The Marlin Chronicle
Student Fees and Jobs
NEWS p. 4
STEM Student Highlights S&T p. 5 VWU Crossword Puzzle
COMMUNITY p. 6
Senior Editors Reflect on Experiences OPINIONS p. 9 Women’s Golf Continues to Recruit
SPORTS p. 12
ORIENTATION ISSUE 2021 || and MARLINCHRONICLE.VWU.EDU || VIRGINIA WESLEYAN Farmer’s Market Vibes WEEKENDER p. 14 UNIVERSITY
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News
Spring 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
Enrollment fact sheet breaks down student stats BY RHIAN TRAMONTANA rjtramontana@vwu.edu
Each year, VWU releases a fact sheet outlining the student characteristics for the academic year, with the information collected from the Fall 2021 semester. The data covers enrollment, finances, majors and more. In the Fall 2021 semester, VWU enrolled 1,324 students, with 1,062 of those being traditionally enrolled full-time students (99.2%). This is a slight drop from the total enrollment of the last academic year, which was at 1,347. This includes the 52 new transfer students into the traditional program. According to the data, 79% of this year’s students have been labeled as “Residential,” an increase from last year’s 73%. Additionally, 59% of the students identified as female at the time of data collection. However, the fact sheets note that the number of student accommodations from Fall 2020 to Fall 2021 dropped from 911 spaces to 858. This is due to the fact that previously, the school had included 63 off-campus housing options and 858 traditional housing options. The off-campus housing is no longer listed as an option for the fact sheet. Communications from the university label VWU as an international institution. Its students represent eight countries outside of the United States and international students account for 1.1% of the student population. The majority of students, roughly 72.1%, are from Virginia. Another 26.8% are out-of-state students representing 27 states across the United States. The freshman class totaled at 341 students, a slight increase from the 323 freshman enrolled in Fall 2020. Of the Fall 2021 freshmen, 56.9% are female, 45.0% are white, 33.9% are Black and 17.3% are international or part of another minority group. These students are 88.6% residential and 67.2% are in-state students. Unlike previous years, the university opted not to display average SAT scores for the freshman class. However, it did note that the average weighted GPA was 3.39. Heather Campbell, the vice president for Enrollment, said, “For the 2021-2022 enrollment cycle we were test optional.” “Access to the SAT and ACT was greatly impacted due to COVID-19 therefore we couldn’t make a test score part of our admission requirements,” Campbell said. Campbell said that for the 2021-22 school year, the biggest difference in the enrollment process “was really the ability for prospective students to visit campus. We know that the campus visit is a huge part of the college decision process and with COVID-19 we had to make adjustments.”
Rhian Tramontana|Marlin Chronicle Information from VWU Enrollment Fact Sheet - Fall 2020 and Enrollment Fact Sheet - Fall 2021. It has been a continuous process to find a way to reach high school students during COVID-19 and now that restrictions are eased, Campbell said. “High school visits and college fairs that we attend to meet new students are happening again but not in all areas. Therefore we have to be creative in cities and counties that aren’t offering us the chance to visit with their students in person.” One of the most clear examples of the troubles that COVID-19 has caused in terms of admitting students was seen during the Batten Honor College competition weekends. Lindsay White, a Batten Honors College office assistant, was glad to return to in-person compettitions. “Although I was grateful we were still able to have competitions last year, it wasn’t the same,” she said. “It was incredibly difficult to navigate many different Zooms or Google Meets in one day, let alone screen fatigue from 6/7 hours online.” Like many students, White was appreciative when COVID-19 restrictions were eased to allow for the return of in-person competitions. “The students this year felt much more enthusiastic about being on a college campus,” she said.
VWU has a total of 39 undergraduate majors and has added a third graduate program since the previous year. The current graduate programs are the Master of Business Administration, the Master of Arts in Education and the Master in Education with a concentration in teacher leadership. The Master of Arts in Education is the only program offered on-campus rather than online. Since 2020, the top declared majors have changed slightly in their order and percentages. Currently Business is the most declared major, followed by Biology, Psychology, Criminal Justice and Sport and Recreation Management. “VWU has rolled out numerous new programs over the last couple years to attract students and stay relevant in the marketplace,” Campbell said. “These include but aren’t limited to our joint Bachelor in Nursing program, WesBridge, Esports and the MBA in Leadership.” Despite the changes in specific areas, the university as a whole has kept Business, Biology and Psychology as the top three declared majors. During the Fall 2021 semester, Business accounted for 14.21% of declared majors, Biology for 12.51% and Psychology for 8.72%.
Spring 2022
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Empty Bowls and patrons fill CMAC for charity BY KATIE YEAGER kayeager@vwu.edu
The Empty Bowls charity event returned to campus this year on April 10. Hosted by the Ceramic Designers Association at VWU, the event raised $20,000 to help feed the hungry. Virginia Wesleyan has hosted this event a total of 21 times throughout the years. The first Empty Bowls event took place in 2012, and since then has been successful in raising money to fight hunger all across the Virginia Peninsula. Professor Phillip Guilfoyle is in charge of ceramics classes at VWU, and thus plays a large role in the event each year. “A lot goes into producing the event,” said Guilfoyle. “Planning, bowl making, set up, and takedown. About 1,600 donated bowls were made for the event, mostly by local potters and woodturners. I just help with bowl production and firing and volunteer at the event.” Most years students get involved with the event by creating bowls
Virginia Wesleyan University|Courtesy during class time or as an extracurricular activity. They then glaze the bowls and fire them in the new kiln on campus. Volunteers also come on campus to participate in these activities. When the event is going on, bowls are sold to attendees for a price of $25 or $10. It is a free event that is open to the public. The proceeds go towards the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, Judeo-Christian
Richmond Ballet dazzles viewers at Goode Center
Virginia Wesleyan University|Courtesy The Richmond Ballet performed at the VWU Goode Center on April 24.
