Sorry it took so long to get back to you on bingo, guys, but I was busy trying to fix the game so I could win the super special awesome prize I don’t think I’ve mentioned yet.

Ready to play? Okay! Round two is a go!

We had the Homecoming Showcase Concert, which was a big success, as it is every year. The Southern Virginia Wind Ensemble, Flute Choir, Orchestra, Concert Chorale and Bella Voce gave razzle dazzle performances. And, as always, the concert ended with a bang when alumni were invited to join the students singing “Shenandoah,” a song that has become Southern Virginia University’s unofficial theme over the years.

The next night we had the fancy Homecoming dance (welcome back to the dance log!). Leading up to that, however, was spirit week! Each day had a new theme, like dressing up as one of your favorite professors—I was Provost Sowell—or dress like a ninja day. Each of those days counts as a separate bingo counter, in case you were wondering.

So, did any of you get the bingo? If you did, here’s your prize… A high-five from me! Yeah, best gift ever!

(Post by Mika McIntosh ‘13. Photos by Lindsey Morgan ‘14.)

You’ve all been keeping track on your Homecoming bingo cards, right?

What’s with those blank stares—are you joking? You didn’t do Homecoming bingo? Oh boy. Well, let me explain the rules so you can make your bingo card real quick and play. Make a kind of standard bingo card. Then put all of the Homecoming events on it, and mark off the ones you went to. If you get a bingo, then you win a prize! Ready to go? Bueno!

Let’s start with the epic paint war that happened on the fields by the Institute of Religion. People may have started out in white clothes, but that all soon changed with a few flicks of the wrist. No, it wasn’t magic. Weren’t you paying attention? It was with paint. Paint transformed the pearly whiteness of their clothes.

Friday night after the Homecoming Concert—which we’ll get to later—there was an alumni bonfire with all of the bonfire goodness you could expect from a bonfire, with the added bonus of mingling with your Southern Virginia alumni. Delicious. (Was that the right word to use? I mean, s’mores were most definitely involved so I would assume that was a good word choice.)

Then there were Saturday’s soccer games and other activities at The Fields. The women’s and men’s soccer teams each played a game, and the members of the women’s soccer team won their game—making that their team’s third consecutive win. Our soccer teams are fantastic, and soccer is my favorite sport out there anyway. Next to curling. We need a curling team.

Have you gotten a bingo yet? Well, if not, there’s still more events to go over. Stay tuned!

(Post by Mika McIntosh ‘13. Photos by Dinah Rogers ’13.)

Melissa Laymon (’07) was featured yesterday on WSLS for the service that she does through her small business called, “Windows by Melissa.” Because of the desire she gained at Southern Virginia University, she began donating $5 to a family in need for every order she received at her small business.

“When I was in college in undergrad at Southern Virginia University, their motto is ‘learn that life is service,’ and during my time there, they really instilled that in us,” said Laymon. “And when I left college I just had this desire to serve in the community.”

(Post by Hannah Benson Rodriguez ’13.)

Homecoming weekend is coming up, which means many of our very own alumni will be revisiting their alma mater to reconnect with other Southern Virginia University community members. On Oct. 12-13, the Communications and Marketing Office will have a film crew on campus to interview alumni about their experiences attending Southern Virginia. If you are an alum planning to participate in Homecoming, please start thinking about your answers to the following questions:

1. What made the greatest impact on you during your time at Southern Virginia? Any specific examples or defining instances?
2. How has Southern Virginia influenced your life?
3. How did attending a university with a Latter-day Saint environment affect you?
4. What were your favorite Southern Virginia classes and why? How did they challenge you?
5. What would you tell someone who was considering attending Southern Virginia University?

If you have interest in participating, please email jon.bowden@svu.edu. We look forward to seeing you soon!

(Post by Jonathan H. Bowden ’12.)

 

 

 

Jason F. Wright, New York Times Bestselling author and Deseret News columnist, featured Southern Virginia University Alumna Amaree Cluff (’08) today in the Deseret News. He first saw Cluff in Southern Virginia’s production of “110 in the Shade” in June. 

Wright’s article focused on how Cluff embraces and upholds her values in the theatre world as she pursues a Master of Fine Arts at the University of Virginia.

(Post by Hannah Benson Rodriguez ’13.)

Last week, I was pleased to read a wonderful piece by Joseph Walker in the Deseret News about the school I attend, Southern Virginia University.

The author highlighted many of the unique, positive aspects of the university, and told the story of a few of our students. The article resonated with me because like the students in the story, I have truly been changed at this school.

If you aren’t familiar with Southern Virginia, I hope you’ll take the time to read this article and understand a fraction of why I love it so much.

