The Talon - Spring 2018 by Southern Miss Alumni Association

THE S O U T H E R N M I S S A L U M N I A S S O C I AT I O N â&#x20AC;¢ S P R I N G 2 0 1 8

Jay Dean

30 Years of Bringing the World to Mississippi

Does BLACK and GOLD run in your family?

From the nest until they spread their wings, make SOUTHERN MISS a part of your family tradition.

Enroll your child or grandchild in this complimentary program at

SouthernMissAlumni.com/GrowingUpGold.

Rewarding you for being a Southern Miss alum. Because you are a part of the Southern Miss Alumni Association, Nationwide® is offering you exclusive insurance discounts on: The car you drive The motorcycle you ride to feel free The RV you take cross-country Since college, you’ve worked hard to get to where you are today. Let Nationwide protect what makes up your life, so you can focus on the things that really matter.

Receive your exclusive offer and learn more about our partnership.

nationwide.com/southernmiss

Nationwide Insurance has made a financial contribution to this organization in return for the opportunity to market products and services to its members or customers. Products underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies. Home Office: Columbus, OH 43215. Subject to underwriting guidelines, review, and approval. Products and discounts not available to all persons in all states. Nationwide and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance. © 2017 Nationwide. AFR-0497AO (09/17)

Local Agent

1-888-231-4870

When We’re In It Together, We All Win.

When it comes to Southern Miss® and cheering on the Golden Eagles®, you’re in! At BancorpSouth, we’re in too. wE’rE involved in your community, wE’rE inspired by you, and wE’rE invested in your financial well-being. That’s why we work with you to provide the banking services that fit your needs. From checking accounts and mortgages to local sponsorships and community events, wE’rE in the business of serving you.

THE S O U T H E R N M I S S A L U M N I A S S O C I AT I O N • S P R I N G 2 0 1 8

“It has been an absolute pleasure to work with young musicians; they are full of aspiration and still have their dreams in front of them. They come to us with talent, and we are not only able to shape that, but we all benefit from them while they are here. When they go out into the world and do great work, it’s like they’re taking a part of USM out there with them.” - Dr. Jay Dean DEPARTMENTS

COVER STORY

7 Notes from Home

46 Jay Dean: 30 Years of Bringing the World to Mississippi

8 News Around Campus

17 Calendar of Events 18 Association News 26 Foundation News

42 Greek Life

44 Eagles Explore

53 Athletic News

FEATURES

30 Rich Bekesh: Driven

56 Snapshots 57 Class Notes cover:

Dr. Jay Dean conducts The University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra for the final time during a performance on February 15, 2018 in Bennett Auditorium. Dr. Jay Dean and The University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra

After 30 years of bringing the world to Mississippi, Dr. Jay Dean has announced this season will be his last as the music director of The University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company. Dean’s final performance at Southern Miss will be a collaboration with the Mississippi Opera, the Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company, and the USM Symphony Orchestra with the production of Puccini’s Turandot on April 24 in the Mannoni Performing Arts Center and April 28 at Thalia Mara Hall in Jackson.

Hard-working and determined Rich Bekesh completed his degree from The University of Southern Mississippi in 1988 and established Spring Engineering just days after graduation. The company is now celebrating 30 years as a full-service architectural, engineering and land planning firm with more than 30 employees and a list of high-caliber clients, including Camping World, 84 Lumber, 7-Eleven, Starbucks and Chili’s.

34 Sway

above:

USM Alumnus Christopher Grant and his wife, Lauren, captured the lead roles in Apple’s recent holiday commercial called “Sway.” The captivating video has amassed more than 10.2 million views on YouTube for the superstar husband-wife team who have traveled the globe performing in numerous stage productions. As members of Pilobolus Dance Theater, the two made national and international TV appearances and have enjoyed the distinct privilege of performing for the Queen of England.

38 Cameron Cloud, SGA President

Growing up gold with a father who doubles as a professor at The University of Southern Mississippi led to a deep connection to Southern Miss by current Student Government Association President Cameron Cloud. The biomedical science and communication studies double major found a new world within his beloved hometown when he came to Southern Miss in the fall of 2015.

Spring 2018

ALUMNI STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JERRY DEFATTA ’00, ‘10 ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR INTERNAL OPERATIONS DANE REITER ‘06, ‘07, ‘10 ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS NICOLE RUHNKE ‘08 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR PROGRAMS AND CONSTITUENT RELATIONS BAYLEE LONG COORDINATOR OF STUDENT AND YOUNG ALUMNI PROGRAMMING SHONICE MONTGOMERY ’15 COORDINATOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES MELISSA MCDANIEL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT RENÉ TRIGG DATA ENTRY SPECIALIST SHARON ANDERSON RECEPTIONIST RENÉ KENT MAIL CLERK EDWARD WALLACE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT GRANT MILLER STUDENT GRAPHIC DESIGN ASSISTANT GABRIELLE GRAHAM

••••• CONTRIBUTING WRITERS VAN ARNOLD ‘79, MEGAN BURKES ’15, DAVID COHEN, JIM COLL ’99, ‘06, JACK DUGGAN, KATE HOWARD, LEAH HUNT, ARLICIA JORDAN ‘10, GRANT MILLER, KARELIA PITTS ‘14, ELIZABETH RADLEY, STERLING RANDLE, JAMES SKRMETTA ‘13, DAWN SMITH ‘95, ’12, DAVID TISDALE ’90, ‘91, ’09 CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS KELLY DUNN, DANNY RAWLS ’69, 80, USM ATHLETICS

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OFFICERS PRESIDENT TRACY POWELL PRESIDENT ELECT KIM BRADLEY

GREEK REUNION WEEKEND 2018

S O U T H E R N

M I S S

Southern Miss alumni who were active in the Greek community are invited back to campus for the Inaugural Greek Reunion Weekend hosted by the Office of Greek Life at Southern Miss.

Friday, April 20 6 p.m. | Chapter Reunion Events Contact the Alumni Association at 601.266.5013 for individual chapter contacts.

VICE PRESIDENT RICKEY JONES PAST PRESIDENT BECKY MONTAGUE FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR CASEY GRAHAM SECRETARY/TREASURER JERRY DEFATTA

BOARD OF DIRECTORS ALAN BLAKENEY, SHONNA BROWN, BRADLEY CHARLESWORTH,

Saturday, April 21 10 a.m. | Tailgate on your own and enjoy pre-game activities on campus

CARLEN CHESTANG JR., RICHARD HAARALA, BRANDI HOUGH, SAM SACKLER, LORI BRECHTEL, BRYAN CALDWELL, REGGIE COLLIER, BRENT GREENWALD, CHRISTY MYERS, TOM PEARSON, ASHLEY READ, AARON BOUCHER, ALLISON GOUAUX, ROBERT LESLEY, DR. STEVE RUEGGER, ERIN SMITH, KYLE THORNTON, MEGHAN WILLIAMS

Noon | 2018 Black and Gold Spring Game at The Rock Special seating will be reserved for Greek alumni.

EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS: RODNEY D. BENNETT, CHAD DRISKELL, GARY CARMICHAEL, STACE MERCIER, LEIGH BREAL, JON GILBERT, SUMMER PRUIT For advertising information, contact Jerry DeFatta by phone at 601.266.5013 or email Jerry.DeFatta@usm.edu. The Talon (USPS 652-240) is published quarterly by The University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Association, 118 College Drive #5013, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001 Active membership dues of $45 (single membership) or $55 (couple) includes subscription

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Hederman Brothers Printing in Gluckstadt, Miss.,

2 p.m. | USM vs. Middle Tennessee State at Pete Taylor Park Greek alumni are invited to watch the game from the patio. Use promo code GREEK for discounted game tickets at SouthernMissTickets.com. 3:30 - 5 p.m. | Open Houses Across Campus

and the staff of the Southern Miss Alumni Association. Periodical postage paid at Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001 and at additional mailing offices (Approved January 20, 1955)

5 - 7:30 p.m. | Greek Reunion Party Brewsky’s

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 118 College Drive #5013, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5013 PHONE: 601.266.5013 | EMAIL: alumni@usm.edu WEBSITE: www.SouthernMissAlumni.com

Proud Member of

www.conferenceusa.com AA/EOE/ADAI

N OT ES FROM H O M E

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube…and that’s just a portion of the social media landscape. And do not forget about newspapers, television, websites, billboards, magazines and more. Marketing communications has perhaps never been more complex and offers no sign of simplifying in the future. At the Office of University Communications, we are often asked two questions related to our marketing communications efforts. First, what should I say about The University of Southern Mississippi when asked? Second, what is the scope of the University’s efforts in marketing communications? Three key themes provide the foundation for the first question’s answer. • First, Southern Miss offers a warm and welcoming environment. My hope is that your student experience confirmed that USM’s campuses are among the most beautiful in the country and that southern hospitality is very real. • Second, USM is a robust research institution with a more than $600 million annual economic impact on the state of Mississippi. • Third, the Southern Miss commitment to student success includes every aspect of their development – in the classroom and in life. In addition, the daily achievements of USM students, faculty and staff, and the news related to successful academic programs, help to support those messages that are core to the experience of each student. The second question’s answer is complex, and the University’s marketing communications efforts are broad. The Office of University Communications’ role is as a leader in this regard, but additional professionals also engage in related work for various and specific USM units like athletics and the arts. University Communications seeks and receives guidance from the Office of Admissions and University leadership regarding constituencies like prospective students and their parents, as well as other community influencers – reaching them through a wide variety of media channels in key geographic markets. Those markets include Hattiesburg, Jackson and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but also additional in-state areas like Tupelo and Olive Branch, as well as out-of-state markets like Mobile, New Orleans, Huntsville and Houston. We continue to execute traditional advertising through newspaper and television to engage alumni, legislators and community leaders, but more frequently, prospective students are seeing or hearing USM advertising on platforms such as Instagram, Hulu or Pandora. To be sure, USM’s efforts in marketing communications are much more extensive than they were a handful of years ago. Our strategy is complex and effective. Our execution is precise. I am proud that our work in this area has been consistently recognized as the best in the state and the region by professional organizations in the field, oftentimes besting not only other universities and colleges, but advertising agencies, as well as businesses and corporations. So where are we heading? Marketing communications is changing on what seems like a daily basis. The Office of University Communications is doing all that it can to position itself organizationally, strategically and tactically to keep pace with these changes. This means not only do our job descriptions change frequently, but the jobs themselves change. The strategies we implement and the marketing tactics we employed yesterday are not necessarily effective today. The strategies we implement and tactics we employ tomorrow will need to be different. As a USM supporter, you can help us. We expect changes to key social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to move to models that increasingly limit the reach of the unpaid/free posts of organizations and institutions. As the “business” of social media develops, USM and others will have to pay more for the same return on investment in digital media marketing. Further, there is consistent agreement in the field that the endorsement of content through likes, comments and shares from “friends” provides a level of credibility to messages that an institution cannot achieve on its own. Simply put, they believe you, their friend, more than they believe the organization that was the initial source of the information. In the future, your role as supporters of this institution, and as influencers in your community and on social media, will be more important than ever. The easiest way to help USM is to follow institutional accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, and share our posts. We need you to advocate for Southern Miss in-person and online. We need you to speak positively of your alma mater – and often. Thank you for your continued support of our University. And as always, Southern Miss to the Top!

James P. Coll Chief Communication Officer The University of Southern Mississippi

Spring 2018

N E WS A ROU ND C A M PU S

University of Southern Mississippi officials celebrate conferral of honorary degree with recipient Robin Roberts during its Fall 2017 Commencement.

USM Confers Honorary Degree Upon Television Broadcaster Robin Roberts

THE

Award-winning television broadcaster and co-anchor of ABC’s Good Morning America Robin Roberts recently added another credential to her vita. On Friday, Dec. 8, Roberts was awarded an honorary degree during The University of Southern Mississippi’s Fall 2017 Commencement. Conferring a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, University President Rodney D. Bennett proudly proclaimed Roberts an alumna of USM, citing her career in broadcast journalism and her significant contributions made to communities across Mississippi and beyond. Roberts was hooded by Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Steven R. Moser and Dean of the Graduate School Karen S. Coats. Roberts joins more than 1,000 students who were degree candidates for the fall 2017 semester as new alumni of the University. She was honored during the second of two Commencement ceremonies that took place at Reed Green Coliseum on the Hattiesburg campus. In response to the honor, Roberts shared brief words of encouragement with the newly-minted USM alumni, encouraging them to “dream big, but focus on the small day-today things” that will ultimately help them achieve their goals. “You have put yourself in a position for good things – no, great things,” said Roberts. “And I just want to say to continue to put yourself into positions for great things to happen. Be willing to make the necessary sacrifices. Dream big and focus small.” Roberts noted that her career in broadcast journalism launched in Hattiesburg as a sports anchor for WDAM News 7; and although she had offers for full-time positions, her passion lay elsewhere as a sports reporter.

Roberts began her national career contributing to ESPN as a host on SportsCenter and NFL PrimeTime. Today, after more than 30 years of experience in broadcast journalism, she is co-anchor for Good Morning America, a five-time Emmy Award-winning Outstanding Morning Program and the 2017 People’s Choice Award-winner for Favorite Daytime TV Hosting Team. She is also the founder of Rock’n Robin Productions, which creates original broadcast and digital programming for ABC and other networks. Throughout her career, Roberts has been honored with the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism, inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame and the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame and named one of Glamour’s Women of the Year. She was also voted the “Most Trusted Person on Television” by a Reader’s Digest poll in 2013. A native of Pass Christian, Roberts graduated cum laude from Southeastern Louisiana University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications. During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, she played a significant role in garnering national news coverage of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. She kept the focus on Mississippi, frequently broadcasting from Pass Christian to serve as a voice for the people living along the Gulf Coast. Roberts is the author of From the Heart: 7 Rules to Live By and her memoir, Everybody’s Got Something, which tells the story of her battle against a life-threatening illness, learning life’s hardest lessons and her inspiring return to the Good Morning America anchor desk. She has been recognized with a George Foster Peabody Award and the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for the strength and courage she has displayed throughout her life and career.

N E WS A ROU ND C A M PU S

USM alumna Christopher Leigh’s new album “Infrared” features songs combining classical flute with a pop/rock flare.

USM Alumna Takes Flute to New Heights with Debut Album University of Southern Mississippi alumna Christopher Leigh hopes to change people’s perceptions and impressions of the flute with her debut album “Infrared.” The self-published album, released in December, features songs combining classical flute with a pop/rock flare. Leigh, who earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from USM in 2012, notes that the album also includes “big” songs that sound as though they burst from a movie soundtrack. A Jackson native, Leigh spent her formative years in Little Rock, Ark., where she currently resides. She obtained her undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Central Arkansas. Leigh is not currently signed to a record label – a fact that does not discourage or hinder her dreams. She points out that the avenues for self-promotion and distribution are much more prevalent today for artists, thanks to social media. To learn more about Christopher Leigh’s music, visit ChristopherLeighMusic.com.

DuBard School Recognized by International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council

The DuBard School for Language Disorders is one of only four schools in the U.S. recognized by the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council.

The DuBard School for Language Disorders at The University of Southern Mississippi has received international recognition for implementing multisensory structured language education. The school was one of only four schools in the U.S. recognized by the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC). IMSLEC School Recognition indicates a commitment to student achievement through multisensory structured language education (MSLE) as taught in IMSLEC Accredited Teacher/Therapy Training Courses. One of those teacher trainings is the DuBard Association Method®, which has been accredited by IMSLEC since 1998. Speech-language pathologists and teacher assistants at the DuBard School use the DuBard Association Method® daily in the school’s enrollment and outclient programs, teaching students to read, speak and write. Furthermore, The DuBard School serves as the national training site for the method, bringing professionals and students from across the country to The University of Southern Mississippi to receive training. Spring 2018

N E WS A ROU ND C A M PU S

Federal Grant Helps USM Researchers Secure Tool to Study Ballistics Protection Groundbreaking research being conducted in polymer science labs at The University of Southern Mississippi could lead to enhanced protective wear for United States warfighters. A $4.9 million grant provided by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) has enabled the School of Polymers and High Performance Materials to acquire a state-of-the-art Xeuss 2.0 Small-Angle/ Wide-Angle (SAXS/WAXS) scattering system. Developed by the Xenocs Company, the Xeuss 2.0 system enables high performance measurements that were previously limited to synchrotrons. The grant is part of a $20 million, two-year collaboration between USM, Temple University, the University of North Texas and the University of Southern California to develop ballistic protection applications. USM polymer Professor Dr. Jason Azoulay serves as Co-Principal Investigator on the grant, titled:

USM Polymer Science Professor Dr. Xiaodan Gu explains the SAXS/WAXS system.

“Advanced Ballistics Technology Material Development,” which will allow rapid design, development, measurement, testing, modeling and prototyping for strategic areas of interest determined by ARL researchers.

USM is the only university in the Southeast region that has the Xeuss 2.0 system. To learn more about the School of Polymer Science and Engineering, visit USM.edu/Polymer.

