SVCC

Dr. J. Mark Estepp, President    Message from the President

Inauguration Committee Chair: 

Phyllis Roberts

Committee Members:

Aaron Bryant

Pat Bussard

Sylvia Dye

Trish Estepp

Angie Fuller

Jackie Hartman

Mary Lawson

Rod Moore

Dr. Bob Sutherland

Pauline Taylor

Dr. Bob Tomlinson

Dr. Joseph Trivette

Rhonda VanDyke

Mark Wildman

Emeritus Breakfast:  Dr. Bob Tomlinson, Chair

Reception, Food, Decorations: Mary Lawson, Chair, Pauline Taylor, Joyce Kinder, Dr. Barbara Fuller, Dr. Sherri Dawson

Sponsorship Opportunities: Mary Lawson and Phyllis Roberts, Co-Chairs

Music: Dr. Bob Sutherland, Chair; Jackie Hartman, Co-Chair

Alumni: Rod Moore and Phyllis Roberts,  Co-Chairs

Logistics: Mark Wildman, Chair, Aaron Bryant

Advertising/Publications: Pat Bussard, Chair

Invitations: Rhonda Vandyke, Chair

Lodging: Jackie Hartman, Chair

Website: Sylvia Dye, Chair, Teresa Pruett

Block of Rooms Reserved under “Southwest Virginia Community College”

Thursday, 10/9/08 and Friday, 10/10/08

Payment:  By Individuals    ---    Reservation Deadline:  10/1/08

All Motels Located within 6 miles of College

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS

180 Clay Drive, Pounding Mill, VA 24637, Phone:  276.596.9880

Room Rate: $89.95 (1 person tax included), $10.00 each additional person, Web:  http://www.hiexpress.com/     

 SUPER 8  

Highway 460, Richlands, VA  24641, Phone:  276.964.9888, Room Rate: $68.15 (tax included)

 Web:   http://www.super8.com/ 

TIMBERLINE LODGE

  Route 19 & 460, Richlands, VA 24641, Phone:  276.964.4057, Room Rate:  $60.00 Double (tax included)

  $55.00 Single (tax included)

John Mark Estepp grew up in Matewan, West Virginia, as one of five children of Herman and Zola (Cook) Estepp. His father was a coal miner, and disabled with black lung by the time Mark was in high school.

Mark attended Berea College from 1973-1977, majoring in industrial arts and vocational education. While there he met his future wife Trish Campbell, a native of Hazard, Kentucky.

After completing his baccalaureate degree, he began graduate studies at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky. He completed the master of science degree in industrial arts education in 1978. Shortly after graduating, he and Trish married.

Mark began his new life with Trish as a high school teacher. He taught industrial arts at Walton-Verona High School in Walton-Verona, Kentucky. They then moved to Columbia, Missouri, so that Mark could take a position as a high school industrial arts teacher as he worked towards a Ph.D. in practical arts and vocational technical education at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. During this time, Trish helped support the family by working on the campus of Mizzou, and by typing dissertations in the evenings.

After earning a doctorate from Mizzou in 1981, they moved to Livingston, Alabama, where Mark developed an industrial technology degree program at Livingston University. Their two daughters Addie and Marcie were born there.

Addie is a graduate of East Tennessee State University with a degree in environmental health. She is married and lives in north Georgia. Marcie graduated from ETSU as well, and is now attending graduate school at Appalachian State University, majoring in student development.

After three years at Livingston, the family moved to Boone, North Carolina. It was there that Mark accepted a position as an assistant professor of technology and taught furniture design and construction at Appalachian State University. Mark was promoted to the chair of the department of technology in 1991. Building upon a string of successes, he became the dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts at Appalachian in 2002.

On July 2, 2007, Mark became President of Southwest Virginia Community College. As president of Southwest he wishes to build on a 40 year heritage of service to students and to the community-at-large. His desire is to continue to build and maintain a world-class institution of higher learning to meet the needs of the people of our region.

SWCC Alma Mater

On a hill in Appalachia
There a lofty beacon stands,
Guiding our way to brighter days
For all women and all men.

Chorus:
O Southwest, our belov’d school,
May your beacon always shine,
The path lighting, the way showing
Unto me and all mankind.

Alma Mater, you give us hope
And our hearts do honor thee;
From north and south, east and west,
And from far across the sea.

Chorus

You accept us and teach us well
So that we walk tall and proud;
You lift us up and embrace us all
And we praise you long and loud.

Chorus

All who walk through your hallowed halls,
Humbly strive to now repay
Debts of thankfulness that are owed.
Walking by the paths you pave.