We celebrated a myriad of student accomplishments over the last few weeks through honor society inductions, the Athletic Awards and Senior Recognition Banquet, The Bobbies, and so much more. I’m so proud of all Marlins for their hard work and commitment to their studies and this university over the course of the academic year.
At the Academic Symposium, students shared capstone academic experiences with the campus community during the day-long event. A part of this year’s celebration was the Spring Honors Convocation, held in the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. My special congratulations to Connor Merk, recipient of the 2023 President’s Leadership Award. Connor is a Batten Honors College student, editor of the Marlin Chronicle, and was the team leader behind the Intentional Endowments Network’s student investment competition where the Marlins took first place last year. He’s the best of the best and will be heading to Pepperdine University in the fall to pursue a master’s degree in public policy.
That same evening, we celebrated the inaugural Louis and Prudence Ryan Environmental Research Symposium with the awarding of the Ryan Environmental Prize for Excellence in Research. Our finalists were Abigail Mahoney, Brooke Morris, and Abigail Peterson. Congratulations to Abigail Peterson, who took home the Ryan Prize for her research project on urban tree planting. We offer our continued gratitude to Louis and Pru Ryan for their vision and generous support of the program.
Congratulations to all students on their spring awards, honors and recognitions! |
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Pictured above (left) Connor Merk at Spring Honors Convocation; (center) our finalists Abigail Mahoney, Abigail Peterson, and Brooke Morris with Board Chair Jon Pruden and the Anne B. Shumadine Dean of the Batten Honors College Travis Malone at the Ryan Environmental Research Symposium; and (right) Justin Wilt, The Wesley Spirit Award recipient at The Bobbies. |
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We look forward to celebrating the Class of 2023 throughout this upcoming Commencement Weekend. Baccalaureate will be held starting at 5:30 p.m. on Friday in the Joan and Macon Brock Theatre of the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. This prelude to Commencement is a service of worship in celebration of and thanksgiving for lives dedicated to learning and wisdom. Our keynote speaker is Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson of the Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Commencement will be held on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. in TowneBank Arena of the Jane P. Batten Student Center. We look forward to the inspiring address from our keynote speaker, Hilary Harp Falk, President and CEO of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Remember, grads, “Once a Marlin, always a Marlin.” Please keep in touch with your alma mater. Visit us often for Homecoming, Spring Alumni Weekend, and athletic, arts, and academic events. You will always have a home here at Virginia Wesleyan.
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Last week, we honored the retirements and employee service milestones of faculty, staff, and friends in contract services in a campus-wide celebration.
A traditional tree planting ceremony for retiring faculty members took place in the east side extension of the Wilson Arboretum and the entrance to the Trails at Wesleyan Woods. Later at DeFord Manor, we celebrated our retirees and recognized employees celebrating service milestones with the University. Congratulations to these members of the Virginia Wesleyan family: |
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Retirees Elaine Dessouki Lois Ford Joyce Howell (pictured) George Jackson Phil Rock
35 Years Doug Kennedy Deborah Otis
30 Years Craig Wansink |
| 25 Years Dave Macedo Maynard Schaus Steven Sparks Ginny Videll
20 Years Terry Critser Scott Liverman Andre Marshall Margaret Reese |
| 15 Years Ben Haller Rebecca Hooker Maury Howard Sue Larkin Lena Rudolph Malleri Santiago
10 Years Takeyra Coats Eric Johnson Arnold Selga |
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While we offer our special thanks to these longtime Marlins, this year’s success is due to the support of all of our dedicated VWU faculty, staff and friends in contract services. Thanks for making the 2022-23 academic year a year to remember! |
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AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS |
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The Marlin Chronicle Wins 19 National Journalist Awards in the Annual SCJ Contest The Marlin Chronicle, VWU’s student newspaper, earned 19 awards from the Society for Collegiate Journalists (SCJ) 2023 National Contest, including first place finishes in the feature page, news stories, editorial cartoon and infographics categories. Read more. |
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Finalists for the IEN's 2023 Corporate Engagement Challenge The Virginia Wesleyan Batten Honors College team was once again a finalist in the Intentional Endowments Network’s Corporate Engagement Challenge. While Central Washington University took home first prize in this year’s undergraduate competition, we’re extremely proud of the way this team represents VWU and our Environmental Guiding Principles on the national stage. |
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Liberal Arts Colleges to Keep Prioritizing Diversity I'm extremely proud to be one of the 28 presidents of the Liberal Arts Colleges Racial Equity Leadership Alliance (LACRELA) who co-wrote and affixed our signatures to an open letter affirming our institutions' diversity commitments. Inside Higher Education published the letter underscoring the need for “recruiting a well-rounded class, and that includes consideration of the richness of students’ many attributes and interests–including their lived experiences and backgrounds.” Shaun Harper, Executive Director of the USC Race and Equity Center, followed up the open letter with an opinion piece in Forbes. VWU was an inaugural member of LACRELA when the group formed in 2021. |
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Hosting the Congressional Art Competition Our thanks to Rep. Jen Kiggans for hosting the 2023 Congressional Art Competition reception in the beautiful Watts Grand Lobby of the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center.
