Berry Magazine - Summer 2022 by Berry College

BERRY A Berry College Publication I Summer 2022

MOON, MARS, MEHTA Dr. Vedant Mehta (16C) designs nuclear reactors for space exploration

Students enjoy an afternoon studying outside the Ford Buildings.

Photo Credits: Cover: Brant Sanderlin; Above: Student Jennifer Hernandez-Argueta

BERRY Published since 2003 for alumni and friends of Berry College and its historic schools. Winner of 17 CASE Awards, including two for Best in Class.

Major Gifts and Death Notices Debbie Rasure, Jennifer Wright (22G) and Jeff Palmer (09C, 11G)

Editor Rick Woodall (93C, FFS)

CONTACT INFORMATION

Contributing Writer and Editor Karilon L. Rogers (FFS) Staff Writer Debbie Rasure Graphic Design and Production Craig Hall Chief Photographer Brant Sanderlin

BERRY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Terms beginning July 1, 2022 President: Aaron Chastain (15C)

News From You: submit at alwaysberry.com/ classnotes or email classnotes@berry.edu

Immediate Past President: Patricia Tutterow Jackson (82C, FFS)

Change of Address: update online at alwaysberry.com/classnotes, email alumni@berry.edu or call 706-236-2256

Vice Presidents: Alumni Engagement, Callie McGinnis Starnes (07C); Berry Heritage, Jason Sweatt (88C); Financial Support, Meredith Lewallen Roberts (07C); Alumni Awards, Jeffrey Ramos (15C)

Editorial: email rwoodall@berry.edu or mail to Berry magazine, P.O. Box 490069, Mount Berry, GA 30149

Chaplain: Jake Bruce (17C) Parliamentarian: Rodney Chandler (90C) Secretary: Position open at press time

Senior Director of Advancement Marketing and Communications Jennifer Schaknowski Assistant Vice President for Alumni Engagement and Development Jean Druckenmiller Vice President of Marketing and Communications Nancy Rewis Vice President of Advancement Cyndi Court President Stephen R. Briggs

BERRY

Vol 108, No. 2 Summer 2022

F E A T U R E S

MOON, MARS, MEHTA

THE MANY SIDES OF SUMNER

GOING SOLO BUT NOT ALONE

Dr. Vedant Mehta (16C) designs nuclear reactors for space exploration in his work at the worldrenowned Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Denise Sumner (89C) rises to the top of her field as Kontoor Brands’ chief accounting officer while taking on adventures across the U.S. and world.

Adam Newton (07C) completes Chile’s exceedingly difficult Patagonman triathlon under unique and challenging circumstances.

A L S O

I N

T H I S

I S S U E

Inside the Gate

President’s Pen

News From You!

Notable news from Berry

Making the most of summer

Points of Pride

25 Finding it all

Students, faculty, staff and Berry: The best of the best!

Dr. Koji Yoda (65C) came to Berry for an education. What he got was a life.

Evening of Honors Celebrating opportunity

Opportunity

Impart wisdom, share gifts, improve lives

Class Notes The original social media

34 Condolences Remembering those we have lost

In the end,

it’s about the students: Lynneatte Quenin (22C)

INSIDE THE GATE

Brant Sanderlin

Investing in the future

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cities. At the same time, it will benefit Berry students by offering valuable work experience in the area of hospitality management while also generating revenue that will be used to support scholarships. “The hotel project is consistent with the college’s focus on providing special opportunities for students to combine learning and work, while also creating new revenue streams that contribute both to our educational mission and the economic vitality of Rome,” said President Steve Briggs. The Fairfield brand was selected in part because its story and heritage align with the history and values of Berry. Artwork in the hotel’s public spaces feature embedded QR codes that allow visitors to learn more about the college. Among the hotel’s many amenities is the Baseline Bar overlooking the tennis center. This space offers small plates and refreshments to guests taking in the action on the courts below and enjoying the view of Lavender Mountain in the distance.

Mary Claire Stewart (14C)

Brant Sanderlin

Development in and around the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College continued this spring with the opening of a Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott adjacent to the award-winning complex. Owned by Berry and managed by Atlanta-based Hotel Equities, the 81-room hotel is located on the Armuchee Connector, which intersects with Martha Berry Highway just north of Mount Berry Mall. Many rooms look out on the sprawling tennis center, which has become a popular destination for tournaments of all types since opening in 2016 as a public-private partnership involving Berry and other entities. Originally home to 57 outdoor courts, the center was enhanced in 2020 with the addition of a 51,000-square-foot indoor facility, making it even more attractive for events such as this spring’s Atlantic Coast Conference men’s and women’s tennis championships. The adjacent hotel expands the center’s ability to generate tourist dollars for the local community by providing suitable accommodations for players and spectators who previously might have stayed in other nearby

Matthew McConnell (21C)

Students, local community to benefit from new Berry-owned hotel

E N V I R O N M E N TA L P R E S E R VAT I O N

More than 1,000 new longleaf pine seedlings now are sprouting from the slopes of Lavender Mountain thanks to a special day of joint effort by Pirelli North America employees and their families, Berry students, and other partners. The bright green shoots dotting the landscape are symbolic of a new commitment by Pirelli North America, headquartered in Rome, to support efforts by Berry and The Nature Conservancy in Georgia to breathe new life into the longleaf pine ecosystem, which today occupies only a fraction of the 92 million acres of Southeastern forests where it once flourished. “In a special year for Pirelli, when we are going to celebrate our 150th anniversary, we are even more committed to continue to invest in sustainable growth for our planet, conscious that this is also essential for the future of our businesses,” said Claudio Zanardo, CEO of Pirelli North America. Berry and The Nature Conservancy are seeking to restore approximately 500 acres of longleaf pines annually over the next several years as part of a growing partnership between the organizations that started with a new internship program arranged by Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Studies

Dr. Zachary Taylor in collaboration with Berry Vice President of Campus Safety and Land Management Gary Will and Katie Eady Owens (04C) of The Nature Conservancy. Plans for the longleaf plantings followed with help and advice from Tim Chesnut, the college forester. Pirelli’s contribution will help support these and future plantings on the Berry campus. “Berry’s collaboration with The Nature Conservancy and Pirelli is a great example of a win-win situation that helps habitat restoration while fostering sustainable forestry practices,” said Dana Professor of Biology Dr. Martin Cipollini, who began longleaf preservation efforts on the Berry campus approximately two decades ago. Since that time, he and his students have worked toward restoring a 300-acre stand of old-growth mountain longleaf forest and have planted 100 additional acres, including three seed orchards. According to Cipollini, longleaf pines are less susceptible to regional diseases and pests than other pine species. In addition, the controlled burns necessary to maintain healthy stands reduce the likelihood of devastating wildfires and promote native plant and animal biodiversity.

Brant Sanderlin

Partners in pine

Pirelli North America employees and family members assist Berry students and other partners in planting longleaf pines on Lavender Mountain.

$5 million scholarship gift targets national nursing shortage Audrey B. Morgan has made another visionary gift in support of Berry students, committing $5 million to nursing scholarships with the goal of aiding the college in its efforts to help combat the national nursing shortage. Leaders in health care have warned for years about this growing crisis, with one widely cited study projecting a shortfall of more than 500,000

registered nurses by 2030. The COVID-19 pandemic has only intensified the situation. Morgan’s gift was announced during Berry’s inaugural Evening of Honors (see page 10). In recognition of such generosity, the college’s nursing division will be named for Morgan and her late sister, Dr. Bobbie M. Bailey.

Dr. Steve Briggs (left) and Audrey Morgan at the Berry College Evening of Honors event.

INSIDE THE GATE

Berry Alumni

NNECT

B E R RY AT H L E T I C S : P L AY I N G T O O U R S T R E N G T H S

A new way to engage

Berry Athletics

When Shelby Newland (21C) signed up for Berry Alumni Connect, she had no idea how well the new online platform would live up to its name. A graduate student and assistant speech coach at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, Newland (at right in photo) wasn’t aware of other Berry alumni in her area. Once on the platform, she quickly connected with Lori Brasile (04C), an assistant director and career coach in the University Career Center at UNC Charlotte who works in the building next door!

More than a day at the beach Berry adds 22nd intercollegiate sport

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The new team is building on the impressive success of Berry’s indoor volleyball program, which achieved a No. 7 national ranking in fall 2021. “It’s an exciting time at Berry,” said Caitlyn Moriarty (14G), the Vikings’ award-winning indoor head coach who now leads both programs. “The chance to compete both indoors and in the sand allows us to attract the top student-athletes to Berry and creates growth opportunities for our current players.”

COMING HOME: McHugh signs with world-champion Braves

Getty Images

Meeting for coffee, the two alums bonded over their experiences as Berry communication majors. “As if that wasn’t enough,” Newland exclaimed, “she works in a field I’ve been eager to learn more about and was more than happy to field any question I could throw her way. Thanks Lori!” These are just the types of interactions envisioned when Berry Alumni Connect was launched early in 2022. Already, more than 1,000 alumni have signed up for the free platform, which provides opportunities for users to share wisdom and guidance with new grads and young alumni, connect with alumni in a particular area, reconnect with classmates and friends, and make career connections. “Meeting with Lori was meaningful because even though the day-today responsibilities of our work differ, there are those same values and mechanisms of education and empowerment,” Newland said. Visit connect.alwaysberry.com to start building your network today.

Opportunities for student-athletes to enhance their Berry experience while learning important lessons in teamwork, leadership and competition grew this spring with the addition of beach volleyball as the college’s 22nd intercollegiate sport. Berry is among the first schools in NCAA Div. III to take up the fast-growing sport, joining LaGrange (Ga.), Huntingdon (Ala.), Principia (Ill.), Stevenson (Md.), Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) and fellow Southern Athletic Association member Hendrix (Ark.).

The Atlanta Braves began defense of their 2021 World Series championship with a familiar face on their pitching staff – former Viking Collin McHugh (09c). McHugh, who made history in 2012 as the first Berry baseball player to reach the Major Leagues, most recently pitched in Tampa Bay, where he posted a 6-1 record with one save and a stellar 1.55 Earned Run Average in 2021. Other career highlights include six seasons in Houston, where he helped the Astros win the 2017 World Series. McHugh attended high school in suburban Atlanta, making the Braves his hometown team. “I’ve been a Braves fan as long as I’ve been a baseball fan,” said McHugh, a three-year standout at Berry whose style as a pitcher was influenced by Hall-of-Famers Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine, all stars in Atlanta during his childhood. “I am the baseball player that I am because of watching all those guys.”

Matthew McConnell (21C)

Student Darren Agyeman

700 wins

History made!

The hits just keep coming for David Beasley, the winningest coach in Berry history. This spring, he notched win No. 700 as head baseball coach. Fittingly, the milestone win came in dominating fashion before the home fans at Bowdoin Field, with Berry besting Emory University 11-2. Afterward, the longtime coach and associate athletic director focused attention on the student-athletes who have fueled his success over so many years. “I don’t necessarily look at all the wins, I just remember all the guys that have played and were special kids and great players,” Beasley said. “I told this group that I am happy that they’re a part of our team and a part of the continued success that our guys have.”

Record-breaking success on the softball diamond and a history-making first in men’s track and field helped Berry secure its first Southern Athletic Association Commissioner’s Cup trophy honoring excellence across all sports. Berry student-athletes claimed eight SAA team championships in 2021-22, including firsttime crowns in men’s cross country and men’s track and field, along with regular-season and tournament titles in volleyball, men’s basketball and softball. “This has truly been a special year, but today has been a day in the making for a long time,” said Dr. Angel Mason, Berry’s athletic director. “Our coaches and student-athletes have worked tirelessly to build this athletic department

Beasley reaches milestone

Softball, men’s track and field help deliver SAA all-sports crown into being a shining example of what you can accomplish at the D-III level.” At press time, Berry’s record-breaking year was still underway, with the softball team preparing for its first NCAA Div. III World Series appearance after becoming one of only eight teams nationally to emerge victorious in both the regional and super-regional rounds. Visit berryvikings.com for complete coverage of the softball team’s incredible run, including World Series results. You also can read about the unprecedented success of the men’s track and field team, as well as Blake Farbman’s winning performance at the SAA Men’s Golf Championship, among other spring highlights.

How do you follow up a nearly perfect season? If you’re the Berry men’s basketball team, you make it two in a row. During the COVID-shortened 2021 campaign, the Vikings posted an incredible 13-1 record capped by Southern Athletic Association regularseason and tournament championships. In 2021-22, they successfully defended both crowns, soaring to a 23-3 finish and the program’s second NCAA Div. III national tournament appearance in five years. The 23 wins, 14 of which came in succession, are a new high for Berry men’s basketball in the NCAA era. Fittingly, the Vikings clinched both championships on their home floor with exciting come-from-behind victories over Oglethorpe University, the team responsible for their lone SAA defeat. The tournament championship went right down to the wire, with Berry prevailing 63-62 before a raucous home crowd of nearly 1,000 in the Cage Center. Several players earned individual recognition for their efforts during Berry’s championship season, including Riley Costas, SAA Defensive Player of the Year, and Chase Ellis, SAA Tournament MVP. In addition, Trevor Lydic was named SAA Coach of the Year.

Berry Athletics

Hoop dreams fulfilled: Men’s basketball defends titles

INSIDE THE GATE

WERE YOU THERE?

