FA L L 2 0 1 9 | G R O W T H A N D I N N O VAT I O N M A R K A U ’ S P A S T A N D P R E S E N T
ANDERSON UNIVERSITY
2019 / FALL MAGAZINE AU FOCUS
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Growth and innovation mark AU’s past and present
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AU Heritage University traditions mark milestones in journeys of Anderson students
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Faculty and graduates have helped fight infectious and chronic diseases for more than a century
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AU’s legacy of training nurses dates back to the 1950s
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34 First sports at AU more than a century old
CAMPUS NEWS
AU FAMILY
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Couples contribute AU’s historic lawn swings
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AU Update
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20 An architectural history of AU 22
AU Book Corner
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26 AU Diary
ALUMNI NEWS ATHLETIC NEWS
28 Jason’s Column 30 Trojans in Motion on the courts and in the classrooms
32 Anderson University Magazine is a publication of the Marketing and Communication Department of Anderson University for alumni and friends. President: Dr. Evans P. Whitaker Editor in Chief: Jonathan Todd Photographers: Bart Boatwright, Sam Gordon, Tyler Hoover, Jason Jones Photography, Dawson Powers, Richard Shiro, Stacey Wylie
Alumni News
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university
happenings...
Campus News
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The year was 1918, and a global flu pandemic was killing scores of Americans. In South Carolina, there were an
• Couples whose romances began on AU’s legendary white swings are sponsoring new swings for a new generation
estimated 50,000 people with the flu, and 14,000 died. But at then-Anderson College, Dr. Olga Pruitt—a faculty
• New and forgotten AU student traditions, such as the
member, the college doctor and Upstate South Carolina’s
ring ceremony and one in which the senior class hid a
first female physician—worked to protect the college. Retired
shepherd’s staff in the woods for the junior class to find
AU history professor Dr. Joyce Wood said, “In that time, the flu spread like wildfire. Whole towns would try to
• Jason’s Column: How faith in Jesus Christ and
quarantine themselves to protect citizens from infection.
God’s word remains at the center of AU’s mission
Despite that, it reached lighthouses and it reached remote
in the midst of the university’s progress and
snowed-in areas.”
national recognition
But at Anderson College, the flu was contained.
• A retrospective of the university’s intercollegiate sports programs from its early years as a women’s college to its
“Pruitt did a great deal to keep the college open,”
golden years in the 1970s and its 21st century basketball
Dr. Wood said. “She didn’t lose a single student.”
successes
In this issue of AU Magazine, we take a look back at such
These stories and more in this AU: Then & Now issue of
inspiring stories from AU’s past and appreciate strides
AU Magazine will hopefully remind you of your time at AU,
we’ve made to the present. In these pages, stay tuned to
or at least what makes this university worth supporting
learn more about the following:
through your prayers and contributions. As summer turns into fall and as students return to campus and their studies,
• AU faculty and alumni who have fought disease
now is the perfect time to support these current and future
at home and abroad, including contributions by
generations of AU students. Please give using the enclosed
Dr. Pruitt and alumnus Dr. Jeff Deal, whose
envelope, go online: andersonuniversity.edu/giving or
invention has helped stem the Ebola epidemic
call us at 864.231.2147. We’re looking forward to hearing from you and hope you enjoy these stories.
• Our successful 21st century School of Nursing program and how Anderson College also had a hand in training
Warmly,
earlier generations of nurses in South Carolina
- Anderson University Magazine
CAMPUS NEWS | 3
couples whose courtships began at AU help replace legendary lawn swings In the early 20th century, when Anderson College admitted only women, visiting men were not allowed beyond the parlor in the residence halls. “It was the custom of the day,” said Anderson University historian and retired history professor Dr. Joyce Wood. “Colleges took over the parental job of watching out for children.” For a bit more privacy, courting couples walked outside to sit on the white swings on the front lawn. Over the years, the practice became the stuff of legend. “Girls said that if they sat on the swings three times, it was considered good luck, and there was a pretty good chance they would marry,” Dr. Wood said. That legend, said Jason Rutland, associate vice president for alumni and parent engagement, remains one of the most popular stories on campus. It is estimated that more than 1,000 couples met at Anderson University, and they likely sat on those swings. “We are able to trace back about 600 or 700 couples, and we estimate that with recent graduates, there are 1,000plus couples, plus some we don’t know about,” Rutland said. One of those couples is Kip and Kim Miller, AU alumni who have been married for 42 years. They grew up attending the same church, so they’d always known each other. But it was at AU that their relationship developed. “As the swings swung, so was our relationship,” Kip Miller said. Looking back, the Millers remember the swings with great fondness. “Jesus’ two greatest commands are to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself,” Kim Miller said. “Both of these commands center around love and relationships, and the swings on campus are a place of gathering and relationship developing.”
The Millers are among contributors who are making possible the purchase of new swings to replace the aging structures. The others are Ray and Mary Anne Bunton; Betty Jo Thompson and her late husband Swain; and Kathryn Middleton and her late husband Billy. All are AU graduates for whom the swings served as a romantic backdrop. The four white wooden swings are located in front of Pratt Hall, the Merritt Administration Building and Denmark Hall along Front Street. They are not the original structures dating to 1916. One of the original swings was crushed by a falling tree during a storm while others succumbed to wear and tear. But they and their lookalikes have served well for many years, with lives extended through maintenance and repair and replacement parts. They were also grounded at one point to help them last longer. But their usefulness has expired.
the swings swung, so was our “ Asrelationship. ” — Kip Miller, AU alumnus
The new swings, which will be similarly located, features a new design and will be made of aerospace aluminum that will stand up to heavy use. They will glide rather than swing, and a cement and paver walkway will lead to each. A plaque on the ground will honor the contributors who made it possible. The decision to support the project was an easy one for the Millers. “We love all things about AU and always have,” Kip said. “Our family is an all-AU family, with nine AU degrees and counting.” Installation of the new swings, which will continue to beckon couples young and old for years to come, is planned for later this year. The retiring swings may be auctioned off during homecoming. “We don’t want to just get rid of them,” Rutland said. “They are pieces of Anderson University history.”
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growth and innovation mark AU’s past and present What students, faculty and employees love about Anderson
doctoral program. Those years saw an explosion of new
University hasn’t changed. It is still a place where faith
programs, including undergraduate and graduate degrees
comes first, where students find a welcoming environment
in nursing and graduate degrees in education, ministry,
and where academic excellence prevails. But a look back over
criminal justice, business and physical therapy.
the past century shows how far this institution has come. Expanded international programs and mission experiences
Roots, growth and recognition
came next; AU students have lived and learned in China,
The university traces its roots to the Johnson Female
Australia, Ireland, Italy, Spain, the U.K., Brazil, France,
Seminary, which operated in Anderson in the mid-
Costa Rica, Argentina, Uganda, Thailand, Lithuania,
19th century and closed during the Civil War. In 1911,
Germany, Canada and the Netherlands.
