A Day Filled with SVC Memories
For those in the know, SVC was a remarkable small college in VT that unfortunately closed five years after I was there. It remains one of my great regrets that I could not save this unbelievable place that lived its motto: Believe in the Power of the Possible. Unfortunately, its tanking (unnecessary in my view to this day for many reasons too numerous to recite here but clear in my mind) occurred when my late husband was in the midst of a decline due to Alzheimer’s Disease. The window closed for me to help as did this place that still shines bright in my memory.
Today, I am going to watch a college DI men’s BB game coached by perhaps my greatest hire ever: Dan Engelstad. He was the youngest NCAA head coach when we hired him (his age was 28 as I recall) and his career has, in a word, soared. I plan to watch his new team (Syracuse) and then, consistent with tradition, I will go down onto the court post-game (win or lose) and shake his hand and greet his family. In my days at SVC, I also hugged the sweaty players (win or lose) and many I hope remember that even now.
Also today, I wrote a piece on reading and its value. As many know, I have had a long love-affair with books. My friend, CMB, pointed out that she remembered my desk when I was SVC’s president. I had a lending library on my desk (it practically obscured me); I’d buy several copies of books I was reading (so the library kept changing) and I invited anyone and everyone to pop in and see the books and if desired, take one. I hoped the books would help folks understand me and my thinking and the directions in which SVC could go. And I always said, it is a lending library but if you want to keep the book, A-OK with me. Of all the things one can “steal,” a book is at the top of the list. And, some of you reading this may recall that I scattered books on relevant topics across campus for folks to take. (By the by, this was all at my expense not the college’s.)
As the snow falls here in Gloucester and with the two items identified above, I should be wearing green and white and gold (SVC’s colors). Instead, I am wearing some orange, a recognition of Dan’s new coaching home. And, I will cheer him on as I cheer on many of SVC’s graduates and faculty and staff to this very day. It was, for real, a remarkable place. We need more SVC’s…..now.
