ALUMNI MAGAZINE
GC GIVING DAY A
ROARING SUCCESS
SPRING 2021
JORDAN BURTON ‘10 IS ON THE FRONT LINES
PERSONAL AND POWERFUL
A JOURNEY THROUGH PROGRAMS OF DISTINCTION
A MESSAGE FROM THE
PRESIDENT
Dear Alumni and Friends, Challenging times have a way of revealing what we truly believe in, what’s most important to us, and who we really are. The challenges brought on by COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021 truly have laid bare who Georgetown College is and what we believe in as a campus community. I continue to be in awe of the kindness, dedication, and commitment to excellence portrayed by our students, alumni, faculty, staff, coaches, and friends. You inspire me to work ever harder to guide the College toward a bright future and to fully live out its mission. PRESIDENT WILL JONES VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT John Davis EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS Abby Malik EDITOR Daniel Flener DESIGNER Kelsey Berry ‘11 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Olivia Coleman-Dunn ‘15 Jenny Elder Daniel Flener Abby Malik CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Olivia Coleman-Dunn ‘15 Jane Cutter ‘71 John Davis President Will Jones Hanna Kroskie Christy Mai
GC MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021 1
PHOTOS Kelsey Berry ‘11 Richard Davis Daniel Flener Cory Nolan Ken and Keni Parks Katie Raney
As we conclude another academic year, my heart and my thoughts are with the Class of 2021, as each member ventures into a new life outside of Georgetown College and determines where their degree will take them. Throughout the years, it is clear that a Georgetown College degree carries weight both measurable and immeasurable. After all, the College has been ranked as the best college in Kentucky for three straight years for our students getting into graduate school or into that first job within six months of graduation. This measurable success is married with those intangibles our students carry with them — a dedication to servant-leadership, those longlasting relationships, and the self reflection necessary to grow and mature long after leaving Georgetown College. This is exactly what we mean by a championship-level education of the heart and mind. One way the College has inspired growth and academic success in our students is through our Programs of Distinction. These programs allow students to delve deeper into their academic, artistic, spiritual, and personal interests. They provide unmatched opportunities for research, career shadowing, and mentorship from experts. But most importantly, they produce results. Countless students from these programs graduate and journey into new and exciting directions. In this issue of the magazine, you will learn about recent successes from the College’s Programs of Distinction. This year also has revealed more clearly the amazing work done by so many of our outstanding alumni. Thank you for your tireless work and your commitment and generosity to Georgetown College. You are a blessing I am thankful for each and every day. As we approach another academic year with anticipation, thank you for your continued support. We pray that God will continue to bless us in what is shaping up to be another exciting academic year for Georgetown College. With Gratitude,
FOR COMMENTS, QUESTIONS AND INFORMATION, CONTACT: Office of Marketing and Communications 400 East College St. Georgetown, KY 40324-1696 502-863-7922 GC Magazine is published by the Georgetown College Office of Marketing and Communications. © Copyright Georgetown College, 2021 Georgetown College admits students regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, disability, or veteran status.
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CONTENTS OUTSTANDING OUTCOMES
12
03
Olivia Coleman-Dunn ‘15
05
Determined to Succeed
07
GC Giving Day a Roaring Success
09
Tiger Cheer Squad Sets Records All Year Long
11
Men’s Volleyball Chases Success in Inaugural Season
CHAMPIONSHIP-LEVEL EDUCATION
PERSONAL AND POWERFUL
“Personal growth and academic challenges are huge aspects of Programs of Distinction, but what is more impactful are the ways they help encourage and build you up to where you feel like you have become a part of a family instead of just an academic program.”
— Brynn Sandquist ‘21
12
Personal and Powerful
13
A Transformational Experience
15
From Student to Leader
17
Finding More than Success
19
Taking Off
21
Leaning In
25
Commencement
33
New Trustees
27
Campus News
35
Class Notes
31
Meet Hanna Kroskie
37
In Memoriam
GC MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021
AROUND CAMPUS
2
OUTSTANDING OUTCOMES
MY FELLOW ALUMNI,
OLIVIA COLEMAN-DUNN ‘15 DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS
My name is Olivia Coleman-Dunn ‘15 and being named your Director of Alumni Relations at the start of 2021 was one of the proudest moments of my life. As an alumna, I know firsthand the pride we have in our beloved alma mater. I also know how loving, kind, and dedicated my fellow Georgetown College graduates are, and being chosen to represent you is a tremendous honor. I want to take this opportunity to let you get to know me, and I hope in the months to come, you will take a moment to give me a call and let me get to know you, as well. I think a lot of us had the same experience when we first stepped on Georgetown’s campus. We instantly had that feeling of “home.” My journey was a little bit different in that I transferred from another school, where I was merely surviving and not thriving. I was looking for a school to call “home” and a basketball team to call “family.” The moment I drove down Memorial Drive and set foot on GC’s campus, I knew I had found that. I even called a school I was scheduled to visit the next day and told them I wouldn’t be going on that tour after all. While a student at Georgetown College, I learned more than I ever could have imagined, forged lifelong relationships, and grew into the best version of myself. My time as a student was so transformational that I decided to enter higher education and work with students after I graduated. After years of working with students, here at Georgetown and elsewhere, I was ready for a new challenge and new opportunities. The prospect of working with alumni was a dream come true.
GC MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021
Now, as your Director of Alumni Relations, I am here to listen to you, to represent you, and to help you in any way I can. Know that my door is always open, and I will always strive to do what is best for you, my fellow alumni. I look forward to working with you and getting to know each and every one of you along the way. Sincerely,
3 Olivia Coleman-Dunn ‘15 Director of Alumni Relations
We’re back on the road to celebrate TIGER PRIDE with you all! Join President Will Jones in each of these cities for an inspiring evening of fun.
2021/22
` LOUISVILLE – JULY 29
CINCINNATI – AUGUST NASHVILLE/HOPKINSVILLE – SEPTEMBER LEXINGTON/GEORGETOWN – OCTOBER BOWLING GREEN – NOVEMBER
` ` ` ` `
NAPLES, FL – JANUARY SOMERSET – FEBRUARY GLASGOW – MARCH ATLANTA – APRIL PADUCAH – JUNE
FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION, VISIT
georgetowncollege.edu/alumni
GC MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021
` ` ` `
7-9 PM | WATERFRONT BOTANICAL GARDENS
4
OUTSTANDING OUTCOMES
Determined to Su A career in public health has taken Jordan Burton ‘10 to the front lines of the pandemic
W
hen Jordan Burton ‘10 was a kid, she wanted to be an astronaut. Then one summer before her freshman year at Georgetown College, a prestigious medical internship in Atlanta introduced her to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the opportunity for a career in public health. Burton chose a career in public health, and she’s been working at the CDC since 2015. But her current role as a quarantine public health officer perhaps parallels what she might have experienced as an astronaut: discovering new horizons, anticipating disasters, and navigating uncharted territory.
HER MOMENT TO SHINE
In the early stages of the pandemic, Burton co-led a repatriation effort at a U.S. military base: U.S. soldiers and visa holders needed to return home safely, which included a 14-day quarantine when they returned. She remembers the moment she realized that she was the expert in the room — the one whose career had been leading up to this very moment. “It was an amazing opportunity,” she recalls. “You’re on a military base, everyone is looking at you to tell them how they should do the quarantine process.”
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Currently, Burton works in New York City as a senior quarantine public health officer at the CDC’s quarantine station at JFK International Airport. The CDC has 20 quarantine stations at major ports across the United States and Puerto Rico, and JFK’s station is the largest. These stations, and teams like Burton’s that run them, protect Americans against the usual suspects like malaria, botulism, and rabies from imported animals. And since early 2020, COVID-19 is part of that list.
SEARCHING FOR OPPORTUNITIES ON THE FRONT LINE
After completing a two-year CDC fellowship in 2017, Burton spent close to two years in Santa Fe working as a public health advisor. Her primary role was to increase immunization rates and build trust among Alaska Native and Native American populations. She enjoyed the work, especially her work with preventive care, but she became eager for change. “I wasn’t on the front lines, and I really wanted to be,” she recalls. In May 2019, well before the pandemic, Burton began her work as a quarantine public health officer. In this role, Burton works to prevent the importation of
communicable diseases from abroad and the spread of the disease domestically. She’s a member of the Global Rapid Response Team, and she also trains new CDC quarantine public health officers.
FINDING A HOME AT GEORGETOWN COLLEGE
Burton is passionate about her work, and in particular, helping people take preventive measures to avoid illness in the first place. It was during her summer internship before college that she realized this is what she wanted to do for a living. “That’s when I realized I could really be a part of this,” she said. “I could help people be healthier at home in order to avoid certain things. When I got to Georgetown, I knew that was the route that I wanted to go, so I asked myself, how do I navigate myself in that way?” In addition to majoring in biology, Burton, who is originally from Covington, Ky., sought out opportunities for experiences and mentorships to help her reach her goals. “When I visited campus before becoming a student, I decided that Georgetown was both big enough for me and small enough for me,” Burton said. “It was somewhere I knew I could call home.” In addition to a rigorous academic experience in the biology program, she participated in residence life and helped launch Georgetown College’s step team. “I really, really enjoyed the overall experience of getting involved around campus,” she said. “It kind of created structure for me. I found that the more structure I had, the more successful I was in my classes.” Burton also values that her Georgetown professors knew her name and that she could speak with them anytime she needed. “There was a real investment across the board,” she said of the college community’s dedication to student success. “And that speaks volumes about choosing to go to a smaller school like Georgetown.”
