Class acts & alumni letters

from CU Today | Spring/Summer 2015

a Blast from the Past

A Lasting Reminder

Signs of Chowan Spirit on a Communist Island

Travelling through Cuba, church friends of Chris and Linda White, Frank and Barbara Mayo, encountered an unexpectedly familiar sight – Chowan University t-shirts. They were greeted at the Havana airport by a friendly-faced driver in a white Chowan t-shirt and later encountered a young churchgoer sporting Chowan blue at the Chapel and Senior Center in Santiago de Cuba. The Mayos were so thrilled they captured both moments and mailed photos to Dr. White. These Chowan shirts and many other Hawks goodies are lasting reminders of the Campus Ministry mission trip to the island in the spring of 2011. “We were the first college group at that location,” remembered Rev. Mari Wiles, Minister to the University. “They were very energized by our students and intrigued by the notion of a Christian college and Christians able to openly live their faith.” The friendly young driver at the airport, who will not be named due to religious restraints in place across the communist country, spent the week with the mission group in 2011, driving them to work sites during the day and back to the church at night. “He is a friend, and it’s good to see him well,” remarked Wiles.

“It’s really amazing that in rural eastern North Carolina when students want to actually get plugged in, they can see the world,” Wiles added. “They can spend time in a communist country and even make friends – that’s what’s going to change the world!”

The Chapel and Senior Center in Santiago de Cuba, where the other shirt was seen, was a main focus for the mission group years ago, where Chowan wanted to help retiring church leaders who are not allowed benefits under their government.

As a small part of a larger mission, Wiles encouraged the mission students bring a large number of items to leave behind for the people of Cuba, including around 100 Chowan t-shirts.

To be part of Chowan University’s Campus Ministry and mission efforts, contact Minister to the University Rev. Mari Wiles at (252) 398-6268 or wilesm@chowan.edu.

1950’s

E. Brantley “Buck” adcock ’55 passed away in his home surrounded by his wife and children on Nov. 9, 2014 at the age of 79 after a courageous yearlong battle with cancer. He loved Chowan and had a great time at the reunion earlier in the year.

mildred Wheeler morgan ’55 celebrated her 80th birthday in December in fine style with a party hosted by her family in Corapeake, NC.

1960’s

Sandy Phillips ’68 is now a Travel Counselor and would love to help her friends plan their next special trip. She can be contacted at Sandy.Phillips@ AvoyaTravel.com.

1970’s

James neal Peterson ’71 is a sports writer for the Myrtle Beach Harold newspaper.

Kathy Porter Stewart ’73 passed away on February 1st after battling cancer. Last August, Kathy was able to visit campus with her former classmates one last time before she succumbed to her illness. Stewart, at left, and Jody litwinowicz Brown ’73 found their names still written in the closet of their old dorm room in Belk Hall.

Robert “Bobby” trout ’79 is a Graphics Instructor with Alexandria schools, the last graphics program in northern Virginia. Over his 34 years of teaching, Trout has sent 64 students to the Graphics program at Chowan, including three current students.

1980’s

Cathy Hart ’81, a home health care nurse for Southampton Hospital in Franklin, VA, is known as the “balloon lady” during Chowan home football games. Every time that Chowan scores a touchdown she releases a balloon.

1990’s

Jenifer mcClafferty ’95 is a Small Business and Group Specialist in her 5th year with LegalShield, managing an enrollment team for employee benefits across NC & SC. She is also responsible for recruiting and training insurance agents. Previous to LegalShield, Jenifer owned her own real estate brokerage and mortgage company for 10 years and was listed as a Top 100 Realtor in the country.

Sean mcClafferty ’97 is a 6th grade Math and Science teacher at Chaloner Middle School in Roanoke Rapids, NC, as well as the head boy’s basketball coach and assistant football coach.

2000’s

Dennis Wells ’00 held an art exhibit at Studio 7 in Winston-Salem titled “In Their Own Words” where he created 20 pen and ink portraits of prominent individuals by using only the words they have spoken. Portraits included Robert Frost, Thomas Jefferson, Edgar Allen Poe, Jimi Hendrix and others. Rev. lindsay andreolli-Comstock ’03 and Mary Lisa Andreolli, celebrated their marriage with friends and family in Wilmington, NC on September 7, 2014. A handful of lifelong Chowan friends were present to bless their marriage.

