Inside Erskine 2020

inside .

FALL 20

ERSKINE

MAKING IT GRADUATE FOLLOWS HIS DREAM TO NEW YORK CITY

ON THE COVER Brandon Bjerre ‘14

Photo by Harvey Jackson

Inside Erskine Fall 2020 Editor Joyce Guyette Designer Kayli Hibbard Assistant Editor Brianne Holmes Contributors Ben Auten Thomas Holland ’00 Scott McCall ’23 Heath Milford ’11 (Sem.) Andrew Preston Langley Shealy Photographers Joyce Guyette Ian Harris Shawn Knox Dr. Stephen Sniteman Inside Erskine is published by Erskine’s Marketing & Communications Office.

Keep up with Erskine news, stories, and events at news.erskine.edu Letters to the Editor We welcome your feedback, thoughts on our stories, or ideas for stories. Submissions may be edited for style, length, or clarity.

Contact us at communications@erskine.edu Erskine College does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or age in admission to, treatment in, access to, or employment in its programs or activities.

Table of > contents 2|

4 Alumni Day This year’s Virtual Alumni Day was a real success. One of several campus events moved online in response to COVID-19, this year’s celebration inspired enthusiasm in the Erskine community.

14 making it His desire to design athletic shoes began when he saw Space Jam as a child. Now Brandon Bjerre ’14 is living his dream in New York City. How did he get there?

Tenacious and teachable, he took good advice, played basketball, and persevered.

18 history lessons With his dry wit and distinctive drawl, McDonald-Boswell Professor of History Dr. Howard D. Grier has been engaging Erskine students since 1991. Recently retired, he speaks about growing up in Due West, running from his calling, and discovering the rewards of teaching.

24 going his way Former fighter pilot Dr. Stephen B. Sniteman came to Erskine in 1993 to teach sociology, then shared his talents in administration, graphic arts, and photography before retiring this year. He talks about the Air Force attitude, getting students’ attention, and getting out of God’s way.

10 athletics 32 seminary 34 class notes |3

ERSKINE COLLEGE CELEBRATES GRADUATING SENIORS ONLINE Erskine College honored the Class of 2020 in an online tribute May 2, 2020, the originally designated on-campus commencement date.

Two seniors who tied for the highest grade point average in the class were recognized in the celebration. They were Stokes Avinger Brownlee of Saint George, S.C., a Business Administration major with a minor in Healthcare Management, and Vincent Raymond Dodge of Satsuma, Fla., a History major with a minor in Philosophy.

Winners of student awards usually announced at the campus commencement ceremony were also honored in the online celebration.

The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award was given this year to Grayson Wilson Sullivan of Greenville, S.C., who majored in Psychology and minored in Family Studies. The Mary Mildred Sullivan Award was given to Mary Ramsey Conner of Greenville, S.C., who majored in Early Childhood Education and minored in Bible and Religion.

graduating class and his desire to honor them. “All of us at Erskine wish that we were celebrating your graduation in real time,” he said. “We felt it was important to mark this day with at least a virtual celebration of you and the gifts you brought to Erskine during your time here.”

Provost of the College Dr. Thomas Hellams ’83 also addressed students, alluding to Erskine’s mid-semester switch to online instruction and telling students, “I applaud what you have done during this challenging time.” He urged the graduates to “stop and reflect on what God has allowed you to do and to accomplish thus far in your life.”

U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan, Erskine’s originally scheduled commencement speaker—who has served South Carolina’s 3rd congressional district since 2011—offered encouragement to the graduates, who completed their college studies in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. “During the chaos, we can remember that our futures are ultimately in God’s hands, and remembering that makes all the difference,” he said.

Professors who submitted congratulatory videos for the celebration included McDonald-Boswell Professor of History Dr. David Grier ’77; Associate Professor of Chemistry and Physics Dr. Tiffany Hayden; Associate Professor of English Dr. Christine Schott; and Dr. and Mrs. James Rogers Young Professor of Chemistry Dr. Howard Thomas.

Student Government Association President and graduating senior

Donald Eugene “Trey” Watts of Lexington, S.C., spoke about his love for Erskine and the impact of the college community on his faith and growth. “I am so grateful I came to this place,” he said. “I never thought I would be coming to a college in the middle of nowhere … and have the time of my life.”

Individual slides were created for each member of the graduating class. In addition to students’ names, majors and minors, and photos, many of the slides included quotations from scripture or other sources submitted by the students.

The 2020 recipient of the H.M. Young Ring, the highest award given to a member of the senior class, was Elizabeth Hope Schneider of Greer, S.C., who completed majors in Biology and Chemistry and minored in Psychology.

As he opened the livestreamed celebration, Erskine President Dr. Robert Gustafson, standing under the towers of the Erskine Building, expressed his appreciation to the

4|

Dr. Robert Gustafson offers a congratulatory wave as he drives down Main Street.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan

Dr. Robert Gustafson

Dr. Thomas Hellams ’83

Dr. David Grier ’77

Caption Donald Eugene “Trey” Watts ’20

Dr. Christine Schott

Dr. Howard Thomas

Dr. Tiffany Hayden

ALUMNI, STUDENTS, FACULTY SHOWCASE SKILLS AND TALENTS

shared her knowledge and love of nature through As the COVID-19 pandemic imposed a tour of physical distance during the spring of the Pressly 2020, several members of the Erskine Garden at community shared their talents through Erskine a series of videos, originally published College, explaining the Christian through Erskine’s social media pages symbolism of several plants. and now available on the Erskine website.

Erskine students also participated.

Sophomore Music Education major Internationally known poet Glenis Sam Tam performed on the cello, Redmond ’85 presented four poetry playing a courante composed by Bach readings in observance of National and “Danse Rustique” by W. H. Poetry Month. Also in a literary vein, Squire. Junior Chloe Hamilton, a alumna Sara Beth Harker ’19 read the Biology (pre-med) major and Fleet children’s book If You Give a Moose a softball pitcher, shared two exercise Muffin, and Ann Gainey ’72 read an routines. excerpt from her recently published book The God Chair. Alumna Melonie To view Erskine Community Talent, Shue ’92 provided a mask-making visit www.erskine.edu/alumni/ tutorial. erskine-community-talent During Holy Week, Professor Emerita of Biology Dr. Janice Haldeman

PROFESSOR’S LATEST BOOK EXAMINES MERCERSBURG MOVEMENT Younts Professor of Bible and Religion Dr. William B. Evans is the author of A Companion to the Mercersburg Theology: Evangelical Catholicism in the Mid-Nineteenth Century (Cascade Books, 2019). In the book, he discusses the development of the theological movement which began at the small German Reformed Seminary in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, and explores its themes, which include the centrality of the incarnation and the significance of the church.

“I first encountered the writings of John W. Nevin and Phillip Schaff [the Mercersburg theologians] while I was in seminary,” Evans says in his blog The Ecclesial Calvinist. “I was intrigued initially because of the Mercersburg emphasis on religious objectivity as expressed in liturgy and the sacraments.”

Evans believes “there are a number of areas where the influence of Mercersburg should figure in present-day theological discussion.”

Also the author of Imputation and Impartation (2009) and What is the Incarnation? (2013), Evans has taught at Erskine since 1993.

6|

ATHLETIC TRAINING TAKES A STEP UP Athletic Training Program Director Dr. Ryan Kroskie says that when national accreditors decided to raise the required credential for athletic trainers to the master’s level, Erskine had a choice.

“We could go ahead with developing a master’s program in Athletic Training or just shut down the bachelor’s program and be done with it.”

An undergraduate major in Athletic Training had been in place at Erskine for many years. Kroskie and other members of the faculty and administration thought offering a master’s degree might be feasible.

Kroskie began working on designing a master’s program five years ago, and has received assistance from other staff members, including Assistant Athletic Trainer Kaylee Newman.

ACCELERATED MINISTRY PROGRAM WELCOMES INAUGURAL COHORT Erskine has launched the Accelerated Ministry Program, a joint effort of the College and Seminary, through which students can earn both a Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Religion and a Master of Divinity degree in a total of five years. The first cohort of this 3+2 B.A./ M.Div. program was formed in the Fall 2020 semester.

The program is designed to be both rigorous and relational. Students will complete a comprehensive set of courses and will enjoy peer support within the cohort group, along with mentoring from professors and hands-on ministry opportunities with churches.

Undergraduates in the program will be eligible for Advanced Standing classes, which allow students to earn credit hours toward both the B.A. and M.Div. simultaneously.

“We have completely restructured from the ground up,” Kroskie explains. “We have tried to emphasize wholistic patient care and clinical research.”

Kroskie is excited about the new Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program and the benefits he believes it will offer students.

“Athletic training is a growing field, particularly in South Carolina. It is a practical science degree. You can have a career as soon as you graduate.”

physician’s assistant but wants to go into health care,” Kroskie says.

He believes the MSAT is a good fit for Erskine, with its “mission as a faith-based institution” and the desire of many of its students to prepare for careers in which they serve and help others.

“Athletic trainers tend to see people at their lowest ebb,” he says. “We get a connection with our patients, form relationships, and have a deep impact on some of our patients.”

Erskine’s major in Health Science, launched two years ago and co-sponsored by the Biology and Athletic Training departments, has strengthened Erskine’s undergraduate offerings and may attract students who will go into athletic training.

“The Health Science major is for someone who doesn’t necessarily want to go on to become a physician or

“I’m tremendously excited about Erskine’s Accelerated Ministry Program,” says longtime college faculty member Dr. Bill Evans, who serves as Younts Professor of Bible and Religion.

“It significantly reduces the need for students to incur debt; it minimizes course redundancy between the College and Seminary programs; and it maintains the integrity of the liberal arts experience.

That’s a ‘win-win-win’ situation!”

opportunities, both during the semesters and in the summers. Through summer internships, students will gain practical experience under the guidance of church leaders, equipping them for future ministry.

One of the cohort’s inaugural members, junior Ryan Gladden, looks forward to the experience he will gain through the program.

“I will have less student debt and come out of the College and Seminary in only five years with a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. The program emphasizes not only the classes, but also developing bonds, relationships, and practical applications to everyday life,” he says.

Erskine will be partnering with churches to develop practical ministry

|7

ALUMNI DAY 2020 VIRTUAL ALUMNI DAY DEEMED AN ACTUAL SUCCESS No fairy wands or magic spells were involved, but Erskine’s Alumni Day, slated as an on-campus event for March 28, 2020, was transformed into an online celebration and was presented on the originally scheduled day.

The switch to an online platform, initiated in response to COVID-19 crowd restrictions, resulted in enthusiastic participation by alumni and friends.

In the Alumni Office, the decision to cancel plans for an in-person Alumni Day was a painful one. But as preparations began for hosting a Virtual Alumni Day, there was little time to mourn the originally planned campus celebration.

“We had to take months of planning and format everything for an online event in a little less than two weeks. We made sure to have something for each reunion that would have taken place on Alumni Day,” says Coordinator of Alumni Relations Hope Crenshaw, a member of the Class of 2019.

This year’s move to a Virtual Alumni Day required cooperation across the Erskine community. “We had a choice when we made the decision to cancel the on-campus event—scrap a year’s worth of planning and excitement or use technology and make alternative ways to celebrate the gift of Erskine,” says Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations Paul Bell, a member of the Class of 1984. Bell and his staff worked diligently and asked members of other departments for help.

“We did our best to take everything on the schedule and make it virtual.

The trivia contest, our Authors, Artists, and Artisans fair, and the Harry Stille exhibit were all converted to a virtual format,” Crenshaw says.

“We went through thousands of pictures from 1960 all the way through

8|

2019, and did our best to make sure everyone was represented in this virtual format.”

Participation in Virtual Alumni Day surpassed expectations, and response to the event was overwhelmingly positive.

Bell observed a poignant indicator of alumni sentiment during this year’s Virtual Alumni Day. “The video of the Choraleers singing the Alma Mater was posted at the end of the day, and it had over 900 views on Saturday evening alone,” he reports. Hundreds of people visited the website and viewed the Facebook posts during the day, and the Choraleers’ performance received hundreds of views into the following day and beyond. Bell has even received requests to continue having online reunions.

“Many reached out to me simply to thank us for doing something, for not letting the day go unacknowledged,” Crenshaw says.

Describing Erskine alumni as “very relational,” Bell knows the importance of face-to-face contact. “We never want the virtual events to replace in-person get-togethers, but they can be very effective ways to keep us connected with people between those events,” he says.

An on-campus visit opportunity for admitted students, also originally set for March 28, was offered online as well. Virtual Admitted Students Day drew two and a half times the number of students signed up for the original in-person visit.

“We embraced ‘Going the Social Distance,’” says Director of Admissions Kasey McNair, a 2017 graduate, referring to a phrase printed on T-shirts created for the virtual event, “to try to make students feel at home in Due West—from their homes.”

ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD Dr. James Wylie Gettys, Jr.

Erskine’s alumni awards are traditionally presented on Alumni Day during a meeting of the Alumni Association. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Alumni Day was held online, and the presentation of awards could not take place. Erskine is grateful for each of these alumni and friends and hopes to honor them formally at a later date.

