Excelsis | Fall 2022

EXCELSIS

A BATTEN HONORS COLLEGE PUBLICATION | VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

Going Global

By Travis Malone, PhD Dean, Batten Honors College

This summer we welcomed another class into the Batten Honors College. This is the first class that will embark on the reimagined Global Residency Experi ence by spending a semester studying around the world.

Having the courage to journey into the unfamiliar and open oneself up to different approaches to living and learning can provide a number of measurable (and im measurable) returns. Students who study abroad demon strate greater confidence. Students learn to communicate through barriers of culture and language. Finally, these students draw upon their newfound intercultural under standing to become better collaborators and facilitators of collaboration.

The immediate returns students receive from global experiences actually grow stronger and exponentially over their lives. According to the Institute for International Edu cation (iee.org), employers are seeking potential employ ees with a significant international internship experience. Employers find value in the individual skills built through the study away experience. However, employers also find

value in the international networks students develop, especially if students are able to pair their travel with an internship experience.

This spring, the first year BHC students will begin applying for one of the many study abroad experiences. In addition to the students studying in Germany, Malta, Finland, England, and Japan, students will travel to the VWU Global Campus in Tokyo. At the VWU Global Cam pus, students will live in the heart of Tokyo, study with other international students from around the world, and undertake an internship experience.

The study abroad experience is mutually beneficial for the students and our home campus. When study abroad students return to campus, they bring with them new perspectives and experiences they can share with us back home. These students become mentors to our growing international student population. In the end, these experiences help provide a greater understanding of the world and will hopefully inspire all students to seek international experiences through study away.

Batten Honors College Welcomes Newest Cohort

By BHC Office

The Batten Honors College welcomed 40 new students with the introduction of the 2022 cohort at the Matriculation Ceremony on August 19. They come from 11 states (California, Delaware, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin) as well as Germany and Sweden. Also, The newest class of scholars boasts a collective high school GPA of 4.01 (on a 4.0 scale) and an average SAT score of 1335.

The BHC Orientation also included a service learning project in Chesapeake, Virginia where they planted trees to help reduce flooding in a neighborhood. They collaborated with the Elizabeth River Project, Living River Trust, Wetlands Watch, and the city of Chesapeake staff.

According to first-year student Breanne Bessette, the key takeaway from this experience is that it is important to consider the needs of the community when improving the environment around them. “As we planted trees, not only were we benefiting the environment by providing an environmentally efficient space, but it was essential that we understood the needs of the community to help in their efforts to discourage flooding,” Bessette said. “Not every community is going to benefit from the same solutions. Thus, it’s important to listen and learn in order to do our part when attempting to improve the environment in harmony with those who live in it.”

Also, students went on a dolphin discovery cruise with The Virginia

Aquarium & Marine Science Center.

During this adventure, they gained insight into environmental issues facing the Atlantic Ocean and the dolphin population.

“It was a wonderful experience to just be on the water and learn about all the life that we are so closely connected to,” first-year Alec Gordon said. He was also amazed by the dolphins as they swam with their pods and calves that were just born.

This opportunity also solidified his career path and life goals. “The whole experience reaffirmed my desire to be a marine biologist and learn even more about how we as a culture, country,

and world can help to keep the oceans the same or better for our kids and grandkids,” Gordon said.

This Fall, the first-year students have enrolled in HON 110 Contemporary Environmental Issues which is an interdisciplinary course that explores scientific, ethical, economic, societal, and political aspects of contemporary issues with global environmental impact. The instructors for the course are Professor of Philosophy Lawrence Hultgren, Associate Professor of Education Bill McConnell, and Professor of Biology and Environmental Science Maynard Schaus.

Lessons Learned

EMTs experience personal, professional growth through service learning

By Garrett Page

It’s hard to summarize the impact on my life, mindset and education that the Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue squad has had on me.

