Averett University CoffeeBreak 6-4-2025

Posted on June 4th, 2025 by Bill Dyer

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 formFor the next CoffeeBreak, please submit by Friday, June 6, 2025, for a Wednesday, June 11, 2025, publication.

Wilson Wins National Writing Award

Drew Wilson, Averett University’s assistant director of athletics for communications and administration, won first place in Historical Feature in the College Division in the 2024-25 Fred Stabley Sr. Writing Contest through the College Sports Communicators (CSC), the organization announced.

Wilson, who earlier won several district awards in the competition, won best-in-nation for his feature on Chris Stanley ’98, entering the Averett University Athletic Hall of Fame. To read the award-winning feature, please click HERE.

Nearly 500 entries were submitted in seven categories in the 2024-25 contest. Each category was first judged on the district level, with the winners then advancing to national consideration. All national category winners were considered for National Story of the Year.


Averett’s Night at the Ball Park

Thursday, June 26, is Averett’s Night at the Ballpark – Faculty, staff, alumni and friends are invited for pre-game food and the baseball game, as the Danville Dairy Daddies take on the Raleigh Red Oaks. The food begins at 5:30 p.m. and first pitch is 7 p.m. at American Legion 325 Field in Dan Daniel Memorial Park.

The event is free and is sponsored by Dr. Thomas Powell and his wife, Irene. More information and a link to RSVP will be sent out soon and included in next week’s edition of CoffeeBreak.


Baseball Tickets Available

Through our partnership with the Danville Otterbots, the University receives four tickets to each Otterbots and Dairy Daddies home game. Faculty and staff can request to use these tickets on a first-come, first-served basis by emailing Debbie Pike ([email protected]) or Marion Breen ([email protected]) with what game they plan to attend and how many tickets are needed. You will find out if you were the first one to reserve the tickets for that date as soon as possible. The team’s schedules can be found on the team links above.


Eben Leigh Graduates from Leadership Southside Program

Eben Leigh ‘24, interim director of the Bonner Leader Program and an adjunct professor of English, was recognized for completing the Chamber’s 2024-25 Leadership Southside program at the Danville Pittsylvania Chamber of Commerce awards banquet. Leadership Southside develops participants’ leadership skills to strengthen their role as an individual, professional and community member. Sessions focus on topics such as transformational leadership, team building, communications skills, crisis leadership, strategic planning and more. Leigh was also recognized as one of five recipients of the 2025 Young Professionals PACE (Professional and Community Engagement) Award.


Summer Bookstore Hours

The Averett University Bookstore hours for June and July are:

Mon. -Thursday: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Open for Friday ROAR
Friday, June 27: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Friday, July 18:  9 a.m.-3 p.m.



Averett Athletics Summer Camps

Averett University Athletics offers multiple summer camps. By using the link below, you will be able to browse the various camps and clinics offered at Averett University, learn details of each and register your son or daughter for their favorite Averett Cougars Camps.

To access the camps page, please click HERE.


Averett’s Brianna Sams Participates in NCAA Forum

Averett junior student-athlete Brianna Sams had high expectations going into the NCAA’s Career in Sports Forum, but even she left the event feeling like those expectations were far exceeded as she looks ahead toward her professional future.

Sams, who has played women’s basketball and lacrosse at Averett, was among the 200 student-athletes selected to attend the annual educational programming at the NCAA’s headquarters in Indianapolis held May 28-31. The three-day event featured engaging speakers within the athletics industry, workshops and networking for all attendees. Since 2016, Averett has had 21 student-athletes participate in the annual Career in Sports Forum.

To read the full story, please click HERE.


Let Us See Your Summer Fun

We want to see what you’ve been up to this summer! Please send a photo of your summer vacation, home projects, family gatherings or relaxation time that may be used for various projects over the summer, including being posted right here in CoffeeBreak. Please send your photos to Bill Dyer at [email protected].


Summer Brings Guests to Campus

There will be numerous guests and students utilizing the residence hall rooms on campus this summer. Most will be housed in either Main Hall or Fugate and will have varying move-in dates, but the first building of the Commons Apartments will be utilized all summer.

