The Hawkeye (Fall 2023)

THE HAWKEYE FALL 2023

The Coffee Coach and Postmaster Students’ favorite employees spread encouragement and joy across campus

THE HAWKEYE FALL 2023

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Maggie Parker STAFF WRITERS Blake Baldwin Rasmus Berg Mary Casey Allie Luna Maggie Parker Brayden Williams PHOTOGRAPHERS Blake Baldwin Rachel Morton Maggie Parker Alexis Serpas Jordina Rovira Josep Maria Rovira

Dr. Earl Kellett Dean, College of Humanities & Social Sciences Professor of Christian Studies Dr. William Mullen Chair, Department of Communication Studies Professor of Communication Studies Melissa Baskin Assistant Professor of Communication Studies Faculty Advisor

Communication Studies comstudiessu

Cover photo by: Maggie Parker Table of contents photo by: Shorter Public Relations Back cover photo by: Prof. Katherine Dudley Blair

Com Studies | 2

4| Coffee Coach Serves Up Encouragement and Compassion

5| Postmaster D Joy and Deligh Students

12| Domestic and International Students Recall Eurosummer

Table of Contents

Delivers ht to Shorter

6| International Soccer Academy Provides Summer Opportunity

10| Communication Studies Students Serve in the Local Community

8| Professional Development Workshop Prepares Seniors for Future Careers

14| Sport Management Students Gain Practical Experience in Senior Level Class

The Hawkeye | 3

Coffee Coach Serves Up Encouragement and Compassion Working on The Hill for 14 years, Debby Atkinson considers herself to be the “Coffee Coach” to the student workers. She brings a welcoming coffee shop feel to the Livingston Library Cafe.

Atkinson’s role is to manage the cafe and keep up with daily tasks to ensure a smooth working environment. Her goal is to provide a Christ-like atmosphere for students while making and serving specialty coffee beverages. Being able to interact with students daily is why Atkinson loves her job so much. She loves to meet students, welcome them to Shorter, and watch them grow as individuals throughout their time on campus.

Students often share their personal and educational accomplishments with Atkinson, and she enjoys seeing their excitement when doing so. “I did not go to college, so to see the drive and work ethic that students have warms my heart,” said Atkinson.

Throughout her years at Shorter, Atkinson has learned a lot about herself through interacting with students and hearing about their relationships with Christ. “Listening to students’ life stories and learning about their relationships with God has really motivated me to look for God in my own challenges. I see so much Jesus and life in these students, and it really warms my heart to know that they have a strong Christian base to lean on. The students here have made my personal relationship with God stronger. Seeing their faith impacts me more than they could ever know. I always strive to be open to students and let them know that I am always willing to talk and listen,” said Atkinson. The family connection and Christian atmosphere at Shorter is something that she finds unique about the university.

Not only does Atkinson love to interact with students, but students also love to interact with her. Olivia Haynes, a junior biology major, is a student worker in the cafe. She says that Atkinson is extremely welcoming to all students at Shorter and always approaches people with open arms. She says that Atkinson is a great listener and is always willing to sit down for a chat. Haynes loves that Atkinson is lighthearted and makes people laugh. She also says that Atkinson is a great boss. “She always tries to make everyone’s lives easier. Although Mrs. Debby Com Studies | 4

Debby Atkinson, Manager of the Livingston Library Cafe Photo by: Maggie Parker

works in the mornings and is usually very busy, she always makes sure that everything is set up perfectly for the people who come to work after she leaves. I appreciate Mrs. Debby because she always makes sure that the student workers are well taken care of and genuinely wants the best for us not only here at work, but also in our personal lives,” said Haynes.

Keaton Brown, a junior biology major, described Atkinson as someone who always shows kindness to others. “Mrs. Debby always uplifts me and my spirit, especially when I am down. She does this through her words of encouragement and actions. She is easy to talk to, and I can tell that she really cares about me. She lifts others up effectively and so effortlessly,” said Brown.

The students on The Hill all love to be around Atkinson because she never fails to brighten someone’s day. She is a big part of what makes Shorter such a welcoming and loving community.

By: Allie Luna

Postmaster Delivers Joy and Delight to Shorter Students Christopher Cole, Director of Mail Services, is one of Shorter’s hidden gems. He has worked at Shorter for a little over a year and is a bright spot on campus, especially for students.

