CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016

Choose to be a Living Legend

McMillan Takes Charge of Pacers

CU today Spring/Summer 2016 Volume 71

Designer /Editor: Brooke Reich Contributing Photographers: Josh Barker, J Brabban, Cal Bryant, Carol Hedspeth, Alison Kolezynski, John McKeith, Charles Revelle, Tom Brennan, Christina Thomas Contributing Writers: Josh Barker, Cal Bryant, Lou Ann Gilliam, Alison Kolezynski Printed by: Centric Communications

Office of Development Staff Vice President for Development John M. Tayloe (252) 398-1232 Senior Development Director Director of Alumni Relations Kay Thomas (252) 398-6436 Senior Development Director Director of University Relations & Communication Brooke Reich (252) 398-6526 Director of Church and Community Relations Lou Ann Gilliam (252) 398-6317 Director of Annual Fund Elizabeth Riddick Davis (252) 398-6226 Assistant Director of University Relations Christina E. Thomas (252) 398-6319 Administrative Assistant to the Vice President for Development Liz Brown (252) 398-1233

Important Contacts Admissions: 1 (888) 4-CHOWAN Athletics Offices: (252) 398-1239 Office of the President (252) 398-6221 www.chowan.edu/give www.gocuhawks.com www.facebook.com/chowanalumni www.twitter.com/chowanalumni

Basketball legends were immortalized with Bob Burke Court named in the famed coach’s honor and alumnus Nate McMillan’s jersey retired.

In This Issue 3 ��������������������������������Chasing the Light Facutly Spotlight: Tom Brennan

12 ����������������������� Chowan On Mission Students and Faculty in Cuba

19................ Choose to be Legendary Bob Burke and Nate McMillan Immortalized

30....................Distinguished Alumni 36 ��������������������������������������������� Class Acts

Alumni News & Faculty Achievements

Construction Continues...

Chowan’s growth and revitalization continue with the completion of several more construction and renovation projects across campus, culminating in $14.5 million invested in campus improvements over the past year.

Bynum Rhodes Brown Aquatic Center- The long-shuttered

swimming facility has been fully revitalized and will open upon the completion of renovations to the men’s and women’s dressing rooms this summer. The Aquatic Center will be home to Chowan’s newest athletic sport, women’s swimming, and features a state-of-the-art competition pool.

Whites Crossing Phase III- The third phase of Whites

Crossing, expected to be ready for move-in day in August, will feature four more apartment- and suite-style student residence buildings for a total of nine buildings.

Soccer & Lacrosse Field House- To better accommodate the

expansion of teams and growing population of student-athletes, a new athletic field house has been constructed behind the Helms Center. Locker rooms and office space for Chowan’s soccer and lacrosse teams will reside here.

Horner Graphic Communications Center-

The home of the William A. Krueger School of Graphic Communications and a central hub for the Department of Communication Arts received a complete exterior facelift that included a new roof and facade.

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Chasing the Light

Magic Happens When Work and Art Collide

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hen you ask Tom Brennan, Chair of the Department of Communication Arts at Chowan, what his favorite photograph is, he’ll tell you, “the one I took today.”

For a man who has taken pictures all his life, turning it into a career but maintaining his child-like sense of wonder at the same time, Brennan has learned to bridge the technological divide and adapt his own style as the times change.

“I was in my early teens and my grandmother was really into photography, always had a camera, either a Polaroid or a 110. She and my Grandfather had a close relationship with some Kodak executives, and she was always into the newest thing.

She got me interested at an early age, and it became my creative outlet,” Tom tells of his earliest influences. “I remember going to Canada to a camp when I was 14 and taking my little 110 camera with me. I still have those photos of us portaging around lakes, crossing dams, and washing our clothes in these big cauldrons with big sticks.”

“Around that same time in the 8th or 9th grade, my science project was on photography. I remember making a pinhole camera and buying the film and chemistry. I set up a darkroom in my parent’s basement with these bright light bulbs to expose the film.”

From a college job with the Clemson Tiger, the university newspaper where he worked the entertainment beat, to the start of his adult life, Brennan took his passion with him.

“After college, everywhere I lived I had a little closet that would turn into a dark room.

I would fit the little trays in there somehow and develop the film and prints. I had that kind of setup until I got to Chowan.”

It was here in Chowan’s Horner Graphic Communications Center where he was able to take advantage of its extensive darkroom setup in the early 90’s. Two decades later and now, darkrooms and such equipment are used only by serious film hobbyists [Horner has only one film darkroom left].

“Around 2008 or 9 the whole digital thing came around, and I didn’t understand it. I CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016 3

didn’t get it! I didn’t want to get it! It was out of the realm of traditional art photography,” Brennan recalls as the industry faced its greatest challenge. “A lot of the photographers at that time couldn’t afford to make the transition to high-end digital.

I gave it up and didn’t take photos for four years.”

It was the gift of a little Canon digital camera from one of his sons that brought photography back into focus.

“I started travelling a lot to Latin America for my job, to Honduras and to the Dominican Republic, and started taking photos of volcanoes and great old ruins but still had no way of reproducing them. Again, coming back to Chowan (in 2012), I discovered the whole digital darkroom aspect of it working with Tom Whiteman (Associate Professor of Communication Arts). He added to my understanding of the color space and how Photoshop could handle digital photography. I have probably done more photography in the last four years than I have done in the previous ten years combined!”

“And the fun part for me is that it’s all part of my job – to practice this craft and to share it with the students. It’s great to be able to teach a subject that I’m so passionate about. I post a lot of photographs to Facebook and Instagram, and I follow other photographers’ work there as well.”

His work may be fun and enjoyable but he still takes it seriously too. Brennan stresses to his students to not take this technology for granted and to hold fast to the basic founding principles of photography.

“Students today are really fortunate. They’ve got their phones with really high-end cameras in them, filters, special effects and all kinds of post-processing power. It’s just incredible. I tell them to pay attention to the most important things – light, exposure, and subject matter. I want them to pay attention to the light of the day, what they are trying to capture with the subject, and composition. It’s a pretty simple concept, but then again so are most things…it’s just a matter of practice. Having a camera doesn’t make you a photographer, just like having Microsoft Word doesn’t make you a writer!”

So the difference between a picture and a photograph lies somewhere in the passion of the one taking it.

“A photographer’s eye is really different, I think, because you notice things that other people may not see. You’ll be driving down the road and the light on a subject will catch your eye. I’ll slam on brakes and jump out to take a quick photo. You’re chasing light, and you want to capture a moment to preserve it.”

The fun part for me is that it’s all part of my job – to practice this craft and to share it with the students.

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Those decisive moments only come around every so often and they don’t repeat themselves. It’s rare, capturing the essence of a perfect scene.

“Capturing just the right light on a landscape to me is more challenging than getting a good portrait. Those decisive moments only come around every so often and they don’t repeat themselves. It’s rare, capturing the essence of a perfect scene.”

Although he enjoys many local areas of interest throughout eastern North Carolina for his art like Merchants Mill Pond, farmers during harvest time, and foggy mornings across the waterways as he drives home to Edenton, Tom can always find something to peak his interest.

“Right now, the tundra swans are all over this part of the Dismal Swamp near Merry Hill and I will stop on my way and take a ton of photographs just driving home. The light in the

mornings and afternoons around here is just gorgeous, and there is so much beautiful sky. There is always something going on, whether its corn coming up or the tractors are out, there are so many cool things to photograph around here. I just love the whole farming scene, and the seasonal changes happening along the highways and backroads.”

“I came home and they were starting to dig the peanuts up, and I just stopped and asked this guy if I could photograph him. Most people don’t know where peanuts actually come from, and when they see the photos, they say, ‘I had no idea!’”

And so the old adage, a picture is worth a thousand words, still holds true today.

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A Beautiful Vision

Student Photographers Showcase Their Talent

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t was a close contest to determine the winners for this year’s VISION Club student competition. Judged by nationally and internationally recognized photographer Leeta Harding, the contest showcased the artistic talents of more than a dozen students and their high-quality works.

The VISION Club, the graphic communications student organization at Chowan University, trains students in various print disciplines, business administration, and networking with the outside community. VISION, which represents the threefold mission of the club, stands for Visual Innovations, Student Inspired, Optimized Networking. They focus on training students to use production equipment and appropriate software; creative design ideas for various print media such as screen-printing, digital/offset printing, and heat transfer;

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and community service and connection with other student organizations on and off campus, as well as local businesses.

With an eye to the future, Chowan is creating a setting where creativity and innovation will merge to produce a student that is aesthetically, theoretically, and technologically trained in graphic design, interactive design, print technology, packaging design, and/or studio art. By combining its technological resources and faculty expertise, the university will renew its efforts to develop students’ creative ideas, artistic ability, selfexpression, and professional skills as they study video, digital design, print design, drawing, digital imaging, packaging, web design, photography, painting, ceramics, mixed media, etc., at the intersection of art and technology. Whether using “centuries-old methods or by pushing the boundaries of

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digital creativity,” the department will produce unique and confident graduates with the skills that contemporary print technology, design, and the arts demand.

Noted for their high rate of job placement and enriching internships, Communications Arts at Chowan University partners with print professionals and potential employers annually. Communications Arts students at Chowan University frequently take home the top prizes at the Printing Industry of the Carolinas (PICA) annual competition amongst nationally-recognized graphics programs.

In First Place, sophomore Lindsey Hewitt of Jarvisburg, NC entered a stunning black and white beach scene as a lone young woman fishes in the surf (1). Dual-enrollment student Joy Corbett of Severn, NC won Second Place with a haunting weather scene showing a telephone poll-lined country road as a car’s headlights emerge from a dense fog (2). Third Place went to sophomore Zoe Beale of Courtland, VA for a vivid street scene of a colorful tavern storefront on an old brick alleyway in Petersburg, VA (3).

