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| Christopher Newport University | November 2011 |
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As fall semester winds down, great events, campus milestones and high student achievement have reinforced why CNU is such a special place, alive with energy, enthusiasm and intellect. |
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Homecoming and Family Weekend
 This year we celebrated Homecoming and Family Weekend concurrently, and our extended campus family was on hand to reconnect with classmates and faculty, tour our beautiful campus and new facilities, and celebrate being a "Captain for Life." Here's a recap of the exciting events:
Football, women's soccer and volleyball all scored victories. During halftime of the football game we crowned the Homecoming King and Queen, senior Kevin Garcia and junior Arrenvy Bilinski. These two students represent the entire University, and their dedication to CNU and our community are shining examples of the selfless commitment to service our students embody.
Senior Andrew Schlaf, who plays clarinet in the Marching Captains, won the free London trip raffle. Please join me in wishing our incomparable marching band well as our students prepare for a once-in-a-lifetime trip abroad to inaugurate the 2012 Olympic year in London and celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
At the Ferguson Center, we were enthralled by the Musical Showcase, a spirited roster of performances by faculty and students in our award-winning ensembles and choirs.
Our celebratory weekend also included several performances of TheaterCNU's production of "Brighton Beach Memoirs," the classic American coming-of-age play written by Neil Simon. Our vibrant theater and dance majors always break a leg! I hope everyone will attend one of this season's shows.
We gathered on the Great Lawn to bury a time capsule filled with CNU artifacts and memories for future Captains to unearth. We also commemorated our semicentennial by planting a beautiful willow oak donated by Dr. Kara Keeling.
We've created a commemorative Homecoming and Family Weekend photo gallery for your viewing enjoyment. |
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The Season of Giving
I'm pleased to report that our Fourth Annual CNU Food for Thought Campaign yielded 31,028 pounds in food and monetary contributions for the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank - two tons more than last year.
Hundreds of students, faculty and staff participated in the Weight of Hunger Challenge, organized by our Center for Community Engagement. Our friends at Smithfield Foods and Kellogg's also supported this effort with generous donations.
The winners of the Challenge were Athletics, the Luter School of Business, Panhellenic Council and the DSU third floor staff offices. Congratulations and thanks to everyone who joined in support of our community.
The CNU family always rises to the occasion to help others in need. As Thanksgiving and the holiday season approach, I encourage everyone to consider those less fortunate. Please contact the Foodbank to see how you can help. |
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Captains Continue Winning Ways
The Captains picked up where they left off last year and have turned in another record-breaking string of performances this season. The entire campus is alive with excitement as we gear up to cheer on our talented football and volleyball teams as they vie for tournament glory.
For the third straight year, the volleyball team has won the NCAA south regional championship. The Captains defeated Emory University in three tense sets at The Freeman Center on Sunday to advance to the NCAA championships this weekend in St. Louis. The team will face SUNY-Cortland in the quarterfinal round.
The football team finished the regular season undefeated in conference play and brought home a second conference title with a victory over Maryville on Saturday. Quarterback Aaron Edwards (pictured) threw three touchdown passes in the victory.
The Captains head to Kean University in New Jersey this weekend to open the NCAA tournament.
Congratulations to the cross country teams on winning conference championships. It was the men's 18th consecutive title and the 15th overall for the women's team. The top seven finishers on each squad earned First Team All-Conference honors.
Men's soccer won a third straight USA South Conference championship. The Captains posted a 17-1-1 record and reached the first round of the NCAA tournament.
This season our student-athletes have once again proven why they are some of the best performers, both in and out of the classroom. Go to CNUsports.com for more information. |
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CNU Walks for a Great Cause
Hundreds of CNU students recently participated in a walk to raise awareness and support for a cause near and dear to the hearts of many on campus.
The "Heal a Heart Walk" was sponsored by Fear 2 Freedom (F2F), a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing hope and healing to victims of sexual abuse. The goal of the walk was to deliver F2F after-care kits to Riverside Hospital and to show compassion for victims.
The Walk came on the heels of an F2F event titled "Where Is The Line," a forum to educate college students about sexual assault, date rape and sex trafficking, and mobilize them to become part of the solution to these problems. Courageous women shared their personal experiences and participated in a Q&A session with our students.
