Beautiful campus has feel of resort
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By ANDREW MOLCHANY
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Published: October 22, 2008
HARRISONBURG - Warm rays of sun peek over the distant mountain, blanketing the lush, green grounds and brick and bluestone structures.
Manicured walkways, open grassy fields, brilliant flower beds and neatly grouped trees appear in all directions as smiling faces, contagious laughter and a sense of serenity envelop the area.
No, this is no luxury-resort description or high-end real estate pitch. This is the daily scene, from a student’s perspective, on the campus of James Madison University in Harrisonburg.
A common reaction by many students and families who visit JMU for the first time sounds something like, “This is such a beautiful place!”
The picturesque campus, nestled in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, is the ideal setting for students, faculty and staff members to begin to learn what it means to live the JMU mission statement as “educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.”
Since its founding in 1908, JMU has sought to celebrate its most cherished asset: its people. The largest portion of those people, the students, understands how important the surrounding Shenandoah Valley is to the strength of the community-university relationship.
The “Valley,” as it is affectionately called, is cherished as both a stunning backdrop for the JMU collegiate experience and also as the lifeblood of the greater Harrisonburg community; a community that values the land and its resources as a giver of life, provider of jobs and homes and as a clean space for recreational activities and adventure.
The individual experiences of the more than 17,000 JMU students who call the Valley home for four or five years vary greatly, though one can be certain that the unmistakable beauty and splendor of the region inspires even the most focused students to occasionally pause and take in the surroundings.
Tennessee native and senior political-science and communications double major Justin DeLockery says, “You just can’t help but feel inspired to work a little harder, to dig a little deeper, to take the extra step in class or to help a friend or fellow student when you realize what a wonderful environment the Valley provides for those of us lucky enough to live, study and play here.”
The comforting and welcoming nature of the Shenandoah Valley enhances the college experience for students who are able to take time away from studies to explore the many hiking and biking trails of the George Washington National Forest or enjoy camp sites and swimming holes in the surrounding area.
JMU is a place where people from all walks of life are able to pursue their passions and discover new ones. Students are encouraged to take ownership of their own academic experiences rather than fitting into a prescribed course of study.
The opportunity to research, study and collaborate within a variety of academic disciplines offers students invaluable experiences to expand their academic knowledge and social interests. Students from all majors and disciplines come away from JMU with a sense of purpose and responsibility, having had endless support and opportunities to learn, mature and experience real life before entering the “real world.”
Andrew Molchany is a James Madison University senior scheduled to graduate in May 2009. He is a modern foreign languages, communication studies major from Springfield.
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