Tag: Commencement

Giants Right In Front of You

Giants Right In Front of You

On May 6, and the weeks leading up to that date, we celebrated the Class of 2023.

There was a flurry of events and convocations.

The tears (of joy, of pride, and of knowing we would miss people) were flowing.

In the fall of 2019, this group of students was in my First Year Seminar.

It was about DreamersAndGiants – WVWC History.

  • We studied the earlier giants (people like Roy McCuskey, David Reemsnyder, Cebe Ross, Hank Ellis, Edna Jenkins, Agnes Howard, and many more).
  • We studied all of the buildings and historic places on campus (for instance, the Atkinson Gate where they are standing in this photo).

They were all Dreamers.

Some of them did not persist, and did not graduate.

Many of them not only persisted, but became Giants on campus in their own right. No doubt they will make their marks on the world, in their communities, and on their families.

That fall, I told them a couple of other things.

  1. These four years are going to fly by in the blink of an eye. (Yes, those same eyes they rolled at me when I said it. And, yes, last weekend they agreed that this had been true).
  2. Keep an eye out all around you. There are Giants here now! (This was also proven to be true all throughout their time at WVWC – and on full display during Commencement).

When asked about who has made an impact on them in the last four years, the names that came up definitely belong to some Giants. Among those names: Debra Murphy, Alisa Lively, Joanna Webb, Carol Bowman, Tamara Bailey, Greg Popovich, and various people at Aladdin who gave them attention and advice of various kinds.They also mentioned some of their peers who have risen to leadership positions and active in all aspects of WVWC life.

These two ladies, both from the Class of 1979, played a central role in the celebrations.

These ladies are both Giants. Be sure to click on their names and see how incredible they are.

Angela Gay Kinkead spoke at Baccalaureate, and was honored with the title of Dean of the Chapel, Emerita. She is the first woman to be so honored. And she is incredibly deserving of this honor.

Caroline Rapking gave the Commencement Address. She is the first woman to ever serve as Chair of the Board of Trustees. Her term in this important role took place during one of the most difficult times in school history.

Each of them have been amazing throughout their careers.

Each of them represents what WVWC is all about.

President James Moore and Dean Lynn Linder are a couple of these Giants. 

They are bringing new energy and powerful plans to WVWC.

Each of them has been here for many years as faculty members, and they know the strengths and values of the college. Although they are just getting started in their new roles, they have already put plans into motion for new programs which match the mission of the college. They are committed to the success of WVWC and of her students.

Each of them is a Giant already.

It is something for each of us to watch for. 

  • Be sure to know about and appreciate Giants from the past.
  • Don’t miss the Giants right in front of you!

Virtual

Virtual

Our lives have been transformed lately.

Things that we have done for years, and taken for granted, are now being done differently.

We connect with family and friends differently.

We learn, worship, celebrate, consume entertainment, and explore the world differently.

The word Virtual is defined as being almost or nearly as described, or almost a particular thing or quality. Oxford describes the origins as in the graphic below.

In many cases, the nature of what we are trying to achieve does not change: teach, learn, celebrate, support, enjoy, explore and so on. It may not be exactly the same. In some cases it is close, nearly, or almost. In some cases it misses the mark completely. In some cases it is just different — maybe even better!

Usage of the word has increased greatly in recent years, and my guess is that this has been especially true in the past few months. It seems that right now all of life has been impacted by the word Virtual.

Virtual Commencement

This past Saturday was a historic day at WVWC. The first ever Virtual Commencement happened. It was obvious that doing things as they are usually done was not possible. Travel was not possible for families, and groups over 25 people were not permitted as per orders from the governor. 

With creativity, interaction, and keeping the goals of celebration and interactivity in mind, I think that this virtual effort was successful. Parts of it were really nice! The nature of the college and the celebration of the graduates were captured very well. There were no limits on tickets, no hard bleachers for families to sit on for hours, and it is all available to watch again if you’d like! Later in the day, graduates were sharing the link and other photos from the event with family and friends. The celebration that was happening in all of the comments were not Virtual. They were very real! 

Click here to watch the recording.

It was almost as described. The essence of the celebration was strong. While not what most graduates and their families had envisioned, it did a great job of including participation and celebrating relationships. Students were invited to submit photos from their college years. Many submitted photos with friends, faculty, groups, teams, or activities that had been especially meaningful to them. Some chose not to submit photos, and that was ok too. Various campus folks included short video congratulations.

The ceremony ended, as it does in person, with the singing of My Home Among the Hills. But this time, the choir members sang it together while apart. The tears that came to my eyes were not virtual. My eyes were a bit moist.  Click here to watch it — over and over again if you’d like!

 

A May to Remember

What a week that must have been!