Cole, a 33-year veteran of the United States Postal Service (USPS), wanted to continue working part-time after his retirement. Shorter hired Cole on July 28, 2022; his last day at USPS was July 29, 2022.

Cole believed God worked out the timing perfectly, and that it was meant for him to be at Shorter.

Cole’s favorite part about working at Shorter is his interaction with students, faculty, and staff members on a daily basis. He loves talking to students and learning more about them and their stories. It is a joy for Cole to see students receive unexpected packages from friends and family on their birthdays, for example. Students enjoy Cole’s engaging personality and truly believe he cares about them. “If you’re ever having a bad day, just go and see Mr. Cole. He will turn your day around,” said Brianna Johnston, a junior communication studies major from Rome, Georgia.

Johnston worked in the Shorter Post Office last summer and said Cole is truly a light on campus. “He is always so joyful, which is expressed through his jokes, conversations and even new songs he writes and plays on his ukulele,” said Johnston.

Working at Shorter is a little more fun compared to the USPS, according to Cole. At Shorter, he gets to deliver fun packages, letters, cards, and gift cards, which people look forward to picking up. Cole looks forward to seeing the delight on students’ faces when they receive a surprise package. The beginning of each semester is the busiest as he processes and gives out hundreds of packages. Many students order products on-line and have them delivered to Shorter making this time of year the most productive for Cole.

Outside of work, Cole is also an amateur actor. He has acted in numerous plays at the Rome Little Theatre, worked on commercials in Atlanta, and even been in various television streaming series such as Ozark on Netflix. Last year, Cole also acted in a student-produced film for the Department of Communication Studies. This year, he acted in a production with the Shorter Theatre Department. Out of all of the acting he has done, Cole said the ones with

Chris Cole, Director of Mail Services Photo by: Maggie Parker

Shorter students have meant the most.

Shorter University is 150 years old, which is something Cole really appreciates. He loves the beauty of campus and highlights the front circle as his favorite part about Shorter. “A lot of times, I drive up by the Winthrop-King Centre. But every once in a while, I want to drive up the S curve, pass by the main gate, and look at the Sheffield-Thompson building because of the beauty of our campus,” said Cole. One of the things he loves about the front circle is seeing students playing games and having a great time of fellowship with one another.

Cole’s joy, jokes, and time for a quick chat, are why many people see him as the light and heart of campus. Cole thinks the world of the students, faculty, and staff at Shorter and appreciates the support from everyone. He is proud to be a part of Shorter and is happy to serve those on The Hill.

By: Rasmus Berg The Hawkeye | 5

International Soccer Academy Provides Summer Opportunity Throughout the summer, Jordina Rovira, are rooted in Christian beliefs and ethics. Through a member of the Shorter women’s soccer team, such, they could share the love of Christ with the volunteered her time with Barça Academy Camps, athletes alongside their athletic teachings. Rovira teaching soccer in six major United States cities over loved this aspect, especially as she noted the region in the course of six weeks. Rovira is a senior psychology which Barça is located is not strongly religious. major from Catalonia, Spain. She has played soccer In addition to the values, teachings, and her whole life and has been on a team since she was methods the camp strived to instill in the next seven years old. Because of this, she has developed a generation of soccer players, Rovira was able to utilize deep love and appreciation for the sport. the skills she has acquired through her major. As a Over the course of many years, Rovira has psychology student, Rovira noted a time when she honed her athletic abilities to practically applied what she a point that has allowed her had learned when two athletes the opportunity to volunteer playing on opposing teams “In the game, we are with Barça, a major European became incredibly competitive eleven players. So, soccer club. She said that the amongst themselves. During primary goal of the camps this time, they were pushing everyone plays a role. If we is to “guide the learning of each other and saying things score, it’s not just the one players through F.C. Barcelona that they were not supposed who finishes it in the net. It methodology [which is a] to be saying. As an assistant proactive, collective and coach, Rovira was limited in is for the whole team.” creative style rooted in the the actions she could take as the context of the game.” It also head coaches were supposed to Jordina Rovira includes “values such as be the ones to handle conflict senior, psychology major humility, effort, ambition, and various other complex respect, and teamwork.” While situations. However, the head not explicitly Christian due to coaches were busy and unable the club’s nature, such values to diffuse the situation at the

The staff of Barça Academy Camps have fun with athletes as they pose for a photo following one of the camps in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Photo by: Alexis Serpas Com Studies | 6

w time, so Rovira used her knowledge to help solve the conflict. She initially told the boys to take a break and then placed them on the same team, forcing them to work together. Rovira wanted to show them that it would be more beneficial to fight for each other than to fight against each other, an important trait when playing soccer. She taught them the importance of taking a minute to collect yourself, coming back with a better mindset, and being willing to help each other.

