Dear Salem Family,

I want to express my gratitude to the Salem alumnae. Thank you for your welcome, kindness and support of me as the new President, your support of our students, faculty, and staff, and for our beloved Salem.

The energy and inspiration that emerged from the Journey to Salem is remarkable and continues to propel us forward. Witnessing the reunion of friends, new relationships forming and the camaraderie among our alumnae, students, faculty and staff was incredible. That is what this time of the year is all about~ friends, family, and gratefulness. It is the unity and strength of our Salem family that will take us to the next level and for which I am personally grateful. 

Thank you for being part of our incredible family. I look forward to engaging with you throughout this holiday season as we continue to celebrate all Salem means to each of us in this remarkable milestone year. 

Summer McGee
President

On a picture-perfect North Carolina fall day, over 350 Salem Academy and College alumnae, students, faculty, staff, friends, and supporters participated in the final 6.8-mile leg of the Journey from Bethlehem to Salem on Tuesday, October 26.

Skies were a beautiful clear blue, leaves boasted vibrant reds and oranges and yellows along the way, and walkers decked out in College blue and gold and Academy purple and gold followed the fearless Fab 5, who walked the entire 29-day jaunt, from Bethabara to Salem while reminiscing about all of the incredible ways that Salem has shaped them. There were older alumnae walking alongside current students, faculty walking alongside board members, and parents walking alongside community members. There were short breaks in the midst of the beauty of Reynolda Gardens and the majestic stone of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.  

Cars honked their horns and shop owners waved, hundreds of photos were taken, and cheers erupted loudly as the group made its way into Corpening Plaza to join Mayor Allen Joines, and the Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) drum line and WSSU Chancellor Elwood Robinson for the final stretch. There were dances and hugs and tears and more hugs. The parade continued onto Salem’s own campus for a celebration in the shadows of Main Hall. It truly was a glorious day.

As Lucy Rose, C’76 and a member of the Fab 5, perfectly stated in one word, the day was “overwhelming.” In the best of ways. It showed the love that Salem gives and the love that Salem receives, and it was a day that truly has ignited our future while honoring our past.

The last day of the Journey garnered some great media coverage:

Here is the Winston-Salem Journal photo gallery recap and a fun video that the Winston-Salem Journal took of the WSSU Drumline.

The City of Winston-Salem created a wonderful video of the events of October 26.

A nice recap of the final leg of the Journey was presented in a WGHP Fox8 story.

WFDD, our local public radio station also ran a story.

Looking for great holiday gifts? Look no further than our new 250 Merchandise Online Store, your exclusive source for Salem Academy and College 250 Celebration items. You’ll find t-shirts (long sleeve and short sleeve), baseball caps, Silipint cups and wine glasses, koozies, car decals and magnets, blankets, tote bags, and lapel pins. Also available is the 250th anniversary reprint of the book Less Time For Meddling, by Frances Griffin. This history of Salem Academy and College is an inspiring read! A great book to curl up with in front of the fire during the winter months!

Physical exercise has long been an important part of life at Salem Academy and College. The catalog for 1877–1878 states:

“The aim of the school is to afford a safe and pleasant home for those who may be entrusted to its care, to aid them in acquiring a solid education and healthy physical development, and in laying a substantial foundation of moral discipline and spiritual knowledge and culture.”

Boarding students in the 19th century were instructed to bring “thick-soled walking-shoes” and to purchase a uniform for calisthenic exercise. Daily walks with their teachers were considered important for the physical well-being of students.

The first tennis courts were built in 1886 behind Main Hall, and a basketball court was built where the Rondthaler Science Building now stands by 1903. The Salem Athletic Association was formed in 1916 and was concerned with intramural sports at Salem.

The outdoor swimming pool located behind Clewell Residence Hall was built in 1924 and was first used for a swim meet in 1925. Images of students sunbathing in the empty pool are well-known. The legend that Clewell residents once jumped into the pool from their dorm rooms, however, is not substantiated. The pool was filled in and converted to a patio in 1965. Today’s College and Academy swim teams compete in the indoor pool, which is used by many local teams.

By the middle of the 20th century, formal athletic teams were well established. Salem joined the Athletic Federation of College for Women in 1947 and began intercollegiate sports in 1969. That same year the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women was also formed. In 2008, Salem College became a full-fledged member of the NCAA.

Over the years, Salem has had a number of athletes well-known in their sport. Jane Barkman Brown was a gold medalist in swimming at the 1968 Olympics. In February 2019, Salem Academy and College celebrated its first class to be inducted into its Athletics Hall of Fame. In the words of former College Athletics Director Patricia Hughes, Salem’s Hall of Fame was designed “to honor and remember forever the legacies and achievements of Salem’s athletes, coaches, teams, and supporters to reinforce the wonderful history and tradition of Salem Academy and College Athletics.”

Today’s Academy Sabers field teams in a wide range of competitive sports including fencing. The College Spirits currently compete in volleyball, softball, basketball, soccer, swimming, and tennis. In addition, weekly physical activities such as yoga and Tai Chi are offered to both College and Academy students. Through its physical education programs, Salem continues to recognize the importance of a healthy body for physical and emotional wellness.

Michelle Hopkins Lawrence
Co-chair of 250th History Committee

Quntashea Lewis C’16, captured the first win of her collegiate coaching career on Saturday, November 13th, when she led the Spirits past Virginia Wesleyan by a 73-67 margin.

Lewis returned to Salem prior to the start of the 2019-20 season after spending the previous season at Mount Saint Mary College. Lewis’ cemented herself in Salem basketball history as one of only three players to score 1,000 career points. She capped off her playing career at Salem by ranking first in offensive rebounds (335), defensive rebounds (472) and total rebounds (872). She also ranks second in Salem’s career history in field goals made (475), points (1208) and points per game average (20.7).

Congrats, Coach Q!

For generations, Salem’s alumnae have been the most important source of new students. No one knows more about the advantages of a Salem College education or about the lasting impact that Salem has across your lifetime.

Please take a moment to recommend Salem College to all the young women whom you believe would benefit from a Salem education, and to those who teach and counsel potential students. Attendees at the Virtual Open House will have a chance to learn about life on campus, and to hear from current students and faculty.

Register for our December 11 Virtual Open House.

Or encourage them to schedule an in-person visit.

Mark your calendars! All Salem College alumnae are invited to attend a special 250th Anniversary All-Class Reunion Weekend on April 22–23, 2022. Everyone is welcome and we will have special events honoring the classes ending in 2s and 7s, in addition to those classes who missed their Reunions in 2020 and 2021 (the classes ending in 0s, 1s, 5s, and 6s). Stay tuned for more information!