Echoes Fall 2025

ECHOES T H E

M A G A Z I N E

O F

Y O U N G

H A R R I S

C O L L E G E

RISING TOGETHER:

New Chapter, Same Spirit

|

F A L L

2 0 2 5

While YHC is a private institution, we exist for the public good.”

Dr. John Wells, 24th YHC President

ECHOES VOLUME 24, ISSUE 1 FALL 2025 EDITOR

­­O N T H E C O V E R Dr. John W. Wells was elected to serve as Young Harris College’s 24th President by a unanimous vote of the Board of Trustees at its November 2024 meeting. Only a few months in, and Dr. Wells’ enthusiasm and hope for the future of YHC is infectious.

Holly Burcham ART DIRECTOR

Melissa Mitchell CONTRIBUTORS

Holly Burcham Mark Dotson, 1988 Brynlee Edwards, 2026 Dana Ensley, 1997 Mackenzie Harkins Robin Harp Teresa Kelley Corrina Luckenback, 2025 Tonya Nix Megan Ridley Bobbie Thompson Maddie Urquiola, 2021 PHOTOGRAPHY

Brooke Hanna, 2009

CONTACT US

Web

yhc.edu/echoes

Mail Office of Communications One College Street Young Harris, GA 30582 Email

communications@yhc.edu

Phone

(706) 379-5338

facebook.com/YoungHarrisCollege twitter.com/YH_College instagram.com/youngharriscollege flickr.com/youngharriscollege youtube.com/youngharriscollege linkedin.com/school/young-harris-college

CONTENTS

Echoes is published by Young Harris College. The views and opinions presented in this publication are not necessarily those of the editors or the official policies of the College. © 2025 Young Harris College

3 4 10 12 13

FROM THE PRESIDENT IN THE KNOW ACADEMIC UPDATES FACULTY FOCUS STAFF SPOTLIGHT

16 RISING TOGETHER NEW CHAPTER SAME SPIRIT 19 STUDENTS 23 ATHLETICS 27 WALL OF HONOR

30 ALUMNI EVENTS 35 CLASS NOTES 39 DONOR IMPACT REPORT 46 HONOR ROLL OF DONORS

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Alumni and Friends of YHC, It is with great pride and excitement that I welcome you to the latest edition of our College magazine, the first since I became president this past January.

During my first few months back at YHC, I was reminded of the vibrant community that defines our institution, much of which is captured in the following pages.

This edition offers a glimpse into the remarkable accomplishments of our students, faculty, and alumni, highlighting the dynamic achievements that continue to shape YHC’s longPresident John Wells with wife Dr. Shannon Earle standing legacy. From groundbreaking research and creative projects to inspiring stories of service and leadership, we celebrate the extraordinary contributions that each member of our community makes to the world.

As we continue to grow and evolve, we remain grounded in the core values that have long been the foundation of our institution and continue to educate, inspire, and empower our students. These values guide us in our pursuit of excellence in education and in our efforts to prepare the next generation of leaders.

In the pages that follow, you will find stories that showcase the breadth and depth of our community’s spirit, resilience, and passion. I hope that as you read through this magazine, you are inspired by the incredible people who define life in the Enchanted Valley.

Thank you for your ongoing support and engagement with our Mountain Lions. Together, we will continue to build a brighter future for our College and the world beyond.

Warm regards,

Dr. John Wells President, Young Harris College

3

New YHC Trustees Clayton D. Franklin Clayton Franklin, a 2008 graduate of Young Harris College with an Associate of Science degree, went on to Berry College where he earned his bachelor’s degree in government in 2009. He then graduated from Mercer University School of Law in 2012 with a Juris Doctorate degree.

Franklin has worked as General Counsel for Fieldale Farms since 2013, as the small company in Baldwin, GA, has become one of the largest independent poultry producers in the world.

He serves on the Habersham United Way Board of Directors, Leadership Habersham, Habersham Chamber of Commerce, and is a current member of Leadership Georgia Class of 2025. He is married to Allyson Waters Franklin, a nurse at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, and they have a son, Chandler.

Jordan S. Kiel Jordan Kiel earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Georgia, as well as a master’s degree in business administration from Georgia State University. He is also a Certified Private Wealth Advisor.

Kiel has extensive experience working with high-net-worth families and owners of closely held businesses to provide investment management and credit structuring solutions. Prior to joining Northern Trust in 2014, he worked at BB&T and Accenture for 10 years.

He serves on the Board of Advisors for Shepherd Center, a specialty not-for profit hospital in Atlanta and served as Board Chair of Trustees for Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Buckhead.

Stephen B. Shepherd A native of Atlanta, GA, Stephen Shepherd earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina and a Master of Business Administration at Georgia State University. He also likes to say he has a PhD from the School of Hard Knocks.

He began working full-time in the construction industry in 1974. Shepherd is currently President of Shepherd Construction Company, Inc., Vice President and Secretary of Plant Improvement Company, Inc., a Vice President of Seaboard Construction Company, and is still working full time.

His many companies have won numerous awards over the years.

Shepherd worked on state and interstate roadway and bridge projects in many locations in Georgia and North Carolina, a National Park Service roadway project, municipal airport projects, and commercial development projects including regional malls, strip shopping centers, and office parks.

He is currently serving as Director on the Boards of the Georgia Highway Contractors Association (GHCA) and the Georgia Asphalt Pavement Association (GAPA).

Major McKenzie H. Grandchamp was promoted to the rank of major at a ceremony held on April 24, 2025 at division headquarters of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY. Brigadier General (Retired) Brett Funck officiated the ceremony and administered the oath of office. Mackenzie’s parents, husband, and son pinned her with the new rank.

McKenzie is a member of the YHC Trustee Advisory Committee and the daughter of YHC Trustee Gerald Hudgins, Class of 1965. She graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2014 and continued her education at Liberty University where she earned a Master of Science (MS Human Performance) in 2022.

4

As of April 2025, René M. Diaz became an Emeritus Trustee of Young Harris College. Diaz served fifteen years on the Board of Trustees and served with distinction on the Development, Executive, and Marketing Committees, and Chaired the Academic Affairs Committee for over five years, which led to numerous new degree programs being implemented.

The latter also aided the expansion of the dual enrollment program which now generates more than a million dollars annually in revenue.

Diaz has given unselfishly of his resources and established the Diaz Foods Expendable Scholarship to assist deserving students who wish to attend Young Harris College. He has given his time and business acumen and has offered keen insight and generous friendship to the Board of Trustees. We thank him for his generosity and his dedication to YHC.

2025–2026 Alumni Board Richard Baker, 1989 Morganton, GA Melanie Hale Beighley, 1979 Young Harris, GA Beth Yearwood Bernard, 1981 Goodlettsville, TN Karin Wilson Best, 1992 Savannah, GA Bobby Bolton, 1976 Woodstock, GA Leigh Burns, 1991 Atlanta, GA Robert Dale, 1976 Clayton, GA Cody Decker, 2016 Hiawassee, GA Linda Ash Dye, 1968 Rock Hill, SC Marlo Roney Dykes, 1992 Rock Hill, SC Jennifer Edwards, 1998 Conyers, GA

Elizabeth Lobello Edwards, 2002 Atlanta, GA Laurie Barrington Flohr, 1980 Young Harris, GA Jordana Freitas, 2016 Blairsville, GA Leslie DeMore Frierson, 1991 Gainesville, GA Kathy May Ginn, 1978 Peachtree City, GA A. Jarrell Greene, 1969 Gray, GA Amy Wood Huckaby, 1962 Athens, GA Emily Nichols Jones, 2014 Gainesville, GA Janet Biggers Keith, 1969 Atlanta, GA Michael Ledford, 1967 Jasper, GA Melissa Lester, 2003 Atlanta, GA

David Lord, 1975 Hiawassee, GA Celeste McCollough, 1977 Atlanta, GA Kenneth Parker, 1988 Buford, GA Steven Sharp, 1965 Newnan, GA Debra Robarts Smith, 1981 Cumming, GA Edwin Stansell, 1970 Fort Lauderdale, FL Pam Jensen Stovall, 1975 Richmond Hill, GA Michael Thomas, 1980 Tampa, FL James “Jack” Tripp, 2012 Atlanta, GA Michele Turner, 1995 Arnoldsville, GA David Waldrep, 1970 Asheville, NC

James T. “Jim” Johnston, Jr.

IN THE KNOW

Emeritus Trustee René M. Diaz

NEWLY ELECTED VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES The YHC Board of Trustees elected James T. “Jim” Johnston, Jr., Class of 1970, Vice Chair of the Board during its semi-annual meeting on April 11, 2025. Johnston has been a member of the Board since 2000 and has served in various positions, including Board Secretary for twelve years, Chair of the Athletics Committee for seven years, and Chair of the Student Affairs Committee for four years. Johnston co-taught an entrepreneurialism class at YHC with Dr. John Van Vliet, now-retired Professor of Business and Public Policy, during the 2017 spring semester.

Johnston graduated from YHC with an Associate of Arts degree in 1970, Oglethorpe University in 1976 with a Bachelor of Business Administration, Georgia State University in 1977 with a Master of Professional Accountancy, and the University of Georgia with a Juris Doctorate degree in 1985.

Johnston is an attorney in Atlanta, and his firm, James T. Johnston, Jr., LLC, practice areas include a variety of corporate and finance transactions, commercial loan transactions, business mergers and acquisitions, and commercial real estate sales and acquisitions.

5

Farewell to Our Latest Retirees These retirees spent years—decades in some cases—shaping futures, strengthening traditions, and leaving a legacy. We thank them for their commitment to our Mountain Lions!

Ms. Cynthia DeFoor Instructor of Music 27 YEARS AT YHC

“Mrs. DeFoor taught me piano lessons when I was a child. My two older sisters and I would meet with her individually, and while we waited for our turn, we played ‘house’ under the trees outside.

During my lessons, I remember talking with her for as long as possible until she made me focus on our lesson. I loved getting to chat with her and always thought I’d gotten away with something when she entertained it for longer than usual. She was kind, fun, and obviously skilled at her craft. Thank you, Mrs. DeFoor, for all you have done for both the College and the broader community!”

MIKALA JONES-WALL, 2017, CURRENT INSTRUCTOR OF ENGLISH

14 YEARS AT YHC

“My favorite memory of working with Kerry is all the times we went to the Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference in Athens, GA. Kerry knew everyone there! He was so wonderful to have running the YHC Music booth and always had a crowd of people around him. Kerry loves his profession and the people in it so much. He was such a pleasure to work with. He will be missed.”

DR. SHELLEY SANDERSON, YHC ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MUSIC

Dr. Thomas Stearns Professor of History 20 YEARS AT YHC

Dr. Margaret Forrester Professor of Chemistry 38 YEARS AT YHC

“Margaret Forrester was one of the staples of Young Harris College for nearly 40 years. She developed every aspect of the YHC chemistry program, from hiring faculty to designing the curriculum to teaching and mentoring our students. Her legacy lives on in the foundation and future of our program.”

PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY DR. CHARLES SWOR

Ms. Peggy Green Accounts Payable and Payroll Coordinator 37 YEARS AT YHC

“Working with Peggy for eight years taught me invaluable lessons, and her authentic kindness toward others is an example I hope to follow.”

SANDY SOSENSKY, 1999, CURRENT ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND PAYROLL COORDINATOR

Peggy was featured in the Spring/Summer 2020 issue of Echoes. Scan the QR code and find her on page 5.

6

Mr. Kerry Rittenhouse Instructor of Music

“Dr. Stearns is the best professor I have ever met. He always believed in everything I did and made sure that I was successful.”

MOLLY HOLLAND, 2025

Dr. John Van Vliet Professor of Business and Public Policy 16.5 YEARS AT YHC

“Although I never took one of his classes, Dr. Van Vliet mentored me during my semester internship at North and Main Clothing Co., a time I’ll always cherish.

Our conversations, both during my internship and in the moments we’d run into each other afterward, always stuck with me.

‘Gracie, you’re always smiling,’ he’d say. And it was true because being around him, you couldn’t help but smile. His energy and pride for YHC were contagious.”

GRACIE NIX, 2023

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff of Young Harris College, As I get ready to say goodbye, I find myself filled with deep gratitude and a touch of sadness. My time here at Young Harris College has been more than just a job. I would like to thank the Sodexo Company for the job opportunity.

It has been a blessing and a great joy. Serving you from the cafeteria brought meaning to my days. Whether it was sharing a quick chat, a laugh in the lunch rush, or simply being a familiar face in your daily routine, these small moments have meant the world to me. You may not realize it, but your kindness, your stories, and even your friendly “hellos” brightened my days like a ray of sunshine.

I want to especially thank each of you students, faculty, and College staff for welcoming me into your hearts and lives. Your kindness, support, and encouragement have meant more to me than words can say. I will never forget the love you’ve shown me, the recognitions, and awards that you’ve offered, that have truly touched my heart. You made me feel seen, valued, and appreciated every single day.

To my dear students: You have always held a special place in my heart. Watching you grow, learn, and strive toward your dreams has been an honor. I am so very proud of each and every one of you. You have inspired me more than you know. My deepest wish for you is that you be blessed with endless success and joy as you continue on your journey through life. Stay strong, stay kind, and never stop believing in yourselves.

Though I may be moving on, Young Harris College will always be my family. Thank you for making these years unforgettable. I leave with nothing but love, gratitude, and hope for all the bright futures ahead.

IN THE KNOW

Ms. Heidi retired after 11 years of dedicated service to the students, faculty, and staff of Young Harris College. We sincerely miss her!

With all my heart,

Ms. Heidi A Moon Tree has Landed at YHC Moon trees are a NASA-inspired program, dating back to the Apollo 14 mission in 1971.

One of the astronauts, Stuart Roosa, packed a small container of tree seeds–part of a joint NASA-U.S. Forest Service project. The seeds orbited the moon, returned to Earth, and were planted at various locations across the world. In 2022, in a nod to the legacy of Apollo 14, NASA’s Artemis program took a second generation of seeds into orbit aboard the Orion spacecraft.

YHC Biology Professor Paul Arnold found out about the program from YHC alum Leah Cheshier Mustachio, Class of 2016, a Public Affairs Officer at NASA. Arnold wrote a grant application for a moon tree, and NASA accepted it, mailing a loblolly seedling to YHC in October 2024.

While not indigenous to the area, the loblolly will thrive in this location, Arnold said, citing several loblolly pines already on campus. “We planted it near the Maxwell building, so our students have ready access,” Arnold said, “and the planetarium will incorporate it in its programs as well.”

Alan Tice, Class of 2008 and a certified arborist with Altamont Tree Service, helped supervise the planting and is pictured with the tree.

“We’re so excited about the moon tree,” Planetarium Director Lauren Albin said at the tree planting. “It’s a great way to honor the Apollo legacy and inspire the next generation of scientists and astronauts.”

7

In Memory Dr. Clay Dotson

Dr. Clay Dotson passed away September 1, 2024. Dr. Dotson’s dedication to Young Harris College was unwavering. He served in various roles for over 40 years, leaving an indelible mark as a history professor, academic dean, and interim president in 1990. Even after retiring in 2000, his commitment to YHC was evident when he returned as interim president for a second time in 2003-2004 at the request of Board Chair Paul Beckham and the Board of Trustees.

Dr. Dotson was a servant leader and demonstrated the highest levels of integrity in everything he undertook. Since arriving in 1961, he has given unselfishly of his time and resources to the College and the Towns County community.

The Clay Dotson Open, named in honor of Dotson’s love for the game, raises over $120,000 for student scholarships each year. The Open will continue to be held, a testament to Dr. Dotson’s enduring legacy and commitment to supporting students at YHC. Dr. Dotson is sorely missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Tom Foster, Class of 1972

Thomas Paul Foster, Sr., passed away peacefully at his home in Young Harris, GA, on January 28, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer. He grew up in Young Harris, GA, a place he cherished throughout his life.

Tom served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1971, including time in Vietnam. He pursued higher education, graduating from Young Harris College in 1972 and Georgia State University in 1976. His career included over two decades as a senior executive with Sears Roebuck and Company and later worked in the computer industry before retiring to his hometown.

Tom was a member of Sharp Memorial United Methodist Church for over 67 years and an active community member. He was an enthusiastic supporter of Young Harris College athletics, with a special love for the men’s soccer, baseball, and basketball teams. Tom found joy in hunting, fishing, camping, horseback riding, and exploring the mountains he called home.

The Foster Family received the YHC Family of the Year Award in 2021 for their dedication to the College.

Tom is deeply missed by all who knew him.

Lynne Grady, Class of 1988

Lynn with Kristen Scoggins, 2019

Dr. Ruth Looper

Dr. Lynne B. Grady passed away on October 30, 2024.

Lynne graduated from YHC in 1988 and attended Georgia State University and earned her master’s and doctorate degrees in psychology from Emory University, marking the beginning of a distinguished career in mental health. She retired as the Director of Counseling and Psychological Services at Young Harris College after nearly 25 years with the College.

Lynne was passionate about her Irish heritage, the Boston Red Sox, and traveling, and had a wellknown fondness for stylish shoes. She was a beloved friend, a joyful and caring wife and mother, and a devoted Nana to her cherished grandchildren. Lynne will be remembered for her fun-loving, yet humble spirit.

Lynne impacted the lives of many YHC students and colleagues during her years of service to Young Harris College and will forever be loved and remembered in our hearts.

Dr. Ruth Looper was the embodiment of joy. From hearing her guffaw in her office while working with students to passing her in the hallway and seeing her bright, often unmatching clothing, she brought joy to everyone around.

Ruth taught at Young Harris College for 28 years. She served in many leadership capacities including Department Chair, Humanities Division Dean, and Study Abroad Program Director.

Beyond teaching, she was immensely proud of co-founding the Georgia Mountain Storytelling Festival with former YHC co-worker Amanda Lawrence. The festival just completed its eleventh year. She loved all things Irish, nature, and animals, especially Evie, her dog.

She passed away in October of 2024, and the following spring was posthumously awarded the status of Professor Emerita of English.

Her absence is felt daily throughout the halls of Goolsby, but her memory lives on. Cheers.

8

Dr. Bob Nichols passed away on December 20, 2024. Bob was an All-American tennis player at Georgia Tech and inducted into the Georgia Tech Athletic Hall of Fame, the State of Georgia Tennis Hall of Fame, and the Young Harris Athletic Hall of Fame.

His teaching career spanned 42 years, 35 of which were done at YHC. Bob retired from YHC in 2008. He impacted thousands of students during his career as a teacher and tennis coach. In September 2011, the College renamed the campus tennis compound in honor of the Nichols, Bob and his wife Gayle.

The YHC Board of Trustees awarded Bob Professor Emeritus status in 2010. He was inducted into the YHC Hall of Fame in 2014 and he and Gayle received the YHC Outstanding Friend Award from the YHC Alumni Association in June 2024.

In Bobs retirement announcement to the campus, Dr. Paul Arnold, Dean of the Division of Mathematics and Science, wrote, “In his 35 years here at YHC, Bob exemplified what it means to be a teacher, a scholar, a colleague, and a friend.”

IN THE KNOW

Dr. Bob Nichols

HISTORICAL MARKER

Honoring Zell Miller, 1951, Installed on Campus An historical marker was unveiled on the Young Harris College campus next to the Alumni House by the Georgia Historical Society on November 1, 2024, honoring Zell Miller, former Georgia Governor, state senator, and alumnus of Young Harris College.

Miller, during his tenure as governor, was instrumental in establishing the Georgia Lottery, which has provided more than 2.1 million students with HOPE scholarships. More than 450 current YHC students are receiving HOPE or Zell scholarships.

“Zell Miller’s vision for creating the Georgia Lottery, HOPE, and Zell Miller Scholarships has transformed the educational landscape of our state, making college more accessible and affordable for countless students,” said former Young Harris College President Dr. Drew Van Horn.

The marker text reads: “During his 1990 gubernatorial campaign, Young Harris native Zell Miller promised to institute a state lottery, with proceeds directly funding new educational programs. The General Assembly adopted Miller’s plan in 1992, and Georgia voters approved it that fall. The Lottery began with great acclaim on June 29, 1993. The enabling legislation specified programs to be funded

by Lottery proceeds, including college HOPE scholarships and grants, Head Start and pre-kindergarten programs, and developing physical and technological infrastructures for K-12 and postsecondary institutions statewide. The popularity of the Lottery and the programs it funds influenced other states to pursue lottery-funded educational programs. By 2023, the Georgia Lottery Corporation had provided more than 2.1 million students with HOPE scholarships and served more than 2 million 4-year-olds with voluntary prekindergarten programs.”

For more information about the Georgia Lottery Corporation, the Georgia Historical Society marker program, or the Georgia Business History Initiative, contact Elyse Butler, manager of Programs and Special Projects, at ebutler@georgiahistory.com.

9

2025

Commencement The Enchanted Valley was covered in clouds and anticipation on May 10, 2025. On this day, each member of the Class of 2025 walked across the stage in the Harp Recreation & Commencement Center, marking the culmination of years defined by resilience, growth, and transformation.

Families gathered with pride, faculty lined the aisles with admiration, and graduates walked with a mixture of joy and nostalgia. The past four years have tested them in ways no one expected—pandemics, political shifts, technological upheaval—but they emerged stronger, smarter, and more compassionate.

The ceremony honored not only academic excellence but also the spirit of the YHC community, exemplified by this year’s recipients of the YHC Medallion, current trustee Mary Broadrick and her husband John Moffitt. It was presented to Mary Broadrick and John Moffitt for their unwavering love for and support of Young Harris College.

When asked, “Why YHC?” Broadrick and Moffitt lovingly point to George H. Broadrick, Mary’s father—a YHC graduate, Class of 1941, a WWII veteran, and the recipient of the 1996 YHC Medallion. His love for the College ran deep, and even though neither Mary nor John attended YHC, they love the school as if they did.

They established a scholarship in 2016 which provides a student a full ride. The first student they supported, Sam Gaston, Class

10

of 2020, shares, “I would not have been able to attend YHC and pursue an education in my two favorite topics, business and public policy, without their humble generosity. My studies at YHC led to lifelong friendships, marriage, and a strong start to my career.

I will forever be grateful. I can think of no one more deserving of YHC’s highest award!” While they’re too humble to admit it, their generosity is all over campus.

After Broadrick and Moffitt received this award, longtime and beloved staff member Teresa Kelley received an honorary degree “for her steadfast commitment to Young Harris College, her many years of service to this institution, and the promise of many more to come,” presented by Board of Trustees Chair Bill Johnston, Class of 1975.

