Top of page
Calendar News Request Info Apply Give
Home »  Alumni & Friends »  News Archive

Bill Williams Completes Second Term as President of Virginia Society of Ornithology

Posted by Billy Chandler

There are a lot of things Bill would like us to know about the VSO. 

Once you say “Society” one’s mind conjures notions of high tea and formality. But the Virginia Society of Ornithology (VSO-virginiabirds.org) is far from that.


The group was founded in 1929 to provide a foundation for those who are passionate about birds and birding and the pursuit of greater knowledge regarding all things avian. As the group approaches their 100th anniversary, it’s fair to say that birds are still the unifying force, but the breadth of the organization’s work has expanded exponentially. The organization allocates funds for conservation, awards grants for community birding projects, provides graduate and undergraduate scholarships to support avian research studies and they run a very successful American Kestrel nest box program. The VSO organizes field trips to every corner of Virginia with the support of its affiliate bird clubs. It presents awards to those who distinguish themselves in areas of ornithology, avian conservation, and service to the organization. Members receive a quarterly newsletter, a quarterly journal (Virginia Birds) and an annual research-based journal (The Raven). The VSO’s Virginia Avian Records Committee maintains an official list of the state’s bird species.


And that’s not all!


Bill is particularly proud of one of the organization’s most ambitious projects: the commonwealth’s second breeding bird atlas (VBBA2). The presentation of this research is the culmination of field work by more than 1,000 birders who meticulously documented evidence of species that bred in Virginia from 2016 through 2020. Bill says this is important as more than a historic record. “Land use planners use this sort of information to determine the potential impact of development.” The research is being compiled into an interactive website, instead of a hefty, printed volume, to allow for more universal access.


This was Bill’s second time to serve as president of the organization, but the completion of his term is unlikely to see him ride off into the sunset – or a thicket of trees. After 31 years as a public school teacher and administrator, Bill joined the Center for Conservation Biology where he is a research associate. He says he got started as a birder during his student days at Emory & Henry when a friend on his hall (Dick Gage) shared his enthusiasm for birds. Later he was mentored by Dr. Turner Clinard and by Dr. Bob Jervis from the E&H Biology department who would load up a van at 6 am to take students birding around the fringes of campus.


Bill was bitten by the birding bug and still remembers seeing his first Yellow Warbler by the campus duck pond. And the rest, as they say, is history. Or, actually, ornithology.

Enjoy a conversation with Bill on the Duck Pond Wall podcast.

Open gallery

Man with spotting scope for birding.
Bill Williams
E&H Class of 1969

Save & Share:

More News

  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/866-dr-bob-buchanan-receives-award"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,11,280,291/6479_Dr._Bob_Buchanan.rev.1560787959.webp 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,11,280,291/6479_Dr._Bob_Buchanan.rev.1560787959.jpg 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,11,280,291/6479_Dr._Bob_Buchanan.rev.1560787959.jpg" alt="Dr. Bob Buchanan, E&H Class of 1958, is retired from University of California, Berkeley." width="345" height="225" data-max-w="280" data-max-h="280" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/866-dr-bob-buchanan-receives-award">Dr. Bob Buchanan Receives Award</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"> Dr. Buchanan (E&H ’58) was among a small group of outstanding scientists honored by the American Society of Plant Biologists <a href="/live/news/866-dr-bob-buchanan-receives-award" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/2378-will-mullins-rewrites-his-definition-of-the-good"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/62,0,541,477/11501_FB_IMG_1651246574440.rev.1655317901.webp 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/62,0,541,477/11501_FB_IMG_1651246574440.rev.1655317901.jpg 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/62,0,541,477/11501_FB_IMG_1651246574440.rev.1655317901.jpg" alt="William Mullins Emory & Henry Class of 1992" width="345" height="225" data-max-w="479" data-max-h="477" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/2378-will-mullins-rewrites-his-definition-of-the-good">Will Mullins Rewrites His Definition of the “Good Life”</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"> As a script-writer, Will Mullins knows a thing or two about rewriting for meaningful effect. <a href="/live/news/2378-will-mullins-rewrites-his-definition-of-the-good" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/2281-eamph-mass-comm-student-story-jackson-arnold"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,300,400/11063_Carolyn_doss.rev.1648505296.webp 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,300,400/11063_Carolyn_doss.rev.1648505296.jpg 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,300,400/11063_Carolyn_doss.rev.1648505296.jpg" alt=" Carolyn Foster Doss E&H Class of 1986 " width="345" height="225" data-max-w="300" data-max-h="400" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/2281-eamph-mass-comm-student-story-jackson-arnold">E&H Mass Comm Student Story: Jackson Arnold highlights a big award for Carolyn Foster Doss</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><em>This is part of a series of stories by members of the 2022 E&H Mass Comm 302 Class. </em><br/><br/>The first woman to score 1,000 points at Holston Highschool, has just been named Damascus Middle School teacher of the year. Carolyn Foster-Doss turns everything she touches into gold, elevating the Southwest Virginia community to great heights on and off the court. <a href="/live/news/2281-eamph-mass-comm-student-story-jackson-arnold" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/1286-all-the-worlds-a-stage"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/325,11,1351,1034/8252_anna_nichols.rev.1590260295.webp 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/325,11,1351,1034/8252_anna_nichols.rev.1590260295.jpg 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/325,11,1351,1034/8252_anna_nichols.rev.1590260295.jpg" alt="Anna Nichols, E&H Class of 2010" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/325,11,1351,1034/8252_anna_nichols.rev.1590260295.jpg 2x" data-max-w="1026" data-max-h="1023" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/1286-all-the-worlds-a-stage">All the World’s A Stage</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"> Anna Nichols, theatre major, is playing the role of real life hero. <a href="/live/news/1286-all-the-worlds-a-stage" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/2379-chaz-jones-says-to-look-for-great-government-jobs"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/180,175,505,501/11578_FB_IMG_1656696118591.rev.1656699368.webp 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/180,175,505,501/11578_FB_IMG_1656696118591.rev.1656699368.jpg 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/180,175,505,501/11578_FB_IMG_1656696118591.rev.1656699368.jpg" alt="Chaz Jones Emory & Henry Class of 2016" width="345" height="225" data-max-w="325" data-max-h="326" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/2379-chaz-jones-says-to-look-for-great-government-jobs">Chaz Jones Says to Look for Great Government Jobs in SWVA/NETN</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><p> Chaz Jones says many young people overlook the opportunities for great government work that are right here in the region surrounding Emory & Henry.</p><a href="/live/news/2379-chaz-jones-says-to-look-for-great-government-jobs" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/1369-got-a-minute-catch-up-with-veteran-teacher-mary"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,222,1788,2011/8545_image0000001.rev.1600188531.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,222,1788,2011/8545_image0000001.rev.1600188531.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,222,1788,2011/8545_image0000001.rev.1600188531.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,222,1788,2011/8545_image0000001.rev.1600188531.