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Shenandoah Rises

S
HENANDOAH RISES. . .

To the creative challenge,
To share talents, skills, compassion & empathy,
To establish new teaching methods
in the blink of an eye,
To support the community,
And each other,
Virtually,
From a distance.
Shenandoah Rises. . .
When courage is required,
With expertise that saves lives.
Shenandoah Rises . . .
When everything we thought we knew
or understood is tested,
But hope still shines brightly.

 

Shenandoah Rises

Share a new story with us! Email your story to omc@su.edu.

tracyWe made it!

Congratulations on reaching the close of a spring semester that no one could have expected or completely prepared for, but with Shenandoah pride and spirit, we not only met the challenge that confronted us, we rose above it!

Students, your dedication and creativity knew no bounds. You amazed us with your ability to accept the challenge of learning online. We admire the way you adapted to share your talents, skills, and compassion with the Shenandoah community and beyond.

Faculty, we thank you for adapting so quickly to deliver a virtual education. You set a high standard, and the students followed your amazing lead. Through your ingenuity and patience, Shenandoah maintained its academic excellence and will continue to graduate students who will go on to make a difference in the world.

Staff, we couldn’t have done any of this without you. You helped steer the ship during this tough time, all without batting an eye. We thank you all, especially those who continue to come to campus to keep it safe — from Public Safety to Physical Plant.

Although there will be no end-of-year celebrations in person, we hope that you join us online for our first-ever virtual graduation beginning at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. A number of special guests will share messages of hope and congratulations — messages that we sent specifically for our Shenandoah students. We will also present the graduating class with a unique gift that reflects how much they’ve shined during their time at SU.

In addition to our sincere appreciation, you all have our support and encouragement as you continue to navigate these uncertain times. Shenandoah is a collaborative and resilient university that has stayed focused on the mission of inspiring critical thinking, lifelong learning, compassion, and ethical, responsible contributions for the betterment of communities around the world. Shenandoah will prevail and, at the end of this crisis, each of us will emerge and rise stronger and ready for a new future.

— Tracy Fitzsimmons

tracyI am so honored and proud to be part of the Shenandoah community. You have risen and met challenges none of us ever imagined. You’ve made the best of an unexpectedly virtual university experience, with classes and meetings conducted at a distance while you’ve remained at home to stem the spread of COVID-19. You have used services like Zoom creatively and even crafted group performances and conducted science labs with this technology. And, you’ve reached out to members of your communities in need whenever you can, whether via online communication or a more low-tech method, like leaving a note in an elderly neighbor’s mailbox to offer your assistance.

I cannot imagine how you could have handled this unprecedented experience any better. Thank you, thank you, thank you — I just wish that I could say that to you in person!

Shenandoah is a caring, supportive community. That was true before this pandemic, and will continue to be so after as well. And Class of 2020, you will forever be a truly special class to all of us — for many of us, your graduation will signal the hope we all have for the future.

And remember, whenever we are faced with challenges, SHENANDOAH RISES.

— Tracy Fitzsimmons

 

#S
HENANDOAHRISES

The Shenandoah University community is a family bound together by creativity, compassion and resilience.

Wherever members of our community may be, on campus or off, they rise to the challenges of the day and make a difference.