Spring 2006 - Central Virginia Community College Home Page
Transcription
Spring 2006 - Central Virginia Community College Home Page
AlumMag6e01 1/25/07 10:08 AM Page 1 Premier Issue CVCC Spring 2006 The Alumni Magazine of Central Virginia Community College Inside Outstanding Alumnus Michele Stone Future is Bright for Radiology Grads Stewart and Valentine: Then & Now Pulitzer Prize Winner Sonia Nazario Alumni Updates Jeff Mays ’90 in the Heart of the Big Apple AlumMag6e01 1/25/07 10:08 AM Page 2 Inventory Reduction Sale Up to 75% off on CVCC Apparel* ed t i lim a r Fo only e tim * Take 50% off any purchase of CVCC clothing merchandise currently in stock and an additional 25% for stock close-out apparel! ■ T-Shirts ■ Hooded Sweat Shirts ■ Jogging Outfits Barnes & Noble College Booksellers Central Virginia Community College 3506 Wards Road , Lynchburg VA 24502 Call: (434) 237-0749 • Fax: (434) 237-1071 Check us out on-line. The Bookstore website features official CVCC apparel and gift items for students, alumni, friends and family. Just go to cvcc.bookstore.com AlumMag6e01 1/25/07 10:08 AM Page 3 Publication Information President, Darrel W. Staat Vice President, Institutional Advancement, Donald M. Sutton, Jr. Editor, Kennan J. Meyer Contributing Editor, Betty Kershaw Hudson, ’72 Graphic Design, Lee Greever Photography, Jill S. Markwood, ’84 Proofreader, Peter Dorman Printing, Mid-Atlantic Printers, Ltd. CVCC Board Clyde T. Clark, Chair John Rosser, Vice Chair Tom Ford Keith Maxey Cindy Gunnoe James H. Mundy Martin F. Giudice Skip Lamb William L. Burnham Deborah Shrader Cover: Jeff Mays, ’90, at the McKee Gallery on Fifth Avenue in New York City overlooking Central Park. Photograph by Jill Markwood CVCC The Alumni Magazine of Central Virginia Community College Table of Contents Feature Articles 5 The 2006 Outstanding Alumnus Dr. Michele Stone ’94 had all the right stuff before she ever left CVCC. Today she conducts scientific research that may help to alter malnutrition. 7 Truly Radiant Jessica and Kristen are two of CVCC’s newest alums. Clearly, they have no plans to rest on their academic laurels. 9 Stewart & Valentine: Then & Now Taking a closer look at two CVCC veteran faculty members 10 A Different Perspective Jeff Mays ’90 looks at the world a little differently than most. But then the Hurt native has quite a view from his new environs. 5 7 7 9 9 10 Mission of Central Virginia Community College Central Virginia Community College is an accessible, comprehensive, public, two-year higher education institution that is dedicated to: 1. Providing open, flexible, affordable quality learning opportunities for personal growth and the acquisition of skills necessary for productive and meaningful life, 2. Providing general education, transfer, applied science, certificate and diploma programs, 3. Determining and addressing the training needs of business, industry, and government to benefit the service area, 4. Supporting workforce and economic development through participation in regional organizations and training for new and/or expanding businesses, 5. Providing support services for education, training, technology infrastructures, and workforce development. Spring 2006 Departments 4 6 14 15 18 20 From the President Editorial On the Hill Alumni Update The Educational Foundation Alumni Golf Tournament The Alumni Focus Magazine is published semi-annually by the Educational Foundation of Central Virginia Community College of Lynchburg, Virginia. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without the expressed written permission of CVCC or the CVCC Educational Foundation. © Copyright 2006. Comments or suggestions are welcomed and may be forwarded to the CVCC Educational Foundation, Central Virginia Community College, 3506 Wards Road, Lynchburg, VA 24502 or by calling (434) 832-7619. Central Virginia Community College 3 AlumMag6e01 1/25/07 10:08 AM Page 4 President’s letter , i n m u l A C C V Dear C oved the lth of Virginia appr ea w on m m Co e y of th munity e General Assembl ntral Virginia Com Ce g, ur hb Forty years ago th nc Ly in g time. community college That was an excitin s. tie ci o tw d start up of a new an s untie president of ice area of four co onths later the first m w fe a College, with a serv , ed m na llowing visory Board was e hired, and the fo er w f af st d an The CVCC Local Ad lty fice, facu Burnett was a d Burnett, took of on Main Street. Dr. g in ild the college, Dr. Bu bu ise Kr e tion for ents enrolled in th orking out the loca w d an ge lle year the first stud co e s for th n located on up the first classe the new institutio of s es dr busy man setting ad e th e Wards Road becam the new campus. night. Look land. students day and g in rv se some 108 acres of s ie lit ci fa with a e on-campus d Brookneal along an d or df Be Today, CVCC has fiv a, st vi in Alta munity. Look f-campus centers closer to the com ge lle co abroad and find of e th ng gi nchburg, all brin ees which can be Career Center in Ly d two online degr an s se ur co e lin ge comes to most 70 on ge, rather the colle lle co e within and find al th to e m s, four new ts who do not co technical program six r fo bs la w accessed by studen ne again and find artment that n Technology Dep them. Look inward io at rm fo In e iv ns exte science labs and an pus . r additional off-cam fo s an pl grows by the year s ha ge as Dental d that the colle ew programs such Look forward to fin N a. et on M d an t, attox, Amhers e drawing board. centers in Appom d others are on th an , nt ta sis As l ga ining Arts, Le an international tra p Hygiene, Culinary lo ve de to A EV king with AR line courses The college is wor ping world-class on lo ve de is It . ce an ere are mainten creditation and th ac center in nuclear CS SA r fo m ra y Enhance Prog making. through its Qualit alth facility in the he w the ne a r fo s an institution serving le ab long range pl vi g, tin ci ex ues to be an development. The college contin ity, and economic un m m co s es sin C, Where als, the bu r motto states,“CVC ou needs of individu As y. ad re e ar forty years, we Bring on the next ” rings true today. Sincerely, Your Future Begins Darrel W. Staat President 4 Central Virginia Community College Spring 2006 AlumMag6e01 1/25/07 10:08 AM Page 5 CVCC Outstanding Alumnus 2006 Dr. Michele Rae Stone ’94 hen asked her reaction to being named CVCC’s 2006 Outstanding Alumnus, Michele Stone ‘94 replied.