More Than A Vacation Celebrates 30 Years!
MTAV, as it is more casually known, is the epitome of a lifelong learning event.
For 30 years, alumni have made their way back to the E&H campus to keep their minds sharp as a wasp’s sting.
The event started in 1994 as a way to revive a 1960s “summer alumni college.” But this event that began in 1994 has been far more free-ranging than those original programs.
Participants have danced, painted, met local artists, and attended Barter Theatre. They have explored the region with trips to Floyd, Saltville, Jonesborough, West Jefferson, and Big Stone Gap. They’ve learned history related to the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, enslaved persons, and college founders. They’ve discussed novels and poetry with E&H faculty members like Dr. John Lang and Dr. Dan Leidig and Dr. Kathleen Chamberlain. They’ve done magic, hunted ghosts, met Santa, donned Elvis sideburns, hiked, biked, scavenger hunted, and spit many watermelon seeds.
And participants have become friends who are always excited to welcome new folks to the MTAV family. It’s hard to explain, but somehow living together in a residence hall and having a shared learning experience seems to create some pretty great bonds of friendship. They’ve celebrated anniversaries, mourned losses, and watched kids grow up. And every year there are new participants who join the fun – and join the family.
Because pearls are the traditional anniversary gift for 30 years, and because the group has picked up many pearls of wisdom along the way, the 2023 event used Minnie Pearl as a sort of icon for the annual event. A dinner celebrating Minnie featured some truly great hats – and even a speaker who formerly worked with Sarah Colley Cannon (the real woman under the straw hat). This year’s group also learned to salsa dance while hearing about study abroad to Cuba, sipped and painted, visited the Abingdon Muster Grounds, checked out the Wier Dam, shopped at HollerHouse, sang at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, had dessert at Blackwell Chapel Store, ate fresh Lynnhaven Fancies Oysters, and learned about the handprints of enslaved people that can be found in the bricks that build some of our E&H campus buildings.
And that’s only some of the memories made this year.
Enjoy a conversation with two participants about why it has succeeded!
E&H Lifelong Learning events happen online year-round, and we’ll be back on campus next July for MTAV. Watch the Events page for more opportunities to stay sharp as a wasp!
MTAV 2023
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Brian Serway giving us a tour of HollerHouse. -
Just a little MTAV fun... -
Brittanny Davis did a great job telling us about the new mural in Tazewell. One of the people featured is Lou Peery, who played sports with Ernie Landes (pictured right). -
High School friends who found each other at MTAV! Dede Goldsmith and Anne Gerard Carty! -
Minnie Pearl fun! -
More Minnie Pearl hats! -
Post MTAV fun with Tom and Cindy Haskins in Kingsport! Tom was president of the Alumni Association when MTAV was started. -
Salsa Dancing on Cuba night! -
Post MTAV fun with Marla Jordan in Charlottesville! Marla came up with the name “More Than A Vacation.” -
Minnie Pearl hats were all the rage at our Minnie Pearl dinner. -
The Minnie Pearl Dinner featured two speakers, Kasey Jo Blevins (our Mini Minnie Pearl) and Lori Freeman, who actually worked and was friends with Sarah Colley Cannon (aka Minnie Pearl). -
Salsa Dancing on Cuba Night! -
Post MTAV fun with Donna and Steve Vaughn in Salem. -
Olivia Bailey talked to us about marketing SWVA. -
Post MTAV fun with Betsy Via in Virginia Beach. -
Post MTAV fun with the Secords in Lynchburg! -
One of our favorite MTAV moments this year was a presentation led by Tazewell, Virginia, native Brittanny Davis (left) who told us about the new mural in Tazewell that tells the story of African American history in that community. One of the persons featured is Lou Peery, an E&H alum who played sports with Ernie Landes (right). -
Old friends finding out their grandkids are friends. -
Visiting the Muster Grounds. -
Visiting Blue Mountain Therapy. -
Finding bricks with the handprints of enslaved persons at Stewart French House. -
Ben Jackson telling us about handmade bricks made by enslaved persons
Open gallery
