201325 After many years of learning and service to Averett, it is time to say goodbye to Rowland Tolliver '07, '12. Rowland acquired both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Averett along with serving in the residence life office. During his five years of service to student life/residence life, he has made major contributions to our residential program, as well as intramural sports and our residential summer programs. He will be missed! Please join us for a farewell reception in Jut's Café on Wednesday, June 26 from 3-4 p.m. Drop in, share a story and say goodbye. 201325 Please accept our appreciation for your thoughtfulness during our time of grief. The beautiful plant will serve as a reminder of our mother, Mary Ann Bowman, who passed away on May 23. Mom always loved her flowers and gardening; she was especially fond of the brilliant blue blooms of the hydrangea. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Sincerely, Pat Bowman and family 201324 A dozen members of the Averett staff completed the Campus CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training on June 5. The training was led by Al Smith, the CERT outreach coordinator for the city of Danville. During the 24 hours of training over three weeks, the participants learned about a variety of topics relating to emergency response protocols. The last class was a live simulation exercise in which the members of the training class were able to put the information they learned into practice. This was the first training session of this kind to be offered on campus. Plans are being made to offer this training in the fall semester to others. Once the dates have been set, notices will go out to all faculty and staff with information on how to register. 201324 Drew Wilson, sports information director, and his wife, Heather, have welcomed a baby girl into their family. Caroline Ruth was born on Tuesday, June 4 at 8:21 p.m. Congratulations, Drew! 201323 The academic journal "Christian Higher Education" has published a book review by Kim McMurtry, instructional technologist, of "Best Practices of Online Education: A Guide for Christian Higher Education," edited by Mark A. Maddix, James R. Estep and Mary E. Lowe. Read it in the current issue here. 201321 We will be saying goodbye to Dr. Stuart Jones on Tuesday, May 28 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in Averett Central. Please take a few minutes to stop by and wish him well in his new endeavors. 201321 Dr. David Hoffman, professor of English/journalism, has received the 2013 Saint Francis of Assisi Animal Friends Award from the Danville Area Humane Society. He was presented the award for providing awareness of local wildlife in the Danville area through his photographs taken on Danville's Riverwalk Trail and his monthly column "The Beauty of Nature," in the Danville Register & Bee. Congratulations, David! 201321 Members of Aramark's grounds keeping, maintenance and housekeeping departments spent part of their day Tuesday, May 14 representing the University as part of Danville's Make Danville Shine campaign for the month of May. The group gathered at the corner of Colquhoun and Jefferson streets, picking up litter all the way to Holbrook Avenue. They also picked up trash at Doyle Thomas Park. Way to go everyone! 201320 Meet Mary Leaf, who is an MBA student. Mary anticipates completing the program in August and graduating in December. What is your motivation for obtaining your degree from Averett? My motivation for obtaining my MBA degree is centered on working towards my true potential and to advance my knowledge of business, which will offer numerous positions of professional advancement. Overall I am motivated knowing that I can achieve great things as long as I am willing to work for it. What do you like best about Averett's GPS Program? Averett's GPS Program is structured one class at a time, and because of this I can put all of my attention into the subject matter at hand thus getting the most out of each course. Also, belonging to a study group, we each have our moment in the spotlight and have built relationships that I hope will last long after we complete the program. Please share one tip for your fellow classmates and future AU students: Tip: Take it as it comes, focus on the task and assignment at hand and move forward. 201320 Meet Kristina Jones, a BBA student. She plans to graduate in the spring of 2014. What is your motivation for obtaining your degree from Averett? My motivation for obtaining my degree is a personal goal that I set for myself before graduating from high school. I want my children, family and friends to experience and actually watch how a goal is transformed into reality as you stay focused on it. What do you most like about your degree program? The Averett GPS Program has allowed me to accomplish the largest goal of my life, while continuing to be successful as a mother, grandmother and employee. The research and knowledge that I have gained through this program has enhanced my skill level and business knowledge. I have been able to apply these skills in every aspect of my life. What advice do you have for your fellow classmates and future AU students? Don't give up! The mountain that stands before you is truly a mole hill, there are going to be times you feel very overwhelmed and feel like "I can't do this anymore, this is just too much." When you start to feels those emotions, step back and think about the real reason you started this program, pick up the phone and call a teammate that you know will encourage you to continue to push forward. The greatest reward you will receive is the feeling of accomplishment you have when you walk across that stage with family and friends watching as you collect your degree. 201320 Rebecca Warren, IT technician, recently placed 3rd overall at the Danville Art League Member's Only Show. A reception was held at American National Bank on Sunday, April 21. The judge's critique of her photograph, "The Pillar of Hercules," states "The linear appeal of this image invites the eye to move through and be caught in an eddy around the sphere-like architectural detail. The image's asymmetrical nature strikes an unlikely tranquility between movement and stasis, which is enhanced by its attention to monochromatic color and textures." Rebecca is pictured with her dad, Bill Hudson, a 1973 alumnus of Averett. 201320 It's never easy to let our family members move away - especially when they have meant so much to the University. Please join us on Tuesday, May 28, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in Averett Central as we say goodbye to Dr. Stuart Jones and wish him well in his new endeavors. 201319 Meet Felipe Cantu, a BBA student. He will graduate in December. What is your motivation for obtaining your degree from Averett? My motivation in obtaining a BBA is to diversify my résumé and workforce experience. I also wanted to set an example for my four children. I look forward to having them attend graduation in December. What do you most like about your degree program? I enjoy the versatility of class lecture setting and an online educational experience. What advice do you have for your fellow classmates and future AU students? Take advantage of rotating teams at least three or more occasions during your GPS experience. Learn from and encourage one another! 201319 Meet Melissa Skunca, a MBA student who anticipates graduating next spring. What is your motivation for obtaining your degree from Averett? My motivation to return and obtain my MBA is to further my career and have the necessary credits to become a licensed CPA. What do you most like about your degree program? What I like most about the program is the team atmosphere. It is wonderful to have your teammates around to pick you up when you feel like you cannot keep going forward. What advice do you have for your fellow classmates and future AU students? One tip for my fellow class mates is to breathe. It is challenging to juggle full-time work, family and school, but you can succeed! 201319 Drs. Janet Curley and Mary Condon were selected to present a poster titled "Create explicit values-based grading rubrics" at the National League for Nursing Education Summit. The selection process was competitive, with only 50 posters selected from the more than 300 abstracts received. The Education Summit will be held in Washington, D.C. Sept. 18-21. 