SNAPSHOT IN TIME

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ere YOU in the right place at the right time to see, hear, dance to, rock out with, or simply ogle one (or more!) of the famous musical acts that have visited campus across the decades? Let’s start with … 1970. How many of you were 1) born and 2) wearing grounddragging jeans and long, straight hair when the hardjamming Allman Brothers Band blew the roof ofi Ford Gymnasium? The soon-tobe Southern rock legends played a Thursday night concert before Mountain Day co-sponsored by Berry’s Student Government Association and the newly formed Krannert Center Committee (now KCAB). The following year, the Allman Brothers achieved fame with their third album and later soared to No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 with their still-popular single “Ramblin’ Man.” They eventually earned seven gold and four platinum albums. In 1979, the Dixie Dregs brought their jazz/rock instrumental sound to Ford Gym. That same

year, the Georgia-based band received a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, losing to Paul McCartney and Wings. Even being in the same category as Sir Paul is, in most people’s book, a win. Jump ahead to 1990, and Berry students sang and danced with the folk-rock Indigo Girls, who won that year’s Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Recording. The duo also was nominated for Best New Artist but lost to the infamous Milli Vanilli, who later had their award revoked in a lip-syncing scandal. According to the 1991 Cabin Log, then-SGA President Mark Moraitakis (91C) managed to contact one of the Indigo Girls directly and arrange for the very hot duo to play for Berry students at Rome City

Auditorium a day prior to their scheduled appearance at Chastain Park in Atlanta. The concert turned out to be quite a party, enjoyed by performers and students alike. As Jenny Landis (92C) described in the Cabin Log, “It was so personal because they were here for us, and we got to go up to the stage.” In 2013, the title wave that is American Idol washed over Northwest Georgia when KCAB and the Student Activities Office snagged 2012 winner Phillip Phillips for a sold-out “Exam Jam” attended by 1,500 students, faculty, staff and alumni on the Cage Center lawn. The setlist included Phillips’ hit single and American Idol finale song, “Home,” which had become an anthem of sorts for the Gold-medalwinning 2012 United States women’s gymnastics team

the previous summer. There are others we could mention, including the Grammy-winning Christian group Casting Crowns, who in 2006 filmed a video on – not in – Ford Reflecting Pool, but our last featured act is one we’ve told you about before: Dean Martin. A legend in his own time, Martin came to campus in 1968 to help Doug Sanders, a professional golfer with area roots, and the Rome Jaycees kick off a college scholarship fund for Georgia high school students. The dashing Martin, who surely made more than one Berry co-ed swoon, had recently won a Golden Globe for Best Acting in a TV Series and been named the Country Music Association’s Man of the Year. We can’t say what famous (or soon-to-be) act will turn up next, but we do know some lucky students will be in the right place at the right time. Will you?

Photos courtesy of the Cabin Log, Berry College Archives and other sources.

BERRY PEOPLE

Best of Berry These faculty and staff members earned notable campus recognition this spring:

MARTINDALE AWARDS OF DISTINCTION

Dr. Jill Cochran Associate professor of mathematics, Faculty

Cecily Crow (94C)

Director of student activities, Staff

ELEANA M. GARRETT AWARD FOR MERITORIOUS ADVISING AND CARING

Dr. Amy Abrams Assistant professor of animal science

VULCAN TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD

Dr. Julia Barnes

Associate professor of Spanish and chair of world languages and cultures

DAVE AND LU GARRETT AWARD FOR MERITORIOUS TEACHING

Air Force officer tapped to lead BCIL U.S. Air Force Academy educator and leader Dr. Bob Reimer will assume responsibility for overseeing the continued development of the Berry Center for Integrity in Leadership when he steps into the Elvin and Fleta Patterson Sims directorship on July 1. In this role, he will guide existing programs, explore new opportunities for students and the campus community, and serve as a resource for college mentoring efforts. “I am deeply appreciative to have the opportunity to collaborate with Berry College’s students, faculty, staff and community leaders,” Reimer said. “Together we will sustain and advance a culture of mentorship and experiential learning that feeds student aspirations to live as leaders of integrity.” A 25-year military veteran, the Air Force officer and command pilot has considerable expertise in the characteristics of leaders, leadership practice

PROMOTIONS, TENURE & EMERITUS HONORS The Board of Trustees has approved promotions, tenure and emeritus recognition for the following faculty members:

Promoted to professor

Dr. Thomas Carnes Professor of accounting

Dr. Lauren Heller, economics Dr. Chuck Lane, physics, astronomy and geology

SGA FACULTY MEMBER OF THE YEAR

Awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor

Dr. Nathan Herring

Visiting assistant professor of physics

MARY S. AND SAMUEL POE CARDEN AWARD

Dr. Sunday Peters Associate professor of animal science

SGA STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR

Darlene “Bobbie” Smith Dining hall cashier

and consequential organizational phenomena. Most recently, he was deputy chief of the Research and Scholarship Division for the USAFA’s Center for Character and Leadership Development, where he was associate professor and Senior Military Faculty member. His experience leading organizations and promoting change that enhances development includes work overseas as an executive consultant to senior military, political and civilian leaders, as well as service as an instructor pilot for KC-135 and C-17 flight crews. “Dr. Reimer brings a unique set of experiences and strengths to BCIL, rooted in his work at the U.S. Air Force Academy, as a leader of individuals and groups, and through his work as an organizational psychologist,” said Dr. David Slade (97C), associate provost. “He will make the BCIL experience even more purposeful and accessible to students across the Berry community.” Reimer’s position honors the memory of two 1935C alumni whose character and integrity helped shape the lives of those around them. It was endowed through the generosity of their son, John Edward Sims.

Dr. Dawn Bresnahan, animal science Dr. Kimberly Field-Springer, communication Dr. Hyunsung “Daniel” Kang, management Dr. Rebecca Logan, nursing Dr. Jonathan Parker, religion Dr. James M. Sharpe, economics Dr. Daniel Sipocz, communication Dr. Carolyn Stufft, teacher education

Promoted to associate professor Dr. Curt Hersey, communication

Emeritus recognition for retirees Dr. Renee Carleton, Professor Emeritus, biology Dr. Janna Johnson (81C), Senior Lecturer Emeritus, mathematics and computer science Dr. Eric McDowell, Professor Emeritus, mathematics and computer science

Worthy honor! For decades, Sue and Tim Tarpley have distinguished themselves as parents (literally and figuratively), mentors and friends to Berry students. Last fall, the recent retirees were granted honorary membership in the Berry Alumni Association in recognition of their dedication and service in such important areas as admissions, student activities and the Career Center. These two beloved individuals – who met at Berry and became a family here – are now part of the alumni family as well. To that, we say BRAVO! One way you can honor these longtime Berry servants is by supporting the students who so motivated them. Visit alwaysberry.com/gift and select the “Tim and Sue Legters Tarpley Endowed Scholarship” from the dropdown menu to contribute today. 7

POINTS OF PRIDE

ULTIMATE COMPETITORS In the same way their four-legged namesakes can be seen leaping over fence rails, the Berry Bucks are soaring in the world of ultimate frisbee, a noncontact sport in which teams of seven compete for points by passing the frisbee up and down the field, attempting to reach the opposing end zone. Last fall, the student-organized men’s club team made the D-III national quarterfinals in Norco, Calif., after winning their second straight Southeast regional crown. Caleb Enright was a second-team All-American and D-III Breakout Player of the Year, while Robert Bradham (15C) was named D-III Coach of the Year by Ultiworld for his volunteer leadership of the team. Bradham is procurement director for the WinShape Foundation and husband of Cori Wagner Bradham (15C), club advisor and Berry’s assistant director of admission. Editor’s note: The Bucks returned to nationals in late May, this time reaching the semifinals. The Berry women, known as the Valkyries, also qualified for nationals, a club first. Congrats to all! Illustration by Adekale Ande (19C)

Can you hear us now?

Superhero on campus?

Comm students score nationally (again)

Introducing the new Tara Tremendous

Student McKenna Lentych won Best Audio Slideshow in the College Media Association’s Pinnacle Awards competition for Finding Faith and Recovery Through Hunting and Fishing (above left). Another Berry production, Martha’s Mysteries (above right), brought home an Honorable Mention in Audio Talk/Entertainment Programs, while Building the Perfect Pole Vaulter was No. 2 for Best Video Sports Package in CMA’s Film and Audio Festival. In the College Broadcasters Inc., National Student Production Awards, Berry students placed second and fourth for Best Live Sports Broadcast and third for Best Video PSA.

When Tara Callahan, a.k.a. Tara Tremendous, does her, well, tremendous things on the popular kids’ podcast Tara Tremendous, the voice behind the superhero-in-training is none other than Berry student Mariana Harrison. She stepped into the role for Season 3 after a months-long casting search that, in the words of creator/writer/director Stewart St. John, ended when “… we finally found the right young actress who embodies the personality traits and acting chops to pull off the spirited, strong yet sweet and fun Tara Callahan!” According to its creator, Tara Tremendous is in the top 1% of podcasts based on listens and is heard in 170 countries. Visit wonkybot.com/tara-tremendous to experience the podcast for yourself.

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Talking a very good game Berry claimed five (FIVE!) individual championships and finished second in the Team Sweepstakes at the 2022 Novice Nationals forensics tournament in March. The next week, a Berry varsity speaker reached multiple finals at the National Speech Championship for the first time since 2004, when current Berry Trustee John Coleman (04C) won the Pentathlon Award as the nation’s top speaker. More than worthy of our applause are novice national champions Sara Blakely, dual winner in after-dinner speaking and program oral interpretation; Ellie Perkins, informative speaking; Kalista Shields, debate; and Brittany Lince, prose interpretation. Lince also finished third in the Individual Sweepstakes honoring the top overall speakers. In varsity competition, four Berry students combined for a top-10 national team finish after totaling five quarterfinal appearances in their individual events. Morgan Thoem was a two-time finalist, placing second (!) in informative speaking and fifth in persuasive speaking. Our recommendation: Don’t try to talk your way around any of them!

These students are all smiles (even if you can’t see their faces!) following an incredible showing at Novice Nationals, where Berry speakers claimed five individual championships and a second-place team finish.

Oh, the adjectives! Matthew McConnell (21C)

Stunning, incredible, gorgeous

The lady launches Berry Artist-in-Residence Indra Thomas helped New York City’s Lincoln Center launch a new opera adaption of the 2003 play Intimate Apparel to rave reviews last winter. Not only was the soprano a member of the ensemble cast in her Broadway debut, but she also stepped into the key role of Mrs. Dickson for 10 performances as understudy to Adrienne Danrich. Thomas has performed on some of the world’s finest stages, and her work has been rewarded with Emmy and Grammy nominations.

Brant Sanderlin

Thomas performs at Lincoln Center

Wow! That’s what they’re saying about us. But did you know Berry also has been called swanky with “luscious vibes”?! Let’s lay it all out for you. First we must mention “among the top nationally” because that’s how Forbes ranked Berry in its latest listing of America’s Top Colleges, based on such factors as alumni salaries, student outcomes and student debt – in the top 17% of American colleges and universities to be exact. Then there’s MSN, which deemed Berry “one seriously stunning estate” when spotlighting 30 “incredible campuses around the world.” Next up is Buzzfeed, which placed Berry eighth on its list of “The 16 Swankiest College Campuses, Ranked by Their Luscious Vibes,” citing the size of the campus (of course!) and concluding: “The firepits, meadows, and rushing streams make this gorgeous campus feel like a dream.” Finally, there is The Princeton Review, which included Berry in its 2022 Guide to Green Colleges for exceptional environmental commitment. 9

BERRY COLLEGE PRESENTS

AN EVENING of HONORS Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Gate of Opportunity Scholarship

Celebrating opportunity By Rick Woodall Event photography by Mary Claire Stewart (14C)

oving expressions of gratitude and a spectacular act of generosity punctuated Berry’s first Evening of Honors, a new annual event recognizing individuals and programs that have had an exceptional impact on the lives of Berry students. The inaugural event commemorated the 10th anniversary of the Gate of Opportunity Scholarship and the woman whose vision and generosity helped launch the program, Audrey B. Morgan. Held at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, the grand celebration brought together Gate of Opportunity alumni, college leaders, Martha Berry Society members at the Platinum and Gold levels, and other honored guests. Entertainment by Berry Artist-inResidence Indra Thomas (see page 9) and the Berry Singers enhanced the festive air of the occasion. Further excitement was generated by news that Morgan’s longtime friend and fellow Berry supporter Lou 10

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Photo by Iran Watson Photography

Brown Jewell had made a gift funding a new nursing scholarship in Morgan’s honor, to be matched by Trustee Randy Berry and his wife, Nancy. The true stars of the night, however, were the Gate of Opportunity Scholarship alumni who shared their appreciation in person or via prerecorded video messages – and Morgan herself. Taking the stage at night’s end to accept the first Berry College President’s Award for distinguished lifetime impact on the college, the guest of honor promptly stole the show by announcing a new commitment of $5 million for nursing scholarships. This gift is intended to support Berry’s efforts to combat a critical shortage of nurses nationwide. “I want to do more,” Morgan said, “and I want to do it at Berry College.” This latest act of leadership brought to vivid life words spoken earlier by Berry President Steve Briggs: “Always a step ahead, Audrey has the uncanny ability to see problems clearly, move toward them deftly

“The Gate of Opportunity Scholarship allowed me to gain multiple work experiences that allowed me to discover what I really loved to do, which was research.” Dr. James Ross (15C) Cancer researcher Emory University

“What did the Gate Scholarship mean to me? It meant everything to me, because I never would have been able to come to Berry College if it had not been for this scholarship … completely life changing.” Dr. Leah Bolden (15C) Resident: Internal medicine University of Minnesota Medical School

Clockwise from top: Gate Scholarship alumni in attendance at the Evening of Honors; President’s Award recipient Audrey Morgan enjoys the festivities; President Steve Briggs (from left), Morgan, Trustee Randy Berry and Trustee Chair Rick Gilbert (77c) celebrate her $5 million gift; Derrell Mims (19C, FS) shares his incredible story.