Kelley came to YHC in 1993 and has been instrumental in keeping the College running. In 2002, she was named Executive Assistant to the President and has excelled in that role for 23 years.

Kelley humbly took the stage that day to receive her Bachelor of Humane Letters from YHC.

•A mber Corley, Lily Hidalgo, Allie Killer, Liam King, and Liberty Worden received the Dr. Charles R. Clegg Outstanding Scholar Award which is presented to students of the graduating class with a perfect cumulative 4.0 GPA. •M ary McGee received the MAT Representative Award for best representing the mission and ideals of Young Harris College’s MAT program.

•K ylie Marshall-Flanagan and Brady Swanson received the Young Harris College Spirit Award, which recognizes graduating seniors who best exemplify the spirit of YHC. •L iam King received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, and Sarah Carver received the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award.

Established in 1890, these awards recognize college graduates of noble character who have distinguished themselves through service to others and to their communities.

•E mma Brown received the Zell B. Miller Leadership Award, which goes to a senior who has made significant contributions to campus life as an outstanding leader and role model.

After the presentation of awards, graduating senior Alyssa Makina took the stage as keynote speaker. She came to YHC from Zimbabwe and completed degrees in art and graphic design. She shared the story of coming to Young Harris through the Georgia Rotary Scholarship Program, a program that pairs international students with a college in Georgia. It’s a bit of a lottery system, but when she was paired with YHC, she thought, “Nice enough.” Typically students on this scholarship only stay for a year, but Alyssa chose to stay. As she addressed her fellow graduates, she recognized the nervousness and excitement they shared with their freshmen selves.

Her words of wisdom: “It’s alright for a new beginning to seem scary” and that “success is more about one’s character than is about one’s achievements.” After a long list of heartfelt thank yous, applause roared through the Harp Rec Center and Alyssa took a seat.

An emotional rendition of Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin’” was then sung by members of the College choir led

by Jeff Bauman, and then it was time for the graduates to walk across the stage and receive their well-earned diplomas.

As the final name was called, cheers echoed. Emotions ran high. Some graduates clutched diplomas with tears in their eyes; others embraced lifelong friends who had become chosen family. There were plans for grad school, new jobs, gap years, and big dreams—but for one enchanted afternoon, each grad lived in the moment.

“You graduates have made your mark on Young Harris College, just as the College has made its mark on you,” said President Wells, as he closed the ceremony. “I charge you to remain intellectually curious about the world, and, as you have held yourself to a standard of decency and honesty, this will prepare you to go out into a world in need of people with integrity.”

184 undergraduate students and 4 Master of Arts in Teaching graduate students walked off campus that day as alumni. The Class of 2025 leaves not only with degrees but with the shared experience of weathering uncertain times and discovering their voices. In a world craving leadership, empathy, and innovation, this generation steps into the future as the ones ready to lead.

ACADEMIC UPDATES

Next, some of the most impressive Mountain Lions stepped up to receive awards themselves.

LEFT Keynote Speaker Alyssa Makina BELOW President John Wells (L) and Board of Trustees Chair Bill Johnston, 1975 (R), with YHC Medallion recipients John Moffitt and Mary Broadrick RIGHT Ian Warwick of Elberton, GA, B.S. in Elementary Education

11

Faculty Focus:

SHELLEY SANDERSON A musician, educator, and performer, Dr. Shelley Sanderson exemplifies Fine Arts at Young Harris College.

She began teaching in the YHC Department of Music in 2015. Her husband of 15 years, YHC IT guru James Sanderson, and 5 yearold daughter Sofia love to travel (especially to Walt Disney World) and belt out Broadway lyrics in their Hiawassee, GA, home.

Dr. Sanderson currently coordinates the Bachelor of Music Education program and teaches multiple music education courses. She also advises the Collegiate National Associate for Music Education (CNAfME) chapter at YHC and is the co-coordinator of Musical Theatre. During the 2024-2025 school year, she took a large group of music students to Athens to attend the Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference, and the previous year included a student trip to New York City for a week of Broadway theatre and a tour of the Lincoln Center. She often presents at conferences and performs in recitals as well.

On August 15, 2024, Dr. Sanderson was presented

Shelley with her husband James and daughter Sofia

12

with the 2024 Vulcan Teaching Excellence Award.

This award recognizes outstanding professors on campuses of the Georgia Independent College Association. Dr. Jason Pierce, YHC Provost, shares, “Shelley is a great example of someone who is an expert in her chosen field and has the passion to share that with her students.”

To earn the award, faculty members must assist their institutions in nurturing an academic climate that fosters teaching excellence, and they must provide leadership to enhance the campus community. Her passion is evident as she shares, “I could be teaching a voice lesson one hour, and then the next working on a group number for a musical. I’ve never been bored, and I get to use my expertise in new ways each semester. I also love how closely we get to work with our students while they are here on campus with us and after they graduate. My favorite thing to do is to travel to see our alumni making music in various professional settings all over the country.”

As she addressed the first-year students while accepting the Vulcan Teaching Award, she told them, “You will be surprised by how quickly the four years will go by. Choose your path and be curious. You have no idea right now, how positively [YHC] will impact your life.”

Young Harris College is honored to have Dr. Sanderson teaching our Mountain Lions.

Shelley and YHC Theatre students at the Six the Musical exhibit at the Museum of Broadway in New York City

Staff Spotlight: REV. DR. ADAM DANIELS It’s Monday morning. The campus community opens the weekly campus e-newsletter to find a note from Rev. Adam Daniels, aka Chappie. Whatever the topic, from serving our local communities to wrestling with the callings in our lives, it will be something we didn’t intend on thinking about all day, but there it is. Happens every time. He often acknowledges the fact we all have questions about faith, even him. And every time, he signs off with “grace and peace.”

Daniels is married to Jessie, who teaches business classes at the University of Georgia, and they have one energetic five-yearold, Teddy. Together, they’ve knocked out 22 out of 63 National Parks! It’s hard to believe Daniels has any free time when considering how involved he is at YHC, but in those pockets of time, he enjoys reading (his TBR list is massive), golfing, and hiking.

He shares, “I think the best part about working at YHC for me, among many things, is the great opportunities to have meaningful conversations with students about life and faith and how those things intersect. These are such life-giving conversations for me, especially with students that are struggling with faith or have not considered having a faith. It’s such a joy to be challenged by them and to see how open many of them are to these sorts of conversations.” He also appreciates the culture at YHC where faculty and staff “work so hard, care so much, and are so good at what they do.” He serves our students, staff, and faculty well.

Daniels is involved on campus in numerous ways from teaching undergraduate classes to joining students on community service projects to co-leading the Service of Remembrance at Alumni Weekend beside YHC legend Rev. Fred Whitley...the list goes on. But one of the most exciting projects on the horizon is the implementation of “The Campus

Cupboard,” a food pantry on campus as a partnership with the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia.

When Daniels was hired in 2022, he shared, “It’s such a desperately important time in our world to foster true belonging, meaningful conversations, and the cultivation of deep character. I believe Young Harris to be such a place where we can learn from and with one another, and I’m humbled to play whatever small part I can in its mission.” Three years later, this still holds up.

Grace and peace.

I THINK THE BEST PART ABOUT WORKING AT YHC FOR ME, AMONG MANY THINGS, IS THE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS WITH STUDENTS ABOUT LIFE AND FAITH AND HOW THOSE THINGS INTERSECT.

13

Faculty PUBLICATIONS “Our Lit & Lang folks have been publishing up a storm,” as Professor of English and Dean of Humanities Dr. Eloise Whisenhut puts it. With both new and upcoming titles being published by YHC faculty, we’ve got a lot of reading to do! So, cozy up and grab a new title, then add the rest to your TBR list.

To stay in the know about faculty achievements, follow us on socials and keep an eye on our online Newsroom at yhc.edu/news.

Keeper of Lost Places by Dr. Matthew Bruen | APRIL 2024 ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR ENGLISH Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble Keeper of Lost Places is author Matthew Bruen’s debut book. In it, he takes readers on a literary journey to ten lost American places. Each chapter explores the historical, natural, cultural, and economic forces that led to the destruction of a quintessentially American location. Some examples include Centralia, PA, in which an underground mine fire destroyed a prototypical coal town; the Minisink Valley of northeast PA and northwest NJ, in which a failed government dam project doomed an entire region; the North Shore communities of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that were displaced due to the construction of Fontana Dam; and the indigenous mound towns that dot the southeastern US. “Keeper of Lost Places was a labor of love that took me almost a decade to write, edit, and ultimately publish. The support of my YHC colleagues and supervisors was essential to the successful completion of the project,” shares Bruen. “Never once was I told to write differently or to publish only in my area of specialty. Such academic freedom is incredibly precious, and this work would surely not exist had I been hired elsewhere.”

Mountain Amnesia by Dr. Gale Thompson | DECEMBER 2023 ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF CREATIVE WRITING Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble “Mountain Amnesia is a collection born out of my time here in the Enchanted Valley. It is a book about loss and growth, but it is also a book about paying attention, about being grateful for the time we have with those we love.” shares author Dr. Gale Thompson. “It would not have been completed without my colleagues and friends at YHC, who have supported and taught me so much.”

The poems in Mountain Amnesia rebuild a new world—and self—in the wake of destruction and loss. Influenced by the landscape of rural Appalachia, these poems depict a nature relentlessly working on its own disappearance for survival. Decaying plants and animal remains are housed in the same world as ramps and bellflowers on the cusp of blooming. Mountain Amnesia is a testament to survival and resilience, and animal encounters—the lonely fox, the folded fawn, the returning whale, the emerging voles—become new myths along the way.

14

Arthur between England and Wales by Dr. Daniel Helbert | JANUARY 2026 ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH Arthur between England and Wales traces the development of the Arthurian legend from the early ninth century to the late fourteenth century through texts written in English, Welsh, Latin, and French by authors associated with the Anglo-Welsh borderlands. While Arthurian literature has long held pride of place in discussions of medieval identity and culture, the importance of the Anglo-Welsh borderlands (a distinctive community throughout the Middle Ages) on this tradition has gone underappreciated—until now.

Through a diachronic, longue-durée comparative reading of Anglo-Welsh Arthurian border literature, this study argues that hitherto unrecognized border discourses underpin the central rhetorical tenets of medieval Arthurian literature, such as the creation of Britain as a tangible idea, the popularity of the Arthurian legend in medieval Europe, and the indelible connection of the Arthurian tradition to various—often competing—cultural identities. Centered around both recognizably canonical works of medieval literature (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Geoffrey of Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain, La?amon’s Brut) alongside understudied works of Arthurian border literature (Nennius’s Historia Brittonum, Fouke le Fitz Waryn, Breuddwyd Rhonabwy) and bolstered by novel reinterpretations of the historiographic record and the vibrant cultural networks and communities within the borderlands, this study reveals how these texts’ origins “between England and Wales” is a crucial context for understanding medieval British culture and literature.

Dr. Helbert shares, “Arthur between England and Wales was not easy to write. The book is a major academic study which I wrote with the intention of shifting the scholarly consensus on the origins and meaning of the Arthurian legend.

Whether it does so remains to be seen. However, the act of writing this book and sharing that process with my students and colleagues has, hopefully, allowed them to see that YHC faculty are engaging with important ideas and we are sharing those ideas in the classroom.”

Red Rabbit Ghost by Dr. Jen Julian | JULY 2025 ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF CREATIVE WRITING Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble Associate Professor of Creative Writing Jen Julian’s Red Rabbit Ghost follows an impulsive young man who must “confront his small town’s dark secrets” as he returns home to solve the mystery of his mother, whose unexplained death left him abandoned as an infant. Reviewers describe the novel as an “atmospheric and haunting debut horror from brilliant new voice Jen Julian.”

“It’s all about making time to write,” Julian said. “To be successful at this, you have to carve out the time for it. In this case, I just developed a story where the characters felt very strongly about this place, this town. I went where the story pulled me, and it just played out from there.”

15

RISING TOGETHER:

New Chapter, Same Spirit On a chilly day in January 2025, Dr. John Wells stepped foot on campus to assume his new role as YHC’s 24th President. After that first step, he started to jog and has been in an all-out sprint since.

A native of East Tennessee, Dr. Wells is the son of two ministers in the United Methodist Church and served briefly as a minister himself before turning to a career in higher education.

He earned his B.A. in History from Carson-Newman University and his M.A. and PhD in Political Science from the University of Tennessee.

•1 993-2005: Award-winning faculty member at Carson-Newman, Director of the Honors Program, Dean of Social Sciences • 2005-2009: Provost and Interim President of Young Harris College during the College’s transition from two-year to four-year college • 2009-2016: Executive Vice President at Mars Hill University in North Carolina; oversaw a 30% increase in enrollment, expanded academic offerings, and led the creation of the college’s first graduate degree program • 2016-2017: Associate General Secretary of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and Executive Secretary of the National Association of Schools and Colleges of the UMC • 2017-2024: Provost and later President of a fellow Methodist-affiliated institution, Emory & Henry College in Southwest Virginia, institution’s first Chancellor upon retirement in July 2024

16

While YHC is a private institution, we exist for the public good.

prepare DR. JOHN WELLS YO U N G H A R R I S C O L L E G E P R E S I D E N T

e

“It’s great to be back at Young Harris College and return to this wonderful community here in North Georgia,” Wells shared. “I remember when I accepted the position, my wife said to me, ‘I can’t remember a happier time than when we were at Young Harris College.’”

Wells is enormously optimistic about Young Harris College. “I believe higher education institutions who practice common sense will be successful. And that is the cornerstone of Young Harris College. Our goal is not to teach our students WHAT to think, but HOW to think.

“I think it’s important that we teach them work ethic, too.

Character comes from hard work – it’s a noble thing. I really do believe that if you show up and work hard, you can be successful in life. And we teach that at Young Harris College.”

However, work ethic and character building aren’t only weaving through courses and campus interactions. Dr. Wells is setting out to create a Professional Readiness Entrepreneurship Program, known as PREP, led by none other than our own Dr. Todd Jones.

Todd Jones is a professor of business and public policy at YHC. He began teaching here in 2012 and quickly and affectionately became known as Dr. J to his students. He was recognized in 2016 as YHC Exemplary Teacher of the Year and continues to live up to that honor.

When asked what drew him to YHC, Dr. J said, “I have taught in master’s and doctoral programs, led large organizations at the highest levels, and had the privilege of serving in our nation’s military; however, there is a great personal joy that comes from helping our young men and women discover passion and purpose for their life. ...I know that I made a difference in the life of someone who will go

equip on to make this world a better place.” His expertise and passion for our Mountain Lions makes him the perfect choice to lead PREP. PREP will prepare students for their professional lives.

Today’s professionals need a variety of skills to be successful, including an understanding of the rapidly evolving job market, the ability to solve ethical challenges, seizing leadership opportunities, and an understanding of personal finance.

T he Professional Readiness Entrepreneurship Program (PREP) will prepare students for the highly competitive world of professional service.

Unlike standard career services, YHC takes a more well-rounded approach that includes all the benefits of classical education and blends that with a residential community where authentic soft skills will be developed.

DR. JOHN WELLS

17

thrive PREP PILLARS PATH DISCOVERY

ETHICAL CHARACTER

PREP will instill practical skills including but not limited to communication, resume writing, interviewing, professional attire, and networking, all while teaching the importance of ethics both professionally and personally. YHC is excited to partner with southeast businesses to offer internships and job-shadowing opportunities while also providing students on-campus positions. Students will learn personal finance, including money management, purchasing a car or house, and investing.

Graduates will be ready for the professional paths they choose.

Great news for alumni: PREP will be available for you, too! All YHC alumni will be invited to seek advice and assistance from PREP, from finding employment leads to resume editing.

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES

FINANCIAL LITERACY

To make PREP work as well as we hope, we need students.

To help with that essential piece, we recently introduced two new scholarships that directly involve our alumni.

At YHC, legacy means something. Whether you’re passing down the story or sharing the experience, there’s now a scholarship for that. As an alum or friend of the College, you know the impact the Enchanted Valley can have.

The memories and connections you made at YHC will last a lifetime. Share the same opportunity with future students through two new scholarship programs: • $2,000 Legacy Scholarship for children or grandchildren of alumni • $1,000 Referral Scholarship for any student you believe belongs at YHC If interested in learning more about these scholarships, reach out to admissions@yhc.edu.

It’s an exciting time here at Young Harris College. New leadership and exciting changes have brought an enthusiasm back to the Enchanted Valley. But as we enter into this new chapter, we will always remain rooted in the Young Harris spirit.

18

STUDENTS

Always Be Curious 13TH ANNUAL UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH DAY

Undergraduate Research Day (URD) celebrates the creativity, curiosity, and academic achievements of our students. The campus comes alive each year as students from across disciplines present their original research and creative projects through presentations, posters, and performances. This event showcases the depth of student inquiry and the strong faculty mentorship that defines the YHC academic experience.

Beginning bright and early on April 10, 2025, the 13th annual URD was underway. Topics spanned “The impact of medial jargon on patient comprehension and satisfaction” in the first session of the psychology presentations moderated by Dr. Ben Van Dyke to “Making Dorian Gray: The Musical,” a performance, presentation, and Q&A session in the chapel moderated

by Dr. Vanessa Iacocca. And—if you can believe it—everything in between!

Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of URD Dr. Amy Boggan moderated a Keynote Panel titled “Alumni Wisdom: Connecting your Experiences at YHC with Life After Graduation” featuring Sonia Galdamez Allen, MA, BCBA, Class of 2019, Gina Marie Drop, MFA, Class of 2015, Ambrose C. Sleister, Class of 2014, and Dr. Jessica Abernathy Watson, Class of 2011.

We admire our students for their hard work and courage to present, and we are so thankful for the alumni who came out to speak at the keynote and all alumni and friends of the College who came out to support the event and these students.

But none of this would be possible without our faculty, who care deeply for our students. Our faculty champion our students and constantly encourage them to always be curious.

STUDENT LED LITERARY AND ART MAGAZINE IS

62 Years Strong

YHC’s literary and art magazine dates all the way back to 1963. It was initially titled The Word, but in 1970 the student-run staff renamed it Corn Creek Review (sometimes Revue), paying homage to the creek that runs through campus. In 2020, the staff wanted to further update the title by strengthening connections back to the school and its history. They decided to rename this refreshed magazine Artemas in honor of Rev. Artemas Lester, who established YHC in 1886, and were still able to complete the project despite the pandemic.

Artemas is created by and for the students of YHC and serves as a vehicle for their creative expression. It is published in April of each year by a student-run staff who decide content, cover, and design, supported and championed by Faculty Advisor and Associate Professor of Creative writing Dr. Gale Thompson.

“I’m beyond thrilled with the level of passion, dedication, and hard work the staff of Artemas has shown. The editorial staff, and in particular the editors-in-chief have poured their hearts and souls into the magazine, making sure that it represents the kind of rigorous, engaging, and skilled work that only YHC students create,” shares Dr. Thompson. “Watching their collaboration and commitment to craft and heart has been such an honor. I am also so pleased with how Artemas has highlighted and emphasized the artistic and literary talent at our school, hopefully encouraging students to take creative writing and/or art courses.”

Many students and faculty came to the 2025 release party to celebrate the latest issue and hear students read and present their contributions to the magazine. This also means the 2025 issue of Artemas is out now! Physical copies are available in the Rollins Campus Center on campus, but you can view a digital copy at yhc.edu/artemas.

19

EDUCATION STUDENTS SECURE

NEA Project of the Year At the end of June 2025, students Sophia Twitty and Rebekah Cannon traveled to Portland Oregon to the National Education Association (NEA) Aspiring Educators conference where they accepted an award for winning Project of the Year on behalf of the YHC chapter of the Student Georgia Association of Educators. Sophia stated it was “a profound honor to represent both our SGAE Chapter and YHC” at this event.

Members of the YHCSGAE ran an entirely student-driven resource drive for those effected by Hurrican Helene which devastated much of the southeast in September 2024. They filled a school bus and a U-Haul with donations. “Our role was to facilitate connections with our East Tennessee contacts for donation distribution and coordinate with local school systems for collection and transportation logistics. The success of this project was made possible through the invaluable support of our local school systems and our partnership with Phi Sigma Kappa.” stated Assistant Professor of Education Dr. Susan Krebs.

When local news outlets got word of the project and began promoting the students’ work, donations began coming in from across the region. As pointed out by the NEA, “Despite having only 100 students in the whole education department, this chapter made a massive impact through the power of organizing.” Rebekah shared, “With our help, many of the students and schools affected by Hurricane Helene in the Tennessee area are still able to have access to the books and basic hygiene supplies they need. In my book, that is the most important thing to come out of this.”

Krebs is “immensely proud of this recognition and of these outstanding young educators. They have demonstrated remarkable generosity, compassion, and dedication to service. The receipt of the NEA Aspiring Educators GramAE ‘Project of the Year’ Award is a testament to their unwavering commitment to serving others.”

YOUNG HARRIS THEATRE STUDENTS

Attend Stratford Festival

YHC theatre students saw productions ranging from Macbeth to Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the Stratford Festival in Ontario, Canada, before traveling to see the legendary comedy improvisation at Second City. This trip was led by Associate Professor of Theatre Anne Towns and Dr. Jennifer Schroeder, professor of biology and coordinator of international studies.

“Canada was absolutely incredible,” said Jordan Sharp, a senior at YHC, majoring in music. “The shows we saw at the Stratford Theatre Festival were as good or better than anything I’ve seen on Broadway. Toronto was spectacular.”

“Our goal at YHC with a liberal arts foundation is to promote intellectual curiosity and a holistic development of the students,” Towns said. “Not only did our students get to travel to Canada, but the festival provided them an opportunity to see theatrical productions in other venues, with actors and directors with a different perspective from their own.”

“We are so excited to provide students a wide range of opportunities to expand their worldview,” Schroeder added.

Schroeder also noted that generous donations made to Friends of the Arts helped make this trip financially attainable. Many YHC students who study abroad benefit from similar donations and scholarships provided by alumni and friends of the College.

20

STUDENT LIFE

Events

STUDENTS

With 26 active organizations, 11 Greek chapters, and a student body looking for fun—YHC delivers! The Department of Campus Life offered multiple events every month of the 2024-2025 school year, from hiking local trails to skiing in North Carolina to climbing trees on campus with professional equipment. Over 150 students participated in a variety of intramural sports and went head-to-head in some friendly competitions. Below are a few highlights from this year.

