Honors & Scholars Association
Volume 10, Issue 3
May 2011
Intellectual Inquirer
Congratulations
to our
Graduating
Scholars!
Interested in an
Alternative Break?
2011 –2012 Alternative Breaks
Habit for Humanity Project
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Nicaragua Mission trip
Inside this issue:
President’s Message
Maura Bradley (2011)
1
Adam Tobey
4
(2012)
Feature Article:
Consider the Alternative 1
A night at the Opera
Consider the alternative
Melinda Hopper
This past spring break I had the unique
opportunity to participate in and lead an
alternative break. A group of 5 other
VWC students and myself worked closely
with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to
complete various projects. I decided to
take on the role of student team leader this
year after participating last year. For the
first two days, we went to Gloucester and
helped build 50 concrete oyster reef balls.
These will be submerged in the Bay where
they will serve as hard substrates for baby
oyster spat to settle on and grow. After
that we spent three days working to build
three rain gardens in Norfolk. The rain
gardens will help catch some of the run-off
from streets and buildings, reducing the
amount of pollution that enters the Bay as
well as help with flooding.
It was a very long week filled with a lot of
hard work, and by the end of it we were
all quite exhausted. However, it was one
of the most rewarding experiences that I
have had here at VWC. We were able to
bring together a small but powerful group
of people from all different backgrounds
and interests to work towards a common
goal: making the world a better place. It
was really interesting to see how everyone
interacted and the bond that was forged
within the team. We had family dinners
together each night and met again early in
“Alternative Spring Breaks are a valuable way
for students to spend their time. Students have
an opportunity to push their comfort zones by
getting immersed in a new environment,
learning the root causes of some of today's
tough social issues, and getting to know fellow
students in new ways. Perhaps most
importantly, ASBs are an opportunity to
contribute in meaningful ways to communities
in need.” ~Diane Hotaling
the morning to start our next day. We
also got to learn a good deal more about
the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and
their work, and even got to do some networking with them.
All in all, it was a great experience and I
am looking forward to participating in
the program again next year. Benefits
last long beyond the week of the project.
After last year’s alternative break, for
example, I was encouraged to pursue an
internship with the local CBF office. This
year, many members of the team were
very excited about the work we did and
are interested in continuing to volunteer
with CBF. We have even decided to try
and install a few rain gardens here on
campus to help with our chronic flooding
problem.
4
Senior Spotlights
Amy Bradford
2
Rebecca Driscoll
3
Ksera Dyette
2
Jazmine Linger
3
Scholars,
I could not have imagined a better way to end my college career than serving as president of an
organization that has had such an impact on me during these last four years. Thank you so much
for a wonderful last year at Virginia Wesleyan College! I would like to congratulate my fellow
graduating senior scholars, and to encourage everyone else to have an amazing and safe summer.
Fall will be here before we know it, and to those of you heading back to Wesleyan, enjoy it and
make the most of it! And to me fellow graduates, good luck in all of your pursuits.
Sincerely,
Maura Bradley, 2010-11 H&S Association President
Volume 10, Issue 3
Page 2
Senior Spotlight: Amy Bradford
Hometown:
Virginia Beach, VA
Education before VWC:
Salem High School
What attracted you to VWC:
Size of the classes
Major:
Chemistry
Minor:
Music
Best memory from VWC:
Being a member of Phi Sigma
Sigma leaves me with many
different great memories
What you do for fun:
Sing
Future plans:
Going to Pharmacy
School at VCU
Favorite course:
Biochemistry because I am
very interested in how the
body works and this class is a
very detailed explanation of
the processes.
And Music Theory because it
is like a puzzle, all the pieces
put together make the music
beautiful.
Professor who inspired you:
Dr. Sandi Billy because she
works really hard at everything she does and also
brightens your day by just
being a pleasant person.
Favorite Quote:
"Forget regret, or life is
yours to miss" -Rent
H&S underclassmen advice:
Keep working hard, but
make time for something
you like to do or else you
will get burned out.
Wesleyan Singers 2010
Senior Spotlight: Ksera Dyette
Hometown:
front. Movies are so cheap
to me, because it was his
San Fernando, Trinidad & Tohere compared to NY so I go
course (Meaning, Happibago, residing in Brooklyn, NY
to as many as I can. Food
ness, and the Good Life)
Education before VWC:
runs are always fun since
which convinced me to purWilde Lake HS, Columbia, MD
there is never a dull moment
sue a Philosophy major.
What attracted you to VWC:
after 1am. Also, the Honors &
Also when I was struggling
The campus attracted me most.
