Cate Brewer, visiting instructor of theatre and dance, recently filmed an episode of “Twisted Fate,” formerly known as “The Day That Changed My Life,” to air on Lifetime Networks this fall. People who have encountered dramatic incidents, from accidents to miracles, are at the focus of the six-part, one-hour series.
Mathematics Student Wins Award at Regional Conference
UMW mathematics major Kathryn Dillinger won second place for her poster presentation at the Shenandoah Undergraduate Mathematics and Statistics (SUMS) conference held at James Madison University on Saturday, October 29. Her poster, titled Profiting with Options Using the Black-Scholes Equation, details her work completed during the Summer Science Institute of 2011 under the guidance of Dr. Leo Lee.
UMW Announces Nomination Process for James Farmer Lecture
The University of Mary Washington has announced important changes to the James Farmer Lecture, a program that has honored the legacy of former UMW professor James Farmer for the past decade. The popular address will be continued as an annual lecture presented by a leader in the areas of civil rights and social justice. As a way to recognize the role Farmer played in enriching the intellectual life of Mary Washington, the lecture will be held every fall on the Fredericksburg campus starting next year.
In addition, nominations will be open to the community. The lecturer chosen will be a person whose work exemplifies Farmer’s qualities and traits through his or her contributions to civil rights and social justice as an activist, scholar, public official or professional.
Join JMM on November 4 for “Founding Gardeners” with Andrea Wulf
The James Monroe Museum and the Fredericksburg Area Museum are pleased to present a talk by Andrea Wulf, author of the recent New York Times best-seller Founding Gardeners, on Friday, November 4, at 7 p.m. at the Area Museum!
For the Founding Fathers, gardening, botany, and agriculture were elemental passions, as deeply ingrained in their characters as their belief in liberty for the nation they were creating. Wulf’s talk will offer a fascinating look at the revolutionary generation from the unique and intimate perspective of their lives as gardeners and farmers. A book-signing will follow.
Tickets are $12 ($10 for Friends of JMM) and can be purchased by calling Adele Uphaus-Conner at x1123 or e-mailing auphaus@umw.edu. Find out more about Andrea Wulf and the book at her website.
Additional support for this program comes from Ron Singleton, Roxbury Farm and Garden Center, the Ann Page Garden Club, and the Rappahannock Area Master Gardeners Association.
UMW Athletics Hosts Special Olympics Fun Run; Helps Raise Over $5,000
The University of Mary Washington athletic department co-hosted the first annual Run with the Law 5K and Special Olympics fun run on Saturday, October 22 with the Fredericksburg City Police. The races raised over $5,000 for Special Olympics Virginia, and more than 350 UMW student-athletes provided support for the fun run by lining the course and cheering for the runners.
“I was truly blown away by the support of the UMW athletes”, said Carrie Dyer, the Director of Development for Special Olympics Virginia. “I know our athletes felt extra special with all those fans cheering them on… Truly spectacular.” Several UMW athletes also accompanied some of the 75 competitors throughout the race.
The day began with a 5K run, followed by comments from UMW President Richard V. Hurley. The final event was the fun run, which began at the William M. Anderson Center and stretched to the Campus Bell Tower and turned back across campus to the starting point. The Student Athlete Advisory Council provided UMW athletes with t-shirts, lining the course and providing support.
“The 5k race for the Special Olympics and one mile ‘fun run’ helped raise over $5,000 dollars for the Special Olympics,” said UMW men’s basketball coach Rod Wood, who helped organize the event. “That pales in comparison to the reward our athletes, coaches, and UMW community received from the special friends we met, encouraged, and shared with on Saturday. This will be a life-long memory for all of us. It really puts in perspective what we do and what we, as a community, can do. We changed lives this weekend, mostly ours. It was a powerful day and something I hope we can continue for years to come.”