• August: The 2024 Student Org Fair was another success helping to link students to clubs and organizations. Greek Life hosted the annual Lawn Party. We also hosted Welcome Back events such as Rock the Rec, ice cream in the RCC lobby, and a pop-up event that included grilling hot dogs and hamburgers while students played outside games together.

• September: Students strapped on snorkeling gear and explored Cupid Falls. In addition, Campus Life partnered with Outdoor Adventures for our annual Campus Campout to watch movies and camp on the lawn, turning the campus into a campsite.

• October: As per tradition, we welcomed the community to campus to join us for candy, costumes, and games at Fall Fest. Campus Life and CAB turned Maxwell into a Haunted House for students to come walk through and enjoy.

• November: Brady Swanson and Emma Brown were crowned Homecoming King and Queen! Faculty and staff came together to serve our students Thanksgiving dinner.

• December: Students took a break from studying for finals during our annual Cram Jam, an event that brings students together over pancakes. Campus Life did an axe throwing destress event during finals.

• January: We went skiing at Cataloochee Ski Resort and had our annual Casino Night for students.

• February: Purple reigned through the Harp during Purple Out, a basketball game where we battled our newest rival, Emmanuel University.

• March: We had 10 teams compete in our intramural volleyball season. To celebrate the spring weather coming back, we did a Cupcakes and Canvases event for students to get on the lawn and paint.

• April: Greek Week concluded with Greek Formal. It was a successful week of competition and unity. We had Greek Olympics, banner/chalk competition, lip sync concerts, and trivia. Our overall Greek Week winners were Delta Phi Epsilon and Upsilon Delta Sigma. We also had additional awards this year for Greek Sorority Chapter of the Year as well as Greek Fraternity Chapter of the Year. Gamma Psi won for Sorority Chapter of the Year and Phi Sigma Kappa won for Fraternity Chapter of the Year. Greek Life also wore denim in recognition for National Denim Day for National Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

• May: We said farewell to our seniors! We wish them well!

While this doesn’t cover even close to everything our students experienced outside of class this year, we know how to have a good time!

21

STUDENTS Fine ARTS

The 2024-2025 school year boasted another full Fine Arts schedule, including art shows in the Campus Gate Art Gallery from our own faculty and students as well as visiting artists, to one of our favorite YHC traditions, Christmas at YHC featuring major ensembles and special guests. The Chamber Choir took to the stars and performed in the campus Planetarium, and Theatre Young Harris brought “The Fantasticks” by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt to the black box, a theatre in Goolsby Center that offers an intimate experience for play goers and actors alike.

This doesn’t cover the full schedule of events by any means, and the 2025-2026 calendar is just as full! Visit yhc.edu/fota for a calendar you can download and for information about becoming a member of Friends of the Arts.

Become a member of Friends of the Arts and help YHC be able to continue offering quality programming!

For details, visit yhc.edu/fota or reach out to Bobbie Thompson at rthompson@yhc.edu!

22

Young Harris College has named Ginny Howard as its new head women’s volleyball coach, ushering in a new era for the program.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ginny to the Mountain Lion family,” said Director of Athletics Aaron Bessey. “She’s a passionate leader and the perfect fit to guide our volleyball program forward.”

Howard joins YHC after a standout run at J.H. Rose High School, where she was named the NCVBCA 3A Coach of the Year in 2024 after leading her team to a state title. She brings over a decade of coaching experience at the high school and club levels, with a proven track record of developing student-athletes on and off the court.

“I’m beyond excited for this opportunity,” said Howard. “My mission is to make a difference in the lives of student-athletes, and I’m grateful to do that here at Young Harris.”

Howard played collegiately at Barton College and has coached for East Carolina Junior Volleyball Club since 2016. She will begin building toward the 2025 season immediately.

ZACHARY MURRAY, 2024

SIGNS WITH CINCINNATI REDS

Young Harris College alum Zachary Murray has joined one of Major League Baseball’s most storied franchises, signing with the Cincinnati Reds after a dominant stretch with the Lincoln Saltdogs, where he struck out 11 in seven innings.

The right-hander played for Young Harris from 2023–24, finishing his career with a 14-7 record. In 2024, Murray went 9-2 with a 3.21 ERA and 99 strikeouts across 101 innings, earning Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Year, First Team All-Conference, and First Team All-Region honors. He helped lead the Mountain Lions to 41 wins and a NCAA Southeast Regional Championship Game appearance—one of the best seasons in program history.

Murray becomes the latest YHC pitcher to reach affiliated ball and is one to watch as he begins the next chapter of his professional career with the Daytona Tortugas, the Reds’ Low-A affiliate based in Daytona Beach, Florida.

MOUNTAIN LIONS MAKE HISTORIC IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY Beyond competition and academics, Young Harris student-athletes made their mark in service, contributing a department-record 2,618 hours of community service during the 2024-25 academic year. The Mountain Lions supported over 20 local organizations and directly contributed over $90,000 in economic impact. Men’s lacrosse led the way with 310 hours, and 14 of 17 programs recorded well above 100 hours.

ATHLETICS

YHC ATHLETICS WELCOMES GINNY HOWARD

MOUNTAIN LION CLUB EVENTS RAISE VITAL SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT Thanks to the tremendous support from the Young Harris community, the inaugural Mountain Lion Club Golf Tournament, presented by Jacky Jones Ford, and online auction combined to raise over $40,000 to support student-athlete scholarships at YHC. Held at the scenic Old Toccoa Farm, the MLC golf tournament provided another impactful opportunity to support studentathletes through a day of competition and community connections. With breakfast from Chick-fil-A, player gifts, lunch, and prizes for the top teams, the event was both a fundraiser and a celebration of what it means to be part of the Mountain Lion family.

The online auction exceeded all expectations, bringing together alumni, families, faculty, local businesses, and friends from across the country. Bidders showed up with Mountain Lion pride, knowing their contributions would directly benefit student-athletes striving for excellence in the classroom and in competition.

With nearly all YHC students receiving financial aid, proceeds from these events go directly toward supporting studentathletes’ academic and athletic pursuits.

23

MOUNTAIN LIONS ROUND UP FALL 2024

WINTER 2024-25

Men’s Soccer won the division and reached the semifinals of the Conference Carolinas Tournament after an 11-3-4 (8-1-2 conference) campaign.

Sergio Llopart led the way with eight goals, including a playoff hat trick. Thomas Kleinpenning posted a team-high 24 points and earned First Team All-Conference honors. Seniors Ivar Nå Aga and Sacha De Corte (Fall Scholar-Athlete of the Year) capped their careers with key contributions as six players earned all-conference recognition.

Women’s Basketball completed an historic 2024-25 season, capping off the year with a 22-9 overall record. The Purple & White went 14-6 in Conference Carolinas play and dominated at home with a 15-2 record. A highlight that demonstrates this group’s dominance is the 68-61 upset victory over formerly top-ranked Chowan University, a true team-win that filled the Harp with electricity. They had a thrilling postseason run, which eventually ended in the conference semifinals. Annalise Malone was crowned Conference Carolinas Player of the Year and named to the All-Conference First-Team.

Defensively, senior Parehuia Delamere was awarded All-Defensive Team accolades.

MEN’S SOCCER

WOMEN’S SOCCER

The 2025 Young Harris Women’s Soccer team finished the campaign with a 9-6-3 record and advanced to the Conference Carolinas quarterfinals. The Mountain Lions battled through adversity and won eight of their last 11 games. On October 29, YHC’s victory over Southern Wesleyan secured the team the title of Conference Carolinas Southwest Division Champions. Shania Harris was named to the CC First-Team (Forward) and Betsy Bu received CC Third-Team (Midfielder) honors.

VOLLEYBALL

The Mountain Lion Volleyball squad won all three five-setters taking place at the Harp, one being a 15-13 upset victory over Shorter University.

Conference Carolinas posted Joha Bernis to the All-Conference Second-Team (Libero) and Lyza Thigpen to the Third-Team (Setter). Bernis set the all-time dig record at 1639, while Thigpen surpassed 1000 assists in just her second year.

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

Men’s Cross Country improved to 6th at the Conference Championship (up from 10th) and jumped ten spots to finish 11th at the NCAA Southeast Regional. Austin Sullivan earned Runner of the Week honors alongside women’s standout Emily Baars, while Liam King repeated as Elite 23 Award recipient for academic and athletic excellence.

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

The fall campaign for YHC Women’s Cross Country was a groundbreaking one, starting with the fact that it was the largest recruiting class in school history, adding 22 new competitors. A few team highlights include a third-place finish at the 2nd Annual Young Harris Opener, a top 20 placement at the Louisville Cross Country Classic, and an impressive top 10 finish at the Conference Carolinas Championship.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MEN’S BASKETBALL

The 2024–25 season marked a turning point as Men’s Basketball reached a new milestone: its first-ever 20-win campaign (21-9), capped by a home playoff win and a trip to the conference quarterfinals. Carl Cleveland earned First Team All-Conference and Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. Karl Chavis (Second Team) and Cameron Bleshoy (All-Defensive Team) also played key roles. All three were named Academic All-District and picked up weekly awards as YHC made a statement season under head coach Jeremy Currier.

MEN’S SOCCER

WOMEN’S SOCCER

VOLLEYBALL

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

SPRING 2025

BASEBALL

Young Harris College Baseball wrapped up an historic 2025 campaign, finishing 40-17 with a share of the Conference Carolinas regular-season title and a No. 4 NCAA Southeast Regional seed.

The Mountain Lions staged thrilling comebacks in the conference tournament and finished as runner-up before falling in two tightly contested NCAA games.

Eight Mountain Lions earned All-Conference honors—four on the First Team, four on the Second. Jeremy Begora shattered YHC’s singleseason (19) and career (47) home run records, picking up national and regional Player of the Week honors. Additional accolades included weekly honors for Kade Smallwood, Jonny Smith (twice named Freshman of the Month), Austin Ritchie, Zach Hart, and Sam Neal.

SOFTBALL

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MEN’S BASKETBALL

BASEBALL

The Mountain Lions finished the season at a 22-23, while posting a 13-11 record in conference competition. Of the eight double-header splits, this squad took seven game two victories.

They recorded three series sweeps and had a win streak of three or more games four times SOFTBALL

24

throughout the season. Avery Fielden (First-Team), Shelby Duncan (Second-Team), Grace Young (Second-Team), and Gracie Hughes (All-Defensive Team) represented Young Harris on a conference level. Senior Grace Young has been a shining star for this program during her tenure, this season receiving D2CCA All-Southeast Region Team honors for the UTL/P position.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

After posting an 11-7 overall record, the Mountain Lions closed out the regular season on a dominant six-game win streak, notably taking down the formerly No.1 ranked Belmont Abbey College 19-17 on April 5. Five athletes earned All-Conference honors: Riley Parker (First-Team Attack), Hayden Hennessy (First-Team Defense), Abbie Gallagher (Second-Team Goalkeeper), Ella Clifford (Third-Team Defense), and Mary Troyer (Third-Team Midfield). The 2025 season marks the second year in a row the program has made a deep run in the Conference Carolinas tournament, this time concluding in the second round.

MEN’S LACROSSE

Men’s Lacrosse returned to the postseason after a 6-9 (3-4 conference) campaign that featured steady improvement and several program milestones. Ben Soenen set a new program record for caused turnovers and joined Kieran Isbister on the First Team All-Conference list. Hunter Stagg scored 24 goals, Grady Stokes led with 47 points (31 assists), and goalie Dylan Wilbur became the program’s career saves leader.

MEN’S TENNIS

Led by a promising freshman class, Men’s Tennis built behind emerging talent to finish 7-16 (4-5 conference) and advance past Emmanuel 4-0 in the opening round of the Conference Carolinas Tournament. Noah Pawirodirjo earned Third Team All-Conference and Freshman of the Month honors while leading at No. 1 singles. He and Caleb McCurry became YHC’s first doubles team ranked in the ITA national top 25. Mason Harmon also earned a Player of the Week nod during a season that reflected continued growth.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

The Mountain Lions finished 9-15 on the year, winning the last three matches of the regular season and advancing to the second round in the Conference Carolinas tournament. YHC newcomers Futaba Saito (First-Team) and Maud

Scholten (Third-Team) caught the eyes of the conference administrators for All-Conference awards. Finishing out the season strong, Maud Scholten was also named CC Freshman of the Year.

MEN’S TRACK & FIELD

In its first year of competition, Men’s Track & Field debuted strong with standout contributions from several freshmen. Ryland Hunley scored in nine events across indoor and outdoor, finishing second in both the heptathlon and decathlon.

Aidan Vrazel (4th in outdoor 5K), Brayden Figgins (runner-up indoor 5K), and Xander Potter (6th in steeplechase) helped the Mountain Lions place 10th in their outdoor conference debut.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

MEN’S LACROSSE

WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

The first-year program Young Harris Women’s Track & Field made a name for themselves.

Brynley Walraven showed out as a rising talent for YH Women’s Track & Field squad. A young and talented roster turns the page to the 2025-26 season now with an extra year of experience now under their belt.

MEN’S TENNIS

MEN’S GOLF

The 2024–25 season saw Men’s Golf anchored

by Ronn and Ranieri, as freshman Adrian Ronn and senior Will Ranieri led the way with top finishes.

Ronn earned Freshman of the Month, placed T11 at the Conference Championship, and posted backto-back top-10 finishes in March. Ranieri carded a career-low 66 (-4) at the Music City Invitational and placed top 25 at conference. Both earned AllConference honors as the team built momentum for the future.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

WOMEN’S GOLF

Young Harris Women’s Golf set the standard for a young team with high aspirations. Firstly, senior Tamara Brito finished the Converse Fall Invitational tied for first, carding just four over par; she was then named Conference Carolinas Co-Golfer of the Week. Additionally, Lucy Wiegert delivered a strong performance at the Agnes McAmis Memorial tournament with a tie for second place. The Purple & White placed seventh at the Conference Carolinas Championship in April, making strides from last year’s outing. Tamara Brito registered the best overall performance for Young Harris for the second time in a row with a ninth-place finish, carding a 15 over par at the Cutter Creek Golf Club.

YHC TO ADD MEN’S AND WOMEN’S

MEN’S TRACK & FIELD

WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD

MEN’S GOLF

DEVELOPMENTAL BASKETBALL Young Harris athletics is proud to announce the incorporation of men’s and women’s basketball developmental teams for the 2025-26 school year. These programs will give incoming and returning YHC students the opportunity to compete, while also providing the varsity basketball teams with better resources. With the addition of these developmental teams, each program will be adding another full-time assistant coach

WOMEN’S GOLF

25

POST 3.0+ GPA

AS MOUNTAIN LIONS SET NEW ACADEMIC STANDARD Young Harris College Athletics capped off a record-breaking academic year in 2024-25, with every varsity team posting a GPA of 3.0 or higher for both the spring semester and the full academic year—a first in school history.

The Mountain Lions also achieved a department-record 3.525 GPA for the Spring 2025 semester. Of YHC’s 337 student-athletes, 84.86% earned a GPA of 3.0+, 61.12% reached 3.5+, and 67 students (19.88%) posted a perfect 4.0.

Men’s Tennis led all programs with a 3.85 GPA, followed by Men’s Golf (3.76), Men’s Soccer (3.71), and Men’s Basketball (3.70).

Women’s Soccer topped the women’s side at 3.75, just ahead of Volleyball (3.73) and Softball (3.72).

“This year’s academic success reflects the culture we strive for—excellence in every area,” said Athletic Director Aaron Bessey.

“Our student-athletes continue to raise the bar.”

As the Mountain Lions continue to compete at a high level across all sports, this year’s classroom results reinforce what it means to be a student-athlete at Young Harris—dedicated, disciplined, and driven to succeed on and off the field.

26

SPORTS PERFORMANCE AND WEIGHT ROOM ELEVATION UNDER CRYSTAL MCCULLOUGH

ATHLETICS

ALL YHC TEAMS

This year saw major strides in athletic performance and training, thanks to the leadership of Crystal McCullough in her first year as Director of Sports Performance at Young Harris.

Since her arrival from Lenoir-Rhyne University, McCullough has brought an elite-level background that includes national championships, Olympiclevel athletes, and top-tier program development.

She introduced a comprehensive training model designed to develop student-athletes both in the weight room and in competition—while also launching an internship program to mentor the next generation of coaches.

YHC also invested in significant upgrades to the weight room space and equipment, reinforcing its commitment to the health, safety, and performance of all student-athletes. These investments have already impacted all 16 programs, with Mountain Lion teams benefiting from improved strength, recovery, and inseason readiness. Her dedication earned her the prestigious Unsung Hero Award at Young Harris College, with her trademark phrase, ‘Last set, best set!’ echoing throughout the valley.

FACILITIES AND FIELD ENHANCEMENTS

CONTINUE TO RAISE THE BAR

In addition to the weight room renovation, Young Harris College Athletics made several key facility upgrades in 2024–25.

The College completed a turf field renovation for soccer and lacrosse, installing AstroTurf’s 3D Decade System with a performance-enhancing 60 oz. fiber design.

The updated surface improves durability, safety, and aesthetics, giving teams a true home field advantage.

Meanwhile, the Bob and Gayle Nichols Tennis Complex was resurfaced for the first time in over a decade. The courts now feature new purple and grey coloring, enhanced YHC branding, and a professional-grade finish fit for hosting ITA, USTA, and NCAA tournaments. The resurfacing addressed long-standing playability and safety concerns, while reinforcing the College’s dedication to excellence in every sport.

Rounding out a year of impactful facility enhancements, a new practice court was installed inside the Harp Recreation and Commencement Center. This upgrade allows basketball and volleyball to train simultaneously, easing scheduling and expanding access. It’s the major piece in a series of improvements designed to elevate the student-athlete experience across all sports.

Honoring Mountain Lion Alumni 2 0 2 4 P R E S I D E N T I A L WA L L O F H O N O R

This past fall, the Young Harris College Alumni Association was proud to announce the second class of the Presidential Wall of Honor, recognizing our upcoming leaders in ministry, politics, entertainment, and more.

Senior Director of Development and Alumni Engagement Dana Ensley, Class of 1997, and the Alumni Board of Directors selected 10 young alumni to be inducted, each chosen for their significant professional achievements and service to others following their graduation from YHC. All these individuals graduated from YHC with a bachelor’s degree and have gone on to represent YHC in their chosen fields and their communities with great distinction.

The following individuals, in alphabetical order, were recognized at the reception during Homecoming on Saturday, November 16, 2024.

After graduation, Briana went on to pursue her Juris Doctor at Emory University School of Law where she continued to dedicate her time to volunteerism and academics.

Currently, Briana is an attorney at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton specializing in intellectual property law.

Leslie Ballew, M. Div. Class of 2019 Leslie graduated from YHC in 2019 with a major in Interdisciplinary Studies focusing on economics, human communication, and religious studies.

During her time at YHC, she was able to study abroad through the McCollough Scholarship, serve as Campus Chaplain Assistant, Interfaith Council President, Dorcas President, and Rotaract Club President, and be a part of the Chapel Ministry Team Leadership and the worship band.

After YHC, she attended Duke University and obtained her Master of Divinity. She used her talents to become the Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Chaplain Fellow at Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Briana Bell, J.D. Class of 2018 Briana graduated in 2018 with a major in business and public policy and a minor in Spanish.

During her time at YHC, Briana was an incredibly active and involved student-athlete. She played for the Women’s Basketball team all four years and was captain for two years. She served as the Student Athlete Advisory Committee President, was a Student Alumni Ambassador, served on the Student Advisory Council of the Honors Program, and was a member of the Alpha Chi Honor Society and the Sigma Beta Business Honors Society, all while excelling academically. Briana graduated Summa Cum Laude and was class Salutatorian.

Austin Freeman Class of 2012 Austin is a YHC graduate of the Class of 2012 as a theatre major and religious studies minor. Austin has never been one to shy away from the spotlight. He was incredibly active in the College’s theatre department.

After graduation, he pursued his acting career. He has been a part of many notable films and television series such

27

as playing Mike in the Warner Brothers movie The Mule, doing body-actor work as Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy, playing in the series Loki, and many others. In fact, just take a look at his IMDB page; it is pretty incredible!

Austin has diversified himself professionally on and off-screen. Not only is he signed to Atlanta Models & Talent, but he is also a successful Real Estate Agent for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties.

Mayra Leyva Class of 2019 Mayra graduated in 2019 with a major in interdisciplinary studies. She came to Young Harris from Athens, GA, and felt right at home in the Enchanted Valley.

During her time at YHC Mayra was a ray of sunshine to all that she came in contact with. She often encouraged and supported her fellow students.

On top of her dazzling personality, she played an active role in the Baptist College Ministry on campus making it her mission to spread the love of Christ with her peers. She was also a member of Phi Alpha Phi and was part of the Underground Student Ministry Leadership Team. At Commencement 2019, she received the Spirit of Young Harris Award for all of her contributions to YHC and her willingness to be positively involved with the student body.

With that being said, it is no surprise that Mayra is now the Student Ministry Coordinator at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church.

28

.

Breann Lindsey Class of 2016

Parker Moon Class of 2019

Breann graduated in 2016 with a major in outdoor leadership and a minor in Appalachian studies and community engagement. During her time at YHC, Breann was a competitive cheerleader, Homecoming Queen, and member of Greek life and the Inter-Religious Council. At the 2016 commencement ceremony, Breann was presented with the Young Harris Spirit Award for her enthusiasm for the institution and her love for her fellow students. Breann gained valuable experience in the Enchanted Valley as an orientation facilitator, resident assistant, and teaching assistant for the Outdoor Leadership Program.

Her love for higher education and the outdoors led her to pursue a graduate degree after YHC. She was accepted into Wheaton College’s Master of Arts in Outdoor Adventure Leadership program. After she completed her master’s, she began working in the camp and non-profit field, holding positions at the YMCA of the East Valley and the University of Redlands directing community-facing and higher education outdoor recreation programs.

Breann is now at the University of California, Riverside as the Outdoor Excursions Coordinator.

Parker Moon graduated in 2019 with a major in biology. During his time at Young Harris College, Parker was both President of the Golden Key Honors Society and Vice President of Alpha Chi Honors Society. The leadership roles he held gave him wings and with those skills he decided to take flight.

After graduation, Parker became a certified flight instructor at Dragonfly Aviation in Winder, GA. He soon became a Senior Flight Instructor for the company. Later, he transitioned into a new position as a pilot for two years for Republic Airways and now is a pilot for NetJets, the world’s largest private jet company.

