The Pinnacles Magazine - Spring/Summer 2012

Lees-McRae College Magazine | Spring/Summer 2012

Dan and Dianne May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Grand opening and dedication July 12

From the

President In this we believe: Environmental Stewardship

O

President Barry Buxton talks to students on Mountain Day about the tradition of celebrating the ancient mountains in which the College resides.

ne of the enduring values of LeesMcRae College is environmental stewardship. The faculty, students, staff, and administration are dedicated to protecting and nurturing our natural resources. Our College motto….In Montibus, Ex Montibus, Pro Montibus (In the Mountains, Of the Mountains, For the Mountains) speaks to our location and our special commitment to our natural surroundings. This was true at our founding in 1900 and it is true today.

Examples of Lees-McRae’s commitment to environmental stewardship include our Biology Field Station, where Professor Stewart Skeate leads students in a variety of longitudinal research projects related to area flora and fauna.

Professor Skeate is also very involved in studying the endangered bat population and has constructed and installed custom designed bat houses for the historic Mill Pond area on the 450 acre Lees-McRae campus. Our new Outdoor Adventure Studies minor degree, under the dynamic leadership of Dee Thomas, does a remarkable job of introducing students to the beauty and fragility of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Professor Michael Joslin, who directs the Appalachian Studies Program, chronicles in stunning photography the Roan Mountain Massif and does many public awareness programs every year about the mountain environment. Professor Gene Spears directs the entire Division of Science and Math and oversees one of the most environmentally focused curriculum concentrations at the College. Lees-McRae students created and manage a campus recycling program and are otherwise dedicated to a green future.

On the administrative front, the College has completed Phase II of an energy efficiency transition with our steam plant, and when Phase III is completed, we will be more energy efficient and leave a much smaller footprint on the planet.

2 | The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012

Lees-McRae is now one of the nation’s leading pet-friendly campuses! Allowing students to bring their pets to college, under a strict set of conditions and guidelines, has proven very popular. Since the program began last year, under the watchful eye of Dean of Students Allison Norris, we have experienced no major problems and the first pet-friendly dorm has been full with a waiting list and the need to now expand the program to other residences.

Seeing faculty and staff bring their pets to campus makes a powerful statement to students about the interrelationship of all living creatures and the joy and lessons we derive from our animal friends. How can we be good stewards of the environment if we are insensitive to the animals around us?

We often like to say that “we are blessed and we are grateful.” For many years, we have needed a new home for the Wildlife Rehabilitation Program at Lees-McRae College. Our program, under the direction of Professor Nina Fischesser, has been operating out of a double-wide trailer. This facility has been “non-compliant” with the Town of Banner Elk Building Code Ordinances. While the Town Council has been gracious in granting the College a series of annual temporary exemptions, patience has been growing thin. To the rescue come Dan and Dianne May, Florida residents and special friends of Lees-McRae College. The new Dan and Dianne May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center on the Elk River Preserve, scheduled for dedication on July 12th, will provide a new home for one of the most unique and popular academic programs at Lees-McRae. Last academic year, Professor Fischesser and her dedicated students restored to health and returned to nature over 1,000 animals! These students represent the very best in environmental stewardship and serve as great examples for the Lees-McRae learning and service community.

There are many things to love about Lees-McRae College, but none more important than our centuryold commitment to environmental stewardship.

Please come join us on July 12th as we celebrate the dedication of the new Dan and Dianne May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center along the beautiful Elk River.

Upward and onward,

Barry M. Buxton, Ph.D. President

The Alumni Magazine of Lees-McRae College

Contents

Editor Meghan Wright ’06 Contributing Writers Amanda Goble ’12. Megan Hall ’10, Dr. Michael Joslin, Whitney Noble, Robin Olson, Michelle Vance Scott ’86/’90 Contributing Photographers Josh Brown, Phillip Greene, Dr. Michael Joslin, Robin Olson The Pinnacles is published for alumni and friends of the College by the Office of Communications.

Please send all communications including questions, class notes and letters to the editor to:

The Pinnacles

Lees-McRae College

P.O. Box 128

Banner Elk, NC 28604

or communications@lmc.edu

14 18

President Dr. Barry M. Buxton

Board of Trustees Executive Committee Mr. Tommy Brigham ’72, Chair Mr. Joe Stahl, Vice-Chair Mr. Les Broussard ’90 Dr. Ed Hood Mr. Robert Jepson Mr. Harvey Lowd Dr. Ed Shelton ’60/’95 Mrs. Barbara Miller Whitton Mr. Parker Grubbs ’95 Mr. Scott Barrett

16

Alumni Board Executive Committee Catherine Button Campe ’89/’91 - President Karen Gobble Meade ’86 - President Elect Martha W. McAfee ’86/’03 - Vice President Deena Powell Chambers ’75 - Secretary

Office of Advancement Caroline O. Hart, Vice President for Advancement Frankie Needham ’55h, Director of Advancement Services Michelle V. Scott ’86, ’90, Assistant Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations Meghan Wright ’06, Director of Communications Lauren Foster, Communications Coordinator Joshua Brown, Web Developer

Cover Image by Robin Olson Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute Director Nina Fischesser (seated) and students (from left) Chloe Burdick, Amanda Goble ’12, and Eric Rayfield with ambassador animals on the porch of the new May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.

12 24 Features 9 14 16 18

Student Internship Program Appalachian Heritage Week Alumni Centenarians May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

Departments 4 12 20 24 28

Campus News Athletics News Donor Impact Alumni Relations Alumni Class Notes

Campus News

Board of Trustees adds seven new members The Lees-McRae College Board of Trustees welcomed seven new members over the last several months. Scott Barrett, Donna Isley Mason ’78, Dianne May, Paul Stephenson ’95, Ken Sullivan ’59, McNair Tornow, and Delbert Williamson are the Board’s newest members.

