October 19, 1998

Rocky Mount, NC - North Carolina Wesleyan College will celebrate its 42 years of service to the City and Region with an annual Founders’ Day Convocation, 11:00 a.m., Thursday, October 22, in the Dunn Center for the Performing Arts. The event is open to the public.

Keynote speaker for the event will be Bishop Marion Edwards, Resident Bishop of the Raleigh Area of the United Methodist Church. His remarks will continue a year-long discussion taking place at the College about the meaning and significance of Wesleyan’s relationship with the United Methodist Church.

The Convocation, one of the highlights of the fall semester, follows academic tradition with a full procession by members of the faculty in colorful regalia. Among the many awards presented by the College during the ceremony is the announcement of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, the College’s highest that is given to a citizen of the community for contributions to the College and the region. Founders of the College, many of whom are still living, are recognized, along with annual awards presented to staff and faculty members. In addition, new members of Omicron Delta Kappa, national honorary society, will be tapped. These students, faculty, and staff from the College are recognized for their outstanding scholarship and leadership qualities.

The New Wesleyan Jazz Ensemble and both the Wesleyan Choir and the Wesleyan Gospel Choir will perform for the event.

A special highlight of this year's Founders' Day is the recognition of Thomas J. Pearsall, Jr. and his family. Mr. Pearsall, who resides in New York City, is a businessman and patron of the arts. After a luncheon honoring the founders, trustees, bishop, and award recipients, the Thomas J. Pearsall, Jr. Building will be dedicated. The building features the Four Sisters Gallery, for the first time offering permanent display for the Robert Lynch Collection. In addition, the building houses NC Wesleyan's state-of-the-art enrollment management office. Members of the Pearsall family will attend the dedication, along with family members of some of the artists represented in the Lynch Collection. Included will be members of the Lynch family, Izetta Lynch, mother of Robert Lynch; and Rhonda McFarland, his sister. Also attending will be Eloise Stevenson (whose husband was an artist), Eula Alexander and Pauline Nicholson, outsider artists.

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