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CELEBRATING the Bright Future of Georgetown College
A Message from President Rosemary Allen
Homecoming 2024 was an amazing experience this year, as we celebrated the elimination of our $28 million debt with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends. A processional of donors led us down the newly dedicated Robert N. Wilson Drive for the unveiling of the permanent donor plaque in front of Giddings Hall. The John L Hill Chapel was filled with people Friday night as student groups delivered their interpretations of the “Heroes vs. Villains” theme for Songfest. And It was a perfect fall Saturday as we cheered the football team to a commanding 45-14 victory over Faulkner.
Inside, you will read about alumni who were inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame and the Georgetown College Hall of Fame, along with this year’s winners of the Distinguished Alumni Awards I was honored to meet many of them in person, and we are so proud to call them GC alums!
We also hosted fraternity and sorority alumni at brunches in the quad, our popular Kids Zone for families, and a group of Golden Tigers in the Cralle Student Center who graduated 50 years ago or more.
We are celebrating so many things this year at Georgetown, including the 100th Anniversary of Maskrafters, which is the oldest collegiate theatre group in Kentucky. In honor of this momentous occasion, “The Importance of Being Earnest” returned to the Ruth Pearce Wilson Lab Theatre for an anniversary performance that brought back fond memories for all.
And finally, we launched a new GC tagline with the help of Juan Dontrese Brown ’96 and Betty Bone ’00 Our new tagline is “Cultivating Passion, Igniting Purpose.” I think this new tagline captures the spirit of the engaging and supportive environment at Georgetown College, where students are encouraged to find their passions and ignite a life of purpose that makes a positive impact on the world.
I am truly excited about the future of Georgetown College, and I hope our alums are feeling invigorated with the positive momentum. YOU are the heart of Georgetown College, and we hope you will be there to help us and to celebrate the big moments every step of the way.
With love and gratitude,
Dr. Rosemary A. Allen
marked by service, distinction,
The 2024 Distinguished Alumni Awards D
By Kelley Arnold, Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Fund
The 2024 Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony was held Thursday, October 10 at the James A. & Martha R. Brown Conference Center on the East Campus of Georgetown College. Each year, during Homecoming, GC recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves professionally and through service to Georgetown College and the greater community. Each of this year’s recipients has truly discovered a passion for their work and a purpose in service to others.
Lt. Col. E. Tucker McEwen ’03, Retired United States Air Force pilot and current first officer for UPS Airlines in Louisville, Kentucky. McEwen has multiple tours overseas including combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has also been awarded both the Air Force Combat Action Medal and Humanitarian Service Medal. McEwen’s final assignment with the USAF was as pilot of Air Force 2, also known as the official transport of the Vice President of the United States.
Leslie Mooney ’04, Executive Director of the Clifton Cultural Arts Center (CCAC) in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mooney was recognized by the Cincinnati Business Courier as one of their Forty Under 40 honorees and is currently a member of Leadership Cincinnati’s Class 48. Leslie also serves as the Chair of the Education Committee for the Cincinnati chapter of the League of Women Voters. Prior to CCAC, Mooney held positions with the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and the U.S. Department of Justice.
distinction, excellence
Dr. Marty Park ’99, Chief Digital Officer at the Kentucky Department of Education in Frankfort, Kentucky. Park began his career in elementary education before transitioning to the world of instructional technology. He has served as adjunct faculty at both the University of Kentucky and Georgetown College. From 2000-2024, Park served as an assistant coach for Georgetown College. He is a prolific public speaker and his work has been featured in multiple periodicals, publications, and podcasts.
James A. Parrott ’85, CEO at Louisville and Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District in Louisville, Kentucky. Parrott has served for over 30 years in the public utility business, including 10 years as executive director of the Metropolitan Sewer District of Cincinnati. In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA). Parrott has also earned numerous appointments and awards for his work, including the 2023 NACWA Utility of the Future Award.
Dr. Shelley Bundy Stanko ’97, East Region Chief Medical Officer, CHI Saint Joseph Health serving Berea, London, and Mt. Sterling in Kentucky. Stanko also chairs numerous committees within CHI Saint Joseph Health including Saint Joseph Medical Group Board. In 2023, she was awarded both the regional and national CommonSpirit Health, Vision Award for Human Kindness. Stanko is a fellow at both the American College of Healthcare Executives and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Do you know a member of the GC alumni community who should be honored next year? Email alumni@georgetowncollege.edu to nominate your favorite Tiger!
and the Bright Future Ahead for Georgetown College Recognizes Donors
By Emily McCarthy, Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications
Hundreds of students, faculty, alumni, and friends gathered at Memorial Drive on Friday, October 11 to celebrate the elimination of Georgetown College’s $28 million debt and to honor the 46 donors who made that possible.
To kick off the festivities, donor and former Board of Trustees Chair Bob Mills ’67 and his wife Maggie (Donaldson) Mills ’69 dedicated the Mills Presidential Residence on Main Street in honor of Bob’s father and twenty-first president of the College, Dr. Robert L. Mills. Donor and sister to Bob, Dixie Mills ’69, dedicated the Student Commons Area in Pawling Hall with her donation.
President Rosemary Allen is joined by GC Board of Trustees and donors to dedicate the official plaque honoring major benefactors to the debt elimination project.
However, the centerpiece of the celebration was the ribbon-cutting ceremony that renamed Memorial Drive to Robert N. Wilson Drive. Wilson’s $16 million gift, the single largest donation in the history of Georgetown College, enabled GC to realize its debt-free dream.
“Through everything, the steadying voice was that of Mr. Bob Wilson,” said President Allen. “I have learned so much from him about facing challenges with the power of positive leadership—the kind of direction which assumes that the job can be done, the problem solved, and the negative attitudes overcome until proven otherwise. He has been a source of inspiration and hope for decades, and in this project, his is the foundational and guiding spirit.”
Baseball team captains presented Wilson with a commemorative baseball jersey, since baseball was his favorite sport as an athlete at GC. Once Robert N. Wilson Drive was open, Professor David Goins and the Tiger Band began playing and led a processional of donors up to Giddings Hall to unveil a plaque in honor of the major donors whose generosity helped GC eliminate the debt. John Allen ’74 arranged for the manufacture of this plaque and donated it to the College.
Robert N. Wilson ’62 addressed the crowd and expressed his gratitude for Dr. Allen’s leadership and his treasured memories from his time at Georgetown. Board Chair Michelle Pedigo ’90, dedicated the plaque with loving gratitude to those major benefactors who gave strength to Georgetown College in its time of need. We thank everyone who made this celebration possible!
Robert N. Wilson Drive is officially open!
Jeffrey Eckler ’25, SGA Vice President Diana Alvarado ’25, SGA President Zach Hamner, ’25 and Javius Taylor ’27 carried the official celebration banner during the processional.
Pike President Ethan Carpenter ’25 and member Javius Taylor ’27 pose with Pike brother Bob Wilson ’62.
The cheer team gets ready to help kick off the debt elimination celebration with some Tiger spirit.
Baseball team captains Ashton Deskins ’26, Payton Rios ’25, Bryson Huwar ’26, and Jarrett Chapman ’25 present commemorative jersey to Bob Wilson.
Professor of Business and Economics and donor Dr. Tom Cooper, Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology Dr. Katherine Graves Ordonez, Professor of Biology Dr. Tracy Livingston, and Associate Professor of Business and Economics Dr. Daniel Vazzana.
Kenny Davis ’71, Michelle Pedigo ’90, and Granetta Blevins ’80.
Bob Mills ’67 and Maggie Mills ’69 dedicate the Mills Presidential Residence (left). Dixie Mills dedicates the Pawling Student Commons Area.
HOMECOMING
Songfest: Heroes vs. Villains 24
This year’s Songfest featured iconic characters including Cookie Monster, Dorothy, Spiderman, the Minions and several President Allens! While all the groups who competed were outstanding, it was Sigma Kappa that come out on top as the Songfest 2024 Overall Winners.
If you missed the performances, simply scan the QR code to watch on the GC YouTube channel.
Golden Tigers Diversity Brunch
The Golden Tigers of Georgetown College include all alumni who graduated 50 or more years ago from GC. This year, we celebrated our Golden Tigers with a brunch in the Cralle Student Center. It was a wonderful time of connection and reminiscing.
The Georgetown College Office of Diversity and Inclusion hosted its annual Homecoming Diversity Brunch at the James A. and Martha R. Brown Conference Center on the East Campus. Special guest speaker and former NFL player Bruce McNorton ’82 was honored.
A group of Golden Tigers reunite at the Cralle Student Center for brunch.
Fred Moses Scholarships were awarded to GC students (from left to right) Essynce Wallace ’27, Samaria Taylor ’26, Nehya Baker ’25 and Teala Sleet ’26.
