Geneva Friends Throughout the Years

At Geneva College, students often develop tight-knit friendships that last long after their years on campus are over. This bond is just one of the many lasting values that a Geneva education provides. The following are three examples of the many friendships that have been maintained by Geneva graduates for decades.

Reunions at Sugar Tree Farm

At their 20^th reunion, Dr. Linda (Breuninger ′71) Marshall and her friends decided that they wanted to get together on a more regular basis. Their first retreat was in 1994 and included Janet (Beilstein ′71) Bitner, Lynda (Falen ′72) Criswell, Connie (Openshaw ′71) Troxell and Margie (Furnival ′71) West. The women met at Lynda and Gary Marshall′s family property in Southwest Virginia, which is known as Sugar Tree Farm. Their time together was used to catch up, pray, study the Bible, sing and hike around the farm. The ladies decided to make the retreat a yearly tradition, and as time passed, the retreats have grown to as many as 40 women.

"The retreats have been a wonderfully effective way for us to stay current with each other and share our common Genevan heritage," says Linda.

Trip to China

In September 2011, a group of 10 alumni led by John Mitchell ′57 embarked to China for a 14-day trip. One of their stops was a former R.P. mission site in Deqing, a place where few tourists get to go. The group was able to sing the Psalms in a local church, enjoy fellowship together and leave a few Psalm books with the church before they left.

"It was a most uplifting, satisfying, inspirational and encouraging experience for all of us," says John.

Family Vacations

Since they graduated together in 1981, Dave Rice, Brian Larson, Norm Carlson, Mark Albright, Pat Gallagher and Jim Bly have gotten together almost yearly for vacations. This group, along with their spouses and children, has gone on skiing, boating, golfing, and beach trips over the years. Most recently, the men and their wives went on a 12-day trip to Italy in June 2014. And they are getting together this fall to reminisce about that trip and plan the next one.

"To say that Geneva friends last a lifetime is very true for us," says Jim. "Meeting other Christians at Geneva provides an eternal support network."

If you have ties to a special group of Geneva friends and would like to share your story, please email alumni@geneva.edu.