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,222,1788,2011/8545_image0000001.rev.1600188531.jpg" alt="Mary Lampkins, E&H Class of 1988." width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,222,1788,2011/8545_image0000001.rev.1600188531.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,222,1788,2011/8545_image0000001.rev.1600188531.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1788" data-max-h="1789" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/1369-got-a-minute-catch-up-with-veteran-teacher-mary">Got a Minute? Catch up with veteran teacher Mary Lampkins (’88)</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"> Mary Lampkins (E&H ’88) says her older siblings had to endure her “playing teacher” when she lined them up for pretend school as early as when she was five years old. But she has used an impressive career in education to prove that she wasn’t just playing. And in 2020, Mary retired after 32 years of teaching in the Washington County, Virginia, school system. <a href="/live/news/1369-got-a-minute-catch-up-with-veteran-teacher-mary" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/296-a-st-judes-hero"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,48,764,812/3319_20180125_123141.rev.1519077228.webp 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,48,764,812/3319_20180125_123141.rev.1519077228.jpg 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,48,764,812/3319_20180125_123141.rev.1519077228.jpg" alt="Emily Tolley Boyles" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,48,764,812/3319_20180125_123141.rev.1519077228.jpg 2x" data-max-w="764" data-max-h="764" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/296-a-st-judes-hero">A St. Jude’s Hero</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"> Emily Tolley Boyles said she’d NEVER run a full marathon. But that was before she met Mighty Max. <a href="/live/news/296-a-st-judes-hero" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/788-trollinger-named-citizen-of-the-year"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/38,0,514,475/6285_Richard_Trollinger.rev.1554994277.webp 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/38,0,514,475/6285_Richard_Trollinger.rev.1554994277.jpg 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/38,0,514,475/6285_Richard_Trollinger.rev.1554994277.jpg" alt="Richard Trollinger, E&H Class of 1971." width="345" height="225" data-max-w="476" data-max-h="475" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/788-trollinger-named-citizen-of-the-year">Trollinger Named Citizen of the Year</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"> Richard Trollinger (E&H ’71) has been named Danville, Kentucky, citizen of the year. <a href="/live/news/788-trollinger-named-citizen-of-the-year" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/2382-rachel-edwards-is-a-professional-reader-for"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,43,958,1001/11564_IMG-0199.rev.1656364981.webp 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,43,958,1001/11564_IMG-0199.rev.1656364981.jpg 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,43,958,1001/11564_IMG-0199.rev.1656364981.jpg" alt="Rachel Edwards Emory & Henry Class of 1999" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,43,958,1001/11564_IMG-0199.rev.1656364981.jpg 2x" data-max-w="958" data-max-h="958" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/2382-rachel-edwards-is-a-professional-reader-for">Rachel Edwards is a Professional Reader for Audible</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"> At first, she thought it might be a scam; but it has turned out to be the opportunity of a lifetime. <a href="/live/news/2382-rachel-edwards-is-a-professional-reader-for" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/1546-kishanna-caesar-heyward-says-credit-is-queen"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,11,300,312/9072_Kishanna_Heyward.rev.1705252474.webp 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,11,300,312/9072_Kishanna_Heyward.rev.1705252474.jpg 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,11,300,312/9072_Kishanna_Heyward.rev.1705252474.jpg" alt="Kishanna Caesar Heyward, Emory & Henry Class of 2008." width="345" height="225" data-max-w="300" data-max-h="301" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/1546-kishanna-caesar-heyward-says-credit-is-queen">Kishanna Caesar Heyward says, “Credit is Queen, Charlene!”</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"> Color me better informed about how credit works. <a href="/live/news/1546-kishanna-caesar-heyward-says-credit-is-queen" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/893-emory-henry-made-all-the-difference"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/531,147,2220,1835/6551_66257874_2424062467823220_760622803857702912_n.rev.1563304661.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/531,147,2220,1835/6551_66257874_2424062467823220_760622803857702912_n.rev.1563304661.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/531,147,2220,1835/6551_66257874_2424062467823220_760622803857702912_n.rev.1563304661.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/531,147,2220,1835/6551_66257874_2424062467823220_760622803857702912_n.rev.1563304661.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/531,147,2220,1835/6551_66257874_2424062467823220_760622803857702912_n.rev.1563304661.jpg" alt="Rachel Harrison, E&H Class of 2019, at the duck pond. Dr. Foye Gibson, by the way, was the E&H president who brought the pond to ..." width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/531,147,2220,1835/6551_66257874_2424062467823220_760622803857702912_n.rev.1563304661.