James t. Sterling ’03 owns Sterling Roofing Company based in Jacksonville, FL where he has a family of five. His roofing company recently completed the first ever Starbucks Cafe Green Roof at Downtown Disney Orlando, a green roof with a thriving, tropical lemongrass sustainable ecosystem.

Craig Janney ’04 will be serving the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (Decatur, GA) as the Congregational Reference and Referral Specialist, matching churches and ministers across the country.

Johnetta Sessoms lofton ’06 is the Child Nutrition Director for Northampton County Schools.

Jonathan Hodge ’07 is an Attorney with Lord Locke LLP in Aurora, IL where he represents Fortune-500 clients in complex, high-stakes litigation.

Ryan Cline ’09 passed away October 29th at the early age of 28 as the result of a devastating car crash in Gates County.

2010’s

Elizabeth Jernigan Cox ’11 and Gregory Cox ’13

welcomed the birth of their daughter Sydney Page Cox on January 27th. She weighed 7 lbs and 6.4 oz and was 19.5 inches tall.

A Letter from Palestine

I am Palestinian, born in the Old City of Jerusalem and raised in its small streets as well as in Bethlehem, where my dad is originally from. Straight after high school, I was told about an opportunity to attend an American university in North Carolina. When I started at Chowan back in 2009, it was my first experience travelling outside my small community.

Moving to Murfreesboro, North Carolina was nothing like I expected. A small town with just one street, George wishing the Chowan very few people, that shuts down family a Merry Christmas at 6:00 pm. It was only the presence in front of the Bethlehem of a MacDonald’s that reminded me Christmas tree, December 2014. of my favorite movie - Hollywood took full responsibility for creating my image of America! I went to places and conditions where I was completely outside my comfort zone. I tried to make my presence felt and show up everywhere around the campus. I think of the challenges I faced at Chowan and the profound influence it has had on my life, and imagine how good it has been for me.

At Chowan, people identified me by my name and not a student number. I do feel now the great impact that resulted of my patience and determination to prove that I was just a normal college student who wanted to study, develop, and have a good experience like the rest of the students - no matter where I came from.

I have been fortunate to get a job with an international relief agency working in Palestine, thanks to my degree from Chowan that put me ahead of thousands of unemployed people in my country. It makes me more confident, since I have a long way forward in my life to enhance the situation in Palestine.

I am certainly inspired by the great principles I learned at Chowan like peace and transparency. At Chowan, I was taught the importance of the intangible values that weigh much more than what the Hollywood movies show.

Currently, Chowan is still recruiting Palestinian students on a generous scholarship every year. I really hope that this program will continue and will change so many people’s lives as it has changed mine. I urge you to meet with the Palestinian students at Chowan. They have interesting knowledge.

Hope to see you here in the Holy Land on the Chowan-guided tours! Bradley Cash ’12, Chowan’s Assistant Director of Residence Life, was inducted into the Gridiron Greats at Alter High School in Kettering, Ohio in September.

Jena’y nelson ’12 is using her Chowan Business degree in her new position as an Accounting Clerk with GEO Group, Inc. at Rivers Correctional Institution in Winton, NC.

Jamal “Quicksilver” maxie ’13 is protecting the people, property and resources of the U.S. Air Force as a Security Forces Specialist in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Accomplishing this goal requires extensive training in law enforcement and combat tactics since Security Forces Specialists work both stateside on bases and overseas where they can go on patrols off base. This is a physically and mentally demanding career requiring highly focused and professional individuals.

macaulay “mac” Chilaka Jr. ’14 and his bride Chelsea were married on September 27th at the Evangelistic Church of Deliverance in Weldon, NC.

Juan Winstead ’14 is the new Band Director at Hertford County High School. He recently led his group at the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at Riverview Elementary School.

Nancy Turnage, Liz Livingstone, Anne Johnson, Janet Morris, Mary Ferguson and Renee Hawthorne in June 1968. Nancy Turnage Neigenfiend, Jerry Morris Hester, Mary Ferguson Wagner, Janet Morris Belvin, and Beverly Wolfe Fergusson at their most recent reunion.

Pictured here in the 1968 Chowanoka yearbook, College Hall was a white clapboard house on the edge of campus.

