Richmond – Community college horticulture students from across the commonwealth spent the day at Virginia’s Executive Mansion, helping decorate the historic residence for the holiday season.  First Lady Anne Holton greeted the students and thanked them for their hard work.

“It’s not every day you get to come in here and decorate,” said Sheryl Hall, a Virginia Western Community College horticulture student.  “I could never turn down an opportunity to say I decorated the governor’s mansion.”

“It’s a wonderful experience,” added Dena Parker, a student of J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College.  “It’s a hands-on opportunity you carry with you.”

The students worked under the direction of Amy Bridge, the director of the Executive Mansion and Tommy Autry, owner of Tommy’s Garden in Richmond.  The students assisted with several projects, including creating centerpieces, decorating the chairs of the grand dining room, and assembling the greens that will be hung throughout the mansion’s first floor.

The holiday decorations are designed to complement the historic décor of each room.  The front two rooms are historically accurate for 1813; the ballroom is decorated to look as it would have in 1906; and the dining room features classic Virginia arrangements.

This is the second year in a row students from Virginia’s Community Colleges have volunteered their efforts to help decorate. This year’s group included students from J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Northern Virginia Community College, Tidewater Community College and Virginia Western Community College.

“It’s an honor to have our students once again help decorate this historic home,” said Jeff Kraus, VCCS assistant vice chancellor for public relations.  “This is great real-world experience for them – a chance to create decorations that will be seen by the many people who tour the mansion or visit during an open house.  We’re grateful for the opportunity.”

To view photographs of the students decorating the Executive Mansion, please click on this link: http://myfuture.vccs.edu/NewsEvents/tabid/264/Default.aspx.

About Virginia’s Community Colleges: Created more than 40 years ago, the VCCS is comprised of 23 community colleges located on 40 campuses across the commonwealth. Together, Virginia’s Community Colleges serve more than a quarter-million credit students each year. For more information, please visit myfuture.vccs.edu.

For more information, contact:

Jeff Kraus, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs
jkraus@vccs.edu
804-819-4949