The highest recognition given by the Alumni Association, the Distinguished Service Award, recognizes service to one’s church, community, profession, and alma mater over a lifetime. Dr. James Wylie Gettys, Jr. ’62, who taught history at Erskine College from 1966 to 2001, received this year’s award. Gettys served Erskine as Dean of Admissions from 1984 to 1988 and as Vice President and Academic Dean from 1989 to 1999.

The Erskine Service Award was given to Robert “Tripp” Boykin ’92.

Boykin served on the Erskine Alumni Association Board of Directors and has been a frequent speaker at Erskine’s Summer Orientation and Registration (SOAR) event for freshmen. He is currently the headmaster at Laurence Manning Academy in Sumter, S.C. There were two recipients of the Outstanding Young Alumni Award, which recognizes the achievements and service of alumni who have graduated within the last 15 years. One of these recipients is Dr. David Dangerfield ’05, who earned a Ph.D. in History from the University of South Carolina and now teaches at USC-Salkehatchie. He has also served on the Erskine Alumni Association Board of Directors. The other recipient is Elinor Griffin ’16, a Bible and Religion major who worked for Outreach North America and now serves with the Bridge Europe team in France.

Reba Stille, R.N., has been named an honorary alumna for her service to Erskine as campus nurse for nearly 40 years.

Erskine also thanks the outgoing alumni board members for their service and welcomes the incoming members.

Outgoing members are Brandon Wright ’10, Jane Shelton Dale ’73, Drew Calcutt ’85, and Shawn Marler ’07 (Sem. ’11).

ERSKINE SERVICE AWARD

Robert “Tripp” Boykin

OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD Dr. David Dangerfield

OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD Elinor Griffin

Incoming members are Sarah Dagenhart ’82, Jacob DeLuca ’15, Jennifer Gibson ’96, Maynard Pittendreigh ’76 (Sem. ’80), Richard Taylor ’69, Anna Thies ’13, and Justin Van Riper ’18.

HONORARY ALUMNA Reba Stille Caption

|9

Makerson named Conference Carolinas Women’s Basketball Freshman of the Year Erskine women’s basketball guard Osha Makerson was recognized as the 2019-20 Conference Carolinas Women’s Basketball Freshman of the Year.

the 2019-20 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award.

The award, founded in 1992, is given to collegiate volleyball teams that maintain at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade point average (GPA). In the 2019-20 season, Erskine’s women’s volleyball team held an impressive 3.68 GPA.

“I am very proud of the girls—they have earned Makerson is the fifth Erskine women’s basketball this award. I am just thankful the AVCA player to win the award, which is given to the acknowledges the academic work as well as most outstanding first-year women’s basketball performance,” Head Coach Kelly Burdeau said. player in the conference.

“In just the last year, I have seen these girls Makerson, a 5-6 guard from Forest City, N.C., raise the bar every day. They love to work hard is a graduate of East Rutherford High School. In and grow. I am excited for the future of this the 2019-20 season, she appeared in 25 games, program and the standard they have set.” starting in 22 of them, and averaged 12 points per game, second most on the Fleet. She also Fleet Women’s Tennis named Allaveraged a team-leading 3.8 assists per game in Academic Team with three ITA her first season with Erskine.

Director of Athletics Mark Peeler, interim head women’s basketball coach, said, “Osha made a huge impact in her inaugural season in Due West. She is an exciting lead guard who deservedly earned the honor as top freshman in Conference Carolinas.”

season in 69 years during fall 2020. Due to health concerns created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Erskine community must wait just a little bit longer to see the Flying Fleet take the field.

Despite the challenges, Head Coach Shap Boyd continues to lead the program forward.

“To say it has not been difficult would be a lie,” Boyd said. “It has pushed us to the max, and we have had to be creative while we learned and grew in response to all the challenges.”

Since the hiring of Coach Boyd in November of 2018, the energy surrounding football and its return have been evident not only on campus, but in the community surrounding Due West and beyond.

Scholar-Athletes

“There is a buzz in the area and anticipation of what is yet to come,” Boyd said. “The alumni that I have had the pleasure to meet cannot wait for the return of football. It will be an awesome adventure, and we hope everyone comes along.”

The Erskine Women’s Tennis team was named to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic Teams list for the 2019-20 season, joining six other Conference Carolinas schools to be honored.

When the Flying Fleet can finally take the field, they will do so in J.W. Babb Stadium at nearby Greenwood High School. All Erskine football games will be broadcast live on WZLA radio (92.9 FM) and streamed on erskinesports.com.

The award is given to teams that maintain a In addition to winning Women’s Basketball Freshman of the Year, Makerson was also named grade-point average of at least 3.2 (on a 4.0 scale). This is the 15th consecutive year Head to the All-Conference Carolinas Third Team.

Coach Calhoun Parr’s group has been named to the ITA All-Academic Team.

Acrobatics and Tumbling hosts

Visit erskinesports.com to learn more about Erskine football and to view game recaps, highlights, rosters, and schedule information. To join the Dode Phillips Club, visit www.erskine. edu/dode-phillips-club/

first meet in program history

Stokes Brownlee named finalist for Murphy osborne award

Fleet Acrobatics and Tumbling hosted the first meet of its inaugural season on Feb. 8 in Belk Arena, competing against Converse College in six different events: compulsory, acro, pyramid, toss, tumbling, and a team routine.

“Debuting a new sport is not something that happens often, and the excitement and anticipation from our community was indescribable,” Head Coach Kara Christian said.

“The breathtaking moment for all of us was when we looked into the stands and saw seats filled with family, friends, staff, faculty, and students supporting our team and our sport for this historic moment.”

Erskine Women’s Volleyball earns 2019-20 AVCA Team Academic Award Fleet Women’s Volleyball was one of seven Conference Carolinas programs to earn

10|

“They set the goal of earning a team GPA of 3.5 at the start of the season,” Parr said. “The players accomplished this goal. I always say that academics comes first but that a great athletic experience is a strong complement to academics.”

Players Grace Coleman, Faith Wright, and Eileen Rickert were named ITA ScholarAthletes for the 2019-20 season.

To earn the award, athletes must have at least a 3.5 GPA and be listed on the institutional eligibility form.

For Coleman and Wright, this is the first year they have been named ITA Scholar-Athletes; for Rickert, this is the third consecutive year.

Erskine football’s return to gridiron paused, not stopped Erskine was slated to begin its first football

Stokes Brownlee, a member of the Erskine Men’s Golf team, was honored as a finalist for the Murphy Osborne Award, the highest academic award given by Conference Carolinas.

The Murphy Osborne Award goes to an outstanding student-athlete who has demonstrated excellence both on and off the playing field. To be eligible for the award, a nominee must be a senior student-athlete with a minimum grade point average of 3.25.

Brownlee, from St. George, S.C., graduated in 2020—tying for the highest grade point average—with a major in Business Administration and a minor in Healthcare Management. During his tenure with Fleet Men’s Golf, the team won the 2018 and 2019 NCCAA Men’s Golf National Championships.

Fleety Awards announced virtually Erskine’s 2019-20 Fleety Awards were announced on April 22 in a virtual format, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mark Peeler, Erskine’s director of athletics, hosted the video presentation of the Fleety Awards.

The 2019-20 Team of the Year award went to the Men’s Soccer team while the Team Academic Award was claimed by Women’s Volleyball.

Two teams received the Team Moment of the Year award: Beach Volleyball for its win over St. John’s River College; and Acrobatics and Tumbling for hosting its first-ever event, a competition with Converse College. Fleet Baseball earned the Game of the Year award for its 7-6 opening day walk-off victory over Lander University. The Play of the Year went to Maddi Cole of the Women’s Soccer team for her winning goal against Brewton-Parker College in the NCCAA Regional Championship.

Alberto Dominguez of the Men’s Golf team was named Male Athlete of the Year, Anna Parramore of the Women’s Golf team was named

Female Athlete of the Year, and Lizzie Naval of Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field was named Freshman of the Year. Faith Flanagan of the Women’s Lacrosse team won Comeback Player of the Year.

Two members of the Men’s Basketball team were also honored: Grayson Reames received the Karen Bell Award, and Caleb Shackleford received the Sonny Rhem Award. Dario Pavon of the Men’s Soccer team won the Jake Todd Award.

Two Erskine staff members were honored with the Gid Alston Award: Deputy Director of Athletics Rebecca Magee and Women’s Volleyball Head Coach Kelly Burdeau.

|11

“Erskine College allowed me to discover my career interests, learn from great professors and mentors, and build lifelong friendships,” says 2020 graduate Sam Bennett. “Without the support system that Erskine has in place, I would not have been able to pursue my dream of attending a top graduate school.”

Sam and his twin brother Jake, also a 2020 graduate, majored in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting at Erskine. Both are now pursuing master’s degrees in accounting at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business.

The brothers have also begun working in business and accounting, Sam with Ernst & Young in Los Angeles, and Jake as an intern with a real estate private equity firm in Beverly Hills.

“Most importantly, Erskine’s business department does a phenomenal job in helping you see how business and Christianity blend together.”

-Jake Bennett

As Jake and Sam prepared to enter the workforce and graduate school, their Erskine education gave them an edge over the competition.

“Erskine sets us apart in that we come from a different background than most of our colleagues. My perspective is different from that of my peers…having a little bit more intellectual curiosity, stemming from a liberal arts degree,” Jake says.

“Most importantly, Erskine’s business department does a phenomenal job in helping you see how business and Christianity blend together.”

Erskine provided the brothers not only an education, but also an important connection for Sam. “I had sent my résumé to Ernst & Young in September 2019,” Sam recalls, “but didn’t really expect to hear back.” In December, he received a call from a recruiter.

“He told me he saw I went to Erskine and had to give me a shot because his sister had attended and graduated from Erskine,” Sam says. “He wanted to hear from someone with such a unique background!”

While at Erskine, Sam and Jake took advantage of many academic, athletic, and social opportunities. The brothers received academic honors, graduating magna cum laude; were named to Garnet Circle; and were inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa and Beta Delta honor societies.

Both played on the baseball team, Sam as pitcher and Jake as catcher, and both represented the team on the Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll and Academic AllConference list. They were also members of the Philomathean Literary Society, Jake serving as treasurer.

The brothers plan to advance their careers in the Los Angeles area, continuing in the field of business and financial services.

Support tomorrow’s bright minds by giving to Erskine today!

12|

erskine.edu/give

“Without the support system that Erskine has in place, I would not have been able to pursue my dream of attending a top graduate school.”

-Sam Bennett

Elizabeth Schneider

Matt Ponto

NEWEST ALUMNI EMBRACE NEXT STAGE OF LIFE This year, 109 graduates joined the ranks of Erskine alumni. Some plan to attend medical school, or earn graduate degrees in diverse fields, including public health, school counseling, theology, digital marketing, and law. Others are pursuing careers or internships in campus ministry, athletic training, education, accounting, and other fields. Here, four of our newest alumni share their thoughts on the future and reflect on the memories they will carry with them from Erskine.

“One thing I plan to take with me from Erskine into this next stage of life, and beyond, is the value of relationships and the memories of the ones made at Erskine,” says Elizabeth Schneider, recipient of the 2020 H.M. Young Ring. “The strongest relationships I have are with the friends I made at Erskine, and those friends help me see the value of continually being involved in a relationship with Christ.”

At Erskine, Elizabeth completed majors in Biology and Chemistry and a minor in Psychology. She served as president of the Student Christian Association and as vice president for Baptist Collegiate Ministry. She was also involved in a number of other organizations, including Tri-Beta, the American Chemistry Society, and the South Carolina Student Legislature. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Molecular and Systems Pharmacology at the University of Tennessee in Memphis.

“I grew so much while at Erskine—academically, socially, emotionally,” Elizabeth says. “The most important thing I learned was to always put God first.”

For another new alumna, Alexis Scott, the life skills she has learned at Erskine will take her far in her future. She says that the most important of these are “time management skills, independence, and my relationship with Christ.”

Alexis earned a Bachelor of Arts in Health Science. She plans to pursue a graduate degree and enter the field of occupational therapy.

She was a member of the women’s basketball team and hopes to coach youth basketball herself one day. She also served as president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and is a member of Philo Women.

Alexis Scott

Kimberly Jimenez-Arguedas

“My most memorable moment at Erskine was when I was recognized for achieving my 1,000 career points in basketball,” Alexis says. “I would like to thank my coaches for believing in me.

Shout-out to Josh Chiles for allowing me to serve as president of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee.”

Biology major Kimberly Jimenez-Arguedas says her memories are the most important thing she carries with her from Erskine. Kim was involved in a number of campus organizations—For the Kids, Chi Women, the Student Government Association, and Rotaract— and served as vice chair for the Intersociety Council. She was a member of the Tri-Beta Honor Society and the American Chemical Society, while completing minors in Mathematics, History, and Chemistry, in addition to her major.

“I think my happiest time at Erskine was the summer I spent doing research for the biology department,” Kim says. “I spent Monday to Friday 9 to 5 doing lab work, something I love so much.”

Most of all, Kim says, at Erskine she has learned to love well.

“During my time at Erskine, I met a lot of people with unique lives, both in hardships and joyous moments, but each story taught me to love and be kind to all friends and strangers, no matter how they might treat you,” she says, because they may be laboring under difficult burdens.

Kim wants to continue serving others and hopes eventually to pursue a degree in nursing.