“I was looking at the list of those honored in past years and, well, I’m just a little overwhelmed.” Indeed, if the measure of an award lies within the accomplishments of its recipients then, in spite of her humility, Dr. Stone can only elevate the status of this one. Her drive to succeed, dedication to excellence, and contributions to humanity are the virtues that make any educational institution proud to be associated with her. Michele graduated from CVCC, magna cum laude, with an AA&S Degree in Science. During her two years at the College she served as the president of the Student Government Association (SGA), Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) honor society, and Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD). Michele completed her four-year degree at Lynchburg College, a B.S. in Chemistry, in 1996. She was honored with the prestigious James Lewis Howl Award from the American Chemical Society (Blue Ridge Section) and was named by the College as “Outstanding Senior Chemistry Student.” In 2001, Michele received her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland Baltimore’s Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. During her time at UMB she served as a research assistant and, in 2000, was given the Travel Award from the American Society of Microbiology. Following W Spring 2006 graduation, Michele acquired two training grants from the National Institute of Health and was honored with a post-doctoral fellowship. A biochemist, Michele has experience in cell biology, molecular biology, and microbiology. She specializes in cell culture, cloning (engineering recombinant molecules), PCR, proteomics, immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy, electron microscopy, DNA analysis and genotyping. Already, she is credited with coauthoring eight scientific publications. Michele currently works as a senior scientist for Canon U.S. Life Sciences, a company presently engaged in the development of medical diagnostics equipment for medical laboratories, hospitals, and outpatient clinics.“Medical diagnostics means identifying an illness whether it be from bacteria or viruses or genetic mutation disorders,” Michele explains. Michele is also the U.S. representative for Our Children, Inc., a non-profit group dedicated to promoting the mental, physical, emotional, and social development of children. Much of the current work is being conducted in the povertystricken provinces of Argentina where the group’s focus is on improving the care of young children and emphasizing the importance of nutrition in their development. Michele has been involved in the organization since its inception in 2005 and currently serves as Treasurer. The Organization is still in the early stages of collecting research data.“It is our hope to demonstrate the importance of nutrition in the development of our children,” Michele states. “Eventually, this will aid us in obtaining more humanitarian services and funding to ensure that no child will have to suffer from malnutrition in the future.” In October, 2005, Michele married former CVCC alumnus, Brian Comer ’97, an IT technician for DRC, Inc. Brian is managing a project that oversees the web-based U.S. Postal Service. The couple resides in Ellicott City, Maryland, with their two pets Layla, a boxer, and a Boston terrier named Chance. —KJM Central Virginia Community College 5 AlumMag6e01 1/25/07 10:08 AM Page 6 From the Editor My Time with Sonia by Kennan J. Meyer I had been warned in advance. Pulitzer Prize winners can be “arrogant”... ”demanding”... ”condescending”... ”filled with selfimportance.” To my delight, Sonia Nazario was none of these. Indeed she was quite something else. I t was an odd scene, to be sure. I had come to the bottom of the steps leading into the furnished basement at the home of CVCC’s president and his wife, Darrel and Beverly Staat. In front of me were men in jackets and ties and women in long dresses and smart suits lounging on the floor or crowded onto the wrap-around sofa.These were some of the College’s top administrators and leading professors bunched Sonia Nazario with a captive audience in the home of Darrel & Beverly Staat together without regard for the wrinkles being pressed into their fine fabrics or for any appearance that would lessen their dignity. This was not an austere scene, but rather a classic spectacle that will take years to 6 erase from my memory when considering the occasion and the root cause. In the center of this huddled mass was a woman engaging her subjects with her adventures of being chased by Mexican bandits, falling from the tops of speeding trains, and being held at gunpoint by U.S. customs officials. Sonia Nazario was making friends of people who just hours earlier she had not known, just as she had with me that afternoon from a mere handshake upon her arrival at Lynchburg Airport. But it was not her stories or her fame that might otherwise draw enthusiasts. She was incredibly likeable. For the next twenty-four hours she went from one event to the next making converts. Her remarkable tales of the journey she took as a would-be immigrant from Central America through Mexico as told in her book, Enrique’s Journey, mesmerized her audiences. That second day, Sonia went from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. almost nonstop. As the time expired at each appearance I would grab her attention by pointing to my watch. Yet, she wouldn’t stop. The breakfast with Hispanic leaders and area college professors ran into her time with the Spanish language class and, in turn, that with the history class. All of the breaks I had scheduled for her were erased with added tales and her unwillingness to leave questions from her audience unanswered I joked with her: “If you lose your voice before this evening’s Central Virginia Community College Nazario addresses questions on immigration lecture you’re not going to have me to blame!” But, again Sonia went over the time allotted at the town hall meeting with the CVCC students and with the afternoon book signing at Givens Books. One hour into the evening program her voice began to crack signaling the end of a very busy day. She had spent nearly every ounce of energy she had to share with us and entertain us and we would all be grateful to her. The next morning I walked into the lobby of the hotel just as Sonia was closing up her cell phone. She wore this grin that indicated something more than just the usual natural smile I had become familiar with. She informed me that the call concerned an important new development in Enrique’s adventures—news that could not be made public without serious ramifications. She was so excited she just had to tell a friend. “You know you can’t repeat this to anyone,” she told me. Yes, Sonia Nazario truly is something else. ■ Spring 2006 AlumMag6e01 1/25/07 10:08 AM Page 7 The CVCC Class of 2005 is Truly Radiant R adiography Director Eddie Haynes added a kick to his step during the recent fall semester. His luminous energy was not due to the overexposure of radiation (as some might have suggested), but rather from beaming pride over last summer’s newest graduates. Atop his list were two young Bedford women who exemplified the drive and perseverance needed to excel in their field. For Kristin Anderson the idea of entering the medical Kristen Anderson ’05 Spring 2006 profession was certainly nurtured through her mother, an elementary school nurse. It was only a matter of deciding which field of the health care industry would most appeal