North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) proudly hosted its annual Veterans Day Celebration in the heart of campus on November 11, honoring the brave men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. The ceremony was a moving tribute filled with gratitude, reflection, and unity.
The event began with a Flag Ceremony conducted by the Army ROTC Pirate Battalion from East Carolina University, followed by NCWU student and military dependent, Steven Fiscante, who led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. NCWU student, MarQuayla Garrett, delivered a stunning rendition of the National Anthem, setting the tone for a morning of reverence and pride.
Rev. Edwin Ferguson, NCWU Chaplain, led attendees in a heartfelt prayer, followed by welcoming remarks from Aaron Pait, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and NCWU student. Pait reminded the audience of the deeper meaning of the day, sharing, “Memorial Day is when we pause to honor those who died in service. Today we honor the service itself, and everyone who answered the call. Today makes room for the whole person, not just the uniform.”
He encouraged those in attendance to truly engage with the day, saying, “Don’t just observe today — engage with it. Sit down with a veteran. Ask what service meant to them and what it still means. And then ask yourself: what does it take to remain worth defending?”
Christopher S. Cash Memorial Scholarship Recipients
During the ceremony, Leah Hill, NCWU Director of Financial Aid, recognized the Christopher S. Cash Memorial Scholarship recipients, Samuel Church and Anthony Conner. This scholarship honors the legacy of NCWU alumnus Captain Christopher S. Cash (‘93), who was mortally wounded while leading his platoon in Iraq. His memory continues to inspire future generations of Wesleyan students to lead with courage and compassion.
Guest Speaker – Dr. Kelvin Spragley
The program concluded with remarks from Dr. Kelvin Spragley, NCWU’s Director of Teacher Education and Chief Diversity Officer, and a veteran of the United States Army. In his stirring address, Dr. Spragley reminded all in attendance that the service of veterans extends beyond the battlefield—it is rooted in the defense of our nation’s ideals.
He reflected, “Veterans do not swear an oath to defend a person, a party, or a policy. They take an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States. Their loyalty is to the principles that form the foundation of our democracy — liberty, justice, equality, and the rule of law.”
Dr. Spragley emphasized that true patriotism is not blind obedience, but “courageous love — love that tells the truth and seeks to correct what is wrong while preserving what is right.” He concluded by calling on all Americans to honor veterans not only with words, but with action:
“Veterans have done their part to defend that ‘we’ in ‘We the People.’ Now it’s our turn to make sure that ‘we’ truly means everyone. So today, let us say not only ‘thank you for your service,’ but also ‘we will continue your mission.’ We will stand for justice, for freedom, and for the principles that define this great but imperfect nation.”
North Carolina Wesleyan University remains committed to supporting veterans, active-duty service members, and military-affiliated students as a proud Military Friendly® Gold Top 10 School. The Veterans Day Ceremony reflects Wesleyan’s dedication to recognizing service and fostering a campus community rooted in gratitude and respect.
Wesleyan Staff Named to 2018 Twin County Hall of Fame
Lt. Col. James Mercer US Army (Ret.)
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – Lt. Col. James Mercer, US Army (Ret.) was recently named as one of twelve to be inducted into the 2018 Twin County Hall of Fame. He will be honored during the 15th Annual Induction Banquet at the Rocky Mount Event Center on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
Mercer is currently the Director of Military Studies at NC Wesleyan University and also coordinates the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program for the college. Lt. Col. James Mercer was born in Edgecombe County and raised in Nash County. He joined the US Army after graduating from North Edgecombe High School. He retired with 30 years of military service in the US Army, US Army Reserve and the Army National Guard. During his distinguished civilian career, he served in multiple roles including: police officer and firefighter for the City of Rocky Mount, Deputy Fire Marshal for Nash County Emergency Services, Public Safety Instructor at Nash and Edgecombe Community Colleges, Director of Public Safety Training for Nash Community College, Director of Emergency Management and Fire Marshal for Edgecombe County, Director of Emergency Management for Fayetteville State University and later for the City of Raleigh, where he retired in 2012.
“This is a big deal for me and pretty cool, I must say. What an incredible honor it is to be recognized by my community. I want to thank all those who mentored me, impacted me and helped me along the way. It was a village that got Lt. Col. (Ret) James Mercer from Battleboro, North Carolina, to where I am today,” stated Mercer.
The Twin County Museum and Hall of Fame’s mission is to celebrate the history, culture, people and accomplishments of Edgecombe and Nash counties in eastern North Carolina. For more information about the Twin County Hall of Fame and for tickets to the 15th Annual Induction Banquet, visit www.tchof.org.
NCWC Named “Military Friendly” Again in 2018
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA— For the fifth consecutive year, North Carolina Wesleyan University has been named a Military Friendly School by Victory Media. This year, the college was awarded the Bronze Designation. Bronze Award winners have programs that scored within 40 percent of the 10th-ranked institution within a given category.
“At Wesleyan, we are committed to serving our active military, veterans, and their families,” commented President Dewey Clark, “We want to do our part in helping make college affordable and attainable.”
Wesleyan offers a 10% discount on tuition to all active duty military students, veterans and their spouses.”
Victory Media’s “military friendly” designation places Wesleyan in the top 15 percent of schools nationwide that are embracing military service members, veterans and spouses to ensure their success on campus. Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey completed by the school. For the first time, student survey data was taken into consideration for the designation. More than 1,300 schools participated in the 2017-2018 survey with 849 earning the designation. Victory Media’s Chief Product Officer Daniel Nichols stated, “Our ability to apply a clear, consistent standard to colleges creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages colleges to invest in programs to provide educational outcomes that are better for veterans.”
Wesleyan offers students a program in Military Science (ROTC–Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) that combines college courses with summer training sessions to prepare students who show potential to serve as commissioned officers in the Army, Army Reserve, or the Army National Guard. U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, James Mercer heads Wesleyan’s Army ROTC program. He is a 25-year highly decorated Army veteran and public safety program professional who has worked for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, FEMA and as the Director of Emergency Management Services for the City of Raleigh.
LTC James Mercer USA (Ret) stated “The NCWC ROTC’s aim is to develop student leadership skills, provide an understanding of military customs and traditions, and offer students’ excellent ways to jumpstart their military or civilian careers.”
Enrollment in ROTC is open to all Wesleyan students, including those at the community colleges that participate in a Comprehensive Articulation Agreement with NC Wesleyan University.
A complete list of the 2017-2018 Military Friendly® Schools can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com. More information on Wesleyan can be found at ncwu.edu. Contact ROTC@ncwu.eduor 252-985-5340 or more information on the NCWC ROTC program.
