Campus Events

The Annual Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Salem High School Juried Art Show is an exhibition of student work, juried by local artists and art professionals. This show usually includes 40-50 works of art spanning 2D, 3D, and Digital Media.

The Conference Agenda: April 13 - 16

The conference will open Monday evening with a social hour in Brock Commons, offering attendees an opportunity to connect before the week’s programming begins. The evening will continue with a keynote address from iFLY Co-Founder Bob Pizzini —an award-winning CEO, consultant, speaker, retired U.S. Navy leader, and Bronze Star recipient—whose work centers on developing effective leadership and elevating organizational performance. Pizzini will share insights on entrepreneurship, risk-taking, and redefining leadership through innovation.

Programming will continue Tuesday morning as participants return to Brock Commons to begin a full day of sessions. The Ethics Competition will challenge students to think critically about decision-making in complex business environments. Later in the morning, Donna Norman of the Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center will provide practical guidance on supporting and sustaining small businesses.

Following a lunch break, the conference will shift to professional development with Dress to Lead: Professional Dress Reimagined, encouraging students to consider how personal presentation intersects with leadership identity. An afternoon session will continue the conversation before attendees gather at The HIVE for an evening social hour. The day will conclude with a keynote address from Emily Archer, Director of Economic Development, who will highlight regional growth and the evolving role of leadership in shaping local economies.

On Wednesday, the focus will turn toward career readiness and innovation. Margaret Black of the Hampton Roads Workforce Council will speak on communication and workforce trends, followed by Bridge the Gap: Using Handshake & Forage to Lead Your Future, a session designed to equip students with tools to navigate career pathways. The highly anticipated Shark Tank Competition will showcase student entrepreneurship, as participants pitch ideas to a panel of judges.

In the afternoon, Scott Hickman will present Money Reimagined: Take Control. Get Ahead. Start Now., offering practical financial strategies for young professionals. The day will conclude with an Internship Panel, providing real-world insights from students and industry representatives.

The conference will wrap up Thursday with a final series of sessions emphasizing innovation and leadership development. The ISP Competition will highlight student research and problem-solving, while Professor Shalyn Lapke will explore the growing impact of artificial intelligence in accounting. Davie Drummond Sr. will close the speaker lineup with Leadership from Childhood, reflecting on the foundational experiences that shape effective leaders.

The week will conclude with a closing session in Brock Commons, bringing together the conference’s central themes—innovation, adaptability, and purpose-driven leadership.

From competitions and panels to keynote addresses and networking opportunities, the Marlin Business Conference will offer attendees a dynamic and engaging reimagining of what it means to lead today—and into the future.

View the Full Schedule of Events

On April 16 Career and Professional Development will host their second annual Student Worker ALL-STAR Awards! In 2025, Career and Professional Development began hosting Student Work ALL-STAR Awards to highlight the hard-working student workers on campus during National Student Employment Week, held April 13 - 17. This week highlights the dedication, professionalism, and skills student workers bring, alongside celebrating the employers who support them. Students are nominated by their supervisors and receive recognition and awards for their professional achievements and contributions to campus offices and departments. All students, faculty and staff are invited to celebrate and support star student workers at this event while enjoying catered refreshments and snacks in the Hofheimer Library! Use this link to reserve your seat : https://forms.gle/yHccswNnXimKV8Wo7

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Explore Nina Chanel Abney: The Pursuit of Happiness and Seamless: Art and Design during an evening that brings together art, music, and community to mark a new chapter for the Museum.

Members $25; Nonmembers $50

TICKETS

From service to creative sustainability, a week of events invites the campus community to connect, learn, and give back to the planet.

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Friday, April 24, is Marlins Day of Giving!  Join fellow Marlins in growing your impact and supporting the people and programs that make our University strong.

Virginia Wesleyan Camerata and Bravura join to perform music presenting a variety of vignettes of the human journey and the people that we meet along the way. The evening culminates with Footprints by Jake Runestad, a multi-movement work setting the texts of Guatemalan poet Humberto Ak'abal with instrumental accompaniment.  Bryson Mortensen, conductor

Reserve your free ticket at buytickets.at/GoodeCenter

Join The Virginia Wesleyan Orchestra for their Spring Semester Concert under musical director Alexander Chen. The Orchestra will celebrate American composers by performing a variety of classic and new works with a focus on small-ensemble chamber music. 

Concert is free and open to the public.

Senior student art majors share the culmination of their creative work with the campus community, family and friends on May 1 in the Neil Britton Gallery. The student artists will be on hand to explain the inspiration behind their creations during the opening reception.

Join the Marlins Jazz Ensemble for their spring semester concert. The Jazz Ensemble will perform jazz favorites from a variety of different styles. Hosted by Jason Squinobal.

Concert is free and open to the public.

Each year through the Virginia Beach City Public Schools Teaching Artist Exhibition, Virginia MOCA celebrates the professionalization and visibility of teachers as artists, in addition to their role as educators. Each art teacher from across VBCPS is invited to submit a work of art for display, usually totaling 40-50 works in total. If an artwork is for sale, the price is listed on the label and visitors are provided directions for how to contact the artist.

Baccalaureate Speaker
Reverend Brian Boettcher '12, Pastor of Granbury Memorial United Methodist Church

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