and help solve them gracefully.” These qualities led Morgan, both an honorary Berry alumna and a recipient of the college’s honorary doctorate, to step forward with determination in the midst of the Great Recession to help those willing to help themselves. The result was the Gate of Opportunity Scholarship, a partnership of thirds involving donors, students and their families, and Berry. The students contribute through participation in the college work program with the goal of graduating with little or no debt. In the years since Morgan’s initial gift of $3 million in 2008, an impressive group of alumni and friends have stepped forward as Gate of Opportunity supporters. Their combined generosity to date has touched the lives of more than 300 students, including 118 in 2021-22 alone. Additional commitments are

in place that – when fulfilled – will increase that number to more than 150 each year. Ever humble, Morgan was quick to acknowledge the generosity of her fellow supporters, including the incredible gift of matching funds made by the Woodruff Foundation that did so much to spur the program’s growth. “Thank you,” she said, “for investing in our students.” Gate of Opportunity alumni voiced appreciation not only for Morgan and her fellow supporters, but also for the program itself. “As an artist, as an actor, I think what makes you better at your craft and what gives you a wealth of things to draw upon are real-life experiences, and Berry gave me that in spades,” praised Darren Barnet (13C), a member of the original cohort of 11 Gate Scholars who today

stars in the hit Netflix series Never Have I Ever. Anna Rose O’Kelley Garrett (18C), a teacher and ceramic artist, credited the “push” the program provides with helping students graduate with a “deeper understanding of who they are, what they want and what makes them tick that just really propels them well into the workforce.” For Derrell Mims (19C, FS), the Gate Scholarship made all the difference in his ability to remain in school at a time when he “was ready to drop out of Berry and just go back home because the weight of everything I was walking through seemed impossible to carry.” News that he had been awarded a Gate of Opportunity Scholarship offered hope that Mims – then a sophomore – could overcome the obstacles in his life while also

relieving the stress on his mother by making his college education affordable. Continuing at Berry, he wound up giving his life to Christ through the same Campus Outreach ministry he now directs. “Thank you, Audrey Morgan and all of the Gate supporters,” Mims said, speaking for himself and other Gate Scholars. “The money you donated for me to be able to go to school at Berry not only gave me a good education and a great community, but it also kept me from going down a hopeless path. It kept me from throwing in the towel and giving up on myself. But even deeper than that, it brought me a hope that would drastically change my eternity forever. I’m not sure if I can ever say thank you enough for the support to help me attend the great Berry College, but I want you to know I am forever grateful.” 11

PRESIDENT’S PEN

Making the most of

Summer break may evoke images of beach days and barbeque evenings, but for an ever-growing number of Berry students, the summer months are an integral and intensive part of their overall educational experience. What are they doing, and how are they doing it?

enior Sydney Nelson is the fourth Berry student in five years to win a prestigious Goldwater Scholarship, and this summer, she is working full time at the Georgia State University Center for Diagnostics and Therapeutics. There, she is extending her work on the synthesis and biological testing of drug compounds that show promise of destroying cancercausing proteins. These efforts build on research started with Dr. Mark Turlington, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, in her first semester at Berry and continued over the last two summers. The Goldwater Scholarship is the nation’s top award for under graduates in science, engineering and mathematics; only 417 were issued this year. Berry’s other three recent Goldwater Scholars also performed research with Berry faculty, each devoting summer months to immersion experiences. 12

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the University of Michigan, where he is pursuing a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering. Study abroad The intensity of a summer experience pushes students to develop professionally and personally, and these immersion experiences are important in

scholarship programs to support student travel, and Dr. Elizabeth Davis, director of international experiences, has helped several current students obtain Gilman Scholarships, again sponsored by the U.S. State Department, which provide substantial support to study or intern abroad. One of these students, Nathania Cortes Matthew McConnell (21C)

Dr. Stephen Briggs

Undergraduate research Seth Jolly (22C) won the Goldwater last year, working on synthetic organic chemistry projects in Turlington’s lab, which led to a published article in the Journal of Organic Chemistry. This fall, he will start his Ph.D. studies at UF Scripps Biomedical Research in Jupiter, Fla., which ranks 6th nationally in chemistry graduate programs. Another previous winner, Sarah Cooper Patterson (19C), is pursuing her Ph.D. in pharmacology at the University of North Carolina, where she studies curative chemotherapy combinations. She conducted her research at Berry with Associate Professor of Biochemistry Dr. Dominic Qualley. Turlington, a Goldwater Scholar himself, attributes Berry’s recent Goldwater Scholarship successes to pairing accomplished research mentors with strong students as early as possible. But what is the vital ingredient for students? “Researching full time in the summer is what it takes to achieve significant scientific results, to be competitive for the Goldwater Scholarship,” Turlington stated. In some cases, students can benefit most from opportunities beyond those available at Berry, and summer is ideal for immersion of this sort. Goldwater Scholar Parker Roberts (20C), a physics and mathematics major, combined his research at Berry with remarkable experiences at major research labs. One summer he was part of a research team at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, working toward the creation of a sustained nuclear fusion reactor. The next summer he worked at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., helping to test a powerful new halleffect thruster, a type of plasma rocket that will power future NASA space missions. Parker currently works in the Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory at

Sydney Nelson (right) conducts research with faculty mentor Dr. Mark Turlington.

all fields of study. For example, Vanessa Rice is pursuing an ambitious opportunity this summer, made possible by a Critical Language Scholarship for language study in Ankara, Turkey, through the U.S. Department of State. Vanessa, who plans to become a foreign service officer, is majoring in Berry’s history PLUS justice program – which emphasizes skills useful for the legal profession – and also minoring in German studies. Having spent 12 years growing up in military postings overseas, Vanessa understands the importance of language study for U.S. diplomacy and is eager to explore the cultural connections between Germany and Turkey. While incredibly valuable, studying overseas can be a financial challenge for some, impossible for others. Berry alumni, however, have established generous

(22C), is studying language and culture in Ecuador this summer before returning in the fall to teach English as a second language at Rome High School. Professional internships When it comes to building a foundation of professional experience and relationships, one tried-and-true investment is an intensive internship. But not all internships are created equal. The value depends on the commitment of the intern and the sponsoring site. Berry business students have regularly benefited from wellstructured summer programs offered by Georgia Pacific, Aon, CNN and others. In other instances, Berry students venture into virgin territory. Student Bibhu Chapagain was selected this summer for an internship with Ayco Personal Financial Management Division of

arrange that internship with Berry Trustee John Coleman (04C), providing Allison opportunities to lead a project analyzing more than 700 funds in search of potential investment opportunities and to engage with CEOs of 14 companies. In choosing a path directed toward the nonprofit industry, student Caroline Lanier has

nature, have limited resources to support paid positions. Generous alumni understand the value of these positions for students and society. The Jack and Karen Holley (74C) Horrell Fund supported Caroline’s work at the Make-A-Wish Foundation, as well as the work of other students at nonprofits near and far. Leanna Ritchie (22C)

working as interns to the head of production. And then there is the amazing work of Dr. Jessica Nyugen (10C), Mohawk Industries university relations manager, who with her colleagues recruited a dozen (12!) interns for this summer, the result of a strategic partnership with Berry’s Career Development Network Brant Sanderlin

Brant Sanderlin

Goldman Sachs in Dallas, Texas. As an intrepid international student from Katmandu, Nepal, Bibhu already has made good use of his time at Berry working as a resident assistant and a financial planning analyst in the college’s business and finance office. He notes that the career-development course (BCC 150) also made a difference

Nathania Cortes instructs students at the South Rome Early Learning Center.

Malik LeBlanc (right) with his work supervisor, Anabel Foucart.

for him in the application process: “It helped me prepare for my interviews and connect with the right people.” One of those people was Berry Trustee Buster Wright (73C), a 40-year veteran of the financial services industry. Another was fellow finance major Asa Owens (22C), who challenged Bibhu with these words: “You are your biggest competition; push yourself to be better than you were yesterday.” Allison Ivey (22C) has an internship with Ernst & Young this summer before beginning her Master of Accountancy program at the University of Tennessee and while starting the process of obtaining her CPA license. These opportunities build on the work Allison did last summer interning as an analyst for Sovereign’s Capital, a private equity company. Dr. Frank Stephenson, Henry Gund professor of economics, helped

and Bailey Nelms (22C) both had internships at the Sexual Assault Center of Northwest Georgia, and both have been accepted to master’s programs in clinical mental health counseling. Leslie Gutierrez (22C), who served as investigative intern for the Orleans Public Defender’s Office, will begin a master’s degree in Forensic Mental Health Counseling at Roger Williams University. Supporting internships financially is a meaningful way that alumni (and parents) help support Berry students, but just as vital are the efforts of those who open doors to opportunity. Recently, Berry Trustee Craig Heyl was able to facilitate two summer internships in the executive offices at Trilith Studios, the premier film and television production facility located south of Atlanta that produces Marvel films among many others. Zoe Robinson (22C) and Sydney Munoz (22C) are both

also used multiple internships to strengthen her professional skills and connections. Last summer, she worked for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Georgia as a development, grants and individual-giving intern. In this role, she learned how to use sophisticated research software, develop meaningful stewardship moments and write grant applications, all while working virtually due to the pandemic. This past year, Caroline worked in Berry’s Center for Personal and Professional Development as the student engagement coordinator. She took the role to heart for herself and this summer will serve as program development intern at the Carter Center in Atlanta. The value of alumni and friends Internships at nonprofit organi zations can be more challenging because these organizations, by their

and the hard work of Mark Kozera (79C, 19G) and Abby Mayne (20C), who help connect Berry students with a wide range of internship opportunities. The Mohawk interns include majors in accounting, marketing/management, politics and chemistry. One student taking advantage of this opportunity is Malik LeBlanc, an intern in sales operations. As a Gate of Opportunity student, Malik not only contributes to the Berry community but also is deliberate in preparing for his next opportunities. He has worked on certifications in Salesforce, the leading software for managing customer engagement, and he spent Berry’s 2022 spring break preparing for his summer at Mohawk by working on relevant certifications through LinkedIn Learning. Now, that’s how you make the most of your summer … and your spring break. 13

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STORY BY KARILON L. ROGERS Photography by Brant Sanderlin

RS MEHTA J

ust six years after graduating from Berry with a degree in physics, Dr. Vedant Mehta (16C) is designing nuclear reactors for trips to Mars and more at the most renowned research facility in the world, Los Alamos National Laboratory. And that’s not bragging. According to Dr. Dasari V. Rao, director of civilian nuclear programs at LANL, Mehta is “in the middle of some of the most exciting projects we have.” This work includes nuclear reactor design and development for propulsion from Earth to Mars, as well as for powering future crew habitats and activities on the moon and Mars. “Sponsors define their power needs, and we start designing applications based on those needs,” Mehta stated, adding that nuclear energy is vital to establishing the desired propulsion level for traveling such enormous distances, as well as to maintaining long-mission habitats for humans.

Moon and Mars images courtesy of NASA.

One hot job Although he can’t go into detail due to LANL’s status as a premier national security facility – one of the United States’ three National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) laboratories – [its complexity would make such detail rough reading, regardless], Mehta can share an overview of the critical work he does. He started simply. “A nuclear reactor is equivalent to gasoline for cars or a battery in a laptop,” he said. “The power source in reactors is fission. When we split larger atoms, energy is released, which can then be converted to electricity.” To propel a rocket, the energy from fission also can be used directly as thermal energy, which researchers have found to provide twice the

efficiency of the chemical rockets currently in use. [We won’t get into chemical rockets.] “These are your nuclear thermal rockets,” Mehta explained. “You also could convert the fission energy into electrical energy and magnify the efficiency of rockets considerably more than is possible in thermal rockets, allowing your spacecraft to travel farther. Here, the downside is less thrust or force. “For propulsion, my job is to design nuclear rockets and help mature them to a level that can eventually fly us to Mars or even Jupiter – to essentially have the reactors generate the power needed and then let thermodynamic engines kick in to do the rest, if needed. It is my job to get us to the next generation of space nuclear reactor technology.” Current estimates for nuclear thermal propulsion put a jaunt from Earth to Mars at just four to six months, Mehta reported. But getting there is not enough, of course. We must be able to live there, and Mehta is focused on that as well. His work to meet human-habitat power requirements on the moon and Mars launched during the Kilopower project, which began in 2015 as a reactor demonstration strategy. Current designs have evolved with the goal of developing reactors that would generate electricity for such purposes. These on-planet nuclear reactors are intended to be simpler in design [to nuclear engineers, perhaps] with a block of nuclear materials at the bottom creating fission, the product of which is delivered through heat pipes to a Stirling engine converter that generates electricity. A series of these reactors, each looking like a slender pole topped with a saucer, will

Clockwise from top: Simulation of deep space rocket travel through the Milky Way with nuclear reactor-generated electrical propulsion (Image courtesy of NASA); 1940s main gate for the top-secret atomic-bomb Manhattan Project. No photography is permitted at today’s sprawling LANL facilities; Simulation of nuclear reactors providing power for human habitation on Mars (Image courtesy of NASA).

generate power for making oxygen, purifying water and meeting other needs of humans living in hostile space environments, as well as powering tasks, such as searching for and drilling for water. An additional component of Mehta’s work involves the use of “maturing technologies” [things most of us have never heard of] to develop new materials for nuclear energy solutions. One example is utilizing computational quantum mechanics, which he said is “breaking down a material to its atomic level to fully understand it and its responses – thermally and in other ways.” Although the science is groundbreaking, the philosophy behind it is not. “Old-day cars were made of simple alloys, such as steel,” Mehta pointed out. “Now, they are made of more efficient, sophisticated and lighter-weight materials that have changed over time. We work on technologies that need to be enabled; new materials are needed to get around all the engineering issues. But because we work with nuclear materials for nuclear applications, actual experimenting is not that simple. Great care must be taken, and there are so many regulations. It is much easier and faster when we can simulate the testing and develop designs on the computer and then use fewer experiments to validate our simulations later.” While his work sounds a bit out of this world, Mehta is quick to point out that it has applications beyond space: “If I can make tech work in space, we can use it here if it is cost effective.” One hot ride The sixth-grader who set his sights on the space program after first laying eyes on the space shuttle has never detoured from his goal. After graduating from an Atlanta-area high school, he came to Berry planning to participate in the dual-degree engineering program with the Georgia Institute of Technology, which would earn him two bachelor’s degrees in five years. Even then an innovator, he quickly charted a new path at the two institutions that worked out even better for him. “I could graduate from Berry in three years and then get two master’s degrees in two years,” he explained. “So, in five years I could have one bachelor’s and two master’s degrees rather than two bachelor’s and zero master’s degrees!” And he did, rocketing through Georgia Tech to earn master’s degrees in nuclear engineering and aerospace engineering in 2018 and then completing his Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from the same institution in 2020. He performed an internship at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M., also an NNSA facility, and did his Ph.D. research at LANL before being hired straight out of grad school into a staff position at LANL. Few can get hired at the national laboratory and fewer still as fresh Ph.D. recipients. Mehta could not be prouder of working there. “The work we do here is futuristic,” he declared. “The entire world knows about our institution. We are the leader in the design and maturation of nuclear reactors for space applications.” He also cited the historic significance of his workplace: “Scientists I looked up to worked here. My field of research started here. Project Rover [nuclearthermal rockets] took place here from 1955 to 1973. The Manhattan Project was here, and my idol Dr. Richard Feynman came to Los Alamos to work on the project at about the same age I came here.” Mehta also has nothing but good things to say about living in New Mexico where he breaks the “geek” mode by loving the outdoors and activities like hiking, bouldering, mountain biking and camping. Last winter he took up skiing and snowboarding.

