Six Virginia Intermont seniors in the Photography and Digital Imaging Department have their works on display at the Abingdon Arts Depot’s Special Exhibits Gallery, April 4-May 4. The show is free and open to the public. An artist’s reception will be held April 21 from 2:00-4:00 p.m.

This show is the culmination of years of dedicated study by the six students:  Paige Barbush of Harrisburg, Pa.; Bailee Packett of Montross, Va.; Jacob Pelz of Huntersville, N.C.; Benjamin Kavit of Yorktown, Va.; Krystle Brenneman of Virginia Beach, Va.; and Aleesa Cahill of Riverhead, N.Y.

Barbush’s show: “Abandoned in the Light.”

Packett’s show: “documentary series of photographs about adapting to life in America.”

Kavit describes his exhibition as depicting “relationship between the astronomical view of the visible universe and the obstinate view of our current society.”

Brenneman’s exhibit: a self-portrait project “exploring herself as a woman.”

Cahill’s work: “plays with peoples’ obsessions with their technological devices.”

Visit the department online at www.photomajor.com for more information and an in-depth look at the photographic programs offered.

The Depot Artists Association is a non-profit volunteer organization that operates the Arts Depot and is dedicated to promoting the arts in the community and features the region’s artists. The Arts Depot is located in the historic Depot Square area of downtown Abingdon, Va. The gallery and seven working artists’ studios are open for viewing Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and by appointment. There is no admission charge. For further information, please contact the Arts Depot at (276) 628-9091, or e-mail abingdonartsdepot@abingdon.com, or visit its Web site at www.abingdonartsdepot.org.

Alumni from far and near reconnected with classmates, friends, faculty and staff while reminiscing about VI. Alumni enjoyed a variety of activities including the friendly, competitive alumni/student games, a round of golf at VI’s 2nd Annual Cobra Open, art classes, and exploring downtown Bristol.

We’d like to thank all alumni who attended and we truly missed those of you that could not make it. We look forward to seeing you (and even more alumni) again next year! Until then, please enjoy this video and some photos from Alumni Weekend 2013.

The second round of the astrophotography program, YCCC  (Youth Capture the Colorful Cosmos), is wrapping up for Professors Jessica Turner and Chuck Pearson, and the two will host a reception for the middle school students and their families in Harrison-Jones on Friday April 19, 4:30-5:30 p.m.  The media and anyone interested in astrophotography are invited to attend.

For the past six weeks, Drs. Pearson and Turner, with the assistance of interns at the College, have worked with at-risk students from Virginia Middle School and Vance Middle School in Bristol, Virginia and Tennessee. The students will exhibit their photos alongside a digital exhibit at the reception. During the six-week program students were introduced to a wide variety of resources in the Smithsonian’s Micro-Observatory Telescope Network, including the ability to control the robotic telescopes via the Internet and use its software to capture their versions of the cosmos. The students’ chosen images, as well as their captions, poems, and reflections on the program, will be on display during the reception. Refreshments will be served.

YCCC is a collaborative project with Bristol’s Birthplace of Country Music (BCMA).  The program was developed by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO).  YCCC is described as a true interdisciplinary program connecting the sciences and the arts. Through the program, Turner and Pearson introduced the students to various college programs including the sciences, heritage studies, and Virginia Intermont’s renowned photography program.

For more information on the program and its reception, please contact Dr. Jessica Turner at jessicaturner@vic.edu or 276-466-7191.

Youth Capture the Colorful Cosmos is funded by the Smithsonian Institution’s Youth Access Grants program managed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Education and Access. The project is led by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, in partnership with Smithsonian Affiliations.

W. Taylor Reveley IV has stepped down as chair of the Board of Trustees at Virginia Intermont College to become the 26th president of Longwood University on June 1.  With the appointment, Reveley becomes a third-generation college president. His father, W. Taylor Reveley III, is president of the College of William & Mary. His grandfather, W. Taylor Reveley II, was president of Hampden-Sydney College from 1963 to 1977.

President Phillips has expressed her deep appreciation to Reveley for his invaluable service to VI. “Although Longwood’s gain is VI’s loss, I am delighted for Taylor, Longwood University, and the Commonwealth of Virginia, and I have sent him best wishes and fond regards from VI,” said Phillips.

