Longwood Magazine - Autumn 2011 (Volume 10, No. 2)

Longwood

Lancers Everywhere

THE WORLD IS THEIR CLASSROOM

Volume 10, No. 2, Autumn 2011

A Magazine for the Alumni and Friends of Longwood University

From the Editor

It was nearly 12 years ago when I wrote my very first “ Letter from the Editor” for the inaugural issue of Longwood Magazine. That first issue, Vol. I, No. 1, was published in Fall 1999 and featured Dr. Jane Goodall on the cover. Dr. Goodall visited campus thanks to the efforts of the Student Government Association, the Alumni Association, and especially Longwood student, now alumnus, Yared Fubusa. Now, as our 20th edition of Longwood goes to press, I am writing my last “Letter from the Editor” as I am retiring from after serving as your editor and PR chief for the past 15 years.

In that first issue, Longwood “College” boasted an enrollment of 3,600 (now 4,800) and 22,000 alumni of record (now 31,000). There were many more changes to come, both good and bad, from our transition to university status and NCAA D-1 to the Great Fire of 2001 that tested the mettle of the entire Longwood family. There have been new bricks and mortar, including Brock Commons, a new science center, which would be named in honor of John H. and Karen Williams Chichester, ’74, a new health and fitness center, heating plant, Center for Communication Studies and Theatre, and, of course, a completely reconstructed Ruffner Hall built to the original archival blueprints with new amenities and infrastructure throughout. These are just a few of our more prominent campus additions that have been covered by Longwood Magazine.

Over the years, Longwood Magazine has been honored with major awards from the Public Relations Society of America, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, and other professional organizations. Additionally, the marketing / communications efforts of the Office of Public Relations have been recognized with major awards from the American Association of Museums (LCVA publications), the American Advertising Federation, and the Printing Industries of Virginia, among others.

Awards are nice, but the true success of Longwood Magazine and the Longwood Public Relations office is due to the people who work here. I have been honored to work with such a dedicated and professional group. Their longevity at Longwood underscores their commitment to your alma mater.

When I first began my job here in 1996, I had no office, no phone, and a PR staff of one – Kent Booty. Kent has been here so long that we like to kid him that his first press release was about Robert E. Lee’s retreat up High Street. But seriously, Kent has provided us with an historical perspective and continuity that is worthy of the generations of students who have become Longwood alumni.

As you may know, Kent also is an associate editor of Longwood Magazine, a role he shares with Gina Caldwell who has been with us for six years. Gina serves as primary communications liaison between Longwood and major external media outlets including print, radio, television and other electronic media, while initiating media and promotional programs that support our marketing plan developed by CRT/tanaka. Gina provides the media with story ideas, background, press releases, editorial copy, photography and other forms of communication that convey the story of Longwood in a positive manner. Gina is also our go-to person for crisis communications, a role that has become increasingly important in higher education today.

One of my first hires in the new PR office was David Whaley, who has done a superb job as our director of publications and visual arts. In addition to serving as creative director of Longwood Magazine, David’s support of the LCVA and the Longwood community has enhanced our fund raising and development efforts. David also serves on the national board of the University and College Designers Association Foundation.

At the other end of the longevity spectrum are James Rutter and Mary Jo Stockton, both key members of our web communications staff, which is under the exemplary leadership of Longwood alumnus Dave Hooper, Class of 2000. Dave has been with us since graduating from Longwood and has created one of the most dynamic web environments in higher education. Dave’s dedication to his alma mater is evident in every facet of his work – he exemplifies the concept of citizen leader.

Keeping us all on schedule and out of trouble is Cocheyse Gilliam, another Longwood alum and another long time Longwood employee. Cocheyse, who graduated from Longwood in 1997, has been with us since 1999. She manages the daily operations of the public relations office with particular emphasis on budgetary supervision of all PR accounts (state and foundation) including purchasing, accounts payable / receivable, procurement, and other budget matters including supervision of the CRT/tanaka marketing budget. Officially, Cocheyse is our office manager, but she does so much more, working with all of us – faculty, staff, and students – in a professional and collegial way. From writing to design, from media relations to special events, Cocheyse does it all. She is, indeed, the glue that holds this office together. We are very fortunate that Cocheyse has been with us for 11 years.

So, let me wrap up my last letter by saying that the state of the PR office is great and you have an excellent staff to carry on the good work of the past years and the legacy of Longwood will continue in Longwood Magazine.

Thanks, Longwood. It’s been a great ride.

On Our Cover: Longwood anthropology students living and learning in England. Read complete story, p. 3.

Dennis Sercombe Editor

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Contents 1 ON THE COVER

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President’s Message Living and Learning Abroad in England Since 2007, Longwood has offered the course Archaeology of England in Prehistoric, Roman and Medieval Times.

FEATURES

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Longwood @ Yellowstone National Park This General Education capstone course attracts students from all majors.

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Waterwalk: A Passage of Ghosts Longwood professor Steven Faulkner and his son re-created Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet's famous river journey.

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The Edward I. Gordon, M.D. Clinical Simulation Learning Center

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Nick Creasey, '13, is a member of the U.S. Paralympic Men's National Soccer Team.

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LANCER UPDATE

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Athletics News

ON CAMPUS

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Longwood News & Alumni Events

IN PRINT

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Recent Publications by Longwood Faculty, Staff, Students & Alumni

Longwood

is published twice a year for the alumni and friends of Longwood University by the Longwood University Foundation Inc. All materials Š Longwood University.

All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or full is strictly prohibited.

Comments, letters, or contributions can be sent to the Office of Public Relations, Longwood University, 201 High Street, Farmville, Virginia 23909.

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Telephone 434.395.2020, Fax 434.395.2825.

Address changes should be sent to the Office of Alumni Relations, Longwood University, 201 High Street, Farmville, Virginia 23909.

Telephone 1.800.281.4677, Fax 434.395.2825. on the web @ www.longwood.edu/longwood

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Printed on recycled stocks. No state funds were used to print this publication.

To request this magazine in alternate format ( large print, braille, audio, etc.), please contact the Longwood Learning Center, 434.395.2391; TRS: 711.

Contents

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Longwood Publisher Editor Creative Director Associate Editors Contributors

Longwood University Foundation Inc. Dennis Sercombe David Whaley Kent Booty, Gina Caldwell Brian Bates, PhD., ’92, Michele Bates, Duane Berger, Kathy Johnson Bowles, Beth Cheuk, Diane Easter, Cocheyse Gilliam, ’97, Alex Grabiec, ’07, David Hooper, ’00, James Jordan, PhD., Ron Logan, Cricket Gicz Morris, ’06, Greg Prouty, Paula Prouty, ’85, James Rutter, Nancy Shelton, ’68

Editorial Office

Longwood University Office of Public Relations 201 High Street, Farmville, Virginia 23909 telephone 434.395.2020 fax 434.395.2825 email pr@longwood.edu on the web at http://www.longwood.edu

Editorial Advisory Board

Longwood University

Dennis Sercombe, Chairman, Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications Kent Booty, Public Relations Writer and Photographer Bryan K. Rowland, Ph.D., Vice President for University Advancement Gina Caldwell, Media Specialist David Hooper, ’00, Director of Web Communications Greg Prouty, Associate Athletics Director for Media Relations Chris Register, Associate Professor of Art Nancy Shelton, ’68, Director of Alumni Relations David Whaley, Director of Publications and Visual Arts

Patrick Finnegan,

President

Marjorie M. Connelly,

Rector of the Board of Visitors

R. Kenneth ‘Ken’ Marcus, Ph.D., ’82, Stephen R. Meyers, ’83, Board of Visitors

President of the Longwood University Foundation Inc.

President of the Longwood University Alumni Association

Marjorie M. Connelly, Rector, Richmond, Virginia M. Jane Brooke, ’63, Richmond, Virginia John W. Daniel II, Richmond, Virginia Edward I. Gordon, M.D., Farmville, Virginia Rita Berryman Hughes, ’74, Vice Rector, Virginia Beach, Virginia Thomas A. Johnson, Lynchburg, Virginia Ripon W. LaRoche II, M.D., Farmville, Virginia Judi M. Lynch, Ph.D., ’87, Richmond, Virginia Jane Sheffield Maddux, Charlottesville, Virginia Stephen Mobley, ’93, McLean, Virginia Marianne Moffat Radcliff, ’92, Richmond, Virginia Susan E. Soza, ’62, McLean, Virginia Ronald Olswyn White, Midlothian, Virginia

Volume 10, No. 2, Published September 2011

Contributors

From the President They say that time flies when you’re having fun, and now I know that saying is absolutely true. My first year as the 25th president of Longwood University has come to a close and it certainly went by quickly – and if you have seen pictures of me covered in paint at Color Wars, cheering on the Lancers at a basketball game, or speaking to the graduates at commencement, it was definitely fun!

My experience at Longwood has been everything I expected and more. I have had the privilege of celebrating the university’s 100th anniversary of the Honor Code, guest lecturing at classes, welcoming potential students at orientation, and working with the various university boards. I have come to an even fuller appreciation of our dedicated staff and faculty. I have traveled the state getting to know our alumni, donors, and friends and sharing the Longwood story with them. I have started to learn the General Assembly process, opened a new bridge and a new Nursing Simulation Center, and shared meals with students in the Dining Hall. Joan and I have also enjoyed our new home, Longwood House, and being welcomed into Farmville and the surrounding community.

Although this has been a busy year, I am proud that we have been able to kick off an Academic Strategic Plan process. I believe this plan will guide the academic life of the university in the coming years and will help us focus on what is best for our students in the future. A task force is currently starting its work, with recommendations to be made next year. I look forward to sharing our plan with you in the coming year.

Another key initiative of mine continues to be promotion of the university. When I was selected to be president, I mentioned that I wanted to spread the word about Longwood and what it can offer students. I am proud to say that our incoming freshman class is the largest in Longwood’s history, so perhaps that word is spreading. Nothing works better than endorsement from our alumni, donors, and parents – so thank you for your enthusiasm about Longwood and sharing your pride.

As I move forward into my second year, I am excited about what is ahead. In addition to completing the Academic Strategic Plan, we’ll be working to expand international opportunities for our students as well as potentially bringing more foreign students to Longwood. We’ll press forward on a conference affiliation for our intercollegiate athletic program, look for innovative ways to upgrade our internship program, and continue to emphasize the key roles that leadership and character play in developing graduates who are committed to making a difference. We will remain committed to providing our students with the personal touch and the sense of community that make an education at Longwood something special, both in and out of the classroom.

Go Lancers!

Patrick Finnegan President

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Living & Learning Abroad In England Brian Bates, Ph.D., ’92, Associate Professor of Anthropology & James Jordan, Ph.D., Professor of Anthropology Like all of our colleagues at Longwood, we are always

appreciation for the value of an international experience in

searching for new ways to enhance the learning of our

the development of a college-educated person. It seemed

students – to help them define their limits intellectually and

only natural to us that the rich archaeological tapestry of

culturally and then push them beyond those limits so that

England could serve as a vehicle for exposing our students

they grow as scholars and as human beings. This is always

not only to the exciting cultural heritage of that island

a challenge, because no matter how inquisitive we may find

nation but also to the vibrant, diverse, energetic culture

our students to be, we recognize that true learning comes

found there today.

only when one’s boundaries are tested and then exceeded, and this can be an uncomfortable experience for some, but

From that initial conversation ensued several more until we

a worthwhile one for all. It is in this constant quest for new

decided that we would set about the planning process to sort

No matter how inquisitive we may find our students to be, we recognize that true learning comes only when one’s boundaries are tested and then exceeded, and this can be an uncomfortable experience for some, but a worthwhile one for all. opportunities that we developed a course that has proven to

through all of the complexities of teaching a course in a

be far more rewarding in its transformative value in the

distant land. At first we decided to do several “dry runs” to

intellectual and personal growth of our students than we

London to develop our course materials and to build upon

could have ever imagined. In this experience we have found

the already established contacts that we had in England

not only a new vehicle to offer the richness of the world to

which were necessary to make the course proceed smoothly.

our students, but a rebirth of sorts for our own professional

In March 2006 and then again in March 2007 we travelled

growth and development.

to England “on our own dime” as it were, to fine-tune our program and galvanize the local contacts and infrastructure.

In October 2005 while attending the Primitive Technology

When we returned to Longwood in March 2007, we were

Club’s semi-annual PRIM-TECH weekend seminar, we

confident that we had a course that would be academically

had a casual conversation about the possibility of offering

demanding and culturally challenging for our students.

a course on the archaeology of England for our undergraduates. In the Anthropology Department we

Throughout the planning stage we were focused on the fact

have a long tradition of offering international learning

that the true value of this course would be met only if we

opportunities for our students, and we have a deep

were diligent in ensuring that students were not only

Back row, from left: Caitlin Gray, Lauren Hilt, Elizabeth Baker, Jamie Mesrobian Middle row, from left: Whitney Rice, Meghan Banton, Katherine York, Dr. Jim Jordan Front row, from left: April Harper, Sally Meadows, Samantha Zerio, Aubrey Neuf, Dr. Brian Bates (kneeling)

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learning about the archaeological past of England but also

Most people think of themselves as having one birthday,

about its very rich and diverse cultural reality today. Beyond

but in our anthropology classes at Longwood we often say

that, we felt compelled to make this an academically rigorous

that we who study other societies around the world actually

learning experience. To that end we took the position that

have three birthdays. The first birthday is the day you are

we are university professors, not tour guides, and while we

born in the society where you will grow up. The second

were taking our students overseas, we would not approach it

and third birthdays come much later. The second occurs

as “a trip,” but rather as an intellectually challenging course

when the young anthropologist does their first fieldwork,

delivered with a foreign nation as our classroom and its

learning about the lives of people living some other place

cultural diversity as our teaching aids. Since adopting that

in the world – slowly, not all in one day, the fieldworker

mindset we have not referred to this experience as a trip,

is born a second time into a different world. This is seen

rather we always emphasize that it is a course. The value of

as a sort of initiation ceremony into our discipline.

this approach cannot be overstated and is evident in the

And the third birthday happens when the young

student perspectives that we will share in this article.

anthropologist returns to their home world with a new

We began to see the potential for a truly transformative experience manifest itself in our students almost from the moment that we landed at Heathrow Airport. Over the next 10 days we watched as our students matured through their fieldwork experience and grew as human beings with a new appreciation for the richness of the world beyond our American shores.

The Archaeology of England in Prehistoric, Roman

appreciation, a new perspective, on the difference in the

and Medieval Times was offered for the first time in

lives of people in various places.