I joined my sophomore year, knowing that I wanted to pursue a career in medicine and that running rescue would be an excellent outlet to get involved in the community while furthering my work experience. I went through the academy and quickly learned that we do so much more than save lives. In fact, I realized that the most important function of the profession is to prevent the need for the profession.

The largest impact on someone’s life can be achieved through the smallest gestures. I learned that an extra five minutes on the scene to figure out why they called for something so benign may help alleviate chronic issues in the future. I learned that, by spending the time to care about the people you work with, you can change the trajectory of their health and their life for the better. Hopefully, by being a better provider now, they won’t need you later.

Therefore, if I had to summarize my experience as an EMT in one word, it would be compassion. I now continue to practice with Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad, seeking to change the lives of each and every person I meet. I do this because helping one person may not change the world, but it could change the world for one person.

By Madelyn Yale

I

began volunteering with my local Res cue Squad at home in New Jersey and have been volunteering for this com pany for seven years and counting. When I turned 16, I took an EMT class and was finally eligible to work overnight calls. The emergencies that I have responded to involved a wide variety of trauma and medical calls.

In addition to volunteering as an EMT, I also work in an Emergency De partment/ Pediatrics Unit as a Nursing Technician in Southern New Jersey. I have also been hired by a veteran-owned ambulance company to work as a Med ical Transport EMT in Virginia Beach. My future aspirations include finishing my undergraduate degree, taking the MCAT, and attending medical school. From there, I hope to study and earn a Medical Degree in Emergency Medicine.

Just as with any career, there are good days and bad days with being an EMT. However, it is im portant for me to always go into each and every shift promising I will do everything I can do in my ability to provide the greatest care for my patients.

My experience in these environments has certainly impacted me in various ways. I believe that my people skills have improved tremendously. I have become more patient and understanding when interacting with peers in times of urgency or even in class settings. I am grateful for all of my experiences, good and bad, be cause they have played a huge role in shaping the person that I am today.

Where are you from?

ALEN: Gothenburg, Sweden

JONAS: Wuppertal, North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany

DHEERAJ: Hyderabad, India

FELIX: Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Class and major?

ALEN: Freshman, Mathematics

JONAS: Freshman, Political Science

DHEERAJ: Junior, Computer Science and Business

FELIX: Junior, Chemistry with a Mathematics minor

Aspirations for your future?

ALEN: To be able to graduate with good grades, and find a good, high-paying job.

JONAS: I would love to use my bachelor’s degree in order to work and travel around the world. My goal is to com bine this with learning new languages which I’m really interested in.

DHEERAJ: I want to make some money in America in the next 6-7 years, return home, start a business, and give back to my country.

FELIX: Going to Graduate school for chemistry and getting a PhD.

What were you most excited about coming to BHC? Why BHC?

ALEN: About moving to a different country, and being surrounded by smart people. I got told what BHC was during my time applying for VWU, and I was told it was a great opportunity.

JONAS: The community because I love

to talk and interact with people. Also the great opportunities the BHC offers, e.g., like studying abroad in Japan.

DHEERAJ: Meeting new people! The BHC seemed like a good financial decision.

FELIX: Living in a community in another country with a different culture; BHC because of the community mainly with its housing but also all the other small advantages that come along with the program.

What is your go-to remedy for coping with homesickness?

ALEN: To call home.

JONAS: Just talking to people and par ticipating in activities around campus as well as tennis practice because all three things remind me of the reasons why I am here.

DHEERAJ: Eating Indian food

FELIX: Tennis and spending time with friends.

One piece of advice you would give to future international students.

ALEN: Go out of your way to make some connections and friendships. It is easier than back home.

JONAS: Try to enjoy every moment and be open-minded. American people are “crazy” friendly and there always is somebody to talk to when you have a problem.

DHEERAJ: Surround yourself with people you’re comfortable with.

FELIX: Don’t keep your I-20 in your passport, it’ll look horrendous after one year.

