As President of one of Delaware’s largest independent insurance agencies, L & W Insurance, Board of Trustee member and dedicated Wesley dad William J. Strickland has already proven to be a natural fit to lead Wesley’s most dedicated constituents. He was recently appointed the first president of the Wesley Society, a cultivation group for annual donors of $1,000 or more who have pledged to become instrumental partners in Wesley’s advancement efforts. The enthusiasm Strickland has shown through his involvement with the local community and his dedication to the College thus far have set the stage for a prosperous new beginning for the Wesley Society under his leadership.

Strickland first became involved with Wesley College through his son Justin, who earned both a bachelor’s degree and master’s in business administration at Wesley. “While at Wesley, Justin gained a great education, played football and baseball and grew as a person. His Wesley experience was firstrate and as a parent, I am very appreciative of the significant role that Wesley played in his development,” said Strickland. He and his wife Okemah have always felt a tremendous sense of gratitude toward the College for the impact it has had on their son, and they see their contributions as small tokens of their appreciation.

Strickland expressed, “It is my desire to help Wesley College ascend to a higher level as an institution and frankly speaking, it takes money to do so.”

Strickland is equally quick to point out a community perspective of why giving to Wesley is so important. As a savvy businessman, he knows firsthand the profound economic impact that the College has on the greater Dover area, due to students and staff patronizing local businesses, restaurants and retail stores. “I feel Wesley is going to be a catalyst for the ongoing effort to revitalize the downtown Dover area,” he said.

As president of the Wesley Society, Strickland sees his role as a facilitator in developing and strengthening the relationships between Wesley and its donors, not only in the context of giving, but in having a sense of ownership in the future of the College. He will serve as an ambassador for Wesley and work closely with staff member Cathy Anderson, hired in December as director of the Wesley Society, in providing insight to current and potential Society members on the great initiatives going on at the College.

Strickland knows that Wesley cannot accomplish significant campus improvements without stronger financial support from alumni, parents, community members and other donors. He said, “Wesley Society members are partners who share a common goal of helping the College maximize its potential to better serve our growing student body.” He explained that there are many institutional needs that will not be addressed without an ongoing strong financial commitment, and he emphasized that the Wesley Society is the vehicle that will provide that commitment.

Strickland encourages those who have not already done so to spend time with President Bill Johnston. “Bill’s dynamic vision and ‘can do’ attitude are so inspiring and create a high level of confidence about our future,” he expressed.

“Becoming a Wesley Society member will allow alumni, parents and friends to support Bill’s vision for our future. Overall, your membership will solidify your relationship with Wesley College and directly impact what is a most promising future for this institution.”

For more information on how to become a charter member of the Wesley Society, click here or contact Cathy Anderson, director of the Wesley Society, at 302–736-2410 or andersca@wesley.edu

Although she easily blends in with her fellow students at the Student Government Association (SGA) meeting or when she’s assisting with Orientation programming for next year’s freshman class, Veronica Conte is not your ordinary coed. Not only is she an adult learner with a family of her own, but she also has been on enough college campuses to know what she wants in a higher education institution. And she knew immediately when she found that in Dover, Delaware.

Conte is a first-year nursing student at Wesley College working towards her second bachelor’s degree. She received her first undergraduate degree—a Bachelor of Science in psychology— from Northwestern University. She earned this in only two years, sometimes taking 32 credits a semester. Since Northwestern allowed at most 22 credits a semester with special permission, Conte was enrolled at three different schools at once, including Central Texas University and St. Leo University, in order to fulfill her goal. Despite the heavy course load, Conte was a Dean’s list student and a member of the honor society in psychology.

After beginning her next pursuit for a degree from an accelerated nursing program, Conte attended Drexel University, but then transferred to Wesley. She explained, “I live in Middletown, Delaware and Drexel is about an hour’s drive. It’s a lot of traffic and the commute was not working out for me, particularly in an accelerated program.” Conte felt that not living near campus put her at a disadvantage academically. “With my family demands and two hours a day being eaten up by travel, I was not readily available to study after classes in the lab or work on group projects as the students living on or near campus could.”