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One hot interest “Where I am today all started at Berry,” Mehta declared. “When it was recognized that I liked research, Berry provided me with everything I was excited about.” That was possible in large part due to two things, according to Dr. Charles Lane, professor and department chair of physics, astronomy and geology: LifeWorks (Berry’s student work-experience program), which enables professors to hire students as paid research assistants, and the flexibility in budgeting that comes with being a smaller department in a smaller college. “We can direct dollars without delay in support of students wanting to do projects,” he stated. Mehta benefited from both, creating a device that could take many different types of measurements for the physics lab when challenged to do so by Lane. It was a big ask, and Lane was not sure what would happen, although Mehta had met every challenge to date. Lane was not let down: Mehta came up with both a plan and a rudimentary facsimile of what he had in mind and was quickly given funding for the parts needed to create his envisioned device. “And he built the whole thing,” Lane said. “It was about the size of a deck of cards and took 15 different measurements, sending the data wirelessly to the computer. The device has great potential for use in physics classes. For example, we used it to gather data during the 2017 solar eclipse.” Eventually, the professor and his student research assistant published a paper on the device and made a presentation at a physics meeting. Although Lane since has challenged other students to follow Mehta’s design, replacing outdated parts with newer ones now available in the marketplace, no one has been able to match what Mehta achieved. “He gave me a problem and challenged me to find the answer and propose a solution with an estimated budget,” Mehta said. “I delivered the final product. It was the first time I was treated as a professional.” In addition to Lane, Mehta referenced two other mentors from his Berry days: First, Dr. Zane Cochran, “who got me into coding, which is most of my bread and butter these days.” Cochran is clinical assistant professor of creative technologies and director of HackBerry Lab where Mehta also worked while a student. Second, Dr. Truong Le, who first ignited Mehta’s passion for research and “got me into black holes or space research.” Le was then Berry assistant professor of physics, astronomy and geology and now is senior professorial lecturer of physics at American University. One hot future After just two years as a staff member at LANL, Mehta has distinguished himself and is “on his way to accomplishing things,” according to Director Rao. Mehta’s expertise seems obvious, but his ability to make his mark is not centered solely on his scientific, computational and mathematical proficiency. “I learned something about Vedant that I didn’t know before,” Rao said. “He went to Berry College. I never heard of it before; my ignorance is not a reflection on your excellent institution. It sure seems to have instilled a sense of confidence and an ethic of hard work in him. Those qualities you don’t pick up in grad school. We recruit from among the best and brightest. What distinguishes people are the intangibles I have mentioned. Kudos for that! With them, he could go in any direction he chooses.” Mehta’s chosen direction, his ultimate career goal? “To lead our nation’s space reactor portfolio.” We have liftoff!

STORY BY KARILON L. ROGERS

CORPORATE PORTRAITS BY BRANT SANDERLIN

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The many sides of Sumner “Since 1947, we’ve drawn inspiration from those who live by their own rules and do things their own way, crafting dependable denim for riders, rock stars and trailblazers.” Wrangler® Jeans’ 75th anniversary Kontoor Brands, Inc. website

enise Sumner (89C) definitely fits her brand. Whether looking out over the frenzied floor of the New York Stock Exchange with colleagues as they prepare for the ringing of its iconic bell or riding on a dogsled through the frozen tundra of Alaska, the vice president, chief accounting officer of Kontoor Brands is, indeed, living by her own rules and doing things her own way. [Except for accounting, of course; she does that strictly by the book!] One week, Sumner will be running the accounting operations of a global company with products in more than 70 countries and, the next, peering back at sharks around human-sized clam shells while scuba diving at Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. And you just might find her in Georgia visiting her Berry alumni parents and serving her alma mater. She seems to be so many things at once. The businesswoman As a child, Sumner had one goal: to grow up to wear a suit and carry a briefcase. Mission accomplished. Upon arrival at Berry, she thought studying business would be the best route to reaching her goal and that accounting would be the best way to learn about the business world. Again, mission accomplished. But rather than start then, let’s start now with her work at Kontoor Brands. 19

The world-famous denim brands of Wrangler® and Lee® lead the portfolio of the global lifestyle apparel company with $2.5 billion in annual revenue that today is Kontoor, a 2019 spinoff of the massive VF Corp. Once vice president, financial controller with VF, Sumner’s decision to move to Kontoor Brands enabled her to step up to the role of chief accounting officer, an important rise in position that offered opportunities she found simply irresistible. “I had the chance to build a business with a really great boss and team, as well as put my skills to use,” she enthused. The work has been heavy, but oh-so satisfying. “It was a very rapid spinoff, so work has been fast and furious,” Sumner explained about her operations, which include multiple offices in Europe, Asia and North America in addition to corporate headquarters in Greensboro, N.C., where she is located. “We built our teams around the globe from scratch,” she said with pride, “both with people coming over from VF and new hires.” Her duties run deep, the complexities of which are likely understood only by those in her field. She is responsible for all consolidated financial reporting, including financial management reporting and filings and correspondence with the Securities and Exchange Commission. She implements and oversees global accounting policy and acts as a primary interface with outside auditors of Kontoor’s financial statements, among many other responsibilities. “The most challenging project has been the implementation of our global enterprise resources planning system,” she said. “We started the spinoff with different platforms in each of our three regions; since then, we have taken literally everything we do off these systems and put it on a single global platform. To do that, you must rethink how you do everything.

“One of the coolest things I have ever done was stand above the floor of the stock exchange with our executive team for the ceremonial ringing of the bell when we took Kontoor Brands public,” she recalled. “It was so exciting, especially for a person in finance!” Sumner wasn’t always with a global manufacturer, but she went big right out of Berry, hired immediately by one of the “Big 4” public accounting firms, KPMG, for their Atlanta office. She made it to partner in 15 years, three of which were spent at KPMG’s national office in New York City as part of an elite professional development program. She likes to say her career has been split into two halves. “First, I audited companies,” she laughed. “Now I help run companies that get audited. I know both sides.” The adventurer and more If you were sticking pushpins into a world map, you’d need at least 60 to mark all the countries Sumner has visited. Add U.S. states to the mix, and it would take 49 more. The busy businesswoman who has traveled the high road to the top of her field has hit the highways, byways and airways to scads of nonbusiness destinations as well. The only U.S. state she has not visited is North Dakota. Maybe it’s because the Peace Garden State doesn’t have a beach anywhere nearby; Sumner really loves the beach. Still, she remains open to the possibility. “I would love to go there and hope that someone will invite me,” she smiled. While her trips abroad are too numerous to mention, a recent hands-down favorite was the Galapagos Islands. Revered as a wildlife sanctuary, this volcanic archipelago in the Pacific approximately 620 miles off the coast of

“I love that I work in a global organization, having colleagues around the world. Diversity gives so much insight and actually reflects our business.” Compliments of Kontoor Brands, Inc.

It is the underlying software system for all major aspects of the company’s operations, including the areas of accounting, procurement, customer order management, manufacturing and distribution.” As it turns out, she actually loves what came with the suit and briefcase, as well as the great benefits of working with VF and Kontoor, in particular. “I love that I work in a global organization, having colleagues around the world,” Sumner declared. “Diversity gives so much insight and actually reflects our business. In my career, I have been to operating facilities in places like China, Nicaragua, Argentina, Chile and Belgium, which has given me the opportunity to participate in local traditions with people from work. The most exciting part is that my colleagues are not just colleagues; they become part of my view of the world.” All that aside, however, the most exciting moment of her career to date came down to one small segment of time right here in the U.S.A. 20

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— Denise Sumner Ecuador is home to many plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world. Enter the amateur photographer. After flying into Quito, Ecuador, she had the opportunity to walk on the equator before taking a special cruise ship through waters around the islands. From the ship, they boarded Zodiac rubber boats bound for either beach landings on the islands or nearby water landings that required them to wade in. “I love wildlife, nature, animals and birds,” Sumner enthused, “and they are constantly with you there. They are not afraid because they have no predators. I have a passion for photography, so I was thrilled with the ability to take shots of them so close.” Also high on her travel list was a tour of France with pastry chef, author and blogger David Lebovitz, whose work she admires immensely. Enter the cook.

“He did tours of France with 10 people at a time,” Sumner said. “I managed to get a spot on his last tour. The opportunity to travel, eat and drink with him in Paris and Bordeaux and to see those places through the eyes of the people who live there was wonderful.” She also has traversed a bit of Alaska in a dogsled; went dune-bashing in Dubai at sunset (“exhilarating and terrifying!”); drank a daquiri (a Hemingway, of course) at the Tropicana Club in Havana, Cuba, while feeling the spirit of Frank Sinatra all around; and hiked the lava fields of Reykjavik, Iceland – to name just a few adventures. Oh, and she finished a half-marathon at Kiawah Island, S.C. even though she isn’t a runner and has spent an inordinate amount of time in Italy, where she just can’t get enough of “la dolce vita” – the sweet life. This Thanksgiving, she plans to shake things up further and finish off the continents with a cruise to someplace a little starker and less well known for the “finer things in life” than her beloved Italia: Antarctica! The Berry girl Sumner’s parents, Robert “Lem” Sumner (63C) and Gayle Miller Sumner (64C), brought her to many a Mountain Day when she was young, and she feels she “grew up at Berry.” They still live in Georgia, and she enjoys spending time with them, including several months during the COVID-19 crisis. Sumner serves Berry through membership on the Board of Visitors and has endowed two scholarships, one for a finance student and one for an entrepreneurial venture, honoring the impact Berry had on her career and life. “I can remember being so impressed that somebody who didn’t know me was helping me with my college tuition,” she said. Looking back, Sumner also recognizes that sometimes things that don’t

seem important at the time turn out to be among the most important things of all. Like unplanned skills: “I worked for four years in the social science department as Professor Robert Geisel’s secretary. I learned to type really fast, which turned out to be a huge asset when I first began to work at KPMG and computers were introduced. I could work on them faster than most.” Or broadened vision: “My parents told me they would sponsor me to take a study abroad, and Dr. Iain Crawford, an English professor, led a trip to London that changed my life.” Or choosing Berry College: “I think about that a lot. I made the right decision to be there and figure out what I wanted to do. When I was a junior, one of my accounting professors, David Akins [75C, 80G], suggested I point my job search toward the Big 4 accounting firms. You’d think that with Berry being a smaller school, students wouldn’t have the same access to jobs in these firms as students from large universities. But a Berry grad working at KPMG, Karen Christensen Fenaroli [83C, 83G], actually recruited me. And then I was assigned to my first boss, Robin Henry Muretisch [86C]. She was a Berry graduate, too, and couldn’t have been a better first person to work for!” The human being A business executive, world traveler, wild adventurer and budding photographer. A team builder, gourmet cook, cultural explorer and animal lover. A devoted daughter, accounting guru, beach enjoyer and Berry supporter. How exactly can we describe Denise Sumner? How about one interesting, caring, well-rounded human being? She once said about her alma mater: “I like the fact that Berry doesn’t teach you limits but encourages you instead to pursue your passion.” Sumner seems to know no limits. And she does, indeed, follow her many passions – just as Kontoor’s Wrangler® brand suggests – her own way. 21

he sky was dark and the water frigid when Adam Newton (07C) waded into

the Pacific Ocean in early December 2021 for the first leg of Chile’s Patagonman triathlon, one of the world’s most extreme endurance races. Ahead lay an open-water swim that would stretch to nearly 3 miles, a 112-mile bicycle ride through the Andes Mountains, and a 28-mile run across the Chilean countryside – all leading to the finish-line near the Argentinian border. Newton is no stranger to such rigors. First as a cross country runner at Berry, then as a marathoner in the streets of New York and Boston, and finally as a triathlete sponsored by the BlueSeventy company, he knows well the challenge of pushing one’s body beyond the limits of what seems possible. This time would be different, however. This time, he wouldn’t be sharing the struggle with a pack of fellow competitors – he would be on his own. Two weeks earlier, Patagonman had become yet another victim of the global pandemic, canceled by the Chilean government due to a spike in COVID-19 cases. Officials left the door open for individual competitors with the appropriate travel credentials to try the course on their own, but only a handful ultimately did so, Newton among them.

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“Trust and lean on your friends and family. What seem like small gestures can make all the difference between defeat or triumph.”