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Beyond Academic Borders

Extending Access and Resources to Local Schools

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hether it’s professional development for their teachers or exposing their students to real college experiences, Chowan University is a valuable resource for regional schools.

“Chowan University faculty are experts in a wide variety of subject matter often covered by middle and high school courses that would benefit from college level exposure,” stated Dr. Brenda Tinkham, Associate Provost for External Relations, who is leading the revitalized program to partner with school systems.

As part of Chowan University’s mission of teaching, learning, and service, the university is relaunching its Academic Outreach Program, a program that operated under the guidance of John Hinton, Special Assistant to the President, from 2005 to 2011. Now guided by Dr. Tinkham, the program is a free service offered by the university to share the talents and expertise of the faculty and staff with the public and private schools of the region.

“For example, the principal at Colerain Elementary School in Bertie County had asked for a college tour with an art component as schools are being asked to integrate more art into their elementary studies,” Tinkham explained. “They toured the artwork and antiques in the Jenkins Fine Arts Center, went to the Department of Communication Arts where they saw the use of technology in creating art that we see around us every day like packaging or print materials and t-shirts and stickers, and talked to our campus ceramicist Rob Buller about how pottery can be creative and beautiful, and still be useful.”

Options for personalized campus tours are near unlimited.

Chowan alumna Stephanie Cottle, CTE Career Development Coordinator for Bertie County Schools, contacted Chowan for a college visit for their 8th grade students.

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“Our Business Teacher at Bertie Middle School will be testing her 8th graders for Microsoft Certification and is looking to make real world connections for them concerning this certificate,” Cottle requested. “We would like for our students to visit the college campus and see how their Microsoft Certification would be useful as a college student or as an employee.”

Other school systems have utilized Chowan’s expertise for expanding their student’s academic preparation in other ways, like Meherrin Elementary School’s tour of our science labs or Hertford County Middle School’s 7th grade Academically and Intellectually Gifted class’s first visit to see a college campus.

“Many K-12 students have little contact with college graduates unless they are their teachers,” Tinkham added. “A visit to Chowan actually gives them an opportunity to interact with college students and attend classes. We believe this helps to inspire students to reach for that next level of their education and to see themselves in that role.”

Still other schools like Elizabeth City/Pasquotank Schools have called upon Chowan for professional development sessions for their teachers in fields like Critical Thinking, Reading in the Content Area and Classroom Management.

Regardless of the need, Chowan University faculty and staff are here to offer a solution. By working together, regional schools and Chowan University can prepare students for the brightest possibilities ahead, maintaining Chowan’s motto – Faith in your future. As noted by Provost Dr. Danny Moore, “Chowan is dedicated and committed to helping students of all ages to discover a world of opportunities; develop independent, creative and critical thought, and achieve intellectual and cultural growth and development. With a faculty willing to donate their time and talents, this program will offer a wide range of knowledge and expertise.”

Chowan Says, “Yes We Must!”

Coalition Boosts Student Retention and Success

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ounded in 2010 through the support of organizations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Chowan University has been a member of the Yes We Must Coalition since 2014. It is made up of thirty-six private, non-profit colleges and universities nationwide whose undergraduate enrollment includes fifty percent or more Pelleligible students.

“A new generation of students is attending college without the expectations required to succeed in higher education,” explains Dr. Brenda Tinkham, Associate Provost at Chowan University, and one of a group of administrators, professors and financial aid specialists from Chowan that attended the regional conference in Roanoke, VA last semester. “This is an effort to provide resources to institutions of higher education that are working to help these students be successful.”

The Yes We Must Coalition strives to increase degree attainment of low income students by developing valid measurements for demonstrating their college success and working collaboratively to improve graduation rates. The Coalition acts as a national voice to advocate for students from low-income backgrounds and the role of institutions and organizations that effectively serve them. By disseminating information, data, and models of success for low-income

students and leveraging resources to increase degree attainment of low-income students, the Coalition contributes to the attainment of the national goal to increase the number of students achieving college degrees.

Chowan University professors offered two such models of success as examples listed in the Yes We Must Coalition Fall 2015 Resource Exchange. Showcasing what Chowan is doing to fulfill responsibilities to the new student majority Director of the Hazel Griffin Writing Center Kerri Albertson offered a presentation on academic support and tutoring designed to remove the various barriers to low income student success and Chowan’s Coordinator of the Critical Thinking Program, Dr. Keith Reich offered an orientation program designed for integrating first generation college students into their freshman experience.

With more than 200 attendees, the Yes We Must Coalition conference was a valuable experience for both administrators and faculty to share knowledge and resources and help lead a new generation to successful college careers. As national foundations work together with regional educational institutions like Chowan University, we can encourage low income families to reach for higher goals in education, building our communities stronger - one student at a time.

CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016 9

Visiting Professionals Engage Students Chowan’s academic programs and student organizations bring special guests to campus to connect current students with working professionals in their fields of study.

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1. Murfreesboro Police Chief Darryl Rowe visited Chowan’s Police/Community Relations class, detailing his path to becoming a police chief. He discussed the unpredictability of his job, citing everything from a high speed car chase to breaking up a high school brawl all before 8:30 that morning, and outlined differences in working for local, state, and federal agencies.

2. Dr. Jerry Gaines, author of “40 Stories High: A Compelling Account of a Teacher’s Life-Long Passion for Mentoring”, shared the humorous and inspirational life lessons that helped him to create “The Equation of Life” over his 40 years as an educator. Gaines was the first African American to earn a full athletic scholarship at Virginia Tech and its first African American Hall of Famer, and stresses the value of proper attitude, willingness to work, responsibility, and confidence.

3. The Talon Club hosted Pastor Anthony Rawlings ‘11 of Second Baptist Creeksville Church in Murfreesboro who shared his journey from being first in his family to attend college to being elected for his second term serving on that college’s Board of Trustees. Rawlings credited his success to determination, focus, and hard work.

His key motivation is to set a positive example for his children to emulate.

4. Retired DEA Special Agent Brad Worrell, a Franklin, VA native, advised Chowan University’s Criminal Justice majors on joining the agency and shared tales of his glory days as an undercover DEA agent in 1980’s Miami.

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Murfreesboro Police Department’s Sgt. David Griffith and his narcotics-trained Belgian Malinois named Jager and Officer Bryan Johnson and his black sheperd Kira, trained in apprehension, joined Isle of Wight County’s K-9 Handler Jason Brinkley and his bloodhound Bela, trained in tracking scents, for a presentation sponsored by the Department of Criminal Justice.

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Michael Harrell, President of Jernigan Oil, a regional oil and gas firm based out of Ahoskie, NC for almost 70 years, was hosted by the School of Business’s Visiting Executive Program. Harrell spoke to two upper-level business classes and attended a networking luncheon with a group of students and faculty. The program culminated with his presentation “Petroleum 101: The Basics of Petroleum Engineering and Marketing” in Vaughan Auditorium.

7. Mr. Robert Gordon, Director of Information Systems at Halifax Regional Medical Center in Roanoke Rapids, met with School of Business students to share his more than 40 years of IT experience. Gordon explained the mandates to improve patient care, the implementation stages, and the goals aimed at moving hospitals from treating sick patients to comprehensive health management.

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CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016 11

Lives Changed in Cuba

Chowan Mission Team Returns to Santiago de Cuba

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ver Spring Break, Chowan University Campus Ministry took a mission team to Santiago de Cuba to work with the Baptist Retirement Home where our students witnessed firsthand the sacrifices made by Christians under communism. In a country where the government insists that it meets all of its citizens’ needs, the retired pastors who are residents of this retirement home are dependent on the church for survival.

Because of their vocation as ministers they are rejected by the Cuban government and receive no financial assistance after they are unable to work and care for themselves.

For Campus Minister Mari Wiles this was a return trip. She led Chowan’s first fourteen-person mission team to Santiago de Cuba in 2012. Each of those fourteen students were asked about specifically and by name. They are still remembered by members of the Christian community in Cuba today. They are still prayed for and loved by those they came to know and serve, as will the members of this year’s team. The impressions made on both sides, by the Chowan students and the Cuban Christians, are clearly long-lasting; one might even say eternal.

The team spent hours doing labor intensive construction by hand, sifting rocks from two tons of sand to be used for concrete, loading and carting heavy wheelbarrows back and

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forth under the hot Cuban sun. Each rock toted and grain of sand sifted served as preparation for the next round of mission teams, who will use the results to begin laying foundations for additional facilities for the home and its residents.

During their rare down time the team enjoyed worshipping with several different congregations of Cuban Baptists.

Students noted the devotion of the pastors and members of each church they visited. They witnessed people, young and old, walk through pouring rain to be in attendance at church services. They got to know a pastor and his family who live in a tiny, one-room building that also serves as their church. They noted a posture of gratitude and joy despite circumstances that most would categorize as desperately unfortunate.

Prior to the trip, the team learned that the community’s ox had died. Far from just livestock, the community relies on oxen to work the land that they farm. The farm provides the majority of the fresh food consumed by the retirement home’s residents — food that would be shared generously with the Chowan mission team as their guests. With no money budgeted for the endeavor but belief that God would provide, the Chowan team set out to raise funds before their departure.

They devised an intriguing “penny-per-vote” naming contest that got the entire Chowan family involved as students,

faculty, staff, and even alumni cast their pennies in support of their name of choice. Even mere pennies, when pooled together, can do big things in the name of our God. In the end, funds were raised to provide the community with a healthy new ox they christened “Big Blue” or in Spanish, Azul Grande.

Our students and leaders returned with empty suitcases, leaving behind clothes, supplies, and medicines for the Cuban Christians they befriended. In exchange, they brought back memories of a life-changing experience.

