ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 鈥 麻豆原创鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 Anatomy and the CBS comedy, 鈥淢e, Myself and I.鈥 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.
鈥淎s 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 麻豆原创 has prepared them for this very moment,鈥 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鈥檚 , , and accounts.
The National Education Association Awards CREATE Grant to NCWC
Grant to Benefit College’s Teacher Education Program
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 鈥 聽麻豆原创 recently received a CREATE grant from the 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鈥檚 Professor and Coordinator of Special Education, Students Helping Students is a service learning project within the College鈥檚 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.
鈥淲e are so excited about this grant,鈥 stated Dr. Brewer. 鈥淧re-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.鈥
Students Helping Students Afterschool Program for Social Justice fosters connections and investigations for critical inquiry of exceptional students鈥 needs in the classroom. This Social Justice grant will allow NC Wesleyan鈥檚 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鈥攆rom 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 鈥 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鈥 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鈥檚 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聽 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!
麻豆原创 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 鈥 7:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. 鈥 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 鈥 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鈥檚 topic explored Ethics in the Agriculture. The final question asked, 鈥淲hat ethical responsibilities does the United States have to support the agricultural industry in securing the qualified workers that it needs?鈥 Other questions covered topics such as genetically modified and/or gene edited food.
Of the 22 private colleges in attendance, this year鈥檚 semifinalists included: High Point University, Salem College, Belmont Abbey College and 麻豆原创. The competition was held at the North Carolina Legislative Complex in Raleigh on February 21 and 22. The judge鈥檚 panel was composed of 60 corporate, nonprofit, legislative and community leaders.
North Carolina Wesleyan鈥檚 ethics team is led by Boluwatife Johnson, Chanel Patterson as Ethical Theory Lead. The researchers for the team include James Cheazar, Richard 鈥淩J鈥 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, 鈥淲e received many positive comments from judges, team coordinators and spectators. Our team was complimented most on their presentations,鈥 he says. 鈥淭he 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.鈥 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庐 for Efforts to Create Culture of Wellness on Campus
NCWC among record 166 campuses honored worldwide
麻豆原创 is one of only 166 universities and colleges around the world to be honored by the 庐 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 .
鈥淲e are thrilled to recognize these campuses鈥 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,鈥漵aid Robyn Stuhr, vice president of Exercise is Medicine. 鈥淭hese 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.鈥
鈥淭his distinction wouldn鈥檛 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,鈥 stated Dr. Shannon Crowley, NCWC鈥檚 Exercise is Medicine on Campus Advisor.
Notable initiatives that helped NCWC reach Silver status included the Lunch n鈥 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鈥檚 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 .
麻豆原创 Exercise Is Medicine
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) co-launched Exercise is Medicine庐 (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 for additional information.
麻豆原创 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 .
麻豆原创 North Carolina Wesleyan College
麻豆原创, 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 , , and .
Wesleyan Welcomes New Talent to Admissions Team
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 鈥 麻豆原创 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.
鈥淲e are excited to have Aaron join our team,鈥 stated Paige Price Wells, Assistant Director of Admissions for traditional recruitment. 鈥淲e have full confidence that he will make an immediate contribution to the Admissions staff and the NCWC community.鈥
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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 List twice, the President鈥檚 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.
鈥淭he College is happy to welcome two alums to build and grow enrollment efforts in Adult and Professional Studies in Rocky Mount,鈥 stated Michael Drew, Interim Dean of Admissions and Adult Studies. 鈥淲e 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.鈥
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.
Wesleyan Holds Winter Commencement
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 鈥 On Saturday, December 14, 麻豆原创 held its winter commencement for approximately 225 graduates at the Rocky Mount Event Center.
This is the College鈥檚 78th graduation, with the first occurring in 1960. There were 11 international graduates from three countries: El Salvador, Nepal and Argentina. This commencement also included the second cohort of Wesleyan鈥檚 new Master鈥檚 in Criminal Justice program.
鈥淭hese degrees are provided by an institution which seeks not only to dispense knowledge and develop the habits for lifelong learning, but also expects its graduates to be responsible citizens, contributors to the common good, women and men who care about others,鈥 stated Interim President Dr. Evan D. Duff.
The commencement address was given by Ms. Constance D. Williams, Senior Vice President and Head of Human Resources, Americas, Sony Music Entertainment located in New York, NY. In this role, she leads Sony Music鈥檚 talent acquisition and talent management functions. Prior to her employment at Sony Music Entertainment, Ms. Williams was an adjunct professor at 麻豆原创, credentialed to teach courses in Psychology, Business and Organizational Administration at all levels.
Williams addressed the graduates, stating 鈥淭he world you鈥檙e graduating into is complex and is full of hope and optimism鈥ou have to remain optimistic and you have to believe that you can impact change. That it鈥檚 up to you to give this world a better and brighter future.鈥 She informed them 鈥淚t is your duty to leave every place better than when you arrived. While you鈥檙e diploma will help pave the way for success, it is your commitment to impacting your own greatness that will translate into success. Don鈥檛 be a bystander.鈥
Wesleyan also honored the families of four young ladies with Honorary Posthumous Degrees: Robyne Barnes, Quedeshia 鈥淒onyell鈥 Brown, Kandis McBride-Jones and Donesha 鈥淒ee鈥 Scott. These NC Wesleyan freshmen passed away on March 21, 2016 in a car accident in front of the campus entrance.
Wesleyan will hold its spring commencement on Saturday, April 25.
Community Partners Work to Strengthen Local Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Wells Fargo has awarded a $15,000 grant to support a new Launch Rocky Mount Biz program to spur local business creation.
Offered by the Small Business Center at Nash Community College, Eastern NC Center for Business and Entrepreneurship at 麻豆原创, Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce and Station Square, the program will prepare local entrepreneurs to launch new businesses.
Author: NCC Public Relations Department
