Presidential Gala raises $150,000 for the Cormier Honors College

It was a Saturday night to remember as friends and donors gathered to bid a fond farewell to President Patricia Cormier and First Gent Raymond Cormier on April 17 in Blackwell Hall.

Highlights of the evening included a presentation by Ken Marcus, '82, president of the Longwood University Foundation, of a check for $150,000 to fund scholarships for the Cormier Honors College for Citizen Scholars and the unveiling of Dr. Cormier's presidential portrait by Mike Sheffield, '89, president of the alumni board and Rector Helen Warriner-Burke, '56.    Dr. Cormier's portrait was painted by David Dodge Lewis, the William W. Elliott Professor of Fine Arts at Hampden-Sydney College.

Dr. Cormier was also honored with the very first Longwood Legacy Award, presented by Rector Warriner-Burke.  The Longwood Legacy Award medallion was presented to Dr. Cormier "In Recognition of Extraordinary Contributions That Have Shaped the Future of Longwood University."

Under the Leno-like direction of Master of Ceremonies John Adams, the evening had its lighter moments with "roasts" by Otis Brown, Hugh and Alice Stallard,'59, Professor Bill Harbour, Franklin Grant, and Cameron Patterson, president of the Student Government Association.

Longwood music professors Charles and Lisa Kinzer, joined by Longwood students Kelsey Butterfield, '10 and Patrick Freund, '12, performed a personalized rendition of "Thanks for the Memories" for the Cormiers to round out the evening.