ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – First Carolina Bank supports North Carolina Wesleyan University’s Sports Stadium Campaign with an additional $25,000. Chief Banking Officer, Maxie Coker, presented the check on campus last Thursday, May 4. The funds will be used, in part, to go towards construction of the stadium’s press box.
Last year, NC Wesleyan’s Board of Trustees voted to name the future stadium press box in honor of Marion Barnes’ family. Barnes’ father, Guy Barnes, was one of the original founders of NC Wesleyan. The Marion Barnes Family Press Box will kick off Phase II of NC Wesleyan’s Sports Stadium Campaign. Marion Barnes is a former longtime trustee of the University and owner of Frontier Trailer Associates, Inc. in Rocky Mount, directly adjacent to the new stadium.
First Carolina Bank gave an initial $25,000 in 2021 in support of the stadium initiative. A banking partner with NC Wesleyan over the years, First Carolina Bank continues to be a strong supporter of Wesleyan and the Sports Stadium Campaign.
“We are appreciative and proud to partner with First Carolina Bank. Their unwavering support of NC Wesleyan, and specifically the stadium project, will pay dividends for Wesleyan students and community members for years to come. Strong, consistent advocates like First Carolina Bank are why this project continues to move forward and I cannot thank them enough,” stated Aaron Denton, Vice President of Athletics.
The Sports Stadium Campaign is completely donor-funded and consists of four project phases, as funding allows. Additional phases will include permanent seating and a new Sports and Entertainment Facility that will include classrooms, laboratories, offices, meeting rooms, as well as other sports and entertainment venue related amenities.
Those interested in helping with Phase II of the campaign can contact Aaron Denton, VP of Athletics, at adenton@ncwu.edu.
About North Carolina Wesleyan University
North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) is a small, private Methodist-affiliated institution with a liberal arts-based core curriculum that prepares students for professional advancement, life-long learning and responsible participation in their communities. NCWU offers liberal arts, professional and graduate degree programs for traditional, transfer and working-adult students. The skills cultivated by faculty and built into the curriculum include critical thinking and reflection, communication, collaboration, and information technology. North Carolina Wesleyan University delivers education that is personal, practical and purpose-driven. Personal…through mentoring and the connections that are provided. Practical…by helping students develop lifelong skills. Purpose-driven…by helping them fulfill their purpose in life. With students from all over the United States and more than 40 different countries, the University has immense cultural diversity. To learn more, visit ncwu.edu and follow on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
NCWU Building a Strong Incoming Class
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University has always been a leader in providing quality education to thousands of deserving students and this coming fall will be no exception. A local student, Natalie Messer, and a legacy, Brayden Blue, are two academically gifted students who will join the incoming Class of 2027 this fall as they embark on their educational journey at NCWU.
Natalie Messer, from Rocky Mount, has accepted the President and Founder’s Scholarships. She plans to major in Biomedical Science: Pre-Veterinary, with intentions to pursue her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. A senior at Southern Nash High School, Natalie has a 4.22 weighted GPA and is actively involved in various organizations, including Future Farmers of America (FFA) and Winter Guard.
When describing her impression of North Carolina Wesleyan, Natalie stated, “…after my first visit to campus, I was known personally, which made me feel right at home. I fell in love with the beautiful campus which is small, but grand at the same time.”
Natalie attributes the community feel of NCWU to making the impact on her college decision. “Their smaller class sizes with more one-on-one instructional time will help me grow as a person, continue to strengthen my foundation and guide me to my childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian.” She will receive $104,000 worth of University awards over the next four years from North Carolina Wesleyan University.
Coming from Kannapolis, Brayden Blue will be a second-generation Wesleyan student joining the University in the fall. With both parents being alumni of NCWU, Brayden’s father, Bradley Blue, was inducted into the North Carolina Wesleyan University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017. Brayden, graduating from Concord High School, is a talented basketball player and an accomplished student. Choosing to further his academic and athletic career at NCWU, he will follow his father’s footsteps as a member of the men’s basketball team.
When discussing his excitement about becoming a future Bishop, Brayden replied that he looked forward to “continuing to work on my basketball career while obtaining my degree.” Brayden is already accustomed to the family atmosphere that Wesleyan offers stating, “Coach Thompson is like family and he has followed my basketball career over the years through my parents.”
As students, Brayden’s dad played basketball for Coach John Thompson, while his mom worked as the student manager for the basketball team. Brayden explained his experience when visiting NCWU, “When I came for my first visit, the guys on the team made me feel like I was already part of the family.” Brayden is excited for the many opportunities that NCWU has to offer noting that he is “looking forward to making NCWU my home and seeing what the future holds.” He will receive $60,000 worth of University awards over the next four years.
