Anderson University 2010
AU growth in overdrive University gears up for Centennial
WINTER/SPRING
MAGAZINE
Anderson University Magazine 2010 Winter/Spring Edition Features AU Growth in Overdrive...................... 4 New Degree Programs........................ 6 Winter Commencement...................... 8 Centennial Schedule..........................10 AU Student Wins Coaching Award..........14 Christmas Missions............................16 Antigone........................................22 Choir Chosen for Star Wars in Concert....24 Christmas First Night.........................25 Athletics Bursting with Twins...............30 Johnny Mann Forms Special Relationship with AU.......................36 Alumna Martha Axmann Honored...........38 Departments President’s Letter............................. 3 Faculty and Students.........................12 Arts and Entertainment......................20 Athletic News..................................26 Alumni News...................................34
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 Richardson Contributing Writers: Barry Ray, Evelyn Beck Contributing Photographer: Fletcher Kirkland
university happenings ...
Campus News In the midst of a trying economy, AU continues to grow in number, and programs.
a letter from the president… Anderson University will be 100 years old next year. Soon you will see many references to our centennial celebration, as we officially kick off our centennial festivities in August. I am happy to report to you, our alumni, friends, and families, that in its 99th year your university in Anderson is stronger than ever. In fact, it is now one of the stronger and more respected Christian universities in America. U.S. News & World Report ranks it one of the 77 Up and Coming institutions in America and one of the top 25 universities of its type in the South. Institutional Evaluation and Research, Inc. has included Anderson in its listing of America’s 100 Best College Buys for the last three consecutive years and one of America’s Best Christian Colleges. Last year, the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities association named two of our students the top private college students in our state. Additionally, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCA A) named Anderson senior Anthony DiCarlo the winner of the one and only annual national sportsmanship award given to a male athlete. Anderson University’s appeal to students who want a genuine Christian education has risen dramatically over the last few years. Last year, we achieved our highest enrollment ever, just falling shy of 2,300, up from 1,650 only seven years ago. The school’s foray into graduate education has been successful with the creation of six graduate programs and an expected enrollment of over 200 graduate students by this fall.
Over these last 99 years, the University’s commitment to its Christian mission has endured and today, that mission is the heartbeat of our campus. There is not one single day that the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is not lifted up on our campus either in corporate worship, classroom integration of faith and learning, small groups, or the solitude of the individual worship of our students, faculty, and staff. As we celebrate our Centennial, we will symbolically re-commit our campus to the service of our mission and will erect a handsome bronze plaque in the Merritt Administration Building that will read: Be it known to all who enter here that Jesus Christ is the Foundation of this University. As we stand at the threshold of our 100th year, we truly have much for which to be thankful. We look backward in gratitude at those who paved the way for the success we enjoy today. We look forward with hope and excitement at what the next 100 years will bring as we embark on several bold initiatives you will read about in these pages. As always, we encourage you to come with us on our journey.
Sincerely,
Evans P. Whitaker, Ph.D. President
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
| 3
2010 begins with AU growth in overdrive
University degree seems almost a certainty. Applications and deposits for the fall are pacing well ahead of last year’s record freshman class; and while one never announces a freshman class until it
In the weekly campus worship time on February 24, President Evans Whitaker took an opportunity
actually steps on campus, all signs point to an eyepopping fall enrollment.
to address the students prior to the beginning of a lively worship service. His message to the student body was a fairly simple one. The growth
“When we developed and launched
momentum that manifested itself in 2009 has
our long range plan for this university
not only sustained, but has increased. As a result,
five years ago, we set the goal of
several construction projects have become essential
having 2,200 degree seeking students
to provide the same comfortable and enriching experience students enjoy in the face of that growth.
by the end of 2014. We’ll meet that goal two to four years early; in fact, we may meet it this fall.”
Dr. Evans P. Whitaker
President
The most significant construction project in AU history will be a new student center, Dr. Whitaker told the students, but that will take a few years of fundraising and construction. What he really “When we developed and launched our long range
wanted them to know about is what their university
plan for this university five years ago, we set the goal
is doing to enhance their experience as AU students
of having 2,200 degree seeking students by the end
while they are here.
of 2014. We’ll meet that goal two to four years early; in fact, we may meet it this fall.”
As 2009 drew to a close, the University was planning a new residence hall on the Boulevard
Indeed, with 2,280 students enrolled in classes
across from the front of campus, identical to the
already, some taking specific classes or earning
newest residence hall, which opened in 2008.
college credit while in high school, reaching the
However, current housing demands and the
goal of having 2,200 students seeking an Anderson
anticipated growth in the fall made it clear that,
4 | CAMPUS NEWS
even with that new facility, more student housing
Dr. Whitaker unveiled plans to convert space
would be needed. The Anderson University
in the new Thrift Library, originally slated for
Board of Trust, in its February meeting, agreed
future library expansion, into dining space just
with university administrators and approved
behind the popular McClellion Café and the
the construction of a second hall to be built
Bunton Computer Lab. The new restaurant,
concurrently with the one already planned. In
already named “Food for Thought,” will feature
addition, space in the lower level of the Village
dining space for over 100 students and short
residence hall will be converted to student
order and specialty selections not available in the
housing as well, adding room to house 30
other campus facilities.
additional students. In all, there will be space for an additional 130 students as the 2010-2011 academic year opens. Campus dining space, already filled to capacity, will also get a needed boost over the summer as
The faculty at AU will also benefit from several construction projects, as several thousand additional square feet of faculty office space will be added over the summer as well.
