For the entire month of October, there were virtual contests, academic division gatherings, online engagement events, trivia and performances to keep the Emory & Henry community connected in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Homecoming became Stay Home-coming with lots of virtual events to entertain and connect.
“Alumni had opportunities to connect with Emory & Henry faculty, the president, other alumni and students,” says Monica Hoel, alumni director at Emory & Henry College. “I believe some of these events will become new traditions in order to give alumni a chance to engage who don’t normally get to travel to campus.”
Unique contests to celebrate Homecoming included finding the oldest piece of Emory & Henry swag, the best at-home tailgate setup, and the Fur-Ever Alumni Pet Contest. Other celebrations included virtual cocktail parties, 10-minute theatre performances by E&H students, a virtual trip to France, career networking, the Global Street Party, shopping at the bookstore, and a town hall meeting with President Wells.
You can feel the energy as you walk into the modern interior of the building, formerly known as the Ampersand Center, and now the new van Vlissingen Center for Career and Professional Development (VVC). The ampersands painted on the wall are still relevant as the Career Center is all about connections. But, there are new faces, new ideas and fresh perspectives that lead the work of the Center.
”I simply cannot say enough to express my appreciation of the faculty for how they have responded and adapted to the pandemic. I know it has been an extremely challenging semester for both faculty and students, but both have worked in unison to continue the excellent educational experience for which Emory & Henry is known. I visited several classes this semester – some with students both face to face and remote, others entirely remote – at each of our instructional locations, and I went away from each and every one of those classes impressed by the level of engagement I saw and the efforts of the instructors to find ways to keep students involved and on task. More than ever, I am just in awe of our tremendous faculty.”
- Dr. Michael Puglisi, E&H Provost