Today
I bring you greetings from the historic Homestead Resort in Hot
Springs, Virginia, where Trustees of the Virginia Foundation for
Independent Colleges (VFIC) are gathered for their annual meeting.
VFIC
is an important organization that works to advance the distinctive
values and strengths of 15 selective residential liberal arts colleges
in Virginia (learn more at vfic.org).
I will serve on a panel with a number of VFIC presidents to discuss key
issues in the Commonwealth and beyond. Our Provost and Vice President,
Tim O'Rourke, will serve on a panel regarding academic issues at private
colleges in the state. VFIC has been a wonderful partner with Virginia
Wesleyan for many years. A good many VWU Trustees and friends have
served in the past and continue to serve on the VFIC Board.
# # #
Construction
is progressing on campus on a variety of projects. After falling
several weeks behind as a result of heavy rain throughout the spring,
the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center is now back on
schedule for an early 2019 grand opening. It was fun to show off
progress this week to Martha Goode, daughter of the building's namesake.
Love of the arts runs in the family for the Goodes. Martha graduated
from Boston University with a degree in technical production and sound
design, and she worked with Virginia Wesleyan on its 2014 production of
"39 Steps." Follow progress on the Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center
through our live construction cam.
The new East Gate entrance is completed at our outdoor athletic complex (off Baker Road) and the Marlin Way
street sign is up at the Smith Drive intersection. East Gate is a
secure entrance, but will be open to the public during larger outdoor
athletic contests and events in the Jane P. Batten Student Center.
The
new parking lot at Perry Field is completed and in full use. Additional
piping, grading, and seeding is being completed at the outdoor athletic
complex. And renovation of the Bell Tower began this week and is
expected to be completed in September.
Accolades continue for our
Greer Environmental Sciences Center. The Society for College and
University Planning (SCUP) and AIA Committee on Architecture for
Education have honored the GESC with a Merit Award for Excellence in
Architecture for a New Building. Read more on the SCUP website and also on VMDO architects’ blog.
# # #
Virginia Wesleyan softball is larger than life! Adams Outdoor Advertising in Norfolk has put up several billboards
throughout Hampton Roads recognizing our back-to-back national
champions. Many special thanks to our friends at Adams—Jessie Andersen,
Ryan Saul, and Kaitlin Holbrook—for making this possible. Jessie is a
former Virginia Wesleyan student and lifelong Marlin fan, and his
daughter has attended VWU softball camps for 10 years!
By now you should have received an invitation to FanFest with the Champs,
a meet and greet for Marlin softball fans. The event will take place
next Thursday, June 14, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Shorebreak Pizza and
Taphouse on Shore Drive. Come by and visit with Coach Elliott and some
players and have your picture taken with the 2017 and 2018 championship
trophies!
# # #
In case you missed it, WAVY-TV 10 shared a touching video tribute
this week about our retiring athletic director, entitled "Joanne Renn's
legacy of success at Virginia Wesleyan." For 25 years, Coach Renn has
been a driving force behind the achievements of VWU athletics, and she
leaves a tremendous legacy here at VWU. Her successor, Tina Hill, joins
us on July 1.
In my Sunday column in The Virginian-Pilot, which
comes on the heels of commencement season, I discuss the benefits of
higher education. The research is clear that broad liberal arts skills
not only remain in demand by employers but also add value to employees’
long-term versatility and marketability. I hope you'll read more in, “What is the value of a college education?”
In
other media news, special kudos to Tiffany Williams, Director of
Stewardship and Special Gifts in our Center for Advancement, who is
featured front and center among local "Millennials on the Move" in the
June/July issue of CoVa Biz
magazine. In each of her professional and civic undertakings, Tiffany
has consistently given back to, or helped to build, her surrounding
community. She is indeed a young professional "on the move," and we are
proud to have her on the Virginia Wesleyan University team!
# # #
Campus
is bustling with activity. Summer Session is underway, and as I
mentioned recently, we have seen a significant 54-percent increase in
enrollment compared to last year. This week the Tidewater Summer League
(college-aged baseball players from around the country) returned for its
third year at VWU. Tidewater Collegiate Academy is completing its first
full year on campus and will soon begin its 2018 Summer Camp. Several of our athletic programs are offering summer camps as well, and YMCA Camp Red Feather
begins on campus later this month. And our acclaimed Opus program,
which offers meaningful summer employment for students, continues with its second
year.
These are exciting times at Virginia Wesleyan. We appreciate all you do for the University and our students.
