Anderson University 2011
board of trust meeting nursing school
FA L L
MAGAZINE
Anderson University Magazine 2011 FALL Edition Features Board of Trust Meeting....................... 2 AU’s Once-in-a-Lifetime Vocalist........... 4 Deans’ Updates................................ 6 AU Gets Footloose............................10 Athletic Update...............................12 Famous AU Alumnus Wrote for the Silver Screen........................14 Class Notes.....................................16
Anderson University Magazine is a publication of the Marketing and Communications Department of Anderson University for alumni and friends. President: Dr. Evans P. Whitaker Editor In Chief: Barry Ray Editor: Wendy Bignon Contributing Writers: Barry Ray, Evelyn Beck Contributing Photographers: Aperture Vision Photography, Jason Jones Photography
season’s greetings from Anderson University The colors of fall as nature gives way to the coming
You will also read about the progress on our new
winter season are never more striking and beautiful
School of Nursing, which was a strategic dream
than when they bathe the Anderson campus in a
just a few months ago; but now echoes throughout
dizzying array of reds, yellows, and oranges. If
the University as a high-tech space for revolutionary
you were not among the throng that returned to
nursing training is fully underway.
campus for our recent homecoming celebration, we hope the pictures in this edition of Anderson
As we are engaged in a season of thanksgiving,
University Magazine will give you a glimpse of the
we don’t have to look far or listen too closely to
wonder the season brings to this special place.
become aware of God’s blessing on Anderson University. More students than ever are enjoying
Fall symbolizes change and change is an apt
more programs than ever on a campus that is alive
phrase to describe what the coming months will
with beauty, ringing with the sounds of learning
bring on our campus. After a brief period of
and laughter and poised for a remarkable future.
relative quiet on the construction front, we have once again been hearing the sounds of progress
We do not take these blessings for granted. We are
as a new era of construction begins. On one hand,
most fortunate to be here at this time in this place
we will be soon raising a beautiful new residence
as something truly miraculous is underway. We
hall as we strive to accommodate the rapidly
hope that you, our alumni and friends, share in
rowing student body at Anderson University.
our excitement and profound gratitude. While we
This year we have more than 2,700 students
know we are not creators of this blessing, we are
and life on campus has become so robust and
stewards of the promise it brings. We also know
attractive that more of them than ever desire to
the challenge we embrace is to seize on this time of
live here among friends and the giant oaks and
momentum and stretch our abilities and resources
lush gardens. You will read about our new
to achieve God’s best for Anderson. As always, we
residence halls in the pages that follow.
invite you to join us as we do.
- Anderson University Magazine
campus news
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James A. Wright joins Anderson University administration James A. Wright has been named Vice President of Finance and Operations at Anderson University according to President Evans P. Whitaker. Wright comes to Anderson after a successful tenure at the South Carolina Baptist Convention where for nearly two decades he oversaw the financial operations, numerous facilities, and human resource functions of the Convention. He began his duties at Anderson University on October 31st.
“It is hard to imagine a man in South Carolina Baptist life who is more respected or admired than James Wright,” said Dr. Whitaker. “In guiding the SCBC from a business standpoint, he oversaw the development of impressive facilities and greatly enhanced the effectiveness of the way the Convention conducted business, all with a grace and demeanor that won him scores of friends throughout the state of South Carolina and beyond. We are truly fortunate that he has joined our team at this pivotal time of growth in Anderson University history.” Most recently, Wright served as a consultant to churches throughout the state that sought to modernize their business operations and update their constitutions and bylaws. Wright is a graduate of The University of South Carolina. He has been married to Gloria Westmoreland Wright since 1977.
Proposed Student Housing | Anderson University | View from North | Craig Gaulden Davis | Sepember 2011
board of trust approves new residence halls and degrees During its October meeting, the Anderson University Board of Trust approved the construction of two new residence halls to meet the rapidly growing need for additional on-campus housing at AU. Trustees approved the concept of two, 102-bed residence halls that will flank the three recently constructed across the Boulevard from the front of Anderson University’s campus. The original site plan for residence halls on Boulevard
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called for six halls, but the larger two halls will now take the place of three. The existing residence halls currently have 62 beds each. Construction on at least one of the two new buildings could begin as early as the first of the year as once again AU faces an immediate need for additional rooms for its rapidly growing student body. On the academic front, The Board approved three new degrees for the ever-growing academic program. Two are associated with the new School of Nursing under construction adjacent to Vandiver Hall and one in the Criminal Justice program that will soon expand to new facilities housed in the former Duke Energy building near downtown Anderson. The School of Nursing, which is currently undergoing the process of approval from the South Carolina Board of Nursing with an
eye toward a 2012 launch, will begin with two degrees. One is a Traditional Bachelor of Science (TBSN) and the other is an Accelerated Bachelor of Science (ABSN). The traditional program is designed for the typical undergraduate student to follow a four-year curriculum, while the accelerated degree is geared toward the adult student with a significant amount of college credit without a degree that wishes to obtain a education and training in nursing.
The Criminal Justice program is adding a Bachelor of Emergency Services Management. The curriculum for the program is in the final stages of development, but Board members approved the basic concept of a program for those currently working in emergency services fields desiring a bachelor’s degree. The Board of Trust will reconvene on the Anderson campus in February.
