The Hilltopper The Alumni Newsletter of Virginia Highlands Community College

Spring 2013 Richard Leigh (‘73) Headlines Campus Songwriters Festival INSIDE

Five of Nashville’s leading Nursing Reunion songwriters and up-and-coming A lively group of graduates from VHCC’s nursing program talents from throughout the region returned to campus in October to relive old memories will gather on the campus of Virginia and catch up with classmates during a special event Highlands Community College on celebrating the programs 40th anniversary. PAGE 2 Saturday, May 18, for the Richard Leigh Music Festival, a celebration of Wolf Grounds Coffee Shop song to benefit foster care students. If you need a boost of energy while in close proximity to Grammy Award Winner Richard the VHCC campus, stop by for a hot cup of coffee or an icy Leigh will headline a 6 p.m. frappe from Wolf Grounds Coffee Shop, the new student performance also featuring Tony venture that is featuring renewable energy and organic products. Page 3 Arata, Mark D. Sanders, Dennis Morgan, and Roger Cook. These five members of the Nashville Alumni Profile Sgt. Jamie Davis prefers the rugged mountain trails, Songwriters’ Hall of Fame - who cascading waterfalls, and open fields of Southwest Virginia have written songs for country to a plush corner office. Read about his time at VHCC and music greats like Garth Brooks, his current job as a Conservation Officer for the Virginia Trace Adkins, Reba McEntire, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Page 4 , Faith Hill, and Randy The festival honors the work Travis - will perform their well- of Richard Leigh, a 1973 VHCC Upcoming Events graduate who wrote “Don’t it Make known hits and share the stories A graduation party featuring live music, a pool party with behind the songs. Ed Snodderly, a My Brown Eyes Blue,” the Crystal mammoth waves, and a baseball game with free hotdog local songwriter whose lyrics are Gayle hit that was named “Best are all in the works for the coming months. Mark your inscribed on the wall of Nashville’s Country Song” at the 1978 Grammy calendar now and plan to attend. PAGE 6 Hall of Fame, also Awards and one of the ten most will perform and emcee the show. performed Country Songs of the Other festival highlights Century. include a 5K Walk sponsored by All proceeds will benefit VHCC’s DePaul Community Resources, a Great Expectations Program for VHCC Alumni Association songwriting contest, and music foster care students. P.o. Box 828 throughout the day from local Tickets are $25 and can be Abingdon, VA 24212 songwriters Gill Brasswell, Mary purchased online through PayPal at www.vhcc.edu/songwriters. A Munsey, Impeach Dixon, and 276-739-2456 • [email protected] Annabelle’s Curse. The festival will PayPal account is not required. VHCC is an EEO/AA Institution end with a 9 p.m. concert featuring Tickets purchased after April 30 will local favorites If Birds Could Fly and be $30. Children under 6 will be Folk Soul Revival.­­ admitted free.

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 Annual Virginia Highlands Community College Educational Foundation Scholarship Golf Tournament April 29, 2013 www.vhcc.edu/golf

Sponsored by 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 Grab a Cup of Joe Craughwell, owner of Zazzy’Z, came on board as a volunteer A student-operated coffee shop that uses organic products mentor. He shared his expertise with students, helping them with and renewable energy opened recently on the Virginia Highlands important tasks like choosing the proper equipment and developing Community College campus, where it serves as a hands-on a menu. learning laboratory for students enrolled in a wide variety of Wolf Grounds is currently open to the public Monday-Thursday academic programs. from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday hours will be added soon. Hot lattes, flavored cappuccinos, iced mochas, and fresh