“It is astounding how the Cuban Christians were willing to give up the little that they do have and still have joy in their hearts regardless of the hardships that they face every day,” said Chowan Junior, Ammaris Jordan. “When I left Cuba, I prayed for this trip to have a lasting effect on me, and now I know that it has. I will forever remember Cuba.”

Teaching in Cuba Two professors, Dr. J Brabban and Dr. John Pond, taught Old Testament and Homiletics at Eastern Baptist Convention of Cuba Seminary next door to the Baptist Retrement Home. The teaching schedule was grueling, comprised of all-day lectures in classrooms packed full of eager Cuban ministers. The group they instructed was largely made up of music ministers.

The seminary, established in 1949, employs some full-time faculty, yet they also rely heavily

on educators from the United States and Canada for help with pastoral education.

“Teaching class with the aid of a translator was weirder than you can imagine,” mused Dr. Brabban.

“As you know, humor doesn’t translate. Yet the people there get our humor.” Perhanps Cubans are closer akin to Americans than one might think?

“Only about half the class really needed the translator,” he continued. “I’d ask a question and many were already nodding their heads and ready with the answers before the translator had finished.”

Each professor was enthusiastic about the experience and the prospect of returning. “I would absolutely go back,” Dr. Brabban confirmed.

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Changing the World One Conversation at a Time

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hanging the world starts with a conversation.

First we must learn what needs to change and why. This is an important dialogue — one that the International Student Association at Chowan University is proud to initiate.

“Constantly, we are instructed, directed, encouraged, or even challenged to make a difference in the world in which we live. We believe that begins with sharing and listening to the stories all around us,” stated Jill Awuni, Assistant Professor of Religion and Business Administration and the Director of International Students at Chowan. “Each of us has a story to tell, and it is a vital part of how we dialogue with one another.”

Each year Chowan’s international students travel south to the Fort Caswell Coastal Retreat and Conference Center on Oak Island, NC to join similar groups from across the state for the International Student & Scholar Conference. This year’s weekend theme was “Our Global Story.” Stories were shared through word, conversation, craft, activity, play, and fellowship. The large group of collegiate adults from around

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the globe enjoyed the opportunity to examine differing cultures and develop new relationships.

Yet it’s not just one weekend out of the year that these students have the opportunity to share their global story; Awuni’s group shines all year round, on campus and off through awareness and fund raising efforts, such as the annual Relay for Life event. They also regularly travel to churches throughout the region. Churches like Roundtree Temple of Praise in Powellsville, NC have even began making their outreach program part of the annual schedule.

“We can reframe the world’s challenges by better assimilation of information so we can transform our world,” Awuni said of tackling the fear of the unknown that can hide outside our own spheres of influence. “We all deal with great ambiguity in our world, but we are not all an army of drones.

Let’s open ourselves up to new stories and individuals.”

The Chowan international students are eager to share their global story to churches and other organizations. In April, Awuni took international students to Paul D. Camp

Recent graduate Christina Thomas is known for her contributions to service and scholarship.

Community College for an event hosted by the Lambda Psi Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

“We introduced the ASCEND high school students in the area to the international concepts of globalization and the effects of climate change upon the countries of the world,” Awuni explained.

With students hailing from England, France, Spain, Germany and Poland in Europe to Argentina, Columbia, Brazil and Guatemala in South and Central America and to Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Ghana in Africa to Russia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan in Asia, just to name a few, Chowan University’s international student population has an incredibly vast point of view and are excited to share it. See what you can learn when you encounter new people, customs and cultures.

To make the International Student Association at Chowan University part of your outreach or awareness program, contact Director of International Students Jill Awuni at awunij@chowan.edu or (252) 398-6483.

Best All Around Student Earns Honors Chowan University’s Best All Around Student for 2016 is Christina Thomas, a graduating senior who has achieved academically, excelled in extracurricular activities, exhibited leadership ability among her fellow students, and sought to attain the ideals – academic and otherwise – for which the university stands. Christina also earned Chowan honors with the Senior Ambassador Award and the Drs. Vaughn and Miles Outstanding Business Student Award.

In addition to on-campus recognition, she was also awarded the 2015 Dr. Quiester Craig Fellowship Award from Sigma Beta Delta, the International Honor Society for Business, Management and Administration. Each of the approximately 250 chapters in the society nominated student members for consideration for only 20 annual fellowship awards. Nominated students completed an application, an autobiographical essay and statement of how their personal life plans support Sigma Beta Delta’s purposes. The submissions were reviewed by the fellowship committee of the society, which selected the winners. Fellowship recipients received certificates, Sigma Beta Delta shirts, and cash awards.

Christina, a senior Business Administration Management major from Corapeake, NC, received one of the highest fellowships awarded. She graduated Magna Cum Laude on the President’s List and was an Alpha Chi Scholar, Leadership Scholar, and Presidential Ambassador. Upon graduation she was hired by the Chowan University Office of Development where she curently serves as Assistant Director of University Relations.

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Pulitzer Winner Edward P. Jones Accepts Hobson Prize

ulitzer Prize-winning author Edward P. Jones was awarded the 2016 Mary Frances Hobson Prize for Distinguished Achievement in Arts and Letters at Chowan University on Thursday, March 31st. That evening, Jones gave two poignant readings from his work All Aunt Hagar’s Children to a packed house in Turner Auditorium. The Hobson Prize Selection Committee described Jones’ prose as “direct, at times plainspoken, and at all times dazzling.”

For over two decades, Chowan University has honored influential southern authors through the Hobson Prize for Distinguished Achievement in Arts & Letters. Initiated in 1995 by the Hobson Family Foundation, the award is a memorial to journalist and poet Mary Frances Hobson (1912-1993), first woman to receive the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award in journalism from the University of North Carolina.

Virginia-born Edward P. Jones is a fiction writer who grew up in the Washington, DC area. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2004 for his novel The Known World. One of the most acclaimed novels in recent

memory, the novel tells the story of black slave owners and the effects of slavery. Jones shows how the institution of slavery affects every citizen in fictional Manchester County, Virginia, and how no character is free from its consequences.

In 2015, the BBC listed The Known World as one of the twelve great novels of the twenty-first century. The novel also earned the International Dublin Literary Award, the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, the Lannan Literary Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction.

The year 2004 brought the MacArthur Foundation to Jones’ door. The MacArthur Fellowship, which comes with a substantial five-year stipend, allowed Jones to complete his second set of short stories, All Aunt Hagar’s Children. Published in 2006, it is filled with characters who call Washington, DC home. This collection was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award.

Jones resides in Washington, DC, where he teaches creative writing at George Mason University. He has also held adjunct teaching appointments at the University of Virginia, Princeton University, and the University of Maryland.

Rouson Lecture Honors Regional Role Models The annual Reverend George T. and Luvenia B. Rouson Memorial Lecture was headlined by Dr. Glen Bowman (left), Professor of History and Director of International Programs at Elizabeth City State University, who spoke on “Two Roads to True Liberation: The Visions of Calvin Scott Brown and Peter Weddick Moore.” The event recognizes Christian values, brotherhood, stewardship, and the importance of family, and good Christians who do good deeds for their community.

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SeniorFest S

eniorFest 2016 saw this year’s featured guest, singer, storyteller and folk-theologian Ed Kilbourne entertain and inspire the crowd of over 300 senior adults from across the region.

Informative breakout sessions included “Chair Yoga” with Bonnie Boone, certified Yoga Instructor with Vidant Wellness, “The Church in Cuba” featuring a recap of the recent mission trip led by Campus Ministers Mari Wiles and Drew Phillips, “Counting Sheep is for the Birds” where Vidant RoanokeChowan Hospital’s experts shared tips and techniques based on sleep science, “Deeper Still (Ancient Practices that

The Futrell-Ruffin Community Service Award went to Hertford County Sheriff Juan E. Vaughan, Sr. (right). Sheriff Vaughan serves on the Roanoke Chowan Domestic Violence Task Force, the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission, the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association, the National Sheriffs’ Association, and the Criminal Justice Executive Advisory Committee of Halifax Community College. He is the Chairman of the Criminal Justice Partnership Program. He has diligently worked to reduce the sale of drugs and the crime rate in Hertford County and truly enjoys serving its citizens.

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Revitalize Modern Faith)” with teaching from Rick Jordan, Church Resources Coordinator for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina, “Estate Planning For Seniors In the Facebook Age” with advice from Tom Denton, Retired Eastern Area Manager, North Carolina Baptist Foundation, “Of COURSE You Can!” led by Chowan’s Writing Center Director Kerri Albertson, and “Prepare to Care” with Mary L. Brett Wright, LSW, LPC, PhD, Board Certified Life Coach and CEO of Brett Coaching and Consultant.

The day also included a classic southern buffet and tours of the campus and Wayland L Jenkins Fine Arts Center.

The Minnie Wood Perkins Humanitarian Award honored Gloria Odum (center), who served on Murfreesboro’s Town Board from 2005 until 2015, resigning when she moved to be closer to her children. In her 10 years as commissioner of Parks and Recreation she set up summer camps and established youth league sports for T-ball, flag football, soccer, and basketball. She worked with Communities in Schools of Hertford County and encouraged local health screenings and nutritional seminars in the community. Odum was so persistent in her efforts to improve parks in Murfreesboro, in December, Murfreesboro’s mayor John Hinton officially named the pavilion at Riverside Park in Odum’s honor.

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The Performance of a Lifetime

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Chowan Chorus Performs at Carnegie Hall

eginning its 33rd season of concerts since its founding

by Peter Tiboris in 1983, MidAmerica Productions presented two performances at Carnegie Hall on Saturday, February 13 — one which included Chowan’s chorus.

The concert, showcasing the talent and creative programming for which MidAmerica Productions is known, featured three distinct sections, all performed with the New England Symphonic Ensemble.