Scholars programs are opporwith finishing my triple
When I came to visit on one of
tunities that would not be
major on time, he worked
the Admitted Students Days
readily available otherwise.
with me on my schedule
my mom and I fell in love with
My favorite program I atand helped me meet my
the campus. It was simple and
tended was the Lion King.
goal. He has never been
gorgeous. Of course class size Future plans:
afraid of asking me if I was
and the personal atmosphere
Widener University in Pennserious about the things I
attracted me as well, but the
sylvania in their five-year
chose to pursue and being
campus grounds is what really
Clinical PsyD program.
up front with me about
made me fall in love with this Favorite course:
what was not feasible. It has
place.
Criminal Investigation. It was
taught me a lot about myMajors:
very hands on and Wynter
self and knowing what I
Criminal Justice, Philosophy,
Edwards worked in the Norwant out of this life.
and Psychology
folk Narcotics department for Favorite Quote:
Minor:
7 years, so she was able to
"Those who cannot feel the
Sociology
give us a realistic perspective
littleness of great things in
Best memory from VWC:
on our lessons and what to
themselves are apt to overConvincing my best friend to
expect pursuing various
look the greatness of little
attend school here. She is now a
Criminal Justice careers.
things in others." The Book of
rising sophomore and I hope Professor that has inspired you:
Tea ~Kakuzo Okakura~
that she finds as much to love
It is a huge disservice to H&S underclassmen advice:
here as I have. Another great
several professors (Dorton,
Do what you want, and do
Lopez, Liverman, Hultgren,
memory I have is laying out in
it well. Understand that you
the grass on a warm summer
Emmanuel, C. Wansink,
cannot do everything and
day intending to study, but
Drees, Myers) for me to limit
there is not much you can
my answer to this question,
falling asleep most of the time.
control, except what you do
but since I have to choose
What you do for fun:
and the way you react to
one, I will. Dr. Cathal Woods
Going to the Tropicana Latin
events and people in your
has been the most inspiring
Dance club down at the Oceanlife.
2011 VWC Ethics Bowl team
Ryan Dulac, ‘12
Andrea Medrano, ‘12
Ksera Dyette, ‘11
John Maravich, ‘11
Photo: Thomas Slusser
“I never teach my
pupils. I only attempt to
provide the conditions
in which they can
learn.”
~Albert Einstein
Intellectual Inquirer
Page 3
Senior Spotlight: Rebecca Driscoll
Stop Hunger Now
September 2009
“Never let the future
disturb you. You will
meet it, if you have to,
with the same weapons
of reason which today
arm you against the
present .”
~Marcus Aurelius
Antoninus
Hometown:
Chesapeake, VA
Education before VWC:
W.T. Woodson HS, Annandale
What attracted you to VWC:
The small size definitely appealed to me. I was (and still
can be) pretty shy, and I don't
think I would have become
active on a larger campus.
Major:
History
Minor:
Religious Studies
Best memory from VWC:
The trip to Berlin that I took
over Winter Session this
year. I had a great time learning about the history of the city
with Dr. Sewell and the other
students who went. I can't
think of a better way to get the
most out of my Senior year.
What you do for fun:
I love to read and write
(although I don't seem to be
doing either of those things as
much as I'd like to), and I
play the piano and sing as
well.
Future plans:
In the fall, I will be attending University of North
Carolina in Greensboro to
study Library and Information Studies. I hope to become a school media specialist/children's librarian.
Favorite course:
Dr. Lindvall's Seminar in
C.S. Lewis. It's one of the
few classes I've been able to
apply to my life, particularly in spiritual matters, as
well as how to treat other
people better. Plus who
wouldn't want to read
Narnia books for class?
Professor who inspired you:
I am having a very difficult
time picking just one professor. I feel that almost every
professor I have come into
contact with has inspired
and shaped me
in some way.
Favorite Quote:
"With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is
still a beautiful world. Be
cheerful. Strive to be
happy." Max Ehrmann,
from his poem "Desiderata"
H&S underclassmen advice:
I encourage underclassmen
to be active on campus and
enjoy their time with
friends. Looking back on
my years here, there is a
part of me that regrets
spending so much time
worrying
about
homework. Not to say that you
should ignore your classes
and work, but don't let it
consume you. You only
have 4 years here and, believe me, it goes by much
faster than you expect, so
make the best of it.
Senior Spotlight: Jazmine Linger
Student interns who spoke at
Parent’s Council last month
with President Billy Greer.
John Nash Maravich '11
Jazmine Linger '11
Jennifer Houghton '11
Aaron Murphy '13
Photo: Edward Phillips
Hometown:
Anchorage, Alaska
Education before VWC:
High School with dual enrollment senior year at TNCC
What attracted you to VWC:
The fact that the students
aren't a number but an actual
person. Professors know you
by name and you can feel
more comfortable talking to
them about any problems or
daily life.