As he leaves Erskine and enters the next stage of his life, new alumnus Matt Ponto says he is thankful for his brothers in the Euphemian Literary Society “who stuck with me through thick and thin.” In addition to his involvement with the Euphies, Matt was a member of the Student Government Association, the Erskine Entertainment Board, and the men’s soccer team.

Equipped with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Erskine, Matt plans to earn a Master of Accountancy at Shorter University, where he will also serve as a graduate assistant for the university’s soccer teams.

As Matt enters graduate school, he has some advice for his fellow graduates. “Never be afraid of change,” he says, “even if you are not ready for it. God forces us to make changes to our lives that we may not be prepared for, but we have to trust in His plan.”

|13

GRADUATE FOLLOWS HIS DREAM TO NEW YORK CITY Doodling shoe designs in the margins of his class notes sometimes got him into trouble with his teachers, but a fascination with athletic footwear eventually paid off for 2014 Erskine College graduate Brandon Bjerre, now a shoe designer in New York City.

It all goes back to a close-up shot in Space Jam, a live-action animated sports comedy film he saw when he was seven or eight years old.

“I watched a particular scene where Michael Jordan stepped onto the court and the camera zoomed in to his feet,” Bjerre recalls. “He was wearing the Air Jordan XI ‘Space Jam’ designed by Tinker Hatfield.”

Bjerre was inspired to begin creating his own shoe silhouettes and designs. “That’s how it began,” he says.

THE DUE WEST EXPERIENCE As he makes his mark in the big city, the young graduate hasn’t forgotten the tiny college town where he plied his talents as an art major and member of the men’s basketball team.

“I think about Due West quite often, actually,” he admits.

“It was my home for four years. Due West was a great town that was quiet, but it provided me with the ability to focus and home in on my purpose, which I saw then could be greater than myself.”

Bjerre sometimes found it challenging to balance academics with sports. And that’s where his art came in. He calls art “the glue to my career,” meaning his college career, which otherwise might have fallen apart.

“I think [art] was the biggest factor in

helping me stay focused and aligned with my creative expression,” he muses. “I have vivid memories of my art classmates who inspired me daily.”

Influenced by his professors as well as his classmates, Bjerre also served as an inspiration to others, according to Director of Athletics Mark Peeler, who was head men’s basketball coach at the time.

“Brandon Bjerre came to Erskine from Maryland and immediately lit this campus up,” Peeler says.

“His infectious smile and personality made him a joy to be around. Brandon grew immensely while at Erskine because he had an incredible positive attitude that affected his teammates and classmates.”

As a member of the men’s basketball team, Bjerre “worked tirelessly to improve and was an absolute joy to coach,” Peeler recalls.

S T A RT - U P S T RU GG LES Professor Emeritus of Sociology Dr. Steve Sniteman, who taught graphic arts in addition to sociology courses, also became acquainted with Bjerre.

“Brandon was like many college students,” Sniteman says. “He showed up to one of my classes with a great deal of talent, but he was more interested in basketball and was unaccustomed to the rigors of college life.”

Describing one encounter with Sniteman, Bjerre says, “I’ll never forget the day I tried to schmooze my way into a deadline extension. Long story short, this did not go well.”

The future design professional received a poor grade in the graphic arts class, but his failure to win over his professor was a pivotal experience.

“In a very professional manner, he called me to his office and explained the significance of what I thought at the time was a very minor error,” Bjerre recalls.

Sniteman’s insistence on excellence was a revelation for the aspiring artist.

Today, Bjerre is glad his professor held him to high standards. “I use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator in my job quite often,” he says. “I have to create technical packages to lay out the design details and specify all material and structural components and how [they] should be applied.”

Continued on page 16

14|

G IN

M

K A

IT

|15

As he looks back on the incident, Bjerre sees how cutting corners, as he wanted to do, would probably have taken him on “a path of destruction.”

He took his professor’s advice to heart, and he did not give up. “From that point forward I took that lesson with me,” he says.

F OC USI N G I N “I didn’t expect to see Brandon again, but he signed up for another class the following year. In effect, he had grown up,” Sniteman recalls. “He had always had talent to burn, but he [had not been] using his skills.”

This time around, “He was amazing,” Sniteman says. “Going from one year to the next and having been held accountable for sloppy work and just trying to get by, he had completely changed. Every class, he produced some of the best work I had ever seen.”

Sniteman saw the results of his student’s dedication, and the two had frequent discussions as the young man’s career path became clearer.

“One thing stood out. He always said he wanted to design sneakers. He began to design shoes that were something you would see from one of the commercial firms,” Sniteman says.

“For the remainder of his time at Erskine, he would come by and we would talk and go over techniques.”

When the time came for Bjerre to graduate, it was clear to Sniteman that the young athlete and artist “started as a kid, left as a man.”

PIVOT TO THE COURT Bjerre’s shoe design opportunities did not come immediately after commencement. In fact, he moved in another direction altogether, but he used some artistic skills to get there.

“As I was wrapping up my senior year and season at Erskine College, I had two things in mind,” Bjerre says. “The first was continuing my basketball career and the second was to pursue my design career immediately.”

He ended up coming down on the side of basketball. As he looked at the statistics from his time with the Fleet, “I felt I had more in the tank,” he says.

“I started playing around with iMovie on my Mac and made a highlight film of my best moments,” he recalls. “I sent that video out to roughly 50 European coaches whose emails I found online. Two of them responded and one eventually decided to give me a shot.”

Bjerre, who has dual Danish and American citizenship, was offered a spot for the 2015 season with the Aalborg Vikings in Aalborg, Denmark. He flew to Denmark and began training shortly after graduating from Erskine in 2014.

He spent two years playing European basketball.

16|

Reflecting on the decision to extend his athletic career, Bjerre says, “I accomplished my dream of playing professionally in Denmark’s top league. I proved to myself that I could do something I had almost lost hope in. That meant a lot to me.”

“ Following his experience with the Aalborg Vikings, Bjerre was ready to resume his pursuit of a design career. Near the end of his senior year at Erskine, he had emailed some 60 or 70 people, including well-known designers and others in design-related roles.

“I wanted to find out how to apply my artistic skill set to pursue a career,” he says. “Two of them answered me back and are mentors today.”

Success was not immediate. Before getting into design work, he took various jobs, including a stint at Subway, but he remained patient, developing his portfolio and tweaking it “to cater to the design field.”

Bjerre got his first design job with Kenneth Cole, on the West Side of Manhattan, in May 2017. Since then, he says, “I made the move to go and work as a footwear designer with Steve Madden.” His current job entails communication with an overseas development team as well as hands-on product development.

“Communication is key if you want to be effective,” he says. “I had not realized that skill and talent don’t really make up even a small portion of the job. Hard work, persistence, and clear communication get the job done— things I learned at Erskine, which carried me through some arduous tasks and challenges.”

QUIETN E SS, C O N F I D E N C E , STRE NGTH He may be living his dream, but Bjerre lives in a city so large it might easily become overwhelming. As he worked at establishing himself in New York, “There were times when I doubted myself,” he says. The strong foundation he developed at Erskine was helpful, but there was more.

“

BA CK TO DE SI G N

Hard work, persistence, and clear communication get the job d o n e­­­— t h i n g s I learned at Erskine.

“I grew up mainly under a Christian household, which began to shape my beliefs and allow me to discover power in purpose and discipline,” he says. “I believe I am fortunate to discover God’s grace and love at a young age. Somehow, as I began to acknowledge life’s hardships, I always knew for me personally I had a job to do.

“I realized that I am here not simply to cause trouble or enjoy life’s fruits, but to endure the positive and negative aspects of life, carrying out a message I believe to be vital and scarce in today’s environment.”

Bjerre says he realized soon after his move to New York City, “I needed to take my relationship with God to another level.

I needed to spend time in isolation hearing God’s message.”

He spends at least 20 minutes each day both praying and sitting in silence. “I do that every day and have not looked back since,” he says.

“I strongly encourage anyone to find spare time daily to strengthen their relationship with God in a place of isolation,” he says. For him, this practice “is the sole reason for my ability to live as happily as I can and…[to develop] the intuition that steers me…forward.”

Brandon Bjerre has followed his dream, but he is no mere dreamer, and he adds a caveat to his advice about moving forward, acknowledging the reality of life’s challenges. “Just to be clear, forward may at times feel like backward,” he says.

|17

longtime professor says farewell McDonald-Boswell Professor of History Dr. Howard D. Grier, known to colleagues and friends as David, joined the Erskine College faculty in 1991. He completed his teaching career with the end of the spring semester this year, having invested 29 years of his life at Erskine—33 years if he counts his years as an Erskine student. His parents (the late Dr. John Miller Grier and Marjorie Davis Grier) also taught at Erskine, his father for 24 years and his mother for 23 years. The retiring professor, now named professor emeritus, reflects on his life and work.

You have taught at Erskine since 1991, and your family connections with the school go back for a few generations. What are some of the emotional and spiritual ties that still bind you to this institution, to this particular place?

My family moved to Due West the summer after I finished first grade. I grew up here, and it was a great place to grow up. My friends were mostly other professors’ and administrators’ kids: Taylor and Randy Stukes, Ed Long, Betsy Coffey, Jim Lauderdale, Dusty Oates, Tom Kennedy, Paul Morris, Mary Anne Ellison, Marilyn Allison, Vandy and David Romein.

The list could go on.

Almost everyone who worked at Erskine in the 1960s and 1970s lived in town and went to the Due West ARP Church. The college and that particular church were very close and had the same leadership. Since both my parents taught here, I grew up hearing a lot about Erskine, and I knew I was related in some way to several past presidents. Even though I graduated over forty years ago, in 1977, I still consider many Erskine friends as close friends. When we get together, even if we have not seen each other in over a decade, I feel as if we pick right back up where we left off.

18|

You graduated from Erskine, then got your Ph.D. at the University of North CarolinaChapel Hill and came back here to teach. In what ways have you considered the teaching of history to be a calling?

I feel like I tried to avoid teaching, which I do see as my calling. I was a somewhat rebellious teenager, and if anybody had told me then that I would go to graduate school at UNC—like my father; meet my wife in Chapel Hill—like my father; and teach at Erskine—like my father, I would have thought they were crazy.

After college I worked in retail, worked in human resources, and spent two years in the army, but none of these was satisfying. After my first experience as a teaching assistant at UNC, I realized what I was supposed to do.

I was extremely fortunate to study under Gerhard Weinberg at UNC. Weinberg was one of the nation’s top scholars on Nazi Germany, and he was also a good teacher. He was extremely tough and demanding, but he trained his students well.

He insisted that history was not just another subject. Teaching history is important because it helps people understand the sometimesbewildering world in which they live. It also provides guidance on what we should and should not do. History teaches morality.

You and your wife (Dr. Sandra Chaney, who taught history at Erskine from 1994 to 2017) have traveled and taught in China. What sparked your interest in China?

When I arrived at Erskine [former Professor of History and Government] Dr. Nancy Erickson told me I should come up with a non-Western course. Although I had never taken a class in Chinese history, I had read a few books on the Cultural Revolution, and thought maybe Chinese history would be interesting. The more I learned about China, the more I was fascinated.

Then in 2004 we visited China for the first time.

Most people return with a T-shirt, but we brought back a fourteen-month-old girl. We did not get to see much of China when we adopted, but when Anna Mei was six years old, we took her back for about a two-week visit. That really whetted our appetite for more, and we were able to take two sabbaticals, in 2011-12 and 2015-16, to live in

China and teach at Sias International University in Henan Province.

Those were the two best years of my life, although the first was the most exciting. China’s interior is not as modern as the big coastal cities; it was like being in another world. Sias had about 24,000 students, so it was very different from teaching at Erskine. There were about 150 foreign teachers there, mostly Americans, so we were by no means alone. All the foreign teachers lived in one dorm, and it was like a mini-America. I had six sections of British history (first semester) and American history (second semester), each with about fifty students.

None of the students had heard a Southern accent before, so that was a shock to them!

The students were eager to get to know us and were particularly interested because we had a Chinese daughter, so we got a lot of attention.

Henan province is home to four of the six ancient capitals of China, so there was an amazing amount of history nearby. We also got to visit several of our students’ homes. We spent Chinese New Year in 2012 in a tiny farming village in the countryside at a home with no heat and only an outhouse. Almost every day in China was an adventure if you left the foreign teachers’ dorm.

What is the period of history you have most enjoyed studying and teaching?

Undoubtedly, I enjoyed studying Nazi Germany the most. I find the period fascinating. How could one person lead an entire nation astray?

How could the Germans have come so close to controlling the entire European continent? How could one man convince others to carry out a genocide unique in human history? Why would the German people remain loyal to him, and suffer a defeat almost unparalleled in history?

There are literally tens of thousands of books on Nazi Germany, but there are still so many unanswered questions.

Continued on page 20

HISTORY LESSONS |15

David and Sandy Grier

As to the class I enjoyed teaching the most, I can’t narrow it down to just one. I loved teaching Chinese History. Living and teaching in China for two years gave me a much deeper appreciation for, and understanding of, Chinese culture. For example, we have one word for cousin; the Chinese have eight, depending on whether they are paternal or maternal, and older or younger. This tells you something about the importance of family and of hierarchy in Chinese society. Although I am deeply disturbed by the direction the current government under Xi Jiping is moving in, I found the Chinese people unbelievably hospitable, friendly, and curious about the rest of the world. I was able to illustrate several aspects of Chinese history and culture in class with examples from people we knew, places we visited, and experiences we had.

