SVU

By SannekeT

  • Colonel Ripley tells Roger Barrus about SVC

    Colonel Ripley, the president of SVC, began looking for work as SVC was about to be closed. He interviewed for a position at Hampden-Sydney College in Richmond. Richard Barrus interviewed him and was interested in the opportunity created by SVC's predicament. He began to investigate the possibility of re-opening SVC as an LDS-oriented school.

  • Transition to new school board

    Only 66 days after Dr. Barrus's first meeting with Colonel Ripley, the final transition to the new board took place. The previous members of the SVC board stepped down and new board members, appointed by Dr. Barrus and Mr. Knight stepped in.

  • First classes commence

    Exact date?

  • Joe Bouchelle attends open house

    At the invitation of Walt Ralls, Joe Bouchelle attended an open house where he decided to take the job.

  • Joe Bouchelle starts working

    Joe Bouchelle started working full-time and commuted for the first month before moving to Buena Vista on July 4th.

  • Joe Bouchelle and Walt Ralls decide to offer EFY scholarships

    74 students attended SVC the first year (1996) and they needed to reach 100 students in 1997. Joe Bouchelle and Walt Ralls together prayed and came up with the idea to offer scholarship to EFY counselors. Sometime in June 1997.

  • Randall Cluff, TR Porter, Tim Knudson join faculty

    See more in interview with Randall Cluff.

  • Deidra Dryden starts as basketball recruiter

    In 1997 the Drydens moved to Buena Vista, and Deidra Dryden was invited to work as the school's basketball coach. She asked first to have a year to recruit more athletes and spent her first year recruiting for basketball as well as other teams.
    Exact date?

  • SVU choir sings at BV flood wall dedication (sparking Shenandoah tradition)

    Exact date?
    The choir that Dallas helped put together sang Shenandoah at this flood wall dedication. And that was kind of the beginnings of the choir and the music program. And they sang at other things, but it was just a nice introduction to the community for SVC at the time and seeing the possibilities that could be for music in the community and just helping bridge the gap a little bit.

  • New (not Great Books) Curriculum Started

    See more in interview with Randall Cluff.

  • SVC's accreditation application sent to SACS

    The application was 28lbs of paper. More in the 22 Oct 1998 Paladin.

  • Jonathan Austin starts as Institute director

    Exact date?

  • John Armstrong, Keith Bradshaw, Michael Harmon, Cynthia Austin, +4 others join faculty

    See more in interviews with Randall Cluff and John Armstrong.
    John Armstrong - philosophy
    Keith Bradshaw - music
    Michael Harmon - volley ball coach
    Cynthia Austin - theater (part-time)
    Todd Brotherson -
    Jeff Miller - French and German
    Steve Baldridge
    Paul Cheney - instructional technology

  • Student Union Opened

    (exact date?) Student union above the pool opened with games and things to do. Students were tasked with keeping it clean. More in 22 Oct 1998 Paladin.

  • SGA Announces "Order of the Roundtable"

    Order of the Roundtable was a chance to recognize students who exemplified the school's motto "Learn that Life is Service". More in 22 Oct 1998 Paladin.

  • SVC Theatre Department presents The Octette Bridge Club

    November 12-13 & 19-21 in Durham room 10. First large production by the new Theatre Department.
    (Photo in 14 Nov 1998 Paladin)

  • Keith Bradshaw calls Mark Taylor

    Keith Bradshaw, a music faculty, called an old friend, Mark Taylor to see if he would one day be interested in working at SVC.
    Exact date? Sometime spring 1999.

  • SVC Hosts Equine Competition

    Held at Stanford-Mish Arena at SVC. Hosted top equestrians from the surrounding area. (More in 1 Feb 1999 Paladin)

  • Institute Hosts 3rd Annual Hangar Dance

    Institute hosted its 3rd annual hangar dance in a Charlottesville airplane hangar. (more in 20 Oct 1999 Paladin)

  • SVC Acquires Library Collection

    With the help of a generous donation, SVC acquired Teikyo Westmar University's library for $75,000. This aided in the accreditation process by ensuring an adequate library was available to students. Exact date? (More in 20 Oct 1999 Paladin)

  • SVC Hosts Job Fair

    SVC Career Center (located in the basement of Landrum) hosted a job fair for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. They had already successfully landed meaningful internships for several students. (more in 20 Oct 1999 Paladin)

  • Horse stables converted to gym and more

    The Horton-Ashway Horsemanship Center (built 1983) was converted to a gym, weight room, and classrooms in 2000.
    Exact date?

  • New Student Government Association created

    Constitution, etc., created for the new SGA with additional roles. More in 5 Apr 2000 Paladin.

  • President Fawson updates SVC on accreditation status at devotional

    He reported on the accreditation site visit and its success. Quoted an email from the site evaluation team. "On May 10th and 11th the Accreditation Committee will meet in Washington DC with the Administration of SVC to report whether or not we will receive Pre-Accreditation Status." More in 5 Apr 2000 Paladin.

  • Mark Taylor meets with John Peterson

    The Taylors had not heard about any job openings, when out of the blue--a year after his first contact--Keith Bradshaw called and said that the provost John Peterson would like to meet with them. The meeting went well and Mark was immediately offered a job.
    Exact date? Sometime April 2000.

  • Faculty Banquet Hosted

    Banquet hosted (by who?). More in 5 Apr 2000 Paladin.

  • SVC Spring Ball

    Held in Natural Bridge Hotel. More in 5 April 2000 Paladin.

