Mars Hill: The Magazine of Mars Hill University - Fall 2023

The Magazine of Mars Hill University | Fall 2023

PLUS: SPECIAL SECTION

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THE UNIVERSITY REPORT 2018-2023

President Tony and Terry Floyd lead incoming first-year students through the arch as part of Welcome Week 2023.

The Magazine of Mars Hill University | Fall 2023

MAGAZINE STAFF: Editor: Teresa Buckner, Director of Publications Associate Editor: Mike Thornhill ’88, Director of Communications Additional Contributors: Tatum Boggs ’20, M.M. ’21, Director of Content Management; Greta Byrd ’88, Vice President for Advancement; Samantha Fender, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications; Kaylee Fitzgerald ’24, MHU student; Tony Floyd, J.D., President; Bailey Herring ’27, MHU student; Kari Hunt, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Health and Human Performance; Emma Kittredge, ’27, MHU student; Adam Williams, Director of Athletic Communications

President’s Leadership Team: Tony Floyd, J.D., President Tracy Parkinson, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Provost Rick Baker, M.S., Director of Athletics Greta Byrd ’88, Vice President for Advancement Grainger Caudle, Ph.D., Senior Director of Planning and Strategy Samantha Fender, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications Jennie Matthews, Ph.D., Director of Human Resources Rev. Stephanie McLeskey, M.Div., University Chaplain Donna B. Parsons, Ph.D., Associate Provost for Adult and Graduate Studies; Dean of Professional Programs and Social Sciences Division; Associate Professor of Business Administration David Rozeboom, Ph.D., Vice President for Student Life Roger Slagle, Ph.D., Vice President for Finance and Administration Kristie Vance ’07, M.M. ’22, Director of Admissions Roderica Williams, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Student Success Danielle Hagerman, M.P.A., Assistant to the President and the Provost 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, N.C., 28754. Phone (828) 689-1102. Email 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, N.C., 28754. Phone (828) 689-1304. Email tbuckner@mhu.edu.

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

Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.

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IN THIS ISSUE MHU Opens Entrepreneurship Center......................5 Scenes from Homecoming 2023...............................6 Lauryn Higgins is 2023 Alumna of the Year............... 7 SPECIAL SECTION: UNIVERSITY REPORT...................8 Together We Rise

Strategic Plan, 2023-2028................................................. 9 By the Numbers.............................................................. 10 Academic Excellence....................................................... 12 New Initiatives................................................................ 16 Athletic Distinction.......................................................... 18 Facility Improvements.................................................... 20

Mountain Mover: Cornell Sweeney........................ 24 Moving Mountains One Goal at a Time

Faculty Focus: Michelle Gilley............................... 26 A Professor Passes on Her Love for Research and Bats

Campus News...................................................... 28

Student Health Ambassador Program Works to Improve Health

Class Notes.......................................................... 29

Cover photo: The ribbon cutting of the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, including: (l-r) Donna Parsons, dean of professional programs and social sciences; Tony Floyd, president; James Heinl, executive director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership; Paul Romesburg, donor; Tracy Parkinson, executive vice president and provost; Ava Wright, president of the student body; Sabrina Delk, director of the CEL.

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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

We just had an amazing homecoming weekend, where I was lucky enough to visit with so many of you, see our stadium packed out to capacity, and of course enjoy a big Lions football win. It was incredible. Now I am hoping you will enjoy reviewing some of the images from that big weekend on campus.

I also invite you to pay special attention to the special section of our magazine. This edition marks some huge accomplishments made possible by the hard work and dedication found all across campus during my first five years as president of Mars Hill University. As I reflect on this remarkable journey, I am both humbled by the collective achievements of our community and invigorated by the promise of what lies ahead.

These past five years have been a period of transformation and progress for our beloved institution, and they serve as a testament to the unwavering commitment of our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters.

We are scaling new heights together, and I can’t wait to see how far we reach.

As you look through the pages, we have endeavored to capture and celebrate some of the pivotal moments, accomplishments, and extraordinary individuals who have contributed to our success. From research projects that are changing the way we think about bats in the world to the achievements of our students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, you will read stories of individuals that inspire, inform, and remind us why Mars Hill is such a special place.

We cannot make all of these strides forward without you. We do have an ambitious vision for the future, as you will see outlined in the strategic plan. In the next five years, we will have a new Campus Center, new academic programs, and a growing body of students on this campus, as well as online. With this, we will surely have challenges and opportunities, and I am looking forward to rising together, alongside you and buoyed by your generous support.

Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. I hope you enjoy this special edition of the magazine and take pride in the remarkable achievements we have celebrated here. Here’s to the next five years and beyond!

Sincerely,

Tony Floyd, J.D. President

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Mars Hill University Opens Entrepreneurship Center

Mars Hill University’s Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership is now open for business.

The center, located on the third floor of Day Hall, is a multifaceted resource for students interested in business and entrepreneurship, housed within the university’s business administration program. In addition to the academic program, the center will bring together a student business club, scholarship program, small business incubator, financial literacy, case competitions, internships, student consulting, business partners in education, and community outreach.

The center is made possible by a $1 million gift from donor Paul Romesburg, who was present at the ribbon cutting.

Romesburg, a retired entrepreneur and business executive from Weaverville, says his entrepreneurial instincts kicked in as he saw some of the resource challenges facing the university in launching the center.

“I asked myself, ‘What could he do if had the resources he needed?’” said Romesburg, referring to the center’s executive director, James Heinl. “James has the vision.

Let’s just take this [resources] off the table and let’s hit the ground running.”

Heinl recalled Romesburg’s enthusiasm for the program, “Paul told us he wanted to turbocharge the program. His

time and his investment have done just that. We have big plans and a big vision, and this is just the beginning. It’s pretty incredible that we’ve come this far in less than a year.”

Romesburg said the practical nature of the program makes it unique among other entrepreneurship programs he has seen.

“It’s practical. It’s teaching real world skills,” he said. “This is a program that was developed by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. I mean, it doesn’t get any better than that, where we’re teaching what we lived.”

The university also recently received confirmation of a significant grant for the center from the Appalachian Regional Commission. Among other priorities, that $200,000 grant will help fund scholarships for students in Mars Hill’s entrepreneurial leadership academic program.

Above: The ribbon cutting of the CEL included: (l-r) Doug Buchanan, chair of the MHU board of trustees; Donna Parsons, dean of professional programs and social sciences; Tony Floyd, president; James Heinl, executive director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership; Paul Romesburg, donor; Tracy Parkinson, executive vice president and provost; Ava Wright, president of the student body; Sabrina Delk, director of the CEL.

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Scenes from

HOMECOMING 2023

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#3 Malik Laurent runs the ball during the game.

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ROCK AND ROAR 12

1: The class of ’73 reunion. 2: The class of ’83 reunion. 3-5: Scenes from the Lion’s Growl and crowning of Homecoming King Maxwell Gaither. 6-7: The Forever Lions 5K. 8-9: The Retired Faculty-Staff Mixer. 10-11: The MHU Choir Concert, including a solo from senior Marcus Orta. 12: The MHU Lions defeat the Erskine Flying Fleet, 38–3. 13-14: President Floyd hangs out with tailgating alumni. 15-16: The Bailey Mountain Cloggers and the marching band perform at the pre-game show. 17: The stands are full in Meares Stadium for the homecoming game. 18: Chandler Adams is crowned Homecoming Queen at halftime.