2024 Songfest Winners: Most Original—Kappa Delta, Best Spirit—Sigma Kappa, Most Out of the Box—Phi Mu, Best Choreography—President’s House Association, Best Music—Lambda Chi Alpha, Best Comedy—Pi Kappa Alpha, Overall Third Place—Kappa Delta, Overall Second Place—Lambda Chi Alpha, and Overall First Place—Sigma Kappa.
The Quad
There is always something going on at South Campus, and Homecoming Weekend was no exception. Each of our fraternities and sororities hosted brunches to welcome their alums, including Lambda Chi Alpha, which celebrated 100 years of their chapter on campus! Faculty and staff were on hand to meet with former students. We even had a Tiger Cubs Kids Zone for our future Tigers to enjoy!
Robert Wilson ’62 visits with his brothers at the Pi Kappa Alpha House.
Alice (Gardner) Marshall ’57 and Janet (Koch) Wilson ’57 enjoy the Sigma Kappa brunch.
Born to be a Tiger!
The Lambda Chi Alpha chapter of Georgetown College celebrates 100 Years.
Jacob Buchanan ’14 and Allie (White) Buchanan ’15 showed children Matthew, Miriam, Levi and Ethan around campus.
Kappa Delta members circle up to celebrate sisterhood.
It was a great day to be a Tiger. The football game began with a surprise marriage proposal! Cole Wilson ’22 got down on one knee and Emma Hill ’24 said yes! Alums Jane (Price) Cutter ’71, Patricia (Glaser) Hattendorf and Connie Humphrey ’83 then sang the national anthem, led by Assistant Professor and Director of Choirs Christopher Powell. We also recognized the 2024 Homecoming Court, including the senior Homecoming King and Queen.
• First Year Prince and Princess – Eli Newman ’28 and Hollee Hasenbalg ’28
• Sophomore Prince and Princess – Carter Zutterman ’27 and Madison Raines ’27
• Junior Prince and Princess - Ethan Begin ’26 and Piper Wilburn ’26
• Senior King and Queen – Josh Hasenbalg ’25 and Phoebe Tripure ’25
The day ended with a commanding 45-14 victory over Faulkner by your Georgetown Tigers!
the big game
Darius Neal ’25 (#20) flies past defenders, picking up 114 yards total in the game.
Tiger Pride
The tailgates were alive with Tiger spirit beginning Saturday morning and lasting until hours after the football game had ended. These die-hard Tiger fans, alumni, and parents came prepared with plenty of radios, TVs, grills, camp chairs, and Tiger pride!
The 2024 Homecoming Court was presented at halftime of the football game, joined by President Rosemary Allen.
Emma Hill ’24 said yes to a marriage proposal from Cole Wilson ’22.
Our Tiger welcomed the smallest fans to Toyota Stadium.
Tiger fans enjoyed music, food and tailgating before the big game.
SEPTEMBER GOES
Georgetown College Brings Back Fall Recruitment
For the first time since the 1980s, painted and sequinned students came running out of the Chapel doors during the fall semester. Both Women’s Chapel Day and Men’s Bid Day took place in September as opposed to the traditional spring semester recruitment. All chapters, both men and women, increased their membership by at least 29%. The percentage of students participating in fraternities and sororities overall increased by 48%.
Zeta Phi Beta (2014) and Kappa Alpha Psi (2019) chapters are both part of the “Divine Nine” Black Greek-letter organizations (BGLOs). They will hold events and informationals in the spring semester.
CHAPEL DAY
Alpha Gamma Delta
25 Years at Georgetown
Chartered at Georgetown: 1999
44% Membership Increase
Kappa Delta
Chartered at Georgetown: 1946
33% Membership Increase
Phi Mui
55 Years at Georgetown
Chartered at Georgetown: 1969
42% Membership Increase
Sigma Kappa
95 Years at Georgetown
Chartered at Georgetown: 1929
72% Membership Increase
Zeta Phi Beta
BLGOs will host events and informationals in the spring.
Total Increase for Women’s Greek Life: 48%
Scan to see more images from Fall 2024 Chapel Day
BID DAY
Kappa Alpha
Expected restart 2025
Chartered at Georgetown: 1904
Provisional chapter: 20 members expected
Kappa Alpha Psi
BLGOs will host events and informationals in the spring.
Kappa Alpha Psi | Darius Neal 2023 Initiate, Zay Cobb 2024 Initiate, Quentin Barclay 2022 Initiate, Romarion Warner 2023 Initiate
Lambda Chi Alpha | Fall 2024 | Pledge Class
Phi Kappa Tau | Fall 2024 | Pledge Class
Pi Kappa Alpha | Fall 2024 | Pledge Class
President’s House Association | Fall 2024
The Georgetown College Hall of Fame was established in 1993 and is intended to recognize those who honor the College and to promote understanding of the distinctive contributions to our society made by Georgetown College and its people. This year, we inducted five new members.
By Emily McCarthy, Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications
Dr. Lindsey Apple ’64
Dr. Lindsey Apple graduated from Georgetown College in 1964. He earned his master’s degree from the University of Kentucky and a doctorate from the University of South Carolina. In 1970, Apple returned home to teach at Georgetown College where he remained until his retirement in 2005. At Georgetown College, he was Dean of Students and Dean of Men from 1973 to 1979. He also received the Don and Chris Cawthorne Excellence in Teaching Award. Apple is a co-editor and author of Scott County: A History and the author of Cautious Rebel: A Biography of Susan Clay Sawitzky and The Family Legacy of Henry Clay: In the Shadow of a Kentucky Patriarch. He is also a founding member of the Georgetown-Scott County Museum.
Sara Jane Conner-McConnell
Sara Jane Conner-McConnell was born in Georgetown, Kentucky. Her academic excellence earned her a spot at Georgetown College in 1955, where she faced and overcame the challenges of being one of the first Black students. She was just one credit shy of obtaining her degree. Over the years, she played and sang at various churches across Kentucky and co-founded a 100-voice choir. She formed singing groups and was actively involved in the Greater Cincinnati Choral Union and the Gospel Workshop of America. Inducted posthumously.
William Howard Garner
William Howard Garner, also known as Reverend Garner, began preaching in 1944 after obtaining his bachelor’s degree in theology from Simmons College in Louisville. He was a World War II veteran who owned a store and organized a church that met in his house on Main Street in Georgetown. He began taking classes at Georgetown College in 1955 at 37 years old. Rev. Garner served as a pastor for Athens Baptist Church for seven years. He was a Scott County native who founded the Garner Mission and worked closely with First Baptist Georgetown as well. Garner was one of the first Black students to attend Georgetown College. Inducted posthumously.
Meda Mason
Meda Mason completed two years at Georgetown College. In 1956, she became the first Black student in Kentucky to be inducted into the Delta Omicron Music Sorority. After leaving Georgetown, she moved to Columbus, Ohio. She took classes at Ohio Dominican and Ohio State in languages and business. She worked at the Federal Depot in Columbus, Ohio, for over forty years and retired from the company. Meda was presented with her award in October. She passed away on Tuesday, November 12, 2024. Our hearts go out to her family and friends. Meda was a Georgetown treasure.
Betty Jackson Williams
Betty Jackson Williams attended Georgetown College for two years. She was one of the first Black students admitted and she majored in nursing. Betty was a member of Bethel Baptist Church where she held several positions, including children’s advisor, Sunday school teacher, Missionary Society member, church choir and the culinary committee. Williams retired from the University of Kentucky after 30 years of service as a dietary supervisor and started her own cleaning business that she continued until her passing. Inducted posthumously.
Sarah “Bookie” Hayes Wilson ’81
Sarah “Bookie” Hayes Wilson graduated from Georgetown College in 1981. She earned the master of library science degree from the University of Kentucky. Wilson is the former co-owner of The Cotton Patch Women’s Clothing Store in Lexington and a former legislative analyst for the Legislative Research Commission of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. She currently works as a children’s librarian with the Woodford County Public Library and serves on the Early Childhood Literacy Council. Wilson is also a member of the Women’s Association of Georgetown College and a former member of the Georgetown College Board of Trustees.
Dr. Chia-Wei Woo ’56
Dr. Chia-Wei Woo was born in Shanghai, China, in 1937 and came to the U.S. in 1955 at the age of 17. He received his bachelor’s degree in physics/mathematics at Georgetown College in 1956 and his master’s and doctoral degrees in physics at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Since 1964, Woo has published 120 papers and books on physics and taught at several prestigious universities. In 1983, he became President of San Francisco State University, the first Chinese American to head a major university in the U.S. Dr. Woo has received numerous awards for his contributions to higher education, including the Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award by the United Nations, Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by the Queen of the United Kingdom, and Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur by the President of France.
2024 INCOMING CLASS
18 COUNTRIES
USA, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, CAYMAN ISLANDS, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, ESTONIA, GERMANY, NETHERLANDS, PANAMA, PORTUGAL, SPAIN, SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND, AND UNITED KINGDOM.