AU School of Nursing development “on schedule” The Anderson University School of Nursing is on schedule in its development according to its dean, Dr. Pamela Binns-Turner. Since arriving at AU this past summer, Dr. Binns-Turner has begun the development of the curriculum for the School of Nursing and recently added the school’s first faculty members. Demolition inside the building where the new school will be housed on the Anderson campus has been ongoing since August and site preparation is fully underway with construction soon to follow. “While not yet having received approval from the South Carolina Board of Nursing, I am delighted with the significant progress made thus far toward the development of the School of Nursing at Anderson University,” Binns-Turner said. “We are carefully following a timeline provided by the Board of Nursing to present information and documentation for the required future review to grant approval for our new School of Nursing. Two exceptional faculty have joined us with extensive nursing backgrounds, not only in nursing practice, but education as well. The work has begun and is moving forward on schedule in our new building, which will feature within its 20,000 square feet a state-of-the-art simulation environment,
technology savvy classrooms, large student lounge, and a cadaver dissection lab. I couldn’t be more pleased with the overwhelming support of the Upstate community and Anderson University in the development of this School of Nursing.” April Romanos, MSN, RN, has been named undergraduate chair of the School of Nursing. Romanos comes to AU with a background of six years in nursing education. In addition, she most recently served as the director of nursing for the University of Pennsylvania Hospital where she was responsible for managing the staff of three clinics as well as a surgical suite. Charlotte Stephens, MSN, APRN-BC, joined the faculty this fall as assistant professor. Ms. Stephens also has a background in nursing education and has been a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner for ten years. She comes to us after having served as a nurse practitioner managing over 1500 clients and families and has been nationally recognized for establishing a successful work place wellness program.
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Octavia Hall - AU’s once-in-a-lifetime vocalist by Evelyn Beck At last year’s state competition for the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), Octavia Hall won first place for the third year in a row. During some free time, the standout AU voice major encountered another contestant who complained, “I want to find out who that Octavia girl is. She wins everything every year!” Without revealing her identity, a smiling Octavia asked, “Is she really that good?” Yes, she really is. Not only tops in the state, Octavia won the NATS regional competition as well. In fact, she takes top honors at most of the contests she enters, including a local event
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called “Anderson Idol.” What makes her such an impressive singer, says Deedy Francis, Octavia’s voice teacher at AU, is that “She has an emotional connection to the music which she’s able to express vocally and in her body language. We call it ‘in the moment.’ She’s capable of being in the moment—she feels the music, she feels the emotion of the text, she’s able to express that. There’s a warmth to the tone of her voice and a beautiful resonant quality to it. That is what is marketable as an opera singer. I call it God’s amplification system.” Though she’s never been to a professional opera (“too expensive!” she says), Octavia’s goal is to sing classical music like fellow American sopranos Renée Fleming, Leontyne Price, and Jessye Norman. That’s a big dream for a kid who was raised by a single mom and didn’t even think she could afford college. But talent runs in the family. Her brother Brandon is a talented actor who earned a full scholarship to the prestigious
Julliard School in New York. Octavia calls him “Denzel good.” Their mom, Betty Hall, who works as a custodian at Pendleton High School, is amazed by the success that both of her children have found in the arts. “They’re like normal kids,” she says. “They argue and fuss. But when they get on stage, it’s like magic. I ask them how they do what they do. They say, ‘Mama it’s just natural.’” Octavia grew up singing at church, then joined the choir in high school. Several women from Anderson School District 4 pushed her to develop her natural talents with private lessons. “I have so many women I call my mom,” says Octavia. She decided to apply to AU, where she has consistently distinguished herself over the past four years. Her schedule is packed, with part-time jobs at the AU bookstore and as a pharmacy technician at CVS, plus occasional gigs singing jazz. Studying includes the challenge of learning notes, fast riffs, and the multiple languages of opera: Spanish, German, French, and Italian. And she practices
constantly, working to get her trills—to make her voice jump fast from one note to another. What she most relishes about performing is the connection she makes with the audience. “At my first recital, I prayed and asked God, ‘When I get up there, I just want my singing to touch somebody,’” she said. “God is real. He did that. A professor came up and told me, ‘You brought tears to my eyes. It’s like another sound coming out of your mouth. It’s beautiful.’ And that thrills me.” Following her performance at AU’s Christmas First Night in November, Octavia has a Metropolitan Opera Council state audition in January and a chamber choir trip to Peru in March, followed by graduation in May. And after that? Her back-up plan includes graduate school and a possible career as a musical therapist. But one thing is for sure. Says Octavia, “I just have to sing.”
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college of education college of christian studies
The College of Education welcomed three new faculty members this fall who will complement an already impressive faculty roster. Dr. Jacquelynn Malloy, who has a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Clemson University, joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor of Education after serving for three years as an Assistant Professor Elementary Education and Literacy at George Mason University. Mr. Phil Ashley, who holds an Ed.S. Education Specialist degree from Clemson University, became the Coordinator of Education Field Partnerships after serving for over 30 years as an elementary school general music teacher in Anderson School District 2. The position of Assistant Professor of Education/ Data Manager was filled by Mr. Danny Frady who holds a M.Ed. in Technology in Education from Leslie University. Mr. Frady will serve in a vital role to collect and archive data for use in achieving NCATE reaccreditation.