campus news
| 5
new degree programs and online options highlight academic offerings for 2010 AU’s popular MBA program became available online in January. The program, designed for working professionals, combines traditional course offerings with the convenience of the online delivery platform. It is completed in just 20 months and instructors include professional faculty members, all with Ph.D.’s and industry experience. The online program features the same unique emphasis on ethics as the on-campus program, as well as an emphasis on practical applications. “We have added this option in response to tremendous demand,” stated Dr. Douglas Goodwin, MBA Director and Associate Dean of the College of Business. “Although our on-campus MBA program is convenient and popular for those who live close enough to come to our campus, the online option expands the opportunity to take advantage of a truly unique, high quality MBA to the rest of the country as well as to those whose jobs prevent them from attending our on-campus classes.” For more information on the MBA program, contact Dr. Goodwin at dgoodwin@ andersonuniversity.edu or (864) 622-6000. Additional information is also available at www.andersonuniversity.edu/mba. AU’s popular Healthcare Management program also became available completely online in January. This Business Administration major is part of Anderson University’s ACCEL program
6 | CAMPUS NEWS
(Adults’ College Choice for Exceptional Learning). The addition of the web-delivered option gives healthcare professionals the added flexibility when seeking to complete their bachelor’s degree in a short period of time. Students may also take courses in the evenings on the AU campus if they so choose. “Healthcare professionals often work long hours and rotating shifts,” stated Dr. Carol Karnes, Dean of the College of Business. “Many students are able to attend our classes on campus, but there are others whose schedules prevent them from doing so. Putting Healthcare Management online opens the program up to those whose schedules vary week to week and who need to attend class when it is convenient for them.” For more information on the Business Administration: Healthcare Management program, contact the Graduate and Evening Admissions Office at (864) 231-2020 or ACCEL@andersonuniversity.edu. Additional information is also available at www. andersonuniversity.edu/accel. Anderson University’s College of Christian Studies will begin undergraduate programs in Youth Ministry and Pastoral Ministry beginning this fall. The new programs will allow current and future AU students to gain specialized training in important areas of ministry service, according to Dr. Michael Duduit, Dean of the College of Christian Studies. Students studying for a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry will be able to take advantage of new concentrations in Youth Ministry or in Pastoral Ministry. “By offering these programs, future pastoral leaders and youth ministers will be able to gain topnotch preparation for those roles as undergraduate students,” Duduit asserts. “This is another way that Anderson University can provide support for the churches and church leaders in this region.” The College of Christian Studies at AU already offers undergraduate programs in
Christian ministry and theology. The two new concentrations in youth ministry and pastoral ministry are in addition to an available concentration in biblical studies. The new concentrations reflect a significant expansion of the scope of the university’s programs in Christian studies. The faculty recently approved the addition of nearly 20 new courses in the College, including new programs in preaching, pastoral care and counseling, ministry leadership, and biblical languages. “Our goal is to provide the premier program for ministry training in the region,” Duduit explains. “We want to offer an exceptional place for current and future ministers to prepare for the work to which God has called them.” For more information, contact Dr. Duduit at mduduit@andersonuniversity.edu or (864) 238-1813. In addition to these offerings, a new Worship Leadership major will be available at AU this fall, through AU’s College of Visual and Performing
Arts, combining specially designed music courses with hands-on training in Christian ministry. The new program will prepare students for a life of effective ministry and will allow them to create meaningful worship experiences using music, related arts, and supporting media. Training in Worship Leadership at Anderson will enable students to lead people in diverse worship settings—both now and in the future. To develop a true sense of what it means to be a worship leader, the Anderson Worship Leadership program provides a solid theological foundation for worship. From that foundation, the more practical aspects of worship leadership are woven into comprehensive training that includes organizing and motivating staff and volunteers, using the elements of music and worship effectively, and designing significant worship services. For more information on the Worship Leadership major, contact Dr. David Larson, Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, at dlarson@andersonuniversity.edu.
campus news
| 7
8 | CAMPUS NEWS
AU honors graduates at winter commencement Approximately 75 Anderson University students received diplomas during winter commencement exercises in December. In addition, Sheila Day, AU’s first graduate to have completed all her courses online, received her degree in Criminal Justice. Dr. Wayne V. Cox, AU English professor and Faculty Chair, delivered the commencement address. Dr. Cox is a published poet whose works have been critically acclaimed. He has published his own anthology of poetry, The Things We Leave Behind, and has translated into English the poetry of Spanish poet Miguel Marti I Pol. Dr. Cox is a native of Maine and he traveled to South Carolina to attend graduate school at the University of South Carolina where he studied under acclaimed writer James Dickey, author of Deliverance. Dr. Cox is also a Fullbright Scholar. Cox challenged the graduates to continue to broaden themselves beyond their specific disciplines in order to be able to adjust more readily to the rapidly changing world around them. Also at commencement, Richard H. Franklin, a ’63 graduate, was named the 2009 recipient of the AU Alumni Achievement Award, an honor presented to an alumnus in recognition of his/her significant achievement in his/her profession or career. From his days as a student at AU, Dick has shown a propensity for leadership and excellence. He served as president of his freshman and sophomore classes as well as president of the Student Government Association. He was also a member of the Columns staff and was recognized as a member of the Denmark Society upon his graduation in 1963. After Anderson, he received his bachelor’s degree in history from Furman University and his master of divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He spent most of the next ten years as a minister to youth at churches in Louisville, Ky., and Atlanta, Ga., before returning
to Anderson to serve as vice president and dean for student development from 1974-1988. He would later serve at Gardner-Webb College and finally complete his years of service to the field of higher education at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. At Samford, Dr. Franklin instituted several innovative programs for students, including a new code of student behavioral expectations and a four year program of student leadership education and development. In recognition of his service, Samford University established the Richard H. Franklin Servant Leader Scholarship upon his retirement in spring 2009. Todd Price, a 2005 graduate from the evening adult program, was named the first recipient of the AU ACCEL Alumni Achievement Award, an honor presented to an ACCEL alumnus in recognition of his/her significant achievement in his/her profession or career. In 2005 Todd completed his bachelor’s in business administration summa cum laude from AU. He went on to earn his master’s in management from Southern Wesleyan University in 2007. At the time of his studies at AU, Todd was already a financial advisor with Edward Jones Investments; he continues his service with them today. He is currently regional leader for north-central and western South Carolina, advising 400 Anderson families and overseeing 70 financial advisors as well as the growth, health, and leadership development in the Upstate market. In late 2006 Todd was named a principal with the firm’s holding company, the Jones Financial Companies L.L.L.P., one of only 34 individuals chosen that year from more than 33,000 associates to join the firm’s 301 principals. The winter commencement was the first Anderson University graduation ceremony to feature a new school song, “The Sounds of Anderson,” recently penned by legendary musician and songwriter Johnny Mann, who has become an ardent Anderson supporter since retiring to the community a few years ago. Top left: Rayon Markland, soccer coach Rob Miller, and Stephon Henry celebrate after commencement. Top Right: Richard H. Franklin receives the AU Alumni Achievement Award. Bottom: Todd Price receives the AU ACCEL Alumni Achievement Award.
