The Alumni Newsletter of Virginia Highlands Community College

The Hilltopper

Spring 2013

INSIDE

VHCC Alumni AssociationP.o. Box 828

Abingdon, VA 24212

276-739-2456 • alumni@vhcc.eduVHCC is an EEO/AA Institution

Five of Nashville’s leading songwriters and up-and-coming talents from throughout the region will gather on the campus of Virginia Highlands Community College on Saturday, May 18, for the Richard Leigh Music Festival, a celebration of song to benefit foster care students.

Grammy Award Winner Richard Leigh will headline a 6 p.m. performance also featuring Tony Arata, Mark D. Sanders, Dennis Morgan, and Roger Cook. These five members of the Nashville Songwriters’ Hall of Fame - who have written songs for country music greats like Garth Brooks, Trace Adkins, Reba McEntire, George Strait, Faith Hill, and Randy Travis - will perform their well-known hits and share the stories behind the songs. Ed Snodderly, a local songwriter whose lyrics are inscribed on the wall of Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame, also will perform and emcee the show.

Other festival highlights include a 5K Walk sponsored by DePaul Community Resources, a songwriting contest, and music throughout the day from local songwriters Gill Brasswell, Mary Munsey, Impeach Dixon, and Annabelle’s Curse. The festival will end with a 9 p.m. concert featuring local favorites If Birds Could Fly and Folk Soul Revival.

The festival honors the work of Richard Leigh, a 1973 VHCC graduate who wrote “Don’t it Make My Brown Eyes Blue,” the Crystal Gayle hit that was named “Best Country Song” at the 1978 Grammy Awards and one of the ten most performed Country Songs of the Century.

All proceeds will benefit VHCC’s Great Expectations Program for foster care students.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online through PayPal at www.vhcc.edu/songwriters. A PayPal account is not required. Tickets purchased after April 30 will be $30. Children under 6 will be admitted free.

Richard Leigh (‘73) HeadlinesCampus Songwriters Festival

Nursing Reunion A lively group of graduates from VHCC’s nursing program returned to campus in October to relive old memories and catch up with classmates during a special event celebrating the programs 40th anniversary. PAGE 2

Alumni ProfileSgt. Jamie Davis prefers the rugged mountain trails, cascading waterfalls, and open fields of Southwest Virginia to a plush corner office. Read about his time at VHCC and his current job as a Conservation Officer for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Page 4

Upcoming EventsA graduation party featuring live music, a pool party with mammoth waves, and a baseball game with free hotdog are all in the works for the coming months. Mark your calendar now and plan to attend. PAGE 6

Wolf Grounds Coffee ShopIf you need a boost of energy while in close proximity to the VHCC campus, stop by for a hot cup of coffee or an icy frappe from Wolf Grounds Coffee Shop, the new student venture that is featuring renewable energy and organic products. Page 3

Four members of VHCC’s first Nursing Class were among about 50 who returned to campus in October for a celebration of the program’s 40th Anniversary. Pictured, left to right, are Sadie Surber, Shirley Pafford, Martha Ryan, Beverly Bolling, and Dr. Kathy Mitchell, VHCC’s Dean of Nursing and Allied Health. Each of these ladies have enjoyed a prestigious nursing career in our community. The photo below was taken of the first nursing class, which included students from VHCC and Southwest Virginia Community College, while completing a clinical rotation at the Southwest Virginia Mental Health Institute in Marion.

6th AnnualVirginia Highlands Community College

Educational FoundationScholarship Golf Tournament

April 29, 2013

Sponsored by

www.vhcc.edu/golf

FROM the ARCHIVESJoyce Crusenberry, a long-time employee of the VHCC Library, is among those planning to retire at the close of the academic year. Joyce is quite the fashion plate in this photo from the VHCC archives (circa 1970). Other photos found buried in file cabinets and desk drawers indicate she was quite fond of go-go boots, too, when they were all the rage. Since Joyce has always been willing to share a friendly smile and tidbits of campus history, it seemed only fitting that we honor her with this stroll down memory lane. Best wishes for a great retirement, Joyce. You certainly will be missed.

Do you remember the young man in this photo? If so, email alumni@vhcc.edu with information.