Majors:
Criminal Justice, German, and
Psychology
Best memory from VWC:
Mudgames
What you do for fun:
Spend time with friends and
work out
Future plans:
Joining the U.S. Marshals
Favorite course:
Criminal Investigation because Wynter Edwards is a
terrific teacher who brings
real life situations into the
class room. With this class,
she takes the time to set up
real-life crime scenes, and
allows the students to treat
it like their own crime
scene, asking questions,
taking notes, and filling out
the police forms.
Professor who inspired you:
"Frau" Susan Wansink. She
has been one of the best
teachers I could have asked
for. She is very understanding and patient and really
takes time for her students. She cares about more
than just classwork and
grades when it comes to her
students. Instead, she cares
about all of that, while also
making sure that everyone
is OK.
If something is
wrong with a student, she
takes the time to listen and
try to help.
Favorite Quote:
“Family is your family, but
friends are the family you
choose to have.”
H&S underclassmen advice:
Start early and really take a
look at the classes you are
going to take. Each class is
going to give you a different
experience, make sure that
you pick classes that you
believe will help you in
your future goals.
Volume 10, Issue 3
Page 4
A Night at the Opera
Rachel Satterwhite
On March 23, students from the
Honors and Scholars Program at
Virginia Wesleyan College attended
the Virginia Opera production of
Madame Butterfly. For many of the
students it was their first time at the
opera.
Each semester, Honors and Scholars
students have the opportunity to
attend several events in the area
Tenor Brian Jagde as Lt. Pinkerton and
soprano Sandra Lopez as Cio-Cio San in
Virginia Opera’s production of Puccini’s
Madama Butterfly.
Photo: Ann M. Peterson
such as sporting events, musicals,
plays, and this opera for free.
Despite it being a weeknight, the
Harrison Opera House was packed.
Men were dressed in distinguished
suits. The ladies were decorated
with silks, velvets, and sequins. The
opera house was lit elegantly with
dimmed lighting designed to highlight the accents of the old building.
The students from Wesleyan were
among the youngest in the crowd.
As customary, Madame Butterfly was
sung in Italian with English supertitles overhead. This opera written
by Giacomo Puccini is America’s 6th
most frequently performed opera.
Madame Butterfly is a story about a
young Japanese girl named Cio-Cio
San who married a visiting U.S.
Navy Lieutenant, B. F. Pinkerton.
Cio-Cio-San devotes herself entirely
to he r A me r ic a n h us ba nd .
Pinkerton leaves Cio-Cio-San to
return to America, but tells her he
will be back soon. Only years past,
and Pinkerton never returns.
Cio-Cio San holds out against
everyone’s advice and believes
Scholars,
As my inaugural President’s Message, I would first and foremost like
thank each of and every one of you for selecting me among the many incredible students on this campus to be your president. I am more than
honored that you elected me, and I will give my utmost effort towards the
job you all have asked me to perform. I am very much looking forward to
the start of my presidency in the coming school year, and I hope that you
will not hesitate to contact me with any ideas that you may have in regards
to bettering this wonderful program. I hope you all have a wonderful
summer and encourage you all to not just use it to relax, but to also travel
to various places, meet new people and garner fresh experiences. This may
very well be one of the last summers of your life, as very soon you will be
thrown out into the “real world.” Again, I thank you all for electing me
president and hope and pray that your summer is rejuvenating, safe and
full of experiences that you will cherish forever.
Cordially,
Adam Tobey, 2011-2012 H&S Association President
that he will return. When finally
Pinkerton does return, it is not for
Cio-Cio San, but for their son.
Heartbroken, Cio-Cio San takes her
own life as the curtain falls.
“This was my first opera,” said junior Melissa Snyder. “I was not sure
what to expect, but I was impressed
with the overall production. The
lighting was simple but effective.
The vocal talent of the performers
was outstanding.”
The tragic story of Madame Butterfly (Cio-Cio San) was beautifully
performed by the cast. Their voices
were graceful and strong through
the three hour performance. Once
outside, the night had begun to rain.
In a way, the raindrops were symbolic of Madame Butterfly’s tears of
a broken heart and her sad life.
The evening out at the opera, was a
cultural experience for all the
Wesleyan students who attended.
Some greatly enjoyed Madame
Butterfly and the new experience.
Others
were
weary of its
length, yet were
thankful for the
opportunity to
attend an opera.
Harrison Opera House
Honors & Scholars Association
Virginia Wesleyan College
1584 Wesleyan Drive
Norfolk, VA 23502
ww2.vwc.edu/honors-and-scholars
Phone: 757-455-2126
Maura Bradley, President: [email protected]
Dr. Easter, Director: [email protected]