Help promote the Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, Sunday, May 25 through Saturday, May 31. People can stock up on many supplies that will be useful during emergencies and pay no sales tax on them. New for 2014 – gas-powered chainsaws costing less than $350 and chainsaw accessories costing $60 or less are tax exempt. See www.ReadyVirginia.gov for more information and resources to promote the tax holiday, including a flier listing the tax-exempt items.
Salut, Balti: How One Peace Corps Volunteer is Helping Her Community Rethink Volunteering
Leah Kieff ’11 is participating in an initiative in Balti, Moldova as a Peace Corps volunteer. Photo courtesy of Peace Corps.
Peace Corps volunteer Leah Kieff, 25, of Fairfax, Va., has been serving as a Community Development volunteer in Moldova since June 2013. Kieff is working with her community to encourage youth volunteerism through the Salut, Balti! initiative. She graduated from the University of Mary Washington in 2011 with her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Philosophy. We did a Q&A with her to learn all about Salut, Balti! and its impact on the community. Bottom line: Peace Corps volunteers do really awesome things!
Q: Where is your Peace Corps site?
A: I live in Balti, Moldova. There are about 150,000 people who live in Balti. For the U.S., it would be a pretty small city. In Moldova however, Balti is the second largest city and it’s sometimes referred to as the northern capital.
Q: Can you describe it?
A: I love my site! When I was first placed here, it wasn’t what I expected for Peace Corps because I was in a city. Now I think of Balti as the absolute BEST city in Moldova. Balti offers me all the advantages of being in the capital – restaurants, grocery stores, gyms, English speakers – without the over-crowded hustle. I also love being in a city with so many active NGOs. I feel like I have an unmatched ability to make a difference on a large scale!
Q: What sorts of volunteer activities are you doing?
A: I love all of my work in Moldova from planting trees, to writing business plans for social enterprise applications with my NGO, to working at a food booth fundraiser, but my particular favorites are giving trainings in Romanian and marketing for fundraisers.
Q: What is Salut, Balti?
Leah Kieff ’11 presents her initiative in the city of Balti. Photo courtesy of Peace Corps.
A: The project is called Salut, Balti!, which translates to Hello, Balti. In June 2013, Moldova’s national government passed an extensive piece of legislation on volunteering. Among other things, the law stipulates that each of the major cities in Moldova implement a municipal wide volunteer initiative. In August, two other Peace Corps Volunteers in Balti and I began working with the mayor’s office on implementing their volunteer program.
Q: What is the goal?
A: The goal of Salut, Balti! is to promote volunteering in Balti. While this may sound like a simple or perhaps unnecessary task to someone from Northern Virginia, it’s far from simple here. Salut, Balti! offers anyone in Balti a chance to gain skills and to make their community a better place.
Salut, Balti! works as a medium to bridge civil society and local government and assist them in meeting their common goals. The program also offers a chance for youth to gain skills, empowerment, and engagement in their community.
Q: What progress is Salut, Balti! making?
A: The first concrete work of this project was youth trainings implemented over three weekends in November. These youth trainings invited two students from every high school in Balti to be trained on leadership, volunteering, and project management. Over the course of three weekends, we trained over 50 youth. After the trainings, the youth formed project teams, got assigned a mentor, and completed a community project of their choice and design.
These youth work diligently with their mentors and we saw all except one team complete a project within three months. At the end of the three months, we held an event to celebrate the work of the youth and to offer them a chance to continue to stay involved in Salut, Balti’s work.
Q: How is the community involved in the project?
A: To ensure that there would be organizations that were equipped to handle and effectively use the volunteers, we also held a training for NGOs. During the workshop, we offered sessions on how to recruit, train, retain, and reward volunteers. The training was attended by more than 20 representatives from local NGOs and was also covered in the local media.
Salut, Balti now has an office at the municipal government building with resources for local volunteers. The project has successfully placed many youth with organizations in need and currently we are working on a website that will offer a volunteer matching service.
Q: Why should people consider Peace Corps?
A: I would recommend the Peace Corps to anyone who wants the chance to help change the world in a small way. It’s for anyone who wants a job where every day, every week brings new challenges, new funny stories, and more lost in translation moments than most people accrue in a lifetime.
To learn more about the project, check out Salut, Balti! on Facebook: facebook.com/SalutBalti
Article and photos courtesy of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office of the Peace Corps.
2014 Marine Corp Half Marathon Recap
The University Marketing Office extends a sincere thank you to our wonderful faculty and staff volunteers who covered the UMW booth at the 2014 Marine Corps Historic Half Healthy Lifestyle Expo on Saturday, May 17. We also thank those of you who got up EARLY Sunday morning on May 18 to cheer on the runners at the Sunken Road waterstop. According to event organizers, approximately 7,545 runners completed the three distance events with each registering its second largest field of finishers in history. See you next year!
Volunteers Needed: Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon Booth
UMW is a sponsor of the Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon on Sunday, May 18. We will have a booth at the Fredericksburg Expo Center and we need volunteers on Saturday, May 17 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. This is where runners pick up their packets. We will be handing out branded towels as well as information about UMW. We are looking for volunteers for two-hour shifts. It’s a great opportunity to meet and greet folks from all over the country.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Kelly Eury at keury@umw.edu.
Finally, the Right Fit
Simpson Library boasted new CD-ROMS. The Battlefield Athletic Complex had just been completed. And acid wash jeans and shoulder pads ruled Campus Walk.
Spirit Fridays
The Staff Advisory Council will be sponsoring and celebrating Fridays as spirit days and inviting the whole campus to join in. A few folks in our Finance department had the idea after we all had so much fun sporting UMW-wear to work on the Friday of the NCAA games. Please join us in Spirit Fridays starting tomorrow!
