Faulkner University Magazine Spring 2016

FAULKNER SPRING 2016

MAGAZINE

Inauguration of Mike Williams Eighth President of Faulkner University

Roxy Wishum

Inspired to Inspire

Lamar A. Harrison Day Honoring the Father of Faulkner Baseball

Letter from the President, MIKE WILLIAMS

As this academic year comes to a close, it’s a good time to look back and reflect. Over the past year, the Faulkner University mission statement has become particularly meaningful to me, especially the last line, “where every individual matters everyday.” I hope that over the course of my first year, our students and alumni have felt like they mattered to me everyday.

The impact of our mission statement cannot end at the edge of our campus. We must be diligent in service to our community, our city, our state and beyond. To the extent our graduates imitate the life of Christ in service to broken humanity, our mission attainment is fulfilled. In this issue you'll read some powerful stories of our alumni engaged in meaningful service.

In addition to updates on our alumni, you’ll find a profile on this year’s benefit dinner speaker, Rudy Giuliani–a man who devoted his life to public service. You’ll also read how Faulkner is contributing to public discourse on issues directly affecting our nation through our annual Fred Gray Civil Rights Symposium and theater professor Angie Dickson’s original work Over the Bridge. You’ll see our students giving back to the community through one of this university’s greatest traditions, Jamboree.

These things are only a glimpse of the way that Faulkner University is working to ensure that “every individual matters everyday.”

The great children’s educator and creator of “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,” Fred Rogers, once said, “Life is for service.”

My prayer is that we would instill that ethic into every Faulkner man and woman, so that it would be said of our institution, “Faulkner is for service.”

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contents

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Lamar Harrison: The Father of Faulkner Baseball

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Faulkner University Inaugurates Eighth President, Mike Williams

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The Voice of a Generation: Tom Brokaw

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Khirbet e-Maqatir: History of a Biblical Site

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Dickson Unveils Original Play at Faulkner Dinner Theatre

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Inspired to Inspire

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An Interview with Lisa Williams

Academic News Law Briefs New Employees Find Warm Welcome at Faulkner University Game On: Jamboree 2016 Sports Briefs Alumni News

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ead

upcoming events

JUNE 4-11 Faulkner Women’s Basketball Camps 6-9 Computer Camp 9 Vanguard Preaching Camp 9-10 College Bound II 13 LeadersConnect mall ad 13 Boy’s Basketball Camp 24 Church of Christ Day at Six Flags Over Georgia 24-25 Summer Reunion

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JULY 14-15 College Bound III Schedule of events 14-30 Oklahoma!

OCTOBER 6 Benefit Dinner featuring Rudy Giuliani

Faulkner University

GOEGL ALABAMA A

Place Month Decal Here

C H R I S T I A N

U N I V E R S I T Y

HEART OF

DIXIE

Place Year Decal Here

Brag with your Tag When you buy a Faulkner University license plate, $46.50 of the $50 annual cost goes to Faulkner as a donation to our scholarship fund.

You can also personalize your plate at no additional cost!

For more information, visit your local Alabama Motor Vehicle Division office or visit http://www.revenue.alabama.gov/ motorvehicle/collegeview.html.

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Faulkner University A

C H R I S T I A N

U N I V E R S I T Y

Editorial Staff

Administration

Publisher Patrick Gregory Editor-in-chief Christopher Kratzer Managing Editor Loren Howell Staff Writers Doug Amos Ashley Sherlock Michaela Pettway Design Angela Hardgrave Contributors Ryan Bartels Dr. Scott Gleaves

President Dr. Michael D. Williams Vice Presidents Dr. Wayne Baker Keith Mock Wilma Phillips Dr. Dave Rampersad Jim Spratlin Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson Associate Vice Presidents Billy Camp Jamie Horn Mark Hunt Assistant Vice President Renee Davis

Board of Trustees Dr. Billy Lambert, Chair Mr. Ted A. Norton, Vice Chair Ms. Glenda Major, Secretary Mr. Roy Johnson, Parliamentarian Mr. Jason Akins Mr. Dale Kirkland Dr. E.R. Brannan Mr. H. Louis Lester, Jr. Mr. Jim Campbell Mr. Don Lewis Mr. Ernie F. Chappell Dr. Mansel Long, Jr. Mr. Joseph W. Donaldson Dr. Henri McDaniel Mr. Michael S. Eubanks Judge Carole Medley Ms. Carlton L. Freeman Mr. Phil Norton Mr. Justin “Chip” Garrett Dr. Henry A. Parker Dr. Jess Hall, Jr. Mr. David Phillips Mr. John W. Hill III Mr. Mike Pickens Dr. Mike Houts Mr. Tim Richardson Mr. David Howell Mr. J.T. “Jabo” Waggoner Mr. Roy Johnson Mr. Robert W. Walters Mr. Frank “Butch” Jones Ms. Anna Weeks Ms. Libby Jones Dr. Jack Zorn Trustees Emeriti Mr. Dewey R. Barber Dr. Charles W. Britnell Mr. Archie B. Crenshaw Atty. Fred D. Gray Dr. Kenneth L. Harris

Dr. Lamar A. Harrison Mr. David Howell Mr. Tom Neuhauser Mr. Flavil Nichols Mr. B. O. Richardson Mr. Kenneth M. Shumard

LAMAR HARRISON: THE FATHER OF

By Christopher Kratzer FAULKNER BASEBALL Faulkner honored the father of Faulkner baseball, longtime university board member and benefactor, Lamar Harrison on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at “Lamar A. Harrison Day” on campus.

The Harrison family was in attendance at a special chapel service Wednesday morning. Harrison’s impact on the program and its student-athletes specifically and the university as a whole was documented through a video presentation. Additionally, Harrison received a personalized Faulkner baseball jersey and a 2013 NAIA World Series ring from baseball coach Patrick McCarthy.

During the ceremony, Faulkner president Mike Williams spoke about the impact Harrison has had on the students of Faulkner University.

“Lamar Harrison’s legacy wasn’t just a first class facility at Faulkner University,” Williams said. “It was building champions of character. Men whose lives have impacted our world long after they hung up their cleats. Men who, like Lamar Harrison, want to build something.”

Following the ceremony, a luncheon was held in Harrison’s honor, attended by Faulkner baseball alumni and others. The Eagles hosted Talladega on Wednesday afternoon, where Harrison threw out the first pitch with many of the Harrison family and former players looking on.

Harrison spearheaded plans for Faulkner’s baseball field, which now bears his name. It is generally considered one of the nicest facilities in the NAIA. The field stands as a lasting testament to the dream Harrison had, according to Williams.

“To say that Lamar Harrison was the chief architect of Faulkner baseball is a gross understatement,” Williams said. “In reality, he invested in the lives of young men.

These young men developed into principled leaders in their families, communities and churches. It is true that Faulkner Photos by Christopher Kratzer baseball has won national championships and numerous conference accolades, yet his legacy is best expressed in the men of character built at Harrison Field.”

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To say that Lamar Harrison was the chief architect of Faulkner baseball is a gross understatement.

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Faulkner University Inaugurates Eighth President, Mike Williams

By Christopher Kratzer

Faulkner University inaugurated Dr. Michael D. Williams, Friday, Feb. 12, as the eighth president in its 74-year history. Over 400 guests gathered for the event, held at Faulkner University’s Montgomery Campus.

