Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

November 6, 2023

Good morning,

Congratulations to our Old Dominion Athletic Conference women's soccer champions! The Marlins defeated Washington & Lee University 1-0 in the championship game at home on Sunday afternoon, giving them an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Graduate student Sam Crawford was named the ODAC Tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Way to go, Marlins!

Our fall athletes have represented Virginia Wesleyan University so well on and off the field of competition. We’ve seen outstanding success from our men’s soccer program under the leadership of new Head Coach Shane Kohler, as well as positive, transformational change in our cross country, field hockey, and golf programs, thanks to their respective coaches.

This week, #1 women’s volleyball begins their ODAC Tournament journey. See the Athletics website for the full schedule, and come on out to cheer on your Marlins!

The first competition for the Fall 2024 incoming Batten Honors College cohort took place last week. The group included prospective students from Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin, as well as Belgium and Germany.

Following the conclusion of all three competitions in March 2024, the David L. Kaufman Center for Enrollment will extend offers to 40 new Batten Scholars to join VWU in the fall. There has already been an impressive number of qualified applicants this year, and we are very proud of the caliber of student the program continues to attract.

The Batten Honors College is a highly selective residential program enrolling 160 of the top scholars in the country. Candidates are invited on the basis of academic performance, compelling personal essays, and remarkable service and extracurricular activities. Those chosen to join the program are truly the best and the brightest.

ET CETERA

Throughout the month of October, the 2023 Marlin Family Campaign for Faculty and Staff has served as a heartwarming testament to the deep care and dedication that the Virginia Wesleyan community holds for the future of this University. Collectively, through exceptional commitment and generosity of the Virginia Wesleyan family, the campaign raised $34,336 for various priorities of the institution, thanks to 78% of the faculty and staff.

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our exceptional faculty and staff ambassadors who played a pivotal role in helping us surpass our campaign goals:Brandon Foster ‘19, Frank Futyma, Michele Hedspeth, Kelly Jackson ‘84, Dr. Elizabeth Malcolm, Dr. Bill McConnell, Crit Muniz, Ashley Roehrman ‘21, Bethany Tsiaras, and Ryley van der Velde. Their dedication and hard work are greatly appreciated.

As we reflect on the success of this campaign, we invite those who are still considering their commitment to join us in making a difference. Whether it's through a pledge, a gift by cash or check, or setting up a schedule of payroll deduction, your contribution matters greatly. Every act of support contributes to the growth and prosperity of our university. Together, we are creating positive change and ensuring a bright tomorrow for Virginia Wesleyan.

A celebration for our campaign participants, including karaoke numbers by the winning departments’ corresponding Cabinet members, will be held on Friday, December 1 at 3:00 p.m. Get ready to rock with Dr. Keith Moore, Senior Vice President; Heather Campbell, Vice President for Enrollment; and Andrea Hoover-Erbig, Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics!

For more information about the campaign and how you can participate, please reach out to Sarah Guzzo, Director of the Wesleyan Fund, at sguzzo@vwu.edu.

We are proud to share that Virginia Wesleyan has been recognized as one of the inaugural Civic 50 companies in Hampton Roads. The Civic 50 Hampton Roads is an initiative of Points of Light in partnership with VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads, designed to recognize and celebrate the 50 most community-minded companies in Hampton Roads, setting the bar for civic engagement and serves as a guiding light for companies committed to making a positive social impact in their community and within their organizations. Accepting this award on VWU’s behalf was (from right) Dr. Keith Moore, Senior Vice President; Bethany Tsiaras, Director of Civic Engagement and Service Learning; and Kayleigh Poggioli, Assistant to the Senior Vice President, with Stephanie Gorham, Executive Director of VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads.

The Civic 50 Hampton Roads survey has played a crucial role in helping companies like Virginia Wesleyan become more active leaders in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). It provides valuable benchmarking data that enables us to better understand and enhance our community impact. This recognition is a testament to our commitment to making a difference in the community and our dedication to the four dimensions of community engagement: Investment of Resources, Integration Across Business Functions, Institutionalization Through Policies and Systems, and Impact Measurement.

At Virginia Wesleyan, we are honored to be part of the Civic 50 Hampton Roads and remain committed to our mission of fostering positive change in the community while continually improving our corporate social responsibility initiatives. We look forward to continuing our efforts to create a more vibrant and inclusive Hampton Roads region for all.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

Veterans Day Commemoration: Friday at 12pm, Godwin Lawn

Veterans Day is a time to express gratitude and recognize the dedication of those who have served our country. Join us on Friday (November 10) as we come together to commemorate Veterans Day with our distinguished speaker Sam Jones, a member of our men’s lacrosse coaching staff and a former Navy SEAL, at 12:00 p.m. at Godwin Lawn.