Summer Dining Schedule
Summer meal service will begin on Monday, May 19 in the Washington Diner at Seacobeck. Meals will be served Monday through Friday according to the following schedule:
Breakfast: 8 to 9 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Dinner: 5 to 6 p.m.
Campus Dining will be closed on Monday, May 26 for the Memorial Day holiday. For additional information contact Rose Benedict at rbenedic@umw.edu.
UMW Graduates Class of 2014 in 103rd Commencement
The University of Mary Washington graduated a total of 1,249 students during its 103rd commencement in a graduate ceremony on Friday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the William M. Anderson Center and in an undergraduate ceremony on Saturday, May 10 at 9 a.m. in Ball Circle on the university’s Fredericksburg campus.
The university awarded 62 Master of Business Administration degrees, 99 Master of Education degrees, 12 Master of Science in Management Information Systems, 40 Master of Science in Elementary Education Degrees, 449 Bachelor of Arts degrees, 66 Bachelor of Liberal Studies degrees, 25 Bachelor of Professional Studies degrees and 491 Bachelor of Science degrees. Five graduates received both the MBA and the MSMIS in a dual-degree program.
Graduates celebrate the 103rd UMW Commencement.
Graduates with Master of Business Administration degrees:
Pamela R. Adams, Ghufran Ahmad, Wendy G. Alderman, Nicholas Cusmina Alexander, AnnaMaria R. Altman, Frederick M. Badke, Sandra W. Brown, Timothy J. Bryner, John S. Budd, Kimberly K. Carini, Todd J. Coates, Catherine L. Corbin, Lisa M. Cornwell, Catherine L. Critzer, Mani Dakshina, Bailey Yale Davis, Ian Rendell Davis, Margaret M. Duker, Karen E. Eubanks, Thomas Lloyd Eutsler, Shelly L. Gibbons, Lindsay Harrison Gillespie, Augustus Gyapong, Elaine T. Hanner, Xi He, Trista J. Holmberg, Tanja Hughes, Gianina R. Jaisinghani, Ryan M. Ksanznak, Tony Tynel Lewis, Jennifer Sue Manster, John T. McNeil, Peter W. O’Hara, Tony S. Padgett, Mark C. Palombo, Michael A. Panzano, Michelle Lauren Partridge, Katherine D. Piper, Kelly J. Rudnick, Muhammad A. Saleem, Yuanita Christanti Santoso, Trevor Michael Schrotz, Michael T. Setti, Anne Sexton, Matthew M. Shepherd, Kavuo Simisi, Rachel M. Simpson, Nicole D. Skiljo, Catherine C. Staggs, Paul G. Storer, Abdul-Latif Sulleiman, Mckisa Q. Tate, Elizabeth C. Thompson, Leo J. Titus, Michael E. Walter, Rebecca E. Washington and Rebekah K. Wood.
Graduates with Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Management Information Systems degrees:
Julie B. Addington, Dawn K. Altman, Anna Margaret Hogan, Tracy C. Mannion and Wajahat Qureshi.
Graduates with Master of Education degrees:
Brittany Diane Dudley Alexander, Steven E. Allen, Matthew W. Ballard, Samantha J. Brinkmann, Edythe E. Brooks
Graduate finds a creative way to fend off the rain.
, Paige Taylor Burton, Kelley L. Callahan, Thomas W. Carroll, Jeanette L. Carter, Nicole M. Cerniglia, Carolyn T. Ciminelli, Holly Cooke, Olivia J. Costello, Allison Brooke Crerie, Leigh Arden Cruz, Joseph R. Curtin, Gisela De La Rivera, Marc A. Dellacanonica, Mariela E. DeMaio, Jacqueline Anne Demko, Courtney M. Dettinger, Michael J. Diebold, Ashley Octavia Dietzen, Jeanette L. Dosch, Katelynn N. Dulavitch, Ashton R. Dye, Matthew E. Eby, Lee Erik Finger, John P. Florip, Andrea B. Fossum, Ellen M. Fritz, Heather L. Gluchowski, Michaela P. Godfrey, Sarah Elizabeth Gordon, Joy L. Haley, Christie Williams Hall, Della B. Hall, Karissa M. Herrick, Erin M. Hill, Shelley M. Hillberry, Emilee C. Howard, Lori C. Hyde, Jo-Ann M. Intoy, Sarah R. Jones, Victoria A. Jones, Carla Y. Jordan, Leigh M. Judd, Katrina M. Kapes, Hannah C. Kassebaum, Deborah Michelle Keller, Kylie E.C. Kerr, Cynthia M. Klein, Gabrielle R. Kuhn, Thomas J. Kurylo, Claudette G. Larned, Elizabeth A. Lautenschlager, Katelyn A. Lease, Joseph E. Lehman, Michelle Andrene Lurch-Shaw, Rachel E. MacLeod, Melissa A. Maestle, Jessica Ann Martin, Heather L. McElwain, Jennifer L. McGraw, Teri M. Mills, Kimberlee Kay Mohle, Kathryn T. Murphy, Phillip Harrison Nobblitt, Christen Carol Oliver, Brooke N. Parker, Kathy L. Paschall, Kayla N. Patterson, Megan L. Paulson, Christian P. Peabody, Katherine E. Preseren, Katherine M. Razza, Matthew S. Resnick, Anne Longerbeam Roberts, Joseph R. Royston, Monica H. Saunders, Carole L. Schreppler, Lonnie A. Southall, Marvin Elizabeth Srivastava, Sarah L. Stanfar, Amy E. Styer, Timothy A. Surette, Kathryn T. Tarr, William H. Tash, Ana L. Teller, Clarke C. Warren, Barbara A. Webber, Lisa Marie Wertz, Jennifer Winfree-Harbour, Luke J. Wolverton, Justin Joseph Womack, Karla S. Worthington, Randa J. Yoder and Lisa A. Zargarpur.