POURING BACK INTO HER COMMUNITY
Another passion of Burton’s is giving back. When she and her sister were kids, they would seek out opportunities to volunteer anywhere they could. “One day the Red Cross was like, ‘Yeah, y’all can count these brochures,’” she laughed. “It was the best day ever.” Burton still finds time to “pour back” into the community, as she calls it. In April, she returned to
OUTSTANDING OUTCOMES
ucceed campus as a Leadership Series guest speaker, sharing with the socially distanced audience in John L. Hill Chapel her experiences as a frontline COVID-19 worker. She was joined by Dr. Jerome Manson ’08 who also discussed his experience during the pandemic. She also has worked to pour back into the Georgetown College community another way: with a scholarship in honor of her late husband, Stephon Burton ‘11. In 2015, Stephon and Jordan moved to New York City, where he was beginning a career in athletics and development at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, and she was beginning the fellowship at the CDC that would kick start her career. A few months later, Stephon passed away. “That’s what Stephon had always wanted to do,” Burton said of establishing the scholarship. “He had a good experience at Georgetown, and he had always wanted to show his appreciation.” The Stephon Burton Scholarship was awarded for the first time at this spring’s Academic Honors Day to Micah Cummings ‘22 of Cincinnati, Ohio. Presented by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the scholarship provides a full-time sophomore, junior, or senior who is a STEM major the opportunity to excel and reduce his or her financial burden. The recipient is someone who displays courage, character, and leadership — just as Stephon did.
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OUTSTANDING OUTCOMES
GC GIVING DAY A ROARING SUCCESS BY TAKING ONE MOMENT TO MAKE A GIFT, MEMBERS OF THE GC COMMUNITY COMMITTED TO CHANGING THE LIVES OF CURRENT AND FUTURE TIGERS CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE
E
ach year Georgetown College invites students, faculty, staff, coaches, alumni, and friends of the College to come together for one day to financially support the College. After canceling GC Giving Day in 2020 due to the pandemic, the 2021 version more than lived up to the hype, with all those who love Georgetown College helping us not only break our goal but absolutely demolish it.
CHALLENGES TO OVERCOME
GC MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021 7
In 2020, everything seemed perfect for GC’s Giving Day. Falling on the third Tuesday in March, the day just happened to also be St. Patrick’s Day. So it was fitting at the time to deem the day “The Luck of the Tiger.” The tagline would begin to feel ironic after the event was initially delayed as the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread across the country. After this initial delay, the event would fully live up to its ironic tagline by being canceled outright in May 2020. “We felt that the sensitive thing to do was to cancel the event in 2020,” said Vice President for Advancement John Davis. “This pandemic has caused so much devastation in so many facets of our lives that canceling Giving Day 2020 was the right move. We also knew that the Georgetown College community – alumni and friends – would step up in a big way if we did cancel, and they did.”
Through this difficult time, those who love Georgetown College continued their unwavering support, helping the College surpass its annual fundraising goal for FY20, even without this key day of fundraising. College officials also knew that whatever a Giving Day looked like in 2021, the GC community would step up as they always do.
A GOAL SURPASSED
This year, with all the changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Georgetown College chose to focus on “One Moment at a Time” on Giving Day. By taking one moment to make a gift, members of the GC community could change the life of a current or future Tiger. With a goal of receiving 750 gifts on March 16, the College set out for a fun-filled day of giving challenges, including: Put Your State On The Map, Tiger Mates, Choose Your Athletic Team, Department Showdown, the Blackburn Challenge, and Calling All Young Alumni. In response to these challenges and the goal of 750 gifts, Georgetown College donors stepped up in a big way, delivering 1,111 gifts to the College, which helped raise more than $205,000. “We are overjoyed by the support shown by our GC family,” said Davis. “This generosity will go such a long way toward helping countless students
experience the unforgettable and transformational education the College offers.”
OUTSTANDING OUTCOMES
Now, with GC Giving Day 2021 in the books, the College looks to the future, and the new challenge becomes topping this extraordinary year.
WE NEED AN ADDITIONAL 450 DONORS TO REACH OUR 20% ALUMNI GIVING GOAL. WILL YOU JOIN US? ONLINE
Make a gift via credit card on our secure website gogc.me/give
VENMO
Make a gift via Venmo to GCTigers or by searching for Georgetown College
— JOHN DAVIS, VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT
1,111 GIFTS
> $205,000
With a goal of 750 gifts, Georgetown College donors stepped up in a big way, delivering 1,111 gifts to the College.
Georgetown College alumni and friends raised more than $205,000 in 24 hours.
GC MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021
”WE ARE OVERJOYED BY THE SUPPORT SHOWN BY OUR GC FAMILY“
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OUTSTANDING OUTCOMES
TIGER CHEER SQUAD SETS RECORDS ALL YEAR LONG
GC MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021 9
I
n only its third season as a varsity athletic program, the Georgetown College cheer squad won the 2021 Mid-South Conference and NAIA Regional Championship. That isn’t even half of what the squad accomplished this season, in competition and in the classroom. Coach Joanie Alexander, a former college cheerleader with a strong drive to build up the program, has led the Tiger cheer team since 2016. For the second-straight year, and for the third time in five years, Alexander was named Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year. She is the first GC coach to win this honor three times. In February, the team became conference and regional champions, earning its first NAIA National Championship Competition spot. The Tigers have been on the brink several times but capturing the Mid-South Conference Championship and NAIA
Regional Championship for an automatic bid was extra sweet. “This has been a journey that our team and Georgetown College trusted me with,” Alexander said. “We are seeing the rewards I knew we could. I’m so excited with how well we’ve done and to know how young but mature we are. This isn’t an easy year for so many reasons, but at every turn this team impresses me and steps up to the challenge.” In that competition, GC scored 91.5 — a program best. In addition, this past season, the Tigers placed first four times and never placed lower than third. At the two-day NAIA Competitive Cheer Championship in March, the Tiger cheer team finished ninth in the nation. A lot of talent and hard work goes into a season like this, and recognition occurred on an individual level, as well.
OUTSTANDING OUTCOMES
In addition, Sydnie West ’24 and Don Mullins ‘24 joined Adams as First-Team All-Conference honorees, while Myah Menfee ’22 and Payton Towry ’24 earned Second-Team All-Conference. Tiger cheerleaders also scored big in academics. Ten Tiger team members made the MSC AllAcademic roster. Those who earn this honor are sophomores or higher who have maintained at least a 3.25 grade point average. Georgetown College was among the top leaders on the All-Academic
roster, behind only two other schools. Georgetown’s All-Academic honorees include: sophomores Abby Bentley, Tori Bradley, Loren Clark, Jacob Clemons, and Chearlise Stoudemire; juniors Peyton Atwood, Gracie Gelnett, Menfee, and Williams; and senior Buddy Lukens. In addition, Jennamarie Eckler ’23 was named to the MSC Cheer Champions of Character Team, a recognition for student-athletes who uphold the NAIA’s five core values: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership.
CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE
GC MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021
Alyssa Adams ‘24 accomplished a first for Georgetown College. The freshman was honored as MSC Freshman of the Year and MSC Cheerleader of the Year. GC has had three previous Freshman of the Year honorees and eight Cheerleader of the Year honorees. Most recently, Macey McKenzie ‘20 earned COY in 2016-17 and Harper Williams ‘22 was FOY in 2018-19.
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OUTSTANDING OUTCOMES
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL CHASES SUCCESS IN INAUGURAL SEASON
T
iger Nation enjoyed the addition of a new athletic team this year: men’s volleyball. And the team thrived in its exciting inaugural season, making it all the way to NAIA national tournament play. Men’s volleyball, led by coach Andrew Palmer, brings the College’s varsity team total to 22. Palmer previously served as head coach of the men’s volleyball team at Urbana University in Ohio, which closed its doors after the Spring 2020 semester. Vice President of Athletics Brian Evans saw this as an opportunity to once again expand the athletic department, and he invited Palmer and his athletes to make GC their new home. “I’m very thankful for Georgetown College wanting to grow and expand,” Palmer said. “It’s an excellent opening to give opportunities to student-athletes and allow them to finish their degrees. “The biggest hurdle in starting any first-year team is taking these high school athletes and developing them into mature players. This program has a leg up in that regard with my Urbana players already experiencing that.” A leg up indeed. After starting the season with four-straight losses, GC rolled off 15 wins in a 16-match stretch. This included 10-straight wins from March 6 to April 9. The team advanced
GC MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021 11
to the Mid-South Conference championships, clinching an automatic bid to the national tournament. The team’s inaugural season ended in April at the NAIA National Men’s Volleyball Tournament. In the national tournament, the Tigers showed heart and fight that will forever be the foundation of teams to come. In addition, Kacper Dobrowolski ‘24 and Ryan Gunn ‘24 were recognized for their amazing seasons. Dobrowolski helped guide the first-year program to second in the conference and a national tournament berth from the setter position. He posted eye-popping numbers in most statistical categories, including 708 assists, which ranked him 10th in the country. The MSC named him Setter of the Year and First-Team AllConference, while the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) recognized him as All-America Honorable Mention. In addition, he earned an NAIA honorable mention. Gunn also had a fantastic freshman season. For all his efforts, the New Zealand native earned MSC Freshman of the Year, MSC Player of the Year, MSC First-Team All-Conference, and AVCA All-America Honorable Mention. He also earned NAIA honorable mention status.