Outreach Center, Help and Emergency Response (H.E.R.) Shelter, Oasis Social Ministries, Samaritan House and Union Mission. Jackie Carmines, a senior at VWU, is currently taking ceramics classes. She witnessed much of the preparation going on and took an interest in the event. “It is great to see the connection between the arts and philanthropy here BY KATIE YEAGER kayeager@vwu.edu
The Richmond Ballet came to campus on April 24, providing the campus community with an opportunity to see a fine arts performance in the Goode Center. According to their website, the Richmond Ballet is the state ballet of Virginia dedicated to “awakening and uplifting the human spirit through the promotion, preservation, and continuing evolution of dance.” Sophomore Oliver Hewitt, a student at Virginia Wesleyan University, attended the event with friends. “The ballet was a beautiful balance of contemporary art and the traditional elegance of ballet,” said Hewitt. “I really enjoyed each story and found myself and my guests holding our breath in awe at the performers’ grace and strength.” The ballet performed a number of diverse dances that were intended to convey the human experience. According to the description of the event included on the VWU website, “George
at the university,” said Carmines. “We do ceramic art because we like using our creative sides to make others happy and to express ourselves. It is beautiful to see how that can help people in need.” This year at the event, there were roughly 30 to 40 bowls produced by the VWU campus community for sale at the event. According to Guilfoyle, there was much less participation by students in this year’s event compared to previous events. “Students do a little for the event,” said Guilfoyle. “There were a few that came to volunteer during the bowl sale. While some bowls came from students I had two years ago, not many students stood up to make bowls to donate this time.” Junior Anna Rogers is taking the ceramics course and loves the connection between the class and charity. “The bowls that are made for the Empty Bowls charity really helps our community by giving the opportunity to allow artwork made at school to give back to those in need,” said Rogers. Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante captivates audiences from start to finish with its sparkling swiftness and precise execution. Ben Stevenson’s Three Preludes explores the evolution of a couple’s love in an intimate ballet setting. In an excerpt from Colin Connor’s Vestiges, two dancers display their undeniable connection, reminiscent of a moth to a flame.” This performance is just one event in a lineup of the Virginia Wesleyan University Concert Series. Some of the previous performances include the Virginia Chorale Concert, the Tidewater Classical Guitar Showcase Concert and more. The next show in the concert series, titled “Duo Amaral,” will take place on April 29 and is put on by Tidewater Classical Guitar. Tickets are free to students and are discounted for educators, other students and military. To learn more about the Virginia Wesleyan University Concert series, visit https://www.vwu.edu/the-arts-at-virginiawesleyan/virginia-wesleyan-concertseries.php
4 The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
Inflation and fees impact students in the coming year BY MIKAYLA MOSCATELLI mamoscatelli@vwu.edu
With U.S. inflation accelerating to 8.5% in the past year and the general rising prices throughout the year, students have expressed concerns on how to manage their budget and also afford their college expenses. In the first half of 2022 with everything going up in cost, especially gas, our region has been impacted heavily. Our students who drive risk having the prices affect even their most basic needs. As of June 30, 2021, the end of the previous fiscal year for VWU ended with a total of $63,056,960 in revenues and $61,218,878 in expenditures. The students fees which were $43,458,732 ended up being most of the revenues the school had earned. In a statement to The Chronicle, Vice President of Finance Mary Ryberg discussed the support VWU has given to students during the pandemic to keep the on-campus positivity rates as low as possible and that VWU has also increased all mental health services. Regarding the cost of tuition and housing, tuition rates have been kept flat for five years in a row and housing has had 3.5% rate increases. “The [housing] rate increase is due to our outside vendors that provide the services passing along between 5-6% rate increase to VWU,” Ryberg said. “These increases are due to labor shortages and increased costs through the entire supply chain for resources.” Additionally, Ryberg shared information regarding the HEERF program, which stands for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. The relief fund came in during the 2020 year to help aid in financial assistance since due to COVID-19 and the labor shortages that came with increased cost for entire supply chains. According to Ryberg, VWU has received
$3.6 million of student financial assistance and to date $3.25 million has been distributed to Virginia Wesleyan students. At the time of publication, VWU has not announced the cost of tuition, housing and other fees for the 2022-2023 academic year. For the 2021-2022 academic year, tuition was $36,000. Other fees, billed during the fall semester, are the $700 technology fee, a $200 student activities fee, a $150 parking pass, a $150 damage deposit for residents only and the optional student health insurance for $2,286. In the past years the fees, such as technology and the specific fees that pertain to a class, have gone up by $250. Based on our fact sheet from 2010 our tuition has approximately gone up by $7,954 and room and board has gone up by $2,376 since 2011. With having the VWU fact sheets by year we can see the amount that previous students had to pay and how the fees have changed. As of April 25, 2022 the finalized tuition has not been released to the student body. One thing students should be aware of is if you have a car and need it on campus parking passes have gone up by $50 making new passes $150 a semester. Junior Emilie Van Bourgondien, a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha, transferred from Roanoke College the spring of 2022. Transferring to Virginia Wesleyan was a decision based on credits even though the cost of tuition is still high. Van Bourgondien recommends that students who are struggling to find a way to budget by using a spreadsheet. With the difficulties of paying for school, housing and necessities, the university provides opportunities for employment. The Work and Learn Program was made to be dedicated to providing students with work opportunities to engage with the Wesleyan community. This program actively contributes towards the students’ cost of education. The WLP consists of
Spring 2022 Campus Cooperative, Federal Workstudy, Professional Program, Opus and Residential leadership. Students who participate have the chance to align their academic pursuits with their campus employment. Students who do not have vehicles or are just trying to find a way to interact more with our campus have the opportunity of finding employment opportunities in multiple buildings on campus. Most common jobs tend to be the Wesleyan Ambassador Program, Wesleyan Activities Council Event Supervisors, HUB Staff and Fitness Room Staff. Each job can have different pay outcomes, depending on where you choose to work. The pay may go towards your tuition or can go directly to you. While VWU does offer employment opportunities some students prefer to work off campus due to the range of benefits and the better pay outcomes. Many on campus residents find jobs at the Norfolk Premium Outlets, local fast food restaurants, or careers in their potential fields of study.
Junior MacKenzie Osborne and senior MacKenzie Washington are both employees of American Eagle at the Norfolk Premium Outlets. Osborne said, “I prefer to work off campus because the pay is better and has many benefits such as employee discounts.” Washington said, “I decided to work offcampus because it meant I could earn more and have a good discount.” There is a special grant for Virginia Residents and it is called the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG). The VTAG provides annual grants to state residents that are full time students at eligible colleges and universities. The amounts provided are based on the number of eligible students and the amount of funds available from the general assembly. The VTAG is annually renewed if the student continues to meet the eligibility requirements and does not exceed the maximum amount of time. The VTAG is a grant that students do not have to pay back, demonstrate financial need or file a financial aid application for.
Kathleen Vanden Berg|Marlin Chronicle
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Science & Technology
Spring 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
Students continue to pursue scientific interests in the summer This ongoing article series has highlighted students who have conducted notable research in the science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) fields throughout the semester. Now, it will highlight students who plan to take their love for science into the summer in the form of research, an internship or fellowship.
Devin Calpo
Rising senior Devin Calpo plans to continue his internship with the Virginia Tech Hampton Roads Agriculture Research Center. He will work under the tutelage of Dr. Alejandro Del-Pozo, assistant professor of Entomology. His work will include the study of various insects, such as ambrosia beetles and the redheaded flea beetle. Calpo said, “In the summer, I work heavily with the ambrosia beetle and will be tasked with setting up trials, monitoring sites, and helping formulate more experiments for the department.” He will travel frequently to Winchester, Va. for various observations. Calpo said, “The best part is the science that I do at the research center directly impacts growers who need to have the optimal product to sell on the market.” The aspect he enjoys most about this research is being able to experience a tangible impact from the work he is completing.
Devin Calpo|Courtesy
Erin Foreman
This summer, rising senior Erin Foreman will be completing a ten-week internship with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, and the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. She will be working on nesting surveys for saltmarsh sparrows. The saltmarsh sparrow has been referred to as the “canary in the coal mine,” in regard to sea level rise. Prudence Point has been found to be one of the greatest nesting habitats for the bird in all of R.I. Foreman said, “One of the most exciting parts is there haven’t been any in-depth surveys done at the site yet, and I get to be the first to do it!” She emphasized how Erin Foreman|Courtesy monumental this opportunity this, as there are very few places where this type of data has not been recorded yet. During her internship, she will learn how to capture and brand breeding adults, find nests in the marsh and track nesting success rates through hatchling observation and measurement. Foreman said, “This is the job of my dreams, and if all goes well, this could later translate into a master’s or even PhD program!”
