Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

November 13, 2023

Good morning,

It was billed “Championship Weekend” at Virginia Wesleyan University with a number of teams competing for various titles in Virginia Beach and beyond.

Coach Jeff Bowers’ Marlins advanced to the “Sweet 16” with impressive wins over Montclair State University (NJ) and defending national champions Johns Hopkins University (MD) in the NCAA regionals at the Tassos Paphites Soccer Complex. The Marlins, aiming to return to the NCAA Final Four for the second straight season, will learn their next opponent and location later today.

Men’s soccer tied Goucher College 2-2 in double overtime of the ECAC Tournament in Baltimore with the Gophers advancing on penalty kicks. The Marlins, under first year head coach Shane Kohler, finished their season 13-3-3.

Women’s volleyball, under the leadership of Karissa Cumberbatch, entered the ODAC Tournament as the top seed with a perfect 12-0 conference season but were upset by Washington & Lee University in the semi-finals at TowneBank Arena. With a stellar 26-6 overall record, the Marlins will learn of any post-season fate later today.

Men’s basketball, fresh off wonderful performances in Old Dominion University’s opener (an exhibition for the Marlins) on Monday, and our own home opener again on Wednesday, swept Salisbury University and traditional rival Randolph-Macon College over the weekend to win the TowneBank Tip-Off Tournament. The Marlins are now 3-0.

Women’s basketball opened their season in an impressive fashion, edging cross-town rival Regent University in their opener at TowneBank Arena by a 63-59 score.

Finally, men’s and women’s cross country wrapped up their season at the NCAA South Regional Championships in Mt. Berry, Georgia.

A wonderful weekend of sports for Marlin fans! Congratulations to all our fall season athletes and coaches for representing our university so well.

It is a pleasure to announce that U.S. Senator Mark Warner will serve as the keynote speaker for the Spring 2024 Commencement Ceremony, scheduled for May 18, 2024. This significant occasion reflects our dedication to fostering academic excellence and providing our graduates with profound insights as they embark on their future journeys.

Senator Warner has represented the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States Senate since 2009. His career has been marked by legislative achievements in areas such as technology, healthcare, and national security, aligning closely with the values upheld by Virginia Wesleyan.

Senator Warner's background in business and technology, including the co-founding of Nextel, has informed his approach to addressing contemporary challenges. His expertise sets him apart as a leader who understands the complexities of the modern world, making him an ideal speaker for our new graduates.

An ardent advocate for education, Senator Warner has tirelessly promoted initiatives aimed at improving access to quality education and enhancing workforce development opportunities for all Americans. His commitment underscores the transformative power of knowledge and its pivotal role in shaping the future.

The Spring 2024 Commencement Ceremony promises to be an event filled with inspiration and reflection. We trust that Senator Warner's address will resonate with our graduates as they prepare to embark on their post-university journeys. His dedication to bipartisan collaboration and public service serves as a model for the values we hope our graduates will carry forward in their lives.

Stay tuned for more information regarding our Spring 2024 Commencement Ceremony.

ET CETERA

Each year Virginia Wesleyan presents an award on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to a student who practices the ideals set forth by Dr. King—courage and conviction in valuing differences, commitment to seeing beyond borders by building inclusion, compassion for humanity, and/or commitment to social change. In 2021, the award was named The Mavis McKenley ’11 Award in honor of our esteemed graduate and Trustee.

The Office of Academic Affairs is currently seeking student nominations for the Mavis McKenley ’11 Award to be presented on Monday, January 15, 2024. Nominations are due on December 15 to academic-affairs@vwu.edu.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

Dr. Angela Reddix at the Marlin Business Conference Opening Ceremony Tonight

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 tonight at 7:00 p.m. in the Joan P. Brock Room of Brock Commons.

Batten Honors College Hosts Colson Whitehead

The Batten Honors College is pleased to host Pulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead ahead of his scheduled lecture at the Norfolk Forum this week. His literary accomplishments have earned him well-deserved recognition, including two Pulitzer Prizes, making his visit a distinguished occasion for our academic community. This event exemplifies our commitment to providing our students and the broader community with opportunities for intellectual engagement. We anticipate an enlightening and enriching experience as we delve into the literary insights of Colson Whitehead and his notable literary contributions throughout the evening on campus and at the Forum.

