The 187th annual Founding Day Convocation at Emory & Henry College was celebrated on Thursday, March 21, 2024. Each year, Founding Day is celebrated with a keynote speaker and awards ceremony honoring distinguished alumni and philanthropic members of the community.
Amanda is a tourism and marketing specialist for the West Piedmont Planning District in Virginia, and she hopes you’ll soon visit Virginia’s other valley.
When Susan Matthis Johnson graduated from Emory & Henry 49 years ago, she heard Dr. Steve Fisher say words that would change the course of her life and an entire town.
People of a certain age had Bugs Bunny cartoons to thank for their introduction to classical music. Dr. Will Gibbons says today’s generations can find that sort of music education through video games.
Susannah Davis, E&H Class of 1992, will soon be featured on a nationally broadcast program as she delivers a sermon entitled “A New Song.” You can hear the broadcast on December 31, 2024 at www.Day1.org. The following press release was received in the E&H Alumni Office from the Day1 office.
She was a big-time participant in the E&H Outdoor Leadership Program, she was a member of the program’s competitive Adventure Team, and she stayed in Emory an extra year to work as a staff member for E&H outdoor leadership. And when asked if she planned to do this sort of work as a career her answer comes quickly: “Absolutely not.”
Brenden Blevins, Emory & Henry ’23, won a state wide journalism award from the Virginia Farm Bureau for his work on Living Appalachia, a weekly agriculture radio show on WEHC 90.7 FM Emory. The award winners were announced at Virginia Farm Bureau’s Annual Convention in Virginia Beach, November 28, 2023.
Gilroy’s Good Heart is available on Nov. 3, 2023, and while it’s aimed at children, adults have already told Victor that they found the book’s message to be meaningful to them.
A performance by renowned international opera star Michael Austin highlights the fall season of the McGlothlin Center for the Arts at Emory & Henry College.
When Emory & Henry announced in 2023 that the college was adding lacrosse to their athletics lineup, there were a handful of alumni who corrected the word “adding” to “bringing back.”
Emory & Henry College is pleased to announce the conferral of a posthumous honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree to Squire Miller Henry at the 2023 commencement on May 6, 2023.
This award is given to an E&H faculty member with a distinguished record of excellence in teaching who haas shown exceptional service beyond the classroom thereby helping to promote the good name of Emory & Henry. This award is named for the first E&H alumnus to return to E&H as a faculty member, Professor James A. Davis, E&H Class of 1845.
The award is given to an individual who has attained distinguished achievements in a professional or volunteer capacity, or has shown special creativity and ingenuity.
Ali Singleton Reilly is the 2023 recipient of the A.L. Mitchell Young Alumnus Award. The award is given to someone who has made unique and outstanding accomplishments during the first 15 years after graduation. The award bears the name of A.L. Mitchell, E&H class of 1946, who began his employment at Emory & Henry while still a very young alumnus and served students faithfully for 38 years.
This award is given to an individual who has provided extraordinary participation and leadership in any number of E&H activities. The award is named for Fred Selfe, E&H class of 1969, who served the Emory & Henry College Athletic Department with exceptional dedication and valor until his death in 2003.
This award is given to an individual who has demonstrated special service in a volunteer or professional manner, has made unusual personal sacrifice, or has shown a long and dedicated commitment to service that benefits humanity. This award is named for Rev. Carl and Ruth Looney and their family who excelled at using humble means to achieve amazing service.
If you didn’t know the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operated public park space with interpretive rangers, hiking, boating, camping, fishing, birding, and more, you’re not alone.
Rev. David Graybeal has just published a book called Faith in the West Wing that deals specifically with the presidency of Jed Bartlet. Do you not remember that U.S. President?
Emory & Henry College is proud to announce the launch of the College’sE&H Magazine website, a complement to the bi-annual publication created by the Office of Marketing and Communications in partnership with the Office of Advancement and the Alumni Office.
Dr. Eric Drummond Smith teaches politics at UVA-Wise, and is often called on to offer his pundit skills during an election cycle. But it’s hard to say whether he’s better known for his chops as a political scientist or as a well-known artist.
“The most important thing for me is perception. Not a change of heart. We just hope for a more open thought process about how we interact with the world.”