CHAMPIONSHIP-LEVEL EDUCATION
PERSONAL AND
POWERFUL
“Personal growth and academic challenges are huge aspects of Programs of Distinction, but what is more impactful are the ways they help encourage and build you up to where you feel like you have become a part of a family instead of just an academic program.” — Brynn Sandquist ‘21 With a focus across the academic spectrum – from the arts to medicine and law and so many others – Programs of Distinction launch students straight toward their dreams. In this issue of the magazine, we feature extraordinary outcomes from four of the 12 areas of study. GC MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021
CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE
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CHAMPIONSHIP-LEVEL EDUCATION
A TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPERIENCE For more than 20 years, the Oxford Honors Program has changed lives by giving students the opportunity to study at the world’s greatest university
P
erhaps no other program better illustrates the transformational nature of Georgetown College’s education than the Oxford Honors Program. In the program, students take courses and are mentored by faculty in preparation for a semester abroad at the world’s greatest university. Although the program has existed as the “Oxford Honors Program” since 2008, the program was first established through a relationship with Regents Park College at Oxford University in 1998, and has been catapulting students to success ever since. Dr. Bradford Hadaway, professor of philosophy, has been with the program since nearly the beginning and has witnessed firsthand the powerful results. “Oxford University uses the tutorial method, and we quickly realized that if we were going to do this program, we needed to fully prepare students for that method of study,” said Dr. Hadaway. 13
The tutorial method emphasizes small-group sessions with faculty members, as well as individual advising, where students are routinely asked to orally communicate, defend, analyze, and critique the ideas of others, as well as their own.
Students in the Oxford Honors Program undergo training and specific courses in their first years at Georgetown College designed to introduce them to this method of instruction and prepare them for what to expect while studying abroad. This preparation is key to students’ success once they travel abroad. “The Oxford Honors Program is constructed in such a way that students often feel overprepared when they get to Oxford,” said Brynn Sandquist ’21. “You take rigorous classes, seminars, and workshops to prepare you for the application at the very end of sophomore year. In addition to learning how to think, read, write, and argue like an Oxford student, the program inherently helps you learn how to balance coursework with extracurriculars.”
AN UNFORGETTABLE JOURNEY
The culmination of the Oxford Honors Program for students is the journey to Oxford University, to study alongside the best and brightest students and work with some of the most brilliant academics in the world. For Sandquist, the moment she arrived at Oxford University is a moment she will never forget. “I was stretched mentally, physically, and emotionally in ways previously unfamiliar, but stepping off that bus in Oxford was the closest thing to magical I have ever experienced,” said Sandquist. “That moment made me so excited for all the dreams I will dream in the coming decades of my life because now I know what it takes to achieve them.” If the tutorial method is a highly individualized style of learning, the Oxford Honors Program shines
CHAMPIONSHIP-LEVEL EDUCATION
in part because of the camaraderie developed among students in the program. For Sandquist, experiencing the program with her Georgetown friends is what made it so special. “I do not have the words to describe how much more meaningful their presence made my Oxford experience,” she said. “Through experiencing such a profound shared goal that we all worked so hard for, we grew even closer, and I know we will be reminiscing on this time for the rest of our lives.” Of course, along with the rigorous coursework at Oxford University, students also experience living overseas and adapting to a new culture. This lifechanging adventure can have a profound impact on many aspects of a student. “My trip to Oxford reinforced my belief that every person should take a period of time — be it weeks or months — to live in a culture that is not their own,” said Sandquist. “I learned so much from talking to the different European students and learning about their worldview, their language and vocabulary, and their hopes and fears.”
BRIGHT FUTURES
To an employer or graduate school, seeing Oxford University on a resume is impressive. “We have had countless students receive opportunities that may not have been there if not for their Oxford experience,” said Dr. Hadaway. “One student noted that in his acceptance letter to law school at Georgetown University, there was mention of wanting to talk about his time at Oxford.” Former Oxford Honors student and current Georgetown College Assistant Professor of Sociology Dr. Caliesha Comley ‘14 also experienced this opening of possibilities. “I know that having Oxford University as a line on my resume or CV really opened up the possibility of certain graduate schools for me.”
“I remember coming back from Oxford with a sense of purpose,” said Dr. Comley. “I came back with full knowledge that I was capable of anything.
“Through
experiencing such a profound shared goal that we all worked so hard for, we grew even closer, and I know we will be reminiscing on THIS TIME for the rest of our lives.“ — BRYNN SANDQUIST ’21
GC MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021
And the benefits of the Oxford Honors Program extend far beyond a line on a resume.
Before the Oxford experience, I had not considered graduate school. I certainly didn’t consider getting a Ph.D. or being a college professor. I know that the Oxford experience is what instilled that passion I now have for education, as well as the confidence to achieve those goals I set for myself.”
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CHAMPIONSHIP-LEVEL EDUCATION
From Student to Leader
Hollis Dudgeon ‘16 guides current Christian Scholars, creating a safe space for spiritual growth
A
s a freshman at Georgetown College in 2012, Hollis Dudgeon ‘16 didn’t yet know which road to travel. She did, however, establish key relationships with friends and faculty mentors who would lead her into an exciting new chapter in her life. “I had so many friends in the Christian Scholars Program my first year, even if I wasn’t officially in the program,” said Dudgeon. “Dr. Ward’s Foundations class was also key in me deciding to further explore my faith and go down the path I would eventually go down.”
GC MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021
Designed to help students grow spiritually, the Christian Scholars Program presents students with mentorship, leadership, and mission trip opportunities. Each year, a fall break trip to Hilton Head, South Carolina, is a particular favorite for students.
CURIOSITY TO PASSION
15 then I break my leg…”
“My freshman year, of course, everyone is excited about Hilton Head, and
This small setback didn’t prevent Dudgeon from exploring the Christian Scholars Program further. Her friends
and several inspirational professors continued to inspire her curiosity. However, as sophomore year rolled around, her interest in the program transitioned from a curiosity to a passion. “After missing the Hilton Head trip my freshman year, I was so excited to go my sophomore year, and it was a profound experience. Connecting with my fellow classmates and some truly inspirational church leaders had a significant impact on my path at Georgetown and beyond.”
A CALL TO MINISTRY
As Dudgeon progressed through her degree at Georgetown College, she discovered her faith becoming more mature. She also began to question many preconceptions about her role in the Church and the world. “There were the beliefs that women couldn’t be in ministry and that homosexuality is evil,” she said. “Those beliefs felt very burdensome on me.” While feeling the weight of that burden, Dudgeon also felt a call to ministry. However, her youthful passion was quickly struck down by leaders in her own church. “I felt an initial call to ministry in high school. When I brought it up with leaders in my church, the response was ‘women can’t be in ministry.’ So I started thinking of more ‘practical’ routes to take. I thought maybe I’d be a doctor who goes on medical missions or go into business and work with charities. I was just stuck in that mindset.” Her passion, though, didn’t disappear. It simply lay dormant, waiting for just the right people and experiences to allow it to blossom. “Coming into college and being around different types of people, I feel like I found a different possibility for what faith could look like in a way that was so liberating.” Those faculty mentors who inspired Dudgeon in further exploring the Christian Scholars Program would continue to guide her growth, reignite her passion for ministry, and open her eyes to a world of possibilities.
CHAMPIONSHIP-LEVEL EDUCATION
“The thing that helped me grow the most was the mentorship. Dr. Sands Wise, Dr. Ward, and Dr. Klopfer in particular just really invested in me and cared about my growth as a Christian leader. Those mentors saw me as a leader before I saw myself as one.”
LEADING OTHERS
As graduation approached, Dudgeon was still unsure about which path to take. She applied to Teach For America, but a conversation with a friend who was applying to seminary inspired her to change course. “My friend, Jana, was applying to divinity school, and I just decided to go for it. I just let go of that fear and thought ‘Why not.’” Dudgeon earned her Master’s of Divinity at Wake Forest University School of Divinity in 2019. “If Georgetown was the beginning of my liberation, Wake Forest was the completion of it.” After seminary, Dudgeon felt the pull back to Georgetown College, accepting a position as Director of Faithways Academy, GC’s faith-centered summer program for high school students. Dudgeon also serves as a spiritual advisor to students, teaches in the Religion department, and plays a critical role in the Christian Scholars Program.
Dudgeon has started to see the fruits of her labor and experience the other side of some of those life-changing moments she had as a student at Georgetown. “It feels like it’s really meaningful work getting to engage with students in ways that are really beautiful.”
PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
Having been involved in the Christian Scholars Program as a student, Dudgeon is keenly aware of the changes the program has undergone over the last five years and the ways it has remained the same. “It’s certainly grown since my time as a student,” she said. “But the heart of it remains the same in the way it creates a space for students to talk about vocation and calling, and then supporting them through that.” So what does Dudgeon hope for the future of the Christian Scholars Program, which has been a fixture at the College for more than 20 years? “Ultimately, I want current and future students to feel loved and equipped spiritually. I hope the program helps them better understand exactly what their faith means for them, specifically for them, and that they’re provided with opportunities that both challenge and support their faith. It’s really about making their faith their own moving forward. That’s of the utmost importance.”
“Coming into college and being around different types of people, I feel like I found a different possibility for what faith could look like in a way that was so liberating.” — HOLLIS DUDGEON ’16
GC MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021
“It was really strange at first to return here,” said Dudgeon. “I describe it as a ‘haunting.’ I was encountering myself in the same spaces, but I was very different. I was also suddenly working with
these people who were such a huge influence on me, so of course you worry about meeting their expectations and living up to how they helped you.”
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CHAMPIONSHIP-LEVEL EDUCATION
Finding More than Success Jean-Pierre Amoakon ‘19 found a family and a calling in the Science Honors Program
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ean-Pierre Amoakon’s journey to Georgetown College began with a fortuitous conversation with a friend. After all, how did Amoakon (or JP as he’s known to friends and family), an international student from the West African country Cote d’Ivôire, end up in Georgetown, Kentucky? “I had a friend recommend Georgetown to me,” he said. “So when I was applying to schools I applied to the University of Tennessee and Georgetown. That same friend said I would like Georgetown more because of the size of the school and the intimate classes.”