Generally, most athletic clinics and camps coach technique and strive for perfection. However, one of the main ideals they wanted to instill in the next generation is creativity and a willingness to make and learn from mistakes. Therefore, an aspect of the camps that Rovira treasured was seeing the sheer joy and love for the game that the young people had. Rovira said that older athletes tend to get so caught up in the game and the pressures of perfection that they sometimes forget to live in the moment and enjoy the game. The younger athletes had yet to see and feel that sort of pressure, which made their excitement much more refreshing.

In addition to the skills Rovira and the other instructors hoped to teach, one of her favorite moments was when the campers would score goals.

In the United States, she said there is a lot more individual focus on those who score the goal, but seeing everyone celebrate all of the goals together was a wonderful sight to behold. “For me, here in the United States, everything is very individual and very competitive between each other,” said Rovira.

She feels there is more emphasis on the person who scored the goal. “In the game, we are eleven players.

So, everyone plays a role. If we score, it’s not just the one who finishes it in the net. It is for the whole team,” she said.

The Barça Academy Camps are places to teach a new generation of athletes the love for soccer.

For Rovira, she was able to use her experiences to create a more personal connection with the campers.

She was able to teach and guide them not only on their journey in the sport of soccer but also in life. She could show a love for the game, Barça values, and conflict management practices to a new generation that could one day contain the next great college or professional athletes.

By: Maggie Parker

During each camp, athletes participate in scrimmage games as Barça coaches preside over the teams providing instruction, motivation, and encouragement.

Photo by: Alexis Serpas

As a collegiate athlete, Jordina Rovira, a senior psychology major from Catalonia, Spain, has years of experience and utilizes her knowledge to set up various drills for athletes.

Photo by: Alexis Serpas

The Hawkeye | 7

Professional Development Workshop Prepares Seniors for Future Careers The Ledbetter College of Business hosted a professional development workshop in October aimed at helping seniors prepare for their future careers. With graduation near, this event equipped students with the knowledge and skills to make a strong impression in the competitive job market.

Students learned how to use LinkedIn, a business-focused social media outlet, learned how to market themselves to prospective employers, and received professional head shots for their resumés.

Dr. Heath Hooper, Dean of the Ledbetter College of Business and Associate Professor of Sport Management, said it was important for students to learn about professionalism in business and that this event provided great ways for students to get ready for the transition from college to the working world. “Learning about the importance of dressing professionally and having a good head shot on LinkedIn can set students apart from the competition.

I think that it’s a great way for students to promote themselves in today’s business environment,” said Hooper.

Brandy Alexander, a career expert from the

Goodwill Career Center, was the guest speaker for the event. She offered insights and valuable tips for a successful job search as well as an in-depth presentation on how to use LinkedIn, which has become a vital tool for networking and job hunting in today’s digital age. Seniors had the opportunity to create a compelling LinkedIn profile, expand their professional network, and leverage the platform to secure job opportunities in their chosen fields.

Students understand the importance of networking and know that LinkedIn is a valuable tool that can help them move in the right direction.

Gareth Anderson, a senior general business major, encouraged his fellow students to take their LinkedIn profiles seriously. He recommended creating a profile that aligns with specific career goals, maintaining a professional online presence, and seeking out job opportunities in line with a student’s ambitions.

Jasmine Rodriguez, a senior criminal justice major, took advantage of this opportunity to learn more about LinkedIn and to prepare for her future career. She emphasized the significance of a professional LinkedIn profile picture and advised

Seniors gain valuable insight and knowledge at the professional development workshop hosted by the Ledbetter College of Business.

Photo by: Blake Baldwin Com Studies | 8

Brandy Alexander, a career expert, leads the professional development conference held at the Ledbetter College of Business.

Photo by: Blake Baldwin

other students to ensure their profile image depicts professionalism. Additionally, Rodriquez highlighted the importance of careful connections on the platform, urging students to connect with individuals who align with their career interests while maintaining a professional tone.

Both Anderson’s and Rodriguez’s insights illustrate the importance of LinkedIn as a powerful

tool for networking and job searching, reinforcing the need for a well-crafted and professional online presence. As students prepare to step into the professional world, these words of wisdom from their peers will undoubtedly help guide their journey towards career success.

