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N.C. Wesleyan College President Newbould Gives Founders’ Day Address, Dedicates Arboretum, Presents Awards

Rocky Mount, NC—North Carolina Wesleyan College celebrated its 45th annual Founders’ Day on Thursday, October 25. New Wesleyan president Dr. Ian Newbould was the keynote speaker for the 11 p.m. convocation in Minges Auditorium of The Dunn Center for the Performing Arts.

Addressing a crowd of students, faculty, staff, and visitors, Newbould reflected upon the history of the College and said that although Wesleyan has evolved in a number of ways, it remains tied to the life of the community.

Concerning the future of the College, Newbould observed, "Its history has yet to be written, which is to say that its future is uncharted, and therefore limitless, bound only by the imagination of its members and friends. We will grow. We will prosper. We will earn our right to be proud. Our faculty will continue to be the heart and soul of the College. Our students will continue to be our sustaining life-blood."

Newbould said it is through Wesleyan’s students that "the way of peace and understanding can be achieved. It is through a sound liberal education that understanding and respect for differences can help to overcome prejudice and hate...." Newbould quoted Thomas Jefferson, saying that a people that "expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization expects what never was and never will be." Newbould said, "As North Carolina Wesleyan approaches its second half century, as we emerge from the shadows of September 11, let us continue on the path charted by our Founders...what Jefferson himself described in 1795 as the empowering force of education: ‘Light and Liberty go together.’ ...Let this be our guide."

Following Newbould’s address, Thomas A. Betts, Jr., chairman of the board of trustees, presented B. Mayo Boddie, Sr., of Rocky Mount, with Wesleyan’s highest award for a member of the community, the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. Boddie has been a generous supporter and advocate of Wesleyan for several decades. The College’s Boddie Residence Hall, a two-story brick structure completed in 1998, is named for the Boddie family in recognition of their generosity to the College. Boddie serves on Wesleyan’s board of trustees and in 1998 received a 15-year service award from the College.

A Nash County native, Boddie is a well-known business and community leader. He is a founder of Boddie-Noell Enterprises, Inc., the largest single private franchisee company in the Hardee’s restaurant chain, and which operates more than 300 Hardee’s restaurants, in addition to other business interests. Last year, Boddie and his brother, Nick Boddie, were named Restaurateurs of the Year by the N.C. Restaurant Association.

Boddie has served on the board of directors of a variety of corporate, civic, and community organizations. While chairman of the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce in 1994, he was a founder of the Northeastern Entrepreneurial Roundtable. He is also an elder of Rocky Mount’s First Presbyterian Church.

Wesleyan’s 2001 Exemplary Teacher Award was presented to Dr. Erica Kosal, assistant professor of biology, by H. Lee Riggins, vice president of academic affairs and dean of the college. The Division of Higher Education of the United Methodist Church partners with the College to present this award.

Kosal came to Wesleyan in 1998. She received her B.S. degree from Michigan State University, and her master’s and Ph.D. from North Carolina State University. She helped form Wesleyan’s Science Club and has served as its adviser. She has chaired and served on important College committees, represented Wesleyan to business and industry, and served professional organizations. She has performed community service and has promoted environmental awareness on campus and in the community. She also serves on the board of Rocky Mount’s Association of Learning Disabled and Handicapped.

The Distinguished Staff Award was presented to Darrell S. Whitley, Director of Human Resources, by Belinda Faulkner, vice president of operations. A graduate of Barton College, Whitley came to Wesleyan in 1994, after serving in human resources in the banking industry. Faulkner praised Whitley as "a model of quiet, gentle efficiency who goes out of his way to help members of the College community with special needs and problems." Whitley was nominated for the award by his colleagues, who cited his outstanding program development, positive attitude, noteworthy achievements, and exemplary leadership.

Eight students, a faculty member, and a staff member were tapped for membership in the national leadership honor society, Omicron Delta Kappa. The invitation for membership is based on achievement in academics, athletics, campus or community service, social and religious activities, campus government, speech and the mass media, and the creative and performing arts. Those tapped were students Kwabena Boakye, Darlena Brittingham, Anasha Godley, Leah Hill, Alison Kirch, Shannon St. George, Katherine Thigpen, and Joel Yednock. Darrell Whitley, director of human resources, and Kathleen R. Wilson, assistant professor of food service and hotel management, also were tapped.

Service awards were given to trustees, faculty, and staff. Receiving five-year awards were trustees T. Carl Alderman, James R. Dickens, John D. Hartness, William C. Simpson, Jr., James M. Smith, Jr., and Roger G. Taylor. Faculty and staff were Mary Ruth Cox, professor of English; Charles S. Kirkland, maintenance; Sharron McNeil-Davis, Rocky Mount Adult Degree Program site director; Janet L. Morrison, assistant director of student life; Linda P. Stallone, vice president of development; and Jan A. Zarr, executive director of The Dunn Center for the Performing Arts.

Ten-year awards went to trustee Edward F. Hill II; Charlie T. Long, head baseball coach; and Stephen J. Sparks, director of the physical plant.

Fifteen-year awards were presented to Angela Bennett, director of alumni relations and the annual fund; Belinda Faulkner, vice president of operations; Thetis Hoch, assistant site director of the Goldsboro Adult Degree Program; and Jay Quinan, associate professor of psychology.

Paul J. deGategno, professor of English and chair of the humanities division, received a 25-year award.

The Convocation was preceded at 9 a.m. by the dedication of the Arch W. Sharer Arboretum on the College’s front lawn. The arboretum was named in honor of the popular biology professor emeritus who taught at Wesleyan for more than 30 years and served as chair of the Division of Sciences. Sharer’s interest in plants led to the development of the arboretum, loosely delineated as the area around the campus buildings and including the wooded area in front of the Braswell Administration Building.

In addition, an exhibition entitled "Pathmakers: North Carolina Native American Women of Distinction," opened at 2 p.m. with a reception in the Four Sisters Gallery of the Thomas J. Pearsall Jr. Building. The display of photographic portraits and more than 50 arts and crafts items from the women of the Haliwa-Saponi community will be on display through February 24 and is free and open to the public.

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Surviving founders of North Carolina Wesleyan College are Alice Barnes, Dr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Collins, Helyn H. Dozier, R. Graham Dozier, Mrs. J. Curtis Ellis, Mrs. J. E. Garlington, W. Carlyle Gay, Robert Gorham, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. William B. Harrison, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Hayworth, Mrs. Josh L. Horne, Margaret W. Ivey, Helen S. Makepeace, Mrs. John J. Mason, Mrs. Hubert May, Mrs. Harold D. Minges, John T. Minges, Sr., Dorothy B. Pemberton, Ruth Rabil, Mrs. Leon Russell, Mrs. W. Jasper Smith, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Stanley, and Mr. and Mrs. Ray Wilkinson.

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