December 2007. The initial course consisted of 11 students and two professors. We began to see the

We could see these rebirths in our students during and after

potential for a truly transformative experience manifest

the Archaeology of England course. Indeed, perhaps the best

itself in our students almost from the moment that we

way to see the rebirths is in the very words our fieldworkers

landed at Heathrow Airport. Over the next 10 days we

wrote in their journals each evening after our seminars and

watched as our students matured through their fieldwork

the day’s fieldwork. We offer here our students’ reflections

experience and grew as human beings with a new

from the field in their own words.

appreciation for the richness of the world beyond our American shores. On our return flight, as the students

Holly Phelps, ’12, double-majoring in anthropology and

slept, read, or watched movies, we began to debrief each

music, like many people in our technology-obsessed world

other on the experience that was nearing its final stages.

We were perhaps too close to the moment back then to

was surprised at the tasks prehistoric people could perform: “ Visiting the great earthen circles at Avebury and at Stonehenge

truly appreciate what had been transpiring for our

made me have a great appreciation for human capability in the

students and also for us.

past. The people who built these monuments were at one time

Most recently, we offered the course in December 2010.

sophistication and knowledge of their environment that

This time we had 17 students enrolled in the course.

rivals our own.”

considered savages. This clearly is not the case. They have a

With the passage of time and multiple opportunities to observe the value of this experience, we believe that we

Reflecting on her time at Stonehenge also, Rachel Anderson, ’11,

now have a more complete understanding of just how

wrote: “I think the most astonishing thing to all of us today

valuable this course is for the intellectual and experiential

were the incredible feats that people went through to build

growth of our students.

this structure. They did so much with so little. And I have

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Longwood archaeologists at the 5,000-year-old prehistoric site at Stonehenge on the Salisbury Plain.

so much but feel as though I’ve done so little ... it makes

Yes, in the U.S. we have some nice buildings and natural

my life appear to lack meaning compared to these

scenery, like the Grand Canyon. But we don’t have the

prehistoric people.”

Crown Jewels or the Tower of London ... If we did decide to

After travelling and studying the past over nearly the entire

mean little in comparison. You cannot build a history.”

build a cathedral to rival St. Paul’s Cathedral, it still would length and breadth of England and from a time 5,000 years ago up to the Great Plague and Great Fire of London in the

Our Longwood scholars were often struck not only by the

1660s, our Longwood anthropologists developed the

cultural differences in the objects and places they could see,

awareness that prehistory and history were everywhere here –

but even more powerfully by the more subtle social factors

from the Picts and Celts to the Saxons and Normans to the

which distinguish life in 21st century Virginia from other

Romans and the Dark Ages. This contrasts with much of life

ways of daily living. The variation in ideas and attitudes and

in the United States where the present and the future are

values and beliefs which make a culture unique became

valued so much more, it seems, than the past.

increasingly apparent to our students.

Alyssa Foley, ’12, double-major in anthropology and history,

Jennie Yuhas, ’12, noted in her journal: “I now realize how

reflected: “England lives with her history ... In America we

much space Americans waste. Our houses are huge, our cars

separate ourselves from our history, creating a divide between

are huge, our roads are wide, our restaurants are gigantic ...

ourselves and our past.”

This experience has made me realize how Americans are obsessed with how large an amount we get ... We expect to

Michael Thorogood, ’11, Longwood anthropology major

get “free refills” of everything. Most people here are in really

who was born in Liverpool, England, wrote: “Having so

good physical shape because they regularly walk; in the U.S.

much history in such a small area is fascinating. It is like

we drive. If we have to go one block from the comfort of our

having Colonial Williamsburg wherever you go!”

LazyBoy and T.V., we drive our car.”

Our only Arabic language speaking anthropologist in the

This “private automobile-centric” view of the world stands

course, Courtney Traylor, ’12, touched squarely on the

in sharp contrast to the British way of getting about. Carrie

remarkable permanence of the past in the United Kingdom

Mosby, ’12, the 2011 winner of our Department’s Cover

in her journal: “Standing before these four sites –

Award for Outstanding Scholarship, noted: “Our travel to York

Stonehenge, West Kennett Long Barrow, Silbury Hill, and

has really made me think about the availability of public transit

Avebury – makes me feel quite insignificant. They are such

here. Almost every place is connected in one way or another.

large monuments and have lasted thousands of years ...

You can catch a bus, or train, or in town, the underground ...

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Carrie Rae Mosby, '12, writes an entry in her course journal

A medieval gate in the city of York in the north of England.

in front of the British Museum.

In the U.S., I now realize how dependent I am on my car – without it I would not be able to get anywhere.”

bit threatening, would help us to comprehend more fully the effects of our teaching. In a field course such as The Archaeology of England, where students and teachers form one living and

Casey Cate, ’11, one of our majors who spends parts of his

learning seminar day after day, and where students keep

summers hiking the Appalachian Trail, noted a related

written journals of their experiences, we professors can perhaps

American cultural trait here. After we had walked several

come a bit closer to perceiving our students’ minds.

miles to reach a certain spot at the archaeological site of Avebury in the Salisbury Plain, Casey wrote: “If Avebury

Sometimes what we see aids us in a practical way to see what

was located anywhere in the United States there would be

we’re doing, as when Michael Thorogood wrote “Today,

a parking lot right in the middle of it!”

I began the day a bit behind again. It sure is difficult in this course to get eight hours of sleep a night!”

Also reflecting this “take charge and drive right up to it” attitude we often find in our own culture, Holly Phelps

Or, the revelations may shine light on an individual’s

shrewdly noted a nuance in the way British as opposed to

realization of a new alignment of some long held notions,

Americans navigate in a crowd: “There is a difference in

as when Cathy Burkhard, ’12, wrote, “Today it suddenly

etiquette I found fascinating. People in England wait quietly

became clear that most if not all, of our American traditions

when they need to get by, saying “Thank you” once the

came from England.” Or, it may be a singular, almost

way was free. Americans step up and say “Excuse me”

quirky, surprising glimpse of an oddity. Holly Phelps had

in order to get by.”

such a moment deep in the burial crypts under St. Paul’s

One evening, after the class had discussed the literary

tombs of 2,000 years of British elites: “In an out-of-the-way

Cathedral in London surrounded by the ornate vaults and stereotype of “the Ugly American,” Rachel Anderson wrote: “ While American ways spread out all over the world affecting

corner was a very small statue of George Washington on a tiny pedestal. I found it interesting that the British would

lives and societies, America seems somehow impervious to

memorialize him, even in such a small fashion, since he did

others’ cultures. I am very glad to have left for a time my

cause them quite a bit of trouble back in the 1700s!”

American bubble and come here so that, I hope, I won’t fulfill any of those awful stereotypes.”

Sometimes the journals recorded a profoundly felt process

We, in common with most professors, frequently say that we

when Amber Hirst, ’13, the youngest student in our course

would like very much to know what is in the minds of our

wrote in her final entry: “My experiences in this course have

students. Knowing these thoughts, while perhaps personally a

changed my life ... I have officially fallen in love with England!”

which can reasonably be termed a “conversion experience” as

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Longwood students examine the ruined walls of the Cluniac Priory in the village of Lewes, East Sussex, on the southern coast of England.

But, perhaps most poignantly of all for us professors, our

this course they have, in a very real sense been reborn into

students’ thoughts can allow us to recall our own first days in

our culture, rejoining it with a quiet new perspective on

the field: “The person wishing to be an anthropologist needs

what it means to be a member of our society. Perhaps more

fieldwork to truly know it. Going to another country ...

important, they have a fundamentally new and transformed

is not something everyone can do ... I’ve been homesick at

way of thinking about the culture of others, whether they be

times in this course but it has made me reflect on why

in a distant land or across town. This skill set, this way of

I want to be an anthropologist.” – Jennie Yuhas, Senior

developing a more open, considered, thoughtful approach to

Anthropology Major

encounters with people who are from different backgrounds

“In an out-of-the-way corner was a very small statue of George Washington on a tiny pedestal. I found it interesting that the British would memorialize him, even in such a small fashion, since he did cause them quite a bit of trouble back in the 1700s!” – Holly Phelps, ’12 As anthropologists, we are trained to examine cultures

and cultures, is more meaningful in our world today than

with what Margaret Mead called “disciplined detachment.”

at any time in our history. In a very meaningful way, the

This approach is necessary so that we can develop a fair

Archaeology of England in Prehistoric, Roman, and

understanding of each culture in its own terms, rather than

Medieval Times course has helped students to grow

in the terms of our own culture. While we do not pretend to

intellectually and personally in ways that transcend the

believe that this skill, which takes years, or perhaps an entire

stated course content. Indeed, it is more than a little ironic

career, for the seasoned anthropologist to develop, can be

that a course that covers broad periods when tolerance for

mastered in a course of just several weeks duration, we do

the differences between people was hardly the norm,

believe that we have witnessed profound change in our

has become the vehicle for developing the very skills

students through this course. Upon their return home from

required for a more tolerant world view.

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Yellowstone’s iconic geyser, Old Faithful.

Longwood @ Yellowstone National Park Gina Caldwell Associate Editor LU@YNP is a rich, interdisciplinary

Blogs for the May 2011 project can be found at: http://blogs.longwood.edu/yellowstone2011/

project focused on the difficult yet fascinating challenges associated with the management of our public lands.

The LU@YNP experience challenges students to work in unpredictable, interdisciplinary settings and to do so collaboratively. Additionally, those students see their faculty operating in exactly the same challenging context and in the same collaborative and adaptive mode.

The project grew from Longwood’s involvement with the

In this process, students practice the skills of 21st century

Stewardship of Public Lands initiative of the American

citizen leaders.

Democracy Project. Since its inception, the Yellowstone project has focused on developing a novel, rigorous, and

“ One of the goals of GNED 495 is to have students stop

engaging General Education capstone experience for

thinking like students and to start thinking like citizens

students from all three Colleges within the university.

and to interact as one would in the workplace, PTA, church,

Participation in the program has grown from eight students

or other places in society,” said Dr. Alix Fink, associate

in 2006 to 48 students in 2011. While in the field, students

professor of biology, who leads the group along with

and faculty blog about their experiences and impressions.

other Longwood faculty.

Katie Robey, ’12, looks for wolves in Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley.

Since the beginning of the project, Longwood faculty and

Finnegan, Caitlin Zoetis, ’11, a biology major who was first

staff participating in the trip have included Josh Blakely,

involved with the 2009 project, wrote: “I have always been

area coordinator for Residential and Commuter Life;

interested in working with animals and thought that a career

Dr. Scott Cole, associate professor of political science;

in veterinary medicine would allow me to do so. I have

Kerri Cushman, associate professor of art; Dr. Alix Fink,

also always been interested in environmental issues, and

associate professor of biology; Dr. Joseph Garcia, professor

working as the student assistant to the sustainability

of geography and earth science; Dr. David Hardin, associate

coordinator at Longwood has provided both theoretical

professor of geography; Dr. Edward Kinman, associate

and practical ways to be more involved in the stewardship

professor of geography; Elizabeth Kocevar-Weidinger,

of our environment. But here is the best part: the trip to

instructional and reference services librarian; Dr. Heather

Yellowstone brought this all together and helped me to

Lettner-Rust, assistant professor of English; Kelly Nelson,

re-focus my education and goals toward a career where

associate professor of art; Mark Newton, adjunct faculty in the

I can work with animals and have an impact on

sciences; Dr. Phillip Poplin, associate professor of mathematics;

environmental issues. I was able to see firsthand what a

and Dr. Carl Riden, associate professor of sociology.

career in wildlife management looks like, meet professionals

The impact of the project on the students who participate is

and learn about the habitat and habits of

long lasting. In a letter to Longwood President Patrick

various species indigenous to the area.”

who enthusiastically shared their perspectives on wildlife,

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West Thumb Geysir Basin on the edge of Yellowstone Lake.

What Are Students Saying About The LU@YNP Experience?

About Transferring the Experience to Local Communities: “ I have never been a person to really care about these sorts

About Making Important Connections: “ This class allowed me to do a lot of things that I would not

of things, but after listening to everyone and all of their

have been able to do in graphic design if I was working for a

different perspectives ... it got me more interested in local

client. In my free time, however, I feel like I could really

issues around Virginia.”

make a difference through freelance work with a cause. Any public issue that I had feelings for, I could take a stand and make simple things like signs or posters or other public

About Perspectives on Citizenship:

documents for the general public.”

“ I was able to learn how to be an active citizen who can make decisions by listening to all sides and then making my best decision.” “ This course helped me understand the roles of citizenship at

About Listening to Diverse Viewpoints: “ Through this course I have learned that it is OK if you

a new level. I feel throughout school I have learned the role

are not emotional about something and someone else is –

of citizens as just voting and being aware of politics.”

you still need to let them express their ideas and viewpoints.

I guess by facing this in a class I was not allowed to shut

About a Sense of Civic Duty: “ I really feel like I could make a difference now, when I did

the emotional person out. I had to listen and interact ... this was hard for me to do but I feel like I have grown a lot in this way.”

not feel that way before. The people we met and talked to in Yellowstone are so passionate about some very serious issues, that they have shown me that I need to be more passionate about things that are affecting my life too.”

About Finding Common Ground: “ When I was in Yellowstone, meeting all of those people, it was like a whole new world. Those people actually knew what they were talking about and knew both sides of the issues. I think that the progress I made while in Yellowstone was really about the fact that I opened my mind to these new ideas that I was hearing from all of these different people. At first, when we were all at home and were doing discussion boards, I was very opinionated, but I really did not understand both sides of all of these issues. I just knew what I felt was right and made my opinions based on that.”

10

LU @ Yellowstone: A Student Travel Journal Katie Robey, ’12 Katie Robey, a senior visual and performing arts major from Lexington, was a member of the 2010 LU@YNP project. The following is the journal she recorded during the trip.

