Message from Chancellor Jose V. Sartarelli
Dear Seahawk Community,
The new growth of spring, highlighted by the stunning beauty of the azaleas blooming across our campus, brought with it renewed opportunities to celebrate the excellence of the UNCW experience. In April, the university became one of only five colleges and universities nationwide to be named a 2021 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Postsecondary Sustainability Awardee. D.C. Virgo, a year-round K-8 school operated by UNCW, and Wrightsville Beach Elementary, a community partner, also are among 27 U.S. schools recognized this year.
We all know that 2020-21 has been a challenging year, offering us a recurring mixture of hardship and hope. UNCW’s faculty and staff skillfully juggled those dynamics, and the Student Government Association stepped up to recognize them by passing a resolution to acknowledge their dedication during the pandemic.
Professor Eman Ghoneim from the Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences (College of Arts and Sciences) received a 2021 Award for Teaching Excellence from the UNC Board of Governors. Associate Vice Chancellor for International Programs Michael Wilhelm has been awarded a Fulbright for an International Education Administrators Seminar in Taiwan. His goals when he travels there next spring will include expanding UNCW’s global footprint in Asia.
Seniors Benjamin Williams and Paige Lundberg, both undergraduates in the College of Health and Human Services, earned prestigious honors in their fields. Prestigious donor-funded scholarships enable UNCW to compete for standout students and position them to take full advantage of all the experiences the university has to offer. As part of Like No Other: The Campaign for UNCW, the university recently announced a new $1 million gift commitment to establish its fifth distinguished merit scholarship. The campaign also received a surge of support during Seahawks Give. More than 1,800 Seahawks participated, and their generosity inspired me to make a challenge gift, which was met. Many thanks to our donors for making our giving day a resounding success.
Sports teams from around the country have been enjoying our Seahawk hospitality this week as UNCW hosts five early round games in the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championship. Congratulations to our men’s tennis team for earning the #1 seed for the CAA Tournament for the eighth time in team history.
Go Seahawks!
