Archive for 2012
« Older Entries |Culpepper History Scholarship Available
Tuesday, February 21st, 2012
The West Virginia Wesleyan College History Department is offering incoming history majors an opportunity to be awarded a prestigious Culpepper History Scholarship. These annually renewable $3,000 competitive scholarships enable students to obtain a degree in history from Wesleyan, the state’s premier private institution of higher learning. Applications for the Culpepper History Scholarship must be submitted to the Wesleyan Office of Admission before March 1.
The Culpepper History Scholarship has been made available to Wesleyan students through a generous gift from Marvin Culpepper ’51, Hon. ‘06. It is awarded based upon academic records, work submitted, faculty evaluation and the student’s potential to become successful in the Wesleyan History Department.
“The Culpepper History Scholarship provides students interested in pursuing a history degree a reward for hard work and diligence in high school, and shows our continued commitment to academic excellence at Wesleyan,” said John Waltz, director of admission for Wesleyan. “History majors at Wesleyan have gone on to many successes, from graduate and law school placements all around the country to employment as historians, teachers, and professors.”
Candidates for the Culpepper History Scholarship must have a 3.5 cumulative grade point average with a minimum verbal or writing SAT score of 600 or a minimum English ACT score of 26. Applications for the Culpepper History Scholarship are available at www.wvwc.edu/admission/financial_aid/.
In order to apply for scholarship, the student must submit an application for admission to Wesleyan, the Culpepper History Scholarship Application; a letter of recommendation from a high school history instructor; a writing sample, preferably a history research paper; and applicants could be asked to visit Wesleyan’s campus for an interview with a History Department faculty member. The scholarship application may be mailed to West Virginia Wesleyan College, Office of Admission, 59 College Ave., Buckhannon, WV 26201.
Students awarded the Culpepper History Scholarship, including those selected as alternates will be notified after March 1 in accordance with Wesleyan’s financial aid policies. The scholarship is renewable for four years of study at Wesleyan if the student majors in history and maintains a minimum 3.25 grade point average.
For more information about West Virginia Wesleyan College, please contact the Office of Admission at 304-473-8510 or visit www.wvwc.edu.
March and April Planetarium Shows Announced
Monday, February 20th, 2012
As spring draws closer, so will the solar system and all its wonders this March and April during West Virginia Wesleyan College’s Planetarium Sky Shows. The approximate 1-hour shows begin at 8 p.m. on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month.
March 3, visitors to Wesleyan’s Planetarium can experience “Cosmic Voyage,” an IMAX movie, which transports participants from the Earth to the Universe’s largest structures and back.
“Taking Flight,” an episode of the award-winning series, “The Magic School Bus” will be on the Planetarium’s screen March 17. Viewers will see Wanda and the rest of her class discover how wings and moving air cause flight.
Learn about black holes April 7, when the cutting-edge documentary, “Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity,” which is narrated by actor Liam Neeson, comes to the planetarium. “Black Holes” shares high-resolution computer simulations that bring the science of black holes to life.
April 21, participants will see “Is the Universe Infinite?” The video explores questions such as “Does the universe go on forever?”; “Where do we fit within it?”; and “How would the great thinkers have wrapped their brains around today’s cutting edge ideas?”
The Planetarium Sky Shows are hosted on the second floor of Christopher Hall of Science on Wesleyan’s campus. No reservations are required; however, seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Following each show, weather permitting, there will be telescope observing. Each show includes a tour of the evening sky, and free sky charts are available. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for students and seniors, and children younger than 18 are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. For more information, visit www.wvwc.edu/planetarium.
Yeater Named 2012 American Scholar
Thursday, February 16th, 2012
Doddridge County High School student Shane Yeater is the next West Virginia Wesleyan/Magic 106.5 FM American Scholar. The announcement of the scholarship competition winner was announced at Wesleyan at a special luncheon in honor of the 11 finalists. Yeater will receive a full, four-year scholarship to attend Wesleyan, including tuition, room, and board.
“I am speechless,” Yeater said. “I want to thank my family. I was diagnosed with autism at three years old and I want others to know with hard work, you can do anything.” Yeater, the son of Barry and Marcie Yeater of West Union, plans to major in physical education. Along with his parents, his grandmother Orma Yeater of West Union was in attendance.
First runner up, Abigail McClung of Fairmont, will receive a four-year scholarship of $21,000, and second runner up Taylor Fealy of Ellamore will receive a four-year scholarship of $18,500 which both scholarships can be added to other College scholarship programs.
Other finalists were Kelsea Benedum of Salem, Mollee Brown of Fairmont, Kara Cobun of Tunnelton, Mia Gresak of Mount Clare, Danielle Lancaster of Grantsville, Sarah Rogers of Walkersville, Scott Stoeckle of Buckhannon, and Kesley Wagoner of Buckhannon.