STATES OUTSIDE OF KENTUCKY Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
52 COUNTIES IN KENTUCKY
Students Study Abroad in Austria
By Dr. Susan Dummer, Professor of Communication and Media Studies
Austria
Five Georgetown College students were among the 37 students who attended a study abroad program in Austria offered by the Kentucky Institute for International Studies. Students could take courses in history, psychology, business, or communication during the four-week program. They lived with Austrian families in a homestay environment during their time in Bregenz and also experienced hostel culture in Vienna.
One of my favorite experiences on the program was a trip into the Bregenzerwald, which is the mountainous area outside of the home location of Bregenz. In the small village of Hittisau is the Frauenmuseum (women’s museum), which opened in 2000 and is the only museum in Austria to focus its attention on issues related to the lives of women.
Students took courses in interpersonal communication, nonverbal communication, and culture. Classes took place in a classroom with traditional lecture and discussion format for ten class days. The remainder of the educational experiences took place in a variety of locations in Austria and Germany. Students toured the picturesque village of Lindau and visited the Zepplin Museum in Freidrichshafen to get a taste of Bavarian Culture in Germany. They experienced the medieval city of Feldkirch, Austria, and toured the local fortress castle. We also spent time in the village of Hohenems, Austria, which was a Jewish enclave in the nineteenth century prior to WWI.
The final week of the program included a stop at Mauthausen, a Nazi concentration camp that was active from 1938-1945 and housed approximately 190,000 inmates, more than 90,000 of whom were murdered. Program participants finally moved on to the capital of Austria, Vienna, for several days of exploring the history and palaces of the Hapsburg family, the Sigmund Freud museum, and the city’s many cathedrals and parks.
“Studying in Austria was truly a once in a lifetime experience,” said communication and media studies major Rachel Ritchie ’25.
“I gained so many valuable skills, increased my knowledge and appreciation of the world around me, and grew into a more confident traveler.”
VIENNA
Cameron Robinson ‘27, Zoe Jordan ‘27, Rachel Ritchie ‘25, Aubree Lair ‘25, and Marina Smart ‘24 studied in Austria in June 2024.
Opening Convocation
By Emily McCarthy, Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications
The Opening Convocation ceremony kicked off the new academic year on Tuesday, August 27, in the John L. Hill Chapel. Provost Jonathan Sands Wise introduced five new faculty members and presented the 2024 John Walker Manning Distinguished Mentor and Teacher Award to Dr. Rick Kopp, who has been a biology professor at GC since 1991.
“Whether he is leading the faculty on major projects, exploring Australia with students, or advising the environmental studies club, Dr. Kopp leaves a mark on every person’s life he touches,” said Dr. Sands Wise.
Board Chair Michelle Pedigo ’90 delivered the Opening Convocation address to a full chapel of students, faculty, and staff. She shared some of her favorite memories at Georgetown and expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to serve Georgetown College.
“It has been my honor to serve as Chairperson of the Board of Trustees from 2022 to 2024. Our body of Trustees remained steadfast with the Executive Cabinet to eliminate the College’s debt so that GC could establish a trajectory toward thriving. Georgetown truly impacted my life as a student, and it’s wonderful to give back to a place that means so much to me.”
To watch the 2024 Opening Convocation ceremony, scan the QR code.
GC Board of Trustees Chair Michelle Pedigo ’90
Provost Jonathan Sands Wise and Dr. Rick Kopp
Welcome New Faculty Members
Dr. Amanda Bolton-Hall ’10, Lecturer in Biology
B.S., Georgetown College; Ph.D., University of Kentucky
Dr. Bolton-Hall received her Ph.D. in physiology in 2016 from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine where she investigated the consequences of repeated mild traumatic brain injuries. She spent two years as a post-doctoral fellow at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. More recently, she developed and continues to teach GC’s first online “area of interest” biology course. Over the summer, Bolton-Hall and her family relocated from Bowling Green, Kentucky, to Georgetown.
Bethany Farley ’07, Lecturer of Psychology
B.A., Georgetown College; M.S., University of Kentucky
Farley is a Licensed Professional Counseling Associate and served in Counseling Services at GC from 2015 to 2024. In addition to a deep passion for education, Farley’s interests include counseling psychology, personal growth and empowerment, and holistic and trauma-informed approaches to emotional well-being. She is trained in suicide prevention, mental health first aid, mindfulness, dialectical behavior therapy, and nutritive and integrative therapies. Farley lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with her husband, John Farley ’05, and her two children.
David W. Goins, Director of Bands, Lecturer of Music
B.M.M.E., University of Kentucky; B.M. in Sacred Music, University of Kentucky
Goins is the Director of Bands and a native of Frankfort, Kentucky. A previous high school band director, he is the founder of the Wesley Academy of Music, a nonprofit that provides free music lessons and mentoring to financially challenged students in the Frankfort community. He is the soloist with Saxton’s Cornet Band and has traveled the continental United States and Asia with this ensemble over the past 30 years.
Doran Martin, Visiting Assistant Professor of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
B.S., Shawnee State University; M.S., Concordia University Chicago
Martin is from Portsmouth, Ohio. He has spent the last 13 years working in sports performance and health and wellness fields. For eight years, he worked at Shawnee State as a strength coach, an adjunct in the exercise science department, and in various other roles. Most recently, he worked as a health and wellness coordinator at a rehabilitation facility. Doran has been married for six years to Tabatha Martin, and they have three children.
Dr. Katherine Graves Ordonez, Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology
B.A., University of Kentucky; M.A., University of Louisville; Ph.D., University of South Africa, Pretoria
Dr. Graves Ordonez is a native of Lexington, Kentucky. She has spent the past 20 years in higher education, including teaching in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System in Lexington, Kentucky, and her doctoral research in Guatemala. She presented papers at the Guatemalan Scholars Network in 2013 and has also done research on corporate corruption and mining companies while at Georgetown College. Her past and current research covers social movements, particularly indigenous protest movements in Guatemala’s rural communities.
Maskrafters Turning 100
By Paula Burba ’93, Freelance Writer
1924 was a year of milestones. France hosted the first Winter Olympics and the inaugural Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was held. But more importantly for Georgetown College, thirty students and faculty members founded Maskrafters, which today holds the honor of being Kentucky’s oldest collegiate theatrical troupe.
To celebrate the Maskrafters’ centennial, GC curatorial studies students staged an exhibition in the Cochenour Gallery in the Ensor Learning Recource Center full of ephemera, props and photographs. Maskrafters’ first production was Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest,” which at the time was considered quite an avant-garde play, but their choice has also endured as a century-old GC tradition. An advertisement for the play, which opened at the Georgetown Opera House on May 15, 1924, priced the best seats at $1.10 each. A gymnasium on the edge of campus was the troupe’s first workshop and rehearsal space.
Later, in the 1930s and 1940s, plays were performed at Garth High School near campus. Then Chancellor Leo Smith wanted a campus venue for Maskrafters, and in February 1951 dedicated the Lewis Auditorium in Giddings Hall—although the students snuck in a December run of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” a bit early. One hundred and eighty-two seats for the space were donated from the Mary Anderson Theatre, under renovation at the time in Louisville.
Professor George McGee
Dr. Edward B. Smith ’88
Since its founding, Maskrafters has performed “The Importance of Being Earnest” every ten years, except one time in 1984 when nobody remembered to tell the new guy, Professor George McGee, about the tradition. This is according to Dr. Ed Smith ’88 Professor of Theatre and Film and Maskrafters artistic director. However, McGee more than made up for that minor miscue during his 35 years as a professor, actor, playwright, and touchstone for generations of students.
“George did the play in 1994, 2004 and 2014, and I saw two of those productions,” Smith said in a recent interview. The current centennial production is Smith’s first time directing the play. He said that he often misses McGee’s counsel and frequently finds himself wishing, “If I could just talk to him for, you know, ten minutes about this moment in the show.”
Smith is determined to keep McGee’s legacy alive for students and is in a unique position to do so, since he benefited from McGee’s influence as both a student at GC and then later as his faculty colleague. Smith’s first class at Georgetown with his wife Betsy ’86 was McGee’s acting class. And after joining the GC faculty in 1996, he worked with McGee until his retirement in 2019.
“He was immensely talented,” Smith said of McGee. “He was a gifted director, and he was a very fine actor. When I was a student he was auditioning for films. To witness someone so proficient still working on the craft really impressed me.” At the same time, Smith said, McGee managed to do “big, complicated shows and make it look easy.” And the longer he leads Maskrafters, Smith said, “The more I find myself understanding why he did things that way, and why he did what he did.”
Smith is now putting the knowledge he gleaned from McGee to good use in directing The Importance of Being Earnest. “I’ve never done Wilde; I’ve never directed anything by him,” Smith said. “It’s supposed to be one of the funniest plays written in the English language,” he said. “It’s witty, and it is funny,” he added, “but it’s also quite challenging: elaborate costumes, actors speaking in paragraphs, and all that Victorian wordplay.” He’s found himself impressed with those 1924 founders and would tell them, “You all didn’t just pick a little one to start!”