201319 Charles Harris, executive vice president, is featured in the spring 2013 issue of the NCAA's "Champion" magazine. To read the article, please click here. He is also mentioned in another story in the magazine here. 201318 Meet Troy Bartley, a BBA student who will graduate this December. What is your motivation for obtaining your degree from Averett? My main drive to obtain a degree is to open as many career doors as possible. Having a degree in today's society is a requirement for many careers. Not having a degree puts you at a real disadvantage and I do not want that. Another motivation to obtain my degree is my children. Like many others who have children, I want to set the example for them to emulate. What do you most like about your degree program? The GPS Program gives me the ability to obtain a degree while being able to provide, enjoy and care for my family. This was very important in my decision on which university to attend. I am thankful that I discovered the GPS Program here at Averett. What advice do you have for your fellow classmates and future AU students? The courses are very short and the material covered is extensive, but not unbearable. You need to stay focused on your schoolwork and do it as early as you can. This alleviates all issues that will undoubtedly come if you wait until the last minute. 201318 Meet April Dovel, a MBA student who will graduate in August. What is your motivation for obtaining your degree from Averett? My main motivation for obtaining my degree is to be able to move into a management level in my current profession in the mental health field. What do you most like about your degree program? I enjoy the convenience that the MBA program offers me. I am able to maintain my full-time job while completing the program as full-time student. What advice do you have for your fellow classmates and future AU students? Do not let self-doubt rule you. 201318 Dr. Mary Condon and Dr. Janet Curley have been selected to present a poster session at the 2013 National League for Nursing Summit held in Washington D.C. Sept. 18-21. The poster session is entitled "Create an Explicit Values-Based Clinical Evaluation Tool." 201317 Meet Patrick Shirley, a BBA student. He is on track to graduate in 2015 but is hoping with a little more hard work he can do it sooner. What is your motivation for obtaining your degree from Averett? My motivation for obtaining my degree is my desire to improve myself. What do you most like about your degree program? What I like best about Averett's GPS Program is the flexible schedule; it allows me to work towards my goal without getting overwhelmed. What advice do you have for your fellow classmates and future AU students? One tip that I would share for fellow classmates and future AU students is do everything possible to reduce procrastination. 201317 Meet Karen Hawthorne, a BBA student who looks forward to graduating in August. What is your motivation for obtaining your degree from Averett? I would say the biggest motivation for obtaining my degree is the sense of accomplishment. I started this journey 30 years ago, but due to life happening I did not finish. I started back to school in the fall of 2009. It has been a challenging time, but giving all praise to the good Lord, I am still standing and looking forward to completing my degree. What do you most like about your degree program? The best part of the GPS program is the program itself. In the past I have taken up to four classes at a time and it can be very difficult to keep it all straight. Although the GPS program is challenging, it is nice to only have one class at a time. My mind can focus on the task at hand and allow me to pursue my education with more precision. What advice do you have for your fellow classmates and future AU students? It may sound a little crazy, but my tip is to learn to breathe. This is a journey, and you must pace yourself. Take time to catch your breath. Enjoy your classmates, team members and the faculty. The goal ultimately is to finish; however, stop and smell the roses along the way. The days when it seems like you cannot go on - take a deep breath. You can do it! 201317 Jason Ferrell, who joined the University in the fall as the North Campus grounds supervisor, has been promoted to director of grounds for the University's campuses. Jeff Hubbard has been named the customer response manager for all campuses. This promotion rolls all of his responsibilities into one function (he is the safety director, serves on the assessment advisory committee and works on the CIRT team committee). Congratulations, gentlemen, on your promotions! 201317 Charlotte Wilson, student financial services assistant for the GPS Program, was admitted to the hospital on Thursday, April 18. Please keep Charlotte and her family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. 201316 Meet Alex Forti, a BBA student. Alex anticipates graduating this December. What is your motivation for obtaining your degree from Averett? To obtain the tools to be more successful in my career, in order to better provide for my family. What do you most like about your degree program? I like the fact that the program is so convenient for adult learners with busy schedules. What advice do you have for your fellow classmates and future AU students? Never give up, no matter what life throws at you. 201316 Meet Christopher Robinson who is a BBA student. He hopes to graduate from the program December 2015. What is your motivation for obtaining your degree from Averett? My main motivation for obtaining my degree is to better myself and obtain the knowledge and tools needed to advance within my company. What do you like most about your degree program? I really enjoy the group structure and the amount of knowledge that we achieve in such a short period of time. You get a lot accomplished and the professors really make sure you understand what you have learned. What advice do you have for your fellow classmates and future AU students? One tip that I would offer to other AU classmates is to always communicate with those who are in your groups. Communication is key to making sure you complete all of your group work in the time allocated and your overall performance in that particular class. 201316 The following student leaders were recognized Tuesday, April 2 at the Honors Banquet: Student Leader of the Year: Jessie Henderson and Ashley Monroe Unsung Hero: Sierra Braxton Sears and Whitney Bronson Student Organization of the Year: Cougar Activities Board 201315 Meet Vicki Collins, a BBA student who anticipates graduating this December. What is your motivation for obtaining your degree from Averett? Obtaining a college degree has been a long time goal. When I started back in 2008, it was the right time to make it happen. In the future, I hope it might also help me to further my career path. What do you most like about your degree program? Our focus is on one class at a time, which is great. Since the classes are accelerated, just about the time you are getting tired of one class (subject) you are moving onto the next class. What advice do you have for your fellow classmates and future AU students? Do not procrastinate and wait until the last minute to do an assignment! I have found things I thought would take no time to complete have taken two to three times longer than I anticipated. Get those assignments completed early! 201315 Meet Lee Maddox, an MBA student who expects to finish his degree program next July and walk across the stage in December 2014. What is your motivation for obtaining your degree from Averett? For many of us, an education will serve as the foundation for our success. I am convinced that success is being prepared when opportunity presents itself. Louis Pasteur, a French chemist, once said, "Chance favors only the prepared mind." What do you like most about your degree program? The one night per week class schedule and the centralized location of the Innsbrook Campus are key factors that influenced me in attending Averett's GPS program. What advice do you have for your fellow classmates and future AU students? Success stems around planning and preparation. With that being said, setting realistic goals, believing in oneself and always respecting others are words of wisdom to live by. 201315 The following students were recently elected by their peers to Student Government Association leadership positions for the 2013-2014 academic year: President: Faran Asif Vice President: Kayla Sanon Treasurer: Carl Adams Secretary: Brandi Peterson Senators: Chad Davis and Michael Williams As you see these student leaders on campus, please offer them your congratulations and support as they begin their planning for next year. 201314 Meet Denise Scribner, who is pursuing a BBA degree. She will graduate in December. What is your motivation for obtaining your degree from Averett? It's a personal goal that I never gave up on. Unfortunately, life has a way of pushing you off the path. I was determined to get back on it. What do you like most about your degree program? The accelerated classes fit well into my work and family life. Going to class one night a week is do-able. What advice do you have for your fellow classmates and future AU students? Support your work study team. Being an active player makes the work load easier on everyone. Your team members will get you caught up with notes if you need to miss a class, or help you understand an assignment. 