One American tradition/value that stands out to you? How has this changed your perspective on American culture?

JONAS: National pride because nearly everywhere you see American flags which is kind of weird because as a German you don’t know this feeling because of our history.

DHEERAJ: Smiling at strangers, this is a very good practice and makes you feel more welcome everywhere.

FELIX: What really surprised me is how open people are when meeting new people. Back home, starting a conver sation with someone you do not know is way more difficult than in the US; I really like that about the US.

What is your favorite thing about the BHC community?

ALEN: How easy it is to be social.

JONAS: The funny evenings we spent together and the help the students offer each other.

DHEERAJ: Everyone has a certain goal in life that means so much to them and it’s good to be surrounded by goaloriented people.

FELIX: Honors Village is my favorite part of the community. Living in the village with all of my classmates really helps.

Favorite American slang

ALEN: Bet

JONAS: Word! That’s fair!

FELIX: ‘Preciate it

Places of Enchantment

Students connect fairytales with history and the present day

By Ryan Abraham

Throughout the course, we traveled to various locations in Germany that held significance in the cultural spread of fairy tales and learned about how they were collect ed and became popular.

One instance that particularly contributed to my change in perception of fairy tales was when we visited the Grimm World Museum in Steinau. We learned about the process the Grimm Brothers went through to compile their book of fairy tales, which included them interviewing people for tales and editing the different versions of these stories into the ver sions we know today. The museum also featured interactive exhibits, which brought many of the tales to life in fun and creative ways.

The beauty of Germany stood out to me from our initial arrival in the city of Frankfurt, which featured a blend of traditional and modern architecture. I marveled at Ger many’s beauty which culminated in a cruise on the Rhine River. During the cruise, I saw castles on the mountains and traditional villages lining the hills. The sights I experienced throughout Germany often made me feel as though I was walking through a real-life fairy tale.

By Kirkland Butler

Iwas really excited about the study away course in Germany. I’ve always held a great fascination and respect for fairy tales. They give great insight into the way other cultures saw the world, and what lessons they wanted to pass on.

One of the things I learned to appreciate in Germany was the infrastructure. The cities were actually planned around the people walking in them, and not just the cars! My favorite towns were Lohr and Homberg. Lohr claims to be the origina tor of Snow White. The castle in Homberg was leagues above the town. We hiked up the slope and the view was absolutely worth it.

The trip really built an appreciation for people-friendly architecture, as well as for my friends in the Honors College. I think that everyone should have a chance to get out of their comfort zone and see something amazing.

A BATTEN

HONORS COLLEGE

SCHOLARS IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN BARCELONA CULTURE AND HISTORY

Tradition and Modernism

D

uring this course, we learned all about the history and culture of Barcelona, as well as its relationship with the rest of Spain. Barcelona is a fascinating city, combining modern technology with a rich history in every aspect of its design, from the architecture to the layout of the city. Where we stayed in the Sants Neighborhood was reminiscent of American cities like Philadelphia or New York, with tall buildings, bustling streets, and a high-speed train station right across the street from our residence. Even with the modern facade, however, the neighborhood was home tosome fascinating stories.

My favorite part of the city was the older section, known as the Gothic Quarter. Almost any free time we had during the course, I made my way to its winding streets, a leftover relic from the early Roman settlers. Here, the buildings are a sort of living museum, with modern apartments and businesses in ancient structures from various points in Barcelona’s history. This was where we found some of the best restaurants, local artisans, and weekly flea markets. Go ing abroad and experiencing history was a formative experience for me, and one I am extremely grateful for.

A

Food is an incredibly important way to experience the world around you. Food is how people tell stories. It’s how tradi tions are passed onto generations, and it reflects the values of the people who make them. I even wrote my final paper on a topic many people might consider frivolous but is actually very important to the people of Barcelona -- Chocolate.