Phillips nominated current VI trustee Richard Clint Hopkins of Roanoke, Va., to fulfill Reveley’s term as chair which expires June 30.  In June, the Board will conduct elections for a longer-term chair.

Dr. Hopkins is a retired Baptist minister who has been an elected leader of various religious associations, commissions and boards on local, national and international levels. A civic leader as well, Hopkins is a past member of the University of Richmond  Board of Trustees and of the Board of Trustees of the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond.

“Clint brings unique experience and a practical perspective that are well suited to lead our board.  I am extremely pleased he has agreed to step up through this transition,” said Phillips.

In another leadership change, Dr. Mark Roberts, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at VI, has accepted a position at Reinhardt University in Waleska, Ga., as Vice President of Academic Affairs.  Roberts began a 17-year career at VI as Writing Center instructor in 1997. He became director of the Writing Center and has been a professor of English, Director of the Honors Program, and Arts and Sciences Division Chair before becoming Provost.

“While I wish we could keep Dr. Roberts at VI, this is a great move for him to grow as a potential leader in higher education, and I wish him all the best,” said Phillips.

Associate Provost for Institutional Effectiveness Dr. Cynthia Ward has accepted Dr. Phillips’ offer to become Interim Provost.  She will begin in this role immediately upon Dr. Roberts’ departure in June.

Virginia Intermont College held the 2013 Honors Ceremony last Thursday, April 18, to recognize outstanding students and faculty. Departmental awards and scholarships were awarded to students who demonstrated excellence in academics and service, and two members of the faculty were honored for their service to VI.

Senior Sierra Mills (Contoocook, NH) received the “Ideal Intermont Award” for her academic excellence and participation in campus life clubs, organizations, and teams. Mills will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Arts in English & Creative Writing and a minor in Photography & Digital Imaging. She is first level member of the College’s IDA team.

Joseph Blevins (Chilhowie, VA) was the recipient of the “Marjorie DeFriece Memorial Scholarship,” granting him full tuition and room and board for the 2013-14 academic year.

Professor Anne Noe was honored for her 13 years of service to the VI community and will be greatly missed when she retires at the end of the academic year. Professor Randy Smith was also awarded with faculty honors for his exceptional teaching and countless hours he puts into the Poetry Club and other campus-wide events.

Departmental Awards:

Scholarships:

In response to both national and state level initiatives to make college education more affordable for students, President E. Clorisa Phillips announces that Virginia Intermont College will not increase tuition for the 2013-14 academic year.  This initiative marks the third year in a row that the College has opted to hold annual tuition cost at $24,542.

The recent announcement is good news for current students, as well as for prospective students. Increased state funding due to Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s more than $100 million per year allocation to education has already benefitted many Virginia Intermont students with higher Tuition Assistance Grants and more individual financial assistance.

Earlier this month, McDonnell sent a letter to all Virginia college presidents and boards asking their help in finding ways to hold or limit tuition increases. The Governor has a stated goal of an additional 100,000 degrees over the next 15 years, citing that lower education costs to students also improve retention rates and on-time graduation.

According to President Phillips, who proposed the tuition freeze to VI’s board of trustees, “Even in these challenging times, we consider this move to hold tuition at current levels an investment in our future. The College is committed to careful management of resources, and holding our tuition is one of several recent initiatives we’ve taken to better serve our students.”

The National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) reported that at least 24 colleges across the nation froze tuition last year in efforts to make college more affordable and help students graduate without spiraling loans. NAICU reports at least 13 other colleges so far that announced tuition freezes for 2013-14.

As a small liberal arts college, Virginia Intermont fills the niche for students who benefit from one-on-one learning and interactive classroom discussion among professors and peers. In addition to not raising tuition in 2013-14, the College financial aid office works with students to explore applicable resources for financial aid and for qualified scholarships. Approximately 85% of Virginia Intermont students, including both in-state and out of state, receive scholarships or some form of financial aid.

VI’s tuition freeze gained national exposure in The Washington Post

On Wednesday, April 17, 2013, Rick Carroll, Dean of Admissions at Virginia Intermont College, signed a Preferential Admission Agreement at the Appalachian School of Law. This agreement guarantees acceptance into the Appalachian School of Law for VI students who go through the law school’s application process and meet requirements in the agreement.

