Dear Hawks fan,

I would like to share with you a little bit of my personal life.  Sue and I became grandparents for the second time on October 13.  We were blessed with an 8lb 3oz, 22 inch granddaughter.  Her name is Maci Jane Helsel.  I hope you can feel my smile.

As we both know, the end of the Chowan Hawks fall season is fast approaching.  Men’s soccer continues to improve and needs one more recruiting class to turn the corner.  They are young with only one senior and no juniors.  Women’s soccer must have broken a mirror some time during the summer.  They suffered four season ending injuries and were thus dealt a severe blow to their post season aspirations.  But, at the current time, I am pleased to tell you that they have found their identity and are in position to win their final three games and finish above .500.  Three wins would create an opportunity for the team to reach their goal of a second straight invitation to the regional NCCAA championship.  The women’s volleyball team has been a pleasant surprise.  Marci Jenkins, in only her second year, has recruited well and is in position to receive a post season regional bid from the NCCAA.  But maybe of more significance is the team’s individual and team rankings in several NCAA statistical categories.  One would have to go back to the days of Coach Collins to find the last time a Chowan volleyball team led the nation in both a team and individual statistical category. 

Like you, we at Chowan University Athletics are extremely proud of the fall student-athletes.  In fact we are proud of all our 300 student-athletes, our very professional and experienced coaching staffs, our medical staff and key athletics administrators who help to create and maintain an athletic program that is so valued by the University and alumni.

Chowan University welcomes you, as a fan, a parent, an alumni or a fan who values our work.  You have taken time to visit our site on the World Wide Web.  Our Web presence allows us to keep you informed about our Division II program regardless of the restrictions of time or distance.  Whether near or far, your Hawks are always available at the click of a button.

We hope that gocuhawks.com will provide all the Chowan athletics coverage you desire; but, much like Chowan athletics on the whole, we are constantly striving to improve.  Your suggestions and recommendations as to how we might enhance the site are always welcomed.

Before closing, I would like to share with you a thought from 1 Peter 4:10-11: “Based on the gift they have received, everyone should use it to serve others, …, if anyone serves, his service should be from the strength God provides, ….”  Dan Britton, Senior Vice President of Ministries of FCA expands the meaning of this verse by stating:
  
When serving, we need to have intentionality (plan it), intensity (seize it), and intimacy (feel it).  The passion for serving must come from the heart. This is the charge I have placed upon my staff and the President has placed on me.  Hold us to it!

Thanks for taking a moment to visit gocuhawks.com.  Come back often.

Go Hawks!

Dennis Helsel
Director of Athletics
Chowan University