Heather Richbourg, Ph.D. Class of 2013 Heather came to the Enchanted Valley from over the state border and down the road in Hayesville, NC. She graduated in 2013 with a major in biology and a minor in mathematics. During her time at YHC, she was on the Women’s Cross Country Team, a Resident Assistant, and was an honors student.

After graduation, Heather furthered her education at Louisiana State University where she received her Doctor of Philosophy, Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences. While at LSU, Heather was a Graduate Research Associate and VP of the Graduate Student Organization. After receiving her PhD, Heather joined the Board of Directors for the American Assocation for Anatomy and led policy changes regarding sexual harassment. During that same time, she was completing her postdoctoral research at the University of California, San Francisco. There, she was a member of the Gender Equity Taskforce, a part of the Catalyst Awards Internship Program, and received the University of California Chancellor Award for Advancement of Women.

Heather is now a Bioinformatics Scientist II at Ultragenyx where she is devoted to research related to helping those with rare diseases. Heather is also a mentor and facilitator for TechWomen, an organization that empowers, connects and supports the next generation of women leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) from Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East.

helped transition the team into the Peach Belt Conference. In addition to his role as an athlete, he was active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), as well as a Dean’s List student.

Since leaving the Enchanted Valley, Spencer has become a leader for Southwest Georgia Oil Co./SunStop Stores. He has been a District Manager for five years, overseeing 10-12 convenience stores in the North Florida, South Georgia, and Southeast Alabama areas. He has been named to the “Top 40 Under 40” convenience stores leaders

by C-Store Decisions magazine where he was selected from thousands of candidates after a nationwide search.

Aside from being a manager, Spencer is a thriving entrepreneur as he and his wife own and operate multiple Ellianos Coffee Franchises and ice cream shops in Northwest Florida.

James M. “Jack” Tripp Class of 2012

Spencer Thomas Class of 2015 Spencer graduated from Young Harris College in 2015 with a degree in business and public policy. While at YHC, Spencer was captain of the YHC baseball team and led in the conference batting average in 2013. Spencer also

“Jack,” as we know him, graduated in 2012 with a degree in business and public policy. During his time in the Enchanted Valley, Jack was heavily involved in the Student Government Association. It is no surprise that in 2011 he became a summer Legislative Intern for U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. With a passion for public service, Jack knew that public office was for him. In 2015, he became a Session Assistant for the Georgia State Senate. In 2017 he became a Status Clerk. Jack then moved up to the rank of Deputy Secretary of the

Georgia State Senate and is now proudly serving Georgians as the Secretary of the Georgia State Senate!

Jack has remained active on campus, returning for many events and gatherings. He is a member of the YHC Young Alumni Professionals where he works closely with Alumni Engagement.

Jada Williams J.D., M.Div. Class of 2018

Jada graduated from Young Harris College with a degree in history in 2018. She was heavily involved on campus as a student. She played on the Women’s Basketball team, was a part of religious life, served as a RA and Student Alumni Ambassador, and was a member of Dorcas, Gamma Psi, and APO. She was also a little sister for Zeta Pi. During her senior year, she was voted Homecoming Queen and won the Zell B. Miller Leadership Award at her commencement ceremony.

After graduating from YHC, Jada continued her education at Wake Forest University and obtained a Juris Doctor and Master of Divinity in May 2024.

While at Wake Forest, Jada was selected by her peers to be the student speaker for her law school graduation ceremony.

Currently Jada is using her skills as a Higher Education Law Fellow for Husch Blackwell at Wake Forest University.

To nominate deserving young alumni for the Presidential Wall of Honor, contact Senior Director of Development and Alumni Engagement Dana Ensley at ddensley@yhc.edu or (706) 379-5336.

29

ALUMNI WEEKEND 2025

if you know, you know

The rain (mostly) stayed away, the sun (and the heat) showed up, and YHC came alive for Alumni Weekend!

Quite a few alumni returned this year for the first time in decades. While the total number of alumni on campus is unknown, we believe this may have been the biggest event yet! Thank you to everyone who came!

Relive Alumni Weekend 2025 (or learn about it for the first time!) by reading through this year’s schedule and thoughtful recaps of each event.

SATURDAY, JUNE 7

FRIDAY, JUNE 6

9:30 – 10:30 a.m.

3 – 4:30 p.m.

Dorcas/SPAT Breakfast

Alumni House Open House

Via foot, car, or golf cart, a group of alumni spanning many classes joined together for an afternoon at the Alumni House while enjoying fruit and cookies. They shared stories about their time at YHC, perused the memorabilia, and were in no hurry at all while they rocked in rocking chairs on the porch while taking in the scenery.

5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Class of 1975 – 50th Reunion Reception

Our new Half Century Club members joined each other in their own space for wine, appetizers, and conversation with a slideshow of their college days playing in the background. People were happily shoulder to shoulder, reintroducing themselves and waving across the room to familiar faces.

30

6:30 p.m.

“As a 2025 Dorcas Alumni, it was so encouraging to see so many generations of YHC grads who have upheld the values of Scholarship, Duty, and Character that make the Dorcas Society and the Enchanted Valley so very special. This event is such a sweet opportunity to fellowship with so many different people and to share the memories that make YHC feel like home.”

ALLIE KILLER, 2025

Half-Century Club Dinner and Annual Alumni Awards Ceremony

It was a packed house! We’re grateful we were able to fill so many seats to honor the new Half-Century Club members and this year’s YHC Alumni Award winners. Award winner bios are on pages 32-33.

•T he Young Alumni Achievement Award: Leah Cheshier Mustachio, 2016 • The Spirit of Young Harris Award: Leigh Burns, 1991 • The Distinguished Alumni Award for Lifetime Career Achievement: Trisha Yearwood, 1984 • The Nancy Louise Haynes Robertson Award Given to an Outstanding Friend of Young Harris College: Wade Benson • The YHC Family of the Year Award: Jacky Jones Family

11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Celebration of Life for Bob Nichols

“I was honored to share the memories of Bob with many of his former students and to reconnect with those that I advised. Being a part of Alumni Weekend was an absolute pleasure.

Thank you, everyone.”

GAYLE NICHOLS

11:30 a.m.

1886 Society College Update

Dr. Wells’ update on YHC received not one but two applause breaks! The room felt alive with excitement about what’s to come. We ended this event by singing the Alma Mater led by Kenneth Boykin, 2018.

12:30 – 2 p.m.

All Alumni Buffet Luncheon

Fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, squash casserole, watermelon, strawberry shortcake...and that’s not even the complete list! Thank you to Sodexo for another delicious Alumni Weekend meal.

Class of 1975

The Class of 1975 celebrated their 50th reunion this year and joined the Half Century Club. There were a number of events held specially for this class during Alumni Weekend, most coordinated by the alumni of this class themselves. Below is an excerpt of a piece written by George “Cricket” Justice, Class of 1976 and a senior lecturer of history at the University of North Georgia.

“This year was the Golden Anniversary of the class just ahead of me. We gave accolades to the Class of 1975, a group who were mentors and more, most of whom were innocently unaware of just what we were stumbling into our first days there. Kinships forged quickly and the College’s legacy forever infected our hearts.

So many came to this reunion who had not been in decades. We acknowledged our regrets for those who were not there, but I relished the company of those who were. We spoke in those dated, strange, and sometimes cryptic languages of our youth. Off-color jokes, bawdy talk, sweet compliments, secrets revealed, tearful memories, promises kept and unkept, and assurances of lasting affection.

The Musak blared laughter instead of oldies and it seemed like a smile was required dress code. No pretensions, religious controversy, or political strife— as if they did not even exist. It is almost incomprehensible that ’74-’75 year has now been memorialized in our hearts for the fiftieth time.

Congrats to the YHC Class of 1975.”

Noon – 5 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

Once the bar opened, the real party began!

Campus was dotted with tents reserved for alumni classes from the 1960s all the way to the 2020s with a common area on the plaza. Alums came up to grab food and walked away with their drinks in YHC Alumni koozies. Face painting, a bouncy house, yard games, and live music by Sammy Ensley, 1996, and friends filled the lawn. It was a great time!

The Class of 1965, celebrating their 60th reunion along with friends from the classes of 1966-1969, enjoyed dedicated time together on the balcony of the Rollins Campus Center overlooking campus. Just before venturing to this space, classmates had already joined each other in the shade of the large tree near Susan B. Harris Chapel where the weather was just perfect.

Tailgate Tent Takeover & Party on the Plaza

2 – 3 p.m.

Service of Remembrance in the Chapel

YHC Chaplain Rev. Dr. Adam Daniels led the service alongside Rev. Fred Whitley.

Caroline Watkins Cook, 2021, Kenneth Boykin, 2018, led hymns while Dr. Keith DeFoor played piano. This was a lovely service, as always, that ended by ringing the chapel bell once for every alum who passed away since the last Alumni Weekend.

Class of 1965 (1965-1969) Reunion Social

6 – 8 p.m.

Alumni Social at Crane Creek Vineyards

Though it poured, this was a special gathering. The steam of the storm settled in the valley and made for a beautiful view.

Wine was flowing and fun finger foods kept spirits up while the storm kept everyone close in the pavilion! Dr. Wells and his wife, Dr. Shannon Earle, joined the alumni and jumped right into meaningful conversation.

3 p.m.

Alumni Weekend Group Photo Just might have been our biggest yet!

31

20 25 A lu m n i A war d s Leah Cheshier Mustachio, 2016 Young Alumni Achievement Award

Leah is a public affairs officer leading the Humans in Space team at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, communicating the agency’s work with the International Space Station and Commercial Crew Program. She won a Webby award for her development and execution of the NASA Moon Tunes campaign for the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing.

Leah provides live commentary on NASA TV for numerous events. Her leadership during the Artemis I mission was recognized by the agency with a Silver Achievement Medal.

Leah is a host of the popular show “Houston, We Have a Podcast.” She now lives in Houston and enjoys the occasional late nights and early mornings she spends at the Public Affairs Officer console in Mission Control.

Leah shares, “I always called Young Harris my ‘mountain home,’ not just because it’s where I was living, but because the students and staff felt like family. They believed not only that I could dare to do mighty things, but that I could achieve them. Being involved in all YHC had to offer—from serving as a College representative or actor in Theatre Young Harris, to a member of the Gamma Psi sorority and more—gave me a rich experience beyond the classroom and provided opportunities to grow in confidence, responsibility, and professionalism.”

Leigh Burns, 1991

The Spirit of Young Harris Award During her time at Young Harris College, Leigh was in Alpha Iota, participated in Art League, and was a Resident Assistant.

She graduated in 1991 with an Associate of Fine Arts degree and earned her Bachelor of Art from the University of Georgia.

She went on to earn a Master’s in Heritage Preservation from Georgia State University. Leigh is a dedicated YHC Class

32

Coordinator and Alumni Board member. She also supports other YHC events regionally and has provided a private reception space for our 1886 Society members at the Fox Theatre for the last 6 years.

Leigh shares, “I stay involved because I love maintaining connections with my friends. I love giving back to a place that I know can change the course of someone’s life where they can find another layer of foundation for adulthood.”

Leigh has been the Director of Fox Gives since 2017. Before joining the Fox Theatre, she held positions with the Georgia Main Street Program and served as the Outreach Program Manager and Certified Local Government Coordinator with the Georgia Historic Preservation Division.

Leigh has twenty-five years of professional historic preservation experience including internships with the National Park Service and the Historic Oakland Foundation. In 2014, she received an Award of Excellence in Historic Preservation Service from the Atlanta Urban Design Commission.

Trisha Yearwood, 1984 The Distinguished Alumni Award for Lifetime Career Achievement

With over three decades in the spotlight, Trisha is a multiple GRAMMY®, CMA®, and ACM® Awards winner and has sold millions of albums. The iconic singer, actress, author, chef, and entrepreneur continues to captivate audiences with her powerhouse vocals and heartfelt storytelling.

Raised in Monticello, GA, Trisha’s early influences shaped her into one of country’s most beloved vocalists. After graduating from Young Harris College, she attended Belmont University in Nashville, TN, where she pursued a degree in music business.

She is a New York Times bestselling author with four beloved cookbooks. Her Emmy® Award-winning Food Network series, “Trisha’s Southern Kitchen,” has introduced fans to her downto-earth approach to cooking. She has also expanded into home and lifestyle design. In 2023, she co-opened Friends In Low Places, the largest bar and honky-tonk in Nashville’s Lower Broadway, featuring menus curated by Trisha herself.

Beyond her artistic and entrepreneurial success, Trisha is deeply committed to philanthropy. She is an active supporter of

Habitat for Humanity. She is also a strong advocate for breast cancer research and has contributed to disaster relief efforts.

In 2021, Trisha established Dottie’s Yard, a charity dedicated to supporting animal shelters across all 50 states. Trisha’s dedication to giving back reflects the same warmth and generosity that define her music and career, making a lasting impact on both people and animals in need.

Wade Benson

The Nancy Louise Haynes Robertson Award Given to an Outstanding Friend of Young Harris College After working as the College’s external auditor for around a decade, Wade accepted the position to manage the Business Office and finances of YHC in 1996. Wade established the James W. Benson Business Scholarship to assist students pursuing a business degree in memory of his father.

Wade retired in September 2023 after 27 years at the helm of the finances of Young Harris College. During this time, he participated in the College transitioning from an associate degree to a bachelors and master’s degree granting institution, aided in three institutional accreditations by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, oversaw the physical plant, dining services, human resources, campus book store, served as project manager for various construction and renovation projects on campus, and always received clean, unmodified audit opinions on the College’s external audits.

At retirement, Wade was honored by the Trustees naming the College’s Business Office the Benson Business Center and commemorated on the House of Representatives floor by U.S. Congressman the Honorable Earl L. “Buddy” Carter, Class of 1977.

Wade shares, “Although I graduated from Georgia Southern University, my YHC roots run deep. My wife, children, and several other relatives all graduated from Young Harris College.

I spent most of my career working for or at the College and consider it my second home.”

The Jacky Jones Family

The YHC Family of the Year Award Margaret Wellburn, who walked these collegiate paths as a student in the 1940s, planted the first seeds of this family’s connection to Young Harris. Decades later, Jaclyn Jones Ashe, Class of 2000, followed in her grandmother’s footsteps and found her own way to YHC. Jaclyn’s son Kolbe Ashe is a current student and will graduate in 2026. And in the fall of 2025, Jaclyn’s daughter Emma begins her own chapter here.

Jaclyn’s father Jacky Jones was inducted into the YHC Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018. Prior, in 2015, YHC presented Jones with the Nancy Louise Haynes Stephens Sanderson Robertson Outstanding Friend Award. The Hayesville, NC, native is the co-owner and principal of Jacky W. Jones Ford, Inc. and operates eight successful dealerships in North GA and Western NC. His dealerships have earned 16 Ford Motor Company Presidents Awards.

Jacky’s dedication to YHC can be seen through his generous corporate contributions to the Local Scholarship Campaign, Mountain Lions Booster Club, and the annual Clay Dotson Open. He can often be found on the front row of the Harp Recreation and Commencement Center cheering on the Mountain Lions basketball teams alongside his family.

Jacky tells stories all the time—stories of Mrs. June Rushton, who could outplay most of the boys in football and baseball.

She coached the neighborhood kids, including Jacky, and made a real impact. And Mr. Luke Rushton used to leave a window cracked at the old gym so Jacky and the neighborhood boys could sneak in to shoot hoops.

Those stories may seem small, but they speak volumes about the spirit of this place—about how Young Harris has always made room for people—whether you were enrolled or just dreaming of it.

“This little valley in the mountains has given us more than we could ever repay,” shares Jaclyn. “But we’ll keep trying.”

33

Young Harris Alumni Travel YOU CAN GO ANYWHERE FROM HERE! We are so excited to introduce our partnership with Collete, a family-owned travel company that has helped people explore the world for over 100 years! We already have three trips planned: • Shades of Ireland October 17-26, 2026 • Sunny Portugal March 15-27, 2027 •C anadian Rockies and Glacier National Park in Summer 2027 But why travel with YHC? Other than getting to explore with people who already have the shared experience of the Enchanted Valley: • Great travel destinations for singles, couples, friends, and families • Custom payment plans to fit your budget • Optional excursions on trips for more adventurous travelers • Low-priced travel insurance (includes free refund up until the day of the trip departure plus coverage on tour) • Travel guides available throughout the trip

groupservices@collette.com Booking # 1364090

Let’s turn the “why” into “when”!

Visit yhc.edu/alumni-travel to get all the details, or contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at alumni@yhc.edu or (706) 379-5336.

34

CLASS NOTES 1960s

Mack Poss, 1963, was inducted to the inaugural Stephens County High School Athletic Hall of Fame 2024 as a successful girls’ basketball coach and tennis coach. He was recognized by the GHSA for having won 318 games in 17 years of coaching.

1970s

As provided to the college from July 2024– June 2025 Share your news with other Young Harris College alumni and friends. Send achievements, announcements, and photos to alumni@yhc.edu, or submit them online at yhc.edu/alumni under “Share Your News.”

All Class Notes photos are provided courtesy of featured alumni and friends of the College.

Saudi personnel day-today in support of United States Central Command defense priorities and informational sharing.

This trip was also his last long-term Department of Defense deployment to be performed in government service.

Christopher Chambers, 1983, retired in December 2024 from the Department of the Army after 18.5 years in Army Casualty Notification. He now lives in Fairhope, AL, with plans to write and travel.

1990s

Retha Earls Nelson, 1976, is living in her homeplace of Flintstone, GA, and enjoying retirement. She keeps very busy in the community, including being a member of the Lions Club. She also started the Chattanooga Valley Historical Society!

She travels, goes to many music festivals, and attends Chattanooga’s Broadway series. She is also a YHC Class Coordinator and never misses Alumni Weekend!

Jennifer Edwards, 1998, celebrated 25 years of service with the City of Conyers, GA, in May 2025.

She’s pictured with Mayor Vince Evans, left, and City Manager Kameron Kelley.

Sarah Craig-Mckenzie, 2003, earned her MBA from the University of North Alabama in May

Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) and received the Atlanta Braves’ Bill Lucas Community Service Award.

At YHC Cory was an impeccable athlete and went on to play at Mercer University. He has returned to the Enchanted Valley throughout his career and has been a role model for many aspiring professional athletes that

Dr. Kirk Shook, 2005, was elected to the Board of Directors of AthensOconee CASA, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children in foster care in Clarke and Oconee Counties. CASA volunteers are specially trained adults appointed by the court to improve a child’s foster care experience. He and his wife, Miriam, Class of 2002, have fostered two girls since 2021. He was also selected as the 2025 Commencement Keynote Speaker at Shorter University.

2000s

1980s

Michael “Mike” Thomas, 1980, recently completed a six-month Middle Eastern work support trip to the United States Embassy - Riyadh. He worked with senior USEMB and

2024. She is a registered nurse and Clinical Manager at Centerwell Home Health in Birmingham, AL.

Cory Gearrin, 2006, was named to Chattanooga’s 20 Under 40 Class of 2025. Current Deputy Mayor of Hamilton County and former Major League Baseball pitcher with more than a decade in the big leagues, Cory served on the Executive Board of the Major League

touch our fields. Cory was inducted into the Young Harris Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014 and the Mercer Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023.

Today, Cory serves as vice chair of the National Association of Counties (NACo) Arts and Culture Commission and has been selected for several national leadership programs.

Class of 2007’s Kimberly Belflower’s Broadway play “John Proctor is the Villain,” playing at the Booth Theatre until August 31, 2025, was nominated for seven Tonys, including Best Play!

Kimberly graduated from YHC in 2007 and went on to study at Columbus State University. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Dramatic Writing at Emory University.

“Set in a cheery high school classroom in small town Georgia, [“John Proctor is the Villain”] tracks students as they tackle Miller’s ‘The Crucible’ with their charismatic teacher, Mr. Smith (played to perfection by Gabriel Ebert), during the spring semester of their junior year,” as explained in the LA Times. “As the five young women in the class reflect on Miller’s play about the 1692 witch trials in Salem, Mass., an allegory for the anti-Communist hysteria of the McCarthy era, they begin to depart from the standard interpretation that minimizes the experiences of the female characters.”

The New York Theatre Guide calls Belflower’s play “a classic in the making,” and is set to become a film involving Tina Fey, Marc Platt, and Sadie Sink! Follow live updates about the show on Instagram @johnproctorbway or by visiting johnproctoristhevillain.com.

35

2010s

Kellan Burrell, 2015, double majored in chemistry and biology at YHC and then went on to earn a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from Emory University in 2019. He currently works at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta.

April Hobbs, 2015, started a new position last summer as the Research and Data Strategist for Region 2 of the Network of the National Library of Medicine. The Network consists of 7 regions, and Region 2 is over Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

April develops, plans, and provides services related to data collection and management, assessment and evaluation, and quality improvement. She also leads the development and implementation of regional outreach and education strategy for research data services (RDS).

36

underrepresented communities” (b-sci.org).

She works as a Research/ Lab Technician at the Center for Applied Isotope Studies at the University of Georgia and co-hosts the B-Scientists podcast.

Alexis Via Gentry, 2016, has exciting news from the Gentry family! They are overjoyed to welcome their first baby—a sweet baby girl, Aurora Brielle—in August 2025. They can’t wait to begin this next chapter as parents. Here’s hoping we’ve got a future little Mountain Lion in the making!

Ethan and Amanda Barrett, 2017, got married in 2019 now have a young son. Amanda is the owner and head photographer at Amanda Beth Photography, LLC, and Ethan earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy and is currently with Atlanta Rehabilitation and Performance Center located in Blairsville, GA. Jana Carpenter, 2017, earned her PhD in Bioanalytical Chemistry from the University of Georgia in 2024 not long after she had an article published in ACS Measurement Science AU Journal. She founded The Black Science Coalition and Institute, or B-SCI, which “seeks to foster scientific interest, research, skepticism, objectivity, knowledge, and innovation in black and historically

Rachel Lee Glover, 2018, became a registered technician in September 2024. She has two young children and has been married for four years.

John Bogenschuts, 2019, is celebrating six years in the insurance industry. He has been working in the medical transportation insurance space since graduating from YHC. He helped to start a commercial auto insurance program that is approaching $100M of gross written premium since the program’s inception. John shares, “[I] am incredibly thankful for the academic and life lessons learned from Dr. Buser, Dr. Van Vliet, Dr. Jones, and Dr. Gray! Would not be where I am today without them!”