to her. Oddly enough the answer came from taking a secondary education course in photography. “I spoke with a counselor at CVCC who introduced me to their radiography program,” said the Brookville High School graduate. “It satisfied two core desires – my want to be involved in some aspect of photography and a personal need to help others.” Jessica Mitchell had other reasons for becoming a radiographer. As a single mother, she felt the need to have a career that would help her support her daughter. “I kept going back and forth between teaching and nursing, then back to teaching before a friend of my mother’s suggested radiography,” Jessica recalled. Jessica and Kristin entered the radiography program in the fall of 2003 as part of a class of seventeen students. Both women retain a clear memory of their first semester at CVCC. Kristin described it as “intense.” As she recalls,“I went into the program with a great deal of confidence though, at times, it was stressful.” “That first semester was scary,” Jessica echoed. “There were so many terms and a lot Jessica Mitchell ’05 of memorization. But after those first four months you just knew you were ready to do it.” Two of the original class of seventeen students did drop out that fall. Fifteen remained to form the Radiography Class of 2005. Jessica and Kristin excelled during their two years at CVCC. Each graduated with an “A” average and shared top billing at the College’s annual awards ceremony taking home their program’s 2005 CVCC Academic Excellence Award. Haynes was quite impressed with both women. “Jessica and Kristin are two fine examples of our graduates who had the academic potential and motivation to pursue their goals.” Haynes added,“They are remarkable role models for new students entering the program Radiant continued on next page Central Virginia Community College 7 AlumMag6e01 1/25/07 10:08 AM Page 8 Radiography program picture perfect sequence of virtually every medical show on television has been the placing of transparencies over back-lit panels to examine x-rays of lungs or broken bones.Those were the good old days as radiologic technology enters into the age of digital imagery. Thanks to the leadership of Centra Health’s Senior Vice President, Ron Galonsky, and Kodak, CVCC’s Allied Health Division will begin training radiology students in the theory and practical applications of computed radiography. Kodak’s donation of a $60,000 digital x-ray imaging unit will enhance CVCC’s radiologic technology program providing current and future radiography students with expanded skills to better prepare them for the job market. Area employers with radiography facilities that have tapped into the graduation rolls at the College have already made the transition from conventional x-ray film imaging to digital imaging technology. Among these companies are Centra Health (Virginia Baptist Hospital and Lynchburg General Hospital), Radiology Consultants/Central Virginia Imaging, and Halifax Regional Hospital. With continued shortages in manpower to meet minimum staffing requirements among health care firms, CVCC radiography graduates with skills in digital imagery can be more selective in choosing a company with which to start their careers. Computed Radiography (CR) is a digital system which incorporates a reusable electronic plate (the image receptor which replaces film) and is used with a typical x-ray machine to make an exposure. The plate is scanned by a CR reader where the analog image is converted to a digital format. The digital image can then be viewed and manipulated at a computer workstation. Once x-ray images are captured by a CR or other digital radiography system, the results can be entered into a Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) network. PACS’ allow medical personnel anywhere in the world to view images simultaneously. Digital radiography improves workflow, enhances health care delivery, allows for image processing, and reduces the number of image retakes. ■ Special thanks to Eddie Haynes for supplying the technical descriptions and dialog to complete this story. A The science and chemistry lab received a $1,000,000 facelift.The 4-room facility was renovated with new furnishings and 21st-Century lab equipment.The project began November 2004 and opened April 27, 2006. 8 Central Virginia Community College Radiant continued from p. 7 and the profession of radiologic technology.” Not only did Jessica, Kristin and the other thirteen students graduate in July, 2005, with an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree, the entire class passed the certification exam of the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) on their first attempt! Kristin credits the director, professors, and staff of the radiology department for much of her success. “The whole program was well organized. All of the instructors had a lot of experience and were ready to help you when you needed it.” Haynes reports that over the period of the last five years his average student retention rate is 80.9% and the Registry first-time pass rate is 95.1% Registry pass rate for first time examinees is 95.1%, both well above the national average. The Class of 2005 achieved an 88.2% and 100%, respectively. Jessica joined Central Virginia Family Physicians as a full time radiologic technologist following graduation. She is furthering her education by taking courses in diagnostic medical sonography at Wake Forest University with a goal of earning a bachelor’s degree. Kristin is plying her skill through Centra Health at Lynchburg General Hospital. Having started in diagnostic radiology, she recently transferred to the M.R.I. (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) department. She intends to take her M.R.I. certification with the Registry in the coming months. The Alumni Magazine, on behalf of CVCC and Professor Haynes, congratulates these two young women on their continuing success and proudly welcomes them as part of the —KJM new class of CVCC alumni. ■ Spring 2006 AlumMag6e01 1/25/07 10:08 AM Page 9 Stewart & Valentine: Then & Now Does Frank Stewart have his daddy’s smarts? His father ran a garage in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and Frank learned early on how engines and machines should run. Following a stint in the Air Force as an airplane machinist, Frank entered Appalachian State University (ASU). Taking Machine Shop at ASU was, as Frank says,“fun.” He graduated in just three years with a B.S. in Industrial Arts Technology. Frank’s first jobs were in industry, but he concluded that plant supervision was just not a good fit. He and his wife Carolyn, also an ASU graduate, decided to look for a place with good teacher salaries. Moving to Lynchburg to “try it for a year,” Carolyn took a teaching position in Appomattox while Frank came on board at CVCC. After more than three decades, a home, and two daughters, they’re still here. The Machine Tool program has transformed over the 31 years