Beautiful day for a peaceful stroll on the Virginia Wesleyan College quad.

More national honors for Virginia Wesleyan College softball.

Nota Bene: Spring 2016 President's List

May 27, 2016

 

Congratulations to the 76 students who have been named to the Spring 2016 President's List!

 

The President’s List recognizes students who earn a grade point average of 4.0 during a given semester. To qualify for this honor, students must have full-time status and have taken 12 semester hours of traditionally graded courses. These individuals demonstrate a remarkable level of dedication to their academic pursuits and should be proud of this accomplishment. Well done!

 

Spring 2016 Virginia Wesleyan College President’s List

Ashlee C. Anderson	Valerie G. Miller
Sarah C. Antozzi	Summer R. Moore
Aaron L. Aranda	Connor T. Pederson
Rachel A. Bays	Kathleen M. Peloquin
Justin A. Bloom	Ashley N. Peterson
Julia J. Boshouwers	Emma L. Phillips
Britany M. Brandon	R K. Phillips
Katie C. Brooks	Elizabeth C. Pingenot
Myles E. Brooks	Jessica C. Pittman
Maurica D. Bynum	Sarah M. Puchalla
Emilee K. Caldbeck	Maurice Reed
LeMar Callaway III	Stephanie M. Reidell
David . Caraballo	Kimberly A. Robillard
Leanne M. Causby	Kelsi P. Robins
Jalea D. Cherry	Laura E. Robusto
Cassie B. Conley	Antonio Santiago III
Christina L. Daigle	Tenley M. Scott
Shania M. Dineen	Craig M. Sheridan
Stacie A. Doughtie	Ashley N. Sibley
Taylor R. Doughtie	Thomas A. Simmons
Keane J. Dye	Kayla R. Skeete
Aaron W. Edwards	Samantha T. Small
Amber R. Gaines	Samuel J. Smart
Alison J. Gonzalez	Jonathon R. Smith
Marlan E. Hare IV	Jordan W. Sprouse
Ashley J. Hartley	Ariel N. Stevens
Courtney L. Herrick	Jake Q. Stokke
Nicholas G. Hipple	Haley J. Stromberg
Denisha M. Howard	Emily C. Testroet
Makayla E. Kelley	Madison M. Thomer
Ashley A. Kline	Rachel C. Tolley
Katy J. Kopaskey	Brooke R. Totzeck
Tiffany J. Lennon	Morgan L. Trent
Patricia A. Lopez	Joy S. Vernon
Melanie Sue D. Lorenzo	William J. Virgili
Trevor J. Maloney	Brittany L. Wentzel
Stephanie N. Mathieu	Jared N. White
Robert A. McComb	Tayler L. Wilson

The President’s List  is also on our website.

Enjoyed hosting Macon and Joan Brock on campus today. It was an honor to recognize Joan as a Trustee Emeritus. Joan served on the President’s Advisory Council from 1996 to 1999, the Board of Trustees from 1999 to 2006, and was Chair of the Board of Trustees from 2001 to 2004. Joan’s uncle, Douglas McIntyre, served as the College’s first registrar and was a member of the faculty for 25 years. Her father, Kenneth R. Perry, served on the Board of Trustees from 1991 until his death in 2004.

With Dr. Andrew Seligsohn, President of Campus Compact, at today's lunch at the Executive Mansion in Richmond.

Lunch with Virginia First Lady Dorothy S. McAuliffe and Robert Lambeth, President of the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia, at the Executive Mansion in Richmond. The topic -- the College Compact on National Service.

Virginia Wesleyan College senior outfielder Courtney Bogan earned CoSIDA Academic All-American Third Team honors as the teams were announced today. Bogan, a native of Round Hill, Virginia, recently graduated with a degree in psychology after compiling a 3.54 GPA. A force on the field as well, Bogan led the nation with 70 steals and set the school, and Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), record with 173 career steals. She earned All-ODAC First Team and All-Atlantic Region First Team accolades for her performance. She finished the year with a .417 batting average and a team-leading 57 runs scored. Bogan is the fourth CoSIDA Academic All-American in program history, joining Alison Mazur, Mandy Nixon, and most recently, Tori Higginbotham in 2014.

