FAULKNER SPRING 2017
MAGAZINE
GRADUATION
2017 JAMBOREE YOUNG AT HEART
IMAGES IN INK SPEAKING TRUTH THROUGH ART
FAULKNER’S BEGINNINGS E.R. BRANNAN REMEMBERS
BLACKSTONE & BURKE
PRESERVING THE INSTITUTION OF ORDERED LIBERTY
WELCOME TO FAULKNER MAGAZINE
As we prepare to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Faulkner University, I’ve been reflecting on a universal truth which impacts most of the human experience. It is an investment strategy that extends far beyond business and commerce: most of the reward in life comes as a result of what you give or risk. Faulkner University stands as a testament to the heroic sacrifice of our founders. On April 13, 1942, a group of visionaries defied the risk and launched this great university. Over the last seven and half decades, we have witnessed numerous acts of generosity and unwavering commitment. God has multiplied their investment many times in the development of this institution. Today at Faulkner, we witness this “investment strategy” every day. In this issue, you’ll see students and faculty giving of themselves to help others flourish. You’ll see our alumni coming back to campus to help mentor our students. Before our very eyes, we are witnessing the transformation of this campus and this neighborhood, but we are being changed as well. Faulkner is a better university as a result of our willingness to give and accept risk.
A Letter from the President, MIKE WILLIAMS
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The best of life comes to those who follow the words of Jesus. He asks us to love without reservation, give generously, forgive without boundaries and work as though we are working for Him. In essence, He asks us to give and risk everything in order lead a life of abundance, blessing and faithfulness. I think that’s the best “investment strategy.”
Donald Trump, Jr. to Speak at Faulkner’s Annual Benefit Dinner From Humble Beginnings: E.R. Brannan Remembers Graduation 2017 Ground Breaking Growth Faulkner’s Images in Ink Great Books: Participating in the Great Conversation
The Blackstone & Burke Center for Law & Liberty Law Briefs Faulkner Law Trial Advocacy Ranked 17 by U.S. News and World Report Young at Heart: Jamboree 2017 Academic News Sports Briefs Alumni Weekend Alumni News Spring 2017
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upcoming events 7 1 0 2
JUNE 3-8 Inspire Youth Conference 8-9 College Bound II 19-22 LeadersConnect 10 Future Stars Women’s Basketball Camp 12-15 Basic Training Women’s Basketball Camp 16-17 Basketball University Women’s Basketball Camp 19-22 Boy’s Basketball Camp 1 26-29 Boy’s Basketball Camp 2 23-24 Summer Reunion JULY 13-14 College Bound III OCTOBER 5 Annual Benefit Dinner
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C H R I S T I A N
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ALABAMA
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Editorial Staff Publisher Patrick Gregory Editor-in-chief Christopher Kratzer Managing Editor Loren Howell Design Angela Hardgrave Contributors Ryan Bartels Robin Bradford Andrew Jacobs Rob McFarland Allen Mendenhall Administration President Dr. Michael D. Williams Chancellor Dr. Billy D. Hilyer Vice Chancellor Dr. Wayne Baker
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Vice Presidents Dr. Keith Mock Wilma Phillips Dr. Dave Rampersad Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson Dr. John Tyson Associate Vice Presidents Billy Camp Dr. Jendia Grissett Jamie Horn Mark Hunt Assistant Vice President Renee Davis College Deans Dr. Leslie Cowell Dr. Scott Gleaves Dr. Dave Khadanga Dr. Charles Nelson Dr. Dave Rampersad General Counsel Gerald Jones
Board of Trustees Dr. Billy Lambert, Chair Mr. Ted A. Norton, Vice Chair Ms. Glenda Major, Secretary Mr. Roy Johnson, Parliamentarian
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Mr. Jason Akins Dr. Mansel Long, Jr. Mr. Jim Campbell Dr. Henri McDaniel Mr. Ernie F. Chappell Judge Carole Medley Mr. Joseph W. Donaldson Mr. Phil Norton Mr. Michael S. Eubanks Dr. Henry A. Parker Ms. Carlton L. Freeman Mr. David Phillips Mr. Justin “Chip” Garrett Mr. Mike Pickens Dr. John W. Hill III Mr. Tim Richardson Dr. Mike Houts Dr. Bud Stumbaugh Mr. Frank “Butch” Jones Sen. J.T. “Jabo” Waggoner Ms. Libby Jones Ms. Anna Weeks Mr. Dale Kirkland Dr. Jack Zorn Mr. H. Louis Lester, Jr. Trustees Emeriti Mr. Dewey R. Barber Dr. Lamar A. Harrison Dr. E.R. Brannan Mr. David Howell Dr. Charles W. Britnell Mr. Flavil Nichols Mr. Archie B. Crenshaw Mr. B.O. Richardson Atty. Fred D. Gray Mr. Kenneth M. Shumard Dr. Jess Hall, Jr. Mr. Robert W. Walters Dr. Kenneth L. Harris
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DONALD TRUMP, JR. TO SPEAK AT FAULKNER’S ANNUAL BENEFIT DINNER Faulkner University announced that Donald Trump, Jr. would be the speaker at Faulkner’s Annual Benefit Dinner during a press conference held Tuesday, April 25. President Mike Williams revealed the news. “Donald Trump, Jr. is a giant in the landscape of American business, and we are extremely excited to have him here in Montgomery," Williams said. "We are confident that those who attend the benefit dinner will hear an incredibly memorable speech from Mr. Trump.” Faulkner will be celebrating its 75th anniversary at this year’s dinner. The event will be hosted at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center on October 5. Williams said the decision to bring Trump hinged on his experience in business and his insights from the campaign trail. “Mr. Trump is a conservative who has spent a tremendous amount of time traveling the country learning about a number of important issues including education. He is particularly excited to come to Faulkner to address their students and alumni about the need for conservative viewpoints in higher education,” Williams said. “The insight he has gained into our political system and the American people during his father's presidential campaign will, no doubt, be fascinating and eye-opening.” Proceeds from the dinner go to support the university, and student scholarships in particular. “The Annual Benefit Dinner is our biggest event each year. We love being able to share these great speakers with the River Region, but more than that, we are so excited about the scholarship opportunities this dinner provides for our students,” Williams said. “The contributions made by the people who attend our benefit dinner are changing the lives of students at
Faulkner University.” Donald J. Trump Jr. is an entrepreneur and widely recognized real estate executive working to expand the company’s real estate, retail, commercial, hotel and golf businesses. He actively oversees all aspects of the Trump Organization including its expansive property portfolio which consists of iconic assets such as Trump International Hotel & Tower, Chicago; Trump International Hotel & Tower, New York; Trump International Golf Links, Scotland; Trump International Golf Links and Hotel, Ireland; Trump International Hotel & Tower Vancouver and many others. Together, with his brother Eric and Trump Hotels CEO Eric Danziger, Donald Jr. oversees Trump Hotels, one of the fastest growing luxury hotel companies in the world. The Trump Organization has recently led many of the most high-profile hotel developments in the country including Trump National Doral, 800 acres in the heart of Miami, Trump Turnberry in Scotland and the $200-million conversion of the historic Old Post Office in Washington, D.C into a luxury hotel which officially opened in October 2016. Donald Jr. is also responsible for overseeing all commercial properties for the Trump Organization including office leasing activities for The Trump Building at 40 Wall Street and Trump Tower located on Fifth Avenue in New York City. He graduated from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania in 2000 with a degree in real estate finance and marketing. Donald Jr. appeared alongside his father, and siblings as an advisor on The Celebrity Apprentice for 9 seasons. Donald Trump Jr. and his wife Vanessa reside in New York City with their five children. Donald Jr. is an avid philanthropist and has held board positions with many incredible organizations such as Operation Smile, Smile Train and Stop Cleft.
