FEBRUARY 2018
From Flying to Broadcasting
Students gain experience PAGE 23
Monthly Calendar • March Athletic Home Games
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WLAX • 1 p.m. WTEN • 1 p.m. SB • 1 & 3 p.m.
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SB • 1 & 3 p.m. SB • 1 & 3 p.m. BASE • 2:30 p.m.
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BASE • 1 p.m. SB • 1 & 3 p.m. WLAX • 1 p.m.
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Student Engagement Events
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Glow Like a Star Talent Show • 8 p.m.
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Glow Carnival • 12-4 p.m. Glow Up/Turn Up DJ Party • 10 p.m.
Glow in the Dark Dodgeball • 8 p.m.
Arts @ Averett
Academic Dates
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Dogtown Dance Theatre • 7 p.m. Pritchett Auditorium Tickets $5 Student Spring Art Show • Jut’s Cafe & Blount Library Runs Until April 16
Spring Break Classes Resume Day to Engage Good Friday
ESTABLISHED 1922
Table of
contents
04 How to Get Off to a Fresh Start This Semester 05 Dressing for Success In and Out of the Classroom 06 New Classes Feature Creative Learning Opportunities Strumming into Education 08 DiSC Model Improving Student Leadership Skills 09 10 Record Breaking Basketball 11 Introducing a Streamlined New Department 12 Braswell Taking Down His Competition 13 A Fresh Look for Averett Baseball 14 Mayhew Leaves a Little Sparkle Wherever She Goes 16 Military Veterans Create a Different Path 18 Drew Wilson, Averett Appreciates You Is Your Voice Being Heard? 20 21 How to Put Your Best Foot Forward 22 A Familiar Face, A New Job Description 23 From Flying to Broadcasting Adjusting to a New Schedule and Meeting Your Goals
Brother4Brother Aims to Help Men Stay in Higher Education
Disney, Robotics, and Much More Offered This Semester
Dr. Phillips Starts “Growing Up Musically” to Foster Creativity NCAA Assessment Used for Student-Athlete Success
Executive Staff Dr. Susan Huckstep advisor
Brianna Shelton publication editor
Ashley Bowman copy desk chief
Lanie Davis
multimedia & copy editor
Jenny Gregory & Lindsey Fulcher video coordinators
Nate Lake
Staff Writers
circulation manager
Ashley Bowman Jacorey Burley Taylor Cook Lauren Cowling Katelyn Dewberry Lindsey Fulcher Eddie Glenn Jr. Jenny Gregory Brent Hammer Ellen Koch Nate Lake Brianna Shelton Ashley Thornton Allison Turner Nalisha Valentin Rafael Walker
AU Men’s and Women’s Team Leaders Make History
Establishing Dept. of Language, Literature, and Comm. Studies
Freshman Wrestler Already Making a Name for Himself Head Coach Drew Bailey Discusses His First Season
Spotlight on Alumna and Staff Member Chloe Mayhew
Non-traditional Undergraduates Share Experiences Beyond College Many Thanks to AU’s Sports Information Director What Residence Life Wants Students to Know
Business Professor Gives Resume Advice to Students
Alumnus Chris Walton Transitions from Residence Life to Professor Students Gain Hands on Experience
More Stories!
Follow @ChanticleerNews on social media to view campus stories on video.
How to get off to a fresh start this semester by JaCorey Burley
“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” - Malcolm X As the new semester continues, students are still getting back into the groove of classes. Reprogramming the brain from winter break can be a difficult challenge. So, how do students prepare for the length of the semester? “My first week of school I start off by studying in the library. It helps me to get back in that school environment,” junior student-athlete Bradley Jefferson said. With new schedules and adjusting to new classroom locations, managing it all can be very stressful, but the transition can be very smooth with tips from the Galesi Student Success Center’s very own Student Success Coach Jordan Francis. “The help is here, the success center is open and available to you,” she said. “On Mondays, we have workshops catering to student needs, like this upcoming Monday, we have a math workshop dedicated to helping students that have past struggles in math.” With these resources available, getting the proper help to thrive in the classroom this semester should be relatively easy. Some students have already taken advantage of these resources and are looking to reach their academic goals set for the semester. Student athlete Jeremiah Smith is utilizing multiple resources to reach his semester goal of
a 4.0 GPA. With this goal in mind, he is taking advantage of the athletics study hall hours and visiting the success center often to ensure the goal turns into reality. Every student comes from different backgrounds and handles academics with diverse methods. Transfer student Jenique Martin plans to bring her success from her previous institution to Averett. “I plan on implementing the same study techniques, and routines that were successful at my last school,” Martin said. Martin is well of aware of her academic situation and says she is going to attack the semester by “going the extra mile to complete assignments, genuinely retaining information, and reaching out to get help in areas where it is needed.” When coming off of break with a long semester ahead, students should look to enhance and better their performance in the classroom by using the multiple academic outlets on campus. From getting help in the success center to your resume being examined by the CCECC, take the necessary strides to have a better semester than last.
Jordan Francis’ office is located in the Galesi Student Success Center. Francis serves as a student coach to help students transition to college life.
