Dear friends,
Our students may say that it's the most wonderful time of the year because they soon will wrap up their classes and take a long, and much deserved, break. But more than that, we all look forward to this time of year because of the joy it brings and the opportunity for reflection and gratitude.
As we wrap up this semester, we're thankful for all we have shared. Our students had a much more normal academic and co-curricular experience than last year, and their successes have been numerous. Among the many accolades this semester, we were thrilled to celebrate the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament Championship and NCAA National Tournament appearance with our women's soccer program last month. Our business students coordinated another effective and informative Marlin Business Conference. Dozens of students are preparing to walk in our first-ever formal December Commencement ceremony to be held on December 18.
With our greater community, we commemorated Veterans Day with Second Lieutenant Gavin Steel '19 serving as our keynote speaker. We met fascinating and talented prospective students for the next cohort of the Batten Honors College. And finally, we were honored by The Princeton Review and ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for our efforts to make our campus, and our world, a greener and more equitable place.
Virginia Wesleyan is truly an amazing place filled with amazing people. We are grateful for all that we've shared and look forward with enthusiasm to the new year ahead.
I wish you all a very happy and safe holiday season.
Sincerely, | 
