On the evening of March 4, 2024 the Clinch Valley Times building came alive for a few hours during a dinner held for students from St. Joseph’s University. The students are in St. Paul this week as participants in the college’s APEX outreach program. The purpose of this program is to enable the students, most of whom are from an urban environment, to experience a culture and an area that is much different from their own.
During the evening, a principal topic of discussion was “forgiveness.” The students shared stories from their own lives relative to forgiveness given or forgiveness withheld. It was an important dialogue, and an emotional experience for all of us.
Some local friends joined us to help make the evening extra special. We appreciate this and thank them for it.
This year, the APEX (Appalachian Experience) students are being housed in the “bunkhouse” at the Clinch River Environmental Education Center (formerly the Oxbow Center in St. Paul). The CREEC is an adjunct facility of UVA Wise. Previous APEX participants have been housed at Castlewood High School. The students reported that their accommodations at CREEC are very satisfactory, and they are enjoying the beautiful weather, the people they have met, and the places they have been.
The APEX students will return to Philadelphia, PA on Saturday, March 9th. In the meantime, if you see them out and about, I hope you’ll extend a hearty SWVA welcome.
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