The Piper: Fall 2017

FALL 2017 / VOL. 46, NO. 1

permits America to retain its leading global role in creativity, entrepreneurialism, and cutting-edge product design and development.

I am excited about joining Lyon College at this point in its history.

And they are the foundation upon which

Unlike many enterprises, colleges find a sense of purpose and

the postindustrial American economy will

community in their storied pasts. As we approach our 150 anniversary

continue to globalize, training an educated

in 2022, this history becomes an ever-present touchstone. However, I

workforce to match new technologies.

th

am more interested in our future. For me, the Sesquicentennial is a goal to be achieved. I come to this goal having just finished writing a

The path forward must be comprehensive in

book, How to Run a College, co-authored with Dr. Brian C. Mitchell,

design. It is not enough to “fix the admissions

about the challenges facing 21st century colleges. I thought that I would

problem” to generate new revenue. Nor will it

share some of our conclusions with you:

be sufficient to launch eternal comprehensive fund-raising campaigns or anticipate that

As we began our analysis we noted that President J. H.

the federal government will replace tuition

Reynolds of Hendrix College recommended that the 400

or donors to fund the changes that must

colleges that existed when he wrote in 1934 be reduced

be made as the crisis deepens. The fact is

by two-thirds. Reynolds argued that this reduction would

that American colleges and universities

strengthen American higher education by creating a more

rely upon an operating model that grew

robust higher education community with higher standards.

from the heady enrollment surges of the

By 2016 the nearly four thousand nonprofit institutions

last century, when tuition increases always

in the United States served 20.5 million students. In this

balanced out the growth in annual expenses.

postindustrial economy, a maturing higher education

These days have ended. The education of

system now wrestles with the impact of technology, rising

the stakeholders in higher education will

student and institutional debt, declining applicant pools of

mean that these groups understand the

traditional college-age students, and a broken operating

comprehensive interconnection between the

model. Yet we end this book with the same deep conviction—

people, programs, and facilities that shape

this is a classic seminal moment in the ongoing evolution of

an institution’s direction. Survival means

American higher education. It is a time of challenges that

understanding how the pieces work together.

must be met by conviction, nimbleness, and imagination.

As I look to Lyon’s future, I am determined for it to The challenges facing America’s colleges and universities

be much more than survival. My goal is an institution

today are no better or worse than those presented at other

that thrives on challenges and blossoms into a national

times in American history. The sky is not falling around

liberal arts college of the first order. We are equal to

higher education, which remains the best avenue into the

the task.

middle class. Its two institutions drive the most progressive sectors of the American economy. They are the primary employers throughout large swaths of rural America. They produce much of both the basic and applied research that

D R . W. J O S E P H K I N G President of Lyon College

FEATURE ARTICLE: FALL 2017 • VOLUME 46, NO. 1 PRESIDENT

Dr. W. Joseph King

INTERIM PROVOST Dr. Paul Bube

VICE PRESIDENT OF ENROLLMENT SERVICES Matt Crisman

ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS Eric Bork, ’07

EDITOR

Dr. Diane Tebbetts

DESIGNERS

Chris Hill Wes Obrigewitsch

WRITERS

Alexandra Patrono-Smith, ’15 Dr. Diane Tebbetts

ON CAMPUS 12

STUDENT FEATURE: RIDGE HESTER

15

NEW CABINET MEMBERS

18

THE MORROW ACADEMIC CENTER

20

AMC CHAMPS: LYON COLLEGE BASEBALL

22

MORTAR BOARD

LIBERAL ARTS IN ACTION 26

NICHOLS INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

36

UPCOMING ADMISSIONS EVENTS

37

NEWLY TENURED FACULTY

38

HONORS FELLOWS PROGRAM

PHOTOGRAPHERS

ON THE COVER: Photo by Mike Kemp, ’88 President W. Joseph King poses for his official portrait outside of the Alphin Humanities Building, named after Hazel C. Alphin of El Dorado, Arkansas. This building was constructed as the student union in 1970 and was converted to an academic building in 1984. This fall, Dr. King will host the first Board of Trustees meeting of his presidency in this building.

ERIC RICHARDSON

46

BEN BRAINARD

50

LAURA McWILLIAMS

54

McRAE

59

MILESTONES

62

COMMENCEMENT 2017

GIVING 64

I LOVE AC

66

K-9 PHILANTHROPY: PART 2

71

FINAL THOUGHTS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT Gina Garrett, ’93

ALUMNI RELATIONS Taryn Hill Duncan, ’91

ANNUAL GIVING Daniel Haney, ’08

SUBMISSIONS

For class notes or birth or death notices, email alumni@lyon.edu.

To update your information, visit lyon.edu/update-your-info. For other editorial matters, email marketing@lyon.edu

LYON COLLEGE

ALUMNI 40

Heights Taco and Tamales Co. Chris Hill Mike Kemp, ’88 Wes Obrigewitsch Alexandra Patrono-Smith, ’15 The Parish Group Bethany Richardson Dr. Dave Thomas

CAMPUS SWEET CAMPUS. In an effort to make the Lyon College Campus more visable to future students living far from campus, the Office of Marketing and Communications and the Office of Enrollment Services have made a brand new campus map. See it or take a tour at lyon.edu/maps.

is a selective, independent, undergraduate, residential teaching and learning community affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Lyon College offers a challenging curriculum centered on the liberal arts, guided by an honor system and coordinated with co-curricular programs, all fostering the critical, creative thought and ethical, spiritual growth that will prepare students for fulfilling personal and professional lives committed to lifelong learning and service.

LYON COLLEGE

2300 Highland Road Batesville, AR 72501 870.307.7000 www.lyon.edu

F E AT U R E

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The Lyon King W. J O S E P H K I N G TA K E S T H E H E L M O F LY O N C O L L E G E

Remember your first day on a new job, maybe one that took you in a new direction compared to your previous work experience? Were you nervous?

Excited? Would you be able to remember all the new names and faces you would encounter that day? Did you wonder why you thought you wanted this big change in your life? Here’s your chance to follow President Joey King on his first day as the official leader of Lyon College.

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7:22 a.m.

Left Bradley Manor for Edwards Commons.

7:27 a.m.

Coffee and pastries with Sodexo Food Services and Facilities employees in the Maxfield Room. It’s obvious the new president knows which folks keep the campus running!

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8:33 a.m.

Jimmy Bell, Kenton Adler, and Avens Ridgeway, representing the Pipe Band, pipe Joey from Ed’s to the Lyon Building for his first Cabinet Meeting. He’s beginning to understand those T-shirts that say “where the bagpipes never stop. Ever.”

9:01 a.m.

He meets in the Worthen Bank Room with his Cabinet: Interim Provost Paul Bube, VP for Enrollment Services Matt Crisman, Associate VP for Marketing and Communications Eric Bork, VP for Student Life Pat Mulick, VP for Administration Clarinda Foote, Associate Dean of the Faculty Kurt Grafton, and VP for Finance John Jones.

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10:12 a.m.

Welcome to Nichols! So many names! So many faces! And that’s with several folks out for vacation!

10:58 a.m.

Meeting with Clarinda Foote in her office. The door was closed, so it must have been important!

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12:07 p.m.

Lunch with former board chairman and interim President Ray LaCroix at Ed’s in the President’s Dining Room.

12:54 p.m.

Walking across campus with LaCroix. Lots to see—lots to learn.

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1:35 p.m.

Checking out progress on renovations at the Brown Fine Arts Building with LaCroix, Executive Director of Advancement Gina Garrett, and John Jones. Great progress!

1:54 p.m.

Greeting students outside Ed’s.

Even in the summer, a few students are working on campus.

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2:15 p.m.

Visiting with Dr. Irosha Nawarathne and her research students in the Derby Center.

This is what some of the summer students are doing— and one reason Lyon science grads do well with advanced study. Joey also got to meet Dr. Tharanga Wigetunge, a math professor and Irosha’s husband, who stopped by to see what was going on.

2:57 p.m.

Getting his Lyon ID at the Print Shop in the basement of the Library. But does he have his parking sticker?

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3:09 p.m.

Getting a library card and touring the library with Rob Austin, Administrative Assistant for Technical Services and Special Collections. So is there an order for How to Run a College by Dr. Brian Mitchell and a certain Dr. W. Joseph King in the system yet?

3:45 p.m.

5:11 p.m.

Checking emails and writing thank you notes.

We are glad to see he was raised right, getting those thank yous out promptly!

Heading home to Bradley Manor.

But the day’s not over yet . . . he still has to cook supper— burritos—for the family! No rest for the weary!

So that was Joey’s first day! We know he will get acquainted with everyone and every facility quickly and work with the trustees and the campus community to come up with a plan to keep things moving ahead. Welcome to Lyon College, Dr. King!

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hour by hour

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12

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2

3

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HOME COMMUTE MEETINGS EMAIL PHONE OTHER

228

87

MINUTES SPENT IN MEETINGS

HANDS SHAKEN

48

118

OUNCES OF COFFEE AND TEA

EMAILS RECEIVED

7

12,244

PHONE CALLS RECEIVED

STEPS TAKEN

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Ridge Hester

Between the hours spent scrambling to complete his assignments, fighting to make himself indispensable, and dedicating himself to maintaining a relationship with God, Ridge Hester, ’19, finds himself leaning back in an old polyester recliner. He’s not alone—he’s not even on

SGA PRESIDENT FINDS PA S S I O N I N S ERV I CE

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the college campus. He’s in a nursing home, listening to a resident recall a memory from her childhood.

This interaction, small but profound,

“People say your mother can’t be

you love. You have to do something

is crucial to Hester. It gives him a

your mother and your father, but

that inspires you.’”

moment to ground himself. It gives

my mother has absolutely been

him time to put everything back

both,” he said. “She’s been there

Now a psychology major with a

into perspective.

for me and my sister through the

minor in religion and philosophy,

highest highs and the lowest lows.

Hester feels that he is finally taking

“I like to make connections with

She’s been behind us every step of

a step in the right direction. He’s

people,” he said. “I like to learn

the way.”

still uncertain whether this path is

their stories. It helps me. It reminds

the correct one, but he knows one

me of how much I still have to look

Hester first stepped foot on the

thing: any path that leads to helping

forward to, how much in life I still

Lyon campus in 2015. He had no

others is a good one.

have to experience. You never know

questions about who he wanted to

what’s waiting for you later on

be or what he wanted to pursue—

Since his freshman year, Hester has

down the road.”

he knew he was going to major in

forged an image for himself on the

biology. He knew he was going to

Lyon campus: he was vice president

After a pause, he added with a

be a physician. Loving to care for

of Campus Ministry his freshman

laugh, “I’m a 19-year-old boy, and

people, there was no greater pursuit

and sophomore years, chaplain of

the most interesting thing I have

in the world he could imagine.

the Black Student Association and

to say about myself is that I like to visit nursing homes.”

president of the Alpha Lambda As the semesters rolled on, however,

Delta honor society his sophomore

he felt his interest start to wane.

year, and he is currently a member

Born and raised in Poplar Bluff,

Each class became an effort—he

of the gospel choir, a resident

Missouri, Hester grew up with his

had to force himself to engage

assistant, a student ambassador,

sister and mother. He never had

and learn. He started to question

an Alumni Association student

much of a relationship with his

whether he was walking down

representative, and president of the

father—he knew him, and every

the right path, if he should force

Student Government Association.

so often he saw him, but he could

himself through a biology major

never quite shake the feeling of

only to end up trudging through

With such an enormous amount

absence.

medical school.

of responsibility resting square on his shoulders, it’s hard to imagine

Still, he felt no less blessed in life. A

“It wasn’t worth it in the end,” he

how Hester hasn’t crumbled under

boy’s best friend is his mother, after

said. “I wasn’t happy. I had to get

the pressure. But he thrives on his

all, and for Hester, his mother has

hold of myself. I had to tell myself,

leadership roles. When the school

always been just that.