– Adam Newton

GOING solo but not alone

“I’d already invested the time and the training and was in great shape,” he recalled. “We had a baby on the way, so I couldn’t put it off a year. My work was supportive, along with my family and friends, so I thought, ‘I have to do this. I’ll figure out a way.’” He did more than that, becoming the only person to complete all three segments on what would have been race day. Smiling at the distinction, Newton concluded: “I guess that makes me the unofficial winner.” Changing plans When Newton first applied for Patagonman, the dream was to join former Berry teammate Matt Scott (09C) in an international field of 300 triathletes chosen by lottery. Notified in March 2021 that they had made the cut, the Viking duo began their arduous training while recruiting a support team that eventually swelled to 10 or more, nearly all Berry alumni. Accompanying the racers to Chile, this group would be tasked with managing race logistics and delivering supplies, assistance and encouragement along the route. As it turned out, nagging injuries hampered Scott’s training, forcing him to forgo the race. Difficulties also befell the support team, cutting into its ranks. All the while, Newton’s path remained clear, and he was determined to continue on as long as the Lord kept the door open. Uncertainty swirled right up until the day of the flight. In fact, one of two remaining support couples – Ben (06C) and Allison Wagner Krichko (06C)

– were forced to drop out just hours before takeoff when travel documents submitted weeks earlier were left unapproved. This left Newton with a team of only three: wife Sarah King Newton (08C) and Bill (09C) and Maggie Norman. Helping hands (and wings) Challenges arose almost immediately upon arrival in Santiago, as Newton discovered a side pocket on his luggage open and the gear inside missing. “I walked away shaking my head, assuming my things had been stolen,” he related. “Just then, someone tapped my shoulder. I turned to see my things in the hands of a local baggage handler. They had spilled out in the loading area. My faith in humanity returned, and I was embarrassed by my lack of trust.” Faith and trust were recurring themes throughout Newton’s South American adventure, but particularly during the pre-dawn swim. He recounted: “I swam straight out and prayed nothing in the water would be looking for a big Sunday breakfast. After 33 minutes and 1.2 miles completed, I was right on pace. I just needed to do a simple turn and swim back. About that time, a large splash hit right beside me, so close that I could feel the spray. Putting my head down in the water, I don’t think I breathed until a few minutes later. I had never swum the second half as fast as I did that day. Above me was an army of angels in the form of condors. Maybe they chased off my sea predator. Flying low right in front of me, they were like military escort planes skimming the water.”

By Rick Woodall with contributions by Adam Newton

“I’m going 30 miles an hour down this steep descent and the handlebars slip down. For a moment, I think, ‘This is it. This is how I go down.’”

— Adam Newton

Safely ashore, Newton traded his wetsuit for a bicycle and set off on the next leg. This time, help came in the form of cheers and honking horns from passing motorists, including an oil tanker that escorted him to the top of one incline and an Italian known to the group only as “Gucci” who arrived in Chile as a competitor but wound up an enthusiastic spectator and cheerleader after his bicycle was lost in transit. “He easily could have crawled into a corner and been mad at the world,” Newton marveled. “Instead, he drove nearly three hours to provide 10 seconds of support that was immeasurably valuable to me. He came out of nowhere at the exact moment I needed someone. To this day, I don’t know what he said, but those Italian words of encouragement did the job.” While the ascents were laborious, the “El Diablo” headwind that buffeted Newton on the final descent was an even greater challenge. Struggling against that unrelenting force, he experienced a moment of sheer terror when a bump in the road caused his handlebars to come loose and rotate downward. “I’m going 30 miles an hour down this steep descent and the handlebars slip down,” he described. “For a moment, I think, ‘This is it. This is how I go down.’ This was the life-flash-before-you moment.” Luckily, Newton was able to stop before tumbling into the surrounding valley. He then readjusted the handlebars, noting that he screwed them on so tight “I probably won’t ever be able to get them off again.” The welcome sight of his support team signaled the end of the ride. They were joined by a small group of Chileans who had gathered to cheer the handful of cyclists on the road that day. One looked at Newton and exclaimed, “Me Patagonboy, tu Patagonman!”

From right, Newton with support team members Sarah King Newton, Maggie Norman and Bill Norman.

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Newton celebrates the end of his Patagonman journey with wife Sarah.

Newton would be in his element for the last leg, racing on foot as he’d done so many times at Berry. Team member Bill joined him for brief stretches to provide support and company, and Gucci once again turned up at just the right moment, offering critical directional assistance in the form of a “universal thumbs up and hand point” after Newton’s smart watch failed, denying him access to the course map. The run wasn’t without its difficulties, but it ended in the best way possible, with wife Sarah by his side. “Running the last mile with my pregnant wife, who had spent the last 12 hours staying mentally strong to support me and beat back any worries about the dangers I might face, was an amazing experience that I’ll never forget,” he said. Lessons from the journey It would be easy to focus solely on the individual nature of such an intensely physical accomplishment, but that wasn’t the big takeaway for Newton, a financial professional and associate partner for Aon when not helping Sarah raise their three children (including this spring’s new arrival) at the family home in Dunwoody, Ga. Reflecting on the experience, he returned again and again to the support he received. First and foremost were the “rock stars” on his team. Then there were the students in the portfolio management class he stepped in and taught at Berry last fall; Newton said their videos and encouragement “motivated me as I motivated them.” And finally, there were the many people he encountered along the way, all making their own unique contributions to his ultimate triumph. “Have faith in humanity,” Newton declared. “All those who helped and encouraged me are examples of good in the world. We just need to see the good and recognize that it happens all the time.

Koji Yoda, Berry’s first international student, with then-President John Bertrand.

Finding it all Dr. Koji Yoda (65C) came to Berry College for an education. What he got was a life. By Debbie Rasure Growing up in Japan, Koji Yoda dreamed of attending college in the United States. He wrote to a dozen U.S. college presidents seeking the opportunity, but only one responded: Berry’s Dr. John Bertrand. They corresponded for 18 months before Yoda set off for America, traveling 18 days by Pacific Ocean freighter and three more by bus to make history in 1961 as Berry’s first international student. Yoda was determined to make the most of the opportunity provided by Bertrand, who convinced Berry’s board to change existing policy by allowing a foreign student to pursue a full-time, four-year degree. He also assured the U.S.

immigration office that Berry would serve as Yoda’s de facto financial sponsor. Justifying the faith the Berry president had shown in him, the high-performing scholar immersed himself in campus life and made lasting connections with fellow students. He intended to return home after college, but a few months before graduation, the sight of a beautiful woman on the dance floor at Ford Gymnasium changed his plans in a heartbeat. “I mustered up my courage and asked for a dance,” Yoda recalled. “The song that happened to be playing was “More,” one of the most romantic in my memory. A month later, to my greatest

happiness, that same beautiful co-ed, Reba Ann Nichols [67C], asked me to go to the Sadie Hawkins dance, and the rest is history.” Graduating with highest honors, Yoda enrolled in a two-year MBA program at Emory University while Reba Ann finished her Berry degree. They dreamed of a life together, but a seemingly insurmountable barrier stood in their way: a Georgia law preventing people of different races from marrying. Once again, Bertrand stepped in, connecting them with a traffic-court judge in Chattanooga, Tenn., who would conduct a civil wedding ceremony. A few days later, the nowmarried couple returned to Berry for a second ceremony at Barnwell Chapel. This time, the officiant was the Rev. Dr. Jorge Gonzales, Yoda’s former suitemate at Emory, who was just beginning his long tenure as a religion and philosophy professor at Berry. Bertrand, of course, was best man. Not long after, at the height of the Vietnam War, Yoda was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served until

1971, during which time he graduated with distinction from the Army’s Engineer Officer Candidate School in Fort Belvoir, Va. The same year Yoda was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant, he became a U.S. citizen, possessing a deeper perspective on his adopted homeland thanks to his service. “The true value of the U.S. flag and the true meaning of the word ‘freedom’ for me would not have and could not have been grasped had it not been for my induction into the U.S. Army,” he explained. After earning a Doctor of Education degree in educational operations research from the University of Tennessee, Yoda embarked on a long career in business and education, serving in upper-level management for Rollins Inc., in Atlanta; PRT Group Inc., in Manhattan; and RRR Associates (Rollins’ think tank/consulting group) back in Atlanta. In 2002, he traded the boardroom for the classroom, teaching business education, computer technology and mathematics to Georgia middle and high school

Clockwise from top left: Dr. Koji Yoda (65C) celebrates Mountain Day in the early 1990s with family members Dr. Koji Nichols Yoda (93C), Suyo Ruth Yoda (01C), Reba Ann Nichols Yoda (67C), Stephen Forrester Yoda and Dr. Kyoko Leann Yoda (91C).

students until his retirement in 2015. The place where it all started has never been far from his thoughts. He and Reba Ann have made regular pilgrimages to Berry while maintaining ties with those they held dear, including Reba Ann’s sister, Theodora Nichols Bowen (67C), and the now late Bertrand and his wife, Annabel. “To our children, Dr. Bertrand was always ‘Uncle John,’ and Mrs. Bertrand was ‘Aunt Annabel,’” Yoda said, adding of the man who changed his life: “I admired him, adored him, respected him and above all, I loved him beyond bounds.” That powerful sense of family made Berry the natural choice for three of the couple’s four children: Dr. Kyoko Leann Yoda (91C), Dr. Koji Nichols Yoda (93C) and Suyo Ruth Yoda (01C). Stephen, their fourth child, joined the U.S. Army before achieving his lifelong dream of becoming a chef. In 2015, the couple returned to Berry for Yoda’s 50th reunion, joining his classmates in celebrating the establishment of two Gate of Opportunity Scholarships named for the Berry College Class of 1965, a fitting way to welcome others into the Berry family that has meant so much to all of them. Yoda is profoundly grateful that the Gate of Opportunity was opened to him, praising two fundamentally “Berry” principles for propelling him to new heights. “I learned to internalize the motto, ‘Whether at work or at play, do your best,’ and I have strived to live according to Miss Berry’s motto, ‘Not to be ministered unto, but to minister,’” he declared. “Those ideals have turned out to be the core sources of success in my life.” 25

he steadfast generosity of alumni and friends is crucial to our ability to provide unmatched learning opportunities for Berry students. Here, we are pleased to highlight a handful of recent gifts that particularly caught our attention and to recognize by name the leadership supporters whose gifts, pledges and realized planned gifts of $25,000 or more were received between Sept. 1, 2021, and Feb. 28, 2022. We are grateful to all who help advance Berry’s timeless mission.

ARAMARK Corp., $41,321 for the general fund Randy and Nancy Berry, $333,000, including $300,000 for endowed Griswell Scholarships and $33,000 for the Audrey B. Morgan Excellence in Nursing Scholarship Dr. James H. Burton Sr., $49,691 for the Pat Thoman-Burton Endowed Scholarship (supporting a student in the Griswell Scholarship Program) Chick-fil-A Foundation, $25,000 for the Truett and Jeannette Cathy Expendable Scholarship Al (61c) and Becky Browning (61C) Christopher, $100,000 for the Al and Becky Christopher Endowed Griswell Scholarship Larry (69C) and Nadine NeSmith (71c) Covington, $25,000 for the LNC – Griswell Scholarship Ron (56H) and Robbie Barber (56H) Edwards, $41,386 for the Carolyn Denise Edwards Scholarship Georgia Independent College Association, $31,120 for the general fund Georgia Power Foundation Inc., $30,000 for the South Rome Early Learning Center Guanacaste Ventures, $400,000 for the Pattillo Scholarship Fund Hubert Judd Charitable Trust, $30,000 for the Griswell Scholarship current-use fund Lou Brown Jewell, $233,333, including $100,000 for the A. Worley Brown Endowed Griswell Scholarship, $100,000 for the Arthur Newth Morris Endowed Griswell Scholarship, and $33,333 for the Audrey B. Morgan Excellence in Nursing Scholarship

OPPORTUNITY Impart wisdom, share gifts, improve lives

Mark (82C) and Judy Howard (82C) Keappler, $100,000 for the Keappler Family Endowed Scholarship John (54H) and Debra Lie-Nielsen, $50,000 for the John Lie-Nielsen Gate of Opportunity Scholarship Wanda Riggs Mack, $25,000 for the Sally Keown Riggs Endowed Scholarship Phil (68C) and Charlotte Lee (71C) Malone, $100,000 for the Phil and Charlotte Lee Malone Endowed Scholarship

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Photo by Brant Sanderlin

James K. Miller (53C), $25,000 for the John Gideon and Diona Fordham Miller Scholarship, part of the pooled fund for the Griswell Scholarship Program Audrey B. Morgan, $5 million for the Bobbie Bailey and Audrey Morgan Nursing and Medical Professions Scholarship Sunny Park, $100,000 for scholarships James and Lonnie Puhger, $65,000 for the Judge James Puhger and Mrs. Ilona Timko Puhger Endowed Scholarship Dedicated to the Timko Sisters (Isabelle, Ilona, Irene and Ilene) Brent (88C) and Georgia Ragsdale, $50,000 for the Griswell Scholarship Program John D. Roessler, $50,316 for the Pat ThomanBurton Endowed Scholarship (supporting a student in the Griswell Scholarship Program) Samuel and Fontaine McFerrin (71C) Souther, $50,000 for the Frost Chapel renovation and restoration Martha and Ronald D. Taylor Sr., $60,000, including $50,000 for the Clarke-TaylorGoodwin Endowed Scholarship, $5,000 for the Math Fund, and $5,000 for the Golf Team Booster Club Fund The John Zellars Jr. Foundation, $125,000, including $100,000 for the Tibbals/Zellars Endowed Griswell Scholarship and $25,000 for the Jackie McDowell Endowed Scholarship WEM Scholarships Inc., $30,000 for the Griswell Scholarship current-use fund WinShape Foundation, $1,056,692, including $786,340 for campus improvements and $270,352 for the WinShape Scholarship Buster (73C) and Janice Wright, $25,000 for the Save a Student Scholarship

REALIZED PLANNED GIFTS Estate of Alice Witherspoon Bliss, $332,032 for the animal science building Estate of Peter H. Hufstader, $129,518 unrestricted bequest Estate of Randall A. Edwards (66C), $27,959 unrestricted bequest

Scholarship gift with a twist Pat Thoman-Burton (76c) never stopped loving Berry, even after completing her education elsewhere. It should come as no surprise, then, that two dear friends wishing to honor her memory – Dr. Jim Burton and John Roessler – chose to establish a scholarship at the college she held so dear. Burton and Roessler aren’t just any “friends,” however. Not by a long shot. Sure, they have many things in common, but one rises above them all. At different points in time each was married to Pat, Roessler for 20 years, Burton for 18. Quoting the late Paul Harvey: “Now you know the rest of the story.” And yet there’s more. Over the course of many years, these three friends formed a bond transcending the difficulty of divorce, joining Burton’s ex-wife, Nancy, in a unique quartet that, simply put, did life together. When Pat died unexpectedly in September 2021, the others took care of each other, just as she would have wanted. “Pat had told me, ‘If I die first, I want you to take care of John and Nancy,’” Burton recalled. “When she died first, they both took care of me. We’re still best friends. What can I say?”

