BRYAN FALL 2016
LIFE
ENACTUS
|
Hillside Chat | Authored by Lions
CONTENTS
2. President’s Letter
3. Challenges Facing Christian
Higher Education
5. Campus News 10. Spotlight: Bryan College
Enactus
14. Welcome, Class of 2020
16. Hillside Chat
18. Student Profiles
19. Living Christ to the World
20. Authored by Lions
22. Athletics 30. Alumni
33. Memories from
Homecoming 2016
36. Featured Alumni
38. Lion Tracks
44. Faculty / Staff Notes
48. Honor / Memory Gifts
Educating students to become servants of Christ to make a difference in today’s world
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20
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BRYAN LIFE A Publication of Bryan College Volume 43, Number 1
Advancement Department: Bryan College 721 Bryan Drive Dayton, TN 37321 423.775.7206 www.bryan.edu
President
Dr. Stephen D. Livesay
Editor
Chloe Ann Townsend ’13
Designer
David Blanchard ’14
Contributing Photographers
Hannah Carpenter ’17 Curtis Jolley Spencer Long ’18 Ginger Sumerlin
Contributing Writers
Abigail Brown ’18 Hannah Carpenter ’17 Dr. Kevin Clauson Dr. Jud Davis Taylor Hasty ’06 Joanna Hill ’14 Curtis Jolley Britney Wyatt
Front Cover:
Current students Shania Rogers ’18, Abigail Brown ’18, Spencer Long ’18, and Logan Parsons ’18, this year’s Bryan College Enactus presentation team; story on pages 10-11.
BRYAN COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Mrs. Delana Bice ’74
Col. John Haynes
Mr. Don Blanton ’76
Mr. David W. Kinsey ’73
Mr. Chris Cashion
Mr. Leighton LeBoeuf
Dr. Robert C. Coddington ’13H
Mr. Ronald D. Messer
Mr. J. Wayne Cropp ’74
Mr. Lawrence H. Puckett ’73
Mr. Ralph Green ’56
Mr. C. Barry Whitney, Jr. ’08H
Houston, Texas
McDonough, Ga. Spring, Texas Hixson, Tenn.
Chattanooga, Tenn. Dayton, Tenn.
Lilburn, Ga.
Alpharetta, Ga.
Lookout Mountain, Ga. Lebanon, Ohio
Cleveland, Tenn. Augusta, Ga.
*Legal Counsel
Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C.
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed. Ecclesiastes 10:10 NLT against human rights when we hold to godly standards of morality and sexuality. Will Christian higher education survive in such a hostile environment? Dr. Kevin Clauson, our academic vice president, recently addressed our faculty with the challenges he sees on the horizon for Christian schools such as Bryan College. You can read a portion of his address in this edition of Bryan Life and gain good insight into what is coming for believers and why we must hold fast to sound doctrine, biblical principles, and the pursuit of godly wisdom.
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Bryan is blessed with a godly and wise faculty. Mr. Daniel Gleason and e sometimes meet with prospective parents or students who ask, “Why should we pay for a Bryan education when we have public college options that would be
less expensive?” Our response often begins with our belief that you can’t put a price tag on a thoroughly Christian college education that combines acquiring wisdom with “sharpening the blade” of their God-given gifts and talents. That powerful combination provides a solid foundation for becoming the “Difference Makers”
Mr. Michael Palmer are featured in our Hillside Chat section. Mr. Gleason exemplifies a godly life and excels in preparing our English and literature students for graduate work and instilling within them a passion for the written word. Mr. Palmer likewise is a godly example for all of us and is a master communicator who prepares our students to communicate biblical truth in all walks of life. Three other faculty, Drs. Whit Jones, Dwight Page, and Ron Petitte, are
God intends each of us to be.
recognized for the books recently published in their disciplines. Also
Only God’s wisdom is timeless – able to provide every generation with
who are involved in the Enactus program.
the foundation of truth for living. Many in today’s secular progressive culture either choose to ignore or are unaware of our Creator God’s wisdom. They are building their lives on the ever-changing and unstable foundation that comes from the wisdom of this world.
featured are the awards, accomplishments, and purpose of our students
Thank you to all the Bryan Lions who returned to campus this fall for Homecoming. And thank you to all of you who through your prayers and gifts are helping us to “sharpen the blade,” to educate students to become servants of Christ to make a difference in today’s world.
This wisdom says, for example, that Christian higher education is irrational because it is not aligned with the wisdom of science and humanistic philosophy. This wisdom perceives us as discriminating Stephen D. Livesay 2 BRYAN LIFE
The California Higher E Education Bill & Christian Colleges
arlier this year the California Assembly seriously considered a bill that would have been extremely injurious to the religious freedom of faith-based colleges and universities in California. The bill was headed for certain passage and signature by the governor. Essentially, it would have prevented schools from setting Continued >>
BRYAN LIFE  3 
and enforcing religiously based standards of belief and behavior – primarily on matters of human sexuality and marriage – for students and staff by denying access to CalGrants (student assistance as much as $12,000 per year). In late summer the sponsor of the original bill pulled out the most harmful portions, after intense organized pressure from a wide variety of faith-based institutions. What was left was primarily a disclosure requirement requiring schools that accept Cal-Grants to tell students and the public that they supposedly “discriminate” on the basis of certain criteria related to sexual morality — for example, not allowing same-sex “married” couples to use married student housing. The sponsor has reserved the right to bring back the worst portions of the bill later. The larger implications for Christian colleges, even outside California, are immense. (1)
(2)
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Such a law severely damages religious liberty. Some might argue that the faith-based school should/could just give up the money. That is not necessarily a faulty argument, in extreme circumstances, if it came down to protecting institutional integrity from government oppression. On the other hand, the money is there for any qualified student to choose (emphasize choose) a school, including a Christian school. It is like a voucher to take to whatever school the student wants to attend. Equality before the law would demand that faith-based institutions be treated the same as other schools. But, more dangerously, some would argue (and did) that “discrimination” should not be tolerated. This begs a big question. Is exercising heretofore universallyaccepted First Amendment religious liberty rights “discrimination”? In the recent past “discrimination” applied only to race-based and ethnic origin-based bias. Ominously, the above issue sets up a clash between the First Amendment and the Fourteenth Amendment in the Constitution. The ability to invent completely novel types of supposed “discrimination,” if allowed, would completely gut First Amendment religious freedom. And that is precisely what the bill’s supporters want.
(3)
On the practical side, such a law could either force an institution to compromise its longestablished religious tenets or create serious financial strains, perhaps even closure. Is it really a good thing to effectively reduce choices of students? Or to damage the financial stability of schools which serve those students? Do those who favor such laws want to impose one view on all? (It might be that some schools would give in and change, just to try to survive in some form. If so, they would lose their distinctive reasons for existence. But again, the law would be the original cause.)
(4)
Lastly, if this bill had passed in original form, it would have set a dangerous precedent for some states and, worse, the federal government. Could what starts in California spread? Theoretically and constitutionally the federal government would need to go through Congress. However, a tremendous amount of “law-making” on the federal level has been done by bureaucracies and courts in more recent decades, bypassing (illegally) the people’s representatives.
The ability to invent completely novel types of supposed “discrimination,” if allowed, would completely gut First Amendment religious freedom.
The modified bill, without the worst features, is now on its way to quick implementation. Only God knows whether the original freedom-threatening provisions will come back up. The lessons for Christians from this affair are clear: pray unceasingly, be vigilant, organize and cooperate with other institutions and organizations to protect religious liberty, and stand firm, without compromise, on God’s Word, no matter the consequences.
By Dr. Kevin L. Clauson, Vice President of Academics
JUNE •
campusnews GREAT SUMMER RANKINGS!