Anderson College opened as a four-year college for AU is recognized nationally for academic
president, Dr. Evans Whitaker, has led “ Our through his vision of recognizing the quality of our institution and building on it. He took the approach of going from good to great. — Wayne Landrith
”
quality by leading publications such as U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review. “We’ve always been focused on excellence— in our academic programs, our students and our overall experience. And it’s vitally important that we’ve remained committed to that ideal growth,” said Andrew Beckner,
Senior Vice President for Development & Presidential Affairs
executive director of Public Relations. The most compelling evidence comes from
women and its first class enrolled a year later. Financial
enrollment, which has grown more than 100 percent
struggles led the institution to transition to a co-educational
since 2002 and now numbers almost 3,500 students,
junior college in 1930, with a student body of only 200.
making AU one of the fastest-growing private universities
Growth came slowly, eventually reaching 900 students by
in the country, according to the U.S. Department of
the 1970s.
Education and the Almanac of Higher Education.
Big changes started in 1991, when the college returned
Not only have the offerings and enrollment grown, but so
to its four-year status. In 2006, it became Anderson
has the campus itself. What started with 32 acres and three
University, rising to Level V status in 2012 with its first
buildings in an old cotton field in 1912 has burgeoned into
(Continued on page 8) 6 | CAMPUS NEWS
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a sprawling 305-acre campus, in large part because of a
The campus has also expanded beyond Anderson,
2008 gift from John and Marie Pracht and the purchase
with programs in business, criminal justice, healthcare
of the old Anderson county fairgrounds, which now houses
management, ministry and nursing offered at the
AU’s growing Athletic Campus.
University Center of Greenville.
Though many buildings have retained a historic look and
Innovation from the 1930s until today
designation on the National Register of Historic Places,
A key reason for AU’s growth in stature and reach is its
the rest of the campus has transformed. The Abney
commitment to innovation, especially in the area of
Athletic Center was completed in 1979. There’s also
technology, dating all the way back to the presence of a
the Rainey Fine Arts Center, the first phase of which
radio station and a television station on campus starting
was completed in 1982. A more recent showpiece is the
in the 1930s. AU offered its first course by television in
$7.5 million Thrift Library, 50,000 square feet that
1962. Computers came to campus in the 1980s.
houses not only the library but also a music lab, multimedia hall, art gallery, computer lab and more.
Many classes, and in some cases entire degree programs,
There are many new residence halls, including five
are now offered online. All full-time traditional students
across from the Merritt Administration Building.
receive an iPad to use in courses that have been redesigned to incorporate technology in creative ways. Even learning spaces, from classrooms to
“
We’ve always been focused on excellence—in our academic programs, our students and our overall experience. And it’s vitally important that we’ve remained committed to that ideal throughout our amazing season of growth. — Andrew Beckner
”
Executive Director of Public Relations
study spaces to media studios, have been reconfigured to help students engage with digital tools. Students also have access to a maker space that features 3-D printers, robots, a laser cutter, and video and audio production support. A new minor in coding and app development is now being offered to all students. Anderson University has also collaborated with Apple to create a fully online post-baccalaureate certificate in coding and app development.
For senior communications major Kara Rice, who also serves
AU has been recognized three times as an Apple
as the student body president, one building stands out.
Distinguished School in large part because of its Mobile Learning Initiative. And the university received a multi-
“The G. Ross Anderson Jr. Student Center has been a huge
year grant of $600,000 to help K-12 schools integrate
blessing,” she said. “It not only houses our dining options,
mobile devices into their classrooms.
but it serves as a place for students to establish community and lasting friendships…I have found the Student Center
“Our president, Dr. Evans Whitaker, has led through his
to be my second home and where I find the support and
vision of recognizing the quality of our institution and
guidance that I will carry with me beyond my time here.”
building on it,” said Wayne Landrith, senior vice president for development and presidential affairs. “He took the approach of going from good to great.”
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From the very start of their college experience to their
A key part of the ceremony is Dr. Whitaker’s sharing of
graduation, AU students find solace and sustenance in
the story of the ring. He talks about the symbolism of its
the university’s traditions.
colors: red for the warrior, courageously noble in mind and spirit, generous in forgiving, unselfish; gold for
Archway Walk
generosity and elevation of the mind; and black for
When freshmen first arrive on campus—after they and
constancy of purpose and for being steadfast, faithful,
their families attend a worship service—the new students
unchanging in nature and value and loyal. He also
walk across the front lawn and through the AU
discusses the cross, which stands for Christ and His
archway, where President Dr. Evans Whitaker and
sacrifice for humanity and the Christian purpose,
Diane Whitaker shakes each student’s hand and
spirit, values and community of the University.
presents a sprig of ivy as friends and family cheer.
Another element is the oak leaf and acorn, which stands for strength, endurance, wisdom, antiquity and
“We call that the gauntlet of support,” said the Rev.
protection. It also represents the dominant tree of the
Wes Brashier, vice president for Christian Life and
AU campus. Last is the year—1911—of the University’s
campus minister. “This marks their matriculation into
founding. So popular has the Ring Ceremony become
a Christian university and identifies them as a class of
that alumni who’d like their own ring experience are
students as they start their AU journey together.”
invited to take part, too. After the ceremony, students have their photos taken with the college seal.
It’s a bookend tradition that mirrors the moment when they shake Dr. Whitaker’s hand at graduation.
Older Traditions Some AU traditions that have faded are remembered
Ring Ceremony
with fondness as elements that have helped build
The Archway Walk is one of the university’s newer
Anderson University into what it is today. One is the
traditions. Another is the Ring Ceremony, in which
Shepherd’s Crook, a ritual between classes that dates
students receive their class ring from the president.
back to 1918. According to legend, it started when a
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student got lost in the woods near campus. When she
gloves, is now an annual picnic. October Day, on which
found a shepherd’s crook lying on the ground, she
buses brought students to the mountains to hike, has
walked in the direction the crook was pointing and made
morphed into Fall Fest. Christmas First Night, which
her way safely back to campus. Afterwards, the crook
once featured simply the burning of a Yule log, remains
was heralded as a campus symbol and was hidden by the
an annual celebration of the season but has grown in
senior class for the junior class to find.
attendance and includes musical entertainment.
Another tradition that exists only in memory includes
Whatever the tradition, it serves as an important rite
May Day, when girls would weave strands of ribbon
of passage.
around a pole. “Traditions tell us what stage of life we’re in,” Brashier Some traditions have evolved. The Junior-Senior
said. “We all want to be part of something bigger
Reception, to which girls wore evening dresses and long
than ourselves.” CAMPUS NEWS | 11
AU UPDATE AU News curated by Executive Director of Public Relations Andrew J. Beckner
Online programs among best in South Carolina
New Anderson University license plate unveiled
AU has the best online academic programs in Upstate South Carolina and is among the best in the country, according to the nation’s most prestigious educational rating organization.
