Herald
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Winter 2015
A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E | V O L U M E 12 | N U M B E R 1
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president’s alumni community address
Mind, Body, and Spirit King University, as we all know, is a very wonderful and quite special institution of higher education. Lila and I have grown to be deeply attached to it and firmly committed to its mission as the years have passed. That is why we never hesitated when we were invited to return to the campus and to lend a hand for a while. We happily accepted immediately. We soon found, however, that we had not anticipated how much joy this new involvement with the students, faculty, and staff would bring. This opportunity to share in these special challenges and these meaningful achievements has brought us a great sense of gratitude and an enduring confidence in King. Our goal here at King is to provide opportunities for personal growth in mind, body, and spirit. It has certainly been our privilege to see this happen with many of our students. Our commitment to the central tradition of the Christian faith remains our steadfast foundation. In addition, our enthusiasm for the rigorous academic setting in which young people can grow in ability and in self-reliance continues to be an important part of our heritage. As Lila and I have had, in many respects, a front row seat in watching King’s programs develop, I wanted you to have the opportunity to read this magazine. I hope you will find its pages indicative of some of the notable achievements that we have been able to see here. We could say that we have been INvested, to coin a word, in King University for many years, and that INvestment has certainly grown. We thus invite you to be INvested as well. You continue to be part of our community here, to assist in helping young people to build their own lives of direction, service, and faith. Some things endure for a long time, and I believe that this statement by our founding Presbyterian leaders still guides us. They wrote that it was their intention “to build a school of such high order as will greatly elevate the standard of classical and scientific instruction and will combine that strict discipline and thorough religious training that will fully develop the moral as well as the intellectual man.” It has also grown in numbers. Even so, our basic commitment has continued to be guided by this important vision. It was inspired by the conviction that a complete education includes the moral, as well as the intellectual components – the mind, body, and spirit! We thus continue to provide education for the whole person and for the direction of each person’s own distinctive spiritual calling. Thank you for your own generous INvestment in the achievement of this important mission. Warm regards,
Richard A. Ray, Ph.D. Interim President
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Table of Contents Winter 2015 | Volume 12 | Number 1 The King’s Herald is published by the King University Offices of Development & Marketing 1350 King College Rd., Bristol, TN 37620 800.621.5464 | www.king.edu
ON THE COVER The first bricks were laid on the Oval in 1962. Restoration of the Oval began in August 2015.
FEATURES
Letters & comments can be sent to: Michael Webb, mcwebb@king.edu
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DR. RICHARD A. RAY Interim President JOHN W. KING — jwking@king.edu Vice President of Development
2 We are INvested
DENISE ASBURY — dasbury@king.edu Director of Development
4 Schools of Thought
MICHAEL WEBB — mcwebb@king.edu Director of Alumni Relations
Giving back – investing in – a school of higher learning, a place of family and community, a place of tradition and vision.
19th Century European and American artists are the primary focus of a showcase from the Neal and Alice Caldwell Collection at King University.
5 Where Faith and Culture Collide The King’s Herald Staff
editor
LAURA BOGGAN, Associate Director of Communications contributing editors
DENISE ASBURY SARAH CLEVINGER, Director of Marketing and Communications
8 Cross Cultural Connection
design
COURTNEY PLAISTED, Graphic Designer photographers
LAURA BOGGAN EARL CARTER DIGITAL IMAGING AND DESIGN ANDY OLSON, Director of Online Media and Marketing contributing writers
LAURA BOGGAN TRAVIS CHELL, Sports Information Director
our mission
10 Athletic News
14 Faculty & Staff Notes 16 Class Notes
our vision
To grow continually as a Christian comprehensive university, with pre-professional and professional schools, that builds lives for achievement & cultural transformation in Christ.
King students, faculty, and staff have travelled both nationally and internationally on mission trips and study abroad expeditions.
D EPARTMENTS
13 Campus News To build meaningful lives of achievement & cultural transformation in Christ.
The expansion of the ideals and principals of the Buechner Institute led to a new name, which encompasses the broad scope set forth by its founder.
17 In Memoriam
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feature alumnistory community
va O e h t n o s n o i t a Ren ov
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We are INvested!
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If you were to look for the word “invested” in a dictionary, you would likely find definitions such as “to endure with quality” or “to put money or effort into something to achieve a result.” To invest in something is to recognize and to imbue a sense of quality about it. That word “INvest” has come to be useful for us in thinking about our lives here at King. When Dr. Richard Ray was called to serve as the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Bristol some years ago, it was not long before he and his wife, Lila, also became strong members of, or INvested in the King community. Dr. Ray was asked to become a member of the Board of Trustees, and because of earlier experiences in academic publishing and teaching, he served as an adjunct professor when needed. Lila added to her many engagements in the community by becoming a member of the E. W. King Library staff. Then, following some time away, the Rays returned to Bristol when Dr. Ray was invited to serve as the interim president at King University. Dr. Ray has noted that “becoming more fully involved or INvested in King has
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brought us into a deeper appreciation for the members of the King Community. In one way or another, all of us here help our students to grow in both learning and faith. We are guided by our motto of long standing, Ecclesia et Letteris, for the Church and for Learning.” He and Mrs. Ray have frequently said how deeply they are impressed by the students, their thirst for learning, their eagerness to explore new opportunities for study, and their sense of commitment to the ideal of service to others. In order to highlight this commitment to personal involvement, we have used the term “INvestment” in a special way. By capitalizing the prefix “IN”, we have emphasized its deep importance. We are truly “INvested.” From the time when faculty and staff come to join us, to the moments when students make that life changing commitment to enroll at King, we sense a newly defined sense of purpose. “It is always interesting,” Dr. Ray observed, “to see how hard our students work, and to note that work takes many forms. Some are deeply involved in advanced research
Members of the King University community can own a piece of King’s history! The old bricks removed from the Oval on the main campus in Bristol are available with a set donation to the Annual Fund for Scholarships & Programs.