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#2 Best Online Program in the State of Tennessee BestColleges.com Bryan offers three undergraduate online programs with six options, three graduate online programs with eight specialization options, and two graduate certificates. All online programs are accessible from anywhere in the world and taught from a Christian worldview.
#7 Most Beautiful Christian Colleges and Universities in the South Christianuniversitiesonline.org Vice President of Student Services and Ministries Tim Hostetler commented, “The Lord has blessed us with a beautiful location in a wonderful part of the country and a quality staff that is truly committed to making our campus the best possible living and learning environment for our students.”
#9 Great College Deal for Conservative Christians Greatcollegedeals.net The Christian worldview, Bible- and Christ-centered academics, numerous campus groups dedicated to worship, and the balance of liberal arts education and spiritual growth opportunity earned the college this recognition.
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JUNE / JULY
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#9 Most Affordable Accredited Online Colleges and Universities Greatvaluecolleges.net “This ranking reflects Bryan’s continued commitment to our online program and the goal to make the program as accessible as possible to working adults,” said Vice President of Finance and Enrollment Rick Taphorn.
#15 Best Online Business Administration Program
#24 Best Christian Colleges and Universities in the South
BestColleges.com
Christianuniversitiesonline.org
The online bachelor’s in business administration at Bryan was started in 2011 and consists of a six-week accelerated class schedule that allows working adults to focus on one subject at a time while juggling a busy schedule.
Bryan has made the list alongside much larger schools, despite any size dissimilarity. Christian Universities Online says that the schools that made the list “are the best of the best when it comes to overall quality, affordability, and student satisfaction.”
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AUGUST 9 •
TRIO OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN SERVICE INTERNSHIP IN CENTRAL EUROPE Three Bryan students traveled to Bratislava, Slovakia, in central Europe to serve Christ and make a difference in today’s world. Paige Mishler, Peter Hodgson, and Rebecca McConkey participared in a two-week internship program working with organizations such as the Women’s Safe House, Duha Crisis Center, Vrakuna Children’s Club, and the Slovak Ministry of Labour.
AUGUST
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AUGUST 18
DR. LIVESAY GIVES ANNUAL STATE OF THE COLLEGE ADDRESS
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“I’m so thankful for Bryan College and all of our wonderful faculty and staff who make this school a light to proclaim God’s goodness and faithfulness,” said Dr. Stephen Livesay. In his address, the President discussed exciting campus renovations, technology upgrades, international service ministries, the Fort Bluff Camp acquisition, and the Class of 2020 statistics.
AUGUST 19 •
FITNESS CENTER INSTALLED IN LATIMER The repurposed space on the third floor of the Latimer Student Center features brand-new exercise equipment, including five treadmills, three elliptical machines, two stationary bikes, a rowing machine, a lateral trainer, various other exercise machines, and a fully-equipped aerobics room. It was funded through generous donations from the Board of Trustees.
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SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER EVENTS FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS OFFER GLIMPSE INTO BRYAN LIFE
• Sept. 5 – Labor Day on the Hill – This event offered the opportunity to sit in on Bryan classes and chapel, to talk with an admissions representative, and to eat lunch in the dining hall.
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Bryan hosted several events designed to give prospective students an immersive experience of what a day in the life of a Bryan student is like:
SEPTEMBER 1
• Sept. 15 – Homeschool Visitation Day – Specifically designed for homeschool families, this event gave students the opportunity to attend special workshops to give them a glimpse of what a Christcentered liberal arts education is like. TeenPact founder Tim Echols was the guest speaker. • Sept. 29 – The Mane Event – At this overnight event high school students arrived in the afternoon, enjoyed a dining hall dinner, and participated in campus life for the evening; the following day they attended classes, toured campus, met faculty, and learned about admissions and financial aid. BRYAN LIFE 7
SEPTEMBER 16 •
PIANIST JERICO VASQUEZ LEADS OFF GUEST ARTIST SERIES Renowned concert pianist Jerico Vasquez gave a piano recital that was “a special treat for lovers of Romantic and Impressionist styles of music,” according to Assistant Professor of Music Olivia Ellis.
FISHING TEAM WINS REGIONAL TOURNAMENT
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SEPTEMBER 27
The Bryan College fishing team won the FLW College Fishing Southeastern Conference Tournament at Lake Chickamauga, their first major win in school history. Cole Sands and Connor Cohran reeled in five total bass with a weight of 16 pounds, 3 ounces to seal the victory and qualify Bryan for the 2017 FLW College Fishing National Championship in the spring.
OCTOBER 1 •
DEBATE TEAM WINS THREE AWARDS AT COMPETITION Bryan College’s newly reactivated debate team took home three awards during their competition on Oct. 1 in the Smokey Mountain Tournament at Walters State Community College. Members included Anastasia Capuzzi, Chenoa Gonzalez, Spencer Baker, Emily Webber, and Victoria Suich.
OCTOBER ALUMNUS RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS AWARD FOR CHAPLAIN SERVICE
President Stephen D. Livesay presented Lisa Kelly, assistant registrar for the School of Adult and Graduate Studies (AGS), with the 2016 Staff Member of the Summer award. George Vogel ’58 was recently named the 2015 recipient of the Department of Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Health’s Award for Excellence in Chaplaincy, The Lifetime Achievement Award.
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OCTOBER 5
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OCTOBER 3
LISA KELLY NAMED STAFF MEMBER OF THE SUMMER
BRYAN LIFE 9
BRYAN COLLEGE ENACTUS: MAKING A DIFFERENCE THROUGH ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTION
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ension in the room is high as professionally dressed students huddle in groups, reciting lines in hushed tones. The atmosphere is a cross between a pre-game meeting, a business presentation, and backstage before a play. One group of students is especially charged with excitement – a small group, easily distinguished by their purple shirts and bow ties. They’ve spent hours traveling and weeks preparing for this moment. “Bryan College,” a voice announces.
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The Enactus National Competition has begun for these Lions, and they could not be more prepared. Bryan College Enactus has been in operation since 2007. As part of the national organization Enactus USA, this student-led organization seeks to use entrepreneurial action and business skills to benefit the community around it. Enactus allows professors, students, and business professionals to work together in empowering individuals and companies to create sustainable,
measurable progress that betters those involved. Enactus focuses on specific projects that are sustainable, entrepreneurial, and community-minded. Last year, the club helped Haiti Made, an organization that employs former orphans in making leather products, by creating product templates to expand their store offerings. Enactus also helped raise significant funds to send a Break for Change trip to Haiti, where they worked onsite to meet various physical needs including building tables and installing window screens. This year, Enactus is continuing their partnership with this unique organization by facilitating the sale of Haiti Made products in the Lions’ Pride Bookstore and continuing to raise funds for another trip to Haiti this spring. From a local perspective, Enactus has offered its services to the Women’s Care Center, a crisis pregnancy center
in Dayton, as they attempt to rebrand their organization to be more family-oriented. Enactus has partnered with the center to shoot a commercial that will communicate the nonprofit’s mission in a powerful and widereaching way. These two projects offer only a glimpse into what Bryan Enactus is doing in Dayton and around the world. Multiple other projects are currently underway, ranging from shaping
“NO MORE THEORY, NO MORE TEXTBOOKS– THE PROBLEMS STUDENTS IN ENACTUS ARE TACKLING HAVE A DRAMATIC EFFECT ON LIVES WITHIN THEIR GLOBAL COMMUNITY.” Peter Boyajian ’13,
Business Advisory Board member
the marketing practices of small Dayton businesses to encouraging the community to live more healthy lifestyle. However, any Enactus member will tell you that the most exciting part of their year comes in May, when hundreds of colleges meet in Missouri for National Competition. Competition is fast-paced, fierce, and challenging. Presentation
members memorize a script, then present in front of a panel of business professionals from all over the nation. Teams are ranked on the creativity, sustainability, and entrepreneurial ideas behind their projects. The Bryan College Enactus team’s trophy count attests to their success in competition; eight trophies line the wall of the business department. Enactus not only provides an outlet for teams to compete and showcase their projects, it opens up jobs to hundreds of students. Enactus students are preferred by major employers such as Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Ferrero, and Microsoft. Several Bryan students have found jobs at Enactus competition, the most recent being 2016 graduate Kaite Beasley, who was hired by Hershey this spring. Cameron Hawley found a job at Hershey in spring of 2015. Two other Enactus alumni work for Clorox, while still others found summer internships through Enactus networking opportunities. Enactus at Bryan College strives to carry out the Difference Maker ideal through serving both the community and the globe in the name of Jesus. To learn more about how Enactus is impacting the community in and around Bryan, contact President Logan Parsons at enactus@bryan.edu.
