Sarah Hughes

Feature Story

Finding Academic and Spiritual Growth in the Blue Ridge Mountains

Oct. 22, 2024 — Avery Prout (‘26) has always loved living in the mountains, having previously lived in Michigan and Utah. Now, she has found another home in the Blue Ridge Mountains and at Southern Virginia University, where her relationships on campus have helped her thrive academically and spiritually.

Speeches

Crafting a Masterpiece: Weaving the Threads of Life and Faith Together 

Oct. 15, 2024 — On Friday, Oct. 11, the Southern Virginia University community gathered in the Knight Arena to hear Sharon Eubank, director of Humanitarian Services of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and JustServe, testify of the power of the unassuming threads in our lives when woven with the gospel of Christ. 

Spotlight

Second Consecutive Student Receives Distinguished Sigma Delta Pi Gabriela Mistral Award

April 26, 2024 — Today, the national collegiate Spanish honors society Sigma Delta Pi awarded Karenna Olson (‘24) the Gabriela Mistral Award. Olson is the second consecutive student at Southern Virginia University to earn this award, with Jacob Adams (‘23) receiving it last year.

News Release

Honoring the Class of 2024 at the Annual Graduation Celebration

April 24, 2024 — With Commencement on the horizon, the Southern Virginia University community gathered in the Knight Arena on April 19 for the annual graduation celebration—the last university forum of the academic year—to honor the Class of 2024, recognize senior awards, and hear from several graduating seniors and Associate Provost Sam Hirt.

Spotlight

Learning Indonesian and Discovering a Love of International Affairs

April 17, 2024 — With eyes set on a career in politics, Emmaline Merrill (‘24) spent the last summer taking an immersive language course in Indonesia as one of only 20 college and university students in the nation accepted for the Critical Language Scholarship.

Speeches

Understanding Personal Conversion to Jesus Christ

April 17, 2024 — On April 12, the Southern Virginia University community gathered to hear Elder Robert L. Millet, a senior missionary instructor at the Southern Virginia Institute of Religion and professor emeritus of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University, speak on recognizing personal conversion to Jesus Christ.

Speeches

Shaping Our Lives Through Choices with Church Historian Brittany Chapman Nash Draft

April 11, 2024 — On April 5, the Southern Virginia University community gathered to hear Brittany Chapman Nash, a Latter-day Saint women’s history specialist and Church historian, share how decisions made regarding truth, companions, time, and character can have lasting impacts on one’s life.

News Release

Chamber Singers to Perform in Holy Week Celebration at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors’ Center 

March 18, 2024 — On Easter Sunday, March 31, the Southern Virginia University Chamber Singers will perform selections of sacred music as the final ensemble in the first Holy Week Easter Celebration held at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors’ Center.

Speeches

Inaugural Founder’s Day Forum Celebrates Glade Knight and Southern Virginia University

March 13, 2024 — Wearing crimson and white, the Southern Virginia University community gathered on Friday, March 8, for the inaugural Founder’s Day Forum to celebrate founder Glade Knight and the continued growth and impact of the university on students’ lives.

Speeches

Peacemakers Through Civic Discourse with Social Studies Expert David Blankenhorn

Feb. 28, 2024 — On Feb. 23, the Southern Virginia University community gathered for an Honors Forum to hear David Blankenhorn, founder and president of Institute for American Values and co-founder of Braver Angels, a grassroots organization that addresses political polarization, speak on being a peacemaker through civic discourse.

News Release

An Exercise in Civic Discourse: Honors Program Hosts Intercollegiate Debate with Braver Angels

Feb. 27, 2024 — On Thursday Feb. 22, Southern Virginia University’s Honors Program hosted its first intercollegiate debate, welcoming Washington and Lee University, the Virginia Military Institute, and Mountain Gateway Community College to campus. Chaired by Doug Sprei, who leads Braver Angels’ College Debates and Discourse Alliance, students from each institution debated the topic, “Should Americans Receive Universal Basic Income (UBI)?”

Spotlight

Discovery-driven, Aesthetic, Spiritual: Moriah Salins’s Artistic Journey at Southern Virginia University

Feb. 22, 2024 — When Moriah Salins (‘25) first started at Southern Virginia University, like many students, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to study. After taking psychology, art, philosophy, and music classes, she decided on an art major and a double minor in philosophy and music. It was during this process of exploration that she discovered an intense love of learning.