Yeager is the sixth American Scholar winner. Previous winners include Kate Turner of Liberty High School, Jennifer Collins of Ritchie County, Marissa Pulice of Fairmont Senior, Steven White of Tygarts Valley, and Rachel Martney of Buckhannon.
High school seniors in North Central West Virginia were eligible to compete for the American Scholar competition. The program is sponsored by West Virginia Wesleyan, in conjunction with West Virginia Radio Corporation and Colombo & Stuhr, Attorneys at Law.
WV Campus Compact Builds Partnership with Wesleyan and Pierpont Community & Technical College for New CFWV Fellows Program
Wednesday, February 15th, 2012
West Virginia Campus Compact has selected West Virginia Wesleyan College and Pierpont Community & Technical College as partners in the College Foundation of West Virginia (CFWV) Fellows Program. Campus Compact is an organization that provides grant and networking opportunities in order to further the community service mission of colleges and universities.
Through the CFWV Fellows program, Campus Compact will build regional partnerships between two- and four-year colleges that work to increase the college-going rate in West Virginia. The West Virginia Wesleyan and Pierpont team will develop strategies to encourage adults to enroll in college, improve college graduation rates, and engage the community in supporting student achievement.
The program provides funding to hire two graduate assistants, who will be given the title “fellows.” Fellows will work with both institutions to research issues related to college access and provide services to help more individuals enroll in and graduate from two-year or four-year degree programs.
Wesleyan and Pierpont have selected Isaac Casto and Angela Miller as their CFWV Fellows.
Casto graduated from Wesleyan in 2006 with a BS in Marketing and an MBA. He is currently working toward a Master’s in Education. “We are excited to be given the opportunity to work with both Pierpont and Wesleyan,” said Casto. “Each institution is unique in its scope and charge to educate. The synergies captured from this partnership will help each institution extend 21st century educational services and ensure the success of adult learners.”
Miller received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Arts Administration and Music from West Virginia Wesleyan, and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration. Miller was inspired by seeing her mother go back to college as a non-traditional student and witnessing her accomplishments. She is taking that inspiration and applying it to the effort to help other adult students achieve greatness. “We are very excited to be given this opportunity to work with adult students, faculty, and staff from West Virginia Wesleyan College and Pierpont Community & Technical College,” said Miller. “I am eager to have a finished product and to provide Wesleyan and Pierpont with educational goals that will help broaden their horizons for adult learner outreach and success.”
“We are delighted to join with Pierpont Community & Technical College to discover and forge pathways that will enable adults to secure the education they need in the 21st century,” said Dr. Pamela M. Balch, President of West Virginia Wesleyan. “We are especially pleased that this partnership allows a public and private institution to demonstrate the many ways our institutions can serve our missions together.”
“We welcome this opportunity to partner with West Virginia Wesleyan College to help adult students succeed,” said Dr. Doreen M. Larson, President of Pierpont Community & Technical College. “With an internal drive to learn and with appropriate help and services from us, students who reach out for an opportunity can succeed. We look forward to working with Wesleyan to discover and implement innovations in service to our adult students.”
The program is funded by the College Foundation of West Virginia (CFWV), a statewide initiative that offers free resources to help students and families plan, apply, and pay for education and training beyond high school. CFWV is coordinated by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission in partnership with the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education, the West Virginia Department of Education, and the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts.
For more information on West Virginia Campus Compact, please visit www.wvcampuscompact.org. For more information regarding the CFWV initiative, please visit www.cfwv.com.
Pictured left to right: LeeAnn Brown, WVWC Dir. of Community Engagement; Leslie Lovett, Pierpont VP for Academic Affairs; Jeani Hawkins, Pierpont Assoc. VP for Regional Academics; Doreen Larson, Pierpont President; Pam Balch, WVWC President; Isaac Casto, CFWV Fellow; Angela Miller, CFWV Fellow; Sarah Hensley, Pierpont VP for Community Engagement.
Attack Theatre Will Present New Work in Culpepper Auditorium
Monday, February 13th, 2012
The West Virginia Wesleyan Department of Dance will host Attack Theatre on February 17-18. On Friday, February 17, Attack Theatre master classes will be held on campus from 2-3:30 in the Rockefeller Dance Studio, Room 206, and the Master Class for elementary/middle school students from 5:00-6:15 p.m. at The Dance Factory, 107 W. Main Street
Attack Theatre will perform Saturday evening at 8 p.m. in Culpepper Auditorium in the Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts.
Attack Theatre, under the artistic direction of Peter Kope and Michele de la Reza, will present their new work “Traveling.” With a salesman, his sample case of curiosities, and the enormous potential of the little things; this dynamic performance in two acts features Attack Theatre’s athletic physicality and theatrical wit.
For Festival participants taking the full schedule of workshops, the fee is $35 and a ticket to the evening concert is also included. There is a drop-in rate for a single of $10. For additional information email nscattaregia@hotmail.com or Scattaregia_n@wvwc.edu or call Nina Scattaregia at 304-473-8449.