By Abigail Brown, Junior
BRYAN LIFE 11
BRYAN EARN YOUR BACHELOR’S DEGREE ON CAMPUS AND
W IL L PAY F OR YOUR M A S T ER’S DEGR EE THE BRYAN DIFFERENCE
At Bryan College, you will receive a first class education and can earn a Bachelor’s Degree that will equip you for your future. In this highly competitive global marketplace, a Master’s Degree can provide an even greater advantage. Now, you can earn both degrees for the price of one. Study on campus as a first-time freshman and you will have the opportunity to earn a Master’s Degree at Bryan College, tuition-free. It’s the Bryan Difference. Learn more at bryan.edu.
Bryan Freshman Becomes Youngest Elected Official in Tennessee History
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mong the many new faces on campus this year, one freshman in particular has been quick to make an impact on campus and a difference in the community. At the age of 18, Bailey Hufstetler was elected as Spring City Commissioner and in doing so, became the youngest public office holder in Tennessee history. Hufstetler, a Politics and Government major and Class of 2016 Rhea County High School graduate, took office on September 1 – just 10 days after attending his first college class. Some of his daily responsibilities have included: signing checks, approving budgets, and responding to citizen complaints. When not in class, you can often find Bailey working in the admissions office as the campus visit coordinator assistant, a job he started over the summer. He also volunteers at the Tennessee Valley Theatre and the non-profit corporation Angels and Heroes — a child abuse prevention organization he founded while still in high school. “Bailey represents a generation of young Americans who can choose to make a difference,” said Joshua Hood, director of admissions. “Serving in public office is a great way to enact positive change in one’s community, and I’m proud of Bailey for pursuing this position at such a young age.
Bailey has already proven himself to be an invaluable asset to our team. I’m excited to see all the opportunities God brings his way as a student at Bryan College.” After graduating from Bryan, Hufstetler has his sights set on going to law school and pursuing a career as an attorney. He also hopes to continue his career in politics and run for other public offices along the way. “I think that Bryan College will help me achieve my goals by preparing me not only academically, but also spiritually,” Hufstetler said. “By helping me develop a more in-tune relationship with God, I can use that to help guide me with decisions I make.”
By Curtis Jolley, Social Media and Communications Coordinator
BRYAN LIFE 13
WELCOME, CLASS OF 2020! A
s the Bryan College Class of 2020 begins a new chapter in their lives, their arrival also marks a new chapter in the history of the school. This group of students is the first to have The Bryan Difference Maker program in place as they made their college choice as incoming freshman.
The Class of 2020 features 209 freshmen, a 25 percent increase from the year before. The College is hopeful to see these numbers continue to rise as more prospective students learn about The Bryan Difference Maker and how it distinguishes Bryan from other schools in the area.
“We are so excited to have the Class of 2020 on campus and to see how The Bryan Difference Maker will allow them to further make a difference in today’s competitive workforce after they graduate,” said Rick Taphorn, Vice President of Finance and Enrollment.
The Class also features students from 20 states and two countries outside of the United States. Eight of the students received the President’s Merit Scholarship, the highest merit-based scholarship the school offers. Other statistics for the new class include an average ACT score of 24 and an average high school GPA of 3.67.
The Bryan Difference Maker, which was introduced in the fall of 2015, offers students the opportunity to earn a master’s degree tuition-free after earning their bachelor’s degree on campus. Students must graduate from Bryan with a minimum 3.5 GPA in order to qualify. For many students, this unique incentive heavily influenced their decision to attend Bryan in the fall over other schools.
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By Curtis Jolley, Social Media and Communications Coordinator
A
t the end of August, the freshmen of the Class of 2020 were welcomed to Bryan in a swirl of grey clouds and drenching rain. The downpour, however, could not dampen the spirit of this new year filled with exciting opportunities for students of all years. With smiling faces and soaked clothes, another year at Bryan began.
By Hannah Carpenter, Senior
BRYAN LIFE  15 
hillside chat › mr. michael palmer Communication Professor Mr. Michael Palmer spends his days inspiring young men and women at Bryan College to be passionate in what they do and do those things wholeheartedly. With an undergraduate and graduate background in religion, sociology, and communication, Mr. Palmer began his teaching career at Bryan the summer of 1998, helping to build the communication studies program with what he calls “a love and gratitude for the craft and the privilege of teaching.” He served as department chair for a time and then continued on in the classroom, inspiring the next generation of great thinkers, and also becoming involved in several student groups, including the rugby club, the debate team, the men’s soccer program, and the international student association. In his teaching, Mr. Palmer takes the modern day classroom and applies it to day-to-day life, making every class relevant and a joy to be in. (If there is a class to be skipped, very rarely do students choose a Palmer class to be that skip.) He notes that a person’s zeal for communication is inherently tied to meaning and “personal pilgrimage,” with the ultimate hope of “contributing to people of a ‘large pattern,’” multifaceted and profoundly authentic, and comfortable in the myriad dichotomies of life. 16 BRYAN LIFE
Communications department alumna Kayla Freeman ’13 remarks, “Mr. Palmer embodies what it means to be a lifelong student and emphasizes that learning doesn’t end when you graduate. He is constantly searching for the best way to communicate and challenges his students to find the ‘best fit’ for their thoughts and words.” Effective teachers must inspire – that is something that Mr. Palmer has done daily over the past eighteen years. Students who come to Bryan cannot help but be shaped by the wisdom gained in spending time with him, whether in a class setting or over a cup of coffee at a café. Ultimately, the communications professor says, “Words matter, and people matter. And the aim is to meaningfully and redemptively broach our flawed and fractured lives with words and love that work.”
By Hannah Carpenter, Senior
Did you
know?
Mr. Palmer grew up in South Africa and Rhodesia/Zambia, which has contributed to his enthusiasm for intercultural communication.
hillside chat › mr. daniel gleason When asked about Mr. Daniel Gleason, current freshman Nathan Ecarma reflects, “Mr. Gleason has contributed to my education in many ways by being my teacher and friend. He’s not only inspired me to achieve my goals, but continues to equip me to do so.” Ecarma’s sentiment is echoed by countless other students that have studied under Gleason since his return to Bryan College in 2013. After receiving his bachelor’s in English: secondary education from Bryan in 2005, Mr. Gleason went on to teach high school and coach soccer for eight years while beginning his graduate studies. He earned his M.A. at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2011 and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. His hopes for the future are to help his students reach their academic and personal goals, and to develop his own scholarship on 20th- and 21st-century American fiction. Though he is a newer faculty member, Mr. Daniel Gleason has quickly become integral to the English department, the Writing Center, and the greater campus community. He engages his students, colleagues, and scholarship
with a genuineness that is immediately attractive to majors and non-majors alike. Criminal justice major Daniel Katz ’14 explains, “He was professional, put-together, and always prepared to make class worth our time and his. At the same time, he was humble, approachable, and ready to engage who we were.” It is this approachability that characterizes Gleason’s many interactions. He is generous with his time, energy, and expertise – investing in students’ lives as well as their futures. English major Lynn Heiser ’15 writes, “Mr. Gleason is a wonderful professor who knows both his subject matter and his students. He has also been such a source of encouragement and an invaluable resource for starting my graduate career.” Gleason lives out his goal for his students daily, skillfully, and with gusto: “To pass on to my students my love for literature and language and to show them how that can be a life-long project that goes far beyond an academic exercise.”
