Averett University Alumni Association

05/28/2026

𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕’𝒔 𝑴𝒂𝒚 𝑫𝒂𝒚 𝑪𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 (1926-69)

In the spring of 1926, the students and staff of Averett held their first annual May Day pageant. Although May Day itself is of ancient origin (traditionally held to herald the beginning of summer), modern May Day pageants had been rising on women’s college campuses since the late 1800s. By 1926, Averett’s neighboring institution, Stratford College, had already been holding May Day festivities for at least a decade. Although no information survives explaining exactly why Averett opted to begin celebrating May Day that year, it became an annual college tradition for nearly 50 years; a “May Fête,” as they were usually called, was held in most (perhaps all) years from 1926 to 1969. — Averett archives

Read more at https://averett.libguides.com/exhibits/mayday

02/08/2026

Averett men’s basketball hosted its alumni game on Saturday. The program welcomed back former players to play an alumni game in the morning and many attended the team’s game that afternoon. 💙💛

01/29/2026

❄️Snow and ice is nothing new at Averett.

Martha J. Nelson, class of 1924, kept a scrapbook of her time at Averett, which she eventually donated to the Averett archives. This photo was included on the first page. Likely taken some time between 1922 and 1924, the grand entrance to Main Hall is visible behind numerous trees sagging under the weight of ice and snow.

➡️ View more Averett snow photos from our library archives here: https://averett.libguides.com/exhibits/snow

Averett University

01/15/2026

Pictured here is the original 1909 concept drawing for Averett’s Main Hall!

Averett’s Archives is looking back to when the institution’s West Main Street Campus was a shining new jewel – a physical embodiment of local hopes for a brighter future for higher education in Danville. The campus is now 115 years old; the first school work occurred in Main Hall on either April 17 or 18 of 1911 (the first day of work after Easter weekend). With an array of photos, floorplans, news reports, and even a draft of a speech by Trustee Joseph B. Anderson, a physical display of material on the first decade of Main Hall will be available to view in Blount Library throughout the month of January.

As always, a digital companion to the exhibit can be found at https://averett.libguides.com/exhibits/MainHall, featuring both an image gallery and lengthy prose from your friendly Averett archivist.

01/09/2026

🕹️Gaming at Averett

From Averett Library archives: In summer 1983, the Bottom Inn - a student center on the bottom floor of Bishop Hall offering food, a public television, and general communal recreation - was renovated to add, among other things, a wall of arcade cabinets. Throughout the 1980s, images appear in the college yearbook of students playing the likes of Centipede, Galaga, and especially Ms. Pac-Man (one of the most popular games both on campus and nationwide). Although the industry in general was struggling through what has come to be known as the “video game crash of 1983” - a financial downturn caused primarily by the market being flooded with poor games designed to make a quick buck - the Bottom Inn machines were reportedly in nearly constant use, with many students spending upwards of $5 per week on their gaming habit.

10/29/2025

As part of the Homecoming 2025 celebrations, the Averett Alumni Association and President Dr. Thomas Powell hosted a reception to honor Rob Laskowski '00 and Mary Riddle for being awarded Averett’s Distinguished Alumni Award and the Fugate-Davis Women’s Leadership Award. Read the full story at https://www.averett.edu/about-us/news-events/riddle-laskowski-honored-with-special-awards/.

As part of the Homecoming 2025 celebrations, Averett University honored two distinguished individuals with special awards. The Averett Alumni Association, in collaboration with President Dr. Thomas Powell, hosted a reception on the morning of Saturday, October 18, at the President’s Office to reco...

10/16/2025

We can't wait to see all of our this weekend for Averett University's Homecoming! Check out all of this weekend's events below and at https://averett.edu/homecoming.

10/10/2025

09/29/2025

Over the summer, Buddy Rawley had the opportunity to travel to Finland and reconnect with some of Averett's Finnish alumni. To learn more about his trip, visit https://www.averett.edu/about-us/news-events/rawley-visits-finland-and-reconnects-with-finnish-alumni/

08/04/2025

Congratulations to Averett alumnae Hannah Shields Contreras ‘18 and Jessica Long Carter ‘17 on being inducted into the USA South Athletic Conference Hall of Fame on Sunday!

Two former Averett University student-athletes were inducted into the USA South Athletic Conference Hall of Fame on Sunday during a ceremony held at Greensboro College. Averett women's volleyball Hall of Famer Hannah Shields Contreras '18 was inducted as part of the USA South's 2024 class and Averet...