Admission is $8 for general public, $5 for students/senior citizens and free with Wesleyan ID.
This project is partially supported by a grant from Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour, a program developed and funded by The Heinz Endowments; the William Penn Foundation; the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency; and The Pew Charitable Trusts; and administered by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation. This program is also sponsored by 88 Restaurant and Lounge and The Daily Grind.
Mountain Stage Announces Full Line-Up of Performers
Friday, February 10th, 2012
Mountain Stage at West Virginia Wesleyan has announced the full line-up of performers for the concert set for February 26 in the Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts.
Joining Wesleyan alumna Belinda Smith, Martin Sexton, and NewFound Road are Whitehorse and the Ryan Montbleau Band.
Proud sponsor 88 Restaurant & Lounge and BiCentennial will host a meet and greet reception with Mountain Stage’s longtime host and founding father Larry Groce and other artists. A dinner, which includes an array of delicious foods, will be available first-come, first-serve at the price of $30. For more information and reservations, call (304) 473-8556.
Six Shooter Record’ Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet tie the musical knot with the debut of their new band, Whitehorse, marrying their talent and chemistry on stage as a smoldering duo. Gutsy and resolute in their pursuits of sound and substance, the duo’s fusion of the personal and professional brings to mind the road-tested romance of Johnny and June.
Individually, Luke and Melissa have been recognized with awards and nominations from the Juno Awards, the Canadian Folk Music Awards, the Hamilton Music Awards, the Independent Music Awards and Polaris. Together, Luke and Melissa create music that cascades forth, rushing like currents fluid and electric. Whitehorse showcases the rarity of true give and take in partnership, uniting falcon with songbird to dramatic effort.
Whitehorse’s debut album was released on August 30, 2011 on Six Shooter Records. http://sixshooterrecords.com/six_site/roster/whitehorse.html
“Time hangs heavy on the vine/Let’s make wine,” Ryan Montbleau sings in the lulling, sensual verse that gives his group’s new album its title. Ryan Montbleau Band has been tending its own musical vineyard for a few years, on the patient cusp of a breakthrough. Their distinctive, long-fermenting blend of neo-folk, classic soul, and kick-out-the-jams Americana finally comes to full fruition in Heavy on the Vine.
Don’t worry if the classic sounds they’ve bottled up remain a little hard to put a label on. “This record has folk songs, funk songs, country tunes, a reggae tune . . . and the end is almost like prog-rock. It’s all over the map, but it’s all us, and we do it all wholeheartedly.”
The sextet hooked up with one of Montbleau’s personal heroes, acclaimed singer/songwriter Martin Sexton. “I used to dream about getting to meet Martin Sexton,” says Ryan, “and now we’re getting hired as his backing band and he’s producing our record.” Following an acoustic tour that Sexton and Montbleau did together as solo performers, Sexton hired the entire group to back him this spring and summer on a tour that included a run of shows opening stadium gigs for the Dave Matthews Band. For the complete bio, visit http://ryanmontbleauband.com/ .
Montbleau will continue to live his dream when he performs on stage with his personal hero, Martin Sexton. A native of Syracuse, NY, Sexton grew up in the 80′s, uninterested in the sounds of the day, and fueled his dreams on the timeless sounds of classic rock and roll. His 1992 collection of self-produced demo recordings, In The Journey, was recorded on an old 8-track in a friend’s attic. He managed to sell 20,000 copies out of his guitar case busking.
From1996-2002 Sexton released Black Sheep, The American, Wonder Bar and Live Wide Open (mixed by Jon Alagia – Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer). The activity and worldwide touring behind these records laid the foundation for the career he enjoys today with an uncommonly loyal fan base, selling out venues from Nokia Theatre (NY) to LA’s House of Blues.
Since 2007-08 Sexton began his most successful years to date with the release of his studio offering, Seeds. The album debuted at #6 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart.
On the heels of Seeds, the cd/dvd set Solo released October ‘08 documenting a series of recent unaccompanied live appearances includes a dvd of his performance at Mile High Festival, Denver, CO. The album captures Sexton’s critically acclaimed incendiary live set in theatres coast-to-coast.
In 2010 he released a studio recording Sugarcoating. In January, Sexton released an EP entitled Fall Like Rain. Watch for more information on Sexton by visiting http://www.martinsexton.com/.
Smith is a Dove Award winning songwriter based in Nashville, TN. She has been a professional songwriter and session singer since 1997 when she moved to Nashville from West Virginia.
Smith has had well over a hundred songs recorded by artists ranging from Grammy-nominated Ty Herndon to the Dove Award winning group Ernie Haase and Signature Sound. In addition, she has been honored with other Dove nominations, enjoyed several #1 songs, and earned three BMI Awards to date.
