Virginia Wesleyan's Evan Cox tied for first entering final action at the NCAA Division III National Golf Championship!

Nota Bene: Enjoy the Summer Season

May 13, 2016

 

After our Commencement Ceremony tomorrow and our hosting of the NCAA Regional Softball Tournament this weekend, we experience a brief pause on our campus before a deceptively quiet summer of planning for the fall term. Our schedules never really slow down, given the urgency to keep enrollment strong, fundraising reliable, and students well prepared. The world our graduates face as career professionals is not leisurely, and so neither can we afford to be in guiding them.

 

Summer on the Virginia Wesleyan Campus also brings the arrival of campers and guests who have the opportunity to experience our beautiful 300 wooded acres in many and varied ways. We’re delighted to share our campus with them and hope that their experiences at Virginia Wesleyan are memorable. Members of our incoming freshman class will visit in June for new student orientation and students enrolled in summer school will continue their studies as they earn credits that move them closer to their desired degrees.

 

I plan to share my messages of note with you weekly during the summer months and resume my daily communication when the fall semester begins in late August. I wish all of you an enjoyable summer season filled with opportunities to follow your passions and accomplish your goals.

Only the third two-time ODAC Player of the Year in league history! Congratulations to Virginia Wesleyan College's Josh Currier!

Check out the player leaderboard at the NCAA National Golf Championship. Go Evan!

Nota Bene: Congratulations to the Class of 2016!

May 12, 2016

Congratulations to the Class of 2016! On Saturday, May 14, Virginia Wesleyan College will hold its 47th Commencement Ceremony when approximately 325 graduates will march into the Jane P. Batten Student Center to receive degrees -- Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Social Work. It will be a day to celebrate this major accomplishment and to wish them well as they begin the next phase of their lives.

Delivering the Commencement address to the VWC Class of 2016 is Director of the Peace Corps and global public health leader Carrie Hessler-Radelet. She will be introduced by the first VWC student to graduate as part of Virginia Wesleyan's Peace Corps Prep Program, Mindy Bertram ’16, who begins her own Peace Corps service in Cameroon on May 24.

We will recognize Ms. Hessler-Radelet and Virginia Wesleyan College Trustee Emeritus George Y. Birdsong with honorary degrees, and present four awards to distinguished VWC faculty—the Samuel Nelson Gray Distinguished Teaching Award, the Frank and Jane P. Batten Distinguished Scholar Award, the Service and Community Engagement Award, and the UMC General Board of Higher Education and Ministry 2016 Exemplary Teacher Award. The event will be live streamed at portal.stretchinternet.com/vwc/ and simulcast in Boyd Dining Center during the ceremony.

As I shared on Monday, an Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony will take place at Boyd Dining Center Plaza at 1 p.m. following Commencement. In the event of inclement weather, the Commissioning Ceremony will take place in Monumental Chapel.

Our Commencement Ceremony will be preceded by a Baccalaureate Service on Friday, May 13, at 7:30 p.m. at Heritage United Methodist Church. The Rev. F.H. "Hank" Teague, Pastor of Grace United Methodist Church, will serve as guest speaker, and a pre-service concert will be performed by VWC’s SOAR Worship Team and Gospel Choir at 7:10 p.m.

For more information, visit www.vwc.edu/commencement.

I wish all of our graduates the very best as they embark on new careers or continue their education.

Enjoyable evening with alumni and friends at Wesleyan Wednesday at Shore Break Pizza in Virginia Beach

Today, we conducted the final Board of Trustees meeting with Gary Bonnewell '79 as the Chair of the Board of Trustees. Gary is the first alumnus of the College to serve as the Board Chair. When the Board reconvenes in the fall, we will welcome David Kaufman as the Chair of the Board.

At the conclusion of today's Virginia Wesleyan College Board of Trustees meeting, Gary Bonnewell '79, Chair of the Board of Trustees, and I recognized John Trinder as he retires from the Board. In recognition of his many years of loyal service, the Trustees named John Trustee Emeritus. John has had a significant impact on the College's athletics programs. Through his leadership and support, the Trinder Center and Foster Field opened in 1998 to provide a home for the men's and women's lacrosse and men's and women's soccer teams.

At the conclusion of today's Virginia Wesleyan College Board of Trustees meeting, Gary Bonnewell '79, Chair of the Board of Trustees, and I recognize Elizabeth Middleton as she retires from the Board. In recognition of her many years of loyal service, the Trustees named Elizabeth "Trustee Emeritus." Elizabeth graduated from VWC in 1991 with a B.A. in Art.

Nota Bene: Senior Student Art Show

May 11, 2016

I hope you’ve had the chance to visit the Neil Britton Art Gallery to view the works on display as part of the “Face Youself Senior Art Show.” Nine Virginia Wesleyan seniors have debuted their final art as part of this impressive two-part exhibition.

Part II of the show, on display now, features work by Jonathan Gonzalez, Rebecca Hackworth, Samantha Jackson, Kade Kozma, and Kayla Skeete, in the mediums of clay sculpture, photography, mixed media, installation and animation. The exhibit opened May 3 and will remain on display through May 16. Part I debuted April 14-29, with work by seniors Nuvia De La O, Taylor Galvin, Alison Gonzalez, and Matt Springer.

Special thanks to Professor of Art  Sharon Swift, Coordinator of Art Exhibitions John Rudel, and the VWC Art Department for guiding our students toward this final showcase and creating a valuable opportunity for them to exhibit in a highly professional setting.

Congratulations to our emerging artists, and thank you for sharing your incredible talents with all of us in this very personal and public way.