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VWU’s annual Spring Alumni Weekend, held April 14-16, encouraged reflection on changes and illuminated emotional ties. The weekend included celebrations at Shorebreak Pizza and Taphouse, alumni sporting events, a Marlin family picnic and a reception for the first five graduating classes of Virginia Wesleyan. These events provided alumni with an opportunity to reminisce while acknowledging the many changes around campus.
Many of the events throughout the weekend specifically celebrated the “First Five Pioneers,” who graduated between 1966 and 1971 from what was then Virginia Wesleyan College (VWC).
Married couple Suzy Ralph Brett (‘72) and Tom Brett (‘71) connected at Virginia Wesleyan 52 years ago and enthusiastically return to campus for alumni events.
“A lot of us met here and got married. I bet there’s 10 couples here that have been married over 50 years,” Suzy Ralph Brett said. The two not only found love, but a longstanding community that became integral to the foundation of their futures.
“We were such a small college. We could be strong leaders while we were here. Presidents of our classes and volleyball captains,” Suzy Ralph Brett said.
In her time at Virginia Wesleyan, Suzy Ralph Brett trailblazed as the college’s first ever female class president. She overcame the pushback from the institution, which told her she could be vice president because a man had to occupy the president role.
Suzy Ralph Brett said, “I was vice president of my senior class in high school, and my goal was to get to college president. So I did.”
She spoke more on the college’s early inequality and how the student body worked to reshape gender-based rules. One example she provided was the curfew only imposed on the women.
“We went to the student activity welfare committee a lot. It used to be, at 11 o’clock, all the girls had to be back in campus. The boys didn’t have to. They thought if they controlled the women, the boys would follow,” Suzy Ralph Brett said.
She said that each floor also had “room moms,” who were women generally in their 60s living in halls among the students.
Her husband, Tom Brett, also reflected on the vast changes Virginia Wesleyan has undergone.
“Virtually no one had cars so we were a captive audience here. We were on 300 acres, out where the entrance is, there was an old farmhouse that had a couple of horses that were fenced in. The library wasn’t there yet. Behind the school where the circular driveway comes around, there was nothing but cornfields there. There was no public transportation here. Our only means of getting off of campus was the school had an old gray stick shift station wagon that the students could check out and that was our only way off campus. We could sign the car out, we had to tell them where we were going,” Tom Brett said.
He listed more differences such as the girls needing to sign in and out of their dormitories and the dinner dress code that required boys to wear coats and ties and girls to wear dresses. “We’re talking old school South,” Brett said.
The couple acknowledged that these experiences were commonplace at the time. Still, they view their time at Virginia Wesleyan through a positive lens because of the community atmosphere that outshined all drawbacks.
Suzy Ralph Brett said, “We’re so proud of it. It’s come
so far. I mean, we were here literally when there was nothing.”
However, Tom Brett brought up how in some instances, less could be more. He explained that because of this small village atmosphere, every student would know every classmate, professor and administrator personally.
“My first year here at the school I played basketball and I severely sprained my ankle while playing. The next morning, there was a knock on my door and it was the president of the college,” Tom Brett said, “He said ‘I understand that you injured yourself last night, I can see that you’re having a hard time. If you need, we will arrange to have meals brought to your room, and if you can’t get to class, we’ll have someone take notes for you until you’re able to get up and move around.’”
Alumna Ruth Ann Hurt Klyver attended Virginia Wesleyan in 1968 and 1969, and her husband graduated from VWC in 1972. “I met some really nice friends. I came from a very small town so it introduced me to a lot of different backgrounds,” Klyver said.
Klyver said that most of her classmates were in military families and she envied how much they traveled. In turn, they told her that she had been lucky to grow up staying in one place.
Klyver met and married her husband during her time in college, her maid-of-honor being a friend from VWC whom she remained connected with.
Alumni Patty McGhee Singletary Brown and Julie Medcalf Bystrom were roommates at VWC from 1968 to 1970. While both finished their degrees later at ODU, they fondly remembered their time at Virginia Wesleyan and the time they spent together.
Patty remarked on how different the campus is now. She recalled that when she started college, the campus consisted of two single-gender dorm halls, a cafeteria and a row of classrooms beneath the dorm rooms.
The former roommates said that policies and rules have changed since they were students.
Brown recalled that a professor once kicked her out of math class for wearing shorts. “If I’d only been gutsy enough I would’ve gone to the bathroom, taken them off and come back in. But I wasn’t that gutsy back then,” Brown said.
Brown and Bystrom’s friendship continued well beyond their years as roommates, and they said it is those kinds of friendships that draw them back to VWU. “In college we were thrown into living together, so most of the people in our class got to be really good friends and we’ve even
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gotten together recently,” Brown said.
After their time at VWC, both Brown and Bystrom went on to accomplish many personal and professional goals.
Alumna Karen Hughes (‘71) said, “Virginia Wesleyan helped me to become an independent person. I grew up in a tight knit family and I wanted to go home… I ended up graduating and became independent of my parents.”
She recalled her time in college and the personal connections with professors that Virginia Wesleyan offered.
When Hughes was first here as an 18-year-old, Dr. Lawrence Hultgren, a professor of Philosophy, who still teaches here nearly fifty years later, was around twenty-one years old.