since Frank began his career at CVCC. He insisted on having the latest equipment and software in spite of the periodic relearning process he and other instructors had to endure. For years Frank worked five days and two nights a week and through the summer months. While the long hours were sometimes hard on the family, he is dedicated to his students and their education. “I’m glad I do what I do because, when students want to learn, this is the best job in the world,” Frank says. “I get to teach them work skills that offer an opportunity for students to make a good living; to take their knowledge and put it to good use.” Jimmy Baroch ’84, calls Frank Stewart “a man of integrity and a great teacher who rewarded students for working hard by giving them creative latitude. He established a good learning environment, read people’s abilities, and didn’t take for granted that someone knew how to do a particular task. He took time and made sure they understood. Frank wants all of his students to succeed. He was there to teach, not to babysit.” One day, Frank will retire. However, there seems to be no real plan for it happening anytime soon. Until then, Frank’s one wish is that high school counselors would begin to push learning to be a skilled worker as a viable option in addition to other kinds of college degrees. Obviously, Frank did get his daddy’s smarts. ■ —BKH Spring 2006 Dr. James P. Valentine, Professor of Biology, is everything his last name indicates. He is a devoted and loving husband, father, and grandfather. He’s also a professor with a real heart for teaching and has had only two jobs in his adult life: an instructor at the University of Virginia Lynchburg Extension and at Central Virginia Community College for the last 40 years. Following graduation from Appalachian State Teachers College in North Carolina with a B.S. and M.A. in Biology, Valentine was teaching at the UVA Extension in Lynchburg when the Community College system took over in 1966. He and three other professors became CVCC’s first Biology Department at 721 Court Street. Instructors of all science subjects shared the “one and only office” and lab. Biology classes and labs were taught two long days a week, several times a day, from 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. to accommodate working students. As a youth in Winston-Salem, NC, Valentine studied hard, played sports in high school, and graduated with no immediate plans. But when Donna, his high school sweetheart and future wife, entered Appalachian State, Valentine followed. There he found the other love of his life— biology. Dr. Ray Derrick encouraged his biology students to try and understand “mysterious things” and his enthusiasm “permeated the classroom.” So Valentine found his calling and never looked back, even when completing his Ph.D. at VPI meant moving his wife and two young sons to Blacksburg for two years. In his 40 years at CVCC, Dr. Valentine has followed in his mentor’s footsteps in many ways. One former student, Kimberly Sublett French,‘97 said,“It takes a truly special teacher to turn someone who didn’t like biology into someone who actually enjoyed it. Dr. Valentine made it come alive for me and many others.” Amanda Dunford, ’05 added,“Dr. Valentine is approachable, kind, and willing to explain anything. He brought the difficult material to a level we could understand. I was lucky to have had him as my instructor.” An extraordinary professor who gardens, enjoys wood working, adores his grandchildren, and loves to travel out West with his high school love, not only has the name Valentine but the heart that goes with it. He’s still “doing what I wanted to do—teach.” ■ —BKH Central Virginia Community College 9 AlumMag6e01 1/25/07 10:08 AM Page 10 “Cold Calm” self portrait Jeff Mays, oil A Different Perspective You can find buildings in Manhattan that house more people than the total population of Hurt, Virginia. But that doesn’t keep this Hurt native from feeling right at home in our Nation’s largest city. Jeff Mays has made his way to the top of the art world and he has no plans to leave. T he next time you visit an art show at a local high school you may want to critique the work a little more closely.You never know whether there is a prodigy in your midst.Those who attended Altavista High School’s Art Fair in the spring of 1987 might be wondering where the winner of that competition actually ended up. We can tell you that he’s found his way to Fifth Avenue in New York City where his hopes and dreams remain alive and well. The art department of Altavista High School must have seen some serious talent in Jeff Mays T 10 when they presented him with their annual award for best artist.“I knew I had the eye for drawing and the ability to draw, but at the time I couldn’t visualize how I was going to use it later in life,” Jeff recalls. It didn’t seem to matter. Jeff convinced the school to allow him to take two art classes his senior year.“I was so focused on art that it affected my studies in other subjects,” he says with certain regret. Nonetheless, Jeff entered the commercial art program at Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) in the fall of 1987 following his high school graduation. While there was little question of his Central Virginia Community College Spring 2006 AlumMag6e01 1/25/07 10:08 AM Page 11 talent, Jeff had very few clues as to what it was he hoped to accomplish in college. Jeff explains,“Roger Elliot exposed me to the art world when I first entered CVCC.” Indeed, Elliott not only taught art history, but he showed Jeff the nuts and bolts of the art world.“I didn’t have any direction at the time and then Roger introduced me to the business of art. It was, perhaps, the first time I looked at art as a possible career for me.” Kathy Cudlin, ’95, art director for Lovern Advertising and an awardwinning photographer, met Jeff while they both studied photography at CVCC.“I graduated with a degree in English from Duke University long before taking art classes at the Community College,” says Cudlin.“I met Jeff and realized that here was a young man as bright and as talented as any of the young students I had known at Duke.” “CVCC opened up a whole new world to me.” Cudlin relates her early impressions of Jeff as if the experience had occurred yesterday.“He had a marvelous sense of humor and a great deal of charisma. Yet, you had the sense that he didn’t know how bright he really was. But everyone around him knew.” Through the CVCC art program, Jeff also learned about art as a science. He credits John Black with helping him expand his mind in terms of creativity. Cloyde Wiley was instrumental in teaching him to separate and apply his talents in the use of various media, particularly between painting and photography. And Jeff mentions that Lee Greever challenged him technically and taught him how to control his work. “CVCC opened up a whole new world to me,” claims Jeff.