean of Longwood’s College of Business and Economics, stepping into that role earlier this summer from Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, where he was associate dean of the Jack Welch College of Business and Technology.
During Mamun’s visit to Longwood, the feeling of family he found on campus and the commitment of faculty to students galvanized his desire to lead CBE into its next chapter.
students in and beyond the classroom. What he finds most rewarding, however, is having a positive and lasting impact on the lives of students.
His values align with ours at Longwood, where we put student success ... at the center of all we do.’
—
DR. LARISSA SMITH PROVOST AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Mamun has an extensive record of developing and growing undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as nurturing external partnerships, recruiting and mentoring faculty, and working collaboratively across the institution to support
“His values align with ours at Longwood, where we put student success— from admissions to graduation—at the center of all we do,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Larissa Smith.
Longwood joins top U.S. colleges in citizenship initiative
LONGWOOD HAS JOINED a growing list of colleges and universities across the country in a consortium dedicated to preparing students to be engaged citizens and uphold free expression on campus.
College Presidents for Civic Preparedness, part of the national organization Institute for Citizens & Scholars, is dedicated to preparing the next generation of well-informed, productively engaged and committed citizens; defending free expression, civil discourse and critical inquiry as essential civic norms; and increasing thoughtful engagement and better understanding by students for the effective functioning of our democracy.
Longwood joins three other universities in Virginia in the consortium—the University of Virginia, University of Richmond and James Madison University—as well as many of the top-ranked liberal arts colleges and universities in the country.
Citizenship has been central to Longwood’s mission for nearly two centuries.’
— PRESIDENT W. TAYLOR REVELEY IV
College Presidents for Civic Preparedness highlighted two of Longwood’s citizenship-focused initiatives: the Civitae Core Curriculum, which focuses on developing skills that are put to use as students gain insight on issues by considering a variety of perspectives, and the university’s work with the Teagle Foundation for faculty development in teaching the foundations and mechanics of American democracy.
“Citizenship has been central to Longwood’s mission for nearly two centuries,” said President W. Taylor Reveley IV. “The north star of a Longwood education is meaningful engagement and inquiry with different viewpoints, perspectives and experiences through Civitae, our core curriculum. I’m delighted to join my colleagues at other institutions to advance these values.”
“Higher education has a responsibility to provide students with critical civic skills and knowledge to participate effectively in our constitutional democracy,” said Rajiv Vinnakota, president of the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, a nonprofit that cultivates talent, ideas and networks that develop young people as effective, lifelong citizens.
Dr. Khawaja Mamun
Hot Spot
Men’s basketball heads to the Caribbean
this fall for national tournament
November 2024 will find the Longwood men’s basketball team headed to the U.S. Virgin Islands for one of the nation’s premier nonconference basketball tournaments.
The tournament, set this year for Nov. 22-25, brings together eight teams from across the country, with this year’s field featuring, in addition to Longwood, Kansas State, Liberty, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, George Washington, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), McNeese State and Illinois State.
Past Paradise Jam champions include University of Connecticut, Purdue, Baylor and Maryland.
The Lancers will open the tournament when they face off against fellow NCAA Tournament competitor UAB at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, November 22, at the University of Virgin Islands Elridge Blake Sports and Fitness Center in St. Thomas. Longwood’s participation in the tournament demonstrates the growth and ever-expanding national footprint of the Lancers as one of the nation’s premier mid-major basketball programs under head coach Griff Aldrich. For the first time in history, the team has won at least 20 games in three straight seasons, and the Lancers are one of 24 mid-major teams in the nation to have made multiple trips to the NCAA Tournament in the past three seasons.
For hotel and ticket packages, go to www.longwoodlancers.com/paradisejam fanpackages.
Student-athletes score big with academic honors
Longwood student-athletes once again were sensational in the classroom, excelling in academics with a 3.37 GPA on the year that tied the record set just one year ago.
Nearly 77 percent of the student-athlete population—or 191 student-athletes—finished with a GPA of 3.0 or better to earn Big South Conference Presidential Honor Roll honors. Twenty-two of those students also nabbed Commissioner’s Award honors for a perfect 4.0 GPA.
On the team level, 15 of Longwood’s 16 teams posted a GPA above 3.0. And 110 undergraduate student-athletes earned either Dean’s List or President’s List honors from Longwood (graduate students are not eligible).
Elite Competitor. Zoe Tierney ’25 will represent Longwood field hockey at the 2024 Senior Nexus Championship. The championship features elite collegiate and post-collegiate athletes who trialed and trained at a USA Field Hockey High Performance Center. Senior Nexus is a step along the Olympic Development Pathway Program, providing players an opportunity to be selected for the U.S. 2024-25 teams. As a midfielder for the Lancers a season ago, Tierney tied for the team lead with four goals and four assists. She started all 18 matches and played huge minutes in the middle of the Lancer formation. In addition, head coach Miranda Rigg will be coaching one of the teams at the Senior Nexus Championship, and assistant coach Jordan Page will help select the U-21 teams as well.
Awards Season
AT
LONGWOOD, SUMMER IS THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE LONGWOOD ALUMS IN LEADING ROLES
ILLUSTRATIONS
BY KATHY JUREK
Mary Beth Friga Wusk ’88
Distinguished Citizen Leader Alumni Award
IEach year the Longwood Alumni Awards honor graduates and friends for their outstanding contributions toward the betterment of the university, their communities and society.
These individuals have distinguished themselves professionally and personally through their careers, their loyalty to the alma mater, their positive influence on the lives of others and philanthropic achievements.
Selected by the Longwood Alumni Board, the 2024 recipients are exemplary role models who inspire others to put into practice the ideals and principles of citizen leadership valued by Longwood.
n her 35-year (and counting) career at NASA, Mary Beth Friga Wusk has accumulated a seemingly endless list of accomplishments.
To name a few: chief engineer at the NASA Engineering and Safety Center’s Langley Research Center; program and project manager for multiple projects addressing NASA’s complex technology development projects on aircraft, suborbital launch vehicles, low earth orbit satellites and platforms targeting the moon and beyond; creator of the BIG Idea Challenge, an annual engineering design competition for college students; and inventor of the patented Lightweight Flexible Thermal Protection System for Fire Protection, a technology designed to help save the lives of forest firefighters.
She’s gone a long way, but she’s never forgotten Longwood’s role in her journey. As an undergraduate, Wusk enrolled in Longwood’s Dual-Degree Engineering program, completing a three-year degree in physics, followed by two years at Old Dominion University to earn
a degree in electrical and electronics engineering. She was one of two women in the program at Longwood.
She began her career at NASA working on the hangar floor as a flight instrumentation engineer in the same building where the iconic Katherine Johnson, a human computer during the Apollo era, once worked.
“I understand the critical importance of diversity and inclusion,” she said. “I find great purpose in inspiring and equipping the next generation. Whether on the hangar floor or in the conference room, we all benefit from having people with diverse perspectives to tackle the technical challenges we face.”
Even with all her professional accomplishments, she said, “I’d like to be remembered as someone who dedicated her efforts to helping students in STEM achieve success.”
The Distinguished Citizen Leader Alumni Award recognizes alumni who have achieved outstanding success and national distinction in both their personal and professional life. It is the highest and most prestigious award bestowed by the Alumni Association. —Amy Whipple ’05, M.A. ’07
Travis Lyles ’15
Rotunda Outstanding Young Alumni Award
When Travis Lyles graduated from Longwood with a degree in communication studies in 2015, the top five social media platforms included Facebook Messenger, TimeHop and Periscope. There was no TikTok or Instagram Reels.
Fast forward almost a decade, and Lyles, the deputy director of social and off platform curation at the Washington Post, now oversees a social media team of about 10 people responsible for producing and distributing news across a panoply of platforms.
“Ten years ago social media was obviously a thing, but it wasn’t even close to what it is now,” Lyles said. “Most of the platforms that I work with were either nonexistent or in their infancy back then.”
He credits his Longwood education with preparing him to not only survive but thrive in the rapidly evolving field of news media and journalism—and for giving him a strong foundation in leadership that has helped him climb the ladder in his career.
“Citizen leadership was always at the forefront, and that’s something that I have taken with me throughout my career,” he said. “I lead a large team now, and they look to me every day to be their leader and to point them in the right direction. That leadership muscle was first developed at Longwood.”
Since graduating, Lyles has returned to campus to speak to comm studies classes and pay forward the mentorship he received as a student from faculty, including Jeff Halliday, current department chair. “[He] invested in me from day one and really saw something in me,” Lyles said.
The Rotunda Outstanding Young Alumni Award is presented to an alum under 40 years old who has demonstrated excellence in their career or in citizen leadership. —Lauren Whittington
Paige Turnes ’94
Distinguished Professional Achievement Award
Paige Turnes values three elements of leadership: doing herself what she asks of members of her team, remaining humble throughout mistakes and unknowns, and always being ready for the next step.
“Act the part, be the part, and you will have the part,” says Turnes.