The Emory & Henry College radio station, WEHC Emory 90.7 FM, began broadcasting local programming on 90.5 WISE-FM Wise, 91.3 FM Pound, 90.3 FM Clintwood, 91.7 FM Norton, and 90.1 FM Big Stone Gap on Saturday, November 12, 2022.
It was always a given that Alexandria Pollard would go to college. The real decision was where to focus her talents. It was speech she heard on her first day of law school that would confirm her decision to tackle law school – and inform her path moving forward.
All the art in Brian Serway’s new store is Appalachian. But If you’re looking for quilts or dried apple dolls or a squirrel carved from a peach pit, you’re in for an exciting surprise.
Emory & Henry College has shifted category rankings inU.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges for 2022-23 from National Liberal Arts College to Regional University (South), earning a Top 20 Best Colleges ranking amongst 135 peer institutions. The College also ranked 77 among the universities as a Top Performer for Social Mobility, offering a gateway to students whose families earn less than $50,000 a year and are eligible for Federal Pell Grants. In addition, Emory & Henry was ranked #6 for Best Undergraduate Teaching Programs.
The title of Gail Weaver Norwood’s book may mislead you. This book is about more than grief; it’s about learning how to manage our emotional well-being in times of challenge.
Jimmy Lawrence has just retired from a 40-year career as an athletic trainer for Virginia Tech, and he says there’s one experience that he has loved more than any other.
Moments ago, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce announced the recipients of the 2022 Legislators of the Year, Freshman Legislator of the Year and Free Enterprise Award. Recipients were the first among many that are to be awarded Free Enterprise Awards throughout 2022 at Virginia Chamber signature events. These awards recognize legislators for their support for the principles and initiatives outlined in the Chamber’s long-term economic development plan, Blueprint Virginia 2030.
This is part of a series of stories by members of the 2022 E&H Mass Comm 302 Class.
Stephen and Jessica Curtis Callahan are crafting more than spirits and cocktails: they’re crafting innovative opportunities for the East Tennessee region.
This is part of a series of stories by members of the 2022 E&H Mass Comm 302 Class.
Between three different jobs and his family life, Steve Matney has found that staying busy these days is the right choice for him. In short, there’s “no rest for the chemist.”
This is part of a series of stories by members of the 2022 E&H Mass Comm 302 Class.
The first woman to score 1,000 points at Holston Highschool, has just been named Damascus Middle School teacher of the year. Carolyn Foster-Doss turns everything she touches into gold, elevating the Southwest Virginia community to great heights on and off the court.
This is part of a series of stories by members of the 2022 E&H Mass Comm 302 Class.
Lauded E&H alumna, Rose Neese Houk, Class of 1981, says she’s incredibly honored to participate in a documentary about Gina Renee Hall and the historic “No Body Murder Conviction.”
Nashville native Thuy Nguyen Rocco had never travelled the world until she came to Emory & Henry; and yet, she spent her first days in this world as an international refugee.
Stephen and Jessica Curtis Callahan, members of the E&H Class of 2011, have been named the 2022 recipients of the A.L. Mitchell Young Alumni of the Year Award, given annually by the Emory & Henry Alumni Association.
Three of the stars in a recent Knoxville production of Love, Loss and What I Wore had more than a love of theatre in common: they also had a certain tiny college in Virginia as a mutual bond.
Emory & Henry College officials have announced a bold plan to construct two new facilities on property it owns adjacent to Exit 26 off Interstate 81 as the College continues to expand to meet growing demand. Last week members of the executive committee of the College’s board of trustees unanimously approved constructing a new equestrian center for equine students and new athletic facilities including a multi-sport complex for track and field, soccer and lacrosse.
A lot of students play sports in college but after school is over so is that athletic endeavor. But the E&H Outdoor Program trains young people for the sorts of active endeavors that will follow them their entire lives.
And just to prove that he’s no ordinary conductor, he started the job in 2020 – at the height of a pandemic where people were highly discouraged from singing.
Dr. Stacie Woolard is trained in viral immunology, which is Dr. Anthony Fauci’s field, But with her typical razor wit she says she doesn’t want his job: “Nope. I just want to finish my laundry by the end of the week.”
Lisa Dingus Bratton has taught math at Ross N. Robinson Middle School in Kingsport for 34 years….except for that one year she was an assistant principal.
“Charlie Phillips is the best of us.” That’s how how fellow attorney describes this attorney who has just won an award for being one of Virginia’s most effective lawyers – even though he is retired.
