Nearly four decades ago, community leaders in South Boston and Halifax County shared a bold vision: to create a permanent, local facility that would provide access to college degrees and workforce certifications 
without requiring residents to leave the region. With overwhelming community support, that vision became reality when a former tobacco warehouse was donated to the Halifax Education Foundation, now the Southern Virginia Higher Education Foundation (SVHEF). The Export Leaf Tobacco Warehouse was bestowed in December 1997 by John R. Cannon and the family of the late Bob Harris, was transformed into what is now known as the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC).
The South Central Virginia Consortium was established in 1997 after the Halifax Educational Foundation recognized the importance of partnering with colleges already serving the region. The Consortium brought together the presidents of Longwood University, Southside Virginia Community College, and Danville Community College, along with the President and Vice President of the Halifax Educational Foundation.
SVHEF Board members and key community leaders, including Chris Lumsden, William E. Coleman, W. W. Ted Bennett, John Cannon, E. Wayne Conner, J. Aubrey Houghton, Mayor Ed Owens, and Tom Raab played important roles in supporting the vision of expanded educational access for South Central Virginia. Their leadership and advocacy were instrumental. For generations of students living in this rural region, the educational opportunities offered by SVHEC have been essential in sustaining both individual success and community growth. The ability to earn an associate’s degree from Danville Community College or Southside Virginia Community College without the burden of commuting to Danville or Keysville has made higher education attainable for countless students who balance learning with work and family responsibilities, while remaining rooted in Halifax County.
Since 2003, the SVHEF has further strengthened this mission by providing critical scholarship support to students enrolled at SVHEC. Over the past twenty-three (23) years, SVHEF has awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships, benefiting over six hundred (600) students and helping remove financial barriers to education.
As SVHEC marks this milestone anniversary, it celebrates not only its history, but also its continued commitment to workforce development, educational access, and the long-term vitality of Southern Virginia. Congratulations from the SVHEF Board of Directors: Chair Monica Hodges, Vice Chair Patricia Walker, Treasurer Jeff Davis, Secretary Brian Burton, Ted Bennett, John Cannon, Ned Covington, Ben Davenport, Sterling Edmunds, Jayne Elliott, Dawn 
Miller, Linda Owen, Mayor Ed Owens, Rebecca Saunders, Darden Smith, and Dennis Witt.
Kristy Johnson, Executive Director of the SVHEF states, “The Southern Virginia Higher Education Foundation is proud to celebrate forty years of impact alongside the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center. What began as a bold vision for expanded access to education in South Boston and Halifax County has grown into a lasting commitment to student success, workforce development, and the future of our region.”
The SVHEF, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, administers endowed and many smaller scholarships with annual award amounts determined by the donor at the establishment of the scholarship. SVHEF staff will customize how a scholarship is administered based on the founding donor’s preference. To view the types of scholarships currently offered visit https://svhef.org/scholarships/ or contact SVHEF Scholarships and Outreach Coordinator Liza Fulton, email lizafulton@svhef.org or call 434-572-5448.