ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – The 9th Annual Ethics Bowl, a debate competition hosted by the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU), asks students to compete over a selected topic. Out of 22 North Carolina private colleges, North Carolina Wesleyan University placed in the semifinals.
This year’s topic explored Ethics in the Agriculture. The final question asked, “What ethical responsibilities does the United States have to support the agricultural industry in securing the qualified workers that it needs?” Other questions covered topics such as genetically modified and/or gene edited food.
Of the 22 private colleges in attendance, this year’s semifinalists included: High Point University, Salem College, Belmont Abbey College and North Carolina Wesleyan University. The competition was held at the North Carolina Legislative Complex in Raleigh on February 21 and 22. The judge’s panel was composed of 60 corporate, nonprofit, legislative and community leaders.
North Carolina Wesleyan’s ethics team is led by Boluwatife Johnson, Chanel Patterson as Ethical Theory Lead. The researchers for the team include James Cheazar, Richard “RJ” Smalls, Catherine Leake and Grace deMontesquiou. Drs. Jarrod Kelly and Sherry Holland serve as faculty coordinators. With some members graduating, the team hopes to recruit new members and return next year for competition.
Faculty coordinator, Jarrod Kelly, congratulates the team, “We received many positive comments from judges, team coordinators and spectators. Our team was complimented most on their presentations,” he says. “The team really had their opening statement down to a science and it was extraordinarily impressive to observe. The team stole the spotlight with their poise, knowledge and passion.” The team had a record of 4-0 in regular level matches and had been preparing for the competition since August 2019.
A Day for Wesleyan
One Day. A Lifelong Impact.
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – The Day for Wesleyan event has been a tradition at North Carolina Wesleyan University for 38 years, typically taking place over several weeks in the fall of the year. As Wesleyan implements safety and operational plans related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the College is still working hard to fulfill its educational mission and help its students complete the semester. This year, “A Day for Wesleyan” will be a 24-hour online giving opportunity for alumni and friends to show their Bishop Pride on Thursday, March 26.
“It’s important that we are meeting the needs of our students, both academically and financially. In an effort to uphold our mission and press on to provide this support for our students, we will move forward with our Day for Wesleyan campaign. Now more than ever, our students, families, communities and state need to rally around one another,” announced Interim President Dr. Evan D. Duff.
The goal of the campaign is to attract 650 donors to help raise $45,000 in a single day. Among the matching gift incentives, once the campaign reaches its 300th donor, a gift of $10,000 from an anonymous alumni will be unlocked.
“We hope that the entire community will show their Bishop Pride on Thursday, March 26th. When alumni and friends of the College unite to share their passion for Wesleyan, amazing things can happen,” said Vice President of Advancement and Wesleyan alumnus, Eddie Coats. “All gifts, regardless of the amount, add up to make a huge impact on the College’s efforts to educate these bright and talented students.”
NC Wesleyan hopes everyone in the community will embrace March 26th as a day to celebrate Wesleyan. It can be as simple as wearing blue and gold or Wesleyan gear, posting Wesleyan memories on social media using #DFW2020, spreading the news to others to follow Wesleyan, or making a gift in support online. Gifts to the Wesleyan Fund will give the College the ability to respond to the greatest needs and concerns as they arise.
“Their growth has brought more young people to this area,” states Chamber of Commerce President David Farris. “The educational experiences they offer, and the opportunities they create to improve our quality of life culturally, has an impact on everyone in this region.”
Donors can learn more and participate in the Day for Wesleyan by going to the secured giving website dayforwesleyan.com or by calling 252.985.5266. Gifts are tax-deductible.
NC Wesleyan University Recognized by Exercise is Medicine® for Efforts to Create Culture of Wellness on Campus
NCWC among record 166 campuses honored worldwide
North Carolina Wesleyan University is one of only 166 universities and colleges around the world to be honored by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Exercise is Medicine® initiative for its efforts to create a culture of wellness on campus. Campus-wide initiatives focused on physical activity and health at the College helped Wesleyan earn silver level designation from the Exercise is Medicine® On Campus (EIM-OC) program.
“We are thrilled to recognize these campuses’ commitment to make movement a part of daily campus culture and give students the tools to cultivate physical activity habits that will benefit them throughout their lives,”said Robyn Stuhr, vice president of Exercise is Medicine. “These campus programs are nurturing future leaders who will advance a key tenet of Exercise is Medicine: making physical activity assessment and promotion a standard in health care.”