campus news
| 9
Our 100th Year A group of public-spirited citizens, desirous of having an institution of higher learning in Anderson, offered 32 acres of land and $100,000 to the South Carolina Baptist Convention at its meeting in 1910. The Convention nominated a group of trustees, and Anderson College was granted a charter in 1911 by the South Carolina General Assembly. As Anderson University begins its centennial year, we urge
all of our alumni, families, and friends to join us in a series of special events to mark this historic time in the life of our institution. Below is a partial calendar of some of the most prominent events you may wish to be a part of. As we officially kick off our celebration in August, you may check the Anderson University website, www. andersonuniversity.edu, for more upto-date information.
AU Centennial Schedule 2010-2011
August 12
Public Lecture: Dr. Robert Benne- Quality With Soul
August 16
Anderson Downtown Connections; Welcome Back AU Students
August 25
Opening Convocation; Formal Centennial Kick-Off
September 23-25
Annie Dove Denmark Play
September 24
Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner and Reunion of National Championship Teams
September 28
Shenandoah Film/Discussion; Focus on AU Author James Lee Barrett who wrote the screenplay
October 22-23
Centennial Homecoming and Family Weekend
— Centennial Marker and Renaming of Front Park Ceremonies
— Fall Musical Presentation (Thoroughly Modern Millie- Oct. 21-23)
— Alumni Art Show
— Alumni Choir Reunion and Concert
November 16-17
December 2
December 15
February 7-11
South Carolina Baptist Convention Centennial Reception Christmas First Night Winter Commencement Founders Week Celebration
— 7th - Retired Faculty and Staff Luncheon
— 8th - Founders Luncheon
— 9th - Founders Day Convocation; Pictorial History Presentation
— 10th - Students’ Birthday Bash
March 29
April 15
May 7
10 | CAMPUS NEWS
Frances Mims Lecture Series; Special Guest- Sue Monk Kidd President’s Gala and Centennial Concert Spring Commencement
campus news
| 11
our faculty and students ...
Faces of AU Dozens of AU students spend winter break in foreign missions, plus, meet the youngest award-winning coach you’re likely to find.
Anderson’s Jill Holliday (center) with St. Joseph’s 2009 state champion swim team captains.
AU senior Jill Holliday leads a highly successful double life
Jill Holliday of Anderson smiles when she talks
When you want to locate an award-winning high school coach, you usually look for an office lined with trophies off to the side of a gymnasium or football field. But if you want to locate the top swimming coach in the South Carolina Independent School Association, you may want to check in on a finance class at Anderson University. The award-winning coach at St. Joseph’s Catholic High School in Greenville is a senior in finance and economics.
when she graduates in May. However, swimming
1 4 | FA C U LT Y A N D S T U D E N T S
about it. This article will be the first mention of her “Walter Mitty” persona as a high school coach that many of her AU classmates will see. She doesn’t participate on any athletic team at Anderson, and she is squarely focused on developing her new career in the financial world coaches throughout the state know her as a highly successful, albeit young, coach of both the boys and girls swim teams at the private school just off Interstate 85 in Greenville. “Every meet I walk into, they say, ‘Where’s the coach?” she laughs. After all, she does look very similar to the swimmers she coaches. St. Joseph’s opponents, however, are well aware of Jill’s
abilities and the talent of her swimmers. The team
The transition was remarkably easy as the record-
won both the boys’ and girls’ state titles in 2008
setting teams barely missed a beat. But like a
and 2009. In fact, as she closed her fourth season
swimmer doing the breaststroke, what looked easy
as a coach this fall (she began coaching the teams
on the surface belied some challenges and furious
as an AU freshman) she and her teams held two
paddling under the water.
dual state titles, a dual runner-up finish, and a boys state title from her first year as coach.
“The first year was difficult,” Jill says. “I was still friends with the swimmers. I had just been in school with them. Now they had to do what I said.
“I was captain of the swim team at St. Joseph’s for three years,” she recalls. “After I graduated and was looking forward to my time at Anderson, the swim coach resigned. Since I had been leading the team anyway as a captain and would be staying in the local area, they asked me if I would be the new coach and I said ‘yes.’”
