Admissions Hosts Washington Scholar Interviews and Destination UMW Event

On Friday, March 14, Admissions will host a banquet honoring the 14 finalists for the prestigious Washington Scholarship. The Washington Scholarship is awarded to an entering freshman who is a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia, who is accepted to the University of Mary Washington Honors Program. Preference is given to National Merit Scholar semi-finalists and above. All Washington finalists receive a renewable Presidential scholarship and two winners will receive awards for full tuition, room, board, and fees for up to four academic years. Peyton Kremer, a senior Biology major and Chemistry minor from Mechanicsville, Virginia, will speak at the banquet. The other seven current Washington Scholars (Claire Merenda ’16, Claire Harrington ’15, Alexandra Hoenscheid ’16, Hannah Morgan ’17, Nathan Slater ’15, Cooper Lawton ’14, and Rebekah Selbrede ’16) will also attend, as will some faculty and staff representatives.

The finalists will interview with the Selection Committee, chaired by Jeffrey McClurken, professor and department chair, history & American studies, on Saturday. Other members of the Selection Committee are Carole Garmon, Professor and Department Chair, Art & Art History; Neil Tibert, Associate Professor, Earth & Environmental Sciences; Mara Scanlon, Professor, English, Linguistics, and Communication; Patti Kemp, Alumni Association Board President; Sarah Lindberg, Assistant Director of Admissions; and Cindy Snyder, Director of National Alumni Engagement.

In addition to the Scholar finalists, about 180 additional admitted students and their families will visit UMW on Saturday for Destination UMW, a high-profile event welcoming admitted students to campus with the goal of yielding them for the 2014-2015 academic year. This Destination UMW especially aims to attract students admitted to the University Honors Program, who are invited to begin the day with a breakfast hosted by Kelli Slunt, director of the Honors Program. President Hurley will welcome all then visitors will participate in an interactive student life program, attend a sample lecture, dine in Seacobeck, tour a residence hall and other campus facilities such as a research lab, ceramics studio, and/or the fitness center, and likely opt for a downtown trolley excursion, a softball game, and/or other campus events.

Visitor parking has been reserved on Saturday in the George Washington (GW) lot as well as along Double Drive. Expect to see increased foot traffic on campus and curious newcomers in Seacobeck. Help them know their presence is a pleasure by anticipating the crowds and responding warmly, especially in the dining hall where crowds will peak between 12:30-1:30 p.m. Their impression and decision to attend UMW depends on how they feel while they are here, so thank you for your commitment to perpetuating our brand, our mission, and our sense of the UMW family. One way to show your support is to tweet to @UMWAdmissions and/or post to Instagram and tag @UMWAdmissions. We would like to see #DestinationUMW trending throughout the day.

Saturday is the second of three Destination UMW events this spring. The final one will be April 5. Please contact the Office of Admissions (540) 654-2000(540) 654-2000 with any questions or to participate in an upcoming event.

Admissions Sponsors Programs for High School Counselors

On March 25-26, 2014, UMW will host 53 high school and independent counselors from across the United States for our Campus Connections for Counselors program. The guests will be arriving in Fredericksburg on the evening of March 25, taking a trolley tour of historic Fredericksburg, attending a reception at Brompton, and dining with dean, department chairs, and other University representatives. On March 26, they will engage with faculty and students through interactive panel discussions, enjoy a campus tour, and learn about UMW points of distinction. Two goals of the program are to elevate the University’s visibility among out-of-state populations and to share the UMW story with a network of professional partners.

The Campus Connections for Counselors program is the latest in a series of events aimed at hosting counselors on campus. Last summer, 25 international counselors (from 18 different countries) visited as part of the Overseas Association for College Admission Counseling (OACAC) Summer Counselor Tour. In November, about 70 high school guidance counselors from across Virginia attended a Counselor Day to focus on the admissions selection process and learn about the UMW experience.

Continuing this emphasis, UMW successfully bid to host the Potomac & Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling (PCACAC) Summer Institute in July 2014. PCACAC is a non-profit, professional organization for those who work with students in the transition between high school and college. We expect about 120 professionals to participate in the three-day conference, staying in the Randolph-Mason residential complex and attending events and activities throughout campus.

If you would like more information about any of these programs, please contact the Office of Admissions (540.654.2000).