The College Hall Girls

It was July 15, 1966 when I received the bad news in a mimeographed letter from Chowan College titled “Room Assignment.” I would be rooming with my TWIN SISTER – Jerry and I had been rooming together for the past 18 years. We were ready for someone new!

Nonetheless, Jerry and I settled into our dorm room, met some girls and soon realized that College Hall was going to be a lot more fun than we had previously thought. Jerry and I soon became fast friends with several other residents of College Hall. Beverly Wolfe (who forever after we called “Beaver,”) Elizabeth Livingstone (“Liz,”) Carol Hewitt, Renee Hawthorne, Mary Ferguson, and Nancy Turnage, (known variously as “Shirley Temple” or “Little Girl,” depending on which persona she was using at the time.) Later in the year, my future roommate Anne Johnson joined us, making our circle complete. We began calling ourselves the “College Hall Girls,” and we went everywhere together.

One of the early non-academic activities we had was “Rat Week.” The Sophomore girls came over to the Freshman dorms, taking us around at night to scare us with tales of the Brown Lady, the Chowan College ghost.

Our sophomore year, we were transferred to North Hall dorm which had been renamed Belk Hall by that time. Our rooms were spread out and we had to make more of an effort to stay together, but we did – We still thought of ourselves as the College Hall girls.

Soon it was May, 1968 and we were leaving Chowan – some of us with Associate degrees in hand to bring to another college and some of us to start our careers.

All the College Hall girls found each other about five years ago. In the years since 1968, the College Hall girls have been through a lot – We’ve suffered divorce, the death of a spouse, and a host of other problems that come with aging. But through it all we’ve never lost the good humor and love that drew us together so many years ago. In 2009 we began finding each other on Facebook and since then we’ve had several reunions. At each one, you would think we were still living in the next room from each other at College Hall. What is it about us that made the friendship of the College Hall girls last? Maybe it was the fact that the school was in such a small town that we were our own best entertainment. Maybe it was the nurturing environment of the college that kept us safe. Maybe it was the professors and the classes we had who helped our minds to grow. Or maybe it was just a special magic in the walls of that old house where we first became college girls. Whatever it was, we’re all glad the College Hall girls became friends so many years ago. Our hair has thinned and our middles have thickened, but none of that matters. What matters is the enduring friendship we built so many years ago on that small college campus. Thanks, Chowan, for the friends and memories we made for life. -Janet Morris Belvin ‘68

Randy Harrell Honored with the Spirit of Chowan Award

Chowan’s Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Randy Harrell received the Spirit of Chowan Award on November 5th in front of a large and lively crowd gathered in the Helms Center for Midnight Madness. Randy Harrell has proudly served the students of Chowan with distinction and dedication since coming to Murfreesboro from California in August 2000.

“The Spirit of Chowan Award is one of the highest awards the university can give”, President Chris White remarked. “Randy’s loyalty and support of the school and its students is without question, and his commitment is beyond the call of duty.”

Intended to honor extraordinary individuals who so embody the heart and soul of the university that they warrant recognition by the university community, Randy Harrell is only the eighth recipient of the Spirit of Chowan Award since its conception by a thoughtful board member in 2003.

The first Spirit of Chowan Award was presented to Genevieve Grier, a Chowan student, in 2003. Grier exhibited great courage, Christian faith, and a love for Chowan despite living with an illness that eventually took her life.

faculty & staff

Dr. David filligim, former Religion professor, is battling cancer and is under the care of hospice. His wife has provided their address - 1027 Winterberry Circle Leland, NC 28451. She said he would be comforted by cards and messages.

Barbara Gosnell, who worked in Chowan Library from 1972 until 1994, passed away on October 21 at the age of 86.

Dennis Helsel, former Athletic Director, received the College Athletic Business Management Association’s George Eldridge Distinguished Service Award during the 2014 National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Convention.

William Julian “WJ” Parker passed away on January 17th at Northampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Parker was Bursar at Chowan College from 1970 until his retirement in 1984.

Rev. Drew Phillips, Associate Minister to the University, was honored at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Heartland’s first annual “Celebration of Excellence” in St. Louis on April 30th. Drew was recognized as an exemplary emerging leader in the Fellowship for his work with underprivileged children in East St. Louis and with the students of Chowan.

mr. Thomas Ruffin, Professor in the Business Department for over 30 years, passed away Nov. 15th at the Three Rivers Health and Rehabilitation Center of Windsor, NC at the age of 88.