Three alumni recognized with awards
The Virginia Wesleyan Alumni Association recognized four alumni with awards at the 9th Annual Alumni Association Scholarship Auction & Party on Friday, April 24, 2009 in the newly modernized Hofheimer Library at Virginia Wesleyan College.
Angela Ward Costello '87 , Distinguished Alumnus Award
Angela Ward Costello graduated from Virginia Wesleyan with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Services. She is also an alumna of Harvard Business School. She served as the Director of Animation at CBN for 14 years and has won more than 45 National and International secular awards. Her groundbreaking endeavors have brought Christian animation into the mainstream. Her two nominations for animation Oscars, known as “Annies”, have been historical for CBN. The Hollywood Animated Film Society had never before, in their 25-year history, recognized a Christian production for its quality and technical accomplishment. Since 1996, the CBN Animation Team has won more than 25 industry awards for creating outstanding television for children. In 2008, the International Academy of Visual Arts awarded Angela and the Storyteller Café series with its highest honor in three categories: “Children’s Audience”, “Use of Animation”, and “Use of Music”. Other honors she has received include: CBC National Award for Children's Programming presented in England by Baroness Caroline Cox in 2007; Telly Award for Beyond The Manger in 2007 (Best Children’s Program and Best Original Music); Telly Award for The Lions Den in 2006 (Best Children's Program, Best Home Video, Best Original Music and Best Use of Animation); AXIEM Award (Excellence in Electronic Media) for The Lions Den in 2006 (Best Children's Television Program and Best Children's Animated Program); the Omni Award for The Lions Den in 2006 (Best Computer Animated Program); Telly Award for The Rebel in 2004 (Best Children's Program); AXIEM Award (Excellence in Electronic Media) for The Rebel in 2004 (Best Children's Television Program and Best Original Music); and the Omni Award for The Rebel in 2004 (Best Computer Animated Program and Best Animated Program). She currently serves as a Harvard Alumni Association Class Correspondent, a member of the Fulbright Association Board of Directors, a member of the World Affairs Council, a member of New Covenant Church Women’s Ministry, a Board Member of the New Covenant Church and a Contemporary service speaker. Her personal passion for missions has resulted in work in India, Africa, Philippines, Russia and the USA.
Martine Green '02, G.O.L.D. Award
Martine Green graduated from Virginia Wesleyan with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater followed by an MA in Theater, History and Criticism (concentration: Dramaturgy) at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. in 2004. Martine is in the Theater and Drama PhD program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and currently serves as the Visiting Instructor of Drama at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. Her areas of expertise are in Production Dramaturgy, Social Justice Theatre, Contemporary African-American Theatre and Shakespeare. Her dramaturgical credits include: FAIR Fellowship Recipient in Dramaturgy at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, dramaturge for the 2008 Oregon Shakespeare Festival's productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream and Fences, dramaturge for University of Wisconsin-Madison's productions of The Mystery of Irma Vep, Yellowman, and Crumbs from the Table of Joy, dramaturge for 10 Perfect and The Curious Walk of the Salamander as part of the 2006 and 2007 Madison Repertory Theatre's New Play Festival, and dramaturge for A Thousand Words as part of the 2008 WI Wrights New Play Festival. Her producing credits include: Producer for UW-Madison's Theatre for Cultural and Social Awareness Documentary, Producer for the 2006 and 2007 UW-Madison Multicultural Orientation and Reception, and Producer for the McBurney Disability Resource Center Documentary. She is also the current Literary Manager and Dramaturge for the Classical Theatre Company in Houston, TX as well as on the Board of Directors for The Hegira Theatre Company in Washington, DC.
Charles “Chuck” Cassidy, Jr. '92 , Alumni Service Award
Chuck Cassidy graduated from Virginia Wesleyan College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and received a master’s in education from Cambridge College. He is currently serving as a Director of Youth Ministries at Virginia Beach United Methodist Church. Chuck has been working in the ministerial field since 1989 and has served in youth ministry since 1997. He oversees as many as 120 youth on Sunday nights in the church’s CREW (Christians Riding the Eternal Wave) group. His youth ministry at Virginia Beach United Methodist consists of extensive programming and spiritual development for students in grades 5-12. Some of his programs include: Sunday Night Youth Fellowship, Youth Retreats, Youth Music, Scouting, a silent auction and dinner fundraiser, mission trips to Puerto Rico, Bible Study, sacred dance, after school outreach, and a number of volunteer opportunities. Chuck puts in many hours during the day and night to minister to the children at Virginia Beach United Methodist Church and steer them down the right path.
Kevin Clary '84, Alumni Service Award
Kevin Clary graduated from Virginia Wesleyan with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. For nine years he served as the director of alumni relations at Virginia Wesleyan College. Prior to that, he served as an admissions counselor at the College. He was formerly with the graduate Studies Department at Chowan College. When Kevin left Virginia Wesleyan, it was his desire to minister to the youth and he found his place and his home volunteering his time with his church, Trinity United Methodist on the Peninsula. In addition, he served as youth director with Fox Hill UMC. After his death this past October, his family set up the Kevin L. Clary Endowed Scholarship. This scholarship benefits Virginia Wesleyan students. His love of the College and love of those who knew him so well understand how fitting this living memorial is to the way he lived and his dreams of making him a servant of the Lord he loves. Those who knew and loved him will remember him for his soft spoken Southern accent, his gentle humor and kindly ways.