“This distinction wouldn’t be possible without the collaborative efforts of the Exercise Science and Health Promotion Departments, Wesleyan Wellness, the NCWC Intramural Sports & Recreation Program, the students of the Health and Movement Science Club, as well as the faculty, staff and administration who have supported our efforts to make physical activity a health priority on campus,” stated Dr. Shannon Crowley, NCWC’s Exercise is Medicine on Campus Advisor.
Notable initiatives that helped NCWC reach Silver status included the Lunch n’ Learn Series for Health, sponsored by the Departments of Health Promotion and Exercise Science, in partnership with Wesleyan Wellness; the annual Costume Run/Walk, sponsored by the NCWC Health and Movement Science Club; the Walk with the President; the Exercise Science personal training program; and others.
Of the 166 campuses recognized this year, 77 received gold, 62 silver and 27 bronze. All gold, silver and bronze universities and colleges will be officially recognized on May 27 as part of the 11th World Congress on Exercise is Medicine, held in conjunction with ACSM’s 67th Annual Meeting.
EIM-OC calls upon universities and colleges to promote physical activity as a vital sign of health and encourages faculty, staff and students to work together to improve the health and well-being of the campus community.
EIM-OC launched its recognition program in 2014 to honor campuses for their efforts to create a culture of wellness. Schools earn gold, silver or bronze status based on their activities. Gold level campuses have created a referral system where campus health care providers assess student physical activity and refer students as necessary to a certified fitness professional as part of medical treatment. Silver campuses engage students, faculty and staff in education initiatives and make movement part of the daily campus culture while bronze level campuses promote and generate awareness of the health benefits of physical activity.
View a complete list of recognized schools and learn more about the EIM-OC program at exerciseismedicine.org/support_page.php/eim-on-campus/.
About Exercise Is Medicine
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) co-launched Exercise is Medicine® (EIM) in 2007 with the American Medical Association. ACSM continues to manage the global health initiative, which seeks to make physical activity assessment and promotion a standard in clinical care, connecting health care with evidence-based physical activity resources for people everywhere of all abilities. EIM is committed to the belief that physical activity promotes optimal health, is integral in the prevention and treatment of many medical conditions and should be regularly assessed and included as part of health care. Visit www.ExerciseisMedicine.org for additional information.
About the American College of Sports Medicine
The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. More than 50,000 international, national and regional members and certified professionals are dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine. More details at www.acsm.org.
About North Carolina Wesleyan College
North Carolina Wesleyan University, a private institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church, prepares students for professional advancement, life-long learning and responsible participation in their communities. NC Wesleyan University provides a highly personalized education in a dynamic and challenging environment. With students from all over the United States and more than 40 different countries, NC Wesleyan is a small college with a big taste for cultural diversity. To learn more, visit ncwu.edu and follow on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.
NC Wesleyan Students Spend Spring Break in NYC
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University has partnered with Sony Music Entertainment to provide job shadowing opportunities for music production and Human Resources management students.
“It is partnerships like these that allow our students to experience real-world applications from the learning outcomes they attained in the classroom. Having the ability to offer these extraordinary opportunities prepares our students for their career after graduation and establishes a network of professionals with a major music entertainment company like Sony,” stated Dr. Evan D. Duff, Interim President of North Carolina Wesleyan University.
Recently selected NCWC students Brianna Skipwith, Conner Hayes and David Bolivar will travel next week, March 4-6, to participate in the spring break 2020 Sony job shadowing experience. These students along with Dr. Katrina Sweet, NCWC Assistant Professor of Business, will be able to work side by side with Sony Entertainment’s human resource professionals. During their time in NYC, they will also visit the 9/11 memorial and attend a Broadway show.
“HR was once viewed as the old personnel department isolated from the rest of the organization. Now HR is viewed as a strategic partner and is a part of the strategic planning phase of an organization. Students will be able to see both the two way linkage and integrative linkage and how each interrelates with the strategic goals and performance outcomes of an organization,” stated Dr. Katrina Sweet.
Hayes acknowledges he hopes to “see the business fundamentals, practices, and organizational concepts that I learned in the classroom be applied in a real-world setting” adding, “I believe the wealth of knowledge and relationships I will gain will open up many more doors in the future.”
Last October, NCWC students Will Plyler and Josh Strausser received the opportunity to visit The Orchard, a renowned Sony recording studio, and shadow some of Sony’s top music production engineers. North Carolina Wesleyan University looks forward to more of their students having these same opportunities in the near future.
