A historic sign procured by a UMW museum studies class holds a prominent place on the National Mall. Since the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture opened there in September, thousands of visitors have walked past a worn wooden sign from an Alabama bus station. One of 3,000 objects on display, it reads “Waiting Room (interstate and white intrastate passengers).” UMW donated the 1950s-era artifact in honor of the late James Farmer, a UMW distinguished professor and architect of the Freedom Rides that helped to desegregate interstate transportation. During the university’s 2011 semester-long tribute to Farmer and the 50th anniversary of the Rides, a UMW museum studies class purchased the sign on eBay to include in an exhibit students created. The class, taught by former instructor Elisabeth Sommer, researched the Freedom Rides, collected old recruiting posters and magazines, and created life-size photo displays for an exhibit that told the … [Read more...]
On Campus
Darden Winner Is Top Scholar-Athlete
The Capital Athletic Conference named UMW field hockey player Haley Kane ’16 its top female scholar-athlete for 2015-16. Kane led UMW’s Division III field hockey team through four seasons, three as captain. She was twice named scholar-athlete of the year by UMW and by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association. A psychology major from Fredericksburg, Kane maintained a 4.0 grade-point average and was one of three 2016 winners of the Colgate W. Darden Jr. Award, given to the senior with the highest GPA. “I hold myself to really high standards,” Kane told an interviewer last spring. “I wanted to fully experience what a liberal arts school could offer. I wanted to take hold of everything, and I think I did a pretty good job.” The CAC award is given to senior student-athletes who have a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA, demonstrate athletic success, and contribute to their program. Kane is the fifth UMW recipient since the award’s inception in 1992. … [Read more...]
Commencement 2016 Recognizes Grads, Faculty
In ceremonies May 6 and 7, 2016, the University of Mary Washington awarded 1,200 degrees – 164 graduate and 1,036 undergraduate. Three Virginia students, Katherine L. Coleman of Montpelier, Haley A. Kane of Fredericksburg, and Christopher J. Lloyd of Burke, shared the Colgate W. Darden Jr. award for the highest grade-point average over four years of undergraduate study. Each had a perfect 4.0. UMW’s ninth president, Richard V. Hurley, received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree as he presided over his last commencement before retiring. He also was awarded the title of president emeritus. Martin A. Wilder, UMW’s chief of staff, was presented the Washington Medallion, which recognizes an individual who has served Mary Washington with exceptional dedication. Other noteworthy honors were: Grellet C. Simpson Award for excellence in undergraduate teaching – Marie McAllister, professor of English, linguistics, and communication UMW Alumni Association Outstanding … [Read more...]
UMW Welcomes BOV Members
Gov. Terry McAuliffe named new members to the UMW Board of Visitors to succeed Tara C. Corrigall ’82, Theresa Young Crawley ’77, and Mark S. Ingrao ’81. The new members, serving four-year terms that expire June 30, 2020, are: Sharon Bulova Chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors since 2009, Bulova helped establish the Virginia Railway Express commuter rail system and has served on the VRE operations board since its inception. Before 2009, Bulova was supervisor for Fairfax County’s Braddock District and chair of the board’s budget committee. Edward B. Hontz Hontz, vice president of Basic Commerce and Industries Inc., oversees the company’s Navy programs in Dahlgren, Virginia. A retired Navy captain, Hontz served in Vietnam and was commanding officer of the AEGIS Training and Readiness Center in 1995. He promoted the establishment of UMW’s Dahlgren Campus and received the 2015 Prince B. Woodard leadership award from the Fredericksburg Regional … [Read more...]
American Icons Come to Dodd Stage
Legendary performer Tony Bennett and actress-singer Kristin Chenoweth will appear with the UMW Philharmonic Orchestra in the 2016-17 season. Bennett will give a holiday concert Dec. 9. Chenoweth, winner of Emmy and Tony awards, will perform March 18, 2017. For tickets or more information, visit philharmonic.umw.edu. … [Read more...]
Fulbright Awards Grants to Alumni
Five recent University of Mary Washington alumni planned to travel, teach, and explore new cultures thanks to prestigious Fulbright grants announced last spring. They are Anna Boland and Luci Coleman from the Class of 2016 and Lauren Bortfeld, Lisa Johnson, and Cara Wimberley from the Class of 2015. Three other alumni, Shirley Martey ’16, Alexandra Hoenscheid ’16, and Ellen Rives Kuhar ’15, were named Fulbright finalists. Boland, a native of Leesburg, Virginia, is teaching English in Niedersachsen, Germany. She majored in German and minored in business administration at UMW, and she studied in Göttingen, a university town in Niedersachsen, during spring 2015. Coleman, a native of Montpelier, Virginia, is researching specialized shrubland freshwater ecosystems at the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town, South Africa. A double major in biology and environmental geology with a GIS certificate, Coleman made two trips abroad through UMW and delivered more than 400 sustainable … [Read more...]
Inauguration: Save the Date
Dr. Troy Paino will be installed as UMW’s 10th president in an invitation-only ceremony at 4:15 p.m. Friday, April 21, 2017, in Dodd Auditorium. In keeping with UMW’s commitment to sustainability, no printed invitations will be mailed. To receive an invitation, please go to umw.edu/inauguration and enter your email address or call 540/654-1087. … [Read more...]
Great Lives Renamed for William B. Crawley
The Great Lives lecture series returns beginning Jan. 24, 2017, with a new name. Originally called the Chappell Lecture Series, reflecting the instrumental role of John Chappell and his family in providing the initial endowment and continuing support for the program, it will be called the William B. Crawley Lecture Series. The name reflects the crucial role played by the distinguished professor emeritus of history who created the series in 2004 and has since served as its director. Chappell initiated the change. “We have long recognized Bill [Crawley] as the architect of the success of Great Lives, and we are grateful,” he said. The 2017 lineup will feature diverse personalities from ancient to modern times and wide-ranging fields of accomplishment. Many of the speakers are the pre-eminent authorities on their subjects, and a number have won Pulitzer Prizes. Harvard historian and Guggenheim Fellowship recipient Annette Gordon-Reed, author of the Pulitzer … [Read more...]
Track Up and Running
UMW dedicated its state-of-the-art track and field facility at the Battleground Athletic Complex in October, after a yearlong improvement project. The updated facility features an eight-lane track with dual straightaways to accommodate sprints and hurdles. The home straightaway features long- and triple-jump runways with sand pits. The back straightaway features a pole-vault runway with landing pads at each end, to manage changes in wind direction. There’s a steeplechase pit inside the first turn. The grass infield has a hammer and discus cage and a dedicated shot put area. A javelin runway is nearby. The track has a top-quality synthetic surface in blue, with gray accents. UMW will use the facility for practice and competition and will host the Capital Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships in April 2017. … [Read more...]
Men’s Varsity Golf Arrives at UMW
With this fall’s launch of a men’s varsity golf program, UMW has added its first new sport since 1998. Men’s head coach Rodrick Wood and assistant Sam Oglesby took their team of 10 freshmen and one transfer student to five tournaments this fall. The spring season will run from February into April. The team plays and practices at Augustine Golf Club in Stafford County. UMW will add women’s varsity golf for the 2017-18 academic year, with alumna and former basketball All-American Katie Wimmer ’12 as head coach. “Men’s golf is our 22nd sport, and women’s golf will become our 23rd next fall, which puts us among the top NCAA institutions in terms of sports sponsored,” said Ken Tyler, director of UMW athletics. Wood is director of athletic facilities and the former UMW men’s basketball coach. Oglesby has 15 years’ experience in golf instruction and numerous golfing certifications. … [Read more...]