John Roessler, Pat Thoman-Burton (76c) and Dr. Jim Burton

Pat was many things, including an outdoor enthusiast (thus her love of Berry), successful hotel executive, gourmet cook, master gardener and event hostess extraordinaire. But those titles only hint at her true quality. To Burton, she was a “beautiful person” who was intelligent, kind-hearted and highly principled. Roessler described her as “a loving, caring person to everybody,” adding that their friendship grew much stronger in the years following their divorce. After she died, the two men made the decision on how to honor her together, even as they helped

Powering opportunity For 23 seasons, Hank Aaron was the ultimate source of baseball power. While he never attended Berry, the late slugger exemplified what can happen when hard work and Cassandra Wheeler determination are infused with opportunity – the same combination that inspired Martha Berry. In recognition of those shared values, Berry has joined a select group of colleges and universities nationwide partnering with the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation to help low-income students from diverse populations develop their talents and pursue their dreams. Among those stepping forward in support of these new Berry scholarships is the Georgia Power Foundation, thus continuing a longstanding relationship between the college and the state’s largest utility. “Berry is such a vital part of this community,” said Cassandra Wheeler, Georgia Power’s Northwest Regional Director in Rome from 2017 to 2022. “We value what they do and how they serve students. The Georgia Power Foundation is happy to partner with Berry College to ensure that we have students who thrive.” In her role as regional director, Wheeler has witnessed firsthand the quality of the experiences available to Berry students. She is excited to see how this latest grant will extend similar opportunities to those who might not otherwise have access to such a distinctive education. To learn how you can support Berry’s Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Scholarship, contact Stacey Spillers at 706-368-6774 or sspillers@berry.edu.

each other process the loss. Astounded by their unique connection, a priest in their counseling group remarked, “I’ve never seen this before. Your wife must have been a wonderful person.” Their response: “Of course she was.” Together, they contributed $100,000 toward the new scholarship. An anonymous friend of Berry matched their generosity, resulting in a $200,000 endowment within the Griswell Scholarship Program. Named for Pat, this fund will support one Griswell student each year, extending the gift of opportunity to a hardworking young person who already has overcome great adversity in life. “I think she’d be thrilled to know about it and to have her name attached to helping students get through college,” said Roessler. Burton agreed, adding that he’d like recipients to know, “Even though she’s never met you, she loves you anyway. And she cares about you and wants you to be successful and happy and fulfill your life’s purpose.” To learn how you can create a scholarship at Berry honoring someone special in your life, contact Jean Druckenmiller at 706-238-7938 or jdruckenmiller@berry.edu.

Preserving Berry’s past for the future When Tim (03C) and Maureen Trane (03C) Goodwin walked down the aisle at Frost Chapel on May 11, 2002, they joined a special group of alumni who have celebrated their big day in one of the most Maureen and Tim Goodwin beautiful spots on the Berry campus. This spring, the couple joined another select group of alumni and friends who are committed to preserving this beloved landmark for future generations. “Frost Chapel is very special to us,” said Tim, founder and senior wealth advisor at Goodwin Investment Advisory and former president of the Berry Alumni Association. “As students, we were part of a ministry called ‘More’ that would gather there every Sunday night for a time of worship and sharing. However, nothing beats the memory of our wedding day.” With their gift of $25,000 to name a window inside the historic sanctuary, Tim and Maureen have done their part to support a $1.2 million renovation plan that includes restoration of Frost’s clear leaded-glass windows and installation of a new climate-control system enhancing the chapel’s ability to host events year-round. “We are proud and grateful for the opportunity to help ensure that Frost is in tip-top shape for current and future generations,” Tim said. “And maybe one day one of our kids or future grandkids will walk by our window plaque and be inspired.” Visit alwaysberry.com/gift to support the Frost renovation. For information on naming opportunities, contact Scott Breithaupt (91C, 96G) at 706-2385897 or sbreithaupt@berry.edu. 27

NEWS FROM YOU chancellor of the College of the Ozarks after serving as president since 1988. He has been a college president since 1977 (including previous service at Kentucky’s Alice Lloyd College), making his one of the longest such tenures in the United States.

42 years of distinguished service in such roles as development director, chief development officer, foundation president and capital planning director. The former Berry development officer also spent 29 years in the U.S. Army Reserve, retiring as a major.

Dr. Bernard M. Spooner (53H, 57c) praises Berry as the

Melvin Merrill (64C, FFS)

foundation for his life of service. The founding dean of the Graduate School of Ministry at Dallas Baptist University and

has been honored by Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College with the naming of its Veterans Center in recognition of his

Ben Cason (67C), right, and Gary Robinson (03C), left, met

1950s

CLASS KEY Names are followed by a number and letter indicating Berry status. Uppercase letters denote graduates; lowercase letters denote attended/ attending and anticipated year of graduation: C, c G, g A, a H, h FS FFS

College Graduate school Academy High school Faculty/Staff Former Faculty/Staff

Ronald G. Crowe (52H) has retired to Monticello, Fla., with wife Kandy, the latest stop in an eventful life that includes four years in the U.S. Air Force; a bachelor’s degree in journalism and English from the University of Alabama; work as a technical writer for Boeing on both coasts; and a move to Alaska where he continued his education and career while earning acclaim as a poet.

former U.S. Marine officer has published eight books on church ministry and Christian education, served in three churches, and taught at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, among other roles. He and wife Pat have two children and four grandchildren.

1960s

Dr. Jerry C. Davis (61H) is transitioning to a new role as

unexpectedly while helping a blind patient reach the Duke Eye Center in Durham, N.C.,

ART OF MINISTRY

SEND YOUR NEWS Send your news to us online at alwaysberry.com/classnotes or email classnotes@berry.edu. Submissions are subject to editing. Photos of sufficient quality will be used at the discretion of the magazine staff. News in this issue was received Sept. 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022.

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Drawing cartoons isn’t a skill generally associated with ministry, but for Dr. Joe McKeever (62c), the ability to create with his hands has proven to be a powerful tool for reaching hearts. For more than a half-century, McKeever’s cartoons have been featured in Christian publications, including a continuing presence on the Baptist Press website. He also has been known to sit for hours at meetings and other events, sketching caricatures and other drawings for anyone who asks. In the process, he strives to connect with his subjects so he can provide encouragement and engage in Gospel conversations. The cartoons that have been such a big part of his ministry now have a new home in the John T. Christian Library at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where he earned his master’s and doctoral degrees. There, they will be preserved along with sermons, books and other writings from his long career (including 42 years in the pulpit as a Baptist pastor) so that future generations can enjoy and learn from his work. Reflecting on his life’s journey, McKeever said he cherishes the “thousand memories” he made on the Berry campus before family responsibilities led him to finish his college education elsewhere. “My heart,” he declared, “has always been at Berry.”

Information and photo courtesy of Gary D. Myers and Vision Magazine, a publication of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College.

Brant Sanderlin

as volunteers for Angel Flight Soars. Gary flew the patient from Asheville, N.C., to RaleighDurham Airport; Ben provided ground transportation and flew her home. They are pictured with their passenger, Dr. Nancy Patterson, founder of the Graves’ Disease and Thyroid Foundation.

1970s

TERRIFIC TENOR

George Robson (75C) has retired from Southern Company/Southern Nuclear after 42 years in records management and technical writing. He resides in Birmingham, Ala., his home of more than 33 years.

Dr. John Wesley Wright (84A) has traveled the world since attending high school at Berry Academy, performing solo repertoire ranging from baroque to Broadway in such famous venues as New York’s Lincoln Center. In February, the Rome native was pleased to find himself in the familiar confines of the Berry College Chapel as a tenor with the internationally celebrated American Spiritual Ensemble – his first professional performance on the campus of his youth. “It was a thrill to be back,” Wright exclaimed. “The campus is more beautiful than ever, and as a former academy tennis player, I am blown away by the expansion in that area! Most of all, I am so grateful to be able to make music at a level that inspires students and brings together family, friends and diverse populations. What an incredible crowd there was at Berry with people in the audience I hadn’t seen since the ’80s or ’90s! Just amazing … and a great testament to the power of music.” Now associate professor of music at Salisbury University, Wright has won notable acclaim during his career, including a gold medal in the 2000 American Traditions Vocal Competition and other top prizes from the National Federation of Music Clubs, the Metropolitan Opera National Council and the International Schubert Competition. While he holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, among other degrees, he got his start at Berry, and we’re proud to call him one of our own!

Tom Spector (74A) has published his fourth book, Architecture and the Public Good, through Anthem Press in London. He is retiring from the Oklahoma State University School of Architecture after 21 years and looks forward to a post-COVID, post-retirement trip to Italy with husband Shawn Churchman.

Michael Brown (76C), Rudy Wilson (79C) and Miles Adams (82C) were tapped by the Georgia Music Educators Association as judges for the 2022 Ninth District Large Group Performance Evaluation.

Brian Griffith (75C) lives

J. Lee Grady (79C) has

near Crystal River, Fla., with his wife of 42 years and is still a homebuilder after nearly a half-century. Classmates will remember him as the proud owner of “Thee Olde World Sandwich Shoppe” in Rome, a popular hangout for Berry students in the 1970s.

published his seventh book, Follow Me: Make Disciples Like Jesus Did. He also directs The Mordecai Project, an international humanitarian organization focused on aiding women in developing countries who suffer from abuse and marginalization. An

ordained minister now living in LaGrange, Ga., Lee was longtime editor of Charisma, one of the nation’s largest Christian magazines. He has conducted missionary work in 36 countries, in addition to hosting retreats and conferences across the United States.

Outstanding in My Field, is available on drybarcomedy.com. “Proof again, never stop doing what you love,” exclaimed Leslie, who got her start with Disneyland and Disney World’s Hoop-Dee-Doo after graduating from Berry.

1980s

Leslie Norris Townsend (79C) has been a full-time stand-up comedian for more than 35 years, amassing such credits as The Tonight Show, Star Search (winner), Huckabee on TBN, Stand Up Nashville, the Opry Channel, movies and more. Her latest special,

Sherrilynn Nicol TaylorWhitmire (83C) lives in Bristol, Va., working part-time in the office of her husband’s family-owned business. She is pictured with her beloved father, Robert Nicol, who died in September 2021 at the age of 89.

Jim Aaron (84C) is a 2021 recipient of the Ronald Award, which honors the top 1% of McDonald’s owners/operators nationwide for outstanding contributions to strengthening the brand and serving their customers and communities. In 2018, he received the Fred L. Turner Golden Arch Partners Award, making him one of the few owners worldwide to hold both distinctions. The Rome resident owns eight McDonald’s across Northwest Georgia and East Tennessee, including the Mount Berry and East Rome locations.

NEWS FROM YOU

ALUMNI, ART AND ATLANTA!

Matthew McConnell (21C)

Kathy Jordan Pitman (87C) earned a Master of Science degree in higher education from Purdue University Global in September 2021.

and his son, Doug, whose family has owned and operated Rock City for five generations.

Association, most recently as director of alumni relations. She lives in Armuchee, Ga., with husband Joey and daughter Charlotte.

Jason Sweatt (88C) has rejoined EY as global tax quality managing director – tax technology, working with EY firms in more than 150 countries. He and wife Melinda Mitchell Sweatt (90C) live in Nashville, Tenn., and are excited to have new twin granddaughters.

1990s

Berry alumni LOVE getting together, both virtually and in person, and the March 10 mixer held at The Loft in Marietta, Ga., offered the perfect opportunity for face time with friends old and new at an award-winning location. More than 60 alums turned out for food, drinks and a self-guided tour of the Metro Atlanta gallery, which is owned and operated by Bonnie Buckner Reavis (93C). Existing bonds were strengthened and new connections made as attendees marveled at the creative talents of more than 20 emerging and established artists. Visit AlwaysBerry.com for information on the many ways you can stay connected with your Berry family, including future events like this one. Another great way to stay in touch is by following @BerryAlumni on social media.

counter-terrorism professionals to hold that designation. He now chairs the Professional Certification Board for ASIS International, the world’s largest global security organization with 35,000 members.

Donna Thompson Braden (96C) is the newly promoted

Bonnie Osterman Vest (90C) and Beth Rogers Irby (92C) were back-to-back recipients of East Paulding Middle School’s Teacher of the Year Award, winning in 2019-20 and 2020-21, respectively. Exclaimed Beth: “I always tell Bonnie how Martha would have been proud of us!”

Julie Halpin Eckleberry (93C) is now a partner at the J.K. Boatwright & Co. public accounting firm where she has worked for 15 years. She lives in LaGrange, Ga., with husband Kevin. They have one daughter, Rachel, a student at the

Michele Kelmer (95C) has

University of West Georgia.

Technologies at Indiana University. The former Berry soccer standout previously served as manager of digital education programs and initiatives.

been promoted to director of faculty engagement and outreach for University Information Technology Services (UITS) Learning

director of marketing, communications and consumer for Atrium Health Floyd, overseeing daily MCC operations for Floyd Medical Center in Rome; Polk Medical Center in Cedartown, Ga.; and Cherokee Medical Center in Centre, Ala.; as well as the organization’s primary care and urgent care network, and ancillary and outpatient services. She lives in Rome with husband Chad and son Carson.

