The Wesleyan faculty and staff will have a chance to show off their creative side when their art works will be put on display in Sleeth Gallery from January 18 to February 4. The Opening reception for the campus-wide art exhibit will be January 18. Admission is free.

On the weekend of Friday, January 28-30, Wesleyan will celebrate the West Virginia Contemporary Dance Festival. The three-day festival is an annual celebration of contemporary dance, with workshops, master classes, and performances throughout the weekend.

The first performance will be the Hubbard Street 2 dance company Friday night, January 28 at 8 p.m. in Atkinson Auditorium. Six dancers will be performing a repertoire that mirrors the variety and vitality of Hubbard Street Dance in Chicago. This program is presented with financial assistance from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts. Admission is $5 for adults and free to Wesleyan students.

The Gala concert, which represents dance artists performing various arrangements from the state and surrounding areas, will take place Saturday, January 29 at 8 p.m. in Atkinson Auditorium. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for Wesleyan students.

The weekend will end with the Emerging Artist/Works in Progress concert Sunday, January 30 at 1 p.m. in Atkinson Auditorium. The concert will feature dancers presenting choreographed numbers learned from the festival’s instructional program. Admission is free.

For a complete schedule of events on the Spring 2005 Arts Alive! Series, please go to the online calendar and select Performing Arts.

Wesleyan Extends Partnership To Local Elementary School
West Virginia Wesleyan College and Buckhannon’s Central Elementary School recently formed an Advanced Partnership in Education that focuses on Central’s academic needs.

Wesleyan and its neighbor Central have long enjoyed a mutually beneficial connection. “In the three years that I have been principal at Central, both members of the partnership have initiated opportunities for students, faculty, community, parents, and staff to participate in activities that enhance the lifelong learning opportunities for all,” remarked Central principal Carmen Henninger.

Several research-based interventions have been designed and implemented by Central and Wesleyan, including reading and math programs and physical education and health strategies. Many Wesleyan organizations fulfill their community service obligations at Central while the school also serves as a main site for Wesleyan Bonner Scholars and their projects.

Pictured first row, left to right: Central Elementary students Samuel Leigh, Shane Ball, Kayla Sesco, Becca Hoover, and Oliva Peck. Back row: President William R. Haden, Central teacher and Student Council sponsor Debbie Weese, Central principal Carmen Henninger, and Upshur County Superintendent Dr. Charles Chandler.



Wesleyan Online Community To Be Launched Soon
Alumni Relations is all about connecting—keeping classmates connected with each other and alumni connected with Wesleyan. Such traditions as Homecoming, class reunions, regional events, and publications are an integral part of making that happen.

Because we value our alumni and want to make staying connected as easy as possible, we are proud to announce that we will launch an online community, providing all alumni with access to a protected alumni directory site through a secure password. Once you have registered as a member of the community, you will be able to look up classmates and friends through a variety of search fields. We are pleased to provide this free service to you as a way of saying thank you for your continued support and involvement with Wesleyan.

Additionally, we will offer you other opportunities such as registering regional events, updating your information, viewing, reading and submitting class notes, making a gift and eventually having a permanent e-mail address. Another bonus is joining a discussion group as well as participating in polls and giving feedback.

Since you are an important part of the Wesleyan family, we value your involvement, loyalty, and support. We believe giving alumni the ability to connect online and staying in touch with each other will be invaluable and ultimately benefit our College.

At the time of this publication, we did not yet have a launch date for the community. We will announce specifics through a mailing and on our web site and urge you to refer to it for updated information.

Helping Fellow Alumni
Each year the alumni association presents to each graduating senior an Alumni Connections CD. This business card size CD contains contact information about alumni in all areas of the United States.

The purpose of the CD is to provide the new members of the alumni association with names of other Wesleyan alumni who may be helpful in seeking employment, information about new communities or network in other ways. The people listed on the CD agree to help and look forward to hearing from these new graduates. This willingness to support Wesleyan students is a long tradition of the College’s alumni.

Are you interested in helping? If so, please contact Tim Channell, Director of Alumni Relations at alumni@wvwc.edu.