Hughes is committed to staying connected to VWU. “I love seeing the new buildings and everything, I love to see that it’s growing but it’s mainly friends. These are friends that we made fifty years ago and some of them we’re still in touch with,” Hughes said.
Director of Enrollment for the Batten
Honors College Brooke Novkovic is an alumna from the class of 2018, which helped run the Marlin Family Picnic during alumni weekend.
Novkovic received her associate’s degree at a community college and transferred to Virginia Wesleyan after realizing the style of a big public university didn’t suit her.
“I felt like part of the family here more so than in other areas of education. I would say what drew me especially was the one on one between the faculty and the students. They know your name and are invested in what you’ll be doing in your future, they’re also invested in you being successful in your time here and beyond,” Novkovic said.
Despite attending the university more recently, she’s noticed changes since her time as a student. Since President Miller took over, Novkovic said the campus has grown immensely in not only facilities and classrooms, but also opportunities for students.
Similarly to other alumni, Novkovic spoke of the connections she made at VWU and how they have transcended her time as a student.
“Once I transitioned to working in the
enrollment office my favorite memory is, during my first week Dr. Wansink just came over and popped into my office and I didn’t even know he knew I was working here,” Novkovic said. “I felt like he was invested when I was in his class but on top of that, there was the fact that he wanted to see how I was doing afterwards. It was just so nice that he wanted to know how I was getting along and how I was enjoying it and offering support too.”
BY MK MORRIS LARKIN mmorrislarkin@vwu.eduVirginia Wesleyan’s Work and Learn Program has five components to help pay off tuition.
The Federal Work-Study program is funded by the federal government, and students eligible for it can find it in their financial aid portal.
The amount of money received is based on the information a student provides when they apply.
The Campus Cooperative program is similar to the federal work-study program, but the campus sees if the students need financial aid, and they can apply to positions that are in the campus cooperative. Depending on the job, a student can earnup to $3,000 a year in the form of a grant for tuition credit.
William Harrell, director of Recreation and Wellness, said that for a Co-Op position, students “are given a grant and
Alumni continue to return to campus for employment, celebrations and even continued involvement in the arts, allowing past generations to influence the experiences of current students. As a piece of advice for current and incoming Marlin community members, Suzy Ralph Brett said, “Make connections with friends. Don’t lose track of each other. Live a good story. Make everything momentous.”
they’re given a certain amount of money depending on what their job position is.”
The Professional Partnership Program is where students participate in internships out in the community, allowing them to get real-world experience while working off their tuition. They receive a $3,000 scholarship per year.
Jason Seward, associate vice president for Campus Life and Operational Management said, “They’re also gaining experience from working both on campus and then off campus with some of our partners.”
The Opus program is for students who still have a balance to help full-time staff complete projects to earn a grant. It is a more selective program. The scholarship is dependent on what the student needs.
The Residential Leaders program is made up of RA’s. These students will help create a community in their halls and will be student leaders. Students can apply to this program in the spring and will receive $4,200 a year in the form of a grant.
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Step 2: Decide where on campus you want to work.
There are many places on campus where students can work. Almost every place on campus has a student working position. The most common place on campus to work is the Batten Student Center.
At the Batten Center, you can work as a lifeguard, plaza desk worker, supervisor, rock wall belayer, fitness room attendee, UREC staff or intramural staff.
Other places to work on campus include Student Activities, the Hofheimer Library, Academic Affairs, Finance, Athletics, the University Store, the Lighthouse, the Learning Center, Goode Performing Arts Center, Malbon Technology Center and Offices for the President and Batten Honors College.
Seward said, “All the operational areas of the institution are supported in some way, shape, or form through student employment.”
Step 3: Find a position that would work for you.
There are a multitude of job options available for students. Look into the requirements for the different jobs around the place where you would like to work.
Each job is looking for different qualities that may align with the student’s skill set the best. If that position does not end up working, there are many options and choices that may be better.
Junior Britni Arrington works as an assistant to the Student Activities department.
“What I like about this job as opposed to other jobs I’ve had on campus is that my tasks are very plainly set out for me. I understand what I need to do and know the expectation that is set
for me,” Arrington said.
Step 4: Reach out to the supervisor of the place where you want to work.
Each place on campus handles its application process differently. Reaching out to the supervisor shows interest, and they can lead you to the application or set up an interview for the position.
Arrington said, “I emailed Sarah Guzzo and I asked if there was any chance I could work for [her]. She said a position just opened up and I think you would be perfect for it.”
The university will often send out emails and use social media to promote job opportunities.
Seward said, “Typically, what happens is when there’s availability, it’s communicated to the student body and then
they simply just touch base with the supervisor for the area. And those are listed on the work and learn website on the college’s website.”
The final step is to start a new job. This opportunity allows you to meet new people and grow the skills needed for jobs in the future.
Students can work on paying off their tuition and grow as professionals, gaining resumebuilding experience. Students will learn time management, working as a team and interacting with people professionally.
Seward said, “If anyone has a question about working on campus, feel free to connect with me, and I will guide them in the right direction.”
This is my goodbye message to the media enterprise that was a staple of my college experience throughout all four years, which included a pandemic and remote learning, professional and personal growth, and challenges and achievements.