Many Maskratfers alums have fond memories of “The Importance of Being Earnest” and of their experiences in the troupe. “My biggest take away from Maskrafters was learning how to make something big out of just a small team,” said Dalton Graves ’17, who played Algernon in the 2014 production of Wilde’s play. “Every show was a beast to put on, but somehow our little black box theater always managed to do it,” said Graves, who was the first recipient of the McGee-Winterpast Theatre Scholarship. He’s now a game show host at Game Show Battle Rooms, where everything he learned in Maskrafters gets put to good use, he said.
Jaclyn Sallee Lyons ’12, who missed out on the Wilde tradition by two years, volunteered for a Maskrafters production her first semester at Georgetown and has kept her hand in theater ever since. She attended the 100th anniversary production November 10. “I just wanted to see the space,” she said, of the Ruth Pearce Wilson Lab Theatre where she spent so much time as a student. “I remember always having to paint the floors black,” Lyons said, and the gentle hazing of new members who were told to use an old bucket of paint, kept back in a corner. “It reeked,” she said. The repainting ritual was just a little sad though, because it marked the end of another show. It was also inspirational, she said, “Because you see again, the black box can be anything.”
Lyons also logged many hours in the theatre’s green room and upstairs costume loft. “I feel like a lot of people don’t even know that loft exists,” she said. She remembered blowing up clothes with fireworks in front the building for one play as costume designer and shared an insider tip: old fencing props make for memorable, impromptu sword fights along the balcony.
In his curtain speech for shows, Smith always welcomes audiences to “our temporary performing space, built in 1975.” It’s a space that generations of Maskrafters have used to entertain others and develop their own talents, even though, as Smith said, “It’s just a black box.” Nearly half a century old, the theatre still does its part to transform stories and lives.
“We’re making this little reality, these little worlds on stage, and every year we have new students,” Smith said. “Things change, shows change, but the process—it still goes on. We’re doing the same things they did a hundred years ago.”
To watch a recorded version of the play, visit our YouTube channel by scanning the QR code. Search for “The Importance of Being Earnest.”
CAST
Donovan Smith ’25
Leon Johnson, IV ’26
Ethan Decker ’27
Kiersten Bernard ’25
Matthew Phillips ’26
Madison Coomer ’25
Katie Duffey ’25
Izzie Lambros ’25
Ally Stone ’25
Hannah McClain ’28
CREW
Dr. Edward B. Smith ’88
Patrick Jump
James Cox
Jadyn Gilreath ’26
Savannah Good ’26
Ashlynn Hill ’25
Harrison Barron ’25
Devan Cole ’25
Betsy Smith ’86
Rebecca Shelburne
Catherine Smith
Jackson Geilear ’26
Sidney Smith ’26
Hannah McClain ’28
Matthew Phillips ’26
Kiersten Bernard ’25
Grace Hommrick ’15
Jack Worthing (of the Woolton, Hertfordshire Manor)
Algernon Moncrieff (Jack’s Friend)
Rev. Chasuble (Rector of Woolton)
Marilyn (Maid to Mr. Worthing)
Lane (Mr. Moncrieff’s Man Servant)
Lady Bracknell
Gwendolen Fairfax (Lady Bracknell’s Daughter)
Cecily Cardew (Jack’s Ward)
Miss Prism (Her Governess)
Servant (to Mr. Worthing)
Producer/Director/Costume Designer
Technical Director/Lighting and Scenic Designer
Scenic Designer/Painter
Stage Manager/Sound Board Operator
House Manager
Hair and Makeup
Light Board Operator
Sound Design/Program Designer
Costume Consultant/Piano Performance
Costume Alterations
Costume Alterations
Theatre Technician
Theatre Technician
Run Crew/Hair and Makeup
Run Crew
Run Crew
Run Crew
24-Hour Study Space
Ensor Learning Resource Center
For 2024 Georgetown College Hall of Fame inductee and former GC Board of Trustees member Sarah “Bookie” Hayes Wilson ’81, the College has always held a special place in her heart. While an American Studies major, she made lifelong friends and gained the foundational knowledge that prepared her for life away from Georgetown.
“After I graduated, I kept up with my good friends, but Georgetown was on the back burner for a long time as I started my career and family,” Wilson remembers. This changed when her daughter decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps and attend Georgetown.
“When my daughter Maggie (Hayes) Knox ’14 and I visited the campus together, I realized I missed it,” Wilson says. “There was an empty spot in my heart. Being back on Georgetown’s campus with Maggie brought me back to the College and filled that emptiness.”
In 2014, Wilson became a member of the Board of Trustees. At the time, the Board’s focus was on repaying the debt it accrued after 30 years of much-needed investments in the College’s infrastructure.
“When I was a Board member, we talked and talked about the reality of the looming debt,” she remembers. “We kept asking the same question, ‘How are we going to address this debt?’”
Night Owls Find a Home in
“The Bookie”
By Mindy Hamlin ’91, Hamlin Communications
Bethany Langdon ’93, GC’s Vice President for Advancement and Communications, approached Wilson about the College’s Strength for Today, Bright Hope for Tomorrow campaign to pay off the debt. The Board’s Advancement Chair, Frank Penn ’68, and President Rosemary Allen has already kicked off the campaign with personal donations of $1 million each.
“Dr. Allen has stepped up for the College for 40 years,” Wilson explains. “For her to make such a generous gift just galvanized me, and I signed on immediately. I was committed to helping in any way I could.”
FRIENDSHIP, ART, AND THE BOOKIE
The College’s new 24-hour student study space located inside the Ensor Learning Resource Center has been named “The Bookie” in honor of Wilson’s contribution to the debt repayment campaign. It is also a nod to Wilson’s love of books and her position as a children’s librarian in Woodford County.
While visiting the space during construction, Wilson, who donated $60,000 to decorate and furnish The Bookie, looked at the blank walls and said to Langdon, “These walls are a great space for some Paul Harmon art.” Harmon, an internationally exhibited artist, is also married to Wilson’s long-time friend Karen Roark ’79. The two met at Georgetown, where they were Kappa Delta sisters.
“I love Georgetown, and I love Bookie,” says Roark. “Providing art for the student space seemed like the perfect way to honor my friend and give back to Georgetown.”
Soon, Wilson and Langdon were on their way to Roark and Harmon’s home in Brentwood, Tennessee, to pick out art for The Bookie. Before their arrival, Roark and Harmon began selecting original works for them to choose from.
“Art is such a subjective thing,” Harmon points out. “Something that appeals to me wouldn’t appeal to Karen. For The Bookie, we wanted pieces that had something for everyone.”
The couple chose 55 paintings from a series of oil and acrylics on paper for Wilson and Langdon to choose from. Roark oversaw the framing and transfer of the art to Georgetown.
“When Karen and Paul first showed us the paintings and told us to pick nine, Bethany and I both gasped,” remembers Wilson. “We also became a little teary-eyed. It was as if the art had been created specifically for this student space.”
“One thing students will find in these paintings is a lot of ambiguity,” says Harmon. “I think it is important that paintings have questions in them. If a work is too specific, the viewer may find it difficult to interpret the work for themselves.”
Adds Roark, “When we visited the space and saw the works on the walls, it was striking. They had taken on a different life and look. The entire space and the art are so meaningful to me because of Georgetown and Bookie.”
To give The Bookie its own identity, alum and graphic artist Betty Bone ’00 designed a unique logo that features an owl whose brows and wings are made of books. The owl signifies The Bookie as a space that never sleeps and is open 24 hours a day.
“This process has been such a joy for me to be a part of,” Wilson says. “There is a Georgetown connection among those who go there that is really strong. Being part of our beloved alma mater and being able to contribute to its future through the campaign and the student study space has been so gratifying to me.”
Sarah “Bookie” Hayes Wilson ’81 and Bethany Hornback Langdon ’93
Sarah “Bookie” Hayes Wilson ’81, Karen Roark Harmon ’79, Ann Hayes Ronald, Shelby Scearce Boyd, and Katherine Hayes Trentham celebrate the opening of The Bookie.
NEW TAGLINE LEADING THE CHARGE TO DEVELOP A A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT
By Juan Dontrese Brown ’96, Founder/CEO and Partner at BROWNBAYLOR
Reflecting on my GC journey fills me with nothing short of awe. Talk about a full-circle moment! When I think about the countless footsteps I trekked across our beautiful campus, each step resonates with memories—the echo of shoes on sidewalks, the charged atmosphere of football fields, and the wisdom imparted by beloved professors like the late Jim McCormick. Who could have imagined that I’d one day contribute to the future of Georgetown College in such a meaningful way?
Throughout my time here, I’ve had the honor of teaching, coaching, and mentoring remarkable students. Each interaction deepened my sense of responsibility to give back to a community that has given me so much. The relationships I’ve forged extend well beyond the classroom, showcasing the students, alumni, staff, and faculty who have supported me, providing a strong foundation built on love, respect, and trust.
