Founders’ Day
Founders’ Day at Shenandoah:
Always Finding A Way Forward
February 12, 1875
Shenandoah’s story begins on Feb. 12, 1875, with a small group of 11 curious students and one forward-thinking educator in the Shenandoah Valley village of Dayton, Virginia.
The Rev. Abram Paul (A.P.) Funkhouser continued to instruct the students through the summer. Soon, the group had become a school, chartered under the name Shenandoah Seminary.
Almost 150 years later, Shenandoah – now a university – is still nurturing students to help them develop the skills needed to succeed in a world of constant change. We’re a little bigger now – our student body has surpassed 4,300 and we offer 200+ areas of study – but certain elements remain intact from the Shenandoah’s earliest days, including a fearless, bold, and compassionate spirit. This is the spirit that propelled the school’s 1960 move to Winchester, Virginia, and continues to reveal itself with every new program or initiative that benefits our growing student student body and society at large.
Founders’ Day, too, is a part of the Shenandoah experience. Over the years, it’s a day when we’ve taken time to honor the people who built Shenandoah, celebrate what the university is today, and look forward to an ever-brighter future.
Founders’ Day Celebration for All!
Shenandoah University will mark its 150th Anniversary Founder’s Day on Thursday, Feb. 12, at 4:30 p.m. in Stimpson Auditorium, Halpin-Harrison Hall. The event honors the university’s beginnings in 1875, when Rev. A.P. Funkhouser opened a school in Dayton, Virginia, with just 11 students—laying the foundation for today’s thriving institution. A highlight of the celebration will be the unveiling of the Andrei Kushnir Collection, a gift of 230 original oil paintings depicting the Shenandoah Valley’s landscapes and historic sites. Permanently displayed across campus, the collection will enrich experiences for students, faculty, and visitors alike. A viewing reception will follow. Founder’s Day offers a chance to reflect on Shenandoah’s history while celebrating its future.
Questions? Contact Myles Hairston at mhairsto10@su.edu.
Founders’ Day 2026
Shenandoah University marked Founders’ Day 2026 with the usual commemoration of its rich 151-year history, along with a few nods to the university’s historic sesquicentennial celebration that took place in 2025. This year’s Founders’ Day event also celebrated something new – the grand opening of an exhibit of over 200 original works by renowned artist Andrei Kushnir that now grace the halls of multiple buildings on Shenandoah’s main campus in Winchester, Virginia.