Susan Hunt Harris (90C) has taken on a new challenge as chief operations officer for the Chattanooga (Tenn.) Tourism Co., following her successful tenure as president and CEO of See Rock City Inc. She is pictured with Bill Chapin (left)

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Jennifer Tucker Beard (93C, 00G, FS) is the 2021 recipient of the Virginia R. Webb Service Award, honoring her more than two decades of service and leadership to the Berry Alumni

Joshua Villines (94C) earned Certified Threat Manager board certification in June 2021, joining a select group of only 175

Brad E. Hayes (98G, 01G) is a lifelong educator and administrator currently serving

with NCAA Div. I programs, and 35 have been drafted by Major League Baseball. He is pictured with wife Jennifer.

Dr. Luther McDaniel (99C) has completed a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from the Harvard

Todd Tripp (98C) was named 2020-21 Illinois High School Association Basketball Coach of the Year for all classifications in recognition of his leadership of the boys’ program at Goreville High School, his alma mater. An All-State baseball and basketball player in high school who later played baseball at Berry, Todd has led Goreville to conference, regional, sectional and supersectional championships, in addition to serving as athletic director.

Graduate School of Education and Harvard Business School. He is the principal of Gaines Elementary School in Athens, Ga.

2000s

is the new vice president of marketing for Native Roots, Colorado’s largest privately held cannabis company. He and his partner have embraced smaller town living after relocating to Evergreen, Colo., from Miami Beach.

Justin Karch (01C, 10G, FFS) and Amelia Randall were

director, corporate counsel with Starbucks Coffee Co., responsible for overseeing litigation matters filed against the company throughout the United States and Canada. She

married on Feb. 12, 2022, at Frost Chapel. The wedding party included Alison Karch (03C) and Erin Karch Kennedy (06C); the organist was Wanda Cantrell (89C). Susan Karch

lives in Seattle with wife Katy, left, and new puppy Ginsburg.

(FS), Justin’s mother, also was

Toqeer Chouhan (01C) is among 100 Influential Georgia Muslims recognized by the

Sarah Carter Roberts (02C), right, has earned the National Daughters of the American

Revolution Conservation Award in recognition of the many projects she has implemented or enhanced at the Atlanta History Center, where she is the Olga C. de Goizueta vice president of Goizueta Gardens and Living Collections. The distinction was presented by the Philadelphia Winn Chapter DAR in Lawrenceville, Ga.

Robert “Buck” Dutton (01C)

Cynthia Hill-Happleby (00C) has been promoted to

Travis Lallemand (99C) has earned recognition as Midwest Scouts Association Coach of the Year for his baseball success at Missouri’s Crowder College. Building on his playing experience at Berry, Travis has won more than 650 games at Crowder, leading the Roughriders to three juniorcollege World Series. More than 100 of his players have signed

Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta. The founding partner of the Chouhan Law Firm has represented both large corporate and small business clients, served as a trained mediator offering conflict resolution services, and recently was appointed part-time magistrate judge in Cobb County. His wife, Haydne Weese Chouhan (01C), has started her own design firm after a long stint with Arby’s Restaurant Group.

in attendance. The couple lives in Decatur, Ga., where Justin is the new program coordinator for faculty affairs in the Emory University School of Medicine. He previously served in Berry’s advancement department and was a music teacher at Berry College Elementary and Middle School.

MORE THAN A COACH

Mark Lastinger, Effingham Herald

at Westside Middle School in Whitfield County, Ga., and as vice-chair of the Chattooga County Board of Education. He lives on his family farm in Chattooga County with wife Judy. She is also a teacher, as is oldest son Luke and daughterin-law Randi. Youngest son Jake is a student at Kennesaw State University.

When Jake Darling (08C) brought the Effingham County (Ga.) High School boys’ basketball team to Rome last December, he had more than hoops on his mind. Yes, the team was in town to compete in a holiday tournament, but he made sure to build time into the schedule for a tour of a place dear to his heart – Berry. Once upon a time, Darling was a lot like the young men he now leads, playing the game he loves rather than coaching it. That chapter in his basketball life climaxed at Berry, where he donned a Viking uniform for four years while earning a degree in history. Being back on campus enabled him to let his guard down and provide his team a glimpse of the person behind the whistle. “It’s difficult to get your players to see you as more than just the guy who yells at them,” Darling explained. “It was a good way for me as the coach to show them where I came from and to let them see a part of my history – maybe even earn a little respect from them that I was on scholarship at Berry. My wife and I got married at Frost Chapel. Berry is a big part of who I am.” Darling has spent his entire career teaching and coaching in Effingham County, just outside of Savannah, including eight years in his current role. This season, he welcomed another Viking as a first-year assistant, former Berry football player Ryan McGee (21C).

NEWS FROM YOU

Amanda Bradley Howell (03C, 07G) has been honored as Teacher of the Year and S.T.A.R. Teacher at Rome High School, in addition to being runner-up Teacher of the Year for the Rome City Schools. She teaches senior English, chairs the English Department and contributes to numerous committees at Rome High, where she has served for 18 years.

Joseph Pethel (04C) is the new

Dana Mire Goshorn (07C)

principal of Armuchee (Ga.) High School, his alma mater. The son of Professor Emeritus of Music Dr. Stan Pethel (FFS) referred to the opportunity as “a dream come true and an exciting, new mission.” He previously was principal at Coosa Middle School, also in Floyd County.

graduated from Kennesaw State University in December 2021 with a Specialist in Education degree.

Ross McDuffie (07C) is the

Jeff Talley (04C) has been Christie Welch Carroll (04C) has relocated back to Rome with her husband and two children and launched findahomeinrome.com. She just finished her 17th year in real estate as an associate broker with Century 21 Connect Realty.

hired as training captain for Lowndes County Fire Rescue in Valdosta, Ga., responsible for training new recruits and current personnel, as well as overseeing medical continuing education for the department. He has been a firefighter for 27 years, a paramedic for 24, and is a member of Georgia Search and Rescue Task Force Two.

new president of Madison Media Partners, the digital media and full-service marketing company responsible for the Wisconsin State Journal, madison.com and The Capital Times. He joined the company in 2020 as vice president of sales and marketing, relocating to Wisconsin with wife Amber Bryenton McDuffie (08C) and their two daughters, Larkin and Emory.

BOOKS AND BERRY! Beth Barron (12C) loves to read books and bond over them, so when she moved back to Georgia in 2020 after two years in Boston, she recruited several other “voracious readers” – five of them fellow alumnae – for the Book Adjacent Book Club. Since then, they have read a little bit of everything, from classics, young-adult and historical fiction to general/literary fiction, thrillers and fantasy novels. Their opinions on the books may vary, but they love spending time together and building on relationships that date back to their Berry days. Group members are, from left, Royale Cole Schoepf (13C), Bell Izmaylova Wright (12C), Emily Purcell, Abby Bradley Nicholls (13C), Madison Willoughby Whisonant (13C) and Barron, with Emily Nicholson Schneider (13C) at center front.

(17G) have bought their first home in Kingston, Ga., just outside of Rome. She now serves as lifestyles coordinator for The Spires at Berry College.

2010s Taylor Clark (09C) and

Dr. Ted Goshorn (06C) has

Ryan Chesley (04C, FS) has been promoted to chief of the Berry College Police Department following the retirement of Jonathan Baggett (FFS). Ryan has spent his entire career in law enforcement at Berry, joining the force in 2006.

I BERRY

earned 40-under-40 recognition from Emory University, where he recently completed a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Candler School of Theology. He is a Methodist pastor and civic leader in Eastman, Ga.

husband John Koch announce the birth of daughter Claire Alma Koch on April 3, 2021.

Lydia Wilson-Fields (08C), left, and wife Katy adopted son Parker Lawrence Wilson-Fields on Oct. 11, 2021 (his second birthday). Katy is the daughter of Rudy Wilson (79C).

Lydia Freeman Reese (09C) and husband Joshua Reese

Michelle Jasczynski (10C) is a 2022 Presidential Management Fellow finalist. This is the flagship leadership development program for federal agencies. The Berry psychology alumna is also a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Health after earning a Master of Education degree in prevention science from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

FRIEND TO ANIMALS Taylor Moore (16C) is the new social media manager for the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, managing a team of three responsible for curating content over 10 social media channels. This is her second promotion since arriving in San Diego in January 2020. Prior to heading west, she was social media coordinator at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. In this new role, Moore is thrilled to have the opportunity to leverage her communication skills in support of her love for animals and conservation. “This job is truly a dream come true,” she said. “I feel incredibly honored to be the voice for the voiceless as we work together to create empathy for the wildlife that call our planet home.”

Megan Benson (11C) planned three separate weddings with new husband Jihad Suliman. Traditional Christian and Muslim blessing ceremonies paid homage to their respective cultures; the third satisfied the legal requirements for a couple living in Germany. Their multilingual American ceremony featured Palestinian traditions, including a “zaffeh” drum entrance and a mixed palette of the couple’s favorite foods.

Derek Hay (12C) is the 2022 chair of the MilledgevilleBaldwin County (Ga.) Chamber of Commerce and area director of Greater Milledgeville Young Life. He and wife Grier Fricks have two daughters, Harper and Teale.

Katie Spruell (11C) and Timothy Martin Jr. (10C) were married in Dahlonega, Ga., on Nov. 27, 2021, and now live in Carnesville. They attended Berry at the same time but only met years later via dating app. Berry was a quick conversation starter. “From there,” Katie related, “the words were easy and we seemed to have a lot to talk about ... The rest is history!”

Dr. John Rhodarmer (12G) is

Jessica Bryant Merritt (13C)

Bas De Vuyst (14C) married

the new principal/CEO of the Floyd County College and Career Academy. He previously served as principal at Armuchee High School. John holds an Education Specialist degree in school leadership from Berry.

married Brandon Merritt on Sept. 12, 2021, at The Views at Sunset Ridge in Cleveland, Tenn. She currently works for Travelers Insurance in Alpharetta, Ga.; he works at Unum in Chattanooga, Tenn. They live in Brandon’s hometown of Ooltewah, Tenn.

Kristen Bates on Oct. 23, 2021, at Blue Mountain Vineyards in Dahlonega, Ga. The “romantic, whimsical and rustic” ceremony was part of “a wonderful year” for the couple, who honeymooned at Walt Disney World and built their first home together in Woodstock. Bas works for American Bath Group and Kristen for Goldman Sachs.

Alyssa Nobles Lubbers (12C) and husband Daniel welcomed first baby Samuel Locke on Nov. 8, 2021.

Lindsey Campbell (13C, 16G)

Lizzie Petrey (12C) has

Samantha Knight Tuttle (11C) and husband Bobby Tuttle (12C) welcomed first child Sophie Elizabeth on Aug. 11, 2021.

started a new career in Salem, Va., doing marketing and database management for Carter Machinery, a full-service Caterpillar dealer with locations across the Mid-Atlantic.

has been honored as Teacher of the Year at Rockmart (Ga.) High School, where she teaches health and physical education and is head softball coach. She also serves as ambassador for Polk County’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes and as a volunteer assistant for Berry softball.

Anna Miles (13C) and husband Khoi Trieu welcomed son Wren Miles Trieu on Oct. 1, 2021.

Kate Farrar Guest (14C) married Steve Guest on Oct. 2, 2021, in Washington, D.C. Among her 11 bridesmaids were five best friends from Berry affectionately known as “the Bitties.” They are seen in this photo by Mary Claire Stewart (14C).

Berry extends sincere condolences to family and friends of the following alumni and former faculty/staff. This list includes notices received Sept. 1, 2021, to Feb. 28, 2022.

1930s

Hildred Bell Cammon (36A) of LaGrange, Ga., Jan. 9, 2022.

1940s

Eloise Cooper Crowder (43C) of Cornelia, Ga., Oct. 5, 2021.

Louise Houston Bagnall (44c) of Brushville, Pa., Feb. 8, 2022.

Flossie Duke Reddin (44H) of Bremen, Ga., Sept. 4, 2021.

William N. Bethea Jr. (45H, 49c) of McColl, S.C., Nov. 8, 2021. Harry H. Murray (47C) of Rock Hill, S.C., Feb. 18, 2022. Robert J. Brown (49C) of Rome, Jan. 7, 2022. Martha Segars Chastain (49C) of Ellijay, Ga., Oct. 14, 2021. Hazel Horne LeMunyan (49c) of Kenly, N.C., Feb. 6, 2022. Genevie Hawkins Urban (49C) of Bethesda, Md., Dec. 20, 2021.

1950s

Louise Fouts Maxwell (50c) of Dewy Rose, Ga., Sept. 7, 2021.

Margaret Beasley Autry (51C) of Alpharetta, Ga., Jan. 14, 2022. JoAnn Erwin Baxter (51c) of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Feb. 11, 2022. Ronald M. Hinson Sr. (51c) of Lavonia, Ga., Feb. 6, 2022. Charles Howard Elmore (52C) of Millen, Ga., Aug. 25, 2021. Ben Ronald Hess (52A) of Sharpsburg, Ga., Jan. 10, 2022. Mary Virginia Greene Mosby (52A) of East Point, Ga., Sept. 24, 2021. Walter Neil Gentry (53C) of Conyers, Ga., Feb. 20, 2022. Maxie E. Poole (54C) of Atlanta, Jan. 4, 2022. Fred Lenmore Maddox (55C) of Statesboro, Ga., Feb. 8, 2022. Barbara Camp McElyea (55C) of Canton, Ga., Jan. 7, 2022. Jacqueline Baird Durham (56C) of Decatur, Ga., Sept. 9, 2021. Joe W. Johnson (56c) of Ocala, Fla., Sept. 16, 2021. Hilda Hardy Neighbors (56c) of Ringgold, Ga., Jan. 4, 2022.

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Gertrude Ellene Lamb Pool (56C) of

Linda Joyce Stamper Mros (73C) of

Atlanta, Oct. 19, 2021.

Aragon, Ga., Feb. 21, 2022.

