ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) has been awarded a significant grant of $251,835 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for an innovative project titled “WESPATHS: Waterways for Environmental Science-Promoting Advancement and Training for Hands-On Supports.” This prestigious award marks NCWU’s first NSF grant since 1972 and aims to bolster the university’s Environmental Science Program through strategic recruitment and retention efforts.
The grant, led by Principal Investigator Dr. Daniel Elias and Co-Principal Investigator Dr. John Temple, seeks to increase the number of students majoring and minoring in Environmental Science at NCWU. A primary focus will be on the recruitment and retention of students from historically excluded groups. This project advances NCWU’s marked successes in teaching students from under-represented groups aligns with the NSF’s goals for increasing diversity and inclusion in science related fields.
Dr. Elias elaborates on the project’s vision: “By integrating activities and creating a supportive environment that begins more than a semester before students matriculate, we will lower barriers to recruitment, retention, and graduation for a more diverse student body in the regional workforce and improve social mobility.”
The WESPATHS initiative aims to develop a geoscience learning ecosystem that will provide students with the skills and competencies necessary for career readiness. Central to the program is the use of project-based learning, where students engage directly with stakeholders to address pressing local water quality and quantity issues. This hands-on approach not only enhances learning but also fosters a sense of self-efficacy and belonging among students.
In addition to strengthening NCWU’s Environmental Science Program, the project is set to have a lasting impact on the Rocky Mount region. By establishing strong connections with area high schools, WESPATHS will offer high school students, teachers, and counselors’ greater opportunities to explore higher education and NCWU specifically. This outreach effort is designed to create a pipeline of local talent, encouraging students to pursue careers in environmental science and related fields.
The program’s emphasis on local problems and local solutions is particularly noteworthy. By focusing on regional issues and involving local organizations, WESPATHS aims to build a stronger, more skilled workforce that can effectively address the environmental challenges facing the community. This collaborative effort is expected to yield new opportunities for both students and stakeholders, enhancing social mobility and community resilience.
As NCWU embarks on this transformative journey with the support of the NSF, the university stands poised to make significant strides in environmental science education and community engagement. The WESPATHS project represents a promising step towards a more inclusive, skilled, and socially mobile future for the Rocky Mount region and beyond.
Dr. Shane Thompson Honored with Prestigious Kershaw Lectureship
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – Each year, the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) selects a distinguished group of scholars to deliver the esteemed Kershaw Lectures in Near East Archaeology. These lectures take place at various museums, society meetings, and universities across the nation. This year, Dr. Shane Thompson, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU), has been chosen as one of the Kershaw Lecturers.
The Kershaw Lectures were established in 1994 by Norma and Reuben Kershaw, thanks to a generous endowment from the Kershaw Family Trust. These lectures honor Norma Kershaw, an AIA Trustee Emerita and long-time supporter of Near East archaeology. The Kershaw Lectures cover archaeological research in the regions of present-day Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey, focusing on periods between 7000 B.C. and 400 A.D.
Dr. Thompson was recommended for this honor by the AIA Near East Archaeology Interest Group to the AIA Lecture Program Committee. His selection highlights his outstanding contributions to the field.
A rising star among NCWU’s faculty, Dr. Thompson has an impressive academic background. He earned his B.A. at Wake Forest University and holds multiple master’s degrees from Emory University, Brandeis University, and the University of Kansas. He completed his Ph.D. at Brown University in 2021 and has been serving as an Assistant Professor at NCWU since then.
Dr. Thompson’s research focuses on the material culture and political and cultural dynamics of the ancient Middle East. He has authored, co-authored, or co-edited fifteen books and published over a dozen articles and book chapters. His work in digital humanities, in collaboration with Associate Professor Jason Buel, recently received a National Endowment for the Humanities Spotlight on the Humanities Grant. He is also deeply committed to mentoring undergraduate students, having guided the second winner of the Undergraduate Research Award. In May 2024, Dr. Thompson was appointed to serve as the second Director of the Office for Undergraduate Research.
