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Southern Virginia University's Class of 2017 Graduation

Writer's picture: Delaney TaylorDelaney Taylor
May 22, 2017

Departing from my usual short blog posts, I've compiled a few short musings, stories and details from my own experience with a few of the female graduates of the Southern Virginia University Class of 2017. From my experience, graduations can often feel like expensive, elitist gatherings that pay more tribute to the schools who host them than to the students themselves. But if you dig a little deeper, you will see the humanity, the accomplishment, and the sacrifice that makes graduation a major milestone in the lives of those who achieve it. Here are some of the achievements and stories I was privy to in Southern Virginia University's Class of 2017.

Joanna

During my days as a music major, there was always one soprano I could count on to be practicing nearby the composition lab at some point in the week. Joanna must have logged hundreds maybe thousands of hours singing and rehearsing for this opera, or that musical, or juries, or solos, or one of her recitals or church performances since we started college together in 2011. Before cast lists would be posted, I remember her scrunched up, nervous and excited face saying things like, "I would love x part, but I really want so-and-so to get it." No matter what part she got, I never heard her utter an ill word, ever. Service was her buzzword. Like in this picture above, Joanna led by example--as a person and as a choir intern, the Concert Chorale president (twice at least) and a performer. The one semester we lived together, she would spend hours on history and science projects late into the night and then plan lessons for church after night checks on her residents at midnight or 1 a.m.

After performing in Germany this summer, Joanna will be attending Brigham Young University to pursue her masters degree in music.

Elise

Six years ago, a very long-haired blonde girl named Elise and I met in our first college dorm room. As we walked out the door together with our roommate Carrissa, our Resident Advisor Gina happily chimed "Look at the sisters." And through thick and thin, we've been sisters ever since.

Elise and I were nigh on inseparable from that moment. From late night jam sessions in Landrum and sleepovers at Chestnut House, to floor salad parties and Psych marathons. We stayed up until 2 a.m. printing papers for the news-magazine, we ate more than 20 pizzas and bowls of cookie dough over the years, served as Resident Advisors together, painted rocks we scattered all over campus together, and even started a midnight water fight at the Carriage Townhomes during Maymester.

After our sophomore year, Elise served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints in Oaxaca, Mexico, and I got married shortly thereafter, altering our graduation timelines. But as luck would have it, I got to stay in Buena Vista, Virginia for another year when she returned and I only moved a state away to North Carolina during her senior year.

Over those years, I watched Elise fight exhaustion from being the Student Vice President of Operations, a Resident Advisor and a Relief Society President; I saw her lose hope of graduating in four years of school after weeks of hospital visits; I saw her disillusionment, grief and hard work when she returned to a different school than she left; I saw her love people more as she served them with countless hours of cleaning, tutoring, listening, inviting, planning, encouraging and problem solving. I saw her find her authentic self and throw it into her beautiful art.

Elise is now at Deseret News professionally producing graphic designs like those of her senior show.

Heather

Heather and Elise did everything together; they were the biological sisters that would've been friends no matter where they grew up or who their parents were, but fortunately, they had each other from the day Heather was born. Elise often told me that Heather was her rock in their childhood. That the kinds of things they went through as kids cemented them as more than sisters. When Elise left for Mexico, Heather started her journey as a double major in English and Art at SVU, and one of my biggest regrets from my time there is that I didn't get to know Heather better.

I remember countless stories about "The Madsen Galz" and not just Heather and Elise, but their sister Ily and Mama Ginger. Thick as thieves, quick witted, and beautiful, I learned that Heather makes the best steaks of your life (believe me, I've tried it), Mama Ginger sends the best care packages, and Ily's real name is Llama.

My favorite memories with Heather are probably making cupcakes with McKenna at Red Umbrella Events and Catering for the Homecoming Dance. Pan after pan of mini cupcakes and we were singing to the radio, talking about books, class, movies, probably boys and food. :) I still believe Heather has a calling as cupcake connoisseur. Her artist hands held steady and so did her calm demeanor as the clock ticked the minutes away.

Time is a funny thing too, because while I didn't graduate next to Heather or Elise, the two of them got to graduate together. And there's an elegant poetry to that that's better than anything I could write about it.