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Lauryn Higgins is 2023 Alumna of the Year Congratulations to Lauryn Higgins, who has been named 2023 Alumna of the Year at Mars Hill University.

Higgins is a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist.

She graduated from Mars Hill with a degree in business administration in 2014, and was a member of the women’s track and field team and editor of the yearbook. She went on to earn her master’s degree in journalism at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2018.

Higgins is a freelance journalist whose work focuses primarily on public health and wellness. In addition to her freelance work, she is currently an adjunct professor of journalism at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and is a stringer for the New York Times and the Washington Post.

She also writes for NPR, Women’s Health, Shape, Health.com, Teen Vogue, and other outlets.

Her work at the New York Times tracking the COVID-19 pandemic was part of a team effort that won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, as well as the 2020 Philip Meyer Journalism Award and a 2020 Sigma Delta Chi Award.

In 2023, she received a Pulitzer Prize in International Reporting, again as part of a team, tracking the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Lauryn and her husband, Sam Huss, are expecting their first child in November.

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Together We Rise University Report 2018-2023 November 9, 2018, marked the beginning of a new era for Mars

Hill University, when the institution inaugurated Tony Floyd as its 22nd president.

That day, no one could have foreseen what changes lay in store for the world—and for higher education—in the following years. Many of those changes grew from a need for safety and for continued learning in the midst of a global pandemic. But primarily, the changes at Mars Hill University in the past five years have grown from the determination of the president, faculty, and staff to continue to provide a transformational education for the students in their charge. Providing the optimum student experience is a total effort that touches academics, student life, technology, athletics, facilities, surroundings and more.

The following pages comprise an overview of the major steps forward from 2018-2023, as well as plans for the future.

Left: Tony Floyd gives an address after his inauguration on November 9, 2018.

Strategic Plan, 2023–2028 Theme 1 - Academics

Redesign the general education program to ensure rigorous study of the Liberal Arts in the context of 21stcentury higher education.

Innovate and invest in academic programs that are appropriate for the mission of the university in the context of the 21st-century higher education marketplace, designing new programs and adapting existing academic programs to address the current environment of demographic challenges and changes.

Further develop and enhance pedagogy, curriculum, and support services that prioritize the success of every MHU student.

Theme 2 - Enrollment

Grow and maintain enrollment to reflect incoming traditional freshman and transfer classes of 350 students annually, retained at a target of 70%, leading to approximately 1,000 students through academic programs, scholarship magnets, and co-curricular pipelines.

Offer Adult and Graduate Studies programs that are consistent with current and projected student interest in order to achieve AGS enrollment of 200 students.

Recruit student classes that reflect the diversity of the world and workplaces they will engage.

Theme 3 - Student Experience

Create an environment that strengthens sense of community and social connections.

Cultivate diverse citizenship by fostering healthy and holistic student engagement.

Foster engaged learning by promoting holistic growth.

Foster student sense of purpose and calling by cultivating career, character, and spiritual development.

Strengthen academic determination and persistence by improving support services that foster positive perspective and student success.

Theme 4 - Fiscal and Human Resources

Strengthen fiscal and environmental sustainability.

Enhance faculty and staff experience.

Enhance the student experience.

Leverage merit and need-based financial aid for affordability and accessibility.

Implement Marketing and Communication messaging and institutional positioning of Mars Hill as the private university of choice in Western North Carolina.

To learn more about the MHU Strategic Plan, go to: www.mhu.edu/strategicplan

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Together We Rise

By The Numbers Mars Hill University at a Glance

1049

Total Enrollment 2023-24

37

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37

Minors3

15-20

Average Class Size

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Student to Faculty Ratio

40+

Clubs and Organizations

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NCAA DII Teams4

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Incoming Students1 2018-2023 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023 2023-2024

338 372 379 413 381 438

1. Includes new incoming and transfer undergraduate and graduate students.

New Majors/Minors 2018-2023 2. New majors: fashion marketing, interdisciplinary studies, community and nonprofit leadership, biomedical sciences, ecology and conservation, graphic design communications, and web development.

3. New minors: African American studies, community leadership, dance, entrepreneurial leadership, musical theatre, and pre-law.

New Athletics 2018-2023 4. Acrobatics and tumbling (W) is designated as an NCAA emerging sport.

5. New Non-NCAA Teams: esports, weightlifting (M,W)

Total Giving, 2018-2023

Day4MHU Giving, 2018-2023

$52,794,686.20

$1,140,629.78

2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023

$11,492,210.59 $18,009,543.23 $5,231,027.25 $9,500,459.28 $8,561,779.18

Grant Funding, 2018-2023

$6,811,219

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Total Campaign Giving Together We Rise 6

$20,533,593.91 Cash In Hand:

$14,329,213.41

6: Total amount includes pledges, as of August 31, 2023

MAJOR GRANT SOURCES, 2018-2023: U.S. Dept. of Education Strengthening Institutions Prog. $1,830,000 U.S. Dept. of Education Trio Program $1,675,550 Appalachian Regional Commission $199,776 Windgate Foundation $206,507 National Endowment for Financial Education $140,000 7. Amount does not include pending grants.

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Together We Rise

Academic Excellence New Academic Offerings Over the past five years, Mars Hill has added one new master’s degree: the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.).

Unlike the Master of Education (M.Ed.), which MHU added in 2011 and is primarily for licensed teachers who are furthering their education, the M.A.T. is for non-teachers who have completed a bachelor’s degree but are coming to teaching from another field.

Although the Master of Management (M.M.) degree began at MHU in 2017, the university launched a fully-online form of the degree program, called the Organizational Leadership track, in 2021. The seated degree program, called the Business Management track, continues to be available.

During this five-year time period, the university has added undergraduate majors in fashion marketing, interdisciplinary studies, community and nonprofit leadership, biomedical sciences, ecology and conservation, graphic design communications, and web development.

New minors in African American studies, community leadership, dance, musical theatre, and pre-law have enabled students to widen their educational experience in ways that interest them and serve their career goals.

The university has also added an entrepreneurial leadership program and minor. These programs will allow students from any major to obtain the academic knowledge necessary for success as an entrepreneur while also gaining practical business experience through interacting with local businesses in substantive ways through internships and other programming.

Top: Dr. Jedd Griffin leads Ava Wright and Alina Mueller through a process called DNA gel electrophoresis. The process is part of MHU’s new biomedical curriculum. Bottom: James Heinl poses with Johannes Waals, a student in the Entrepreneurship Program who founded a pizza truck business while he was a student at MHU.

Increased Online Programming One of the most visible changes in recent years has been the explosion in the number of online offerings available.

Spurred on by the pandemic and student needs, Mars Hill now offers several completely online programs as well as individual courses. Online learning is especially efficient for working professionals in the Adult and Graduate Studies programs at Mars Hill. For this reason, MHU now offers three fullyonline programs: the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice, and a bachelor’s degree in either psychology or business management. The bachelor’s program in social work (B.S.W.), and the master’s programs in teaching (both the M.A.T. and the M.Ed.) and management (M.M.) are offered in either an in-person, or an online format.

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The Cothran Center for Career Readiness The Cothran Center helps MHU students: •

Jimmy Knight, director of the Cothran Center, meets with two students in the center.