As a non-traditional student, the fact that Conte is married with two teenage children has not stopped her from being highly active with campus life at Wesley. She is a member of the Student Nurses Association, an SGA representative for the International Student Association and serves on both the Student Activities Board and the Orientation Panel. She was even asked to sit in on an employment interview for a professor who could potentially become one of her teachers.

“Wesley is extremely transparent, like with town meetings. They don’t do that at other schools. I was so astonished when I went to this meeting and they started talking about what’s going on in my department of study. Wesley has made itself more student-oriented than other schools. Even though it’s a smaller school, I believe that in the long run it’s going to help with the satisfaction and retention.”

Conte’s family is very supportive of her educational endeavors and they help her juggle the roles of wife, mother, volunteer and student. This gives her a chance to attend to her studies. In her time away from the classroom, Conte also does extensive volunteer work. Her husband of 18 years was in the military for 10 years and during that time, Conte volunteered for various programs. Now she is in the process of becoming a Red Cross certified disaster relief volunteer and is scheduled to help with a Habitat for Humanity project in her hometown. She also participated in Wesley’s Relay for Life program to support the American Cancer Society.

Although Wesley College is the smallest institution that Conte has attended, she is most proud to be a Wesley student. Her professors’ accessibility is a welcome change for her, and she has great respect in particular for her advisor, Dr. Robert Contino. She also praises the administration, especially President Johnston and Dean Mary-Alice Ozechoski, who always have time to stop and chat with her and ask about her family. “I am happy to have found a place that feels like home.”

Some People like to stay busy. Then there’s Jacques Bowe ’10. It’s hard to find an organization in which this 2010 graduate was not involved in during his time at Wesley. A captain on the men’s basketball team, Bowe was the president of the Wesley College Student Athlete Advisory Council, the vice president of the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC), a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a resident assistant in Malmberg Hall, a student ambassador for the Admissions Office, a member of the College’s Gospel Choir, an employee in the Office of Student Activities, vice president of the campus Legal Society and a member of the Advisory Committee for Legal Studies. And that’s just on-campus involvement.

Outside of school, Bowe has been active in his church, the Pentecostal Church of God (PCOG) in Lincoln, Delaware; a drummer in both the Pentecostal Highlights and the Future Generation; a member of the National Youth Department Planning Committee for the PCOG; and he volunteers at the Old Manor Nursing Home in Milford, Delaware.

When he first came to Wesley, Bowe had plans to play both football and basketball. After two years of both sports, he gave up football to focus on basketball. “When I became an RA, playing two sports was too much,” he said. “That’s when I became dedicated to improving on the court.”

Head Coach Jerry Kobasa also noticed the hard work. “When Jacques came into our program, he was an outstanding athlete who happened to play basketball,” he recalled. Over the years, he just worked harder and harder to become a better player.”

The move paid off. After averaging only 8.4 minutes per game and just 1.5 points and an equal number of rebounds as a freshman and sophomore, Bowe hit the gym. As a junior, he added the threepoint shot to his arsenal and set career highs in nearly every category as a key reserve on the Wolverines’ run to the CAC Championship and first NCAA Tournament appearance.

But Mr. Everything wasn’t done yet. After another summer of hard work, Bowe was named one of two team captains for his senior year. He also emerged as a scoring threat, and his numbers in almost every category across the board surpassed those of his first three seasons combined. When injuries among teammates struck and he was given his first career start, he did not disappoint. He hit five threes on his way to a career high 17 points. Bowe remained in the starting lineup for six more games and averaged 10.9 points per game over that time.

“Before this year, Coach [Kobasa] told me I’d be a captain,” he said. “We went over how I would need to take on a leadership role with the team and developed a plan with coaches. Come early, stay late.”

The decision to make Bowe a captain was an easy one for the coaching staff. “Jacques has always put the team first,” Kobasa observed. “There was never a time that it was Jacques first, team second. And that’s what makes him a successful leader. The team knew that when he said something, it had meaning and substance.”

“Jacques is the kind of player that if you had a son, that’s who you’d want him to be like,” Kobasa continued. “He always best represented the program and the school.”