Baccalaureate, Commencement, Dedications, Banquets, Receptions, Reunions, Trustee and Alumni Council Meetings and more. Kind of like Homecoming, Commencement, and Annual Conference all rolled together. But, then, all of these things were very interconnected. Many of the same people were involved, so it must have sounded like a great idea to do it in this way.

Each of these events had one or more Bishops in attendance, and each of these Bishops were world leaders.

  • May 26, 1953 was the 63rd Annual Commencement – with Bishop Corson as the main speaker.
  • May 27, 1953 was the dedication of the Annie Merner Pfeiffer Library – which included Bishops Corson, Straughn, and Wicke.
  • May 27-31, 1953 the West Virginia Annual Conference of the Methodist Church met on campus.  – Bishop Wicke presiding
  • May 28, 1953 was the dedication of the Methodist Union Plaque in the Annie Merner Pfeiffer Library  -Bishop Straughn speaking. Read more about this here.

Library Dedication

Since this event happened exactly 66 years today,  and since it included all three of these bishops, I would like to highlight this great event out of all of the others that happened that weekend. And to top it off, there is a major remodeling of the building happening right now that will honor all of these things into our future. I think they would be pleased!

We have priceless recording (32:21) of this event. Click on the link below  to listen to it. It is well worth downloading and listening. Dedication of Annie Merner Pfeiffer Library

It is worth the half an hour or so because not only will you hear the actual voices of these great men, you will even hear a very familiar train whistle making several appearances! It sounds just exactly the same…close your eyes and you can be transported to 1953.

I have transcribed the prayer from that recording, and have included a transcript of the Dedicatory Address by Bishop Corson. The litany and full program can be found here.

Bishop Straughn gave the opening prayer:

Straughn, Bishop James H. 1947Let us unite in prayer.

In this moment, our Father, of dedication of brick and mortar – of stone and wood and iron and steel – we dedicate more than a structure or a building in which certain things may be learned and discovered.

We are building into ideas. We are searching after truth. We are trying to discover the ways of life for the world that is, the directions for the world to be.

And here we shall discover much. Much that godly men and women have put down in books and on paper telling us what they have discovered and what they have found. What they know about Thee. What Thou hast told them.

We are seeking after eternal truth leading unto eternal life.

Here, perhaps, we shall find the way from having discovered the way of life through the mind as well as through the heart. We shall pursue after the things which we may have discovered, and shall not lose the way in our pilgrimage through this world.

And yet, we know there is so much that has not yet been put down. Yet waiting to be told to us. Waiting for minds and hearts receptive under Thy leading and direction. Minds and wills and hearts that shall become obedient, and a new truth that Thou shalt speak unto them who are the youth of this day – and the rest of us who still want to know.

And, believing that there is so much yet to be known. So much yet to be  found out, but each for himself. Remembering as we do what one of Thy blessed disciples put down in the good book, that there were so many other things that Jesus did which are NOT written in the book, but which if they had been recorded and told that not even the world itself should be able to hold the books in which those things might be written.

Help us, then, that on the basis of what we know, that we may face up to the things that we do not know and are yet to discover. Grateful for leading and for guidance.

So we bless the day when a dear woman looked this way and sent to this blessed institution something of the gains of life that could be put into structure and form, and to make these things possible. God bless her memory unto us this day, and may the fine sweet spirit of that dear woman be maintained alive and alert on this campus for the guidance and inspiration of the boys and girls who here may be seeking the way of truth and the light.

Bless us, then, this afternoon. We give Thee our praise and we give Thee our thanks. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Library Purpose from Bishop Corson's Address

Corson, Bishop Fred Pierce
Bishop Fred Pierce Corson

Click here for a full transcript of this wonderful Dedicatory Address.

The Annie Merner Pfeiffer Library is still actively fulfilling the purposes that he mentioned 66 years ago.

Those with inquiring, developing, responsible, and open minds still use the collections – although they are now in many formats not dreamed of in 1953. They still use the place to contemplate and discuss ideas, and learn to use those open minds to go out and create a better world.

Yes, May 1953 was certainly a May to remember.

Mountain Mamas

This weekend we celebrated Mother’s Day, and it got me to thinking about mothers past, present, and future. These women have been our supporters, encouragers, teachers, and protectors. They are those who have fed and nourished us.

 

Many think of birth mothers when they think of Mother’s Day. Or perhaps an adoptive mother, grandmother, or other primary person in our early life.

These are the people who walk the floor with us at night when we have an ear infection or are teething. They lose a lot of sleep over us.

They feed us and take care of all of our basic physical needs.

They read us stories and help us to learn how to interpret the world.

They go to a lot of concerts, plays, and sporting events to cheer us on.

They teach us how to do life. They do life with us.

These are the people who launch a child into the world.

