L E T T E R F R O M a l u m n i a s s o c i a t i o n p re s i d e n t
Greetings from your alma mater! I hope you are making plans to be with us at Delta State for an exciting 2011 Homecoming weekend November 4 – 6. Homecoming is a time to see old friends and classmates and reminisce about the memorable experiences of our time as students on campus. I hope you will return to DSU to share stories and reconnect with your alma mater. As you can see, this publication is full of information about Homecoming weekend. I especially hope you will take the time to read about this year’s award recipients. They are a truly deserving group of honorees and will be officially recognized at the Alumni Awards and Gala Dinner on Friday evening of Homecoming. On behalf of the DSU Alumni Association, I want to congratulate all of our award recipients and hall of fame inductees—you have distinguished yourselves and this university, and we are proud of you! This special Homecoming preview publication is new to the efforts of the Alumni Association. We have changed the printing schedule of our Delta State University Alumni & Foundation magazine, which will now be published in the winter and summer. This change has allowed us to produce a new feature publication dedicated to Homecoming which will hopefully entice you to return home to Delta State. Preparing for an exciting Homecoming is just one of the many ongoing activities of your Alumni Association. I hope you will continue to participate in the life of our organization and support Delta State through our chapter meetings, alumni membership, scholarships and affinity programs. Of vital interest to me is the referral of potential students to attend Delta State. This university is special to all of us, and I hope you will take the time to let prospective college students know what DSU means to you. Excellent things are happening at your alma mater, and Homecoming is a terrific opportunity to renew your relationship with Delta State. I hope you will join us.
All my best,
George Bassi ’87
Studies show that good universities have strong alumni associations! Your alumni dues allow the alumni association to be able to provide better services to our students and alumni. Please consider joining or renewing your membership today!
Homecoming Preview President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. John Hilpert Executive Director, Alumni-Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keith Fulcher Administrative Assistant, Alumni-Foundation . . . . . . . . Sharon Krugler Director of Donor Relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ann Giger Director of Alumni Affairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeffrey Farris Assistant Alumni Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Liza Vaughn Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Gary Bouse Campaign Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marilyn Johnson Director of Annual Giving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Missy Pearce Director of Advancement Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dameon Shaw Chief Financial Officer, Alumni-Foundation . . . . . . . . . Deborah Cox Bookkeeper, Alumni-Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miriam Hart Alumni & Foundation Graduate Assistant . . . . . . . . Brittany Herndon
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Board of Directors Delta State University Alumni Association: George Bassi, President; Richard Myers, President Elect; Serena Clark, Secretary/Treasurer; John Cox, Past President; Mike Neyman, Foundation President; Lana Aguzzi, Rob Armour, Johnny Arnold, Patrick Davis, Amanda Fontaine, Sayward Fortner, Emily Hearn, Lylla Joe, Chrissy LaMastus, Felecia Lee, George Miller, David Parker, Jeremy Pittman, Ron Selby, Chris Shivers, Lauren St. Columbia, Karen Swain, Walter Trevathan, Lynn Weaver.
Board of Directors Delta State University Foundation, Inc: Mike Neyman, President; Anne Weissinger, Vice President; Tim Harvey, Secretary/Treasurer; Judson Thigpen, Past President; George Bassi, Alumni President; David Abney, Dr. Bill Alford, Louis Baioni, Anita Bologna, Ike Brunetti, Hunter Cade, Jeff Ross Capwell, John Crawford, Rex DeLoach, Keith Derbes, Dr. Anna Looney Dill, Hank Drake, Webster Franklin, Bryce Griffis, Laird Hamberlin, Earnest Hart, Tim Harvey, Tom Janoush, Peter Jernberg, Gloria Johnson, Ed Kossman Jr., Rex Lyon, Ned Mitchell, Billy Nowell, Carol Puckett, Randy Randall, Nan Sanders, Deanie Stein, Jeff Tarver, Sam Waggoner, Brian Waldrop, Margaret Walker, Alan Walters, Dr. David Weber, Dr. Bennie Wright, Dr. Lynn Varner. The Alumni & Foundation Homecoming Preview is published by the Delta State University Alumni & Foundation DSU Box 3104, 1003 West Sunflower Road Cleveland, MS 38733 E-Mail: alumnimagazine@deltastate.edu Phone: 662.846.4660
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By Lynne Jeter
RallyingCry Nancy Disharoon Loome, a Voice for Mississippi Public Education Nancy Disharoon Loome was very shy when she entered Delta State as a freshman. Even the support of her four sisters who attended the university didn’t help much initially. Yet with the guidance of speech professors and the experience of presiding over the university’s Phi Mu chapter and modeling for the school, she overcame her fear of public speaking and now leads a statewide public education advocacy group.
