2026 Commencement Ceremony | | Southside Virginia Community College held its 56th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 9, at the Joan Perry Brock Center on the campus of Longwood University in Farmville. The ceremony celebrated the achievements of 549 graduates in attendance while also recognizing the many additional students who earned degrees, certificates, and credentials during the academic year. Approximately 2,100 family members, friends, faculty, staff, and supporters were in attendance to honor the Class of 2026. | |
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During the ceremony, Dr. Quentin R. Johnson, SVCC President, personally congratulated each graduate as they crossed the stage to receive their diploma, marking an important milestone in their academic and professional journeys.
SVCC welcomed Jay Stafford, retired President and CEO of Benchmark Community Bank, as this year’s commencement speaker. Stafford encouraged graduates to remain open-minded, adaptable, and committed to serving others throughout their lives.
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Student Government Association President Maxi Alvarez also addressed the graduating class, reflecting on his own experiences participating in clubs, campus activities, choir, serving as the college mascot, and leading the Student Government Association.
For the full release, please visit: https://southside.edu/article/2026-commencement
For additional pictures from the ceremony, please visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCTvhG
| | 20th Annual Chancellor's Award for Leadership in Philanthropy Luncheon | | |
Nominated by Southside Virginia Community College, Jessie Ruff received the 20th Annual Chancellor's Award for Leadership Philanthropy for her generous donation to SVCC's Foundation.
Jessie Ruff, a current SVCC Foundation Board Member and the wife of the late Virginia State Senator, Frank Ruff Jr., established a SVCC scholarship in his memory. The Frank Ruff Jr. Scholarship Fund continues Frank's legacy of helping the people of southside Virginia better their lives with opportunities of higher education and workforce development.
“On behalf of Southside Virginia Community College, I want to express our deepest gratitude to the family of Frank Ruff Jr. for establishing this meaningful scholarship in his memory. This generous gift honors a life of service and will open doors of opportunity for students striving to achieve their dreams. Scholarships like this make an unforgettable impact — not only on the lives of individual students, but on our entire community.” — Quentin R. Johnson, Ph.D., President, Southside Virginia Community College
| | Pictured are Carthan Currin, SVCC Foundation Board Vice President, Thomas Ruff, Genny Lazzarotti, Dr. Quentin R. Johnson, SVCC President, Dr. David Dore', VCCS Chancellor, Jessie Ruff, David Ruff and Miller Ruff, and Jamie Jones, Executive Director of Institutional Advancement at SVCC. | | Department of Corrections Banquet | | |
Southside Virginia Community College recently hosted its annual Corrections Banquet at 313 Franklin in South Hill. Recipients are pictured with Dr. Quentin R. Johnson, SVCC President; Dr. Alfonzo Seward, SVCC Special Assistant to The President for Legislative and Community Outreach; Amanda Cox, SVCC Campus Within Walls Coordinator; Joseph Walters, VADOC Director; Scott Richeson, Deputy Director of Programs, Education, and Re-entry; Marcus Elam, Deputy Director of Community Corrections;
Carl Beckett, Deputy Director of Professional Standards; following the ceremony.
| | The deserving award recipients of "Officer and Employee of the Year" for each institution were: | | |
Baskerville Correctional Center:
Officer Chandra Jenkins and Program Support Technician Jennifer Williams
Beaumont Correctional Center:
Captain Wade Stewart and Grievance Coordinator Tiffanty Gormous
Buckingham Correctional Center:
Sergeant Kishante Brown and Dr. Michelle Jackson
Central Virginia Correctional Unit:
Sergeant Latoya Smith, Investigator and CGL- Chief Maintenance Engineer Scott Broughton
Dillwyn Correctional Center:
Officer Mary Bolden and Correctional Education PST Tiffany Spillman
Fluvanna Correctional Center:
Intel Sergeant Latoya Mosely and Unit Manager Marie Jones
Greensville Correctional Center:
Officer Tamiko Adams and Joy Price
Halifax Correctional Unit:
Officer Travis Powell and Whitney Eppes
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Lawrenceville Correctional Center:
Cognitive Counselor Shelby Hayes and Sergeant Cynthia Buffaloe
Lunenburg Correctional Center:
Sergeant Stacy Watterson and Electronics Tech Troy Mayton
Nottoway Correctional Center:
Training Lieutenant Susan Britton and RN Supervisor Laurie Porter
Rustburg Correctional Unit:
Officer Stephen Pool and Angela Altman-Jones
State Farm Correctional Center:
Captain Bernard Myers and Plumbing instructor Alex Higgins
State Farm Work Center:
Officer Maria Sanuot and Unit Manager Kim Knight
Virginia Correctional Center for Women:
Lieutenant Putica Thomas and Warden Dana Ratliffe-Walker
| | Florence Daniel Riepe Kalbacker Award | | | | | |
Cesar Vazquez (right) receives congratulations from Debra Andrews, SVCC Recruiter, as the 2026 recipient of the Florence Daniel Riepe Kalbacker Leadership and Community Service Award. This award was established by Mrs. Kalbacker's family in recognition for her contributions to the community, to education and to Southside Virginia Community College.