The event included an invocation from university chancellor Billy Hilyer, greetings from Faulkner University students and staff, local officials and members of the Christian higher education community, as well as performances by the university chorus and Cornerstone, the university’s premiere 6

a cappella group.

Photos by Patrick Gregory

“I’m humbled by the outpouring of support I’ve received during the inauguration event. It is such a privilege to serve in concert with this distinguished group of Christian scholars and outstanding student body. Faulkner has a rich heritage as a Christcentered institute of higher learning,” Williams said. “I look forward to continuing to work with the university community as we craft a bold, ambitious vision for the future.”

“I’m humbled by the outpouring of support I’ve received during the inauguration event. It is such a privilege to serve in concert with this distinguished group of Christian scholars and outstanding student body.”

Prior to the inauguration, Faulkner hosted university guests, state and local officials and representatives from colleges across the country for a brunch and an hour of prayer event. The hour of prayer, organized

by Faulkner’s board chairman, Billy Lambert, led guests in prayer for the president, the inauguration, the faculty and staff, the students, the mission of the school, higher education and other topics.

Williams took the helm of Faulkner University in June of 2015. Shortly after arriving, Williams launched the Taking Flight tour. President Williams and Faulkner ambassadors have been traveling around the southeast, holding receptions and events for alumni, potential students, donors and friends of the university. The university has already hosted events in Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, Valdosta, Atlanta, Nashville and several other cities. Williams hopes the tour will give him the opportunity to meet

and hear from the Faulkner Nation first hand.

The selection of Williams was announced in January 2015, the conclusion of a year-long search by an eight-member search committee.

Williams comes to Faulkner after 28 years at Harding University. During his time at Harding, he served as the director of admissions, assistant vice president of enrollment services and most recently as the vice president of advancement. Williams received both his bachelor and master of business administration from Harding. He received a doctorate of education from the University of Pennsylvania.

Williams assumed the role held for 29 years by Billy Hilyer, who now serves the university as chancellor.

Hilyer said that he was sure Williams was the perfect fit at Faulkner University.

“Mike has the academic training and background needed for the job, and over the past 20 years he has worked in two areas of higher education (fundraising and enrollment) where success is easily defined but hard to achieve.

He has been very successful in both of those areas,” Hilyer said.

“More importantly, he has the inward qualities and personal characteristics necessary for success as a leader in higher education.”

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An Interview with

Lisa Williams

BY CHRISTOPHER KRATZER

Did you always see yourself in higher education?

LW: The first thing I thought I wanted to do was design homes and be an architect. When my uncles and my dad would mow their grass, I would go out and get their grass clippings and put floor plans on the yards. In my mind, I knew exactly how it was going to look if it was built. As I grew older, my parents were like, “Oh goodness you’ll never be able to eat, you’ll have to move far away.”

Your career path has been quite a departure from architecture. How did you decide on education?

LW: I’m not sure my parents realized it at the time, but they influenced me to go into education.

At first, I was unsure. I’m sitting

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in all these education classes and they’re saying you have to love children, you’ve got to be a good teacher, and I’m thinking, “I don’t know I if I have that passion. I don’t know how this is going to work.” As time went on I realized that I felt like I could make a difference in the lives of people by being a teacher, and I really liked it. I remember the first day when I came home from work, it was very late, and I came in and just kind of collapsed at the front door and Mike said, “Are you okay?” and I looked at him and I said, “Of all things I could have been, I could’ve been anything, and I chose this.” I grew to love it, though.

Did you meet your husband through your work in education?

LW: I went to Ohio Valley University for two years and

graduated from there. That’s about the time I met Mike. He was working at OVU at the time and we were set up on a blind date. After that, we dated for about two years and once we got married we went to Searcy. I went to Harding and got my masters there in education with an emphasis in reading.

You’ve had a lot of experience in charter schools. How did you move into that branch of education?

LW: We were looking at a different school for our oldest son in Searcy and came across a virtual charter school, which at the time was a pilot program. They were giving all these information sessions across the state and we decided it wasn’t going to work for us. We got invited to a second one and when we went back Mike said, “Hey! Why don’t you take your resume?” I said,

“Well if you’ll update it, I’ll take it.” So we open up the door and there stands a lady Mike knows, of course, and so we talked. I handed her my resume and 45 minutes later she said she’d call me the next week.

That was the start. I started working in a virtual environment teaching children, and I did that for about six years. And we were chartered in that sixth year by the state of Arkansas.

We were a pilot funded by the federal government. I taught in that environment for another year, and for the next eight years, I worked in the administration.

job, ultimately. If you’re the one putting flowers in the ground around the school building to make it look like a better place where people want to be, then that’s important. If you’re trying to keep it safe, that’s important. If you are determining who’s going to work there, who’s not, who’s going to be a student, who’s not, that’s important. If you’re just there to smile and greet people at the door, that’s important too. My role is whatever anybody else’s role is: to be an ambassador for the school.

Did you enjoy that experience outside of the traditional school environment?

What is it about Faulkner that made you know, “This is the right fit?”

LW: I liked it a lot because I would visit with a lot of lobbyists and legislators. I had reported to the Arkansas department of education and the state board of education, so it was a very difficult job, but I actually loved it.

What do you enjoy about the higher education environment?

LW: You can’t be around college students for very long and not love them. You just can’t. They’re incredible. And we had college students in our home in Searcy and that’s just the icing on the cake.

There’s nothing that gets any better than that. And so when you think about how you can have an impact on a young generation getting ready to go out into the world, there’s so many ways you could do that and that’s exciting.

was something that we strived for, was that everybody mattered. I love that Faulkner has that ingrained in its culture.

What is it about higher education that you’re passionate about?

LW: Well the typical responses would be that it’s an obligation to your world, the community you’re living in, the national LW: I love the mission statement. community, the global community, on One of the very first things I all levels of society. What I’m passionate said when I read it was I love about is something that’s unique to the part that says “where every Christian higher education. Helping people individual matters every day.” come closer to God, be the people He When I was working in education wants them to be and go out into the world. administration, I wanted each That was always the piece that was missing of our teachers to make sure where I was before. I couldn’t talk about our students felt like they were that piece. All I could say was “it matters important. If they didn’t care about what you do” and I couldn’t go any further. the children, it didn’t matter what I love that Faulkner is helping create program we had in place. It wasn’t Christian men and women who are going to going to be successful. So that shape the future of our world.

How do you see your role as first lady?

LW: I think it’s what everybody else’s role is that’s associated with Faulkner. I think we all have to help project the university to a path that’s going to leave a legacy for the world. We all have the same

Photos submitted

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The Voice of a Generation:

Tom Brokaw Renowned journalist Tom Brokaw headlined Faulkner University’s Annual Benefit Dinner on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015. The dinner honored the greatest generation. President Mike Williams recognized seven Alabamians who either served during World War II or worked in factories supporting the war effort.

During his speech, Williams said that this emerging generation had the makings of a next “greatest generation,” but that they need our support.

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“We are incredibly thankful for everyone who came and supported this event. We hope everyone had a memorable evening.

The contributions made by the people that attended the dinner are changing the lives of this emerging generation,” university president Mike Williams said. “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.”