The requirements for preferential acceptance are: completion of a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Art degree at Virginia Intermont prior to the fall of law school entry, qualification based on GPA and LSAT score requirements, and a clean record with no disciplinary action for academic reason while at VI.

This agreement was put in place because of common goals and missions of both colleges: to provide the highest quality education for students from the historic Appalachian region.

The agreement is effective for Virginia Intermont students who apply for admission to Appalachian School of Law for the 2013-14 academic year.

VI junior Athena Demos wrote a letter to the editor of the Bristol Herald Courier which ran in Saturday’s edition, April 27, 2013.  Below are excerpts from her writing to the community of Bristol, Va.

I am junior at Virginia Intermont, history and political science double major, and a member of the IHSA team. Four years ago, I discovered the charming town of Bristol while undergoing the college application process.

As a senior in high school, I planned on attending a state school of some sort in North Carolina, my home state. However, I was drawn to VI by its equine program. I have never regretted my choice in enrolling. Everyone seems to have a different perspective on the purpose of higher education. While a student at VI, I have grown as an individual and discovered who I am as a person.

Our professors genuinely care about the students and share their knowledge with us, not only by encouraging us and teaching us, but also through helping us to receive research grants and internships.

Even though I am not an equine science major, I have benefited greatly from the equine program and the faculty; it has helped me discover my passion. Overall, VI has given me everything that I wished to take from a college education. The college is a valuable asset to the community and changes students’ lives positively.

Athena Demas | Bristol , Va.

If you’d like to submit your own “Letter to the Editor” please use the form below:

VI sent some of their most talented riders to Baltimore, Md., to compete in the American National Riding Commission (ANRC) Intercollegiate Championships on April 19-20. The team consisted of Danielle Clark, Rory Mueller and Ashleigh Ramey. Scores were based on four phases of testing averaged together for an overall 5th place.

Team Results:
1 – Centenary College
2 – Sweet Briar College
3 – Savannah College of Art and Design
4 – University of the South – Sewanee
5 – Virginia Intermont College
6 – St. Andrews University

VI equestrians also placed 5th as a team at the Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) National Championship at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass., on April 27-28. IDA team riders were Leah Bear, Sierra Mills, Morgan Rich, and Courtney Vesel.

Team Results:
1 – Mt. Holyoke College
2 – Johnson and Wales
3 -Delaware Valley College
4 – University of Central Florida
5 – Virginia Intermont College
6 – University of Findlay
7 – Centenary College

Seven runs in the bottom of the first inning for the Lady Cobras would be all they would need to capture their first conference tournament championship since 2007.

The win against the Lady Buffs of Milligan College in the championship game on April 26, 14-2 in five innings, propels the Cobras into the NAIA National Tournament. The Lady Cobras will learn their national tournament destination soon, as they will play at a regional site on May 13th, 2013, with three other teams hoping to get a bid for the national finals to be held May 24-30 in Columbus, Ga.

Read more on the AAC championship game in the Bristol Herald Courier.

For the fourth time this season, Micalah Sacre won Pitcher of the Week in the AAC. Sacre ranks in the top ten pitchers for strikeouts in the NAIA. Player of the Week was awarded to Hannah McCloud for her work at the plate. Ranked eighth in the country this season with fifteen home runs, McCloud continues to be one of the most valuable offensive players with the Lady Cobras.

Baccalaureate and Commencement ceremonies were held May 4th and 5th at Virginia Intermont College, celebrating the accomplishments of 106 graduates. It was the 138th commencement for the College. May graduates and degree candidates for August 2013 were recognized along with graduates who completed their degree in December 2012.

The Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Social Work degrees were conferred. Among the degree recipients, 26 earned distinctive honors of Cum Laude (GPA 3.7+), Magna Cum Laude (GPA 3.8+) or Summa Cum Laude (GPA 3.9+). VI’s Honors Program, which offers a challenging academic track and the completion of a thesis, graduated six students: Nathan Robert Frederick Kraatz, Kristen Nicole Hammond, Therese Nicole Jacobsen, Emily Marie Vasas, Lydia Marie Bass, and Lauren Ashley Knight.

