2025 Commencement Ceremony | | |
Southside Virginia Community College held its 55th commencement ceremony for its graduates on Saturday, May 10th at the Joan Perry Brock Center, located on the campus of Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia.
Dr. Quentin R. Johnson, SVCC President, shook the hand of each graduate as they walked across the stage; 565 total graduates were in attendance and approximately 2,300 guests.
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SVCC welcomed Mr. James Colon, SVCC Foundation Board Member and Owner and Dealer Principal at Marysville Toyota in Marysville, Washington, as this year’s commencement speaker.
May Levonian, SVCC’s Student Government Association President, addressed her peers asking them to "hold on to that Panther Pride."
Mr. Robert C. “Bobby” Wrenn was awarded an honorary degree in recognition of his lifelong commitment to education, public service, and community leadership.
For the full commencement ceremony release, please visit https://southside.edu/article/southside-virginia-community-college-2025-commencement
To view the SVCC Commencement photo album, please visit https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCe688
| | Nurse Aide Pinning Ceremony | | |
Students received their Nurse Aide pin at the pinning ceremony held at the Estes Community Center in Chase City on May 6.
Students pictured above are from Mecklenburg County High School.
Front Row L-R, Jennifer Compton (Instructor), Brandy Whittle, Layla Oliver, Khia Milam, Grace Walsh, Addison Tharpe, Nancy Colindres, Caitlyn Delanty, Janiya Chavis, Jamie James, Laila Jackson, Tiffany Pulliam, Sasha Bevell (Instructor)
Back Row L-R Kalea Nelson, Ahree Newell, Kinley Wilbourne, Danika Doyle, Kensley Neal, Zi'Mari Bullock, Jakayla Terry, Mya Colby
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Students pictured above are from Central High School (CHS) and Randolph-Henry High School(RH-HS).
Front Row L-R, Katrina Wells (Instructor) Saniaa Barney (CHS), Kailey Reese (CHS), Kendall Holt (RH-HS), Olivia Gullett (RH-HS), Kariann Tucker (RH-HS), Cassidy Barnard (CHS), Katelyn Prue (RH-HS), Sanai Jones (CHS), Wanda Bolton (Adjunct Instructor)
Back Row L-R, Tahlia Swann (CHS), Rhiona Streat (CHS), Anna Dalton (CHS), Lauren Locke (RH-HS), Kailey Wells (CHS), Samayah Key (CHS), Naire Prophet (CHS), Olivia Ingles (CHS), Ana Zacarias Lopez (CHS)
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Students pictured above are from Greensville County High School.
Front Row L-R, Mozelle Rose (Instructor), Lakai Nacius, Arica Mason, Cinashia Reid
Back Row L-R, Chanelle Jackson-Hill, Kalli Barbour, Kasey Scott
| | Students pictured above are from the Amelia-Nottoway Technical Center. Pictured L-R are Instructor, Judith Neller, Tanyah Hamilton, Dakota Martin, Hanna Gough | | Practical Nursing Pinning | | |
Students from the Practical Nursing program at the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center located in South Boston, Virginia participated in their pinning ceremony on Wednesday, May 7.
First Row: Sanaa Easter (South Hill), Katelyn Ottoway (Freeman), Latasha Hester (Chase City), Kelly Childs (Boydton), Samantha Arrington (South Hill), Rebecca Edmonds (South Hill), Stacy Hines-Bentley (Professor of Nursing)
Second Row: Courtney Lewis (PN Instructor), Dr. Ramesha Walker (Professor of Nursing and PN Program Director), Lisa McBee (Clarksville), Alicia Williams (South Hill), Parunda Prince (Lawrenceville), Keyonna Pryor (Lunenburg), Schyler Woods (Oxford, NC), Jessica Tuck (Buffalo Junction), Nicole Allen (Alberta), Tonya Covington (Nursing Adjunct).
| | | Associate Degree Nursing Pinning | | |
Students from the Associate Degree Nursing program received their pin at the pinning ceremony on Wednesday, May 7 at the John H. Daniel Campus in Keysville.
Pictured above from the Christanna Campus are Christy Whitten (Assistant Professor of Nursing), Jamie Stock (Associate Professor of Nursing), Melissa Davis (Clarksville), Emily Dolchan (Kenbridge), Natalie Wheeler (Burkeville), Treva Wilson (Emporia), Dr. Melissa Arthur (Dean of Nursing, Allied Health, and Natural Sciences)
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Students pictured above are from the John H. Daniel Campus in Keysville.
Front Row: Dr. Leslie Jackson (Associate Professor of Nursing), Lily Cram (Kenbridge), Lauren Hardy (Red Oak), Anna Lopez (Keysville), Summer Martin (Wilsons), Angelica Pena (Prince Edward), Mubarika Davis (Red House), Dr. Karen Hopkins (Associate Professor of Nursing)
Second Row: Infinity McCargo (Chase City), Jennifer Scorzelli (Keysville), Lonah Driskill (Randolph), Carletta Anderson (Drakes Branch), Makayla Hawkes (Chase City), Zohair Ahmad (Meherrin)
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Students pictured above are from the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center located in South Boston.
