ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – On Saturday, April 25, North Carolina Wesleyan University held a virtual spring commencement celebration to honor the Class of 2020. The College announced on March 23 that the spring commencement ceremony would be postponed until December 5, 2020. In lieu of a physical ceremony, the College wanted to do something special to honor its 222 seniors who graduated.
The virtual celebration included a welcome message from President Duff, baccalaureate address by Rev. Dr. Barry Drum and photos that the graduates submitted, along with their hometowns and majors. In addition, the graduates were treated to a surprise video from award-winning actress, Sharon Lawrence, who was originally scheduled to speak at the April ceremony. Lawrence has played in roles on NYPD Blue, Grey’s Anatomy and the CBS comedy, “Me, Myself and I.”
In her video, Lawrence addressed the graduates, stating “I’d like to talk to you today about sacrifice — something that we’ve heard of, but I think we all know a little more about now.” She went on to mention all of the sacrifices that are made in order to obtain a college degree, many of which she experienced herself. She specifically addressed the challenges and sacrifices that are a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. “But I never had to sacrifice my graduation service…the Class of 2020 did something unique.” She left the graduates with the hope that maybe they would all be able to celebrate together at the December ceremony.
This was the College’s 79th graduation, with the first occurring in 1960. There were 10 international graduates from six countries: Argentina, Cambodia, Venezuela, England, Nepal and Italy. This commencement also included the third cohort of Wesleyan’s new Master’s in Criminal Justice program.
NC Wesleyan to Celebrate Graduating Seniors with Virtual Celebration
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University’s spring commencement ceremony was originally scheduled for April 25. With ongoing concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the College announced on March 23 that the ceremony would be postponed until December 5, 2020. Graduate candidates for April, August, and December will be able to participate in the December 2020 ceremony. In lieu of a ceremony on April 25, Wesleyan has created a virtual celebration which will be published on the College’s website and social media that day.
Award-winning actress, Sharon Lawrence, was originally scheduled to speak at the April ceremony. Wesleyan is excited to announce that she will still be addressing the Class of 2020 at the December commencement ceremony. Lawrence has played in 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. She is also the daughter of Tom Lawrence, former news reporter for WRAL News in Raleigh.
“As our graduating seniors entered their final semester, the world changed before their eyes. However, in this moment, they became fearless, bold, and emerged stronger as productive and informed citizens. The education they attained at North Carolina Wesleyan University has prepared them for this very moment,” stated Dr. Evan D. Duff, President of North Carolina Wesleyan University.
The virtual celebration on April 25 will include a welcome by President, Dr. Evan D. Duff, baccalaureate address by College Chaplain, Rev. Dr. Barry Drum and recognize each graduate. The virtual celebration can be viewed on April 25 at ncwu.edu, as well as the College’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube accounts.
Wesleyan Collects Homemade Masks to Protect Against COVID-19
With the dwindling supplies of protective masks nationwide, NC Wesleyan is mobilizing an effort to make homemade face masks to help local providers protect against COVID-19. The College is calling on the public to help with this effort!
North Carolina Wesleyan University will be collecting masks at a drive through drop-off at the Gateway Technology Center at the front of campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. – noon. The College will then distribute to local providers in need.
For more information, contact NCWC’s RN to BSN Director of Dr. Brittany Bass at bbass@ncwu.edu. For DIY mask and pattern ideas, watch the video below:
North Carolina Wesleyan Semi-Finalist in Ethics Bowl
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.
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.
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.
Wesleyan Sets New Annual Senior Tradition
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan College has launched a new, yearly tradition that allows graduating seniors to leave a mark on campus that will continue to grow for years to come. The tradition involves the planting of tulip and daffodil bulbs on an area of campus chosen by the seniors.
This past Monday, NC Wesleyan seniors who will be graduating in December 2019 or May 2020 gathered on campus in front of Pearsall Library to kick off the new tradition. The graduates had the opportunity to plant these bulbs as a symbol of their legacy at NC Wesleyan University. This annual event provides a burst of color, revitalizing natural spaces and offering years of beauty throughout campus for students, faculty, staff and visitors.
Dr. Duff surveyed the senior class in order to gauge location interest and confirm best available times to plant. In the future, the College plans to allow each senior class an opportunity to choose a different location unique to their gift.
“This is a creative and lasting way for our seniors to leave their mark on campus. As tours are conducted on campus, we can show visitors one way seniors are making their impact on the beautification of Wesleyan,” stated Interim President Dr. Evan D. Duff.
This new tradition nicely coordinates with Wesleyan’s continued efforts to expand its beautification of campus and positively impact the environment. Since 2017, Wesleyan has received Tree Campus USA® recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to effective urban forest management. This program honors colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals.
