1999, v40, n4 - Methodist University

STUDENTSCENEAmazing Turn 01 Events Leads Student To MeLithuanian finds Methodist with help from an Outer Banks residentfall, a fteshman named Zilvinas Mecelis.MethodistHow College he foundenrolled Methodist its fitst College studentis from a temarkable Lithuania story. thisIt began on the Outer Banks June 11. Mecelis was hitchhiking fromKitty Hawk to Corolla and a summer job at Food Lion when a UnitedMethodist named Luke Lucas gave him a ride. Lucas is a constructionsuperintendent with B.D. &A. Realty & Construction, Inc. in Corolla.During the ride, Mecelisexplained ro Lucas that he hadarrived in New York the previousday to take part in the Work andTravel in the USA Program. Hesaid he was on his way to a job atFood Lion (he applied on theInternet) and needed a place to stay.Lucas was impressed withMecelis and offered to let him staywith his family. As the summerprogressed, Mecelis shared hisdream of getting a collegeeducation in America. Thatprompted Lucas to take Mecelis toWilson to meet the Rev. BillPresnell, a Methodist Collegegraduate and trustee. Presnell wasLucas' minister at Kitty HawkUnited Methodist Church severalZilvinas Mecelisyears ago.Presnell was also impressed with Mecelis and referred him to GeorgeBlanc, director of international programs at Methodist. Mecelis appliedfor admission and was accepted. "My family was very happy for me,"he said. "With my summer earnings, some help from Mr. Presnell, anda Transfer Scholarship, I was able to pay for tuition and board for onesemester."Luke Lucas now considers Mecelis part of his family. "He's aremarkable young lad," he said, "very focused and direct. Interestinglyenough, Dare County's motto is 'Land of Beginnings' because the Englishcolonists landed here. It's been a good start for Zilvinas. He's doneeverything he set out to do. His heart is slowly being thawed and warmedup by American love. He wasn't very enamored of religion when he gothere, but is now viewing Christianity a lot differently."Mecelis said the job at Food Lion changed his attitude and motivation."I wrapped and stocked meat," he said. "It made me want an educationeven more."Although his parents are professionals-his mother is a doctor andhis father is an engineer with a gas company-they do not earn enoughmoney to pay for an Americaneducation. An only child,Mecelis attended Tautas MagnusLithuania 3.7 millionispeople a small locatedon countrytheof University in Kaunas, Lithuania,Baltic Sea. It declared its in­for one year.Mecelis is taking five coursesthis semester, including two inEnglish as a Second Language.He plans to major in financialeconomics at Methodist and isdependence from the former SovietUnion in 1990, but had a militaryconfrontation with Russia and wasnot secure until 1993, when theCommunist putsch took place inMoscow. MecelisdescribesLithuaniaas "the most Western" of the 15republics that once made up theSoviet Union."Our country has done well," hesaid. "We have manufacturing andfinancial services. We have fivelooking for a summer internshipto help him meet his costs fornext year. He lives in Garber Hallarl~ is a student assistant in theCareer Counseling Center."I like Methodist very much,"he said, "especially the way thepoliticalparriesand a republican formprofessors relate to the students.of government with a Parliament."The staff is very supportive ofstudents. I miss my homecountry and parents, but I've changed a lot and I'm a better studentnow. I really appreciate all those who have helped me.""Back home I was active in politics," said Mecelis. "I started a youthorganization in my hometown, was a member of Lithuanian Children'sCouncil, and was an assistant to a member of Parliament. " The Children'sCouncil is made up of 13 young people who advise Parliament on youthIssues.Zilvinas Mecelis left for home Dee. 11 and will rerurn for the springsemester in January. While there, he plans to take some informationabout Methodist College to three secondary schools. ''I'm going tohelp George Blanc set up a student recruitment program in Lithuania,"he said.Hats 011 to ...• Jerry Hogge and Rob Pilewski '92, who received awards from the Carolinas Section of the Professional Golfers Association Nov.28. Hogge, who serves as associate professor of business administration and director of Methodist's professional golf managementprogram, received the Horton Smith Trophy for outstanding contributions to the Carolinas PGA over the last year.Pilewski, who is assistant professional at Pine NeedJes Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, was named Assistant Professionalof the Year.• Dr. Suzan Cheek, professot of political science, who recently received the 1999 Athena Award from the Fayetteville Chamber ofCommerce. Given at the chamber's Women in Business Leadership conference, the award recognized Dr. Cheek for helpingwomen gain career skills.• the 120 poetry lovers who attended the Nov. 13 poetry reading by Jonathan Minton and Judas Riley Martinez. Minton andMartinez read from their poetry chapbooks.MethodistCollegeToday 10