“ The people we met with and talked to are so passionate about what they believe in, it’s almost exhausting, which is fantastic. So often I find myself settling down into a comfortable routine, not questioning what’s going on around me. People like Linda and Nathan (wildlife biologists), Bruce (a lifelong Montana cattle rancher), and Julia (a bison enthusiast and Montana state senate candidate) have devoted their lives to the issues that they stand for.” – Katie Robey, ’12 In May 2010, 42 Longwood students, six student “logistics

The students who arrived on early flights were given the

managers,” and six Longwood professors journeyed out west

opportunity to ride into Grand Teton National Park for

to study biology, leadership, and sociology in Grand Teton

some sightseeing. Within just a few hours of being in

National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and surrounding

Wyoming, the students were able to observe elk, mule deer,

towns. The entire group traveled in a series of mini-vans and

pelicans, osprey, bison, and a coyote. The night ended

Suburbans from Jackson, Wyoming, to Gardiner, Montana.

with an orientation for students to meet the professors

During the seven-day trip, the students engaged in non-stop,

and hear about upcoming assignments including

hands-on learning in a variety of disciplines. They gained

blogs and “Place as Text.”

knowledge of sociology from Dr. Carl Riden, biology from Dr. Alix Fink, geology from Dr. David Hardin and Mark Newton, geography from Dr. Edward Kinman, art from Kerri Cushman, and received constant technological guidance from instructional and reference services librarian Elizabeth Kocevar-Weidinger.

Place as Text – Explorations into Community Issues Before departing for the trip, the students completed a pretrip group project to familiarize themselves with local issues

Arrival in Jackson

affecting the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The students were divided into groups of three called “packs.” Each pack worked together prior to the trip, and continued to do so

Upon arrival in Jackson, the students were greeted by

throughout the course. On the first day in Jackson, the packs

Longwood faculty members and fellow students. Shuttles

went out into the town and really began exploring local

ran from the airport 10 miles south to the hotel in Jackson’s

issues first hand by observing and conversing with residents

city center. With Grand Teton National Park serving as a

of the area. This assignment was called “Place as Text” and

backdrop to the airport, the shuttle ride provided a first

was done in three different towns throughout the trip.

glimpse of the wildlife and topography that would be studied throughout the trip.

11

12

Road Trip

The group took a tour of the Yellowstone National Park

After a brief stay in Jackson and a bit of exploration of

park. Original paintings by Thomas Moran from a surveying

Grand Teton National Park, including an art activity at

expedition in 1871, which were used to persuade members

Jenny Lake, it was time to head to Yellowstone. The student

of Congress to create the first National Park, are now kept

logistics managers packed the cars and everyone loaded up

in the archives.

Archives, which houses some of the oldest artifacts of the

for a road trip from Jackson, through Idaho, and into Montana. Along the way, professors taught via walkie-talkie

Students also had the opportunity to meet with local rancher

radios that were in each vehicle. Students learned about

Bruce Malcolm to learn about a rancher’s life. Bruce met

everything from potato irrigation and wildlife to Native

with students in his barn, where everyone sat on hay bales

Americans, Aryan Nations and civilian militias throughout

and had a truly unique classroom experience. Bruce shared

the area. The students also received a brief geology lesson

stories with the group about working in state-level politics,

at Lower and Upper Mesa Falls in Idaho and had a chance

ranching cattle, and leading hunting trips in the area.

to take some great photos!

Yellowstone Wildlife Watching

Unique Recreational Opportunities Along with learning sociology, biology, geology, geography,

Once in Gardiner, Montana, the students learned about

and art, the students did have some time for recreation.

Yellowstone National Park and studied the wildlife that

The group was given the opportunity to go swimming in the

makes the park its home. Wildlife biologists Dr. Nathan

Boiling River, where a hot spring meets a river full of glacial

Varley and Linda Thurston served as guides for the students

meltwater. They also were able to hike within Yellowstone

and professors on wildlife watching trips. This was a unique

National Park, explore Mammoth Hot Springs, and get in

opportunity because Nathan and Linda have they have lived

some exceptional sightseeing, including Old Faithful and

in the area and have special knowledge of the Greater

the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Yellowstone ecosystem. Students observed grizzly and black bears, bald eagles, bison, elk, coyote, wolves, mountain goats, mule deer, and pronghorn antelope.

Guest Lectures

Become a Leader and Discover the Power in You! The LU@YNP program teaches more than science, art, and sociology. The program also encourages students to

While in Yellowstone, the students had the opportunity not

become leaders within their own communities upon return.

only to learn from Longwood professors and Nathan and

The students learned the importance of their voices and

Linda, but also from other locals. President and Executive

their actions in creating a better world. Besides, what better

Director of Yellowstone Country Guardians Michael Leach

way to learn that with such a fantastic and picturesque

met with students in a park for an outdoor classroom

background as Yellowstone and Grand Teton

experience. Michael worked for the National Park Service for

National Parks?

seven years before founding Yellowstone Country Guardians.

More information about the organization can be found online at http://www.yellowstonecountryguardians.org/.

Lim Hale, ’09, and Caitlin Zoetis, ’11, take in the amazing sites found within Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

13

Waterwalk: A Passage of Ghosts Longwood Professor Steven Faulkner’s Book About His Re-creation of Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet’s Famous River Journey is Made into Feature Film

14

“ I should not be surprised that he remains an enigma to his mother and me. And how could I expect two months on the water to overcome the continuing distractions of our overly busy lives? Two quiet months of hard canoeing, of campfires and conversations, of sleeping under the silent stars cannot replace 16 years of a speed-addicted, media-juiced culture. But it was something. Something real, and still, and quietly enduring.

There, for a time, the stories were ours, the adventure was our own, and the once-upon-a-time fairytale was once our time. However long he lives, whatever decisions he makes, however he chooses to define and lead his life, those two months are ours for good.” – Steven Faulkner

Kent Booty Associate Editor In 1996 Steven Faulkner and his

“I suspect my students will have a good laugh when they see me in this movie,” said Faulkner, assistant professor

16-year-old son took a 1,000-mile canoe trip from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to St. Louis.

of English, who has taught at Longwood since 2006. “ They put me in a scene in which I play a disheveled old swamp rat whittling on a stick who points them the way out of the swamp. I don’t say a word. The actor playing me, Robert Cicchini, is also co-director, so I assume he knows what he’s doing. I never expected my book would be

Faulkner, now an English professor at Longwood University,

turned into a movie.”

wanted to re-create the famous 1673 journey by French explorers Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet, who

The film, produced by the Michigan Blue Lake Production

discovered the Mississippi River and learned that it flowed

Co., will be released in 2012 and will premiere in Green Bay,

into the Gulf of Mexico. Faulkner also wanted to connect

Wis., which Faulkner plans to attend. It will be shown by

with his son. Because Faulkner was then in graduate school

four theater chains at about 100 theaters in the Upper

at the University of Kansas and was working two jobs, he felt

Midwest, as well as in Berkeley, Calif., and Laon, France,

he had not been spending enough time with Justin.

where Marquette lived. Both of the main actors (Chase

The 61-day trip was turned into a book, Waterwalk:

is playing Faulkner’s son) have agreed to attend a screening

A Passage of Ghosts, published in December 2008. The book

of the film at Longwood.

Maser, a theater student at Western Michigan University,

is being turned into a film, called simply Waterwalk, that will be released later this year. The real names of both Faulkner

Filming for the movie wrapped up in May. “It was filmed

and his son are being used, though because the actor playing

on location in Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa and Missouri,”

his son is half-Korean, the Justin character is being portrayed

Faulkner said. “The lake and river scenes were filmed over

as his adopted son.

29 consecutive days that began August 17 last year.

Steve Faulkner's son Justin paddles on the Fox River in Wisconsin during their 1,000-mile canoe trip.

15

They did the inside scenes in January. One scene they still

The canoe trip was inspired in part by a children’s book that

have to do is the car crash that Justin had four years later.”

Faulkner had read 10 years earlier to Justin’s older siblings (Justin is Faulkner’s third son and the fourth of his seven

“ I was there for four days during filming. The two actors

children). The book, published in 1951, was The Explorations

didn’t know how to canoe, the river was in flood, and they

of Père Marquette by the late Jim Kjelgaard, who wrote

were weaving around and crashing into trees. I was trying to

children’s books, many of them about dogs, and is best

tell them how to go straight, and one of the assistants also

known for Big Red.

knew how to canoe and was trying to help them. All four of those days, they were learning how to canoe, which is about

“ Kjelgaard, whom I loved as a kid, wrote a children’s

as long as it took Justin and me to learn. By the time I left,

biography of Marquette that told the tale of him going

they were just getting the hang of it.”

across the Great Lakes and across Wisconsin and down the

“I’ve had lots of people tell me you’re never supposed to go in just one canoe, and I knew that. You’re supposed to take two in case one capsizes. In spite of the dangers, my wife was pretty good about me going on the trip, maybe because she knew she couldn’t talk us out of it. Plus, she knew we had life insurance!

I wouldn’t advise anyone to try it without more experience than we had.” – Steven Faulkner Faulkner had praise for the actor playing him. “Robert saw

Mississippi,” Faulkner said. “I wanted to see if it could be

that I wear glasses, and he said ‘Well, maybe I ought to wear

done again, and I wanted to see how much our nation had

glasses,’ so we went to the local Walgreens and he bought a

changed, if the wilderness is still there. Also, I wanted to

pair of glasses and punched out the lenses so the light can’t

spend more time with my son. I was taking classes at the

reflect off them. He ended up not wearing glasses. After

time and working two jobs, and I hadn’t had as much time

I returned here, Rob called me every couple weeks saying

with Justin as I’d had with his older brothers and sisters.

‘How should we do this scene?’ He’s a really nice guy, not

Justin wasn’t excited at first. He didn’t know if he wanted to

some arrogant Hollywood actor.”

spend that much time with Dad! But he adapted well.”

The filmmakers have changed some things around. “In the

How did Faulkner prepare for the journey? “Before the trip,

movie, my son wants to go on the trip and has to talk me

Justin I had gone canoeing only once, one afternoon

into it,” Faulkner said. “Instead of me being a graduate

on the Kansas River, though that wasn’t related to the trip.

student in Kansas, I’m a small town newspaper editor in

And I’d read a book on canoeing, which I thought was

Michigan who’s just won an award for obituary writing and

sufficient. It did help the first three days. Fortunately,

then loses his job. And, even though the trip was in 1996

we had good weather the first three days which really

before all this modern technology, in the movie my son

helped since we were learning to canoe and were on Lake

supports the trip – remember, I’ve been laid off – by

Michigan, where canoeing is more difficult than on

stopping at various places along the way and blogging,

a river. So, I learned how to canoe on Lake Michigan.

asking for donations. Also, there’s a lot of conflict in the

Then, on the river on about the third day, we got waves

movie between father and son, and the son is angrier than

and winds. Wind is a real problem. When it’s windy,

Justin was. You sign away your rights, and I knew that.”

you have to angle into the waves; you can’t go straight in.

16

It wasn’t all still water ... Steve Faulkner and his son navigate rapids on their adventure.

The canoe would lift up and practically crash when it came

The trip began May 21, 1996 in St. Ignace, Mich, on the

down. We were about a mile from land and had 50 or 60

southern tip of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, about where

miles of lake behind us, so we couldn’t go that way.

Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet. The trip ended in late July under the St. Louis Gateway Arch. “I invited both of

“ I’ve had lots of people tell me you’re never supposed to go in

my older sons, but neither could go, and now they regret it,”

just one canoe, and I knew that. You’re supposed to take two

Faulker said. “Had all four of us gone, it would have been

in case one capsizes. In spite of the dangers, my wife was

more like the Marquette-Joliet trip, which involved two

pretty good about me going on the trip, maybe because she

canoes and seven people.”

knew she couldn’t talk us out of it. Plus, she knew we had life insurance! I wouldn’t advise anyone to try it without more experience than we had.”

“ We paddled 300 miles on Lake Michigan to Green Bay, then to the Fox River, which was in flood, to Portage, Wis., where the river curves to within two miles of the Wisconisn

At the time of the trip, Faulkner was living in Topeka, Kan.,

River. Then, by taking a two-mile canal, we got on the

and working on a Ph.D. at the University of Kansas, about

Wisconsin River, which is down current, and we got on the

30 minutes away. “I was working two jobs: running a

Mississippi just below Prairie de Chien (Wisconsin) and went

newspaper route seven nights a week, 365 days a year, for six

400 miles on the Mississippi. It’s not very good canoeing on

or seven hours a night, and I was taking two classes in the

the Upper Mississippi, which is a mile wide in some places

evening. I was an impoverished student at the time. Justin

and can be more like a lake than a river, with not much

and I shingled a house to get the money for the trip.

current. Plus, there are a lot of locks and dams, about 22

We took the $700 and bought a canoe, which was cheap

locks. They would open the gates and let us into the locks.

for a canoe even back then.”

Fortunately, we didn’t have to portage once on the Mississippi.

17

“ Canoeing looks romantic, but it’s really hard work,” he said. “It’s hard on your lower back. One day when we’d

“ The river was flooded and we canoed through the trees, then we surprised a fisherman in a jon boat back in the trees.

canoed for nine hours on Lake Michigan, I could hardly

When I said hello, he practically jumped out of his boat.

stand up at the end of the day. Most days we got up late and

Fortunately, the fisherman told us how to get out. Another

canoed six or seven hours. We would take about an hour

memorable day was when we were on the Mississippi and

break at lunchtime. We stayed in a tent every night except

we had hours of constant rain. We went in a café and

for two nights, one of which was in Montello, Wis., when

ordered one item at a time: pancakes, some bacon, some

a man in whose yard we were camping became interested in

juice, more coffee, pie. We must have been in there three

us and had us spend the night inside the house. Every couple

or four hours until the rain quit.”

of weeks we would get food, and we stopped in Hannibal, Missouri, and visited the Mark Twain sites. Justin and

What did he enjoy most about the trip? “Being out there

I were reading Huckleberry Finn while canoeing down

immersed in nature. I’m a city guy, and my son was a city

the Mississippi.”

boy. I liked being out there in the wind and rain and sun, cold nights that we could hardly sleep, hot days in the upper

The trip was almost derailed June 20 in Appleton, Wis., some

90s, watching wolves chase a buck into Lake Michigan,

25 miles south of Green Bay. “At Appleton, which is the 400-

finding baby raccoons in an abandoned house along the

mile mark, the river was in flood. We couldn’t fight the

shore, finding coyote pups running with their mother –

current and we cut to the inside of the bend, where the water

all kinds of aspects of the natural world. I enjoyed the

is quieter. The canoe capsized, and our stuff wasn’t strapped in

proliferation of nature, the changing of the seasons, taking

because we’d had to portage around the dams a half-dozen

it hour by hour, day by day, the birds, the animals and the

times that day. After we ran below the dam, the canoe stayed

people we met along the way, who were always offering to

in the backwash but eventually kicked out, and Justin swam to

lend us a hand. It’s an experience that I’ll take with me for

the canoe and pulled it out. We saved all three backpacks and

the rest of my life. And I’m sure my son will too.

one life preserver, but we lost the other life preserver and the paddles. We also lost the canoe’s spay skirt, which keeps the

“ I think the trip changed my son a lot. He became a canoeist

waves off, and a fly from the tent, so I made one, and I lost

and kayaker and camper. He bought a kayak and spends lots

my camera, which had my name on it and was found a few

of nights in a tent, with his family or friends. A trip like this

miles down river by the police, who called my wife, who

slows you down, since you never go more than three or four

became worried. Fortunately, the canoe – which I named

miles an hour. You get to see landscape, the water, the

Natty Bumppo, after James Fennimore Cooper’s hero

animals, the fish. You get to see stuff you wouldn’t see on

in The Last of the Mohicans – was fine.

television or from the window of a car. Justin and I became closer, and we both enjoy reminiscing about the trip.”