‘Ridge, you have to do something

year is over, instead of kicking

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back and enjoying his free time, he spends his summer attending leadership conferences in Missouri refining his skills and learning how best to serve others.

Despite his zeal, he acknowledges that being a leader isn’t always easy.

While the workload never dampens his spirit, with so many eyes looking up at him for direction, he feels an unavoidable sense of responsibility

being perfect. I’m not perfect, but I

very thing he loves most: be there

to never put a foot out of place.

try to be for the people who look up

for others. It allows him to help

to me.”

them and guide them when they’re in need, and he thanks God for that

“It’s hard to make a mistake,” that

Regardless of the stress, his love

but

of being a leader never wavers.

responsibility—at the risk of not

Leadership allows him to do the

he

admits.

sense

“Overcoming

of—not

obligation,

favor every day.

“It’s plain, but being there for others, helping them however I can, that’s what I really love,” he said.

“I feel that with the gifts God has given me, I can help others see their gifts and reach their goals. It’s such a blessing that God has given me that favor. It’s a great honor.”

Hester begins the first semester of his junior year this fall. After he completes his degree, he plans to further hone his leadership skills and pursue a career in higher education and administration.

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Clarinda Foote VICE PRESIDENT FOR A D M I N I S T R AT I O N A N D C H I E F O F S TA F F

sports and has also become the foundation for dealing with allegations of sexual assault, harassment, or violence.

Clarinda Foote, a 32-year employee of Lyon College,

Two years later, she was named Director of

has been promoted to Chief of Staff and Vice President

Administration, handling the day-to-day functions of

for Administration, effective July 1.

the President’s Office and working closely with the President and the Board of Trustees.

She started working at Lyon (then Arkansas College) in July 1985 as Benefits Manager, and within less than 10

With her promotion, she is no longer responsible for

years, she moved up to Director of Human Resources,

human resources or Title IX, now the responsibility of

where

employment,

Donald Taylor, formerly Registrar and then Director of

compensation, benefits, institutional insurance, policies,

Admissions. Instead she carries out special projects for

procedures, and the federal work study program. Many

the President, oversees the day-to-day functions of the

employees have been especially grateful over the years

President’s Office, and facilitates board-administration

for her ability to untangle the insurance coverage

relationships.

she

oversaw

recruitment,

offered by the College!

“I am honored to serve Lyon College in this capacity In 2011 she was asked to serve as Lyon’s coordinator of

and look forward to working with President King,” said

Title IX, which mandates gender equality in collegiate

Foote.

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Matt Crisman VICE PRESIDENT FOR ENROLLMENT SERVICES

Matt

Crisman has joined us as a colleague and

Crisman to lead Enrollment

progressive leader,” said King. “Matt and

Services. He came here from

I worked together to develop an enrollment

Emory & Henry College in

expansion plan at Emory & Henry. We

Emory,

where

will draw on that experience to develop a

he was director of first-

plan for Lyon that promotes growth while

year admissions, interim

being ever mindful of academic profile and

director

student success.”

Lyon

has

named

Virginia,

of

admissions,

and eventually dean of admissions and financial

“I am honored to be given the opportunity

aid. From 2010–2014, he

to join the administrative team here at

worked as assistant director

Lyon College,” Crisman said. “I’ve already

of admission at Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana,

experienced a community that is ready

moving up to associate director.

for coordinated collaboration to ensure a bright future. I look forward to being part

At Emory & Henry, he supervised Admissions, Financial Aid, and a

of its progress.”

division of the Marketing Department; developed and implemented a $650,000 divisional budget; and supervised and trained the eight-

Crisman is a graduate of McMurry

member First­-Year Admissions Recruitment Team. During his time

University in Abilene, Texas, a liberal

at Centenary, he spearheaded a 25% increase in first-year student

arts institution related to the United

enrollment.

Methodist Church, where he also worked in admissions. He and his wife Jill have

Crisman and Lyon President Joey King, together with an integrated

two children, Jane Kapri (age 6) and Sybil

marketing team, plan to unite enrollment, advancement, and

Anne (age 3).

the College as a well-oiled machine. “I am delighted that Matt

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Dr. Paul Bube Director of the Mabee-Simpson Library, who has a INTERIM PROVOST AND D E A N O F T H E FA C U LT Y

master’s in divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Other courses will be covered by an adjunct.

“Lyon has a great faculty. They don’t need to be micromanaged,” said Bube. His duty will simply be

Dr. Paul Bube, the W. Lewis McColgan Professor

“to hold things together,” and he is looking forward to

of Religion, has assumed the role of Interim

“learning new things and seeing the institution in new

Provost, providing academic leadership as Lyon

ways.” He mentioned that both Dr. Philip Acree Cavalier,

conducts a national search to fill that position.

the previous provost, and Dr. Kurt Grafton, Associate Dean

Bube makes it clear that he has had no interest

of the Faculty and Professor of Chemistry, had been very

in becoming an administrator, preferring to teach,

supportive in helping him understand the flow of activities

“but they asked nicely, and I am willing to serve

overseen by the provost’s office and the issues ahead in the

where needed,” he said.

upcoming academic year.

He expects to hold the new position for only the

Bube hopes to help create a good relationship between

fall semester, with a new provost arriving in

Lyon’s new president and the faculty. “I look forward to

January, and he stated that he “is looking forward

working in new ways with my colleagues, and I hope they

to the new provost being appointed so I can

will help me make it through this challenge,” he said.

resume teaching.” He will not have time to carry out his new duties as well as teach and has made arrangements to have his fall courses covered, with one being taught by Dr. Robert Krapohl,

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The MAC R E N O VAT I O N C O M P L E T E

This summer has seen the renovation of the Morrow Building, located in the center of the campus near the freshman residence halls, into an academic support center. The renovated Morrow Academic Center (“the MAC”) will offer academic resources in a space that will also support students’ social interaction.

The Morrow Building, a cinder block structure constructed in 1964, has been home for the

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past few years to some academic

the four distinct academic support

survey results indicated students

support.

significant

programs now offered there and

wanted an improved space for

remodeling, however, to house

give it a homier feel. Campus

Supplemental Instruction (SI) and

It

needed

Athletics SI, along with tutoring and the Writing Center.

The MAC now offers a modern, open floor plan, collaborative workstations, charging stations, new

computers,

a

language

lab, and a full-service coffee bar, dubbed “The Salty Dog.�

Combined, these elements provide a space where students can find academic assistance and gather informally.

The renovated space also offers ADA-compliant entries and bathrooms, attractive wall treatments, new carpet, lounge seating, and televisions. The goal of the renovation was to provide both a more functional space and a cool place to hang out, grab some coffee, and study. It should be a busy place this fall!

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Lyon College Baseball SCOTS WIN AMC TITLE AND G O T O N AT I O N A L T O U R N A M E N T For the third time, Lyon College’s men’s baseball team earned a berth in the NAIA Baseball National Tournament Opening Round. The Scots were seeded fourth in in the Hattiesburg Bracket of the double-elimination contest.

The first challenge awaiting them was No. 5 seed Louisiana State University-Alexandria, with the Scots winning 2-1 on the morning of the first day of competition. Lyon then advanced to an afternoon matchup against top-seeded Southeastern University (FL), where the Scots hung tough with the Fire until the fifth inning. Southeastern, however, eventually defeated Lyon 7-2.

The next day, No. 2 seed Texas Wesleyan University ran a hot offense, holding off the Scots 9-1 in the elimination game, ending the American Midwest Conference Tournament champion Scots’ season at a commendable 35-24 overall.

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Mortar Board N AT I O N A L HONOR SOCIETY Mortar Board is a national honor

Initiation of new members was

The Leadership Award went to

society that recognizes college

held April 23, with approximately

Megan Parks, who is starting

seniors

scholarship,

110 people participating in the

graduate school this fall at the

leadership, and service. It also

celebratory dinner, which honored

Tulane School of Public Health and

fosters

development,

the chapter advisor and about thirty

Tropical Diseases in New Orleans.

promotes service to the College, and

Lyon administration, faculty, and

encourages lifelong contributions

staff members who were helpful to

The Scholarship Award was given

to the global community. Lyon’s

Mortar Board members during the

to Hope Woods, who is in graduate

chapter, established in 2001, is

academic year. Families of the new

school at Vanderbilt in Qualitative

the Order of the Tartan. In the

members were also invited to the

and Chemical Biology.

upcoming academic year, this group

dinner to celebrate their students’

will have almost 40 members, with

achievements.

for

their

leadership

nominations of rising seniors and

The Service Award was presented to Katarina Frickleton, who is

some rising juniors coming from

Five major awards were granted

working at Back on My Feet in New

faculty and staff based on observed

to senior members based on their

York City with the Jesuit Volunteer

leadership in scholarship, campus

scholarship, leadership, and service

Core.

life, and service to others.

involvement throughout the year.

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(REU) summer programs. Their accomplishments were showcased at a symposium at Lyon as well as at various regional conferences, including one at the Arkansas State Capitol.

In

leadership,

Mortar

Board

organized a leadership conference on campus last October. This annual event attracts 40 to 50 high school

students

from

Jackson,

Independence, and Sharp counties.

Usually a campus visitor serves as the keynote speaker, but this year Dean of Students Pat Mulick The Overall Excellence Award went

got involved in global and local

to Hannah Hairston, who wants to

outreach

work as a software developer in the

tornado cross garden and helping

Dallas area.

with the book sale during the

events,

cleaning

the

Scottish Festival. During finals they The Outstanding Member Award

joined with Alpha Chi to give out

was conferred on Emma Jackson,

snacks and drinks in the library and

who

graduate

to offer academic help. The chapter

school in biological anthropology

donated to the Arkansas Sheriffs’

at the University of Arkansas at

Youth Ranch and supported the

Fayetteville in fall 2018.

ServeHaiti volunteer organization.

plans

Mortar of

to

enter

Board’s

commitment

Scholarship,

and

three

areas

In scholarship, some members

Service,

were involved in research at Lyon,

Leadership.

while others completed Research

are

In the area of service, members

Experience

for

delivered the address, followed by former President Don Weatherman.

