Get Ready for the Durham Bulls Picnic on July 8!

The UNCW Triangle Area Alumni Chapter will host the annual Durham Bulls Picnic on Friday, July 8. Tickets are now available online until July 4. See you at the ball park!

Share Your Memories for the Alumni Beach Day Video!

Johnnie Mercer's Pier, MOI, Surfing Before Class, K-38, 4-wheelin', Friends with Beach Houses, Fishing on the South End Jetty, .....Your Story Goes Here!.... Crystal Pier, Mad Monk, Blockade Runner, The Crest, Catching rays behind the Dunes, Studying late at Pizza Hut on WB....


On UNCW's campus you worked hard, chatted with professors and helped remind your roommates to get to class on time (or they were the ones reminding you!). What about during your downtime? Days without classes and breaks between semesters?

We want to hear about your memories on the southeastern NC coast! What was your favorite hang-out? Where did you always bring out of town friends when they came to visit? When school had you stressed where would you go to unwind?

Post your favorite photos and videos on the Alumni Facebook Page by July 8 for a chance to be included in the Video!!

Share this with friends and to see what old photos they can dig up too!

Alumni Make a Difference in Preparing Students for Success

While UNCW has many alumni who move around the globe after they graduate, a lucky few work right here at the university. One in particular, works hard to ensure that our current students have an unforgettable experience and all the tools they need to prepare for success after graduation.

Missy Kennedy  ’01, is UNCW’s Director of Annual Giving. She achieved a position at the university after working for the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach as the Promotions Manager and excelling in her marketing career.

Reflecting on her years as a student she recalls, “The time I spent at UNCW was transformational. My professors were mentors who made course work relevant to our lives, to pop culture and to the working world – preparing us for our future”. A Communication Studies major, she was also involved in ACE (the Association for Campus Entertainment) where her love for music became as varied as the diverse group of student leaders she worked with.  

Missy also joined Alpha Phi sorority, becoming part of a special legacy of young women who are committed to scholarship, service and friendship. “I have shared some of life’s most special moments with these women… vacations, weddings, births and more.”

Now back at the university that gave her so much, she wonders if fellow alumni understand the impact they can make. “I am just one of 57,000 alumni whose life has been influenced by UNCW; yet I am only one of 3,235 alumni who have made a gift to UNCW this year. I have no doubt that most alumni feel the same way I do about UNCW. I see their Seahawk license plates or their “Dub” t-shirts. I cheer alongside them at Trask Coliseum and have drinks with them at alumni socials. I see their posts on the UNCW Alumni facebook page and read their stories in the alumni magazine. As a proud alumna, I know that there’s no better way to show my support for my alma mater than to make an annual gift. As the Director of Annual Giving, I’ve seen just how critical that support is for today’s students. Imagine the possibilities and resources that could be made available for today’s Seahawks if more UNCW alumni joined me in this tradition of giving.”

Reflect on your own UNCW memories and challenge yourself to think how the university is helping you reach your highest potential. Find out how your annual gift can provide funding for scholarships, academic programs, cultural activities, technology upgrades, professorships, and opportunities that foster friendships, develop leaders, change perspectives and inspire greatness.

Alumni can trace so many important achievements in their lives, both personal and professional to their time at UNCW. Give back to be that support for our next generation of Seahawks.

Accepting Nominations for J. Marshall Crews Award until August 1

The Alumni Association is now accepting nominations for the J. Marshall Crews Distinguished Faculty Award.  This award, named for Dr. J. Marshall Crews, honors a faculty member who exhibits the qualities of service and leadership that Dr. Crews personified throughout his life.  During his 33 year career at Wilmington College and UNCW, Dr. Crews held the following positions; Mathematics Professor, Registrar, Academic Dean, Director of Admissions and Dean of Students.  Additionally, Crews is the author of From These Beginnings, a history of Wilmington College from 1947 to 1969.  Dr. Crew passed away in April 2010.

This Award is based on the following criteria:
Service
Student Support Effort
Leadership Roles
Community Service and Outreach Efforts

Nominations may be submitted by any faculty or staff member, alumnus, student or community member by August 1, 2011. Submit the online form and a letter of recommendation illustrating how the nominee exhibits the criteria outlined above to Kim Gargiulo at gargiulok@uncw.edu or mail to:  Kim Gargiulo, Wise Alumni House, 1713 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28403, Campus Mail Box:  5906.

