Wednesday March 6 began as any other day for VWC counselor Molly McClurg, but it would end up being one she would never forget. “I had no idea what was going on,” McClurg said. “I was stuffing Spring Break bags in the conference room when he stopped by.”

“He,” was Joseph Bochenik, McClurg’s boyfriend of two years. As a pilot for the U.S. Navy, Bochenik was relocated to a base in Wilmington, North Carolina one month after the two first met in February of 2000. After six months of a long distance friendship, the two began an exclusive relationship proving that distance was no obstacle.

“The reason we held off being together those six months was because he was going to be gone for a year,” McClurg explained. Bochenik returned to Virginia Beach after being in North Carolina for a year, the two have been together ever since. It wasn’t a shock that Bochenik stopped by the office that Wednesday afternoon. “He had said he might come by so I wasn’t surprised to see him. He was getting his ID so he could use the facilities, and then he asked me to come into my office,” McClurg said.

It was then that Bochenik told her she had a few minutes to get some things ready because they had a plane to catch in a few hours. “I didn’t believe him,” McClurg said. Kristen Whalen, who had been in the counseling center when Bochenik had came in, felt the same way. “She thought he was just taking me to lunch!” McClurg exclaimed.

Bochenik had arranged for much more than just lunch. He had taken the liberty of clearing McClurg from work for the next two days with Dean Buckingham, and McClurg’s fellow colleague Bill Brown was also aware of Bochenik’s plans. Bochenik went a step further by arranging for McClurg’s dog to be taken care of and even carefully packed her suitcases.

“He packed very well,” said McClurg. “He packed more than I would have packed for myself, I think . . . lots of shoes, the important things!” With McClurg now free from work and packed for anything, Bochenik whisked her off to the airport where they caught a flight down to Fort Lauderdale. McClurg still had no idea what would happen once they reached Florida, each move they made came as a surprise to her.

Once in Fort Lauderdale, Bochenik rented a Mustang convertible and the two drove down to Key Largo, then further south to Key West where they had reservations at a cozy bed and breakfast. “I was sick the whole trip,” McClurg admitted, “with a sinus infection.” But it didn’t stop her from enjoying the balmy Florida weather and pristine beaches with Bochenik. The two remained in Key West through Sunday, after which they had planned to make the drive back north to Fort Lauderdale.

You’re probably wondering; palm trees waving in a tropical breeze, silky white sand beaches, this is perfect! What is he waiting for? Apparently, McClurg was wondering the same thing. “We had started looking at rings, so I knew it was coming sometime, but I was beginning to wonder when,” McClurg said. “We had spent all Sunday on the beach. Around four o’clock Joe suggested we get changed and take a walk along the beach,” said McClurg.

The beach was still populated with families and couples soaking up remaining rays and waiting to watch the sun set as McClurg and Bochenik set out hand-in-hand down the beach. The two hadn’t wandered far before they found themselves passing a couple getting married. “They needed people to witness it, because it was just them and the Justice of the Peace,” McClurg said. She and Bochenik watched the exchanging of vows and happily signed the papers before continuing down the beach.

As if McClurg needed another hint as to what was to come, they passed a second couple and wedding party getting their pictures taken on the beach. It wasn’t until McClurg and Bochenik had turned around and began the walk back to the bed and breakfast that the moment every girl dreams of and anticipates her entire life began. Bochenik suggested they sit down on a cluster of rocks to talk. “He told me he loved me and how important I was to him,” McClurg said. “In a shaky voice he got down on the beach, in the sand, on one knee, and asked. And that was how it happened.”

Afterwards, McClurg said that she called family and friends to spread the news. As it turned out, her father had known in advance of Bochenik’s plans. “Joe had asked my father for permission, and when I told my father the news, he asked what had took him so long!” Though Bochenik waited until the last day of their vacation to pop the question, the two wasted no time in setting a date. An early July wedding is planned, and reminiscent of Bochenik’s proposal, the wedding is taking place on the beach.

Twenty VWC students were picked randomly and asked the same three questions: Where is the Batten Center? Where is the Learning Center? Have you ever used it? Fourteen of the students didn’t know where the Learning Center was. Two students thought it was in the library. Only four of the students used the Learning Center and told me exactly where it was located.

All twenty knew exactly where the Batten Center was. Jeff Waller, assistant coordinator of the Learning Center, admits frustration. “Quite a few students don’t even know the Learning Center exists,” he said. The Learning Center is located on the second floor of Clarke. The Center offers student and professional tutoring, writing assistance, study skills, workshops and individual academic counseling at no extra cost to the student. The Learning Center also offers services for special-needs students.

Waller, also director of tutoring, is implementing new ideas, to make students more aware of the Center. Waller has created a tutor outreach program, which allows for tutors to be placed in locations outside the Center, on campus, throughout the day.

“I guess I need to get the word out better about the link, but the procedure is simple and is explained online at, http://www.vwc.edu/academics/lrc/,” Waller said, “Bottom line is, if they come in through the door, they’ll find out how it works.” Waller has about 40-45 tutors for different subjects.

“If you need a tutor and the course isn’t listed, call me,” he said. Waller has tutors on call, and if he doesn’t have one for a certain subject, he can call the department for a recommendation. All of the student tutors have taken the course they are tutoring, received an “A” for it, and were recommended by their respective departments. All tutors are compensated by receiving an hourly wage or by receiving credit. Students also volunteer to tutor.

Tutors have a set schedule, which is posted outside the Learning Center entrance. Waller has an informal training program for his tutors but wants to formalize it. “I want to have a course through which my tutors get certification with, the National Tutoring Association and the College Reading and Learning Association,” he said, “I already got the wheels in motion.”

All of Waller’s tutors will have to sign up for the course to become certified. Waller is hoping to get approval for the Fall 2002 but, for now, he is looking at next Spring. Right now, Waller is trying to make the tutors and courses more connected. Although this is all voluntary and students do not have to participate, he wants to put tutors in the classroom before, during, and after class, depending on the teacher’s discretion. “I think it will work,” he said. Waller had great success when he implemented the procedure for a Spanish class during Summer 2001.