The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles has a new personalized license plate that’s #TrueToAU.
This year U.S. News & World Report released its rankings of the best online programs in the country, listing AU’s online bachelor’s degree programs as the best in Upstate South Carolina, along with awarding top honors for the university’s online graduate programs in business, education, criminal justice and nursing.
The U.S. News & World Report online rankings for Anderson include: • Online Bachelor’s Programs: No. 3 in South Carolina; No. 2 among private institutions in South Carolina; No. 1 in Upstate South Carolina; No. 84 nationally (up 59 spots from 2018) • Online Graduate Business Programs: No. 2 in South Carolina; No. 1 among private institutions in South Carolina; No. 1 in Upstate South Carolina; No. 131 nationally (first year ranked) • Online Graduate Education Programs: No. 3 in South Carolina; No. 1 among private institutions in South Carolina; No. 84 nationally (first year ranked) • Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs: No. 1 in South Carolina; No. 12 nationally (first year ranked) • Online Graduate Nursing Programs: No. 1 in South Carolina (private); No. 50 nationally (first year ranked)
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Ken Ruinard, Independent Mail
Now available to state residents who want to support student scholarships and campus enhancements while showing their Trojan pride, the new AU plate features a personalized option; and a portion of the proceeds from each plate supports the Anderson Fund, which provides scholarships for AU students along with campus improvement projects. “As an Anderson graduate, I am so excited about this opportunity for our alumni, faculty, staff and friends to demonstrate and personalize their Trojan pride and support scholarships for current and future students,” said Senior Vice President for Development and Presidential Affairs Wayne Landrith. The personalized plate is available for $100 plus the vehicle’s registration fee every two years, with $50 earmarked for scholarships and programming.
School of Public Service and Administration professors win back-to-back Distinguished Citizen’s Awards from Boy Scouts The Six & Twenty District of the Boy Scout’s Blue Ridge Council awarded Assistant Professor of Homeland Security & Emergency Services Dr. Howard Murphy and Professor and Coordinator of Recruitment & Career Development George Ducworth its Distinguished Citizen’s Award for 2018 and 2019, respectively.
The Boy Scout’s Distinguished Citizen’s Award has been around for nearly 100 years, and the first recipient was President Calvin Coolidge. Winners receive an 18-inch bronze statue of the “Ideal Scout,” whose uncovered head represents reverence, obedience to authority, and discipline. The hatchet held by the Scout represents truthfulness. Neither Dr. Murphy or Ducworth can point to a single act that earned them the award, but they’re active in community organizations. Dr. Murphy works with the Boy Scouts, and he recently retired from a career with the U.S. Army after 34 years. He’s been very involved in his church, started a medical missions group and works as a local paramedic.
management who created and led the package race, said that logistics is the movement of people, things or information from one place to another. The package race allowed her students to see logistics in action as they learned how packages physically moved from Anderson to Zambia and tracked shipping information. Inspired by another university that held a similar package race, Dr. Whitehead implemented a package race at AU to give her students real-world experience while serving a missionary family. By providing supplies for a family on the mission field, this project exemplifies humanitarian logistics, she said.
Ducworth was the Tenth Circuit Solicitor for 20 years, starting in 1980, and was an aide to the late U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond. He’s been involved with the local YMCA, Lions Club and Rotary Club and was instrumental in opening the Anderson County Alternative School, working to help at-risk youth.
24-hour campaign sets record for giving
“A Day” is designed to remember AU’s past, celebrate its present success and impact its bright future by bringing alumni, family and friends together on one exciting day of giving. For Dr. Murphy, the award has deep roots in his family, with his father being a Boy Scouts of America district executive in Georgia. Growing up, he said every present he got from his parents revolved around scouting. “Being recognized by the Boy Scouts is one of the highlights of my career,” Dr. Murphy said.
Supply chain project supports missionary family in Africa College of Business students this spring sent boxes of goods racing across the globe—from Upstate South Carolina to the doorstep of a missionary family in Zambia, Africa. A senior-level logistics class, which serves as the capstone course for the Supply Chain Management program, completed an international package race this semester. The package race challenged students to find the quickest and most cost-effective way to send supplies to the McDaniel family, missionaries serving in Zambia. Dr. Kimberly Whitehead, an assistant professor of
Friends of Anderson provided more than $225,000 for student scholarships and facility improvements as part of the annual “A Day to Give” campaign, making it one of the most successful fundraising events in AU’s history. Senior Vice President for Development and Presidential Affairs Wayne Landrith was overwhelmed at the response from Anderson alumni, faculty, friends, staff and students. “We could not have done it without you,” Landrith said. “Together, we raised resources that will transform students’ lives at Anderson University. Words cannot adequately express just how much we appreciate the support and partnership of those who care for and love our University.” “A Day,” a 24-hour fundraising drive, is one of the most important annual events at Anderson. Its goal is to support students, faculty and campus programs. “A Day” is designed to remember AU’s past, celebrate its present success and impact its bright future by bringing alumni, family and friends together on one exciting day of giving. This year’s “A Day” took place on April 11, with the city of Anderson for the second year officially proclaiming it as “Anderson University Day.”
Share your alumni news & stories at andersonuniversity.edu/share-news
CAMPUS NEWS | 13
faculty and graduates have helped fight infectious and chronic diseases for more than a century
Whether defending communities from disease outbreaks or going into the laboratory to seek cures, Anderson University’s faculty and alumni have a legacy of illness protection and prevention that goes back 100 years. “I see myself, first of all, as a public servant, and I feel really blessed to be able to do that,” said Dr. Jarred Whitlock, a 2013 graduate who conducts research at the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Cacia Soares-Welch, a 1993 grad, once conducted research at the Mayo Clinic. Now she serves as an endocrinologist in Georgia. “I’m putting the research into practice as it’s being formed,” she said. Other young scientists have gotten their start at AU’s Center for Cancer Research and now work at places such as Johns Hopkins University. “I’m happy because it gives me hope to find a cure,” said AU Professor of Biology Dr. Diana Ivankovic, the center’s director and herself a cancer survivor. Dr. Olga Pruitt fought the influenza pandemic in 1918. As the current generation blazes its own trail, it can find inspiration from Anderson’s history. In 1913, Dr. Pruitt joined the faculty of the fledgling Anderson College. Dr. Pruitt was an Anderson native who herself had done graduate work at Johns Hopkins. The first female physician in Upstate South Carolina, Dr. Pruitt had been a supporter of Anderson College’s creation.
