Annie
and I had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with our granddaughter Addie
recently at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center. What a fascinating
place! Special thanks to former Virginia Wesleyan College Trustee Lynn
Clements, Executive Director of the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science
Center, for the special VIP treatment and "behind the scenes" tour.
Virginia
Wesleyan College and the Virginia Aquarium have been partners on a wide variety
of educational initiatives in recent years. We are impressed that a number of
Virginia Wesleyan alumni and friends have been significant supporters down
through the years. Thanks also to Virginia Aquarium Education
Coordinator Karen Burns and Mary McCarthy, Aquarist II. Mary is currently
enrolled in our Adult Studies Program and is scheduled for graduation in May
2016.
We were impressed by the facility which features over 800,000
gallons of aquariums and animal habitats -- one of the best in the
country. There are hands-on exhibits, nature paths, and marshlands --
something for all ages. We were equally impressed by the stories of our
students' involvement there.
Several years ago, the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science
Center and Virginia Wesleyan College christened a research and education
vessel. The Ocean Explorer, a 45-foot Doucette is used to conduct
research, collect aquatic animals and respond to marine animals in stress. It
is also used for natural history excursions in the Chesapeake Bay and the
coastal ocean of the mid-Atlantic out to the Gulf Stream. Students at
Virginia Wesleyan are receiving hands-on experience using research-quality
equipment to collect marine organisms, sediment and water samples.
These are exciting times at Virginia Wesleyan College. This type of synergistic partnership is not found on most campuses
nationwide. It is another reason that our faculty and College are
receiving widespread recognition as a highly ranked national liberal arts
college.