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If Amoakon’s journey to the College began through some good fortune, he was left reeling by a bit of bad luck early in his college career. In Fall 2016, because he was still only 16 years old, Amoakon could not yet move into his dorm room. However, in this moment, Georgetown College lived up to its reputation as a caring family, and this bit of seemingly bad luck proved to be the beginning of a truly special relationship. The Blackburns, John (or Doc to his students) and
Pat Blackburn, opened their home to Amoakon for a few weeks until he could move into the dorm in mid-September. They proved the perfect mentors to introduce him to Georgetown College. “I would end up seeing them at least once or twice a week while I attended Georgetown. I would come over for dinner or we would go to church together. They became my Georgetown family.” During that initial stay with them, the Blackburns sensed Amoakon’s character. “He’s very driven and incredibly intelligent,” said Dr. Blackburn. “Even at that early stage, I had never seen a student study as diligently as JP.”
OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH
Coming into Georgetown College, Amoakon knew his strengths and his passions better than most incoming freshman. His scientific acumen and passion for research made him a perfect fit for the College’s Science Honors Program. “Dr. Homer White is the one who actually recommended the program to me. Coming in as an international student, I wasn’t initially in the program, but all of the professors in the Honors Programs and the staff made it incredibly easy to join. They knew me and knew my passion, and I just had to tell them I wanted in, and that was it.” One of the most beneficial aspects of the Science Honors Program is the summer research project students complete. During their sophomore or junior year, students receive a $4,000 fellowship to complete a summer research internship. Georgetown College students have worked with researchers from Johns Hopkins, Stanford, Duke, Vanderbilt, and the National Cancer Institute. These projects set Science Honors students apart when applying to graduate school or jobs.
Amoakon completed his summer research project at Georgia Tech in a study that involved using microfluidics to study behavior in worms. However, the benefits of the research project extended beyond the lab itself. “What I didn’t expect to gain from the experience was the knowledge of how to apply for grants, how to contact researchers who you might want to work with, and those other practical elements of research which are so crucial after you finish school.”
CHAMPIONSHIP-LEVEL EDUCATION
During his senior year, Amoakon turned his project into an oral presentation entitled “HighThroughput Microfluidics to Characterize Subtle Synaptic Phenotypes in C. elegans,” which won him third place at the annual Kentucky Academy of Science. But potentially more than anything, Amoakon’s time in the Science Honors Program further solidified the direction he wanted for his career and his life.
AN EXCITING FUTURE
Currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Cincinnati studying systems biology and physiology, Amoakon credits his Georgetown classes and his research with clarifying his future. “I’m interested in two paths: one is being a lead researcher in the private sector and the other is working with clinical trials. I discovered in the Science Honors Program that I loved the research side of it, so I want to focus on research above all else.” His current research falls in line with his various interests and could go a long way toward helping so many people in the future. Studying the reactions of cells in relation to cystic fibrosis, Amoakon hopes his research will expedite further breakthroughs in the study of the disease. “I’m trying to answer the question of why those cells are dying in cystic fibrosis, which will hopefully be a key factor in developing better treatments for the disease.”
“JP is an incredibly well-rounded individual,” said Pat. “He’s so driven and dedicated to his studies, but he always took time for other things too, whether it was soccer or just hanging out with friends.” Dr. Blackburn said, “He may have been a bit introverted when he first came to Georgetown, but we really saw him open up and become more extroverted during his time at the College.” As far as what people can expect from Amoakon in the future, Dr. Blackburn has no doubts. “We had no doubt when JP first stayed with us that he would be a success, and that’s even more true today.”
Now, as Amoakon looks back on his time in the Science Honors Program and his academic career at Georgetown College, he’s thankful for the opportunities offered to him and the sense of home he found. When he speaks of home, a hint of a smile etches across his face and his mind wanders. He has a difficult time hiding his excitement. “I’m planning on meeting up with the Blackburns this weekend,” he says. “Since I’m in Cincinnati, I’m a little further away, but we still see each other every now and then. So I’m looking forward to seeing them in just a few days.”
“Even at that early stage, I had never seen a student study as diligently as JP.”— DR. JOHN BLACKBURN
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But Amoakon’s growth was not limited to the classroom. The Blackburns, who he would continue to see on holidays, weekend dinners, and who would come to see him win numerous accolades during his time at Georgetown College, witnessed firsthand this growth.
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TAKING OFF
In its third year, the Health Scholars Program continues to grow at a rapid rate
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omething exciting is brewing over in Asher Science Center. Don’t worry, Dr. Fraley isn’t blowing anything up.
The Health Scholars Program, which welcomed its inaugural class in 2018, is booming as more students than ever look to Georgetown College as the best choice for helping them reach their dream of a career in medicine. As the inaugural class of Health Scholars prepares to graduate in 2022 and begin the next phase of an exciting journey into medicine, those in the program reflect on its humble beginnings and its bright future.
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“We were already doing many of the things the program offers students, but we wanted to streamline everything and make it more official,” said Dr. Tracy Livingston, professor of biology and head of the Health Scholars Program. “By making it more official, it would make advising easier, as well as making it easier for students to get those shadowing and mentorship opportunities.” Designed for students interested in careers in health-related fields, the Health Scholars Program was established to help students identify their preferred career paths.
The program helps students narrow their focus by introducing them to professionals across different branches of health care and by presenting opportunities for shadowing, researching, and volunteering. “The exploration piece is a big part of the Health Scholars Program. We want to present students with those opportunities to discover for themselves exactly what kind of career they want to have,” said Dr. Livingston.
MEASURABLE SUCCESS
With a medical school acceptance rate of 100 percent for fully qualified students, Georgetown College introduced the Health Scholars Program to continue this tradition of success and further aid students in achieving their dreams. What has led to this success? “I think we do a lot of things really well,” said Dr. Livingston. “We really listen to our students and try our best to meet their needs. We can offer that personal attention that not a lot of schools can.” Channing Baker ’22 will be one of the inaugural graduates in the Health Scholars Program. She served as the program’s first-ever student president and is applying to dental schools. “The Health Scholars Program was the perfect opportunity to get more plugged in,” said Baker. “In a lot of ways, graduate school is about networking, and the program really gave me a leg up in that regard.” As the program’s first-ever president, Baker has more insight than most on its trajectory. “We try to
CHAMPIONSHIP-LEVEL EDUCATION
get a wide variety of speakers scheduled because even though you may think you know what you want to do, you may end up switching based on talking with these working professionals.” Which is exactly what happened to Baker. “For a quick second, I thought about becoming a veterinarian, but I quickly changed my mind about that,” she said. “I didn’t have to go to vet school and waste a bunch of money only to discover that wasn’t the path I wanted to take. I was able to discover my path right here at Georgetown.”
A FUTURE OF GROWTH
The Health Scholars Program continues to grow thanks to the enormous benefits it gives students and the hard work of its leaders. Students who choose Georgetown College can be confident that they have a clear path to a career in medicine.
“The Health Scholars Program was the perfect opportunity to get more plugged in.” — CHANNING BAKER ‘22
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What does the future hold for the Health Scholars Program? For one, the program continues to grow at a remarkable rate. “I have more than 100 students right now, and we anticipate having about 130 or 140 next year,” said Dr. Livingston. “It’s been remarkable to see the program’s growth over the last few years.”
Students in the program also look forward to a post-COVID-19 world, when they can go on a medical mission trip. “We were so close to pulling the trigger on a medical mission trip,” said Dr. Livingston. “Back in early 2019, we had an informational session on a trip we were planning to Peru, and the room was full of students. That’s one thing we look forward to getting up and running whenever we can.”
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CHAMPIONSHIP-LEVEL EDUCATION
LEANING IN Dr. Rosemary Allen and Georgetown College faculty embrace change to bring certainty in uncertain times
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n January 2020, Dr. Rosemary Allen, longtime professor of English and provost and dean of the College, began the spring semester teaching her Renaissance literature students about Shakespeare. She couldn’t have imagined that the world she and her students lived in would soon parallel Shakespeare’s world of 400 years ago. “One of the things that one has to deal with when talking about Shakespeare is the degree to which he was living in a really uncertain world,” Dr. Allen said. That world, of course, was a pandemic — the bubonic plague, to be exact. The pandemic would shut down theaters on a regular basis, cutting off Shakespeare’s primary income stream. This forced Shakespeare to find different ways of achieving his goals. He took his plays on tour, or he focused on writing plays rather than producing them.
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In other words, Shakespeare had to pivot. In late February and early March 2020, Dr. Allen had learned enough about the ongoing developments with COVID-19 that she began encouraging Georgetown College faculty to pivot, just as Shakespeare had. “I was already suggesting to faculty that if they had some time over spring break, they should start looking at what it would take to transition their classes online,” she said. “But honestly, I did not anticipate what happened during that spring break week. We were fully expecting to resume classes in 10 days.”
ONE WEEK TO RECREATE SIX WEEKS OF CLASSES
Most can pinpoint that moment in early 2020 when the world shifted and routines changed. For Dr. Allen, it was the moment Georgetown College
“I WAS ALREADY SUGGESTING TO FACULTY THAT IF THEY HAD SOME TIME OVER SPRING BREAK, THEY SHOULD START LOOKING AT WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO TRANSITION THEIR CLASSES ONLINE.” — DR. ROSEMARY ALLEN
CHAMPIONSHIP-LEVEL EDUCATION
decided that students wouldn’t return to campus after spring break. Instead, classes would transition fully online for the remaining six weeks of the semester.
And so with the resilience and dedication that Georgetown College is known for, faculty members, led by Dr. Allen, did what they had to do: they pivoted.
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As a college whose mission is to educate and strengthen a student’s heart and mind, it was imperative that online classes maintain the same quality that Georgetown College classes are known for, classes in which discussion and studentteacher engagement are where true learning happens. It was also necessary to adapt learning and teaching to fit individual situations without relaxing academic standards.
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PROFESSORS TEACHING EACH OTHER
A foundation for online learning already existed at Georgetown. Faculty members and students use Canvas, a learning management system. The biggest challenges were learning to use it better, restructuring in-person curricula to better fit virtual learning, and understanding how to use Zoom effectively. “They were so on it,” said Dr. Allen. “The faculty who had used online tools a lot volunteered to start doing workshops for those who weren’t as versed.” The start of classes after spring break was delayed by a few days to give faculty some extra time to implement the full transition. Dr. Todd Hamilton, professor of chemistry, and his colleagues quickly worked together to transition labs online.
