Celebrate the history of the UNCW Crew Club!

To a former UNCW Crew Club member not many things sound quite as appealing as being back in the waters of Wilmington. Climbing into your boats and slicing through the picturesque Cape Fear River brings feelings of nostalgia. On February 26, crew club alumni will gather in Wilmington for their annual reunion.

To truly understand the significance of this club we found pieces of the club's history in the Randall Library Archives. The earliest mention of the team is from 1969. Professor John Anderson, with the help of Bob Walton, formed and coached a team that first raced for the Feast of the Pirates celebration at Wrightsville beach in May of 1970. In this first race they went up against UNC-Chapel Hill and The Citadel.

They gained support and equipment through congressman Alton A. Lennon, who managed to obtain military-school cast-offs for the team to practice with. The team participated in their first intercollegiate match in 1976 against UNC-Chapel Hill and achieved victory. Throughout the 1970's, the team participated in the Azalea Festival Regatta under the guidance of their coach Professor Anderson.

In 1986, the application was filed and approved for the official formation of the UNCW Crew Club under the leadership of club President Ted Uhlman. From there the club continued on to 25 years of fun and hard work in the waters of Wilmington, carrying on a rich legacy of rowing at UNCW.

UNCW welcomes former crew members back for a day of rowing, reminiscing, food, and old friends during the annual Crew Club Reunion on February 26. The day will begin with the annual Fun Row at the Wilmington Marine Center. The group will then head to lunch and later reconvene at the Wise Alumni House for dinner and celebration.

1986 Class President excited for return to UNCW at 25 Year Reunion

When Tim Dellinger ’86 was growing up in Durham, NC in the early 1980’s he knew that he wanted to go to college at the beach. What he found upon his arrival at UNCW was so much more. He found a world of learning, both academically and personally, that made him the man he is today. The close knit community of Galloway Hall was a place where he made lifelong friendships that helped him to realize that “there was a lot more going on in the world than what I had previously imagined.”

During his time at UNCW, Tim says that with the help of his friends, advisors and professors he grew up. He was elected and served as Senior Class President in 1986 where he learned that “surrounding yourself with great people helps you make the right decisions” and has carried that with him throughout his life.

Today Tim lives in Durham, NC with his wife Jeanne and their three children and is the President of Advantage Newspaper Consultants. His company is a full service marketing firm that works with both independent publishers and major newspapers across the country.

Tim and his family often return to their beach condo in Wrightsville Beach and are looking forward to coming back to UNCW for Homecoming. On Saturday, February 19, 2011, the UNCW Alumni Association will host numerous events for alumni to enjoy. He plans to attend the Cameron School of Business Alumni Breakfast and see how the program has changed. He has fond memories of his entrepreneurship classes with Dr. Harper and hopes to catch up with him and other professors when he is back on campus.

In anticipation of the 25 Year Reunion for the Class of 1986, during the Alumni Homecoming Celebration, Tim stated, "Homecoming 2011 is more than just the chance to see all of the changes at UNCW.  It is more than just a time to visit old haunts and hangouts. (This) Homecoming is a milestone opportunity to reconnect with old friends, and together remember the fun, the excitement, the activities of being a Seahawk during (our) college years, and explore how UNCW has defined us over the past 25 years."

Join Tim and fellow Seahawks for the Homecoming festivities and register today!

Explore the New Nursing Building during Homecoming

Photo Credit: UNCW/Jamie Moncrief

When strolling down Chancellor’s Walk, it’s hard not to notice the structure in the area that, not too long ago, was a parking lot. Standing in the shadows of this state-of-the-art building, UNCW students, faculty, staff, and visitors gaze in awe of the new resources available to UNCW students.

Not only does the architecture match the Georgian style seen on UNCW’s campus, but the new facility accommodates a larger number of faculty and students. Multiple resources include classrooms and offices, eight simulation labs, a large lecture hall, and distance learning, providing for all needs under one roof.

Photo Credit: UNCW/Jamie Moncrief

Currently, UNCW nursing students have the opportunity to work with mannequins in areas such as critical care, maternal/infant care, and pediatrics, but before Fall 2010, their lab was only about 1,000 square feet. Due to the expansion of lab space in the new building, students now have approximately 10,000 square feet of work space to check vital signs, diagnose medical conditions, and participate in simulation childbirth. Sarah Keys, a senior majoring in nursing explains, “The eight different simulation rooms allow for hands on learning and lots of practice in a safe controlled environment before going out into the clinical setting. Each semester we spend many hours in the labs learning and practicing skills.”

There are also plans to use this state-of-the-art workspace for partnerships with groups such as hospitals, disaster response, diving programs, pharmaceutical, high school enrichment programs and many others.

Alumni are invited to enjoy the new addition to the UNCW campus during Homecoming 2011. On Saturday, February 19, all School of Nursing Alumni are invited to a complimentary reunion breakfast in the new Nursing Building for an opportunity to reconnect with each other, past professors and to tour the building. Additionally, all alumni and friends of UNCW are encouraged to participate in the “Tealin’ Like a Student: Soaring Back to School!” event that will take place later that day for a guided tour and to observe the simulation labs in action. The program will give attendees the opportunity to experience what it’s like to be a current UNCW student.