When Bethany Langdon ’93, Vice President for Advancement and Communications, asked me to help lead the development of our new tagline, my heart swelled with humility and gratitude, and I said yes without hesitation. This opportunity was a responsibility and a genuine expression of my appreciation for all Georgetown has done for me. Our new tagline signifies to everyone that we are not just a college but a community invested in each other by cultivating passion and igniting purpose.
The tagline development process demonstrated Georgetown’s unwavering commitment to authenticity. It was an experience rooted in collaboration. Gathering insights from faculty, staff, administration,
current students, and alumni was inspiring. Their voices breathed life into our work, emphasizing shared values and visions. This ongoing dialogue showcased a culture built on transparency and empathy. It revealed what makes Georgetown College a unique and enduring institution, but most importantly, what doesn’t.
One of the proudest moments of this process was the opportunity to collaborate with Betty Bone ’00, one of the first students I taught in the graphic design program that I had the honor to start at GC. Working side by side on this project brought us full circle and reminded me of my time with Professor Jim McCormick, putting a smile on my soul.
As we embarked on this journey, we realized that our new tagline would become a consistent message, a through-line, and a heartbeat that connects us all—the essence of Tiger Pride. And it is more than a mere phrase; it encapsulates our shared commitment to excellence, unity, and the unwavering support we offer one another.
In this pivotal moment, I reflect upon where I began and where I stand today. The love and dedication surrounding Georgetown College have shaped me in countless ways. Together, we will continue to embrace our legacy while courageously stepping into a bright and promising future. That is the beauty of our shared journey—one that consistently circles back yet always moves forward.
Today, tomorrow, and always—it’s a great day to be a Tiger!
Betty Bone ’00
Juan Dontrese Brown ’96
Thanks to generous grants from the James A. and Martha R. Brown Foundation and the Austin E. Knowlton Foundation, Georgetown College will begin renovating the historic Davis-Reid Alumni Gym and update the campus fitness center in the spring of 2025. The Brown Foundation donated $2 million dollars and the Knowlton Foundation donated an additional $1 million. The total renovation cost is $3.5 million which includes updates to the fitness center.
Davis-Reid Alumni Gym is currently home to several of Georgetown College’s intercollegiate sports – including the Men’s NAIA 2024 Championship volleyball team and the recordbreaking 2,000-win Men’s NAIA basketball team, as well as women’s NAIA basketball and volleyball. The adjacent fitness center is used by the entire campus community.
“This is a huge win for Georgetown College,” says President Rosemary Allen. “And to honor the Brown Foundation’s $2 million gift, I am excited to announce that the campus fitness center will be renamed the ‘James A. and Martha R. Brown Recreation Center’ in honor of the Foundation’s generosity.”
The current gym building was constructed in 1926 and was renovated in 1986. Over the years, Davis-Reid Alumni Gym has served as a chapel, classroom space, and even as student housing. In January 2012, the facility was renamed to honor longtime basketball coaches Bob Davis and Jim Reid. Today, members of the campus community are excited to see this historic building modernized.
“With these funds we will be able to replace the floor, bleachers, ceiling, lighting, bathrooms, and HVAC systems,” states Chris Oliver, Vice President for Athletics and Head Football Coach. “We are very excited to be able to provide an upgraded experience to not only our students, but also to our campus, alumni, and greater Georgetown community –especially as we approach the 100-year anniversary of the building.”
Thanks to the Brown and Knowlton Foundation gifts and support from our generous Tiger fans, we are just $250,000 away from the $3.5 million goal. Donate today and be part of this historic renovation! Scan the QR code to donate.
Allen McCowan ’94
Inducted into Lexington African-American Sports Hall of Fame
By Jason Grefer, Sports Information Director
Standout GC athlete Allen McCowan was posthumously inducted into the Lexington African-American Sports Hall of Fame in September.
McCowan had a stellar high school career as a multi-sport star at Henry Clay High School before coming to Georgetown College. As a Tiger, McCowan was a standout in basketball, football, and baseball. In the 1992 football season, McCowan was named an NAIA All-American after racking up 1,122 receiving yards and setting a then-school record. The yardage total still ranks 4th in program history.
As a baseball player, McCowan was named First Team All-KIAC and named to the AllDistrict 32 Team in 1993, en route to being named Team Most Valuable Player. His most lasting impact came on the basketball court. In 1992, he was named an NAIA First Team AllAmerican as a guard who could do it all. Over the course of his basketball career, McCowan finished with 1,983 points (currently 13th all-time), 431 assists (8th all-time), 69 blocks (8th all-time), and 253 steals His steal record remains the highest in GC’s program history. He was inducted into the Georgetown College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.
After graduating, McCowan played professional basketball in Australia and lived there until his untimely passing in June 2012. As a pro player, McCowan won a championship in the South East Australian Basketball League and was named Most Valuable Player. Along with his athletic talents, McCowan also invested in philanthropic causes in Australia. In 2008, he won an Albury Citizen of the Year award for his work with ill and underprivileged children. Allen McCowan…forever a Georgetown legend!
15 NAIA SCHOLAR TEAMS
By Jason Grefer, Sports Information Director
On September 16, 2024, the NAIA announced its National Awards Day, given to a number of individual, team, school and academic honors. Georgetown had 15 teams named NAIA Scholar Teams for the 2023-24 academic year. To qualify for the honor, teams had to carry a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
“We’re thrilled to see such a high percentage of our programs earn this prestigious honor from the NAIA,” said GC’s Vice President for Athletics, Chris Oliver. “This is a testament to the quality of the student-athletes we are able to recruit and develop at Georgetown College. We would like to congratulate all of our teams, student-athletes, and coaches who played a role in these achievements.”
The teams listed on the right were honored for their hard work in the classroom during the 2023-24 academic year.
Competitive Cheer (3.06)
Football (3.07)
Lacrosse (3.21)
Men’s Golf (3.07)
Men’s Soccer (3.31)
Men’s Tennis (3.20)
Softball (3.29)
Women’s Basketball (3.19)
Women’s Cross Country (3.43)
Women’s Golf (3.72)
Women’s Indoor Track & Field (3.43)
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field (3.43)
Women’s Soccer (3.61)
Women’s Tennis (3.45)
Women’s Volleyball (3.32)
NEW COACHES FOR THREE ATHLETICS TEAMS
By Jason Grefer, Sports Information Director
Ahead of the 2024-25 school year, Georgetown Athletics saw a number of changes occur as the Tigers welcomed three new head coaches. The first came on July 17 when Jack Stark was tapped to take over the 2024 NAIA National Champion men’s volleyball team. Stark came to Georgetown after one season as the head coach at Warren Wilson College, a NCAA Division III school in Asheville, NC, where he started the program from scratch. As a player at St. Andrews University, Stark served as team captain from 2017-2020 and won 2 Mid-South Conference Championships while tallying over 3,000 career assists. He was named 2nd Team All-Conference in 2018 and 1st Team in 2019 and twice played in the NAIA tournament. Stark received his bachelor of arts degree in forensic science from St. Andrews in 2020, before obtaining his MBA from Mount Mercy in 2022.
One day after Stark joined Georgetown, men’s soccer announced a leadership change. John Manga was named interim Head Coach, taking over for Brent Chase, who resigned after 6 seasons. After a 7-2-2 start to the 2024 season, the interim tag was removed, and Manga was named permanent Head Coach on October 9. He came to Georgetown as an assistant in 2021 after a decorated playing career. Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Manga came to the United States as a youth and settled in Lexington, KY. He was a standout at Henry Clay High School, winning a state title in 2010 and being named Mr. Kentucky Soccer and All-American in 2011. His talents took him to the University of Cincinnati where was a two-time 1st Team All-Conference player and 2016 unanimous Offensive Player of the Year. He was drafted by the Colorado Rapids in the 2016 Major League Soccer Draft and played for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the USL in 2017. After retiring due to injuries, Manga coached at Seacoast United from 2017 until coming to Georgetown in 2021.
The final coaching change occurred on July 30 when Camryn Snapp was elevated to Head Coach of Georgetown’s cross country and track & field teams. Snapp took over for Luke Garnett, who resigned after 14 years at Georgetown. Snapp had been an assistant coach since January 2022. He joined Georgetown after a decorated running career at Campbellsville University. Snapp was named a NCCAA Cross Country All-American as senior in 2020 and was Outdoor Track & Field All-American in his sophomore and junior years in the 4x800 relay. As a junior, he was also named a NAIA All-American in the 4x800. Graduating in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, Snapp was named All-Academic in the Mid-South Conference, NCCAA, and NAIA every year he was eligible as a student-athlete.
Jack Stark
John Manga
Camryn Snapp
By Jason Grefer, Sports Information Director
Georgetown College Athletics is proud to announce the Hall of Fame Class of 2024. Six student-athletes, one distinguished alum, and one team were selected to be inducted this year.