Finally, although I only got to do it once, and we had to switch to an online class midway through, teaching the Holocaust as a semester course (rather than a Winter Term course) this spring was possibly the best teaching experience of my career. The class was almost exclusively juniors and seniors, and they really wanted to understand what had happened and why. What caused people to participate in the murder of millions of their fellow human beings? We had some good readings and students had to struggle with why the church— Catholic and Protestant—as an institution failed to take a stand and speak out against the Holocaust. We studied some of history’s greatest villains and most admirable heroes. Even though it was a grim subject, it was a great class with which to end my teaching career at Erskine.

I also really enjoyed teaching the general education class Contemporary Global Issues. Students tend to be more interested in learning this material than the information in History 101, because they can see its relevance. They know the Middle East is a mess, but they do not understand how it got that way—and most of them do want to know. There are so many good accessible readings on contemporary issues, and several students told me—to my horror—that a book from that course was the first book they had read cover to cover in their entire life.

Tell a little bit about your book, Hitler, Donitz, and the Baltic Sea: The Third Reich's Last Hope, 1944-1945 and what you are working on now.

20|

The book was a revision of my dissertation. Basically, I was wondering why Hitler left almost 500,000 troops isolated in western Latvia, and over 300,000 more soldiers in Norway, when the Russians were approaching Berlin. Although there were several possible reasons, most evidence pointed to Hitler’s belief that the navy’s new class of advanced submarines

could turn the tide of the war. Germany needed to control Baltic ports to build and test the new U-boats, and the new submarine offensive would be launched from Norwegian bases.

Currently I am working on the World War II career of Ferdinand Schörner. Schörner is not well known in this country because he never fought the Americans. He has the worst reputation of all German army generals and is usually portrayed as an unquestioning servant of Hitler who was responsible for senselessly executing hundreds—or even thousands—of German soldiers for cowardice in the war’s final months. I have been researching this book during the summer for the past twelve years, and I anticipate it will take three more years working full-time to finish the research and writing.

My first book was much more limited in time and geographic area—it dealt with the northern sector of the Russian front from January 1944 to May 1945. Schörner fought in every theater of the war except North Africa.

He led a regiment in the Polish campaign, commanded a Mountain Division in the invasions of France and Greece, and fought on every sector of the Russian Front from 1941-

1945—first in the far north above the Arctic Circle, then on the southern, northern, and central fronts in the East. He was the last army general Hitler promoted to field marshal.

Schörner spent ten years in Russian captivity, and after his release was convicted by a German court of manslaughter.

There is no book on him in English, and only two in German, neither of which is very thorough.

What are some of the most rewarding experiences you have had with students?

What I liked most about teaching at Erskine was getting to know students and seeing them develop. I always taught a lot of freshmen and the difference between their first essay exam from first semester and their final exam at the end of second semester was striking. Even though I know they will forget most of the content from the class, during their freshman year they learned how to express themselves effectively. With our majors we got to work with them for four years, and especially on their junior and senior seminar papers. Over the years we had some really impressive seminar papers. It is also rewarding to see our majors succeed in graduate and professional schools, and in their post-Erskine lives in general.

Grier works with students during Winter Term 2011 on “Alternate Tunings for Fingerstyle Guitar.”

|21

NEWS TRUSTEES MAKE MEETING VIRTUAL ALUMNI, FACULTY, STAFF, AND FRIENDS SUPPORT SECOND ANNUAL The Board of Trustees convened in a video conference format May 15, taking as its main topic Erskine’s response to the DAY OF GIVING COVID-19 pandemic. Opening the meeting with a devotional was the Rev. Clint Davis of Chester, S.C., an Erskine Theological Seminary graduate, pastor of Chester ARP Church, and vice chair of the Board of Trustees.

“The most important question facing us right now is: ‘Can I trust Jesus?’” Davis told the trustees, citing the 14th chapter of the Gospel of John. “The answer is a resounding ‘yes.’ All the signs in John’s gospel are meant to show us that He is indeed trustworthy and capable of fulfilling all His promises to us, even in the uncertain times of the pandemic.”

Erskine President Dr. Robert Gustafson recalled that on March 13 he announced that beginning the following week, classes would be offered online only. He commended the “extraordinary efforts” made by the faculty and staff to accomplish the transition.

The trustees heard reports from Vice President for Student Success Dr. Wendi Santee, Dean of Enrollment Dr. Tim Rees, and Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations Paul Bell.

The Chesnut Room and Annex in Belk Hall on the Erskine campus came alive with prayer, conversation, and laughter June 10 as Erskine College and Theological Seminary launched its second annual Day of Giving. Socially distanced staff members and volunteers made phone calls and sent text messages beginning at 10 a.m.

In addition to staff from the Advancement and Alumni, Marketing and Communications, and Information Technology teams, members of the Erskine community who assisted with the Day of Giving included First Lady Beth Gustafson; Head Men’s Basketball Coach Lee Sartor; Interim Chaplain Josh Chiles; and students Mikhayla Clothier, Kara Ridlehuber, and Sadie Bradley. A number of faculty members and alumni created videos for use during the Day of Giving.

More than $115,000 was raised during this year’s effort.

Provost of the Seminary Dr. Michael Milton noted that the seminary has offered theological education in several modes, including on-site classes and online courses, since well before the COVID-19 crisis.

Milton praised the president’s handling of the crisis. “I’m impressed with Dr. Gustafson’s calm, steady hand on the helm,” he said. “We serve with one of the finest educators in this country.”

Provost of the College Dr. Tom Hellams said that in light of Gustafson’s leadership during the pandemic, “I am even more convinced that Rob is the man for such a time as this.”

In a highlight of the meeting, the trustees took a virtual tour of “The Villages,” Erskine’s new student apartments, some of which are now completed and occupied by students.

Board of Trustees Chair Jill Gazzaway expressed gratitude for the good news shared with board members, and said, “Dr. Gustafson has led with strength, dedication, and integrity during this unprecedented crisis. He has been tireless in his efforts.”

22|

Josh Chiles Polly Jones

READY FOR LISTENING: ‘ERSKINE CONVERSATIONS’ A new podcast series, “Erskine Conversations,” is now being produced at Erskine College. The series launched March 23, and a number of episodes are available, with more in the works.

“This show features students, faculty, and staff from every area of this institution,” says host David Pendergrass.

Pendergrass, a 2012 graduate of Erskine College, now serves as Accelerated Ministry Program Counselor and Church Relations Coordinator at his alma mater.

“This podcast celebrates the things that make Erskine special: our people and our mission,” Pendergrass says. “We will chat about what’s going on in their world while giving you a glimpse into everyday conversations happening all over campus.”

Erskine Conversations will be available “on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts,” Pendergrass says.

MUSIC PROFESSORS ENGAGE STUDENTS ONLINE During the disrupted spring semester earlier this year, when Erskine College began presenting all courses online in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, faculty members began identifying creative ways to help their students learn and finish the semester well. For Erskine music professors, strategies have included a variety of innovative approaches, including a music service project, online music software, and new ways of evaluating performances.

At the beginning of the semester, Assistant Professor of Music Dr. Deborah Caldwell, who serves as Director of Instrumental Studies, had planned a concert at the Renaissance, a retirement community in Due West. With performance at the Renaissance no longer an option, Caldwell’s students recorded hymns and excerpts from their repertoire, and Caldwell compiled the music into a video to share with the residents of the Renaissance.

“I wanted to give students a chance to play their music for a bigger purpose than their grade,” Caldwell says. “I thought we could turn our ensemble assessment and culminating project into a service project.”

Assistant Professor of Music Sharalynn Hicks also found new ways of bringing out the best in her students. For example, she located music software that enabled students to continue learning, even if they did not have access to a piano at home.

“One of my students really enjoyed composing music,” Hicks says.

“The program allowed him to hear the notes that he enters on his computer’s keyboard. …This has been an opportunity to encourage creativity in the midst of unusual academic circumstances.”

Despite innovation and useful technology, the online format was sometimes difficult for music instruction.

“In a discipline where intricate fine-tuning takes place as a part of daily music making, distance can prove to be a challenge,” says Associate Professor of Music Dr. Keith Timms, who serves as Director of Choral Activities. “Instruction actually becomes a little humorous at times when the music and videos stall while a student is conducting.”

To meet the challenge of online learning in performance-based courses, Timms flipped the script in his choral classes. Instead of preparing for canceled concert dates, Timms and his students watched videos of their concerts from earlier in the 2019-20 academic year and critically evaluated their own work.

“I have found that my students are extremely analytical in their evaluation process,” Timms says. “They had opportunities to use their knowledge of music terminology, diction, vocal production, and musical expression more as listeners than as producers of music. Very few mistakes made it past their ears!”

Timms also used a computer program called “The Practice Room” to help his students with theory and sight singing. Students in his Church Music Methods and Materials course turned to YouTube and other online resources to complete their performance observations.

Several of his students told him that during the online instruction period in the spring, “they…recognized a great deal of personal musical growth.” Timms believes such growth extended to teachers as well.

“Many of us became the learners when it comes to the use of technology,” Timms says. “This time of online instruction was just one more opportunity for both professors and students to stretch ourselves and to learn something new.”

|23

GOINGHIS WAY Professor of Sociology Dr. Stephen B. Sniteman retired at the end of the Spring 2020 semester, having served as a faculty member and administrator during nearly 27 years at Erskine College. Since his retirement, he has been named professor emeritus and remains keenly interested in the school to which he has devoted so many years of his life. He lives in Due West with his wife Maria.

You first came to Erskine College in 1993, having served as a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. As a brand-new professor at a school with a long history, what were some of your first impressions of Erskine?

I remember thinking, “This is a place time forgot.”

People knew your name, everyone made an effort to get along, and the goal was to send educated students into the world to change the world. I realize that “it’s like family” is a trite phrase and overused, but that's precisely what it seemed like. People squabbled, but everyone was about making Erskine better. I knew this place was for me, and in 26 years, I never looked back.

As you found your feet here, what were some Erskine traditions that resonated especially well with you?

I enjoyed the little things such as the soiree, with freshmen picking a dinner partner out of a hat; the “candlelights” when young coeds got engaged; and the freshman women signing the book, writing their names into the history of Erskine. I also liked the good-natured pranks of the secret societies.

You have taught sociology classes for many years.

Which courses became most meaningful and rewarding?

Marriage and Family would be my favorite class, followed by Human Sexuality—but both of these courses were developed through a process.

For the first couple of years, I taught as I had been taught. I ordered a textbook, lectured, required papers,

and graded tests. That methodology works for many disciplines, but it didn't for these courses. Instead of providing information a young person needs in finding the right marriage partner and giving them tools to deal with making a marriage successful, the texts avoided the tough issues.

The longer I taught, the more frustrated I became, especially when it was clear that once the semester was over, much of the textbook information was quickly forgotten. I decided to eliminate the textbooks and address the real world of dating and marriage.

Pre-class questions were given online to be completed before class. After reading and commenting on them individually, class exercises were constructed to illustrate various points. That approach changed everything—for the students and for me. The class became more than just a regurgitation of data. Every day I looked forward to the challenge as the exercises became an adventure to enjoy. I still get emails from students who graduated years ago and have used many of the principles presented. What a job—and what a blessing!

When you served as an administrator at Erskine for a time, making an impact on admissions and on marketing and communications, what were some of the challenges you faced?

I joined the administration, expecting to be involved for one year as VP for Admissions, Financial Aid, Marketing, and Technology. However, with a change of presidents and a shift in direction, one year became longer. Enrollment had decreased to the point that we only had 101 incoming freshmen, contributions were down, we had insufficient marketing funds, no Web presence, and the administrative software needed changing. But with all the challenges, the college had a fantastic staff, a great Board of Trustees, and professors who were willing to go out of their way to recruit students.

Continued on page 26

24|

25

Having been given a significant increase in marketing funds and with some amazing folks working tirelessly, we began making viewbooks and billboards and creating a series of new marketing materials in-house. The Flying Fleet logo was given an extreme makeover, along with the Towers logo.

At a small school, it's not just about imparting knowledge, is it? Seeing students move into graduate school, careers, and raising families, did you discover that some had taken seriously what you had offered as a Christian teacher and mentor?

The remarkable IT staff also built from scratch servers and the entire administrative software while working in concert with some amazing folks in Admissions. Public Relations (now Marketing and Communications) came online with a website and created a host of award-winning publications.

A team? You bet. I often joke that while I was on the organizational chart as being in charge, I was just holding water for a group of talented and dedicated self-starting individuals who worked together to move Erskine forward.

By the time I came to Erskine, I had developed a strong belief that it was important to teach as a Christian educator, especially when Christianity was—and is—being excised from academia, society, and many families. There seemed to be only one way to get to the issues without being preachy and turning off half the students—constructing a relational class. And it was through that approach that I got to know students in a special way. One of the most rewarding aspects of teaching in this way is getting emails from students who graduated years ago, sharing their lives with me.

In addition to teaching sociology, you began teaching graphic arts classes some years ago. How did that happen, and what were some of the benefits of expanding into another area?