Grab a Cup of Joe A student-operated coffee shop that uses organic products and renewable energy opened recently on the Virginia Highlands Community College campus, where it serves as a hands-on learning laboratory for students enrolled in a wide variety of academic programs. Hot lattes, flavored cappuccinos, iced mochas, and fresh

baked snacks are served at Wolf Grounds Coffee Shop, located on the first floor of the Learning Resources Center (LRC). The business was first envisioned by members of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), a nationally recognized student entrepreneurship club that has since changed its name to ENACTUS, and was made possible with a $30,000 grant from Dominion Power Co. In announcing support of the project in 2010, Dominion lauded the ecologically friendly aspects of the new business, which include organically grown coffee provided by Abingdon’s Zazzy’Z Coffee Roasters, cups and other paper products made from recycled materials, and the use of Energy Star appliances. Additionally, the business will derive a portion of its power from windmills and solar panels that were installed at VHCC as part of the Energy Technology program.

“Our mission was to create a self-sustaining, eco-friendly business that would serve ‘green’ products to the VHCC community at a competitive price,” said Phil Ferguson, a VHCC faculty member who advised students during the early planning stages. “We’re confident that Wolf Grounds will become a symbol of environmental sustainability and economic enrichment for our customers and all VHCC students.” While space was being renovated for the new business, Oliver Craughwell, owner of Zazzy’Z, came on board as a volunteer mentor. He shared his expertise with students, helping them with important tasks like choosing the proper equipment and developing a menu. Wolf Grounds is currently open to the public Monday-Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday hours will be added soon.

He prefers the rugged mountain trails, cascading waterfalls, and open fields of Southwest Virginia that provide the perfect backdrop for his job as a conservation officer for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. “This is my office,” he said, proudly holding a photo of a babbling creek on a sunny summer day.”I’m able to be outside and work in the natural resources of Southwest Virginia. That’s awesome. I’ve always believed that if you enjoy what you do, you do a whole lot better at it.” Growing up in Glade Spring, Sgt. Davis learned farming techniques, as well as how to hunt and fish, from his father. The father-son outings were valuable experiences for young Jamie, who said his father always stressed safety and respect for the natural resources that make the region such a great place to live. By the time he was in high school, he knew that he wanted a career in the great outdoors. But football was also in his blood. A standout athlete at Patrick Henry, he landed a football scholarship to West Virginia Tech. He was in his first semester when an injury forced him to give up the game. Once back home, Virginia Highlands just made sense. “The tuition was affordable and the educational resources that were available here were as exceptional as any four-year school,” he said. “The professors were excellent to work with, and I really enjoyed the small campus atmosphere. At big universities, the professors post your test scores by the last four digits of your social security number. Here they know you

and call you by name. That means a lot.” Sgt. Davis worked on the family farm while earning a degree in General Studies from VHCC and, soon after graduating in 1994, went to work for UPS. He got married a few years later, changed jobs, had a child, and was working at Bristol’s Ball Corp., when he decided it was time to return to the classroom. “My wife, Wendy, was the education driving force,” he said, noting that she is currently working toward a Ph.D. “She gave me the confidence that I could succeed.” Sgt. Davis enrolled in an online program through Florida’s St. Leo University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Management in 2001. The online program provided the flexibility he needed to balance class assignments with his work and family responsibilities. It also paved the way to his “dream job” with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF). He began as a Boating Access Maintenance Supervisor, overseeing and performing maintenance for public boat ramps in the region, while he began training for the job that he always knew he wanted. In 2004, after graduating from

the VDGIF Law Enforcement Academy, he became a Virginia State Game Warden. Because education had played such a key role in his success, he enrolled once again in an online program at St. Leo University. In 2009, he earned a Master’s of Business Administration Degree with a specialization in Criminal Justice. His impressive college career has been supplemented with a long list of training and certifications needed to perform his current duties as a Virginia Conservation Police Sergeant. As a sworn officer with full police authority, he has the skills and training needed to enforce the fish, wildlife, and boating laws throughout Virginia. Because he supervises six officers in a five-county region of Southwest Virginia, he also has had extensive supervisory and leadership training. Hunting season is a busy time for him, as are the summer months when area lakes are filled with boating enthusiasts. Much time is spent assisting other law enforcement agencies too, especially when his department’s specialized equipment can be of benefit, he said.

Sgt. Jamie Davis isn’t interested in a corner office with leather furniture and plush carpeting.

“The tuition was affordable and the

educational resources that were

available here were as exceptional

as any four-year school.”