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At Anderson, she taught physiology and hygiene and was the school physician. She went on to serve at the school until 1956. In 1918, she faced perhaps her biggest challenge. The world was gripped by an influenza pandemic that eventually killed tens of millions. By the time the outbreak peaked in South Carolina, more than 50,000 Palmetto State residents had contracted the illness and more than 14,000 had died. “She was very proud of the fact that she did not lose a single student,” Dr. Joyce Wood, a retired history professor from AU, said of Dr. Pruitt. In her research, Dr. Wood recalled coming across a photo of Anderson College students from that time with a “quarantine” banner. Dr. Pruitt tended to those who became ill and helped keep the college functioning when other schools in the state temporarily shut down. “That’s something to be proud of,” said Dr. Jeff Deal. A 1974 graduate, Dr. Deal played a more recent role in containing a deadly disease.
Dr. Jeff Deal fought Ebola Dr. Deal traveled to Liberia during the 2014 Ebola virus outbreak. He’s the inventor of a germ-fighting robot known as TRU-D, which harnesses the power of a type of ultraviolet light known as UVC. UVC wavelengths are capable of killing microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and protozoa. When deployed in a hospital room, TRU-D emits UVC energy that penetrates nooks and crannies and gets around equipment. In the US, where each day one in 31 patients suffers a hospital-acquired infection, Dr. Deal’s device has become a valuable germicidal resource. The most recent Ebola outbreak subsided in 2016, but Dr. Deal said TRU-D is still deployed in African hospitals.
“They have asked me to go back to Liberia to work in the field,” he said.
“He pretty much said absolutely not,” she recalled. “Just promise you at least try.”
Dr. Deal and his business partners are also working on other devices. “I love being that mad scientist that innovates,” he said.
Dr. Soares-Welch, who thought becoming a doctor would be too hard and too expensive, now spends a large portion of her time working with people who suffer from diabetes. One of her priorities is matching her patients with the best treatment from a growing list of breakthrough diabetes medications.
AU Center for Cancer Research and graduates seek disease cures The spirit of innovation is also found at AU’s Center for Cancer Research, which is examining the power of plants such as red clover and blue indigo. “We are working on plant extracts,” said Dr. Ivankovic, who joined AU in 2004 and started the center in 2011. “We’re treating the cancer cells with these plant extracts and trying to kill those cancer cells.”
only reason I’m a scientist is because “ The of Anderson University. ”
– Dr. Jarred Whitlock National Institutes of Health
Complications arising from pregnancy are what occupies Dr. Whitlock’s time at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. He’s studying the placenta on a cellular level, trying to find the “why” behind diseases such as preeclampsia. “There are currently no treatments for these placental diseases,” he said. “I intend to see that changed.” Looking back on his time at AU, he recalls drawing scientific inspiration from an 8 a.m. class with Professor of Biology Dr. Tom Kozel. “He was able to be so excited that early in the morning about parasites in fishes,” Dr. Whitlock said. “I thought either he’s insane or there’s something beautiful about this.” He received further encouragement from Associate Professor of Biology and Chemistry Dr. Carrie Koenigstein.
The center’s work, which is seeking to confirm that the extracts won’t harm healthy cells, has been published in the Cell & Cellular Life Sciences Journal. AU alumnus Dr. Cacia Soares-Welch said she could have taken her bachelor’s degree in liberal studies and walked away from the goal of becoming a doctor if not for her undergraduate advisor at AU.
“Carrie Koenigstein recognized I was a scientist before that’s what I knew I wanted – and she fostered that,” he said. “The only reason I’m a scientist is because of Anderson University.”
CAMPUS NEWS | 15
our faculty
and students...
The AU Family
AU’s legacy of training nurses dates to the 1950s The seeds of the Anderson University
of study and an online flex program for
School of Nursing were planted in
working registered nurses (RNs).
the 1950s. In 2016, the program expanded to offer Back then, nursing wasn’t an
a Master of Science in Nursing and a
independent program offered wholly at
Doctor of Nursing Practice with more
increasing demand for highly
the college. According to Pat Mulligan, a
than a dozen tracks that allow RNs to
credentialed health professionals,
retired professor of history and political
expand their credentials in the areas
returning to the workforce quickly is
science at AU, it was a cooperative
of Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse
a win for nurses, healthcare facilities,
agreement with nearby Anderson
Educator, Psychiatric Mental Health
and patients alike.
Memorial Hospital. The nursing
Nurse Practitioner, and Executive
students took all of their classes at the
Leadership. These tracks are unique
In addition, AU has a cadaver lab and
hospital, in addition to living and
in that they provide RNs with the
the Center for Medical Simulations,
working there; they were also able to
flexibility of online course study and
which offers a state-of-the-art lab with
take general courses at the college as day
an accelerated format. Classes take
human-scale replicas of patients that
students. Following major changes in the
place over four semesters, with classes
simulate a variety of conditions. The
1960s, nursing education at Anderson
continuing through the summer,
School of Nursing, part of the College
went dormant until 2012, when AU
enabling students to complete their
of Health Professions, also has
began offering bachelor of science
advanced degrees in a little more
clinical affiliations with local, national,
degrees in nursing. Since then, the
than a year.
and international organizations that
program has grown considerably and
provide students with opportunities for
now offers undergraduate nursing
“The more quickly they can finish, the
students a variety of ways to earn their
more quickly they can return to the
bachelor’s degrees, including an
workforce,” said Dr. Carol Archuleta,
AU nursing graduates pass their
accelerated, predominantly online track
dean of the Anderson University
licensure exams at rates that exceed
for students with degrees in other fields
School of Nursing. And with a steadily
national averages.
1 8 | T H E AU FA M I LY
clinical placements and mission trips.
AU nursing graduates pass their licensure exams at rates that exceed national average Since the undergraduate program began
Nathan Heffington, who decided to
seven years ago, more than 400 students
pursue nursing after experiencing
have earned their bachelor’s degree in
compassionate care from medical staff
nursing, with the current cohort making
during the birth of his first child,
up nearly 14 percent of AU students. And
earned his BS in nursing through AU’s
these nursing graduates excel, passing
accelerated program and is now
their licensure exams at rates that exceed
working toward a Doctor of Nursing
the national average; in 2017, 98 percent
Practice. He chose AU after talking with
of AU grads taking the test for the first
nursing faculty.
time passed, compared to the national average of 89 percent, according to
“I knew it was the right fit. I am now four
National Council of State Boards of
years into my journey at AU, and from the
Nursing records.
very beginning, each interaction I have had with faculty and staff has pushed me
“I knew it was the right fit. I am now four years into my journey at AU, and from the very beginning,
toward my goal,” he said. “They are serious about the success of their students and are committed to honoring Christ.”
each interaction I have had with faculty and staff has pushed me toward my goal. They are serious about the success of their students and are committed to honoring Christ.”
