2025 News & Articles
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Capped in tradition, Class of 2026 begins senior year with Convocation ceremony
September 11, 2025
The Class of 2026 gathered to celebrate the beginning of their final undergraduate year at Longwood’s Convocation ceremony on Thursday—and, true to tradition, their festive caps were tall, elaborate and impressively engineered.
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Longwood’s InVEST in STEM program addresses teacher shortages in key subjects
September 07, 2025
With a deficit of qualified science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) teachers across the country, a cadre of Longwood students is on the way to help fill the gap.
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Farmville welcomes newest additions to culinary scene
September 04, 2025
From barbecue to seafood, gourmet pizza, greasy diner fare and more, Longwood’s hometown of Farmville has no shortage of dining options.
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Digging up the past: Student archaeologists uncover history at Patrick Henry’s Red Hill
September 03, 2025
From honing his troweling technique to analyzing centuries-old artifacts, junior Gabe Chaos ’27 gained much from his experience as an archaeological field technician at Patrick Henry’s Red Hill this past summer.
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Longwood nursing grads earn perfect NCLEX pass rate yet again
September 01, 2025
Longwood nursing students achieved a 100 percent first-time NCLEX pass rate this year, continuing a decade-long streak of cohorts passing at a rate above 90 percent. Over the past 10 years, seven cohorts have earned perfect first-time pass rates—an achievement few four-year programs can match.
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Light, bright and welcoming: Longwood’s dining hall gets major refresh
August 27, 2025
As students returned to campus this month and the fall semester kicked off this week, they were greeted by the familiar sights and faces of Longwood—except at one key spot where they spend much of their time: Dorrill Dining Hall.
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It takes a village: Volunteers provide more than move-in muscle for new Lancers
August 26, 2025
Within minutes of the tailgate dropping, the vehicle is empty and a neatly constructed pile of storage bins, appliances and precious keepsakes sits on the sidewalk, ready to make the trip up the elevator to its owner’s new home away from home.
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Freshman Move-In: Class of 2029 arrives ready to make their mark on Longwood
August 22, 2025
As James Robinson, Jr. ’99 and Maranda Herndon Robinson ’99 stood in line outside of Johns Hall with their son, James Robinson ’29, and all of his freshman-year essentials in tow, it was hard not to reflect on their own memories in the same high-rise residence three decades ago.
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Longwood Mortar Board receives national awards for excellence
August 22, 2025
Longwood’s Geist Chapter of Mortar Board national college honor society recently was honored with two prestigious national awards for exemplifying the core values of excellence in scholarship, leadership and service.
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Fast track: Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship fuels 2025 grad’s expedited journey to career as PA
August 21, 2025
As an emergency medical technician, emergency room technician and now a physician assistant student in the University of Lynchburg’s Master of PA Medicine program, Ashley Seiders ’25 doesn’t help people for the recognition.
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Karen Mitchell Schinabeck, Hon. '25
August 14, 2025
The Longwood Alumni Awards annually honor graduates and friends for their outstanding contributions to the university, community, and society. The 2025 recipients, selected by the Alumni Board, exemplify the values of citizen leadership.
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Charter Hall provides enhanced, more efficient services to campus
August 13, 2025
Charter Hall, Longwood’s new 42,580-square-foot complex just steps from the main campus, is home to an array of departments focused on keeping university’s physical plant in good running order.
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Bradley H. Pomp ’92
August 13, 2025
The Longwood Alumni Awards annually honor graduates and friends for their outstanding contributions to the university, community, and society. The 2025 recipients, selected by the Alumni Board, exemplify the values of citizen leadership.
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Farmville to the Amazon: How one alumna sparked a spirit of exploration in a fellow Lancer
August 12, 2025
Senior biology major Andrew Schaefer ’26 attended the 2024 Virginia Association of Science Teachers (VAST) Conference seeking career insights and networking opportunities.
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How microplastics affect the fungus threatening frogs [PRISM Q&A]
August 11, 2025
Emma Snead ’27 and Jay Geeslin ’27 step into the Chichester biology lab with flair, wearing black “I ❤️ EATING MICROPLASTICS” T-shirts as they share their summer research experience with high school students
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Elizabeth Stanton Kostelny ’81
August 11, 2025
The Longwood Alumni Awards annually honor graduates and friends for their outstanding contributions to the university, community, and society. The 2025 recipients, selected by the Alumni Board, exemplify the values of citizen leadership.