Visit alumni.king.edu/Legacy_Brick to order today!
on!
alumni feature community story
opportunities. Some hold part-time jobs in order to be at King. Some combine all of these involvements with our opportunities to travel and to learn from other cultures. What is almost universally true among them, however, is without supportive scholarship grants and loans, they would not be able to attend King. Through all of these activities, our students are beginning to discover their own place in God’s calling.” One of our students, Andee Barbe, class of 2015, has said in appreciation, “I know there are many people who contributed to and invested in my education when I first attended. Gifts to the Annual Fund for Scholarships & Programs provided the financial assistance for my education. I want to begin doing the same for current and future students.” Alumni have many opportunities to INvest both time and financial support
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for their alma mater. These occasions may come through volunteer efforts, mentoring, or financial commitments. The financial INvestments are very important because they go to provide scholarships, academic programming, technology, new facilities, library resources, and many other needed features that help King to serve our students. Denise Asbury, King’s director of Development, has recently announced that King University has developed plans for a special giving society. It has been created in order to provide ways for our business and industry friends to come together. She said, “In thinking of ways to acknowledge those who are supporting us now and those who may decide to help us in the future, we have created the Isaac Anderson Society. It is named for a person who contributed in very important ways years ago. The Rev. Isaac Anderson was both a minister and a local businessman in Bristol. He was the grandson of the Rev. James King for whom King College
was named. In a very generous and special way, Anderson set a high level of giving for us. He donated the land on which the University sits today.” This land has become the main campus and the center of all of its educational provisions. King is placed on 135 acres, nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. While located in Bristol, Tennessee, it is just minutes from Bristol, Virginia, serving both states and the larger surrounding area very effectively. Dr. Ray has said, “Our lives flow very much together here. We embrace King University, and we embrace the two Bristols which comprise the center of our one great community. We want everyone to feel completely at home here.” As Dr. Ray has noted, “In anticipation of our 150th anniversary as an institution of higher education, we are grateful for many things. We have much for which we are thankful and much to celebrate. As we are INvested, we ask that you INvest in King, and join us as we give thanks for so much.”
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Schools of Thought Neal Caldwell’s interest in art began when he found what he called “a shabby original painting in a damaged frame at a low price.” His wife, Alice, liked the painting so they bought it. After restoring the frame, Neal said, “The result was outstanding.” It was then the Caldwell’s love for art was born. Throughout the years, Neal, a King University trustee, and Alice (1951 King alumna), have amassed a substantial collection of artwork by some of the most well-known artists in history. In 2003, they presented King with a group of works from their personal art collection. Since that time, the University has continued to receive gifts from the Caldwell family. The King University Art Collection now features more than 360 original pieces of art and 65 artifacts spanning centuries, genres, and media. These
Thomas Hanford Wentworth
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Paintings & Drawings from the King University Art Collection original works include such masters as Rembrandt, Corot, Turner, Picasso, Dalí, Toulouse-Lautrec, Whistler, Marsh, Chagall, and Matisse, among others. The collection represents early works such as an early illuminated choral manuscript penned on vellum to some of the most iconic and recognizable images of modern art. The entire collection may be viewed online at http://museum.king.edu. On Sept. 4, 2015, The William King Museum of Art in Abingdon, Va., opened the exhibit, “Schools of Thought: Paintings & Drawings from the King University Art Collection, which will run through Jan. 17, 2016. An opening reception for the exhibit
was held at the Museum on Sept. 3. The museum exhibit is comprised of more than 50 selections of artwork from the Neal and Alice Caldwell Collection at King University. Selections showcased include artwork primarily from 19th-century European and American artists. “We are very excited to share a portion of the Caldwell Collection with the public and especially pleased to be able to exhibit the pieces at the William King Museum of Art,” said Denise Asbury, director of development at King University. “We have long admired and supported the work of the Museum and although the two King names represent different families, our institutions share similar visions for our regions and beyond, including promoting cultural heritage, serving as a destination for the exchange of ideas, and encouraging childhood and adult enrichment through the arts. We hope everyone will come out to the William King Museum of Art and enjoy this beautiful exhibit, which is free to the public.”
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Where Faith and Culture Collide It was our dear friend, the late Dr. Dale Brown, who said, “Peter majored in fishing, Matthew in accounting, Paul in religion and law enforcement. How could they have guessed where the path would lead after their call from one extraordinary man? And so with us. We need these contemplative encounters with people and ideas to catch the flickering light among the gray days, to hear the voice that may lead us toward transformation, to smell the fragrance of a life well lived, to have our own encounters with big ideas and some small ones too.” The Buechner Institute brings the King community a reminder that faith and culture need not remain separate entities. The two can and should be united together to frame a well-rounded experience. This summer, the Institute was renamed and is now the King University
Institute for Faith and Culture. Dr. Matt Roberts, vice president for Academic Affairs, said of the change, “The expansion of the Institute reflects the breadth and cross-disciplinarian landscape set forth by the Institute’s founder, the late Dr. Brown.” The 2015-16 lecture series is comprised of 15 speakers and performers who invite us “Into the Spaces of Wonder.” “A child’s sense of wonder can help us reframe our own view of the world. Occasionally, we as adults move past the mundane of everyday living and, for a moment, adopt a child-like view of the world, with a renewed sense of amazement and wonder,” said Shannon Harris, interim director for the Institute. The King University Institute for Faith and Culture will continue to cultivate a conversation that is both artful and substantial.
