Mars Hill: The Magazine of Mars Hill University - Fall 2016

Amazing ALUMNUS DAVID GIVENS DIGS FOR THE TRUTH I

e DE dy th I n NS tu

i s S Bra t g en ud azin t S Am

MAGAZINE STAFF: Editor: Teresa Buckner, Assistant Director of Communications Associate Editor: Mike Thornhill ’88, Director of Communications Additional Contributors: Rick Baker, Sports Information Director Nancy Fosson, Assistant Registrar Kristie Hollifield, Technology and Media Services Coordinator Dr. Matt Milnes, Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Karen Paar, Director of the Liston B. Ramsey Center for Regional Studies Matt Willing ’11, Cycling Coach President’s Leadership Team Dr. Dan Lunsford ’69, President Dr. Jim Brown ’89, Assistant Vice President for Academic Administration Dr. Grainger Caudle, Executive Director of Planning and Auxiliary Services Mr. Bud Christman, Vice President Institutional Advancement Dr. Joy Kish ’87, Assistant Vice President for Human Resources & Strategic Initiatives Rev. Stephanie McLeskey, University Chaplain Dr. Jason Pierce, (Interim) Vice President for Academic Affairs & Enrollment Management Mr. David Riggins, Director of Athletics Mr. Neil Tilley, Vice President for Finance & Facilities Management Dr. Laura Whitaker-Lea, Associate Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students

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Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2016

Mars Hill [mahrz hil] noun 1. A site in Athens, also known as the Areopagus, where Paul used persuasive reason and logic to preach Christ to the intellectuals of first-century Greece, as detailed in Acts 17:21 of the Bible.

2. A town in the mountains of North Carolina known for the beauty of its surroundings and its welcoming, small-town atmosphere.

3. A university in the town of Mars Hill which strives to provide the best in liberal arts education for its 1300-some students.

4. A concept (esp. for faculty, students, staff, and alumni of Mars Hill University) signifying that place where faith meets reason, to lay a foundation for a life of character and compassion.

Mars Hill, The Magazine of Mars Hill University is published regularly by the Office of Marketing and Communications. It is distributed, without charge, to alumni, donors, and friends of the university.

Notices of changes of address and class notes should be addressed to the Alumni Office, Mars Hill University, P.O. Box 6792, Mars Hill, NC, 28754. Phone 828/689-1102. Fax 828/689-1292. E-mail alumni@mhu.edu.

Letters to the editor and all other correspondence regarding the magazine should be addressed to the Office of Marketing and Communications, Mars Hill University, P.O. Box 6765, Mars Hill, NC, 28754. Phone 828/689-1304. Fax 828/689-1105. E-mail tbuckner@mhu.edu.

Postmaster: Send address changes to the Alumni Office, Mars Hill University, P.O. Box 6792, Mars Hill, NC, 28754.

Copyright 2016. All rights reserved.

Cover, background: Joyce Kilmer Forest, courtesy of Marc Mullinax ’77, professor of religion and philosophy. Cover, foreground: David Givens, photo by Teresa Buckner

Letter from the President................................... 4 Our Dreams Have Become Reality........................ 5 MHU Prepares to Dedicate Two New Buildings

It’s All In Your Head............................................ 6 Students Study The Amazing Brain Amazing Alumnus David Givens.......................... 8 Digging for the Truth Ramsey Center Documentary Wins Award.......... 11 Awards of Note................................................ 12 Ministering in a Time of Tragedy........................ 14 Recent Grad Ministers to Victims of the Orlando Shooting Homecoming Lineup........................................ 15 Behind the Scenes............................................ 16 Staff Retire After Many Years of Service Faculty Focus................................................... 20

Dr. Yael Baldwin Studies Lacanian Psychology

MHU Cycling Hosts National Championships...... 22 Alumni & Friends Golf Tourney.......................... 23 Sign up to Benefit MHU Athletics Student Athletes Leave “The Hill” On Top........... 24 Class Notes...................................................... 27

Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2016

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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Most college and university magazines have a similar approach in that they highlight the accomplishments and successes of alumni, students, faculty, and staff. In that sense, Mars Hill, the Magazine is no different. But, if I may state the obvious, the thing that makes this magazine different to me is that it highlights the stories of Mars Hillians.

In these pages are the stories of our people: our alumni, our faculty, our staff, our students. These are the people who made Mars Hill what it was, and who continue to make Mars Hill what it is. These are the people who have left their mark on the institution, and who continue to impact their communities and the people around them. Hearing those stories is one of the highlights of my role as president.

I often tell the readers of this magazine that Mars Hill University continues to make great strides in the areas of facilities and academic programming. That is true. This fall, classes will begin meeting in Troy and Pauline Day Hall and Ferguson Health Sciences Center: two new buildings that will forever change the face of our campus. A new Master of Management program will continue to expand opportunities for graduate education to our students.

The liberal arts nursing programs offered through the Judge-McRae School of Nursing will have an impact on the future of our institution and even on the region. Growing academic programs in business, criminal justice, and social work are giving our students new and wider opportunities that will impact their futures and our world.

These topics are so important, but ultimately, they are important because they impact the lives of people. In these pages, you will meet just a few of those people. I hope you will enjoy learning about them, and gaining a deeper understanding of some aspect of the institution.

But also, I hope you will consider sharing some of your story with us, by telling us about yourself through the alumni@mhu.edu email.

If you love this institution, you are part of the Mars Hill community. You are part of what makes Mars Hill what it is.

You are part of our story.

Dr. Dan Lunsford ’69 President 4

Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2016

Our Dreams have become Reality...

Join us on Friday, September 9, for the dedications of

Troy and Pauline Day Hall 10 a.m.

Ferguson Health Sciences Center, home of the Judge-McRae School of Nursing 1 p.m.

Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2016

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It’s All In Your

Head

by Teresa Buckner

Students Study the Amazing Brain In a physical sense, it is your brain that makes you who you are. This small, three-pound organ controls your every thought, feeling, and action.

As students in Dr. Ann Peiffer’s physiopsychology class found this past semester, studying the physical structure of the brain is fundamentally important to understanding human psychology, biology and—most everything else about us.

Physiopsychology is a branch of psychology that studies how the structure and the processes of the brain affect mental functioning. For the class, which takes place on a two-year rotation in the psychology curriculum at Mars Hill University, Peiffer borrowed a number of brains from Wake Forest Medical Center (where she also holds a position as Assistant Professor in the Department 6

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of Radiation Oncology). Students then had the unusual experience of being able to relate concepts studied in class to actual physical characteristics on an organ that they could literally hold in their hands.

“An average adult human brain weighs about three pounds, and is surrounded by the bones of our skull. Once removed, it looks very small, but it uses 20 percent of the nutrients and oxygen that you bring into your body every day to fuel its function,” Peiffer said. “Our brains allow us to learn, interpret the world around us, feel, move, plan, invent, and remember not only facts and figures but people, places, and how to do things. In many ways, our brains are what make us who we are, yet at the same time are created by what we experience and do in our lives.”

Throughout the semester, students learned about the types of cells that make up the brain, different areas of the brain that are responsible for functions like vision, hearing, smell, memory, lie detection, balance, and attention. Other topics discussed were conditions that impact the brain, such as stroke, concussion, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.

“Given the chance to find out more about the brain, students were eager to participate, and braver students even took an opportunity to touch the brain or hold it in their hands,” Peiffer said. “Many were surprised at how firm the brain was and how little it was outside of the skull.”

According to Peiffer, encounters with the physical brain—for both students and the public—help counter stigmas associated with mental illness.

“A stigma that impacts many individuals who suffer from mental illness is that since the problem is ‘all in their head’ they should be able to get over it. However, many mental health conditions have causes that are related to the biological makeup of the brain. Some of these physical changes are caused by our genetic make-up, others by prenatal exposures before we were born, and others to our early life experiences, good or bad.”

Students not only learned about the brain themselves, but then taught the concepts they had learned to the public through a programs called MIND2: MHU Investigates Neurons, Disorders, and Disease.

The walk-through event allowed members of the public to view the brains and see educational panels created by the students.

“Giving the students a hands-on experience with the brains as well as designing the stations for MIND2 allowed students to interact with the coursework in a very tangible way and I think it enhanced their understanding of the material,” Peiffer said.