Her new record, BELINDA SMITH LIVE: TIME MACHINE will be released February 28.
While on campus, she was member of Concert Chorale and the director of the Chapel Choir. A member of Alpha Gamma Delta, Smith earned a public relations degree in 1993. Her brother Aaron Smith is an assistant professor of English at Wesleyan. http://www.myspace.com/belindasmith#
NewFound Road has been called one of the most exciting bluegrass bands of the new millennium. In the past year, the band has shared the stage with a diverse array of artists including Oscar winner The Swell Season, Grand Ole Opry member Joe Diffie, Rock-n-Roll Hall of Famer Mavis Staples, Grammy nominated R&B artist Ryan Shaw, folk icon Judy Collins, and a long list of country and bluegrass artists and legends.
In 2010, NewFound Road made its debut on the legendary stage of The Grand Ole Opry. The band’s exciting and energetic stage show brought the members a busy touring schedule, playing to thousands of music lovers across the United States during its 2010 touring season – which for NewFound Road, is year round. http://www.newfoundroad.com/
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the performance begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for students, $25 in advance for general admission, and $30 at the door. The performance will be recorded and broadcast at a later date on National Public Radio. Tickets are on sale now through the Mountain Stage website, www.mountainstage.org.
Now in its 29th Season, Mountain Stage, hosted by Larry Groce, is a two-hour live performance radio program heard across the country to more than 120 NPR stations. Mountain Stage is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
The show is partially funded by 88 Restaurant and Lounge and the BiCentennial.
United Nations Officer to Speak About Global Conflict
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
On February 15, West Virginia Wesleyan will present the Brad Long Peace Education Fund Lecture in Loar Auditorium at 7 p.m. The featured speaker, Najwa Gadaheldam, United Nations Industrial Development officer, will deliver her address, “The Past and The Future: A Look at the Global Conflict in Sudan.”
Gadaheldam has acted as a sustainable development officer at the United Nations for more than 10 years. In this capacity, she was charged with programs on poverty reduction and Climate Change as well as developing smart partnerships with international institutions.
An active member of UN Energy Global, she served as the first Chair of UN Energy Africa. Her UN work focuses not only on sustainable development and its critical challenges, but involve policies and strategies of the international community for peace and development. Prior to joining the UN, she taught in many universities in Africa and served as a Director of Renewable Energy – Master Program at Zimbabwe University. She has lectured at several International Institutions in Europe such as at Oxford University, Oldenburg, Germany and USA, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Spellman College, Santa Monica-California, The Leadership Centre, among many more. Her research work includes the interconnected and complex challenges, which confront notions of Global Citizenship such as energy and water; poverty reduction and the impact of climate change in triggering conflicts-case study Sub-Saharan Africa-Darfur, Sudan. She is a leading author of the book: Energy for Sustainable Development-Policy Options for Africa.
Gadaheldam has explored gender, conflict resolutions and class disparities in her native country Sudan and recently worked on issues related to diversity, bridging the gap between cultural differences, Women in politics and Women in Afro Islamic Societies. She is an alumna of several Global Seminar Sessions and has served on the Faculty of several Salzburg Global Seminar-International Study programs. She is a Faculty member of Mellon Fellow Community Initiative (MFCI)-Colleges and Universities as Sites of Global Citizenship.
Gadaheldam is a co-author of the White paper on USA Foreign Policy “Darfur – Making Peace Not War: A Human Rights Perspective”. The paper was developed in collaboration with Scholars of MFCI and delivered to the State Department. She received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, an M.S. in Renewable Energy from Khartoum University and an additional M.S. in Energy and Economics from Oldenburg University in Germany.
The Brad Long Peace Education Fund was initiated at West Virginia Wesleyan by Reginald and Patricia Long. After losing their son in a car accident in 1983, the Longs wanted to honor Brad’s deepest wish for his life that he might be instrumental in creating a climate where peace could flourish. They chose to establish this fund to assist in a continuing effort by Wesleyan and the people of Buckhannon to explore avenues leading to peace between individuals as well as nations. The Longs also wanted to offer support and encouragement to young people of similar vision, to emphasize the importance of individual action, and to promote a basic attitude of peace in everyday life.
The program is also supported by the Honors Athenaeum and the Gender Studies program. The event is free and open to the public.
Art Department Hosts Artist Clark Whittington
Monday, February 6th, 2012
Come check out the new age of recycling. West Virginia Wesleyan’s Art Department will present an evening with Clark Whittington, creator of the Art-o-mat®, in the Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts Greek Lobby on Wednesday, February 8. With the support of local architect Bryson VanNostrand, the Art-O-Mat® machine show will open at 6 p.m.
Art-o-mat® machines are retired cigarette vending machines that have been converted to vend art. There are over 90 active machines in various locations throughout the country.
The inspiration for Art-o-mat® came to artist Whittington while observing a friend who had a Pavlovian reaction to the crinkle of cellophane. When Whittington’s friend heard someone opening a snack, he had the uncontrollable urge to have one too.