“The instructors propelled me to be a fine artist rather than limiting myself as a graphic designer. The experience gave me the confidence to advance my career.” Spring 2006 Cudlin echoed those sentiments:“He made the very most of all the resources and opportunities that came his way, and CVCC was such a fine launching pad for him.” Jeff earned his Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in 1990. He applied to and was accepted by numerous art colleges, finally settling on Corcoran College of Art & Design in Washington D.C. There he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in painting and drawing in 1994. The college honored him with the prestigious annual Ethel Loraine Bernstein Award for excellence in painting. So what is a small-town Virginia man to do after he’s seen the big world – hunt for bigger worlds of course. And that’s exactly what Jeff Mays did. He and two of his classmates were accepted at the School of Visual Arts in New York City.“They only accept 35 to 40 students out of hundreds of applications from around the country per year,” Jeff says.“I didn’t even know my two friends had applied and all of the sudden we’re traveling to New York together!” The School of Visual Arts is an internationally recognized leader in the training of artists in virtually all media. It is the largest independent art school in the United States, and its faculty consists of some of the art world’s top talent. Unlike most graduate programs for the arts, this school’s focus is on producing future artists rather than art instructors. That is what most appealed to Jeff. While not averse to teaching art in the future, Jeff’s main interest was to be an artisan. Jeff received his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in 1996. For the next five years he worked at several jobs within the industry. While at Corcoran he had done some side work as an art handler, a role he reprised following graduate school. He did work as a framer John Black visited Jeff Mays in New York City. and restorer of art, worked on set designs in the New York theater district, and was a tour guide at the Guggenheim Museum. He even spent one year away from the Big Apple to be a handler at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. As Jeff puts it,“After a while New York tends to become insular and my work, as a result, became insulated. Philadelphia gave me an opportunity to broaden my creativity.” Never losing focus on his goals, Jeff would collaborate with other working artists.“We would find empty showrooms around Manhattan and cut deals to lease them for a month or two or until they could find a permanent tenant,” Jeff says.“It was a chance to show our recent work and, of course, turn some of it into income.” Jeff specializes in drawing, employing pencil and graphite, and in oil painting and acrylics.“At first glance my art appears to be representational and, perhaps in form, that may be true,” Central Virginia Community College’s Alumni Focus Mays continued on page 17 “Studio Wall” oil 11 AlumMag6e01 1/25/07 10:08 AM Page 12 CVCC: 1967-1982 in Pictures There was a time to work... ... as Jerry Hartley clarifies electronic circuitry. 1975 ... by upholding the College’s good name. R.B. Moore lettered in college by answering the question: “Y, is it broken?” 1971 . nt Desk rary Fro ifying ib L g n ulati lectr are an e 2 ever stim xciting, er, Librarian, sh C Library. 197 e s y a C lw g a V d C e e the St. L ... at th earch in d John ohn an delving into res C n y r a t Sh momen ... in young Dr. James Valentine’s Biology Lab at 720 Court Street. Obviously, he knew this DNA thing was going to be important one day. (Compare to page 9.) 1967 ... in Physics. Joe Csaky found a new way to make a point clear through, uh, to his students. 1972 ... in the study carrel. Here a student reflects on the assignment, or maybe the assignment reflects on the student ? 1976 Spring 2006 AlumMag6e01 1/25/07 10:08 AM Page 13 ... and a time to play... Bridge anyone? Dr. William M.“Doc” Reynolds was never too busy for a few hands of Bridge before, between, and after classes. Doc came with a pipe, a deck, tricks, trumps, rubber, ruffs, and some major suits. The man was a player! 1974 How many people can fit into the one and only Original Student Lounge ? Seating was limited. You know what they call it these days? The Bookstore! 1970 ... with your camera and your kid! Lee Greever, Commercial Art Instructor, knew how to turn his work into play. Smile! 1973 For 10 years, Playday brought 23 colleges to CVCC. George Beasley helped our volleyball team show well. 1982 As our late friend George DuBarry said, “Ah, these are the good old days.” 1974 Spring 2006 Central Virginia Community College 13 AlumMag6e01 1/25/07 10:08 AM Page 14 On the Hill Alumni Come Home! emember Play Day? Doc Reynolds and endless hands of Bridge? Circle K? Ping Pong and Mackie Machines in the Student Lounge? Vietnam Vets? Intramurals? Dean Merritt? (We named a building for him!). All the folks you knew ‘way back when?’ You were there, CVCC Alumni, and I’m looking for you! The Krise Building or 29 South... no matter where we attended class, CVCC offered a future, the chance of a lifetime. We studied hard, forged friendships, and made memories that time can’t erase. It’s time to come home and reconnect with past classmates, friends, and professors. You haven’t heard from CVCC since graduating or entering the workforce? We’d like to change that starting now. I’m Betty Kershaw Hudson, ’82 Coordinator, Alumni Relations at CVCC, and I’m looking for Alumni with whom to coordinate and relate! Let us hear from you. Please take a few moments to send us an update on your life. You can go to the website www.cvcc.vccs.edu and click on ‘Alumni, Friends & Visitors’ then ‘Update Your Alumni Information.’ Got a picture? Send it! Prefer to call? Dial 434-832-7763 and I would be happy to talk with you. Alumni, come home. We’ve got things to do! R Remember When…? Where in the world have you been all these years? Where did you go when you finished school? What are you doing now? How long have you been married? You don’t recognize me? are all questions you might hear when folks get together who haven’t seen each other for a long time. Coming together for a “Remember When…” party is just what we have in mind. CVCC is 40 years old this year but its first graduates came along two years later in 1968-69. So don’t you think it’s time we got back together? CVCC Alumni reunite! In 2008, we plan to have reunions of the 40th, 35th, 30th, 25th, and 20th years. These are the graduating classes of 1968-69, 1973, 1978, 1983, and 1988. We plan invite these graduates and our past and current professors and staff who had such a positive impact on their lives. As our Reunion date grows closer, we’ll be in touch, so watch your mail and email and, for sure, read the CVCC Alumni Magazine! See you there! Gee, what’ll I wear? 14 Award-winning ink-wash sketch of the Appomattox Building (1970) by the late George Carmichael ’71 