After discovering that Barcelona had its own “chocolate street” (Carrer de Petritxol), I found myself fascinated by just how important cocoa is to the people of Barcelona. There’s a museum of chocolate right in the city, just a few blocks from Carrer de Petritxol, which has no less than four chocolate shops. After discovering

By Alyssa Lane

fter a full morning of learning about the history of different areas of the city, I couldn’t wait to immerse myself in the culture of the people who lived in the modern age. Strolling through the streets and seeing bustling restaurants was my favorite; if so many people wanted to eat there, it must be good!this, what could I do other than to plan a tour to hit as many chocolate shops in the city as I possibly could, including the chocolate museum that, I kid you not, had chocolate bars as the tickets? I went home with a suitcase full of chocolate, a note book full of recipes, and a new apprecia tion for simple and fresh ingredients.

Culture Clash

Alaskan course brings greater awareness to environmental, sustainability issues

By Katie Baker By Jessica Wilson

It was a privilege to travel to Alaska with such an intelligent group of individuals; the company I was surrounded with greatly shaped the experience. While studying geology, sustainability, and ecology in the Alaskan wilderness, my colleagues shared the same educational fervor as I did.

Before our travels, we watched Klukwan: A Sense of Place as well as Rock, Paper, Fish. This documentary revealed how the five species of Atlantic salmon found in the Chilkat River and the Klukwan Village, which depend on the salmon, are at risk. The proposed site of the Palmer Mine Project is situated uphill from salmon spawning grounds vital to the diversity and vitality of the salmon population in Southeast Alaska.

Many believe that the Palmer Mine Project will inevitably pollute the Chilkat River, hurting the salmon population while threatening the culture of the Klukwan Village, the livelihood of local fishermen, the lifestyle of those that subsistence fish, and the current ecological balance. These ecological systems are very fragile, and even the slightest change in water quality will affect the vitality of future salmon populations. This trip unveiled a multitude of environmental concerns that bared witness to the immense loss of salmon and therefore culture at stake in Southeast Alaska and I am thankful for the opportunity to engage in the environmental stewardship of Southeast Alaska.

This summer I was lucky enough to be welcomed into the community of Haines, Alaska. In preparation for the course, I learned about the native Klukwan village, and how the people of Haines depended on the river as their main source of food (salmon) and income and how the community is divided on whether or not the Palmer Mine Project will threaten their salmon supply.

While in Alaska, we engaged with different environmental experts who shared their perspectives and experiences with the mining project. We even had the opportunity to talk to the local people about this issue. I valued learning about the different strategies that environmental groups use to enact change and overcome obstacles. I was also grateful to hear and understand different perspectives. For example, it was interesting to hear the miners’ perspective on how studies show that the mine’s pollution will not impact the salmon while organizations like the Takshanuk Watershed Council conducted studies showing the opposite.

As an environmental science major, I consider myself to have a strong appreciation for nature. However, I surprised myself by walking away with an even stronger connection to our natural world. Haines is a perfect example of a community that lives off the land. I look forward to visiting again one day to further research the culture and natural processes.

Pushing the Envelope

By Breanna Wimbush

Icompleted an undergraduate research internship at Cornell University. It was a 10-week research experience funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). I was guided by the professor running the lab, Dr. Tobias Dörr, along with my direct mentor, Nadia Nikulin who helped me plan and carry out experiments. The Dörr Lab studies the cell envelope of gram-negative rod bacteria and the effects of cell envelope targeting antibiotics of said bacteria.