Ms. Diane Ellis, Ms. Annette Castleberry, and LEAP staff offered informational

sessions,

while

members of the Lyon faculty and staff provided a panel discussion on academics. Panel participants included Dr. Phil Cavalier, Dr. Jenn Daniels, Dr. Tharanga Wijetunge, Dr. Brian Hunt, and Mr. Ray Green.

Undergraduates

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FOUNDERS’ DAY CONVOCATION ALUMNI AWARDS

6 P.M.

FOOTBALL VS. TEXAS WESLEYAN KIRKIN’ O’ THE TARTANS

11 A.M.

lyon.edu/homecoming

Nichols International Studies “Travel has a way of stretching the mind. The stretch comes not from travel’s immediate rewards, the inevitable myriad new sights, smells and sounds, but

with

experiencing

firsthand how others do differently what we believed to be the right and only way.” Ralph Crawshaw This year’s Nichols International Studies program took 48 students on five different journeys that introduced them to nine different countries. Their experiences were part of meeting Lyon’s mission to develop students’ “critical, creative thought growth.”

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and

ethical,

spiritual

VISITING THE DUTCH MASTERS: FROM V ER M EER TO VA N GOGH Dustyn Bork, Associate Professor

Ghent, “The Adoration of the

of Art, and his spouse and co-leader

Mystic Lamb.”

Carly Dahl guided eight students in visits to

art museums in the

The journey got off to a rough start:

Netherlands and Belgium. The

upon arriving in Amsterdam they

point of the trip was to see “amazing

took a train from the airport to

artwork that you are hard pressed to

their hostel, normally a 20-minute

see anywhere but in Europe,” Bork

ride. The train, however, did not

said. In the Netherlands the group

stop at that station even though it

saw multiple Vermeer paintings

was listed on the board showing all

in The Hague, including “Girl

stops. Bork asked a student to push

with a Pearl Earring”; numerous

the button to open the automatic

Rembrandt

including

train door at the next stop, and it

his famous “The Night Watch” at

refused to open. “We got off at

the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam;

the next stop (Harlaam, well past

and the large collection of Van

Amsterdam) and I looked around

Gogh’s work in the nearby Van

for the right train back, but at first

Gogh Museum. They also toured

went to the wrong track. Finally

Rembrandt’s

all

we made it on the right train and

agreed was more interesting than

got off on the correct stop. After

Rubens’ house in Antwerp. In

that students would always be sure

Belgium they saw works by Van

to double check train stops and my

Eyck including his altarpiece in

directions,” Bork recounted. What

paintings,

house,

which

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began as a frustrating delay after

One student, Emily Riley, spoke

Several students stated that their

a flight lasting more than 12 hours

French and enjoyed interacting with

most

ended up being a funny story and

Belgian locals. She really enjoyed

experience was visiting the Anne

bonding opportunity.

“the relaxed feel of the country

Frank

and how art was inseparable from

Latricia Miller remarked, “It’s

The rest of the trip went smoothly,

their daily life,” she said. Most of

somewhere I always heard about

with the group using every mode

the students enjoyed the food and

but didn’t think I would be able to

of transportation imaginable: on

dining experiences unlike what they

ever go.”

foot or by boat, train, subway, bus,

experience in the US. European

trolley, and airplane. The students

dining is more of an event, and both

The students also enjoyed going to

learned they could get around

countries offered unique customs

the De Koninck Brewery to learn

in a new location as they toured

and food specialties. Among the

how beer is made (and, of course,

Amsterdam and the Hague in The

different cuisines they enjoyed were

sample varieties). They learned that

Netherlands and Brussels, Bruges,

Dutch, Belgian, Indian, Indonesian,

Belgians go to great lengths to craft

Ghent, Antwerp, and Waterloo in

Moroccan,

beer and appreciate the ingredients.

Belgium.

and Italian.

Ethiopian,

Japanese,

moving House

and in

memorable Amsterdam.

Each beer has its own uniquelyshaped glass to be served in. “If a bar or restaurant didn’t have a clean glass of a particular shape, you didn’t get that beer,” noted Bork.

Not only the students learned from and appreciated their travels.

“I always come back from this trip energized to teach art and make art in the studio. I realize how the aesthetic of modern and contemporary art is revered there, as opposed to the U.S., where the general population has a distrust of art,” Bork stated.

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THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF S C A N D I N AV I A Michael Oriatti, Assistant Professor of Music, led nine students in exploring Scandinavian life, art, and architecture as they visited Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.

A 2015 alumna, Willa Thomason, joined the group for the Copenhagen

followed by Koldskål, a traditional summer dessert.

After dinner,

Lyon student Benjamin Elton took to the piano to entertain everyone with a jazz selection of his own and Oslo portions of the trip.

Church the next day!”

Off the

composition, with lyrics specially tailored to fit the occasion.

A highlight in Copenhagen was

coast of Hellsingor, Denmark, they

a night of fun at Tivoli Theatre,

toured Kronborg Castle, the setting

the

for Shakespeare’s Hamlet and a

In Oslo, the group enjoyed a tour of

UNESCO World Heritage site.

fjords and the Viking and Kon-Tiki

second

oldest

amusement

park in the world, with fireworks,

Museums. With few others on the

rock concert, and rollercoasters.

These, according to Oriatti, were

In Odense, Denmark, a friend

ship, it was almost as if they had a

“not as scary and harrowing an

of Oriatti treated the travelers to

personal tour, as dusk settled in with

experience as it was ascending

an authentic Danish supper of

illumination from glowing lanterns.

the outer staircase of Our Savior

traditional rye bread sandwiches,

The museums brought to life for the

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L IB E R A L A RT S

mentioned in songs by the notable Swedish composer Carl Michael Bellman.

The night was short, with sunset around 10 p.m. and sunrise at 3 a.m. The horizon remained light the entire time. A couple of students (who shall remain nameless!) never made it to bed on their hotel boat, instead enjoying a plunge into the Baltic sea. students the history and traditions

double decker cannon war ship

of Norwegian seafaring life. Also

which sank in 1628 within minutes

One

in Oslo, they attended a production

of being launched. It rested on the

her favorite experience was the

of Puccini’s La Boheme at the

bottom for 333 years before being

Nobel Peace Center tour, where

Norwegian Opera, one of the most

discovered and raised in the mid-

they discussed the last winner,

beautiful opera houses in the world,

20th century. Then in Hundinge, just

Juan Manuel Santos, President

offering acoustical perfection and a

outside Stockholm, they discovered

of Colombia. He was recognized

public outdoor terrace on the coast

that “Scandinavians own and rock

for his efforts to end the country’s

of the North Sea. For many of the

out our own homegrown music,”

more than 50-year-long civil war.

students, this was their first opera,

said Oriatti, as the crowd enjoyed a

The discussion focused on the

sung beautifully in the original

blues and jazz fest.

issues and how the choice reflected

student

commented

that

Norwegian culture.

Italian. in

Oriatti was impressed with the

In Stockholm, they visited the

Stockholm, they experienced a

comments students made on specific

ABBA

two

delicious three-course dinner in

artwork and architecture in the

students, thanks to technology,

the Old Town at The Golden Peace,

Stockholm City Hall, “reminding

performed with ABBA members

the oldest continuously-operating

me how many students really do

on stage and in the rehearsal studio.

restaurant in the world. Opening

pay attention to detail, analyze,

The group also explored Sweden’s

in 1722, this historically-significant

and make connections. That is so

most embarrassing moment: the

venue has been a meeting place for

fulfilling,” he said.

Vasa Museum houses an ill-fated

famous artists and musicians and is

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museum,

T H E

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where

C O L L E G E

their

final

evening

BACK PACK I N G THROUGH WESTERN EUROPE Hiking and biking from the city of Munich, Germany, to the small Alpine village of Gimmelwald, Switzerland, this group experienced both urban and rural cultures,

students

visiting mountainous areas that

appreciated the fact that bathrooms

many who go to Europe never see.

were free in the U.S.,” Shaw stated.

Darrell Shaw, Interim Director of

At a Munich beer garden, group

Outdoor

Education,

members were confused when

headed up the group of a dozen

they discovered that the men’s and

students.

women’s restrooms were separated

Recreation

say

how

much

they

only by a doorway—and it was Shaw

said

numerous

the

students

adventures

but

had

open!

also

learned about cultures and ways of

Another difference came in how

living that were new to them. Among

people got around. The students

the adventures were hiking in the

really

Alps, sea kayaking, paragliding,

transportation system, and they

rock climbing, and more. “I think

also liked that everyone travels by

everyone’s

adventure

train and bike instead of relying

This consists of

completely on personal cars, as

favorite

was canyoning.

climbing, jumping, rappelling, and

appreciated

the

public

many Americans do.

zip-lining down a slot canyon full of ice-cold water. Luckily we were

Shaw said it was a lot of fun for

all wearing wetsuits,” said Shaw.

him to take students abroad and see them experiencing so many things

Restrooms

presented

one

area

of cultural difference. “I heard

that were different from what they experience here.

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L IB E R A L A RT S

C U LT U R E A N D

Three experiences stood out as

all successfully cleared the mission.

POLITIC S IN KORE A

the most significant in changing

“I saw how they fought against their

their attitudes toward life. First,

internal conflicts and temptations

The three students choosing this

students stayed at a temple, where

that would have stopped them from

option gained an understanding of

they trained by strictly following

bowing. But after the victory over

Korean history, society, and current

the rules and manners that monks

those inner challenges, I saw their

trends in education, culture, and

follow daily. For two days, they

own pride and self-confidence –

politics. The trip was directed by

spent time discussing with the

even though they had to take a

Jaeyun Sung, Assistant Professor

monks how to pursue happiness by

muscle pain-killer,” said Sung. A

of Political Science and a native

being relieved from troubles such as

student commented, “Living the

Korean.

searching for careers and managing

simple life of a monk taught me

relationships, and they learned

how to live with bare necessities

Even though they spent a significant

how to respect different values and

and how one can be happy and

amount of time learning about

thoughts.

achieve enlightenment with just these bare necessities. It showed

Korea before heading to the country, their experiences and lessons there

A special experience was accepting

me how I want the future of my

impacted them in unexpected ways.

the challenge of “100 bows,”

life to be, which is that money is

holding a very strict posture, and

not important, but happiness and enlightenment are.”

Second, their tour of the DMZ/ JSA impressed the students and made them realize the impact of the current ceasefire status on the Korean peninsula. They had known about recent conflicts in East Asia indirectly through news outlets. By seeing actual divisions between North and South Korea, however, and observing how local Koreans have dealt with those tensions, students came to see this political issue quite differently.

