OUR REGION'S FUTURE. - Virginia Western Community College

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DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD 2008 Advocate. Friend. Supporter. Alumna. Th ese are just a few of the words that can describe Donna L. Mitchell, ’81, the 2008 Virginia Western Community College Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. A 1981 graduate of Virginia Western Community College, she credits the College with changing her life. “My years at Virginia Western were a pivotal time for me,” states Mitchell. “Th e warm, nurturing, empowering environment there brought me from a shy child to a self-confi dent young woman.” A confi dence that bred accomplishment: Donna transferred to Virginia Tech, where she was “very well prepared” to earn separate degrees in Business Management and English. Not afraid to take risks, she found a niche where she could intertwine both her business and analytical skills as a stockbroker for UBS Financial Services Inc., where she has worked for more than 20 years and is currently its Vice President of Investments. “Every day, Virginia Western proves the adage that ‘if you give a man a fi sh you feed him for a day, but if you teach him how to fi sh you feed him for a lifetime’,” and through Donna’s work on both the Virginia Western Community College Educational Board of Directors and the Virginia Western Alumni Council, she is able to see the proof every day. “It has been my pleasure to witness these positive changes fi rsthand through my work with the Foundation. I fi rmly believe that my fi nancial contributions to the Foundation are making a real diff erence in the lives of individuals and in our community,” states Mitchell. Donna and her family established the James Mark Mitchell Endowed Scholarship in 1997 in memory of her brother, and in 2004 Donna and four of her classmates from Virginia Western established the Friendship Endowed Scholarship and the Friendship Annual Scholarship to fi nancially assist female students in the college’s service region. She has also included Virginia Western in her estate plans. Th e impact of Donna’s eff orts for Virginia Western continue to be felt as she tirelessly supports the Foundation in its day-to-day fundraising and advocacy initiatives. Donna is the immediate past president of the Educational Foundation and was instrumental in establishing the College’s fi rst Alumni Association in 2005. She served as the fi rst Alumni Council Chair. Donna’s dedication to Virginia Western has also been recognized at the state level. She was the 2008 recipient of the Virginia Community College System Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy. Donna spoke to the near-capacity crowd in Whitman Auditorium when she received her award this past November and she spoke fondly of her time at Virginia Western. She credited her alma mater for changing her life, something that tens of thousands of her fellow alumni can easily relate to. 14 • Spring/Summer 2009 Virginia Western Educational Foundation Alumni & Friends News • Volume 2 • Issue 2
Legacy Society Members Martha and William Adams (dec.) Ruby M. Brogan Lawrence H. Hamlar (dec.) Stanard F. Lanford Gertrude Light Hubbard (dec.) Donna L. Mitchell Mary B. Moses (dec.) Mr. and Mrs. Bernard F. Odasz J. William Wilcher
Page 2 and 3: FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK Impacti
Page 4 and 5: 2008 - 2009 ANNUAL CONTRIBUTORS as
Page 6 and 7: Nancy E. Francisco -e in memory of
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Page 11: skilled applicants to fi ll positio
Page 16 and 17: J. David and Frankie Robbins in hon
Page 18 and 19: Mr. & Mrs. Gary Houff -e in honor o
Page 20: Virginia Western Educational Founda

OUR REGION'S FUTURE. - Virginia Western Community College

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