Associate Professor of Education, who will retire after the fall 2011 semester. Since 2002, Dr. Wilk has primarily managed the areas of social studies, math, and English secondary education. She is moving with her husband Randy to Wisconsin where she will “sit in her rocker on the front porch.”
On another note, the College of Education will lose one of its foremost faculty members, Dr. Susan Wilk,
Dr. Raymond Locy Dean of College of Education
The launch of the new Doctor of Ministry degree is a major emphasis this fall in the College of Christian Studies (CCS). This is the first doctoral degree offered at AU and we are excited about enlisting our first class that will begin seminars in early 2012. The D.Min. will have a focus on biblical preaching, which is an area of particular strength within the CCS.
the few accredited bachelor’s degrees in this field that can be taken fully online.
The CCS has also launched an undergraduate concentration in preaching for those students who already know they want to have an emphasis in this area of ministry. This is the fourth concentration available to undergraduate majors in Christian Studies; the earlier ones are in Youth Ministry, Pastoral Ministry, and Biblical Studies. Another addition to the CCS undergraduate program is the Bachelor of Christian Studies degree, which is delivered completely online. This is one of
The fall 2011 semester marks a period of transition for the College of Education as it moves its field experience and clinical experience evaluation instruments to an online format. This transition is a laborious process involving many people, but the online format will facilitate the archiving of data that will be readily available as evidence that teacher candidates are prepared in the appropriate knowledge, skills, and dispositions. I invite you to encourage high school graduates to consider Anderson University as the place to prepare as a future educator. In doing so, you will ensure that our future school classrooms are led by teachers who show the love and care of Christ.
The first class in the Master of Ministry program completed their program of study this summer and will graduate this December. The M.Min. continues to grow, with the option of taking classes on campus (one night a week), online, or a combination of the two. Students now enrolled come from various parts of South Carolina, plus states like Indiana, Virginia, Florida, and Texas. The inaugural series in the “John A. Broadus Lectures on Preaching” will be held January 2425, 2012 with Dr. Haddon Robinson as the 2012 lecturer. Robinson is distinguished professor of preaching at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and former president at Denver Seminary. His book, Biblical Preaching, is the most widely used text in preaching in American colleges and seminaries.
Dr. Michael Duduit Dean of College of Christian Studies campus news
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The COB now offers two new concentrations in marketing and international business for traditional students. New marketing courses include New Product Development, Negotiation Skills, Marketing Research and Internet Marketing. The international business concentration requires an international experience abroad. A new faculty member in marketing has joined the COB this fall. Dr. Jamie Ressler has a DBA from Nova Southeastern University. She previously taught at Palm Beach Atlantic University and has previous work experience as a marketing manager and communications director. Her research interests include Branding, Materialism, Strategy, and Nonprofit Management.
The Center for Finance and Economics sponsored a team of students this past summer who visited a girls’
Dr. Carol Karnes Dean of College of Business
The College of Adult and Professional Studies (CAPS) experienced significant growth over the past year. From fall 2010 to fall 2011, headcount enrollment increased by 28%. The four major contributing factors were (1) the addition of a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice (BA-CJ) for traditional students, (2) the expansion of the CJ degree offerings in the Adults College Choice for Exceptional Learning (ACCEL) program, (3) the 60% headcount increase in the Human Services – Behavioral Science program offered in ACCEL, and (4) having all CAPS undergraduate programs available on campus and online.
Since January of 2005, we have had a degree completion program in CJ in ACCEL. It is designed for those with a significant academic background in CJ at the associate’s degree level. This fall we added a new ACCEL option that does not require prior CJ courses. Thus, we now offer two different degree paths in CJ ACCEL, as well as the program for traditional students. Each one also offers Concentrations in Homeland Security/Emergency Preparedness and Law Enforcement.
Eighteen students are enrolled in BA-CJ. This is excellent considering SACS, our accrediting agency, did not approve the program until mid-April. Thus, we could not recruit students until the high school year was almost over. Jeff Black, a new faculty member with excellent academic and professional credentials, is the coordinator for the traditional program.
In May CAPS had its first nine graduates in the Master of Criminal Justice program. The program is designed for professionals in management positions and at least five years’ experience in the field. Students have four two-day class sessions per semester on campus with all other assignments completed online. We constantly are looking for ways to assist students in reaching their academic goals. Because of input from many people, exciting possibilities are on the horizon.