And if you already love this school, then get ready to sit back and enjoy a good read.

(Post by Hannah Benson Rodriguez ’13.)

 

 

What’s better than seeing one Southern Virginia alumna in concert? Two alumnae, of course. Recently, Melissa Branin Wheeler (’06) and Maggie Harrison (’06) came back to Buena Vista, Va., to perform at the university where they’d first met and started making music together.

This musical duo sounded great together and had a unique, enjoyable style. In addition to their performance, the concert featured a few solo numbers by Melissa as well as a few songs with Frederick Willis (’08) on bass. One of my favorite songs at the concert was Melissa’s performance of a song she wrote called, “Moses.” I attended a leadership lecture that Melissa gave last year about life after graduation. At the end of the lecture, she performed a few of her original songs, including “Moses.” The song began by telling the story of Moses, and as it progressed, seemed to become more personalized. The first time I heard it, the song blew me away. I was glad that she performed the song at the recent concert so I could hear it again. There’s just something special about that song that gets me every time.

All in all, the concert was fabulous and I hope that these Southern Virginia graduates will return again sometime soon to bring their music to grace even more students at our school.

(Post by Hannah Benson Rodriguez ’13. Photos by Kelsey Burton ’12.)

 

Early in October, Southern Virginia University announced the construction of a new softball diamond on one of the university’s three athletic fields.

Thanks to generous donations from Brett and Carol Harvey, whose daughters Natalie Harvey-Marquez and Trisha Harvey-Jones both played softball at Southern Virginia, and the tireless work of many university employees, phase one of the field’s construction is nearing completion.

“We’re so thankful to everyone responsible for creating this wonderful field in this beautiful setting,” said second-year head coach Duste Grawrock. “It means so much to our program to have a field of our own and it really creates a sense of ownership for our players.”

Since beginning construction in late August, Southern Virginia has completed the following features of the new softball diamond:

• Laser graded infield with premium blend playing surface
• Step-down pitching rubber and pro-style bases
• Home and opposing dugouts including adjoining press box
• 6 ft. permanent fencing surrounding entire playing area
• 20 ft. backstop surrounding home plate area

The inaugural game for the Knights’ new diamond is tentatively planned for Thursday, March 22, against Washington Adventist University at 1 p.m. EDT.

“As a former player, I can feel our alumni’s excitement about this new softball diamond,” said Grawrock. “Everyone is excited to come back and take part in this new chapter of our program’s history.”

(Post by Chris Pendleton ’08. Photos by Nathaniel Sidwell ’11.)

Unless you just don’t pay attention, you should know about the green chucks worn by our previous president of Southern Virginia University, Rodney K. Smith, a tradition carried on by our Acting President Richard G. Whitehead. I am proud to say I myself own a pair of green chucks that I won during a competition in forum in January of 2011, which I considered something of a birthday present given to me by the school. Well, the competition was really more luck of the draw—I just happened to be sitting on a chair that had a paper cut-out of a green chuck on a Popsicle stick underneath it, as did four other individuals. But the point of the story is that those shoes have become almost as much a symbol of Southern Virginia as our mascot Knight. Students even have the option of buying discounted green chucks through the school for $45, and I often see fellow students brandishing these shoes with pride. Professor Robert Stoddard, who also won a pair of these shoes, wore them on stage during “As You Like It,” like a true Southern Virginia supporter. But how exactly did this tradition start?

Laura Smith, no relation to President Smith, while a student at Southern Virginia back in 2005, heard from her friends about a conversation they’d had with President Smith about Chuck Taylors and how President Smith wanted a pair. Laura decided to take action into her own hands, and carried around a donation box, asking fellow students to add to the fund. Once the funds had been gathered, Laura asked President Smith’s wife for his shoe size and then purchased the shoes. She presented them to President Smith at the homecoming football game.

“[Southern Virginia University] was magic for me,” Laura said. “I loved my experience- the good, the bad, and the ridiculous. I wouldn’t change a thing. I loved being a part of something. I loved being able to talk to the president anytime. I loved that something like this [the green Chucks] could happen. I wasn’t in student government, I wasn’t top of the class, I just got together with other students and it led to a wonderful tradition.”

A simple decision brought about a new Southern Virginia tradition that will hopefully continue to live on once the new president is announced. Even if the new president chooses not to wear the shoes, the tradition, I’m sure, will live on through the students who will tell tales of the mystical powers the green chucks supposedly hold. After all, freshmen will believe anything… right?

(Post by Mika McIntosh ‘13. Photos by Brinn Willis, Isaiah Olson, Russ Dixon and Kelsey Burton ’12.)