BHC/Earth Week in the News Batten Honors College students participated in an Earth Day campus clean-up following our Earth Week celebration. Our thanks to WTKR News Channel 3 for covering our continued efforts to make our campus, and our world, a greener, cleaner place. |
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ASI/AALI Leaders Visit It was great spending some time at DeFord Manor with Jay Lemons (center), President of Academic Search, Inc., and Shawn Hartman (center right), Chief Operating Officer at ASI & American Academic Leadership Institute. Joining us were VWU Vice Presidents Sue Larkin and Keith Moore, both participants in ASI/AALI leadership programs. I’m chair of the Board of ASI and vice chair of AALI. |
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Fins Up Festival Our celebration of “D3 Week” (NCAA Division III) culminated in Fins Up Festival at the Tassos Paphites Soccer Complex. Student-athletes from all teams had the opportunity to compete in sack races, an inflatable obstacle course, three-legged races, and more. There was plenty of pizza and fun for all who participated. |
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Spending Time with City Council Members I was delighted to host Barbara Henley, Virginia Beach City Council member, for a tour of our talent development classrooms and technology in Clarke Hall and the Greer Environmental Sciences Center. We then enjoyed lunch at DeFord Manor with David Black, Executive in Residence.
Later in the week, I had an enjoyable lunch at The Town Center Club with Virginia Beach City Council member Sabrina Wooten and Delceno Miles, CEO of The Miles Agency. Delceno and I are President and Vice President, respectively, of Virginia Beach Vision — the advocacy organization of business leaders in Virginia Beach. |
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CIC State Councils Recognize Mike Maxey It was such a pleasure to join colleagues from the Washington, D.C.-based Council of Independent Colleges in their recognition of long-time friend and colleague Mike Maxey, President-emeritus of Roanoke College, with the Charles W.L. Foreman Award. Mike retired last year after 15 years as president of RC. Joining us for the picture, Mike’s wife, Terri, and Matt Shank, President of the Virginia Foundation of Independent Colleges. The CIC State Councils are meeting in Virginia Beach this week. |
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Baylake UMC Hosts Youth Soccer at VWU For the last few years, Baylake United Methodist Church on Shore Drive has partnered with us, using the Shelhorse Lawn in front of DeFord Manor for hosting youth soccer. It’s always a fun time of year to look out the windows of DeFord Manor and see children learning the game. My oldest daughter was a high school and college soccer star, so it brings back great memories of years gone by. |
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VWU Featured in The Advocate VWU Campus Ministries was featured in the April 25th issue of The Advocate, a weekly publication from the Virginia United Methodist Church. The article covered our recent announcement of our membership in the Reconciling Ministries Network and our work on campus to foster open dialogues regarding the intersection of faith and gender identity and sexuality. |
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Sentara Healthcare Rebrands as Sentara Health Virginia Business reports that Sentara Healthcare is rebranding as Sentara Health, and will retire Sentara Health Plans’ subsidiary brands, Optima Health and Virginia Premier, unifying them under the Sentara Health Plans brand by the end of the year. Sentara has been a dedicated partner of the University in many facets - education, scholarships, as well as student health and sports medicine. |
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President to President: Wellness for Everyone The tenth and final chapter of this year's President to President thought leadership series is available online today. I’ve served as Executive Editor of this presidential thought series for 19 years.
In " A Grassroots Approach to Comprehensive Wellness," Baldwin Wallace University President Robert C. Helmer, J.D., Ph.D., shares how students, faculty, and staff play an essential role in the development of health and wellness programs on campus. From fun annual events open to the entire campus community to small intimate gatherings that enable deeper connections, there are a wide range of resources available to support physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
As we wrap up this year's President to President series, titled “ The Well Campus: An In-Depth Look,” we are preparing to publish all 10 chapters in a comprehensive volume online. Look for the link to download the complete 2022-2023 series in your inbox in the coming weeks. |
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STAY CURRENT ON VWU NEWS AND FEATURES |
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Have a great summer, Marlins!
Sincerely, |
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-- Scott D. Miller, Ph.D. President Virginia Wesleyan University 5817 Wesleyan Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23455 Phone: 757.455.3215 |
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