201314 Meet Amanda Cuomo, an MBA student. She expects to graduate in December. What is your motivation for obtaining your degree from Averett? Professionally, I am motivated in obtaining my degree to open up more job opportunities. If a potential job becomes available I don't want the lack of education to disqualify me. Since my introduction into the federal government I have wanted to be a director or deputy director running a branch or program. I still see that in my future. This degree will put me one step closer to that dream. Personally, I am motivated in obtaining my degree to show my children that you are the makers of your fate. When the Lord opens up opportunities for you, you don't pass them up. The Lord has been my strength throughout my life and is making this dream possible for me. What do you most like about your degree program? I really like that I'm in class with the same core group throughout the program. They have become my family. Also, the Averett GPS program is very similar to real life working groups. By working in a team you are able to improve on your own weaknesses by tapping into your teammates' knowledge, experience and abilities. What advice do you have for your fellow classmates and future AU students? The only person who can keep you from obtaining your dream is you. Don't let the naysayers shape your goals. 201314 On behalf of my family, I would like to thank everyone at Averett for the many kind expressions of sympathy and support we received since the unexpected loss of my father, Daniel F. Horne Jr. We are extremely grateful for the flowers, cards, books, and donations to the Wounded Warrior Project in his name. Also, I owe a special thank you to Dr. Deb DeMarey who so expertly covered numerous classes in my absence. Thank you all for your help in getting through such a difficult time. Patti Horne 201314 Janet Roberson, registrar and military affairs officer, has been named commander of the Danville Area Veterans Council. The Council pulls together the VFW, American Legion and DAV. Please congratulate Janet when you see her. We thank you for all that you do for our veterans, Janet. 201313 Meet Tracy Williams, an MBA student. Tracy anticipates graduating in Spring 2014. What is your motivation for obtaining your degree from Averett? My motivation for obtaining my degree is a personal goal of mine. It was important for me to finish what I started nearly 20 years ago. As a parent, it is equally important to me to be a role model, and encourage my children to continue their education beyond high school. What do you most like about your degree program? One of the things I like best about Averett's GPS Program is being in a traditional setting amongst your peers and participating in a study group. It's like having an extended family that is rooting for your success. We play off of each other's strengths and support one another throughout our group assignments. What advice do you have for your fellow classmates and future AU students? For my fellow classmates: when working with your study group, use each other's strengths and switch it up every now and again. This will allow others to develop in areas where they lack. For future AU students: three words, "Just do it!" I must admit I have procrastinated over the years and thought I could never return to school. However, once I set my mind to do it, I did. 201313 Meet Tim Nall, an MBA student. He expects to graduate in December. What is your motivation for obtaining your degree from Averett? I earned my bachelor's degree in December 1994 and began working two weeks later. After working for the same company for almost 16 years and advancing through the ranks, my position was eliminated. While looking for a new career, even with my extensive background and a bachelor's degree, one question seemed to always come up and that was if I had my master's degree. With so many people in similar situations, I knew that I had to stop putting off a return to school and enrolled at Averett. What do you like most about your degree program? The structure: the way the program is set up at Averett makes the commitment a lot less invasive on all other aspects of one's life. With the classes only one night a week, it leaves more time for study meetings and other activities throughout the week. There are other programs out there that require attending classes every other weekend and that just would not work for me. What advice do you have for your fellow classmates and future AU students? Rely on your team: life happens and situations will arise where work or family may require more attention than usual, so you will need to lean on your team members for assistance. I have been fortunate enough to have a great set of team members and we rely on each other whenever necessary. 201312 Meet Guy Haskins, a bachelor of business administration degree student. Guy expects to complete his degree program in September 2014. What is your motivation for obtaining your degree from Averett? My motivation for obtaining my degree is further career advancement and to become more competitive in the work force. What do you most like about your degree program? I like the flexibility of the program because it is a perfect fit for my work schedule; I travel a lot for work. What advice do you have for your fellow classmates and future AU students? Take full advantage of every opportunity you have to take multiple classes, do not over extend yourself, and give full participation in all group work, because team work makes things that much easier. 201312 Meet Brian Bristow '12 who is pursuing his MBA degree. Brian anticipates graduating in December 2014. What is your motivation for obtaining your degree from Averett? I think one of the most motivating factors is success, and in that mindset, I have completed my bachelor's degree graduating summa cum laude, and currently am in the process of obtaining a master of business administration. I had intended to obtain my bachelor's while on active duty in the Corps, but as many can relate "Operational Commitment" takes precedence. Additionally, my supportive wife, family and friends assist in keeping me motivated to push forward, and yes, they do want to hear what course you're in and what you are learning. What do you most like about your degree program? The program works in coordination with my full time job, family, sporting events and experiences. Although there have been some compromises on social events over the years, I know that my education and degree will afford me other opportunities - like the international business course going to Ireland this year. What advice do you have for your fellow classmates and future AU students? Sometimes you just really have to sit down and just do the work, and you may have to change your environment and habits to suit your own set of rules. Just like any undertaking that will require years of commitment, keep firmly in the forefront of your mind why you are doing it. Reward yourself each time to complete an assignment or course; these milestones are very important. 201312 Dr. Gene Steadman Jr., professor of business administration and chair of the department, will provide the Commencement address at Brunswick Community College in Supply, North Carolina on Friday, May 10. Steadman requested the honorarium for the keynote be placed in the Campus Fund Drive Scholarship account to lend tuition support to a deserving Brunswick Community College student. 201311 The battle continues... I will be having surgery on March 26 at Duke. There are two small spots in my upper left lung (that have been tracked for several months by scans locally) that need to be removed. It looks promising - they will do a wedge resection (taking a small part of the lung) and a lymph node removal. Possibly the surgery will be followed by radiation, depending on what they find. The current estimate is 2-4 days in the hospital, followed by 4-6 weeks of recovery. The surgery is a fairly standard procedure, and it is very encouraging that no other spots have appeared. As a bonus, I get out of the two April faculty meetings. 201311 Meet Fred Hicks, an MBA student who anticipates graduating in December 2014. What is your motivation for obtaining your degree from Averett? My motivation for obtaining my degree was to meet like-minded persons to pursue entrepreneurial ventures. What do you most like about your degree program? All of the instructors are active practitioners in their respective field, bringing real-world experience and lessons to the classroom. What advice do you have for your fellow classmates and future AU students? Be prepared to have fun, challenge yourself, engage the content and commit to being a lifelong learner. 