For more information, visit faithandculture.king.edu.
2015-2016 Lecture Series Matthew Whitaker | January 18
(co-sponsored by Bristol Herald Courier) Luke Powery | March 1
9:15 a.m., King University Memorial Chapel 7:00 p.m., Bristol Public Library, Bristol, Va.
7:00 p.m., Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 700 Cumberland Street, Bristol, Va.
Mako Fujimura | February 1
Daniel Taylor | March 14
9:15 a.m., King University Memorial Chapel 7:00 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, Bristol, Tenn.
Amy-Jill Levine | February 18 7:00 p.m., Bristol Public Library, Bristol, Va.
9:15 a.m., King University Memorial Chapel 7:00 p.m., International Storytelling Center, 100 West Main Street, Jonesborough, Tenn.
Grant Wacker | April 4
9:15 a.m., King University Memorial Chapel
9:15 a.m., King University Memorial Chapel 7:00 p.m., Bristol Public Library, Bristol, Va.
Martin Weiss | February 29
James K.A. Smith | April 11
February 19
9:15 a.m., King University Memorial Chapel 7:00 p.m., King’s Hardin Valley Campus, 10950 Spring Bluff Way, Knoxville, Tenn.
9:15 a.m., King University Memorial Chapel 7:00 p.m., Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 700 Cumberland Street, Bristol, Va.
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alumni spotlight
Amy Winebarger (’95) Senior Astrophysicist at NASA
Countdown to Blastoff Chances are, when you were young, you dreamed about outer space. Young and old alike look at the heavens with wonder and amazement. Amy Winebarger took the dream a step further. She is a senior astrophysicist in the Heliophysics and Planetary Science Office at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. “I’ve known since high school that I wanted to be a physicist. I had a great high school Physics teacher, Mrs. Wagner, to whom I dedicated my Ph.D. thesis,” said Winebarger. “While at King College one summer, I went with Dr. Burke to Arizona to an observatory to do nighttime observations. Two summers later, I got into a program at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO).” During her summer at the SAO, “I was assigned to Dr. Ed DeLuca, who is a solar physicist. That summer
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WherE changed my life and led me to the decision to focus on solar physics. Dr. DeLuca became a very important person in my life. Dr. Ray Bloomer from King College also helped me immensely.” The Kingsport, Tenn., native graduated from King College, now King University, in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in Physics. She went on to receive her master’s degree and a doctorate in Physics from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She also completed post-doctoral work in Solar Physics at both the SAO and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. At NASA, Winebarger serves as the principal investigator for several projects as well as support for numerous other projects. “I help design, build, and launch scientific instruments on sounding rockets. NASA is really the best place to work. It is this amazing place where people solve problems. We are like MacGyvers in many ways; it’s like physics in real time, and I love it!” In her work as a senior astrophysicist, Winebarger is looking to the stars. There are several satellites that are built and are already flying around the Earth right now, taking observations. Examples include NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-ray Observatory. “The way NASA utilizes the sounding rocket platform is to test the new instruments. We want to make the next generation of instruments before they are flown on a satellite. The sounding rockets are used to test the next-gen instrumentation. This allows
are
us to ensure the instrumentation will work before sending the satellites into space.” Winebarger says for her everything has come full circle from the summer she spent with Dr. DeLuca in the summer research program. “Now, in addition to my work at NASA, I help run a summer program, the Heliophysics Research Experience for Undergraduates program at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Now I get to be the Ed DeLuca – the one that introduces students to this kind of science. I started as a student; now, I am the mentor.” Winebarger encourages any student interested in Physics, to apply to her summer program. The advice she gives to those who are determining what career path they will follow is to “go to all the summer programs you can. It will help you determine what you like and don’t like. Pursue a career you love.”
Heliophysics and Planetary Science Office at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama
they
NOW?
Rise to the Top of the Food Chain Many people have finesse when it comes to working in the business field. Some enjoy owning their own small business; others seek to share their talent for business with larger companies. For King University alumnus Mike Ridenour, he not only works for a large business; he is the head of industry relations for The Kraft Heinz Company, the fifthlargest food and beverage company in the world and the third-largest in North America. Growing up, Ridenour was drawn to the idea of a career in business. “My father was an amazing influence leading me into the business field. He worked for a private sporting goods company based in Knoxville, Tenn. He created a lot of relationships across his territory with many people that continue to last today. Watching my dad build these relationships with people and understanding that it is hard work and dedication to be the best person in business was truly inspirational. I have worked hard to develop similar talents in my own career and attribute my success to his inspiration and my personal desire is to be viewed in a similar way as people viewed him.” The decision to attend King was an easy one for Ridenour, having grown up right beside King’s campus. Both of his parents graduated from King; his father - David, who is a member of the King Athletic Hall of Fame, graduated in 1965, his mother, Elizabeth, was a
Mike Ridenour (’85) Head of Industry Relations at The Kraft Heinz Company
member of the class of 1963, and his sister, Elizabeth (Ridenour) Testerman, graduated from King in 1986. “The positive impact of King College on my parents and the connectivity of the College growing up were an inspiration for me to attend [King].” Ridenour graduated in 1985, majoring in Business Administration and Economics. It is rare today to find someone who has been with one company more than a few years. Ridenour stands apart; he celebrated his 30th anniversary with Kraft in Aug. 2015. “I started with Kraft right out of college working as a sales rep. My first job at Kraft was a sales job where I called on grocery stores. My role has probably changed 15 times with the majority of the responsibility being either direct sales or leadership with customers.” Prior to his current role, Ridenour served Kraft as customer vice president of industry relations.