Kudos to Cassetty!

This month's chapter from Presidential Perspectives -- edited by Marylouise Fennell and me: http://www.presidentialperspectives.org/current_chapter.asp

Today's edition of "@vawesleyan": http://conta.cc/27HqWHD

Nota Bene: Weekly Update

May 20, 2016

This week brings the opportunity to share information on several topics:

2016-17 Administrative/Staff Holiday Calendar
For planning purposes, I'm sharing the 2016-2017 Administrative/Staff Holiday Calendar. For the most part, the College will be closed for business on these dates. Offices and departments that have critical deadlines and responsibilities during these times may adjust work schedules accordingly. I hope this is helpful to you as you plan ahead for the upcoming academic year.

Successful Streaming of our 47th Commencement Ceremony
I am happy to report the overwhelming success of the internet streaming of our 47th Commencement Ceremony—a first for Virginia Wesleyan College. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Sun Trust, we were able to make this opportunity possible.

Many people contributed to the success of this event. Here are a few:

Cody Clifton, Director of Sports Information, offered his expertise in planning the technology and services used to produce the broadcast. His experience with streaming our Marlin athletic games was critical.

John Aird, Senior Technologist /IT Project Manager ensured the successful operation of the video stream in the Boyd Dining Hall. John also helped shore-up the wireless capacity for our guests- over 1200 devices were connected in the Batten Convocation Center during commencement.

Robbie Adams, a colleague of Cody who often volunteers to help broadcast Marlin games, stepped in to manage the live streaming broadcast.

Suzanne Savage, Associate Vice President for Advancement, for securing Sun Trust's sponsorship--the key to getting this ball rolling.

In the end, I am told that nearly 500 connections were made to the streaming event. I heard a report from our own Lindsay Sands ’16, Student Accounts Supervisor, telling us her aunt was able to watch her graduate from her hospital bed. Her story really answered the question of whether or not this was worth the effort. Stories like this and others will continue to drive the need to offer and improve this valuable service for our Wesleyan community.

Alpha Sigma Lambda Induction Ceremony
On May 12, I had the pleasure of attending the induction ceremony for Alpha Sigma Lambda, a society that stands as an inspiration for adult students who are continuing their scholastic growth. That evening, twelve new members were inducted into this distinguished society that was founded in 1945 at Northwestern University by Dr. Rollin Posey. Congratulations to the following students who have adroitly handled life responsibilities while maintaining high scholastic standards:

Julia Allen
Marcia Boomer
Tamika Demiel
Aimee Haywood
Mary McCarthy
Bryon Miller
Michelle Neal
David O’Rork
Michelle Sanderson
Jesus Santos
Ruth Virgilio
Charlene Washington

In addition, our associate dean for academic support, Debbie Hicks, was inducted into the society as an honorary member-- a well-deserved honor indeed.

I enjoyed visiting Landstown High School today. David Waggoner, Vice President of Enrollment, Suzanne Savage, Associate Vice President for Advancement, and I met with Lisette Diehl, Academy Coordinator for the Governor's STEM & Technology Academy, and Jerry Deviney, Acting Principal. A wonderful lunch was prepared by the culinary arts students.

Informative visit and tour today at LifeNet Health corporate headquarters in Virginia Beach. Coordinating our visit was Doug Wilson '86, Executive Vice President, who introduced us to Rony Thomas, President & CEO, and Craig Vick, Vice President of Human Resources. Joining me for the visit were Dr. Mort Gamble, Vice President for Advancement, and Suzanne Savage, Associate Vice President for Advancement.

