Contractors for the City of Fredericksburg completed removal of the boardwalk, except for the piers, on Sunday, May, 1. The fencing for passage through the Anderson Center site is fully installed and the bridge is now again open for crossing Route 1. The City plans to resume work for the removal of the piers on Wednesday, 5/4/11 with completion anticipated on Thursday,  5/5/11. (Photo from UMW FaceBook by Eric Grube Sr)

Pamela Taggert in Budget and Financial Analysis has received the Excellent Eagle Employee award, which recognizes employees who soar at UMW.  As thanks for her outstanding work, Pam will receive a reserved parking spot outside of George Washington Hall from Monday, May 2 through Tuesday, May 31 during regular business hours.

Here is what one of Pam’s co-workers said about her:

“Pam is constantly upbeat and helpful.  She deals with areas that are complicated and rule-bound, which means the staff she has to deal with often don’t understand the details, and Pam is always willing to help and willing to explain the details with a smile.”

To nominate someone that you believe is an Excellent Eagle Employee, send an email to Dre Anthes at aanthes@umw.edu with Excellent Eagle Employee in the subject line.  Be sure to provide the employee’s name, department, work location, with the most convenient parking lot, and the reason why this employee should be recognized. The award is sponsored by the Staff Advisory Council (S.A.C.).

UMW’s James Monroe Museum will hold an open house on Saturday, April 30 to celebrate the 253rd anniversary of James Monroe’s birth and the newly renovated Memorial Garden. The event, which is free, will be held from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

The celebration will feature 18th-century music performed by the living-history acoustic duo Doug Marshall and Lauren Smith, a dance performance by the Rappahannock Colonial Heritage Society dancers, and cake in honor of Monroe’s birthday. The museum’s galleries also will be open free of charge during the event.

The division of teaching and learning technologies is inviting everyone to attend this year’s Faculty Academy. Every year we host this conference to showcase the innovative and creative work that UMW faculty are doing with technology in the classroom.

The conference will be held on May 11 and 12 in the North Building of the Stafford Campus. This year, the event will begin with a keynote address by Michael Wesch, assistant professor of anthropology at Kansas State University. Dr. Wesch has become well-known for his work with digital ethnography, investigating the ways in which digital technologies are impacting our culture, particularly our schools. The conference will also showcase presentations by Tom Woodward, director of instructional technology at Henrico County Public Schools, and Amanda French, THATCamp Coordinator with the Center for History and New Media.

More information is at http://www.facultyacademy.org

University of Mary Washington faculty, staff, and students joined the local community in support of RecycleMania 2011 by shredding 5,250 pounds of paper at the first Shred Event on Tuesday, March 29th. As a member of the President’s Council on Sustainability, Dre Anthes, Assistant Dean of Admissions, invited faculty, staff, students and community members to bring materials to be shredded by ProShred of Northern Virginia, who donated their services. The event was hosted at both the Stafford and Fredericksburg campuses.

The 5,250 pounds of recycled material doubled the university’s RecycleMania weekly average, greatly boosting contest efforts. Student volunteers included: Public Relations Sustainability Intern, Ariana Johnson, and RecycleMania Intern and President of the Ecology Club, Anna Smith. Sustainability Coordinator, Tori Wong, also helped with the planning of the event. Dre Anthes’ event was supported by Director of Landscape and Grounds, Joni Wilson, Landscape and Grounds Manager, Richard Blair, additional Landscape and Grounds staff, Arthur Wiggins and Ronnie Collier, Events Coordinator, Priscilla Sullivan, Office Manager of Graduate Admissions, Tammy Pettus, Associate Provost, Meta Braymer, and Stafford Campus Building Coordinator, Larry Atkins. When asked if she was surprised with the results Ms. Wilson responded, “No, I assumed it would be a substantial amount. If the university can support this as a regular event I believe we will see the tonnage increase.”

This weekend is the final chance to see the H-I-T show The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee in our very own Klein Theatre.

If you haven’t heard about it, you’re clearly out of the loop. If you HAVE heard about it, but haven’t seen it, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! And if you have seen it, COME ON BACK!

Everyone is talking about this H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S musical about 6 young kids competing in their hometown spelling bee for their shot at the National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC! Each of these kids has their own quirks and strategies for being the best, and only one of them can win. You will laugh until your sides hurt and then laugh some more. There are only 4 chances left to see this show!

Call 540-654-1111 or visit http://umw.tix.com to get tickets today!

“What Comes After was inspired by an article he read about a girl who was placed in foster care after an assault. ‘I recognized her –and others like her–through my work as an investigator and advocate in the juvenile justice system’ he says. ‘I knew her story deserved to be told.”

–book jacket/Candlewick Press

UMW Professor Steve Watkins latest young adult novel is now available in the University owned and operated bookstore on campus.