Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

June 13, 2022

Good morning,

Since the founding of the distinctive Batten Honors College in the fall of 2107, an intimate recognition ceremony has been held for the newest scholars. A ceremonial pinning of each student represents their completion of orientation and formal induction into the elite Batten Honors College of Virginia Wesleyan University.

As the program has grown and the highly selective, residential Batten Honors College has flourished, the ceremony has also grown to reflect this. This fall, all four classes of the Batten Honors College will attend the Batten Honors College Convocation for the first time on Founders Day on September 8 at 4:00 p.m. (We tried to do this in 2020 and 2021, but the pandemic had other ideas.)

As such, we are pleased to welcome Dr. Derek Aday, Dean and Director of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science at The College of William & Mary (VIMS), as our Batten Honors College Convocation keynote speaker.

Dr. Aday earned his M.S. in Aquatic Ecology from Louisiana State University and his Ph.D. in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology from the University of Illinois. Prior to becoming Dean & Director of VIMS, his research focused on aspects of aquatic ecology, conservation biology, fishery science, and environmental toxicology. He has been published in numerous journals, currently serves as Editor-In-Chief for Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, and has been selected for many honors and awards throughout his distinguished career. Learn more.

Virginia Wesleyan's unique partnership with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science promotes enrollment of graduating Batten Honors College students in the Master of Arts in Marine Science program at VIMS. Each year one seat in the master's program will be reserved for a BHC graduate who meets admission criteria. Therefore, we are especially delighted to have Dr. Aday join us for Batten Honors College Convocation on Founders Day to comment on this incredible opportunity for students and inspire them to take environmental and ecological action as per the pillars of the Batten Honors College program.

ET CETERA

We were delighted to host the Virginia Beach Division Board of Directors from the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce at DeFord Manor last week. It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase our beautiful campus and highlight all the ways we enhance the Coastal Virginia community, including our workforce development program, our commitment to affordability, our celebration of diversity, our academic programs offered online and in-person, and more.

Pictured right: Local attorney Steve Romine, Hampton Roads Chamber Immediate Past Chair, and Pamela West Walker, Vice President for PNC Bank and Chair of the Virginia Beach Division of the Hampton Roads Chamber. View the full photo gallery.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

June is Pride Month

We wish all our LGBTQ+ students, alumni, parents, friends and allies a happy Pride Month. As is our tradition, we are proudly flying a pride flag on our campus, adjacent to the American flag and Virginia state flag at Heritage Plaza in front of Godwin Hall.

Celebrating Juneteenth

As a reminder, in-person classes are canceled and many University offices are closed in observance of Juneteenth on Monday, June 20.

An Alumna’s Story of Perseverance

Congratulations to Jessie Dawe, VWU Class of 2008, who recently graduated from Harvard Law School. Jessie’s journey from Virginia Wesleyan to becoming a mother and Harvard graduate is an incredible story of perseverance. Now that she’s graduated, Jessie will clerk with S. Bernard Shaw, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia. Kudos to her!

The Best Picture You’ll See All Week

Marlins everywhere are smitten with this photo of Officer Randy Lott and his family at the Girls on the Run annual 5K, which was held on campus a few weeks back. Virginia Wesleyan has always been a campus for family, and we love to see one of our own taking advantage of the unique partnerships we offer on site. Way to go!

VWU Trustee Sharon Goodwyn Elected as HRCF Chair

Congratulations to VWU Trustee Sharon Goodwyn on her election as Chair of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation. Sharon’s election is historic as it marks her as the first female and first African-American to hold the title in the Foundation’s 72-year history. Joining her in the leadership of the Foundation is Frank Batten, Jr., another longtime VWU supporter, who was elected as the Foundation’s Vice Chair. Read more.

Opus Resumes This Summer

VWU's Opus summer program, a Work and Learn initiative, is back. Now in its fifth year, the Opus program is designed to assist students with outstanding financial obligations to the University and has helped more than 150 Marlins continue their educational pursuits. Participating students work alongside the University's Facilities Management team on corrective and preventative maintenance, as well as beautification projects throughout campus. Projects include residence hall preparation and maintenance for summer camps and conferences, parking lot painting, and work with the grounds team. Thanks to the generosity of Trustee David Kaufman H’19 and The Landmark Foundation, Opus continues to assist eligible students in making their education affordable.

Congratulations to the TCA Class of 2022

Tidewater Collegiate Academy (TCA), located in the Frank Blocker, Jr. Youth Center on campus, held its graduation ceremony for the Class of 2022 at the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. This was the largest class of graduates in the school’s history, and I offer my congratulations to Dr. Wendy Scott, TCA Director, and these graduates. Watch a slideshow of the event here.

Welcome Back, Camp Red Feather!

Now in its 17th year, YMCA Camp Red Feather kicks off its 2022 summer camp season next week. With its headquarters on campus in the Frank Blocker Youth Center, YMCA Camp Red Feather exposes youth ages 5 to 17 with their natural surroundings, unplugging them from the digital world. Virginia Wesleyan's 300 acre park-like settings makes our campus the perfect setting for this long time partnership as campers participate in arts and crafts and archery, canoe on Lake Taylor, climb the 55-foot Alpine Tower, and explore Virginia Beach and beyond.

Make Your Annual Gift by June 30

Virginia Wesleyan University's ability to prosper and grow is rooted in the generosity of our alumni and friends. Your gifts are an investment in our students and will echo throughout the lives of every student touched by your generosity. Make your tax-deductible gift by midnight on June 30 to give students unique and valuable experiential opportunities that help prepare them for their lives and careers beyond the classroom.

A special thank you to those who have already made their fiscal year gift. View The Excellence Fund Honor Roll of Donors here.

Update from the UMC

The United Methodist Church’s top court has modified an earlier ruling to say that newly elected U.S. bishops will take office on January 1, 2023. Meanwhile, the Africa Initiative ponders the future of Methodism.

STAY CURRENT ON VWU NEWS AND FEATURES

Virginia Wesleyan University Magazine

The Pharos

REFLECTIONS

I hope you find these links useful to my recent columns and publications:

University Business