“It is certainly a challenge to juggle athletics, a student leadership position, and academics,” remarked Bilotta.  “I had to quickly learn time management at Wesleyan.  I write everything down and keep a calendar close by. My experience here has been absolutely wonderful.”

A typical day for Bilotta begins with breakfast, followed by classes, organizational meetings, lunch, a session in the training room, and a few hours on the softball field, usually for a doubleheader. Repeat that schedule four or five times a week and you have a day in the life of Bilotta. “It keeps me busy, but there is not anything I would rather be doing at this point in my life.”

On the softball diamond, the former East Fairmont High stand-out was a tri-captain of the 2006 team that just wrapped up another appearance in the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament. The third baseman helped the Lady ‘Cats to a 44-22 record, hitting .329 with two home runs and 29 runs-batted-in. The Lady ‘Cats have won two West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) titles during Bilotta’s stay at Wesleyan, winning it last year and repeating the feat again this year.

“Everywhere you look on this team, you see so many talented players,” said Bilotta. “I could not ask for anything more. I have been able to go places I had never been before with the team and had the opportunity to play against some amazing players and teams.”

During her playing career, she has been named WVIAC Player of the Week, named Second Team All-WVIAC, First Team WVIAC Conference Tournament, and First Team All-District Academic Team. “Kareen has been an outstanding student-athlete at Wesleyan,” remarked Wesleyan head coach Steve Warner ‘90.

While part of a championship team on the softball field, she is also part of a championship team inside the classroom. The Wesleyan SIFE team will be one of 120 teams throughout the United States competing for the national championship from May 21-23 in Kansas City, MO. Wesleyan advanced to the finals after winning a regional title in Cincinnati, OH.  It was the College’s sixth straight regional championship.

SIFE is a global organization with over 1,000 participating colleges and universities. Its mission is to provide education on the importance of understanding business and marketing. Some of the SIFE projects she has worked on include the Kayamandi Outreach Project which helps disadvantaged African-American women establish a coop to market native crafts and the Work Focus Program in which she developed seminars on financial self-management of Headstart parents.

“I truly enjoy being a part of the SIFE team,” commented Bilotta. “I think the values that SIFE upholds are very important. One of the main reasons I enjoy it so much is that we are helping people help themselves. We are not simply giving people handouts, but giving them the knowledge to improve.”

In the classroom, she was recently honored at Wesleyan’s annual awards assembly with the “Outstanding Economics Student” award and was named to the Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities. A recipient of the Presidential Scholarship, she is also an academic honor member with Alpha Lambda Delta (Freshmen Academic Honorary), Delta Mu Delta (National Business Honorary), Phi Kappa Phi (Junior Academic Honorary), and Pi Gamma Mu (Social Sciences Honorary).

“When I was deciding on what college to attend after high school, I wanted to go to a place where I could get a great education and play softball,” stated Bilotta. “And I have been able to do both here at Wesleyan. It is an all-around great place to receive your education. The faculty members are great. The professors have always been there for me and they want you to do well. The Business department is one reason why I love this college so much. Professors like Scott Bellamy or Michael Ervin are outstanding teachers that are interested in seeing us succeed as students. There has never been any second-guessing about my decision to come here.”

Bilotta, a major in accounting and economics, will graduate in the spring of 2007. She plans to pursue her master’s in accounting following graduation and one day hopes to have her own accounting firm. “It has always been a dream of mine,” she concluded. “The future is always wide open, but I know that my Wesleyan education has given me a great first step in the real world.”

Wesleyan Hosts Sago Mining Hearings

West Virginia Wesleyan’s Rockefeller Physical Education Center was the site for the historical Sago Mining hearings May 2-4.  The hearings provided family members the first-ever opportunity to question government and mining company officials in a public forum.  Members of the news media from throughout the country attended the emotion-packed sessions including ABC Radio, Associated Press, CBS Radio, Charleston Gazette, CNN, NPR, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh Tribune Review, West Virginia Metro News, West Virginia Public Broadcasting, USA Today, and others.  Several questions remain unanswered about the failed rescue effort and the cause of the disaster which claimed the lives of 12 men in January.

Wesleyan Students Travel to Seven Countries in May

Seventy-eight West Virginia Wesleyan College students are earning college credit and seeing many parts of the world this month during the College’s May Term program.  The students are currently in Bolivia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Russia, South Korea, and Turkey.