The graphic arts came as a result of entering the administration and not having the budget to hire a marketing firm to produce admissions materials. At that time, Photoshop was in its infancy. Since I had experience with presentations in the military as an aide to a four-star general in charge of NORAD (now Space Command) and had worked with some incredibly talented individuals in the industrial sector, why not just learn how to use Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign and do the marketing ourselves? But trying to do the graphics and marketing in-house was not possible without the hard work of the PR staff and a supportive administration.

Anna McGraw ’19 and Dr. Stephen Sniteman

And what did you find most fulfilling as an administrator?

The positive attitude and caring dedication to excellence.

Coming to the college from the high-pressure world of fighter aviation, I didn't think I would ever see that level of commitment and professionalism again. But I did—in Due West! The staff, professors, and facilities personnel have never been here for the money. Still, they have always been committed to preparing students to go into the world to make a difference. Being a part of that kind of a team is a blessing that I won't forget.

26|

Later, a generous benefactor provided eight graphics-equipped PC computers, and I was given the opportunity to teach design, which started at the Bowie Arts Center. That led to the creation of a Mac graphics lab in the Erskine Building when it was renovated. As the lab was constructed, the psychology department assisted in the design, and the lab became a statistics resource that produces outstanding students who are experienced in research.

You have also shared your photography skills, which have become legendary here, with the college. About eight or nine years ago you teamed with former Erskine staff member Jason Peevy to do some photography for the Smithsonian. When did you become interested in photography? What's the connection with your graphic arts work?

I had always been interested in photography but didn't have the patience to pursue it. But once the digital revolution came, I was hooked, for I could see quickly the photos I had taken and the errors I had made.

At Erskine, due to the cost of hiring professionals and being involved in producing viewbooks and publications, we eventually began to do our own photography. At that time, Jason was the public relations director at Erskine, and through working together, we began to form a lifelong friendship. When he left Erskine to pursue other challenges, we remained close and collaborated on various projects. He eventually became the marketing and publication director for the Smithsonian, and it was through our association that I was given the opportunity to work with the Smithsonian as a photographer.

Many of the images made their way into various Smithsonian publications. However, the most significant to me came when I was assigned to photograph Jim Lovell of Apollo 13 during the Smithsonian's capital campaign. I will forever be grateful to have been given that assignment and to be able to hang around Commander Lovell for a day.

You have developed and exercised a variety of skills and talents while serving on the faculty. Before coming to Erskine, you made your living in a completely different way. In your teaching and mentoring, how has your own story played a role as you have reached out to students?

It is hard to imagine the effect of 26 years in the military.

When I entered the flying world, it was a “no excuse” environment that challenged me as a man and as an officer.

Beginning with the basic subsonic and supersonic trainers, I then went to the F-4, eventually finishing my career in the F-16. Every day was a life lived on the edge, surrounded by aviators who wanted to be the best. Being around that kind of “don't tell me it can't be done” attitude spilled out of the cockpit—and eventually became a mindset. But interestingly, I found the same attitude here among the faculty, staff, and students—being the best on the athletic field, getting along with others even when they were disagreeable, producing good work in a class that might not be enjoyable, or simply showing up on time.

Personally, I think that talent is overrated; it’s doing that matters. I have been privileged to be around some of the most intelligent people imaginable (both in the Air Force and at Erskine). Still, it is a “can do” attitude that seems to me the most critical variable in being successful.

Describe how the COVID-19 crisis during the spring semester affected your final full-time semester at Erskine.

What was it like to see students, especially seniors, leave the campus without the usual farewells?

I was actually struggling with facing retirement. Having spent 26 years in the Air Force and 26 years at Erskine doing what I truly enjoyed, it was a challenge to think about leaving. One day I would waffle on retiring and the next I was ready—even though I believed that it was about time for a younger person to step in. The COVID-19 crisis was the push I needed. On a personal basis, I was spared that emotional struggle of going through the last few weeks of a semester. Still, it would have been nice to say goodbye to many of my colleagues and young students I have come to care about. Nevertheless, I leave Erskine counting my blessings. It has been a great ride and an exciting adventure.

How have your Christian faith and worldview matured during your time at Erskine?

I had always viewed myself as a Christian. For a good part of my life, it was more my way than His way. But the Lord has a way of getting the attention of hardheads like me. It just took getting out of His way. And when I finally stopped balking and begin walking in faith, the direction of my life changed. I had seen the world, I had seen what not to do, and I had seen what the Lord could do. I had experienced many cultures and value systems that had left Him out.

Combining all those things together led to an increase in faith and a commitment to serve. I believed that I was led to Erskine and still believe that. My time here has been a true blessing, along with being given a great family, a wonderful wife, three awesome kids, and four superstar grandkids.

|27

WHAT THEY MIGHT HAVE SAID: FACULTY AND STAFF REVISIT CANCELED CHAPEL TALKS As classes moved to an online format in March this year, in-person gatherings became impossible, and Erskine’s chapel services came to a halt. Three members of the Erskine community who were scheduled to speak in chapel—Lee Sartor, Dr. Deborah Caldwell, and David Pendergrass—tell a little about their lives and the messages they prepared but did not deliver.

Head Men’s Basketball Coach Lee Sartor came to Erskine in 2018, after 15 successful years of coaching at Spartanburg Day School. Sartor says he is “blessed with the opportunity to lead, teach, and develop” students, helping them reach their potential both “in the classroom and as player[s] on the basketball court so that they can be the best people possible when they graduate from Erskine College.”

As a coach and mentor, Sartor wants to inspire students to use the gifts and talents that God has given them. Speaking about the chapel address he had planned to give, Sartor referred to Jesus’ parable of the talents in Matthew 25. In the parable, a man entrusts his three servants with his money (talents). Two servants please the man by investing the talents wisely. Sartor draws a parallel between the talents in the parable and the gifts that God has given us in this life.

“What we are is God’s gift to us,” he says. “What we become or do with our gift is our gift to God.” At the end of the parable, Sartor points out, the man is angry with the third servant because he buried the talent entrusted to him, instead of investing it responsibly. In verse 30, the man says, “Take this worthless man [the servant] and throw him into outer darkness.”

“This is some of the strongest language used in the Bible,” Sartor says. “The [servant] didn’t lie. He didn’t steal. Neither did he kill someone. What did he do? He buried his talent.

He hid what God gave him.”

Just as the first two servants used their talents wisely, Sartor hopes Erskine’s students continue to strive for excellence, using the gifts God has given them.

“God is real, and He loves us,” Sartor says. “He created us to be the best person we can be.”

28|

Lee Sartor

Touching on a similar point in the chapel testimony she had planned to offer, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Instrumental Studies Dr. Deborah Caldwell says that “God has given each of us spiritual gifts as well as talents. He is pleased when we use those talents for His glory.”

Caldwell joined the Erskine College faculty in 2019. Like Coach Sartor, she wants to help her students develop their talents.

“My faith provides a higher calling within the classroom,” she says. “I want to train students to be excellent musicians and teachers, but I also want to train them and encourage them to walk closer with the Lord each and every day.”

Caldwell focused her chapel testimony on how the Lord has taught her to trust Him through a variety of life circumstances.

She describes her own journey through several difficult times, including periods of loneliness, interpersonal conflict, the death of a loved one, under-employment, and disappointed hopes.

One of these difficult times, Caldwell says, occurred while she was earning her doctoral degree. Her studies were intense, she did not have a strong Christian community, and she faced stiff competition in her field, which often left her feeling inadequate.

Upon graduation, she struggled to find employment and eventually accepted work as an adjunct instructor.

“It was also a season of coming to grips with the fact that I was not anywhere I thought I would be when I was growing up,” she says. Yet through those challenging times, she has learned to “rehearse the truth of God’s goodness and provision.”

Quoting from Isaiah 30, Caldwell emphasizes the nearness of God in times of trouble: “[T]hough the Lord give[s] you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.’”

Caldwell views challenging circumstances as an opportunity to either “reject His [God’s] truth and pay the consequences,” or to trust in the faithfulness of God. “We cannot choose our circumstances—or we can only rarely,” she says, “but we can choose how to respond to those circumstances. That choice is an important opportunity to trust the Lord, seek His face, and lean on Him.” Speaking about his planned chapel talk, Erskine alumnus and staff member David Pendergrass also describes the faithful-

David Pendergrass

Pendergrass says that many students believe, as he once did, that they need to come up with a perfect plan for the rest of their lives. In fact, since joining the Erskine staff in 2019 as Accelerated Ministry Program Counselor and Church Relations Coordinator, he has often encountered students who think that way.

“So many students feel like they must have a plan in life, that if that plan shakes up, or gets altered, or derailed, that they have failed,” Pendergrass says.

“Additionally, many believe that if their post-graduation plans don’t line up perfectly with what they envisioned then it’s been a wasted time in college. Neither is true.”

For those times when life seems like a dead end, Pendergrass has three pieces of advice: work hard for God’s glory, remember your brokenness and redemption, and love others.

Dr. Deborah Caldwell

ness of God in the midst of uncertainty and difficulty. Like Caldwell, he encountered a number of disappointments in the years following his graduation in 2012. He found himself in a series of jobs seemingly unrelated to his degree in Bible and Religion or to his dream of teaching in higher education. As it turned out, this time in his life was its own form of education.

Pendergrass says it is also important for Christians to seek out mentors and friends who will help us remember the truth of God’s word in difficult times, finding freedom from our brokenness and relief from our burdens in the cross of Christ.

“The Lord is faithful,” Pendergrass says. “He is faithful in plenty, but He is faithful in want. He is God. He will forever be God. Even when things are darkest, He does not leave us, nor forsake us. Plans may change, but He never does. He is without change, and there is no shadow in Him.”

“What I learned…was that God has a knack for humbling you,” Pendergrass says. “Trust that God will always, and forever, be God; that God does not abandon His own, even in your darkest times.”

|29

FACULTY SPOTLIGHTS CHEMISTRY PROFESSOR TELLS STUDENTS SHE WAS ONCE A ‘WANDERING SHEEP’ Associate Professor of Chemistry and Physics Dr. Tiffany Hayden spoke about her faith during an Erskine chapel service in February, shortly before in-person campus gatherings were curtailed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. She challenged students to find their way back to God when they are lost or wavering.

During her time in college, Hayden placed more emphasis on the college lifestyle than on God, and she failed to connect with a church family along the way. “I quit walking with God because I couldn’t find a ‘people,’” she said.

CRISIS SERVES AS SPRINGBOARD FOR STUDENTS’ CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS As COVID-19 altered the second half of the spring semester, Assistant Professor of History Dr. John Harris challenged his students to begin a critical evaluation of the historical moment in which they are living.

Even before the virus had made a serious impact on the United States, and well before Erskine classes moved to an online format, Harris’s students were already considering possible implications of the pandemic.

“My Contemporary Global Issues classes [had] been tracking the virus since its appearance in China during the first few weeks of class,” Harris says. “We discussed many of the issues that have now arisen many weeks before we went online.”

30|

Her faith continued to diminish when she moved away from Texas after completing her undergraduate degree. She described herself as a “wandering sheep” who had lost her way and needed God to find her.

When she returned to Texas to earn her Ph.D. at Baylor University, she found new friends and a church that showed love to her. “It was there that my faith started its resurrection,” Hayden said.

She advised students who may be struggling to find direction in their faith, “Find the church family that accepts you, sins and all.”

Now married and the mother of a young son, Hayden continues walking in her faith. She especially prizes the support she is able to give and receive through a women’s group at her church.

As classes moved to an online format, Harris created a unique assignment for his Contemporary Global Issues students: a “COVID-19 journal.” In these journals, students wrote two entries per week over the course of four and a half weeks.

Entries included analyses of data from the Johns Hopkins website, summaries of news articles, and personal reflections.

“The point was to help them develop skills—quantitative analysis and qualitative analysis, for example—but I also wanted them to have a contemporary record of this important moment and how they experienced it,” Harris says. “It is something, I told them, that their kids would ask them about one day.”

Students appreciated the COVID journal assignment, Harris says, and some told him they planned to continue their journals after the semester ended. He hopes to include copies of the journals in Erskine’s library archives so that “Erskine will have a record of how its students experienced COVID-19.”

OUTSTANDING COLLEGE FACULTY MEMBERS TAKE A VIRTUAL BOW Two young members of the Erskine College faculty—Assistant Professor of History Dr. John Harris and Assistant Professor of Mathematics Dr. Catherine White—were recently recognized for their teaching skill and dedication.

Harris, who joined the Erskine College faculty in 2017, received the Younts Excellence in Teaching Award, an honor traditionally announced at the campus commencement ceremony.

A native of Northern Ireland, Harris completed his doctoral work at Johns Hopkins University. He is the author of The Last Slave Ships: New York and the End of the Middle Passage, forthcoming this year from Yale University Press.

The winner of the Younts Excellence in Teaching Award is chosen by the faculty from among nominees selected

by the students. Provost of the College Dr. Tom Hellams called Harris “an admired and respected colleague” and also congratulated the three finalists—Assistant Professor of History Dr. Alessandra Brivio, Professor of Biology Dr. Al Mina, and Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Briana Van Scoy.

White, who has taught at Erskine College since 2012, was one of 20 professors in South Carolina to receive this year’s South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) Excellence in Teaching Award. The winners are customarily invited to a celebratory dinner, which was canceled this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

White teaches a variety of mathematics courses, including calculus, statistics, mathematical modeling, and linear and abstract algebra, and serves as coordinator for the Dual Degree Engineering and Actuarial Science Programs with Clemson University. She is active on a number of faculty committees.