Bachelor of Art:
Paige Amanda Barbush
Teresa Sue Blackburn
Krystle Lynne Brenneman
Justin Maddy Brown
Jennifer Gale Burke – Cum Laude
Christi Nicole Butler – Summa Cum Laude
Bethany Grace Casey
Robert Eugene Cline II
Shannon Leanne Day – Cum Laude
Jaclyn Dye – Cum Laude
Sherry Beth Dye – Summa Cum Laude
Kayla Danielle Epperson – Summa Cum Laude
Ashley Michelle Fields
Porchia Diane Fletcher
Gigi Gabrielle Good – Cum Laude
Penny Yvonne Hagy
Samantha Leanne Heath – Cum Laude
Sarah Denise Horton
Nathan Robert Frederick Kraatz – Magna Cum Laude
Adam Joseph Kuykendall
Dwayne C. Letterman – Magna Cum Laude
Amanda Leigh Kinder McClure – Cum Laude
Sierra M. Mills
Millette Shantel Mullins
Kayleigh McCormick Overton
Bailee Tyrell Packett
Shana Alexandria Parsons
Laura Beth Collins-Patterson
Amanda Elizabeth Ramey – Cum Laude
Kylee Myranda Ratliff
James Neil Riordon
Melissa Dawn Roberts – Magna Cum Laude
Betty Jean Russell
Ricardo Vanden Sneed, II
Hannah Suzanne Dutton Ste Marie – Summa Cum Laude
Misty Dawn Tester – Summa Cum Laude
Christina Dawn Turner – Magna Cum Laude
Logan Austin Welch

Bachelor of Fine Arts:
Aleesa Caitlyn Cahill
Benjamin T. Kavit
Virginia Whitfield McClelland-Nease
Molly Catherine O’Neil
Jacob Martin Pelz
Lindsay Marie Soja
Lena Katherine Stevens – Summa Cum Laude

Bachelor of Science:
Tara Catherine Adams
Tyler Wesley Arnold
Brandi Kae Blessing
William Tyler Bradshaw
Jessica Marie Brasington
James Joseph Bray, Jr – Summa Cum Laude
Evan William Cassell – Magna Cum Laude
Gene Stanley Christian, Jr
Hannah M. Duffy
Jordan Martin Estepp
Keirstan Zachariah Fernandez
Kristen Nicole Hammond
Ryan Lee Harrington
Victoria Leann Herron
Therese Nicole Jacobsen
Andrew Houston Jessup
Megan Melissa Kelty – Cum Laude
Meghan Nicole Malinowski
Allison Brierly Manning
Kasey Jordan Marion
Ryan Allen Mayer
Alexandra Kathleen Micklich
Justin Morris
Sarah E. Nelson
Laurel Anderson Pace – Cum Laude
Zachary Thackston Roberts
Emily Marie Vasas – Cum Laude
Jordan Arthur Waggoner
Timothy Brent Wilson

Bachelor of Social Work:
Kristen Dawn Anderson
Lydia Marie Bass – Summa Cum Laude
Santanna Lea Cook
Michael Gordon Gibson – Magna Cum Laude
Marc W. Guinn – Cum Laude
Shaunna Lynne Hess
Cynthia McDaniel Nunn – Summa Cum Laude
Melanie Dawn Walters

Candidates for August Degrees:
Audrey Lane Bevins
Jade Alison Boyer
Dalec Ar’van Cromwell
Robin Denise Curtis
Chad Allen Davis
William Isaac Davis
Leona Sue Dye
Beverly Carlene Goff
Martin Anthony Goodnough
Ashley Lauren Grimm
S. Nicole Hager
Lauren Ashley Knight
Nicole Elizabeth Meadows
Chad Jonathan Mullins
DeAnna Joy Slone-Oliver
Walter Allen Poston III
Wanda Kay
Jimmie Brown Ross
Mark Anthony
Jeffrey Shelly
Stephanie LaShawn Surgener
Jacqueline Sue Taylor
Amy Beth Thomas
Mary Kristine Thompson

As Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament champions, the Virginia Intermont Lady Cobras softball team will continue their season with a trip to Hardeeville, S.C., for the NAIA National Championship, May 13-15.

After finishing exams and a short break, the team returned to campus this week to begin preparation for their first national tournament contest.  The Cobras will take on the Spring Hill College Badgers from Mobile, Ala., in the first game opening round.

“We are very proud and excited about this excellent accomplishment of our softball team and to have this fine group of young ladies represent VI on the national stage,” said Executive Director of Athletics Christopher Holt. “In addition, they have an excellent leader in Coach Eric Senter.”