International travel and studying other cultures are an integral part of Wesleyan’s curriculum,” says William R. Haden, president of the College.  “The experience helps students understand their place in the world as well as obtain in-depth knowledge about global issues.”

Seventeen students are now in the Western Hemisphere’s second poorest country, Bolivia, for 21 days to learn about Aymaran culture, Incan archeological sites, colonial history, and present international inequality and development issues.  The course, led by Dr. Mathew Johnson, associate professor of sociology, and Dr. Don Levy, assistant professor of sociology, also includes a service-learning component.  Wesleyan students are teaching English to the residents of the Island of the Sun.  Oliver McClung ’01, helped make the travel arrangements for the trip.

Greece and western Turkey are being toured by 14 students and two Wesleyan alumni.  Dr. Kathleen Long, professor of communication, is leading the class, which compares Hellenic history, and ancient and contemporary culture and society to the students’ native culture.  The course is also exploring the cultures and history of western Turkey.

Twenty students are learning about the Republic of Ireland, where students are spending two weeks in Clare and Galway counties and the final week in Dublin.  The art, history, and literature trip is being led by Dr. Devon McNamara, associate professor of English, Dr. William Mahoney, associate professor of history, and alumnus Sara Lynn Shawger.  Among the highlights of the class are attending theatre productions, visiting Celtic ruins, exploring the Aran Islands, learning Irish dancing, and visiting museums.  This is the fourth year Dr. McNamara has taught the Ireland course.

A three-week seminar in Rome, Florence, and Venice emphasizing history and art is being led by Margo Davis, assistant professor of art, and Judith Martin, head of cataloging in Wesleyan’s Anne Merner Pfeiffer Library.  Twelve students are exploring great sites of ancient Christian, Renaissance, and modern Italy, including the many incomparable churches, and the major museums of Rome, Florence, and Venice.

Dr. Carol Means, associate professor of education, is leading nine students to explore Russian culture, music, history, and the Orthodox Church for a better understanding of the current social, religions, and political climate.  Wesleyan students are living and working in a Russian orphanage with at-risk students.

An immersion into the history, politics, language, culture, education, religions, and society of South Korea is including six students along with Dr. Debbie Bush, assistant professor of education, and Dr. Kwame Boateng, associate professor of political science.  Field excursions permit students to experience street markets, the Demilitarized Zone, museums, temples, and various attractions of Seoul.  Wesleyan students will also visit Hawaii to experience Polynesian cultures after departing from South Korea.

Annie Merner Pfeiffer Library Update
Submitted by Paula McGrew '78 - Assistant Professor of Library Science and Reference Librarian

Ah, the coming of summertime.  This month we would like to offer some resources to help you enjoy your less hectic schedule.  Whether you plan to travel, read, enjoy sports or theater, we have some items on the Annie Merner Pfeiffer library website that may be of use to you.  These resources can be found on the eReference page.

From the library homepage you can choose Find Electronic Resources, and choose eReference.  Under the section on Almanacs/Statistics/Factbooks you will find Information on the Nations as well as on the 50 States.  So whether you plan to travel far or near you can find out information about your destination. Maps are available, and before you leave home be sure to consult the AAA Fuel Cost Calculator!  If you are traveling to a foreign country you might find the Translation Tools a help.

The section on Awards and Prizes will help you to choose good books, movies, plays, music and literature.  For reviews of the movies, the homepage for Major League Baseball or NASCAR, or the TV Guide Online Listings look in the entertainment section.  You will even find online Soduko Puzzles! 

We hope that you have a wonderful summer!

Campus to Host Variety of Conferences and Camps

More than 2,500 people will be on the campus of West Virginia Wesleyan College during the summer months for a variety of conferences and camps.  Events on the campus include West Virginia Strawberry Festival activities, the West Virginia United Methodist Annual Conference, the World Champion Cadet Drum Corps, and Energy Express. ...[read more]

Culpepper Provides Special Gift to Wesleyan Library

In 1979, Kanawha County educators Marvin and Elaine Culpepper had a problem; they had run out of space for their growing book collection. Marvin, a 1951 West Virginia Wesleyan graduate, had become a voracious reader of military history, specifically the Civil War, and the books were beginning to take over the house. ...[read more]