Leadership Council Applications for the Students Today Alumni Tomorrow are open through March 22. The group promotes school spirit and traditions, connects students with alumni and creates a culture of philanthropy at VCU. Apply at the following URL.

For more information, contact Hudson Dizon at dizonhl@mymail.vcu.edu or (703) 409-0203 or visit http://go.vcu.edu/STATLC.

1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

VCU's Retro Rams will host a "Scholarship-A-Thon" to assist students applying for scholarships offered through VCU's College of Humanities and Sciences. The event will be held in Room 426, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave. Support will be offered for essay writing, general questions and future applications. Bring your laptop.

For more information, contact Glynis Hughes at gmboyd2@vcu.edu or (804) 482-9129.

12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Participants will engage in "Floating on a Cloud" guided meditation in a "Mindful Mondays" session hosted by VCU's Wellness Resource Center. The session will be held at The Well, 815 S. Cathedral Place.

For more information, contact Kat Corrin at corrinkh@vcu.edu or (804) 828-7815 or visit http://thewell.vcu.edu.

4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

VCU's Office of Multicultural Student Affairs will host the first cultural achievement ceremony interest meeting for May graduates. The meeting, to be held in Room 215, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave., is about the Latinx Achievement Ceremony and the Donning of the Kente Ceremony. Attending one of the interest meetings is mandatory for participation in the cultural achievement ceremonies. Interest meetings will also be held in the same location at 3 p.m. March 12, 11 a.m. March 20 and 9 a.m. March 29.

For more information, contact David Brown at dgbrown@vcu.edu or (804) 828-6672 or visit http://www.omsa.vcu.edu.

5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

VCU's Robertson School of Media and Culture will host a panel discussion, “Blackface, the Scandal and the Media: A Discussion About Racism in Virginia.” The event will be in the University Student Commons Theater, 907 Floyd Ave. Featured will be columnist Michael Paul Williams, writer Samantha Willis, reporter Mechelle Hankerson and VCU professors Clarence Thomas, Ph.D., and Jeff South. The event will be free and open to the public. Seating is limited and will be given on a first-come basis. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Marcus Messner at mmessner@vcu.edu or visit https://robertson.vcu.edu/news/robertson-school-will-host-panel-discussion-on-blackface-the-scandal-and-the-media.html.

7 p.m.

The VCU Department of Music presents VCU Choral Ensembles in concert at Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 800 S. Cathedral Place. The concert is free and open to the public. Donations will benefit the VCU Choral Program.

For more information, contact Anne Marie Dumain at dumainamm@vcu.edu.

Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019 at noon

The VCU Department of Music presents Tiffany Valvo and Daniel Stipe in a free faculty recital. The performance will be held in the Recital Hall, James W. Black Music Center, 1015 Grove Ave.

For more information, contact Anne Marie Dumain at dumainamm@vcu.edu.

Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

VCU's Office of Multicultural Student Affairs will host a panel featuring professionals in fine arts, the humanities, education, social work and engineering as they discuss their career paths. The event will be in the Rams Lounge, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. Those who attend will have the opportunity to talk to the panelists following the discussion.

For more information, contact Kishla Conner at connerka2@mymail.vcu.edu.

Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Diversity Ambassadors of VCU's Office of Multicultural Student Affairs will host a conversation about having difficult dialogues with peers, family and friends. The event will be in the Multimedia Room, Gladding Residence Center III, 722 W. Cary St. Snacks will be provided. A conversation on the same topic will be held at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28 in the Community Room, Webster S. Rhoads Hall, 710 W. Franklin St. Dinner will be provided.

For more information, contact Dana Vandervelde at vandervelded@mymail.vcu.edu.

Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019 at 7 p.m.

VCU's Department of Music presents a flute and percussion studio recital in the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall of the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Ave. Admission is free.

For more information, contact Anne Marie Dumain at dumainamm@vcu.edu.

Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Molefi Asante, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Africology at Temple University, will discuss classical African civilizations. The talk, hosted by VCU's Department of African American Studies, will be held in Room 1107, Academic Learning Commons, 1000 Floyd Ave.

For more information, contact Kishla Conner at connerka2@mymail.vcu.edu.

Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The inaugural meeting of VCU's eClub will be held at the da Vinci Center, 807 S. Cathedral Place. Learn about startups and entrepreneurship. VCU alum, graduate student and pre-accelerator program alum Alex Ritchie will talk about her startup, Durasafe, and going from an early idea to raising venture capital. Pizza will be served.

For more information, contact Ian Ragland at raglandip@vcu.edu.

Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 at 6 p.m.

"Black Mother," a spiritual exploration of Jamaica, will be screened at the Institute for Contemporary Art at the Markel Center, 601 W. Broad St.

For more information, contact Institute for Contemporary Art at ica@vcu.edu or visit https://icavcu.org/films/cinema-0227/.

Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 at 7 p.m.

VCU's Department of Music presents the Symphonic Wind Ensemble in the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall of the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Ave. General admission tickets are $10.

For more information, contact Anne Marie Dumain at dumainamm@vcu.edu.

Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.

The VCU Department of History presents the 26th annual William E. and Miriam S. Blake Lecture on the History of Christianity. Roy Robson, Ph.D., professor of Russian history and religious studies, Pennsylvania State University at Abington, will the discuss the work of Russian iconographer Pimen Sofronov, who trained a generation of iconographers and inspired modern art through traditional techniques and styles. The lecture will be held in Room 303, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave.

For more information, contact George Munro at gemunro@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1636 or visit http://history.vcu.edu.

Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Charles Calderwood, Ph.D., will discuss "Statistics in the Social Sciences: Myths and Misconceptions." The talk, in the Senate Chambers, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave., is hosted by VCU's Statistical Methods and Research Training (SMART) student organization. Calderwood is a current Virginia Tech and former VCU psychology faculty member.