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ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR
a l u m n u s of t h e y e a r
“As I learned more about the plight of public education in Mississippi, it saddened me greatly that this state I love, in the heart of the Bible Belt, had seemingly chosen to turn its back on our children,” said Loome, Delta State’s 2011 Outstanding Alumnus of the Year. “I love this state, and I love her people, and I refuse to believe that we would intentionally shackle our children with an inferior education and knowingly and willingly send them into the world at a competitive disadvantage. To do so would be immoral. But intentionally or not, in too many cases, it’s exactly what we’re doing. I believe in my core that, as adults living in a democracy, we have a moral obligation to see that all of God’s children have an opportunity to meet their true potential and become productive adults. It’s that conviction that fuels my passion for this work.” Loome grew up on a cotton and cattle farm in Port Gibson, the second of four daughters born to Ben Disharoon, who worked for the state welfare department, and Susan, a stayat-home mom. The girls were active in youth activities at St. James’ Episcopal Church and “were always under the watchful eyes of our small-town family and friends,” she recalled. “Like most families, my family faced challenges throughout my youth, and my parents taught me to find solace and strength in my relationship with God,” said Loome. “My mother modeled that particularly well. Her faith sustained her and became increasingly important to her as she lovingly cared for my father, who suffered from multiple sclerosis.” As Loome and her husband, Jim, started their family, they were adamant about educating their children in public schools. We wanted them to be equipped to function well in and to contribute in productive ways to the wonderfully diverse world in which we live,” she said. When their twin daughters, Susie and Jenny, now 15, entered kindergarten, the stay-at-home mom became a classroom volunteer, also for their son Jack, now 10. “That volunteerism, and the resulting relationships with precious children of every
background and ability, drove my desire to see that all Mississippi children had access to a highquality public education,” she said. “But the real clincher came in the spring of 2004.” Loome had been following news reports about what in her mind was a rather curious debate about whether state lawmakers should adequately fund Mississippi public schools. “Ours is a state that lags virtually all others in per-pupil funding . . . that has struggled economically due largely to an under-educated populace,” she pointed out. “Ours is a state that leads all others in poverty, infant mortality, and myriad other shameful ratings that can be directly linked to a failure to educate our people properly. And yet our state leaders were debating whether to provide the resources necessary to achieve mid-level accreditation standards? I had a lot to learn about politics.” During that debate, Loome attended an education rally and press conference at the state capitol concerning House Bill 1279, which called for the full funding of the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, the formula that determines the per-pupil cost to provide an adequate education in Mississippi. Before leaving, she learned how to check legislators’ votes. She assumed that state lawmakers, who represent communities that strongly support public education, would favor adequate education funding. “That was a bad assumption,” she said. “When we checked the docket report, my friend and I were stunned to find that one of our legislators had opposed House Bill 1279! We got out our PTA lists and began making phone calls, telling our friends about the vote. A few days later, the legislator gave me a call. The next time a bill was introduced that called for adequate education funding, he voted in favor of it. That was a light bulb moment for me. I thought, if we just let people know how their legislators are voting and get constituents involved in conversations with their legislators, we might be able to turn this around.’” Over the next few months, Loome pieced together a small email network of education supporters. The following year, she joined
“That volunteerism, and the resulting relationships with precious children of every background and ability, drove my desire to see that all Mississippi children had access to a high-quality public education”
forces with the Coalition for Children and Public Education and took the network statewide. In the spring of 2006, she was offered funding to establish what would become The Parents’ Campaign, a nonpartisan, nonprofit network of Mississippians committed to improving public schools, established on the principle that a welleducated citizenry will result in an improved quality of life for all Mississippians. “This move would allow us to broaden our focus to include school reform initiatives: standards and accountability and early childhood education,” she explained. “A cursory glance around our state reveals the obvious economic and quality-of-life benefits enjoyed by communities that support and have high expectations for their public schools. Mississippi cities that have consistently supported public schools are thriving. The communities in which the middle and upper classes have abandoned their public schools are struggling.” The Parents’ Campaign serves as an intermediary between citizens and elected officials, distilling complicated legislation and policy into laypeople’s language and making it easier for busy parents to influence the legislation that affects their children’s educations. “I’ve had the tremendous privilege of
working with legislators and policy makers to craft legislation that will move us toward excellent public schools,” she said. “The relationships I’ve formed with parents, educators, legislators and community leaders have confirmed my belief that the people and the leaders of this good state want what is best for our children. Their involvement in the conversation surrounding public education can, and I believe will, reverse the course of our state and set us on a path toward prosperity.” Away from the office, the Loomes stay on the go—to Susie’s tennis matches or vocal performances, Jenny’s Tae Kwon Do or academic competitions, Jack’s varied sporting events, Clinton Arrows football games and get-togethers with extended family, which includes 21 first cousins! “When the kids were little, we started a tradition of family sleepovers,” said Loome. “We’d pile onto mattresses in front of the television, order pizza, pop popcorn, watch a movie and tell stories. We still seek out opportunities to just hang out or take trips together, and our house is often filled with teenagers or pre-teens. Our lives outside of work at this point are pretty much centered on our children, but there isn’t much that Jim and I would change about the happy chaos that is our lives.”