The VI community and friends are encouraged to show support, and all game schedules, recaps and highlights can be followed at www.viathletics.com. All games will be streamed online by Stretch Internet Game Central; instructions to sign up can be found at viathletics.com at the Tournament Central page. Financial contributions to help defray travel expenses for the Lady Cobras can be made by contacting Karen Widner at VI Athletics, 276-466-7940.

Information for attending the NAIA National Softball Championship Opening Round:

WHEN: MAY 13-15, 2013

WHERE: RICHARD GRAY ATHLETIC COMPLEX, HARDEEVILLE, S.C.

GPS ADDRESS FOR SOFTBALL FIELDS: 205 Main Street, Hardeeville, S.C.

A senior from Lancaster, S.C., Trevor Banks has put Virginia Intermont College on the map as he takes his golf game to the national stage at the NAIA Championship in Salem, Ore.

The national tournament is being played at Creekside Golf Club in Salem, May 14-17. Banks is paired with Brady Klotz and Shane Peden of Bethel University.

Banks is the only individual at-large bid to make it to the tournament. This season, he was named the 2013 Appalachian Athletic Conference’s Golfer of the Year and made the All-Conference first team with five tournament wins this season. His spectacular year began with the Tom Kinder Memorial in September where he finished in first place with a 10-under par finish, six strokes ahead of the second place finisher.

In 18 rounds of golf this season, Banks holds a 70.94 scoring average that is third in the NAIA and 17th among all collegiate golfers in the U.S.  He has the sixth lowest average score on par four holes with 3.97 per par fours this year.

During both the fall and spring golf season, Banks made the All-Tournament team in 10 of 11 tournaments.  He currently ranks No. 1 in NAIA and was rated No. 1 in all of collegiate golf for 10 weeks this year.  This season, against all golfers in all tournaments, he was 648-11.

To follow Banks’ results, visit www.vic.edu.  To view all selections and qualifiers for the National Tournament click here; for all pairings for the first two rounds of play click here.

Congratulations to our Dean’s List students for Spring 2013! The Dean’s List recognizes the superior academic performance of Virginia Intermont students who maintained an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.7 or greater on a four-point scale during the semester.