USM Center Launches Golden Eagle Veteran Network

THE

The University of Southern Mississippi Center for Military Veterans, Service Members and Families has launched a new program – the Golden Eagle Veteran Network – designed to create a resourceful bridge between the University’s student-veterans and the Hattiesburg community. The initiative’s objective is to build a community of friends, organizations, alumni and businesses interested in actively supporting the University’s student-veterans as they transition from military service to higher education. “We want to be the top university of choice for military students and to do so we must constantly adapt and create options to enhance the overall educational and professional development experience,” said Maj. Gen. (ret.) Jeff Hammond, who serves as the center’s director. In developing the Golden Eagle Veteran Network,

Director Maj. Gen. (ret.) Jeff Hammond notes the center has consulted with a variety of constituents that include the Student Veterans of America; local South Mississippi VFWs and American Legions; Commiskey-Wheat Marine Corps League; Armed Forces Top Enlisted Association (Magnolia Chapter) and numerous USM leaders. The Golden Eagle Veteran Network plans to partner with individuals, groups and businesses through events and activities, career and networking opportunities, community service, support to the USM chapter of the SVA, student recruitment and enrollment, mentoring, providing direct communication between student-veterans and University constituents and expanding University presence across local, national and international communities. For more information about the center, call 601.264.4629 or visit USM.edu/Military-Veterans.

N E WS A ROU ND C A M PU S

Derrick Barnes

Evan Turk

32nd Annual Ezra Jack Keats Book Award The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, in partnership with the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at The University of Southern Mississippi, will present the 32nd annual Ezra Jack Keats Book Award at the Fay B. Kaigler Children’s Book Festival on April 12. The Ezra Jack Keats Book Award is given to a writer and an illustrator early in their careers for their outstanding work. The winning new writer and new illustrator will each receive $3,000, triple the amount awarded in previous years. The winners also receive a bronze medallion. Deborah Pope, executive director of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, said, “It is a joy each year to recognize and encourage new writers and illustrators who create beautiful books for the multicultural children of America, through the Ezra Jack Keats Book Award. The increase in the award this year reflects our dedication to increasing diversity in children’s literature. It also serves to bring greater attention to artists who, like Ezra, seek to inspire all children to achieve their full potential – which I believe will strengthen and enrich our country.” “The celebratory and thoughtful books of this year’s EJK Book Award winners remind us of the joy and the enduring impact of Ezra’s work. We look forward to their continued, illustrious careers, writing and illustrating delightful children’s books that make a difference,” said Ellen Ruffin, curator of the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection and the Keats Archive. Award-winning author T.A. Barron, the 2018 de Grummond lecturer, will present the Ezra Jack Keats Book Award. Charlotte Jones Voiklis, author of Becoming Madeleine, a book about her grandmother, Madeleine L’Engle, will deliver the Keats Lecture. The 2018 Ezra Jack Keats Book Award winner for New Writer is Derrick Barnes, for Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut. The book is illustrated by Gordon C. James and published by Agate Bolden/ Denene Millner Books. Barnes’ high-spirited book is a celebration of the self-esteem and swagger that boys, specifically African-American boys, feel when they leave the barber’s chair with a fresh cut. That confidence, observes the young narrator, makes you feel like “a million dollars – and some change!”… ready to take on the world, and take a step closer to manhood. The 2018 Ezra Jack Keats Book Award winner for New Illustrator is Evan Turk, for Muddy: The Story of Blues Legend Muddy Waters. The

book is written by Michael Mahin and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers. Turk’s expressive illustrations celebrate the acclaimed blues musician Muddy Waters, a visionary who “was never good at doing what he was told.” Muddy grew up in rural Mississippi as a sharecropper but was determined to play the blues. He chased his dream to Chicago, where the sound of his Delta home became the music that set the stage for rock and roll. He was eventually venerated as one of the most important artists in American music. The 2018 Ezra Jack Keats Book Award Honor Winners include: NEW WRITER HONORS

Rachael Cole, for City Moon (illustrated by Blanca Gómez, published by Schwartz & Wade) Jessixa Bagley, for Laundry Day (illustrated by Jessixa Bagley, published by Roaring Brook Press) Elaine Magliaro, for Things To Do (illustrated by Catia Chien, published by Chronicle Books) NEW ILLUSTRATOR HONORS

Gordon C. James, for Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut (written by Derrick Barnes, published by Agate Bolden/Denene Millner Books) Bianca Diaz, for The One Day House (written by Julia Durango, published by Charlesbridge) E.B. Goodale, for Windows (written by Julia Denos, published by Candlewick Press) NEW WRITER HONOR & NEW ILLUSTRATOR HONOR

Bao Phi (writer) and Thi Bui (illustrator), for A Different Pond (published by Capstone Young Readers) To be eligible for the 2018 Ezra Jack Keats Book Award, the author and/or illustrator had no more than three children’s picture books published prior to the year under consideration. The selection committee is comprised of nationally recognized early childhood education specialists, librarians, illustrators and experts in children’s literature. To learn more about the Ezra Jack Keats Book Award, the Foundation or the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, visit deGrummond.org. Spring 2018

N E WS A ROU ND C A M PU S

USM Professor Testifies Before U.S. Senate on Future of Aquaculture Dr. Kelly Lucas, director of The University of Southern Mississippi’s Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center, spoke in Washington recently on the importance of aquaculture in the United States. “The United States imports over 90% of our seafood and half the imports are Dr. Kelly Lucas aquaculture products,” Lucas told the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. “We have a $14 billion-dollar seafood trade deficit. With a growing demand for seafood and static wild capture fisheries since the 1990s, aquaculture must continue to grow to meet increasing demand.” U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) oversaw the hearing titled, “Growing the Future: Opportunities to Support Domestic Seafood Through Aquaculture.” The members examined the current state of aquaculture in the United States, future opportunities for offshore, coastal and inland communities, and the potential impact on the economy. “Domestic farming of seafood, done in a safe, well-monitored manner, can provide economic opportunities for all Americans, both for our coastal and inland communities, Thune said. “Agricultural states like mine (South Dakota) can play an important role in providing feed for fish farms, and everyone benefits from having increased domestic seafood production.” The Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture center in Ocean Springs includes approximately 100,000 square feet of culture space devoted to environmentally responsible and economically feasible marine aquaculture. Lucas’ team’s research focuses on alleviating the bottlenecks that constrain the production of marine species. Before arriving at USM’s School of Ocean

Science and Technology, Lucas was the chief scientific officer for the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. “The University of Southern Mississippi is investing heavily in marine aquaculture. Our scientists are employing cutting-edge technology and the best research practices to grow fish in an environmentally responsible and economically feasible manner,” said Gordon Cannon, Vice-President for Research. “We are proud to have such experienced aquaculture researchers as Dr. Lucas and many others who have earned national and international reputations for their research and development of sustainable marine aquaculture technologies. This is just one example of Southern Miss’ involvement in shaping the economy of our state.” Sen. Thune said instead of continuing to buy seafood from a global market, which has seen repeated instances of labor and environmental violations, we should do a better job at home. “Aquaculture is the fastest growing food industry in the world,” Thune said. “If encouraged in the United States, it has the potential to create jobs and boost the economy, from states like South Dakota, to the coasts. Let’s harness this opportunity and become the world leader in safe and sustainable domestic seafood production.” Throughout Lucas’ testimony, she highlighted both opportunities and challenges the U.S. faces in growing domestic aquaculture. Challenges such as fish-feed production, net and cage technology and continued research were presented to the committee. “I believe the time is now for the United States to become more self-reliant in the production of seafood,” she said. “It was a privilege to testify before the Commerce Committee regarding exciting opportunities to increase production of U.S. seafood. To learn more about the Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center, visit GCRL.USM.edu/CMAC.

USM Polymer Researcher Wins Prestigious Bell Labs Prize

THE

Dr. Jason Azoulay, assistant professor in the School of Polymers and High Performance Materials at The University of Southern Mississippi, has been awarded a coveted research prize by the Nokia Bell Labs. Azoulay shared the $50,000 second-place honor with his collaborator Dr. Tse Nga (Tina) Ng, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of California at San Diego. Their research led to the invention of new photosensitive polymer materials that can be used for health and medical monitoring through-the-skin with wearable, thin, flexible devices. Only three prizes were awarded in the annual competition that attracted more than 330 proposals from 35

countries, which were narrowed down to approximately 20 semifinal applications shortlisted for collaboration with Bell Labs researchers over a two-month period. These refined semifinal proposals were then reviewed by the Bell Labs leadership team and nine finalists were selected, with each finalist having the chance to extend their collaboration with leading researchers at Bell Labs. Dr. Jeff Wiggins, director of the School of Polymers and High Performance Materials, notes that in Azoulay’s three years as part of the USM faculty he has already received numerous multi-million dollar research contracts while building a strong research alliance with researchers across the state.

N E WS A ROU ND C A M PU S

Anestis to be honored for Research on Suicide at National Conference The American Association of Suicidology (AAS) will honor University of Southern Mississippi associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Michael Anestis with its prestigious Shneidman Award at its 51st annual conference in Washington, D.C. The Shneidman Award is presented to a person under 40 years of age, or not more than ten Dr. Michael Anestis years past their highest degree earned, who has made outstanding contributions in research in the field of suicidology. It is named in honor of the late Dr. Edwin S. Shneidman, a renowned clinical psychologist who founded AAS in 1968. In announcing Dr. Anestis as its choice for the award,

the AAS noted that Dr. Anestis’ trajectory as a researcher far outpaces his peers. Because of the quality and nature of his work, he is one of only a handful of current researchers who is likely to have a marked impact on the suicide prevention field. Dr. Anestis joined the Southern Miss faculty in 2012 and is director of the USM Department of Psychology’s Suicide and Emotion Dysregulation Laboratory. His research examines risk factors for suicidal behavior in both military and civilian populations, and correlations between suicide and firearms storage and safety. He has published 113 peer reviewed articles, including in such prominent journals as Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior (the AAS’s peer-reviewed journal), American Journal of Public Health and Journal of Abnormal Psychology. For information about the Southern Miss Department of Psychology, visit USM.edu/Psychology.

USM Earns Gold Status as Military Friendly® School The University of Southern Mississippi has earned Gold status as a Military Friendly® School for 2018 by Victory Media, Inc., one of only 10 research institutions in the U.S. to receive that distinction. Gold Award winners have programs that scored within 20 percent of the 10thranked institution within a given category. The Military Friendly® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources for more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions. Military Friendly® is the standard that measures an organization’s commitment, effort and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefit for the military community. Over the past several years, USM’s Center for Military Veterans, Service Members and Families has been recognized annually for its commitment to providing affordable, accessible educational opportunities for veterans and their family members.

Among the noteworthy initiatives/distinctions: • Three of the most highly respected publications (Military Times, Victory Media and Military Advanced Education & Transition) once again named USM as a top military friendly institution which clearly signifies the center’s advocacy for student-veterans. • Two USM student-veterans, along with Veterans Center staff member Michael McGee, recently attended the National Student Veterans of America Conference in San Antonio, Texas. This conference was designed to bring together SVA Chapters from across the U.S. in discussing and sharing ideas on how to better serve student-veterans. During the conference participants gained significant insight into student-veteran related opportunities with respect to new programs, resourcing, career preparation and more. • The center’s “Textbooks for Troops” program continues to expand while seeking new avenues to involve the local community and campus environment (students, faculty and staff) in assisting student-veterans. • The center recently launched an “Honor Corps” initiative to recognize military students who have achieved academic success at one of the University’s campus locations. • In collaboration with Ms. Betty Dettre, the center recently established the Maj. Gen. Rexford H. Dettre, Jr. “Duty – Honor – Country” Leadership Scholarship in honor of her late husband. Gen. Dettre served as a distinguished combat pilot in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The scholarship is established to provide a “one-time” scholarship for a deserving USM military veteran or service member of the United States Armed Forces. The scholarship is one of many the USM Veteran Center sponsors in support of military students. For more information about the center, call 601.264.4629 or visit USM.edu/Military-Veterans. Spring 2018

N E WS A ROU ND C A M PU S

Mississippi Freedom Trail Memorializes Clyde Kennard with Marker at USM For those familiar with the story of Clyde Kennard, the Mississippi Freedom Trail marker bearing his name stands, figuratively, at the intersection of injustice and redemption. Kennard, the first African-American to apply for admission to The University of Southern Mississippi, was honored at the unveiling ceremony for the marker on the school’s Hattiesburg campus Feb. 2, 2018 near the entrance of Kennard-Washington Hall, formerly the Student Services building. The event was attended by members of Kennard’s family, USM students, faculty and staff members and administrators, among many others, in the launch of the University’s Black History Month activities. A decorated U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War and native of Forrest County, Kennard returned home in the 1950s to help at his family’s farm near the USM campus, then known as Mississippi Southern College (MSC). Previously a student at the University of Chicago, he sought to complete his college degree, but was denied admission three times at then segregated MSC. He was later convicted of accessory to burglary and imprisoned at the infamous Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. While there, he developed cancer and died on July 4, 1963. Gwendolyn Armstrong and Raylawni Branch broke the color barrier at Southern Miss in September 1965, when they enrolled as the University’s first African-American students.

The Clyde Kennard Mississippi Freedom Trail marker was unveiled outside KennardWashington Hall on February 2.

Following subsequent investigations, many concluded the charges leading to Kennard’s imprisonment, as well as an earlier arrest for speeding and illegal possession of whiskey, were contrived to thwart his enrollment at MSC. In 2006, he was exonerated in Forrest County Chancery Court – the same court where Kennard was convicted – in response to efforts by USM students and many others, including LaKeisha Bryant, then president of USM’s Afro-American Student Association; former Mississippi Gov. William Winter; and former federal judge Charles H. Pickering to have Kennard’s name cleared. Former Gov. Haley Barbour proclaimed March 30, 2006 as “Clyde Kennard Day,” which followed a resolution adopted by the Mississippi Legislature honoring Kennard. In 1993 USM paid tribute to Kennard, along with Walter Washington, the first African-American to earn a doctorate at USM, with the naming of its student services building in their honor.

Drapeau Center Announces Eagle Wings, NCUR Competition Winners

THE

The Drapeau Center for Undergraduate Research at The University of Southern Mississippi recently named recipients of funding awards from the fall 2017 Eagle Wings and National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) competitions. The programs support undergraduates who will present the results of their scholarly activities at professional conferences. The two Eagle Wings winners are Tori Hebert of Terrebone, La. and Cody Pope of Hattiesburg. Both are working with Dr. Kevin Kuehn in the Department of Biological Sciences, and will be giving papers at the Society for Freshwater Science in Detroit

in May. Hebert’s research examines plant litter decomposition and fungal decay processes, while Pope’s looks at interactions among plant litterassociated microbial communities. The students conducted their investigations as part of Eagle Scholars Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR). The three students who will be attending NCUR in April at the University of Central Oklahoma are Hayley Allen of Smithdale, Gabriella Reyes of Slidell, La. and Henry Woodyard of Ellisville. Allen’s presentation will share findings with synthesizing bioactive molecules that contain nitrogen rings,

which provide scaffolds in many prescription drugs. She is a chemistry major working with Dr. Matt Donahue. Reyes is a Biological Sciences major studying with Dr. Glen Shearer. Her project investigates the stress response pathways that an infectious pathogen uses to survive in mammalian hosts. Woodyard is an economics major working with Dr. Ward Sayre, and his research explores the effects of the presence of private schools on the racial composition of local public schools. For more information about the Drapeau Center for Undergraduate Research, visit USM.edu/Research/ Center-Overview.

N E WS A ROU ND C A M PU S

Ocean Springs Artist, USM Alumna Chosen for National Honor Kelsey Wishik

From a young girl doodling on her notepad to shaping steel as an art student at The University of Southern Mississippi, Kelsey Wishik has engaged in creative action as long as she can remember. That creative action earned Wishik, a multimedia artist from Ocean Springs, a

prominent place in the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) fifth installment of its exhibition series, titled “Heavy Metal - Women to Watch 2018” after being chosen by a national jury to be the state’s representative for the event. “Heavy Metal - Women to Watch 2018” is set for June 28 - Sept. 16 and will feature contemporary artists working in metal to investigate the physical properties and expressive possibilities of metalwork through a wide variety of objects, including sculpture, jewelry and conceptual forms. The exhibit also engages with the fluidity between ‘fine’ art, design and craft categories, whose traditional definitions are rooted in gender discrimination. “Women to Watch” is presented every three years in a collaboration between the museum and its national and international outreach committees. The exhibition provides Wishik, a 2014 graduate of Southern Miss with a Bachelor

of Fine Arts in Sculpture, the opportunity to show several of her pieces, alongside a published statement of her work. She will attend the opening reception to connect with other contributors and facilitators, and speak to an international forum the next day about her work and artistic vision. After attending Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Wishik transferred to Southern Miss, where she received several scholarships that included the Fred A. Waits Scholarship, the Trustmark Bank Arts Scholarship, the Thelma Johnson Arts Scholarship and the William Clark Art Scholarship. Wishik said USM’s “incredible facilities, which offer a breadth of possibilities in many mediums” and proximity to home influenced her decision to choose the University. Learn more about and view Wishik’s work at worksbywish.com. For more information about the National Museum of Women in the Arts, visit NMWA.org.

