The
Pinnacles Lees-McRae College Magazine
spring 2018 Experiences Around the Globe Onward and Upward Mechanics Behind the Medicine 1 | Pinnacles
Sure, you’ve seen the Linn Cove Viaduct, but have you ever seen it from this angle? The Viaduct is one of the most photographed sections of the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway. In fact, 23 miles wind through Avery County—the home of Lees-McRae College. 2 | Pinnacles
INSIDE Panorama 06 New Horizons 10 In Depth 14 Up Close
Features 18 Experiences Around the Globe 20 Onward and Upward 28 Mechanics Behind the Medicine
Class Notes 35 Where Are They Now 35 In Remembrance
On the Cover (Left to right) President-elect Dr. Herbert L. King, Jr., Board of Trustees Chairman McNair Tornow, President Dr. Barry M. Buxton
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Take in a wide view of the College—including academic programs, activities and achievements.
Want more news? Check out the News Center at lmc.edu/news.
Birds of a feather What are the chances that two Lees-McRae alumni would meet on a project caring for an injured osprey that was over 2,000 miles from home? Perhaps it is a little higher than you would think. Even though they both followed similar academic paths in college, Shylyn Pierce ’16 and Yaritza Acosta ’12 had never met or even heard of one another. It wasn’t until an exhausted juvenile Western Osprey landed in a heap on a sandy beach in Miami Beach, Florida, that the odds of the two meeting would increase. Learn more about Pierce, Acosta and the wayward raptor that brought the two together for the coincidence of a lifetime. Read the full story on the incredible experience and witness the release of the osprey back into the wild. lmc.edu/birdsofafeather
accolades
Lees-McRae was again recognized among the best regional colleges in the South. Rising to No. 19 in 2018, the institution outpaced similar institutions on the ranking. The College was also named to the Best Value list for the first time.
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Acknowledged for engaged students, great teaching, a vibrant community and successful outcomes, Lees-McRae was named a College of Distinction. Programs in Business, Education and Nursing were awarded for extraordinary professional academics.
The League of American Bicyclists named the institution a Silver Bicycle Friendly University. By prioritizing cycling awareness, safety and advocacy, Lees-McRae joins eight other designated schools in North Carolina.
welcome new programs Programs in Health and Wellness Science and Outdoor Recreation Management have been introduced in Banner Elk. They continue the institution’s commitment to its mountain location and service to the surrounding community. A program in Business Administration has also come online— literally. It joins other distance learning programs that allow working professionals to earn a degree on their schedule from their computer. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges approved all three baccalaureate programs and has included them in the existing accreditation.
by any other name The Performing Arts Studies program and department was renamed Theatre Arts to better reflect the areas of academic and experiential focus: artistic direction, performance, technical theatre, and cultural, critical and historical perspectives. Students in the Theatre Arts and Musical Theatre programs participate in three mainstage productions during school sessions and participate in Lees-McRae Summer Theatre between academic years.
Molding Leaders The BB&T Leadership Initiative, made possible by a multiyear grant from the bank headquartered in North Carolina, is a new program housed in the School of Business and Management. The comprehensive initiative will promote and expand leadership opportunities for all students, faculty and staff. The initiative strives to positively affect academic, knowledgebased learning and experiential leadership. The College community can apply for funding to support industry leader networking and personal or professional leadership development. The initiative also hosts regular events on campus, including BB&T Emerging Leaders Certification.
The Faculty Mind Jess bellemer Jess Bellemer knits‌a lot. Once she even injured her arm by over-knitting. Only after months of rest, many doctor visits and physical therapy, was she safely able to knit again. How did this all happen? At 16, Bellemer decided to learn to knit. With no one to teach her, she went to the local library and picked up a book. That visit spawned a new reference-seeking lifestyle and with the support of librarians she found more and more about her hobby. With that information, Bellemer grew as a knitter who could knit while reading, walking and sitting in meetings. Her trips to the library not only led to life as a knitter but also as a librarian. As a graduate student, Bellemer realized how much she enjoyed assisting her classmates with their in-depth research. It was this awareness that led to a career in libraries where she has been able to help students discover information on everything from Plato and modern social justice movements to parasites and Appalachian literature. As the Director of Library Services, Bellemer prefers that students not think that trips to the library could end with them being physically injured. Rather, she hopes they will come back time and time again prepared to explore and to discover. Bellemer became a librarian out of love for the process of finding information. She is always available to assist students in finding that perfect article for their research papers and maybe even a new obsession of their own. After all, the library is the best place to start anything. Pinnacles | 5
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new horizons
President-elect Dr. Herbert L. King, Jr. to succeed Dr. Barry M. Buxton as 16th president of College
On Jan. 19, 2018, the Board of Trustees elected Dr. Herbert L. King, Jr. to be the 16th president in the 118-year history of the institution. King will succeed Dr. Barry M. Buxton on June 1, 2018. “I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to serve as the next president of Lees-McRae,” King said. “I value its mission, its student-centeredness and I feel at home in the natural beauty that Banner Elk provides. My family and I are eager to become part of this community, and I am grateful for the trust that the board is placing in me to lead LeesMcRae into the future.” President-elect King will arrive on campus having served as the Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Hampden-Sydney College in Hampden-Sydney, Virginia, where he was responsible for all development, alumni relations and career functions of the college. King addressed a full auditorium of students, faculty, staff, trustees and community members for the first time during the official introduction event Jan. 19.
Following King’s remarks, Buxton presented King with a Lees-McRae shield lapel pin—a gesture to welcome the president-elect into the Lees-McRae family. Members of the Order of the Tower, the presidential honor society, then presented both King and his family with gifts on behalf of the College. After the introduction event, King and his family gathered in the King-Shivell Gallery to meet and talk with those in attendance. “My family and I were so excited to meet students, faculty, staff and the local community,” King said following the event. “The genuine warmth and welcome we received is even more positive affirmation that Lees-McRae is the tightknit community we felt it would be.” Leading up to his first day in office, King will visit campus regularly to meet with faculty, staff, students, alumni and the community.
The event gave King the opportunity to share his excitement for the next chapter in both his career and the future of the College. It also gave the Lees-McRae community the chance to meet King’s family who were in attendance. “I am humbled and honored to see such a large crowd to welcome me and my family,” King said in his opening remarks. “We are excited to join this community and can’t wait to become Bobcats.” King thanked his family for their support as he pursued the opportunity. “My family is my pride and my joy, they bring me an incredible amount of laughter and they keep me humble,” King said. “I want to thank you all for joining me in this journey.”
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Students have their day in court When invited to court, most people would have some anxiety; however, if you are a student in the Criminal Justice program, that couldn’t be further from the truth. A group of nearly 20 students from Lees-McRae traveled to the Avery County Courthouse in nearby Newland, North Carolina, to participate and practice in two mock court trials. Students played each role within the proceeding including the attorneys, jury members, clients, audience members, clerks and the judge. The first trial mimicked a typical civil case involving a speeding ticket. The second trial practiced the steps in a criminal case including evidence, witnesses and deliberation by the jury members.
Making a difference McNair Tornow A Wake Forest University graduate and North Carolina native, McNair Tornow joined the Board of Trustees in 2012. After serving as Vice-Chair for several years, Tornow assumed the position of Chairman last year. Tornow’s role as a trustee comes after a life-long career in law and time in the military during the Vietnam War. Tornow continues to practice law in Banner Elk and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Tornow and his wife, Debi, have a permanent home on Beech Mountain where they spend quality time with family including four children and five grandchildren. The Tornow family can often be found courtside during basketball games cheering on the Bobcats. Deeply connected to the Lees-McRae athletics program, they helped make the renovated McNair and Debi Tornow Court possible. Tornow pinpoints his passions as being “unequivocally” his family, his church, Lees-McRae and the law practice which he often says helps “put something back in the pot.” Tornow says as much as he loves and is excited about the College’s growth, “I hope I can make a difference.”
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For some, it was the perfect opportunity to experience two intricate court processes. For others, it was a chance to try their hand at their possible future profession.
instruct the instructors Through a partnership expansion with Beech Mountain, the Outdoor Recreation Management program with the help of Marketing Director and Lees-McRae alumna, Talia Freeman, offered a 3-credit hour National Ski Patrol Certification Preparation course as well as a Ski and Snowboard PSIA-AASI Instructor Certification Preparation course this spring. Lees-McRae is the only college in the Southeast region to offer national-level certification courses for course credit.
