News & Announcements

Statement from the President

Washington Adventist University

August 30, 2011
Dr. Virginia-Gene Rittenhouse, Beloved Director and Educator, Dies

Dr. Virginia-Gene Rittenhouse, professor and director of the New England Youth Ensemble at Washington Adventist University passed away early this morning in Massachusetts.

“The Washington Adventist University family is deeply saddened at the passing of a true pioneer in Seventh-day Adventist education. She was a driving innovative force with the orchestra and the programs she began,” says Dr. Weymouth Spence, university president.

WAU held its Summer Commencement ceremony on the night of Thursday, July 28, 2011. The ceremony began at 7:00 pm at Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church and concluded with a welcoming line in the Sligo Church Atrium.      

AUC Students Invited to Enroll at WAU’s Maryland Campus

Current and prospective students from Atlantic Union College (AUC) in South Lancaster, Mass., are being notified of a transition plan that will enable them to attend Washington Adventist University (WAU) at the Takoma Park, Md., campus for the fall 2011 semester.

After signing a memorandum of understanding and obtaining support from constituents of both the Atlantic Union Conference and Columbia Union Conference during the spring, leaders of the university have been working to secure approval from required federal, state, regional and church accrediting agencies for the establishment of a branch campus in South Lancaster, Mass.

WAU Athletic Director and Men’s Basketball Coach, Patrick Crarey’s job did not end with the final whistle of the season. This summer, he has teamed up with childhood friend and Orlando Magic Scouting Coordinator, Brian Wright to conduct the WAU Basketball Skills Clinic for kids aged 4 to 15. Read More>>

Washington Adventist University’s music building is well on its way to being completed this year. As scheduled for the first week of June, all steel has been put up for the structure of the building. The steel was topped out Wednesday June 8th and the crane is now gone.  The first floor metal deck has …

Continue reading “Music Building Update”

Thirteen representatives from WAU participated in the Takoma Park 4th of July Parade. The theme of the parade was “Going Green” in an effort to bring awareness to environmental issues. The WAU contingent handed out more than a thousand specially-made WAU rulers and pencils to the parade spectators.

Washington Adventist University’s Department of Religion has recently returned from one of their two summer mission trips this year. In the month of May, two groups went overseas, one to the city of Lusaka in Zambia and another to Costa Rica.

Eleven WAU students went to the city of Luska for two weeks. Each student had different backgrounds and majors but all had one thing in common; they were there to win souls for Lord. 

I am pleased to announce that the Washington Adventist University Board of Trustees approved the recommendation for Dr. Susan G. Hornshaw to join the senior administrative team here at the University in the capacity of Provost.  I am also pleased to report that Dr. Hornshaw has accepted our offer and will begin her tenure at WAU on June 16, 2011.

Dr. Susan G. Hornshaw is a graduate of the University of Manitoba where she completed a B.A. degree in Psychology and a M.A. degree in Anthropology.  In 1982 she completed a Ph.D. degree in Anthropology from the University of Toronto.  She has over thirty-four years’ experience as faculty member, director, and dean.  Her experience includes teaching, academic advising, supervision, curriculum development, research funding, publications, accreditation, recruiting, academic planning, and many other areas of academic administration.

On May 2, 2011, Aaron Wilson was elected to serve a two-year term as a Councilmember for the Town of Fairmount Heights, Maryland. Wilson, a Senior History Major at WAU, received the second highest vote total in the election which voters elected a new mayor and three new council members.

“Having lived in the town for nearly 18 years, I saw the need for a competent leadership in the town and I felt that I could help foster good change for the town”, said Wilson.

Cheers filled DAR (Daughter’s of the American Revolution) Constitution Hall Sunday as members of Washington Adventist University’s Class of 2011 walked across the stage to receive their hard-earned degrees, diplomas, and certificates.

There were a total of 226 graduates compromised of 174 Baccalaureate degrees, four Associate degrees and 50 Graduate degrees. This is the largest group of graduates WAU has seen since 1986.