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27 Jul 2010 12:39
Good Monday Evening:
From soulful Blues to lilting Irish: that’s the mood change of the campus in the past twenty-four hours. With attendance up at Augusta, even more folks and their Celtic tunes are once again helping transform the campus into Brigadoon.
Joni (and Holly) and I just returned from a lovely summer evening walk and drive through the campus, and though we didn’t encounter any leprechauns, many folks were starting to gather in little spontaneous jam sessions at various corners of the campus. And Chris and Scott, who oversee The Icehouse, were getting set up for what promises to be a lively evening.
Speaking of music, don’t miss the chance for not one but two Irish Music Concerts at 8:00 on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. We are privileged to have such talent from both sides of the Atlantic right here in our midst.
And speaking of talent, we welcomed two persons of unusual skill and experience to our college family in recent days: Kimberly Stiles, new head Softball Coach, and Aron Bassoff, head Men’s Soccer Coach. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Kimberly had a distinguished academic as well as athletic record. Aron likewise comes to us with a strong academic and teaching orientation as well as winning as a coach.
We were looking for coaches who will serve as role models for our students, both on and off the playing field. We believe we found just such persons in Kimberly and Aron.
Now, for a piece of added good news that will be with us at least through 2013: We have been invited to host the Governor’s School for the Arts (GSA) for the next three summers. This three-week program for 100 of the finest artistic talent in West Virginia will begin next July 3. The first week will coincide with local events commemorating the First Campaign of the Civil War which happened in the Tygart Valley. The second and third weeks will overlap with Augusta, which next year will start with Bluegrass Week.
The GSA focuses on seven disciplines: acting, creative writing, dance, digital media, instrumental music, visual arts, and vocal music. It’s an intense 21-day immersion into the creative life. We are honored to be the first private college or university to be chosen to host the GSA. Many thanks for the preparation and enthusiasm of all who had a hand in making it happen.Finally, our website address will be changing to dewv, which means we each need to change our email address as well. Please remember also to update your address book.
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21 Jul 2010 20:00
Good Monday Evening;
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20 Jul 2010 11:25
Good Monday Evening
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Our hills are once again “alive with music” Sitting here with the window open on a delightful summer evening - after a perfectly beautiful, lightly breezed day – the sounds of Augusta’s Blues and Swing week have replaced last week's Cajun combos. What a great time to be in Elkins!
All the while, as one person wrote me this morning, “the pace of improvements to buildings and grounds is staggering—continuing work on International and Presidential Halls, Hermanson Center, Memorial Gym, tree trimming, sidewalk repairs, etc., etc.”
Soon Halliehurst will get a new bonnet (roof) and work on the new Myles Gate at the front corner of the campus will begin, Then, as soon as Augusta concludes, paving and repairs to roadways will be squeezed in before the students arrive. Meantime, new mattresses were placed in Booth and Gribble Halls in time for Augusta. International and Presidential will follow before August 15.
The Executive Board of the National Alumni Council gathered on campus over the weekend. Alumni traveled from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Minnesota, Virginia and North Carolina as well as West Virginia to explore how the NAC can best support our mission. They toured campus to witness improvements, and received a progress report on the 10-year Accreditation Self-Study from Associate Provost Joe Roidt. They pledged their support of our goal to increase alumni engagement and support, particularly with regard to the Career Management Center and The D&E Fund.
The relationship with alumni of course is one of the deep and abiding virtues of any college or university, especially a small college. For us, it is the heart of what connects us to our storied past and gives hope to the possibilities that lie ahead. It is, in the phrase of poet Richard Wilbur, affirmation of life’s ‘second findings’ that often draw us on to the higher ground of understanding and appreciation, the repossession of what we may have known in an earlier day.
Of course, for those of us privileged to live and work here every day, there’s the risk we may take it all for granted, and lose the wonder of being in and serving such a magical place. Perhaps these final weeks of summer can be a time of renewal for us as well, leading us too on to new beginnings as well as ‘second findings.'
Create a wonderful week.
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06 Jul 2010 13:50
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05 Jul 2010 13:16
Today of course is a holiday. But it's also Monday, and I don't want to miss being in touch, hoping you too are delighting in time with family and friends. As well as reflecting on the privilege we have to be free citizens in a free land.