Wilson Community College and North Carolina Wesleyan University Partner to Enhance College Transfer
WILSON — Wilson Community College (WCC) and North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding and University Partnership Agreement on Monday, February 24, that enables students to continue their education after earning a two-year degree. The agreement gives WCC students with Associate in Arts (AA), Associate in Science (AS), and Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degrees access to the Wesleyan Works program, which includes pre-admission advising, transfer credits, and a clear definition of the transfer of courses from WCC to NCWC.
Tim Wright, President of Wilson Community College
Wesleyan Works is a transfer program designed for community college students who plan to continue their education at NCWC. The program guarantees admission to NCWC for WCC’s AA, AS, and AAS graduates. WCC students who transfer under this agreement are automatically eligible for Wesleyan Works. Students will have access to academic advising and financial aid counseling through NCWC.
WCC students who graduate and transfer under this agreement can select any of NCWC’s traditional programs of study or may enroll in NCWC’s Adult and Professional Studies programs, utilizing the advantages of the Wesleyan Works program. For example, AAS graduates may transfer up to 75 credit hours to NCWC.
WCC Vice President for Academic Affairs Mr. Rob Holsten shared, “We are excited to continue and expand our partnership with North Carolina Wesleyan University to offer more options for students to continue their studies after completing their two-year degree here at Wilson Community College. This type of partnership furthers the College’s mission to help students reach their educational goals, and adds to existing opportunities for transferable degrees.”
New NCWC Bishop Gaming Association Takes Second at Triangle Esports Championship
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – Students on North Carolina Wesleyan’s campus are excited about the new addition of an esports club called The Bishop Gaming Association (BGA). The club is devoted to promoting the culture of gaming by providing experiences, advice, awareness and resources to students interested in exploring, playing and discussing video games of all platforms.
The Bishop Gaming Association seeks to create a competitive environment between students who find enjoyment in playing video games. Video game tournaments – known as esports – are quickly becoming a must-have on many College and University campuses. According to ESPN.com, there are approximately 125 varsity esports teams in North America. Although, the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), says that there are currently more than 130 active collegiate varsity esports teams.
On February 8, Wesleyan students participated in North Carolina’s only esports tournament, the Triangle Esports Championship (TEC), held at the Herbert C. Young Center in Cary, NC. The competition invited approximately 2,000 professional and amateur players to compete for cash and prizes in games including Fortnite, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Street Fighter. Proceeds from the tournament directly benefit the nonprofits Kramden Institute and the Triangle Literacy Council in supporting their efforts for digital inclusion and literacy campaigns in North Carolina. In 2019, the tournament raised $50,000 to further community digital inclusion and literacy efforts. North Carolina Wesleyan was a proud sponsor of this year’s tournament.
“The experience of competing in the Triangle Esports Championship has energized The BGA,” stated Desiree’ Driver, Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach and BGA Club Advisor. “The club now has over 100 members and The BGA Elite Team has grown to 16. It’s been exciting to witness not just the socialization and teamwork of such a diverse group of students, but the growth in digital literacy and the collaborative and innovative ways in which they teach and learn from one another.”
North Carolina Wesleyan University students fought competitively and placed on the leaderboards despite the many sponsored players in attendance. Cameron Bullock placed second in the Street Fighter competition and 20 out of 97 participants in the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate category. Johnathan Gomez placed 35 out of 200 players in Fortnite. Chantoni Grant, Club President, along with Christian Gardner and Dequan Wiggins, competed in the Rocket League category.
The Bishop Gaming Association was started to allow an untapped NC Wesleyan community find a place of belonging. In its first month, it exploded into one of the largest clubs on campus with over 100 members.
Crews Break Ground on New Indoor Sports & Education Facility
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – Construction began today on the highly anticipated Indoor Sports & Education Facility at North Carolina Wesleyan University. Plans to build the complex, which will be located on the northeast side of campus, were announced in August.
A statement from the College at that time acknowledged, “The College received a commitment from anonymous donors for the building of an indoor sports and education facility… along with a grant from the Nash County Tourism Development Authority.”
Interim President Evan D. Duff adds, “We are extremely grateful for our donors who allow us to make a positive impact on our students and community. This facility will advance our mission by providing both educational facilities for our exercise science and health promotion majors and recreational facilities for students and members of the community.”