History in the making Dr. Michael Joslin, professor of English, is writing the story of LeesMcRae. The compilation of anecdotes and pictures will pick up where Margaret Tuft Neal’s early history, And Set Aglow a Sacred Flame, concludes. The book will celebrate College heritage, the evolution of campus facilities and tell of major events and programs. The transition to fouryear baccalaureate education, the native stone buildings and notable athletics including the football team will be among the topics.
panorama Keeping the mountains green The Outdoor Recreation Management program launched a new, three-part, campus-wide Green Initiative, led by students known as the Green Team. A $3,000 BB&T Leadership Initiative grant, with the sole purpose of bringing leadership opportunities to campuses nationwide, will give the Green Team the ability to implement a recycling plan for both residence halls and academic buildings, a community garden and compost program. Lees-McRae proudly embodies the motto—In Montibus, Ex Montibus, Pro Montibus—which translates to in the mountains, of the mountains, for the mountains. The College’s history is deeply rooted in the Appalachian Mountains, and as inhabitants, it is crucial to ensure the mountains remain for future generations.
Campus Renovations The Exchange Bookstore The campus and Banner Elk community celebrated the relocation of The Exchange Bookstore. Easily accessible on Main Street, the newly renovated space is home to textbooks and an assortment of Lees-McRae apparel and gifts. The bookstore is operated by Barnes & Noble and features an Einstein Bros. Bagels.
Hayes Auditorium In the last few years, the lobby area received new ticket counters and renovated restrooms. While inside the Broyhill Theatre, updated seats, flooring and paint now greet guests. Technical features have also received attention, including sound diffusion walls and two advanced projection systems flanking the stage. The most recent transformation, funded with generous support from FORUM, occurred backstage, with a complete overhaul of the performer dressing rooms.
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a new era We are Bobcats—Lees-McRae is our foundation, our home and where we are inspired to succeed—it is in all of us, and it is who we are. Over the years, Lees-McRae has never stopped progressing and when faced with setbacks and challenges we rise higher and stronger than ever before.
bring determination and new perspective to our campus, and the Bobcats to come who will lead us through the days ahead. Our past, present and our limitless future.
When it came time to re-imagine the athletics logo, we knew we needed something that honored our heritage, recognized who we are now and prepared us for our tomorrow. Above all, the logo had to be undeniably Lees-McRae. We embarked on a journey to identify more closely with our brand—something that could not be achieved with our former athletics logo featuring a bobcat paw. We all know that Lees-McRae is more than the highest elevated campus east of the Mississippi River. We are the generations before us, our noble alumni, our hard-working students who
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Reflection It wasn’t until the mid-’60s when Don Baker, alumnus, former athletics administrator and coach, placed pencil to paper and gave a once nameless bobcat his identity. That is when the world first met Wily the Bobcat. Wild like his real-world role model, Wily the Bobcat is cleverly skilled, determined and
In depth adaptable. Little compared to lions and tigers, this intrepid character never lets size affect the ability to compete. It’s not the size of the bobcat in the fight, it’s the fight in the bobcat. The heritage of Lees-McRae is rich in those same elements—a small campus community moving mountains and achieving things beyond the norm. The personality traits given to Wily and embodied by our student-athletes, would be the foundation of today’s newly designed logo. By combining the original sketches developed by Don Baker, with sleek lines and a modern typeface, the new logo would be a 21st century revival of a Lees-McRae classic.
Revival The new logo should reflect what we—as students, athletes, faculty and staff—already know about ourselves and our core values. It was important to consider design trends when developing the athletics logo—strategically considering how the new design would represent us now and moving into the future. The redesign needed to demonstrate our resolve and discipline in a way that would not only motivate our athletes and students but invite others to join the Bobcat way of life.
“ It’s not the size of the bobcat in the fight, it's the fight in the bobcat.”
Rebirth Using our official colors—green and gold—and a strong singular element, the logo tells the world what to expect from the moment they see us. A nod to the past, the hat represents the actions taken by previous generations to pave the way for our exploration and growth. Steadfast and focused, the eyes of Wily the Bobcat show the determination and passion we bring to the game. Forward leaning and combining traditional serif and sansserif elements, the font strikes a balance between the old and new. Bridging more than 100 years of tradition, commitment and innovation, the design tells the story of us all—who we have been and who we will always be. Welcome to the new era of Lees-McRae College Athletics!
The new logo was released on August 7, 2017.
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Rising from the Ashes At approximately 11 p.m. on Feb. 26, 2017, flames began to fill rooms within the Williams Physical Education Center. Originating in the laundry room, a blaze stormed its way from locker room, to office, and then through the halls, leaving only black soot and charred remnants in its wake. In all, the fire and smoke caused more than $2 million in damages. For the Lees-McRae community, news of the devastating fire the next morning came as a bombshell—especially for those athletes, coaches and staff members who call the gym a second home. To go on without Williams Gymnasium was not an option. Almost immediately, work begin to restore the space and make it better than it had ever been before. Seven months, and several-hundred hours of hard work and dedication later, the facility reopened; however, it did not look the same as it once did—it looked better.
Giving back Several times a year, the Lees-McRae Cycling Team participates in efforts to give back to the community and recognize important causes. One such event is an annual ride with the King University Cycling Team to bring awareness “to the impact cancer is having on all our lives,” Head Coach, Tim Hall said. “We enjoy this opportunity of fellowship with King in a non-competitive environment, but most importantly, remind ourselves to cherish the people we love each and every day.”
Renovation not only included the essential rebuilding of the structure’s integrity, but also a newly refurbished weight-training room, film room, laundry room and the resurrection of the longunused pool. In many ways, the Williams Gymnasium fire became a catalyst for change, a test of true strength and evidence of the unbreakable bonds the Lees-McRae family possess. See for yourself and take a virtual tour of the renovated space. lmc.edu/gymtour
Bobcat Walk Buy a Brick. Leave a Legacy.
Join the Lees-McRae legacy by purchasing one or more bricks to honor a player, team or any individual you would like to recognize. It is a fitting tribute that will last for generations. Place your order at lmcbobcats.com/bobcatwalk.
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panorama Deeley’s Distinctions It is no secret that Tom Deeley, alumnus and former soccer player, is one of the most successful in the team’s history. In 2017, Deeley was named the Conference Carolinas Men’s Soccer Scholar Athlete of the Year—and that is only the start of the athlete’s impressive athletic resume. Among his many recognitions, Deeley was also named to CoSIDA’s Academic All-American Third Team, United Soccer Coaches Association Men’s Soccer Scholar AllAmerican Team and Scholar All-Region Team all during his last year at Lees-McRae. Deeley balanced his pursuit for a degree in Psychology while earning fifth place in program history in points (100), goals (37), second in assists (26) and sixth in match-winning goals (8).
dreaming big Ally Murphy ’10
season to remember The men’s basketball team made history on March 4, 2018 with a victory against Belmont Abbey to become Conference Carolinas champions. That win capped off a record-breaking 23-win season and gave them an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time in program history. Congratulations on a great season, Bobcats! Watch the video and relive the moment. lmc.edu/champions
Ally Murphy returned to campus to present a speech titled, Dream Big, during the 2017 Convocation event in Hayes Auditorium and Broyhill Theatre. During her speech, Murphy aimed to teach students, faculty and staff that nothing is beyond the scope of possibility and to, “never be afraid to just go for it.” Before starting her cycling career at Lees-McRae in 2008, Murphy—neé Stacher—was a student-athlete on the women’s wrestling team at Lassen College in Susanville, California. After becoming badly injured while wrestling, Murphy found a new home on the bicycle. She focused her natural ability and quickly moved up the ranks in the world of women’s cycling, ultimately joining the U.S. National team in 2009. She went on to become a member on one of the top teams in the world by 2011 for four years. During those years, Murphy was a part of many victories individually and with a team across the globe. During her time at Lees-McRae, Murphy was honored with the Carla Swart Sportsmanship Award, which is presented to the female rider who sacrifices their own chances at victory for the good of their team. In 2015, she was inducted in to the Fred I. Dickerson Hall of Fame for her impressive accomplishments both during her time on the College cycling team and in the elite and professional cycling ranks. After racing around the world for several years, Murphy eventually decided to hang up the bike to focus on her family and pursue other passions. “After all, even if you fail, it is your opportunity to learn,” she said. “Get back up, do better next time and dream big.”