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Dressing for Success in and out of the Classroom by Ashley Bowman
Brother4Brother, a new organization at Averett for the 2017-18 school year, has already begun making a name for itself throughout campus. The idea for the program stemmed from a question proposed by an African-American studies professor that Kensell Anderson, graduate assistant and programming specialist for the Office of Health and Wellness and advisor of Brother4Brother, had during his undergraduate education at Ferrum College. “The professor asked the question, ‘how can we increase the retention rate of AfricanAmerican, first generation, or other minority males who studies show, typically struggle in college? How can we get them back the next semester, the next year, to graduate?’” Anderson’s classmates, with the aid of his professor, came up with the idea for a peermentoring program, which in turn led to Brother4Brother. In that class, they also wrote the mission and constitution for the program. Brother4Brother has now spread beyond Ferrum to not only AU, but to St. Andrews University in North Carolina as well as to Hampden-Sydney College. “The administration at Ferrum heard about the idea and wanted to implement it on campus actively,” Anderson said. “Now the young men who were in that organization as mentees and mentors like myself, Lance Moore, and others, went on to work in higher education.” Throughout the semester, Brother4Brother does several events; one of which, Dress for Success, has been Anderson’s favorite thus far. Mentees in Brother4Brother wear solid navy blue ties for Dress for Success Mondays throughout the semester, whereas mentors in the program can be seen wearing striped ties. This semester the first Dress for Success took place on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. “The object for this is that you have to earn your stripes. You have to come
to meetings, do well academically, as well as to not get into any trouble on campus.” There are some events planned later in the semester, including attending the Uplifting Black Men Conference on Virginia Tech’s campus in March as well as hosting their own conference. The theme for Averett’s Brother4Brother conference will be “We are all Males, but We Must Learn to be Men.” While Brother4Brother started as a program aimed to assist with retention rates and as a mentorship geared to helping AfricanAmerican males throughout their college careers, Anderson wants to make it known that everyone is welcome to participate, regardless of their race or ethnicity. “We want everyone to join. We are a majority African-American group, but we want Brother4Brother to be diverse. We aim to have every male on campus either be a mentor or a mentee.” For more information on Brother4Brother, visit the Student Engagement Center located adjacent to the Galesi Student Success Center, or contact advisors Kensell Anderson at kdanderson@averett.edu and Lance Moore at ljmoore@averett.edu.
The Chanticleer • 5
New classes feature creative learning opportunities they are still more than happy to learn the basics by Nalisha Valentin
Averett is back with a new semester full of fresh opportunities for students to be able to enjoy the most out of their 2018 spring semester. One of these many opportunities happen to be several new courses. A new course this semester is “Film Studies: Disney” taught by Dr. Jeremy Groskopf, an instructor in the department of English, literature, and communications, teaching courses in film and media. The course is one where students interested in the film industry can study feature films of the Walt Disney Company and the meanings and styles of Disney films. A new course added to the computer science department offerings seems to be one everyone is quite excited about. Robotics is taught by Steve Lemery, associate professor of mathematics/ computer science. The robotics course was introduced by Lemery, who was inspired by his own experience as a mentor in robotics for the Galileo High School F.I.R.S.T. Robotics Team. The robotics course is meant to introduce students to computer science and robotics with the learning possibilities provided by the small robots, also known as Sparki, from arcbotics. com. Students are initiated into the world of computer science and robotics by discovering how to give Sparki simple commands such as moving forward or making the robot use its ultrasonic distance sensor to look left or right. The class consists of a dozen students eager to learn and while some students such as Katlyn Anderson expected the course to consist of more building rather than commanding,
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of robotics and computer science which is exactly what the class provides. Anderson mentions that the course is a good way to introduce robotics to people that have never had programming. Beginners completely new to programming material such as Afia Nyantakyi, are enjoying the class and find that the material will be useful to be introduced into other computer science subjects such as “Introduction to Code” to be able to learn more difficult things, like Csharp and Java, later on. Freshman Shanice Pierce took the course because of her love for computer science. However, students do not have to be a computer science major to be interested in taking the course and learning about robotics. “I’m hoping that the course will help students improve their teamwork and problem solving skills [which should be useful for any career], as well as give them experience coding in a programming language,” Lemery said. Students work together to give Sparki a few basic commands such as avoiding an obstacle or wall and gain distinct experience from the opportunities the course provides its students. “For students in this course who want to learn more about coding, I would suggest CSS211: Intro to Programming or CSS235: Java. Both are designed for students who are new to computer science,” Lemery said.
Sparki the Robot is used to assist students in learning code in introductory level robotics courses. Students use the program Arduino to write code in order to make the robot complete different tasks.
When programmed, Sparki can move forward, back up, avoid walls using the eye-like sensors, pick up light, and even display messages when an LCD board is attached.
Overall the course is one that students of any major can take to launch into the computer science world or to simply try a new unique experience should they be intrigued. Other new courses at the University this semester include “Francophone Writers,� a class that explores the culture and civilization of the Caribbean and francophone, French-speaking, Africa. The course is taught by Dr. Catherine Clark, assistant professor of English and French. TED Talks is also a new course taught this semester. TED Talks focuses on the interesting subject of the famous TED Talk media organization where students can use their creativity to discuss, and learn about a variety of topics while enhancing
their presentation skills. Dr. Susan Huckstep, associate professor of communication studies and journalism, teaches the course. Averett continues to provide its students with a variety of useful classes every semester where students can not only learn in the classrooms but also gain hands-on experience. Teachers also get to enjoy this opportunity by being able to provide students with new courses they are not only experienced in but also extremely passionate and eager to teach about. Students can look forward to more new classes during the 2018-2019 academic year.
The Chanticleer • 7
strumming into education by Taylor Cook
“Not only does music affect our intelligence positively, it is a wonderful tool to assist in learning just about anything,” Dr. Janet Phillips, assistant professor of music, said. Phillips started the “Growing Up Musically” program (G.U.M) with three goals in mind. First, she wanted to be able to provide preschool aged children with quality music experiences. Phillip’s second goal was to allow Averett education majors to learn how to utilize music to help them in their own teaching. Education students are able to gain real-life experiences in the CIC Head Start classrooms with children from the community. Finally, this program hopes to provide education students with insights on how to use music in their classrooms to enhance their teaching. “With our training of current and future teachers in the use of music in the classroom, I hope we will be some part of the catalyst for positive change in our area,” Phillips said. G.U.M. is funded by a three-year grant that also helped fund Averett’s band program. The curriculum for the program was written in the fall of 2015, and then implemented in the spring of 2016. Averett education students got the opportunity to observe, participate, lead songs and lessons with the head start children. “I hope this program plants seeds of change all over Danville and Pittsylvania County that will
help the children in our area to learn more, learn more efficiently, to be smarter, and in that way to improve our community overall,” Phillips said. Local philanthropists funded the program with the goal to act as an inspiration to preschool children and teachers. “Children have the opportunity to express themselves through music and a lifelong passion for music can be fostered at a young age,” Dr. Sue Davis, head of Averett’s education program said. Averett hopes that preschool teachers at Head Start will continue to use music lessons with their students and allow Averett education students to feel comfortable using music while teaching. “Students learn how to integrate music into their lessons and how the preschool schedule runs,” Davis said. The Averett students working with the G.U.M program are studying curriculum and how to better organize teaching to have more efficient learning take place in their classrooms. “By being involved in the G.U.M program, it has helped me understand curriculum at a deeper level. It was a fun experience to be involved in the preschool classroom, because it is a different dynamic than grades K-6,” senior education major, Courtney Meadows said. The “Growing Up Musically” program has high hopes of giving children a bright and musical future.
Left: Dr. Janet Phillips, assistant professor of music, leads the class in song learning about their eyes. ears and noses. Phillips and the Education Department at AU have really enjoyed this program and all of the children they have interacted with at the various pre-kindergarten programs throughout Danville and Pittsylvania County.
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How DiSC model is improving student leadership skills
by Lauren Cowling
The DiSC Model is an assessment used by the NCAA to develop self-awareness, improve communication skills and various other things. It is a four-quadrant model that explains behaviors of people. There are four types of behavior, coined by psychologists as dominant, inspiring, supportive, and cautious. Averett has been using the DiSC model for approximately three years. All of AU’s athletic department personnel are trained in DiSC, along with 60 out of 65 studentathletes, participating each year. Emma Olsson, athletic program coordinator, and Philip Wilson, head soccer coach, are certified by the NCAA to facilitate the workshop with student-athletes this year, as they have done in previous years. “I took it [DiSC] as a student-athlete and I think it helps you be the best that you can be. It helps how you communicate and receive information as well as how your teammates do,” Olsson said. “From there, you can play to each other’s strengths, understand different styles, and play better as a team.” DiSC assessments are a way of learning one’s behavior and how it is changeable. Using these assessments with student-athletes allows them to be taught how to have more effective relationships with those around them and become better leaders. “From a coach standpoint, I think that understanding how the athletes communicate helps both me and the student-athletes. The better they [student-athletes] understand each other, the better they are going to play,” Wilson said. It is not just student-athletes who participate in DiSC, but the NCAA too. “The DiSC assessment is a tool that the NCAA is using. It was used at the NCAA Immersion Program and they also use it for their staff training,” Olsson said. Averett applied for a grant from the NCAA but it doesn’t cover the cost for all student athletes. The athletic departments choose representatives from each team, splitting the assessments evenly. “Men’s soccer is close to one third of the team having completed the assessments. I address it
[DiSC] with the leaders. Making sure they know their teammates and educating them how to communicate with each other effectively. As we get more student-athletes we can implement it even more,” Wilson said. The DiSC assessment helps student-athletes in many ways; however there is a downside to the behavioral assessment. “People tend to pigeon hole themselves and we don’t want them to use it as an excuse. We want to help them learn and adjust. Just because it says something on paper, doesn’t mean we need to behave that way,” Wilson said. There are many advantages to learning about yourself and learning how to understand others. “It [DiSC] is very helpful for self awareness. We can ‘flex’ to be a ‘C’ to an ‘I’ if we need to. You can move between quadrants depending on the situation,” Wilson said. Names have already been submitted for the DiSC model this year and are awaiting approval from the NCAA who will then send emails to the chosen student-athletes. “DiSC goes hand in hand with Meg Stevens, director of athletics, philosophy and helps prepare student athletes for the real world. The NCAA is providing us with opportunities to keep using it and we want to help as many students as possible before they graduate,” Wilson said.
GET INVOLVED
1. Find a pen or pencil and a piece of paper 2. Participants should then write their names with their dominant hand 3. Participants should write their names with their non-dominant hand This exercise is related to the flexing part of DiSC. You may feel confident as it is easy for you. Flexing to your non-dominant hand may feel uncomfortable and weird, more for some than other; however it is doable though. The more you practice the better you will get. Relating to DiSC, it means that despite what letter you are, doesn’t mean you can’t flex your behavior when communicating with others that are different from you.
The Chanticleer • 9
Record Breaking basketball by Brent Hammer
January was a month to remember for Averett Cougar sports fans. In a span of five days, in the same building, four long standing records were toppled in both men’s and women’s basketball. On Jan. 7, women’s basketball faced off against William Peace University at the Grant Center. Samm Chandler, senior biomedical sciences major and guard for the WBB team, entered the game 36 points shy of breaking the all-time career point record of 1,442 points, held by Michelle Warner, ‘99. Entering the final minutes of the game, Chandler was a single point away from tying the record. With 34 seconds left in the game, she pulled up from three and knocked down the record breaking basket. “It was an awesome moment. I was glad it happened at home and we won that game, and to see all of my hard work pay off,” Chandler said. However, that was not the only record that Chandler broke that night. Chandler finished the game also with 2 blocks, becoming the all-leader in career blocks (92) which was also held by Warner. The Cougars won the game big against the Pacers 101-66. Head Coach Liz Hickey had nothing but praise for Chandler. “She has bought into our team philosophy and makes her teammates better. I am so happy for her to earn those honors and earn a place in the record books.” Chandler is consistently one of the team’s top scores but she prides herself in defense. “When I was an underclassmen I was not very good defensively,” Chandler said. “I have really practiced closing out on shooters and working hard on keeping people in front of me and as a result I am better defensively.” On Jan. 12, the men’s basketball team played Covenant College. The two teams played back and forth all night, with each team taking the lead and giving up the lead. The game went to overtime between the two offensively powered teams. The Cougars pulled out another win, 103-98. At the end of the game as stats were being tallied,
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it was announced that James Contreras, senior accounting major and guard for the MBB team, set the record for most points in a single game with 42 points. This isn’t the first time Contreras scored 40 or more points in a single game. He surpassed his previous career high of 40 points, which he earned during the Dec. 9 game verses Pfeiffer University. “I was shocked when I looked at the stats. I was more shocked when I saw how many free throws I shot,” Contreras said. He finished 19 for 20 in free throws; 11 for 11 in overtime. Yet another record broken for most total free throws made in a game. Contreras was quite emotional after the record-breaking game. “I wanted to go around to everyone that has supported me and believed in me, because without them, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today.” Head Coach David Dorino commented on Contreras’ after the game. “He is a relentless worker that has improved as a player and leader every year he has been with us. To see the growth from year to year on and off the floor has been a pleasure to watch and an honor to be a part of.” One of the things Contreras is best known for is work ethic. He credited his girlfriend, senior volleyball player and physical education/ coaching major, Hannah Shields, for pushing him to be the best person he can be. The 2017-18 season for men’s and women’s basketball were very successful. Cougar fans witnessed great games and even better performances by some of AUs best athletes.
Senior Samm Chandler shattered 2017 AU Hall of Fame Inductee Michelle Warner’s career point record.
introducing a streamlined new department
by Katelyn Dewberry
Last year, Averett established the Department of Language, Literature and Communication Studies/Journalism (LLC) to better meet the needs of students. A focus of this department is educating students on analytical abilities as well as engaging them in local and global perspectives. This department offers six majors: Communication Studies/ Journalism, English (with concentrations in British, American, or Comparative Literature), English with Teaching Licensure 6-12, English Literature/ History dual major, English Literature/ Theatre dual major, and Modern Languages. This department also offers nine minors: Communication Studies, English, French, Journalism, Public Relations, Spanish, Sports Communication, Women’s and Gender Studies, and, their newest minor, African & African American Studies. Including Language, Literature, and Communication Studies/Journalism into one department allows students to better connect with the courses they are taking. The three components in this department are full of unique courses which helps unify the entire department as a whole. For example, a student who takes courses in this department is able to experience cultural differences through being able to study abroad. A student is also able to learn through literature and courses such as TED talks, of the importance of events that are taking place in the world. Through this department students are able to connect to the world around them and learn how their future careers can help lead to a positive difference in the world.
LANUGAGE In the language component of the department students have the option of participating in language immersion programs. Being able to live in another country while continuing to take required courses is a great opportunity. Students can also participate in study abroad to places such as France and Spain. This gives students the chance to live in another country for a short period of time and experience the differences in culture. Depending on the location students choose to go will determine what language they will need to have experience in.
LITERATURE Within the literature component of the department the option to take an African American and Women Literature course has recently been added. This course allows students to read literature from another culture and gain insight on a topic they may not be familiar with. Two other classes that are offered that are very interesting are Disney Film and Caribbean Literature. These classes allow students to enjoy learning and have fun when gaining new knowledge.
COMMUNICATION STUDIES/ JOURNALISM In the communication studies/journalism section of the department revisions have been made to the communication studies minor for it to be more flexible for students. A minor has also been added which is sports communication. Recently, a new course has been added, the World According to Ted, which is going to teach students presentation skills as well as show them Ted-talks. Ted-talks will focus on important topics in the world and provide great information.
The Chanticleer • 11
Braswell Taking Down his Competition by Eddie Glenn Jr.
Sam Braswell, freshman athletic training major, is one of the best wrestlers in the Southeast Conference. He has definitely made a name for himself on Averett’s inaugural wrestling team. Braswell boasts a great record here at the University so far, giving him the best mark on the team. He is the first wrestler to reach the 20win mark. “I haven’t really thought about the success honestly. I’ve just been getting better day by day,” Braswell said. Braswell has a good line-up of coaches and teammates that all have his back, and constantly push him to where he needs to be. Some of his teammates even give him the highest of regards. “I see Sammie becoming the first national champion in Averett wrestling history and I see him becoming one of the greatest wrestlers in history,” Dia Gray, freshman wrestler and special education major, said. He also serves as a great tool for his teammates to learn from and pushes them to get better as competitors. “Sam pushes me in the wrestling room and drilling with him and going live has definitely
made me a better wrestler,” Korpesh Gootee, freshman wrestler and accounting major, said. “Having Sam as a teammate is great and funny too because he brings that positive energy,” Gray said. “He stays on me all the time even when I was at the lowest point he picked me up to become a better wrestler.” Braswell is a making a difference on the team. He plans to continue pushing himself and others. “I look to keep working hard and getting better day in and day out. My biggest competitor is myself. If I can get out my own way I feel nobody can stop me.”
The inaugural wrestling season at Averett was a memorable one. Braswell finished the season with a 29-11 overall record and at the NCAA Southeast Regional in Ferrum, Va on Sat. Feb. 24, Braswell went 3-2.
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A Fresh Look for Averett Baseball by Ashley Thornton
An almost three hour commute was nothing for new head baseball coach Drew Bailey, who inherited the team in summer of 2017. Bailey had no problem making sacrifices, as he expects his young men to do the same. “You might want to catch, but we need you to play third. You may want to close, but we need you to start,” Bailey said. The native of Christiansburg, Virginia, was formerly an assistant coach at Bluefield College where he served as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator while assisting with hitters and catchers. In college, Bailey played at Concord University for Kevin Garrett, who he credits as being his role model and mentor. Bailey was inducted into the Concord University Hall of Fame this past fall. Bailey says there was a transition process from being an assistant coach to a head coach. He thinks there’s more responsibility from an administrative side as well as a lot more behind the scenes work. His goal is to win the league, reach the NCAA playoffs and ultimately win a National Championship at Averett. Another goal of his is for every one of his players to graduate. He would like to develop his players into young
men, both on and off the field. “I’m a pitching and defense guy, I think that’s what wins games,” Bailey said. “We’re going to try and steal a lot of bases.” Bailey knows that the team is going to face a lot of adversity and some challenges this season, such as getting guys who have never played together to mesh and sacrifice themselves for the team. “Accountability and adversity are the two things we talk about the most. How we are going to handle it when we do face it’s what matters to me,” Bailey said. Overall, Bailey expects the team to have a successful year. He says the team has the talent to win a lot games this year and thinks that his team will surprise a lot of people.
Coach Bailey is excited about his role as head coach of Averett’s Men’s Baseball. Below is the 20172018 team photo taken at Owen-Fulton Field.
The Chanticleer • 13
Mayhew Leaves a Little Sparkle Wherever She Goes by Jenny Gregory
“I’ve always been told you honor God and He’ll honor you. I want to continue doing that. If I’m doing that, I’ll be at the right place at the right time,” Chloe Mayhew said. Mayhew is the coordinator of communications and public relations for the president’s office at Averett University. She has accomplished so much in her life but remains humble and prefers to shine the spotlight on others. Mayhew grew up in nearby Ridgeway, Va., just south of Martinsville in Henry County. She had always known of Averett growing up in Ridgeway but attended Patrick Henry Community College for two years after graduating from high school. James Thurnes, now one of her colleagues, gave Mayhew her first tour of Averett’s campus just over seven years ago. Today, her name tag from one of her tours hangs in Mayhew’s Main Hall office. “It felt like home immediately. God was telling me, ‘this is the next step,’” Mayhew said.
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After sitting in on one of Dr. Susan Huckstep’s classes during a visit, Mayhew knew that Averett was for her. “It solidified everything I’d felt since the first visit,” Mayhew said. She transferred to Averett and majored in communications. Mayhew’s time at Averett was a springboard into her life and brings a smile to her face. “It was fantastic, challenging and exciting to see changes happening on campus,” Mayhew said. “I was able to meet people who completely turned my life upside down in a great way. I look back with nothing but fond memories.” From the time she was 17 years old until she was 22, Mayhew worked part time at the Smith River Sports Complex in Martinsville. Upon graduating from Averett, Mayhew was offered a position on the Economic Development Corporation for Martinsville and Henry County, which she held for six months. She then moved to the position of Director of Marketing for the Smith River Sports Complex for less than half a year until she received a call from Averett’s President, Dr. Tiffany Franks. Franks knew Mayhew was meant for the special position in the Averett family. “After she graduated from Averett, Joe and I would regularly see her at home and on the road. She was exceptionally loyal as a student to the institution, and even beyond her role as a staff member, she continues to be loyal as an active alumnus. Her loyalty and passion for all things Averett is in her DNA,” Franks said. Mayhew remembers walking into her office on her first day to find a letter laying on her new desk from Franks that Mayhew still has today. “It said welcome home. It was surreal. I am so grateful to be here,” Mayhew said. Buddy Rawley, vice president for institutional advancement, describes Mayhew as talented. “Chloe interviewed me many times when she was a student at Averett. I was very familiar with her communication skills, and then when Dr. Franks told me she would be hired to work in the President’s office, I was very pleased. I have enjoyed becoming a colleague and getting to work with Chloe on a daily basis. I have seen her grow so much professionally during the years I have known her,” Rawley said.
Mayhew had only been gone from her Alma Mater for a little over a year but her sense of home still was very strong in her heart. She has now held her position at Averett for over two years. “I knew I wanted to get back to Averett. I’m so blessed to work for the best president and boss anyone could ask for,” Mayhew said. Mayhew loves her job and looks forward to every day. She talks about the Averett family as being here for the right reasons – students. “It’s more about the people I get to spend time with. There is no typical day,” Mayhew said. Mayhew gives her all every day and is very humble about all the accomplishments she has in her life. “I am thankful for the opportunities to expand, grow and go beyond what I thought I could do and those that encouraged me,” Mayhew said. Mayhew is currently working on obtaining her doctorate in communication studies online from Regent University. “I’d love to teach communications one day. It’s something that everyone needs to have a foundation in. I also love what I am doing now. I am enjoying where I am right now and we’ll see where the Lord leads me,” Mayhew said.
Now as the coordinator for communications and public relations for the president’s office, Mayhew has come full circle. Buddy Rawley remembers as an undergrad when she would interview him for The Chanticleer, but now current staff members get an update on Averett through her.
The Chanticleer • 15
Military Veterans Create a Different Path by Allison Turner
Traditionally, we are encouraged to go to college immediately following high school graduation. We are expected to complete our degrees within four years and start jobs in the “real world” afterward. However, this is not always the exact path for all students. Some students at Averett chose to join the military before beginning their college careers. Phil Owens, a junior majoring in aviation, decided to spend most of last semester serving his country rather than attending classes. Owens has been a member of the Virginia Air National Guard since he enlisted during his junior year of high school. He is called in one weekend of every month and two weeks anytime within the year to assist with getting jets ready and ensuring the pilots take off safely. In June, Owens received a text asking if he would be willing to leave the next week to be deployed at an undisclosed base until October. After only thinking about it for two hours, he agreed to go. “You don’t really get time to think about stuff,” Owens said. “They need people right away.” Owens spent the next few months working with Air Force jets, often in over 100 degree weather,
before returning home. Since the semester was already halfway through, he wasn’t able to return to classes until the start of this semester. Luckily, he will still be able to graduate on time since he had taken enough classes before his deployment in order to get ahead. Currently a Senior Airman, Owens hopes to eventually become an officer so that he can fly planes of his own. He will also soon be getting his name on a plane, a rare accomplishment for someone of his ranking and something he has been hoping for since he enlisted. “I never really figured it’d happen,” Owens said. Adam Smith, a freshman majoring in theatre, spent 20 years in the Navy before retiring and coming to Averett as a student this semester. He joined when he was 18 years old and spent a year and a half in electronics school before working as an electronics technician. His main role was to “troubleshoot and repair naval communication equipment and radars.” Working his way up to First Class Petty Officer, Smith also worked as a training officer before he left the Navy. During his service, he would live on ships for long periods of times and travel to places around the world, including Japan.
Ethan Jones, sophomore theatre education major, runs through scenes for Schoolhouse Rock. Jones is most known around campus for being in theatre productions, but students would be surprised to know that he is an Army veteran as well.
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“I didn’t belong on a ship,” he said. “That was not me.” After retiring, Smith decided he wanted a different life for himself and thought going back to school would be a great place to start, so he enrolled at Averett. Though he is older than most of his classmates, he still feels like he fits right in. “I think we’re all pretty much the same,” he said. “Here, everyone is on the same playing field. We’re all students. I just have a better beard than the rest of them.” Ethan Jones, a sophomore majoring in theatre education, was inspired by his grandfather and mother to join the Army after leaving high school at the age of 16. He was first deployed to Afghanistan before being sent to South Korea to serve as a member of the first line of artillery defense if North Korea attacked. One of his biggest accomplishments was being promoted to Corporal seconds after being promoted to Specialist, essentially skipping the Specialist rank all together. He was later promoted to Sergeant where he began to train other people, including some 10 to 20 years older than he was. “I’ve always loved training,” Jones said. “They would always look at me first like I was just this
Phil Owens, right, has been a member of the United States Air Force for over four years now and was deployed to an undisclosed base for most of last semester.
Adam Smith served in the United States Navy for 20 years before starting as a student at Averett this semester. Though Smith is older than most of his classmates, he feels equal and is glad everyone has been so accepting of him.
kid. But once they got to know that, yeah, I’m a goofball but I’m hardcore in a sense of training, and I don’t mess around when it comes to getting the job done, they learned to respect me.” After four years, Jones received an honorable discharge from the Army. He worked odd jobs for a bit and attended Danville Community College for a year before deciding he wanted to become a teacher. He enrolled as a student at Averett, where he is known by his professors and classmates to show up at least 15 minutes early to every class. “I wanted to better myself,” Jones said. “I wanted to do something I never thought I could do.” While there are still times when Jones struggles with PTSD from his experiences, he also feels his work in the military has helped him stay more focused in school and made him a more disciplined person. Being a father of two, he also encourages his children to join the military if that is what they decide to do. “You can die no matter what you are doing,” Jones said. “You can walk outside and a piece of wood falls and hits you on the head, but if you die doing something that you find patriotic, something that you find truly meaningful, whether it’s saving a kid’s life, yours or someone else’s, or it’s pushing your body to the limit to swim across the English Channel. Whatever you do when you die is how people are going to remember you, if it’s for an hour, if it’s for a second, or if it’s for a lifetime.”
The Chanticleer • 17
Dear drew wilson, Averett appreciates you. very thankful for him,” Amani Ajayi, junior workby Lindsey Fulcher
Passionate, patient, multi-talented, wellrounded, hardworking, supportive. These are qualities that students, faculty and staff say embody Sports Information Director Drew Wilson. The husband, and soon to be father of two, works close to 60 hours a week and says although it’s not the norm, has reached up to 80 hours when factoring in late night games and at-home preparation. “There is no typical day,” Wilson said. “A common misconception is that you just show up for games. People don’t see all the behind the scenes work we do, or all the other roles that we fill. There are so many aspects involved that people don’t realize.” Depending on the day of the week, time of year, or if it’s game day or not, Wilson takes part in everything from game-day operations to creating pocket schedules, while maintaining social media and the athletics site for 16 teams. However, his job is not all about what is on his to-do list. “All the students that I work with aren’t necessarily student-athletes,” Wilson said. “I also have work study or sports practicum students. It is rewarding to see them develop as they gain experience in this field and see them grow and become professionals.” Students proudly say that Wilson is the best SID in the conference. His mentorship has affected his students and co-workers more than he knows. “He has a very stressful job but is always cool, calm, and collected,” senior work-study student Brandon Baker said. “I appreciate the hard work and dedication he puts into not only making it the best program, but teaching us how to do it as well.” “I’m glad we have Drew,” sophomore aspiring broadcaster Eddie Glenn said. “He is so hardworking and taught me to be precise and not cut corners or take shortcuts.” Students may not always express it but they appreciate all the work Wilson puts in for our athletic department. “I couldn’t imagine not having someone as committed and dedicated as he is. He makes game days so awesome for everyone and we are
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study said. One of Wilson’s current graduate assistants, Kendra Hoes says working with him the past two years has allowed her to become confident, knowing when she graduates she will be successful in her next job because of the lessons she has learned. “I know how to handle different situations and that is all thanks to Drew,” Hoes said. “He helps you prepare for that next step in your life and he loves what he does. If you have a boss that loves what they do, it makes it that much easier to learn from them.” Another current graduate assistant for Wilson is Jeffrey Bentley, who started working for Averett in 2017. “He makes my job much more stress free because he is so easy-going,” Bentley said. “He is really great about letting you grow, but also being a great mentor. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to work for as a graduate assistant.” Bentley says Wilson is known as the guy that people come to with questions and if something comes up, he is always willing to drop whatever he needs to in order to help.
Drew Wilson fulfills another one of his roles by taking headshots for one of Averett’s 16 teams, women’s lacrosse.
Top: Drew Wilson explains the game book to senior work study student Aquayla Swann at a women’s basketball game. Above: Depending on the day of the week, time of year, or if it’s game day or not, Drew Wilson takes part in everything from game-day operations to creating pocket schedules, while maintaining social media and the athletics site for 16 teams.
“We have a lot on our plates, and a lot of people coming in here pulling us a 100 different ways. What I have really learned from Drew is keeping a level head and managing the work as it comes.” Wilson took the job as SID in 2008 and has
gone strong ever since. He says he really found his passion in working with student-athletes and coaches. “The word ‘passionate’ just fits him perfectly,” Ajayi said. “He takes his job very seriously, but he has fun. I would definitely consider him a family man and it shows when he is here at Averett. He knows all the athletes by name and everyone just loves him.” Wilson is without a doubt committed to the athletics program. No matter the day or time, his co-workers say he will always make it work. “He sacrifices his family time in order for the department to run smoothly,” Bren Taylor, director of operations for Averett athletics, said. “Drew is a very big asset to the department and in the position he is in, never gets the proper thanks and recognition. He does amazing things and we thank him for that.”
The Chanticleer • 19
Is your voice being heard? by Ellen Koch
A college’s needs are constantly changing. As seniors graduate and the freshman class comes in they bring a whole new idea of how their college experience will look like. Averett feels these shifts and it’s their job to adhere to these changing needs as closely as possible. Some of these changes come in the form of facility refurbishments like the 10 year plan. Others come in the form of powerful student groups such as the BSU. Through it all these changes come from the organized and passionate voices of the students. Shelbilyn Boelsche is the graduate assistant in housing & residence life and has heard firsthand what the students are looking for and how Averett is responding. “I know they want to get faculty or staff involvement in hosting programs for them. They want to see more involvement and so hopefully with more involvement it will help encourage people to get out of their shells. And that’s why this semester we are focusing on what they’re calling ‘set the tone’. We’re doing a lot more programs and trying to encourage students to come out because we want you guys to have a fun college experience. We don’t want you to go home and say ‘there’s nothing to do at Averett.’ But there is a program every weekend, so there is always something going on. You just have to figure out what it is. That’s why there are so many flyers around campus. We want you guys to know that there are things for you to do out here.” Averett’s observations don’t just stop there. The student’s voices are being heard throughout the entire Residence Life Department. Jawoin Williams is the assistant director of housing and residence life and is making sure the voices of the students aren’t over looked. “We have people in place to advocate for the students. I was a previous student at Averett. I have an idea of what the res halls look like. I have been in every single room in this school. So I kinda know what the atmosphere is like. We have grad hall directors and RAs on the ground floor interacting with students every single day. And we have meetings where reports are given about those environments.” The students’ voice for change in social and
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educational programs in resident halls is heard all the way up to Kyle Patterson, director in the office of housing and residence life. “The students do have a voice. The most powerful voice on this campus aside from the Board of Trustees is our student population. What they want and what they’re asking for will be what we do our best to get for them, within reason. If they’re asking for intentional, fun, social programs on a weekly bases. Let’s try that! If they’re asking for once a month, a wide scale program where all of our students work together on a program. We can try that! If they’re asking for intentional opportunities where they can interact with faculty and with staff in resident halls and a space near them. So that it’s like their community, their home. We can try that. If we can advocate for what the students are requesting, we have a responsibility to try and provide that.” Now you know that they’re listening but how can you effectively use your voice to encourage new programs or better existing ones? Don’t Kyle Patterson be afraid to talk to the RAs in your residence halls to get the ball rolling. They’re very knowledgeable and want their halls to be a comfortable and fun environment. They can’t read your minds. It’s up to you to take the initiative. Get people organized. The more voices you have backing your idea the better. But it doesn’t just stop Shelbilyn Boelsche with RAs, the entire Res Life Department is open to suggestions. They rely heavily on the student’s needs when making decisions about every aspect of residential living. The Res Life offices are easily accessible on the fourth floor of The Student Center, above the cafeteria. It’s your campus. Make Jawoin Williams it yours.
How to put your best foot forward by Nate Lake
Averett, like many other universities, has one goal in mind, and that is to prepare their students for a job in their perspective fields. One thing they tell you from the start of your freshman year in college is that a resume is a must when seeking a career. Unfortunately, there isn’t always a clear and precise way to do a resume. There is often confusion on a correct way or what should be included. Averett understands that and wants to help you in the Center for Community Engagement and Career Competitiveness (CCECC) and through other resources that the school provides. “I think it is important to have an office that works with our students,” Meaghan Byrne, business instructor, said about the CCECC. “It’s also good that students come to their teachers or professors to really tailor their resume.” Byrne teaches business communications, in which she instructs students to write up their very own resume. While there is no specific guideline for what should or should not be in your resume, work history, education, volunteer work, sports, hobbies (relative to the job), and any awards you have received should always be included. “A resume is a living document, so it is important that you update it with things you are doing,” Byrne said. “In terms of making a good resume, it depends on where you are in life. If you are a graduating senior, you’re going to highlight your education. If you are a professional in your thirties or forties, you are going to highlight your work experience.” Another tip that Byrne added is when including qualifications and skills in a resume, it is important to mimic what the job description states. For example, if in a job description, it says that the employee should be proficient in thinking on the go or needs problem solving abilities, those specific words and skills should be mentioned somewhere in a resume. She believes that it shows the company that you have researched and put time into learning about the company. Another aspect of landing a job is the interview,
and Byrne agrees that first impressions are important to an employer. “I think it is important that you dress for the part. If you are going to be in an office every day with business attire, that is what you should be wearing to the interview,” Byrne said. “I think it is important that you dress for the job you want.” During interviews, employers try and get to know the interviewee by asking questions like “What are your greatest strengths or weaknesses?” and “Why do you want to work at this company?” Byrne believes it is important to practice what the employer might ask during the interview so that the questions that could be asked are not surprising. “Be prepared to answer questions about yourself. You need to think a little bit about your strengths and weaknesses,” Byrne stated. “And be honest about your weaknesses. We all have them, and it is not worth it to pretend that we don’t. Be confident in the skills that you do have and what you bring to the table. It doesn’t matter how old you or young you are.” While these are great tips and guidelines to follow, Angie McAdams, director of career development, in the CCECC is available for oneon-one time, for resume review or to just get that little extra help. She even helps with interviews by giving advice about clothing if that job needs something specific. For more information or further help, the CCECC is located at 204 Woodland Drive on Averett’s campus. RESUME MISTAKES TO AVOID: 1. Typos & Grammatical Errors: a given honestly double and triple check your resume to make sure it’s perfect! 2. Irrelevant Job Experience: tweak your resume for each job you apply for and make sure to leave off jobs that will take up space and not make sense for what you are applying. 3. Unprofessional Contact Information: if you have an email address like 2sexxi4u@yahoo.com, you might want to make another one specifically for job applications. 4. Being too modest: a resume is the one place where it’s okay to brag about what all you’ve done and what you can bring to a new position! 5. Writing an objective that doesn’t match the job description: many choose to not have an objective on their resume, but if you do - make sure to use key phrases from the job description here!