By: Blake Baldwin

Jacob Mitchell, a senior sport management major, takes a headshot for his LinkedIn profile. Photo by: Blake Baldwin

Hunter Hodson, a senior sport management major, works on information for his LinkedIn profile. Photo by: Blake Baldwin The Hawkeye | 9

Communication Studies Students Serve in the Local Community Students in the organizational and crisis communication classes put what they learned into action through participation in service-learning projects. Service-learning projects have always been an integral part of communication studies classes taught by Dr. Bill Mullen, Chair of the Department of Communication Studies and professor of communication studies.

Mullen assigns this project for several reasons. “The number one reason for this assignment is to encourage students to be servants and follow the example of Jesus by serving others,” said Mullen.

The second reason is that it helps promote goodwill towards Shorter University in the community.

Participating in these projects teaches students how to work in groups, which helps them to learn time management and communication skills. The last reason to do the project is that it provides students with chances for leadership opportunities. A leader always emerges in a small group, and Mullen says that someone usually takes the lead in contacting the organization for volunteer opportunities.

Students volunteer at several places in the Rome community, including churches and other non-profit organizations. Then, they write a selfevaluation and also an evaluation of their group. In addition, student groups share their experiences with the class in the form of a presentation.

This project is always a favorite among students. They not only learn how to better serve, lead, and communicate but also have fun while doing it. Tarah Taylor, a junior communication studies major, took part in this assignment in the organizational communication course. Taylor’s group went to the Rome-Floyd County Community Kitchen and served food to people in need. In addition to serving food, Taylor assisted with other tasks needed by the Community Kitchen such as food preparation. She enjoyed helping the organization and meeting people’s needs. Taylor said, “The people that I worked with were very nice, and the people coming in to get food were nice. It was an enjoyable experience.” The thing that stuck out most to Taylor Com Studies | 10

Junior communication studies major Allie Luna (far left), junior psychology major Bailey Lane, and junior English major Hayley Arthur (far right) volunteer at the Northwest Georgia Sexual Assault Center. Photo by: Maggie Parker

was how personal this was for her. She enjoyed getting to know those she served and hearing their stories. One of the most important things Taylor learned was that not everybody who goes to these kitchens is homeless. Some of them have jobs but do not have enough money or time to get food.

The Community Kitchen also provides a place for children to get a second daily meal because many of them only get a good meal at school. Serving at the Community Kitchen taught Taylor the importance of serving and helping others.

Joshua Greene, a senior communication studies major, took both of Mullen’s courses and served at two locations, both churches. Greene volunteered at Fellowship Church of Rome where he and his group cleaned and organized storage closets.

He and his group also served at West Rome Baptist Church where they cleaned out and reorganized a storage room. Volunteering at these churches had a big impact on Greene in terms of being a servant. “I think a lot of times churches have a constant need

Junior communication studies major Clark Brannon (far left), junior communication studies major Rasmus Berg (middle), and senior communication studies major Joshua Greene (far right) share about their experience serving at Fellowship Church of Rome.

Photo by: Maggie Parker

for more help, and most churches are understaffed.

Center of Northwest Georgia taught her more about Things like being able to clean out a closet helps the servant leadership. She also said that volunteering to church and really taught me how to be a servant,” said serve was a great way to show the love of Christ and Greene. He only wished he could have had more time to be a positive representation of Shorter in the local to serve. Some notable lessons community. learned by his group were Through these handshow to better work together on learning experiences, “The number one reason and to connect with new students learned more about communication studies majors the communication process, for this assignment is to and students in other majors as how to work with others, encourage students to be well. how to better lead, and servants and follow the Hayley Arthur, a junior most importantly how to English major, volunteered serve others. While learning example of Jesus at the Sexual Assault Center concepts in a classroom is by serving others.” of Northwest Georgia where important, taking what is her group set up a station for learned and living out those Dr. Bill Mullen workers to organize written principles can have the biggest Chair, Department of communication for the impact of all on students.

Communication Studies organization. When they first Students in Mullen’s classes arrived, students toured the will take those principles and organization’s building and use them for years to come. learned about its purpose.