Adkins, Mitzi – Bristol, Tenn.
Alber, Jason – Stafford, Va.
Autukaite, Radville – Vilnius, Lithuania
Baker, Elizabeth – Atlanta, Tex.
Barnes, Kelly – Tyaskin, Md.
Barton, Sheens – Vansant, Va.
Bass, Lydia – Rice, Va.
Bobo, Stacey – Meadowview, Va.
Bradshaw, William – Johnson City, Tenn.
Brasington, Jessica – Sevierville, Tenn.
Burgan, Christie – Jonesville, Va.
Carlton, Lori – Abingdon, Va.
Chasteen, Sheldon – Dryden, Va.
Clevinger, Jason – Bristol, Tenn.
Conner, Shelby – Ormond Beach, Fla.
Cook, Santanna – Bristol, Tenn.
Cox, Krista – Willis, Va.
D’Agostino, Ryan – Charlottesville, Va.
Davis, Whitney – Bristol, Va.
Davis, William – Bristol, Va.
Day, Shannon – Duxbury, Mass.
Dean, David – Bristol, Va.
Demas, Athena – Pisgah Forest, N.C.
Dininger, Jennifer – Lawrenceville, Ga.
Donohue, Karissa – Benson, N.C.
Epperson, Kayla – Piney Flats, Tenn.
Estepp, Jordan – Gate City, Va.
Fernandez, Keirstan – ON, Canada
Fleenor, Andrew – Bristol, Va.
Fletcher, Porchia – Birchleaf, Va.
Foley, Lindsay – Cedar Bluff, Va.
Fraley, Susan – Gate City, Va.
Garwood, Sheila – Jonesville, Va.
Jeannie, G’Fellers – Johnson City, Tenn.
Gibson, Michael – Bristol, Va.
Gregerson, Paige – Ooltewah, Tenn.
Grimm, Ashley – Bristol, Va.
Guinn, Marcus – Bristol, Va.
Gulley, Christie – Dryden, Va.
Haley, Tara – Jonesville, Va.
Hall, Sommer – Enterprise, Ala.
Hanna, KaNiska – Nassau, Bahamas
Harlow, Rita – Bristol, Va.
Hensley, Haley – Fall Branch, Tenn.
Hess, Shaunna – Abingdon, Va.
Hill, Dana – Gray, Tenn.
Hilt, Denton – Bristol, Va.
Hilt, Natasha – Abingdon, Va.
Horton, Sarah – Lebanon, Va.
Hutton, Justin – Bristol, Va.
Jacobsen, Therese – Camp Douglas, Wis.
Kelty, Megan – Hightstown, N.J.
Kerckhove, Clara – Richmond, Va.
Knight, Lauren – Church Hill, Md.
Kraatz, Nathan – Morristown, Tenn.
Kruger, Daniel – Wilmington, Ohio
Lanham, Meagan – Round Hill, Va.
Leonhardt, Charles – Ashburn, Va.
Lytle, Justin – Watauga, Tex.
Manke, Ashleigh – New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
Mason, Kyle – Jonesborough, Tenn.
Mathews, Shelly – Franklin, N.C.
McBee, Emily – Cartersville, Ga.
McClure, Amanda – Chilhowie, Va.
McCoy, Tonya – Coeburn, Va.
McCoy, Jonathan – Bristol, Va.
Mehta, William – Hindhead Surrey, UK
Michalakes, Hannah – Saunderstown, R.I.
Mills, Sierra – Henniker, N.H.
Minter, Jessica – Bristol, Va.
Molina, Juan – Tilton, IL
Moncier, Melissa – Bluff City, Tenn.
Nease, Jenna – Maryville, Tenn.
Nunn, Cynthia – Bristol, Tenn.
Orrick, Kayla – Whitesburg, Tenn.
Overton, Kayleigh – Westfield, Mass.
Owens, Brooklynn – Bristol, Va.
Pace, Laurel – Maryville, Tenn.
Paez, Daniela – Fort Meyers, Fla.
Palmer, Brandon – Sevierville, Tenn.
Parsley, Florence – Valrico, Fla.
Pearce, Jill – Pennington Gap, Va.
Porter, Allexus – Bristol, Va.
Ramey, Ashleigh – Culpeper, Va.
Ramey, Amanda – Culpeper, Va.
Ratliff, Kylee – Honaker, Va.
Rich, Morgan – Fayetteville, N.C.
Riordon, James – Epping, N.H.
Robbins, Kayla – Sevierville, Tenn.
Roberts, Curtis – Corryton, Tenn.
Roberts, Melissa – Wise, Va.
Roe, Amanda – Bristol, Va.
Rogers, Patricia – Keokee, Va.
Ross, Hannah – Chattanooga, Tenn.
Sauls, Deborah – Bristol, Tenn.
Sisk, Carla – Abingdon, Va.
Sollenberger, Morgan – Concord, N.C.
Spooner, Amelia – Edgewater, Md.
Stallard, Amanda – Abingdon, Va.
Stallworthy, Ross – Nottinghamshire, UK
Ste Marie, Hannah – Bristol, Va.
Street, Lee – Pennington Gap, Va.
Surgener, Stephanie – Big Stone Gap, Va.
Thomas, Amy – Abingdon, Va.
Thomson, Mary – Indian Land, S.C.
Van Nostrand, James – Bristol, Tenn.
Vasas, Emily – Pasadena, Md.
Vesel, Courtney – Raleigh, N.C.
Waggoner, Jordan – Pine City, Minn.
Walsh, Alyssa – Concord, N.C.
Walters, Melanie – Marion, Va.
Warren, Barbrey – Wilmington, N.C.
Watts, Rachel – Stafford, Va.
Weisman, Jennifer – Florence, Ky.
Wilson-Bost, Megan – Gloucester, Va.
Workman, Morgan – Fallston, Md.

Virginia Intermont alumnus Bart Smith, who died in a helicopter crash in 1991 at age 28, was memorialized in a May 13, 2013 dedication ceremony at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.

The Journalists Memorial, located in the seven-story Newseum, pays tribute to reporters, photographers and broadcasters who have died reporting the news. The names of more than 2,000 individuals from around the world are etched on the glass panels of the soaring, two-story structure.

Each year the Newseum rededicates the Journalists Memorial, adding names to a panel and stories of those individuals recognized in interactive kiosks in the gallery. A few days before the ceremony, the names and photos of the journalists honored at this year’s dedication were projected on the Newseum’s 74-foot First Amendment tablet.