This will be brief since I'm writing on the BlackBerry before returning to Elkins from Seattle where Joni and I are spending the weekend with daughter Sherry and her family following two granddaughter graduations in Oregon.
Even while many of us take a brief break, the progress on campus moves forward. Memorial Gymnasium is brighter than ever with its newly-painted white ceiling. And will be even brighter after new lighting and windows are installed in the weeks ahead. We are especially grateful to those who are making possible conversion of the nearly 60-year old gym into a gleaming indoor Field House to better serve the campus and community.
Thanks for the many positive comments on the attractive new parking signs. Please be sure to stop by the Student Life office to get your new hang tag. With the beginning of our Augusta Heritage Center Summer Program on Sunday - followed immediately in August by the arrival and return of even more students - the new parking designations are here just in time
The beginning of July of course marks also the beginning of a new fiscal year. Thanks largely to everyone's careful control of costs, increased enrollment and the generous outpouring of gifts - including an unexpected anonymous gift of $300,000 last week - we once again were able to finish the year in the black, reduce long-term debt and not draw on the Line of Credit to meet summer cash needs. The march toward fiscal stability continues.
I mentioned earlier to be sure and mark your calendar for Sunday, August 29, for "An Evening with Jack Gibbons", the famed British pianist who will be joining us as Artist-in-Residence beginning with the new academic year. The next day - August 30 - also marks conclusion of the Buffett Challenge. We received word this week that Doris Buffett will join us for the weekend (along with the entering students on Saturday and returning students on Sunday) and for the Sunday evening concert. This promises to be a high moment in the life of the College. You'll want to be there for sure!
Have a safe holiday. And create a wonderful week.
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28 Jun 2010 23:08
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25 Jun 2010 21:30
The Monday Letter from President Buck Smith
Good Monday Morning:
Welcome to the first day of summer, celebrated by the Summer Solstice for those of us here in the Northern Hemisphere. Derived from two Latin words - Sol+stice, meaning “sun” + “to stand still” - the sun seemed indeed to “stand still” at 7:28 EDT this morning. After the six-month climb, the days now begin to get shorter. Meantime, we can enjoy this absolutely beautiful, longest day of the year.
That’s good, because we’ve much to do today. And everyday. The day began with Ron, Steve and Kevin marking locations for the new Parking signs that will be installed this week. Please review Scott’s email of Friday afternoon for new parking area designations. These become effective next Thursday, July 1. Meantime, please also stop by the Student Life Office to pick up your new hang tag. Once again the tags will be issued to the individual, not the vehicle. Local artist, Brad Basil is currently drafting a new campus Parking Map.
It was a busy weekend on campus, marked notably by the hatching of 8 new ducklings at “Lake Tolstead” next to Eshleman Science Center. Many thanks to Professor Sharmi Roy for the alert.
Also on the weekend, we were joined by 20 high school teachers from across the State who were here for orientation before traveling to India in July. The program is organized and led by Dr. Chandana Chakrabarti and sponsored by the WV Humanities Council.
Many thanks to all who helped with Saturday’s new student registration. And thanks too to those who will be on deck to help with the Admission Open House this Saturday.
Appreciated your several responses to the issue of smoking on campus. We'll move initially to offering special outdoor Designated Smoking Areas, which will be posted shortly. Ultimately I expect we will become a smoke-free/tobacco-free campus.
Term B of the Summer Session begins today. And this morning, 96 kids showed up for this week’s Senator Basketball Camp. Thanks to Coaches Bruce Martin and Cameron Westbrook, aided by new Elkins High School coach Roy Simms and members of our own basketball teams. This is just the sort of service we want to extend to the larger community.
You won’t want to miss the week-long Timberflute Festival at the Randolph County Community Arts Center. This is West Virginia’s first and only festival celebrating the wooden flute and one of just a few such festivals nationwide. Please check the RCCAC website for the schedule of events (www.randolpharts.org).
Many thanks to all who have and are helping with the Buffett Challenge. As announced on Friday, we’ve passed the goal with this further word from Doris Buffett:"keep on collecting your pledges and any money beyond the $300,000. We'll settle up on August 30!". This amazing effort enables even more Highlands Scholars to join us this fall. That’s what your generosity is helping make possible. Thank you.