Dr. David Shirley College of Adult and Professional Studies
college of business
Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) is popular with our undergraduate business students. SIFE is an international non-profit organization which works with leaders in business and higher education to mobilize university students to make a difference in their communities. Participating students form teams in order to apply business concepts in developing outreach projects. The AU team was a 1st Runner-up at the SIFE Regional Competition held April 4, 2011, in Atlanta, Ga., and the National Champion in the Sam’s Club Environmental Sustainability Challenge for the third consecutive year.
home in Honduras. The team was tasked to begin work on a successful and sustainable business model to expand the ministry’s coffee business in and beyond Honduras. The Center is also preparing students for the Federal Reserve Challenge, planning workshops on entrepreneurism and personal finance, and engaging students in economic data collection and analysis.
college of adult & professional studies
The College of Business (COB) has now graduated three student cohorts with the MBA degree. The fourth group will graduate in December. Current students are enrolled in the online program with plans for another face-to-face class to start in January. This fall we have fifty-four students enrolled in the program.
school of interior design
The School of Interior Design has celebrated numerous historic milestones as our centennial year culminated. To top the list, students in the first class of the new degree, Bachelor of Art in Interior Design, graduated May 2011. With the addition of enhanced course offerings, student portfolios demonstrated a major advancement in the areas of digital technologies, sustainability in design and environmental awareness, lighting design, enhanced study in commercial and contract design, and the history of architecture, interiors, and furniture design. These courses contained content which pushed the boundaries of emerging technologies, designing with powerful software including Autodesk ® AutoCAD ® 2011, and Autodesk® Revit® Architecture 2011, Adobe Photoshop CS4 and Google® Sketch-UP, as well as utilizing new media. As a result, our graduates entered the competitive job market with stellar portfolios leading to amazing employment opportunities along the southeast.
college of visual & performing arts
Additionally, three senior students participated in the Steelcase Design competition. The following students were awarded by design professionals for their design excellence:
Growth, success, and excellence continue to characterize the arts of Anderson University! The CVPA is enjoying yet another record enrollment year, with almost 300 students this fall. The music department began offering our first graduate degree, a Masters of Music in Music Education. In theatre, we’re offering another exciting new degree, a Bachelor of Arts focusing in theatrical design. The music department is thrilled to welcome Dr. Howard Kim as our new resident piano virtuoso. The art department is also delighted to welcome a third graphic designer; Clarissa Brandão hails from Rio de Janeiro and comes to AU with expertise in sustainable practices. Our visual and performing arts programs are stronger than ever. The art department holds accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, and our music department is equally proud of their National Association of Schools of Music accreditation.
Anna Peek, Ist place; Samantha Welcome, 2nd place; and Nicole Parnell, Honorable Mention. Winning students were rewarded for their winning design solutions by traveling to the Steelcase Corporate Development Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Upon graduation, two of the award-winning students received offers and are employed by Steelcase office dealerships in Savannah, Ga., and Greenville, S.C. The design excellence of our alumni continues to have a strong impact on our profession. Congratulations to alumna Melissa DeAngelis, class of 1999, who was named Director of Design, Young Office Environments, and to Kerry Howard, class of 1999, for having been selected as Master of Ceremony of the 31st Annual American Society of Interior Design (ASID) Georgia Chapter Design Excellence Awards Celebration held at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens in Atlanta, Ga., in April 2011. Additionally, Kerry’s phenomenal talent as an interior designer has been featured in the September 2011 issue of Traditional Home, a publication for a remarkable home he designed in Atlanta, Ga. As alumni, you are encouraged to share your professional updates. Hearing from you is a welcome pleasure!
Anne Martin Dean of Interior Design
Very few faith-based institutions maintain both distinctions, each of which requires meeting rigorous academic, professional, and scholarly standards. Our graphic design students continue to win Gold ADDY and other design awards at regional and national levels. The performing art students and fine art students also frequently compete in professional juried exhibitions where they, too, are garnering recognition and winning awards. The AU Playhouse’s season includes Hallelujah Girls, Footloose, The Misanthrope, and The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds. We’ll also showcase our extraordinary student talent in two other April events; the art department’s Senior Exhibition opening April 17th will feature work in both the Vandiver and Gallant Art Galleries. On April 20th we’ll produce the fifth annual President’s Gala, a vibrant pops concert featuring the excellence of our student performers. The President’s Gala is a free, ticketed event. For reservations or tickets for any of our visual art or performance events, please call the RFAC Box office at (864) 231-2080.
Nathan Cox Interim Dean of College of Visual and Performing Arts
The School of Nursing is developing on schedule as we follow the time line provided by the Board of Nursing to present the information and documentation necessary for their review to grant approval for our new School of Nursing Program. We have recently added two new faculty members. April Romanos, MSN, RN, has been named the undergraduate chair. Mrs. Romanos comes to us with six years of nursing education and most recently has served as Director of Nursing for the University of Pennsylvania Hospital where she supervised three clinics and a surgery suite. The other new faculty member joining us is Charlotte Stephens, MSN, APRN-BC as an assistant professor. Ms. Stephens is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with a background in nursing education. She served as a nurse practitioner managing 1500 clients and has been nationally recognized for establishing a successful work place wellness program. And finally, Mrs. Katherine Davenport, BA, has
We are pleased to offer a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. This degree places a greater emphasis on science and math and encourages students to develop skills in critical thinking, critical writing, statistical analysis, and research methods. In addition to the core courses required for the Bachelor of Arts degree, students following a Bachelor of Science track complete more advanced courses in math, chemistry, biology, statistical analysis, and research methods. Following graduation, students will be prepared for jobs that place a stronger emphasis on science and math or for graduate programs that stress research. Please come to campus often and stop for a visit. Your former professors would love to catch up with your progress since graduation.
college of arts & sciences
The Anderson University Center for Cancer Research ribbon cutting was held on November 18 at 2:00 pm. The lab facilities, developed in collaboration with AnMed, will allow Anderson University faculty and undergraduate students
to be involved in the latest cancer research. This is an exciting time for the College as well as the University.
