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Friday, April 20th, 2012
Three West Virginia Wesleyan College juniors have been recognized for their scholastic achievement and received the honor of being named a 2012 Bruhns Scholar. Each will study abroad this summer thanks to the generosity of Wesleyan friend and alumna Dr. E. Maxine Moose Bruhns ’45, Hon. ‘07.
Matthew Augustus Gillich, a junior music education major from Martinsburg, will travel to Accra, Ghana to further his knowledge of jazz and experience African culture.
During the nearly two months Gillich will be in Ghana, he will study African Music and Dance and African Story telling. “This trip will allow me to immerse myself in a musically rich culture that has no phrase for ‘musically rich’ because music is such an integral part of their daily lives,” Gillich said. “I will use the knowledge I obtain from my studies to educate other students.”
After obtaining his undergraduate degree, Gillich plans to pursue master’s and doctorate degrees in the field of ethnomusicology. “I also plan to create a broad-based program to help students grow as individuals through art and music,” he said.
Without the Bruhns Scholarship, Gillich said he would not have been able to finance studying abroad.
Gillich is a Sarah Carr Parsons Scholarship recipient and a member of the Social Justice League, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, Trumpet Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Small Jazz Ensemble and Concert Chorale.
Junior biology/pre-med major Gabrielle LaFata of Morgantown will leave for Northern Israel in late June.
LaFata said she chose Northern Israel because of the opportunity to further educate herself in areas not related to science. She also wanted to travel to an area that would enable her to learn more history of the Bible and a different culture.
As only part of her experience in Northern Israel, LaFata hopes to learn about the city of Tel-Hazor, which she will help excavate as part of the archeological dig. LaFata said she is looking forward to meeting students from other countries during time in Northern Israel.
“I am most looking forward to the independence that traveling alone will bring, the hands-on environment of learning, and obtaining a broader idea of my Biblical roots,” she commented. “This is my first time out of the country and I hope to broaden my horizons and ideas of the world. I will be able to experience an area that is not 94 percent white and 85 percent Christian; thus, giving me a new perspective that can help me relate to my patients as a future physician.”
At Wesleyan, LaFata is active with resident life, Fellowship of Christian Students, Alpha Lambda Delta, Phi Kappa Phi, Beta Beta Beta, and the honors program. She has been honored as the Freshman Biology Student of the Year and Junior Honor’s Student of the Year. The Dean’s and President’s List student also received a first Place finish in the Science Division of the Mid-Atlantic Undergraduate Research Conference.
“Knowing this scholarship comes from a private donor, I hope to provide this opportunity for future students who are in my same financial and time constraints,” LaFata added.
Buckhannon resident Evid Miller, a double major in writing and gender studies, is set to travel to Turkey this summer to study at Boğaziçi University in Istanbul.
“I have been interested in Turkey for several years, for both historical reasons and current world politics,” Miller said. “The country has been home to the capitals of most of the major empires of the region, and today it stands as one of the only stable secular democracies in the region.”
Miller says he plans to learn “everything I can.” He will enroll in Boğaziçi University for a six-week summer term take a classes about human geography of gender and politics in the modern Middle East. In addition, Miller will participate in trips to historical sites in Turkey.
“The Bruhns Scholarship is specifically tailored to longer durations of stay and provides the chance to bring back my experience to the campus and the community,” Miller said.
“As a writing major, my life and career are story driven,” Miller said. “This experience will allow me to interact with people and hear their stories. As a Gender Studies major, I’m very interested in the ways which gender is pre-formed in societies. The opportunity to experience living in another society, and learning about it in the classroom is critical to understanding the very complex ways that gender and society influence one another.”
When Miller returns to Wesleyan for the fall semester, he plans to apply to graduate programs in both gender studies and writing. He also intends to apply for the Fulbright Scholarship, which is the United States Department of State’s study abroad program.
On campus, Miller is involved with WE LEAD as the Social Justice coordinator, PRISM and the Honors Program.
Born in Grafton, WV, Dr. Bruhns has devoted much of her life to the study and appreciation of and participation in other cultures. She has traveled the world, a champion of internationalism and global living. Her work has spanned the globe, from resettling refuges in isolated areas of different countries, helping others and fostering understanding and communication across cultures. Her travel and experiences have helped her to develop deep understanding and scholarly presentations about the different cultures of the world, which she delivers to students and scholars at The University of Pittsburgh’s Nationality Rooms in the Cathedral of Learning. The exhibits she has built there honor the ethnic heritages of many cultures, nations and peoples. Now, she is giving Wesleyan students the opportunity to become global scholars, allowing them to learn and experience more of the world beyond our borders.