By Joanna Marie Hill ’14
BRYAN LIFE 17
“I
love studying business because it proves itself useful no matter the path taken after graduation,” remarks Logan Parsons; “Whether a preacher in a church system or a physician in a doctor’s office, almost every career choice available out in the real world requires business knowledge.” A junior business marketing and management major hailing from Crossville, Tenn., Logan played varsity basketball throughout his first two years at Bryan. Just this past year he was elected president of the Bryan College chapter of Enactus, a global student-led organization dedicated to humanitarian entrepreneurism, giving him “the great opportunity to work alongside amazing people to better the community and the world around us.”
Although becoming Enactus president marks one of his greatest achievements, he is even more thankful for the friends and professors he has gotten to know over the course of his time at Bryan. He advises students considering studying business to seek the camaraderie of other business majors early on because success in this field often depends on – or at least greatly benefits from – teamwork.
STUDENT PROFILE LOGAN PARSONS, JUNIOR BUSINESS
Logan plans on pursuing his MBA through the Bryan Difference Maker program after he graduates next year, with the goal of launching a career in advertising; but he trusts the Lord and will follow wherever His will leads. “God is constantly holding my hand and guiding me through life,” he said, “and I learn a little bit more each day that He always has, and always will, provide.”
By Chloe Ann Townsend ’13
STUDENT PROFILE F KATIE STEVENS, SENIOR CREATIVE WRITING
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rom the moment she first visited Bryan College for the first time in high school through the Elevate (now called the “Mane Event”) weekend, Katie Stevens knew that this beautiful hilltop campus would become her home for the next four years. During her time at Bryan, she has involved herself in several campus groups, including serving on SGA, tutoring writing in the Academic Support Center, and participating in the English honors society Sigma Tau Delta.
little homemade books crafted from cardboard and construction paper, which the young girl would then illustrate and give as presents to family members.
English, specifically creative writing, was the obvious choice of study because stories have always intrigued her and stirred within her a passion for the written word. Even before she could read or write, Katie dictated stories for her mother to record in
Katie has the dream of one day writing for a living. Until that day comes, she hopes to get into editing, helping others hone their writing skills.
“The thing I love most about stories is the way I get to create a whole world,” she reflects. “I get to decide whether the hero takes up the sword against the dragon, or whether the damsel in distress does it herself. I love creating stories that have the potential to impact other people.”
By Chloe Ann Townsend ’13
will care for the helpless and innocent among us? Our candidates offer ideas for great jobs, effective education, powerful defense, and a host of other pressing needs.
Ou r Elect an d io n “King the dom” of Go d
LIVIN G TO TH CHRIST E WO RLD:
D
ivision seems the order of the day in American politics. Perhaps rightly so. We are electing the leader of the free world. Our future could hang in the balance. Who will best provide people with the opportunity to go as far as their intellect and industry can take them? Who will best protect the widow and the orphan? Who
But if this election is like others, even the most ardent supporter today will likely regret their choice in a few years. The fond hopes of election night will give way to the stark reality of flawed character, incompetence, even lies. Is Clinton or Trump our answer? Is our most basic need a better leader for the free world? Or is our real need a leader to make the world better — a leader to make the world free? Jesus said that any man who commits sin is a slave to sin (John 8:34). Christ offers his life and death to free people from the power and penalty of their sins. Jesus offers himself as the emancipator from the tyranny of one’s own fallen nature. Jesus preached the kingdom of God (Matthew 4:17). He saw God’s rule as the ultimate good news (Luke 4:43). He saw submission to God as the hope for all mankind. We are to seek it (Matthew 6:33), to
pray constantly for it (Matthew 6:10), to treat it like the greatest treasure in the world (Matthew 13:46). In fact, Jesus said that those who realize the ultimate worth of kingdom would be willing to part with everything just to get it (Matthew 13:44). The kingdom of God is the reality of God as king, God as the boss, God as the only lawgiver in Zion. When individuals, societies and cultures reject God’s rule, chaos results. The book of Judges outlines 13 failed rulers and repeats this theme: “Each man did what was right in his own eyes because there was no king” (Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). If Jesus were king, what would the world look like? What would it look like if we honored God as God completely with all our hearts, souls and minds? What would it look like if we loved every single person on the planet the exact same way we love ourselves? Jesus knew that for society to flourish, God must be God. Many of us will obsess over polls for the next 100 days, but my hope is not in the next president. My hope is the King.
By Dr. Jud Davis, Professor of Greek
BRYAN LIFE 19
Authored by Lions Bryan Faculty Members Bring Their Expertise to the Table In recent months three celebrated Bryan College professors have seen many years of studious and heartfelt labor come to fruition as their books have been published and released to the market. These men – Col. Ron Petitte, Dr. Whit Jones, and Dr. Dwight Page – have invested countless hours into researching, drafting, and editing books on subjects close to their hearts. Take a look at what they’ve worked so hard on!
Dr. Whit Jones, Professor of English American Literature
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hen Dr. Whit Jones and his wife, Amy, homeschooled their own children, it did not take long to recognize the shortage of quality literature textbooks for homeschoolers. This need prompted him to consider writing just such a curriculum to encourage homeschooled high school students to delve deeply into literature, giving them helpful study and analysis tools along the way. About six years ago, he contacted well-known Apologia Educational Ministries (commonly known as Apologia) with a proposal for a literature text for students in 10th and 11th grade, and the project began. With a unique blend of credentials and experience teaching high school and college literature courses, Dr. Jones proceeded to author this 844-page textbook on American literature, the first literature textbook published by Apologia. Dr. Jones remarks, “Literature is a way of communicating universal truth, and all truth is God’s truth. A lot of Christians are not aware of what an incredible resource literature can be for our walk with Christ. I wanted to write a text that would help people understand that.” American Literature can be purchased at apologia.com.
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Col. Ron Petitte, Professor of Politics and Government
Dr. Dwight Page, Professor of Languages and Linguistics
Civilization at Risk: Seeds of War
The Swiss Presence in the History of Tennessee
T
he nefarious disregard for human rights through the ages is a subject for which Col. Ron Petitte has long had a passion. This second and final installment in his Civilization at Risk series concerning the scourge of human trafficking follows Seeds of Strife, which was published in 2013 by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. “The trafficking of people is an insidious evil that only Christ can and will conquer,” he says, further explaining, “All that we can do is use the gifts God has blessed us with to contribute to countering human trafficking as effectively as we can, given our own personal limitations.” Col. Petitte recommends that those interested in purchasing a copy of his Civilization at Risk books order directly through him so that 40% of the sale price will go to the Bryan College Justice & Mercy Initiative, which seeks to raise awareness of the issue of human trafficking through education, as well as practical involvement and partnership with other entities who are interested or already involved in anti-trafficking efforts. He can be reached at petittro@bryan.edu.