For tickets call 334-386-7257 or visit Faulkner.edu/Trump
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FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS: E.R. Brannan Remembers... enough so she didn’t have to work. James Benson preached at Tallassee and paid his own expenses back and forth to be able to teach. Brother Turner preached at Panama Street and donated his work at Faulkner. Brother Johnson got a paper route, and threw papers every morning and taught for nothing and his wife taught for nothing. If you look at those early reports they’d say, “How can we get more money? Who’s willing to sign a note?” The board would sign a note for this or that, and keep it going. Finally they decided - this was the early 50s that apparently there was not enough interest in the state to have a Christian college. Joe Greer, the chairman of the board, in conjunction with Brother Turner and Brother Johnson, called a
As we approach Faulkner University’s 75th anniversary, we sit down with a man who was there at the beginning. Former Faulkner president Dr. E.R. Brannan shares his insights on what it was like starting a Christian university, how it came to its current location, and how it almost closed its doors for good. Brannan: Folks thought we were crazy. We announced we were starting a school – we didn’t have a campus, didn’t have teachers, didn’t have students. Those early days were tough. They were tough for Brother Rex Turner and Brother Leonard Johnson, and tough for the faculty. When I signed my first contract, I believe it was for $695 a year, not a month, but for the year. Sometimes you’d have to wait four, five months before you got your monthly pay. Almost everyone on the faculty had to have some other means of livelihood. When I think about that first year’s faculty, Beulah Sessions had a retirement from her teaching and made 6
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E.R. Brannan, continued
you think about the change in the location, change in the population area there and the reducing of the land size, and the fact that on the campus at that time there was only one small brick building, the library. Brother Turner’s office was in that building, and I had a little office in that building. But all of the other buildings were concrete block, which had been built with student labor, and these were all second or third rate buildings.
board meeting for the purpose of closing the school. The only reason they did not vote to close was because there were not enough board members present for the forum needed to legally close the school. So, they made no such announcement. Now, it happened that – I forget if it was in a week or two weeks - that someone sent stock that was sold for what equaled a half a year’s budget. It gave new life to the school and kept it open. The following year the school had the largest enrollment ever (up to that time). Several things began to happen in Montgomery. More industrial businesses began to come to that area (Ann Street) and it became a less desirable residential area. Then there was the feeling from the beginning that the campus was really too small to build the kind of college we hoped to be able to build. Then I-85 was coming out that way, and they wanted an interchange there at Ann Street which would take seven acres off of the campus. So, when
It was decided by the board, probably in ’61 or ’62, to have a committee to look for a new campus. Jimmy Faulkner, Elizabeth Wright, and H.O. Davis, went out looking and they found this 88 acre tract of land, which at that time was a cotton field. The price for that 88 acres was $182,000. Each of the committee members put up $1,000 as a binder, to hold the property. Of course, in those days, how were we going to get $182,000? It so happened that a brother that was a member of the church at Catoma street, who had never married, never owned an automobile, walked wherever he went, worked at First National Bank, didn’t make a lot but invested well, had died. Charlie Bennett called Brother Turner one day and said “this man has left money to the school in his will.” He said it was “maybe as much as $50,000.” Well, as it turned out, it was actually more like $180,000! That enabled us to be able to buy that land. But then you had land without buildings. We had a campaign to build four buildings: the Rotunda, the cafeteria, Burton dorm, and Baldwin dorm - those were the four buildings that started off the campus. In January of 1965 we were able to occupy those buildings. And now when I see cars everywhere, buildings going up everywhere. I think about how in those days, the highest of the two buildings were Burton and Baldwin with two stories, and it’s quite a difference.
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Photos by Patrick Gregory and Christopher Kratzer
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aulkner held commencement exercises Friday, April 28 at the convention center at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Montgomery. The Honorable Carole C. Medley, district court judge of Lauderdale County and Dr. Elizabeth Huntley, attorney and author, gave commencement addresses. Faulkner University A
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GROUND BREAKING GROWTH by Christopher Kratzer
Following one of the largest freshman classes in school history, Faulkner University had a problem. “We’re actually over capacity in our dorms right now,” said Faulkner President Mike Williams. Faulkner officials have the solution though. The university broke ground in September on a new $3.6 million residence hall for male students. The facility is on the north side of campus and will open this fall.
traditional student body, according to Williams. “It’s a really exciting time at Faulkner University,” said Williams. “This is 88 more students we can bring here and offer them a life-changing Faulkner education.” A second facility is also planned. With fall applications exceeding expectation, Faulkner may need that facility sooner than later.
“Housing capacity has been a growing concern for a while. This is an effort to respond to that demand and increase our capacity,” Williams said. The new 88 bed, suite-style residence hall features private bathrooms, large common areas and laundry facilities on each of the four floors. The facility will help meet the growing student demand, provide more attractive campus housing and will position the university for continued growth in the 10
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Photos by Patrick Gregory
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FAULKNER’S IMAGES IN INK: Speaking Christ’s Truth Through Art by Angela Hardgrave “Images in Ink,” Faulkner University’s annual creative arts publication, highlights poetry, prose, artwork, and photography by students, faculty, and staff. Dr. Andrew Jacobs is the sponsor for “Images in Ink,” working with a staff of students and faculty to choose submissions for publication each spring. Jacobs is also the director of Faulkner’s Great Books Honors program, a professor, and co-author of the textbook, I Write.
What is the history of “Images in Ink”? AJ: “Images in Ink” began in 1981. Beverly Nall Pace, who worked in the English department at Faulkner, wanted to create a literary magazine on campus. The idea was that those students gifted with artistic abilities might have the opportunity to express themselves and say something significant to the university and greater community. Since then the publication has appeared annually with few exceptions and continued to evolve over the years. In the beginning, for instance, “Images in Ink” actually had no budget, and the sponsors had to ask for donations to pay for its publication. As the school’s capabilities have grown, so has “Images in Ink”, and the university now graciously funds the
magazine’s publication. In 2014, with Pace’s retirement, Dr. Deborah Klein and I took over sponsorship. We made a few changes, increasing the pool of potential submissions to include faculty, staff, and students from all academic programs, drew upon the skills of the university’s graphic designer for help with the publication, and increased the staff. All in all, we’ve been pleased to continue the publication and strive each year to put out a quality magazine. What types of media are included and how are they chosen? AJ: “Images in Ink” accepts submissions of art, photography, poetry and prose. The work must be
Photos by Angela Hardgrave
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Images in Ink, continued
original, and it should be created while actively at Faulkner. Everyone may submit. Faculty, staff, and students, on-ground and online programs, graduate and undergraduate—we accept submissions from any member of the Faulkner family. Over the course of the fall semester and early spring, “Images in Ink” receives submissions through imagesinink@faulkner. edu. Sponsors remove the names, and submissions are then blindly reviewed by members of the staff. The staff spends a great deal of time and effort in reviewing the submissions and selecting those deemed appropriate for publication. It’s often a difficult process, with varying perspectives, but ultimately, the staff decides what material will appear and what will not. What is the theme of this year’s publication?
