Letter From the Editor in Chief
We at The Patriot Newspaper are so excited to be printing again. Our journalists and photographers have been training hard to maximize their skill sets. Looking forward to the last bi-term of the 2024-2025 school year, I cannot wait for hammock weather, longer days, and Spring events held by the Campus Activities Board (CAB).
I hope everyone stayed safe and dry during all the flooding on campus and all over eastern Kentucky. For a couple of days, the University of the Cumberlands’ football field was a lake! Additionally, I pray that finals went well. I am sure I am looking forward to Spring break!
In this issue, you will find reflective information regarding Dr. Cockrum’s time spent here as the university’s president. Dr. Cockrum spoke about his career achievements in his younger years and gave an honorable mention of his wife, Dixie. Seeing as Valentine’s Day has just passed, we have included a lovely treat for any lover of romance. Cumberlands is the scenic setting for many romance stories. We explored three of UC’s couples’ love stories, one of them being our very own staff writer Sydney Schwenke and her fiance Christian Dingus! Christian Dingus attracted more attention in this week’s issue than an epic proposal plan, but don’t worry, he was more than willing to share the Spotlight.
We heard the perspectives of both current Spotlight contestants and those who competed and were voted off this season. Whether or not you attend Spotlight, we all know how competitive the scene can be!
Please enjoy a Spring playlist as we move into the second bi-term this semester, and be sure to attend one of many Worry-Free Wednesday events!
Sincerely,
Morgan Roberts, EIC.
Staff
Editor- in- Chief Morgan Roberts
Managing Editor Filippa Malmstrom
Social Media Coordinator
Shayra Calderon
Staff Writers
Nicholas Jackson
Alexander Legg
Nic Lewis
Hannah Phillips
Sydney Schwenke
Staff Photographers
Lilly Mckeehan
Jonah Mumford
Brittany Smith
Faculty Advisor
Jeremiah Massengale
Cover Design by Hannah Phillips
Cover Photo Courtesy of UC Communications & Marketing
Hello Patriots!
An Interview With the President
Dr. Larry Cockrum Reflects on a Decade of Presidency
BY: NICHOLAS JACKSON AND SYDNEY SCHWENKE STAFF WRITERS
After a decade at the helm of the University of the Cumberlands, Dr. Larry L. Cockrum is preparing to step back from his leadership role as president. Having dedicated more than 50 years to education and coaching, Dr. Cockrum leaves behind a legacy of growth, financial sustainability, and commitment to education. As he reflects on his tenure, he shares insights into his leadership journey, the challenges he faced, and the future of the university.
For students looking to make the most of their time at Cumberlands, Dr. Cockrum offers simple yet profound advice: find balance. “Don’t study too much, and don’t play too much,” he said. “Enjoy yourself while you’re here and make some lifelong friends.” His words reflect a philosophy shaped by years of success in college that is not just about academic achievement but also about personal growth and meaningful relationships.
Reflecting on his own college experience, Dr. Cockrum admits that he was once “a little too cocky and confident.” While confidence can be beneficial, he acknowledges that humility and a willingness to learn are equally important. “If I could go back, I wouldn’t have been as cocky as I was,” he said. “But one thing I did learn was that if you work hard, set goals, and truly try to achieve them, you can accomplish more than you think.”
This mindset of perseverance and goal setting would later shape his approach as a leader at the university, ensuring that Cumberlands remained both financially stable and student-focused.
When Dr. Cockrum took on the role of university president, he had a clear set of objectives. His primary focus was sustainability— reducing the university’s debt while making education more accessible and affordable. “I wanted to get the school out of debt and make it more affordable for students,” he explained. “College is expensive, and I wanted to do what I could to ease that burden.” One of his most impactful initiatives was the Cumberlands Commitment, a plan to reduce tuition costs and simplify the pricing structure for students.