Arthur said her experience helping the Sexual Assault By: Brayden Williams

The Hawkeye | 11

Domestic and International S Eurosummer is a term that has been widely incorporated into society through travelers on apps like Instagram and TikTok. Many people, especially Americans, have romanticized and idealized traveling abroad to Europe, especially over the summer. In the United States (U.S.), European summers are typically viewed as an idyllic alternate reality that often include time in some of the world’s most historic locations such as Rome, London, Barcelona and Paris. Each of these cities is a colorful expression of Europe’s vast history and culture that dates back millennia.

In recent years, tourism has slowed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, as restrictions have lessened and a will to explore the world has increased, some regions have begun to see an influx of travelers higher than pre-pandemic numbers. We can see this through flight statistics kept by the United States Travel Association that state “air travel demand was up 12% in July [2023] compared to the same month last year [2022].” Not only has air travel demand risen, but also according to an article in Forbes, a total of 11.7 million Americans traveled abroad to Europe from January through July this year.

At Shorter, we have students from many different countries. A few hail from nations such as England, Spain, Italy, and France, which are hotspots for American tourists. Baptiste Touchard is a sophomore general business major from SaintAgathon, France. Touchard said that his favorite part about being home for the summer is the food and his family. Additionally, spending time with friends, going to restaurants and hanging out on the coast are a few of his favorite pastimes. This includes playing soccer and American football on the beach. For him, it is also not a complete summer without spending time surfing and playing golf. Many of these experiences do not stray incredibly far from much of our own “American” summer activities.

When determining the overall impact and correlation between American and European summers, one must understand what one views as distinctly European. It is no surprise to many who have visited the continent that it is incredibly common to walk instead of drive in most places. This leads to one of Touchard’s experiences at home that he feels was particularly representative of European culture.

Com Studies | 12

Touchard named a trip where he once vacationed with his family to an island where riding bicycles was the only means of transportation. Recalling the experience, he said, “We stayed there for a week, rode bikes, and went to the beach.”

Touchard noted some of the key differences between being home and being in the U.S., including the quality of the food served at restaurants and bakeries. He touched on the importance of traditional establishments and how they always outlast those centered on gourmet. He noted that this is a vital part of France and emphasizes the importance the nation places on its traditions and culture. If a bakery or some other establishment is not centered on tradition, it only lasts for a short time.

LaRue Campbell, a senior general business major from Sautee Nacoochee, Ga., spent seven weeks in Catalonia, Spain, with her friend Jordina Rovira, a junior psychology major from Catalonia.

Arriving first in Madrid, she spent a few days in the city. She visited a few other cities, too. According to Campbell, she “just lived there,” meaning she had her own key to the apartment, her own friends, and her own schedule. With her freedom and friends, Campbell frequented coffee shops and participated in Bible studies.

Living in a foreign city came with many differences from Campbell’s hometown summer experience. At home, she lives on a farm and usually has no daily schedule. She could be working on the farm, studying a new language, taking an extra class, or working a job. Given this is what a traditional summer could look like for Campbell, she stated that they are typically very busy and also sort of bland. Campbell pointed out that if you want to do something with friends in the U.S., you have to plan a lot “but in Spain, life is so full and bustling.” People in Spain tend to live in the moment.

One of Campbell’s favorite memories was spending time with her own family and Rovira’s family while walking the streets of Barcelona. During this time, they came across a band sitting off to the side, not playing. Rovira decided to encourage them to play. As the band played, Campbell, Rovira, and her brother began to dance in the middle of the streets of Barcelona. During this time, the streets were so

Students Recall Eurosummer busy that everyone ran into each other. However, after the trio began dancing, others joined in and they managed to get “the crowd to dance in the streets of Barcelona.”

In another experience, Campbell described a time when she and Rovira found a street performer they loved. The pair leaned against a light post and listened to him for a while. Elaborating on how this experience differed from what would occur in the U.S., Campbell said, “In America, we try to rush through life. We don’t just sit and enjoy something.

We just let it pass by us really quickly.” In Spain, people take time to enjoy life and do not rush so much.

Upon leaving Spain, Campbell had a realization that she felt could explain why some Americans tend to feel at peace abroad in nonEnglish speaking countries and find the experience more fulfilling and enjoyable than being at home.

Throughout her time in Spain, Campbell could only communicate with others in a very broken form. She was in the process of learning Catalan and spoke only small amounts of Spanish. English was not widely used around her in her day-to-day life. Therefore, when Campbell returned home, she was immediately surrounded by English speakers and felt overwhelmed by them. She feels there is peace to be found in not knowing the language being spoken around us. We can truly listen to ourselves and pay attention to our surroundings without being drawn in a million

directions by different conversations.