Wesleyan Senior Receives Rocky Mount Kiwanis Club Scholarship
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – A North Carolina Wesleyan College senior, Jessica Wall, was recently awarded a scholarship from the Rocky Mount Kiwanis Club in memory of Mrs. Betsy Strandberg.
Wall, a native of Whitakers, North Carolina, attended high school at Northern Nash. She is currently majoring in Psychology with plans to graduate this spring. After graduation, she intends on pursuing her masters and doctorate. In her free time, Wall enjoys attending Covenant Campus Ministry on Wednesday nights, an outreach of Christ Covenant Church. During the summer, she works as a counselor with Lifeway FUGE Camps.
This scholarship was given in memory of Mrs. Betsy Strandberg, the first woman president of the Rocky Mount Chamber of Commerce and the first female member of the Rocky Mount Kiwanis Club. Strandberg was active with North Carolina Wesleyan University as President of the Board of Visitors, Chair of “A Day for Wesleyan,” as well as numerous fund drives for the College, including The Dunn Center. She was inducted into the Twin Counties Hall of Fame in 2018.
Kiwanis International is a global community of clubs, members and partners dedicated to improving the lives of children one community at a time. Each community has different needs, and Kiwanis empowers members to pursue creative ways to serve the needs of children, such as fighting hunger, improving literacy and offering guidance. Kiwanis clubs host nearly 150,000 service projects each year.
Rotary Club Scholarships Awarded to NC Wesleyan Students
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – Twelve North Carolina Wesleyan College students recently became recipients of scholarships from The Rotary Club of Rocky Mount. These scholarships were made possible by proceeds raised during the Tackle the Tar 5K Obstacle Course Race, held back in May.
This September, The Rotary Club of Rocky Mount presented North Carolina Wesleyan College, with a check for $27,000 from this year’s Tackle the Tar. In just four short years, Tackle the Tar has given $234,000 to Nash Community College, Edgecombe Community College and NC Wesleyan University to help fund scholarships.
Scholarships provide significant support for many of NC Wesleyan’s students seeking to further their education. Wesleyan students are encouraged to apply by writing an essay highlighting their leadership, good citizenship, community spirit and academic progress. Applicants must also be a US Citizen, a resident of Nash or Edgecombe County, maintain a GPA of 2.75 or higher and considered a sophomore, junior or senior. Once applications have been received and reviewed by the Scholarship Committee, students who meet all requirements and exemplify the character of the Rotarian Scholar are awarded a generous scholarship.
This year’s North Carolina Wesleyan University Rotary Scholars are: Michael Parker, Brianna Skipwith, Miranda Massey, Kenya Dickens, Jessica Wall, Kevin Teague, Nya House, Kiara Spooner, Madison Gill, Latarsha Powell, Jy’maca Revis and Joynese Speller.
Rotary International is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves. Rotary members provide service to others, promote integrity and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through their fellowship of business, professional and community leaders.
Wesleyan’s Youth Theology Institute Receives Grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University was recently awarded with a $300,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. This grant will help to further the College’s efforts with its Youth Theology Institute (YTI), known as “Connect- YTI” on campus.
Connect, a summer camp and year-long mentorship program, exists to connect high school and college students to Christ, community and the church. During the past four years, more than 100 students have attended the program with the help of some 35 local churches that refer students. Connect has hosted several community-wide youth events and explored different theological topics – from Justice to Jesus in the Gospels – with the belief that theology (the study of God) is a life-long journey, not merely a religious study from a book.
Connect was launched in 2016 with a grant from Lilly Endowment as part of its nationwide initiative, High School Youth Theology Institutes at Colleges and Universities.
This new grant will help North Carolina Wesleyan University continue to support Connect during the next four years. Wesleyan hopes to continue strengthening the summer institute; training and equipping college students as mentors; hosting more guest speakers and artists; helping high school and college students with their discernment process of life; and providing mini conferences on campus to empower and equip lay leaders with issues they face in ministry.
“This is such exciting news for our program! Lilly Endowment has been so generous to us. I have told many people, it’s really cool to see how the generosity of one person, family or organization can impact the lives of so many people. I think this grant is a testament to that,” stated Mikah Brondyke, Director of Connect- YTI. “The past four years have laid a great foundation for our program. It will be really neat to watch our program build upon this and continue the work of encouraging and empowering the next generation of youth.”Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly family – J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons J.K. Jr. and Eli – through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly & Company. The Endowment exists to support the causes of religion, education and community development. Lilly Endowment’s religion grant-making is designed to deepen and enrich the religious lives of American Christians. It does this largely through initiatives to enhance and sustain the quality of ministry in American congregations and parishes.
