Alumni and friends have created a scholarship honoring Joyce Trent, who worked at Longwood for 46 years before retiring in June 2016.
Once endowed, the Joyce M. Trent Scholarship will be the first endowed scholarship in the Department of Psychology, where Trent worked as an administrative assistant for the last 20 years of her career. At last count, more than $14,000 had been raised or pledged from about 100 donors.
“The scholarship is a deserved legacy for someone who made such an impact on each and every student she encountered,” said Christy Meadows Connolly ’91, who announced the scholarship at a retirement party for Trent in April.
Others who also helped establish the scholarship include Riley Ross ’93; Steve Dealph, Greek affairs coordinator from 1990-93; and Kathleen Manning Holroyd ’96.
“Joyce provided the motherly love, care, guidance and advice that I needed to grow from a boy living away from home for the first time to a young man graduating from college and looking to take on the world,” said Ross. “I hope and pray that when my son and daughter go off to college there will be a ‘Mama Joyce’ looking out for them, too.”
Dealph got to know Trent when she worked in the student activities office (1984-96), where her job included Greek affairs. “Joyce always went above and beyond in her support of her colleagues. That’s just who she is,” he said. “She cared for everyone she interacted with— not just students.”
Trent is remembered fondly by many alumni for her role as chapter adviser to Kappa Delta sorority from 1978-99.
For information on how to make a gift, contact Chris Neal ’05, leadership gift officer, at 434-395-2816 or nealca@longwood.edu.
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