News

WILSON, N.C. — Barton College will welcome poet David Rigsbee for the upcoming Victor R. Small Writers Series this spring semester. The program is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 7:30 p.m., and will be held in The Sam and Marjorie Ragan Writing Center on campus. This event is open to the public at no charge, and the community is invited to attend.

Rigsbee is the author of 18 books and chapbooks, including seven previous full-length collections of poems. His latest books, “The Red Tower: New & Selected Poems” and “The Pilot House,” a Black River Poetry Prize Chapbook, were published in 2010. In addition to his poems, he has also published critical works on Carolyn Kizer and Joseph Brodsky, whom he also translated. He has co-edited two anthologies, including “Invited Guest: An Anthology of Twentieth Century Southern Poetry,” a “notable book” selection of the American Library Association and the American Association of University Professors and featured on C-Span “Booknotes.”

His work has appeared in “The American Poetry Review,” “The Georgia Review,” “The Iowa Review,” “The New Yorker,” “The Iowa Review,” “The Ohio Review,” “Poetry,” “Prairie Schooner,” “The Sewanee Review,” “The Southern Review,”and many others. Winner of the Pound Prize and the Vachel Lindsay Award, he has also been recipient of fellowships and awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, The Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, The Virginia Commission on the Arts, The Djerassi Foundation, and the Academy of American Poets. He is 2010 winner of the Sam Ragan Award for contribution to the arts in North Carolina. Rigsbee is currently contributing editor for The Cortland Review.

This program is sponsored by the Department of English and Modern Languages.  For additional information, please contact Dr. Jim Clark, chair of the Department of English and Modern Languages and the Elizabeth H. Jordan Endowed Chair for Southern Literature, at 252-399-6450 or email: jclark@barton.edu.

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Questions?  Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.

WILSON, N.C. — Author and comedic performer Jane Borden will be on the Barton College campus for a book signing in the Willis N. Hackney Library on Thursday, Feb. 16, from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m.  Sponsored and hosted by the Barton College Friends of Hackney Library, the book-signing event will include light refreshments and an opportunity to visit with the author. This program is open to the public at no charge, and the community is invited to attend.

Borden will be signing copies of her first book, “I Totally Meant to Do That,” a memoir in essays. Copies will be available for purchase during the book signing.

A native of Greensboro and an alumna of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Borden made the move from North Carolina to New York City in 1999. Her memoir, which among other things features her experiences as a Southern transplant to New York, has been hailed by “Garden and Gun” as “a must-read for displaced Southerners everywhere.” “Vanity Fair” called the book “affectionate” and “New York Magazine” deemed it “lowbrow-brilliant.” “The Brooklyn Paper” dubbed Borden “the new ‘It’ girl.” In the book, Borden contrasts her Southern debutante upbringing with her acquired Brooklyn-hipster persona.

Her humorous writing has also appeared in “The New York Times Magazine” and “Modern Bride,” in two anthologies, and on “Saturday Night Live.” As a comedian, she’s appeared on “Comedy Central” and “VH1,” and she performs regularly at storytelling and stand-up shows, and in festivals.

Borden was a staff editor at “Time Out New York” for seven years, predominantly covering comedy and theater, and health and wellness. She appeared regularly on local morning news programs (NBC, Fox, CW) as a guest expert. In addition, she has interviewed a variety of celebrities, including Ricky Gervais, Christopher Guest, and Garrison Keillor, among many others. She now resides with her husband in Sewanee, Tenn.

For additional information about the book signing, contact Cynthia Collins, at 252-399-6503 or email: cecollins@barton.edu.

This event is sponsored in part by BB&T.

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Questions?  Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.

WILSON, N.C. — Celebrate Valentine’s Day in gala fashion with the Barton College/Wilson Symphony Orchestra on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at the twenty-first annual “Love the Symphony.” A much-anticipated annual event, this season’s “Love the Symphony” concert will feature former Wilsonian, pianist Joel A. Martin, the creator and trademark owner of Jazzical®, a marriage of classical and jazz.

The event will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by the concert at 7 p.m. A candlelight buffet dinner will immediately follow the program at 8 p.m. Tickets are $60 per person, and reservations may be made by calling Laura Ashley Lamm at 252-399-6309. Please note that tables for eight are available by reservation. The reservation deadline is Wednesday, Feb. 8. No tickets will be mailed.