alumni spotlight
H.J. Heinz Company and Kraft Foods Group, Inc. announced their merger on March 25, 2015. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal by Annie Gasparro, “The combined company . . . has a market value of more than $96 billion, combined 2014 sales of [$28 billion], and more than 46,000 employees.” “My role has been very instrumental as we brought the two companies together. I was recently named the head of industry relations for sales, reporting directly to the president of sales. With the new role, two of the most significant responsibilities include maintaining and developing stronger business relationships with all of our customers, as well as the food industry associations. To work for this new global company is an amazing blessing for me.” For students today looking to soon enter the business world, Ridenour gives this advice. “The biggest opportunity for college students today is to pursue internships in the business field and take advantage of leading clubs or groups that have a heavy emphasis on the community. If you are a person that is thinking about changing your career, clearly, networking in the field you are pursuing is critical. You have to like what you do, and you have to be willing to learn every day and be humble in your role.”
For their complete stories, visit
news.king.edu
WINTER 2015 | 7
feature story
Cross-Cultural Connections Lautenschläger Azekah Expedition in Tel Azekah, Israel
Most will tell you one thing King does exceptionally well is to encourage the idea of global citizenship through crosscultural connections and experiences. Whether a student, faculty, or staff member, King recognizes the importance of embracing the belief we are members of a larger community – a global community in which our choices have an impact not only on ourselves but rather globally. Each year, multiple trips take place with faculty and staff guiding students through cross-cultural experiences either at home in the U.S. or internationally. During 2015, treks were made to Camden, N.J., Brooklyn, 8 | KING’S HERALD ALUMNI MAGAZINE
N.Y., Leogane, Haiti, Istanbul, Turkey, and Tel Azekah, Israel. The Camden, N.J., trip, led by Dan Kreiss, assistant professor of Bible and Youth Ministry, and Emily Loudon, director of Student Life, was comprised of 11 King students who spent their Spring Break working for UrbanPromise. Students helped with a variety of projects as well as with the program’s annual UrbanPromise Junior High Olympics. A second Spring Break trip was led by Michele Fagan, executive assistant for King’s Peeke School of Christian Mission, and Alexander Brumlik, professor of Business and
Economics, to Brooklyn, N.Y., where 12 students provided assistance to CAMBA. King alumna Melissa Mowery (’90) serves as the program director for CAMBA’s Homeless Prevention Initiative. Students worked at a local shelter, CAMBA warehouse, and in the organization’s offices. A team of three nursing faculty and seven MSN students from King University participated in a service learning opportunity in Leogane, Haiti. King has an established relationship with the Faculté des Sciences Infirmières de l’Université Épiscopale d’Haïti à Léogâne, which is the only four-year BSN program in the country.
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The group held workshops and provided instruction on a variety of nursing topics. The team also visited a malnutrition treatment center, family planning clinic, and a local rural mountain village. Dr. Don Hudson, associate professor of Religious Studies, chair of King’s Philosophy and Religion (P&R) Department, and director of the King Tel Azekah Consortium travelled to Istanbul, Turkey. He also spent time at the archaeological dig of Göbekli Tepe, the oldest known monument to religion that has been excavated. Much of Hudson’s trip was spent conducting research for P&R courses, including World Religions, and Politics and Religion in a Global Context. Hudson, along with Dr. Craig
Streetman, assistant professor of Philosophy, led a group of five students and two King staff members to Israel to participate in the Lautenschläger Azekah Expedition. The biblical archaeological expedition of the Tel Azekah site is only open to an exclusive consortium of 16 international universities and colleges, only four of which are located in the United States and of which one is King University. Geographically, Azekah is located on the border between ancient Philistia and Judah and looks over the Valley of Elah where David fought the Philistine Goliath. King senior Nicole Neilson said of her experience in Israel, “I initially came to Israel because I was interested in the history and geopolitics of the culture.
1. Leogane, Haiti 2. Istanbul, Turkey 3. Camden, New Jersey 4. Mount of Olives, East Jerusalem, Israel
This trip brought me closer to God; seeing and experiencing biblical history first hand was truly incredible. The archaeological dig was amazing as well; we found a coin from 500 BC, which was unlike anything I have ever seen. It is remarkable the history that Israel holds.” In addition to hands-on participation in the dig at Tel-Azekah, participants visited Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives, Western Wall, Damascus Gate, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Nazareth, Capernaum, West Bank, Bethlehem, and Jericho among numerous other destinations. WINTER 2015 | 9
athletic news
Tornado Soar to New Heights Over the past few years, a few Tornado programs have grown to new heights. The women’s cross country team has won three straight conference titles, the cycling team is competing in more disciplines, the women’s basketball team continues to improve under Josh Thompson, and the acrobatics and tumbling team improved from year one to year two. A new coach, but the same goal. The women’s cross country team won
three straight Conference Carolinas championships, including 2014 when a team of nine freshmen ran the Tornado to the trifecta. In 2015, the expectations remain the same under first-year Head Coach, Amanda Williamson (’12). This year the Tornado are young again, fielding a team comprised of three sophomores and three freshmen and gunning for their fourth straight title. Under first-year Head Coach Alan
Get Your Gear! For more info, visit
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10 | KING’S HERALD ALUMNI MAGAZINE
Sparks, the cycling program grew to new heights in 2014-15. The Tornado competed in mountain bike as a team in the fall for the first time in history and turned in a fourth-place finish at the USA Cycling Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships. Sparks kept that momentum rolling into the winter cyclo-cross season where King had another impressive finish at the USA Cycling Collegiate CycloCross National Championships. The Tornado had a relay team take second, leading King to a program-best third place overall finish at the event. The spring season did not disappoint either as King recorded their first individual national championship at the USA Cycling College Road National Championships as Jennifer Caicedo Mejia (’17) won the road race to take home the title. Josh Thompson has engineered a remarkable turnaround for King’s women’s basketball program since taking over as head coach in 2011.
