Cumberlands Alumni Magazine - Spring 2017

SPRING 2017

ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Big Campus Man on

Shaquille O'Neal Visits UC

2016-2017

ALUMNI BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS PRESIDENT

Dr. Ann Lyttle-Burns, BS '91, MA '95

PRESIDENT-ELECT Kelly Raglin, '87

PAST PRESIDENT

Michael Bryant, II, '85-'90

SECRETARY

Lesley Swann, '97

Dear Alumni Family & Friends: Congratulations, Class of 2017, and welcome to the UC Alumni Association! Now that you are no longer students, we want you to know we are still here for you.

Whether you attended classes on campus or online, I encourage you to visit campus as often as possible. You are invited to attend your first Homecoming Weekend as alumni Sept. 29 - Oct. 1.

Our overall goal for 2017 is increased alumni engagement and communication. Stay connected by visiting our webpage (ucumberlands.edu/alumni) and following us on Facebook and Twitter. Send us your latest contact information so we can keep you informed.

Share your successes so we can celebrate with you.

Participate in the Alumni Ambassador Program and share your professional expertise with current UC students. These are just a few of the ways you can become involved at your alma mater!

I hope you enjoy this edition of Cumberlands Alumni Magazine, which features a story about Shaquille O’Neal’s recent visit to campus and stories about students both past and present. Shoes 4 the Soul, an annual campus event, is also featured on page nineteen. This event reminds me of Matthew 23:35-40, which I encourage you to read in addition to the article.

Later this year, we will send information explaining how you can contribute to this wonderful program. Thank you for your love and support of this great institution!

Sincerely,

Paul Stepp, '12 Alumni Director

BOARD MEMBER EMERITUS

Mary Doyle Johnson, '48 Dick Koeniger, '67 Dr. Ray Lipps, '70 Bill Lyttle, '75

TERM EXPIRING 2017

Dr. Ann Lyttle-Burns, BS '91, MA '95 Dr. Mike Clark, '85 Tim Henderlight, '71 Dr. John P. Hollingsworth, '63 Dr. David "Mike" Lee, '77

TERM EXPIRING 2018 Raymond Cox, '70 Chester "Mac" Gibson, '64 Kelly Raglin, '87 Lesley Swann, '97 Meghan Swope, '12

TERM EXPIRING 2019

Megan Adams, '13 Retired Maj. Gen. Kenneth Dowd, '79 Harold "Lee" Kendall, '82 Danny Lunsford, Jr., '09 Steve Newell, '03

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS

Larry L. Cockrum, President Jamirae Hammons, Vice President for Institutional Advancement Paul P. Steely, '49, Trustee Liaison

OFFICE OF ALUMNI SERVICES

Paul Stepp, '12, Alumni Director Stephanie (Taylor) Freeman, BS '10, MBA '14, Administrative Assistant Angelica Makoski, Work Study Student Design, articles and contributions by staff and student members of 2016-2017 Office of University Communications & Marketing.

ALUMNI MAGAZINE

8

Patriots Athletics

18

Surrounded by Characters

19

Shoes 4 the Soul

20

Leading the Future

22

A Typical Work Day

23

Class Notes

26

A Legacy: The Cumberland Rap

30

UC Tribute Program

14

Cover Story

As the keynote speaker for the Twelfth Annual Excellence in Leadership Series, Dr. Shaquille O'Neal discussed what it means to be a champion.

Coming Soon!

AND

4 Graduation The Class of 2017 turned their tassels and became new members of the UC Alumni Family.

6

Campus Additions Chick-fil-A Express and Starbucks are arriving on campus in the fall of 2017.

11

Michelle Warnky See this Patriot's groundbreaking journey to the "American Ninja Warrior" platform.

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

|

3

SPRING2017

Class of 2017

O

n May 6, 2017, UC conferred 927 degrees during the annual commencement ceremonies.

For the first time in school history, the University held two services to celebrate the

graduating students: one in the morning for undergraduates and one in the evening for graduate and doctoral students.

“We are proud of our institution and of our graduates,” said President Larry Cockrum. “Today, the University family pauses to recognize you and the significance of this milestone in your life and in the life of the University.”

4

|

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

SPRING2017

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

|

5

SPRING2017

& COMING TO CAMPUS

Students Compete in National Cyber League Students pursuing a degree in information technology sciences are bringing their classroom experience to the playing field as a team in the National Cyber League, competing against universities like Harvard, MIT and Yale.

“The comradery and the challenge is what I enjoy most about being part of the team,” said Zack Smith, a senior from Corbin, Kentucky. “I think that with our success this year so far, and the experience we have gained, we will be extremely competitive in next year’s competition.”

Competitions in the league consist of finding solutions to complicated technology problems, such as analyzing network traffic logs to determine where malicious virus traffic is located. Although the competitions are individual efforts, the students prepare together as a team, using a “cyber training gym” to develop and

hone their skills.

In addition to providing hands-on experience in the field of information technology, participation in the National Cyber League opens up a range of career opportunities for the students.

“Several different governmental and corporate organizations are privy to the student and team results and use this information for job recruitment,” said Justin Hensley, BS ’07, MBA ’10, MSIS ’15, Network Director and one of the team's coaches. “Our vision is for our students to have employers waiting for them upon graduation.”

The cyber league team at UC is led by Dr. Donnie Grimes, BSE ’89, Ph.D. ’15, Dr. Edward Zuger, Ken Sims, ’87, and Hensley from the School of Computer and Information Sciences, which strives to prepare students to be well-versed in modern technology concepts, critical thinking and problem solving.

Chick-fil-A Express and Starbucks will open their doors on UC’s campus beginning in the fall of 2017.

“Cumberlands is pleased to be able to bring Chick-fil-A Express and Starbucks to Williamsburg,” said President Larry Cockrum. “We are constantly working to create a campus environment that serves the needs of our students. We believe these restaurants will be very popular based on the positive feedback received.”

Chick-fil-A Express will be located in the University Grill on the main level of the Boswell Campus Center. The menu will include Chick-fil-A’s famous fried and grilled chicken sandwiches, chicken nuggets, waffle potato fries, freshly-squeezed lemonade and other items.

The Starbucks kiosk, located on the mid-level of the BCC just outside the UC Bookstore, will provide a full drink menu that includes the most popular Starbucks beverages.

Career Planning from Day One Incoming students at UC can now receive career counseling to help them maximize their experience at the University.

The program, offered through Career Services and organized by Debbie Harp, ’79, provides students with 6

|

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

career guidance, mock interviews, résumé reviews and more. Counseling services are provided by Harp and Sara Brussese, the Career Planner for the University.

“We wanted to provide opportunities for students to not only solidify their

major and career path, but to begin thinking about their career options from day one,” said Dr. Emily Coleman, ’01, UC’s Vice President for Student Services. “We hope that this program helps students with identifying their career path earlier.”

SPRING2017 SPRING2017 From Left to Right: Trenton Canada, Ashton Rector, Alyssa Parrott, Ford Edwards, Prof. Jeremiah Massengale and Hope Austin, members of The Patriot staff, stand on the rooftop of Washington D.C.’s Newseum, which overlooks the United States Capitol.

The Patriot Wins State and National Awards The Patriot, UC’s student newspaper, placed sixth in national competition last October and received 14 awards from the Kentucky Press Association (KPA) in January.

“To receive these awards and to successfully ‘compete’ alongside major public universities says a lot about the value of our journalism program and the quality of our students,” said Jeremiah Massengale, ’05, a professor at UC and the newspaper’s faculty advisor.

At the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) National Media Convention in Washington D.C., The Patriot brought home sixth place in the Best of Show awards for newspapers

distributed less than weekly. It was the first time The Patriot received a Best of Show award at an ACP convention. Then, in January, The Patriot also received a collective total of 14 KPA awards for individual stories and photos.

“We challenge one another to push past what we are comfortable with in order to broaden our journalistic abilities,” said Ashton Rector, ’17, from Oneida, Tennessee, who served as one of The Patriot’s editors. “I also believe there is extreme value in gaining hands-on experience as a student. I have been able to apply what I have heard professors instruct through The Patriot and that is irreplaceable.”

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

|

7

SPRING2017

PATRIOTSATHLETICS

SWIMMING THREE-PEAT

For the third year in a row, women’s swimming captured the Mid-South Conference Championship. Grace Moffat, a freshman from Gold Coast, Australia, and Christina Klouda, a sophomore from Knoxville, Tennessee, both earned accolades during the competition as Freshman of the Year and Swimmer of the Year, respectively. The team would go on to place sixth in the NAIA National Championship.

FIRST-EVER PATS AWARDS UC athletic teams took a break from their busy schedules to come together and honor the achievements of the 2016-17 season during the inaugural PATS Awards on April 17, 2017. Individual students and team performances were recognized during the event for their work on the field, in the classroom and in the community.

Lana West (above), Administrative Assistant for the Department of Athletics, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. West has spent the past 25 years working with UC Athletics and the Mid-South Conference.