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Amazing Alumnus David Givens

Digging for the Truth

by Teresa Buckner

One day, while waiting for the school bus in his native Blacksburg, Virginia, 14-year-old David Givens noticed an oddly-shaped rock in the dirt and picked it up. It was a quartz arrowhead, evidence of the rich Native American history in the Virginia foothills.

Finding arrowheads is not uncommon in the Blacksburg area, or in most of the Southeast for that matter, but something about the arrowhead sparked Givens’ curiosity. He plied a teacher for details about the ancient people who had lived in western Virginia and she, frustrated with his repeated questions, referred him to a group of 8

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archaeologists who met in the local public library once a week.

There, Givens found like-minded souls, who put him to work as a volunteer, hiking the hills of Virginia and mapping archaeological sites for the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.

“I went through high school, still volunteering, spending hours with my face down in a farm field, finding arrowheads, really interested, and I continued asking questions of the past,” he said.

Today, as a senior archaeologist for the Jamestown Rediscovery Project in Jamestown, VA, Givens

it used for? Why is it this shape?’ These questions give us evidence for a fuller understanding of the people who lived here.”

Givens’ job also includes passing that knowledge on to members of the public who pass through Historic Jamestowne, or who attend one of the many lectures that he and other Jamestown archaeologists give throughout the year.

“All of archaeology is education, because if it isn’t, then why do it?” he said.

David Givens, senior archaeologist for The Jamestown Discovery Project, describes conditions as they were in the 17th century in the colony as his colleagues (see upper right) continue digging.

is still asking, and answering, questions. At Jamestown, the site of the first successful English colony in the New World, Givens lives with one foot in the present, and one foot in the past. As an archaeologist, his job is discovering, examining, and contextualizing the structures and items that were used by Captain John Smith, Captain John Rolfe, Pocahontas, Chief Powhatan, and other lesser-known historical figures from the colony.

“When we find an artifact, we don’t ask, ’does this artifact exist?’” he said. “We ask, ’What is it made of? ‘Why is it made of this material? What was

From the age of 14, archaeology was Givens’ hobby, but it was not his career goal when he came to Mars Hill College in 1987. With an eye toward computer science, he completed two years at Mars Hill. On campus, he successfully pledged Delta Kappa Theta service fraternity, but every weekend, he scoured the plowed fields in Madison County, finding arrowheads and talking to local farmers about artifacts they had unearthed with the plow.

After a course in Russian history at Mars Hill, Givens determined to follow a course as a Russian translator. He transferred to Virginia Commonwealth University, developed his language skills, and completed a degree in anthropology and sociology. Then, in 1991, the Soviet Union fell, and many native Russian speakers chose to come live and work in the U.S. “Suddenly, there were Russians everywhere,” Givens said, which made it difficult for him to get a job as a translator.

After a series of odd jobs, Givens heard from a college roommate that an archaeological site called Pasbehegh (part of the Powhatan chiefdom) was hiring in coastal Virginia. Givens applied, Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2016 9

Givens, continued...

and began earning a living at the hobby he had pursued since the age of 14. For the next 10 years, Givens worked at—and later managed—several archaeological sites in the Chesapeake area.

But researchers did find metal nails. Givens and a colleague digitally mapped the location of each nail, and using those models, reconstructed the exact location and shape of each wooden coffin.

It was the discovery of “Jane” which led In 2001, he was hired as a senior archaeologist for researchers to the conclusion that the colonists the Jamestown Rediscovery Project, where he has had resorted to survival cannibalism in the difficult been ever since. Earlier this year, he completed a winter of 1609-10. Jane’s cranium, as well as her Master of Historical Archaeology degree through mandible and right tibia, exhibit tool marks which the University of Leicester, in show she was “processed to be England, using his work at eaten.”

Jamestown as the topic of his Forensic anthropologists have thesis. reconstructed Jane’s facial “All of archaeology is Givens returned to the Mars features, and using isotopic education, because if it Hill campus in 2012 and information from Jane’s bones, isn’t, then why do it?” -again in March 2016 as part of archaeologists have learned lecture tours to educate the that she had the diet of a lowDavid Givens public about recent finds at status person. Researchers Jamestown. theorize that she was a servant girl who died of starvation The 2016 lecture dealt during the winter of 1609specifically with the very 10. Desperate colonists then modern forensic tools that consumed her as a means of he and other archaeologists survival. use to answer questions about finds at the site. The lecture highlighted how techniques like digital modeling and radiographic and isotopic information aid in the identification and understanding of James Fort’s earliest colonists.

According to Givens, discoveries like these “colorize the past.” Facts and dates from historical documents, by themselves, do not tell the whole story of how people lived and died, he said.

Furthermore, documented The findings Givens shared history, he said, tends to be with an audience at Mars Hill written by rich, educated, white in March included: evidence men. of cannibalism during the “Who’s missing from that story?” he said. “The “starving time,” at the Jamestown colony in the Indians, the first Africans, the women. When those winter of 1609-10; the first Protestant church built people are missing from history, then you really in North America; and the graves of four high-status don’t have a full perspective.” “founding fathers” in the chancel area of the church.

Givens said he is particularly fond of the name of (Each of these discoveries has been listed among Archaeology Magazine’s annual top ten archaeology a book by his Jamestown colleague, Dr. William Kelso. His book is called, The Buried Truth. finds in the world.)

“That’s it,” Givens said. “It’s the truth in the ground.

Givens’ particular specialty is using computer You just have to dig it up. And how you interpret it is modeling to recreate structures and events from the sticky wicket, but that’s why you have experts.” the past. For example, any wood which may have originally been in the chancellery graves had rotted long before the graves were unearthed.

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David Givens lives in Williamsburg, VA, with his wife, Teresa, their daughter, India, and their son, Shea.

Hannah Furgiuele and Roger Howell

Ramsey Center Documentary Earns Award A Mighty Fine Memory: Stories and Tunes from the Fiddler of Banjo Branch, produced and directed

by Mars Hill University’s Liston B. Ramsey Center for Regional Studies, has been selected as one of the best independent documentaries of 2016 by Spotlight Documentary Film Awards.

Completed in 2015, A Mighty Fine Memory received a Gold Award from Spotlight. The film was funded in part by a cultural preservation grant from the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership to the Ramsey Center in 2014. It was directed and produced by Hannah Furgiuele, Ramsey Center program coordinator and director of the Bascom Lamar Lunsford “Minstrel of Appalachia” Festival.

Rebecca Branson Jones filmed and edited the documentary, which engaged many people from the community, locally and regionally.

The film tells the story of Madison County master fiddler Roger Howell’s childhood and youth on Banjo Branch Road in Mars Hill, NC, as well as his introduction and life-long commitment to old-time music. Howell is known throughout the region for his skill as a musician, his generosity as a teacher, and his prodigious memory, as demonstrated by his contribution of 532 fiddle tunes comprising the “Roger Howell Memory Collection” to Mars Hill University’s Southern Appalachian Archives.

Howell’s performances and lessons are full of stories about the people who taught him this music—the “old people” of his youth.

Furgiuele said: “Directing this project, A Mighty Fine Memory, was an incredible experience. Having the opportunity to engage with Roger and the musical community that supported the project was a privilege that I don’t take lightly. I have grown to know Roger Howell not only as an exceptional musician and teacher, but as a friend and mentor.

His contributions to the performance and the preservation of regional music are enormous, and I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to work with both him and Rebecca Jones on this project. I am equally grateful to those at Spotlight Films who felt it was worthy of such an amazing award. While completely unexpected, we are thrilled to know that the film has been wellreceived.”

Spotlight Documentary Film Awards is dedicated to promoting experienced and new documentary filmmakers through a unique and important international film competition. Spotlight chooses documentaries, shorts, and features from around the world each year to receive an award in one of four categories: platinum, gold, silver, and bronze.

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Awards of Note trips to Raleigh to participate in the Historic Thousands on Jones Street/Moral March.

She has also been responsible for bringing notable speakers to campus including the NC NAACP president, Rev. William J. Barber, II, NC Senators Terry Van Duyn and Tom Apodaca, immigration attorney Natalie Teague, and criminal justice activist Daryl Hunt of the Innocence Project.