Jill Holliday
AU student
They had to take criticism from me and listen to me.” However, that awkwardness eased as the teams continued to win. Jill says she loves coaching the teams and will continue, even after she begins her career in finance, but she has no plans of making swimming her main vocation. She is equally eager to talk about the education she has received in business at AU and the preparation she has undergone in order to make her mark in the economic world. The daughter of an AU alumnus, Jill says that receiving an Anderson University diploma in May will be her biggest thrill. That is, unless you count the time as a high school swimmer that she got to swim with Olympic champion Michael Phelps during a
The obvious question is, “How did this come
clinic in Spartanburg.
about?” It is really fairly simple, according to Jill. “I love Anderson,” she beams. “I’ve loved all four “I was captain of the swim team at St. Joseph’s for three years,” she recalls. Jill was the high-point
of my years here.”
swimmer and a member of a relay team that set
If she has the same early success in finance that
three state records. She herself was named to
she had as a swim coach, the Warren Buffetts of
the All-State team. “After I graduated and was
the world might do well to watch for a blonde,
looking forward to my time at Anderson, the
recently minted Anderson graduate moving up in
swim coach resigned. Since I had been leading
their wake.
the team anyway as a captain and would be staying in the local area, they asked me if I would be the new coach and I said ‘yes.’”
FA C U LT Y A N D S T U D E N T S
| 15
Christmas finds AU student missionaries all over the globe
began two years ago to open opportunities for impoverished children to have recreation in safety and to minister to one of the poorest sections of that country. We at the AU Magazine decided that we’d let Elise Welch, a sophomore from Boiling Springs, SC, give you a personal account of the Guatemalan mission trip.
A large number of Anderson University students took part of their Christmas break in 2009 to work in a variety of mission fields all over the world.
A Christmas in Paradise
While dozens participated in mission activities in their home churches, at least 29 of them took part in two mission trips to Guatemala and Italy, sponsored by the Campus Ministries department.
The trip to Italy has become a recent tradition for AU students as they have established a relationship with two IMB (International Mission Board) missionaries, Charlie and Shannon Worthy. The Worthys look forward to the AU team’s arrival as it greatly expands their capacity to do street ministry and build a vibrant church in a country where Baptist congregations are rare. Guatemala was also a repeat destination for AU students who continued a mission project they
1 6 | FA C U LT Y A N D S T U D E N T S
Although shopping trips, covered dish parties, and hot cocoa were not a part of our holidays, Anderson University’s most recent Guatemalan mission team has by far experienced one of the most meaningful Christmases ever. Our team consisted of 14 students and two adults who willingly followed God’s call to serve in Paradise, Guatemala, from December 12-17, 2009. The families of Paradise live in 10 by 10 foot shacks often made of tin and cardboard. Men are typically absent from their families due to gang activity and demanding jobs with little pay. On a similar note, young women have usually had at least two children before the age of 18 and are left to care for their homes and families by themselves. These men, women, and children live each day in adversity, rendering the city’s name “Paradise” an oxymoron. Our team was given the opportunity to work with missionaries Nathan and Claudia Hardeman on a soccer stadium, which has been undergoing construction for several years now. The stadium is being built to provide a place for neighborhood children to come together and play. As soon as we arrived on site to see the work we would need to complete, three adorable little boys peered over the top of the stadium and shouted with excitement, “Mira, Gringos!” which means “Look, white people!” From that point on, the stadium was flooded with children who met us at the bus
Left: Freshman Mary Langston Willis shares a quiet moment with a Guatemalan child. Right: Junior David Foster dresses as Santa Claus for the Guatemalan children.
stop every morning and chased after us each day when we had to leave. These children are beautiful inside and out and they truly taught us more than we could have ever imagined. Every minute we weren’t working, we spent with the kids. We played soccer, spun them around, and gave them piggyback rides. We also played “Pato, Pato, Ganso” or “Duck, Duck, Goose.” These children have so little, but are so content. LeeAnn Bowen, a returning AU student said, “Many of them still have on the same clothes they wore a year ago.” However, that does not stop their rejoicing. They love to play. They love to have fun. Every time we put down our shovels for a break, the children would run across the field, leap into our arms, and embrace us. They laughed. They smiled. We communicated the best we could, but even with our sometimes feeble Spanish, language barriers did not interfere. The love of God was so clear to us and to them. They became our best friends, our mejores amigos we told them. They were so generous, constantly offering us food and
inviting us into their homes. One 11-year-old girl Natalie even made bracelets for several of the girls on our team. I don’t think the children will ever realize the joy they brought into our lives. We shared Christ’s love as a gift of gratitude. Every hug we gave, laugh we shared, and game we played was a gift from Him. After Natalie gave us the bracelets she made, sophomore team member Kristen Fischer gave Natalie her cross necklace as a reminder that Jesus loves her. Every opportunity we had we would remind the children that Jesus loves them. Junior team member David Foster dressed up as Santa Claus and gave out toys and candy canes to all of the children. Missionary Nathan Hardeman then told the children the Legend of the Candy Cane, which explains the story of Jesus’ life. Many of the children accepted Christ. Listening to our precious new friends repeat a prayer of salvation is what truly made this Christmas a Christmas in Paradise after all.