Photos by Keith Hildebrand and Christopher Kratzer

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Khirbet el-Maqatir: History of a Biblical Site

BY CHRISTOPHER KRATZER An archaeological exhibit at Faulkner University’s Kearley Graduate School of Theology is now open to the public. The exhibit, “Khirbet el-Maqatir: History of a Biblical Site,” features over 60 artifacts from the excavation of Ai, including lamps, a chariot axle, storage pots, a mortar and pestle, sling stones, coins and many other items of historical significance.

The items will be displayed until December in the F. Furman Kearley Library. The grand opening of the exhibit was during the university’s annual Faulkner Lectures, Feb. 28 – March 3. The artifacts were previously on display at the Museum Center at 5ive Points in Cleveland, Tenn.

The exhibit can be viewed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. There is no charge to view the exhibit.

Dr. G. Scott Gleaves, associate professor of New Testament studies and ministry and dean of Kearley Graduate School of Theology was excited the school was able to offer the exhibit to the public.

“The Kearley Graduate School of Theology was one of several dozen universities who made a bid to host the Khirbet el-Maqatir exhibit. I received notice in December of 2015 that we had won the bid to host the exhibit through 2016,” Gleaves said. “We picked up the artifacts in January of this year and worked steadily through the month of February to prepare the exhibit for public viewing.”

After the fall of Jericho, Joshua and the Israelites moved against the fortress of Ai. Though defeated in the initial attack, Joshua devised a strategy which led to the conquest of Ai. At Khirbet elMaqatir, archaeologists have discovered the probable remains of Ai, according to Dr. Randall Bailey, professor of Bible and the director of the Kearley Graduate School of Theology.

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“[These are significant findings], historically and biblically. They confirm the time period specified in the Bible and aid us in identification of the biblical site Ai, which has been difficult to identify,” Bailey said. “The numerous years of archaeological work have been a great aid in that.”

Khirbet (which means “ruins of ”) elMaqatir is strategically located in the highlands of Canaan, north of Jerusalem,

is underneath the late Hellenistic/early Roman village from the first century B.C. and first century A.D. The exhibit will give people a glimpse into the past, according to Bailey.

“In my doctoral program I worked in a hands-on archaeology museum. I would hold up a jug or pot of some kind and say, ‘This artifact came from ancient Israel in the Iron Age period, or 1000 B.C.’ People would say, ‘OK.’ Then I would say, ‘The person who made this artifact may have seen King David.’ The reaction was always the same–shock,” Bailey said. “They were reaching across time and touching an ancient object that connected with biblical characters.”

The exhibit will be open to the public through December 2016.

on the south bank of the Wadi el-Gayeh.

It lies on the east side of the main northsouth ridge road through the central hill country, running from Jerusalem to Bethel (modern El Bireh) west of the site and on to Shechem to the north. A major east-west road proceeded from Rabbah in Transjordan, past the north side of Khirbet el-Maqatir, on to Bethel, and then to Joppa on the Mediterranean coast. It is situated on an eroded natural limestone hill whose summit is 2920 feet above sea level.

Bedrock is exposed in many places with the remaining soil less than 3.3 feet deep in most cases, except for the portion of the fortress (approximately 25 percent) that

For more information about the exhibit, contact the Kearley Graduate School of Theology at 334-386-7154.

Photos by Christopher Kratzer

Dickson Unveils Original Play at Faulkner Dinner Theater

BY ASHLEY SHERLOCK

In October 2015, Faulkner Dinner Theatre performed The Other Side of the Bridge, an original play by one of Faulkner’s theatre professors, Angie Dickson. The production was in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery march, but Dickson’s inspiration came from a single photograph.

“There was a photograph that we used in the production that I saw at the Archives and History building of a national guard soldier with his back turned. My dad was a national guardsman who stood on the line to protect the marchers from Selma to Montgomery,” Dickson said.

Seeing the photograph prompted her to reflect on her father’s experiences during the Selma to Montgomery march.

“I thought, ‘isn't it interesting that that could be him? But he didn’t want his face seen, he didn’t turn around where many people are having to be the faces of this march because they are trying to get their point across, they’re trying to get this voting right approved. But here’s this person who is helping them do that, but he doesn't face the camera.’ That just brought up so many questions to me about what was happening at that time,” Dickson said.

Loosely based on her own family, the play mostly took place in a family house, which acted as a safe spot in which the family was allowed to respond truthfully to what was happening in the outside world at that time. Dickson used her personal experiences in a family setting to bring a negativity that is portrayed with southerners to light.

“One of the lines is ‘they need to see us.’ They need to see that there are people who care and there are people who want to do what’s right. They’re not angry or racist. That never was an issue in our house growing up. We never talked about it–it just was not an issue.”

The Other Side of the Bridge is no longer showing at the dinner theatre, but an artist’s work is never complete. The play got picked up for possible production at York College, and Mrs. Dickson is continuing to make improvements to her brainchild and working to get it published.

Photo by Patrick Gregory

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INSPIRED TO INSPIRE

BY PATRICK GREGORY

To even consider running 26.2 miles, biking 112 miles and swimming 2.4 miles—all in one day—can be intimidating, to say the least. Yet, for thousands of people it’s a lifelong goal—a legacy defining accomplishment.

Since the 2000 Olympic Games, when triathlon made its first appearance, interest in the sport has grown tremendously, especially in the aptly-named IronMan triathlon. However, the race distances in the triathlon and IronMan are different. The IronMan triathlon is a longdistance version of triathlon and is considered one of the most difficult one-day sporting competitions in the world. Even with the knowledge of how 14

grueling the IronMan could be, one of Faulkner’s own not only competed once—he went back for more.

“The thought of competing in an IronMan terrified me, especially the 2.4 mile swim,” said Roxy Wishum, counselor at Faulkner University. “So, I went down to Florida to volunteer at an event and seeing the people there really inspired me. They were all shapes and sizes and ages. There were some Tarzanlooking people there, but there were more people that were very average looking. And to watch them finish the race was extremely inspiring. Even more inspiring was that the winners

of the competition—the early finishers—come back out late in the day and hand out medals to the people that are finishing late. So there were world-class athletes hanging medals on the necks of the average Joe that’s just out there trying to accomplish something.”

It’s easy to see how that display of sportsmanship and encouragement resonated with Wishum. He, too is an encourager, and that’s what helped motivate him to finish his first IronMan competition.

He continues, “Because I have completed a few triathlon competitions, I now have a story I can share with others. I’m not

saying that should be a goal for everyone, to finish an IronMan, but whatever it is you think you’d like to do but think you can’t do, realize that you can actually do much more than you think.

So I now have my own real life personal example to share with people to say you can do more than you think you can do. I have failed several times, and I know what that feels like—I know the embarrassment and the hurt of that, but you keep going.”

“I now have my own real life personal example to share with people to say you can do more than you think you can do.”

Every day, Wishum shares his knowledge and experiences with students and coworkers in the counseling center. “I’ve learned that I can do more than I thought I could do. I’ve also learned that I need to eliminate some things and focus on fewer things. I encounter people, almost on a daily basis who say, “I wish I could do that…” and then have an excuse and have decided they

Photos submitted

can’t do anything hard...but in fact, they can. I sometimes tell them I have a friend who competes, and he doesn’t have any legs, so, in fact, they can.

The ability to challenge your own thinking and change your mind and realizing ‘I can think differently about this. And if I think differently, the outcome will be different’ is extremely powerful. And that’s what we do in the counseling center.