The state-of-the-art, approximately 48,000 square foot, air-supported structure was designed by Oakley Collier Architects and will be built by Smithson Incorporated. The facility will be a permanent structure, introducing sports not readily available currently in this area, namely squash and indoor tennis.
The genesis to construct this type of facility formed from a vision to enhance NCWC’s athletic programs, mainly tennis, golf and sports conditioning; as well as increase recreational opportunities for the College and entire surrounding community. The vision for this facility captured the attention of several donors and the Nash County Tourism Development Authority. These donors shared a common interest of developing indoor sports, namely tennis and squash. A facility where citizens of our local community, including the underserved, could have the opportunity to learn, play and enjoy. The Nash County Tourism Development Authority envisioned this facility as a destination for yearly visitors to enjoy Nash County as they participate in tournaments and events on a local, regional and national level.
One exciting amenity of this facility will be the squash courts. According to ussquash.com, over 20 million squash players participate regularly in over 185 countries and more than 200 colleges and universities have courts. A previous Forbes study also pronounced squash as the #1 sport for getting and staying fit.
The facility has potential for future growth academically and athletically, specifically within the College’s Exercise Science and Health Promotion programs. The leadership of NCWC, along with the faculty and staff associated in these areas, desire to collaborate with the local community to improve and enhance the well-being of its citizens. The sports and future educational pillars of this facility— athletics, scholarship and research— have vast potential to develop training, mentorship and tutoring programs for area youth. The facility will also offer training and education for students and local citizens concerning prevention and management of diseases and injuries, as well as will facilitate proper and enjoyable physical conditioning measures.
“The magnificent size of this facility pales in comparison to the immense impact it will have on our College and Community”, stated Head Tennis Coach Albert “Albie” Brice. The facility’s capacity to offer opportunities to play sports such as tennis and squash, regardless of weather conditions, is one example of how this facility will function in numerous ways— ways where tennis clinics, squash camps, conferences for high school coaches, afterschool programs and weekly standing games would not be cancelled. People will ride by and visualize all the wonderful things happening on Wesleyan’s campus and in this community. This facility is a game changer for our entire area!”
Wesleyan hopes to begin on-site construction in February with an expected completion of the facility by summer of 2020.
NC Native and Award-Winning Actress to Speak at NCWC Commencement
April 2020 commencement speaker
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University is excited to announce Sharon Lawrence as their April 2020 commencement speaker. Lawrence is an award-winning actress with roles on NYPD Blue, Grey’s Anatomy and the CBS comedy, “Me, Myself and I.” A native of North Carolina, she was born in Charlotte and later moved to Raleigh where she graduated from Broughton High School. Lawrence attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
“Based on her ties to North Carolina and success in the entertainment industry, we are overly enthusiastic to have Sharon Lawrence speak to our graduates in April. With our new Entertainment Arts major, music production minor and her ability to demonstrate that anything is possible with a solid education, she was a natural fit to be our commencement speaker,” stated Dr. Evan D. Duff, Interim President of North Carolina Wesleyan University.
While at UNC, Lawrence was active onstage with the college’s Playmakers Repertory Company. She is a proud founding, and prior leading actress, at the North Carolina Theatre, which is still going strong after 36 years at Raleigh’s Memorial Auditorium. She is also the daughter of Tom Lawrence, former news reporter for WRAL News in Raleigh.
Lawrence currently appears on several different television series, including: Dynasty, Shameless, Criminal Minds, and can most recently be seen opposite Kirsten Dunst in Showtime’s On Becoming a God in Central Florida. She is set to star on Apple’s upcoming series Home Before Dark. Lawrence is also an accomplished Broadway stage actress and a 2012 Lunt-Fontanne Ten Chimneys Fellow, recently starring in “A Kid Like Jake” at the Pasadena Playhouse.
She previously chaired the Women In Film Foundation where she incubated and managed corporate partnerships with Netflix and the Dr. Scholl Foundation. Lawrence is still active in supporting women in the industry and currently serves as a Trustee of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation.
“Celebrating the Wesleyan commencement is a meaningful opportunity for me not only as a native North Carolinian, but because my creative roots are here,” stated Lawrence. “My passion and career were nurtured by North Carolina schools and churches, by its outdoor dramas, local and professional theaters and its commitment to the performing arts. Your investment in education and the arts is an investment in your minds and hearts.”
On April 25, 2020, Sharon will address the Class of 2020 at NC Wesleyan University’s Spring Commencement, which will be held in front of the Braswell Administration Building.