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI
Dr. Eric Chumbley is the recipient of this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award. Dr. Chumbley was a critical piece of the modern renaissance of Tiger football from 1988-90. That three-year run saw the Tigers amass a combined record of 23-8-1 and set the stage for Georgetown’s run to the 1991 National Championship and run of NAIA dominance that has not slowed down since. After graduating in 1990, Dr. Chumbley began a long and decorated career serving in the United States Air Force. He has been a leader of the Division of Aerospace Medicine and overseen special operations, with numerous earned awards over the course of his service.
BASKETBALL
Kimberly Ingle Sellick proved herself one of the all-time greats in Georgetown women’s basketball in the mid-2000s. She remains one of the few four-year starters in program history and with that came a number of marks in the record books. She still stands as the all-time career leader in steals with 328, including a record 97 in a single season. Her 1,746 career points still stand as 3rd most all-time and 159 made 3-pointers are 6th most. She was named All-MSC four times, taking home MSC Player of the Year and NAIA All-American honors in 2006. The excellence carried into the classroom where Sellick was a 3-time MSC Scholar-Athlete and a 2-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete.
Brian Silverhorn left his mark on the court as one of the greatest guards in Georgetown men’s basketball history. From 2003-07, he was a leader on teams that carried a combined record of 113-27. Never averaging fewer than 14 PPG in all four years, Silverhorn was the team’s leading scorer his final three years as a Tiger. It coincided with a NAIA Honorable Mention All-American nod in 2005, and 2nd team honor in 2006, and 1st Team All-American honors in 2007. He is one of only 12 Tigers to surpass 2,000 career points and won seven NAIA tournament games in his career. His best performance was in a February 2007 win over West Virginia Tech, where he scored 41 points. He shot 12-16 from the field, 7-8 from beyond the arc and 10-11 at the foul line. It proved to be a key win in Georgetown’s run to an undefeated Mid-South Conference title. In total, Silverhorn finished with five 30-point games and 43 20-point games.
FOOTBALL
Chris Greco was team captain of the Tigers’ 1991 NAIA National Championship team and was named a NAIA All-American at defensive end that season. Finishing with a 13-1 record, Greco’s defense held its opponent to 20 points or less nine times and created numerous turnovers that led Tiger offense to be one of the most prolific in NAIA history. He currently ranks 10th in program history with 47 tackles for loss and 245 career yards. Greco’s 26.5 sacks stand as 8th best, as does the 172 yards from those sacks he accumulated from 1990-93.
Georgetown’s 1999 Football Team proved one of the best and most dominant in NAIA history and set the stage as the 1st of four consecutive national championship game appearances. Led by NAIA Hall of Famer Bill Cronin, the offense scored over 50 points eight times, while the defense held its opponent to less than 10 points in seven games. The Tigers finished the season scoring a staggering 710 points and only allowed 236 in 14 games. Walt DeLong, Eddie Eviston, Frank Parks, and Shane Pearson were all named NAIA 1st Team All-Americans. The Tigers’ offense was nearly impossible to plan for as it was elite in the air and on the ground. It finished the year with 4,386 passing yards (most in school history) and 3,789 rushing yards (2nd most in school history). The peak point came in the playoff semifinals when Georgetown crushed defending national champions, Azusa Pacific, 66-35, on their home field in California. The Tigers racked up 619 yards on offense, including 425 rushing yards, and did not punt until midway through the 4th quarter.
TENNIS
Matías Cárcamo Dávila was a key piece of Georgetown’s excellence in men’s tennis in the mid-2000s. He was named 1st Team All Mid-South in singles all four years as a Tiger. Cárcamo was a 3-time 1st Team honoree in doubles with multiple partners. As a freshman in 2005-06, Cárcamo was ranked as high as #15 in NAIA singles. He twice reached #24 in the NAIA doubles rankings. In 2008, he was named the MSC Co-Player of the Year. In 2009, he was named the NAIA Region 3 Senior Player of the Year.
Emily Kerrick Meador was one of the most well-rounded and dominant players in Georgetown tennis history. Arriving at Georgetown in the fall of 2005, she immediately made a name for herself by winning the NAIA Southeast Regional Doubles Championship with fellow 2024 Hall of Famer, Sarah Yost. Meador would go on to receive 1st Team All-MSC honors in both singles and doubles in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. In 2008, she was ranked as high as #25 in the NAIA in singles and was part of a team that got as high as #14 in the national rankings. She capped her career in 2009 by being named the ITA Region 3 Senior Player of the Year. Meador and Yost were key the 2008 team becoming the 1st in school history to receive an at-large bid to NAIA’s National Tournament.
Sarah Yost Pencak was also part of a dominant run for Georgetown tennis in the mid-2000s. Partnering with fellow 2024 HOF inductee, Emily Kerrick Meador, the pair reached a peak of #12 in the NAIA doubles rankings in the fall of 2005. They won the NAIA Southeast Regional Doubles Championship that same season. Yost continued that stellar play in doubles as she was named 1st Team All-MSC in 2006 and 2007 and garnered Honorable Mention in 2008 and 2009. As a single, Yost was even more dominant. She earned 1st Team All-MSC four times and was named a NAIA All-American three times. Her all-around work on and off the court also garnered special recognition. Yost was a 2-time NAIA Academic All-American, part of the NAIA’s 1st National Champions of Character Team Award for Women’s Tennis, and in 2009, she received the ITA Region 3 Arthur Ashe Award for Character and Leadership.
ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME
Dr. Eric Chumbley ’90
Kimberly Ingle Sellick ’08
Brian Silverhorn ’07
Chris Greco ’94
Matías Cárcamo Dávila ’09
Emily Kerrick Meador ’09
Sarah Yost Pencak ’09
1999 Football Team
CLASS NOTES
TIGERS TOGETHER CELEBRATING ALUMNI MOMENTS
Stay in touch! We want to know about your weddings, vacations, promotions, and more! Scan the QR code to quickly share your update or submit a class note. You can also email alumni@georgetowncollege.edu.
Dr. Paul L. Garrett ’14 and his wife Virginia were honored in September with the dedication of Garrett Plaza at Western Kentucky University. Garret was a 1914 graduate of GC and the second president of the Western Kentucky Teacher’s College from 1937 to 1955. Garrett was a native of Waddy, Kentucky.
Marvin Risen ’37 was recently added to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Wall of Honor. Risen was a special agent who worked for J. Edgar Hoover and died in a plane crash during his service. At the time, the crash was ruled the airline’s fault and prevented him from being included on the Wall of Honor by FBI standards. Since then, the standards have changed, and Risen was honored posthumously by the FBI. In October, the Bluegrass Chapter of the Society of Former Agents of the FBI held a memorial service to recognize his service and sacrifice.
Maude Skinner ’47 and Doris (Schreck) Howard ’48 both turned 98 years old this year and reunited recently for lunch to reminisce about campus life at GC. They were roommates in Rucker Hall and have remained friends for 80 years. They hold fond memories of Dr. George Redding and Dr. Hollis Summers. Memories came flooding back as they looked through “Belle of the Blue” yearbooks. Maude was a junior high and high school English teacher for over 30 years in the Cincinnati area, a missionary to Japan for over five years, and lives at the Mason Christian Village in Mason, Ohio. Maude has traveled extensively and went on a mission trip to Belize at the age of 90. Doris was a junior high and high school English teacher for 27 years in Covington, Kentucky. She was married, has three children, two grandchildren, two great grandchildren and lives in her home in Covington, Kentucky. She volunteered at her local food bank and is an Operation Christmas Child project leader.
Doris (Overall) Hawkins Griffith ’54 and her sisters clinched the Guiness World Record for the highest combined age of six living siblings this past year by totally an age of 570 years and 40 days. The sisters have lived through many significant events in the past nine decades, including the Great Depression and World War II and incredible changes in technology. They have remained close all their lives, often taking siblings trips wearing their “Sister Number” shirts which show their birth order. Doris is number four.
John Floyd Cosby, Jr. ’70 and Karen (Koonce) Cosby ’71 played with the GC Tiger Band at the Family Weekend Band Extravaganza in September. John plays the E flat contra-alto clarinet, and Karen plays the B flat clarinet. They are charter members of the Capital City Community Band, which was founded in 1986 in Frankfort, Kentucky, where they currently reside. Visit www. ckcb.org for the band’s upcoming schedule of performances. John and Karen are the only two original members of that group. John’s love of concert band music and of performing in such a group has kept them actively involved in making music all these years.
Rev. Carolyn Hale Cubbedge ’71 recently contributed to the book When God Whispered My Name. She was one of 19 female Baptist ministers who was asked to share her call to ministry story. The book is available from Amazon or from the publisher, Smyth and Helwys. Rev. Cubbedge is a retired minister of the Christian Gospel whose ministry has been lived out in the church, in Christian higher education, in public education, and in the presence of adults and children with developmental disabilities. She holds a master of divinity degree from the Lexington Theological Seminary in Lexington, Kentucky, a master’s degree in secondary education from Georgetown College, and a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown. She and her husband, James, have two adult children and five grandchildren. She also owns and operates a needlework business called The Cubbedge Patch in Pooler, Georgia.