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Michele Sims-Gannon ’90
August 08, 2025
The Longwood Alumni Awards annually honor graduates and friends for their outstanding contributions to the university, community, and society. The 2025 recipients, selected by the Alumni Board, exemplify the values of citizen leadership.
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A Look at #Longwood29
August 08, 2025
Summer is an exciting time for new Lancers—a time of hope for new beginnings and anticipation of what the future holds. We asked 21 incoming freshmen about their career goals, why they chose Longwood, what they’re excited for, what they’re bringing from home and a fun fact about themselves.
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Dr. Jake Milne ’99
August 07, 2025
The Longwood Alumni Awards annually honor graduates and friends for their outstanding contributions to the university, community, and society. The 2025 recipients, selected by the Alumni Board, exemplify the values of citizen leadership.
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Candice “Candy” Jamison Dowdy ’69
August 06, 2025
The Longwood Alumni Awards annually honor graduates and friends for their outstanding contributions to the university, community, and society. The 2025 recipients, selected by the Alumni Board, exemplify the values of citizen leadership.
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Longwood set to welcome dynamic, motivated Class of 2029
August 05, 2025
An aspiring neuroscientist who wants to study brain disorders through the lens of genetics, a metal band lead guitarist who plans a career in cybersecurity and a surfing instructor who dreams of one day sharing his passion for the violin by teaching high school music.
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Cainan Townsend ’15, M.S. ’20
August 05, 2025
The Longwood Alumni Awards annually honor graduates and friends for their outstanding contributions to the university, community, and society. The 2025 recipients, selected by the Alumni Board, exemplify the values of citizen leadership.
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Using computer science to predict migrant bird movement [PRISM Q&A]
August 04, 2025
Eli Stark ’26 spent the first half of his summer working with Dr. Julian Dymacek using non-negative matrix factorization, a technique that helps extract useful information from large sets of data, to find patterns in transient bird movement.
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2025 Alumni Awards celebrate leaders with heart and vision
July 31, 2025
Inspiration. Service. Community. Achievement. These are not just words— they are the powerful and enduring themes woven through the life stories of the 2025 Longwood Alumni Award recipients.
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I spent my summer electrospinning polymers and watching them glow [PRISM Q&A]
July 30, 2025
Mira Strong ’28 got the opportunity to build an electrospinner, a device that uses electrical force to produce small fibers from a polymer solution.
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Not your typical lab: Students tackle spheres and convex geometry [PRISM Q&A]
July 22, 2025
Math and research aren’t two words that seem to fit together quite as well as science and research.
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Longwood named one of Money’s Best Colleges in America for 2025
July 17, 2025
Longwood University was recently recognized on Money magazine’s list of the Best Colleges in America for 2025, a distinction that reaffirms the university’s commitment to offering a high-quality education that’s affordable.
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Longwood announces president’s and dean’s lists for spring 2025
July 09, 2025
Longwood is proud to recognize more than 1,100 students named to the Dean’s List and President’s List for the 2025 spring semester.
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Longwood comm studies major has front-row pressroom seat as Governor’s Fellow
June 09, 2025
Taylor Blount ‘26 has always loved to talk. Even from an early age, she said, people would comment on her gregarious nature.
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Alumna is Virginia Beach’s Teacher of the Year
June 08, 2025
Lalisha Fitchett ’00, M.S. ’03, has been named the 2026 VBCPS Citywide Teacher of the Year. The middle school English teacher says Longwood gave her the foundation to become a compassionate, effective educator dedicated to helping students grow in the classroom and beyond.
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Her business is inspired by love of animals
June 08, 2025
Paulette Walsted Courington ’90 turned her lifelong love of animals into a healing career. Now celebrating 10 years of Zion’s Touch, she combines science, intuition, and energy work—offering massage, training, and Reiki to horses and dogs. From show jumpers to beloved family pets, Courington’s work helps animals feel and perform their best.
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Longwood continues to limit tuition increases
June 06, 2025
The Longwood University Board of Visitors voted Thursday to approve modest tuition and fee increases for 2025-26, extending the University’s decade-long record of keeping cost increases among the very lowest of all public universities in the Commonwealth.
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Class of ’25 Fun Five: Er’ron Burton ’25
June 02, 2025
Er’ron will be pursuing a master’s degree in software engineering at George Mason University.
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Class of ’25 Fun Five: William Poch ’25
May 30, 2025
William will teaching English at Gainesville High School in Prince William County; I’ll also be coaching baseball.