An award-winning pianist, Martin has performed his innovative Jazzical compositions as well as jazz and classical pieces both domestically and abroad, including Paris, London, Finland, Germany, Switzerland and Japan, Russia and Kyrgyzstan.

Martin has performed as soloist with the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, and Delaware Symphony; the Springfield Symphony (Mass.) and Hartford Symphony Orchestras premiering Jazzical: Dueling Orchestras. He was the youngest competitor in the 1985 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.

He has been featured most recently in a concert documentary on WCNY-PBS in Syracuse N.Y., on Black Entertainment Television's BET on Jazz, NBC, in feature print articles published by  “Musical America,” “Keyboard Classics,” and “The New York Times.”

As a collaborator, Martin has written music for and toured with famed operatic singers Kathleen Battle and Jessye Norman, as well as the Grammy Award winning Brooklyn Youth Chorus. He spent almost a decade as music director for the Cab Calloway Orchestra and the Boys Choir of Harlem. And, for the last five years, Martin was the Gold Medal pianist/arranger for the American Traditions Vocal Competition in Savannah, Ga. He currently serves as ATC’s Artistic Director.

His latest CD, “Jazzical: Spirit!” is the subject of a 50-city Jazzical Spirit Tour of Churches in 2011-2012. Martin is also working on a PBS high-definition special as well as a CD for his latest innovation, the Jazzical Symphony Orchestra.

Martin will perform six of his arrangements and compositions with the Barton College/Wilson Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra will also present a tribute to the Mantovani Orchestra, whose recordings have delighted millions for generations. The tribute includes “Andalucia” (The Breeze and I) by Ernesto Lecuona, “La Vie En Rose” from Edith Piaf, and “A Scottish Rhapsody” by Ronald Binge.

As this distinguished event’s popularity continues to grow with an ever-increasing number of guest reservations each year, Wilson Gymnasium on the Barton campus provides a spacious and elegantly transformed environment to provide the perfect backdrop for sweethearts and friends to enjoy delightful classics performed by the orchestra.

The “Love the Symphony” evening is sponsored by BB&T Wealth Management. Be sure to mark your calendars for this truly festive occasion.

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Questions?  Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.

WILSON, N.C. — Barton College named 35 students to the President’s List and 248 students to the Dean’s List for fall semester 2011. President’s List students compiled a perfect 4.0 grade point average; Dean’s List students achieved a grade point average of 3.3 or better on a four-point scale.

PRESIDENT'S LIST BY HOMETOWN:

Beloeil, Canada — Pier-Alexandre Desilets.

Cannock, Staffordshire, England — Richard James Worthy.

Clayton — Dustin Keeton.

Durham — Jessica Brooke Higgs.

Elm City — Matthew Dwight Farmer, Cassandra Lee Gaston, Andrew Tyler Jenkins, and John L. Nicholson.

Fogelsville, Pa. — Ashley Lauren Batista.

Goldsboro — Melissa Ashley Hall.

Hampstead — Hilary Paige Peterson.

La Grange — Tatanesha Lashae Graham.

Linesville, Pa. — Lindsay Powell Toth.

New Bern — Holly Carol Lafond.

Pine Level — Phillip Cameron Jones.

Rocky Mount — Christopher Allan Mizelle.

Selma — Jamie Brittan Kistler.

Snow Hill — Derek Kenton Hamm.

Stantonsburg — Lindsey Nichole Harper.

Tampa, Fla. — Brianna Lashae Thomas.

Wake Forest — Miranda Riley McCarver.

Wilson — Adam A. Barr, Elizabeth Katelyn Barr, Alan Wesley Davis, Hope Marie Dixon, Iliana Maritza Guox, Bentley Howard Massey, Kevin Ronnie Murray, Rosario Ochoa, Tracey Renee Pugh, Tyler Blake Stallings, and Joshua Rashaud Williams.

Winterville — George Black.

Zebulon — Jenna Adrian Upchurch and Lizy Velazquez.

DEAN'S LIST BY HOMETOWN:

Ahoskie — Taylor Nicole Myers.

Angier — Shannon Darby Boney.

Annapolis, Md. — Kristina Renee Stark.

Anniston, Ala. — Minter Coleman Newman.

Apex — Brennan M O'Connor, Evan Cooper Oliver, and Joseph Thomas Virant.

Asheville — David John Koppenheffer.

Auckland, New Zealand — Mika Patricia Deane.

Bailey — Sandra Isela Medina.

Bedford, Va. — Rachel Denison Moore.

Belmont, N.Y. — Andrew Evans.

Benson — Chrystal Bottoms Trammell.

Bogota, Columbia — Nicolas Fonseca and Jorge A Pradilla.

Boucherville, Canada — Antoine Massicotte.

Bradenton, Fla. — Dante Gasparello De B De Luca.

Santana de Parnaiba, São Paulo, Brazil — Leandro Carvalho Peron.

Browns Summit — Olivia Leigh Brown.

Burlington — Jasmine A Albright and Alexandra Elizabeth Minton.

Callicoon, N.Y. — Ashley Nicole Mahoney.

Cary — Kaitlyn Taylor Falkner and Holly Olivia Meehan.

Castalia — Kendra Tracey Jones and Kaitlin Gray Lee.

Charlotte — David Michael Boyce, Jr., Kia Simone Funderburk, Christopher Lee Rawlings, and Evan Jarrett Shelton.

Clayton — Jennifer Lynn Adams, Abbygale Diann Award, Christina Leigh Chinnis, Ashley Rae Elrod, and Naomi Ruth Miller.

Clemmons — Kyle Benjamin Duck.

Clinton — Randall Tyler Malpass.

Colonial Heights, Va. — Molly Katherine Thompson.

Dornsife, Pa. — Schylar Joanna Cook.

Dunn — Thomas Lee Webb.

Durham — Jorge Abraham Aguilera, Megan Kay Bel, Carrie Christine Fulton, Kathryn Margaret Lecky, Ashley Maamari, and Ashlee Moody.

East Lyme, Conn. — Timothy Burton Shaw.

East Northport, N.Y. — Tanner James Medina.

Elm City — Jessica L. Hutto and Navpreet S Pooni.

Falkland — Stephen D. Applewhite.

Farmville — Elizabeth C. Coble and Veronica Renea Horne.

Fayetteville — Collins W. Werunga.

Folsom, Calif. — Kayla Nicole Kruger.

Fort Thomas, Ky. — Brian Paul Riesenberg.

Four Oaks — Melissa Brooke Mclamb and Elijah Bowman Stroud.

Franklinton — Elaine Lavette Morgan and Lauren Ashlee Wilder.

Freeport, Grand Bahama Island — Andre Edwin Turnquest.

Fuquay-Varina — Emily Marie Humphreys and Jonathon Michael Rembecki.

Garner — Krystin Grace Moore.

Germantown, Md. — Sammy Kibet Serem.

Goldsboro — Lindsey P. Frederick, Emily Anne Jordan, Kaitlyn Anne Kosuda, Emily Ann Matthews, Lillian Kathleen Sarvey, and Melinda Beth Vinyard.

Greensboro — Brittany Nichole Watson.

Greenville — Dalton Jeremiah Knight, Keosmond Micole Suggs, and Amanda Lea Weathington.

Grifton — Kevin Michael Stotesbury.

Hamburg, N.J. — Mary C. Boeren.

Havelock — Devone Olivia Massey.

Henderson — Amber Faye Gupton and Meredith Nicole Thompson.

Hertford — Candice Leigh Nixon.

Hickory — Emily Nicole Leagon.

Hillsborough — Heather Stephenson Glenn, Brittany Gayle Sykes, and Kelli Anne Williams.

Hobbsville — Kinnan Ellison Stallings.

Holly Ridge — Corinna Kaye Morton.

Holly Springs — Andy Navaro Gonzalez.

Horseheads, N.Y. — Sarah Michelle Howe.

Hurdle Mills — Rachel Lauren Campbell.

Hyattsville, Md. — Samantha T. Colein.

Jacksonville — Darin Trent Cloninger II.

Jamesville — Cathryn A Modlin, Angel Renee Pearsall, and Charmayne Quanshai Simpson.