Most of her career has been with Apex Systems, a global technology services company. She joined the company in 2001 as assistant controller and was promoted to chief financial officer in 2015.
Since she joined the company, Apex has grown from $38 million in annual revenue to over $2 billion. Headquartered in Glen Allen, Virginia, it began as a privately held IT staffing services company and later merged with and became a division of ASGN, Inc., then a NASDAQ-traded IT services and solutions company. Turnes was on hand for the opening bell when ASGN moved to the New York Stock Exchange. Apex Systems is now in more than 70 markets around the world.
Asked how she contributed to this growth, Turnes noted her deep under-
standing of the industry and financial agility. She also values investing in relationships and fostering a collaborative work environment, something she experienced while a student at Longwood and a member of the professional business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi.
“I learned a tremendous appreciation for my talents and, more importantly, my voice. When you speak, you want to make sure it’s meaningful,” she said, adding that taking risks, when warranted, also is key.
She credits these insights with helping her achieve success in a predominantly male field, and she pays it forward by mentoring and developing women throughout ASGN.
“My best gift to the world is helping women to grow both professionally and personally, become financially independent and have great careers,” Turnes said.
The Distinguished Professional Achievement Award recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves in their professions and as role models for future generations of citizen leaders.
—Amy Whipple ’05, M.A. ’07
Patti Bowman Carey ’82
Nancy B. Shelton Spirited Contributor
Award
Dr. Peggy Childress Agee ’75
Humanitarian Alumni Award
Three decades after Peggy Agee earned a B.S. in speech pathology, she was instrumental in creating Longwood’s speech-language pathology graduate program, which puts a heavy emphasis on hands-on clinical experiences.
Through Longwood’s Speech, Hearing and Learning Services, she launched Camp Jump Start, a preschool language and literacy summer camp for 3- to 5-year-olds. It eventually morphed into a year-round program that helped graduate students gain valuable experience working with preschoolers. Later she developed a similar program for elementary and middle-school children who needed support with spelling and writing.
“I want to believe that the preschoolers and the elementary-age kids who came [to these programs] developed confidence and skills that helped them do their schoolwork.”
Agee came back to work full time at her alma mater in 1999, teaching
If someone wants to find Patti Carey, there are two places on campus to look other than her office in Hiner Hall—Starbucks and the Joan Perry Brock Center during basketball season.
But those two venues represent something much larger than her love of coffee and basketball: her devotion to her alma mater and the success of its students.
On the first day of class, Carey, executive director of the McGaughy Professional Development and Internship Center and a lecturer in business communications in the College of Business and Economics, extends an open invitation to students to meet her for coffee at Starbucks at any time—her treat. Even nonbusiness students reach out and arrange appointments to talk over career advice or anything else.
“It’s amazing how many students take me up on that,” she said. “It allows me an opportunity to get to know them on a different level.”
The recipient of the Nancy B. Shelton Spirited Contributor Award displays a
undergraduate classes in the communication sciences and disorders program and later serving as the program’s coordinator. Previously she worked for Appomattox County Public Schools as a speech-language pathologist and as a preschool teacher.
In honoring her former colleague, Dr. Lissa Power-deFur, professor emeritus of communication sciences and disorders, noted the significance of Agee’s contributions to children in Southside Virginia and that she had prepared hundreds of students to be top-quality clinicians during her many years at Longwood.
Agee retired from Longwood in 2015— but not really. She continued to teach classes online in the speech-language pathology graduate program until last year.
The Humanitarian Alumni Award honors alumni who have enriched the lives of others and improved the welfare of their communities through selfless dedication to service for the good of others.—Lauren Whittington
high degree of professionalism, is a dedicated teammate who fosters collaboration and cooperation among colleagues, and goes above and beyond job responsibilities to selflessly serve their alma mater. That description fits Carey to a T. Carey, who had a distinguished career in corporate human resources prior to joining Longwood, attends every home basketball game, where she cheers on the same Lancers she sees daily in class.
“Her dedication to our growth and development is truly inspiring,” said Trey Hicks ’24, a member of the men’s basketball team. “Her positive energy and smile radiate through the business school as well as the university as a whole.”
Like most alums, the close-knit community and genuine relationships are what Carey treasures most about Longwood. “I love the fact that we build relationships with students. Graduation day is bittersweet because it feels like I’m losing family members,” she said, “but it’s exciting at the same time.”—Lauren Whittington
Janie Wall Evans ’67
Page Cook Axson McGaughy Lifetime Loyalty Award
For more than two decades, Janie Wall Evans has been committed to the cause of college affordability, serving as director of a program that promotes scholarships for young women.
The cause is personal for Evans, who was able to finish her Longwood education with the help of a teaching scholarship. Now she is helping other students pursue their dreams.
“Through unwavering dedication and philanthropic contributions, Janie and her husband, Ron, have demonstrated a deep commitment to the success and well-being of our student body,” said Amy Harris ’96, MBA ’19, associate vice president for development, institutional advancement. “Their support through the Evans Family College of Education, Health, and Human Services Scholarships and the Janie Wall Evans Scholarship has opened doors for deserving students, enabling them to achieve their fullest potential.”
The Evanses have also been significant supporters of Longwood’s basketball programs.
“We became real rabid basketball fans,” Janie Evans said. “We saw all the positive things that could come out of a good basketball program—not just basketball.”
Men’s basketball head coach Griff Aldrich has gotten to know the Evanses and has seen their passion for the university up close.
“Janie truly represents so much of what is good at Longwood—her joy, her loving nature, her friendliness and her care for others,” Aldrich said. “Through their investment in programs such as basketball and other campus initiatives, they are having a lasting impact, not only on this university but on future generations.”
The Page Cook Axson McGaughy Lifetime Loyalty Award honors alumni volunteer service to the university through active participation in alumni or university affairs, faithful and continued support in expanding the influence and prestige of Longwood University, and a history of philanthropic giving to Longwood.—Lauren Whittington
Dr. Ken Perkins Honorary Alumni Award
In a video tribute honoring Dr. Ken Perkins at the 2024 Alumni Awards dinner, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Larissa Smith lightheartedly joked about the lengthy list of professional titles he accumulated during his 39-year career at Longwood.
But beyond the plethora of hats Perkins wore as a teacher, scholar and administrator, Smith noted his loyalty and devotion to Longwood.
“Only alumni love Longwood more than Ken does,” Smith said. “So it’s fitting that he is the recipient of the Honorary Alumni Award.”
The Honorary Alumni Award is presented to individuals who are not alumni but who have given extraordinary service to the university and who, through their deeds and actions, reflect the values of a true citizen leader.
A native of rural middle Georgia, Perkins arrived at Longwood as an assistant professor of sociology in 1984.
Over nearly 40 years, his roles have included chair of two departments, interim vice president for academic affairs, vice president for academic affairs, and director of development for academic priorities and provost emeritus. He also served as acting president for a short stint in 2012.
was established in 2022. In his remarks at the awards dinner, Perkins acknowledged several people who were key figures along his career path at Longwood: Peggy Golubic, Dr. Don Stuart, Dr. Frieda McCombs, Dr. Bill Frank and Dr. Carolyn Wells.
Perkins earned degrees from Middle Georgia College, Valdosta State University and Virginia Tech and briefly taught at Radford University. But he considers Longwood home.
“Longwood is the only place that I have ever thought of as my alma mater. That’s the feeling I’ve had for decades,” Perkins said, adding that the alumni award is among the greatest honors he has ever received.
Perkins retired in 2023, but he continues to support the university and its mission in myriad ways, including through the Kenneth B. Perkins and Marie Hoge-Perkins Scholarship, which
Ken’s blood truly is Longwood blue. He believes in ... our mission and our purpose of educating citizen leaders.’
—Courtney Hodges, Vice President for Institutional Advancement
“Ken’s blood truly is Longwood blue,” said Courtney Hodges, vice president for institutional advancement. “He believes in, and dedicated his career to, our mission and our purpose of educating citizen leaders.” —Lauren Whittington
Jake Keely
ACTIVITIES INT
MAJOR Business administration/finance
HOMETOWN Mechanicsville, Virginia
WHAT’S NEXT Underwriting Training Program, Markel
COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT Dr. Frank Bacon, finance faculty. “Sophomore year I walked into his Principles of Finance class, and I was hooked. His passion for teaching and ability to engage students is what inspired me to switch my concentration to finance.”
ATH Athletics
BE Brock Experiences
CHC Cormier Honors College
INT Internship
RES Research
PKP Phi Kappa Phi
SA Study Abroad
V/CS Volunteer/Community Service
Keep reading to find out more about the destinations in store for the Class of 2024.
ALUE-ADDED DIPLOMAS
LONGWOOD’S HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES— INCLUDING THE STUDENT INVESTMENT FUND—GIVE THE CLASS OF 2024 AN EDGE
BY SABRINA BROWN
When Longwood’s Student Investment Fund members decided to buy Nvidia stock in 2022—and then sold a sizeable chunk of it earlier this year for a more than 200 percent return—it wasn’t play money they were using.