Watts Family Visits the Softball Fieldhouse

It was such a pleasure hosting Henry and Eleanor Watts with their daughter and son-in-law Anne and Tom Durham at the recently completed Eleanor & Henry Watts Fieldhouse at TowneBank Park. The fieldhouse will serve our three-time national softball champions with thoughtfully planned locker rooms for the team and restrooms for their fans. Leading the tour was Brandon Elliott ‘03, Head Softball Coach.

Elizabeth River Trail’s Miles of Opportunity

It was great to visit with VWU alumna Kindra Greene, Executive Director of the Elizabeth River Trail Foundation, at Plum Point Park which is a part of the 10.5 mile Elizabeth River Trail. The ERT is a great place to exercise and enjoy nature with some wonderful opportunities for students interested in sport and recreation management and the environment. Kindra and I are pictured with VWU Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement Tina Milligan ‘88 (right).

TowneBank Tip-Off

The VWU men’s basketball team look to start their 2023-24 campaign with the TowneBank Tip-Off on November 10 and 11. The tournament features institutions like Salisbury University and Randolph-Macon College. We thank TowneBank for their generous support of this tournament and VWU Athletics.

Campus Ministries' October Updates

VWU's Campus Ministries has been bustling with activity! In the spirit of the season, the WILD team hosted a "Pirate Murder Mystery Night" on October 25. Students enthusiastically embraced their assigned characters, donned creative costumes, and came together for an evening filled with not only delectable food but also thrilling mystery-solving adventures!

In addition, Campus Ministries upheld its tradition by organizing "Youth Sunday" on October 21. This monthly gathering extended invitations to numerous youth groups, including Haygood UMC's, for a day brimming with activities such as volleyball, a brief service, and dinner.

Marlin Business Conference: November 13-16

The Marlin Business Conference is a bi-annual event that connects students with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals to network, learn, and gain valuable insights into the ever-changing business landscape. This year's theme of “Creating Opportunities through Technical Innovation” will emphasize the use of cutting-edge technologies in business. We are excited to have Dr. Angela Reddix, an accomplished entrepreneur, philanthropist, and inspirational speaker, serve as the opening ceremony’s keynote speaker on November 13 at 7:00 p.m. in the Joan P. Brock Room of Brock Commons.

Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project Continues

We enjoyed a beautiful day for the ceremony marking the arrival of the foundations for the $9.8 billion Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project, the largest offshore wind project in U.S. history. The foundations are a single vertical, steel cylinder and will be installed into the sea floor 27 to 42 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach to support wind turbines that will generate enough carbon-free electricity for 660,000 Virginia homes. The project received final federal approval from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management last week. I’m pictured with Max Bartholomew and Troy Lindsey from Dominion Energy with one of the foundations in the background at the ceremony.

Your Story Matters

The VWU Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council (DEIC) demonstrates a strong commitment to promoting equitable and inclusive representation on the campus. To achieve this goal, the council encourages members of the community to share their personal stories, as individuals are experts in their own experiences. In the coming weeks, all community members are invited to contribute by providing a brief description of their identity along with a photograph. Submissions can be sent to the DEIC at deic@vwu.edu.

It is our diverse backgrounds that make our campus unique. Let's come together to learn from each other and use this project to strengthen our sense of community.

Supporting the Food Pantry at Partner Haygood UMC

As the holiday season approaches, the Haygood United Methodist Church Food Pantry is gearing up to make a difference in our community by providing Thanksgiving meals to families in need. Last year, Haygood UMC distributed over 200 holiday dinner packages to families identified by local schools and various agencies. Each holiday dinner package includes essential items such as mashed potato flakes, turkey gravy or mix, canned vegetables (corn, peas, or green beans), corn muffins or biscuit mix, turkey stuffing mix, cranberry sauce, pie crust mix, pie filling, and a $25.00 gift card for Food Lion, Kroger, Walmart, or Target. Community support is invaluable in making this initiative a success and ensuring that families can enjoy a warm and nourishing meal during this festive season. Please connect with Haygood UMC for more information.

Bishop Sue Shares Webinar Conversations on Future of UMC

Virginia UMC Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson has started a video and podcast series to talk with leaders about the future of The United Methodist Church. The first conversation, "Strength For Today. A Bright Hope For Tomorrow. God's Vision For the Next Chapter of the United Methodist Church” is available now.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP NEWS