MEN’S BASKETBALL RETURNS TO NATIONAL TOURNAMENT The men’s basketball team finished fourth in the Mid-South Conference this year and competed in the NAIA Division I National Tournament in March, concluding their run with an overall season record of 22-9. This marks the fourth straight year that the team has competed at the national tournament, including last year when they advanced to the quarterfinals.

8

|

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

SPRING2017

BOWLING TEAMS FIND SUCCESS

For the first time in program history, the men’s bowling team won the Mid-South Conference Tournament and the women’s team had singles and doubles champions.

Both teams competed in the national tournament.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SERVES THE COMMUNITY At the first-ever PATS Awards, women’s basketball received the Team Champion of Character Award for their service to the greater community. In the past year alone, the team has routinely collected recycling across campus, hosted donation projects for individuals in need and served on various other service projects in the area.

BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL TEAMS CLAIM MSC CHAMPIONSHIPS

ARCHERY TRIPLE CROWN The archery team, which is comprised of men and women, won the Triple Crown this year, claiming a repeat title as USIAC 3D National Champions and adding the titles of Indoor and Outdoor National Champions.

The baseball and softball teams at UC both knocked it out of the park during the Mid-South Conference Championships, walking away as victors of their respective tournaments. It was the first-ever tournament title for the softball team and only the second title for the baseball team.

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

|

9

SPRING2017 SPRING2017

Athletic Hall of Fame

2017 INDUCTEES

From left to right: Darren Poore, Tasha (Perry) Singleton, Brant Poore, Allison (Smith) Bonds, Tony Pietrowski and Konnie (Irvin) Snyder.

ALUMNI ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF INDUCTIONS Established in 1996 by the Alumni Board of Directors, the Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame (AAHOF) has inducted 80 former athletes, 13 coaches, five special contributors, two athletic achievement recipients and three athletic teams. On Jan. 21, 2017, the AAHOF celebrated 20 years of inductions with six new members.

ALLISON (SMITH) BONDS, ’87 | Women’s Basketball

Bonds, of Sweetwater, Tennessee, is the daughter or Robert and Alice Smith. She is a store manager for Shoe Carnival in Knoxville, Tennessee, and has two daughters, Brianna and Jasmine. »» »» »» »» »» »»

Played 56 games at UC 364 career rebounds Co-leader for most rebounds in a single game On the first team in school history to win 20 games in a season On the first team in school history to win a District 32 championship On the first team in UC history to play in the NAIA National Tournament

»» »» »» »» »» »»

Started as a shortstop his freshman year Played in 168 consecutive games Fourth overall single season batting average with 0.445 in 1991 204 career hits (tied fourth overall) Nine career triples (tied third overall) Four-time All-Conference First Team (1989-92)

TASHA (PERRY) SINGLETON, ’06 | Women’s Swimming

»» »» »» »»

»» 26-time All-American »» 2005 NAIA National Champion in the 200 backstroke »» Overall ranked 3rd in the 200 backstroke and 6th in the 100 backstroke »» Overall ranked 7th in the 200 freestyle and 10th in both the 50 and 100 freestyle

Played 136 games at UC 654 career assists Sixth all-time for steals in a single season (62 in 1998-99) One of two players in school history to accumulate over 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 300 assists and 200 steals

BRANT POORE, ’94 | Baseball

Poore is the son of G.J. and Doris Poore and was born in Covington, Kentucky. He is now the co-founder, president and CEO of Information Capture Solutions, LLC in London, Kentucky.

He resides in Williamsburg with his wife, Jennifer. They have three sons and one daughter, Eric, Alex, Evan and Avery. »» »» »» »»

|

Poore, of Covington, Kentucky, is the son of G.J. and Doris Poore.

He currently works as a project manager for Baker Concrete Construction of Monroe, Ohio. He lives in Walden, Kentucky, with his wife, Gina, and their two children, Jared and Alyson.

TONY PIETROWSKI, ’00 | Men’s Basketball

Pietrowski, of Corbin, Kentucky, is the son of Paul and Betsy Pietrowski. He is a business teacher and basketball coach at Corbin High School. He and his wife, Wendy, have two children, Eli and Lynnlee.

10

DARREN POORE, ’93 | Baseball

Four-year starting pitcher 248 career pitches Produced 28 career wins Produced 199 career strikeouts

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

Singleton is a third-generation swimmer, teacher and coach from Ocala, Florida. She is married to her college sweetheart, Kyle Singleton, BS '06, MAT '09. They reside in Danville, Kentucky, with their two children, Gus and Gracee.

KONNIE (IRVIN) SNYDER, ’89 | Women’s Basketball

Snyder is the daughter of Kenny and Bonnie Irvin of Keavy, Kentucky.

She is currently in her second year as an assistant coach for the women’s basketball program at UC and lives in London, Kentucky, with her husband, Larry. The couple has two sons, Nicholas and Korey, one daughter-in-law, Vanessa, and one grandchild, Andrew. »» »» »» »»

414 career assists and 0.793 free-throw percentage 169 assists in the 1988-89 season 25-point game against Georgetown College in the 86-87 season 30-point game against Alice Lloyd College in the 87-88 season

Mitchell Leff (NBC)

SPRING2017 SPRING2017

MICHELLE WARNKY Climbing the Wall, Shattering the Ceiling

Three years ago, on a bitterly cold spring night in St. Louis, Michelle Warnky, ’06, made history as one of only three women to complete an "American Ninja Warrior" qualifying course.

“This woman is fearless,” said Matt Iseman, co-host of NBC’s "American Ninja Warrior," as Warnky began to run the course that spring night in 2014.

Within a few moments of beginning the course – three minutes and eight seconds to be exact – Warnky had accomplished what only two other women had ever managed to do in the show’s first six seasons: master the warped wall, the competition’s 14-foottall conclusion, and complete an entire qualifying course. Once Warnky hit the buzzer, located at the top of the wall behind five other challenging obstacles, she jumped in celebration, fists raised in the air, while the crowd cheered along with her.

“The crowd is on its feet,” Iseman said. “They know they’re watching greatness here in Michelle Warnky.”

By completing the course that night, Warnky helped set a precedent for other female athletes in a sport that remained largely dominated by men.

Warnky, who has participated on "American Ninja Warrior" each year since 2013, loves competing on the show and finding new ways to break ground.

Originally from Westerville, Ohio, Warnky enrolled at Cumberland College in the early 2000s to study exercise science, religion and psychology. As a student, Warnky was a member of the track and cross country teams, helping win the University four straight MidSouth Conference (MSC) titles and a conference championship. She was also an MSC All-Conference Selection for three years and an All-American in the 4x800 indoor relay.

“Michelle wasn’t afraid to take on a challenge and give it her best,” said Dr. BJ Temple, BS ’01, Ed.D. ’13, UC professor, assistant athletic director and Warnky’s former track coach. “She is

the type of person who is not going to back down from a challenge because others think it can’t be accomplished.”

When graduation approached in 2006, Warnky was presented with the first of many life-changing opportunities. Shortly after receiving her diploma, she boarded a plane that would take her to Kazakhstan, a Central Asian country that shares borders with China and Russia. She only planned to spend one year there, teaching English as a second language, but circumstances led her to stay five years instead.

“Every year, I thought it was my last year,” Warnky said, “but I always came back because I knew that was where God wanted me.”

When she did return to the United States, resuming life in Columbus, Ohio, she was introduced to another opportunity that would change everything.

It started with an obstacle course know as the Warrior Dash.

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

|

11

SPRING2017

"THIS WOMAN IS FEARLESS!" - Matt Iseman, co-host of NBC’s "American Ninja Warrior" Photo Credit: NBC

Before completing the course a friend asked if Warnky had ever heard of a show called "American Ninja Warrior," mentioning that another Cumberlands alumnus, Brendan Kelly, ’13, had recently competed on it.

“I looked it up and was instantly in love,” she said.

Now beginning its ninth season, "American Ninja Warrior" features competitors from across the country taking on challenging obstacles that test endurance, speed, agility and upper-body strength for a chance to earn the title of American Ninja Warrior – a title only two competitors have received in the show’s first eight seasons.

As Warnky set out to learn more about the competition, she soon realized very few women were participating. At one point, Warnky was uncertain as to whether women were even allowed to compete, she said.

“I remember my mom and I actually paused the TV when they showed a big group shot for Vegas and scanned all the faces to see if any girls were doing it,” Warnky said.

They only saw a handful.

12

|

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

Refusing to be discouraged, Warnky visited a gym in New Jersey owned

by Chris and Brian Wilczewski, two competitors on "American Ninja Warrior." After catching her eye on the brothers’ warped wall, a homemade 14-foot-tall wall with a curved top, she attempted running up it for two hours, falling short each time but refusing to quit, before finally finding a rhythm that allowed her to reach the top.

The visit to New Jersey only confirmed what Warnky already suspected: she had to try out for the show. She returned to Columbus even more determined to compete.

To kick-start her training, she spoke with the owners of Vertical Adventures, a climbing gym in Columbus she’d been visiting for years, and asked if she could build ninja obstacles using their space. Once she started posting videos and pictures from the gym online, she got a call from a producer on "American Ninja Warrior" who asked if she was interested in trying out. She emphatically said yes.