In 1997, in Winston-Salem, NC, Whittington was set to have a solo art show at a local cafe, Penny Universitie (now known as Mary’s Of Course Cafe). This is when Whittington used a recently-banned cigarette machine to create the first Art-o-mat. It was installed, along with 12 of his paintings. The machine sold Whittington’s black & white photographs for $1.
Open and free to the public, the Art-o-mat® will feature art for $5 tokens. For more information, please contact Wesleyan’s Art Department at 304-473-8278.
WVWC Professor Emerita and WV Poet Laureate Irene McKinney: April 20, 1939-February 4, 2012
Monday, February 6th, 2012
Doctor Irene Durrett McKinney, Poet Laureate of West Virginia since 1994, passed away on February 4, 2012, on her family farm and birthplace in Belington, West Virginia after surviving with cancer for eight years, surrounded by family and friends. Dr. McKinney was born April 20, 1939 and graduated from Belington High School in 1956. She went on to receive degrees from West Virginia Wesleyan College (BA), West Virginia University (MA), and the University of Utah (PhD). Professor Emerita of West Virginia Wesleyan College, McKinney was widely respected regionally and nationally as a poet, scholar, and teacher.
In addition to numerous publications in literary journals and magazines, McKinney is the author of six books of poetry: The Girl with the Stone in Her Lap (North Atlantic Books, 1976), The Wasps at the Blue Hexagons (Small Plot Press, 1982), Quick Fire and Slow Fire (North Atlantic Books, 1988), Six O’Clock Mine Report (University of Pittsburgh Press, 1989), Vivid Companion (West Virginia University Press, 2004), and Unthinkable: Selected Poems 1976-2004 (Red Hen Press, 2009). Her forthcoming collection of poetry, Have You Had Enough Darkness Yet? No, I Haven’t Had Enough Darkness, will be published posthumously in 2013 by Red Hen Press.
McKinney also edited Backcountry: Contemporary Writing in West Virginia (Vandalia Press, 2002) and was coeditor with Maggie Anderson and Winston Fuller of the literary magazine Trellis from 1973 to 1979. Since 2006, McKinney has had a popular radio commentary on National Public Radio; her poems have been featured on Michael Feldman’s What Do You Know?, Garrison Keillor’s The Writer’s Almanac, and West Virginia Public Radio’s Mountain Stage. McKinney’s honors and awards include fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the MacDowell Colony, the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and the Blue Mountain Center. She also received a West Virginia Commission on the Arts Fellowship for Excellence in Poetry, and Potomac State College of West Virginia University named her a 2005 Whitmore-Gates Scholar.
McKinney was Writer-in-Residence at many colleges and universities, including Western Washington University in Bellingham, the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque, the University of California at Santa Cruz, Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, and Lynchburg College in Virginia. In the last three years of her life, she founded and directed the Low Residency Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Program at West Virginia Wesleyan College.
Daughter of the late Ralph and Celia Phares Durrett, Irene McKinney was married to Joseph McKinney of Fort Ashby, West Virginia, from 1956 to 1973. She is survived by her daughter, Julia Vickers, of Germantown, Maryland, and her son, Paul McKinney, of Santa Cruz, California. She is also survived by her five siblings: Harold Durrett and his wife, Betty, of Harrisonburg, Virginia; Clara Eleanor Leary and her husband, Edward, of Elkins, West Virginia; Ralph Waldo Durrett of Route 1 Belington; Janet Stonerook of Route 1 Belington; and Eileen Martin of Clyde, Ohio. She had fourteen nieces and nephews.
Notes of condolence may be sent to West Virginia Wesleyan College c/o Dr. Boyd Creasman, Division Chair, English Department, 59 College Avenue, Buckhannon, WV 26201. A fund in her memory, the Irene McKinney Award for West Virginia Wesleyan MFA Students, has been established at West Virginia Wesleyan College. Donations can be made to the West Virginia Wesleyan College Irene McKinney Award at the same address. Donations to Mountain Hospice in Irene McKinney’s name would also be appreciated.
Arrangements are being made by Talbott Funeral Home in Belington.
Visiting My Gravesite: Talbott Churchyard, West Virginia
Maybe because I was married and felt secure and dead
at once, I listened to my father’s urgings about “the future”
and bought this double plot on the hillside with a view
of the bare white church, the old elms, and the creek below.
I plan now to use both plots, luxuriantly spreading out
in the middle of a big double bed.—But no,
finally, my burial has nothing to do with marriage, this lying here
in these same bones will be as real as anything I can imagine
for who I’ll be then, as real as anything undergone, going back
and forth to “the world” out there, and here to this one spot
on earth I really know. Once I came in fast and low
in a little plane and when I looked down at the church,
the trees I’ve felt with my hands, the neighbors’ houses
and the family farm, and I saw how tiny what I loved or knew was,
it was like my children going on with their plans and griefs
at a distance and nothing I could do about it. But I wanted
to reach down and pat it, while letting it know
I wouldn’t interfere for the world, the world being
everything this isn’t, this unknown buried in the known.