The Cothran Center for Career Readiness is now part of Mars Hill students’ college experience from day one through their first-year seminar class. This initiative, made possible by a transformative gift from John and Jeanette Watson ’54 Cothran of Greenville, S.C., helps students not only to develop the competencies necessary for a

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See the possibilities of what they can do with a specific major or degree.

Deep-dive into career options.

Choose or change majors.

Find strategies to pinpoint and reach their career goals.

Explore job shadowing and internship ideas.

Connect to the rich stories, history, and networks of Mars Hill alumni.

Navigate job searches with modern software that helps increase the likelihood of passing AI screens.

successful working life, but also to discover their interests and aptitudes, connecting them to a life purpose, and ultimately, to a vocation.

Center for Teaching and learning (CETL) President Tony Floyd offered a leadership training program in 2018, through which participants might explore their particular areas of interest at peer institutions. Out of that experience, faculty worked together to build the reality of Mars Hill University’s current Center for Engaged Teaching and Learning (CETL).

The CETL, begun in 2020, exists for the purpose of helping to “foster excellence in teaching and learning” and to “support quality and innovative instruction” at MHU. Through the center, professors support each other in the constant pursuit of better and more impactful teaching.

Chris Cain, professor of education and director of the CETL, said, “The whole point of the center is to help people who

Dr. Maria Moreno (r), professor of French, and Dr. Bridget Morton, assistant professor of education, particiate in the CETL mentorship program.

are experts in content get that content to the students. The center and our board are here to help faculty as we support each other in any way possible to meet the learning needs of our students.”

Reaffirmation of Accreditation by SACSCOC Mars Hill University received reaffirmation of its accreditation for the next 10 years from its accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) in December 2022.

SACSCOC is the recognized accrediting body in the 11 U.S. Southern states for those institutions of higher education that award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral degrees. All institutions accredited by SACSCOC are required to undergo a comprehensive review for reaffirmation of accreditation every 10 years.

“We appreciate everyone who worked many hours to pull this all together. Our future is very bright and having outside peer reviewers approve of our work gives us great momentum,” said President Tony Floyd.

The process includes a three-stage review of 74 comprehensive standards over the course of two years.

This reaffirmation is a confirmation for students, parents, employees, alumni, and the public of the institution’s continuing commitment to providing quality educational programs.

Additionally, faculty and staff developed a Quality Enhancement Plan focused on developing problem solving as a tool for students to develop inside and outside of the classroom.

SACSCOC accreditation also allows Mars Hill to participate in federal and state financial aid programs.

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MHU Jumps 10 Spots in U.S. News Rankings U.S. News and World Report, which publishes one of the country’s top college rankings guides, gave Mars Hill University high marks in recent rankings.

The university’s ranking in the category of Best Regional Colleges–South jumped ten spots, from number 29 last year to number 19 for 2022–23. U.S. News defines regional colleges as those with a strong focus on the liberal arts and programs such as business and nursing, and with a primary focus on undergraduate education.

“Jumping ten places in a national ranking when the competition is so fierce is a tribute to the people who work

at Mars Hill University,” said MHU President Tony Floyd.

“Our dedication to being student-centric is causing us to rise across the board and word is spreading, people are noticing.”

The university maintained top-20 status in this category for the 2023-24 rankings.

U.S. News also rated Mars Hill as the number two institution in the category of Best Colleges for Veterans – Regional Colleges (South). In addition, Mars Hill made the list of Best Value Schools, and as a Top Performer in Social Mobility.

Increased 2023-2024 enrollment As students returned to campus on August 24, 2023, Mars Hill University welcomed more new students into the Lion family than it had seen since pre-pandemic years. An increase of 15% over the 2022-2023 academic year brought the largest incoming class of traditional students since 2016.

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The incoming class included students from 24 states and 23 countries as well as a nearly-60% increase in students coming from the counties of western North Carolina and east Tennessee who are eligible for the Local Lion and Tennessee Neighbor scholarships.

Judge Robert Blackwell and Laurel Scholarships Mars Hill University has established two new highly competitive scholarships for first-year undergraduate students: the Laurel Scholarship and the Judge Robert Blackwell Scholarship. Both scholarships have significant financial awards and rigorous academic standards.

The Laurel Scholarship is Mars Hill’s most prestigious academic award.

Established in 2021, the scholarship covers the full cost of tuition.

The Judge Robert Blackwell Scholarship was made possible by a generous donation to the university from the estate of Judge Robert Blackwell of Yanceyville, N.C. This scholarship recognizes students who are involved in leadership and citizenship activities in their high schools, and want to continue to develop leadership skills in those types of roles at Mars Hill University. In 2022, the scholarship also paid for the Judge Robert Blackwell Scholars to travel to Washington D.C. to benefit from a cohort of similar learners.

John Jackson (right) is one of the inaugural class of Judge Robert Blackwell Scholars on campus.

College Completion Scholarship Through AGS For two years now, Mars Hill University has extended a helping hand to a deserving student who is pursuing their college dream. The College Completion Scholarships awards one fulltuition scholarship for an adult who started college but had to drop out because of medical or financial issues or another life event, or for someone who never had the opportunity to pursue a college degree. Organized by Mars Hill’s Adult and Graduate Studies program, the scholarship aims to empower adults who want to earn a bachelor’s degree in business, education, psychology, or social work.

The 2022 recipient, Charlotte Bailes Garcia, is currently working toward a social work degree. The 2023 recipient is Quinn Powers, who is pursuing a degree in psychology.

Charlotte Bailes Garcia, left, 2022 recipient of the College Completion Scholarship, and Quinn Powers, right, 2023 recipient.

Local Lion/Tennessee Neighbor Promise Scholarships The Local Lion Promise and the Tennessee Neighbor Promise scholarships are a concrete expression of MHU’s commitment to serve local students.

At a meeting with local North Carolina superintendents where the LLP scholarship was initially announced in 2019, President Tony Floyd said, “We are making this promise, this commitment, to the students, and we want you to know how much we appreciate local students.”

Both scholarships promise that students in traditional classes from a number of counties in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, will receive a tiered scholarship of at least 50% off tuition at MHU.

The scholarships are available to students from counties in a 50-mile radius of MHU. The Local Lion Promise is available to students from: Avery, Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, Mitchell, McDowell, and Yancey counties in N.C. The Tennessee Neighbor Promise is available to students from Carter, Cocke, Greene, Unicoi, and Washington counties in Tenn.

For the fall of 2023, the scholarships seem to be making a difference in enrollment, with over 90 members of the incoming class coming from the area counties.

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Together We Rise

New Initiatives Direct entry Agreements Graduates from local community colleges who want to continue their educational journeys with a bachelor’s degree now have a direct pathway to do so at Mars Hill University. In the fall of 2019, President Floyd began signing agreements with the presidents of community colleges in the region which guarantee associate degree graduates direct entry at MHU, as well as a guaranteed level of financial aid toward a bachelor’s degree.

MHU has direct entry agreements, either to the institution, or to a specific program, with the institutions listed below.

President Floyd signs a direct-entry agreement with then-president Dennis King of A-B Tech.