Gillich
LaFata
Miller
Danceworks Features Wesleyan Dance Minor Students
Wednesday, April 18th, 2012
As part of the West Virginia Wesleyan Arts Alive series, Danceworks will be at 8 p.m. Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21 in the Culpepper Auditorium of the Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts.
Danceworks is the culmination of the work generated from the Dance Minor program and dance technique classes from the Wesleyan Department of Theatre and Dance. The performances feature a variety of dance styles and music, which includes contemporary dance, ballet, tap and jazz.
The new choreography was created by adjunct faculty members Nina Scattaregia, Michael Garber and Lance Russell. Several student works will also be performed and include a contemporary duet with Buckhannon residents Kristen Sayre, a senior chemistry major, and Ryan McAtee, a freshman musical theatre major, solo work by Tiffany Thompson, junior musical theatre major from Brooklyn, NY, and Josh Holets, a senior musical theatre major from Monongahela, PA, and a performance by the WVWC dance team.
Before the show audience members can enjoy a “moving art” lobby display created by Holets. His display features improvisational movement that reflects “a window into the world of emotional instability,” while another will reflect “an outside prospective of loneliness,” and a third will be a moving art of a group of people trying to work together to achieve a common goal.
Tickets are available at the performing arts center and prices are $8 for adults, $5 for senior citizens and $3 for students. Wesleyan students receive free admission with student ID.
The Arts Alive is funded in part by the Bicentennial Inn and 88 Restaurant and Lounge and The Daily Grind.
Wesleyan Students Exceed Goal for Jump Rope for Heart
Tuesday, April 17th, 2012
From left, Linda Hicks, Center for Community Engagement office manager; Richard Sutphin, WE LEAD Health and Wellness Team member; Dave Jordan, youth market director for the American Heart Association; Justin Frye, WE LEAD Health and Wellness Team member; Katie Loudin, coordinator of outreach and leadership development; and LeeAnn Brown, director of Community Engagement and leadership development.
Jump Rope for Heart, a common activity in elementary schools, might be seen on more college and university campuses thanks to the success of West Virginia Wesleyan College’s participation in the American Heart Association’s fundraiser.
Wesleyan’s WE LEAD (Wesleyan Engaging Leaders through Education and Development) Health and Wellness Team organized the campus’ first Jump Rope for Heart event, which exceeded the fundraising goal by more than $200. Health and Wellness Team member and Jump Rope for Heart organizer Justin Frye said the group wanted to raise $500, but instead were able to make a $719.40 donation to the American Heart Association.
Dave Jordan, youth market director for the American Heart Association, said because of the success at Wesleyan, he plans to approach other colleges and universities to participate in the Jump Rope for Heart. Jordan added that Wesleyan’s Jump Rope for Heart will be used as the model program for other institutions of higher learning.
“I always enjoyed Jump Rope for Heart as a child in elementary school,” Frye said. “Those of us on the Health and Wellness Team thought this would be a fun event to host at Wesleyan and get college students involved. It is a great way to raise money for a worthy cause, and it incorporates heart health through physical activity.”
A total of 75 individuals from nine groups/organizations collected donations from family, friends, businesses, teachers, and many others. On the day of the event, those who collected the donations celebrated by jumping rope. For their fundraising and jump rope efforts, participants were rewarded with jump ropes, T-shirts and electronic items.
Although this was Wesleyan’s first Jump Rope for Heart, Frye says Wesleyan’s WE LEAD Health and Wellness Team is planning to make it an annual event to support the American Heart Association.
Lloyd Jackson to Address Graduates as Commencement Speaker
Monday, April 16th, 2012
West Virginia Wesleyan College will welcome its Chair of the Board of Trustees Lloyd G. Jackson II, a member of the West Virginia Board of Education and former state senator, as the College’s 122nd Commencement’s keynote speaker. Commencement is at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 5 in the Rockefeller Physical Education Building.
Jackson has a strong record of supporting education and dedicating his time to public service. In 2005, he joined Wesleyan’s Board of Trustees and was named chair in 2006. He will step down as chair in April and remain on the board for one more year. As the board’s chair, he oversaw the completion of five major construction projects on Wesleyan’s campus among many other accomplishments.