In
AJ: Each year the students create the theme, often drawing from Scripture or another significant work. For the 2017 edition, the students chose: “You are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (2 Corinthians 3:3). All the submissions connect to this theme. The cover art and interior design, too, draw on the passage. All the themes for “Images in Ink,” but especially this year’s theme, attempt to express the importance of being Christ for the sake of the world and speaking His truth, in this case artistically. As part of the 2017 theme, “Images in Ink” was excited and honored to participate in a project at E.T. Davis Elementary in Montgomery. Certain “Images in Ink” and Great Books Honors students visited Davis Elementary every Friday for a few hours in the month of February during an after-school program and helped the students create art for the spring edition. The students created their own postage stamps and
other drawings, which were incorporated into the issue. Everyone enjoyed the experience, and the Davis students were excited about their artistic debut. What do you find rewarding about working with “Images in Ink”? AJ: First and foremost, I love working with the students and the rest of the staff. These are bright, bright people, and I am better for working with them and sharing in their inspirations and struggles. Sidecar to that joy, any endeavor to contribute to the arts, especially works created by a Christian voice, but equally as important, works created with an eye to beauty, we must encourage. Far too often, current culture dismisses the importance of art as a uniquely human activity, and of course, anything that concerns the human person must ultimately concern what it means to be human in Christ. “Images in Ink” now has artwork displayed in the oncampus coffee shop, Cafe Siena. Can you tell me more about that partnership? AJ: The Images-Cafe Siena project was Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson’s brainchild, so he truly deserves most of the credit. Extremely vital to the project, too, were Faulkner’s graphic designer and Jim Bradley at Alabama Graphics. Thompson approached us in the fall semester with the idea that “Images in Ink” submissions could decorate the space at Cafe Siena. What better way to showcase the artistic abilities of those on campus than putting their creative endeavors in one of its main social areas? Since the submissions were generally student submissions, it would have more meaning for them. The experience was wonderful, and we’ve heard many good responses. Our hope is that much of the material will be swapped out with new material over the subsequent academic years. Are there any changes coming in the future? AJ: The process for “Images in Ink” continues to evolve, but for the most part, we might simply see changes in staff and sponsors. Also, we are gearing up for a special 75th anniversary edition next year, which will feature submissions from current Faulkner students, staff and faculty, but also reach back to all those Faulkner has affected over the years.
E.T. Davis Elementary students
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GREAT BOOKS:
Participating in the Great Conversation by Andrew Jacobs I have yet to encounter a more humane way of learning. The Great Books Honors program at Faulkner University cites an excerpt from “Learning in Wartime” by C.S. Lewis in some promotional materials. “If we let ourselves,” Lewis warns, “we shall always be waiting for some distraction or other to end before we can really get down to our work. The only people who achieve much are those who want knowledge so badly that they seek it while the conditions are still unfavorable. Favorable conditions never come.” Set in the backdrop of World War II, his words prove no less appropriate today, at a time when culture, and education within that culture, largely exasperates the learner: frustrating rather than illuminating, discouraging rather than delightful, isolating rather than universal. Great Books represents a safe haven, a place to live, learn and flourish. The Great Books program functions as an honors track for the university. Serving every degree plan, it links students in every college. Students with high academic standards replace certain core courses with the Great Books courses. These Great Books classes offer a unique experience. Each covers important works in Western Civilization: the Ancients, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, the Romantic period and 14
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the Modern and Postmodern periods. The final course in the series reads from Christian classics throughout the ages. Following these courses, students select two upper-level classes that then become honors courses, linking the learning in the Great Books classroom to their particular major. An honors student earning a degree in English, for instance, might take a course in British writers and conduct a study of works by Charles Dickens. The Great Books thesis represents the final hurdle. Mirroring a graduate thesis in research and argumentation, it allows the students to participate in the “great conversation” by focusing on a concept important to them and adding their own voice to the discussion. The aim of the entire program is transformation, allowing the student to reason clearly, speak artfully and succinctly, and engage in charitable discussion with others about matters universal to the human person. Great Books classes are kept small, with no more than fifteen students. Students and faculty
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sit around a conference table, as the students lead the discussion, and faculty members guide the conversation, offering support, clarification, and good authority. The method is simple. Students read passages from an important text, something that someone once said that was so stirring, so profound and so meaningful, that it continues to speak to the human person. Next, they ask terrifically sharp questions—of the text, of the faculty, and of each other. Every answer (should we find it), every solution (if we come to one) and every better articulation of the problem, represents a hard-fought battle for truth. We require the students to do the heavy lifting. In the standard teaching model today, the teacher hands the student an excerpt from a text, explaining, “Here is a book written by this author. It’s representative of this time period. It features these key themes. Ultimately, it means this idea.” While such a method has some utility, it suggests a passive process. The student receives rather than discovers. In our more innovative, yet curiously traditional model, the teacher hands the student a book in its entirety, explaining, “Here is a book written by this author. Read it, and let’s discuss what you think it means.” Rather than being told an answer, they actively find their way to what is. Great Books is a course for humans about the human person. Each day reads like a blessing. The students arrive, and the classroom fills. An empty chair is a terrible absence, a valued individual missing from the family table. Each student brings his or her past to the discussion, the influences, good and bad, that have formed that person. Students know and rely upon one another in a way seldom seen in classrooms, especially in a scheme where a student might pass an entire class without speaking or knowing the person in the next chair. We laugh, cry and pray together often. Students in one class join other sections in order to see the other students and converse once again. Senior Great Books students sit in on discussions with
Photos by Patrick Gregory junior students, offering them the support and wisdom they can provide. Great Books is a place filled with voices. We train up these young voices to speak well, which means to listen and to understand, and to speak with that special sort of wisdom that knows it doesn’t know. We primarily accomplish this training by listening to those voices fixed in history and found within old and wonderful books. Perspective increases in quality in proportion to the richness of the new material. Such is the link between reading and education and the importance of “great books” as the curriculum for liberal learning. As Robert Hutchins said, “They were the books that had endured and that the common voice of mankind called the finest creations, in writing, of the Western mind.” A quote from Ray Bradbury sits above the door as one leaves the Great Books classroom: “You don’t have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.” Each student passes below the reminder, set in place as warning to recall the importance of what one does within the classroom and without—and that we all remain a part of a great conversation, whether we realize it or not. Spring 2017
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THE BLACKSTONE & BURKE CENTER FOR LAW & LIBERTY: Examining and Promoting Ordered Liberty in the Common-law Tradition by Allen Mendenhall
Allen Mendenhall is associate dean of Thomas Goode Jones School of Law and executive director of the Blackstone & Burke Center for Law & Liberty.
Our country has suffered a decline in civic literacy. From 2006 until 2011, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) conducted annual studies that evaluated the civic literacy of students and citizens. The results were discouraging. Most Americans were unable to pass a basic test consisting of straightforward, multiple-choice questions about American heritage, government and law. One of the ISI studies suggested that students knew more about civics before they began college than they did after they graduated college. It’s not just students and ordinary citizens displaying civic ignorance. Our political leaders have demonstrated that they lack the understanding of law and government befitting their high office. Judge Arenda Wright Allen of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia recently began an opinion by stating that the Constitution declared that “all men are created equal.” This line 16
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appears in the Declaration of Independence, not the Constitution. Senator Chuck Schumer told CNN that the three branches of government were the house, the senate, and the president. He not only failed to mention the judicial branch, but also treated the bicameral legislature in which he serves as if it were bifurcated into separate branches of government. Congressman Sheila Jackson Lee, while criticizing the alleged unconstitutionality of proposed legislation, claimed that the Constitution was 400 years old. These anecdotes suffice to show the extent to which Americans no longer respect their founding principles or the framework of government established in our Constitution. That is why the Blackstone & Burke Center for Law & Liberty was founded at Thomas Goode Jones School of Law. We seek to promote the principles of the common-law tradition and American constitutionalism so that the next generation of civic leaders will make informed, thoughtful
Blackstone & Burke, continued
decisions about the future of our country. Ordered liberty in the United States has rested on a commitment to religious faith and pluralism, fidelity to the rule of law and ancient liberties grounded in the conviction that all humans are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. These values characterize the American experiment. Our society is built upon them, and its continued vitality depends upon maintaining and promoting our commitment to them. Therefore, the Blackstone & Burke Center will educate students, teachers, judges and political leaders in the areas of religious freedom, freedom of association, freedom of speech and economic freedom. We will coordinate educational programs, research initiatives and judicial conferences that examine the norms and nurture the institutions of ordered liberty.