Breanna Wimbush
This summer, rising senior Breanna Wimbush will be attending a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. The program is entitled “Microbial Friends and Foes.” The REU will last the majority of her summer with 10 weeks in the laboratory. She will be working under Dr. Tobias Dörr, assistant professor of Microbiology. His research primarily focuses on how bacteria are able to build and maintain healthy cell walls that are resistant to antibiotics. The research employs cell biology, bacterial genetics and biochemistry to aid in the study of cell envelope remodeling. Wimbush said, “The research will also be focusing on four major aspects of cell wall biology: regulation of cell wall hydrolases (enzymes that can degrade the cell wall), mechanisms of tolerance to beta lactam antibiotics (antibiotics that kill bacteria), cell wall stress sensing, and outer membrane permeability barrier.” At the completion of the program, she will be completing a research project within the subject area focusing on how bacterial cell walls acquire resistance to antibiotics. Breanna Wimbush|Courtesy
Abigail (Abby) Peterson
Rising senior Abby Peterson will assess the hearing capabilities of yellow-bellied sliders from Lake Taylor. She will be using animal collection traps to collect the turtles and transport them into the Aquatics Center in the Greer Environmental Sciences Center. She will be working under the mentorship of Dr. Soraya Bartol, professor of Marine Biology. The turtles will be fed pellet food and kept in large holding tanks equipped with state-of-the-art mechanical and biological filtration during the trials. All protocols will be strictly adhered to. Previous research has shown that yellowbellied sliders have ears specially equipped for underwater environments but not suited for terrestrial environments. Abigail Peterson|Courtesy Peterson said, ”To test hearing capabilities in these sliders, we are going to use a conditioning procedure that allows the turtles to associate/understand the presence or absence of an acoustic signal.” Food will also be part of this conditioning and will somewhat play a part in which is the most successful in boosting acoustic abilities. Trials will be conducted at randomized frequencies and mathematical errors will be corrected as to whether or not the turtles heard the signal. The turtles will hit a response key indicating the presence or absence of a signal, which will be developed during experimental conditioning.
Whether during the academic year or during the summer break, science is always prevalent to students. Summer experiences help to mold the research and post-graduation interests of students. Many also choose and solidify higher education pathways based on the scientific opportunities they encounter during their time away from campus.
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Spring 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
Community
Test yourself on VWU and Virginia Beach terms Batten: The Jane P. Batten Student Center, or “Batten,” hosts a large majority of on-campus activities and events. Here, students can meet with friends, borrow recreational equipment and watch athletic events. Chic’s Beach: Overlooking the Chesapeake Bay, Chic’s Beach is a popular tourist attraction in Virginia Beach. Chic’s is only a 10 minute drive from campus, making for a student-favorite hangout spot. Fun Zone: VWU’s Fun Zone is a coordination between Off the Hook, the Office of Student Activities’ primary programming arm, and UREC, the University’s Recreational Center. Fun Zone hosts weekly events to keep Marlins moving. Greer: Greer Environmental Sciences Center features indoor and outdoor study spaces which embody science on display. Greer promotes hands-on experiences, interactive learning and interdisciplinary research. J-Term: J-Term, or January Term, refers to the three-week academic term in which students focus their studies on one intensive course. Freshmen are required to take a J-Term class. Late Night Breakfast: Late Night Breakfast is a biannual campus tradition in which students enjoy breakfast, provided by the dining staff, late at night. Along with breakfast foods, Late Night Breakfast is characterized by music, games, activities and other fun stress-relievers. Lighthouse: VWU’s Lighthouse is an office located in Clarke Hall. The Lighthouse offers career development opportunities and internships, community engagement and global engagement. Mud Games: Mud Games are an annual tradition held on VWU’s campus every fall semester. Mud Games are characterized by obstacle courses, tug-of-war battles, treasure hunts, dizzy bat contests and relay races— all in the mud. Anyone is welcome to participate or watch.
Kathleen Vanden Berg |Marlin Chronicle
Papercut: Printers that are available to all VWU students and staff. Papercut printers can be found in the Hofheimer Library and in numerous computer labs. Port Day: Held at the end of each semester, Port Day is designed to promote the academic achievements of VWU students. Port Day is a campus-wide, conference-style event with concurrent sessions and multiple locations throughout the day. The Caf: Termed “the caf” by students and community members, Boyd Dining Center serves breakfast, lunch and dinner every weekday.
Spring 2022
The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
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Staff Spotlights: A look at familiar faces around campus As the 2021-2022 school year wraps up, some of the most familiar faces around campus gave The Marlin Chronicle insight on their experience so far as a part of the Virginia Wesleyan community. Staff shared advice for students, favorite memories and much more about their experience as a Marlin. Collected by Annie Phelps and Phoebe Cox.
April Christman
Job Title: Director of Student Health Time Working: Started in 2017 as adjunct faculty and became full-time in 2018 Favorite Thing about VWU: “Just seeing the growth of individuals has been so important and rewarding to me. It’s so fulfilling.”
Jason Seward
Kimberly Brown
Job Title: Manager, Scribner University Store Time Working: 22 years in August Favorite Thing about VWU: “Faculty, staff, students meeting new folks, new parents and prospective students finding out where they’re from how they got here.”
Candi Harris
Job Title: Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Operational Management Time Working: Started working as a student at VWU in 2006 Favorite Thing about VWU: “My favorite thing about VWU is the fact that we celebrate the individual. People, community members, faculty, and staff can come here and be themselves.”
Job Title: Harbor Grill Supervisor, Sodexo Dining Services Time Working: 3 years Advice for Students: “Don’t spend all your money at once, and stay motivated. Stay positive. Come in with a fresh mind, ready to learn. I guess just stay on track.”
Brittney Jackson
Sarah Guzzo
Job Title: Coastal Market Supervisor, Sodexo Dining Services Time Working: 5 years Favorite Thing about VWU: “Amazing, great, friendly staff and students. It’s like family working here and you’re not alone, everyone is friends in our small community.”
Job Title: Director of Student Activities Time Working: Began in January of 2017 as the Assistant Director of Residence Life, then moved to Student Activities in October 2019 Favorite Thing about VWU: “I am lucky to say that I enjoy coming to work each day-- no matter how jam-packed the events calendar is or what is going on.”
