ADVANCING THE MISSION
Orsia Young
Class of 1979
Orsia remembers Villa Julie College being small and intimate during her time as a student . She made friends with others in her lecture halls on her first day . To make the most of her experience , she was involved on campus as a writer for The Villager and as vice president of the Student Government Association . The motto of the college — For Living , For Learning — still resonates with her today . VJC inspired her as well . She was able to study in an area that she was interested in , driving her to learn more and continue her education after graduation .
The first memory is from my admission to what was then Villa Julie . I had been a rather unspectacular student in high school , carrying roughly a C average over the course of my time . I generally worked hard for a half-quarter , then coasted the other half , far more interested in hanging out in the hallways . When I applied to college , my admission interview was with Orsia Young , ’ 79 , who by coincidence had also attended Perry Hall High School , and had had the same guidance counselor during her time there . Orsia guessed that my mediocrity may have been a function of having been bored , and that being admitted to the Paralegal program at Villa Julie I might be more interested and engaged . It turned out that she was right , and from my very first semester at Villa Julie I was on the Dean ’ s List , largely because I was able to immediately begin taking legal studies coursework . I am not sure that many others would have seen the same potential and been willing to take a chance on me .
The next memory that comes to mind are two particular relationships that I formed during college , one with a fellow student who remains my best friend now 30 years later , the other a favorite professor . Dan Soderberg was a business major , but we met in an elective class our first fall at Villa Julie . The class was called Voice Dynamics , a rather odd course as I recall , but we discovered that we were both fans of a particular radio show and never looked back . We remained close after graduation , having participated in each other ’ s weddings , and still getting together with our families . The professor was Pat
Todd Chason
Class of 1998
Ellis . She was primarily a business professor — and coincidentally also a favorite of Dan ’ s — but she occasionally offered courses in law . My senior year she offered a Banking Law class , which fit into my schedule ( I can ’ t imagine that there was any other reason why I selected it ). The course originally had upwards of 30 students and with apparent intent Prof . Ellis whittled the class down to a tidy 10 within about ten days . The classroom was right next to the Registrar ’ s Office , which didn ’ t seem coincidental as each time the class met several more students
25 | VENTURES / SUMMER 2023