Richmond – Ms. Mary Sue Whitt and the late Colonel Sandy Whitt, of Tazewell County, Virginia, have received the 16th Annual Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy. They were nominated for the award by Southwest Virginia Community College.
More than two dozen individuals, families, and businesses from around Virginia have earned the 2022 Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy. The awards were presented at a luncheon ceremony in Richmond on Thursday, April 21st, 2022.
The annual event, hosted by the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education (VFCCE), honors leading philanthropists from each of Virginia’s 23 community colleges as well as the statewide foundation. Recipients are nominated for their outstanding commitment to the growth and development of Virginia’s community colleges and their respective foundations.
This year’s class of distinguished philanthropy leaders has collectively contributed $10 million dollars to Virginia’s Community Colleges.
“The impacts of Mary Sue and Sandy Whitt’s contributions are felt throughout our campus and the community. Their dedication to education spans a variety of fields of study and learning activities. The generous support shown by the Whitt’s allows Southwest Virginia Community College to continue to offer excellent educational opportunities, to provide access to students with financial need, and to further promote cultural learning opportunities within our communities,” said Dr. Tommy F. Wright, President of Southwest Virginia Community College.
Among the numerous VIPs on-hand for the luncheon were Chancellor Glenn DuBois, State Senator Ghazala Hashmi, Anne Holton, former Virginia Secretary of Education and professor of Education Policy at George Mason University, and Dr. Stewart Roberson, past chair of the VFCCE. Dr. Bill Hazel, Jr., former secretary of Health and Human Resources, was the event’s keynote speaker.
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Recipients of the 2022 Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy:
BLUE RIDGE Lisa & Bill Moore
CENTRAL VIRGINIA Fred Armstrong
DABNEY S. LANCASTER Bank of Botetourt
DANVILLE City of Danville & Pittsylvania County
EASTERN SHORE David Landsberger
GERMANNA Jackie & Ted Hontz
J SARGEANT REYNOLDS The Lipman Foundation
JOHN TYLER Sandra “Sandy” & Edwin “Ed” Via
LORD FAIRFAX Claude Moore Charitable Foundation
MOUNTAIN EMPIRE The Rapha Foundation
NEW RIVER Mary Jean & John Brown
NORTHERN VIRGINIA Rosalie Lesser
PATRICK HENRY Sovah Health-Martinsville
PAUL D CAMP Enviva Biomass
PIEDMONT Albemarle County Rotary Club Foundation
RAPPAHANNOCK Cammie & Stuart Flanagan
REYNOLDS Patricia “Pat” Rooney
SOUTHSIDE VA SHINE (Solar Hands-On Instructional Network of Excellence)
SOUTHWEST VA Mary Sue Whitt & Sandy Whitt
THOMAS NELSON Sandra McKenzie
TIDEWATER Sentara Healthcare
VIRGINIA HIGHLANDS Loyal Order of the Moose of Washington County
VIRGINIA WESTERN Edwin C. Hall
WYTHEVILLE Family of Matthew Todd Ridgaway
VFCCE Jane & Dan Dixon
About Virginia’s Community Colleges: Since 1966, Virginia’s Community Colleges have given everyone the opportunity to learn and develop the right skills so lives and communities are strengthened. By making higher education and workforce training available in every part of Virginia, we elevate all of Virginia. Together, Virginia’s Community Colleges serve more than 252,000 students each year. For more information, please visit www.vccs.edu.
About the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education: Working hand in hand with Virginia’s 23 community colleges, the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education seeks to guarantee financial assistance to all students who dream of attending college. The foundation is building an endowment that is already generating interest to provide full scholarships to selected community college students; helping more Virginia foster youth pursue and complete higher education through the Great Expectations program; and leading a partnership to improve rural Virginia’s education pipeline through the Rural Virginia Horseshoe Initiative. Learn how the Virginia Foundation for Community College is building the future of Virginia. Visit VFCCE.org.
About Southwest Virginia Community College: Established in 1967, Southwest Virginia Community College is a two-year institution of higher education serving primarily the residents of the counties of Buchanan, Dickenson (partial), Russell and Tazewell. Offering more than 80 programs of study, Southwest has served more than 109,000 students since opening. In addition to credit-based programs, Southwest offers fast-track training and industry recognized credentials. For more information, please visit http://www.sw.edu