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Pre-Flight Brings New Students Together Before Orientation

August 20, 2012 By
Claire Zhang (left) and Abigail Fleming met at UMW's Pre-Flight, a pre-orientation program for new students

University of Mary Washington students officially arrive on the Fredericksburg campus on Wednesday, Aug. 22, but incoming freshman Claire Zhang of Ashburn, Va., already has made connections. Zhang is one of 40 new students who participated in Pre-Flight, an inaugural pre-orientation program for first-year students. “I could probably tell you everyone’s name,” said Zhang pointing to the dozens of students playing kickball behind her. Just four days earlier, she would have struggled to name any. The students, along with staff members and graduate assistants, spent four days in the Virginia mountains, divided into a service group and an outdoor adventure group, then returned to UMW for two days of teambuilding activities. “Initially they were a bit shy about connecting and getting to know each other,” said Mark Mermelstein, director of campus recreation and the leader of the outdoor adventure group. “By the end of the week, it was a really, really tight-knit … [Read more...]

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Behind the Scenes of Mason and Randolph

August 13, 2012 By
Mason Exterior

Two residence halls on the University of Mary Washington campus have gotten a makeover, turning the 1950s buildings into state-of-the-art living and learning spaces. Mason and Randolph halls, in the center of the Fredericksburg campus, will re-open at the end of August after a year of extensive renovations. The residence halls showcase new living and learning communities and are examples of environmentally friendly construction. In the planning stages for the renovation project, Bowie Gridley Architects focused on creating more study spaces and group work spaces, while retaining the original look and feel of the buildings, Director of Residence Life Chris Porter said. “We took unused and underused spaces and created lounges and study rooms,” she said. While adding features like elevators and air conditioning to the buildings, they also upgraded what was known as “the tunnel” on the first level. Now called “The Link,” the connecting hallway between the two residence … [Read more...]

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Forbes Names UMW to America’s Top Colleges List

August 3, 2012 By
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For the fifth year in a row, the Forbes.com online news magazine has recognized the University of Mary Washington as one of the nation’s top universities. In the annual list of “America’s Best Colleges,” UMW ranks 66th out of 100 institutions that Forbes deems “The 100 Best Buy Colleges.” Overall, UMW ranks 243rd out of the 650 undergraduate institutions that the magazine considers the nation’s best. UMW rose more than 45 spots from last year’s overall ranking of 291. The list is compiled in conjunction with the Center for College Affordability and Productivity (CCAP), which rates the undergraduate institutions based on the quality of the education provided and how much their students achieve. The CCAP ranks only the top 15 percent of the nation’s more than 4,000 colleges and universities. According to Forbes.com, the list is based on the following five categories: post graduate success, which evaluates alumni pay and prominence; student satisfaction, which … [Read more...]

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Fiske College Guide Names UMW Among Nation’s Best

July 27, 2012 By
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For the third consecutive year, the University of Mary Washington is the only institution in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia named as a “best buy” in the prestigious Fiske Guide to Colleges. “We long have known that University of Mary Washington offers a tremendous return on investment, and we're glad the rest of the world is recognizing the value of the educational experience here," said UMW President Richard V. Hurley. “You can't find a better buy in higher education today — rigorous academics combined with a rich array of out-of-classroom activities, all of which comes with a relatively moderate price tag.” Mary Washington is among 41 public and private institutions designated as a “best buy,” delivering outstanding academics and the most reasonable prices. The selective guidebook features more than 300 colleges and universities. The listing was based on questionnaires sent administrators and a cross-section of students. UMW is among 20 … [Read more...]

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Making Art From Nothing

July 23, 2012 By
Junior Robert Luther moves newly-painted furniture to the Melchers Hall terrace

The ceramics kiln behind the fine arts complex of Melchers, Pollard and duPont halls on the Fredericksburg campus started showing its age. The wood had rotted in some places and the paint began chipping away from years of outdoor exposure. Carole Garmon, professor of art at the University of Mary Washington, saw potential. She and the 12 students in her installation art class this summer decided to give the kiln a makeover.  They brushed it with recycled paint, repaired the decaying wood and hung plants and flowers from the outside of the structure. Even the plants were “recycled.”  When Director of Landscape and Grounds Joni Wilson heard about Garmon’s project, she harvested plants from the Dahlgren campus’ vegetative roof and delivered them to the class. And that’s just for starters. With the help of her student artists, Garmon plans to turn the art complex into an oasis for students, faculty and staff. She calls it an exercise in “making art from … [Read more...]