Educated in West Virginia’s public schools, Jackson pursued higher education at West Virginia University, from which he graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in political science in 1974. He graduated Order of the Coif from the West Virginia University College of Law in 1977. As a law student, Jackson served as editor-in-chief of the Law Review.
Jackson served as a state senator for 12 years and as Lincoln County’s prosecuting attorney for six years. During his time in the state Senate, he held the position of chair of the Senate Education Committee and was a lead sponsor of the PROMISE Scholarship and comprehensive early childhood legislation.
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin appointed Jackson to the West Virginia Board of Education in 2011 for a term ending in 2020.
He operates his family’s natural gas production business, an industry in which his family has owned for more than 100 years.
In addition, Jackson currently serves as a trustee of the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, as chairman of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Business Policy Task Force, as a director of the West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association, as president of Energize West Virginia, as a director of the Discover the Real West Virginia Foundation, Vision Shared West Virginia, and as vice chairman of the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences.
Jackson and his wife Trina reside in Hamlin, WV and have two sons, Lloyd III (L.G.) and Ryan.
Concert Band to Perform Tuesday
Monday, April 16th, 2012
West Virginia Wesleyan’s Concert Band and Wind Ensemble will present their spring concert on Tuesday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m. The concert, set to be held in the Virginia Thomas Law Performing Arts Center, is free and open to the public. The two groups will present works by Howard Hanson, Gustav Holst, Dmitri Shostakovich, and P.I. Tchaikovsky. Under the direction of co-conductors Robert Baden and James Moore, the group will be joined by the newly formed Wesleyan College Trumpet Ensemble.
International Student Donates Symbols of Japan to Wesleyan
Monday, April 16th, 2012
Six years ago Tsubasa Tomoto came to West Virginia Wesleyan College from his hometown of Tokyo, Japan. Since then, the masters of athletic training program student has spent many hours in the Annie Merner Pfeiffer Library and meeting many people within the Wesleyan community; and to show his gratitude toward the college Tomoto has donated a signed limited edition print photo to hang in the library.
“My Theta Xi fraternity brothers said the library is my second room, and if anyone wants to find Tsubasa, they should go to the library,” Tomoto said. “If there had not been a library on this campus, my college study would not have been as successful.”
The picture is by Kotaro Yoshioka, a Japanese woodblock artist, who depicts Mount Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan, with the famous spring cherry blossoms. Tomoto explained cherry blossoms are the flower most beloved by the Japanese people and they symbolize Japan. It is a tradition for Japan to send cherry trees overseas as a symbol of peace. Famously, the cherry blossoms bloom every spring in Washington, D.C. at the Tidal Basin along the Potomac River.
“I would like to share the beautiful Japanese symbols, Mount Fuji and cherry blossoms, as a token of my appreciation to West Virginia Wesleyan College,” Tomoto said. “If people could enjoy the beautiful drawing for a brief moment, I would be gratified.”
Other than wanting to share a part of Japan with his “second room,” one of Tomoto’s athletic training professors, Dan Martin, exercise science department chair and professor of exercise science and athletic training,is also a regular in the library and at a certain desk. Martin has served as a mentor to Tomoto by helping him research and giving him advice on how to plan for the future. The picture hangs on the wall near the desk Martin typically chooses.
Tomoto also wanted to share the photo because of the support he and other Japanese students received from the Wesleyan community after the March 11, 2011, Tsunami that devastated his home country.
Tomoto said he chose Wesleyan after a study abroad agent suggested the college because of its “strong science classes, organized athletic training program, strong athletic programs, support for international students, and good environment for higher education.”
Tomoto obtained a bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Wesleyan in May 2011. As an undergraduate he was named the West Virginia state chair and student senator for the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers’ Association and the Wesleyan Outstanding Senior in Athletic Training. He is Theta Xi Fraternity alumnus and a member of the International Student Organization and a member of the men’s tennis team.
When Tomoto came to Wesleyan five years ago, he could not speak and read English well enough to communicate with people.
“The situation was very challenging for me because the athletic training major is required to communicate with professors, athletes, coach, etc.,” he said. “Also, we must understand the concept and apply athletic training knowledge and skill to clinical rotation every day. I would like to say thank you to my parents, athletic training professors, Theta Xi fraternity brothers, and my friends.”