201311 The Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) Program has a Student Spotlight program. Each month, the academic advisors pick a student from each campus and have the student answer a few questions about his or her experience here at Averett. Meet Michelle Ayala, who is pursuing her bachelor of business administration degree. She expects to graduate in 2015. What is your motivation for obtaining your degree from Averett? Family is the most important thing to me in life, and so my motivation for obtaining my degree would be my parents. I want to make them even prouder, and someday be able to take care of them the way they have taken care of me for so many years. I love my parents and owe it all to them. What do you most like about your degree program? My enrollment team and academic advisor, Kim Prosser, Dr. (Nancy) Atkins, and my professors have all made this a great experience. This program supports my busy schedule and I love the way everyone is always willing to work with you and help find a solution to whatever road blocks that may come up. What advice do you have for your fellow classmates and future AU students? Obtaining a degree is the best decision anyone can make. Education is the key to having a successful future and it's never too late to go back to school. No matter what we do with the time God has given us here on earth, one thing is for sure, the time will go by. So why not do something positive with it that can better our lives and the lives of our loved ones. 201311 The Aramark staff recently spent some time at G.L.H. Johnson Elementary School in Danville. They read and acted out Dr. Seuss's "The Sneetches and Other Stories" for a group of kindergarteners. Mike and Jeff were Sneetches and Phillip was Mr. Sylvester McMondkey McBean, the story's protagonist. 201311 One of the MBA classes at Quantico celebrated the end of their two-year program by sharing dinner at Olive Garden on Feb. 27. The guest speaker was Joe Johnson (second from left), owner of the Shelf Genie franchise in the metro-Washington D.C. He spoke about the challenges of selecting a franchise and managing a small business. 201310 Meet Wanda Gonzalez, who will graduate in the spring of 2014. What is your motivation for obtaining your degree from Averett? It was on my bucket list and I felt that after encouraging my four daughters to get an education that I should do the same and set an example for my grandchildren. What do you like most about your degree program? I like that we are in small groups and everyone helps and supports each other. What advice do you have for your fellow classmates and future AU students? When you feel like giving up, share your thoughts with someone who has encouraged you, and they will pull you through. 201310 The Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) Program has a Student Spotlight program. Each month, the academic advisors pick a student from each campus and have the student answer a few questions about his or her experience here at Averett. Meet Keith Newnam, who will graduate in December. What is your motivation for obtaining your degree from Averett? I am inspired by my family. Completing my undergraduate degree has been a dream since the mid-80s. Life has offered challenges, and years have passed. Both of my daughters have just recently graduated college and it was time for me to finish what I started 30 years ago. I have the support and encouragement from my family and my company's leadership, so I am finishing this journey. What do you like most about your degree program? I enjoy the GPS structure. Weekly face-to-face meetings keep me engaged at a commitment level that I can manage. I treat these responsibilities like a business meeting that I attend weekly and need to be prepared for. The program mirrors business life and is manageable. Additionally, I really like the flow from class to class. I know exactly where I need to be to see this to conclusion. I don't have to worry about registering for classes and changing schedules. This is a very well structured program. What advice do you have for your fellow classmates and future AU students? I believe the secret to success in this program is teamwork. The study group dynamic is similar to committees and teams in an organization. Partnering with quality people and pulling your own weight is a positive formula for success. I am fortunate to have an awesome study group team and I will share this graduation success with them. 201309 Dr. Aimee Brenner, assistant professor of education, will present a paper at the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, on March 27. The title of the paper is "Nine Substantiated Practices in Teacher Education that Promote Technology Integration in Early Career Teachers: Applying Empirical Work to Professional Development." The paper focuses on a study she conducted to identify instructional technology integration strategies and practices in preservice teacher education that contribute to the transfer of technology integration knowledge and skills to the instructional practices of early career teachers. She has been able to apply many of these technology integration strategies to her own instructional practice as a first year faculty member in Averett's education department. The implementation of these strategies was also a focus of the paper. 201309 Thanks to the Averett family for your cards and words of caring after the death of my mother, Theresa Lemery. She lived a good life in the Denver area. And thanks for the plant as well - it is lovely. For more info, Mom has an online obituary, with some pictures, posted at rundus.com. Steve and Linda Lemery 201308 The family of Betty Heard thanks you all for your many acts of kindness during her illness and following her death. Gail Allen 201308 The Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) team had their first competition of the spring season Feb. 9 at North Carolina State University. The team finished fourth out of six teams and several individual riders placed well. Sophomore Scnobia Stewart placed first in her division and junior Lindsay Baker placed third. Senior Nicki Conradt-Eberlin placed sixth at the Introductory level, while junior Jessie Hayes placed sixth at the Upper Training level and junior Shannon Stone placed first at the First level. 201308 Jillian Gourley '09 has been promoted from a senior admissions counselor to assistant director of admissions. Jillian has worked in the admissions office for four years and has done tremendous work. Please congratulate Jillian on her promotion when you see her around campus. 201307 The Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) Program has a Student Spotlight program. Each month, the academic advisors pick one undergraduate and one graduate student from each campus and have the student answer a few questions about his or her experience here at Averett. Meet Tim Eaton, one of our GPS students. Tim expects to graduate before the end of the year. What is your motivation for obtaining your degree from AU? I've always understood the importance of having a degree, but it just never made its way to the top of my list. With my wife, three kids, church commitments and my career as a Marine, I stayed really busy and was never able to find the time to be a full-time student. Well, now I am retired, my kids are educated and productive members of society and there is little travel with my current job, so I decided to take advantage of the opportunity and pursue my degree. What do you most like about your degree program? I chose the Averett GPS Program because Averett values the same things I do. I also enjoy the smaller class size and find learning much more fun under the GPS structure. What advice do you have for your fellow classmates and future AU students? The one tip I would offer fellow classmates and future AU students is to make a commitment to be on time and attend every class. It's kind of like being on a fitness program. When you shorten your workout or skip a day, it gets easier and easier to do it again and again. Next thing you know you are not even working out at all. 201306 Assistant Biology Professor Dr. Jason Robertson and his family would like to think the Averett community for their show of love and support following the death of his mother. "Thank you to all!" Sincerely, Jason 201305 Jamie Walker '06, director of security, was presented with an Excellence in Service Award in support of housing and residence life during the campus wide staff meeting on Thursday, Jan. 24. The award, which is given out by the statewide housing/residence life organization - Virginia Association of College and University Housing Officers - recognizes an individual's contribution, support and positive impact on the housing/residence life program on campus. Walker was nominated for the award based on his leadership and support not just of residence life, but of the University as a whole. Under Jamie's leadership, campus security, in partnership with residence life, has adjusted to grow and meet student needs and expectations, creating a new culture on campus where students are much more engaged in safety and security efforts and initiatives. In addition, a training program has been created that partners RAs with campus security to do evening patrols and safety security checks throughout campus during the month of August. This initiative has not only helped residence life and campus security develop more meaningful relationships, it models for our students teamwork and systems of support at work for them. 201305 Charlotte Wilson, student financial services assistant, was briefly in the hospital last week and is now recuperating at home. Please keep Charlotte in your thoughts and prayers. 