COAR’s Pumpkin Palooza is Sunday
Bring your little monsters and join us for C.O.A.R.’s annual Pumpkin Palooza this Sunday, October 30th from 1-4pm. We will have more than 20 crafts and games for kids of all ages. We will also be sending out “tours” to trick-or-treat around dorms on campus. Costumes are strongly encouraged! The event is free of charge. Please direct any questions to coarumw@gmail.com.
Dr. Cliff Edwards to Present Lecture on Vincent van Gogh
Join the UMW Galleries for “Mysteries of The Night Café: Hidden Key to the Spirituality of Vincent Van Gogh,” presented in conjunction with the traveling exhibition Van Gogh, Lichtenstein, Whistler: Masterpieces of World Art from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The lecture will be held on Sunday, October 30 at 2 p.m. inside Combs Hall, Room 139. Admission is free. However, pre-registration is required to ensure proper seating.
Dr. Cliff Edwards, professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, explores the spirituality of one of the world’s most beloved artists, Vincent Van Gogh, through one of Western art’s most mysterious paintings, The Night Café. Enter the imagination of Van Gogh through the books he read, the art he admired, and the people with whom he identified, and arrive at startling conclusions that include a new and deeply spiritual understanding of a café after midnight and the “night prowlers” who inhabit it.
Please call the Galleries at (540) 654-1013 or e-mail Justine Geiger, Visitor Services Coordinator, at jgeiger@umw.edu to reserve your seats.
This program has been organized by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and is supported by the Paul Mellon Endowment.
W. Brown Morton III Elected Vice-Chair of Loudoun Heritage Commission
W. Brown Morton III, UMW professor emeritus, has been elected Vice-Chair of the recently formed Loudoun Heritage Commission, a body created by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors to address matters of natural and cultural heritage in Loudoun County.
Brown Morton will also present a paper, “Beyond History: Success and Failure in Historic Preservation,” on Friday, October 28 at the Master Builder Dialogues: Preserving America presented by The Carpenters’ Company of the City and County of Philadelphia in collaboration with Drexel University and the National Park Service.
2011 Electroacoustic Barn Dance
The Department of Music at the University of Mary Washington is pleased to host the First Annual Electroacoustic Barn Dance, a three-day festival of electronic music and art, to be held Thursday, October 27 to Saturday, October 29 on the campus of UMW and Eyeclopes Gallery, 624 Charlotte Street in Fredericksburg.
This year’s festival will feature the works of 58 composers and 21 performers from across the U.S. and Great Britain, including nine students from the UMW electronic music class.
The schedule of concerts is as follows:
Concert I 10-27 8PM @ Pollard 304 Recital Hall
Concert II 10-28 11AM @ Pollard 304 Recital Hall
Concert III 10-28 2PM @ Pollard 304 Recital Hall
Paper Session I 10-28 3:30 PM @ duPont 207
Concert IV 10-28 4:30PM @ Pollard 304 Recital Hall
Concert V 10-28 8:30PM @ Eyeclopes Gallery – 624 Charlotte Street
Concert VI 10-29 11AM @ Pollard 304 Recital Hall
Paper Session II 10-29 2PM @ Pollard 213
Concert VII 10-29 3PM @ Pollard 304 Recital Hall
Paper Session III 10-29 4:30PM @ Pollard 213
Concert VIII 10-29 8PM @ Pollard 304 Recital Hall
For more information, visit http://www.eajj.org or call (540) 654-1012.
2nd Annual Literacy Coaching Symposium
Dr. Tamie Pratt-Fartro, College of Education Assistant Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, is hosting the 2nd annual Literacy Coaching Symposium titled Literacy Leadership for 21st Century Learning on October 26 in University Hall at the Stafford campus. This event is of special interest to all practicing literacy/reading coaches, reading specialists, administrators, instructional coordinators, and anyone who works directly with teachers on literacy issues.
For more information, visit http://education.umw.edu/blog/2011/09/literacy-coaching-symposium.