Hawn and McNeely

Hawn and McNeely Receive G. MacLeod Bryan Caring Awards Meagan McNeely, a religion major from Lenoir, NC, and Dr. Heather Hawn, assistant professor of political science, received the G. McLeod Bryan Caring Awards for 2016.

The Bryan Awards are given annually at Mars Hill University in honor of the late Dr. G. McLeod (“Mac”) Bryan ’39. The Bryan Caring Awards recognize members of the university community who make significant contributions to a better community and a better world.

During her time at Mars Hill, McNeely has volunteered frequently at AHOPE day shelter for individuals who are experiencing homelessness.

She went to Haiti on mission/service trips numerous times, and she spearheaded an effort on campus to sew and provide washable, reusable hygiene pads for girls in Haiti, so that they can remain in school after they begin their periods.

Dr. Heather Hawn is the faculty advisor for numerous organizations and was instrumental in starting the MHU chapter of the NAACP, the Native American Student Association (NASA), and chapters of the College Democrats and College Republicans.

She also coordinates MHU’s celebration of “Constitution Day,” instituted the highly successful “Puppy Day” during finals, and made numerous 12

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Currie Receives Emory Award Megan Currie, a senior religion major from Monroe, NC, received the Michael Emory Award for Outstanding Christian Servant Leadership from Mars Hill University.

The Michael Emory Award is presented annually to an individual who demonstrates Christlike compassion, loyalty, and service to the economically, socially, or emotionally oppressed and diligent pursuit of truth and justice, even when such pursuit may be unpopular. The award is given in honor of “Big Mike” Emory, Mars Hill College class of ’94.

During her time at Mars Hill, Currie served as a first year mentor, and as a leader for both the Christian Student Movement and Safe Haven. As a workstudy student, she worked with the Western North Carolina AIDS Project to provide an educational program about HIV and AIDS on campus; she organized a “Be the Match” drive for the bone marrow donation registry; brought a speaker to

Megan Currie and Teresa Emory, widow of Michael Emory ’94

campus to speak about the reality of sex trafficking in the U.S. ; and took two spring break mission/ service trips to Haiti.

(Read more about Megan on page 14.)

Caldwell Receives I. Ruth Martin Award Brent Caldwell, a resident of Marshall, has received the I. Ruth Martin Award for Christian Service from Mars Hill University.

The award was established by I. Ruth Martin, MHC class of 1938, to be given to a Christian individual who has served faithfully without any spotlight recognition.

Caldwell, a member of the MHU class of 1995 and an educator with Madison County Schools, is the co-coordinator of the Madison County Relay for Life event, which takes place annually on the MHU campus.

Caldwell’s involvement with the event has spanned 17 years altogether, including ten years as a team member and captain, five years as an accounting chair, and two years a co-chair of the event.

Brent Caldwell

Martin Receives Baptist Heritage Award Ron Martin of Morganton, N.C., has flunked retirement.

“When I retired,” he said, “I thought I had certain traits and qualities that would be beneficial for nonprofit organizations. I can’t be still.” Truer words could not be spoken.

Each year at the Baptist Heritage Awards Banquet, North Carolina Baptist entities honor people who have contributed to the individual organizations in unique ways. Mars Hill University honored Martin with its Baptist Heritage Award for 2016 at the April 26 banquet in Greensboro. The event is cosponsored by the Baptist State Convention of N.C. and the N.C. Baptist Foundation.

Since “retirement” from Shadowline in 2003, Martin’s faith has informed his service to innumerable organizations in his community including Burke County United Way, Blue Ridge Health Care Foundation, Exploring Joara Foundation, Burke Council on Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency, South Mountain Children’s Home and Family Service and First Baptist Church and Western Piedmont Community College. In recognition of his commitment to his hometown, Ron was selected by the Morganton Rotary as the Man of the Year in 2010.

As a three-term trustee of MHU, Martin has served as chair of the Board of Trustees, a member of the campaign cabinet, and chair of the trusteeship committee.

Last August Martin was awarded North Carolina’s highest civilian recognition, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Martin is far from ready to curb his busy schedule. On the contrary, he said his goal is “to leave here tired,” which means he will continue to impact the lives he encounters.

Ron Martin

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Ministering in a Time of Tragedy

Recent Grad Ministers to Victims of Orlando Shooting Megan Currie, a religion major and May 2016 graduate of Mars Hill University, set off this summer for Orlando, FL. Her plan was to intern at Joy Metropolitan Community Church where her aunt, Rev. Terri Steed Price ‘88, is the senior pastor, and then begin graduate school at Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology.

Little did she know she would find herself in the middle of ministering to survivors and grieving friends and relatives of the worst mass shooting in American history. Baptist News Global featured Megan in an article on June 20.

Portions of that article are excerpted below.

by Jeff Brumley

Megan Currie was set to preach her first Sunday sermon June 12 at Joy Metropolitan Community Church in Orlando, where she is serving as a summer intern. But a gunman’s murderous rampage, just over a mile away, kept her out of the pulpit that morning.

“I was going to preach about how the prodigal son goes off to a distant land,” said Currie, 21.

Instead the church became a staging area and spiritual refuge for friends, family and survivors of the mass killing at Pulse, an LGBTQ night club.

It wasn’t the first time Currie’s plans have been interrupted by prejudice. Another was after first hearing a call to ministry while attending high school in Indian Trail, N.C. 14

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During her four years at Mars Hill University, Megan Currie participated in a variety of ministries, including to the area’s LGBT community.

“I grew up in a Southern Baptist church and was told I couldn’t minister [as a woman] unless I work with children,” said Currie. “It was hard to feel called and rejected at the same time, so I said I’m not going to do it.”

But at Mars Hill University in western North Carolina, from where she graduated in May, Currie met Stephanie McLeskey, a campus chaplain endorsed by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

With McLeskey’s guidance, Currie blossomed into a campus leader and organizer who served

internships at two CBF churches and embraced homeless and LGBTQ ministry.

Since the Pulse shooting, Currie’s written words have been used at vigils in Asheville, N.C., and at Mars Hill, a school with historic Baptist ties. McLeskey said the arc of Currie’s spiritual development, compassion and calling to LGBTQ ministry make her the ideal person to join the staff of Joy Metropolitan Community Church. The MCC is a Protestant denomination with a specific outreach to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender families and communities.

“In my view it’s providential,” McLeskey said.

“She is stronger even than we imagined and her words carry such weight and love in the face of such hate and fear,” she said.

—excerpted from “Minister in Orlando Church Finds Herself at Center of Response to Shooting,” by Jeff Brumley, June 20, 2016, Baptist News Global. A link to the full article is available on the Mars Hill, the Magazine “Extras” page at www.mhu.edu/extras.

Currie and other members of the ministry and volunteer community in Orlando received the “Orlando Strong – Governor’s Medal of Unity,” from Florida Governor Rick Scott (left). Megan is pictured here (fourth from left) with Rev. Pierce (second from left), and other members of the ministry team from Joy Metropolitan UCC.

Going to the Mountains Is Going Home --John Muir

Mars Hill University Homecoming October 7-8, 2016 Friday, Oct 7

Saturday, Oct 8

10:30 am: Mars Hill University Alumni Board Meets

8:00 am: Registration; Blackwell Hall and Upper Quad

12:30 pm: Mars Hill University Alumni and Friends Golf Tournament; Maggie Valley Club and Resort

8:30 am: Alumni Breakfast; Redway Dining Room

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Class of 1976 40th Reunion Reception; Blue Lounge, Wren Building (Invite Only)

10:30 am: Choir Concert; Broyhill Chapel

5:00 pm: Women’s Soccer Game; Meares Stadium 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Athletics Alumni Reunion – (Blue Lounge in Wren)

Price $10; includes Q-and-A with President Dan Lunsford

11:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Homecoming Tailgate; Upper Quad

Includes lunch ($12 for adults, $7 for children), performance by the award-winning Bailey Mountain Cloggers, live music, corn hole competition, Kidzone, reserved reunion seating for ’66, ’76, ’91, ‘96 & ’06

5:30 pm: Class of 1966 50th Reunion; Biltmore Forest Country Club; (Invite Only)

1:10 pm: Alumni of the Year Awards; Meares Stadium

7:00 pm: Volleyball Game; Chambers Gymnasium

1:30 pm: Mars Hill vs. Newberry; Meares Stadium

7:30 pm: Men’s Soccer Game; Meares Stadium

7:30 pm: On the Verge, or The Geography of Yearning; Thomas Black Box Theatre; $15 adults, $13 seniors.