“I was devastated because I thought the trip was over, since we’d lost so much stuff. Fortunately, a woman who came

Faulkner was asked to compare his journey to that of

down to help us called the local newspaper, and they sent

Marquette and Joliet. “Of course, nature has changed so

a couple reporters. One reporter, instead of just asking

much. On the early part of the trip, along Michigan’s Upper

questions, offered to help us and drove us around to some

Peninsula and the 300 miles on Lake Michigan down to

stores so we could replace our supplies including life

Green Bay, a lot of that is wilderness. The Hiawatha

preservers and paddles. He also took us to meet his editor,

National Forest and other parts of it are just full of fir trees.

who offered to put us for the night. We were soaked from

It’s very wild in a lot of parts. As we crossed Wisconsin, there

swimming out of the river, in the nick of time, and we spent

were dairy farms and little cities and little towns, and then

the night with him. He gave us socks and shirts and drove us

once we hit the Mississippi, you could see how much has

around to buy a tent. Without the help of the good people

changed since 1673. It’s an industrialized river.”

of Appleton, Wisconsin, our trip would have ended there.

A lot of people let us set up our tent and took us in and

“Also, of course, the journey by Marquette and Joliet was

showed us around. There are a lot of very good Midwestern

much more dangerous than ours. They were going into area

people out there in upper Michigan and Wisconsin and

that was totally unknown. Part of the way, they had Indian

down the Mississippi.”

guides, but after a while even the Indians didn’t know where

Faulkner and his son found themselves one day in a 35-

is now the Wisconsin River, through swamps, and finally on

to go from there. They just made their way west along what square mile swamp, which didn’t have much current.

“We got out of that partly by trial and error,” Faulkner said.

18

out to the great Mississippi River. And they were sometimes helped by the local Indian tribe, who had heard about these

“ For the waves are still running with the wind, and the ground sometimes takes on the motion of the waves, and the currents are still running to an unknown sea, and sometimes I feel the twist of a sudden swirl or am caught floating backwards in a quiet eddy, and feeling this, I will glance back and see our reflections there.”

– Steven Faulkner strange white men from the East, and they were sometimes

mountain bikes, and hiked on a part of the Lewis and Clark

in fear of these men. At one time a tribe captured them

Trail known as the Lolo Trail, which they had to give up

and debated whether to kill them all, but eventually they let them go.

since it was so difficult. Justin camped with them one night. “ That’s my next book,” Faulkner said. “I’m going back there this summer, and Justin wants to go. We’ll go on mountain

“And once Marquette and Joliet got to the end of their

bikes on the Lolo Trail.”

journey, they had to turn around and go back up 1,500 more miles, against the current of the Mississippi River,

At the end of his book, Faulkner wondered whether he had

which wasn’t blocked by any dams at the time. Theirs was a

succeeded in connecting with his son.

really tough journey – they had to fight disease, the weather, tribes they didn’t know about. The people along our journey

“ I should not be surprised that he remains an enigma to his

were universally kind and helpful. Joliet almost died on the

mother and me. And how could I expect two months on the

journey. He got swamped on a rapids in Montreal, two of

water to overcome the continuing distractions of our overly busy

his friends were drowned, and some fishermen found him on

lives? Two quiet months of hard canoeing, of campfires and

a rock knocked out. Marquette made his way back up to the

conversations, of sleeping under the silent stars cannot replace

area of Green Bay and rejoined the mission and later made it

16 years of a speed-addicted, media-juiced culture. But it was

back to some of the tribes that he had visited to carry on his

something. Something real, and still, and quietly enduring.

mission, but he came down with dysentery and died on Lake

There, for a time, the stories were ours, the adventure was

Michigan about a year later.”

our own, and the once-upon-a-time fairytale was once our time. However long he lives, whatever decisions he makes,

Faulkner is scheduled to appear in a companion 20-minute

however he chooses to define and lead his life, those two

documentary about the Marquette-Joliet voyage that is being

months are ours for good.

produced with the Michigan Council for History Education.

His interview for that was filmed in August 2010 near Portage, Wis.

“ For the waves are still running with the wind, and the ground sometimes takes on the motion of the waves, and the currents are still running to an unknown sea, and

Faulkner isn’t through with rugged adventures with his sons.

sometimes I feel the twist of a sudden swirl or am caught

Last summer he and his youngest son, Alex, took a 10-day

floating backwards in a quiet eddy, and feeling this,

trip in which they canoed on mountain rivers in Idaho, rode

I will glance back and see our reflections there.”

Longwood professor Steve Faulkner looks forward to the release of the film based on his book.

19

From left: Nursing student Stacy Bolt; project manager Kim Bass of Longwood Capital Planning & Construction; Dr. Melody Eaton, chair of the Nursing Department; Longwood President Patrick Finnegan; lead donor Dr. Edward Gordon; and Cindy Crews, clinical simulation director in the Nursing Department, officially open The Gordon Center.

The Gordon Center Opens Longwood Nursing Program’s Amazing New Instructional and Simulation Facility Kent Booty Associate Editor Longwood University’s nursing

“ The nursing students who will go through this program are going to save lives,” Dr. Gordon said before he and others

program has a state-of-the-art instructional and simulation facility.

cut a ceremonial ribbon Feb. 1 in the corridor of the CSLC. “And they’re going to save lives in a way that is so different from in the past because they’ll go into their first clinical experiences with live people who actually talk back to them

The Edward I. Gordon, M.D. Clinical Simulation Learning

and know what to do and have been through some of the

Center (CSLC), located on the renovated third floor of

horrors of the mistakes that were made in the simulation lab

Stevens Hall, is designed to advance the clinical and critical

but not in the real world. The amount of things that can be

reasoning skills of Longwood nursing students in a safe

done here just appear to be endless, and the growth potential

environment. The facility was made possible by a $1 million

of this is also endless. This Center ties together all of the

gift from Dr. Edward Gordon, a longtime Farmville

things that mean the most to me – health care, nursing,

physician, in August 2009. The CSLC features high-tech

computers, Farmville and Longwood – and is more than

equipment including manikins capable of simulating a

I ever envisioned.”

remarkable array of physiological functions, called “highfidelity patient simulators,” and a digital audiovisual system

All of the funding for the work and equipment for the

that allows for live recordings of simulated experiences to be

CSLC came from private donations and grants. Other

recorded and played back for faculty and student evaluation.

donors include the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and

The cameras and manikins are controlled from one central

Community Revitalization Commission, the Mary Morton

control station.

Parsons Foundation, the Richmond Memorial Health

20

Student nurses Alison Kitchen '13 (center) and Marsha Blevins '13 (right) receive training from Wanda Bolton, RN, a community health partner and volunteer.

Foundation, and the Marietta McNeill Morgan and Samuel Tate Morgan, Jr. Foundation. The CSLC labs have been

“Anything that you can do in a clinical setting simulation lab, we can do here,” said Cindy Crews, clinical simulation

used since August 2010. Longwood’s bachelor of science in

director and lecturer in the Nursing Department.

nursing (B.S.N.) program, launched in fall 2009, currently

The facility has four high-fidelity manikins and about

has 74 students.

12 mid- and low-fidelity manikins, which are somewhat less advanced. The manikins are in the Patient Simulation

“ You cannot help but be impressed by the Center and the

and Fundamentals labs.

technology that our students will have the opportunity to use to aid in their learning,” Longwood President Patrick

“All of the high-fidelity manikins can breathe, talk, and have

Finnegan said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “This Center puts our program on the cutting edge of educating and

a wide range of physiological responses,” Crews said.

“We can simulate anything from birth to death, and we have

training these student nurses to help prepare them to be

a manikin who delivers. We have adult, pediatric and infant

among the very best in their profession. Thank you,

manikins. ‘Sim Man 3G’ is one of the most advanced

Dr. Gordon, for your outstanding support of this Center,

patient simulators. He can have seizures, blink and sweat,

for your enthusiasm for our nursing program, and for all

and he has bodily fluids. He runs the full gamut.”

your efforts on behalf of Longwood University. You are helping to make a difference in the lives our students, whom we know will go on to assist and serve others in an area of great need for our Commonwealth and our nation.”

Crews, who earned a B.S.N. in 1996, said this type of nursing instruction wasn’t available when she attended nursing school. “ The use of high-fidelity patient simulators in nursing education kicked off in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and it became a

Dr. Melody Eaton, chair of the Nursing Department, also

mainstay in 2006,” she said. “Most nursing schools now have

praised Dr. Gordon’s generosity and touted the CSLC’s

some level of simulated nursing experiences. Virginia and

benefits. “This Center will play a key and integral role in the

Texas are leading the way in this field.”

success of our new nursing program,” she said. “It will offer experiential learning in a safe environment. Students will

In the Patient Simulation Lab with Sim Man 3G, the

enhance their knowledge, critical thinking skills, and

manikin and software can calculate if students are doing

confidence in caring for patients.”

effective chest compressions and medication administration.

The other Patient Simulation Lab has, in addition to

The CSLC includes two Patient Simulation Labs, two

another high-fidelity manikin, a code cart with a working

Fundamentals Labs, a Health Assessment Lab, a control

defibrillator. One Fundamentals Lab has five stations with

room, a conference/debrief room, and a storage/prep room.

mid-fidelity manikins on which students can check pulses,

21

blood pressures and respirations and listen to lung, heart and

and Longwood, which is a vital part of Farmville. And then

bowel sounds. The other Fundamentals Lab has some high-

it brought in the individuals who were instrumental in me

fidelity manikins including Noelle, a “birthing simulator

doing every single thing that I do in medicine – nursing.

who actually delivers vaginally,” said Crews, as well as Sim

What better way to look into a mirror and see who I am

New B, a neo-natal simulator that weighs seven pounds and

than to place all of this into one environment? What better

is 21 inches (“He cries, moves, has pulses, turns blue, and

way to reflect who I was than to put all of this into play?

can have seizures,” said Crews), a 20-pound toddler

This is a perfect fit.”

supposed to be about 18 months old, and an electronic medication-dispensing machine. Both Fundamentals Labs

Dr. Gordon noted that his late wife was a nurse and all three

are set up with a 12-seat classroom (lab sections are limited

of his daughters are nurses. He and his wife, Loretta, moved

to 10 students).

the family to Farmville in 1973 and began his pediatric and

Dr. Gordon’s early interest in using computers to enhance health care practices and his dedication as a practicing physician are among several strands of his life that led to his donation to Longwood’s clinical simulation lab.

In the Health Assessment Lab, which has five physical

family medicine practice that he continues today. Loretta,

exam stations with functioning equipment, students

who died in 2005, was a licensed practical nurse (LPN) who

practice doing physical assessments and histories. In the

managed his practice and served as his nurse until her

control room, each of the monitors goes to a separate

retirement in 2003. His oldest daughter, Ginger Amos, is a

room, and there is a continuous live video feed. “In this

registered nurse (RN) and radiology technician, practicing as

room you can communicate overhead and through the

his nurse and office manager. Another daughter, Deborah

manikins to the students,” Crews said. “It’s like a whole

Gordon, a 1981 Longwood graduate, is an RN who

different world in here!”

practices as a nursing supervisor at Piedmont Geriatric Hospital, and another daughter, Gwen Buchanan, is an LPN

In the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Dr. Gordon, surrounded by

who practices in the operating room at Centra Southside

his four children and five of his eight grandchildren, talked

Community Hospital in Farmville. Dr. Gordon’s son,

of how his interest in medicine and computers began. As a

Michael, a deputy with the Cumberland County Sheriff ’s

young boy, Dr. Gordon developed polio, resulting in a year-

Department, is also involved in the medical profession as an

long hospitalization and his desire to become a physician.

emergency medical technician.

When computers were first introduced, he tried to pique his son’s curiosity by enrolling him in a class, at the now-defunct

The renovation that paved the way for the CSLC, called

Longwood Campus School, to introduce him to the

Phase I, was completed by August 2010. The Virginia

Commodore Vic-20 computer. Although his son was “not

General Assembly in March 2011 appropriated $885,800

too fascinated,” Dr. Gordon was “most intrigued,” and he

to cover the construction cost of Phase I1, in which an open

incorporated the use of computers into his medical practice.

room of about 3,000 square feet at the Wheeler Mall end

His early interest in using computers to enhance health care

of Stevens Hall, also on the third floor, will be renovated.

practices and his dedication as a practicing physician are

This work, expected to be done by August 2011, will create

among several strands of his life that led to his donation to

a student lounge, two debrief rooms, a third Patient

Longwood’s clinical simulation lab.

Simulator Lab for maternal and infant simulators, an exam room, an apartment-like home care area, and offices for

“ Computers became intertwined with my health career, and I found I could become more productive in learning and in

some of the nursing faculty and the clinical simulation director. Offices for all the faculty and staff in the nursing

caring for patients by utilizing my medical knowledge with

program are currently on the second floor of Stevens, which

computers complementing this approach,” he said. “So,

is shared with some classrooms in the Art Department while

when I was approached about the simulation lab that tied

Bedford Hall undergoes an addition and renovation. Non-

computers and medicine, the tie became perfect. It also tied

lab classes in the Nursing Department meet on the second

two other loves of mine – Farmville, of which I am a citizen,

floor, which has a 44-seat classroom. Stevens Hall, which

22

From left: Stacy Bolt '13, Dr. Joe Montoya, Marc Bein '13, in training at The Gordon Center.

opened in 1951, was home to Longwood’s science programs

been married to an RN for almost 40 years now, I have a

for 54 years.

deep appreciation for what nurses do to assist those in need.”

The nursing program has 34 sophomores and 40 freshmen.

