Bishop Beat, July 2017

A Newsletter for Alumni and Friends of North Carolina Wesleyan College

Rock The Mount To Be Held Tuesday, August 22

Rock the Mount is an annual event aimed at introducing our students, staff, and faculty to area businesses, churches and non-profit organizations. The event gives our local community the opportunity to share their goods and services with the Wesleyan community, as well as welcome all new and returning students to our GREAT CITY! Watch the video below to see what Rock the Mount is ALL about!

The sixth annual Rock the Mount will be held Tuesday, August 22 from 11 am to 1 pm on the Southern Bank Green at NC Wesleyan College. For more information and to register to be a vendor please click below. Deadline for registration is August 4.

Wesleyan Adds Criminal Justice Articulation Agreement With Wilson Community College

North Carolina Wesleyan College and Wilson Community College signed a 2+2 articulation agreement to provide an easier transition for WCC Criminal Justice Technology students who wish to pursue a bachelor's degree.

"Wilson Community College continues to educate outstanding students who are very prepared to continue and earn bachelor's degrees," said Wesleyan President Dr. Dewey Clark. "We have an exceptional criminal justice program and we are happy to be able to extend this program to WCC students through an easy and seamless process."

This agreement focuses on students who complete the required hours for the Associate in Applied Science degree in Criminal Justice Technology from WCC and transfer to Wesleyan and major in Criminal Justice. Transfers who have not completed the associate degree will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis

Wesleyan and WCC have a long-standing transfer agreement that allows WCC students who have completed their associate degrees with a 2.0 GPA or higher to enter Wesleyan at the junior level and receive a special grant to offset the cost of attending a private college.

"We value the partnerships we have with neighboring institutions that provide our students with opportunities for nearby high-quality education beyond our associate degrees," said Dr. Tim Wright, president of Wilson Community College. "This agreement allows our students to tap into Wesleyan's top-notch criminal justice program and all of the benefits it offers."

The program has the option of being almost completely online and Wesleyan will provide on-site advising at WCC. "We want to make it as convenient as possible for Wilson students," stated Gail Marsal, associate professor of justice studies, "All of our criminal justice instructors have real-life experience and our students are active out in the community with more hands-on involvement. We are excited to extend these opportunities to our WCC transfer students."

Wesleyan offers transfer merit scholarships and members of Phi Theta Kappa honor society will also receive an additional $2,000 per academic year through PTK membership.

Board Of Visitors Serve As Ambassadors For The College

The NC Wesleyan College Board of Visitors is an active group of volunteers committed to advancing the mission of the College. BOV members are key ambassadors and vital to the College's success. They commit both time and financial resources to improve Wesleyan. Brenda C rocker serves as Chair of the 2017-2018 Board.

2017-2018 Board of Visitors

Left to right front row: Robert Covington, Keen Gravely, Sarah Dixon, Patricia Haggerty, Catherine Ipock, Brenda Crocker, Chris Larsen,Kimberlea Bauer, Haywood Parker; Left to right second row: Lanny Shuff, Danny Miller, Arnold Gordon-Bray, James Gailliard, Jason Idol,Adam Ipock, Gregory Taylor, Phil Boone; Left to right stairs: Cynthia Jones, Russell Proctor, Stephanie Batten, Jim Bell and Ron Green. (Not pictured: Annette Allen, Pattie Dunn, Brian McCormack, Tem Myers and Reginald Silver)

Wesleyan Mourns Loss Of Coach Jean Edge

North Carolina Wesleyan College is mourning the loss of legendary coach and administrator Jean Edge, who passed away on Tuesday,

July 4th, 2017 at the age of 84.

Born in Edgecombe County, N.C. on February 4th, 1933, Coach Edge was the daughter of the late Luther Brake and Emma Flye Brake. A woman of great faith and a charter member of Englewood Presbyterian Church, she was a member of The First Presbyterian Church of Rocky Mount as well as a certified lay person and an ordained Elder. She enjoyed traveling to preach for Presbytery of New Hope as well as for other small churches across eastern North Carolina.

Coach Edge received her Bachelor of Arts degree in education from East Carolina Teacher's College and her Master's in Education from UNC Chapel Hill. Her professional career saw her become the true matriarch of Battling Bishop women's athletics. Not only did she begin the softball program in 1974 and serve as head coach until 1977, but she also gained notoriety as the first-ever head coach for the women's basketball team during the 1976-1977 season. Additionally, Coach Edge's Bishop resume saw her serve as head volleyball coach from 1975 to 1977. Wesleyan's softball facility, Edge Field, is named in her honor, as well as Edge Auxiliary Gymnasium in the Taylor Center. In addition to her coaching duties, she enjoyed being a member of the NCWC faculty as a Physical Education instructor. She is a 1999 inductee into NCWC's Hall of Fame.

Coach Edge leaves behind to cherish her memory her husband of 60 years, Robert "Frank" Edge, daughter Lisa Louise Edge of Okinawa, Japan, and son Robert Walker Edge of Alamo, Georgia. She is also survived by her loving grandchildren Meredith Christina Edge and Evan Harrison Edge.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to The First Presbyterian Church of Rocky Mount, 153 N. Church Street, Rocky Mount, NC 27804; the Alzheimer's Association of Eastern North Carolina, 3737 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 100, Raleigh, NC 27612 or the North Carolina Wesleyan College Physical Education Majors Scholarship Fund, 3400 N. Wesleyan Blvd, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.

Course On Greek For Biblical Interpretation To Be Offered

NC Wesleyan College Adult & Professional Studies will be offering a 3-credit hour college course on Greek for Biblical Interpretation beginning in October. A special rate for clergy members is available. Sign up today! Email Michael Drew at mdrew@ncwc.edu or call 252-985-5263.