My Marlin Chronicle story began with the class registration process as an incoming freshman. I knew I wanted to take Business and Political Science courses, but I saw a 2-credit Journalism course that piqued my interest. Enrolling in Journalism Workshop was one of the best decisions I made because I was introduced to the newspaper writing, editing and designing processes. I also joined the senior editors that fall to attend the College Media Association conference in Washington, D.C. During that experience, I met a White House reporter and former White House press secretary as well as attended the Washington Nationals parade to celebrate their 2019 World Series win.
Then, I was promoted to be the community section editor where half of the semester operated normally. I got to cover the Bernie Sanders presidential rally on campus with other professional reporters. Then, I went home for spring break and completed the rest of the semester on a foldable table in my living room because the campus shut down due to COVID-19. This posed a challenge for the Chronicle as all of our files and equipment were on
“Connor deserves a big send off to recognize contributions to FORTY Marlin Chronicle issues and TWO years as EIC. Thank you for your countless hours and tireless work for this team, Connor!”
- Dr. Lisa Lyon Payne
“I have learned that the best friendships are founded in trust and commitment. Throughout college, we have both had a lot of friends come and go and while we have remained solid. It is amazing to know you have a supporter with you through all trials. I am so lucky to have a best friend like Connor! He is the most trustworthy person I could ever ask for in my life. I don’t really plan on saying goodbye to him ever. To me, he is a lifelong friend.” -
Abigail Petersoncampus, but we persevered and completed our publications via Zoom and on our own computers.
As I entered sophomore year, I became the news section editor and covered all facets of COVID-19 related to campus life and the University and the 2020 presidential election, and was appointed by the previous EIC and Dr. Lisa Lyon Payne, the faculty advisor to lead the team. This was unconventional as I was going to be a junior in this position, which became even more atypical as I led the organization for an additional year as a senior.
I am incredibly proud of the team for our accomplishments, especially over the past two years. We have won 39 awards from the Society of Collegiate Journalists’ national college competition, seen immense growth in our social media presence and expanded the team to over 30 people.
I am very thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this remarkable group and am especially appreciative of Dr. Payne for her support as well as the dedication of the writers, photographers, illustrators, advertising managers, online editors, copy editors, social media operators and section editors that I have worked with for four years. They have helped elevate our newspaper into a nationally recognized multimedia organization that has done an upstanding job of showcasing our community and its many voices.
My time with the Chronicle is over, but I know it
“I am forever thankful for our friendship in and out of the newsroom. You have made a huge impact on my life within the few years that I have known you, and I can’t even imagine the impact you have had and will continue to have on others around you.”
- Carey Seay“Connor, not only have you been a great example of service leadership but you have also shown me how to stand up for the standards and morals that I value. You have never been shy of being vocal about things that did not sit well with your conscience despite the thoughts of the group and I admire you for that. Additionally, you have shown me the significance of taking accountability and forging one’s own unconventional path through
will continue to be a trustworthy and reliable source of information under the direction of rising editor-in-chief Rhian Tramontana and I look forward to being an active reader.
All the best, Connor Merk
Staff Writer (2019)
Community Editor (2020)
News Editor (2020-2021)
Editor-in-Chief (2021-2023)
your very own journey. What a true ‘power player’ :)” -
Kainaat Trehan“Dear Connor, I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with you over the years. Your dedication, drive, and integrity are unmatched. I have watched you accomplish so much during your time here. It is hard to imagine what campus will be like without you. I will certainly miss our long chats and unforgettable laughs. I am grateful for our time together. Good luck with your future endeavors and don’t forget about us when you’re rich and famous!”
- Warmest regards, Brooke Novkovic
“Connor, you have taught me to push expectations past where they are reasonable. You have taught me to always strive to give work we are proud of. I sincerely hope that the next year of the Marlin Chronicle is something I can present to you with pride after all the guidance you’ve given me.” -
Rhian TramontanaOutside of the classroom, VWU Professor Benjamin Dobrin lives a fun and exciting life. In his free time, he is a volunteer for the police department, EMS and public safety and dive team for the cities of Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. In addition, he teaches scuba diving classes and hosts training for those who are interested in being a public safety diver.
Dobrin, a staff member for almost 30 years, is a huge asset to the VWU community. Dobrin is the dean of the D. Henry Watts School of Professional Studies as well as a professor and chair of the Social Work department.
Prior to his career at VWU, Dobrin traveled up and down the East Coast to obtain his degrees. For his undergrad, he
attended the College of William and Mary in the Sociology/Psychology field. He then attended the University of Pennsylvania to obtain his Masters in Social Work, and ended at the University of South Florida College where he received his Doctorate in Public Health.
Dobrin began as a volunteer EMS in 2003, and following that, he joined their water rescue team, which started his work as a EMS Search and Rescue Team diver. In 2008, Dobrin joined the Chesapeake Police Department’s academy and became a volunteer police officer tasked with taking calls and doing ride-alongs. This is how he became a part of the dive team.
“I was already a public safety diver, and the captain informed me that they’ve never had a volunteer police officer on the team before, so he told me to go to diving school for three weeks and hoped for the best. I then became diver number 13, on a 12-person diving team,” Dobrin said.