FROM the ARCHIVES Joyce 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 [email protected] with information. Sgt. Jamie Davis isn’t interested in a corner and call you by name. That means a lot.” office with leather furniture and plush Sgt. Davis worked on the family farm while earning a degree in General Studies from VHCC and, soon after carpeting. graduating in 1994, went to work for UPS. He got married a few years later, changed jobs, had a child, and was working He prefers the rugged mountain trails, cascading at Bristol’s Ball Corp., when he decided it was time to return to waterfalls, and open fields of Southwest Virginia that provide the classroom. the perfect backdrop for his job as a conservation officer for “My wife, Wendy, was the education driving force,” he the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. said, noting that she is currently working toward a Ph.D. “She “This is my office,” he said, proudly holding a photo of gave me the confidence that I could succeed.” a babbling creek on a sunny summer day.”I’m able to be Sgt. Davis enrolled in an online program through Florida’s outside and work in the natural resources of Southwest St. Leo University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Business Virginia. That’s awesome. I’ve always believed that if you Administration with a specialization in Management in enjoy what you do, you do a whole lot better at it.” 2001. The online program provided the flexibility he needed Growing up in Glade Spring, Sgt. Davis learned farming to balance class assignments with his work and family techniques, as well as how to hunt and fish, from his father. responsibilities. It also paved the way to his “dream job” with The father-son outings were valuable experiences for young the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF). Jamie, who said his father always stressed safety and respect He began as a Boating Access Maintenance Supervisor, for the natural resources that make the region such a great overseeing and performing maintenance for public boat place to live. By the time he was in high school, he knew that ramps in the region, while he began training for the job that he wanted a career in the great outdoors. he always knew he wanted. In 2004, after graduating from 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. “The tuition was affordable and the Once back home, Virginia Highlands just made sense. “The tuition was affordable and the educational resources educational resources that were that were available here were as exceptional as any four-year school,” he said. “The professors were excellent to work with, available here were as exceptional and I really enjoyed the small campus atmosphere. At big universities, the professors post your test scores by the last as any four-year school.” four digits of your social security number. Here they know you

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. “We have the best equipment available,” he said. “My though you would be embarrassed, you’d have to laugh.” truck is equipped with a laptop that allows me to file reports Computer and technology classes gave him the skills with the touch of a button. We also have GPS and GIS needed to use some of the complex equipment that is equipment, digital radios, surveillance equipment, firearms, part of his everyday job now, and the overall campus several different boats, ATVs …. just about anything you culture made him realize that others were interested in his can think of that might be needed in the forests, fields and academic progress and overall success. waterways of our region.” “The whole atmosphere of campus made me know that Conducting educational programs is another big part of I could succeed,” he said. “That was so important for me.” his job, and one that he sincerely enjoys. He especially likes When not working, Sgt. Davis enjoys time spent with his organizing workshops and camps for young children, he wife and daughter, Kalin, and sharing the great outdoors said, teaching them to respect and protect the outdoors. with them. He is still an avid football fan, especially when Looking back on his days at VHCC, Sgt. Davis said he is Virginia Tech or the Pittsburgh Steelers are playing. And, he grateful for the guidance he received from faculty members said, he has taken friends and relatives elk hunting out west, and the strong educational foundation that allowed him to savoring the opportunity to spend time together in nature. continue his education and advance in his career. “I always knew this was what I wanted to do and “Mr. (Van) Keyser showed such patience with me in education was the key,” he said. “The more education you public speaking,” he said. “I was a young, country boy have, the more opportunities you have. I tell kids that all the growing up and to get up in front of someone and speak time and it really is true.” was very difficult for me. But he would make a joke and even Upcoming Events

VHCC Graduation Celebration Members 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.

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 VHCC Night at the Saltville Wave Pool to make sure you know about them. If you have a Throw on your flip flops and head to Saltville on Friday, June 21, from great idea or want to volunteer to help organize an 6:30-8:30 p.m., for an evening of fun at the Hardy Roberts Memorial event, tell us what you have in mind. Volunteers are Wave Pool. Named for the first man from Saltville, Virginia, to be in always needed. 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 Perhaps you’re more interested in making a for family fun and an alumni party! The entire pool will be reserved presentation to our students? The VHCC Career for VHCC alumni, family and friends, and we’ll provide hotdogs, soft Development Center offers lots of opportunities for drinks and door prizes. 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 VHCC Night with the Bristol White Sox an internship opportunity to a promising student Enjoy an evening of minor league baseball fun as the Bristol White interested in gaining experience. We can make that Sox take on the Elizabethton Twins at Boyce Cox Field, 1501 Euclid happen. Avenue, on Thursday, July 18. VHCC Alumni and their families will be admitted free and receive coupons for the concession stand. VHCC Of course, VHCC also has a dozens of boards and door prizes will be awarded and the first pitch will be thrown out by committees that need the expertise of community campus representative! Game time TBA. members, too. If you would like to serve, let us know what interests you. Hot Shot Competition Plans are currently being made for a Hot Shot competition in the Thanks for your interest! Be sure to update the alumni directory at www.vhcc.edu/alumnidirectory fall that will test the shooting prowess of law enforcement officers or contact Anne Dunham, coordinator of Alumni throughout the region, and a special award will be given to the VHCC Development, at 276-739-2456 or adunham@vhcc. Alumni Hot Shot. Please contact the VHCC Alumni Office at 276-739- edu for additional information. 2456 or email [email protected] 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.