“The most ordinary things can be made extraordinary, simply by doing them with the right people.” Nicholas Sparks
Congratulations to Monica Hoel..!
It is Official! Monica Hoel has announced her retirement as the Emory & Henry University’s (EHU) Alumni Director. She graduated from EHU in 1985 and became the Director in 1991. She has been a significant fixture as director accounting for years of success linking past graduates to the successful events of the university’s current existence. Personally, for me Monica is the distinguished poster child for what “is all good” about EHU. 
Her credentials while serving as Alumni Director are well known and well established. Just ask the alums. For me I am both blessed and honored to know Monica from a slightly different angle.
With essentially no urging from me to get involved with the Copey Pathway Project, Monica willingly and eagerly became an enthusiastic supporter. Very soon she established herself as one of the major reasons the Pathway Project elevated to a truly meaningful and successful international project in partnership with EHU.
As a pure volunteer, Monica took on extraordinary responsibilities in support of the Pathway Project. She spent her time and resources to retrieve Copey students from the Washington, D.C. area to personally transport them to the EHU campus. She took time to show them wonderful sights along the way. Once on campus, she became the students’ primary host and coordinated all of the the daily activities during the stay. She recruited others to assist to help provide the visiting students with the rich hospitality found in southwest Virginia.
Her support for the Pathway Project is founded on love and a service to and for others. Every single Pathway Project student who has met Monica during their time in the USA, has returned home to Copey with an abundance of lifetime memories special and transforming.
My memories are in great abundance too. My experiences have resulted in Monica becoming a dear and priceless friend.
One of my recent highlights is our trip to Copey last Novemeber. She and I both wanted to be in Copey for the Copey Learning Center’s annual graduation service. Monica flew to Costa Rica from Virginia and I flew from Washington state. The time spent in Copey was a rare and memorable experience as we both enjoyed seeing students we have come to know and love and just being among those wonderful friends we have grown to know. Monica and I shared this rare experience together. We are bonded to Copey by a common interest, an enduring respect, and a genuine love and hope for those Copey students we have spent time with because of the Pathway Project. I feel special!
“We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend.” Robert Louis Stevenson
For certain, thousands of students and others on campus who have been close to Monica over the past thirty plus years have their own unique relationship with Monica. She has touched lives and has been a constant friend to all. With still so much left to do, Monica has had a life well spent. Monica…Those birds are waiting!
Join me in extending our thanks and gratitude to Monica!
Executive Director Salary Support Fund (EDSSF)
Goal $2,300.00 Actual $1,700.00 Deadline April 30, 2025 (Extended Deadline)
No worries however. This is always a significant challenge for us and we always have a Plan B or C if needed to get us over the line. On April 30th, we will determine the final results of the campaign and then according to the additional funds needed, a separate local effort will be taken to achieve our goal.
If you are still considering to support the EDSSF campaign, now is the time. The guidelines are provided below. Thanks you all for prayers and donations.
Campaign Donation Guidelines
The methods available for donating have not changed since the first fundraising campaign in 2014. If you are planning to be a financial supporter this year, the two methods below have served us well and without any complications.