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Up Close
TAKING FLIGHT Dr. Amber McNamara’s story of finding herself, falling a little and flying effortlessly—as shared from one scientist to another. By Billy Carver, PhD
There is something thrilling about watching a true master do her work. Watching an artisan carry out her craft effortlessly—making the impossible seem reflexive—is both inspirational and humbling. That is how I felt two years ago the first time I watched Dr. Amber McNamara (or “Dr. Amber” as she is known by her students) perform surgery on a red-tailed hawk at the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (MWRC). The hawk had been hit by a car and needed many of the delicate bones in its wing rebuilt. Many of these bones are needle-fine and must endure great stress during flight, or else the hawk cannot fly. She expertly and carefully rebuilt this broken, majestic creature; some weeks later our students released it back into the wild. Dr. McNamara, the staff at the MWRC and the Lees-McRae students they mentor are owed a great debt of gratitude by the animals of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Leaving the nest Dr. McNamara moves quickly and deftly when working with patients and students, her voice sometimes revealing a slight Midwestern accent from her childhood in rural Indiana. Educated in the sciences at DePauw University in Indiana, she applied to veterinary school after graduation. “During my second or third year as an undergrad it sort of clicked for me that [animal care] was right for me,” she said. Despite her good grades and obvious dedication to the field, she did not immediately get into any graduate programs. “And to be honest I was really mad,” she said. Therefore, after graduating, she began working at a small
animal practice as a veterinary assistant and reapplied to graduate school after gaining more experience. “It taught me teamwork and it gave me a lot of hands-on experience,” she said. After successfully reapplying to veterinary school and gaining admission into Purdue University, Dr. McNamara excelled, despite the difficulties of veterinary school. “For me, I was one of those people that really struggled,” she said. “Working through a case on a piece of paper, I would get so nervous. You have to explain your thoughts, and what steps you would like to take and what you want to do and that is hard.” She emphasizes the sheer amount of information veterinary students are expected to retain. “The volume of information is more than anyone can really process,” she explained. Veterinary students typically choose “paths”—areas of specialty in which they receive additional training. Dr. McNamara fell in love with wildlife medicine. Finding sick and injured wildlife, caring for them and ultimately returning them to the environment is something that drives her both personally and professionally. “There was something about the rehabilitation of wildlife that I loved, and releasing them was very rewarding to me,” she said. After completing her veterinary degree, Dr. McNamara began an internship with Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) in Sanibel, Florida—an island off the coast of south Florida. There she gained incredible experiences working with many different kinds of injured wildlife. Pinnacles | 15
One of her favorite stories she refers to as the “flight of the pelicans.” It all began when a small flock of pelicans missed their southern migration and were stranded in Minnesota. CROW worked with Delta Airlines to fly the pelicans (economy; not first class) to Florida so they could be rehabbed and released into a local wildlife refuge. “It was a collaborative effort to get these birds back out in the wild,” she said. She remained there for eight years, treating countless injured wildlife, culminating with a year as clinical director of the organization.
Pioneering territories What many students may not realize is Dr. McNamara’s expertise in alternative medicines in animal treatment. While many human physicians have embraced herbal and alternative treatments for diseases, veterinary medicine has been more resistant. Dr. McNamara has been on the forefront of alternative treatments for animal disease for nearly two decades. Immediately after leaving her position at CROW, Dr. McNamara started her own mobile practice, focusing on acupuncture and other alternative treatments for small animals. Even now, it is not uncommon to find Dr. McNamara skillfully placing ultra-fine pins into pressure points in a patient who is not progressing as well as expected. The immediate and palpable change in the patient’s disposition is incredible, and Dr. McNamara’s expertise means that her students and volunteers on campus are among the few people in the world gaining experience towards using alternative medicine in wildlife rehabilitation.
Leading the guild In 2013, the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center relocated into its new building. As a unique and prestigious program at Lees-McRae, the decision was made to hire a full-time veterinarian to serve the wildlife that come to our campus.
suite, or in the flight cages outside; she is always surrounded by students hanging on the edge of her every word. Her willingness to invest in her students as an academic advisor, instructor and professional mentor is unmatched. Because of this dedication, in 2016 she was awarded one of the College’s most prestigious awards, the Edgar Tufts Faculty Award. Reflecting on her time at Lees-McRae, Dr. McNamara offered some perspective. “I had my doubts,” she admitted. “You spend long days working—you never truly have a day off—but when you get to release an animal back out in the wild and do the best you can by them, it makes all the hard work and effort absolutely worth it.”
“I saw the opportunity and I just thought, ‘that’s my job!’,” she said. Her expertise in wildlife medicine, her dedication to animals and her innate abilities as a teacher and mentor have allowed her to become a much-beloved, much-respected, and much-valued member of the campus community. Walking into the MWRC, it is unusual to find Dr. McNamara in her office. She is always in the exam rooms, in the surgical
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Dr. Billy Carver is the dean of natural and behavioral sciences and assistant professor. He commonly teaches courses in cell biology, developmental biology and immunology and serves as the program coordinator for the biology program. When he is not in the classroom, he can be found in his office with his red-eared slider turtle named Stevie Nicks.
People are found at the heart of a university. Students, faculty and staff joined together by a commitment to learning— ELEVATED AS ONE. Join the movement at lmc.edu/campaign. Pinnacles | 17 The Pinnacles | 15
Experiences Around the Fundamental to a Lees-McRae education is recognition that learning happens in and outside the classroom. And there is no better way to gain experience than through immersion in the world around us. The College has a tartan recognized by The Scottish Register of Tartans—taking notes from the Lee Family, it features school colors of green and gold, incorporates blue to represent our Presbyterian heritage, black for the local mountains, red dedicated to founder Rev. Edgar Tufts, and white for early teacher Elizabeth McRae.
A number of former Bobcat cyclists have competed in the Tour de France. While not a competitor, President Buxton has completed many of its stages, including the legendary climb of Mont Ventoux.
home sweet home An articulation agreement signed by the College with Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in Saint Kitts and Nevis, guarantees admission interviews for Lees-McRae graduates meeting specific academic criteria.
did you know? Dr. Jenny Weatherford works as the Director of Experiential Learning and International Education. She has an extensive background in international education, including teaching abroad and administering programs. Her work and travels have taken her to more than 30 countries! 18 | Pinnacles 16 | The Pinnacles
In 2016, cyclist Brent Bookwalter ’06 represented the United States at the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil competing in both the time trial and the road race.
Globe Study Abroad O say can you sea? Recent study abroad trips have taken students and faculty to Belize, Haiti, Jamaica, England and New Zealand. Can you name the seas near their destinations?
Students don’t just study abroad, they work too. Lakeala Frink ’16 completed an internship in Costa Rica at Fundación Rahab, a non-profit group that helps women leave prostitution and integrate back into society with better education, health care, skills training, therapy and child-care services. Students and faculty have also studied internationally in Costa Rica, Ireland, Czech Republic, Scotland, South Korea and parts of Africa.
Can I park here? In 2019, the Outdoor Recreation Management, English and History programs will offer an interdisciplinary course and study trip to U.S. National Parks in the American West. Most of the 60 national parks are out west—can you name the three national parks closest to Lees-McRae?
Domestic Study Bobcat student-athletes have worn the green and gold in competition more than 4,600 miles from Banner Elk—men’s volleyball has participated in tournaments in Honolulu, Hawaii. Students and faculty have also studied domestically in Atlanta, Chicago, New York City, Washington D.C. and along the Eastern coast.
international life Among our current international population, we have students from the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria and Norway. Can you name the seven other countries that begin with the letter ‘N’?
A number of our trustees, faculty and staff have worked and lived overseas, and in recent years we’ve welcomed visiting instructors from China, Morocco and Russia to the College. Lees-McRae alumni live in 30+ countries and on every populated continent.
O say can you sea? Caribbean Sea (Belize, Haiti, Jamaica), North Sea, (London) and Tasman Sea (New Zealand); Can I park here? Great Smoky Mountains (Tenn./Va.), Mammoth Cave (Ky.) and Shenandoah (Va.); Where 'N' the world? Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue and North Korea
where 'n' the world?