Dr. Joseph Lane, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at NCWU, expressed his pride in Dr. Thompson’s achievements: “We are overjoyed that Dr. Thompson is receiving this well-deserved recognition for his groundbreaking work on the ancient Near East. He embodies the Wesleyan ideal of the engaged teacher-scholar. At NCWU, students have the opportunity to work directly with some of the most accomplished scholars in their field, and Dr. Thompson exemplifies the idea that great thinkers are also great teachers. We look forward to sharing his engaging and insightful stories about the ancient Near East with wider audiences.”
Come Rock the Mount at NC Wesleyan University
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – Rock the Mount is an annual tradition held each fall at North Carolina Wesleyan University to celebrate and welcome new students to campus, as well as to the local community. Each year, Rock the Mount is held the day before students’ first day of classes, serving as the official kick-off event for the new academic year. This year, the event is sponsored by Southern Bank and will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 20. Kim Sutton, Senior Vice President of Southern Bank, shares “Southern Bank is thrilled to support NC Wesleyan University, and Rock the Mount. As your partner in financial wellness education, we’re proud to invest in your success and celebrate your history of positive community outreach in our area. We’re banking on YOU, Battling Bishops!” Business owners, churches and other nonprofits are invited to come promote their organization and gain exposure with NCWU students.
That day, hundreds of students take their rite of passage through a time-honored tradition—the Bishop Tunnel—formed by a cheering crowd of returning students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members. As they pass through the tunnel, they are met with a warm welcome by President, Dr. Evan D. Duff and wife, Marcy. The students then proceed down the Southern Bank Green, located in the center of campus, where businesses and organizations are eagerly awaiting an opportunity to help the Bishop family welcome these new students to Wesleyan, Rocky Mount and the surrounding community. Businesses and organizations are set up with tents and booth displays that decorate the street and Southern Bank Green, creating a runway for students to stop and browse their products and services.
Last year, Rock the Mount brought nearly 80 vendors to campus; this year, NC Wesleyan aims to have even more businesses and organizations on campus to make the event even more successful. Are you the owner of a restaurant or coffee shop? Students love to eat and run on coffee! Do you have an automotive shop? Unlike many colleges and universities, NCWU allows students to bring their cars beginning their freshman year, so they too will need oil changes and tire rotations.
Are you part of a local church?
Use this opportunity to connect with students looking for a local, faith-based family to join. By celebrating the start of another exciting school year with Wesleyan, you form a bond with new students who could potentially become customers, interns and even future employees. Come make a great first impression as NCWU welcomes the Class of 2028.
Food and Entertainment
Local food trucks will be on-site to provide a variety of food options for everyone such as: 3 Boys Catering, CP3, Natural High, Minnies Food and Thingz, Sweet P’s Galaxy Lemonade, Smoking Red House, and Carolina Shaved Ice. Live entertainment will be provided by Relay Relay; Story Charlamagne, and DJ 3two1!
Sign-up Today!
Those interested in participating should bring a six-foot tablecloth—NCWU will provide the table. A tent is not required, but it’s August in North Carolina so you may appreciate the shade— just keep it 10’x10’ or less. Also, giveaways are completely optional, but they are a great way to stand out from the rest and maybe even become the crowd favorite!
Participation is free, but display spaces are limited. The registration deadline is Wednesday, July 31; however, businesses and organizations are encouraged to sign-up as soon as possible by clicking here. For more information, contact Elliott Smith at esmith@ncwu.edu.
Check out photos of Rock the Mount Events: https://photos.ncwc.edu/Annual-Rock-The-Mount
NCWU Students participate in NCDHHS Internship
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University students, Nayonna Bland and Makaela Stokes, have accepted an internship with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) as part of the department’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) Internship Program. This paid summer internship is a component of the department’s workforce development initiative to build a strong and inclusive workforce by increasing the number of human services professionals to provide for the growing number of residents in North Carolina.