Rodney M. Rutland, Ph.D. Interim Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
joined the School of Nursing as administrative assistant to the dean. Work has begun and is on schedule for our new building, which will feature state-of-the-art simulation and classroom environments, a large student lounge and a cadaver dissection lab. The simulation environment will feature high-fidelity simulators: two adults, five year old child, and birthing mom/baby – all wireless! In anticipation of the opening of the new School of Nursing, we are looking for former students of the Anderson Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. Some of the students between 1956 and 1959 attended classes here at Anderson College during their freshman year. How exciting it would be to have the first nursing students at Anderson College here to welcome the first nursing students to Anderson University! Anyone with information on the location of these former students is asked to contact Mrs. Kathie Davenport at the School of Nursing.
Dr. Pamela Binns-Turner Dean of School of Nursing
school of nursing
This academic year has been an exciting time for our college, including the addition of four new faculty members. Paige Ellisor-Catoe is instructor of English with an M.A. degree from the University of Georgia. Dr. Masa Higo joins AU as assistant professor of sociology. Dr. Higo earned his Ph.D. from Boston College. Dr. David Prager is our new assistant professor of mathematics with a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia. Dr. Patty-Jean Slaughter comes to AU as associate professor of psychology with a Ph.D. from Indiana State University. In addition, Vanessa Rettinger, assistant professor of kinesiology, completed her Ph.D. from The University of South Carolina.
AU Playhouse gets Footloose As part of their exciting fall lineup, the Anderson University Playhouse presented Footloose in the Henderson Auditorium of the Rainey Fine Arts Center. Footloose tells the exciting story of Ren McCormack, a charismatic teenager from Chicago forced to move with his mother to the small town of Bomont, Texas. Ren quickly discovers that small town life is far from what he expected. Through his friendship with the preacher’s daughter Ariel, he discovers that her father, the strict and serious Reverend Moore, holds the act of dancing accountable for the tragic accident that took the lives of four teenagers, including the life of his son, Ariel’s brother, as they returned home from a school dance. The tragic accident led Reverend Moore to outlaw dancing within Bomont limits. Frustrated with the slow pace of small town life and while struggling with hurt of his own, Ren makes the courageous decision to fight Reverend Moore and the Town Council, in the hopes of
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organizing a dance for the senior class of Bomont High. Along the way, however, Ren discovers that he has much more in common with Reverend Moore than he ever expected and together they discover that laying down their burdens is “terrifying but exhilarating.” Anderson University’s production of the popular story featured a cast and crew of 40 talented students who masterfully told this tale of redemption and freedom in the Rainey Fine Arts Center’s Henderson Auditorium. Students loved being a part of the production and working with director and department chair Dr. Deborah McEniry. Senior Brittany Roether, who played Wendy Jo, said, “Dr. McEniry was a wonderful coach, teacher, and director throughout the entire process. Her vision for the show was clear and passion-filled.” That passion was obvious through the students’ performances and brilliant execution of dance choreographed by dance professor Terrie Poore and music directed by Dr. Ray Locy, Dean of the College of Education, As student stage manager Amber Ensley put it, “This cast made the audience feel like Bomont has been here forever.”
Hallelujah Girls brings Southern flair to AU By: Anderson University senior Rebekah Sammons Anderson University’s Playhouse opened their 2011-2012 season with The Hallelujah Girls, a Jones, Hope, and Wooten comedy with plenty of laughs, a lot of heart, and a big helping of Southern charm. Professor Robert Homer-Drummond, who staged the production, said, “We knew The Hallelujah Girls would be one laugh after another and we were right. What I didn’t count on was that the investment of the actors brought out aspects of the script and smart elements of the writing that I hadn’t expected. It was a terrific Southern farce!” The studio theatre of Belk was transformed into a church, complete with pews, stained glass windows, and a dusty piano. Enter five women with the spirit and the determination to change their lives: there’s Sugar Lee, bent on making her dream a reality by turning the church into a day spa; manicurist Carlene, who, after the deaths of three husbands, is wondering if she’ll ever be able to find true love again; Nita, a single mother who runs mediations between her troublemaker son and his parole officer; Mavis, who’s trying to figure a way to fake her own death to get out of a stale marriage; and Crystal, the nutty, ukulele-playing, Christmascaroling entertainer. Add a glamorous, scheming arch-nemesis by the name of Bunny Sutherland, an ex-boyfriend with a mysterious past, and an outrageous mailman and you get a heartwarming show about friendship, determination, and keeping strong in the face of all odds. Despite the ages of the characters on the stage, the messages transcended the barrier of generations. Both college students and the community enjoyed the show. Says Tim James, a junior at the University, “Hallelujah Girls was a fantastic show, well put-together and very enjoyable. From the very beginning, you had an intimate feeling that
you were within the show itself. I really enjoyed how each actor really embodied the personality of the character they were portraying.” The cast and crew also had several things to say about their experiences with the production. Jenni Baldwin, a freshman crewmember, said, “With this being our first show, we felt welcomed into the theatre family. I know this may sound cliché, but we grew intimate very fast. But it’s comforting to know I’ll be spending the next four years with many of these people.” Senior Audrey Reed, who appeared as Lady Macbeth in AU’s production of Macbeth last March, also had this to add about her part as an actress in The Hallelujah Girls, “The process was a lot of fun. I think it’s always a challenge but a good learning process to play a character completely opposite from yourself.” Whether a college student or a member of the community coming to enjoy a night of theatre, it’s clear that the comical and touching story of these women reached out to the audience and tugged on heartstrings. And all God’s people said, “Well, Hallelujah!”