David R. Thye conducted John Rutter’s Magnificat with soprano Courtney Johnson and several choruses, including Chowan University. The group from Chowan included talented members of the community and saw Chowan performing with nearly two hundred other accomplished musicians such as the Marlborough Chamber Choir, Los Angeles, CA; Agape Chorale of St. John the Baptist Church, Napa, CA; Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi Pontifical Chorus, Santa Fe, NM; Choral Arts Society of St. Michael’s High School, Santa

18 CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016

Fe, NM; and Maple Mountain High School Choirs, Spanish Fork, UT. This opportunity arrived, in part, thanks to the involvement of Aaron Rice, who taught and directed the University’s various vocal ensembles beginning in fall 2013, including the Chowan Chorus, Chowan Singers, and Cantare. The invitation came by way of Rice’s long-time mentor and friend, a professional conductor who regularly leads concert performances on the Carnegie Hall stage.

Designed by architect William Burnet Tuthill and built by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in 1891, Carnegie Hall is one of the most prestigious venues in the world. More than 46,000 events have taken place in Carnegie Hall’s three auditoriums since its opening 1891. Please join us in offering our congratulations to the Chowan student and community performers who joined their ranks. It was truly the performance of a lifetime.

H

e has logged millions of miles from the tough streets of Staten Island, NY, to the oil fields surrounding Houston, Texas, to the exotic beaches of Hawaii, and to the multi-million dollar arenas where the world’s most elite players showcase their talents within the National Basketball Association. But if you ask Bob Burke where he feels most at home, you’ll receive a one-word answer – Chowan. We returned the “love” and honored the former coach, a man that led the then Braves to well over 400 wins and three trips to the National Junior College Athletic Association’s championship tournament, by formally naming the basketball court inside the Helms Center as “Bob Burke Court.”

The dedication ceremony was held at halftime of the Chowan men’s basketball game against Virginia Union University on Saturday, Jan. 30. Former Chowan players and coaches, members of the Burke family, students of the

university and fans from all over northeastern North Carolina and southside Virginia filled the Helms Center to pay honor to the man who put Chowan basketball on the national map.

“Without good players, my name wouldn’t be on that court,” said Burke. “I’m indebted to those players. I’m also indebted to my family. My family has always been part of whatever success I’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy over my career.

“We may have eventually left Murfreesboro and landed in Hawaii and later with my job in the NBA, but I’m forever a Chowan man; this is the place where I got my identity as a coach,” he continued. “Chowan is who I am and I’m so honored that this great university has chosen to honor me in this way.”

Burke called Murfreesboro a perfect place to raise his family. “Everybody knew us and looked after us, especially our children; it was a great place to grow with your family,” he noted.

CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016 19

“What a great town to live in and what a great community and county to work in,” said Burke’s wife, Jane, who spent her career in education, to include principal at the old Murfreesboro Middle School, principal at Hertford County High School, and Superintendent of Hertford County Public Schools. “It was a family atmosphere here, and it remained that way.”

Long before Burke and Chowan basketball became household words across the nation, there were some tough roads to follow and equally tough lessons to learn. Growing up on the streets of New York City, this tough-nosed IrishCatholic kid fell in love with athletics at an early age. He parlayed that into a ticket south, landing a spot on the basketball team at South Texas Junior College. From there he began his love affair with college basketball in North Carolina, first as a guard at Campbell University (Class of 1969), honing his skills under coaches Fred McCall and Danny Roberts.

“Back then, Frank McGuire (a NYC native who went on to coaching fame at St. Johns, the University of North Carolina and the University of South Carolina) controlled New York,” Burke recalled. “When coach McGuire took my friend, Bobby Cremins (who would later guide the basketball fortunes at Georgia Tech and on a trio of occasions recruited Burke’s talented players at Chowan) to South Carolina, that left a spot open at Campbell where Cremins was originally recruited.

“When coach McCall and Bones McKinney questioned McGuire about stealing away Cremins, he (McGuire) said not to worry, he would find a replacement,” Burke continued.

“One of McGuire’s birddogs got me to Campbell, first working as a counselor at their camp, and then as a player for two years. Low and behold, I got to work with a guy by the name of Johnny Wooden at that camp. A lot of folks on the east coast didn’t know who Wooden was back then. He, of course, by then had led UCLA to three NCAA national championships, en route to winning 10 of those trophies. I wound up working nine camps at Campbell, seven of those were with coach Wooden. I became a disciple of Wooden’s style of play.”

20 CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016

After graduating from Campbell, Burke spent two years as the head basketball coach at Wallace-Rose Hill High School. At age 25, he became the nation’s youngest head basketball coach at the collegiate level at Greensboro College. He returned to Campbell for a year, assisting coach Roberts while working in the admission’s office.

Burke wound back up in Greensboro at Guilford College as an assistant coach. There, legendary athletic director Herb Appenzeller (who also held that position at Chowan) steered Burke to Murfreesboro. “I wanted to be my own boss, to be the head coach of my own team so I took the Chowan job in 1980,” Burke recalled. “I didn’t know anything about Chowan back then. I was interviewed by Jim Garrison and Dan Surface… they must have asked me a thousand questions.”

That was the same year Chowan unveiled its newly constructed basketball palace – the Helms Center. “I peeped in there after that long interview and saw that brand new gym and thought right then and there that I can build a dynasty here with this type of facility,” Burke noted.

With 419 victories (to include a string of 12 consecutive 20plus win seasons), two appearances in the NJCAA Sweet 16, 42 former Braves who went on to play at the NCAA Division I level (to include seven that competed in the ACC), and two players that made it to the NBA (both of whom are now coaching at the highest level of professional basketball), one can say that Burke’s dynasty was realized at Chowan. His very first team in Murfreesboro won 22 straight games, but fell one game short of earning a trip to the national tournament.

Burke’s sly smile grows a bit larger when you get him to talk about his 1983-84 squad, one that made it to the Final Four of the NJCAA tourney in Hutchinson, Kansas. “We had Andre McGee and Tracy Miles coming back for their sophomore year. Then we add Dave Burgess and Nate McMillan and get Tracy Battle to walk on. I knew that was going to be a special team,” he said.

McMillan, who later played for NC State on teams that reached “Elite 8” status in consecutive national tournaments,

was Burke’s first NBA player (drafted by and later was the head coach of the Seattle Supersonics). However, what many local fans have forgotten were the teams just before and after the 83-84 squad.

The 82-83 team lost on a last second shot in the regional finals and the 84-85 squad finished with a 27-4 record…. all of those losses were by two or less points each. “We had eight teams here that had better overall records than the 8384 team,” Burke recalled. “We had seven teams to play for the regional title and the right to go to Hutch, but only three made it that far.” He also led the ‘88 and ‘92 teams to “Hutch.”

In terms of recruiting, Burke was the master, bringing loads of talent to tiny Murfreesboro. “I could sell sand to Saudi Arabia,” he grinned. “But, seriously, I learned very early in my coaching career that you don’t win games with x’s and o’s, but rather with Billys and Joes.”

Burke remained on board when the school went to four-year status and initially completed athletically as an independent in the NCAA D-III ranks. Among the players of that D-III era was Burke’s son, Rob, now an assistant coach at Georgia Southern University.

Burke, who after leaving Murfreesboro coached at the University of Hawaii and then in the NBA, likes what he sees now at Chowan. “They have a president here now with a great track record and it shows with all the improvements in academics and in the infrastructure improvements on campus,” he stressed. “Athletically, things are going great here and the future is bright. I hope one day those players and coaches will be able to come back here and say the same thing I’m bragging about today. I hope their love for Chowan burns just as bright and deep as it does in my heart.”

Chowan Proud

Nate McMillan, 1983-84 Basketball Team Honored

N

ate McMillan joined elite company on February 13, 2016 when Chowan University honored him and his running mates from the 1983-84 men’s basketball team that reached the National Junior College Athletic Association Final Four. His old Chowan Braves jersey took its rightful place among the banners hanging inside the Helms Center that honor past and present champions. The retirement of McMillan’s jersey is a first in the long and storied history of Chowan athletics.

“This is such an honor,” said McMillan as he stood with his wife, Michelle, on the court. McMillan, a native of Raleigh, recalls the day his older brother, Randolph, drove him to Murfreesboro. “He dropped me off at Parker Hall; I was lost,” he said. “I remember being scared as I watched my brother and his wife leave for their trip back to Raleigh. I stood there wondering what I was going to do. It was my first time being away from home and I felt all alone.” Fortunately for McMillan, his athletic ability on the basketball court and his quest to gain a higher education served him well.

“The next two years were the best of my life,” he said.

“There are a lot of great memories for me here on this campus and here inside the Helms Center. It was here that I met my

22 CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016

wife, who worked in the basketball office. It was here that I developed such a strong bond with my coach, Bob Burke, and with these guys standing behind me here this afternoon.”

McMillan praised Coach Burke [pictured front row left] for giving him the opportunity to further develop his basketball skills — hard work that eventually landed him an athletic scholarship at North Carolina State under the legendary Jim Valvano and later as the second round draft pick of the Seattle Supersonics, where he spent 19 seasons as a player and then as the head coach. McMillan’s No. 10 jersey also hangs from the rafters in Raleigh’s PNC Arena and Seattle’s Key Arena.

“Coach Burke brought out the best in me athletically, and Chap [now retired Chowan Chaplin Dr. Hargus Taylor, pictured front row right] brought out the best in me academically. I love you guys,” McMillan stressed.

The 1983-84 men’s basketball team was one of the most successful during Burke’s tenure. The squad posted a 30-9 record that year, while earning Eastern Conference Championship and NJCAA Region X Championship titles, and made a trip to the Sweet Sixteen and Final Four. That squad is to this day the only Chowan men’s basketball team to reach the 30-game win mark.