8 The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
Spring 2022
Alumnus Josh Currier continues lacrosse at national level BY SHIRELL WASHINGTON sawashington@vwu.edu
Go big in DIII. That is exactly what Josh Currier ’16, a former Virginia Wesleyan University Men’s Lacrosse player, did, which amounted to his success in college that led him to the professional level. Currier was drafted after a successful career with the VWU Men’s Lacrosse program. He became the only Marlin to be named an All-American all four years, and became the highest Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) player drafted by the National Lacrosse League (NLL) in round one, picked sixth to the Rochester Knighthawks in 2016. This success continues well after his collegiate career. “Easily hands down the best player to play here,” said VWU Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach J.P. Stewart. “One of my top two or three moments ever in this profession was the night he got drafted in the first round.” After his last year at Virginia Wesleyan, he left holding nearly all the VWU lacrosse program records and several ODAC marks. He then went on to have a successful career with the Peterborough Lakers of Major Series Lacrosse before getting drafted. “I had a feeling I could do it, and after my senior year, I came home and played summer lacrosse, and I did well again. I had a feeling I would get drafted, and I didn’t think I would get as high as I did but it was great. I had a great couple of years in Rochester where I first started and I am thankful for the opportunity I got there because I think that helped out in the long run,” said Currier. Coming to warm beach weather in Virginia Beach from snowy Canada, Currier was a long way from home. He found out about VWU through a connection that his coach at Hill Academy had with former Assistant Men’s Lacrosse Coach Luke Riley. “Coach Riley used to call me walking up and down the beach in the warm weather while I was up here in the snow and he sold me on it right away,” said Currier. He said it was different from home and that he is a homebody, but “Coach Stewart and Coach Riley helped
out a lot with making me feel at home.” Currier’s hard work has paid off. His philosophy in college focused on being the hardest working player on the team. He said he was never the star player growing up and got cut a bunch of times. However, he currently plays attack for the Saskatchewan Rush professional team in the NLL. Other teams he has played for include: Archers LC, Philadelphia Wings, and Rochester Knighthawks. In his two seasons with the Knighthawks, Currier accumulated 35 goals and 31 assists. He went on to play with the Philadelphia Wings in 2019 and 2020 after being selected in the fourth round as the seventh pick in the 2018 Expansion Draft. With the Wings, he scored 51 goals and 46 assists. After, the Men’s Lacrosse alumnus was signed by the Archer Lacrosse Club from the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) in 2020. The PLL had a shortened 2020 season and during this Currier scored six goals. Currently, in the season with Saskatchewan, Currier has 12 goals and 10 assists for 22 points for the 2022 season. The Ontario, Canada native has been playing lacrosse since he was young alongside his brother, Zach Currier. “We were very competitive from the time we started playing any sport until around 1516 until we started to like each other,” said Zach Currier, Josh Currier’s younger brother and a former Princeton University Men’s Lacrosse player who currently plays professionally with the Calgary Roughnecks. “We were always trying to one-up each other and it was an interesting household to be part of growing up.” The Calgary Roughnecks, Zach Currier’s team, and Saskatchewan Rush, Josh Currier’s team, have played each other three times this season. The Roughnecks have beaten Saskatchewan two out of the three times they have played each other. “It is always exciting having some friendly banter,” said Zach Currier. “There is one play that Josh brings up that he beat me to a loose ball and he won’t ever let me hear the end of that one.” Josh Currier’s family was supportive of his passion for lacrosse and even more excited when he got drafted. “I don’t think I would be in the position I’m in if it wasn’t
Josh Currier|Courtesy
2016 VWU graduate, Josh Currier, now competitively plays lacrosse for the NLL.
for them. They have been supportive the whole way,” said Josh Currier. A typical day for Josh Currier when he is preparing for an upcoming game is getting off work from his day job at 4:00 p.m. “We’re not making millions like the NFL guys. We do have day jobs up here, I am a plumber during the week,” said Currier. After he gets home, he goes and workouts then watches some previous game film before the upcoming game that weekend. Then he flies to Saskatchewan and has practice on Friday. Then, the team goes back to the hotel and eats dinner and goes to bed. Saturday morning, the team will shoot around and then go back to the hotel and relax before the game. “It’s a little bit of a different league where you kind of have to take it upon yourself to prepare for each weekend rather than when I was in college we were always together as a team doing all the preparations,” said Currier. Coming to VWU opened up a lot of doors for Currier. He had an amazing career at VWU and made lasting friendships
with not only his teammates but with his coaches and their family. “Josh is such a good person. I think very fondly of the relationship he created with my daughters. He went out of his way all the time to make my girls feel at home, to make my girls feel welcome and include my girls when they were around. Still to this day they actually keep in touch with each other and that’s unique for a college kid, especially a college male athlete,” said Stewart. Five years later, Currier still wants to play professional lacrosse. To the young lacrosse players, he offers this piece of advice, “Something I tell a lot of kids is to work hard, and if you have the dream of going to play DI lacrosse, that’s not always the end all be all,” said Currier. “One of the suggestions I have for young players is not to overlook DIII and DII schools where there is plenty of really good lacrosse… If you think that you can go to a school and make an impact right away, I think that has a lot of value.”
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Opinions
Spring 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
College memories spark reflection and growth
Grant Morgan|Courtesy BY GRANT MORGAN gamorgan@vwu.edu “I want you to take everything you think you know about the world and throw it out the window.” Or at least, I think that’s what one of my professors told me to do. College has proven to be a roller coaster, one that has many flips and dips to ensure a chaotic ride. But, chaos and fun often go hand-inhand, which truly shakes up ordinary life. I still remember my first day of class, a rather warm and sunny day on August 25, 2018. A furrowed brow and a stuffed backpack accompanied me as I stepped foot on a small, coastal Virginia university. To be overwhelmed would be the understatement of my life. College can be scary, I will not lie or sugarcoat. Being independent and motivating yourself to attend class everyday is no small feat. The first thing I learned during my time at VWU is to enjoy every moment you can. From losing a year and a half of school to COVID-19 and personal issues clouding my life, my college years were far from perfect. However, I learned to savor and reflect on the little things in life. Dunkin’ runs with Kara, Survivor nights with Lindsay and Ticket to Ride with Aly are just some of the fond memories I have from my undergraduate years. I was a headstrong and confident student
that was unafraid to take on new challenges. These included joining the swim team, taking on a fraternity and being involved with student government and honor societies. I also had two on-campus positions with Enrollment and Residence Life. Each of these experiences left me with positive memories and developed me into a stronger student and person. However, I soon realized that I was in over my head. Having to strategize and prioritize my time around my many commitments was causing me much strain. In addition, I was sacrificing friendships and relations to juggle all of these experiences. I stayed on for as long as I could; but eventually, I had to let go of all of my commitments that I had made. This devastated me and made me wonder what my true purpose in college would be. Interestingly, I found myself falling head over heels for the world of academia and my major, history. History, that forsaken subject that everyone loves to disregard. Ironically, history called my name and found a home in me. As one of two history majors at the time in the Batten Honors College, the odds were stacked against me. This challenge intrigued me and urged me to work harder and inform everyone of the wonders of history. As well, I will be one of the first graduates to minor in Africana Studies, which is a big feat at a predominantly white institution. All of this led to me internalizing and learning vast areas of content to share in my courses. In addition, this taught me valuable lessons, such as don’t be afraid to try new things and change what you need to if they are not working. College has taught me not everything is permanent, and times of change lead to high rates of productivity. I learned to try new things, including being an opinions editor for the Marlin Chronicle! My freshmen study away course truly put my life on pause and changed the trajectory of my future. I still remember boarding my first flight to Haines, Alaska as a naive and inexperienced freshman. Two weeks in the wilderness and camping
with my best friends shaped into being one of the most memorable experiences at Virginia Wesleyan. Travel shaped my academic path and restructured how I view the world. This was prominent during my January course to Berlin, Germany in 2020. I jumped at the opportunity to travel to Berlin and learn about the rich history present in this global city. The ability to walk through the Brandenburg Gate and visit Charlottenburg Palace? I felt like Peter Parker in his cross-country trip throughout Europe in “Spiderman: Far From Home.” From late night rounds of Super Smash Bros. to manic Cookout runs, my college life was far from boring. Along the way, I met my friends and established bonds with individuals that would develop into friendships. As many who may or may not know me, I am not your stereotypical person. I don’t fit into a bubble and avoid labels that would seek to harm me. With this, at Virginia Wesleyan, you are encouraged to express yourself. You probably have seen me traverse our small school. That dude wearing a Taylor Swift cardigan, Converse High-Tops and Kanken backpack is kind of hard to miss. As I sit here at my favorite coffee shop, Fairgrounds, and reflect on my time at Virginia Wesleyan, I am filled with many memories and longing to stay in the present. However, I know the next chapters in my life will prove to be a challenge that I am excited to overcome. The memories you will have during college will stay and resonate with you for years to come. I remember my first Tides baseball game with the Batten Honors College as a freshmen. Now, as I return from my last game as a senior, I feel like my time at VWU has come full circle. Take these opportunities and live in the moment with your friends and classmates. One could say “we were happy, free, confused and lonely in the best way,” or whatever Taylor Swift would say. Enjoy your time with your friends and always remember… It’s a great day to be a Marlin. Here’s to us, Class of 2022.