201305 Two Averett staff members recently graduated from the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Southside Program. Jennifer Robinson, technical services librarian and assistant professor, and Marietta Sanford, director of academic services for the Graduate and Professional Studies Program were a part of the 18th class. Robison and Sanford, along with their classmates, created the LoveSouthside.com website and campaign. The mission of LoveSouthside is that it will foster community pride by raising awareness of positive attributes of the Southside region. Congratulations, Jennifer and Marietta! 201305 Dr. Ralph Hawkins, associate professor of religious studies, just published a new book, "How Israel Became a People." The book is about the origins of Israel in the ancient land of Canaan. To purchase the book visit www.amazon.com. 201304 Former English Professor Dr. Betty Heard, who had been in declining health for several months, passed away peacefully early Wednesday (Jan. 23). Funeral arrangements are not known at this time. Betty retired in 2011 after working at Averett since 1981. During her tenure at the University, she was twice recognized with the Outstanding Faculty Member Award. She served on numerous committees, chairing the Faculty Council on more than one occasion, and was the editor of the newly revived "Averett Journal." She loved to share her passion for literature and poetry with her students and those around her. Her interests expanded beyond books. Betty was an avid golfer and in the summer could often be found on the golf course at Caswell Pines. She was a passionate Cowboys fan, and was willing to fight anyone who talked badly about her beloved Cowboys. Her sharp wit and infectious smile will be greatly missed. Please keep Betty's friends and family in your thoughts and prayers during this time. 201304 Congratulations to Susan Rowland who has been named director of distance learning and IDEAL at Averett. Susan has been working with Averett's faculty to develop quality distance learning courses for years, and she is now researching what it takes to offer online courses beyond Virginia. Susan will be our go-to person as we expand our distance learning offerings. Thank you, Susan! 201304 Dr. David Hoffman, professor of English/journalism, and his English setter, Sadie, will be at the Attic Hound (on Main Street below the Coffee Emporium) on Saturday, Jan. 26, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Some of his pictures from the Danville Riverwalk Trail are on display there. There will be refreshments. 201304 While Sarah Plaut, academic advisor for the GPS Program in the Central Region, is leaving Averett she will continue to help others, just in a different capacity. Sarah, who graduated from John Tyler Community College's Nursing Program as an RN on Dec. 17, has accepted an RN position at the Richmond Community Hospital. She will start working there Feb. 11. We wish her the very best as she begins this new venture in her life. Congratulations, Sarah! 201304 Carolyn "Cricket" Morris, equestrian associate and coach of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association team, has been awarded the Southwest Virginia Hunter Jumper Association (SWVHJA) Annual Sportsmanship Award. She has also been appointed the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Youth Committee Chair. Cricket has served on the USHJA Youth Committee since its creation in 2003. She has also served as president of the SWVHJA board for many years and just recently stepped down from that position. 201303 Basketball wasn't the only thing on the minds of the Averett men's basketball team during their holiday break. The team provided a meal to Danville's House of Hope Homeless Shelter and spent some time with the residents. To read the full story, visit the team's page on the athletics website by clicking here. 201303 Stephanie Walker '12, has been promoted to student financial aid counselor and federal work study coordinator. She previously served as student financial services assistant. Stephanie's office is in Averett Central, room 117. Congratulations, Stephanie! 201301 Averett Men's Basketball player Paul Porter was featured in an article in a Roanoke magazine, PlayByPlay, last month. You can find the article on page 12 by clicking here. 201301 Dear Averett Community, Thank you so much for the beautiful flower arrangement! More than that, thank you for the love and support you've shown Andy and I during this trying time. We are so blessed to be a part of the Averett community! Sincerely, Andy & Katie Fitch 201251 After nearly eight years at the University, most recently as the director of annual giving programs, Joey Wilkerson '07 is leaving Averett at the end of the month. Wilkerson has accepted a position at Guilford College as their associate director of philanthropy. Please drop by Alumni Hall from 9-11 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 20 as we thank him for his tireless work on behalf of Averett and wish him well in the next chapter of his life. 201249 Dr. Gene Steadman Jr., professor of business administration and department chair, has been invited to speak at convocation and graduation Dec. 17 for the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) at the University of South Carolina. Steadman, himself a chemical engineering graduate from the CEC, will speak about his experiences and things he wishes he had known when he graduated. 201249 Please keep Charlotte Wilson, student financial services assistant in Averett Central, in your thoughts and prayers. She has recently been in the hospital, but is now resting at home. 201248 Dear Averett University Family, I want to thank you for all of the kind and supportive words expressed to Katie and me following Katie's mom's passing earlier this month. Your thoughtfulness, cards and prayers have meant so much during this time. Sincerely, Andy Fitch, controller 201248 Averett's Aramark team reached out to one of their own during the Thanksgiving holiday. The team collected food and money for retired employee Nina Garrett. Nina wanted to let everyone know how much she appreciated the gifts. Thanks to everyone who participated in making her day special. 201248 Dear Averett University Family, We would like to thank those at AU who have reached out to our family after the death of our brother, Gilbert. We would also like to express our thanks for the beautiful flower arrangement. Your thoughtfulness, kindness, expressions of sympathy, cards and prayers have meant so much to our family. Thank you for your support at this difficult time. Mavis Brantley-Lloyd and Amelia Brantley 201247 Dear Averett University Family, Thank you so much for the beautiful plant that was sent during the passing of my father. Your thoughtfulness, cards and prayers have meant so much during this time. Sincerely, LeeAnn Mahan senior enrollment representative for GPS 201247 Dr. David Hoffman, professor of English and journalism, has been selected as the Artist of the Month at a new store, the Attic Hound, on Main Street. Several dozen of his nature photos from the Riverwalk Trail will be on display from Nov. 15-Dec. 15. 201246 Theatre Professor Jackie Finney is continuing to recover at home following surgery on his heel. Please remember to keep former English Professor Dr. Betty Heard in your thoughts and prayers as she continues to recover from a prolonged illness. 201246 I want to extend a special thank you to my AU family for the beautiful floral arrangement, thoughts and prayers during the loss of my father. Faye Brandon 201245 Students and faculty from our teacher education programs attended the Virginia Council for Exceptional Children Fall Conference (VA-CEC), Nov. 2, in Lynchburg. Participants had opportunities to network with educators throughout Virginia; attend sessions designed for professional development; share information on topics such as behavioral disorders and positive supports, technology, response to intervention, and instructional strategies for math, science and reading. Participants included Allison Sparks, Carllnisha Johnson, Michael McGregor, Kaitlyn Fulcher, Brandon Hopkins, Caitlin Haws, Dr. George Odongo and Dr. Pamela Riedel. 201245 Dr. Lisa Witzig, adjunct professor for the Graduate and Professional Studies Program, has had a paper she co-authored accepted for presentation at the AMTP 2013 conference in the spring. It has also been nominated for Best in Track. The paper, "A Calculated Model of LinkedIn Feature Usage Across Organizational Types: Large, Small, and Non-profits" was co-authored with two professors from Anderson University. The group researched the usage of LinkedIn by business type - Fortune 200, INC 200 and Fortune 200 Non-profit. Their study showed that non-profits and small businesses utilize the features of LinkedIn with less intensity than large businesses. 