University Agreements – AA/AS

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Blue Ridge Community College McDowell Technical Community College Southwestern Community College

Specific Program Agreements – AAS

AB-Tech Community College Blue Ridge Community College Mayland Community College Stanly Community College Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute

Commitments to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion In the summer and fall of 2020, Mars Hill University sought to make a powerful statement to its students that MHU is an institution which is “vigorously committed to anti-

racism, equity, and inclusion,” by publishing a series of academic commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Among the most obvious and visible steps were (1) the movement of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to Renfro Library, where it has a more accessible and prominent role in the life of the university, and (2) the institution of training and other programs on campus for faculty, staff, and students which raises awareness on issues like implicit bias and microaggressions toward African Americans, other minority groups, and LGBTQ+ students. But perhaps the most important promise of the commitments is less visible: that the university pledges to maintain a continued stance of listening and learning from underrepresented student groups.

Left: The Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Renfro Library.

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Bailey Mountain Hike Bailey Mountain has long been meaningful for people associated with MHU as an iconic sentinel over campus.

In 2018, President Tony Floyd, together with the Center for Student Success, reestablished the Mars Hill tradition of climbing Bailey, and made it a metaphor for students as they began their college journeys. As new students start up the mountain, they are reminded that their Mars Hill experience won’t always be easy, but it will be worth it.

The hike has very quickly become a favorite activity for bonding and camaraderie among students, faculty, and staff.

Above, top: The hike begins. Bottom: Students pause at the mountain top to pose in front of the #mhubaileyhike banner.

Esports The advent of varsity and club esports teams at Mars Hill University heralds the institution’s entry into a growing phenomenon with ties to numerous career and academic pursuits. Career fields to which students are exposed through esports include social media management, computer graphic design, video editing, event management, broadcasting, commentating, and online content creation.

“Esports is a growing industry and has a lot of career opportunities,” said President Tony Floyd. “The games have art, music, and scriptwriting, in addition to the computer side. I see it as a growing phenomenon worldwide and a path to bring non-athletes to campus

who are gifted students.” Both the varsity and club teams will compete against other university teams in spectator events.

Mars Hill currently has approximately 30 members on the varsity team and approximately 40 participants on the club team.

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Acrobatics and tumbling competition

MHU Begins Acrobatics and Tumbling Varsity Athletics Team Mars Hill University announced the addition of an acrobatics and tumbling team in the winter of 2020, creating the university’s 23rd varsity sport. The team began competition in the winter/spring of 2021.

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Mars Hill became an associate member of Conference Carolinas, becoming the third South Atlantic Conference school to add the program, joining Coker and Limestone.

In September of 2022, Olivia Kincaid was named the head acrobatics and tumbling coach.

Together We Rise

Athletic Distinction New Programs and New Ways to Support Athletes Make a mark at MHU Lions Athletic Club Reestablished The Lions Athletic Club, the fundraising arm of Mars Hill University Athletics, got underway in the fall of 2019 and has enjoyed tremendous success, raising—as of this writing—around $1.5 million for MHU Athletics.

According to Lions Athletic Club Director Stuart Jolley ’86, the initiative was an effort to rejuvenate the previous athletic club, called The Pride.

“We started a campaign to generate new interest in Mars Hill athletics fundraising efforts and cultivate relationships with former athletes, parents, and fans to enhance the student-athlete experience at Mars Hill University,” Jolley said.

According to Jolley, in addition to fundraising, the reconstituted club has improved hospitality and parking areas for home football and basketball games, added paid tailgate parking in three lots surrounding the stadium to raise money for MHU athletics, and secured several corporate sponsorships.

Spirit Teams Created Cosmo started getting some more company in spreading Mars Hill spirit in 2019, when the university brought together the Bailey Mountain Cloggers, the university cheerleaders, and a brand new sideline spirit dance team into an umbrella program called MHU Spirit Teams.

Danielle Plimpton ’06 leads the Spirit Teams, which continue to perform publically, as well as rally fans to catch that Lions Spirit!

MHU Adds Olympic Weightlifing Mars Hill University added Olympic Weightlifting as a club sport in the fall of 2022 and announced Jared Carter as the head coach.

A club sport can be competitive or recreational. Clubs compete at the Non-NCAA level with other clubs, organizations, colleges, and universities.

RECENT MHU ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHTS FOOTBALL:

It was a historic moment in November 2022, when the Mars Hill football team defeated Tusculum by a score of 34-27 to claim the South Atlantic Conference Mountain Division title.

VOLLEYBALL: The Mars Hill volleyball team was named to the 2021 NCAA Division II Women’s Volleyball Championship for the first time in program history in November 2021. The Lions finished out the year with a 21-12 (9-9 SAC) record, the most wins since 1998, and landed four players on All-South Atlantic Conference teams.

SOCCER: Mars Hill men’s soccer team made it all the way to the South Atlantic Conference Championship match in November 2021, before being defeated 2-1 in double overtime versus Coker (12-6-2). The Lions closed out the season with 11 wins, the most since the 2012 season and their first SAC Championship appearance since 2011.

INDIVIDUAL ATHLETES: Mars Hill senior tight end Ty Snelson was named an American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) First Team All-American in December 2022.

Mars Hill’s Sarah Goddard was named an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Honorable Mention All-American in November of 2022.

During competition, the male and female athletes compete in two events: the snatch and the clean and jerk.

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Together We Rise

Facility Improvements

Campus Center Will Embody the Ethos of Mars Hill The Mars Hill University Campus Center continues to be the single funding focus of The Together We Rise Capital Campaign, which, to date, has raised over $20 million.

The center has been designed to focus around the ethos of Mars Hill: a place of connection and relationship. Sitting on the high ground of the Lunsford Commons, the center will change the face of the university’s upper quad, its entrance, and in fact, the campus as a whole. The project will increase the size of the building that is now Blackwell Hall, and will include multiple student-centric offices, including

the Cothran Center for Career Readiness; campus ministry; diversity, equity, and inclusion; student leadership; financial services; admissions; student life; a state-ofthe art fitness center; and several offices. And—just as importantly—there will be plenty of room for students, faculty, and staff to “hang out” together, with gaming areas, dining areas, and comfortable seating.

The beginning phases of the project will include a beautiful new university gateway and a renovated sunken garden which will hold the Founders Memorial.

MHU Works to Upgrade the Campus and Surroundings The Mars Hill Gazebo “Surroundings” for Mars Hill students includes not just the campus, but some areas around the town of Mars Hill as well. Mars Hill University upgraded facades of its downtown properties in 2022, and purchased the gazebo lot. According to President Floyd, the purchase ensures that the university will continue to influence the look of the downtown area. The gazebo is also available for university events as needed.

Gazebo lot

Pittman Dining Hall Remodel The university has also completed substantial upgrades to Pittman Dining Hall, including roof repairs, renovations to Redway Dining Room and Oscar Sams Dining Room, and investments in modern equipment on the serving line of Pittman.

20 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2023

Pittman food station

Creation of “Student-Centric” Services Spaces To better serve its students, Mars Hill University has created several spaces on campus where students can find similar services in one “hub” location. For example:

In Renfro Library, the university has created space for academic support. It includes not only the Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (see page 16), but also, the Center for Student Success, and Student Support Services, a program supported by a federal TRiO grant from the Department of Education. The library also contains the math center and the writing center, where students can get tutoring help from student tutors in these subject areas.