E
ditor in chief of the Swiss American Historical Review, the official academic journal of the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington, D.C., Dr. Dwight Page has always taken a keen interest in the history of the Swiss in America: an interest that, naturally, has led him down many fascinating paths of research. In his own words, “This book started out as an article in February 2012, and as I worked on it, it just morphed into this book, which covers 300 years Swiss-American history in the context of Tennessee and North Carolina history. It is the full panorama of the first arrival of the Swiss in America.” The Swiss Presence in the History of Tennessee focuses on 10 particularly interesting Swiss-American families (out of over 500 in the state) and includes many exciting and interesting historical episodes. It is Dr. Page’s hope that readers will come away from his book with a better understanding of the valuable contributions the Swiss people have made to the development of the state of Tennessee. This book is archived in the Tennessee State Archives in Nashville. The Swiss Presence in the History of Tennessee can be purchased through the publisher at masthof.com. BRYAN LIFE 21
A.D.’S
CORNER I
t has truly been an amazing fall here at Bryan College! So many wonderful things are happening, and the Lord is at work in the lives of our students in amazing ways. Barely a day has gone by this semester when a coach hasn’t relayed a story to me of how God has moved in the life of one of our student athletes. I can barely contain my excitement about what He has in store for the rest of this year! Recently I shared with our athletics staff the truth found in Jesus’ words to His disciples in Luke 12:34 – “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” I believe that while our success in the
22 BRYAN LIFE
classroom or on the athletic field/court has value, it pales in comparison to the surpassing worth of treasuring Christ and His Kingdom! Bryan College is a special place filled with special people; but while there are many places similar to Bryan, what makes us most special is our focus on Christ and furthering His Gospel in the hearts and minds of our student athletes. Our coaches work very hard to seek the good of our students both in their sport as well as in the classroom, but more than anything they work hard to train our young men and women to love Jesus and to obey His Word.
We are audacious enough to believe we can seek excellence in competition while also honoring our Lord and putting His Kingdom first. It is amazing to watch our coaches live out the Gospel in their own lives as they call our students to do the same. I count it a great honor to work every day beside the men and women who coach our teams here at Bryan. They encourage and challenge me to love Jesus more deeply and together we are able to stay the course as we live out God’s calling on our lives to educate students to become servants of Christ to make a difference in today’s world.
May our hearts continue to treasure Him, His Word and His will above everything else, and may we bring glory to His name in everything we do!
By Taylor Hasty ’06, Athletic Director, Head Baseball Coach
BRYAN LIFE 23
“I am excited for our 2016-2017 season. We have seven new additions to the squad after graduating three players. The 2016 team is coming off a AAC Championship that boasted 6 all conference players, freshmen of the year, golden boot winner and coach of the year. This year’s schedule includes seven opponents that are nationally ranked in the top 30. We have many goals both on and off of the field and know that we must function as a team and be discipline in our work to accomplish those goals.”
Drew Courtney, Head Men’s Soccer Coach
MEN’S SOCCER
WOMEN’S SOCCER “Our mission is to create a positive environment for the personal and spiritual growth of each player. We want to improve through the pursuit of excellence and play to a standard higher than winning. We have set some team goals, but we will focus on our process and strive for continuous improvement. This conference is competitive, but we believe that if we focus on the process, favorable results will come as a byproduct. Our returning athletes have bought into our philosophy and accepted their roles. And we think that our newcomers are up to the challenge in this tough conference.”
Paul Babba, Head Women’s Soccer Coach 24 BRYAN LIFE
FISHING “Looking back on our first two years of competing, we have truly been blessed. We have come from 18th in the nation our first year to 6th in the nation last season. We have come from renting space off campus to house our boats to having six beautiful garages of our own on campus. We have traveled many, many miles all around the country without incident. Our team has grown to 20 student athletes this year. Truly the Lord’s hand has been on us, and we intend on remaining faithful to him. The future is very exciting, and I can’t wait to see what’s ahead.”
Michael Keen, Head Fishing Coach
CROSSCOUNTRY “I am very excited for the upcoming cross country season and beyond. Not only do we have the returning individual AAC Cross Country Champion in Tyler Boone, but we also have a lot of young runners with massive amounts of potential. The future is bright for the cross country team.”
Josh Bradley ’10, Head Cross Country Coach
BRYAN LIFE 25
VOLLEYBALL “I’m looking forward to our season this year. It will be different for me being a head coach now, but I am excited for this opportunity. We were ranked 3rd in the AAC for the Pre Season Coaches Poll. Our goal is to get to that number one spot by the end of our season. We just need to keep the girls healthy and continue to work hard every day to achieve our goal. We will be playing some tough competition early this year, opening up our season at the Faulkner Invitational in Montgomery Alabama. We will play University of Mobile who is receiving votes for the Top 25 in the NAIA. We will also be competing in the Southeastern Conference Challenge hosted by Union College. This tournament will feature the top 2 teams from the AAC, the Mid-South Conference, the SSAC, and The Sun Conference. In October, we competed in the Lindsey Wilson Tournament and competing against Lindsey Wilson, who is ranked 3rd in the NAIA.”
Jessica Day ’12, Head Women’s Volleyball Coach
26 BRYAN LIFE
athlete
profiles KEVIN ROENPAGE Year Hometown Junior Bremen, Germany Sport Soccer Major Integrated Marketing Communications Future Plans Pursuing his master’s degree in marketing and daily using his education in a job he will be excited about.
HANNAH SCHROEDER Year Hometown Senior Sebring, Fla. Sport Track & Field Major Elementary Education Future Plans Pursuing her master’s degree in education and taking every opportunity to reflect Christ’s love to those she encounters wherever God leads her.
BRYAN LIFE 27
BRYAN LIFE 29
Alumni Director LOVE, UNITY, AND POLITICS 1
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but I do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away everything I own, and if I give over my body in order to boast, but do not have love, I receive no benefit. 4
Soooooo…..who did you vote for?
Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. 6 It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (I Corinthians 13)
This article is being written less than 20 days before the election, and history will be made by the time you receive this Bryan Life. I imagine I am safe in saying we are all worn out from the political rhetoric, the sensational media stories and the candidates themselves. I have never seen anything quite like it, and I may be living in a different country by the time you read this! One thing is clear: no matter who won, God is in control. No matter the outcome, scripture commands us to pray for those in leadership over us.
I am guilty of being a clanging cymbal. I’m guilty of trying to avoid people I don’t like or people that don’t like me. It is human nature, isn’t it? God calls us to be Christ-like. He loved those who spit in His face, falsely accused Him and nailed Him to the cross. How much more are we to love those who accuse us, who are unfair to us, who abandon us? As God commands us to love, He also commands us to pray for those who curse us - not for revenge, but for understanding and forgiveness.
I imagine if I polled 50 alumni about political views, how to raise children and theological views, I would hear 1,000 or so different opinions. Okay, what do we do with that? Do we create factions and go at war against each other? God requires us to “love one another.”
So, whether you are a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or you have moved to Fiji, we as believers must stick together, we must find unity, and we must love one another. And to the Bryan Lions who have moved to Fiji...may I come visit? God bless,
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Paulakay Hall ’84
BRYAN LIFE 31
legacy
students
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Ashley Warnock ’20 Tabitha Guettler ’13 Jeff Nyberg ’84 Jon Nyberg ’20 Angela Nyberg ’84 Jim Price ’95 Dee Price William Price ’20 Ashley Price ’17 Karis Koehn ’90
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11. Daniel Koehn ’20 12. Anita Joy Hostetler ’91 13. Tim Hostetler ’84 14. Margaret Johnson Kirkman ’88 15. Everett Kirkman ’20 16. Hans Kirkman ’88 17. Linda (Benson) Scott ’82 18. Katelyn Scott ’20
19. Jonathan Hostetler ’20 20. Kevin Scott 21. Penny Frizzell ’87 22. Katie Payne Warren ’92 23. Christian Warren ’20 24. Jeremy Montoya ’20 25. Matthew Warren ’93 26. Melissa Brown ’94 27. Emily Brown ’20
28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34.