COCHRAN CENTER • LOTT CENTER COOK UNION • DANFORTH CHAPEL Eve n t s • C o n f e r e n c e s • C a t e r i n g Current Alumni Association members w i l l r e c e i ve a 1 0 % d i s c o u n t o n t h e i r n e x t b o o k i n g with Alumni Association membership card! To s c h e d u l e a t o u r :

EVENT

AND

CONFERENCE

SERVICES

601.266.4399 • eventservices@usm.edu • usm.edu/event-services

@smt t tevents

@southernmiss_events

AA/EOE/ADAI UC 77967.5067 2.18

Spring 2018

2.18 UC 77713 AA/EOE/ADAI

Foundersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; day C E L E B R A T I O N

april 2, 2018 Celebrating the 108 th anniversary of our legislative founding For more information, visit usm.edu /foundersday.

CALEN DAR OF EVENTS

RECOMMEND FUTURE GOLDEN EAGLES! Southern Miss alumni contribute to the University’s tradition of success. One way alumni can best support their alma mater’s continuing legacy of excellence is by recommending future students. To recommend a student to The University of Southern Mississippi, visit

SouthernMissAlumni.com/USMLegacy. A A / E O E /A DA I U C 74 1 2 9. 5 0 1 3 2 . 1 6

Upcoming Events Calendar All events are subject to change and should be confirmed. Visit SouthernMissAlumni.com/UpcomingEvents for a full list of events hosted by the Alumni Association. Athletic schedules can be found at SouthernMiss.com.

March 31 Jazz and Blues Festival Gulf Park Campus | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. USM.edu/Jazz-Blues

April

3 Atlanta Alumni Happy Hour Taco Mac | 5:30 – 7 p.m. SouthernMissAlumni.com/Atlanta2018 10 Jackson Alumni Pre-Game Social The Alumni House | 4 – 6 p.m. SouthernMissAlumni.com/JacksonPreGame2018 11-13 Fay B. Kaigler Children’s Book Festival Thad Cochran Center 20-21 Greek Reunion Weekend SouthernMissAlumni.com/GreekReunion 21 Eagle Fest Weekend Enjoy a full day of Southern Miss Athletics with the 2018 Black and Gold Spring Game at The Rock, USM vs. Middle Tennessee at Pete Taylor Park and activities for your entire family. SouthernMissAthletics.com 23 Waynesboro Alumni Dinner Location and Time TBA SouthernMissAlumni.com/Waynesboro2018 26 Grads & Crawdads: Senior Send-Off Ogletree House | 3 – 5:30 p.m.

May

10 Baton Rouge Alumni Dinner Location and Time TBA SouthernMissAlumni.com/BatonRouge2018 11 Commencement 15 Huntsville Alumni Dinner Bravo! | 7 – 9 p.m. SouthernMissAlumni.com/Huntsville2018 16 Nashville Alumni Happy Hour Location and Time TBA SouthernMissAlumni.com/Nashville2018 18 East Central Alumni Chapter Golf Tournament Briarwood Country Club, Meridian SouthernMissAlumni.com/MeridianGolf2018

June

1 Southeast MS Drawdown Ocean Springs Civic Center | Time TBA SouthernMissAlumni.com/Drawdown2018 3 7th Annual Mobile Bay Crawfish Boil Malbis Community Center, Daphne, AL SouthernMissAlumni.com/MobileCrawfish2018 16 Mississippi on the Mall Washington, D.C. 23 Mississippi Society of Georgia Picnic Chastain Park, Atlanta, Ga. Spring 2018

A SSO C I AT ION N E WS

Association Hosted Pre-Game Tailgate Party in Shreveport

THE

On Dec. 27, the Southern Miss Alumni Association and Eagle Club hosted a pre-game tailgate party prior to the 2017 Independence Bowl. Alumni and fans braved the weather to cheer on the Golden Eagles against the Florida State Seminoles at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, La.

Join us at an alumni event in a city near you!

A SSO C I AT ION N E WS

SAA Members Participate in Service Saturday Members of the Student Alumni Association recently served the residents of Wesley Manor as part of the organizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual Service Saturday. Following their morning of community service, the members gathered at the Ogletree House to paint the Little Rock.

THE

Chris Addison Jacqueline Ard-Barclay Patrick Barker Alan and Angela Blakeney Richard Brewer Betty Bryant Joel Carter, Jr. Jennifer Cofer Jerry and Martha Cook Laura Craven Angela Davis-Morris Christopher Eavenson Carey Leigh Gillam

Loretta Hales Karon Harrison Christopher and Mollie Hill Reneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Horton H. Pope Huff Erich Kathmann James Kennedy Richard and Audria Mather Melody Miller Vanessa Mingo Katherine Moody J. Kade Moody Rhonda Phillips

Ron Phillips Sabrina Rodgers Thanh and Robin Roettele Jerry Smith Diane Surla John and LaJuana Tanks Monica Tisack Blake and Jessica Vaughan Richard and Angela Walker Paul Walton James and Lisa Willoughby

WELCOME NEW LIFE MEMBERS

THE OGLETREE HOUSE Located on the Hattiesburg campus of The University of Southern Mississippi, the Ogletree House offers a historic and romantic setting for the wedding of your dreams.

To book the Ogletree House for your wedding, please contact Shonice Montgomery at 601.266.4218. For more information, availability and rates, visit SouthernMissAlumni.com/OgletreeHouse.

A SSO C I AT ION N E WS

Calling for

Nominations

Each year at Homecoming, the Alumni Association honors distinguished alumni and its most faithful servants at the Alumni Hall of Fame Banquet and the Annual Awards Ceremony. While nominations are accepted year-round, submissions must be received by May 30 for the 2018 Homecoming ceremonies. To learn more about the annual awards or to make a nomination, visit SouthernMissAlumni.com/AlumniRecognition or call 601.266.5013.

Display Your University of Southern Mississippi Pride!

Capture your Southern Miss memories and protect your diploma forever with the DiplomaDisplay®

The Premier: This substantial 17" x 24" frame provides a commanding presence in any home or office environment. Custom conservation quality matting surrounds your choice of a watercolor, pen and ink print, or photograph of the Lucas Administration Building. There is no better way to honor and applaud such an important accomplishment. The Traditional: Black and gold matting, embossed in gold leaf with the school name and seal makes this an ideal presentation.  Quick and easy diploma insertion without tools.  100% satisfaction guaranteed or your money back!  Not available in frame shops! Proceeds benefit Southern Miss Alumni Association

Order Now and get Free Shipping! For fastest service call: 1-800-422-4100

THE

www.usm.ocm.com/diplomadisplay

A SSO C I AT ION N E WS

Annual Summer Parties Announced The Southern Miss Alumni Association hosts three events each summer to celebrate Southern Miss Football and engage with alumni across the state. With appearances by Southern Miss coaches, athletes, cheerleaders, University administrators and Seymour, the events provide an opportunity for alumni and fans to kick off the upcoming season. The annual Jackson All-Star Party will be held July 19 at the Mississippi Trade Mart, followed by the Gulf Coast Beach Bash on July 26 at the Biloxi Civic Center. Eagle Fanfare will once again be held in the Thad Cochran Center on USM’s Hattiesburg campus on Aug. 11. “As our largest events of the year, we look forward to record crowds of Southern Miss alumni and fans and heightened Southern Miss spirit leading into the 2018 football season,” said BayLee Long, assistant director for programs and constituent relations. “Alumni are encouraged to save the date for the event in their area and make plans to attend. As always, live and silent auctions will be held to raise scholarship dollars for incoming students, and fans can get their hands on the newest Golden Eagle merchandise.” Additional event details and online tickets will be available at SouthernMissAlumni.com/UpcomingEvents in the near future.

BIG THREE SUMMER PARTIES T H U RS DAY, J U LY 19

All-Star Party

Mississippi Trade Mart Jackson T H U RS DAY, J U LY 26

Gulf Coast Beach Bash Biloxi Civic Center Biloxi

SAT U RDAY, AU G UST 11

Eagle Fanfare

Thad Cochran Center Hattiesburg Spring 2018

PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS ENJOY

Dinner with the Deans O

n February 19, the University Office of Admissions hosted the inaugural Dinner with the Deans on the Hattiesburg campus. Students with an ACT score of 30 or above who have been awarded the University’s highest Academic Excellence Scholarship were invited to meet and begin building relationships with key members of the University community, including President Dr. Rodney D. Bennett, college deans and administrators across campus. Throughout the event, eighty prospective students and their families heard exceptional student testimonials on internships, undergraduate research and study abroad opportunities. Dr. Kelli King, Draughn Professor of Practice for Healthcare Marketing, also shared successes within her department with nationally recognized companies like Eli Lilly & Co. “Dinner with the Deans was just one of many ways our broader faculty and staff are supporting the Office of Admissions and its recruitment efforts,” said Kate Howard, assistant vice president and dean of students. “The success of this event, and several others, is truly a testament to how invested we are as a University to our future and our students.” As the incoming class readies to embark on campus, the Office of Admissions has hosted Future Golden Eagle Receptions in key markets such as Mobile, Meridian and New Orleans. Junior Preview Day is scheduled for April 27 and will include a campus visit experience exclusively for high school juniors and their parents. Visit Choose.USM.edu for a full list of events, including 2018 Orientation dates.

FOU N DAT ION N E WS

Ogletree Family

Mr. and Mrs. Powell G. Ogletree

Ogletrees Honor Parents Through Scholarship

THE

Powell G. Ogletree Sr.’s lifelong dedication altered The University of Southern Mississippi forever. His name is synonymous with the betterment and progress of his beloved alma mater, making adequately celebrating someone so beloved and esteemed quite the challenge. Seeking to honor their father in a way that is meaningful to the causes he was passionate about, the Ogletree children got creative. Instead of exchanging gifts, Frances, Gee and Bill began making charitable donations to the Powell and Frances Ogletree Scholarship Endowment through the USM Foundation in their parents’ honor. “Every year on our birthdays, Mom and Dad would give us a dollar for each year we had been alive. We used to joke that it was the only time we wished we were 100,” said Bill. “We’ve been able to continue this tradition by making birthday and other gifts to the Powell and Frances Ogletree Scholarship Endowment in the amount our Dad’s age would be that year or the number of years our parents would be celebrating on their wedding anniversary. It’s a fun way to add another layer of sentiment to our giving.” The Powell and Frances Ogletree Scholarship Endowment provides scholarships for outstanding students in the Student Alumni Association (SAA) who are in their junior or senior

years and demonstrate service to SAA, and involvement in extracurricular activities. As a leader in promoting spirit and enthusiasm on campus by protecting Southern Miss’ traditions and history, SAA celebrates the values Ogletree held dear. Their collective giving to the Ogletree Scholarship Endowment over the years has steadily bolstered the fund, and although contributions have already changed the lives of many students through nearly $26,000 in scholarships, the Ogletree family is not finished yet. They have a goal of growing the scholarship endowment to $100,000, so that it would allocate $4,000 a year for scholarships. “My father’s whole direction in life was changed through education. Had he not been inspired by his older brother Billy, who attended Southern Miss, Daddy would have remained a farmer the rest of his life. When Daddy enrolled in 1940, he had just enough money for one semester at a time and took small jobs on campus and around town to make ends meet. Years later, he started the scholarship endowment to help deserving young people, like himself, who pursued a college degree to follow their dreams,” said Frances. “Neither of our parents made a whole lot of money, but we watched them faithfully give what they could over many years. It’s a joy for us

FOU N DAT ION N E WS

to follow in their footsteps, and contributing a couple hundred dollars here and there has really started to add up.” A 1948 and 1951 Southern Miss graduate, Powell was integral in the development and growth of the University during his 34-year tenure, during which time he served as director of the Alumni Association and later the USM Foundation. His thumbprint can be seen on most of the watershed events in Southern Miss history, including the institution’s transition to university status, mascot name change to Golden Eagles and growth of Alumni Association membership from 150 members in 1953 to 17,500 in 1987. After discovering in the 1950s that, aside from athletics and band, no scholarships existed for students, he was instrumental in starting the University’s first scholarship fundraising efforts, which eventually led to the establishment of the USM Foundation in 1959. Upon his retirement, the University dedicated the Ogletree House, home to the Alumni Association, in his honor. He also served on the USM Foundation and the Southern Miss Alumni Association Boards of Directors and continued involvement with the Alumni Association as director emeritus from the time of his retirement until his passing on June 11, 2005.

“We know how important the University was to our parents. They ‘lived’ Southern Miss. Understanding the kind of love they felt toward the institution, a love that was instilled and developed in each of us, makes honoring them through supporting scholarships deeply meaningful,” said Gee. “Aside from giving to the church, nothing could make them happier! Together, our parents wanted to make a difference, and now together we are able to keep their dream alive.” 2018 marks 65 years since Powell Ogletree began working as executive secretary for the Mississippi Southern College Alumni Association, now known as the Southern Miss Alumni Association, and USM would not be what it is today without his devotion. The generosity of his family and friends ensures his legacy continues to propel the University and its students to the top. Because of their combined support, future generations of students can grow to understand why one of Powell’s favorite sayings was: “It’s great to be a Golden Eagle!” To make a gift in support of the Powell and Frances Ogletree Scholarship Endowment, visit usmfoundation.com/ogletree. To learn more about honoring a loved one, colleague or mentor through a tribute gift, visit usmfoundation.com/tribute.

Spring 2018

FOU N DAT ION N E WS

The Timeline of a Golden Eagle

THE

Robert T. Jackson Sr. embraces nearly every aspect of being a Golden Eagle. From young fan to graduate student, then alumnus, teacher and donor, each experience has deepened his appreciation for The University of Southern Mississippi and intensified his desire to give back. Born and raised in Hattiesburg, Jackson and his wife, Sandy, are lifelong supporters and fans of USM. Jackson attended every Southern Miss football and basketball game he could while growing up, and it was his interest in athletics that fostered a love for Southern Miss from a young age. Although Jackson moved away to earn his bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctorate, his Southern Mississippi roots called him home to earn a MBA with emphasis in accounting from USM in 1972. With his law practice requiring 50 plus hours a week, he balanced coursework with caring for his growing family and involvement with the community and church. While graduation could have marked a natural stopping point with his involvement at Southern Miss, it simply added another layer. Jackson returned to the classroom, and throughout the ’70s and ’80s taught as a faculty member in the College of Business School of Accountancy, where he found great pride and joy investing in the next generation of accountants. “I taught graduate tax, business law and accounting every day at noon for 14 years. I have fond memories of those times teaching and conversing with senior and graduate accounting students,” said Jackson. “Knowing those young minds were the soon-to-be professionals in the field made getting to be part of the final phase of their education pretty special.” Through serving on advisement boards for the Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies, the DuBard School for Language Disorders, the USM Foundation and the School of Accountancy, Jackson has remained connected to and passionate about the University. Athletic events at Southern Miss that first drew Robert and Sandy to campus continue to hold a special place in their hearts. As football season ticket holders and supporters of multiple USM athletic teams, they return to campus often, proudly donning their black and gold attire. For the Jacksons, Southern Miss is home. Seeking to leave an even greater mark on the institution, beyond his teaching and service, Robert and Sandy made a $25,000 pledge to create the Robert T. Jackson Sr. and Sandy Jackson Accounting Support Endowment. This fund will provide discretionary support to the School of Accountancy for expenses such as scholarship assistance, equipment upgrades and recruitment. In addition to this commitment, they also designated a $100,000 bequest to further grow the fund after their lifetime. “Sandy and I want to do our part to ensure the needs of the School of Accountancy are met. Whether in the form of new technology, support for professors or scholarships for students,

Robert and Sandy Jackson

we felt compelled to give back so that the school can continue to excel in perpetuity.” In addition to these gifts, the Jacksons have been consistent annual donors, providing support to the College of Business, Southern Miss Athletics, Frances A. Karnes Endowed Chair in Gifted Education, the DuBard School for Language Disorders, Partners for the Arts and the Centennial Scholarship Endowment to name a few. Beyond their personal philanthropy, Jackson also promotes philanthropic giving with his friends and clients. Over the course of his career as an attorney, Jackson has specialized in estate planning and transactional matters. His expertise allows him to assist clients in making sure their loved ones are provided for in the future in addition to supporting causes meaningful to them. His motto and message to clients is, “You’ve got to help somebody!” “I prepare a lot of wills and trusts for clients, and I encourage them to give 10 percent of their assets to a charity. With a multitude of worthy students, faculty and programs to support, why not make an estate gift to Southern Miss, designated to the area of your choice through the USM Foundation? No matter what a person’s interests are, gifts of all sizes make a meaningful difference at the University.” Knowing the perpetual impact planned gifts can make for Southern Miss’ students and programs, he is a strong advocate for his alma mater. “Whether you attended Southern Miss, grew up in Hattiesburg or relocated here, there’s always a reason to support USM. It doesn’t matter if you graduated from Southern Miss or not. If you call the Pine Belt or the state of Mississippi home, it just makes sense to invest in the University that educates its students exceptionally well, while boosting our local economy. Hattiesburg and our state are doing well because of USM. We ought to return the favor.”