Natalie and Brayden are only two examples of academically inclined students who have found their personal connection at North Carolina Wesleyan University and plan to join this fall. NCWU looks forward to welcoming such outstanding students into the Battling Bishop family!
About North Carolina Wesleyan University
North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) is a small, private Methodist-affiliated institution with a liberal arts-based core curriculum that prepares students for professional advancement, life-long learning and responsible participation in their communities. NCWU offers liberal arts, professional and graduate degree programs for traditional, transfer and working-adult students. The skills cultivated by faculty and built into the curriculum include critical thinking and reflection, communication, collaboration, and information technology. North Carolina Wesleyan University delivers education that is personal, practical and purpose-driven. Personal…through mentoring and the connections that are provided. Practical…by helping students develop lifelong skills. Purpose-driven…by helping them fulfill their purpose in life. With students from all over the United States and more than 40 different countries, the University has immense cultural diversity. To learn more, visit ncwu.edu and follow on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram and YouTube.
FREE Baseball Under the Lights Night at NCWU
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – Friday, March 24 mark your calendar and plan to join NC Wesleyan University in the Bishop Fan Zone at 5:00 p.m. for an evening full of music, food trucks, inflatables and baseball! Stay as NCWU flips the switch on the brand-new lights at Bauer Field, and meet the donors who made it all happen, as NCWU recognizes them during a dedication at the 6:00 p.m. game against Southern Virginia University. The event is open to the public and game admission is free.
The installation of eight new light poles was completely donor-funded, with over forty individuals helping make the lights a reality. Lloyd ’67 and Elliott ’66 Nelson, along with Joe Shearin ’78 and Sam Daniels, helped kickstart the project. A major catalyst to the overall success of the campaign was John Alden’s ’64 substantial matching gift. Finally, an anonymous gift in honor of former pitcher Jim Pittman ’92 significantly moved the needle, pushing the “Flip the Switch” fundraising campaign to exceed its goal.
When asked about the impact of the new lights, Head Baseball Coach Greg Clifton stated, “To be able to schedule practices and games without worrying about daylight is a game changer for the program. It has been a dream of many baseball alumni for years and to see them up now is truly amazing. I cannot wait to see the stands full during our night game against Southern Virginia!”
The lights not only improve NCWU’s baseball team’s ability to schedule practices and games later in the evening, but it also benefits them academically. In the past, student-athletes have had to miss afternoon classes for travel and games. They have also had to schedule practices during daylight hours, which becomes even earlier during standard time. The new addition allows the University to also use Bauer Field for hosting regional baseball tournaments.
About North Carolina Wesleyan University
North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) is a small, private Methodist-affiliated institution with a liberal arts-based core curriculum that prepares students for professional advancement, life-long learning and responsible participation in their communities. NCWU offers liberal arts, professional and graduate degree programs for traditional, transfer and working-adult students. The skills cultivated by faculty and built into the curriculum include critical thinking and reflection, communication, collaboration, and information technology. North Carolina Wesleyan University delivers education that is personal, practical and purpose-driven. Personal…through mentoring and the connections that are provided. Practical…by helping students develop lifelong skills. Purpose-driven…by helping them fulfill their purpose in life. With students from all over the United States and more than 40 different countries, the University has immense cultural diversity. To learn more, visit ncwu.edu and follow on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram.
NC Wesleyan and Capitol Broadcasting Company Team up
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) has established a new partnership with Capitol Broadcasting Company (CBC) for students to gain practical, hands-on experience through job shadowing and internship opportunities. CBC is the parent company of the Durham Bulls, the Coastal Plain League and the Holly Springs Salamanders, among other companies. As part of this exclusive agreement, CBC will provide opportunities for NCWU Sports Administration majors to learn the business of sports firsthand.
This partnership will expand career development opportunities for NCWU students through learning about event venue management, ticket and sponsorship sales, enhancing the customer experience and the business aspects of running a successful sports venue. As part of NC Wesleyan’s Practical Skills Academy, a CBC baseball professional will offer their expertise as part of a scheduled class or discussion panel event.
“This exciting opportunity will expose our Sports Administration students to the real-world aspects of sports facilities, programs and businesses. The skills that they develop through job shadowing and internships will prepare them to be competitive candidates in their professional careers,” stated Dr. Robin Pietryk, Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator of Sports Administration.
“We are thrilled to partner with NC Wesleyan University, a sports-minded academic institution that shares our commitment to developing young talent and promoting excellence both on and off the field,” said Chip Allen, Commissioner of the Coastal Plain league. “This collaboration represents a unique opportunity for the Coastal Plain League to expand its reach and impact, while providing student-athletes with a pathway to success in sports and beyond.”
