UMW women’s soccer team

The UMW women’s soccer team capped a standout postseason with its first trip to the NCAA national quarterfinals since 2004. The Eagles advanced through a challenging tournament field, defeating No. 20 Vassar in the opening round, edging No. 10 Williams on penalty kicks, and topping Penn State–Harrisburg in the Sweet Sixteen to earn a place in the Elite Eight. Their postseason run ended in a hard-fought 1–0 overtime loss to No. 3 Tufts, but the team finished the season 14–4–5 with three ranked wins, 16 shutouts, and several program milestones. It marks one of the strongest seasons in UMW women’s soccer history and a promising foundation for the years ahead. Learn more about Eagles women’s soccer. 

Join celebrated floral consultant Jan Williams for an inspiring holiday decoration demonstration using local evergreens and flora, a highlight of Fredericksburg’s holiday celebrations. This event, sponsored by The James Monroe Museum, will be held at the Hurley Convergence Center, Digital Auditorium and is a ticketed event. Learn more and purchase tickets for this event. See more details on the event’s Facebook page.

Our University’s hometown of Fredericksburg will play host to a favorite holiday tradition, the Christmas Parade, this weekend, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. Guests can border the sidewalks of downtown Fredericksburg to enjoy watching over-75 groups who are participating. Parking restrictions and road closures begin at 2 p.m.

Sometimes just being the last one standing is all the magic you need to succeed. But how do you keep going when self-doubt holds you back. Let’s talk about the forms that self-doubt takes and some of the ways you can overcome those little voices that tell you you can’t…and make room for the voices that know you can. Share, learn and grow from other professionals in the Fredericksburg area at December’s Coffee Talk, led by Joy Crump, Owner, Foode & 718 Venue.

Coffee Talk: Empowerment by Outlasting Your Self-Doubt
December 9
8 – 9 a.m.
718 Venue in Fredericksburg

Learn more, and register for the December Coffee Talk.

UMW Faculty and Staff,

President Troy Paino and Kelly Paino invite you and a guest to the annual Holiday Gathering, in celebration of UMW employees. Join us Friday, December 12, at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center from 5 to 7 p.m.

Please respond by December 9 via the online form if you will attend.

This year, we also invite you to bring a donation for the Gwen Hale Resource Center on campus, as we help restock some everyday essentials. Please bring a new toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, etc., and we’ll keep the smiles going long after the event.

In addition, your family is invited on Saturday, December 13, to share a holiday moment and kids’ wish lists with Santa at Brompton from 4-6 p.m. Each family will have 3-5 minutes with Santa. Be sure to bring your personal camera to capture family photos.

Sign up for a Santa Visit using this link by Thursday, December 11.

The Jepson Alumni Executive Center is located on Hanover Street. Brompton is located at 704 Sunken Road, with street parking available on Hanover Street or parking in the Tennis Center or Jepson Alumni Executive Center.

Please email Executive Director of Events Susan Worrell at sworrell@umw.edu with any questions.

Register for a visit with Santa at Brompton!

Santa Claus has a few spots still available for a festive visit at Brompton on Saturday, Dec. 13 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Each family will have up to 5 minutes to share holiday wishes and snap photos, so be sure to bring your personal camera to capture the moment!

Advanced registration is required. Please sign up for a visit with Santa by Thursday, Dec. 11.

Learn more and register for a Santa Visit!

Kwanzaa Celebration
Wednesday, Dec. 3
6 p.m.
Chandler Ballroom, Cedric Rucker University Center
Co-sponsored by the Black Student Association and James Farmer Multicultural Center

As a means of unifying the African and African-American communities, Dr. Maulana Karenga established Kwanzaa, a non-religious holiday celebrating and honoring African culture and heritage throughout the world.  A seven-day celebration, Kwanzaa features candle lighting, pouring of libations, and the culminating feast and gift giving.  Please join us as we partake in the activities and rituals of Kwanzaa and enjoy a feast together.

At the University of Mary Washington, we believe in the transformative power of education. We envision a world where knowledge knows no bounds, ideas flourish, where every individual has the opportunity to realize their full potential, and possibilities are endless.

With your gift this Giving Tuesday, December 2, you are helping nurture curious minds, foster critical thinking, and prepare students to navigate an interconnected world with empathy and insight.

We are excited to offer these special ways to celebrate your generosity this Giving Tuesday—you will be prompted for each on the giving form:

• Name a Squirrel: Give $19.08 or more to the Fund for Mary Washington to name a campus squirrel and receive a digital certificate.
• Send Hugs & Kisses (family members of current UMW students only): Include a note of encouragement to your student with your gift, and they will receive your note with Hershey’s Hugs & Kisses for a sweet pick-me-up during finals week, along with access to a curated Spotify playlist, perfect for studying.

Thank you for helping #MakeItPossibleUMW this #GivingTuesday. Learn more, or make a donation, on Giving Tuesday.

Goats from The Good Steward Farm provide sustainable brush clearing options for properties of all sizes.

This fall, UMW has welcomed a herd of goats from The Good Steward Farm to campus to clear overgrown areas in the woods along Sunken Road on the Fredericksburg Campus. About a dozen goats begin work on campus Nov. 12 to assist with the removal of invasive plant species and ready the grounds for winter, so that native plants can grow in the spring.

These goats also worked in the City of Fredericksburg at Old Mill Park and are skilled at reaching hard to landscape areas on the hillside, offering an environmentally-friendly landscape management practice that reduces the need for herbicide or gas-powered equipment.

These are working goats and should not be fed or touched. Viewing areas will be available around the perimeter of their grazing area, which is secured by electric fencing. Please do not come into contact with the fence or the goats. Goat care will be provided by The Good Steward Farm, with contact information and more details about the goats posted at their work sites.

If you have questions about this project, please contact Director of Landscape and Grounds Holly Chichester-Morby at hchiches@umw.edu.