2020s

Calling All Members of SPAT! April 2026 marks the 85th anniversary of SPAT! This occasion deserves a celebration that reflects the legacy and impact of this organization.

There was a commemorative book that was created for SPAT’s 50th anniversary which captured the first 25 years of our history. While not publicly distributed, it remains a treasured document for our brotherhood. Inspired by that effort, Kenneth Boykin, Class of 2018, is working to continue that tradition by documenting and preserving the next chapters of our story.

Please share information, stories, and materials from the past 60 years of SPAT. Everything is welcome! Contact Kenneth Boykin at kenneth.boykin76@gmail.com or (706) 610-0414. If you have items to share, such as jerseys or specialty items, please mail them to The Alumni Office, Attn: SPAT Alumni, PO Box 275, Young Harris, GA 30582. If you live or are near the Columbus or Atlanta area, reach out to Kenneth to coordinate a time for pickup.

Kenneth shares, “My goal is to bring together as many alumni and current members as possible for a meaningful celebration on Saturday of Alumni Weekend 2026. This is an important moment in our legacy, and I want to ensure we honor it in a big way.”

Austin Watson, 2020, is a multimedia designer and educator teaching design courses for the School of Design at UIC in Chicago, Il. Austin explores digital and analog processes including graphic design, illustration, printmaking, photography, videography, and songwriting.

mountaintop in March 2025. She serves as the Marketing and Worship Director at Vertical Church in Blairsville.

Caroline Watkins Cook, 2021, said, “I do” to Christian Cook on a

Alexis Doutrich, 2021, just began her third year of a doctorate degree in history at Mississippi State University, where she specializes in the history of Appalachian foodways and the history

of American medicine. She will take comprehensive exams in the fall of 2025 and will delve headfirst into dissertation research and proposal. She is still on the teaching track and currently serves as an editorial assistant for the Journal of Environmental History.

Jonathon Reeves, 2021, is now a Senior Treasury Management Team Lead for United Community, managing a team of associates across the southeastern United States.

Henrique Sobrihno, 2022, is a singer, actor, and dancer. He has performed in “A Chorus Line,” “Westside Story,” “Cats!,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and “Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat” while with the Flat Rock Playhouse, “The Prom” with Sharon Playhouse, and “A Gentlemen’s Guide” and “Charlie & the Chocolate Factory” with Arizona Broadway. He was also the lead vocalist in “Piano Man,” “City of Dreams,” and “Tango Buenos Aires” with Royal Caribbean Entertainment.

In July 2024, Joshua Wood, 2022, was one of four finalists in the University Division of the International Horn Competition of America.

He was also their inaugural recipient of the Vincent DeRosa Prize. Josh recently performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and is currently studying for his Doctor of Musical Arts in Horn Performance at the University of Georgia.

Rex DiPietro, 2023, graduated in 2025 with a Master of Music degree in Trumpet Performance from

Georgia State University School of Music. Rex is a member of the GSU Symphony Orchestra and a first prize winner of the 2024 Salzburg International Music Competition. He has accepted a position with Carere Music, Inc. as a private instructor.

Karah Shea, 2023, graduated with a BA in Art and Graphic Design and a minor in Outdoor Studies.

She is working as an Associate Product Manager at Plaid Enterprises where she designs presentation materials such as packaging prototypes and finished samples. Karah is a volunteer with the Tim Tebow Foundation.

Emma Pullium, 2023, recently graduated from Appalachian State University Hayes School of Music with a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance. She was selected to be a presenter at the 2025 Music Teachers National Association Collegiate Symposium, where she presented her research “Colors of the Year: The Fusion of Performing, Visual, and Literary Art in Fanny Mendelssohn’s Das Jahr.”

‘

Jahlaynia Winters, 2023, completed contracts for several productions at Flat Rock Playhouse. In 2024 she completed a regional

tour for two Theatre for Young Audiences productions, performed in “Maddie: A New Musical” with the New York Theatre Festival, and did a national tour for the Virginia Rep’s production of “Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad.”

She is currently an instructor for Playhouse Jr.

Cara Mackey, 2024, has been given the “opportunity of a lifetime” with a theatre company called Missoula Theatre!

She gets to travel the United States (with possible stops in Canada) while performing/directing.

This contract is the second one she has received since graduating from Young Harris in over seven months. Cara shares, “I owe all of this wonderful success to the YHC Fine Arts department!”

A Call for Remembrances of Reece Even though his aversion to French and mathematics kept him from graduating at Young Harris College, author and poet Bryon Herbert Reece worked first as a student on campus and then later as a professor.

He was exactly the kind of person Artemus Lester back in 1886 had in mind when he dreamed of a college where young people in the mountains could further their education.

Born in 1917, Reece grew up on a farm with his parents and four siblings. When Reece was a student at YHC during the 1935-36 school year, he was a member and editor of the famous Quill Club, a group of students committed to writing. When he came back to the College as a professor, he did so out of the need to sustain himself and his family. The written legacy left after his death in 1958 is six books of poetry, two novels, and a reminder to all who followed him to pay attention to the present moment.

The Bryon Herbert Reece society came into existence in the early 2000s. It is composed of people who desire to see the legacy of this one-of-a-kind farmer and poet goes forth into the future.

If you were a student during the years Reece was on campus, sharing your memories would be greatly appreciated by the Byron Herbert Reece Society. You may email your memories to Bill Stickland, Class of 1968 and a Reece Society Board member, at bstrickland12024@gmail.com, or send via mail to P. O. Box 355 Portal, Georgia 30450. Thank you for your help in remembering Reece.

37

IN MEMORIAM As reported to the College between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025.

ALUM N I Lee C. Aldridge, 1959 James T. Black, 1959 Betty Bledsoe, 1961 Patricia I. Bourne, 1974 William R. Bowen, 1955 Helen T. Buffington, 1946 Nancy G. Burling, 1957 Bob C. Cloer, 1950 LaVerne England Cobb Charlotte N. Collins, 1957 Jack V. Colwell, 1956 Donald B. Covington, 1965 Anita I. Dallas, 1970 Robert F. Darden, 1961 Connie L. Davenport, 1985 H. F. Erwin, 1961 Sarah Foster, 1947 Tom P. Foster, 1972 E. F. Galloway, 1963 Stewart Gilbert, 1962 Catherine Goodwin, 1975

38

Lynne B. Grady, 1988 Bennie A. Heard, 1944 Benny Lee Henderson Edna Huey, 1943 William M. Hughes, 1966 Nancy S. Hunter, 1956 William C. Irby, 1957 Alice James, 1977 Carolyn Marie Pittman Johnson, 1966 Tammy Johnson, 1983 Elizabeth G. Joiner, 1957 I. Ann Jones, 1963 John F. Jones, 1972 Linda S. Leslie, 1969 William B. McBride, 1963 Dinara S. McMichael, 2021 James L. Melton, 1992 Amber M. Moody, 2001 DeBronda Mullins, 1981 Carolyn W. Neighbors, 1956 Lonnie A. Nichols, 1964 Emily N. Paulk

Former YHC pitcher Zachary Murray, 2024, is taking his talents to the next level, signing a pro contract with the Cincinnati Reds after a strong showing with the Lincoln Saltdogs. A standout in the Mountain Lion rotation, Murray earned top conference honors in 2024 and played a key role in one of YHC’s most successful seasons.

Read more about Murray on page 23.

Lawrenceville, GA. She’s been a lead in musicals dedicated to young audiences (Cheryl, “Miss Nelson is Missing”), understudied for a traveling Christmas musical that was partnered with Destination Theatre (Missy Alternate, Holiday Follies), and was in both ensembles for The Color Purple and most recently finished with Waitress in June.

Kentisha Shine, 2024, graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre from Young Harris College. In June 2025, she completed a year-long apprenticeship with Aurora Theatre in

Savannah Chapel, 2025, graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education from YHC. She recently accepted the position of music teacher at the Torch Christian Academy

Bonnie E. Peters, 1955 Helen W. Richardson, 1959 Henry S. Rogers, 1961 Carol D. Rowe, 1963 J. Donald Salling, 1957 Linda S. Scroggs, 1969 Evelyn C. Shropshire, 1960 Sue Lowe Shirey, 1960 Roy L. Thornton, 1961 Zachary R. Tribble, 1960 William L. Turner, 1965 Kyle R. Tutton, 2007 James V. Vaughn, 1956 M. Jane Veal, 1950 Mary E. Walker, 1951 Patricia A. Warnock, 1964 Tammy L. Williams, 1982 Cynthia A. Williamson, 1961 Helen J. Wilson, 1960 Rachel L. Windsor, 1951 George Worley, 1956

in Demorest, GA, where she will be teaching Pre-K through 5th Grade Music. Savannah had a fantastic student teaching experience in the spring of 2025 at Fairview Elementary School.

Her favorite part of her experience at YHC was getting to sing in all of the choirs and fostering relationships with all of her fellow music majors.

Nicole Klucharich, 2025, took a job as a PR assistant with the Dodgers in March 2025! Her day-to-day consists of writing game notes for the broadcasters and external media,

F RI EN D S OF TH E C O L LEG E William H. “Bud” Akins Gloria Campione Mary S. Colwell Joyce Cox Jason Craig Clay Dotson Lacy Eaves Adolphus “A.D.” Frazier James P. Gilmore Sharon Herrmann Stephen H. Kay Ruth B. Looper John F. McMullan Bob H. Nichols Janice Parmer Fred Register Earl J. Roberts Julia Yanson

interviewing players for feature stories, publishing post-game notes, and assisting with other baseball communication duties. She shares the coolest part of her job: coming to the office every day (Dodger Stadium!) and seeing the ins and outs of Major League Baseball from the front office to the clubhouse.

Kennedy Willis, 2025, was a member of the YHC Men’s Basketball team as well as the YHC Athletics Creative Team. As a member of the creative team, he created original concepts for campaigns and branding initiatives.

Kenn is a freelance graphic designer. He is also reaching out into the field of apparel and shoe designs with his brand, Peace Metro.

Vasia London, 2025, is working at Theatrical Outfit in Atlanta under their Tom Key Arts Leadership Apprenticeship.

YOUNG HARRIS COLLEGE

2024-25 Donor Impact Report JULY 1, 2024–JUNE 30, 2025

“HE WHO WISHES TO SECURE THE GOOD OF OTHERS HAS ALREADY SECURED HIS OWN” - CONFUCIUS To the Young Harris College community,

My name is Bryn Edwards. I am a senior public policy and law major with a minor in history and am excited to be the Student Government Association (SGA) President for the 2025-2026 academic year. I would like to thank the tremendously generous donors for their contributions to YHC; because of your contributions, countless students, faculty, and staff have a place they can proudly call home. Throughout my time here, I have realized that the Enchanted Valley is an extremely special place. Yes, the mountains are stunning, and the campus is beautiful, but I firmly believe that it’s the people and the strong sense of community that attracts many to our campus.

As SGA President, I aim to not only serve the students, faculty, and staff, but to positively impact the local communities. As a child, my parents would bring me along to help in serving at local soup kitchens, environmental clean-up events, clothing drives, and assisted living homes; because of this, I am passionate about community service. Upon being elected to serve as President of the SGA, I have been brainstorming several goals that I wish to accomplish throughout my term. I am thrilled to bring my passion for service to YHC. Many of you may be well aware of the several charities that YHC Greek Life organizations are working with. During my term, I am confident that these sororities and fraternities will be more than willing to work with SGA in furthering their respective philanthropic objectives. Not only would SGA be able to assist financially, but we would provide Greek Life with additional assistance.

Additionally, SGA plans to serve the YHC community by hosting events that are open to the entire campus. This past spring, the SGA Sustainability Committee invited students to join us in painting tote bags while Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Anne Marguerite Coyle gave a presentation about Earth Day. Each seat in the Hatcher Dining Hall was full by the start of the presentation.

I believe we can host several similar events that will pique the interest of all students. Doing this will create a strong sense of connection throughout YHC. SGA aims to recruit as many students to our organization as possible. Once we have more members, we will conduct more productive meetings, create a larger impact, and generate noticeable changes around campus for all to enjoy. Again, I would like to give a huge thank you to all alumni and donors who have made everything we do here at Young Harris College possible. Your kindness and generosity have not gone unnoticed; our community will be eternally grateful.

Sincerely,

Bryn Edwards, Class of 2026

39

WAYS TO GIVE &

WAYS TO GIVE

Giving Opportunities

•M ail a check to Young Harris College Office of Advancement P.O. Box 275 Young Harris, GA 30582 • Use the online form found at yhc.edu/givenow •C all the Office of Advancement at (706) 379-5173 or email us at advancement@yhc.edu.

• Give from your assets. Some donors meet their charitable goals and limit their taxable income by making a gift of appreciated securities including stocks or bonds. Donors age 70 ½ may request a gift directly from their IRA to the College and reduce their tax burden. Including the College in your estate plan is another way to ensure the future of YHC and its students without costing you anything today.

GIVING OPPORTUNITIES •Y oung Harris Fund: This fund provides unrestricted support to the areas of greatest need at Young Harris College. When you make a gift each year to the Young Harris Fund, you are supporting great faculty, providing student scholarships, and underwriting new academic programs. The Young Harris Fund gives the president and academic administrators critical flexibility to address needs and opportunities as they arise.

• Bob and Carol Head Local Scholarship Campaign: By working with community members from areas surrounding YHC, this program grows scholarship support for students from Fannin, Gilmer, Rabun, Towns, and Union counties in Georgia, and Cherokee and Clay counties in North Carolina.

• Class Scholarship Challenge: The Class Scholarship Challenge (CSC) began as a challenge for each class to raise $1,000 in support of the College. Many classes exceed $1,000 and now compete for the largest amount donated or the greatest number of donors. These contributions directly support student scholarships. Like our alumni, our students are passionate about YHC and the impact they will make after their time here. Visit classscholarshipchallenge.org and help your class rise to the top!

For details on these opportunities, visit yhc.edu/give.

40

•G iving Day: YHC’s annual Giving Day is a fundraising event that brings together alumni, students, faculty and staff, and friends of the College to financially support current Mountain Lions.

All proceeds from Giving Day directly go towards student scholarships!

Save the Date: Giving Day 2026 is March 17!

•E ndowed Gifts: Establish and name an endowed fund which becomes a part of the College’s endowment. Typically, only the investment earnings are spent, and the principal gift remains intact and exists in perpetuity. Contact the Office of Advancement for more information about how to establish, name, and set criteria for an endowed fund. Endowed funds require a minimum gift of $25,000 payable over three years. ountain Lion Club: The Young Harris College Mountain •M Lion Club provides funds that promote our athletic programs’ needs; upgrade athletic facilities; recruit and retain top-level coaches; and promote deserving student-athletes, athletic staff, and coaches. By becoming a Mountain Lion Club member, your support will go toward achieving these goals.

•F riends of the Arts: Your support enables Young Harris College’s Division of Fine Arts to continue offering quality programming that benefits student development and enhances the local cultural landscape. Visit yhc.edu/fota for details. ngrave a Brick: Honor friends, loved ones, your graduating •E class, or favorite organizations by engraving their names on a brick paver, or buy a piece of history for yourself.

CLASS SCHOLARSHIP CHALLENGE 2024-2025 Total: $155,853.99 Top Number of Donors: Class of 1967 Top Number of Dollars Donated: Class of 1952 Visit classscholarshipchallenge.org to participate!

Donor Highlights The Dale Family Remembers and Pays it Forward BOB DALE, 1976

Young Harris called to Bob Dale, Class of 1976, when he was a youth working at a summer camp near Brasstown Bald. On hiking trips, he caught glimpses of the campus and thought it would be the perfect base camp from which he could continue his pursuit of outdoor adventures.

Bob’s journey to Young Harris turned into a family affair. His younger brother Mike Dale, Class of 1979, followed him to the Enchanted Valley. They flourished there and beyond.

In 1993, when Mike died suddenly at the age of 34, the family chose to honor his life by establishing the Michael Dale Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund. When their father, Robert Dale, Sr., passed away in 2024, a portion of his estate was designated for the fund. Since then, Bob has also included a bequest in his trust for Mike’s scholarship fund.

According to Bob, establishing and growing the Michael Dale Endowed Scholarship Fund has been a meaningful way to remember Mike and make a positive impact on the lives of students.

The College is grateful to the Dale family for their long-standing generosity.

Bob Dale, 1976 (above) and Mike Dale, 1979 (right)

12 years out, 11 years of giving.

9 years of 1886 Society membership.

GERARDO OJEDA ROJAS, 2013

“That’s how I was raised,” said Gerardo Ojeda Rojas, Class of 2013, explaining why he gives to Young Harris every year. “That’s what my mom taught me. To give back.”

His mom smiles when he says this. She suggests that his generosity grew out of her efforts to ground her children in a life of faith.

Scholarship assistance enabled Gerardo to attend Young Harris. He thinks it’s important to return the favor by supporting the College that supported him. Although he majored in math, what sold him on coming to YHC was the College’s fine arts programs, a department he has faithfully supported at an 1886 Society leadership level for the past 9 years. His family regularly drives up from Atlanta to attend performances and concerts on campus.

Gerardo started his giving streak by setting up a YHC recurring gift that automatically charges to his credit card every month. If you are interested in becoming a recurring gift rock star like Gerardo, please contact advancement@yhc.edu or (706) 379-5173.

Young Alums Already Giving Back

SAM, 2020, AND MACKENZIE MELTON GASTON, 2019 Sam, Class of 2020, and Mackenzie Melton Gaston, Class of 2019, have only missed one Alumni Weekend since graduation, but they had a good reason—they were busy getting married!

Mackenzie spent her time at YHC involved in the Student Government Association (SGA), Dorcas, and Math Club, and graduated with both a B.S. in Mathematics and a B.S. in Business and Public Policy. She is now the Junior Project Manager for Renfroe Construction Company.

Sam was also in SGA, SPAT Club, and a member of College Republicans. He graduated with a B.S. in Business and Public Policy. He is now an Associate Financial Planner at Christy Capital Management.

“I love the tight-knit community and traditions that make YHC unique and special,” shared Mackenzie. Sam agrees, and he also appreciated the opportunities for service and leadership offered to YHC students. They are both very active in the Alumni Association and serve as Class Coordinators, helping to fundraise and plan events. As a couple, they have a monthly recurring gift to the College in hopes that more students are able to have the same positive experiences they had.

41

1886 YOUNG HARRIS SOCIET Y MEMBERS

Leading with Loyalty and Generosity Members of the 1886 Young Harris Society are the College’s most loyal and generous donors.

By pledging or giving a total of $1,000 or more within a fiscal year (running July 1 through June 30), you can join the ranks of this leadership giving society which supports all aspects of the YHC community. From scholarship assistance to athletics to fine arts, gifts to any funds count toward 1886 Society membership. Special appreciation events and engagement opportunities are open to 1886 members throughout the year, and membership is renewable each fiscal year.

For more information about the 1886 Young Harris Society, please contact Tonya Nix at (706) 379-5227 or tpnix@yhc.edu.

YOUR WILL, YOUR FUTURE,

Your Legacy

Every day at YHC, students are taking steps to secure their future. Have you considered securing yours? The College has partnered with FreeWill to provide a free online tool for alumni and friends to create or update a will and include an optional legacy gift to support our students.

Zac Rhinesmith, Class of 2007, used FreeWill to create a will to provide for his wife, Lauren, and their three children. Because the Mountain Lion baseball team was a life-changing part of his YHC experience, Zac included an optional bequest in his will to support the baseball program. Zac said, “I wanted to include a gift to Young Harris in my will because of the experience I had there and the lifelong friendships I built. I’d like others to be able to experience the same thing for years to come should they choose YHC.” To get started, scan the QR code or visit: https://frwill.link/youngharriscollege0525

“FreeWill was easy to use and provided step by step instructions to complete all I needed in order to take care of my family.”

– ZAC RHINESMITH, 2007 42

Theirs

YOUR LEGACY LAUNCHES

“ If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

SIR ISAAC NEWTON Be the shoulders on which future Mountain Lions stand by including Young Harris in your will or estate plans. It doesn’t cost you anything today and you may generate tax savings. You may be able to establish and name a scholarship fund or professorship through your future gift. If you’d like to have a confidential conversation about how your legacy giving can prepare promising students for greatness, please contact Robin Harp, senior director of leadership and legacy giving, at (404) 518-4341 or rhharp@yhc.edu.

T hanking Members of the

W. HARRY AND HARRIET HILL SOCIETY FOR PLANNED GIFTS We are grateful for the following individuals who have included Young Harris in their estate plans. By informing the College about their intentions, these generous friends became members of the W. Harry and Harriet Hill Society for Planned Gifts. If you are interested in becoming a Hill Society member, please contact Robin Harp at (404) 518-4341 or rhharp@yhc.edu.

Anonymous Richard C. and Sue Ackert James E. Allen H.S. Anderson Jonathan F. Anderson Richard and Marcia Aunspaugh M. Brantley Barrow Jeffrey and Diane Bauman John R. and Marianne N. Beverstein Idalu J. Bishop Bob and Barbara Bone Ella Sherrill Farmer Boone Ruth V. Boyd Sally P. Boyd Mary Sue Bradley Stacye Bramblett Carole D. Bramlett Sallie E. Bresnahan Carolyn Briscoe Marilyn K. Brown

Leigh A. Burns Charlie P. Butler Neal Clark, Jr. and David Foster Furman L. Cliett Charles W. Clowdis Robert L. Dale, Jr. Madeline Darnell Clay* and Betty Dotson Mark C. and Kathy Dotson Thomas C. Drake Gerald E. Eickhoff Ashley Marie Eschbach M. Laura Evans Laurie G. Flohr Harry H. Gaines Gerald P. Gutenstein Charlotte J. Headrick Bonny L. Herman William R. and Lisa M. Hinson Richard H. Hoibraten James E. Hooper

Edna Huey* James T. Johnston William A. Johnston Ladson H. Kesler Debra Koronka Stanley L. Ledbetter O.V. Lewis Carolyn and Larry Liebau Martha J. Logan Frank M. Malone Eric C. McConnell Richard W. McGinnis* Raymond and Mary J. McKinney Ronnie Milsap David C. Nissen Valerie A. Paulk Marilyn Paye Zachary Rhinesmith Eve P. Respess Robert J. Rhodes G.R. Robinson

Virginia A. Robinson Carol A. Rogers Ruth and James Sapp Margaret E. Scott Steven A. Sharp Marianne J. Skeen Ann H. Smith Karen Smith Edwin W. Stansell Cheryl Star Virginia Stephens Jenny and Jason Stowers John L. Sugg Linwood H. Thompson Jane Tucker Jerry E. Vaughan G. Gwen Walker Jerry F. Westmoreland Marthagem Whitlock Julia Yanson* Eugene M. Zimmerman

* denotes those Hill Society members who are recently deceased 43

EVENTS THAT

Matter

YHC GOES TO ATLANTA’S FOX THEATRE— A SPECIAL EVENT FOR LEADERSHIP DONORS SATURDAY, MARCH 1

All members of the 1886 Young Harris Society and the W. Harry and Harriet Hill Society for Planned Gifts were invited to an exclusive reception at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta before watching “Mamma Mia” performed on stage in reserved seats. Members of these two giving societies are among the College’s most faithful and generous supporters and are invited to engagement events throughout the year.