Cesar is a 2023 graduate of Central High School and is enrolled in SVCC's Pre-RN program. He currently works multiple jobs and volunteers his time at the Victoria Library.
| | | Apprenticeship partners receive awards at the recent recognition ceremony hosted at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville, VA | | |
Stephanie Robinson, Training Manager of Hefty stands with Maki Malone, SVCC Workforce Credentials and Apprenticeship Advisor, showcasing two ExTRA awards earned at the ceremony.
Hefty was recognized for having the most apprenticeship completers due to their partnership with SVCC.
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Red Oak Excavating won the ExTRA Excellence in Apprenticeship Training award.
Pictured: Shawn Powell, Lane Gunn (Instructor), Gene Hall (Owner of Red Oak Excavating), Russell Tatum, and
Preston Agalzoff.
Not pictured are Wanda Vaughan, SVCC Administrative Assistant to Workforce Development and Matt Dunn, SVCC Workforce Counselor, presenting the award to Red Oak Excavating.
| | During apprenticeship week, students were gifted SVCC apparel from SVCC's Workforce Credentials and Apprenticeship Advisor, Maki Malone! Shown above are MC Dean students. | | Brunswick Chamber Student Recognition | | |
Two students were recently recognized at the May Brunswick Chamber Luncheon for their dedication to Southside Virginia Community College and to their community.
Dr. Robin Daniel, SVCC Vice President of Enrollment Management & Student Success is shown with two students, Kiyesha Bright, center, and Katelyn Ottaway, right.
Kiyesha Bright is a full-time student at Southside Virginia Community College, currently pursuing the Science program with aspirations of becoming a registered nurse.
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With a strong commitment to student advocacy and healthcare excellence, she serves faithfully as an SGA Senator, Student Ambassador, and active member of the Campus Activities Team. This fall, she was selected to serve on the inaugural Chancellor’s Student Advisory Panel for the Virginia Community College System.
Kiyesha’s leadership is grounded in her hands-on experience in the medical field, where she currently serves her community as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Passionate about making a difference, she is committed to fostering an inclusive campus environment and representing the next generation of Virginia healthcare professionals.
Katelyn Ottaway is a dedicated student at Southside Virginia Community College who recently completed the Associate Degree Nursing program after first earning her Practical Nursing credential. A familiar face across campus and the community, she previously served as the featured student representative for SVCC in publications shared throughout local high schools, helping inspire future students to pursue higher education.
Most recently, Katelyn has served in the esteemed role of President of the SVCC Nursing Club at the South Boston location. Under her leadership, the club continued to make a meaningful impact in the community by partnering with a local church to create approximately 50 Thanksgiving dinner boxes and provide Christmas goodie bags to residents at a local nursing home.
Currently working as an ER Registered Nurse, Katelyn remains committed to advancing both her education and the nursing profession. She plans to pursue her bachelor’s degree and ultimately hopes to return to SVCC as a clinical instructor for the ADN program, helping prepare the next generation of nurses.
| | | | The Rotary Club of Farmville recently presented a check to the SVCC Foundation to support the Farmville Rotary Club Scholarship Fund. Pictured are Joy Stump, Southside Electric Cooperative Community Relations Coordinator & SVCC Foundation Board Member, Jamie Jones, SVCC Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, and Anne Tyler Adams Paulek, Farmville Rotary President. | | A Meaningful Gift That Supports SVCC Students | | |
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 or contact Jamie Jones, Executive Director of Institutional Advancement by phone 434-949-1068 or by email jamie.jones@southside.edu.
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