FA C U LT Y A N D S T U D E N T S
| 17
AU names David Neace as new associate campus minister David Neace has been named a new Associate Campus Minister at Anderson University, replacing Russ Bennett, who left at the end of January to plant a new church in WinstonSalem, NC. Neace comes to AU from Atlanta, Ga., where he most recently completed a Campus Ministries internship at Kennesaw State University. He holds degrees from the University of Georgia and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
a message from students in art and creative writing Ivy is a vine that climbs as it grows, spreading its dark, elegant leaves over brick walls and trellises. It is fitting, then, that Anderson University’s class of 1964 decided to re-name the school’s literary journal Ivy Leaves. Since 1925, the institution has published the journal as a showcase for students’ literary and visual expression. The name change simply began a new period of excellence for Ivy Leaves. Last year, the vine climbed higher than ever before. As Anderson broke a record for freshman enrollment, Ivy Leaves broke a record for number of submissions. The 2009 edition was four times larger than any previous issue, including short fiction for the first time. The climate was right and the soil was ready for major growth last year—students generated a new enthusiasm for building Anderson University’s
1 8 | FA C U LT Y A N D S T U D E N T S
and has worked with LifeWay Christian Resources as camp director in that organization’s M-Fuge student camps for several years. He is very passionate about working with college students and mentoring and helping them discover God’s plan for their lives. Dr. Bob Cline, AU’s Vice President for Christian Life, says Neace will be a great addition to the Campus Ministries staff. “We are very excited to have David join our Campus Ministries team as we seek to connect students to Christ and to each other through strong relationships, intentional discipleship that brings life change, and ministries that touch the world for Christ.” At AU, Neace’s primary responsibilities will include directing Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) and Mosaic, a live praise and worship band that serves churches. He will also coordinate the Campus Ministries mission projects. Neace will marry his fiancé Amanda on May 8, 2010, in Amelia Island, Florida.
literary and artistic community. That passion earned the journal a national award for its design. Last year, we dreamed of Ivy Leaves’ future—a quality publication brimming with art, fiction, and poetry. In April 2010, Ivy Leaves will grow closer to that future. Having surpassed our submission record again, introduced essays, designed a website, and created a full-color version, we stand proud to publish the eighty-fifth volume of Ivy Leaves. Ivy Leaves will be presented at the Honors Convocation on April 14, 2010. As we honor the journal’s rich legacy and celebrate the future, we invite you to join with us as we continue to grow. As always, we are striving toward the sun. To order the 2010 volume of Ivy Leaves (in color or black and white), encourage Anderson University’s artistic tradition with financial support, or learn more about Ivy Leaves, visit andersonuniversity. edu/ivyleaves (starting April 14, 2010), or e-mail: ivy_leaves@ andersonuniversity.edu.
FA C U LT Y A N D S T U D E N T S
| 19
arts and entertainment...
Lights, camera...excellence! The AU Playhouse gives a Greek classic new life with mixed media, and the choir takes the stage with Star Wars in Concert.
Anderson University playhouse presents Antigone Sophocles’ classical work comes alive in the twenty-first century The Anderson University Playhouse continued its 2009-2010 season with Antigone, the final chronicle in the Theban plays of Sophocles. The Belk Theatre in the Rainey Fine Arts Center housed the production January 27-30. Directed by Anderson University alumna Phyllis Jackson, Antigone presented the traditional story in a fresh way. Using multi-media technology and a modern-language translation, the production made the tragic Greek myth accessible to everyone. Antigone included film interpretations of the back stories told in previous plays, shown on a 30-foot screen and produced by Joshua Jackson, also an AU alumnus. The collaboration of live theatre and film, all featuring Anderson University students gave the audience a rare and unforgettable treat.
2 2 | FA C U LT Y A N D S T U D E N T S
Dr. David Larson, Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, stated, “The recent Playhouse production of Antigone proved to be an exciting evening in the theatre. The creative team of Phyllis and Joshua Jackson transformed the 2,400-year-old Greek classic into a bold melding of cinema and dynamic acting, resulting in a final product that was clean, exciting, and relevant. Joshua Jackson interlaced the production with approximately 20 minutes of film footage specially shot to give context to key moments in the play. This video montage was fascinating to the audience and served to give the play greater relevance. Phyllis Jackson directed a tight company of actors, exploring each moment with honesty and confidence. It was great theatre for a January evening.”
FA C U LT Y A N D S T U D E N T S
| 23
Anderson University choir performs at Star Wars in Concert When thousands of fans of the Star Wars saga and the classic music it spawned gathered for a concert spectacular at Greenville’s Bi-Lo Center in November, they also heard the Anderson University choir. Representatives of the traveling production contacted Anderson University’s music department last fall asking that the choir provide vocals for some of the selections played by the massive Star Wars orchestra. The arena show featured a blend of orchestral music from the Star Wars movies, special lighting and sound effects, props and sets from the actual motion picture
2 4 | FA C U LT Y A N D S T U D E N T S
productions, and scenes from the movies on large high definition screens. According to the specifications the traveling production seeks when it plays in a city, the production sought a “top-grade university level choir with a strong traditional vocal sound, musical literacy, ability to perform in languages other than English, knowledge of standard classical performance practices, and general professionalism.” A musical consultant contracted by the production for its South Carolina performances suggested that the highly accomplished Anderson choir would fit the bill. Anderson University supplied the choral performance for the Greenville production, while the University of South Carolina added the vocals to the Columbia and Charleston performances.
the Christmas First Night concert tradition continues
also included presentations by theatre majors from the Anderson University Playhouse and choreographed dance selections. Christmas First Night was a festive evening to celebrate the heart and soul of Christmas with a variety of art forms and genres.
The College of Visual and Performing Arts at Anderson University celebrated the advent season with the Anderson community at the annual Christmas First Night celebration. The concert was held December 3rd in AU’s Henderson Auditorium.
Dr. David Larson, Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, said that the event has become a staple as the Anderson community and surrounding cities prepare for the holidays. “Hundreds of people from the area couldn’t imagine beginning the Christmas season without First Night,” he said. “It is truly a gift from our students and faculty to the community and every performer puts a great deal of effort into making it memorable.”