Sharron Padgett ’87 Ryan Padgett ’20 Doug Padgett ’90 Walker Frizzell ’20 Steve Trammell ’94 Joseph Hobbs ’20 Ruth Snyder Hobbs ’86 35. David Hobbs ’85 36. Saxon Stroud ’20
37. Lyn (Amis) Trammell ’95 38. Sallie Stroud 39. Benjamin Trammell ’20 40. Serenity Stroud 41. Karri Beaty 42. Emily Beaty ’20 43. Bruce Beaty ’85
ALUMNI TURN BACK
THE CLOCK AT HOMECOMING 2016 R
eminiscing “on the hours [they] spent at Bryan ‘neath the Red and Gold,” hundreds of Bryan
College alumni and their family members returned home to the Hill for Homecoming 2016 on October 7-9. From the first event to the last, attendees took every opportunity to engage in fellowship with one another and spend time with current college students, faculty, and staff. They exhibited athletic talent in the alumni sport events and sat enraptured by gifted illusionist (and 2006 Bryan alumnus) Harris III. All led to a weekend Alumni Director Paulakay Hall ’84 called “one of the most successful homecomings in recent memory.”
CONTINUED >>
BRYAN LIFE 33
Friday, October 7 Homecoming weekend began with awe and laughter as Harris III performed at chapel on Friday morning, wowing his audience with illusions and sleights of hand all while using storytelling to emphasize the importance of knowing and clinging to the Truth of God’s Word. Following chapel, a series of meet-and-greets and open houses offered alumni the chance to catch up with others in their field. In the evening the annual alumni baseball, soccer, basketball, and rugby games drew former athletes back to the sports they loved so much. But perhaps the greatest attraction of this opening day of Homecoming 2016 was found in the special dinners held for alumni: the soccer championship dinner, the Class of 1991’s 25th reunion dinner, and the celebrated “Tuscany in the Triangle” dinner (to which all were welcome). After supper, many returning Bryan Lions opted to attend Harris III’s free performance in Rudd Auditorium.
Saturday, October 8
Sunday, October 9
The following day held even more fun and festivities –
At last Homecoming 2016 drew to a sweet close with
some, such as the breakfasts and Paw Pounder races,
a beautiful alumni time of worship and reflection on
beginning as early as 9 A.M.! Then came one of the
Sunday morning. Dr. John Stone ’67 spoke on “Living
best-loved annual homecoming events: the tailgate
a Life of Joy.” Faced recently with his own battle with
lunch under the big top tent on the soccer fields. This
pancreatic cancer, which has now spread, he talked from
relaxed lunch (with a menu featuring fried chicken,
a life fully lived and an uncertain future. John gave a
potato salad, and plenty of banana pudding) provided
meaningful message of what is important in this life – our
the prime environment for hours of mingling. Bounce
relationship with God and how we serve and love others.
houses and face painting gave entertainment to the children. Kids and adults alike gathered to have their
Thus concluded a meaningful and celebratory weekend.
pictures taken at the photo booth. Afterward, all were
Paulakay Hall reflected, “It’s at homecoming that
encouraged to stay for the men’s and women’s varsity
our alumni have the opportunity to truly come back
soccer games throughout the afternoon. The 1975 and
together and reconnect. They kindle old friendships
1976 NCCAA Soccer Champions, along with their coach
and discover new ones. They laugh at the recollection
John Reeser and assistant coach Bob Andrews ’67
of old pranks and empathize with those who have
were recognized at halftime. A banner was also unveiled
felt the pain life sometimes deals. Homecoming is a
on the filed scoreboard to honor these teams.
memory-maker and a common-ground-finder, and 2016’s was one of the best ones yet! Thank you,
The casual lunchtime activities were followed by the
Lions, for coming home to the Hill this year!”
more formal alumni awards dinner that evening. Musical entertainment by the Bryan College Chamber Singers and the Wind Ensemble set the mood for this Red and Gold Gala. Bryan College President Stephen D. Livesay gave a state of the college address to attendees, and several alumni received well deserved awards recognizing their character and service – Alumni of the
2016’s Alumni Awards Alumni of the Year: Rick ’76 and Kathy (Murphey) ’71 Farney
Year Rick ’76 and Kathy (Murphey) ’71 Farney, Young
Young Alumni of the Year:
Alumni of the Year Zac ’01 and Toks (Olowola) ’04
Zac ’01 and Toks (Olowola) ’04 Brown
Brown, Honorary Alumni of the Year Bernie and Donna Belisle ’16H, and the greatly celebrated Sports Hall of Fame inductees in the 1975 and 1976 NCCAA Soccer
Honorary Alumni of the Year: Bernie and Donna Belisle ’16H
Champs. These special alumni were gifted with keepsake
Sports Hall of Fame:
awards and applauded lovingly by all in attendance.
1975 and 1976 NCCAA Soccer Champs
BRYAN LIFE 35
Featured Alumni
Tammy Whitcomb ’89 Deputy Inspector General, United States Postal Service (USPS)
A
s an accounting and business administration major and computer science minor at Bryan in the late 1980s, Tammy Whitcomb ’89 looks back on her time as a student as a period of great preparation for her career. So many things, from her opportunity to develop applicable leadership skills in student government to experiencing the wisdom of many faculty and staff members, have had a profound influence throughout her life. “I move through life one step at a time,” Tammy notes. “Looking back on some of those big decision points in my life and the opportunities that have come my way, I can truly see how God’s plan was so much more than any plan I could have ever dreamed of.” For over two decades her career has “focused on promoting integrity in the federal government,” a focus that she believes Bryan’s emphasis on ethics and character, and the strong academic curriculum of business and accounting, well equipped her for. After graduation Tammy started her career
36 BRYAN LIFE
at the Treasury Department in Atlanta, Ga., working as in internal auditor. Until 2003 she remained with the Treasury, relocating to Dallas, Texas, and then to the nation’s capital. In 2005 she transitioned to the USPS Office of Inspector General, where she remains today as the deputy inspector general (and acting as inspector general since March 2016). About her current career, she says this: “Two things most inspire me. First is our mission – to promote integrity and accountability. Second is the dedication that I see in our workforce every day. We focus on fighting fraud, waste, and abuse; and promoting economy, efficiency, and effectiveness. It is a big mission, and we have a great team focused intently on it each and every day, accomplishing great things.” Tammy and her husband of 22 years, Richard, currently reside in northern Virginia with their three teenagers, Zachary (15) and twins Claire and Ethan (13).
By Chloe Ann Townsend ’13
Brian McKenney ’05 Communication Director, Calvary Chapel Chattanooga
“L
ooking back over the last several years of my life, from my time at Bryan through my early post-college days, it becomes very clear that God had me on a course of preparation for what I am doing today,” reminisces Brian McKenney ’05. Currently the communications director at Calvary Chapel Chattanooga, he says that he had never imagined he would end up in full-time ministry. But the Lord has led and equipped him every step of the way from rural Albert Lea, Minn., where he grew up, to his current ministry to the Scenic City in the heart of Tennessee. In his position at Calvary Chapel Brian has the opportunity to produce design, video, and digital content alongside a creative team, along with hosting weekend services and leading the congregation in corporate prayer. “I love the idea of removing barriers,” he explains. “Whether it’s our own taste, preconceived notions, or the quality of communication, there are always barriers to reaching people with your message. I never want the communication pieces, designs,
or videos we produce to draw attention to themselves, but instead to remove the barriers of communication for others so that the truth of God’s Word can reach them in a fresh way.” Fittingly, Brian majored in communications and involved himself in the music and theatre programs over the course of his college career. He muses that each passing week calls to mind lessons and skills developed on the Hill: “From the life-changing encouragement of Matt Benson, to the creative direction of Bernie Belisle, to the nuts-and-bolts communication study with Michael Palmer – I can see so many areas where God used the faculty at Bryan to prepare me for my career and ministry.” Brian and his wife, Sarah, have been married for nine years. Along with their four children, they live in Ooltewah, Tenn., where they also minister as a foster family in their community.