Michael Lee Jones ’79 was recently awarded the Lee Hamilton Award for Lifetime Public and Community Service at the annual meeting of the Democrat Editorial Association in French Lick, Indiana on August 3, 2024. Jones served 30 years as the County Council President in his community, has served for 35 years in the Indiana Democratic State Committee, as well as Superintendent of Schools in Switzerland County, Indiana. He has also served 25 years as Pastor of the Patriot Baptist Church in Patriot, Indiana. The award is named for former longtime Congressman, Lee Hamilton.
Dr. Kathy (Cartwright-Tingle) Fields ’84 completed and defended her dissertation earning her a Doctor of Educational Leadership degree from the University of the Cumberlands. Dr. Fields, a retired Kentucky School Superintendent, is currently the Director of Professional Learning for the Kentucky Association of School Administrators in Frankfort, Kentucky.
Sue (Foster) Stack ’84 was recognized this past year for 25 years of service working at University of Florida Jacksonville Physicians where she serves as a Physician Billing Compliance Analyst and audits government payor claims.
Dr. Robert “Jamey” Herbst ’91 was inducted into the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame in October 2024. Herbst ran cross-country runner at Dayton High School, winning all-state, all-region and all-conference honors and leading Dayton to two state titles and two state runners-up. He later ran at Georgetown College where he qualified for national championships. He coached at Heritage Academy from 2006 to 2016.
Allen McCowan ’94 was posthumously inducted in the Lexington African American Sports Hall of Fame on September 21, 2024. He is known for being one of the most talented multi-sport athletes to ever play in Central Kentucky. Playing baseball, basketball, and football, the product of Henry Clay High was known as a first-class teammate who was respected and loved by his peers while being a highly acclaimed student-athlete. The two-time NAIA All-American in basketball was also named a football All-American in the one season he played for the Tigers, 1992. On the baseball diamond, McCowan was named First Team All-KIAC and District 32 in 1993 and was the Tiger’s MVP at shortstop. He holds the school basketball record for career steals (253) and ranks fifth in career blocks (69). McCowan passed away unexpectedly in June 2012.
Julie Armstrong-Binnix ’96 accepted a position in May 2024 at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. She now services as the Medical Residency Administrator for both the Child Neurology Residency and the Pediatric Epilepsy Fellowship programs.
CLASS NOTES
Diane Lane ’98 was named Gifted and Talented teacher for Lincoln County Schools. Lane is a 1994 graduate of Lincoln County High School. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from GC, where she also minored in biology.
Billy Parker ’00 was recognized as Superintendent of the Year by the Central Kentucky Educational Cooperative (CKEC) and Eastern Kentucky University on March 20, 2024. Parker has served as superintendent of Scott County Schools in Kentucky since December 2021.
Dr. Kevin Art ’01 accepted a position in July 2024 with Central Kentucky Urology (part of Georgetown Community Hospital) in Georgetown, Kentucky. Dr. Art graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Georgetown College in 2001 and went on to earn his medical degree in 2005 from the University of Kentucky.
Brian Landis ’01 left Georgia State football to become the defensive coordinator at University of West Georgia. Landis previously served in coaching roles at the University of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University and Georgetown College.
Susan Douglas ’02 was honored with the Women Leading Kentucky Isabel Yates Community Service Award on November 21, 2024. Douglas is the CEO of Girl Scouts Wilderness Road Council.
Daniel Froggett ’02 was promoted in May 2024 to Chief of the Management Support Unit for the Foreign Service Institute of the U.S. Department of State. Froggett worked with the U.S. Department of State for over six years – both as a contractor and a full-time staff member.
Stefanie (Hayner) Justice ’02, computer engineer at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, received the Silver Snoopy Award in June 2024. The award is given for outstanding performance and is represented by a sterling silver Snoopy lapel pin that has been flown in space. Justice was presented the award by astronaut Kate Rubin and MSFC Deputy Center Director Larry Leopard. Justice’s Snoopy flew on NASA’s SpaceX Cargo Resupply Mission 9.
George Baker ’05, former GC Tiger point guard, was recently hired as the head boys’ basketball coach at his high school alma mater, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, in Lexington, Kentucky. Baker was a four-year starter for Dunbar and the 1999 Mr. Kentucky Basketball Runner-up. Baker most recently coached for Paris High School in Paris, Kentucky.
Marsha (Caldwell) Yelton ’07 has been hired to serve as assistant principal at Pendleton County High School in Kentucky. Prior to joining the administration, she was math teacher at PCHS.
Rev. Daniel Henson ’11 has been selected to co-lead the work of the Central Appalachian Missionary Conference as Conference Superintendent and will serve as part of The Kentucky Annual Conference cabinet.
Taylor Austin Dye ’15 was recently invited to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. Dye has shared stages with Wynonna Judd, Luke Combs, Chase Matthew, Steve Earle, Elle King, Keith Urban, Tyler Hubbard, Eddie Montgomery and Tracy Byrd. Her music can be found on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music.
Alex Fangman ’15 has been appointed the new director of development for the Building Industry Association of Northern Kentucky. Prior to joining BIA, he served as a principal for Kenton County Schools in Kentucky.
Christopher Snider ’17 left the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Department in his home state of Florida earlier this year to become Deputy Sheriff in Grant County, Kentucky.
Sarabeth (Marlowe) Graham ’17 is the new Development & Fundraising Director for the Art Center of the Bluegrass in Danville, Kentucky.
Martina Lytle ’19 and Lydia Graves ’19 were married on February 9, 2024. They met as teammates for the Tigers women’s basketball team and are so grateful that Georgetown College brought them together.
Brandy (Woodall) King ’19 was named the new assistant principal for Trigg County Intermediate School. King previously served as the TCIS guidance counselor and as an English teacher.
Robert Bird ’21 and Jorie Beil ’23 were married on May 17, 2024 in Erlanger Kentucky. They were accompanied at the wedding ceremony by many friends and family, several of whom are Georgetown College alumni. Robert and Jorie’s wedding ceremony was also officiated by the Reverend Hollis Dudgeon ’16, Assistant Campus Minister and Director of Faithways Leadership Academy at Georgetown College.
Tatum Miller ’21 has accepted a position as the SLO City Church Community Pastor in San Luis Obispo, California. Miller just recently completed his Master of Divinity from Baylor University.
Rachel Puckett ’24 was accepted into the Peace Corps over the summer. She will serve as an English Education Volunteer in Kosovo starting in February of 2025. She will be assisting education professionals in curriculum development for teaching the English language and American culture.
Georgetown Alumni Board Officers and Members
The Georgetown College Alumni Board volunteers support students and College programs and help connect alumni.
Mike Eichberger ’12, President
Keith Griffee ’83, Vice President
Elizabeth Feldpausch, ’15, Secretary
Vickie Patterson Gross ’80, Treasurer
Alan Redditt ’00, Immediate Past President
Angela Bennett ’64
Jordan Thomas ’10
Alex Caudill ’16
Dr. Eric Chumbley ’90
Michael Clemons ’09
Dr. Bill Ellis ’62
Ken Hale ’69
Billy Hamblin ’81
Mason Head ’13
Devanny King ’15
West Osborn ’18
Sam Penn ’74
Aaron Roberts ’08
Kenneth Spears ’15
Dr. Rachel Thomas ’08
In August, two Georgetown alums, Alison (Sturgill) Gillaspie ’01 and Kelley (Krokowski) Arnold ’01, were hired to fill key positions for the College.
Two Alums
Lead Admissions & Alumni Relations
By Emily McCarthy, Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications
Alison (Sturgill) Gillaspie ’01 is the new Director of Admissions. Alison has a long-standing history with GC, both as an alum and employee. She brings over 20 years of marketing experience, the last six of which have been in higher education. Alison holds a B.A. in communication arts from Georgetown College and was a very active member of Sigma Kappa sorority during her time as a student on campus.
“I am thrilled to rejoin the Georgetown community,” stated Gillaspie. “I am honored to play a role in the institution’s continued growth and success.”
Kelley (Krokowski) Arnold ’01 has been tapped as the new Alumni Relations and Annual Fund Director. Kelley brings more than 20 years of experience in communication development, relationshipbuilding, and nonprofit management. In her most recent position, she served as the Chief Communications Officer at The Council of State Governments. Additionally, Kelley is entering her fifth semester as a part-time Communication and Media Studies faculty member. She holds a B.A. in communication arts from Georgetown College and an M.A. in communication from the University of Kentucky.
“Alison and I got to celebrate Homecoming a little early this year,” said Arnold. “What are the odds that two alums, from the same year and the same major, return to GC and start work on the same day? It was definitely meant to be.”