In part because of Bowe’s play, the Wolverines kept rolling through the regular season and into the CAC Tournament, earning a trip to the finals for the second straight year. Wesley’s win in the CAC Semifinals was the team’s 19th—a school record at the Division III level. The Wolverines fell in the conference title game, but still earned their second straight NCAA berth.

Among his off-campus activities, Bowe takes great pride in his volunteerism, knowing it makes a difference to others. This is particularly true in his role at the Old Manor Nursing Home. “We minister to the residents and also just spend time with them, talking,” he noted. “Basically we just try to brighten someone’s day while we’re there.”

Now that Bowe has graduated from Wesley, he plans to attend law school and his past endeavors have prepared him for that path. As president of the Legal Society, he organized different events for students in the program, including workshops to prepare for the LSATs. In addition, as a student representative on the Advisory Committee for Legal Studies, a group made up largely of lawyers, judges and other legal professionals, he has gained exposure to a professional network in the field. In preparation for his future plans, Bowe also is doing an internship with the law firm of Donovan & Hopkins. He assists in trial preparation, conducts research for cases, and aids in formulating trial strategies. He will spend this summer studying for the LSATs and getting ready for law school.

“Jacques is the kind of worker that is always successful,” Kobasa observed. “He is not afraid of challenges or putting in the effort to reach any goal he sets for himself. That’s what will make him successful in the real world.”

Founders Day Food Drive

For Wesley’s 137th Founders Day celebration, the planning committee integrated a community service project as a demonstration of the College’s Methodist values and history of service to the area. Grocery bags were distributed around campus to faculty, staff and students as well as area residents so that participants could collect non-perishable food items to donate. Student athletes did their part by filling two campus vans with donations they collected at the Super Fresh and Acme markets in Dover on March 17. By the time the Food Bank picked up the College’s donation, the Wesley community had collected 2,994 pounds of food that would benefit the reported 241,600 people who receive emergency food each year through the Food Bank of Delaware.

123 = ABC: In 1 Day, 20 Blocks in Downtown Dover Will Receive Over 300 Hours of Volunteer Service Resulting in A Beautiful Community.

On August 21, the incoming Class of 2014 will take to the streets as Wesley College partners up with the Dover Housing Authority, the Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity and the Office of Senator Thomas Carper in one of the biggest clean-up projects the city of Dover has ever seen. The clean-up crew will consist of approximately 500 incoming freshmen, as well as faculty and staff, community members and returning student athletes.

The 123=ABC event is a one day community clean-up project focusing on improving curb appeal and streetscape. Volunteers will work on several streets within a 20 block radius in downtown Dover, picking up trash, painting curbs and planting flowers and shrubs. Interested in learning more or becoming a volunteer? Click here.

Helping Haiti

It did not take long for an earthquake to change Haiti forever. It also did not take long for the Wesley College campus to organize. In response to the horrifying catastrophe, the Wesley community came together to demonstrate its compassion and support.

Over a two day period in January, a total of 248 students contributed to the cause by fasting and giving up 342 cafeteria meals. The cost of those meals was donated by Aramark Food Service to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), an agency that is currently on the ground in Haiti, helping in the recovery of the country from its disastrous earthquake.

For several weeks in January and February, the Residence Hall Association (RHA), under the leadership of resident assistant Ashleigh Maser, sold $1 hearts for display around the campus. These proceeds directly supported the Haiti Plunge Project’s Relief Fund for Haiti, which is helping to create sustainable development through agricultural cooperatives in the mountains of Haiti’s central plateau. The RHA also held a clothing drive and collected new and gently used clothing for the Red Cross in conjunction with Senator Thomas Carper’s office.

Alumnus William “Bill” Willis, Jr. ’66 and proud Wesley parent Kathleen Jennings became the newest members of the Wesley College Board of Trustees in March. “I am elated that Ms. Jennings and Mr. Willis have joined Wesley’s Trustees. They bring talents and experience that will complement our Board as we continue to grow as an institution. Each is articulate, energetic, actively involved in the life of Delaware, and shares a vision for Wesley College. Their perspectives and expertise will be helpful as we shape Wesley for the future,” said President Bill Johnston.