The Virginia Beach Police Department then sent him to Florida for diving training. As people started to retire, Dobrin went back to Florida to become an Instructor Trainer; he is now the only Instructor Trainer in the area. Dobrin works both as a recreational and public safety scuba diving instructor.
Dobrin has dived in many different bodies of water; from lakes to the Atlantic Ocean to the ocean in the Caribbean and even in an aquarium with whale sharks. Dobrin’s job as a recovery diver has put him in stressful situations. One procedure involves a diver locating bodies and tying buoys to them.
“I was shaking. I knew I was going to find the body. I found a body, I wasn’t scared of a dead body, but the adrenaline dump was enough that I couldn’t tie a knot underwater with gloves on,” Dobrin said. Due to this incident, the procedure was changed to a two-man team to better deal with the stress. He has a very close-knit team, where they are able to talk through these things and process them together, so by the time he goes home he doesn’t need to do any of it on his own.
“Being a part of a team is super important, especially when dealing with stressful situations like these,” Dobrin said.
Since Dobrin loves diving so much, he even started a class teaching students on campus all about diving.
“It’s a great hobby,” Dobrin said. Although he is not teaching it anymore, it was his favorite class to teach.
Dobrin loves teaching at Wesleyan because his roots
are here. He heavily encourages students to make college worth it and have no regrets.
Dobrin gave this advice to the incoming freshmen.
“Get out of your rooms; go do something. It doesn’t matter what you do, but if you are in your room other than the 8 hours a night you should be sleeping, you’re wasting time. If you’re watching TV, you’re wasting time. There is so much to do in college, especially here in Virginia Beach,” Dobrin said. “Join a club or volunteer for EMS, there are so many opportunities. If you know you’re good at something, chances are you have it, and if you don’t, make it happen.”
Dobrin made the most of his time in college while playing sports, participating in a fraternity and staying on top of school work; he has no regrets.
“Treat college like a job, because it’s the easiest job you will ever have,” Dobrin said.
ProfessorBenjamin Dobrin
spends spare time volunteering as a Search and Rescue professional.Benjamin Dobrin|Courtesy Dr. Dobrin holding a photo of him being recognized for his work with the VB police department.
Elyse Rosen
Assistant Director of Residence Life
Favorite Thing about VWU:
“There are a lot of things I love about VWU, working here and being a part of the community. I think overall, my favorite thing is that we get to truly have fun with our students and fellow staff members.”
Support Services Lead, Aramark Facilities Management
Favorite Thing about VWU: “I’ve gone to college. I’ve worked on other campuses but Wesleyan is like no other. The people have heart and feel like family.”
Executive Director of Academic Support Services
Favorite Thing about VWU:
“My favorite thing about my job is meeting with students and helping them problem-solve. Then sending them off knowing they can take ownership of their success.”
Information collected by Kylea McCarel ksmccarel@vwu.edu
Favorite Thing about VWU:
“The interactions with the incoming students and seeing their progress from the shy 12th grader to a confident
Favorite Thing about VWU:
“I have always felt that this community is like a family to me, even when I came for my first tour as a prospective student.”
As you prepare for the 2023-2024 school year, get to know the VWU campus with this word-to-picture matching puzzle. Below are the most well known buildings on campus. Draw a line from each building photo to its matching title. Photos courtesy of Carley Tantlinger.
For those who don’t know me personally, I am from a small town outside of New Haven, Connecticut. I grew up always knowing what my next adventure was and how I was going to get there. However, if you had asked me straight out of high school, I would have never imagined ending up at Virginia Wesleyan University.
On the verge of my high school graduation, I was given the chance to attend a four-year school back at home, to compete on a DI dance team. However, at the time, I had the most unreliable car there was, so my parents gave me the option of pursuing my dreams, with years of student loan debt, or to go to community college and get a new car.
This decision was one of the hardest I had ever faced. Although at first it was hard helping and seeing all my friends move into their dorms, I knew in the long run I would benefit from it.
Ever since I was a kid, I knew I wanted to help others when I was older. Prior to VWU, I attended Gateway Communi ty College, in New Haven, Connecti cut, studying Criminal Justice. After just three semesters, Juvenile Delinquency was the course that changed everything for me. “Mad ison sweetie, you are a Social Work major,” were the encouraging words of my advisor at the time.
This led to me taking Introduction to Human Services my last semester of community college, which gave me all the validation in the world when applying to schools to further my education, particularly in a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program.
It didn’t take long when researching accredited BSW programs. I remember the day like it was yesterday, when I told my mother that I wanted to move to Virginia to finish my undergrad. She laughed at me, because no one in my family would have ever expected me to leave home, nonetheless 400 miles away.
Virginia Wesleyan was like a foreign language to me at first. I had never even heard about it until one day when I got a call from Nadine White-Shook. She sold me a dream, and when I toured the campus, I knew this is where I needed to be. After the long drive home following my campus tour, I immediately sent in my deposit.
Once I got to Wesleyan, it wasn’t easy at first. I had never been so far away from home before, as it took a
lot of getting used to. But meeting all the right people, VWU became home to me within the blink of an eye.
