News And Events
LEWIS JOHN SPEAKS ON “BREXIT REVISITED”
News
Lew John visits with ESU Lexington members before his speech
ESU Lexington member Dr. Lewis G. John, Professor of Politics Emeritus at Washington & Lee University, spoke to fellow members November 15 on the topic of "Brexit Revisited". The lecture followed a buffet dinner held in Moody Hall at Virginia Military Institute.
Dr. John outlined the evolution of the European Union, beginning with the European Economic Community which was founded after World War II. The United Kingdom had been a member of the EU for 42 years prior to this summer's unexpected vote to withdraw from the union. According to polls, migration and economic issues were the primary concern of "leave" voters.
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2016 Lexington Branch Shakespeare Competition
News
Lexington Branch Shakespeare Competition participants, January 16, 2016
Mausam Mehta, from Robert E. Lee High School in Staunton, Virginia, won the ESU Lexington Branch Shakespeare Competition on January 16, 2016, at Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton. Mausam was coached by John Fregosi, mathematics and theater teacher at her high school. The 2015 winner, Nora Oeschlin, was also from Robert E. Lee High School and coached by Mr. Fregosi.
Mausam was one of eight area contestants. Kasey Britt, a student at Turner Ashby High School, Harrisonburg, was runner up and Ryan Boloix, a student at Spotswood High School, Penn Laird, placed third. Each of the three winners was awarded a partial scholarship to the American Shakespeare Center (ASC) summer camp.
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2015 Lexington Branch Shakespeare Competition
News
Nora Oechslin, a sophomore at Robert E. Lee High School in Staunton, Virginia, won the ESU Lexington Branch Shakespeare Competition on January 17, 2015, at Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton. Nora was coached by John Fregosi, mathematics and theater teacher at her high school. She was one of eight area contestants.
To read more about the contest, please click here.
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2015 National Shakespeare Competition
Announcement
We invite schools serving Grades 9-12 in our area to celebrate the Bard's 450th birthday this year by participating in the 2015 ESU National Shakespeare Competition. The Competition provides teachers with a free performance-based program for the study of English Language Arts and Shakespeare that satisfies Common Core State Standards. High school students from the local arearecite Shakespeare's monologues and sonnets and compete for the chance to win a trip to New York City. Learn more on our ESU Lexington, Virginia Branch Shakespeare Competition page - Click Here
VIRGINIA PROGRAM AT OXFORD
Event Recap
The 2014 opening meeting of the Lexington Branch of the English Speaking Union was held on September 26. The meeting featured reports from the two local university students who had spent the summer studying at Oxford University partially sponsored by scholarships provided by the Lexington Branch. The students were Brittany Norwood, a junior at Washington and Lee and Joseph Amato, a third classman at Virginia Military Institute.
Click Here to see pictures of the Scholars
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All the World's a Stage for Teen from East Rockingham High School
Announcement
Captivating audiences with a performance of a sonnet and monologue from Shakespeare, Tatiana Hodgins from Elkton, Virginia, a student of Erica Williams at East Rockingham High School in Elkton, placed as one of 10 finalists at the 31st annual English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition. The Competition was held on May 5th at Lincoln Center Theater in New York City for 58 winners of ESU Branch competitions nationwide. Tatiana had previously won the ESU Lexington, VA Branch regional competition.
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Lexington Branch welcomes The Rev. Dr. John Hall, Dean of Westminster
Event
Members who attend the ESU Annual Conference are urged to bring what they experience back to the leadership and members of their own Branches. At the 2013 Seattle conference former Lexington Branch President and National Board Member Joy Harris went way beyond this admonition by inviting the conference's main Speaker, The Rev. Dr. John Hall, Dean of Westminster, to include Lexington in his next US visit to present his richly illustrated talk about Westminster Abbey's past and future to the Branch members. Branch President Rose Gordon enthusiastically seconded the invitation and, working with Joy and Valerie Humphrey, the Director of the Westminster Abbey Foundation, they planned a March 18 program and reception at Moody Hall on the Campus of VMI.
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Night at the Museum
News
"An evening both beautiful and educational" was the way in which one ESU member described our November 6th meeting at the George C. Marshall Museum. Dr. Havers, president of the Marshall Foundation, spoke on the relationship between Marshall and Churchill. He also spoke of future plans for the Foundation.
Following Dr. Havers remarks, members had a chance to explore the Museum and its many fascinating artifacts and memorabilia from General Marshall's time as Army Chief of Staff during World War II, President of the American Red Cross, and Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense. Among the items which members found particularly interesting were: a WWII Era Jeep;the Enigma machine;the illuminated map of World War II; and Marshall's desk.
There was much to see about The European Recovery Plan, better known as the Marshall Plan. Among the posters illuminating Marshall's later year is the Nobel Prize Medal for Peace, awarded to Marshall in 1953.
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Annual Lexington Branch Christmas Party
Event Recap
'Twas two weeks before Christmas and under the mistletoe,
The Jones hung tinsel and bows, where did they all go?
Out came the nutcrackers and oyster plates,
Silver was polished to a shimmering glow.
Then their friends descended from the ESU
Al's Eggnog was finished and dishes were cleared,
When finally they left, full of good cheer,
Jolly,and happy and blessed for the coming New Year!
This year the party was held at Spring Farm, the lovely home of Margaret Fletcher.
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A Message from the Lexington Branch President
Welcome Message
The Lexington Branch of the English-Speaking Union has been actively involved, both nationally and internationally, in the English-Speaking Union since 1966. Our aim is to provide both teachers and college students educational opportunities to study abroad. In addition, we heartily support the Shakespeare Competition which gives high school students an opportunity to compete on a national level.
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