Willis is president of Willis Chevrolet, with dealerships in both Smyrna and Middletown, Delaware. After graduating from Wesley College and West Virginia Wesleyan College and then serving two years in the U.S. Army, Willis returned to work for the family business and make an impact in his community. He serves on the Board of Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware and is an active member of Asbury United Methodist Church. He has 40 years of service in the automobile industry and is a former president of the Delaware Automobile and Truck Dealers Association (DATDA). He also represents Delaware as a member of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA).

Jennings is an attorney and partner at Biddle & Reath, LLP in Wilmington, Delaware, practicing criminal defense and regulatory enforcement, among other fields of law. She was previously a partner at WolfBlock, LLP as well as Oberly, Jennings & Rhodunda P.A., both in Wilmington. From 1993 to 1995, she served as chief deputy attorney general. Prior to that position, Jennings was acting state prosecutor in the criminal division and deputy attorney general. An alumnus of the University of Delaware and Villanova University School of Law, Jennings is also a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Her daughter Rebecca is a current sophomore at Wesley.

“Personally, I have always valued education for its ability to enrich our intellectual awareness of the world and to open doors for success in America. The future of our youth, and for that matter this country, resides in the success of our educational system. There is no higher priority,” said Jennings.

It is near impossible to get a nation, let alone the world, to commit to a new lifestyle unless it has been done before and proven to be successful. After over 50 years in real estate and development, Fred Spain ’58 is in the midst of showing the nation how it’s done. Along with his partner, world renowned LEEDS architect Douglas H. Carter, Spain has acquired the land and is acquiring the funds to develop an entire town that addresses the realities that lie ahead: global warming, rising energy costs and scarcity of resources. In the near future, Ranson, West Virginia will be a shining example of how Americans can live a new lifestyle that is eco-friendly and attainable.

Spain has had an appreciation for natural life since he was a boy. Just after World War II, his parents bought a 50 acre apple and peach farm in Delanco, New Jersey, right on the Delaware River. As Spain grew up, his memories broadened from life on the farm to life on the river. During that time, he hunted ducks and geese, trapped muskrats and fished the rivers and creeks in New Jersey. He has owned several boats during his life and now is captain of “Reel Easy,” a 55-foot sport fishing boat. This easily explains the nickname of “Mark Trail” listed under his class photo in the Eukairia, Wesley’s yearbook.

Although he was a natural guide when it came to exploring the outdoors, Spain was on the receiving end when a high school friend named Al Snow led him to discover Wesley Junior College, where he would begin his higher education. Snow was going into the Seminary, a path Spain also had entertained, so the United Methodist institution had a unique draw. After a meeting with President Slaybaugh and some convincing of Spain’s parents, the 18-year-old from Delanco officially became a Wolverine.

“My two years at Wesley were my growing up years,” said Spain. Wesley was a new beginning where he found lifelong friends by joining the Student Council and the football team. He also found strong mentors like Dean Sterling and Lewis “Uncle Louie” Wells. “I think I can say without hesitation, that all of us from the Class of 1958 believe that without Wesley, we would never have seen the bright light of day and what the world truly offered.”

Even though more than 50 years have passed since his days at Wesley, Spain can still recall a course assignment that has forever shaped his perspective. He reminisced, “My most memorable experience of ‘awakening’ my spirit happened when Professor Wells gave us an assignment to write about what we experienced when we read ‘Seeing Life’ by Alexander Baron. I have been trying to see life every day since.”

Fred’s yearbook portrait

Spain became interested in real estate when he transferred to American University after Wesley. In 1959 he landed his first real estate job and obtained his license. Almost 20 years later, Spain, with his wife Barbara, bought the BetterHomes and Gardens real estate franchise for the Washington metropolitan area. In addition to operating his realty business, he developed numerous commercial and residential projects covering more than 3,000 acres in Prince William, Fairfax, Culpeper and Loudoun counties in Virginia. He later sold his real estate offices to the broker managers so that he could focus exclusively on land acquisition and development. In 1988 the Spains purchased a 200 acre apple farm in Fauquier County, Virginia, which the couple owned for about 10 years before moving back to Washington to a house on the Potomac River.

