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Today’s Email Announcements

1) Lees-McRae College Commencement Ceremony to be Held on May 9

Lees-McRae College will hold its annual commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 9 at 11 a.m. on Tate Lawn. As the culmination of the academic year, commencement is a special time for students, faculty, staff, families and the community to celebrate the accomplishments of the Lees-McRae College graduates. Lees-McRae College Board of Trustees chairman, Harvey Lowd, has been chosen as the 2015 Commencement speaker. Lowd will present his keynote address titled “Dream Big.”

As the founder of HLL Consulting, Lowd is a business leader with a passion to help other leaders be challenged, succeed and grow with their own businesses in North Carolina. Lowd was born and raised in Salem, Massachusetts. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Tufts University in 1970. In December of 1970, Lowd enlisted in the U.S. Army. After leaving active duty, he pursued a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Connecticut.

Lowd worked for GAF Corporation for 13 years in various sales, management and marketing roles and then worked for seven years as a General Manager of James River Corporation. He was the President and Chief Executive Officer of KAO Specialties Americas, a subsidiary of KAO Corporation of Tokyo, Japan. While president, he transformed the company from a local, privately owned chemical supplier to a global supplier of specialty chemicals. In 2007, Lowd started HLL Consulting where he serves as a coach and mentor to senior business executives. He facilitates 14 businesses in the Triad area.

In addition to serving on the Lees-McRae Board of Trustees, Lowd has served on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors for the American Chemistry Council, Wikoff Color Corporation, Red Cross and United Way, High Point Economic Development Corporation, Partners Ending Homelessness and the Kiwanis Club.

Lowd and his wife, Jan, live in High Point, North Carolina and are extremely proud of their two children, Andrew, a 2008 graduate of Lees-McRae, and Kristin, a 2008 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.

For more information about commencement, please visit lmc.edu/commencement.

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, Lees-McRae College is a private, four-year college offering diverse baccalaureate degrees, strong athletic programs and outstanding faculty. With 950 students hailing from 31 states and more than 8 countries, Lees-McRae’s broad core curriculum is enhanced by field-specific career preparation and experiential learning. For more information, please visit www.lmc.edu or call 828-898-5241.

2) “Young at Art Student Spectacular” Begins Next Week at Blowing Rock Art and History Museum

Beginning on Tuesday, May 5, the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM) will be hosting the Young at Art Student Spectacular! This special exhibit will feature art made by students from the Blowing Rock Elementary School who attend Young at Art classes at BRAHM throughout the school year.DSC_0599

Young at Art is an outreach program created by BRAHM several years ago in order to augment the arts curriculum for Blowing Rock students in kindergarten through 2nd grade. The program is funded by the Blowing Rock Community Foundation. Once a month, children visit the museum’s Education Center for a hands-on art lesson, as well as an introduction to the concept of a museum and basic museum etiquette.

“The students are exposed to art vocabulary, styles, techniques, and materials that I cannot provide in the daily routine of the classroom. It is wonderful to watch the children practice focus, creativity, and problem-solving skills while thinking outside the box. They love the experience,” says Mary Catherine Felts, a 2nd grade teacher at the Blowing Rock Elementary School.

This year’s art projects included everything from paper, hand-textured by the students and used for collages, to pastel and watercolor landscapes and clay faces, and each of the approximately 120 Young at Art students will exhibit one piece of artwork in the show. The Student Spectacular will open with a reception for the artists and their families.

“The children get a real sense of pride out of seeing their art displayed in the museum. At last year’s Student Spectacular reception, the students were just glowing as their pointed out their pieces to their parents and grandparents,” says Leila Weinstein, Young at Art instructor. “It was really a delight to see.”

The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum is a 501(c)(3) organization that promotes the visual arts, history, and heritage of the mountains through educational programs, exhibitions, and significant permanent collections. For more information on Young at art or BRAHM’s other educational programs, please visit the museum at www.BlowingRockMuseum.org or contact Leila Weinstein, Educational Programs Coordinator, at 828-295-9099 ext. 3006 or Leila@blowingrockmuseum.org.

3) Western Watauga Community Center to Host Rug Hooking and Fiber Arts Project on Monday

Participate in a special rug hooking and fiber arts project from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Western Watauga Community Center, 1081 Old U.S. Highway 421 in Sugar Grove, on Monday. Participants will make a 5-inch round proddy hooked flower pin in their choice of colors and type of flower. The $10 class includes materials (dyed wool yarn, wool fabric strips, backing, pin, hook and more). Limited space is available so register in advance by 4 p.m. on Friday, May 1 by calling 828-297-5195.

4) Western Watauga Community Center to Host Spring Fling Jewelry Sale Tuesday through Thursday

The Wester Watauga Community Center, 1081 Old U.S. Highway 421 in Sugar Grove, will host its Spring Fling Jewelry Sale just in time for Mother’s Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (May 5-7). The program will feature handcrafted jewelry made in the beading and jewelry making guild held every Tuesday. Products will range from $5-$40 each and will include necklaces, bracelets featuring semiprecious gemstones, crystals, glass beads, wire-wrapped natural stones and lamp work glass. Call 828-297-5195 for more information.

5) Medi Home Hospice to Host Camp Hope Grief Program for Children on May 30.

Medi Home Hospice will host the annual Camp Hope program from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., including a family celebration from 4;4:30 p.m., on May 30 at Holston Presbyterian Camp, 6993 Hickory Nut Gap Road in Banner Elk. The day camp is free for participating children, including meals and activities.

Campers in first through eighth grades and camper mentors in high school are invited to participate. Campers will be able to share experiences and talk about  the grief they have come to know through the death of loved one. The camp will include a mix of fun, recreation and structured activities to foster sharing and healing through small group interaction.

Pre-registration is required and due by Friday, May 15. Registration forms may be picked up in school offices or at the office of Medi Home Hospice. To request a form by mail, contact bereavementmsa@msa-corp.com or call 828-733-0663.

Forms can be dropped off at Medi Home Hospice, 1955 Newland Highway, or mailed to P.O. Box 1357, Newland, 28657. Forms must be received by 5 p.m. on May 15.

6) Humane Society Golf Tournament to be Held at Blowing Rock Country Club on May 15

The Watauga Humane Society will host its fourth annual golf tournament on Friday, May 15 at the prestigious course at the Blowing Rock Country Club. Shotgun start at 1:30 p.m., $135 per player. Entry fee includes cart and green fee, lunch, event prizes, goody bag, hor d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Contact Reba at 828-265-6784 for more information.