In the CSLC, the audiovisual system was provided by a

The goal is to admit 40 students every fall (44 were admitted

company called Education Management Solutions, the high-

last fall) and to have 120-160 students by 2014. One

and mid-fidelity manikins were provided by Laerdal, medical

student, Stacy Bolt, ’13, of Farmville, was chosen by her

equipment and supplies were provided by Pocket Nurse, and

classmates to help cut the ribbon.

the headwalls, which have suction, oxygen and compressed air, were provided by Modular Services.

“ The Nursing Department is in its infancy, but there is no doubt it has hit the ground running,” Finnegan said at the

In addition to Dr. Gordon’s family practice, he is the chief

ribbon-cutting. “From a competitive admissions process to

physician to The Woodland retirement community, medical

innovative technology and terrific partnerships, this is a

director for Piedmont Regional Jail and the Farmville Police

tremendous addition to Longwood’s academic program,

Department, and a Commonwealth of Virginia medical

which also serves a great need in Southside Virginia. Our

examiner for Prince Edward and Cumberland counties.

state has 624 nurses for every 10,000 residents, lagging well

He is a member of the Longwood Board of Visitors and

behind the national average of 746. In the last few years,

Farmville Town Council.

Virginia has fallen from 40th to 45th among the states in nurses per capita. This program and these students are

When Dr. Gordon was handed a pair of scissors shortly

directly involved in Longwood’s aim of graduating citizen

before the ribbon-cutting, he joked “Now remember,

leaders who contribute to the overall good of society. Having

I’m not a surgeon.”

23

Nick Creasey, ’13

Meet Nick Creasey, ’13 Nothing Can Stop This Member of the U.S. Paralympic Men’s National Soccer Team Kent Booty Associate Editor Nick Creasey’s life reads like a case

Games in London, and in one international tournament in England. In the tournament in the Netherlands this summer,

study in a medical journal.

which Creasey likened to the World Cup, the team qualified

Creasey, a Longwood junior, has undergone two surgeries for

play as well.

for the Paralympic Games in London, in which he hopes to a brain tumor, first when he was five and later in the seventh grade. Just before the first surgery, his right side was

“ This is a dream come true,” Creasey, an art education

paralyzed – his use of that side of his body remains limited –

major from Chesterfield County, said of his participation

and afterward his paralysis increased and he had to learn to

in Paralympics, for athletes with physical disabilities.

walk again. He needed another surgery after breaking his kneecap in the fifth grade and later had major leg surgery,

“ I’m playing against the best players in the world who are representing their countries, and I’m able to represent

to help him walk better. His vision is limited but is good

my country. And I’ve been able to see places I never

enough to drive. He’s had inpatient and outpatient

would have seen.”

rehabilitation, occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT), and had to switch to being left-side dominant.

Paralympic soccer is played seven-a-side on a smaller field

Despite these setbacks and his physical limitations, he has

eligible for Paralympic soccer, athletes must be ambulatory

and with smaller goals than non-disabled soccer. To be not slowed down or been prevented from playing his beloved

and have a diagnosis of non-progressive brain damage that is

sport. Creasey, a lifelong soccer player and a soccer referee,

associated with motor control dysfunction such as cerebral

is a member of the U.S. Paralympic men’s national soccer

palsy, traumatic brain injury or stroke.

team. He has played in three international tournaments in the Netherlands, including one this June that was a qualifying tournament for the 2012 Summer Paralympic

24

“Usually 12 players travel with the team, and there’s a pool of about 30 people who participate in the camps, which are

like tryouts,” Creasey said. “I usually travel with the team. In

A five-part YouTube series about Creasey, “ParaView with

addition to the World Cup this summer, I’ve played in two

Nick Creasey,” was produced in summer 2010 by Ron

other tournaments in Holland, in May 2009 and October

Logan, a photographer who works with the U.S. Soccer

2009, and one in Manchester, England, in May 2010. I’ve

Federation. The series, which features an interview with

missed only one tournament, last October in Argentina. I’ve

Creasey that runs a combined total of 39 minutes, can be

been to more than 10 camps, which are held at the Olympic

viewed at http://www.youtube.com/user/rlogan2009. It was

Training Center in Chula Vista, California, near San Diego.

filmed at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.

“ This is a dream come true. I’m playing against the best players in the world who are representing their countries, and I’m able to represent my country.

And I’ve been able to see places I never would have seen.” – Nick Creasey, ’13 Some of the camps are closed (invitation only) and some are

Creasey played recreational soccer beginning at age four and,

open. Fortunately, the team is considered a full national

said his mother, began “dribbling a ball around soccer fields

team by the U.S. Soccer Federation which sponsors all the

at the age of two.” His older sister played on a boys’ team

team’s expenses while on trips and at camps.”

during his early childhood, and their father, Mike Creasey, coached youth soccer. “As soon as I could walk, I had a ball

His most recent tournament, June 17-July 1 in Emmen,

on my feet,” Creasey said.

Assen and Hoogeveen, the Netherlands, was the Cerebral Palsy International Sports & Recreation Association (CPISRA)

Not long after he began playing organized soccer, his

Football 7-a-side World Championships 2011, which featured

medical issues emerged. When he was five, he was diagnosed

teams from 16 countries. The U.S. team, which defeated

with a tumor he described as “literally the size of an orange.”

Ireland and Japan and lost to Iran, was one of eight teams that

Linda Creasey called it a “benign childhood tumor, which he

qualified for next year’s Paralympic Games. This summer’s

probably had at birth. Fortunately, it was benign. Before his

tournament and the one in the Netherlands in October 2009

first surgery, he was vomiting all the time and sleeping 18

were sponsored by the CPISRA.

hours a day.” The tumor was removed in his first surgery, in May 1996 at the Medical College of Virginia (MCV, where

Creasey attended his first three Paralympic camps while

Linda Creasey works as a registered dietitian). Two days

still in high school, and he played in his first tournament

before that surgery, his right side was paralyzed as a result

a month before graduation. “He skipped his senior prom to

of swelling in his brain. Afterward, he was significantly

go to Holland,” said his mother, Linda Creasey.

paralyzed. “It took him about two weeks to stand on both feet and walk a little,” said Linda Creasey.

Creasey first learned about Paralympics through a girls’ soccer game that he refereed in Richmond during his

He underwent inpatient rehabilitation for two weeks, then

senior year in high school. The coach for one of the teams,

had to attend outpatient rehab at Children’s Hospital in

Matt Bush, who lives in Virginia Beach, noticed Creasey

Richmond every day for three months. He had trouble

and began talking with him. Bush gave Creasey’s contact

walking afterward and had to wear an orthotic for about five

information to Jay Hoffman, also of Virginia Beach and the

years. “The orthotic, which began just below his knee, was

head coach of the Paralympic team, who contacted Creasey’s

to keep his lower leg and foot in an L-shape. At first he had

parents. One of the teams playing that day was from

to wear it day and night, then just at night. He hated

Virginia Rush, a soccer club for which Bush and Hoffman

wearing it.”

both work. “ I learned to walk again through OT and PT,” Creasey said.

“Nick’s a remarkable young man,” Hoffman said. “He’s very

“ PT, especially, got my legs going again, and I kept playing

dedicated to the Paralympic program, and he has found

youth soccer after my first surgery. The farther down the

a way to compete at the highest possible level. When he

extremity, the less use I have, like my fingers and toes.

comes into the camps, he’s always one of our fittest players.

My hip, shoulder and knee are more mobile. I was told that

He’s a great kid.”

I had the best brain tumor, in regards to outcome, at the

25

Nick Creasey, ’13, in action with the U.S. Paralympic soccer team. Photos by Ron Logan / U.S. Soccer.

best age. You learn fine-motor skills up until you’re eight, so

ninth grade. “He has had 24 MRIs in his life but now needs

I had a three-year gap in which I could reconnect with those

one only every two years,” said his mother. “When he was

fine-motor skills.”

young, he thought the MRIs were what was causing his tumor, especially since he walked into MCV for his first

The first occurrence of the tumor also affected his vision. “ I see in what is called stripes, which means half of the visual

MRI, two days before the tumor surgery when he was five, and ended up paralyzed. So, they were traumatic for him.

field in my right eye isn’t there. It doesn’t quite pick up

Due to his apprehension when he was young, he had to be

where my left eye leaves off, and my peripheral vision is

put to sleep before each MRI, and the drug causes you to

limited. Instead of 180 degrees of vision, I have only

not breathe, so they had to intubate him – insert a breathing

112 degrees. A requirement for a driver’s license is that

tube. Finally we were able to convince him that the MRIs

your vision be 105 degrees, so I make it by seven degrees.

weren’t causing the paralysis.”

I drive better than a lot of my friends!”

Creasey had leg surgery in the eleventh grade that involved “ The tumor recurred beginning in the fourth grade.

muscle lengthening. “They operated on my achilles tendon,

They weren’t sure what it was at first, and the doctors

adductor muscle, posterior and big toe tendons, so I would

monitored it. It was a microscopic cell at first and eventually

have a better walking gait. That surgery has made an

became about half the size of my pinky fingernail. After the

amazing difference. It’s made my ability to walk cleaner,

second surgery, which is called stereotactic radiosurgery, the

and my balance is also much better. I used to walk on the

tumor shrunk and eventually went away. I’ve been clean ever

toes and balls of my feet, and now I walk flat-footed thanks

since two years after that surgery.”

to the surgery on the achilles tendon.” Following that

Creasey learned he was tumor-free through an MRI in the

MCV for about three months.

surgery, he underwent outpatient rehabilitation at

26

Longwood Center for the Visual Arts Awarded National Accreditation Beth Cheuk LCVA Program Manager Joining the ranks of museums like the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, and the University of Virginia Art Museum, the LCVA has received national recognition from the American Association of Museums (AAM). Accreditation from the AAM is a seal of approval for the LCVA’s high professional standards and dedication to public service.

Across the country, only 4.5 percent of all museums are accredited.

In honor of the LCVA’s accomplishment and its general

Accreditation is important on a number of levels. It validates

contributions to the cultural and economic health of the

the work of the museum, providing confidence to current

region, on March 27, the Town of Farmville proclaimed that

and potential donors of the

April 2011 is “LCVA Month.”

excellence of our programs, policies, and our

To assist the LCVA in getting out the good news of its

stewardship of

accreditation, area students, LCVA staff, LCVA patrons,

artworks given

and others have been photographed “jumping for joy.”

or loaned to

Area businesses added to the festivities by posting

the center.

congratulatory messages on their marquees. “Congrats

It fulfills a

LCVA – national museum award,” dotted the streets of

longtime

Farmville, adding charm and spreading the message that

goal of the

the LCVA is for everyone.

staff and board and supports

LCVA Advisory Board president Julie Kline Dixon notes, “ I’m delighted and flattered to have been president of the

Longwood’s overall commitment for

board when this good news came through. But of course, the

departments to be accredited by

accreditation was made possible by the efforts of many past

their associated professional agencies. Finally,

presidents – people like Pat Fitzgerald ’54, Jack Blanton,

it communicates to the region and beyond the value

Harriet Miller ’51, and, most recently, Heyn Kjerulf.

and excellence of our exhibitions and educational programs,

Advisory board members past and present, LCVA staff

helping the LCVA continue to attract visitors and attention

members, volunteers, and the strong support of our

from across the area, region, state, and beyond.

community have made possible this tremendous accomplishment.”

27

P

the

ART

o f t he cen t u r i es

Kathy Johnson Bowles LCVA Director Guests at the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts’ fourth gala traveled through a live history of art with models and artists recreating classic and contemporary masterpieces. They took a walk along the Seine River in Georges Seurat’s A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. They stood alongside the husband and wife in Grant Wood’s American Gothic. They even hung out with hipster Andy Warhol and experienced pop art from the 1960s. These live artworks not only were jaw-dropping theatrical successes, but they also symbolized the LCVA’s mission to encourage art, from every century, in our everyday lives.

Themed The Party of the Centuries, the gala was a major success, selling out of tickets nearly a month before the event and generating buzz that started well before the event and continues even now. Aside from the live artworks, guests commented on the excellence of the food, the elegance of the flowers and general décor, and the fun addition of dancing to live music by the Catalinas. In total, the event netted more than $100,000 for the LCVA’s educational programs.

However, much more than just a party, the gala itself is a celebration of the arts and the artists in our community.

Between the live art displays and the silent auctions, the event highlighted the talents of up-and-coming artists studying at Longwood (who painted the canvasses for the models) and provided a platform for local and regional arts to display and sell their work. The event also serves as an invitation for everyone who attended the event to learn more about the LCVA and the university. Guests at the gala went home more aware of the LCVA’s strong conviction that art is an important – and beautiful – element of everyday life.

Proceeds from the gala make possible programs such as lectures, films, and workshops for adults; summer studios, in-school presentations, and on-campus field trips for

students; and activities such as the Annual Area Youth Art Exhibition, Kids’ Activity Rooms, or the Free Family Workshops, which welcome and lift the spirits of everyone, young and old.

The gala would not be possible without the help of hundreds of people, whether sponsors, committee members, volunteers, contributing artists, or, in many cases, a combination of the above. The LCVA is indebted to many but particularly wants to acknowledge the work of tireless and cheerful gala co-chairs Emily Pilk and Joan Witschey.

The food and decorating chair, Melissa Panzarello, along with her husband, Eric Koger, and some of their students in the theatre department, helped transform an idea about live art into an unbelievably effective reality. Chris Dowdy served as chair of the gala’s sponsorship committee and achieved record contributions that exceeded $120,000.

Drawing from the talents of students and faculty, the models, painters, seamstresses, stylists, scriptwriters, and coaches for the live artworks exceeded our expectations in every way. And of course there would be no point in having a gala if it weren’t for the artists who contribute works for the auctions. The LCVA is profoundly appreciative for each person’s contributions to this special evening.

Clockwise from top: Candy ’69, Katherine, Chris, and Chuck Dowdy pose with Mary Beth Dillon as ToulouseLautrec's Jane Avril. Dancing to music provided by The Catalinas was a popular addition to the 2011 gala.

Longwood’s First Lady and Honorary Chairperson for the Gala, Joan Finnegan, places a bid during the silent auction. Guests such as Robert Burger enjoyed studying and speaking with the models who interpreted the live artworks. Shown here is Madeline Hunter portraying Gustav Klimt’s Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I.