  • Accreditation Candidacy granted

    Accreditation candidacy allowed students to receive federal student financial aid and encouraged higher enrollment.
    Who granted it?
    Exact date?

  • Professor LeRoy Rudasill retires

    He worked at SVC from 1972-2000. More in 5 April 2000 Paladin.

  • Mark Taylor starts teaching

    Exact date?

  • Cynthia Austin starts teaching full-time

    Cynthia transitioned from teaching part-time to full-time.
    Exact date?

  • First Mr/Ms SVC Pageant

    Erin DeSpain and Amanda Kjar were named the first Mr and Ms SVC. Honorary Mr/Ms SVC titles were awarded to two students who passed away during 1997-98 school year. The parents of one late student came to receive the award on their behalf. More in 20 Oct 2000 Paladin.

  • Tucson Art Center Opens

    Renovated during summer 2000, the Tucson Art Center opened at some point during the 2000-01 school year. More in 25 Jan 2001 Paladin.

  • SVC's Dep of Performing Arts presents "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown"

    Directed by Cynthia Austin in Chandler Hall, 22-24 February. More in 15 Mar 2001 Paladin.

  • SVU Chamber Choir Performs in D.C.

    "The Southern Virginia University Chamber Choir directed by Keith Bradshaw connected with Ricks Collegiate Singers and Orchestra and the Washington D.C. Mormon Choir, giving an outstanding performance of "The Passion and the Promise of our Lord Jesus Christ" April 4-7." More in 20 April 2001 Paladin.

  • Name Changed from SVC to SVU

    Southern Virginia College became Southern Virginia University. President Fawson announced it in a Tuesday forum. (More in 20 April 2001 Paladin)

  • Dance Company's Debut Performance

    The Dance Company (formerly Knights n' Gals) gave their debut performance for the SVC student body. Marked beginning of greater focus on dance as part of the performing arts. More in 20 April 2001 Paladin.

  • ROTC Program Started

    New ROTC program in connection with VMI started. More in 20 April 2001 Paladin.

  • Knights Sports Arena dedicated

    The newly renovated Knights Sports Arena was dedicated in October 2002.
    Exact date?

  • Students Coordinate On-Campus Recycling Program

    "Ida Jorgensen, the Service department coordinator, and Habitat for Humanity talked to SVU Professor Jan Erik Jones. Jorgensen also talked to Amber Thomas, and Brent Barrowes about starting the recycling program as a service project to save their grade in the service class. They started with 30 Aluminum Recycling Bins from Habitat...in four weeks, a few of the recycling bins were halfway full...when Amber and Brent came back, they both chose recycling bins again" -31 Jan 2003 Paladin

  • AALE Accreditation Site Visit

    "from January 26th through 29th members of the accreditation site visit team from the AALE came to evaluate the progress that SVU had made over the last three years of provisional accreditation status. As part of the usual process for a site visit, they met with many students, faculty, and administrators over the three-day period and then coordinated their findings into what is called a Site Visit Evaluation Report Notice." -28 Mar 2003 Paladin

  • SVU Theatre presents Cynthia Austin's "Things Not Seen"

    Similar to a previous play by Austin that SVU presented in the previous semester, this is also by Austin. "...has been in the works for over ten years...she explores differing ideas of philosophy, faith, lifestyle, and heartache" -31 Jan 2003 Paladin Opened February 4th and ran through Saturday the 8th in Chandler.

  • Hugh Bouchelle starts working at SVU

    Exact date?

  • Hugh Bouchelle helps start Outdoor Club

    Exact date?

  • Full accreditation granted

    SVU finally receives full accreditation.
    Who granted it?
    Exact date?

  • Theatre Guild presents "The Secret Garden"

    The Theatre Guild presents "The Secret Garden" in June 2003.
    Exact dates?

  • President Fawson passes away

    President Fawson passes away. A memorial service is later held for him.
    Exact date?

  • New laboratory

    SVU added a new laboratory fall 2003.

  • Dave Dwyer starts at SVU

    Exact date?

  • Robert Stoddard starts working at SVU

    Exact date?

  • Unveiling of Main Hall Knight Statue

    New knight statue in front of Main Hall unveiled during homecoming. More in 14 Oct 2003 Paladin.

  • Richard Gardner hired

    After interviews, Tim Knudson called to offer Richard Gardner a job. (Starting fall 2005?)
    Exact date? After spring break.

  • Biology major introduced

    New biology major added fall 2004.

  • SVU Theatre presents "Beauty and the Beast"

    SVU Theatre presented Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" from May 26th to June 3rd, 2006.

  • Lady Knights win USCAA Cross Country Nationals

    SVU's women's cross country (Lady Knights) team wins USCAA national championship, SVU's 24th national title.
    Exact date?

  • SVU's Women's Soccer Team wins USCAA nationals

    The women's soccer team won the USCAA national championships in Michigan, SVU's 25th national title.
    Exact date?

  • Phi Alpha Theta approves SVU chapter

    Phi Alpha Theta (national honors society for history majors) approves chapter at SVU.

  • SVU advances to national College Bowl championships

    SVU takes region in College Bowl and advances to national championships.
    Exact date?

  • Mandatory service dropped

    Required service classes were dropped from the curriculum in favor of voluntary service. Becoming a Leader-Servant course introduced in its place, and service award for graduates introduced. Fall 2007.
    Exact date?

  • Elder Maxwell Visits Lexington

    He held a fireside for students from all three universities. More in 29 March 2001 Paladin.