Award Recipients Nancy Loome 1983
Dr. Ronald Chance 1970
Hugh Ellis Walker Sr 1952
Induction into the Delta State University Alumni Hall of Fame is the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the DSU Alumni Association. Nancy Loome received a marketing degree from Delta State in 1983 and a master’s degree in counseling in 1987. She directed university career centers, first at Delta State and later at Missouri Southern State University. Nancy currently serves as executive director for The Parents’ Campaign, a nonpartisan public education advocacy group. Married to Jim Loome, she has twin daughters, Susie and Jenny, and a son, Jack. She resides in Clinton.
A native of Como, Ronald R. Chance, PhD, received his undergraduate degree in 1970 from Delta State and earned a doctoral degree in physical chemistry from Dartmouth College in 1974. He divides his time between Algenol Biofuels as executive vice president of engineering and the Georgia Institute of Technology as associate director of the Strategic Energy Institute. Chance and his wife, Judy, have two grown children, Kris and Rick, and four grandchildren—Jake, Will, Trey and Jackson. He and his wife reside in Naples, Florida.
Hugh Ellis Walker Sr., a native of Drew, graduated from Delta State in 1952. In 1969, he joined Delta State as alumni secretary, serving in that post until 1987 when he was named executive director of the alumni-foundation. The Hugh Ellis Walker Alumni-Foundation House was dedicated in his honor in 1996. Married to Eloise Stratton Walker (’50) for 60 years, the Walkers have two children, Hugh Ellis Walker Jr. and Sheri Lynn Walker Wright, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. The Walkers reside in Cleveland where they attend the First Baptist Church.
Hall of fame award For more detailed information on the 2011 DSU Alumni Association Awards Recipients visit www.deltastate.edu/pages/3679.asp
A native of Coldwater, Janice earned an education degree from Delta State in 1978. She joined the U.S. Postal Service in Jackson nearly 29 years ago where she is a customer service assistant and certified U.S. passport processor. Janice is an avid volunteer alumni recruiter and fundraiser for the Delta State University Alumni Association. She and her husband, Ralf, of 33 years on Nov. 8, reside in Madison, where they are members of the Morning Star Baptist Church. The Phillips have two children, Nuenzo Phillips and Melissa Phillips Williams, and a 4-year-old granddaughter, Caleigh Phillips, of Greenwood.
Hugh Ellis Walker Alumni Service Award
Janice Tolbert Phillips 1978
A native of Kosciusko and Canton Academy graduate of 1993, Serena earned an English degree from Delta State in 1997. She holds a Master of Liberal Studies degree from Millsaps College and in 2004 received a jurisprudence degree from Mississippi College School of Law. In the fall of 2010 she joined Mississippi College School of Law as an adjunct professor for federal and state administrative law and practice, and she established AvantGarde Strategies LLC, a government relations consulting firm. Clarke is a life member of the Junior Auxiliary MadisonRidgeland Chapter and member of the National Alumni Association Board of Directors. She has three children—Carter, Cooper and Chaney.
