CoffeeBreak is an e-newsletter distributed to Averett faculty and staff to keep them up to date on campus activities and information.

Please send information you would like included in CoffeeBreak via this form by 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2 for a Wednesday, Oct. 7 publication.

Thank You

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for all of the prayers, thoughts, and flowers that I received during my time out for surgery. Also, thank you for the outpouring of calls, cards, gift basket, flowers and other acts of kindness shown to me during the time of my sister’s passing.  I truly feel blessed to work with such a caring group of people.

Thank you,

Susan Newcomb, Associate Director of Student Accounts

Flinn Earns Certification

Debbie Flinn, Director of Development, has successfully met all the requirements to be named a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) – the CPA of fundraising. To be certified, participants must acquire 85 points of education, continuing education, teaching and a minimum of five years’ fundraising experience as well as pass the formal exam. Congratulations, Debbie!

“CFRE International certifies experienced fundraising professionals aspiring to the highest standards of ethics, competence and service to the philanthropic sector,” said Philip Schumacher, CFRE, ACFR CFRE International Chair.

Howell Featured in Publication

Congratulations to Aaron Howell, our Vice President for Business and Finance, who was featured in a story in Business Officer, the leading publication on higher education finance for Chief Financial Officers and Presidents!

We are grateful to have Aaron as part of the Averett family! To read the story, click here.

Ferguson Publishes Article

Dr. Richard Ferguson, Professor and Chair in the Physical Education Wellness & Sport Science department, has published an article in Run Ohio. You can read the article by clicking here. He is a regular contributor to the magazine.

Thank You

My family and I appreciate so very much the expressions of sympathy, caring, and concern shown to us by so many of you over my father’s death. A difficult time was made more bearable through your kindness.

Thank you, again.

Laura Meder, Associate Professor of Biology

Week to Engage Wrap-up

During Week to Engage, Averett had 51 staff and eight faculty members volunteer more 100 hours of service. We hope you enjoyed your Week to Engage experience! One of our new colleagues, Dr. Adrienne Brune, had this to say: “I had my first volunteer experience at the Boys and Girls Club in Danville on the Monday of Week to Engage. As a new transplant to Danville, I wanted to find ways to get involved with the community and maybe put some of my own skills to good use. I decided to become a regular volunteer and spend an hour each Monday assisting with homework during ‘power hour.’ It’s been fun and I plan to be a weekly volunteer!”

Everyone who participated is listed below, and we can’t thank you enough! If you volunteered and do not see your name on this list, please email Rachel Covington.

Abby Bailey, Nicole Barringer, Carianna Beck, Brigid Belko, Carl Bradsher, Sierra Braxton-Sears, Adrienne Brune, Meaghan Byrne, Nick Carter, Sarah Chapman, Tim Coston, Morgan Crawford, Jewel Dale, Skyler Daniel, Karen Duhamel, Alexis Ehrhardt, Ashley Gayles, Diane Gosney, Donna Gourley, David Hanbury, Ashlyn Hardie, Carrie Hendrick, Liz Hickey, Rose Holley, Jennifer Hooper, Aaron Howell, Susan Huckstep, Bonnie Humphries, Sandy Isom, Marty Jackson, Joan Kahwajy-Anderson, Taylor Mahaffey, Chloe Mayhew, Angie McAdams, Pamela McKirdy, Danny Miller, Sofia Minton, Marc Muneal, Emma Olsson, MK Pegram, Liz Richardson, Jennifer Robinson, Mark Sheets, Stephanie Smith, Kelsey Smith, Lisa Stewart, Bren Taylor, Stephanie Walker, Karen Ward, Celia Wilkerson, Philip Wilson and Tia Yancey

Student Accolades

The Student Life Department began recognizing students who go the extra mile in whatever they are doing on campus last fall. Each week during Student Life Staff meetings, staff members nominate students they want to recognize for their dedication to AU. Students are notified about the nomination and their chance to win a $50 Visa Gift Card. At the end of the semester, all of the names of those nominated are put into a bowl and the name of one lucky student is selected. This is the department’s way of letting the students know they appreciate all they do.