FLA-195: Greek for Biblical Interpretation, Saturdays from 9:00 am-1:00 p.m. Starts on October 21 and runs for 8 weeks.

Check Out The New Merchandise In The College Bookstore

Lots of new NCWC merchandise has arrived and is available in the College Store as well as online.

The College Store, located in the Hardee's Student Union, offers an array of wearables and other great items for Wesleyan fans of all ages! Summer hours are Monday through Thursday 8 am to 5 pm and Friday 8 am to 3 pm.

To order by phone with your credit card, call 252-985-5175 or 252-985-5176. Shop online 24 hours http://www.ncwccollegestore.com/

Brice Named Head Coach Of NCWC Tennis Programs

The N.C. Wesleyan Department of Athletics is pleased to announce the promotion of Albie Brice to head coach of the Battling Bishop men's and women's tennis programs. Brice has been serving as interim head coach and recently led the men's program to its ninth straight USA South title and NCAA appearance.

"After an extensive national search that yielded many outstanding candidates, we are excited to announce that we have hired Albie Brice as our Head Tennis Coach for men and women," said Director of Athletics John Thompson. "As we moved through this process, it became apparent that Coach Brice was the right person, in the right place, at the right time for our program. We are pleased that he will provide the continuity that our program should have and look forward to seeing the teams continue to develop."

Brice joined the N.C. Wesleyan men's and women's tennis staff full time in the summer of 2016. No stranger to Bishop Athletics, he previously served as NCWC's head tennis coach for five years, helping reinstate the men's program in 1999 and kickstart the women's program that same season. As a volunteer tennis assistant in 2015, Brice helped lead Wesleyan's men to their eighth straight USA South Championship, while helping the women's program secure a second straight winning season and top-3 finish in the league.

As a collegiate tennis player, Brice competed for D-I UNC Wilmington and was named UNCW's Most Improved Player in 1990 before transferring to North Carolina Wesleyan. Athletically, Brice's post-Wesleyan career has seen him compete as a professional and achieve an ATP ranking. Brice also spent several years as an owner and coach with Velocity Sports Performance. During his Velocity tenure, he gained valuable knowlege in training, as well as the proper mechanics involved in endurance, strength, speed, nutrition, and injury prevention.

A 1992 Wesleyan graduate with a degree in History, Brice has gone on to earn a Master of Divinity with Biblical Languages (2007) and a Master of Theology in Christian Ethics (2012) from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Currently, he is slated to complete his PhD in Christian Ethics in the summer of 2017.

A USTA P-1 Professional, Brice and his wife, April, have four children: Tanner, Chandler, Tyler, and Brody.

The Dunn Center Announces 2017-2018 Season Series

Big news friends of the Dunn Center! Our 2017-2018 season is filled with some old favorites, some new adventures, and some fun for the whole family!

Season tickets are on sale now for $175. Individual tickets go on sale July 17th, and we can promise this is a season you don't want to miss. "It's a Dunn deal!" Call the Dunn Center box office at (252) 985-5197 for more details.

Reserve Your Wesleyan Memorial Brick

Students,organizations, parents, alumni, and community supporters now have the opportunity to inscribe their names at North Carolina Wesleyan College. The Office of Alumni Relations is selling bricks to be placed at the new entrance located at the south end of the Pearsall Library addition, or at the Leon Russell Chapel entrance.

Your brick will be a permanent tribute on the NCWC campus. In years to come, your family members, students, alumni, faculty, and visitors will see your name and recognize your loyalty to the College. Your gift is a special way to support NCWC.

A brick is a wonderful opportunity to honor a mentor, memorialize a loved one, commemorate an occasion or event, or simply make public your support to NCWC. Click here for complete ordering information.

Alumni Spotlight

Jasmin Spain '03 Promoted At Pitt Community College

Jasmin Spain '03 was recently promoted to assistant vice president for student development and community standards at Pitt Community College in Greenville, North Carolina. Previously, he was director of student mentoring, conduct, and academic progression at the college.

Spain is a graduate of North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount, where he majored in exercise science. While a student at Wesleyan, Jasmin was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the Student African American Brotherhood. He was also a resident assistant and served as a work study student for the athletic department. Jasmin was the 2003 NCWC Greek Man of the Year.

He holds a master's degree in counselor education from North Carolina State University in Raleigh.

Faculty/Staff Spotlight

Rebekah Cain '13 Director of Alumni Relations

Rebekah J. Cain has joined the College as Director of Alumni Relations. Cain comes with a wealth of knowledge and insight, having graduated with honors from NC Wesleyan in 2013, with a degree in Exercise Science.

As Director of Alumni Relations, Cain is responsible for the planning and implementation of programs that strategically engage alumni with the College, while providing tangible benefits to alumni and current students. "I am thrilled to be back," stated Cain, "Wesleyan holds a special place in my heart!"

"Since graduation, Rebekah has been working in Oklahoma City and will be bringing back a tremendous amount of experience in the areas of client, corporate, and foundation relations, grant writing, fundraising, nonprofit marketing, project management, and nonprofit strategic planning," stated Eddie Coats, Vice President of Advancement, "We are excited to have her return "home" and rejoin our Wesleyan family in this key and important role for the College."

Cain is extremely active in her community, serving as a Disaster Relief Volunteer with the American Red Cross, a YoungLife Leader, and she will be co-leading a special needs program at her home church, Raleigh First Church of the Nazarene.

"I look forward to reconnecting with our cherished alumni, to show them how important they are to the Bishop Family and what a vital role they play in the success of our North Carolina Wesleyan community. Our alumni can show our current and future students the impacts they are making around the world; to be an example of what a Battling Bishop does beyond the serpentine wall. Go Bishops!"

July 2017