May 2018

Welcome to FLASH or Families Learning About Seahawk Happenings! FLASH is the monthly family newsletter distributed by UNCW's Office of Transition Programs. FLASH provides families with helpful information about campus events, important dates and deadlines, as well as tips and advice for helping their student be successful.

2018 Commencement and Celebrations

Lukas Hibell, Graduate Assistant, Office of Transition Programs

    This year UNCW celebrated all of its graduates on May 4 and 5 at our five commencement ceremonies. This year we celebrated 10 doctoral, 400 master's, and 2442 bachelors students. In addition to the commencement ceremony, events like Senior Sankofa, Purple & Lavender Reception, and the Successful Latinos Reception all celebrate the graduating students of different diverse populations on the campus.

    The road to Sankofa begins with admission to UNCW and ends with Senior Sankofa. Sankofa comes from a West African word meaning “wisdom in learning from the past to build for the future”. Beginning in 2000, Senior Sankofa allows these students to be connected to the people like them from before their time at UNCW and the students to soon follow them. Symbolized by a bird looking over its shoulder while moving forward, this program allows students to reflect on their past experience at UNCW while still celebrating their achievement of graduating from UNCW as an African American.

    The Purple & Lavender Reception celebrates students in the LGBTQIA community as they graduate. The tradition of honoring LGBTQIA students at this reception is something we see across the nation. The color lavender is symbolic as it represents the color triangles that LGBTQ people were forced to wear during the holocaust, It acknowledges the achievements these students have made while at UNCW and the contributions they have made to make UNCW a better place while in their undergraduate career.

    The Successful Latinos Reception celebrates the academic achievement of Latino students here at UNCW. This reception conveys the message “Yes, we can achieve an education and succeed” to their students because Latinos hold the least amount of university degrees in the nation. These newly graduated students are celebrated as role models to their community. . 

Fun in the Sun!

Lindsay Donofrio, Psy.D. Post-Doctoral Fellow, Counseling Center

Ahhh…the days are getting longer, classes are over, and it’s time to relax! College students enjoy going to the beach or sitting by the pool to unwind but getting sunburned is miserable. The American College Health Association reported approximately 50% of students regularly use sunscreen. Protecting yourself from the sun decreases your risks of ultraviolet radiation exposure and skin cancer. 

Staying safe in the sun is important. Tips for fun in the sun include covering up, applying and reapplying a high SPF lip balm and sunscreen of 30 or higher (even on your ears and your feet), being in the sun early in the morning or in the late afternoons to avoid the most intense sunlight, wearing a hat and sunglasses, staying in the shade under an umbrella, and drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated.    

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Housing and Residence Life Banquet

Karen Thompson, Public Communications Specialist, Housing and Residence Life

Every April, as tradition goes, the UNCW Residence Life team comes together for an awards banquet to celebrate the successes and highlights of our Resident Assistant Team. This year the theme for these awards was “The Rezzies”. The night was a smashing success filled with sharing memories, acknowledgement of hard work, and a speech from the highly esteemed Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs, Pat Leonard. This event was planned by Residence Coordinators Brittany Burroughs & Mackenzie Sirmans, and Assistant Residence Coordinator Shannon Verlotte. 

Miss graduation and want to see the ceremonies? Want a second chance to see the UNCW's students walk across the stage? Follow this link for the commencement videos!

2018 Cornerstone Awards

The Cornerstone Awards celebrate student leaders on UNCW’s campus with different awards. These awards celebrate the achievements of our students, not only in the classroom, but outside of the classroom. Students are nomiated every year from different professional staff members and offices so they can be recognized for all of their hard work. To learn more about the awards for the 2018 Cornerstone Awards follow this link. Below is a list of the award recipients.

Excellence in Engagement Award

Jazlyn Bain • Hannah Boone • Chris Brantley • Dylan Chavis • Corey Click • Samantha Fisher • Jennifer Gamez • Denise Gonzalez • Emily Grose • Luke Haigh • Cailin Harrell • Malon Hodges • Neva Holloway • Rebekah James • Adya Khanna • Taylor Lee • Lawren Mayo • Stephanie McQuade • Victoria Migneco • Savannah Miller • Sydney Newman • Erik Paulson • Kevin Petteway • Emily Rheault • Marina Roe • Julia Singer • Howard Smith • Cole Tillett • Emily Williams