My research specifically focused on Serratia marcescens, a multi-drug resistant bacterium, and the regulator of capsule synthesis (Rcs) pathway found in the cell envelope of S. marcescens. The Rcs pathway is a stress response pathway that is activated in response to the cell envelope stress such as pressure from an antibiotic. The goal of my research was to determine if the Rcs pathway in S. marcescens affected the bacteria’s ability to combat cell envelope, targeting antibiotics. To test this, three proteins were deleted from the Rcs pathway, the RcsB, C, and D proteins. The RcsC and D proteins are responsible for phosphorylating RcsB, which in turn can employ a variety of mechanisms to combat cell envelope stress. Based on previous studies which demonstrated that the Rcs pathway of other gram-negative rod bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, affects a cell’s ability to combat antibiotics, I hypothesized that the elimination of the RcsBCD proteins in S. marcescens would increase its susceptibility

To test this hypothesis the Kirby-Baur antibiotic disk diffusion assay was completed with a variety of cell-envelope targeting antibiotics. These included ampicillin, carbenicillin, meropenem, cephalexin, polymyxin B, colistin, vancomycin, and bacitracin. In addition, some microscopy was completed using the cells stressed by the antibiotic meropenem through imaging and a time-lapse. These methods of collecting data were very fun to execute, and my microbiology class helped me tremendously as I had completed a disk diffusion in that class.

Additionally, in just about all my biology classes I have used a microscope, so I felt confident at using one. However, the completion of the time-lapse was quite thrilling as it was something I had never done before. During this experience I also ran several polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) and completed a transformation. However, these methods did not directly contribute to my short-term project. Nevertheless, the gene cloning and DNA analysis class I took at VWU directly helped me complete the PCRs and transformations by equipping me with necessary lab skills.

Overall, my experience with Dörr Lab at Cornell University was a memorable one. My experiments supported my hypothesis as S. marcescens’ susceptibility to antibiotics was increased due to the elimination of the RcsBCD proteins. This observation allowed me to conclude that the Rcs pathway does play a role in combating cell envelope targeting antibiotics in Serratia marcescens. Future projects include completing time-dependent killing assays and time lapses with different antibiotics. I learned so much and gained an extremely valuable research experience. I am so thankful to everyone who made it possible.

TheSaltLife

By Abby Mahoney

Ihad the incredible opportunity of taking BIO 319: Field Studies in Coastal Environments this summer. I’ve always had a passion for learning about marine environments, but it wasn’t necessarily the content of this course that influenced my decision to take it. Dr. Soraya Bartol made sure that this class was geared towards gaining experience in field work rather than producing specific results. I have truly never learned as efficiently as I did in this class because we were almost never in a classroom setting. Dr. Bartol allowed her students to conduct hands-on research and learn in the field rather than through a powerpoint.

On the first day of class, we traveled to the Sand Dunes in North Carolina and collected samples from different portions of the berm. We conducted research and experiments in every coastal environment the East Coast had to offer - the open ocean during our observation of dolphin pods, the beaches of Sandbridge, the marshes of North Carolina, the shores of Tangier Island and Wachapreague, the ins and outs of hiking trails on the Chesapeake Bay, and much more. When we weren’t collecting and identifying samples in the field, we were at the Virginia Beach Aquarium watching an expert conduct a necropsy on a dolphin.

If I gained any skills from this class, it would be the ability to identify a species based on the images from multiple paperbacks. Dr. Bartol did not believe in google images. In addition to identification, I learned how to use a multitude of tools including but not limited to a secchi disk, an underwater thermometer, a refractometer, as well as how to trawl, dredge, and collect marine samples.

The biggest takeaway I have from this particular course was how efficient yet imperative hands-on learning can be in STEM courses. Dr. Bartol taught me that school is so much more than applying information on a test. I was able to fall in love with learning all over again, not to mention the incredibly diverse world of Marine Biology. She reignited my passion for working in a field regarding marine biology.

The original interest in this class stemmed from my career goal of working for an international organization that deals with marine environments. As an International Relations major with a focus in Business, I want to apply my knowledge and education to better sustainable practices with regards to marine wellbeing. I believe that if I work hard enough, I can combine my passion for marine biology with the experience and knowledge of International Relations into meaningful work.