Grant Morgan|Courtesy Top right shows Grant Morgan and Lindsay White at the Greer Environmental Sciences Center at VWU. Top left and bottom right shows Grant Morgan in Haines, Alaska in 2019.
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Senior commuter shares campus-life experience
Ronaldinio Stickley|Courtesy BY BROOKE ERICKSON bmerickson@vwu.edu I commuted all four years as a Wesleyan undergrad, and I never felt like I missed a beat. I launched two new ministries, took up numerous leadership positions, joined honor societies and attended on-campus and off-campus events. And here I am finishing my time as an opinions editor for the Marlin Chronicle. Of course, there were times (particularly during the COVID-19 semesters) when I wished I could be somewhere on a moment’s notice. I missed visiting friends inside their dorms and going on spontaneous adventures, but the COVID-19 semesters were the busiest times for me as a student ministry leader. I felt called to bring hope and light onto campus, so I was empowered to dedicate most of my free time to student ministry. If I were to give one piece of campus-life advice to a first-year or to any student who is ready for a change in rhythm, I would say to intentionally seize opportunities. I think this applies to any resident or commuter. It took effort driving onto campus after the sun had already set. I just wanted to get into my PJs and watch T.V. instead of attending a social event. Certainly, there were times when I chose to stay home, but
Brooke Erickson|Courtesy Erickson is the founder and leader of Women of God. Left to right: Lauren Ford, Allyson Crothers, Brooke Erickson, Christine Zalameda, Amaris Nolan and Brynna Lister. Starting in the fall semester, the new co-leaders will be Ford and Lister. I was always intentional with my decision. If I was choosing to stay home out of laziness or fear, I would reanalyze my choices and remember that these four years don’t last a lifetime. With that mindset, I often found myself jumping in the car on a two-minute notice. I am thankful to my first-year self for starting off my college experience with intentionality by choosing to savor every moment, because I now have a whole mental box of unforgettable memories ranging from study dates with friends, to Wednesday night WILD events, to short weekend retreats, all the way to a week-long study away course in Oxford, England! While I was having my fun with extracurricular activities, I was intentional about maintaining balance. At times, balance can be difficult. I’ve seen students scramble to catch up with their assignments, and I’ve seen students miss an opportunity to recharge and take a break from schoolwork. I get it. I myself have teetered into one category or another during different times in my school career, but I’ve tried my darndest to not get stuck there. I think that is key to maintaining a healthy balance.
Brooke Erickson|Courtesy Erickson with junior Hannah Carmona in Oxford, UK for study away course HUM 201.
Here’s some motivation for you today: with my career in mind, I became a betDon’t believe the lie that where you’re at ter teacher. I now know how to use visual is where you’re stuck. It takes drive to get media to spark analysis among my future unstuck, but if you have even the slightest students. I would say goodbye, but I won’t be goinkling to push forward, then use that as ing very far. In fact, I’ll be a few houses fuel for the fire, and you’ll be on your way shorter of a commute, because this sumto accomplishing great things. mer I will be marrying my fiancé who hapIf I were to give one piece of academic pens to be my neighbor! Also, you might advice, I would say to make connections run into me on campus during the fall sein your classes—no matter how unintermester, as I will be continuing my comesting you find them—to your field of mute to Virginia Wesleyan for their MAEd study and your interests. As an English post-graduate program. I look forward to secondary education major, I approached making more memories with you! art history class differently than my fellow art major, but I can assure you that we both learned something. As a high schooler, I was far from being a history buff. But in college when I took art history to satisfy a Gen-Ed requirement, I discovered a new interest. I was in awe of how art can be used to spark such rich analysis and discussion. After making those interdisciplinary connections, my analytical skills grew richer, and I was able to transfer that knowledge I had gained from art history into my English, communications and religious studies Brooke Erickson|Courtesy classes. I even took a few more art history Erickson preparing for a morning classes as extracurriculars. Additionally, commute during her sophomore year.
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Spring 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
Recreation, wellness key parts of UREC
Top moments of the year 1 - Women’s Soccer wins ODAC Championship
The Virginia Wesleyan Women’s Soccer team defeated ODAC members Roanoke College, Washington and Lee and the University of Lynchburg to claim the first 2021 Old Dominion Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer Championship title since 2006. The team had amazing success due to an 8-1-1 conference record. There was success all around for the Marlins. Junior defender Sam Crawford was named ODAC Player of the Year while her teammate, freshman forward Brecain McClenahan, was named ODAC Rookie of the Year. The team had seven members claim All-ODAC First, Second and Third Team honors. Rounding out the success, Head Coach Jeff Bowers was named ODAC Coach of the Year.