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Onward
and Upward Follow a staff writer as she joins the President in reflection on his time at the College. By Nina Mastandrea
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Dr. Barry M. Buxton, the 15th president of Lees-McRae College, will retire in May 2018. He began his tenure in 2010.
“Lees-McRae was on a trajectory of failure,” President Barry M. Buxton stated plainly to me as we sat across from one another in his cozy office early one grey morning. These were his first words to me during what would become many conversations together. The occasion? Come May 2018, Buxton will leave his post as president. An ever-curious storyteller, I made it my mission to learn as much about him as possible before he packed his personal belongings and left the historic Rock House. His opening statement to me could come as a surprise to anyone. I had just started the interview when I was struck by the harsh reality of Buxton’s situation several years prior. He had only just settled into his new position when the grave state of affairs came into view.
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Later I recognized the flaw in my past notions. I had compartmentalized institutions of higher education as entities somehow exempt from failure—separate from corporate businesses or even mom-and-pop shops we all too often see out of business, bankrupt or foreclosed. Never had I seen an empty college or university, but I came to learn it was an all too frequent occurrence in the U.S.
“I thought to myself, ‘It would be a nice final chapter’,” he said to me. So naturally, when he was approached to help Lees-McRae, the answer was yes.
With support from the Board of Trustees and campus leaders, and help from faculty, staff and students, Buxton and his unrelenting passion for Lees-McRae would invigorate the institution and elevate it to where we are today.
In 2010, Buxton took on the role as president, but the transition was not as smooth as some may think. Those first few months were chaotic, he explained, filled with challenges and unspoken expectations. On many occasions, the College struggled to make payroll and several businesses refused to honor institutional credit cards.
How do you even begin to save a college?
“I was hired to bring change and figure out a course of action that was going to turn it around, revitalize it and make it a sustainable institution moving forward,” he said.
Let’s rewind. Buxton has been a teacher, researcher, author and community leader throughout the South.
“You think about people not getting paid, and you feel like it is all on your shoulders,” he said, words weighted in self-guilt. “So you’re not sleeping at night and you’re not getting the rest you need.”
As Vice President for Special Projects at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Buxton was tasked with developing new campuses around the world including one in Hong Kong, another in Southern France and another in Atlanta.
He admitted to me that at times he thought about the rough state of the College, asking himself, “Can it be saved? Should it be saved?”
From his time at SCAD, to time spent working with former President and First Lady George W. and Laura Bush and the Harris County Medical Society to establish the Museum of Health and Medical Science, the Blowing Rock, North Carolina, native is a 50/50 blend of true Appalachian and global culture. Being the youngest of seven children raised by a single mother (his father died when he was young), Buxton knew a thing or two about work ethic. Buxton worked as a caddy at nearby Blowing Rock Country Club and as a wild west performer at Tweetsie Railroad. Outside of work, his childhood was spent in the natural beauty of the High Country playing with brothers and sisters—challenging each other to rounds of kick ball until it was time to return home as the sun set and supper was on the table. Even though Buxton had traveled the world for work over the course of 35 years, as he neared the end of his professional career, he felt it was time to give back to the region that gave him his start.
Ultimately, he knew what had to be done. In the early months of his tenure, Buxton and the college leadership team adopted a 20-point revitalization strategy with tackling the burdening debt high on the list. His plan was based on several turnaround reports—stories of colleges and universities that escaped total failure with new road maps to success. I was surprised to see high-profile names like Elon University and its brush with near-collapse in the 1970’s and another, Wagner College, right outside of New York City. Buxton said that of all the institutions he studied, “none of them had the cards stacked nearly as high against them as Lees-McRae.” Buxton developed a long-term business model to ensure upward financial trajectory. This included attacking the debt head-on with aggressive monthly payments topping almost $100,000, realigning the College to perform within its means, and investing in the campus.
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“We wanted to make students proud of where they go to school and to start giving our faculty and staff the resources they needed to do their jobs,” he said. In 2014, Lees-McRae witnessed the completion of the May School of Nursing and Health Sciences and shortly thereafter completed $2.5 million in renovations to the Dotti M. Shelton Learning Commons. Reviving the College would involve, of course, more than beautiful spaces to learn and teach; the campus culture had to be renewed as well. “One part of that was to return back to residential roots,” Buxton said. This meant that all maincampus students were expected to live on campus. “The research shows that students who live on campus retain information better, matriculate better,
the goals on the 20-point plan. This includes the University Campaign—a multi-year, $30 million comprehensive fundraising effort set to bring about continued improvements across campus. All of this—and many more accomplishments— leads us to current day Lees-McRae.
Room for Reflection At this point, Buxton and I have shared countless sessions—on a few occasions, I left our interviews having not touched my notes, but with an hour recorded of us chatting about personal histories. I detailed my upbringing playing musical instruments, while he described his love for landscape architecture.
His office, housed within the oldest building on campus, is a comfortable space filled with soft furniture and framed images of family members on the windowsills. graduate at higher rates and are students who are safer, happier and more involved,” he explained. Another goal within the revitalization strategy was to become pet-friendly. Lees-McRae is now recognized as one of the top pet-friendly schools in the nation. At any time during the day, you can find students traveling across campus with fourlegged friends along their side and sometimes sitting beside them in class. An avid cyclist, Buxton wanted to promote the healthy lifestyle that so many mountain residents already adopt. With the help from other cycling enthusiasts, the College was designated a Silver Bicycle Friendly University in 2016—one of only two private institutions in North Carolina (Duke University being the other) to have been awarded the title. Over the course of almost a decade, Buxton and the college community have nearly accomplished
We found common interest through our individual passions for cycling. I told him about my early childhood riding my shimmering pink Barbie bike with friends through neighborhood streets and exploring the breezy woods of Long Island, New York. He countered my tales of exploration-bybike with stories of him cycling routes on the Tour de France—I was quiet with jealously, how could I top that? His office, housed within the oldest building on campus, is a comfortable space filled with soft furniture and framed images of family members on the windowsills. Accented by a hand-carved College shield above a large stone fireplace, Buxton’s desk occupies only a fraction of the space, leaving more than two-thirds of the room for reading or chatting with students, faculty and staff. On the second floor of the Rock House, up a flight of stairs covered in the same emerald-colored carpeting as his office, is a more formal meeting
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space. A long wood table takes up the center of the room with just enough space for a built-in bookcase full of Buxton’s favorite books, pictures and awards. We journeyed across the shelves together; each book and photograph accompanied by a story or reminiscence. As we traveled around the different spaces, Buxton’s dog, AwShux, would tag along in his shadow. An avid animal lover, Buxton welcomed his small companion to sit by his side on the couch as we met for our interviews. On one especially cold day, AwShux came in from sitting on the porch shivering. “Shuxie just loves to be outside, but he doesn’t realize when he is getting a little too cold,” Buxton said to me as he grabbed a wool blanket from the back of the couch and draped his furry friend. It was this compassion for animals that ushered in projects like the construction of the Dan and Dianne May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. He actively listened during our conversations—a journalist can just tell. Because of this, I came to the conclusion that beyond his vision and focus for the College, it was Buxton's personal drive and attention to details that set him apart from the many administrative figures I have interviewed.
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One day, unsure where to turn in my list of interview questions, I asked him, “Why is it that you do what you do?” His response came without hesitation. “Helping young people.” A self-identified beneficiary of the educational system, Buxton said the key to success in his early years was his access to education. “It helped me see the value and joy of life, a way to make a living and to feel like a more productive citizen,” he said. “It’s a great vehicle for selfadvancement and to a happier, richer life.” Following high school in Blowing Rock, Buxton attended Appalachian State University about 10 miles up Highway 321. He went on to receive two degrees there before pursuing his Ph.D. at the University of Nebraska.
Where do you go from here? Buxton said he hopes to be an ambassador for Lees-McRae even after leaving his post—but not before letting students, faculty and staff know his honest thoughts. “I would like the students to know how proud they
make me,” he said with a smile growing across his face. I could sense his eyes welling as he reflected on the thought. “They are amazing people and they inspire me every day.” For faculty and staff, Buxton shared his respect and admiration for the hard work they put in daily. “Together we have been able to move the College forward…the people we have here love this place and embrace it.”
President’s Picks Ever wondered what is on the bookshelf of a college president? Learn about some of President Buxton’s favorite books and add a few of these titles to your reading list.
