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Sacred Spaces: From The Very Beginning, Radford Students Have Found Their Place Here
For the first Highlanders, this often happened – quite literally – by train, arriving on iron rails that formed a path to new opportunities. Eager students of the State Normal and Industrial School for Women would step off the train at the Norfolk and Western Station, near where The Hub now stands, and haul their heavy suitcases up the hill to campus.
As the decades passed, students, faculty and staff have come and gone – by train, by car and by plane – each generation discovering places that would shape their Radford experience. Some were grand and enduring, while others were intimate and fleeting, yet all left an indelible mark.
In this issue of the Radford Magazine, we celebrate these spaces – indoors and outdoors, on campus and beyond, some fixed in place and others fluid across time. These are the places that have made Radford feel like home. Getting place right
When a university gets “place” right, it becomes more than a collection of buildings, classrooms, grassy malls and walkways. It transforms into a tapestry of sacred spaces – environments where personal growth and meaningful connections flourish.
For more than 100 years, Highlanders have walked these paths, shared ideas and forged lifelong bonds. They have laughed, cried, studied and celebrated. They have pushed boundaries – academically, artistically, athletically – challenging themselves and each other.
Some honed their craft in practice rooms and performance halls; others found solace between the pages of a book beneath the shade of a magnolia tree. They played Frisbee on the Quad, raced to classes, engaged in debates and sought quiet moments of reflection in tuckedaway corners.
These spaces – whether grand or humble – became the backdrop for transformation. Here, Highlanders found their voices, their passions and their purpose. And through them, Radford became more than a university – it became a home. If Radford’s walls could talk, they would tell a story of places Highlanders hold sacred.
One of the fondest memories of my experience there was indeed playing on Moffett Lawn.
Moffett Lawn: A space for ritual and ceremony
Moffett Lawn has long been the heart of Radford University’s campus – a stage for ceremony, a playground for competition and a gathering place for generations of students. It’s where thousands have walked across the stage at commencement, where friendships have formed over games of Frisbee and where the echoes of lacrosse battles still linger in the memories of alumni. For Ian Clark, a 1985 graduate and former men’s lacrosse player, Moffett Lawn was more than just a field – it was the pulse of the game he loved.
“One of the fondest memories of my experience there was indeed playing on Moffett Lawn,” Clark said. “On game days, the whole field was surrounded by students and fans – music blaring from the surrounding dorms, even the famous Moffett wall was packed with onlooking students at game time!” He still remembers the thrill of the “mud game” in the spring of 1984, when Radford lacrosse stunned a top-ranked Roanoke College team with a 7-3 victory.
In 2011, Clark and his former teammates returned to play their first alumni game on the field, a tradition that carried on for nearly a decade. “It was a successful blend of young and old players,” he said.
Moffett Lawn still holds a pull for Clark even today. At Homecoming, he and fellow alumni gather in the Alumni Village, sticks in hand, sharing stories and tossing the ball around in an unspoken tribute to the place where it all began. “That, sir, is how the game of lacrosse should be played – in my humble opinion.”
The fountain: A space for reflection, connection and legacy
At the center of Radford University’s campus, the fountain has long been more than just a landmark— it’s a gathering place, a meeting point and, for many, a place of reflection. It’s a space where countless students have found camaraderie, comfort and connection. For friends JP Beckham ’87 and Chip Perkins ’86 (pictured above), it was all of that and more, which is why Beckham and friends decided to honor Perkins after his passing by naming the fountain in his memory.
Beckham and Perkins were inseparable from the moment they met in eighth grade. Bonded by their love of snow skiing and British sports cars, the two planned to head west for college before fate rerouted them to Radford. “We even double-dated for our senior prom,” Beckham said. Their friendship remained steadfast through college and beyond, with monthly phone calls keeping them close even as life took them in different directions.
When Perkins passed away in 2004, Beckham and a group of their friends knew they had to honor him in a way that truly reflected his spirit. “The fountain was ‘the’ place – the heart of campus (and off campus). “It’s still the most special place on campus. It’s the one spot that all Highlanders pass through – and come back to as a fountain of youth,” Beckham said.
For Beckham, the fountain is more than just a memorial – it’s a living, breathing space where echoes of the past still linger. “I can still see my friends and hear their voices. I can hear Chip’s voice saying, ‘Psstt,’ as he flirted with one of our girlfriends on a warm, sunny spring day.” It was the place to check in with friends, celebrate after an exam (or commiserate if it went badly) and stay connected to the rhythm of campus life.
“Radford is where I grew up,” Beckham said. “It’s where I loved and was loved.” The fountain remains a symbol of that – of friendships that withstand time, of memories that never fade and of a place that always welcomes Highlanders home.