7:30 pm: On the Verge, or The Geography of Yearning; Thomas Black Box Theatre; $15 adults, $13 seniors.

For more information, contact Director of Alumni Relations John Chastain: jchastain@mhu.edu; 828-689-1434; or go to www.mhu.edu/homecoming.

8:00 pm: Young Alumni and Greek Reunion concert (featuring Everyman Jones and the Stick People) New Mountain Asheville, 38 N French Broad Ave, Asheville, NC, $10 cover. photograph by Dr. Marc Mullinax

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Behind The Scenes Staff Members Retire After Many Years of Service It takes a lot of people to make Mars Hill University function every day. While professors are the most visible members of the campus community, they only make up about one-third of the total staff of the university.

According to Director of Facilities Donald Edwards, he did that job faithfully and in all the years that Carver monitored the oil, no building ever ran out.

In addition to monitoring oil, Carver mowed, dug ditches, cut weeds, occasionally painted, and did anything else that was required to keep the college grounds beautiful.

From record-keeping to grounds-keeping, from maintaining museums to maintaining computers, a variety of Mars Hill University employees work hard “Vernon was very loyal to the university,” Edwards every day to serve the institution and its students. said. “He never missed work unless he was really At the end of the 2016-17 academic year, five of sick; and he never complained about anything you those “behind-the-scenes” people retired who had gave him to do.” each given 25 years or more to Mars Hill University. That may be because Carver said he very much enjoys having a job to do, and doing it by himself.

Vernon Carver Mowing grass, in fact, was his favorite duty. If there is something to do, he said, he does not want to Grounds Crew, 51 Years of Service

by Teresa Buckner stop and talk; he wants to get it done.

Since Mars Hill University has been in existence, no employee has worked for the institution longer than Vernon Carver, who retired in May 2016 with 51 years of service.

Carver came to work on the grounds crew at Mars Hill College in 1964. At the time, his father, Albert Carver, was also a member of the crew. Albert Carver retired in the mid-1970s.

In an era when most employees change jobs multiple times during their careers, Vernon Carver held the same job on the university’s grounds crew for over half a century. That does not mean, however, that there were no changes in Carver’s daily duties. In fact, when Carver first came to work at Mars Hill in 1964, each building was heated with coal.

“We had to go down to Marshall and shovel coal out of the train car, and haul it back to each building,” Carver said.

Slowly, over time, each building at the college changed over from coal to oil and Carver had less and less shoveling to do. It became his responsibility, however, to measure oil and to ensure that no building ran out of oil.

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“If I’m going to do something, I’ll do it. If not, I’ll go to the house,” he said.

Carver lives in the Upper Laurel community outside Mars Hill with his wife Loretta.

Gerald Ball

Director of Information Technology 39+ Years of Service

by Kristie Hollifield

While working in Florida in 1977, Mars Hill native Gerald Ball heard about a job opportunity at Mars Hill College, a providential experience Gerald has been grateful for ever since.

The early days of his career at MHU coincided with the early days of computer technology on campus. Gerald has seen the installation of the first PBX (private branch exchange) phone system.

He witnessed the first minicomputer purchased in 1977, the first computer lab on campus, and the migration from the Wang system to our modern record keeping software. After nearly 40 years, Gerald Ball will retire with the distinction as the first and only director of information technology at Mars Hill University.

Gerald has lived his entire life in Mars Hill except for a brief time he spent working and going to school in Florida.

His family has a long history in the area. His great-grandmother attended Mars Hill University, then known at the French Broad Institute. Great grandparents Isaac and Lucretia Holcombe built what is known as the McCloud house on Bailey Street. His father Charles worked as a security officer at the college for 23 years. Gerald met and married his wife, Teresa Davidson Ball, while she was a student at Mars Hill College (class of 1978). His son-in-law Nathan McMahan, is currently an adjunct professor in the religion department.

Gerald says that the people and the relationships he built kept him at Mars Hill University all these Gerald Ball years. Contentment came because he believed he was making a positive contribution to the community.

Gerald and Teresa continue to build relationships both on campus on in the community. Many employees can relate stories of visits, casseroles, and financial assistance when co-workers or community members were in need. Retired Vice President of Finance Claude Vess echoes that sentiment, “Gerald has the gift of helping. He learns of a need and works to fill it.” Gerald’s staff appreciates his care for them and their families as well. His strong faith and gentle spirit has earned him the respect of co-workers. Gerald will leave a legacy of Christian commitment and care for others.

Peggy Harmon

Special Collections Supervisor, Southern Appalachian Archives 36 Years of Service

by Dr. Karen Paar

Peggy Harmon, Special Collections Supervisor in the Ramsey Center’s Southern Appalachian Archives, passed away on March 10, 2016. She had retired September 2, 2015 after serving the institution for 36 years.

Peggy began her tenure at Mars Hill University in the Rural Life Museum, first working to prepare artifacts related to farm life for display in the museum, and later working with Museum Director Richard Dillingham to staff the museum and give tours there. The Rural Life Museum’s content was familiar to Peggy Harmon, given the life she spent on her parents’ farm in the Grapevine community of Madison County. The farm and Mrs. Harmon’s family appear in Tim Barnwell’s books, The Face of Appalachia: Portraits of a Mountain Farm and On Earth’s Furrowed Brow.

Later, Peggy moved to work in the Southern Appalachian Center in what was then Memorial Library. She stayed with those collections when they moved to Renfro Library and came under the guidance of the Liston B. Ramsey Center for Regional Studies.

Through all the years, Peggy took diligent care of the collections and assisted countless researchers in their search for information about genealogy and the history and culture of the Southern Appalachian region.

She was a wealth of Peggy Harmon

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Behind The Scenes, continued... knowledge about local history and Madison County families.

Peggy also knew a great deal about Mars Hill College history, and her last big project at this institution was work to organize and identify thousands of photographs in the Walter Smith Collection.

Peggy loved her job and the opportunity it provided to learn about the place she loved so much. She also appreciated the education she received at Mars Hill College, including coursework with Dr. Robert Chapman. Researchers in the archives appreciated her kindness and seemingly limitless memory, as well as the enthusiasm she brought to her work.

Peggy Harmon married into a family with long service to Mars Hill University. Her husband, Nathan Harmon, who passed away soon after Peggy on May 28, 2016, worked in Facilities, as does her sister-inlaw, Alta Capps. Mrs. Harmon’s other sister-in-law, Ellen Coomer, was the Mars Hill College nurse. Ellen Coomer’s son, Brett Coomer, and daughter-in-law, Lora Coomer, both still work for Mars Hill University.

Wanda Phillips Administrative Assistant, Information Technology, 31+ Years of Service

by Teresa Buckner

Beginning this summer, there is a new voice on the line when people call Mars Hill University.

Since 2006, the calm and pleasant voice of Wanda Phillips has greeted callers who dial the toll-free number for the university. It was also her reassuring voice that responded to frantic employees who called the Information Technology Help Desk asking for help with misbehaving computers.

Wanda retired this summer after over 31 years with Mars Hill University. Her most recent job as administrative assistant in the Information Technology Department included a number of clerical, financial, and organizational tasks in addition to “meeting the public” by phone every day.

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It was September 1984, when Wanda first began working at Mars Hill College. She was just reentering the public workforce after her “first career” raising her children. That fall, she took two half-time positions at the college. For half of each day, Wanda Phillips she worked with Richard Dillingham and Peggy Harmon in the Special Collections Area of the college archives, and for half of the day, she worked with librarian Elizabeth Stroud at the public services desk of Memorial Library (located in the building now known as Nash Hall).

When Mrs. Stroud retired a couple of years later, Wanda moved into the position as public services supervisor. She held that position until 1996, when Memorial Library moved to the renovated Renfro Library (which had formerly been the college cafeteria).

Around that time, Wanda said she “wanted to try something new,” so she applied for an open position in the Information Technology Department. That department would see much change and growth over the 20 years that Wanda worked there, and she was required to change and grow with the department. Over the years, she learned new tasks, and discarded old ones, as the university became more and more reliant on the internet. In time, the IT department grew, gained new operating systems, and added staff who could serve as systems analysts and computer specialists.

