April 19, 2024

UMW Students Give Back During Spring Break

March 8, 2012 by

Students in Tennessee help clean up debris after a tornado

This week, 51 UMW students are spending Spring Break helping others. The Community Outreach and Resources (COAR) team organized three alternative spring break trips, in Wilmington, N.C., Avery County, N.C., and Cookeville, Tenn., from March 3 through 11. At each location, students are working on Habitat for Humanity projects.

When the rash of tornadoes tore through the Tennessee Valley almost a week ago, the Cookeville group made their way to Overton County, Tenn., a small community just south of the Kentucky border.

In Overton, the students are working with residents to clear debris and sort donations, and are sharing their experiences along the way: http://wearehardcoar.tumblr.com/.

One student took this stark photo of the destruction and captioned it “we were so thankful to have the opportunity to help.”

All three groups will make the trip back to Virginia on Sunday.

“Spring Break is one of my favorite weeks of the year since I get to spend the entire week doing hands-on service with such civic minded students,” Christina Eggenberger, director of service, said.  “The students learn practical skills but more importantly they help and learn about people in need. It is a transformative experience for all involved.”

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“Is the Arab Spring Women’s Winter?” Symposium

March 1, 2012 by

A one-day symposium will be held at UMW on fundamentalism and women’s rights in Islam.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012
The Great Hall 9:00-5:00

PANELISTS
Farzaneh Davari – Women’s rights activist on Gender Perspective of Transition to Democracy
Yvonne Haddady – Professor of History at Georgetown University
Sheerin Hunter – Director of the Reformist Islam Project at Georgetown University
Mark Perry – Director of the Washington, D.C., London, and Beirut-based Conflicts Forum on Democracy
Sharifeh Zuhur – Scholar of Middle Eastern History, Institute of Middle Eastern, Islamic, and Strategic Studies

Sponsored by the following departments: Campus Academic Resource Committee, Geography, James Farmer Multicultural Center, Leidecker Center for Asian Studies, The Office of Student Life, Political Science and International Affairs, Sociology and Anthropology, and Women’s and Gender Studies

Questions? contact safsous@mail.umw.edu

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Student Wins English Department Scholarship for Creative Writing

January 25, 2012 by

Helen Alston of Charlottesville, Va., has been selected to receive the Barbara Thomas Phillips Creative Writing Scholarship for the spring semester of 2012 at UMW. The scholarship is awarded annually to a junior or senior exhibiting excellence in writing.

A senior majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing, Alston is poetry editor of the Aubade, the university’s biannual literary magazine. She also is president of the UMW Hand Percussion Club and a tutor at the Fredericksburg campus Writing Center. Alston has been an orientation leader and has been named to the Dean’s List.

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Mathematics Students Present at Regional Meeting

December 7, 2011 by

Three UMW students presented results of their research projects at the fall regional meeting of the Mathematical Association of America held at Christopher Newport University in November.  Catherine O’Doherty presented “Explanation of the Matrix Exponential,” a work based on her project under the direction of Dr. Julius Esunge.  Ryan Vaughn’s presentation, titled “On the Contractibility of Finite coH-Spaces” extends his work with Dr. Randall Helmstutler which began during the Summer Science Institute of 2011.  Finally, Kelly Scott presented “Anti-Blocking Sets” based on her honors project currently in progress under the direction of Dr. Keith Mellinger.

Filed Under: Professional Notes, Students Tagged With: , , , ,

Jewish Cultural Awareness Week

November 7, 2011 by

The basic understanding of the Jewish culture is a mix of both Jewish law and Jewish traditions. The traditions keep the Jewish people united while the laws keep the Jewish people steeped in history. Today the line between these two important aspects has been blurred, and laws and traditions have become one and the same. It is important to understand the differences between the two and how these differences make the Jewish culture what it is today. Please join the Jewish Student Association and the James Farmer Multicultural Center in this two week celebration highlighting the laws and traditions of Jewish culture.