“When I first tried out, I tried not to think about it,” Warnky said, laughing.

“And for the first three or four months,

I could not sleep well. I was literally so excited that I could not sleep.”

Then, after months of preparation, it was time to put her training to the test.

“When you’re running the course, your nerves are to the max because you know you only get one chance,” Warnky said. “You don’t know the little quirks or surprises on the obstacles.”

The courses themselves are red and blue with flashing lights and cheering crowds. Water, frigid and bright blue, awaits falling competitors beneath each obstacle. Cameras are everywhere.

“Honestly, the lights don’t really bother me,” Warnky said. “It’s the knowledge that this is going to define me for the next year, so if I fall early, I will never live that down.”

Because the course designs vary from city to city, contestants don’t know what their city’s course will consist of until it’s their time to run it. If they fall at any point, their season is over at the first splash of water.

“You just mentally try to go through the course in your head and try to think of any dumb mistakes you might make,” Warnky said. “When you step up on the starting line, it’s like an out-of-body

SPRING2017

Photo Credit: Justin Merriman (NBC)

Photo Credit: Mitchell Leff (NBC)

experience.”

Although Warnky first competed in 2013, it was in 2014 that she made her mark as the second woman to conquer the warped wall and a qualifying course.

And while Warnky did not qualify to move on from the city finals that first year, nor in subsequent seasons, she has participated in the Las Vegas finals four times as a wildcard entry.

The pressure to do well is intense among the competitors. The athletes only get one chance per year to prove themselves, and so no matter how many times Warnky takes on the course, her heart still breaks any time she falls off an obstacle and into the freezing water below.

“When you see other ninjas fall, you know exactly what they’re feeling,” Warnky said. “I think that’s one of the reasons why the community is so close: because we all go through so much disappointment.”

But the ninjas, including Warnky,

don’t stop when they hit the buzzer or the water. They continue training throughout the off-season with a particular emphasis on the obstacles that previously took them out of the competition.

Warnky herself now operates a ninja gym of her own: Movement Lab Ohio in Columbus (mlabohio.com).

She co-owns the gym with the Wilczewski brothers from the gym in New Jersey that Warnky first visited,

obstacles and gymnasium staples. In addition to being a gateway to the ninja community, Movement Lab Ohio is also a popular birthday destination.

“I knew it’d be hard, but I know that’s what needed to happen,” Warnky said.

“And I’m glad it did because it’s so rewarding.”

Warnky now manages the gym fulltime, but she still finds room in her schedule to train and participate in ninja events at other gyms across the country. In the spring of 2017, she competed on "American Ninja Warrior" for the fifth consecutive year.

And although the show still predominantly features male competitors, athletes like Warnky, along with several others, have helped pave the way for other women to take their own chance at conquering the course.

“For the women, there’s so much uncharted territory,” Warnky said.

“Every time you step up to the platform, you have the chance to make history.”

“EVERY TIME YOU STEP UP TO THE PLATFORM, YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO

MAKE HISTORY.” bringing her experience with "American Ninja Warrior" full circle. It took several months to find the right location for the gym and to complete necessary renovations, but the completed facilities now include a combination of ninja

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

|

13

The 2017 Excellence in Leadership Series with special guest Shaquille O’Neil.

O

n April 5, 2017, Dr. Shaquille O’Neal served as the keynote speaker for the Twelfth Annual Excellence in Leadership Series.

O’Neal, a retired NBA champion, media superstar and savvy businessman, discussed with the sold-out crowd what it means to be a champion and how to handle success.

BEING A CHAMPION

O’Neal’s story started when he was a teenager, he said, living on a military base with his family in Texas.

“When I was 13-years-old, I got in trouble with the police,” O’Neal told the crowd. “I was a medium-level juvenile delinquent. Steal bubblegum, clothes.

Break into cars. Things of that nature.

And I got caught one day.”

He was stopped by his uncle, a police officer in the area, who put him in handcuffs, sat him in the squad car, and proceeded to book him into the local jail.

Before leaving O’Neal in the cell that night, his uncle asked what he wanted to be when he grew up. O’Neal considered the question, ultimately deciding he wanted to be a professional athlete – like Dr. J or Magic Johnson.

With that in mind, O’Neal had one assignment during his three days in jail, given to him by his uncle as he pulled the cell door shut: figure out an acronym for what it means to be a champion.

So he got to work.

The first letter, C, stood for Caring.

“As a youngster, I didn’t really care 14

|

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

about much,” O’Neal said, standing behind the podium in the Rollins Center.

“So to all the students in the stands, you’ve got to start caring about your future. You’ve got to start caring about what people think. You’ve just got to care.”

Being a champion also involved

sergeant in the U.S. Army, was tough on him, O’Neal said, always encouraging him to push himself further: bringing C averages to Bs and putting in the hours necessary for success.

“Every chance I get, I just look up at the sky and just say, ‘thank you,’ because [my father] taught me so much,” O’Neal

“YOU HAVE TO ASPIRE TO BE GREAT,” O’NEAL SAID. “AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU FIGHT YOUR WAY THROUGH DREAMS, IT ALL COMES TRUE.” Humility, O’Neal said, along with having Aspirations. Motivation and Perseverance were other key components in O’Neal’s drive to the future.

His father, Phillip A. Harrison, a

said. “[My parents] were honest. They were real. The fact that I was a great basketball player? They never cared.”

O’Neal would ultimately become a high school All-American during his

time at Robert G. Cole High School in San Antonio, Texas. That was only the beginning.

His Inspiration moving forward came during an encounter with Coach Dale Brown from Louisiana State University (LSU). When the two met, Brown was in awe of O’Neal’s impressive height.

“Right then and there I explained that, ‘Coach, I’m not a good basketball player – probably will never go to college, parents can’t afford it,’” O’Neal recalled.

Brown offered O’Neal a full scholarship to LSU on the spot.

“That’s why I chose to go to LSU,” O’Neal said. “Before I became the character known as Shaq, my inspiration, by the name of Dale Brown, offered me a scholarship."

SPRING2017

Taking advantage of Opportunities and Never giving up rounded out the acronym, both valuable lessons O’Neal has carried with him throughout his career.

“One thing I always did was never, ever give up,” he said. “You know, students in the stands, you’re going to learn that before you succeed, you must first learn to fail. Many great pioneers failed before they accomplished what they set out to accomplish.”

A STAR ON THE COURT

O’Neal would go on to leave LSU and join the NBA as the first draft pick of 1992, playing for the Orlando Magic and five other teams over the course of his career. He also played for the

"YOU’RE GOING TO LEARN THAT BEFORE YOU SUCCEED, YOU MUST FIRST LEARN TO FAIL. MANY GREAT PIONEERS FAILED BEFORE THEY ACCOMPLISHED WHAT THEY SET OUT TO ACCOMPLISH.” “Dream Team II” in the 1994 FIBA World Championship, earning a gold medal and becoming the tournament’s MVP. He later earned a second gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

|

15

SPRING2017

Throughout his time in the NBA, O’Neal stayed in the spotlight, starring in films, such as “Kazaam,” and countless advertisements.

In 2011, after a long and successful career, O’Neal retired from the NBA. He currently serves as an analyst on TNT’s Emmy-winning “Inside the NBA” and continues to pursue marketing opportunities.

“I’m just a regular guy that had great opportunities,” O’Neal said. “I listened to a lot of people. I never gave up. I took advantage of opportunities. Because of the NBA, the social media, I’m wellrecognized, but I don’t consider myself a ‘superstar.’”

When he crossed the stage at graduation, his mother, crying, mentioned they “didn’t have any doctors in the family,” O’Neal said. He would later pursue his doctorate, studying the duality of humor and seriousness in leadership styles.

“I wanted my kids to be able to look and see someone who was always focused on education, always doing the right thing in the community,” O’Neal said. “That’s why I went back. For me, when I go to PTA meetings, it makes me feel so great when they call me Dr. O’Neal.”

HITTING THE BOOKS

In addition to managing his media presence and his investments in companies like Google, O’Neal finds the time to be an active participant in law enforcement. He first began working as a reserve officer for the Los Angeles Port Police before subsequently being sworn in as a sheriff’s deputy in Clayton County, Georgia.

“Every time I turn on the news, all I see is negativity, and I don’t want the world to be like that," he said.

As O’Neal’s time at Cumberlands came

Basketball wasn’t O’Neal’s only driving force, though. After leaving LSU to pursue the NBA, O’Neal received frequent inquiries from his family about when he would return to school. He did just that in 2000, earning his bachelor’s degree from LSU. Still, however, O’Neal would sit in meetings where people ignored him, assuming he wasn’t interested or couldn’t keep up, he said. So O’Neal took it upon himself to earn his MBA.

SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT

UC Honors Fallen Officers Children awarded full scholarships

Officer Jason Ellis, ’03, of the Bardstown Police Department and Officer Daniel Ellis of the Richmond Police Department were honored with Legacy Awards during the Excellence in Leadership Series. The awards were presented to the families of both officers by UC President Larry Cockrum and Shaquille O’Neal.