By Chloe Ann Townsend ’13
BRYAN LIFE 37
Lion
Tracks
1980s – 1990s
1950s – 1970s Ruthmarie Cunningham ’52 has moved away from Nevada and currently resides with her grown children in Flower Mound, Texas, where she is involved with Temple Baptist Church.
Tom Shanley ’89 has recently been promoted to Head of Maserati for all of North America.
Dr. Patrick Whitaker ’75x earned his Ph.D. in Instructional Technology from the University of Alabama, graduating Aug. 1, 2015.
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Chris Petty ’98 served as senior pastor of Poplar Springs Baptist Church in Ringgold, Ga., for eight years. He and his family are moving to Bolivia this year to train pastors and mobilize missionaries with SIM, working in particular with the church in La Paz to reach the unreached people groups in the nearby jungle and Andean mountains. Chris and his wife, Joy, have three children – Emily (13), Anna (11), and Caleb (6).
2000s
Chad ’00 and Sonya (Warren) ’99 Owens announce their adoption of Jasmine Piper Owens. Jasmine joins five brothers and sisters. The Owens family currently resides in Dayton, Tenn. Kelly (Elledge) McCaslin ’03 and her husband, Adrian, announce the birth of their son, Bentley, on Aug. 6, 2016. Bentley joins older brother Parker (5).
Ashlie (Parker) Pereiras ’06 and her husband, Andrew, announce the birth of their son, William Christopher, on May 10, 2016. William joins older siblings Catherine Jyl and Mark Patrick. The Pereiras family currently resides in Cypress, Texas. Kalani Lestmann ’08 graduated in May from The American University in Washington, D.C., with a M.A. in Latin American Studies. Her parents, Phil and Darlene Lestmann ‘03H, were blessed to attend her graduation ceremony and celebrate this accomplishment with her.
BRYAN LIFE 39
Lion
Tracks
Ray ’07H and Margie ’95 Legg, Tim Shetter ’98, Britney Ammen ’11, Nicole (Walker) Doak ’11, Heather Laskin ’10, and Rachel (Solid) Reynolds ’11.
David and Jana Villanueva ’09 announce the birth of their son, Jace Watson, on March 18, 2016. Jace joins older brother Blake.
2010s
David Blanchard ’14 married Jordan Howell ’14 on September 16, 2016. Alumni in the wedding party included Paul Coblentz ’14, Andrew Smith ’16, Mattie Belisle ’16, and Sarah Peden ’14.
Kirsten Amling ’11 married Colin Baker on July 9, 2016. Bryan staff, faculty, and alumni at the wedding included Dr. 40 BRYAN LIFE
Elizabeth (Beard) ’11 and Samuel ’13 Foster announce the birth of their son, Isaiah, on Dec. 5, 2015. Amanda Gentry ’11 is in her fifth year as a Ph.D. student in the Department of Biostatistics at the VCU School of Medicine. This summer she traveled to Australia to collect study data for her dissertation from the Brisbane Longitudinal Twins Study.
Jessica (Kaya) and Jordan Day ’12 announce the birth of their first daughter, Kayleigh Addison, on July 13, 2016. The Days currently reside in Dayton, Tenn., where they both work at Bryan College, Jessica as head women’s volleyball coach and Jordan as assistant baseball coach.
Joshua ’12 and Carolyn (Evans) ’14 Beard announce the birth of their son, Joseph, on Jan. 5, 2016. The Beards were married on Dec. 21, 2013. BRYAN LIFE 41
Lion
Tracks
As this issue of Bryan Life was on its way to press, we were grieved to learn of the passing of former Alumni Director William “Terry” Hill ’71 on Oct. 11, 2016. Keep an eye out for a memorial to Terry in the Spring 2017 issue.
LIONS,
let us know what you are up to! Daniel Yoder ’12 married Heidi Good on Dec. 29, 2014. He graduated from Sangre de Cristo Seminary with a Master of Divinity in December 2015. The Yoders currently reside in Elnora, Ind., where Daniel is an instructor at Elnora Bible Institute.
Send your career and family updates to alumni@bryan.edu or Bryan College 721 Bryan Drive Dayton, TN 37321 Attn: Alumni Director *Text and photo submissions to be considered for publication in the Spring 2017 issue of Bryan Life must be sent by March 31, 2017.
42 BRYAN LIFE
F I N DI N G
GOD’S PLAN FINANCIAL DECISIONS ARE SPIRITUAL DECISIONS
• Estate Review
For more information, contact Janice
• Wills
Pendergrass today at 423.775.7202.
• Durable Power of Attorney
Join us on January 11, 2017 for a
• Trusts
Lifestyle Giving seminar presented by Don Reed at Bryan College.
• Annuities
JANICE PENDERGRASS Director of Advancement
DON REED ’63 Generosity Advisor
God’s ownership of all is the foundation for all we do.
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. – Psalm 24:1 NLT
BRYAN LIFE 43
Bernie Belisle, Kim Keck, Dr. Vaughn Cardona, and Dr. Olivia Ellis attended the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts to recruit for Bryan College. Dr. Paul Boling is now the AGS program director for M.A.C.M. Dr. Paul Boling and Dr. Travis Ricketts received a $16,700 grant for the development and delivery of courses, purchase of textbooks, and scholarship funds. Dr. Vaughn Cardona thanks those who assisted in finding instrument donors for the String Methods class. Between financial and instrument donations, five violins, a viola, a cello, and a new bass bow have been acquired.
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Jonathan Doran is now full-time assistant professor of psychology. He attended the annual meeting of the Tennessee Association of Pastoral Therapists at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., on Sept. 9-10. Dr. Neal Doran published two abstracts and gave two conference talks at the Creation Biology Society Annual Conference: “An Agenda for the Other 70% of Earth’s Surface,” proposing a statistical survivorship model for the marine fossil record, and “Origin of a Species,” discussing earth’s latitudinal diversity gradient. Dr. Olivia Ellis attended the Music Teachers National Association conference in San Antonio, Texas, on April 2-6. She also attended the Tennessee Music Teacher Association annual state conference in Nashville, Tenn., on June 4-7, where she was
voted in as the state treasurer for the organization for the upcoming year. D.R. Fraley is now the full-time instructor of communication, media, and film.