Graduates with Master of Science in Management Information Systems degrees:
Charles R. Bush, Mark Filoso, Jennifer Gallaway, Natasha S. Hicks, Daniel T. Jaworowski, Jennifer L. Jones, Sridhivya Kumar, Leo Robert Manster, Price E. Martin, Neil F. McManama, Charles R. Rhodes and Donald A. Thompson.
Graduates with Master of Science in Elementary Education degrees:
Jane C. Bishop, Elisabeth C. Butler, Brittany L. Byrd, Lindsey O. Catlett, Taylor R. Chadman, Marcella E. Cook, Casey L. Dodrill, Amy C. Dowd, Brittany N. Dray, Megan C. Gallagher, Lauren E. Garay, Claire E. Gianelle, Chelsea R. Givler, Laura A. Gomez, Amy R. Gutmann, Janine E. Henley, Candace J. Hicks, Katrina C. Hobbs, Anna K. Holman, Jessica M. Houck, Caroline B. Isaacson, Kelsie M. LaSalata, Alexandra E. Long, Kaylee B. McClung, Margaret A. McMillan, Kathleen A. Mead, Samantha K. Morris, Hannah C. Moser, Ciara R. Norquist, Jessica E. O’Connell, Katherine L. Partenheimer, Kristina C. Pistochini, Allison R. Reed, Suzanne F. Rodgers, Amy L. Stevens, Bess B. Ten Eyck, Sarah E. Vogt, Kathleen W. Wallace and Kelsey B. Woehnker.
Graduates with Bachelor of Arts degrees:
Sarah E. Abbott, Eunice O. Achiaa, Wilson Acosta, Isabelle F. Ahearn, Samantha C. Akridge, Conner M. Allen,
Traditional turning of the tassel continues.
Matthew B. Allen, Wail F. Alshaebi, Luke A. Andahazy, Emily K. Anderson, Kiersten C. Anderson, Bethany L. Apelquist, Katharine M. Appel, Brent F. Arehart, Melissa A. Arrowsmith, Kelsey B. Arthur, Rita Artinian, Ambar Z. Atta, Laila M. Ayub, Mary-Patrick Bailey, Rachel E. Bailey, Laura M. Balderson, Tara E. Banks, Lelia E. Barnes, Timothy C. Barr, Emily K. Barry, Christopher M. Barton, Kelly G. Bassford, Katelyn I. Bateman, Cheryl E. Beckwith, Carolyn A. Bednarek, Caroline H. Bender, Lindsay P. Bennett, Sarah E. Bergstresser, Domenique N. Bernett, Molly E. Bernhard, Lindsey S. Bevis, Megan L. Bingham, Wayne L. Bird, Shanice K. Black, Amy J. Blankinship, Kerry B. Blanton, Amanda P. Bletsh, Joshua C. Bocher, Richard L. Boehling, Kathleen T. Boggs, Marina M. Bonanno, Michelle V. Bondesen, Anna L. Boning, Ethan M. Bottone, Phillip R. Bouchard, Margaret M. Boyle, Ramana R. Briggs, Andrew K. Broedel, Emily A. Broton, Benjamin O. Brown, Alex F. Brudno, Kathleen E. Busch, Garrett G. Bush, Sarah Joy P. Calpo, Stephen T. Campbell, Patrick C. Canis, Elizabeth E. Carnevale, Kelsey W. Carter, Samantha E. Carter, Patrick J. Cashin, Elizabeth A. Castillo, Ariadne T. Cave, Eve R. Cederbaum, David J. Chambers, Gregory M. Chandler, Courtney A. Cherico, Chelsea R. Chin, Barbara B. Chitty, Amelia N. Clark, Amy M. Clark, Colleen D. Clark, Joseph G. Clayton, Christine E. Clements, Allison C. Cline, Lindsey S. Clouser, Gemma L. Cohen, Courtney L. Collier, Sean R. Colligan, Sarah D. Cook, Keegan M. Cooke, Mary C. Cornell, Diane R. Crabtree, Kathryn D. Cramer, Rachel L. Crist, Patrick J. Crosmun, John G. Crowell-Mackie, Samuel J. Crystal, Nicole C. Dacales, Ruth E. Dalrymple, Erin M. Dandridge, Robert A. Darron, Anna K. Davis, Carly A. Davis, Nathan S. Dawes, Morgan L. Deacon, Katherine L. DeCecco, Sarah E. Decker, Casey N. Dee, Arthur E. Deegan, Sarah K. Deffenbaugh, Elisa A. Delle Fratte, Andrew D. Denn, Elizabeth C. Depczenski, Danielle P. DeSimone, Kyle H. Dexheimer, Tara A. Dighe, Adji Marietou Diop, Abaigeal W. Doherty, Ryan M. Donaldson, Shama Doshi, Hilary O. Douglas, Grace A. Draper, Ellen R. Dreher, Taylor M. Durning, Andrew P. Eames, Hailey A. Edgemond, Emma L. Eggers, RaeAna M. Eiley, Jessica C. Elder, Kathryn H. Ellis, Caitlan E. Faulkner, Shannan M. Feight, Cameron C. Figuers, Benjamin K. Finley, Gillian M. Finney, Alexandra C. Fisher, Lauren A. Floyd, Caroline C. Fogg, Kady E. Fortier, Caroline E. Frantz, Gabrielle M. Frohock, Kimberlyn J. Frost, Paola K. Fuentelsaz, Elisa J. Fuhrken, Caryn