BERRY Summer 2020
A Berry College Publication
Teacher, Leader, Principal
Dr. Luther McDaniel (99C) is a role model for his students
The Berry campus was quiet this spring. Our community was anything but. Students learned, faculty taught and alumni served, just as Martha Berry would have envisioned. S
tudents left for spring break in the usual high spirits, bound for home, travel and service initiatives. But when break was done, they didn’t return; COVID-19 had hit the nation hard, and Berry ultimately transitioned to remote learning for the remainder of the semester. Faculty rose to the challenge, putting a distinctive Berry education online. And despite being far from their students, faculty and staff served as avid advisors, guides and mentors who were quick to provide solace to the many students
who missed cherished opportunities to perform, compete, intern and – in the case of seniors – walk the commencement stage in May. Alumni, as always, jumped in to help their own communities in ways big and small, including staying home. Beloved on-campus events were lost, yet alumni found new ways to connect online. And many reached out to their alma mater to offer encouragement to the college and our students, in many cases supporting those most vulnerable through gifts to the Save a Student Scholarship.
ALWAYS BERRY. For stories of service and generosity by the Berry community in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, visit www.AlwaysBerry.com See page 9 for information.
“
The Berry community is strong and resilient. Though we
are struggling, we will get through this together. I wish that I could be on campus right now, but it comforts me to know that the Berry community is even larger than the
”
world’s largest campus.
Class of 2020
Photo by Brant Sanderlin
“
– Berry Alumna
PRESIDENT’S PEN
The buffeting and knocks
Dr. Stephen Briggs
F
or the last 25 years, our nation has been riding a wave of disruptive innovation. Three of the world’s wealthiest companies – Amazon, Google and Facebook – were founded, reshaping our culture. We have come to accept the value of disruption and its inevitability. Now disruption has emerged in a more ancient form. The turmoil and uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic offers an opportunity for us to realize just how much we take for granted the relative health, safety and prosperity we have enjoyed in our lifetime. While we can point to many vexing problems and injustices here in America, we still live in a time and place of unrivaled privilege. A century ago, the Berry Schools endured an earlier pandemic directly in the wake of a devastating world war. As we come to grips with the intensity and abruptness of our current challenge, it is helpful to see this moment through the perspective of Berry history and thereby consider some time-tested yet timely lessons anew. 2
I BERRY
The context In April 1914, Martha Berry journeyed to Europe. After more than a dozen years of exhausting effort on behalf of the Schools, she was, in her own words, “tired and broken down from the work.” She spent several weeks in Italy with her sister before journeying to the hot springs in Carlsbad, then a part of Austria, “to try the cure.” She was there when war broke out. “It came as a clap of thunder from a clear sky,” she wrote. Several titled Russian women, quite ill, were whisked off to the rail station on stretchers. Before long, Martha Berry was the only guest remaining at the inn out of more than 100. There was no easy way for her to leave safely. She decided to brave a route that took her by train to Amsterdam. What should have been a 15-hour trip took six days as passengers were searched at military checkpoints and sidetracked for hours while troop trains passed carrying thousands of soldiers headed to the front. Eventually, Martha gained passage on an overcrowded ship from Rotterdam to New York, borrowing a small couch in another woman’s cabin. Back home, the work of sustaining the Schools turned even more arduous. The Berry Schools had come a long way since 1902, growing from a handful of students to 220 boys and 110 girls and from 80 acres to 2,000. But as the war progressed, ever increasing numbers of boys headed off to Europe. The Schools had little money, and supplies were scarce, as most resources were diverted to the massive war effort. Eventually,
more than 500 members of the Berry community served in the military, and 11 lost their lives. With the armistice of 1918 came the promise of a new dawn. Martha was buoyant. In the March 1919 issue of the Southern Highlander, the school’s official publication from 1907 to 1966, she wrote: “Like a soldier taking stock after the smoke has cleared from off the battlefield, I have been looking back over these seventeen years of the existence of the Berry Schools. My dreams have been tested, and some of them found useless; but through it all the dominating idea of service, which was the foundation stone of the School, has grown and developed.” In the midst of the armistice celebrations, that spirit of service was soon to be tested once more. The “Flu” at Berry As the horrific war was ending,
another catastrophe was already underway. By early 1918, the first wave of an H1N1 virus was spreading rapidly in the United States among soldiers mobilized for war. The second and deadliest wave struck from September to November, and a third wave hit in the spring of 1919. While 15-20 million people died as a result of World War I, more than twice that number died worldwide from the 1918 flu pandemic. Global troop movement and overcrowding contributed to the spread of this H1N1 virus. News reporting of the pandemic was initially suppressed by military censors, except for reporting about neutral nations such as Spain. Hence, the misleading label of the “Spanish flu.” In the same issue of the Southern Highlander that celebrated the end of the war was an article titled “The ‘Flu’ at Berry.” In it, Martha Berry made
a plea for funds to build a new infirmary on campus with needed wards for contagious patients. Infectious diseases were a regular occurrence at the beginning of any new school term: mumps, measles and so on. There was no free hospital nearer than Atlanta. That year, Berry had a perfect storm of influenza, as well as sporadic cases of scarlet fever. Medical care was rudimentary by our standards, with no antibiotics to treat the secondary bacterial infections that can coincide with flu. Nurses were in short supply due to the war. The two small wards at Berry’s existing infirmary were overflowing with 43 sick boys at one time, leaving no room for social distancing. Female students helped with nursing and made surgical masks. Teachers and workers lived in other parts of the building and had to step over cots in the hallway. One teacher gave up her room to a very sick boy, who developed pneumonia and became Berry’s only student to die in the pandemic. Pandemic in perspective This spring, the COVID-19 virus caught America by surprise. It was another “clap of thunder from a clear sky.” Perhaps we thought that our advanced science and technology would make us immune to a pandemic of this sort. Yet, the virus upended our best-laid plans, dislocated our lives and livelihoods, and shuttered the economy. We would do well to look back at Berry 100 years ago for perspective and a pair of lessons that are as timely now as they were then. In Martha Berry’s day, people expected hardship. Physical suffering was close at hand as many died at home. More than half of all deaths occurred before the age of 14, and only 8% after age 65. Infectious disease was the leading cause of death. Today, less than 5% of deaths occur before age 14, and almost 70% occur after 65.
When the pandemic arrived at Berry, Martha and her colleagues were determined and pragmatic. Imagine having survived the sufferings and strictures of world war only to be assaulted by a deadlier adversary. Still, the way forward for Martha, the way to respond to hardship, was to embrace it. She and her colleagues understood that life was fragile and worth fighting for. They set about the task of helping the most vulnerable, of walking toward the risks inherent in service that is self-sacrificial and self-giving. In a similar vein, our nation has recently asked its young people, including many college students, to sacrifice some of life’s special moments, their freedoms, their plans and their incomes to protect the vulnerable members of our communities. Berry seniors missed the opportunity to conclude their final year together. Athletes missed their final season. Research projects were interrupted. Commencement was postponed. For many, the loss has been palpable and not a matter of choice. Still, Martha would have us understand life’s challenges as being part of a larger whole. This is the first lesson. Her response to the flu pandemic was not just stoic resolve. She saw her story in the context of a greater story, for she aimed to leave her part of the world better than she found it. Martha’s life was animated by the vision she had for preparing Berry students for meaningful lives of service. Obligation and opportunity went hand in hand, and it was the “dominating idea of service” – her faith in practice – that gave the greatest joy. She waxed eloquent about this in the 1919 issue of the Southern Highlander quoted earlier: “No potter with his clay, no artist with his colors fresh on the canvas of beauty, no architect with his plans, can equal or surpass in vision what we see when our own boys or girls come to their own.”
a gathering assistants, circa 1919. Facing page, Above, Berry nurse and her volunteer ives. Arch y Berr the from os Phot I. of Berry servicemen after World War
Martha also understood hardship and suffering as a necessary instructor for the learning of character. Looking up at one of the massive oaks on campus, she commented: “All the buffeting it has had, all of the knocks. But it is the knocks that have made it grow.” Turning to a student, she added: “The troubles you have had are what make you.” We want Berry graduates to be resilient, able to withstand setbacks and thrive even in harsh conditions. Although we might wish otherwise, resiliency is forged in moments of loss and suffering. Martha did not shy away from hardship; she leaned into it, recognizing the opportunity for profound growth. That is the second lesson of perspective: “The pursuit of easy things makes us weak. It is the pursuit of the difficult that makes us strong.” Disruption compels change. It exposes self-satisfaction, lays bare our expectations and challenges our assumptions. It provides the buffeting and knocks that help shape our character. COVID-19 also caused real loss and grief. For many of us, the disruption has offered unfamiliar periods of solitude. What a perfect opportunity to pursue further the joy that comes from being part of a larger story.
I’m cold, I ache,
I shiver and shake ,. I cou gh and sneeze, I nearly freeze. My eyes w eep tears, My mother fears
I’ve got the ’flu. At school I’m du mb, My mind is nu mb, I don’t talk w ell, Can’t even spell. My recitations Are hesitation --I’ve got the 'flu. Berry School New s Jan. 15, 1919
3
ers, Dear Read
ries to be many sto nity l il w d n a There are y commu w the Berr o h t u o b a emic tell ID-19 pand V O C e h t lso are faced But there a out life . e n lo a r e togeth et told ab tales not y l fu r struck. e d n o w pandemic e h t re fo e ese at Berry b some of th re a h s to r o n It is our ho w. s that follo e g a p in the al Staff
The Editori
BERRY Published since 2003 for alumni and friends of Berry College and its historic schools. Winner of 16 CASE Awards, including two for Best in Class. Editor Rick Woodall (93C) Contributing Writer and Editor Karilon L. Rogers (FFS) Staff Writer Debbie Rasure Design and Production Craig Hall Chief Photographer Brant Sanderlin
News From You and Gifts Listings Justin Karch (01C, 10G), Jeff Palmer (09C, 11G) and student Kendall Aronson (20C) Contact Information News From You: submit online at berry.edu/ classnotes or email classnotes@berry.edu Change of address: 706-236-2256; 800-782-0130; alumni@berry.edu; or Berry Alumni Office, P.O. Box 495018, Mount Berry, GA 30149 Editorial: rwoodall@berry.edu; 706-378-2870; or Berry magazine, P.O. Box 490069, Mount Berry, GA 30149
Berry Alumni Association President: Jonathan Purser (85C) President-Elect: Patricia Tutterow Jackson (82C) Vice Presidents: Alumni Engagement, Chris Hayes (04C); Berry Culture and Heritage, Dr. Jennifer Dickey (77A, 80C); Financial Support, Aaron Chastain (15C); Alumni Awards, Stephen Williams (86C, 90G) Chaplain: Emmett Long (98C)
Director of Alumni Engagement and Philanthropic Marketing Jennifer Schaknowski Vice President of Marketing and Communications Nancy Rewis Vice President of Advancement Cyndi Court President Stephen R. Briggs
Parliamentarian: Tim Howard (82C) Secretary: Chad Nash (13C)
PHOTO CREDITS Above: Brant Sanderlin Cover: ZoomWorks Photography
BERRY
Vol 106, No. 2 Summer 2020
F E A T U R E S
16
19
22
WARNING! KILLER ALGAE
A LIFETIME COMMITMENT
TEACHER, LEADER, PRINCIPAL
Blue-green algae can kill canines cavorting in lakes and threaten municipal water supplies. Expert Mark Aubel (81C) and his laboratories are national leaders working to keep dogs – and people – safe.
Taylor Paul Worland (10C) has a gift for shining light into darkness, speaking love into silence and bringing hope to hurting hearts.
Dr. Luther McDaniel (99C) saw the need for African American role models in education long before he ever taught a class or drew up a lesson plan.
D E P A R T M E N T S 14
34
Points of Pride
2
Thank You!
Students, faculty, staff and Berry: The best of the best!
President’s Pen The Buffeting and knocks
25
LifeReady
Memory and honor gifts and gifts to named scholarships and work endowments
11
The Campaign for Opportunity
6
Inside the Gate
In the end
It’s about the students: Darryl Delsoin
26
Notable news from Berry
News From You 6
Class Notes – The original social media. And recent deaths in the Berry community
41
14
INSIDE THE GATE
Progress on final capital projects signals end of LifeReady Campaign
A
lthough the newly renovated Betty Anne Rouse Bell Recital Hall at Ford fell silent this spring when a planned dedication concert and other events were put on hold by the COVID-19 pandemic, the generosity of more than 500 alumni and friends ensures that the beautifully renewed structure will “sing” for many years to come. Completion of the $6.3 million renovation, coupled with significant fundraising progress and the beginning of construction for Berry’s new $15.7 million animal science building, provided a remarkable climax for LifeReady: The Berry College Campaign for Opportunity. At press time, giving to the comprehensive multiyear campaign exceeded $134 million for student scholarships, facility enhancements and programmatic advances – all rooted firmly in Berry’s history and mission. Watch for more information on the campaign’s overall impact in our next issue. Many donors to the Ford project gave in recognition of the difference Berry made in the lives of women like Betty Anne Rouse Bell (52H, 56C), whose name now graces the college’s
signature venue for music performance. Their generosity funded a renovation that is as pleasing to the ear as it is to the eye. “The Bell Recital Hall is now the centerpiece of our pursuit to make Berry College an unmatched destination for serious music study,” said Dr. Adam Hayes, associate professor of music and chair of fine arts. “Our students are elated by the much-improved acoustics, expanded stage, and state-of-the-art lighting and sound. And our faculty have made great use of the new technology including the adjustable acoustical banners and the ability to record rehearsals on the spot.” Sophomore Julia Lester was thrilled to become part of Berry history as a member of the Berry Singers, one of the first ensembles to showcase their talents in the new recital hall. “Because of our fabulous donors, I now get to perform in one of the most beautiful spaces I have ever seen,” she stated. “It really is a unique gem that Berry has been able to create for us, for our community and for Georgia. It’s very special to be part of something that will have such an impact on the next generation of music students.” (continued on page 8)
Left: Abby Mayne sings inside the Bell Recital Hall in this photo by Brant Sanderlin. Renovation photos provided by CEVIAN Design Lab.
6
I BERRY
7
INSIDE THE GATE
(continued from page 6)
The new animal science building offers similar promise to students in Berry’s largest major. The 23,000-square-foot classroom and laboratory facility will rise adjacent to McAllister Hall, a location that will encourage collaboration across the science disciplines. Fundraising for the project moved briskly in recent months, reaching 96% of goal by early May. Momentum was fueled by significant gifts from longtime partners who supported the project anonymously. Berry board members also gave generously with leadership and encouragement from Randy Berry – Martha Berry’s great-nephew – and his wife, Nancy. Randy, a longtime trustee, has been tireless in his support of the LifeReady Campaign, providing leadership alongside fellow board member J. Barry Griswell (71C), trustee chair. Completion of the new building is anticipated in 2021. Architectural rendering of the new animal science building provided by Cooper Carry.
8
I BERRY
ALWAYS BERRY! New website highlights stories of service during COVID-19 When the COVID-19 crisis erupted, Jeff Jahn (07C) and his award-winning team at DynamiX immediately began thinking about how they could help clients share good news in the midst of the pandemic. He also looked to his alma mater, quickly offering to develop free of charge a site that would do exactly that. The result is www.AlwaysBerry.com, which launched in late April as a platform highlighting the many ways in which alumni and friends have responded positively to the global pandemic. The site features stories of service, messages of encouragement, and opportunities for members of the greater Berry community to share their own stories and offer support to the college’s neediest students – who have been hit so hard by the financial upheaval caused by the pandemic – through gifts to the Save a Student Scholarship. “Our goal was to help good news find a voice,” Jahn explained of Always Berry and similar sites developed pro bono by the DynamiX team. “Social media and the news tend to focus on the negative stories. We wanted to help Berry and other organizations shine a light on the positive things that are happening all around us right now.” Always Berry puts the spotlight on people like Rebecca Land Segrest (02C), a nurse and faith leader in Rome who set out on Easter Sunday for hard-hit New York City, where she provided relief to health care
Carnegie Foundation Elective Community Engagement Classification
Rebecca Land Segrest (02C) shows off her coworkers’ good-natured gift of toilet paper as she headed to New York.
workers at Columbia University Medical Center, part of New York-Presbyterian Hospital. “As a traveling nurse, I have been in numerous situations where you don’t know what you’re getting into when you respond, but you go, because someone needs your help, praying that your training is enough,” she said. While serving in New York, Segrest also continued in her role as missioner for the Northwest Georgia Canterbury Club through the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, holding virtual meetings with Berry students and those of other local colleges. Be sure to visit www.AlwaysBerry.com to read more about Segrest and many other alumni and friends who embraced Martha Berry’s mission, “Not to be ministered unto, but to minister,” during COVID-19 and shared their stories with us. You also can learn about innovative twists such as Virtual Work Week, a new spin on Berry’s longstanding tradition that provided opportunities for alumni to serve in their communities instead of on campus.
Berry earns Carnegie Community Engagement Classification Berry is one of 119 colleges and universities nationally selected for the 2020 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification signifying institutional commitment to community engagement. “Making a positive difference in our community has been central to the Berry College mission since our founding,” said Provost Mary Boyd. “We see this national recognition by the Carnegie Foundation as a celebration of the breadth and depth of community engagement at Berry and a springboard for continuing this important work with our community partners for years to come.” The classification was awarded based on the recommendation of a national review committee following assessment of an extensive self-study involving many departments across campus. Berry was first granted this classification in 2010. 9
INSIDE THE GATE
Entrepreneurship: Still more innovation Bookstore to become student enterprise Just a space no more: The Berry bookstore will become the college’s newest student enterprise. (Photo by student Rette Solomon)
“Ye Olde Berry Bookstore” just won’t be what it used to be. Not that it ever was old-fashioned in the least. Not for one minute. Soon, however, a campus store will be Berry’s newest student enterprise. And it promises to be something very special. Located in the Krannert Student Center, the shop (to be named with help from students) will feature the usual Berry-branded apparel and items in addition to serving as a storefront for the other student enterprises, stocking a variety of their products, such as Lavender Mountain Dreams’ soaps and scrubs and Viking Creations’ woven table runners and place mats. Ideas brought to life by individual student entrepreneurs also will be showcased. The store alumni knew and loved won’t be selling textbooks (students will purchase those online), but it will be making a substantial contribution to a Berry education by providing undergraduates with a significant learning lab for management, leadership and retail practices. “I’m excited about the new store and the opportunities enterprise and entrepreneurship students will have through it,” said Erika Sprecher, a marketing and management double major with minors in animal science and entrepreneurship and innovation. Sprecher is general manager of the Lavender Mountain Dreams student enterprise and co-owner of two companies, BE 3D and Lamboy Cattle Co. “Giving student entrepreneurs like me the chance to showcase products from their companies is an incredible and unique opportunity.” Another step forward Today’s entrepreneurship education at Berry builds on 20 years of groundwork laid by Professor of Management Dr. Paula Englis, longtime 10
I BERRY
champion of the college’s entrepreneuership programs. In 2019, her efforts blended with those of student enterprises, formerly part of the LifeWorks Program. Now, an array of events and academic offerings are joined together under one umbrella, propelling entrepreneurial learning at Berry to the next level. “Most students across the country are only given these types of opportunities if they are in graduate school or after they complete their degree,” said Dr. Kevin Renshler, director of Berry’s new Center for Student Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development. “Our intention is to give students a chance to gain firsthand knowledge and develop skills while they are still at Berry.” Renshler has an impressive background in working with students to advance skills in business, creativity and engagement, most recently serving as associate director of MiddCORE and professor of practice at Middlebury College. His hiring and other entrepreneurial advances have been made possible by gifts to Berry’s LifeReady Campaign. New minors A minor in entrepreneurship and innovation and one in social entrepreneurship debuted in 2019-20
Left: Jorie Hodapp (Photo by Brant Sanderlin) Right: Erika Sprecher
for students of all majors. The entrepreneurship and innovation minor is designed for students who want to start their own business or lead innovation within an organization, while the social entrepreneurship minor is for students who want to lead change in their communities. Innovative events In the face of the COVID-19 emergency, one of the most exciting events of the year for student entrepreneurs – the PITCH Competition – was not canceled; it went online like all student learning. Nine students pitched their ideas to a panel of judges as they vied for $27,000 in donorfunded prizes. Senior Jorie Hodapp, business management, won top honors in the services division for her virtual baking classes and was the Judges’ Overall Winner, earning $8,000 total. Sprecher took first place in the goods division winning $5,000 for her business producing custom gifts for campus bookstores. In addition, the annual Spark Conference, hosted by the Berry Student Enterprises and sponsored by the Rome Floyd Chamber, was held online this spring with nine student presenters and keynote remarks by Rome Smoothie King owner Jarrod “J.J.” Johnson.
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
W
hen Berry football debuted in fall 2013 and Coach Tony Kunczewski fielded his spirited if eventual 0-9 inaugural team, who could possibly have imagined that a 2020 Berry senior would be seriously considered in the NFL Draft? Perhaps only a very young Mason Kinsey. It almost seems like a dream, but that’s what happened this year. And Vikings everywhere cheered when it was announced April 25 that Kinsey had agreed to a free-agent deal with the Tennessee Titans just minutes after the draft had concluded. He is the first football player in Berry history to earn such an opportunity. How could it have happened? The Berry way, of course. Hard work. The wide receiver finished his Berry career with a Southern Athletic Association-record 3,343 receiving yards and 50 receiving touchdowns. He was among the best of the best on a team that has won four straight SAA championships and earned three consecutive bids to the NCAA Division III playoffs. He was a third-team D3football.com All-American and earned All-SAA first-team honors three years running. Kinsey achieved all of these accolades by working harder than hard – during practice and in games,
FIELD OF NFL DREAMS Photos in “Counting Success” by R. Steven Eckhoff, Alan Storey, Blake Childers (15C) and student Matthew McConnell.
Photo by Brant Sanderlin
COUNTING SUCCESS The disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic was especially difficult on student-athletes at Berry and elsewhere, bringing an abrupt end to spring competition just as it was getting underway. Still, there were many highlights in a muchabbreviated year. Here are just a few:
2 Individual national qualifiers: Meredith Herman (cross country) and Genesis Leggett (weight throw, indoor track and field), both for the second time.
0 Hits allowed by sophomore Garrett West in a complete-game win over Oglethorpe, the first solo no-hitter thrown by a Berry baseball player since Shelby West (01C), Garrett’s uncle, accomplished the feat in 1999.
3 Volleyball All-Americans, Carson VanCampen (first team), Laura Beier (third team) and Emily Hancock (honorable mention).
in his on-campus jobs as a Gate of Opportunity Scholar, and in his classes as a sports management major – and it paid off. Invited as a junior to a showcase event at the University of West Georgia in the spring of 2019, Kinsey had the opportunity to impress representatives of both the Buffalo Bills and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His performance put him on the NFL’s radar, and he intensified his efforts, driving two hours to Norcross, Ga., several times a week for extra training. In the season that followed, 24 NFL teams made it a point to come to Berry to see him play. “Mason is just so competitive and has such a great work ethic,” Kunczewski told profootballnetwork.com. “That’s probably his biggest difference.” Spring forward to January 2020, and Kinsey wow’d NFL scouts as an invited participant in the East-West Shrine Bowl in St. Petersburg, Fla., the nation’s most prestigious college football all-star game. He was the only Division III player invited, competing with and against some of the top Division I players in the country. His star shone brightly. In fact, profootballnetwork.com stated: “Berry College wide receiver and NFL hopeful Mason Kinsey may have helped himself the most of any player in attendance … .” Through it all, it is Kinsey’s faith that has helped him follow his dream. Tattooed on his arm is Proverbs 13:23: “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk only leads to poverty.” With his work ethic, expect to see great things from Kinsey in the years to come – within the NFL perhaps or in ways yet unknown.
1 Social-media sensation and all-around inspiration: Video of Justus Edwards walking across the Centre College football field — site of his significant 2018 injury — went viral after being shared by the likes of ESPN and ABC World News Tonight.
14 Final national ranking for women’s softball, which finished the abbreviated spring season with a 12-2 overall record under (since-promoted) interim Coach Emily Stanley.
2 Southern Athletic Association dynasties: The Berry football team won the SAA title for the fourth consecutive year. Volleyball made it three in a row.
41 Career goals for senior Jake Williamson, a new record for Berry men’s soccer in the NCAA era.
11
INSIDE THE GATE
Leadership changes bring new deans, new opportunity Top-level academic leadership changes will give four highly regarded longtime faculty members the chance to take on new roles this fall. Dr. Jackie McDowell, dean of the Charter School of Education and Human
relations, while Breton is committing more time to research. Filling their very large shoes are Dr. Alice Suroviec, professor and chair of chemistry and biochemistry, who has been tapped as SMNS dean after a
Sciences, and Dr. Gary Breton, dean of the School of Mathematical and
national search; and Dr. Alan Hughes, professor and chair of psychology,
Natural Sciences, both are stepping down June 30 to return to the classroom.
who will serve as interim dean of the Charter School. They are assuming
McDowell also is expanding her work as assistant provost for external
their new roles July 1.
Transforming education
of forensic psychology, sports psychology and a minor in applied behavioral analysis. Hughes, a member of the psychology faculty since 2007, is well positioned to step in as interim dean, having served on numerous committees and task forces across campus. A participant in the Council of Independent College’s 2019-20 Senior Leadership Academy, Hughes is currently working with Suroviec to help academic departments collegewide improve their institutional effectiveness plans.
Breton began his academic career at Berry in 1994, quickly rising through the ranks to serve two terms as chair of chemistry and biochemistry. In 2013, he was
named F.E. Callaway Professor of Chemistry and interim SMNS dean. A year later, his appointment as dean was made permanent. Breton has worked closely with his colleagues to develop and refresh curricula, enhance learning environments, advance teaching methodologies, and enrich and expand scholarship opportunities for faculty and students. Breton also oversaw the design, construction and curation of McAllister Hall’s Irene and Dewey Large Museum; established a dual-degree astronomy program with the University of Hawaii at Hilo; and worked with Dr. Tom Kennedy, dean of the Evans School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, to establish the interschool Department of Environmental Science and Studies.
Suroviec joined the Berry faculty in 2007 and became chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in 2016. A consummate teacher and colleague, she is a recipient of the First-Year Advocate Award and the Dave and Lu Garrett Award for Meritorious Teaching and has served in many campus leadership positions such as chair of the Faculty Assembly and the Institutional Effectiveness Committee. She is active in her field nationally, serving on the board of The Electrochemical Society and the Society for Electroanalytical Chemists. In 2019, she was a participant in the Association of American Colleges and Universities STEM Leadership Institute.
Alan Hughes
Gary Breton
Alice Suroviec
Advancing science
Photos by Brant Sanderlin
During her 22 years as dean, McDowell led the transformation of Berry’s teacher-education program into one of the most significant in the country. Advances under her leadership include rebuilding the education curriculum, overseeing the renovation of the historic Cook Building as a new home for the Charter School, instituting yearlong student-teaching experiences, and launching the South Rome Early Learning Center. Also during her tenure, McDowell led the restructuring of Berry’s physical education department into the Department of Kinesiology, a move that paved the way for the creation of the exercise science and sports administration programs. Berry’s psychology department also saw exceptional growth, including the addition
Jackie McDowell
12
I BERRY
e)2019 isOod ce BrE-R 1 R Yep PE PLE du ro (p s) ie er S V chup (T Christmas Cookie Mat er - 1 episode) 2018 uc od pr ve ti cu xe (e s) ie Buying It Blind (TV Ser )2018 named Coleman ve producer ti cu xe (e s) ie er S V (T odes) 2016-2017 is ep 8 Family by the Ton er uc od pr e iv Berry trustee V Series) (co-execut (T e dg Lo ek re C r be odes, 2015) is Tim ep 7 er uc od pr e iv John Coleman (04C) was eries) (co-execut , 2012 - 2014) eswhile od is 8 It Takes a Sister (TV S a ep leader at Berry er uc od pr e iv a student. Now he is a V Series) (co-execut (T ap w S e if W ty ri eb el C ) 13 0 leader for Berry as a newly 2 ive producer ut ec ex o(c s) ie appointed member er S V 13 of the 0Trustees. )2 es Scrubbing In (T od is ep 6 er Board of uc od s) (co-executive pr Today, the-2 2004 12 0national 010 )2 espublic Double Divas (TV Serie od is ep 8 er uc od speaking champion – pr g s) (consultin ie er S V (T s ar W who also holds two advanced ge ra Sto
Brant Sanderlin
A C U LT U R E OF ME NTORSHIP
“Reality” producer shares inside info Jenifer Faison (92C) helped Ty Pennington “Move that bus!” on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition as a producer of the ABC reality show at the height of its mid-2000s’ popularity. Most recently, she has been serving as producer or executive producer of a variety of reality shows airing on Bravo, Netflix and MTV. This spring, she shared insider information about her world of work with Berry communication students in the Media and Entertainment Industries course taught by Dr. Curt Hersey (93C). “She gave us some really good information about how she got started, as well as the good and difficult things about the industry,” sophomore Johannah Huber said. “I was grateful for her talking about being a freelance worker because most people don’t know about that option in this field.” As for Faison, the communication graduate could not have been any clearer about her alma mater when profiled in the Winter 2006-07 issue of Berry magazine: “I would not be the person I am today without the experiences of Berry. It was the best gift I have ever received. I hope the professors all know that they are part of the success of every one of us.”
degrees from Harvard – is a senior executive at Invesco, a $1.2 trillion asset manager in Atlanta. Coleman is a regular online contributor to the Forbes Leadership Channel and The Harvard Business Review, focusing on personal development and leadership issues. In 2018, he was a Presidential Leadership Scholar. Coleman also has been active on numerous boards in support of education, including past appointment by Gov. Nathan Deal to the board of the 100,000-student DeKalb County School District, as well as the Georgia Student Finance Commission, which oversees $1 billion per year in awards, including the HOPE Scholarship. He currently serves on the boards of the Georgia Independent College Association and the Georgia Charter Schools Association.
Promotions and tenure Eight members of the Berry faculty earned promotion and/or tenure during the February 2020 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Promoted to professor: Dr. Renee Carleton, biology Dr. Tim Knowlton, anthropology Dr. Chris Mowry, biology Promoted to clinical associate professor: Dr. Tanya Naguszewski, nursing
“I would not be the person I am today without the experiences of Berry.”
Awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor: Dr. Stefanie Cash, music Dr. Matthew Lee, philosophy Dr. Samantha Nazione, communication Dr. Zachary Taylor, environmental science and studies
— Jenifer Faison 13
POINTS OF PRIDE
His place in the solar system
Dr. Todd Timberlake, professor of physics and astronomy, has found his niche in our galaxy and beyond. The author of Finding Our Place in the Solar System [Cambridge University Press] is part of the 18-member international Open Source Physics team that won the 2020 Excellence in Physics Education Award of the American Physical Society. With grant support from the National Science Foundation, the team has developed a vast resource of materials – including Timberlake’s many astronomy simulations – freely available to physics professors everywhere.
One healthy step Dr. Bruce Conn, Gund professor of biology, has been named to the editorial board of the international journal One Health, the premier journal in a field aimed at achieving optimal health outcomes worldwide by recognizing the interconnection between people, animals and plants and their shared environment. Conn joins scholars from across the globe on this board as he represents Berry’s One Health Center. Berry was the first U.S. college to develop a One Health program specifically for undergraduates, and many current students and recent alumni have adopted the minor to better prepare themselves for medical school. 14
I BERRY
Acting out Senior Hannah Avery earned the opportunity to audition before dozens of professional theatre companies at the Southeastern Theatre Conference’s annual spring convention in true leading-lady style, earning highest female score among the nearly 300 other participants in last fall’s SETC State Screening Auditions. Berry students Katie Cooley, Kenny Morgan and Hannah Runner also qualified for the conference’s professional auditions.
Meek, she’s not “Fierce” is the word used to describe Dr. Sandra Meek’s latest collection of poetry, Still, which has been named a “new and noteworthy poetry book” by The New York Times Book Review. The frequently and nationally lauded Dana professor of English and creative writing has “long dwelled darkly on humanity’s environmental impact,” according to the NYT’s review.
Photos on this page by Brant Sanderlin
Experience x30
Brant Sanderlin
She’s had 30 years of experience at Berry, many of them leading the programs designed to help new students adjust to the demands of college life. Now Katherine Powell, retiring director of the Office of First-Year Experience, has received the 2020 Outstanding FirstYear Student Advocate award from the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition. The award very aptly applauds Powell for her exceptional work in the areas of student learning, development and success, but she already had thousands of graduates proving it.
In tune with InToneNation
The national awards scene for student communicators has a new kid on the block: Valkyrie, Berry’s student-produced lifestyle and culture magazine. The publication took home a third-place win and a Certificate of Merit at the Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s Gold Circle Awards. As for other national awards won by our student communicators, how do we report thee? Let us count the ways:
5 1 2 1 1
COLLEGE MEDIA ASSOCIATION PINNACLE AWARDS Two 1sts, One 2nd, Two Honorable Mentions COLLEGE BROADCASTERS INC. VISUAL MEDIA FESTIVAL AWARDS One 1st CMA 2019 FILM AND AUDIO FESTIVAL AWARDS One 2nd, One 3rd CBI NATIONAL STUDENT PRODUCTION AWARDS One 3rd NATIONAL COLLEGE MEDIA CONVENTION AWARDS One 5th
Add to that two individual forensic champions and a fourth-place team finish at Novice Nationals (along with state and regional communication honors too numerous to mention), and we can only say, “Bravo!”
Shoccara S. Marcus of Shocphoto in Atlanta, Ga.
National win after win after win
As a member of the group InToneNation, music-education major Trejohn Skinner harmonized his way to a national high school acapella championship. Now, as a Berry freshman who hopes to one day encourage young performers of the future, he and InToneNation have claimed runner-up honors at the international Varsity Vocals AcaOpen. And speaking of Skinner, he was one of three Berry students winning classical singing honors at the Georgia Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition. Carrie Sturniolo and Julia Lester earned first place for senior and sophomore women, respectively, and Skinner took second place for freshmen men.
Oh please, we’re blushing! It’s getting a bit embarrassing (not really) seeing Berry on the “A list” again. And again. And again. One of the latest accolades is Berry’s inclusion on Great Value Colleges’ list of the “50 Most Inspired College Campuses: Unique Designs to Enlighten Minds.” And our school is one of the nation’s most environmentally responsible according to The Princeton Review, earning placement in The Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges: 2019 Edition. Now, let’s talk about U.S. News and World Report’s “best colleges” rankings. Here are some impressive numbers, all among regional universities in the South.
#1
Best Value (Quality vs. Net Cost)
#2
Best Undergraduate Teaching
#4 #10 Overall Best College
Most Innovative Schools
15
KILLE
16
I BERRY
Courtesy of GreenWater Laboratories/CyanoLab
ER ALGAE Mark Aubel’s work is helping keep dogs – and people – safe
J
ust imagine taking your beloved dog – your fur baby – out for a romp at the local lake on a sun-splashed summer day only to find yourself hours later choosing between burial and cremation for your innocent companion. That’s exactly what’s happened in recent years to dog owners across the nation, from Florida to Texas and from California to North Carolina and Georgia. Although not proved in all cases, the suspected killer is an ancient one: cyanotoxins produced by blue-green algae. Despite the advanced age of these microscopic murderers, the body of science surrounding them is extremely limited, as are laboratories capable of rapid identification and analysis. The original – and one of the most respected – is GreenWater Laboratories/ CyanoLab in Palatka, Fla., owned by Mark Aubel (81C), an analytical chemist who also serves as company president. “When GreenWater was started as a new venture by our parent company in 2001, it was the only private lab in the country that did this kind of work,” Aubel related. “I was able to purchase the lab in 2005, and a combination of factors has led to a marked increase in business. There has been an increase in harmful blue-green algae blooms (HAB) and in public awareness, and both have led to an increase in state and federal agencies needing to deal with the problems these blooms can bring, particularly over the last 10 years.” Aubel’s lab has worked with such federal agencies as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Geologic Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Forestry Service and Environmental Protection Agency, as well as agencies and municipalities of more than 20 states and many private clients. The lab also provides services internationally, with clients in Europe, Central and South America, the Middle East, China, and Canada. His team is small – only seven in all – but is extremely adept at confirming the presence of blue-green algae and then rapidly identifying any specific toxins produced in the water, normally within 24 hours. The staff also handles the culture, harvesting and purification of cyanotoxins for diagnostic and
Story by Karilon L. Rogers
research purposes, the ‘CyanoLab’ end of the company’s business. “I can’t overstate the quality of the people who work here,” Aubel said. “For example, our senior phycologist, Andy Chapman, is one of the best in the world at identifying types of algae, and Amanda Foss, a chemist and toxicologist, is currently providing some authorship to the upcoming revised edition of a World Health Organization publication on toxic blue-green algae in water.”
What you need to know
Blue-green algae isn’t algae. It looks like algae and acts like algae, forming that disgusting, thick green layer of scum on stagnant or slow-moving areas of water. It’s actually bacteria – cyanobacteria to be specific – which often produces one or more cyanotoxins. These toxins fall into three main groups based on what they damage – liver, skin or nerve cells. But some can be harmful in more ways than one. Microcystin, the most commonly found toxin, causes liver damage but also is harmful to the kidneys and is a possible cause of cancer. Dogs are most at-risk because they are much less discriminating than humans about the type of water they find attractive to leap into and what slimeridden object they might emerge with in their mouths. Also, when they swim and play, they tend to drink the water and then lick whatever is on their fur or paws when they emerge. And even if the body of water doesn’t appear to have algae on its surface, the killer could be lurking below, attaching to Fido’s fur to be licked later. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, symptoms of toxicity in dogs include seizures, panting, excessive drooling, respiratory failure, diarrhea, disorientation, vomiting, liver failure and death. If your dog has been near suspicious water and exhibits any of these symptoms, get him or her to a vet immediately.
Photography by Brant Sanderlin 17
Not a pet owner?
So, why does all this matter if you don’t own pets? Because cyanotoxins don’t just affect animals swimming in algae-infested lakes and rivers; they also can invade municipal water supplies. In the summer of 2018, for example, cyanotoxins in the drinking water of Salem, Ore., rose above EPA health advisory levels for vulnerable populations, including small children. Drinking water advisories were issued first for five days and soon after for nearly a month, but that was just part of the problem. “All industries using Salem’s water for food production also had to test for the safety of their products – from frozen dinner companies to soy sauce production,” explained Aubel, whose laboratory played a major role in helping the city and its water-using industries recover. “Soy sauce was the most difficult for us to test, but we also were inundated with maraschino cherries. We had jars everywhere!” There have been more serious cyanotoxin disasters in other countries. In 1996, 46 people died in Brazil when improperly filtered, microcystin-tainted water was used in their dialysis center in the town of Caruaru. Because of the safety standards in place in the U.S., such an event should never happen here.
Should you be afraid?
Experts agree that HABs are increasing due to fertilizers and untreated sewage entering water systems, as well as drought and rising temperatures, but Aubel believes that, with monitoring and knowledge, the ability to keep people and animals safe can be relatively straightforward and undemanding. Monitoring
for public water-supply safety has expanded exponentially in recent years, and any toxins identified in drinking water systems can be eliminated. And you need not fear all algae on ponds and rivers, but it is a good idea to use your head about where you choose to swim. “People should use common sense,” Aubel emphasized. “If it looks pretty bad, I would say avoid it, particularly with your animals. As for people, we worry about young children and those who are health-compromised.”
Looking to the future
Aubel and his team are on the cutting edge of research about microcystin toxicity in dogs, beginning to work extensively with veterinarians and veterinary schools across the nation. His 2019 paper, Diagnosing Microcystin Intoxication of Canines: Clinicopathological Indications, Pathological Characteristics, and Analytical Detection in Postmortem and Antemortem Samples, looked at six dogs exposed in 2018 to a HAB in Martin County, Fla. One of the animals died, but five lived. The study proved that all had been sickened by microcystin and provided a unique opportunity to acquire samples from living patients. Results demonstrated not only that the toxin remained in the animals for an extended period, but also that urine tests, not blood tests, revealed the highest toxin levels. “We are looking to define a matrix for exposure that is not post-mortem and found that urine is better than blood,” Aubel stated, sharing also that these results may have an impact on human medicine: “The CDC is currently looking at blood, so our work may affect what they choose to do.”
Analytical chemist by default and at heart Born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Mark Aubel grew up hearing about Berry. His mother, Martha Perkins Aubel (48C), is an alum, as are several other relatives. “I had scholarship offers from other schools and nothing but work opportunity at Berry, but I chose Berry,” he stated. “I played the piano, and Stan Pethel (now professor of music emeritus) probably sealed the deal. He was into electronic music at the time, and I took a one-hour composition class with him every quarter for four years.” Aubel said he became a chemistry major at Berry “by default” but went on to earn a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry at the University of Georgia. He then did a post-doctorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory/ University of Tennessee and worked for 12 years as a research scientist in the Florida paper industry before moving to GreenWater Labs in 2002. “I was an analytical chemist at heart and became frustrated in the corporate world as I was unable to buy the instrumentation I needed,” Aubel said. “At GreenWater, I was able to build the analytical end from
18
I BERRY
the ground up: Cyanotoxin qualitative and quantitative work utilizes liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. “In fact, it was not until this job that I could say, ‘This is what it is all about.’ That’s why I now tell interns and graduate students who come to work with us, ‘It’s a journey. Don’t get too frustrated. If you’re not happy with what you’re doing, continue to look.’” Today, Aubel and wife Lee, whom he married in 1987, live on the St. John’s riverfront, and when he’s not working, you’ll find him fishing or visiting with his parents, who are now in their 90s and live nearby. He is adamant when he talks about his alma mater. The word he chooses is “proud.” “I am proud to be an alum,” he declared. “I am proud of what Berry stands for. I have my degree and pictures of the Ford Buildings on my office wall, and I’m proud to show people where I went to college.” And the chemistry major “by default” emphasized: “I’m proud of the academic foundation I had when I moved on to UGA for my Ph.D.”
T A Y L O R
P A U L
W O R L A N D
A Lifetime Commitment Not to be ministered unto, but to minister
By Debbie Rasure Photography by Brant Sanderlin
T
aylor Paul Worland (10C) has a gift for shining light into darkness, speaking love into silence and bringing hope to hurting hearts. As an early intervention specialist with Georgia PINES (Parent Infant Network for Educational Services), Worland teaches parents of infants and toddlers with significant vision or hearing loss – or both – how to communicate with their vulnerable children. But her expertise goes far beyond her one-ofa-kind graduate-degree specialization in deafblindness and her status as a national 2010 Helen Keller Fellow, one of only 10 selected annually. When Worland walks through a family’s door, she brings a deep empathy born of the personal experience of parenting her own child with special needs. “The connection I have with moms and dads is so real because we’re living life together,” Worland said. “It’s so encouraging for parents to see someone who is excited to meet their child with special needs, someone who is comfortable playing and interacting with them.”
With the ice broken, Worland begins learning as much as she can about the child’s birth history and diagnosis, as well as the parents’ concerns and priorities. Whether the little one has vision or hearing impairment or both, Worland’s primary goal is to help improve communication and increase language acquisition – skills that will prepare the child at age 3 to enter the school system, where additional educational services are available. Worland works simultaneously with as many as eight West Georgia families in her role with Georgia PINES, a state Department of Education program provided free of charge to families with children from birth to age 3.
By Karilon L. Rogers Photography by Brant Sanderlin
FINDING HER CALLING Worland came to Berry with a deep faith and a desire to do something with her life that truly matters. The Thomaston, Ga., native had set her sights on a career in medical research at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital until she took a class with then-Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Alan Hughes. 19
Worland uses clay to assist a visually-impaired child with her sense of touch.
Hughes was quick to recognize his student’s passion for the mysteries of the brain, neurology and psychology and her interest in children. Thinking colleague Dr. Michelle Haney would make a great mentor, he introduced them. His instincts were spot on. “Dr. Haney thinks outside the box,” Worland said. “Her Exceptional Children and Youth class opened my eyes to all the different areas within the special-needs realm where I could make an impact. It taught me to think differently about ways I can help people. It shaped me and pushed me toward where I was supposed to be.” Haney, who now serves as director of Berry’s Applied Behavioral Analysis/ Autism program, remembers Worland as an extraordinary student who would come into her office before class to explore ideas. “She really had a heart to be an advocate for the most vulnerable,” Haney said. “Of all the students I’ve known, Taylor really has Martha Berry’s spirit. She’s just incredibly compassionate and strong. And she doesn’t back down. When she sees a need, she figures out a way to meet it. My heart is bursting with joy that she chose to work with children with disabilities.” AN UNEXPECTED AWAKENING It is often said that God works in mysterious ways, and in Worland’s life that rings very true. When a class assignment paired her with Matt and Gwen 20
I BERRY
Sirmans of Rome and their 3-year-old daughter, Ivey, who was born with a rare genetic disorder that caused her to be blind and have hearing loss, Worland’s heart opened to something totally unexpected. The Sirmans welcomed Worland into every aspect of their lives, allowing her to observe Ivey’s therapy and preschool experience, as well as their private family life. Worland saw the triumphs and the struggles that are all part of raising a child with special needs and became very close to the family. “It changed my life in every way,” Worland recalled. “What could have been a small moment in my college experience became a life-changing moment. I saw it all from a mom’s perspective. When you’re not expecting something like this, and it hits you ... the people, the paperwork, taking care of a child with special needs ... it’s overwhelming. I was able to see a glimpse of everything that Gwen had done for Ivey. She was an incredible role model, and I knew I wanted to be like that. I wanted to be a mom who would do whatever it took for her child.” A KINDRED HEART As Worland’s love for working with special-needs children grew, so did her friendship with a young man she’d met freshman year, Craig Worland (10c). Although Craig left Berry after that first year to attend the University of Georgia, the two kept in touch, talking “all the time.” By senior year, their sweet friendship had deepened into love.
“She really had a heart to be an advocate for the most vulnerable. Of all the students I’ve known, Taylor really has Martha Berry’s spirit.” – Dr. Michelle Haney Worland with daughter Julie and, below, husband Craig.
“I had dated others and so had he, but no one compared to him,” Worland explained. “We had built such a solid foundation as friends that I knew there was no one I wanted to be with more than him, and he felt the same. Everything about us as a couple aligned – our faith, even the fact that God had placed in our hearts the desire to adopt. It felt very ‘meant to be.’” The years following Worland’s Berry graduation passed in a whirlwind. She earned a Master of Education degree in communicative disorders and education of the deaf/hard-of-hearing with a focus on deaf-blindness at Utah State University. Craig proposed, and the day before they married he was commissioned as an officer in the Marine Corps. At their Georgia wedding, Gwen served as Worland’s matron of honor, Ivey as her flower girl and Ivey’s two brothers as ringbearers. The newlyweds began their life together in Georgia before moving to Quantico, Va., where Worland launched her career, and then to North
Carolina. Before Craig left the military for a career in health care administration and they settled for good in Carrollton, Ga., the couple landed at Southern California’s Camp Pendleton for four years. There they felt the timing was right to put the final piece of their family in place. LEAP OF FAITH The Worlands began their journey into parenthood by acquiring licensure with the San Diego County foster care system. They expressed a desire to help the often overlooked: siblings, older children and those with special needs. Little did they know the challenges – and joys – God had in store. The first week they were licensed, the couple was asked to consider siblings Joseph, 5, and Julie, 3, who had been in the system, returned to their mother, and removed again for their safety. All totaled, they had been moved 12 times within foster care. Joseph suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and was later diagnosed with anxiety and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Julie had suffered a traumatic brain injury from Shaken Baby Syndrome. She couldn’t feed herself or speak, had many sensory issues and sleep disturbances, and would bite herself to the point of bleeding when frustrated. Later, she was also diagnosed with autism. If these children were to have any chance in life, it was clear they needed a forever home and parents able to protect and take care of them. The Worlands took a leap of faith and fostered and adopted them, taking care to always keep their birth mother a part of their lives. Characterizing their first year together as a struggle, Worland said she relied on two things: her faith and her training. “Adoption is the perfect picture of what God does for us,” she explained. “He takes us into His family and loves us, despite anything we’ve done, anything we’ve been through, anything we bring to the table. It’s the same way with our kids. It’s been really hard, but it continues to blow my mind how much my schooling helps me with Julie. I’m using the same techniques I learned working with children with special needs at Berry and USU. It’s now five years down the road, and we’re beginning to see how God can transform difficult, broken lives into something really beautiful.” In 2010, the mom from Worland’s “assignment” and now lifelong friend, Gwen, wrote in her blog about the student who had been visiting their home: “Just like my daughter, she is special. I can only dream of the people she will touch in her lifetime. The difference she will make.” Just 10 years after graduating from Berry, Worland is well on her way to fulfilling Gwen’s dream. We can only imagine what lies ahead. 21
Teacher
r e d Lea Principal By Rick Woodall
Photos c ourtesy o f Dr. Luth
er McDa n
D
r. Luther McDaniel (99C) saw the need for African American role models in education long before he ever taught a class or drew up a lesson plan. Although blessed himself to grow up with a father who was a teacher and a coach, he found few African American role models – especially men – in the Rome schools he attended. He was determined to help fill the gap when he arrived at Berry as a freshman in 1995. “Encouraging minority students to pursue teaching is very important,” he said in the spring 1996 Berry Chronicle. “I want to give someone else a positive black role model – something they might not have otherwise.” Consider that mission accomplished. Community builder Today, McDaniel is completing his 12th year as a principal in Athens, Ga., and his first at Gaines Elementary School, where 70% of the 520 students are African American. He took the assignment 22
I BERRY
iel and H
arold Fais on
knowing that Gaines ranks among the state’s poorest and lowest-performing schools. When he walks the halls, he’s not simply a symbol of discipline or authority. He’s an example students can relate to and aspire to emulate. “I feel like my whole path from Berry to this school year has really developed me to meet the needs of this specific community,” said the husband and father of two. “I just feel like it was a calling on my life to be here.” In his first year at Gaines, McDaniel has strived to infuse a new culture at the school, working with teachers and staff to create connections and build pride among the students and parents. He went so far as to design a new logo for the school and craft a new slogan: “We Make Gaines.” “The ‘we’ is all of us,” he explained. “‘We Make Gaines.’ Not poverty. Not our school zone that people will complain about by saying it was drawn to set us up for failure. ‘We Make Gaines.’ We, the adults.”
e
at w ay h t t s e he bthe only w e t e v r e s “Thvee,ybdeceause tghoaitn’sg to ohveeyrrcoeamlly ha ’re es that t r McDaniel y e h t t tha he challeng . -Dr. Luthe all t ’t ask for “ didn
Often, McDaniel and his staff must address difficulties faced outside the school before they can help students achieve in the classroom. “When you’re dealing with children who come from cycles of poverty that you have committed yourself and your work to disrupting, there are certain things that you just can’t overlook or ignore,” he stated. “It could be something as simple as a child not wanting to come to school on ‘pajama day’ because his mama can’t afford to buy him pajamas, so I run over to Walmart. “It’s something Sofia McDaniel [his daughter] never has to worry about,” he added. “It’s something that I never experienced. I never worried about where I was going to sleep tonight. I never worried about whether I was going to eat between lunch today and breakfast at school tomorrow, so I’ve had to develop an awareness and tap into my own sense of empathy while leading our staff to help meet the students’ needs.” Finding his path As a child, McDaniel never imagined that Berry would be the entry point to his career in educational leadership. In his mind, the campus on the north side of town was a place to ride bicycles, not a source of opportunity – at least not for him. “Growing up in Rome as an African American male, I never considered Berry,” he recalled. “Berry just was not for me. People who went to
Berry didn’t look like me, and those who did look like me I couldn’t relate to.” His outlook changed when the late Dr. Leo Anglin reached out with an offer to participate in the Pathways scholarship program for minority teacher-education students. McDaniel was among the very first students to participate in Pathways, which continues to provide financial and professional-development support for Berry students today. McDaniel was flattered by the opportunity but unsure he measured up academically. Still, he took the chance and quickly discovered a welcoming community that was excited to embrace him as one of its own. “I was elected freshman class president,” he stated. “That really encouraged me to realize that my classmates saw beyond my color. I wasn’t just a black student at Berry – I was Luther.” McDaniel was elected class president each of his four years at Berry – continuing a trend that dated back to his selection as “fire chief” for his fifth-grade class – to go along with other leadership positions. In 1997, he was named Outstanding Representative for the Student Government Association, and his senior year he received the prestigious Coca-Cola Minority Achievement Award. Providing guidance throughout were staff members overseeing the Pathways program and his work supervisor and mentor at The Martha
Berry Museum, the late Lillian Farmer. “She embraced me almost like a grandson,” McDaniel said. “There was mentoring from her, there was support, and there was some accountability at times.” McDaniel began working for Farmer the summer before his freshman year and continued throughout his Berry career, honing skills he would later use as a teacher while sharing stories of Berry history with museum guests and on campus tours. “The ability to turn Berry history into a story is really what I carried over into my classroom,” he said. “There were certain ways that you could share the history with certain groups that made it interesting, that made it relatable, and that’s really the approach that I took as I was teaching. Everybody who says, ‘I hated history’ or ‘history was my worst subject’ – well, you didn’t have me for a teacher.” Heeding the call McDaniel’s career in education started as a student-teacher at his alma mater, Rome High School. He continued teaching at Rome after graduating from Berry and at the tender age of 28 earned promotion to assistant principal. Although a source of great pride for his family, the promotion put him in the potentially uncomfortable position of supervising colleagues who had once been his teachers. 23
Charter School of Education & Human Sciences
BERRY PRINCIPALS Dr. Luther McDaniel (99C) isn’t the only Berry graduate providing leadership and guidance for Georgia’s school children. In fact, a growing number of state educators – 121 in the last five “I didn’t go into it trying to be a boss,” he said. “That would have been a huge mistake and probably would have taken my career trajectory in another direction. My leadership style is servant leadership, so even at that point I was just trying to serve and support. I did not feel the need to be a boss and exert my positional power.” McDaniel’s desire to serve others — fueled by his strong faith — ultimately led him to Gaines Elementary School. At the time, he was considering a new path as a principal supervisor after 11 years as principal at Whitehead Road Elementary School, also in Athens. He even went so far as to participate in the National Principal Supervisor Academy, but the further he went down that road, the more he realized that his true calling was at the school level working with students – specifically those at Gaines. “When I left Whitehead Road, I was the only principal most of those children ever knew,” he said. “That’s the commitment that I want to make to the Gaines population. They deserve a good education. They deserve a good principal. They deserve the best that we have, because that’s the only way that they’re going to overcome all the challenges that they really didn’t ask for.” Heart work Those challenges were only heightened by the prolonged disruption in day-to-day activities necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Like 24
I BERRY
educators elsewhere, McDaniel and his staff rose to the task, working together to meet critical needs and ensure that students knew they still had a home at Gaines, even if they couldn’t physically attend classes. “Gaines Elementary is obviously referred to as a school and is often referred to as a family, but this past week we were a community,” McDaniel said in late March as his school transitioned to remote learning. “Our primary concern was whether our kids would have enough food to eat. As our district developed a plan to provide meals to students during the school closure, our teachers showed up to create packets of learning activities, to check out digital devices to students and to serve on the meal-delivery buses.” On a whim, McDaniel reached out to the University of Georgia food services department to see if any perishable food items were available for possible donation to the Gaines community. The response was 130 gallons of milk, dozens upon dozens of eggs, and lots of yogurt for East Athens families. “It seems odd to think that with no kids in our building, this might have been one of the busiest weeks I have ever had as a principal,” McDaniel reflected. “But this also might have been one of the most meaningful weeks I have had in my 12 years as a principal: A servant leader engaged in a full week of pure service to my school community. Hard work but, most importantly, HEART work.”
years alone – have chosen to become “Berry principals” by augmenting their skills through participation in targeted graduate and specialist programs offered by Berry’s Charter School of Education and Human Sciences. Berry is currently partnering with five school systems – Cobb, Bartow, Cherokee, Floyd and Rome City – to help fill a shortage of educational leaders identified by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. Participants benefit from a combination of online and in-person instruction, with guidance from mentors designated by the participating systems as well as “coaches” assigned by Berry, many of them former principals, superintendents or curriculum directors. “We have built a program that’s really caught the attention of school districts that want to partner with us,” said Dr. Jackie McDowell, Charter School dean. “It’s based in the schools, technologically facilitated, culturally responsive and academically sound. That’s the head, heart and hands of it all.” For more information, contact Monica Willingham at mwillingham@berry.edu.
Helping students become LifeReady These generous alumni and friends made gifts, pledges, bequests and estate commitments of $10,000 or more from July 1, 2019, to Jan. 31, 2020. We extend heartfelt thanks to them and to all who make a gift of any size to Berry.
Clinton G. Ames Jr., $20,000 for the Gate of Opportunity Scholarship
Peter N. (53H, 57C) and Emmaline Beard (55H, 59C) Henriksen, $10,000 for the Henry and Jessie
Anonymous, $4 million for the animal science building Anonymous, $2 million for the animal science building
Henriksen Endowed Scholarship
Trevor Norris and Sheri Pittman Hooper, $19,895 for
William B. Stokely Jr. Foundation, $10,000 for the William B. Stokely Jr. Scholarship
Robert Earl Swarthout III (04C) and Tessa Frye Swarthout (07C), $15,000 for the animal science
and Ford Auditorium renovation
Blackstone Hall and Sisters Theatre
building
Anonymous, $1 million for the animal science building Anonymous, $10,000 for the Kathy Brittain Richardson
Raija Itzchaki, $11,500 in-kind gift of a bay
Michelle and Steve Tart, $11,000, with $10,000 for the Football Team Booster Club Fund and $1,000 for the Jack Morgan Endowed Scholarship
thoroughbred gelding horse
Faculty/Staff Leadership Fund
George D. (64C) and Starlet Rhodes (64C) Jones,
ARAMARK Corp., $38,949 for the general fund Jimmy (60C) and Luci Hill (60C) Bell, $110,810 for the
$19,149, with $17,025 for the Larry and Betty Jane Taylor Endowed Gate of Opportunity Scholarship and $2,124 for the Starlet Rhodes Jones Scholarship
science building
Hubert Judd Charitable Trust, $20,000 for the animal
Barnwell Chapel
animal science building
Belladonna Foundation, $300,000 for the animal science building
Randy and Nancy Berry, $252,500 for the animal science building
Arthur M. (57c) and Jeanne Hourigan (57c) Burch, $26,000 in-kind gift of land that ultimately will fund an endowed scholarship
Callaway Foundation, $61,070 for the F.E. Callaway
Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation, $587,000 for the
Thomas M. and Irene B. Kirbo Charitable Foundation,
Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholars Fund
$20,000 for the Ford Auditorium renovation
Ray M. and Mary Elizabeth Lee Foundation, $10,000 for the Ray M. and Mary Elizabeth Lee Scholarship John (54H) and Debra Lie-Nielsen, $28,000 for the John Lie-Nielsen Scholarship
Charles A. McPeake, $10,000 in-kind gift of a gray
Dan T. and Rhonda Cathy, $25,000 for the Truett and Jeannette Cathy Expendable Scholarship
quarter horse
Auditorium renovation
Al (61c) and Becky Browning (61C) Christopher, $10,000 for the Barnwell Renovation Fund
Marti and Joe Walstad, $10,000 for the renovation of
science building
Professorship
Leslie Jane Choitz (76C), $15,617 for the Ford
Lowell M. Underwood (49C), $58,580 for the animal
Amos Montgomery Jr., $10,000, with $8,000 for the Amos Montgomery Endowed Scholarship and $2,000 for the Hamilton/Smith Scholarship Audrey Morgan, $500,000 for the animal science building
Rachel Y. Willis, $25,000 for the G. Pait Willis Endowed Business Scholarship WinShape Foundation, $292,609, with $287,609 for the WinShape Scholarship and $5,000 for the Truett and Jeannette Cathy Expendable Scholarship Mary Johnson Wooton, $20,000, with $10,000 for the Mary Camp Patrick Endowed Scholarship and $10,000 for the Bobby Patrick Endowed Scholarship W.M. Word (57c), $11,000, with $1,000 for the George
W. Cofield Memorial Scholarship, $5,000 for the Class of 1957C Endowed Scholarship, and $5,000 for the Ouida, Angela and Jennifer Dickey Gate of Opportunity Scholarship
Glenn (62C) and Jena Cornell, $25,000 for the animal
John and Missy Morgan, $15,000 for the Football Team
science building
Booster Club Fund
Scholarship
Larry W. (69C) and Nadine NeSmith (71c) Covington, $10,128 for the Class of 1969C Endowed
Peter M. and Tamara Musser, $20,000 for the animal science building
John S. Yow, $10,000 for the animal science building John Zellars Jr. Foundation, $10,000, with $5,000
Gate of Opportunity Scholarship
Bettie S. Daniel (84C, 87G), $100,000 for the Ford Auditorium renovation
William H. Ellsworth Foundation, $15,000 for the South Rome Early Learning Center
Edward England Jr. (57C) and Evelyn Quarles England (57C), $19,401, with $19,001 for the Ed and Evelyn England Endowed Scholarship and $400 for the George W. Cofield Memorial Scholarship
William R. Gaines Jr. (93C), $20,000, with $15,000 for the William R. Gaines Sr. Endowed Scholarship and $5,000 for the general fund Georgia Independent College Association, $32,928 for the general fund
Rick (77c) and Debra Bourne (76C) Gilbert, $100,000 for the animal science building
Walter K. Gill (63C), $30,000 for the Lyn Gresham Endowed Scholarship
Darrell E. Gunby (81c), $12,500 for the Gunby Equine Center Renovation Fund
Mark Adam Piecoro (90C), $25,000 for the animal science building
Malcolm W. (58C) and Yvonne Jackson (59C) Quick,
Ross Pier Wright, $20,000 for the Dr. Bob Pearson
for the Tibbals/Zellars Endowed Comprehensive Scholarship and $5,000 for the Tibbals/Zellars Endowed Education Scholarship
$10,000 for the Jerry and Joyce Shelton Endowed Gate of Opportunity Scholarship
Joe (65C) and Nelda Parrish (64C) Ragsdale, $10,000 for the Class of 1965C Gate of Opportunity Scholarship, with additional matching support from Omnova Solutions Samuel C. Ratcliffe (76C, 78G), $12,428 for the Sam and Nancy Ratcliffe charitable gift annuity to ultimately support the Gate of Opportunity Scholarship Program Richard G. and Jennifer J. Stiles, $10,168 for the general fund
Reg (51C) and Maxine Strickland, $445,060 in
two charitable gift annuities to ultimately support the Maxine Strickland Endowed Scholarship, the Martha! Centennial Scholarship and the Class of 1951C Memorial Endowed Scholarship
BEQUESTS
Estate of Richard V. and Nancy Concilio, $50,000, with $25,000 for the Campbell School of Business and $25,000 for the Richard V. and Nancy Concilio Endowed Scholarship Estate of Joann Hunter Del Re (49H), $52,053 for the Cage Center
Estate of Belva Jean Ingle (63C), $20,000 for the Belva Jean Ingle Scholarship
Estate of Mary Camp Patrick (69C), $50,000 for the Mary Camp Patrick Endowed Scholarship Estate of Leonard P. Pilgrim Jr. (52H), $25,000 unrestricted
Estate of Reba Shropshire Wilson (35c), $440,000 for the Reba Shropshire Wilson Endowed Scholarship
25
NEWS FROM YOU 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 College G, g Graduate school A, a Academy H, h High school FS Faculty/Staff FFS Former Faculty/Staff
1950s Jim Hamrick (59H, 63c) and
Dee Dee Clark (71C) retired in
wife Nell have moved to Hendersonville, N.C., to be closer to their daughter and grandchildren. They miss Berry and invite friends to share news via Facebook or email.
September 2019 after nearly 14 years with the Candler County, Ga., government, first as voter registrar and later in the tax assessor’s office. Next is a mission trip with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
1960s
recent appointees to the Board of Directors of the Besharat Arts Foundation, which is associated with the Besharat Museum Gallery.
1970s
Amy Ashworth Cain (77C) was 2019-20 Teacher of the Year at Belmont Hills Elementary School in Cobb County, Ga. She has been at Belmont Hills since 2007 and is currently teaching ESOL for kindergarten and second grade.
Kevin T. Leahy (78C) retired
earned promotion to executive vice president for Sonoco responsible for all industrial and consumer operations worldwide. He has served in numerous leadership roles during his 34 years with the company and holds an MBA from Emory University. The husband and father of two lives in Hartsville, S.C.
in March 2020 from Diamond V. He looks forward to enjoying family, friends, the outdoors and volunteer work.
Rick Jackson (83C) and Jennifer Swinford Jackson (84C) recently moved to
Frank A. Gonzalez (76C) The Rev. Dr. Herbert J. Barker (65C) is celebrating 53 years in
SEND YOUR NEWS Send your news to us online at berry.edu/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 July 1, 2019, to Jan. 31, 2020. Content for this section managed by student Kendall Aronson (20C).
26
I BERRY
ministry. He remains a missionary of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Taiwan at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Taipei. Friends can reach him on Facebook or via email.
retired in 2016 after 32 years with the University of Miami School of Medicine and Jackson Memorial Medical Center, including 14 as director of training and 10 as director of medical psychology. In that time, he developed numerous presentations and publications on medical psychology and homelessness. He is currently in part-time practice in Miami, where he still plays catch and is learning to play the drums.
William Brown (77C) is retired Charles Hunt (66C) taught basic bookkeeping to shop owners and market sellers in Karansi, Tanzania, during a mission trip last September. This was his seventh mission trip with Perimeter Church in Johns Creek, Ga.; he previously served in Poland (four times), China, and Dublin, Ireland.
from broadcast radio but remains active in the Atlanta Radio Theatre Co., which he created in 1984.
Rodger Fuller (83C) has
1980s Greg Hanthorn (82C) has been listed in Best Lawyers in America for the eighth consecutive year. He has also been tapped for an additional term on the American Bar Association’s Section of Litigation Federal Practice Task Force, which he co-chaired for five years. Greg works in the business and tort litigation practice of the Atlanta office of the international law firm Jones Day. He and wife Judy Cash Hanthorn (85C) are
Honolulu, Hawaii, where he works at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, and she teaches fifth grade at Navy Hale Keiki School.
Tamra Anne Bolles (84c) is a writer for Animal Wellness Magazine and Georgia Backroads and recently became a Chicken Soup for the Soul author. She often uses the pen
name Anabelle Lee Macri. Proceeds from her writing help fund Mostly Mutts animal shelter in Kennesaw, Ga., and assist with tuition for summer art camps in Fannin County. The University of Georgia journalism graduate has also worked for 21 years in the Cobb County Schools, teaching engineering, multimedia, business and vocational studies. She is grateful to the Berry professor who encouraged her to pursue journalism.
Bill Grant (84C) is the newly elected mayor of Canton, Ga., earning 75% of the vote. He previously served as a two-term city councilman and mayor pro temporare.
Maurice Charles (88C) is living and in good health.
Lynn K. Rousseau (95C) has Mike Thornton (90C) has
Garvin Edwards (88C) has
Katheryne Atkins Fields (90C)
earned induction into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a recipient of the Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award presented by the Georgia Chapter of the National Wrestling Coaches Association. During 16 years at Armuchee High School, he won two state and five region Coach-of-Year awards. He later coached 14 years at Cartersville High School before retiring to Alabama, where he continues to teach and coach at Opelika Middle School.
is the new director of marketing at Gordon State College. She previously served as director of institutional advancement at Southern Crescent Technical College. She and husband Dale live in Griffin, Ga. They have two children, son Andrew and daughter Caroline English.
Kimberly Scales (92C) is
Dustin Devereaux
received the “Golden Home Award” and was featured in The Red and Black newspaper for her volunteer work making birthday cakes for residents of an Athens, Ga., homeless shelter.
Michael S. Jones (89C) has served as the Suwanee, Ga., police chief for more than 20 years, during which time the department has more than doubled in size. In 2018, he was
product officer responsible for project management and engineering at TRIVA Inc., a startup software platform that helps construction businesses and their partners provide a safer and more efficient worksite. He and wife Allison Brandon Gaskins (90C) live in Cedar Park, Texas.
resumed her service as executive director of the Hospitality House for Women in Rome, a position she previously held from 2000 to 2008 before relocating to Burlington, N.C., to run a domestic violence program. She returned to Rome in 2017 to lead Open Door Home.
serving as a Christian life coach and advocate for 15-25 year olds as the founder of Investing in Lives. Through individual/ group life coaching and specific programs, she seeks to encourage and empower young people to find their purpose and pursue lives of clarity and transformation.
returned to her hometown of Summerville, Ga., after renovation of her childhood home and opened DIRT design and décor. She also has a consulting business in leadership and project management.
Dr. Colin William (93C) has taken on a new role as clinical
named Georgia’s Outstanding Chief of the Year. He previously served the Rome Police Department for more than 24 years.
professor of psychological sciences at Purdue University. He joined his wife, Dr. Jennifer Marston William (92C), on the Purdue faculty. They live in West Lafayette, Ind., with sons Aidan and Kai.
Dr. Roger Brindley (88G, FFS) has been named vice provost for global programs at Penn State. He previously served as vice president for USF World at the University of South Florida. Roger taught at Berry from 1988 to 1993 and married wife Toni in Frost Chapel.
moved to Tellico Village, Tenn., with wife Debbie and dog Cooper (pictured) after retiring from the U.S. Army Medical Corps and civil service. They have established the Berry Nurses Care Scholarship supporting Berry nursing students. Contributions can be made at berry.edu/gift.
Heather Herring Casey (96C) and her husband have
Cecil Gaskins (90C) is chief Susan M. LaCount (85C)
Jeff’s career in high school athletics spans nearly 25 years, including the last 14 as director of athletics and head of school at Gray Stone Day School in Misenheimer, N.C.
1990s
Peter Lee (90C) published Spectacular Bid: The Last Superhorse of the Twentieth Century, through the University Press of Kentucky.
Jeff Morris (95C) is a 2019 recipient of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association’s Bruce D. Whitehead Distinguished Service Award.
Brad Hayes (98G, 01G), at right, is assistant principal over attendance, discipline and facilities at the Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy in Whitfield County. He and wife Judy celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on Dec. 23, 2019. Elder son Luke is coaching and teaching in Paulding County, while younger son Jake attends the University
27
NEWS FROM YOU
Dr. Deborah Barber Shores (04C) has completed
Tressa Cash
of West Georgia. Brad serves on the Chattooga County Board of Education and is an elder at Pennville Church of Christ. He preaches part-time and writes historical articles for local newspapers and social media.
Dana Migliore Hunt (01C, 07G) was named Bartow
Randi Sonenshine (98C) has published her debut picture book, The Nest That Wren Built, through Candlewick Press. The book has been named a Junior Library Guild Selection.
County (Ga.) Schools’ High School Teacher of the Year. She has been teaching science for 16 years, currently at Woodland High School. She and husband Russell Hunt (02C) have two children, Andrew (10) and Anthony (7).
Lindsey Payne Brackett (02C)
certification as a veterinary acupuncturist through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society and serves as a small-animal general practitioner in Corpus Christi, Texas.
has published her second novel, The Bridge Between, through LPC Books.
Miranda Huggins Swanson (04C) married Bob Swanson at
David Bayne (06C) is now director of the Center for Public Affairs at the Washington State Department of Health following completion of a Master of Public Health degree at Emory University. Wife Rachel Wood Bayne (09C) is a practicing speech-language pathologist in Olympia, where the couple lives with children Lucy and Julian.
Frost Chapel on Nov. 9, 2019.
Patrick H. Ouzts (03C) received Georgia’s 2019 Rising Star Award for employment and labor law. He is corporate counsel for Atrium Hospitality.
2000s Ben Loeffler (01C) has been
promoted to corporate counsel and compliance manager for Starbucks Coffee Co. She has practiced law in the Atlanta area since graduating from the University of Miami School of Law in 2003.
Bonnie Massey Padgett (01C) is the newly promoted vice president of business development for Royston Group, where she started in 2001 as a marketing associate in the management development program. She lives in Jasper, Ga., with husband Chris and children Hayden and Henry and serves on the Board of Advisors for Berry’s student-operated enterprises program.
Lindsey Quirk Neal (06C) has Dr. Holly Weber Arnold (05C)
Emily Wampler (03C) married longtime sweetheart Brian Vanden Bosch on May 18, 2019, at West Virginia’s Three Otters Retreat. They currently live in Tehachapi, Calif.
Martin Offenhauer
Cyndy Hill (00C) has been
listed among Forbes “Best-inState Wealth Advisors” for three consecutive years. He is a wealth management advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Fort Collins, Colo., and founder of The Loeffler Group.
Sarah Norton Peters (04C) Amy Stavely Dudich (01C) and husband Todd welcomed third child Lilah Louise on June 27, 2018, joining sister Lorelei and brother Levi.
28
I BERRY
and husband Justin welcomed first daughter Olivia Margaret on April 30, 2019.
has published a new book, Dear Younger Self: What I Wish You’d Known, offering faithbased advice geared toward the struggles of her younger years and providing actionable steps meant to equip and empower readers to live the life God has planned for them.
Alicen Lee Pearson (05C) welcomed first child Bricen on Dec. 26, 2018.
been promoted to vice president of client services at Depth Public Relations in Decatur, Ga. She has an MBA from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business and lives in Atlanta with husband Wes and daughters Harper (9) and Macallan (5).
Allan Raulerson (06C) is manager of Zyla Valuation Advisors, a new valuation and litigation consultancy firm serving clients in Atlanta and throughout the Southeast. The Kennesaw State University MBA graduate has more than 12 years experience in accounting and finance, holds multiple certifications including a CPA, and has completed additional master’s level coursework at the University of Rhode Island.
Krista Firkus (08C) has received three grants totaling more than $21,000 for her chorus classroom in Newton County, Ga.
Capture Studio LLC
Her book on pediatric psychology is being published by Cambridge University Press.
Matt Wilson (06C) has been
Dr. Kelleigh Payne (09C)
Weston Burleson (10C) has
promoted to senior project manager at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama. He has been an engineer with Toyota for 13 years and lives in Huntsville with wife Elise Trisler Wilson (05C) and their two sons.
recently opened her second chiropractic office in New Orleans. She holds a doctorate from Texas Chiropractic College.
returned to Atlanta as director of communications and legislative affairs for Georgia Insurance Commissioner John F. King.
Kelli Gay Gillis (07C) married David Gillis in the Berry College Chapel on Sept. 21, 2019, with a reception at Ford Dining Hall.
Scrap Sutton Ladson Sr. (07C) and Katharine Wright Ladson (07C) announce the June 26, 2019, birth of daughter Vi Everie, weighing 6 pounds, 13 ounces. She joined sister Elsie (5) and brother Scrap Jr. (3) at the family home in Macon, Ga.
Emily Naylor Taylor (09C) and husband Stetson welcomed first daughter Kinsley Marie Taylor on Aug. 4, 2019, weighing 7 pounds, 15 ounces.
Haleigh Schrote (09C) is a veterinarian at a small-animal practice in Northwest Oregon.
2010s
Ashley Kramer Kinnard (07C) and Kelly Ann Hester (09C) were featured in the West Georgia Living “40 Under 40” issue. Ashley is public relations and communications manager for GreyStone Power, while Kelly serves as communications and corporate events coordinator at Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative.
Kristin Hunter Kroll (07C) has accepted a job as pediatric psychologist for cardiology, including service as a psychologist on the heart failure and transplant team, at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Jacque Smith Clarke (10C) and husband Thomas Clarke (10C, 13G) welcomed second daughter Ava Elizabeth on Nov. 5, 2019.
Leah Ryan Whigam (09C) and Keisha Harvey Patterson (07C) and husband Terrill announce the Aug. 20, 2019, birth of daughter Carmen Rose Loretta, weighing 7 pounds, 9 ounces. She joined brother Caleb (13).
Walt Wiley (07C) is executive director of nursing for emergency services on the campuses of WellStar Atlanta Medical Center.
husband Shane announce the addition of their second little Viking, Brooks, who joined brother Myles (4) on Nov. 20, 2019. Leah can’t wait to bring both boys to the campus where she made so many memories. Watch out classes of 2037 and 2042, the Whigam boys are coming for you!
Meghan Gafnea Roby (10C) Dr. Ashley Anglin (10C) and James Crawford (09C) welcomed first child Macy Sage on April 18, 2019. They live in Easthampton, Mass. Ashley works for United for ALICE, a research initiative aimed at calculating basic cost of living across the country, and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Hawaii.
and husband Edward welcomed son Calvin Jackson “Jack” Roby on Dec. 11, 2019.
ALWAYS BERRY Help Berry students with your purchase today! Net proceeds from these items (and more!) go to the Save a Student Scholarship, a critical lifeline for many Berry students in the past. By making a purchase, you can show off your Berry pride AND make a lasting difference in the lives of those students in financial crisis due to COVID-19. “OLD MILL” COFFEE MUG
ALWAYS BERRY T-SHIRT
BERRY PET BANDANA
www.berry.edu/alumni/store 29
NEWS FROM YOU
Abraham Rowe
Peace International. In this role, he facilitated coordination of Buddhist prayer and meditation sessions and Track II diplomacy meetings between Myanmar and Bangladesh among other duties at the organization’s 10th World Assembly in Lindau, Germany.
Kaitlin Beard Drost (11C)
Sara Walcott Morrison (12C)
married Travis A. Drost on Oct. 19, 2019.
and husband Josh welcomed son Caleb on Oct. 2, 2019.
Kate on May 23, 2019, joining sister Ava Grace in the family’s North Carolina home. Chris is a veterinarian and Natalie a speech-language pathologist.
Malloree Holcombe (11C)
Paige Garrison Neuenschwander (11C)
Dr. Reid Popple (12C) graduated from the Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University in 2018 and recently bought Cobb Family Dentistry in Mableton, Ga.
Randy Parker/Daily Tribune News
Sheryl “Nikki” Taylor (13C)
Alice Boyd Rochow (14C)
has been promoted to senior staff specialist in the human resources office at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where she has worked since 2014.
married David Rochow in June 2019 at the Mount Washington Hotel.
BERRY ALUMNI SOCIAL MEDIA
Suzanne Cindea (13C) was named 2019-20 District Teacher of the Year for the Gainesville (Ga.) City School System.
promoted to assistant principal at Red Top Middle School. She
Mike Voso (14C) and Chrissy Ricketts Voso (15C) welcomed Alex Elmore (14C) married Nikki Cline (14C) in Septem-
lives in Adairsville, Ga., with husband Brian and sons Corbin (14) and Drake (11).
first child Dominic Michael on Sept. 25, 2019. Berry College class of 2042, here he comes!
ber 2019. Both played golf at Berry.
Alex Middleton (12C, FFS)
I BERRY
is now associate director of alumni engagement for the Emory University Alumni Association, responsible for engaging alumni in Boston, activating small networks nationwide and developing new digital networks globally.
Connect with @BerryAlumni on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
Amber Bunce (12G) has been
30
Darren Myzak in French Polynesia in summer 2019. They live in Pittsburgh with their Boston terrier. Ryan is a higher education administrator at California University of Pennsylvania.
J.C. Albritton (15C, FFS)
married Chris Neuenschwander on June 1, 2019, with a reception in Ford Dining Hall.
is now video manager for corporate communications at Newell Brands. He previously worked as creative director of video for the Georgia Tech Athletic Association and as senior producer/editor for the Atlanta Braves. He and wife Lauren live in Atlanta.
Ryan James (14C) married
Lauren Bishop
co-developed an eco-leadership program with Para La Tierra, a local conservation organization in Paraguay, while traveling abroad last summer as a graduate student in Miami University’s Global Field Program. She works as an education curator at Flint RiverQuarium Environmental Education Center and lives in Albany, Ga.
Chris Hernandez (13C) and Natalie Moffett Hernandez (13C) welcomed daughter Mia
Kimberly Bagnell Human (14C) is now choral director Hannah Anderson Corbett (13C) and her husband have started their new life running the family bed and breakfast at Tyrella House in Northern Ireland.
Do you follow @BerryAlumni on social media?
at Woodland High School in Cartersville, Ga.
Christopher D. Zefting (14C) is program officer for network development and coordination at Religions for
Be the first to know about upcoming events, stay up-to-date on Berry College news, enter our alumni-only contests, see our latest #TBT photos and much more! @BerryAlumni
Annika Stryker (15C) married Blake Brashear (17C) in Frost
Daniel Hawes (15C) and Liz Carr Hawes (15C) welcomed
Chapel on July 13, 2019. They loved spending their special day with family and friends at their “tried-and-true” alma mater.
daughter Tatum Marie on Oct. 1, 2019. Both are school counselors. The family lives in Kennesaw, Ga.
Brittany N. Miller (16C) has
Morgan Benson Baker (17C)
Erin Lehmberg (17C) is
earned a Master of Arts degree in education from Georgetown College and is now working as an eighth-grade mathematics and geometry teacher at Woodford County Middle School in Versailles, Ky.
married Casey Baker on Nov. 23, 2019. In December, she completed Barry University’s physician assistant program.
pursuing a master’s degree in economics at Georgia State University. She has been awarded a teaching assistantship at the school and plans to specialize in international economics and eventually earn a doctorate. She aspires to be an economics professor and is thankful for Berry’s economics department, especially Dr. Lauren Heller.
Deanna Cunningham Carter (17C) and husband Joseph
Rhoxie Ellard Booth (16C) and husband Luke welcomed son Titus Luke on Sept. 13, 2019.
Maggie Law (15C) married Tyler Will (16C) on Oct. 19, 2019. Maggie has earned a master’s degree from the University of South Alabama and works as an emergency room nurse at Redmond Regional Medical Center in Rome. Tyler is a builder with Smith Douglas Building. The couple lives in Cartersville.
Anna Watkins Huskey (16C) and Brody Huskey (17C)
Beth Payton (16G) is coordinator of the Center for Advanced Studies in Science, Technology and Math, a new magnet program at Adairsville (Ga.) High School. She is excited to be putting her background in science to work tailoring rigorous and engaging learning opportunities that prepare students for college and careers.
recently welcomed daughter Aurelia.
welcomed first child Calvin William on Aug. 21, 2019. PAULINA
has earned a master’s degree in reading education from the University of Georgia.
Mary Claire Stewart (14C)
Lizzie Hendrix Chastain (15C)
Mekayla Mekara (17C), a
Parker Clavijo (17C) and Carroll Autry Clavijo (16C) celebrated their first anniversary on Sept. 29, 2019.
Alex B. Lowe (16C) is spending her second year in Japan as
Bailey Powers (15C) has graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a master’s degree in business design and arts leadership.
an assistant language teacher with the JET Programme. She works at a senior high school and special needs school in Hiroshima City and has been able to travel to Taiwan, the Philippines and several parts of Japan.
veterinary student at Mississippi State University, married Mitchell Norden (17C), a financial relationship senior consultant at Regions Bank in Starkville, Miss., on Oct. 19, 2019, at Frost Chapel. Hannah Crouse (17C), Jeremy Beam (17C) and Jacob Bowmen (17C) were in the wedding party.
Hannah McTier Ritchie (16C) married Ben Ritchie (16c) in October 2019. The couple met at Berry, broke up when he transferred to another school and reconnected after college.
Jim Kurila (17C) married Rachel Dean on Oct. 12, 2019.
Katie Devos Pike (17C) is in her second year putting Berrylearned skills to work overseeing marketing and branding for Lighthouse Family Retreat, a
31
Hunter Jones
nonprofit that serves families living through childhood cancer. She recently got married at Walt Disney World with Berry friends by her side.
Shannon Haley Foster Baker (18C) married David Baker (18C) on July 14, 2019. They live in Atlanta with fur-baby Cap.
John Cody (19C) graduated from Berry with a degree in exercise science. The four-year football player followed in the footsteps of grandfather and fellow varsity letterman
Wilson Baumgartner (18C)
Dorsey Eugene Mobley (63C),
specialist at Flack’s Flooring in Cumming, Ga. He is grateful for the classroom instruction, work experience and friendships Berry provided.
is attending the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine.
who played basketball and ran track for Berry. Both are proud Vikings.
Merrill Wood (17C) married Austin Amandolia (17C) on Oct. 19, 2019. Merrill has earned a master’s degree and now serves in the University of North Carolina’s psychiatry department as a member of an assertive community treatment team. Austin is a graduate student in UNC’s department of city and regional planning.
Matt Hamblin (19C) is front office manager responsible for reservations and guest services at Denali Park Village in Alaska.
student at Marquette University who has earned a summer clerkship with Harley-Davidson Motor Co.
Benjamin Minor (19C), Lauren Hahn (19C) and Tyler Vaughn (19C) model their white coats as first-year medical students at the Mercer University School of Medicine.
Violet Keys Butler (19C) married Rhett Butler (18C) in October 2019. They now live in Atlanta.
Becca Outlaw (19C) works Ali Baker (18C) married Garrison Bemis (18C) on Dec. 22, 2019, in Greenville, S.C., where Ali teaches second grade and Garrison is a nurse.
32
I BERRY
TIES THAT BIND
Momo Abdellatif (19C) is a law
Bobbi Brinkman
Mary Claire Stewart (14C)
J.P. Short (17C) is a sales
at Perdue Farms in Perry, Ga., where she is part of Chairman Jim Perdue’s operations management trainee program.
Responding to the feedback you shared in the 2019 alumni survey, we launched a new series of regional events in November with “Berry Takes the Battery” in Atlanta. This spring, with many “sheltering in place” due to COVID-19, we took alumni events virtual with Facebook Live game nights hosted by the likes of Teddy Palmer (17C) and Lewis Byrne (08C). Follow @BerryAlumni on social media for updates on new opportunities to connect!
Berry extends sincere condolences to family and friends of the following alumni, faculty/staff and former faculty/staff. This list includes notices received July 1, 2019, to Jan. 31, 2020.
1940s Fred Johnson (40C) of Macon, Ga., Jan. 21, 2020.
Mary Elliott Ford (41c) of McDonough, Ga., Aug. 17, 2019.
Flora Duke Brett (44H) of Carrollton, Ga., Oct. 25, 2019.
Doris Hunt Kirila (44C) of Hubbard, Ohio, Nov. 28, 2019.
Basil Bernard “Bernie” Nichols (45H)
of Santa Barbara, Calif., Dec. 20, 2019.
Katherine Maffett Caldwell (47H) of Cedartown, Ga., Nov. 25, 2019.
Malvena Faile Murray (47C) of Rock Hill, S.C., Dec. 5, 2019.
Otis M. Ellenburg Jr. (49C) of Gainesville, Ga., Oct. 16, 2019.
Lyle H. Hess (55h) of Wildwood, Ga.,
Jimmy Lavon Ray (65C) of San
Edward Raymond Owensby (55H) of
Charlotte W. Cochran (67C) of
James Larry Ellison (57C) of Madison,
Frankie Dawson Gordon (67C) of
Wylene Hegwood Selman (57C) of
Milwood Ashley Dekle (69C) of Toccoa,
James Billy Blair (58C) of Jennings,
Victor F. Mulinix (69C) of Kingston,
Dec. 10, 2019.
Kissimmee, Fla., May 30, 2019. Ala., Dec. 8, 2019.
Florence, Ala., Nov. 14, 2019. Fla., Aug. 29, 2019.
Malcolm W. Quick (58C) of Lilburn, Ga., Jan. 10, 2020.
Richard W. Henry (59H) of Temple, Ga.,
Aug. 15, 2019.
1960s
1950s Laura Pollard Babb (50c) of McDonough, Ga., July 9, 2019.
John M. Burch (50c) of Kingston, Ga., Jan. 25, 2020.
Gladys Harrell Lindsey (50C) of Eastman, Ga., Sept. 29, 2019.
Lois Wehunt Stewart (50C) of Auburn, Ala., Aug. 5, 2019.
Frances Popham Morgan (51C) of Winston, Ga., Nov. 17, 2019.
Lebraun Arnold (52H) of Acworth, Ga., Aug. 22, 2019.
Harold C. Loyd (52C) of LaGrange, Ga., June 8, 2019.
Dorothy Greene Latta (53C) of Burlington, N.C., Aug. 19, 2019.
Pamela Burham Piche (53H) of Houston, Sept. 16, 2019.
George Luther Weatherby (53C) of Canton, Ga., Nov. 2, 2019.
Kenneth E. Wehunt (53C) of Barnesville, Ga., Nov. 7, 2019.
Warren Thompson Benton (55H) of Acworth, Ga., Dec. 25, 2019.
Winona Hester Bryan (55C) of Clermont, Ga., Jan. 27, 2020.
David H. Haight (55H) of Blairsville, Ga., July 19, 2019.
1970s Clifford M. Beam Jr. (73C) of Rome, Aug. 30, 2019.
Janiece Crider Braden (73C) of Rome,
Mary F. Morgan (74G) of LaFayette, Ga., Dec. 16, 2019.
Raymon Walton Goff Jr. (78C) of Dora,
Henry Douglas Roebuck (60H) of
Kenneth Wayne Oates (78C) of Rome,
Edward W. Sims (60c) of Dublin, Ga.,
Rebecca Whatley Roberts (79c) of
28, 2019.
Ill., Aug. 29, 2019.
Ala., Jan. 29, 2020. Oct. 5, 2019.
Newnan, Ga., Jan. 16, 2020.
G. Malcolm Amerson (61C) of
Springs, Ga., July 15, 2019.
Samuel H. Peed (61c) of Florence, S.C., Jan. 30, 2020.
James Steven Smith (61H, 65C) of
Farmville, N.C., Jan. 3, 2020.
Kenneth L. Crabtree (62C) of Albany, Ga., April 6, 2018.
David Allen Justice (62C) of Winfield, Ala., Jan. 28, 2020.
Mary Frances Turpin (62C) of Eastanollee, Ga., Oct. 30, 2019.
Jack Lynwood Daniel Sr. (63c) of Albany, Ga., July 27, 2019.
Belva Jean Ingle (63C) of Trion, Ga., July 5, 2019.
Roberta Thrasher Gresham (64C) of Macon, Ga., July 4, 2019.
Lawrenceville, Ga., July 7, 2019.
Jordan Stanley Hassell (05C, FFS) of Hood River, Ore., May 29, 2018.
FACULTY AND STAFF
Munir Aref Mohammad Khatib of Rome, Jan. 25, 2020.
FORMER FACULTY AND STAFF
Royce W. Agerter of Jackson, Tenn., Aug. 20, 2019.
Margaret H. Callaway of Anniston, Ala., Dec. 29, 2019.
Madelyn Kathleen Clements of Griffin, Ga., Nov. 24, 2019.
Zelma C. Clements of Rome, Jan. 17,
1980s
August J. de Berdt of Rome, July 15,
William Alford (81C, 90G) of Lindale,
William Taft “W.T.” French Jr. of Lake
Randa Farid Mixon (81G) of Rome, Jan.
Lewis Gordon Gosa of Rome, Aug. 16,
William Joseph Anderson IV (86c) of
Lowell D. Mathis of Rome, Dec. 27, 2019. Carolyn J. Ross of Rome, Dec. 18, 2019. Marjorie D. Whaley of Rome, Aug. 30,
Sara Burton Beall (61c) of Caledonia, James Avon Morris (61c) of Powder
Brandon Dean Wilson (03C) of
2020.
Brookhaven, Ga., Jan. 20, 2020. Miss., Dec. 7, 2019.
Ga., Oct. 2, 2019.
Gainesville, Ga., Oct. 26, 2019.
Myra Dunn Pearson (60c) of
Aug. 26, 2019.
2000s
Linda G. Thomason (73C) of
Douglas O. Baird (75C) of Gibson City,
Calhoun, Ga., Dec. 20, 2018.
Griffin, Ga., Sept. 11, 2019.
Nov. 1, 2019.
Colene Barnes Keeton (60C) of Birmingham, Ala., July 13, 2019.
Michael Corbett Worlow (93C) of
Amy Leigh Jett (03C) of Cartersville,
Douglas N. Piper (74c) of Rome, Dec.
Lithonia, Ga., Sept. 19, 2019.
July 26, 2019.
Ga., Sept. 14, 2019.
William Robert Fletcher (60c) of Gainesville, Ga., July 20, 2019.
Brent Evan Davis (91c) of Calhoun, Ga.,
Ga., Jan. 6, 2020.
Jeraldene V. Eddy (58c) of Vinemont,
McBee, S.C., Oct. 23, 2019.
Alpharetta, Ga., July 20, 2019.
Summerville, Ga., Nov. 13, 2019.
Albany, Ga., Sept. 24, 2018.
Katherine Jordan Odom (49c) of Marvin C. Sammons (49C) of
Calhoun, Ga., June 15, 2019.
Mildred Nunnelley Crabtree (58C) of Ala., March 1, 2019.
1990s
Antonio, April 23, 2019.
Ga., Aug. 22, 2019. 20, 2020.
Nashville, Tenn., Aug. 5, 2019.
Sherrie Gentry Helton (86C) of Summerville, Ga., Oct. 22, 2019.
Esther A. Brazier (87G) of Cedartown,
2019.
City, Fla., Sept. 25, 2019. 2019.
2019.
Ga., Feb. 1, 2020.
IN MEMORIAM Berry lost a legend when Dr. Ouida Word Dickey (50C), professor of business and dean of academic services emerita, died on Dec. 31, 2019, at 91. The beloved educator, leader and mentor was an authority on Berry history, served as Alumni Association president and is the only Berry College graduate to receive the school’s honorary doctorate. Surviving her are daughters Angela (75A, 79C) and Jennifer (77A, 80C). Memorial gifts can be made to the Ouida, Angela and Jennifer Dickey Gate of Opportunity Scholarship.
33
Berry College is grateful for the following memory and honor gifts and gifts to named scholarships or work endowments. Gifts in this issue were received July 1, 2019, to Jan. 31, 2020.
MEMORY GIFTS
Mr. Ray Abernathy
Martha Bentley Abernathy (52c)
Mr. Royce William Agerter
Charles (64A) and Jane Downey Bob Williams (62H)
Mrs. Angeline Cook Barksdale
Lamar (62C, 76G) and Glenda York (62c) Cook
Mrs. Mirtica “Tica” Ramirez Berry
Sue Anderson Jeb Arp (04C, 06G) Harris and Fran Bagley Frank Barron Mike and Patti Barron Beverly Lee Beck (85G) Randy and Nancy Berry Tom Berry Steve and Brenda Briggs Paul and Joan Brock Turner and April Blair Burson Tom and Melanie Caldwell Al (61c) and Becky Browning (61C) Christopher Wendi Combes Jim and Brenda Crane Jennifer Dickey (77A, 80C) David and Cathy Dohrmann Terry (82G) and Catherine (97G) Dollar Will Enloe Paul Ferguson Peter and Suzy Gilbert Lynne, Paul, Rebecca and Alice Griffin Barry (71C) and Michele Irwin (70C) Griswell Bonnie Grizzard Vernon and Gaynelle Grizzard Walter Hackett Robert and Libba Harbin Andrew and Mary Helen Heaner Debbie and Steve (10G) Heida Villa Hizer Peter and Emily Hjort Anne Dudley Hopkins (78C) Louis and Kay Huff Rocky Huffman Frances Knight David Lance Tim and Doris Mahanay Sue Mann Carol McCann John McCord Annette Morris Liz Mozley Patrick Mulrennan
34
I BERRY
Jim and Linda Owens Andra Prejean Regina Rainwater Hal Richards (71A) Clara Rogers Betty Rowston Ginger Rowston Dean Saville (80G) David and Nancy Smith Stacey Spillers Kathleen Temple Tony and Barbara Triplitt Wes Walraven Carlton and Shannon Walstad Marti and Joe Walstad Med and Knoxie Walstad Tom and Teresa Watters Michael and Connie Williams Dee and Molly Yancey Greater Community Bank The UPS Store
Dr. John R. Bertrand Steve Eubanks (63C)
Mr. and Mrs. Dan U. Biggers George Donigian (74C) Jeffrey Horn (87C) Stacey Miller (70C)
Mr. James Billy Blair
Harlan (58C) and Doris Reynolds (57C) Chapman Malcolm Quick (58C) Bill (57C) and Mary Charles Lambert (58C) Traynham Betty Connell Waller (58C) Bob Williams (62H)
Ms. Diana Brinley
DAR – Sam Houston Chapter
Mr. Danny A. Brown
Jennifer Herndon Brown (74c)
Mr. Samuel Hoyt Brown
Charles (64A) and Jane Downey
Dr. N. Gordon Carper
Melanie Blanchard Morris (05C)
Mr. and Mrs. A. Milton Chambers Becky Nunnery Covington (91C)
Dr. Paul Y. Cuthbertson
William Y. Cuthbertson (85c)
Dr. August J. de Berdt George Donigian (74C)
Mr. Milwood Ashley Dekle
Reggie Fortner (71C) Maggie Edwards Foy (71C) Wesley (63C) and Ruth King (65C) Martin
Mrs. Oleta C. Dekle Ross Magoulas
Dr. Garland M. Dickey
Larry (56H, 60C) and Louise Adams Jennifer Dickey (77A, 80C)
Dr. Ouida Word Dickey
Gerald (62C) and Martha Romaine (64C) Allen Tom (55H) and Martha Wyatt (55H, 59C) Bowen Frank Barron Lucy Byce Emma Elder Catlett (45c) Susan Chambers (77C) Harlan (58C) and Doris Reynolds (57C) Chapman Jennifer Dickey (77A, 80C) Kimberlee Coll (79C) Gilbert Crenshaw (58c) Mike (92C) and Margaret Crego Paul Ferguson Bill and Faye (92c) Fron Stewart Fuqua (80A) Ed and Gayle Graviett (67C) Gmyrek Barry (71C) and Michele Irwin (70C) Griswell Dottie Clark Gregg (69C) Debbie and Steve (10G) Heida Katren Higgs Villa Hizer Jack and Karen Holley (74C) Horrell Tim Howard (82C) George and Kathy Howton Patricia Hubbard Quay Lott Sue Killcreas (78C) Jean Loveday David and Lynn Dee Martin Wesley (63C) and Ruth King (65C) Martin Barbara Pickle McCollum (79C) Sheila McCoy Charles and Virginia Greene (52H) Mosby Bettyann O’Neill and Ken Sicchitano Larry (63C) and Kathy Osborn Malcolm Quick (58C) Susan Ragan Mike Raymer Randy and Kathy Richardson Jackie Bradley Scott (83C) Sheilah Robison Shealy (80C, 84G) Nancy Spaulding Wayne Stevenson (60C) Reg (51C) and Maxine Strickland Larry and Betty Jane Taylor Bill (57C) and Mary Charles Lambert (58C) Traynham Charlie (53H, 57C) and Hazel Guthrie (59c) Underwood Joe (62C, 76G) and Duanne Self (62C) Walton
Charles (76C) and Terri Albright (77c) Wilkie Lowell (75G) and Sondra Ruston (86G) Wilkins Bob Williams (62H) Carlee McCarter Wilson (63C) W.M. Word (57c)
Mr. James Larry Ellison
Dr. L. Doyle Mathis
Malcolm Quick (58C)
Mr. Lowell D. Mathis Mrs. Frances Popham Morgan
Mr. J. Lee Waller
Mrs. Thelma York Morris
Mr. Gene T. Warren
Mr. Victor Franklin Mulinix
Mr. Kenneth E. Wehunt
Mrs. Ann Joye Allen Mullis
Mrs. Marjorie D. Whaley
Mr. Barry David Mullis
Mrs. Katherine C. Williams
Mrs. Elaine Evans
Lamar (62C, 76G) and Glenda York (62c) Cook
DAR – Michigan
Mr. Ralph E. Farmer
Larry (56H, 60C) and Louise Adams
Mr. Michael Paul Farr and Dr. Carol Farr George Donigian (74C)
Mrs. Inga Filippo Anna Filippo
Mr. James David Fite Margaret Fite
Michael Garland (84C)
Frances Busha Hart (58C)
Charles (64A) and Jane Downey
Mrs. Nan Lipscomb Nelms Frank Nelms
Mr. Billy Joe Nicholson Sr. Regina Rainwater
Mrs. Betty Williams Gass
Mr. John Clayton Nicholson
Mrs. Margaret Ruth Brewer Gaylor
Mrs. Barbara York Parisi
Regina Rainwater
Lamar (62C, 76G) and Glenda York (62c) Cook
Dr. and Mrs. Jorge A. Gonzalez
Mr. and Mrs. John R. “Bobby” Patrick
Mrs. Carolyn York Grantham
Mrs. Jennie Floyd Pollard
Loyd Gass (60C)
Angela Dickey (75A, 79C)
Lamar (62C, 76G) and Glenda York (62c) Cook
Mr. William Lawrence Grantham
Lamar (62C, 76G) and Glenda York (62c) Cook
Regina Rainwater
Gene (70C) and Diana Wilson (69C) Lansdale
Mr. Richard A. Rainwater Regina Rainwater
Mr. T. Allen Rice
Deborah Rice Parker (78C)
Mr. Jon Shannon Richardson Joe Costolnick (99C)
Michael and Teresa Beckham
Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Baker Susan Baker (79C)
Ms. Kelsey Danielle Barta
Ms. Jaqueline Lauren Runningen
Ms. Vanessa Renee Belanger
Dr. Marion A. Sanders
Beverly Belanger Keith and Karen Clements
Mr. Steven A. Schley
Nancy Berry
Mrs. Laura Sexton
Catherine Hamrick
Mr. David Christopher Shankles
Catherine Hamrick
John Runningen
Mr. D. Randolph Berry Berry College Creative Services Berry College Digital Marketing and Media
Debbie and Steve (10G) Heida Jessica Steenbergen
Berry Football Team
Dr. Gloria M. Shatto
Berry Volleyball Team
Sandra Ayers
Debbie and Steve (10G) Heida
Mrs. Carolyn Thompson Smith
Mr. and Mrs. James B. Bloodworth
Angela Dickey (75A, 79C) Sue Killcreas (78C) Wesley (63C) and Ruth King (65C) Martin
Mr. James Steven Smith
Mr. Walter O. Maine
Mrs. Janet Jones Smyth
Doris Gentry Collum (59C)
Don Slater (77C) and Debbie Poss (78C)
Ms. Elvie Mashburn
Mrs. Evelyn Spradlin Standridge
Amy Hunter Rich (04C)
Ms. Summer Nicole “Nikki” Beckham
Micayla Bedoian (19C)
Mrs. Olga Kozera
Mark (79C, 19G) and Holly Glasscock Kozera
Adekale Ande (19C) Daniel Harmeyer William Kelly
Ms. Cyrena Starr Bedoian
Elaine Foster
Brian Kiser (95C)
Mr. Jack Burks Allen
Regina Rainwater
Mr. Christopher N. Holcombe
Mr. Woodrow Wilson Kiser
Larry (56H, 60C) and Louise Adams
Mrs. Jeannie Rowe
Alan Bridges (79C)
Norris Johnson (67C)
Dr. and Mrs. John Franklin Adams
Sheilah Robison Shealy (80C, 84G)
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Richard Hill
Mr. Linton Johnson
HONOR GIFTS
Douglas and Kimberly Barta Jacqueline Bermel Brenda Swinney
Bobbie Brown Sanders (53C)
Angela Dickey (75A, 79C) Marsha Olmstead Cathy Powell Jane Scales
Tom (65A) and Beverly Butler Mark and Pat Tutterow (82C) Jackson Brenda Geraldson Jenkins (97C) Wesley (63C) and Ruth King (65C) Martin Michael Murdock (73A) Jack Pigott (69A) Daughters of Berry
Dr. and Mrs. William Harden Robison III
Dr. and Mrs. William H. Grimes Jr.
Mrs. Gwendolyn Norris Hutcheson
Joyce Morris
Ms. Carmen I.R. Angel
Mrs. Roberta Thrasher Gresham
Rachel Phillips Holcombe (90C)
Jim Miller (53C)
Mr. Malcolm W. Quick
Richard and Susan Green
Christine Gabrina
Malcolm Quick (58C)
Rufus (75C) and Mary Anne Schimmelmann (75c) Massey
Dr. Randolph B. Green
George and Rosalind Simpson
Malcolm Quick (58C)
Patricia P. Blanton
Harlan (58C) and Doris Reynolds (57C) Chapman Walter and Yvonne Barker (58C) Hughes Bill (57C) and Mary Charles Lambert (58C) Traynham
Gerald (62C) and Martha Romaine (64C) Allen Ralph Baggs Stephen Baggs Glen and Ellen Chase Joe (63C) and Shirley Bowen (63c) Elder Eddie (63C) and Rosa Nutt (64C) Fite Mary Hale Mary Jones Elaine Lanier Gloria Lee Joyce Taylor Liggin (58C) Marilyn McLendon Doris Smith Mary Thomaston Stuart and Teresa Vaught
Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Tutterow
Roger Tutterow (84C)
Reg (51C) and Maxine Strickland
Mr. Matthew Fabrizio
Kenneth Wehunt (53C)
Bob Williams (62H)
Harlan (58C) and Doris Reynolds (57C) Chapman Bill (57C) and Mary Charles Lambert (58C) Traynham Regina Rainwater
Mrs. Lois Wehunt Stewart
Bob Williams (62H)
Donald Rhodes
Debbie and Steve (10G) Heida
Kathy Robinson Ray (79C)
Mr. Gavin Nathaniel Booker James and Amanda Barden Pete and Maria Booker
Mr. M. Scott Breithaupt
Kathy Robinson Ray (79C)
Ms. Peyton Breissinger Susan Grathwohl Tracy Sandquist
35
Dr. and Mrs. Stephen R. Briggs
Sheila W. Allen Randy and Nancy Berry Brad and Kim Bushnell Pete and Nancy Capponi Glenn (62C) and Jena Cornell Rick (77c) and Debra Bourne Gilbert (76C) Roger W. Lusby III (79C) and Candy Lusby Audrey Morgan Peter and Tamara Musser Brent (88C) and Gigi Ragsdale Kathy Robinson Ray (79C) Robert Swarthout III (04C) and Tessa Frye Swarthout (07C) Marti and Joe Walstad Buster (73C) and Janice Wright Anonymous – Trustee Emeritus
Mr, Michael Lewis Byrne
Wanda Hunt Meeks (82C)
Mr. Caleb Thomas Campbell Jeff Stevenson
Mr. Lorenzo C. Canalis
Jeffrey and Melissa Brooks
Dr. Thomas W. Carver Jeff Butterfield (91C)
Ms. Madison Grace Cherry Sarah Gallagher Chris Warnick
Ms. Riley Elizabeth Clark Elizabeth Hydrick Daniel Richman
Mr. Christopher Davis Cooke William and Katherine Kerr
Mrs. Shawn Carroll Darling Elaine Carroll
Mr. Paul B. Deaton
Joy Deaton Barresi (05C)
Dr. Jennifer W. Dickey
Bill and Faye (92c) Fron
Mr. Justus James Edwards
Jim (85C) and Jennifer Smith (85C) Johnson
Mrs. Alisa Jan Elmore Catherine Hamrick
Mr. Jonathan William Tyler Fisher Celia Fisher
Ms. Margaux Marie Catherine Flournoy Peter Jost
Ms. Lyndsey Ryann Francingues
Raymond (88C) and Lisa Francingues
Mrs. Lillian Free
Ellen Free Lueck (73C)
Mrs. Megan Stone Fullgraf
Ms. Ada Grace Hall
Brian and Theresa Dulaney
Ms. Evelyn L. Hamilton Stacey Spillers
Mrs. Jean Miller Hedden Jim Miller (53C)
Ms. Harriet R. Hoyt and Mr. Brian McCormick Nancy Lippard
Dr. and Mrs. William Hoyt Nancy Lippard
The Rev. and Mrs. Timothy Hoyt-Duncan Nancy Lippard
Mr. Russell A. Jackson Mary Feazel
Mr. Alec Leigh Jones
Jane Jones Block (86C) Keith and Sara Jones
Dr. and Mrs. Donald C. Jones
Charles (76C) and Terri Albright (77c) Wilkie
Mr. Alexander Wayne Kirkendoll Michael and Lisa Kirkendoll
Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Knox Kellie Knox (89C)
Ms. Emma Nicole Kochanowski Tyra Fox Edward Wakin
Lady Viking Athletes
Deborah Rice Parker (78C)
Mr. Jackson Robert Lambert Jay and Beth Lambert
Mrs. Helen Wright Lansing Rusty Bradley (71C)
Ms. Morgan Elizabeth Lee Lesley D. Sparks
Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Leidlein
Allyson Chambers (80C, 84G) Jimmy and Laurie Douglas Mark (82C) and Judy Howard (82C) Keappler Jessica Mills Vandagriff (06C) Kenneth and Terri Sidaras (84C) White
Ms. Olivia Nicole Nye Gail Maxey
Ms. Meghan Kelly O’Brien Patrick O’Brien
Ms. Margaret Marie Packard Chad Colby Amy Cook Janet Packard Kathleen Willson
Mrs. Bonnie Massey Padgett
Rufus (75C) and Mary Anne Schimmelmann (75c) Massey
Mrs. Melissa Phillips Jenny Roberts
Mrs. Katherine W. Powell George Donigian (74C)
Mr. Trevor Jonathan Price
Rufus (75C) and Mary Anne Schimmelmann (75c) Massey Kevin and Marcia Price
Ms. Kaitlin Elizabeth Ramsey Bill and Jo Ann Blakburn
Ms. Emily Michelle Rapach Susan Hollo
Mrs. Kathleen Ray
Leigh Moore DuPre (86C)
Mrs. Nancy Williams Rewis Kathy Robinson Ray (79C)
Ms. Anna Noelle Salisbury
Nancy Lippard
Karin Copeland Kim and Jill Helton
Dr. Anne S. Lewinson
Mrs. Vesta A. Salmon
Jean Guttman
Ms. Joanna Marie Logan
Troy and Katherine Logan
Ms. Elizabeth Anne Lukens Judy Legg Greg and Mary Meadows
Ms. Katherine Margaret Mabbs Katina Kirby
Mr. Ross A. Magoulas
Pat Barna Holland (69C)
Mr. W. Rufus Massey Jr.
John (85C) and Sarah (87c) Fervier
Ms. Kirbi Caroline Mathews
Fullgraf Foundation
Bruce and Lisa Mathews Kali Mathews
Ms. Julie Allison Gaither
Mr. James K. Miller
Linda Garten
Mrs. Kathryn D. Nobles
Reg (51C) and Maxine Strickland
Jason (00C) and Ashley Harp (01C) Sheppard
Ms. Isabella Grace Samson
Paul Samson and Annette Davis-Samson
Mr. Dylan Scott Schoknecht Paul and Janice Schoknecht
Dr. Jeanne Mar Schul
Stan and Jo Ann Pethel
Mrs. Suzanne White Sella Mary Sella
Ms. Ryley Elizabeth Shapiro Millie McMahon
Ms. Ellison Claire Sherrod Michelle Allford Melanie Grant Laura Sauceda
Dr. Beverly Ann Smith
Mr. Bryce Avery Morin Chad and Renae Morin
Jake Beazley Debbie and Steve (10G) Heida Stacey Spillers
Mr. Caleb Lee Grant
Ms. Kennedy Marie Moore
Mr. Samuel Alexander Starks
Dr. Vincent M.L. Gregoire
Mr. Harry Musselwhite
Mr. John William Sterchi
Mr. David Ellington Haithcock
Mr. Sterling Clark Newton III
Ms. Alyssa Mae Stevens
Mr. Carson Lin Gilliam Marjorie Gilliam
Mr. and Mrs. Tyrome D. Grant Sr. Gabriela Elias Broome (04C) Daniel and Yolanda Wright Haithcock
36
I BERRY
Hollis and Rose Smith
Rebecca Keith True (92C) Clark and Andrea Newton
Michael and Melody Starks John M. and Julia Sterchi Albert and Laura Stevens
Mrs. Susan L. Tarpley
Horace Brown Chemistry Scholarship
Jeffrey Horn (87C)
Paul Brown
Mr. Cameron Lee Taube
Selma Hall Browning Memorial Gate of Opportunity Scholarship
Roger and Dana Taube
Ms. Victoria Marie Toellner Gloria Toellner Natalie Toellner
Mr. Scott Wallace Kathy Robinson Ray (79C)
Ms. Maria Elizabeth Walsh Marisa Merlino John and Elizabeth Rotunno Theresa Turner Thomas Walsh
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Williams Debbie and Steve (10G) Heida Michael Murdock (73A)
Mr. James Damon Wood Rufus (75C) and Mary Anne Schimmelmann (75c) Massey
GIFTS TO NAMED SCHOLARSHIPS AND WORK ENDOWMENTS
Dolores Hall Couey (64c)
Martha Stewart Bulloch Chapter NSDAR Gate of Opportunity Scholarship DAR – Martha Stewart Bulloch Chapter
Julie Ann Bumpus Endowed Scholarship Marcia Rary McConnell (83C) Laura Phillips Katherine Powell Carol Story
James H. Cammon Endowed Scholarship Jan Harrison Karen Rollins
Bill Gee (01C) Rob (92C) and Wendy Quagliano (92C) Harber Kathryn Roseen (76C) Daniel Sprinkle (00C)
Noel and Todd Carper Endowed Award
Lemuel, Mary and James Banks Endowed Scholarship Wayne (61C) and Madeline Banks (63c) Canady
Frank Barron Study Abroad Award Vincent and Mary Gregoire
Glenn W. and Hattie McDougald Bell Scholarship Bob Thesing
Berry High Schools and Academy Work Scholarship Ron (64A, 68C) and Judy Senger Alan (64A) and Leanne Killin (69c) Woody
John R. and Annabel Hodges Bertrand Endowed Scholarship Gina Carter Mounfield (77C) Fred and J’May Bertrand Rivara
Dan Biggers Distinguished Actor Award Reed (77A, 82C) and Shannon Walburn (81C) Biggers
Billy and Carol Blair Endowed Scholarship Carol Buchanan Blair (56H, 58c)
Frances Berry Bonnyman Scholarship Clay Evans Bonny Stanley
Joshua Bradshaw-Whittemore Memorial Endowed Scholarship Alfred and Gloria Bradshaw-Whittemore
Class of 1965C Endowed Gate of Opportunity Scholarship
Class of 1953H Staley/Loveday Gate of Opportunity Scholarship
Class of 1966C Assistant Gardener Endowed Work Position
Dan and Rhonda Cathy WinShape Foundation
Joy Anthony Morrow (54c)
Carl Goodman (65C) Penny Vaughn (64C)
Jim Ann White Stewart (48H, 51C) Sybil Pyle Still (51C) Reg (51C) and Maxine Strickland Gene Wallace (51C)
African American Alumni Chapter Scholarship
Perry Anthony Memorial Scholarship
Class of 1962C Dairy Milk Quality Manager Endowed Work Position
Stan (65C) and Wanda Scott (65C) Aldridge Peggy Brodnax (65C) Barbara Dawson Clinedinst (65C) Del Cook (65C) Phillip (63C) and Barbara Russell (65c) DeMott Pat Kilgore Fife (65C) Jim (65C) and Lottie Snow (65C) Finney Don (65c) and Hiawatha Banks (63C) Henry Herb Jones (65C) Wesley (63C) and Ruth King (65C) Martin Ray Maxwell (65C) Gene (65C) and Sandra Dickerson (66C) McNease Marilyn Jeffries Nail (65C) Joe (65C) and Nelda Parrish (64C) Ragsdale, with a matching gift from Omnova Solutions Jack Riner (65C) Janelle Cato Sabourin (65C) Larry (65C) and Jerry Sculley Guy Sims (65C) Jacque Terrill (65C) Billy (62H, 66C) and Marvalee Lord (65C) Townsend Hance Williamson (65C) Koji (65C) and Reba Nichols (67C) Yoda
Lenard and Bernice Ogle (53H) Whaley
Kathy Rogers Gann (91C) Jacqueline McDowell
Peter (60C) and Ernestine Davis (61C) Hoffmann
Class of 1964C Campus Carrier Editor-in-Chief Endowed Work Position
Carpet Capital Chapter Scholarship
Leo W. Anglin Memorial Scholarship
Class of 1961C Gate of Opportunity Scholarship
N. Gordon Carper Endowed History Scholarship
Mildred Campbell Tietjen (61C)
Frank (54H, 58C) and Kathy Adams Tina Bucher Jim Watkins
Arvile and Charlotte Smitherman
Loyd Gass (60C) Peter (60C) and Ernestine Davis (61C) Hoffmann Lowell (60C) and Dee Hysinger (60C) Loadholtz Roy Parker (60C) Ann Nichols Pope (60C) W.C. (60C) and Sylvia Davis (60C) Rowland Wayne Stevenson (60C)
John (62C) and Geraldine Johnson (62C) Bridges Steve (63C) and Nancy Harkness (62C) Kelly
Melanie Blanchard Morris (05C)
Agriculture Alumni Endowed Scholarship
Class of 1960C Gate of Opportunity Scholarship
Frank Campbell Memorial Fund
Dr. Frank and Kathryn Adams Endowed Scholarship
Shakarah Boswell (16C) Melissa Ransby Hunt (91C) Keri Libby (07C)
Tom Mullis (57C) Charlie (53H, 57C) and Hazel Guthrie (59c) Underwood W.M. Word (57c)
Truett and Jeannette Cathy Expendable Scholarship
Chiaha Scholarship Award
Chiaha Guild of Arts and Crafts LTD
Percy N. Clark and Family Scholarship
Paul (88G) and Shannon Clark, with a matching gift from Wells Fargo Foundation
Judge Thomas A. Clark Endowed Scholarship Curtis Lu Lem (63C) and Gayle Miller (64C) Sumner
Class of 1947C Scholarship Doris Lane Beall (47C)
Class of 1951C Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Bernie Spooner (53H) Roger (53H) and Neomia Sundy Charlie (53H, 57C) and Hazel Guthrie (59c) Underwood Peter Walker (53H) Lenard and Bernice Ogle (53H) Whaley
Cecil (66C) and Sallie Moore (66C) Keith Billy (62H, 66C) and Marvalee Lord (65C) Townsend Bob (66C) and Priscilla Field (66C) Wade
Class of 1954C Endowed Scholarship
Arthur (69c) and Peggy Brown (67C) Howard Floanna Large Long (68C) Allan (67C) and Ellen Thomas (67C) Richardson
Leon Elder (54C) Gene Johnson (54C) Jean Mitchell Sheffield (54C)
Class of 1956C Endowed Scholarship Ginny Atkins (56C) William Keith (56c) Wallace McDowell (56C) Tillie Marlowe Parker (56C) Joyce Jarvis Vickery (56C)
Class of 1957C Scholarship Patricia Hoffman Iles (57C)
Class of 1967C Endowed Gate of Opportunity Scholarship
Class of 1969C Endowed Gate of Opportunity Scholarship
Larry (69C) and Nadine NeSmith (71c) Covington William (69C) and Sally Schwartz (69C) Epps Larry Maxey (69C) Ray (69C) and Pamela Tucker
Class of 1979C Internship Scholarship Brenda Frevert James (79C) Lorraine Ceder Liswell (79C)
37
Doug (79C) and Lynn Phipps Evie Hurd Wagner (79C) Gary (80C, 89G) and Bambi Estill (79c) Waters
Class of 1994C Scholarship Tracey Biles (94C) Cecily Crow (94C) Kendra Grimes (94C) Alison Lounsbury Ritter (94C)
George W. Cofield Memorial Scholarship Fund Larry (57c) and Amelia Rollins (57c) Eidson Ed (57C) and Evelyn Quarles (57C) England Charlie (53H, 57C) and Hazel Guthrie (59c) Underwood W.M. Word (57c)
Richard V. and Nancy Concilio Endowed Scholarship Estate of Richard V. and Nancy Concilio
Jessiruth Smith Doss Scholarship Calvin Doss (49C)
Richard Edgerton Scholarship Leila Trismen
Carolyn Denise Edwards Scholarship Ron (56H) and Robbie Barber (56H) Edwards
B. Leon Elder Endowed Scholarship Leon Elder (54C) Joe (63C) and Shirley Bowen (63c) Elder
J. Mitchell and Cleone Elrod Scholarship Michael and Amy Clarke
Ed and Evelyn England Endowed Scholarship Ed (57C) and Evelyn Quarles (57C) England
Dr. J. Paul Ferguson Endowed Scholarship Paul Ferguson Kathryn Martin
First Families of Georgia Expendable Scholarship First Families of Georgia
Jimmy R. Fletcher Memorial Endowed Scholarship Lamar Fletcher (66A) Jim (68C) and Ruth Hairston Emma Fears O’Neal (68C) Carol McElroy Powell (68C) Rex and Glenda Haney (68C, 76G) Puckett
Dr. Robert L. Frank Legacy Scholarship Steven Hames Kevin and Jenny Kleine Diane Land (88C)
William R. Gaines Sr. Endowed Scholarship Will Gaines (93C)
Gate of Opportunity Scholarship Clinton Ames Mike and Deanna Luscre
Georgia State Society DAR Gate of Opportunity Scholarship DAR – Georgia State Society
Gail Howard Gibson Endowed Scholarship Gail Howard Gibson (82C)
Larry A. Green Memorial Scholarship
Lewis A. Hopkins Endowed Scholarship
Bud Hall (79C) Janna Johnson (81C) Melanie Green Jones
Aaron and Amy Britt
Tim and Odetta Howard Endowed Scholarship
Lyn Gresham Endowed Scholarship
William R. and Sara Lippard Hoyt Scholarship
Phillip (63C) and Barbara Russell (65c) DeMott Steve Eubanks (63C) Tolbert Fowler (60C) Jean Junkins Gagliano (63C) Walter Gill (63C) Manos Kalargyros John Moore (63C) Marlon Nelms (63C) Lem (63C) and Gayle Miller (64C) Sumner
Matt and Kelly Grisham Scholarship Fund
38
I BERRY
Belva Jean Ingle Endowed Scholarship Estate of Belva Jean Ingle (63C)
Emily T. Ingram Endowed Scholarship Emily Thomason Ingram (47c)
Amy Jo Johnson Scholarship Fund
Mendel D. Johnson Memorial Scholarship
Belvinia Attaway Frank Baulding Ruby Curry Ouida Word Dickey (50C) David and Barbara Ford Gary (77C) and Hermanett Pruitt (73C) Ford Evelyn Hamilton (69C) Mary Jackson Richard and Mary McGregor Amos Montgomery Larry Morrow Bill Pence (76C) Beverly Philpot Smith (69C) Christine Sparks John and Laney Stevenson Callahan Street Church of Christ Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Commission
Jonathan Randall Hardin Endowed Scholarship Fund Jonathan and Leisa Withrow (90C) Baggett Dale Canada Daniel Carpenter Brian Chandler Ryan Chesley (04C) Jeremy Clay Kerrie Hartline Dalrymple (17C) Harrison Dupree Penny Evans-Plants (90C) Jonathan Floyd (04C) Kathy Rogers Gann (91C) Willis Garrett Cindy Gillespie Randy and Nita Hardin Cynthia Moore Horner (80C) Marvin Howlett (72C) and Annette Axley Harriet Higgins Kiser (82C) Hannah LaMay Matt Maddox Jacob Pledger (21c) Jeff Smith
Henry and Jessie Henriksen Endowed Scholarship
Ed and Gayle Graviett (67C) Gmyrek
Barbara Ballanger Hughes (71C)
Hamilton/Smith Scholarship
Jorge A. and Ondina S. Gonzalez Family Endowed Scholarship
Ed and Gayle Graviett Gmyrek Scholarship
Barbara Ballanger Hughes Scholarship
Kathy Comito Malisa Hagan
Dwight Glover (84C)
Georgette deFriesse Angela Dickey (75A, 79C) Ondina E. Gonzalez (76A) and Karl Lehman
Harriette Hoyt Bill and Sara Hoyt
Matt (02C) and Kelly Daly (03C) Grisham
Jean Miller Hedden Endowed Gate of Opportunity Scholarship
George M. Glover Endowed International Scholarship
Tim Howard (82C)
Jean Miller Hedden (52C) Peter (53H, 57C) and Emmaline Beard (55H, 59C) Henriksen
Joan Fulghum
Walter and Mabel Johnson Scholarship Walt Johnson (41H)
Dale Jones Gate of Opportunity Scholarship Dale Jones (71C)
Dale Jones Scholarship Dale Jones (71C)
H.I. “Ish” Jones Endowed Agriculture Scholarship
Joy Jones Neal (83C)
Starlet Rhodes Jones Scholarship
George (64C) and Starlet Rhodes (64C) Jones
Kevin Kleine Study Abroad Scholarship
Julie Bumpus Matthew Collins Bob Frank Kevin and Jenny Kleine Diane Land (88C) Jessica Clay Smith (00C) American Express, matching the gift of Joe Bihlmier (91C)
Duane Price Kline Endowed Scholarship Darwin Samples (50C)
Dr. Peter A. Lawler Endowed Scholarship Jonathan and Christie Atkins Michael and Julianne Bailey Matt Barrett (97C) Jody Bishop (89C) Leah Cobb (17C) Rob (99C) and Katie Dillon (00C) Crowe Jeff (81C) and Carol Field Will (11C) and Dana Wenger (13C) Harper Jeffrey Horn (87C) Rita Lawler Anne Lewinson
Land Management Scholarship
Vince Griffith (81C) and Angela Hartley
Lois and Lucy Lampkin Foundation Gate of Opportunity Scholarship Lois and Lucy Lampkin Foundation
Ray M. and Mary Elizabeth Lee Scholarship
Ray M. and Mary Elizabeth Lee Foundation
Percy Marchman Scholarship Emily Marchman (75C)
Dr. L. Doyle Mathis Gate of Opportunity Scholarship funded by the Class of 1958C
LeBron and Kay Holden Endowed Gate of Opportunity Scholarship
Joyce Taylor Liggin (58C)
LeBron (60C) and Kay Davis (60C) Holden
Jerrime and Shannon Cooke Ball
Jack Morgan Endowed Scholarship
SEEDS of
OPPORTUNITY
YOUR GIFTS LIGHT THEIR FUTURE.
Thank you for investing in the lives of our students.
Debra Beckley John and Lori Blanchard Mitchell Blanchard (17C) Alan and Deborah Deegan Brady Jordan Brannen (17C) Ronnie Bridgman Alan and Denise Brown Josh Bullock (17C) Lynette Cotton Cecily Crow (94C) Tim and Angie Denton Neil and Sharron Dorrill Richard and Karen Duncan Basil Englis Matt Farinella (16C) Pat and Rebecca Farinella Celia Fisher Bernard (17C) and Nia Sanders (17C) Granville Charles Jackson Dale and Christy Jackson Devante Jones (18G) Tony Kunczewski Matthew and Christy Leeseberg Jeffrey Lidke Ken Marion Nate Masters Eddy and Nancy Moore Matthew Moore (17C) John and Missy Morgan Richard and Judy Morgan John and Michele Nichols Tedric Palmer (17C) Bill and Kay Roy Steve and Michelle Tart Mark Taylor Patti Thomas
Michael and Margaret Wenclawiak Lydia West (17C) Bob Williams (62H) Leigh Williams Clyde and Sue Wills Curt and Mary Martin (71c) Yarbrough Wells Fargo Foundation, matching the gift of Claude and Kelee Majester
John Lie-Nielsen Scholarship
John (54H) and Debra Lie-Nielsen
Fred H. and Mary Loveday Endowed Scholarship Richard Barley (49H) Jerry Davis (61H) Gordon Kennedy (48H, 52c) Jean Loveday Cecil Spooner (49H)
Ross Magoulas Endowed Scholarship Virginia McChesney Judy Peal Williams (70C)
Martha! Centennial Scholarship Reg (51C) and Maxine Strickland
Rufus Massey Student Operated Enterprises Scholarship
Ashley Painter McElreath (10C) Danny (87C) and Tammi Ridenhour (87C, 03G) Price U.S. Bank, matching the gift of John Dent (90C)
Frank Miller Memorial Scholarship
Ron (65C) and Evonne Dyer (65C) Dayhoff Gail Miller
Linda Mills Memorial Endowed Scholarship Stacey Spillers
Amos Montgomery Endowed Scholarship Auristela Barboza-Espina Coleman and Ebie Brown
Gladys Cardona Barbara Carroll Betty Carroll Tifanny Daniels (08C) Jamie Forsyth Sarah Jackson Munir Khatib Alice King Amos Montgomery Chris Montgomery Alex Moody Mary Pasley Maki Reynolds Stacey Spillers Barry Stephens (88C) Angela Wilbanks
Al and Mary Nadassy English Scholarship Tina Bucher Mary Nadassy
Al and Mary Nadassy Scholarship in Memory of Mrs. Ralph Farmer Mary Nadassy
NSDAR Gate of Opportunity Scholarship DAR – Michigan State Society
NSDAR Scholarship
Elizabeth Garner Margaret Steward DAR – Anan Harmon Chapter DAR – Ann Simpson Davis Chapter DAR – Arrowhead Valley Chapter DAR – Ashmead Chapter DAR – Atascosa Chapter DAR – Balcones Chapter DAR – Bon Chasse Chapter DAR – Brunswick Town Chapter
39
DAR – Canton Chapter DAR – Cape Canaveral Florida Chapter DAR – Captain Molly Corbin Chapter DAR – Chancellor Wythe Chapter DAR – Clinch Bend Chapter DAR – Dancing Rabbit Chapter DAR – General James Breckinridge Chapter DAR – Indiana State Society DAR – Jacob’s Well Chapter DAR – LaGrange Chapter DAR – Lakeland Chapter DAR – Mahoning Chapter DAR – Major George Gibson Chapter DAR – Mary Butler Chapter DAR – Mary Chesney Chapter DAR – Mary Clap Wooster Chapter DAR – Mason City Chapter DAR – Michigan State Society DAR – Michigan DAR – Mississippi Delta Chapter DAR – Mount Rosa Chapter DAR – Olathe Chapter DAR – Peter Puget Chapter DAR – Philip Livingston Chapter DAR – Sam Houston Chapter DAR – San Antonio de Bexar Chapter DAR – Santa Monica Chapter DAR – Sauk Trail Chapter DAR – Scotchtown Chapter DAR – Sophie De Marsac Campau Chapter DAR – Stanley Redmond Harper Chapter DAR – Thankful Hubbard Chapter DAR – Toll Gate Creek Chapter DAR – Washoe Zephyr Chapter DAR – West Virginia State Society DAR – Williamsburg Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
Tim and Mary A. Page Scholarship Mary Page
Bobby Patrick Endowed Scholarship Mary Wooton
Mary Camp Patrick Endowed Scholarship Estate of Mary Camp Patrick (69C) Mary Wooton
Dr. Bob Pearson Endowed Scholarship Scott and Fay Neal, with a matching gift from Georgia Power Foundation Ross Wright
Willis and Nora Pirkle Endowed Scholarship Alice Suroviec
Neal Quitman and Emily Lowe Pope Scholarship Fund Jim and Joanna Pope Karen Gerald Pope Neal Pope
Kelley Bennett Poydence Endowed Scholarship Dan and Kelley Poydence
Amber T. Prince Endowed Gate of Opportunity Scholarship Janna Johnson (81C) Jamie (97C) and Elisha Wright (98C, 04G) Lindner
facing sudden financial distress. Visit berry.edu/giving/ sas-donors to see their names.
Gordon and Mattie Schneider Endowed Scholarship Marlene Schneider (49H)
Schoolar/Massey Bonner Scholarship Larry (55C) and Dixie Schoolar
Jeanne Schul Endowed Dance Scholarship
Texas Society DAR Scholarship DAR – Texas Society
Michael and Elizabeth Thompson Scholarship Michael (87C) and Elizabeth Thompson
Tibbals/Zellars Endowed Comprehensive Scholarship Randy Tibbals (79C)
Kyle Alvarez (09C) Michelle Wilder Rivers (07C) Hannah Stuart (10C) Kara Kempthorne Swilley (07C) Erin McCrary Todd (06C)
John Zellars
Jerry and Joyce Shelton Endowed Gate of Opportunity Scholarship
John Zellars Jr. Foundation
Hazel Weaver Bagwell (58C) Carol Buchanan Blair (56H, 58c) Mary Alice Ivey Blanton (58C) Shirley Randle Boggs (58c) Harlan (58C) and Doris Reynolds (57C) Chapman Joe Crain (58C) Edward Ellington (58c) Ray (58C) and Judy Fewell James and Faye Battles (58C) Lamb Malcolm W. (58C) and Yvonne Jackson (59C) Quick Jerry and Dee Robinson (55H, 58C) Turner Charlie (57C) and Keitha Davis (58C) Weatherford
Michele Norman Sims Endowed Scholarship
John Zellars Jr. Foundation
Tibbals/Zellars Endowed Education Scholarship Randy Tibbals (79C) John Zellars
The Trey Tidwell Experience: A Scholarship for Musical Discovery Mandy Tidwell (93C) Microsoft Corp.
Troy/Gardner Endowed Art History Award Virginia Troy
Courtney M. Urquhart Endowed Communication Scholarship Randy and Judy Urquhart
James Van Meerten Study Abroad Scholarship Jim Van Meerten (70C)
Bobby (92C) and Amy Tuten (96C) Bergman
James E. and Dorris Waters Endowed Scholarship
Robert M. Skelton WinShape Scholarship
Michael Waters
Melissa Fairrel (90C) Robert and Vicky Wood (87G) Skelton Holly Brown West (88C)
Tom and Barbara Slocum Gate of Opportunity Scholarship
Alexander Whyte Whitaker III Endowed Scholarship Whit (81C) and Maria Crego (85c) Whitaker
Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholars Fund Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation
Thomas and Barbara Slocum
Nell Gilreath Williams Scholarship
Dr. Sam Spector Endowed Scholarship
Pam Leonard (78G)
Fred (09G) and Nancy Mercer
William B. Stokely Jr. Scholarship Bill and Kay Stokely William B. Stokely Jr. Foundation
Maxine Strickland Endowed Nursing Scholarship
Chance and Rachelle New Kay New
G. Pait Willis Endowed Business Scholarship Rachel Willis
Reba Shropshire Wilson Endowed Scholarship
Jean Miller Hedden (52C) Deborah Hill Reg (51C) and Maxine Strickland
Estate of Reba Shropshire Wilson (35c)
Student Scholarships
Janna Johnson (81C)
Stephen and Eva Mason (78c) Autry Tabitha Callaway Cook (11C) Wanda Davis-Richards (67C) Kristen Diliberto-Macaluso Walter and Emily DiPietro Alisa Elmore Jean Hansard (76C) Dale and Martha Harris James and Kay Horne Betty Brown Jones (55C) Timothy Larsen Michael Maney (98C) Martha Dodd McConnell (45H, 50C) Matt Ragan (98C) and Shelly Driskell-Ragan (96C) Cathy Poelcher Sims (74C) Georgia Independent College Association
Jeff Wingo Memorial Scholarship Kirby Peden (93C) Kay Wingo
WinShape Scholarship WinShape Foundation
Craig Allyn Wofford Scholarship Ron Dean Holly Dean Lynch (95C)
Richard Wood Scholarship Sammy (77C) and Holly Wood (73C) Freeman Linda Willoughby (71C) David (68A, 72C) and Alta Breeden (70C) Wood
Work Week Endowed Service Award Estate of Irene Christian (45H)
Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation Scholarship
Betty Hawkins Pugh (55c)
Doris Rowland
Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation
Reg (51C) and Maxine Strickland
Save a Student Scholarship
Larry and Betty Jane Taylor Endowed Gate of Opportunity Scholarship
PFC Robert Adrian Worthington Endowed Scholarship
George (64C) and Starlet Rhodes (64C) Jones
Delta Air Lines Foundation
Bernard and Doris Rowland Scholarship
A total of 1,626 current students, alumni, faculty/staff and friends supported this scholarship for students
40
I BERRY
Earl Worthington (52C), with a matching gift from
IN THE END IT’S ABOUT THE STUDE NTS
FUELING CHANGE By student writer Cassie LaJeunesse (20C)
J
unior biochemistry major Darryl Delsoin is working toward a career as a doctor, but he has no interest in waiting until he finishes medical school to help people. He’s starting now. Making the most of connections formed through Berry’s entrepreneurship program, he formulated an ambitious plan to reduce the use of hazardous cooking fuels in his native Haiti. “Basically, what I want to do is start giving a type of fuel called biogas to poor people,” Delsoin explained. “They cannot afford a clean type of fuel, and right now they are using charcoal, which is detrimental to their health and the environment.” Using a device called a biomethanation plant (pictured), Delsoin can transform biowaste into biogas for use in the cooking stoves of Haitian families. The process also produces a type of fertilizer that he hopes to sell to Haitian farmers, generating revenue that he can use to buy more biomethanation plants. Delsoin purchased his first plant with funds from Berry’s Richards Scholars Program, established by the late Alice Richards to help Berry students take their work to a superlative level. In March, he traveled to Haiti to set up the plant, with the initial goal of providing gas to two local families. Instead, news of the growing COVID-19 pandemic forced him to reassess his plan. “As I was planning to start feeding the digester to produce the gas, the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Haiti,” he said. “It made me reluctant to go forward with the project since it involves a lot of interactions between people. My project is designed to help people, not put them at risk.” Cautious but undaunted, he came up with a temporary plan to move forward in the midst of the pandemic. Instead of increasing risk for himself and local families, he developed a shortDarryl Desoin talks to Dr. Paula Englis, professor of term solution to help the management. (Photo by Brant Sanderlin) workers on the farm where he was testing the plant. “I was so determined to help these families that I forgot the workers at the farm also use firewood to cook meals during the day,” he said. “I temporarily
Student entrepreneur Darryl Delsoin with his first biomethanation plant in Haiti.
changed my focus by trying to get the plant running at a low capacity to provide them the biofuel.”
SPARK OF INGENUITY
Delsoin first began developing his idea after meeting Brin Enterkin (12C) at the 2018 Spark Conference hosted by Berry’s student enterprises program. Enterkin, who launched her own social enterprise as a Berry student, pointed Delsoin to Dr. Paula Englis, professor of management and a longtime advocate for Berry’s most entrepreneurial students. “He told me about this project he wanted to start,” Englis recalled. “He was sort of all over the map. He had great ideas, but he didn’t know how to make anything move forward.” Englis encouraged Delsoin to take her Innovation class, in which students work together to develop innovative business models, and then prompted him to apply for the Richards Grant that ultimately funded his first biomethanation plant. She also connected him with Anne Kaiser, a Berry trustee and vice president of community and economic development for Georgia Power Company. Kaiser put him in contact with a chemical engineer who provided direction on the type of plant to buy. Looking back on his entrepreneurial journey, Delsoin is grateful for the support he has received at Berry, as well as the opportunity it has afforded him to pursue this project. “I think the liberty I got from Berry, that I could do anything I want, gave me some freedom to explore areas I wouldn’t have,” he said. 41
PRSRT NONPROFIT MKT MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID ATLANTA, GA 30304 PERMIT NO. 2552
BERRY Magazine P.O. Box 495018 Mount Berry, GA 30149-5018
Trailblazers Dr. Beverly Philpot Smith (69C), front left, and Evelyn Hamilton (69C), front right, are surrounded by students and alumni at a special gala celebrating their status as Berry’s first African American graduates. The Berry African American Alumni Chapter planned the golden-anniversary event in collaboration with the alumni office. (Photo by Brant Sanderlin)