–Irene McKinney, from Six O’Clock Mine Report (Pitt Poetry Series, 1989; and Carnegie Mellon Classic Contemporaries, 2009. Reprinted in Unthinkable: Selected Poems 1976-2004: Red Hen Press, 2009.)
2012 Hall of Fame Class Announced
Friday, February 3rd, 2012
The Department of Athletics at West Virginia Wesleyan College recently announced the class of 2012 inductees into the Athletics Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place February 11, on the Wesleyan campus in the Benedum Campus Center Social Hall.
Dr. George Klebez ’65 of Buckhannon demonstrated a lifetime commitment to Wesleyan athletics as a student-athlete, coach, and Director of Athletics, before retiring in 2008. Klebez oversaw Wesleyan’s transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II, added the sports of women’s soccer and women’s golf, and served as the successful head coach of the men’s soccer and swimming teams.
Sue Reiff Louks ’94 of Roanoke, TX, was a leader of Wesleyan’s dominant volleyball squads of the 90′s. She was part of teams that would eventually win more than 100 WVIAC games in a row. Louks was a two-time WVIAC Player of the Year, four-time first-team All-WVIAC and All-Region selection, and a third-team All-American.
Monica Morin ’05 of Leavenworth, WA, is one of the most decorated swimmers in Wesleyan history, highlighted by her national championship in the 200 butterfly in 2005, Wesleyan’s only individual national championship in any sport. Morin still holds school records in the 100 and 200 butterfly, the 400 individual medley, and the 400 medley relay.
Darryl Odom ’85 of Nashville, TN, was one of the best men’s basketball players ever to play at Wesleyan. He was a first-team NAIA All-American and a two-time first-team All-WVIAC selection. In 1984, he led the Bobcats to the NAIA national championship game.
Colin Rocke ’93 of Harahan, LA, was a gifted men’s soccer player and also a conference champion in track. He was a starting midfielder on the 1989 and 1990 NAIA national championship teams and the 1992 national semifinalist team. Rocke was a three-time NAIA All-American and a four-time All-WVIAC performer. He also had a successful professional soccer career. Currently, he recruits many talented student-athletes to Wesleyan from the New Orleans area.
If you are interested in attending the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, please contact Pam Putzulu in the Department of Athletics at (304) 473-8099 or putzulu_p@wvwc.edu. Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for children under 10 and $15 for faculty and staff.
Upshur County Businesses Contribute $98,000
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012
Upshur County businesses have contributed approximately $98,000 for scholarships, athletic programs, and facilities to West Virginia Wesleyan. College officials announced the results of the successful fall campaign at the area business thank you breakfast Thursday. Thirty-one businesses contributed to Wesleyan between September and December of 2011.
Wesleyan received $26,850 in gifts for current and endowed scholarships that are awarded to Upshur County students. Contributions to Wesleyan’s new state-of-the-art David E. Reemsnyder Research Center totaled $55,000, while $4,000 was donated to the recently opened Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts. Wesleyan athletic programs also received gifts of $12,050.
“We are extremely grateful to our area business partners for their generous support,” stated Wesleyan President Dr. Pamela Balch ’71. “The number of donors as well as the total dollars we received exceeded our goal of $30,000. The support from our community is a tremendous vote of confidence in the direction Wesleyan is headed.”
Over 160 Upshur County residents enrolled at Wesleyan for the 2010-2011 academic year. The College awards approximately $2.3 million in scholarships annually. Upshur County is also home to nearly 1,000 Wesleyan alumni, including many business, education, and government leaders.
Businesses include A. M. Management, LLC, Abel Family Eyecare, Arch Coal, Inc., Buckhannon Family Dental, PLLC, ComforTech, Inc., Denex Petroleum Corp., Dunn Family Foundation, First Community Bank, Griffin Real Estate, Jenkins Ford – Mercury, K & M Properties, LLC, Kelley Motors, Level 3 Solutions, LLC, Loudin Insurance Agency, Inc., Mike Ross, Inc., MPL Corporation, Orion Strategies, Premier Bank, Rock Cave IGA, Saint-Gobain SEFPRO, Sam’s Pizza, Sharon Sabo, State Farm Insurance, Tahoe Management 8 LLC, The Pink Hydrangea, Tom O’Neill & Associates, Toothman Rice & Company, Valley Supply Co., Wal-Mart, Wendling, A. F., Inc., William M. Neal III, DDS, WVSR, Inc.
