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TIDINGS: THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF SOUTHERN VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY -- A REVIEW OF FALL SEMESTER 2005 |
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HONORING LEADER-SERVANTS Southern Virginia honored leader-servants Chieko Okazaki, and Glade & Kathleen Knight at special presentations this fall.
Chieko Okazaki In October, Southern Virginia University welcomed visiting members of the school's National Advisory Council and Board of Trustees. The biannual meetings for both organizations were scheduled to coincide with the 2005 Homecoming celebration. The meetings progressed with business as usual, until the conference's concluding dinner, which unexpectedly became the perfect setting for a special program honoring, and surprising, board member Chieko Okazaki. Sister Okazaki was named a recipient of SVU's Leader-Servant award in the fall of 2004 when she spoke at a university forum; but she was not recognized with a formal award presentation until this October. In addition to remarks from SVU administrators, the presentation consisted of special tributes, prepared ahead of time and read aloud by members of SVU's National Advisory Council. The first tribute was written by Sister Okazaki's son Bob, recounting her love and service as a leader-servant in their home. The second tribute was from Elaine Jack, former President of the General Relief Society. Her comments focused on Sister Okazaki's example in the Church and the community. Sister Jack's tribute was followed by one from Aileen Clyde, former Counselor of the General Relief Society, speaking about Sister Okazaki's service in the workplace and to the world. Chairman of SVU's Board of Trustees, Glade Knight, and his wife Kathleen, were also named leader-servants in fall of 2004. Like Sister Okazaki, the Knights were formally recognized at a meeting this October. A presentation fireside was hosted by the Chesterfield Stake in Richmond, VA. Those in attendance heard performances by the SVU Chamber Choir, remarks from President Smith, Rod Young -- a member of the Board of Trustees, and the Knights' son Justin. Video tributes were shown, featuring interviews with Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone of the First Quorum of the Seventy and former General Young Women's President Ardeth Kapp. The Knight's son Nelson compiled a special video showing Glade & Kathleen interacting with their family, and words of appreciation and support from the Knight grandchildren. It was a very touching meeting and well deserved by leader-servants such as Glade & Kathleen Knight.
Glade & Kathleen Knight The leader-Servant Award is the highest honor given by Southern Virginia University, to individuals who exemplify compassion, intelligence, and integrity with a history of service to others. SVU students are encouraged to pattern themselves and their lives after these wonderful people. LEARNING THAT LIFE IS SERVICE Students brought the school's motto to life as they gave of their time and hearts serving the community. Students had their hands full performing and organizing service projects for the community. SVU's Knights have gained a reputation in the community for their honest hard work and generous, happy spirits.
Members of SVU's Equestrian Club spent one morning cleaning saddles and tack for horse owners in Rockbridge County. The group on campus with the most volunteer hours (340 total during the semester) is the Equestrian Club, initiated and run by junior Brian Groves (seen in above photo: top left corner). Club members dedicate their biweekly activities to caring for horses in the local area. This work typically includes cleaning stables, brushing the animals, and maintaining their health. In exchange for their services, students are occasionally permitted by the owners to ride the horses. The Equestrian Club spends time working with Hoofbeats, an organization that uses horseback riding as a social therapy for the mentally and physically handicapped. They also volunteer on a regular basis at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, one of the largest equestrian centers in the U.S. Club members recently assisted in a national horse show at the center, where they solicited the help of their fellow Knights to make a lasting impression on those in attendance. SVU's Men's Lacrosse Team answered the call and aided by repairing and monitoring jumps in the dressage stadium. It was a great opportunity for the two groups to mingle and for the community to see such support from Southern Virginia University. In September, students pooled their limited resources to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. They organized many different activities to raise money to donate to the LDS Church's Humanitarian Aid program and the American Red Cross. Students dedicated one day to a special fast; the administration then used the allotted money from participants' meal plans to make the donation. The Student Association held a special dance with ticket money being contributed to the cause. A hair-cutting activity was set up outside of the men's dorms to also raise money. In addition, students held a blood drive with the Red Cross to help the hurricane victims. In addition to these specified arenas, the university also participated in more traditional and typical projects. In October, students and staff worked at the Washington, D.C. Temple grounds and prepared flower beds for the winter months. In December, members of SVU's Wrestling Team were celebrities at a retirement home in Lexington where they spent an afternoon moving around heavy furniture for residents. Southern Virginia is proud of its students, staff, and faculty for all the diligence and sacrifice with which they answer calls for help. Their outreach brings the school, the community, and the world closer together.