Please welcome our guests to campus. If you have any questions, contact Lynnette Lawson at [email protected].


Tuition Exchange Opportunities

Tuition Exchange Applications may still be available for the 2025-26 Academic Year.  A number of schools continue to accept applications for the Fall/Spring semesters.

Tuition Exchange (TE) and the Tuition Exchange Program (TEP) are reciprocal scholarship opportunities for eligible faculty and staff dependents at all 700+ individual TE and TEP member schools combined.  TE Scholarships are available to eligible employees and qualifying dependents at TE member schools.  The employee’s school defines what constitutes an eligible employee and what constitutes an eligible dependent.  At Averett, a dependent includes the employee, spouse, and the employee’s children. If deemed eligible by their employer, an employee and their eligible dependents may apply for Tuition Exchange Scholarships at other TE and/or TEP member schools.

For more information, connect with the Tuition Exchange member websites at tuitionexchange.org or cic.edu.  Contact Kathie Tune to initiate the process for 2025-26.


Tuition Remission and Tuition Exchange Opportunities

Averett University recognizes the importance of personal and educational development and encourages employees to pursue further education. To support employees in meeting their personal and professional goals, the university provides a tuition remission benefit to all full-time, permanent employees. Averett University also extends this opportunity to the dependents, including spouses, of eligible employees. Tuition Remission forms are available on the AU Intranet via the SharePoint drive. Please open the tab for your respective division. If you need access to the intranet, contact Katy Anderson at [email protected]

If you are considering enrollment in a college/university on the Tuition Exchange, please contact Kathie Tune, CHRO, at [email protected]. The exchange sites are www.cic.edu and www.tuitionexchange.org

Programs are open to benefits eligible employees.


Important Links

CICV MEP Informational Letter for Participants – December 2024 Final_6972.

Averett Summer Athletics Camps – https://averettcougarscamps.com/

Drug and Alcohol Policy or Drug-Free Workplace Policy – 855-Employee-Drug-and-Alcohol-Policy-2024 (2)

Service-Learning Intent Form – Fall 2024 Service-Learning Intent Form (office.com)

Tuition Remission Form – Click HERE

Tuition Exchange Websites – tuitionexchange.org & cic.edu

Part-time Employment Form – Part-time-Employment-Form-2024.docx (live.com)

To Schedule A Virtual Meeting with A Retirement and Financial Planning Advisor – Select a Date & Time – Calendly

Wellness Portal – www.healthadvocate.com/AverettUniversity

Averett Employee Assistance Plan (Telus Health One)

Averett Fringe Benefits Fact Sheet – Fringe Benefits Fact Sheet OE 2025

Averett Benefits “Flip Book” – 2025 Averett University Benefits Guide

Virginia Private Colleges Benefit’s Consortium, Inc. (VPCBC) – https://www.vpcbc.org

Empyrean Website – Virginia Private Colleges Benefits Consortium

Anthem Sydney App download – Sydney Health Mobile App | Sydney Health

Anthem Behavioral Health Services – Anthem Behavioral Health flyer(1).

TIAA Beneficiary Information – TIAA Beneficiary Flyer (1)

Reach out to an EAP counselor, which is available to all benefits-eligible employees and their eligible household members (details below).

    • To set an appointment with a licensed EAP counselor, call 1-888-319-7819 and select “Employee Assistance Program” when prompted to be connected to a counselor. There is no cost to the employee for the first three phone or video consultation sessions.
    • For the online chat option, visit one.telushealth.com, user name: metlifeeap and password: eap. There is a chat feature that allows users to talk directly with a consultant to guide you to the information you are looking for or help you schedule an appointment with a counselor.
    • Employees on the Averett health plan can go to “Find Care” on their Sydney App or Anthem dashboard and locate counseling services that would be available to us through our CICV plan. Go to Anthem.com and locate Find Care or go to https://www.sydneyhealth.com/.

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