The inauguration of a new president is a major event in the life of a college and so it is at Warren Wilson College. Steven L. Solnick, Ph.D., was inaugurated as Warren Wilson College’s 7th president on April 27. The highlight was the terrific inaugural address he delivered. Although a light rain started falling as he began to speak, it failed to dampen the enthusiasm with which his address was received by those who had gathered on the lawn. Congratulations, Mr. President, and also to Warren Wilson College.

Rick Gaukel ’05 was one of the five snowboarders killed in an avalanche Saturday in Colorado. Rick majored in outdoor leadership and lived in Estes Park, Colo. He was MVP of the Warren Wilson mountain bike team in 2005 and received the Outdoor Leadership Graduating Senior Award, which is special recognition by the Outdoor Leadership Studies Department for outstanding achievement in academics, professional practice, service and work.

Dr. Steven Solnick’s inauguration as Warren Wilson College’s seventh president will take place on Saturday, April 27, 2013. While presidential inaugurations are commonplace, here at Warren Wilson College our own community – student work crews, staff, faculty and many volunteers – build stages, grow food that’s being served during the festivities and tend to the landscape that enhances the breath-taking beauty that our campus is known for.

Warren Wilson and Sodexo Dining Services have signed the Real Food Challenge Commitment, partnering to become the first college in the Southeast to sign the agreement.

Ellen Ferguson, Margaret Friedline and Hannah Monroe presented original research completed for their senior theses at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Women’s Studies Association.

Congratulations to Trey Jones, Jake Soled and Stefan Trilling, students who presented original research at the Carolinas Conference for Undergraduate Psychology in Raleigh on Saturday, April 20.

Gray skies and a bit of rain didn’t diminish the enthusiasm of those who gathered for the inauguration April 27.

ENS/Sust. Ag. graduate Asher Wright ’08 will visit our campus on Wednesday, April 17. Asher has just completed a master’s degree program at Clemson focused on pasture-based beef production. He has won national recognition for this work and was named the American Forage and Grassland Council’s Emerging Scientist of 2013.

First it was Sage Cafe, seven rounds, and shibboleth. Then, a week later, the Diadasias proved their campus win was no fluke. Warren Wilson’s champion spelling bee team achieved county-wide fame last Thursday when they defeated twelve other estimable teams in the annual bee of the Literacy Council of Buncombe County. “You’d think English majors would win the bee,” one English major mused after the victory. “But botanists know so much Latin!”

You have chosen to be part of a special college community and we are excited to have you join us this fall.