UVa-Wise student to attend national education conference as one of only two Va. representatives

Josh Reynolds, senior delegate of SVEA.

Joshua Reynolds, senior at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, will represent the UVa-Wise chapter of the Student Virginia Education Association (SVEA) at the National Education Association’s Student Leadership Conference in California, as one of only two Virginia students selected to attend.

The selection of Reynolds, a Clintwood native, as a state representative at the conference not only marks the first time that the College’s chapter has campaigned for a state position but also marks the first time that a UVa-Wise student has served as a state representative at the conference. When elections were held for state representatives at this year’s SVEA Delegate Ceremony and Conference in Charlottesville, Reynolds received more votes than his eight fellow candidates.

The UVa-Wise chapter of SVEA also succeeded as a group at the state conference, where they received the “Ultimate Award,” presented to the chapter with the highest score in group activities, fundraisers, and community involvement. The chapter’s final score of 980 was 150 points above the runner-up and was the highest score that the chapter has ever earned. The chapter received another award at the ceremony that recognized its 14-percent increase in membership for the 2004-2005 academic year.

Along with Reynolds, other UVa-Wise SVEA members who attended the conference were Kristen Bowen, president, from Big Stone Gap, Sabrina Hill, vice-president from Bluefield, and Amanda McCoy, historian from Nora. The chapter’s advisor is Professor of Education Sandra Richardson.

The only branch campus of the University of Virginia, UVa-Wise is ranked among the nation’s top ten public liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report. UVa-Wise is home to 1,800 students and offers under graduate and professional programs in the liberal arts tradition of Thomas Jefferson.