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Sullins Academy marks Golden Anniversary

Dec 15, 2016
2 min read

BRISTOL, Va. — It’s a school story that dates to 1966 — with the birth of the Episcopal Day School in Bristol, Virginia.

Charles Bledsoe served as headmaster of that day school at Emmanuel Episcopal Church. Bledsoe also remained in that role until 1978 — even after the school for children moved in 1977 to the former site of Sullins College, a school which closed in 1976.

Along the way, the Episcopal Day School became known as Sullins Academy. Today, too, the history pamphlet of Sullins Academy notes the school as “the product of a unique convergence of two institutions: the Episcopal Day School and Sullins College.”

Sullins College opened in 1914 and offered both an academy for younger girls and a two-year college program for high school graduates. The private educational institution called Sullins Academy remained on the old college campus — in Martin Hall — for more than 20 years. “Martin Hall had a lot of history, a lot of character,” said the school’s longtime business manager, Twana Meade.

But then came the move to its current location, 22218 Sullins Academy Drive, Bristol, Virginia, off Lee Highway. And that, Meade said, may have proven to be the greatest challenge in its history.

“We were in modulars for a year,” Meade recalled. “And then we moved in here in November of 1999.”

That month is when the current school of Sullins Academy opened — thanks to a successful capital campaign and a gift of land.

“We have 33 acres here,” said Roy Vermillion, the current head of the school. “And, with that 33 acres, this was built as an elementary school. And many of the classrooms have restrooms inside the class-room.” A Chicago native, Vermillion, 51, grew up in Pikeville, Kentucky, and came to Sullins Academy a couple of years ago. This year, Vermillion presides over Sullins Academy as it celebrates its 50-year anniversary in 2016.

Vermillion stresses the school’s “individualized instruction” sets Sullins Academy apart. “And we have 100 percent parental support,” Vermillion said. “They really want an extraordinary education for their child.” Current enrollment is 153 pupils, from pre-K to grade 8. Many pupils, Meade said, are children of Sullins Academy graduates.

“Character education, for us, is very important — having a manner of the week, having a value of the month — and making sure that character is paramount to who we are,” Vermillion said.

“For all of us, this is not a job,” Vermillion added. “We arrive early; we stay late. This is our life. We very much believe in the mission in what we’re doing here. And, because of that, and having parents who are fully committed, we have students who behave and do the right thing.”

 
 
 

18 Comments


Julia Erhart
Julia Erhart
Oct 05

It is impressive to see how much history Sullins Academy carries, especially reading about their transition from Martin Hall to modular classrooms back in 1999 before settling into their permanent campus. Managing transitions like that while keeping academic standards intact takes serious dedication from both staff and families. Having spent time looking into online assignment help Wollongong options for a relative struggling with coursework balancing acts, I can really appreciate how crucial strong foundational support is during a student's early formative years. Reaching a golden anniversary is no small feat for any educational institution, and it really shows the strength of having such a committed community behind the kids.

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emeery232
Sep 22

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👍

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Phoebe Graham
Phoebe Graham
Sep 16

The story of a school growing from its 1966 beginnings, changing campuses, and reaching its golden anniversary shows how much a caring community can achieve. While visiting an old school friend, I had car trouble and used Auto Repair Brooklyn before we could continue our day together. That small delay reminded us how quickly time passes and how much life can change. Strong values, shared effort, and lasting friendships can keep any community moving forward.

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Emma Brown
Sep 05

Me llaman bastante la atención los juegos que tienen premios acumulados, porque cada partida puede sentirse un poco diferente. Cuando busco algo nuevo dentro del casino, suelo revisar primero las categorías disponibles y comparar las opciones. En Jugabet encontré una sección dedicada a jackpot casino, donde se pueden conocer distintos juegos con esta característica.

Edited
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toolaiapp
Aug 22

What a wonderful milestone for Sullins Academy! Reading about the school’s journey from the Episcopal Day School in 1966 to its current 33-acre campus is truly inspiring. It’s clear that the commitment to individualized instruction and character education has kept the community strong for five decades. Stories like this remind me how important it is for schools to preserve their unique history while embracing modern tools for learning. By the way, if you’re ever looking for ways to enhance classroom creativity or streamline lesson planning with technology, this ai tools directory might be a handy resource for educators. Congratulations on the Golden Anniversary—here’s to many more years of shaping young minds!

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Located in Bristol VA, Sullins Academy develops students in grades PS-8 into

confident, lifelong learners who have the academic, character, and leadership skills to succeed in high school and beyond.

​

SULLINS ACADEMY

22218 Sullins Academy Drive Bristol, VA 24202

phone 276.669.4101   fax 276.669.4294

email info@sullinsacademy.org

Sullins Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, or any other legally protected status in the administration of its educational, admission, financial aid or employment policies, or any other programs administered by the School.

© 2026 by Sullins Academy. 

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