Erica Drake-McGregor has learned a lot in her 15 years as a nurse. But in a new role as a urology nurse, she has found out that it’s never too late to learn new skills.
“You know that moment when I look you in the eye and reach out my hand…and with no words spoken you reach out to shake my hand? That’s a bit of magic. Magic is all around us all the time; we just take it for granted.”
Andrew Hart is organizing a basketball showcase aimed at honoring his former coach, Bob Johnson. But the rest of the story is that every team in the event has a connection to Coach Johnson.
Nora Davis is the marketing and promotions coordinator for Jonesborough, Tennessee. And she says there is a lot of new activity in a town that is Tennessee’s oldest.
Traditions are important for most families. But family traditions might be just a little more crucial to Erika Wright. As a member of the Virginia indigenous tribe Cheroenhaka (Nottoway), Erika understands that traditions are more than just something to share with other family members: traditions are a matter of cultural survival.
Because of an interest sparked and kindled while at Emory & Henry, Tom Lundy spent 44 years in local government, retiring in 2016 as Catawba County Manager, a position he held since 1979.
Four E&H authors will ply their pens at the second annual E&H Alumni Authors Book-Signing event on Homecoming day, Sat. Oct. 16, 11 am-Noon. You’ll find them in front of the bookstore.
Michelle Ellis is a curator for the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke. So it’s safe to say she’s on the move. On the right track. Really rolling now. Shifting into gear.
When Linda Coutant, Class of 1989, heard that Appalachian State University (ASU) was aiming to be a “mindful campus,” she felt an electrical jolt go through her whole body. “I felt it on a cellular level.”
We all know the rules. To avoid conflict, avoid talking about religion and politics. And to avoid seeming “tacky,” don’t talk about money. So how is Rayce Lamb going to traverse a world in which he will have to discuss religion and money?
When the pandemic hit in 2020, there were a lot of jokes about the technology learning curve. But in the midst of the stress of learning new tricks, many found out that there was joy to be found in all this new technology.
Joel Vaughan has just published a book about a little town in Virginia that is the source of one of Southwest Virginia’s most popular jokes. Fries, Virginia, is pronounced “freeze” – but the joke is, “It’s freeze in the winter and fries in the summer.”
There’s a name popping up on a lot of bylines these days you might recognize. Laken Brooks’ name can be seen on CNN, Forbes, Healthy Women, and even Atlas Obscura. So how does a 2017 graduate manage to be so well-published so quickly after college?
Dr. Ed Davis has been a professor at Emory & Henry for more than 30 years, and in that time he has cultivated a reputation for many things. He is known for having a great sense of comedic timing. He’s a stand-out stand-up bass player. He’s an accomplished gardener, a decorated academician, an author of multiple books, and he is one of the country’s leading experts on collard greens.
The Emory & Henry Alumni Office is pleased to be participating one last time in the “College for Online Adults” sponsored by the SWVA Higher Education Center.
Dr. Miriam Macfarlan Herin gained more than a degree at Emory & Henry; and her life lessons paired magically with her education to make her a celebrated author.
Kari Kitts Rothstein isn’t waiting for theatres to reopen before expanding her passion for live dramatic performance. She has found a clever way to bring theatre to your computer screen – and the response has been great.
Morgan King’s new full-length animated feature is a throw-back to a popular 1980’s classic, but he was careful not to be limited by the past as he created something he wanted to stand up in the present.
Dr. Erin Griffin (E&H 2013) figured out how to parlay a double major in music and chemistry into a brand new animal clinic she just opened. And she already has a full house of four-legged clients.
Emory & Henry has a long and impressive tradition of preparing grads to be outstanding educators, and these two stories further prove the impact of E&H teachers.
E&H teamed up with the Holston Rivers Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalist and the Smyth County Public Libraries to do an online educational event that challenged us to step away from our computer screens.
Congratulations to our 2021 honorees! Watch for presentations which will be available online soon. Click the hyperlinks to read more about each honoree.
Emory & Henry in the City Volunteers have been named the 2021 recipients of the Fred Selfe Distinctive Service to Emory & Henry Award. (Read more about E&H Alumni Awards.)
Dr. James Duchamp is the 2021 recipient of the James A. Davis Faculty Award, granted annually by the E&H Alumni Association. (Read more about E&H Alumni Awards.)