When we go off to college these people are sometimes afraid. They wory that their child may not be safe. They worry that they will not be needed or will be forgotten. They often have tears in their eyes as they leave their child at college. They will miss them.

No need to worry, though. They are just beginning a new type of relationship. They will just be watching the progress from a new vantage point.

There will still be supporters, encouragers, protectors, teachers, and those who will nurture their child. A new set of mother-type figures enter the picture — not as replacements, but as reinforcements.

From the dorm to the classroom to the library to the cafeteria to the chapel, and even up and down the sidewalks of Wesleyan, they are there. They will teach and guide and encourage and sometimes chide.  They will feed them.

After four years or so, these people will also feel the sting of tears as they launch the student out into the world beyond college. They will miss them.

Mother Figures During the Early Years at WVWC

In the early years, there were house mothers and dorm mothers. These were very strict people who had curfews. One such person was Rachel Ogden. 

She taught Modern Languages from 1926-47, but also served as the Dean of Women from 1926-32. Any girl who was in need of guidance or discipline found herself having a serious conversation with Dean Ogden.

Ogden, Rachel C. 1927

Another great example is Miss Nellie G. Wilson. Miss Wilson also held the title of Dean of  Women, and taught Religious Education. She served as a house mother for many years – many of them in Agnes Howard Hall. Although a strict disciplinarian, she was beloved by many.

Photo by Howard Hiner

The 1964 Murmurmontis was dedicated in her honor, and the lounge in Benedum Hall is named for her as well. During the Spring 2019 semester, this space was used as a temporary library study space during the remodeling of the Annie Merner Pfeiffer Library. Her portrait hung over the printer, and I had the feeling that she was keeping a watchful eye on the current students.

Mother Figures in Present and Recent Times

There are way too many to name. The Campus Life Office is full of them, the Library is full of them, the Student Success Center is full of them, the Learning Center is full of them. Classrooms all over campus are full of them.

People like Alisa Lively, Katie Loudin, Jessica Vincent, Julie Keehner, Shauna Jones, Lauren Weaver, Tamara Bailey, Cindy Roby, Devon McNamara, Jill Okes, and Carol Bowman.

They feed students and take care of all of their basic physical needs. (I once personally saw one of these people go out and help to find a specific color shirt because she knew that a student needed it for a choir performance).

They read stories (and assign them to be read) and help students learn how to interpret the world. They challenge the students and provide resources and support to help them succeed.

They go to a lot of concerts, plays, and sporting events to cheer “their” kids on.

They teach students how to do life. They do life with them.

They are good listeners, they have shoulders to cry on and huge smiles for celebrating.

These are also people who launch a student into the world. And, when they go, they will miss them. They find themselves watching progress and accomplishments from a new vantage point.

Funny thing….often the parents and the students and these WVWC mother figures find themselves celebrating together and staying in touch for years to come.

Alma Mater of the Mountains

We consider the school where we graduate to be our Alma Mater – we even sing about it at times like Founders Day or Commencement. Our Alma Mater was written more than 100 years ago by President Wallace B. Fleming.  We generally sing only the first verse. My personal favorite is actually verse 2!!

The term Alma Mater is Latin for Nourishing Mother.  So, it turns out that it is also a Mother’s Day song!  Try substituting “Nourishing Mother” for the words “Alma Mater” — it works great for a Mother’s Day tribute.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the Mothers and the Mother-Figures. Those early in life and those who help nourish students while they are at WVWC.

 

 

Hymn of Promise and Launching Graduates

We tend to think things have always been the way we have experienced them. Or, that they will always be the way they are now.  They haven’t and they won’t.

The students who graduated this Saturday will always have a particular image of West Virginia Wesleyan College in their minds. The Chapel Bells ringing from Wesley Chapel, the fountain cheerfully spraying orange water into the sky, the faces of those that they know, and have come to love, will be of particular people.

This, however, was the 127th Commencement at the college. Faces have changed. Buildings have changed. There were no Chapel Bells…..and no Wesley Chapel in years gone by. Commencement didn’t always happen in the John D. Rockefeller, IV Physical Education Building! Students who came here with dreams have gone out and fulfilled them, and done even more than they could have imagined. The 2018 graduates will do the same.

1968
2018

Natalie Sleeth, wife of Ronald E. Sleeth (the 13th President of West Virginia Wesleyan College) captured this idea beautifully. [Be sure to click on their names to discover more about these amazing people].

Her Hymn of Promise is one of the most beloved hymns of the 20th Century, and was written in 1985. It is often sung at funerals. In fact, Ronald requested that it be included in his own funeral a month after it was first performed. However, I think it is just as perfect and relevant for Commencements! It is universal. Each graduate has grown and matured. They are ready to launch into their future — something God alone can see.

To explore more about West Virginia Wesleyan College history, check out https://DreamersAndGiants.com