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Spring Commencement on May 8

Approximately 4,000 looked on as a record 406 graduated at Commencement ceremonies on the lawn. This photo, by University Photographer Bobby Ayers, was taken from Lumbee Hall.

Faculty reap year-end awards

University faculty celebrated their achievements May 7 at the annual Faculty Appreciation Dinner.

“This is a time of celebration, a time to celebrate 406 graduates,” Chancellor Meadors said on the eve of Spring Commencement. “It is a time to celebrate the remarkable influence that you have had on our graduates.”

It was a time to look back on the year, but it was also a time to introduce a new award for Excellence in Academic Advising. A grant from Bell South made the awards possible.

“There is a great legacy of faculty who care here at the University,” Chancellor Meadors said. “I am especially pleased that we have added the award for advisement.”

“We have a lot of first generation college students, and advising can make the difference,” he said. “My hat is off to those who take the extra time.”

Business Professor Sharon Bell, sociology Professor Dr. John Bowman, Registrar Sara Brackin and College Opportunity Program Director Sandy Stratil were named recipients of the first award for Excellence in Advising.

A pair of business professors won Adolph L. Dial Awards. Dr. Mohammad Ashraf won for Research and Creative Work and William Stewart Thomas, won for Community Service.

An economist, Dr. Ashraf published many articles during the academic year, and Thomas is the founder and co-chair of Scotland County’s Relay for Life, which raised $750,000 last year.

Outstanding Teaching Awards went to Dr. Nancy Barrineau and Dr. Susan Cannata, of the Department of English, Theatre and Languages; Dr. David Fricke, of the School of Business and Dr. Timothy Ritter of the Department of Chemistry and Physics.

Departmental faculty awards went to Dr. John Labadie and Paul Van Zandt in art; Dr. Dennis Edgell in geography; Dr. Deok-Hyun Hwang, Dr. Charles Lillie and Dr. Lazlo Zsilinszky in math and computer science; Dr. Kelly Charlton, Dr. Will Collier, Dr. Elizabeth Denny, Dr. Beverly King and Dr. Debra Preston in psychology and counseling; Cammie Hunt, Sharon Bell and Dr. Stephen Bukowy in business and Dr. Karen Stanley and Debbie Thompson in education.

Dr. Jesse Peters of the Department of English, Theatre and Languages was introduced as the new chair of the Faculty Senate, replacing Dr. Thomas Dooling of the Department of Chemistry and Physics.

Dial Awards – Stewart Thomas (left) and Dr. Mohammad Ashraf, both of the School of Business	Outstanding teachers – From left: Dr. Tim Ritter (Physics), Dr. David Fricke (Business), Chancellor Meadors, Dr. Susan Cannata (English) and Dr. Nancy Barrineau (English).

Retired faculty come together for annual dinner

By Sheri Sides
The Retired Faculty Club held its 14th annual dinner on April 27, and they witnessed, first hand, the construction boom at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

“Just this year alone, we will have the Oxendine Science Building, the Regional Center office at COMtech, the Jones Athletic Center and the physical plant building ready for use,” Chancellor Meadors said. “All of this construction will help us prepare for our goal of having 1,000 freshmen enrolled in a few years.”

Seventy-five members of the Retired Faculty Club and others from the general faculty community attended the banquet.

“Education was my husband’s life,” said Annie Maynor, widow of retired School of Education faculty member, Dr. Gerald Maynor said. “His former students still come to me to tell me what an exceptional educator he was. I am here tonight to support what was important to my husband.”

The Retired Faculty Club is also for faculty who moved into “phased” or semi- retirement. It was a homecoming for some of these newly retired faculty members.

“I would definitely come back to Retired Faculty dinner,” said Dr. Paul Berghoff, who retired in 2003 and continues to teach part time with the Psychology Department. “I haven’t seen some of the people I worked with in 25 years.”

Dr. Janie Silver does not have to imagine what UNC Pembroke was like over 30 years ago. She retired in 1970 from the School of Education.

“The best part about being back is seeing the people I love and who still love me,” Dr. Silver said. “It is overwhelming how far we have come, and how we can still go a long way.”

Retired faculty (and wives) in attendance included: Dr. Gibson and Mary Anna Gray, Albert and Lois Dunavan, Dr. James and Eleanor Ebert, Dr. Jesse and Mary Lamm, Dr. Robert and Judy Romine, Dr. Paul Berghoff, Dr. Raymond Rundus, Dr. James B. and Judy Chavis, Dr. Thomas and Cheryl Ross, Dr. Ben and Ruth Drymon, Helen Gustafson, Alec and Teresa Price, Dr. John and Zollene Reissner, Dr. Norma Thompson, Dr. Janie Silver, Professor Magnolia Lowry, Dr. Jose and Dorothy D’Arruda, Marie Musgrove and Annie R. Maynor.