Spaces for building community in Roanoke
For students at Radford University Carilion (RUC), finding a sense of community in an urban setting is essential. Fortunately, key locations like The Patrick Henry and the Highlander House have become central hubs where students connect, support one another and build lifelong friendships.
The Patrick Henry, a historic landmark and former hotel in downtown Roanoke, has evolved into more than just student housing – it’s a home where future healthcare professionals bond over shared experiences. The hotel is a couple of blocks away from RUC and within walking distance of the Roanoke Higher Education Center. Living alongside classmates in the same rigorous academic programs creates an environment of mutual support.
“By living and learning together, students develop a network of colleagues who are experiencing similar situations,” said Nancy Loosle, associate vice president for campus life. “These connections are invaluable to their well-being, resilience and academic success.”
Another cornerstone of student life in Roanoke is the Highlander House. Serving as the student center for RUC, this 24/7 accessible space fosters both academic and social engagement. Equipped as a study area, dining space and event room, it’s designed to bring students together.
From late-night study sessions to stress-relieving moments, the Patrick Henry and Highlander House spaces reinforce the idea that at Radford University Carilion, students are never alone—they are part of a closeknit, supportive community.
Peters Hall: A space for music, friendship and unbreakable bonds
For some, Radford University’s spaces for play and relaxation were fields and courts. For others, they were quiet corners of campus where music became a bridge between classmates and lifelong friends. In the 1960s, a group of students found their place on the steps of Peters Hall, gathering with guitars and baritone ukuleles to sing under the evening sky. What began as a spontaneous pastime soon became a tradition – one
that shaped their college experience in ways they never imagined.
“It just got to be a thing,” said Marge McCallister ’69. “There was no set schedule. Word just got around, and those available would show up with their instruments, and we’d sing for an hour or so.” The songs reflected the era – folkie classics like “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” “Cotton Fields” and “500 Miles” – but also original pieces written by Radford students that became anthems of their time together. And, without fail, every gathering ended with the singing of the alma mater, a tradition that continues for this close-knit group to this day. “No matter where we are, we sing the alma mater before departing. It is very special to us.”
McCallister and her friends never sought an audience, yet passersby often stopped to listen, drawn to the warmth and camaraderie of their music. But it wasn’t about performing – it was about connection. “The singing led to deep friendships,” she said. Those friendships endured, leading to the formation of the Radford College Golf Society and the creation of a scholarship that has touched the lives of many students.
“For us, Radford, Peters Hall and singing just go together,” McCallister said. “They are a part of so many fond memories.” Even now, when they return to campus, the music continues – an unbreakable thread connecting past to present.
Radford is where I grew up. It’s where I loved and was loved.”
Moveable spaces created by unique gatherings
For some, sacred spaces aren’t defined by walls but by the people who come together within them. The Radford College Golf Society exemplifies this idea – a dynamic, ever-evolving gathering rooted in friendship, tradition and a shared love for Radford University.
What began as a casual effort to stay connected after the 25th reunion of the Class of 1969 has flourished into a decades-long tradition of annual golf tournaments, deepened friendships and unwavering support for the university. “We realized that we were not seeing each other regularly and decided to hold a yearly golf tournament to provide more contact than once a year at Homecoming,” said Cindy Smith ’69, an alumna and devoted member of the Golf Society. Over the years, the gathering moved from Virginia Beach to Lynchburg, each time reinforcing the strong bonds among its members.
Beyond golf, the group has left a lasting impact on Radford. In their second year, they welcomed Bonnie Hurlburt ’58, former dean of women and later dean of students, who participated fully for 25 years. A tremendous role model during their student years, Hurlburt ignited their love for Radford and remained a guiding force in keeping their connection to the university strong. Her presence enriched their gatherings, reinforcing the spirit of camaraderie and shared purpose that defined the group.
In their third year, they established a scholarship in honor of one of their own, Jennie Teass Allman ’67, which has since grown to provide meaningful support to students. (Read more about Allman in the alumni profile on page 32.) Their commitment to giving back expanded with additional scholarships eventually consolidated into a single, more substantial award. Even when the pandemic halted inperson gatherings, the Golf Society adapted, meeting weekly over Zoom – conversations that now include university leaders, professors and alumni spanning decades. “Bound by our love for Radford and our enduring friendships, we continue to meet regularly, support each other in good and tough times and keep our ties to Radford and each other strong,” Smith said.
Perhaps most symbolically, the group played a role in reviving Radford’s alma mater. When former President Douglas Covington heard them sing it at Homecoming, he reinstated it as a university tradition, ensuring that their voices – and their legacy – continue to shape the Radford experience for generations to come.