Among the many posts throughout his career, Spain is a past first vice president of the Northern Virginia Board of Realtors and past chairman of its Fair Housing Committee. He is a member of Jefferson County Citizens for Economic Preservation and National Association of Realtors and earned the distinction of being named among the “Oustanding Young Men in America” in 1976.

Spain’s football pose

The Spains are now the principal brokers for American Realty and Management in Maryland and Virginia. He and Barbara also own the West End Group Investors, LLC, ADS Developers, LLC and Grand Vista, LLC, which serve Martinsburg and Ranson in West Virginia. The West End Group and Grand Vista are currently developing over 1,300 acres of residential and commercial land to eventually become “RansonGreen: A West Virginia Community for a Carbon Free Future.”

For the past five years, Spain has worked tirelessly to obtain properties and research the latest technologies that are required to create a sustainable city. “With the economy so stressed these days, we have found that the investors and manufacturers of green products need a place to display them — in a true world working environment where these new products can be seen and tweaked,” said Spain. “There is no better place to do this than in homes and commercial buildings that are using them in their daily routines.”

Situated in one of the most historic areas of the country and neighboring Charles Town and Harper’s Ferry, the town of Ranson could not be a more ideal location to “build the future on the best of the past.” The land boasts beautiful fields, mountains and rivers, yet is close enough for residents to commute to Washington, D.C. while enjoying a 33 percent lower cost of living. With business already thriving in its surrounding area, Ranson has all the potential needed to set the new standard. “We are set to prove that our project can produce enough pure energy, with electric and hydrogen being the power supply and reserve, to run our houses, transportation and businesses from the utilization of wind, solar and biological degeneration of waste.” Existing on clean and renewable energy sources, the urban design and architecture of RansonGreen will provide a home to more than 12,000 individuals and families as well as major corporations and small businesses. The vision is an all-encompassing community that offers a variety of shopping and entertainment along with recreational, civic and cultural activities for its residents.

Fred and Barbara Spain pose with Wally, Wesley’s mascot, at Homecoming.

Beyond all the hard work they do every day, the Spains continue to enjoy the life they lead and try to keep up with their 13 grandchildren. “We appreciate the many opportunities that going green has offered us with new technologies developed by wonderful people who are working toward building an environment that supports and defends planet Earth,” Spain remarked. While persevering in order to complete the RansonGreen project, he and Barbara see a future filled with green cities “for generations of humans to come forth and enjoy the beautiful planet as we have been able to during our many years of life.”

The Wellness Center at Wesley is new and improved in 2010. Its purpose has always been to provide free, quality healthcare services on campus so students don’t have to outsource their medical needs. Now however, having recently relocated to the basement of Carpenter Hall, the Center is much better equipped to meet the demands of a growing student population. In addition, wellness at Wesley now means both physical and mental well-being in one convenient location.

Before the move, the College nurse’s office was located on the first floor of Carpenter Hall and needed a keycard for entry. Since the move, health services have become keycard free, meaning no IDs are necessary. Convenience in terms of services offered is the most significant advantage, as both the counseling services and healthcare are now in the same location for the first time in Wesley’s recent history. The central location in Carpenter Hall is still beneficial for all students, since it is in close proximity for commuters coming to and from classrooms and is surrounded by residence halls so it is easily accessible for on-campus students.

But location isn’t everything. Jill Maser, director of health services, appreciates all the square footage they have gained with the move to the ground floor. “We love the space. It’s nice because we now have a triage room, a treatment room, a check-in area, and client inter-office space,” Maser said. The additional space has been a much needed improvement and will allow for increased functionality of the Wellness Center. It now offers six separate rooms for evaluation, compared to the four dispersed dorm rooms that were previously used. Each of the new evaluation rooms is also larger in size and can more comfortably accommodate patients.

Director of Counseling Services Ann Rogge, Director of Health Services Jill Maser and Nursing student Brandon Hoskins in the new Wellness Center.