FACULTY & STAFF NOTES
BRYAN LIFE 45
Dr. Alice Lawrence is now the department chair for the biology department. Erin Loggins is now the library outreach technician. Eric McEachron made an Acts Project site visit to Ireland, Spain, and Jordan, in order to visit with the field leaders and Acts interns Michaela Thomas and Chesney Brakhage. Eric McEachron and Dr. Scott W. Jones provided leadership to the Acts Project Debrief Week at Saints Bible Institute in San Lorenzo, Italy, on July 25 – Aug. 2. All 14 of the Bryan College Acts summer interns attended this debrief week. Dr. Daniel Gates is now assistant professor of business and AGS program director for A.S.B. Stacey Gates is now the interim director of dual enrollment. Dr. Brian Hill is moving to the Department of Mathematical and Physical Science, where he will be coordinating the chemistry program. Curtis Jolley is now the social media and communications specialist. Benton Jones passed the exam for Certified Associate in Project Management from the Project Management Institute. He is also now assistant professor of business for the Bryan College School of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Whit Jones wrote the textbook American Literature, published by Apologia, for Christian high school homeschoolers. 46 BRYAN LIFE
Dr. Scott W. Jones made Acts Project site visits to India, Israel, and Ireland on June 14-27. He visited with Acts Project mission organizational leaders and the following Acts interns: Aaron Pendergrass, Dakota Thacker, Kim Meadors, Benny Balderama, Samantha Knell, Crystal Laplue, and Rachel Liebert. Dr. Jones also, along with 11 students in the CLF course Protestant Reformation: Then and Now, attended the biannual Together 4 the Gospel Conference in Louisville, Ky., on April 12-14. The theme of the conference was “We are Protestant” and focused upon the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.
Nick Pacurari is now the RD of Woodlee-Ewing Hall.
Lisa Kelly, assistant registrar, was selected to receive the Staff Member of the Summer award. Michael Kennedy is now the AGS coordinator of military recruiting.
Polly Revis attended the following webinars: “Policies for Adding Original Records to WorldCat,” “Policies for Replacing WorldCat Records,” and “Brief Guidelines for Replacing Master Records.”
Dr. Francis Kimmitt is now the new interim dean of adult and graduate studies.
Dr. Travis Ricketts and Dr. Ken Turner had brief cameos in the documentary “Liberty and Slavery:
Rachel Pacurari is now a campus counselor. Dave Perron, assistant professor of exercise and health science and faculty athletic representative, defended the first three chapters of his dissertation on June 14. Col. Ron Petitte is now the dean of the new Honors Institute. Rachel Reinders is now the RD of Huston Hall.
the Paradox of America’s Founding Fathers,” which was finished in April and has been entered in 32 various film festivals, winning 10 awards through September. Copies of this documentary can be purchased at libertyandslavery.com Dr. Clark Rose was on a panel on psychology and religion at Cleveland State Community College in late April. Dr. Hannah Schultz, who received her Juris Doctorate from Liberty University School of Law in Lynchburg, Va., in May 2007, is Bryan College’s new Title IX Coordinator. Sean Shelton is now the assistant athletic trainer. Dr. Bob Simpson (ret.) and Dr. Lyle Smith will be serving as special
consultants for the engineering program this year. Dr. Lyle Smith is now an associate professor of mathematics and physics. Whitney Smith now holds three titles – Instructor of College Success, Director of Career Services, and QEP Coordinator. Dr. John Sterling now holds three titles – full-time Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Government; College Safety and Security Officer; and Assistant Director of the Center for Faith, Freedom, and the Constitution.
writing center services. The event was organized by the Tennessee Chapter of the Southeastern Writing Center Association. Kristi is now the director of the Academic Support Center and ADA coordinator. Kayla Watkins is now the head softball coach. Dr. Dana Wilson is now the department chair for the Department of Exercise and Health Science.
Kristi Strode visited MTSU on April 2 for Writing Center Directors’ Day. Academic support people from across the state attended seminars about measuring quality and marketing of
BRYAN LIFE 47
Memory & Honor Gifts In Memory Of Dorothy Hargreaves Allen Roger Allen
Harriet Anderson Jim and Priscilla Anderson John C. Anderson
John D. Anderson Jim and Priscilla Anderson John C. Anderson
Jane Ardelean Paul and Winnie Ardelean
Constance Boeddeker
Steve Parcell Roger Tittle
William Porter Grace Porter, Mike and Ann Marcy, Myron, Mark and Amy, Chris and Ryan
Connie Prettyman Steven Prettyman
Ruth Prettyman Steven Prettyman
Arliss Roaden Ralph and Ruth Green
Daniel Boeddeker The Chancel Ringers of Central Presbyterian Church of Clayton, Mo. Jim and Joy Correll Al and Sue Graham Horticulture Program at STLCC – Meramac Carol McFarland Don McKinley Pat and Marge Straussner Thomas Sullivan
Charles and Anna C. Robinson
Richard Cornelius
Stuart Meissner
David and Charlotte McSpadden
Jamie Rowden Daniel and Elizabeth Campbell
Ralph and Rebecca Toliver Ralph and Ruth Green
Arthur Van Meeveren Everett and Onalee Garmon
Everett and Onalee Garmon
Melvin Hobson
Irving Jensen
Gerald Woughter
Everett and Onalee Garmon
Carol Sweigert
Karl Keefer, Jr.
William Yeary
Everett and Onalee Garmon
William “Bill” Ketchersid William “Bill” Hoyt David and Sigrid Luther
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Carol Yeary
In Honor Of John C. Anderson Jim and Priscilla Anderson
1964-1965 and 1965-1966 Basketball Team Milo and Dianne Macko
Helen Archer Dale Archer
Vern Archer Dale Archer
John Bartlett Everett and Onalee Garmon
Constance Boeddeker Daniel Boeddeker
Steve Bradshaw Steve Hicks
Robert and Nan Coddington James and Tammy Barber
Stephen Livesay Scott and Janice Pendergrass
Sharron Padgett Daniel Meyer
L.J. Rowden Daniel and Elizabeth Campbell
Will Sexton Mr. and Mrs. Nolletti
Martha Ardelean Weygandt Paul and Winnie Ardelean
With the Lord Rev. George Birch ’48, of Chattanooga, Tenn., died Feb. 12, 2016. Rosemary Van Schepen ’46, of Ringgold, Ga., died March 18, 2016. Rev. Charles Kirtley ’51, of Corydon, Iowa, died Sept. 4, 2016. David Naff ’52, of Columbia Cross Roads, Penn., died July 11, 2016. William Yeary ’52, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., died April 12, 2016. Gloria Studebaker ’53, of Baconton, Ga., died May 6, 2016. Dr. Robert Clouse ’54, of Terre Haute, Ind., died May 7, 2016. Rev. Charles Willoughby ’56, of Lawrenceville, Ga., died March 18, 2016. E. Bruce Vogt ’56, of Saint Paul, Minn., died April 11, 2016. Rev. James Lougheed ’58x, of Flint, Mich., died Jan. 9, 2016. Robert Mark Johnson ’61, of Hixson, Tenn., died Oct. 16, 2016. Patricia Lyons Fraser ’62, of Roanoke, Va., died June 25, 2016. Dennis Williams ’64, of Irving, Texas, died April 12, 2016. William “Terry” Hill ’71, former alumni director, of Jerusalem, died Oct. 11, 2016. Dorothy Seera ’72H, of Dayton, Tenn., died Feb. 14, 2016. Ronald Holder ’75, of Knoxville, Tenn., died May 1, 2016. Robert J. Knapp ’75, of Lowell, Mich., died June 22, 2016. Dr. Arliss Roaden, former trustee, of Brentwood, Tenn., died April 10, 2016. L. Daryle Worley, Sr., former faculty member, of Toccoa, Ga., died May 19, 2015.
BRYAN LIFE 49
721 Bryan Drive Dayton, TN 37321-6275
10th Annual
Bryan Opportunity Scholarship Program Dinner
Thursday April 20, 2017 Chattanooga Convention Center Reception at 6 pm Dinner and Program at 6:30 pm Featured guest is 7-time Dove awardwinning singer and songwriter
STEVE GR EEN TN low income students find help through the Bryan Opportunity Scholarship Program. For more information and to register, go to bryan.edu/dinner or call 423-775-7323 or 1-800-552-7926.