Left to Right: 1. Wrestling team members Jordan Goodsell, Michael Dunn, and Preston Joyner move furniture for residents at a local retirement home; 2. Lacrosse players Peter Mantell, Jesse Draper, James Hartsohrn, and Able Smith volunteer their manpower at the latest national horse show; 3. Students gave blood to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. FINE ARTS PERFORMANCES The Performing Arts flourished this fall at Southern Virginia. In addition to two plays, The Importance of Being Earnest, and The Tempest, the Theatre Department collaborated with their Music colleagues to produce SVU's first opera -- The Old Maid & The Thief. Choir Concerts, instrumental performances, and a special staged reading of A Christmas Carol helped to fill the semester with culture and enjoyment.
Jeffrey Gasser & Brittany Johnson embrace during a scene from The Importance of Being Earnest
Morgen Reynolds & Diana Lyons perform before an audience in The Tempest Southern Virginia University's first theatre production of the season, The Importance of Being Earnest, opened in late September to a resounding success. This play by Oscar Wilde is beloved for the genuine human emotion depicted amid biting social satire. "It's as fresh today as it was when it written in 1895," said Dr. Paul Edwards, SVU's Executive Vice President & Provost. The play starred freshman Jeffrey Gasser from Winchester, Virginia, who
anchored the cast in the lead role of John Worthing. He was supported by
Adam Flitton (Algernon Moncrieff), Sarah Maxwell (Gwendolen Fairfax),
Brittany Johnson (Cecily Cardew), and Amaree Cluff (Lady Bracknell).
"Earnest has been on my list of plays to produce for some time," said Professor
David Dwyer, the play's director. "I wanted a show that would be challenging
for
our students and have good audience appeal. Earnest was the perfect
fit."
Through their participation in the play, students gained exposure to
several Earnest was followed by Shakespeare's The Tempest, directed by SVU's Special Events Coordinator, Lesley Larsen. Larsen, a Lexington native and graduate of Rockbridge County High School, received her BA in Acting from Brigham Young University and MLIT from Mary Baldwin College in Staunton. Main cast members were Morgen Reynolds, Adjunct Professor of English at SVU, and students Amaree Cluff, Mikaela Shiraki and Elizabeth Bouchelle. Connecting the play to its Elizabethan roots, Larsen produced The Tempest in accordance to "Original Staging Practices" meaning, there was no set, the lighting was universal, and the cast interacted freely with audience members. The experience was both educational and entertaining. Opera deputed at Southern Virginia University with the production of The Old Maid & the Thief by Gian Carlo Menotti. The short opera was first performed in 1939, and is not a typical grandiose tragedy. "It's not too long, it's quite funny, and it's also very poignant," said musical director Dr. Margaret Gingerich. In the story, a spinster is persuaded by her frisky maid to allow a handsome beggar into her home. Both women fall in love with him and resort to increasingly dishonest measures to keep him happy. Their growing jealousy is complicated when they learn that the object of their affections fits the description of a thief who has recently escaped from the county jail.
Cindy Keime watches as Byron Richins & Elizabeth Brady face off in the climactic scene of The Old Maid & The Thief "We're thrilled that SVU has at last been able to introduce opera into its performing curriculum," said Dr. Gingerich, who is a Professor of Voice at the university. "We've staged some very successful opera workshops in the past, but this is our first full-scale production. The students rose to the challenge and did a wonderful job."
Professor of Music, Launa Whitehead, directs the SVU Flute Choir in their Fall Concert Theatre Professor Robert Stoddard said, "This show has been a labor of love, a true collaboration between the Music and Theatre programs." The opera was double cast to preserve the stamina and voices of the performers. Professor Stoddard staged the production, Dr. LaRae Carter served as Assistant Musical Director, and Dr. Mark Taylor directed the SVU Orchestra.
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