Trojan Weekly:  Online Newsletter for VSU Alumni and Friends 
In This Issue
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SAVE THE DATE:
VSU Founder's Day
March 6, 2015 

VSUAA 1st National Day of Service
April 18, 2015 

Athletic Scholarship Golf Tournament
May 1, 2015 

Homecoming 2015
October 16-18, 2015

STAY CONNECTED 
March 6, 2015

Happy Founder's Day!


Due to inclement weather, today's Founder's Day activities at VSU have been postponed. A new date will be provided early next week.

S outhside Virginia Community College President and  VSU alumnus Dr. Al Roberts (M.Ed. '76)  will  deliver the keynote address for Virginia State University's 133rd Founder's Day Convocation. 

 

Dr. Roberts has been making a difference in the lives of Southside Virginians throughout his nearly 40-year career in education and community service.  He began his career as an instructor at Norfolk State University in 1976.  Dr. Roberts came to Southside Virginia Community College in 1995, where he has held several administrative positions, including Director of Campus Without Walls and Student Support Services, Dean of Off-Campus Instruction, Vice President for Workforce Services and Continuing Education and Provost.  On August 1, 2014 Dr. Roberts became SVCC's 5th President.
 

Alumni / Campus News
Dr. Hammond featured on Urban Views Weekly




VSU's Interim President Ushers in A New Day, High Above the Appomattox

By Janeal Downs

Click here to read the article  
Congratulations to the Lady Trojans Our 2015 CIAA Champions 


 

Did you know that the last time the Lady Trojans won the CIAA Tournament was in 2002?  This year's win earns the Lady Trojans (20-9) an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Tournament.


 

The NCAA Division II Basketball Selection Show will be held on Sunday, March 8th at 10:00 pm (women) and 10:30 pm (men) EST to determine what teams will receive a bid to post season play.  The women's selection show presentation will begin at 10:00pm.  During the selection show, the top eight teams in each region will receive a bid. Site locations along with pairings will also be announced. 


 
The link to Sunday's presentation show can be found here

Pep Rally of Champions

 

Isaacson, Miller Presidential Search Team Announces Meeting for Alumni and Community


The Isaacson, Miller team will be at VSU on March 11th and 12th to meet with key stakeholders and hold info rmational interviews and listening sessions with the community in order to better understand the institution and the challenges the next President will face. This will help them frame the position accurately when they begin speaking to potential candidates and sources about the opportunities and responsibilities of the next President. This will also ensure that we are looking in the right places and for the right qualities as we build the candidate pool.


Please consider the four questions below as broad categories to help organize and focus your thoughts in preparation for sharing them with the Isaacson, Miller search consultants. 

  • If the right person is hired, what will be the fundamental differences at VSU one year from now, three years from now, or five years from now? What are the measures of success?
     
  • Are there more subjective or informal measures for determining the success of this individual?
     
  • What organizational activities need to be preserved? Which ones enhanced? Which ones initiated?
     
  • Based on the objectives identified, what do you think are the qualifications and experiences of an ideal candidate? What is essential and what might be helpful? What are the personal attributes most important for this role?

If you are unable to attend these meetings or would prefer to share your thoughts with Isaacson, Miller via email, you can contact the search consultants directly at 

www.imsearch.com/5368 


Happy Birthday To All March Born Alumni
Do not regret getting older.  Its a privilege denied by many. 

Purchase A Brick And Leave Your Legacy!
 

Forever leave an impression at VSU by purchasing a brick in VSU's Pave the Way brick campaign.  This campaign helps to raise money for VSU's Annual Fund; an unrestricted, and much needed, resource for the University's areas of greatest need.  

 

Gifts to the VSU Annual Fund are immediately available to provide scholarship  assistance to students, to strengthen and enhance academic programs and to sustain and grow athletic programs. Through this campaign, you can purchase and personalize a brick that can be purchased for $150.00. 


Your personalized brick will be placed in the patio area of the newly renovated VSU Bookstore, and will be inscribed with your personal message -- for example, your name and class year; Greek organization; remembering a special friend or loved one that you would like to honor, or where you met your sweetheart - "At Seward Hall". Your gift is tax-deductible and it helps ensure your legacy at VSU!

 

Calling all members of the Classes of '75 and '71

Learn More About VSU Founder, Delegate Alfred W. Harris 

Alfred William Harris was born free in Fairfax County, Virginia, in 1854, the son of Henry Harris.  He was a member of the very large family of Harrises in the counties of Fairfax and Prince William. They were free in these counties as early as the year 1776.

He attended public schools in Alexandria, Virginia. He studied law privately in the office of an African American lawyer, George W. Mitchell, and finally enrolled in the law department of Howard University, where he graduated in 1881. Alfred moved to Petersburg in the 1870's where he became involved in local politics and began his practice of law.