SUMMER INTERNSHIPS

By Brian Hostetter

During my internship with the city of Norfolk’s govern ment, I worked directly under the Assistant Director of the Department of General Services, Theresa Jennings. The Department of General Services consists of 5 divisions: Parking, Fleet Management, Facilities Mainte nance, Norfolk Animal Care and Adoption Center (NACC) and the Director’s office. Throughout the summer, I had the opportunity to work with all of these divisions. Under the director’s office, I worked within the Environmental Sus tainability team with Steve Case and Esi Langston. This was arguably the best experience of the internship as I worked on formulating ideas and future legislation related to envi ronmental topics that I have become greatly interested in since entering college.

Most of my work consisted of research and analysis for several projects, some of which consisted of researching laws restricting the city government, laws not covered by state governments that will be left to local governments, and state and national grants that could be awarded to the city.

Four large projects that I was working on included a General Services employee engagement analysis. Another was working on a 10-year electric vehicle readiness plan. This involved lots of research and data on current progress in Norfolk and more advanced cities to compare what should be implemented in order to encourage the purchas ing of electric vehicles in the city. The final major projects were comparison studies of base pay in facilities mainte nance and parking rates across Hampton Roads.

Overall, I had a wonderful experience interning for the city of Norfolk government. The connections I made through the LiveNFK program in Norfolk as well as the experience will help me tremendously after I graduate.

By Breana Mahoney

My internship at the Chrysler Museum of Art gave me a great opportunity to learn about the inner workings of Development, and how important fostering community and connections is in order to support the arts. It gave me a great opportunity to learn about the inner workings of development, and how important fos tering community and connections is in order to support the arts. The Chrysler’s Development Department specializes in acquiring funds via donors and mem bers and, building relationships with our community members. Engagement with members and the surrounding community involves a lot of event planning and working with the entire museum staff months in advance.

Donors also play a ginormous role in the success of the museum. Since admission to the museum is free, many visitors are not paying members. The Development department aims to boost membership while working

alongside the Curatorial Department, Communications, and the museum as a whole to create and advertise events that will attract the generosity of people, who may donate not just large amounts of money, but also personal collections to the museum. For exam ple, the museum currently has an exhib it on display called The Guiding Hand, a collection of Torah pointers curated by Clay Barr, an incredibly influential donor and member of the museum.

I learned a lot about the collab orative nature of museum work, and how such an interconnected workplace functions. From the very beginning, my internship at Chrysler Museum was in credibly hands-on. I attended Chrysler’s Summer Sips Program, a garden party and curator-led tour of the glass gallery held for members of the museum’s Mas terpiece Society. I’m incredibly grateful to those at the Chrysler Museum and my professors at Virginia Wesleyan University who helped make this experi ence possible and so incredibly informa tive. I’ve become well acquainted with working in an office setting, assisted with event planning, and learned a lot about software, including utilizing Mic rosoft software to do things such as to create and refine mailing lists and labels, navigate Portfolio, and became more comfortable with the layout of Outlook. I look forward to taking the skills and experience I’ve gained here and giving back to my community.

INTERNATIONAL Insight

By Abby Peterson

Throughout the spring semester of 2022, I studied abroad in Chester, UK in Northern England. My study abroad journey began in 2020 as I applied for the ISEP Exchange Program within the Lighthouse and received my acceptance to the program at the end of my sophomore year. I knew I wanted to study abroad after taking a 2-week honors course in Israel. In January of 2021, I traveled to Manchester to begin my semester. During my first few weeks, the other international students and I spent our free time adjusting to life in the Northwestern portion of the UK, taking various trips to Liverpool, Manchester, and Wales. I spent a majority of my time with students from Chile and South Korea, going to various coffee shops in Chester to get to know one another.

I took five courses at the University of Chester, two contributing to my history minor, one for my political science minor, a biology elective course, and another international student course. The academic culture in the United Kingdom varied greatly from that in the United States as there were less assign ments and in-person lectures. While this gave me free time to explore Europe, it made each course assign ment extremely difficult.