Create a wonderful week.
G.T. "Buck" Smith, President
Davis & Elkins College
buck@dewv.edu or 304-830-3900
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10 Jun 2010 15:41
On Friday, June 11 at approximately 11:00 a.m., Dogwood Tree Service will be removing a rather large tree beside Campus Drive across from Jennings Randolph Hall. This tree is dead and is located just down the hill from the Icehouse. The removal of the tree will require the main campus roadway to be blocked for several hours.
This removal will also require that no one park in the small parking lot at Halliehurst on the Jennings Randolph end. There will be a blockade set up at the bottom of the hill just above the Memorial Gym parking lot. Due to the fact that there is little or no traffic on campus right now, folks who normally park at Liberal Arts and Albert Hall parking areas should continue to use those areas and use that section of campus as two way traffic during the time of this work. Please use caution in this area and please be careful in the two way traffic area. Use the Graceland entrance if you need to go to the top of the hill or other areas on campus.
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02 Jun 2010 11:46
We were blessed with a beautiful Memorial Day Weekend. Somber reflections, of course. But brightened by the warming sun. Now it’s back to a full week – with only 4 days!
With Summer School classes into their second week, facility improvements in high student-impact areas are evident everywhere:
- Restoration of International Residence Hall continues with new floor tile, painting throughout, new mattresses, curtains. Bathroom updates have been going on all year, are now complete.
- After International, the same for Presidential.
- Memorial Gym ceiling gets painted starting Tuesday, followed by new lighting and windows, and floor repair and refinishing.
- Color-coded parking signs will soon begin appearing throughout campus.
- Campus Drive and all parking lots will be restriped.
- Refurbished and newly carpeted and furnished classrooms in Liberal Arts Hall are nearly finished (Thanks to Bill Robbins and Debbie Madden).
- Two new classrooms with Smart Boards on second floor of Hermanson Center (site of former Iron Horse Fitness Center) will soon be completed.
- Benedum Dining Room getting new, insulated windows at each end. And other food station decorating improvements.
- Registrar’s Office in Liberal Arts is getting a facelift.
- Summer flowers being planted in key areas.
Admission counselors are scattered in three states presenting over-sized scholarship checks at high school Awards Ceremonies to seniors coming to D&E. Close by, the number of Highlands Scholars already is more than double the number on this same date last year (107 vs. 50). Most notably: two years ago, only 3 students came here from Elkins High School. Already this year: 36!
Dr. Greg Myers returned home to Annapolis on Thursday with our thanks for giving us a full year out of his retirement. Ronnie Palmer joins Bruce Martin and Mary Ann DeLuca as Assistant A/D, with Kevin Wilson now giving direct oversight to athletics.
Welcome to Brandon Sturdivant who began his duties in Campus Safety and Security over the weekend. He replaces Daniel Simmons who heads for final training before re-deployment to Iraq. Many thanks Dan for your services to the campus – and our nation.
Members of the Board of Trustees arrive on Thursday for meetings on Friday and Saturday. Primary focus of discussions will be on the future, and how we go to meet it.
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25 May 2010 14:38
Good Monday Evening:
Joni and I are just back from a trip to Richmond for the inaugural gathering of the D&E Virginia Alumni Chapter yesterday afternoon at Maggiano's Little Italy Restaurant. 43 wonderful people drove from a few blocks away to as many as 200 miles one-way to be there. A truly beautiful occasion, orchestrated flawlessly by Flint and Catherine Garnett Engleman '90 & '92 and Debbie Payne Fragale '81.
On the 5-hour drive back this evening, I was working on items for this week's 'Monday Letter'. But when I booted up the laptop a few minutes ago, a friend had sent me the posting on Doris Buffett's website from 10 days ago. What I had in mind can wait till next week. What Doris had to say is so much better than anything I might write. So here it is for your own reading delight.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Buffett: ‘Pay It Forward’
Making a significant monetary commitment doesn’t always happen without expecting a return on the investment. Philanthropist Doris Buffett is no different, but she doesn’t want dollars and cents, instead she wants people to obtain an education to help them succeed and eventually “pay it forward.”