AFA CVCC Alumni & Friends Association ave you heard about us? Our small yet dedicated group seeks to enrich the CVCC student experience in many ways, one of which is by sponsoring scholarships for the children of CVCC Alumni.These awards are funded with proceeds from AFA events such as art and furniture auctions, and the Annual CVCC Open Golf Tournament. Association members also select the Outstanding Alumnus who serves as the speaker at commencement exercises each May (see our article on Dr. Michele Stone, ’96). Come join the AFA and give something back to CVCC, where your future began. New energy and new ideas are the order of the day. What do I get in return, you said? For your yearly $50 membership dues, how about: ✔ a Membership card that allows you check-out access to the CVCC Library ✔ a 10% discount at our Barnes and Noble Campus Bookstore ✔ an Alumni parking pass ✔ the CVCC Alumni Magazine twice a year in the mail or on our CVCC Alumni website along with news of upcoming Alumni events ✔ the joy of finding old friends on the website soon or at the upcoming reunions In time there will be more, and the key to this is you and me. More children of CVCC Alumni will be able to receive a college education from their parents’ school when we increase our numbers and step up our efforts in service to the College. Be part of something that will make you glad you’ve come home. Join the CVCC Alumni & Friends Association. H Central Virginia Community College Spring 2006 AlumMag6e01 1/25/07 10:08 AM Page 15 Alumni Update 1970’s ● Brenda Driskill Moore ’72 graduated with an Associate in Secretarial Science. She went back some years later and received an Associate in Accounting. “(I think that was what it was called; too long ago to remember).” She is married to Gene H Moore (also an alumni), owner of J. B. Moore Electrical Contractors and they have 3 grown children. Brenda has a grandson named Reagan. She is a Realtor with Blanks Properties, Inc. located on the corner of Waterlick and Westwood Drive. She has her ABR and GRI designation. Her hobbies include scrapbooking, quilting, reading, shagging. She and Gene are members of the Lynchburg Shag Club. Health Center in Amherst. She helps with the Library for the Homebound by bringing books, reading to the residents, and offering books-on-tape for those who cannot see well. Vicki just completed her training as a Hospice worker and also volunteers as a teacher for adults learning how to read. Her future ambitions include efforts to increase participation in the volunteer program at the Johnson Health Center by having college students sing, play music, read to residents, do art projects or crafts, or merely visit the residents to help brighten their day. 1980’s ● James B. Baroch ’84 worked for Framatome, (AREVA) for 14 years, then turned to building racing engines for a while, and now is the owner/operator of the Lynchburg based CSL Vending, Inc. Jimmy has been married for almost 20 years to wife Debbie and they have a son, Charlie, age 15, a sophomore at Holy Cross Regional Catholic School. Debbie is employed at Holy Cross School as well as working part-time with Jimmy. In addition to running their own business, Jimmy and Charlie are learning to be taxidermists.The father and son team has fun working on this as well as going hunting and fishing together. Jimmy says his greatest reward in working for himself is that he can now spend more time with his family, as he says “the most important people in my life.” ● Kelvin Mays ’84 writes that he is a CADD System Supervisor for Greif Riverville Mill, LLC. ● Vicki Votaw ’85 is a graduate of RMWC and has worked for the U.S. Post Office in Forest for nearly twelve years. Vicki volunteers as a liaison between the Amherst Public Library and the Johnson ● Nikki E. Vogt Williams ’87 was living in New York City on September 11, 2001, and witnessed the attack on the World Trade Center from her apartment. She helped raise $5,000 for the family of one of the victims living in her building. With an AA&S Degree in Commercial Art she was working as an artist doing work for the Rambusch Company. After the attack she moved back to the safe environment of Lynchburg but continues to do contract work in her Spring 2006 Central Virginia Community College A porton of the 25 ft. x 5.5 ft. stained glass window “The Good Samaritan” at The Marble Collegiate Church in New York City. A work in progress by Nikki E.Vogt Williams ’87. specialty, stained glass window designs. Nikki designed two windows for “The Immaculate Conception” in Washington D.C. She has been commissioned by her former employer, Rambusch, to design a window,“The Good Samaritan,” for The Marble Collegiate Church in New York, a Dutch Reform church built in 1851 and former home to Dr. Norman Vincent Peale. Nikki has also done windows for churches in Colorado, Wisconsin and Puerto Rico. She currently works at Lynchburg Stained Glass Co. 1990’s ● Kimberly Sublett French ‘96 received her Bachelors Degree in Human Services Counseling from Old Dominion University in 2003. She was employed at CVCC from 1996 (in the Counseling Department) to 2004 (in the President's Office 99-04) and is now working at Virginia Western Community College. She went to VWCC as the President's secretary and in August of 05 applied for the Educational Support Specialist III position in the Counseling Department and is currently working in that department. Kim loves her job and has plans on getting her Masters Degree in Counseling. ● Lynn Suwala ’97 is a married to husband Mike Suwala and the mother of two beautiful daughters, Jill and Michelle (currently a student at CVCC), and the ‘keeper’ of two pets – a cat named Reesie, and a dog, Buttercup. Working part-time at TRS Direct (direct mail printers) and Blue Ridge Appraisal, Inc. Lynn has put to work many of the skills acquired and honed in her classes at CVCC. For fun Lynn and her family take part in a myriad of activities such as walking, biking, swimming, going to movies, and traveling. As a member of Little Dinner Theater Players, she does improvisation and mystery dinner shows. Lynn loves music of all kinds, plays the Djembe drum at church and is learning to play the piano. Alumni Update continued on next page 15 AlumMag6e01 1/25/07 10:08 AM Page 16 Alumni Update continued from p.15 Currently Lynn is functioning as a parent liaison for Rainbow Families, an adoption support group for parents of adopted children with special needs. This group was developed by the Federal Government Adoption Federation Preservation grant. Any alumni who are interested in or in need of this kind of support group are welcomed to email her at [email protected] for more information. Lynn is running in high gear most of the time and loving it! ● Donna Ann Beach ’98 graduated from Liberty University in 2004 with a B.S. degree in multi-disciplinary studies (business and government). She has been in law enforcement since 1993. Currently, Donna is a State Trooper