- Nathan Heffington Candidate for Doctor of Nursing Practice
Students aren’t the only ones who value the connections made in the nursing program. “It is an honor, privilege and blessing to serve at this university in an environment that is unapologetically grounded in the Christian faith,” Dr.
In 2017
98%
of AU nursing grads passed their licensure exam, compared to the * national average of 89% * National Council of State
Boards of Nursing
In addition to the effectiveness of the
Archuleta said. “With this foundation,
program, students say they like the size
faculty and staff are able to truly live out
and spiritual dimension of AU’s
their faith through interactions with
nursing program. Classes are smaller
students, faculty, and the community.”
than at many other nursing schools, so professors are able to connect more with their students. Most importantly, faith and service are interwoven with the curriculum. T H E AU FA M I LY | 1 9
An Architectural History of AU 1848
1912
The Johnson Female Seminary opened in downtown Anderson in 1848 and closed during the Civil War.
1962-63
Anderson College opened as a four-year college for women with three buildings: East Dormitory (now Pratt Hall) and West Dormitory (now Denmark Hall), which were connected by colonnades to the Administration Building (now Merritt Administration Building).
1916
1918
The Sullivan House was a gift from Charles S. Sullivan Sr. Located at the front of the main campus a few buildings down from Merritt, it housed college presidents until 1965, when it became the Sullivan Music Building and now houses the Christian Life Department.
T c t t b t c R h t C
1969
1968
The first residence halls for men were built and named for Rev. J.K. Lawton and J.E. Rouse. The Lawton and Rouse Residence Halls are located beside Watkins Hall.
The Whyte House was added as a student dorm. It was later expanded with a gym and classroom space and became part of what was later renamed Vandiver Hall.
Watkins Hall, previously called Watkins Teaching Center, was dedicated.
The current President’s Home was purchased from the Sullivan family.
Watkins Hall
2007 AU opened the first of five new residence halls to be constructed on land across the street from the front of campus. The fifth one opened in 2014. Known collectively as the Boulevard Residence Halls, they are Royce, Clamp, and Gaston Halls and Whitaker and Boulevard Suites.
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2008 Thanks to a gift from John and Marie Pracht and the purchase of the old county fairgrounds, the campus expanded from 68 acres to 271. The old fairgrounds, located on Williamston Road about one block from the main campus, are now known as the Athletic Campus. The land from the Prachts is located between the main campus and the athletic campus.
2011 Anderson University created a special partnership that operates within the former Duke Energy Service Center, which is approximately one mile from campus and which was a partial gift to the university from the former Duke Energy Carolinas (now Duke Energy Progress). The facility, called the Center of Excellence for Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, Emergency Services, and Public Services, is located at 200 Bleckley Street. It is home to AU’s School of Public Service and Administration.
2015 The first phase of athletic facility expansion included a new tennis center with a tennis tower and eight new courts, a new softball stadium with a fully synthetic playing surface, and a new outdoor recreational swimming pool.
T s G S o n b 4 fi b
1919 The Gate Lodge was constructed to house the superintendent of the grounds and buildings. Located at the entrance to the campus on Kingsley Road, the small white house now serves as the AU Welcome Center.
1960s The Watkins Home at 600 Boulevard, built in 1919, was given to the university and was the home of Anderson University President John E. Rouse.
1956
1960
A new library was built and later named for Olin D. Johnston. It is now home to the College of Education and the School of Interior Design.
The Rice Infirmary was built across from what is now Thrift Library. Now called the Rice Building, it currently houses the faculty offices.
Johnston Hall
1979
1982
The Abney Athletic Center was completed.
The first phase of the Callie Stringer Rainey Fine Arts Center was completed, with a second phase in 1995.
2016 The 90,000 square-foot G. Ross Anderson Jr. Student Center opened, featuring a new dining commons, banquet facility, 400-seat theater, fitness center, bookstore, and more.
1990 Five new buildings today known as Stringer Commons provided additional housing for students adjacent to campus.
2016 The university acquired the historic Ramer-StringerRainey House.
G. Ross Anderson Jr. Student Center
2006 The $7.5 million Thrift Library was constructed. At the time, it was the largest single building project in AU’s history.
FUTURE Beginning later in 2019, AU will kick off the public phase of comprehensive campaign to raise funds for a new academic building for the College of Business and Clamp Divinity School; new athletic facilities will include a baseball stadium, track, and Athletic Administration building with a new strength and conditioning area; new residence halls; and a new Innovation Center.
T H E AU FA M I LY | 2 1
C
Christian tradition has largely held three theological affirmations concerning the resurrection of the physical body: (1) that bodily resurrection is not a superfluous hope of afterlife, (2) that there is immediate post-mortem existence in Paradise, and (3)
that the human beings that die are the very same ones who resurrect at Christ’s return. The same tradition often adheres to a robust doctrine of The Intermediate State, a paradisiacal disembodied state of existence following the biological death of a human being. This book argues that these positions are in fact internally inconsistent, and so a new theological model for life after death is required. The opening arguments of the book aim to show that The Intermediate State undermines the necessity of bodily resurrection. Additionally, substance dualism, a theory about the human creature that The Intermediate State requires, is shown to be equally untenable in this context. In response to this conflict, the metaphysics of the afterlife in Christian theology is re-evaluated; and after investigating various replacements for substance dualist metaphysics, a new theory is put forward. The theory combines insights from Thomas Aquinas’s view of human persons with a novel theory about how objects move through time. This is an innovative examination of the doctrine of life after death. It will, therefore, be of great interest to scholars of analytic theology and philosophy of religion.
On the Resurrection of the Dead: A New Metaphysics of Afterlife for Christian Thought By Assistant Professor of Philosophy Dr. James T. (JT) Turner, Jr.
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What others are saying about “On the Resurrection of the Dead”
[This] is a sophisticated piece of work in analytic theology. It is conceptually rich and rewarding, as well as being a novel contribution to the literature that offers one way of thinking about a cluster of longstanding theological problems at the heart of the Christian faith…This is high-octane theology, which repays careful reading, and re-reading. I am sure I will continue to benefit from it.
— Oliver Crisp Professor of Analytic Theology at the Logos Institute for Analytic and Exegetical Theology, School of Divinity, University of St. Andrews Turner makes an original and significant theological contribution to the resurgent debate about substance dualism as he explores the question of afterlife in Christian theology. Notably, Turner rejects substance dualism not because it lacks philosophical coherence, but because he finds it inconsistent with his view of the overriding theological importance of embodiment in afterlife. The work moves deftly across the philosophical and theological landscape to challenge the consistency of a disembodied intermediate state, advocating instead an immediate resurrection underpinned by a novel combination of hylemorphism and Eschatological Presentism. The book gives substance dualists reason to check their theological foundations and is an excellent example of contemporary analytic theology.
