Thousands of lifelong friendships have been born on the campus of Davis & Elkins College. At a holiday dinner for international students this past December, Lisa and I met two first-year students whose bond immediately captured our hearts and curiosity. Despite only one semester on campus at that time, their connection was already strong and inspiring.
Leona Gemmel and Alina Vallentgoed are psychology majors and student-athletes. Alina hails from Assendelft in the Netherlands, and Leona grew up in Bonn, Germany. They met during orientation for international students and quickly struck up a conversation. Later that day, Leona called Alina to ask if she would like to walk together to the Icehouse party. That simple invitation marked the beginning of a meaningful friendship—formed 4,000 miles from home.
While athletics first drew them to this small liberal arts college nestled in the Appalachian Highlands, both say the decision to cross the ocean for college was about more than sports. They came to D&E for academics and competition, but also to grow in English fluency, experience American culture, and build networks that will benefit their future careers.
In a recent conversation, both expressed deep gratitude for the D&E faculty and staff who supported their transition and invested in their success. Special thanks were expressed to Jacques Guillembet, Director of International Student Services, for all his support. Their teammates, they shared, have become close friends. Alina cheered from the sidelines at Leona’s tennis matches, and Leona returned the favor, traveling to Wheeling to support Alina at the Mountain East Conference Cross Country Championship at Oglebay Park.
Leaving their families behind was one of the hardest parts of their journey. Alina is one of identical triplets, and Leona had only flown alone once before flying to the U.S. She said goodbye to her parents and two younger siblings, landed in Pittsburgh at midnight to discover her luggage had not left Germany, and finally arrived at D&E at 3:00 a.m. to meet her roommate. Despite the challenges, both said it took only a few weeks before they began to feel at home on campus. Admittedly, they are still adjusting to American food—and eagerly await their next chance to enjoy a home-cooked meal from their moms.
When asked about their favorite memories from the year, Leona mentioned their daily walks across campus. Alina described sitting on a bench below Halliehurst, gazing out at the mountains while sharing life’s ups and downs. These quiet conversations are the moments they cherish most; simple, yet deeply meaningful memories that will stay with them for a lifetime.
Like all our international students, Alina and Leona bring courage, curiosity, and a global perspective that enriches our community. Lisa and I feel fortunate to have crossed paths with these talented, thoughtful, and gracious young women.
There are many more twilight evenings ahead—side by side on that Halliehurst bench, for our international and domestic students alike. There, they contemplate writing the next chapters of their continuing journeys.
Chris A. Wood
President
Davis & Elkins College