In 1881, he was elected to the House of Delegate representing Dinwiddie County. Delegate Harris served in the house until 1888. On March 6, 1882, he presented the bill chartering the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute, now Virginia State University, which became the nation's first, state-supported, four-year institution of higher learning for Blacks.   He envisioned a school with strong black leadership that would give newly-freed slaves and their children the knowledge to become full participants in democracy. However, a hostile lawsuit delayed opening day for nineteen months until October 1, 1883.


Delegate Harris was very active in a number civic and social organizations in and around the city of Petersburg.  He served as the first secretary of the board of visitors for VSU and was later Principal of the John A. Dix School in Dinwidde.


Photo of the Week

 
Virginia Hall built 1883-1888.  It was demolished in 1937

Take The 1882 Trojan Challenge 

March 6, 2015, marks the 133rd anniversary of Virginia State University's founding.  In the spirit of Trojan pride and support for our great institution and its students, from today through Alumni Weekend, April 30 - May 2, 2015, VSU's Office of Institutional Advancement is asking all Trojans and VSU supporters to accept the 1882 Trojan Challenge. 


 
The challenge is simple.  Consider giving a gift to the VSU Tuition Assistance Fund that corresponds with the University's founding year. For example, 1882 gifts can be entered as "$18.82," "$188.02" or "$1,882."  Click here and select "Other."

Enter your contribution and make sure the designation indicates "Tuition Assistance Fund". Click "Add Donation" to complete your gift.  Once you have completed your donation, post, tweet, or email why you are "Trojan Proud" and encourage others to accept the Trojan Challenge.

 

Monthly Contribution
Would you like to extend the challenge to a monthly basis rather than a one-time contribution? If so, please consider contributing $18.82 monthly (or an amount of your choice) through automatic deduction. A form for this option can be found 
here
    
Completed forms can be mailed to:
Virginia State University
P.O. Box 9027
Virginia State University, VA 23806.

If your company offers matching gifts, you can increase your support even more!   


 

VSU Alumni Association Alumni Award Nomination Forms 

Each year, the Virginia State University Alumni Association offers a number of awards to individuals and chapters who have made a positive impact on the University, the Alumni Association, and the community at-large. Nominations for candidates are solicited from members and active chapters within the VSU Alumni Association.  Annual Awards include the prestigious Alumnus of the Year Award, the Chapter of the Year Award, the Chapter President of the Year Award, the Young Trojan Award, the Orange and Blue Award, and the Board Member of the Year Award.   Recognition  of awards take place during the University's Annual Alumni Weekend & Commencement celebration held in May of each year.   Award nomination forms are due by March 21, 2015. 

Download Nomination Forms Here: 
VSUAA Chapter Events 
D-M-V Joint Chapter Founder's Day Celebration  

The VSUAA-Washington, DC Chaper; the VSUAA-Northern Virginia Chapter; and the 
V SUAA-Prince George's County, MD
  Chapter will jointly celebrate VSU's Founders Day on Sunday, March 8, 2015.

The three chapters will celebrate this special occasion together with a morning worship service and brunch. All VSU a lumni and friends are invited to attend

The chapters will attend the 9:30AM morning worship service at the:

Mt. Ennon will be hosting its annual "HBCU" Sunday on this particular Sunday and the congregation is being encouraged to wear their school paraphernalia or school colors.  All VSU alumni are encouraged to come out in full force in their orange and blue and to arrive before 9:15AM.  The chapters will seat together as a group.  


Immediately following the service, the chapters will continue to fellowship together over a Champagne Sunday Brunch at the:  

  • Colony South Hotel
    Wayfarer Restaurant
    7401 Surratts Road
    Clinton, MD
     
  • Cost per personAdults- $25.00 (plus tax) and Children  (10 and under) $14.95 (plus tax)

To make it easier on the wait staff all brunch attendees are asked to pay with cash instead of credit cards.   


If interested in attending the brunch, please contact Sharron Credle @ credles@comcast.net no later than Tuesday, March 3, 2015.

VSUAA-Baltimore Chapter 

VSUAA-Woo Woo Alumni Chapter 


 
Get on the Bus!!!! 


 
The Woo Woo Alumni Chapter is sponsoring a bus trip to the 1st ever HBCU National Cheerleader and Dance Competition.  The event will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2015 at the Prince Georges Sports & Learning Complex in Landover, MD.  VSU's Essense of Troy will be one of the 10 HBCU Cheer & Dance Teams in competition.    


For more information please contact:

Adrian Ward, Chapter President
woowoo_chapter@vsuaaonline.com

 

VSUAA-Tidewater Chapter  
 
 
 
2015 VSU Football Schedule 

Our Purpose
The purpose of the Virginia State University Alumni Association is to help promote and advance the interests of Virginia State University; to foster life-long relationships between the University and its alumni; and to promote the interaction of alumni with each other.