Smith, the son of longtime Virginia Intermont employee Mary Lou Smith, graduated from VI in 1985 as a mass communications major.  He was a photojournalist for WTVD-TV in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., and was killed on assignment when the news helicopter’s engine failed while returning from a high school football game in Wilmington, N.C.

Mary Lou Smith attended the May 13 memorial dedication in Washington and sat on the front row which was reserved for families of the honored journalists. She described the ceremony as the most moving and inspiring she has ever experienced.  “It is the most impressive museum, and what is so amazing about the memorial is that it honors journalists from all over the world,” said Smith. “Bart was one of few Americans honored at this dedication among many international journalists.”

Also in attendance were former colleagues of Bart Smith, ABC11 reporter Ed Crump and Karen Koutsky, a former ABC11 assignment editor who was engaged to Smith. See ABC-affiliate WTVD’s coverage of the memorial honoring Smith here.

Mary Lou Smith echoed the words of others close to Bart who spoke of how he loved journalism more than anything and he died in the line of duty.

“He would have been very pleased to be recognized here and is probably looking down on us now,” she said. “It is amazing how quickly the time has flown, but yet it seems like it could have been yesterday since we’ve seen him.”

Read more on the Newseum Memorial here and on Smith’s profile here.

The VI community and friends are invited to view the portfolios of senior students of Bristol, Tennessee High School (THS) showcased on campus in the Main Gallery of the Worrell Fine Arts Center.

The students exhibiting art are from the THS advanced art classes taught by Donnie Quales, an art education alumnus of Virginia Intermont.  Their works range from drawings and paintings to mixed media, and a mixture of styles from realistic and illustrative to abstract expressionism. Students featured are Chloe Neil, Keirsten Russell, Chloe Privett, Dillon Barr, Michael Gauvreau, Kendall Carter, Sarah Harkleroad, Michelle Seuratt and John Potter.

A reception will be held Thursday, May 16 from 4-6:00 pm which will conclude the exhibit.

Virginia Intermont College is pleased to announce that art professor Perry Johnson is one of a select group of faculty members nationwide chosen by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) to participate in a special week-long seminar on Teaching European Art in Context. The seminar will be held in conjunction with an exhibition of rare traveling masterpieces of Dutch art featuring works by Vermeer, Hals, and Rembrandt. The exhibition, Girl with a Pearl Earring: Dutch Paintings from the Mauritshuis, will be on view at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia, beginning in June 2013.

CIC selected 21 faculty members to participate in the seminar, “Dutch Art, Patrons, and Markets,” which will take place at the High Museum June 23–28, 2013. (See list of participating faculty members below.) The seminar aims to strengthen the teaching of art history to undergraduates at smaller colleges and universities. Catherine Scallen, chair of the Department of Art History and Art at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, where she has taught since 1995, will lead the program.

Dutch art of the 17th century has long been popular for the visual pleasures of its naturalistic scenes, but it also represents a landmark in the development of the modern art world. During the 17th century, the practices of making and buying art boomed as never before. With the creation of the first large-scale open art market, prosperous Dutch merchants, artisans, and civil servants bought paintings and prints in unprecedented numbers. Foreign visitors were astonished that even modest members of Dutch society, such as farmers and bakers, owned multiple works of art. Dutch 17th-century art saw the rise of new subjects as well, where landscapes, still lifes, and scenes of daily life replaced formerly dominant religious images and scenes from classical mythology. Portraiture, too, flourished in this prosperous atmosphere.

“The seminar will be especially valuable for faculty members at institutions without large campus museums or proximity to major art museums. Art historians in all fields and studio artists, as well as faculty members who specialize in history, European studies, and related fields will find this seminar of interest,” said CIC President Richard Ekman. “We believe that Perry Johnson will play a strong role in the seminar.”