Praising White’s “service, encouragement, and personal investment in educating students and working with colleagues,” Hellams called her “an excellent role model for other faculty members.”

PROFESSOR’S BOOK ON TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE SET FOR PUBLICATION Assistant Professor of History Dr. John Harris has written a book entitled The Last Slave Ships: New York and the End of the Middle Passage to be published

by Yale University Press in November 2020.

J O H N

H A R R I S

The book chronicles the rise and fall of the illegal slave trade following the abolition of the trade in the early 19th century. Harris explores the role of Lower Manhattan as a center for the illegal trade, as well as the response of the United States government.

To complete his research for the book, Harris accessed archives from countries across the world, including Cuba, England, Portugal, Spain, and the United States. Harris, who joined the Erskine faculty in 2017, enjoys sharing his research with his students.

NEW YORK AND THE END OF THE MIDDLE PASSAGE

“I like to bring documents that I’ve found in distant archives—many that relatively few people have ever seen—into the classroom so students can connect with the material as directly as possible,” he says.

Harris The Last Slave Ships.indd 5

3/12/20 3:49 PM

| 31

Drawn by love, graduate grows in faith and service Donna Rogers graduated from Erskine Theological Seminary in 2004 with a Master of Arts in Christian Counseling. “I went in thinking that I was training to be a counselor,” she says of her seminary experience, “but I soon realized that not only was this program equipping me with the tools to counsel others, it was God’s means of counseling me!”

The road that led Rogers to become a seminary student in her 50s was anything but straight, but her journey along that path as well as her experiences since seminary demonstrate the Lord’s care and provision.

She describes herself as “living like a pagan” for many years, having grown up in a family which attended church, but seldom spoke of the Lord.

“I was going through life as an unbeliever, doing whatever pleased me, not giving a second thought about God,” she says.

“Then, after struggling through failed marriages and a joyless life, God ‘apprehended’ me in 1990 at a charismatic church in Ballston Spa, New York.”

HELP HEAL. GIVE HOPE. SHARE GOD’S LOVE.

Rogers says she cried out to God in desperation, telling Him that she was the most selfish person she knew, she no longer wanted to live that way, and she knew she needed His forgiveness.

“Not yet knowing scripture well, I randomly opened up the Bible to 1 Peter 4, where the Lord spoke to me: ‘live…no longer for human passions but for the will of God.’” That night, she says, “I told the Lord, ‘I am yours.’ At the age of 40 I became a child of God.” Rogers became involved in a Presbyterian church where the pastor and others saw her excitement about the Lord’s work and her desire to help people who had struggled as she had.

They encouraged her to train as a Christian counselor.

“That was how I ended up at Erskine,” she explains. “The church believed in me so much that they even committed to help pay for my education! So, I packed up my things and moved down South.”

Rogers’s seminary days were marked by spiritual growth. “Through my study of Scripture, my professors’ teaching, and conversations with fellow students, God revealed Himself to me more and more so that I came to love Him more and more,” she says.

“As He continually pulled back the layers of my life and broke down my defenses, He made it clear, so clear, that I was a child of God, forgiven and loved with an everlasting love, secure in His sovereign care.”

The MASTER OF ARTS IN CHRISTIAN COUNSELING leads to the LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR credential that can equip you to help HEAL A BROKEN WORLD! CLASSES START AUGUST 2020 IN GREENVILLE AND DUE WEST, SC CONTACT ROBIN BROOME AT BROOME@ERSKINE.EDU

32|

After finishing seminary, Rogers spent eight years counseling women who were recovering from alcohol and drug addiction. Eventually, an opportunity came her way, one which was not, says Rogers, “part of any plan on my radar, but it was apparently God’s plan.”

She began volunteering with the local chapter of Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) and was soon offered a position on the staff. She saw the Lord’s hand in this development. CEF, known for its Good News Clubs, focuses on personal

evangelism, biblical discipleship, and involvement in local churches to bring the gospel to children.

“From my training in counseling to the organizational and management skills I acquired along the way, I saw that God had been preparing me for this moment and that I would be a good fit. So, I jumped on board.”

Rogers now serves as Area Ministry Coordinator for the Greenville-Piedmont Chapter of Child Evangelism Fellowship in the Upstate of South Carolina, overseeing 16 public school clubs and two community clubs, training volunteers, and organizing workshops for the organization.

Working with children as well as volunteers can be challenging, but God is using such challenges “to keep my pride in check, to humble me, and keep me patient,” Rogers believes.

One afternoon during her early days with CEF, a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) tried Rogers’s patience severely, disrupting the lesson and speaking out of turn.

Frustrated and ready to reprimand the girl, Rogers suddenly received a reminder from the Lord of why she was there—to proclaim Him and demonstrate His love.

“I got down on my knees, looked up into her face and said, ‘Did you know that Miss Donna loves you?’” Rogers recalls. The child replied in amazement, “You do?” From that day a noticeable change began in the little girl.

“God’s love and mercy always trump our human attempts to control things—a lesson I have been learning over and over in this ministry,” Rogers affirms.

“My own story is living proof that God loves and redeems wayward children,” she adds.

“He brought me out of my disobedient lifestyle, not with anger or negative words, but He drew me to Himself with His love. In everything I’ve been through I can see how He has prepared this child of God to train up a future generation.”

Salvation and solvation: seminary professor dons a lab coat This past academic year I taught chemistry at a local Christian high school. I resolved to present the mass of material in a God-glorifying and distinctively Christian way. But how? What affinity is there between Billy Graham and Graham’s Law? Isn’t chemistry only about things like thermodynamics, bonds and antibonds, lab safety, stoichiometry, atomic radius, and so on? (For the word “atom” in the Bible, see 1 Corinthians 15:52, “in an atom, in the blink of an eye.”)

What kind of God did Newton believe stands behind nature? In class we also talked about other early scientists, such as Kepler, who at the end of his astronomical work wrote these words: I give you thanks, Creator and God, that you have given me this joy in thy creation, and I rejoice in the works of your hands. See I have now completed the work to which I was called. In it I have used all the talents you have sent to my spirit.

Natural science is saturated with Christian philosophy. The early scientists knew that they could advance only by dissociating from the Greek worldview that had permeated scientific thought.

Unlike the Greeks, Christians have a high view of the material world: nature is “very good.” And How many H2O2 molecules are in 1.00 L of 3% unlike adherents of some eastern philosophy, hydrogen peroxide (assume a density of 1.00 g/ Christians view nature as real. (How could science mL)? Give the abbreviated ground state electron ever have begun if we thought that the world configuration of silicon with a set of quantum was just a dream, or a byproduct of the disparate numbers for the last electron. Write the formula for lead (II) arsenate. Predict if this reaction can occur: agendas of many competing gods?) Christians BaSO4 + Ca F CaSO4 + Ba. Graph Charles’ Law. Et expected creation to be orderly, the product of one wise Creator. And since we are constituted in His cetera, et cetera, et cetera. image, we believe that we can discover this order.

I was charged with teaching the exact same matter Scientists, then, think God’s thoughts after Him that the students would get at any secular public whether they know it or not. school. Of course, I opened each class with prayer.

But the challenge was to take the substance of the I asked the class, “Why do science? What is the field and turn it into a catalyst for worship. What attraction?” The answer is multivalent. We do science to draw closer to God and see His wisdom could make my class solidly different from any secularist’s? I wanted to transmute chemistry into on display. We peer into the mind of the Creator. a fully Christian discipline—taking every thought We get on His wavelength. We do science to fulfill the command to rule the earth and subdue it. And captive. we do science as a means to love our neighbors by First of all, at the beginning of the school year, I exploring how to improve the human condition. spent time laying a philosophical base for science. Chemists formulate many new materials and The first homework assignment was to read the substances that greatly benefit humanity. We do conclusion to Isaac Newton’s Principia (1687). chemistry in obedience to God’s commands. (And This book paved the way for mathematical physics because nature is wonderful and really cool! And and energized every branch of science. Newton also, because we are curious.) saw his work as an element of his Christian faith.

As the year progressed, we periodically paused to He self-consciously theorized within a biblical concentrate on the beauty in creation. I assigned view of creation. In the assignment, I made the C.S. Lewis’s essay “Men Without Chests,” which students write a paper reacting to two questions: encourages educators to infuse proper emotional What role did God play in Newton’s thinking?

Dr. George Schwab is Professor of Old Testament at Erskine Seminary. A minister in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and a certified Christian counselor, he formerly worked as an engineer.

responses toward things like waterfalls. I did this in reaction to the seven basic classes of molecular crystal lattices. If God created those—and He also gave us the capacity to appreciate them—then it follows that the beauty He put in the lattices is as real as any property that a chemist could measure.

Therefore, a worshipful reaction to God’s artistry is warranted. Reverence is part and parcel of doing chemistry, as significant as doing the math and balancing the equations.

(Definitions: Molality is the number of moles per kilogram of solution. Molarity is the number of moles per liter of solution. But I also taught my class a third term, Morality, which is why you don’t fake your lab results.)

I compounded all this by teaching them about the anthropic principle. The physical constants of the universe are calibrated to support life on earth. If the speed of light (c), or Planck’s constant (h), or many other parameters (ε, Ω, Λ, Q, etc.), deviated by an unbelievably small amount, no life would be possible. I think this principle strongly argues for a divine purposefulness to the cosmos. God made the laws of chemistry because He wanted us to exist. It follows that this same God also wants us to bond with Him, so He provided His only Son—in whom all particles hold together—to take our sin and give us new life. So, a contemplation of solvation naturally leads us to value our salvation in Jesus Christ.

That is how I taught chemistry as a Christian last year.

SPORTS MINISTRY

Master of Arts in Practical Ministry Do you see the playing field as a mission field?

The Master of Arts in Practical Ministry—Sports Ministry Concentration is the right degree for those with a passion to serve professional and amateur athletics. With a solid Biblical and theological foundation, combined with in-depth research of the spiritual issues that athletes face, this degree prepares you for work in sports—whether in ministry or the marketplace.

The Sports Ministry Concentration equips Christian leaders for placement

seminary.erskine.edu

• in ministries like the Fellowship of Christian Athletes • in nonprofits like the YMCA • in business and the physical fitness industry • in businesses like professional sports teams • in secondary and higher education

48 CREDIT HOURS

|33

C l a s s N ot e s CLASS OF 2020 Baylee Browning ’20 has accepted a position teaching English Language Arts and Social Studies at Armuchee Elementary School in Rome, Ga. Maggie Dare ’20 wed Grayson Sullivan ’20 on May 30, 2020. Maggie will serve as a preschool teacher at First Presbyterian Church in Greenville, S.C., beginning August 2020.

(Photo #4) Katie Epps ’20 has accepted a position as a Special Education teacher at Honea Path Elementary. (Photo #1) Brittany Nuce ’20 is working for the Burton Center in Greenwood, Ware Shoals, and Due West. “I love my job because it teaches me patience, selflessness, and unconditional love,” she says. “I am reminded every day that I am blessed by each of my Burton Center friends and I am so thankful to have the best job with the best people.” (Photo #2) Jamie Tijerina ’20 wed Kaleb Lodge on May 16, 2020. (Photo #3) CLASS OF 2019 Kate Deak ’19 wed Ian Harris on March 21, 2020. (Photo #5) Sarah Dodd ’19 wed Joseph Long ’19 on Oct. 5, 2019. (Photo #6) Matt Perry ’19 is attending Life University in Marietta, Ga., to earn a master’s degree in Sport Health Science. He is also coaching set-up for the university’s women’s soccer team. “I cannot wait to get straight to work with this great group of coaches and players,” he told the Powys County Times.

A son, Larry Craig Walker, was born to Austin Walker ’19 and Jayden Walker on June 1, 2020.

(Photo #7) CLASS OF 2018 Daria Watkins ’18 wed Rudy Kovasckitz on May 19, 2019. (Photo #9) CLASS OF 2017 Kristen Craft ’17 was named vice president of operations for Anderson Interfaith Ministries (A.I.M.) in Anderson, S.C., after first serving

as impact specialist. Kristen is also engaged in graduate studies in Applied Psychology at Liberty University. (Photo #11) Katie Snelling ’17 wed Zach Pruitt on Oct. 12, 2019. (Photo #12) Cameron Whitehurst ’17 wed Brittany Threadgill on Nov. 2, 2019. (Photo #13) Reid Windmiller ’17 wed Karlee Edwards on July 25, 2020. (Photo #14) CLASS OF 2016 Stephen Hardy ’16 wed Brittany Counts on March 21, 2020. (Photo #16) A daughter, Edith Gwynevere Morgan, was born to Maria Morgan ’16 and Jonathan Morgan ’16 on April 29, 2020. Edith is the granddaughter of Edith Boazman Bedenbaugh ’82. (Photo #15) Krysta Schaus ’16 works as assistant golf professional at the Toronto Golf Club, the third oldest golf club in North America. “The combination of my Sport Management degree from Erskine College and my MBA from Gardner-Webb has provided me with the proper skills to provide the membership with golf lessons and clinics, lead our golf operations team, direct golf tournaments, and manage pro shop activities. We see guests from all over the world, including many from the Carolinas,” she says. (Photo #8) CLASS OF 2015 Caitlin Bullock ’15 has been named men’s volleyball coach at Lees-McRae College. She previously served as head women’s volleyball coach at Lees-McRae. At Erskine, she was a three-time All-Conference Carolinas player, became Erskine’s all-time leader in kills, and was a 2014 AVCA All-American Honorable Mention.