Dr. Allen refers to this and other innovative strategies as “a mammoth thought experiment.” “And every single person had to come up with a different solution, because so much depends on what the nature of your class is,” she added. Dr. Laura Hunt, professor of Spanish, said that even faculty members who aren’t the biggest fans of technology recognized that tools like Canvas and Zoom were the solutions. “I’m very proud of everyone for figuring it out,” she said. “Since faculty are already lifelong learners, this just became a new area to research. Everyone jumped on board and made it happen, which is just incredible.” Dr. Hunt was among several professors who created materials for and led workshops during spring break for her colleagues. Professor of English Dr. Carrie Cook, who has more than 20 years of online teaching experience, jumped in to help her colleagues learn how to use Canvas effectively. “Everybody has come together and worked so hard, students included,” Dr. Cook said. “And I’m just honored to be a part of this group — we’re all trying to move forward, and we care about each other along the way.”
PUTTING STUDENTS FIRST
One of the most important aspects of transitioning to online instruction was making sure all of this necessary change took into consideration the well-being of each student. Uncertainty abounded with the unknowns of a highly residential student body now moving back home to finish out the semester.
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“We didn’t know what their personal situations were,” Dr. Allen said. “We didn’t know if they were going to even have access to sufficient internet at home.”
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In light of this, students were given the option of electing to finish their classes pass/fail for Spring 2020.
“Lab is very difficult virtually,” said Dr. Hamilton, but he and his colleagues made it work for students by going into the lab and recording themselves conducting experiments. Then they gave their students the data to analyze and write up.
“We knew that grades were not necessarily going to be reflective of what students were able to do,” Dr. Allen said. “Particularly since we didn’t know what their home situations were. We didn’t force them to accept a grade that didn’t reflect their best efforts.” Dr. Allen says that professors understanding that one size doesn’t fit all is what students appreciated most during those final six weeks of the Spring 2020 semester.
“Each faculty member figured out what worked best for their particular class and their particular teaching and learning styles,” Dr. Allen said. “Everybody was finding solutions that somehow worked.”
CHAMPIONSHIP-LEVEL EDUCATION
Dr. Cook emphasizes that Georgetown College’s virtual classes last spring weren’t just something put online for students to navigate their own way through. “We really tried to keep and foster that connection with the individual students, so I made time to meet with my students, to conference with them,” she said. “I tried to make sure that I checked in individually with each of them at least every week.” For Dr. Dan Vazzana, associate professor of business administration and economics, working through obstacles with his students was all about grace. “I preached the notion of grace,” Dr. Vazzana said in regard to students understanding that their professors were having to pivot just as much as they were. And, at the end of the day, everyone was doing their best. “And students were also up to the task of offering the same grace,” he added. Dr. Hunt literally went the extra mile at the end of the term by driving across the state delivering cakes to her graduating seniors in the Spanish program. And for the ones she couldn’t get to, she mailed them chocolates. “None of those students signed up for an online/ hybrid experience or were prepared for it,” Dr. Hunt said. “And I especially felt bad for our graduating seniors who didn’t get to experience the usual celebrations.” She added: “It made me so happy to deliver those cakes. It was for them, but it was for me, too.”
MOVING FORWARD
The College used the summer to prepare for the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters. Two task forces were created. One focused on strengthening instructional methodology practices, which included making sure faculty have the right tools for blended instruction. The second focused on scenario planning. Semester structure also changed. For Fall 2020 and Spring 2021, instead of students taking five or six classes a semester, they instead took two or three classes during two different 7.5-week subsessions. This allowed students and professors to be around fewer people for shorter periods of time. To accomplish this, faculty members spent Summer 2020 completely redesigning a year’s worth of classes in order to be able to teach them in the sub-session structure and with a greater flexibility than they normally do, because they had to be ready for any possibility.
The College will return to the semester structure this fall. But Dr. Allen and others anticipate keeping some of the beneficial digital learning strategies, whether that’s delivering content online and then using the classroom for discussion or moving to online instruction during inclement weather situations, as the College did earlier this year. “I also think some people will figure out better ways of accommodating students who are sick or students who are on athletic teams who have to miss classes, because now they know that there are ways of doing it,” she added. For Dr. Hamilton, having to reevaluate and redesign how and what he teaches has been a difficult but useful exercise. “I’ve had to go back and look at the overall framework of what I teach,” he said. “When you’re forced to boil it down to the essentials, it allows you to see what’s important. And really ask yourself — what should this class look like for our students?” Dr. Vazzana has used Zoom to change how he offers his office hours: he’s dedicated time in the evenings to meet with students whose schedules are too packed during the day. Like Shakespeare, Dr. Allen was able to pivot early and stay focused on Georgetown College’s goal of continuing to provide a championshiplevel education of the heart and mind, even in a pandemic. “I never ever saw her stressed or frazzled,” Dr. Hunt said. “Rosemary did a great job of getting us what we needed at the time we needed it.” Dr. Vazzana added: “Rosemary and the administration were very proactive in making sure we had all the resources we needed.”
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Georgetown College Celebrates the Classes of 2020 and 2021
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GC MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021
SEE MORE PHOTOS AND RELIVE COMMENCEMENT
MAY 22
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MAY 23
ast spring, with the health and safety of the campus and the Georgetown/Scott County community in mind, Georgetown College made the difficult decision not to hold an in-person commencement ceremony celebrating the Class of 2020.
“Students, you successfully navigated the many difficulties of this past year,” said President Jones. “In spite of all the historical challenges you faced, you still excelled. It is an honor and a privilege for Georgetown College to affirm you in the moments ahead as graduates and alumni of the College.”
This May, though, thanks to the diligent work of faculty, staff, coaches, students, and community members, the College held in-person commencement ceremonies on May 22 and May 23 to celebrate the Class of 2021 as well as the Class of 2020 and all their accomplishments.
The commencement address was delivered by Kenny Davis ’71. Davis, a member of the College’s Board of Trustees, played basketball at GC and famously captained the USA Basketball Team at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. He used his experience at the Olympics and throughout his career to remind graduates that life is short and to not take anything for granted.
The College conferred degrees to approximately 130 undergraduates on May 22, On May 23, the College then celebrated the achievement of master’s degree candidates, conferring approximately 60 master’s degrees to students. The ceremony on May 22 marked President Will Jones’s first commencement as Georgetown College’s president.
“Let me also remind you to keep making and seeing those wildest dreams come true,” said Davis. “Because I can tell you that’s what makes life exciting, that’s what makes it enjoyable, that’s what makes it special.” Congratulations to the Classes of 2020 and 2021!
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CLASS OF
2020
Elizabeth Ransdell Nolan Ray Samantha Reach Caitlyn Rice Benjamin Robison Lauren Roy Christian Ryne Baylee Salyers Diana Serrano Saunders Randall Schab Tyler Selby Sara Shawver Alexandra Shearer Hayden Shelton Joshua Shepherd Rebecca Slagle Donald Smallwood Jessica Smith Olivia Smock Sarah Snyder Josey Sobolewski Logan Sparks Zachary Stack Paradise Stanford Caroline Starnes Charity Stoltz Joseph Stover Zachary Stump Nathan Swartz Thomas Taplin Jessica Tapp Katelyn Thomas Michael Thompson Piper Tomlin David Trotter Jesus Ugarte Anthony Vanderbeck Emma Vandeveer Alvin Vega Dana Velander Tyler Wagner Joseph Wall Kendal Warren Allison Watson Tatum Wessling Grace Whalen Dustin Wheeler Brandon Whetnight Brittany White Emma White Terrance Williams Quennon Wilson Destiny Wyckoff Stefan Zak Reyes
CLASS OF
2021 Mark Abbott Kelsey Adams Cooper Adkins Lauren Albensi Marissa Allen Cameron Allison Olivia Archer Reese Asher Ashlyne Bacorn
Anna Banks Codi Barnett Haley Bergheger Coby Bessinger Adam Betz Mallary Bickers Noel Bielski Robert Bird Tess Borders Dawna Boudot Bryce Bowen Hailey Bowman Megan Brankamp Loren Breeding Kaitlyn Brewer Evan Brinson Christopher Broadwater Stanford Broadwater Brianna Brumfield Simon Burgess Tiffany Burton Anna Campbell Rigoberto Cano Kelsey Castle Keenen Cisneros Terriana Coleman Avery Colvin Christine Cooper Aaron Corral Derise Cox Zachary Dampier Clemit Damron Hayden Daniel Shannon Davis Samuel Dingle Tate Dowdy Allison Draughn Kylee Draughn Sydne Evans Ciara Farrell Joshua Finley Jordan Frodge Raeann Fultz Alexis Gatewood Kaitlyn Gibson Michael Gomez Lexus Gonterman Alexandra Gregory Keith Hackett Josiah Haller Sharon Hammer Sierra Hatcher Adam Hegedus Thomas Hislope Emma Hite Trevor Holland Katelynn Horton Aimee Houvenagle Nicholas Howard Samantha Hutchinson Benjamin Jackson Savanah Jackson Elijah Johnson Angela Jones Brodricks Jones Tamir Jones Michaela Kennedy Jarred Kinnaman Noah Kremer Brandon Krennrich Kitty Lackey