Great spring season for Virginia Wesleyan College athletics. Kudos coaches & athletes: http://conta.cc/27At5EZ

Groundbreaking set for June 2 for the 90 store outlet mall at the end of Wesleyan Drive: http://pilotonline.com/inside-business/groundbreaking-set-for-june-for-norfolk-premium-outlets/article_b54ff266-5167-5922-bed5-658b2689ac7e.html

With Peter Blake, head of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), at a reception at The Lee House (President's Residence) at Washington & Lee University tonight.

Enjoyed serving on a higher education panel addressing "High Quality Learning" before the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) today. Pictured with our panel co-presenters Bradley Bateman, President of Randolph College, and David Bushman, President of Bridgewater College.

We salute Clay Jones, who was commissioned to Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army following Commencement.

Congratulations to the Class of 2016!

Check out the story and link to Flickr photo gallery with images from yesterday's event on Virginia Wesleyan College's website.

Photos of VWC's 2016 Commencement also appeared on The Virginian-Pilot's website.

Flickr gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/virginiawesleyancollege/sets/72157665973600523/

Special Commencement is underway for six members of the Class of 2016 that played on the Virginia Wesleyan College softball team. Due to the structure of the NCAA Regional Tournament and NCAA rules, the six were unable to take part in yesterday's Commencement festivities. So in true Virginia Wesleyan College style, complete with a full house crowd in Pearce, we're having Commencement for six very special young ladies. They finished the regular season as the top ranked team nationally in NCAA Division III softball.

At the end of the fourth inning of today's NCAA Division III Regional Softball Game, Virginia Wesleyan College recognized our NCAA Division III National Golf Champion Evan Cox. A sophomore from Ashland, Kentucky, Evan (second from left) and I are joined by Executive Director of Athletics Joanne Renn and Head Men's and Women's Golf Coach Bryan Hearn.

We honored long-time friend and benefactor George Birdsong, CEO of Birdsong Peanuts, with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

With trustees, faculty, honorees and friends before the start of Commencement.

The start of Commencement through the lens of The Virginian-Pilot. Approximately 326 joined the ranks of Virginia Wesleyan College alumni today.

Head coach Bryan Hearn, Athletic Director Joanne Renn with a late night congratulatory welcome home for NCAA Division III National Golf Champion Evan Cox.

A beautiful day in Coastal Virginia for today's Virginia Wesleyan College Commencement.

With Clay Drees, Professor of History, and Commencement Speaker Carrie Hessler-Radelet, Director of the Peace Corps, at the reception in honor of the speaker Friday night.

Our national champion!

Congratulations to Virginia Wesleyan's Evan Cox -- NCAA National Golf Champion!

Congratulations to the newest members of Alpha Sigma Lambda, a national honor society for students in continuing education. Dr. Timothy O'Rourke, Vice President for Academic Affairs (standing right), joins me for a picture with new ASL members that will be graduating Saturday. They include: Standing, from left -- Tamika Demiel, Mary McCarthy, and Catherine Schweitzer. Sitting, Charlene Washington, Marcia Boomer, and Jesus Santos.

It's "Ride Your Bike To Work Day" at Virginia Wesleyan College.

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.

Nota Bene: New Alumni Council Chair

May 10, 2016

I recently visited with the Virginia Wesleyan College Alumni Association, sharing my thoughts on current progress and future initiatives. It was also an opportunity for us to recognize our current Alumni Association (a.k.a. Alumni Council) chair as she nears completion of her term and look to the future with our new chair.

Amy Mallet Rickard '98, a communications major and the client services manager for AEG, has served for six years on the Alumni Association Board of Directors, the last two as chair.  She has provided exceptional leadership and passion for her alma mater. She will remain on the the Alumni Council for a transition year.

Mavis McKenley '11 will assume the role of Chair of the Alumni Board of Directors, effective on July 1.  Mavis is a graduate of the Adult Studies Program, with a degree in business. She is currently with AMG National Trust Bank as Vice President & Trust Officer.  