Members of that team include Ken Bunker, Mike Moore, Jim Dillard, Greg Hollingsworth, Jerome Cooper, Nate McMillan, and Todd Wright [pictured from left to right] as well as Bruce Banks, Tracy Battle, Dave Burgess, Clifton Lynch, Frank Parker, Scott Reece, John Thomas, and Sam Tyson [not pictured]. Burgess averaged 13.4 points and eight rebounds per game and Thomas led the country in field goal percentage with 71.3%, averaging 12 points per game from the floor.

McMillan, who was recently named head coach of the Indiana Pacers, averaged a triple-double that season; he is the only Brave to do so. He broke his own assist record that same season with 411 assists on the year while averaging 10 points and 10 rebounds per contest.

After competing for Chowan from 1982-84, McMillan transferred to N.C. State, and went on to play professionally for the Supersonics. He posted four career triple-doubles during his professional playing career, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team twice (1993-94, 1994-95).

After leaving Seattle, McMillan took the head coaching reins of the Portland Trail Blazers in 2005 and stayed with the team until 2012. Additionally, he served as an assistant coach under Mike Kryzyzewski for the United States National Team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics.

McMillan was named head coach for the NBA’s Indiana Pacers in May, after three years serving as the assistant coach.

McMillan is a member of the NJCAA Basketball Hall of Fame and the Jim Garrison Hall of Fame.

That night at a dinner held at the Pond Football Center, Chowan University recognized McMillan and his wife as Distinguished Alumni. Each member of Chowan’s former squad received a watch to commemorate their record-setting accomplishments that season, as well.

Nate and Michelle McMillan were recognized as Distinguished Alumni.

“This was a fantastic team…thank you guys for making my life a bit extra special,” said Burke. “You guys made a big impact on the town of Murfreesboro. There were people standing shoulder to shoulder inside Milton’s Pizza (now Napoli’s) and spilling out on the street listening to those games on the radio.”

Burke recalled the 1984 national tournament, saying it helped put Chowan and Murfreesboro on the map.

“The people out there in Kansas really took a liking to us because of the way we hustled and played as a team,” he said.

“Had it not been for Dillard breaking his wrist on a hard foul in our very first game (a victory), we could have won the whole thing. It was an unbelievable run.”

Although he lives by the team concept, Burke said McMillan is deserving to have his Chowan jersey retired.

“But he sweated just like the rest of our players; we played no favoritism,” Burke noted.

“But what it did was open the door for others to follow who came in and said they wanted to be like Nate. You also need to be reminded that the other players from that 83-84 team went on to have great careers as they finished their careers at four-year schools,” Burke recalled, citing Hollingsworth’s outstanding effort at the University of South Florida; and ditto for Moore at West Liberty University, Battle at George Mason University, and Burgess at Virginia Tech.

“I love all you guys; we are Chowan,” Burke said.

The jersey retirement ceremony at Bob Burke Court.

CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016 23

CU CUAthletics Athletics

Chowan University Brings Home Four CIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS! Nick Hahula

Michael Lugo

AthleticsNews Football Players Earn Accolades

Men’s Golf Baseball Men’s Tennis Women’s Tennis Softball finished CIAA Championship runner-up.

Look for full coverage of these championship honors in the Fall/ Winter edition of CU Today or visit wwww.gocuhawks.com.

24 CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016

Nick Hahula highlighted the 2015 All-CIAA Team as the CIAA Special Teams Player of the Year and All-CIAA honoree. Offensive lineman Michael Lugo joins Hahula on the All-CIAA First Team while running back Tyree Lee and defensive back Roderick Lindsey each earned AllCIAA Second Team honors.

Defensive lineman Anthony Joffrion, offensive lineman Kelvin McCoy, linebacker Demetrius Newberry were each tabbed to the All-CIAA Honorable Mention Team along with Hahula, who also earned recognition as a punter.

Hahula, a senior from Rocky Mount, NC, converted 6-11 field goals and 25-27 point after attempts. He assisted the Hawks’ defense with 51 punts for 1,843 yards.

Fourteen of his punts landed inside the 20-yard line.

Lugo, a native of Las Vegas, Nevada anchored an offensive line that allowed the team to collect 3,275 total offensive yards over the course of the season (1,942 passing, 1,333 rushing).

Lee led the Hawks’ running game this season with 219 carries totaling 1,049 yards. He scored 12 rushing touchdowns for the Chowan Blue and White this season while hauling in 30 receptions for 354 yards and four touchdowns. Lee broke the school’s single-game rushing record with 223 yards in Chowan’s 49-0 victory over Saint Augustine’s University.

Lindsey, a defensive back from Fort Meyers, Florida, notched 50 tackles (37 solo, 13 assisted) with four tackles for loss (five yards) over the course of his senior season and a teamhigh four interceptions for the Hawks (17 yards) with six pass breakups, two fumble

Cheering the Chowan For Brave HawkHawks Fans

2015-16 Chowan University Men’s Soccer Team

recoveries and one forced fumble. He was named to the 2015 NCAA Division II AllSuper Region One Defensive Third Team.

Roderick Lindsey and Michael Lugo earned AllNCCAA First Team honors with Tyree Lee earning Second Team recognition.

Anthony Joffrion, Nick Hahula, and Demetrius Newberry were tabbed to the NCCAA Honorable Mention Team.

Soccer Athletes Gain Recognition The Chowan University men’s soccer team shut out the #2 seed Southern Wesleyan University, 1-0 on November 21st to claim the NCCAA South Region Championship for the first time in school history. The Hawks were the #4 seed in the tournament.

Ben Chapman, Marco Lujan, Jamie McNicholas

and Terell Williamson all earned All-Tournament recognition after leading the Hawks to the first NCCAA South Region title in men’s soccer program history.

Jamie McNicholas of Nottingham, England, was named Most Valuable Player after his tournament performance, where his defensive effort helped keep Chowan’s opponents off the scoreboard, propelling the Hawks to three straight tournament wins.

Terell Williamson headlined this year’s list of honorees as the NCCAA South Region Player of the Year. Williamson, a sophomore from Alexandria, VA found the back of the net 18 times this season for the Chowan Blue and White. He scored game-winning goals six times this season and led the Hawks to a 1-0 win against Southern Wesleyan in the NCCAA South Region

Terell Williamson

Suraya Chase

Championship. He currently ranks 7th among NCAA Division II statistical leaders in goals scored. Williamson was named to the AllAtlantic Region Second Team honoree, the College Division All-State Men’s Soccer Second Team, and the NSCAA/ Continental Tire NCCAA Division I Men’s Soccer AllAmerica Division I First Team for the second time in his career.

Volleyball Nets Division Title, Individual Honors The Chowan University volleyball team secured the CIAA Northern Division title on November 13th with a 3-0 win over Virginia Union University. The Hawks earned the honor for the second consecutive season and for the sixth time since joining the CIAA in 2009. Chowan concluded the regular season with a 18-8 overall record, 14-2 mark in CIAA play and

9-1 finish in CIAA Northern Division play.

A host of Hawks were recognized for the All-CIAA Team and All-Rookie Team, highlighted by Suraya Chase and Brittany Tschida earning All-CIAA First Team recognition. Cindy Ehrich and Morgan Spencer were honored with All-CIAA Second Team accolades.

Chase, a junior from Arouca, Trinidad and Tobago native recorded 220 kills on the season along with 211 digs for the Hawks.

Tschida joined Chase on the All-CIAA First Team with 87 kills on the year and a team-high 32 aces. The Fayetteville, North Carolina native also paced the Hawks with 43 blocks (11 solo, 32 assisted).

Ehrich, a senior from Fredericksburg, Virginia held down the Hawks’ back row with 394 digs on the season.

She holds Chowan’s career

CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016 25

CU Athletics

Brittany Tschida

Jada Lee

2015-16 Chowan University Women’s

AthleticsNews digs record with 1,818 digs.

Spencer, a freshman from Aurora, Illinois tallied 168 kills on the season, ranking in the top of three of Chowan’s statistical leaders. She also had 30 blocks to her name (four solo, 26 assisted).

Women’s Basketball Celebrates Banner Year The Chowan University women’s basketball team had a banner year on the hardcourt this season. The Hawks posted a 20-9 overall record and 13-3 mark in CIAA play. Chowan ended the regular season second in the CIAA Northern Division, earned a program-best 20 wins, and secured their first CIAA Tournament semifinal appearance since the 201112 season. Most notably, the Hawks earned NCAA Atlantic Region ranking for the first time in program-history, resulting in their first-ever appearance in the NCAA

Tournament after securing an at-large bid.

Jada Lee and Mercedes Tapia were both named the CIAA All-Rookie Team with Lee headlining this year’s honorees as the CIAA Rookie of the Year. Senior Alisha Mobley was named to the All-CIAA Team and earned the honor for the third time in her career.

Lee, a native of Virginia Beach, Virginia, was a fourtime CIAA Rookie of the Week honoree started at guard in 28 of the Hawks’ 29 games this season. She averaged 7.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.0 steals per contest. Lee’s top performances this season include a 17-point outing against Saint Anselm on November 29 th and a 16-point production against Lincoln University (PA) on February 17 th. She led the team in steals (59) and assists (112); ranking eighth and fifth

26 CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016

in the CIAA in each respective category.

Tapia, also a native of Virginia Beach, averaged 5.1 points per game this season over the course of 21 contests. She made 17 starts for the Chowan Blue and White while dishing out 30 assists and draining 26 threepointers.

Winchester, Virginia native, Mobley led the Hawks to their most successful season as an NCAA Division II member institution. She averaged 16.1 points per game for the Hawks while grabbing 7.1 rebounds per contest. Mobley drained a career-high 32 points in Chowan’s 72-52 Senior Night win over Lincoln (PA). Mobley is the program’s fourth all-time leading scorer with 1,219 career points and netted her 1,000th career point on January 20th.

