Nathan's "day job" is webmaster at Virginia Wesleyan.
He was able to complete part of his work while
traveling to St. Lucia for missionary work.
VWC alum, employee combines missionary work with job
Nathan Giordano, Virginia Wesleyan College's webmaster, has taken the concept of telecommuting to the next level.
Giordano and his wife, Antonia, recently experienced a month-long missionary trip to St. Lucia, a small island in the Caribbean, where they preached and taught Bible study. Thanks to the Internet, he was still able to work for the college while participating in his missionary assignments.
Starting as a student from 1994-98, Giordano has been at the college for nine years. As webmaster he handles "all things Internet."
Giordano, a member of the Christadelphian Church, has completed several missionary trips, most in the Middle East and the United States. The opportunity to visit the Caribbean was something he could not pass up. He made arrangements with his supervisors to remain in contact with the college while in St. Lucia.
"One great thing about VWC is that the college encourages people to go and experience different things," he says. "That is another reason why I was able to go on this trip. If I were working anywhere else, I doubt I would be able to do what I did."
Giordano did most of his missionary work during the day and worked for the college at night. "Working about 20 hours a week, I was able to finish about two weeks worth of work while I was there," he says. Giordano used a local Internet cafŽ in the capital city of Castries.
"The cafŽ is not what we are used to in the United States. It was actually an upstairs room in a building with four computers linked to the Internet." Through e-mail he stayed current with college activities, and he could also access and monitor the web server.
"I could shut it down or reboot the server if I needed to," Giordano says. "I could also check up on any other problems that the Internet service might be having."
St. Lucia, an island between Martinique and St. Vincent, is only about 27 miles long and 14 miles wide, with a population of about 150,000.
"It takes about an hour to get from one side of the island to the other," Giordano says, adding that the experience of living on the tropical paradise was both educational and enjoyable.
"What astonished me most was that on every tree you could pick something off it and eat it. Bananas, coconuts, papaya - things we have to buy here in America for two dollars - you can just pick it for free."
Giordano says the people have been able to maintain their culture in spite of the rapid growth of technology. The lifestyle is very different from that of the United States, as people in St. Lucia don't have many luxuries.
"I came to understand that there were a lot of things that you don't need. You get to the realization that life is not uncomfortable without certain stuff." Giordano says each day started when the sun came up and ended when the sun went down. "Life there is more simplistic. You don't need a lot to get by."
The hardest part was "coming back the United States where life is so much more complicated." He found it difficult getting back into the daily run-around. "When we came back, we were faced with bills, appointments and busy schedules. It seriously got us down for about two weeks till we readjusted."
Garner recognized for accomplishments
Virginia Wesleyan welcomed back Cam L. Garner '72 by presenting him with an honorary doctor of science in April in recognition of his service to his profession and his community. Garner's degree was conferred during commencement 2002. Garner has worked throughout the healthcare industry from diagnostics and devices to pharmaceuticals for the past 25 years. As chairman and CEO of Dura Pharmaceuticals in San Diego, he raised the company's annual revenue from $2 million to more than $300 million in 11 years. He recently co-founded a specialty pharmaceutical company called Xcel Pharmaceuticals that focuses on treatments for central nervous system disorders. He is currently starting another company called Skid Pharmaceuticals. Also receiving an honorary degree this spring was Henry Clay Hofheimer, II, who was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree. Hofheimer, a trustee emeritus, was one of the community leaders who helped form the college.
Garden Party and Silent Auction
The third annual Garden Party and Silent Auction event was held on May 21 at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. Alumni, faculty and friends gathered at the event, which raised $3,200 for alumni programs and scholarships. Dr. Linda Ferguson (second from right) was recognized for her service to the Alumni Association for the past two years in the newly created position as faculty liaison. Dr. David Garraty will serve in the position for the next two years. Thanking Dr. Ferguson are (left to right): Gail Kellington '95, vice president; Bobby Collenberg '90, president; and Dell Young '74, immediate past president.
Alum provides basketball sponsor
Virginia Wesleyan cheerleaders surround a recipient of a Tyson Food's tee shirt and Tyson's banner during a basketball game in February. The banner was displayed during home games in Batten Student Center in recognition of the Tyson sponsorship this season made possible by Timothy W. Price '86, vice president of retail sales, Tyson Foods, Inc.