During my free time, I traveled to over ten differ ent countries around Europe with other international students, spending a majority of May volun teering in Naples, Italy. I became famil iar with a wide variety of customs, languages, and food preferences abroad. Overall, the relationships

I formed with others when studying abroad were the most meaningful experiences that I will cherish from my semester abroad. I highly recommend studying abroad to every student in the Honors Program and am grateful for the life changing opportunities the Batten Honors College and Light house of Virginia Wesleyan provided.

A Global Outlook R

By Melina Cabral

ecently, I was granted the opportunity to study abroad in Murcia, Spain through the Lighthouse’s Global Scholars Program during this last Spring Semester. To prepare for this study away, I was required to take a study abroad pre-departure seminar. It was taught by Director of Global Engagement Mandy Reinig, and it was very insightful. We were required to complete readings in order to help us cultivate a global outlook, as well as complete research and other assignments related to the country we were studying in. It proved to be very useful during my time in Spain, especially going into the country knowing all about ‘tapas’ thanks to my research paper on Spain’s customs and traditions.

My biggest takeaway from this experience was gaining cultural

A New Perspective

By Devin Calpo

Studying abroad was an eyeopening experience that allowed me to have an entirely new perspective of the world. When I began to prepare for studying abroad, the realization of living on my own for six months never set in. It was more of an abstract thought than a tangible experience since I never lived on my own in another country. The best I could do to prepare was by making sure I had enough money to last me and do as much background research before I arrived at my new school. However, as soon as I landed in Amsterdam and arrived at Radboud University everything began to set in. It was a lot to take in, the class style was very different then I was used to at Wesleyan. At Wesleyan, the class style is very personal and you are freely able to find your professor and ask questions. The relationships are much more intimate

compared to Radboud where I could only reach my professor via email or once set in the semester.

As I look back on this experience, it feels even more rewarding. Studying abroad is a testament to yourself. You are challenging yourself to achieve another level of your education and yourself. A moment I remember came from one of my courses, Climate Crisis. The professor was going over Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and at the very pinnacle of this pyramid stood selfactualization. By going abroad I was reaching this self-actualization because I was able to make relationships with locals alongside enjoying The Netherlands with my roommate and best friend, Criofan Shaw.

Criofan was accepted into the same university. Throughout the semester, we were able to create memories that would last a lifetime. For example, a

awareness. This is a topic we spoke a lot about during the pre-departure course, but it’s something you won’t really understand until you live it firsthand. Meeting people and making genuine connections and friendships with people from all over the world and getting to explore multiple cultures is an eye-opening experience. It shows how exciting and different the world is from what we know our everyday world to be.

A special moment of this experience that I encountered in my personal free time was getting to visit a former BHC student, now alumna, Audrey Bally, in my favorite place ever… Albufeira, Portugal. We got to spend a week during our spring break here and it was such an amazing time getting to reconnect with one of my close friends while also experiencing one of my favorite parts of Europe!

story that comes to mind was when Criofan and I were able to travel the countryside of Belgium together. We walked the dark country roads, saw the stars and country fields which was a unique experience. Sharing the intrinsic value of this experience with my best friend is something that I will hold in my memory and the opportunity to have these experiences together is more valuable than anything in life.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Intentional Endowments Network’s Student Corporate Engagement Competition

BHC scholars Rowan Stuart, Jessica Wilson, Connor Merk, Kainaat Trehan and Edward McDonald achieved first place in the undergraduate division at Intentional Endowments Network’s Student Corporate Engagement Competition on April 29.

Brooke Underwood SCHEV Representative

Junior Brooke Underwood was selected to serve on the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) Student Advisory Council. She will represent VWU and the Council for Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV).

The Marlin Chronicle SCJ Awards

Virginia Wesleyan University’s student newspaper, The Marlin Chronicle, took home 20 awards including first place in the newspaper overall excellence and mental health coverage categories in the annual Society for Collegiate Journalists National Contest.