This summer, Heather is assisting Professor Barbara Crawford as she installs her new exhibit "Tornado" in West Virginia.

Katie

When you meet Katie, you may think she's a shy chick, but don't be fooled--she's like an iceberg, most of her lies beneath the surface. She makes a perfect cricket impression, and she actually played her entire senior recital with a concussion. How's that for the show must go on? We had a music conducting class together in my senior year and I remember hearing that Katie was thinking about transferring because she was largely interested in music therapy, a program that is very much student-led or otherwise in it's infancy at SVU. I remember feeling so sad, because I loved to hear her play at the orchestra concerts and see the fire in her eyes as she dug her bow into the strings of her cello. Needless to say, I was thrilled when she stayed another year and we even got to record some music together!

Katie is still looking into Music Therapy Masters programs to pursue now that she's earned her Bachelors in Music Performance.

Rebekah

For my in-loves (a.k.a. in-laws) college graduation is kind of a big ceremony. Since every one of my bonus siblings was homeschooled as children and young adults, no "Pomp and Circumstance" came to fruition in high school (though as many Southern Virginia grads can attest, Taylors have played their fair share of Elgar's famous piece over the last decade).

Rebekah, like many of her siblings before her, started classes at SVU at the tender age of 15 (and arguably before). Now, five years later, she is the youngest graduate of the household and probably the most decorated to date. As you may have already learned from my blog post in January, Rebekah has been two leads in the SVU plays, Miss SVU, the Student Vice President of Honor, a Bella Voce, Concert Chorale, and SVU Orchestra member, an LDS Institute Graduate, a library worker, a Peer Mentor, a President's and Provost's List student, an indispensable vocal accompanist, a loyal friend, and supporter on SVU's campus.

Rebekah once told me she felt it took her an entire year to feel like she had found her place at school, but she tried and she worked hard and pushed herself outside of her comfort zone and she did it.

Rebekah is currently investigating a masters degree in English.

^Photo Cred to Lainie Thompson :)

Heidi

When I think of Heidi I think of her surrounded by little children, singing show-tunes and wearing t-strap shoes. Yes, she's that wonderful. :)

Since she started working for a Montessori school for the last few years I've seen her give so much care and love to the kids she meets, and the joy she gets from those kids and other children I've seen around campus is frankly heart-warming.

Definitely a style icon on campus, Heidi is known for her classic vintage style and more than one girl in choir was jealous of her shoe collection. A lover of Broadway, Heidi has lit the auditorium with laughter in her many roles in the school musicals and plays, and since then has probably received every pug meme on her Facebook timeline. But this isn't the story of a girl born with a silver spoon in her mouth.

I've often been impressed by Heidi's poise. She's been a team player and contributed beyond being the spotlighted member of the show. She's managed and moved backstage and loved the people she acts with. I think I read that Audrey Hepburn (one of Heidi's idols) once said "Nothing is impossible; the word itself says 'I'm possible." And that is Heidi to me--the effervescent alto of hope.

Heidi will be performing in SVU's summer musical "The Music Man" this weekend and next.

^Photo Cred to Stephen on this one ;)

Kat

I met Kat in 2013. She arrived at Chestnut House after dinner a few weeks before the new school year started. She rolled in a few suitcases and gave me the happiest smile I think I've seen. I checked her in to her room and we started talking and kept talking for hours that night as we watched a Captain America film (I think). She became the heart of our house as the rest of the girls moved in, mediating impassioned discussions, cooking Sunday dinners, inviting people over for movie marathons and study parties (not sure how much studying really happened, but hey! we had fun doing what we were doing) and she was always cooperative asking anyone if they needed help or taking tasks around the house like a champ.

Kat is probably known for doing much the same with everyone she meets with two thumbs and a good human conscience. She's maternal, but not hovering, she's driven, but not grating, she's loveable and she gives love like she gives out brownies--which is a lot if you've ever lived with her, and it's just as delicious and homey and warm as it sounds.

Kat graduated as a triple major in Theatre, English and Liberal Arts and will be working her magic backstage this summer in SVU's summer musical "The Music Man."

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