Nota Bene: Best Wishes for Final Exams

Today I’d like to wish all students, faculty and staff well as we begin our last day of classes for the spring semester and head into final examinations.

Students, please know that all of us at Virginia Wesleyan are here to support you, as we realize that this can be a stressful time of year. I encourage you to bring any specific questions or concerns to your professors and academic advisors, and remember, there are many resources available to help you navigate final projects and manage stress—among them are the Learning Center, Hofheimer Library, and the Student Counseling Center.

I hope you will join us for Late-Night Breakfast on Thursday, May 10, from 10 p.m. to midnight in Boyd Dining Center. Come relax and unwind during this favorite Virginia Wesleyan tradition!

Best wishes to all for a successful conclusion of the spring semester, especially to our Class of 2018 as you prepare for graduation.

Congratulations to Model NATO Challenge Winners

We were so proud to host the Model NATO Challenge at Virginia Wesleyan University this spring, and we congratulate the winners: Jordan Ward (First Place), Student Diplomat of Romania; Joseph Wornom (Second Place), Student Diplomat of Norway; John Kothmann (Third Place), Student Diplomat of Canada; and Salome Francis (Press Corps). Read more about the event and view photos at: http://www.act.nato.int/2018-model-nato-challenge

Visiting with Virginia Beach Mayor Louis Jones

Nice to visit with Virginia Beach Mayor Louis Jones. Mayor Jones has been a long time friend and supporter of Virginia Wesleyan University.

Enjoyed talking business and higher education issues today with Bernard Niemeier, Publisher of Virginia Business. Check out a full spread feature about Virginia Wesleyan University in this month’s issue: http://www.virginiabusiness.com/news/article/evolving-profile

Photo Gallery: Spring Honors Convocation

Proud to celebrate our students leadership and academic accomplishments at Spring Honors Convocation. View the photo gallery: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmkbsBt6

Nota Bene: Teaching Communications that Matter

We live in a dizzying communications age, and not just because of tweetstorms and fast-moving events in domestic and international affairs. The average citizen today who aspires to keep his or her head above the torrent of breaking news, opinion and perspective, social media, email and other communication platforms is challenged as never before to stay current with what’s happening, let alone to enjoy the experience of staying informed.

I hope you enjoy my column on this topic that appeared in the opinion pages of the Virginian-Pilot on Sunday:
https://pilotonline.com/opinion/columnist/guest/article_3dc7b8f2-4d7c-11e8-b978-2f3b862be2c0.html

Retirement Celebration for Joanne Renn

Tonight we celebrated our good friend and colleague Joanne Renn, who retires this summer from her post as Virginia Wesleyan's Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. I was proud to announce that the grassy plains and pond area at the outdoor athletic complex has been named in Joanne's honor as "Renn Reserve and Pond." We also presented her with several tokens of appreciation—a plaque honoring her with the distinction of Athletics Director Emeritus, a resolution from the VWU Board of Trustees recognizing her 25 years of service, and a traditional Virginia Wesleyan commemorative chair. We wish Joanne the best in retirement and hope she returns to campus often to cheer on her Marlins!

 

Commencement Ceremonies Information

Everything you need to know about Virginia Wesleyan University's Commencement Ceremonies. Looking forward to these special events with the Class of 2018: www.vwu.edu/commencement

Nota Bene: Celebrating the Class of 2018

Our Commencement Ceremonies are among the most important traditions in the life of our campus community—an exciting milestone for our soon-to-be Marlin alumni and all who have supported them along the way. And this year, we will make institutional history by graduating our first class from Virginia Wesleyan University.

Our 2018 Commencement Ceremonies will begin Friday, May 18, with the Baccalaureate Service. Baccalaureate is a significant part of Commencement weekend—a time to thank God, celebrate our graduates and send them into the future with a blessing. Serving as the Baccalaureate speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Karla M. Kincannon, a 1976 Virginia Wesleyan graduate and director of spiritual formation at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Alexandria, Virginia. A special feature of the ceremony is the Presentation of Tassels, at which time each graduating senior will be invited to come forward to accept his or her academic tassel for use during the Commencement Ceremony.

Guests of all faiths and religious beliefs are invited to attend. The service will begin at 6:00 p.m. at Haygood United Methodist Church (4713 Haygood Rd., Virginia Beach). Dr. Bryson Mortensen will lead the Virginia Wesleyan Chorale in a pre-service concert at 5:30 p.m. in the church sanctuary.

The Commencement Ceremony will take place on campus on Saturday, May 19, at 11:00 a.m. Approximately 300 graduates will march onto University Commons, where Provost Timothy O’Rourke and I will proudly confer Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Social Work degrees to our students. Delivering the Commencement address to the Class of 2018 will be First Lady of Virginia Pamela Northam. An educator and environmentalist, Mrs. Northam has taken a leading role in Hampton Roads and Virginia to protect water quality, improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay, and ensure the Commonwealth’s natural beauty is preserved for generations to come. It will be an honor to conclude this academic year with an address by such a distinguished advocate for the natural world.

The University will recognize Mrs. Northam and Rev. Kincannon with honorary degrees, and four awards will be presented to distinguished VWU faculty—the Samuel Nelson Gray Distinguished Teaching Award, the Frank and Jane P. Batten Distinguished Scholar Award, the Service and Community Engagement Award, and the United Methodist Church General Board of Higher Education and Ministry Exemplary Teacher Award.

A reminder that no tickets will be required for the the 2018 Commencement Ceremony, provided it takes place as scheduled outdoors on the University Commons. In the event of severe weather, the ceremony will be moved indoors to the Convocation Hall inside the Jane P. Batten Student Center. A decision regarding the weather and location will be made the Wednesday preceding Commencement, and all students, faculty, and staff will be notified accordingly.

Both the Baccalaureate Service and the Commencement Ceremony will be live streamed, and Commencement will also be simulcast in Boyd Dining Center during the ceremony. A reception for graduates, family, and friends will be held in Boyd Dining Center following the ceremony, and the Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony will take place in Hofheimer Library at 1 p.m. For more information, visit www.vwu.edu/commencement.

I look forward to these special events and wish all of our graduates the very best as they embark on new careers or continue their education.

Congratulations to the Class of 2018!

VWU's Newest Sigma Zeta Members

Congratulations to the 15 Virginia Wesleyan students inducted into the Sigma Zeta National Science & Mathematics Honor Society! New members include: Andreas Combos, Taylor Coutts, Kaylah Duplain, Christopher Fegan, Allison Fernandez, Andrew Freeman, Rachel Fuller, Danielle Gagnon, Isabella Glaze, Elizabeth Hipple, Cathryn Holford, Alyssa Jamison, Monika Metro, Ricky Perrault, and Michael Tres.