FOU N DAT ION N E WS

G O L D E N E A G L E I M PA C T S P R I N G 2 018

SU PPORT I NG ST U DEN T SUCCE SS BRAD ’85 AND MONICA ’85 FOUNTAIN THROUGH THE FOUNTAIN FAMILY FOUNDATION • $27,500 GEORGE R. OLLIPHANT TRUST #2 • $25,645 THE LETTIE PATE WHITEHEAD FOUNDATION INC. • $73,000 SPENCER ’66 AND BILLIE ADAMS • $25,000 REED ’83 AND KAREN ALLISON • $65,000 THE ESTATE OF HUEY P. ANDERSON • $100,317 DR. CHRISTOPHER ’95 AND THERESA ’95 ANDERSON • $25,000 MICHAEL ’83 AND TAMMY ’84 BOROSKY • $25,000 ALFRED** ’53 AND RENAE BREELAND ROBERT ’72 AND SANDY JACKSON • $25,000 AND $100,000 PLANNED GIFT JACK AND LIZ JOACHIM • $25,000 ESTATE OF ROBERT PUTNAM • $250,000 CHUCK ’75 AND RITA SCIANNA • $37,265

I N V E S T I N G I N F A C U LT Y DR. STEVEN MOSER ’03 • $25,000

S U PP ORT I NG V I TA L PRO GR A M M I NG ASBURY FOUNDATION OF HATTIESBURG INC. • $100,000 EZRA JACK KEATS FOUNDATION • $36,000 SANDERSON FARMS INC. • $30,000 THE JI AND LI FAMILY FOUNDATION, INC. • $30,000 JAMES AND MARTHA YELVERTON THROUGH VANGUARD CHARITABLE • $37,662 MICHAEL ’92 AND MELANIE BLANTON • $25,000 ANDY ’83, ‘84 AND STACE ’89, ‘96 MERCIER • $25,000 DR. WILLIAM ’60, ’61 AND MARILYN ’58, ’59 SIRMON • $100,000 RICHARD W. PECK • SHARES OF STOCK, PROCEEDS OF WHICH TOTALED $105,658 DRS. JACK AND PATTI ’03 PHILLIPS • $30,000

L E AV I N G A L E G A C Y DR. JERRY ’01 AND COURTNEY ’95 WORLEY

For more information about the impact of these gifts, please visit usmfoundation.com/goldeneagleimpact.

**deceased

Spring 2018

Rich Bekesh

RICH BEKESH.

DRIVEN. By Megan Burkes ’15

hen asked to describe himself in one word, the answer came easily to Rich Bekesh: driven. While others would agree with that word choice, they would likely add compassionate, intelligent, leader and family man to round out his character. His Holiday, Fla., office is a snapshot of the man himself. Sitting in his Southern Miss chair, his sprawling desk is neatly organized, yet covered in stacks of architectural drawings and files, window glass samples and an ever-ringing phone. Dozens of photographs of Laura, his wife of 32 years; their three children, Nathan, Matthew and Emily; friends and colleagues cover the walls in a timeline of a life fully lived. Bekesh ‘88 grew up in New Port Richey, Fla., just miles from where his office sits today. One of three children born to humble beginnings, he worked two jobs during high school, stocking groceries and drafting as a young intern with a local architectural firm. While Bekesh is bemused by how he landed such a job as a high school student, that experience drove him toward his successful career. “The most senior guy in the drafting room was our job captain, who was a mentor to me. He’d graduated from Southern Miss and advised to go there, too. At that time, I’d never been past Tallahassee,” smiled Bekesh. Southern Miss was the only school he applied to. His freshman year, Bekesh lived in Bond Hall and worked every morning at 5 a.m. at the USM Post Office and after class at the A & P Grocery Store on Hardy Street. Young and naïve, Bekesh recalls trying to register for the spring semester that year. “When I was at USM, well before the age of the Internet, everyone registered in Reed Green Coliseum. It was quite an experience with long lines and students vying for limited spaces in the classes they needed.” After waiting in line for hours, Bekesh was told he would not be able to attend classes in the spring without paying the balance of his tuition. “I was given three options, which seemed encouraging,” said Bekesh. “I figured I could make one of those options work. Just when I thought the woman was warming up to me, she stated my three options were cash, check or credit.” Shaking his head, he admits, “I didn’t know anything about paying for tuition. I’d never given that much thought.” Without fuel money to get home, he certainly could not afford to pay his looming tuition bill. In that moment, 18-year-old Bekesh caught the attention of Army ROTC instructor, Major General Jeff Hammond (Retired), who was then a young Captain just back from Germany. “I noticed this young student with a bewildered look about him,” said Hammond. “After hearing Rich’s tuition situation, I wanted to help. I’m not sure what it was about Rich, but I could see the ambition in his eyes. He wanted to be in school, and it seemed he had zero options.” Help he did. After a walk to the Lucas Administration Building, followed by a myriad of tests, interviews and paperwork, Bekesh received a full ROTC academic scholarship. “I really didn’t know what I was signing up for, but that scholarship and the help Jeff gave me changed my life,” said Bekesh. Bekesh excelled academically within the architectural engineering program and continued to work and learn, interning with Myers Engineering, while still holding two and three other jobs. As an upperclassman, he was offered another opportunity through

Rich at his office in Holiday, Fla.

Laura, Rich, Emily and Matthew after the 2017 Wrap River Run.

Rich lecturing to USM School of Construction students in the fall of 2017.

Hammond, to complete Cadet Tactical Leadership Training (CTLT) after Officer Training School. That program led him to the Army Corp of Engineers. “It was a coveted position, and in my time there, I received invaluable experience, things you simply can’t learn in the classroom about problemsolving and the importance of relationships,” said Bekesh. The hard-working and determined Bekesh completed his degree in 1988 and established Spring Engineering Inc. just days after graduation. He lifted the fledgling firm off the ground while serving more than seven years with the Army Corp of Engineers, working seven days a week to fulfill his many obligations. “I’ve always been driven to exceed expectations,” said Bekesh. “That characteristic got me started and kept my nose to the grind; however, it’s what I learned at Southern Miss, in the military and in the early years of my career, that has been the key, and that is relationships. You help people because it’s the right thing to do, not expecting any benefit for yourself. When you manage relationships that way – personally and professionally – the good always comes back to you.” “I think of Jeff Hammond often and credit him for his role in my success,” said Bekesh. “There were thousands of students in Reed Green that day, but he stopped to help me. I don’t take our relationship for granted. While we lost touch for many years, I speak to him often now, and we’ve had him and his wife, Diane, to Florida to visit.” Spring Engineering is celebrating 30 years as a fullservice architectural, engineering and land planning firm in 2018. The firm now has more than 30 employees and a list of high-caliber clients, including Camping World, 84 Lumber, 7-Eleven, Starbucks and Chili’s, with thousands of projects spanning the U.S. Even with such success in the industry, Bekesh shows no signs of slowing down. One of Spring Engineering’s clients, Larry Morgan, CEO of Morgan Auto Group, has been a client and friend of Bekesh since the early 1990s. “Rich has worked on hundreds of millions of dollars in projects with me in the past 25+ years in the tire and auto industries, and frankly, I couldn’t be a more satisfied customer,” said Morgan. “I’m a good judge of character, and his is one of the finest.” Morgan also spoke of Bekesh’s passion for philanthropy and his dedication to his family and their Pasco County community. “If Rich and Laura are involved, it’s going to be a success. That shows in more ways than just professional accomplishment,” said Morgan. Bekesh gives much of that credit to Laura. “She’s such an important part of my story. We met in elementary school,” said Bekesh. “Her love and support have been unwavering. The successes in my life would not be possible without her standing beside me.” Over the past decade, Bekesh has been honored as the Nature Coast’s Philanthropist of the Year and with the

Rich overseeing construction at a Volkswagen dealership site.

“I’ve always been driven to exceed expectations. That characteristic got me started and kept my nose to the grind; however, it’s what I learned at Southern Miss, in the military, and in the early years of my career, that has been the key, and that is relationships.” — RICH BEKESH —

Governor’s Service Award. He serves on the boards of several non-profit agencies, including Youth and Family Alternatives Inc. (YFA) and the Morton Plant North Bay Hospital. He and Laura are generous contributors of their time, talents and financial resources. Among the Bekesh’s philanthropic activities is the Rap River Run, a 5K benefitting YFA, spearheaded by Rich more than a decade ago. “I don’t have the exact total, but the race has raised nearly $1,000,000 over the years, and it’s still growing,” said George Magrill, former executive director of YFA, a child and family services organization. “Rich is competent, curious and extremely passionate about everything he does. When he came up with the idea of the race, he convinced everyone it would become our signature event – he was right. It is one of the premier races in the area.” As a marathoner and triathlete, Bekesh participates in the race every year, along with his family. “Laura and I have raised our children to be involved and engaged,” said Bekesh. “They are involved in the 5K race and volunteer all over our community. We want them to understand the importance in taking an active role in the community while using their individual talents to make it better.” Last November, Bekesh shared his talents and experiences with hundreds of USM School of Construction students during a lecture in Hattiesburg. He shared more than just tips and tricks of the trade, but spoke candidly about the importance of relationship management, the art and science of engineering, as well as problem-solving and remaining “big picture” focused. “We need young minds in the field,” said Bekesh. “They hold fresh ideas and ideals.” He also spoke about the “phenomenal critical thinking base” the students would receive at Southern Miss, just as he did. Speaking to the students brought back memories of his time on campus. While Bekesh was not the typical college student, juggling multiple jobs before and after classes, marrying his childhood sweetheart after his freshman year and focusing on his role with the ROTC, he values the foundation that was laid during those formative years. “My drive and ambition were cultivated at Southern Miss. No one tried to tamp that down – I was constantly encouraged,” said Bekesh. “I will take every opportunity to encourage today’s and tomorrow’s students in the same way.”

Christopher and Lauren Grant

SWAY

USM Alumnus Christopher Grant Makes Serendipity Pay Off with Successful Dance Career

By Van Arnold ‘79

ometimes, when you are born to follow a particular path, preordained to become an instrument for creativity, then the forces of nature will not be denied. Such is the endearing story of Christopher and Lauren Grant – a superstar husband-wife team. Collaborators. Dreamers. The closest of friends and renowned professional dancers. You may not know them personally. But chances are you’ve seen their artistry on a TV or mobile device. Chris, a 2007 graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi, and Lauren, a 2005 graduate of New York University, snared the lead roles in Apple’s recent holiday commercial called “Sway.” The captivating video has amassed more than 10.2 million views on YouTube. How a young man from Jackson and a young woman from Long Island, N.Y., meet, fall in love, get married, tour together as professional dancers and land a game-changing video spot involves a mixture of hard work, timing and perhaps a sprinkle of serendipity. Although he took a somewhat circuitous route to his chosen career, Chris firmly believes that he was born to be a dancer. “Absolutely. No question about it,” he said during a break from teaching a master class recently at his alma mater. “Sometimes, it takes a little while to figure out exactly what your purpose is in life. But once you have reached that point, then you realize nothing else will satisfy you. In my case, I have no doubt that I’m doing exactly what I was born to do. I have to dance. I have no choice.” It might be a stretch to say Lauren Grant was practicing dance steps in the womb. But then again, maybe not. “On the day I was born, my mom said that I was an actress out of work,” said Lauren. “I’ve been dancing and performing since I was about three years old. There’s a freedom that comes with dancing that is unlike anything else for me. It’s about being lost in the present. To me, there’s nothing more beautiful. It has been my saving grace.” Professor Stacy Reischman Fletcher, interim director of the departments of dance, theatre, and art and design at USM, coordinated the Grants’ “guest artist residency” appearance in January, which included master class instruction and a weekend workshop. Reischman Fletcher estimates that she spent hundreds of hours working with Chris during his time as a USM student. She taught him modern technique, composition, senior capstone and thesis writing – among other critical necessities. Along the way, she noticed and admired qualities that enabled Chris to perform at a premium level. “Chris always had a love for dance and a drive to learn all he could about it,” said Reischman Fletcher. “His heart, his generosity and his partnering ability allowed him to stand out. When I worked with him in rehearsal, he inspired me as a choreographer. He took risks and was committed to the

Chris and Lauren Grant spoke to USM dance majors during their visit to campus.

vision of the work. He reminds me of why I do this – why we, as faculty, work for hours with our dance majors in the studio.” Returning to the Hattiesburg campus for the first time in years, Chris was flooded with wave after wave of nostalgic emotions. “I got pretty choked up about it because a lot of feelings returned,” he said. “This is where my love and appreciation for dance really began. I started remembering all the fun I had during my time here. The football games. The classes I loved so much. USM will always be very special to me.” USM sophomore Casey Collier says the opportunity to watch the Grants in action, while learning under their tutelage, made the master class experience unforgettable. The three days of intense instruction showed her the significance of creating movement and expression with a partner. “Their class was all about giving and receiving information from your partner,” said Collier. “The tools they taught stretched my mind and creativity and pushed me out of my comfort zone. My eyes are opened to a whole other world of partnering that I will now use for the rest of my life.” Except for a twist of fate, Chris Grant might have spent the past 10 years studying ecosystems instead of adagios. Upon graduation from McLaurin High School in Florence, he enrolled at USM with dreams of becoming a marine biologist. When not immersed in his challenging classwork, Chris found time to nurture his favorite recreational pursuit – hip hop dance. Blessed with natural rhythm and timing, he danced as often as possible in the local night spots. He danced in his dorm room, in parking lots and in hallways. And one Halloween night, his dancing prowess caught the eye of a fellow student, Kimberly Allen.

“I remember me and some others guys were on frat row just doing some impromptu dances,” said Chris. “This girl dressed like Alice in Wonderland came up to me and complimented my moves. I saw her again later on campus, and she said, ‘You know we have a dance program here. You should think about looking into it.’ I was caught completely by surprise. I honestly had no idea that you could major in dance or anything like that at USM.” Allen, a professional dancer and instructor in New Orleans, La., recalls that chance encounter with Chris, made even more unique by her random decision as a college freshman to check out the hustle and bustle of fraternity row. “You know, I think that was the only time I went to frat row,” said Allen, who earned a BFA in dance performance and choreography from USM in 2006. “Serendipitous one might say. I remember meeting Chris that night. He and his friends were so friendly and were busting out some impressive moves. Their energy was contagious, and we had so much fun.” Allen had a front-row seat over the next few years, as Chris continued to excel and astound with his dance skills. Count her among the least surprised to see the heights Chris has reached as a professional dancer. “I’m just so proud of Chris. His love of movement was always pure, and he always stayed focused and had a playfulness about him,” said Allen. “I know that hasn’t changed either. Chris is well-deserving of all the praise he is receiving. He is a moving performer, and in Lauren, I know he has found a partner who seems every bit as playful and creatively driven as he is.” Armed with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance

The Grants spent several days teaching classes and held a dance intensive workshop while in Hattiesburg.

performance and choreography, Chris left Hattiesburg bound for the ultimate dance mecca – New York City. There, he met fellow dancer Lauren Yalango while both were auditioning for Pilobolus Dance Theater in 2007. A year later, they began dating. In the summer of 2014, they were married. Today, they call Manhattan, N.Y., home, and while there are no children in the household yet, the possibility draws ever nearer. “We’ve just been so crazy busy dancing and teaching that we haven’t been able to make that happen yet,” said Lauren. “But we definitely want kids. That time will come.” Their talents have carried them across the globe performing in numerous stage productions. As members of Pilobolus Dance Theater, they made national and international TV appearances, including the Conan O’Brien Show and BBC’s The One Show. They have even enjoyed the distinct privilege of performing for the Queen of England. Last summer, a phone call from their agent changed the trajectory of the Grants’ already hectic and successful careers. “Our agent said that a big-name company was looking for dancers to star in a new commercial,” said Lauren. “It was all very secretive. Like U.S. government secretive. They specifically wanted a couple that could move like one organism. Our agent thought we would be perfect and asked if we wanted to submit an audition tape. We didn’t have any idea what the commercial involved, but we thought it was worth a shot.” After passing the first screening, the Grants were asked to submit a second audition tape. Shortly thereafter, the couple found themselves being whisked to the Czech Republic and its capital city, Prague, for Apple’s elaborate commercial shoot.

In the commercial themed, “Move Someone This Holiday,” a woman (Lauren) walks down a snow-dusted street and briefly stops to whip out her iPhone X. She dials up Sam Smith’s “Palace” – transmitted through her AirPods. As she dances wistfully through the gorgeous scenery, she bumps into a handsome stranger (Chris), who catches her mid-twirl. As they lock eyes and imaginations, the woman puts one of her AirPods into his ear, establishing a connection that enables them to move together. The commercial runs for less than two minutes. But the breathtaking flips, dips and spectacular symmetry of these polished artists required five days of filming – and up to 14 hours per day. Upon seeing the finished product, the Grants were left practically speechless. “I almost had a heart attack,” said Lauren. “I think I basically blacked out. It turned out even greater than either of us could have envisioned.” The Grants are represented by a team of agents at McDonald Selznick Associates, who laud the couple for possessing the elusive “it” factor so coveted by casting directors and producers. “They are a powerhouse couple, not only because they have that ‘it’ factor, but because they are a delight to work with,” said a company rep. “Chris and Lauren make every director and choreographer’s vision effortlessly come to life.” Which brings us to the concept of life after dance. At age 33, Chris Grant believes there is still plenty of creative juice in his veins and limitless twinkle in his toes. Stillness is for statues. “Man, I just want to keep dancing for as long as I can,” he said. Seems only natural.

