News

Former Barton College basketball All-American Anthony "Ant" Atkinson and his Harlem Globetrotter teammates are featured in a seven-page article in the March 30 issue of Sports Illustrated.

Atkinson, who led Barton College to the 2007 NCAA D-II National Championship exactly two years ago, has already had his status elevated to the "Magic Circle" with the Globetrotters, and he recently performed with the team in Raleigh's RBC Center during their North American Tour.

Atkinson is featured in many of the photos in SI and is interviewed as well. Copies should be available at your local newstands this week. A video interview about the Globetrotters can also be found on the official Harlem Globetrotters web site at http://www.harlemglobetrotters.com/news/index.html?article_id=160.

WILSON, N.C. - The seventh annual Walking Into April Poetry Day at Barton College is scheduled for Saturday, April 11, at The Sam and Marjorie Ragan Writing Center and is sponsored by the North Carolina Poetry Society (NCPS), the Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet Series, and Barton College. Registration opens at 9:15 a.m., and the program begins at 9:45 a.m.

Featured poets include Flatlanders Nancy Tripp King and Marty Silverthorne, and Eastern North Carolina's Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet Lenard Moore.  Reading with Moore will be three student poets: Morgan Whaley from Mount Olive College and Onslow County adult student poets Donna M. Graham and Patsy Kennedy Lain. The three students were selected for this year's Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet Series.

Pushcart Award nominee Nancy Tripp King is the author of three chapbooks of poetry - "Tobacco Blossoms and the Pulled-Tight Twine," a finalist for the Roanoke-Chowan Award for Poetry, "Those Days When Love Doesn't Work," and the forthcoming "Between Glass and Cardboard."

Marty Silverthorne has published four books of poetry, including Persephone Press Award winner "Pot Liquor Promises," "No Welfare, No Pension Plan," and, most recently, "Rewinding at 40."  He is a previous winner of the Sam Ragan Fine Arts Award.

Lenard Moore, Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet for Eastern North Carolina, has published five books of poetry, including his latest, "A Temple Looming." Winner of a 2008 Raleigh Medal of Arts Award, he is executive chairman of the North Carolina Haiku Society and president of the Haiku Society of America.

The afternoon will include an open mic, and participants are invited to bring poems to share. Participants also may bring books or CDs to sell.

The event is free, but reservations for lunch, at $9 per person, should be made by April 8. Checks for lunch should be made to Barton College. You may register by calling or emailing Dr. Rebecca Godwin, director of The Sam and Marjorie Ragan Writing Center, at 252-399-6364 or at rlgodwin@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. - The Barton College Gospel Choir will present its fourth annual concert on Saturday, April 4, in Hardy Alumni Hall at 3 p.m.  This event is open to the public at no charge, and the community is invited to attend.

Among the afternoon's musical selections will be "Perfect Peace," "Souled Out," "You are God Alone," "Hear Our Prayer," and "Hallelujah, You're Worthy To Be Praised."

Members of the Barton College Gospel Choir include Thia Bowen, Obhajiajiemen Emiohe, Petra Hall, Ashley Harris, Jaqueline Henry, Precious Johnson, TJ Jones, Ebony McCray, Angelica Moore, Ashley Morris, Jaren Palmer, Sam Pounds, Princena Simpkins, Broderick Simpson, Brindin Taylor, Jasmine Tinsley, Jeremy Upchurch, Lisa Ward, and Shaunte Woodard.  Alumni members of the choir also have been invited to participate with the Gospel Choir in this annual spring performance.

Guest performers for the concert will be the First Emmanuel Sanctuary Singers from Pittsburgh, Pa., who will join the Gospel Choir for several selections.  Members of Barton's Gospel Choir met the First Emmanuel Sanctuary Singers when they traveled to Pittsburgh in October 2007 and again in October 2008, and were invited to sing during First Emmanuel Sanctuary Singers' Sunday morning services.  George Mitchell, director of the First Emmanuel Sanctuary Singers, also conducted Gospel Choir workshops at Barton in August 2007 and 2008.  Barton is pleased to welcome the Pittsburgh singers back to Wilson and the college campus.

For additional information about the concert, please contact Holly Zacharias, Gospel Choir advisor, at 252-399-6366.