The Walk caught the attention of local columnist Tamara Dietrich, who wrote an article in the Daily Press titled "CNU students 'school' Penn State." I'm proud of all who participated in making such a strong and visible show of support for the victims of sexual abuse. |
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What the Experts Are Saying
Our work toward creating a pre-eminent liberal arts university has not gone unnoticed. The Princeton Review, Forbes.com and U.S. News & World Report have all recently praised Christopher Newport. U.S. News has selected CNU as one of America's "schools to watch," for making the "most promising and innovative changes in academics, faculty, students, campus and facilities."
Such recognition is a testament to the incredible work of our students, faculty and staff. We continue to make CNU the best it can be by recruiting the finest faculty, seeking the brightest students and creating an exceptional college experience emphasizing leadership, honor and service. |
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CNU Professor Takes Political Pulse
The Judy Ford Wason Center for Public Policy is fast becoming a trusted national voice on political matters. The center's work is sought after by some of the most influential media outlets in the nation.
Led by Dr. Quentin Kidd, associate professor of political science, the center provides unbiased, nonpartisan research and insightful information about issues facing voters. An advisory board of business and community leaders from across Virginia helps guide the center's activities.
The center's work is unique in several ways, including the ability to impact public discourse on issues facing Virginia and directly involve our students in research. The center's findings have been published nationwide.
Visit the center online to gain insight into how Virginians perceive the issues facing our commonwealth. |
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PLP Students Make an Impression
Students involved in the President's Leadership Program (PLP) continue to excel on campus and beyond.
This year CNU has 875 PLP students, including 369 who are in their first year with the program. As a group, these scholars boast an average SAT (Critical Reading and Math) of 1250 and an average high-school GPA of 3.9. In their high schools they were class and club officers, team captains, section leaders, Eagle Scouts, newspaper and yearbook editors, and students who contributed countless hours of community service. Now part of the CNU family, they bring our campus alive with their energy, enthusiasm and intellect. |
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Center Hosts Energy Security Workshop
The University recently hosted many of the nation's leading energy specialists, from senior Navy and NATO officials to local and national political and industry leaders, for a workshop exploring energy security concerns, an issue of critical importance in the 21st-century global community.
The keynote speaker was former U.S. Senator and Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham (pictured). We were honored to have such high-caliber speakers in attendance - proof of our growing influence in the learning community.
With more than 500 attendees, the event was a great success. Panel sessions examined a wide range of topics, including how energy concerns affect U.S. national security, cyber defense, smart-grid technology and alternative energy.
The event was sponsored by CNU's Center for American Studies. Led by Drs. Nathan E. Busch and Elizabeth Kaufer Busch, the center seeks to educate the next generation of leaders - and the general public - about America's founding principles, capitalist system and national security.
Learn more about this important and engaging work being done on our campus online. |
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Promoting Post-CNU Success
The purpose of CNU's Center for Career Planning (CCP) is to put our students and alumni on the path to vocational success through career coaching, informational workshops and numerous other services. The CCP recently held a Fall Career and Graduate School Fair that connected students - past and present - with important post-CNU employment opportunities.
Our alumni are also providing invaluable services. CNU graduates successful in their own careers conduct informational interviews, serve as mentors and connect students with internships at their places of business.
Email the center for more information if you need assistance or wish to get involved. |
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Three Times the Joy  On CNU freshman move-in day, most parents say goodbye to one, and, in rare instances, two of their children. This year, Bob and Sharon Daniels, of Purcellville, Va., drove home after leaving their triplets Paige, Janell and Ryan with us. All three Daniels freshmen are thriving at CNU, and Mom and Dad could not be happier - as you can see from their new license plate! |
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Ask PST
Q: How are classes being made up for the days lost from the hurricane in August?
A: We extended the semester by three days. We now have classes on Saturday, Dec. 3, Monday, Dec. 5, and Tuesday, Dec. 6 to cover missed classes. This allows all classes to be taught and provides our students adequate prep time for exams.
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The Month in Photos
To share our campus spirit with you, each newsletter will include a link to a photo gallery featuring images of exciting events from the past month. Enjoy! |
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