New Student Health Center

In Nash Hall, the university has created a space dedicated to health

needs, including a new Student Health Center with modern, wellequipped examination rooms, as well as the MHU Counseling Center and the Office of Accessibility Services.

Top right: Renee Sprinkle (r), director of health services at MHU, poses in one of the new, modern examination rooms with Dr. Kenya Johnson, Hot Springs Health Program physician’s assistant.

Moore Lobby

Moore Lobby

Thanks to Trustee Charlie Trammel ’59, Mars Hill University was able to unveil beautiful new renovations to the lobby of Moore Fine Arts Building in May of 2023.

Renovations include new wood paneling on the wall facing the entrance, new flooring and carpet, and a beautiful new mural which represents the fine arts subjects taught in the building.

Marshbanks Hall During the summer of 2022, Marshbanks Hall, once the central administrative building of Mars Hill College, assumed that role again, becoming the temporary home of the president’s office, the financial aid office, and the business office, and the new permanent location of the registrar’s office. The offices moved to newly-renovated spaces in Marshbanks to make way for the major renovations that will transform Blackwell into MHU’s new Campus Center.

President’s Conference Room, Marshbanks Hall

The Loft The Loft, a student gathering space in what was once McConnell Gym, has experienced a resurrection, of sorts. The former location of dances and events had fallen into disrepair after it was closed in the early teens due to maintenance issues. The space has now been furnished with furniture and recreation equipment. The space has a snack area and a dance floor as well as ping-pong, pool, and foosball tables. Future plans include TV screens and an improved sound system.

Theatre Greenroom

The Loft

Fundraising allowed the university to make considerable renovations to the lower level of Owen Theatre in 2021. Renovations included replacing flooring; adding air conditioning, a second restroom; and a smaller green room behind the main one; painting walls; and installing counters, mirrors and lights. In October 2021, the new green room was dedicated to long-time theatre arts professors Bill Gregg and Neil St. Clair.

Theatre Arts Green Room

21

New lighting and synthetic turf for Meares Stadium and Don Henderson Field are among the recent upgrades.

Right: a bridge across Gabriel’s Creek made from the old wooden light poles in Meares Stadium.

Upgraded Athletic Facilities Instill Lion Pride Part of elevating the student experience at Mars Hill University includes making the university’s athletic facilities on par with competitor institutions. This aids coaches in recruiting for MHU athletic teams and gives the student body a sense of Lion Pride!

Don Henderson Baseball Field: New synthetic turf on the field will help avoid cancellation or postponements of games or practices, drastically decrease expensive maintenance costs, and create safer playing conditions for student-athletes.

Since the Lions Athletic Club was established (or rather, reestablished) in 2019, it has funded, or partially funded, a number of the following projects in cooperation with the university:

Belk Field: The practice field has been newly renovated with sub-surface drainage and natural grass.

Meares Stadium/Ammons Family Athletic Center: New turf and state of the art lighting were installed in June 2020.

New lighting has allowed night football games since the fall season of 2021. New fencing around the facility allows for added safety and security. Facilities staff repurposed the old wooden light poles into a beautiful bridge across Gabriel’s Creek near the Hart Tennis complex.

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Jansen-Shelley Athletic Training Facility: MHU dedicated this facility in the lower level of the Chambers Building in January 2020. The facility allows for treatment of multiple athletes at once, and is named for Head Athletic Trainer Allen Shelley and MHU’s longtime athletics team physician and medical director, Dr. Jay Jansen.

Stanford Arena has gained new movable goals and banners, thanks to Trustee Wayne and Patty Higgins, and the playing floor was renamed in 2019 for retired Athletic Director David Riggins.

Chambers concession stand

Women’s basketball locker room

The MHU Athletic Performance Center: This is a completely upgraded weight room facility for student-athletes, with state-ofthe-art weights, additional barbells, dumbbells, TRX bands, and plyometric boxes. The weight room also includes Kindle Fire Tablets on each rack in the weight room, to track workouts.

MHU Weightlifting Training Room: A weight training space in Wren Student Union specifically for MHU’s new weightlifing team and other athletes was recently completed in 2023.

New/Improved Locker Rooms: A number of teams have brand new and/or renovated space for locker rooms. These include: volleyball, acrobatics and tumbling, and men’s and women’s basketball (ongoing).

Ponder Softball Field: Improvements include a new infield surface with improved drainage, new backstop netting, and a new windscreen on the outfield fence.

Acrobatics and tumbling locker room

Harrell Pool: The building now includes new flooring in the main entrance and in the coach’s office, 30 new branded chairs in the pool area for the swim team to use during home swim meets, and new state-of-the-art branded starting blocks.

Chambers Gymnasium, upgrades include: New flooring in most offices and new ceiling tiles throughout the building.

A new concession stand in the lobby with a marble countertop and three 50-inch monitors to display announcements, menu, and live streams. The lobby also now includes attractive branded graphics.

Renovations to lobby and bathrooms and remodeling of a number of faculty and coach offices throughout the building.

New furniture and a 55-inch LED 4K display for the public space in the lower level of the building for students to enjoy between classes.

MHU Athletic Performance Room

Additional improvements: New volleyball net standards and padding.

Purchase of state-of-the-art, computerized drill simulator machines for basketball, golf, and volleyball teams.

Charter bus transportation with professional drivers for almost all sports teams.

Jantzen-Shelley Athletic Training Facility

23

MOUNTAIN MOVER

MOVING MOUNTAINS, ONE GOAL AT A TIME Cornell Sweeney, Class of 1978 Cornell Sweeney ’78 is the unofficial “mayor” of Simpsonville, SC. Most days, he can be found downtown on Main Street, talking and laughing with everyone he meets. And at Shortfields restaurant, around the corner from his Allstate Insurance office, everyone calls him by name.

The position that Sweeney enjoys these days as a successful business owner and role model for young people in the town is a far cry from the young man who graduated from Mars Hill College in 1978. Sweeney had struggled, both academically and financially, to get his degree, but he was determined.

“If you’d told me then where I’d be now,” he said, “I wouldn’t have believed you.”

President Tony Floyd spent some time recently with him, and said that, in many ways, Sweeney is the consummate Mars Hill “Mountain Mover” story, a man whose character and hard work have resulted in, yes, financial success.

But even more importantly, they have resulted in the satisfaction of a job well done, and a business that serves the public and meets the needs of others.

“Cornell Sweeny represents the best of Mars Hill,” Floyd said. “He has been an astute businessperson, has been active in and supportive of his community, is well respected, and is giving back to his alma mater. He is a role model for our Lions and someone they can look up to.”

Sweeney actually started college at North Greenville Junior College, but transferred to Mars Hill in his junior year with a buddy. He said he knew he needed a small college environment, and Mars Hill fit the bill. “It was large enough to challenge me and small enough to care,” he said.

Having grown up in a family of faith, Sweeney said he needed the structure and guidance provided by Mars Hill.

He focused on classes instead of sports with a steadfast determination to get his degree. Sweeney’s father was a truck driver and his mother was a nurses aide. They struggled to pay most of Sweeney’s college debts, and he worked to make up the rest.

“I studied, I went to summer school, and I worked, which meant less sleep,” he said. “I would catch up on sleep on Sunday after church. I didn’t have any grants, but when I left Mars Hill, my education was paid for.”