Tsubasa Tomoto
Wesleyan Students Help Shape a Child Abuse Law
Friday, April 13th, 2012
Story used with permission from The Charleston Gazette
By Eric Eyre
Photo courtesy of Steven Wayne Rotsch and the West Virginia Governor's Office
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Professor Robert Rupp’s political science students at West Virginia Wesleyan College didn’t bury their heads in textbooks this semester.
They were helping to write a new law designed to protect children from sexual abuse.
On Thursday, Wesleyan students traveled from Buckhannon to the state Capitol, where they watched Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin sign legislation that strengthens West Virginia’s child sexual abuse reporting requirements.
“They brought this to our attention, did a lot of the research and made specific suggestions,” said state Sen. Dan Foster, D-Kanawha, who helped sponsor the legislation.
The Penn State University child abuse scandal sparked Rupp and his students to suggest a change to West Virginia’s outdated child abuse reporting law, which was written in 1931 and similar to Pennsylvania’s.
The new law requires anyone 18 or older who witnesses or suspects child abuse to report the incident to West Virginia State Police within 48 hours. State Police must subsequently report the allegations to the state Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR).
“This law requires you to go directly to the police,” said Jessicah Cross, a student in Rupp’s class. “There’s no middle man.”
Former Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno, who died in January of lung cancer, passed along a report about alleged child sexual abuse by former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky to the university’s athletic director in 2002. Pennsylvania authorities have said Sandusky could have been stopped earlier if Paterno and others had gone directly to the police.
West Virginia’s new reporting law also adds coaches, camp counselors and administrators, and commercial film and photographic print processors to the list of occupations mandated to report suspected child abuse or neglect.
During the semester, Foster worked closely with Rupp and his students to change the law. Students first researched child abuse reporting requirements in other states, and in Ireland and Australia. Wesleyan students also had a hand in helping Foster draft the bill.
“We looked at other states, what they were passing and how that compared to our bill,” said Jordan Smith, a freshman in Rupp’s class. “If legislators had a question, we would do the research and get them an answer.”
Jordan Huffman, a Wesleyan senior, worked as a Herndon Fellowship intern at the state Capitol during the past legislative session.
Huffman attended legislative committee meetings and helped revise the child abuse reporting bill during the session.
“I got to follow that legislation all the way through,” Herndon said. “I got a different perspective on the political reality.”
The child sex abuse reporting bill hit several snags during the session.
Students and lawmakers suggested a change that would require anyone — not just the numerous occupations listed in the bill — to report child abuse and neglect.
“Under West Virginia’s law, if you’re a grandparent, and your granddaughter is getting abused, you’re not legally required to tell,” Cross said. “We wanted it to be for everyone.”
Wesleyan students also suggested a revision that would require anyone to report all cases of child abuse and neglect — not just cases of sexual abuse.
Delaware and 17 other states have the wider reporting requirement.
Officials with the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources argued that the broader notification rules would trigger a flood of reports — including false reports — to authorities.
Although Wesleyan students didn’t get everything they wanted in the bill, they were pleased with the outcome. “It was definitely a step in the right direction,” Smith said.
On Thursday, Wesleyan students stood by Tomblin as he signed the legislation (SB 161) into law. Foster and others remarked that West Virginia might not have adopted the tougher law, if not for Wesleyan students and their dogged work on the bill during the legislative session.
“They’re not just studying how the legislative process works, they’re actually doing it,” Rupp said. “The see how the law can be shaped. They’re learning things far beyond the textbook.”
Also Thursday, Tomblin signed a bill that requires hotels and other facilities to install carbon monoxide detectors.
In January, Bill Moran, a Rhode Island construction worker, died of carbon monoxide poisoning at the Holiday Inn Express in South Charleston. Sixteen additional hotel guests were hospitalized. An investigation found that carbon monoxide leaked into Moran’s room from a faulty pool heater.
Moran’s sister and nephew attended Thursday’s bill signing. Moran’s widow is suing the hotel chain.
Wesleyan Alumnus Rev. J. Douglas Patterson Will Deliver Baccalaureate Message
Thursday, April 12th, 2012
Rev. Patterson
West Virginia Wesleyan College alumnus Rev. J. Douglas Patterson will deliver the message “Bones, Breath and Beyond” as the Baccalaureate message beginning at 8 p.m. Friday, May 4, in Wesley Chapel.