I found my home at Sigma Sigma Sigma, Zeta Pi, meeting some of the most inspiring women. In the mix of that, I met some of the best friends I have ever had. The friends I have made have been some of the best support systems while being so far away from home too!
As a Social Work major, I experience such heavy topics day-to-day, and being able to come back to campus and spend time with my friends is one of the best ways to unwind, after a nap of course.
Even though I didn’t get all four years here at Wesleyan, the two years I did get were the best two years of my life.
For all the incoming freshmen reading this, you may not know exactly what you want to do right now, and that’s okay. It takes time to really find your true passion.
If there’s one piece of advice you could take from this, it would be to just be you. I know it’s so corny but it’s the truth. This whole experience is for yourself.
It took me so long to realize that not everyone is going to like me, but I would never change who I am just to have friends. True friends will love you just the way you are, because quality is better than quantity.
Whatever interests you, do it, go for it. If there’s one thing you want to live your life with, it’s having no regrets. If you were to ask me
four years ago, I would have never thought I’d end up here, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world because everything I have done here, it was for me.
Virginia Wesleyan University has been my home for the last four years, and I cannot imagine a better school than this one to call home. VWU has provided me with so many opportunities and experiences that have not only been enlightening and fun, but also have made me a more well-rounded person.
As a STEM major, I did not think that I would have the time to take classes outside the major requirements that interest me, but in addition to my Biology major and Chemistry minor, I have been able to obtain a Religious Studies minor as well. For this reason and many others, I am grateful for the liberal arts aspect of VWU as it has encouraged me to explore classes outside of the science genre. I also took interesting classes such as digital art, and during my last year, I participated in National Model United Nations, something that may not have been possible at a non-liberal arts school.
Not only has VWU provided me with incredible experiences, but being a member of the Batten Honors College has as well. As a member of the BHC, I had the opportunity to travel to Israel and Palestine in January 2020, an experience that I will never forget.
The BHC study abroad requirement was a bit daunting at first, as I had never been out of the country, but I quickly realized how great of an opportunity it was. I was surrounded by incredible faculty
and fellow students who were there when I needed them.
In addition, leaving the country and being away from home prepared me for more experiences down the line, despite my trip only lasting 12 days.
Another part of the BHC experience is the acquisition of two Immersive Education Experiences (IEE). One of my IEEs was a 10-week research internship at Cornell University called Microbial Friends and Foes REU.
While ten weeks is a lot longer than 12 days, I believe my time in Israel and Palestine and being brought out of my comfort zone on that trip allowed me to adjust to life in Ithaca much better than I would have without the experience.
The IEEs are also another part I grew to appreciate during my time in the honors college.
At first, it was a bit nerve wracking trying to figure out how I would manage to get two. However, there was so much support from all the faculty and staff throughout Virginia Wesleyan. The assistance was not limited to just BHC staff.
It was through professors that I heard of Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) programs and was encouraged to apply. All of my professors were eager to write me letters of recommendations and if I needed any more assistance, I knew I could reach out to them.
I believe the small class sizes at VWU made this process easier and helped me obtain more personal recommendations that allowed me to get accepted into the REU mentioned above, Microbial Friends and Foes at Cornell University, which made up my first IEE.
My second IEE was research on campus with Dr. Johnson. On campus research at VWU is a great experience. As a researcher, students get a lot of handson work and skills that can be added to their resume. Because of Dr. Johnson’s research and the REU, I have acquired skills that will make me a competitive applicant for M.D. and Ph.D. programs. I have gotten a job at Duke University as a
lab technician for my gap year. Another aspect of the BHC is the living and learning community every student experiences when living in the Honors Village. It was in this community that I made many lifelong friends who I plan to stay in touch with for many years to come.
I think that the living and learning community is one of the coolest aspects of the BHC as each honors student gets to be surrounded by like-minded individuals, and I know I can ask just about anyone for help, and they would not hesitate to assist me. Living in the Honors village for my first two years, I believe has had the biggest impact on me.
When I arrived at VWU, I was extremely introverted and very shy, but with such an amazing group of people around me, I was able to come out of my shell and really grow as a person. Now, I am a confident person who cannot wait to take all the lessons and experiences VWU and the BHC has provided me with out into the world after graduation.
Prince Charles is the full-time assistant coach for the Men’s Lacrosse team at Virginia Wesleyan University.
Charles prides himself on helping the lacrosse program improve everyday. He is a recent graduate at Randolph College and coached there for two years, with one year as a volunteer and the second year as a paid assistant.
Hailing from Virginia Beach, Charles attended Cape Henry Collegiate. He played anything from midfield to face off.
Players on the team have become fond of the assistant coach here. Freshman midfielder and defender Aidan Foley praised Charles for his personality. “I like him as an assistant coach, he’s a young guy so he relates to us well. He’s funny, energetic and understanding in conversation,” Foley said.
As a young entrepreneur, Charles has a personal brand of training and stringing lacrosse sticks called Prince Charles. He aspires to have a training hub and facility
and eventually facilities around the area for everyone to join in and be a part of. He runs his own social media and has an innovative use of an emblem of a crown.
“Charles is clearly an attention grabber. The purple color actually came from one of my favorite artists, Prince,” Charles said. “Also, Don Toliver is one of my favorites right now. So Donny Womack (2018 Album) is the inspiration too.”