Through all the changes, Wanda said it was the people she came to know who kept her at the university.

“It was the friendships made and the sense of community at Mars Hill that kept me here,” she said.

“It was just always wonderful to live close, of course, and especially in the beginning, the atmosphere at Mars Hill was very much a caring group of people that was integrated with the local community.”

Wanda also said she took great pride in meeting the public, either in person or by phone, with respect and patience. “I was always in a public service position, and I took great pride in doing that well,” she said.

Family connections to the university include Wanda’s daughter and son-in-law, Rev. Dr. Kevin ’94 and Dr. April ’93 (Phillips) Boone, who are alumni of the institution. April also served as an adjunct professor of English for a short period in the early mid-2000s. Wanda’s daughter Amy is a graduate of Appalachian State University. She and her husband, Clint, live in Weaverville, NC. Edith Whitt

Registrar, 25 years service

by Nancy Fosson

Edith Whitt retired at the end of August with 25 years of service as Mars Hill University’s registrar.

When she became registrar in 1991, she had the unenviable task of following Bob Chapman, who had been a business professor and registrar at Mars Hill College for 43 years.

Edith led the institution from an era dominated by paper record keeping into the age of computer record keeping, and instituted numerous other modern practices and procedures designed to increase efficiency and accuracy. Her years of service to the institution have always been exemplified by the Edith Whitt

highest standards of professionalism extended to all constituencies.

In addition to student record keeping, Edith’s contributions to the institution have included teaching, organizing and administering registration, writing and publishing academic policies, serving as a personnel representative on various committees, engaging in strategic planning, and serving on numerous position search committees.

On a personal note, she could often be found in her office with individuals who stopped by to get her wise guidance, seasoned with wit, grace, and a ready smile.

Edith grew up in north Buncombe County, nurtured by her family and faith. She was raised in the same church where she now devotes so much of her time and provides lay leadership.

One of her many projects is carrying on the mission work in Honduras began by her pastor and brotherin-law, Worth Emory, some 25 years ago. Through their work and devotion, Ivy Hill Baptist Church has built numerous homes; sponsored many children, including paying their tuition for school; supported feeding programs; and provided the very best example of Christian love.

Edith attended and graduated from Mars Hill College in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree and a major in business education. As a college student, Edith set a goal of working as an educator and a leader with an understanding of ethical business practices. She furthered her education and graduated from Western Carolina University earning a Masters of Arts in Education degree in 1976. She taught and was academic dean at Cecil’s Junior College in Asheville before taking the job as registrar at MHU. Throughout her 25 years, Edith Whitt came to work every day, exemplifying the highest standard of professionalism, balanced with compassion and fairness towards all, as well as a marvelous sense of humor and devotion to Mars Hill University and its people.

Her presence on campus will be missed!

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Faculty Focus Dr. Yael Baldwin Makes A Name for Herself Studying Lacanian Psychology

by Teresa Buckner

In an age when texts and tweets have replaced conversation, Dr. Yael Baldwin, Mars Hill University associate professor of psychology and the chair of social sciences, has chosen to focus her writing and research on a form of psychotherapy that emphasizes open-ended and authentic conversation.

In recent years, Baldwin has become well known among her peers for speaking and writing on the topic of Lacanian psychology. She has authored two books and numerous articles on the subject and made presentations to fellow psychologists and academicians all over the United States. Her second book, Let’s Keep Talking: Lacanian Tales of Love, Sex, and Other Catastrophes, was published in December 2015.

She wrote a chapter related to the topic in a book titled The Qualitative Vision for Psychology: An Invitation to a Human Science Approach, which was published in July 2016. She has also written a chapter which will be part of a three-volume anthology called Reading the Ecrits.

20 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2016

The anthology is due for publication in 2017.

According to Baldwin, Lacanian psychology is a theory and clinical practice that’s based on the work of Jacques Lacan (1901-1981), a psychiatrist who practiced and taught in Paris, France. Lacan was very interested in Sigmund Freud’s form of psychoanalysis.

He talked and wrote about how Freud’s work could truly help people live better, more satisfying lives.

“What makes Lacan’s work unique is its focus on the role of language and its relationship to the unconscious mind,” Baldwin said.

“My work explores the difference that utilizing a Lacanian model of therapy, which focuses on the transformative role of speech, makes to clinical techniques and outcomes.”

Baldwin said her goal in writing the books was to help both psychologists and lay people have access to the somewhat difficult theory of Lacanian psychology, and to counter current trends which emphasize medications, TMS (transmagnetic stimulation), and psychosurgery.

“These trends away from people actually speaking with each other mirror our broader technological cultural climate,” she said. “Everyone texts or tweets and rarely do we actually speak and listen.

So given this cultural climate, emphasizing the usefulness of open-ended talk therapy in fostering positive psychological growth and change is, in my estimation, particularly necessary.”

Many of the case studies used in Let’s Keep Talking are from Baldwin’s own psychological practice.

She does not currently practice, due to her past position as a full-time faculty member and family commitments.

“I have two young children and a fairly active writing/speaking schedule, so I’m taking a break

from clinical practice. There’s just so much I can do, but I do plan to practice again in the near future.”

Baldwin said her research and writing enriches and informs the courses she teaches at MHU, which include general psychology, senior thesis, clinical courses (such as abnormal psychology and foundations of counseling and psychotherapy), and particularly a fieldwork course through which she supervises students in their internship placements in psychology.

Baldwin lives in Asheville with her husband, Dr. Matthew Baldwin, MHU professor of religion and philosophy, and their children, Lena and James.

EXTRAS

These treatments definitely have their place, Baldwin said, but should probably be used either after talk therapy has been shown to be ineffective or in conjunction with talk therapy.

For a listing of new MHU employees, as well as recent faculty and staff publications, awards, honors, and presentations, see the Mars Hill, the Magazine “Extras” page at www.mhu.edu/extras.

This Fall...

Answer the Call!

Tell us what’s new with you.

Catch up on campus news.

Make a gift and support your school!

Take a moment to get to know some of our “Alumni-in-Training.” Make a gift to the school and take pride in knowing you’ve made a difference to our students.

(And the best part? When you see “Mars Hill” on your caller ID, you’ll know it’s not another annoying political robo-call!)

P h o n a t h o n

2 0 1 6 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2016

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MHU Completes Successful Year, Hosts Collegiate National Championships

Above: 2015 MHU Cycling Team; Background: Erich MesquitaLima competes in the criterium; right, top: Alex Christofalos competes in the criterium; right, bottom: Paige Shook competes in the road race.

photographs by Dr. Matt Milnes

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After competing in all five disciplines of collegiate cycling for the 2015-16 year, the Mars Hill University Cycling team placed third in the nation.

The cycling year, September-May, includes track, mountain, cyclocross, BMX, and road cycling. In addition to the team accomplishments, team member Josie Ritchie won two individual national championship titles in both the 500 meter time trial (track) and dual slalom (mountain). Ritchie and Cavin Heaton also won the BMX national championships.

Join the Crowd...

Mars Hill hosted the National Collegiate Road Racing Championships May 13 – 15. The campus housed over 100 riders and coaches on campus, in addition to USA Cycling staff and officials. The university also hosted the championship awards banquet in Pittman Dining Hall. After all events were completed, the MHU team finished 10th overall in national road championships.

The weekend kicked off Friday May 13 with a grueling road race starting and finishing in downtown Marshall. Women raced for 48 miles and men raced for 72. On the MHU team, Alex Christofalos finished in 10th in the women’s competition, while Erich Mesquita-Lima finished 27th and Zac Carmel finished 35th among the men.

Saturday was the criterium in downtown Burnsville, consisting of a 0.9 mile circuit with technical corners. The women raced for 50 minutes plus 3 laps and men raced for 70 minutes plus 3 laps. Alex Christofalos finished 11th for the MHU women, while Paige Shook finished 26th and Josie Ritchie in finished 33rd.

On the men’s side, Erich Mesquita-Lima came in 33rd, Zac Carmel came in 35th, and John Croom came in 39th.