“We have the best equipment available,” he said. “My truck is equipped with a laptop that allows me to file reports with the touch of a button. We also have GPS and GIS equipment, digital radios, surveillance equipment, firearms, several different boats, ATVs …. just about anything you can think of that might be needed in the forests, fields and waterways of our region.” Conducting educational programs is another big part of his job, and one that he sincerely enjoys. He especially likes organizing workshops and camps for young children, he said, teaching them to respect and protect the outdoors. Looking back on his days at VHCC, Sgt. Davis said he is grateful for the guidance he received from faculty members and the strong educational foundation that allowed him to continue his education and advance in his career. “Mr. (Van) Keyser showed such patience with me in public speaking,” he said. “I was a young, country boy growing up and to get up in front of someone and speak was very difficult for me. But he would make a joke and even

though you would be embarrassed, you’d have to laugh.” Computer and technology classes gave him the skills needed to use some of the complex equipment that is part of his everyday job now, and the overall campus culture made him realize that others were interested in his academic progress and overall success. “The whole atmosphere of campus made me know that I could succeed,” he said. “That was so important for me.” When not working, Sgt. Davis enjoys time spent with his wife and daughter, Kalin, and sharing the great outdoors with them. He is still an avid football fan, especially when Virginia Tech or the Pittsburgh Steelers are playing. And, he said, he has taken friends and relatives elk hunting out west, savoring the opportunity to spend time together in nature. “I always knew this was what I wanted to do and education was the key,” he said. “The more education you have, the more opportunities you have. I tell kids that all the time and it really is true.”

VHCC Graduation CelebrationMembers of the VHCC Class of 2012 and Alumni are invited to a Graduation Celebration on the Campus Commons at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 9. The event features live music, food and children’s games, and is a great way for alumni to welcome our new graduates into the VHCC Alumni Association. Check back for details.

Upcoming Events

If you’ve been waiting for an invitation to return to campus, consider this a heartfelt request to share your knowledge, expertise, words of wisdom and physical stamina . After all, everyone has something to offer, right?

First, make sure we have your email address and other current information. This will ensure you receive invitations to events that are planned with you in mind. Most alumni events are completely free and designed to be family friendly, so we want to make sure you know about them. If you have a great idea or want to volunteer to help organize an event, tell us what you have in mind. Volunteers are always needed.

Perhaps you’re more interested in making a presentation to our students? The VHCC Career Development Center offers lots of opportunities for successful alumni to return to campus for a special presentation or to mentor students in similar fields. Perhaps your company would even like to offer an internship opportunity to a promising student interested in gaining experience. We can make that happen.

Of course, VHCC also has a dozens of boards and committees that need the expertise of community members, too. If you would like to serve, let us know what interests you.

Thanks for your interest! Be sure to update the alumni directory at www.vhcc.edu/alumnidirectory or contact Anne Dunham, coordinator of Alumni Development, at 276-739-2456 or adunham@vhcc.edu for additional information.

VHCC Night at the Saltville Wave PoolThrow on your flip flops and head to Saltville on Friday, June 21, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., for an evening of fun at the Hardy Roberts Memorial Wave Pool. Named for the first man from Saltville, Virginia, to be in World War II, the pool is 150 feet long and 60 feet wide. A children’s area, a fountain, and mammoth waves make this pool a great place for family fun and an alumni party! The entire pool will be reserved for VHCC alumni, family and friends, and we’ll provide hotdogs, soft drinks and door prizes.

VHCC Night with the Bristol White SoxEnjoy an evening of minor league baseball fun as the Bristol White Sox take on the Elizabethton Twins at Boyce Cox Field, 1501 Euclid Avenue, on Thursday, July 18. VHCC Alumni and their families will be admitted free and receive coupons for the concession stand. VHCC door prizes will be awarded and the first pitch will be thrown out by campus representative! Game time TBA.

Hot Shot CompetitionPlans are currently being made for a Hot Shot competition in the fall that will test the shooting prowess of law enforcement officers throughout the region, and a special award will be given to the VHCC Alumni Hot Shot. Please contact the VHCC Alumni Office at 276-739-2456 or email alumni@vhcc.edu if you would like to help plan this event. Stay tuned for details!

Enter to WIN!The VHCC Alumni Association mug is a great way to show your school spirit at home, your office, or anywhere else that you might want to strike up a conversation about all the great things happening on campus. You can’t buy these mugs, but we are giving a few away! Your name will be included in the drawing if you register at www.vhcc.edu/alumnidirectory or become a Facebook friend at www.Facebook.com/VHCCAlumni.