29

Clockwise from top: Gala committee members Kim Davis and Angela Jackson work on the Jackson Pollock-style painting that adorned the band’s stage during the gala. Melissa Panzarello of Longwood’s Theatre Department measures Brandon Hennessy ’12, for his role as Annie Leibovitz’s Portrait of Christo. Stuart Gregg ’12, was one of many art and art ed majors at Longwood who recreated masterpieces to serve as the backdrops for the live art interpretations at the gala.

Committee Members President and Mrs. Patrick Finnegan, honorary chairpersons Emily Pilk, co-chair Joan Witschey, co-chair Kathy Johnson Bowles Johnnie Britt Lonnie I. Calhoun III Stanley A. Cheyne Crista Cory Kim Davis Guy Dixon Julie K. Dixon Candice Jamison Dowdy ’69 Charles H. Dowdy III Chris Dowdy Katherine Feil Dowdy

30

Jarrod Fergeson Larissa Smith Fergeson Kristin W. Gee Everett Gee Navona Hart Pat Hicks Harlan L. Horton Angela M. Jackson Dirk Johnson Eric Koger Jennifer Logan Jessica Moseley Melissa Panzarello Lisa F. Tharpe Rob Wade Brad Watson Lorrie Cundiff Watson ’95 Michael David Whaley Pam Wilson

Joan & Pat Finnegan and Gwen Eddleman / Guy & Julie Dixon with Trey & Kristin Gee with Ed Kinman as Vincent van Gogh / Smantha Kozub & Troy Austin

Chris & Barbara Howard and Judy Forlines & Richard Cralle / Kate Duval, Bob Satterfield, Bob Duval, Sue Satterfield, Walter & Joan Witschey

Bill & Harriet Miller with Meg Gouldin, Betty Rowe, and AnnaLeah Chantry / William & Ann Oppenhimer with David Whaley / Harlan & Reed Horton

Jarrod & Larissa Fergeson / Kathy Johnson Bowles with Chris Dowdy and Julie Dixon / Michael & Anne Lund and Marian Hahesy Calhoun & Lonnie Calhoun with Madeline Hunter

Tim & Lisa Tharpe, Congressman Robert Hurt, and Darlene & Dick Bratcher / Virginia & Brad Watson

31

Lancers Update Longwood Lancers Enjoy An Outstanding Spring Greg Prouty Associate Athletics Director for Media Relations Longwood University Athletics recently

Senior men’s golf standout Michael Young just missed on an

enjoyed another outstanding spring

Championships. He led the Lancers with his school-record

individual invitation to the post-season NCAA Regional

sports season.

The Lancers’ softball team finished 2011 with a Division I record 37 wins (37-13), including 10 straight wins to start the year before finishing with 15 wins in the last 20 games.

Highlights included a 7-5 road win at number eight Georgia, a 1-0 shutout at No.14 Hawaii, and a 2-0 shutout of Notre Dame, before adding two-game sweeps of Virginia, South Carolina, Penn State, and Liberty while splitting games against Virginia Tech and East Carolina. Longwood just missed on an invitation to the 2011 NCAA Division I Softball Championship.

Head Coach Kathy Riley has an outstanding 15-year record of 434-230-1, including 13 winning years.

73.26 average, including five top-five efforts among six top10 finishes. Young enjoyed an outstanding four-year career with a new school-record scoring average of 74.10, including 11 top-five among 26 top-20 individual career finishes.

Longwood women’s lacrosse finished 2011 with a winning record of 10-8, including 5-2 in the National Lacrosse Conference (NLC). The Lancers were the No.3 seed for the NLC Tournament, falling in the semifinals.

The Lancers’ two tennis teams each enjoyed winning campaigns as the men finished 12-7, its second straight 12win season while claiming the Independent Tournament title, and the women completed their year with a record of 8-7.

The Longwood baseball team won 14 consecutive games during the period of March 1-19, including a road win at VCU and a four-game sweep of Buffalo, and the Lancers

New Mascot Coming Soon

finished 2011 with a record of 28-18. It marks the 30th overall 20-win campaign and 23rd season with at least 25

In early March, Longwood President Patrick Finnegan asked

wins in the program’s 34-year history. Veteran 33-year head

Director of Athletics Troy Austin to chair a Longwood Spirit

coach Charles Buddy Bolding attained milestone coaching

Initiatives Committee of faculty, staff, students, and alumni

victory number 900 with a 6-4 road win at James Madison

to work on finding a new mascot and creating a school fight

May 10 and is now 900-495-4, including 30 winning

song. The goal was for the committee to deliver a new

seasons during his tenure. (see related story)

mascot by August for the start of the new school year, while

Longwood women’s golf posted a tournament-record,

semester. The committee released sketches for voting upon

introducing a new fight song later during the 2011 fall 36-hole score of 291-297-588 March 28-29 while finishing

for a new Longwood Lancers mascot on May 1 at the Late

in first place among five teams at its own Tina Barrett

Night Breakfast in the Dorrill Dining Hall. Alumni, faculty,

Invitational played at The Manor Resort Golf Club in

staff and students were emailed on May 2 with instructions

Farmville. Freshman Amanda Steinhagen took individual

for one week of online voting to select the new mascot.

medalist honors in the field of 28 with her tournament-

The mascot will be a costumed individual celebrating

record and collegiate-best four-under par 69-71-140 for

Longwood school spirit, and there is no intention to change

her first college victory.

the athletics logo with the lance and horse graphic.

32

Mark Montgomery, ’11 Selected by New York Yankees Longwood University baseball standout Mark Montgomery was selected by the New York Yankees in the 11th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft on June 7, day two of the three-day, 50-round amateur draft. The 6-0, 205-pound right-handed pitcher was 1-0 with 10 saves and a 0.89 earned run average in 22 appearances, including 30.1 innings and 48 strikeouts (14.24 per nine innings) as a junior closer with the Lancers during 2011. Montgomery, the 359th overall selection, becomes only the ninth Longwood baseball player to ever be drafted. “ We’re thrilled at Mark being drafted by the New York Yankees,” said 33rd-year Longwood head coach Charles Buddy Bolding. “It’s the premier organization in professional baseball and they have a great reputation at developing pitchers. He should have the opportunity to advance rapidly through their organization.”

Montgomery established new Longwood season-records for ERA (0.89), saves (10), and fewest hits allowed (12 or 3.56 per nine innings) during 2011. He yielded just four runs, three earned, while limiting opponents to a .120 batting average with only 10 walks (2.97) and no home runs allowed.

Montgomery led the pitching staff in appearances, games in relief, ERA, saves, strikeouts, opponent batting average, games finished (21), and batters struck out looking (16). Throughout his three-year, 64-appearance career at Longwood, Montgomery was 7-6 with 16 saves and a 3.79 era over 128.1 innings with 157 strikeouts (11.01). He owns the school-record for career saves (16), while ranking sixth in ERA (3.79). – G.P. 33

Longwood Ruggers celebrate their national championship with President Patrick Finnegan.

Men’s Rugby Team Wins National Championship The Longwood University’s men’s rugby team

“After last fall, the team made it a goal to win the national championship, and they worked really, really hard,” said Dr. John

has won the national championship.

Graham, associate professor of computer science, who coaches the men’s and women’s rugby teams. “They were dedicated to it. They cut

The squad captured the national title in Men’s College Division III of

their spring break short and came back early to play a playoff game.”

USA Rugby by defeating Occidental College of California, 36-27, on May 1 in Virginia Beach. Some 138 colleges and universities from

Graham was treated to a Gatorade “bath” after the championship

across the country compete for the national championship at this level,

game, and the players participated in their post-game ritual of posing

which has no connection with Division III in NCAA-sanctioned

shirtless for a team photo. About 500 Longwood fans, including local

intercollegiate athletics.

alumni, attended the game, he said.

The championship game was played the day after the semifinal game,

“Midnight Madness here on campus was the night we won the

also played in Virginia Beach, in which Longwood defeated Salve

championship, and when we walked into the dining hall, all of the

Regina University, which had been ranked No.1 in the nation, 31-19.

student body stood up and applauded,” Graham said. “President

Those two games were part of the Final Four, similar to the Final Four

Finnegan, who was there, shook hands with all of the players

in the national college basketball tournament. The Longwood men’s

and high-fived them.”

rugby team had twice made it to the Final Four, losing in the national semifinals in 2009 and 2007, but had never won the national

After capturing the regional championship, the team entered the

championship.

national championship, beating Mount St. Mary’s, 48-25, on April 2 in Farmville. On April 16 in Knoxville, Tenn., the Longwood team

The Longwood squad, undefeated during its regular season last fall,

eliminated the University of West Florida, 31-17.

first won the state championship last November (winning both games), then won the regional championship in March (winning all three

Earlier the team won the regional championship, of the Mid-Atlantic

games), then advanced to the Final Four by winning two games in

Rugby Football Union (MARFU), by defeating the College of New

April that correspond to the “Sweet 16” and “Elite Eight” rounds of

Jersey, the University of Delaware, and the University of Richmond.

the NCAA basketball tournament.

MARFU encompasses Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and southern

34

Pennsylvania. The team won the state championship, of the Virginia Rugby Union (VRU), by beating Hampden-Sydney College and then the College of William & Mary. It was Longwood’s third VRU title in the last five years.

“Among all the Virginia schools that play rugby in Division III, we have the smallest male enrollment of any of them except Hampden-Sydney,” Graham said. “In our regular league season, we play them and William & Mary, Christopher Newport, the University of Richmond, Washington & Lee, and Roanoke College. We won 19 games and lost only two games all year: to VMI in the finals of the Todd Miller tournament on Feb. 26, and to Old Dominion in a pre-season game Feb. 5. Both VMI and ODU are Division II teams; we were 19-0 against Division III teams. We played four teams ranked in the Top 20

by USA Rugby and beat all of them. We beat Virginia Tech, and we beat VCU twice. We played 21 games, which is a lot of rugby.”

The most valuable player (MVP) of the national tournament was Ben Smith, a Longwood freshman from Matoaca. Preston Leep, a senior from Richmond, was the team captain and this year’s MVP. The second week in April he received the first Todd Miller Scholarship, named for a Longwood rugby player who died in March 2008 and established by Todd’s mother, Ellie Miller. The scholarship recognizes a

President Patrick Finnegan was interviewed by SPORTSfever Television Network’s Jon Schaeffer at halftime of the LongwoodJames Madison men’s basketball game that was nationally televised live December 1 from Willett Hall on Fox College Sports (FCS).

member of either the men’s or women’s team who has at least a 2.8 grade-point average and is of solid character and playing ability.

This year’s Todd Miller Tournament, which raises money for the

First-Ever Live TV Game

scholarship, was the third annual tournament.

Longwood University Athletics accomplished one of its most Rugby is a club sport at Longwood. It has been played at Longwood

significant achievements in program history while hosting its first-

since 1979, although Graham, who came to Longwood in 2005,

ever national television live broadcast of a men’s basketball home

is the first coach. Even though Graham retired at the end of

game against James Madison University on the Fox College Sports

the spring semester, he will continue to coach the men’s and

Network (FCS) December 1, 2010. The highly anticipated

women’s teams. – K.B.

contest was played in front of a hugely supportive and raucous record-crowd of 1,963 in sold-out Willett Hall (1,807). The Lancers led 41-36 at halftime during a closely played first half that featured six lead changes and five ties. JMU needed a late 24-6

Winning the Right Way

run to gain control and secured its come-from-behind road win with 5-6 free throws over the final 33 seconds, much to the disappointment of the unbelievably loud capacity crowd in the

As a Longwood Lancers fan, your support is crucial to the success

jam-packed facility while on TV.

of our programs and student-athletes. The NCAA prohibits specific activities between individuals who are representatives of our athletic

“ The environment in Willett Hall that night is exactly what college

programs and our prospective and current student-athletes. If you are

basketball is all about,” said eighth-year head coach Mike Gillian.

a member of the Longwood University faculty, staff, alumni, or Lancer

“ The crowd was incredible, the game was well played between two

Club, or have donated to, or been otherwise involved with Longwood

evenly matched teams and the only thing that could have been

Athletics, you are a representative of our athletic programs. Please help

better is if we would have come out with a win.

ensure the eligibility of our prospective and current student-athletes. “ Our Longwood students took their pride and spirit for this Visit www.longwoodlancers.com and click on NCAA Compliance link

fabulous institution to a whole new level. There are not enough

to learn how you can be involved with Longwood Athletics

ways to say how much we appreciate the support everyone shows

in the right way.

our program when they turn out to watch us play.”

We thank you for your continued support.

Longwood will open its 2011-12 campaign on Friday night,

For more information please contact:

beginning at 7 p.m. – G.P.

November 11, against visiting Navy at Willett Hall in Farmville Nick Schroeder Director of Compliance 434.395.2417 schroederng@longwood.edu

35

Longwood University baseball head coach Buddy Bolding (No.16) talks to his team following an exciting 9-8 win in 11 innings past James Madison University March 29 at Charles Buddy Bolding Stadium.

Bolding Earns 900th Career Win Greg Prouty Associate Athletics Director for Media Relations Longwood University 33rd-year baseball head coach Charles Buddy Bolding earned his 900th career coaching victory on May 10 during a 6-4 road win at James Madison University in Harrisonburg. Coach Bolding’s 900 career wins are more than any other active college baseball coach in Virginia among all Divisions (I, II, III, and NAIA). “ This is another great achievement for a truly remarkable person,”

Longwood had enjoyed yet another successful campaign during

said Longwood Director of Athletics Troy Austin. “Congratulations

2004 with a record of 31-16 that capped a remarkable run of 24-

to Coach Bolding and his family for winning 900 games.”

straight 20-win seasons (1981-2004).

Bolding became the Lancers’ mentor during the fall of 1978, and

Bolding’s tenure at Longwood is highlighted by six appearances

has since posted 30 winning seasons. Longwood finished 2010

in the NCAA Division II Tournament, and two trips to the

with a record of 28-20, its first season after the University

Division II College World Series. The 1982 team was the first to

dedicated the baseball facility as Charles Buddy Bolding Stadium

reach the national championships with a 31-10-1 record. More

on October 3, 2009. The Lancers posted a winning record of 26-

recently, the 1991 squad completed a school-record 41-8

22 during 2009, following a 2008 season during which Coach

campaign while advancing to the final four of the Division II

Bolding reached his milestone 800th career win on March 8,

national championships.