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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. - Acclaimed children's book illustrators Bonnie Christensen, Meredith Hamilton, and Loren Long will be the featured guests for a panel discussion with moderator Susan B. Fecho, Barton art professor and illustrator, at the Barton College Friends of Hackney Library spring dinner on Tuesday, March 31. The evening's festivities, to be held in Hardy Alumni Hall, will begin with a book signing and wine reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and the program at 7 p.m.

While all three panelists have illustrated a variety of works in their careers, some of their best-known works are the children's books they have illustrated. Moderator Susan Fecho has also illustrated children's books as well. An interesting common denominator of this event is that beyond children's book illustrations, all the panel participants share a personal Wilson, N.C., connection.

Tickets for the dinner event are $35 per person, with reservations accepted until March 24.  Members of the Barton College Friends of Hackney Library may reserve tickets for $30 per person.  Table reservations must be for a total of eight persons. Please contact Cynthia Collins at 399-6503 for reservations or additional information.

Christensen, a book illustrator and author, is a native of Saranac Lake, N.Y. She began her career working in New York theater after earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and Communication from the University of Vermont. Her theater work included Joe Papp's Public Theatre, New York Shakespeare Festival, and others. Christensen eventually focused primarily on playwriting, and some of her plays were produced off-off-Broadway. During this time, she also worked for Screen Actors Guild and Paramount Pictures. She also contributed to periodicals such as Vermont Life, National Gardening, and Ladybug.

After studying wood engraving and attending classes at Parsons School of Design and Center for Book Arts, Christensen returned to Vermont to focus on wood engraving and was offered her first illustration work. As she explained her eventual emergence as a book author and illustrator, she shared, "Through a keen interest in printmaking and letterpress printing, I eventually hand-printed and bound a limited-edition book. Desire to see that book reach a wider audience eventually led me to trade publishers and initiated my career" (Excerpt from "Something About the Author" (vol. 110, p. 41).

Christensen authored and illustrated her first book for children in 1994, an ABC book called "An Edible Alphabet," which received critical acclaim for its design and illustrations. Other books she has both written and illustrated include "Rebus Riot" (1997), "Woody Guthrie: Poet of the People" (2001), "In My Grandmother's House" (2003), "The Daring Nellie Bly" (2003), and the forthcoming "Django" (2009). In addition, Christensen has illustrated others' works, including award winners such as Stephen Krensky's "Breaking Into Print" (1996), Craig Crist Evan's "Moon Over Tennessee" (1999), and Mary Pope Osborne's "Pompeii, Lost and Found" (2006), among others.

Christensen was guest lecturer/artist-in-residence at the Scuola Internazionale di Grafica, in Venice, Italy, and prior to her recent move to Wilson where she now resides, she served as adjunct professor of fine arts at St. Michaels' College in Burlington, Vt.

Hamilton has drawn and painted for numerous companies including Visa International, W. W. Norton and Doubleday. She was an art director at Newsweek and has a Master of Fine Arts degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York.

Her whimsical illustrations have been used in television ads, animations, maps, and children's books, including "The Story of the Orchestra," "A Child's Introduction to Poetry," "A Child's Introduction to the Night Sky," "A Child's Introduction to Ballet," and "A Child's Introduction to the Environment." In addition to children's books, Hamilton has also illustrated travel, fashion, and self-help books, cookbooks, calendars, bookmarks, and stationery, as displayed on her web site.

She lives with her two children and husband in Brooklyn, N.Y. Hamilton is the niece of Wilson resident, arts patron, and former owner of The North Star Gallery, Lisa Anderson.

A native of Joplin, Mo., Long was raised in Lexington, Ky. He graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design/Art Studio and continued with graduate studies at the American Academy of Art in Chicago. After a stint working as an illustrator for the now-defunct Gibson Greeting Card company in Cincinnati, Ohio, Long gained recognition as an editorial illustrator for such magazines as Forbes, Time, and Sports Illustrated, to name a few. He has also illustrated book covers for major publishing houses and produced murals and other works of art.

But as his web site explains, he "believes his calling as a storyteller lies in illustrating children's books, often coupling his art with iconic American literary works." His work has been described by the New York Times as exhibiting "muscular style inspired by 1930's W.P.A. murals," as well as reflecting the influence of the work of Thomas Hart Benton and Grant Wood.

Long has illustrated a number of children's books, including those by well-known authors and celebrities: Madonna's "Mr. Peabody's Apples" (New York Times bestseller), Angela Johnson's "I Dream of Trains" (2003 Golden Kite Award for best picture book illustration), Walt Whitman's "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer" (2004 Golden Kite Honor and 2004 Parent's Choice Gold Award), a new edition of Watty Piper's "The Little Engine that Could" (New York Times bestseller), the adult gift book version of Frank McCourt's "Angela and the Baby Jesus," and Randall de Sève's "Toy Boat" (2007 Publishers Weekly Cuffie Award).

Many of these have garnered awards or achieved best-seller status. In addition, Long has co-written and illustrated three of the planned six chapter books in the "Slugger" (formerly Barnstormer) series (New York Times bestselling serial) with fellow vintage baseball buff Phil Bildner. He has also collaborated with fellow illustrators David Shannon and David Gordon to illustrate children's author Jon Scieszka's "Trucktown" series, aimed at the pre-reading audience.

Long's latest work, released in October 2008, is the first picture book that he not only illustrated but also authored solo, "Drummer Boy," adapted from the classic Christmas song, "The Drummer Boy."

He makes his home in West Chester, Ohio, with his wife, Tracy, and their two sons, Griffith and Graham. Long is the first cousin of Barton College education professor Dr. David Dolman of Wilson.

Fecho, chair of the Barton College Department of Art, received her Master of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art from East Carolina University.  She has served on the Barton College faculty since 1997 and has over 20 years of experience teaching and working with art students in the United States and abroad.

She also works professionally in the field of design, digital imaging, and mixed media.  And, she exhibits regionally and nationally in galleries and museums and at colleges and universities. She has published illustrations, designs, and photographs, and her work has been accepted into several major collections, including: The Smithsonian Institution's American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery Library (Washington, D.C.), the Word and Image Department, Victoria and Albert Museum (London, England), the Zimmerli Art Museum, NAWA Collection, Rutgers University (New Jersey), and the Museum of Women Artists (Washington, D.C.).

Fecho's most recently published work includes the illustrations in a new children's book, "The Day Anna Ganna Bandanna Learned to Fly," one of a planned series written by Dr. Vernon Lindquist, former vice president for academic affairs at Barton College.

She makes her home in Tarboro with her husband, Scott, but Fecho is equally well known in the Wilson community because of her affiliation with Barton College and through her participation in the Wilson County art scene.

The event is sponsored in part by BB&T.

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

AUGUSTA, GA - With a big sheriff patrolling the paint for Augusta State, the
Barton College Bulldogs fired blanks all too often Sunday night and saw their
season end with a 77-61 loss to the nationally fourth-ranked Jaguars in the NCAA
D-II Men's Basketball Southeast Regional semifinals in Christenberry Fieldhouse.

The ice-cold Bulldogs, seeded fifth, had no answer for 7-foot, 300-pound ASU
center Garret Siler, mainly because they couldn't buy a basket. Barton hit just
22-of-67 shots for 32.8 percent, including 4-of-19 (21.1 percent) from 3-point
range, and again struggled from the foul line, where it converted 13-of-23 for
56.5 percent. Since going inside was no option against Siler, without any
firepower from outside, the Bulldogs fell behind early and never caught up
against the 2008 NCAA D-II runner-up.

Siler, who dunked the ball the first two times he touched it, finished with 19
points on 7-of-8 shooting, seven rebounds, three blocks and three assists for
the Jaguars, who are 28-4 and riding a 14-game winning streak.

Barton, which had won seven straight, exited the tournament at 25-6. The senior
trio of Errol Frails (Wilson, NC), David King (Raleigh, NC) and Bobby Buffaloe
(Fuquay-Varina, NC) completed their remarkable careers as the winningest class in
the history of Barton basketball. They were 103-26 overall (.798) and posted a
57-3 record at home. Along the way, they won three conference regular season and
tournament titles and two East Regional titles, made three NCAA appearances,
advanced to two Elite Eights and won the 2007 National Championship in dramatic
fashion.

"These three seniors have left a tremendous legacy for you," 13-year head
coach Ron Lievense told his team in the locker room after the game. "Now, the
mantle is passed on to you juniors."

Later, in the media room, Lievense said: "Hats off to a tremendous Augusta State
team. They have great size, strength and shooting. I just don't see a chink in
their armor. Look at those percentages we had tonight. We didn't hit free
throws, didn't shoot 3s and didn't make our layups. We weren't able to tough it
out (through the cold shooting). We didn't play to our potential two nights in a
row, but a lot of credit goes to the two teams we played.

"We have already thanked our seniors in private, but I want to thank them here
for everything they have brought to Barton College. They are tremendous students
and human beings. To win 103 games in four years says a lot about these
gentlemen. As a coach, I am having a hard time saying goodbye right now."

The Jaguars, who shot 51 percent overall Sunday night, were also hot from
outside, draining 7-of-16 threes for 43.8 percent.  Unlike the Bulldogs, they
also made their foul shots, canning 20-of-25 for 80 percent.

"I watched the Animal Planet today," ASU head coach Dip Metress said, "and it
said the bigger the alligator, the more the problems. So I thought that was
apropos going into tonight. The big alligator over here (looking at Siler)
dominated early on and freed up everything for everybody else."

Barton, which trailed by 17 at halftime, found itself behind 51-26 early in the
second half when Southeast Region Player of the Year Ben Madgen, a 6-4 guard,
hit a jumper and two 3-pointers in an 8-0 run just after intermission.

However, the BulIdogs didn't quit battling. Their deficit was still 25 points at
33-58 with 13:23 to play when Barton went on its biggest run of the game,
hitting six of seven shots in an 18-5 spurt to close within striking distance at
63-49 with nine minutes left.  Junior forward Eddie Kershaw scored three times,
junior 6-3 forward L.J. Dunn added six points and Frails swished a 3-pointer to
get the Barton fans riled up. Two free throws from sophomore guard Jaren Haley
finished off the run.

That's when the biggest shot was delivered by ASU. The 'Dogs dug in defensively
on the ensuing possession, and with one tick left on the shot clock, senior ASU
guard Steve Smith tossed in a contested 3-pointer to move the lead back to 15 at
7:31. Barton proceeded to misfire on 11 of its next 12 shots, but the Jaguars
struggled as well. A three-point play by Haley at 3:44 made it 68-56, but ASU
hit 5-of-7 foul shots and got a fifth and final dunk from Siler to seal their
date with USC Aiken in the regional final. Aiken, the No. 2 seed, beat No. 6
Catawba 85-72 in Sunday's first semifinal.

In the first half, Siler proved to be an imposing presence in the paint early
on, but Barton hung tough and pulled even at 4-4. The Jaguars then seized
control with a 16-3 run. Fred Brathwaite hit a 3-pointer and slammed home two
dunks in the run while Siler had his way inside for two more hoops. Meanwhile,
Barton connected on just 1-of-9 shots in that span.

Down 20-7, Buffaloe swished a 3-pointer and a jumper around two buckets by Dunn
as the Bulldogs pulled within 25-16 at the seven-minute mark. After the teams
exchanged a few buckets, the Jaguars went on a 9-2 run to end the half with a
commanding 43-26 lead.

At the break, just like the night before, the Bulldogs had hit just 10-of-29
shots for 34.5 percent while ASU was 15-of-25 for 60 percent. Barton was also
just 1-of-9 from 3-point land, identical to their quarterfinal halftime stats.
ASU dominated the backboards 21-10 before the break, but committed 10 turnovers.

Brathwaite and Siler each had 13 points at half while Dunn, who sat six minutes
of the half with two fouls, paced the Bulldogs' attack with 10 points on 5-of-6
shooting, six rebounds and three steals.

For the game, Madgen netted 18 points, Brathwaite had 13 and Daniel Dixon
drilled 10. Barton battled hard on the boards in the second half and wound up
with a 39-38 edge in rebounding.