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History Exhibit Has a Home at UMW’s Dahlgren Campus

July 6, 2012 By
(copyright Patrick Ross Photography, 2012)

The Dahlgren Heritage Foundation is presenting a permanent exhibit highlighting the King George County Navy base at the University of Mary Washington’s Dahlgren campus. The opening reception for the exhibit was on Wednesday, July 25, followed by a forum discussion and tours. The exhibition focuses on the role of women at Dahlgren. Several of the women featured in the exhibit participated in the forum discussion, along with leaders from UMW and the naval base. For more information about the exhibit or the Dahlgren Heritage Foundation, visit www.dahlgrenmuseum.org or call (540) 413-1031. … [Read more...]

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UMW Students Join Vice President Biden to Raise Awareness about Dating Violence

June 25, 2012 By
Meagan Holbrook (left) and Rob Belcourt met with Vice President Joe Biden (center) on Thursday, June 21

Two University of Mary Washington students joined Vice President Joe Biden and more than 150 students, athletes and sports leaders at the launch of a new public service announcement on Thursday, June 21. The group gathered at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington D.C. Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett and White House Advisor on Violence Against Women Lynn Rosenthal were on-hand at the launch. The public service announcement, which features Biden, President Obama, professional athletes and role models, is part of Biden’s 1is2many campaign. Established in 2011, the campaign focuses on Biden’s “longstanding commitment to reducing violence against women, specifically on teens and young women ages 16 to 24.” Seniors Rob Belcourt and Meagan Holbrook were chosen to represent UMW because of their work with the Red Flag Campaign, a project of the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance. The campaign addresses dating violence on college campuses and … [Read more...]

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Virginia’s Executive Mansion Unveils James Monroe Museum’s Portrait

June 18, 2012 By
Art handlers from Ely, Inc. and staff members from the Executive Mansion and the Library of Virginia installed the portrait in February

Virginia’s Executive Mansion in Richmond has a new addition – an almost 200-year-old painting on loan from the James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library. A portrait of James Monroe will reside in the State Dining Room of the Executive Mansion for two years to commemorate the bicentennial of the building’s construction in 2013. On Thursday, June 21, Gov. Bob McDonnell and First Lady Maureen McDonnell formally unveiled the Rembrandt Peale portrait in a private reception. Members of the James Monroe Museum staff, including Director Scott Harris and Curator Jarod Kearney, were on-hand to help install the portrait in February. “The process of transporting and installing the painting was carried out flawlessly by personnel from our art handlers, Ely, Inc., and staff at the Executive Mansion,” Harris said. “Peale’s portrait of Monroe is at a near life-size scale, and with its frame is quite heavy. Once it was in place, First Lady Maureen McDonnell texted the Governor, … [Read more...]

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Sports and Service Go Hand-in-Hand for UMW Rugby Team

June 11, 2012 By
Senior Redmond Manierre helps with the UMW rugby team's service project at Micah Ecumenical Ministries

In the heat of a June afternoon, members of the University of Mary Washington rugby team took a break from summer vacation to give back to the community. Wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the UMW rugby logo, they hoisted large back trash bags from a pick-up truck two or three at a time and delivered them to Micah Ecumenical Ministries in downtown Fredericksburg. Misty Lozano of Micah Ecumenical Ministries accepted the bags – full of donated clothing for those the non-profit organization helps – with a smile and hugs for the UMW students. “You are incredible,” she said. “Thank you!” For the rugby players, the donation was just one small way to make a difference to their community. “I found an overwhelming sense that people wanted to help and they really wanted to do as much good as they could,” said senior Redmond Manierre. The 60- to 70-member club team, known as the “Mothers” after the university’s namesake, emphasizes volunteering and … [Read more...]

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Students Explore New Cultures with UMW’s Summer Trips

June 4, 2012 By
Students in the 2012 Psychology in Europe program visit the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.

Carol Quinn has been back in the United States for less than a week and she is already thinking of her next trip to Europe. The University of Mary Washington senior was one of nine students who visited London, Amsterdam, Wurzburg, Munich and Vienna with the Psychology in Europe study abroad trip. The students, led by Associate Professor of Psychology Dave Kolar, spent two weeks at historical and cultural sites relevant to the study of psychology. “The trip inspired me to return and do some of my own traveling in Europe,” Quinn, a psychology and sociology major, said. “I’m eager to go back. I wasn’t ready to leave at all!” This summer, more than 100 students are studying abroad, either as part of UMW faculty-led trips, or through programs at other universities or organizations. Members of the UMW field hockey team recently traveled to Italy with Coach Lindsay Elliot to train and compete on an international scale. Some trips have become UMW staples, like … [Read more...]

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