Branden Leff Sinclaire Leto Jacob Locke John Lowe Samantha Loya Gary Lukens Megan Martin Andrew Martinez Bethanie Maynard Morgan Maynard Solomon McGuire Tatum Miller Kourtnie Mills Markizjah Mimms Ryan Montgomery William Muniz Kelsey Napier Jacob Noe Hunter Nosek Tyler Ochs Trace Ogden Isaac Olson Whitney O’Mara Melanie O’Neal Christopher Osborne Lauren Parkinson Kalyssa Parmley Wesley Qualls Adryan Ramirez Taylor Reese Tristan Rice Belinda Rickman Jacob Roberts Tyelar Rohman Landan Ross Nicholas Roush Ashton Russell Avery Russell Brynn Sandquist Abigail Schremp Molly Shoup Caroline Shy Madielynn Sims Samual Sinkhorn Seth Skaggs Noah Smedley Colin Smith Jodie Smith Abby Sparkman James Spencer John Spurlock Lena Staley Valentin Stammler Katherine Stockwell Katie Swanson Brinley Swears Justin Tavner Chloe Teets William Thomas Bailey Thompson Eric Thrower Shota Usuda Sondra Vernengo Alexandria Ward Makenzie Warner John Wells Raegan Williams Sarah Wiseman Mackenzie Works Tori Wright Brevin Wyman
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Anna Abrams Nicholas Acosta Josh Adams Mariah Addington Morgan Ainsworth Andrew Alvey Olivia Ashby Brian Barnes Ann Bevins Clinton Bevins Blake Borwig Olivia Bowling Shania Bozman Dylan Brock Alex Brody Jessalyn Brown Michael Brown Catherine Bruce Alec Brumfield Larry Burns Kaitlyn Butler Laura Callihan Devyn Chadwell Layken Chapman Alex Clawson Chris Coffey Gabrielle Combs Hayley Combs Jacob Conway Alexandra Cooper Sharod Cooper Katherine Coulter James Cowherd Lauren Cross Nekya Crowders Zachary Curtis Michayla Decker Ethan DeRossett Audrey Dodd Willow Dove Justin Downs Tyler Dummer Kelsi Dunham Cherub DuVall Andrew Dyer Richard Escobedo Lauren Fazenbaker Kyle Fieger Gabriel Figueroa Haley Forschbach James Fox Emily Francis Malaka Frank Hunter Fryman Ryan Gaynor Nicholas Giambalvo Justin Girten Sutton Godar Brittany Goodman Rachel Graham Olivia Grass Mabry Green Irelend Greenwell Clinton Gross Michala Haag Victoria Hafner
Austin Hamlett Karrigan Harlow Haley Harned Emily Harrod Chelsea Hawkins Morgan Hedrick Victoria Henderson Matthew Herrington Kyra Higgins Lena Hines Philipp Hoeper Spencer Holder Raymond Hoskins Gwendolyn House Hannah Howes Elizabeth Hudgins Emily Hughes Sophia Hughes Hailey Ison Abigail James Shawn Jewell Jerryn Jones Sydni Jones Richard Justus Madelyn Kauffman Jaycey Kendall Cameron Kenner Cleome Kerseg Dasia Kilbourne Sophia Kimbell Eddie Lam Laramie Lawrence Courtlyn Ledesma Courtney Lee Lindsay Leick Alejandro Leon, Jr. Lauren Lett Teagan Lilly Madison Long Matthew Longstreet Mary Loxley Justus Martin Ismael Martinez Isaac Mathis Jessica Mattingly Robert McFarland Macey McKenzie Riley McKown Ashton Meckle Erin Metcalfe Matthew Moberly Carlie Molique Jennifer Morguson Madison Mudd Chase Mullins Noah Murphy John Nguyen Brenna Nolte Patrick Oakley Joseph Ogbogu Jr. Trey Ogle Keri O’Toole Claire Oyler Brady Parlato Alexis Payne Andrew Paz Abigail Pieczynski Joshua Piunti Ellen Postell Megan Prather Daric Pugh
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Campus News NEWS East Campus conference center and Cralle student center undergoing renovations
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wo major construction projects are happening on campus.
Construction began in May on a $525,000 renovation of the East Campus Conference Center, part of Georgetown College’s athletic facilities. The project is being funded by the James A. & Martha R. Brown Charitable Foundation, Sodexo, and donors. Construction is estimated to be completed in June. Once completed, the conference center will officially be named James A. & Martha R. Brown Conference Center in honor of the foundation’s gift. In late May, the College began work on a $2.4 million renovation of the Cralle Student Center. The project, funded entirely by Sodexo, will be completed by the time students return to campus in August for the Fall 2021 semester.
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The renovation, which has been in the planning stages for three years, will be a complete overhaul of Montgomery Dining Hall located in Cralle Student Center. In addition to an aesthetic rehaul with new mixed seating options and decor, Sodexo will also
enhance its dining selections with new stations where food is prepared in front of students as they wait. The other major renovation taking place during this phase of the Cralle Student Center project is the addition of an elevator to the outside of the building, which will greatly improve accessibility to the entire building. This set of renovations is part of a multi-year project for the student center. The College will work alongside Sodexo, which it has been partners with for 20 years, for all phases of the project. Future phases include bringing a national brand restaurant on the ground floor of Cralle Student Center and renovations of the Mulberry Café located in the Ensor Learning Resource Center.
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Homecoming Set for October 23
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eorgetown College is proud to announce that Homecoming 2021 is scheduled for October 23. In 2020, the College canceled Homecoming festivities in order to help keep the campus community as safe and healthy as possible. “We look forward to seeing alumni and friends of Georgetown College at Homecoming this fall,” said Director of Alumni Relations Olivia Coleman-Dunn ‘15.
GC Adopts Juneteenth as Official Holiday
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s part of a recommendation stemming from its first-ever inclusion and kindness report, Georgetown College announces the adoption of Juneteenth as an official College holiday beginning this year. Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day and Freedom Day, is celebrated on June 19 each year and commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.
Top among the task force’s recommendations was to adopt Juneteenth as an official College holiday. This goes into effect immediately, with the College observing the 2021 holiday on Friday, June 18.
More details will be available leading up to Homecoming 2021. Alumni can stay up to date on the latest developments by visiting georgetowncollege.edu/alumni.
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Tiger Nation welcomes new women’s basketball head coach
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n March, Georgetown College named Jeff Nickel of Shawnee State University the new women’s basketball head coach.
“It’s a great day in Tiger athletics as we welcome Coach Jeff Nickel to the athletic staff and hand him the reins of our women’s basketball program,” said Vice President of Athletics Brian Evans at a press conference held on campus. “We have someone who can lead this program, not just so we can be competitive, but so we can win championships.” For the past eight years, Nickel served as head coach of the women’s basketball team at Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, Ohio. Under Nickel’s leadership, the SSU women’s basketball program has achieved the highest winning percentage in Ohio. During Nickel’s tenure at SSU, his alma mater, he had a 78-percent winning percentage with an overall record of 21460. In the Mid-South Conference, SSU was 95-32, a 75-percent winning percentage. The Bears won five conference tournament crowns and one regular-season title. “The foundation is here, and the talent is here,” Nickel said. “I look forward to hitting the ground running and getting Georgetown back to national tournaments on a regular basis. That’s our goal, and that’s what we’re going to do.” Watch the full press conference announcing Coach Nickel at facebook.com/georgetowncollege/live.
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President Will Jones initiated the ‘Task Force for Increasing Inclusion and Kindness’ in August 2020. The ultimate purpose of the task force was to provide recommendations for increasing and fostering a campus-wide culture supportive of diversity, equity, inclusion, and kindness. After six months, the task force presented its report and recommendations to the College’s Board of Trustees at its quarterly meeting in February 2021.
“It was difficult to not celebrate together in 2020, but I know that Homecoming 2021 will be an amazing celebration.”
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Phi Kappa Tau Returns to GC
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n a ceremony held on April 25, Greek fraternity Phi Kappa Tau began the process of returning to campus. Originally chartered at the College on April 25, 1970, the ceremony marked 51 years to the day of the original campus charter.
Georgetown College students Isaac Sullivan ’24 and Keagan Morrin ’24, both of Georgetown, spearheaded the effort to bring the fraternity back to campus, and 10 new members joined during the April ceremony.
Phi Kappa Tau was established internationally in 1906 with the goal of being recognized as a leadership organization that binds men together and challenges them to improve their campuses around the world.
“A big group of us came from Great Crossing High School and thought it would be fun to start something new on campus,” said Morrin. “We saw this as a way to learn about ethical leadership and also be involved in campus activities.”
Since 1970, the fraternity has welcomed 619 Georgetown College men into its ranks. After the chapter took leave in 2018 due to low membership, conversations about bringing Phi Kappa Tau back to campus began in November 2020.
The chapter aims to participate in IFC recruitment beginning next spring and officially charter during that time. “We hope to create a community on campus where people can have fun and meet lifelong friends,” Morrin added.
Dr. Knapp, Dr. Livingston Named Lilly Faculty Fellows
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rofessor of Biology Dr. Tracy Livingston and Associate Professor of Chemistry Dr. Meghan Knapp have been named Lilly Faculty Fellows for 2021-2023. Dr. Livingston and Dr. Knapp will receive $8,000 in funding to establish a Lilly Faculty Fellows Program on campus and to further explore and engage with Christian thought and practice.
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The program, based at Valparaiso University, is the newest initiative from the Lilly Network of Church-Related Colleges and Universities and recognizes faculty who focus on Christian thought and practice within their academic vocation. Dr. Livingston and Dr. Knapp are one of only seven teams of faculty members selected nationwide to represent this inaugural class.
In addition to the grant, Dr. Livingston and Dr. Knapp will attend four conferences across two years in Chicago and Indianapolis focused on helping the fellows continue their exploration of issues involving faith and academics. “GC is a place that helps students find their passion by exploring various avenues of study,” said Dr. Livingston. “This grant will help the faculty not only explore their thoughts on science and religion but also help us facilitate our students’ understanding of the role of science and religion in our world. GC is a great place to explore this issue.”
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Updated Georgetown College license plate funds scholarships
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lumni and friends can represent their Tiger Pride with a newly designed Georgetown College specialty license plate.