Jessie “Jess” Gaughan ’15 wed David Richardson on Nov. 10, 2018. Jess accepted a position in Greenwood School District 50 as instructional technology coach. Previously, she taught fifth grade in Anderson District 2.

(Photo #17) Caitlin Lejeune ’15 reports, “After saving up for a bit, in March 2019 I moved aboard a sailing catamaran with a couple of dear friends,

34|

and we have been sailing up and down the east coast ever since. A few months later in July, I accepted a remote full-time sales job at Juni Learning, an award-winning startup that teaches kids coding and mathematics online. Now, life is a permanent adventure, and I’m excited to see where I’ll be in a few years.” (Photo #18) CLASS OF 2014 Joseph Lamar Brown ’14 wed Judith Campbell on Dec. 28, 2019. (Photo #19) C. J. Long ’14 currently works for GEICO in Dallas, Texas, as a liability claims manager with additional management responsibilities in the Theft and Fire Department. C. J. and his wife Haley have a daughter, Ruby Mae, who will turn two in October 2020. (Photo #20) CLASS OF 2013 Shelbee Cupp ’13 wed Justin Lowe on June 6, 2020. They are both teachers in the Berkeley County School District. (Photo #21) Sarah Aimee LaCourse ’13 currently serves as an administrator at Grace Church in Greenville.

(Photo #10) Logan Hammond ’13 has joined the Valley Area Medical Pavilion in Valley, Ala., as a physician.

CLASS OF 2012 Rebecca Brown ’12 wed Bradley Kinley on May 16, 2020. (Photo #22) Laura Caskey ’12 recently started a job as a public outreach strategist in charge of social media at the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. She previously served as the public affairs manager for the S.C. Department of Public Safety.

CLASS OF 2011 A daughter, Zoe Glover, was born to Shawn Glover ’11 and Shere Glover on June 28, 2020.

(Photo #24) Daisy Smith ’11 wed Joshua Meador ’08 on Oct. 5, 2019. (Photo #23) CLASS OF 2010 Caleb Barnes ’10 has accepted a position as athletic director at Toccoa Falls College.

Got news or photos to share?

Email alumni@erskine.edu

1

3 6

2 4

5

7

8

9

10

13

11 14

15 16

12

17

18

19 20

7

C l a s s N ot e s 22

21

24

20 23

26

27 30

28

29 27

31

26 35 36

34

36|

25

35

32

33

30

31

37

1

Got news or photos to share?

Email alumni@erskine.edu

Jessica Cooley ’10 wed Antwon Coleman on April 20, 2019. (Photo # 25) Kimberly Dehondt ’10 wed Matthew Zumstein in 2019. A daughter, Liliane Marie Zumstein, was born on May 21, 2020.

Kimberly also bought the home inspection company Pillar to Post in October 2019.

Audrey Timmerman ’10 has accepted a position as associate head coach for women’s basketball at Lenoir-Rhyne University. As an Erskine student, Audrey was in the top five for all-time scoring in Fleet basketball. She was also the Most Valuable Player of the 2008-09 season and was chosen to be First Team All-Conference her junior season and earned Second Team honors as a senior.

CLASS OF 2009 Renee Williamson Chow ’09 began working for Historic Columbia as director of marketing and communications in January 2020.

CLASS OF 2007 Drew Wallace ’07 was named associate athletic director for operations and external relations at Erskine College, starting in July 2020. He previously served as Erskine’s associate head men’s basketball coach. (Photo #26) CLASS OF 2006 A son, James Owen Milks, was born to William “Will” Milks ’06 and Nicole Milks on Sept. 1, 2019. Owen joins brother John Austin.

(Photo #27) A son, Paulo Ramazzini, was born to Erica Johanson Ramazzini ’06 and Christian Ramazzini on July 7, 2020. (Photo #29) CLASS OF 2005 Brandi Ashbrook Hart ’05 is employed by TRC in Greenville. She joined TRC after 14 years in the environmental, health, and safety field. She and her husband Chad have two children, Jesse (9) and Memphis (5). They live in Duncan, S.C. (Photo #28) Garreth Smoak ’05 wed Jonathan Ko on July 15, 2020. (Photo #30)

CLASS OF 2005 (SEMINARY) Deb Richardson-Moore ’05 retired in July 2020 after 15 years leading the nondenominational mission church Triune Mercy Center in downtown Greenville, S.C. She is also the author of five books. (Photo #34) CLASS OF 2004 (SEMINARY) Brian Eugene Clark ’04 serves as district superintendent of the Athens Elberton Conference of the United Methodist Church.

He says that part of his role as district superintendent “is to unite the church through prayers for revival that call for the Holy Spirit to lead the United Methodist Church to become an evangelistic movement.” Brian is married to Julianna, a former missionary to Honduras.

They have three children: Natalie, Miles, and Elijah. They also serve as foster parents through the United Methodist Children’s Home.

(Photo #32) CLASS OF 2001 Kate Hinchey Wenger ’01 was named Teacher of the Year at Mount Pleasant Academy where she teaches special education. “I very much value the people I work with,” she told Moultrie News. “I was very happy and proud. It was an honor.” Her husband is David Wenger ’00.

CLASS OF 1998 Christen Ashley Davis ’98 has been named to the Greenwood Genetic Center’s (GGC) board of directors. She is currently the Director of Quality for Lonza, a company which describes itself as “a leading global provider of integrated healthcare solutions.”

Paul Prescott ’98 has been named principal of Dixie High School in Due West, S.C. His wife is Cayce Seawright Prescott ’02. (Photo #31) Michael Shake ’98 was appointed director of music for First Presbyterian Church in New York City in June 2019.

CLASS OF 1996 Chad Evans ’96 has been named director of evaluation for Greenwood School District 50. Evans has served for 23 years in District 50 with roles in administration, teaching, and coaching. “I look forward to leading our staff in continuous improvement and positive practices,” he told the Index-Journal.

Dr. Chad Leverette ’96 was appointed dean of the College of Sciences and Engineering at the University of South Carolina Aiken, beginning July 1, 2020. The Aiken Standard reports that Chad has previously “been honored as a USC Carolina Trustee Professor, a USC Rising Star, and a South Carolina Governor’s Professor of the Year.”

CLASS OF 1996 (SEMINARY) Alan Flowers ’96 is currently serving with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Michigan.

CLASS OF 1995 John Lindley ’95 has joined First Reliance Bank as vice president, bank operations manager.

CLASS OF 1993 Daniel Dale ’93 was honored as one of ten semifinalists for the Horry County Schools Teacher of the Year award. His wife is Amanda Dale ’96.

CLASS OF 1992 Dr. John Kuykendall ’92 was named interim dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Charleston Southern University in May 2020.

His wife is Mary Kuykendall ’94.

CLASS OF 1990 Kathryn Whitmire Benjamin ’90 has been named principal of Greenwood High School. (Photo #33) CLASS OF 1987 Chip Ashley ’87 retired on April 30, 2020 after 33 years as an educator and coach at East Lincoln High School in Denver, N.C. He played baseball while at Erskine.

CLASS OF 1985 Jennifer Rudd Deaton ’85 has been named principal for Sugar Hill Elementary, in Gainesville, Ga., beginning June 1, 2020. She previously served as assistant principal at McEver Arts Academy in Hall County, Ga. CLASS OF 1984 Elizabeth Lundy ’84 was present, along with her three children, when her husband Ralph Lundy, former Erskine soccer coach, was honored by the College of Charleston in September 2019. The school renamed its Patriot Point Field “Ralph Lundy Field.” (Photo #36)

|37

C l a s s N ot e s CLASS OF 1983 Dana K. Blackhurst ’83, head of school at The Chandler School in Greenville, S.C., received the Betty B. Disher Educational Innovation Award in November 2019. He founded The Chandler School in 2011.

CLASS OF 1982 Mark Smith ’82 has been inducted into the S.C. Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.

CLASS OF 1980 Mike Rubesch ’80 was honored by St. Pius X High School in Atlanta, Ga., through the creation of a scholarship. Mike attended St. Pius X and was later employed by the school as a soccer coach. He played soccer at Erskine and was on the 1977 team, which finished fourth in the NAIA national tournament.

CLASS OF 1978 E. Neal Powell, Jr., M.D. ’78 continues to work full-time in orthopaedic surgery in Rock Hill, S.C. He is the Chief of the Department of

I GIVE BECAUSE...

“ I am so excited now

to be able to give back with my professional experience.”

Join Christen in giving back today!

erskine.edu/give

|38 38|

Got news or photos to share?

Email alumni@erskine.edu

Surgical Specialties at Atrium Health. He and his wife Betty have seven grandchildren, all of whom live in Greenville, S.C. (Photo #35)

active career, along with volunteer work. Since 2000, she has been a consultant and co-owner of Second Dawn Properties, LLC.

CLASS OF 1977 Lindy Scott ’77 was honored with the TeachingFamily Association’s Outstanding Achievement in Human Services award for 40 years of service at Thornwell in Clinton, S.C. Thornwell’s mission is to “prevent child abuse and neglect, build up and reunite families, and support healthy communities in the name of Jesus Christ.”

CLASS OF 1961 William “Bill” Lesesne ’61 was named to the Abbeville County Hall of Fame in June 2020 in recognition of his service to the county. Paul Bell ’84, past president of the Greater Abbeville Chamber of Commerce, and Susan Jackson, who nominated Lesesne, delivered the award to his house because the organization’s annual banquet was canceled.

(Photo #37)

CLASS OF 1972 Ann Beckham Gainey ’72 is the author of The God Chair: One Thousand Days of Pain with Purpose published in March 2020 by Westbow Press.

Myra Frank Wood ’72 has been recognized

by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in consultancy. She has maintained a varied and

CLASS OF 1949 Robye McCalla Lindsey ’49 and her late husband, J. T. Lindsey, were honored in The McKenzie Banner for their service to the community of McKenzie, Tenn., and to Bethel University. In 2014, the couple was inducted into the university’s athletic hall of fame as contributors.

Christen Ashley Davis ’98 majored in Business Administration at Erskine. Today, she serves as Director of Quality at Lonza in Greenwood, S.C., one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical, biotech, and specialty ingredients suppliers.

Christen, who is also a member of the Greenwood Genetics Center’s Board of Directors, remembers the day her husband asked her whether Erskine had made a difference in her successful career. “And it was a no-brainer—yes,” she says.

Her Erskine experience, including her participation in many campus programs and sports, boosted her confidence and increased her personal growth in leadership, teamwork, and commitment.

Christen counts it a privilege to support Erskine financially, and also works with the Alumni and Student Development offices to provide professional skills training and mentoring for Erskine students.

“I am so excited now to be able to give back with my professional experience,” she says.

And working with Erskine students enables her, as a seasoned professional, to “learn from emerging talent.”

Christen recognizes that she has benefited from the contributions of Erskine alumni and friends. “I want to be a part of providing that opportunity for thriving students, just as so many made it possible for me.”

y

l .

s

MOVING FROM REVENGE TO HOPE: STUKES LECTURER TELLS HIS STORY Peacemaker, entrepreneur, and author Aziz Abu Sarah spoke to Erskine students, faculty, and members of the community Feb. 20 about “Crossing Boundaries,” delivering the 23rd Annual Joseph T. Stukes Lecture at Erskine College.

Abu Sarah opened by recounting his selection as a National Geographic Explorer, explaining that when the organization first contacted him, he deleted the messages, believing they were phishing emails. When a representative from National Geographic finally phoned him with the news that he was actually slated to receive the Explorer designation, “I was surprised,” he said, “because I’m not an archaeologist or a conservationist.”

But as Abu Sarah now realizes, “Being an ‘explorer’ is not only about archaelogy or conservation—it is also about crossing boundaries,” which is what he has been doing during two decades of “exploring cultures, conflicts, and stories.”

Growing up as a Palestinian in Jerusalem, Abu Sarah saw conflict—and the actions taken to cope with that conflict— as normal. For example, when he set off for school each day, his family made sure he took with him a fresh onion, which, when held close to the nose, was thought to enable one to avoid passing out when teargassed.

Perhaps the most traumatic childhood event for Abu Sarah, the youngest of seven, was the arrest and imprisonment of his 18-year-old brother, Tayseer, the sibling closest to him in age. Incarcerated for nearly a year, Tayseer was released and admitted to the hospital for treatment of internal injuries. He died three weeks later at the age of 19.

families and fostered friendship among cultures divided by conflicts.

“We live behind walls of ignorance, fear, and hatred,” he told his audience. “We have to create cracks of hope and of relationship with each other.”

Abu Sarah’s commitment to building peace has taken him to more than 60 countries, including Afghanistan, Syria, and Colombia. He has served as executive director at the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution (CRDC) at George Mason University. His peacemaking journey inspired him to cofound MEJDI Tours, a company described on its website as “founded on the belief that tourism should be a vehicle for a more positive and interconnected world.”