Dr. Cockrum recognized that many students, particularly first-generation college-goers, struggle to navigate the financial complexities of higher education. By creating a straightforward pricing model, he hoped to ease that burden. “A lot of small independent colleges followed the Ivy League schools in raising prices, but many of our students simply couldn’t afford that,” he noted. “We needed to make it simple and affordable.”
While financial improvements and policy changes are significant, Dr. Cockrum finds the most fulfillment in his interactions with students. Watching students arrive on campus as freshmen and later walk across the stage at graduation is one
of his greatest joys. “I love seeing the excitement in students’ eyes when they first come to campus and then seeing their pride when they graduate,” he said. “That’s what drives me.”
Dr. Cockrum is quick to credit his wife, Dixie, for her unwavering support throughout his tenure. The couple has been married for 53 years, and he describes her as his “rock” and his “sounding board.” Her wisdom and steady guidance, he says, have helped him navigate the challenges of leadership. “She gives great advice and keeps me from stepping off the cliff sometimes,” he admitted. “Without her, I wouldn’t be who I am.”
As he prepares to transition out of the presidency, Dr. Cockrum remains forwardthinking, particularly when it comes to the evolving landscape of education. He sees artificial intelligence (AI) as a game-changer, one that institutions must adapt to remain competitive. “AI is already here, and it’s going to change a lot of things,” he said. “Students know how to use it, and we need to teach faculty how to use it productively.”
He plans to remain a resource for the university’s Board of Trustees and the future president, offering guidance and support while ensuring a smooth transition. However, he also acknowledges the importance of allowing new leadership to take the reins.
“When someone has been in a role for a long time, it can be hard for them to leave, which makes it difficult for the next person,” he said. “You have to step away and find ways to support from the sidelines.”
As Dr. Cockrum looks back on his time at Cumberlands, he emphasizes the importance of continuous education. “Education isn’t just something you do for four years,” he said. “You have to keep learning throughout life.”
His legacy at Cumberlands is one of progress, resilience, and a commitment to students. Through financial reforms, a focus on affordability, and a deep passion for student success, he has left an undeniable mark on the university. As he prepares for his next chapter, Dr. Cockrum remains dedicated to the idea that education, like leadership, is a lifelong journey. “Cumberland has been a real blessing to me,” he said. “I’ve been on a lot of campuses, but our students here—I’d stack them up against any in the country.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF UC COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING
Entertainment
Take the Stage
Theatre and Music Department Announces Musical
BY: NIC LEWIS STAFF WRITER
After years of focusing on traditional plays, the University of the Cumberlands Theatre Department is about to embrace a new artistic direction. Under the leadership of Dr. Kim Miller, associate professor of theatre, musicals are returning to the stage. This exciting development will expand the department’s repertoire, offering students the chance to explore and grow in the world of musical theatre.
Musicals are usually related to a fun and exciting form of theatre; however, many don’t realize how much time and effort go into producing one. When you factor in the challenges of coordinating elements such as rehearsals, vocal lessons, set builds, costume fittings, and tech week, it’s clear that creating a musical is much more extended and more demanding than many think. For Dr. Miller, it was never the unwillingness to do musicals but the students’ time and commitment. “I have asked students over the past years, and I’ve said,’ Okay, realistically, if we were going to do a musical, how much time could you give to it?’ Most students say less than five hours,” she explains,” When we were doing musicals before, we were putting fifteen hours for rehearsal, fifteen hours for build, and two full weekends for costume. So, it all comes back to time.”