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Longwood kinesiology student wins national judo championship
May 29, 2025
Kosei Cuyler ’26 put Longwood on the national stage when he recently placed first in his division at the 2025 National Collegiate and High School Sport Judo Championships, hosted by the National Collegiate Judo Association (NCJA).
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Student entrepreneurs swim with the ‘sharks’ in competition offering $1,000 in prize money
May 22, 2025
It wasn’t a television show, but Longwood’s recent “Shark Tank”-style competition for aspiring student entrepreneurs definitely had the bite of reality.
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Class of ’25 Fun Five: Jaylen Fedderman
May 22, 2025
Jaylen will be pursuing a doctor of chiropractic degree at Bridgeport University in Connecticut.
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Two 2025 graduates to share Lancer connection in prestigious forensic science graduate program
May 22, 2025
The worlds of Kassidy Owens ’25 and Mattie Smith ’25 are about to collide—and the two newly minted Longwood graduates couldn’t be more delighted.
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Vying for a seat in the House of Delegates
May 21, 2025
Longwood alumna Trudy Bell Berry ’01 has entered the race for the Virginia House of Delegates, running as an independent candidate for District 50. Representing five Southside counties, Berry says she hopes to give voice to voters frustrated with political gridlock.
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Broome
May 21, 2025
Longwood alumna Trish Broome ’01 took the stage at the 2024 Baltimore Book Festival, sharing her powerful poetry alongside other celebrated women writers.
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Commencement speakers inspire Class of 2025 to serve the common good as nation’s 250th birthday nears
May 17, 2025
Over the weekend, Longwood recognized a total of 1,047 degrees, as graduates heard from two distinguished speakers with deep ties to Virginia and to the nation’s approaching 250th anniversary.
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Alum coaches men’s basketball at Texas A&M
May 16, 2025
Vince Walden ’01 has turned his love for basketball into a standout coaching career—most recently earning a promotion to assistant coach for Texas A&M men’s basketball, where he now leads recruiting and strategy for an SEC powerhouse.
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Global Technologies taps marketing alum as CEO
May 16, 2025
Longwood alumnus H. “Wyatt” Flippen ’93 takes the helm as CEO of Global Technologies, Ltd., bringing decades of leadership across finance, tech, and entrepreneurship to a company driving innovation in wellness and electric mobility.
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Class of ’25 Fun Five: Ashley Seiders ’25
May 14, 2025
Ashley will be pursuing a master’s of physician assistant medicine at the University of Lynchburg.
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Teacher earns national board certification
May 13, 2025
Jackie Raye Cooper ’89, a dedicated literacy coach and proud Lancer mom, recently achieved National Board Certification—an accomplishment she calls her hardest yet most rewarding professional goal.
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Longwood Center for the Visual Arts named Best Art Gallery in Central Virginia
May 09, 2025
The Longwood Center for the Visual Arts (LCVA) was named the Best Art Gallery in Central Virginia by Virginia Living magazine’s “Best of Virginia 2025” issue published in early May.
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15 Interesting Things We Learned at the Spring Student Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry
May 08, 2025
The Spring Student Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry was held on April 23 and featured more than 475 student presentations from class research and independent research projects.
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Class of ’25 Fun Five: Adam Story ’25
May 05, 2025
Adam will be a registered nurse working the ER at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital, where he did his internship this spring.
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Entrepreneurship, ideas come to life for Longwood students at new SEED Innovation Hub
May 01, 2025
Zach Stephens ’26 was sitting in the San Antonio airport returning from a family trip earlier this year when he had a lightbulb moment and the name for his entrepreneurship class project hit him.
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Two Longwood students headed to Switzerland and England for prestigious science research programs
April 29, 2025
Longwood University students Ryan Urban ‘26 and Quinn Kukk ‘27 have been selected to participate in highly competitive undergraduate research programs this summer through the National Science Foundation (NSF).
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Standing Fast
April 28, 2025
Five years after the Covid crisis in higher education, two things are clear. Longwood handled things differently then—and is better for it today.
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Class of ’25 Fun Five: Connor Williams
April 25, 2025
Connor will be working as an associate cyber compliance analyst at Dominion Energy in Richmond.
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Class of ’25 Fun Five: Tyra McCowin
April 24, 2025
Tyra will join the Peace Corps and go to Madagascar to provide health education in homes and communities.
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Brain cancer last spring, graduating this May. That’s what this senior calls lucky.