M. Fuqua, Nyssa M. Giangregorio, Hallie E. Gibson, Stella R. Gibson, Kathryn R. Gigantiello, Joselyn R. Giles, David A. Gillotte, Kelly G. Glazebrook, Emma L. Goodacre, Dawn T. Googe, Morgan B. Graff, Gabriella C. Graham, Phyllis M. Gray-Edmonds, Ryan M. Greenwood, Anna H. Grotophorst, Adam M. Hager, Sam M. Hall, Leigh C. Hamilton, Katie D. T. Hardesty, George A. Hareras, Benjamin M. Harris, Evelyn M. Hartman, Elizabeth A. Harvey, Tierra M. Harvey, Kelly A. Hastings, Brooke W. Hatcher, Felysia R. Havens, Haven L. Headley, Daniel F. Healy, William L. Hechmer, Stephen E. Hennessey, Gregory E. Henninger, Niall J. Herlehy, Isaac E. Herrera, Jason M. Hilton, Dana E. Hinden, Emily F. Hodder, Cameron C. Hodge, Samantha J. Hogue, Lauren A. Holt, Angela T. Hopgood, Tasha L. Horton, Melanie M. Houston, Michelle L. Howell, Colleen M. Huber, Max J. Huemer, Thomas M. Hughes, Charles G. Hulfish, Calynn M. Hulsey-Liong, Holley B. Hyler, Lelia C. Hyman, Kathryn A. Ivey, Alesha J. James, Melanie P. Jankovits, Radwan H. Jarrar, Tyler J. Jennings, Elizabeth J. Johnson, Danielle L. Jones, Rachael G. Juhan, Upma Kapoor, Mary C. Keever, Catherine S. Kellogg, Margaret H. Kennedy, Cory J. Kidd, Hannah P. Kincaid, Michelle A. King, Whitney E. Kiper, Kathryn L. Knoop, Zachariah J. Krauss, Samantha L. Krenzer, Callie R. Kyhl, Katherine M. Labombarde, Lula R. Lambert, Stephanie A. Landy, Brady G. Larkin, Carl A. Larsen, Kristen J. Lawrence, Katelyn M. Leboff, Catherine R. LeBouton, Gi Peum Lee, Elizabeth D. Lewan, Emile B. Lewis, Stefanie F. Lilly, Eric M. Litchford, Kendra E. Logston, Kathryn G. Lohr, Christopher D. Lomax, Kevin S. Lopez, Stephanie Lopez, Andrew D. Lowdon, James C. Lupia, Robert W. Luther, Corey P. Lyons, Megan L. Mahoney, Inga W. Maleombho, Heather L. Marshall, Jamie D. Marshall, Allison B. Martin, Madison E. Martin, Rachel L. Martin, Logan J. Martinez, Stephanie L. Martinez, Vernon T. Mathews, Brooke A. Matta, Danny S. Maupin, Katelyn S. Maxwell, Amber E. May, Maura M. Mays, Caitlin M. McCafferty, William S. McCarry, Patrick G. McCleary, Tess C. McClellan, Michelle R. McConnell, Tara K. McCrone, Amanda H. I. McCullough, Phoebe M. McDermott, Nicholas M. McGovern, Peter J. McGrath, Ellen L. McIntyre, Edgar A. McKewen-Moreno, Erica C. McPhee, Laila M. McQuade, Sarah A. Mendelsohn, Russell D. Michelson, Jenny M. Miller, Devin N. Millhorn, Jason S. Milton, Kasey C. Moore, Malcolm D. Moore, Michael M. Moorman, Jared F. Morel, Ligaya M. Moriarty, Suquoia C. Mosby, Sidney A. Mullis, Kiauna I. Munnis, Matilde C. Nativi, Carey T. Natoli, Paige A. Naylor, Laura E. Needham, Christopher J. Nerger, Devin Netter, Randolph P. Nicklas, John D. Noack, Gina Noh, Alice A. O’Brien, Erica L. O’Brien, Shelby E. Orlando, Collin E. Overacker, Thomas A. Pacheco, Jahna S. Paige, Fatima L. Paniagua Emestica, Catherine E. Parrotte, Samantha W. Partonen, Claire E. Patrick, Eve M. Patterson, Danielle M. Payne, Christian P. Peabody, Molly T. Pennington, Hellen P. Pereira, Catherine R. Perrin, Catherine L. Peterson, Claire M. Pickard, Lynn A. Pincus, Diana T. Pistochini, Charles W. Pittard, Rebecca M. Polzin, Chelsea D. Pomeroy, Jenniffer A. Powers, Stephanie E. Preston, Lara R. Pugh, Travis R. Quattlebaum, Gaelyn M. Quirey, Kristina M. Rader, Chelsea J. Raitor, Cesar E. Ramirez, Jenna M. Randall, Julia G. Randall, Sean W. Redmiles, Brenda J. Reyes, Kathryn A. Ricchetti, Annelise M. Riedel, Bradley M. Riester, Krista M. Riggleson, Joshua E. Roberts, Candice G. Roland, Colin F. Rom, Christina M. Sabol, William W. Sacripanti, Terra L. Sadek, Kaitlin E. Sadler, Bryanne E. Salazar, Esther C. Sampson, Sandra G. Sanchez, Andres R. Sanz-Guerrero, Irene R. Satchwell, Nathalie C. Scarbrough, Ariel C. Scharf, Katherine M. L. Scheetz, Emily C. Scheuer, Megan E. Schloemer, Robert E. Schoonover, Jon