The 2009 Christmas First Night concert featured musical selections performed by the major choral and instrumental ensembles of Anderson University. The event also highlighted soloists and small ensembles. A yearly celebration, Christmas First Night offers a broad range of musical pieces, including secular seasonal favorites along with traditional sacred songs. The 2009 concert
The evening concluded with the traditional Yule log ceremony on the front lawn of the Rainey Fine Arts Center. Each attendee was given a holly sprig, which was thrown into the blazing Yule at the end of the night as the final Christmas carols were sung.
FA C U LT Y A N D S T U D E N T S
| 25
3 0 | arts and entertainment
athletic news ...
Trojans in motion! It was a season of firsts for AU’s basketball program, while one wrestler wins the ultimate prize.
athletic update Spring sports are underway at AU, and if the spring is anything like the fall was, it will be a banner year for athletics.
fall wrap-up This past fall the volleyball team posted a 22-13 overall record, marking the fourth straight season the volleyball team reached the 20-win mark. The Trojans won 10 of their last 12 regular-season matches and captured the fourth seed, making their eleventh consecutive trip to the Conference Tournament. Outside hitter Jamie Lancaster was named to ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Second Team and was named one of the top two college students in the state of South Carolina among 21 independent colleges and universities. She capped off her junior year by winning the Murphy Osborne Award, which is presented by the Conference Carolinas to the conference student-athlete determined to have the most outstanding academic achievements. The men’s soccer team achieved a level of success that possibly surpassed all expectations as the Trojans raced out of the gate and recorded a school-record 13 wins on the season and soared as high as 11th in the national rankings. The women’s soccer team reached new heights en route to their first-ever appearance in the championship match of the Conference Carolinas tournament, nearly reaching the NCA A Tournament for the first time in school history. As they posted an overall 12-9 record and an 8-3 conference record, the Trojans earned the most conference wins in school history - eight - and their nine-match winning streak late in the season also set a new school record. In late October the men’s cross country team won third place, while the women’s squad posted a fourth-place finish at the Conference Carolinas’ Championships. Individually, Alex Jordan earned second-team all-conference honors, while on the women’s side, sophomore Whitney Bishoff made her second consecutive appearance at the NCA A Cross Country Championships, posted a schoolrecord time en route to a 25th place finish, and earned All-American status.
2 8 | athletic news
winter sports Men’s basketball enjoyed unparalleled success during the 2009-10 campaign, as the Trojans got off to their best start in school history by winning 13 of their first 16 games and set a new school record for most wins (24) in a season since becoming a four-year institution in 1995-1996, surpassing the 18 victories during the 2001-02 season. The Trojans earned their first-ever bid to the NCA A Tournament and advanced to the semifinal round of the Southeast Regional with a last-second win past Catawba in opening-round action. Junior guard Brandon Young became the school’s all-timer leading scorer with his 10-point outing versus North Greenville. The Trojans also posted their first back-to-back winning seasons since 2001-2002. Young joined the prestigious 1,000-point club earlier this season when the Belmont, NC product poured in 23 points versus UNC Pembroke, becoming just the fourth player in the history of Anderson University men’s basketball to reach the milestone. Senior wrestler J.J. Jackson closed out a stellar career with the Trojans by winning the National Championship in the 157-pound class March 13 at the 2010 Division II Wrestling Championships at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Sapp Fieldhouse. After claiming third place at the NCA A’s East Region Wrestling Tournament in Johnstown, Pa., Jackson stormed through the championship bracket in Omaha by winning four consecutive matches and claimed the national title by defeating Nebraska-Omaha’s George Ivanov, 3-1. The Lake City, SC senior won his first two bouts to work his way into the semifinals and earned All-America honors in the process. He edged St. Cloud State’s John Sundgren, 6-5, in his opening match, then handily defeated Wisconsin-Parkside’s Dillon Bera, 11-2, in the second round to become the second Trojan wrestler in as many years to earn All-American honors, as CJ Hamilton brought home the recognition last year. Jackson downed Augustana’s Joseph Deaguero, 3-1, in the semifinal bout to move on to the championship round. Jackson is the second Trojan wrestler to bring home a national championship, as Careef Roberson claimed the title in 2005. The women’s basketball team captured their second consecutive Conference Carolinas’ Tournament crown by winning three straight
tourney contests and earned their seventh consecutive appearance in the NCA A Tournament with an impressive late-season surge reminiscent of the 2008-09 season. The Trojans closed the regular season by winning seven of its last eight games and were named the eighth seed in a powerhouse regional hosted by Lander University.
spring clippings The Trojans’ baseball team is looking to improve on last season’s 23-win mark and got off to a great start by winning five of its first seven games, including a doubleheader sweep of rival Erskine, which was picked to finish second in the league’s preseason poll and ranked 24th in the nation. The Trojan softball team opened the 2010 campaign with seven consecutive wins, its best start in school history. Track and Field capped off its indoor season by claiming eight top-10 finishes at Appalachian State’s Mountaineer Open, including the top spot in the 5000m event. Sophomore Whitney Bishoff was just off her school-record time in the 5000m
run set earlier this year, but still claimed the top spot. Lauren Sloan placed in the top seven in two events, while teammate Durecelle Campbell posted a distance of 11.72m in the weight throw, finishing eighth just behind Sloan. The men’s golf team started the spring season by placing seventh at the Johnny Palmer Invitational hosted by Pfeiffer University at the par-72, 7,102 yard Old North State Country Club in New London, N.C. Sophomore Ryan Booth paced the Trojans with a steady round both days and finished the event in a tie for fourth. Women’s golf finished ninth at the Newberry College Invitational hosted at the Moss Creek Golf Course in Hilton Head, SC, as senior Sophie Dembroski finished in a tie for 18th. The women’s tennis team is already halfway to improving on its 6-10 mark of last season by collecting three victories in the month of February alone. Men’s tennis will be aiming for its ninth conference title in the last 10 years and got a jump on that by winning four of its first six matches.