S I G H T I N G SOU T H E R N S TA RS

SGA PRESIDENT

CAMERON

CLOUD By Leah Hunt

rowing up gold with a father who doubles as a professor at The University of Southern Mississippi led to a deep connection to Southern Miss by current Student Government Association President Cameron Cloud. “I always knew deep down I was going to end up at Southern Miss. I love it,” Cloud said. The 21-year-old biomedical science and communication studies double major found a new world within his beloved hometown when he came to Southern Miss in the fall of 2015. Cloud dove head first into the numerous opportunities offered to him at Southern Miss once he arrived to campus as a student, and he quickly found his role as one of the most notable and influential people on campus. Although Cloud graduated from nearby Oak Grove High School, the transition from dependent high schooler to self-sufficient collegiate student was a difficult jump for him to make. His experience with show choir and band in high school fostered his interpersonal and relational skills, but he was in no way knowledgeable of student government before arriving at Southern Miss. When Cloud became involved with the Freshman Associates branch of the Student Government Association, he immediately felt tied to something much bigger than himself. Former Student Government Association President and USM Alumnus Jeffrey George, and one of Cloud’s biggest influences on campus, encouraged him to aim big when it came to campus involvement. Cloud discovered an even smaller community of people at Southern Miss within student government and his passions were ignited. Cloud boasts that the opportunities found at Southern Miss are second-tonone, and they have helped shape him into the man he is today and the man he hopes to become. For someone who appears so confident and extroverted, no one could guess that it took Cloud quite a while to break out of his shell when arriving at Southern Miss. When he first became involved in the Forum with Freshman Associates, Cloud got a glimpse at how the next few years of his life could look. As a smaller version of the Student Government Association’s Senate, Cloud saw how Forum could prepare him for what was to come. He became a leader early on and served as the assistant director for Eaglepalooza, a large-scale musical event. Apart from advocating for the student body, Cloud maintains a full schedule of extra-curricular and personal initiatives. With an adoration for

SGA President Cameron Cloud

While at Southern Miss, Cloud studied abroad in Spain and visited several cities across Europe.

kids and ambitions of one day becoming a pediatric psychiatrist, Cloud participates in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in Hattiesburg, and still stays in touch with his little brother from the program, who is now 15. He also serves as a youth worship leader at Main Street United Methodist Church in Hattiesburg, which allows him to focus on the most important thing in his life – faith. His involvement as a Luckyday Scholar and student in the Honors College leads to rigorous course work as a double minor in chemistry and Spanish, alongside his double major. Cloud works tirelessly, both for the University and for his future, and as an aspiring medical student, he is committed to using the advantages Southern Miss has given him to gain a head-start in the process of applying to medical schools. “My time as a student in the Honors College has grown me academically,” Cloud said. “And while it’s brought challenges, I know I will be much better off in the long run because of it.” Alongside his many other endeavors, Cloud reveals that one of the best decisions he’s ever made at Southern Miss was studying abroad in Cadiz, Spain. “I was able to travel the world, and it was amazing. If you ever have the slightest interest to go, I say do it,” Cloud said. Taking advantage of the opportunity, he traveled across Europe to London, Paris, Rome, Dublin and Barcelona, growing as a person and committed to bringing the knowledge and experience home to Hattiesburg. Cloud has pushed for the inclusion of all people and students on campus since returning from his international travels, and his biggest hope for all who come to Southern Miss is to get as involved as possible. Now in his junior year, Cloud has come to realize that “you get out what you put in.” Cloud looks forward to the future as he nears the end of his term as Student Government Association president and hopes to see the transparent relationship he has created between students and the SGA continue with future leadership. His commitment and dedication, along with the leadership of former presidents Jeffrey George and Caroline Bradley, will provide a strong foundation for the incoming presidents at Southern Miss. With another year on campus before pursuing his medical career, Cloud looks forward to remaining involved as a student, a leader and a future alumnus of The University of Southern Mississippi.

SGA President Cameron Cloud with Seymour.

I KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT SOUTHERN MISS A A / E O E /A DA I U C 78 0 8 8 2 .1 8

I toured eight different universities, but I knew there was something different about Southern Miss the moment I stepped on campus. Hattiesburg has been my home away from home, and I’ve loved every minute of being here. I’ve met so many people and professors that have invested in me, and even though it’s a lot of work, I know I’ll be able to use what I’ve learned to become successful. I’m really optimistic about my future.

HOLLIS CHAPMAN Senior | Spanish Fort, AL

LIFE

AT SOUTHERN MISS

THE

The Greek community at Southern Miss has a long and distinguished history. Former members of this important student community currently serve as leaders in business, elected and appointed government officials, educators and community activists. Many of the skills necessary for success in these important roles were developed as part of the Fraternity and Sorority system at Southern Miss. Greek organizations made their first appearance at The University of Southern Mississippi in the 1940s as one of R.C. Cook’s most prized accomplishments. Chi Omega was the first national social sorority to find its place on campus in 1948, followed by Kappa Delta the following year and Phi Mu in 1950. In 1951, former Mississippi First Lady Corinne Johnson helped organize a Delta Delta Delta chapter. For the men, Phi Kappa Tau, Kappa Alpha Order and Kappa Sigma made their marks in 1948, along with the presence of an organized interfraternity council. Today, more than 1,700 Southern Miss students are affiliated with a Greek organization. “The positive impact Greek-affiliated students have on the University can be seen throughout every level of student life,” said Mary Dayne Gregg ’71, ’85, advisor for the Chi Omega sorority. “From the highest positions within the Student Government Association to leaders within academic programs, Greek students at Southern Miss are displaying the highest qualities that make our alma mater a special place.”

“Many times the strength of the Greek community is a barometer of the strength of a university, and USM is no exception, said Kate Howard, assistant vice president and dean of admissions. “According to national statistics, Greek Alumni give approximately 75% of all money donated to universities. We know alumni can impact us financially but also by investing in prospective students through sharing their stories and encouraging students they believe would be a great fit for their national organizations to also choose Southern Miss as their college of choice.” Nearly one year ago, a group of dedicated Southern Miss alumni began having conversations around the challenges and opportunities for alumni involvement within Greek Life at Southern Miss. Those conversations have evolved into the creation of a Greek alumni advisory board, which meets regularly to intentionally and creatively enhance Greek Life at Southern Miss. “Our initial goal, which has become our lasting goal, is to see Greek Life at Southern Miss reach its fullest potential,” said Sean McGee ’90, ’93. “After several conversations of what we wanted to accomplish and specific ways we wanted to help, it became clear that the best way for us to maximize our influence and support would be to create an advisory board with representation from each chapter to work alongside the Student Affairs and Greek Life staff. It is important for us to have a strong understanding of student philosophy in order to know how to best engage and utilize alumni support to grow and advance Greek Life.”

LIFE

The volunteer group has met several times over the last year and has created sub-committees to explore opportunities for improvement, with a specific focus toward the areas of alumni engagement, recruitment and housing. Denny Bubrig, assistant vice president for student life at USM, was eager to welcome the support of alumni in the area of Greek Life. “As I have become more involved with Greek Life at Southern Miss, the need for increased alumni engagement has become more and more evident, as well as the need for increased alumni communication from the Greek Life office. Keeping alumni engaged is both a goal and a challenge, and we are ready to make significant changes to welcome them back to campus and provide greater opportunities for them to connect with our chapters.” One of those significant changes is the inaugural Greek Reunion Weekend scheduled for April 20-21, 2018. Southern Miss alumni who were active members of the Greek community are invited to campus for a full weekend of activities. Chapter events will kickoff the weekend on Friday night with a slate of on-campus activities scheduled for Saturday including open houses, the 2018 Black and Gold Spring Game at The Rock, Southern Miss baseball vs Middle Tennessee State at Pete Taylor Park and a Greek Reunion Party at Brewsky’s. “We are excited to host the first Greek Reunion Weekend in conjunction with Eagle Fest on one of the most exciting days of the year for our University,” said Bubrig. “Our office is fully committed to making progress in keeping alumni involved with student life, and this event is our first effort in capitalizing on the Southern Miss spirit and creating a fun weekend for families.” A complete weekend schedule is available at SouthernMissAlumni.com/ GreekReunion. Greek alumni can enjoy a special discounted rate on USM baseball tickets when registering online. “The ultimate fruit of our efforts will result not only in stronger recruitment of students to the University, but also follow with the recruitment of more and better students to participate in Greek Life at Southern Miss,” said McGee. “We see the reality that a strong Greek Life presence on campus is instrumental in recruiting quality students to this institution, and we are committed to ensuring this facet of student life continues to grow and improve. Our entire University will benefit as a result of these concentrated alumni efforts. “A priority of our advisory board is to invite more alumni to invest in different areas of our Greek organizations in order to assist these students in being more effective recruiters for the University and for Greek Life. Stronger alumni engagement will build a larger alumni recruitment network which will yield a greater impact by each of our Greek organizations.” Enhanced data tracking efforts from the Greek Life staff have played a role in better telling the success stories of Greek Life and its influence on the campus and surrounding community. With more than 10% of the entire student body involved in Greek organizations, the University is experiencing its first Greek resurgence in many years. “Data related to the academic success of our students, as well as the impact on retention is more available than ever before, and it is

The Village is a female housing community with nine houses, a scholarship hall and duplex unit.

Chi Omega’s Songfest is the longestrunning Greek Life philanthropic event at Southern Miss.

Greek-affiliated students cheer on the Golden Eagles at The Rock.

Spring 2018

LIFE

Fraternities compete in Delta Gamma’s annual philanthropic event, Anchor Splash.

THE

important for us to share those statistics with our constituents,” added Bubrig. “A strong benefit of this alumni advisory board is the placement of value on academic success in our recruiting efforts, and we look forward to sharing these stories with greater emphasis in the future. “Additionally, the data we are collecting will allow us to enhance our usage of time, talents and financial resources. As an office, we are exploring how Greek alumni can be more interactive with each other, as well as with future students and the University as a whole. Our primary goal in terms of alumni engagement is reestablishing alumni affinity with their chapters. Ultimately, that will lead to a stronger talent pool, career networking, academic and operational advisement, social training and mentorship opportunities.” The influence of alumni in the short time since the creation of the advisory board has already pointed toward a bright future for Greek Life. The insight and knowledge of alumni have proven effective in enabling others to see the significance of change and the opportunities for advancement. The development of a new app for Greek Recruitment is also on the horizon, with implementation set for the fall. The app will provide real-time, accurate information to both prospective

Greek students participated in Bring It On Eagle Style during Homecoming 2017.

pledges and the Greek community, while streamlining the process for everyone involved. “Historically, female alumni have been instrumental in the success of recruiting prospective new members to the incredible group of sorority chapters on campus,” added Gregg. “The Greek Reunion Weekend, along with the enhanced technology, are bright opportunities for this growth to continue. It is an exciting chance for families to return to campus with their children, friends and neighbors in tow, to continue building upon the strong Southern Miss heritage.” With a solid framework for alumni engagement and recruitment efforts, the advisory board is also dedicated to the process of enhancing fraternity housing, balancing both current needs and preparation requirements for the future growth and development. As the Greek system strengthens, the conversations surrounding housing will become more urgent and the involvement of alumni will become even more instrumental. Greek alumni who are interested in supporting the growth and advancement of Greek Life at Southern Miss through volunteer service on the advisory board or within specific chapters, are encouraged to reach out to the Greek Life office at 601.266.4823.

LIFE

Songfest

Bring It On Eagle Style

The ladies of Phi Mu participated in the Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day of service known as The Big Event.

AT A GLANCE

Active Greek Chapters at Southern Miss

3.192

GPA

In 2016-17, the all-Greek GPA (3.192) was higher than the all-University GPA (2.939) and the non-Greek student GPA (2.862).

1,724

students are affiliated with Greek organizations on campus within the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), College Panhellenic Council (CPC) and Interfraternity Council (IFC).

1,198 sorority women

526

fraternity men

13,168 HOURS

Greek students completed a total of 13,168 COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS in 2017.

$246,801 Greek organizations at Southern Miss raised $246,801 in PHILANTHROPIC FUNDRAISING. Spring 2018

Eagles Explore

Journey

to new places or rediscover favorite destinations in the company of fellow Southern Miss

alumni. Let our trusted travel partners, Go Next, Collette and Contiki, handle all the details for a hassle-free experience. Below is a snapshot of where the Eagles Explore Alumni Travel program is going in 2019. For more information and for a full list of travel opportunities offered for alumni of all ages in 2018 and 2019, visit SouthernMissAlumni.com/Travel.

Sparkling South Pacific PAPEETE to PAPEETE

JANUARY 21 – 31, 2019 Explore French Polynesia, renowned for its vivid colors, serene beaches and laid-back lifestyle as Oceania Cruises’ elegant Marina takes you on an impressive ten-night voyage.

Gaelic Glory

DUBLIN to DUBLIN

JUNE 18 – 27, 2019 Experience the wonders of Gaelic culture on this fascinating eight-night voyage through the Emerald and British Isles aboard Oceania Cruises’ Nautica.

SOUTHERN MISS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION TRAVEL Gems of the Danube River with Prague PRAGUE to BUDAPEST

JULY 7 – 18, 2019

Stretching for hundreds of miles, the Danube River links countries, cultures, people and age-old traditions. From fairy-tale landscapes dotted with castles to grand hilltop cities and charming rural villages, a new treasure lies beyond each horizon.

Majestic Great Lakes

CHICAGO to TORONTO

AUGUST 2 – 11, 2019

From rugged coasts and dramatic bluffs to lush pine-forested islands and clear blue waters, discover some of the most serene and incredible scenery in North America.

Majestic Vistas

VENICE to ROME

OCTOBER 27 – NOVEMBER 4, 2019 Explore ancient cities and alluring architecture as you set sail across the Ionian Sea on this seven-night tour aboard Oceania Cruises’ Marina. From the winding alleyways and the hidden piazzas of Venice to the famous museums and stunning temples of Naples and Pompeii, embrace the unique and awe-inspiring history of Italy.

Jay Dean

30 Years of Bringing the World to Mississippi

By Grant Miller

Dr. Jay Dean

fter 30 years of bringing the world to Mississippi, Dr. Jay Dean has announced this season will be his last as the music director of The University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company. When Dean first arrived as the director of orchestral activities at USM in the spring of 1988, the orchestra had a number of challenges and opportunities for improvement. Thirty years later, the USM Symphony Orchestra receives local, national and international attention for its success, often serving as host to the world’s renowned musicians, who come to Mississippi to perform with Dean as conductor. When asked what he’s most proud of during his time here, Dr. Dean looks to the progress the orchestra has made. “I don’t remember any year that wasn’t better than the one before it,” he said, confident that his time at USM was spent working to constantly improve the scope and quality of the group. Dean feels a debt to the long and rich history of the University’s School of Music – the Symphony Orchestra is the oldest in the state, after all, and has experienced its own unique series of ups and downs. Yet, under Dean’s direction, the program has reached new heights. In 1988, Dean was not a stranger to the campus. He had earned both his undergraduate and master’s degrees at USM in ‘75 and ‘77, respectively. After working in Atlanta and then earning his doctorate at the University of Texas at Austin, Dean returned to Hattiesburg and became a Golden Eagle once again. Dean attributes the growth of the orchestra during his early career to many factors, but cites the overwhelming support from the administration between 1988 and 1997, when Dean’s work to grow the orchestra was most crucial. In 2002, Dean’s wife, Dr. Maryann Kyle, joined him at USM to work with the opera program, and together, they have established a new standard for university opera and musical theatre events in the region. “It’s because of her ability as a performer, teacher and recruiter that the opera and musical theatre stands, in my opinion, at its historic best,” says Dean. When speaking about both orchestra and opera students, Dean is quick to point out how they continue to bring unprecedented talent and the desire to work, allowing him to remain focused on providing them new and exciting opportunities. Dean pushes the students to rise to the occasion again and again, helping them to achieve musical greatness. Often, when reflecting on his work at USM, Dean stresses the importance of the process and not only the result, highlighting the journey of creating new and challenging ideas, rising to the occasion and executing those ideas beyond expectation. “Dr. Dean is not a person who says ‘no’ when you come

Renowned Dramatic Soprano Deborah Voigt performed with the orchestra in 2015.

up with crazy ideas,” said Dr. Mike Lopinto, the public relations and marketing coordinator for the School of Music, and Dean’s counterpart to much of his success. Together, the two have produced remarkable events and collaborated with renowned musicians, such as Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Plácido Domingo, Ray Charles, Renée Fleming and Sir James Galway. “We’ve done a lot of things only because we didn’t know they weren’t possible,” Dean said. And while he acknowledges these historic moments, he does not see any single performance as the most important. His most significant accomplishment, in his own eyes, is his 30 years of continuous success. The legacy of Dean’s work is known far and wide, extending beyond the University and around the globe. “The School of Music at USM is a resource for the entire state and region,” he said. There is not a city in Mississippi where you can go to an orchestral performance without seeing our students, faculty or alumni present. Today, music students, faculty and alumni from The University of Southern Mississippi are performing, teaching and creating exciting new connections for us around the world.” And his contributions to future artists do not begin when they arrive on campus, as his work was influential in improving musical programs for young people in high schools across the state. Among his numerous awards, Dean and the orchestra received the Governor’s Award for Leadership in the Arts within the state in 2009, confirming their impact on the culture of Mississippi. It has also been said that through his work, Dean has “brought the world to Mississippi,” through not only the abundance of international musicians that have come to perform with the orchestra, but also through the recruitment of numerous international students to Southern Miss. “When I began leading the program, I saw the opportunity and had the desire to grow and expand in new ways, and we had to look beyond the borders of the United States to do that,” Dean said, noting the particular attraction of talented young players from Central and South America. “For many of our international orchestral students, coming to Southern Miss has changed their lives in profound ways that most U.S. citizens cannot imagine. While music is indeed the vehicle, our ability

Flutists Sir James and Lady Jeanne Galway are among the world-renowned musicians to perform with the USM Symphony Orchestra under Dean’s leadership.

to provide life-changing experiences for these students is absolutely the most important work we do.” “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with young musicians; they are full of aspiration and still have their dreams in front of them. They come to us with talent, and we are not only able to shape that, but we all benefit from them while they are here. When they go out into the world and do great work, it’s like they’re taking a part of USM out there with them.” Aside from his work at Southern Miss, Dr. Dean also serves as the artistic director of the Natchez Festival of Music, one of the oldest music festivals in the state, stretching his influence even further across the state. “Dr. Dean has reached out and connected personally with members of our community on many levels, creating lasting and supportive relationships,” said Diana Glaze, current chairman of the festival. “We are convinced that without Dr. Dean’s involvement, our Festival may not be in existence today at the level of quality we have come to expect.” In 2010, Dean founded FestivalSouth – Mississippi’s only multi-week, multi-genre arts festival presented by the Hattiesburg Concert Association and held in Hattiesburg each June – and he has recently taken on the role of artistic director for the Mississippi Opera, the ninth-oldest continuously operating opera company in the United States. Dean’s final performance at Southern Miss will be a collaboration with the Mississippi Opera, the Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company, and the USM Symphony Orchestra with the production of Puccini’s Turandot on April 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the Mannoni Performing Arts Center, and April 28 at Thalia Mara Hall in Jackson. The event will be the largest operatic production the state has ever seen, involving a cast and crew of more than 280 people. “I appreciate the freedom I have had in my time at Southern Miss to explore, create and develop major events for our University, community and state,” said Dean. “I consider myself very fortunate to have had the opportunity for the past three decades to work with so many wonderful musicians, and I am pleased to have been able to play a small part in the events that, on so many occasions, were life-changing experiences for us all. Southern Miss will always be a part of my life.”