Henry Handley Newman Civic Fellowship

Junior Henry Hadley joined the 2022-2023 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows. Supported by the KPMG Foundation, the Newman Civic Fellowship recognizes students who stand out for their commitment to creating positive change in communities locally and around the world.

Connor Merk - TFAS Leadership & Learning Fellowship

Senior Connor Merk spent his summer in Washington, D.C. as a Leadership + Learning Fellow with The Fund for American Studies where he completed courses, attended site visits and talks, and interned with the America First Policy Institute.

EVENTS

Ronaldinio Stickley

Published Author

Reunited After the Storm was selfpublished on Amazon on June 5, 2022. Over 100 copies were sold in the first couple of weeks. It is a story of two friends, Abe and Jonas, who were separated during an earthquake in Haiti at the time of their adoption. The story follows Abe through his adoption and search for Jonas. The writing did not take long. Some challenges I faced were finding the right illustrator and formatting the book properly, especially digital. I hope my readers get a sense of hope and understanding that anything is possible. Above all, family is who you choose to surround yourself around, those that care about you.

Celebration of Holi

Students celebrated Holi or the Festival of Colors in Rose Lawn. Holi is a Hindu festival that marks the onset of Spring and celebrates the divine love of Hindu dieties Radha-Krishna.

Norfolk Tides Game

The BHC attended a Norfolk Tides Game that included a fun afternoon of ballpark food, time with friends, and great baseball.

Academic Fair & Poster Session

BHC students presented their HON 480 projects at the Academic Fair & Poster Session.

Reading Day Brunch

To conclude the Spring 2022 semester, the BHC hosted a brunch.

Deliberative Dialogue

The Robert Nusbaum Center in collaboration with student leaders hosted a deliberative dialogue discussing free speech on campus colleges at the Spring 2022 Academic Symposium.

Roe

The VWU Fine and Performing Arts Department presented Roe by Lisa Loomer which showcased the background of what led up to the 1973 Supreme Court decision and its repercussions today.

Model NATO Challenge

BHC scholars Sierra Curney, Joshua Spicer and Kainaat Trehan engaged in student diplomacy at the Model NATO Challenge held on campus during Spring Break.

ALUMNI Spotlight

Katie Yeager ‘22

MASTER’S OF MEDIA & PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER

DENVER, COLORADO

Find out where some of our most beloved Alumni have been and what they have been up to since graduating from the Batten Honors College.

“I am a first-year graduate student at the University of Denver getting my MA in media and public communication while working as a graduate research assistant. My program is tight-knit and has a focus on community service, so it has been an extremely rewarding experience so far. I’m so thankful to everyone at VWU who prepared me for this step including the Batten Honors College, volleyball program, Marlin Chronicle, and more!”

Grant Morgan ‘22 DISNEY CAST MEMBER - ORLANDO, FLORIDA

“As a recent BHC graduate and current Disney Cast Member, my position with the Walt Disney World Company has allowed me to grow and develop new skills that have encouraged a professional experience. By being immersed in the creativity and imagination found in Disney World, I am able to create memories for guests and provide unique moments for their trips. My exposure to international conversation and my experiences at the Batten Honors College have prepared me for this opportunity and allowed me to create magical moments while being in the Happiest Place on Earth.”

Sydney Collins ‘22 TRAINING COORDINATOR - MARY WASHINGTON HEALTHCARE

“One of my biggest takeaways as a BHC student at Virginia Wesleyan University was the importance of being a dynamic-problem solver and adapting to new situations. The BHC curriculum allowed me to build a dynamic foundation by providing the opportunity to look at real-world issues through a variety of disciplines. These skills have helped me in my job as a training coordinator with Mary Washington Healthcare considering ways to improve the workplace environment for patients and healthcare workers. I am most thankful for the tremendous support I have continued to receive from the BHC.