BY STEVEN SERRANO sdserrano@vwu.edu
Amongst the many organizations and programs that the campus has to offer for students to join, there is one particularly dedicated to the recreation and wellness of the students. This program is called UREC and is directed by William Harrell, the director of Recreation and Wellness. The UREC office is located at the Batten Student Center and it has multiple programs to offer to our campus community. It includes aquatics, a rock climbing wall, a disc golf course, the fitness center, outdoor activities and recreational sports. “All UREC activities are for all of campus. Faculty, staff and students can enjoy what we have to offer,” Harrell said. Anyone can sign up for any of the activities that UREC has to offer. “Depending on the activity, there are a number of easy ways to sign-up. We do instagram signups, QR codes and basic tabling for when Marlins walk through campus,” Harrell said. Intramural sports are one of the very popular activities in the UREC program. “Sports such as flag football league, futsal league and volleyball league have been very popular this year. We also help club sports with space to enjoy their sport,” Harrell said. Club Soccer was part of the futsal league that was held this semester in early March. “There were a bunch of teams
2 - Roberts earns four individual titles UREC Staff|Courtesy Left to right: Junior Garrett Page, junior Ethan Labelle, freshman Grace McGhee, sophomore Juan Tovar, senior David Jacobson and sophomore Gavin Prouty won the 5v5 futsal tournament. and everybody played with each other at least once. And then those results were used to do the seeding for a tournament. It was good, my team ended up winning,” the president of Club Soccer, junior Ethan Labelle said. The participants of this futsal tournament were not only soccer players, but instead were a variety of other student athletes and students. “Anyone was able to join, we had guys from other sports teams in the school and people who haven’t even played soccer before,” Labelle said. This is the first year of Club Soccer and its president stated that they are still figuring things out to create within UREC. “We’ve talked about several other events to be added, and how much interest there would be if we do a seven vs. seven tournament. Also, any other events that include being outside, like outdoor
soccer,” Labelle said. Future plans for UREC are yet to be added. “We have talked about adding a kickball league and ultimate frisbee this next semester (Fall 2022),” Harrell said. There are also plans to bring back the frisbee golf course. Harrell and the UREC team encourages students to take advantage of these programs. “We want everyone to experience physical health and wellness through the activities we have. That may be checking out one of the five paddle boards that we have in the back, or taking a bike for a ride around campus. You can even check-out a harness to use the rock wall; we even have UNO cards,” Harrell said. Anyone that is interested in checking out some of these fun stuff to do or have questions about UREC, can visit their Instagram @VWUREC.
It was a strong indoor season for Geni Roberts, in which he finished his 2021-2022 indoor track and field season bringing home four individual titles overall. At the ODAC conference meet in Roanoke, VA, Roberts brought home the gold in both the long and triple jump. His winning marks in the long jump were 7.26m (24’10”) and 14.52m (47’ 7.75”) in the triple jump. The Marlin jumper then went on to compete at NCAA DIII Indoor Nationals and was the national runner-up with a mark of 7.32m (24’ 0.25”) and placed sixth overall in the triple jump with a mark of 14.69m (48’ 2.5”).
3 - Softball beats Strike Out Cancer goal
The Virginia Wesleyan Softball team hosted their 12th annual Strike Out Cancer event on April 9 during a doubleheader against Guilford College. The Marlins not only ended up beating the Quakers in both games, but they also set a new donation record for the Strike Out Cancer event. The program raised $30,399, the previous record being $28,620 set in 2018. All the donations go towards the American Cancer Society for cancer research.
4 - Athletics host Fins Up FinFest
Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Andrea HooverErbig, Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach Alex Gallagher and Administrative Assistant Trish Doherty planned an event to celebrate the dedication and hard work of VWU student athletes. The evening consisted of games, food and friendly competition at the Trinder Center on April 3. The event was the kickoff for the start of DIII Week.
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The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
Women’s Golf continues recruiting efforts Senior Ashlee Bobzin, the only woman golfer at Virginia Wesleyan, graduates this spring. The Women’s Golf program plans to still be part of athletics next school year.
BY COLETTE KEARNEY cmkearney@vwu.edu
Most collegiate athletes want to perform their best during their senior year. That’s the case with senior Women’s Golf player Ashlee Bobzin. The only woman on the current roster came into the program in the fall of 2018 as a freshman.To say that she has seen multiple teammates and coaches come and go through the program would be a severe understatement. Earlier this school year in September, Bobzin competed against Chowan University in Suffolk, Virginia at the Sleepy Hole Golf Course. She got second place out of four players, shooting an 86. After that, she competed at the VSGA Intercollegiate in Front Royal, Va. Bobzin finished the two day tournament in 11th place with a score of 176. Her last tournament of the fall was the Chick-fil-A Collegiate Invitational in Rome, Georgia. The two day tournament was hosted by Berry College. Bobzin tied for 58th at the end of the weekend with a total score of 176. Bobzin’s first tournament this spring was March 19th-20th at the Marlin Invitational hosted at the Cypress Point Country Club in Virginia Beach, Va. She finished the two day tournament in fourth with a total of 172. She then went to Washington, D.C. to compete at the Cardinal Classic at the end of March. She finished that tournament in 22nd with a score of 88. Talking about her season so far, Bobzin said, “It went really well, some of the best golf I’ve ever played, it’s been fun.” Head Women’s Golf Coach Shane Kohler also agrees. “She shot a career
Bobzin at the Sleepy Hole Golf Course in Suffolk, Va. on Sept. 16, 2021. best 84 at the Marlin Invitational. She also had a number of rounds in the 80s helping her have a career best 88 scoring average. Overall I think she’s played really well and I’m excited to see her perform in the ODAC Tournament,” Kohler said. With Bobzin being the only woman on the roster she practices with the Men’s Golf team every day. Coach Kohler thinks this has been a positive for Bobzin and her golf throughout the season. Kohler said, “The men’s team has some really talented golfers that help push Ashlee whenever they play together. I know the men’s team and Ashlee have a great relationship with one another, which positively impacts things both on the course and off of it.” During her career as a Marlin, Bobzin has had a lot of coaches. With only
one coach staying her entire career at Wesleyan, Bobzin has had four different coaches during her four years. She has also seen teammates come and go. The women’s team has had injuries that forced players to quit, others wanted more of a team environment and others decided to transfer out of the school entirely which has led Bobzin to be in the position she is in today. As far as the future of the team is concerned, Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Andrea HooverErbig said, “We are planning to have a Women’s Golf team next fall.” With recruiting troubles Bobzin mentioned how hard it is to recruit for golf in general. Coach Kohler added to that saying, “I think the sport itself is still
Alysse Scripter|Courtesy growing, particularly for high school aged girls. As the game continues to grow at the high school level, I expect more girls looking to golf collegiately will increase as well. We are going to keep recruiting and try to bring in the best possible studentathletes that will help positively impact the Women’s Golf program.” At the 2022 ODAC Golf Championships held on April 24-26 at The Dominion Club in Richmond, Va., Bobzin finished 18th. Her scores over the three days were 85, 85 and 90 for a total of 260. After her graduation, Bobzin plans on going into financial advising. Bobzin said, “I’m gonna stay with it as long as I can, Northwestern Mutual is where I did my internship. I’ll probably stick with the one I’m with.”