In Memoriam
Alumni 1940’s
Genevieve Clark ’47
6/2/24 | Georgetown, KY
Martha (Bain) Rice ’49
5/18/24 | Elizabethtown, KY
Alumni 1950’s
Dr. David Jester ’51
10/15/24 | Paris, KY
Mary (Hoe) Park ’52
8/23/24 | Hamilton, MT
June (Cavannah) Hatley ’52
10/2/24 | Richardson, TX
Emily (Sauer) Taylor ’53
3/11/23 | Kettering, OH
Millie (Collins) Jarvis ’53
8/21/24 | Columbus, OH
Earl Condra ’54
5/6/24 | Whitwell, TN
Dr. Martha (Redden) Ozer ’54
6/20/24 | Washington, DC
Nancy (Perkins) Crook ’55
6/1/16 | Rydal, GA
Norma (Best) Bradshaw ’55
3/29/22 | Riverside, CA
Joyce (Kemper) Smith ’55
6/12/24 | Frankfort, KY
Sarah (Whitney) Baston ’56
5/21/24 | Georgetown, KY
Harry Walkenhorst ’57
4/9/23 | Brooksville, FL
Jackie (Rhoads) Jackson ’57
1/23/24 | Fullerton, CA
Dr. Paul Beasley ’57
10/11/24 | Ashland, KY
Rev. Albert Pike ’58
1/17/23 | Villa Hills, KY
Leroy Randall ’58
10/8/24 | Alexandria, KY
Dr. Henry Marksberry ’59
9/9/24 | Loveland, OH
Alumni 1960’s
Ralph Pence ’61
7/8/24 | Hillsboro, OH
Harry Dickerson ’62
5/20/24 | Georgetown, KY
Dr. William Chesnut ’63
2/1/24 | Albuquerque, NM
Linda (Stamper) Sims ’63
5/31/24 | Pinellas Park, FL
Julian Witt ’64
5/15/24 | Grand Terrace, CA
Donald Cottrell ’64
9/1/24 | Orlando, FL
Jim Arehart ’64
9/20/24 | Georgetown, KY
Carole (Rouse) Taulbee ’64
9/20/24 | Saint Marys, GA
Brad Betz ’65
2/3/09 | San Diego, CA
Sandra (Thomas) Woodward ’65
6/8/23 | Dalton, GA
Linda Florence ’65
6/29/24 | Fairhope, AL
Ralph Duncan ’65
9/27/24 | Cumming, GA
Danny Kirby ’66
7/22/24 | Greenwood, IN
William Brumley ’67
12/1/21 | Shelbyville, KY
Rev. Troy Key ’68
4/8/23 | Katy, TX
Evelyn (Olin) Moore ’68
7/26/23 | Rock Springs, WY
Floyd Bush ’68
7/18/24 | Richmond, VA
Richard Winstead ’69
9/28/23 | Brentwood, TN
Don Samples ’69
9/17/24 | Batavia, OH
Alumni 1970’s
Donna Atwood ’71
8/10/23 | Oxford, MS
William Higgins ’71
10/8/24 | Bedford, KY
Betty Peters ’74
2/20/23 | Morehead, KY
Dr. Darlys (Harmon) Vaught ’74
7/26/23 | Conway, SC
Carol Carpenter ’75 8/2/24 | Loveland, OH
Mike Brooks ’78
7/23/24 | Bardstown, KY
Alumni 1990’s
Stephanie (Goeschel) Stopher ’94
8/31/24 | Williamsburg, KY
Denton Oakes, II ’97
6/17/24 | Somerset, KY
Alumni 2000’s
Brad Hall ’05
5/29/24 | Lexington, KY
Jonathan Jansen ’10
8/8/24 | Crestwood, KY
Alumni of Graduate School
Julie (Cinnamon) Milburn ’93
5/16/24 | Lawrenceburg, KY
Sue Baker ’95
5/21/24 | Lawrenceburg, KY
Former Students
Nellie (Friedly) Taylor ’48
9/23/19 | Bowling Green, KY
James Bradbury ’54
9/15/24 | Nashville, TN
Don Howard ’55
6/29/24 | San Francisco, CA
Susan (Trosper) Denny ’62
4/15/24 | Lawrenceburg, KY
Michael Henry ’74
9/6/24 | Clifford, IN
Kenneth Barker ’94
1/7/16 | Georgetown, KY
Former Trustees, Faculty, Staff, and Friends
Robert Woodruff
10/8/22 | New Albany, IN
Dorothy Jones
3/20/24 | Sherman Oaks, CA
Dr. Rogers Redding
4/7/24 | Helena, AL
Dr. Suzanne Peal
5/20/24 | Lexington, KY
Rev. Henry White
7/6/24 | Elizabethtown, KY
Dr. Thomas Seay
11/2/24 | Georgetown, KY
Kevin Ulmer
9/17/24 | Bemidji, MN
Belle of the Blue Looks to the 75th Anniversary
The year was 1950 when Georgetown College honored the first Belle of the Blue Anna Marie Lang Scholl. She was selected by celebrity judge and famous cartoonist Al Capp. In the early years, the Belle of the Blue was a photo contest with headshots of the Belle candidates sent to movie studios and modeling agency executives, prominent magazine editors, and illustrators. Some of the early judges were Cecil B. deMille, Paramount Studios, Joseph Reddy, Walt Disney Studios, John Whitcomb, Cosmopolitan Magazine, John Powers, Powers Modeling Agency, singers Perry Como and Pat Boone, and Steve Allen, the first host of The Tonight Show.
The first Belle of the Blue pageant was in 1961 with Bernice Gabby Carter of Lexington crowned by President Robert L. Mills. Twenty-five participants began the competition. One of the two judges was Nick Clooney, disc jockey/newscaster, the father of actor George Clooney and brother of Rosemary Clooney, star of “White Christmas.” After tea, interview sessions, and dinner, 12 students were named “Campus Favorites,” and then six became the Belle of the Blue Court from which the winner was selected.
2023 Belle of the Blue Krysta Callinan ’23 and Beau Cole Kellly ’23
1971 Belle of the Blue Artie Nunnelley Bailey, 1st Runner-Up Dorcus Perkins Haig (right) and 2nd Runner-Up Debbie Wolfe Steele (left)
1961 Belle of the Blue Bernice Gabby Carter
In 1964, Belle of the Blue Carol Hurst Carlson was the first to represent Georgetown College in the Miss Kentucky pageant, part of Miss America, the largest scholarship organization for women in the United States. In that same year, Shirin Rahbari, representing Rucker Hall, was the first Woman of Color to participate in the Belle of the Blue. The 1968 Belle Sally Zartman Christopher also made history as the first runner-up in the Miss Kentucky Pageant.
For many decades, participants were selected by residence halls, fraternities, and sororities to be their representatives in the competition. The Belle of the Blue Scholarship program currently evaluates participants on academics, poise and appearance, talent, and interview skills. However, during the 1960s and 1970s, swimsuit was part of the competition. One tradition remains the same, the Belle of the Blue is crowned by the College President.
Additionally, the Belle of the Blue has participated in the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival in Pineville. The festival dates back to 1931 and since then five Georgetown College Belle participants have been honored as the Mountain Laurel Queen, including Beverly Lord Bagwell (1974), Emily Arnold Davis (1998), Kimberly Horne Chandler (2008), Megan McKay Walton (2009), and Jaime Horne Lisk (2012)
In 2012, Georgetown officially began a new tradition to include men in the scholarship program. The first Georgetown Gentleman was Devin Rogers in 2012. The name was later changed to Beau of the Blue.
On February 22, 2025, Georgetown College will honor the 75th student to be named the Belle of the Blue. We are inviting all former Belle and Beau participants to be a part of this special evening. If you can attend, please email Monique Woodson, Director of Student Life Engagement, at monique_woodson@ georgetowncollege.edu or call 859.863.7977.
From 1950 to 2025, seventy-five Belles of the Blue from Georgetown College and went on to become business executives, ministers, attorneys, doctors, educators, public relations professionals, and women of distinction in many professions. Join us in 2025 to celebrate them all!
Saturday, February 22 | 7:00 p.m | John L. Hill Chapel
Scan the QR code to buy your tickets now! Tickets are $7 each for alumni and guests. Students, faculty, and staff are admitted free but should reserve a ticket online to ensure a seat.
The 1964 Belle of the Blue participants were (left to right): Shirin Rahbari—Rucker Hall, Linda Emerson—Sigma Kappa, Lynda Langdon—Knight Hall, Sydney Hancock—Lambda Chi Alpha, Barbara Fightmaster—Knight Hall, Glenn Gummere—Kappa Alpha, Sue Inman—Anderson Hall, Lena Woosley—Anderson Hall, Phyllis Collins—Pi Kappa Alpha, Joyce Watkins—Pawling Hall, and Carol Hurst—Kappa Delta.
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MAJORS AND PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT FUTURE LEADERS
PROGRAMS OF DISTINCTION TO HELP STUDENTS STAND OUT
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATE COMMUNITY
ATHLETIC TEAMS TO CHEER FOR FACULTY MEMBERS TO MENTOR STUDENTS
The Georgetown Fund Goal
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