Buffett, founder of The Sunshine Lady Foundation, arrived in Elkins at the end of January to see the recently renovated Elkins Middle School furnished with new desks, chairs and lockers, which she purchased. As part of her visit she met with Davis & Elkins College President G.T. “Buck” Smith and found out what was happening at the school, and learned about its Highland Scholar program.
After thinking about the scholarship program that enables students from local counties to attend D&E for approximately the same cost as a large state institution, Buffett decided to issue a challenge. She agreed to match up to $300,000 D&E raises to fund the Highland Scholars program through her charitable foundation.
The Sunshine Lady Foundation Vice President Diane Grimsley recalled that she asked Smith how long D&E would need to reach the $300,000 goal. Grimsley said because it’s not unusual for schools to ask for a year or more and she was taken aback when Smith said the goal could be met by the end of August. The lofty goal was set in early March.
With more than one-third of the $300,000 secured with nearly four months before the Aug. 30 deadline, Buffett says she has “no doubt” the college will meet its goal thanks in part to the “brilliant” grassroots campaign.
On Tuesday, Buffett returned to Elkins to visit the college and show her gratitude for the hospitality she received earlier in the year. She arranged for world-renowned Gershwin pianist Jack Gibbons to perform a series of free concerts, which culminates with the public performance at 7:30 p.m. today in Harper-McNeeley Auditorium. The concert is free, however, donations that will be used to meet the $300,000 challenge will be accepted.
A luncheon Thursday at Graceland Inn provided the first opportunity for Buffett to meet some of the Highland Scholars and she learned exactly why they chose D&E and what they wanted to do with their lives.
“You have to be educated,” Buffett said. “I think that’s the best investment I can make.”
Alex Taylor, a 2009 graduate of Tygart Valley High School, explained that the Highland Scholar program made it possible for him to attend a small school with “wonderful” professors in his home county. As a business management and marketing major, Taylor said he plans to attend law school and return to the area to work or run his own business.
Freshman art and history major Chelsi Primavero of Parsons said the Highland Scholar program made it possible for her to attend college and come out of her “shell.” By living on campus and becoming involved in the community, Primavero has been meeting others and growing as a person, she explained.
Buffett said philanthropy works best when everyone becomes involved. With the monetary support of Buffett, those in the community and alumni and friends of D&E from around the world, college-bound high school seniors will gain the most and eventually return the favor by also giving back.
Buffett said D&E had “everything in place” to pique interest from The Sunshine Lady Foundation. At a small college in a small town, students do not fall prey to temptations of what can happen in large cities or at large universities, Buffett added.
Fond memories of small towns, the sense of community one can feel in such a setting and D&E are what led Buffett back into West Virginia. Buffett said she hasn’t encountered another small community that “comes near” to what D&E is accomplishing.
“I fell in love with the college; and what they’re doing here is a terrific success,” she commented. “I just wanted to be a part of it. This is just a prize place.”
Gibbons also said he had enjoyed his stay in town and Wednesday evening’s master class with local pianists. He added that their skills, especially those of the high school students, were impressive.
Today’s concert isn’t an opportunity that typically occurs outside of major cities, such as New York or London, Grimsley explained. As Gibbons’ fingers glide across the keys during the concert, he said he hopes to inspire those who are interested in music to challenge themselves and work toward their goals.
“I hope people have a good time and learn a little more about music,” he added. “The more you know about it, the more you enjoy it.”
Famous performance halls across the globe and now Harper-McNeeley Auditorium have hosted Gibbons, but he’s also scheduled to play at Sing Sing Prison, an arrangement by Buffett as part of her philanthropy work. Because education is so important to Buffett and her foundation, she helps educate prisoners and victims of domestic violence in addition to youth.
During lunch, she explained to the Highland Scholars that one woman she helped is financially unable to donate money; however, the woman collected and donated shoes to the people of Haiti to pay forward the assistance.
“True philanthropy is loving your mankind,” Buffett said.
According to Buffett, this week’s trip to Elkins won’t be her last. Although Buffett was mum on details, she said she and Gibbons have something else in the works for D&E. And when the college reaches its $300,000 goal, Buffet says she plans to make a return visit.
“You couldn’t keep us away,” she said.
Create a wonderful week.
posted 5/24/10 by Carol Schuler.
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