I hope everyone has returned from spring break relaxed and re-energized to continue doing great things at CNU. There are many new and exciting developments to share, each a testament to the inspiration and accomplishment of our campus family. 

Kiplinger's Best Values in Public Colleges

• CNU is ranked in the top 100 public institutions by Kiplinger's Best Values in Public Colleges. Kiplinger's ratings are based on a combination of academics and affordability. Institutions ranked in Kiplinger's Top 100 Best Values in Public Colleges 2012 are praised for their ability to "deliver a great education at prices that put private schools to shame."

• U.S. News and World Report has selected Christopher Newport as one of America's "up and coming schools to watch" for making the "most promising and innovative changes in academics, faculty, student life, campus and facilities." CNU was awarded the following rankings:
• No. 26 in Regional Universities in the South
• No. 6 in Up-and-Coming Schools in the South
• No. 9 in Top Public Schools in the South

• CNU is listed as one of the nation's best institutions for undergraduate education. Only 15% of the colleges in the nation are accorded this distinction.

• The Princeton Review selected 75 public schools and 75 private colleges based on campus culture, facilities, academics, the cost of attending and how much financial aid is provided to students. Only 150 schools in America -- just 5 percent -- are named as a Best Value.

The Princeton Review profile of CNU reads: "There's a palpable excitement for this relatively new school. The teachers take a personal interest in their students and there are many opportunities for students to take the lead on projects, shape their education and become campus and community leaders. Much like the academic buildings, the residence halls and campus are called breathtaking." CNU is also described as having a wonderful sense of community and a family-like atmosphere.

• Forbes named Christopher Newport one of the top 20 colleges for minorities in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math. Forbes ranked CNU fourth, calling it one of the institutions "getting it right" -- ahead of MIT and many other great schools.

The Captains were superlative this year, posting a 12-0 record in the conference, and a 23-5 mark overall, the second most wins in history. Senior Conley Taylor was named USA South Player of the Year, and ends a stellar CNU career with more than 1,800 points.

The CNU hockey club won the Blue Ridge Hockey Conference Colonial Division this year for the first time in team history, defeating two-time champs Loyola University Maryland in a thrilling overtime performance to bring home the trophy. Captains forward Bryce Evason earned All-Colonial honors.

Left to right: Shadi Abi-Saab ('01), Happy Darcus ('05), Jeremy Elliott ('03), Aimee Gibbs ('04), Michelle Kass-Prewitt ('05), Chris Phaup ('03)

Six of Christopher Newport's past champions were inducted into the CNU Athletics Hall of Fame at a recent ceremony held in The Freeman Center. Here are this year's honorees:

• Chris Phaup and Jeremy Elliott led the baseball team to consecutive NCAA World Series appearances. Phaup is CNU's career leader in slugging percentage and batting average and is second in home runs. Elliott is the single-season record holder for stolen bases and ranks third all-time in career batting average.

• Michelle Kass-Prewitt, a standout pitcher for CNU softball, is the all-time strikeout leader and ranks second in career earned-run average.

• Shadi Abi-Saab ranks among the top 10 in career goals, points and assists in men's soccer. He was a key contributor to CNU's 18-3-1 record and first NCAA elite eight appearance.

• Happy Darcus was a 10-time All-American in track and field. She was No. 2 in the nation at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 55 meters, and was a three-time Mason-Dixon Conference Champion.

• Aimee Gibbs ran cross country for the Captains and was a four-time NCAA National Championship qualifier. She holds CNU's fastest 5K time at 18:22.

Photo by Paul Vanden Abeele

The CNU Chamber Choir and String Quartet just returned from a triumphant 10-day concert tour of Europe, where our students performed and studied with local artists in Germany, Belgium and France. 

Highlights of the tour included performances at the D-Day Memorial in Normandy and Madeleine Church in Paris. 

The Chamber Choir and String Quartet also performed at the Basilica of the Holy Blood in Bruges, Belgium (pictured), and the Bayeux Cathedral in Normandy. In Germany, the group worked with professional conductor and Bach specialist Ron-Dirk Entleutner in a joint performance with the VokalEnsemble, a student vocal group from the University of Koblenz.