“It’s a pretty unique experience. It’s not a simulation. It’s real money that we’re investing,” said Jake Keely ’24, a business administration/finance major who was fund manager from October 2022 through the end of the spring 2024 semester.
The Student Investment Fund—which is run like a student organization and is open to all majors—is one of the stars in Longwood’s constellation of hands-on, real-life experiences. Created with a gift of $250,000 in 2002, the fund’s value was $1.65 million at the end of this academic year, said Keely.
With an investment strategy that involves just the right amount of risk, the fund’s goal is to outperform the S&P 500 average. They checked that box in 2023 with a 27.35 percent return compared with the S&P average of 26.29 percent. And the decisions leading to that rate of return were all made independently by students in the group, which this year had about 15 active members, Keely said.
Charles Clemente ’24, who will graduate in December, is one of the students contributing to those decisions, including the investment in Nvidia, a company that makes a powerful computer graphics card. He said he’s proud of the fund’s growth over the 18 months he’s been involved.
“In less than a year we were able to grow it by $500,000. It was such a sense of accomplishment and a sense of pride,” he said, adding that he believes the collaborative nature of the group’s decision making is key to the fund’s success. “Everyone gets a say; everyone gets a vote. It has to be a majority that wants to buy or sell. We all have different backgrounds and different knowledge and experience. That’s the strength of the club.”
We all have different backgrounds and different knowledge and experience. That’s the strength of the club.’
—CHARLES CLEMENTE ’24
Referring to the fund’s faculty advisor, professor of finance Dr. Frank Bacon, and its stockbroker, Brad Watson of Davenport & Company in Farmville, Keely said: “They’re pretty much hands-off until we come to them with a question. When it comes to investing, they let the students make the decisions.”
Keely said he’s glad the group is leaving a healthy fund for the students who will follow in his footsteps. As for his plans, after graduating in May, he headed to an underwriting training program to prepare him for a career as an inland marine underwriter with Markel, a global specialty insurance provider.
His experience with the Student Investment Fund definitely caught the attention of the companies who interviewed him during his job search—even though he wasn’t heading to Wall Street—and Keely thinks it gave him an edge in landing the position he wanted.
“In every interview I had, it was brought up,” Keely said. “They were super interested to hear about the club and what we do.”
I had the great opportunity of serving as the teaching assistant for the entire [communication
sciences and disorders] undergraduate program ...
.’
— BILLY HOLDEN ALLEN ’22, M.S. ’24
Billy Holden Allen ’22
ACTIVITIES INT PKP RES V/CS
LONGWOOD GRADUATE PROGRAM Master of Science in communication sciences and disorders/speech-language pathology
HOMETOWN Concord, Virginia
WHAT’S NEXT Ph.D. in communication sciences and disorders, Florida State University
PREP SCHOOL “I had the great opportunity of serving as the teaching assistant for the entire CSD undergraduate program, … [which] gave me a wealth of experiences that not only aided in my acceptance into a Ph.D. program but also my overall preparedness for working later in the field.”
COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT Dr. Ronda Walker, communication sciences and disorders faculty. “[She] served as a great inspiration and support in completing my thesis, providing me with incredible insights relating to diversity in our field and becoming a successful self-advocate.”
ATH Athletics
BE Brock Experiences
CHC Cormier Honors College
INT Internship
RES Research
PKP Phi Kappa Phi
SA Study Abroad
V/CS Volunteer/Community Service
Molly Flynn
ACTIVITIES ATH/lacrosse CHC INT SA V/CS
MAJOR Business administration/accounting
HOMETOWN Laurel, Maryland
WHAT’S NEXT Tax consultant, Deloitte, Baltimore, Maryland
ONE GOOD THING LEADS TO ANOTHER “My internship at Deloitte led to a full-time job right out of college. Without Longwood, I would not be where I am today.”
TRAVEL AGENCY “Learning about sustainable tourism during my study abroad in Costa Rica showed me how important it is to protect the environment and to avoid mass tourism.”
COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT Dr. Dawn Schwartz and Dr. Becca Wetmiller, accounting faculty. “These women have played a significant role in my life. They both are extremely willing to support their students, and they care about our success.”
Sarah Hazlegrove
Courtney Vogel
Devon Shifflett
ACTIVITIES CHC INT RES SA V/CS
DEGREES History (B.A.); music/piano performance (B.M.)
HOMETOWN Palmyra, Virginia
WHAT’S NEXT Master of Music in piano performance with a concentration in piano pedagogy, University of North Carolina Greensboro
LESSONS FROM THE 11TH CENTURY “I was humbled to be the first student to represent Longwood at the summer academic program held at Oxford University, St. Peters College. I took two courses: Conquest and Colonization in 1066, and Arthurian Legend. It was an honor to study at such a prestigious college and participate in their ancient traditions and customs.”
COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT Dr. Lisa Kinzer, music faculty. “Dr. Kinzer not only nurtured my musical growth but also provided unwavering support and guidance, and has been the best mentor, teacher and friend I could have asked for.”
I love how Longwood encourages all students to participate in civic engagement ... .’
—KE’ASIA NICHOLS
’24
Ke’asia Nichols
ACTIVITIES INT
MAJOR Nursing
HOMETOWN Baltimore, Maryland
WHAT’S NEXT Oncology nurse, Virginia Commonwealth University Health
CITIZENSHIP TRAINING GROUND “I love how Longwood encourages all students to participate in civic engagement and to develop into leaders by giving back to our surrounding communities.”
COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT
WITHOUT Sharon Biggers, Shawn Clements, Madison Gaines and Mandy Lewis, Office of Financial Aid. “When I walked into that office three years ago, each of you took me in, whether as a daughter or a little sister. Y’all made my time at Longwood a lot less stressful.”
Courtney Vogel
Lauren Cerretani
ACTIVITIES ATH/lacrosse INT
MAJOR Nursing
HOMETOWN Great Falls, Virginia
WHAT’S NEXT Nurse, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, UVA University Hospital
GIFT EXCHANGE “I was a member
The Longwood Company of Dancers
… was my first sense of home on
campus.’
—MACKENZIE
GRIFFITH
’24
Mackenzie Griffith
ACTIVITIES BE CHC INT RES
MAJOR Kinesiology
HOMETOWN Franklin, Virginia
WHAT’S NEXT Doctor of Physical Therapy, Duke University School of Medicine
ALL THE RIGHT MOVES “The Longwood Company of Dancers was the first organization I joined and was my first sense of home on campus. I knew I did not want to stop dancing after 14 years, and I am so thankful to have been able to continue my dance journey with so many amazing people.”
COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT Dr. Tim Coffey, exercise science faculty. “I am so thankful for Dr. Coffey’s mentorship. He pushed me to be the best student I can be and provided me with the opportunity to present my research at a regional conference twice.”
ATH Athletics
BE Brock Experiences
CHC Cormier Honors College INT Internship
RES Research
PKP Phi Kappa Phi
SA Study Abroad
V/CS Volunteer/Community Service
Courtney Vogel
Courtney Vogel
Corbin McCloud
ACTIVITIES ATH/baseball CHC INT SA
MAJOR Business administration/finance
HOMETOWN Chesapeake, Virginia
WHAT’S NEXT Portfolio analyst and investment operations, Capital Group
BUSINESS SENSE “[I was involved] with the Longwood Small Business Development Center, where I analyzed and assisted small businesses with their financial situations and forecasted future models for baseline measurements.”
COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT Dr. Frank Bacon, Dr. Yiwei Zhao and David Zirkle, College of Business and Economics. “Special thanks to [them] for the persistent challenge yet inspiration in my pursuit of academic success. I attribute my success greatly to the countless professors and mentors over the course of my time at Longwood.”
Alayna Palamar
ACTIVITIES ATH/soccer CHC INT RES SA
MAJORS Biology and psychology
HOMETOWN Smithsburg, Maryland
WHAT’S NEXT Ph.D. in neuroscience, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
MAD SKILLS SCIENTIST “I was a part of the lab where researchers study maternal behavior in the rat. Being in this lab … allowed me to learn a variety of new laboratory skills, how to effectively communicate scientific literature and the opportunity to carry out and test my own hypotheses.”
COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT Dr. Adam Franssen, biology faculty. “Not only was Dr. Franssen a mentor in the lab, but he also helped me through the process for applying to graduate programs.”
Dr. Franssen … helped me through the process for applying to graduate programs.’
—ALAYNA PALAMAR ’24
Phil Robinson*
ACTIVITIES INT
MAJOR Communication studies
HOMETOWN Richmond, Virginia
WHAT’S NEXT Leadership gift officer, Office of Development, Longwood University
LIVING THE GREEK LIFE “I pledged to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. My brothers always held me to a high standard while also giving me the unconditional support that I never knew I needed. My parents always told me to surround myself with people who would make me better, and that is exactly what I did.”
COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT Mary CarrollHackett, English faculty. “Transitioning into college is a tough experience for anyone at any school. Luckily one of my first professors was Ms. Mary Carroll-Hackett. She saw the light in me from the moment I walked into her class, and she challenged me each day to be better than the one before.”
*December 2023 graduate
ATH Athletics
BE Brock Experiences
CHC Cormier Honors College
INT Internship
RES Research
PKP Phi Kappa Phi
SA Study Abroad
V/CS Volunteer/Community Service
Samia Alshammaa
ACTIVITIES INT
MAJOR Health and physical education
HOMETOWN Ashburn, Virginia
WHAT’S NEXT Master of Health Ad ministration, Milken Institute of Public Health, George Washington University BONDS THAT STICK “Longwood is not only a university—it is a family. The friendships and bonds that I have formed will forever stick with me through the thick and thin of life.”
COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITH OUT Dr. Amanda Blaisdell, health education faculty. “As I am entering … graduate school, I know I will contin ue to reach for the stars because of Dr. Blaisdell. I know … I will always have a helping hand and a person to lean on, as well as someone to push me to be the best me.”
HEAR ABOUT PHIL’S PEER MENTOR EXPERIENCE
Sarah Hazlegrove
Caleigh Waddell
ACTIVITIES INT RES SA
MAJOR Anthropology
HOMETOWN Manassas, Virginia
WHAT’S NEXT Master of Letters in museum studies and cultural heritage, University of St Andrews, Scotland
DIGGING UP HISTORY “My internship was with the Prince William County (Virginia) Planning Office. I undertook digitizing and transcribing the entire WPA (Works Progress Administration) records for the county, worked with cemetery management and preservation, and documented a historic cemetery for the future. They later hired me for additional work— and pay!”
COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITH -
OUT Dr. Brian Bates, anthropology and archaeology faculty. “His continual support in and out of the classroom has been instrumental in my success. He made sure I took things seriously when I needed to but that I let loose and laughed when the time allowed.”
Jackson Ornoff
ACTIVITIES BE CHC INT RES V/CS
MAJOR Computer science
HOMETOWN Chesapeake, Virginia
My big thing is, when I have a career, I never want to have a day where I question the morals of what I’m doing.’
—JACKSON ORNOFF ’24
WHAT’S NEXT IT position with Operation Smile International, a nonprofit that provides free cleft surgeries to patients around the world.
A CLEAR CONSCIENCE “My big thing is, when I have a career, I never want to have a day where I question the morals of what I’m doing. I always want to be helping and doing good work.”
360-DEGREE WORLDVIEW “My Brock Experience sent me to study the Trans-Alaskan [oil] Pipeline. You never really consider all the sides of a given problem until you converse with people who have a real stake in the issue’s possible solutions. It completely changed my worldview.”
COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT Dr. Robert Marmorstein, computer science faculty. “Dr. Marmorstein was my rock. Without his reassurance when I was struggling, his help when I needed it and his interest in all of my projects, I likely wouldn’t have graduated as a computer science major.”
WATCH
Sarah Hazlegrove
Courtney Vogel
Alexis Pendleton
ACTIVITIES INT PKP RES
LONGWOOD GRADUATE
PROGRAM Master of Science in educational leadership
HOMETOWN Culpeper, Virginia
WHAT’S NEXT Dean of students, Sycamore Park Elementary School, Culpeper
WHEN SCHOOL’S NOT OUT FOR SUMMER “I completed a capstone research project titled ‘Summer Slide: the Effectiveness of a Summer Academy Program in a Title I School.’ My research provided me with an opportunity to think critically, reflect on existing theories and contribute to the knowledge surrounding this field.”
COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT Dr. Sarah TannerAnderson, educational leadership faculty. “Her passion for the field, coupled with her unwavering support, inspired me to strive for excellence in all aspects of my studies.”
Andrew Messick
ACTIVITIES ATH/soccer CHC INT SA
MAJOR Business administration/management
HOMETOWN Dumfries, Virginia
WHAT’S NEXT Master of Science in business analytics, William & Mary
OPTIMAL INTERNSHIP “In my internship with RAMP Optimal Performance and Wellness in Annandale, Virginia, I was given the responsibilities of project manager and had the opportunity to oversee four kinesiology interns. I also gained experience working in accounting and finance and with legal documents.”
COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT Patti Carey, business and economics college staff. “She has an open-door policy and was always willing to discuss life, leadership and how to further the development of Longwood through business college involvement.”
ATH Athletics
BE Brock Experiences
CHC Cormier Honors College
INT Internship
RES Research
PKP Phi Kappa Phi
SA Study Abroad
V/CS Volunteer/Community Service
CeJay Morgan
ACTIVITIES CHC INT Political science
HOMETOWN Culpeper, Virginia
WHAT’S NEXT Juris Doctor, University of Richmond School of Law
SHARING THE LONGWOOD LOVE “The ability to speak [with prospective students] so freely about why I loved the education I received at Longwood, and to hopefully inspire future Lancers, was an experience that I will never forget.”
COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT Dr. Eric Hodges, political science faculty. “Beyond teaching me and helping ensure that I was on track to graduate, he provided immense support for my journey as a student here … and into law school.”
Sarah Hazlegrove
Courtney Vogel
Courtney Vogel
Commemoration Celebration and
Longwood marks civil rights anniversaries— and honors the generation of Prince Edward County students who made history
BY MATTHEW McWILLIAMS MAJOR PHOTOGRAPHY BY COURTNEY VOGEL
Commencement weekend 2024 was a time to look forward while celebrating the past that has shaped our campus and community in profound ways.
This year marked two milestone legal anniversaries that have deep roots in Farmville: the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision, which included plaintiffs from Prince Edward County, and the 60th anniversary of Griffin v. Prince Edward County, which reopened Prince Edward public schools and helped secure the right to equality of opportunity in education for Americans.
(continued on Page 20)
(above, right)
President W. Taylor Reveley IV greets Alfred Cobbs (left) and Freddie Cobbs, honorary diploma recipients, after the ceremony, which was held in May on the Sunday after graduation.
Honorary diploma recipient Brenda Lee shares a joyful hug with a friend.
The celebrations of Commencement took their cue from those anniversaries, with graduation addresses given by and honorary degrees presented to two civil rights heroes: Joan Johns Cobbs, who, as a young student at Moton High School, joined the historic 1951 strike and was a plaintiff in Brown v. Board of Education, and A.E. Dick Howard, who as a young law clerk helped Justice Hugo Black write the decision in the Griffin case
The culmination of the weekend took place in a campus ceremony on Sunday, May 19. In that historic gathering, the university honored with tributes and honorary degrees the civil rights heroes who took part in the Moton strike, were locked out of public schools during the period of Massive Resistance and who were denied admission to Longwood until the mid-1960s.
“Because of what you did here, public education is still a reality in Virginia,” said keynote speaker L. Francis “Skip” Griffin, who was among those locked out of the public schools when they were closed from 1959-64 and also is the son of Rev. Francis L. Griffin, H. ’19, who served as counselor to generations of Moton students. “Because of what you did here, Black children can go to Longwood and the University of Virginia and William & Mary and Hampden-Sydney. They can get B.A.s; they can get master’s degrees; they can get doctorates. Some of our own children—even though we were locked out or had to find other ways to go to school—some of our own children are now possessors of doctoral degrees and hold proud positions in universities and other organizations.”
A Generational Moment
Moton Museum Executive Director Cainan Townsend ’15, M.S. ’20, (right) congratulated honorary diploma recipients, including Ardeania Ward (center), as they exited the stage area.
Thirteen-year-old Jayden Woodson (at right) had big shoes to fill at the ceremony honoring civil rights heroes from Prince Edward County. When the names of Jayden’s grandfather and uncle were called—“Vincent Lowell Earley and Lawrence Emerson Early, represented by a family member”—the proud teenager walked across the front of Blackwell Ballroom to shake President W. Taylor Reveley’s hand and receive the commemorative packets that would be followed up in the mail with honorary diplomas. Next in line was his grandmother, Shirley Nunnally Earley, who was locked out of public schools from 1959-64 and denied admission to Longwood College. “I wanted him to feel a connection to his grandfather and have a desire to live up to his standards and achievements,” said Jayden’s mother, LaTreasa Earley-Woodson, who watched from the audience. “It was a deeply emotional experience that highlights the interconnectedness of family, the importance of education and the enduring impact of legacy.”
Joan Johns Cobbs
A.E. Dick Howard
(left) For Nancy Nash Ford, receiving her honorary diploma was an occasion worth celebrating.
(below) Dr. L. Francis “Skip” Griffin, himself locked out of the Prince Edward County public schools during Massive Resistance, delivered the keynote address.
A Tall Order
With her perspective as an ER nurse, Kelsey Swegle ’22 decided there was no time like the present to tackle Mt. Everest. More on Page 24.