Rev. Patterson is the senior minister of Smithfield United Church of Christ, located in downtown Pittsburgh, PA. He is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, Western Pennsylvania Conference, and holds dual standing in the United Church of Christ, Penn West Conference. In addition to holding a bachelor of arts degree from Wesleyan, Rev. Patterson is also a graduate of the Wesley Theological Seminary.
Serving parishes in Delaware and Pennsylvania, Rev. Patterson also has held positions as director of Outreach Ministries for Guideposts, Inc., and director of the School of Practical Christianity, addressing the spiritual and professional needs of clergy from every denomination.
Rev. Patterson is actively involved in the issues surrounding homelessness and underserved populations. In May 2011, he traveled to Russia, in association with Orphan’s Tree International, to learn more about the plight of young people raised in orphanages.
Also, Rev. Patterson placed second in his division at the 2011 ADAU National Powerlifting Championships, and his wife, Ramona, defended her championship title there for the fourth time.
One of his three children, daughter Brooke B. Patterson, is a 2002 Wesleyan graduate.
After Baccalaureate, the Wesleyan Alumni Association will host an ice cream social at 9 p.m. at the Chapel Campus Green.
Wesleyan’s Commencement begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 5, in the Rockefeller Physical Education Building.
Percussion Ensemble to Perform Spring Concert
Thursday, April 12th, 2012
West Virginia Wesleyan’s Percussion Ensemble will present its spring concert on Wednesday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. The Percussion Ensemble will perform in Loar Auditorium under the direction of Dr. Robert Baden, professor of percussion. The night will include a variety of pieces ranging in styles from Piazzolla and Smith’s “Fugata” to Debussy’s “Golliwogg”s Cakewalk.”
“Through the use of a predominance of melodic percussion instruments the ensemble provides a wider variety of music not often heard in the more traditional percussion groups,” Baden said.
Kyle Andrews
Ensemble members will be incorporating an array of percussion instruments in their spring performance, including electronic keyboard, electric bass, guitar, and traditional battery percussion. The upcoming concert will feature students Kyle Andrews of Shepherdstown, WV, who will be performing a timpani solo, and Kristen Espina of Wheeling, WV, who will be playing tenor saxophone in “Sunset Road.”
Baden said that since the organization of the performing group in 1995, the Percussion Ensemble has become one of the more popular groups on campus with participants from all academic disciplines.
“The Ensemble is composed of music majors, both vocal and instrumental, as well as any other interested musicians within the Wesleyan Community who may not be majoring in music,” Baden commented.
Ensemble members include: Kyle Andrews, music education; Thomas Blue of Shepherdstown, WV, music education; Kara Chenoweth of Buckhannon, music education; Kristen Espina, chemistry; Emily Hammond of Charleston, WV, music performance; Dillon Huffman of Mt. Nebo, WV, biomedical engineering; Max Garner of Bridgeport, WV, secondary education; Justin Kennedy of Buckhannon, music education; Megan Richmond of Beaver, WV, music education; Cody Rosencrance of Buckhannon, music performance; Hannah Spencer of Ronceverte, WV, music performance.
The concert is free and open to the public.
The Diary of Anne Frank Opens April 12
Wednesday, April 11th, 2012
The Franks and the Van Daans light the first Hanukkah candle; clockwise from left, Micah Spiece, Rachel Channell, Phil Fisher, John Waltz, Bill Hensel, Yvette Boles, Erin Macpherson, and Gabrielle Tokach in the foreground
The West Virginia Wesleyan College Theatre and Dance Department will present the stage adaptation of one of the most well-known and classic books of the 20th Century, The Diary of Anne Frank. Performances begin at 8 p.m. April 12, April 1,3 and April 14, with a matinee at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 14, in Culpepper Auditorium of the Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts.