The move also has created added benefits for patient confidentiality and practicality. With the space to now serve dual purposes for medical and mental healthcare, having students in one general waiting room provides anonymity of their awaiting services among fellow patients. Ann Rogge, director of counseling services, explained, “The increase in confidentiality has been a really positive thing. The move has been terrific in reserving that confidentiality.” The counseling office was previously located in the Office of Student Life, a very public environment near the main lobby area in the College Center. Rogge feels her clients appreciate the change of scenery and improved sense of privacy. Combining the resources of the counseling center and the health center also makes good sense for treatment purposes, since often times, students with certain medical conditions are struggling with stress and anxiety surrounding that. Now they can seek counseling at the same time and in the same location.

Aside from the new Wellness Center area being a more comfortable and convenient environment for students, the improvements also have changed the way students at Wesley are thinking about wellness as part of their lifestyle. “It is moving students away from just going to see the nurse or the doctor, or the counselor. They are really starting to think about what they are doing to keep themselves healthy, because it is a multidimensional thing,” stated Mary-Alice Ozechoski, dean of students. “So, to us this feels like an opportunity to say to students that as you graduate from college and you think about adulthood, and as you get older, wellness becomes more and more important.”

The Wellness Center has introduced new programming and wellness lifestyle sessions to go hand in hand with the new outlook among students. One new program is a weight loss support group, in which individuals are coming together once a week to talk about what is working for them in terms of dieting and fitness. They are getting more regular exercise, weighing in, and gaining valuable nutritional information as a result. “These are the types of programs that we think this Center will allow us to continue to do,” Ozechoski explained. The Wellness Center staff hopes its expanded services will engage more students and help them to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle one step at a time.

For more information on the Wellness Center, click here for Counseling and here for Health Services.

BY EMILY ENNIS ’10

From left: Megan Varga, Amber Bell, Tanner Polce, RHA Advisor Kevin Hansbury ’00, Ladonna De’Souza, Bryan Zarou, Devon Reynolds and Jessica Barranco.

For an incoming freshman, adjusting to dorm life can be a scary experience. The toilet is overflowing. Now what? My roommate is a bully. Who can help me? Luckily, the newly instated Residence Hall Association (RHA) exists to help with these problems and other issues that students commonly face when learning to live away from home. The RHA serves all residents at the College, providing representation and programming opportunities for students living in Wesley’s various residence halls, including the Joseph S. Bellmeyer Honors House.

The RHA has been approved by the Student Government Association to become an official student organization in the fall, and it will be composed of a campus-wide executive board with an executive director, executive business manager, special programs chair and executive secretary. The executive board was elected this spring and each residence hall will hold elections in the fall for its individual hall council, consisting of a president, vice president, treasurer, program coordinator and secretary. “The RHA is there to represent the voices of the students,” said Director of Residence Life Kevin Hansbury ’00. He explained how the Residential Living  can address any concerns or suggestions the residents might have to improve student life and the residential atmosphere.

Although the organization was not officially approved until recently, the RHA has already developed a following and has begun to make its mark on the College’s campus. Since community service is a priority for the RHA, the group has already helped with food drives and other charity causes such as the Giving Tree program this past December. As part of this program, the members purchased Christmas gifts for foster children and held an event on campus in which they gave each child a bag of gifts and provided dinner and activities for the participants. The night concluded with a visit from Santa Claus. The RHA also has donated clothing and food for the Haiti relief efforts.

The RHA looks forward to collaborating with other student organizations for community projects. “The RHA is a great way for students who live on campus to get involved with the local and greater communities, and quickly engage with other students. Students know that their interests arerepresented through RHA,” said Hansbury.

Involvement in the RHA not only enhances the living experiences for the students but also those of fellow local residents. Students can become familiar with their new Dover home by volunteering and helping to shape their campus and the community into an even better place. The program currently has 14 members, but with a new semester this fall and a new incoming class, the group expects its membership to grow significantly.

“RHA is a great tool, for first-year students in particular, to have an easy entry to engagement at Wesley,” said Hansbury. It is a welcome addition among Wesley student organizations and one that will further strengthen residence life at the College and make Wesley even more community-oriented.

Head Football Coach Mike Drass, Jane Richter, Hattye Mae Biddle and President Johnston outside the new Athletics House.