The third and final day was the team time trial along the French Broad River, starting and finishing in downtown Marshall. The MHU men’s team (consisting of Erich Mesquita-Lima, Zac Carmel and Michael McLawhorn), the had some bad luck early with Zac suffering two punctured tires. After repairs, the team finished in 12th.

for a day of fun in the sun at the

2016 Annual Alumni & Friends Homecoming Golf Tournament Friday, October 7 at

Maggie Valley Club and Resort Proceeds benefit the Mars Hill University Athletic Department. Sponsorships available from $100 to $10,000.

For further information or to register, contact

OR

David Riggins, Director of Athletics, MHU 828.689.1215 or 828.777.4570 Skip Liles ’69 704.293.2447 or lfliles@carolina.rr.com

Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2016

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Student Athletes Leave “The Hill” on Top

by Rick Baker

The Lions’ athletic department had four student-athletes end their collegiate playing careers on high notes. Three players signed professional contracts and one earned the highest academic honor awarded by the South Atlantic Conference.

Ansley Ricker was selected as the 2015-16 SAC Presidents Award recipient while football player Johnny Maxey signed a free agent contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Baseball standouts Patrick Riehl and Evan Rogers signed professional contracts with the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies, respectively.

ANSLEY RICKER Ansley Ricker was one of two athletes in the conference to have earned the 2015-16 South Atlantic Conference Presidents Award. The Presidents Award is the highest individual honor presented annually by the SAC. To be eligible for the SAC Presidents Award, student-athletes must exemplify excellence in athletics, academics and community service.

Further, to be nominated for this prestigious award, the individual must have been honored as the Scholar-Athlete of the Year during the year in one of the league’s 18 sponsored sports.

Ricker graduated from Mars Hill with a degree in biology and carried a GPA of 4.0. She earned Dean’s List honors all four years of her career at Mars Hill, earning SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll honors all four years as well. Ricker served as a university marshal every year while she was at Mars Hill, including serving as the chief marshal the past two years. She founded the Beta Beta Beta chapter at Mars Hill, the national biological honor society, and was a member of the Alpha Chi National Honor Society since her sophomore year. The honor marks her second South Atlantic Conference Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award as she earned the prestigious honor during her junior year.

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During her freshman season, she led the SAC in three-point field goal percentage and started over half of Mars Hill’s games. She became a fulltime starter in her sophomore season where she averaged 12.4 points per game to rank second on her squad. During her junior campaign, she earned second-team All-South Atlantic Conference honors as she finished second in the League with 18.1 points per outing. She also ranked No. 2 in the league in three-point field goal percentage and led her team in assists per game. An ACL injury sidelined her for the 2014-15 season. This past season saw Ricker average 15.7 points per game to rank No. 3 in the league and rank No. 4 in the South Atlantic Conference with a 39.3 stroke from downtown to earn first-team All-South Atlantic Conference honors. The three-time team captain’s play helped the Lions finish the season ranked No. 4 in the League standings after being picked to finish No. 8 in the preseason.

In the classroom, Ricker participated in research with the Mars Hill faculty in sampling and monitoring water quality in streams in the

Ansley Ricker

Appalachian Mountains. Her Quorum Sensing Review research paper won the Alpha Chi National Honors Society Gaston-Noelle Scholarship as she was tabbed CoSIDA Academic All-District this past season. Ricker also won the Quillion College of Medicine Internship Award during the summer of 2015.

Ricker also found time to volunteer in the community with Beacon of Hope, My Sister’s Place, Big Brothers Animal Rescue and local elementary and high schools. She is a volunteer for Mars Hill student support services as a tutor and supplemental teacher and has participated in mission work in Nyanga of Capetown, South Africa.

over 90 tackles per contest and fourth with 12 sacks. Playing in 35 of a possible 42 games for the Lions, Maxey amassed 205 tackles, 14 sacks, and 23 tackles for loss for his career. Maxey helped lead Mars Hill to a 6-5 overall record and a 5-2 record in the SAC that placed them tied for second place in the league. Two of the Lions’ losses were to NCAA Division I opponents. After starting the 2015 campaign 1-4, Mars Hill won five of their last six

JOHNNY MAXEY Former Mars Hill defensive lineman Johnny Maxey agreed to terms with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League as a rookie free agent and participated in the team’s rookie minicamp in May. Mars Hill Head Football Coach Tim Clifton stated, “We are excited and proud of Johnny Maxey.

He has worked very hard during the off season and it has paid off. Johnny has the size, talent, and work ethic to be successful at the next level. We wish him the very best and will be pulling for him in the fall.”

Maxey finished off a stellar career with the Lions with a remarkable senior season. He was a catalyst for the Mars Hill defense, standing alone with a team-leading three sacks and ranking second on the team in three separate categories: tackles (82), tackles per game (7.5), and tackles for loss (7.5).

These impressive numbers earned him a spot on the All-SAC Second Team Defense, as well as First Team All-Super Region II by Don Hansen’s Gazette and Third Team Defense for the 2015 Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America Team.

Maxey helped anchor a defense that ranked first in the South Atlantic Conference in 2015 with just

Johnny Maxey

contests.

Maxey stated, “I am very excited about this opportunity. I have been working extremely hard and have been anxiously waiting for this chance.

I am ready to work hard and earn a spot playing at the next level. I am very grateful to Mars Hill University and especially the football coaches that have helped me get to this point. My coaches at Mars Hill gave me the opportunity to play football when all other schools gave up on me. Without the coaches at Mars Hill believing in me as a player and a person I would not be where I am today and have a chance to play in the NFL.” PATRICK RIEHL Pitcher Patrick Riehl was selected in the 26th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft by the Cincinnati Reds. This makes the first player drafted from the Lions since the 1988 season.

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EVAN ROGERS Evan Rogers signed a free agent baseball contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Patrick Riehl

Riehl made 13 appearances for the Blue and Gold in 2016, hurling 24.2 innings while racking up 34 strikeouts after coming back from an injury one season prior.

Coach Aaron Rembert stated, “This is truly a special moment for Evan and his family. Over the past four years he has worked extremely hard on the field and in the weight room to put himself in the position to play professional baseball. He separated himself by getting extra lifts in the mornings, being the first one to arrive and last one to leave practice and engaging in getting better in every part of his game daily. From day one, he has been processed oriented and he was rewarded with a great collegiate career and an opportunity to play professionally. The Phillies are lucky to have him and he will make the organization better each day.”

Rogers played shortstop for the Lions for four years. Prior to being named to the NCBWA AllAmerican first team, he was selected to the HERO Sports All-American team, to the ABCA/Rawlings All-Southeast Region first team, and to the D2SIDA NCAA Southeast Region team. Rogers was the 2016 South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year, named to the 2016 NCAA Division II National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Southeast Region first team, and was a first team All-SAC selection. Rogers was also voted the Mars Hill University Male Athlete of the Year.

“I am very proud of Patrick and the opportunity he was given by the Cincinnati Reds,” said head coach Aaron Rembert. “He was able to live the dream of every kid that grows up playing baseball, which is to get drafted. He has worked extremely hard over his four year career to get the opportunity to play professional baseball. As in life, there has been ups Rogers’ 19 home runs on the season set a new Mars and downs over his career at MHU but he continued Hill record while also ranking first in the conference. to believe in the process of getting better each Evan was also able to lead the team and conference day. The MHU family looks forward to following his in runs (66) and slugging percentage (.855). His professional career”, he added. .390 batting average was tops among the Blue and Gold as well as a career-high 55 runs batted in. Rogers’ most impressive game came in a 10-8 win over Wingate on February 28, belting three dingers and tallying six RBI. Mars Hill finished the 2016 campaign with a 30-18 overall record, the most wins since the 2006 team collected 32 wins.

Evan Rogers

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Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2016

Class Notes Mars Hill, the Magazine of Mars Hill University welcomes your personal snapshots when you send in news of weddings, babies, accomplishments, etc. Send your news and photos to alumni@mhu.edu, or Alumni Office, P.O. Box 370, Mars Hill, NC 28754.

1950s

advancement area, including Associate Director of Annual Giving, Director of Annual Giving, Director of Donor Relations, and Senior Gift Officer. In addition to his six days each month at MHU, he uses his funeral director’s license at Gray Mortuary in Pelzer, SC. He can be reached at wking@mhu.edu to assist alumni in any way.

Cynthia Lynn Peterson ’78 was recently recognized for fifteen years of service as Director of Library Services at East Texas Baptist University, in Marshall, TX. She may be contacted by her fellow alumni at clpeterson1956@ gmail.com or cpeterson@etbu.edu.