To seek interest and commitment levels from the students, Dr. Miller hosted an interest meeting on Monday, Feb. 17. “After the meeting, we’ll start looking for shows that will match the talent or be a slight stretch for our talent pool. As an educational institution, our job is to push or help students push their skill sets. So, if someone comes in and says,’ Well, I know how to waltz, I did a waltz in high school.’ Great! I love knowing that, but I’m not here to just take what’s already there. We’re here to grow and build. We want students to leave the University of the Cumberlands knowing more, being able to do more, understanding more, and having a greater impact than
when they came as freshmen,” Miller said. In addition to the time and commitment required from students, Dr. Miller also faces the hurdles of securing rights to productions. “Four of the major license grantors were merging into one big company, and then COVID hit, so their processes got delayed. Previously, when I went to one of these licensors and applied to do a show, by the time I logged off their dashboard, I already had the contract for the rights in my inbox,” Miller said, “Now, I get an email saying, ‘thank you, we’ll let you know within six weeks,’ and that has not changed. So, once everything has been locked in, then we will start promoting the show, and hopefully, we can start doing this over the summer and hold auditions in September or the first part of October.” When it comes to auditions, Dr. Miller has clear expectations for the actors who wish to be a part of the musical productions. “When we announce the musical, it would be great if people are serious that they come in knowing at least one song and have done some research on the musical on their own. I want a memorized piece, and I want it to be 16 bars in the style of the musical that we will be doing. In terms of dance, we usually go into this knowing we’re gonna be
teaching people how to dance, so we might have a separate movement,” Miller said. If students could not attend the musical interest, “They can get a hold of me. I’m currently in production, so please be patient. But what they need to know is: We’ll announce the show hopefully before the end of Spring but definitely over the summer. We will also announce when auditions will be and what people need to be prepared to do in that audition. A cast list will be announced before students need to sign up for spring classes, and then they would need to sign up for that class. Then, when we get back in January, we go.” Miller said. The next aligned production is “Failure: A Love Story” by Phillip Dawkins. It tells the story of the Fail sisters, three women who live in Chicago in the early 1900s, the Jazz Age. The play is a whimsical exploration of love, loss, and the complexities of relationships. You can see “Failure: A Love Story” in the Kohn Theatre March 6-8.
PHOTO BY BRITTANY SMITH
PHOTO BY BRITTANY SMITH
BY: NIC LEWIS STAFF WRITER
Check Out Our Playlist
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Features
BY: HANNAH PHILLIPS STAFF WRITER
Do UC Us Together?
Cumberlands Couples Celebrate How the School United Them
The University of the Cumberlands has proven itself to be about more than degrees and college memories.
Several alumnus and students have found their “forever person” on campus. Several students tribute their love life to the natural matchmaking properties of the university.
Micah McDavid, senior, met her fiancé, Ethan Worley, through church only a few years after he graduated from the University of Cumberlands. Although the couple got engaged in August 2024, McDavid always knew that Worley was the one for her.
“I knew he was the one a couple of months in, maybe. We went on a date to the Pinball Museum in Corbin. Afterwards we talked about everything. During our talk, my mind wandered to the thought that I could talk to him forever about everything. More than that, I realized that I wanted him to be a part of the ‘everything’ I was wanting,” McDavid said.
McDavid had no idea an ordinary date would turn into an engagement. Worley planned a trip to head to Mammoth Cave National Park but ran into a few obstacles along the way. The couple got lost during their hike, due to mistyping the route in Google Maps, missing one of their planned trails. However, their day was far from ruined.
“We got lost and turned around twicemissing one of the hikes we planned out. We finally got to our overlook to watch the sunset and realized we had forgotten to pack forks for the salad Micah had made us. I made chopsticks from some twigs. When dinner was done, I took her to the nearest overlook spot. My heart was pounding- this was it! Then, I set up my tripod to “take a picture of us”- but I really began a video, and then I asked, and she said yes,” Worley said. Ethan described his relationship with Micah as, “[An] unexpectedly perfect matchup,” while Micah chose “happily ever after.”
A second thriving couple that is adding to the love in the air at UC is Sydney Schwenke and Christian Dingus.
Schwenke, a junior at UC, met her fiancé, Dingus, in June 2021 at Camp Nathanael, where they were both campers.
“After camp, I didn’t think about him,” Schwenke said, while Dingus opposingly said, “I thought about her a lot.”
Schwenke and Dingus’ relationship began after camp, but they quickly had to navigate long distances. While Schwenke started her first year at the University of the Cumberlands, Christian remained in South Carolina.
“We did a year of long distance, and then Christian came to the Cumberlands—which was my dream,” Schwenke said.