“We are looking toward the future in NCDHHS by building a strong and inclusive workforce that supports all North Carolinians,” said NCDHHS Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. “We genuinely applaud each of these young professionals for their assistance in helping NCDHHS protect the health, safety and well-being of the people in our communities now and into the future.”
Stokes and Bland will be working on a project with NCDHHS’ Division of Health Benefits. The internship will last 10 weeks and will include work in the assigned project area, seminars, presentation practice and an immersion event at the end of the internship experience.
“NCDHHS is now in its 6th Cohort of HBCU/MSI Change Champion Interns, connecting with over 150 students since 2022. We are creating a strong and inclusive workforce by building a pipeline to the public health and human services professions for this generation,” said Angela Bryant, NCDHHS’ Assistant Secretary for the Health Equity Portfolio. “NCDHHS is excited that Makaela and Nayonna have chosen to join 41 other graduate and undergraduate interns to help build the workforce needed to improve the health, safety and well-being of all North Carolinians.”
NC Wesleyan believes that student engagement is vital to rewarding social lives, strengthening leadership skills, and the desire to make a difference on campus and the community. We encourage students to get involved and make most of their collegiate experience. We are so proud of these Bishops for taking advantage of this opportunity and taking a step further to make most of their journey. Both of these students will be able to apply the skills learned during their internship with DHHS towards their respective careers in the social sector.
NCWU Awarded Longleaf Fund Grant
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – The North Carolina Wesleyan University Teacher Education Program received a $10,000 grant from the Longleaf Fund Foundation. This is an anonymous donor advised fund at Foundation for the Carolinas (FFTC) that provides grants to organizations in the Carolinas to support capital projects for at-risk youth. The grants are intended to help communities create opportunities for a brighter future for their youth.
Dr. Kelvin L. Spragley, Director of Teacher Education, shares “What this Longleaf Fund Grant means to a Teacher Education student is that s/he will learn needed skills required to be successful as an educator when implementing parent, school, and community partnership efforts.”
How this grant will be used
Beginning Fall 2024, proceeds from the grant will be used to support the K-12 public school students who receive tutoring via the NC Wesleyan Award-Winning After-School Program. Dr. Spragley will utilize funds “to purchase 10 laptops (with software) and 10 hotspots (for students who do not have home internet). These materials will be used to aid the K-12 students, who have IEPs and are tutored by students in the NC Wesleyan Teacher Education program, with their work in the primary content areas of Reading, Math, and Science/Biology.”
The critical steps involved in this project are as follows:
- Students will complete as much school work as possible while receiving tutoring at the once-each-week after-school program.
- Students will be allowed to sign out laptops and/or hotspots to complete work at home
- Students will continue with Zoom sessions with tutors between tutoring sessions
- Students will return equipment and NC Wesleyan will track student progress while working in conjunction with parents and building-level teachers.
Dr. Spragley believes “Instruction emphasizes critical thinking, analytical reasoning, reading, writing, speaking, making informed ethical decisions, and using new information technologies.” Providing necessary resources for 30+ students will make a lasting improvement on Wesleyan’s Teacher Education Program, but also in the students’ lives.
NCWU Awarded NCAA Grant
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University has been awarded the NCAA Ethnic Minorities and Women’s Internship Grant. This grant is designed to provide financial assistance to the division’s member schools and conferences that are committed to enhancing ethnic minority and gender representation in entry-level, intercollegiate athletics administrative positions. These positions should include exposure to a variety of the following areas: strategic planning, budget management, fundraising, campus and NCAA compliance, sport oversight, student-athlete welfare issues and initiatives, academics, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and staff oversight/ management.
The NCAA grant is for $33,000 annually for a two-year contract totaling $66,000, including $3,000 for professional development.