“There is a higher power in the calling to serve as a police officer,” Cockrum said. “We are humbled to honor the legacy of these two officers who lived with great courage and honor, and who made the ultimate sacrifice to serve and protect.”

As a member of the Bardstown Police Department, Officer Jason Ellis worked every day to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the community he swore to protect. On May 25, 2013, Jason was killed in an ambush on the Bluegrass Parkway while on duty. A 2003 graduate of Cumberlands, Jason played minor 16

|

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

to a close, following a Q&A with students in the audience, O’Neal was named an honorary member of the Williamsburg Police Department by Mary Ann Stanfill, a member of Williamsburg’s City Council, and Police Chief Wayne Bird.

TAKING A FINAL BOW

And, just like that, another Excellence in Leadership Series came to a close.

“Having a person as influential as Shaq come to our school is an absolute blessing,” said Brad Paynter, ’17, from Carlisle, Ohio. “To see how down to Earth he is, and how much he cares about others around him, is inspiring.”

league baseball for a team affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds before joining the Bardstown Police Department in 2006 and later becoming the station’s K-9 Officer. When he wasn’t on patrol, Jason spent his time with his wife, Amy (Phillips) Ellis, ’04, and their two sons, Hunter and Parker. He also coached little league baseball and helped organize 5K runs with Amy to raise funds and awareness for down syndrome.

“Jason’s integrity was probably second to none,” said former

SPRING2017

Bardstown Police Chief Rick McCubbin. “He was the type who would always do the right thing when no one was looking. He was a great officer who treated people with respect.”

A graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, Officer Daniel Ellis joined the Richmond Police Department in 2008 with the intention of helping people and saving lives. On Nov. 6, 2015, he was killed in the line of duty while investigating a robbery.

When Daniel first joined the Richmond Police Department, he served as a bike patrol officer and continued rising in the station’s ranks, later earning a promotion to detective that was set to begin in January 2016. Outside the force, Daniel spent his time with his wife, Katie, and their son, Luke. In the time since Daniel’s death, Katie has established a foundation in his name with the goal of inspiring, empowering, educating and assisting Madison County. The foundation offers scholarships and hosts the Daniel Ellis Memorial 5K. The families of Officer Jason Ellis (left) and Officer Daniel Ellis (right) received awards and full-tuition scholarships during the Excellence in Leadership Series.

“Without a doubt, Daniel made our community a better place,” said former Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock. “I think about Daniel every day. He’s the kind of officer you want to have, and he’s the kind of man that if I had a son that’s how I’d want him to be.”

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

|

17

SPRING2017

characters

SURROUNDED BY

Alumna Returns for Palmer Lecture Jolina (Miller) Petersheim, ’08, still remembers the first C she ever received. She was in a freshman composition class at UC and left the Bennett Building that rainy day with tears in her eyes as she hid behind an umbrella, the marked-up paper burning a hole in her bag.

Today, Petersheim is a published, critically-acclaimed novelist who returned to Cumberlands in the spring of 2017 as the keynote speaker for the Department of English's Palmer Lecture. That C-paper, while a distant memory, continues to serve as a reminder of where she’s been and the stories she still has to tell.

“Jolina is a fantastic writer and speaker who has found success through her novel writing,” said Jamey (Hill) Temple, ’03, an English professor at UC. “We’re proud to call her one of our own.”

Growing up with a Pennsylvania Dutch Mennonite heritage, Petersheim did not have a television to hold her attention as a child, so she filled her afternoons with books and journals, using her own imagination to bring worlds of fiction to life. She wrote her first stories in a diary in the first grade and has been finding new ways to tell more stories ever since.

“I started journaling at a young age and from that love of reading and writing came a love to create books,” Petersheim said.

When she arrived at Cumberlands as the first person in her immediate family to attend college, Petersheim believed a career in journalism was in her future. She quickly realized, however, that the inverted pyramid and the concise, unbiased writing of journalism was not a style she preferred. She decided to double major in English and communication arts, jumping headfirst into the world of literature.

“She used to come by my office and tell me stories,” said Dr. Tom Frazier, ’69, Chair of the English Department. “I’d say, ‘Don’t tell me those stories. Write them down.’ And she did.”

As Petersheim made her way through the Department of English, studying literature and the art of composition, she found herself enrolled in two classes that changed everything.

Nancy (Bowden) Jensen, the professor who had given Petersheim that C in freshman composition, was teaching two courses in creative fiction and creative nonfiction. Petersheim, who at the time was coping with the death of a friend and another

18

|

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

friend’s recent cancer diagnosis, found a cathartic outlet in those classes.

“I could pour myself into writing and look at life as both an observer and a participant,” Petersheim said. “Something about that just unlocked so much for me. I realized that it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.”

After graduation, Petersheim kept writing. She was working parttime in an outlet grocery store she and her husband owned, writing during her lunch breaks and whenever she could find the time, when she got her first glimpse into the publishing world.

When she ultimately met Wes Yoder, a literary agent and the founder of Ambassador Agent, they had an instant connection.

Before even realizing he was an agent, Petersheim conversationally pitched him the plot of the novel she was working on – a modern retelling of "The Scarlett Letter" in a Mennonite community – and he asked her to send him 25,000 words of the existing draft. He later asked to read the whole thing.

“So I worked eight-hour days, five days a week, for the next six months,” Petersheim said. “That was the first novel.”

Shortly afterwards, she had a two-book deal with Tyndale House Publishers and her first novel, "The Outcast," began to hit shelves across the country.

The novel would go on to do better than the publishers anticipated, Petersheim said, which she attributes to the literary allusions and the story’s roots in Mennonite culture. The novel also took narrative and stylistic risks, including a deceased omniscient narrator.

“The omniscient perspective of a dead character, which gave a different take on the story, intrigued and upset some people,” Petersheim said. “Which is good because controversy sells books.

It’s supposed to push the limits a little bit.”

When Petersheim first began drafting novels, she confessed that she never anticipated writing about her Mennonite heritage. Now, as she works on her fifth novel rooted in the culture, Petersheim finds that she enjoys it in part because it allows her to explore the

“EACH LIFE IS BOOK WORTHY, IT’S JUST A MATTER OF HOW IT'S WRITTEN."

Petersheim said at the conclusion of her Palmer Lecture presentation

intricate nature of culture and community. It also allows her to get in touch with her heritage.

Her other novels continue to find correlation, sometimes in the smallest ways, to her own life experiences, too. She wrote her second novel, "The Midwife," shortly after her first daughter was born as she coped with sleepless nights and a wailing infant, while her recent duology, "The Alliance" and "The Divide," was based on an uncomfortable encounter with a stranger Petersheim had while walking in the woods with her daughter.

Even now, as she continues to write the first draft of her fifth novel, Petersheim looks for parallels in everyday life.

As she said during the Palmer Lecture, writing is about looking at the surrounding world and preserving it to memory. Each moment is a scene or a chapter, like receiving a marked-up paper, while the people passing by are the characters. When it comes to writing, it is ultimately a matter of finding the stories that call out and demand to be told.

SPRING2017

SHOES SOUL

The children who attend Shoes 4 the Soul receive new shoes, socks and backpacks,

but they also leave with an invaluable look into what could be their future.

Shoes 4 the Soul is an annual event hosted by UC as a way to serve children in need within the Whitley County area. This August, just as the new school year begins, students, faculty and staff will gather together to meet the needs of more than 500 children from local elementary schools.

Throughout the morning, volunteers wash the children’s feet and fit them with new shoes and socks. The children also receive brand new backpacks filled with school supplies.

“The school does a great job of doing what it believes in with the community service and volunteering,” said Kathryn Hart, Head Coach for the volleyball team at UC. “I’m proud to be a

part of it.”

Shoes 4 the Soul began at Cumberlands in 2011 and has touched the lives of more than 1,600 local children to date.

“You get to help people who are less fortunate than you,” said Jayson Byrd, a senior from Goodway, Alabama. “You try to interact with [the kids]. Most of the time, they just want somebody to talk to.”

Beginning this fall, all incoming freshmen will participate in Shoes 4 the Soul as their first introduction to UC’s mission of serving others. It is an opportunity for them to learn more about their new community and to put smiles on the faces of countless children.

“The look on their faces when you are washing their feet and they get those new shoes is just great and humbling,” said Courtney Hixson, ’15.

“It is a moment that I know I will never forget.”

Shoes 4 the Soul is made possible by the overwhelming generosity of alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the University.

To continue the success of Shoes 4 the Soul, UC has set a University-wide goal of raising

$5,000. For only $20, you can sponsor a child: giving them a new pair of shoes and socks, as well as a backpack filled with school supplies, to help them start the new year right.

FOR ONLY $20, YOU CAN SPONSOR A CHILD IN NEED AT SHOES 4 THE SOUL AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

CAN YOU HELP? GIVE ONLINE AT UCUMBERLANDS.EDU/SHOES4SOUL Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

|

19

One of UC’s central missions is to develop strong, compassionate leaders who can create tangible change and lead movements. More than 200 working professionals are learning to do just that in the Doctorate of Educational Leadership program, which has received critical acclaim and national recognition year after year.