201244 AU's Gospel Choir will hold a meet and greet on Monday, Nov. 5 at 5 p.m. in the multi-purpose room. There will be music, food, and fellowship. 201243 Several MBA students collaborated with Intertape Polymer Group by participating in the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce's Show Biz Trade Show on Oct. 17 as part of a community service project. The mission of the team was to educate and inform the community about the benefits of energy efficiency and promote ENERGY STAR®. The team also formed a new organization, the Southside Energy Efficiency Council (SEEC), which will continue to promote energy efficiency in Southside Virginia through its various members. For more information about the SEEC visit their website at gosouthside.com. The team consisted of Ta Lowery, Richard Phelps, Valerie Draud, Chase Fitzgerald, Mike Burgess, Rebecca Hudson, Philip Kaunekas and Adjunct Professor Dr. Michael Jones. 201243 Thank you to everyone who helped with Homecoming. It is truly an event that takes a village of people to make it a success. Homecoming 2013 is September 27-29 so mark your calendars now. Dan Hayes, Alumni Director 201242 Thank you to everyone who helped with Homecoming. It is truly an event that takes a village of people to make it a success. Homecoming 2013 is September 27-29 so mark your calendars now. Dan Hayes, Alumni Director 201242 Angie Bowers, admissions office manager and coordinator of applications processing has been named coach of the cheerleading squad. Angie has been an avid supporter of the University's athletics programs for more than a decade. Angie has worked in admissions since 2000. Congratulations, Angie! 201241 With Averett's new partnership with Synergis Education, Graduate and Professional Studies is on course to grow. With that expected growth came the realization that the University needs a person in the registrar's office who could assist with the development of GPS, would embrace the use of technology and could envision a multi-state system. The perfect person for this critical position was already with us in Kendall Carter '86, '97! With her vast experience and knowledge of Averett, Kendall will be invaluable as an associate registrar with major responsibilities for GPS faculty credentialing and student records. Kendall, thank you for growing with us - and welcome back to Main Campus! 201201 Averett University Family, I don't believe there are words to express just what the "Averett family" meant to Mom. We, her family, want to thank you not only for your thoughtful floral remembrance, but for all your many kindnesses to Mom through the years, phone calls and visits, as well as your thoughts and prayers for us at this time. God bless you all. Lynne, Lew, Frieda, Johnathan and Roberta 201235 Dr. Lisa Witzig, adjunct professor in the GPS Program, has co-authored a paper "Organizations' Use of LinkedIn: An Analysis of Nonprofits, Large Corporations and Small Businesses" that will be published in "The Marketing Management Journal." Witzig and her co-authors focused their study on the professional social media tool LinkedIn and its use by large and small businesses as well as nonprofits. If you would like to read a copy of the paper, please contact Bob Sims. 201233 Dr. Nancy P. Atkins, regional director for academic services in the Central Region for the GPS Program was invited to be the guest speaker for the 2012 Kittrell Job Corps (KJC) Center graduation on Aug. 24. She will address more than 100 KJC graduates, their families and friends. According to its web page, Kittrell Job Corps center in Kittrell, N.C. is "a no-cost education and career technical training program administered by the U.S Department of Labor that helps young people ages 16 through 24 improve the quality of their lives through career technical and academic training." 201232 Dr. Lyle Cady, associate professor of business administration for the Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) Program was invited to join the judging panel for the STIHL Manufacturing summer camp July 18-21. STIHL Corporation, located in Virginia Beach, is best known for its high quality chain saws and other landscaping equipment. Every year, STIHL conducts a summer camp on manufacturing for high school students. The objective is to show these students how products are made and give them some hands on experience in manufacturing. The participants learn construction and programming of CNC engraving mills, build prototypes and learn production planning techniques. The camp's objective is to produce a product, and this year the product was a kit to assemble robots for the robotics competition. Cady served on the judging panel with Christian Koestler, STIHL's VP for operations and a 2003 graduate of Averett's MBA program. He was invited to join the panel by Simon Nance, manager of training at STIHL and a current MBA student. 201232 Thank you for the many expressions of sympathy during the loss of my father. The support from the Averett family has helped me during this time, and my family will never forget your kindness. Thank you, Marty Jackson 201231 Dear AU Family, Thank you so much for the beautiful flower arrangement and your thoughts and prayers. The Breen Family 201230 Mike Dunlevy and his family are pleased to announce a new addition to their family - a baby girl named Mollie who weighed in at 8.4 pounds. 201229 Dear Averett Family, Thank you for the special get well wishes! I appreciate your making me a celebrity. I wear the Averett University hat at every opportunity. Albert Maurakis ’41, ‘08 201229 The office of residence life is excited to announce that Rowland Tolliver has been promoted from graduate assistant to area director for apartment living and coordinator of intramurals and residential summer programs. Rowland has served in the residence life for more than three years in multiple roles. Outside of the outstanding work he has done as a hall director for Fugate Hall, his dedication to student involvement has grown the intramural programming into a vibrant, sought after and celebrated experience on campus. Way to go Rowland! 201228 Dr. Eugene "Gene" Steadman will be spending more time in Danville as the department chair for business administration. Steadman has been a professor of business administration at Averett since 1993. He teaches courses in economics, finance and management at several of Averett's sites throughout the Commonwealth. 201226 Gabe Waterman has agreed to continue to serve as the interim director of academic services for the Tidewater Region. He has held this position since late March, previously serving as an academic advisor. Congratulations, Gabe! 201225 MBA students taking an organizational behavior and contemporary issues in leadership course with Dr. John Guarino were required to complete a community service project. The "A Team," as they call themselves, created a collegiate chapter of the American Red Cross. The group helped man a table at the Festival in the Park Health Fair on May 19. They created the chapter not only to assist the local Red Cross office in the community, but to get Averett students active in helping the community of Danville and to help them get training for disaster relief, CPR and other Red Cross courses. In the fall, they will be set up at the Club Fair. The team members are Christy Lorenzen, Feleta Morton, Larry Henshaw, Christina Smart and Sherry Phelps. 201223 I wish to thank Averett and Jay Frith for the lab dedication. All of you that attended and those that sent messages made my day. Sorry that I have been so long in sending this, but I entered the hospital shortly after the dedication for surgery and other complications. I am much better now and hope to get back on track. I do miss my friends and students at Averett and sincerely wish I could be teaching those field courses again. Edward Fisher 201315 Kim McMurtry, instructional technologist, will present a paper entitled "Designing Effective Training for Faculty New to Online Teaching" at the 2013 VCU Online Learning Summit in Richmond on May 14. Kim will describe her asynchronous online seminar for faculty, best practices for facilitating online courses and report the results of pre- and post-assessment surveys, which confirm improvement in participants' concept of online education and in online teaching strategies. 201222 It is with mixed emotions that the institutional advancement office announces that Amelia Brantley, webmaster, is leaving the University. We appreciate all that she has done during her 10 years with us, including four revamps of the website, the creation of the campus map, the new admissions video for the website and the Find AU People database. Amelia's last day with us is June 9. She will be joining Webparts LLC, a new company in Danville that is located in the Masonic Temple Building, as a programmer. Please join us as we say goodbye and wish her well in this new venture. Buddy Rawley,vice president for institutional advancement 201222 We are pleased to announce that Dr. Catherine Clark will be the new director of study abroad, replacing Dr. Larry Wilburn who retired May 31. Catherine will continue to teach her French classes as well as some classes in the English department. She will be moving to the study abroad office in the Galesi Family Student Success Center over the summer. Congratulations, Catherine! 