Newspapers / UNCW Today (University of … / Sept. 1, 1988, edition 1 / Page 3
Part of UNCW Today (University of North Carolina Wilmington Alumni Newsletter) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Retired professor brought language to life “La universidad existe para que el estu- diante se ensanche los horizontes de su vida ✓ y se desarroUe en el mejor individuo posible. Creyendo en esto, yo he tratado siempre de desarrollar en mis clases el tipe de instruc- cion y ejemplo de vida que promovefia estos conceptos.” (translation) “The university exists so that the student may broaden the horizons of his life and develop into the best individual possible. Believing in this, I have always tried to develop in my classes the type of instruction and example for living that would promote these concepts.” — Maty Bellamy A bright-eyed, vital woman, Mary Bellamy brought the Spanish language and culture to life at UNCW. Her enthusiasm, ready smile, and steady encouragement endured her to students and faculty. Bellamy, former assistant professor of Spanish, retired June 30 after 40 years of service at the university and with the New Hanover County school system. “I really have enjoyed my career,” she said. “It’s been very interesting to be part of education in this time, and it really has been exciting to watch the growth and develop ment of UNCW.” Bellamy began her career in 1947. ‘‘I had just graduated from East Carolina Teachers College when Mr. Thomas T. Hamilton, first president of newly opened Wilmington Col lege, said, ‘I’ve got an Interesting job for you If you can go to work tomorrow.’” The job involved teaching 15 veterans of World War U. “I taught Spanish I and U and French I and 11, all In a self-contained classroom, all at one time,” she continued. “It was the blackboard, the book, and me—no re corded methods, no cassettes. It was fascinating, teaching individually.” Bellamy worked part-time as a teacher of Spanish at Wilmington College from 1947-49. She also taught at New Hanover High School until 1961. She then returned to UNCW Today is published four times a year by the University Advancement Offloe of The University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 601 South College Road, Wilmington, N.C. 28403. Postage paid at Wilmington, N.C. University Advancement Office F. Douglas Moore, vice chancellor for university advancement M. Tyrone Rowell, associate vice chancellor for university advancement W. Frank Bowen, director of alumni and parent programs Renee R. Brantley, director of puUications, UNCW Today editor Mimi Cunningham, director of university relations Allison R. Norment, publicatons officer The Univtnlt)’ of North Cardiiu u WUmln|ion H rammined lo tquilily of cducatioiui oppottunlty nd doo iwl (kicTlminite jplml tffbana. audenu, or wipkqieo haed on r**. color, luUonil origin, r«li|ion, xx, mf, or handiap. Moreover, Iht uni»enilr of North OfoUia a WUmlnpon H optn lo ill rata and KiiKlr weki lo proowtr iscUl Imtfnllon by iccnillin| and «m>nu« a lajn number of biadi Kudnits. UNCW and remained for 27 years. One of the happiest times in Bellamy’s career was working together with her hus band, Heyward, at New Hanover High School from 1950-54. “He taught chemistry and I taught Spanish and we chaperoned every student activity imaginable,” she said. Her husband went on to become superin tendent of the New Hanover County schools from 1968-81. Teaching is more than just going through the paces, according to Bellamy. “The rap port and the relationship between a teacher and student is the most essential element of learning,” she said. “If you can keep the ex citement of a student, they’re apt to excel.” Teaching, she par^hrases, aeates the learner. Advancements in technology have en hanced language learning. “The audio lingual ^proach allows students to hear naUve spiers,” she remarked. “Video is really opening up new vistas. You get the total impact, not just the listening but the visual impact in building basic skills.” The Spanish language could be described as rhythmic and very phonetic. “I urge them (students) to sp4k it,” said Bellamy. “I tell them not to worry about grammar. Say something — communicate!” “You’ve got to be willing to be laughed at,” she continued. “You’re going to make mistakes. The native speaker would rather laugh at you than you at him!” Bellamy not only taught the Spanish lan guage, but also Spanish civilization and lit erature. She trained over 100 student teachers as well. But her favorite subject remains elemen tary Spanish. “It’s the excitement of helping a student discover a beginning language,” she explained. “What is truly exciting is when a student finally makes a break through — eureka!” Bellamy believes Spanish is important to any curriculum. “Spanish is of special im portance because of business opportunities in Latin America,” she pointed out. Bellamy went on to mention that there are more than 20 million Spanish speaking people in the United States. One former student of Bellamy’s sells air craft in Latin America. “His skill with the language is what gave him the edge over others interested in the job,” Bellamy believes. Bellamy has had a distinguished career. Among her many accomplishments include being a scholar of the National Endowment to the Humanities at the University of Georgia and a Fulbright-Hays scholar at the University of Valladolid, Spain, where she studied Spanish history, literature, civiliza tion, and language. She has served on many evaluation teams for the Southern Associa tion of Colley and Schools and has been active in the Foreign Language Association ^ ^ Spangler, Jr., president of the Univefsity of North Carolina General Ad- n^nlstration, Carl Nelron, former lecturer in nwthenwtical sciences, Charles Cahill, UNCW provost and vice chancellor fa anemic affairs, and Rollo Nelson, former assistant professor of physics. Bellamy, Nelson and Cta^'Hil! ° •’osfed by the UNC Board of Governors in of North Carolina. In addition, she’s been I’ll miss the everyday relationship with the active with several committees at UNCW and students and I’ll miss my department,” Bel- was an advisor to students in the General lamy noted of retirement. College. /[nd they, too, will miss her. “If you asked me what I’ll miss the most, _ Aiusm Noment IMarine biologists submerge themselves in new research Scientists at UNCW’s Institute for Marine Biomedical Research netted big research dollars this spring. The National Undersea Research Program (NURP), established at UNCW in 1980, re ceived Jl.l million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The money will support continued scientific research of the continental shelf off the Southeastern U.S. The continental shelf is the submerged portion of a continent, ex tending to a point of deep descent to the ocean floor. Under the direction of Dr. Alan Hulbert, NURP will use the grant to accomplish three objectives: 1) undersea research on environ- j mental, fisheries, and pollution issues; 2) ' development of new diving technology and ' tools for undersea applications; and 3) development of a new initiative to better understand the ecology of the continental shelf and slope. Specific areas of research include study ing the cause and prevention of the red ti^ as well as studying the impact that coastal development, phosphorite mining, and oil and gas exploration will have on North Carolina. These projects will be conducted using mixed gas SCUBA diving, underwater robots, and research submersibles. “We are very excited about participating in a research program that will directly benefit the Southeastern United States,” Hulbert said. “Through this research we will better understand the processes on the con tinental shelf that control important re sources such as fisheries.” In the area of developing new diving technology. Operations Director David Dinsmore will oversee programs designed to evaluate mixed gas diving applications of Navy diving equipment, such as rebreathers, for scientific use. Innovative gas mbctures, such as Nitrox, that will allow longer bottom times, will also be examined. In addition, Dinsmore will be working with the develop ment of new tools for underwater robots and submersibles. A new science director, Andrew Shepard, has been given the job of coordinating the NURP program at UNCW. Most recently working as deputy science director at the National Undersea Research Center at the University of Connecticut, Shepard has also worked as a NOAA corps officer aboard a research vessel and at Woods Hole, Massa chusetts. He holds a master’s degree In marine science. “His past experience will strengthen the scientific expertise of the National Undersea Center at UNCW,” Hulbert said. — Mimi Cunningham Allison Noment contributed to this story. Today 3
UNCW Today (University of North Carolina Wilmington Alumni Newsletter)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 1, 1988, edition 1
3
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75