Staff Council’s annual cookout really rocked

With Spring Commencement over and students gone, it was safe to go out on campus again. Or was it?

On May 10, the staff cookout rocked the University Center with the hard-driving rock n’ soul sounds of John “the plumber’ Locklear, Charly “American Idol” Lowry and other vocalists backed up by the sounds of the house band.

Bryan Hunt (Physical Plant), Vinson Jacobs (Physical Plant) and Annette Gwalthney Jones cooked hamburgers and hot dogs for more than 200 staff members.

“It was the biggest crowd ever,” said Tony Chavis, who planned the event with the Staff Council. “We raised a lot of money and had a lot of fun.”

Entertainment was provided again this year by the house band, featuring Locklear (Physical Plant) and Layla Locklear (daughter of John and Tonya (Nursing) Locklear. “American Idol” semifinalist Charly Lowry (daughter of Delores Lowry of UCIS) belted out several tunes, including “Chain of Fools,” which she sang on national television in the Fox Television competition.

Lowry stayed to enjoy the cookout and Layla Locklear’s singing. Layla is a rising 7th grader.

Funds raised at the cookout will help pay the cost of the annual Employee Bash in October.

Layla Locklear, who is going on 13, proves that age is no barrier to the blues.	Charly Lowry enjoyed the show.
Carol Hunt (COP) got into the swing of things.	Nikki Blanton (Library), on the left, won a t-shirt at the cookout. Pictured are Layla Locklear, who drew the winning entry, and Tony Chavis, who helped organize the event.

‘ReVisions’ is available online

The Spring 2004 issue of “ReVisions: Best Student Essays of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke” was published. It is available online at www.uncp.edu/etl/.

This years’ student contributors are: Jason Bentley, Tammie Tanner Britt, Bridget Dimery, Terri Gray, Chris Lowry, Krystle Melvin, Cristy Oxendine and Austin Sheppard.

“ReVisions” editors were Dr. Susan Cannata and Dr. Jesse Peters of the English Department. The selection committee consisted of Dr. Nancy Barrineau (English), Dr. Tim Ritter (Physics) and Dr. Carolyn Thompson (UHC). Managing Editor was Sara Oswald (English).

“ReVisions” is published every spring, and nominations for the Spring 2005 issue are due by December 10. Faculty are reminded to keep this in mind as they grade final papers.

‘Friends’ fundraiser nets $13,159 for scholarships

Elinor Foster
University Librarian

The April 23 benefit sponsored by the Friends of the Library was a great success thanks to a lot of folks: Friends of the Library volunteers, Honors College students and their Director Dr. Carolyn Thompson as well as others on the program, library staff, donors of auction items, the University Bookstore, Physical Plant, Media Center and Sodexho Food Services, along with University and Community Relations, Office for Advancement, and Cashier's Office, just to mention some of our supporters. The main focus of the benefit was raising scholarship funds for the three scholarship initiatives established by the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Library in December 2003.

Before I mention dollar figures, I would like to recognize the special contributions of our president of the Friends of the Library for 2003-04, Dr. Bruce Ezell (Biology), and our library coordinators for the event, Lillian Brewington, Susan Whitt, and Nickie Blanton. I hasten to add the names of our program participants from the UNCP community, Dr. Shelby Stephenson (English) and his family, Dr. Carolyn Thompson (UHC), Michael Munford (Library) and Robert Canida (Minority Affairs), as contributors to the success of the evening. Too numerous to mention, because long emails are easily deleted, but nevertheless greatly appreciated, are all the faculty and staff, including library staff, who contributed to the success of the event by attending it, providing auction items, decorating or facilitating the benefit event.

And now for the results: deposited thus far is $13,159. Yes, we sold all 100 tickets and even accommodated some special guests from China, as well as our guest program performers the Stephenson Family, Mr. and Mrs. D.G. Martin and Les Sandy. Adding to the tickets sales were the proceeds from our live (Cindy Saylor was a great auctioneer!) and silent auctions and some donations as well.

Plans are already underway for next year and our possible dilemma (a nice problem to have) is where to put everybody if we run out of space and don't want to limit sales.

Anyway, on behalf of the Friends of the Library, I thank all our supporters for this benefit event, “Books, Barbecue, and Bluegrass.”

Commencement volunteers are appreciated

The Office for University and Community Relations thanks the following Commencement volunteers for taking tickets and passing out program and fans: Susan Whitt (Library), Shirley Rodgers (Student Affairs), Felicia Scott (Chemistry and Physics), Michael Alewine (Library), Janet Fortune (Education), Betty Johnson (Donor Relations) and Nikki Miller (Financial Aid).

WEB SITES OF INTEREST

• Academic Catalog is available online
• University Calendar
• University Newswire
• Campus construction update