When Sweeney graduated from Mars Hill College in 1978, he wasn’t exactly sure what he was going to do with his degree in business, but he knew he had a dream to be a

24 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2023

“business man.” That dream was delayed temporarily when he took a job in a textile mill in Mauldin, S.C. But then, in 1985, the January after his daughter, Brittany, was born, Sweeney made a New Year’s resolution to get a better paying and more satisfying job.

He wanted to work in sales, and after scanning the Sunday paper repeatedly, he found an ad for an insurance agent.

At first, he thought the job might be a good one for his wife, Shelby. But she thought the job would be perfect for him. He applied, got the job after a trial period, and threw himself into insurance sales with the same determination with which he had tackled his Mars Hill education.

“I knew I had to put forth the work to make it happen,” he said. “I set goals and I worked toward them. And then when I met those goals, I set new ones.”

When he decided to purchase the Allstate business in Simpsonville where he now works, he encountered several naysayers who doubted the wisdom of the venture. But Sweeney said he stepped out on faith.

“Don’t let people take away your dreams,” he said. “When I opened up here in this little town, they told me I’d never make it here, being in a predominantly white community.

But the good Lord said, ‘no you’re going to make it.’ The success I see now is what He has given me.”

When the Sweeneys’ special needs son, Brennan, was born in 1990, they made the decision that Shelby would leave her job at a bank to stay home. The couple was unsure if they could make it on just Sweeney’s salary, but again, they committed the matter to prayer and stepped out on faith.

“Just about then, my business took off.” Sweeney said.

Now, after 38 total years as an agent and business owner, Sweeney said he is just a “figurehead” at the office. He is down to working approximately 20 hours a week, and as he nears retirement, he is working toward handing the business over to his daughter, Brittany. In addition to their adult children Brittany and Brennan, the Sweeneys also have an adult son, Jack, whom they adopted when he was a teenager.

In their personal lives, as in business, the Sweeneys have employed the same goal-setting strategies that Sweeney has used all his life. They set goals for themselves, write them down, and post them on the refrigerator. They no longer have the same refrigerator they started with, but most of their goals have come to pass.

Sweeney has been a regular visitor at Mars Hill’s homecoming, where he catches up with friends from his college years. And recently, he has become a regular donor to the institution. He said that President Tony Floyd has “sold him” on the good things going on at MHU. He recently joined the 1856 Society and said he is hoping to “pay it forward,” and provide a better education for students who may be struggling as he once did.

Reflecting upon his success in life and business, Sweeney’s advice goes back to making a plan and setting goals.

“Goals keep you going and keep you from being complacent,” Sweeney said. “When you meet a goal, set another one.” The trajectory of meeting goals, however, is not always straight.

“Success is built on inconvenient time,” he said. “You move forward on the Lord’s time, not yours.”

Above: Cornell Sweeney (left) with President Tony Floyd, who he says “sold him” on the good things happening at MHU.

Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2023 25

“...Like Little Puppy Dogs With Wings” A Professor Passes on Her Love for Research and Bats

by Teresa Buckner, Director of Publications

Like many of his fellow students, Jaden Rogers spent the summer getting experience that he hopes will build his resume, prepare him for graduate school, and eventually propel him toward his career. But unlike many of his fellow students, Jaden’s summer job involved tromping around in the woods in the middle of the night, swatting mosquitoes, avoiding ticks and other biting insects, watching for bears, sometimes wading through swamps…and developing a serious affection for bats.

“They are really cool,” he said. “They are the only mammal that flies; they help maintain the insect population; they are very important for the environment; and they communicate ultrasonically. I have just really developed a different perspective on bats.”

Jaden, an organismal biology major, was one of two students who had the opportunity to work with Dr. Michelle Gilley, dean of natural, mathematical, and health sciences and an associate professor of biology at MHU, in the environmental consulting business she owns with business partner, Jonathan Hootman. Through the company, Borealis Biological, Gilley has had the chance to help students who apply get real, hands-on experience in wildlife research.

For Jaden, the summer’s experience has been impactful, changing his career goal and his senior capstone project to focus on bat research.

For Max Belcher, an ecology and field biology major who also worked with Gilley, this summer’s experience was less specific to his career goals, but it still provided invaluable experience. Max is considering a career as a game warden, a bison researcher, or a veterinarian. But, regardless of his eventual career path, he said the time in the field and the real-world application of the summer’s tasks were advantageous.

“I pursued this job because I needed research experience,” he said. “Those skill sets will transfer over to various fields, and I will need to apply that knowledge in the future,” he said.

Companies like Borealis, Gilley said, are necessary to fulfill the mandate of the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The act requires entities such as Left: Dr. Michelle Gilley, assistant professor of biology, on a bat research trip this summer.

Top right: Jaden Rogers carries poles for “mist nets” to catch bats. Bottom right: Max Belcher tracks bats who have been fitted with a tracking device

26 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2023

FACULTY FOCUS government agencies and energy and oil corporations to assess and mitigate any negative impacts their projects will have on threatened or endangered species that may occur within the project area. Gilley is federally permitted to do this work in the eastern U.S. She has worked on projects involving endangered flying squirrels, salamanders, and rattlesnakes, but she specializes in threatened and endangered species of bats.

“Under the Endangered Species Act, those entities usually hire professional wildlife consultants that are permitted to conduct the surveys for threatened or endangered animals or plants. If any rare species are found, our job is to work with the client, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and respective state wildlife agencies to determine best management practices or mitigation strategies, so that the project does the least amount of damage to the habitat or the animal itself,” Gilley said.

This is the seventh year that Gilley has offered her students the chance to apply to work with her consulting company during the summer months. This summer’s project involved surveying rare bat populations in a corridor that is affected by new construction to update a power line that will traverse a large portion of western Pennsylvania.

“The students are in the field, getting up-close, personal, and first-hand experience.”

According to Gilley, actually experiencing the work of a wildlife biologist is a wonderful opportunity for students who are considering that career path. “The students are in the field, getting up-close, personal, and first-hand experience,” she said. “It is only by doing the job that students can really determine if a future as a wildlife biologist is for them.”

The experience is also a memorable summer job, she said. “The students get to travel. They get paid better than they would at most summer jobs or internships. It’s a resume builder and it’s also professional development and networking, because the students learn how to talk with clients and with professional biologists from U.S. Fish and Wildlife and state agencies. They make connections in the field, and, of course, they learn how to go about collecting data, doing surveys, and writing up their findings.”

Students may also use the time to obtain internship credit at MHU. For some students, like Jaden, this is a summer job that confirms their interest in research of this kind and helps them build skills to pursue a career as a biologist. Others learn this is not the job for them.

“This is bat work, so we are working in the woods or swamps in the middle of the night,” Gilley said. “The job involves a lot of hiking, off-roading, or using an ATV to access our survey sites.

Most of the time we work in hot and humid weather, other times it can get very cold, especially at night working in the northeast.

Students experience a lot of mosquitoes, spiders, ticks, and occasionally snakes and bears.”

Some people, Gilley said, find they are very uncomfortable with those conditions and are unwilling to pursue a career where they are the norm.

Surveying the bat population involves installing “mist nets” in the woods, into which bats fly and get tangled. Researchers then examine the bats and install tracking devices onto the backs of any bats which are endangered species. (Only those researchers who have had a rabies vaccine can handle the bats.)