Show Your Golden Eagle Pride and support the school you love First Bank’s Go Gold Checking Account Includes annual membership to the USM Alumni Association and a $125 donation to the Eagle Club establishing the account holder as an Eagle Pride donor.* • Custom USM Mastercard® Debit Card1 with Card FreezeTM2 and Card Verifi2 (HOL OGRAM ON FRONT) • Unlimited Check Writing & Debit Card Use • Free Online Banking with Bill Pay • $100 Minimum Opening Deposit3 • On-the-Go Mobile Banking2 with On-the-Go Mobile Deposit2 • QuickCheck 24/7 Telephone Banking • $5,000 Accidental Death Insurance4 • $5,000 Identity Fraud Reimbursement • 3-in-1 Credit File Monitoring • Free Credit Report from three top credit bureaus • Free Credit Score • Cell Phone Protection4 • Road Side Assistance • Travel & Entertainment Discounts • Emergency Medical ID Card • Prescription Drug Discount and Dental Plan4 • Cash Back Member Rewards • $500 Grocery Coupon Book

• • • • •

Credit Card Registration Household Inventory Ledger Mobile App access to many more perks $2 Discount on Monthly Fee for eStatements Low Monthly Service Charge Fee of $24.95 ($22.95 with eStatements) with annual net proceeds paid to USM

“Official Bank of the USM Alumni Association”

Where Customers and Community Matter Most

firstbankms.com First Bank, ©2015 First Bank, Inc. All rights reserved. See Truth-in-Savings Disclosure for more information and account details. * Paid annually if account not closed and has been established for at least 12 months. Afterwards, if the account is closed, a prorated portion will be paid. Example: One-twelfth will be paid if account is closed in month thirteen. 1 All accounts come with a FREE MasterCard® Debit Card, subject to approval. Lost or damaged cards may result in a $5 replacement fee. 2 For any mobile banking service, standard data rates from your mobile provider may apply. 3 Subject to approval. 4 Insurance products are not insured by the FDIC, any other agency or the bank.

Member FDIC

SAVE 25%

ON ONE USM SPIRIT APPAREL ITEM

Visit WelcomeBackAlumni.com to join and receive this exclusive offer. By joining the Alumni Loyalty Program, you will receive a coupon code for 25% off one school logoed apparel item delivered to the email you used to sign up. Offer not valid on textbooks. Offer cannot be combined with any other promotion or discount. Coupon is not redeemable for cash. Exclusions may apply.

1 2 1 We s t M e m o r i a l D r i v e , H a t t i e s b u r g , M S 3 9 4 0 6 â&#x20AC;˘ ( 6 0 1 ) 2 6 6 - 4 3 8 1 ShopSouthernMiss.com

/SouthernMissBN

/SouthernMissBooks

AT H L E T I C N E WS

Matt Wallner

Matt Wallner Provides Big-Un Status in the Golden Eagle Baseball Lineup Southern Miss baseball coach Scott Berry simply refers to him as Big-Un. Most of the Southern Miss faithful by now knows the story about the six-foot-five Minnesotan propelled southward to Hattiesburg and Southern Miss in an effort to continue his baseball career. His life initially had him spending his collegiate days in Grand Forks at the University of North Dakota, but that school’s decision to drop the sport of baseball during his high school senior season changed his original decision. Searching for a new place to play and continue his education, Matt Wallner – aka Big-Un – found himself some 1,100 miles from home at Pete Taylor Park and Southern Miss. The move proved beneficial for both Wallner and USM. His first season was nothing short of remarkable as his numbers earned him National Freshman of the Year honors by almost every publication that covers college baseball.

“It is a blessing that came out of it,” said Wallner, on his decision to change schools, which led him south to warmer weather. “I just remember getting a text after a game in high school and was devastated. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to play baseball again. Former Assistant Coach Fed (Michael Federico) came up to recruit me a couple weeks after that. Once I came down for my visit, I knew this was the place for me. It couldn’t have worked out any better.” Southern Miss could say the same, as Wallner put together a freshman year in 2017 that included a .336 batting average, 19 home runs and 63 runs batted in, which helped lead the Golden Eagles to a 50-16 record, a Conference-USA regular season crown and a NCAA Regional hosting site for only the second time in school history. His home run total was the most by a freshman, while his RBI total ranked second among first-year players. Now, Wallner looks to carry over that successful first season for himself

and his team, which were again picked to win Conference USA in 2018 in a vote by the league’s 12 head coaches. Those same coaches also selected Wallner as the league’s Preseason Player of the Year, while he was a consensus All-American prior to the season by all those publications that honored him last June. This season, Wallner will not only play in the outfield but also see more time on the pitcher’s mound. His freshman pitching numbers included a 2-0 record with a 1.84 earned run average and three saves over nine relief appearances. And while he enjoys pitching, his passion is rooted in something else, which many Golden Eagle fans have come to appreciate. “I love to hit, and Coach Caillet has really brought that out in me,” said Wallner. “I just have a passion for hitting and learning more about it.” And as the weather begins to heat up again this spring, Berry looks to Big-Un to help lead the way for the Golden Eagles. Spring 2018

AT H L E T I C N E WS

Gary Holt

Miranda Holt

Samantha Holt

Born to Fly: Miranda Holt Continues Family Legacy at Southern Miss

THE

Miranda Holt, a junior women’s golfer, was literally born to fly. Gary, Miranda’s dad, played defensive back for the Golden Eagles under Coach Bobby Collins from 1977-80. Samantha, Miranda’s oldest sister, was also a member of the Women’s Golf Team and played from 2007-10. But coming to Southern Miss, suiting up in the black and gold and becoming the third Golden Eagle student-athlete in her family, something only a handful of families can claim, wasn’t always Miranda’s dream. “When I was a teenager, I wanted to be different and not follow in the footsteps of my dad and sister,” Miranda said. “When I was in high school and I came on my official visit, I just thought, ‘I can see myself here.’ Now I feel like I have a sense of identity here. Even though my family isn’t here, Southern Miss is family.” That sense of identity started back in 1977 when Gary first arrived on campus. The Golden Eagles went 6-6 with wins over Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Auburn. Barbara, Gary’s high school sweetheart and Miranda’s mother, would arrive on campus the next year, and the two married in 1981. Part of the original Nasty Bunch, Gary tallied 59 total tackles and was a part of the Golden Eagles first bowl win, a 16-14 contest against McNeese State in the 1980 Independence Bowl. During his four years, Gary never lost to the Rebels of Ole Miss or the Bulldogs of Mississippi State. “We had players from all over, and so there was a chip on our shoulder when we played these schools,” Gary said.

“One year we made bumper stickers that said 3-0 in the SEC. It’s tough to be a student-athlete, but it makes you tougher physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually,” Gary said. The two Holt student-athletes and Miranda’s mom prepared her for her time at Southern Miss before she stepped foot on campus. “My dad is my biggest fan, and he’s always pushing me to be the best that I can be. My sister was there to coach me through junior golf. She’d call me if I had a bad tournament and tell me that it’s ok.” During her time in Hattiesburg, Samantha was a part of two team tournament wins, was twice named Conference USA’s Golfer of the Week and ranks top 10 in career rounds played, 97, and career birdies, 125. She competed in 37 total tournaments, with her best finish coming as runner-up in the 2009 Lady Eagle Classic. Samantha also led the team in total strokes for two seasons. “We’re so proud and grateful for Southern Miss,” Gary said. “When I see old teammates, they always ask me how my daughters are because they think it’s so neat that I had two daughters that also played. I always tell Miranda that when she’s got that uniform on, even when we’re at home practicing, she’s representing Southern Miss.” Miranda takes pride in being introduced as a Golden Eagle when she meets her dad’s old teammates. “I have a sense of, ‘I did it.’ when he introduces me,” Miranda said. “It’s cool to hear older Golden Eagles say, ‘You got them all here!’ to my dad.”

AT H L E T I C N E WS

SNAPSH OTS Take a little Southern Miss with you wherever you go! As you sport the black and gold, be sure to capture the memories and send them our way. Send us photos of yourself, your family and friends representing Southern Miss, and we will print as many as space allows in a future edition of Snapshots. Email photos* to alumni@usm.edu.

Jan Collins ‘74, Dr. Nancy New, First Lady Deborah Bryant and Margie Jepson ’79, ’83 were some of the Red Dress Ambassadors that gathered at the Governor’s Mansion for a “Go Red Lighting of the Mansion” in honor of National Heart month in February. Dr. Nancy New chaired the event and First Lady Deborah Bryant spoke about how heart disease affects women.

William Speed ’91 on Golden Eagle Avenue at the military base in Taji, Iraq.

Primerica Regional Vice Presidents who are also Southern Miss alumni: Leneatra Payton ‘79, Tom and Jessica Smith ’12, Scott Hall ’86, Desmond Martin ‘11, Sean Merrill ‘07, Frank Firestone ‘98, Mike Landrum ‘87, Steve ’84 and Angela Lewis ’85. Not pictured: Rhett Whitley ‘82, Lasheeta Davis Geter ’01, Jared ’01 and Kim Nelson.

*For printing purposes, please email your photos at a resolution of 300 dpi. If you have any questions, contact the Alumni Association at 601.266.5013.

ALUMNI BOOKSHELF

THE

Butterfly Colors Michelle Poirier Varner ‘88 Guardian Angel Publishing, 2017

Poems of My Faith Anna Ferry ‘71 Christian Faith Publishing, 2017

CHECK OUT THESE BOOKS BY ALUMNI AUTHORS If you wish to be considered for coverage, please email alumni@usm.edu the title of your book, class year, publisher, year published and electronic image of the book’s cover in a jpg, tif or pdf at 300 dpi.

Spirits’ Desire Janet Taylor-Perry ’83 Dragon Breath Press, 2017

Unveiling the Muse: Journey of a Cotton Bloosom The Lost History of J.C. Villegas ‘11 Gay Carnival in New Orleans Brown Books Publishing Howard Philips Smith ’77 Group, 2016 University Press of Mississippi, 2017

CL ASSN OTES

Now is your chance to catch up on the news and accomplishments of your fellow Golden Eagles. To submit news to The Talon, please send your information to the Southern Miss Alumni Association, 118 College Drive #5013, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001, email alumni@usm.edu or post it online at SouthernMissAlumni.com. All cities are in Mississippi unless otherwise noted.

1950s

120 1898

1898

2018

1898

1898 2018

2018

C E LEBRAT I NG

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018 1898

1898 YEARS OF8 LASTIN 2018 G IMPRESSIONS 2018 189

8988 1201 2018

1898 2018

1898 PRINT

2018 1898 247 Industrial Drive N 2018

2018 8

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

4870 MS-589 | Sumrall, Sum MS 601.758.4499 2018

1898

189 Spring 2018

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

Visit Sumrall Framing and Accessories for all your framing needs in the Pine Belt.

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

Madison, Mississippi 39110 601-853-7300 1-800-844-7301 2018 www.hederman.com 1898

2018

1898 1898

HEDERMAN BROTHERS 1898

1898

2018 2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898 1898

2018

DESIGN 8 189

CROSS MEDIA

2018

1898

2018 2018

1898

GREEN

1898

2018

1898 1898

DIGITAL

2018

1898

2018

018

DIRECT

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018 2018

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

Sumrall Framing and Accessories

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898 2018 YEARS OF 1898 LASTING IM PRESSIONS

2018

1898

2018

1898

RICHARD BENNETT ’76, representative 2018 1898 the Mississippi House of 1898to lead Representatives, was 8 appointed 201 1898 the House Education Committee.

2018in

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

CAMILLE BUTLER WILLIAMS ’70, ’77 received the Mississippi Speech-LanguageHearing Association’s 2017 Honors of 1898 2018 8 the189Association Award for distinguished contributions to speech-language 1898 2018 1898 pathology and audiology in Mississippi.

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

1898

2018

8 ALLAN TROSCLAIR ’65 received201the 1898 2018 Annual Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice 1898 8 Excellence Award in 2017201 and serves as vice 1898 2018 chair of the New Mexico Substitute 1898Care 2018 1898 Review Board Advisory Committee. Citizen’s

2018

1898

2018

1898

189

2018

1898

2018

EDWARD J. “ED” LANGTON ‘70, chairman and CEO of Grand Bank, was recently appointed to serve on The Atlanta Fed’s Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council (CDIAC).

ROBERT H. “BOB” SLAY ’62 judged the working group at the 142nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show as his seventh Westminster assignment. Slay was approved to judge in 1979 and is currently approved for the sporting, working and herding groups, eight terrier breeds, junior showmanship and best in show. He has judged around the world, including the American Kennel Club 8(AKC) National Championship and 189 served as the vice president of the AKC. 2018

JOHN HILLSMAN ’57 retired after 55 years of dental practice, including 2018 1898 N.C. 45 years in201 Black Mountain, 8 1898 Throughout this career, Hillman served 2018 1898 two years 2018 of active duty with the U.S. 1898 Army, one-year internship 2018in oral 1898 8 201surgery, one-year of seminary and six 1898 2018 dental missionary years 189 as8a Presbyterian in the Democratic Republic 8of the Congo. 2018

018

1970s

1960s

HAROLD HINTON ’56, ’57 enjoyed a music career spanning more than 30 years, holding positions as choral director, band director, school and district administrator, and church music director in Richton and Quitman. Following his relocation to Brandon, Hinton worked in real estate and retired in 2000.

1898

CL ASSN OTES

Former Executive Director of The University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Association, RON PHILLIPS ‘69, has retired as the vice president of business development for USI Affinity Collegiate Insurance Resources. Phillips began his employment with USM in 1969 as field representative and was promoted to assistant director and associate director under Powell Ogletree. Upon Ogletree’s retirement, Phillips was selected to serve as the Association’s executive director. During his service to the University, Phillips worked with Ogletree to develop one of the first online computer systems for alumni and received two United States Steel Awards for sustained giving. Phillips also launched the first satellite alumni meeting during the 75th anniversary of the University. Phillips was a founding member of the Council of Alumni Association Executives and was an active member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. He is also a founding member of the Council of Retired Alumni Professionals. Following his service to Southern Miss, Phillips joined Bertholon Rowland Corporation in New York, N.Y. as executive director of the National Educational Alumni Trust and head of the College Division. The company grew from 47 customers to more than 350 during Phillips’ tenure, and was ultimately acquired by Goldman Sachs and is now owned by KKR. Phillips has two children and a stepdaughter who graduated from Southern Miss: Kristen Kern of Jackson, Breck Phillips of Nashville, Tenn. and Mary Paige Dukes of Greenville, Ky. He and his late wife, Jimmie, who passed away in 2017 from complications from cancer, also have five grandchildren. BILL GARDNER ’76, a former professor and specialist in leadership training, has been named an online Forbes contributor. H. DAVID PADDEN ’77 was named a partner at the tax services group, RKL LLP, in Manheim, Pa. BEVERLY CARR ’79 was awarded the Book of Golden Deeds, a top honor from the McComb Exchange Club, for her extensive work in education and community service. ANTHONY PARKER ’79 was recently reappointed to the position of police chief in Hattiesburg.

1980s

MATILDA OGDEN STEPHENS ‘80 received a Torchbearer Award from the Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities for her work with the mentally disabled in Mississippi.