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The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
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SportsHead Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle
BY STEVEN SERRANO
sdserranocruz@vwu.edu In the past few years, we have been seeing an increasing number of professional athletes taking care of their mental health. Various athletes have taken a break in certain moments to deal with other situations that are not physical but mental. In the 2020 Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan, Simon Biles opened up to the public saying that she was struggling with mental health. Due to this, she withdrew from the team finals. In July 2020, the program Morgan’s Message was created to raise awareness of mental health in student athletes, and our school is part of it. Another organization that helps student athletes with mental health is called Athletes for Hope. It is a non-profit organization that helps student athletes to engage with their community to lower levels of stress, anxiety and depression. However, despite all the organizations and programs that have the purpose of increasing awareness of student athletes’ mental health, many people, including student athletes, do not see this as a priority. According to Athletes for Hope, 33% of college students experience depression, anxiety and other mental health situations. About 30% of college students seek help, but within the student athlete community only 10% seek help. I was a former student athlete. Since high school I have played and participated in different competitions, and I remember there was a toxic mentality within the coaches
Editors raise awareness about mental health in student athletes. and some athletes. If you were feeling bad that day, ‘not in the mood’ or not motivated, they will tell you things like “suck it up and play,” “you have to be ready for moments like this,” “you have to be tough,” etc. These types of ‘motivational quotes’ were actually damaging and suppressing the emotional and mental status of some of the athletes. We have to understand that student athletes are not machines that can always compete and fulfill daily routines such as meals and workouts plans. They need their space to be open about how they are feeling and all the pressure outside of class that student athletes have makes them more prone to mental health situations. Mental health in student athletes is just as important as physical health. But society has created a mentality that has emotionally damaged thousands of student athletes around the world, forcing students to be ‘tough’ and compete no matter what. And because of this, many student athletes have felt that their feelings and emotions need to be suppressed. It is like a glacier, the biggest part most of us can’t see. I believe that all of us need to be part in raising awareness and giving mental health the priority and importance that it has. Not just wear a shirt, sticker or bracelet for Morgan’s Message because your teammates are doing it or your coach told you to do it, but because we understand the importance of this message in student athletes. I hope that we can understand this situation and start seeing a change. Also, we have to acknowledge that the responsibility includes all of us, student athletes or nonstudent athletes.
BY SHIRELL WASHINGTON
sawashington@vwu.edu
These last couple of years have been a whirlwind for professional and student athletes and their mental health. There have been increases in depression, anxiety and suicide. Katie Meyer, Stanford University Women’s Soccer, Cameron Burrell, University of Houston alumnus and NCAA track star, and Robert Martin, Binghamton University Men’s Lacrosse are names of student athletes that we have lost this past year due to mental health. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Simone Biles became a public figure in leading the fight against mental health as she was struggling which caused her to withdraw from the team finals. Other sport icons that have spoken out about mental health include professional tennis player Naomi Osaka, who withdrew from the 2021 French Open to preserve her mental health, and professional basketball player Kevin Love, who dealt with depression and anxiety for a long time. The increase in mental health issues among athletes has raised concerns, and there needs to be something done about it. Many different organizations, foundations and resources have been created in support of athletes and mental health such as Morgan’s Message created in 2020, which our school has a chapter for, Athletes for Hope, Athletes Against Anxiety and Depression Foundation and the NCAA and NAIA mental health resource pages on their websites. However, this is not enough. Athletes are giving up on their passion for their respective sports entirely and they are
Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle
taking their own lives. According to a study by Sports Health, in which they did a nine-year analysis of the NCAA Resolutions Database on suicide in NCAA athletes, it was found that 35 cases of suicide were identified from a review of 477 student athlete deaths. So, despite all the resources out there, athletes are still not getting the help they need and it seems like mental health has not become a huge priority. I am a current college student athlete and have been playing sports since I was a kid, and I have seen firsthand how bad the sports community can be towards athletes, especially those athletes who are considered star athletes, and how detrimental that can be to their mental health. I have seen and heard coaches be toxic toward their athletes and did not care enough to understand what their athletes could be going through mentally. Honestly, it sucks seeing that athletes sometimes feel like they are being treated as just athletes but not human beings. Top athletes deal with the stress of having to be perfect all the time and average athletes deal with not feeling perfect enough. This has to be mitigated somehow because future generations of athletes should not have to deal with feeling helpless. Everyone has to play their part in making raising awareness for mental health in student athletes a top priority. No athlete should feel alone on and off the field and no athlete should feel guilty for needing a mental break. The stigma has to be broken.
14 The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
Vibes Nutrition & Energy juices up snack and drink options
THEWEEKENDER
Looking for a vibe this upcoming summer? Vibes Nutrition and Energy is a family owned and operated nutritional food business located in Virginia Beach on 1650 General Booth Boulevard. The business creates a bright and modern atmosphere to come and enjoy a multitude of healthy treats; such as shakes, smoothie bowls, protein donuts and hydration teas with various add-ons available. Vibes Nutrition and Energy is a family fitness oriented business with health coaches Theo and Lesli Baker being parents of two children while managing their establishment with the help of their relatives. The owners are both locally connected to the Virginia Beach community by being Christopher Newport University alum who grew up in the Hampton Roads area. Owner Theo Baker explained their mentality when opening Vibes Nutrition and Energy. Theo Baker said, “We wanted a place that people in our community such as friends and families could go and have a healthier fast food option that keeps their bodies feeling happy and healthy.” Vibes Nutrition and Energy gives the community a place to fill that sweet tooth craving and not feel bad about it. They give healthy sweet options with many shake flavors like brownie batter and birthday cake containing 24 grams of protein. There is a wide range of flavors and drinks with several additions with nutrient value like vitamins, protein, electrolyte, fiber and collagen boosts. Freshman Breanna Sviland explained her process when picking out her choice of drink. “After talking with Theo and Lesli, I decided to get the Beach Please electrolyte tea with acai, lemonade, and blue raspberry flavors inside. I really enjoyed this drink
Old Beach Farmers Market: Local vendors & family fun BY JOSHUA HELLER jmheller@vwu.edu
BY MIKALYA SZUDERA mmszudera@vwu.edu
Mikayla Szudera|Marlin Chronicle because it was sweet without being overpowering and even kept me hydrated,” Sviland said. Vibe Nutrition and Energy helps keep the community hydrated in an inspired and clever way. Freshman Sophia Bourassa caught the vibes when she visited and shared her enthusiasm for a business owner who cares about their customers. “Having a local family owning a modern business that promotes healthy living to all age groups really is beneficial for the Virginia Beach community. People need to watch what they eat nowadays and places like Vibe Nutrition and Energy contribute to healthier fast food and drink options,” Bourassa said. Owner Lesli Baker shared values on promoting nutritional value for families in a creative way. “Teaching my kids the nutritional importance of what they put in their body while showing a healthy diet doesn’t have to be restrictive eating and sharing that throughout the community is what I hope to do with our business,” Lesli Baker said. Monthly and seasonal menu items are released throughout the year. Vibe Nutrition and Energy gave the Marlin Chronicle exclusive tastes of new summer tea flavors including “Flex On the Beach”, “Midnight Summer Jam” and “Dad Fuel” for the warm weather coming to Virginia Beach. If you tell the workers you are a student at Virginia Wesleyan University, you’ll get a student discount as the Baker’s attempt to promote education within today’s youth.
