The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) awarded its prestigious international Grand Gold Circle of Excellence Award to UMW for its commemoration of James Farmer and the 1961 Freedom Rides. UMW received the top award in the special events category and was one of only 19 institutions to win the Grand Gold designation for exceptional work. “Nothing has made me prouder,” President Richard V. Hurley said. “In the marking of an event that changed the course of history, I’m thrilled that the rest of the world now recognizes what I long have believed: The University of Mary Washington mounted the greatest tribute possible to James Farmer and the Freedom Rides.” In February 2011, UMW launched one of the most comprehensive institution-wide projects in its history to honor the legacy of the late James Farmer. The UMW professor emeritus of history was the architect of the 1961 Freedom Ride campaign that led to the desegregation of public interstate transportation in … [Read more...]

Four members of the University of Mary Washington Debate Team competed in the National Debate Tournament at Atlanta’s Emory University in early spring. The event featured 78 teams this year, all chosen based on a competitive qualification process. Mary Washington finished 23rd overall. The UMW debaters worked through parts of summer, winter, and spring breaks, researching topics, practicing speeches, and formulating arguments in anticipation of the qualifying and national tournaments. The extra effort paid off. Patrick McCleary ’14 of Shrewsbury, Pa., and Colin McElhinny ’14 of Erie, Pa., qualified for the second consecutive year; they placed second in the District 7 qualifying tournament hosted by Mary Washington in February. Peter Susko ’12 of Erie and Thomas Pacheco ’14 of Baltimore finished eighth in the qualifying tournament, securing the district’s final spot for the national competition. Susko had qualified for the event in previous years. In 2010, he and former … [Read more...]

Two recent UMW graduates, Eric Halsey ’11 and Peter Wingrove ’11, have been selected to receive U.S. Fulbright grants for 2012-2013. The UMW Fulbright committee is “extremely proud of Eric and Peter’s accomplishments,” Nabil Al-Tikriti, associate professor of history and UMW Fulbright adviser, said of the two Herndon, Va., natives. “Mary Washington has now had eight winners in the past five years and looks forward to more in the future.” Halsey, who majored in history and political science, will study nationalism theory and Balkan history at Sofia University in Bulgaria. He will research Alexander Stamboliiski’s governmental policies, which were a unique type of trans-ethnic and linguistic nationalism. He also will take intensive Bulgarian language courses. While at Mary Washington, Halsey interned at Genocide Watch and was a visiting student at the American University of Bulgaria in 2009-2010. After his Fulbright year, he plans to pursue a doctorate in history. Wingrove … [Read more...]

UMW benefited from a rained-out Kenny Rogers concert. The country music great was scheduled to play an outdoor gig in Fredericksburg last September. At the last minute, it was called off due to rain. Organizers vowed to honor all tickets, and they took advantage of a great new Fredericksburg venue – the University’s William M. Anderson Center. The concert was rescheduled for seven months later. On April 21, both the UMW Philharmonic and the Anderson Center showed off their attributes when Kenny Rogers joined the UMW William M. Anderson Celebrity Series. The evening began with the 85-member ensemble playing a set of patriotic tunes, concluding with Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the USA. Then Rogers, who at 73 is as engaging as ever, entertained the crowd of nearly 2,000 with one-liners and familiar hits, including The Gambler, Lucille, Islands in the Stream, Lady, and We’ve Got Tonight, most of them to the philharmonic’s rich accompaniment. The 2013 Celebrity Concert will … [Read more...]

This spring Ian D.C. Newbould, who holds a doctorate in history from the University of Manchester, was named interim provost of the University of Mary Washington. Most recently, he served as president of Richmond, the American International University in London, U.K., from 2008 to 2011. Newbould joined UMW April 16 and will serve through the 2012-2013 academic year as the chief academic officer overseeing faculty matters and academic programs, planning, and budgets. Working with deans and faculty, the provost leads major university initiatives in teaching, research, and creative activities and has responsibility for all university educational and academic policies. Newbould’s career in higher education spans more than 30 years and includes presidencies at three institutions. President Richard V. Hurley described Newbould as “an accomplished educator and administrator whose breadth of experience and international expertise will help bolster our academic programs and commitment … [Read more...]

Thanks to the volunteer efforts of the more than 500 students in UMW’s Community Outreach and Resources (COAR), the University made the (U.S.) President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the third year in a row. The distinction recognizes colleges and universities for engaging students, faculty, and staff in volunteer efforts that have a significant effect on the surrounding community. COAR members donated nearly 7,000 hours of work and made an economic impact of more than $145,000 for Fredericksburg-area agencies, schools, and hospitals during the 2010-2011 academic year. UMW COAR works outside the community, too. During spring break in March, it sent 51 students to Wilmington and Avery County, N.C., and to Cookeville, Tenn., to work with Habitat for Humanity. The Community Service Honor Roll award is presented by the Corporation for National and Community Service in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban … [Read more...]

International affairs major Callie Kyhl ’12 was named first runner-up for best civilian paper in the Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference (NAFAC) national essay contest. Her winning paper was titled U.S.-China Competition in the South China Sea: A U.S. “Eclipsed” or “Resurgent.” Jack Kramer, UMW distinguished professor of political science and international affairs, worked with Kyhl on the semester-long independent study for which she wrote the essay. “This is a truly outstanding and very well-deserved achievement on Callie’s part,” Kramer said. “It is also a testimonial to the outstanding education Callie has received at UMW, where faculty and students routinely work closely together.” Kyhl is a paralegal for Livesay & Myers in Manassas, Va., and she once held a seat on the Remington Town Council. A member of Phi Beta Kappa and the UMW Pre-Law Society, she hopes to complete Virginia’s Law Reader Program and become a licensed attorney. Held in April, NAFAC is the … [Read more...]

UMW Foundation’s five-story Hyatt Place hotel project will be the first to benefit from the Virginia Tourism Development Financing project, announced in June by Gov. Bob McDonnell. Construction began in July on the building situated between Giant Food and the Eagle Village Executive Offices. The 66,500-square-foot hotel will include 93 rooms or suites, conference rooms, an indoor pool, and a fitness center. The City of Fredericksburg and Fredericksburg Economic Development Authority are supporting partners in the hotel, which should open by fall 2013. … [Read more...]

Business leader Thomas P. Nerney and education leader Princess Moss ’83 each spent a day in residence at the University of Mary Washington this spring semester. Nerney, UMW 2012 Executive- in-Residence, believes business is about putting the heart first, keeping a clear focus on the people in the organization, and emphasizing company culture. The chair, president, and chief executive officer of United States Liability Insurance Group spoke to nearly 100 regional business leaders and community members on March 23 at the Executive-in-Residence event. The College of Business and the Division of Advancement and University Relations coordinate the program, which was established in 1989. Moss, UMW 2012 Educator-in- Residence, is on the front lines fighting for today’s teachers. The one-time member of the UMW Board of Visitors discussed this struggle in May at the second annual Educator-in-Residence event, sponsored by the UMW College of Education. Moss, who serves as president … [Read more...]