E&H sets off to Elevate in Excellence

Progress is strumming along at the new apartment complex off Hillman Highway near the Emory campus. Returning upperclass students will experience independence like never before in the 96-bed unit fully equipped with a kitchen/dining area, laundry room, and a patio or balcony. “We’re thrilled about the progress being made to see our students move in at the beginning of August for the fall term,” said Mark Graham, ’85, vice president for administration and legal counsel, who has served as project manager with a team of vendors and staff.

Thanks to the support of the Board of Trustees, Wiley Jackson Hall is undergoing a tune-up this summer. All 314 windows and screens are being replaced; fresh paint is going on the walls; new plumbing is being installed; and a new elevator will eventually be added. The hall houses more than 200 students and offers double and single rooms. The complex features a lower outdoor patio, fire pit and sand volleyball court.

Business faculty will be moving into their new digs in July, while classes are being scheduled to start in Carriger Hall on August 10. During the past Board of Trustees spring meeting, the board room was named for the 21st president, Jake B. Schrum (read more on page 6). A grand opening will be held in August and tours will be available to guests on Homecoming Day, October 14. New, paved parking will be added behind the building for guests, leading to the walkway through the beautifully designed courtyard.

In February, the College opened its first on-campus thrift store located on the lower level of the Memorial Chapel. The community celebrated the new E&H Thrift Store with a ribbon cutting, and students in attendance had the opportunity to shop afterward. Provided for Emory & Henry students, the E&H Thrift Store is unlike any other shopping experience. The store does not accept money for the exchange of clothing. Instead, students can choose to “pay” for items in one of four ways: volunteer to work a shift at the store; donate a gently used item; share a social media post about the store; or fill out a quick survey at check out. The store was made possible by the Appalachian Center for Civic Life.

Throughout April, the College celebrated National Poetry Month by hosting the Catherine Burns Larmore Visiting Poet Series with ecopoet Sherwin Bitsui and the Daniel Leidig Lectureship in Poetry with Pulitzer Prize winner Carl Phillips. Both Bitsui and Phillips are nationally renowned and award-winning poets. Each poet visited an English class taught by Professor Matthew Kelley, gave a poetry reading and signed broadside poems for attendees.

The 34th B. G. Raines Education Forum was held in March at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, Va. The forum is an annual event held to bring together individuals from Emory & Henry, surrounding schools, businesses, and industry to establish an ongoing dialogue regarding educational needs and opportunities in our region. The speakers included keynote speaker Valerie Ellery (right), an international educational consultant and best-selling author, and Fabiana Parker, 2023 Virginia Teacher of the Year. “For thirty-four years the B. G. Raines Education Forum has brought exemplary educators and leaders from all regions of our nation to Southwest Virginia,” said Dr. Sandra Frederick, Education Department chair. “These guests provide our local educators and community partners with insights into student learning, current educational research, and sound teaching pedagogy that can immediately be taken back into our regional schools to benefit the children of Southwest Virginia.”

Emory & Henry College has been awarded a prestigious distinction for its commitment to affordability compared to other institutions. The recognition comes from Colleges of Distinction, a resource that selects schools based on the quality and diversity of hands-on experiences rather than relying on traditional rankings. In an era dominated by discussions about college tuition and student debt, the Affordable Colleges of Distinction award aims to assist cost-conscious students and parents in navigating the complex landscape of college financing. Emory & Henry shines as a beacon of affordability among the distinguished group of Colleges of Distinction, showcasing its notable financial costs and positive outcomes. In addition to net price, Colleges of Distinction considered median debt and mean earnings data of graduates, factoring in location, size, public/private affiliation status, and the percentage of Pell Grant recipients. These criteria collectively positioned Emory & Henry among the most affordable institutions.

Members of the Emory & Henry College Board of Trustees and current students in the School of Business gathered at Carriger Hall to celebrate the naming of its new boardroom in honor of the 21st President, Jake B. Schrum. This was the first public preview of the building since renovations started in the fall of 2021. The building was used as a men’s dormitory and built in two phases in 1904 and 1908. A grand opening ceremony will be held in August 2023, when students return to campus and construction is completed. A feature in the new Jake B. Schrum Boardroom is a wooden boardroom table designed and handcrafted by Schrum’s oldest daughter and artist, Libby Schrum (second from right) of Camden, Maine.

At the 175th annual Emory & Henry commencement ceremony, Arthur “Scrapper” Broady, ’70, was honored with the William and Martha DeFriece Award. The award is made annually by the Trustees of Emory & Henry College to an alumnus or faculty member who has made some outstanding, worthwhile contribution to civilization or humanity. One of Broady’s most notable achievements is his creation of the “Friends of Copey.” Now in its tenth year, the Friends provides opportunities for E&H students to teach in Copey, Costa Rica, and for students in Copey to visit the U.S. each summer. Broady’s motto is: “Whatever I do, I want to make a difference.”

In late spring, the Student Government Association announced plans for a new student space on campus, “The E&H Chestnut Commons.” The new space will be located between Elm and Hickory halls and feature a large firepit with lawn chairs, a permanent large outdoor games area, a hammock village, concrete walkways with custom E&H-inspired bricks, two large “spirit” boulders and a native plant garden.

Beth Macy, a best-selling author who has drawn worldwide attention to the opioid crisis in Appalachia, spoke on campus about her books, Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America and Raising Lazarus: Hope, Justice, and the Future of America’s Overdose Crisis. Macy also was presented with a service citation from the College.

The College held its fourth contracting ceremony in April and recognized cadets Andreia Langley and Antonio Washington. The contracting ceremony indicated Langley and Washington had stated their oath to serve in the United States Army. Unlike non-contracted cadets, a contracted cadet is considered a military member and will gain the rank of second lieutenant (2LT) upon graduation. Contracting is a vital part of a cadet’s journey through ROTC, as it shows commitment to being a future leader in the military.

The College formally dedicated the Ashleigh “Stardust” Langbein Memorial Fund scholarship to honor the late Ashleigh Langbein, ’16. The fund was initiated in 2020 to provide support opportunities for theatre students to expand their training beyond the College through related workshops and conferences. It will help these students continue their education while keeping Ashleigh’s memory alive in the campus community. The ceremony concluded with remarks from Ashleigh’s parents and co-founders of the Ashleigh Langbein Project, Russell and Paula Langbein, who visited from Katy, Texas, to attend the signing in memory of their daughter.

In March, the College hosted Pulitzer Prize winner and best-selling author Barbara Kingsolver (left) and co-founder of The Origin Project (TOP) and New York Times best-selling author Adriana Trigiani (right) in celebration of the 10th anniversary of TOP. The Origin Project is a program that helps second to 12th graders find their voices through writing about their family and regional roots. Trigiani brings in outstanding authors to talk with students participating in TOP each year. Teachers and high school students who participated in The Origin Project were invited to campus for the unique opportunity to spend time with Trigiani and Kingsolver. Kingsolver discussed her latest book, Demon Copperhead, a modern-day story set in Southwest Virginia. The event was a pre-event of the Virginia Festival of the Book.

Thoughtful Estate Planning: Gifts That Can Reduce Taxes, Provide Lifetime Income and Support Emory & Henry College

A new Center for Outdoor Studies will launch this fall that will support students academically who want to work toward careers related to the outdoors. The center is part of the Collective Connection Campaign initiative to expand student engagement and the strategic plan to embrace and support our place in the region. More than 375 incoming students are expected to join the campus this fall, and Summer Experience Days are underway for the new swarm of Wasps!