Cutline: first row l-r: Wesleyan President Pam Balch ’71, Linda Wellings ’92 of MPL Corporation, Mike Feola of First Community Bank, Area Business Campaign representatives Bruce Blend MBA ’05 of Premier Bank, Sam Nolte of Sam’s Pizza, and Sharon Sabo of State Farm Insurance, and Terry Cronin of Comfort Tech
Second row l-r: Mark Hays of Corhart, Jay Martin of Corhart, Curtis Wilkerson ’99 of Orion Strategies, James Powell of Loudin Insurance, Will Lively of Arch Coal, Chad McIntyre of Wal-Mart, and Bob Skinner ’75, Vice President of Advancement at Wesleyan
Performing Arts Scholarship Auditions Set for February and March
Monday, January 30th, 2012
High school seniors interested in the performing arts have an opportunity to audition for West Virginia Wesleyan’s Performing Arts Scholarships on February 25-26 and March 17-18. Scholarships are available in the areas of instrumental music, vocal music, theatre, musical theatre, dance and technical theatre.
The music auditions will take place February 25 and March 17, and theatre/dance auditions will be held on February 26 and March 18 in the Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of West Virginia Wesleyan.
Awards may be combined with some of Wesleyan’s other scholarships, including Academic Scholarships which range from $11,500 to $16,000.
Interested students may register for an audition at www.wvwc.edu or call Wesleyan’s admission office at (800) 722-9933.
Winter Dance Festival Features Attack Theatre
Monday, January 30th, 2012
The West Virginia Wesleyan Department of Dance will host the annual Winter Dance Festival on February 17-18 in the Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts. On Friday, February 17, master classes will be held for area participants. A variety of workshops and classes will take place on Saturday, February 18 beginning at 9:30 a.m. followed by a performance from Attack Theatre, Saturday evening at 8 p.m. in Culpepper Auditorium.
Attack Theatre, under the artistic direction of Peter Kope and Michele de la Reza, will present their new work “Traveling.” This interactive workshop engages audience members to use descriptive words while viewing art and then integrate the vocabulary into dance.
Attack Theatre collaborates with artists from many disciplines to create performances and events featuring elements from many art forms, as well as bringing arts education programs to schools and conducting hundreds of residencies, workshops and master classes.
Whether you have been dancing forever or simply love to see the endless possibilities of movement, line, form and content on the stage, the performance is sure to delight and educate.
For Festival participants taking the full schedule of workshops, the fee is $35 and a ticket to the evening concert is also included. There is a drop-in rate for a single of $10. For additional information email nscattaregia@hotmail.com or Scattaregia_n@wvwc.edu or call Nina Scattaregia at 304-473-8449.
Admission is $8 for general public, $5 for students/senior citizens and free with Wesleyan ID.
This project is partially supported by a grant from Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour, a program developed and funded by The Heinz Endowments; the William Penn Foundation; the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency; and The Pew Charitable Trusts; and administered by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation. This program is also sponsored by 88 Restaurant and Lounge and The Daily Grind.
Alumna Belinda Smith to Perform at Mountain Stage
Friday, January 27th, 2012
West Virginia Wesleyan is proud to announce that alumna Belinda Smith will perform February 26 on Mountain Stage. Other artists NewFound Road along with Martin Sexton will be among those performing in the Culpepper Auditorium in the Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts when the national radio show makes its second visit to Wesleyan.
Proud sponsor 88 Restaurant & Lounge and BiCentennial will host a meet and greet reception with Mountain Stage’s longtime host and founding father Larry Groce and other artists. A dinner, which includes an array of delicious foods, will be available first-come, first-serve at the price of $30. For more information and reservations, call (304) 473-8556.
Smith is a Dove Award winning songwriter based in Nashville, TN. She has been a professional songwriter and session singer since 1997 when she moved to Nashville from West Virginia.
Smith has had well over a hundred songs recorded by artists ranging from Grammy-nominated Ty Herndon to the Dove Award winning group Ernie Haase and Signature Sound. In addition, she has been honored with other Dove nominations, enjoyed several #1 songs, and earned three BMI Awards to date.
As a Creativity Mentor for writers, she is the Founder and President of Belinda Smith Creative (www.belindasmithcreative.com). She is a regularly featured performer at various venues, writer workshops, and corporate creativity functions around the country. The world famous Bluebird Café in Nashville, the Southern Festival of Books, the Mountain Heritage Literary Festival and the TN Young Writer Workshop are just a few places she is proud to have appeared at recently.
Her new record, BELINDA SMITH LIVE: TIME MACHINE will be released February 28.
While on campus, she was member of Concert Chorale and the director of the Chapel Choir. A member of Alpha Gamma Delta, Smith earned a public relations degree in 1993. Her brother Aaron Smith is an assistant professor of English at Wesleyan.
NewFound Road has been called one of the most exciting bluegrass bands of the new millennium. In the past year, the band has shared the stage with a diverse array of artists including Oscar winner The Swell Season, Grand Ole Opry member Joe Diffie, Rock-n-Roll Hall of Famer Mavis Staples, Grammy nominated R&B artist Ryan Shaw, folk icon Judy Collins, and a long list of country and bluegrass artists and legends.
