Summer at Virginia Wesleyan is off to a busy start! The first segment of our Summer Session begins today and preparations are in full swing to welcome the Class of 2023 to campus next month for Marlin Nation Orientation.
As we gear up for summer and close the chapter on spring, I am proud to share the Spring 2019 President's List, which recognizes full-time students who earned a 4.0 grade point average last semester. To qualify for this honor, students must have taken nine semester hours of traditionally graded courses and have no grades of F or incomplete. This achievement signifies a tremendous amount of hard work and focus, and it is truly an academic accomplishment to be celebrated. A reception will be held in the fall to honor these outstanding students. Congratulations!
Spring 2019 President's List
| Sydnie Allen | Brandon Foster | Sarah Ramsey |
| Ryan Applewhite | Kathryn Gerrish | Mickella Rast |
| Kollin Baer | Mary Gower | Justin Robins |
| Alyssa Balanta | Jayla Harris | Kristina Sabelstrom |
| Kelly Bateman | Michael Harrison | Brianna Sandy |
| Daniel Becerra | Hayley Heath | Kristina Scott |
| Alaina Bolieau | Ezekiel Herrera-Bevan | Tomika Sims |
| Aramynta Borga | Kerstin Holman | Kennedy Skala |
| Morgan Boyd | Abigail Horgan | Adam Smedley |
| Elizabeth Britton | Zachary Hubbard | Serena Smith |
| Mary Brockenbrough | Sindy Jessup | Myles Stevens |
| Katherine Burton | Ann Johnson | Jessica Suter |
| Taylor Cain | Destiny Kinka | Millie Taylor |
| Emilee Caldbeck | Ashley Kline | Emily Testroet |
| Terra Caple | Miah Kurtz | Lauren Topper |
| Jacklyn Cheely | Kelly Larson | Caroline Tryfiates |
| Annika Christenson | Skyler Lattuca | Kelci Vandiver |
| Michelle Clark | Christina Lehner | Maribel Veras |
| Taylor Coutts | Marie Lerch | Elizabeth Vincent |
| Zoe Cruz | Kelsey Malana | Keith Wallace |
| Ajanea Davis | Mayanni McCourty | Cecilia Ward |
| Daria Ellis | Amber McDonald | Gillian Warrington |
| Brooke Erickson | Kaja McKnight | Kerri Wasko |
| Haleigh Espada | Ana Dominique Nakagomi | Ashlyn Watts |
| Lora Fara | Emily Nutting | Lindsay Weitzel |
| Christopher Fegan | Stephany Pearson | Jenna Whitener |
| Meghan Fentress | Lukas Pfister | Hannah Zimmerman |
| Melissa Fisher | Alex Powers | Victoria Zuppa |
ET CETERA
Dr. Mark Hanshaw, Associate General Secretary, Division of Higher Education, General Board of Higher Education & Ministry of The United Methodist Church, sends along the following update:
This period of unprecedented upheaval and change continues to present challenges for our institutions. Over the past week, one school disaffiliated, while another resolved to remain with the denomination to offer a positive voice for change.
On May 17, the board of trustees of the University of Mount Union voted to disaffiliate from the UMC. However, the university administration reaffirmed its commitment to maintain an active religious life component of campus programming and remain engaged with peer United Methodist institutions of higher learning going forward. Read the full statement here.
During the same period, Drew University confirmed its commitment to remain affiliated with The United Methodist Church, while noting that it "will not support or enforce church policies that discriminate against anyone." Read the full statement here.
Methodist higher education has had a rocky spring. Baldwin Wallace University and the University of Mount Union have announced disaffiliation, Ohio Wesleyan University and Otterbein University have "hit pause" in their relationship with the Church, and four other UMC institutions are waiting until the fall to make a decision. Green Mountain College and Hiwassee College have announced their closures this summer, Bennett College has lost its accreditation, and Iowa Wesleyan University will soon announce a merger with another institution.
AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS
Three longtime faculty members, Dr. Robert Albertson, Professor of Management, Business and Economics (40 years of service), Mr. David Garraty, Professor of Management, Business, and Economics (40 years of service), and Dr. Mavel Velasco, Professor of Hispanic Studies (32 years of service), were honored at a luncheon and commemorative tree-planting ceremony in the Wilson Arboretum. Read more here.
In addition to the many Commencement activities, last weekend we also hosted the Girls on the Run Hampton Roads' Shine Bright 5K Celebration on our campus.
Congratulations to two Virginia Wesleyan softball team members named All-Americans by the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association (NFCA). Hanna Hull earned her third-straight First Team mention and Julia Sinnett garnered Third Team honors. Read more here.
It was an honor to be the guest of Top Guard Security at the Better Business Bureau Torch Awards for Ethics at the Doubletree in Norfolk. Congratulations to good friends Nicole (President) and Chris Stuart (Vice President), winner of the award for businesses with over 175 employees. It was wonderful to visit with BBB President and CEO Rosemary Nye, a 1979 graduate of Virginia Wesleyan University.
Last week I attended the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center President's Circle Awards Luncheon. It was nice visiting with Lee and Leslie Entsminger at the event. Lee is President of the Virginia Aquarium Foundation Board of Trustees on which I serve.
"The essence of a coach," Virginia Wesleyan's Richard "Snake" Drake has been mentoring young people for almost 70 years. Read all about "VWU's secret weapon" in The Daily Press.
As I mentioned above, our summer term begins today, and it is not too late to enroll. Let VWU help you get ahead or catch up. For more information, visit the Summer Session website.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM MY WEEKEND READING
Sobering commentary from my good friend John Lawlor, publisher of Lawlor Focus -- Focusing on the Art and Science of Marketing for Higher Education, in his May 2019 article "Higher Education's Price Creates Real Consternation."
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REFLECTIONS
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PRESIDENTIAL EVENTS
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Have a great week!