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Israeli Folk Dancing
November 7
Lee Hall 411, 4 – 5:30 p.m.

To celebrate Jewish culture, join the Jewish Student Association for a night of traditional dancing. There will be a mix of traditional and modern dances. These dances are easy to learn and there is no skill level needed. Join us in this fun and meaningful cultural tradition that spans the generations.

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Riding Into The West:
Jewish Life Across America
November 9
Lee Hall 412, 6 – 9 p.m.

The Frisco Kid is a film about a Polish rabbi who wanders through the Old West on his way to lead a synagogue in San Francisco. On the way he is nearly burnt at the stake by Indians and almost killed by outlaws. Please join the Jewish Student Association for the showing of the film and a discussion directly following the movie.

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Trivia Judaica
November 10
Underground, 8 p.m.

Think you know a lot about the J in JSA? Come out to trivia to see how much you really know about Jewish holidays, food, pop culture, religion and Israel. Play alone or with a group of friends.
Co-hosted by UPC.

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Laws Meet Jewish Life
November 15
Red Room, 6:30 – 9 p.m.

Jewish Student Association/Hillel are pleased to present Dr. Emile Lester from the Department of Political Science and International Affairs, who will be giving a lecture and discussion on the topic of Judaism and the United States Government. The topics that will be discussed during the presentation will range from Israel, social issues, economic issues, the influence of Judaism on the domestic and foreign policies of the United States, and the influence of Judaism historically and currently on the United States government.

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Jewish Cultural Celebration
Keynote Speaker:
Roya Hakakian
November 16
Great Hall, Woodard Campus Center, 7 p.m.

 

Celebrated poet and filmmaker Roya Hakakian is passionate about raising awareness of today’s human rights issues, many of which are overlooked. A founding member of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center and a fellow at Yale’s Whitney Humanities Center, Hakakian has written Journey from the Land of No, an account of her life growing up as a Jewish teenager in post-revolutionary Iran.

 

 

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Shabbat Dinner:

A Traditional Weekly Feast
November 18
Faculty/Staff Dining Room,
Seacobeck Hall, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Students – 1 meal + $4,
Non-students – $10

The Sabbath is the day of rest for the Jewish community that begins at sundown on Friday and continues until three stars appear in the sky on Saturday night. During this time Jews abstain from labor of any kind and spend the day with families and friends. Traditionally, Jewish families commence the Sabbath with Shabbat dinner on Friday night. Come and enjoy a traditional Shabbat dinner and learn more about this weekly tradition.

 

 

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UMW Student Wins Scholarship From Geospatial Intelligence Foundation

September 7, 2011 by

Fredericksburg, Va. – University of Mary Washington senior Morgan Lamon is one of only five undergraduate students selected to the 2011 U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) Scholarship Program.

Lamon, who received a $5,000 USGIF scholarship, joins 19 other winners from high schools, undergraduate programs and graduate programs across the country. USGIF is a nonprofit educational foundation dedicated to promoting the geospatial intelligence field.
Scholarship recipients were chosen based on their academic and professional excellence in a field related to geospatial intelligence. Qualified candidates were selected by USGIF’s scholarship subcommittee.

Lamon, a geography major with a certificate in GIS, is a member of the varsity softball team. This spring, she was named to the 2011 All-Capital Athletic Conference Softball Team. Lamon, daughter of Bob Lamon and Hannah Cafferty, is a 2008 graduate of Oakton High School.

The University of Mary Washington is a premier, selective public liberal arts and sciences university in Virginia, highly respected for its commitment to academic excellence, strong undergraduate liberal arts and sciences program, and dedication to life-long learning. The university, with a total enrollment of nearly 5,000, features colleges of business, education and arts and sciences, and three campuses, including a residential campus in Fredericksburg, Va., a second one in nearby Stafford and a third under construction in Dahlgren, Va., which will be a center of development of educational and research partnerships between the Navy, higher education institutions and the region’s employers.

Filed Under: Students, UMW News
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