athletic news
In 2012-13, King was one of the most improved teams in all of NCAA Division II women’s basketball, winning 14 games and finishing over .500 at 14-13, marking an improvement of 8.5 games over his first season total of five wins. The Tornado nearly upset the top seed in the Conference Carolinas Tournament, Limestone College, on the road as the season came to an end. The improvement has continued over the next two years as the Tornado went 17-11 in 2013-14, finishing fourth in Conference Carolinas and winning their first Conference Carolinas Tournament game. A year ago the fourth-year head coach led King to their first 20-win season since 200708, going 20-9 and finishing second in Conference Carolinas. As one of 12 teams in the country to sponsor acrobatics and tumbling,
King rolls into their third season with high expectations. Last season, the Tornado hosted Baylor University and qualified for the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association National Championships for the second straight year, where they fell to eventual national champion Baylor in the quarterfinals. The Tornado finished the year with a 3-6 record and set numerous programs highs.
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New Head Coaches for Swimming and Tennis
Two new faces have joined the Tornado coaching staff in the past year - Head Tennis Coach Mariia Ilina and Head Swim Coach Jordan Schrotenboer. Schrotenboer comes to King after spending three years as an assistant coach at Calvin College, where he gained experience recruiting and coaching student-athletes in
a Christian atmosphere. During his collegiate career, Schrotenboer was a 15-time NCAA Division II All-American at Grand Valley State University, including a national runner-up finish in the 800 freestyle relay. He likes the Division II model, which balances academics and athletics along with the Christian atmosphere King provides. As a standout student-athlete at ETSU, Ilina rewrote the record books, becoming the first women’s tennis player in school history to eclipse the 100-win plateau and setting the single-season record for wins. She was named an Atlantic Sun Woman of the Year and earned the Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award for all NCAA Division I schools in the Southeast. Since her playing days, Ilina has become one of the most recognizable names in tennis in the Tri-Cities as a private tennis coach and has worked at tennis camps at both Michigan State and Furman. She enjoys coaching the team aspect at King and likes the challenge of teaching the student-athletes.
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performing & visual arts
“We hope our productions will intrigue and engage the audience, and compel them to join us for the remainder of our productions this season.” Christopher R. Slaughter,
Shakespeare the KING
associate professor and chair
the arts at king There is a creative spirit in the air. Faculty, staff, and students in the Performing and Visual Arts at King are rehearsing lines, practicing musical compositions, and snapping pictures all over the main campus in Bristol. In the theatrical world, “to be or not to be” is what comes to mind almost immediately if someone says the word, Shakespeare. King’s Theatre Department is honoring William Shakespeare and his many masterful works this year. “We are excited to continue paying homage this season to the great William Shakespeare,” said Christopher R. Slaughter, associate professor and chair of the Theatre Department. “We are honoring the greatest playwright in history throughout the 2015-16 season in remembrance of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. We hope our productions will intrigue and engage the audience, and compel them to join us for the remainder of our productions this season.” The first play of the 2015-16 season was a play by Assistant Professor of Theatre Kiara Pipino, a native of Genoa, Italy, and a former student of hers, Jason Flannery. The comedy “Shakespeare the KING” merges several of the greatest works of Shakespeare, 12 | KING’S HERALD ALUMNI MAGAZINE Samantha Taylor
including Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, Twelfth Night, Pericles, As You Like It, and The Tempest, with the modern world of video games, specifically Super Mario. The fall semester also brought to the main stage, “Goodnight Desdemona Good Morning Juliet,” a comedy where a scholar finds herself magically transported into the worlds of “Romeo and Juliet” and “Othello” where she interferes with the plots, and eventually manages to get back to the real world. King’s Applied Music students performed a lecture-recital about Music of Impressionism during their Fall Convocation in November. “Impressionism is often considered the first ‘modern music’ having its origins in France in the late 19th century and by association with the painting style of the same name,” said W. Patrick Flannagan, professor of Music and director of choral activities. The Music Department also kicked off its season in November with the Symphonic Band and 250 Jazz Ensemble performing on the stage at the Paramount Center for the Arts. Members of the Performing and Visual Arts encourage you to come discover what’s new at King.
of the Theatre Department
Schedule of Events DECEMBER Christmas Concert (all choral groups) Dec. 11 | 8:00 p.m. King University Fine Arts Theatre
FEBRUARY Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company (workshops and performance) Feb. 18, 19, & 20 | King University Fine Arts Theatre
MARCH/APRIL Music Department Convocation March 22 | 8:00 p.m. King Memorial Chapel Symphonic Band Spring Concert April 8 | 7:30 p.m. Paramount Center, Bristol, Tenn. Dogwood Play: “As You Like It” April 8-10 | 7:30 p.m. King University Fine Arts Theatre King College Symphonic Choir and Collegium Concert April 15 | 7:30 p.m. | King Memorial Chapel Men’s and Women’s Jazz Concert April 16 | 7:30 p.m. | King Memorial Chapel King Choirs with Symphony of the Mountains April 23 | 7:30 p.m. | Toy Reid Center, Kingsport, Tenn.
