Author: Brynn Boyer

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the university’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, has been named President-Elect of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society. Nine UMW students have won national writing awards from the 600-chapter honor society, more than any other university in the nation. More than half of those UMW students were recognized for papers written in Farnsworth’s Research and Writing class or for honors projects that he directed. Farnsworth has served for eight years as a member of the honor society’s national executive council.

Robert Rycroft, professor of economics, will speak at “The Changing Face of Philanthropy” workshop on Thursday, Jan. 24. The workshop, presented by the Cultural Alliance of Greater Hampton Roads, will explore new fundraising techniques and strategies as well as ways to engage the newest generation of philanthropists. The workshop will take place at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia Beach from 10 a.m. to noon and at the Downing Gross Cultural Arts Center in Newport News from 3 to 5 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.culturalli.org/changefacephil.html.

Gwendolyn Hale, Writing Center Director and Writing Program Director, and junior Ethan Bottone received the Southeastern Writing Center Association’s Christine Cozzens Research Grant and Initiative Award. They received the award for their project “Virginia is for Writers,” which is designed to begin multiple high school-university writing center collaborations throughout the state. Bottone is a geography and biology double major and a peer tutor at the Writing Center at the Fredericksburg campus.

Jennifer Henderson, a 1994 UMW alumna and a professional tutor in the Writing Center at the Stafford campus, is the recipient of the 2013 SWCA Professional Tutor Award.

For members of the University of Mary Washington club rugby team, Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend was all about community service. The players painted porches, spread mulch and cleaned up properties for Empowerhouse, formerly known as the Rappahannock Council on Domestic Violence. The team plans for another service day in April.

“UMW Rugby Team Sponsors Annual Service Project” in The Free Lance-Star on Saturday, Jan. 19

Eric Knapp paints a porch for Empowerhouse. His shirt reflects the team’s nickname — Mother’s Rugby

Mike Wehr (center) takes a break from painting to talk with members of the team

Tyler Barnikel

The team spent the weekend at Empowerhouse’s new residence in downtown Fredericksburg and at its public outreach office on Harrison Road

Christophe Perdu, a member of the UMW rugby team, painted a railing at Empowerhouse’s new location

Photos by Kimmie Barkley ’14