Dr. Leigh Moore (Associate Degree Nursing Program Coordinator), Samantha McKinney (Assistant Professor of Nursing), Cynthia Conner (Cluster Springs), Kristina Gatewood (Danville), Kassandra Lipscomb (Scottsburg), Kaeleigh Elliott (South Boston), Ashely Brooks (South Boston), Dr. Becky Anderson (Associate Professor of Nursing)
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Students pictured above are from the ADN Weekend Program located at the Estes Community Center in Chase City.
Aisha Muhammad (Associate Professor of Nursing), Shermaine Smith (Danville), Misty Dufrain (Cumberland), Ashleigh Hall (Lynchburg), Michelle Wilmouth (Bracey), Midaja Green (Farmville), Lily Lewis (Farmville), Kristin Neff (Farmville), Bridget Wilkins (Richmond), Emily Newcomb (Assistant Professor of Nursing).
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Zohair Ahmad (John H. Daniel Campus), Michelle Wilmouth (Estes Community Center), Kristina Gatewood (Southern Virginia Higher Education Center), and Natalie Wheeler (Christanna Campus) were recognized with the John J. Cavan Nursing Award at the pinning ceremony. Dr. Cavan, former SVCC President, was instrumental in the development and expansion of the college's Associate Degree in Nursing program. He took great pride in the students and their accomplishments.
Recipients of the award are chosen by their classmates and instructors. They exemplify the core components of the nursing program, understanding that, while firmly based in science and the arts, the essence of nursing is caring and compassionate patient-centered care.
| | | Fiber Technician Graduates | | Pictured above are Trevijo Millner (Nottoway), Miles Wollenberg (Mecklenburg), Ray Crockett (Instructor), Noah Dunning (Brunswick), David Bright (Nottoway). | | |
Students recently completed Fiber Technician training at the Occupational Technical Center in Blackstone, Virginia.
The Fiber Technician Program is a 3-week course designed to equip future fiber technicians with the skills and knowledge required to install, splice, test, and maintain "Fiber to the Home" (FTTH) and "Fiber to the Building" (FTTB) systems.
The next class begins August 25 and runs Monday - Friday, 8AM - 5PM. Contact Suzanne Shook for more information, suzanne.shook@southside.edu or by phone 434-292-3101.
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Nursing Alumna Honored with
CBS 6 Gives Award
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Southside Virginia Community College proudly celebrates Katrina Manning, a 2023 graduate of the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Weekend Program, who was recently recognized with a CBS 6 Gives Award for her extraordinary compassion and dedication as a nurse.
Manning, now a Cardiac Registered Nurse at Bon Secours Richmond Health System, was nominated by a patient’s family for going above and beyond by attending her patient's funeral and offering exceptional support during a time of grief.
Reflecting on the moment, Manning shared, “You could tell the kind of man he was by the love in the room. I think of the family often.”
| | | | | Bruce Jones (left) receives congratulations from Leslie Perkins, College Navigator at Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC), as the 2025 recipient of the Florence Daniel Riepe Kalbacker Leadership and Community Service Award. Established by the Kalbacker family, this award honors Mrs. Kalbacker’s enduring legacy of service to the community, education, and SVCC. A native of Concord, Virginia, Bruce is currently enrolled in the General Studies/Agribusiness program. Upon graduation, he plans to pursue a degree in Agricultural Economics at Virginia Tech. | | | The Student Behind the Mascot | | |
A year ago, one spirited student stepped into the furry paws of SVCC’s iconic mascot, Johnny Paws, and unknowingly launched a journey filled with school pride, personal growth, and a whole lot of jumping.
It all began at a new student orientation event, where Elizabeth Farrell, first donned the suit and brought Johnny to life. Since then, she has been the energy behind the mascot, electrifying crowds and embodying the pride and enthusiasm of SVCC. Whether at club events or campus celebrations, Johnny’s signature move—joyful jumping—has become a familiar and beloved sight to all.
“It’s really hot in that suit,” she admits with a laugh, “but it’s so much fun. I love how people light up when they see Johnny. Everyone wants a picture, and there’s this outstanding sense of school pride that fills the space.”
Maintaining the mystery of Johnny’s identity has been one of her biggest challenges. “Especially when you’re a blabbermouth like me,” she jokes, “it’s hard not to tell everyone!” Still, she embraced the role wholeheartedly, keeping the focus on the magic of the mascot rather than the person behind the paws.
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Giving to the SVCC Foundation gives students the opportunity to pursue their dreams.
If you are interested in supporting SVCC students, please click on the link below.
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