201221 The newest members of Staff Council, who will serve for the next two years, are: Lisa Stewart, senior accountant Dana Mehalko, academic advisor for the GPS Program Linda Lemery, circulation manager Amelia Brantley, webmaster Congratulations, everyone! 201221 A million thanks to the exhibitors who displayed their crafts in the Averett Craft Display. We learned so much about each other and our areas of expertise that we otherwise would never have known about. The displays were so successful because of the participants, and we thank you for that. Thanks too, to all those who attended the Campus-Wide Coffee Breaks this spring - we really enjoyed chatting and exchanging ideas with you! Linda Lemery and Charlotte Wilson 201221 Danielle Carpenter, enrollment counselor, shared what the enrollment team for the GPS' Central Region has been up to lately. The team recently organized a military blitz to support our troops. Goodie bags filled with candy, promotional items and a hand-written thank you note were delivered to more than 80 different military installations (Navy, Marines, Army, recruiting offices, reserves and National Guards) in the Metro-Richmond, Charlottesville, Northern Virginia and Petersburg areas. The military blitz generated 89 new inquiries and 25 new corporate contacts were established. This resulted in 17 new corporate appointments and 16 new events scheduled. Way to go Team Central! 201221 Several students in the MBA program recently held a fundraiser to support Haven, a new organization in Danville that supports those affected by domestic violence. The members of the study team who helped with the fundraiser are: Ralph Elder, Teresa Wiseman, Brad Hartman, Faith Campbell and David Hudson. To read more about the fundraiser, click here. 201221 Dr. Stuart Jones, vice president for enrollment, has been invited to Wesley College in Dover, Del. with the Performa Higher Education consulting team to share information regarding Averett's successful creation and launch of Averett Central. Jones has also been invited to give a presentation about Averett Central to other colleges and universities on July 17 at the annual National Small College Enrollment Conference in Asheville, N.C. 201221 Dr. Mary Vanderlinden, dean of student success, has been selected as a contributing editor for FLOW TV, an online magazine that covers television and media culture. She will publish three articles on racial stereotypes and cliched portrayals on television and the affects those illustrations have on our lives. FLOW TV is published by the Department of Radio, Television, and Film at the University of Texas-Austin. 201220 On April 16, Chalk Talk, Danville Public Schools' weekly news magazine, featured Averett University's student-teachers working with third graders at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School. The education majors began working with the third graders in the fall on science and economics for their Standards of Learning (SOL) tests. To see the video click here (look for the April 16 segment). 201218 Mike Fisher, assistant director of facilities, and Alonzo Jones, director of facilities, attended and completed Aramark's Facility Maintenance Training Academy at George Washington University in Washington D.C. April 23-27. They attended courses related to People Who Know and Care, Proactive Service, Continuous Innovation, Advanced Asset Preservation and Holistic Stewards of the Environment. After completing the course they had to present a written and verbal presentation in order to receive certification. 201218 I would like to thank everyone for the flowers, emails, cards and kind words that I received over the past few weeks during my mother's illness and passing. I feel blessed to work with such a kind and caring group of people! Ginger 201218 Tiffany Smart, a student in Averett's Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) Program, was asked to organize a volunteer team to orchestrate registration at one of the largest fundraisers for the Martinsville-Henry County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). Checkers' Mutt Strut and Bike Ride was held at the Martinsville Speedway on April 14 and featured vendors, raffle drawings, K-9 officer exhibitions, a dog costume contest and a stroll around the racetrack. Smart brought in her fellow bachelor of business administration team members to help - Erica Hudson, Lori McAlexander, Misty Forbes and Kimberly Boyd. 201217 Dear Averett family, Thank you so much for your phone calls, cards and expressions of sympathy following the loss of my partner, Lynne Bjarnesen. Your kindness and caring has made a difficult time a little easier to bear. Kenneth Bond 201217 A farewell reception for Don D'Alfonzo, who has worked at Averett for 10 years, will be held Friday, April 27 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in Jut's Café. Join us for light refreshments as we wish him well! 201216 Randy King, director of marketing and communications, will be leaving Averett at the end of April to pursue an opportunity with McKesson Medical-Surgical. Randy, who has led the marketing and communications team since June 2010, will be the communications manager for the Richmond-based business. Click here for the rest of the story. 201216 Students in Assistant Professor Penny Sornberger's Stage Craft II class recently worked on a display for the 100 year anniversary of the Titanic at the Langhorne House. To read more about the exhibit click here. 201216 You are cordially invited to a meet and greet reception on Wednesday, April 18 from 3-4 p.m. in the garden behind The Schoolfield House Booksellers for Alexis Ehrhardt, assistant for academic affairs; Tom McMurtry, chief information officer and director of technology; and Kim McMurtry, instructional technologist. 201215 Linda Lemery, circulation manager in the library, recently published an article in Associates (2012, March, v. 18, no. 3), an electronic journal for library support staff. Entitled "Food for Thought--Visual Shelf Reading: One Library's Process," the article presents an organized, self-directed method for empowering student assistants to meet or exceed expectations in maintaining library book order in the stacks. To read the article, click here. Congratulations, Linda! 201213 The Averett Singers will perform a spring concert Sunday, April 1 at 4 p.m. at Ascension Lutheran Church. The concert is free and open to the public. Saxophonist Brentt Simmons will be a featured performer. 201213 Dr. Alice Obenchain-Leeson, associate professor of business administration for the GPS Program, has had a paper she co-authored with Dr. Louis Martinette, GPS adjunct professor and associate professor of business at the University of Mary Washington (UMW), accepted for publication in the Journal of Service Science this spring. The paper - "The Relationship between Learning Orientation, Business Performance and the Moderating Effect of Competitive Advantage: A Service Organization Perspective" - examines the role of any organization's ability to learn and its impact on performance. For more information about the paper and a presentation Drs. Obenchain-Leeson and Martinette made at Harvard University, click here. 201212 Kevin Harden, social science librarian and associate professor, enjoys playing pop rock acoustic guitar at regional music spots. He recently played at Tate Street Coffee House in Greensboro, N.C. Linda and Steve Lemery along with Jim Verdini were in the audience and really enjoyed the event. Linda particularly enjoyed the Bob Dylan pieces. Way to go, Kevin! 201212 Marquita Graves, administrative assistant to the vice president for academic affairs, will perform in the Broadway Musical "Dreamgirls" at The Prizery in South Boston March 22-24, 27, 29-31 at 7:30 p.m. and a 3 p.m. matinee performance March 25. Graves plays Lorrell Robinson, a character inspired by Mary Wilson, a member of The Supremes. Her character is a good-natured background singer with The Dreams who falls deeply in love with the married Jimmy Early and becomes his mistress. Tickets may be purchased online at www.prizery.com and are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors and $10 for youth. 201212 Averett's GPS Danville team participated in a community service project to support our four legged friends on Feb. 23 - International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day. The GPS admissions team partnered with student services and encouraged students to give boxes of biscuits. The response from students and staff was fantastic! Over the span of a day, a large box filled with treats was collected and donated to the Danville Area Humane Society. 