Monday, September 26 marks the beginning of inauguration week, themed “Engaging Minds. Serving the World,” to celebrate the inauguration of President Richard Hurley.
The week of festivities kicks off with “Partners in Prosperity for the Rappahannock Region,” an economic development conference for the business community. The conference, featuring Eugene P. Trani, former president of Virginia Commonwealth University, and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, will take place Monday from 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Stafford campus.
The week continues with Karl Rove’s presentation at the Fredericksburg Forum on Wednesday at 8 p.m. in George Washington Hall’s Dodd Auditorium. Tickets for faculty, staff and students are $15, limit two, and are available at www.umw.edu/forum or (540) 654-1065.
Thursday will offer multiple activities, including the “Serving the World” service activity with Habitat for Humanity and two discussion sessions. The service activity, which will involve members of the UMW community building tables and a shed, will take place from 2 – 6 p.m. on Ball Circle and will include a barbeque. “Engaging Minds: The Legacy and Future of the Stafford Campus” will feature the accomplishments of graduates from the Stafford campus during a session from 6 – 8 p.m. in University Hall at the Stafford campus. From 5 – 7 p.m. in Lee Hall, “Engaging Minds: Teaching, Service Learning and Research” will include discussions about innovative teaching, undergraduate research and study abroad, and faculty-directed service learning activities.
The culmination of inauguration week is the Presidential Installation Ceremony on Friday. The ceremony is from 3 – 4:30 p.m. in Dodd Auditorium, followed by a reception. Tickets are required and may be reserved at http://inauguration.umw.edu/events/installation-ceremony.
On Saturday, nearly 100 student volunteers will participate in COAR’s “Into the Streets” day of service. COAR will pair volunteers with eight organizations throughout the Fredericksburg area, including Tree Fredericksburg, Habitat for Humanity and the Thurman Brisben Center as an extension of President Hurley’s call to service.
For a complete list of events and more information, visit the inauguration website at http://inauguration.umw.edu.
About Brynn Boyer