The award recipient will be presented with a $500 stipend at the Fall Faculty Meeting on September 1, 2011. DEADLINE FOR NOMINATION IS August 1, 2011.

FORMER SEAHAWK INSPIRES STUDENTS

Kindergarteners at nearby College Park Elementary School recently raced to good health with help and inspiration from their teacher, former UNCW swimming and diving standout Melissa Milstead.

Milstead, the Colonial Athletic Association’s Swimming and Diving Scholar Athlete-of-the-Year for two straight years in 2006 and 2007, encouraged her class to exercise by running for two years in a row.

Last year, Milstead’s first grade class ran a 26.2-mile marathon and this year, her kindergarteners have done the same. Milstead’s class of five and six-year-olds started their marathon in January and kept count of their laps around the track until they reached the distance of a full marathon.

“If you ask them, they’ll tell you ‘I’m exercising my heart,’” said Milstead of her kindergarten class. “They even ask to run laps.”

Milstead, who has run competitively in marathons and tackled triathlons, was also the recipient of the school’s Chancellor’s Cup Award for Academic Excellence following her senior year at UNCW.

“She’s having a tremendous influence on the lives of her students and enabling them to feel good about themselves,” said UNCW Head Swimming and Diving Coach Dave Allen of his former student-athlete. “She’s giving them a head start on learning a healthy lifestyle, which can carry them through the rest of their lives.”

The College Park Elementary students even helped pass out medals to this year’s 2011 Quintiles Wrightsville Beach Marathon winners. In fact, Milstead’s class received identical medals to reward them on completion of their own marathon.

Milstead was excited to get her class involved and was proud to watch her students complete their goal for the second year in a row.

“Doing this is really great because it gets them excited about exercising and having a healthy lifestyle, while promoting cooperation and support for one another.”

Submitted by UNCW Athletics Intern, Erin Hamil

Alumni Welcome Largest Class to Graduate from UNCW

As students across campus spend hours preparing for final exams, 2,100 of our Seahawks are only steps away from an achievement of a lifetime—college graduation. Four departmental commencement ceremonies, honoring more than 1,800 undergraduate students and nearly 300 graduate students, will be held on Friday and Saturday, May 13 and 14 in Trask Coliseum. For graduates that are interested in purchasing a keepsake of their ceremony, DVDs are available from the alumni office.

The Alumni Association will be starting off this exciting weekend by hosting a Commencement Celebration at the Wise Alumni House on Thursday, May 12. The graduates, along with family and friends, are invited to enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and tour the historic mansion while getting to know Alumni Association Board Members.

We are proud to welcome the Class of 2011 as they join the ranks of over 57,000 UNCW alumni and look forward to seeing each of these new faces at upcoming events!

Young Alumnae See No Limits, Open Cupcake Store and Start Local Adventure Race

What's the connection between delicious cupcakes and the addictive sport of adventure racing? Well, there's actually two- Kristen Beckmeyer '01 and Meredith Sullivan '01. The Cameron School of Business graduates opened their first cupcake store, Coastal Cupcakes in downtown Wilmington in July, 2008. Fueled by its success, a second store opened in Wrightsville Beach in May, 2009. Now, ready to take on more of the local action, the pair teamed up with fellow alumnus, Jason Wheeler '99, '03M, to form the Sandman Adventure Race.

Much like when they realized that Wilmington had a shortage of designer, quality-made cupcakes, the women saw a gap in the market and started the local "sprint" race. "Many of our friends were interested in doing an adventure race but were intimidated by the 8-12 hour races that we compete in," explained Kristen.

The pair has their share of experience on and off the field. Kristen worked for the Wilmington Hammerheads, while Meredith was on the UNCW Cross Country and Track & Field teams and held an internship with both Seahawk Athletics and the Boston Celtics.

While the two stay focused on their business, Kristen agrees with Meredith about the importance of networking. "My time at UNCW was a great foundation but the university has become an even more valuable resource for us since graduating," she stated.

They continue to be members of the Seahawk Club and enjoy watching games on campus. Staying connected with the business school, they are mentors and share their journey to becoming business owners with current students.