April 22, 2025
Hunter Manning ’25 says he’s always been lucky. That’s not necessarily something you’d expect to hear from a young man who discovered he had a malignant brain tumor during his senior year of college.
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Longwood named among top-value MBA programs nationwide by Money
April 14, 2025
Longwood University’s MBA program was recently named one of the “Best MBA Programs for Your Money” by Money, placing it among just 33 graduate business schools nationwide to earn the distinction for 2025.
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Affordability, convenience are key benefits of Longwood’s new textbook-access program
March 31, 2025
Longwood University announced today the launch of BookBundle, an innovative, new program in partnership with Follett Higher Education to reduce the cost of textbooks and required course materials for students, starting in the fall 2025 semester.
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Transformative gift for signature Brock Experience
March 20, 2025
Zachary Williams knew Longwood would be his home the moment he first heard about the Brock Experience program.
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Longwood announces Christy Coleman of Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, Hampden-Sydney president Larry Stimpert as Commencement speakers
March 17, 2025
Two leaders with deep ties to Virginia as well as the nation’s 250th anniversary next year, will address the Longwood Class of 2025 at Commencement ceremonies on May 16-17.
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Q&A: New dean shares student-focused vision for College of Business and Economics
March 11, 2025
Since arriving on campus last summer, Dr. Khawaja Mamun has settled comfortably into his role as dean of the College of Business and Economics (CBE) and become a recognizable face well beyond the confines of Hiner Hall.
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Two Longwood students nominated for national Goldwater scholarship for future researchers
February 20, 2025
Two Longwood juniors, Ryan Urban ’26 and Nicholas Duellman ’26, both already accomplished undergraduate researchers, are Longwood’s 2025 nominees for the prestigious national Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship.
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Art and geology converge in alumna’s career
February 19, 2025
Paula Erwin Totten ’92 combines her passion for art and science as the owner of Twisted Holly Services, bringing video production and graphic design to farms and agricultural businesses in Cumberland, Virginia.
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Alum leads law firm’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
February 19, 2025
O’Kelly E. McWilliams III ’90 is leading the charge in diversity, equity, and inclusion at Holland & Knight as the firm’s new diversity partner.
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Longwood College of Business & Economics again offers free tax preparation assistance
February 14, 2025
Tis the season for W-2s and 1040s. Tax season is upon us, and there’s free help available for many who are gathering the correct documents for their annual filing.
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Angie Cruz named winner of 43rd Dos Passos Prize
February 06, 2025
The literary award is given annually by Longwood University to a talented American writer who experiments with form, explores a range of voices and merits further recognition.
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Alum named chief operating officer
February 05, 2025
Danny Pate ’89 is driving innovation in fiber optic broadband as chief operating officer of Fatbeam. With over 30 years of experience, he leads engineering, operations, and service delivery at the company’s Idaho headquarters. Praised for his leadership and expertise, Pate credits Longwood for shaping his successful career.
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Alum awarded $10,000 fellowship
February 05, 2025
Longwood alumnus Horace Scruggs ’85, a musician, educator, and filmmaker, was awarded a $10,000 Voices Remembered fellowship from Preservation Virginia to support his research on African American history. His work, including documentaries and concerts, was recently featured during a residency at Piedmont Virginia Community College.
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Longwood announces president’s and dean’s lists for fall 2024
January 30, 2025
Longwood is proud to recognize more than 1,100 students named to the Dean’s List and President’s List for the 2024 fall semester.
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A decade of impact: Prestigious Moton Scholarships awarded for first time to two recipients, both future teachers
January 29, 2025
It’s one of Longwood’s highest honors – a scholarship honoring Prince Edward County’s local civil rights history that celebrates students preparing to make their own difference in the world.
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Longwood online MBA program ranked among national leaders by U.S. News & World Report
January 23, 2025
Based on the strength of its affordability and top-notch faculty, Longwood’s Online MBA program maintains a robust national ranking, according to a just-released U.S. News & World Report list—including ranking No. 1 in the category “Faculty Credentials and Training.”
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Alum tapped as top administrative officer
January 22, 2025
An SCC leader with expertise in budget, HR, technology, and more, this Longwood mathematics and computer science alumnus keeps operations running smoothly.
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Therapeutic riding instructor puts degree to work
January 22, 2025
Susan Meadors Warren ’83, a lifelong equestrian and executive director of Tackfully Teamed Riding Academy, was honored as a 2024 distinguished alumnus of Patrick & Henry Community College for her 40+ years of dedication to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities through therapeutic horseback riding.