ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – The Golden LEAF Foundation awarded NC Wesleyan University with a $100,000 grant to support their new Logistics and Supply Chain Management baccalaureate program that actively started this fall. This award is in addition to a grant awarded by the NC Office of State Budget and Management in August 2018.
NC Wesleyan has offered a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Logistics for a number of years. The new degree program, which kicked off this semester, offers a more comprehensive, focused curriculum designed with the needs of the local industry in mind. The program addresses cost efficiency, cutting-edge technologies and sophisticated strategies and practices as it relates to the movement of raw materials and goods in a global economy. Dr. Melanie Townsend was hired before the start of the semester as the full-time visiting professor for the program.
The program, offered on the Rocky Mount campus and online, is in response to the growing advanced manufacturing and distribution sector in the greater Rocky Mount area and eastern North Carolina. It will also address the immediate need for a well-prepared and qualified workforce for local companies such as Pfizer, Cummins-Rocky Mount Engine Plant and Eagle Transport, in addition to new companies such as the CCX Carolina Connector, Triangle Tire, Corning and FFE Transportation Services. Wesleyan’s program prepares students for middle- and senior-level management positions.
The program is targeted toward traditional students who choose to attend Wesleyan following high school, transfer students from community colleges, adult students interested in changing careers and workers who are already employed in the industry. Students can choose from traditional in-person classes, online classes or a hybrid program of both classroom and online.
Articulation agreements were signed at the beginning of August with Nash and Edgecombe Community Colleges that offer students with AAS degrees a seamless transfer to Wesleyan’s Logistics and Supply Chain Management degree program.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in Logistics and Supply Chain Management is projected to grow 7% through 2026 due to the transportation of goods in a global economy. The annual wage for logisticians with a four-year degree is $74,590.
The Golden LEAF Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to receive a portion of North Carolina’s funding received from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers. For 20 years, Golden LEAF has worked to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural and tobacco-dependent communities through leadership in grant making, collaboration, innovation, and stewardship as an independent and perpetual foundation.
NC Wesleyan University Indoor Sports & Education Facility
We have received a commitment from an anonymous donor for the building of an indoor sports and education facility that will completely cover the cost of construction, along with a grant from the Nash County Tourism Development Authority. The vision is to provide North Carolina Wesleyan University the opportunity to enhance the scope of its educational and sports offerings, along with increasing partnerships and involvement within the local community through educational and sports programs for adults and youth. Wesleyan hopes to provide sports not readily available in this area, namely squash, indoor tennis and pickleball. Wesleyan has applied and been approved for a building permit with the Rocky Mount Planning Board. A construction start date has not been set at this time. The hope is that the facility will be completed by Spring of 2020.
Wesleyan Holds Scholarship Appreciation Event
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – Scholarship donors and their recipients came together at North Carolina Wesleyan November 1 as the college held its Scholarship Appreciation Gala at The Dunn Center for the Performing Arts. The event recognized scholarship donors who give annually to Wesleyan students, helping them pursue their academic and professional dreams.
“It is always rewarding to bring together this group of promising young people and let our generous sponsors see the powerful impact their commitments are making on these leaders of tomorrow,” stated Eddie Coats, Vice President of Development. “Many of these students would not be able to afford a comprehensive college education without this support.”
Student body president and Heritage scholarship recipient, Will Plyler, spoke about the impact of his award. “I am just a sophomore but my life has been completely changed by the funding that made it possible for me to attend Wesleyan. I now have the opportunity to learn and pursue my passion in life. I am extremely grateful,” said Plyer.
Guest speaker for the event was J. Winston Lea, owner of Action Staffing Group and President of the Gravely Foundation. In 1945 as World War II was ending, the children of Rocky Mount businessman J.O.W. and Lula Keen Gravely created the Gravely Foundation to honor their parents’ philosophy that every child should have the opportunity to advance themselves through education. Over the last four decades, the Gravely Foundation has provided approximately $803,000 to support students and programming at Wesleyan. In his speech, Lea encouraged students to give back to their communities, churches and colleges. “One thing that I have learned on this journey of life is whatever you give, you will receive back tenfold,” stated Lea.
Wesleyan presented its prestigious Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award to Lloyd Nelson ’67 and Elliott Stevenson Nelson ‘66. The award honors the excellence in character, leadership, community service and spiritual values of Algernon Sydney Sullivan, a lawyer, scholar and orator. While at Wesleyan, Lloyd was a stand-out on the hardwood as the basketball program’s first Most Valuable Player during the college’s inaugural season in 1963-1964. He went on to become a two-time All-Conference selection and earned MVP rights again his senior year. The Nelsons have been very involved in Wesleyan over the years and Lloyd served on the Board of Trustees from 1997 to May 2018.
“The Nelsons have given tirelessly and generously to Wesleyan over a long period of time,” stated President Dr. Dewey Clark. “Their love and dedication to this college and the students we serve is without comparison. There has never been two more worthy recipients than Lloyd and Elliott.”
Each year more than 180 Wesleyan students benefit from the generosity of our donors.
###
Gravely Foundation Supports Local College Students