“It’s an environment for risk takers to become the best in their fields,” said Dr. Barry Vann, Program Director.

The 60-credit-hour program prepares students to make contributions in their respective fields and helps strengthen their commitments to professional service and ethical decision-making.

The courses are offered entirely online, expanding UC’s reach beyond state lines and global boundaries. While many students enrolled in the program are from education backgrounds – working as educators or administrators in K-12 schools or institutions of higher learning – the student population also includes individuals working with non-profit organizations, hospitals and corporations.

Graduates from the program have collectively earned more than $1 million in grants for their workplaces and at least a dozen have published research, but that is only the beginning of what students have to offer as they continue to make strides as leaders.

20 20

|| Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

CHESTER GOAD

LEADING THE FUTURE

UC’S DOCTORATE OF EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP Chester Goad, Ed.D. ’13, loves learning.

Always has, always will.

“I think the more we learn, the better we’re equipped for life in general,” Goad said. “My personal motto has really become, ‘All my best, all the time,’ and I believe my education at UC has been a positive blessing in my story.”

Since Goad’s first experience on a college campus, he has immersed himself in the educational experience. After earning his bachelor’s degree in 1998, Goad has gone on to pursue additional degrees, including his Ed.D., to become a leading contributor in the fields of disability advocacy and leadership.

Now, Goad takes the lessons in leadership he obtained from the Ed.D. curriculum and puts them into practice.

Goad works to accommodate all students with disabilities as the Director of Disability Services at Tennessee Technological University, his alma mater. He has also helped create legislation that advocates for Tennessee students with dyslexia and manages to find time to write and speak about leadership. He is now a contributor for Huffington Post and has been featured in The Washington Post, Chronicle of Higher Education, U.S. News and more, along with having a podcast on iTunes, “The Leaderbyte” and a published book, “The Purple People Leader: How to Protect Unity, Release Politics and Lead Everyone.”

Despite his busy schedule, Goad still continues to look for learning opportunities in everyday life.

“Your educational experience doesn’t stop with earning that Ed.D.,” Goad said. “It’s only a beginning. For me, that’s probably the biggest takeaway. There’s a world out there ready and willing to hear your voice. You can take that degree and make it work for you in ways you may never have imagined.”

Photo Credit: Katie Beeler

TIM ROGERS

JENNIFER KAISER

Jennifer Kaiser, Ph.D. ’16, has spent 11 years in nursing and education, doing her part to prepare future generations of nursing students to enter the workforce and save lives.

Over the course of those 11 years, Kaiser began to rise in the administrative ranks. Eager to have a deeper understanding of academia to pair with her nursing background, she applied to join the Doctorate of Educational Leadership program at Cumberlands. “[The faculty] are really there to facilitate their students’ success,” Kaiser said. “I think that’s what really stood out: you weren’t just on your own.”

Kaiser, who lives in Michigan, earned her Ph.D. from UC in 2016. She initially planned to move forward in her career in higher education administration but ultimately realized she would miss being around the reason she entered the field in the first place: the people.

“The higher I went in administration, the further I was getting away from patients and students,” Kaiser said. “I wasn’t teaching as much as I was writing about curriculum and teaching, so I decided I was going to go in a different direction and look for something more clinically based.”

Now Kaiser works at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as a Nursing Researcher. Each day at work, she puts the skills and philosophies she learned in the doctoral program to use.

She also stays connected to Cumberlands as a writing tutor for the doctoral program and as an Adjunct Professor for the nursing program.

“The dissertation process and the research classes, namely statistics and research methodologies, is what I do every day now,” Kaiser said, laughing. “I’ve done nursing education for 11 years. Definitely having been a student recently really helps.”

Tim Rogers, Ed.D. ’15, has made a career out of helping people.

Beginning his career as a pastor at Greenbriar Presbyterian Church in Clay County, Kentucky, Rogers now serves as the Executive Vice President for the Elgin Foundation in Knoxville, Tennessee. The foundation, first established in 2003, provides dental care for disadvantaged children in Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia, and aims to help more than 21,000 participating children read on or above grade level.

“I really love getting the stories of kids who have been impacted and changed [by the foundation’s services],” Rogers said. “That’s the great joy of working here: I know that at the end of the day, we’re helping change a lot of kids’ lives through the work that we do.”

Shortly after beginning his time with the foundation, Rogers decided to pursue his Ed.D. at Cumberlands, feeling confident that the timing was right to take his education to the next level.

“I’ve said this for years that I would go to school my whole life if I could get someone else to pay for it,” Rogers said with a laugh. “I knew some folks who had gone through the program [at UC] and spoke highly of it, and I just found the flexibility of it to be really workable for someone who was working the hours that I was.”

Despite the fact that he does not technically work in education himself, Rogers has found several points of crossover between the program’s curriculum and his work with the Elgin Foundation.

“I really liked the way the program was built around the principles of andragogy,” Rogers said, referring to the science of adult learning.

“My work is all about trying to help children, but I’m working with adults.”

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

|

21

SPRING2017

WORK DAY For Sandra Moran, ’03, meeting celebrities is just an average Friday afternoon.

As the Director of Marketing for the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Moran spends her days coordinating promotions for all of the Center’s events, putting together plans for ways to sell tickets and fill seats.

“There is no typical day, which is what’s so fun about it,” Moran said with a laugh. “We are always on our toes, staying really, really busy. Every day just feels like an hour. It flies by.”

In 2003, Moran graduated from Cumberlands with a double major in business administration and communication arts.

And, as the features editor for The Patriot, the University’s student newspaper, Moran was quickly exposed to the world of journalism and communications.

“Most students don’t really know what, exactly, they want to do: maybe they’re self-conscious or they don’t think they’ll be good enough at something,” Moran said. “[My professors] made me believe in myself and made me know that I could really achieve whatever I wanted to do. They pushed me to try and do things that I probably wouldn’t have otherwise.”

After meeting the editor of the Times-Tribune, the newspaper for Corbin, Kentucky, in The Patriot’s office one day, Moran began working for them as a staff writer following her graduation from Cumberlands. Moran later realized that rather than finding, investigating and writing stories, she preferred to be on the public relations side of the angle,

2010, she had dreams of working in the marketing department but didn’t think such a thing would happen.

Two years later that dream came true. “I look forward to coming to work every day,” Moran said. “I’m really passionate about what I do.”

The KFC Yum! Center hosts 130 events per year and Moran attends at least 45 of them. She spends most of her days talking to people: managing the Center’s social media, website, advertising and customer service. Her job does not

"There is no typical day, which is what's so fun about it." creating the stories herself. With that in mind, she began working for Freedom Hall in Louisville and handled the marketing for the Kentucky State Fair, along with several farm shows and concerts. When the KFC Yum! Center opened in 22

|

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

include scheduling the entertainers themselves, but she does provide input where she can. She also keeps an eye out for events that could become annual traditions.

In 2017 alone, the KFC Yum! Center hosted Disney on Ice

CLASSNOTES

Photo Credit: Linda Doane

SPRING2017

1960s

Oscar Combs, attended ’62’65, retired from the UK Radio Network in August 2016.

Dr. Tom Frazier, ’69, published a poem in Kentucky’s, "'Where I’m From': A Poetry of Place," an online collection compiled by the Kentucky Arts Council and the 2016 Kentucky Poet Laureate. Frazier is Chair of the Department of English at Cumberlands.

1970s

and Neil Diamond with artists like Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars performing later in the year.

Moran does not consider herself to be someone who is easily star struck and confessed that her favorite part of attending events is seeing other people’s reactions to the celebrities.

“I really enjoy getting to see [the artists’] biggest fans get the opportunity to meet them,” Moran said. “But I do enjoy many of the artists that come through here. It’s neat to see them time and time again.”

When Moran is not walking the halls of the Yum! Center or creating promotional campaigns for concerts featuring performers like Justin Timberlake, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children at their home in Shelbyville, Kentucky. “[My kids] keep me busy,” Moran said, laughing. “I could talk about them for days, but they’re ultimately what I do all of this for.”

Dennis Borden, ’74, was recently hired as the Assistant Library Director at Drake State Technical College in Huntsville, Alabama.

He had been the Learning Resource Center Manager with Strayer University’s Huntsville Campus since September 2012.

Borden has written two books, "Vivid Brushstrokes, I" and "Vivid Brushstrokes, II," which were published in 2013 and 2016 respectively. He and his wife, Sandra, live in Huntsville, Alabama.

Bill Sergent, ’78, was named Head Coach of the men's and women’s golf teams at Union College in August 2016. From 1978 until 2007, Sergent served as Head Men’s Golf Coach at Cumberlands. He also started the women’s golf program at Cumberlands and served Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

|

23

SPRING2017

2010s

as Head Coach from 1994 until 2007. Most recently, he was the Director at Crooked Creek Golf Club, Head Golf Coach at South Laurel High School and Head Men’s Golf Coach at UVa-Wise.

1980s

1

Beth (Dupier) Nichols, BS ’84, MA ’93, was named 2016-17 Teacher of the Year at Centennial Elementary School in Dade City, Florida.