campus news
Lifelong Learning at King King University is now offering a select set of collegiate courses for adults ages 60 and over. The offerings are part of a new program, Lifelong Learning at King, in which the adult learners can audit the non-credit classes at King’s main campus in Bristol, Tenn., free of charge. “We are excited to offer this continuing education opportunity for our more seasoned adult learners in our community,” said Dr. Richard A. Ray, interim president at King University. “We have received inquiries about offering such a program as this. We truly do want to give our community members something they will enjoy, and that will deepen their own personal education. Offering thought provoking and engaging courses provides a new pathway to continue the adventure of lifelong learning.” By auditing the selected courses, individuals will be able to attend class, learning alongside the traditional students in the classroom, without worry of test-taking. Spring 2016 semester audit courses include: British Romanticism and the Nineteenth Century, Cold War: History and Politics, Cryptology: The Science of Secret Writing, Dramatic Literature and Criticism, Foundations of Christian Thought and Practice, History of Art II, Modern
and Contemporary American Literature, Modern Political Thought, Photographic Foundations, Principles of Biology, Politics and History of China, Special Topics: Music in Elizabethan England, Shakespeare’s England, Survey of Astronomy, The Modern Era of Music, and World Politics.
Books are available for purchase through http://books.king.edu. Registration for the courses through the Lifelong Learning at King program is currently open for the spring 2016 semester, which begins Monday, Jan. 11.
lifelonglearning.king.edu
Three Steps to Becoming a Master It’s only natural for people to look at their lives and think, “maybe I could be more, do more with my life and in my career.” Do you feel with just a little something extra, you could advance to the next level at your company? Or, do you have an unfulfilled dream of that career you always wanted, but for whatever reason, were not able to make it happen? Here are three steps you can take in order to become a master of your life, of your career. 1) Time for introspection. Look at where you are in your life and then determine where you would truly like to be. Are you a teacher? Do you love the classroom and challenge of filling
young minds with knowledge, but you want to be more to your students and coworkers? Do you work in business? Do you have an affinity for project management, or maybe you would love to be in a position where you can motivate and lead a team? 2) Talk to a King University Enrollment Counselor. Learn how to make your dreams come true through King’s new Master of Education for Teacher Leaders program or the Master of Business Administration program, which offers two new specializations - Project Management and Leadership. Visit gps.king.edu to find out more about on-ground or online classes. 3) Apply today. Become master of your life! WINTER 2015 | 13
alumni community
FACULTY & STAFF | n o t e s Dr. Kevin Deford, associate professor of Psychology, Annie Remillard, assistant professor and program coordinator for French, and Dr. Beatriz Macione, associate dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and chair of the Languages & Literatures Department, presented at the Appalachian College Association Summit in Kingsport, Tenn., in Oct. 2015. Their presentation entitled, “Collaborative Efforts Across Disciplines to Improve Undergraduate Research,” discussed the methodology to implement undergraduate research at King University. They provided examples from the Languages and Psychology Departments to demonstrate best practices and challenges. Dr. Raymond H. Bloomer, Jr., professor emeritus of Physics and Astronomy, served as marshal of the Bristol Veteran’s Parade on Nov. 7. He also gave a lecture on “The American Veteran: Enriching the American Way of Life” at King University on Nov. 9 and at Hampton High School in Hampton, Tenn. on Nov. 11.
Dr. Martin Dotterweich, associate professor of History, presented a paper in Oct. 2015, entitled, “Greatness and Humility: An Imaginative Turn from the Historical Mirror,” at the conference “Faith and Teaching: Virtue, Practice, Imagination” at the Kuyers Institute at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Lori Byington (’85), assistant professor of English, has an article, “Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion Festival: A September Tradition,” in the fall 2015 issue of Carolina Mountain Life Magazine. Issues of the magazine can be found on display in stores and restaurants in the High Country of Western North Carolina or at www.cmlmag.com.
David Hicks, director of Athletics, was named to the board of directors for the Division 11 Athletics Directors Association for 2015-16 and was recently named the NCAA Women’s Soccer Coaches Connection Representative.
ALUMNI GATHERINGS
Someone once said, “It’s not where you go, it’s who you meet along the way.” No matter how close or how far apart, the King community is family. There are gatherings together in familiar places and ones previously undiscovered. This fall, alumni have continued the tradition of reconnecting and reminiscing through hikes along the majestic Appalachian Trail, musical interludes, and exquisite conversations. 14 | KING’S HERALD ALUMNI MAGAZINE
Dr. Gene Johnson, assistant professor of Education, was re-elected to serve a second three-year term on the AdvancED/SACSCASI Tennessee Council as the higher education representative for the state. AdvancED/ SACSCASI is the accrediting agency for PreK-12 schools worldwide. Dr. Amy Knowles, associate professor in School of Nursing, and Dr. Cecily Strang, adjunct faculty in Nursing and missionary to
the Maasai in East Africa, partnered with the Presbyterian Church of East Africa in Kenya this past June. They are collaborating with the Presbyterian University of East Africa and three different hospitals in efforts to bring an RN-BSN program to the country.
