March 28, 2024

CVC Spotlight: United Way

“Giving to the United Way is an excellent way to support organizations that rely on grants and donations and other fund raising efforts to exist.  The agencies recognized by United Way undergo a rigorous evaluation to ensure they are properly managing the funds they receive and are having an impact in their communities.  Many of these agencies are “safety-net” in nature meaning they are the last resort for assistance for some members of our communities.” –President Rick Hurley

Whether you give to the United Way or any of the other qualified organizations listed in the Directory of Charities, please consider supporting the CVC as it is for a very worthwhile cause.

 

Community Leaders Dance to Raise Scholarship Funds

The inaugural “Dancing with the Fredericksburg Stars,” held at the University of Mary Washington on August 17, raised more than $65,000 to endow a UMW Performing Arts in the Community Scholarship for regional students who excel in music, theatre or dance. An audience of more than 500 watched as nine leaders in the Fredericksburg community performed ballroom dances with professional dancers from Strictly Ballroom Dance Studio of Fredericksburg. A panel of judges provided comments and presented the top awards. Ellen Killough, chief executive officer with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, earned “Best-in-Show” for her Mambo, performed with Michael Scott, co-owner of Strictly Ballroom. She also received recognition for the “Most Amazing Move.” Mary Katherine Greenlaw, mayor of the City of Fredericksburg, who danced a QuickStep with Michael Scott, received the People’s Choice Award, given at a Champagne reception following the performances. Greenlaw also received honors for “Fanciest Footwork.” Despite their long, hard work in preparation for the event, the evening’s celebrities were unanimous in their praise of the event. “Dancing with the Fredericksburg Stars will certainly go down as one of my best personal experiences ever,” said William B. Young, chief executive officer for Virginia Partners Bank, who received a “Best Costume” award for his performance of the Hustle. UMW President Richard V. Hurley, who received the “Best Posture” award for his Rumba routine, said the fundraising event will be an annual one. “Everyone thought it was one of the best events Fredericksburg has ever seen,” he said. Other winners announced by the judges were:
  • Melanie Kay-Wyatt, principal of Walker-Grant Middle School, “Most Spirited” for the Salsa
  • J. Martin Bass, retired attorney and judge, “Most Entertaining” for the Cha Cha
  • Fred M. Rankin III, president and chief executive officer of Mary Washington Healthcare, “Most Rhythmical” for the Swing
  • Susan G. Spears, president of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, “Most Flair” for the Samba
  • Richmond McDaniel, senior vice president for C.B. Richard Ellis, “Most Dramatic” for the Tango.
Kevin Bartram, director of the UMW Philharmonic Orchestra, and Penny Wack, a disc jockey at country music radio station Thunder 104.5, hosted the evening. Judges were Dori Eglevsky, community volunteer; Patrick A’Hearn, artistic director of the Riverside Center; and Corey Von Ginkel, member of the National Dance Council of America. Caressa Cameron-Jackson, Miss America 2010, was unable to participate due to deaths in the family. Lias Biever, director of Donor Services with The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region, who attended the event, described the evening as “wildly entertaining.” “I am so impressed by the courage and sheer personality of the local leaders involved,” she said. “The reception was a great party. It was a super event all around.”

Action from Board of Visitors Retreat

Election of officers was held Sunday, July 22, at the Board of Visitors retreat.  By unanimous vote, the following members were elected to serve on the Executive Committee of the Board of Visitors:

Rector:  Pamela J. White ‘74
Vice Rector:  Holly T. Cuellar ’89
Secretary:  Xavier R. Richardson

At Large Members:
Daniel K. Steen ‘84
Joseph R. Wilson

The Rector, Vice Rector and Secretary will serve two-year terms from 2012 to 2014. The at-large members will each serve one-year terms from 2012 to 2013.

By unanimous vote, President Hurley’s contract was extended through June 30, 2015.

Etiquette Dinner with President Hurley Next Week

President Richard V. Hurley and his wife, Rose Hurley, will join students at an etiquette dinner on Wednesday, April 4. The dinner, sponsored by the Office of Career Services and the Office of Alumni Relations, will give students the opportunity to enjoy a six-course meal and discuss dining and professional etiquette.

Several alumni, including Mary E. White ’99, Lloyd Backstrom ’61, Chris Fines ’99 and Barbara Williams ’95, plan to attend the dinner.

Students who would like to attend need to register through the Office of Career Services. More information is available at http://academics.umw.edu/careerservices/2012/03/27/etiquette-dinner-with-president-hurley/.

President Hurley Receives National Recognition Award

The College Orchestra Directors Association has recognized UMW President Richard V. Hurley for his support of the university’s collegiate orchestra program. UMW Philharmonic Director Kevin P. Bartram presented Hurley with the national award during the orchestra’s “March Musical Mix” concert on Saturday, March 17.

The College Orchestra Directors Association (CODA) is the largest professional organization of collegiate orchestra conductors across the country. The award honors individuals within member colleges and universities who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to support the work of college and university orchestras.