Directed by Greg Mach, coordinator of Wesleyan’s theatre department and associate professor of theatre arts, the family-friendly production of The Diary of Anne Frank will transport audiences to the World War II era to experience the emotions of the timeless, true story of the young girl and her family hiding from the Nazis. The cast includes Admission Director John Waltz, Erin MacPherson, senior public relations major from Bel Air, MD, Gabrielle Tokach, a senior musical theatre and arts administration major from Winchester, VA, Yvette Boles, a junior theatre and psychology major from Berkeley Springs, WV, Phil Fisher, sophomore theatre major from Charleston, Rachel Channell, a freshman theatre arts major from Elkins, Micah Spiece, a freshman theatre and English major from Lewisburg, WV, Mandy Onder, senior musical theatre and elementary education major from Scottsdale, PA, and freshman theatre arts major Bill Hensel from Greensburg, PA. Scenic and lighting design is by Karim Badwan and costume design and construction is by Rebecca Nelson and the THRE 222 Costumes class. Tiffany Thompson, a junior musical theatre major from Brooklyn, NY, and Jessica Tichenor, sophomore gender studies major from French Creek, are the stage managers.
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl received the 1956 Pulitzer Prize, and the stage adaptation won the Tony Award, Critics Circle Award, and virtually every other coveted prize of the theatre. Very few plays have moved the Broadway critics to write such glowing notices, receiving the unanimous acclaim of all the top New York reviewers.
Tickets will be available at the door. General admission is $7; seniors and students, $5; and $3 for Wesleyan students, faculty and staff with an ID.
For more information about Wesleyan’s production of The Diary of Anne Frank, email mach@wvwc.edu.
Panelists to Discuss Effects of the Trayvon Martin Case
Wednesday, April 11th, 2012
The shooting of Florida teen Trayvon Martin has sparked debate and conversations across the country, and West Virginia Wesleyan College is hosting a panel discussion to give the campus community and local residents further perspective into the case and what it says about the 21st Century United States. The panel discussion, which is free and open to the public, begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 12, in the Annie Merner Pfeiffer Library.
Among those participating in the discussion are Brian Bergstrom, editor of the Record Delta; Dr. Robert Rupp, Wesleyan professor of political science; David McCauley, college counsel and professor of law; Courtney Rayam, director of Wesleyan’s Intercultural Program; and Jamella Shackleford, assistant prosecutor for Harrison County.
More than 200 Concert Chorale Alumni Will Perform Sunday in Wesley Chapel
Wednesday, April 11th, 2012
More than 200 West Virginia Wesleyan College Concert Chorale alumni are returning to their alma mater this weekend to join current students and conductor Dr. Larry Parsons for a rousing performance of variety of musical selections at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 15, in Wesley Chapel.
This year’s Concert Chorale Alumni reunion is set to be a special event, as it will be Parsons’ final public show before retiring as the group’s conductor at the end of the academic year. Among the music that will be performed are Rutter Gloria, the Bernstein Chichester Psalms, and the Dello Joio To Saint Cecilia.
The Chorale reunion performance will gather alumni from every decade of Parsons’ history of directing the Chorale, which he took over in the late 1960s. Chorale alumni are traveling into Buckhannon from across the country, including Maine, Colorado, Texas, Florida, Oregon and Minnesota, for the event. The reunion Chorale will even include multiple generations – a mother and daughter who were both members of the Chorale are scheduled to attend.
Current Concert Chorale members and Wesleyan brass instrument players will join the alumni for the performance. The current and alumni Chorale members will enable the performance to be nearly 300 voices strong.
The last Chorale reunion took place in 2006, and alumni had requested another get together. Parsons said he has been overwhelmed by the response from his former students, and is looking forward to seeing the alumni.
“This has turned into a larger event than I expected,” Parsons commented. “The Concert Chorale members are very talented singers, and they have touched many lives. Those who have been in the Chorale have a rich connection to each other and others on campus.”
Director of Alumni Relations Kristi Wilkerson said the large group and the distance they are traveling for the reunion is a testament to the positive influence and experiences Parsons has given his students.
“The Concert Chorale has a strong, rich tradition at Wesleyan, and their performance of ‘My Home Among the Hills’ always draws an emotional response from the crowd,” Wilkerson commented. “Concert Chorale performances are always beautiful, and you are never disappointed when you attend one of their concerts.”
Sunday’s Concert Chorale Alumni performance is free and open to the public.
Activities planned for the event include a Saturday luncheon, hosted by the Wesleyan Alumni Office, and a social at the 88 Restaurant & Lounge beginning at 7:30 p.m. The alumni rehearsals for Sunday’s performance are slated for 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 13, in Loar Auditorium, and again Saturday, April 14, at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. in Wesley Chapel.