THE

DEBRA J. MOORE ’81 has retired from the University of Mississippi after more than 20 years as a professor in the Department of Social Work.

TERRY D. INGRAM ‘82, ’03, ‘06 has been appointed to the Lamar County School District’s Board of Trustees after more than 30 years of experience as an educator. KATHY SPRINGER ’82 was appointed as CEO of United Way of South Mississippi in Gulfport. MARY HILL ’83 was promoted to systems officer at Trustmark National Bank in Jackson. TONY MCWILLIAMS ‘83 will join PharmaSafe as the West Texas Area Manager. BRUCE WALT ’84 joined the partnership of Horne LLP in Gulfport, where he works in marketing program development. KEITH MILLER ’85 was hired as IT officer at First Bank in Hattiesburg. RON G. BARNES ’86 was appointed to the board of The People’s Bank in Biloxi.

PHYLLIS BAYER ’86 was recently nominated by the Trump administration to serve as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for installations, energy and the environment. CONNOLLY C. MCARTHUR ’86, ’87 was hired as a senior counsel in litigation at Hill Ward Henderson in Tampa, Fla. JENNIFER BARNHILL ‘87 has recently been named business development director for Elior North America based in Charlotte, N.C. CHERYL GORDON ‘87 has been named Deputy Director of applications for the Mississippi Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) Information Systems Division. ALAN HOWE ’89 was appointed as Hattiesburg’s new Water and Sewer department director. JANE HULON ’89, ’91 was chosen as the next president of Copiah–Lincoln Community College by the institution’s Board of Trustees.

CL ASSN OTES

Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission recently named RONALD OSWALT ‘89 to the position of Strategic Partnerships and Sponsorships Director. Following his retirement from coaching and teaching, DAVID SANGUINETTI ’89 was hired to the sales staff of the Sango ChryslerDodge-Jeep-Ram dealership in Natchez. AILRICK YOUNG SR. ’89 has retired from the Mississippi Army National Guard after 29 years of service.

1990s

ROBERT E. LEARD ’90 was elected to the Board of Directors at The Woodward Hines Education Foundation in Jackson. CHRISTY GUSTIN ’91 recently completed coursework to become a nationally recognized graduate of the Alabama REALTOR® Institute. JUSTIN HILL ’94 has been named director of player development at Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort in D’Iberville.

The Nominating Committee of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), a not-forprofit organization which focuses on growth through job creation and expansion, has elected Belizean-born CLARENCE HULSE ‘94 to its Board of Directors. CASSIE ARNER ’95 has been named the University of Illinois associate athletics director for marketing, fan development and strategic communications in Champaign, Ill. CHRISTAL COKER ’96 earned an Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement from First 5 Alabama for her work in child mental health and advocacy fields. JERLANDO F. L. JACKSON ’96 received the Alumni Achievement Award from the College of Human Sciences at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. ANDY REED ’96 was recently hired as the director of development for the Naples Children & Education Foundation in Naples, Fla.

LUCY SOLANO ’97 was named 2017 Mississippi Foreign Language Association Teacher of the Year for the state of Mississippi. MATT STENCIL ’97 was hired as a senior client partner in industrial practice at Korn Ferry Hay Group in Chicago, Ill. PETER TALLUTO ’97 was hired as the director of taxation at Intrepid Potash in Denver, Colo. DR. JAMES BRENT GREGORY ‘98, ‘03 has been named vice president for student affairs at Southwest Mississippi Community College in Summit. AMED DEMIRHAN ’98, ’04 was the 2017 recipient of the American Library Association International Relations Committee’s John Ames Humphry/OCLC/Forest Press Award for significant contributions to international librarianship. He serves as the director of Barzani National Memorial Library in Kurdistan, Iraq.

JAYNE L. BUTTROSS ’78 recently received the Mark Smith Lifetime Achievement Award from Mississippi’s Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities. She was awarded the honor on November 30, 2017, in Jackson for her extensive work as a disability rights advocate. As a young lawyer starting her career in 1982, Jayne opened her practice to people with disabilities, including deaf, hard-of-hearing and visually impaired clients, and families of schoolchildren with disabilities. Shortly after joining Attorney General Mike Moore’s staff in 1988, she led an investigation into allegations of abuse and neglect at the Mississippi School for the Deaf. Jayne worked with leaders in the deaf community and with legislators to pass the Mississippi Dual Party Relay Service Act in 1990, making it possible for people with speech and hearing limitations to communicate by phone. She later worked to get home and community-based Medicaid waivers in place, providing people in Mississippi needed support to prevent them from being unnecessarily placed in nursing homes and institutions. Jayne served as advisory board chair and then as a staff member of The Children’s Center for Communication and Development at The University of Southern Mississippi, where she received her bachelor’s degree in political science in 1978. She joined the Coalition Board of Directors in 2006 and has seen the organization through significant challenges during her almost 12 years as a board member, many of those years as board chair.

Spring 2018

CL ASSN OTES

BYRON MCCAULEY ’98 was promoted to editorial board member at The Enquirer in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he also writes as contributing columnist. MELINDA MILLER ’98 has been named the 2017 Outstanding College Science Teacher by the Mississippi Science Teachers Association for her work at Pearl River Community College in Poplarville. ANTHONY MOORE ’98, ’99 was recently appointed as the as interim police chief for the Jackson Police Department. GERALD JONES ’99 has been named vice president of business development and media for Minor League Baseball in St. Petersburg, Fla.

2000s

CASEY GRAHAM ’00 has been named chief financial officer of First Bank in Hattiesburg.

KEITH DAVIS ‘01 has been appointed Moss Point Police Chief. TORIANO HOLLOWAY ’01, ’06 was recently hired as superintendent of the Quitman School District. JENNIFER L. GUNTHER ’01 was recently hired at Hattiesburg Clinic Orthopedic Surgery. KELLI PREJEAN ’01 delivered the keynote address during Marshall University’s Winter Commencement in Huntington, W.Va. Prejean was the winner of the 2017 Marshall and Shirley Reynolds Outstanding Teacher Award.

RUSSELL RICHARDSON ’01 was named senior vice president of business development for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber of Commerce. TOY WATTS ’01, ’08, ’12 was appointed as superintendent of Laurel School District. KEITH BALL ’02 was recently elected as chairman of the Forrest County Republican Party Executive Committee. GARY CROSBY ’02 was recently accepted into the Advancing to the Presidency leadership program offered by the American Council on Education. He currently serves as the vice president for student affairs at Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, Ala. ANTHONY DIFATTA ’02 has been hired as the new education director at the Walter Anderson Museum of Art in Ocean Springs.

THE

WWL-TV morning news anchor SALLY-ANN ROBERTS ’74, ’76 recently retired from Eyewitness News after 40 years of experience as one of southeast Louisiana’s most beloved and respected television journalists. Roberts has played a key role in coverage of virtually every hurricane, election, special event and Mardi Gras celebration during her 40 years at the station. Her most cherished accomplishment occurred in the fall of 2012, when she donated her bone marrow to her sister, Robin Roberts, the ABC News Good Morning America co-anchor, who was suffering from a life-threatening disease called MDS. Their story triggered an outpouring of support from across the nation. In 1994, Roberts and her friend Cathy Harris co-founded the mentorship organization, Each One Save One. Over the years, the non-profit organization has recruited, screened, trained and placed hundreds of mentors in schools and organizations across the metro area. For more than 10 years, she produced reports on “Quiet Heroes,” volunteers in the community who are helping others. Her Quiet Hero reports took on added poignancy after Hurricane Katrina. For nearly two decades on Channel 4 in the 1990s and early 2000s, Roberts also hosted a Saturday morning talk show for teenagers, Our Generation. For her work in the community, Roberts has received countless awards and recognition over the years, from the Young Leadership Council, Urban League, YWCA, Junior League, Toastmasters International, Kiwanis International, The Freedom Foundation of Valley Forge, New Orleans Black Social Workers, The Children’s Defense Fund and The New Orleans Conference for Community and Justice. Professionally, she has earned lifetime achievement honors from the Press Club of New Orleans and the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters, and was part of the team honored with the Edward R. Murrow, George Foster Peabody and duPont-Columbia awards for coverage of Hurricane Katrina. Roberts is the author of three books: Going Live...An Anchorwoman Reports Good News, the novel Angelvision and the inspirational book, Your Power Is On, with photography by Eric Paulsen. All three books are published by Pelican Publishing.

CL ASSN OTES

KEVIN ANTOINE ’81, JD, has been selected to the U.S. Fulbright Scholars Specialist Roster by the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Institute of International Education’s Council for International Exchange of Scholars. The Fulbright Specialist Program sends U.S. faculty and professionals to serve as expert consultants on curriculum, faculty development, institutional planning and related subjects at academic institutions abroad. Antoine is the assistant vice president for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and associate professor of health law and policy at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center. The Fulbright Scholar is a former Harvard University Administrative Fellow. He received his law degree from the College of William & Mary, a certificate in Organizational Change from Cornell University’s School of Industrial Relations and received his undergraduate degree from The University of Southern Mississippi in 1981. He is also a former U.S. Air Force Captain. JONATHON HODA ’02 joined Centennial Heart at Summit in Nashville, Tenn., in 2016 as an interventional cardiologist. He married Kaley Anne McGillis May 29, 2015, in Mount Pleasant, S.C. SHEA KIDD HOUZE ’02 was recently hired as assistant vice chancellor for student life and dean of students at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. NICK KARL ’02 was promoted to chief marketing officer at People’s Health in Metairie, La. SHAWNY ROBEY ’02, ‘04 has been named chief operating officer of Centerstone in Bradenton, Fla. PAMELA SCOTT-BRACEY ’06 was recently named Collegiate Teacher of the Year by the Southern Business Education Association for her work at Mississippi State University. ADAM BREERWOOD ’03 was promoted to president of Pearl River Community College in Poplarville. MARISHKA KATRESE BROWN ’03 and David Hewitt were married on January 7, 2018, in Hattiesburg.

LORI JOHNSON ’03 was named Petal School District Teacher of the Year for her work at Petal Upper Elementary School. HAWKE LOTT ’03 was hired as general manager of MCS Building Supply in Sumrall. ROBBIE WARD ’03 recently joined The Meridian Star as a reporter. CHASE FORD MORGAN ’04 recently joined the law offices of Bryan Nelson P.A. in Hattiesburg. SABRINA M. SINGLETON ’04, ’16 is an adjunct professor at Assumption College in the Transition Specialist Program. She is a vocational expert with the Social Security Administration Office of Hearing Operations and provides vocational expert testimony in disability courts across the country. She also provides vocational expert services in litigation cases handled by attorneys. Dr. Singleton operates a consulting firm and provides job placement services through the Social Security Ticket to Work Program.

VAMSI VASIREDDY ’04 was appointed as a senior advisor for clinical financial sustainability at the Office of Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy under the U.S. Department of State. MERWIN BROWN ’05 was named South Mississippi State Hospital’s Employee of the Quarter for the third quarter of 2017. SARA CHATHAM ’05 has been promoted to director of spa, salon and pool operations at Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi. ROBYN KILLEBREW ’05, ’16 was named a Milken Educator Award winner for her work as the principal of Pass Christian High School. Among the 44 Milken honorees for 2017-2018, Killebrew is the only one chosen from Mississippi. Daniel Dobbins and KALA JO GRICEDOBBINS ’06, ’09 welcomed Kylie Grace on Dec. 24, 2017. JEFFREY O’KEEFE JR. ’07 has been named president of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Homes in Gulfport.

Spring 2018

CL ASSN OTES

VICTORIA HENSLEY ‘86 has been selected as one of The Cannata Report’s 2017 Women Influencers for her significant accomplishments in the business technology industry. The Cannata Report’s Women Influencers is an annual cover story that showcases leading female executives who are at the forefront of change in the industry. Victoria is the chief operating officer of PSIGEN Software. For a COO in the workplace technology industry, Hensley brings a unique background. She’s worked for NASA, where she developed software for several orbiting satellites as an engineer, including atmosphere research satellites that measured the ozone layer, enabling researchers to monitor the hole in the ozone over the Antarctic Ocean. At PSIGEN, Hensley oversees engineering and marketing and has been instrumental in instituting processes that encourage open and efficient communication and innovation across and between all employees, as well as bringing transparency of knowledge to enable PSIGEN’s workers to access the tools they need for optimal productivity and success. This proven internal company strategy has led to innovations. Victoria received her bachelor’s degree in computer science from USM in 1986. JESSIE CASE ‘08 has been named Teacher of the Year for the Brookhaven School District. ALVIN KINGSTON ’08 was named deputy chief of police in Bay St. Louis after more than 10 years of experience in policing Gulfport. MICHAEL FLOOD ’09 has been named assistant to the central transportation commissioner for the Mississippi Transportation Commission.

2010s

SCOTT W. THORNBURG ’10 was recently elected to serve on the 2018 Board of Directors for the Public Relations Society of America. After achieving Accreditation in Public Relations, he was hired at Sojern in San Francisco, Calif.

CRYSTAL BARLOW ’11 and her husband, Brian, welcomed their son Beckett Christopher Barlow on August 23, 2017. He is also welcomed home by big sister Jordyn. ASHLEA PETTENGILL ’11 and David Loftus will be married October 7, 2018, in Alexandria, Va.

THE

Congressman STEVEN PALAZZO ’94, ‘96 was awarded the Essential Hospital Congressional Leader Award on Feb. 27 by America’s Essential Hospitals Association (AEH) for his efforts to delay harmful Medicaid cuts for hospitals nationwide. Kevin Cook, the Chief Executive Officer for the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s adult hospitals, presented Palazzo with the award for his leadership. In 2017, Palazzo led 221 members of the House to urge House and Senate leadership to delay scheduled payment cuts for Disproportionate Share Hospitals (DSH). Federal law requires that state Medicaid programs make payments to qualifying hospitals that deliver health care to a large number of Medicaid and uninsured patients. These payments alleviate the financial strain hospitals incur from uncompensated costs. “Delaying these harmful cuts and providing relief to our hospitals is important,” Palazzo said. “When speaking with our local safety net hospitals, it was evident just how catastrophic these payment cuts would be to their mission in caring for our communities. I am thankful that we were able to temporarily restore these vital payments for Mississippi hospitals and prove that we are committed to getting our health care systems on a path to sustainability. Thank you to the association for America’s Essential Hospitals and its members for their continued work to improve our health care system.”

CL ASSN OTES

MYRA RHODEN ’08 was named the 2018 National Band Director of the Year by the National Association for Music Education. Dr. Myra Rhoden has been a music educator for 24 years, and currently serves as the director of bands and Fine Arts department chairperson at Fayette County High School in Fayetteville, Ga. She oversees the Fayette County High School Band’s program, which consists of a competitive marching band and winter guard, three concert bands, a jazz band and several chamber ensembles. Originally from Tuskegee, Ala., Dr. Rhoden received Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees in Music Education from the University of Alabama, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from The University of Southern Mississippi in 2008. Dr. Rhoden is also the founder of the Athena Music and Leadership Camp, a summer band and orchestra camp for middle and high school-aged girls that promotes musical excellence while emphasizing self-esteem and leadership skills; and the New Notes Band Camps, summer day camp programs for middle school musicians in the metropolitan Atlanta area. Dr. Rhoden serves as a GMEA All-State Band organizer, and she has served as the GMEA District VI Band chairperson. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Southeastern United States (SEUS) Honor Band Clinic at Troy University, served on the Board of Directors for the Alabama Bandmasters Association and serves as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the Southeast. The National Band Director of the Year Award honors the band director who has been an inspiration to students and music educators, and who by his or her actions, embodies the U.S. Army’s core values. CARSON AND ANNE MARIE MILLER ’14 were married December 9, 2017, in Columbus.

Jacob Winston and ALEXANDRA LEIGH BOOTHE ’16 were married January 13, 2018, in Natchez.

STEPHEN PARKS ‘13 testified before the Congressional Committee on House Administration at the Transforming GPO for the 21st Century and Beyond hearing. He is the state law librarian of Mississippi and spoke at the request of the committee chairman, Mississippi Representative Gregg Harper.

KARELIA PITTS ‘14, manager of communications for the USM Foundation, was honored with the Burlian O’Neal Walker Professional Promise Award by the Pine Belt Chapter of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM).

KIFFANI ZACKERY ’16 was crowned Miss Black Tallahassee U.S. Ambassador 2018 in Tallahassee, Fla.

LAUREN LIDDON ’13, ’17 has joined the natural resources team of Pickering Firm in Flowood.

ERIN ELIZABETH ROBERTSON ’14 and William Mason Pavatte will be married March 10, 2018, in Taylor.

SALMA DAWOUD ’14 was accepted into the University of Iowa residency program for ophthalmology. She will soon graduate from the University of Mississippi Medical School.

SHEILA BULLOCK ’15 graduated with a master’s degree in nursing from the University of South Alabama.

LAKEN B. MILLER ’12 recently joined Hattiesburg Clinic Pulmonary Medicine, treating patients with respiratory disorders and lung diseases.

BENJAMIN BOYKIN ’17 and HALEY BRITT ’16 were married February 3, 2018, in Ridgeland. MARCUS HOPE ’17 joined the natural resources team of Pickering Firm in Flowood as an environmental scientist. LENORE SCHAFFER ’17 has been hired as deputy coordinator of the Title IX Office at The University of Southern Mississippi.