D. Schuler, Anthony O. Seippel, John R. Settle, Kevin K. Shaker, Matthew L. Shaughnessy, Katelynn T. Shaver, Patrick E. Sheehy, Laura M. Shepko, Rebecca L. Sherman, Victoria L. Skaggs, Robert J. Skoczylas, Kimberly L. Slater, Nathan A. Slater, Conan G. Smeeth, Allison R. Smith, Helen R. Smith, Isabel R. Q. Smith, Minta V. Smith, Stuart B. Smith, Robert B. Snook, Min G. Son, Laura R. Spain, Colin T.L. Spangler, Richard A. Speth, Faith J. Spillman, Virginia R. St. Clair, Hana J. Stalik, Michael R. Stange, Dorothy W. Stanton, Elizabeth W. Starek, Timothy J. Stark, Jonathan J. Steenberg, Samantha N. Stepanov-VandenBerg, Jacqueline R. Stern, Sarah Stern, Alison E. Stevens, Margot J. Storch, William C. Story, Hannah E. Straton, Gorden J. R. Struck, Meaghan E. Sullivan, Nathan E. Tabor, Jessie A. Tamayo, Leah C. Tams, Maggie H. Tanner, Mena Tarin, Erin C. Taylor, Maricella L. Taylor, Samuel J. Taylor, Starlet A. Tetteh, Claire E. Thompson, Ian C. Thompson-Heinz, Sarah P. Throop, Dylan M. Tibert, Ana Tkabladze, Anthony D. Toigo, Zachary W. Tolson, Suzanna M. Toske, Kelsey L. Trumble, Katherine L. Tryon, Angela C. Turner, Eric W. Turner, Joseph O. Turner, Rebecca D. Turner, Mary A. Turpin, Katelyn S. Van Valkenburg, Amanda N. Vercruysse, Emily P. Villa, Carol L. Vinatieri, Kristy H. Virts, Brittany A. Vitner, Caroline E. Vroom, Chelsea M. Wagenaar, Cynthia J. Walker, Elizabeth A. Walker, Karen M. Walker, Peter W. Walters, Andrew D. Walz, Courtney E. Washington, Sara Weinstein, Regina A. Weiss, Mollie E. Welty, Mary L. Wendt, Sarah J. Westphal, Kelsey L. E. Wheaton, Ellen M. White, Zachary J. White, Kelsey A. Whitman, Colleen M. Williams, Desiree S. Williams, Leigh A. Williams, Mary R. Williams, Kaylee L. Wilsher, Ana L. Wilson, Jamie D. Wilson, Laura C. Wiltenmuth, Carly E. Winfield, Susanna A. Wolf, Carolina D. Wood, Julia N. Wood, Molly K. Woods, Benjamin E. Wrightson, Abigail B. Yirrah, Christine E. Zale and Daniel F. Zoellner.
Graduates with Bachelor of Liberal Studies degrees:
Sabrina M. Baldwin, Sherri R. Beck, Kathleen A. Belrose-Ramey, Michael Anthony Berry, Lori W. Brown, Melissa Andrews Brown, Scott L. Campbell, Anna A. Chavez, Jeanne M. Converse, Cheryl A. Copas, Luisa P. Cutler, Colleen T. Deabler, Robyn C. Dow, Jason J. Ellington, Isaac C. Erickson, Elizabeth C. Escobar-Jack, Jermicka A. Evans, Shana M. Forsythe-Price, Danielle L. Fulwood, Jennifer S. Furlong, Susan M. Gardner, Jem L. Gezen, Sean A. Gezen, Lisa A. Green, Kristal Nicole Hall, Denise A. Heflin, Jeremy L. Hockensmith, Joe Horrocks, Carol Hughes, Michael Allen Hunnel, Shauna R. Jackson, Arlete B. Jones, Krystal M. Kegley, Krystal M. Kegley, Amy L. LaMarca, Alicia E. Landes, Jacquelyn H. Marinucci, Theresa L. Maske, Christian M. Mazzoleni, Chantel Lynne McKinley, Margaret L. Murphy, William Negron Jr, Brian T. Orrock, Michael J. Packard, David T. Phillips, Daniel S. Powell, Sharon E. Rawlins, Jason D. Rector, Sarah M. Ritchie, Mindi E. Rival, Ever Yim P. Rivera, Nadia S. Rizvi, Patrick D. Ryan, Frances V. Sherman, Anthony J. Silver, Melissa A. Sloan, Candice M. Smith, Christopher B. Stanley, Kathryn E. Starr, Lakeithia G. Stoves-Tucker, Shelby A. Taylor, Jennifer Nicole Van Renan, Jesse B. Vanous, Kelli Weir, Marsha M. Wine and Melissa B. Zimmerman
Family and friends celebrate with graduates.
Graduates with Bachelor of Professional Studies degrees:
Gerald L. Anderson, Rebecca G. Bedsaul, Jennifer A. Benson, Christopher J. Brown, Jesse B. Carpenter, Patricia J. Childs, Diane M. Cox, Sandi L. Dodd, Michael A. Eaton, Mary V. Grice, Donna V. Jackson, Brian C. Johnson, Paul L. Johnson, Shana M. Keith, Jasmine Kline, David J. Moore, Kim M. Moore, Belinda E. Polk, William Pritchett, Phousoune Sanixay, Kami A. Tolson, Michelle R. Vogt, Sharifa Washington, Bryan D. Woolner and Michael Zayas.