Dr. Larry Parsons
Two Wesleyan Seniors Named 2012 Fulbright Scholars
Thursday, April 5th, 2012
Kaitlen Whitt
Cassie Bodkin
Two West Virginia Wesleyan College seniors will spend a year in Bulgaria sharing and gaining knowledge as Fulbright Scholars, the United States government’s prestigious flagship International exchange program. Cassandra “Cassie” Bodkin, of Montrose, and Kaitlen Whitt, of Hico, were recently selected as 2012 Fulbright Scholars, an opportunity that will enrich their lives and prepare them to be good global citizens.
“We are extremely proud of the tradition we are building at Wesleyan with the Fulbright Scholarship and other international and national scholarship competitions,” Wesleyan President Pam Balch said. “Cassie and Kaitlen are the 10th and 11th students to be selected as Fulbright Scholarship recipients and they will be the eighth and nineth students to accept the award to study overseas in the last six years. This is a great testament to the accomplishments of our students, the rigor of our academic curriculum, the leadership opportunities that are available through our co-curricular programs, and the challenge and support that our faculty and staff provide.”
Throughout their year in Bulgaria, both Bodkin and Whitt will teach English as a second language (ESL) to Bulgarian students and participate in extracurricular activities.
In May, Bodkin will graduate from Wesleyan with a degree in political science, and after returning from Bulgaria, she plans to attend law school and focus on International Law. Bodkin says the Fulbright experience will give her the opportunity to witness the political and social circumstances in other countries, and enable her to meet individuals from different backgrounds.
“I am so fortunate and grateful for this experience,” Bodkin said. “I can’t wait to represent Wesleyan and the United States abroad as a Fulbright Scholar. Having the opportunity to go to Bulgaria and teach children what I know and also learn from the Bulgarians and their culture will be an enriching experience.”
Bodkin is a member of the Wesleyan cheerleading and track teams, a sister of Zeta Tau Alpha, an ESL tutor, and member of the pre-law society. She plans to share her knowledge of athletics in Bulgaria because in addition to teaching English, Bodkin plans to coach a sports team, such as track, soccer or gymnastics.
This will not be Bodkin’s first international educational trip. She previously spent one semester studying in Sweden.
Whitt, a double major in English writing and philosophy, sees the Fulbright Scholarship as a chance to experience a culture that is often forgotten. Whitt added that each time she travels abroad she becomes more mature and aware of the world.
“When Americans think of Europe they think of England, Germany, or France — they never think about the rich Baltic culture that exists in Eastern Europe,” Whitt said. “I want to help foster an appreciation of eastern European culture through my poetry, research, and photographs upon returning to the U.S. I chose Bulgaria because of the wonderful mix between rural and urban culture and because of the countries rich artistic traditions.”
As her extracurricular project, Whitt plans to continue her passion of working to better the lives of women while in Bulgaria. Whitt hopes to work with an organization that supports female human trafficking survivors or one that helps women gain independence through community and education.
When Whitt returns to the U.S. she wants to pursue a master’s of fine arts in creative writing and later attain a juris doctor in International Law. Whitt thinks the international travel will help her communicate poetry and positively represent the U.S. and other nations as an international attorney.
“I plan to move back to West Virginia after attaining my degrees because I love my home and because I hope to continue improving the lives of women and girls in Appalachia through my poetry and knowledge of law,” Whitt commented.
At Wesleyan, Whitt is a sister of Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity, a Concert Chorale member, an ESL tutor, a philosophy and study strategies tutor, editor of the 2012 Vandalia literary, an art magazine, and a co-founder of We Lead’s Women of Wesleyan.
Both Bodkin and Whitt were assisted in the lengthy and detailed Fulbright Scholarship application process by Director of Awards and Scholarships Dr. John Saunders, Wesleyan associate professor of English, Emeritus.
Saunders works to recruit stellar students, who are involved with co-curricular activities for the highly competitive scholarship. He and other faculty members help Fulbright applicants with essays, and conduct mock interviews.
“Cassie and Kaitlen are excellent, sophisticated students, who have travelled meaningfully abroad,” Saunders said. “They have excellent records of achievement on campus; and both are students a liberal arts college hopes to produce.”
Other colleges and universities across the country with students chosen as 2012 Fulbright Scholars to Bulgaria include Harvard, Duke, UCLA, University of Michigan, University of Texas, Claremont College, Kenyon College, and Rutgers.