Wesleyan Welcomes New Talent to Admissions Team
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University is happy to welcome several new faces to its admissions team. Wesleyan alumnus, Aaron Meade, joins the team in their recruitment efforts for traditional day students. Wesleyan alumni, Tracy Gary and Lindsey Sharpe, will team up with adult studies as Admissions and Advising Coordinators for the Rocky Mount campus.
Meade graduated from Wesleyan in December 2018 double majoring in Accounting and Business with a concentration in Sports Administration. Since then, he has become a valuable asset to the Wesleyan community by aiding in a variety of positions such as Student Affairs Assistant for the Greek Life Coordinator and current member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Before accepting the position of Admissions Counselor, Meade was the Assistant Director of the Youth Technology Institute at the College. In that role, Meade was responsible for recruiting students, marketing efforts and public relations.
“We are excited to have Aaron join our team,” stated Paige Price Wells, Assistant Director of Admissions for traditional recruitment. “We have full confidence that he will make an immediate contribution to the Admissions staff and the NCWC community.”
Tracy Gary, an alumna from the Class of 1990, has acquired more than 20 years of educational experience with various institutions. Her experience spans from teaching high school mathematics for Weldon City Schools to matriculating from Assistant Principal to Principal for Wilson County Schools, later becoming the Director of Human Resources and Operations for Weldon City Schools. Most recently, she served as Superintendent of Weldon City Schools. Gary’s dedication has garnered numerous awards such as Teacher of the Year at the school and district level in the same year, Principal of the Year and received the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Local Hero Award. She also obtained her master’s degree in School Administration from East Carolina University.
Lindsey Sharpe is also a recent graduate of NC Wesleyan, completing her B.S. in Exercise Science in spring 2017. Since then, she has worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant for various assisted care facilities, most recently as Bridge to Recovery Director at HeartFields Assisted Living in Cary, NC. Sharpe continued her academic pursuits by obtaining a master’s degree in Gerontology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. As a student-athlete at NC Wesleyan, she was a member of the softball team. Academically, she earned numerous awards including the President’s List twice, the President’s Honors List twice and the Exercise Science Department Award for spring 2015. She is also a member of Sigma Phi Omega, the International Gerontology Honor Society through UNC Charlotte.
“The College is happy to welcome two alums to build and grow enrollment efforts in Adult and Professional Studies in Rocky Mount,” stated Michael Drew, Interim Dean of Admissions and Adult Studies. “We are confident that Lindsey and Tracy, as Admissions and Advising Coordinators, have the knowledge, skills and experience that will serve the College well in their new roles working with adult professionals, transfer students and new students.”
North Carolina Wesleyan eagerly welcomes all three to the Bishop family and is excited about the new perspectives and energy they will bring to the College.
Wesleyan Submits Accreditation Application for New RN to BSN Program
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University is pleased to announce that it has submitted the substantive change application for the new RN to BSN program to its regional accreditor, the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC). The College will begin promoting the program immediately and will be accepting applications this spring. Pending approval from SACSCOC expected in April or May, the program will start in fall 2020. Thanks to the hard work of Dr. Brittany Bass, Dr. Esther Burgess, Dr. Evan Duff, Dr. Larry Kelley, Dr. Molly Wyatt and Scott Marsigli, this document was completed in record time to meet the January deadline. The program will also seek professional accreditation from Nursing’s top collegiate academic accreditor, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
The RN to BSN program will be for licensed nurses who have an Associate Degree in Nursing and desire to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The Institute of Medicine recommends that hospitals should work to hire RNs with higher levels of education and training. Studies show this enables nurses to provide better patient care. For this reason, they also recommend that 80% of nurses earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) by 2020.
As nursing becomes more complex, a BSN can move one’s career forward. This program will expand on the RN competencies needed to drive change that will positively affect healthcare, as well as preparing nurses for graduate studies. In this program, professional baccalaureate nursing practice will focus on population health, nursing leadership and management, informatics, healthcare policy and evidence based research opportunities that will facilitate professional growth. RN to BSN students will be required to complete clinical experiences in the BSN Professional Capstone course. The purpose of the clinical practice experience is to translate new nursing knowledge into daily practice.
NC Wesleyan is also excited to announce it has received a $15,000 gift from two married alums to cover the costs of textbooks for the first 20 students accepted into the program. Stay tuned to ncwu.edu and the College’s social media for the official announcement of when application acceptance will begin.
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