Chancellor Willie J. Gilchrist Joined Together to Celebrate After the March 15 Board of Governors Meeting
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CC_2174 56pgs:Layout 1 9/11/2007 2:52 PM Page 1 ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY FALL 2007 - VOL.6.1 ChancellorChancellor WillieWillie J.J. GilchristGilchrist LaunchesLaunches newnew eraera CC_2174 56pgs:Layout 1 9/19/2007 2:29 PM Page 2 FROM THE CHANCELLOR Moving ECSU to the Next Level of Excellence! Dear Alumni and Friends: he journey toward excellence continues...a new era unfolds with a Tgreat deal of spirit and enthusiasm. I am honored to serve as Chancellor at Elizabeth City State University where faculty and staff are passionate and committed to the academic well-being and personal development of our students. We are determined to offer the best academic programs. Our best programs will attract esteemed professors and highly skilled staff to create a challenging environment for our students. During the past 12 months, I have traveled across North Carolina and as far as Africa celebrating the success of ECSU. These visits demonstrate the connection between the university, our alumni and supporters who are focused on the advances we are making. We are proud to say ECSU faculty First Lady Laura Bush congratulates Chancellor and staff successfully completed over 1 million instructional materials for Gilchrist for ECSU’s success in completing over Senegalese school children before their 2008 deadline. Their goal was to 1 million instructional materials for Senegalese provide 600,000 books and learning materials by 2008. I traveled to Senegal school children. The project was part of President with Dr. Johnny Houston to meet Mrs. Laura Bush and Senegalese educators George W. Bush’s Africa Education Initiative (AEI) to celebrate the completion of this phase of President Bush’s Africa Textbooks and Learning Materials Program. Education Initiative. ECSU is entering the second year of the pharmacy program with 37 students. We’ve also formed economic development partnerships to enhance our aviation science program. To our credit, ECSU is the only campus in the University of North Carolina system offering a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Science. This program is attentively structured to propel students into a range of new career opportunities within the aviation industry. The campus was buzzing during the summer session with over 1,100 young people.This record number not only included ECSU summer school students but numerous first time visitors such as Upward Bound students from Halifax County and the “I Have a Dream” Foundation students from Richmond, Va. ECSU collaborated with Mr. Ken Henshaw, chairman of the ECSU Foundation, to bring Richmond high school students to our campus for an intensive 10-day college preparatory program. Hats off to Professor Emeritus Bishop N. Patterson who recently made a generous contribution to the university resulting in a building naming opportunity. A ceremony will soon be held to rename Dixon Hall (Dixon-Patterson). I’m extremely grateful for your continued support as we travel on this journey....our path toward excellence. Our future is bright; our commitment to the mission of ECSU is solid! Enjoy the magazine. We look forward to seeing you at a host of public events this year at ECSU! Dr. Willie J. Gilchrist Chancellor 2 FALL 2007 • ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE CC_2174 56pgs:Layout 1 9/19/2007 9:38 AM Page 3 GIVING MATTERS 29 ECSU Foundation host 1st Founders Day Gala 30 11th Annual ECSU Foundation Golf Classic 8 31 Donation houses graduate students There is an 32 Dixon Hall re-named evolution, a change underway... COMMUNITY 37 City officials award athletes 38 Chancellor addresses Economic 6 >> chancellorcover story Development Council ALUMNI Table of Contents 40 From the President 41 Alumni Chapter News 16 FALL 2007 - VOL 6.1 Torchbearers: Outstanding alumni 43 Homecoming 2007 FEATURES ATHLETICS 6 Dr. Willie J. Gilchrist named chancellor of ECSU 46 CIAA 2007 Championship 8 U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings speaks 47 Governor Easley welcomes Vikings for 114th Spring Commencement 48 Athletic Honors 11 Spring Arts Festival 50 ECSU coaches host youth 12 National Park Service Markers summer camps 13 Richmond High School students selected for summer internships 14 Administrative appointments BRIEFS 15 Founders Day 16 UNC Board of Governors Award 46 Ella Fitzgerald commemorative stamp unveiled 17 ECSU applauds Departmental Teachers of the Year 19 Social Work and Music Programs accredited STUDENT NEWS 24 Honors Convocation 2007 25 Business students selected for scholarships 27 ECSU students receive summer internships 47 11 ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE • FALL 2007 3 CC_2174 56pgs:Layout 1 9/12/2007 9:28 AM Page 4 Alumni and Friends support our students We extend our sincerest gratitude for every generous gift made by alumni donors and friends of the university. Your support has made it possible