Reynolda Gardens – worth the walk
We are starting to move much more into what I call good Spring weather – low to mid 70s tomorrow and Thursday, and a reported 81 projected for Friday. If your Deacs have not taken a walk out to Reynolda Gardens lately, they ought to. Our master photographer, Ken Bennett, took some great pictures of everything that is blooming in Reynolda Gardens, including a carpet of daffodils. You can see the pics at the end of this post. They are glorious.
A couple of emails of note from yesterday: our ’24s got their weekly edition of Letters So Dear. You can read it here, or see the archives. This edition is about the power of relationships with professors, and the author offers this great advice:
Stay two minutes after class and introduce yourself to your professor. Or get there 5 minutes early. Go to office hours, even if you understand the material you’re learning. If their research interests you, ask them about it. If a professor outside your major seems cool, then don’t be afraid to send an email their way.
College is about learning and growing and figuring out what kind of adult you want to be, and at Wake we are lucky to be surrounded by adults who want to help us figure that out. Take advantage of it.
Even in an online or blended modality, students can – and should – make that outreach to faculty (or staff) to create, nurture, and deepen connections.
Dr. Hatch also sent a message yesterday about Expanding the Narrative of Wake Forest and the Advisory Committee on Naming:
Today, I write to share with you the work of this committee, including the process and guiding principles that the committee has developed and will inform the work moving forward. Please take a moment to review the way the committee will approach its efforts.
The next step in this process is to engage our community in conversation around the principles and the work that is ahead. Soon, you will receive an invitation to participate in a community conversation about this topic. There are two ways to participate. First, there will be a brief survey that you may complete and submit. Second, there is an opportunity to participate in a Call to Conversation: Expanding the Narrative of Wake Forest University.
More details on this important initiative are to come and will be shared with the campus community when it is available.
Today I got a message from Riley Phillips (’21), editor-in-chief of the Howler, our yearbook. Due to increased demand, the Howler Yearbook team was able to receive approval to extend the WFU Senior Portraits and add additional times to the remaining days this week. Senior portraits will continue to be offered Monday – Wednesday next week, March 29 – 31. There are a lot of details; senior families can read the full message here.
Finally, want to make mention that today is Giving Societies Day. What does that mean? We are trying to find 100 alumni, parents and families, and friends of Wake Forest who will join a Giving Society. Giving Societies allow you to make a set gift each year for a five years; the money goes to our unrestricted funds (i.e., we can use the money where it is most needed). If COVID has taught us anything, it’s that uncertain times demand flexibility and innovation. Unrestricted giving via a Giving Society provides us with critical resources that enable us to adapt to emerging needs in real time. For $1,000 (or $83.33 a month), you can join the President’s Club Giving Society (and depending on where you work, your company may even double or triple your gift). If you can be one of our 100 new Giving Society members, make your pledge here and tell them the Daily Deac referred you.
— by Betsy Chapman, Ph.D. (’92, MA ’94)