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athletic update soccer The men’s soccer team continues to reach unprecedented heights, earning a No. 9 national ranking in the NSCA A/Continental Tire Poll in mid-October, marking the highest ranking by a Trojan men’s soccer team to date. AU clinched the South Atlantic Conference regular season championship with its 1-0 road win past Lincoln Memorial and appeared for its third consecutive appearance in the NCA A Division II NCA A Tournament. The Trojans also earned the top spot in the NSCA A/Continental Tire Southeast Region Poll on the strength of their school-record 11-match win streak and is a sparkling 14-1 at home since opening play at Trojan Stadium last season. The Trojans possess an explosive offense that ranks seventh in the country nationally, averaging 2.67 goals per contest and is ninth in the nation in total goals, with 40 on the season. The stellar AU defense has recorded seven shutouts and ranks 23rd nationally in shutout percentage, while the Trojan goalkeepers have combined to post a save percentage of 0.812 to rank 29th in the country. Individually, senior forward Lasse Sohrweide ranks in the top 10 in the nation in six offensive categories including assists, points, and goals. Junior goalkeeper Lukas Hesse is 31st with a 0.871 goals-against average and 40th with his .797 save percentage, while senior Mark Smith moved to the 35th in the nation with his six assists on the season. Under first-year head coach Samar Azem, the Trojan women’s soccer team notched its firstever regional ranking, appearing at No. 8 in the NSCA A/Continental Tire Southeast Region Poll in mid-October after posting an impressive fivematch South Atlantic Conference win streak. With their seventh shutout of the 2011 campaign coming in the non-conference win past Valdosta State, the Trojans set a new school record for clean sheets, eclipsing the previous record of six which was set in 2001 and equaled in 2003. As a team, the Trojans’ defense ranks 49th in the nation in save percentage, 48th in shutout percentage (.438), and 57th in goals-against average. Individually, sophomore net-minder
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Kaitlyn Neipp is 49th in the country with her .826 save percentage and ranks 64th in goals-against average. Junior Jessica Kleinberg ranks 21st in the nation with her four game-winning scores.
volleyball The Trojan volleyball team narrowly missed out on earning its 13th consecutive appearance in the conference tournament, with junior Tiffany Rowe ranking 30th in the nation, averaging 1.1 blocks per set. The Myrtle Beach, S.C., native ranks seventh in career blocks in the school record books and is on pace to finish in the top-five all time, while potentially breaking into the record books for blocks in a season.
cross country The women’s cross country team, ranked fifth in the Southeast Region, claimed its second straight Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Championship in October, as the Trojans outdistanced former two-time title-holder Lenoir-Rhyne. Head Coach Randy Greer was named Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year, while senior standout Whitney Bishoff earned back-to-back first-team All-SAC honors. Sophomore Hannah Robles garnered second-team All-SAC accolades, along with junior Amanda Johnson. Newcomer Sydney Hazel was named to the All-Freshman team. The men’s cross country team very nearly dethroned Mars Hill for the conference title, finishing second just behind the Lions who have won 15 consecutive SAC titles. Mars Hill was ranked No. 5 in the USTFCCCA Southeast Region poll while Anderson, which finished third in last year’s SAC Championship, was sixth in the regional rankings. Three AU runners posted top-10 times, led by sophomore Parks Edwards’ fourth-place effort, while junior Alex Pena and sophomore Deniz Hay notched eighth and ninth respectively. Edwards was named first-team All-Conference, while Pena and Hay earned second-team All-SAC honors for their efforts.
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famous AU alumnus wrote for silver screen To long time Anderson resident Dot Fant, “Jimmy Lee” Barrett was a friendly and lively teenager with a wild imagination. In their Anderson neighborhood, there was an unlimited array of people and things that Barrett would turn into a story or a play. “His first play was presented in our family garage,” recalls Fant. “He wrote and directed. He bossed us. He was an artist from the word ‘go.’ The only people who came to our show were a few neighbors and some dogs and cats.”
“He was born with that imagination, but he always said it was Anderson University that taught him to write.”