Hoschton, Ga., Dec. 15, 2021. Jean Smith Massie (58C) of LaGrange, Ga., July 5, 2021. Paul Edward Swartz (58C) of Wagener, S.C., Oct. 16, 2021. J. “Jim” Lewis Hamrick (59H, 63c) of Hendersonville, N.C., Oct. 21, 2021. Hazel Guthrie Underwood (59c) of Buford, Ga., Sept. 27, 2021. Philip D. Whanger (59C) of Fresno, Calif., Nov. 8, 2021.

Rome, Sept. 22, 2021.

Jeffery Edwin McDonald (80C) of

Harold Melton Green (58H, 62c) of

1960s

Jesse Eugene Presley (60H, 64c) of Chattanooga, Tenn., Oct. 31, 2021. Albert Lee Johnson (61C) of Cartersville, Ga., Dec. 12, 2021. Julia Leverett Jones (61C) of Jeffersonton, Va., Dec. 12, 2021. Gary E. McKnight (61C) of Sevierville, Tenn., Nov. 25, 2021. John Anthony Clark (62C) of Eatonton, Ga., April 26, 2021. Randall Clayton Scott (62C) of Knoxville, Tenn., Oct. 9, 2021. Bettie Hester Suitt McClain (63C) of Canton, Ga., Feb. 9, 2022. Harriet Keckley Terry (64C) of San Luis Obispo, Calif., Feb. 14, 2022. Perry W. Beaird (65C) of Olympia, Wash., March 17, 2021. Benjamin Locke Graves (65C) of Rome, Jan. 4, 2022. Pamela L. Suchy Forrester (67C) of East Alton, Ill., Dec. 12, 2020. Jack Ross Herring (67C) of Summerville, Ga., Jan. 5, 2022. James C. Lee (67C) of Winston, Ga., May 6, 2020. William H. Todd Jr. (69C) of Matthews, N.C., Feb. 14, 2022.

1970s

William Rae Richardson Jr. (71C) of Naples, Fla., Sept. 3, 2021.

Dudley L. Herndon III (72C) of Westlake Village, Calif., July 1, 2021. Alan Futch Pilcher (72c) of Greensboro, N.C., Aug. 7, 2020. Clifton Dane Freeman (73C, FFS) of Silver Creek, Ga., Aug. 31, 2021.

Gayland Andrew Dodd Sr. (74C) of Sharon Hayes Prescott (74C) of Canton, N.C., Nov. 28, 2021.

R. Lance Ingram (75A, 80C) of Owens Cross Roads, Ala., Jan. 26, 2022.

Patricia Alice Thoman-Burton (76c) of Franklin, Ga., Sept. 6, 2021. David M. McAlpin (77C) of Leawood, Kan., Dec. 25, 2021.

1980s

In memoriam

Fairmount, Ga., Jan. 23, 2022.

Betty LeRoy Langford (81G) of Dalton, Ga., June 21, 2020.

Emory W. Green (83C) of Rome, Sept. 11, 2021.

Shannon Patterson Kuni (84A) of Rome, May 13, 2021.

James E. Jewell (85C) of Atlanta, Feb. 6, 2022.

Kristina Dawnn Jones (86C) of Cornelia, Ga., Jan. 7, 2022.

1990s

Tara D. Dixon (95C) of Wimauma, Fla., Jan. 18, 2022.

2000s

Melissa Ashlee Oglesbee (03C) of Enka, N.C., Dec. 10, 2021.

Jessica Sarah Wilson (03C) of Evans, Ga., Aug. 13, 2021.

Corbett “Cory” Lee Pearsall (09c) of Decatur, Ga., Nov. 5, 2020.

2010s

Ryne Craig William Morra (15c) of Stratford, Conn., Sept. 10, 2021.

Former Faculty and Staff Lawrence Michael “Mickey” Fisher of Tunnel Hill, Ga., Jan. 9, 2022. Joyce S. Morris of Silver Creek, Ga., Nov. 1, 2021. Lee James Stillwell of Silver Creek, Ga., Dec. 17, 2021. Mary Carolyn West of Rockmart, Ga., Dec. 17, 2021.

Berry’s alumni family mourns the Feb. 3, 2022, death of Harold D. Kilpatrick (60c), a former college trustee and 1995 recipient of the Berry Alumni Council’s Entrepreneurial Spirit Award, whose generosity helped spur creation of Kilpatrick Commons. Survivors include wife Suzi Golden Kilpatrick (60c), whom he met at the Moon Building soda fountain when both were students, as well as three sons, among them former Berry Board of Visitors Chair Timothy Kilpatrick (84c).

The Berry community lost a friend and advocate when retired Ford Motor Company Vice President Wayne Stuart Doran passed away on Feb. 10, 2022. While serving on Berry’s Board of Visitors, he played a key role in securing a 2001 grant of $9.4 million from the Ford Motor Company Fund supporting renovation of the iconic Ford Buildings, thus renewing the historic ties connecting the company and the college.

2018, she gathered GPS data in Costa Rica with support from a Richards Undergraduate Research Grant, enabling creation of a map allowing a

Katie Minor Hardwick (14C)

Nancy Lovas (14C) is

Greg Robbins (15C) has

Dr. Joey Ruiz (18C) completed

and husband Justin welcomed daughter Lorna in November 2021.

now associate librarian for entrepreneurship, economics and business at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she teaches about research in these areas. Nancy has purchased her first home and enjoys welcoming friends for meals.

released a new EP, The Atlanta Sessions, Vol. 1, featuring four jazz standards covered with high energy and loose structure by Greg (vocals, co-producer), Larry Wilson (drums, co-producer), Delbert Felix (bass) and Louis Heriveaux (piano). Greg describes his collaborators as “my musical heroes/family from the town that made me who I am musically.” The EP is available for streaming and download on all major platforms.

a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of St. Augustine in December 2021.

Michael Howard (14C) is an international logistics specialist for Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian nonprofit that collects and distributes shoeboxes filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items for children around the world. He previously served in the U.S. Marines, earning his commission as a second lieutenant upon graduation from Berry.

Arden Foster (15C), left, got her first big win in National Team Roping last October at Rancho Rio in Wickenburg, Ariz., claiming top honors (and $5,180 in prize money!) in the 9.5 Megabucks division after roping four steers in 38.25 seconds with partner and heeler Ruby Magnus (at right in photo).

sustainable coffee plantation to better manage production. Her work later was showcased at a national conference in Washington, D.C.

Mallory Paulk Stone (18C) has earned exemplary recognition from the National Association of Geoscience Teachers for “Voyage to the Arctic,” a K-12 activity developed in collaboration with Associate Professor of Geology Dr. Tamie Jovanelly (FS). They were supported by a grant from the International Ocean Drilling Program’s educational arm, the School of Rock. Mallory currently teaches geology to fourth graders in North Carolina.

MaryBeth Rowland (19C) and Silas Stocks (19C) were married in Frost Chapel on Dec. 11, 2021, surrounded by former Berry cross country and track teammates.

Kayli Wilson (16C) is the

Allison Smith (19C) has been

newly promoted pricing team manager at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif., responsible for strategic pricing and product decisions. She previously supported the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla.

promoted to senior forecasting analyst at Walt Disney World.

Emily Stenman Dries (19C) married Jonathan Dries on Jan. 8, 2022.

Chris Human (14C, FFS) has started a new job as senior software engineer at GLG. He lives in Cartersville, Ga., with wife Kimberly Bagnell Human (14C), the choral director at Woodland High School. They are in the process of adopting their first child.

Cate Williams (19C) Jake Pullen (15C) and wife

completed a Master of Education degree in school counseling from Liberty University in December 2021.

Rachel recently welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Olivia Grace.

Jacob Kaplan (18C) and Kelsey McAnnally Kaplan (17C) were married on March 13, 2021, in Rockmart, Ga., and have bought a house in Matthews, N.C.

Mary Grace Gaskin (19C) is living in Charlotte, N.C., indulging a passion discovered at Berry as an ArcGIS online analyst for Esri, a leading Geographic Information Systems software company. In

NEWS FROM YOU

2020s

Eden is “healthy, growing and cannot wait to come visit Berry!”

Elizabeth Byrd Hills (21C) and Jake Hills (20C) were Miles Mitchell (20C) has Anna Katherine Drew (20C, FS) and Cullen Carlin (21C) were married on Dec. 10, 2021, in Chattanooga, Tenn., surrounded by fellow Vikings. Anna Katherine is student activities office coordinator at Berry; Cullen is marketing coordinator for StartCHURCH. Having met in Rhetoric and Writing as freshmen, they exclaimed: “We can’t imagine our lives without Berry as a central part of it – then, now and forever!”

landed a job at an advertising agency in Manhattan after graduating from Berry in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

OCT. 7-9, 2022 Harmony Petty (21C) married Amber Phillips (20C), second

Cassie LaJeunesse (20C) has

from left, and biology colleagues at Woodland High School celebrate their selection as the first high-school “A-Team” recognized by the Bartow County (Ga.) School System. Amber teaches biology and forensic science, in addition to coaching tennis.

moved to Virginia to pursue a Master of Professional Studies degree in publishing at George Washington University. She also works as a communications associate for the American Chiropractic Association.

and husband Luke welcomed daughter Eden Faith on Nov. 22, 2021. Kendall reports that after spending a few weeks in the NICU due to seizures,

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best friend Leo Waldrop on Dec. 17, 2021. She is a STEM teacher at Adairsville (Ga.) Elementary School and has bought a house in Rome.

WE WANT TO SEE YOU! Milestone Reunions: 50th – 1972C, 40th – 1982C 25th – 1997C, 10th – 2012C Other Reunion Classes:

Luke Steel (21C) is the

Nancy Belle Hansford (21C)

Kendall Jackson Liscom (20C)

married on Dec. 11, 2021, and have settled into their new home in Knoxville, Tenn. They are thankful that Berry brought them together.

has opened Watkinsville (Ga.) Winery, building on a passion for winemaking discovered during the pandemic. The winner of the goods division of Berry’s 2021 PITCH competition also works full-time for the award-winning DynamiX firm founded by Jeff Jahn (07C).

makerspace specialist at the Georgia Cyber Center in Augusta, where he utilizes skills honed as a creative technologies major and HackBerry student lab director. His work supports the center’s goal of leading a revolution in cybersecurity through unprecedented collaboration and innovation between government, private industry and the academic sector.

1977C, 1987C, 1992C, 2002C, 2007C, 2017C SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS: Traditional Grand March led by Grand Marshal Cecily Crow (94C, FS) Viking football at Valhalla AND MUCH MORE! Follow @BerryAlumni on social media and bookmark AlwaysBerry.com to get the latest updates.

IN THE END, IT ’S ABOUT THE STUDE NTS

Finding her way to help Photos by Brant Sanderlin

Harnessing the power of data analytics in service to others By Debbie Rasure Lynneatte Quenin (22C) came to Berry with a caring heart and a strong desire to help people, especially those on the brink of suicide. She quickly determined that those traits – however commendable – weren’t going to be enough. Not long into her college journey, she began work as a trained and certified volunteer with the Crisis Text Line, a global nonprofit providing free mental health services and crisis intervention through SMS messaging. The psychology major hoping for a career in counseling was grateful for the handson experience but quickly identified a problem: hundreds of people in crisis were waiting hours for the opportunity to text with too few counselors. “When I would finally get to someone who had been waiting, they would be so upset about how long it took,” she explained. “I wanted to find a way to help these people, a way to fix the system so that people in crisis weren’t spending an enormous amount of time waiting to talk with someone.” A means for solving such dilemmas revealed itself when Quenin was introduced to data analytics while conducting research as a donor-supported George Scholar. She immediately began envisioning how agencies could harness this power to effectively improve their services, leading to a change in her educational and career focus. With guidance from research mentor Dr. Victor Bissonnette, associate professor of psychology, Quenin explored how choices made by emotionally stimulated subjects are impacted by personality and the intensity of their circumstances. In the process, she worked with real data and study participants, learning how to analyze the results. This so excited her that she asked Bissonnette if she could take on extra work to learn statistical programming with the goal of being prepared for graduate school.

Bissonnette was surprised by the request. “It’s the kind of work that sends shivers of fear up the spines of graduate students,” he said. “But I offered to do an informal seminar with her, and we ended up teaching each other. We would each do the homework, figure out how to solve the problems, and sometimes her code was more eloquent than

Red Cross and as a community service partner with the Salvation Army. The Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholar also has gained valuable perspective as a participant in the mentoring program offered by the Berry Center for Integrity in Leadership while challenging herself as an Honors student. Contemplating the end of her time at Berry, she expressed gratitude for those who have invested in her along the way. “I’ve had so many people pushing me forward and encouraging me throughout my journey,” she said. “I’m incredibly thankful for the professors who encouraged me to pursue research, the people who recommended me for committees and groups on campus, those who’ve advised me, inspired me, and those who noticed the abilities and skills I have but cannot see. Thanks to these people, I am able to leave Berry confidently and look forward with anticipation to my next steps.” This fall, she will begin a master’s program in data science and analytics at Georgia State

“She has an amazing ability to figure out how to make things work. Most students would just give up, but she never does.”

— Dr. Victor Bissonnette

mine. She has an amazing ability to figure out how to make things work. Most students would just give up, but she never does. She just patiently sticks with it and often conquers the challenge perfectly.” In addition to her scholarly research, Quenin has indulged her heart for helping others as a disaster workforce volunteer with the American

University with plans to pursue a doctorate in social psychology. Ultimately, she wants to work with nonprofits and government agencies to help find effective ways to improve their services and increase their reach – her caring heart and desire to help now emboldened by a vision for how she can make a real difference. 37

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Chicago, the musical! The Berry College Theatre Company took on the challenge of one of Broadway’s longest-running musicals this spring, bringing the area outside Sisters Theatre to vivid life with the jazzy tale of women in the Windy City trying to get away with murder. Below, Trey Wilkerson belts out a tune as Billy Finn. (Photo by Brant Sanderlin)