For more information, contact Blair Burnette at burnettecb@vcu.edu.

Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019 at noon

The C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research will present a series of seminars on grant writing for early career faculty researchers. Each session covers a topic related to writing a competitive research grant application and is taught by senior faculty researchers. The Feb. 28 session, in Room 1013, Molecular Medicine Research Building, 1220 E. Broad St., will be taught by Thomas Eissenberg, Ph.D. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Pam Dillon at pmdillon@vcu.edu` or visit https://training.vcu.edu/course_detail.asp?ID=16982.

Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019 at 7 p.m.

VCU's Department of Music presents a clarinet studio recital in the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall of the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Ave. Admission is free.

For more information, contact Anne Marie Dumain at dumainamm@vcu.edu.

Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019 from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

I Am That Girl at VCU will host "Girl Talk on Listening" in Room A, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. The discussion will focus on listening to understand and active listening.

For more information, contact Giovanni Knight at knightgn@vcu.edu.

Monday, Mar. 4, 2019 from noon to 6 p.m.

VCU Police will hold a blood drive at its headquarters at 224 E. Broad St. The department has set a goal to collect 24 pints of blood for the American Red Cross, which currently has an emergency need for blood donors. Appointments are limited and may be made at the following URL, using the sponsor code VCUPD. Walk-ins are welcome. Parking is available in the headquarters parking lot and Pulse stations are nearby.

For more information, contact Lt. Nicole Dailey at NVDailey@vcu.edu or (804) 828-6226 or visit https://www.redcrossblood.org/.

Saturday, Mar. 23, 2019 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

VCU Recreational Sports Outdoor Adventure Program will host a dinner to learn to cook meals using a Dutch oven. The event will be held at the Inger and Walter Rice Center for Environmental Life Sciences, 3800 John Tyler Memorial Highway, Charles City County. The fee is $10 for students, $13 for members/faculty/staff and $15 for nonmembers. Registration ends March 20.

For more information, contact Katie Schmidt at outdoors@vcu.edu or (804) 828-8826 or visit https://recsports.vcu.edu/programs/outdoor-adventure-program/rice-rivers-center/.

Saturday, Mar. 23, 2019 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

VCU's Women in Science will host Girl Scout Medical Sciences Career Day. Volunteers are sought to assist with the event, to be held at the Molecular Medicine Research Building, 1220 E. Broad St. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Erin Mooney at ecmooney@vcu.edu or (814) 777-5626 or visit https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/2667692/true#/invitation .

Saturday, May 4, 2019 from 8:30 a.m. to noon

VCU's School of Pharmacy will host preview day, a half-day event for students interested in pursuing a career in pharmacy. The event will be held at the Robert Blackwell Smith Building, 410 N. 12th St. Participants will have the opportunity to meet admissions faculty and current professional students. Tours of the School of Pharmacy, conducting hands-on medication compounding and participation in mock interviews will also be available.

For more information, contact Taryn Hayes at hayesta5@vcu.edu.

May 2019 graduates are invited to attend the spring Grad Fair on their respective campuses. Grad Fairs will be held March 11 from noon to 6 p.m. at Barnes and Noble on the MCV Campus and March 12-13 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Barnes and Noble on the Monroe Park Campus. Grad Fair provides one-stop graduation prep for students, with the opportunity to complete pre-Commencement paperwork, network with VCU Career Services, learn about VCU Alumni and purchase a cap and gown, class ring and diploma frame.

For more information, contact Sarah Murphy at sdmurphy@vcu.edu or (804) 828-3894 or visit http://commencement.vcu.edu.

VCU's Graduate Student Association is currently accepting submissions for the 22nd Annual Graduate Research Symposium and Exhibit. At each symposium, graduate students present their original research and creative projects in poster format to faculty, staff, students and community members. Submissions are due by March 1.

For more information, contact Ria Fyffe-Freil at fyfferc@.vcu.edu or visit http://www.graduate.vcu.edu/research/symposium.html.

VCU's Wellness Resource Center is accepting applications for Peer Health Educators for the 2019-2020 academic year. Students interested in increasing their knowledge about health topics, sharing what they learn with others and being a good role model to their peers are sought. Complete the application at the following URL by March 13.

For more information, contact Carrie Baines at peerhealth@vcu.edu or (804) 827-0231 or visit https://thewell.vcu.edu/wellness/peer-health-education/.

TIAA is working with Ram Pantry to help students who are battling food insecurity. Visit the following URL and click on "Shop Now" to purchase food for pantry users. Donors will be emailed a tax receipt. Upon request, TIAA Virginia (Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America) will match purchases of $25 or more for all TIAA employees. Follow the instructions on the site.

For more information, contact Felicia Dixon at fdixon@vcu.edu or (804) 828-3475 or visit https://yougivegoods.com/tiaafood2019-rampantryvcu.

Nominations for the 2019 Student Leadership Awards are now open. The awards honor exemplary leadership, service and contributions by students and student organizations to VCU. It is presented by University Student Commons and Activities. Students, staff and faculty may nominate individuals and organizations.

For more information, contact Justin Raibolt at jraibolt@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1582 or visit https://usca.vcu.edu/student-leadership-awards/.

Hispanic/LatinX individuals born outside of the mainland United States aged 18 years of age or higher are invited to participate in a research study. The program is investigating social and psychological factors that affect ethnic minorities’ health outcomes. Those who qualify will participate in a 20-minute study, in which you complete several questionnaires, physical assessments (e.g., height and weight measurements) and tasks. Compensation is available.

For more information, contact Yena Son at sonyk@vcu.edu or (434) 623-0137.