North Carolina Wesleyan University will also provide CBC employees with professional development opportunities and reduced tuition for employees who want to further their education, whether it’s undergraduate or graduate work, or through a certificate program at NCWU. CBC employees will also receive at least one professional development opportunity per year at no cost.
“This partnership demonstrates our continued commitment to providing our students with a practical and purpose-driven education,” said Dr. Joe Lane, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. “By working alongside employees at high-profile companies, these students are developing valuable contacts for their lives after Wesleyan.”
Future internship and job shadowing opportunities will be offered to students in Sports Administration, Marketing, Accounting and other related fields.
About Capitol Broadcasting Company (CBC)
CBC is a bold, future-thinking company, transforming media, entertainment & communities. Locally-owned and community-focused, CBC emphasizes excellence, integrity and teamwork in everything it does. CBC owns and/or operates WRAL-TV, WRAZ-TV, WRAL-FM, WRAL-HD2, WNGT-CD, WCMC-FM, WCMC-HD1, WDNC-AM, WCMC-HD2, WCMC-HD3, WCLY-AM, WCMC-HD4, Microspace, WRAL Digital and Wolfpack Sports Properties (a joint venture with Learfield) in Raleigh, NC; WILM-TV, WILT-LD and Sunrise Broadcasting in Wilmington, NC; The Durham Bulls Baseball Club, Bull City Hospitality in Durham; the Coastal Plain League and The Holly Springs Salamanders in Holly Springs, NC; the American Underground startup hub in Durham, NC; and real estate interests including the American Tobacco Historic District in Durham, NC, and Rocky Mount Mills in Rocky Mount, NC. To learn more, visit capitolbroadcasting.com
About North Carolina Wesleyan University
North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) is a small, private Methodist-affiliated institution with a liberal arts-based core curriculum that prepares students for professional advancement, life-long learning and responsible participation in their communities. NCWU offers liberal arts, professional and graduate degree programs for traditional, transfer and working-adult students. The skills cultivated by faculty and built into the curriculum include critical thinking and reflection, communication, collaboration, and information technology. North Carolina Wesleyan University delivers education that is personal, practical and purpose-driven. Personal…through mentoring and the connections that are provided. Practical…by helping students develop lifelong skills. Purpose-driven…by helping them fulfill their purpose in life. With students from all over the United States and more than 40 different countries, the University has immense cultural diversity. To learn more, visit ncwu.edu and follow on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram.
Statement on NCWU Homecoming Postponement
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – Due to the threat of severe weather approaching the Rocky Mount area, North Carolina Wesleyan University has made the decision to move the Saturday, October 1 football game against LaGrange College to 1:00 p.m. Friday, September 30. In addition, the University has postponed most of its Homecoming festivities originally scheduled for this weekend, which now includes the 1:00 p.m. Alumni Golf Outing. The Athletic Hall of Fame at 7:00 p.m. on Friday will still take place as planned.
All postponed Homecoming events will move to the weekend of Friday, November 4 through Sunday, November 6. The Homecoming game will now take place against Huntingdon College at noon on Saturday, November 5.
For a full updated schedule of events, visit ncwu.edu/homecoming.
NC Wesleyan To Induct 6 into Athletics Hall of Fame Class of `20 and `21
N.C. Wesleyan University is preparing to induct six members to its Athletics Hall of Fame.
The Bishops will honor the 2020 and 2021 classes during an invite-only ceremony on Oct. 9. The new members include the late and former athlete and administrator Cliff Sullivan, as well as former players Brittany Insley-Pecora, Chris Bryant and LeeRon Boykin in the 2020 class.
The 2021 class includes athletes Trey Drake and Caitlin Sanderson. READ ENTIRE ARTICLE >
NCWC Homecoming Returns
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University will kick off its Homecoming week festivities on Monday, October 4 leading up to the Bishops’ football game against Greensboro College on Saturday, October 9. For the second time, the Battling Bishops will play their Homecoming game on-campus at the Vernon T. Bradley, Jr. Football Field, after first doing so in 2019.
Throughout the week, many activities will take place both on-campus and throughout the community for students, alumni, faculty, staff and the public. There will also be opportunities to cheer on men’s and women’s soccer, as well as baseball. An alumni football game is scheduled for Friday, October 8 at 8:00 p.m. on the field adjacent to the Gateway Technology Center (GTC), located at the front of campus.