For each plate sold, $10 goes to GC’s annual fund to support scholarships, student programming, and faculty and staff development.
“Showing your GC pride on your license plate is a great way to get our name out in the community,” said Director of Alumni Relations Olivia ColemanDunn ‘15. “They’re a great conversation starter when you’re traveling, too, and a fun way to connect with other Georgetown alumni and friends.”
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Academic Honors Day 2021 Celebrates Student Success
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utstanding student achievements were rewarded this spring at Academic Honors Day, which was celebrated on May 5 in Davis-Reid Alumni Gym.
Academic Honors Day also featured the inaugural presentation of the Stephon D. Burton Courage, Character, and Leadership Scholarship (read more about the scholarship beginning on page 5).
Along with the presentation of departmental awards, the Dean’s Honor Award, the top academic recognition for seniors, highlighted the day. This year’s recipients were Stanford Broadwater ’21 of Louisville and Josiah Haller ’21 of Delaware, Ohio.
Presented by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the scholarship was awarded to a full-time sophomore, junior, or senior who is a STEM major and who displays courage, character, and leadership. This year’s honoree was Micah Cummings ’22 of Cincinnati.
Provost and Dean of the College Dr. Rosemary Allen said of Broadwater: “He is a true Renaissance man, a top student in math and physics but also gifted in music, fascinated with philosophy, and immersed in the world of literature.” Broadwater, who plans to attend graduate school in physics at the University of Louisville, said, “It feels amazing to receive the award. I feel like it’s the culmination of my work at GC.”
“Receiving the Dean’s Honor Award feels surreal,” said Haller. “As I have attended Honors Days over my four years, I have developed the impression that whoever wins the Dean’s Award each year are the students who go above and beyond in every way, doing so much more than what is expected of them in every situation. While I always admired those students, I never had the thought that it could be me some day.”
See the photos here!
GC MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021
Haller was described by Dr. Allen as “combining extraordinary capacity for analytical research, academic research, and effective writing, with a joyous love for discussion in an academic environment. He’s the sort of student faculty members fight for, as they want him in their class discussions.”
Cummings is a member of Phi Mu sorority and serves as its diversity and inclusion chair. She is a peer educator, student ambassador, president of the chemistry honor society Gamma Sigma Epsilon, a member of the student mental health advisory council, and a member of the Black Student Union. Cummings also participates in Science Honors, Health Scholars, and Christian Scholars Program.
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AROUND CAMPUS
MEET
HANNA KROSKIE S
ince arriving at Georgetown College in 2019, Director of Development/Major Gifts Officer Hanna Kroskie has worked to further the College’s fundraising efforts. And one of her favorite aspects of her time so far at GC has been the opportunity to engage with alumni and friends of the College. Originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana, Kroskie graduated from Centre College in Danville, Ky., after which she entered a career in the non-profit sector. Combining her love and experience in fundraising with a passion for higher education, she has found a home at Georgetown College. We sat down with her to get to know her just a little bit better.
Q
WHAT DEFINES GEORGETOWN COLLEGE TO YOU?
To me, it’s a family. This place just makes you feel comfortable. Walking around campus, every single place, every department, every thing just makes you feel at ease, and the reason is the people. Everyone, whether a student, faculty member, staff member, graduate, or friend of the College, just makes you feel so welcome.
Q GC MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021 31
HOW DO YOU HELP THE COLLEGE LIVE OUT ITS MISSION OF PROVIDING A CHAMPIONSHIP-LEVEL EDUCATION OF THE HEART AND MIND?
Fundraising affects all areas of campus. That’s one reason I am so passionate about it. It’s an opportunity for me to have an impact across the entire campus community. It helps us have the wonderful professors and staff members we have. It helps us provide scholarships and funding for our students, as well as innovative programs that make the transformational education the College provides that much stronger.
Q
HOW DO YOU HOPE TO SERVE ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF GEORGETOWN COLLEGE?
One of the wonderful aspects of my role at the College is the connections I get to make with alumni and friends. I aim to work with donors and alumni individually to help connect them to an area of campus or to a project or particular need that they’re passionate about.
AROUND CAMPUS
PAISLEY I also work with our Alumni Relations office to showcase the amazing things our alumni are doing and also keep them informed of the wonderful things happening around campus. Communicating with these alumni and helping encourage that sense of community at the College is key to supporting them.
Q
IN YOUR EXPERIENCE SO FAR, IS THERE ONE WORD THAT DEFINES GEORGETOWN COLLEGE ALUMNI AND DONORS?
Q
WHEN YOU’RE NOT WORKING AT THE COLLEGE, WHAT DO YOU DO TO UNWIND?
I coach youth soccer for Lexington FC, which I love. It has certainly taught me a lot of patience. I also play in a few adult soccer leagues. You also might find me hiking with my Aussiedoodle, Paisley, or just spending time with friends and family.
GC MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021
Caring. Every single alum or employee or friend of the College I’ve met has been incredibly caring and genuine. When they ask you how you’re doing or what they can do to help, they really mean it. And that relationship goes both ways.
“Walking around campus, every single place, every department, every thing just makes you feel at ease, and the reason is the people. Everyone, whether a student, faculty member, staff member, graduate, or friend of the College, just makes you feel so welcome.” — Hanna Kroskie
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AROUND CAMPUS
NEW MEMBERS ELECTED TO GEORGETOWN COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Five new trustees began their terms on January 1, 2021
MRS. NICOLE BIVENS COLLINSON ‘86 Nicole Bivens Collinson is president of international trade and government relations at Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, PA in Washington, D.C. Mrs. Collinson serves on the board of the Washington International Trade Association and previously served on the board of Women In International Trade. In addition, she was executive director of the United States Apparel Industry Council from 1999-2012. Mrs. Collinson and her husband, Paul, reside in Arlington, Virginia, and have two children, Zephren Bivens Collinson and Cordelia Bivens Collinson. Mrs. Collinson previously served on Georgetown College’s Board of Trustees from 2006-2017.
GC MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021 33
JUDGE GERALD PARKER, JR. ‘04 Gerald Parker was elected in 2018 as Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge in Dayton, Ohio, and is the first African American male to serve on the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court bench. He is a recipient of Dayton’s Top 10 African-American Male award and WHIO Channel 7’s Making a Difference award. As a student at Georgetown College, Judge Parker was the 2004 President’s Award recipient and was a member of the 2000 and 2001 NAIA national champion football teams. Judge Parker and his wife, Janna, reside in Centerville, Ohio, and have two daughters, Zoe and Maya.
AROUND CAMPUS
DR. JOHN TRAVIS ‘79 John Travis currently serves as pastor of First Baptist Church Maddoxtown in Lexington, where he has been for 26 years. He serves on the executive board of directors of the Kentucky Missionary Baptist Association and is the former dean of education of the Consolidated District Baptist Convention. In addition, Dr. Travis has served as dean of students for Scott County Schools and is a former Georgetown city council member. Along with a bachelor’s degree, Dr. Travis also received a master’s degree from Georgetown College in 1987. Dr. Travis and his wife, Billie Travis ‘87, reside in Georgetown and have two sons, John Christopher ‘06 and Logan Scott.
MR. J. GUTHRIE TRUE ‘81 Guthrie True is founding partner of the firm True Guarnieri Ayer, LLP in Frankfort, and his practice is focused on the areas of white-collar criminal defense and complex civil litigation. Mr. True has been recognized as one of the “top-50 lawyers” in the state by Kentucky Super Lawyers and is past president of the Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He and his wife, Jennifer True ’81, have two daughters and one grandson. Mr. True previously served on Georgetown College’s Board of Trustees from 2002-2019.
Meocha Williams is currently principal of Scott County High School and was recently named the assistant superintendent for student learning/chief academic officer for Scott County Schools. As the first African-American female principal and assistant superintendent in the district, she is constantly working toward her vision of “creating a culture of excellence” through her mantra of: “Be passionate. Be engaged. Be the best version of yourself. Be excellent.” Beginning her career in education as a Spanish teacher at her alma mater, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington, Mrs. Williams also has served as a college and career coach, assistant principal, and Freshman Academy principal at Doss High School in Louisville. In addition, she also is involved with the Georgetown College community, providing tutoring to high school students through the College’s Bishop Scholars program. She and her husband, Joshua Williams ’06, live in Lexington.
GC MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021
MRS. MEOCHA WILLIAMS, M.ED. ‘10
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JAMES (JIMMY) H. BECKETT ‘94 is excited that
CLASS NOTES
T
he Class Notes section is returning to the magazine!
Georgetown College is often called a family, and part of being a family is celebrating each other. That’s why we’re bringing Class Notes back to your alumni magazine! Throughout the year, share your work promotions, family news, travel adventures, published books and papers, continuing education, career moves, volunteer work, awards, and more for inclusion in the magazine.
GC MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021 35
his son Daniel will be attending Georgetown College this fall as a freshman.
BRANDY M. (RITTER) OSBORNE ’99 has been
promoted to assistant vice president, commercial lending at Central Bank. Osborne joined Central Bank in April 2000. She began her career as a teller, advancing to personal banker and commercial lending assistant. In fall of 2005, she transferred to the Nicholasville market as an executive lending assistant, then commercial lending officer in 2012 prior to her current position. She is a 2019 graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado. She and her husband now reside in Nicholasville, Ky.
1990s
LYNN HUDGINS ‘81 of Lexington has been named the treasury management officer of Forcht Bank. She is a past member of the Rotary Club of Lexington, served as vice president of membership and events for the Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce (now Commerce Lexington) from 1989 to 1998, and most recently served 22 years as president of Junior Achievement of the Bluegrass. MARSHA KAY NEACE ’89
received the Alice Lloyd College Teaching Excellence & Campus Leadership Award at the 2021 graduation ceremony in April.
HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS? Share it with us at gogc.me/classnotes
BETHANY JOHNSON ‘10 began a new position in March as global director, digital | OPI at Wella Company, one of the world’s leading beauty companies. Prior to that she worked at L’Oreal for almost seven years.
KENNETH SPEARS ‘15 began a position in January as a staff attorney at Bell Flight, an aviation and aerospace firm in Fort Worth, Texas.
REBECCA REDDING ‘10 was promoted
graduated in May as a doctor of optometry from Indiana University School of Optometry. Childers says: “I could never have done it without the Georgetown College biology department preparing my way!”
in January to vice president of marketing at Goodwood Brewing Company in Louisville.
ALONZO JONES ‘12 and wife Ste’Vesha welcomed a new daughter Arynn in 2021. This year, Jones also relaunched his sports talk YouTube show, ‘Zo Knows Sports. DEANDRE PITTS ‘13 and wife Breey welcomed a new daughter, Dari, in 2020.
HAYLEY HAMMAN CHILDERS ‘16
SHELBY (BEAM) PACE ‘18 became the assistant women’s basketball coach at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn., in June 2020.
LAURA PEAVLEY M.ED. ‘14 was named 2021 Kentucky Middle School Teacher of the Year. She is a math teacher at Westport Middle School in Louisville, Ky.
2010s 2000s
Jackson Lewis P.C., a national labor and employment law firm. Taft is a member of the firm’s Indianapolis office. Her practice focuses on representing management in employment litigation and providing advice and counsel on employment issues.
KIRSTIN WILEY M.ED. ’04 of Lexington began working as an account executive at Cengage, an education and technology company, in November 2020. Wiley’s career has focused on educational media and technology.
in May called “The Good Around Us.” The podcast shares unique stories of people doing good things for their communities and is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, and more.
ZACK WOLFE ‘06 and his wife Kara of Manchester, Md., announce the birth of Lenora Mae Wolfe, who was born on Dec. 22, 2020.
MELISSA KAY (FULLER) TAFT ’07 has been elevated to principal at
STEPHANIE (MARTIN) KEALLY ‘09 is host of a new podcast that launched
GC MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021
DANIEL ELIAS FROGGETT ’02 has accepted a position with the United States Department of State at the Foreign Service Institute as a senior communications advisor (management and program analyst) in the Office of the Executive Director at the George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center. Froggett has consulted with the Department for five years and is transitioning to a full government employee.
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The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
IN MEMORIAM
1931
1954
1958
1969
1941
Mr. Donald Anthony Seaman Sr. 3/23/21 | Newburgh, IN
1959
Mrs. Estelle Ann Park Bayer 5/27/20 | Richmond, KY
Mrs. Mildred Lenora Abell Ruff 11/30/20 | Winter Park, FL
Ms. Dorothy Brock 12/6/20 | Dry Ridge, KY
1947
Dr. James E. Casey Jr. 4/12/21 | Masonic Home, KY
Rev. Richard Maurice Shields 2/13/21 | Coxs Creek, KY
Mr. Roscoe I. Kerr Jr. 1/17/21 | Louisville, KY
Rev. Ernest Adriel Carpenter 11/19/20 | Louisville, KY
Mrs. Flora Frances Clark Greene 12/18/20| Troy, VA
Mrs. Bettie Sue Cook Wells 8/1/20 | Shelbyville, KY
1948
Mrs. Syble Long Baker 12/25/20 | Lexington, KY Dr. Sarah Katherine Dean 11/13/20 | Saint Petersburg, FL
1955
Mrs. Jean B. Bell Janes 3/28/21 | St. Augustine, FL
1956
Dr. Charles Allen Chance 1/24/21 | Knoxville, TN
Rev. John M. Harris 12/3/20 | Saint Johns, FL Dr. Richard Allen Davidson 11/18/20 | Bristol, VA
1960
Mrs. Barbara Bohannon Hoffman 12/16/20 | Georgetown, KY Mr. Tommy Glenn Henry 12/3/20 | Lebanon, TN
1961
Rev. James Houston Royalty 2/24/21 | Radcliff, KY
Mrs. Mary Ann Garnett Dowling 4/9/21 | Georgetown, KY
Dr. Robert McCue Davis Sr. 3/13/21 | Georgetown, KY
Mrs. Patricia A. Belwood Brown 12/18/20 | Pleasureville, KY
Mr. Mervil Lafoy Patterson 10/29/20 | Fort Wayne, IN
Mrs. Gloe Lovelace Bertram 12/11/20 | Lexington, KY
Mr. Za Thomas Lester 12/3/20 | Frankfort, KY
1962
1950
1952
Mrs. Jacqueline C. Combs Owens 3/5/21 | Danville, KY
GC MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021
Mr. John Stuart Osgood 2/5/21 | Cicero, NY
37
Mrs. Lucille H. Hempel Parker 3/26/21 | Cromwell, CT
Mrs. Elizabeth Jean Spears Skaggs 1/24/21 | Louisville, KY Mrs. Bettie Jean Lancaster Armstrong 12/20/20 | Louisville, KY Mrs. Imogene Polley Renshaw 8/25/20 | Hodgenville, KY
1953
Mr. Charles Edward Bratcher 10/24/20 | Frankfort, KY Mr. Herbert Emery Hobbs 9/22/20 | Louisville, KY
1957
Mrs. Judith Ann Staton Wolf 3/4/21 | Madison, IN
Mrs. Brenda Ann Howe Pratt 2/25/21 | Viper, KY Mrs. Jewell C. Campbell Hulett 2/20/21 | Evansville, IL
1963
Mrs. Mary Evans Figg 12/18/20 | Shelbyville, KY
Mr. Robert Henry Burdette 2/10/21 | Cave City, KY
1970
Mr. Douglas Louis Beck 1/22/21 | Louisville, KY
1973
Ms. Kathy Lynette Marker 3/2/21 | Union City, OH
1977
Mrs. Suzann McRae Batterton McCoy 2/5/21 | Hodgenville, KY
1978
Mrs. Rondi Kennedy Douglas 11/22/20 | Navarre, FL
1980
Mr. James Steve Morrison 8/15/20 |Alvaton, KY
1984
Mr. Edward Earl Figgins 11/22/20 | Ashland, KY
1989
Mr. Robert G. Miller 1/12/21 | Paintsville, KY
Mrs. Billie McKenzie Chance 2/18/21 | Knoxville, TN
Ms. Patricia Lucille Johnston Guth 12/3/20 | Dallas, TX
Mr. Joseph S. Mason 2/3/21 | Sautee Nacoochee, GA
Mr. Paul David Smith 11/23/20 | Winchester, KY
Dr. Charles D. Howard 12/8/20 | Pacolet, SC
1964
2007
1965
2019
Mrs. Charlene Stith BlairCombs 11/8/20 | Villa Hills, KY
Dr. Charles Shannon Stokes 2/13/21 | State College, PA
Mr. Arthur Carroll Brown 10/20/20 | Louisville, KY
2000
Mr. Nicholas Browning Pile 10/18/20 | Nicholasville, KY
Mr. Lucas Michael Gravitt 11/22/20 | Georgetown, KY
Mr. Jahyde Gardiner 3/21/21 | Philadelphia, PA
FRIENDS & FORMERS Mrs. Dorothy Jean Burton 3/26/21 | Camden, AR Dr. Christine R. Leverenz 2/25/21 | Georgetown, KY Mr. Ralph E. Jackson 1/29/21 | Georgetown, KY Mrs. Carnetta Marquette 1/1/21 | Lexington, KY Mr. Larry Wright 12/29/20 | Georgetown, KY Mrs. Anne Agee Fidler 12/10/20 | Goldsboro, NC Mr. Abraham Padilla 11/20/20 | Frankfort, KY Mrs. Dorothy R. Butler 11/9/20 | Georgetown, KY
A LEGEND REMEMBERED
Coach Bob Davis Leaves An Exceptional Legacy
F
ormer GC football, baseball, and basketball coach Bob Davis ’50 passed away on Saturday, March 13. Coach Davis left an indelible imprint on the College, which he so loved. DavisReid Alumni Gym bears his name, a recognition of the profound impact he had on Georgetown College Athletics.
An inaugural member of the Georgetown College Hall of Fame, Coach Davis was also a member of the NAIA Hall of Fame. During his outstanding career, he was named vice chair of the U.S. Olympic Basketball Committee and NAIA Coach of the Year and was honored with a Georgetown College
Georgetown College offers its deepest condolences to Bob’s beloved wife Joyce (Huddleston) Davis ‘65 and to all the Davis family. We know that Coach Davis’ impact on this Earth and on the College will continue to live on, and the memories he left us with will never subside. GC MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021
“Coach Davis is a giant in the sports world, and not only at Georgetown College. It was amazing to sit and listen to some of the stories he would share about his love for basketball, and especially Georgetown basketball,” says Brian Evans, vice president of athletics. “We will miss him, but he will always be in our hearts. Thanks to Coach Davis for setting the standard for Georgetown athletics.”
Alumni Achievement Award. His 415 career basketball victories stood as a school record for 20 years.
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400 East College St. Georgetown, KY 40324
JUNE FOR GC: ONE MONTH, ONE MOMENT When you take one moment to give to Georgetown College’s annual fund by June 30, you BECOME A HERO to our students. Then they graduate and become heroes to more students. And that’s how our championship-level education of the heart and mind will continue for generations to come. WILL YOU HELP US REACH OUR GOAL BY JUNE 30?
$1.75 MILLION FOR THE ANNUAL FUND
ONLINE
Make a gift via credit card on our secure website gogc.me/give
PHONE
Make a gift by calling the Advancement office at (502) 863-8041
VENMO
Make a gift via Venmo to GCTigers or by searching for Georgetown College
Send your check to: Georgetown College 400 East College St. Georgetown, KY 40324