Catherine (Rhoden) Goguen, ’85, received the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Eastern Kentucky Dramatic Arts Society.

2000s

2

3

4

5

Amy Stroud, ’04, was named the Executive Vice President of Forcht Broadcasting. She first joined the team at Forcht Broadcasting in 2012 as the company’s Digital Media Director.

She also currently hosts a daily show, “Mid Morning’s with Amy,” on WYKY-Somerset 106.1.

FM.

|

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

5 Allie Williams, ’12, is the new pharmacist at Jamestown Pharmacy and Russell Springs Pharmacy in Russell County, Kentucky.

Shawn Sudduth, MAE ’13, was named District 10 Teacher of the Year for 2017 by the Kentucky Music Educators Association. She is Associate Professor of Music, Music Education Studies Coordinator and Colorguard Coordinator at Cumberlands.

Eric Fields, ’14, became a middle school social studies teacher in August 2016 at Williamsburg Independent in Williamsburg, Kentucky.

Tiffany Hart, ’04, is now affiliated with Keller Williams Greater Lexington, which specializes in residential and commercial real estate.

24

3 Amy Shinn, MAE ’12, Principal at Milton Elementary School in Trimble County, Kentucky, recently presented at the Bedford Rotary Club.

Patrick Ryan, MAE ’13, Ed.S. ’15, received an Excellence in Teaching Award from WaltonVerona Independent Schools in Boone County, Kentucky.

1

Sheri (Duncan) Satterly, BME ’04, MAE ’12, became Principal of Bate Middle School in Danville, Kentucky, on July 1, 2016. (This class note is being reprinted with corrections from the previous edition.)

Chris Mason, MAE ’11, became the new Principal of Bullitt East High School in Mount Washington, Kentucky.

4 Angela Steuer-Singleton, BSE ’12, MAE ’14, was named Head Coach for the Lady Colonels softball team in Whitley County.

Amanda Walton, ’02, became a Regional Orphan Advocate for 127 Worldwide, an orphan and widow advocacy non-profit, in April 2016. She previously served as an Admissions Counselor at Cumberlands.

Karen (Morgan) Edwards, ’03, is a private swim instructor and children’s book author.

She resides in Birmingham, Alabama, with her husband, Vincent, and their daughters, Nahla and Cataleya.

Jordyne (Gunthert) Carmack, ’11, was selected to serve on the Board of Directors for 127 Worldwide, an orphan and widow advocacy non-profit, in January 2017. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Arts at Cumberlands.

2

Dr. Nathan Coleman, ’01, authored "The American Revolution, State Sovereignty, and the American Constitutional Settlement, 17651800," which was published in 2016. He was also recently named Chair of the Department of History and Political Science at Cumberlands.

Dr. Christian Key, ’02, was hired as an Orthopedic Surgeon at Danville Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Danville, Kentucky.

Emily Hollins, attended ’09-’10, became the Administrative Support Coordinator for the UC Physician Assistant Program in June 2016. She previously worked in the Development Office.

Christopher Gilbert, Ed.D. ’14, was named Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Virginia Highlands Community College in Abingdon, Virginia.

Chasity Shipley, Ed.D. ’16, received the 2017 Valvoline Teacher Achievement Award from the Kentucky Department of Education. She currently teaches math and science at Barren County Middle School.

6 Ryan Wilkins, MAT ’16, is now affiliated with Rector Hayden Realtors’ office in Lexington.

He is also a teacher at Woodford County High School in Versailles, Kentucky.

6

SPRING2017

Conquering the Courts Full Time

Alumni Board Spotlight

Lesley Swann (bottom row, far left) while studying abroad in Vietnam.

Ariez Elyaas Deen Hesham, ’16, became a full-time tennis coach with SPORTIME and JMTA in New York in December 2016.

MBA Grad

MJA Grad

Takes on CFO Role

Hired as Chief of Police

Nick Bastin, MBA ’13, currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer at Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care Center, Inc., in Mount Vernon, Kentucky. He also owns and operates a 40-acre farm and raises beef cattle.

James Ebert, MJA ’15, was swornin as Chief of Police in Richmond, Kentucky, on Oct. 17, 2016. He previously served as a Lieutenant with the Frankfort Police Dept. Currently, Ebert is also a member of the Master’s in Justice Administration Advisory Board at UC, a position he obtained during his time as an MJA student. Ebert and his wife, Shawnda, have one daughter, Katarina.

As a high school student, Lesley Swann, ’97, knew she would not be able to afford college. One day during her junior year, however, she received a brochure in the mail from Cumberland College that would change everything.

It was a brochure announcing the Summer Scholars program, an opportunity to spend six weeks on campus earning college credit at no cost. Swann had never heard of Cumberland College before that moment, but decided to give it a chance and apply anyway.

“By the end of that summer, I knew Cumberlands was where I wanted to go for college,” Swann said.

She worked with Erica Harris, ’84, who is now the Director of Undergraduate Admissions at UC, to find her way through the admissions and financial aid process that would allow her to attend the University. Shortly thereafter, she was accepted as an undergraduate student.

During her time at Cumberland College, Swann sang in Chorale and performed at the annual Madrigal Dinners. She also found ways to study abroad, including a visit to Vietnam in 1995 while the United States and Vietnam were reopening formal diplomatic relations.

Today, Swann is a student at Cumberlands again as she pursues her MBA and is a member of the Alumni Board of Directors. Being back in the Cumberlands community has only served as a reminder for how impactful the University has been throughout her life.

“As an alumna and current student, I encourage you to invest in the mission of University of the Cumberlands and the lives of its students,” Swann said. “You won’t regret it.”

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

|

25

A LEGACY:

The Cumberland Rap Legacy: a word so daunting many fear it, while others leave one without even meaning to do so.

Cam Hyde, ’09, and Spencer Hall, ’09, left behind their own legacy at UC in the form of a YouTube video known as the “Cumberland Rap” that they produced as undergraduates.

While the University has continued growing and evolving in the eight years since the video’s creation, a number of the lyrics continue to resonate with current students and alumni.

“I don’t think we ever expected it to last through generations nor had any thought of the future of the video,” Hyde said. “It kind of cracks me up that current students still find [the video] relevant because I think so much has changed.”

A lot has changed at Cumberlands since Hyde and Hall graduated, but some staples mentioned in the video remain, such as students hoping for snow days and the unique landmarks across campus. The video taps into feelings of nostalgia and campus pride that many UC students and alumni share, while also poking fun at the place they all called home at some point.

While each student who makes their way to campus has a unique journey and experience at UC, Hyde and Hall’s legacy with the “Cumberland Rap” finds a way to bridge those differing experiences for several generations of UC students.

“I thought the video had the potential to be pretty funny and relatable since it’s basically the same jokes everyone makes about Cumberlands packaged as a rap,” Hall said. “I didn’t expect people to like it as much as they did.”

Since graduating from UC, Hyde has gone on to earn his Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and now serves as a youth pastor at First Baptist Church of East Barnstadt, Kentucky. He and his wife, Rachel, recently had a daughter. Hall, after graduating, lived in Lexington for a time before moving to Chicago with wife, Cary Anne (Cottingham) Hall, ’10. He now works as a legal secretary by day and spends his nights writing and pursuing comedy.

26

|

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

WEDDINGS&BIRTHS

SPRING2017

SPRING2017

2000s 1 Ashley (Hensley) Bird, BS ’04, MAE ’09, and Michael Bird were married in Times Square, New York City, on June 29, 2016. She is an English teacher at Whitley County High School in Williamsburg, Kentucky.

2

2 Jessica (Anderson) Shearer, BS ’05, MSIS ’16, and Russell Shearer, MAT ’14, gave birth to their third son, Drew William Shearer, on May 17, 2016. Jessica is the Webmaster and Online Education Coordinator at Cumberlands.

1

3 Brad Tipton, ’09, and Lesley (Roberts) Tipton, BS ’09, MSPAS ’11, announce the birth of their daughter, Elizabeth Anne Tipton, on June 9, 2016. Brad is a Database Administrator/ Software Development in the IT Department at UC and Leslie is the Associate Program Director for the PA Program at Cumberlands.

2010s 4 Terry Bingham, BS ’11, MBA ’16, and Brooke (White) Bingham, BS ’11, MAPC ’15, announce the birth of their daughter, Everleigh Saige Bingham, on Sept. 19, 2016.

6 3

5 Dr. Shannon Deaton, MAE ’11, Ed.D. ’13, and Alexandria (Lawson) Deaton, MAE ’14, announce the birth of their daughter, Harper Grace Deaton, on Aug. 29, 2016. Shannon is the Dean of the School of Education at UC and Alexandria is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Education at Cumberlands.

Luke Davidson, ’12, and Lola (Embree) Davidson, ’11, announce the birth of their son, Theo Zane Davidson, on Jan. 31, 2017.

6 Genia (Vickers) Isaacs, ’12, Robby Isaacs and older sister, Jacey, announce the birth of Roy Barron Isaacs on Feb. 2, 2017.

7 4

Blake Saylor, ’12, and Kara (Watkins) Saylor, ’12, announce the birth of their son, Judah Blake Saylor, on Feb. 7, 2017.