The Bulldogs were led again by Dunn, who was a first-team All-Conference
Carolinas choice and second-team NABC All-Southeast Region pick. He had 16
points, 10 rebounds and five steals in his season finale, concluding the year
with 17 double-doubles in 31 games. Kershaw added 11 points and eight rebounds
and Aaron Suggs scored 10.

Hugs and tears abounded in the Barton locker room after the loss, especially
among the seniors.

"We just didn't take advantage of our opportunities," Frails told the media,
"but this team has grown a lot. We cut into their lead, and then they would hit
a big shot, but we never stopped fighting. It hurts."

"It's tough (to think about it) right now," Buffaloe said, "but it was a good
career. It's going to be tough to leave."

"Right now," King said, "it's tough because of what happened tonight. But when
we take the time to look back, we can be thankful for what we have learned and
how we have grown. I think it'll be a great team here next year. All these guys
are like brothers to me. I am extremely thankful for being part of this family."

WILSON, N.C. - In response to President Barack Obama's challenge to all Americans to invest in education, Barton College has initiated a special opportunity for its full-time students' parents, guardians, or grandparents through "Weekend College at Barton."  Two courses will be offered free of charge to a parent, guardian, or grandparent of all full-time Barton students enrolled during fall semester 2009.  These course offerings will be made available during Barton's Weekend College fall and winter trimesters, one each trimester.

In President Obama's Feb. 24 address to the joint session of Congress, he shared, "It is our responsibility as lawmakers and educators to make this system work.  But it is the responsibility of every citizen to participate in it.  And so tonight, I ask every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training."

This new initiative by Barton, developed in light of our nation's ongoing economic crisis, provides an opportunity for these family members of Barton students to also have a chance to return to college.  They can begin a new degree, work toward completing a degree, or advance their careers with additional study.

"In the midst of the nation's most serious economic downturn in many years, Barton College is aware of the impact this is having on students and their families," said Dr. Norval C. Kneten, president of Barton College.  "We also know that this means sacrifices are being made to continue to invest in quality education.  However, and, especially during a time when many investments are losing their value, investing in oneself remains a wise strategy.  Barton College is committed to providing every possible avenue for our students and their families to make the most of their educational investment."

Barton College, an independent, coeducational, four-year college located in Wilson, N.C., blends academic disciplines in the liberal arts and professional programs with a focus on encouraging lifelong learning.

"Weekend College at Barton," offered through the College's Office of Lifelong Education and Extended Programs, provides an educational alternative to men and women 22 years of age or older who work or have other commitments and who are unable to attend academic courses that are offered at traditional times during the week. This format is a means by which these students may earn a baccalaureate degree, update or gain skills for professional advancement, prepare for career change, or pursue personal interests in one or more of the liberal arts and/or professional programs. Weekend College offers working adults an opportunity to study with other adults who have similar interests and lifestyles and who are equally motivated to pursue their education.

Convenience is an added advantage.  Classes through Barton's Weekend College usually meet on alternating weekends on Friday evening, Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, or Sunday afternoon. These courses are taught on campus, predominantly by Barton College faculty.  And, unless otherwise indicated, all classes necessary for graduation are taught on the weekend. (Practicum courses and student teaching for elementary education majors and field placements for social work, criminal justice and criminology, and gerontology majors will eventually require weekday involvement).

Degrees and majors offered through the Weekend College at Barton program include
Bachelor of Science degrees in accounting, business management, management of human resources, birth-kindergarten education, elementary education (K-6), special education: general curriculum (K-12), criminal justice and criminology, and gerontology.  Also offered is a Bachelor of Social Work degree and a special R.N. to B.S.N. degree program for licensed registered nurses.

For additional information about this program or to view a tentative listings of courses for the 2009 fall trimester or the 2010 winter trimester, visit "Weekend College for Parents" online at http://www.barton.edu/weekendparents.

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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. - The sixth annual Caregiver Education Conference is scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, on the Barton College campus.

The Gerontology Program of Barton College, the Eastern North Carolina Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, the Upper Coastal Plain Area Agency on Aging Family Caregiver Support Program, and Joseph D. Russell, M.D., have teamed up to sponsor this significant series of workshops and keynote addresses.