In 2010, NewFound Road made its debut on the legendary stage of The Grand Ole Opry. The band’s exciting and energetic stage show brought the members a busy touring schedule, playing to thousands of music lovers across the United States during its 2010 touring season – which for NewFound Road, is year round. Whether playing a bluegrass festival, folk festival, performing arts center, theater, or small club, the band inevitably leaves its audience yearning for more. The music is powerful and streamlined, featuring hard-driving, soulful contemporary bluegrass as well as achingly beautiful country and pop ballads.
A native of Syracuse, NY, Sexton grew up in the 80′s, uninterested in the sounds of the day, and fueled his dreams on the timeless sounds of classic rock and roll. Sexton eventually migrated to Boston, where he began to build his following singing on the streets of Harvard Square and gradually working his way through the scene. His 1992 collection of self-produced demo recordings, In The Journey, was recorded on an old 8-track in a friend’s attic. He managed to sell 20,000 copies out of his guitar case busking.
From1996-2002 Sexton released Black Sheep, The American, Wonder Bar and Live Wide Open (mixed by Jon Alagia – Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer). The activity and worldwide touring behind these records laid the foundation for the career he enjoys today with an uncommonly loyal fan base, selling out venues from Nokia Theatre (NY) to LA’s House of Blues.
Since 2007-08 Sexton began his most successful years to date with the release of his studio offering, Seeds. The album debuted at #6 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart.
On the heels of Seeds, the cd/dvd set Solo released October ‘08 documenting a series of recent unaccompanied live appearances includes a dvd of his performance at Mile High Festival, Denver, CO. The album captures Sexton’s critically acclaimed incendiary live set in theatres coast-to-coast.
In 2010 his latest studio release, Sugarcoating, finds this one-of-a-kind-troubadour doing what he does best: locating larger truths within the specific details of the life he’s living. In November of 2010, NBC anchor Brian Williams interviewed Sexton about life, music and sugarcoating. On January 24, Sexton will release an EP entitled Fall Like Rain. Watch for more information on Sexton by visiting http://www.martinsexton.com/.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the performance begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for students, $25 in advance for general admission, and $30 at the door. The performance will be recorded and broadcast at a later date on National Public Radio. Tickets are on sale now through the Mountain Stage website, www.mountainstage.org.
Now in its 29th Season, Mountain Stage, hosted by Larry Groce, is a two-hour live performance radio program heard across the country to more than 120 NPR stations. Mountain Stage is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
The show is partially funded by 88 Restaurant and Lounge and the BiCentennial.
Photography Offered as a New Major
Thursday, January 26th, 2012
For those with dreams of becoming the next Ansel Adams, Annie Leibovitz, W. Eugene Smith, or perhaps who hope to one day win a Pulitzer Prize for their visual storytelling, West Virginia Wesleyan has an answer. The College has announced that it will offer a new major, the photography concentration in art, to help budding photographers discover their passions and their paths.
The Curriculum Council unanimously approved the new focus and courses. Current students can declare this major now, but it will appear officially in the 2012-13 catalog. Students are able to pursue photographic image-making at Wesleyan. Course topics include both digital and darkroom processes, video and motion production, studio and location lighting, photographic history, professional practices, plus other course offerings.
“I am excited about the new major because it will help students develop as artists, while also providing them with a highly marketable skill,” said Dr. Boyd Creasman, director of the School of Fine Arts and Humanities. “The major will immerse the students in digital photography, but also provide them with experience in traditional darkroom photography. Students can choose courses that involve constructing a narrative through photography or traveling internationally during May Term. We believe that Wesleyan is offering a program that is unique to the region.”
Over the last few years, Wesleyan’s Art program has show tremendous growth, nearly doubling the number of students choosing majors within the department. Under the direction of Assistant Professor of Art and accomplished photographer Andy Bloxham, the new photography program will draw even more students to pursue a major in the Art Department at Wesleyan.
Departmental coordinator and instructor of art Aaron Nelson said, “Andy brings tremendous energy to the department. The photography program that he has developed will give the students the chance to get hands-on experience, from digital manipulation to traditional darkroom processes. They will even have the opportunity to spend time abroad doing photography. The best part is that Andy will not only help the students develop their concepts, but he can teach them highly marketable technical skills. With Andy at the helm, students graduating from this program have the potential to be successful in commercial or fine art.”
Renovations are currently underway at the Art Department in McCuskey Hall to create a professional lighting studio and upgrade the digital lab, in addition to the reintroduction of the darkroom. New photography courses will debut next Fall. The department also has concentrations in Graphic Design, Drawing and Painting, Intermedia, and Art Education. For more information, please contact photography professor Andy Bloxham at bloxham@wvwc.edu.