athletic news
| 29
AU athletics featured in “NCAA on Campus” television broadcast In December, Anderson University spent a month in the “spotlight” as the NCA A chose the AU campus as one of its primary locations for the “NCA A on Campus” television program airing each Monday night on CBS College Sports network. Former AU wrestler Anthony DiCarlo, recipient of the 2009 NCA A National Sportsmanship Award, and the AU athletics program were featured in December’s television and Internet broadcasts. AU softball player Katie Van Gieson was selected to host the Anderson segment of the show and was complimented by the crew for her professionalism. The show’s producer, Lee Nassau, visited the AU campus in early November to interview DiCarlo about earning his prestigious sportsmanship
3 0 | athletic news
award. In addition, Nassau met with several AU coaches, administrators, and student-athletes, while showcasing the scenic AU campus. In addition to featuring DiCarlo, the December broadcast included a segment on five sets of twins within the AU athletics program; the twins compete for AU in the following sports: women’s tennis and soccer, and men’s track and field and cross country. The light-hearted segment on the twins featured a number of questions about the advantages and disadvantages of having a doppelganger walking around campus. One set of twins on the women’s soccer team even recounted how there have been occasions when the presence of an identical player gave them a brief tactical advantage. The show also featured several snapshots of other Trojan student-athletes on the AU campus. To view the archived episode featuring AU on the NCA A website; visit NCA A.org or NCA A. com and click on “Media and Events” then “Broadcasting.” The December 2009 broadcast is located at the bottom of the page in the archives.
AU’s Anthony DiCarlo honored in St. Louis Former Anderson wrestler Anthony DiCarlo, winner of the 2009 NCA A National
honors athletes and personalities from around the nation for their integrity, class, selflessness, perseverance, kindness, and community service, and has become one of the most meaningful and inspiring nights in sports. Eighteen honorees were recognized at this year’s AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards.
Sportsmanship Award, was honored recently at the AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards in St. Louis at the Khorassan Ballroom of the Chase Park Plaza. CBS College Sports broadcasted the event in a 60-minute special on Wednesday, December 16th. The one-hour program featured the most compelling honoree stories and highlights from the 2009 AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards. Nominees for the NCA A’s Sportsmanship Award exemplify the good sportsmanship that characterizes the highest level of respect, caring, fairness, civility, honesty, integrity and responsibility during competition. DiCarlo represents the finest ideals of sportsmanship, and these qualities were no more fully displayed than in a match against an opponent from Central Missouri State University last season.
In addition to the premiere telecast on Dec. 16,
The National Sportsmanship Awards, hosted
CBS College Sports Network re-aired the AT&T
by the St. Louis Sports Commission and the
National Sportsmanship Awards broadcast at four
Citizenship Through Sports Alliance, celebrates
other times during December, marking the first
all that is right in sports by highlighting the
time the event aired nationally.
most remarkable examples of sportsmanship. Taking place in St. Louis for the fifth straight year, the AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards
athletic news
| 31
WNBA superstar Tamika Catchings visits AU Five-time WNBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Tamika Catchings spent part of the day at Anderson University on Wednesday, November 11th to speak to students and the AU women’s basketball team. Catchings was the featured speaker during the Campus Worship time at 10am. She spends much of her time when not playing for the Indiana Fever of the WNBA talking to groups around the country. She shares her Christian testimony and an especially heartwarming and inspirational story about growing up with disabilities. “I love being able to spend time with young people,” says Catchings. “I get to talk to them about what it was like to grow up with disabilities such as being hearing impaired, speech impaired, and even having glasses and braces at the same time. There were people all along the way, coaches,
3 2 | athletic news
teachers, parents, and others who took time to encourage me. That’s why I’m where I am today.” “Where she is” includes being a legend in the history of women’s basketball. After a college career at Tennessee, which saw her achieve All-American status four straight years, she was drafted by the Indiana Fever in 2001 as the third overall pick. In her rookie season she was selected Rookie of the Year and finished runner up for the league’s MVP award. She has been named to the All-Star team five times. In the spring of 2004, Catchings formed the “Catch the Stars Foundation,” which provides sports and academic related programs for at-risk youth. In addition to sharing her story with students attending chapel, Catchings spent time with the women’s basketball team talking about the sport and what it takes to reach the highest level of success. Catchings urged Anderson students to set goals in life and always rely on God’s direction in everything they do. Below:Tamika Catchings (bottom, middle) spends time with the AU women’s basketball team.
athletic news
| 33
united with a passion...
Alumni News Meet Johnny Mann, Anderson’s most famous “alumnus by choice.”