Seahawk makes an impact on Wrightsville Beach and across the nation

Think you found a great spot to lay your towel on the beach just to realize that there’s trash peeking out from the sand and shells? Do you just keep walking, ignoring the fact that what was only a nuisance to you is actually a hazard to animals and wildlife on our beaches? Danielle Richardet ‘01, has begun an awareness campaign on the effects of trash, focusing on cigarette butts. Her efforts achieved national recognition and she won the Brita FilterforGood Film Project qualifying for a film to be created and screened during the Sundance Film Festival at the Brita FilterForGood Event.

While at UNCW, Danielle took interest in becoming an avid recycler. During a visit to long-time friend and past college roommate, Danielle and her family met Sara Bayles of “The Daily Ocean Blog”. While on the beach in Santa Monica, Danielle noticed that all of the trashcans had a photo of a palm tree, surf board, and cigarette with the words, “One of these don’t belong here.” Instantly, Danielle was inspired to return home and help clean up Wrightsville Beach.

Beginning August 9, 2010 Danielle, along with her husband and three young children, started taking 20 minute trips to pick up cigarette butts and other trash along various accesses on Wrightsville Beach. Her blog, “It Starts with Me”, reflects the cigarette count and weight of the litter collected each day. Since August, friends and community members have also helped Danielle collect 13,771 cigarette butts in just 39 days from the beach. In her blog, Danielle writes,"... it doesn't really matter whether or not we live at the beach. We go to the beach to be in the ocean... play in the sand... bask in the sun... there's certainly no reason why we (or anyone else) shouldn't want to head out to the beach and make a difference in a place we LOVE so much.”

Danielle is a devoted Seahawk who truly loves our community and beaches. She encourages everyone to do what they can to make a difference, “It’s simple…what we do (or don’t do) has an impact on the world we live in. It starts with me and ripples to you…”

2011 Alumni Award Recipients Announced

The Alumni Association is excited to announce the recipients of the 2011 Alumni Awards. Each of the honorees showcase their Seahawk spirit with fellow alumni, friends and in the communities they live.

Malcomb Coley ’86, ‘89M is the 2011 UNCW Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient. Currently, a CPA and partner with Atlanta’s Ernst & Young, Coley earned his degrees in the Cameron School of Business. In addition to being an active member of many professional accounting and diversity organizations, Coley is a featured speaker during UNCW Business Week and MSA classes. We are pleased to recognize such an active individual, willing to give time and resources back to his alma mater.

Also a Cameron School of Business graduate, Shaun Olsen ‘02, will be awarded the Young Alumnus of the Year Award. Immediately after graduation, he began Olsen Enterprises and has since added 3 companies to the mix. BBXComputers was his first company offering sales, design and IT structure consulting. Two years later AcoustiCreations, Inc. was formed, specializing in home theater installations. Olsen also created Opterex an advanced technology and communications services firm. At UNCW, Olsen is a member of the Center for Entrepreneurial Development and the Cameron Exectuive Network, and currently mentoring two business students.

Charles Edward Alexander III is the recipient of the Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award. Alexander is currently the Vice Chair for UNCW Foundation Board of Directors, as well as serving on the Endowment Board and Cameron School of Business Committee. In the community, Alexander served on the Board of Directors for Cameron Art Museum and the NC Museum of Art Grand Opening Committee. Alexander worked in Raleigh as the Senior Vice President of Morgan Stanley and is now retired.

These three outstanding individuals have demonstrated character, professionalism and a devotion to UNCW. They will receive their awards during Homecoming 2011 and will be honored during the parade and Men’s Basketball game on Saturday, February 19.

UNCW Homecoming 2011- only 29 days away!

With Homecoming 2011 right around the corner the alumni staff and volunteers couldn't be more excited to get together with our alumni friends. This year, we're bringing back all your favorites and even added more events to welcome alumni and friends to UNCW's campus. You can find details and how to register on the Homecoming website.

A Seahawk Hero: Ray Buchanan '72

“Living simply so that others could simply live,” are the words by which one philanthropic Seahawk alumnus lives. Ray Buchanan ’72 has set out to do what many have dreamed of but few have ever thought possible: end world hunger. A Texas native, Buchanan was based at Camp Lejune upon joining the Marine Corps and began his undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Religion at UNCW following completion of his service. During these years of service and as an undergrad, Buchanan realized his passion for religion and helping others and went on to Duke Divinity School, then Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest.

Ray Buchanan’s vision to provide international help in the form of nutrition quickly evolved into reality when he partnered with John Hewitt in 1998 to form Stop Hunger Now. The organization has provided over 34 million meals and $70 million in direct aid to the hungry in 72 different countries around the world.

Over 90% of the food has gone to school meals programs, which Buchanan views as a way of tackling some of the most pressing third world issues. He believes that if needy children are being fed, then their parents will send them to school, increasing enrollment. The resulting educated population will provide a better equipped workforce and will be more knowledgeable about health issues, decreasing birthrates and the spread of infectious disease.

Million Meals Packaging Event in Trask

Most recently, Stop Hunger Now has orchestrated the Million Meals Event where volunteer groups gather at universities across to country to pack meals. UNCW rallied up 450 volunteers to participate in this event on Saturday, August 29, 2010 in Trask Coliseum to package meals to be shipped to schools in Haiti, Kenya, and Nicaragua. A second packaging event took place in Hanover Hall on November 13, 2010, resulting in 140,000 meals ready to be shipped across the world.

Ray Buchanan believes that hunger will no longer be an issue in this lifetime if we all join together to donate time and resources to those less fortunate. We, at UNCW, are proud to call him a Seahawk and believe that those dreams can be achieved.