Graduates with Bachelor of Science degrees:
John C. Adams, Sarah B. Alberastine, Ailyn M. Allen, Kyle S. Allen, Norah R. Almahdali, Samuel B. Anderson, Christopher M. Annesi, Krista L. Anthony, Audrey E. Antinozzi, Amanda N. Argeny, Spencer E. Atkinson, Brendan F. Auman, Samantha L. Bagbey, Elizabeth H. Baker, Lucy K. Baker, Molly E. Baldovin, Molly M. Banfield, Leane J. Baramki, Kimberly F. Barkley, Meredith L. Barnhill, Jennifer L. Bartelmes, David R. Barth, Desiree A. Batkins, Gregory A. Baugher, Gillian K. Becker, Dayna L. Beckham, Adrianne G. Bell, Nathan J. Bemis, Candice M. Benshoff, Ian M. Berry, Kathleen M. Bettencourt, Tanvi Bhatia, Jennifer M. Black, Anne E. Blaine, Benjamin J. C. Blalock, Geanina M. Blankenship, Glenna D. Blasi, Elizaveta V. Blasser, Eric A. Blease, Dafna A. Bliss, Erin E. Boggs, Taylor R. Bono, Dane R. Bouck, Amanda M. Bowers, William R. Boyle, Jeffrey D. Branson, Peter P. Brig, Alexander M. Brito, Benjamin W. Britten, Austin M. Brooks, Kinzie Leigh Brooks, Morgan M. Brown, Steven J. Brown, Daniel E. Browne, Stephanie R. Brownley, Jonathan H. Brueneman, Randi D. Bryan, Ashley L. Buxton, Patrick W. Byrne, Carolyn S. Calderbank, Kristen A. Callahan, Ian W. Cameron, Enrique Cancel-Vargas, Daniela Cardona, Samantha O. Carlson, Samuel G. Carolus-Hager, David T. Carpenter, Catherine A. Chase, Feng Xiang Chen, Mary I. Chessman, Nicholas N. Chiles, Brayhan Chirinos, Omio Chowdhury, Grace K. Christenson, Andrew M. Clark, Jordan E. Clelan, Lauren M. Cleland, Christian D. Clift, Shannon S. Coleman, Kourtney M. Colley, Jacob C. Conover, Rebecca K. Conway, Sean T. Cook, Lauren A. Cormier, Alyssa M. Correa, Michael S. Crawford, Timothy J. Cretney, Alexandra W. Cropp, Candace E. Cross, Heather M. Curry, Brianna M. D’Agata, Ariel M. Davati, Jeff E. Davidson, Rebecca S. Davidson, Adam A. Davila, Emily A. Davis, Kyle G. Davitt, Jennifer C. Dawson, Jenna deCastro, Kelsey A. Dekker, Dominique A. Delfino, Zack L. DelGrosso, Marc A. Dellacanonicam, Sarah E. Dengler, Glen B. Denning, Frank V. DePaola, Feben A. Desta, Danielle C. DeVille, Gabrielle D. DeVincenzo, Luke M. Dick, Katherine M. Diemer, Quentin J. Dill, Lindsay A. Dillard, Aby Diop, Sarah K. Dister, Joseph R. Djorup, Jessica A. Dochney, David E. Domanski, Alison H. Downie, Kimberly Driskell, Samuel E. du Busc, Shelby L. Duff, Michael C. Dunlap, Caroline M. Dunn, Stephanie A. Durand, Dalton R. Echard, Lavar C. Edmonds, Amanda R. Edwards, Samantha N. Ehlers, David R. Elliott, Hannah E. Ellis, Frances I. Ellmo, Nicole E. Erickson, Robert K. Ericson, Hallie M. Ertel, Paul D. Espino, Jonathan J. Esposito, Sarah E. Eubanks, Sara E. Eutsler, Lina M. Ewell, Emily M. Farnsworth, Kaycee E. Faunce, Lauren N. Fawcett, Caroline M. Fermoselle, Caroline E. Filippone, Bryan S. Finch, Sean C. Finnerty, Chelsea L. Fisher, Forrest J. Fisher, Brian A. Fleury, Maura C. Flynn, Elicia D. Franchini, Piero A. Franco Villalobos, Benjamin J. Frazier, Corinne A. Fredrickson, Jessica M. Fry, Megan K. Full, Andrew O. Gabany, Paige N. Gaddy, Julia L. Gattuso, Catherine Gauthier, Kyle A. Genovese, Amy C. Gerrard, Megan E. Gersbeck, Ayida Y. Getachew, Alexander C. Gilley, Tabitha R. Glinski, Hester E. Godfrey, Sean K. Gould, David M. Graf, Katie M. Graff, Kevin M. Graham, Sarah E. Graham, Secylia L. Gray, Elizabeth D. Green, Elizabeth E. Greene, Madeline J. Grey, Kelly A. Griffith, Christine L. Grilliot, Peter J. Guerber, Philip T. Hadwin, Charlotte J. Hagerman, Gregory J. Hajduk, Deniz E. Halici, Felicia R. Haller, Felicia R. Hamn, Lara W. Hampson, Jacob E. Hargis, Heather L. Harper, Mehdi I. Hasan, Shareefa E. Hassan, Janie C. Hayden, Karen A. Hayes, Angela M. Headley, Sean P. Healy, Carolyn M. Heck, Jonathan D. Hellberg, David W. Heller, Timothy L. Henderson, Erik G. Hennigar, Shannon A. Henry, Excy A. Herrera, Molly A. Hicks, Andrew D. Hill, Laidy M. Hinojosa-Mejia, Phillip L. Hitt, Marcellus T. Holley, Jeneka M. Holmes, Jessica D. Horne, Wesley A. Horton, Kelly M. Horvath, Wesley P. Host, Lemuel C. Houston, Alysha M. Howar, Casey L. Howren, Carolyn M. Huynh, Mark D. Hyland, Ahmed M. Ibrahim, Caroline B. Isaacson, Safwaan U. Islam, Alicia N. Izaguirre, Samuel S. Jackson, Ivy D. Jacobs, Stephen S. James, Robert D. Jarvis, Eric M. Johnson, Samuel H. Johnson, Brian A. Johnston, Aaron S. Kalman, Melanie R. Katz-Lawton, Foster T. Kelly, William J. Kelly, Prakriti Khanal, Curtis P. Kincaid, Christopher B. King, Sara T. Kirsch, Susanna N. Kirschner, Eric M. Knapp, Taylor L. Knight, Nicholas A. Kolenko, Peyton D. Kremer, Keith