with the Virginia State Police where she began in January, 2004. She had served in Campbell County but has recently been assigned to Bedford County where she lives. She loves her job and is grateful for the education she received at both CVCC and Liberty University that she says helped to make her a wellrounded person. ● Judy Sligh Berryman ’98 is the administrator for the medical practice here in Lynchburg with five Physicians and 24 employees. She recently received her certification through the American College of Medical Practice Executives. Judy has two grandchildren, Owen who is seven and Sophie who just turned one. They live in Richmond with their parents, her two daughters and their spouses. She and her husband celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary this past November. She is very active in the community and is a volunteer with Kid’s Haven, an organization for grieving children, as a facilitator. ● Megan Harker Emanuel ’99 graduated from Lynchburg College with a B.A. in English in 2001 and is currently back at LC working towards her M.Ed. in School Counseling. She is teaching English 9 and 12 at Brookville H.S. where 16 It was a busy time for the Mickles Family in May of 2005. Muriel Mickles ’75, (right), received her Ph.D., Ed.D. in Administration and Supervision from the University of Virginia. Her daughter, Bethanie ’02 (left), earned her J.D. (summa cum laude) from the School of Law at North Carolina Central. A second daughter and former CVCC dual enrollment student, Anna, (center), graduated with a B.S. in Psychology from Virginia Tech. Muriel, the first in her family to attend college, was part of the second class of students to enter CVCC in 1968. She began working at the College in 1972 and is entering her 34th year, serving students these days as a counselor.The three ladies received their diplomas in a span of fifteen days! she coaches varsity cheerleading, and the Dance Team. Megan is the Director of Dance at LC and coordinates the Encore! program at the Academy of Fine Arts. She is an active volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association, Red Cross, Avante Nursing Home, and Central Virginia Training Center. She married Mike Emanuel of Dodge, Nebraska, on June 19, 2004. In her “free” time Megan enjoys writing, scrapbooking, and spending time with family and friends. 2000’s ● Lisa Sykes Chilton ’00 completed her BS degree in Business Administration from Franklin University through their Community College Alliance Program. She is making plans to begin working on a Masters degree in the fall. Lisa married the love of her life, Bernard Chilton, III, had two grandchildren and one on the way. I am currently the assistant manager/adult and dislocated worker program coordinator at the Region 2000 Career Center here in Lynchburg and am making plans toward a goal of entrepreneurship. I am the mother of three adult daughters. Central Virginia Community College ● Deborah Williams ’01 graduated from Lynchburg College with a B.S. degree in Education in May, 2005. She will be starting to teach at Nelson Elementary School with the Head Start Program in March. She has a daughter that will graduate CVCC in May as a respiratory therapist and will be getting married in October. Deborah hopes to be getting married this summer also. ● Adrienne Fisher Smith ’04 is doing great! She is a Hip Hop dance instructor for the Valley Dance Theatre and just recently started her own business. She is a strong believer in education and is currently enrolled at Mary Baldwin College. Adrienne is so excited about CVCC’s recent outreach to the alumni that she is ready to volunteer her services. How about you? ● James E. Roberts, SPC ’05 plans to spend the next year in Kosovo as his National Guard unit was preparing for deployment at the time of his letter. He is particularly excited to be going as the battalion’s chaplain assistant, a job he had been requesting for the last five years. He will also be an associate staff member for Military Ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. It is a voluntary role that requires training in evangelism, personal growth, discipline, etc. James plans to attend Liberty University on his return, majoring in youth ministry. ■ Spring 2006 AlumMag6e01 1/25/07 10:08 AM Page 17 Mays continued from page 9 he says.“However, real art should never be analyzed from what is obvious down to the sublime simply because an artist creates from the inside out.” Jeff explains that rating art categorically detracts from the significance of the piece.“Representation art is merely a medium I use to deliver something more meaningful. The effect of true art can be overlooked when the viewer appraises the work merely from an aesthetic point of view.” Asked where he receives his inspiration, he points to those things “I look at the real world and it is abstract to me.” around him that others might not take the time to look at. As he puts it,“I look at the real world and it is abstract to me.” It seems to be the philosophical response one might expect from the genuine article. In 1999 Jeff joined up with The McKee Gallery, an established and highly respected firm with a prestigious New York address – Fifth Avenue within Jeff Mays’ Study for Interview, charcoal blocks of Trump Tower and the Plaza Hotel and just across the street from Saks Fifth Avenue. It was the perfect move for him. As a handler for the gallery, Jeff works with some of today’s finest contemporary artists such as Philip Guston, Vija Celmins, and Martin Puryear, regarded by many as the “best sculptor in America.” It is also an opportunity for him to travel overseas and meet with top artists and agents from around the globe. Attending the annual Art Basel in Basel, Switzerland, is one of the benefits to being part of The McKee Gallery team. Considered the “Olympics of the art world,” by the New York Times, Art Basel is a showcase for what its promoters consider to be the top 250 art galleries worldwide – a distinction given to McKee. While there, Jeff has the opportunity to mingle with the “who’s who” of art. As he puts it,“I look forward to the trip as a chance to meet with some of the top names in the business, view the work of up-and-coming talent and, of course, help showcase those artists we represent.” As much as Jeff enjoys working with gallery owners David and Renee McKee, he still has some personal unfinished business.“It is difficult to find the time to draw and paint with such a busy work schedule, but I find ways to make it happen.” When asked where he sees his self in five years, there is no hesitation in his response.