Buxton will soon begin the next chapter in his life. When the time comes, it will be bittersweet. “I am ready to go do the things I have not yet had the chance to do; while I have the years to do it,” he said alluding to his age. Ending this phase of his professional life, Buxton shared some advice for those starting their lives and careers. “Try to do something you are passionate about, find something that motivates you and energizes you, then, use those skills to try and help people,” he said. “Try to be a good listener; listen to all the types of people you will be surrounded by.” Buxton said he will miss the young people on campus, as well as the colleagues he’s had the honor to know and work with over the years. Dr. Herbert L. King, Jr., who will take office on June 1, 2018 as the 16th president of Lees-McRae, “will take the College to the next level,” Buxton said. After getting to know him, I was not surprised that even now Buxton is thinking about the future. As we wrapped up our last interview together, his final words suggested where we go from here. “Onward and upward.”
Transforming a College Taking Elon University from the ashes to national prominence, Keller’s book about the transformation of North Carolina school, Elon University, “is one of the books I read before taking this job,” Buxton said. “It’s all about how Elon went from a university that was about to go out of business to the successful institution it is today,” he added. “It’s compelling and doesn’t take long to read.”
I Become a Teacher The story of Dr. Cratis Williams, former dean of graduate studies at Appalachian State University, “is about the beginning of his career…a man who loved Appalachia and was very proud to be from Appalachia,” Buxton said. “He encouraged people like me to learn about the region, protect it and preserve it,” he added. “Progress, yes, but never lose sight of our heritage and our history.”
Steve Jobs “I chose Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs because it’s truly about a man who transformed the world,” Buxton said. Jobs, the late co-founder of Apple, “changed the way we think and act in a relatively short amount of time,” he added. “Jobs had the vision, a great eye for design and had such a huge impact on the world around us including the lives of our young students today.”
A Village Tapestry Nina Mastandrea, an award-winning journalist, works as content manager within the Office of Marketing and Communications. When she is not writing and/or sipping coffee, she is riding her bike in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Buxton’s own book is about the local history of his hometown of Blowing Rock, North Carolina. “Local history is so important,” Buxton emphasized. “Local history doesn’t get a lot of praise, nurturing or encouragement, but it is so important to capture the collective memory of communities and the people that created them,” Buxton added. “Because if you don’t capture it, it goes away forever.”
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Mechanics Behind the Medicine Explore the cutting-edge technology that will prepare the next generation of medical professionals at the May School of Nursing and Health Sciences By Nina Mastandrea
His breathing is almost inaudible—only creeping through the seams of the ambulance doors. It’s rhythmic, steady and accompanied by a curious clicking noise. The source of the breathing and blinking is not human. It’s Hal. Hal is just one of several highly complex patient simulators housed within the May School of Nursing and Health Sciences and only one component of the building’s seemingly endless catalog of technology and equipment. Since the building’s completion in 2014, the May School of Nursing and Health Sciences has rapidly acquired tools of the trade in order to best prepare its students through experiential learning. 28 | Pinnacles
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Photo courtesy of Anatomage
Meet the Family Though Hal is one of the more complex simulators, there are several task trainers and training simulators for students to master first.
This ultimately brings students to not only the most advanced human simulators in the building, but also within the world of medical human patient simulation.
The task trainers come in the form of sectioned arms and torsos and help students practice the basics: intravenous injections, airway clearing and resuscitation among others.
Victoria, the school’s maternal and neonatal birthing simulator, accompanies Hal. Both are created by health care education company, Gaumard Scientific.
One step up introduces students to Nursing Anne—as the Norway-based medical education technology company, Laerdal, has named. Nursing Anne, and three of her family members, feature Bluetooth connectivity which allows the professor to control Anne’s breathing, heart rate and other important elements externally.
The two are tetherless, meaning they are completely independent—barring freedom of will. Their power supplies and communication hardware is housed completely within its frame, allowing students to transport and move the simulator where needed.
“The simulators give a real-time read out of their current conditions,” said Director of Emergency Medical Services and Management Gary Harmon. “Because of this, LeesMcRae students can see how they are doing in real time…if their chest compressions are effective, for example.”
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Vital signs can be tracked using real-life equipment such as an EKG machine, blood pressure cuff and others. The simulator’s eyes can dilate and track objects, students can listen to heart and breathing sounds and professors can teach students how to administer injections, practice sutures and an almost seemingly endless list of possibilities.
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The simulators can be pre-programmed to reflect a wide variety of human-like responses, Harmon said, but can also be controlled through the simulator’s advanced software program.
“Especially when it comes to child birth, students have to know what to do at the drop of a hat,” Harmon said. “With delivery, every situation is different and it can change in a matter of seconds.”
“Sometimes we want to practice a particular situation, and so before class I, or one of the other faculty members, come in and preprogram an outcome,” Harmon said.
Victoria’s simulator offspring are just as impressive. After birth, information is transferred from the silicone, water-safe infant to a wireless and tetherless high-fidelity simulator. With this, students can practice responding to common post-delivery emergencies such as “blue baby syndrome” and others.
Even if that means a fatality. “You have to be ready for any and all outcomes,” Harmon added. “But of course it was upsetting…it can be hard.”
The May School of Nursing and Health Sciences features a neonatal intensive unit filled with real-life equipment, including an infant incubator and radiant warmer.
Even if it is a simulator. Victoria, in opposition to her male simulator counterpart, teaches students essential labor, delivery and several other obstetric procedures.
Simply put, because students are able to practice real-life techniques in an almost real-life arena, “[the students] gain confidence,” which takes time to develop, Harmon said.
Meet Hal
When it comes to education, real-world, hands-on experience is the name of the game.
Breakthrough technology has now brought us closer than ever before to the real thing—even the human body. Discover some of the main features of one of several patient simulators in the May School of Nursing and Health Sciences.
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Take a deeper look at the world’s first virtual dissection table It looks like it should be something out of a sci-fi film, or perhaps a TV show like Bones, NCIS or CSI. As large as your average breakfast table, the Anatomage Table sits quietly—patiently—at the front of the first-floor classroom, awaiting its moment to whir to life in dazzling displays of the human anatomy. The table comes preloaded with several gross anatomy files or “cases” and hundreds more regional and specific examples of particular diseases and conditions. However, its full touch-screen capability is where the Anatomage Table truly flaunts its abilities. After loading one of hundreds of real-life patient cases, the user can toggle their way through various levels of the human anatomy, from more superficial elements such as skin, muscles and the peripheral nervous system to the deeper layers—the organs, bones and central nervous system. The opportunities for dissection exploration expand almost infinitely with the quick slide of the finger across the body in almost any direction, repositioning the body into thousands of new dissection plane combinations— sagittal (left and right body down the center), coronal (back and front body down the center) and transverse planes (horizontal to the ground, separating the head from the feet). Oh but wait, there’s more. The table has the capability to project it’s screen onto the wall—allowing an entire classroom of students to view the case on the table. It also comes preloaded with animal cases, making it useful to veterinary and wildlife rehabilitation programs. With frequent software updates, the table can stay cutting-edge and relevant to the medical world.
Want to see the Anatomage table in action? lmc.edu/tabledemo
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“Mistakes are made, but isn’t it better to make those mistakes and learn in this environment?” The ambulance in the room For the May School’s Emergency Medical Services and Management program, students can practice patient care in a real ambulance. The three-ton removable “box” came to Lees-McRae between remountings. In many cases, the boxes can last upwards of 20 years, Harmon said, but the vehicle’s engines do not. The one that is specifically within the May School came from Baptist Aircare in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. After a while they are purchased and used for training simulations, Harmon said. The box is stocked with all standard tools and medicines found in a fully-functioning ambulance with a few additional elements installed for practice, of course. Mounted to the ceiling of the ambulance is a 360-degree camera and two-way microphone. Just like the patient simulators, this gives faculty the chance to teach, direct and observe students without being in the room. Students train by loading and unloading the ambulance, and get used to the physical limitations that come with caring for patients in the enclosed space. “The room gives students the ability to practice again and again,” Harmon said. “It is fatiguing, but just like anything else, muscle memory can be your biggest aid.”