Spring 2022
Old Beach Farmers Market (OBFM) is an outdoor marketplace just six blocks from the ocean and one block from the Virginia Beach Convention Center in the parking lot of Croc’s 19th Street Bistro. It was founded in 2008 and is run by volunteers as an independent organization. The local farmers market continues to support local family-owned farms and Virginia native wineries. Old Beach Farmers Market features seasonal produce, savory foods from local chefs, soap and flowers at each vending stand. The Hemp is a locally owned and operated business in Virginia Beach. They make dog treats for canines to enjoy and spark happiness on a pet owner’s face. Angela Kapetanakis is the owner of The Hemp and absolutely loves her business. She has invested a substantial amount of time into making sure her ingredients are perfect. As a small and local business, Kapetanakis gets a great deal of her business from the Virginia Beach Flea Market event, which is located next to the Old Virginia Beach Farmers Market. Business owner Kapetanakis wants to grow her business by ensuring all customers are satisfied. “I’ve never had an unsatisfied dog before. Not that they can communicate with us, but their parents have never been dissatisfied,” Kapaetanakis said. If you would like to support Kapetanakis and try out her products, her bakery is located at 208 East Main St Norfolk, Va. 23510 and be sure to visit her website at www.the-hemp-barkery.business.site. Capstone Mushroom is a local farm that specializes in selling cleansing mushrooms for self-care. Capstone Mushroom has a small farm which grows gourmet and medicinal mushrooms in Virginia Beach. They operate in climate-controlled indoor grow houses, which enables the quantity for fresh mushrooms year-round. “I had seen mushroom products on social media before, but seeing them up
close was an experience,” junior Brittany White said. As a form of medical healing, Capstone Mushroom offers medicinal mushroom tinctures for $15.00. For more products and deals go to www.capstonemushrooms.com and be sure to give the local business a visit at 5047 Cleveland St, Virginia Beach, Va. 23462. Capstone Mushroom encourages new customers to try their products for medicine, cleansing, eating and to even put in your coffee or tea. The vast display of green will certainly catch your attention when you first go to Grace and Gratitude. The vendor stand owns a farm out back with over an acre of land to grow flowers, vegetables, herbs, rosemary, succulents, etc. “Personally, I love nature so this vendor and their plants were very intriguing to me. Looking at all their plants, I could tell that the owners took very good care of them. I wish I would have bought a couple of their plants thinking back on it. They didn’t just have plants which I loved. They had engraved spoons and forks which had very nice messages on them. Overall, this was an enjoyable stand to look at,” said Tim Garnett II. As a popular vendor for gardening, people enjoy the spirit and display of Grace and Gratitude. If you are interested in helping a green and charismatic business, call 757-472-6067. Visit www. graceandgratitudefarm.com for more questions about Grace and Gratitude. It is open on Saturdays from 9 a.m to 12 p.m.
Old Beach Farmers Market |Facebook
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THEWEEKENDER
Spring 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
Students engage in sandy socialization BY SASHA SAXON ansaxon@vwu.edu
Virginia Beach and its surrounding cities, are home to an overwhelming number of beaches—each unique in its ambience and environment. Incoming students new to Virginia Wesleyan University, or even seasoned Marlins who are unfamiliar with the area, should look to diversify their beach list. As the weather is heating up, college students will be flocking to nearby beaches for end-ofsemester gatherings. The current students of Virginia Wesleyan were more than happy to share some of their favorite spots. If you’re looking for gentle waves, gorgeous sunsets, clean sand and fewer tourists, Virginia Wesleyan’s students—Britni Arrington, Mandi Pesha and Sophia Kaminaris—recommend East Beach. Surrounded by a pleasant neighborhood, it’s definitely well kept and safe. Beach-themed eateries, cafes and fast food are scattered around every street corner. East Beach is also only 15 minutes from campus—it doesn’t have to be an all day commitment. Tucked away, near Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel,
Chic’s Beach is only 14 minutes from campus. As a part of the bay, it offers a serenely isolated experience, fine sand, warmer waters and serene waves. Wesleyan freshman Sam Silvia endorses Chic’s as “safer to be alone [at] as a young woman and quieter, both noise-wise and with the waves.” Beach houses encompass the area, meaning that between vacationing families and summer visitors parking is definitely limited, “but even the farthest parking isn’t that far of a walk,” assures VWU student, Jenna Elswick. For Madelyn Yale, Chic’s is a “home away from home,” reminding her of New Jersey shores. Overall, Chic’s beach functions both as a friendly place for locals and students to congregate and a college hotspot on the weekends. The Virginia Beach Oceanfront is definitively the most tourist-heavy beach, for many reasons. Hotels, restaurants, bars, tattoo parlors and apparel shops line the boardwalk, as well as the Oceanfront Bike Path—a popular spot for exercise. The beach itself is often crowded and, despite repeated incidents, remains an active spot for pop-up events, excellent food and vacationers. Just above and below the Oceanfront, both the North
MOCA offers an interactive water exhibit by Maya Lin
Tiffany Warren|Marlin Chronicle Maya Lin’s exhibit, ‘A Study of Water’ at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art.
Emily Moody|Courtesy Wesleyan students enjoying an afternoon at the beach. End Beaches and Croatan Beach were recommended, by sophomore Alex Cain and junior Garrett Page, for their decent waves and surfer-friendly atmosphere. A part of the North End, 82nd Street is a super popular stretch of beach for Wesleyan’s students to set up all-day Spikeball tournaments and surfing lessons. Overall, the Oceanfront and neighboring beaches are just about 30 minutes away. Hopefully, this guide allows you to safely navigate the beaches this spring and summer!
BY TIFFANY WARREN tawarren@vwu.edu
The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (Virginia MOCA) is an accredited, noncollecting contemporary art museum at the Oceanfront. Virginia MOCA seeks to raise conservation consciousness in Hampton Roads by featuring two environmentally focused exhibitions: ‘Maya Lin: A Study of Water’ and ‘Open (C)all: What is Missing’. Homer Babbitt is the Virginia MOCA deputy director of institutional advancement and a VWU ’00 alumnus. “At Virginia MOCA, part of our mission is we’re locally relevant and nationally resonant. My favorite part about working here, and why I just love this mission so much is that we were not just an art museum. We’re a community center, and we use art to create community conversation on topics that are relevant to our area,” said Babbitt. After viewing ‘Maya Lin: A Study of Water,’ guests can engage in the ‘ARTlab’ that is an interactive gallery space for all ages to enjoy designed by the education team at Virginia MOCA. ‘ARTlab’ invites everyone to explore techniques that Maya Lin practiced in creating her artwork pieces. It serves as an educational space
to learn about local conservation programs and environmental concepts. Truly Matthews, assistant director of education and engagement at Virginia MOCA, shares about the development of ARTlab and the purpose that it serves as an exhibition space. “Art Lab is our education gallery space where we take the main themes in the big ideas from our current exhibitions and break them down. It is basically interpretation and hands-on,” said Matthews. At the end of a guest’s visit is ‘Open (C) all: What is Missing,’ created by Maya Lin, is a community gallery in VA MOCA that invited Hampton Roads artists of all ages for environmentally focused submissions. The exhibition combines ecological themes that bring attention to biodiversity and habitat loss with stories of conservation and hope. ‘Maya Lin: A Study of Water’ and ‘Open (C)all: What is Missing’ exhibitions run from April 21 to Sept. 4. Admission is free for everyone to visit the exhibitions by booking in advance to visit Virginia MOCA. Visit www.virginiamoca.org/tickets to delve into environmental awareness in the Hampton Roads community.
16 The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
Spring 2022
A Year in Review at VWU!