2008 with a 6-5 come-from-behind home victory past Binghamton at the formerly known Lancer Stadium. Longwood

Bolding served as a United States Army medic in Vietnam, then

finished that year (2008) with a record of 23-26-1, after posting

received his bachelor of science degree from Milligan College

a winning record of 34-19 during 2007, the program’s 12th 30-

(Tenn.) in health, physical education and recreation in 1973, and

win season overall, following a 23-27 record during 2006.

earned his master of science degree from the University of

Prior to playing its first Division I schedule in 2005, as required

Tennessee in 1974. He and his wife, Andrea, have three children:

during the school’s four-year Division I Reclassification, Bolding

Lauren, Suzanne, and Brad -- each of whom attended and two

had coached Longwood to 26 consecutive winning seasons

who graduated -- from Longwood (Brad also played baseball

(1979-2004). In 2005, however, the Lancers finished 16-32.

before graduating from Old Dominion University).

36

Reinson New Head Coach

Bacon Appointed

Longwood University Director of Athletics Troy Austin

The Office of University Advancement and the Department

announced April 12 that Bill Reinson has been promoted as

Intercollegiate Athletics have announced that Scott Bacon has

the school’s new women’s basketball head coach. Reinson has

been appointed the director of development for intercollegiate

served as the interim head coach since December 6, and led

athletics. He previously served as the director of broadcasting

the Lancers to a record of 6-17 over the final 23 games,

and media relations for the Lynchburg Hillcats, the Carolina

including four losses by four points or less among eight losses

League (Advanced-A) affiliate of the Atlanta Braves from

by nine points or less. A native of Mesa, Ariz., he had been an

2007-11. Bacon has served as the voice of the Lancers for

assistant with the men’s team at Longwood since September

Longwood Men’s Basketball since 2007-08.

2002 and has 11 years of collegiate coaching experience with three post-season appearances. Reinson becomes the

Bacon is responsible for cultivating and soliciting financial

program’s eighth head coach since 1970. Longwood and

support for intercollegiate athletics. His duties include

Reinson have agreed to a new multi-year contract.

managing a charitable giving program, soliciting and training volunteers, managing events, coordinating solicitation efforts,

“Bill has faithfully served Longwood for the past nine years,

and serving as executive director of the Lancer Club Advisory

and this past winter he accepted the difficult task of assuming

Board. Bacon will continue in his role as voice of the Lancers

leadership of the women’s basketball program at mid-year,”

for men’s basketball, while adding some additional sports

said Austin. “In that role, he lifted team morale and their

broadcasting that will begin with a few select baseball games

performance showed improvement. During the interview

during the 2011 season.

process, he presented an exciting vision for the future of our women’s basketball program.”

“Scott did a great job generating revenue and building a constituent base with the Lynchburg Hillcats,” explained

“I love Longwood University,” stated Reinson. “It has been a

Director of Athletics Troy Austin. “I am excited to work

lifelong dream of mine to be a Division I head coach, and I

with Scott to continue to enhance the Lancer Club and

am grateful for the opportunity and excited about the chance

fundraising initiatives.”

to build a very successful women’s basketball program here at Longwood. I would like to thank President Patrick Finnegan

“I am tremendously excited for the opportunity to join the

and Troy Austin for showing faith in me, as well as everyone

Longwood family,” said Bacon. “It has long been a goal of

else who supported me during this process.”

mine to work on a college campus and I cannot imagine a better place to accomplish that goal than Longwood where

Reinson’s philosophy and vision for the program will include

there are so many people I know and respect.” – G.P.

recruiting talented, intelligent student-athletes who understand the importance of competing together as a team.

The program will be fundamentally sound and well-prepared, sharing the basketball and working to create good scoring opportunities for one another. Defensively, the team will play as a unit, utilizing pressure defense to create turnovers, which will lead to transition opportunities. The program will be in superior condition and display non-stop hustle on both ends of the court. Longwood women’s basketball will be comprised of quality young women, with outstanding character, who will be assets to both the college and the community. – G.P.

Lancers Web For all of the latest news and information please visit www.longwoodlancers.com.

37

Longwood University News

On Campus

Alumni award recipients (2nd from left, from left to right) Brig. Gen. Joe Bass, ’83, Ann McCants Carter, ’62, Dr. Jim Thornton, ’85 and Lisa Brodie Williams, ’91 were congratulated by President Patrick Finnegan (far left) and Steve Meyers, ’83 (far right), president of the Longwood Alumni Board.

Citizen Leaders Recognized Four Longwood University alumni were

Longwood University. You have shown that success in your

honored recently with new Alumni

serve as leaders, mentors, and role models. You can be

Association awards that recognize citizen

personal and professional lives means even more when you immensely proud of the work you have done and of being named as the first winners of the new alumni awards.”

leadership.

Bass, whose command is headquartered at Fort Belvoir, is Brig. Gen. Joe Bass, ’83, of Clifton, commanding general

believed to be the first Longwood graduate to attain the rank

of the U.S. Army’s Expeditionary Contracting Command

of general. He became a brigadier general Dec. 18, 2009,

(ECC), received the William Henry Ruffner Alumni Award,

four weeks after he took over command of the ECC.

the highest and most prestigious award given by the

He oversees more than 1,200 people around the world, has

Alumni Association. Dr. Jim Thornton, ’85, of Clarksville,

served in Iraq and Kuwait in contracting assignments, and

superintendent of the Mecklenburg County public schools,

has two master’s degrees. He was featured in the Volume 9,

and Lisa Brodie Williams, ’91, of Midlothian, an English

No. 2, Summer 2010 issue of Longwood magazine. Bass,

teacher at the Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School in

who wrestled at Longwood and was an ROTC cadet, was

Richmond and the author of two novels, received the

nominated by Jay Poole ‘82, a retired Army colonel who was

Thomas Jefferson Professional Achievement Alumni

his fraternity (Delta Sigma Pi) brother at Longwood.

Award. Ann McCants Carter, ’62, of Petersburg, an active community service leader in the Petersburg and Richmond

“ He is a true and caring leader and is the epitome of what a

areas, received the Jabez Lamar Monroe Curry Humanitarian

citizen leader should be,” said Poole, now dean of education

Alumni Award.

and outreach for the Army Logistics University at Fort Lee. “I have served with him a number of times during our careers,

“ You have taken the lessons you learned at Longwood

and I can attest that he is an outstanding mentor, coach and

and beyond and are the embodiment of citizen leaders,”

leader who exemplifies the finest qualities that Longwood

Longwood President Patrick Finnegan told the alumni in

would want from an alumnus. We’ve been the best of friends

presenting the awards during a dinner on March 4.

for over 30 years; he’s probably my best friend."

“Through your actions, you have distinguished yourselves with your professional success, outstanding involvement and

Jim Thornton, who has a master’s degree from Virginia State

commitment to your community and service to

University and a doctorate from Virginia Tech, has been

38

Longwood University News

superintendent of the Mecklenburg school system since July

confidence and perseverance. To many, she is a role model.

2010. Before that, he was with the Cumberland County

They often come back for a surprise visit to let her know

school system for 19 years, the last six years as

how college life is going. When they run into her in the

superintendent, and also was principal of the high school,

grocery store, they stop to catch up. They remember what

athletic director and a math teacher. He was named the

her class was like and their memories must be pleasant, for

Region 8 Superintendent of the Year in 2007 by the Virginia

they are always smiling.”

Association of School Superintendents. His wife, Mary Larkin Thornton ‘88, whom he met at Longwood, is a

Ann McCants Carter, who has a master’s degree from the

regional vice president with ARAMARK Higher Education

University of Virginia, taught French and Spanish in

and was Longwood’s dining service director from 1993 to

Richmond, Hampton and Petersburg for many years, and

1998. Thornton was nominated by Dr. Amy Griffin,

she also was a school library media specialist at St. Vincent

superintendent of the Cumberland County schools, who

De Paul High School in Petersburg. She was recording

is a Longwood alumna (B.S. ’89, M.S. ’95).

secretary of the Medical College of Virginia’s Hospital Auxiliary (MCVHA) from 2005 to 2010, and in April 2011

“ Jim is a visionary who advocates putting students first with

she assumed that position again. In 2009 she received a

high expectations for all students and staff,” Griffin said. “ Jim continues to inspire those of us dedicated to public

MCV volunteer (the group didn’t even have a 10,000-hour

education to be leaders and make a difference in the lives

service pin, so they gave her two 5,000-hour pins), and as

of all children, not just a select few. He has ‘grown’ three

of mid-February 2011 she had logged 11,700 service hours.

current superintendents under his leadership, vision, and

In April 2010 she received the President’s Award, the highest

mentorship, including myself, for which I am forever

award given by the MCVHA.

thankful. I have to say that I really never planned to be a superintendent, but with Jim’s encouragement and push,

She was one of the founders, in 1999, of MCV’s “Make It

here I am.”

Happen” project, in which volunteers meet weekly in Richmond to make hats, teddy bears, quilts and other items

Lisa Williams is in her third year at the Maggie Walker

for patients. The project, which Carter coordinates, started

Governor’s School for Government and International

out for pediatric cancer patients but now includes all MCV

Studies, and she taught previously at Clover Hill High

patients. In 2010 Carter alone made 91 fleece blankets, 380

School in Chesterfield County (12 years), Hampton (four

pillows, 36 hats, 150 surgical hats, 272 drainage bag holders,

years) and Memphis (one year). She achieved National Board

and 83 tissue packs, among other items. Carter was

Certification (NBC) in 2007 and has served as a mentor to

nominated for the Longwood alumni award by Dr. Nancy

NBC candidates. A 2009 winner of the R.E.B. Award for

Vick, professor emerita of education.

On Campus

10,000-hour service pin, the highest ever awarded to an

Teaching Excellence, she will travel to Africa and to the Midwestern United States over the next two summers to

“Ann has a long history of outstanding involvement,

further her studies in genealogy and African American

commitment, enriching the lives of others and improving

history, which she studied in summer institutes at Yale

the welfare of her community,” Vick said. “For the Make

University and Brown University last year.

It Happen project, on Wednesdays, she leaves her home

Williams, the first member of her family to graduate from

garage at 6. After a quick breakfast, she begins work

college, is pursuing a master of fine arts in creative writing at

in the Volunteer Services office where she picks up

Virginia Commonwealth University. She has published two

and sorts mail.

in Petersburg at 5:20 a.m. and arrives in MCV’s parking

novels, Plight and Passion and Flight of Phoenix, and has published poems in collegiate literary magazines and articles

She delivers Make It Happen items to various departments

in educational journals. She was nominated by LaToya

of the hospital. In the afternoon, she works in the

Peace, her sister.

patient/family library. She finds health information for patients or helps them find information using books,

“Lisa has touched students’ lives,” said Peace. “Sure, she

magazines, and computers. This work may involve helping

knows her subject, but it is more than that. She loves kids.

with seminars, photocopying, faxing, setting up VCRs for

She cares about their past, their present, and their future.

individuals or groups. She arrives back home at 5:30 p.m.

She cares not only that they pass those SOL tests, but that

Ann is not new to her awards, but I believe this one,

they pass the test of life as well. So, she gives them tools like

from her alma mater, will be her favorite.”

39

Longwood University News

On Campus

Bryan Rowland, Ph.D.

Dr. Bryan Rowland Longwood’s New Vice President for University Advancement Kent Booty Associate Editor

Dr. Bryan K. Rowland is Longwood University’s new vice president for university

“ Longwood has a rich history and a wonderful future,” said Dr. Rowland. “Under the leadership of President Finnegan and the work of dedicated faculty and staff, Longwood will

advancement. Dr. Rowland has served as a

accomplish much as it works to educate citizen leaders.

vice president at Wright State University and

The university advancement division is committed to its goals

the University of Arizona. He also served as

the efforts of our students as they evolve into citizen leaders.”

of improving the overall student experience and supporting

director of development of two colleges at Virginia Tech, where he worked for nine years and earned his doctorate.

Rowland was vice president for advancement at Wright State University (WSU), in Dayton, Ohio, and president of the WSU Foundation from October 2008 until September 2010. His responsibilities included oversight of alumni

“ Longwood is fortunate to have a person with Bryan’s

relations, communications and marketing, development,

background, experience, and leadership abilities to take a

and foundation administration. The WSU Foundation has

strong department to the next level,” said Longwood

an asset base of more than $100 million. Rowland was

President Patrick Finnegan. “His expertise and proven team-

special assistant to the provost at Wright State from October

building skills will be vital in moving forward in the

2010 to December 2010.

increasingly important area of private fundraising, coordinated with other methods of highlighting and

Rowland held several development positions at the

advancing the university.”

University of Arizona from 2002 to 2008, including

40

Longwood University News

vice president for development for Arizona Health Sciences with the University of Arizona Foundation. In that position, he managed a development program that raised more than $35 million annually for four colleges and five medical research centers. He also served as senior director of development and alumni relations for that university’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Prior to that, he worked at Virginia Tech from 1993 to 2002. He was director of development for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences his last two years and also was director of development for the College of Natural

Peggy Agee Earns Prestigious Award

Resources for two years.

Dr. Peggy Agee, assistant professor and coordinator of the Rowland has a B.A. in speech communication from the

undergraduate program in communication sciences and disorders, is recipient of The Louis M. Di Carlo Award for Outstanding Recent Clinical Achievement, presented by the American Speech-

in educational leadership and policy studies from Virginia

Language-Hearing Foundation. The award was presented at the

Tech. He is a native of Christopher, Ill., in southern Illinois

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)

about 90 miles southeast of St. Louis. He and his wife,

convention in Philadelphia in November 2010.

On Campus

University of Illinois, an M.S. in workforce education and development from Southern Illinois University, and a Ph.D.

Stephanie, an attorney, have a 12-year-old son, Jacob.

Stephanie Rowland’s family is from Suffolk, Va.

Dr. Agee was presented the State Clinical Achievement Award by the Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Virginia during

“ I look forward to helping Longwood tell its wonderful

the group’s annual convention held in April 2010. Her selection

story and further engage its alumni and students,” Rowland

for this award earned her an automatic nomination for the

said. “I’m a first-generation college student, and I’m

Di Carlo Award.

excited about this chance to help others gain access to the opportunities that have been afforded me by my experiences

As recipient of the awards, Dr. Agee is recognized for her efforts

with high-quality institutions like Longwood. I’m excited

during the past six years to advance clinical practice in speech-

to work with our faculty, staff, university leadership and

language pathology and specifically for her efforts to give at-risk

alumni to grow and support Longwood. I would describe

children in the Southside region the skills to “crack the reading

myself as a relationship-builder. I like to connect alumni

code” and develop strong literacy skills. Dr. Agee created a

and friends with their university.”

number of clinical initiatives to serve children in rural, Southside

Franklin Grant, ’81, associate vice president for university

programs independently. In order to assist needy families unable

Virginia and developed and marketed these initiatives and advancement and director of planned and major gifts, was

to afford the modest tuition costs for these programs, Dr. Agee

named interim vice president for university advancement on

initiated several fundraising opportunities including Brunswick

Sept. 20, 2010 following the resignation of K. Craig Rogers.

stew and chili sales and Bingo games in the community.