for Elizabeth City State University to: • Fund student scholarships and financial aid • Strengthen the University’s endowment • Explore and launch new academic programs • Enrich student activities and involvement Thank you for helping to preserve ECSU’s legacy for future generations. Make your gift to the Elizabeth City State University Foundation today. Division of Institutional Advancement P.O. Box 1467 • Elizabeth City, NC 27906 252.335.3225 e-mail: [email protected] CC_2174 56pgs:Layout 1 9/19/2007 11:59 AM Page 5 The Publication of Elizabeth City State University FALL 2007 - VOL 6.1 Board of Trustees INTERIM VICE CHANCELLOR Walter C. Davenport, Chair 2009 Institutional Advancement Earl M. Brown 2009 Ms. Patricia Gibbs Norma James 2011 Anthony A. Lewis 2009 MANAGING EDITOR Norman L. Mebane, Jr. 2007 Rhonda M. Hayes Harold E. Mitchell 2007 Regina W. Peele 2007 EDITOR Henry B. Pickett, Jr., Secretary 2009 Kesha Williams Abdul Sm Rasheed 2011 Calvin R. Worsley 2007 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ex Officio Member LaTanya Afolayan Kristynna Oliver, SGA President 2008 Dr. Charles Cherry Simone Cooper Dr. Saundra Copeland Elizabeth City State University Dr. Jennifer Keane-Dawes Foundation Board of Directors Tyron Eason Felicia Felton Rev. Ricky Banks Mr. Gerry McCants April Emory Col. Randy Bell (Ret.) Ms. Nancy Bailey Muller Ms. Donnice Brown Mr. Frank Owens Vandalyn M. Ray Dr. Charles Cherry Mr. Billie J. Reid Gwendolyn Sanders Mr. Thomas Evans Mrs. Cynthia S. Rodgers Dr. Cynthia Warrick Dr. Willie J. Gilchrist (Chancellor) Mrs. Gloria Smith Donna James-Whidbee Mr. Kenneth P. Henshaw Mr. Mitchell St. Clair Attorney Clyde Holt, III Mr. David Twiddy PROOFREADER Mrs. Margaret M. Jones Mr. Fred L. Yates Margaret Fisher Mr. Willis Langley Mr. Kennis Wilkins PHOTOGRAPHERS Kesha Williams Richard T. Harvey To submit information for the ECSU Magazine, e-mail, Cover photo by fax, or send drafted articles to the address listed below; Richard Harvey and or call the office at 252.335.3594. All items submitted will Kesha Williams be edited. Elizabeth City State University is committed to equality of educational opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, or disability. ON THE COVER ECSU Magazine is published bi-annually by the Office of University Relations & Marketing Dr. Willie J. Gilchrist, Chancellor Campus Box 778 ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY 1704 Weeksville Road Elizabeth City, NC 27909 252.335.3594 Fax: 252.335.3769 E-mail: [email protected] www.ecsu.edu ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE • FALL 2007 5 CC_2174 56pgs:Layout 1 9/19/2007 9:53 AM Page 6 chancellorcover story I have made myself available to our region because I strongly believe Chancellor Gilchrist in Elizabeth City State University... Launches new era t the March 15 meeting of the University of education, and entrepreneurial programs available to citi- North Carolina Board of Governors, UNC Presi- zens of Elizabeth City and the surrounding area. We have Adent Erskine Bowles announced the selection of one of the best recording studios that can be Dr. Willie J. Gilchrist as ECSU’s ninth Chief Executive Offi- supported by radio and TV stations in terms of a future cer. The new Chancellor, surrounded by excited family marketing tool,” Dr. Gilchrist said. members, faculty, staff and colleagues, rose to the podium The future is within sight as construction crews com- vowing to strengthen the university and make it more re- plete renovations of Lane Hall, and plans for the preserva- sourceful. Since that day, he’s walked a brisk pace making tion of Symera Hall unfold. ECSU, he says, is a diamond in good on those promises. the rough, a jewel that must be polished to make it His travel log includes a historical celebration in Jarvis- even better. burg, NC; a graduation ceremony in Upper Marlboro, MD, “I want to be part of that process, but we must con- a ceremony at a Richmond, Va elementary school, and nu- tinue making the university accessible and affordable. merous regional church celebrations and civic club meet- While we boast a retention rate in the 70th percentile, I ings. Chancellor Gilchrist has used speaking engagements want to boast a percentile of 90 to 100 percent. I want to promote the virtues of this 116-year-old public institu- our university to be so appealing that students not only tion. With 33 years of experience as a public school want to come here, but stay here.” teacher and administrator to his credit, Chancellor Chancellor Gilchrist can readily testify to the long- Gilchrist realizes that potential students and university term impression a university can make on it students. He supporters come from all walks of life. arrived as a student from New York late in the 1960s and “I have made myself available to our region because I graduated in 1973. He fondly recalls buildings from that strongly believe in Elizabeth City State University; strongly decade that are now staples of the campus. There were believe this university will increase in students.