Gilley said she is committed to the environmental work of protecting threatened and endangered populations.

“We like to say that our true ‘client’ is not the person or company writing the check, but the animals we are searching for,” she said.

Gilley’s own interest in bats came when she was hired as an undergraduate by an environmental consulting company and had the same opportunities that she is now providing for some of her MHU students. “At that time, I knew very little about bats and most of what I thought I knew was wrong. Bats are not a huge vector for rabies like many think. They are the only true flying mammal, and they are extremely beneficial to humans in helping to control insect populations”.

Bats are the primary predator of insects at night, Gilley said. “Some bats eat their bodyweight in insects every night. Many pest insects are nocturnal, and if we didn’t have bats helping to control their numbers, agricultural practices and ultimately humans would be significantly impacted.” continued...

Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2023 27

Class Notes CAMPUS NEWS

MHU Student Health Ambassadors Work to Improve Mental and Physical Health For the last three years, the Student Health Ambassador (SHA) Program at Mars Hill University has provided peerto-peer education, campus engagement, and COVID-19 mitigation efforts in partnership with the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC). Their initial work concentrated on keeping MHU students on campus and their learning undisturbed during COVID-19.

SHAs have remained a trusted source of health-related information and inspiration for students following the pandemic.

This work has been funded by the Dogwood Health Trust Foundation and renewed funding for the 2023 school year has been confirmed. This is fantastic news for the student health ambassadors as they will be able to maintain their established momentum of healthy campus change and peer education and engagement. The SHA program spans four western North Carolina counties (Buncombe, Madison, Jackson, and Transylvania), in collaboration with a regional network of six institutions of higher education including UNC Asheville, Montreat College, Warren Wilson College, Mars Hill University, Western Carolina University, and Brevard College.

During the fall 2022 semester, the SHAs conducted a health needs assessment for the Mars Hill campus in order to leverage their positive presence on campus. SHAs will now focus on projects that the surveyed campus community highly prioritizes.

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By Dr. Kari Hunt SHA Program Coordinator

The Mars Hill SHA program is coordinated by Kari Hunt, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Health, Human Performance & Recreation, and Phillip M. Brantley, M.A., LCMHC, LCASA, NCC, director of MHU Counseling Services.

The 2023-2024 returning SHAs include Riley Gall, Braxton Robinson, and Olivia Wilson. New SHAs for this year include Elana Mackey and Ava Wright. Mars Hill will continue its programmatic partnership with support from Kol Gold-Leighton, M.P.H., SHA program manager from MAHEC. Student health ambassadors look forward to improving the health and wellness of the MHU campus community through their “Healthy Lions” initiatives.

Initiatives include supporting mental health and wellbeing among students, employees, and their surrounding community by implementing health promotion activities on resilience, mental health first aid, physical activity, peer support, chronic disease prevention, health coaching, and healthy behaviors. SHAs will continue to receive training in effective health communication, resilience support, and health justice strategies. This work will also continue expanding workforce pathways in health promotion and public health by engaging rural middle school, high school, and college students in peer-led education and support.

Above, l-r: Riley Gall, Olivia Wilson, and Braxton Robinson.

Follow the work of the Mars Hill SHA team on Instagram.

Bat Research, continued...

Like Jaden, Gilley has an affection for bats that most people may not share or understand.

“Bats gave me my career and it’s just a bonus that they happen to be fuzzy and cute little mammals,” she said.

“Most people think they’re scary, but when you have them in your hand, there’s so much variety in the colors, the size of their ears, the size of their bodies. In fact, they’re kind of like little puppy dogs with wings.”

Class Notes Dr. Virginia Hart, ’43, who taught physical education and coached at MHU for over four decades, was chosen as the 2023 Alumna of the Year at Winthrop University. Hart attended Mars Hill College when it was a junior college and completed her bachelor’s degree at what was then Winthrop College, before going on to earn her master’s degree and doctorate. She has numerous professional accomplishments, serving state, regional and national physical education and recreation associations. She is also credited with founding women’s athletics at MHU, and making strides for women’s athletics throughout the state.

Hart will be honored at a dinner at Winthrop in November. She is pictured above at her 100th birthday celebration in Broyhill Chapel, on the campus in May 2023.

1970s

Edgar Newton ’74 retired in January 2023, after 57 years as an organist and choirmaster, most recently from Trinity Episcopal Church in Rocky Hill, N.J. Karl Brady ’76 retired in March of 2023 from McDonald’s Corporation after a long and successful 45+ years in the restaurant business. He recently relocated to Charleston, S.C., to be near his son and daughter-in-law. Brady said that he welcomes contact from Mars Hill friends. His wife of 40 years, Mary Joyce Bowen Brady ’73, whom he met at Mars Hill, passed away in 2014.

Rev. Dr. Rob Dewey ’77 was presented with the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF) at the organization’s World Congress 17, held April 30–May 5 in Baltimore, Md. Dewey is a retired episcopal priest, whose ministry has been anchored by his deep commitment to chaplaincy. In addition to beginning the South Carolina Law Enforcement Chaplaincy, he founded the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy

in 1990, which provides chaplains for lowcountry first responders as well as state and federal agencies, and he created the Lowcountry Community Chaplaincy in 2017, in service of drug diversion courts, the ATF, the Charleston Restaurant and Hotel Association, and the Isle of Palms Public Safety Office, among other institutions. He has also served as chaplain to the FBI and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).

Ronald McClellan ’79 retired from his position as a funeral director and embalmer in Morristown, Tenn., in 2023, after 44 years of service. Prior to his work in Morristown, McClellan served in the same capacity in the Madison County, N.C., area from 1979 to 1995.

1980s

Cathy McCall McClellan ’81 retired in 2023 after 40 years in education. She retired from Morristown East High School in Morristown, Tenn., where she had taught since 1995. Prior to teaching in Morristown, she taught “home economics” (now called human studies) at C.D. Owen High School in Black Mountain, N.C., until 1995.

Norman McRae ’84 has been recognized by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization with the Galen Miller Award for his service to the organization over a 35-year career in hospice. The Galen Miller award is considered the pinnacle of recognition and accomplishment in the hospice and palliative care industry.

McRae has served NHPCO in numerous committees, boards, and most recently, as chairman of the organization.

At the presentation, McRae was recognized for his countless hours of service, his steady leadership, and his career-long commitment and passion of advocacy for quality end-of-life care.

Renee VanHorn Shatley ’87 has been appointed as the Associate Conductor for the Hickory Choral Society in Hickory, N.C. 1990s

Casia Sinco ’97 has been promoted to director of the Division of Public Assistance Fraud for the State of Florida.

The Division of Public Assistance Fraud (DPAF) safeguards

Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2023 29

CLASS NOTES Floridians against public assistance fraud and the impact of those crimes by enforcing state laws regarding program eligibility and proper use of public assistance benefits.

Thomas Walton ’97 was elected Disabled American Veterans Sr. Vice Commander for the Department of South Carolina, 2023-2024.

Kristofer Geddie ’98 has recently been named executive director of the Venice Theatre in Venice, Fla. Geddie first came to Venice Theatre in 2010 to play the role of Coalhouse Walker in “Ragtime.” In 2011, he was named the organization’s first director of diversity, and he became the theater’s general manager in 2016. He was named executive director earlier this year.