Charles wants to eventually grow not only his brand but the game of lacrosse to new heights in Virginia.
Charles’s goal since the day he got here has been simple: help the team’s reputation as a whole. “Of course, building this program when I got here, the culture piece was a little damaged. So my logic was to figure out a way to rebuild that and make sure it was stable for years to come,” Charles said.
When developing the brotherhood aspect of the program, he didn’t want the team to feel like a fraternity.
“We’re all basically a brotherhood. Not necessarily a fraternity. There’s a negative connotation with fraternities, but
brotherhood is a hard thing to establish without the right pieces. Slowly but surely I’ve been able to make sure that each of these pieces is slowly fitting in so the dynamic is one that everyone respects around us,” Charles said.
Charles, nicknamed “PC,” has an outrageously outgoing personality to offer. He prides himself on his ability to reach out and connect people in this community.
“My talent is being a very personable person and pursuing goals the regular person wouldn’t do. Being in the chamber orchestra, being an athlete, being a tour guide. Basically being a voice for the generation that is next to show up,” Charles said.
Charles’s role on the team and in the lives of people around him is not something he takes lightly. “There’s a lot of responsibility and a lot of people don’t understand that the extra mile is that you actually have to go out and just do things that you might not even think twice about,” Charles said. “Leaving an imprint on these athletes and gentlemen is a pretty serious one.”
This year’s FinFest, which took place on April 23 at Foster Field in the Tassos Paphites Soccer Complex, brought together student athletes to participate in field day games. Notable parts of the events were food, snowcones, popcorn, a 360 camera and a DJ. Athletes were split up into teams which represented 15 different countries while the coaches were together on one team.
FinFest organizer VWU Men’s Soccer Assistant Coach Shane Kohler offered insight into the exciting event this year. Kohler said organizers “tried to choose a mixture of more classic field day games, and current popular activities. Three-legged race, potato sack race, a water balloon toss are all games the majority of people played at some point growing up.”
He said they wanted to include newer games such as Spikeball and Kan Jam as well. Organizers reached out to the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and took into consideration the feedback from last year.
11 Summer 2023
Marlin Chronicle
Andrea Hoover-Erbig|Courtesy VWU student athletes gather at the Tassos Paphites Soccer Complex on April 23 for the 2023 FinFest.
Kohler explained that since SAAC is ultimately participating in the event, they wanted to make their experience the best it could be.
So they “asked [SAAC] which games from last year could be replaced, and they were great with the answers
Prince Charles|Courtesy Assistant Coach Prince Charles walks with freshman Leif Simons.PC has come a long way in his time at VWU. But he doesn’t plan on slowing down in pursuits to nationals or his startup business.
they provided,” Kohler said.
One main goal of FinFest, according to Kohler, is to have the different athletic teams working together in order to get to know each other better. For example, he said, “Instead of just having the Men’s Basketball team vs the Baseball team, we do our best to intermingle every athletic program. We took about 2-3 members from each athletic team and divided them up evenly to form about 15 different teams.”
Overall, Kohler was pleased with the outcome of the event. “There aren’t too many drastic changes from last year’s event, as we received a lot of positive feedback,” Kohler said. “We altered a few of the games after talking with the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). We are really excited to host another great event for our student athletes!”
The event was set up in a bracket style with the two final teams being Spain and Jamaica, who faced off in the final event of Tug-of-War.
Plans after graduation: “After graduation, I will be attending William & Mary Law School in the Fall. I am excited to begin my postgraduate education and I know that the skills I have attained as a student athlete at VWU will help me along the way!”
Advice to incoming student athletes: “If I could give one piece of advice to incoming student athletes, I would encourage them to meet new people. The small-size of the University helps you to get to know your professors and classmates in a unique way. In addition, the tightknit community of student athletes and coaches is so supportive. It’s always fun to support other teams and see that support reciprocated during your season!”
Plans after graduation: “I plan on possibly doing an internship with the Los Angeles Rams for the next year doing Communications. As far as doing things that I find interesting, I’ve found some interest in trying new entertainment places that are popular based on the location. Having the possibility of moving across the country with a different culture and way of living, it will definitely be exciting.”
Advice to incoming student athletes: “Something that I would tell incoming freshmen is to take in everything, literally, no moment is too small. These four years go by fast and the last thing you want to do when
leaving here is regretting or wishing you’ve done more to be involved within the school or made more friends that will both help you later on in life. It’s also okay to fail. It happens to the best of us. It’s what allows you all to grow with the people that celebrate with you when you’re in my position four years later. Make connections with people on and off campus, you never know who knows who. Even if you’re scared, do it, because that’s the type of courage you need when your back is against the wall.”
The NEON District of Norfolk and the ViBe District of Virginia Beach are two vibrant and bustling hubs that highlight the diversity of local culture. These areas provide enthralling and distinctive experiences, which have become popular destinations for residents and tourists alike in Hampton Roads. The ViBe District, with its local art galleries and farm-to-table restaurants, contrasts the NEON District, which is well-known for its spectacular neon lights, bustling nightlife and lively entertainment scene.