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historical sites in Seoul. On the

with in-depth tolerance,” said Sung.

last day of the trip, they visited

Korean food presented some culture

the Sedeamun prison museum,

shock. While students tasted many

where

for

different foods as part of planned

Korean independence during the

activities, one that shocked them

period of Japanese colonial rule

was live octopus. It was cut but

were imprisoned and tortured.

the pieces still moved. Sung was

They were surprised by their own

surprised that they all met the

ignorance of East Asian history

challenge of tasting this new and

during World War II and learned

exotic food. “It was quite funny

the value of having citizenship.

to watch their reactions once they

That also allowed them to realize

“Being American, all you hear

put the moving octopus into their

the importance of politics affecting

about is the attack on Pearl Harbor,

mouth,” Sung said. “Surprisingly,

their

and

but there was so much more going

they liked it.”

indirectly. As one of the students

on. The most influential part of the

commented, “By traveling, we got

trip for me was visiting the prison

In the city of Jeonju, students had

to see first-hand how the political

camp. It was absolutely captivating

to accomplish 10 missions to get

life of Korea really affects its

to hear the stories and get to see

points while wearing the Hanbok,

upcoming generations because it

exactly what happened. Too often it

the Korean traditional costume

has influences from every political

is just read about and pushed aside,

consisting of a short jacket and

structure.”

but actually being there makes it a

long gathered skirt for women and

reality,” said one student.

a longer jacket and full, flowing

daily

lives

directly

those

who

fought

pants for men. Some of the missions

Last, students were surprised to learn the hidden history shared

Other memorable activites that

required climbing a steep slope and

by Korea and Japan. Due to their

occurred during the two-week trip

stairs, and it was quite hot. When

locations, Japan has repeatedly

were eating Korean traditional

they came back to the hotel, all were

invaded

food,

Korean

drenched in sweat but laughing and

historical symbols such as palaces

college students, and accomplishing

talking about how they ran wearing

and temples, propagating their

missions wearing Hanbok, the

the traditional clothing, especially

own political and cultural values.

Korean

costume.

when they tried to find a Pikachu.

Dr. Sung had not talked about

“I

students

Imagine foreigners wearing the

this history, but students found

challenging their own prejudices

traditional costume and asking

out themselves when they visited

and developing critical thinking

strangers where the Pikachu is!

Korea

and

destroyed

interacting

with

traditional

enjoyed

observing

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Student comments reflect what they

Like other tourists, the Lyon

SCOTL AND: MY TH,

learned:

students visited typical travel sites,

M Y S T E R Y, A N D

“Before going on the trip, I

but the journey was much more

MAJESTY

had no idea that South Korean

than that. They interacted with

democracy

been

local people, challenged themselves

Dr. Jennifer Daniels and Dr. Nikki

around that long. They have

to find answers to their questions,

Yonts,

done so much in so short a time

experienced the development of

Psychology, led this exploration

that it should be an example to

democracy in this quite unknown

of folklore, legends, and human

the rest of the world.”

country,

challenges

history. Students experienced both

“This trip has truly changed

that Korean college students face,

modern and ancient life in the

my outlook on life and other

recognized

of

major urban centers of Edinburgh

cultures. I will be eternally

other countries, observed different

and Glasgow as well as the timeless

grateful for this opportunity.”

daily patterns, experienced being

natural beauty of the Scottish

“Each day, we were challenged

foreigners, and more. “We always

Highlands.

to survive in this unknown

had a conversation at the end of

country by navigating the

the day to wrap up, and as the

The sixteen students on this trip

metro line, learning the history,

comments

students

made up this year’s largest group

learning

communicate

expanded their values by using the

of Nichols travelers. Two of the

with the population in their

cues they had learned throughout

students were members of the

language, and many other

their daily schedule in Korea. I am

Lyon pipe band, and the trip was

ways.”

so proud of our students for being

particularly special for them.

“I have a great life and must

open-minded and not being afraid

always appreciate everything

of new challenges,” Sung stated.

had

to

not

I have, because I have much more than those in North Korea.”

“I will take the lessons I learned on this trip and use them every day of my life so that I can truly be successful in both my professional life and my personal life.”

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discussed their

ignorance

reflected,

Assistant

Professors

of

“Our guide for the Highlands was

a joy,” said Daniels. A former police officer in Glasgow who loves sharing his country and its history, he “was thoroughly impressed by the group of young people we brought with us, finding them to be conscientious, curious, and appreciative of the experiences we were sharing.” He also appreciated the Lyon sweatshirt the group brought along as a gift.

At Urquhart Castle, Geoff Carter proposed to Jessica Utley—the second

engagement

that

has

occurred on a Scotland trip led by the two professors. Drew Nolley proposed to Maggie Hance there in

THE LEADERS

the Nichols leaders feel: “I love

2013.

LEARN TOO

seeing students’ reactions to the art and culture. The Nichols program

Even without engagements, the

Jaeyun Sung captured the effect

is a great conduit to open eyes and

Scotland trip is especially personal

of Nichols trips on the leaders,

change worldviews. I caught the

for Lyon students, says Daniels.

something especially valuable to

bug to travel, and I want to go to

They see the Scottish heritage that

her because she is not native to the

as many places as possible. It never

Lyon celebrates actually manifested

U.S.A. “Students’ observations and

gets old, and I really enjoy seeing

in the tartans, bagpipes, and fierce

evaluations were enlightening and

the places on repeat visits. The

pride of the Scottish people they

led me to review my own culture

students help me to really see it

meet.

and

again for the first time.”

attitudes.

Questions

they

raised made me rethink things I had accepted as routine without

Clearly, the Nichols Travel Program

questioning,” she observed.

educates

and

challenges

both

leaders and students.

Dustyn Bork summed up what all

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Welcome home.

Prospective students and their families are invited to visit Lyon and experience first-hand the College’s friendly community and distinctive approach to preparing students for life.

Preview Days

Saturday, September 30, 2017 Saturday, November 4, 2017 Saturday, February 24, 2018 Thursday, April 12, 2018 (Junior Preview Day) Register at lyon.edu/events

Homecoming Tour

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Schedule a Visit

lyon.edu/plan-a-visit

Refer a Student

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Tenure The Lyon College Board of Trustees recently awarded two faculty members academic tenure: Wesley Beal, Associate Professor of English, and Jennifer Daniels, Assistant Professor of Psychology.

Since receiving his Ph.D. from the University

Coming to Lyon after earning a Ph.D. in social psychology at the

of Florida and joining the Lyon College faculty

University of Connecticut, Daniels happily made her way back

in 2010, Beal has taught a wide range of courses

to a liberal arts setting that matches her undergraduate years at

in American literature as well as composition,

the College of Charleston (SC). Beyond teaching a wide range

world literature, and introduction to critical

of classes in psychology—everything from research methods to

theory. He has published a monograph titled

the psychology of food and eating—she has mentored student

Networks of Modernism and placed articles

research on topics such as body image, stigmatization of mental

in top-tier journals, been recognized with the

illness, and academic anxiety. Daniels also has served as the

Professor of the Year award, served as chair of

pre-Occupational Therapy advisor and has guided Lyon students

the Division of Language and Literature and

into master’s and doctoral OT programs at Arkansas State

co-director of the Year One Program, founded

University, Louisiana State University, the University of Central

Lambda Delta (the College’s chapter of the

Arkansas, and the Medical University of South Carolina. She

freshman honor society), sponsored the Inter-

co-founded the freshman experience class, YearOne, and was

Fraternity Council, and served as president of

recognized nationally as a First Year Advocate in 2016. Off

the John Dos Passos Society. He is currently

campus, Daniels has worked with Impact Independence County

designing a new course on postcolonial

since 2015, representing Lyon on the Educational Excellence

fiction and undertaking a new monograph on

committee, and will continue to influence local education as one

the academic novel under the working title

of the board of directors of the Independence County Education

“Campus Fictions.”

Foundation.

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L IB E R A L A RT S

Honors Fellows Program LY O N COLLEGE INTRODUCES HONORS FELLOWS PROGRAM In its quest to offer students an

the opportunity to study, hone their

Honors

unrivaled, flexible education, Lyon

research skills, and exchange ideas

opportunity to learn among their

College has introduced a new elite

in a challenging and supportive

peers, customize their education

program of study to its curriculum

academic

through

course

this fall: the Lyon College Honors

Fellows work closely with Lyon

points,

connect

Fellows Program.

faculty in small, specially-designed

opportunities,

courses to extend their academic

lasting relationships with faculty

The program offers a rigorous

experience beyond the scope of

members,

course of study designed to provide

the

and internationally, and enjoy the

highly-skilled, motivated students

curriculum.

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environment.

traditional

Honors

undergraduate

Fellows

travel

have

contracts

the

and

with

research

build

long-

domestically

benefits of living in honors housing.

projects

known

“contracts”

both reward Fellows for the breadth

within their major that they can

of experiences they are pursuing

then work on under their faculty

and encourage them to branch

advisor’s supervision. This close

out beyond their comfort zones.

relationship with faculty members

Fellows can earn honors points

allows Fellows to sharpen their

through double-majoring, studying

research

think

abroad, taking additional classes

creatively both inside and outside

in a foreign language, attending

their studies.

professional conferences, and more.

Unlike non-Fellows, Honors Fellows

Students must also complete their

will complete the honors section of

senior

Lyon’s EPIC core curriculum. This

their projected graduation date.

section does not add extra hours

The honors capstone is a creative

to a Fellow’s schedule; rather, it

or research project that allows

offers a deeper, richer study of the

Fellows to think beyond mastery

same content, which means that

of discipline and translate their

Fellows with tight sequences do not

knowledge to a wider public.

skills

as

and

to

honors

capstone

before

have to worry about experiencing interruptions on the path to their

Participating in Lyon’s Honors

intended majors. Whether in core

Fellows

courses or in contracted courses

volumes about a student’s abilities

Honors Fellows will also have the

within their major, the Honors

and aspirations. It will not only

opportunity to work alongside

Fellows program does not add new

offer a measurably broader, deeper,

their advisors to personalize their

material to their requirements.

and more complex education than

education. Advisors will assist

Program

will

speak

traditional undergraduate studies,

Fellows with balancing honors

In order to graduate with an

but also provide students with the

courses and credits, preparing

Honors certificate, Honors Fellows

skills necessary for post-bachelor’s

for travel abroad, and conducting

must remain enrolled at Lyon as

success.

independent study and research.

full-time

students,

maintain

a

cumulative GPA of 3.5, and earn Honors Fellows can propose special

10 honors points. Honors points

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Computer Scientist Missionary ERIC RICHARDSON, ’06, SERVES IN HAITI

After an article about Eric Richardson, ’06, and his wife, Bethany, appeared in the April 20, 2017, Three Rivers Edition of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, we wanted our alums to know more. The original article, reprinted with permission, follows our introduction.

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him to teach math at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, providing work he enjoyed and colleagues he liked to work with. Even today, he continues to teach some online math courses for the school. He says he could have worked there forever, but after a couple of years, “God had other ideas.”

At least one Lyon professor foresaw the direction Eric’s life would take.

Dr. Ed Mosley, one of his math professors, told others that “that kid will be a missionary!” A life in ministry, however, never occurred to Eric, even though he had a minor in religion and philosophy. He had taken several courses just to fill in Eric Richardson is a 2006 graduate

even though he had taken no

his schedule, discovered he had

of Lyon with a degree in computer

education courses, so that summer

enough hours to declare a minor,

science and minors in math and

he gained non-traditional teacher

and did so. His interest was mainly

religion and philosophy. When he

licensure and was hired to teach

increasing his knowledge of the

walked across the stage, it looked

math at Tuckerman, Arkansas. He

Bible, getting to know the “back

as if he had lots of options, but he

enjoyed teaching students from

stories.”

actually had no idea what he wanted

8 through 12 grades, but after a

as a career. He had been pretty much

couple years, dealing with young

Growing up, he was an involved

a computer geek as a student, but

students was becoming less and

member

he didn’t think he wanted to spend

less fun. That’s when he entered

Church at Mountain View, and

his working life doing nothing but

grad school at Arkansas State

when he came to Lyon, he started

banging on a computer keyboard.

University to earn a master’s in

attending First Baptist Church at

He decided he might like teaching,

math. The higher degree qualified

Cave City, where he soon became

th

th

of

Flatwoods

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A LU M NI

the leader of the youth group under

industry. He does web development

they have nothing? Having a broad

the direction of Nathan Rogers, the

and other IT jobs during the months

liberal arts background helps him

youth minister at that time. Eric

when he is not in Haiti and has

explain the history and economics

says he was not much involved in

developed two apps, which he and

of the country. The writing skills

Lyon campus activities during his

another Praying Pelican employee

he gained at Lyon help him with

time here, instead devoting his

in Colorado maintain. One is for

many of the tasks he is responsible

free time to the Cave City kids. In

management of all mission trip

for. Psychology helps him in

fact, that’s where he met his wife,

information and the other is for the

working with diverse teams and in

Bethany, who was a youth group

mission teams to use in organizing

helping the volunteers understand

member when he was the group

their specific trip information. He

that while Haitians may be poor

leader.

and Bethany both work on internet

in material goods, they are rich in

marketing of the organization and

ways that many Americans are not:

recruiting of volunteers.

positive interpersonal relationships,

It was through Bethany and Nathan that Eric got involved with Praying

multigenerational family life, and

Pelican, where both he and his wife

Eric

impact

deep faith. Eric says his liberal arts

now work full-time, focusing on

of a liberal arts education on his

education gave him exactly what

missions to Haiti. He has actually

life, especially on working with

he needed for the work he is doing

ended up using his computer science

the teams. They have questions:

today.

skills in that job, just applying them

why is Haiti the way it is, how can

in ministry rather than business or

these people be so happy when

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acknowledges

the

Batesville couple coordinate mission work

by Sam Pierce Arkansas Democrat Gazette

their longtime friend and pastor

the ministry.” The next summer,

Nathan Rogers won a trip through

Rogers took a group from First

Praying Pelican Missions did the

Baptist Church in Cave City that

call of being missionaries come to

included Eric and Bethany. “That

a head. “It’s all Nathan’s fault,” Eric

was our first experience with it,”

said.

Eric said. “We were on a mission trip to Belize, and we just went as

Rogers went to Belize by himself in Eric

Richardson

2007 and enjoyed it and had a good

pictured

experience. “I spent a week over

Bethany was a senior and preparing

in

the

there,” Rogers said. “It was a great

to attend Arkansas State University,

missionary field. It wasn’t until

mission trip. I was blown away with

while

of

and

Bethany

participants.”

Batesville

themselves

never

working

Eric

was

teaching

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Tuckerman High School and had

After

Bethany

College at Batesville and loved his

been accepted to graduate school to

accepted the position and moved

work there, he said. “I didn’t have

pursue a master’s degree. “I wasn’t

to Haiti in January 2012. “I moved

problems with what I was doing,”

planning on pursuing any kind of

down and lived there for about four

Eric said. “Probably at that time, I

job with them,” Eric said, “but they

months,” Bethany said. “People

had no plans to do anything else. “I

asked me to be an assistant trip

thought we were nuts because we

could have stayed in that position

leader and help with the logistics of

were newlyweds, and Eric did not

and really enjoyed it.”

the week. “It meant being on staff

go. It was just a huge leap of faith.”

and helping out the team that was

Bethany said that looking back,

Eric said when the couple started

working.” Eric said he went back

“God shielded me from the crazy

with PPM part time, it wasn’t

later that summer to help out with

of it all.” Eric traveled to Haiti in

anything he was looking to do.

some trips, and it became a thing

March to serve alongside Bethany

“God opened these doors, and here

that the two did during the summer.

for about three weeks.

is this opportunity, and it feels

much

debate,

right,” Eric said. “So you just go

“We would go to camps like Bogg Springs or wherever, but then we

“My boss at the time asked me to

for it. “When they offered us both

would go to Belize.”

come on staff and do this full time,

the positions, this was the direction

and I was unsure,” Bethany said.

God was pointing us toward.”

The two married in 2010, and the

“But when we came home for the

summer after they got married was

summer, I got a call from him, and

“They are selfless,” Rogers said.

one of their most pivotal summers,

he said, ‘What would it look like if

“They are willing to sacrifice

Bethany said. While on their trip

both of you came on staff?’” Eric

career and life for the betterment

to Belize, Bethany received an

and Bethany were hired on full time

of other people, and it is all rooted

email from the president of Praying

in August 2012 and have been with

in selflessness.” Rogers, who has

Pelican Missions, looking for people

the nonprofit for five years now. “It

known the Richardsons for about

to pray and help create programs, as

is funny, because looking back, I

15 years, said he is still in constant

well as to take over the operation of

tell people all the time, never did

contact with them. “We have a

an orphanage in Haiti. “I just felt a

I picture us being in ministry full

constant conversation,” Rogers said.

call in my heart, like I have never

time,” said Eric, who received his

“I can’t say that there is one catalyst

had before,” Bethany said. “I didn’t

undergraduate degree from Lyon

or one moment that truly inspired

even know where it was on a map.

College in Batesville. “It was never

them, but to have the opportunity to

I didn’t know anything about Haiti.

anything I pursued, really.”

encourage them, I know they have what it takes to do exactly what God

“Something about that email was drawing me — and we prayed about

At the time, Eric was teaching at the

wants them to do.” Rogers was the

it and looked into it.”

University of Arkansas Community

youth pastor at First Baptist Church

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in Cave City but has been the lead pastor at Longview Missionary Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, for seven years.

According to the organization’s website, Praying Pelican Missions is a “short-term international missions organization serving the needs of indigenous local churches, pastors and communities around the world.”

For more information on PPM, visit www.prayingpelicanmissions.org.

The actual work that Bethany and Eric do varies from trip to

church groups to ease their minds

make it so the group doesn’t have

trip. Bethany said the first thing

and let them focus on the mission

to think about that stuff,” Eric said.

they do is ask the local pastor

work. “We usually arrive at least a

“They are there to do their ministry,

what their needs are and what

few days ahead of our first team,”

and we are there to handle all the

they want to see happen in their

Eric said. “We have some staff in

behind-the-scenes stuff.”

communities. “For some pastors,

the country who handle a lot of

they might need construction on a

the setup for the trip with the host

Eric and Bethany currently attend

school or a building,” Bethany said.

pastor. “We make sure the pastor

Compass Church in Batesville.

“Other pastors might need help

knows what the plans are, that the

They have two boys: Edison, 2 1/2,

with community outreach or with

cooks have enough to make the

and Atticus, 6 months.

providing [Vacation Bible School]

meals for the week and the bus

for the kids. “There are so many

drivers and lodging have been set

“God does amazing things when

children, and the children are much

up. “Basically, we confirm all those

his people come together,” Bethany

more free-range than they are here,

details and make sure everything

said. “It blows your mind every

so normally, all the trips have those

is ready, making sure all those

single week.”

main things.”

last-minute

details

are

pulled

together.” Eric said they also pick Eric said PPM mainly handles the

a local interpreter to help bridge

behind-the-scenes work for the

the language barrier. “We try to

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A LU M NI

The Best Cheese Dip. Ever.

Even in his boyhood, Ben Brainard says, “I knew I was a chef.” And he’s a good one, as evidenced by his being named by Arkansas Business in 2015 as one of “40 Under 40” to watch. In the announcement of that honor, he was quoted as saying, “Truth be told, I was not very good at anything else,” he said. “I was always a cook, and by that I mean, when growing up with my friends, I would cook for them and I would watch my grandmother cook at her house instead of watching TV.” Now a partner in the restaurant group Yellow Rocket Concepts, Brainard and his mentor, Scott McGehee

of

Boulevard

Bread

Co., created a cheese dip that honored five of Little Rock’s old-time

Mexican

Browning’s,

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Mexico

restaurants: Chiquito,

Juanita’s, Blue Mesa, and Taco

nation’s capitol, and Texas senator

for the two partners, both being

Kid. In 2016, they entered the dip

and presidential candidate Ted

Democrats. “Scott was for Bernie

in the World Championship Cheese

Cruz told Cotton there was no way

Sanders, and I was for Hillary,” says

Dip competition, held annually in

Arkansas cheese dip could be as

Ben, who characterizes himself as

Little Rock, where cheese dip was

good as Texas queso. Cotton took

“a yellow-dog Democrat.”

actually invented, says Brainard,

on the challenge.

and they won!

As a college student, Ben was also He paid for Ben and Scott to fly to

something of a contrarian. He knew

They knew they had a good

DC, carrying the dip (in containers

he should go to college, and he

product, but they never expected

that Ben swears actually looked like

wanted to be at a small liberal arts

they could be bombs!)

institution, but he wasn’t convinced

in Yeti coolers. The

about a career. Lyon fit the bill, and

Arkansas and Texas

Ben enrolled as a member of the

cheese

class of 2000.

dips

were

served to the whole majored

in

Business

and

side of the Senate

Economics,”

he

recalled,

and

floor, and the dip from

besides being an active member of

Little Rock scored a

Kappa Sigma, he served a year on

resounding

the Social Council and participated

right

The

(Republican)

victory.

Republican

“I

regularly

in

intramurals.

But

interest in their dip

college didn’t change his mind

was somewhat ironic

about what he really wanted to do.

what happened next: a call from Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton’s office, asking them to bring the dip to Washington, DC. It seems that news of their win had reached the

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A LU M NI

“I always wanted to cook,” he said, “and I didn’t feel right about the cost of college when I knew I didn’t want to be a banker.” Although what was a tough decision left him “heartbroken,” he decided to leave after two years to pursue his dream.

Brainard headed to California to learn the restaurant business and was able to intern at the famed Chez Panisse in Berkeley, which focuses on locally grown organic ingredients rather than specialized cooking techniques and has relied on direct relationships with local farmers, ranchers, and dairies.

After

other

California,

internships Philadelphia,

in and

New York City, he returned to Little Rock, where he worked for McGehee, who agreed to teach him how to cook as a professional.

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That was 14 years ago. Five years ago, they partnered with two other men to develop and open Local Lime, where Ben is the chef, five years ago. The restaurant has been highly successful ($2.3 million in food sales alone in 2014). With the

food in the South comes from poor

success of this venture, located

people,” he says, mentioning beans,

in The Promenade at Chenal,

greens, and “Delta tamales.” The

the partners pondered opening a

menu lists such intriguing dishes as

second Local Lime in the Heights,

Grilled Cheese‘dilla Tacos, Pickle

a

location.

Fried Chicken Tacos, Ark-Mex

Worrying, however, that a copy

Enchiladas, and Tamale Pie Dip. He

would probably split the patronage

still comes up with new ideas. “We

between the two locations, they

overthink everything” about the

decided to develop a new concept

food, Ben says.

trendy

mid-town

for the Heights location, formerly home to a long-time Little Rock

A guy with an active sense of humor,

Tex-Mex restaurant, Browning’s.

Brainard retains some humility about his successful restaurants. He

The new venture, Heights Taco

says, for instance, that Heights Taco

and Tamale Co., opened in April

and Tamale offers only “the second

and features what Ben calls “Ark-

best tamales in Arkansas.” He

Mex,” a melding of traditional

admits that he believes the best can

southern foods like fried chicken,

be found at Miss Rhoda’s in Lake

green tomatoes, and fried catfish

City. Lots of patrons of Local Lime

with Mexican foods and spices.

and the new restaurant, however,

He and McGehee spent months

say in their reviews that the food

checking out restaurants across

and drinks are outstanding. It looks

the state and throughout the Delta,

as though Little Rock has benefitted

looking for inspirations for what

from one Lyon alum’s decision to

became a “very playful” menu,

follow his dream.

according to Brainard. “The best

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A LU M NI

California knows how to party do science.

L A U R A M C W I L L I A M S , ’ 0 7, S E R V E S A S A FELLOW OF THE CALIFORNIA COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

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When Laura McWilliams started

She arrived on campus with two

India was “a wonderful experience,”

thinking about where she wanted

interests, science and politics. She

she said. With a time limit on her

to go to college, she had no strong

had been on the Student Council at

fellowship, however, she earned

preference. Her sister Margaret was

Bauxite and became part of SGA

a one-year master’s certificate in

at Lyon and encouraged her to look

at Lyon, and Dr. Kurt Grafton

chemistry, having decided to return

at liberal arts colleges, naming the

convinced her that she should—and

to the U.S. for her master’s degree.

advantages she saw to that kind

could—major in chemistry. Without

of education, so Laura applied

his support and encouragement,

She

to

liberal

she says she “wouldn’t have felt

Oregon, where she earned both

arts schools, as well as to Lyon,

capable of majoring in chemistry

an M.S and a Ph.D. in physical

Arkansas Tech, and the University

and getting a Ph.D.” She completed

chemistry, studying how gases

of Arkansas. She described the

the chemistry degree, along with

interact with liquids at industrial

whole

a minor in physics, and graduated

and atmospheric surfaces. During

summa cum laude in 2007.

her graduate studies, McWilliams

several

out-of-state

application

process

as

“overwhelming!”

chose

the

University

of

wrote a successful grant application Rotary

to the Department of Energy and

her

received $150,000 to fund her

school at Bauxite, Arkansas, was

senior year and won a one-year

thesis research. Also, during her

small, and that narrowed the field.

award. Speaking only English, she

graduate work, Laura authored

She got several scholarship offers,

selected India, where English is

or co-authored several scientific

but when Lyon offered her a Lyon

commonly spoken and where she

papers published in peer-reviewed

Fellowship, that turned out to be the

felt the fellowship dollars would

journals, with many more papers

final deciding factor. Coming on top

stretch the farthest. Another plus

still in the pipeline. In addition,

of her sister’s positive experience

for India was that her father had

Laura led the Joint Undergrad-

and what she had seen when she

served in the Peace Corps there, so

Grad Mentorship Program (JUMP),

visited her on campus, she could

she felt a connection to what he had

a program designed to help and

not resist a college that had kilts and

talked about as she was growing up.

guide undergraduates interested

bagpipes everywhere, especially

Getting permission to do scientific

in the sciences. She later received

coming from a family originating

research in India turned out to be a

additional funding that allowed

in Scotland. Laura made both an

complicated affair, but after a few

the program to expand its reach to

emotional and a practical choice

months everything worked out,

more students and mentors. Still

when she selected Lyon, and she

and she entered Banaras Hindu

intrigued with politics, Laura also

says she has never regretted it.

University in Varanasi. That year in

participated in Women in Graduate

She finally decided a small school

Laura

applied

might be best because her high

International

for

a

Fellowship

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A LU M NI

As a Fellow, Laura has learned that “in the Capitol, flexibility is key.” She talked about learning this lesson in a blog for the CCST online newsletter: By mid-January, less than a month since I began my placement, both my mentor and the entire committee staff I was assigned to had moved on: they had either switched committees, or left the Building entirely. It was as if one month into your PhD program, you suddenly Science, a quasi-governance group

Last November she started that

found

that worked to influence university

job as one of a group of just nine

under a different PI and a

policy

at

new fellows in the CCST Science

whole new team of postdocs.

increasing enrollment and retention

and Technology Policy Fellows

Such

drastic

of women in STEM fields.

Program,

are

not

particularly

aimed

which

places

Ph.D.-

yourself

working

transitions

commonplace

level scientists annually in the

in academia. But in the

That interest in policy led to her

California legislature for one-year

Legislature, staff changes

present position. A friend in the

appointments. The Fellows work as

are an expected and regular

Oregon graduate program had

legislative staff in the State Senate

part of life.

been named a fellow with the

or State Assembly, where they

California Council on Science and

learn about the craft and process

Laura

Technology (CCST), a group that

of lawmaking in California, which

Assembly’s Utilities and Energy

advises the California legislature

often sets policy trends for the

Committee, wearing many different

on scientific matters. The friend

United States and the world. About

hats as ex officio office manager

encouraged Laura to apply, and

half of CCST Science Fellows have

until additional staff joined the

she thought it sounded like an

been hired by the Legislature or

committee. She “took phone calls.

interesting opportunity to combine

state agencies after completing their

I held meetings. I met high-ranking

her scientific and political interests.

fellowship, and that is Laura’s hope.

lobbyists and board presidents and

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remained

with

the

executives. Staff from other offices

the campus offered. At Lyon she

her for graduate study. Her classes

sought me out on policy ideas. . . .

enjoyed and benefited from the

here were challenging, and they

I was left with both an opportunity

“interaction with faculty. They

prepared her for advanced courses.

and a huge mountain to climb.”

knew me and cared about me and

Learning to write well has been

encouraged me. Professors would

just as important to her as the skills

She has learned that the political

seek me out to apply for things, to

and knowledge she picked up in her

world is “dramatically different

try, to push myself. Looking back,

science courses because scientific

from that of academic research.

I realize how greatly I benefitted

research (and her current work in

I’m grateful that I was given a lot

from the extra concern they showed

policy development) leads to lots of

of responsibility and had to tap

for my success.” When she returned

writing.

into skills I didn’t realize I had,”

to campus last fall to deliver a

she says. She very much hopes that

lecture, she found that faculty still

Laura says Lyon prepared her well

she will be able to stay on with the

remembered her, talking about

for everything that has come her

Committee when her Fellowship

things that had happened when she

way since graduation. “I really feel

ends,

exciting

was a student and showing genuine

fortunate,” she says.

people” who work in and around

interest in what she was doing now.

the legislature. “It’s a fun place to

Another difference was the strength

work!”

of Lyon’s curriculum in readying

enjoying

“the

McWilliams’ path has taken her several interesting places since 2007, but she continually feels “sincere gratitude toward Lyon and the community.” She reflected on some differences she has discovered between her experiences and those of students from other schools.

At Oregon, for instance, she saw undergraduate science classes that enrolled hundreds of students.

Students really had to strive to distinguish themselves and had to be self-starters to plug in to all

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McRae YOU SEE THE NAME, BUT WHO IS McR AE?

Thomas Chipman McRae (1851–1929) Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, 1884–1903 Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, 1877–79 Governor of Arkansas, 1921–25 Arkansas College Board of Trustees, 1923–1929 Photo courtesy of the George Grantham Bain Collection, Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

A LU M NI

McRae Hall is named in memory

Thomas Chipman McRae was born

councilman in Prescott during his

of former Governor Thomas C.

in 1851 in Mount Holly (Union

term in the Legislature. He then

McRae and Carleton McRae, ’29.

County) and took over the family

went on to Congress, representing

Completed in 1989, it houses 35

farm during the Civil War after

the Third Congressional District of

students

the death of his father. When his

Arkansas from 1884 until 1903 and

mother remarried, he resumed

was elected to serve two terms as

his education, attending private

the state’s governor from 1921 until

That’s straight out of the Lyon

schools in Arkansas before going

1925.

College Catalog—the who and

on to Soule Business College in

the when—but there’s nothing

New Orleans. He then studied law

A dedicated and widely-known

about the why, which is the most

at Washington and Lee College in

Presbyterian,

important question. Why did Lyon

Virginia, returning home to practice

joined the Arkansas College Board

choose to name a residence hall for

in Arkansas. In 1876, he was elected

of Trustees in 1923 and became

these two men? Who were they?

to the state House of Representatives

chairman in 1926, a position he

What did they do? How were they

for Nevada County, while also

held until his death in 1929. As a

connected to the College?

serving as city attorney and city

prominent churchman, his interest

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Thomas

McRae

in the College encouraged other

College a large amount when the

Presbyterian families from around

Depression led to budget deficits

the state to send their children to AC,

and

where he had sent his own grandson,

borrowing.

difficulty

repaying

earlier

whom he and his wife raised after

Carleton McRae, ’29 (1908–86)

the death of their son in 1912. Also

His grandson, Carleton McRae,

influencing Presbyterian families

grew up in Prescott and entered

from beyond Batesville was the

Arkansas College in 1925. He was

statewide Presbyterian Educational

a member of Delta Kappa Sigma,

Movement, a fundraising campaign

one of the first Greek letter social

led by McRae that raised more

organizations on campus when it

than $400,000 in pledges in 1924,

was organized in 1927.

of which $325,000 was earmarked

also a member of the Philomathean

for AC. As president of the Bank

Literary Society and played all four

of Prescott, McRae also loaned the

years as a guard on the Panther

He was

football team, lettering in his senior year. He was known as “Gov,” a reference to his famous grandfather.

The 1929 annual, The Index, described him as “a big fellow full of determination and willingness” and as hailing “from a family of great men.”

Just two days before Carleton was to graduate in June of 1929, his grandfather died. Leaving for the funeral, he recognized a younger AC student in the same train car and invited the awed younger man to sit with him—quite an honor, the younger one thought, given that McRae was a senior, a football

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Robert A. Young III Lyon College Board of Trustees, 1974–2017 Chairman, 1987–95, 1998–2006 President/CEO/Chairman, ArcBest Corp. 1974–2016

hero, and a “big man on campus.”

Unlike her father, Mary Carleton

The Youngs have been major donors

He looked over to see tears rolling

McRae did not attend Arkansas

and gave the lead gift to build

down the big man’s cheek. Years

College. Instead she went to Mary

McRae Hall, honoring Mary’s father

later, after Carleton’s death, the

Baldwin College in Virginia, where

and great-grandfather. Besides the

other student wrote to his daughter,

she had a chemistry class taught

McRae name, the name “Young”

Mary Carleton Young, to tell her

by John B. Daffin, who had been

is also prominent on campus,

about this moving experience.

the chemistry teacher at Arkansas

acknowledging the continuation

College in the 1920s and had taught

of the McRae family commitment

Carleton McRae went on to earn

her father. He had, in addition,

as the McRae and Young families

a master’s degree in chemistry at

been an early coach of the AC

united in the marriage of Mary and

Vanderbilt and eventually became

football team, and the football field

Robert.

chief chemist of the Lion Oil

constructed in 1921 was named in

Company in El Dorado, a division

his honor. It was while she was in

of Monsanto. After he retired, he

school in Virginia that Mary met

and his wife, Mary Jo, enjoyed

Robert A. Young, who went on to

running a gift shop close to First

join the College Board of Trustees

Presbyterian Church, which they

in 1974, serving as its chairman for

attended.

16 years.

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So now you know the whole story!

MILESTONES NOTES

1985

Jody Smotherman, associate administrator of graduate medical

Mary Eleanor Mosley, widow of

Gene Crawford was ordained to the

education at White River Medical

Dr. Ed Mosley, who taught math and

priesthood in the Episcopal Church in

Center in Batesville, received the

served as Dean of the Faculty at Lyon,

June at Emmanuel Episcopal Church,

Excellence in Innovation Award

passed away in January. She taught

Lake Village, AR. He previously

from the National Alliance of State

in the Batesville Public Schools and

served several years as an ordained

Pharmacy Association. This award

volunteered in both the Advancement

deacon while he pursued a career in

recognizes a pharmacist who has

and President’s Offices at Lyon. Mary

banking. Gene is now associated with

demonstrated a spirit of innovation

Eleanor was named an honorary

the Citizens Bank in Batesville.

and entrepreneurship in the practice of

alumna in 2012. She and Ed were the first residents of Spragins House.

Dr. Donald V. Weatherman, President Emeritus, continues to work toward recovering from the stroke he suffered last February. He and wife Lynn are settling into their home in Due West, South Carolina, where Don was

pharmacy.

1987 Tracy (Prior) Seffers has published a poetry chapbook, Some Other Life,

John Hornor Jacobs saw his story

available from Finishing Line Press.

“The Domestic Lives of Superheroes” printed in the March/April issue of

199 0

formerly Executive Vice President of

Stacey (Finney) Lindsey, principal

Erskine College.

of Sulphur Rock Magnet Elementary

1970 Herman Hammerschmidt reports that he is approaching his 18th year as Executive Director of the New Jersey Podiatric Medical Society.

1978

Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin, Tennessee.

Playboy magazine.

1998

School in the Batesville Public School

Anthony Abney has been named

System, received the Citizens Bank

principal of Maple Elementary School

Above & Beyond award for January.

in Fullerton (Orange County), CA.

This award recognizes district employees for exceptional service to students, parents, their school, peers, and the district. The nominations praised her leadership abilities and her dedication to her students.

Tom Ekman has been named Dean of the Division of Math and Science at

1994

1992 Sonya Platt was recently hired to fill the position of assistant city attorney for Pine Bluff, AR.

1993 Paul “Chief” Hickman has been promoted to Table Games Supervisor at Virgin River Hotel and Casino in Mesquite, Nevada.

Ron Hanks reports that the featurelength film he directed, I’m OK, screened at the Bare Bones Film Festival in Oklahoma this April. The Internet Movie Database (www.imdb. com) describes it as “a coming-ofage story that follows a 17-year- old doomsday prepper in Oklahoma, who turns out to be right and prepares for everything except being lonely.” Justin Hall, the male lead, was nominated for Best Actor and won the Rising Star Youth award. The film was in the competition for Best Oklahoma Soil Film.

1999 Sarah Donaghy has been named Coordinator of Community Partnerships at Hendrix College. Previously, she was the development director for KUAR and KLRE Public Radio in Little Rock.

Clint Reed has been promoted to Chief of Staff for former Republican presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida.

2000 Terrell King has been named Associate Superintendent of Human Resources for Klein Independent School District. The district is in Harris County, Texas, adjacent to Houston. In his new position, King will plan, direct, and evaluate the operational, financial, and personnel activities of the Human Resource Services department in support of the curricular, instructional, and operational areas of the District, which has 53,000 students and 7,000 employees.

2001 John Harvey has been appointed Director of Athletics at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, where he has compiled a record as the most successful baseball coach in UAM history.

2002 Stacy (Pyron) Debartolo has won an Infinite Mile award at MIT in Boston.

The award, which was established in 2001, recognizes staff members whose work is of the highest caliber. She works in the Arts Office and the Center for Art, Science & Technology, where she fills several roles, principally as Financial Coordinator, Manager of the

Student Art Association, and Human Resources officer. Her testimonial

2010

states, “No matter the request, Stacy’s

Nathaniel “Nate” Pyle was named

approach is the same: she’s enthusiastic

Director of Academic Advising at the

and she consistently displays a willing

University of Arkansas Community

spirit in the best tradition of MIT’s ‘can

College at Batesville in April. He was

do’ ethos.”

previously director of campus and

2006 Brianne Orr was named the Director of Upward Bound at the University

community relations at Arkansas State University-Beebe.

2011

of Texas at Arlington last November.

Maggie Alsup has been named Lyon

“This is very special to me since not

College’s chaplain. She served as

only was I an Upward Bound student at

interim chaplain during the spring

Lyon, but I also worked for the Upward

2017 semester, and this summer she

Bound APPLE Project the entire time

has been working on completing

I was a student at Lyon,” she said.

requirements for ordination by the

“Things have come full circle for me.

Presbyterian Church.

I am so happy in my new position, and I hope that I am able to make Upward Bound as special for my students as Lyon College made it for me.”

20 07 Garrard Conley will see his hit book, Boy Erased, on the silver screen next year. Joel Edgerton has written a script and will produce the film, which will

Catherine Buercklin is “incredibly excited to announce that I have accepted a position as the Residence Director for Retention Support for the University of Tulsa.” The purpose of the position is to enrich the overall experience of first-year residential students and promote student engagement.

star Lucas Hedges as Garrard (“Jared”

Christopher Dickie has been named

in the film) and Edgerton as the head

by the University of Arkansas at

of the conversion therapy program

Little Rock to serve as director of

that would “cure” his homosexuality.

development and external relations

Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman

for its College of Education & Health

will play Garrard’s parents. Production

Professions.

begins this fall.

Stephanie Hupp received her Master

Emily (Wilson) Piechocki has been

of Arts in Communication from the

selected for Little Rock Soirée’s

University of Arkansas this spring.

2017 Class of Women to Watch.

She is development director for the

2012

Ronald McDonald House Charities of

Tyler and Elizabeth (Niemeyer)

Arkansas. Soirée honored her, along

Hudgens welcomed into the world their

with 27 other extraordinary local

son George Clark Hudgens on July

women, for their impact in business,

21, 2017. Tyler also began working as

philanthropy, and the community.

an estate planning attorney at Brooks

Emily started with the charity in 2009.

and Wendt in Fort Smith, Arkansas, in June.

2013

2015

2017

William B. Belvin has completed his

Caitlin Campbell was selected

Emily Riley has accepted the position

Master’s of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation

to participate in this summer’s

of Communications Specialist in

at the University of Alabama School

Clinton School of Public Service’s

the Lyon Office of Marketing and

of Law. He is a 2015 graduate of the

International Public Service Project.

Communications.

University of Arkansas School of Law.

She is spending ten weeks as an

Roger Glaude has begun a new career as an educator, teaching algebra at Beebe High School.

intern in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor at the State Department in Washington, DC.

Brock Widders is working as a graduate assistant with the University of Central Arkansas’ men’s basketball program. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in instructional

Megan Holifield completed her

Campbell is enrolled in a concurrent

Pharm.D. degree at the University of

degree program with the Clinton

Arkansas for Medical Sciences this

School and the William H. Bowen

Devyn Young has accepted the

spring.

School of Law and expects to graduate

position of Government and

in 2019 with both a juris doctorate and

Community Relations Representative

a master of public service degree.

with the Public Affairs department of

Kaleb Jones is now with the Hosto & Buchan law firm in Little Rock. He specializes in business litigation and

Griffin Glaude has moved up from

real estate.

the Single-A Lansing Lugnuts to the

2014

of the Toronto Blue Jays. At the time of his promotion, his record was 4-2 with

from the Bowen School of Law and

an ERA of 4.25 in 17 appearances.

at the Dudeck Law Firm, which has offices in Conway and Little Rock.

the Arkansas Attorney General.

Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, a farm team

McKenzie Macy has graduated is working as an Elder Law Attorney

technology at UCA.

Wesley Perkins completed his M.A. in mathematics at the University of

IN MEMORIAM Doris (Witherspoon) Barham, ’37 Reva (Thompson) Lorick, ’42

Kansas this spring.

Charles T. Edmondson, ’47

career the same way Saul Goodman

Madeline (Roberts) Pyle is now employed with the Blair & Stroud law

Robert W. Stroud, ’50

did in ‘Better Call Saul’!”

He says, “It looks like I will start my

Stephanie Shaw-Holbert completed her master’s degree in marine science at Hawaii Pacific University in February and in April began a research internship with the Sea Watch Foundation in New Quay, Wales. She will be actively involved

firm in Batesville.

2016 Markeita Williams has moved from the President’s Office at Lyon to become the Academic Operations Manager in the Provost’s Office.

H. Gary M. Jones, ’50 Richard L. Courtney, ’53 Paul J. Hudson, ’54 Alma Jane (Baugh) Massey, ’56 Jerry L. Campbell, ’58 Joe T. Rodgers, ’58 Scott Evans, ’81 Curt J. Bessette, ’87

in conservation management of the bottlenose dolphin, harbor porpoise, and grey seal populations of Cardigan Bay, a large inlet of the Irish Sea on the west coast of Wales.

SUBMISSIONS For class notes or birth or death notices, email alumni@lyon.edu.

To update your information, visit lyon.edu/update-your-info.

A LU M NI

The 145th Commencement T H E C L A S S O F 2 0 17 C E L E B R AT E S

On Saturday, May 6, 2017, Lyon conferred degrees on 112 graduates of the Class of 2017. Graduates wore bowtie stickers to honor retiring president Don Weatherman, who was represented at the ceremony by his wife, Lynn, who gave the commencement address.

