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2024 Founders Day Celebrates Virginia Wesleyan’s Rich History
Special awards were presented to four accomplished alumni and a community leader during a special convocation
University News | September 5, 2024
“As we celebrate Founders Day today, I want to express my gratitude to this incredible institution,” said Jennifer V. Rouse ’08 during her keynote address to a packed audience in the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. “The experiences and relationships I formed at Virginia Wesleyan have played a huge role in shaping who I am today."
Rouse reflected on her time at VWU and shared key moments that made a difference for her— from having the opportunity to register to vote as a freshman during her summer orientation at Camp Silver Beach in 2004, to discovering her voice as a writer in a journalism class and realizing her aptitude for sociology (a subject she knew nothing about before coming to college.)
“I was hooked after my first sociology class and I owe that to my professor Dr. Kathy Stolley, who had an incredible way of making sociology come alive in class. And it sparked a passion that put me on the path to become an educator and a sociologist.”
Rouse, an assistant professor of sociology and department chair for Social Sciences and Education at Tidewater Community College, credits professors, like Stolley and Dr. Bill Ruehlmann for introducing her to these fields of study and helping her to find her way.
She noted that Ruehlmann invited her to join the Marlin Chronicle as the opinion editor, and then, in her senior year, to become the editor-in-chief for the student newspaper.
“I’ll never forget the advice Dr. Ruehlmann gave me when I hesitated about taking on such a big responsibility; he said, ‘if you already knew how to do it, you wouldn’t be here’. And that truth calmed my nerves; it’s something I tell my own students today.”
She told the students in the audience that ‘so much of the collegiate experience is so much more than what you learn in class.’ “I believe what brought me this far is relationships and character. And so, if you don’t know what you want to do or what you want to be when you grow up, just know— 'I want to be a good person and I want to be good to other people'— and it’s incredible how far that will take you.”
Rouse, a Council member in the City of Virginia Beach, was one of four distinguished alumni to receive an award at the convocation. She earned her undergraduate degree in English Literature from Virginia Wesleyan, and then graduated with a Master of Science degree in sociology from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Prior to Rouse's keynote address, the convocation opened with remarks from VWU President Scott D. Miller. “This day holds a special significance, not only as a celebration of our institution’s origins, but also as a time to reflect on the values embodied by our namesake, John Wesley.”
President Miller acknowledged the unyielding commitment to education that nurtured both the heart and the mind that was characteristic of John Wesley, the visionary founder of Methodism.
“John Wesley’s emphasis on intellectual rigor blended with a resounding call for social responsibility. These foundational principles continue to form the bedrock of Virginia Wesleyan’s mission. We remain steadfast in our mission to cultivate students who not only achieve academic excellence, but who also ardently engage in their communities. Guided by Wesley’s stirring imperative to ‘do all the good you can,’ we instill in our students a spirit of service that echoes across generations.”
“Among today’s traditions are the annual Alumni Awards,” said President Miller. “Our accomplished alumni are the very best examples of our mission and academic programs. The four talented individuals we honor with alumni awards today—Jennifer Rouse, David Green, John-Henry Doucette, and Kameron Clarke—are a tribute to all that is valuable and notable about a Virginia Wesleyan liberal arts education.”
President Miller and VWU Alumni Council Chair Jesse Dawe ‘08 recognized the recipients of the 2024 Alumni Awards. Honored for their outstanding professional and personal accomplishments, this year's honorees included: Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Georgetown University David B. Green ’98, (Distinguished Alumnus Award); Editor and Publisher of The Princess Anne Independent News John Henry Doucette ’01, (Alumni Service Award); Fellows Program Coordinator for the Progressive Turnout Project Kameron M. Clarke ’21, (Graduate of the Last Decade Award); and City Councilmember for the City of Virginia Beach, District 10, Jennifer V. Rouse ’08, (Beacon Award).
Each award recipient delivered an inspirational and heartfelt speech noting their exceptional experiences at the university and their gratitude for the many people who supported them during their all-important college years.
“Recognizing alumni is among the most important traditions at Virginia Wesleyan,” said President Miller. “Our alumni are vital to our continued growth as a national liberal arts institution. We look to our alumni to continue to represent the University and to support and promote our efforts for the future.”
Presentation of the Wesley Award
President Miller then presented the 2024 Wesley Award to President and CEO of the Miles Agency, Delceno Miles, in special recognition of her friendship and service to Virginia Wesleyan and the community.
The convocation closed with the singing of the Virginia Wesleyan Alma Mater, led by VWU Vox Vera.
Founders Day was launched in 2016 as an annual event to honor the history and heritage of Virginia Wesleyan.
View the Founders Day Convocation in its entirety on the VWU Digital Broadcasting Network.