ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University is pleased to welcome two new Counselors to its Admissions Team— Jason Letchworth and Stephanie Stallings.
Jason Letchworth received his Associate of Applied Science in Biotechnology from Pitt Community College in 2012. In 2016, he finished his BS in Business Administration at North Carolina Wesleyan, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Jason is a U.S. Air Force Veteran and a North Carolina certified Firefighter and EMT. In his new role, he will be responsible for working with incoming transfer students.
Stephanie Stallings is from Nashville, NC and is a 2018 alumna of North Carolina Wesleyan University. She was a member of the Women’s Soccer Team for four years and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology. This April, Stallings also received her Master’s of Science in Criminal Justice from Wesleyan. In her new role as Admissions Counselor, her recruitment territories include Dare and Currituck Counties, western North Carolina, Virginia and southern states, Tennessee to Texas.
“NC Wesleyan continuously strives to help better serve the needs of students and our community. Adding to our Admissions staff is one of the many ways of showing these efforts. We are pleased to have Stephanie and Jason join our team, as both have the education and experience to thrive in their new role and help propel admissions,” stated Paige Wells, Assistant Director of Admissions-Recruitment. North Carolina Wesleyan University is excited to welcome these two new, but familiar faces to the Bishop family and is enthusiastic about the skillsets and energy that each will bring to the team as they work to recruit future Bishops.
Admissions Counselor- Transfer Students
Admissions Counselor
Wesleyan Holds Virtual Spring Commencement Celebration
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.
The National Education Association Awards CREATE Grant to NCWC
Grant to Benefit College’s Teacher Education Program
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University recently received a CREATE grant from the National Education Association (NEA) Center for Great Public Schools Aspiring Educators Program. The $2,000 grant is to benefit the Students Helping Students Afterschool Program for Social Justice.
Led by Dr. Patricia Brewer, NCWC’s Professor and Coordinator of Special Education, Students Helping Students is a service learning project within the College’s Teacher Education program. The initiative provides afterschool services to K-12 children with learning differences in Nash-Rocky Mount Schools. The program has received statewide recognition and is designed for education students to provide individualized instruction in math and reading. Additionally, the program provides parent advocacy training. Dr. Patricia Brewer facilitates this part of the program for parents of participating K-12 children.
“We are so excited about this grant,” stated Dr. Brewer. “Pre-service education students become strong, confident and intentional in educational practices with diverse learners and parents. They consistently support high expectations that result in growth and positive outcomes.”
Students Helping Students Afterschool Program for Social Justice fosters connections and investigations for critical inquiry of exceptional students’ needs in the classroom. This Social Justice grant will allow NC Wesleyan’s pre-service education students to become reflective practitioners beyond the boundaries of the school. Through the grant, pre-service students will increase their passion and impact the lives of K-12 students using a pedagogy of culturally responsive practices and differentiated strategies.
The National Education Association (NEA) offers mini-grants to teacher education programs for teacher quality, community engagement, social justice and political advocacy. The NEA is the nation’s largest professional employee organization and is committed to advancing the cause of public education. NEA’s three million members work at every level of education—from pre-school to university graduate programs. The association has affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States.
NC Wesleyan Offers Care Packages for Students
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – In an effort to assist students and support those on campus, Wesleyan provided care packages Friday, March 20 with help from local churches and organizations. Packages included snacks, drinks and other food items for students to take back to their residence halls.
NC Wesleyan currently has approximately 200 students remaining on campus to finish the semester via remote instruction. Many of these students do not have transportation or the financial means to return home. These care packages were distributed in hopes of boosting students’ spirits, while showing them love and care during this national pandemic.
Organizations who signed up to donate items, dropped them off this week in The Dunn Center’s Garner Lobby. Wesleyan staff were sure to practice social distancing and wore gloves while putting the care packages together. Students were strongly encouraged to also maintain social distancing while picking up their packages, as well as not congregating in groups of 10 or more.
Phi Theta Kappa Recognizes NCWC for Exemplary Transfer Pathways
NCWC has been named again to the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Roll which designates Wesleyan as a college who recognizes and rewards PTK honor students from the community college system. NCWC is one of only three colleges in the state to receive this honor.
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 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.
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.