For Dingus, the transition to the Cumberlands brought them even closer. “With how small the school is and the close-knit community, it gives us the opportunity to be together more,” he said. “Even compared to a bigger school, where we might live 10 or 15 minutes apart, here it’s just a one-minute walk.”
For Christian and Schwenke, Kingdom Come State Park holds a special place in their hearts—it’s where they shared one of their first dates. When Dingus planned a trip back to the scenic overlook, Schwenke had her suspicions. “All my friends and my sister knew,” she said. “And my sister is terrible at lying.”
As they hiked, Schwenke kept expecting the big moment. “I knew this is how I would propose to myself,” she joked. “But he just kept not proposing.”
Dingus had a strategy. “I didn’t want her to see it coming,” he said. “My buddy suggested I wait until we got to the top—so she wouldn’t expect it.” It turns out that his wait made the moment even sweeter.
“Then, he surprised me with a picnic and a walk around the lake. As we were leaving, he proposed,” Sydney stated. “The day before was
probably the most stressful day of my life because I had so much to think through and do. But after it happened, I was so relieved, and we got to go spend time with friends and family at a Christmas party.”
When asked to describe their love story in three words, the pair chose “renewed, missional, and fun.”
The love stories are far from scarce. Senior Sophie Roberts met her fiancé, Caleb Cox, in high school. “We met in class on the first
day of ninth grade. Caleb walked in and instantly said something that made everyone laugh, and I instantly felt something in my heart.”
As for marriage, Sophie claimed, “I’ve always known Caleb was the one I wanted to marry, but I knew he was the one I was going to marry when we got to college. I saw how he matured and truly stepped into that God-fearing man role.”
Caleb shared. “I knew she was the one I was going to marry when her pain became my pain, and her happiness felt just as important as my own; I cared for her so deeply that her dreams and aspirations became more important than mine- I want to see her succeed and support her in every way I can. Our connection is deeper than words and is something I feel in my soul,”
The proposal was nothing short of dreamy. “We were at Clearwater beach taking family pictures. The photographer started with just Caleb and I, which I thought was odd, because some rain clouds were coming, and I thought we’d want to get the group first. I was told to turn away from Caleb for the picture, and then I got an idea of what was happening. When I turned around, I was the most shocked I’d ever been! I obviously said yes!”
When asked to describe their love in three words, Sophie chose “Best-friends, laughter, and Commitment.”
University is not only a time for classes, grades, and part-time jobs. There is room for laughter, renewal, fun, and of course, love!
PHOTO COURTESY OF MICAH MCDAVID PHOTO COURTESY OF SOPHIE ROBERTS
PHOTO COURTESY OF SYDNEY SCHWENKE
Hitting the Right Notes
Inside This Year’s Spotlight
who they will be voting for, and if they want to do in-house votes, I think it should be reversed so that audience members vote for those they want to be eliminated, with love.”
voting was technically fair, he said, “I would take either Rachel and John live performing over a video of me. But I would also take them over other contestants if I’m being honest. Both of them going home was kind of two separate punches in the gut for me.” Dingus said that since they made it so far last season, “...seeing them both going home in week two was definitely a shocker.”
Like Wade and many other Spotlight competitors, Dingus struggled with sickness this season. He sent in a video because of his damaged voice and was surprised when he remained in the competition. Dingus stated, “I’ve experienced people having to send in videos before, and they just went home, so I didn’t even really consider there being a possibility [that he stay in the competition].” Dingus described his new determination to perform after realizing he was given the opportunity to move forward, saying, “I think for anyone who voted for me, they deserve for me to try my best, to give it everything I have.”
UC’s annual singing competition, Spotlight, is an opportunity for students to showcase their vocal talents. It is structured similarly to shows like American Idol, where contestants perform in rounds. Spotlight, hosted and funded by UC’s Campus Activity Board, CAB, is a widely enjoyed and attended campus-wide event hosted every spring semester. Now, in the 13th season, new judges heighten the competition standards. With each round and theme, eliminations are made more difficult.
John Saylor, a UC junior, was eliminated in the February third round. Saylor commented on the weekly themes, saying, “The themes are extremely random. I do think they are going to be interesting, but I do wish [contestants] wouldn’t abuse the system with it.” He commented on the opponent’s choice theme, where contestants select the song of a randomly assigned opponent. “It’s a really cool idea when done with integrity. However, a lot of contestants I have talked to are like, ‘Yeah, I’m just going to have them send me the song.’ Like dude, the whole point is that you’re not trying to throw them off, but that you’re thinking outside of the box.”
Concerning his elimination, Saylor stated that overall, he was “...fine with the decision [of being eliminated].” He said that since he participated in the competition for fun, “I am not too disappointed with it. I am not sure how the judges actually felt because their comments are always very vague.”
New themes and judges aren’t the only changes made this season. Spotlight 13 offered only in-house voting, contrasting recent years when students faced elimination based on inhouse voting, judges’ voting, and online voting. This novel system raised a few eyebrows. Cumberlands Senior Rachel Wade was also previously eliminated. The Spotlight veteran mentioned her disappointment with the new system, “Many people go to the competition knowing
When Wade got eliminated, many in the audience were shocked, as she had won third place overall the previous year. Wade said, “For this year, I got sick twice, and for much of the semester, I lost my voice, and it got in the way of practice time. I wish I would have changed my song selection. I only had two days to learn it, and it wasn’t a song I knew before, so it made it difficult. I didn’t walk away happy with myself. I think my fear really got in the way of my competition.”
Wade also commented on the positive relationships between contestants, “In years prior, there was tension which added pressure. There was no tension this year and we were all so helpful towards one another. After Corrie Bowers got a standing ovation and I got eliminated, Corrie sent me voice messages that really encouraged me and gave me honest feedback on my performance. They were very kind, and that was what I needed to hear at that time.”
UC junior Christian Dingus is also competing in his third year of Spotlight. Dingus echoed Wade’s view saying, “I think the competition in general is more friendly. It feels more like a showcase of talents because we’re all just rooting for each other.” He said that this was evident in the Feb. 19 round, “With opponent’s choice, it seems like everyone has gone out of their way to find a song that actually helps their opponent.”
In contradiction to Wade and Saylor’s statements on the judges’ vague scoring, Dingus feels that the judges have offered him more helpful criticism. He says, “For me, I struggle with having a strong stage presence. The judges have given me multiple tips over the years, which have helped me grow more comfortable on stage.”
When asked about the new voting system, Christian Dingus said, “I think that does help to make the competition less of a popularity contest. Because my friends don’t just sit behind their screens and vote over and over for me.” Dingus added that although he thought the
Cumberlands sophomore Corrie Bowers competes for the first time after her friends encouraged her to audition. Bowers expressed her gratitude for the experience so far because it has brought her friendship with Lily Hamilton, with whom she got paired with for duet night. Bowers says that Hamilton “Is a kindred spirit.” Bowers expressed additional gratitude for the support of other competitors. She said, “All of the contestants give me such kind comments, and they’ll say what an amazing job I did.”
Corrie Bowers said that a challenge for her is “definitely picking a specific song” because she bases her selection on how familiar she is with the song and how confident she is in her ability to do it justice while performing it her way. She said, “It’s just something new that I haven’t really done before because I usually sing harmony or duets.” Bowers described how her Christian faith informs how she views her talent. She said, “I don’t think of what I’m doing as like ‘this is my talent and this is all about me’...I know the songs we sing aren’t Christian, but ultimately, I can’t sing or wake up or even think without God allowing me to do that, so it’s been a blessing to be able to point people to God when they compliment me.”
BY: NIC LEWIS AND SYDNEY SCHWENKE STAFF WRITERS
PHOTO COURTESY OF C.A.B.
BY: HANNAH PHILLIPS STAFF WRITER
Worry-Free Wednesday Spring
Events