Kishanna Caesar Heyward, Emory & Henry Class of 2008, has been named the 2021 recipient of the A.L. Mitchell Young Alumna of the Year Award, given annually by the Emory & Henry Alumni Association. (Read more about E&H Alumni Awards.)
Lisa Jordan, Emory & Henry Class of 1984, has been named the 2021 recipient of the E&H Distinguished Achievement Award, awarded annually by the Emory & Henry Alumni Association. (Read more about E&H Alumni Awards.)
Rob Goldsmith, Emory & Henry Class of 1971, has been named the 2021 recipient of the Carl and Ruth Looney Humanitarian Award, awarded annually by the Emory & Henry Alumni Association. (Read more about E&H Alumni Awards.)
Dr. Coley has received recognition for his hard work just before taking over as chair of the Physical Therapy program at the E&H School of Health Sciences.
The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center’s College for Online Adults has invited Emory & Henry to participate in their winter class. All classes are offered free of charge and online. E&H will offer six sessions!
Speaking with MacKenzie Bellimam might make you think she’s been working on issues of storm water management for a long full career. But she only graduated in December of 2019.
If you’ve ever been involved with Girl Scouts, you probably thought a troop of 8 was a lot to handle. But imagine being responsible for 10,000 Girl Scouts.
Dr. James McCracken spent years in scientific laboratories completing his post grad work, and most people figured he was headed for teaching or research. But as it turns out, it was the hardware in those labs that really caught his imagination.
In 2015 Dave McGlothlin won the honor of being History Teacher of the Year for Massachusetts. But he readily admits that he is constantly learning new stories from our country’s history.
Preston Lowe swears he doesn’t drive a fancy sports car and wear aviator sunglasses with reflective lenses that he can whip off his face when making a revealing statement about evidence. But he is a forensic scientist for the FBI.
In the midst of a whole lot of bad news about the environment, Lowrie Tucker sounds like an optimistic guy. That could be because he is working hard to be part of making this world a better place.
When Monica Gonzalez was a student at Emory & Henry (Class of 1998) the dean of students told her she was “tenacious.” At the time, she wasn’t exactly sure how to take that.
Rob Goldsmith, President and CEO of People Incorporated, has been honored by the National Community Action Partnership with the Lyndon Baines Johnson Human Services Award innovation and for his decades of work with People Incorporated and Community Action.
News of the demolition of Matthews Hall has been met with a variety of responses. Some are sad to lose a place that held college memories; some were so glad to see it go that they offered to bring a sledge hammer and help; still others had to ask, “Which one was Matthews?”
Mary Lampkins (E&H ’88) says her older siblings had to endure her “playing teacher” when she lined them up for pretend school as early as when she was five years old. But she has used an impressive career in education to prove that she wasn’t just playing. And in 2020, Mary retired after 32 years of teaching in the Washington County, Virginia, school system.
Laura Beth Weaver is the executive director of the Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley, and the pandemic is causing additional challenges to her work.
Chilhowie High School Principal Rocky Baker (E&H ’85) is challenging his teaching staff to identify the needs of students and be a trauma informed school.
More than a Vacation is an event Emory & Henry does every summer for our wonderful alumni. Now in its 26th year, the alumni gathered July 24-27 to learn and reconnect with each other and our campus.
Mike Young (E&H ’86) and his Wofford basketball team made history on March 21 by being the first Wofford team to win a first round game in the NCAA Tournament.
Louis “Lou” Wacker, an Emory & Henry College Hall of Famer who won nearly 70 percent of his games as head football coach of the Wasps, has died at age 84. The Richmond, Va. native spent 23 seasons as the Wasps head coach, and previously spent 24 years on the coaching staff at Hampden-Sydney College.
The new 12-track album called the “1927 Jubilee” marks the culmination of more than six months’ worth of scouting, recording and promoting the concept of making a new “Bristol Sessions” record 90 years after the first “Bristol Sessions” recordings were made by talent scout Ralph Peer in 1927.
The book, “Hidden Figures,” has been made into a movie and everyone is loving the story. But you might not know about a couple of E&H figures who are in the story.
Gary M. Reedy serves as the chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society, placing the 1978 Emory & Henry graduate atop one of the most influential non-profit organizations in the nation.