Worth Noting

Keeping the dream alive

Rocklan Walker, R’85, of Radnor, Pa., was a pretty good baseball player during his collegiate days. Two decades later, he’s added a medical practice, four kids and a busy lifestyle. Now, he is an even better
baseball player.

Although knee and elbow problems kept him from pitching for the pros, Walker, 40, is living out his dream playing in a summer semi-pro league.

And he’s vying for a spot on a new baseball reality television series, Extreme Dreams, which will grant the winner a shot at trying out for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Walker said he “threw extremely well” during the tryouts for the show last fall, but has heard nothing since then. Other tryouts are taking place around the country.

Walker is hopeful. “I threw over 90 miles an hour,” he said. “I’m a better pitcher now than when I was in college!”

Alumnus’ art collection on the move

Art collector James W. Hyams, R’68 and G’72, of Roanoke, Va., loaned the University 41 photorealist prints for a traveling exhibition that was unveiled at the Marsh Art Gallery last month.

The exhibition, “Get Real: Photorealist Prints from the James W. Hyams Collection,” features photorealist art—images based on photographs and painted in a super realistic style—from 1972-95.

Photorealism shocked the art world during the height of its popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It depicted contemporary subject matter in a blatantly photographic style. Thirty years later, the subjects seem tame, but the images continue to intrigue with their revealing look at some of the more mundane icons of popular culture, from mass-produced toys to the minutiae of movie marquees.

Organized by the University of Richmond Museums, the exhibition will be on display at the Piedmont Art Association, Martinsville, Va.; Daura Gallery, Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, Va.; and Radford University Art Museum, Radford, Va.

Presidential timber

University alumni who are at the helm of institutions of higher learning include: Dr. Paul J. Zingg, G’69, president of California State University at Chico. Dr. Jean A. Scott, W’68, president of Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio.

Outstanding volunteer

Charles E. McCabe, a member of the School of Continuing Studies Dean’s Council, was honored by Commonwealth Catholic Charities for his work with the less fortunate. McCabe, president and chief executive officer of Peoples Income Tax, received the Samuel H. Dibert Award, which is named for a volunteer who gave selflessly for many years to the Richmond community

Give me an R!

From Richmond to Redskins, alumna continues cheering

Former Richmond cheerleader GeNienne Samuels, ’97, who now cheers professionally for the Washington Redskins, was selected to represent her squad at the 2004 Pro Bowl in Hawaii in February. Each of the 25 National Football League squads sent one representative.

“She won overwhelm-ingly,” Donald Wells said of Samuels. Wells, director and choreographer for the Redskins cheerleaders, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch earlier this year, “She is just so dedicated to the squad. She’s got a passion for this.” According to the Times-Dispatch article, Samuels annually competes against about 400 other women for one of 40 positions on the squad.

Now in her fifth season with the Redskins, the 28-year-old Samuels fondly recalls her collegiate cheering days. During her senior year, she was part of the University of Richmond squad that won the 1997 small coed division title at nationals of the Universal Cheerleaders Association.

Samuels practices with the Redskins squad two or three nights a week and on many weekends. In addition to practices and games, the cheerleaders attend charity events, perform for U.S. military troops and promote the Redskins in and around Washington.

When she is not in her maroon and gold uniform, Samuels is a full-time manager at Verizon in Arlington, Va., and lives in Bowie, Md.