Kent Wyatt Young Alumnus Service Award
Serena Rasberry Clark 1997
In 1907, the Aguzzi family moved to Bolivar County, 16 years before Delta State was established. As President of Aguzzi Farms in Cleveland, Joe Aguzzi is extremely active in the Cleveland community. He has been integrally involved with the Farm Bureau, Rice Council, Knights of Columbus and Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Bolivar Medical Center Foundation, Cleveland/Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce, Delta Council and the Delta State University Foundation. Joe and his wife of 64 years, Margaret, have seven children, 15 grandchildren and nine greatgrandchildren.
Gladys Castle Friend of Delta State Service Award
Joe Aguzzi Sr. Friend
A Cleveland native, William Story, EdD, earned an undergraduate degree in agricultural education from Alcorn State University. He received his master of education in guidance counseling in 1971 and an educational specialist degree in 1974, both from Delta State. In 1981, he earned a doctor of education in counselor education from Mississippi State University. Dr. Kent Wyatt, former President of Delta State, appointed him Dean of Continuing Education. Story is married to the former Katherine Miller, and they have three children—Krishna Rochelle Murriel, Kimberly Story Manning and William Ross Story II— and three grandchildren—Donovan, Kelsi and Trey.
Legacy Award
Dr William Ross Story 1978
By Mark H Stowers
GoldenCircle Special Honor for Graduates of 50 Years or More In 1961, John Kennedy was in the White House, Alan Shepard became the first American in space, and Delta State was in its 36th year of existence. The 1961 class celebrated its graduation and entered the “real world.�
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Fifty years later that same class will be back on campus for Homecoming and will be celebrated and inducted into the university’s prestigious Golden Circle. The honor is bestowed upon each class that celebrates its 50th Year. This year the Golden Circle will continue to grow when the featured class is inducted in a ceremony on November 4 during the Alumni Awards and Gala Dinner held at Walter Sillers Coliseum. Dr. Henry Outlaw, retired DSU Chair of the Department of Physical Sciences and professor of Chemistry, was a member of the 1961 class and will be inducted to the Golden Circle this Homecoming weekend. “I am grateful to be recognized as a new member of the Golden Circle. It is a huge honor,” he said. Newly inducted members receive a gold medallion which they wear during visits to campus to show students, faculty, staff and the Cleveland community. Each year the Golden Circle members are encouraged to come back to Homecoming with their medallions to continue honoring new members. “This is the second year that the Golden Circle and the featured class have been combined with the Alumni Service Awards recipients to be recognized at the Gala Dinner at Walter Sillers Coliseum,” explained Dr. Johnny Arnold, current president of the Golden Circle. As a member of the Class of 1958, Arnold has enjoyed the recognition of the Golden Circle. “I’m proud to be a part of the Golden
Circle and to see old classmates and friends, and I encourage all future featured classes to participate in years to come,” Arnold said. As a Cleveland resident, Arnold looks forward to hearing from Golden Circle members and inductees to get their views on the campus and surrounding area. During Arnold’s undergrad years, “Delta State had about 400 students, and now they’re up around 4,000.” The Golden Circle has also been instrumental in providing funding for the Veterans Atrium in Jobe Hall. Dr. James Robinson, DSU history professor and class of 1968 graduate, organized the atrium to honor those associated with Delta State (alumni, faculty, staff and students) who have served the country in military service. Along with a fountain, the memorial includes a bronze tree honoring Delta State veterans and others who meet the requirements to have their names added. Plaques inside the foyer include the names of veterans listed on the tree’s leaves, and a new bookcase has been added to include service records for the honored veterans. “The Veterans Atrium has grown by leaps and bounds,” said Vicki Fioranelli, Director Emeritus of Alumni Affairs. “The Alumni Office is daily trying to uncover more of those who have served our country.”
To find out how you can donate to the Veterans Atrium, call 662-846-4660 or visit www.deltastate.edu/alumni.
WORDS AND MUSIC BY RUTH FISHER
Delta State University Alma Mater
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Delta State is reaching new heights Show your school pride by helping recruit future Statesmen and Lady Statesmen. There are several ways alumni can help recruit and you don’t even have to jump out of a plane to do it. Try staffing a college fair in your community, submit names and addresses of the college bound students in your family to deltastate.edu/studentreferral, and promote Delta State in all your travels. For more information contact the Office of Admissions.
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