A visit to the ViBe District is a definitive change of scenery from other areas of Virginia Beach. Here, community and creativity meld together in charming murals and neighborhood art galleries that dot the sidewalks. The ViBe District offers a variety of dining alternatives, from quaint cafes to farm-to-table restaurants, there’s something for everyone.
The district allows local creatives to inspire one another, while serving as a thriving hub for numerous creative enterprises on the Oceanfront. Visitors can experience the vibe at one of the district’s monthly First Fridays, Second Saturdays and VB Flea events. They can watch homegrown ideas come to life at the Virginia Beach Art Center’s active local artist studios and world-class exhibitions at Virginia MOCA or sample regional fare at the weekly Old Beach Farmers Market.
Near Virginia Beach’s coastline is a small women-owned ceramic studio and store called Jars of Dust. They offer handmade, heirloom ceramics to the community and beyond, as well as pottery classes for all skill levels. The storefront, tucked away in a secluded nook, houses all their available ceramics, and you may even observe a mug being manufactured from scratch as you shop for one.
“The ViBe District of Virginia Beach is rich, vibrant and community-oriented. From the annual mural festival and
weekly farmers market to the local small businesses and restaurants that pepper the streets, we, at Jars of Dust, are incredibly thankful to be located in such an eclectic corner of Virginia!” Head of Marketing, Lakota Rich, said.
“We love being able to connect with our community and offer not only unique ceramics that will last a lifetime, but also experiences and memories for families, friends and loved ones to come and enjoy together!” Rich said.
North End Bag Co., a hand-crafting canvas and leather goods store, has been in business in the ViBe District since 2012.
“The neighborhood is composed of different artists, creators and business owners that work together to bring the community something exciting and fun. As the ‘Alley,’ we have brought The Flea Market to the district: a well curated, vintage/artist market that brings light to other creators and artists in our community,” manager Kendall Viera said.
Viera mentioned that with their business, they feel super lucky to be right in the
middle of it all, and get to share their passion and knowledge of goods with the community.
“Our shop really caters to all your senses, from the smell of leather, the sound of the machines, to touch of our materials. You are submerged when you walk through the door, standing in the showroom, you also get to see the production happening in our workshop in real time,” Viera said.
Previously known as “Auto Row,” the NEON district received its name from a plethora of classic car dealerships that lined the streets, illuminating it with neon lights. Downtown Norfolk now has a new influx of local passion and creativity thanks to this district, which stands for New Energy of Norfolk. It started with a small number of invested residents and quickly expanded into a thriving living canvas showcasing culture, cuisine and craftsmen.
While studio-based organizations like d’Art Center and the Rutter Family Art
Foundation give artists a venue to build, create and present, long-standing cultural institutions such as the Chrysler Museum of Art and Harrison Opera House serve as the district’s cultural pillars.
The NEON District provides distinctive cultural experiences. Visitors can see a live glass-working demonstration, a muralist at work, watch an improv comedy show at Push Comedy Theater, get a tattoo and eat at an eccentric restaurant all within a few short blocks.
La Brioche, a gastronomic delicacy situated in the heart of the NEON District, is renowned for its delicious French pastries that are all prepared daily. The aroma of freshly baked delicacies–pastries, danishes, sandwiches and chocolate candies–wafts through the air and beckons passersby. It provides an ideal place to have a leisurely brunch, or to pick up a quick treat, because of its warm ambiance. La Brioche is a must-visit restaurant whether you’re a Francophile or just a foodie.
“What we like about the district is that you find art everywhere, great energies, friendly customers and neighbors, and a small downtown with a great sense of community, EVERYTHING!” La Brioche owners Jacqueline and Yvan Devulder said.
“Our chef Yvan Devulder is very serious about ingredients and recipes in order to provide everyday high quality and the best taste of France. We have a lot of customers familiar with France and Europe due to the navy base as we have been in Norfolk for four wonderful years, thanks to everyone here,” Jacqueline said.
Another great business in the NEON District is Ghent Grab & Go. This business is a family-run convenience store that provides everything you need, even desserts like Dole Whip, as well as fresh salads, wraps, smoothies, a coffee bar and unusual beer and wine selections.
“Our theme is ‘around the world in 60 seconds,’ and we try to bring flavors from around the world together at our store with quality and convenience in mind,” owner Dee Perera said.
The ViBe and NEON districts offer distinctive and captivating experiences, certain to leave a lasting impression.
When I began writing film reviews for the Marlin Chronicle in Fall 2021, both our campus and the theatrical landscape were beginning to crawl back to normalcy. Just as campus gathering restrictions were being lifted and classes were held exclusively in-person once more, movies were finally returning to theaters in force. However, audiences were, and still are, more hesitant to see films in theaters.
Much of this hesitation comes from the availability of streaming services, which were already hurting theater business prior to the pandemic. When the pandemic hit, movies went straight to streaming, allowing viewers to watch from the comfort of their own homes, where they did not have to pay for concessions, travel or deal with unruly crowds.
Even as movies returned to theaters, the introduction of day-and-date releases on streaming services, such as “HBO Max,” meant that films would be released on a streaming service on the same day it was released in theaters. This policy was devised to entice consumers to subscribe to streaming services, but also had the longterm impact of steering consumers away from theaters.
