TRADITION!
5:
FOUNDERS DAY
The first students at Villa Julie College began their studies on Oct. 1,
1947, a day that has been recognized ever since as Founders Day—or
so it would seem. Rather, according to Johnston, this tradition “sank
into obscurity in the ‘80s.” So what happened?
“When President Kevin Manning came to Villa Julie, he brought
Founders Day back,” says Johnston, “in part it was to re-cement ties
between the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and the college.” In
2007, Villa Julie marked its 60th anniversary with the first Founder's
Day Celebration on Oct. 1. Today, Founders Day festivities give a
distinct nod to the past through a Mass at the convent followed by
an elegant tea with the Sisters, tours of the University Archives, the
Stevenson’s Got Talent show, and a picnic lunch for members of the
5.
3.
1:
university community.
Saint Julie Billiart, founder of the Notre Dame de Namur order
and namesake of Villa Julie College, was reported to have said,
“Be like a sunflower, which follows all the movements of the sun
and ever turns toward it.” As a nod to this reminder to maintain a
positive focus and approach to life and work, the university breathed
new life into this quote on Founders Day 2018 by encouraging
faculty and staff to display their own sunflowers in recognition of
St. Julie—a new tradition that hopefully will flourish throughout the
coming years.
4:
VJC/STEVENSON
PIN AWARD
The top honor at Commencement throughout the years has
been the awarding of the VJC/Stevenson Pin Award to those who
demonstrated excellence as students. According to the official
3:
BUILDING A
BOARD
description, “This award is the most comprehensive honor the
university confers on a graduating student whose total personal The goal of creating a Board of Trustees with prominent
performance is meritorious. This includes academic achievement, members of the community committed to improving the
independence and integrity of thought and action, reliability, respect college and its financial resources was first discussed in 1967-
for others, and involvement in university or community affairs.” 68. At that time, the mission of the institution changed from
“As I was interviewing alumni of VJC, it became clear to me
that of a religious order to one fitting an independent college.
that their belief that the highest award that could be given at any “Sister Mary Stephen, who was president at the time, felt
Commencement was the VJC Pin,” Johnston says. “We had several that she and Sister Helen Lawrence, wanted to create a board
of alumni donate their pins to the university because it was such a to represent our newly independent institution,” explains
cherished honor that they wanted to share it with others.” However, Johnston. “They immediately began to focus on bringing
as with Founders Day, this tradition, too, was absent for a time in members to the board that would have influence in the region
the ’70s and ’80s, but was later revived and is still awarded today to as well as make connections with prominent state leaders.”
recognize student excellence. Later, in the early ‘80s, they left the order and became known
as Carolyn Manuszak and Rose Dawson.
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VENTURES/WINTER 2018-19