Dr. Ernest Stines ’50 has been awarded the Cline Service Award from the Pisgah High School Athletic Booster Club in Canton, NC. This award is given annually to a person who has promoted and supported PHS athletic programs over many years.

1970s

Cynthia Peterson

R.L. Lail Jr. ’73 and Arlene Oliver Lail ’71 have been the first couple inducted in the NC Wrestling Hall of Fame.

The induction was May 15, 2016, at the Friday Center on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill. This honor recognizes the couple’s 38 years of service to the sport of wrestling in NC, SC, and the USA. R.L. was state chairman for USA Wrestling in both NC and SC. R.L. and Arlene were both wrestling officials with USA Wrestling and ran tournaments all over the country including two World Championships and the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

Jeffrey William Coldren ’77 has retired after 35 years as a teacher, coach and administrator. Coldren worked for 23 years in Miami-Dade County (FL) schools, 10 as a teacher and 13 as an administrator. The last 12 years of his career were spent as an assistant principal at Sorrento Elementary School in Lake County, FL. Cornelle Sweeney, Jr. ’78 received the Man of the Year award from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) after raising over $84,000 for the association during a 10-week fundraiser. Sweeney participated in the fundraiser in honor of his father and his best friend, both of whom died from leukemia. Sweeney lives and works in Simpsonville, SC, where he has been an Allstate Agency owner for 31 years. He is the longest tenured agent in the Upstate.

A. Wayne King ’79 has been named part-time advancement relations associate at Mars Hill University, effective June 1. He comes to Mars Hill from Furman University, where he held various positions in the

L-R: Jones, Lunsford, Caldwell

When Bo Caldwell ’84 took over as superintendent of Henderson County Public Schools (NC) on July 1, he continued a long-running connection between the school system and Mars Hill University. Caldwell will be the third leader of the school system to be a Mars Hill graduate, since the merger that formed Henderson County Schools in 1993.

Dan Lunsford ’69, now president of Mars Hill University, oversaw the merger of Hendersonville City Schools and the former county system.

Lunsford became superintendent of the old Henderson County Schools in 1990 and served in that role for the merged system until 1999.

Current superintendent David Jones ’78, appointed in 2010, retired from his position on June 30.

Caldwell, served Henderson County Schools under both Lunsford’s and Jones’s tenures as a teacher, principal, and central office administrator.

Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2016

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Class Notes 1980s

Karen Hefner Stephens ’85 has been hired as a new principal of William R. Davie Elementary School in Mocksville, NC. Previously, Stephens served as the principals of Cooleemee Elementary School in Cooleemee, NC. Phillip Turner ’87 celebrated his 25th anniversary as pastor of Pine Street Baptist Church in Richmond, VA, on July 1, 2016.

Dr. Debbie Ricker ’87 became the provost and vice president for academic affairs of Hood College in Frederick, MD on July 1, 2016.

She was formerly the dean of academic services for York College of Pennsylvania. She will oversee Hood’s Dr. Debbie Ricker 33 undergraduate and 14 master’s degree programs as well as the College’s 120 regular and 130 adjunct faculty members.

Dr. Carol Hensley Bennett ’88 was awarded Faculty Recognition by the College of Human Development for 2015-16 at Brigham Young University, HI. Carol is an assistant professor in the School of Education at BYUH. She teaches elementary math methods, elementary science methods, elementary writing methods, and leadership courses. Carol also supervises student teachers.

1990s Ronnette Chapman Dill ’91 has been selected as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Polk County Schools, NC. Dill was formerly the principal of Saluda Elementary School in Polk County.

Barbara Butts ’91, a lecturer in the Department of Theatre at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, has received the school’s Galbut Outstanding Faculty Award.

Jon Duncan ’94 has taken a position as the new branch manager of the Bakersville (NC) office of United Community Bank. Duncan has worked at the Bakersville branch since January 2016.

Dr. W. Jim Smith ’96 has been hired as the Director of the City of Morganton (NC) Municipal Auditorium. Smith has served as the music and programming pastor at

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Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2016

Tricia Ellis ’15 won the grand prize in Asheville Community Theatre’s fundraiser Costume Drama Fashion Show, with a gorgeous gown she created from the pages of books. Over 600 individuals attended. Tricia received a cash award and multiple photoshoot offers with renowned photographers, and her garment was on display at Bellagio Restaurant, in Asheville, NC. Tricia is pictured above (left) with a model in the dress she created for the show.

Photo by Angeli Wright, Asheville Citizen-Times photographer

Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church for ten years and will continue in that position part-time.

2000s Ben Rhodarmer ’03 has been hired as the head football coach at Madison High School in Marshall, NC. Previously, he served as a math and PE teacher and defensive coordinator for Pisgah High School, in Canton, NC. Chelsey Lee Gaddy ’06 married Badi G. Mirheli on November 9, 2015. The couple lives in Asheville, NC. Ryan Lee Stevens ’09 has been hired as the head coach of the men’s basketball team at A.C. Reynolds High School in Asheville, NC. He has been the women’s coach at Reynolds for the past three years.

2010s Olivia Buckner Ellis ’13 has been hired as the middle school art teacher for Bowman and Harris Middle Schools in Mitchell County Schools, NC. Andrew Jason “A.J.” Arrowood, Jr. ’15 married Emily Turman on May 14, 2016. The couple lives in Greer, SC. Caleb Harbin ’15 has been hired as the head baseball coach at Erwin High School in Asheville, NC. He was an assistant coach for T.C. Roberson High School’s championship team last year.

In Memoriam 1930s

Belle Kimsey Deal ’43, Columbus, GA, February 1, 2016

Anne Huggins Pressley ’36, Hendersonville, NC, April 8, 2015

Alice Josephine Tatham Hogsed ’43, Andrews, NC, February 1, 2014

Dr. Marian Cleo Sprinkle Graves ’37, Atlanta, GA, February 12, 2016

Lewis O. Padgett, Jr. ’43, Novi, MI, November 24, 2015

Irene Smith Edwards ’38, Salisbury, NC, March 2, 2016

Carolyn Sue Linney Pearson ’43, Wilkesboro, NC, April 1, 2016

Margaret Elsie Sawyer Roper ’38, Virginia Beach, VA, July 9, 2015

Howard Melton Pinner, Jr. ’43, Black Mountain, NC, December 23, 2015

Elsie Catherine “Kitty” Carter Stone ’38, Houston, TX, December 11, 2015

Orville Dillard Coward, Sr. ’44, Sylva, NC, July 8,2016

Lucile R. Harding Roberts ’39, Marshall, NC, March 27, 2016

1940s Miriam Rose Pinnell Johnson ’40, Lewisville, TX, May 9, 2016 Mary “Jane” Spence Person ’40, Fuquay Varina, NC, June 3, 2016 Dr. Paul Emanuel Brunner ’41, North Wilkesboro, NC, February 5, 2016 Mary Margaret Silver Peterson ’41, Chesapeake, VA, February 11, 2016 Edna Theda Ingle Selzler ’41, Black Mountain, NC, April 24, 2016 Allen “Ruth” Brunt Walker ’41, Asheboro, NC, February 26, 2016 Wesley “Dean” Willis ’41, Plano, TX, March 27, 2016 Eddith “Eddie” Penland Yelton ’41, Williston, SC, March 22, 2016 Mary “Evelyn” Garrison Allen ’42, Shelby, NC, March 2, 2016 Tom Moore Davis ’42, Asheville, NC, April 2, 2016 Julia Alyce Hoover Farrar ’42, Richmond, VA, February 12, 2016 Marie Frances Sayles Hocutt ’42, Shelby, NC, May 25, 2016 Clarence “Art” Arthur Middleton, Jr. ’42, Lynchburg, VA, February 6, 2016 Sallie “Faye” Hoots Chaffin ’43, Union Grove, NC, April 7, 2016