CIC Participants in 2013 Seminar on Teaching European Art

Jeffrey Baldus, Briar Cliff University (IA)
Beverly Carter, Grove City College (PA)
Rick Cary, Mars Hill College (NC)
Garth Claassen, The College of Idaho (ID)
Perry Johnson, Virginia Intermont College (VA)
Libby Karlinger, Escobedo, Aurora University (IL)
Heidi Kraus, Hope College (MI)
Andrea Lepage, Washington and Lee University (VA)
Jane Long, Roanoke College (VA)
Ted Murphy, Houghton College (NY)
Morgan Page, Lyon College (AR)
Sylvia Rhor, Carlow University (PA)
Gabrielle Rose, Curti, Simpson College (IA)
Emily Stokes, Northwestern College (IA)
Montana Torrey, Lane College (TN)
Virginia Troy, Berry College (GA)
Lindsay Twa, Augustana College (SD)
Carolyn Watson, Furman University (SC)
Gregory Winterhalter, Southern Vermont College (VT)
Leanne Zalewski, Randolph College (VA)
Ann Zerger, McPherson College (KS)

For more information, visit the CIC website at www.cic.edu/ArtHistory. The High Museum of Art was founded in 1905 as the Atlanta Art Association and today is the leading art museum in the southeastern United States, with a membership base of over 50,000 that ranks it among the top ten art museums in the nation. Located in Atlanta’s midtown arts and business district, the High has more than 12,000 works of art in its permanent collection, with holdings and curatorial positions in the following art disciplines: American, European, decorative arts and design, folk, modern and contemporary, and African. The European collection includes the Kress collection of Renaissance and Baroque paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts.

David Lee graduated from VI in 1981 and has stayed active with the College ever since. He has been a member of the Alumni Association board for over twenty years and recently spoke at VI’s Athletic Awards Banquet, where he shared some inspiring stories about his experiences and about playing sports during his time.

“Once an athlete, always an athlete,” said Lee. “I was just grateful to be around so many of our finest students at the banquet. I may have gotten more out of it than they did.”

After graduating with a Business Management degree, Lee began a career in banking that led to his current position at United Southeast Federal Credit Union. “I worked several years for commercial banks and suffered several layoffs, but during that time I landed in some wonderful places and worked with some wonderful people who taught me everything they knew,” said Lee. “I kept layering on experience that all came together here at United Southeast.”

Lee recalls that many of the business courses he took prepared him well, and he also attributes exposure to the arts at VI for creating opportunities and helping him relate better to clients.

“As odd as it may sound, the exposure to the arts on campus at the time helped me as much as anything,” said Lee. “The music, ballet, and fine arts exposed me to things that potential employers were into on a personal basis, which oftentimes was a help in job interviews. I recall on one occasion the interviewer had a Rembrandt replica on his wall, and I commented on it and he asked me what I knew about it. We had studied that particular piece in Art Appreciation class just a few weeks before that.”

Lee also credits several professors who personally mentored him when he came to VI as a transfer student. His business psychology professor worked with him individually on personal development and resume building. “He was a former Human Resources manager and just gave everything he could to transition me from college to the workforce,” said Lee.

L.V. “Pokey” Harris ‘01 has spent a career making a difference in the safety of the citizens of Southwest Va. Years of working in public safety organizations and rescue units led Harris to her current position as Director of Emergency Services in Washington County. She has handled emergency services for the area’s most catastrophic events including the Damascus Trail Days accident when a car hit a crowd and injured more than 50 people. Harris has also handled some of SW Virginia’s deadliest storms including the tornado of April 2011. The Bristol Herald Courier recently featured Harris in an article, “The Organizer: Faith in God, talent for controlling chaos put Harris in charge of Washington County, Va., emergency services.” Read full story here.

Six Virginia Intermont students from the local area are working as interns this summer at Bristol’s Birthplace of Country Music (BCM). All photography majors, the students are: Amanda Miller, Billie Wheeler, Hannah Devaney, Jonathon McCoy, Kellie Biggs and Haley Hensley.

“Our summer interns are helping with planning and acquisition work,” said Sarah Tollie, BCM marketing and communications associate. “Their projects include museum-related photography for our entrance exhibit, surveys for community input, graphic design and branding.”

Tollie, a VI alumna, graduated with a B.A. in English in 2009 and is currently pursuing her Masters in mass communication at MTSU. As a BCM associate, she handles communications for the organization and blogs about progress and updates on the new museum building. Recently she recognized the contributions that the VI interns are making in her blog post, “A Helping Hand (Comes in Handy).” Tollie also sheds light on the value of hands-on experience and relationship building that internships provide, which from her own experience, “can greatly impact a career path.”

Read Tollie’s blog posts and more on the BCM here.