This policy was eventually replaced by shortened windows between a film’s release in theaters and its streaming debut, such as the seventeen-day window devised by “Universal Studios” for its films. However, this combined with the growing quality of films and shows created for streaming services, made many theatergoers content to wait for a movie to release on digital, rather than feeling the need to rush to theaters to see it.
This change in audiences’ mentality towards going to the theaters is evident when looking at how franchises and genres that were previously considered as “safe bets,” now struggle to attract audiences. For example, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which in the two years prior to the pandemic had four of its last five
The Virginia Beach area can be daunting for tourists and locals alike. Whether you grew up here or traveled many miles to get to Virginia Wesleyan, it can be difficult to decide how to spend your free time and where to hangout with friends off-campus. This list of potential spots showcases exciting locations around the university, within a convenient 30-minute radius.
find a mix of stores and restaurants, local and chain. It gets progressively busier as summer continues, since it is a popular tourist destination, but it is a pleasant area to enjoy classic beach vibes.
Beach scenes are not the only places the area has to offer. Regal Columbus, a movie theater off of Virginia Beach Boulevard and on Constitution Drive, presents a new and unique experience.
film releases gross over a billion dollars at the international box office. Since the pandemic, however, only one film, “SpiderMan: No Way Home” (2021) has managed to cross the billion dollar milestone, with films such as “Eternals” (2021) and “AntMan and the Wasp: Quantumania” (2023) even considered to have underperformed at the box office.
While even “safe bets” are becoming more risky for studios, theatrical films are beginning to make a comeback. This is particularly evident from the success of films such as “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Avatar: The Way of Water,” both of which were released in 2022 and grossed over a billion dollars.
The growing warmth of audiences to going to theaters is even more evident in 2023, as films such as “Scream VI” and “John Wick: Chapter 4” become the most financially successful films in their respective franchises, and “The Super Mario Brothers Movie” rapidly races towards being the first film to gross onebillion this year.
Looking at the shift in theatrical releases and their reception by audiences, one can see how they have changed. Theaters went from being entirely closed due to the pandemic, to slowly coming back to life while still having to war with streaming services for audiences’ attention. Now, while a film’s theatrical success may still be unsure, most recently made evident by “Shazam: Fury of the Gods” (2023) bombing at the box office, theaters continue to move back to normalcy as more films coax audiences to return.
Chic’s Beach is a beloved favorite by many students. Located on the Chesapeake Bay, it provides a comfy contrast to the bustling oceanfront of Virginia Beach.
Parking and a multitude of beach access points can be found throughout the neighborhoods that surround the area.
Since it is on the Chesapeake Bay, waves are few and far between, but the appeal of Chic’s lies not in its features but in the atmosphere it provides.
Sophomore Emily Moody is a frequent visitor of Chic’s. “It’s the perfect place to relax on the beach and read a book while with friends,” Moody said.
She described it as being a place that “encourages playing and genuinely having fun,” as opposed to a more vacation-based beach that hosts majority families and kids.
Another local favorite is the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp and Beach Facility. Located under the Lesner Bridge off of Shore Drive, there is a free parking area next to the boat launching facility.
The appeal of it mostly lies in its night time atmosphere. LED lights of assorted colors light up the underside of the bridge, illuminating the sand and water below.
Senior Elijah Eley expressed how the ambiance lighting of the bridge makes it a good place to go with friends to hangout and talk at night. He said, “During the day, it tends to be a little crowded there, but at night, it’s not as crowded and is a nice place.”
The Virginia Beach Boardwalk on the Oceanfront is another beach location. A little farther away from campus, being about 20-30 minutes by car, it is a 3-mile paved walkway situated between the ocean and commercial district.
On the parallel Atlantic Avenue, you can
Every so often, it will host a specialty screening titled, “Mystery Movie Monday.” On this day, patrons have the ability to purchase a movie ticket for just $5 to see an unreleased movie that will be coming out soon.
The rating of the movie and a hint are posted on the Regal website, but no one actually knows what the movie is until the screening begins. Some of the previous films shown have been “Spirited,” “Missing” and “Mafia Mamma.”
Freshman Baylee Brown has attended one of these Mystery Movie Monday nights. She said, “I enjoyed not knowing anything about the movie I was going to see. It’s a great and inexpensive excuse to get off campus and hangout with friends!”
For anyone interested in attending, the Regal website lists the date for the next event usually a couple weeks prior to it happening. You can reserve tickets online or buy them at the theater itself.
Mount Trashmore is another popular hangout spot, visible from Interstate 264, and perfect for luncheons, board game afternoons and lazy homework days.
Originally a landfill, it was converted into a city park in 1974 when the city decided to cover it in dirt. Now, it is home to picnic shelters, volleyball courts, playgrounds, a skate park, a walking trail and a nearby lake.
As the highest, natural point in Virginia Beach, it is a great place to take pictures, relax with friends or get some outside time away from campus that is not at a beach.
You will have no problem finding a sanctuary in the Virginia Beach area. It is truly a place for all groups of people to come together and build community with one another.
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Emily Moody|Courtesy
Phoebe Cox|Courtesy
Ellie Snowman|Courtesy
Phoebe Cox|Courtesy