(Clockwise from top left) Connected and ready to go; a line of patient simulators await procedures by students in the program. With newborn patient simulators, students have the ability to practice delivery and neonatal procedures. The patients may be simulators, but the medical tools (like the vital sign monitoring systems shown) are very real. Emergency Medical Services and Management students practice essential procedures in the tight confines of a real ambulance.
The ambulance, stocked with all the necessary equipment and simulation medicine, has a particular order to it—where everything goes and where it can be found. “The organization of an ambulance is important,” Harmon said. “Especially in high-stress environments, the right kind of tools and medicine need to be found as quickly as possible.”
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and everything in between Though simulators and medicine must act as a stand-in for the real thing, everything else within the building is real. The beds, EKG machines, examination tables, drug dispensing machines and everything in between are true, genuine equipment. It only further advances the school’s mission to provide the most realistic training, Harmon said. After having trained at Lees-McRae, graduates in the field will know how to work current hospital equipment, he added. “Though specific hospital protocol may vary, how to use the equipment will generally stay the same.” One of the newest pieces of equipment within the school is a customized, $100,000 drug-dispensing machine by the company Omnicell. Lees-McRae is one of few schools in the nation to have the equipment in their training center. The machine allows for the control and inventory of all drugs, and in some cases, supplies.
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Students can practice requesting and finding, usually under pressure, the right medicine needed for the job—which can be a trickier task than one may imagine. “There are a lot of drugs that sound alike, and look alike,” Harmon said. “Mistakes are made, but isn’t it better to make those mistakes and learn in this environment?” Harmon said the tools and technology students can practice with has come a long way since his early days. “Back when I was learning, we used to perform on teddy bears,” he said. “To say the technology has come a long way would be a vast understatement.” From details big and small, the May School of Nursing and Health Sciences will continue to develop new and cutting-edge ways to give its students the most true-tolife training before heading into the world of professional health care.
Class notes You’ve learned about the many new things happening in and around campus, now what about you? Submit your own class notes and updates at lmc.edu/updateinfo.
1954 Peggy Odom Kellar (Rockingham, NC) retired
from the library in Wadesboro and then spent some time living on the coast. She is now back in Rockingham and in her spare time she volunteers at the hospital and with hospice.
1959/60 Lex Kelly ’59 and Mary Crowder Kelly ’60 (Whispering Pines, NC) have been together for 58 years after meeting at Lees-McRae. Mary has a master’s degree with a gifted and talented component. She has won many awards in mock trial competitions, including one national first place.
1966 Stephen H. Blankenship (Rock Hill, NC) received
his Master of Liberal Arts from Winthrop University in December 2016 at the age of 70!
Billy Fred Warf (Midlothian, VA) retired as the Vice President and General Auditor of Dominion Energy.
1967 Ronald M. Pittman (Raleigh, NC) retired in 2009
as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources with Jefferson Pilot Financial, following 34 years of service. Since his retirement, he has spent many years cruising on the East Coast of the U.S. aboard the “Anna Bee.” He has been married for 42 years and has two grandchildren.
1968 Michael Robert Herbaugh (Beaufort, SC) retired
after 36 years with the Federal Civil Service with the Department of Defense. He took legal custody of his grandniece in 2013 and moved to Beaufort in 2015.
1970 Jim Ward Hall (Taylorsville, NC) retired in 2016 after 40 years of industrial engineering. He is loving retirement!
William D. Westmoreland (Knoxville, TN) retired
from ordained ministry in the PC USA in December
2015 and moved back to Knoxville. He graduated from ETSU with a bachelor’s degree in education and began work on a master’s degree at the University of Tennessee in 1973. He taught school in the east Tennessee area until 1979 and then enrolled at Louisville Presbyterian Seminary, where he graduated with a Master of Divinity in 1982. He served churches in Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio for 35 years. He has two sons, Sam and Aaron. Sam is a sports writer and editor for the Bleacher Report and Aaron is a PhD candidate at Oxford University in the United Kingdom.
Richard Everett Soderquist (Columbia, SC) is a
proud parent of his children, Conner and Kate. Conner is in medical school and Kate is a teacher in New York City.
1971 Ann Marshall Long (Moneta, VA) moved to
Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia where the lake is “perfect no matter what time of year.” Her sons are married—one lives in Durham and the other in London, England with his three sons, ages 12, 10 and 8.
Michael L. Turner (Jefferson City, TN) was named
the Head Football Coach at Carson-Newman University in November 2016. After Lees-McRae, he went on to play football at Carson-Newman. In 1975, he returned to Lees-McRae as the Dean of Men and the Assistant Football Coach. He is now in his 34th year with the Carson-Newman football program. He and his wife, Conni, have two children, Jenni and Josh.
1972 Cindy Jones Long (Pittsboro, NC) moved back to North Carolina after living 30 years in Indiana.
Carl Evans McNeill (Richmond, VA) has had a
25-year career in the radio business and has since become a co-founder of an advertising and branding business in 2001. He remains an advisor to the company, Free Agents Marketing.
1973 William James Chandler (Wedowee, AL) retired
as a wildlife biologist from Georgia Power in July 2015 after 38 years of service.
’71 Michael L. Turner is in his 34th year with the Carson-Newman football program and was named head coach in 2016.
In remembrance Gifts made in remembrance of a classmate or friend of the College are listed in the Honor Roll of Donors at lmc.edu/honorroll.
ALUMNI Mike Bujewski ’77 Mary Ruth Honeycutt ’52 Emily Knox Wright ’46 Betty F. Johnson ’46 Janice Buchanan ’69 Donald Ray Roberts ’49 Earl Louis Tester ’52 Linda Poe Kilby ’67 Barbara Brown Norris ’60 Jo Ann Griffin ’54 Charles M. Eller ’48 Brenda Mustard Noll ’58 Coleman M. Keeter ’77 Max R. Sproles ’53 Mary Hartsog Norman ’38 Jane Coleman Conder ’58 James Thomas Taylor ’59 Grace Eifort Nelson ’49
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1975
A bobcat legacy
Deena Powell Chambers (Statesville, NC) retired in
December 2016 for a second time! After her first retirement, she worked for five and half years at Mitchell Community College as an administrative assistant for the fire and EMS training programs. She is looking forward to traveling more now. She now serves as the president of the Lees-McRae alumni board and loves serving her alma mater in this capacity.
John Michael Rippy (Newport News, VA) currently works at Langley Air Force Base.
1976 Logan Howell (Raleigh, NC) graduated from the University
Remembering Fred I. Dickerson On Aug. 21, 2017, Lees-McRae mourned the loss of legend, Fred Irvin Dickerson. At the age of 106, Dickerson epitomized Bobcat spirit until his passing. Born May 6, 1911, the Greensboro, North Carolina, native attended Reidsville High School before pursuing higher education. At the time, Lees-McRae College was only a junior college, which meant students only attended for two years. Dickerson graduated with his fellow 13 graduates in 1931. While at Lees-McRae, Dickerson quickly made his mark in the athletics history books. He played basketball, track and football. He quarterbacked the first Lees-McRae football team and scored the first touchdown ever by a player with an 83-yard kickoff return. Following Lees-McRae, Dickerson went on to receive his bachelor’s degree from Davidson College and his master’s degree from Louisiana State University. During that time, he continued to excel in athletics by competing in football, basketball and track. His post-college days were rich in leading higher education athletic programs as well as time spent in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Dickerson’s professional experience spanned 43 years and included positions at Mars Hill Junior College, Davis and Elkins College, Mars Hill High School and as Lt. Commander in the U.S. Naval Aviation Cadet Training Program. During the 43-year span, Dickerson worked at Lees-McRae twice for a total of 19 years. First as the athletic and physical education director from 1933 to 1936 and again as the director of athletics and physical education from 1946 to 1962. In October of 1979, the Fred I. Dickerson Athletic Complex was named after him, and years later in October of 2000, the Fred I. Dickerson Athletics Hall of Fame was dedicated to the life-long athlete, mentor, coach and colleague.
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of North Carolina School of Law in 1978. After passing the bar exam in 1981 he began working at the NC Court of Appeals. He then opened his own office in 1983 and later merged with another firm to become Barrett & Howell. He has enjoyed traveling to Scotland, St. Lucia and Barbados. In his spare time he enjoys playing golf, hiking, cycling (completed 13 Multiple Sclerosis fundraising rides) and doing photography. He has raised a dog and a multitude of blue birds.
