‘Tis the season of Christmas parties and open houses! Recently, Lisa and I opened the 51ºÚÁÏÍø President’s home to celebrate the holiday season with our faculty, staff, and friends of the College from the Elkins community. Over the course of the evening, amongst the festive decorations and tables of holiday treats, a sizable number of guests came and went. They spent their time mingling, reminiscing, and laughing with old friends or new ones as they celebrated being together in the holiday spirit.
Reflecting on this festive event, this four-hour party was really a microcosm of the significance of 51ºÚÁÏÍø, particularly to this community that serves as the College’s home. There are representative individuals in my mind’s eye who shared a glass of punch along with festive conversation, and when considered collectively, comprise the foundation of this unique College community. Among these individuals was a professor who has given most of his teaching career to transforming lives of 51ºÚÁÏÍø students. An Elkins resident, who graduated from 51ºÚÁÏÍø almost 60 years ago and has devoted her life to community service, talked with a present student considering her career options. A political leader was present to simply express his support and thanks for all 51ºÚÁÏÍø means to the community. Demonstrating commitment to students, a staff member dropped by to spend a few minutes with colleagues but apologized for leaving soon thereafter to tend to a unique need of a particular student. A member of our admissions staff, who makes the dreams of our prospective students become reality, interacted with our catering staff. A local business owner expressed his appreciation for the involvement of the College community in the downtown and pledged his continuing financial support of the College’s Highland Scholarships for West Virginia students. A first-year coach described to an alumnus the rich experience of his initial semester with 51ºÚÁÏÍø student-athletes. A member of the Board of Trustees chatted with the College’s Benfield-Vick Chaplain in this Advent season. Five of our talented students took their turns at the piano to bless our guests with carols of the season.
People are the very core of 51ºÚÁÏÍø. To support our students, who are paramount among our constituent groups, the College relies upon faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, business partners, church partners, and friends from the community. Together, we comprise the mosaic of faces that is the outward manifestation of 51ºÚÁÏÍø. Symbolically, standing around tables of food at an Open House at the President’s home, the College gathered. We came together to celebrate the Christmas season, the mission of the institution, and a promising future for our beloved 51ºÚÁÏÍø and the Elkins community. All in all, it was quite an event!
On a personal note, as Lisa and our growing family celebrate our ninth Christmas at 51ºÚÁÏÍø, we want to express our gratitude for the support and friendship we continue to receive from the greater 51ºÚÁÏÍø community. It is an honor and a privilege to lead Davis & Elkins, and to call the town of Elkins our home. For our family, our journey brought us back to these West Virginia mountains, and we are grateful. From our home to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a joyous 2025!
The journey continues….
Chris A. Wood
President
51ºÚÁÏÍø