SCHOLARSHIP LUNCHEON FRIDAY, MARCH 28

Students and donors gathered together for one of the best events of the year, the annual Scholarship Luncheon. This invitation-only event is designed to not only thank our generous donors but to show students real people help them pay for college.

President Wells welcomed everyone before YHC Chaplain Adam Daniels prayed over the caramel cake (if you know, you know). After a tasty lunch, senior Will Ranieri took the mic and gave an emotional speech which you can read on page 45.

Senior Sarah Carver followed Will’s speech with a very impressive flute performance.

Alum Matthew Kammerer, Class of 2011, then shared what the donors of YHC meant to him before Lydia Sartain, Class of 1979, encouraged everyone to continue supporting the Mountain Lions. Vice President for Advancement Mark Dotson, Class of 1987, closed the program by thanking donors once again.

MIMM’S, MOUNTAIN LIONS, & MUSIC NIGHT SATURDAY, MARCH 29

Tapping toes, enjoying a beverage, supporting YHC...what’s better than that? The second Mimm’s, Mountain Lions, & Music Night was again hosted and sponsored

by Grandaddy Mimm’s Distilling Co. in Blairsville, Ga. After a distillery tour, apps, cocktails, and dinner by Jim’s Smokin’ Q’s BBQ, the classic country band Waymore’s Outlaws took the stage and rocked into the night.

This event supports the Bob and Carol Head Local Scholarship Campaign. This campaign supports students from surrounding counties.

CLAY DOTSON OPEN MONDAY, MAY 19

The 21st annual Clay Dotson Open was a special one. All golfers and staff gathered to honor Dr. Clay Dotson, after whom this event was named. Dotson passed away in September 2024.

Two flights, 224 golfers, and a fleet of golf carts overtook Brasstown Valley Resort in the name of student scholarships. The proceeds from this event go to our scholarship program that funds students from local counties (the Bob and Carol Head Local Scholarship Campaign). We raised over $131,000 for these students!

44

GENEROSITY THAT SHAPES THE

Future

Will Ranieri, Class of 2025, graduated with a B.S. in Marketing and a minor in Sport Studies. The speech below was delivered

by Will at the 2025 Scholarship Luncheon.

The Scholarship Luncheon is a wonderful celebration, not just of scholarships and achievements, but the power of generosity, the impact of education, and the responsibility we all have to give back. I want to say thank you. Thank you to all the donors who believe in the future of Young Harris and in the future of the students who walk these halls. Your generosity has severely impacted my life and the lives of many other students.

We are here today because someone we may or may not have even met before has chosen to invest in us. That is both humbling and inspiring.

It is bittersweet to say that I will be graduating in May this year (2025) as I can remember being incredibly nervous about coming to college just four years ago. I watched both my much-older siblings go off to college when I was extremely young. I looked up to them as much as I did my parents. Both my brother and my sister went to large state schools and had “normal” college experiences. My brother was a collegiate baseball player, and it seemed that is where I was destined to go as well. But when my father died from a long battle with cancer in 2015, my passion for playing baseball died along with him.

I first went out to play golf with my brother just three days after Dad died as he took me out to the course to help get my mind off things. Once I got off the first tee, I instantly fell in love with the game. I could not help but feel a spiritual connection with my father when I was on the course.

As I entered high school, it became evident that the only way for me to be able to afford college was to get a scholarship, either athletically or academically. My parents always instilled in me the value of an education and I got to see my siblings reap the benefits of a college degree. I worked hard enough in the classroom and on the golf course to where I had offers from a few different places in the southeast. It took a lot for the golf coach at the time to get me here to visit as I had in my mind the college experience of a big school, but once I

came to the Enchanted Valley, I committed on the spot. I knew this is where I wanted to be. I was lucky enough to receive both academic and athletic scholarships that allowed me the opportunity to come to Young Harris and I cannot have dreamed of spending my last four years in a better place.

When I first arrived in August of 2021, I was as anxious as can be about being here. I was unsure of the challenges that would lie ahead and if I would find my place and be able to fit in. What I discovered was a community that lifted me up, pushed me forward, and believed in me even when I did not believe in myself. The opportunities I’ve had here, the friendships I’ve built, and the lessons I’ve learned have shaped me in ways I could never have imagined. Young Harris has become a second home to me. I have met amazing people here, from students, to faculty, and to staff. There is nothing like the community here at YHC. I feel not only as though that I matter, but as if everyone is rooting for my success.

Neither of my siblings felt such community in their bigger schools. They were surprised to hear that I talk to most of my professors even when I do not have a class with them. The relationships I have with people who are not even students have been incredible. I know that whatever my future holds, I can lean on these people to help me, and I am forever grateful for that.

One of the most important lessons I have learned at Young Harris College is that we can always give something. Whether it is our money, our time, our talents, or simply a word of encouragement, giving back is not about the size of the gift, it is about the impact it has on the person receiving it. I thank all of our donors who use their valuable resources to help make a difference. It goes far beyond what they can see. Your kindness and vision shape not only the students here in this room, but also the future of this College. You see the potential and it is because of you that we are able to reach it.

To my fellow students, let’s not take these gifts for granted.

Let’s use these gifts to grow, give back, and make a difference in the world. One day, we will be the ones sitting here in these seats looking at the next generation and it will be our turn to give back.

45

Honor Roll

OF

DONORS

We are excited that this issue of Echoes lists every donor from the past fiscal year. We mean it when we say every gift counts. We do, however, want to give a special shout-out to those in the Wesley, Dean’s, President’s, Chairman’s, Dr. J. A. Sharp, Dr. T.J. Lance, and Susan B. Harris Clubs, as these donors are members of the 1886 Young Harris Society. Members of the 1886 Young Harris Society believe strongly in the mission of YHC and annually contribute $1,000 or more for various projects and programs. They are committed to helping YHC succeed, and they give generously to ensure that it does. The 1886 Young Harris Society is the College’s premier annual giving recognition circle. To join for the 2026 fiscal year, please contact the Office of Advancement at (706) 379-5173 or advancement@yhc.edu.

G I F T S M A D E I N F I S C A L Y E A R 2 0 2 5 F R O M J U LY 1 , 2 0 2 4 - J U N E 3 0 , 2 0 2 5

SUSAN B. HARRIS CLUB ($500,000+)

Anonymous Estate of Harry and Harriett Hill

DR. T. J. LANCE CLUB

($250,000-$499,999) Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation, Inc. Estate of Oscar and Julia Yanson

DR. J. A. SHARP CLUB

($100,000–$249,999) John Moffitt and Mary Broadrick Art and Tammy Deas O. Wayne Rollins Foundation Pam Rollins W.I.H. and Lula E. Pitts Foundation

CHAIRMAN’S CLUB

($50,000–$99,999) Appleby Foundation Georgia United Methodist Commission John Kay Bob* and Gayle Nichols Solitude Ltd

PRESIDENT’S CLUB

($20,000–$49,999) Anonymous Leland T. Bagwell Tommy and Chantal Bagwell Brantley and Sharon Barrow Marilyn Brown Chuck and Margaret Buker The Chantal and Tommy Bagwell Foundation, Inc.

46

Clark and Ruby Baker Foundation Estate of Christine Collins Margaret Forrester Kevin and Karol Frost Estate of Lillie Mae Green Greene-Sawtell Foundation Margaret Hatcher Gerald and Jo Hudgins J. William and Elizabeth S. Robinson Foundation, Inc. Estate of J. J. Jackson Jacky Jones Ford of Hayesville Ray and Mary Lynn Lambert Estate of Richard and Shirley McGinnis Bob and April Rhodes Steve and Eloise Shepherd Shepherd Foundation, Inc Sodexo, Inc. and Affiliates Tallulah Falls United Methodist Church Randy Wilbur

DEAN’S CLUB

($5,000–$19,999) Estate of L.W. Allison Anonymous Appalachian College Association Charles T. Autry Jorge Azor Bill and Pat Barrett Bob and Barbara Bone Dave Bristol Brown Haven Homes, LLC Dick and Nancy Burrell Paul and Betty Butler Buddy and Amy Carter Earnest J. Castle Century 21 - Scenic Realty Mary Ann S. Chambers Carol Chastain

Chick-Fil-A, Inc. Cathy Cox and Mark Dehler Phil DeMore Rene and Barbarella Diaz Betty Dotson Gary and Linda Dye Elizabeth Edwards Follett Higher Education Group Tom* and Andrea Foster Frances Wood Wilson Foundation, Inc. Ron and Linda Garrett Genuine Parts Company Kelli Graves Tammie and Mickey Harp Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Ron and Lisa Hinson Institute for Continuing Learning James and Jane Jackson Tommy and Vicki Jenkins John and Mary Franklin Foundation, Inc. David and Susan Johnson Bill and Kim Johnston Jacky and Patsy Jones Deborah Klotzbier Charlotte S. McCloskey Doug and Teri McGinnis John F. McMullan* Ted and Catherine McMullan Kurt Momand National Christian Foundation Jerry and Cheryl Nix Jason Norton Wade and Debbie Patterson David and Paige Pattillo The Pattillo Family Foundation, Inc. Libby Poppleton Andrew and Nicole Pourchier

Re/Max Hiawassee Realty Frank and Loulie Reese Judy D. Roberts Ray and Pamela Russo Lydia Sartain Karen Smith Brock and Debra Smith Spiva Realty Ed Stansell Jake Stirton Roy A. Stowe Estate of Barbara Elizabeth Styles Frank E. Surface Mikel Thomas Peggy Thrasher Nell Wise Babb Trust Union General Hospital United Community Jerry Vaughan Michele White Marthagem Whitlock Marlan and Diane Wilbanks Kirk and Jackie Wimberly Charles and Dancy Wynne

WESLEY CLUB

($1,000–$4,999) AgSouth Farm Credit Bud* and Mary Carol Akins Erik Alford Jimmy and Gayle Alston Stan Anderson Craig Anderson Jon and Paulette Anderson Anonymous The Arnold Foundation, Inc. Jaclyn Ashe Sally Curtis AsKew Reid H. Autry Baker’s Sports Ellyn Balthrop

Lawrence and Mary Barcella Bruce and Linda Bartolini Batchelor and Kimball, Inc. Ronnell Beal Rachel V. Benson Christine Bernock Kathleen T. Bernock Brian and Marty Berry John and Marianne Beverstein Blairsville Resturant Holdings LLC DBA Jim’s Smokin’ Que Blue Ridge Fence Inc Blue Ridge Mountain EMC Vicki Bodman Betty Bowers Ginny Boyd Sally Boyd Briggslee Creek Homes Carolyn Briscoe Rufus and Angela Brown Iva Brown James and Heather Brunone Ted Bruton The Budd Group Joe and Marilyn Bullington Paul Bundy Thomas Burrows Charlie and Debbie Butler Hugh and Bobbie Jo Carver Kaycee Cash Mark A. Castle Chick-fil-A at Blairsville FSU Gerald Chotiner Ida-Anne Clarke Harvey Cohen George Colbert Samuel Cole Jeff Cole Joe Colley Mary Cook

James Copelan Mark Cranford Kathleen Crawford Chris and Michelle Crawford D & H Marketing Group, Inc Bob and Betty Dale Christal Davis Ron Day Keith and Cindy DeFoor Kimberly Dehler Jan and Bonnie Devereaux Sigmund Van Raan and Susan Dickler Digital Insurance, LLC Mark and Kathy Dotson Jared and Kathryn Downs Ken Dunlap Randy and Susan Dunn James and Marlo Dykes Eagle Christian Tours, LLC Shannon Earle and John Wells Bill and Tish Easterlin Tena Eddy Carol Anne Edwards Jennifer Edwards Jim and Beth Ellison Enrico’s Restaurant James and Deborah Van Epps Jorge Ezeta Nathan and Meaghan Fine Lenny and Laurie Flohr Doris C. Folger Vernon and Dianne Ford Daniel Forkner June Fortney Adam M. Fraley Ramona Fricks Chip and Leslie Frierson M. L. Gailey Georgia Independent College Association, Inc. Georgia United Methodist Foundation, Inc. Steve Gerdes Alvin and Cheryl Gibson Candler and Susan Ginn Nancy Godwin Bruce Goforth Jared A. Griffis Terri Grodi Gerald and Diana Gutenstein Peter and Joanne Haakmeester Doug Hadaway Sherwood Hall Andy Hall Vicki Hall

Ray and Roberta Hardman Mary Ellen Harp Rudy Harrell Mary E. Heishman Bonny Herman Charles Hickey Phyllis L. Hill Matt L. Hoekwater Richard Hoibraten David House Lee and Wanda Howell Pat Huckaby Pat and Jane Hudgins Howard and Judy Hughes Thomas and Victoria Hunt Sylvia Hutchinson James Short Tractors & Equipment, Inc Jaxon Home Enterprises LLC Linda Jenkins Jane Jerry JKB Holdings Inc. DBA Jay’s Medical Equipment Jim and Joan Johnston Julian Jones Linda Jones Robert T. Joyce Matthew and Stephanie Kammerer Windell and Jan Keith Charles and Helen Ketteman Nelson Laffey Lake Chatuge Living Magazine Joe and Tish Lashley Tom and Sue Ledford Mike and Luella Ledford Julie P. Ledford Linda Leslie* O.V. Lewis Cynthia Lieving W. D. Lilac Harold Linnenkohl Lloyd Homes, Inc. Martha Logan Lois and Lucy Lampkin Foundation Lula H. Adams Trust Michael Kevin Maddox Carlos and Carol Martel Mason Tractor Company James Mason Eric and Ashley McConnell Harry and Helen McDevitt Shane A. McIntosh Brian McSherry Fred and Catherine Medlin Terry A. Meeks Virginia M. Meeks

Murphy Miller Stephen Miller Harry and Barbara Mitcham Anne Moncus Montag & Caldwell, LLC Steve Morby Mountain Graphics Mountain Tennis Association Bobby and Melinda Moye Mundy’s Heating & Air, Inc. Ed and Ann Nelson Susan Niolon Mark Oswald Panel-Built, Inc. Dan Paris J.D. Patterson Maurice F. Pearce Gabriel Perez Jason and Joanna Pierce Linda Plott Miller Ruby Price Judy Price Charles and Termite Ragsdale Joey Rector John Reithmiller Paul and Jane Roberts Bobby and Betty Rogers Carol Rogers Gerardo Ojeda Rojas Rotary Club of Union County Susan Rowe Keith and Holly Royston Randy and Julie Salisbury James and Ruth Sapp Dean and Ansley Saville Second Nature Landscaping LLC Sharp Memorial UMC Leslie Shelnutt Brandon and Shermeia Sherman

Jason H. Shook DDS, PA Shuma Sports John and Sandra Sillay Alan and Susan Sinram Judy Smith SportClix Photography Sports Turf Co. Inc. Sprinkles Sanitation Services James A. Steed Bryan Stokes Stan and Elizabeth Storey Michael and Arlynne Striplin Jimmy and Jeanne Tallent Marcy Thigpen Mike Thomas Jeff and Beverly Thompson Charles and Joan Thornton David and Virginia Tinsley Towns County Lions Club Tri-County Office Supply Tri-State Utility Products, Inc. Jack and Caitlin Tripp Truist John Turcotte James and Deborah Van Epps Drew and Camille Van Horn Kirk and Susan Vardeman Sig Van Raan and Susan Dickler Jackie and Tom Volk David Waldrep and Susan Arnold Gwen Walker David M. Webb Sandra Webb John Wells and Shannon Earle Gary and Kaye White Dave Wiegert Tom Wilbanks Mary Beth Wiles and Leslie Davis

Mary Lynn Williams Barbara and Michael Williford Sam and Lisa Wilson Jim and Aurelia Wood Shlea A. Wright YH Wing House Larry Young Zell Miller Foundation Janet and William Zimmerman

COLLEGE CLUB ($500–$999)

Bob Agan Alvin and Debbie Allison Anonymous Paul Arnold Brent Avery Carlton Bain Bonnie Ballagh Melanie H. Beighley Blakelynn Homes LLC Jennifer Bond Matthew Brown Beverly Campbell Carter Williams: Insurance & Investments Kevin Castleberry Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce/Welcome Center Michael J. Chriszt Kristi Cohron Mark and Karen Coleman Hampton and Janice Conley Dennis and Jean Conrad Bryan Crawford Kacy Cronan Custom Home & Commercial Painting Buddy and Lillian Darden John Day Pat DeLuca Michael A. Deptula

*Recently deceased

47

Melissa DeSimone Elizabeth W. Dixon Keith and Brenda Douce William Duncan Teresa and Mickey Dunn Kenneth and Rebecca Dyer Woodie and Bud* Dyer Jennifer Ellin Bill Fairman Steve Fineo Marti Fullerton Meryl Garnto David and Beth Garrard Georgia Mountain Pickleball Club Inc Mary Gilreath Charles and Kathy Ginn Jean-Marie and Nadia Girardot Allan and Deloris Haller Ashley Hands Larry S. Haubert David and Harriette Haygood Thad and Laura Haygood Dirk Heiser Helby, Inc Victoria Henderson William F. Hendricks Ross Hodges Christian Holland Anne Howard Mike Jones Jones Insurance Agency James Jones Ed and Shelley Jordan Mark M. Kamp Teresa Kelley Kyle Kirkwood Keith E. Lawder Leeland Slate Roofing Missy Lester Christopher Lintner The Loaded Cow Matt and Annie Logan Jim and Glenda Martin James Maume Maysville Motors LLC Jan McAllister McGriff Insurance James and Maureen McIntyre Maxine and David McKinney Ron McLamb Mason McWhorter Misael Millan Jacqueline M. Millstone ML Industries, Inc. Kirk Morrow Gerald Mullins Teresa Murphy 48

Nelson Tractor Company, Inc. Michael Neri Lanier and Freddie Nicholson O’Reilly Auto Parts Lamar and Dinah Paris Glenda Patterson Carol L. Peterson Dave Pittman Tim Plunkett Linton and Kathy Powell Linda Price Richard Raborn Fred Ritch Joanna Rizi Brad Robinson Dryden Salter Tonya Schober Kirk and Miriam Shook Fritz and Diane Simonsen Layla Smith Stephen and Melanie Soulen Claude and Penelope Spears Joe Stanley Bryan and Tara Stokes Sandra Stork Terry and Pam Stovall Tom Sujishi Jacqueline Summerlin Amanda Traywick Angelyn Tripp Jay and Kay Tutt Edwin and Flora Underwood Myra T. Valentine Rodney Vaughn Curt Wheeler Meg and Fred Whitley David Whitson Lisa Wright-Grabow Tommy and Julia Yow

CENTURY CLUB ($250–$499)

A & A Auto Rental of Blairsville, Inc. John Akin Avram and Hannah Allen Aimee Ambielli Dana Anderson ArtBytes, Inc. Dick and Marcia Aunspaugh Ken and Margo Austin Dan and Lita Barnette Barbara Beltz Michael and Norma Berkman Aaron Bessey

Mark and Karin Best Joy Blair Stephanie Bleshoy Blue Moon Printing Kevin Boeckman BOJ of WNC, LLC Tonya Bothe Joe Brogdon Alan Brown Hayley Burch Sandy Butler John Cain Sandy and Karen Calloway Suzanne Carswell Cathey Arbitter Farms Business Park Properties, LLC Chatuge Resorts, Inc. Roberta and Vince Chereck Chicopee Woods Golf Course Robert Clesi John and Opal Collier Billy and Linda Colson Kelly Coon Nancy Couch Cox and Son Roofing, Inc. Mark Cox Betsy Craig Adam and Jessie Daniels Jay and Angela Darwin Rick and Trudy Davenport Joan Davey Gary and Jane Davis Jim and Bobbie Davis Glenn Dayton Matthew Dibler Lee and Anita Dickson Bill Dotson* Thomas Dowd David H. Duke Ellis Dunbar

David Duncanson Margaret I. Ehrlich Glynnell Ellis Hannah E. Emerson Dean M. Enrico Kathy Ensley Mike and Sandi Estes Faith Connection Federal Credit Union DeWayne Farrar Lana Fee Arnold Fellinger Jack Fickas Derek Fielden Kevin and Heather Floyd Daphne Franklin Clayton and Alyssa Franklin Andrea Galiano Margie Gallagher Teri L. Gallagher Karen Castiglia Sam and Mackenzie Gaston Fred Gerberman Laura Germanos Joel Gil Jerry and Melinda Gilstrap John and Christy Goff Gooch Trucking Co., Inc. David and Sarah Goodrich Colton Green Jarrell and Beth Greene Greg Rogers D/B/A Haw Creek Honey Dean Grey Lee and Merilyn Guerry LeAnn Hallford Giuliano Hardeen Lauren Hardeen Betty Hardin Jefferson Hargrove Laura Hargrove

Christi Harrison Jill Hartsell Will and Renay Heath Joel Heiser Glenn and Nancy Hellenga Ka L. Hendrix Hiawassee Animal Hospital Clint Hobbs Jessie Homesley Joan Howard Lori Hubbard Joan Huber Richard and Marsha Huckaby Tonya Hunley Hussey Gay Bell & DeYoung Kenneth Ivey Russ James Donald L. Jennings Jeff Jolly Joseph Jones Scott and Laura Jones Allen Jones Mitchell Johnson Eugene Jung Faron King John and Betty King Liam E. King Lori Klucharich Ben and Kelly Knight Anna Claire Knight Douglas Kolbenschlag KTPINS LLC DBA Bill Potts Insurance Holly Land Lakeview Tavern LLC Christina Lenning Paul Leslie Lilly Foundation Peyton Long Charlotte Lord

PATRONS CLUB ($100–$249)