Dot Fant Anderson resident
Barrett, born in Charlotte and raised in Baltimore, had been sent to live with his aunt, Miss Armena Barrett. Aided by her sister Mrs. Glena Barrett Witherspoon, she looked after Jimmy Lee following the death of his mother from tuberculosis. As he grew, the time came to consider college and nearby Anderson proved just the place for the budding writer to hone his skills. As Dot Fant says of her long time friend, “He was born with that imagination, but he always said it was Anderson University that taught him to write.”
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The writing skills James Lee Barrett honed at Anderson resulted in a highly successful career in screenwriting. His crowning achievement is generally thought to be the classic civil war epic Shenandoah, starring Jimmy Stewart as Charles Anderson, a farmer with no stake in the war until he and his sons are drawn into it with sweeping and tragic consequences. Barrett wrote the story and screenplay. He later adapted the story for the stage, winning a Tony Award in the ‘50s. Dot Fant sat with a delighted Barrett as he returned for a performance in the Anderson Community Theatre in his hometown. It was no accident that the main character’s name was Anderson and that the family doctor’s name was Witherspoon, two homages to his old stomping grounds. Barrett’s successful career included many other notable achievements however. He wrote the original teleplay for the classic series, In the Heat of the Night. He penned the screenplays for John Wayne classics, The Green Berets and The Undefeated as well as the hilarious Jimmy Stewart/Glen Ford classic western, The Cheyenne Social Club. He also was responsible for the screenplay for one of the most popular depictions from The Bible on screen, The Greatest Story Ever Told. James Lee Barrett wrote for television and film up to the time of his death at 59 of cancer in Templeton, California. He was presented the Anderson Alumni Achievement Award in 1981, eight years before he passed away. He is remembered as having dearly loved his old hometown and was a frequent visitor even after his success took him to Hollywood. He remains one of Anderson University’s most notable alumni.
heritage and promise During its first century of service, Anderson University has remained steadfastly committed to its founders’ vision to be a distinctly Christian academic community that welcomes students regardless of their faith or background. As it has developed, Anderson has emerged in the higher-education community as one of the most innovative and forward-thinking small private universities in America. It is the combination of great academics, great faith and a commitment to each individual student as they prepare for their calling in life that makes Anderson truly unique and attractive. That is our heritage and that is our promise to future generations of students. Our founders addressed the initiation of the university and set in motion a 100-year-old legacy. Succeeding generations addressed priority after priority that resulted in the Anderson University we all know and love today. Now it’s our turn to provide those financial resources needed to help Anderson deliver on its promise to the students of today and tomorrow. Your financial support is nothing less than an investment in our vision. Your gifts have far greater impact than you could ever imagine. Indeed, your gifts help change lives. Act today. As you consider your charitable gifts, remember that gifts made by December 31st could help reduce your tax bill for 2011. Now, more than ever, you may find that time spent determining the best ways to make your charitable gifts can help you stretch your charitable dollars. By carefully considering what you give and the timing of your gifts, you may discover you can make gifts you may not have thought possible. Please call if we can provide further formation to help you with your charitable giving plans.
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class notes
For additional information on alumni, go to www.andersonuniversity.edu and click on Alumni.
honors & awards Several Anderson alumni were recipients of the inaugural “20 under 40” award, representing the brightest young leaders in the Anderson area. They were Lorin Larason, ’09, Tracy Whitten-Bowie, ’07, Laneika K. Musalini, ’06, Demika E. Patterson, ’03, Craig Wooten, ’97, and Robert Hayes, ’96; Amber S. Pearson, ’08, was named Teacher of the Year at Belton Elementary for 2011-12; Kevin Roper, ’06, was named Teacher of the Year at Centerville Elementary for 2011-12; Jennifer S. Woody, ’06, was named the Teacher of the Year at New Prospect Elementary for 2011-12; Alicia F. Swain, ’04, was named Teacher of the Year at Fair-Oak Elementary School for 2011-12; Jan P. Fort, ’83, was selected as the Distinguished Artist of the Year by the Indigo Choral Society, Georgetown County’s Community Chorus. Georgetown Mayor Jack Scoville declared September 20, 2011, as Jan Powers Fort Day to honor her achievements; Jenny O’Brien, ’78, was named Teacher of the Year for the Anderson V Career Campus for 2011-12; Anne Martin, ’73, has been honored as this year’s “Educator of the Year” by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). Criteria for nominations include creative and intellectual contributions to design education through teaching, research, administration, or writing. Nominees must demonstrate a lasting impact and inspiration to colleagues, students, or audience.
graduate school Lisa Gorman, ’10, completed her master’s in fine arts with The Florence Institute of Design International in Firenze, Italy; Sara Lynn Winburn, ’10, is pursuing her master’s in elementary education through Liberty Univeristy; Christa Harvey, ’09, will complete her master’s in education with a focus on TESOL from Furman University in August 2012; Liz Walker, ’09, received her MBA from Charleston Southern University in August; Amanda Spurling, ’08, is pursuing a master’s in clinical counseling at The Citadel in Charleston.
