Student Highlight: One of the Inaugural Writers for the The Herald

By Severio Martin

I had the opportunity to sit down with Tristram Kenworthy (‘22), who commonly goes by TJ. A Politics major from Montana, TJ wrote for The Herald for two semesters during his freshman year, and was part of the paper before it coined its new name and transferred to a completely digital platform.

TJ has many stories from his time being a staff writer and photographer for The Herald when the school newspaper was shifting into its present era. One of his highlights was covering the transitioning of Southern Virginia University’s colors from green to crimson. It took him two months to submit his first draft, which was eventually published. He was very excited to come to a school whose colors were green because it was his favorite color. His high school mascot was also a Knight, with colors of yellow and red. TJ saw his chance to be a Green Knight, but by the time he arrived for the first semester, the school colors were already changed to crimson. He had a hard time letting go of his dreams of green swag; but crimson eventually grew on him.

What most stuck out to TJ about his time at The Herald was the friendship that he developed with Bruce Olsen, the former Director of The Herald. TJ still calls Bruce to talk with as a friend. Their relationship was as strong and friendly inside the classroom as it was outside of the classroom. TJ also grew close with his fellow writers at The Herald.

The Herald has changed since TJ left the paper, but it is still an environment that fosters the ideas of students and their ambitions. TJ left the paper strengthened, both academically and socially. The writers here at The Herald now hope that you will enjoy this semester’s paper. We hope you will consider making The Herald part of your Southern Virginia University story as well.