“Pay It Forward” to Honor Veterans

Our Veterans Day Ceremony recognized the dedication of those who have served our country. Our thanks, once again, to our featured speaker Sam Jones, a member of our men’s lacrosse coaching staff and a former Navy SEAL. His message of service, resilience, and “paying it forward” was a wonderful tribute to veterans everywhere. We also thank the many staff members and friends who contributed to the ceremony.

Welcome Brad Botkin

We welcome Brad Botkin as our new Director of Facilities Management (Aramark). He comes to VWU from Columbus State University in Georgia.

Save the Dates for Holiday Fun

There are multiple opportunities for faculty and staff to celebrate the holidays and the end of another wonderful fall semester at Virginia Wesleyan. The DeFord Manor Holiday Open House will be held on Wednesday, November 29 (RSVP here). The Children’s Christmas Brunch with Santa, presented by Sport and Recreation Program and Event Principles, will be held on Saturday, December 9 (RSVP here). Finally, the Faculty and Staff Holiday Party will be held on Wednesday, December 13. (More information to come. RSVP to events@vwu.edu.)

Fall Meeting of the President’s Council

It was a wonderful meeting of the President’s Council last week. This group of regional business leaders support and extend the University’s mission and play a role in connecting students with experiential learning opportunities. My thanks to Carolyn McKenna-Sloat ‘99, Director of Business and Corporate Development, on a productive meeting, the first one with her at the helm.

VBV Board of Directors Executive Committee Closes 2023

Last week, we held our final Virginia Beach Vision Board of Directors Executive Committee meeting of 2023. Special thanks to our wonderful leader, Delceno Miles (immediate right), who concludes her term as President next month. The VBV Board is composed of 130 leading corporate executives with a collaborative mission to create a vision and advance initiatives necessary to the City of Virginia Beach and the Hampton Roads region’s future development, prosperity, and quality of life. VBV celebrates 30 years in 2023.

African American Leaders Breakfast

It was wonderful to celebrate African American leaders last week during a special breakfast hosted by Virginia Senator Aaron Rouse with special guests U.S. Representatives Bobby Scott and Jennifer McClellan. Other special guests included Joash Schulman (Virginia Beach City Council) and Delegate Alex Askew (pictured right) and former Virginia Beach City Council member and current Virginia Beach Sheriff Rocky Holcomb. All have been loyal friends of Virginia Wesleyan University for many years.

Marlin Family Campaign’s Unsung Heroes

We’re anxiously awaiting the karaoke debut of Dr. Keith Moore, Heather Campbell ‘04, and Andrea Hoover-Erbig as the “prize” for their respective department’s 100% participation in the Marlin Family Campaign for Faculty and Staff. The singing spectacular will be held during the campaign’s “Thank You” reception on Friday, December 1 at 3:00 p.m. More information to come.

The Marlin Family Campaign would not have been such a success without our wonderful ambassadors. Thank you to these outstanding unsung heroes for their willingness to serve: 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.

Construction Update: Blocker Youth Center

Progress continues for our two-classroom addition to the Frank Blocker Youth Center thanks to generous support from the Frank Blocker, Jr. Foundation.

The Center, located on campus, has been a hub of activity for Tidewater Collegiate Academy during the academic year and YMCA Camp Red Feather during the summer.

With the new addition, the Center will be able to accommodate even more students and provide a safe and supportive environment for them to learn and grow. The Foundation's generosity has had a profound impact on the lives of over 1,500 youth who experienced the Center during the most recent academic year, and it will undoubtedly continue to do so for years to come.

William King, Former Norfolk Collegiate Headmaster who Helped Bring Schooner Virginia to Nauticus, Dies at 83

William W. King, a retired Navy captain, 20-year headmaster of Norfolk Collegiate School, and former executive director of the Virginia Maritime Heritage Foundation, died on Oct. 30 at the age of 83. He was a good friend and supporter of Virginia Wesleyan University. Read more.

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