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/531,147,2220,1835/6551_66257874_2424062467823220_760622803857702912_n.rev.1563304661.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1689" data-max-h="1688" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/893-emory-henry-made-all-the-difference">Emory & Henry Made All the Difference</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"> Rachel Harrison (E&H ’19) gleaned the full Emory & Henry experience before graduating. <a href="/live/news/893-emory-henry-made-all-the-difference" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/1378-got-a-minute-find-out-how-stephen-gunter-got-his"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/129,321,2316,2507/8569_7AA73ECC-4777-46C2-8D31-501118F2DD3E.rev.1600903019.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/129,321,2316,2507/8569_7AA73ECC-4777-46C2-8D31-501118F2DD3E.rev.1600903019.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/129,321,2316,2507/8569_7AA73ECC-4777-46C2-8D31-501118F2DD3E.rev.1600903019.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/129,321,2316,2507/8569_7AA73ECC-4777-46C2-8D31-501118F2DD3E.rev.1600903019.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/129,321,2316,2507/8569_7AA73ECC-4777-46C2-8D31-501118F2DD3E.rev.1600903019.jpg" alt="Stephen Gunter, E&H '04, at the 2019 Homecoming football game." width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/129,321,2316,2507/8569_7AA73ECC-4777-46C2-8D31-501118F2DD3E.rev.1600903019.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/129,321,2316,2507/8569_7AA73ECC-4777-46C2-8D31-501118F2DD3E.rev.1600903019.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2187" data-max-h="2186" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/1378-got-a-minute-find-out-how-stephen-gunter-got-his">Got a minute? Find out how Stephen Gunter got his career on track.</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"> Hear that train a’comin’? It could be Stephen Gunter (E&H Class of 2004). <a href="/live/news/1378-got-a-minute-find-out-how-stephen-gunter-got-his" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/2348-avery-smith-takes-a-big-step-in-his-opera-career"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,441,1785,2227/11291_IMG-9004.rev.1652729153.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,441,1785,2227/11291_IMG-9004.rev.1652729153.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,441,1785,2227/11291_IMG-9004.rev.1652729153.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,441,1785,2227/11291_IMG-9004.rev.1652729153.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,441,1785,2227/11291_IMG-9004.rev.1652729153.jpg" alt="Avery Smith E&H Class of 2021" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,441,1785,2227/11291_IMG-9004.rev.1652729153.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,441,1785,2227/11291_IMG-9004.rev.1652729153.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1785" data-max-h="1786" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/2348-avery-smith-takes-a-big-step-in-his-opera-career">Avery Smith Takes a Big Step in His Opera Career</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"> Avery Smith has been chosen for a world-class professional opera program that only accepted about 40 participants – from all over the world <a href="/live/news/2348-avery-smith-takes-a-big-step-in-his-opera-career" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/2106-family-traditions"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,92,243,335/10510_IMG-2694.rev.1637190198.webp 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,92,243,335/10510_IMG-2694.rev.1637190198.jpg 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,92,243,335/10510_IMG-2694.rev.1637190198.jpg" alt="Erika Wright (left, Emory & Henry Class of 2011) with her father and sister in traditional regalia." width="345" height="225" data-max-w="243" data-max-h="243" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/2106-family-traditions">Family Traditions</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"> Traditions are important for most families. But family traditions might be just a little more crucial to Erika Wright. As a member of the Virginia indigenous tribe Cheroenhaka (Nottoway), Erika understands that traditions are more than just something to share with other family members: traditions are a matter of cultural survival. <a href="/live/news/2106-family-traditions" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/70-debb-hirsch-clays-poem-honors-gold-star-mothers"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/473,91,879,497/733_debb_clay_jpg.rev.1506976631.webp 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/473,91,879,497/733_debb_clay_jpg.rev.1506976631.jpg 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/473,91,879,497/733_debb_clay_jpg.rev.1506976631.jpg" alt="Debb Hirsch Clay's poem about Gold Star Mothers has gotten a lot of attention." width="345" height="225" data-max-w="406" data-max-h="406" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/70-debb-hirsch-clays-poem-honors-gold-star-mothers">Debb Hirsch Clay’s Poem Honors Gold Star Mothers</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"> Debb says it’s a poem for people who find themselves with a designation that no mother wants. <a href="/live/news/70-debb-hirsch-clays-poem-honors-gold-star-mothers" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>