The Caregiver Education Conference welcomes back Dr. Russell, a doctor of internal medicine in Wilson since 1975, who will open the conference with introductory greetings to the participants.  Passionate about his commitment and support of furthering patient education, Dr. Russell generously supports this conference through an endowment he made in memory of his mother, Lillian Hester McDaniel Russell, who served as a caregiver for her husband, Norman, following his stroke and, later, declining health.  This endowment also honors caregivers across the state.

"We are very excited about the range of professionals conducting sessions at this year's Caregiver Education Conference, including keynote speakers Dan Kaufer, M.D., an associate professor in the Department of Neurology and the director of the Memory and Cognitive Disorders Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Melanie Bunn, a registered nurse, general nurse practitioner, and a dementia training specialist with the Eastern N.C. Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, " said Steven Fulks, Ph.D., dean of the  Barton College School of Behavioral Sciences and director of the Gerontology Program. "These speakers bring a wealth of experience and expertise to this conference. Participants can be assured that they will benefit greatly from the practical knowledge they will gain from these keynote sessions as well as the workshops."

The Caregiver Education Conference will be held in Hamlin Student Center on the Barton College campus, and lunch will be provided. On-site registration for the conference will begin at 8:30 a.m., with the program running from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.  Advance registration is encouraged.

"The beauty of this conference is that it brings together the family caregivers with the professionals, programs, and services providing support, resources, and advice in one centralized location," continued Dr. Fulks. "The convenience of attending the one-day conference really maximizes the educational opportunities for the caregivers within their limited schedules."

The focus of the conference will be to explore various techniques and strategies that caregivers can use to care for themselves and persons with dementia, to identify resources for developing daily routines and programs that meet the needs of people with dementia and their caregivers, and to describe the most recent and effective assessment, treatment, and care options available for people with dementia.

Following Dr. Russell's opening remarks, Dr. Kaufer will deliver the morning keynote address titled "The Latest in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Alzheimer's disease."

Late morning workshops will include "Long Term Care Placement of Individuals with Dementia and the Impact on the Family," led by Peggy Smith, program director for the Eastern N.C. Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.  A second option will be the "Complaints of a Dutiful Daughter," led by Dr. Fulks and students from Barton College's Gerontology Program. This workshop will focus on the Oscar-nominated, Emmy award-winning documentary that offers a lighthearted and hopeful look at the various stages of a mother's Alzheimer's disease and the daughter's changing response to the illness.  And, the third morning workshop option will be "Person-Centered Activities: Focusing on Remaining Strengths" led by Carole Netherton, program and family services coordinator for the Eastern N.C. Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

Following the noon-scheduled lunch break, afternoon workshops will begin.  Three options will be offered including "The Role of Humor in Caregiving" by Ed Rosenberg, Ph.D., director of the Appalachian State University Gerontology Program, "Legal Considerations Related to Dementia" by Greg Wallace, an elder lawyer with Monroe & Wallace law firm in Raleigh, and "Music , Therapy and Dementia" led by Steve Toll, musician, trainer and director of Prescription Music.

Bunn's closing keynote address, "Finding Meaning in Providing Dementia Care: What You Do, What They Do, and How to Make a Difference," will conclude the afternoon activities.

This conference will be extremely helpful for family caregivers, and professional caregivers including nurses, direct care workers, CNAs, social workers, care managers, rehabilitation professionals, and community providers.  It will also be beneficial for volunteers including clergy, day program directors, and transportation workers, church members, students in health programs or gerontology, and EMS and law enforcement personnel.

The Caregiver Education Conference is available for families and volunteers to attend for a $5 registration fee.  (This fee can be covered by the Alzheimer's Association upon request.)  Registration for professional caregivers is $25 per person. Professionals desiring continuing education credits also may receive five hours of CEU's for an additional $10 fee.

To register in advance or to receive additional information, please contact Kim Emory, Family Caregiver Specialist for the Upper Coastal Plain Area Agency on Aging, by calling 252-234-5960, or sending a fax to 252-234-5971 or emailing kemory@ucpcog.org.