Courtesy of Kelsey Swegle
Three Generations and Counting. Families are known for passing down heirlooms. China, jewelry and even wedding dresses can remain in a family for generations. For one family, passing down their love of Longwood is just as important. Annie Lee Young Duff ’60 was first to fall in love with the university, then passed it down to her daughter, Annah Duff Bowen ’88, and her granddaughter, Ella Morgan Bowen Thompson, M.S. ’13 (mental health counseling). “My mother was a home economics major from Franklin, Virginia, and was the Apple Blossom Princess, vice president of Sigma Sigma Sigma and much more,” reports Annah Bowen, who earned a degree in elementary education at Longwood. “She is still very active in Longwood events.” And Bowen says there’s another potential Longwood alumna in the pipeline. “My granddaughter is 11 and is already talking about touring college campuses. Since she is familiar with Longwood, it is on her list!” The group is shown here during a gettogether in Fort Worth, Texas.
1940s
Nancy Hughes Clayborne ’48 and Esther Goffigon Maxey ’49 are together again at The Lodge at Old Trail in Crozet, Virginia. Clayborne’s daughter wrote to provide her mother’s new address, adding, “She wants to make sure she doesn’t miss any issues of your magazine.” Both Clayborne and Maxey earned degrees in home economics at Longwood.
1960s
Janis Wilhelm Carrell ’69, an English major at Longwood, died March 26, 2024. Her obituary paints a vivid picture of her life and her many accomplishments. “… Growing up, Janis wanted to be an architect, but there was no college nearby with an architecture program for women. Instead, Janis became a well-loved English teacher at Thomas Dale High School after graduating from Longwood University in 1969 and moving to Richmond, Virginia. Janis greatly valued her Longwood education and later served on the Longwood University Foundation Board of Directors. She continued her education at the University of Richmond, where she obtained a Master of Humanities degree in 1975. For many years, Janis focused her attention on being home with [her children], while also remaining active as a community volunteer. Through the Historic Richmond Foundation, she helped save numerous historic buildings from destruction. … When [her children] were older, Janis returned to full-time professional work and served as the executive director of Virginia CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), where she helped abused and neglected children have their voices heard during court proceedings.”
1980s
Dr. Deborah Marshall ’86 graduated from the University of New England with a Doctor of Education degree in December 2023. Her Longwood degree is in business education.
Dr. Joyce Fitzgerald Hurt ’89, M.A. ’92 (literature), was elected secretary of the Ellinor G. Preston Coordinating Council of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, an honorary organization comprising women educators. The council oversees the work of the organization’s chapters in a geographic area stretching from north of Richmond into Southside Virginia. The Kenbridge Victoria Dispatch also reported that Hurt, who holds a doctorate from VCU, retired in 2022 after teaching English 33 years at Prince Edward County High School and the Governor’s School of Southside Virginia. After retiring, she established Hurt’s Educational Consulting and Editing Services LLC, consulting with high schools and with high-school students working on their college applications. Her undergraduate degree from Longwood is in English.
1990s
Bart Mitchell ’90 received the 2023 Ralph Stokes Award at the Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance sales conference in March 2024. The 33year veteran agent was recognized with the highest honor for his decades of dedication, service and mentorship. Mitchell majored in business administration/management at Longwood.
Dennis E. Hale III ’91, chief of fire and emergency medical services for Dinwiddie County, retired July 1, 2024, after nearly 20 years of service. A former high-school math and physics teacher, he began his career as a firefighter in 1995 in Chesterfield County, the Dinwiddie (Virginia) Monitor reported. He returned home to Dinwiddie County in 2004 as division chief of public safety. Hale’s Longwood degree is in physics.
Stephen Russell Conner ’93 died March 9, 2024. In his obituary, his family describe him as “a loving husband, stepfather, brother, son, uncle and successful entrepreneur. Steve was a renaissance man who always had a new hobby to discuss, including the latest college football or basketball standings, economics, investing, metal smelting, coin collecting and the importance of green juice. Steve was a proud graduate of Longwood University and a member of Delta Tau Chi, known for his love of history, lifeguarding in the Outer Banks and great physique.” Conner’s Longwood degree was in history.
Charlaine Coetzee Hirst ’95 was named to the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) list of the Top 50 LPGA Teachers for 2024-25. The list identifies and recognizes the best LPGA instructors from more than 1,900 LPGA certified professionals worldwide. Hirst is an LPGA Global Education team evaluator and instructor, and chair of the LPGA National Education Committee. She is an LPGA Professional (Class A) and owner of Charlaine Hirst Golf.
Dwayne Jefferson ’97 was named the 2024 Pacific Principal of the Year by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Pacific region. Jefferson is the principal of the Sullivans School in Yokosuka, Japan, which is the DoDEA’s largest school in the Pacific region. Principal of the Sullivans School since 2023, Jefferson joined DoDEA in 2014 as a math support specialist and moved into administration as an assistant principal in 2015, then accepted his first assignment as a principal in 2017. In addition to his Longwood degree in business administration/marketing, Jefferson holds a master’s degree in public administration from Central Michigan University and a master’s degree in elementary education from Virginia State.
Jennifer Melton ’98, the career counselor at Hanover High School, was named a Counselor of the Year by the Potomac and Ches-
(continued on Page 24)
LONGWOOD’S 1 HOUR
A MONTH program is a volunteer experience designed for alumni and friends. You’ll be rewarded with exclusive Longwood swag depending on your level of participation. Find out more at go.longwood. edu/1hour.
A Good Showing
Longwood is well-represented in Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary organization of outstanding women in diverse educational fields whose mission is to empower women educators to advance inclusion, educational excellence, altruism and world understanding. In attendance at one of the group’s recent conventions were Longwood alumnae from the classes of 1968 to 2021. Laura Salmon Beaton ’86, who sent in the photo, writes: “The love of Longwood and the education we received there is still relevant in our lives.” Pictured are (front row, from left) Kate Barber Lyda ’81, Lora Bleutge Buckman ’86, Elizabeth Hume Roberts ’03, Debbie Waldron Carter ’74, Laura Salmon Beaton ’86, Liz Conner Riffey ’83, Carol France Carter ’77, Kathy Flint Garrett ’74 and Debbie Furmage Massie ’78; (middle row, from left) Sara Badgett ’11, M.S. ’21, Cindy Riser Nicol ’83, Josie Lassiter Collier ’70, Donna Taylor Lythgoe ’79, Kris Neumann Rushing ’77 and Debbie Corns Wilkerson ’74; (back row, from left) Conway Clarke Blankenship ’76, Gloria Avery Starck ’78, Penny Browning Robertson ’03, Kim Zachary Norman ’83, Lori VanLandingham Pegelow ’87, Hortense Mitchell Liberti ’68 and Betsy Griffin Walker ’07
The Buddy System
When are kickball, basketball and baseball much more than a game? When they’re part of the Buddy Ball program and giving children with disabilities the opportunity to experience being a member of a team. Dr. Matthew Lucas ’94 (center), a professor of health and physical education at Longwood, has been running the Buddy Ball program in his spare time for the last 15
years. Participants practice basic skills and participate in modified games. Longwood students volunteer and assist in running the programs, and additional support comes from Farmville Parks and Recreation and Prince Edward Farmville Youth Association. The program is free for participants. This photo of players and volunteers was taken in April 2024 at the last game of the year.
Courtesy of Laura Beaton ’86
Courtesy of Dr. Matthew Lucas ’94
Carpe Diem. Nursing graduate Kelsey Swegle ’22 shared this about her adventure in Nepal. “A coworker of mine was talking about how epic it would be to hike to [Mt.] Everest Base Camp. As an ER nurse, we see a lot of life and death, and you never know when your time may come. So with that mindset, we decided to just jump at the opportunity and book the trip. A nineday trek up to EBC, four days down, and a trip of a lifetime accounted for. I met people from all over the world and learned all about Nepal’s culture and traditions by fully immersing myself into their community. We danced, sang and enjoyed the Nepalese cuisine. By no means was it easy, but it was undeniably worth it.”
Stefanie Mancuso Norris ’08, who earned a political science degree at Longwood, and her husband, Jason Norris, welcomed their second son, Jack Jason Norris, on Nov. 17, 2023. She reports that their son Peter, 5, is a “proud big brother.” Photo courtesy of Stefanie Norris ’08
Do you know a Longwood alum who deserves to be recognized for their good works? Nominate them for an Alumni Award at go.longwood.edu/ alumniawards
apeake Association for College Admission Counseling. The honor recognizes her as one of the best counselors in Virginia, the District of Columbia, Maryland, West Virginia and Delaware through her work advocating for students. Melton, who has been a school counselor for 18 years, came to Hanover County in 2022. Before becoming a counselor, she taught eighth-grade civics and economics.
2000s
Robyn Fuller Hantelman ’01, M.S. ’06 (education-community and college counseling), a registered peer recovery specialist and peer trainer, is the director of treatment and recovery at Encompass Community Supports, serving the Culpeper, Virginia, area. She was an Alpha Gamma Delta at Longwood and earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology.
April Watson ’06, a licensed clinical social worker, is deputy director of human services for the city of Lynchburg, Virginia. Working directly with families, the courts and city employees, she provides direct clinical services and supervisory consultation for programs focused on adults with disabilities, children experiencing trauma, and foster and kinship parent education and support. A social work major at Longwood, she is the Democratic candidate for the Ward IV seat on Lynchburg’s City Council in the November election.
Melissa DeJarnette Chumney ’07 is the principal of Mecklenburg County Middle School. She previously served as assistant principal at South Hill Elementary School. Chumney told SoVaNow.com that she credits Longwood with giving her “the knowledge and skills necessary to excel as an elementary teacher and later as a Title I teacher.” Her Longwood degree is in elementary education; she also earned a master’s degree in administration and supervision from Old Dominion University.
Tracie L. Morgan ’09 is deputy town manager for Amherst, Virginia. Previously the (continued
Courtesy of Kelsey Swegle
town’s treasurer and office manager, she is responsible for many improvements in town operations. She oversaw the conversion of the accounting system, improved the transparency and implementation of the budget, managed capital and policy-oriented projects, and was an important factor in maintaining Amherst’s status of one of a handful of towns that manage to provide a high level of service while forgoing real estate and personal property taxes.
Amanda Weakley, M.A. ’09 (English-education and writing), is the director of the Rappahannock County (Virginia) Library. She joined the library in 2011 as a youth services librarian and was named library director in 2020. “I have always loved books, lifelong learning and education,” she told Foothills Forum/Rappahannock News. “My education and experiences have provided me the opportunity to work in a field I love and give back to the community.”
2010s
Andrea Candea-Carroll ’10 was recognized by Longwood’s theatre department as the 2024 Theatre Teacher of the Year. Candea-Carroll, who has taught at H.H. Poole Middle School in Stafford, Virginia, since 2011, was nominated by Longwood student Aidan Brown ’26. “Ms. Candea is why I am who I am today,” he said, reading aloud from his nomination letter during a surprise visit to H.H. Poole Middle School to present his former teacher with the award. “She impacts students in all settings at all times.”
Acey Ossman Holmes, M.S. ’11 (communication sciences and disorders), founder and CEO of BoredLess, a company that helps professionals rediscover the power of play. She shares the journey of rediscovering playfulness to avoid hustle culture and achieve a fulfilled life in her TEDx event titled “Play: the Cure for Burnout.” With a background in pediatric speech pathology, Holmes has studied and experienced how play can enhance learning, creativity and well-being for children and adults alike. “My goal is to inspire professionals to embrace a more playful and flexible approach to work, ultimately leading to higher productivity and job satisfaction.”
Tucker Dowdy ’12 and Colton Konvicka ’16, both of whom majored in business administration/real estate and finance at Longwood, are now working together in commercial real estate at Commonwealth Commercial Partners LLC in Richmond. Dowdy, a senior vice president and partner in the firm, specializes in office, medical and investment real estate. Konvicka, a senior vice president, specializes in industrial, flex and investment real estate sales. “When I was looking to get into the real estate brokerage business, Tucker helped mentor me on how to set myself up for suc-
An Inspirational Diagnosis
A diagnosis of breast cancer in 2018 was the inspiration for The Night of Christmas Miracles, a children’s book written and illustrated by Pam Roy Soddu ’73. The diagnosis “caused me to hit the pause button in my life,” she said. “I thought about the things most important to me and the messages I wanted to share with my family.” She called the book a “legacy of love” for her children and grandchildren, all of whom are featured in the book’s illustrations, and a “dream come true” for her. “It just proves that we are never too old to dream,” she said, adding that all proceeds from the sale of the book will go to charity. Soddu, whose Longwood degree is in elementary education, taught kindergarten for almost 30 years in Chesterfield County, Virginia.
Leading by Example
Longwood’s Call Me MISTER program invited veteran educator Kelli Trent Stenhouse ’99 (center) to be the guest speaker at the program’s end-of-year recognition ceremony held on campus in April 2024. Call Me MISTER provides resources and support aimed at preparing young men for impactful careers as elementary, middle- or high-school teachers. Stenhouse is the organizational development specialist with the Prince William County Schools Department of Human Resources, where she manages and implements the school division’s Growing Our Own Teachers in PWCS initiative, which works through programs including Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow and Educators Rising. In her 24 years as an educator in multiple Virginia public school divisions, she has served as a middle- and high-school English, history and drama teacher; instructional coach; and professional development specialist. In addition to her Longwood degree in liberal studies/elementary education, she holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from VCU.
Courtesy of Pam Soddu ’73
Inner Beauty
She entered the pageant not for a crown but for the chance to speak out about child hunger. She got both.
JENNA ADAMS ’23 decided to enter the Miss Martinsville-Henry County Pageant this year because of a peanut butter sandwich.
Spoiler alert: She actually won the pageant.
Now back to that peanut butter sandwich.
A 2-year-old boy was eyeing it enviously one day at lunchtime when he sat down next to Adams at Little Angels, the early learning center she owns and where she’s a teacher.
This little boy had some serious behavior issues. “I would go home with scratches and bites and bruises,” said Adams. Still she cared about him, and she couldn’t say no when he asked for half of the sandwich she had brought for lunch that day.
“He ate it in two bites, so, of course, I gave him the other half, too,” said Adams. “He went down for his nap, and, when he woke up, he was an angel for the rest of the afternoon.”
What made the difference? That peanut butter sandwich. No longer hungry, the boy’s true nature could shine through.
The experience opened Adams’ eyes to the hunger and poor nutrition many young children in her home community—and right at Little Angels—were experiencing every day and how it was impacting their lives. At one point she even received a note in an empty lunchbox from a parent asking if she could feed their child that day.
Adams opened Little Angels when she was a full-time student in Longwood’s early childhood education program at Martinsville, so she is no stranger to running a child-care center. From one staff member (herself) and 10 children, Little Angels has grown to five employees and 35 children in just a few years.
Jenna
starving all day long?” she wondered. “Parents are struggling, and we are struggling to help the parents.”
Looking for a solution, she and some of her friends who were active in pageants and looking for community service hours started a food pantry at Little Angels called Tiny Tummies. But it became clear to Adams that the problem was much bigger than Little Angels and her food pantry.
And that’s where the Miss Martinsville-Henry County Pageant came in. An active pageant contestant as a teenager, Adams had left that world behind when she started college and her child-care center. Now something completely different was drawing her back in.
At public school, children get free breakfast, free lunch, free snacks. Why can’t we help children when they’re 2 and starving all day long?’
— JENNA ADAMS ’23
“I knew that I had to bring awareness to this issue. I had something I needed to talk about,” she said. She thought the pageant and—if she won—the platform she would have as Miss Martinsville-Henry County would give her the perfect opportunity to speak out about child hunger to a wider audience.
But finding a way to provide good nutrition and keep her students from going hungry was a bigger challenge. Adams discovered that centers like hers—private businesses that primarily serve children too young for public school—do not have access to free state and federal food programs that schools do. Some of the resources that are available require an upfront outlay of cash by the center with no guarantee of full reimbursement—often an insurmountable challenge for a small business.
“At public school, children get free breakfast, free lunch, free snacks. Why can’t we help children when they’re 2 and
It started with the pageant’s interview component.
“This girl has something to say,” Adams recalled telling the judges. “My kids are going home hungry every single day. And there’s no fix.”
At the end of her interview, four of the six judges, some of them men, were “absolutely sobbing,” she said.
Adams also competed in the Miss Virginia pageant in June, hoping for an even higherprofile platform for spreading the word about child hunger. She was not the winner, but her passion for fighting against child hunger has not dimmed.
“I told my mom, ‘I’m going to do whatever it takes to get this issue recognized.’ It has already brought so much awareness in Martinsville and Henry County.” —Sabrina Brown
Adams ’23, Miss Martinsville-Henry County 2024
Courtesy of Jenna Adams ’23
(continued
cess, sharing his experiences and which qualities were important to him,” said Konvicka, who eventually joined Commonwealth in 2019, six years after Dowdy started there.
Dr. Shelby Furman ’16 is the director of food and product safety programs for FMI (formerly known as the Food Marketing Institute). FMI works with and on behalf of the entire industry to advance a safer, healthier and more efficient consumer food supply chain. Furman, who earned a chemistry degree from Longwood and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Tennessee, works on issues related to chemical contaminants in food and packaging, with a focus on providing technical expertise for science-based policies to regulate these substances and support for FMI members in regard to compliance.
Autumn Childress ’18 was promoted to Good Morning Richmond at ABC affiliate WRIC, where she had been a reporter and weekend anchor. She started at the station as a morning reporter in May 2020. Bernie Ritter, WRIC news director, said: “Autumn has proved to be an enterprising journalist, delivering exclusive and impactful stories. Those skills paired with her performance at the desk make her a perfect addition to the GMR team.” For Childress, who earned a degree in communication studies at Longwood, Richmond is more than where she works—it’s home. “I grew up here, did Girl Scouts here, played basketball here. I mean, this community is my home,” she told GMR anchor Delaney Hall shortly after her move to the show was announced. “My mom was the anchor of Good Morning Richmond for nearly two decades. … [I’m] speechless, honestly, to have watched her do this my entire childhood and to now sit in the same seat that she was sitting in—I mean, it’s a surreal feeling.”
Alexander McKesson ’18 and Kelsi Forehand McKesson ’18 have been busy since
(continued on Page 28)
SEND US YOUR CLASS notes. If you have any news from your professional or personal life, we’d love to hear about it. Please email the details to us at alumni@longwood.edu
Remember to give us your full name, the year you graduated and the degree you received.
It Runs in the Family
2024 Region 8 Teacher of the
Year follows in her mother-in-law’s footsteps
Cumberland County Public Schools art teacher Emily Wilson Overstreet ’06 was named Region 8 Teacher of the Year in May 2024.
But she is not the first Longwood alumna named Mrs. Overstreet to receive the accolade from the Virginia Department of Education.
Her mother-in-law, Rachel Nunnally Overstreet ’74, M.A. ’84, who taught English at Prince Edward County High School for 47 years and retired in 2021, was selected as the 1997 Region 8 Teacher of the Year. She was the first teacher from Prince Edward County Public Schools (PECPS) to receive the regional recognition.
When Rachel Overstreet was helping
art teacher. “There’s so much emphasis put on math and reading that sometimes you feel like the arts get left out a little bit. So this was the surprise of a lifetime.”
Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons described Emily Overstreet as a strong advocate for educators and for arts education.
“As an arts educator, Mrs. Overstreet taps into her students’ creativity and builds their confidence through her highly engaged, highly collaborative approach,” Coons said. “She is an inspiration to her students and colleagues at Cumberland Elementary School.”
Emily Overstreet’s Longwood degrees are in graphic design and art education. Her husband, Longwood alumnus David
Rachel Nunnally Overstreet ’74, M.A. ’84 (seated), was selected as Region 8 Teacher of the Year in 1997. Her daughter-in-law, Emily Wilson Overstreet ’06, earned the same honor 27 years later.
Courtesy of Emily Overstreet ’06
Good Times, Best Friends
Through weddings, births and shared vacations, a group of Zeta Tau Alpha sisters from the Class of 1985 have remained close friends since graduation. “We all met our freshman year in 1981, and we lived on the same hallway in Curry,” writes Traci Goodwyn Jones. “We became great friends and have continued our friendship through the years, getting together at least once a year if not more. All our children have grown up together, too, becoming friends as well.” Gathering at Santa Rosa Beach to celebrate each other’s 60th birthdays were (front row, from left) Lori McGuire Ferguson, Judy Kiker Anders, Lana Hobbs Witiak and Whitney Phillips Nelson; (back row, from left) Traci Goodwyn Jones, Theresa Colangelo Vest, Martha Liberty Cyr and Robin Wingen Phillips.
(continued from Page 27)
Do you know a Longwood alum who deserves to be recognized for their good works? Nominate them for an Alumni Award at go.longwood.edu/ alumniawards
graduating from Longwood. Alexander, a political science major at Longwood, received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2022. He was admitted to the Oklahoma State Bar that year and the North Carolina State Bar in 2024. Currently he is national underwriting counsel for National Tribal Title Services, a subsidiary of First American that specializes in providing title insurance for sales and acquisitions of land by tribal nations and entities around the country. With a degree in psychology and neurostudies from Longwood, Kelsi started her career in the clinical research industry, specializing in oncology and cardiology medical research. After earning her clinical research certification in 2020, she began working as a clinical research monitor for oncology studies across the U.S., protecting patient participant rights and research integrity. Most notably she worked on approval for Selumetinib in pediatric use, which showed promising results in treatment of brain tumors. She currently is a data analyst for Norstella, a medical data conglomerate. Married in 2020, the couple live in Raleigh, North Carolina, and welcomed a daughter, Theadora, into their family in 2023.
Tayvon Simmons ’18 is a desktop support (IT) specialist at the University of Lynchburg, but his interests range far wider than computer technology. He shared that his hobbies include Brazilian jujitsu, which he’s been studying for about 11 years. “And lastly, I have been trying to break into the world of voice acting. I am currently working on getting my first audiobook narration published, and I am waiting to record for an animated series that I can’t fully talk about just yet but is very much in the works.” After earning his Longwood degree in criminology and criminal justice, Simmons worked on Fort Barfoot as a diplomatic security officer for the Foreign Affairs Security Training Center and as an IT specialist. He then worked at Nottoway Correctional as a data analyst and procurement specialist.
Kayla Penner Wade ’18 is a certified registered nurse anesthetist working in Roanoke,
(continued on Page 30)
Courtesy of Traci Jones
Group Effort
Alums work with organization to ease transition to college
Five Longwood alumni have joined forces in a mission to support students who need help in transitioning to college life.
They’re working through The 3:20 Scholarship organization, which was founded in 2018 by Longwood communication studies graduate DR. DARRIEN JAMAR ’14. Among those working with Jamar are fellow alumni PIERRE SOMORAY ’14, vice president, a business administration graduate; MALLORY GREENE WILLIS ’15, secretary, a therapeutic recreation graduate; and board members KASEY HADDOCK ’14, liberal studies/elementary education, and MIGUEL LEAL ’14, business administration.
Though providing scholarships is a big part of 3:20’s mission—more than $75,000 has been awarded to 30 students since the organization’s founding—there’s much more to it than that. Connecting first-year college students with mentors and sending them care packages throughout the year also are part of the support recipients receive.
Graduating high-school seniors from Arcadia, Nandua and Chincoteague high schools with proof of acceptance and enrollment into a college or university, as well as Eastern Shore Community College, are eligible to apply.
THE SCHOLARSHIP AIMS TO PROVIDE MORE THAN JUST EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT. WE AIM TO HELP THE SCHOLARS THINK ABOUT WHO THEY ARE AS A PERSON AND WHAT DIFFERENCE THEY WANT TO MAKE IN THE FUTURE.’
— MALLORY GREENE WILLIS ’15
Jamar, who bore all of the financial responsibility for getting their college education, said their own difficulties in college inspired them to start The 3:20 Scholarship. “I experienced a lot of financial hardships. As a result of that financial strain, I experienced a lot of emotional turmoil.”
Helping students avoid that trauma is the goal, Willis added. “I can attest to the amount of support this scholarship provides during a critical transition in life. The scholarship aims to provide more than just educational support. We aim to help the scholars think about who they are as a person and what difference they want to make in the future.”—Sabrina Brown
Longwood alumni working together on the 3:20 Scholarship team are (clockwise from upper left) Miguel Leal ’14, Mallory Greene Willis ’15, Dr. Darrien Jamar ’14, Kasey Haddock ’14 and Pierre Somoray ’14.
In Memoriam
1940s
Ella Smith Harrell ’48 Aug. 9, 2023
Eleanor Farmer Dennis ’49 March 13, 2024
Nancy Rushing Senn ’49 April 9, 2024
1950s
Marian Roselle Breeden ’50 May 20, 2024
Mary Crowgey Pafford ’50 April 12, 2024
Nancy Sprague Hartz ’51 March 1, 2024
Elsie Hawley Burkholder ’51 July 15, 2023
Nancy Hounshell Brame ’52 Sept. 11, 2023
Edith Goff Street ’52 May 21, 2024
Marion Thompson Thomas ’54 June 3, 2024
Else Wente Bunch ’54 March 6, 2024
Richard H. Daiger ’55 Feb. 16, 2024
Hilda Hartis Hall ’55 March 23, 2024
Sue Garber Stewart ’56 March 24, 2024
Jane Railey Chitty ’57 June 2, 2024
Lynne Higginbotham Kemper ’59 Oct. 27, 2023
Shirley Lucy Leyland ’59 May 24, 2024
1960s
Grace Ward Hillsman ’60 May 19, 2024
Sumner Riddick Pugh Jr. ’60 April 19, 2024
Melissa Rowe Sutton ’61 April 28, 2024
Barbara Howerton Saunders ’62 May 10, 2024
Emma Critcher Davis ’62 March 18, 2024
Susan Coe Epperly ’63 March 12, 2024
Jean Lowry Fuller ’63 May 8, 2024
Kay Nottingham Lee ’63 May 22, 2024
Judith Stuart King Flowers Short ’64 April 18, 2024
Ella Rosser Thomas ’64 March 29, 2024
Dolores Watkins Zborill ’64 April 17, 2024
Patricia Ogden Evans ’65 Feb. 2, 2024
Mary Neal Irby ’65 April 27, 2024
Peggy Shupe Cave ’67 March 27, 2024
Brenda Rucker Dellis ’67 March 29, 2024
Marcia Coggins Misenheimer ’68 March 23, 2024
Katherine Vaden Roller ’68 Feb. 24, 2024
Janis Wilhelm Carrell ’69 March 26, 2024
1970s
Suzanne Cross Harrell ’70 May 2, 2024
Denise Elizabeth Basham ’73 May 11, 2024
Jane Wooldridge Haley ’73 Feb. 25, 2024
Cornelia Nichols Deyerle ’74 June 1, 2024
James C. Dumminger ’74 March 8, 2024
Robin Harrison Campbell ’77 May 21, 2024
Bonny Buchanan Henderson ’77 April 9, 2024
Sandra Overby Flynn ’78 May 8, 2024
Velda Harrell Agee ’79 April 20, 2024
1980s
Joyce Lee Ray ’80 April 27, 2024
Harold Eugene Crenshaw Jr. ’82 June 15, 2024
Ann Davies Puryear ’82 May 7, 2024
Penny Richardson Grizzard ’83 Feb. 8, 2024
Cynthia Lewis Overstreet ’83 March 22, 2024
Tracy Erickson Moore ’84 Aug. 11, 2023
Judith Elaine Joyner Pruitt ’85 April 7, 2024
1990s
Tracy Anne Smith ’92 May 3, 2024
Steven Russell Conner ’93 March 9, 2024
Mark Raymond Denne ’94 March 17, 2024
Jennifer Gattari Beaupre ’95 April 29, 2024
2010s
Gary Wayne Grogan ’10 April 16, 2024
Faculty, Staff and Friends
Gary L. Atkins March 9, 2024
Shelly Shanaberger Farley March 22, 2024
Alan I. Kirshner March 17, 2024
Herbert Timothy Little April 24, 2024
Lewis R. Newby Sr. Jan. 26, 2024
William A. Owings Feb. 15, 2024
Lacy W. Powell April 17, 2024
Randolph N. Reynolds Sr. May 17, 2024
Archie D. Stuart Jr. March 5, 2024
Mary Lockamy Tatum April 11, 2024
(continued from Page 28)
Virginia. After earning her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Longwood, she worked as a medical ICU RN in Roanoke for three years, including in the Covid 19 ICU of the hospital where she was working. She then earned her Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in December 2023.
‘Being a school librarian is the greatest job in the world!’ Those were the first words of Crystal Hamlin ’19 (above) as she accepted the 2024 James Region School Librarian of the Year Award from the Virginia Association of School Librarians.
Crystal Hamlin ’19 (school librarianship endorsement) was recognized with the 2024 James Region School Librarian of the Year Award from the Virginia Association of School Librarians. The award recognizes Hamlin’s value as an instructional partner, her innovation as an information specialist and her continued advocacy for the library. As middle/upper-school librarian at the Steward School in Richmond, Virginia, she has worked to bring life to the library, lining up guest speakers, teaming up with local bookstores and creating student wellness spaces.
2020s
Mallory Odell ’20 was named assistant coach for women’s basketball at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She previously was an assistant women’s basketball coach at Northern Kentucky University. She was a member of the Longwood team for four years, earning two Big South All-Academic selections. Her Longwood degree is in business administration/management. She also completed a graduate degree in higher education leadership at Valdosta State.
Stephanie Willis ’22 is a laboratory technician for ThermoFisher Scientific in Middletown, Virginia, where she works in the immunology/immunoassay section of the lab. She is involved with the development of prod-
ucts that test for thyroid disease, heart attacks, heart disease, sepsis and adrenal disorders, helping doctors to accurately diagnose their patients. Willis was involved with numerous campus activities while at Longwood and completed a Senior Thesis research project under the guidance of Dr. Amorette Barber. “I would not be in my career today without all the guidance and skills that I received while at Longwood,” said Willis, whose degree is in biology. “The opportunities that I had as an undergraduate launched me into my career while also allowing me to continue being a citizen leader in my field of work.”
Jessica Genrich, MBA ’23, is the director of women and children’s services at University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH), a key component of the University of Maryland Medical System. Her career in health care began in 2004 as a labor and delivery nurse. She continued her journey through various healthcare facilities and joined UM SRH in 2021, initially serving as the interim nurse manager for women and children’s services.
Vega Overstreet ’23, a communication studies/digital media graduate, is a social media specialist with VisitNorfolk. Her responsibilities include managing a content calendar and actively engaging with the community at meetings and networking events. She also writes blogs and contributes content to Norfolk’s City Guide, as well as creating reels that showcase her skills in content creation. “I started making YouTube videos my freshman year of college and fell in love with the creative process behind it,” she said. “After meeting with Professor [Jeff] Halliday, I decided to switch to a communication studies major in digital media. It was definitely the best decision I made during my college career.”
Vega Overstreet ’23 (left) with her mother, Verna Tersol, an AVID educator with Virginia Beach Public Schools. The photo was taken when Tersol brought her students from Independence Middle School to Longwood for a campus visit. AVID is a college and career readiness class.
Gus Hemmer
Collector
of cartoons, lover of all things outdoors and former
trash collector
Director of campus recreation, Gus Hemmer is in his 16th year at Longwood. He oversees the Health and Fitness Center in Pierson Hall in addition to intramural sports and other campus recreation activities. When he’s not on the job, you can find him keeping himself fit, whether it’s on the treadmill, the pickleball court or the climbing wall.
I’M ORIGINALLY FROM a little bit all over but I grew up mostly in New Jersey in the suburbs of New York City, in a town called Caldwell.
MY FIRST JOB WAS when I was 8 years old. I picked up trash at a real estate agent’s complex when we lived in Pennsylvania, and I got paid a dollar per bag of trash around the site.
YOUR FAVORITE THING THAT’S ON YOUR DESK?
I’ve got some pins from doing volunteer work at the National Parks with our Alternative Breaks program.
LAST BOOK THAT YOU READ? Right now I’m reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead.
I HAVE THE MOST FUN WHEN I’m doing anything outside, really, especially when I’m trying something new outside whether it’s on a river or on a trail or on my bike.
FAVORITE LONGWOOD TRADITION? I really love Princeps and CHI and Cahoots. I like those because they are service-minded and student-run. So it’s not the university saying you’ve done something notable. It’s the students recognizing you, which is really meaningful to me.
FIRST THING YOU DO WHEN YOU GET TO CAMPUS IN THE MORNING? First thing typically is check my emails. There’s this concept called eating the frog first—if you have a lot to eat and one thing is a frog, you eat the frog first. So, if there’s a tough issue that I’ve noticed, I’ll deal with that first.
FAVORITE SPOT ON CAMPUS? The pecan tree right in front of the fitness center. That’s a great spot, whether I’m sitting under it eating my lunch or just walking past it. I really like that tree.
OFF THE CLOCK
They keep the lights on, the syllabi current and so much more— seen and unseen— around campus. The faculty or staff member featured here in each issue calls Longwood home—and not just during working hours.
MOST MEANINGFUL THING THAT YOU STILL HAVE FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD? I have little stick figure cartoons that my dad drew for us. My father used to send me cards with like 20 bucks in there and a little cartoon he had drawn: my brother saying something, my sister saying something.
I’D LIKE TO NEVER AGAIN go through Covid.
I’M VERY GOOD AT solving problems, puzzles, stuff like that.
I’M HORRIBLE AT remembering things.
I’D LIKE TO BUY THE WORLD a bicycle.
PEOPLE SHOULD TRAVEL TO the New River Gorge. It’s endless, and you can do whatever you want. We’ve been going up there for 20-something years and you can do different stuff every time. You can do all kinds of water levels, rock climbing, mountain biking. It’s really great.
WHICH PERSON FROM LONGWOOD (PAST OR PRESENT) WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH? I didn’t really get to know Dr. Patty Cormier when she was here. Our time only overlapped a little bit, but she seemed like a really hands-on president.
Illustration by
Fian Arroyo
YOUR IMPACT STARTShere
Your support makes the journey possible !
Your generosity has made a remarkable impact in the lives of our students here at Longwood.
Through your kindness and dedication, you have not only provided financial assistance, but also ignited a spark of hope and possibility in the hearts of those striving for a brighter future.
From empowering students to pursue their educational goals to providing enriching experiences that foster personal growth and discovery, your generosity touches lives in remarkable ways.
Your support is the foundation upon which our students’ dreams are built. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of our Longwood community!
Gratefully yours,
Penny Pairet Director of Annual Giving
Start here to make an impact:
“It’s so much more than classes and work; it’s about learning things that truly interest me, making friends, and seeing my future in nursing unfold.”
“This experience enhanced my leadership, teamwork, and communication skills.”
“I’ve learned the value of perseverance, teamwork, and giving back. It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m grateful for every moment.”
Your generosity gives Lancers a chance during a time when financial need is at its greatest.
Campbell Brandt ’27 Nursing Major
Trey Hicks ’25 Basketball Player and Business Administration Major
Alexis Lawson ’24
First-Generation Student and Elementary Education Major
201 High Street Farmville, VA 23909
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Center Stage
Commencement weekend provided the opportunity to honor a historymaking generation of Prince Edward County students, including James William Morton (left), and to mark two civil rights legal milestones with Prince Edward ties. Page 19
