{"id":14844,"date":"2024-01-22T16:55:12","date_gmt":"2024-01-22T21:55:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.virginiawestern.edu\/news\/?p=14844"},"modified":"2024-11-05T16:50:40","modified_gmt":"2024-11-05T21:50:40","slug":"new-historical-marker-sheds-light-on-virginia-westerns-role-in-state-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.virginiawestern.edu\/news\/2024\/01\/22\/new-historical-marker-sheds-light-on-virginia-westerns-role-in-state-history\/","title":{"rendered":"New historical marker sheds light on Virginia Western’s role in state history"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"A
A brisk morning set the scene for the unveiling of the new historical marker at Virginia Western Community College. Dr. Nelson Harris applied for the historical marker through the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. The marker describes Virginia Western’s role in the founding of the Virginia Community College System.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From the City of Roanoke and Virginia Western Community College:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a meaningful event highlighting the rich history of education in Roanoke, the City of Roanoke, in collaboration with Virginia Western Community College, unveiled a historical marker commemorating the institution’s pivotal role in the establishment of the Virginia Community College System.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Former
Former Roanoke Mayor Nelson Harris speaks at the unveiling.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Former Mayor Nelson Harris, whose dedication to preserving Roanoke’s history is well known, applied for the historical marker through the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Virginia Western Community College, inaugurated in 1966, holds the distinction of being the first among an eventual 23 Virginia Community College System schools, charting a course that has impacted the lives of thousands of Virginia students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mayor Lea expressed his gratitude, stating, “I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Former Mayor Nelson Harris for his tireless efforts in elevating Roanoke’s history. It is through individuals like him that we can truly appreciate and honor significant milestones from Roanoke’s past.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Many people drive through our campus daily and do not know about Virginia Western’s place in Virginia’s educational history,” said Dr. Robert Sandel, who has served as president of Virginia Western Community College since 2001. “The research of our faculty member and esteemed Roanoke historian Dr. Nelson Harris helps bring to light the important role Virginia Western played in the formation of the Virginia Community College System. The groundwork laid in Roanoke in the 1960s helped create a more equitable system for all Virginians to access higher education, and this marker makes that history known.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The historical marker serves as a symbol of the educational legacy that continues to thrive within the community. It signifies Roanoke’s commitment to providing accessible and quality education for all, echoing the ideals laid out by Virginia Western Community College over five decades ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The new historical marker after its unveiling. Those making remarks at the ceremony Monday, Jan. 22, were (from left): Roanoke Vice Mayor Joe Cobb; Dr. Robert Sandel, president of Virginia Western Community College; Tucker Lemon, vice chair, Virginia Board of Historic Resources; and Dr. Nelson Harris, former Roanoke mayor and Virginia Western faculty member who spearheaded the marker effort. Harris shared the history of how the Virginia Community College System grew out of business leaders’ effort to oppose Massive Resistance to desegregation and improve access to public education in Virginia. “I think all of our desire, collectively, is that this marker and what is happening today is a step forward in making that history known and telling that amazing story that Virginia accomplished back in the late ’50s and through the mid-1960s,” Harris said at the ceremony.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From the City of Roanoke and Virginia Western Community College: In a meaningful event highlighting the rich history of education in Roanoke, the City of Roanoke, in collaboration with Virginia Western Community College, unveiled a historical marker commemorating the institution’s pivotal role in the establishment of the Virginia Community College System. Former Mayor Nelson Harris,… Continue Reading New historical marker sheds light on Virginia Western’s role in state history<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14844","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-campus-news"],"featured_image_src":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"Erica Myatt","author_link":"https:\/\/www.virginiawestern.edu\/news\/author\/emyatt\/"},"yoast_head":"\nNew historical marker sheds light on Virginia Western's role in state history - News from Virginia Western<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Article about New historical marker sheds light on Virginia Western's role in state history\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.virginiawestern.edu\/news\/2024\/01\/22\/new-historical-marker-sheds-light-on-virginia-westerns-role-in-state-history\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"New historical marker sheds light on Virginia Western's role in state history - 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