This week we would like to recognize Ryne Gammon, Joshua Boggs, Lissette Alarcon-Mendez, and Katiana Hilliard.

Homecoming 2015

Our Homecoming celebration is this weekend! Blue and Gold Day is Friday, so make sure you come to work showing off your school spirit (still business casual). From 12-3 p.m. we’ll hold the annual Alumni Career Expo in the multipurpose room of the Student Center. Please encourage your students to attend. On Saturday join us for tailgating beginning at 2 p.m. at the North Campus (arrive with friends if you want to park together). If you don’t want to worry about bringing food, Ave & Rett’s Cat Eye Grill will be selling hotdogs and hamburgers in the parking lot (cash only). Once the parking lot at the North Campus fills, there will be a shuttle from the Danville Mall (main entrance under the large marquee sign). Football kicks off at 5 p.m. vs LaGrange College. For more information visit www.averett.edu/homecoming or see the attached Homecoming tailgate flyer.

Volunteers Needed

Homecoming is a big undertaking and for that reason your help is needed. Please consider signing up for a few hours in one of the 35 slots available on the sign-up sheet. (The Athletics Department will be handling all parking.) Email Emma Olsson as soon as possible to sign up for a specific slot.

 Service-Learning Brain Pick-nic

All service-learning enthusiasts are invited to the next Brain Pick-nic on Thursday, October 1 from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Donna Benz, an IDS 101 instructor, has volunteered to use her service-learning lesson as a case study for us to dissect, develop and improve. Please join us in the sunroom of the bookstore.

The Trail of Maud Gatewood

The 1859-Coffeehouse Lecture Series will hold its first event Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. in the multipurpose room of the Student Center. Art professors Diane Kendrick and Robert Marsh will present “The Trail of Maud Gatewood.” The event will include highlights from this well-known N.C. artist’s life. Maud Gatewood taught in the Art Department at Averett University from 1975 to 1997.

CPR Course to be Offered

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) is offering a CPR course! The RMC is excited to announce there are six new Automated External Defibrillators (AED’s) to add to our campus’ safety. With the new additions comes the need for CPR certifications. Aaron Howell, our CFO, has offered to cover the cost of 30 faculty and staff to become certified. This course will be instructed by Dr. Carrie Hendrick. If you are interested please email her at [email protected]. A date has not yet been set for this course. Carrie would like to get feedback from those taking the course as to what day and times work best.

The location of the new AED’s will be communicated as soon as possible.

Lunchbox Memories

Join colleagues and students for “Lunchbox Memories, Americana and Pop Culture Reflected in the Lunch Kit” on Thursday, October 1 at 2 p.m. in the Academic Commons at Blount Library.

Dr. Mary Vanderlinden, Dean of Student Success, will present this fun, fascinating, and little-known historical perspective on the American lunchbox. Learn how this common item, carried by factory workers and school children, mirrored the industrialization of our country, the commercialization of icons such as Mickey Mouse, and the television and movie industry. Light refreshments will be served courtesy of Library Friends.

This talk is part of the library’s Coffee Talk Series. For more information about other upcoming Coffee Talk events click here.

Judges Wanted for Scholastic Bowl

Tunstall High School is looking for judges for Scholastic Bowl competitions, specifically for math, science and history. They are interested in connecting with Averett to work together for some very talented students.

Tunstall competes with a number of schools in the region and judges are needed from 5:45-8 p.m. on the following dates: October 19, November 9, 16 and 30. Note that you do not have to volunteer for all four nights.

Questions are sent to judges ahead of time so they can prepare accordingly. If you are interested, please contact Alexis Ehrhardt.

Reminder: Spoken Word Showcase

Tomorrow (Oct. 1) at 7 p.m. some of our students who are participating in the Spoken Word workshops with Josephus Thompson will be showcasing their poems in an Arts@Averett event called “Be the Change.” Join us in the candlelight in the multipurpose room of the Student Center and come support our amazing students!