NC Wesleyan’s specific grant position will start Fall 2024 and hold the title “Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Intervention and Student-Athlete Support”. This position will work together with support services from across campus to serve student-athletes. A requirement will be weekly meetings with students, particularly focusing on academic success and strategies for first-year students. The position will additionally impact leadership opportunities and experiences to support student-athletes.
Aaron Denton, NCWU Vice President and Director of Athletics, expresses, “We are appreciative the NCAA recognizes NC Wesleyan’s commitment to both supporting our student-athletes and to working hard to build experiences and opportunities for women and minorities in athletics. This funding will have an immediate impact on the academic success of our student-athletes. It is truly an exciting time at NC Wesleyan.”
Anyone interested in the position of Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Intervention and Student-Athlete Support, visit our careers page and apply.
Maryhelen Willhite Endowed Scholarship Established
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – Bishops are often asked, “What makes Wesleyan different?” or “Why Wesleyan?” The answer is simple. It is the people, the community. This is proven once again by another generous donor, Maryhelen Willhite Jones.
Maryhelen is the daughter of the late Dr. W. Lyle Willhite who was a professor at NC Wesleyan from 1976 to 1984. Her dedication and commitment to Wesleyan runs deep and in 1996, she was able to assist one of Dr. Willhite’s former students, Rick Bradham III, ’81, in establishing The Dr. W.L. Willhite Endowed Scholarship.
Because of her late father’s influence, Maryhelen made her first contribution in the spring of 2024 to establish The Maryhelen Willhite Jones Endowed Scholarship, her own Second Generation Legacy Scholarship. This award will be given to undergraduate students majoring in Marketing who have excelled in academic and extracurricular accomplishments at NCWU.
Dr. Willhite instilled in Maryhelen to be bold and give with purpose and passion. Now she has been able to “bring that ‘can do’ boldness to NCWU through another endowed scholarship with the Willhite name.”
Maryhelen says “I believe in not only paying things forward, but also paying them inward.”
Although her background is in the Arts, International Relations, and Information/ Library Sciences, she has a passion for all things Marketing: brands, products, companies, non-profits, social causes, innovations, and ideas. Maryhelen states, “If I had to do it over again, I would go into the field of Marketing. What I can do instead is to help support those who decide to do just that.”
Maryhelen knows that Wesleyan’s undergraduate marketing degree involves research skills, critical thinking, demographics, collaboration, creativity, communication, persuasion, information, observation, social, economic, and cultural considerations, and yes, sometimes playfulness!
“My ultimate focus is on the students, who no matter what their career fields end up to be, are ethically grounded and have a strong moral self-compass,” says Maryhelen Willhite Jones.
“The Dr. W. L. Willhite Endowed Scholarship has been financially supporting Wesleyan students for over 27 years. To have a scholarship established by his daughter, Maryhelen, that will impact lives in the same way is a grand gesture. We are grateful for the ongoing support from the Willhite family, which will continue to make a difference for future Wesleyan alumni. The relationship developed has been meaningful and of great significance.”
Successful APS NSLS Fast Pass Program Launch
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – Sixty-five students were inducted into the National Society for Leadership and Success (NSLS) customized online program offered in the Adult and Professional Studies Program (APS) at North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU). NSLS is an honor society and leadership program that aims to assist students develop their leadership skills and have a positive impact on their communities. It is the largest leadership society in the United States with over 1.4 million members and more than 700 chapters nationwide.
Students gathered online for weekly synchronous sessions each Thursday evening for nine weeks to complete the induction program. In addition to meeting the NSLS requirements, students engaged in community service activities, positively impacting the lives of those in need and demonstrating their commitment to social responsibility. Tanisha Reed, Director of Career Development, facilitated the students’ induction process and calls this inaugural effort “a success with excellent results and enthusiastic participation.” The success of this program highlights the commitment of NCWU to fostering leadership and career development among its students, preparing them to excel in their professional lives and contribute meaningfully to their communities. “Their dedication and hard work exemplify the core values of leadership and success, and I am confident that this experience will serve as a cornerstone to their future professional endeavors,” Reed said. Students value this unique opportunity and the environment that comes with it. Reginald Wilkinson, recent inductee, shares, “Having Reed as our sponsor and leader at NCWU has been great! She is awesome! I am truly thankful for this induction and being part of the NSLS community!”