The

following

students

received

awards

at

commencement: Emma Jackson, Cherokee Village, AR, The Alma Cole Metcalf Endowed Scholarship Award; Jordan Braswell, Kennedale, TX, The John T. and Diana March Dahlquist Scholar Athlete Award; Keeley Wooten, Calico Rock, AR, The Dr. Margaret Pruden Lester Fellowship; Joseph Burt, St. Cloud, MN, The Daniel Seibert Fellowship; Emily Riley, Cabot, AR, The Dr. Samuel W. Williams Fellowship; Jessica Craven, Monticello, AR, The Dr. Ellis G. and Mary Newton Mosley Fellowship; Samuel Brineman, Little Rock, AR, The Dr. and Mrs. John D. Spragins Award; and Hope Woods, Huntsville, AR, The Charles H. Coffin Scholarship Medal.

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I love AC B E V E R LY ( D AV I S ) J O H N S O N , ’ 5 7

Beverly Davis arrived at Arkansas

in the cafeteria. Beverly remains

Theatre, Dorm Council, Knife and

College in the fall of 1954. The

grateful to this day for the help she

Fork Club, Westminster Fellowship,

freshman from Marvell, Arkansas,

got, and she has put that gratitude

and Life Service Alliance, a group

entered a new world, moving

to work by establishing an endowed

of students planning to devote

from the Delta near Helena to the

scholarship and contributing some

their life to Christian service. She

Ozark foothills. She grew up in

amount—sometimes very minimal,

was also the photographer for the

the Presbyterian Church and so

especially in her first years after

yearbook, Senior Class Reporter,

had heard of the College, but going

graduation—almost

and Chaplain of her sorority, Sigma

there wasn’t a foregone conclusion.

since she graduated.

Her

family

had

little

every

year

money

Alpha Sigma. As for the College’s Scottish heritage, she explained that

to spare, and without financial

That was in 1957. She completed a

when she was a student, AC owned

assistance, she couldn’t afford to

major in social science and a minor

a single bagpipe. If someone who

enroll. Fortunately for her—and

in history in only three years, along

could play it enrolled, that student

for the College—she received a

with taking on such activities as

got a scholarship to be the College

scholarship and was assigned a job

Highlander staff, choir, Harlequin

Piper.

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Beverly also enjoyed her job

California, which is where she met

which she is a charter member),

working for Mrs. Irene Parse, the

and married her husband Robey

and the Brown Chapel renovation

College Dietician, in the dining

Johnson, a Navy veteran. After his

project. She attends the Arkansas

hall. “I washed many a dish for my

death in 1996 and her retirement

Scottish Festival whenever she can

room and board,” she remembered.

in 1999, she followed her love of

and is a sponsor of the event. She

She liked Mrs. Parse, and they got

history by traveling the world.

says she always feels nostalgic

along well—which was not the

Beverly says she has visited nearly

when she returns to the campus. “I

usual pattern for many students,

every country in Europe, along

have always felt close, so I’ve kept

who tended to see the dining

with

Brazil,

up with the College,” she says. She

hall director as a short but fierce

South Africa, and even Antarctica.

also enjoys helping students who

drill sergeant! Beverly especially

For a time she lived in Hawaii and

need it. Her family could not have

appreciated it when Parse promoted

Florida but now has settled down in

paid for her to go to college, she

her to “time keeper,” the student

Hot Springs, Arkansas.

says, so without scholarships and

Chile,

Argentina,

her job in the dining hall, she never

worker who, in addition to regular duties, kept track of the other

She established the Beverly D.

could have afforded to attend AC.

student workers’ timesheets. This

Johnson Endowed Scholarship in

extra responsibility earned her an

2007 to be awarded to a female

Why has she been moved to be

additional five cents an hour.

student with demonstrated financial

such a consistent and long-term

need, but she has also contributed

supporter? “It was a real love and

After AC, she worked for the

regularly to the Annual Fund, the

gratitude for the College,” she says,

Department of Human Services

President’s Advisory Council (of

“and always has been.”

in Memphis but then went on to Richmond, Virginia, where she attended the Presbyterian School of Christian Education and earned the M.A. in English Bible in 1960. She worked for two churches and then the Red Cross, serving in military hospitals. Later she completed the M.S. in Recreation at the University of Illinois, something she says she really enjoyed. For 20 years she taught the severely handicapped in

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K-9 Philanthropy PA RT T WO

After the last Piper came out, a letter to the editor appeared in the Batesville Guard. Urba Reed, a retired Batesville banker and widow of the late Dr. Stanley Reed, a former Arkansas College faculty member, wrote the following: I was the bank teller at the First National Bank who opened the account for Ty Ronza. We had Ty put his paw on my ink pad and then on the signature card.

Then Ty could make his donations to the college and others. John called me “Ty’s favorite teller” and Ty was a favorite of mine.

She noted that “John was a generous person and made many donations to accounts for people in need, always asking me to not put his name on the deposit, so many people were not aware of how generous he was.”

He was a 1928 graduate of the College and served many years as a trustee, following the example of his father, John Patterson Morrow, Sr., who was a chairman of the Board. The Morrow Quadrangle, comprising the Morrow Academic Center and Love, Bryan, and Blandford Halls, was named in John, Sr.’s, honor, with his son contributing to their construction.

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Following Ty’s passing, his generosity was continued by a second bulldog, Hannibal. Former Batesville Guard editor Paul Buchanan described Hannibal’s good works in a short article printed in 1965 in Grit, a magazine that was once a weekly newspaper that targeted small town families across America.

One of Arkansas College’s regular donors is

While the Social Security Administration was

illiterate, can’t speak any language, and is

amused, it pointed out that congress hasn’t

unable to get a social security card. But he

expanded the law to cover dogs, regardless

has money in the bank, is perfectly contented,

of their status, occupation, or pedigree. The

and is not the least perturbed about his

request was denied.

handicaps.

Nevertheless, Hannibal’s name is properly The Batesville (Ark.) philanthropist is named

spelled on a signature card at the bank, and

Hannibal. He is a three-year-old English

the print of his right front paw is permanently

bulldog, son of an international champion.

stamped in ink. His master has authority to draw from the account to make charitable

Hannibal has a savings

account at the

and similar gifts on his behalf.

First National Bank of Batesville. It was established and is administered by his

Checks with Hannibal’s paw print and

master, John Morrow, Jr., who is well known

countersigned by Morrow arrive periodically

in the Batesville region for his special brand

at the Arkansas College business office,

of practical joking and folksy humor.

where they are duly recorded as the gift from the aristocrat of dogdom.

Since Hannibal’s savings account drew more

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than $10 in annual interest, the bank reported

Morrow acquired Hannibal in Memphis

it to the Internal Revenue Service, as federal

shortly after his English bulldog named Ty

law requires. Such reports are supposed to

Ronza died in early 1962. Ty Ronza’s name,

carry the depositor’s social security number.

along with numerous human donors, is

Therefore, Morrow applied for a social

inscribed on a bronze plaque in the foyer

security number for his dog, describing the

of the chapel-fine arts building at Arkansas

powerfully built animal as a “watchman.”

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Sometime in the early to mid-

financier, Hannibal, a bulldog, finally came to the end of his tether

1970s, the Memphis Commercial

and followed his predecessor, Ty Ronza, in death. John has paid

Appeal recognized John’s second

all his debts, including an unpaid balance on a pledge to Arkansas

bulldog, noting his passing in a

College.

regular column, “Paul Flower’s Greenhouse.”

Morrow

as

“the

Describing

“We buried him parallel with Ty Ronza, in such a direction that

Batesville

they can view the rising sun on the longest day of the year and let

engineer and chief pilot of the Poke

Bayou-Big

Bottom

the setting sun go down over their head,” reports his master.

&

Oil Trough Barge, Bateau, and

Hannibal . . . had it good all his life. Tended by registered nurses,

Steam Boat Line,” Flowers said,

medical librarians and licensed schoolteachers, he was walked by

John also reports that the famous

blondes and admired by cute girls.

Thanks to Linda Matthews, Johnny Morrow’s sister-in-law, for the newspaper clippings, found as she sorted through his files. The staff of the Piper wishes a similarly good life to all donors to the College!

To get in on a good thing, visit lyon.edu/give.

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“An honors program, hmm? I thought my Lyon diploma

I find myself stroking my beard again. Nervous

already was an honors degree.”

tic. I clasp my hands in my lap, wonder if they’ll stay there till this spiel is over. And

The conversation inevitably arrives there—customarily followed

pausing here to take another look over this

by the sideways glance quietly indicating dissatisfaction with the

draft and ponder revisions, I see more clearly

cut of my jib.

what the honors program can do: I hope we can recruit not only the best students, but also

Well, why not start there, then? The unequivocal response is that

the most curious students—the most “Lyon”

yes, of course, Lyon is an honors college unto itself, that our faculty

students.

stand by each major, each student, each colleague. The value of the Lyon degree is strong—has been, will remain so. The faculty

And now for a more ambitious claim: I hope that

and staff hold the Lyon degree in high regard, with or without an

this program will contribute to the College’s

honors certification. Not many honors program directors can say

trundling along into the 21st century. After

that without crossing their fingers behind their backs.

all, we may be in need of the liberal arts more now than ever—unrest on the rise at home

That said, the new honors program does bring value, and it signals

and abroad, a knotted morass of information

some of our hopes for the coming years. I hope it will provide a

and falsehoods and propaganda, nature itself

recruiting tool that will help the College continue to compete for—

at a tipping point, and in the distance a bell

and to graduate—the very best students. More specifically, I hope

tolling perhaps for the Enlightenment. Don’t

it will afford some opportunities for our faculty and students to

these times call for more of the most “Lyon”

experiment with teaching models that simply don’t scale, even at a

possible students?

college as small as ours. “Artisanal,” we might label it, if we were working in a hipster design element. And while there are other

Anyway, that’s me. Look me up the next time

perks to attract students such as fancy res halls and glamorous

you’re on campus. I’d love to talk through—

travel opportunities, this is the part of the honors program that

think through—this new program with you.

excites me most: the one-on-one projects that honors fellows will

Cheers!

design and implement in their majors. These projects will offer faculty and students alike the space to think beyond the textbook, the classroom, the laboratory. In one way, these projects will step closer to a liberal arts ideal: thought unbound. One day soon I’ll have examples of these projects, and I’m confident we’ll all be impressed with their depth and ingenuity.

DR. WESLE Y BE AL is the Director of the Honors Fellows Program, an Associate Professor of English, and in 2015 was named the Alpha Chi Professor of the Year at Lyon.

Office of Marketing and Communications Nichols Administration Building 2300 Highland Road Batesville, Arkansas 72501

ATHLETIC ALUMNI GIVING CHALLENGE

You spent years supporting Lyon College Athletics on the field and hardwood. Now it’s your turn to support the next generation of Scots with your donation. You are invited to take part in the Athletic Alumni Giving Challenge—support your sport by giving on impact.lyon.edu and earn bragging rights for your team.

ENDS OC TOBER 21