“In the near future I hope to see my work exhibited in a major New York gallery,” Jeff says, adding,“in five years…to be part of a museum collection.” Jeff Mays resembles neither the small town lad from Hurt nor the aimless talent that wandered onto the CVCC campus some 20 years ago. Perhaps it’s because he’s traveled so far to get closer to his dream and a revelation that real life is not always abstract philosophically speaking. ■ —KJM 2007 Study Abroad with Central Virginia Community College May 16–23 Students $1671 Adults $1931 The Paris Experience For more information, contact Dr. David McGee mcgeed@ cvcc.vccs.edu or call (434) 832-7782 17 AlumMag6e01 1/25/07 10:08 AM Page 18 The Educational Foundation Report by Don Sutton, Executive Director The CVCC Educational Foundation (CVCCEF) was founded in 1981 to support the College’s need to accept private gifts. Early on this support was funneled to student scholarships, faculty and staff professional development, and purchases of instructional equipment. Now as then, this remains the Foundation’s mission. Two major gift fund development campaigns have been conducted by the Foundation for the College. The first, by Kathy Pumphrey, Ed.D., occurred from 1991 through 1994. A second campaign was conducted by yours truly and ran from 1999 to 2004. In both instances the CVCCEF Board of Directors was central to the ultimate success of each campaign including a $1.5 million endowment campaign and a $4 million technical training equipment campaign for the College’s new AREVA Technology Center. The latter, The Major Gifts Campaign for a World Class Workforce, was magnified by the combined contributions of $6.5 million from three additional sources: the Virginia General Assembly ($4.5m), CVCC service region localities ($1.5m), and by the College ($500,000). An annual fund campaign dating back to the 1990’s has given additional support to the Foundation’s mission. Annually, the Foundation provides major funds to the College for professional development and scholarship assistance to first time and part-time students. Honors scholarships are awarded to the top CVCC applicants from the region’s public and private high schools. Annual fund campaigns are also strongly supported by CVCC faculty and staff, the CVCC local advisory board, the CVCCEF Board of Directors, and friends of CVCC including local businesses and industries. With two major aspects of the College’s fund development program in place, a third, estate planning (or deferred giving), can now be established. Opportunities for fund development in this final phase are abundant as CVCC’s 40th anniversary approaches. Alumni “boomers” are approaching the age where estate planning is a necessary and prudent activity. A recently retired banker and 1971 alumnus shared with me this past winter that “I never considered CVCC in my estate plan.” His wife is a graduate of CVCC and two of his children attended the College as well. This set me to planning a means with which CVCC alumni could leave a legacy for their alma mater. Further thought brought me to the realization that remembering former or current faculty through named endowments or scholarships could be a meaningful investment for those affected by their CVCC experience. In the coming months, the CVCC Foundation plans to bring this opportunity forward in the form of a $1.5 million campaign to endow faculty chairs, scholarships, and named science laboratory facilities in an effort to honor individuals with legacies to CVCC. This campaign is already underway with an important faculty endowment established by the heirs of William Reynolds. The Dr. William “Doc” Reynolds Scholarship will provide educational funding for selected business administration students at CVCC. CVCC has affected tens of thousand of lives in the Central Virginia region over the last 40 years. With your help we can continue to provide accessible and affordable, high-quality education and 21st -century technologies for those destined to shape tomorrow’s world. 18 Central Virginia Community College Board of Directors Mitchell W. Reaves, President, N.B. Handy Michael A. Giles, Vice President, Greif, Inc. Darrel W. Staat, Secretary (ex officio), President, CVCC John K. Poole, Treasurer (ex officio) Vice President of Finance, CVCC Robert L. Bashore Michael V. Bradford, Wachovia Bank Thomas A. Christopher, AREVA Clyde T. Clark Brent A. Collins, Georgia-Pacific Corporation Edward C. Craighill, Boxley Block Todd E. Crowell, Weyerhaeuser Lorenza E. Davis, Lynchburg Public Warehouse Tom DeWitt-Rickards, M/A-COM Stuart C. Fauber, SunTrust Bank Ronald J. Galonsky, Centra Health, Inc. Michael B. Harrington, The Harrington Corp. Terry H. Jamerson, The News and Advance Ronald G. Kidd, Jr., Southern Air, Inc. Sarah Kretowicz Robert A. Leveque, RR Donnelley Printing Co. John Mastroianni Ryan A. McEntire, Brown, Edwards and Company Michael Moorshead, Barr Laboratories Winfred D. Nash, BWX Technologies, Inc. Robert M. O’Brian Lynchburg Ready Mix Concrete Sarah S. Post, C.B. Fleet Richard B. Worthington, II Donald M. Sutton, Jr., Executive Director Directors Emeriti: Clifton L. Barbieri † James V. Shircliff † Ronald V. Dolan † † Deceased Contact Information Donald M. Sutton, Jr. CVCCEF, Inc. 3506 Wards Road Lynchburg VA 24502 PH. 434-832-7620 FAX 434-832-7761 [email protected] Spring 2006 AlumMag6e01 1/25/07 10:08 AM Page 19 Yes, CVCC is forty! T HIS FALL the College will hold a Founder’s Day to commemorate the institution’s four decades. Those decades began with enabling legislation in 1966. CVCC’s first graduating class was in 1968, with just 18 graduates, compared to the CVCC Class of 2004, when a historic graduation number was reached with 541 degrees, diplomas, and certificates. Fall 2006 activities planned by a campus-wide committee include a Founder’s Day luncheon on Wednesday, October 18; some 70 commemorative light pole banners, a College history display in the library, feature articles in area media, and more. As a growing and vital two-year institution, CVCC is meeting the general education, occupational, technical and workforce training needs of Virginia’s Region 2000. This maturity brings with it a respect and admiration of the community served by CVCC and the responsibility to adapt to future education and training requirements of a vital region of the community. Spring 2006 Central Virginia Community College Line drawing by now-retired Communication Design professor Roger Elliott, used in the Class Schedule in the 1980’s 19 AlumMag6e01 1/25/07 10:08 AM Page 20 The CVCC Educational Foundation is seeking prizes for the CVCC Alumni & Friends Association 7th Annual CVCC Open Golf Tournament Ivy Hill Golf Club Wednesday, June 14, 2006 Rain or shine • Shotgun start at 1:00 PM Contests include ● Hole-in-one sponsored by Adams Motor Company, ● Closest-to-pin, and ● Longest drive. I A CVCC LUMN 20 06 OP N E Prize donations are accepted by the CVCC Educational Foundation, Inc. and are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. All proceeds benefit the CVCC Alumni Association Scholarship Program. For more information contact Don Sutton, CVCC, Office of Institutional Advancement at (434) 832-7620 or [email protected]. Central Virginia Community College Alumni Magazine 3506 Wards Rd., Lynchburg VA 24502 mailing indicia copy needed