Hello!
I hope wherever you live, you and your family are safe and well!
It’s August and so very hot here in Winchester. One of the things I love about the month of August is the beginning of the school year. Teachers, parents, and students roam the stores for school supplies, backpacks, and lunch boxes. I always looked for cool bulletin board ideas and multiple boxes of pre-sharpened pencils. For many of us, the beginning of school this year will look much different. We are all preparing for different ways of instruction, whether it be distant, hybrid, or 100 percent in-person.
Shenandoah is also preparing for the arrival of new students on campus. Do you remember your arrival day as a freshman? I couldn’t wait to pack my things and move into my dorm room! The reality that I was leaving home didn’t hit me until the morning I left for Shenandoah. The day was blazing hot and, unlike the efficient move-in system SU has today, the dorm parking lots were crowded and chaotic. Our Plymouth Fury station wagon was packed to the brim with my stuff and my family. Once we unloaded everything into my room in Racey, my family promptly left and there I sat. At the time, Racey Hall wasn’t air-conditioned and it was stifling. I remember heading down to Armstrong Auditorium for a mandatory welcome meeting and trying not to cry as I realized I didn’t know anyone. Later that week, the upperclassmen (girls) rousted the freshman girls out of bed in the middle of the night and herded us over to Funkhouser to sing the alma mater very loudly to the boys living there. Suddenly, the doors to Funkhouser exploded with boys who, armed with shaving cream and trash cans of water, chased us back to Racey. We had so much fun that night and being away from home didn’t seem quite so hard!
There are many new initiatives at Shenandoah this fall. The university is expanding their online learning offerings, addressing racism and equity issues, and have put into place protocols to address health concerns surrounding the COVID pandemic. Shenandoah regularly posts updates on social media and emails alumni, which are great ways to catch up on the latest news. Please take a moment to visit the SU website, catch up on your SU emails, and visit SU on social media for more information.
Enjoy the last few weeks of August!
Best,
Susan Helsley
President, SU Alumni Association