alumni community
FACULTY & STAFF | n o t e s Dr. Ljiljana Krizanac-Bengez, associate professor and program coordinator of Health Informatics for King’s School of Behavioral & Health Sciences, co-authored a research article “Radiofrequency Intradiscal Biacuplasty for Treatment of Discogenic Lower Back Pain: A 12-Month Follow-Up” (16:3, 425-431, March 2015), which was published in Pain Medicine. This was a result of collaborative team work done during her tenure at the Cleveland Clinic and led by her previous research director, Dr. Leonardo Kapural, who is currently at Winston-Salem. The entire clinical trial study took five-plusyears and was funded by Baylis Medical. Dr. Krizanac-Bengez has also been asked by a colleague, Dr. Benedict C. Albensi, currently at the University of Manitoba, to serve as a consultant on his dementia research grant, comparing Alzheimer’s dementia to vascular dementia. Kala Perkins (’06), director of Institutional Effectiveness, and Dr. Rhonda Morgan, associate dean for Graduate Studies Nursing and associate professor for the School of Nursing, presented “Service Learning within the Community: How do we assess learning and outcomes?” to the Assessment Institute in Indianapolis, Ind., on Oct. 27, 2015. Kiara Pipino, assistant professor of Theatre’s paper, entitled, “When Terrorism Enters the Theatre: A Reflection on the Terroristic Attack to the Dubrovska Theatre in Moscow in 2002,” was accepted to The Sixth Asian Conference on Media & Mass Communication, in Kobe, Japan. Pipino’s book proposal, “Theatre and Pietas” was
accepted by publisher Trento University Press, a peer review Italian academic publisher. Also, Pipino was invited to teach a workshop on the Michael Chekhov technique and to direct a play at Ateneo de Manila University, in Manila, Philippines, in June 2016. Kim Scarbrough, Knoxville campus enrollment counselor, and husband, Drew, welcomed daughter Cora Grace at 1:38 p.m. on March 5, 2015. Cora weighed in at 7 pounds 13 ounces and was 19 inches long. Dr. Alyssa Sloan, associate dean of Applied Sciences & Technology and associate professor and program director of Communication, and Dr. Kathryn Anthony of the University of Southern Mississippi had their book chapter about ethical dilemmas in the workplace published in Aug. 2015. Their ethics-centered chapter was published in “Issues of Culture and Conflict: Case Studies in Organizational Communication” and is available for purchase at Kendall Hunt Publishers and Amazon. Jessica Swiney (’09), director of registration and records, and Kala Perkins (’06), presented “Registrar Assessment: Demystified,” to the Tennessee Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers in Nashville, Tenn., in Nov. 2015. Jessica also gave a presentation on King’s first year using Parchment as the University’s E-Transcripts provider at the Parchment Exchange Users Conference in Baltimore, Md., in April 2015.
Dr. Becky Thomas, associate dean of Academic Affairs for Accreditation and Compliance and assistant professor in the School of Business and Economics, successfully defended her dissertation entitled “Exploring Women’s Perceptions of Work-Family Enrichment Experiences Influencing Higher Education Leadership Culture: An Exploratory Qualitative Inquiry.” She is graduating in fall 2015 with her Ph.D. in Organization and Management from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minn.
#T H ROW
BAC K
Send pics to Laura Boggan at lkboggan@king.edu
Michael Webb (’08), director of Alumni Relations, presented “Inspiring Engagement – Alumni Involvement,” to the Tennessee Association of Community Leadership in Newport, Tenn., in Oct. 2015.
Stay connected with other Alumni and get current news from King University! Become a Facebook fan of King University, follow @KingUnivBristol on Twitter, and KingUniversity on Instagram.
Y O Umake it possible Did you know your gifts to the Annual Fund for Scholarships & Programs help make it possible for current King students to pursue a private, Christian education?
• Alumni participation encourages foundation and corporate support as well as increases King’s rankings by publications. • 98 percent of King’s undergraduate students receive some type of financial assistance.
Make your gift online at give.king.edu ! WINTER 2015 | 15
alumnicommunity community alumni
CLASS | n o t e s
1960s/70s Dr. Robert (’70) and Kay (Wright) Camenisch (’69), published a book in June 2015, which they co-authored, “The Great Exchange: Bound by Blood” (ISBN:978-1-942587-0507, Carpenter’s Son Publishing). In it, they unlock the mystery of the ancient covenant ritual and its centrality to the Bible, revealing God’s faithfulness and His commitment to love and care for His children. Robert pastors a church in Stanford, Ky., and they both speak at churches and conferences.
1980s Maria Liston (’82), associate professor and chair of Anthropology at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, is a participant in the archaeological excavation of the Athenian Agora, the marketplace in the center of the ancient Greek city. A well, carved into the bedrock was discovered. Maria and team “determined that there were 450 dead infants in the well, along with 150 dogs and puppies, and the skeleton of one adult with some serious physical deformity. Mixed in the bones, they found tons of pottery shards.” The excavation is detailed on Newsweek’s website at http://goo.gl/PRCE80. Karen Watson Stump (’87), just wrapped as producer of two full-scale musical productions this summer in Knoxville, Tenn., titled “High School Musical” and “A Little Princess”. Karen has also been working the last several years at Pellissippi State Community College as both an instructor and an advisor. Karen and her husband Keith, have three active teenage children, McKenzie, Keegan, & Konnor. Jeff Necessary (’88), recently published a book, “They Said What?!” It is a collection of funny, often bizarre quotes from his students throughout his 25 years of teaching at North Myrtle Beach High School. Jeff currently teaches civics and current events. He dedicated the book in honor and memory
16 | KING’S HERALD ALUMNI MAGAZINE
of his father, who had a strong sense of humor. Bob Necessary passed away in 2003, after a courageous battle with a disease often known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Partial proceeds from the book will go to South Carolina Chapter of the ALS Association.