jobs Jody Chesney, ’10, is the education editor for HomeTown Health; Josh Wiliams, ’10, is the worship pastor at Tidal Creek Fellowship in Beaufort; Brandi G. Balcome, ’10, is an accountant for Fujifilm Manufacturing USA, Inc.; Jill H. Deaton, ’10, is employed by Wells Fargo in Greenville; Rebecca Kimmons, ’10, is a payroll and accounting adminstrator for Dietze & Schell Manufacturing Solutions; Lisa Gorman, ’10, is an interior designer with Overcash Demmitt Architects in Charlotte, N.C.; Sara Lynn Winburn, ’10, works with BCM/international ministry at the University of South Carolina; Andrea B. Sturgell, ’09, is an elementary art teacher with Palm Beach County School District; Jacob Morrison, ’09, is the guest services coordinator for NewSpring Church in Anderson; Anthony DiCarlo, ’09, teaches at Carolina High School and Academy and is also the assistant wrestling coach; Liz Walker, ’09, is the children’s director for REVO Church in Winston Salem, N.C.; Jamie B, Dawson, ’08, is a member of the accounting team at IronBrick Associates in McLean, Va.; Amanda Spurling, ’08, is a patient representative with Firstsource; Elizabeth L. Cranford, ’07, and husband Jason Cranford, ’07, are part of a new church planting work in Greensboro, N.C. Elizabeth is also employed with Guilford College; Matt Chambers, ’07, was promoted to be the assistant director of admissions for technology at Clemson University; Tracy Whitten-Bowie, ’07, was unanimously elected by Foothills Alliance Board of Directors to become Executive Director, beginning December 1, 2011; Chris Bailey, ’03, is the art director for Moxie Interactive; Joel Zimmerman, ’03, is the assistant director for athletics development at Barton College; Henri’ Thompson, ’02, is the associate director for community affairs for John Hopkins Hospital; Christopher Fyock, ’01, is a physician with Gastroenterology Associates in Greenville; Tonya F. Bugg, ’98, is a nurse with Mary Black Memorial Hospital; Jane A. McDonald, ’87, is
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the prevention coordinator for Coastal Horizons Center, Inc.; Margaret H. MacKay, ’75, is the director of music at Fort Hill Presbyterian Church in Clemson. She previously served at First Presbyterian in Anderson for 18 years.
weddings Josh Williams, ’10, wed Dorothy Nowak, July 24, 2010; Brandi Garrett, ’10, wed Brent Balcome, October 15; Jill Holliday, ’10, wed Austin Lee Deaton, October 22; Bradley Nettles, Jr., ’10, wed Amanda VanValkenburg, ’11, June 18; Andrea Berg, ’09, wed Ben Sturgell, October 29; Paige Quarles, ’09, wed Steven Cooley, ’08, June 25; Anthony DiCarlo, ’09, wed Katie McCoy, ’11, August 5; Charles Butler, ’08, wed Mallory Elise Moxley, October 8; Latrice Thomas, ’08, wed Rasheem Brady, July 9; Jamie Ball, ’08, wed John Dawson, October 29; Audrey Durham, ’06 (M.Ed., ’09), wed Steven Jennings, ’03, September 10; Lee McDerment, ’00, wed Ali Meisburg, September 10; Tonya Fricks, ’98, wed Joshua Bugg, July 24, 2010; Louise A. Murdock, ’46, wed Bill Collins in September 2011.
baby news Meagan M. Owen, ’07, and Caleb Owen, ’05, a daughter, Ansleigh Elaine, August 8; Nancy S. Shaw, ’05, a son, Maxwell Timothy, September 10; Dohnia O. Galloway, ’04, and Ryan Galloway, ’03, a daughter, Dohnia Elizabeth, September 3; Ria W. Hydrick, ’03, a son, Micah Jason, September 30; Tonya F. Bugg, ’98, a daughter, Kaylee Frances, May 10.
in memoriam Clarence Alexander “Pete” Elmore, ’61, died September 11; Jo Ann Millsap Davis, ’52, died February 6; Rebecca McClain Benjamin, ’42, died July 17; Rubye Emerson Mouchet, ’30, died October 31. Betty Luther West, of Anderson, SC, retired bookstore manager at Anderson University, died October 1 at Hospice Center of Charleston.
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College of Visual & Performing Arts Upcoming Events January 18-21
March 15-18
Misanthrope, a comedy of manners by Moliere. 7:30 pm with a 2:00 pm matinee on January 28th. Belk Theatre.
Forget Me Not. Henderson Auditorium. Call for details.
February 7
Anderson International Festival presents an All French Recital. Daniel Recital Hall. 7:30 pm.
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, by Paul Zindel. 7:30 pm with a 2:00 pm matinee on April 14. Belk Theatre.
February 9-11
April 14
All Night Strut, a Musical Theatre Dessert Revue. 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm on February 9th. Belk Theatre.
The AU Spring Gospel Fest, featuring the AU Ensemble. 7:30 pm. Henderson Auditorium. Donations accepted.
February 19
April 20
ASO in Paris. 3:00 pm Matinee. Henderson Auditorium. Call GAMAC at 864.231.6147 for more information.
The President’s Gala, featuring the performing ensembles of the CVPA. Henderson Auditorium. 8:00 pm.
April 11-14
March 6
The AU Choir and Wind Symphony in Concert. Henderson Auditorium. 7:30 pm. For more information, please call the Rainey Fine Arts Center Box Office at 864.231.2080.