G. Kritzberg, Lauren M. Kruczynski, Katelyn L. Kuykendall, Todd D. Lancaster, William K. Langston, Alexander J. H. Larmour, Kathryn E. Latshaw, Dane M. Lawhorne, Cooper H. Lawton, Vi T. Le, Lainey M. Le Blanc, Laurie A. Leaman, Yun-Sun Lee, Chelsea J. LeHew, Danica R. Leninsky, Darrylann Lenoard, Kristin M. Leubner, Annika C. Lewis, Sean M. Lewis, Valerie J. Lewitus, Alyssa C. Lieurance, Joseph S. Liner, Rachel E. Lipkowitz, Daniel W. Lipscomb, Madeline B. Lord, Kerri M. Loving, Justin D. Loyd, Daniel L. Lustig, Jesse R. Lynch, Andrew B. MacKnight, Michelle M. Maestre-Areizaga, Hyrum J. Magnusson, Redmond L. Manierre, Rebecca E. Marshall, Tammy M. Marshall, Joseph R. Marson, Miranda V. Martin, William L. Martin, Edward Martinez, Wendy P. Martinez-Villa, Sarah R. Marzec, Hannah J. Mason, Nikki L. Maticic, Ana M. Matiz, Brieneke K. Matthes, Kristen D. Maxwell, Austin B. Mayhugh, Madalene O. McAllister, Audrey L. McAvoy, Katherine H. McCarty, Ashley S. McConnaughy, Sarah E. McCue, Colin M. McElhinny, Maggie E. McGraw, Gautam Mehra, Jessica M. Melvin, Luke M. Mendelsohn, Mauricio E. Menendez, Mary E. Meola, Allan J. Meyer, Ian F. Millar, Amanda P. Miller, Andrew S. Miller, Brennan W. Miller, Daniel E. Miller, Haris M. Mirzada, Mohamed T. Moaz, Peter D. Moerman, David H. Moeslein, Brandie M. Monroe, Carter E. Moore, Christopher M. Moulton, Kelsey A. Moxey, Nathaniel E. Moyar, Patrick B. Mullen, Abigya T. Mulugeta, Lucas B. Munson, Jinah Nam, Marcy J. Nativi, Nathan F. Naughton, Tracey L. Nejad, Lauren Nelson, Kyle A. Nero, Anais N. Newsum, Andrew Ney, Eva Ng, Chelsea Nicole, Kimberly L. Nieves, Ciara R. Norquist, Tessa A. Northcott, Erik N. Nosar, Stephen M. Novak, Nicole C. Nunez, Connor J. O’Loughlin, Emily E. Oresik, Emily L. Owen, Christina F. Owens, Ryan J. Page, Tessa A. Paivanas, Pamela M. Pantini, Kyle T. Pape, Leanna J. Papp, Molly C. Pardoe, Shinyoung Park, Sarah L. Parlette, William A. Parrish, Gibran A. Parvez, Michael J. Patchen, Emily M. Patnode, Robert T. Patterson, Travis L. Payne, Ellen N. Pedersen, Mallory F. Peebles, Alexis A. Pennings, Christophe R. Perdu, Pietro C. Perrino, Chastaine D. Perry, Erika R. Persil, Holly M. Perucci, Melissa M. Peters, Jenna M. Petrucelli, Lauren I. Pettengill, David P. Peworchik, Yoe Kapay Philus, Sydney M. Pinto, Anne M. Pipan, Sean P. Placchetti, Eric J. Plant, Ian N. Potere, Caitlyn M. Price, Brendan R. Prin, Katie L. Proctor, Carol L. Quinn, Abdullah Rahmanyar, Anika I. Raja, Sarah E. Rankin, Lindsay A. Raulston, Rachel N. Reaves, Charles J. Reed, Nataly Revollo, Colleen E. Reynolds, Erin E. Reynolds, Julia R. Reynolds, Alexander A. L. Ricart, Anna M. Richman, Holly E. Richters, Nefertty Rivas, Rachel A. Robbins, Wesley J. Roberts, Jessica A. Robinson, Kathleen J. Rockis, Deborah L. Roets, Edward E. Roget, Anna N. Rollins, Erin P. Ronayne, Jessica P. Rorabaugh, Olivia H. Rosales, Candace P. Rothermel, Mary M. Rubin, Meliza A. Rubinos, Daniel J. Russell, Mark C. Russo, Justin E. Sahs, Varun Saxena, Luke D. Schneider, Rachael E. Scholl, Kristen E. Schuetz, Colin J. Schulz, Samantha N. Sexton, Robert W. Sharp, William H. Sharp, Emily M. Shea, Raihana Sherdil, Emily R. Sherman, Jessica L. Singer, Rachel M. Sisk, Roxette M. Sklavos, Matthew D. Slagle, Jacob P. Smith, Kelly J. Smith, Priscilla M. Smith, David W. Snellings, Jordan T. Snyder, Seyoon T. Sohn, Christopher J. Somerville, Jared B. Spears, Angela J. Sperbeck, Patrick T. Stalcup, Tammy N. Stark, Brittany L. Staton, Clare A. Stechschulte, Brent T. Steffey, Ashley D. Stegemiller, Carolyn R. Steigerwald, Joshua A. Stemmler, Jenna C. Stockton, Cooper L. Stone, Elizabeth D. Storey, Zachary D. Sullivan, Julianne A. Sweat, Kathryn A. Swenson, Yoshinori Takeda, David P. Tatro, Seth P. Taylor, Andrew M. Thomas, Carrie M. Thompson, Chiara Tornabene, Jay J. Torres, Bryan P. Trammell, Christine H. Tran, Carolyn Trieu, Benjamin R. Tuxbury, Courtney D. Valerio, Katherine E. Vanderpool, Christopher B. Vernet, Denis R. Villanueva, Lauren L. Waaland-Kreutzer, Philip M. Wahlman, Kurt R. Wall, Mackenzie L. Walsh, Stephen E. Walsh, Caroline A. Wampler, Michael L. Wang, Stephen S. We, Charles M. Webb, Blake A. Weiss, Danielle N. Whitty, Kaitlynn M. Wickersham, Matthew C. Willett, Hannah E. Williams, Margaret E. Willis, Holly E. Wilsey, Briana L. Wilson, Katherine A. Wilson, Taylor A. Wilson, Michael J. Winkler, Dionca V. Winner, Ian J. Wise, Simone L. Woodward, John M. C. Wooten, Sally E. Wrenn, Brett A. Wynn, Usman Zafar, Kayla Zahrn, Alyssa G. Zarzecki, Emily A. Zaylor and Daniel S. Zimmerman.