Saturday, tailgating will begin at 9:00 a.m. At 10:00 a.m., the College will be dedicating a plaque recognizing and honoring alumni who served in harm’s way during the Vietnam War. This will be an addition to the existing Vietnam Memorial Courts at the Slick Family Foundation Tennis Center. Also at 10:00 a.m., the Alumni & Kid Zone opens at the football field or catch the alumni softball game at Edge Field. A chili cook-off will be held at 11:00 a.m., followed by the Homecoming golf cart parade starting at 11:30 a.m. Kickoff against Greensboro College is at noon and alumni plan to round out the day at The Rocky Mount Mills from 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.
For a full list of activities, times and locations, visit ncwu.edu/homecoming or the NCWC Homecoming 2021 event on Facebook. Individual tickets can be purchased at the gate. Tickets are $5 for adults (18+), $3 for ages 12-18 and FREE for all under age 12. Alumni Homecoming Packets can be purchased online for $35 and include a game ticket, t-shirt, parking pass, bookstore discount and a list of Community Partner discounts.
NC Wesleyan Concludes Summer Camps
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – It has been a busy summer at North Carolina Wesleyan University as the campus hosted over 1,000 guests across 10 youth camps. The College’s summer camps wrapped up with Athens Drive Band Camp, which returned to NC Wesleyan for its 25th year.
“Each summer, NC Wesleyan welcomes campers from across the state, and this year, from across the nation, who depend on us to provide a fun-filled home away from home. Our purpose is to provide an enduring partnership that can be trusted, year after year, to provide excellence in every facet of every day for every camp,” stated Kimla Brandt, NCWC Summer Camp Director.
Athens Drive Band, an award-winning high school band from Raleigh, has the longest running camp partnership with the College. During their stay, the campus was filled with music as they marched along roadways and parking lots, practiced their instruments under trees, alone and in sections, and with the steady sound of metronomes echoing throughout.
The NCWC Athletic Department also hosted camps including basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball and soccer. The Battling Bishop coaches and players provided instruction for all levels of athletic ability, from beginning to advanced.
In addition to sports camps, several other groups utilized the College’s beautiful 200-acre campus including the NC Youth Ministers Camp, United Methodist Church Youth Breakaway Camp and Tennessee Mission Camp. In addition, the College’s Connect: Youth Theology Institute (YTI), a transformational experience connecting students through faith, community and love, held a week-long camp for rising ninth through twelfth grade students.
Men’s & Women’s Tennis Hosting NCAA Regionals
INDIANAPOLIS, In. – The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has announced that NC Wesleyan will host the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rounds of the 2021 NCAA DIII men’s and women’s national championship in the Slick Family Tennis Center at the Vernon T. Bradley Jr. Tennis Complex and in the newly minted Indoor Sports and Education Facility (ISEF) on campus. The Bishop men and women recently captured the 2021 USA South Championship in the same venue, with the men earning their 12th straight title and the women earning their 3rd straight championship. READ ENTIRE ARTICLE
NCWU Kicks Off Stadium Campaign
College Seeks Donors for Multi-Phased Approach
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University recently secured donor funds to kick off their Stadium Campaign. These funds will go toward the development of a new turf field with lights on the south side of campus. This project is just one part of the University’s long-term vision.
The new Stadium consists of a turf field, lighting, additional parking, fencing, permanent seating, scoreboards, a press box and a new fieldhouse. While the initiative will support Athletics, it will also benefit the University academically. In the past, athletes have had to miss afternoon classes to travel and practice prior to sundown. A new turf field and lighting will allow student-athletes to practice and play games later in the evenings. The new fieldhouse will contain a training room, weight room, classrooms, meeting space and offices.
“In the spring of 2020, two major donors committed almost $2,000,000 to establish a multi-phase, multi-year project that will be known as the Vernon T. Bradley, Jr. Stadium. Future phases will include a field house that is yet to be named, as well as other infrastructure you would expect to find at a college stadium,” stated President Dr. Evan D. Duff. “This project will not only change the landscape of the University but also the athletic and academic opportunities we can provide our students.”
The Stadium Campaign will be completely donor-funded and consist of four project phases, as funding allows. The University is actively seeking donors in hopes of raising $700,000 to complete Phase One and to unlock an additional $850,000 pledge from Vernon T. Bradley, Jr. for Phase Two. Phase One will include the turf field, lighting and additional parking.
The University is planning future fundraising events for those who have a love for the game of football and Wesleyan. These events will be held in spring and summer of 2021 with specific dates to be announced soon based on state guidelines. These exclusive events will unfold the vision of the new stadium, give participants first access to the future of North Carolina Wesleyan University and invite them to be a philanthropic part of this project.