David Lord Patrick and Tonya Lovelace Jack and Linda Maguire Alison Malone John Malone Steve Maloof Lee* and Deb March Marian Fraley Robert Martin Emory Martin Harry Maugans Randy Mazie Zadie McCall Scott McCarthy Amy McDermott McDonald’s of Hiawassee Helen McDougal Andrea J. McKnight Leon McLamb Richard and Stephanie McConnell Patrick McWilliams Nell Warren and William Simpson Elkin Memorial Fdn. David and Denisa Miller Cortney Moles Carl and Janice Moore Wendy and Eric Morgan Morgan Stanley Gift Nantahala Bank & Trust Company Arthur and Jean Nethery North Georgia Golf Carts Northeast Georgia Dermatology PC Eileen Oberzut

Mark and Myra O’Conner George B. Owens Parker Oil Company Michael Parker Jack Payne Peach State Federal Credit Union Peachtree Broadband Fiber Jodi Phillips Fredrick B. Piellusch Print Byond, Inc. Donna Rannals Redinap Brian and Bebe Reed Jason T. Rhinehardt Ronald Robinson Randall Rosenfeld Rotary Club of Lake Chatuge-Hiawassee Charles Rowan Brittany Sampson Mona Sand Thomas Sapitowicz Tim Schirm Betty Scotthardin Teresa Segars Jennifer Senn Mary Senn ServiceMaster Cleaning and Restoration Services Andrew Shackelford Shree Ma Ambe Inc. DBA: Peach State Bottle Shop Marianne Skeen MaryGayle Skinner Jon Skogsfjord Elizabeth and Stephen Smalley Sonny Sprayberry Leslie Springer

Gerry U. Stephens STG Marketing, Inc. Caroline Storey Malcolm Strange Anna Strickland Fuller Sudlow Tyler Sullenberger Kevin M. Swanson Christian Taylor Jerry Taylor Gary and Patti Taylor Frank Tearno Keith Tebo Scott and Elizabeth Terry Andrew Thigpen Jay Tooke Towns County Chamber of Commerce Elisa Tupperware Chris Urbanek Madison L. Urquiola Juliana Vasconcellos William S. Walker Hugh Ware Carla West Ted and Eloise Whisenhunt Elizabeth Whitlow Charles and Jeri Whitworth Anne Wiley Savannah Williamson Brian Williams Terry Wilson Len W. Worley Trisha Young Ewa Zander Jimmy and Laura Zoll

Robert Abda Christopher Abel David Able Charles and Betty* Adams Lamar and Alice Adams Stephanie Adams Susan Adamson Advertising Production Services Bjarne Aga Amie Alfe Sherry Allen Betsy Allison Bridget Allison Drew Allison Judith Ambielli Matt and Rachael Anderson Corey Anderson Rhonda Anderson Scott Anderson Steven Anderson Mark Anglin Anonymous B G. Appleton Mary Ann Arant Alan Armstrong DJ Armstrong William Armstrong Jaime Arnall Stephen Arthur Marian Ashford Kimberly Atwood Daniel Aycock Beatrice Ayotte Azalea Cove Homeowners Assoc INC Christopher Babcock W. H. Bache Don and Mary Bagwell Jennifer Baird Deborah Baker Janet Baker Linda Baker Terry Baker Leonard Baklini Laura Balch David Ballagh Robert Ballagh Thomas and Susan Baltzell Peter Barber Aad Bardelmeijer Wander Bardelmeijer Paul Bartlett Kellee Bass John and Patricia Bassett Pamela Bates Michael Baum Daniel Bautista BBBeadsTN BD Environmental Group

Carol Beachy Jon Beam Katrina Beane Roger Bearden Fiona Bebeagua Emalie Becker Thomas Begora James Beirne Brenda M. Benefield Katherine Bennett Vanessa Bennett W. Bennett Jerry and Donna Benson Bridget Benton Fredrik Berge Henrik Berge Patricia Bergey Brenda Bernis Jeremy Berryman Mary Biard Ruth Biddick Lisa Blaase James* and Linda Black John Black Karen Black Mellissa Black Blairsville Cinema Clarence Blalock Suzanne Bock William Boddy Amy Boggan Bobby and Jane Bolton Anna Bond Hugo Bonenfant Luiz F. Borlido Donald Born Greg Born Karl and Amy Bostwick Garron Bothe Tommy Bottoms Windy Bottoms Dana Bowen Susan Bowen Denise Boyer Katherine Boyer Betty Brady Richard L. Bray David and Toni Brewton Jeffrey Bridges Brandon Briggs Rick and Toni Britt Constance Broadus Nicole Brooks Odessa Brooks James and Nancy Brown Kristin Brown Katherine Brown Kristen Brown Tyler Brown Timothy W. Brown Kathy Bruce Lisa Brungardt Patricia Bryan Kelley M. Bryson Shelley Buckley Chris Budd

Blaise Bugajski Adam Bujeker Lesa Bullard Albert and Janet Burke Patrick Burkett Sherri Burkett Elizabeth Burns Leigh Burns Tara Bursey Crystal Burt Burt Lumber Company Rhonda Bush Frank and Norma Butler Donna Buyce Todney Bynes Johnny and Vivian Cain Steven Caloway Vergie O. Caloway Betty Camp Edward R. Campbell Elizabeth Carefoot Margaret Carey Jan Carriker Susan Carson Constance Cathy Don Cathey Kevin Cato Gayla Chalmers Bill and Karen Champion Johnny Chastain Sara Chestnut Vinod Chintapally William Chism Dana Christian Martha Christian Allison Clark Dana Clark Kenneth Clark Manda Clark John and Constance Clavin Ashley Clegg Mikel Clendenen P. A. Clesi Patricia Cline Susan Cline Pam Cobb Jennifer Cochran Darrin Cohen Trey E. Cohron Mike and Nicolle Coleman Michael Collard Jack* and Gwendolyn Colwell Chuck Conrad Apollon Constantinides Christopher Cook Johnny and Cheryl Cook Maria Cook Nancy Cook Beth Coon James Cooper Diana Corcorsn Jamie M. Corley Kenneth Corley *Recently deceased

49

Melissa Corley Rebecca Corley William E. Corley Wendell Cornett Charles and Jean Cory Mandi Counter Barbara J. Cousins Judy Covey Glen Crawford Indiana Crawford Jodie and Brad Crome Ian and Kristin Cross Arlid Crovo Amy Cruce Jane Culp Martha Cunningham Paige Cunningham Vincent Cunningham Jeremy and Natalie Currier Angeline Curtis Jennifer Dague Charlie Dalton David Dalton Gene and Joan Dalton John and Laura Dalton Keith Dalziel Charles and Margaret Danforth Evelyn Daniel Robert* and Mary Darden Colleen Daugherty Daniel Davenport Steve and Connie* Davenport Beth Davis Elizabeth Davis Davis Family Revocable Trust Janna Davis Logan Davis Wim De smet James Dean Janice Dean Joseph DeCosta James Dee Eric A. Del Valle Michael Desa Beverly DeSilets Brandi Desilets Charmaine DeSimone Michael DeSimone Robin DiFrancisco Jonathan Dilling Chason Disheroon Sonny and Joan Dixon Jackie and Susan Dobbins Jenny Dobson Clifton Dodge Brandy Doering Lori Doster Caroline Douglas Sherry L. Douglas Jenny Dove Joe Dover

50

Suzanne Dowd Carolyn and David Dozier Michael Draeger Julie Driggers Carolyn H. Duckworth Christine Duncan Don Duncanson Sarah DuPree Sheldon deRoux Cathy Duvall Jeff Dyer Anthony Eckhoff Derek Economy Sandy Edinger Holly Edmondson Bill and Brenda Edwards Eben Edwards Shiloh Edwards Steve and Miki Edwards Mike Eisner Michele Eisner Jeffrey Elam Christine Ellin James Ellis Carol English Jeanette Enrico Rick Enrico Kenneth Entrekin Elizabeth Ernst Douglas Eskew Iliana Estrada Rich Eubanks Laura Evans Exit 26 Records Victoria Ezeta Bonnie Faga Kipp Fagerstrom Ken Faneuff Stephanie Fannin Wm Farquhar David Fee Michele Fee Kathy Fiest Emily Figgins Jason Fincher Terry Fincher Kevin Fitzgerald Eleanor M. Flaig Jason D. Fleeman Shelly E. Fleming Justin Fontenot Carlton and Brenda Fordham Alvin Forrester Frank and Diane Foster Glen Franklin Lisa Franklin Shannon K. Fraser Anothy Frazier Bonita Frazier Bentrice Frazier Katrina Frazier Leanne French Jim and Susie Fritts Paige Fuller

Sonia Fuller Melody Gadziala Hannah Gallagher Joan Galloway Allen Garrett Herman and Brenda Garrett Joe Garrett Marianna Garrett Wayne and Cynthia Garrett Charles Gass Brooke Gatlin Georgia Mountain Fair Deborah Gerberman Michael Gerschefski Gregg Giannamore Amanda Giddens Joe Gillice Richardo Gonzalez Sharlene Goolsby Carol Gordon Maureen Gordon Kim Gossett Maureen Grace Charles Graf Barbara Graf Jeanne Graf Charles and Brenda Graham Joy Graham James W. Grandchamp Yvonne Graves David and Kay Green Nichole Green Kerran Griffin Mike Griggs David and Sharon Grist Erin Grosenbaugh Maria Grullon Jane Gum Daniel and Anita Guss Angela Hackle Dennis and Naomi Hale Mel R. Halfon Pretson Haliburton Ramona Hall Jennifer Hallett Cathy Hampton Susan Hanks Grace K. Hannah Leslie Hanson Mary Harbold Brent and Christy Hardman Nancy Hardwick Ethan Hardy Craig Harkins Barbara Harmon Robin Harp and David Bennett Bill and Claudia Harper Gretta Harris Sharon S. Hart Steven and Barbara Harvey Ann J. Hatchell

Jeanne Hatten Elena Hatton Harriet Haulbrook Neal M. Hawk Doug Hayes Susanne Hayes Virginia Haynes James Hazen Katie HazenGordon Michael Heesch James Heishman Mark Heiser Jennifer Heishman Madalyn A. Helms Leah M. Henderson Lamar Hendricks Vicki Hendricks James Hennessy McKay Henretty Iliana Hernandez Luis Hernandez Maria Hernandez Phil Herrington Kelly Hicks Maris M. Hicks Kelly Hidalgo Terri Highfill Paul Hilburger Tommy and Nita Hill Sherin Hinnant Kelly Hires Amanda Hochstein Stuart Hodges Stacey Hodges William Hoggle Barry Holbert Donna Holcomb Melissa Holman Kerry and Priscilla Holmes Mark Holmes Robert K. Holston Brandon Honeycutt Bradley Hood W H and Sharon Hood Paula Hooper Candy Hopkins Tyler Hopson Anthony Hosey Michael Holsombeck

Karen Houston Brenda Howard Hilda Howard Jon Howard Kayla Howard Shawn Howard James Howey Mary B. Howey Janis Hoyer Rob and Patti Hoyt Nikki Huber Karen Huffman Lindsey Huffman Margaret Huggins Cathy Hughes John* and Martha Jean Hughes Linda S. Hughes Tara Hughes Wesley Hunt Robbi Hutchins Michelle Hyer Steven R. Hyland Jeffrey Ihrig Darlin M. Avila Iicona Panajot Ilias Joanna Ip Jennifer Irby E. L. Iredale Nancy Ivey Arthur Jackson Roscoe Jackson Reginald Jackson Robert Jackson Steven K. Jackson Tommy and Kathy Jackson Turkessa T. Jackson Lori Jacques Maurice James Geertruida J. Jansen Kimberly Jaruszewski Tom and Linda Jean Jeffery George Jenkins John Sujishi, Inc DBA JMS Electric Connor C. Johnson Gayle Johnson Joseph V. Johnson Larry P. Johnson

Pete Johnson Roy and Christine Johnson Wanda Johnson Nancy Johnston Bjorn Jonasson Chad Jones Emily and Michael Jones Justin Jones James Jones Lucy Jones Sara Jones Mikala Jones-Wall Scott Jordan Danny and Susan Joslin Melissa Joy George and Jennifer Justice Laura Kamerer Jim Kane Keith Smith Gloria Keller Joyce and James Keller Maria Keller Jack Kelley Kathie Kelley Lewis and Melissa Kelley Neeley Kelley Paul and Nancy Kendall Carol S. Kennon Scott Kerns Phillip and Marjorie Kesler Anderson Kesinger Sylvia Kiest Teresa Kiest King Ford Thomas Kleinpenning Tim Knecht Richard Knepp Todd Kniceley Rob Koger Michelle Krauss Kevin Kustka Mike LaChapelle Robert Lacoste Lee-Ann Laffey Kelley Laird Grant Land Erin Lavender Lanier Goods Co

Lanier Team, Inc. Anne Lapsley The Lawlor Family Kim Lawlor Randy Lawson LB Marketing LBD Enterprises, LLC Lisa Lea Betsy Ledbetter Wendy Ledford Leon and Judith Lee Timothy Lehenbauer Bentley Lellyett Todd Lemieux Raylandy Leon Cooper Leonard Kay Leonard Diane Lesko Andrew Levangie Jessica Levenson Daniel Liberatore John P. Lichtenwalner Mary E. Lichtenwalner Sara Limbaugh Farrah Lin Kathy Linton William Loyd Russell L. Lodge Melody Logan Todd Long David Lord Polly Love Dana Lucia Jennifer C. Luckie Barbara A. Ludwig Philip Ludwig John Lummus Alan Mackay Hiroko Mackay Gina Maday Jeff Maday Michael Madden Madison Welding & Fabrication LLC Colleen Maijala Craig and Susan Malcolm Megan Mansfield Nichol Marrer Mandi Marshall Pamela Marsingill Jaymie Martin Joanne Martin Shelly Martin Carlie Martinez Robert Martin Anthony Mathis Kelly Matthes Jeffrey Matus Jim and Linda McAfee Mary McAllister Belinda McCall LaShaunda McClarty Lauren McClintock

R. Neil and Anne McCollum Charles W. McCullough Andrea McCurry James McCurry Bruce McDonald Alan McDougal Shannon McDougal Mary McElhaney Russ McElhannon Audra McElhenny Miles McEver Joe McGee John McGee Hambric McGlockton Laura McGowen Michael McGowen Thomas McGowen Stephanie McKinley Charnita McNeill Brenda McWilliams Joseph Meadows Annalee Medici Tawnya Medlin Caroline Melancon Men on the Move Eileen Menke Peyton Merrill Beverly Messer Thomas Metrick Shawn Miller Benjamin Miller Daniel Miller Shirley Miller Marquita Milner Leonard Miloscia Paul Mitchell Neville Mitchem DeWayne Nix Jennifer Mizer Jennifer Monson Ron Moody Luke Moon Alice Moore Ben Moore David Moore Geoffrey Moore Myron Moore Robbie Moore Tanisha Moore Fosca Morali Ginevra Morali Adam Morgan Dan Morgan Kerry D. Morgan Laurie Morgan Tara Morgan Kristin Morris Rob Morris Timothy Morris Kathleen Morton Grady and Deborah Mosley Maynard Moyer C V. Muehlberger

Joseph Mullis Rob and Vickie Murray Thomas and Dianne Myers Wade Nance Cody McEver Mary-Margaret Neal Robert Neal Jeannine Newsome Gary Nicholson Kathy Nobles John Nock Mary Norment John and Judy Northington Kevin Norton Cathy Oakley Scott Oakley Margaret Oberry Geri O’Brien Kenneth Odenborg Patrick Orrico Alain Orta Matthew and Nancy Osborn Gregory Owen Danny Pacheco Sandy Page Cynthia Panter Lona Panter Megan Panter Winston Panter Kenny and Sonya Parker Stacey Parker Rachel Pasley Gregory A. Patrick Pamela Patrick Paul Pattacini Brenda Patterson Dorothy Patterson Mike Patton Liz Paullin Mike Pavolony Beckie L. Payne Valerie Payne Francey Pearthree Aldo Pecorilli Janelle Peery Ronald Pendergrass Lamar and Mary Pepper Lane Perno Roy Perren Louis A. Perriello Gregory Perry Monica Perry Lisa Peters Robert Peters Julie Petrakes Anna Phillips Cecil Phillips Susan and Michael Phillips Talmadge Phillips Nancy Pierce Katherine Pierce

Terry Pierce Terri Pitcher James R. Pounds Jeri Pounds Fred and Margie Powell Dianne Prather Premier 1 Events Ellen Prestia Brian and Audrey Price Devin Price Jimmie Price James C. Price Braedon Prieto Mabel Printup Roy Printup Audrey Proctor Leah Pugh Clifford L. Pounds Anna Purcella-Doll Debbie Purvis Ron and Phyllis Rabun Clinton Ragsdale Clinton R. Rainey Ralph Perschino George Ramsay Renee Rasha Mimi Ratzlaff Dorothy Raulston Robert Rech James Redding Sandy Redding Linda Redman Cari Reid Kevin Rein Kimberly Rein Susan Rein Reliant Realty David and Mary Julian Renz Eve Respess Kevin Rice Ronald Rice Benjamin Richard Caroline G. Rigney Leslie Ringo Karen Riser William Ritch Julie Ritchie Blair Roberts Denise Roberts Adam Robinson Crystal Robinson Julie Robinson Ty Robinson Steven Rodriguez Gloria Rogers Stephen Rohrbach Bob and Elaine Roller Brenda L. Rombalski Lindsay Rosenfeld Todd Rosenthal Florence Rosser Thad S. Rounsaville Todd Rowan Joseph Ruane

Pamela Ruegg Michael Runion Nancy Runion Charles and Beth Russell Sheldon Russell John Salter Alex M. Samano Philip and Teresa Sampson Ben Sams Ana Sanchez Donna Sanders Shelley and James Sanderson Tamara and Jared Sandler Diana and Mihai Santiago Robert Sapitowicz Vivian Satterfield Stacey Scarano Christopher Scheuer Mark Schiffhauer Peter Schmidhuber Thea Schoepfer Albert Scholten Millie Schwartz Marshall Scoggins Elizabeth Scott Michele Scott Peggy Scott Leonard Scullion Jill Scully Patricia Scully Christy Searcy Sylvia Sears Keith Segara Jill Selzer Charles E. Senn Mike Severs John E. Seymour Meghan Shackleton Steve and Elaine Sharp Laura Shaver Shawn Koch Golf Academy Tyler Sheats Melanie Sheldon Robert Shelley William Shelley Dee and Kandy Shelnutt Cedric Shipman Jamie and Karen Shook William Showers Celeste Shuler James Shultz Nicole Sigman John and Rhonda Sillesky Ralph Sillesky Jeremy Simmons Kelly Simonds Floyd and Jennie Simons Elizabeth Sippola Linda Sippola Somphan Sisavath

Geraldine Sisson Tommy Skaggs Marvin Skinner Aeo Skogsfjord Barry Slaton Debi Smaltz Kimberly Smart Michael Smart Amelia A. Smith Amy Smith Angela Smith Barbara Smith Derek Smith Gerald Smith Jordan Smith Larry Smith Shannon Smith Stetson W. Smither Carol Soenen Jackie Sosby Tina Soutzos Maria Spada Heather Sparks Heather Spivey Reggie and Alice Sprinkles Joy St John Jeff Stafford Kim Stagg Beverly Stalnaker Lyn Stalnaker Terry and Joellen Standifer Royce Stanford Wavey Stefl Lorri Stembridge Mark Stenger Clement Stevenson Randy Stinson Thomas and Cathy Stokes Lynne Stokkeland Ray and Laura Stooksbury Brenda Stopher Horace and Kathy Story Jenny Stowers Tim Stowers Leland Strange William and Jerri Gill Strickland Ranelle Stuckey William and Rudene Studdard Molly Stullman Angelica Sudduth Jeff Sullivan Robert Summerlin Elisabeth Suttee Tracy Sutton Virginia Sutton Bridgette Sword Angelo Tabone Roseann Tabone Amanda Tate Eric Tate

*Recently deceased

51

Shelley Taylor Terri Taylor Timothy Taylor Shaniya Terrell Mike and Varen Thacker Brian Theisen James Thigpen Edward Thomas Eric Thomas Joey Thomas Tommy N. Thomas Lesa Thomason Bill and Pamela Thompson Bobby Thompson Jewel Thompson Kelly Thomson Samantha Thomson Three Springs Realty, LLC Mike Tidick John Tomat Randy Tompkins Adam Toth Julie Tovey Carolyn and Jack Towns Tiffani Tran Matthew Traywick Mitchell and Donna Trotter Michael Troyer Maureen Troyer Nicholas Troyer Joseph Turner Donna Tuttle Georgia Tyner Rebecca L. Van Gorder Holly Van Wagner Dirk and Anne Vanderleest Janet Vandiver Brian Vardaro Jennie Vaughan Tom Veal Keith Vencill Timothy M. Verdoorn Randall and Nancy Vick Wanda Vick Village Ministries Inc Martha A. Villalvazo

52

Timothy C. Vinyard Michael Virga Steven Voss Lena Vranzel Joseph E. Waldroup Joanne Walker Martha Walker Sandra Walker Andrew Wall Susan Wallace Theron and Frankie Wallace Jerry and Sharon Waller Angela Walraven Dale and Ann Ward Harriett Ward Jennifer L. Waters Misty Watson Scott Watson James W. Weaver Kurt Weaver David Weidinger Ginger Weido Leland Weido Rebecca Weinzierl Sue Welch William Welch Sheri Wells Emily Wessel Kelly Welton Nathaniel Werner Betsy Wester Charlie Whalen Chris Whan Veronica Whan Gerald Wheeler Jessica Wheeler Brad and Harriett Whitaker Brad and Susan White Doug White Larry and Kathy Whitten Allen Wiegert Calvin Wilbanks Dustin Wilbanks Jeremy Wilcox John Wilcox Kenyannya Wilcox Ellis and Evelyn Wiley

Wayne Wilkes Chris Williams Carl and Deborah Williams Gray and Karen Williams Jackson Williams Kelly Williams Mary Beth Williams Paula Williams Ricardo Williams Virgil Williams Marilyn L. Williamson Nathan Williamson Alex Wilson Carrie Wilson Lisa Wilson Paul Wilson Shirley Wilson Zach Wilson Bob Windom Mary Jane Wisenbaker Karey Wolfrey Ken and Pat Wood Bruce and Dot Yandle Ronda York Audrey Young Jo Ann Young Jennifer Young Kail A. Young Tara Young Ron and Pam Younker Suzanne Zech Christina Zamek Michael and Michelle Zipperer

