Officially Celebrating PVCC’s new President, Jean Runyon
On Oct. 7, PVCC held the investiture ceremony honoring the new president of the college, Jean Runyon. A snow-white tent was set up next to the school with rows of seats for guests and staff. Light strips dangled from the top in perfect symmetry all leading the way to the center stage. With the sun shining through the clouds, warm weather complimenting the cool fall breeze, and the beautiful mountains in the distance, the ceremony was set to begin.
The ceremony started with the group Hoos In Treble singing the National Anthem. The PVCC staff, led by Dr. Kit Decker, then began to walk in. They wore their cap and gowns, each bearing a combination of different colors representing each school while a melodious song played in the background. As they walked through the center, they were greeted by peers and family as they took their place in the front rows. As the song began to fade and the last of the staff took their place, PVCC’s vice president of institutional advancement & development, Harry Stillerman, took the stage and welcomed everyone.
Using some humor, Stillerman eased everyone in with a good laugh. From the very beginning, one can feel a sense of community in the atmosphere with everyone bearing smiles. As each speaker stepped up to the podium, they brought with them that same feeling of unity, harmony, and hope that embodies the community of PVCC.
In the words of the Coordinator of the Student Financial Resource Center Amanda Key, PVCC is “a place a student calls their second home.”
PVCC Student Government President Mara Cox stated PVCC is a place where each student has “a seat for them at every table and an ear for every concern.”
Furthermore, Dr. Wendy Horton, the CEO of UVA Health University Medical Center, said, “The future ahead is filled with promise and potential.”
Throughout the ceremony, all the speakers took the stage to relay the same message: PVCC is a place where students feel welcome, a place where students find hope. As the community embarks on this journey, looking to President Jean Runyon as their leading light, she brings the message, PVCC is a place where “dreams take flight.”