Men’s Basketball Hardcourt Highlights The Chowan University men’s basketball program recorded 19 wins this season, matching program-high from the 2005-06 season.

The Hawks also swept CIAA Southern Division opponents during the regular season, a first in program history.

Kortez Smith was named to the All-CIAA Team with Marco Haskins earning CIAA Rookie of the Year honors.

Haskins, hailing from Fredericksburg, Virginia averaged 12.3 points and 4.2 rebounds in his first collegiate season. The six-time CIAA Rookie of the Week honoree scored double-digit figures in 18 of his 26 games played and ranked second on the team in scoring. His top performance was a 23- point outing in Chowan’s 85-75 victory over Saint Augustine’s University on November 24th.

For Brave Hawk Fans

Smith, Mobley each netted their 1,000th career point this season.

s Basketball Team

Smith, a native of Waldorf, Maryland, began his career as the CIAA Rookie of the Year, and bookends his four-years at Chowan as an All-CIAA selection. He became the 11th player to reach the 1000-point plateau on January 12th in a 73-70 win over Livingstone College and averaged 17.3 points per game for the Hawks.

Marco Haskins

Bowling Ascends to CIAA Championship

The Chowan University Bowling team ended their season on a high note as the Hawks qualified for the CIAA Championship for the first time, and advanced to the CIAA Semifinal!

The team finished in the championship’s final four this year, a program first.

Kortez Smith netted his 1,000th career point in the victory and scored 19 points in a 73-70 win over Livingstone College on January 12th . He is the 11th player in program history to achieve the feat.

Alisha Mobley netted 13 points and scored her 1,000th career point in Chowan’s 71-64 win over Virginia State University on January 20th . She ended her Chowan career as the program’s fourth leading all-time scorer.

CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016 27

Chowan University

C

howan University’s Homecoming Weekend 2015 had something for everyone. With a theme of “Wherever you are, whatever you do...always Chowan, always Blue,” the weekend featured athletic events, tailgating, reunions, good food, and tons of fun.

The festivities began on Thursday, October 29th, with a Pep Rally and Bonfire. Friday morning picked up with the annual Homecoming Golf Tournament at Valley Pine Country Club and the festivities continued into the wee hours with the Blue and White Alumni Celebration on Friday night. The Blue and White Alumni Celebration featured heavy hors d’oeuvres, entertainment and special recognition of the alumni reunion classes from 1955, 1965, 1975, 1985, 1995 and 2005. Also Friday night was the Homecoming Step Show in Turner Auditorium and the Homecoming Dance in the Hawks Nest Student Center.

On Saturday, Chowan University honored Distinguished Alumni at the Alumni and Friends Reception and Luncheon

28 CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016

before joining the crowd to cheer for the Chowan Hawks. The stadium bustled with activity as old friends reconnected and delicious smells wafted through the air from the tailgating surroudning the stadium.

At halftime graduating seniors Rodney Countryman and Des’monay Barnes were crowned Homecoming King and Queen, respectively. A native of Henderson, NC, Rodney majored in Humanities and was a member of the SGA, the University’s Chief Ambassador, a Resident Director, and a Peer Mentor. Des’monay Barnes, a Psychology major from Pleasantville, NJ, was a member of the SGA, a Peer Mentor, the Psychology Club, and the Honors College program.

Plans are underway for Homecoming 2016 — “Celebrate Good Times.” The Alumni Blue and White Celebration will be held on Saturday, October 8th before the Homecoming game and other events, so mark your calendars! To make sure you don’t miss out, follow us on Facebook and keep an eye on www.chowan.edu/homecoming.

Always

n a w o h C lue B s y a w l A

CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016 29

Alumni

D i st i n g u i shed

M

arvin Daugherty began his journey at Chowan College in 1968. The two years spent at Chowan provided a solid foundation that would carry him through his entire work career. He served on the Men’s Council while at Chowan. Dean Clayton Lewis provided inspiration by helping him navigate through the early college years. Daugherty says, “Attending Chowan was undoubtedly the best decision I made in my young life.”

After completing his graduate and masters degrees at ECU, Daugherty was a professor at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where he taught sociology and lifelong learning courses.

He decided to return to eastern Carolina in 1978 after the position ended. During the next four years, Marvin became a counselor for the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation in Jacksonville, NC. He also taught classes for the ECU continuing education program at Camp Lejeune.

In 1981, Marvin and wife Alice, and now two children, moved to Greenville where he became assistant director and then director of Eastern Carolina Emergency Medical Systems, Inc. In 1985, Marvin became the Director of Public

30 CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016

W. Marvin Daugherty Class of 1971

Information at Beaufort County Community College, where he continued to work until 1995.

Meanwhile, Marvin began working part-time at WITN television in eastern North Carolina in 1982 and continued his meteorological schooling at Mississippi State University where he completed work in broadcast meteorology in 1990.

In 1991, he earned the American Meteorological Society Seal of Approval. He was the 642nd person to earn that recognition since the program began in 1959. Marvin became a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) in 2008, a status fewer than 700 have achieved since its inception in 2005. Marvin retired as Chief Meteorologist in May although he still works on a part-time basis.

Marvin has served his community in several capacities during his career. He is a past president of the North Carolina Association of Public Information Officers, past chairperson of the Washington Summer Festival and past president of the Washington Kiwanis Club. He participated on several committees for the Washington United Methodist Church and Washington Chamber of Commerce.

D i st i n g u i shed

Alumni

Thomas Edwin Forbes Class of 1974

T

ommy Forbes was born in Norfolk, Virginia and moved to Murfreesboro with his family in 1960.

Tommy had the good fortune of moving beside Dean Frank Lowe who was instrumental in his college experience at Chowan. While at Chowan, he was the president of the Day Student Organization. With Dean Lowe’s guidance and support, Tommy graduated from Chowan College in 1974 and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1976 with a degree in what is now Journalism and Mass Communication.

In January 1979, following in his father’s footsteps, Tommy began his career as an agent with Nationwide Insurance, the same career he maintains today. During his tenure with Nationwide, he has attained many career and several district community awards. For many years, he served as advertising chairperson for Eastern North Carolina and co-chairperson for the state of North Carolina.

Community service and his love for Chowan have always been important core values to Tommy. He truly loves people and has many friends. He is a former member of the Murfreesboro Jaycees and had the opportunity to serve as a

regional director. In September 1979, Tommy was honored as the North Carolina State Jaycees.

Forbes has served Chowan University in many capacities, including currently on the Board of Visitors and past president of the Braves Club, and has always been interested in the sports programs at Chowan.

As a past WWDR radio personality in Murfreesboro known as “Tommy T-Trucking,” and his present day gift of gab, Tommy uses his energy and talents as being the public announcer at the Chowan University men’s basketball home games and the Southampton Academy home football games.

For twenty-five consecutive years, Tommy also served as the on air radio announcer for the Murfreesboro Rescue Squad during their annual fund raising drive.

Tommy is a current member and past master of the Murfreesboro American George Lodge, as well as, a Shriner in the Roanoke-Chowan Shrine Club. He is a member of Murfreesboro Baptist Church and the Murfreesboro Chamber of Commerce.

CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016 31

Alumni

D i st i n g u i shed

Janeen Marshall Class of 2003

D

r. Janeen Marshall, the recipient of the 2015 Young Alumni Award, was born and raised in Bronx, NY and later relocated with her parents to Northern Virginia where she graduated as the Student Body President from Park View High School in Sterling, VA. There, she was awarded the Leadership Scholarship to attend Chowan. She is a 2003 Magna Cum Laude Bachelor of Science graduate from Chowan University.

While attending Chowan, she served as a Chowan Leadership Scholar, Chowan Ambassador, Freshman Class president, founder of the United African American Sisters of Chowan, soprano soloist for the Chowan Ensemble and Encore, and co-leader of the Chowan Gospel Ensemble.

Recognized for her leadership, scholarship, and service, Marshall was awarded the 2000 Emerging Leader Award, the Vera Womble Christian Service Award, and the Robert Wood Johnson Science Award. She also earned the honor of serving as the 2003 commencement speaker for her class.

32 CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016

After graduation, Dr. Marshall went on to work for the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine as a research assistant and later completed her post baccalaureate at the Drexel College of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. She received her medical degree at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA and completed internal medicine residency at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in Manhattan, NY. Dr. Marshall is currently completing her clinical fellowship in Geriatric and Palliative Medicine at Mount Sinai. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Marshall provides medical care to older adults at the Martha Stewart Center for Living’s Coffey Geriatric Clinic at Mount Sinai, the Mount Sinai hospital and their affiliate nursing home. She also provides care to homebound individuals as a part of the Visiting Doctors program of Mount Sinai. In addition to providing medical care, she is actively involved in research on care delivery systems, and quality improvement in medical care.

community Service

Award Kay Mitchell Thomas

Senior Development Director Director of Alumni Relations

K

ay (Perkins) Mitchell Thomas was born in Sanford, NC. Her parents, Kimrey and Flora Kelly Perkins, were lifelong educators. Kay graduated from Pinecrest High School (Southern Pines, NC) in 1971 and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Professional Writing from Western Carolina University in 1974.

Following her college years, Kay was librarian and assistant to the minister at Red Bank Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN. In 1978, Kay moved to Asheville and served as Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent of Asheville City Schools.

In 1981, Kay moved to Murfreesboro and became Executive Director of the Murfreesboro Chamber of Commerce and the Murfreesboro Historical Association, Inc. She was instrumental in the creation of the Candlelight Christmas Tour in Historic Murfreesboro, established in 1986 with an attendance of 250 persons. During its 30 year history, the highest participation was 1400 with over 150 volunteers. The same year, Kay and four others planned a small half-day event known today as the N.C. Watermelon Festival, which draws 30,000 visitors to Murfreesboro each year.

In 1997, Kay was named as a Heritage Tourism Officer for the State of North Carolina, serving a nine-county region along the Virginia/NC border and spearheading event planning, tourism development, workshop presentations, programming and fundraising. She was recognized as a state leader in event planning and engaging and retaining volunteers.

In 2010, Kay joined the Office of Development at Chowan University, where she currently serves as Director of Alumni Relations and Senior Development Director. Her tenure has been marked by an increase in class reunions, alumni gatherings, and alumni engagement in campus events. As advisor of The Talon Club, Kay has the opportunity to work with current students and encourage them to begin donor support to the University prior to their graduation.

Kay was married to the late Stanley Mitchell, a Professor of Art at Chowan for seventeen years. She established the Stanley A. Mitchell and A.K. and Flora Perkins Education Scholarship in memory of Stan and in honor of her parents. She is currently married to Hal Thomas, Chowan Honorary Alumnus ’15 and member of the Murfreesboro Town Council. They have two daughters: Jennifer (CU ’12) and Christina Mitchell.

CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016 33

'70s at

Chowan University

Filled with fun fellowship, the Reunion for the Chowan Classes of 1970 to 1979 on April 9th began with a reception at the Early-Myers Development House, new home to the Office of Development.

The party moved to the Helms Center for a delicious buffet lunch accompanied by a slideshow and soundtrack full of the decade’s hits.

Following lunch Alumni Relations Director Kay Thomas hosted an “open mic” for sharing memories and stories, emceed by Tommy Forbes ‘74.

34 CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016

The festivities also included special recognition of Dr. Garth Faile, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, who retired this year after 45 years at Chowan. Dr. Faile was presented the Spirit of Chowan Award, only the eleventh person to receive this award in the university’s 168 year history.

The day ended with entertainment provided by Jackie Gore, “King of Beach Music” and founder of the Embers, who signed autographs and posed for pictures after the dance floor cleared.

CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016 35

Class Acts Alumna Chooses Service Above Self Most college students flock to warm climates for Spring Break. Yet, recent Chowan University graduate Gerlisa Shipman chose to join the Chowan Campus Ministry team bound for the windy city of Chicago to work with the ministries of Mission Year. She experienced the plight of the homeless through the opportunity to be homeless for a day. Shipman also prepared meals for the hungry and assisted in an after-school youth program.

The Spring Break trip helped Shipman confirm her next step after graduation. In 2013, she served on the Chowan team to Ethiopia and worked with the homeless children of Addis Abada.

Her mission experiences created a need in her to “do something” to help the poor and allowed her to feel God’s call to ministry.

Shortly after returning from the trip, Shipman was accepted to one of the Mission Year’s intensive and selective year-long internship programs.

Shipman and her roommates began the internship with a six week technology fast by giving up their cell phones and computers. The absence of technology allowed Shipman to focus her attention on God and her new community, where she works with third, fourth, and fifth graders in an after-school program.

Though the work is often challenging, she is grateful for this learning experience. Shipman is also earning credit towards a Master’s degree in Youth Development at Eastern University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania through an internship. She will continue coursework online once her internship is completed.

“I’m so glad that God has brought me to this new season of life,” Shipman stated. “It has been a season of growth, laughter, vulnerability, and intimate time with God. I’m ecstatic to see the changes that God will make in my life, and the level of compassion he is going to take me to for his people.”

Shipman graduated from Chowan in 2015 with a degree in Psychology. The Ellenwood, Georgia native was a four-year member of the women’s cross country team and was president of the Student Government Association her senior year.

36 CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016

1950s

Special thanks to Mildred Wheeler Morgan ’55, who donated several beautiful silver serving pieces to Chowan University. The pieces are currently on display in the EarlyMyers Development House where they are used for events and entertaining throughout the year.

1960s Clifford LeRoy Oakes ’65 of Wiggins, formerly of Rogers Lake and Long Beach, died peacefully, surrounded by his wife and children on June 9, 2015 in Hattiesburg, MS. Cliff was a member of First United Methodist Church in Wiggins, where he currently served on the Board of Trustees.Cliff was born on February 19, 1940 in Somerville, New Jersey to Clifford and Lillian Reading Oakes. He served four years in the U.S. Navy before attending Chowan, where he met his wife, Pat. He received his degree from North Carolina State University. He retired as an oceanographer from the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office (Navoceano) in 1995. Those who knew Cliff, know that he loved his family, cats, and the sea, in that order. He was also well-known for his beautiful woodworking skills.

1970s Lynn Gruber Powell ’76 was added to Chowan’s Gallery of Distinguished Alumni. Lynn was an elementary Education major and went on to graduate from West Virginia University in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism/public relations. She returned to Chowan in 1981 as

For Chowan Alumni & Friends

Assistant Director of Admissions. Now retired, Lynn does volunteer work with “Parent to Parent of PA” as a State advocate for special needs children. She has testified before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (Health and Human Services Committee). Lynn is married to Robert Powell; they have two children.

Alumna Discusses Holocaust Books with Current Students

1980s Robert Brown ’80 was added to Chowan’s Gallery of Distinguished Alumni. The native of Edenton, NC was Captain of the nationally ranked Chowan football defense in 1979, his final season at Chowan College. In 1980 he transferred to Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia to play for Coach Bill Dooley and went on to play in the 1982 Hula Bowl and Olympia Gold Bowl All Star Games for Virginia Tech. In 1996, he was inducted into Chowan’s Garrison Sports Hall of Fame and in 1998 he was inducted in the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame. Robert played for the Green Bay Packers from 1982 to 1992.

Nathaniel “Nate” McMillan ’84 was added to Chowan’s Gallery of Distinguished Alumni.

The Raleigh, NC native played basketball for former Coach Bob Burke. His No. 23 Jersey was retired by Chowan University in February, 2016. Nate graduated from NC State University in February, 2016. He played for the Seattle SuperSonics from 1986-1998 and was twice NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1994-1995) and NBA Steals Leader (1994). His No. 10 Jersey was retired by Seattle SuperSonics. From 2005-2012 Nate served as Head Coach for the Portland Trail Blazers before becoming Assistant Coach for the Indiana Pacers in 2013. In May he was named as Head Coach of the Indiana Pacers.

Nate is married to Michelle McMillan ’84 and they have two children: Jamelle and Brittany.

Alumna from the Class of 1965, freelance and column writer Nancy Wright Beasley of Richmond, VA spoke with the Talon Club’s English and History majors at Chowan University about her heavily-researched books Izzy’s Fire: Finding Humanity in the Holocaust and The Little Lion: A Hero in the Holocaust. Her young adult historical novel, The Little Lion, was recently adapted into a play for the Swift Creek Mill Theatre near Richmond, VA. Nancy’s work with the Virginia Holocaust Museum for the Richmond Dispatch began her passionate voyage of research into the experiences of the Israel “Izzy” Ipson family and members of other Jewish families that endured the Nazi genocide of the Jewish ghettos of Lithuania during World War II. Her voyage would take her overseas to experience the emotion that firsthand encounters can create as you connect history to real people and places.

One of Nancy’s key points to the students was to never say no to the opportunities that life presents to you because you never know where the journey may lead...like helping families to preserve the dim light of their loved ones’ struggles and triumphs during one of the world’s darkest moments.

CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016 37

Class Acts Stephenson Receives NC’s Crittenden Award The Upward Bound program at Chowan University has created a legacy of doctors, lawyers, teachers, artists and more through encouraging atrisk youth to attend college.

For more than 40 years, E. Frank Stephenson, Jr. has been its director, making his own history as he goes, literally, as the author of more than 25 books on local history and legends. Now, Frank Stephenson is being recognized for all his tireless effort.

Frank Stephenson was the recent recipient of the 2015 Christopher Crittenden Memorial Award, presented annually since 1970 to a person or organization for “adjudged performance in the advancement of North Carolina history.” The presentation took place at the meeting of the award sponsor, the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association, on the evening of Friday, November 13th at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Raleigh.

Stephenson’s boundless commitment to preserving the history of the rural South is remarkable. He played an important role in restoring Murfreesboro’s Historic District residences and buildings that date back to the 1700s. In addition, he has authored twenty-seven books on local and regional history and culture.

Indeed, he has preserved just the sort of stories that historians have often ignored because the lives they describe seem so insignificant. Consequently, his documentation of northeastern North Carolina history and culture in the twentieth century will be invaluable for future historians.

A genuinely caring and inspiring individual, Frank Stephenson offers a highly desirable, but all too rare, combination of attributes that make him a gifted colleague, a dedicated scholar, and a generous citizen.

For this and more, Chowan University would like to join the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association in congratulating Frank Stephenson upon receiving the 2015 Christopher Crittenden Memorial Award.

38 CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016

2000s David Jacobs ’03 was added to Chowan’s Gallery of Distinguished Alumni. A native of Brevard County, Florida, David graduated with a degree in Psychology/ Criminal Justice before pursuing a master’s degree in business administration from Warner University. He was formerly employed with the Murfreesboro (NC) Police Department and currently serves as Public Relations Officer and Media Relations Officer for the Brevard County Sheriff’s Department. David is also co-owner of Guardian Elite, a training and consulting business. David is married to Marisa Gnali Jacobs ’05 and they have a two year-old son.

Glenn “Mike” Lastra ’04 of Spring Hill, FL completed master’s degree in education leadership at Saint Leo University in June 2015. After teaching high school Biology for 13 years, he is now Assistant Principal at Eastside Elementary School in Brooksville, FL. Mike and his wife, Laura “Beth” Lastra ’04 have two children, Cooper (4) and Harper (1).