CHAPEL CLUB ($1–$99)

Fadia Abda Erik Aceituno Bud and Kelly Adams Chris Adams Christina Adams Karen Adams Timothy Adams Angela Agostino Christopher Ainge Adu Akoto Lauren and Najla Albin

Sammy Alewine Phillip Alexander JonErik Alford Lisa M. Allard Marisa Allen Elsy Alvarez Tina Ameser Amber Anderson Evan R. Anderson Collins Anderson Alexander Andrade-Sosa Steven G. Antolick Samara C. Aponte Eddy and Alice Ariail Meghan Armento Amanda Arnold Richard Aronowitz Jackson Ashe Sherri Atkinson Valerie Ausband Steve Autry Sheila Autry Todd Awtry Frans Baars Jami Baars Paolo Bagnato Connie Bailey Kathryn Bailey Thimast Bailey Brice Baker Leigh Baker Maddy Baker Shirley M. Baker Robin Baldree Francisco Ballesteros Shaughn and Claudia Bannon Aaron Barber Martha Barber Paul Barber Niels Bardelmeijer Eugene and Jolene Barlow Brailey N. Barmore Kristina Barnes Scherry Barnett William Barnett Ryan Barone Timothy Barrett Henry and Kathy Barrow Rashed Barton Caroline R. Bass Horace Bass Tiffany Bates David Baucom Jeff and Diane Bauman Laura Bautista Jeremy Bearden Justin Bearden Kyle Bearse Pat B. Beatz Dulce Becerra David Beck Kelly Becker Robert K. Beeman

Skyler Beggs Susannah Bellew John Bleshoy Jorge Beltran Sally Beltz Arnaud Benidor Issabel Bennett Kyle Bennett Misty Bennett Robert and Michelle Bernard Johann Bernis John Bernis Nathaniel Berryman April Bessant Shaquadria Bias Jessica Bilz Christa Bishop Eric Bissell Jim Bitsko Laura Black Rodger Black Jeff Blackmon David Blaylock Theodore Bochnik Debra Bolle Barbara Bombard George Bond Jessica Borders Gayle Born Eric Bourrie Ryan Bower Chris Sass and Bethann Bowman Christina Bowman Karen Bradford Dan Bramlett Jessica Brasher Carolyn W. Brazil Martha Brennaman Courtney Bridges Marvin Bridges Mary Brink Sidney Brooks Gale Brown Giselle F. Brown Mark Brown Nicola Brown Tim Brown Neil Browne Jacqueline and Matthew Bruen Heather and James Brunone Ginger Brusa Larry Bryant Renee Bugbee Jorge Buitrago Sam and Holly Burcham Craig Burnham Leah Burnham Lucretia Burrows Clara and Keith Busby Lori Bush Karin Butler

Todd and Jennifer Buxton Matthew and Tammy Byron Robin Cagle Kendall Cain Michelle Calderon Maria Calderon Walter Caloway The Cambridge Foundation Aimee Cameron Jahari Campbell Melinda Camus Terrence J. Cannon Miranda Cantrell Hannah N. Carey Misty Carey Angela Carlos Bryanna Carpenter Melissa Carranza John Carroll Michael and Samantha Carroll Alice Carter Diana Castrillon Michael Cercone Tammy Cerroni Allison Carter Jack Chace Cathleen R. Chance Silva Chandler Amanda Chapell Mary Chapman Jim Chatham Jerel and Megan Chavis Evelyn J. Cheairs Alissa G. Cheek Heidi Chisholm Newton Chism Jennifer Christian Jonathan Chriszt Kathleen R. Chriszt James F. Clanahan Dana Clark Dan Clark Joshua Clark Karen Clark Mark Cleland Debra Cline Charlie and Linda Cloaninger Cecil and Sue Clontz TheClosetOnLynley Suzanne Cobb Sara Cochran Joelle Corcoran David Cohen Zach Cohen Jan Coleman Marissa Coleman Austin Collard Jan Collier Cynthia Collins Evan Collins Christopher Cook

Jeremy Cook Landon Cook Jennie Cooke Benjamin Cooper Betty Cooper Julie Cooper Lauren E. Cooper Linda C. Cooper Mark Copeland Berenice Cortes Susan Costa Robin Cote Michael H. Courey Laura Cowart Bart Cox Anne M. Coyle Heather Craft Mackenzie Craig David Craig Kyle Craig Sydney C. Craig John Crane Joel Crisler Claire Croft Johnnielynn Crosby Nichole V. Crosier Andrea Crowe Allie C. Cruce Ronald Cruz Jack Cunningham Judith Cunningham Zachary S. Daily Chad Dalton Ericka Daniel Martha C. Daniel Kathryn Daniell Stephen Danvers Michelle Darko Brian Davis Cathy Davis Meridith Davis Mike and Amanda Davis Phillip Davis Samantha H. Davis Sandi Davis Vicki Davis Brooke Dawson Rachel Deal Bari Dees

Suzanne Delandero Clarence and Jean Denard Lorraine Denton Thomas Derryberry Sarah McDevitt Richard Diaz Larry Dickerson Andrew DiFrancisco Michael DiFrancisco Jeffrey W. Dill Janelle Dimattia Timothy Disher Christine Dittmar Janis Dittmar Karen Doane Amy Dobbs John Donovan Barbara G. Dotson Caroline Dotson Janis Dotson Brittnay Douglas Noah Dover Don Dowell David and Carolyn Dozier Elizabeth Driggers Gina Dropp Sherita DuBois Andrea Dubsky Karen Duncan Chad Dutton Mike A. Duval Gene and Cindy Eason Frank and Sheldon Easterlin Nancy Eaton Amy Echols Jonathan Edmondson James Edwardson Keith M. Eisert El Cancun Mexican Restaurant Jeremy Elliott Susan Ellison Quinn Elson Steven Enrico Sammy and Dana Ensley Ashley Eschbach Steve and Lisa Esser

Lesley Evans Jane Faga David Fagerstrom Daniel Fares Josef Fares Carrie Feltman Keith Ferguson Kaylee Fernandez Erin Ferrell Louis Ferretti Linda Fillingim Ashaleeyia Finch Kenwyn Findley Susan Fleming Anthony and Donna Folden Ebonee Ford Sara Forrester Kelly Fortier Philip Fortune Shane Foster Larry and Glenda Fountain Misty Fountain Katey Fourcade Virginia Fraser Zach J. Fraser Dedrell Frazier Jana Fuller Theodore Furlipa Anne Gagnon John and Karen Gallogly Dillon Gardiner Lisa Gardiner Kevin Garrelts Becki Garrett Lindsay Garrett Cara Gaskins Shearon Gass Verlon Gass Kip Gaston David Gates Danielle Gaylor Donald Gedeon Alyssa Geis Branden Geldart Matthew I. George Carrie Geyer Sam and Tammy Gibson

Priscilla Giddens Cassandra M. Gilbert Tracy Gill Amee Gilleland Verna Gilliland Gina Lennon Fitness Lawrie Ginnamore Tracey Glacken Christa Glaze Catrice Glenn Camden Goddard Luca Goemans Marijo Gojic Victor Gomez Daniel Gomez Ann M. Gordon Joy Gordon Michelle Gordon McKenna R. Graf Timothy Grant Gabrianna Grantham Debra Grassi Rachel Gravitt JoAnne Gray Nathan and Melissa Gray William Gray Sara Green Greenhouse Mercantile Daryl Greer Julie D. Grier Haley Griffiths Leslie Grill Jonathan Grimmer Veronica Grizzle Matthew and Emily Grund Emily Guerry Lindsey Guin Chris Gummel Beth Haggerty Marcia Hair Alfred Haley Thomas Haley Kelly Hall Sarah Jane Hall Shannon Hall Thomas Ham Rhonda Hamilton Joy Hamm Levi Hamm Gentry Hammock Judy Hammock Linda Hammond Lloyd Handy Natalie Harbold Angelo Hardeen Waverly Harding Janet Hare Marvin and Mackenzie Harkins Patricia Harkins Chris Harmon Andre Harris Aiden Harris Marianne Harris

Zoe Harris Kelly and Al Hawley Nicole Hayeck Heath Haynes James Hazen Tracy Head John Heid Cheryl Heimes Elizabeth Heimes Christine Heimes Marcy Heinz Christian Heiser Reagan Heiser Kim and Linda Hellenga Rayna Helton Talena Hembree Ashley Henderson Debbie Henderson Mandy Henderson Charles Herbert Max Hernandez Amar Herndon Jacob Herr Ally Herrington Brandon Hester Meredith Heyrich Melissa Hickey Sara Hickey Charlotte Hickman Amy Hicks Courtney Hicks Danny Hicks Connor Hild John Hill Sheri Hill Timothy Hill Alicia Hirsch Lynn Hirsch April Hobbs Anne Hodges Peggy Hodges Hunter Hodnett Gerald J. Hoekwater Marlene Holland Simon Holland Franklin Hollis Kyle Holloman Regina Holloway David and Carol Holmes Nicki L. Holmes Callie Honeysuckle Thurmond and Nancy Hood Shannon Hopkins Zachary D. Hopkins Amy Hopper Charles and Cindy Horton Amber Howard Ali Howard Donald Howard Ginny Howard Joann Howard Ray Howard Marcy Huck

James R. Hughes Leeah Hughes Stephen and Linda Hulsey Lewis and Chashe Hunnicutt Patti Hunt-Hurst and Thomas Hurst Lisa Hursey Ava K. Hutchison Tommy Myers Elegant Icon David D. Ihrig E. W. Irwin Lisa Isham Cheryl Ivey Lee Ivey Amber N. Jackson Jennifer Jackson LaShaundra Jackson Nancy R. Jackson Tamara Jackson Elizabeth James Ceil Jarrett Alfred Jenkins Beth Jenkins Kari Jenkins Brandy Jensen Bonnie Johnson Brian Johnson Caroline Johnson Daniela Johnson Julie Johnson Kristy Johnson Mackenzie G. Johnson Shannon Johnson Lacey Jones Ronnie Jones Shawn Jones Teresa Jones Todd and Marcia Jones Melissa Jordan Shanise Jordan Teal Jordan Kelly Joseph Cathy Joy JSB Subways (Subway of Hiawassee) Jeff and Laura Kahlan Michael A. Kass Morgan Keller William Keller Wendy Kelley Kim Kelly Kevan L. Kelly Tara Keltner Quinita Kemp Virginia Kemp Amy Kewin Susan Klco Brandi King Rob King Brad Kinman Douglas Kinney Virginia Kirkpatrick Mary Kiszka *Recently deceased

53

David Knestrick Kim Knoppel Lauree Kohl Nicholas Kohlmann Lauren Koncul Casey Korb Tom Kowalczyk Susan and Art Krebs Heather Kuemmerle Ute H. Kustka Andrea and Joseph Kwiatkowski Diana La Michelle Lakly Jack Lakly John Lakly Kristin Lamb Nathaniel J. Lamb Heather Landress Tina Lane Douglas Lantis Judy Laundry Jamie Lawson Nathan Ledbetter Mona-Lisa Ledin John Lehenbauer Victoria Leonhardt Leslie Leppert Richard Leppert Wendy Lerch Natasha Lesiak Beverly Lewis Charles and Kay Lewis Janet Liberman Larry and Carolyn Liebau Cassandra Lobaczewski Wanda Lockhart John Locurto Torri Logan Amy London Vasia K. London Gary Long Kelli Long Kelli Lovejoy Andrea Lovern Christina Lowe Mia Lowe T.J. Lowery Thomas Lozano Sharon Luchi Ronald Luongo Ingunn Lykre Geoff Lyons Samuel Mabry Logan and Carla MacDonald Kandy Marchman Sharon Mack Kimberly Makepeace Kimberly Mallett Ron Mallett Jennifer Maloney Alex O. Mancillas Stephania Mancillas Gale Mancuso

54

Ruth M. Mandell Sarah and Jeff Mandell Ameila J. Manderville Alicia Mangels Ollie and Phyllis Mann Julia Mansour Lewis H. Marabell Marc J. Marchand Mark Marino Deborah MarlyereScherer Amy Marsingill Caroline Martin Hollie Martin Lisa Martin Ben Martinez Luke Mason Mary Mason Ronney and Anita Massey Vicki Massey Audrey Mathis Spencer E. Mathis Kelcie A. Matthews Mary Beth Maxwell Emi May Sarah McCarroll Carolyn P. McClain Tiffanie McClung Katie McClure Kevin and Sandy McClure Jayne McCollum Adah McCormack Mamy McCutchen Cat McDonald Kelley McDougal Angela McEneely Howard O. McGillin Brenda McGrath Glenn and Suzanne McGuffin Kate McGuinness Ja’Zmin McKeel Carol McKinley Raymond and Mary McKinney Rachel McLauchlin Jerry and Louise McMahan Victoria McNeil Ryan McNickle Suzanne Mcwhorter Mark Mead Garrett Medlin Robert Melton Andree Menard Ava E. Metrick Jenny Michael Judy Might Lauren Milione Helen Miller Pamela Miller Rebecca Miller Shina Miller Donna Miner Jon Minney

Greg Minton Anna Mitchell Maria Molly Jeffrey C. Molter Sally Montgomery Susie Montgomery Mequita Moon Jay Mooney Adam Moore Kim Moore Carolyn Moreno Tim Morey Amy and Daniel Morgan Dale Morrissesy Robert Morris Victoria Morrison Corey Morton Michael Moskal Millicent Moultrie Stephanie Moye Albert and Carol Mullis Philip Mullis Kali Mundy Samantha Murnane Hannah Murray Erin Myers Kristi Myers Rachael Nagy Jason Neal Cynthia Nelson Retha Nelson Philip Newberry Judith F. Newell Lindsay Newman Brent Newton Tonya Newton Debbie Nichols Janie R. Nicholson Tamika Nicholson Zahra Nicole Brett Niemira Caroline Nimtz Annalea G. Nix Tonya Nix Stacy Nobles Bruce Norden Holly Norton Eric Nourse Marcy OConnor Victor Odom Penni Ogle Lucy Ogletree Michael Ohana Chris Okiyama Jacob Oldham Suzann Olson Sean ONeill Kristen K. Orr Deborah Ortosky Matthew Osborn Kimberly Ott Tracey Owens Alan Pacheco Dannya Pacheco Kathy and Greg Pachman

Kristen Padgett Carlos M . Padilla Kate Panos Amanda Parker Christopher Parker Halley Parker Nadja Parker Sheri Parker Billy Parks Vincent Parks Esther Partridge Mary Pasterak Tejash Patel Aaron Patterson Deborah Patterson Jordan Patterson Bryson Payne Rufus Payne Robert and Therese Peacock Lynn Pearcy Cataldina Pecorilli Isabelle Pecorilli Mary Pecorilli J Peeters MYM Peeters Maura Penado Stacy Perdue Marguerite Perkins Scott Persichetti Christine Peters Hollie M. Peterson Kathy Peterson Mary R. Peterson Tony Petty Amber Phillips Chad Phillips Kennedy Phillips Beth Pickett Kevin Pierce Morgan Pierson Rachael Pitts Efrain A. Poloche Ambyre L. Ponivas Scott Poole Cornell Pope Shannon Porter

Johana Portillo Matt Pounds Rebecca Powell Nicolas Prandi Amandria Preston Carmen Preston Dalton Price Alexandria Prince Karen A. Pruett Martijn Pruissen Ethan Pruitt James and Ann Pruitt Lynn Quarles Todd E. Raasch Eleanor Race Frank Rackley Angie Rainey Erik A. Ramirez Arancha B. Ramos Casey Ramsey Louise Ramstedt Norris and Linda Randall Scott Randall Riley Ratzlaff Tony Ravenscroft Timothy Ray Rebecca Ranzenbach Denise R. Redmon Hadder Rendon Paul Revis Gloria Reyes Corley J. Reynolds Lynelle Riccio Virginia L. Rice Paula Rich Robbie and Jessica Rich Megan R. Ridley Mitch Riese Amanda Rios Maureen Ripper Michele Rising William Ritch Greg K. Ritchie Zacobia Ritter Isaac Rivard Amy Rivers

William and Gwendolyn Rivers Erin Roberts Nicole Robertson Susan Robinson Ashley Rogers Charlie Rogers Donna E. Rogers Hailey Rogers Andrew M. Rohr Marion Rombeck Lars-Johan Ronn Linda Ronn Steve Roper Farrah Rosal Phebe Rose Alyssa M. Rosenfeld Lance Rosenthal Susan Ross Dionne Rosser-Mims Reagan N. Rowland Arunava Roy and Baishali Ray Grant Royston Keith Royston Meredith Ruffner Kim Ruion Carrie Runnels Janet M. Ruzycki Christopher Ryan Nile Saabir Karen Saggus Amy Saks Emmanuell A. Salazar Eleanor L. Samples Dainel Sanchez Casey Sanders Natalie Sanders Deborah Sanford Leslie Sangster Ricky Sartoretto Doug and Deena Sasser Linda Saxon Michelle Schmidhuber Daniel G. Schmidt James Schontzler Afi Scope

Jennifer Schroeder Alan M. Schuler Mark Schully Jim Schulte Sam Scoba Demetria Scott Gavin Scott Gavin Scott Heather Scott Justin Scott Joyce Scott Kaylee Scott Mathew Scott Theresa Scyoc Glenn Sellers Linda D. Sellers Melissa Sexton Bruce Shackleford Maggie Shadburn April Shaffer Robin Shammah Steven and Deborah Sharp Kristie Shaw Dalton Sheats Jennifer Sheats Tammy Shelnut Ashley and Aaron Shepherd Meriwether Shepherd Brenda P. Shields Casey Shiller Carolyn Shinholster Susan Showers Hunter Shuler Kimberly Shumaker Debra Sims Duna Sims

Kelly Sims Erik Sippola Rebecca Sitten Erin Skinner Jackson B. Skinner Erica Stelten William and Janice Sloan Gregory Smallwood Reggie Smallwood Stacey Smallwood Ann Smith Charlie Smith Carri Smith Charley Smith Colleen Smith Donnis Smith Delores Smith Joe and Gloria Smith Linda Smith Sally Smith Sammy Smith Stacy Smith Tracy Smith Michael and Holly Smith-Foot George Snipes James T. Snoddy Jeanine Snowden Amanda and Yang Song Stephanie Sosebee Tracy Sosebee Southern Ghost Girls Tours Bobbie Spamer Laurie Spence James Spencer Nate Spivey Melinda Spradlin

Kayla Sprinkles Dick Stafford Bobby E. Standard Scott Standard Nathaniel and Laura Stanhope Kathryn Stanton LaShunda Staten Lisa Stephens Karl Steward Larissa Stiglich Donna Still Katie Stone Tammy Stone Zack Stopher Brian Strange Debbie Strickland Karen Stuckey Cathy Sujishi Jessica A. Sujishi Morgan T. Sullens Rachel Suttee Abbigayle E. Sutton Peter Sutton Ronald K. Swann Brady M. Swanson Brandy Swanson T.A.D. Architect, PLLC Manuel and Kathi Tagliarini Michale Talbot Kristin A. Talley Alicia Tankersley Jonathan Taylor Robert Taylor Trisha Taylor Amy Temple Keiya Terrell

Donnie Thigpen Hannah Thigpen Nicola Thomas Kelly Thomas Marcial B. Thomas Clinton Thompson Dee Dee Thompson Dwayne and Roberta Thompson Gale Thompson Margaret Thompson Keith and Angie Thurman Gideon M. Ticha Prince M. Ticha Wayne Tidick Ann C. Timberlake Karli Timms James Timocko Shelley Tingler Abdessamad Tizaf Paul Todd Vanja Todorovic Michelle Tolbert Josue Torres Marieki Torres Sara Toth Keri Trani Theresa Trapnell Jay Trawick Lori Treadwell Melissa Treff Chesney Trent Jacqueline Trimmer Diana Tritapoe Rick Trlica Dan Troyer Mary Troyer

Melinda Tucker Michele Turner James and Barbara Ubertalli Benjamin P. Van Dyke John and Jo Ray Van Vliet Alba Vasquez Linda Vaughan John and Mary Elizabeth Vaughn Diane and Lloyd Vautrot Taylor Veale Brenda Veasey Christopher Vena Catherine Vena Angela Veugeler Vickie Vickers Molly C. Vinson Stacey Virga Marty Vitug Christopher and Patricia Vynanek Cody Walden Kennedy Walker William Walker Alton Wallace Barbara Walls Barry Walraven Martha Walser Charlene Walsh Daniel Walsh Chris G. Waltzek Lori Watanabe Lisa Ward Sheryl Ward Katie Warr Erin Waters

Jack and Tari Watson Deborah L. Weaver Kathleen Weaver Cathy Weber John Wein Christie Weiser Michael Wendel David Wesche Aaron Wessner Mark West Jeffrey Whipple Martha Whitaker Laura and Robert Whitaker-Lea Adelynn J. White Erin White Theresa White Mignon Whitehead Andrew O. Whitfill Teffany Whitley Ben Wiegert Paul Wiegert Annabel Wilde Justin Wilde Lois Wilde Tristan Wilde Beth Wiles Audra Williams Jeanne Williams Kalei Williams Markeith Williams Paul Williams Patricia Williams Patricia Willis Jennifer Wills Matt Wilmer Devon L. Wilson Jeanine Wilson Harvey Wilton Nora Wintrow Wolf Peak Outdoors Adam and Jessie Wood Larry and Jo Anne Woodall Heather Woodbury Mary Woods Jay and Julia Wright Matthew Wright Kelly Wyatt Brett Yancey Teresa Yancey Kenneth Yant Melanie Yarley Kristen Young Laura Young Maddison Young Fredrik Zander Brian Zappala Linda Zavetz Carlos Zuluaga Camila B. Zuquian

*Recently deceased

55

Office of Communications & Marketing P.O. Box 275 Young Harris, GA 30582

NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID MARIETTA GA PERMIT NO. 215

EDUCATE • INSPIRE • EMPOWER

12:1

STUDENT/ FACULTY RATIO

34 27

MAJORS

MINORS

DUAL

ENROLLMENT AND

19

MAT COURSES OFFERED

NCAA DIVISION II ATHLETICS TEAMS

27 33

U.S. STATES &

COUNTRIES REPRESENTED

Interested in becoming a student?

Know someone who would make a great Mountain Lion?

Visit yhc.edu/admissions/ or scan the QR code to learn more about YHC!

100%

OF STUDENTS RECEIVE SOME FORM OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE