Vita No. 9

Remembering the Patterson Six: A decision to make a stand for civil rights earned two R-MWC students jail time—and a spot in history

Patterson Six

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Lynchburg’s first civil rights sit-in. Two of the College’s students were members of the Patterson Six, as they came to be called, and were ultimately jailed for their actions.... READ MORE >>

An inadvertent viral hit: Randolph math professor’s kind sense of humor catapults him to TikTok fame

A charming, but accidental interaction made Marc Ordower an internet sensation recognized not only on TikTok, but in several online media outlets around the world.... READ MORE >>

Making connections: From pumpkin kits to virtual cooking classes, student leaders step up to keep classmates engaged

Pumpkin Parade box

Ranita Opoku-Sarfo ’21, Randolph’s Student Government (SG) president, had a major goal coming into this academic year: increase the visibility of SG among her classmates. “I wanted to make sure our presence was seen,” Opoku-Sarfo, who is double majoring in biology and global studies, said. “It’s a lot easier to do that on campus, but... READ MORE >>

Randolph Together: Professors take online learning to a new level with creative ways to engage students

Music professor Randall Speer recorded himself conducting with an accompanist to send to chorale and orchestra students, so they could record themselves performing along to the same master track. The video was shot from multiple angles to give each group a unique view.

“I see our faculty’s response as not an isolated reaction to our current circumstance, but an extreme example of qualities that have long been strengths of the Randolph College faculty, like accessibility, student-centeredness, and empathy,” said Provost Carl Girelli. “Our faculty have met the shift to remote learning as a challenge and an opportunity to gain and share skills, many of which will enrich the academic experience beyond this moment of crisis.”... READ MORE >>

Ready for action: Newly renovated athletic center designed to meet the needs of students

After more than two years of renovations, Randolph’s new athletic center is ready for action. The project, which cost about $5 million, was made possible by generous donors who contributed $3 million. This included two leadership gifts, including one from emerita trustee Mary Michels Scovanner ’77, for whom the center is now named, and the... READ MORE >>

Pearl S. Buck Writer in Residence taking Randolph students into the future

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/26/opinion/3d-printed-unicorns.html

Fran Wilde’s remote residency, which begins next week. She’ll be leading a five-week workshop with students, dubbed Writing the Impossible, that focuses on speculative fiction. ... READ MORE >>

National Science Foundation awards nearly $1 million to Randolph's SUPER program for mental health, inclusion initiatives

Randolph College banner in front of Main Hall

This is the third time the College has received a grant from the NSF in support of SUPER. In 2013, Randolph was awarded a $600,000 grant that helped expand the program, followed in 2016 by $1 million that funded it through 2021.... READ MORE >>

Alumna's work could aid in fight against COVID-19

Katy Worrilow

Katy Worrilow ’80 founded her company, LifeAire Systems, after discovering that airborne pathogens could affect the in vitro fertilization process... READ MORE >>