Alice Lloyd College Holds Opening Convocation

Alice Lloyd College hosted the opening convocation for the 2025 spring semester on Tuesday, January 28th. After the invocation and performance of our national anthem by the Voices of Appalachia, ALC President Jim Stepp welcomed the ALC student body.

President Stepp’s message inspired students to strive for success and informed them of ways that the College works hard to enhance their learning experience and help them achieve greatness. He reported that 95% of the 2024 graduating class were employed or enrolled in a graduate program within 6 months of graduation. He noted the ALC grads were well prepared after their journey along the Purpose Road because of their strong work ethic, professionalism, strong writing and communication skills, and Christian values. He reminded the faculty and staff present that we are truly blessed to be a part of fulfilling Mrs. Lloyd’s mission to refine the leaders here in the mountains, making our graduates marketable year after year. He went on to remind students of the Purpose Road Philosophy that, “by an inexorable law, what we expect tends to come to us,” inspiring students to raise the bar and have a vision and goal for themselves to achieve.

President Stepp then announced projects that are actively benefitting ALC students as well as upcoming projects aimed at cutting their educational costs and enhancing our campus. Current projects include the iPurpose initiative and the College’s decision to provide textbooks at no cost to students. On average, textbooks cost students hundreds of dollars each semester. However, ALC students no longer have the financial burden of supplying their own textbooks, saving them thousands over the course of their educational journey. Likewise, the iPurpose initiative helps ALC students by providing all full-time students with iPads they can use as tools for research, studying, note-taking, and more. Upon graduation, ALC students keep their iPads to help them in graduate programs or their careers.

Starting next semester, the College will cut students’ costs further by no longer requiring students who drive to pay for a parking pass. Students will still have to register their vehicles with the Security Department, but free parking will save students even more money. Graduating students interested in the Caney Scholars program will be excited to hear that the aid the program awards to qualifying students will be increased by two to three times. The college has been blessed with a generous donation from the Bill Gatton Foundation, which gives us this wonderful opportunity to help our students even after graduation.

Over the summer, ALC’s men’s dormitories received major upgrades such as new lighting, fresh paint, updated bathrooms, and much more. This summer, the college plans to renovate these dorms further with more interior work and exterior work to match the exteriors of other campus buildings.

Following President Stepp’s remarks, guest speaker Vallie Collins took the stage. Collins is a survivor of Flight 1549, which pulled off a crash landing in the Hudson River. Thanks to many factors, all 155 passengers aboard survived the “Miracle on the Hudson.” Collins shared her experience of the flight and explained how it affected her life. She encouraged ALC students to show kindness and empathy, enjoy life, live in the moment, maintain a fit lifestyle, and be conscious of perspective.

Alice Lloyd College is blessed to begin another semester. We are grateful for our wonderful friends across the nation who believe in our mission and help us provide Appalachian students with a quality, character-based education.

REMINDER:

Students, FAFSA is open! Successfully complete your FAFSA by March 1st for a convocation credit.

The 32nd Annual James V. Mongiardo Speech Competition is scheduled for March 11th this semester. Applications to participate are due no later than February 7th. This year’s topic is servant leadership, and top contestants are eligible for a cash prize.

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