ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University celebrated its 63rd year with its annual Founders鈥 Day ceremony Thursday in Minges Auditorium of The Dunn Center for the Performing Arts.
The opening processional included an invocation by Dr. Barry Drum, presentation of the colors by NC Wesleyan鈥檚 Army ROTC and the playing of the Star Spangled Banner. North Carolina Wesleyan Interim President, Dr. Evan D. Duff, welcomed the crowd of students, faculty, staff and friends of the College.
鈥淭oday we celebrate our 63rd birthday,鈥 noted Duff and 鈥63 years of academic excellence.鈥 He then followed by reading a letter dated back to 1955 from Archie W. Mclean, Co-Chairman at the time, addressed to Mrs. R.D. Gorham, Miss Vivian Braswell and Mr. Thomas J. Pearsall. The letter acknowledged the College鈥檚 deep appreciation of the four sites on the Belmont Farm gifted to develop what we now know as North Carolina Wesleyan College.
Guest speaker for the event was the honorable Judge Phil Carlton, Trustee Emeritus. Carlton has a long and generous history with NC Wesleyan, serving almost 20 years as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He has been an instrumental financial supporter and advocate of the College since the 1970鈥檚. Carlton has a wealth of historical knowledge of the founding and growth of the College.
Judge Phil Carlton kicked off his speech acknowledging, 鈥淥ne fact you may not know is that Methodist College in Fayetteville and Wesleyan opened on the same day and they are today still the youngest four-year liberal arts colleges in North Carolina.鈥 Carlton asked, 鈥淪o, what鈥檚 our future here today on our birthday?鈥 He then noted, 鈥淲e need to decide what it is that is driving higher education today and what is going to drive it in the future鈥 If I had to pick two key words it would be collaboration and partnering鈥 It鈥檚 called thinking out of the box, and that鈥檚 what we got to do.鈥
Eddie Coats, VP of Advancement, presented members of the Nash County Tourism Development Authority and the Foundation for the Carolinas with tokens of appreciation for their generosity and support of Wesleyan. In 2018, the 2.18-mile Wesleyan trail that circles campus was constructed thanks to the contributions from the Nash County Tourism Development Authority and the Longleaf Fund, managed by the Foundation for the Carolinas.
During the ceremony, two North Carolina Wesleyan residence halls were formally renamed. Nash Hall was renamed Pash Hall in honor of Mrs. Jessie 鈥淛ackie鈥 H. Pash in recognition of her service as an elementary school teacher in the Nash-Rocky Mount School System. Edgecombe Hall was renamed after Carrol and Judy Roberson in recognition of their service to others and the values they placed upon education. These tributes were both made possible due to a generous gift to the College by the Roberson鈥檚 son, C. Saunders 鈥淪andy鈥 Roberson, who was also a former student in Mrs. Pash鈥檚 first-grade class at Englewood Elementary School here in Rocky Mount.
鈥溌槎乖 is fortunate and blessed to have a long history of dedicated members of the Rocky Mount community who have supported the mission of the College with their time, talents and donations. We appreciate the generous gift that Sandy Roberson has made to rename these residence halls,鈥 commented Duff.
The day concluded with an Open House hosted by NCWC Residence Life staff at the newly renamed Roberson Hall.
Battling Bishop Women鈥檚 Soccer Receives Endowment Fund
Thomas and Cynthia Dyer Endowment Fund Established to Support Program
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 鈥 The Battling Bishops Women鈥檚 Soccer program recently received a $10,000 endowment. This gift was made possible due to the generous support of two previous 麻豆原创 students鈥 Thomas and Cynthia Dyer.
Women鈥檚 Soccer at NC Wesleyan started in 1983 and has grown immensely over the years. With the broadening of the program and its success comes increased costs including uniforms, travel for away games and lighting for the complex. To assist with these needs, The Thomas and Cynthia Dyer Endowment Fund was established by Cynthia Dansie Dyer of Maryland and Thomas G. Dyer 鈥70 of Virginia. Long supporters of 麻豆原创, the Dyer鈥檚 remain involved with the Nu Gamma Phi Fraternity, giving to the efforts of establishing scholarships and support for the Hartness Center, among other endeavors.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a privilege to assist the Women鈥檚 Soccer program. We feel fortunate to be able to support Wesleyan and the growth that this program has experienced,鈥 stated the Dyer鈥檚.
It鈥檚 their desire to leave a legacy with their alma mater in the form of an endowment. When Women鈥檚 Soccer Coach, Beverly Biancur, expressed the need for additional support of certain initiatives such as her vision for a Soccer Complex Wall and other enhancements that refine the student athletic experience, the Dyer鈥檚 seized the opportunity.
鈥淚 am grateful for this extremely generous endowment from the Dyer鈥檚 for our program. These young women and those before them have exemplified academic excellence with a 98% graduation rate, acceptance into grad school and professional occupations, a competitive desire for excellence and a willingness to serve their community,鈥 stated Biancur. 鈥淭his endowment will help to provide these women with support, facilities and equipment to achieve the individual goals and team expectations now and into the future.鈥
The Thomas and Cynthia Dyer Endowment is one of four endowments created to support Wesleyan鈥檚 athletic programs. Wesleyan is excited about its potential growth, which will benefit the Women鈥檚 Soccer program for years to come. These benefits will make a massive impact on the quality of the program, and most of all, the life of Wesleyan鈥檚 student-athletes.
The Dyer鈥檚 met at Wesleyan in 1966. In 1967, Cynthia transferred to nursing school obtaining her degree in 1970. Thomas graduated from Wesleyan in 1970 with a degree in Economics. Shortly after graduation the two married that same year and today reside in North Carolina.
The NC Wesleyan Women鈥檚 Soccer program is home to seven All-Americans and a National Player of the Year. The program has won numerous USA South Conference Tournaments and recently received its eighth consecutive National Coaches Association Team Academic Award. The 1994 season saw the Bishops reach the NCAA Division III Final Four.
Wesleyan Received Golden LEAF Foundation Grant for Logistics Program
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 鈥 The 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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.
is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to receive a portion of North Carolina鈥檚 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鈥檚 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 . The vision is to provide 麻豆原创 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 鈥 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.
鈥淚t 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,鈥 stated Eddie Coats, Vice President of Development. 鈥淢any of these students would not be able to afford a comprehensive college education without this support.鈥
Student body president and Heritage scholarship recipient, Will Plyler, spoke about the impact of his award. 鈥淚 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,鈥 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鈥 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. 鈥淥ne thing that I have learned on this journey of life is whatever you give, you will receive back tenfold,鈥 stated Lea.
Wesleyan presented its prestigious Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award to Lloyd Nelson 鈥67 and Elliott Stevenson Nelson 鈥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鈥檚 first Most Valuable Player during the college鈥檚 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.
鈥淭he Nelsons have given tirelessly and generously to Wesleyan over a long period of time,鈥 stated President Dr. Dewey Clark. 鈥淭heir 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.鈥
Each year more than 180 Wesleyan students benefit from the generosity of our donors.
###
Gravely Foundation Supports Local College Students