— Jonathan Loose Research Associate at the School of Advanced Study, University of London and at the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology, Cambridge
Digital and print editions of On the Resurrection of the Dead are available for purchase at AU Outfitters in the G. Ross Anderson Jr. Student Center and through Amazon.com, starting at $43.41. T H E AU FA M I LY | 2 3
united with a passion...
Alumni News
Vice President for Christian Life loves to advocate for needs of AU students My first visit to Anderson University was with my grandfather, Dr. T. Walter Brashier, Sr. It was May of 2016. My grandfather delivered the commencement address to the graduating class. As I stepped onto Alumni Lawn, there was a feeling in the air like I had never experienced anywhere else. I felt a sense of honor, respect, and reverence mixed with feelings of community, hospitality, faith and humility. From that moment, I knew AU is a very special place. I had no idea God would soon call me to be a part of this campus community. I am honored, humbled and blessed to be a small part of all that God has done, is doing and will do through AU’s distinct Christian mission.
“I am honored, humbled and blessed to be a small part of all that God has done, is doing, and will do through AU’s distinct Christian mission.” For almost three years I have loved serving as the vice president for christian life and campus pastor. I love my job because I have the opportunity to interact with many different people on different levels within the organization. However, what I love most is the opportunity as a vice president to represent and advocate for the needs of students. Because I love to meet students and get to know them personally, I also cherish my role of campus pastor. In this role, I still have plenty of opportunities to meet and hang out with the students. My passion is to build relationships with students in order to speak into their lives. As campus pastor, I have a front row seat to witness all that God is doing in and through the students during their college career and beyond.
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When I first surrendered to God’s call, I had no idea I would have the opportunity to serve as AU’s campus minister. Because Anderson is an intentionally Christian university, I am humbled and blessed to do what I love as a full-time job. Along with the relationships I have formed with the faculty, staff, and students, I love meeting new and exciting people nearly every day. Anderson University is home to the best and brightest students, faculty and staff I have ever met. In my heart and mind, it all boils down to relationships. Our relationship with God is made possible by the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. In Christ, God has made a way for us to live in right relationship to Him.
For more AU Diaries visit AndersonUniversity.edu/myjourney
He has also given us a new community of believers where we can share this new life together. These new relationships, with God and with one another, are happening every day at Anderson University—in the classroom, on the campus, in the churches, in the community and state, and around the world. Anderson is making a difference in the world, one life at a time. I can say this with confidence because Anderson has made a difference in my life and in my world. There is no place I would rather be, and no people I would rather serve with, than the campus family at Anderson University.
Wes Brashier serves as AU’s Campus Pastor and Vice President for Christian Life.
A LU M N I N E W S | 2 7
Jason’s COLUMN
By jason rutland, Associate Vice President for Alumni & Parent Engagement
Progress? Yes! Change? Not in our adherence to God’s Word Anderson University traces its origins back to 1848, when it opened as Johnson Female Seminary, one of the first institutions of higher learning for women In the U.S. Although it was forced to close following the war, a new generation of public-spirited citizens would carry on what had begun by donating resources to create a four-year college for women in the early 1900s. Partnering with the South Carolina Baptist Convention, Anderson University opened its doors in 1912. The following biblical passage helped lay our foundation: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” — 1 Peter 4:10-11 (NIV) One of the today’s hottest buzzwords is progress: “Are you moving forward? What is Anderson University doing to stay relevant in today’s fast-moving culture?” What we know is that Anderson University has adapted to the educational needs of South Carolinians and others looking for a phenomenal education in a Christian environment. In 2006, we officially became Anderson University. Graduate programs were added and the institution was reorganized into colleges and schools. Enrollment has exploded at a pace faster than we have ever seen. Today, nearly 3,500 students enjoy a high-quality education and can choose from scores of programs at AU. From a statistical look, Anderson has never admitted classes of students as academically strong as the ones currently on campus.
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The thing that makes me the proudest to be part of Anderson University has nothing to do with any of the above facts, nor is it in any of the national rankings. It is only this: an institution founded on the inerrant Word of God has never deemed it necessary to deviate from His word or become what society expects. Jesus Christ is not a crutch that you throw to the side because your academics, athletics or facilities get to a point that society tells you that you are able to walk unassisted. He is the center of this institution. Without Him, we may not fail by societal standards but by the purpose that He has placed on this institution. We know where our future lies, and it is not without Him. And it is not without you, our alumni and friends, who whole heartedly support the students who come to pursue their academic goals within this intentionally Christian environment. We hope your support will be unchanging as the University continues its progress towards being all that God would have us to be. Your continued prayers, your encouragement of student referrals, and your gifts of time and resources will help ensure that AU’s mission and its adherence to our founding principles will remain unchanged. (A special thank you to all our supporters in 2018-19. Please be sure to review the inserted Annual Report of Donors and give thanks with us for the generosity represented in this report.) This is my institution, then and now, often pressured, never changed. Long live Anderson! Thank you, Jason Rutland Associate Vice President for Alumni & Parent Engagement
Because our students are worth your investment. Gifts to the Anderson Fund help the university provide life-changing scholarships for our students. In addition, the Anderson Fund helps pay for computer and laboratory equipment, course development, art exhibitions, athletic enhancements, theatrical performances, library books, student mission trips and so much more, that all have a positive impact on students. The Anderson Fund touches the lives of thousands of students each year and provides hope to our world as Anderson University sends forth inspired Christian leaders and servants who will make a difference in their local communities where they will live, work and serve.
Make your gift today with the enclosed envelope or visit: AndersonUniversity.edu/giving/online. You may also contact our Office of Development at 864.231.2147. Anderson University does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or religion in its programs and activities. Please direct inquiries to Dr. L. Dianne King, Associate Vice President for Student Development/Dean of Student Success/Title IX Coordinator, Thrift Library Office 203, 316 Boulevard, Anderson, SC, 29621, (864) 231-2026, ldking@andersonuniversity.edu or to the Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education at 1-800-421-3481 or ocr@ed.gov.
Olivia Rish
athletic news...
Trojans in motion!
Horseback riding and basketball among the first sports in Anderson’s more than century-old athletics program Since Anderson University’s beginnings in 1911, academics were always king. However, the addition of sports to the campus brought a new dimension to campus life, and the university has been nurturing this rich tradition ever since.
Bobby Beville, athletic director for AU from 1996 until 2007, also remembers the 1970s as the golden years for the AU’s program. As a junior college, he said, the colege was part of the National Junior College Athletic Association.
Dr. Joyce Wood, an AU historian and retired history professor, noted that the first sport to come to the campus was women’s basketball, as Anderson only admitted women at the time. She said there was also a horseback riding club, “The Rough Riders,” that traces its roots to the university’s founding.
Beville played baseball when was a student here from 1974 to 1976. He noted the men’s basketball team was already inching toward the national tournament, and the men’s tennis team had won the national championship three times.