Abu Sarah has written articles for a number of publications, including the New York Times, National Geographic, and the Washington Post. He is the recipient of numerous awards, among them the Goldberg Prize for Peace in the Middle East from the Institute of International Education, the European Parliament’s Silver Rose Award, and the Eisenhower Medallion.

Abu Sarah’s latest book, Crossing Boundaries: A Traveler’s Guide to World Peace, was published in the summer of 2020.

The Joseph T. Stukes Lecture Series brings a distinguished lecturer in history to Erskine College each year. The fund was established by students and colleagues of the late Dr. Stukes, who served as professor of history (1966-74) and vice president for academic affairs (1966-71) at Erskine College.

The young Abu Sarah was angry and bitter. Revenge was the only option for him, he believed, and for the next eight years, revenge was all he cared about. Then, at the age of 18, he decided that even though he did not want to learn Hebrew, the language of the enemy, he needed to know Hebrew in order to make any progress in his education or career.

Having had little or no contact with Jews or Israelis, he enrolled in a school in Jerusalem, 15 minutes from where he grew up, where Jewish immigrants went to learn Hebrew. He was astounded when the teacher greeted him warmly—in Arabic. This was the beginning of a major shift for Abu Sarah, preparing him for the role of peacemaker, in which he has worked with bereaved Israeli and Palestinian

Aziz Abu Sarah, pictured above at right, is married to Assistant Professor of History Dr. Christiane-Marie Abu Sarah, who joined the Erskine faculty this fall. Posing with Abu Sarah are Assistant Professors of History Dr. Alessandra Brivio and Dr. John Harris.

|39

In Memoriam William C. Caveny, Jr. ’38, Nov. 18, 2019.

William “Francis” Pressly ’54, Nov. 16, 2019.

Lois Alewine Hammond ’38 Dec. 6, 2019.

Robert R. Blackburn ’54, Nov. 28, 2019.

Helen Terry Rice Gurney Rogers ’42, May 13, 2019.

Rev. Dr. Clyde Taft McCants ’54 (Sem. ’70), April 10, 2020.

Margaret Oates Goodman Somerville ’42, Aug. 6, 2020.

Iris Patterson Thompson ’54, Oct. 9, 2019.

Sara Jo Allmendinger ’44, June 18, 2019.

Truman “Jack” Reames, Jr. ’63, June 19, George Malcolm Broadwell ’55, Nov. 12, 2019. 2020.

Martha Fisher Suttles ’44, June 30, 2020.

Sara Ellis Callison ’46, Feb. 3, 2020.

Vivian Freeman Dorgay ’46, May 10, 2019.

Mary Anselyn Putnam Marshall ’46, Sept. 25, 2019.

Betty Louise Dent Bland ’55, Aug. 11, 2020.

Margaret Ann McQuiston ’62, Feb. 24, 2020.

Dr. Wendell T. Guerry ’63, Oct. 17, 2019.

Jerry E. McLeese ’63, April 14, 2019.

Thurman Hovey Porter, Jr. ’63, March 11, 2018.

Sarah Juanita Braun ’56, July 9, 2020.

Walter Gallup Schroeder ’63, Nov. 26, 2019.

Barbara “Bobbi” La Brecque ’56, July 20, 2020.

Francis R. Fant, Jr. ’64, Jan. 14, 2020.

Ichiro “Bill” Matsuda ’56, April 29, 2020.

Nancy Black Garofalo ’64, Jan. 20, 2019.

Nancy J. Woods ’57, April 13, 2020.

Calvin Douglas “Doug” McKay ’64, July 12, 2020.

John William “Bill” Cameron ’58, March 14, 2020.

Kay Bryson Wright ’64, April 5, 2020.

Robert B. “Red” Jameson ’58, Jan. 16, 2020.

Jo Kelso Dorman ’65, Aug. 2, 2020.

Jean Clyburn Lackey ’58, June 15, 2019.

Ruth Wallace Foreman ’65, Nov. 18, 2019.

Margaret Mitchell Nunnery ’48, Dec. 28, 2019.

Dr. Vivienne Dawn Maddox ’58, Oct. 18, 2019.

Rev. Edward Frankline “Ace” Franze III ’65 (Sem. ’72), June 22, 2020.

Kathryn “Kitty” Thompson Horne ’49, June 18, 2019.

Rev. Billy Floyd “Bill” Sosebee ’58 (Sem. ’61), March 11, 2020.

Charles Ligon Evans ’66, July 15, 2020.

Jackie Feagle Holmes ’49, Nov. 25, 2019.

Glenn Edward Whitesides ’58, Nov. 30, 2019.

William Michael “Mike” Johnson ’66, Oct. 19, 2019.

Kenneth F. Morris ’49 (Sem. ’53), Jan. 31, 2020.

Linda Elliott Moose ’59, July 25, 2019.

Anne Patrick Godsey ’68, March 12, 2020.

Alfred Douglas “Doug” Reed ’49, July 19, 2020.

Arthur Ervin Sweum ’59, Dec. 14, 2018.

Thomas W. Graham ’68, June 13, 2020.

Mabel Ann Nicholson ’50, Dec. 21, 2019.

A. Willard “Will” Utsey, Jr. ’59, July 11, 2020.

Martha Hoffman ’68, April 17, 2020.

George Bryant Robinson ’50, Dec. 18, 2019.

Irene Lopez Andrews ’60, Jan. 6, 2020.

Michael G. Simmons ’68, Sept. 27, 2019.

Cora Clamp Carlisle ’51, July 8, 2020.

Nancy Geer Ivester ’60, June 11, 2020.

Robert Erskine Patrick, Jr. ’51, Aug. 11, 2020.

Major Jerry Kenneth McCarter ’60, Dec. 13, 2019.

Anthony “Toney” Storey, Sr. ’68, April 30, 2020.

Sara Dell Westmoreland Patton ’46, March 26, 2020.

Mabel Ware Baggett ’47, Dec. 19, 2018.

Lelia Oates “Ootsie” Darby ’47, May 25, 2020.

Jane Macaulay Petty ’47, Feb. 25, 2020.

Ivy Hunter Cameron ’48, May 8, 2019.

Winton “Win” Strickland ’51, May 19, 2019.

John Gaston Fairey ’52, March 17, 2020.

Mark N. Hagan, Jr. ’52, July 28, 2019.

Mary Kathryn “Kitty” Gettys Anthony ’53, March 28, 2020.

Henry B. Dendy, Jr. ’53, Dec. 25, 2019.

Francis Shingler Pooser ’53, June 2, 2020.

Martha Sibley Banks ’54, June 27, 2020.

40|

Dorothy “Dot” Alleyn Altman ’65, Jan. 20, Genevieve Mahaffey Elliott ’58, June 20, 2020. 2019.

Lynne Carlton Matcek ’60, July 3, 2019.

Harriett Bannister Cartledge ’71, Oct. 15, 2019.

Joy Keller McLemore ’60, Feb. 26, 2020.

Jane Elizabeth Craddock Flandry ’71, July 23, 2019.

James Kenneth “Ken” Oakley ’60, Sept. 22, 2019.

Walker Hicklin III ’71, June 20, 2020.

Wyndell M. Byrd ’61, Nov. 8, 2019.

Lonnie L. Richardson ’71, Oct. 13, 2019.

Curtis F. George ’61, July 13, 2019.

Charles “Charlie” T. Cann ’73, Aug. 28, 2019.

Virginia Beth “Penny” Thornton ’61, Dec. 21, 2019.

James M. Cheshire ’73, Dec. 26, 2019.

Leave A

Legacy More than 30 years after graduating from Erskine Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree, David Dority ’88 remains grateful for the biblical teaching he received, which equipped him for many facets of ministry, including counseling, chaplaincy, and work with a psychiatric hospital.

“I received such solid biblical teaching,” he says of his seminary years. “I knew this was where I needed to be.”

In seminary, he enjoyed discussions among a diverse group of students who came from some 14 denominations. “It was such a positive atmosphere,” he recalls. Later, when he offered free counseling in the evenings after work, he realized that his fellowship during seminary was providing valuable insights for working with Christians from various backgrounds.

David remembers with gratitude the members of South Main Street Baptist Church in Greenwood, S.C., who contributed anonymously toward the cost of his seminary education, which began when he was in his 30s and had a family. His wife Claudia, in many ways a participant in his education, made Greek flash cards for him and joked that she was going to learn the language before he did.

Now David and Claudia want to help a new generation of students, so they are setting up a scholarship at Erskine Theological Seminary.

Quoting Winston Churchill, David says, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

-Winston Churchill

The Legacy Circle recognizes alumni and friends who have made a commitment to Erskine through a planned gift. You can do more than you thought possible with a planned gift. While helping Erskine educate students for lives of service, you can: - generate income for yourself - provide for your loved ones - receive tax benefits

Learn more about the Legacy Circle and Planned Giving at erskine.edu/legacy or call Paul Bell at 864-379-8727.

|41

In Memoriam Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Hebrew Dr. Terry Eves died Dec. 30, 2019. Appointed Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at Erskine College in 2000, he began teaching as an adjunct at the seminary in 2005 and moved to the seminary faculty in 2007.

“Our friend Terry was not only a prodigious Bible scholar, but he was also one of the most pastoral professors I have ever known,” Seminary Provost Dr. Michael Milton said.

Erskine President Dr. Robert Gustafson, who completed a Doctor of Ministry degree at the seminary in 2015, said, “He was always encouraging to others, always available to me as a student, and always expressive of his deep love for Christ.”

A number of Erskine faculty and staff members participated in a memorial service held Jan. 4 in Bowie Chapel.

Survivors include wife of 43 years, Dianne Eves; two sons, Eric and Kevin; and two grandchildren. Also surviving are his mother and two brothers.

Paul J. McPeck ’75, Dec. 29, 2019.

Henry Alexander III ’93 (Sem.), Feb. 4, 2019.

Laura Jo Owens ’75, Sept. 17, 2019.

Rev. Phillemon Barasa Busolo ’96 (Sem.), July 13, 2020.

Carl Stanley Dixon ’77, Sept. 14, 2019.

Dr. Sarah Belk Gambrell, former member of the Board of Counselors and recipient of an honorary doctorate from Erskine College, died July 30, 2020.

She was the daughter of William Henry Belk.

Rev. Eugene Desir ’00 (Sem.), Feb. 25, 2020.

Arthur Lawton “Buster” Harvey ’78, April 26, Jeffery Alan Sager ’06 (Sem.), July 22, 2020.

2020.

Jerry Hall, former Erskine College staff member, died Feb. 15, 2020.

Catherine Ann McCarley Suarez ’78, June 24, 2020.

Lila Williams Long, a member of the Erskine Legacy Circle, died Jan. 14, 2020. She was the wife of Moffatt Grier Long ’40.

Jane Jones Owenby ’84, Sept. 5, 2019.

Carla Suzanne Pry ’85, May 17, 2020.

FRIENDS Harriet Brown Boazman died May 13, 2020.

Lee Bruning Campbell, former member of the Board of Trustees, died Sept. 21, 2019.

Thomas Neely “Tommy” Triplett ’85, Nov. 22, Dr. Charles Carlisle, former Erskine College 2019. faculty member, staff member, and administrator Rev. Dr. Frederic D. Thompson, Jr. ’90 (Sem.), and the recipient of the Honorary Doctor of Humanities degree in 2005, died April 7, 2020.

Dec. 16, 2019.

Katherine Underwood McGuirt ’91, Nov. 17, 2017.

42|

Jean Hill Chisolm, honorary alumna and founder of the women’s tennis team, died Jan. 9, 2020.

Dr. Harry Carl Stille, Jr., who served Erskine College for more than 60 years as physical education professor, baseball coach, and trainer of driver education teachers, died Jan. 6, 2020. Mayor of Due West for more than two decades, he was a state representative from 1991-2003.

I GIVE TO ERSKINE BECAUSE… Erskine is a part of me and my life’s story. In this journey called life, we all have memories of special places, people, and events that last a lifetime in our hearts and in our minds. Erskine is such a place, where we met people who influenced our lives and professions, and where events are indelibly marked in our personal history.

In 1973, I was invited to a Student Visitation weekend. As my parents left that Friday, I asked them to be sure to pick me up early on Sunday, being convinced that I would not like Erskine at all. However, by Sunday I was in love with Erskine and knew that was where I wanted and needed to be. As a student at Erskine, I grew and learned a lot—about my chosen career, about my faith, about myself, and about life—that has guided me all along the journey. And through the years, I’ve tried to give back to our Erskine which gave so much to me—offering time, talents, or resources.

So as you reflect upon your personal journey, I invite you to give back to “our” Erskine—your time, your talents, and your resources—so that others can make Erskine a part of their life’s story. There’s a place for you still at Erskine.

Erskine is a part of you. Be a part of Erskine.

Sanita Frazier Cousar ’77

For a full report please visit:

ERSKINE.EDU/GIVINGREPORT ERSKINE’S MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ATHLETIC TRAINING equips you through

hands-on experience and a wholistic approach to evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment.

Erskine offers multiple paths to an MSAT degree. If you hold a bachelor’s degree, you can complete the MSAT in two years. If you do not, you can earn a bachelor’s and a master’s in six years— or take Erskine’s 3+2 fast track, which

allows you to earn both in five years.

GET THE

ERSKINE

EDGE Apply today! apply.erskine.edu

P.O. Box 338, Due West, SC 29639