What comes next for these inductees? During the Fall 2024 semester the NSLS chapter will resume, combining Traditional and APS students and celebrating the induction on November 20, 2024.
NCWU receives Global Funding for Swale Development and Student Engagement
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) anticipates the Fall 2024 semester as their start date for beginning a project highlighting sustainability, improving biodiversity and water quality, as well as erosion prevention on its campus. The project is generously funded by Easyflyers®, a global logistics company that offers comprehensive shipping solutions. The campaign’s focus is developing a vegetated swale in an urban ditch. This green infrastructure will improve stormwater runoff management, reduce erosion, and use native plants.
“Easyflyers® has been a sponsor with NC Wesleyan over the last several years. Through campus beautification projects and event sponsorships, we’ve partnered to establish a greener and more sustainable campus”, states Nichol Ally, President and Managing Director of the Americas. “The EasyFlyers® Earth Day 2023 Project at NC Wesleyan provided a natural and beautiful outdoor sitting and mediation area supplemented with unique trees.”
Earth Day 2024
The company’s Earth Day 2024 donation is funding a project referred to as “The Swale”. It will be completed by students in Wesleyan’s biology classes and overseen by Dr. Daniel Elias who states “This project showcases both EasyFlyers® and Wesleyan’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Using native plants, we can reduce some of the impact of urbanization on our ecosystem. We are grateful that EasyFlyers® want to make earth sustainability projects a priority and allows Wesleyan to assist in these efforts.”
Students at NCWU will actively participate in this project through site preparation, plant selection, and maintenance. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to conduct water quality assessments and monitor ecosystem health as part of courses like Global Water Issue (BIO330), Agroecology (BIO226), and Environmental Science (BIO324).
Dr. Elias emphasizes this project’s educational value, “Having our students involved in every part of this project will promote a deeper understanding of environmental science and develop a sense of responsibility towards sustainable practices.”
Further, the university plans to conduct regular monitoring to ensure the vegetated swale’s long-term success. Data collected by student-led monitoring and inspections will contribute to addressing the efficacy of green infrastructures as a solution to urbanization.
Local Company Awards Nursing Scholarships to NCWU
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – SE&M Constructors, Inc., a Rocky Mount based, family-owned company for over 100 years, recently established the SE&M Constructors, Inc. Annual Nursing Scholarships at North Carolina Wesleyan University. “There is such a high demand for quality nursing in this region and NC Wesleyan is doing a great job of trying to fill that need. As a local company, we care about the communities we serve, so helping Wesleyan students further their education and careers in nursing seems like a tremendous benefit to all of us,” states Harry Bynum, Chairman of SE&M Constructors, Inc. and member of NC Wesleyan’s Board of Trustees.
The SE&M Constructors, Inc. Annual Scholarship will be awarded to NCWU nursing students enrolled to receive their Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The number of recipients may vary annually depending on the number of nursing students applying for the scholarship. NCWU’s BSN degree prepares experienced registered nurses for advanced leadership, management, clinical, research and nurse educator positions. Dr. Evan D. Duff, President of NCWU, states “This is another example of how our community benefits from organizations who believe in the mission of North Carolina Wesleyan University. These funds will directly impact nursing students who will further their education to meet the needs of our local hospital and medical practices. It directly impacts the public health of Nash and Edgecombe counties.”
The scholarships will be awarded with a minimum of $2,000 and a maximum of $2,500. Applications for the scholarship will be administered through the Financial Aid Office. Students interested in applying for this scholarship may contact the NCWU Financial Aid Office by emailing FinancialAid@ncwu.edu.