201210 Dr. Anne Lewis, associate professor of music, has been busy. On Feb. 24, she served as pianist for the All-County High School Chorus for Rockingham County Schools in North Carolina. On March 1 she sang in a large chorus for a film concert titled "Voices of Light: the Passion of Joan of Arc" for the American Choral Directors Association's Southern Regional Conference in Winston-Salem, N.C. The chorus and orchestra provided the underscoring for a 1920 French silent film. Then on March 2 she began serving as music director for "Little Women: The Musical," which runs for two weekends with the Theatre Guild of Rockingham County. 201210 Alumnus Scott Grimsey '05, who is stationed in Afghanistan, has been in contact with Sociology Professor Dr. Becky Clark about supporting U.S. service dogs that are part of an active military police unit. Clark is collecting money to purchase items for these dogs through Fosters & Smith, who will ship for free. If you would like to support this cause, take your donation to Clark's office in 317 Frith by March 21. 201208 If you've been wondering about the crisis in the eurozone and the state of the euro, your questions will be answered during a presentation by three business administration students - Ilona Kilpi, Ville Koivunen and Charles Terrell. They will hold a PowerPoint presentation entitled "€ - Euro: History, Present and the Future," on March 1 at 11:20 a.m. in the multipurpose room of the Student Center. 201208 Chef Terry McGhee, who has served as manager of food services, is leaving us at the end of the month to go to Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, which is just north of Columbus. There he will serve as the general manager of foodservice, just like he has while here at Averett. The only difference is that he'll have a larger staff. He took a few minutes to answer some questions about his time here at Averett. What is your favorite event you've worked on while at Averett? I think the Board of Trustee events because of the creativity we were able to do with these events, and the locations we have had them at...they were challenges that I think we executed well. What was your favorite student event and why? I would say the iron chef competition we recently had, because I think the students that participated did a great job, and had a lot of fun doing it. What was your favorite part about working at Averett? Working with great leaders like Dr. Franks and Mr. Harris. What will you miss the most? My staff! 201208 The GPS Tidewater Region is proud to announce that members of cluster W429 have finished their masters of education degree program. Cluster members are thrilled to be finished and are looking forward to receiving their degrees at the spring Commencement Ceremony. Congratulations to all members of W429! 201207 It all started with an email from the office of economic development in Danville. It led to Averett art students displaying their artwork during the official ribbon cutting of the Noblis/Clay High Performance Computer on Friday, Feb. 10. "This is a great example of how the art department tries to involved art students in community events and to reinforce the planning and follow through for exhibiting art," said Diane Kendrick, art professor. "This event allowed students to meet, speak and engage in meaningful conversation about their work." The student's whose prints were selected for the exhibit were Lisa Santos, Jordan Bay, Ariel Barrett, Billy Newcomb, Cali Earp, Miles Morrison and Heather Reynolds. 201207 Karen Nelson, administrative assistant to the education department, has had an article published in the February 2012 issue of "It's All About Her," a special monthly publication published by the Danville Register & Bee. To read her article, "Organization is not a Luxury" click here and go to page 20. 201206 On Monday, Jan. 30, a group of Averett staff and students visited legislators at the Virginia General Assembly in Richmond. The purpose of the visit was the annual "Thanks for VTAG" Legislation Day. This is a day that Virginia private colleges come to Richmond to say thank you for the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant and to urge lawmakers to continue funding this very important financial aid opportunity for students. During the visit, Janet Schwalenberg, associate director of admissions; Randall Thornton, assistant director of student financial services; Brentt Simmons, a junior music major; and Lesley Cole, a junior sociology/criminal justice major, had the opportunity to have a photo taken with the Honorable Donald Merricks, delegate for Pittsylvania County. Merricks is an alumni and former employee of the University. 201206 One of the MBA study groups in the GPS Central Region collected 2,550 dental products including toothbrushes, dental floss and toothpaste for Freedom House, a non-profit organization providing food, shelter and assistance to people in crisis in the Richmond area. As part of their public relations efforts, the group contacted Kool Smiles, a dental corporation. Kool Smiles generously contributed 2,016 toothbrushes and dental floss to the community service project. One outcome of the project is a partnership between Freedom House and Kool Smiles to provide dental services to Freedom House residents. Students in the group are: Gloria Boyd, Cheryl Carlyon, Thomas Cary, Sarah Davis, Brian Griffith, Mary Jane Icalla, Kerwyn Phillip and Marc René. 201204 Brandy Perkins '07 will be working in Averett's Counseling Center this semester as an intern. Brandy completed her graduate degree in marriage and family counseling at Liberty University. She has experience providing individual and child counseling. While at Averett, she will conduct intake interviews, counseling sessions and facilitate psycho-educational groups. 201203 Dana Mehalko, academic advisor for the GPS Southern Region attended the Academic and Student Services Conference in Austin, Texas Oct. 20-21 to co-present "Cross-Campus Collaboration Drives Success." Her fellow presenter was a colleague from Warner Pacific College, Nicole Booker. In addition to presenting at the conference, she attended other presentations and participated in team activities pertaining to the 2011 theme - collaboration! 201202 Marsha Foster, director of resident life, has been promoted to assistant dean of students. She will continue to serve as head of residence life as well. During her five years on campus, Marsha has created an excellent residence life program that provides more than 80 programs per semester for our residential students, and serves as a leadership development opportunity for the resident assistants. Additionally, she has played a significant role in enhancing the student conduct system for campus. Marsha is always eager to collaborate with colleagues around campus to develop ways to enhance the experience of our students. She has served the University on numerous committees including strategic planning, assessment, and staff council - where she will serve as president next year. Beyond Averett, Marsha serves as a co-chair of the programming committee for the Virginia Student Services Conference. Congratulations, Marsha! 201314 Stuart and I want to thank the Averett family for all of the prayers, flowers, cards and messages. The donation to the library of a book in memory of my father, Larry Leuck, was very thoughtful. Your thoughtfulness and compassion meant a lot to us and helped us through a difficult time. Thank you so much! Stuart and Terri Jones 201314 Melanie Lewis, assistant professor of physical education, wellness and sports medicine, and her husband, Kenny, would like to announce the arrival of their son, Kenneth Jamison Lewis. He was born Saturday, March 23. He weighed 8 lbs 5 oz. and was 21.5 inches long. They are all doing well. 201304 Meet Amanda Cuomo, an MBA student. She expects to graduate in December. What is your motivation for obtaining your degree from Averett? Professionally, I am motivated in obtaining my degree to open up more job opportunities. If a potential job becomes available I don't want the lack of education to disqualify me. Since my introduction into the federal government I have wanted to be a director or deputy director running a branch or program. I still see that in my future. This degree will put me one step closer to that dream. Personally, I am motivated in obtaining my degree to show my children that you are the makers of your fate. When the Lord opens up opportunities for you, you don't pass them up. The Lord has been my strength throughout my life and is making this dream possible for me. What do you most like about your degree program? I really like that I'm in class with the same core group throughout the program. They have become my family. Also, the Averett GPS program is very similar to real life working groups. By working in a team you are able to improve on your own weaknesses by tapping into your teammates' knowledge, experience and abilities. What advice do you have for your fellow classmates and future AU students? The only person who can keep you from obtaining your dream is you. Don't let the naysayers shape your goals.