“There were very progressive attitudes toward women and women’s education in the area,” Dr. Wood said. A sports program offering women’s athletics was rare for its day, and the basketball team even travelled to other colleges. Dr. Wood said the travel schedule wasn’t what it is today, but the team would play within the state.
By 1992, the college was working to up its profile by joining the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). “Our plans were to move to NCA A (division II) and we had to serve four years on a probation status,” Beville said. “That was very difficult because we had to meet NAIA and NCA A eligibility requirements.”
One of the biggest changes was the admission of men starting in 1930. However, men’s sports didn’t begin until after World War II.
He said Anderson College stayed in the NAIA in order to have a chance to compete in the post season. The first conference Anderson was accepted into was the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference after the college joined the NCA A for the 1999-2000 season. In 2007, it was renamed Conference Carolinas and in 2010-11 the school joined the South Atlantic Conference.
Anderson’s sports program gained national attention in the 1970s, with Annie Tribble’s successful stint as women’s basketball coach. Throughout her tenure, the team went 153-33. Moreover, the team won three national junior college championships between 1973 and 1975. Tribble eventually moved on to coach Clemson University’s women’s basketball program.
Randy Jones, assistant athletic director and sports information director at AU, said joining the NCA A was certainly one of the biggest changes to the university’s program. Since then, the college has gone on to the Elite 8 in 2011 and the Sweet 16 in 2012 in the national tournament. In addition, the women’s team has made it to the Sweet 16 consistently as well in recent years.
Anderson College later added field hockey, volleyball and softball to the available sports.
National Championships & Men’s Sports
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AU plans to have a
lacrosse program As of spring 2019, AU had 275 student-athletes enrolled out of a total 2,881 undergraduate students. Jones expects the number to go up as AU plans to offer lacrosse in the coming years. So far, the university offers 17 sports. Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor track & field and outdoor track
“We challenge them to integrate their faith.”
& field. Women’s sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, cheerleading, volleyball, indoor
- Dr. Bert Epting Vice President of Athletics
track & field and outdoor track & field. While Anderson primarily attracted students from the region, Dr. Bert Epting,
Dr. Epting said the university offers a Division
vice president of athletics, said the AU
II experience like no other. He said current
now attracts students from all over the
President Dr. Evans Whitaker has valued strong
globe. Students now come from South
academics in conjunction with athletics. He also
America, Iceland, Japan and Germany,
said the university is generous with its resources
among other parts of the world.
toward the sports programs. But for Dr. Epting, it’s more than just a sports program.
“The Trojan brand is worldwide,” Dr. Epting said.
“We challenge them to integrate their faith (into athletics),” he said.
Dr. Epting believes the athletic campus has become the biggest asset to the university. Since it acquired the former Anderson County Fairgrounds in 2008, the athletic campus has become indispensable for AU. It has allowed the athletic programs to grow, with several new fields built in the last decade.
AT H L E T I C N E W S | 3 3
Trojans honored on the courts and in the classrooms
Jonathon Barbaree said. “Alexy is a special individual and we are so proud of this accomplishment and how well she represents Anderson University.” Mollenhauer started all 33 games and averaged 19.9 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game to go along with 43 blocks and 39 steals. She was named SAC Player of the Year and SAC Tournament MVP, while also being named the D2CCA Southeast Region Player of the Year, a D2CCA First Team All-America, a WBCA All-American and the SAC Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The six-time SAC AstroTurf Player of the Week eclipsed the 1,000-point mark, recorded 22 double-doubles, and pulled down 369 rebounds during the 2018-19 season.
Mollenhauer, Conlin and Elyashiv Named Top Athletes at Athletic Honors Night Anderson University women’s basketball and volleyball Alexy Mollenhauer
standouts Alexy Mollenhauer and Emily Conlin, along with men’s soccer standout Gal Elyashiv (facing page) were
Alexy Mollenhauer Named South Atlantic Conference Female Athlete of the Year
honored as the Co-Female and Male Athletes of the Year, respectively, at the AU Athletics Senior Awards Banquet last April.
Women’s basketball standout Alexy Mollenhauer was named the South Atlantic Conference Female Athlete of the Year
Mollenhauer helped lead the Trojans to a 30-3 overall
in mid-June.
record, which included a university-record 28-game win streak and a perfect 20-0 run through their South
The native of Lindale, Texas, became the first Anderson
Atlantic Conference slate, as the Trojans climbed as high
University athlete to earn the prestigious honor.
as No. 6 in the nation.
“To be recognized by the conference as the Female Athlete
With Mollenhauer leading the way, AU claimed both the
of the Year is a tremendous honor and a testament to all of
SAC regular-season and tournament title for the first time
the hard work she puts in day in and day out,” head coach
since the 2012-13 season and earned their fifth straight
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(Continued on page 36)
Gal Elyashiv
AT H L E T I C N E W S | 3 5
berth in the NCA A Tournament, while earning the right
All-Southeast Region Tournament squad and the South
to host the NCA A Southeast Regional for the first time
Atlantic Conference All-Tournament Team and has earned
since 2005.
All-Conference honors following each of her three seasons wearing the Black and Gold. She has been named a Google
Mollenhauer started in all 33 games for the Black and Gold,
Cloud Academic All-America honoree for each of the last
while averaging more than 34 minutes per game. She was
two seasons.
named the SAC Player of the Year, as well as the Southeast Region Player of the Year after leading the conference with her 19.9 points per game and ranking second with 11.2 rebounds per contest. A six-time SAC AstroTurf Player of the Week honoree during the season, Mollenhauer became the 14th player in program history to reach the 1,000 career point milestone in AU’s win over Mars Hill and is currently fifth in the university record books with 1,336 points. The versatile guard recorded 22 double-doubles, pulled down 369 rebounds and averaged 2.2 assists per game to go along with 43 blocks and 39 steals on the season. She was named the SAC Tournament MVP, while also being named a D2CCA First Team All-American and WBCA All-American.
is a special individual and we “ Alexy are so proud of this accomplishment and how well she represents Anderson University.
”
— Jonathon Barbaree Head Coach Women’s Basketball
Emily Conlin
She started every match for the Trojans last season and was second in the league with a career-high 1,319 assists and averaged 11.27 assists per set. She paced the SAC in aces and aces per set, while ranking ninth in digs and 14th in digs per set.
Off the court, the native of Lindale, Texas, was named the SAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for women’s hoops and earned Google Cloud Academic All-America First-Team recognition. Conlin garnered All-Southeast Region honors and Honorable Mention All-America accolades for the second consecutive year. The Glendale, Ariz., native was named to the NCA A
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Conlin recorded 23 double-doubles on the season, while standing 10th in the country in aces and 17th nationally in assists per set. She dished out double-figure assists in every match last season and reached 40+ assists on 17 occasions and 50+ assists in six matches. She is a four-time member of the Anderson University Dean’s List and is a member of SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
After just three seasons, Conlin is already third all-time
Among the Trojan honorees were four Academic
in the AU record books in total assists. She was named SAC
All-America honorees in Emily Conlin (Volleyball),
Specialist of the Week on four occasions in 2018, marking
Alexy Mollenhauer (Women’s Basketball), Kasey Grant
eight times during her stellar career.