Shonda (Tharpe) Thrift, BA ’12, MSPAS ’15, and Daniel Thrift were married on July 30, 2016.

7 Taylor (Farmer) Dauscha, ’15, and Joe Dauscha, attended ’11-’14, were married on July 16, 2016. Taylor is a kindergarten teacher at Rock Creek Elementary in Estill Springs, Tennessee, and Joe is a State Farm Insurance Agent.

8 James (JP) Payne, ’16, and Alysha Danielle

8

5

Disney, ’16, were married on Jan. 7, 2017.

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

|

27

SPRING2017

FONDFAREWELLS Faculty, Staff & Friends

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, until retirement.

Oscar Hornsby, Jr. passed away on Nov. 23, 2016. He served many years as a Trustee at Cumberlands.

Clinton Taylor, ’44, passed away on Dec. 22, 2016. He worked for the Retail Credit Company and First State Bank in Pineville, Kentucky.

Dr. Russell J. Hosler, Jr. passed away on Dec. 3, 2016. He was Assistant Professor of Music at Cumberlands from 1983-1990.

Dr. Martha (Russell) Johnson passed away on Nov. 11, 2016. From 1994 to 2002, she was Chair of the Department of Education and Graduate School at Cumberlands.

Lewis Sego, I passed away on Dec. 21, 2016.

He previously established the Department of Speech and Drama at Cumberlands and served as a professor from 1961-62.

1930s Thelma (Siler) Magee, attended ’36-’38, passed away on Nov. 7, 2016. She was an elementary school teacher in Tennessee, Indiana and Arkansas, retiring in 1984 after a 45-year career.

William Cooper, ’39, passed away on Aug. 31, 2016. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII and was an educator in Whitley County for over 44 years.

Jesse Rogers, attended ’39-’40, passed away on Aug. 18, 2016. He and his wife, Louise, ran Stanton Farmers Supply for 42 years.

1940s Marcia (Bryant) Prather, ’42, passed away on Feb. 12, 2016. She taught piano lessons and helped with church choirs.

June (Eastin) Withington, ’42, passed away on July 21, 2016. She became the first female dispersing officer of an Army base at Two Rock in Sonoma County, California.

Henry H. Davis, Jr., ’43, passed away on July 10, 2016. He was a dentist in the Navy during the Korean War and ran a private dental practice for 35 years in Monroe, Louisiana. Following retirement, he served as an Assistant Professor at Louisiana State University’s Health Sciences Center.

Tallu (Fish) Scott, attended ’44-’45, passed away on Aug. 7, 2016. She taught early childhood education in Washington D.C. and then served as the Director of Shadyside Presbyterian Nursery School in 28

|

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

Robert Coker, ’56, passed away on July 31, 2016. He worked 30 years with the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.

Charlotte (Jones) Helton, ’56, passed away on Jan. 4, 2017.

Dorothy (Brooks) Faulkner, attended ’46-’48, passed away on Jan. 1, 2017. She owned Faulkner and Taylor Furniture Store for 44 years with her husband, Vernon.

Joseph Alfred, ’58, passed away on July 30, 2016. He worked for the government 53 years and retired from General Services Administration in 2014.

James Ford, ’48, passed away on July 2, 2016. He worked at an architectural firm in Birmingham, Alabama, before moving to Kentucky in 1970 to work with the Lake Cumberland Area Development District. From 1985 until 2002, he worked for architectural firms providing services to Frankfort, Louisville, Lexington and Cincinnati. Ford was also a co-founder of the Scott County Habitat for Humanity.

James Burke, attended ’59-’60, passed away on Oct. 18, 2016. He was an Army veteran and worked for IBM more than 25 years.

R.B. Hooks, Jr., attended ’49-’51, passed away on Aug. 27, 2016. He pastored several churches in Central Kentucky for more than 50 years.

1960s Leroy Gilbert, attended ’60-’65, passed away on Feb. 2, 2017. He retired from Ironworker’s Local 25 in Detroit, Michigan, and served as Whitley County Judge Executive from 1993 until 1998.

Nicky Moore, ’60, passed away on Dec. 14, 2016.

Rea (Perkins) Smart, ’49, passed away on Dec. 16, 2016. She was a retired school librarian, having taught in Jenkins and Topmost, Kentucky, and many years at Woodford County High School.

Conley Blevins, ’61, passed away on July 28, 2016. He was a retired teacher, having taught in the McCreary County School District at Smithtown Elementary and Whitley City Middle.

1950s

Dr. Kenneth Foster, ’61, passed away on Aug. 25, 2016. He was a Professor of Mathematics and spent almost 40 years as an executive in the coal and natural gas industries.

Jack Strange, ’51, passed away on Aug. 10, 2016.

Raymond Taylor, ’51, passed away on Oct. 30, 2016. He served as minister for several churches and in various capacities at Chowan University in Murfreesboro, North Carolina, including Chaplain, Academic Advisor to the Men’s Basketball Team and Chair for the Religion and Philosophy Department.

Buford Thomas, attended ’53-’54, passed away on Oct. 9, 2016.

Earl Sisson, attended ’54-’55, passed away on Oct. 7, 2016. He worked in civil engineering for the Department of Transportation in East Tennessee for 42 years.

Barbara (Lay) Strunk, ’55, passed away on July 10, 2016. She was a Registered Nurse for 21 years at Montgomery General Hospital and Olney Medical Associates in Olney, Maryland.

John Gilliam, ’61, passed away on Nov. 23, 2016. He was a special education teacher in the Campbell County School System for 27 years.

Ada Opal (Anderson) Creech, ’62, passed away on Jan. 16, 2017. She taught elementary school for over 32 years.

Anne (Walker) Culver, ’62, passed away on Dec. 5, 2016. She was an educator in Kentucky and Tennessee, spending the majority of her career teaching elementary school and special education in Jellico, Tennessee.

Drucilla (Golden) Hembree, ’62, passed away on March 20, 2016.

Lorene Davenport, ’63, passed away on Jan. 5, 2017. She taught high school in Whitley City, Kentucky, and at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia, before retiring in 1985.

SPRING2017

Stella (Williams) Jefferis, ’63, passed away on Jan. 2, 2017. She was an elementary school teacher.

Dennis Meyer, ’72, passed away on Aug. 29, 2016. He served in pastoral ministry in the West Ohio Conference.

Martha Crase, ’65, passed away on Feb. 14, 2017. She taught private music and piano lessons for more than 45 years.

Jane Smith, attended ’75, passed away on July 18, 2016. She worked in business for over 37 years at several organizations including NCR Corporation, Runners Shop, Whitaker Bank and Mackey Vision Center.

Brenda (Petrey) Lewis, ’65, passed away on Sept. 11, 2016. She retired from Beavercreek City Schools after teaching for 34 years.

Elmer Sparks, ’65, passed away on July 16, 2016. He served as a teacher and school administrator in North Carolina, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana and Arkansas for over 40 years.

Charles Evans, attended ’76-’77, passed away on Oct. 28, 2016. He was a teacher and coach in the Henderson County School System for over 25 years.

Larry Heaton, ’76, passed away on Sept.

2, 2016. He was a retired teacher from the

Claiborne County School System and Walter State Community College.

1980s Joseph G. Richards II, ’87, passed away on Feb. 10, 2017.

Jesse Edgar Males, Jr., MAE ’89, passed away on May 29, 2016.

1990s Chris Waits, ’94, passed away on Dec. 6, 2016.

Donovan Grimes, ’66, passed away on Oct. 26, 2016.

Mary Ingram, ’66, passed away on Sept. 28, 2016. She was a teacher, English Curriculum Coordinator and Assistant Principal for 24 years in the West Clermont School District.

She was also an Assistant Principal and English Curriculum Coordinator in the Forest Hills School District for nine years.

Mary (Pavy) Blanton, ’67, passed away on Dec. 14, 2016.

Harold Creech, ’67, passed away on July 7, 2016. He was a U.S. Army veteran and taught English for 33 years in Harlan County, Kentucky.

George Ingram, ’67, passed away on Jan. 2, 2017. He was a teacher and Principal in the Boone, Bell and Harlan County School Districts in Kentucky for over 30 years.

Mary Lou (Combs) McNulty, ’69, passed away on Jan. 29, 2017. She was an educator for 34 years and retired as the Assistant Principal of Cumberland Elementary in 1996.

1970s Sue (Parrott) Gambrel, ’70, passed away on Nov. 15, 2016. She retired as a high school English teacher and as Supervisor of Instruction in the Bell County School System. She also organized the first girls’ softball team, served as a Beta Club sponsor and helped establish the band flag corp for Lone Jack High.

C.K. Coffman, ’72, passed away on Jan. 3, 2017. He was a preacher.

Erika (Burr) Todd, ’10 When Erika was 18 weeks pregnant with her second child, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. In response to the news, Erika decided to postpone her treatment to ensure her child could be born without complications. On Nov. 23, 2016, Erika gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Graham Michael Todd.

In the following weeks, doctors prepared an aggressive treatment plan for Erika, but the cancer was already widespread. Erika passed away on Feb. 28, 2017. She is survived by her husband, Jacob Todd '08, and two young sons, Walter (pictured above) and Graham.

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

|

29

SPRING2017

TRIBUTE PROGRAM TRIBUTE GIFTS

SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 THROUGH MAY 1, 2017 IN HONOR OF:

IN MEMORY OF

In Honor Of: Mr. Wallace M. Boyd, Jr., and his wife, Jan Given By: Ms. Carolyn Siler

In Memory Of: Howard & Frances Boozer Given By: Mrs. Claudia Boozer-Blasco

In Memory Of: James E. Lewis Given By: Mrs. James Lewis

In Honor Of: Chad Byron, '10, and his wife, Liz, on expecting their first child Given By: Ms. Evelyn Graves

In Memory Of: Jim Bergman Given By: Mrs. Zan Edmiston

In Memory Of: Reverend Roy Lyttle Given By: Dr. Gussie Lyttle-Burns

In Memory Of: Dr. Rolf and Mrs. Hella Bernegger Given By: Mr. Joseph Logan, Jr.

In Memory Of: Herbert and Aileen McNeilly Given By: Mr. & Mrs. Robert McNeilly

In Memory Of: Hazel (Sanders) Brock Given By: Mr. & Mrs. Roy Brock

Mr. & Mrs. Americo Allegrino

In Memory Of: Andy Mehuys Given By: Mr. Glenn Mehuys

In Honor Of: Arnold & Bev Caddell Given By: Mr. Christopher Caddell In Honor Of: Mr. Patrick Clark Given By: Mr. & Mrs. Wesley Clark In Honor Of: Dr. & Mrs. Larry L. Cockrum Given By: Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Allen

Dr. & Dr. Aaron Coleman

Dr. & Mrs. Donald Grimes

Mr. Chris Kraftick In Honor Of: Matthew Daniel Given By: Mr. & Mrs. John Boggs In Honor Of: Dolores Morris & Mary A. Dodson Given By: Dr. Imogene Ramsey

In Memory Of: John A. Carpenter, Ph.D. Given By: Mrs. Marilyn Carpenter In Memory Of: Mrs. John (Fran) Clayton Given By: Ms. Catherine Elwell In Memory Of: Maxine and Amory Cochrane Given By: Mrs. Beverly David In Memory Of: Chloe Curtis, their granddaughter Given By: Mr. and Mrs. John Curtis

In Honor Of: Bob & Nancy Russ Given By: Mr. & Mrs. David Mott

In Memory Of: Lynda Ann Duncan Given By: Ms. Maggie Abrams

Mr. & Mrs. Charles Feldman

Mr. & Mrs. Earnest Hickerson, Jr.

Mr. Shannon Houchins

Ms. Lori Hughes

Mr. & Mrs. Brodie Jackson

Mr. & Mrs. Robert Lansdell

Mr. Mark Shermetaro

Ms. Margaret Zavattini

In Honor Of: Konner Smith Given By: Ms. Dorothy Miller

In Memory Of: LTC Joseph Derwood Early, his brother Given By: Dr. & Mrs. Jack Early

In Honor Of: Evelyn Watson Given By: Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Harp

In Memory Of: Theresa Griffiths, her mother, to be acknowledged through the name of Theresa's Heart.

Given By: Mrs. Corinne Graber

In Honor Of: Marc Hensley Given By: Mr. & Mrs. Earnest Williamson In Honor Of: Gary and Patty Minner Given By: Reverend Charissa Howe In Honor Of: Dr. F. Price Given By: Mrs. James Salter

In Honor Of: Mrs. (Florence) Chester Young on the occasion of Christmas Given By: Mr. & Mrs. Paul Daverio

Anyone interested in making a Gift-in-Kind donation is encouraged to contact the Office of the President.

Please make support payable to University of the Cumberlands.

Office of the President

6191 College Station Drive Williamsburg, KY 40769

In Memory Of: Paul & Helen Murnaghan Given By: Mr. & Mrs. Peter Murnaghan In Memory Of: Thelma Jane Newberry Given By: Mr. Dennis Newberry In Memory Of: Mr. Leonard Pierce, Jr. Given By: Mrs. Doris Pierce In Memory Of: Nate Pilant Given By: Dr. & Mrs. Walter Early, III In Memory Of: Wayne E. Quinton Given By: Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Quinton In Memory Of: Marie Chatham Robertson Given By: Tri-City Class of 1956 In Memory Of: Jeffrey Ruhalter Given By: Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Chait In Memory Of: Beverly Smith Given By: Ms. Dawn Soos In Memory Of: Mr. Ray W. Snider Given By: Mr. Mark Snider In Memory Of: Jane Wolf Sparkman Given By: The Honorable & Mrs. Eugene Siler, Jr. In Memory Of: Jack Stanfill Given By: Ms. Kristi Jenkins

In Memory Of: Sam Guy Given By: Mrs. Louise Guy

In Memory Of: Gene Stickle Given By: Mrs. Gene Stickle

In Memory Of: Robert D. Heaven, husband Given By: Mrs. Elizabeth Straight-Heaven

In Memory Of: Evelyn Watson Given By: Mrs. Della Marshall

Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Redus

Ms. Audrey Schlafke-Stelson

Ms. Marci Willison

In Memory Of: Ralph M. Hickey for his Dec. birthday and Christmas Given By: Mrs. Verna Lee Bruce

In Memory Of: Thomas P. Kearns Given By: Mrs. Lucinda Hepp

In Memory Of: Louis M. Wagner, father and husband

Ms. Amelia M. Wagner

Mrs. Amelia S. Wagner In Memory Of: Mr. & Mrs. Howard Wieben Given By: Mr. Paul Wieben

In Memory Of: John King, ’54 Given By: Mr. & Mrs. Lane Broyles

In Memory Of: Dr. Chester R. Young Given By: Mrs. Betty Weaver

In Memory Of: Dr. & Mrs. E.S. Kruszynski Given By: Ms. Jeanne Geller

In Memory Of: Dr. Robert J. Young Given By: Mrs. Robert Young

In Memory Of: Annette Hungerford, your dear cousin Given By: Mr. & Mrs. Wallace Boyd, Jr.

LEARN HOW TO GIVE BACK AT UCUMBERLANDS.EDU/GIVE 30

|

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

SPRING2017

C.W. JONES DONATED TO THE TRIBUTE PROGRAM ON BEHALF OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS: On Behalf Of: In Memory Of:

Mr. & Mrs. Robert Hall His brother, Fey

On Behalf Of: In Memory Of:

Ms. Sallye Bush & Family Their mother, Vivian

On Behalf Of: In Memory Of:

Mrs. Janet Cumuze Her mother, Atha

On Behalf Of: In Memory Of:

Ms. Sydney Wilson Her grandmother, Pat

On Behalf Of: In Memory Of:

Mr. Michael Sproles His mother, Jackie

On Behalf Of: In Memory Of:

Mr. & Mrs. Shelby Payne Her mother, Juanita

On Behalf Of: In Memory Of:

Ms. Amy Adams Her husband, Jerry

On Behalf Of: In Memory Of:

Mr. & Mrs. Phil Shelby Their son, Tyler

On Behalf Of: In Memory Of:

Mr. Richard Dill & Family Their mother, Joyce

On Behalf Of: In Memory Of:

Family of Ruby Jarrell Their mother, Ruby

On Behalf Of: In Memory Of:

Mrs. Micki Sisk Her husband, George

On Behalf Of: In Memory Of:

Ms. Juanita Edwards Her sister

On Behalf Of: In Memory Of:

Mrs. Carol Butler Her husband, Mike

On Behalf Of: In Memory Of:

Mr. Ken Verble His wife, Martha

On Behalf Of: In Memory Of:

Mrs. Ann Nichols Her husband, Evan

On Behalf Of: In Memory Of:

Mr. & Mrs. J.C. Carver His son, Jameson

On Behalf Of: In Memory Of:

Mr. & Mrs. David Layne His father, Charles

On Behalf Of: In Memory Of:

Ms. Le Ellen Claud Her mother-in-law, Doris

On Behalf Of: In Memory Of:

Mr. Rick Neiderauer His father, Skip

On Behalf Of: In Memory Of:

Mr. & Mrs. Jack Watson His mother, Irene

On Behalf Of: In Memory Of:

Mr. & Mrs. Scott Sprouse & Family Her father, John

Jason Patrick (right), co-founder of the Red Boot Run Foundation, presented a donation to the Norma B. Patrick Scholarship Fund to Alumni Director Paul Stepp (left). The money was raised during the Red Boot Run 5K at Homecoming 2016.

In preparing this list, every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and completeness. If a mistake was made in the way you are identified or if your name was omitted, we apologize. You can help us set the record straight. Please notify the President’s Office regarding any changes in the way your gift should be recorded in future reports. Thank you.

Cumberlands Alumni Magazine

|

31

Office of Alumni Services 6075 College Station Drive Williamsburg, KY 40769

ucumberlands.edu CAMPUSSNAPSHOT

NON-PROFIT US POSTAGE PAID LOUISVILLE KY PERMIT #879