The Wesley College Athletics Department recently found a new home, as several offices were relocated to what was formerly the Little School on North Queen Street in Dover. When the Little School moved in 2009 from its old location to a new building on Mont Blanc Boulevard in Dover, Wesley was able to acquire the former site, conveniently located adjacent to Wesley West Fieldhouse and one block away from Scott D. Miller Stadium.

The acquisition of much-needed office space has been an exciting development for the College and the Athletics Department specifically. It has precipitated repositioning of many team and coaches’ offices to consolidate the Department in one central area, making operations more efficient as well as more convenient for prospective students and families.

To fill what is now being called the Wesley Athletics House, the Department’s administrative office, the sports information office and track & field offices were moved from the ground floor of the DuPont College Center. The football offices were repositioned from the Football House on Governors Avenue and the men’s soccer office, formerly located in the International House on State Street, also shifted to the newly acquired space. The women’s lacrosse office also found a new home in the Athletics House, freeing up space for the baseball office to move from the ground floor of the DuPont College Center to Wesley West. The office space vacated by Athletics has been reassigned to the Nursing Department, another campus program happy to have some extra room.

The Little School is one of the oldest preschools in Delaware, having served over four generations of children in the building on North Queen Street. It was founded in 1954 by Hattye Mae Biddle, who then passed the reins to her handpicked successor, Jane Richter, in 1975.When it came time for owner and operator Richter to consider the future of the Dover preschool, she decided to join with two local Little School alumni and parents, along with the owners of the popular Kids Cottage in Lewes, Delaware, to form a new partnership and build a beautiful new facility in town— The Little School at Kids Cottage. The Little School’s administration was glad to see their former home put to good use. The Wesley administration certainly shares the sentiment.

“The Little School has been an icon in the community for generations and Wesley College is very pleased to be the next generation of caretakers of this property,” President Bill Johnston expressed. “The reputation for care and interest in our youth, which began with Mrs. Biddle and Mrs. Richter, will continue through the college students served on this site.”

When Michele Mules ’10 came to Wesley College, she came with a mental checklist. She wanted a small school, Division III athletics and professors with heart. She also is a young woman with her eyes set on the prize. After just graduating from Wesley in May, she feels satisfied that her undergraduate goals have been met and she is prepared for her next step in life. This August, she will head to University of Chicago in Illinois with a passion to follow corporate law. Mules came to Wesley to play basketball, and found that the school had a lot more to offer. Shortly after arriving, she found her niche at Wesley and prospered from her involvement on campus. As a dual-sport athlete in basketball and softball, she learned how difficult it can be to manage being a part of a team while keeping up with academics. However, sports became her saving grace and taught her valuable life lessons. “Sports have kept me on track and taught me time management,” she explained. “I have also learned teamwork, and that it is always okay to ask for help.”

After finding her way on and off the court, Mules began contemplating her future aspirations. She pursued a double major in English and legal studies, hoping to settle on her career path. Mules expressed, “The small classroom sizes and the oneon– ones I have had with my professors have been very important to my education.” She gives credit to the faculty for providing an intellectual and personal college education. “Our professors care,” she stated. Through the efforts of faculty members such as Dr. Linda De Roche, a provider of guidance, and Dr. Flora Hessling, Mules’ inspiration, she found her passion and chose to pursue it.

In addition to allowing her the opportunity to shine in the classroom and among the campus community, the small school environment at Wesley also afforded Mules a chance to shine on the playing field. A three-year starter for both the women’s basketball and softball teams, she improved each season. On the basketball court, she established herself as a strong defender and her 122 career three-point field goals rank her among the school’s all-time leaders. On the softball diamond, she emerged to lead the team with a .370 batting average as a junior.

Residence life at Wesley was one of the most meaningful ingredients in Mules’ college experience. It offered her a sense of community of which she will forever feel a part, knowing that many individuals she met will become lifelong friends. In the College’s future, she hopes that residence life programs will continue to reinforce the Wesley community bond and thus help keep more students on campus, active and out of trouble.

“Residence life has taught me about the importance of professionalism,” Mules said. This lesson will serve her well as she moves on to law school and her future career. She may be traveling across the country to pursue her next educational goal, but she will always have a home back at Wesley.