March 29, 2024

Day at the Museum

Reproductions of human skulls surround Grace Rihl as she enters the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History exhibit clutching a notebook and list of 20 questions. The UMW freshman ponders the first question on the list: “When did modern humans evolve?” She surveys her surroundings, then scours the David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins for clues.

Searching among the descriptions that accompany the glass-enclosed skulls and fossils, she spies the answer. “200,000 years ago,” and scribbles in her notebook.

Day at the Museum

Freshman Seminar Explores Links between Men and other Mammals

UMW Unveils First-Ever TV Commercial

The University of Mary Washington’s great minds are everywhere – online, in newspaper ads, and on mall displays, billboards and bus wraps.

Now, UMW’s first-ever TV commercial is here!

Catch us through the end of the year in two of our top target areas, Richmond and Hampton Roads. The 26-second production airs on ABC Family, AMC, Comedy Central, FX, NBC, MTV, Nick, TruTV and VH1. We’ve even scored spots on ESPN’s Monday Night Football and on Entertainment Tonight.

A Colorado director, Maine cinematographers and UMW’s own Broadway makeup artist Madeline LeCuyer ’11 hauled lights, cameras and more to the Hurley Convergence Center’s digital auditorium for the end-of-summer filming.

The eight student stars returned to the center Sept. 31, walking the red carpet to a special premiere showing. UMW VIPs, including CFO Rick Pearce, Vice President of Advancement and University Relations Torre Meringolo and President Hurley, himself, also attended. The official review? Two thumbs up!

See for yourself at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN47oNPK1QE.

Student Success Coordinator to Star in Independent Film

Brian Strecker, student success coordinator for Academic and Career Services, will play a role in an independent film set to hit theaters this fall called “The North Star.”

The film describes two slaves who escape from a Virginia plantation in the mid 1800s. Strecker plays a store owner named Jeremiah Daniels who is involved in two pivotal scenes in the film.

The film was shown in Wilmington, Del. on Friday, Sept. 18, and in the Philadelphia area on Saturday, Sept. 19. It is set to appear in limited theaters in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C. and Miami later this fall.

Strecker has previously acted in a short film and a full-length film, both dealing with the Civil War. He started acting and auditioning for roles in 1994, but only pursues acting part-time.

According to Strecker, the film deals with slavery, a difficult subject to watch. However, Strecker hopes that the film will drive viewers to action in breaking racial barriers that exist today.

“I…hope that viewers are provoked to reflect that many stories of oppression have existed in world history, and are still a reality today. While the faces, circumstances, and severity of experiences will vary, perhaps what all of these experiences share in common is the struggle to enjoy the freedom to live together in peace and dignity,” Strecker said.

UMW’s Disability Awareness Month features U.S. Paralympic Athlete

Paralympic athlete Dalton Herendeen will share his story of perseverance to kick off the University of Mary Washington’s inaugural Disability Awareness Month this October. His public lecture at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7 in Dodd Auditorium of George Washington Hall will be among a series of events designed to bring awareness to numerous individuals who […]

Unused Medication Disposal, Sept. 26

The UMW Police Department will organize a drop-off for unused drugs, called “Operation Medicine Cabinet,” at the Bell Tower on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event allows anyone to dispose of unused medicine in a way that is environmentally safe. For additional information, contact Brad Sullivan, 1st Sergeant for University Police, at (540) 654-1025 and bsulliv2@umw.edu.

Volunteers Needed for Phone-a-thons

The University of Mary Washington’s Office of Admissions will need 30 to 50 volunteers for several phone-a-thons this fall. The phone-a-thons will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with the first event taking place Tuesday, Sept. 29.

Volunteers will make calls to  students who have inquired about UMW and/or to confirm receipt of their UMW view book. The volunteers will also remind prospective students of important next steps towards enrollment, such as upcoming application deadlines. Training will begin at 5 p.m., and phone calls will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The dates for the rest of the phone-a-thons are below:

Wednesday, Sept. 30

Monday, Oct. 12

Tuesday, Oct. 13

The phone-a-thons will take place in the Admissions conference room in Lee Hall.  Refreshments will be provided.

For additional information and registration, contact Melissa Yakabouski, director of undergraduate admissions, at myak@umw.edu.

McClurken’s Interview with “Good Reason” to Re-Air Sept. 12

Professor of History Jeffrey McClurken’s interview with radio program “With Good Reason” will be featured a second time from Saturday, Sept. 12 to Friday, Sept. 18. The interview, called  “Gone With the Wind, The Patriot, Born on the Fourth of July,” discusses what viewers can learn about history through how popular historical films are produced, even when the films themselves are often historically inaccurate. The interview first aired Dec. 13-19. Broadcast times can be found here.

UMW Launches New Civility Series, The Hunting Ground Screenings

The University of Mary Washington will begin a new series of forums on Thursday, Sept. 10 exploring social issues that have been subjects of campus and nationwide debate among college-aged students and adults. Issues covered in the year-long series“One Campus, One Community” include diversity, feminism, cultural intolerance and what it means to be civil during […]

UMW Launches New Civility Series, The Hunting Ground Screenings

The University of Mary Washington will begin a new series of forums on Thursday, Sept. 10 exploring social issues that have been subjects of campus and nationwide debate among college-aged students and adults. Issues covered in the year-long series“One Campus, One Community” include diversity, feminism, cultural intolerance and what it means to be civil during […]