Johnny Mann forms special relationship with AU by Evelyn Beck
Johnny Mann didn’t hesitate when asked to write an alma mater for Anderson University for its second century. “I said I’d love to,” recalls Mann, a two-time Grammy winner who moved to Anderson five years ago. He loves AU’s “wonderful Christian influence” and its “family feeling”—attributes he sought to capture musically in an original composition called “The Sounds of Anderson.” Today’s students are impressed by the fact that Mann was the voice of Theodore in the Alvin and the Chipmunks TV series back in the 1960s. Even his friends call him Theodore. “People ask me about the 42 albums I recorded and the TV show I did for three years, and then I say I sang the voice of Theodore, and the reaction is ‘Wow! That’s important,’” laughs Mann. “It’s delightful that they remember something.” As a boy, though Mann would rather have been playing football, his mom—who raised her family alone on fifty-cent piano lessons—wanted him to become a concert pianist. So he dutifully got up at 4 a.m. on Saturdays to take the train from Baltimore to Washington, D.C, where he caught a bus to reach his one-hour piano lesson. After a stint in the Army, determined to get into “big music,” Mann set out for Los Angeles. One job led to another, including a chance to orchestrate scores for seven films. He then became the choral director of the NBC Comedy Hour, formed The Johnny Mann Singers, and landed a record contract. For three years, he led a group of singers on the weekly TV series Stand Up
3 6 | A lumni news
and Cheer. He was also the musical director for the original TV series featuring Alvin and the Chipmunks. He has worked with dozens of big names, from Frank Sinatra to Nat King Cole, and the walls of his Anderson home include photos taken of Mann with Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush. Despite the shock of his Hollywood friends, Mann and his wife Betty moved to Anderson to be close to her family and to enjoy a simpler lifestyle. “I was sick and tired of L.A.; every weekend was a tuxedo affair,” says Mann. He continues to work, though, mostly crafting jingles for radio stations across the world. He does the writing here but travels to Los Angeles periodically for recording sessions. He’s also a self-professed super patriot who’s been recognized by many veterans groups and was inspired to write a song called “One Nation Under God” in response to efforts to have the words “under God” removed from the Pledge of Allegiance. Mann’s connection to Anderson University began with his attendance at some lunches and getting to know administrators like President Evans Whitaker and Dean Woods, Vice President for Institutional Advancement. When the idea emerged to commission a new song for the university’s centennial, they asked Mann if he’d be interested. The result, says Woods, is “the type of song that the more you hear it, the more you like it. He’s really caught a nice spirit of what Anderson’s about.” Still energetic at 81, Mann has no plans to retire. “You don’t stop doing music until you’re in the box,” he says. “Music is fun.”
alumni news
[
| 39
inspirational author Martha Axmann speaks at Anderson University Martha Axmann, inspirational author and Anderson University alumna, visited AU on Monday, January 25 in AU’s Merritt Theatre to share from her book, She Won the Race: Footprints of Cancer. The book tells the story of Axmann’s 26-year-old daughter Robyn, also an Anderson graduate, who lost her battle with cancer in 1991.
3 8 | A lumni news
She Won the Race recounts Robyn’s life of faith and how her brave journey deeply impacted and influenced those in her life, most especially her mother, who also lost her husband eleven years after Robyn’s death. In the book, Axmann tells Robyn’s story so as to encourage young people, parents, and widows alike to live every day to the fullest and to not “wait for a tomorrow in your life.” In addition to sharing Robyn’s story, Axmann’s book also speaks of the author’s own story of faith and determination and the importance of finding “in God the comfort that turns tragedy to triumph.” Martha Axmann, a retired teacher, lives in Spartanburg, SC, and serves on the Board of Trustees at Anderson University. During the Founders Day ceremony on February 10th, Ms. Axmann was presented with the Anderson University Alumni Service Award for 2010 for her years as an ambassador for AU and her service on the Board of Trustees for the University.
Agnes H. Raney Agnes Harmon Raney, 89, of Martha Franks Baptist Retirement Center and widow of Clarence T. Raney, passed away Wednesday, September 9, 2009. Mrs. Raney served as the director of the college news service and as publications advisor with Anderson College from 1966 until 1978. During her tenure, Anderson’s student publications received many top state,
centennial artifacts
regional, and national awards. She was also employed at the Laurens Advertiser from 1958 until 1964, as a reporter and features editor. Upon her retirement from Anderson, Mrs. Raney returned to her home in Laurens. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, where she was a former leader of the Girl’s Auxiliary, WMU, Circle Leader, and an officer of the Clara Smith Sunday School class. She was also employed at the church as promotional secretary prior to her association with Anderson.
In Memoriam Phyllis Watson, professor of speech and dramatic art, 1957-1959
Wood, history professor and Chair of History Department, and Anne Marie Martin, Instructional Services Librarian at AU. Ms. Martin is collecting historical items while Dr. Wood is writing the history, and they would like your help. If you have any materials, especially from the older days at Anderson College, and would like to donate or lend them to our archives, please contact Anne Marie Martin at 231-5743 or annemariemartin@andersonuniversity.edu.
Items of particular interest are as follows:
2011 is now right at our doorstep, and as you have seen in this issue of Anderson University Magazine, we begin our yearlong Centennial Celebration in August. Collecting and displaying relics from our past and updating the university’s history is the duty cheerfully accepted by Dr. Joyce
Yearbooks prior to 1921 Viewbooks (any year) Anderson College china or silverware Early photographs Diplomas Class rings Representative memorabilia Old minutes/meeting books, especially for the earlier periods Personal accounts of events alumni news
| 39
If you have a will, you have a way The importance and far-reaching effects of bequests to Anderson University can never be truly measured because our ongoing programs and future financial stability depend upon them. They guarantee a high-quality education in a Christian environment to future generations of young men and women. They help to guarantee one dimension of the Kingdom of God, and are the very foundation of endowed professorships, scholarships, faculty salaries, library books and classroom equipment. There are many ways in which you can include Anderson University in your will—even by adding a simple codicil if you have already drawn your will. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss Anderson’s needs and gift opportunities with you. You can learn more by visiting our Web site at www.andersonuniversity.edu (just click on “Alumni” and then on “Planned Giving”), or you can send us a letter using the return envelope in this publication. If you would like, you can also call us at 864-231-2147. There is no better legacy you can leave than one that will shape future generations at Anderson University.
4 0 | A lumni news
President’s Gala April 23, 2010; 8:00 PM AU Henderson Auditorium A free, ticketed event Rainey Fine Arts Center Box Office (864) 231-2080
316 Boulevard • Anderson, SC 29621 www.andersonuniversity.edu 864.231.2000 • 800.542.3594
Non-Profit Org. US Postage PA I D Permit 306 Greenville, SC 29602