In Memoriam

WILMA WALKER COLE ’39 of Brookhaven died on January 10, 2018. LAURA SARAH ROWELL ’41 of Wiggins died on January 14, 2018. MINNIE LOUISE COX ’47 of Hattiesburg died on October 27, 2017.

HELEN GRACE PARISH ’49 of Carson died on November 18, 2017. WILLIAM IRA BEARD ’50 of Hattiesburg died on December 10, 2017. WILLIAM HERBERT BUTTS ’50 of Raymond died on October 28, 2017.

MARY HARRIS ‘50 of Hattiesburg died on November 27, 2017. HENRY EDWARD MORREN ‘50 of Fair Haven, Vt., died on November 18, 2017.

Spring 2018

CL ASSN OTES

THE

EARL S. ORR ‘50 of Georgetown died on November 12, 2017. LAURA LOUISE THOMAS ’50 of Monticello died on November 9, 2017. WALTER BUTLER ’51 of Seminary died on November 13, 2017. JOHN WAYNE TERRY ’51 of Colonial Heights, Va., died on January 16, 2018. PEGGY ELEY BRASHIER ’52 of Biloxi died on December 30, 2017. FRANKIE L. HARDER ’52 of Hendersonville, N.C., died on December 6, 2017. JEANNE HOLIFIELD ’52 of Laurel died on December 19, 2017. ELINOR SWITZER ’52 of Tallahassee, Fla., died on January 5, 2018. ROBERT LEE AVERA ’53 of Georgetown, Texas, died on December 2, 2017. ALFRED ANTHONY BREELAND ‘53 of Biloxi died on November 24, 2017. JOYCE HAVARD HUNTER ’53 of Mobile, Ala., died on December 28, 2017. MAXWELL C. LUCAS ’53 of Monroe, La., died on November 8, 2017. JEWEL JOANNE NEWCOMB ’53 of Hattiesburg died on November 12, 2017. BARBARA JEAN STRIBLING ’54 of Flowood died on November 21, 2017. CHARLES LOYD WILLIAMSON ’54 of Tuscaloosa, Ala., died on January 24, 2018. CECIL P. FAULKNER ‘55 of Leeds, Ala., died on February 14, 2017. GLORIA JOAN HANKINS ’55 of Nine Mile Point, La., died March 13, 2017. BOBBYE FRANCES HENDERSON ’55 of Carthage died on December 24, 2017. PATRICK JOSEPH DEL VICARIO ’56 of Lincoln Park, N.J., died on December 5, 2017. BARTLEY ALMOND HILL ’56 of Petal died on November 12, 2017. HUGH PEPPER ’56 of Vaughan died February 4, 2018. EUGENIA W. WEISS ’56 of Glendale, Ariz., died on October 21, 2017. PASCAL W. BARRON ‘57 of Jordan, Ariz., died on January 9, 2018. JOHNNIE MAE MAUCK ‘57 of Vicksburg died on November 24, 2017. HUGH JIMMIE RUSHTON ‘57 of Anderson, Texas, died on November 11, 2017. VERL H. WOOD ’57 of Tupelo died on November 28, 2017.

DONALD R. EDDY ’58 of San Antonio, Texas, died on November 5, 2017. JOE RAYMOND HANKINS ’58 of Fruitland Park, Fla., died on October 20, 2017. LESLIE W. MAGEE ’58 of Mendenhall died on November 14, 2017. CHARLES ALFRED MITCHELL ’58 of Ozark, Ala., died on November 5, 2017. JEWEL DEAN RILES ’58 of Ellisville died October 22, 2017. WARREN A. TREST ’58 of Montgomery, Ala., died on December 11, 2017. LIONEL E. CONERLY ‘59 of Metairie, La., died on November 8, 2017. KATHLEEN ALFORD EASLEY ’59 of Progress died on January 5, 2018. CHARLES T. GERMANY ’59 of Vicksburg died on January 7, 2018. DON R. GRAFTON ’59 of Laurel died on November 30, 2017. SYLVIA JANET PRICE HINTON ’59 of Brandon died on January 11, 2018. WILLIAM BURR BOOKER ’60 of Meridian died on December 9, 2017. EUGENE KENYON OWEN ’60 of Cleveland died on January 12, 2018. MARTHA LYNN SIMS ’60 of Jackson, Ala., died on January 18, 2018. ROSEMARY T. FARRAGUT ’61 of Laurel died on November 2, 2017. BARTH CHILTON KAIGLER ’61 of Evans, Ga., died on January 16, 2018. JACK LELAND MOORE ’61 of Boone, Iowa, died on December 11, 2017. JEWELL W. VINCENT ’61 of Wilmington, N.C., died on September 27, 2017. LINDA GAIL COOPER ’62 of Tecumseh, Kan., died on November 18, 2017. ROBERT G. ANCONETANI ‘63 of Buena, N.J., died on December 2, 2017. DAVID CARL SCHOLZ ‘63 of Brandon died on November 13, 2017. MARY NELL CRANFORD ’64 of Hattiesburg died on October 26, 2017. CHARLES BENFORD MCNEILL ’65 of Brandon died on January 21, 2018. LEROY P. SMITH ’65 of Concord, Calif., died on November 13, 2017. MARGARET LEWIS CRAIG ’66 of Gainesville, Fla., died on December 30, 2017. JAMES HILTON WEST ’66 of Prairie died on December 6, 2017.

MARY RUTH YOUNG ’66 of Shenandoah Junction, W.Va., died on January 11, 2018. LOIS GERTRUDE BELL ’67 of Beaumont died on January 11, 2016. DONALD RAY COMBS ’67 of Orange Park, Fla., died on November 16, 2017. CHERYL LEE OWENSBY ’67 of Vancleave died on November 4, 2017. STEWART HOLM RAMSAY ’67 of Pascagoula died on January 12, 2018. MARGIE SELLERS SUMRALL ’67 of Brandon died on January 15, 2018. JORJA POUND TURNIPSEED ’67 of Belden died on November 15, 2017. BILLY C. ARD ’68 of Tucker, Ga., died on December 11, 2017. LYNDA CLARE SOWELL ’68 of Jackson died on December 2, 2017. JACK DOUGLAS STEVERSON ’68 of Hattiesburg died on November 18, 2017. DONAL H. CLAYTON ‘69 of Decatur, Ala., died on January 9, 2018. RANDY WAYNE EVANS ’69 of Waynesboro died on December 2, 2017. GEORGE NORMAN MAIDA ’69 of Atlantic Beach, Fla., died on December 23, 2017. CAROLYN JEAN MILLS ’69 of Jackson died on December 29, 2017. DEBBIE EAVENSON REED ’69 of Jackson died on December 20, 2017. GEORGE MICHAEL SEKUL ‘69 of Gautier died on October 28, 2017. EDWARD HENRY CHAMPNEY ’70 of Hattiesburg died on December 9, 2017. JEFF EDWARD FRAZIER ’70 of Hoover, Ala., died on December 26, 2017. LEWIS DAVID HOWELL ’70 of Hermitage, Tenn., died on October 22, 2017. EDWARD BENTON FERNSTROM ’71 of Fort Worth, Texas, died on December 13, 2017. PATRICIA ANN GRAHAM ’71 of Ormond Beach, Fla. died on January 19, 2018. CHARLES THOMAS WILSON ’71 of Blairsville, Ga., died on November 13, 2017. QUENTIN EARL BENEDICT ’72 of Hattiesburg died on January 27, 2018. ROBERT HARRIS FERRINGTON ’72 of Ruston, La., died on January 23, 2018. EARNESTINE WILSON FORD ’72 of Laurel died on December 15, 2017. JOSEPH M. PEACOCK ’72 of Hammond, La., died on January 17, 2018.

CL ASSN OTES

JOHN TIMOTHY ANDERSON ’73 of Vicksburg died on December 16, 2017. DAVID LLOYD BLACKSTOCK ’73 of Jackson, Tenn., died on November 1, 2017. ROBERT JAMES BRUST ‘73 of Lecanto, Fla., died on November 17, 2017. SHIRLEY MARIE BRYARS ’73 of Agawam, Mass., died on November 8, 2017. CLIMMIS BYARS ’73 of Magee died on December 15, 2017. M. MARY CALVERT ’73 of Hanceville, Ala., died on January 21, 2018. WILLIAM EDGAR GILMORE ’73 of Gulfport died on January 5, 2018. KAREN JOY HALE ’73 of Cape Canaveral, Fla., died on December 26, 2017. JOHN W. KENNEDY ’73 of Hopewell Junction, N.Y., died on December 9, 2017. HARLAN WILLIAM LONG ’73 of Tallahassee, Fla., died on January 4, 2018. LORENE T. MANGUM ’73 of Hattiesburg died on October 29, 2017. PAUL DAVIS MCCEARLEY ’74 of Brandon died on January 9, 2018. ERIC CHARLES PETERSON ’74 of Bay St. Louis died on December 1, 2017. CLINTON LAWRENCE SEGRAVES ’74 of Fountain Hills, Ariz., died on November 20, 2017. EARL LAMAR WASHINGTON ’74 of Lexington, Ky., died on November 15, 2017. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS ’75 of Petal died on November 21, 2017. LUCY L. BICKHAM ‘75 of Gulfport died on November 24, 2017. LARRY D. CARAWAY ‘75 of Kosciusko died on November 23, 2017. KENNETH LAMAR JONES ‘75 of Gulfport died on November 5, 2017. DONITA L. POOTHULLIL ’75 of Biloxi died on November 6, 2017. ETHEL MARIE PHARR ‘76 of Valley Grande, Ala., died on January 22, 2018. GEORGE THOMAS DUPONT ’77 of Long Beach died on December 8, 2017. PAUL DANIEL FIELDS ’77 of Ballwin, Mo., died on December 6, 2017. SHERRIE LYNN GRIER ’77 of Saucier died on December 14, 2017. MYRNA ANN JORDAN ’77 of Long Beach died on January 20, 2018. ROBERT DONALD LAWRENCE ’77 of Gulfport died on December 7, 2017.

LEE EUGENE EATON ’78 of Port Gibson died on October 25, 2016. JOHN WINN HOFFMAN ’78 of Columbia died on November 11, 2017. RICHARD CARLOS OLAIVAR ’78 of Pass Christian died on October 24, 2017. WILLIAM FISHER BORNMAN ‘79 of Moss Point died on November 25, 2017. BELINDA JOYCE FRENCH ’79 of Newport, N.C., died on January 5, 2018. JUDITH L. MCKINNON ’79 of Forest Hill, Md., died October 21, 2017. DOROTHY GLEASON TWISS ’79 of Baton Rouge, La., died on November 20, 2017. ANN R. BOYD ’80 of Brookhaven died on December 22, 2017. JAN WOODALL GOOCH ’80 of Atlanta, Ga., died on November 30, 2017. EVALYN WHITTEN JERKINS ’80 of Gautier died on January 9, 2018. HUBERT HILLMAN TIMS ’80 of Ocean Springs died on December 19, 2017. MARY HELEN BAXTER ’81 of New Braunfels, Texas, died on November 2, 2017. HELEN FINCH FIELDS ‘81 of Ethelsville, Ala., died on November 22, 2016. ELLEN HANDS ’81 of Biloxi died on December 28, 2017. STEVEN M. LADNER ’81 of Biloxi died on January 26, 2018. DONNA W. SIMMS ’82 of Lumberton died on December 2, 2017. JAMES G. FULCHER ‘83 of Belzoni died on November 22, 2017. JOHN THOMAS GRAVES ’83 of Gulfport died on November 9, 2017. MACK DAVID LUCAS ’83 of Jackson died on January 14, 2018. MARY D. CARTER ’84 of Moss Point died on December 9, 2017. MICHAEL EDMOND GREENWALDT ’84 of Baton Rouge, La., died on November 8, 2017. PAT H. MORRIS ‘84 of Poplarville died on November 27, 2017. ELIZABETH ANN HINDS ’85 of Madison died on January 23, 2018. THOMAS AARON LOTT ’85 of Houston, Texas, died on December 10, 2017. LORETTA M. SMITH ’85 of Long Beach died on January 5, 2018. CLEMON DELANE TERRELL ‘85 of Powder Springs, Ga., died on November 30, 2017.

SARA FRANCES COBB ’86 of Long Beach died on January 15, 2018. MARILYN ESTHER HUNTER ’86 of Madison died on December 10, 2017. JULIA ISABELLE MCCANN ’87 of Ocean Springs died on December 3, 2017. KEITH WAYNE STEPHENS ’87 of Biloxi died on December 20, 2017. THOMAS ELLIOT THOMS ’87 of Hattiesburg died on November 2, 2017. VELMA HARDWICK ’88 of Bolton died on November 1, 2017. SCOTT J. MARTIN ’88 of Kiln died on January 24, 2018. LARRY W. TUTTLE ’90 of Bella Vista, Ark., died on December 14, 2017. KARON MICHELLE WIGLEY ’90 of Richton died on January 7, 2018. WILLIAM WILSON BOWDEN ’92 of McHenry died on December 23, 2017. MICHAEL WAYNE LEE ’92 of Biloxi died on December 30, 2017. MICHAEL SCOTT CONNER ’93 of Thonotosassa, Fla., died on November 6, 2017. LUCY ANN FLYNT ’93 of Laurel died on January 18, 2018. WALTER CLAYTON MASTERS ’93 of Sumrall died on January 8, 2018. JAMES MICHAEL MONIOT ’93 of Ocean Springs died on November 22, 2017. ADDIE JEAN ROSS ’93 of Biloxi died October 27, 2017. LAURIE KAY JONES ’94 of Diamondhead died on December 12, 2017. CHRISTOPHER STEPHEN SYLVEST ’94 of Glastonbury, Conn., died on January 10, 2018. JON TRAVIS DARBY ‘95 of Petal died on December 12, 2017. JANIS MCCUTCHEN ZULEEG ’98 of Ocean Springs died on January 6, 2018. DAVID DALE GELMSTEDT ’99 of Sun City, Ariz., died on January 4, 2018. COURTNEY HUBBARD ’00 of Ocean Springs died on January 23, 2018. AARON LANE WALTERS ’03 of Richton died on November 15, 2017. AMANDA CLAIRE TOUCHETTE ’07 of Biloxi died on December 27, 2017. MIRANDA F. MERKLEIN ’10 of Santa Fe, N.M., died on October 14, 2017.

Spring 2018

SOUTHERN MISS ALUMNI MARKETING PARTNERS Continue your support of The University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Association by doing business with the Association’s Marketing Partners. By utilizing the goods and services of these marketing partners, you will be generating additional revenue to support the programming and operations of the Association.

Members Perks Program

Bank Of America® Special offer for Southern Miss alumni and friends! Announcing a special No-Annual-Fee MasterCard® credit card now conveniently available to Southern Miss alumni. Simply call 1.800.932.2775 for details about the costs and terms of this offer or to apply for the credit card.

Printing and Framing. For more information, call 601.758.4499.

Campus Book Mart Southern Miss Apparel and Gifts. For more information, call 1.888.712.5083.

Balfour Official Southern Miss Ring. For more information or to order, call 1.866.BALFOUR and ask for reference code 2315.

Members of the Southern Miss Alumni Association have access to over 289,000 local and national discounts at work, home or on the go! Save on thousands of hotels, restaurants, movie tickets, florists, car dealers, theme parks, national attractions, concert and events.

Nearby Offers Discover discounts in your neighborhood and 10,000 cities nationwide.

Mobile Access Save an app icon to your phone’s home screen for quick access to discounts.

Go Next The Southern Miss Alumni travel program, Eagles Explore, offers a wide variety of tours to destinations in the U.S. and around the world to Golden Eagles of all ages thanks to our partnership with Go Next. Go Next is dedicated to providing our travelers with extraordinary travel opportunities at affordable prices. For upcoming travel opportunities, visit SouthernMissAlumni.com/Travel.

Nationwide Insurance Nationwide offers insurance products at exclusive discounted rates for alumni of The University of Southern Mississippi.

Specially Designed Southern Miss Degree Frames Order your custom Southern Miss diploma frame and preserve your achievement for a lifetime with Diploma Display. To order, visit www.diplomadisplay.com/usm.

Barnes and Noble Your school. Your bookstore. Located on the Hattiesburg campus of The University of Southern Mississippi. For more information, call 601.266.4381.

Share family news, announcements and Career updates with us at

SouthernMissAlumni.com/WhatsNewWithYou

THE

SouthernMissAlumni.com/Benefits

e c r u o s 1 # r u o Y G N I H T Y R E V for E ! s s i M n r e h t Sou

www.campusbookmart.com

• One Stop Shopping for Students • New and Used Textbooks • School Supplies Located on Hardy Street across from the main entrance to Campus by IHOP

Call:

601.261.9690

The University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Association 118 College Drive, #5013 Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5013 PERIODICAL

Discover

Better Banking

Find out more about the money-saving benefits of Keesler Federal membership today! Free Checking â&#x20AC;˘ Mortgage Services â&#x20AC;˘ Low Rate Auto Loans

Visit one of our two Hattiesburg branch locations:

kfcu.org | 888-KEESLER

Turtle Creek Branch - 6175 US 98 Wesley Branch - 201 Methodist Blvd

Federally insured by NCUA. Membership and credit eligibility required.