Kenly — Courtney Elaine Jernigan and Matthew David Lemmons.

Kinston — Sarah Elizabeth Casey.

Knightdale — Nichelle Cerina Edwards, Rebecca Michelle Farrington, and Latisha Vincent Watley.

LaGrange — Alex Grant Brann.

Las Vegas, Nev. — Marisa Castro Denton.

Liberty — Casey Elizabeth Moore.

Littleton — Andrew Charles Atkinson.

Louisburg — Kristina T. Abarca, Kathleen House Clark, and Kimberly Jo Moss.

Lucama — Kelvin Devon Miller.

Macedonia, Ohio — Mariah Niché White.

Manassas, Va. — Brittany Rene Bobbitt.

Manteo — Hannah Nicole Meekins.

Matthews — Hampton Craig Short.

Middleburg — Keyona Denise Kelly.

Morehead City — Eric Turner LaRoque.

Mount Airy, Md. — Anna Jean Tressler.

Moyock — Caitlin Elise Davis.

Mt. Olive — Melanie Chandelle Christensen-Lubinsky.

Nashville — Taylor Michelle Vick.

New Bern — Lauren Elizabeth Aster, Katelyn Marie Jarman, and Derek James Richey, Jr.

Newport — Schyler Nicole Travis.

North Wilkesboro — Leslie Elise Adams.

Olivia — Anna Korin Burby.

Ontario, Calif. — Laura Lee Bredehoft.

Oxford — Holly Samantha Clayton.

Parkton — Janae Denise Jackson.

Pasadena, Md. — Kaitlyn B. Phelps

Pikeville — Kechia Arnette Roundtree and Patrick Russell Schultze.

Pittsburgh, Pa. — Michael Vincent Delsardo.

Princeton — Ryan Taylor Daughtry and Alyssa Jordan Spell.

Raleigh — Krishna Satish Chokshi, Joseph Andrew Cobb, Kristin Riah Flederbach, Stacie Dyann Jones, Herman Alexander Leatherman, Eboné Danielle Rogers, Matthew Albert Vollmer, Rio De Janeiro, and Erik Pajunk.

Roanoke Rapids — Megan Marie Abernathy and Chelsea Lauren Carter.

Robersonville — Jessica Leigh Elks.

Rochester, N.Y. — Joya Domineque Lewis.

Rockville, Md. — Jocelyn Marie Pickering.

Rocky Mount — Matthew Franklin Berry, John Robert Bouldin III, Miranda Rae Bradley, Ashley Dequette Cherry, Catherine M. Cobb, Erin Leigh Dempsey, Jamie Marie Morris, Jordan Channing Moss, Lori Michelle Pridgen, and Morgan Elizabeth Reason.

Roxobel — Leslie Catherine Briley.

Sandy Ridge — Austin Lee Edmonds.

Sanford — Olinda C Oliveira.

Scotland Neck — Meagan Michele Lilley.

Seagrove — Linsey Meka Hoover.

Sedley, Va. — Faith Hunter Hewett.

Selma — Reneé Nicole Allen, Shekeya Janika Gipson, Caitlyn Grey Hines, Allison Brooke Peedin, and Heather Pearl Wolfe.

Sharpsburg — John Henry Coleman IV.

Sims — Amy Bowling Bunn, Leah Christian Farmer, Lily Alyson Flowers, Victoria Faith High, and Samantha Nichols.

Smithfield — Tara Parker Myers and Brittany Renee Poole.

Snow Hill — Ashleigh Elizabeth Chas and Peoria Shonta Wade.

Socorro, Brazil — Caroline Fischer.

Spring Hope — Megan Yvonne Bailey.

Spring Lake — Malcolm Xavier Aabid.

Stantonsburg — Chelsea Renee Bottoms, Elizabeth Estelle Lamke, and Renee Joyner Moore.

Statesville — Joni Melissa Henderson.

Tarboro — Robert Michael Cox, Jr., Jasmine Michelle Dancy, and George Allen Williams, Jr.

Tucson, Ariz. — Michael K. Singleton, M.D.

Vacaville, Calif. — Brittney Alexandria Zine.

Virginia Beach, Va. — Kasey Lynn Byzewski.

Wake Forest — Ruth Arlene Gower and Kevin Anthony Toth.

Walstonburg — Amanda Rae Strickland.

Wendell — Garrett Michael Fincher and Emily Bevin Hall.

Westminster, Md. — Corey Alexander White.

Williamston — Meagan Lee Warren.

Willow Springs — Robert Harrison Ward.

Wilmington — Kandice Suzanne Barbour, Isabella Miranda Gano, and Jonathan Isaac Roehrs.

Wilson — Katherine Cahoon Alphin, Michael Kevin Andrews, Paxton Louis Barnes, Meredith Nicole Batten, Brittney Tyson Bobbitt, William Bennett Bradley, Jr., Jamie Elizabeth Council, Kyle Frederick Cox, Erica Page Dees, Matthew Owen Flint, Jasmine Sherrelle Graham, Cesar B. Grobel, Jacob Tyler Hackney, Ashley Danielle Johnson, Shannon K. Larkin, Sydney Jordan Lee, Andrew Robert Maddox, Ashley Nicole Moss, Roy W. O'Hanlon, Stephanie R. Owens, Jackson Hunter Pardue, Amanda Christina Parrish, Michelle Lee Perez, Sean Christopher Sandwick, Cierra C. Sharpe, Carol Jean Spoores, Clayton Matthew Stakes, Jennifer Rose Stancil, Erin Michele Starling, Jonathan Caleb Strother, Raishael Tanner, Nancy Dempsey Thompson, Sara Elizabeth Treadwell, Stacy Renee Wade, Elizabeth Lauren Webb, Rebekah Jeannette Wilber, Katie Taylor Wilkinson, Lisa Chantell Williams, and Michael Phillip Williams.

Windsor — Kendall Elaine Street.

Winston-Salem — Jamie Devon Galasso.

Winterville — Shalake Bershonah Edwards.

Zebulon — Anna Elizabeth-Lee Debnam.

Zion, Ill. — Mark Cox.

Mexico City, Mexico — Diego Salvador Salinas.

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Questions?  Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu

WILSON, N.C. — Barton College will welcome students from across the state to celebrate their creativity at the annual Scholastic Art Awards ceremony scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 29. This marks the 34th year that Barton College has served as host and regional sponsor for the National Scholastic Art Awards for the Eastern/Central North Carolina Region. The featured speaker for the awards ceremony is John W. Coffey, Deputy Director for Art and Curator of American and Modern Art for the North Carolina Museum of Art.

Following an ice cream social for Gold Key awardees and their families in Wilson Gymnasium on the Barton campus at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, there will be an awards presentation for the award recipients beginning at 2 p.m. The ceremony is open to student Gold Key Award recipients, their families, and North Carolina arts teachers and principals. The Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition will be available for public viewing in the Barton Art Galleries beginning Jan. 30.

A native of Raleigh, Coffey joined the staff of the North Carolina Museum of Art in 1988. As Curator of American and Modern Art, he has overseen the development of the NCMA’s collections of American and modern art, as well as the Museum’s smaller collection of Jewish ceremonial art. Coffey has organized numerous temporary exhibitions, including “Making Faces: Self-Portraits by Alex Katz” (1990), “Louis Rémy Mignot: A Southern Painter Abroad” (1996), and “Color, Myth, and Music: Stanton Macdonald-Wright and Synchromism” (2001). (The Mignot and Macdonald-Wright exhibitions were supported by grants from the Henry Luce Foundation and traveled to major national venues.)  From 1994-1997, Coffey served as the statewide director of the Israel/North Carolina Cultural Exchange. He is the staff liaison to the Friends of the Judaic Art Gallery.

In addition to his work as a curator, Coffey now serves as Deputy Director for Art with primary responsibility for the Curatorial, Conservation, and Registration Departments, and the Art Reference Library. He also serves as an adjunct associate professor of art at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Coffey received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and art history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1976) and a Master of Arts degree from the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art (1978). Prior to joining the North Carolina Museum of Art, he served as acting director of the Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown, Mass. (1979-80); and curator of collections of the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, Brunswick, Maine (1980-88).

Entries from all 50 states are submitted for competition in the nationally renowned Scholastic Art Awards program. The program, created for middle and high school students, is designed to encourage student achievement, to recognize and applaud our fine art teachers and to emphasize the importance of the visual arts in the school curriculum. Barton College is proud to host the Eastern/Central Regional District in North Carolina, representing 62 counties from the piedmont to the coast.

Contributors to the program include the Visual Arts Department of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, the Wilson Chamber of Commerce, Stan Corbett of Corbett Reproductions, Framer’s Alley of Elm City, Blick Art Materials, Jerry’s Artarama, and the Offices of Admissions and Institutional Advancement at Barton College.

Dr. Norval C. Kneten, president of Barton College, and Mark F. Gordon, director of The Eastern/Central North Carolina Region of The Scholastic Art Awards Program, will bring brief remarks during the program. Lisa H. Peszko of the Scholastic Art Awards Regional Teacher Advisory Committee, will present special awards to student recipients.

The Scholastic Art Awards entries for the Eastern/Central North Carolina Region are received at Barton College during the first week of January. This year, there were 2,142 artwork entries and an additional 76 portfolios from 130 schools presented for judging. Students, through their teachers, submitted artwork in a variety of categories, including: architecture, comic art, ceramics & glass, digital art, product design, drawing, fashion, film & animation, jewelry, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, video games, art portfolio, and photography portfolio. Jurors are charged to select entries that they consider especially worthy of recognition.

The Eastern/Central North Carolina Region has an advisory committee composed of eleven art teachers. This year, the exhibition selection jury was composed of retired teachers, college professors, museum educators, and professional artists.

Two hundred and fourteen artworks were selected as Gold Key Awards for the exhibition as well as nine portfolios. Digital images of these finalist art works will be sent to New York City for judging against other regional winners for the national exhibition held in June at the Corcoran Gallery, Washington, D.C. Also sent to New York will be the works of five American Vision Award (Best of Show) nominees, including: Dana Di Gioia, grade 12, Eugene Ashley High School; Ming Wong, grade 12, Southeast Raleigh High School; Allison Tate, grade 12, Timberlyne Day School; Meredith Miller, grade 11, Western Alamance High School; and Victor Foster, grade 12, White Oak High School.

There also were 348 Silver Key Awards and 362 Honorable Mention Awards chosen from the individual entries submitted. A list of award recipients and images of their artwork is available on the Barton Art Galleries’ web site at http://www.barton.edu/galleries/scholastics.htm.

From the Gold Key artworks, the jury also selected works for additional regional awards to be presented at the ceremony including the Barton College Award to: Katie Williamson, grade 12, Eugene Ashley High School; “The Wilson Times” Award to Samantha Lewis, grade 11, Riverside High School; the North Carolina Art Education Association Award to Rachel Dutcher, grade 8, Zebulon G.T. Magnet Middle School; the Governor’s Student Achievement Award to Meredith Miller, grade 11, Western Alamance High School; the Emerging Vision Award to Victoria Newberry, grade 8, Arendell Parrott Academy; Jurors’ Choice Portfolio to Sarah Parker, grade 12, Currituck County High School; and the Edward C. Brown Award, which honors the long-time director of the Barton Scholastics Program, to Joshua O’Taylor, grade 11, William G. Enloe High School.

Blick Art Materials donated a $200 merchandise voucher for classroom materials, given to Judy Johnson of Arendell Parott Academy, teacher of the Emerging Vision Award recipient. Jerry’s Artarama in Raleigh donated a $200 gift certificate awarded to Sarah Parker, recipient of the Jurors’ Choice Portfolio Award.

The exhibition will run from Jan. 30 – Feb. 23 in the Barton Art Galleries located in Case Art Building. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and by special appointment. For additional information, please contact Mark Gordon, at 252-399-6474 or the Barton Art Galleries at 252-399-6477.

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Questions?  Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.

WILSON, N.C. — Barton College’s School of Education has announced that it is currently accepting applications for a new cohort of students seeking the Master of Education degree in Elementary Education.

An information session for interested students will be held on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 9 a.m. in The Sam and Marjorie Ragan Writing Center.  Those interested should register online for the information session at www.barton.edu/gradstudy.

Questions should be directed to Dr. Ann Carper, Program Director, at 252-399-6588 or email: acarper@barton.edu; or Diane Chambers at 252-399-6982 or email: dchamber@barton.edu.

Admission requirements for the M.Ed. program include:

• Recommended GPA of 3.0 for undergraduate work, although a minimum 2.75 GPA will be considered,

• Official transcript from the accredited college or university that awarded the applicant’s undergraduate degree,

• Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) taken within the last five years,

• Minimum of one year of teaching experience,

• A recognized teaching license in elementary education,

• Personal statement of interest in the program,

• A recommendation form, completed by the applicant’s current employer or administrator,

• Interview with director of the M.Ed. program, if requested by the director,

• Completed online application with a non-refundable $50 fee,

• and, if the applicant is an international student, a score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language is required unless English is the native language. (English translations of transcripts and explanations of grading systems are required.)

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Questions?  Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.

WILSON, N.C. — Kelly M. Thompson, Ed.D., vice president for external relations at Barton College, was recently named a recipient of the 2011 Women Extraordinaire Award by North Carolina’s Triangle-based “Business Leader” magazine. Dr. Thompson and other 2011 regional business and civic leaders were recently honored at the Women Extraordinaire Awards Luncheon held at Brier Creek Country Club in Raleigh.

Each year, “Business Leader” honors the top women leaders of the South through its Women Extraordinaire awards. Award winners are recognized as influential leaders within their companies or organizations, with an extraordinary impact on its economic success and forward-thinking strategies.

Criteria for nomination of this award included recognition as an influential leader within one’s company or business, with an extraordinary impact on its economic success and forward-thinking strategies, active involvement in the professional organizations and associations related to one’s industry, active involvement in one’s community by utilizing skills and/or time to promote philanthropic organizations or causes, and recognition as a mentor and role model for other women in one’s industry.

“I am very appreciative of this recognition, and I am pleased that Barton College was included among a number of influential firms and organizations represented at the awards ceremony,” shared Dr. Thompson.  “It is humbling to serve as a mentor and role model for others, especially aspiring women leaders, and I take that responsibility very seriously.

“I have been fortunate to have three significant mentors during my career: Dr. Norval C. Kneten, president of Barton College; Dr. Jim Scannell, CEO of Scannell and Kurz, Inc.; and Dr. Linda Tafel, professor at National-Louis University,” she continued.  “Norval has taught me the importance of creating a shared vision for the future and working patiently and persistently toward that goal.  Jim has taught me to love data, to rely on data, and to question data.  Linda has taught me to be grateful for every day as she battles a rare form of cancer with grace and dignity.”

Dr. Thompson added that she seeks to hire employees who are passionate about the mission and core values of the College. She looks for team members who will work hard, have a good sense of humor, and will come to work every day with a positive attitude.

Employed with Barton College since May 2007, Dr. Thompson serves as chief enrollment and advancement officer for the College. Her responsibilities include supervision of admissions, financial aid, institutional advancement, alumni and parent relations, public relations, publications, and web services.  In addition to serving as a member of the President’s Senior Cabinet, Dr. Thompson also leads the College’s Marketing and Recruitment Initiatives Team as well as the Board of Trustees’ Growth and Marketing Task Force.

Among her accomplishments at Barton, Dr. Thompson oversaw the College’s marketing research process and led the implementation of the “Inspiring Futures” brand for Barton.  She continues to oversee a comprehensive integrated marketing strategy that has resulted in increased private and public sector funding and new student enrollment.

A native of Chicago, Ill., Dr. Thompson completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre at the University of Illinois in Champaign, and earned a Master of Arts degree in Communications and Theatre at the University of Illinois in Chicago.  She completed a C.A. S. in Educational Leadership at National-Louis University in Chicago and earned an Ed.D. in Higher Education at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Prior to joining the Barton administration, Dr. Thompson served as group vice president for enrollment and marketing at Davenport University in Grand Rapids, Mich.  Other professional appointments have included vice president for enrollment management at National-Louis University in Chicago, and Executive Director-Wisconsin Campus in Milwaukee for National-Louis University.  She also served in director roles at National-Louis University for Chicagoland Recruitment, National College of Education Graduate Enrollment, and Budget and Administrative Services.

