Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

November 8, 2021

Good morning,

Congratulations to VWU Women's Soccer, the 2021 Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament Champions! The Marlins played brilliantly all week, defeating Roanoke on Tuesday, Washington & Lee on Friday, and then finally the University of Lynchburg on Sunday for the title.

Four Marlin players earned spots on the All-Tournament team: Kennedi Anders, Olivia Bryant, Amruta Karkare, and Sam Crawford, who was also named the Most Outstanding Player.

The Marlins now await their seeding in the NCAA Tournament. Way to go!

During the month of October, the 2021 Marlin Family Campaign for Faculty and Staff, Be the Ripple That Starts the Wave, provided more evidence that the Virginia Wesleyan family cares deeply about the future of our University. The campaign to date has achieved $45,445 from 140 faculty and staff members. We are humbled by your kindness and generosity.

I want to give a special thank you to our faculty and staff building chairs for their efforts in helping us during the campaign: Elaine Aird ’96, Chris Francis, Linda Ferguson, Randy Lott, Michelle Vachris, Trey Delpo ’17, and Jason Seward ‘05.

This year we were excited to offer an exclusive VWU tumbler to help incentivize giving. Faculty and staff who gave at least $50 are eligible for a tumbler. The Trinder Center for Advancement has been busy delivering the VWU tumblers, but if you have not received yours, please stop by the second floor of Godwin Hall to pick it up.

If you are still deciding on your commitment, we hope you’ll join us in creating change by making a pledge, a gift by cash or check, or a schedule of payroll deduction. For more information on the campaign, please contact Veronica Callahan, Assistant Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations.

Veterans Day is observed every year on November 11, commemorating the end of the First World War. The day has always had special meaning for me as my father served in the Second World War. Before he passed away, my father didn’t speak much about his experience, but he carried it with him every day. It’s a burden shared by so many, especially in the Coastal Virginia community, and honoring Veterans Day is a small way that we can say, “Thank you,” to those who have given so much.

Our annual Veterans Day commemoration will take place this Thursday at noon near the Veterans Memorial Monument at Godwin Hall lawn. Our guest speaker will be Gavin Steel, Class of 2019, Second Lieutenant in the Army National Guard, currently with Alpha Company 1-116th IBCT. While a Marlin student, Lt. Steel was very involved on campus, serving as captain of the cross country/track & field teams, a peer advisor, a student ambassador, a residence life assistant, and more.

Lt. Steel was also a member of Marlin Company, VWU’s Army ROTC program which operates as part of the Monarch Battalion. LTC Camala Coats and MSG Karina Rodriguez of the Monarch Battalion visited campus recently, and it was great to connect with them once again. During our meeting, I introduced them to members of the VWU staff who now support Marlin Company and Veterans Affairs: (from left) Heather Campbell, Vice President for Enrollment; Marion Hibbler, Director of Lifelong Learning; Jennifer Sands, VA School Certifying Official/Financial Aid Counselor; and Courtney Knudsen, First-Year Advisor.

Learn more about the Army ROTC program at Virginia Wesleyan and make plans to join us for our Veterans Day commemoration this Thursday at noon.

ET CETERA

The Princeton Review recently affirmed what we already know: Virginia Wesleyan University is one of the nation's most environmentally responsible colleges. The education services company features VWU in its most recent edition of The Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges: 2022 Edition.

It is so appropriate that VWU is recognized as a national leader on this topic. Our commitment goes beyond our beautiful 300-acre park-like campus in Virginia Beach. We are distinctively unique in two very important ways: the mission and vision of our honors college and the investment of our full endowment in an environmentally friendly way.

Virginia Wesleyan University is deeply committed to studying and enhancing sustainability within the campus, the community, and the world. The state-of-the-art Greer Environmental Sciences Center received the “Conservationist of the Year” award from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in 2018. The Gardens at the Greer are a spacious living instructional landscape maintained through a partnership with nearby Norfolk Botanical Garden. The 18-acre Wilson Arboretum was established in 1995. The 12-acre Beech Forest, a rare example of an old-growth stand of beech trees, was designated a Natural Heritage Resource by the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1992. The campus features over 13 miles of biking and hiking paths and trails. Through private funding, the University has completed a comprehensive stormwater management system including nearly seven miles of underground distribution chambers and four new ponds. Through a partnership with the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, the University jointly owns and operates a research vessel, The Ocean Explorer. VWU’s Batten Honors College includes as a part of its mission: “to inspire, engage, and prepare academically talented students to become leaders, environmental stewards, and impactful citizens in the global community.”

In 2021, VWU received a series of private gifts increasing its endowment to $123.5 million. Of those funds, $80.2 million are designated for the endowment of the Batten Honors College, a competitive residential program of the University with a focus on environmental stewardship, global engagement, and leadership. The entire endowment for the Batten Honors College has been invested following environmental, social, and governance criteria with Brown Advisory of Baltimore, Maryland. Last month, the VWU Board of Trustees voted to invest all funds in an environmentally friendly way with Brown Advisory no later than June 30, 2022.

Sustainability efforts at Virginia Wesleyan "reflect a larger commitment to ethical conduct and social responsibility through environmental stewardship and education." In 2020, the Board of Trustees adopted “Environmental Guiding Principles” to be embedded in the permanent institutional mindset for future planning.