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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. - The Barton College Creative Writing Symposium presents the fourth annual Emerging Writers Series on Monday, March 16, and Tuesday, March 17, in The Sam and Marjorie Ragan Writing Center on campus.  The event is open to the public free of charge, and the community is invited to attend.

Dr. and Mrs. William M. Batchelor of Wilson have provided a four-year sponsorship for the Emerging Writers Series in the Department of English and Modern Languages that began in spring 2006.  This annual gift brings new writers to campus to speak to students and members of the community and to encourage aspiring writers.

This year's featured writers include Catherine Carter and Dan Albergotti.  "That's My Story" workshop, scheduled from 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. on Monday, will provide an opportunity for these emerging writers to discuss their lives, inspirations, influences and craft.  An evening reading, featuring the writers' work, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.  On Tuesday, from 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. is "Nuts and Bolts," a workshop where the writers will talk about the practical, business, and technical aspects of writing and publishing.

Born on the eastern shore of Maryland in 1967, Carter now lives in Cullowhee with her husband near Western Carolina University, where she teaches in and coordinates the English education program. Her first book, "The Memory of Gills" (LSU, 2006) received the 2007 Roanoke-Chowan Award from the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association.  Her work also has appeared or is forthcoming in "Poetry," "North Carolina Literary Review," "Tar River Poetry Review," "Cider Press Review," and "Best American Poetry 2009," among others, and has been twice nominated for the Pushcart Prize.  North Carolina Poet Laureate Kathryn Stripling Byer said, "The Memory of Gills is altogether an astonishing, seductive, and finally irresistible book of poems.  Carter is a skillful, imaginative, and witty visionary . . . and her poems say what she knows with a zest and inventiveness that no reader will soon forget."

Albergotti is the author of "The Boatloads" (BOA Editions, 2008), selected by Edward Hirsch as the winner of the 2007 A. Poulin, Jr. Poetry Prize.  His poems have appeared in "The Cincinnati Review," "Shenandoah," "The Southern Review," "The Virginia Quarterly Review," and other journals.  In 2008, his poem "What They're Doing" was selected for Pushcart Prize "XXXIII: Best of the Small Presses."  A graduate of the Master of Fine Arts program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and former poetry editor of "The Greensboro Review," Albergotti currently teaches creative writing and literature courses and edits the online journal "Waccamaw" at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, S.C.  Noted poet and critic Edward Hirsch, in his Foreword, writes, "Dan Albergotti's first book, 'The Boatloads,' is filled with the spirit of mystery.  It begins in wonder and ends in awe.  Albergotti is a poet of deep conviction, a rare quality in our cynical times.  He is a genuine seeker, a man on a spiritual quest, a stubborn questioner, and his poems are infused with the sense that the earth itself is sacred."

This program has been planned in cooperation with the Department of English and Modern Languages and The Sam and Marjorie Ragan Writing Center.  For additional information about this event, please contact Dr. Jim Clark, Elizabeth H. Jordan Endowed Chair for Southern Literature and the director of the Creative Writing Symposium, 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. - Barton College is pleased to announce George Solan as vice president for student affairs.  His appointment was effective January 26.

As chief student affairs officer for the College, Solan oversees the residence life program, the office of chaplain, the health services program, counseling services, career services, student leadership and development programs including student government, and student activities including Greek life.  He also serves as a member of the president's senior cabinet.

"As Barton's new vice president for student affairs, George Solan brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his role, and his background in implementing both traditional and non-traditional student programs, and his commitment to shared governance and open dialogue will enrich our campus life," said Dr. Norval C. Kneten, president of Barton College.

Born in Rochester, N.Y., and reared in Greece, N.Y., Solan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from State University of New York College at Cortland, and a Master of Science degree in Education from St. Bonaventure University in St. Bonaventure University, N.Y.  He also completed specialized training through the Legal Issues in Higher Education Conference at the University of Vermont and through the WNY Consortium of Chief Student Affairs Officers. In addition, Solan served fours years in the United States Air Force.

Prior to his appointment at Barton, Solan served as vice president for student life at St. Bonaventure University.  During his 27-year tenure at St. Bonaventure, he was integrally involved in a wide range of University programs and initiatives, including the implementation of the University First Year Experience, accreditation reviews, and strategic planning.  Solan's responsibilities included both traditional and non-traditional areas of student development including residence life, counseling, career development, as well as intramurals, club sports, housekeeping, and events management.