The Chanticleer • 21
A Familiar Face, A New Job Description by Nalisha Valentin
Recently Averett University suffered the loss of a great man and one of its own loving instructors, Dr. Brian Coffin. While the school has mourned his loss, it has also done what Averett University does best and looked to the future with optimism by naming Mr. Christopher Walton our newest instructor of aviation. Walton has been a part of the Averett family since spring 2014 when he arrived as an undergraduate. He graduated in the fall of 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace management and aviation business but has been a graduate hall director for housing and residence life since. Walton says his transition from graduate hall director to instructor of aviation has been “interesting. I have to read a lot more in order to refresh my memory of the material” and to provide him with a “pretty smooth transition” into teaching giving his lack of teaching expertise. He also feels that being “graduate hall director prepared me for having a full-time position.” Walton hopes his students will learn a lot from him this semester, but more specifically, he hopes his students will be able to learn about work ethic. Walton really wants to set an example for his students of what hard work and climbing your way up looks like. Walton hopes to learn something from this new experience as well, mainly acquiring “better
In Memory Of...
Averett University has lost two of our own - Dr. Brian Coffin and Mr. JT Early both passed away earlier this January. The Chanticleer Staff sends our condolences to not only the families of these great men, but to those affected here on campus as well.
Here’s to you Dr. Coffin & Mr. Early! 22 • Follow us.
public speaking skills. It wasn’t something I was good at.” He’ll certainly have plenty of practice now as an instructor. Most professors have the opportunity of planning their lesson plans over the summer, so it is no surprise that being able to finish his lesson plans is something Walton is excited about for the semester. “Professors get to plan their lessons over the summer,” Walton said, “but I have to improvise and try my best to cover everything on schedule. I’m also looking forward to courses I may be teaching next semester as well and in the future.” Some of Walton’s students are also excited about what the semester has in store with Walton as their new instructor. “It’s exciting to be able to learn from someone who’s closer to our age,” Jasmin Tinnis, a freshman and aviation management major said. Peter Culmer, flight operations major, states, “we can learn a lot from him since he’s recently been in our shoes.” While an unexpected and tragic turn of events has occurred, Averett University still continues looking forward to the future with optimism. Walton being our newest instructor of aviation is only a new chapter of many more to come for both himself and Averett. Students will be able to learn many things in both aviation and experience from a young former student such as Walton. While this experience is brand new to him, he is more than ready to face the challenges to come.
From Flying to Broadcasting: Students gain experience by Brianna Shelton
Attending a small university like Averett gives students the opportunity to attain hands-on experience in fields of their particular interests. From a major like aerospace management that lets you fly an airplane, to a major like journalism where you can broadcast for university athletics, students gain valuable skills and exposure to their aspired career. Jamie Wolford, a senior majoring in aerospace management: flight operations, chose Averett specifically for their flight program. “Due to the smaller size of Averett compared to other larger universities, it has allowed me to really move through the program at my own pace,” Wolford said. “I started Averett in January of 2017, and I was able to obtain my Private Pilot’s Certificate by May of 2017.” At larger universities, aviation students tend to have to wait until their second year to begin flying. Even as a freshman at Averett, students are taught about different maneuvers in ground school and then get to perform them in the plane. “While others are sitting in classrooms for hours each day, we are buzzing around at 6000 feet flying to practice areas over various locations,” Wolford said. “When I was able to get my hands on the airplane the first couple of days after arriving at Averett, I was really able to start grasping the concepts and knowledge that we were being taught in the classroom.” Through his experience at Averett, Eddie Glenn Jr., a sophomore journalism major with a minor in coaching, has gotten the chance to broadcast for several sports games. He believes that he
would not have gotten all of his experience in broadcasting had he gone to another school. “This is the prime school for what I want to do,” Glenn said. “I’m grateful for the experiences that I’ve received from going to Averett and being able to learn from Drew [Wilson].” Glenn has broadcast for men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball, men’s and women’s soccer, football, and wrestling, but his favorites are football and basketball. Another area that offers hands-on learning is physical education, which helped freshman Cameron Brown prepare for his future. “In physical education, there are many classes where the students perform actions as they learn the curriculum,” Brown said. “My goal as a student and as an upcoming working adult is to obtain multiple certifications pertaining to my areas of interest. With the hands-on experience, I will be able to be successful in many different areas.” Brown has already received his personal training certification and works at the Danville Family YMCA, but eventually he aspires to open up his own gym or become the head trainer at a large training facility. Averett offers a variety of programs and servicelearning courses that allow students to apply the knowledge they gain from the classroom to the real world and to get experience through handson activities.
At left: Jamie Wolford gains hands-on experience in his aspired career as a pilot at Averett’s George Falk Flight Operations Center. Above: Lindsey Fulcher and Eddie Glenn Jr. practice their sports announcing skills at a women’s basketball game.
The Chanticleer • 23
Campaign for main
UpdateS as of march 2018
compiled by Rafael Walker
Since we last covered this story in April 2017, the Campaign for Main is already underway and expected to be finished for the 2018-2019 school year. Averett students have been asking for renovations and it has paid off. Buddy Rawley, VP for Institutional Advancement, and his team have a plan to have Main Hall renovated starting after graduation on May 7 and completed by Aug. 4. According to Rawley, the cost to renovate the 3rd and 4th floors of the residence hall is approximately $5.3 million. This will include upgrades to all of the rooms, the penthouse, an elevator, and much more.
“
The penthouse will have a kitchen plus study rooms, a lounge, and bathrooms. The third and fourth floors will have lounges and renovated bathrooms.
Buddy Rawley,
VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Not only will the money be going to renovations for Main, but a few things will be done in Davenport as well. According to Rawley, there will be an elevator that services both residence halls and all new windows.
What classes would you be interested in seeing taught at Averett? “I think an interior design class would be a really neat class to be offered at Averett.”
“I feel as if would benefit the students having a life skill class on campus.”
Business and Marketing
Biomedical Sciences
Peyton Mooney ‘19 /Roxboro, N.C.
Laura Breeden ‘20
/Greensboro, N.C.
“Due to all that’s happening on the world, I want to see a self defense class on campus.”
“I think I would be interested in seeing an Adobe Lightroom class offered at Averett.”
aNDRUW CAIN ‘20
Business and Marketing
Nursing
/Salisbury, N.C.
Beth powell‘18
/Lexington, Va. compiled by Taylor Cook