President Finnegan expressed his “heartfelt thanks to

Through the Longwood Center for Communication, Literacy,

Franklin Grant, not only for his decades of success as

and Learning (LCCLL), Dr. Agee launched Camp Jump Start,

Longwood’s primary fundraiser, but for his willingness

a preschool language and literacy camp for 3-5 year-olds designed

to step up as the interim vice president for university

to facilitate the development of emergent literacy skills.

advancement and his dedicated service in that position for eight months. I do not know anyone who is more

The program is aimed toward developing the skills that the

committed to the goals and values of Longwood University,

National Early Literacy Council identifies as predictors of future

and I am delighted that Franklin will continue to be fully

literacy success – alphabet knowledge, concepts about print,

engaged in our capital campaign and other essential

phonological awareness, invented spelling, oral language, and

private fundraising efforts, where he has led the way

name writing. Camp Jump Start completed its fifth year of

for so many years.”

operation in summer 2011. – K.B.

41

Longwood University News

On Campus

Eleanor Borbas Williams,’77, Honored Julie Wiley Levine (left), ’93, and Eleanor Borbas Williams, ’77, Alpha Sigma Alpha chapter advisor for 31 years, presented a check for $1,500 recently to Longwood President Patrick Finnegan during a reception held at Longwood to honor Williams for her dedication to ASA.

Utilize Your Longwood Resources Longwood’s Academic and Career Advising Center offers help to all Alumni.

Go to http://www.longwood.edu/career/alumni/index.htm

Tell Us About It ...

Do you know a Longwood graduate making a difference?

Logon to http://www.longwood.edu/alumni/awards.htm and tell us about it.

Are You Ready To Receive Some Longwood Loot?

Are you planning an Alumni gathering? Let us send a Longwood Loot box.

Please send the names and class year of your attendees, the date of the event, and your mailing address to alumni@longwood.edu.

Longwood University News

On Campus From top left: Fredericksburg Event: President Patrick Finnegan with Bill Fiege, ’95, and Renee Simeone Fiege, ’97; Betty Hodnett White, ’65, Jeanine McKenzie Allen, ’62, and Lorie Ford Allen. Chesapeake Event: Ashley Jarrett, ’10, Patrick Crute, ’10, Patrick Finnegan, and Dave Crute, ’81; Janet Holloway and Joan Finnegan. Farmville Event: Charles Puckett, Cam Tinnell, Penny Puckett, and Dr. Wayne Tinnell; Jim Charleston, Kathy Charleston, M.S. ’90, Dr. Marvin and Lee Warriner Scott, ’62.

Celebrating Founders Month Longwood celebrated Founders Month in March with a series of events held in Richmond, Fredericksburg, Chesapeake, and Farmville.

Longwood President Patrick Finnegan delivered remarks and welcomed alumni and guests.

43

Longwood University News

Robin Andrews, ’83, served 23 years as an FBI agent.

FBI Agent Robin Andrews, ’83

On Campus

Kent Booty Associate Editor The investigation into the horrific shooting in Tucson, Arizona, in January that left a congresswoman critically injured and claimed six lives has a Longwood connection.

“ Fortunately, I’ve never been injured in the line of duty, and, even though I’ve had my weapon out, pointing at subjects, I’ve never had to fire,” Andrews said in a phone interview in late March. “However, I’ve been spit at, vomited on, shouted at, cursed at – everything you can think of.”

Robin Andrews ’83 led the Violent Crimes squad of the

Before joining the FBI, her job was even more dangerous.

Tucson FBI office, which spearheaded the investigation,

She was an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) scuba diver

until retiring May 31 after a 23-year career as an FBI agent.

during a five-year stint with the Navy. Her assignments in

Andrews also led the investigation in another high-profile case,

that career, in which she attained the rank of petty officer

the shooting death of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry near

third class, included Fort Story in Virginia Beach, Fallon

Tucson in December 2010. Though she is retired – her last

Naval Air Station in Nevada, and a submarine tender in

day was her 50th birthday – she may be called to testify

Holy Loch, Scotland.

in either case.

“EOD scuba divers look for live torpedoes on the ocean Andrews, who oversaw eight other special agents, was the first

floor and place plastic explosives on the torpedoes, blowing

female agent in what is officially the Tucson resident agency

them up in place, to render them safe,” she said. “I was

of the FBI’s Phoenix division, which investigates crimes in

never injured, but one time, while diving in Virginia Beach,

Southwest Arizona. She had held the rank of Supervisory

there were sharks beside me in the water. There was also a

Special Agent since 2006. Before commanding the Violent

time in Holy Loch, Scotland, when my dive buddy and

Crimes squad, she led the Cyber Squad and before that the

I were connected by a line. He had placed too much weight

Drug Squad. In her FBI career, all of which was spent in

on his weight belt, and we sank to the lake floor, quickly

Tucson, she investigated homicides, drug crimes, and crimes

becoming stuck in the ocean mud. It became a life-

against children including sexual abuse and Internet child

threatening situation. I pulled him over to me and hit his

pornography exploitation. Her work included investigations

chest, motioning him to inflate his buoyancy control vest,

on two American Indian reservations near Tucson, one of

as I did. Visibility was extremely poor, but we finally made

which, the home of the Tohono O’odham Nation, is the

it back to the surface. Another time, around Maryland,

third largest reservation in the United States.

jellyfish were everywhere – literally thousands of them – and I was dressed in coveralls to cover every part of my body except around my regulator, so they stung my lips which was quite painful. After a coworker and good friend on my EOD team died while diving on a training mission,

44

Longwood University News

“Fortunately, I’ve never been injured in the line of duty, and, even though I’ve had my weapon out, pointing at subjects, I’ve never had to fire.” – Robin Andrews, ’83 I decided it was time to move on, especially since my enlistment was almost up. His death took the wind, the

“ Eventually I knew it was time to retire and to be around good people for a change instead of criminals.

passion, out of my sails. I don’t dive any more, though

You see distressing, horrific crimes, and this work can

I do snorkel.”

be a grind. It’s a job that is 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Even when you’re off-duty, you’re getting emails

Andrews joined the FBI only a week after leaving the Navy.

“I requested any office on the East Coast, and they assigned me to Tucson. And I’ve always wanted to be near water,

and phone calls. Before I retired, I found that I didn’t have as much passion as in my younger years, so I figured it was time to let someone else do this.”

Sonoran Desert. But it’s been a wonderful career. Every day

In the most prominent case late in her career, Andrews

has been different and challenging, and I’ve been blessed to

investigated the tragedy Jan. 8, 2011 in which U.S. Rep.

work with so many hard-working, dedicated, caring agents.”

Gabrielle Giffords, who represents the Tucson area, was

“We investigate everything from crimes in Indian country

among 19 people who were shot, six fatally, in what has been

to assaults on Federal officers, such as the U.S. Border Patrol

called an assassination attempt. Andrews knew three of the

agents, to bank robberies. We probably handle hundreds

victims, including Chief Federal Judge John Roll, whom she

of cases at any time. When I worked with Innocent Images

had seen in court recently. She has conducted safety fairs

(a program to combat child pornography/child sexual

with Giffords aide Gabe Zimmerman, also killed, and is

exploitation), I handled 50 cases, and I also had a heavy

acquainted with Giffords. The other prominent case she was

case-load on the reservations.”

working on at the time of her retirement was that of Brian Terry, who was killed Dec. 15, 2010 in a shootout with

Andrews is “very proud” of her work with the FBI’s

border bandits near Rio Roco, Ariz., about 10 miles from

Innocent Images National Initiative, which she did while

the Mexican border.

investigating crimes against children, including Internet child pornography, from 1999 to 2006. “I initiated

On Campus

which is why I joined the Navy, and they sent me to the

Andrews, a native of the Woodlawn community in

Innocent Images in the Tucson office and acquired the

Carroll County, near Galax, attended Longwood on

funding for it, and I developed and formed the S.A.F.E. –

a golf scholarship, majoring in business administration.

Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement – team, composed

A two-time All-American, she won the state tournament

of federal, state and local law enforcement officers.

for female collegiate golfers in 1979, finished fourth in the

I’ve executed search warrants all over the country in

national women’s Division II golf tournament in 1981,

connection with this effort, including over 100 search

and was runnerup in the state amateur tournament in 1982.

warrants just in Tucson.” From August 1999 to August

She was Longwood’s female athlete of the year her senior

2006, the S.A.F.E. team was responsible for 82 arrests,

year, the first woman golfer to win that honor. She couldn’t

82 indictments, 66 convictions and 142 search warrants,

attend her Longwood commencement ceremony because

according to a 2007 article in the Tucson Citizen, which

she had already joined the Navy and was attending boot

described the squad’s work as an effort to “take Internet

camp in Orlando, Fla. She and her Longwood golf coach,

child predators off the keyboard and put them in jail.”

Dr. Barbara Smith, now retired, exchange Christmas cards every year.

“ When I was working Innocent Images matters, as well as Indian country matters, there were times I’d go home at night and cry. I saw some tragically sad cases. I could tell

“ I would not be where I am today were it not for golf and Longwood College,” Andrews said.

you story after story of things you couldn’t imagine.

Just when you think you’ve seen the worst of humanity, something will come along that’s even more horrific. Sexual abuse can be a cycle, and few can break it. I’ve seen victims of child sexual abuse become the perpetrators. However, some can break the cycle.

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In Print

Longwood University News

Recent Publications by Longwood Faculty, Staff, Students & Alumni

Waterwalk: A Passage of Ghosts

by Dr. Steven Faulkner, Assistant Professor of English This book chronicles the 61-day, 1,000-mile canoe trip that Faulkner took in 1996, before coming to Longwood, with his 16-year-old son Justin. The trip was an attempt to connect with Justin – because Faulkner was then in graduate school and was working two jobs, their time together had been limited – and re-created a famous 1673 voyage

by French explorers Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet. The trip began on Lake Michigan, on the southern tip of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and ended in St. Louis, with the last 400 miles spent on the Mississippi River. The experience is being turned into a film that will be released in spring 2012 (see related story on p. 14).

Published by RDR Books, softcover, 371 pages

Tank: An Ugly Dog’s Adventure

by Ellen Mullinax Poppe, ’90, Longwood Alumna

On Campus

This children’s book, which Poppe calls “realistic fiction,” is about the time on Thanksgiving 2008 when her family’s 10-year-old basset hound, Tracker, turned up missing, prompting a search. “On the fifth day, the pound found him,” Poppe said.

“He was only three blocks from our house. He was so overweight and so low to the ground that they had nicknamed him ‘Tank.’ Tank goes with me to booksignings and signs with his paw-print. He’s more popular than me!” Poppe, who has a master’s degree from East Carolina University, is a teacher-librarian at Vandora Springs Elementary in Garner, N.C., and lives in nearby Fuquay-Varina. Her husband, Doug, played basketball at Longwood in the late 1980s. Published by Mirror Publishing, softcover, 28 pages.

Extra Special

by Ashley Clement Frey, ’03, Longwood Alumna Frey describes this as a picture book for first- and second-graders. “It’s about a kangaroo, who are supposed to have big feet, who has one big foot and one small foot, and it’s about accepting others who are different and being comfortable in who you are,” said Frey, a first-grade teacher at Cumberland Elementary. “He has to face the challenge of playing soccer when he’s clumsy. Being a kids’ book, it has a happy ending – it ends with everyone being happy!” Published by Crossbook, softcover, 28 pages.

Stealing Secrets

by H. Donald Winkler, former Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Public Affairs and Publications This book, subtitled “How a Few Daring Women Deceived Generals, Impacted Battles, and Altered The Course of the Civil War,” tells of the stories of 43 female spies in that conflict. “The stories of women spies are filled with suspense and seduction, treachery and trickery, romance and bravery,” wrote Winkler. “Women took enormous risks and achieved remarkable results – often in ways men could not.” Winkler, who has written three previous books about Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War, retired from Longwood in 1995 after 13 years and lives in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Published by Sourcebooks Inc., softcover, 352 pages

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From left: Rector John Adams, Dr. David M. Carkenord, Elizabeth (Beth) Megan Riley, ’11, and President Patrick Finnegan.

Dr. Carkenord, professor of psychology, received the Student-Faculty Recognition Award and Beth Riley, ’11 was a recipient of the Sally Barksdale Hargrett Prize for Academic Excellence. President Finnegan followed the tradition in which each new president is the commencement speaker at the end of his or her first year in office.

Graduates Encouraged To Serve ...

Longwood University graduates were urged at commencement May 14 to maintain their integrity, to be courageous enough to try new things, and to serve others.

“Service above self will always be the gold standard by which you value your life, not how much gold you can accumulate,” Longwood President Patrick Finnegan told the graduates. Finnegan, who came to Longwood in July 2010, was following a tradition in which each new president is the commencement speaker at the end of his or her first year.

Some 830 bachelor's degrees and 162 master's degrees were awarded. This includes students who finished degrees requirements in summer 2010 and fall 2010, in addition to May 2011.

Elizabeth (Beth) Megan Riley, a liberal studies major from Suffolk, and John-Harwood Scott, a chemistry major and biology minor from Farmville, shared the Sally Barksdale Hargrett Prize for Academic Excellence, given to the graduating senior with the highest grade point average.

Both graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Scott also received the Dan Daniel Senior Award for Scholarship and Citizenship. This is only the sixth time that a graduating senior has received both awards.

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Published September 2011.

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A S I LV E R C E L E B R AT I O N S C H O L A R S H I P H S E RV I C E H S TA N D A R D S H H H HH H H HH HH H HH H H H H H H H H H H H

T H E I N A U G U R AT I O N O F

H PAT R I C K F I N N E G A N AS LONGWOOD’S

25 th

PRESIDENT

H H H HH H H HH HH H HH H H H H H H H H H H H

THURSDAY & FRIDAY H 20 & 21 OCTOBER H H H HH H H HH HH H HH H H H H H H H H H H H

For more information and the complete two-day event schedule please visit: www.longwood.edu/inauguration.