Within the community, she serves on the Pedestrian Safety Initiative and the Wilson 20/20 Advisory Board, and is a member of the Wilson All American Kiwanis Club.

Her professional memberships include the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, Carolinas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, National Association of College Admissions Counseling, and the American Marketing Association.

Dr. Thompson is married to Clarke Schneider, Ph.D. They make their home in Wilson.

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Questions?  Contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.

WILSON, N.C. — Is the Barton Experience for you? Confirm it with a visit to Barton’s campus for our next Open House for First-Year Prospective Students scheduled on Saturday, January 28.

An Open House visit at Barton is a great opportunity to get a full frame picture of what college life is all about — from meeting with campus staff and current students to discussing myriad choices of majors with faculty.  You’ll have a chance to pose those questions that you’ve been dying to ask currently enrolled students during the Open Panel discussion, and you’ll get to check out the campus during the student-led tour as well as the campus cuisine during lunch in Hamlin Dining Hall.  And, if you’re into athletics, then athletics admissions coordinator Matt Akins will have all the details you’ll need to move forward with plans for those team tryouts for Barton’s 16 NCAA DII athletic programs.

What’s the Barton Experience?  In a nutshell, the foundation of the Barton Experience is the College’s promise to provide Barton students with the tools and support to maximize their potential, both in the classroom and beyond. With a focus on critical thinking, complex reasoning, and writing, Barton’s professors introduce subjects with fresh perspectives, provide hands-on experiences for students that merge learning with doing, and engage classes through in-depth discussions that take students to a higher level of understanding. The result is an annual class of graduates who have developed a vision of competing successfully across the country and abroad because of their Barton Experience. Barton College is “inspiring futures” by “turning beliefs into accomplishments.”

Need more information about the Barton Experience or Open Houses, or perhaps details about planning a private visit to campus?  Just call Angela Zimmerman, campus guest coordinator, at 800.345.4973 or 252.399.6318, or email her at aczimmerman@barton.edu.  She can tailor the Barton visit for your specific interests!

Well, what are you waiting for?  We can’t wait to meet you.  See you on campus soon!

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WILSON, N.C. — Barton’s newest Bulldogs will join the pack when they arrive on campus for the Spring 2012 Orientation on January 5-6.  Residential students will move in on Thursday afternoon, Jan. 5, and all new students will gather for a variety of Orientation activities on Friday, Jan. 6.  Following an official welcome on Friday morning, students will hear from Jill Pittman, assistant director of admissions, and Jared Tice, director of new student programs, student activities, Greek life, and intramural sports. It’s all about making a smooth transition into the Barton Experience!

Activities for new students will begin mid-morning with an orientation overview led by Tice and icebreakers led by student orientation leaders.  Later, students will have a chance to meet with staff members from the business and financial aid offices as well as staff members from information technology, academic services and student affairs.  Each session will offer informative tips to help students get their first semester off to a great start.  Advising and registration for spring classes will round out a full day on Friday.

Returning students will arrive on campus on Friday afternoon following the holiday break, and spring semester classes will begin on Monday, Jan. 9.  Spring 2012 promises to be a great semester!

Register online for spring Orientation at http://www.barton.edu/orientation.

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WILSON, N.C. — Barton’s newest Accelerated Professional Programs (APP) students will convene on campus Tuesday, January 3 at 5:30 p.m. for Orientation.  The goal of this session will be to introduce APP students to the staff, academic structure, and technology that will facilitate students’ advisement and registration at Barton College. Following an opening reception, APP students will receive a hearty welcome from Tammy S. Bird, assistant vice president for accelerated professional programs; Johnston King, assistant director for accelerated professional programs; Vickie Bissette, admissions counselor for accelerated professional programs, and Jared Tice, director of new student programs, student activities, Greek life, and intramural sports. Their remarks will focus on APP students making a smooth transition into the Barton Experience.

Later in the evening, students will be divided into two groups to expedite a variety of check points for clearing the business and financial aid offices as well as having student I.D.’s made and receiving some helpful tips from the information technology staff on navigating the Barton network. I.D.’s and class schedules will be ready for APP students to pick up prior to their departure at the end of the Orientation session.

Register online for APP Orientation at http://www.barton.edu/app_orientation.

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