1977 Rita Overcash Akers (China Grove, NC) is employed by
the VA Medical Center. She has three daughters and two grandsons. Her husband passed away in July 2017.
Ronald Griffin (Clemmons, NC) recently returned from
Puerto Rico for work. He serves on a federal response team that responded to the 9/11 disaster, Katrina, Rita, G8 Summit, Economic Summit, and also served at several State of Union addresses, a presidential debate and other terrorism threats. He credits his degree from Lees-McRae for helping him accomplish most of this and allowing him to help people around the U.S.
James Michael Land (Raleigh, NC) retired as a public
school principal and part-time educational consultant and instruction coach with Bridgewood Educational Services. He recently moved back to Raleigh where he was born and raised.
’82 Michael Bright is co-host of the Turf’s Up radio show on iHeart Radio.
1978 Terry Humphrey (Kingsland, GA) retired as a
principal in Florida at Astronaut High School. He is currently teaching and coaching at Camden County High School in south Georgia.
1979
’09
Kimberly Heesacker Humphrey (Kingsland, GA)
recently retired from the Brevard Public School System in Titusville, Florida.
1980 Sheri Pennell Lawrence (Boone, NC) moved
back to the mountains of North Carolina from the coast to work at Appalachian State University in the Walker College of Business. She has two children—her daughter, Morgan, is a exceptional children’s teacher in Wake County and her son, Zach, is a senior marketing major at App State.
Amanda Elliott Grant works as a behavior analyst with children and families affected by autism.
1981
1993
Kimberly Pfuhl Wheeler (Columbia, SC) is
Adrian Tyrone Byrd (Jonesboro, AR) is the
currently the executive director of the Red Wolf Coalition, Inc.
1982 Michael Bright (Wrightsville Beach, NC) is the
Production Supervisor for Anchor Packaging and a college basketball official. His wife, Tyus, is mayor of Parma, MO. Their 14-year-old daughter was selected to the Elite Girls Basketball Middle School All-American games in Dallas, TX. While at Lees-McRae he played tennis and basketball.
director of a national sales team at Mirimichi Green and a co-host of the Turf’s Up radio show on iHeart Radio.
Allison McDonald Norris (Hendersonville, TN)
1983
1996
Wilbur Scott Sherrill (Mooresville, NC) has
Alvaro Cabrera (Scarsdale, NY), although originally
completed 30 years of teaching that includes stints at three schools, along with coaching multiple sports. He also has served 14 years as a head football coach. He won the USA Powerlifting competition overall best lifter award at the Fall Festival of Power in Lincolnton, NC. He and his wife have been married for 31 years and have three sons.
1984 Gerald and Ann Reynolds Brock (Apex, NC) are
happy for their daughter, Kelli, who was married in April 2016. Kelli and her husband, Eric, live in Camp Lejeune where he is a Corporal in the U.S. Marines and she is studying for her pharmaceutical tech certification.
Robert Bruce Smith (High Point, NC) retired in November 2015.
1992 Corious Brieon Thomas (Albany, GA) retired from
the U.S. Army in 2015 and will graduate from Appalachian State University in 2018.
moved to Hendersonville over the summer to be a full-time mom. Life is great!
from San Sebastian, Spain, now lives with his wife, Amaia Aramburu, and three daughters outside of New York City. After graduating with a major in communications and a minor in history, he went into a career in advertising. He currently works at Ogilvy New York as Chief Strategy Officer.
1999 Daniel Gaston Turner (Wilmington, NC) married
Jessica Lynn West on October 15, 2016 at Galatia Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He moved to Wilmington where Jessica began teaching fourth grade at Forest Hills Elementary School and where he continues to work for H&H Homes Constructors.
Marty E. Wright (Clarksville, TN) is a manager
with the Law Enforcement System at Vanderbilt University Police Department in Nashville, Tennessee.
2000 Walker Edward Cook (Moody, AL) is a principal at Odenville Middle School in Odenville, Alabama.
Fletcher Nelson, Jr. ’58 Evelyn Hughes Bramblett ’54 John Mark Ansley ’76 Jonathan P. Belton ’76 Eunice Goodman Hollowell ’52 James Ellison ’55 Robert C. Cobb, Jr. ’52 Barbara Worth Blalock Teague ’47 James Donald Williams, Sr. ’54 Elaine Ward Jackson ’47 Harold Dean Miller ’59 David C. Lockwood, Jr. ’55 Leo Cameron Pace ’68 Dr. Kent Moseley ’51 Margaret Brown Wallin ’37 Marshall “Pete” Bush ’59 Linda Ann Mullins ’59 William Fraser Eller ’56 Margaret Moore Scott ’49 Dorothy Greene Owen ’52 Betty Martin Frazier ’52 Patricia Seay Simpson ’46 Kathryn Charles Stones ’78 Paula O’Neill Sparboe ’59 Billy Lohr ’52 Lawrence Carter ’77 Brittany Danielle Richardson ’17 Robert Gary Johns ’81 Russell E. Wheeler ’35 Margaret “Pegge” Kowalski ’65 William Forrest Mauney ’91 James H. Gray ’51 Donald David Burgess ’62 Richard Stuart Daniels ’65 Travis Anderson ’02 Jean Edwards Muhleman ’59 Nancy Catherin Lackey ’47 Beulah Lowry Darr ’55 Nadine Grindstaff Fisher ’52 Alma Poole Stalls ’53 Jo Neal Robinson ’46 Agnes McKee Mooring Venable ’61 Peter Florea ’66 Robert “Cam” Morgan ’73 Sheila McCoury Perry ’69 Willie Mae Floyd Vanghan ’57 James Charles Harris ’79 Elbert L. Peter, Jr. ’50 David Page Choate ’56 Joan Carolyn Michaels ’77 Colonel Vance Ollis ’58 Rita Oakes ’78 Carlos McLean ’58 Dorothy Jean Williams Wilkinson ’43 Diane West Oldham ’59 Mary Stevenson Shook ’41 George Edward Dobyns ’55 Billy M. Jackson ’60 Melissa Dare Buchanan ’84 Clinton LeGette ’54 Maxine Morris Perez ’48 Rome Earl Jones ’54 Richard William Kepley ’51 James “Lefty” Stevens ’68 Thomas Maye ’67 Dorothy Nifong Dickens ’59 James “Buddy” Jones ’56 Louis VonCanon Holshouser ’58 Mary Ellen Ingle Padgitt ’40
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Richard Byrd Garrison ’06 Fred I. Dickerson ’31 Shela Moffett-Fabri ’93 Fred West Lowe ’48 Bernard D. Bare ’51 Don Elmore ’81 John H. Parker, Jr. ’59 Alvin E. Dresser ’41 Morris Stephenson ’56 Sam Cartner ’41 Derrick Lee Davis ’67 David H. Sapp ’53 Revaughn Taylor Snow ’58 James M. Heaton, Jr. ’45 Emily Jane Bolinger Crenshaw ’53 George E. Saleem ’48 Marsha Hensley Rominger ’64 Christine Bell Whitehead ’98 Mary Frances Brewer Gragg ’55 Louvenia Presnell Martin ’45 Billy E. Garland ’49 Shirley Temple Davis ’57 Donald W. Shamel ’55 Ragland N. Fletcher ’38 Leon Harding Christopher III ’09 Murray Smith ’75
07/28/17 08/21/17 09/05/17 09/22/17 10/03/17 10/03/17 10/04/17 10/11/17 10/19/17 10/21/17 11/15/17 11/17/17 11/19/17 11/20/17 11/30/17 01/10/18 01/16/18 01/19/18 01/25/18 01/25/18 01/30/18 02/05/18 02/05/18 02/21/18 02/25/18 04/06/18
Michael C. Jones (Charlotte, NC) celebrated
his fifteenth wedding anniversary with his wife, Kristen, whom he met at Lees-McRae in 2000. He also surpassed the 15-year mark in the financial services industry, specifically the mortgage sector.
Michael Gregory King ’01 and Angie Brisco King ’99 (Fairfax, VA) have two children, ages 13 and
11. They moved back to the continental U.S. from Hawaii and are trying to reconnect.
Ashley Mixon Wynne (Knoxville, TN) is a stay-at-
home mom with her two-year-old son, Benjamin. She has been married for six and a half years.
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She does freelance work for the Observer News Enterprise. She and her wife, a probation and parole officer, celebrated their third wedding anniversary.