During the Alumni Board Meeting, this spring, Amy and Mavis led a great discussion to help focus the Alumni Board's strategic plan on goals to increase alumni participation in giving and overall engagement with the College.

Many thanks to Amy and Mavis for their willingness to support Virginia Wesleyan College in this very important role. And thank you to all of the members of the Alumni Board for their service and commitment to VWC. 

Nota Bene: Annual President's Review and Awards Ceremony for U.S. Army ROTC

May 9, 2016

 

This spring, I attended the Annual President’s Review and Awards Ceremony for the U.S. Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Battalion at Old Dominion University. Our Virginia Wesleyan cadets are a part of this battalion and I’m proud to share that three of our students were honored with awards at this event.
 

Congratulations to Hebo Dramou, a sophomore at VWC who won the National Sojourners Award, Rolanda Taylor, VWC sophomore who won the Society of the War of 1812 Award, and Clay Jones, VWC senior who walked away with three recognitions.  Clay received the Outstanding VWC Cadet Award and the George C. Marshall Award. In addition, he was recognized as a Distinguished Military Graduate during the ceremony.

 

Clay will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army on May 14 at 1:00 p.m. in a ceremony on our campus near the statue of John Wesley immediately following our Commencement Service. Please join us in celebrating this worthy accomplishment.

 

We can all be proud of our Marlin Detachment and their accomplishments and contributions as our country’s future military leaders. Thanks to Amy Rush, who has served as the VWC advisor to the Army ROTC Marlin Detachment since 2012.

Scott Miller: New overtime rules will hobble colleges http://fw.to/m1FjNJS

Keith Moore (Vice President for Student Affairs) and I enjoyed hosting officers of the Student Government Association for a year end lunch in the Princess Anne Room.

Discussion of partnership opportunities with Jonathan C. Zur, President & CEO of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC), and Kelly Jackson, Associate Director of the VWC Center for the Study of Religious Freedom.

Midnight Breakfast for finals week!

Nota Bene: VCHC Spring Honors Conference

May 5, 2016

It’s my pleasure to share with you that Dr. Joyce Easter, Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Honors & Scholars Program, has been elected to another three-year term as secretary-treasurer for the Virginia's Collegiate Honors Council (VCHC)—a position she’s held for the past six years. The VCHC joins higher education institutions throughout Virginia and West Virginia to support and enhance programs and activities for exceptionally talented and motivated students.

And speaking of exceptional talent, Joyce shared with me that three Virginia Wesleyan students presented original research as part of the VCHC Spring Honors Conference, held April 15-16 at Lynchburg College. She tells me that their presentation skills were strong, and that each student was poised, professional and confident.

Congratulations to our 2016 VCHC Spring Conference presenters:

Seth Antozzi ’17
Modeling possible retrofits to East Hall using BEOpt
Major: Mathematics
Course: “Energy and the Environment” (EES 320)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Garry Noe

Ashley Peterson ’17
The survival of the Mayan world: How architecture contributes to the lifespan of Mayan structures
Course: “Seminar in Latin Culture” (SPAN 313)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Risk

Taylor McIntosh ’17
The Positive Effects of Recreational Programming on At-Risk Youth
Major: Recreation and Leisure Studies—Management Track
Course: Independent Research
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Doug Kennedy

The Virginian-Pilot article about Virginia Wesleyan softball's No. 1 national ranking: http://pilotonline.com/sports/college/elsewhere/virginia-wesleyan-softball-rises-to-no-in-nation/article_f93e90ef-3942-54a2-a860-072089ea444c.html

Such an honor to present the Norfolk Sports Club Award to Virginia Wesleyan College's Athlete of the Year -- three-time (soon to be four) lacrosse All-American Josh Currier (Peterborough, Ontario).