“To have two Wesleyan students chosen for the Bulgarian Fulbright experience with so many other esteemed institutions is a testament to John’s commitment to our students,” Balch said. “Through his efforts, our students better realize the potential they have to positively affect others and further their own personal development as good citizens of the world,” Balch said.
The Fulbright program is part of the U.S. Department of State and was established by the U.S. Congress in 1946 to “enable the government … to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.” The Fulbright program is the largest U.S. International exchange program and operates in more than 140 countries worldwide. Its participants are chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential, and are given the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute in finding solutions to shared international concerns.
Those who have previously represented the college abroad as Fulbright Scholars are Katie Oreskovich Loudin, Thailand, 2006; Laura Full, Macao,2008; Michelle Mayhew, Malaysia, 2008; Brad Foster, Thailand, 2008; Carolyn Bugg, Taiwan, 2010; Jillian Moga, South Korea, 2010; and Lucy Swecker, South Korea, 2011.
Wesleyan Graduate Student Hits the Field with the Padres
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012
As the major league baseball players began their spring practices, West Virginia Wesleyan College master of science in athletic training student Marie Iwamatsu was improving skills in her own field. Iwamatsu, a native of Japan, recently spent two weeks completing an athletic training internship with the San Diego Padres.
The professional experience Iwamatsu gained began when Rae Emrick, athletic training director and assistant professor of exercise science, suggested the internship, which is offered through the Japan Baseball Athletic Trainers Society in partnership with the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society. Each year, JBATS invites three to five Japanese athletic training students, studying in either Japan or the United States, to participate in the internship.
During the internship Iwamatsu began her days with a 5 a.m. workout with other interns and athletic trainers. Afterward, Iwamatsu was off to the Padres’ Clubhouse to set up water, ice, and towels. Then, she and other interns worked with the Padres’ athletic trainers to help make ice bags, complete daily-cleanings, to stretch, apply minor procedure for an injury, cover the daily game, and observe the daily work.
“I was surprised about the daily work schedule of athletic trainers for a professional baseball team,” she said.
She explained athletic trainers report to the Clubhouse around 5:45am and spend approximately three hours treating the players before they practice. During the spring training, almost all of the MLB teams have a game every afternoon; therefore, after having a quick lunch and preparing medical kits, athletic trainers accompany players to the ball park to cover the game.
“After all players leave the Clubhouse, athletic trainers finally can go home,” she added. “Though this internship, I observed how athletic trainers for a professional baseball team work daily and also the differences of athletic training services offered between a college and professional team.”
In addition to finding out about the average day of a MLB athletic training, Iwamatsu said she learned from the Padres’ training staff several “hands-on techniques,” such as massaging and stretching.
“Athletic trainers focus on players’ daily conditioning, and explained the importance of hands-on techniques,” Iwamatsu said. “Professional players rely on athletic trainers for conditioning and injury prevention; therefore, most of the players visit Athletic Training Rooms and receive daily treatment, even if they do not have current injuries. College athletes, however, do not typically visit our Athletic Training Facility until they are injured.”
Iwamatsu earned a bachelor of science degree in athletic training from Wesleyan in 2011, and became a certified athletic trainer in September, 2011. She is a member of the International Student Organization, Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the Kinesio Taping Association International.
Currently, Iwamatsu works as a graduate intern athletic trainer with the Wesleyan volleyball, women’s basketball, softball, and men’s and women’s tennis teams.
After obtaining her master’s degree, Iwamatsu plans to find employment as an athletic trainer in the United States.
“In the future, I want to go back to Japan and teach Athletic Training to Japanese students because Athletic Training is not a common field in Japan yet.”
Campus Celebrates Do Good Day
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012
West Virginia Wesleyan was abuzz today with new and exciting activities to celebrate Do Good Day. Throughout the day students, faculty and staff crafted items that promote good will toward others and donated necessities to those in need.
Outside Wesley Chapel, Peace Flags, created by members of the Wesleyan Community, hung in honor of “doing good” for others. Inside the Chapel, students made cards for A Million Thanks for the Troops; beaded bracelets and bookmarks for nursing home residents; and Project Linus Blankets donated to children staying in hospitals.
Other items that were collected to donate to others were books that will go to West Virginia prison libraries and bags of food for the Parish House. In addition, there was a blood drive, coordinated by Alpha Sigma Phi. Off campus, the Wesleyan community participated in two Make It Shine litter cleanup projects.