Our highly selective, nationally distinct Batten Honors College has entered a new selection year. Of the 147 honors colleges nationwide, initial indications show that the Batten Honors College may be the only honors college with a focus in environmental stewardship. From the students to curriculum to the graduation requirements, our program is truly a national niche for VWU.

One of the exciting parts of the Batten Honors College is our student selection process. It’s an opportunity for us to meet top candidates, ascertain their interest in our University, and determine their fit with this program. We do this through a series of three competitions for the Batten Honors College. Of all the students interested in the program, only three percent are invited to compete.

Last week, we welcomed the first of three competition groups for next fall's cohort. Our first group of competitors was impressive in so many ways, not only academically but also in their co-curricular interests, civic engagement and leadership activities.

Out of a pool of 30,000 eligible candidates, one-tenth of that group is deemed eligible in meeting preliminary requirements for the program. Approximately 120 students are invited to compete for the highly coveted seats. We are so glad to have the best and brightest join us in the elite and selective Batten Honors College, which has turned into a national niche program for Virginia Wesleyan.

Virginia Wesleyan is committed to promoting the importance of accessibility and affordability for our students. One of the most important avenues to these goals is the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG) program. This vital program is a needed and beneficial way for students across the Commonwealth of Virginia--including those enrolled at Virginia Wesleyan—to afford their education at private colleges and universities.

Although generous institutional aid through scholarships helps to offset cost of attendance, the VTAG program has, since 1972, provided additional, critical financial support. The undergraduate award this year is $4,000. At Virginia Wesleyan University, over 700 of our current students are receiving a VTAG award this year. It is critical that we convey to Governor Northam and members of the General Assembly how vital this funding is to our students, families, colleges, and communities, and why VTAG should be a priority for the Governor in the budget he will introduce in December.

Support of this program is critical to our students. I urge you to learn more about this essential program and how to take action, visit www.cicv.org.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

A Visit to VIMS

It was great to visit with our partners at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) including Dr. Derek Aday, Director of VIMS and Dean of the School of Science. We were joined by Dr. Maynard Schaus, VWU Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Travis Malone, Dean of the VWU Batten Honors College.

Neil deGrasse Tyson at The Norfolk Forum

The Batten Honors College is a proud sponsor of The Norfolk Forum, the oldest publicly-subscribed speakers’ forum in the country. The first speaker of the 2021-22 series was world-renowned astrophysicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson. Dr. Tyson’s presentation of “Cosmic Perspectives” at Chrysler Hall was a fun and thought-provoking event and a great opportunity for our students in attendance.

Hipple Brothers Stop By Godwin Hall

We had a great visit from brothers Britton '16 and Nicholas '18 Hipple, who were in town for the wedding of fellow Marlin Trey Delpo '17. Nich (pictured center left) is a member of the Alumni Council and is currently living in New York City working in theater management. Brit (pictured far left) recently completed his second master's degree at Virginia Tech and working toward his Ph.D. Kim Hammer, Vice President for Advancement and Special Assistant to the President, and I enjoyed catching up with them both.

VWU Welcomes Artists in Residence

Two local organizations are serving as Artists in Residence in the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center this fall: Tidewater Classical Guitar and the Virginia Chorale with Artistic Director Charles J. Woodward.

This semester, each group is hosting a series of concerts at Virginia Wesleyan, providing free tickets for VWU faculty, staff, and students, with ticketed performances also open to the general public. Both groups represent artistic excellence and dedication to the role of the arts in a liberal arts education. Learn more.

Controversial Women in Awkward Places: Sex, Betrayal, and Biblical Women

Last week, the Robert Nusbaum Center, led by Dr. Craig Wansink, conducted a walking tour through the Chrysler Museum of Art and through the Bible, reflecting on women in the Bible and how they are portrayed. Some of the most striking paintings in the Chrysler collection focus on women in the Bible who were faced with challenging situations. The event was well attended and well received.

A New Leader for Chesapeake Bay Foundation

It was previously shared that Will Baker was retiring as President and CEO of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation after 40 years with the organization. Many will recall that Will served as our 2020 Commencement speaker. It was announced last week that the CBF’s Board of Trustees has selected Hilary Harp Falk to be CBF’s next President and CEO. We wish Will the best and look forward to getting to know Hilary and our continued relationship with CBF.

Virginia Beach Division Board of the Hampton Roads Chamber

I always enjoy attending the Hampton Roads Chamber Virginia Beach Division board meeting. This month’s meeting was devoted to Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer and Taylor Adams, Virginia Beach Deputy City Manager. Both have been wonderful friends of VWU. I thank them for inviting me to participate in their presentations talking about our partnership at The Hive and our workforce development initiative that has benefited over 3,000 Virginia Beach residents during the pandemic.

Construction Updates

DeFord Manor: Landscaping continued as crews laid sod across the William S. Shelhorse Pond and Lawn and planted the 10 trees of the David R. Black Japanese garden. Inside the manor, flooring has been installed.

We look forward to the completion of this project before Thanksgiving.

Brock Commons: Progress continues on the addition (pictured left).

Clarke Hall: Faculty members are training with the new technology in our revitalized spaces (pictured right).

TowneBank Arena: New commemorative signage recognizing the all-time leading scorers for our men’s basketball program, women’s basketball program, and volleyball program-- Brandon Adair '12, Jayla Harris '19, and Kala Guy '13, respectively--was added on Friday.