Distinguished Engagement Award

Jessica Aiken • Dana Ajeen • Dara Arroyo • Lauren Arsena • Sarah Bischoff • Amanda Ceroli • Kayla Chapman • Briauna Daye • Madison Driggers • Libby Fields • Mary Kate Gibbons • Kara Goodson • Abby Greenfield • Ava Hicks • Caleb Horowitz • Dylan Israel • Stephanie Ivins • Julienne Kaleta • Juliet King • Nicole Kroushl • Anna Lang • Allison Lawson • Meredith Lewis • Amber Mangione • Mattie Ocker • Carl Palombaro • Samantha Patrick • Cody Pearson • Justin Sanchez • Paul Schnorenberg • Aidan Sweeney • Andrew Treska • Michaella Tran • Taylor Turney • Julianna Umbehr • Farzona Usmanova • Hannah Williams

Carolyn Elizabeth Duffy Student Sustainability Award

Jose Borja

Global Citizen Award

Jordan Johnson

Margaret W. Lippitt Scholarship Award

Sarah Nicholson

UNCW Laureaste Award

Mattie Ocker

Martha M. Duncan Scholarship Award

Howard Smith

A. Farrell Teague Merit Scholarship for Rising Seniors

Sarah Bischoff

Senior Medallion

Alexis Alston • Jocabed Aragon • Rebekah Banks • Scott Blackburn • Morgan Clark • Hannah Coffman • Jenna Curran • Ashley Garcia • Leslie Hernandez • Meribeth Lamberth • Casey McAnarney • Mallory Munden • Caroline Orth • Ariel Potter • Mayra Robles • Jodi Schlenkler • Tabor Scott • Ruchi Shah • Kathryn Solinski • Truman Spittel • Olivia Stewart • Jacob Turney • Victoria Waldman • Leah Wills

Rachael Freeman Service Leadership Award

Morgan Clark

William A. Bryan Senior Leadership Award

Jenna Curran 

2018 DUB Awards

The 5th Dub Awards ceremony, presented by the Campus Activities & Involvement Center Office and the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement, honors our registered student organizations, fraternities, and sororities. The awards are separated into two categories, Individual Awards, for students, and Organizational Awards, for the whole organization. Below is a list of the winners at the DUB Awards this year. For more information follow you can this link.

Individual Awards

Advisor of the Year: Sr. Rosemary McNamara - Campus Catholic Ministry

Chapter Advisor of the Year: Dr. Katrin Wesner - Chi Omega

Scholar of the Year: Blair Bowling - Delta Zeta

New Student Organization Leader of the Year: Cecilia Monahan – Atlantis

Sorority New Member of the Year: Rebeca Murillo - Alpha Phi

Fraternity New Member of the Year: Donovan Durham - Phi Beta Sigma

Fraternity Man of the Year: Ches Woodall - Alpha Tau Omega

Sorority Woman of the Year: Sydney Bouchelle - Alpha Phi

Outstanding Student Organization Leader of the Year: Elise Yost - College Republicans

Sorority Chapter President of the Year: Cayley Fisher - Delta Zeta

Fraternity Chapter President of the Year: Grant Martin - Alpha Tau Omega

Unsung Hero Award: Sullivan Young - Residence Hall Association

Greek Legacy Award: Grant Draughn - Lambda Chi Alpha

I AM PHIL Award: Claire Babcock - Delta Zeta

Organizational Awards

Outstanding Educational Program: Plastic Ocean Project - Stop Sucking Week

Outstanding Community Service Program: Asian Student Association - Burmese Refugee Tutoring

Outstanding Diversity Program: Watson Student Leaders - Social Justice in Education

Community Service Program of the Year: Alpha Phi - Dino Day

Philanthropy of the Year: Alpha Chi Omega - Alpha Chi Couture

Outstanding Print Marketing Material: Student Ambassadors - Make Waves Membership Campaign

Outstanding Multimedia Marketing Material: Association for Campus Entertainment - ACE Recruitment Video

UNCW Police Department Risk Management Award: Delta Zeta

Most Improved Chapter of the Year: Alpha Sigma Phi

Gold Student Organization of the Year: Asian Student Association

Teal Student Organization of the Year: National Residence Hall Honorary

Outstanding Social Program: Flicker Film Society - Reel Teal Film Festival

Vice Chancellor's Cup For Academic Excellence

Interfraternity Council: Chi Phi

National Pan-Hellenic Council: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

National Panhellenic Council: Alpha Delta Pi

Bradley Cup

Interfraternity Council: Alpha Sigma Phi

National Pan-Hellenic Council: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

National Panhellenic Council: Chi Omega

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