Solan believes student advocacy is fundamental to his responsibilities at Barton.  "Providing a successful student experience is key to the work of the college," said Solan.  "As a student advocate, I strive to provide encouragement, present opportunity, and give guidance to students who are living in and will be pursuing their careers in a complex and diverse world.  The liberal arts environment provides our students with a unique opportunity to grow not only professionally, but as social beings experiencing life through programs of social justice and community service."

His professional affiliations include the American College Personnel Association, the Association of Student Judicial Affairs, the Association of College and University Housing Officers, and the Council on Law in Higher Education.
Also active in community service, Solan has worked with the Boy Scouts of America, and is a past member of the board of directors for the United Way of Cattaraugus County and the Literacy Volunteers of Cattaraugus County.

Solan is the son of Clara A. Solan of Rochester, N.Y., and the late Robert O. Solan.  He is married to the former June Tullar of East Chatham, N.Y., and they have one son, Robert.

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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. - The hauntingly beautiful musical, "Violet," based upon "The Ugliest Pilgrim," short story by N.C. native Doris Betts, with music by Jeanine Tesori and libretto by Brian Crawley, will open on the Barton stage Thursday, March 12, at 8 p.m. in Howard Chapel.

"We join Violet, a young woman from the mountains of North Carolina, on her journey of self-discovery and personal redemption," shared Adam Twiss, assistant professor of theatre and director of Theatre at Barton.  "The people she meets, from the soldiers on their way to Vietnam, to the television evangelist she seeks out to heal her of a disfiguring scar, weave a colorful and vital tapestry of life, fulfilled destiny, progress and, ultimately, peace."

The production, which runs through March 15 in Howard Chapel, has evening shows Thursday - Saturday at 8 p.m. and a matinee at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. respectively. Tickets will be sold at the door: adult admission is $8 and student admission is $5.  To reserve tickets in advance, please call Carol Sabella at 252-399-6483.

The "Violet" company, directed by Twiss, includes native N.C. actors Melvin Tunstall III and Nina Gunnel, courtesy of K.D. Kennedy and family.  And, Raleigh lighting and scenic designer Chris Bernier returns for Barton's spring production. Local and student talent include: Jonathan Butler, Joe Jones, Jane Kolunie, Rodney Lippard, Jeremy Lowe, Wesley Pridgen, Krysti Reuter, Rose Stenbuck, and Hollie Woodruff.  The choir includes Joe Amara, Janeka Battle, Matt Bissette, Rhea Booth, Miranda Carter, Charlie Healy, TJ Hinnant, Bethany Horner, Emily Jamieson, Natalie Mattox, Sam Pounds, Krysti Reuter, Chris Rugerro, Nathanael Shelton, Jennifer Stancil, Whitley Stanley, and Lisa Ward. Musicians are Ted Brna, bass; and Daniel Peterson, keyboard; Chris Ruggero, guitar; and Brindin Taylor, percussion.

The musical director is Mark Peterson and the choreographer is Trish Bradshaw. Stage manager for the production is Christopher Wallen, accompanied by assistant stage manager Alisha Rhinesmith.  Assistant director is Whitley Stanley, sound is by Phil Valera, sound and lighting technicians are Matt Smith and James Duncan, and costumes are by Tammie Knoll.

"I am especially proud of the many individuals who have contributed to this production, including students, faculty, and visiting artists from varying disciplines," added Twiss.  "They love the story, they love the music but, in many ways, they simply want to be part of a very special event. As we move closer to completion of the Lauren Kennedy and Alan Campbell Theatre, we find ourselves in the position of bidding a fond farewell to Howard Chapel, the borrowed home of Barton Theatre for several generations.

"I cannot think of a more poignant, joyful and fitting show to present as our final mainstage Chapel production," Twiss concluded.  "I hope you will join us to say goodbye… and we can all look forward to the grand opening of our new theatre in September!"

For additional information about the Barton theatre program, please contact Adam Twiss at 252-399-6484 or email: ajtwiss@barton.edu.

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