University Advancement & Alumni Relations

Friends of UNCW

The Friends of UNCW is a volunteer organization that formed in December 1963 to help Wilmington College (now UNCW) increase the library's holdings from 11,000 volumes to 50,000 volumes — a minimum requirement at the time for accreditation as a four-year institution. The Friends have been steadfast UNCW supporters for more 50 years.

The organization's current contributions include supporting a merit scholarship and annually funding special projects based on proposals from UNCW faculty and staff.

resources

Current Members

Officers

Margaret Freeman

President

Koula Katsikis

Vice President

Janine Powell '88

Treasurer

Kay Warren

Secretary

Janice Kingoff ’77

Advisor & Life Member

Louise Gorham ’59

Honorary Life Member

Board of Directors

Cynthia Boylan

Nan Caison ’83

Virginia Callaway

Happy Clark

Mary Coble ’80

Kathey Craig

Elizabeth Donald

Elizabeth Dunn

Suzanne Edwards’90

Julie Fisher ’83

Allison Graham

Brenda Harriss ’85

Alicia Keith

Dianne Kelly

Wendy Mitchell '87

Linda Miles

Janine Powell ’88

Peggy Rooks ’77

Leigh Venters ’88

Helen Wells

Rose Zimmer

Elizabeth Dunn Friends of UNCW

My job on these boards is to be a part of keeping the university vibrant, and on the map.

To speak with someone about the Friends of UNCW, contact:

Meghan Osborne
Special Events Coordinator
Friends of UNCW Liaison
(910) 962.7717
osbornem@uncw.edu

Grants Awarded

Each year, the Friends of UNCW awards grants from the support that they have raised. View some examples of the awards provided to students, faculty, campus and programs, or see all of this year's awards from the full list below.

Support for BaFa’ BaFa’ face-to-face learning simulations which enhances understanding of cultural differences so that teachers can better reach students.

Provides kitchen supplies for the new Military Resource Lounge to open in Veteran’s Hall.

A new vortex for the CMS molecular teaching lab used by both graduate and undergraduate students.

Support for the Coaction Lab, a collaborative faculty research initiative within the Digital Arts program.

Scholarships for students from underrepresented populations to participate in the Jr. Seahawk Academy and increase their interest in STEM programs.

UNCW student with tutee in the Education Lab

Grants Awarded Spring 2020

Grant to the Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences to help purchase a kiosk and signage at UNCW’s Ev-Henwood Nature Preserve to highlight trails and describe the wildlife and various ecosystems present.
Grant to the Office of Military Affairs for kitchen supplies for the new Military Resource Lounge to open in Veteran’s Hall. This space will be used daily by our military-affiliated students - many of whom live more than an hour or two away from UNCW’s main campus.
Grant to the School of Nursing to provide funding for Family Nurse Practioner students to participate in Drexel Colposcopy courses that will help them assist in the prevention of cervical cancer.
Grant to the Betty Holden Stike Education Lab within the Watson College of Education to purchase kitchen classroom supplies. These supplies help bring the math and reading concepts students are studying to life, through cooking.
Grant to the Department of Communication Studies to purchase new event tables for special gatherings in Leutze Hall to include student and alumni networking socials, guest lecturer receptions and more.
Grant to the Department of Biology and Marine Biology to purchase a new vortex for the CMS molecular teaching lab used by both graduate and undergraduate students.
Grant to Campus Life and Arts Programs to have select student art professionally framed for display in the Fisher University Union.
Grant to the Center for Marine Science to purchase a live fish hauling trailer for UNCW’s Aquaculture program to collect wild fish from recreational and commercial fisherman.
Grant to the Watson College of Education in support of BaFa’ BaFa’ face-to-face learning simulations which facilitate better understanding of cultural differences so that teachers can better reach students in multicultural classrooms.
Grant to the Office of Community Engagement and the Watson College of Education to purchase novels, notebooks, stamps and envelopes that will support a pen pal project between Elementary Education majors and local 5th graders.
Grant to the Department of Earth and Ocean Science to purchase an earthquake shake table for interactive learning in Geoscience.
Grant to the Jr. Seahawk Academy to support scholarships for students from underrepresented populations to participate in and increase their interest in STEM programs.
Grant to Youth Programs to purchase a wildlife camera and other supplies to help collect long-term data that will help determine the ecological condition of coastal wetlands in North Carolina.
Grant to MarineQuest to support SEAGEMS Girls Leadership Program that provides four free community outreach programs to girls ages 12-14 years old in underserved communities.
Grant to the Department of Art and Art History to support a faculty research initiative within the Digital Arts program. The solar-powered, mobile Coaction Lab focuses on art and science collaboration with experimental digital storytelling and data vis techniques during its regional research trip along the coast exploring coastal aquatic ecosystems, barrier islands and lighthouses.