January 11, 2016
I recently asked a committee of faculty and staff to
research potential dates for the initiation of a Founders Day at Virginia
Wesleyan College. My thanks to the members of this committee: Lina Green,
Stephen Mansfield, Virginia Videll, Kate Griffin, Sally Shedd, Dan Margolies,
Kathy Stolley, and Gregory West for their best thinking on this topic.
As you may know, the College was chartered in 1961 and the
official groundbreaking occurred on July 16, 1965. Since the history of this
College is indeed significant, we believe it is essential to initiate a formal
Founders Day during the academic year.
The Founders Day Committee provided very good recommendations
to me, which I shared with my Cabinet. Collaboratively, we decided that the best
option was to have a “Founders Day Convocation/Fall Convocation” in September
at the start of each new academic year. This event will replace our current
Fall Convocation and open the new academic year with an opportunity for new
students to learn about the College’s founding and for the community to
celebrate this important part of our history on an annual basis. Our alumni
award recipients will be recognized and honored that day and will serve as the
speakers during the Convocation. In addition, other campus activities
that commemorate the College’s founding will be scheduled.
The planning for our very first Founders Day next fall has
already begun. I know you join me in expressing our appreciation for the work
of the Founders Day Committee to this point. We can all look forward with pride
to an outstanding Founders Day celebration next fall.