Overall, there seemed to be an overarching theme and difference between life and time spent in Europe. There is a life and an essence of living in the moment that is not often present in the U.S. Due to infrastructure and culture, it is often much more difficult to plan events with friends or have an experience that many would consider truly living, something that is represented by a phrase used in Spain that states “We’re on Spain time.” While simple, it holds a lot of meaning. The culture is less focused on “we have this task at this time” and more centered on living in the moment. As such, Campbell noticed life seemed much more enjoyable and fulfilling for her.

Both Campbell and Touchard enjoyed their time in Europe last summer and appreciated the cultural differences they experienced.

By: Maggie Parker

LaRue Campbell, a senior general business major, attended Mass at St. Crist in Balaguer, Catalonia. After speaking with the head nun, Madre Superiora, she was invited into the convent to talk.

Additionally, she was given a tour of the convent.

Photo by: Jordina Rovira

While in Catalonia, LaRue Campbell visited the home of her friend’s grandfather for a family dinner. Campbell and Rovira’s aunt became the “Queens of Fire” as they built one to cook some of the meat needed for dinner.

Photo by: Josep Maria Rovira The Hawkeye | 13

Sport Management Students Gain Prac Students majoring in sport management at Shorter have the unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in event management through the Event and Facility Management course (SPM 4700).

The main goal of this course is to provide students with the most experiential opportunities possible while capitalizing on the local event management components, according to Dr. Kyle Conkle, assistant professor of sport management and course instructor. Students are required to attend event tours, complete simulations, and work at a minimum of five events relating to event and facility management in sports.

One of the most important parts of the class is to connect current students with Shorter University alumni and show their personal success within the field of sport management. This year, current students connected with alumni Jackie O’Reilly and Tyler Stinson to tour the Advent Health Stadium, home of the Rome Emperors (formerly Rome Braves).

“We like to bring alumni into the picture to showcase the success that has come out of our program. With this tour, I believe my students saw an all-encompassing view of how the world of sport management goes much further than what they see

while playing their sport at the collegiate level.

Through the course components, they see beyond the class and even beyond a tangible value,” said Conkle.

Students in the class are exposed to many opportunities to expand upon their sport management experiences. Junior sport management majors Landon Maynard and Cole McDaniel said completing the case simulations, serving as event workers for Shorter soccer games, and connecting with alumni, provided them with valuable experience and helped to prepare them for careers in sport management. “While taking part in the Advent Health stadium tour, I felt I got a well-rounded view of what truly goes into a managerial role. I saw areas such as ticketing, parking, concessions, marketing, and even social media aspects that I did not expect to see in real life even though we complete these components in our case simulations,” said McDaniel. Through this event tour, McDaniel voiced that he believed Shorter University is focused on producing good, quality students. Through tours and working events, McDaniel expressed his thankfulness to his professors for focusing on aiding students in their careers after college. Maynard served with McDaniel in helping Shorter’s athletic department during home soccer games. While these

Students in the Event and Facility Management course tour Advent Health Stadium and connect with sport management alumni.

Photo by: Rachel Morton Com Studies | 14

ctical Experience in Senior Level Class events occurred outside of class time, these students received hands-on training and understood the process of operating sporting events. Maynard said, “Through this class, I have been exposed to many sporting events here in the Floyd County area. My two favorite aspects of this class were the opportunities to help Shorter’s athletic department, which greatly shaped me. Also, seeing our alumni work and give back to the Rome community and how Shorter and their work in sport management has shaped them really gave me a new perspective.”

This class is truly a depiction of what Shorter University strives to provide to its students. As Conkle said, “This class goes above and beyond the course work. At Shorter, we believe in producing quality students to work in the sport management field and are proud of our alumni’s successes.”

By: Mary Casey

Dr. Michael Ross, associate professor of sport management & department chair (far left) and Dr. Kyle Conkle, assistant professor of sport management, (far right) reconnect with alumni Tyler Stinson and Jackie O’Reilly. Photo by: Rachel Morton

Cole McDaniel (left) and Landon Maynard, junior sport management majors, discuss what they learned at Advent Health Stadium, home of the Rome Emperors. Photo by: Rachel Morton

Cole McDaniel (left) and Landon Maynard, junior sport management majors, volunteer at a Shorter Hawks soccer game.

Photo by: Rachel Morton

The Hawkeye | 15

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6–7 (NIV)