Lyla “Marie” Neely Sealey ’44, Newport News, VA, June 14, 2016 Lottie “Jinx” Mae Clayton ’45, Roxboro, NC, March 28, 2016 Fred Edward Foster, Jr. ’45, Winston Salem,NC, March 12, 2016 Nancy “Forrestine” Snider Brown ’46, Ahoskie, NC, May 25, 2016 Doris Jean Walker Casstevens ’46, Memphis, TN, January 19, 2016 Margaret Wilson Scott ’46, Salem, VA, November 2, 2015 Ruby Ann Crayton Bowman ’47, Asheville, NC, April 26, 2016 Leighton “Chick” Wright Martin ’47, Brevard, NC, June 3, 2016 Elizabeth “Libby” Ann Koontz Ponstingel ’47, Woodbridge, VA, April 19, 2016 Helen Jean Starnes Whitesitt ’47, Rowlett, TX, March 27, 2016 Charles William “Bill” Davis ’48, Anderson, SC, March 7, 2016 George Truett Eller, Sr. ’48, Lansing, NC, May 11, 2013 Rev. Worth “Norwood” Green, Sr. ’48, Winston Salem, NC, February 12, 2016 Samuel Clark Johnson ’48, Lakemont, GA, March 10, 2016 Lorie Evans McElheney ’48, Panama City, FL, April 19, 2016 Anna “Hortense” Bridgers Raynor ’48, Morganton, NC, March 5, 2016

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In Memoriam

Cecil Loyd Roberts ’48, Mills River, NC, July 1, 2016 Carolyn Spivey Chambers ’49, Orange, CA, January 18, 2016

Betty Jean Connor Senn ’56, Clemson, SC, June 4, 2016

David “Dave” Lee McManaway ’49, Cumming, GA, April 30, 2016

W. “Janet” Lett Wilson ’56, Wheaton, IL, October 16, 2015

Dean Lincoln Minton, Sr. ’49, Charlotte, NC, March 23, 2016

Clifton Dean Moss, Jr. ’57, Zebulon, NC, March 4, 2016

Anne “Pug” Christine Holbrook Wynne ’49, Greenville, SC, April 13, 2016

1950s Doris Kearns Frost ’50, Louisville, KY, January 27, 2016 Charles “Charlie” Samuel Young, Sr. ’50, Charlotte, NC, April 24, 2016 Kesler Askew, Jr. ’51, Enfield, NC, February 12, 2016 Allen Everette Bustle ’51, Statesville, NC, January 17, 2016 Gilbert “Neill” Kinnamon ’51, Annapolis, MD, February 9, 2016 Robert “Bob” Louis McLean Wesley ’51, Knoxville, TN, November 15, 2015 Terry Arthur Whitehurst ’51, Charlotte, NC, March 23, 2016 Dr. James Henry Burrus ’52, Morganton, NC, May 7, 2016 Morgan Tennyson Elkins, Jr. ’53, Catlettsburg, KY, April 24, 2015 Mary Frances Cowart Parker ’54, Montgomery, AL, January 23, 2016 Frank “Frankie” Schnyder ’54, Hendersonville, NC, May 22, 2016

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Rev. Donald “Don” Marshall Price, Sr. ’56, Benson, NC, March 17, 2016

Samuel Worth Pearce, Jr. ’57, New London, NC, February 15, 2016 Sammy Davis Reese ’57, Hendersonville, NC, February 26, 2016 David Preston Grimes ’58, Alexandria, VA, June 7, 2016 Wesley Leverne Knight ’58, Kershaw, SC, June 17, 2016 Ann Walton Langford ’58, Greenwood, SC, February 23, 2016 Bobby Glenn Sprinkle ’58, Mars Hill, NC, May 21, 2016 John “Wayne” Clarke ’59, Knoxville, TN, January 26, 2016 Julia “Inez” Mills Gasperson ’59, Naples, NC, July 3, 2016 William Frank Helms, Jr. ’59, Monroe, NC, March 2, 2016 Linwood “L.J.” Josiah Rogers, Jr. ’59, Mebane, NC, June 17, 2016

1960s James Brown, Mars Hill, NC, January 5, 2016 Martha Colleen Fisher Jenkins ’60, Morganton, NC, July 2, 2016 John “Don” Lane ’60, Columbia, SC, May 31, 2014 Edwin Hartley Lippincott ’60, Sebring, FL, March 6, 2015

Barbara Gail Anderson Rolen ’55, Charlotte, NC, April 7, 2016

Dr. Robert Lee Richardson, Jr. ’60, Charlotte, NC, May 28, 2016

Mary “Louise” Toler Zimmerman ’55, High Point, NC, April 14, 2016

Bobby Everett Hensley ’61, Biscoe, NC, June 21, 2016 Mark Thomas Goodson ’62, Candler, NC, May 3, 2016

James “Enelo” Boone ’56, Marshall, NC, March 8, 2016

Gale Billy Metcalf ’62, Cincinnati, OH, March 11, 2016

Elsie Marie Whitehurst Garland ’56, Fairfax, VA, May 3, 2016

Carter “Dennis” Brown ’63, Leicester, NC, January 4, 2015

Mary Glenn Bunn James ’56, Norwood, NC, April 24,2013

Hilda Jeannette Dean ’64, Boone, NC, May 17, 2016

Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2016

Ellington “EA” Anderson Lackey ’64, Weaverville, NC, April 4, 2016

Robert Burden Cheek ’66, Durham, NC, March 27, 2016 Karen Rae Park Cook ’67, Asheville, NC, April 27, 2016 William “Bill” Beverley Weaver, Jr. ’67, Hampton, VA, May 20, 2016 Kenyon “Dal” Peek ’68, Mars Hill, NC, April 13, 2016 Gene Allen Garris, Sr. ’69, Columbia, SC, February 28, 2016

1970s Lois Elizabeth Leonhardt Adams ’70, Fayetteville, GA, June 10, 2012

1990s Stephen “Steve” Michael Bias ’98, Andrews, NC, April 7, 2016

2000s Staff Sgt. Travis Hunter Sullens ’08, Sumter, SC, April 13, 2016

2010s Kenneth Nathan Allen ’10, Asheville, NC, June 21, 2016

Faculty and Staff

Robert Herndon Brown ’70, Spartanburg, SC, June 10, 2016

Dr. Joyce M. Bryant, retired music faculty, Asheville, NC, March 7, 2016

Ronald “Ron” Edmond Cox ’70, Cashiers, NC, March 15, 2016

Lucille Strickland Godwin, retired English faculty, Ozark, AL, August 3, 2016

Ruth Eleanor “Ellie” Duckett ’70, Wilmington, NC, June 21, 2016

Nathan H Harmon, retired facilities staff, Marshall, NC, May 28, 2016

Dr. Algie Flake Martin, Jr. ’70, Hamlet, NC, February 6, 2016

Peggy Davis Harmon, retired Southern Appalachian Archives staff, Marshall, NC, March 10, 2016

Michael Greenwood Trussell ’71, Bedford, VA, December 21, 2015 Philip Ramseur Elam, Jr. ’73, Hoschton, GA, May 22, 2016 Alan Wood Hughes ’74, Taylors, SC, February 28, 2016 Derek Hall Thomas ’76, Jefferson City, TN, February 27, 2016 David Lewis Sizemore ’78, Charlotte, NC, February 1, 2016

1980s PFC Douglas “Doug” Fraser Audsley ’81, Spartanburg, SC, April 16, 2016 James “Ritchie” Barr ’81, Wolf Laurel, NC, February 3, 2016

William Creighton Shipman, a second year student from Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, passed away on Sunday July 17.

Creighton was planning to major in business and had been a member of the MHU Lacrosse team.

He was known to his friends, not only for his love for lacrosse, but for his infectious smile, his charisma, and his unconditional kindness to others.

Christine Phillips Clark ’83, Asheville, NC, March 24, 2016 Glenda Sue Hatherlee ’84, Canton, NC, April 2, 2016

Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2016

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PO Box 370 Mars Hill, NC, 28754

A Special Invitation to Mars Hill Concert Choir Alumni The Mars Hill University Choir has been invited to participate in a performance of the FaurĂŠ Requiem with the New England Symphonic Ensemble over Memorial Day in Carnegie Hall, May 27, 2017. Members of the choir, and their conductor, Dr. Rod Caldwell, invite performance choir alumni to join them in this special performance.

To express interest in participating and for more information, contact Dr. Caldwell directly at rhcaldwell@mhu.edu, as soon as possible, as there is an October 1 deposit deadline for those who wish to participate in the choir’s accommodations package.

Credit: Jeff Goldberg / Esto