Founder, President and CEO Rebecca Rubin Addresses UMW Graduates, May 10
Founder, president and CEO of environmental consulting firm Marstel-Day Rebecca Rubin challenged graduates to be good stewards of the environment during the University of Mary Washington’s 2014 commencement address.
Environmentalist Rebecca Rubin speaks to graduates.
“We have a fierce dependence on nature and an equally intense reliance on certain economic forces that crush it and imperil us,” she said. “And whether we humans are here to tell our story later will depend on the decisions we make – or more precisely, you make – now to resolve our place in nature in a way that halts and reverses destruction.”
She called graduates to recognize the severity of the issues currently facing the environment, starting with climate change.
“But, climate change is not the main problem,” she said. “It’s a symptom of a deeper dilemma: a profound and fundamental lack of respect for nature.”
Rubin founded Marstel-Day in 2002 as an expression of her commitment to the conservation of natural resources, especially habitat and open space, energy and water. Her company serves various public and private clients, including the Department of Defense, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency. Marstel-Day is one of several Fredericksburg-area organizations collaborating with UMW to develop a Climate, Environment Action Readiness (CLEAR) Plan.
In 2013, the White House named Rubin a Champion of Change for Community Resilience, and Virginia Business Magazine listed her in 2011 among the “Top 25 People to Watch.” Marstel-Day has been named to Inc. Magazine’s 500/5000 and Zweigwhite’s HOTFirm list for the past five consecutive years and was recently recognized as one of the commonwealth’s fastest growing companies by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce.
Rain failed to dampen spirits at Commencement.
In her address, Rubin conveyed her passion for environmental issues with the thousands of graduates, family members and friends gathered on Ball Circle.
“I think you deserve to be a little outraged by your environmental inheritance,” she said. “It’s up to you to challenge the premise that environmental destruction is an inevitable consequence of economic growth.”
She encouraged graduates from all disciplines to do their part to ensure the environment remains intact for future generations.
“For all of you graduating today, whether your plan is to be scientists or singers, playwrights or poets, mathematicians or musicians, English professors or engineers, all of you are equally critical from the standpoint of saving nature. At one point or another, every one of you will play a part.”
Entrepreneur Kenneth J. Lopez Addresses Master’s Candidates
CEO Kenneth J. Lopez ’92 urged graduates to consider entrepreneurial careers during his address at the University of Mary Washington graduate commencement Friday, May 9.
“With this degree you’ve earned, entrepreneurship is in your grasp, and whether you see this germ within you, in that person you ride to work with, in a member of your family, with your lover or in your students all that has to be done is to grab this opportunity,” said Lopez, who is founder of the Alexandria-based A2L Consulting. In addition, he is a member of the UMW Board of Visitors.
Lopez addressed more than 1,000 graduates, family members, friends and faculty, gathered in the William M. Anderson Center. A total of 213 graduate degrees were awarded, including 99 Master of Education degrees, 62 Master of Business Administration degrees, 40 Master of Science in Elementary Education degrees and 12 Master of Science in Management Information Systems degrees. Five graduates received both the MBA and the MSMIS in a dual-degree program.
After receiving a law degree from the Widener University School of Law, Lopez discovered that he had an unfulfilled creative passion for computer graphics. In 1995, he decided to combine his passion with his education after realizing that computer animation was just starting to be used in litigation. During his entrepreneurial adventure, he discovered some important lessons that he shared.
“Your network is bigger than you think it is, and you are going to need it more than ever in this economic climate. All you have to do is not be afraid to talk to people and ask for help,” he said. “It really is that simple.”
Today, Lopez’s company is a leading provider of jury consulting, litigation graphics and courtroom support to all of the nation’s largest law firms. A2L Consulting was recently voted Best Demonstrative Evidence Firm in D.C. by the readers of Legal Times and, on a national level, a Best Demonstrative Evidence Firm by the National Law Journal.
The father of triplets, Lopez serves on the advisory board of UMW’s College of Business and on the Dean’s National Advisory Council at Widener. He was UMW’s Junior Executive-in-Residence in 2008 and is a frequent guest speaker for classes and student organizations.
“We, all of us here today, we are now your network. It already is bigger than you thought it was,” said Lopez. “Grab a hold of it, start something new – the table is set for you and the plates are just begging to be filled.”
Rebecca Rubin, founder, president and CEO of environmental consulting firm Marstel-Day, will deliver the undergraduate commencement address on Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. on Ball Circle.