James R. Stoner, Hermann Moyse, Jr. professor and director of the Eric Voegelin Institute for American Renaissance Studies at Louisiana State University; Professor F. H. Buckley, George Mason University Foundation professor at Antonin Scalia Law School; Dr. Don Devine, former director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management in the Reagan Administration and senior scholar at the Fund for American Studies; Dr. Ingrid Gregg, past president of the Earhart Foundation; and Dr. Daniel Mark, vice chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and professor at Villanova University.
We believe that the principles and ideas of the American founding are worth conserving and celebrating. Our vision is to help renew an America where freedom, opportunity, prosperity and civil society flourish.
In our first few months of operation, we organized and hosted a reception featuring a Library of Congress traveling Magna Carta exhibit, which was displayed in the rotunda of the Alabama Supreme Court for three weeks. Judges, business and university leaders, lawyers, students, teachers and the general public attended the reception to commemorate and learn about Magna Carta, and Acting Chief Justice Lyn Stuart of the Alabama Supreme Court and Judge William “Bill� Pryor of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals delivered remarks about Magna Carta.
The Blackstone & Burke Center has recruited a board of advisers consisting of internationally recognized thought-leaders such as Judge Andrew Napolitano, senior legal analyst for Fox News; Dr. Robert P. George, McCormick chair in jurisprudence at Princeton University; Dr.
The Blackstone & Burke Center received a grant from Liberty Fund, Inc., to gift the entire Liberty Fund book and media catalog to the law library, as well as a grant from the Association for the Study of Free Institutions to bring a prominent speaker to our campus next fall. Additionally, the Blackstone & Burke Center received a grant from the Charles Koch Foundation under the auspices of the Philadelphia Society to direct a professional development conference on academic freedom. Attendees included graduate students and university administrators from across the country who shared an abiding interest in the meaning, purpose, and characteristics of intellectual exchange in university settings. The Blackstone & Burke Center also established a formal affiliation with Atlas Network. We at the Blackstone & Burke Center look forward to a promising future as we inspire and educate new leaders in the principles and foundations of ordered liberty. To learn more about the Blackstone & Burke Center, visit our website at www.blackstone&burke. com. Spring 2017
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LAW BRIEFS
Faulkner Law Alumnus Steers Compliance Efforts of Major Telecom Corporation Matt Bell was appointed as chief compliance officer for ZTE Corp. in 2016 and tasked with developing, implementing and supervising the global export compliance program that would be essential to avoiding future noncompliance with Matt Bell international trade practices. “ZTE has made tremendous progress in building a world-class compliance program,” said Bell who has extensive experience developing similar programs for major global corporations. Bell is a graduate of Oklahoma Christian University and Faulkner University’s Thomas Goode Jones School of Law. While at Faulkner Law, Bell led the law school’s award-winning advocacy program and served on the moot court team that was named as Regional Champion, National Best Brief 2nd Place, and National Quarterfinalist for the 2007-2008 ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition. After graduating from law school Bell, received an LL.M. in International Trade and International Finance at The John Marshall Law School.
Faulkner Law Alumna Named Top Missouri Business Practitioner Just four years after graduating cum laude from Faulkner Law, Ashley Norgard was named a top Business Practitioner by Missouri Lawyer’s Media. She
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received this honor at the Women’s Justice Awards at the Four Seasons St. Louis on April 27, 2017. The Business Practitioner Award is awarded to female business practitioners who fulfill the ideals of leadership, professionalism and a passion for improving the quality of the justice Ashley Norgard system or contributing to the betterment of the legal profession. Norgard was also recently named a 2017 Forty Under Forty by Springfield Business Journal and attributes much of her early success to the highly personalized mentorship and advocacy training she received at Faulkner Law. After graduating from Faulkner Law, Norgard moved from Montgomery to Springfield, Missouri and quickly developed a robust practice representing businesses in the healthcare, life sciences and education industries. “My Faulkner Law education let me hit the ground running. At an AmLaw 100 firm, everyone is smart and motivated,” Norgard said. “To set yourself apart, partners and clients want someone who can give constructive, practical advice in a friendly and efficient way. My professors helped prepare me to do that.” Norgard was offered a job at Husch Blackwell after she and her partner Josh Bradshaw won the national championship of the American Bar Association’s National Representation in Mediation Competition. Norgard admits that she wasn’t always a skillful negotiator. “At first I thought being good meant being tough. It took two strong-willed Southern gentlemen (Professors Jeff Baker and Ken Dunham) hundreds of hours to finally drill it into my head that being an exceptional attorney means being equal parts knowledgeable, skillful, and likeable,” Norgard said. “Every modern feminist should go through charm school boot camp for lawyers.” While at Faulkner Law, Norgard was editor-in-chief of the Faulkner Law Review, and a member of the Board of Advocates who competed on trial court, moot court, and mediation and negotiation teams.
Faulkner Law Welcomes NY Times Best-Selling Author, Bob Goff, to Annual Barristers Dinner Faulkner Law welcomed special guest Bob Goff to the 2017 Barristers Dinner that took place on March 7, 2017. Goff is the New York Times Best-Selling author of “Love Does,” honorary consul to Bob Goff Uganda, Pepperdine University School of Law professor and founder of Restore International, a non-profit organization created to find daring, productive and effective ways to fight the injustices committed against children. During the dinner he spoke passionately about being present and available to those around you, and inspired those in attendance to “go do” the things that they have always dreamed, believing that God is capable of making those dreams a reality. During the event, the Faulkner Law Student Bar Association announced the Staff Member of the Year, Janie Holden, the Faculty Member of the Year, Melvin Otey, as well as our 2017 Alumnus of the Year, Andy Birchfield of Beasley Allen Law Firm. Birchfield was selected to receive this honor because of his many professional and charitable accomplishments. Unable to attend, Birchfield was on his way to Haiti to continue work with the non-profit organization that the he and his wife began, Children’s Hope. In conjunction with the Barristers Dinner, the Jones Public Interest Legal Foundation also held their annual JPILF “Bid for Justice” Silent Auction to raise funds for the Public Interest Program summer stipends. JPILF stipends are awarded annually to students who spend their summers working for public interest law firms representing those in need of legal services. In attendance were current faculty, staff and students, Faulkner Law alumni, local attorneys and judges, community leaders, prospective students and other friends and supporters of Faulkner Law.
Faulkner Law Applications Increasing Despite Stagnant Market Trends Faulkner Law is experiencing an increase in
applications this year despite a stagnant national admissions market. Through strategic recruiting efforts and enhanced targeted outreach implemented over the past two years, the amount of interest that prospective students are showing towards Faulkner Law has significantly increased. These efforts include emphasizing the law school’s caring, family environment and a robust digital communications strategy that features the high quality programs Faulkner Law has to offer. Programs such as our nationally ranked advocacy program, the awardwinning on-site legal clinics, the unique Faith & Law Scholarship, the Blackstone & Burke Center for Law and Liberty, the Jones Public Interest Law Foundation and active student organizations resonate with the student that thrives at Faulkner Law: the student who yearns to serve and lead. Additional admissions efforts include a nation-wide recruitment travel schedule and full calendar of oncampus events for prospective students to take part in, giving them the opportunity to experience the law school culture at Faulkner Law first-hand. Faulkner Law has always had strong educational programs, but strategically communicating these strengths to prospective students has been a key factor in the growth in applicant volume they have experienced in recent months. Though applicant volume is steadily climbing, the admissions office never slows down. With a finger on the pulse at all times, they stay abreast of market trends and look for innovative ways to reach prospective law students who have a desire to do as the Faulkner Law motto says, “Learn Law. Seek Justice.”
Faulkner Law Graduation Faulkner Law held commencement exercises on May 13 at the Montgomery Performing Arts Center, in downtown Montgomery, Ala. Judge Andrew Napolitano,senior legal analyst at Fox News and distinguished visiting professor of law at Brooklyn Law School, delivered the commencement address for the 2017 graduating class of Faulkner Law. Faulkner Law conferred an honorary doctorate on Napolitano during the ceremony. Professor John Craft, director of clinics at Faulkner Law, and graduating
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senior Joseph Taylor also addressed Faulkner Law graduates. Napolitano is a member of the advisory board of the Blackstone & Burke Center for Law & Liberty, which is housed in Thomas Goode Jones School of Law. Napolitano is a graduate of Princeton University and the University of Notre Dame Law School
and the youngest life-tenured Superior Court judge in the history of the state of New Jersey, where he served on the bench from 1987 to 1995. As a judge, he presided over more than 150 jury trials. He has served as a legal analyst at Fox News since 1998 and has taught constitutional law and jurisprudence at Delaware Law School and Seton Hall Law School. He is a distinguished scholar in law and jurisprudence at the Ludwig von Mises Institute in Auburn, Ala., and the author of nine books, including “Suicide Pact,” “Theodore and Woodrow,” “Dred Scott’s Revenge,” “The Constitution in Exile,” and “Constitutional Chaos.” His writing has appeared in, among others, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, and Washington Times.
Judge Andrew Napolitano
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FAULKNER LAW TRIAL ADVOCACY RANKED 17 BY U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT by Christopher Kratzer
Photo by Patrick Gregory Faulkner Law’s trial advocacy program was recently ranked number 17 in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report for 2018. The program, directed by Professor Joe Lester, director of advocacy programs, is one of the top programs in the nation.
tier trial advocacy program,” Lester said. “Now that we see our hard work has paid off, I anticipate the future being even brighter. We are thrilled to be ranked 17, but we will increase our efforts and expand the program to move even higher up the rankings.”
The ranking is well deserved, according to Lester. Based on the school’s reputation among educators and practitioners across the country, this ranking marks a program that produces superior performance in trial advocacy competitions but also produces graduates who are outstanding litigators.
The university’s mock trial team has sent 6 teams in 10 years to the national finals and have won national competitions in Texas, New York and Michigan. Additionally, the school has won numerous regional competitions across the Southeast.
Lester is pleased with the result but thinks the program can continue to improve. “With the help of a dedicated alumni base and loyal volunteer coaches we have been able to maintain a consistent level of training and performance for a decade now. This ranking means that we are recognized nationally as having a top-
“From the time we sought ABA approval, we said that our goal was to produce outstanding lawyers. A huge part of that is producing outstanding trial and appellate advocates, and we are justly proud of our students for pursuing excellence in every phase of their development,” said Faulkner Law Dean Charles Nelson. “We also congratulate Professor Lester who has worked tirelessly and selflessly to make this happen.” Spring 2017
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Jamb ree 2017
Yo u n g at H e a r t
by Christopher Kratzer
J
amboree is an annual Faulkner tradition and one of the most exciting student life events all year. Students from all over campus put together a musical celebration, rooted in the spirit of healthy competition. Social Clubs on campus write, direct, choreograph and perform 15-minute musicals, bookended by musical performances by the shows hosts and the Jamboree band.
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Every year alumni return to campus to revel in their own Jamboree memories, in a tradition that has become uniquely Faulkner. This year's theme was "Young at Heart," and featured shows based on “The Cat in the Hat,” “Rapunzel” and a mashup of “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Hansel and Gretel.”
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ACADEMIC NEWS then presented to the student body for a final determination.
Williams Named Ohio Valley University’s Alumnus of the Year Congratulations to Faulkner President Mike Williams who was recently named Ohio Valley University’s (OVU) Alumnus of the Year! President Williams was honored during the school’s homecoming weekend, Feb. 10-11. “Dr. Michael Williams is definitely a worthy recipient of OVU’s Alumnus of the Year Award. It was great to have Mike back on campus,” said Don Lallathin, director of alumni relations at OVU. “After graduating from OVU and Harding, Mike came back to Ohio Valley early in his career to work with our admissions department prior to his role as president of Faulkner. Dr. Michael Williams is truly an asset to Christian education.” Dr. Michael Williams
Each year, OVU honors successful alumni who have made important contributions to the world, as Christians and as leaders in their chosen industry.
Mr. and Miss Faulkner, Jacob Newcomb and Lacey Sargent Mr. and Miss Faulkner for the 2016-2017 school year were announced in chapel on March 13, 2017. Jacob “Jake” Newcomb was named Mr. Faulkner, and Lacey Sargent was named Miss Faulkner for the second year in a row. To become a candidate for Mr. or Miss Faulkner students must be seniors with a 3.0 or higher GPA. The faculty nominates eight candidates who are
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This year’s candidates were Savannah Burns, Margaret Mitchell, Lacey Sargent, Tatyana Thompson, Felix Cruz, Jonathan Morrey, Jacob Newcomb and Christian Smith. Lacey Sargent & Jacob Newcomb Newcomb is the son of J.J. Taylor and Larry Newcomb of Deatsville, Ala. He graduated in April with a double major in accounting and business administration. Newcomb is a member of Kappa Sigma Phi, president of the Faulkner Accounting Society, a member of Alpha Chi Honor Society and a member of University Church of Christ. Sargent is the daughter of David and Patrice Sargent of Mobile, Ala. She graduated in April with a degree in mathematics. Sargent serves as president of Phi Lambda social club, is a member of Alpha Chi honor society and is an active member of the Dalraida Church of Christ college ministry.
Faulkner Student Wins First Place at Alabama Academy of Science Conference Faulkner students and faculty attended the 2017 Alabama Academy of Science conference on Feb. 22 and 23. Attending the conference were students Amy Seymour, Shelby Perex, Alexandra SelicoDunn, Jared Hoffman and Nikki Patel, and Nikkie Patel faculty members Dr. Al Schlundt and Dr. Uduak Afangideh. The students listened to presentations by Alabama scientists, including a keynote address by renowned professor and native Alabamian, E.O. Wilson. At the conference Patel, a science education graduate student at Faulkner, won first place for her presentation titled “Integration of Research into the Undergraduate Curriculum.” The research was supervised by
Afangideh, chair of the Department of Natural and Physical Sciences at Faulkner.
Faculty Author Dr. Allen Mendenhall authored “Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., Pragmatism, and the Jurisprudence of Agon: Aesthetic Dissent and the Common Law.” Mendenhall has another book being released in June titled “Of Bees & Boys: Lines from A Southern Lawyer.” It is Allen Mendendall a collection of essays about Mendenhall’s childhood recollections and modern encounters. Mendenhall is an associate dean and executive director of the Blackstone & Burke Center for Law and Liberty at Faulkner University Thomas Goode Jones School of Law.
Dr. Lucas Receives Service Award Dr. Joy Lucas, professor in the Department of Kinesology and Exercise Science, was the recipient of the Alabama State Association for Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance (ASAHPERD) Service Award for 2016. She was nominated for the award by Dr. Joy Lucas Dave Rampersad, vice president of academic affairs and dean and professor of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Dr. Terry Brown, chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Exercise Science at Faulkner. Brown said, “Dr. Lucas and I have worked together for more than 30 years. She has been a critical cog in the growth and development of the department. She has shepherded many students through their degree and into teaching jobs all over Alabama and beyond. She is the epitome of a teacher.”
Faculty Promotions Dr. Uduak Afangideh has been promoted to chair of the Department of Physical and Natural Sciences. Dr. Al Schlundt is retiring as chair after 15 years. Dr. Donna Clemons has been promoted to chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Exercise Science. Dr. Terry Brown is retiring as chair after 33 years. Dr. John Wright has been promoted to chair of the English Department. Dr. Carol Tarpley has been promoted to chair of the College of Education. Dr. Kelly Morris is retiring as chair after 25 years. Dr. Jeff Arrington has been named dean of the College of Arts And Sciences. Dr. Brenda Turner recently became professor of Biblical research and director of the new Kearley Theological Library Resources. Turner is the first full-time female faculty member of the College of Biblical Studies. Professors Andrew Jacobs, Stephen Foster and Art Williams all earned doctoral degrees this year. Keith Mock, vice president for enrollment management also earned a doctoral degree.
Read Across America Read Across America with Davis Elementary
The College of Education and the Alpha Delta Iota chapter of Kappa Delta Pi coordinated a Read Across American event at E.T. Davis Elementary in Montgomery. Students in the College of Education’s Children’s Literature course taught a reading lesson to Davis Elementary students using books by Dr. Seuss. The Faulkner students also performed a skit featuring book characters for all Davis Elementary students. Each Davis Elementary student received a book, pencil, bracelet, and a Read Across America bookmark. The books were collected during a recent book drive by the College of Education students.
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Cheathams Honored
Afangideh has dreams and goals for the department’s continued growth.
Carl and Augustine Cheatham were honored during the 2017 Faulkner Lectures at the Silver Circle Alumni and Friends Dinner on March 7, 2017.
“I want to create more of an awareness of the solid pre-professional program we have at Faulkner. I want to grow our research labs and make research more of a focus. I want students to develop critical thinking skills,” said Afangideh. “Science is not just memorizing facts, but knowing how to apply knowledge and research to solve relevant problems.”
Dr. & Mrs. Carl & Augustine Cheatham
Dr. Cecil May, dean emeritus and professor of the College of Biblical studies said, “Dr. Cheatham has a brilliant mind. He also possesses a great deal of what the Bible calls wisdom. Being a genuinely humble man, he does not even realize how brilliant, knowledgeable and capable he is. He is an outstanding teacher and preacher. He taught Bible and church history classes at Faulkner for thirty-four years. Faulkner Bible graduates have returned to say that even though they once thought that he was hard and demanding, they later realized that he was one of the best Bible teachers they had.” May also praised Cheatham’s wife, Augustine. “Augustine is a great Christian lady. For years she was an art teacher and her expertise in art and her rapport with her students was evident. She works with World Bible School and teaches a class for inner city children.”
Natural and Physical Sciences Pre-professional Programs The success of the pre-professional programs offered through the Department of Natural and Physical Sciences is growing, with increasing numbers of students accepted into professional programs. Dr. Uduak Afangideh, chair of the department, attributes this growth in part to the strong foundation students get while at Faulkner. “The smaller environment helps lay a foundation you wouldn’t get in a larger school. Students learn how to study, and how to look for what you can’t find easily,” said Afangideh. The smaller environment is also beneficial to students who don’t get accepted into professional programs. “Students who don’t get accepted have choices. Because we know our students we are able to help them see that they are not at the end of their path,” Afangideh said.
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Anna Hatcher, a current student of the department, was recently accepted into two pharmacy schools. When asked how the department helped prepare her she said, “It was very challenging. They required strenuous effort and consistent study habits. The professors were helpful and challenged me to work on furthering my education.” Hatcher plans to attend Auburn University’s Harrison School of Pharmacy in the fall.
Theatre Degrees to Be Discontinued Faulkner University has announced the eventual closure of its theatre degree programs. While Faulkner has suspended enrollment to the theatre degree program, the administration plans to provide multiple opportunities for our students and faculty to be engaged in theatre each year. Streamlining the degree programs at Faulkner will allow the university to offer new programs in fields that better meet the needs of students and the community.
Tourism Poetry Contest Winner Announced Faulkner University hosted a tourism poetry contest open to all Faulkner students. The contest called for 12 to 24 lines of original, previously unpublished poetry about a place or event in the state. The contest ran from Jan. 30 - March 10, with winners announced March 16. Anita Stovall, a student at the Mobile campus, won the grand prize with her submission, “Leave it all Behind.”
Alpha Chi Members Inducted Fifteen students were inducted into Alpha Chi, a national college honors society, on March 29. Membership into Alpha Chi is by invitation only. Invitations are extended to the top 10 percent of a school’s juniors, seniors, and graduate students. This year’s inductees are Agustin Blanco, Kacie Chung,
Kelbe Davies, Taylor Edens, Brittany Gregor, China Leary, Asia McLeod, Breanna Newton, Juli Owens, Michaela Pettway, Ashleigh Presley, Christopher Smith, William Tidwell, Arynn Troupe and Ethan Widen.
Accomplishments by Great Books Honors Program Students and Alumni Two students successfully defended their dissertations. Dr. Stephen Bain, with "Hope, Tolkien's Legendarium, and the Virtue Ethics Tradition," and Dr. Kelly Burton with "Logos and Dialogos: Reading Plato's Theaetetus under the Long Shadow of Nietzsche." Tatyana Thompson successfully defended her Great Books Thesis, “Film: The Culmination of the Liberal Arts and an Artistic Reflection of Universal Concerns.” Doctoral student Lee Conerly was a co-recipient of Phi Theta Kappa's Distinguished Advisor Team Award for her service as faculty advisor to the Phi Upsilon chapter at Coastal Alabama Community College. Two alumni had articles published. Dr. Peter Yancey's article "The Tao of C.S. Lewis: Expounding the Law of Human Nature" was published by the New York C.S. Lewis Society and Christine Norvell's article, "Words & Signs & Memory & the Mutual Intercourse of Men" was published on the Circe Institute's website.
Faulkner Mourns Loss of Two Faculty Members Dr. Mark Churchwell died on April 24, 2017. Churchwell had taught at Faulkner since 2003. Churchwell was known for his gentle manner and his practical advice for success in business and in life. He often said, “I choose to teach at Faulkner because I Dr. Mark Churchwell prefer to teach business topics from a Christian perspective. The best business instruction manual ever published is the Bible.” Churchwell taught a variety of management courses, but his favorite was Small Business Management. An entrepreneur at heart, he was owner of Furlong's
Engraving, which gave him a first-hand understanding of the principles he shared with his students. He was a loyal friend, loving husband and father, wise and caring mentor, generous supporter of charitable efforts throughout the region, and faithful servant of Jesus Christ. Almost always, when making a gift he would ask to remain anonymous, saying, “Please don’t tell anyone; I want my reward to be in heaven.” His gentle spirit and winning smile will be missed, not just on the Faulkner University campus, but throughout Montgomery. Dr. Marvin Grunzke Dr. Marvin Grunzke,
92, of Montgomery, Ala. died on Sept. 27, 2016. Among his professional pursuits, Grunzke worked with the Project Mercury Space Flight, training chimpanzees Ham and Enos for their suborbital space flights.
Grunzke was a professor of social and behavioral sciences at Faulkner University from 1994 to 2013. Grunzke was known for riding his bicycle to and from work, and around campus, despite his advanced age. One of Grunzke’s former students, Matthew Phillips, wrote: “Dr. Grunzke was the most intelligent man I ever had the privilege to study under. He never let you ask a question without making you answer it yourself. He never stopped encouraging, he never let you get by without thinking for yourself. He was tough, but fair; he was critical, but constructive; he was kind, and he was wise.”
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SPORTS BRIEFS
Wesleyan and LSU Shreveport (La.) which have nine. Faulkner boasts the most Opening Round titles of any current team with five and will be seeking its fifth straight championship this week.
Bartels, Klassen Hit Career Milestones
YEAR OF MILESTONES FOR ATHLETICS Faulkner Top Seed in NAIA Opening Round Fourth-ranked Faulkner will be the top seed in the five-team field of the Montgomery Bracket in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round. Bracket play will take place from May 15-18 at Faulkner’s Harrison Field. The winner of the Patrick McCarthy double-elimination Head Coach, Baseball event will claim one of the nine remaining spots in the AvistaNAIA World Series hosted by Lewis-Clark State in Lewiston, Idaho, beginning May 26. St. Thomas (Fla.) earned an at-large bid out of The Sun Conference in its sixth Opening Round appearance and will be the second seed. The Bobcats enter the event at 35-17 and in the receiving votes pool of the NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll. The Eagles faced St. Thomas in the Southeastern Challenge early in the season and clipped the then No. 12 Bobcats 4-3. Faulkner is 1-2 against St. Thomas in total competitions. The Eagles are making their eighth Opening Round appearance and are second only to Tennessee
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Faulkner head volleyball coach Tori Bartels earned her 200th career victory on Oct. 22 in the Lady Eagles’ 3-1 Tori Bartels decision over Head Coach, Volleyball Southern States Athletic Conference opponent William Carey at Tine Davis Gymnasium. “Hitting win number 200 is certainly a nice thing when you think about it,” Bartels said following the game, “but honestly, these moments aren’t what we as coaches really focus on. I’ve been blessed to be in a wonderful, loving environment surrounded by the finest young women I could have ever hoped to work with. Their hard work and determination is what made any of those wins worth anything to begin with, and I look at those victories as a part of program history more so than my own. I will admit, however, that getting number 200 on senior day was kind of special, not only for me, but for the team as a whole.” Bartels has been at the helm of the volleyball program for 12 seasons and has a record of 205-204. Middle blocker Alysa Klassen closed out her career in style, earning SSAC all-tournament team honors while also being named Alysa Klassen the conference Volleyball co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year alongside Coastal Georgia’s Allie Shannon in the league’s firstever selection. The senior out of Scottsdale, Ariz., was not only a force on the court, but in the classroom as well. Klassen maintains a 4.0 GPA and has received allconference and NAIA Scholar-Athlete awards in every
eligible season. In addition, she consistently ranked among the nation’s best on the defensive front every season which elevated her to athletic all-conference honors all four years as well as repeated AVCA all-region recognition. Klassen tallied more career blocks than any other Lady Eagle in program history and ranks eighth all-time in kills.
Eagles Make First-ever SSAC Semis Faulkner’s men’s soccer team entered new territory last fall with its first-ever post season victory which came on the road against the University of Mobile in the opening round of the Southern States Athletic Conference tournament. The sixth-seeded Eagles stunned the third-seeded Rams 1-0 on a Ian Sagstetter goal in the 65th minute. The upset catapulted Faulkner into the semifinals where No. 2 Dalton State eventually earned the 3-2 win. The Eagles closed the season with a 10-6 record marking the most wins ever for the program in a season.
Wynn Earns 700th Career Victory Head softball coach Hal Wynn earned his 700th career victory in his team’s 8-3 win over Point University in West Point, Ga., on March 10. “Reaching 700 wins is a great accomplishment for all the young ladies who have come through this program,” Wynn said following the milestone achievement. “It speaks very highly of what they have done and I’m extremely proud of each and every one of them. I’ve never won a game here, but I have lost many of them.” Wynn has spearheaded the softball program since its inception 26 years ago and holds an overall record of 702-615-2 at the time of this writing. He ranks seventh in career victories among active NAIA softball coaches.
Women’s Golf Earns First-ever National Ranking Faulkner’s women’s golf team received its firstever national ranking in the NAIA Preseason Coaches’ Poll released in August where the Lady Eagles claimed the No. 23 position. By the first regular season poll issued a month later, the team had soared all the way to No. 13, a climb boosted by a first place Amanda Burton finish in the highlycompetitive Coastal Georgia Invitational at Jekyll Island, Ga. Since then, the Lady Eagles have maintained a top 20 status and have competitive finishes in every tournament so far this season. Photos by Ryan Bartels
Hal Wynn Head Coach, Softball
Lady Eagles Make First-ever SSAC Semis Faulkner’s women’s basketball team utilized a Kayla Tillman buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the close of regulation to generate new life in an eventual 73-72 overtime win against Martin Methodist in this season’s Southern States Athletic Conference tournament. The victory marked the program’s first-ever in the event. Tillman had 21 points in the game, all of which came from behind the arc, and was later named to the alltournament team. The sixth-seeded Lady Eagles lost both match-ups against the third-seeded Redhawks in the regular season. Faulkner fell to No. 18 Bethel 66-46 in the semifinals.
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ALUMNI WEEKEND 2017 by Robin Bradford
What started with a conversation in President William’s office about bringing alumni back to campus to talk with our current students, grew into Alumni Weekend. Buddy Bell speaks to students during Each of the four Alumni Weekend colleges at Faulkner
University invited alumni who have excelled in their field to speak to the current students in that particular college during the Friday Forums. This year’s theme was Marketplace Faith. Friday morning, Feb. 17, was full of excitement as students gathered in each college to listen to the alumni share what they did while on campus and how their professors and studies prepared them for a career in their field. The alums also spoke about how their faith has guided them in their day to day work. Interaction between the students and alumni was a big part of making the Friday Forums a success.
Friday night brought entertainment with an outdoor fire pit concert featuring A Very Moody Band. Mike Moody (‘88), Braden Pace (‘07) and Alan Kaye, College of Business, played the tunes while alumni and friends enjoyed visiting and roasting marshmallows for s’mores. Saturday featured an alumni luncheon where the dean of each college presented an award to their Distinguished Alumni, who graduated ten or more years ago and Young Alumni, a graduate of less than ten years. Dr. James Moore (‘67) was named the 2017 Alumnus of the Year. A graduate of what was then Alabama Christian College, Moore was once voted Most Likely to Succeed. He is now president of Mount Dora Christian Academy in Florida. Following the luncheon, each college held an open house dessert reception where alumni and friends could visit each other and with faculty. Saturday afternoon featured basketball games. Alumni Weekend closed out with a dinner theater performance of Neil Simon’s comedy “Fools.” The alumni office has plans to build on these events for an even bigger Alumni Weekend 2018!
After the Friday Forums, the alumni enjoyed time with each other and faculty during lunch in the cafeteria.
Alumni Winners 2017 Alumnus of the year James Moore, ‘67
President, Mount Dora Christian Academy Florida Photos by Christopher Kratzer
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College of Business Distinguished Alumnus Darin Phillips, ‘96
College of Business Young Alumna Lexie Emerson, ‘07
College of Education Distinguished Alumna Angela J. McMath, ‘88
College of Education Young Alumna Julia Taylor Horn, ‘12
College of Arts & Sciences English, Humanities, Fine Arts, Great Books Distinguished Alumnus Dr. Joshua A. Sipper, ‘97
College of Arts & Sciences English, Humanities, Fine Arts, Great Books Young Alumnus Kyle Boerstler, ‘09 and ‘13
College of Arts & Sciences Behavioral & Social Sciences, P.E., Legal Studies, Criminal Justice Distinguished Alumna Shelly J. Gravatt, ‘95
College of Arts & Sciences Behavioral & Social Sciences, P.E., Legal Studies, Criminal Justice Young Alumna Kayla Frisby, ‘06
College of Arts & Sciences Math, Science, Computer Science Distinguished Alumna Lanae Holaway Kaney, ‘99 and ‘01
College of Arts & Sciences Math, Science, Computer Science Young Alumna Andrea Presley, ‘14
College of Biblical Studies Distinguished Alumnus Mark Martin, ‘84
College of Biblical Studies Young Alumnus Billy Camp, ‘12 and ‘16
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ALUMNI NEWS
selected as teacher of the year. Army Major Valarie Caldwell-Gandy (‘09) recently completed a Department of Defense Congressional fellowship. During the fellowship Caldwell-Gandy worked with Rep. Marc Veasey (R-Texas). Aaron Pettus (‘10) became the pulpit minister for the Douglasville Church of Christ, Douglasville, Ga. in October 2016. Sean Thom (‘10, ‘11) is the new head football coach at Mayville State University in North Dakota.
NEWS Norris Green ( J.D., ‘86) is the newly named executive director of the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners. David Bowers (‘90), and Faulkner students Jordan Linder and Matthew Oliver went on a mission trip last summer to Jinotega, Nicauragua to work with Misión Para Cristo. Kathy S. Campbell (J.D., ‘92) was inducted into the Alabama David Bowers, Matthew Oliver, Educational Leadership and Jordan Linder Hall of Fame on Nov. 18, 2016. Campbell was the first recipient of the Black Law Students Association’s Outstanding Leadership Award at Jones School of Law in 2007. Cooper Rutland (J.D., ‘94) was sworn in as Bullock County district judge in Union Springs, Ala. in January 2016. Zack Collins (J.D., ‘02) was sworn in as Russell County district judge in Phenix City, Ala. in January. Jody Willoughby (J.D., ‘06) was sworn in as Etowah County district attorney in Gadsden, Ala. in January. Heather Dailey Chinoski (‘07) was named Kingry Orthodontics’ 2016 Teacher of the Year. Chinoski teaches 7th grade at St. James in Montgomery, Ala. A student nominated Chinoski for the honor by submitting an essay detailing why his teacher should be
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Jennifer Ellisor (‘11) recently completed her Master’s in special education at AUM. She teaches at Peter Crump Elementary in Montgomery, Ala. Andrew Robert Anderson (‘12) graduated from Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine in May 2016. Hazael Wessin (‘14) is the strength and conditioning coach with the Houston Astros and Astros minor league affiliate, the Quad Cities River Bandits. P. J. Hammett Floyd (J.D., ‘14) recently began practicing law with Maloney Law Firm in Jacksonville, Ala. Shelby Woods (‘15) completed her Master’s in Elementary Education from the University of West Alabama in December 2016. Justin Jones (‘16) was recently elected as Ward 4 councilor for Millbrook City, Ala. Jones was sworn into office on Nov. 29, 2016. Josh Smith (‘12) and Andrea Presley (‘14), co-own Christian Web Technologies (CWTech). Smith and Presley, along with Andrew Kingsley (‘12) and current Faulkner student Sean Pettus, design websites and mobile apps with a specific focus on churches and ministries. “We offer services to anyone,” said Presley, “but we do try to pay special attention to churches.” Nicholas Revels (‘15), alumni of the Department Computer Science is teaching Software Development as an adjunct in the department. Revels is also employed as a programmer analyst at AUM Advanced
Technologies. Another department alum, Brione Godby (‘11), is also an adjunct in the department.
Lanae Holaway Kaney (‘99 & ‘01) was recently awarded alumnus of the year by the College of Arts and Sciences. She was invited to present to current Faulkner students during the university’s Marketplace Faith forums. “It was great to be back on campus after so many years. The campus has made a lot of improvements and looks great! I enjoyed catching up with some of the faculty members at the luncheons. There is something to be said about an organization that has so many employees to still be there almost 20 years later,” Kaney said. “I enjoyed being able to speak on the panel to the math, science and computer science students about real world experience in my field. It was an incredible honor to be recognized by the College Arts and Sciences. There have been so many talented alumni that graduated with me, let alone those who came before and after me. Just to be considered is a huge honor.” Being back on campus gave Kaney a chance to reflect on her time at Faulkner University. “I have very fond memories from my time at Faulkner. I loved every bit of the time spent playing on the Lady Eagles Softball team. The faculty and staff are and were wonderful at Faulkner. They were always willing to go the extra mile for the students. I enjoyed the small class size in subjects taught from a Christian worldview.” Kaney said, “I was very fortunate to receive such a quality Christian education while playing the game that I have always loved.”
MARRIAGES Matthew Eugene Stoner (’06) wed Laura Howard Haselden on Sept. 17, 2016. Meredith (Botes, ‘16) and James (‘16) Thompson were married July 16, 2016. The couple moved to Italy in January and are currently working in Scandicci with Avanti Italia. The program is overseen by the College Church of Christ in Searcy, Ark. According to Meredith, “Our focus is essentially disciple-making. We offer free one-on-one English lessons. We use the Bible to teach English. Students are aware our intent is to teach them the Gospel as well as English. I always like to clarify that so people know that our students aren’t blind-sided or deceived when they come to learn. Many of our students are equally as interested in the Bible as they are the English!” Dustin (‘14) and Laine (Kelly, ‘14) Villarreal were married on Nov. 19, 2016 at Cathcart House and Estate in Wetumpka, Ala. The Villarreal’s live in Birmingham where Dustin is a territory sales representative at G&K Services and Dustin and Laine Villarreal Laine is in the University of Alabama Birmingham’s Doctorate of Physical Therapy Program.
BIRTHS
Aleithia Eden Hangen
Matt (‘06 & ‘08) and Grace (Stout) Hangen, are the proud parents of Aleithia Eden, born Jan. 12, 2017.
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Matt, Laurie, Carlie, and Walker Matthew Morris
Matt and Laurie Morris (‘02) welcomed Walker Matthew into their family on Feb. 23, 2017. Congratulations to big sister Carlie. Paul, Jessie, and Benjamin Paul (‘07) and Paul Sullivan Jessie (Coats, ‘07)
Andrew, Laurie Ann, Crews, and Cameron Itson
Andrew (‘09 & ‘14) and Laurie Ann (Wadley, ‘09) Itson finalized the adoption of their second son, Cameron, on Feb. 21, 2017. Congratulations to big brother Crews.
Sullivan are the proud parents of Benjamin Paul Sullivan, born Dec. 20, 2016.
brother Beckham.
Congratulations to Barry (‘07) and Tiffany Wiginton, proud parents of Emersyn Quinn, born Sept. 7, 2016. She joins big
Addison Elizabeth Bass
Adam (‘11) and Beth (Housley, ‘05) Bass welcomed Addison Elizabeth, born Jan. 4, 2017.
Nathan (‘07) and Leigh (Walker, ‘07) Woodring had a daughter, Alexandra Leigh on Oct. 17, 2016. Kevin (‘08) and Brittany (Justice, ‘07) Long welcomed Aubrey Dean Long to their family on Feb. 21, 2017. She Nathan, Leigh, and Alexandra weighed 7 lbs 8 oz Leigh Woodring and was 19 in long. Congratulations to big brother Ace!
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Grant Thomas and Harper Joyce Weatherill
Kevin and Christy (Cheatham, ‘11) Weatherill welcomed twins into their family. Grant Thomas and Harper Joyce were born on Feb. 17, 2017.
Justin (‘11) and Allison Hay welcomed daughter Caldwell Mae on Sept. 29, 2016. Congratulations to Billy (‘12 & ‘16) and Shelby (Vega, ‘11) Camp on the birth of their first child, Kinley Elise.
DEATHS Felix Norman (‘65), 71, of Montgomery, Ala. died Jan. 4, 2017. James Matthew Baker (‘15), 22, of Huntsville, Ala. died Sept. 11, 2016.
of Troy, Ala., died Sept. 7, 2016. Lourine Black, 95, of Montgomery, Ala, died March 9, 2017. Black was the widow of V.P. Black, a former board member and namesake of the V.P. Black College of Biblical Studies. John Byron Hollis (J.D., ‘90), 54, native of Florence, Ala., but most recently of Ooltewah, Tenn., died Sept. 17, 2016. Roy Mitchell McCaig, 78, died at his home on April 13, 2017. McCaig was a former member of Faulkner’s Board of Trustees.
Anthony Paul Hunt (‘96 & J.D., ‘03), 43, of Dadeville, Ala. died Jan. 5, 2017. Troy City Councilwoman Dejerilyn King James Matthew Baker Henderson (‘90), 59,
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