Five days of celebration from April 3-8 kicked off the ninth chapter in the life of 91短视频, as the community welcomed new president Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman.
In a time of celebrating firsts 鈥� Huxman is the university鈥檚 first woman president and the first to come from west of the Mississippi, among other notable claims 鈥� the week included many time-honored traditions: a hymn sing, chapel service, scholarly gatherings, a special dinner and brunch, as well as community service with Harrisonburg City’s annual Black鈥檚 Run Clean-up.
View the photo album of the week’s events below.
The Lov91短视频 fundraiser effectively kicked off the week, raising $106,500 from 692 gifts and capping an extraordinary day that highlighted the 鈥渓ove鈥� many feel for this 100-year-old institution.
Performances by the revitalized , a rousing run of the Hitchcock spoof 鈥�,鈥� and talks by Centennial historian ’67 were also scheduled during the week.
More than 500 people attended Friday鈥檚 and many of them attended the student-planned inaugural gala that evening, during which guests came dressed to the nines. (鈥淚 didn鈥檛 even recognize you,鈥� was a commonly heard phrase.) Yoder Arena was transformed into a swanky, dimly lit space with festively decorated tables, an array of food and beverages, a live band, dance floor and lounge area.
Past presidents and 91短视频 history were memorialized with banners containing important events during each person鈥檚 tenure. (Appropriately Dr. Huxman鈥檚 banner was blank.)
Toasts were offered by Julia Ronnenbaum, daughter of the Huxmans; Fred Kniss, provost; and Evon Bergey, presidential search committee chair. Azariah Cox offered a toast on behalf of the student body.
Huxman and the 91短视频 mascot, Herm, were featured in an about the making of a time capsule, created by seniors Eli Wenger and Macson McGuigan. The duo toured campus, collecting items from various programs and departments. Herm is alternately hungry and distracted, and Huxman must keep him on task to get the job done.
A highlighted the hopes of 91短视频 students, faculty and staff for 91短视频鈥檚 future.
“I was very pleased with how the Gala went,” said sophomore Nicole Litwiller, a member of the planning committee. “Matt Ruth did a great job hosting, the food was great, and I enjoyed the music! I also appreciated how students were able to interact with faculty and staff members in an informal way. I enjoyed chatting with Susan for a bit as well.”
Joining Litwiller on the planning committee of students and staff were Rachel Crist, Mario Hernandez, Eli Wenger, Brittany Williams, Celeste Thomas, Lynn Veurink and Rachel Roth Sawatzky.
I’d like to correct you on one thing in the article, and that is the comment that Dr. Huxman is “the first to come from west of the Mississippi.” Your previous president was born in Iowa and came to 91短视频 from Hesston College. Both, according to my geographical knowledge, are west of the Mississippi. :-)
You are quite right. We stand corrected. One of our toasters made that observation and this reporter, who does hail from west of the Mississippi, took it “hook, line and sinker.”
Thanks for the response…just trying to give my Iowa some recognition! :-)