National CODA President Anthony Holland said that Hurley “surpasses expectations as a supporter of the Arts and of his community. It is apparent that President Hurley has demonstrated extraordinary faith in the ability of the UMW Philharmonic to promote the institution as a community partner. He sets an example for all of us.”

The honor, given every two years at the association’s national conference, is the organization’s most significant award. Past recipients have included major financial donors, presidents of institutions, board chairs, department heads and fellow college, university and community musicians.

For more information about the award, read the full news release from Saturday, March 17.

UMW Listed Among Top 150 “Best Value Colleges”

The University of Mary Washington has been named to the Princeton Review’s 150 “Best Value Colleges: 2012 Edition.” The list of best value colleges, announced Tuesday, Feb. 7 on the Princeton Review website and in USA Today, features 75 public and 75 private colleges and universities.

Mary Washington is listed among the nation’s 75 “Best Value Public Colleges.” The Princeton Review bases its rankings on surveys of administrators and students at 650 institutions it identified as having excellent academics. The selection criteria examined more than 30 factors in the areas of academics, cost of attendance and financial aid, using data from surveys conducted from fall 2010 through fall 2011.

“We are delighted that once again the University of Mary Washington has been recognized for delivering a top quality education while providing a great value,” said President Richard V. Hurley. “An investment in a UMW education is an investment in innovative teaching and development of intellectual curiosity. Our students are exposed to rigorous academics that prepare them for the real world. In a time when it is so important to seek the greatest return on our investments, Mary Washington’s place on the Princeton Review list reaffirms this commitment to our students.”

Other Virginia public schools on the list include Christopher Newport University, the College of William & Mary, James Madison University, Longwood University, the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech.

A Message from the President

Welcome back to the spring 2012 semester!  Please click on the link below to view a special message for UMW faculty and staff.

 

http://president.umw.edu/umwcommunity/

Best wishes,

Rick Hurley
President

Happy Holidays from UMW

Richard and Rose Hurley welcomed the university community to a holiday open house on Friday, Dec. 9 at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center’s Ballroom.

A gingerbread display, complete with gingerbread houses, villages and trains, was the focal point of the Ballroom’s decorations. Various members of the UMW and local communities constructed the more than 20 pieces of the set. A scale version of Brompton was the centerpiece for the display.  Facilities staff created the Brompton replica and the UMW Dining Services Pastry Chef decorated the model. Click here for a slideshow of the decorations.

During the open house, guests were able to tour Brompton and experience its festive holiday decorations.

On Tuesday, Dec. 13, the university community received the annual holiday e-card, “President Hurley’s Holiday Messages,” a project of Design Services:

Fall Employee Luncheon Brings Faculty and Staff Together

UMW faculty and staff gathered for the annual Fall Employee Luncheon on Tuesday, October 18. After a meal in the Great Hall, faculty and staff members heard from the Staff Advisory Council (S.A.C.), University Relations and President Richard V. Hurley. In between speakers, the President and Rose Hurley drew names for the raffle items provided by the President’s Office.

Charles E. Tate, assistant dean of admissions and president of S.A.C., spoke about the recent programs on which the council has focused, including the Excellent Eagle parking spot, new employee orientation and appointments to university committees.  More information about S.A.C. is available at http://sac.umwblogs.org.

In an update on the university’s branding initiative, Anna Billingsley, acting associate vice president of university relations and communications, explained the tagline, “where great minds get to work,” and gave a sneak peek at new print and online advertisements.

The luncheon ended with updates from President Hurley on construction projects, institutional initiatives and the budget. Notably, he announced that the university will close a day and a half earlier in December than previously scheduled, making the first day of the winter holiday Wednesday, December 21. In addition, he said the university will reinstitute the gift card program this fall.

The Fall Luncheon is held annually for all faculty and staff.

Where Great Minds Get to Work

During a campus-wide pep rally on Friday, October 7, President Hurley unveiled the university’s new tagline and website.

Through a video featuring scores of students and staff members, Hurley revealed the phrase that will start to accompany the university logo: “where great minds get to work.” Earlier this year, UMW hired the Colorado-based marketing firm Educational Marketing Group Inc. (EMG) to develop a fresh approach to the manner in which UMW presents itself. EMG conceived the tagline after conducting extensive research and collecting input from more than 2,500 stakeholders in the university, including students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members. The tagline, along with new images of the university, will be part of an upcoming marketing and advertising campaign to increase the visibility of the institution on a local, regional and national level.

Months in the making, UMW’s web redesign effort is a daring institutional experiment where the real-time activities of faculty and students are the top priorities. Building on the success of the burgeoning UMW Blogs WordPress community, students, faculty and staff now have familiar tools for public web content. UMW’s pioneering implementation of WordPress as the platform for the new website is a scalable, multi-network content management system. This remarkably open and user-friendly environment promises to transform the university’s life on the web.

Read the full press release.