Gerard Parsons ’05 and Terri Sambroski Parsons ’05 celebrated the birth of their son Tristan Paul on August 2, 2015. They live in Parkville, MD. Kyle Carlson ’06 and his wife finalized the adoption of their two children in June 2015. He writes, “What a joy they have been. Life is full of challenges and a journey through adoption is not always easy.” They currently reside in Zebulon, NC. Chtaura Jackson ’06 was added to Chowan’s Gallery of Distinguished Alumni and resides in Richmond, VA. Chtaura earned a degree in biology from Chowan before graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2010 with a Master of Science, Environmental Studies degree.

She was a Fairview Middle School science teacher from 2007-2011, then served in the US Peace Corps as an Education and Community Resource Specialist in the NW Province of South Africa from 2011-2013. She also served as District HIV/AIDS Technical Advisor at United States Peace

For Chowan Alumni & Friends Corps Response in 2014-15 before assuming her current duties as Guinea Worm Eradication Technical Advisor at The Carter Center, Program Development in Richmond. Chtaura also does extensive volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity and Big Sweep Cleanup.

Marianne Weir Lowe ’07 was added to Chowan’s Gallery of Distinguished Alumni. The Chesapeake, Virginia native played four years of softball at Chowan and is now a sixth grade math teacher at First Flight Middle School in Kill Devil Hills, NC. where she was named Teacher of the Year for 20142015. Marianne is a Member of the Dare County Autism Problem Solving Team and is married to Christian Lowe. The Lowes have three children: Isaiah, Ella, and Charlotte.

Allie Pearson Evans ’09 was added to Chowan’s Gallery of Distinguished Alumni. After graduating with a degree in Social Studies Education Allie pursued a master’s degree in education administration from NC State University. She is a member of the Northeast Leadership Academy (NELA), Hertford County High School Faculty, where she taught US History, Civics and Economics, Street Law, African American History, and Freshman Seminar. Allie currently serves as Assistant Principal at Roanoke Rapids High School in Roanoke Rapids, NC. She is married to Tim Evans and they live in Murfreesboro.

2010s Arlethia “Lisa” Joyner ’11 was the featured speaker at Northampton County’s Memorial Day ceremony. A native of Gaston, she served in the U.S. Army Reserves for seven years, and is a magna cum laude graduate of Chowan University. She serves on the Executive Board of the Women’s Baptist Home and Foreign Missionary Convention in Raleigh. Lisa has served as a Guardian ad Litem volunteer for 17 years, championing the causes of abused and neglected children throughout the Roanoke Valley, and for14 years has also served as a board member of the Selective Service System. Joyner reminded the audience there is always war and conflict somewhere. She said over 570,000 members of the military have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation from the Revolutionary War to the present.

She concluded her brief remarks with a thank you to the audience

“for taking a portion of your day to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for us. But also, honor those who lived.”

The Reverend Anthony Rawlings, Sr. ’11 was added to Chowan’s Gallery of Distinguished Alumni. The former religion major is currently Lead Pastor of Second Baptist Creeksville Church in Murfreesboro, The Celebration Church in Rich Square, NC, and The Celebration Church in Franklin, Virginia. He serves on the Board of Trustees for Chowan University and if the founder of The King’s Kitchen, a soup kitchen that served over 5,000 meals in 2015. Anthony is married to Eureka Rawlings, Executive Pastor of all ministries, and the two have six children: Anthony, Jr., Amber, Andrew, Ashley, Alicia, and Aaron.

Jena’y Sparkle Nelson ’12, has completed the Culinary Institute of Virginia, College of Culinary Arts from ECPI University.

The commencement exercises were held on May 13th. Jena’y is currently an Accounting Clerk at the GEO Group in Winton. She is also a member of the Chowan University Alumni Council and resides in Murfreesboro.

Marie Smith ’12 was named Northeast Region’s Teacher of the Year at Conway Middle School. Marie earned a Master of Education degree at Chowan as part of the program’s inaugural cohort and has more than 20 years of innovative education experience. Sonya Rinehart, educational facilitator for the northeast’s regional Department of Public Instruction, described Marie as a lifelong learner and seasoned teacher who is skilled at developing partnerships with community resources. Project-based learning and acollaborative nature with her students helps Marie keep science education fun for the young classroom.

Jordan Harrell ’13 was added to Chowan’s Gallery of Distinguished Alumni. Jordan was a music industry major and earned a spot on Chowan’s President’s and Dean’s lists. He was also a member of Alpha Lambda Delta. In the spring of 2013 an internship with Sputnik Sound took him to Nashville, TN. He wound up staying in Nashville, working for Gray Matters from 2013-2014 and serving as Assistant Engineer under Matt Odmark during the Jars of Clay sessions.

Jordan is currently an assistant engineer at 1092 Studios LLC.

CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016 39

Class Acts Alumnus Displays Enduring Love for Chowan “A scholarship is an investment in the future,” began Chowan President Chris White as he addressed the packed gathering of donors and students in attendance at the annual Chowan University Scholarship Luncheon. “The belief that what little we might do now, might, in turn, help to make the future a better place.”

White went on to list the many reasons some in the room chose to give – the desire to help others, the desire to pay forward a helping hand from their past, the desire to remember family and friends, or the desire to help a cause. White was reminded of the inspirational feeling he receives when he sees a donor symbolically adopt their student and take them in as their own.

“But the scholarships that students receive are not magic!

They didn’t come out of the sky somewhere,” White implored.

“No, they all relate to real people, to real circumstances, and to a very real need.”

With that in mind, Chowan University would like to make a special recognition of the supportive efforts of Paul and Lila Murdock of Waynesville, NC. Paul, a Chowan alumnus of one semester in 1963, still considers Chowan “his school”. In fact, he wistfully states that leaving Chowan was, “the biggest mistake” of his life. Chowan love still running strong, the Murdocks heard about the Chowan Christian Service Association (CCSA) and its efforts to help students in ministerial training. They chose to endow a scholarship through the CCSA to support future generations of faith leaders.

“As the student body continues to grow, the need for scholarships continues to grow. So from the university as a whole I would like to say thank you,” White concluded as he handed the Murdocks a beautiful blue glass trophy as a token of appreciation, “And on behalf of the students, I wish to thank you too.”

To learn more about the Chowan Christian Service Association or other scholarship opportunities at Chowan University, contact Vice President for Development John M. Tayloe at tayloj1@ chowan.edu or (252) 398-1232.

40 CU Today | Spring/Summer 2016

Shafiq Kuttab ’13 was added to Chowan’s Gallery of Distinguished Alumni. A Palestinian from Jersalem, Shafiq majored in business with concentrations in accounting and information systems.He graduated Summa Cum Laude as a Leadership Scholar and active member of Alpha Chi, presenting at at Alpha Chi National Convention.

While a student, he was also a member of Sigma Beta Delta and Who’s Who. In 2016 Shafiq completed training as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He is currently an Associate at Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) in Jerusalem working in the assurance and auditing field.

Faculty & Staff Dr. Garth D. Faile, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, is the recipient of the 2015-2016 Excellence in Teaching Award. The recipient of the award is selected by his or her faculty colleagues. “Completing 45 years of teaching in collegiate faculty is phenomenal, and Garth has done about everything he could do in so far as chairing departments and leading committees,” exclaimed Chowan President Chris White. “He outstrips any professor I’ve ever known – in the quality of his teaching and in the way alumni talk about him with respect and fond remembrance.” Dr. Faile retired in May after forty-five years of service to Chowan.

Dr. Brenda Tinkham, Associate Provost for External Relations and Professor of Education, for receiving the 2016 Faculty Excellence in Community Service Award on March 15, 2016.

Project Paranormal is the debut novel by L.A. Patrick, better known as Dr. Amy R. Wethington, an Associate Professor of Biology. Her book Project Paranormal is the first in her Folding Space series about a multi-generational family in a futuristic world with an out-of- control government that is quick to exploit the genetic talents of its citizens. Wethington’s expertise in genetics, behavioral studies and other scientific disciplines no doubt bring a heightened level of realism to her work.

Legacy Society

Choose Chowan

Choose to give. Choose to provide. Choose faith in the future.

Choose to Leave a Legacy.

At Chowan we prepare students of promise for tomorrow, with faith that this is where their future begins.

Through planned giving, you can help ensure that each future is filled with abundant possibility.

For generations the tree-lined walk through Squirrel Park to McDowell Columns Hall has ushered Chowan students into a brighter future. Those trees stand as an enduring symbol of the strength of a Chowan University education. The graceful boughs which have offered protection to countless students represent endurance, growth, and achievement beyond expecation. Like the roots of a strong tree — hidden, yet sustaining — legacy giving is Chowan’s greatest hope for a long and fruitful future. The next generation of trees was recently planted to safeguard future Chowan students and ensure there will always be a generous covering as a legacy for tomorrow.

We are here to help you plant seedlings that will allow your legacy to flourish. Avenues like gift and estate planning enable you to cultivate a philanthropic vision defined by your unique passions and values.

Together, our future is full of abundant promise. With planned giving, your legacy begins today.

For more information about the many ways to leave a legacy at Chowan University consult John Tayloe, Vice President for Development.

252-398-1232 • tayloj1@chowan.edu • www.chowan.edu/legacysociety

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Office of Development

One University Place • Murfreesboro, NC 27855 www.chowan.edu/give

for more details visit chowan.edu/homecoming

Homecoming 2016

Celebrate good times October

6th - 8th

Home Football Games - Garrison Stadium 9/10/2016 9/17/2016 10/1/2016 10/8/2016 10/15/2016 11/5/2016

6:00 pm 6:00 pm 6:00 pm 3:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm

Chowan vs. Campbell University Chowan vs. University of West Florida Chowan vs. Johnson C. Smith University Chowan vs. Bowie State University Chowan vs. Virginia Union University Chowan vs. Lincoln University (PA)