The photo album from this afternoon's Employee Appreciation Reception recognizing service to the College ranging from 10 to 35 years: https://www.flickr.com/gp/virginiawesleyancollege/mm2601

As we finish our first year at Virginia Wesleyan, Annie and I enjoyed dinner with some of our first year faculty. Thanks to all of the Virginia Wesleyan Family for the warm welcome!

Enjoyed being with Isabel Presas (President), Don Bersing and Walt North at the Rotary Club of Town Center Virginia Beach today during their meeting. Served as today's Rotary Speaker. On Friday, Walt presented The Rotary Club of Town Center Virginia Beach Citizenship Award to VWC senior, Brooke Totzeck, during the College's spring honors convocation.

The Virginia Wesleyan College Commencement Ceremony on May 14 will be streamed live. Those interested can follow the link below and view the event in real time.

http://portal.stretchinternet.com/vwc/

This link will take you to our live streaming page as shown below. If the event page does not appear showing the graduation link, click on the "live events" tab to show a list of upcoming events. Once you see the event in the list, look to the right where you will see a "TV" icon under the Watch/Listen/Stats section. Once you click the "TV" icon, the live feed should pop up and start playing. You can test this link anytime, but the live event feed will not appear until 15 minutes before the event. This process is the same for mobile devices.

In addition, the event will also be simulcast in Boyd Dining Center for guests on campus during the actual ceremony. It will be stored and may be viewed at a later date as well. Just use the link above and select the "On Demand" tab for the list of recorded events.

 

Senior art major Rebecca Hackworth (far right), junior art major Erika Wright, art professor Philip Guilfoyle, and President Scott Miller pictured with a glass marlin created by local artist Robin Rogers and VWC students and alumni at an April 20th demonstration for alumni and guests at the Chrysler Museum Glass Studio.

Virginia Wesleyan College unanimous No.1 in NCFC Division III national softball poll:

May 4, 2016

I had the pleasure recently of attending "Feathers in Your Cap: A Celebration of Faculty Work” in Hofheimer Library. The event recognized Virginia Wesleyan faculty, adjunct professors, librarians, and staff who in the last year have published a book or professional publication, obtained a grant, and received tenure and/or promotion. I was impressed by both the quality and quantity of work displayed, and I am honored to work among extraordinarily talented faculty who are so strongly committed to excellence in both teaching and scholarship.

On display were works and accomplishments by:

Kevin Adams                              Kevin Kittredge
The late Tina Aldrich                  Susan Larkin
Soraya Bartol                             Stephen Leist
Thomas Brown                           Terry Lindvall
Kathleen Casey                          Elizabeth Malcolm
Leslie Caughell                           Audrey Malagon
Patty Clark                                  Travis Malone
Annette Clayton                          Alison Marganski
Steven Emmanuel                      Taryn Myers
Jenny Erdmann                          Garry Noe
Sue Erickson                              Lisa Lyon Payne
Paul Ewell                                  Wayne Pollock
Hilve Firek                                  Randi Sachs
Alain Gabon                               Maynard Schaus
Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson       Sara Sewell
Phil Guilfoyle                              Kathy Stolley
Ben Haller                                  Jill Sturts
Stephen Hock                            Sharon Swift
Kellie Holzer                               Vivian Teter
Kathy Merlock Jackson              Victor Townsend
Eric Johnson                              Susan Wansink
Doug Kennedy                           Tripp York

 

Thank you to Kathy Stolley, Associate Dean for Innovative Teaching and Engaged Learning, and Jenny Erdmann, Research Librarian, for coordinating this celebratory occasion.

"Day One" from our Center for Innovative Teaching and Engaged Learning: http://www.vwc.edu/academics/intel/day-one.php

Amazing week in Virginia Wesleyan College sports: http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1117322954070&ca=0f66b094-8b2e-4082-9077-dfb006cc0ffc

Virginia Wesleyan College softball -- ODAC Champions!