2006 Mary Anne Millender Veach (Union, OH) has four children and is a sales director with Mary Kay.
2007 Tamara Rose Earp (Hudson, NC) and her
husband, James, had a their third child, Gavin Kace, on June 17, 2016.
Tonika Nicole Gillis (High Point, NC) is a law
2002
enforcement officer and a USAF veteran.
Lori Horton Carey (Lexington, SC) works as a
2008
department coordinator for the University of South Carolina’s history department. She was married in July 2017.
2003 Stephanie Dunbar Siam (Muscat, Oman) earned
FRIENDS McNeely Crouse Lucy Dr. James Gordon Stuart Gwen Deaton James M. McCarl Shirley Clein Goodman John R. “Jack” King Budd Mayer Margaret Thompson Tate Jack Doggett Dr. J. Thomas Ratchford Donald Price Margaret Hallman Baucom Plato Wilson D. Reid Weedon, Jr. Donald M. Rorke Mary Lee Bass John William Crutcher Edward J. Bauman Rosie Smith Geneva Mohr William Benners Snow Fred Legge Callahan Nanette Mayer
2001
her Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing in 2007. Since 2012, she has been an assistant language lecturer for the Language Center at Sultan Oaboos University in Muscat, Oman. She lives with her husband, Mazen, and daughter, Laila.
Heather Camper Higgins (Roanoke, VA) welcomed
her third child, Metter Adriene “Rose” Wiggins, on July 27, 2017. Her other daughters, Cindel (11) and Willow (4) are so excited for their new sister.
2004 Garland Adam Roberts (Durham, NC) recently
married Kristen and is an employee for the Town of Carrboro. He is a member of Chapel Hill Lacrosse Club and Raleigh Box Lacrosse Club.
2005 Lindsay Michelle Robins (Newton, NC) opened Red Leaf Artist Collective, a small art gallery showcasing the work of local artists in Newton.
Shaquera Alls Clawson (Banner Elk, NC) accepted a position as Assistant Director of Student Financial Aid at Appalachian State University.
2009 Amanda Elliot Grant (Denton, TX) works as
a behavior analyst with children and families affected by autism.
Joshua Ryan Rigsby (Asheville, NC) and his wife, Karen, just had their third child, Maeve.
2010 Megan E. Hall ’10 and Trevor Bruffy ’08 (Savannah,
GA) were married in October 2016 and bought their first home in the same month. Megan works in executive communications at Savannah College of Art and Design. Trevor works as an academic advisor at Georgia Southern University.
Maribeth Novak Futrelle (Raleigh, NC) has her
master’s degree in nursing from Rush University School of Nursing. She recently moved from working at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago to the Duke health care system in the Raleigh area.
Dale G. Parker (Haymarket, VA) currently works as
a pre-academy director and assistant technical director at the Virginia Soccer Association. He continues to give back to the Lees-McRae soccer team, since captaining the Bobcats in the 2009 NCAA National Championship game.
Nathan Smith (Winston-Salem, NC) married
Michelle Lucas ’12 on October 22, 2016 at the Overlook Barn on Beech Mountain.
Maribeth Novak Futrelle earned her master’s degree in nursing from Rush University School of Nursing and works in the Duke health care system in the Raleigh area.
2011 Brian Taylor Kirby (Hickory, NC) is the Director of Oncology and Infusion Services at Catawba Valley Medical Center.
Sharon G. Nelson (Drexel, NC) became a full-
time instructor of nursing in the May School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Lees-McRae in January 2017.
2012 Charles “Madison” Thompson ’12 and Heather Leupold Thompson ’10 (Durham, NC) enjoy
visiting the mountains. They have three children that they recently visited with in the summer, and enjoyed watching them fall in love with the same beauty and peacefulness that they fell in love with during their time there.
Dennis C. Lawson and Amanda Renee Stewart Lawson (Belmont, NC) celebrated their one year anniversary. He also accepted a new position with Wells Fargo as a Business Support Consultant for victim fraud detection.
2013
Introducing alumni pinnacles You may have noticed something new about The Pinnacles! Well, you’d be right! Introducing Alumni Pinnacles, a special publication dedicated to all things alumni, events and important announcements. Keep a look out for Alumni Pinnacles in your mailbox twice a year, and for even more updates from your LeesMcRae family. Be sure to follow Lees-McRae Alumni Association on Facebook.
2015 Laren Ruth Evans (Blowing Rock, NC) works at Tweetsie Railroad and is currently attending Appalachian State University for a degree in Speech Pathology.
Brittany Walker March (Walkertown, NC) after
Darrell James “DJ” Brown, III (Inman, SC)
accepted a new position as the Assistant Principal at Holly Springs Motlow Elementary School in Campobello, South Carolina, where he served the four years prior as the physical education teacher.
Nolan Christopher McDaniel (New York, NY)
recently relocated to Manhattan after graduating from the University of Tennessee College of Law to pursue a career in education reform with Success Academy Charter Schools.
graduation landed a job at a law firm in WinstonSalem, North Carolina, where she has worked for almost three years. She recently married her best friend, Mark, and they have bought their first home.
Emily E. Tingle (Portland, OR) bought a home in
Portland and is working at a non-profit in their administration and accounting department.
2016 Jordan Reed Banta (Gunnison, Co) moved to
2014 Richard M. Carpenter (Kenai, AK) married
Dustin Michael Barrow (Banner Elk, NC) accepted
Deanna Marie Crone (North Providence, RI)
the Assistant Men’s Lacrosse Coach position at Lees-McRae.
Carolyn Blackwell Edwards (Drayton, SC)
married Gene Edwards III (Trey) on September 17, 2016.
recently moved to Rhode Island and is working in Boston, Massachusetts designing invitations for all occasions.
Stephanie Renee Garris (Troutman, NC) is a vet
Zachary
2017
and
Katelin
Rooney
Cummings
(Grovetown, GA) were married after graduation and in the winter of 2015, Zachary joined the Navy. He has served for nearly two years and is stationed in Georgia, where they live with their golden retriever puppy, Murphy.
Jessie Jewell Davis DeLapp (Lewisville, NC) after
Pinnacles Lees-McRae College Magazine
President
Barry M. Buxton, PhD
Vice President of Strategic Planning and Effectiveness Blaine J. Hansen
Colorado and is working with Crested Butte Mountain Resort with travel and sales.
alumna Emmaleigh Allen and completed his master’s degree in geography at Appalachian State University in May 2016, as well as obtained a certification in urban planning. He is currently the City Planner for the city of Soldotna.
The
tech at a large animal veterinarian office.
Taylor Alexandria Bost (Asheville, NC) accepted
a position at Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina in July 2017.
Bailey Goforth (Winston-Salem, NC) runs Rosie’s Hallmark in Winston-Salem.
Creative Director Lauren Foster
Contributors
Billy Carver, PhD Sammy Croft ’17 Jason Els ’15 Sara Harkey Nina Mastandrea Mitchell Mullins Justin Reich Gerry Wall Jayne Yocum ’18
Cover Photo by Justin Reich
About the Publication
The Pinnacles is published by the Office of Marketing and Communications. Please send all communications, including letters to the editor and questions, to communications@lmc.edu or:
graduation accepted a position with the Lexington City School System. In August 2015, she won the Beginning Teacher of the Year Award.
Sydney Renee Harrison (Banner Elk, NC)
Emily Faye Hopper Hendrickson (Charlottesville,
Christopher M. Hoover (Hickory, NC) is the
The Pinnacles Lees-McRae College PO Box 128 Banner Elk, NC 28604
Chartella Dominque Taylor (Winston-Salem,
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VA) lives in Charlottesville with her husband, Tim. She works in the family partners department at the local Habitat for Humanity.
Kacey and Shelby Endicott Leonard (Southport, NC) welcomed their first child in February 2016.
works with OASIS, Inc. as their Client Services Assistant.
Program Director of The Meeting Place Mission, an agency that serves people who are homeless. NC) after graduating in December 2016 began working at Wells Fargo.
PO Box 128 | Banner Elk, NC 28604
Throwback to Many refer to it as the ‘heart of campus’—and for good reason! Formerly Carson Library, the Dotti M. Shelton Learning Commons features updated classrooms, study areas and a market (for those late-night study snack cravings) all complementing a reorganized space in a fresh, modern design.