(Softball) and Colt Martin (Men’s Golf), alongside three SAC Elite 20 Award winners (Cassie Ketchum, Kasey
Elyashiv was instrumental in the men’s soccer team’s
Grant and Abigail Bozarth). The Elite 20 Award is given
tremendous success this past season, as the Trojans
to the student-athlete with the top cumulative grade-point
advanced to the SAC Championship match and earned an
average at the final site of each of the league’s 20 team
at-large bid to the NCA A Southeast Region Tournament
championship sports.
for their fourth appearance on a regional stage since joining the SAC in 2010. Behind Elyashiv’s stellar defensive efforts, AU finished as runners-up in the SAC Championship before advancing to the semifinals of the NCA A Southeast Regional, where they defeated third-seeded Limestone before dropping a heartbreaking double-overtime decision to eighth-ranked and host Lander in the tourney semifinals, 1-0. Elyashiv started all 19 matches between the pipes for the Trojans and earned SAC Defensive Player of the Week in mid-October. The native of Rishon Le Zion, Israel, was named Second-Team All-Conference after leading the conference in saves, save percentage, minutes played, goals against average and fewest goals against. The sophomore keeper was 10th in the nation in save percentage, 11th in total minutes played and 14th in the country in total saves. With Elyashiv’s leadership and the Black and Gold’s stingy backline, AU was ranked ninth Davidson Cothran
in the nation for team save percentage and 29th in goals against average.
Record-Breaking 131 Trojan Student-Athletes Named to SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll A record 131 Anderson University student-athletes were
Athletic Department Announces Staff Addition Davidson Cothran joined AU over the summer as the Assistant A.D. for Sports Marketing and Event Management.
named to the 2018-19 SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll last June. The number of Trojan student-athletes earning the
Cothran graduated from Anderson in May 2018 with a
honor has increased each year since Anderson joined the
bachelor’s degree in communications. The Anderson,
conference in 2010-11 and this year’s total was no exception.
S.C., native was already familiar with the Black and Gold (Continued on page 38) AT H L E T I C N E W S | 3 7
after working in the athletics department during his undergraduate days. He served on the game crew/event staff and assumed a high level of responsibility and
Trojans Claim Academic Honors at District and National Levels
commitment in several areas, most notably with the
Anderson University men’s golfer Colt Martin and standout
Trojans’ video streaming.
softball second baseman Kasey Grant each earned 2019 Google Cloud Academic All-America® accolades over the
Cothran oversees marketing and event management for
summer, while rising junior Hayden Tuten was named
all sports at AU, including supervision of the cheerleading
to the 2019 Google Cloud Academic All-District ® Men’s
squad and the development and implementation of a
Track & Field/Cross Country Team. He was joined on the
marketing and communication plan. He provides
all-district team by baseball standouts Jackson Strange and
support materials and services for all sports in the area
Dillon Carpenter.
of marketing, communication and public relations.
Trojan Student-Athletes Continue Academic Success For the second consecutive semester and fifth time in eight semesters, Anderson University’s student-athletes’ academic performance continued to soar to record heights, as they achieved an overall 3.285 grade point average for the spring semester.
Anderson Named NCAA Division II National Winner for 2019 Play4Kay Initiative Anderson University was recognized as the NCA A Division II 2019 Play4Kay National winner as part of the NCA A
Led by the women’s cross country team’s stellar
Women’s Final Four and WBCA National Convention last
performance in the classroom with a 3.698 GPA, AU
April in Tampa, Fla.
student-athletes surpassed the Athletic Department’s previous record-setting performances in the classroom
For the second time in seven years—and the first time since
and have risen to the department’s highest GPA in
2013—Anderson raised the highest amount among the
university history for the third time in four semesters.
South Atlantic Conference schools with a total of $6,305, which marks the largest amount raised in the 10 years of the
With the women’s cross country team leading the way for
SAC Play4Kay events. AU was recognized for its efforts at
a departmental-record 10th time, the Black and Gold
the 2019 SAC Basketball Tournament in Greenville, S.C.
reached the all-time best 3.285 last semester. Play4Kay is the Fund’s largest fundraiser and events are Nearly every team achieved at least a 3.0 GPA for the
hosted in all 50 states. Because of the nationwide support
semester, with the overall 3.285 GPA for the athletic
of participating Play4Kay teams, fans, and communities,
department coming in just shy of the 3.39 mark achieved
the Kay Yow Cancer Fund has awarded $7.53 million in
by AU’s traditional full-time undergraduate students.
the fight against all cancers affecting women.
3 8 | AT H L E T I C N E W S
Kasey Grant
Colt Martin
Victoria Hall
Women’s Golf Freshman Victoria Hall made university history last spring by becoming the first golfer to compete in the NCA A Division II Women’s Golf National Championships. Hall finished the NCA A South Regional in Cleveland, Tenn., in a four-way tie for seventh place as one of only four players to card a below-par score during the final round and moved on to the national stage at the PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Hall carded her lowest three-round score of the year (221) at the Southeast Regional and entered the National Championships with four top-10 finishes during the year, including back-toback fourth-place showings at the Illinois Springfield Island Getaway and the Battle at Hilton Head.
Softball After helping lead the Trojans to the South Atlantic Conference Tournament Championship, Kayson Boatner earned a spot on both the 2019 NFCA Division II All-America Second-Team and the D2CCA All-America Honorable-Mention Team.
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Kayson Boatner
The native of Fortson, Ga., belted a team-high 15 home runs, which tied for first in the conference. Boatner finished the season batting .353 while knocking in a team-high 57 RBI. For her efforts, she was named to the All-SAC First Team, SAC All-Tournament team and both the NFCA and D2CCA All-Southeast Region First Teams.
Tennis At the conclusion of last season, the Anderson University men’s tennis team was tabbed No. 34 nationally, while Ignacio Bidegain, Spencer Brown and Adam Kush each earned national rankings in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association/Oracle Collegiate National Rankings.
Track & Field Track & Field standouts Katharine Landry, Olivia Rish, and Philip Quillen earned All-Southeast Region accolades, as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
JOIN THE TEAM!
Your contributions through a Trojan Club membership have not only increased success in competition, but they have enabled our student-athletes to experience an athletics program that values academic excellence as they strive for championships. Join the Trojan Club today at autrojans.com For membership questions, contact the Athletic Department at 864.231.2057 or trojanclub@andersonuniversity.edu
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