We help people realize that if

they change the way they think, they’ll change their life. That’s a powerful message and I think triathlons are a great illustration of that. Romans 12:2 is one of my favorite scriptures ‘…to be transformed by the renewing of your mind’.”

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ACADEMIC NEWS

STUDENTS INDUCTED INTO ALPHA CHI NATIONAL COLLEGE HONOR SOCIETY The 2016 induction ceremony for the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society took place during chapel on Wednesday, March 30th. Twentytwo students were recognized for academic achievements which made them the top 10% of their class.

This year’s inductees are: Kassandra Berrios-Beck, Savannah Burns, Emily Donovan, Eran East, Charisa Hagel, Moriah Hagel, Sven Helms, Emma Herren, Loran Hill, Mehdi Himmich, Alysa Klassen, Heather Lashley, Maggie Mitchell, Jonathan Moorey, Jake Newcomb, Bethany Parker, Lacey Sargent, Amy Seymour, Erika Stratton, Morgan Sutton, Tatyana Thompson, and Kelsey Woodham.

These students joined Faulkner’s Alpha Chi chapter, which was established in 1985, under the direction of Lynda Brooks. Today it is sponsored by Kelley Morris, Susan Hammond, Jason Jewell, Matthew Sokoloski, and Andrew Jacobs.

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While academic achievement is necessary for membership, character and service are also emphasized.

Students are encouraged to participate in national and regional Alpha Chi conventions. During these annual meetings, students present projects and are “given opportunities to have their work recognized, and also to learn from other students,” says Morris.

The goal of membership in Alpha Chi is to be influential to others.

According to Morris, “Alpha Chi represents the whole student body by striving to do good work in academics and also in other areas of life. It represents striving for excellence and service, and will help to promote the idea of learning as something that is lifelong.”

students' work to see what they were understanding. We picked three or four children that seemed to be struggling with the concept and did a reteach lesson.” Reteach lessons usually took place in smaller groups, or in one-on-one settings.

Visiting Valiant Cross was an opportunity for the children to better understand material, and the Faulkner students to cultivate their confidence. “(When) you walk into Valiant Cross you just feel the energy and the excitement and the readiness to learn, and I just love that. I want the students to know that they matter and that they can really do anything if they just apply themselves,” said Tidwell.

VALIANT CROSS A group of Faulkner students tutored students of Valiant Cross Academy, a private, all-male elementary school situated in downtown Montgomery.

The college of education students, under the direction of Dr. Leslie Cowell, professor of education, worked with the children as a way to prepare for the edTPA, a performance assessment required as a prerequisite in becoming preservice teachers.

Paula Tidwell, a junior education major, observed in the classroom for three days a week. She says, “we observed three math classes and then we took up a sample of the

MR. & MISS FAULKNER 2016 Each year two seniors are awarded the title of Mr. and Miss Faulkner.

The titles are awarded to students who have excelled academically, embodied the university’s mission, embraced its ideals, and exemplified the qualities of a leader during their time at Faulkner. The faculty nominates four male and four female students, then the student body votes to select the recipients of the awards.

This year's 2016 Mr. and Miss Faulkner are Jacob Hendrix from Mobile, AL, and Lacey Sargent from Tuscaloosa, AL. “Faulkner University is special because of the people. Whether that is athletes, teachers, or classmates, everyone carries a genuine kindness about them,” Hendrix said. “We are family.”

"Being recognized as Miss Faulkner has been the most humbling honor I have ever received. The nomination alone was more than I ever expected,” Sargent said. “Being given this opportunity to represent the school that I love means so much to me."

Both Hendrix and Sargent humbly gave glory to God for blessing them with this honor.

"These young people represent the ideals of this institution and are outstanding representatives of their generation. Their achievements make me proud that they are part of our Faulkner family,” President Mike Williams said.

by millennials who have deep convictions about their faith in Jesus and His church. Faulkner's students Trevonte Peterson, Lacey Sargent, Andrew Gifford, Daniel and Leigh Roberts and Patricia Wampol contributed to the book. Morton spoke in chapel about the optimism he has in the next generation in reaching the world for Christ. Those students from Faulkner University who contributed essays to the book participated in a book-signing after chapel and more than 100 books were donated by the V. P. Black College of Biblical Studies to be distributed to students on campus.

Scott Gleaves, dean of the college of Biblical Studies, said this about Morton, "He seeks ways on a daily basis to encourage students. He often spends hours before, between, and after his teaching assignments to counsel students and to attend student events. He and his wife, Sharon, have opened up their home and their hearts to students. Bruce is the quintessential example of how Christian education impacts the faith and learning of students on campus.

CHURCHWELL DEFENDS DOCTORAL DISSERTATION

YOUNG FAITH BY PROFESSOR BRUCE MORTON Assistant Professor Bruce Morton's book Young Faith contains essays

business topics from a Christian perspective. The best business instruction manual ever published is the Bible,” says Churchwell.

Mark Churchwell successfully defended his doctoral dissertation on Wednesday, March 16, at Alabama State University and earned an Ed.D in Educational Leadership, Policy and Law. The title of Churchwell's dissertation is A Study of Factors that Influence Job Satisfaction of Christian School Teachers. Churchwell is an instructor in the college of business and has been teaching at Faulkner since 2003. “I choose to teach at Faulkner because I prefer to teach

NUMBER OF FEMALE BIBLE MAJORS ON THE RISE AT FAULKNER The number of female Bible majors at Faulkner University is on the rise, according to Bible professor Dr. Todd Brenneman. “Female Bible majors have very important roles even in a tradition that emphasizes male spiritual leadership. We need women who have studied the Bible and therefore are prepared to fulfill other roles in the Church and in a variety 17

of non-profit, non-church settings,” Brenneman said.

FAULKNER DINNER THEATRE ANNOUNCES 2016–2017 SEASON

According to Dyani Thompson, freshman missions major, “One challenge of being a Bible major is trying not to get caught up in the theological arguments that really don’t matter… some things can only be answered in a personal conversation with God, while other things are not meant to be answered at all.”

Sarah Mae Bragg, a sophomore missions major, says: “I’ve been told that I cannot go into the field that I feel called to go into, been accused of being a Bible major for the purpose of getting married, and have come in contact with people who discredit my education because I’m a woman.”

However, Bragg says, “I’ve found that this is equipping me the way I was hoping this track would, to stand up gracefully against people who tell me I can’t do what I feel God is calling me to do. There are some really incredible professors that are loving and compassionate to everyone they come in contact with, who just want their students to love Christ.”

The Faulkner Dinner Theatre recently announced its 2016-2017 season.

The season starts with Oklahoma! running July 14-30. Next is Agatha Christie's Mousetrap from October 7-22. This year's holiday offering is Irving Berlin's White Christmas December 1-17. Fools, a comedy by Neil Simon will show February 9-25. The season ends in April with You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, April 6-22.

Season tickets are available. To order go to ticketforce.com or call 877-840-0457.

These difficult lessons equip the girls for their purposes in the Church. “We were called to be the most humble and submissive in the Church. Christ loves the humble servant, so praise God that He put us in the perfect position to be that humble servant,” said Thompson.

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Photos submitted

T H O M A S G O O D E J O N E S S C H O O L O F L AW

LAW BRIEFS

Fred Gray

Faulkner Law Hosts Annual Fred Gray Civil Rights Symposium focusing on Race and Policing Civil rights attorney Fred Gray shared his perspective regarding race and policing in Faulkner Law’s annual symposium named in his honor. The 11th annual symposium took place on the campus of Faulkner University, Friday, April 8, 2016. He

also offered advice to law students preparing for practice.

“If you enter the legal profession solely for the money, you won’t be able to render service. You’ve got to serve your clients, your community and this profession,” Gray said. “I didn’t start out thinking ‘I want to be involved in the civil rights movement.’ I just wanted to solve a problem.”

This year’s event examined the constitutional role of race in policing.

From Ferguson to Montgomery, recent events have highlighted public concern regarding this important issue. In addition to remarks from Mr. Gray, Faulkner Law welcomed Keynan Brown, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama and other members of the

legal, academic, and law enforcement communities who discussed this critical issue.

Debates were moderated by WSFA 12 News Anchor Valorie Lawson.

This year’s topic, “All Lives Matter?

The Constitutional Role of Race in Policing,” is sure to have a longlasting positive impact on all who attended.

Now in its 11th year, the symposium has become a critical outlet for the continuing discussion on civil rights in Alabama, according to Rob McFarland, associate dean of external affairs at Faulkner Law. “The topics discussed at this symposium address directly real issues concerning our nation,” McFarland said. “Faulkner Law has a history of service to its community and we are proud to continue that 19

legacy by hosting the Fred Gray Civil Rights Symposium.”

Competition was an incredible event,” said Scott. “Even though we were snowed-in – and some of our coaches and judges were snowedout – we had a wonderful time and represented Faulkner Law well.

Because our teams were comprised of mostly second-year law students, I am confident that these students will lead the way at next year’s event.”

Kenyan Brown

Faulkner Law Students Compete in the South-Regional BLSA Competition Faulkner University Jones School of Law students recently competed in the annual South-Regional Black Law Students Association (BLSA) trial and moot court competition. The annual event was held January 19th24th in Durham, North Carolina.

Faulkner Law’s trial team was comprised of Synetria Jones, Tyler Morgan, Lakia Scott, and Jasmyne Webb-Crimiel. Shenika Lee and Lowell Moore represented Faulkner Law in the moot court competition.

Joe Lester, Faulkner Law’s director of advocacy, coached the teams.

Professors Elyce Morris and Jerome Dees accompanied the students to the competition.

The trial team finished the competition as quarter-finalists, and Webb-Crimiel received the Overall Best Advocate Award. Three of the students were selected to the regional planning committee: Webb-Crimiel as the trial competition coordinator; Lee as the moot competition coordinator; and Jones as the communication director.

“The South-Regional BLSA 20

Left to Right: Tyler Morgan, Kia Scott, Prof. Elyce Morris, Jasmyne Webb-Crimiel, Synetria Jones

Christopher Richardson ('10) were selected to join the group of thirty prominent attorneys throughout the state.

The first Leadership Forum class was selected in 2005. Since then, 318 participants have graduated from the program. Throughout the year, participants are trained in ethics, career development, servant-minded bar leadership, and community involvement.

Participants for the Leadership Forum are selected based on their demonstrated leadership skills and service to their communities.

Candidates must have practiced law for at least five years, but no more than fifteen. Entry is competitive, with only forty percent of applicants receiving acceptance.

1,000+ Clients Served Faulkner Law’s pro bono legal clinics reached a milestone during the fall semester by serving their 1,000th client. The Family Violence Clinic, under the supervision of Professor Shirley Howell ('80), accepted its first client on February 26, 2004. The Elder Law Clinic accepted its first client on January 30, 2007. Students and clinic alumni have now met the needs of more than one thousand seniors and victims of domestic violence.

Faulkner Law Alumni Named to Alabama State Bar 2016 Leadership Forum Class The Alabama State Bar recently named five Jones School of Law graduates to the 2016 Leadership Forum class. Carmen Howell ('08), Lee Knowles ('03), J. Parker Miller ('08), J. Levi Nichols ('08), and

Faulkner Law Alumni News Gibson Vance ('92) is a shareholder with the law firm of Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C., and practices as a litigator in their personal injury and consumer fraud sections. Vance has previously served as president of the American Association for Justice, Alabama Association for Justice, Alabama Civil Justice Foundation and the Montgomery County Bar Association. Vance serves as a bar commissioner for the 15th Circuit.

Recently, Vance was inducted into ABOTA. In addition to his legal practice, Vance hosts a weekly legal show on WSFA. Aaron Gartlan ('99) is a partner with the Hogg & Gartlan Law Firm, LLC in Dothan, Alabama, which deals primarily in personal injury cases.

Gartlan has presented CLE seminars across the state, including David v.

Goliath: Maximizing Your Client's Recovery in Industrial Workplace Accident Cases, which was presented in December 2015. In September 2015, he presented a Bootcamp for Litigating an Automobile Accident in Tuscaloosa.

Mike Andrews ('01) joined the Beasley Allen Law Firm in 1998.

Andrews is a principal with the firm and primarily handles complex product liability litigation. Andrews has handled cases involving aircraft (both civilian and military), heavy equipment, military arms and weapons systems, agricultural equipment and automobiles and heavy trucks. Specific defects have included GM ignitions, faulty airbags, defective seat belts, fuel systems, seats, roof and door structures. In 2015, Andrews was part of trial teams responsible for over $30 million dollars in verdicts with the most recent being an $8 million dollar verdict against Volkswagen and Honeywell in federal court in Columbus, Georgia. He is currently handling a wrongful death case for the family of a marine killed in a V-22 Osprey crash in Hawaii, a heavy truck design defect case in Missouri, a civilian aircraft crash off the coast of Georgia, several state court GM ignition cases and is investigating a number of serious injury cases around the country.

Melissa Prickett ('01) began working at the Beasley Allen Law Firm in 1996 as a legal assistant. She worked while attending law school and joined the firm as an associate in 2001. She is currently a principal in the Mass Torts Section and is involved in a number of other cases, including the hip replacement litigation. She also

serves as the director of operations for Mass Torts and oversees the dayto-day operations of that section. She serves as a mentor to members of the Womens Student Association at JSL. Prickett has been a guest speaker at local seminars and at senior citizen centers on pharmaceutical litigation.

John E. Tomlinson ('01) began his career with the Beasley Allen Law Firm in 2002 in the area of consumer fraud litigation, where he was involved in the litigation of several fraud and bad faith cases, including those involving annuities and health, life and property insurance.

Tomlinson now focuses in practice on environmental litigation, where he was involved in the pursuit of claims for several individuals and businesses against BP and other responsible parties as a result of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. He is also actively pursuing and investigating other claims related to nuisance, trespass to property and personal injury due to exposure to toxic chemicals.

Wesley Chadwick Cook ('02) joined the Beasley Allen Law Firm in 2001, where he is a principal in the firm's Mass Torts Section, focusing his practice on pharmaceutical litigation, representing victims of defective prescription drugs and medical devices. Cook is currently investigating cases involving transvaginal mesh and bladder slings.

Transvaginal mesh is used to repair conditions such as pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI). This mesh is used to shore up pelvic organs that have become displaced due to age, childbirth, hysterectomy or obesity.

Cook is interested in working with attorneys who refer cases as well as those who prefer to participate in the handling of the case.

Christopher D. Boutwell ('05) joined the Beasley Allen Law Firm in 2008, where he is a principal in the firm's Toxic Torts Section. Boutwell has devoted his practice to protecting the rights of those injured by exposure to toxic substances wrongfully placed in the environment by corporate giants and other polluters. Currently, Boutwell is the lead attorney in a class action pending in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida involving unfair and deceptive trade practices by the manufacturers and retailers of "flushable wipes." In this case, the class includes Florida residents who purchased certain moist personal wipes that were falsely marketed to be safe for flushing. In addition to his work on "flushable wipes" litigation, Boutwell also continues to work on the 2010 BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill MDL. In BP, Boutwell serves on the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee's Science Team, which is made up of top environmental attorneys from around the nation.

Paul J. Adams ('06) is pleased to announce the opening of The Adams Law Firm, LLC, located at 100 North College Street, Opp, Alabama 36467. The firm will handle criminal defense, family, estate planning, DUI and civil law. Adams served as an assistant district attorney for the 22nd Judicial Circuit of Alabama for the previous eight years.

Apreill Hartsfield ('08) recently founded Hartsfield Strategies, a strategic communications firm which partners with law firms, nonprofits, candidates and small businesses.

She has trained attorneys, child advocates and others to provide a stronger voice for their constituents.

Hartsfield delivers strategic counsel, helping clients harness the power of 21

words to establish positive and lasting influence. A veteran communications and public affairs strategist, she has fifteen years of experience in political and issue campaigns. Hartsfield founded the firm to provide quality and affordable communication counsel to, among others, those working on behalf of marginalized populations.

Mitch Dobbs ('10) and Carlton Sims ('11) recently received a $200,000 jury verdict, plus attorneys' fees, in Barbour County against Complete Cash Discount Title Pawn. Dobbs is a staff attorney with Legal Services of Alabama, Dothan Office. Sims practices in Montgomery.

organizations.

Emily Shelton ('12) recently joined Leitner, Williams, Dooley, and Napolitan, PLLC. Shelton is working as a compliance analyst for the firm.

Brent Beal ('08), Sarah Duffy Andes ('11), and Thomas Mayes ('13) are stationed in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Beal and Mayes have completed the Direct Commission Course and are currently in the Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course. Andes is a captain assigned to the area as her duty station.

Faculty in the News

Ray Hawthorne ('10) recently joined the law firm of Cleveland, Riddle & Atchison as a trial attorney in the Montgomery office. He and his wife, Ali Douillard Hawthorne ('10), welcomed their first child, Jackson "Jack" Hawthorne, on January 11, 2016. Ali was recently promoted to principal at Beasley Allen, and was selected as the Lawyer of the Year for the Fraud division.

Evan Allen ('12) joined the Beasley Allen Law Firm in 2012, where he is an associate working in the firm's personal injury section. Allen is working on a wide variety of cases, primarily focusing on products liability litigation involving workers injured while on the job. Evan currently serves on the Alabama State Bar Young Lawyers Executive Committee. Allen also volunteers his time as a "loaned executive" for the River Region United Way's annual campaign. In that role, he visits local businesses around the community to help them develop a plan for raising money for the campaign, which supports a number of community 22

Clinical Associate Professor John Craft ('07) published an article in the University of Baltimore Law Review entitled Preventing Exploitation and Preserving Autonomy: Making Springing Powers of the Standard.

In it, he argues for a change to the statutory default in the Uniform Power of Attorney Act from immediately effective to "springing" powers of attorney.

Dusty Farned ('11) was recently selected to serve on the Junior Executive Board of the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. Farned is the director of the LLM program at JSL. Professor Melvin Otey was recently appointed to be a reviewing editor of the Journal of Gang Research by the National Gang Crime Research Center. In this role, Otey will interact with other scholars in criminal justice, criminology, law, sociology, and gang research.

Photos submitted

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New Employees Find Warm Welcome at Faulkner University

BY ANGELA HARDGRAVE

Whether you are an alumnus returning to begin a career or a new employee with no previous ties to the university, Faulkner truly embodies a culture that feels more like a family than a job. I began my employment in December of 2015, and in those few short months, I have felt more welcomed and accepted than I could have imagined.

From coworkers to professors to the janitorial staff—everyone I’ve encountered has gone out of their way to make me part of the team, and from what others have said, I am not alone in that opinion.

“Everything I read on job review websites about working at Faulkner was true—it really is more like a family. I enjoy coming to work. Everyone I have encountered has been very friendly and helpful. The Faulkner University employment culture is one that could be copied by organizations who might not have as high of an employee rating,” said Bethany McMeans, who works in the criminal justice/legal studies department.

Many employees at Faulkner settle in and decide to stay indefinitely, as seen at a recent banquet held on campus. Several employees were given longevity awards during the ceremony, most for decades of service to the university. That is a unique phenomenon, since the average tenure at a job today is around four years, according to Forbes magazine. The atmosphere at Faulkner seems to draw people together and break through the “job-hopping” mentality, while creating a sense of community, which is so important.

This feeling of acceptance and community attracts not only new employees, but also previous employees and alumni. Returning employees Jendia Grissett, associate VP of academic affairs, and Joanne Smith, 24

accessions technician, shared their reasons for returning to Faulkner.

“I am excited to be returning to Faulkner University after a three-year absence.

Faulkner University is the embodiment of family. I am delighted to be home,” said Grissett.

“I am a new part-time employee returning to Faulkner from retirement. I retired from Faulkner after three years part-time, twenty years of full-time service, and one-and-a half years of temporary [service]. I worked in the business office for three years and in human resources for twenty years, and then I was a temp in the registrar’s office.

I decided to come back into the work force after my husband of forty-eight years passed away a little over three years ago.

I love working for Faulkner, and I love the wonderful people I work with. I am so blessed to be back here,” said Smith.

Trisha Kalonick is a recent alumnus who has returned to work in the accounting department. She said, “As an alumnus of Faulkner, I know that Faulkner is a great school. Coming back as an employee, I can definitely say that Faulkner is a wonderful place to work. The Christ-like environment and the kind people with whom I work on a daily basis make it feel like more than just a job. I’m coming to a place where I can glorify God in all that I do.

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GAME ON JAMBOREE 2016

J

amboree is an annual Faulkner University tradition. Students from all over campus put together a musical celebration guaranteed to get your blood pumping and your adrenaline flowing. Our social clubs on campus put together 10-15 minute musicals that they've written themselves, bookended by musical performances by the band and the jamboree hosts and hostesses.

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This year Faulkner's Jamboree partnered with Compassion21. Faulkner University’s social clubs hosted a canned food drive as part of their spring service initiative.

Each club solicited canned goods which

were donated to Compassion 21 Ministry’s Chuck Headley Benevolence Center, in addition to the canned goods collected at each show.

Compassion21 seeks to share the compassion of Jesus with people who are struggling spiritually, emotionally and physically. Its programs are designed to create trusting relationships with its neighbors living in challenging environments in an effort to affect positive futures. Their core programs include benevolence, mentoring, community based learning centers and small group community evangelism.

Photos by Pat Gregory 27

Sports briefs SOCCER

Brooks, Himmich named ScholarAthletes of the Year Senior softball player Holli Brooks and junior soccer player Mehdi Himmich were named Faulkner’s 2016 ScholarAthletes of the Year during a special ceremony at Tine Davis Gymnasium.

The winners are selected by a vote of Faulkner’s head coaches and athletic administrators, must be a junior or a senior, have at least a 3.5 grade-point average, have excelled on the field of play and represent the core values of the university: intellect, character and service.

Brooks, who played basketball for three seasons before joining the softball team last season, was a four-time selection to the Southern States Athletic Conference’s all-academic team, and was a threetime NAIA academic All-American.

The Chicamauga, Ga., native, who has a 3.79 GPA in sports management, played in 62 basketball games for the Lady Eagles before becoming the starting leftfielder for head coach Hal Wynn. She is currently third on the team in hitting and second in RBIs. “Holli has been an exceptional student-

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athlete,” said Wynn. “The past two years she has had a tremendous impact on our team as a whole and on her teammates individually. Any coach would love to have her as a part of their program.”

Himmich, a native of Rabat, Morocco, is a two-time member of the SSAC’s allacademic team and this year was chosen an NAIA academic All-American.

He is studying sports management and currently holds a 3.79 GPA. As a defender on the soccer team, he scored three goals and had three assists, earning him a spot on the All-SSAC’s second team.

“In the three years he has played for Faulkner he has been a crucial part of the dramatic turnaround of the program,” Faulkner head men’s soccer coach Kyle Beard said. “While maintaining a high GPA, he has also been supportive of other students, offering to tutor in various subjects. From my standpoint, he is the perfect example of what coaches look for in a player.”

BASKETBALL Faulkner Basketball Players Earn Honorable Mention A-A Honors Three of Faulkner’s basketball players were named to the NAIA honorable mention All-American team. Lady Eagle forward Faith Legate joined Eagle guards Di’mar Hill and Nick Drake on their sports’ respective teams.

Legate, a junior from Nashville who made the All-Southern States Athletic Conference first team, led the Faulkner women in scoring with a 15 points-per-

game average. She added eight rebounds per contest. Hill, a junior from Marietta, Ga., and Drake, a senior from Nashville, also were first team All-SSAC selections.

Hill averaged 21 points, six rebounds and five assists a night, while Drake added 17 points and three rebounds a contest.

Faulkner’s Improbable Run to SSAC Tourney Title Special for Sanderson With 17:27 left in the Southern States Athletic Conference tournament championship game, Faulkner was on the ropes. Three starters were in foul trouble and the Eagles faced a nine-point deficit against Middle Georgia State. The dream of a trip to Kansas City for the NAIA national tournament was slipping away.

Faulkner’s Scott Sanderson, however, still believed in his team. That belief paid off in what the long-time collegiate head coach called arguably the finest hour of his career.

Sophomore guard D.J. Boyd came off the bench and sparked the fifth-seeded Eagles, who erased the deficit with a 30-11 stretch over the next 10 minutes to give Faulkner a 10-point lead. The Knights never seriously threatened from

there as Faulkner punched its ticket to the NAIA’s Big Dance with a 78-64 victory in front of a boisterous crowd at the Cramton Bowl Multiplex.

“This is just amazing–how this team fought and never surrendered,” Sanderson said. “If ever there was a total team win, this was it. As for D.J., this couldn’t happen to a better young man. I’m so happy for all these guys. I reminded them about all the off-season workouts and all the running we did, and how it was all for this day, this opportunity. Even when it didn’t look good, we all still believed we’d win.”

Boyd had scored a total of just six points since early January, but this became his night. The Madison, Ala., native knocked down a trio of 3-pointers during the decisive run, and added a pair of free throws as well.

“This was a God thing,” he said. “I totally believe that. I’m just so thankful He gave me the opportunity to help my team accomplish one of our goals.”

Faulkner (20-13) won three games in three days, with victories over fourthseeded Martin Methodist and eighthseeded Loyola setting the stage for the dramatic SSAC finale. Di’mar Hill’s 20 first-half points kept the Eagles close at the break, trailing only 33-30 after his layup at the buzzer. The start to the second half was not a good one for Sanderson’s club, with the Knights scoring eight of the first 10 points to build a 41-32 advantage. After the second-year head coach called a timeout, Monta Sanford scored on two straight possessions and Boyd knocked down a 3-pointer to trim the margin to two.

After the teams jockeyed back and forth over the next few minutes, senior guard Nick Drake dropped in a long-range 3 with 9:05 left to give Faulkner a 54-52 lead.

It would never trail again. Boyd added two free throws, Drake scored in the paint and Boyd dropped in another 3-pointer and the Eagles built a ninepoint advantage with 7:27 to play. After

that the second-seeded Knights never got closer than seven points.

Hill, the tournament’s most valuable player, finished with 24 points and five rebounds. Drake, who joined Hill on the all-tournament team, added the first double-double of his career with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Marquis Grays had his second-straight double-figure night, matching Boyd’s 11-point total.

The second-half turnaround was in part due to the Eagles emergence on the glass.

Out-rebounded by 12 at the 17-minute mark of the second half, Faulkner closed strong in getting to within one of Middle Georgia State’s total at game’s end, 42-41.

The Knights, who ended their season at 16-11, were paced by the 19 points and 21 rebounds from Kieston Standfield.

Ryan Wilkins had 12 and Pat Edmonds 11.

For Sanderson, the victory came 10 years to the day after one of his most crushing defeats as a head coach. Then the coach at Lipscomb University, his team lost a late overtime lead to crosstown rival Belmont in a game that could have sent Sanderson and the Bisons to their first NCAA Tournament. Saturday morning, he got a call from his son Carter, who lives in Dallas.

“The first thing he said was ‘you know what today is, right?” shared Sanderson, fighting back emotion. “He remembered the date. We all did. Now, 10 years later, March 5 has a totally new look and feel for my family. What our players did tonight will always be very special to them, and to me.”

Faulkner’s trip to Kansas City was memorable, despite dropping its opening-round game to Biola (Calif.).

GOLF Faulkner Finishes 4th in SSAC Tourney Sager, Burton Honored Faulkner fired its second straight 322 and finished fourth in the Southern States Athletic Conference women’s

golf tournament played at Montgomery Country Club. The Lady Eagles’ 36hole total of 644 was 29 shots behind tournament winner and 18th-ranked William Carey (Miss.).

No. 3 Dalton State finished second in the tournament, eight shots behind the Lady Crusaders. No. 10 Coastal Georgia finished third in the nine-team event.

Hannah Sager and Taylor Heinz both shot two-day totals of 155, with Sager following Monday’s 79 with a 76 and Heinz posting an 81 and a 74.

At the post-season women’s golf banquet, Sager and teammate Amanda Burton received All-SSAC first team honors.

Sager, a freshman from Montgomery, has been a key component in helping catapult the program into the national spotlight. The Lady Eagles, who are currently receiving votes in the national poll, finished lower than fourth in only a single outing this year and most recently won the RedHawk Spring Classic in Tennessee. Sager was the individual medalist in the event, and has finished second in three other outings this season. In addition to her recognition on the all-conference team, Sager was selected to the five-woman all-freshman team.

Burton, a junior from White, Ga., finished in the top five twice this year and most recently ranked third in the RedHawk Spring Classic. Burton was also named to the SSAC all-academic team along with teammates Hali Lyle, Olivia Heinz and Taylor Heinz.

Brooke Fuller was recognized as the team’s Champion of Character recipient while all of the Lady Eagles celebrated receiving the SSAC team Sportsmanship

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Award for outstanding character displayed both on and off the course.

The SSAC announced that Sager and men’s golfer Tyler Webb were named the league’s respective Golfer’s of the Week. Like Sager, Webb won individual honors at the RedHawk Spring Classic in Lawrenceburg, Tenn. Both teams won the event, sponsored by Martin Methodist College.

Eagles finish 4th in SSAC golf event; Wright on all-tourney team The Faulkner men’s golf team finished fourth in the 10-team field of the Southern States Athletic Conference tournament, played at the Montgomery Country Club. Shane Wright led the

Georgia, which entered the tournament as the top-ranked NAIA team. Mobile finished third, four shots ahead of the Eagles. No. 15 Dalton State won the event by a comfortable 23 shots.

way for the Eagles, firing rounds of 75, 74 and 68 en route to making the alltournament team.

Faulkner’s three-day total of 880 was just five shots back of second-place Coastal

Other Faulkner scores included Matthew Nuttall’s 77-71-74-222, Ray Gordon’s 7375-75-223 and Nicky Randriamanana’s 75-77-72-224. Tyler Webb shot a 77 Saturday and a 69 Sunday, but his Friday score of 77 wasn’t counted because he signed an incorrect scorecard.

At the pre-tournament banquet, Wright, Gordon and Nuttall were named first team all-conference, while Nuttall and Webb made the all-freshman team.

Wright was selected as Faulkner’s Champions of Character representative.

Alumni News Lavon Henley Faulkner trustee Lavon Henley passed away on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015, at the age of 83. Henley and his wife, Virginia Curtis, were married for 64 years, raising two sons together.

Henley spent the bulk of his career in Healthcare administration, developing six new hospitals during his tenure. Following his work in Healthcare, Henley was appointed special representative of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs.

Henley's passion in life was walking with Jesus and serving others. He served as a church leader wherever he lived, and used his gift of music to lead worship.

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years as a member of the Wildwood Christian camp board of directors.

During his term at Wildwood, he witnessed the manner in which help was distributed to hurricane Katrina victims. “I saw how slow government help was, but that the Christians were the first to move.”

After this, a friend of his informed him that a position as judge of White County, where he resided, was open and suggested that he should run. He sought God for direction, and chose to do so.

FAULKNER: A FAMILY TRADITION For some, attending Faulkner is tradition, but none more so than the Sykes family who have had five generations attend so far.

Beulah Sessions served as one of the first teachers of Montgomery Bible College in 1942. Following her was her son, Neal Sessions ('43), then his daughter, Bonnie Broderick Burch ('66), then her daughter, Brandy Burch Sykes ('95). The most recent participant in this tradition is Burch Sykes’ daughter, current freshman, Morgan Sykes. She is a member of the girls’ J.V. basketball team, and plans on majoring in accounting.

She says the relationship between the Sykes and Faulkner makes her feel like she “just belongs here.”

Dr. Jeffrey Langham ('78) serves as assistant state superintendent of education of the Alabama State Department of Education, under fellow Alabama Christian alumnus, Dr. Steve Foster.

He credits Alabama Christian for improving him as a leader. He emphasizes that “the spiritual bonds and friendships” he encountered at Alabama Christian still have an impact on him forty years later.

Langham is interested in using humility and other Biblical principles emphasized at Alabama Christian in influencing his students. Langham says: “I hope that students get a passion for service,” and that they understand that leadership is not about power, but rather “humbling yourself as a servant.” He says that it is everyone’s responsibility to do what they can to “make this world a better place” and advises everyone to “always keep in mind that everything that is done here has eternal implications.”

“I was not expected to win. I had no political experience, no law degree.”

Despite this, he received 67% of votes, and is currently serving his sixth term as judge of White County.

He believes his positive reputation assisted him in winning.

“I want to thank Alabama Christian,” says Lincoln. “(Being there) forced me to be more accountable and to move away from a traditional, generational faith and to have personal faith. Alabama Christian put me on a journey of faith toward the path I should take in life, and I’m thankful for it.”

Dr. Michael C. Lincoln ('78) graduated from Alabama Christian College with a degree in Biblical studies. He is a 17 year veteran of the education system, and served 10 31

BIRTHS

Patrick ('04 and '06) and Rebekah (Moon, '08) Jones recently became parents to Maddox Carver Jones on March 24, 2016.

Congratulations to Brent ('11) and Tara (Parker, '11) Teel on the birth of William Parker Teel on March 22. William's grandparents are Willie ('80) and Pam Teel and Dr. Floyd ('85) and Angel Parker.

Aaron ('10) and Kelly (Dix, '10) Pettus had their second child, Zoe on November 19, 2015. Congratulations to big brother Timothy.

MARRIAGES

Andrew ('08) and Tiana (Wiginton, '08) Jacobs had a girl, Reese, born January 19. Congratulations to big brother Jude.

Jacob ('14) and Heather Itson were married March 19, 2016.

Wendy (Bryson, '03) and Chris Taylor were married in Wetumpka on April 16, 2016.

NEWS

Craig Chandler ('04) recently moved to Montgomery with his wife Sheena and daughter Bailey to serve as the student and family life minister at Vaughn Park Church of Christ.

Tricette Savage ('02) gave birth to Jacob Dawson Savage on January 16, 2016.

Congratulations to dad David, big sister Kaila, and big brother Thomas.

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Jasmine York Ball ('14) graduated from Faulkner University with a B.A. in creative writing. Since then, she has gotten married and began a career in public relations. She is the co–founder of BlackTie Magazine, a publication that focuses on the accomplishments of minorities.

Terry Cagle ('99) has written Twenty One Habits of Highly Functioning Families. He describes it as "a book that uses outside the box practicality to inspire good, godly habits for all members of the family." The twenty-one habits found in this book are not only practical, they are biblical, and if applied, will help families grow closer to God and to one another, changing families from dysfunctional to highly functional."

Since graduating Cum Laude from Faulkner with a bachelor of science in Biblical Studies he has served as youth minister, involvement minister, and currently preaching minister at Azalea City Church of Christ. He met his wife Michelle (Istre, '98) when they were enrolled at the Mobile campus. They have two children, Bo and Madeline.

Future Eagle Tucker Hatcher, future Faulkner Eagle, was spotted with his dad Timothy Hatcher ('09) at Harrison Field for an Eagles Baseball game, both sporting Faulkner gear.

Photos submitted

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

A reunion for the alumni of Alabama Christian College and Faulkner University from the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s.

• Bring your stories and memorabilia to share at the Friday night mixer.

• Send digital copies of your photos to rbradford@faulkner.edu to be included in the slide show.

• Dr. Kenneth Randolph and others will speak at Saturday’s chapel.

• A reunion concert will feature performances by members of Harvest Gold and Lighthouse.

Come see how campus has grown and changed.

Share memories and make new ones.

RSVP at www.faulkner.edu/comeback.

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5345 Atlanta Highway Montgomery, Alabama 36109

faulkner.edu

OCTOBER 6

2016 BENEFIT DINNER

RUDY GIULIANI MONTGOMERY RENAISSANCE CONVENTION CENTER

TICKETS AT FAULKNER.EDU