1990s Will Troutman (’98), became a managing director of McEwen Funeral Service at Sharon Memorial Park in Charlotte, N.C., March 3, 2015. This is the largest Funeral Home and Cemetery Combination on the East Coast between Atlanta and Washington, D.C. McEwen Funeral Service is a member of the Dignity® Memorial Network. This network is North America’s largest provider of funeral, cremation, and cemetery services. Dignity Memorial providers care for more than 300,000 families each year. Sean Cook (’99), lives in Bristol, Tenn., and works as a director of operations for Teleperformance. Sean and his wife, Lisa, spend most of their spare time at their kids’ sporting events. Jalen is a senior at Tennessee High and a member of the varsity basketball team. Jacob is a sophomore at Tennessee High and plays both football and basketball. Auden is a freshman at Tennessee High and is on the wrestling Team. Loren just started 7th grade this year and plays both volleyball and basketball for Vance Middle School. Bryan (’99) and Mandy Crotts (’99), reside in Burlington, N.C., with their three children. In May, Bryan became pastor at First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He is a 2003 graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte and has been ordained in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Mandy is a homemaker, teacher, and soccer coach.
2000s Daniel Brantley (’01), published his book “I’m 12 Years Old and I saved the World” in the spring of 2015. It is available on Amazon and other online book retailers. Rob Rutherford (’03, ’07), was recently presented with the Silver Beaver Award by the Sequoyah Council, Boy Scouts of America. The Silver Beaver is the BSA’s council-level distinguished service award and the highest honor a council can award to a volunteer. Recipients of this award are registered adult leaders who have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given to the council, through hard work, self-sacrifice, dedication, and many years of service. It is given to those who do not actively seek it. Rutherford, a longtime scouting volunteer, has served as assistant scoutmaster of troup eight in Bristol, Va., for over 15 years. Vica (Shaffer) Jones (’07), became the director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministry for St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church of Valley Forge in Wayne, Penn., on Sept. 1. It’s an exciting new adventure for her family as her husband, Kyle, joins alongside her in ministry for the first time. She is involved with all aspects of development and implementation of children, youth, and family activities.
We would love to
hear from you!
Send your updates to Michael Webb, director of alumni relations, at mcwebb@king.edu
alumni community
CLASS | n o t e s Bradley (’07) and Jessica Long (’07), are proud to welcome their first child, a daughter on Feb. 4, 2015, weighing 6 pounds 15 ounces and measuring 21.5 inches long. She was baptized Susan Kate Long on July 12, 2015, and is called Susie. She already loves King, following in the footsteps of both her parents, aunt Tinsley (’14), grandmother Mardia (’77), and great-great-aunt Mary (1945-1947).
master’s in Human Resources in Aug. 2014 and recently accepted a new position at Virginia Tech in the Equity and Access division of Human Resources. She has been with the University since August 2014. Jesse also works at Virginia Tech as an Operations Specialist for the Virginia Tech Operations Center and is attending nursing school at Wytheville Community College.
Michelle (Lassiter) Penczak (’08), has started her own business, Michelle Penczak Executive Assisting (www.michellepen.com). She and her husband, Sean, are also expecting their first child in Jan. 2016.
Matthew Ladd (’13), received a promotion to become a field property adjuster starting Oct. 1, 2015, with Erie Insurance Group and has relocated to Nashville, Tenn.
Mitch Thomas (’08), has been inducted into the 2015 Class for the Lenoir City High School Sports Hall of Fame. Mitch is a 2004 graduate of Lenoir City. Mitch is a certified occupational therapy assistant at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.
Rachel Ann Donaldson (’14), was married to Jesse Evan Denney on June 13, 2015, in Greeneville, Tenn. Rachel has been accepted
Mollie Ann (Salyer) Moeck (’10), and husband, Geoff, welcomed their son James Allen on June 8, 2015. He weighed 8 pounds and was 21.5 inches in length. The family resides in Birmingham, Ala. James Allen is the grandson of Mona Salyer, assistant vice president of Enrollment Management GPS Tri-Cities, and husband, Mark.
LeAnne Grammo (’15, ’16), of Ashburn, Va., has been named to Loudon County’s 2015 Class of 40 Under 40 up-andcoming business and community leaders by Leesburg Today & Ashburn Today. Mickensie Neely (’15), was named the winner of the Presbyterian Outlook churchcollege partnership essay award. Neely’s winning essay was entitled, “Finding Freedom in the Liberal Arts.”
InMemoriam
KING ALUMNI
Thomas L. Haman (’42) Jan. 1, 2015
Jonathan Kiser (’12), and his wife, Emily, welcomed their second child, Silas Malcolm, on July 11, 2015. Jonathan and family reside in Mendota, Va.
Mary Nell Rhea Harris (’44) May 26, 2015 Rev. Dr. William Matheson Clark (’49) April 10, 2015
Photo by Trung Phan
Lisa (Drudy) Thomas (’12) and her husband, Jesse (’15), welcomed daughter Valencia Annmarie into the world on Aug. 24, 2015. She weighed 7 pounds 12 ounces and measured 20.25 inches long. The family resides in Christiansburg, Va. Lisa was awarded her
into the Master of Arts in Teaching program at ETSU and is employed by Elizabethton City Schools.
Eugene “Corky” Guinn Smith (’49) April 14, 2015 Paul “Sonny” Herman Fletcher (’51) March 19, 2015
Charles Lewis Thomas, Jr. (’53) Aug. 18, 2015 James “Jack” O. Osteen (’55) Sept. 30, 2015 Dr. W. Philip West (’83) Nov. 14, 2014 Niki Guest Thomas (’96) Oct. 6, 2015
KING FACULTY/STAFF Freddy Wayne Barr Sept. 10, 2015 Dr. Andrew E. Spence, Jr. Oct. 1, 2015
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Save the Date! April 8-10 To register, visit: dogwood.king.edu
2016