Rhonda Gouge ’99 is a recipient of the 2023 North Carolina Heritage Award, which honors artists across the state for their contributions to the cultural life of their communities. Gouge lives in the small community of Ledger, in Mitchell County, N.C., where she has been teaching music for more than 50 years. In addition to her teaching, she worked with her mentor Oscar “Red” Wilson for many years as a recording session musician; as a member of his band, the Toe River Valley Boys; and performing with him as a duo in churches and at community functions.

2000s

Daniel Sandlin ’04 has been selected as the assistant principal of Clarke Elementary School in Henderson, N.C. The school is part of the Vance County School System.

Amber Young ’07 was named principal of Bowman Middle School in Bakersville, N.C., in May of 2021, after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a master’s degree in school administration. Bowman is part of the Mitchell County School System.

2010s

Marzarius “Zuke” Samon ’11 received the Hometown Hero award from 105.9 The Mountain radio in October.

“Coach Zuke” is a football coach and bus driver at Clyde A. Erwin High School who, according to his nomination, makes every kid feel noticed and special. Samon is pictured with representatives from 105.9 The Mountain, and Christine Mabey, who nominated him. Photo courtesy of WTMT radio.

In Memoriam Since the last issue of Mars Hill, the Magazine, we have learned of the following deaths of alumni and other members of the MHU community.

1940s

Allan Douglas Aldrich ’42, Charlotte, N.C., June 23, 2023 John Wade Hendricks, Jr. ’42, Hilton Head Island, S.C., April 18, 2023 Lucy Marie Pierce Parrish ’43, Greensboro, N.C., December 27, 2022 Thelma Marie Ball Davis ’44, Newport, N.C., March 17, 2023 Zackary Taylor Whiteside ’44, Lake Lure, N.C., October 8, 2005 Lee Mack Rea ’45, Matthews, N.C., May 18, 2023 Gertrude Allard Taylor ’45, Harrisburg, Ill., January 13, 2023 James Emerson Henline ’46, Bakersville, N.C., August 20, 2023 Lendell Eugene Steele ’47, Springfield, Va., November 15, 2022 Lelia Ione Hagan Hauss ’49, Salisbury, N.C., March 28, 2020 Joseph Hardy Miller ’49, Sun City Center, Fla., September 5, 2021

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James Orval Murray ’49, Greer, S.C., March 13, 2023 Charles Monroe Sheets ’49, Hickory, N.C., September 12, 2022 Emily Ann Stone Tew ’49, Raleigh, N.C., December 18, 2022 1950s

Essie Virginia Bridges Moretz ’50, Mechanicsville, N.C., July 22, 2023 Carolyn Joyce Getzman Jordan ’51, Granite Falls, N.C., May 19, 2023 Charles Blanchard Simmons ’51, Greenville, S.C., May 29, 2023 Marilyn Marie Keaton Ludolf ’52, Winston-Salem, N.C., March 31, 2023 Thomas Gary Humphries ’53, Charlotte, N.C., March 4, 2023 Barbara Anne Barnes Hunter ’53, Laurens, S.C., February 26, 2023 James Grady Jones ’53, Hampstead, N.C., May 16, 2023

In Memoriam Martha Louise McCall Sheets ’53, Hickory, N.C., March 14, 2023 Joyce Mahaffey Suggs ’55, Concord, N.C., July 12, 2023 Jack Doyle Naylor ’56, Mocksville, N.C., June 20, 2023 Anne Carolyn Shackelford Ownbey ’56, Black Mountain, N.C., May 28, 2023 Barbara Ann Canady Foster ’57, Winnabow, N.C., April 21, 2023 Joe Robert Wilson ’57, Elberton, Ga., July 2, 2023 Joseph Grady Buckner ’58, Asheville, N.C., July 2, 2023 Uoong Tack Kim ’58, Berwyn, Pa., February 4, 2022 Josephine Meade Weatherford Wimbish ’58, South Boston, Va., April 23, 2023 Tillman DeSawyer McCarson ’59, Haslet, Texas, February 19, 2023 1960s

Howard Lee Furches ’60, Peach Bottom, Pa., April 4, 2023 David Hamilton Muir ’60, East Haven, Conn., March 30, 2022 John Weston Jennette ’61, Hillsville, Va., July 31, 2023 Janet Elizabeth Owens Hall ’62, Alexandria, Va., July 6, 2023 Annemarie Nussbaumer Harrod ’62, Denver, Colo., February 8, 2022 Joyce Lee Payne Kelly ’62, Sanford, N.C., March 29, 2023 Patricia Bell Phelps Coley ’63, Henrico, Va., April 14, 2023 James Lewis Daniels ’66, Charlotte, N.C., March 31, 2023 Susan Gudger Cable Harper ’66, Matthews, N.C., May 25, 2023 Betty Jean Davis Gouch ’67, Charlotte, N.C., May 27, 2023 Jane Sevier Haerle Lewis ’68, Matthews, N.C., July 14, 2022 Rebecca Darlene Gurley Vinson ’68, Manchester, N.H., March 17, 2023 Wayne Howard Blackwood ’69, Ellenboro, N.C., May 13, 2023 David Bruce Bunn ’69, Midland, N.C., July 1, 2023

Larry Register Hale ’75, Midlothian, Va., March ’, 2023 Sharon Kim Anders Clements ’78, Asheville, N.C., July 21, 2023 Patricia Ann Isaac ’78, Hendersonville, N.C., May 26, 2023 1980s

Amanda Caudia Williams Richards ’80, Saint Paul, Minn., May 20, 2023 Stephen Timothy Coffey ’81, Andrews, N.C., June 8, 2023 Mary Anne O’Neal Ingle ’85, Athens, Ga., June 17, 2023 Kristopher Joseph Ware ’85, Mount Dora, Fla., January 26, 2022 Lisa Lanette Starnes Astin ’88, Horse Shoe, N.C., July 4, 2023 1990s

Barbara Ruth Johnson Davis ’90, Asheville, N.C., August 16, 2023 Faculty/Staff

Phil Murray, retired professor of art, Fairport, N.Y., September 11, 2023 Evelyn Anderson, retired assistant director of computer services, Mars Hill, N.C., September 22, 2023 Ruby Gayle Anderson, former member of the board of trustees, Pfafftown, N.C., July 2, 2023

Phil Murray, in his MHU classroom.

Evelyn Anderson, during her tenure in the MHU Business Office

Ruby Gayle Anderson

1970s

Joseph Moody Hyatt ’71, Asheville, N.C., May 6, 2023 Barbara Louise Fox Wilson ’73, Anderson, S.C., February 19, 2023 Dennis Oliver Stokes ’73, Darlington, S.C., November 11, 2022 James Marin Wilson ’74, Pompano Beach, Fla., September 7, 2023

Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2023 31

P.O. Box 370 Mars Hill, N.C. 28754

Join the next MHU Alumni Excursion to see...

Washington, D.C. in the Spring

March 20–24, 2024 Highlights: National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial * Marine Corps War Memorial * Arlington National Cemetery * Motorcoach City Tour * U.S. Capitol * Ford’s Theatre * Lincoln Memorial * Korean War Veterans Memorial * Vietnam Memorial * MLK Memorial * Jefferson Memorial

For more information: Director of Alumni Relations Leigh Guth leigh_guth@mhu.edu | (828) 689-1140 32 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2023