President Barry M. Buxton identified strengthening the Board of Trustees as a key point in his revitalization strategy for the College.

To that end, the Board has added eleven new members in President Buxton’s first 24 months in office with board diversity being a focus of recruitment.

Scott Barrett is a former executive of JM Family Enterprises (a private distributor of Toyotas in the Southeast), Republic Industries, Blockbuster Entertainment, and Accenture. Scott and his wife, Kerry, reside in Banner Elk, NC and Parkland, FL. They have one son who currently serves in the U.S. Navy.

BJS International until his retirement. He lives in Columbia, SC with his wife, Ann. McNair Tornow, a graduate of Wake Forest University and Wake Forest University School of Law, began practicing law in January 1972. The law firm of Tornow & Kangur, LLP with T. Thomas Kangur, Jr., Partner was established in June 1997. Born and reared in Laurinburg, NC, Mr. Tornow and his wife, Debi, now reside in WinstonSalem, NC and have a retirement home on Beech Mountain.

Delbert Williamson and his wife, Barbara, reside in Wellington, FL and Banner Elk, NC. He graduated from Finlay College with a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering. In 1959, he joined the General Electric Company and held a variety of management positions for several years. In 1998, he was appointed president of GE Power Systems Global Commercial Operations and held this position until retiring in 2004.

Donna Isley Mason ’78 and husband, George, reside in Lexington, KY and Blowing Rock, NC. She is employed by Kentucky Paternity Acknowledgement Program as a program manager.

Dianne May, originally from Detroit, MI, attended Wayne State University and Oakland University. Mrs. May and her husband, Dan, live in Bonita Springs, FL and Linville, NC. The Dan and Dianne May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at Lees-McRae is named in their honor.

Paul Stephenson ’95 is director of dealer operations for Cary Oil. He and his wife, Kim, reside in Cary, NC with their three daughters.

Stephenson finished a three-year term as the Alumni Board Representative on the Board of Trustees and is now an at-large member.

Captain (Ret.) Ken Sullivan ’59 served 28 years in the U.S. Navy.

Prior to his military service, he was a 1959 LMC graduate and also attended High Point University, graduating in 1961 with a B.S. degree in Industrial Management. Capt. Sullivan was a U.S. Navy Fellow at UNC Chapel Hill, earning an MBA in 1974. After his military service, Capt. Sullivan enjoyed a second career as Director of Operations for

Faculty News and Notes Dr. Michael Joslin, professor of humanities

and director of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia, wrote “Service Through Opportunity,” an article published in the Winter 2012 issue of Now and Then: The Appalachian Magazine, and one in the Winter 2012 issue of The Draft Horse Journal, “I Do.”

Dr. Ken Craig, associate professor of Religious Studies, participated on a panel at Wake Forest University entitled “Teaching Biblical Studies: Reflecting on the Past, Preparing for the Future,” in April 2011. The other panelists were from Princeton Theological Seminary, High Point University, and Wake Forest University. The symposium honored Professor Fred L. Horton on the occasion of his retirement after 41 years of teaching at Wake Forest University.

4 | The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012

Barrett

Mason

May

Sullivan

Tornow

Williamson

Out of the classroom, Dr. Craig is an active competitor at the state level in tennis. He competes in skill level tournaments, and is rated at the 4.0 level in singles. Last year, he finished the season at #7 out of 177 players in the state at the 4.0 singles level, and finished in second place in the State Clay Court Championship in Charlotte. He’s currently ranked #3 in the state of North Carolina (men’s 4.0 singles).

Dr. Michael Vines, associate professor of

religious studies, presented “Reading Right: Understanding the Gospels within Their Literary Context” during The Institute for Faith and Learning Lectures at Lenoir-Rhyne University in November. In the lecture, Dr. Vines showed similarities between Mark and Jewish novelistic literature and the martyr takes of II and IV Maccabees.

Stephenson

Nina Fischesser, director of the Blue Ridge

Wildlife Institute, is attending Royal Roads University, British Columbia’s university for working professionals, where she will earn a Master’s degree in Environmental Education and Communication. Her thesis is titled, “Wildlife Rehabilitation in Higher Education: A Detailed Review of Lees-McRae College Wildlife Rehabilitation Concentration.” This study looks at the strengths and weaknesses of the wildlife rehabilitation program at LeesMcRae College through the eyes of the 150 students who have completed the basic wildlife rehabilitation courses, and faculty connected to the program, through survey questionnaires.

Dr. Robert Thrasher, sport administration

program coordinator, presented a lecture “College Students Gambling” at the 64th Annual NCAAHPERD “Movement Matters” Convention in Winston-Salem in November.

Campus News

Office of Academic Affairs announces new academic programs for fall 2012

Drs. Carr and Craig receive first Faculty Scholars Program minigrants

Communication Arts and Art and Design programs combine to become new major

Dr. Tessa Carr, assistant professor of performing arts, and Dr. Ken Craig, professor of religious studies, were the first recipients of the Faculty Scholars Program, a program underwritten by Ms. Deborah Williams, member of the Board of Trustees. Each faculty recipient received a minigrant to support their research and scholarly work.

Former academic programs, Art and Design and Communication Arts, have been combined to create a new major – Communication Arts and Design. Students majoring in this program will have the opportunity to select from three concentrations: Communication Arts, Art and Design, and Creative Marketing. The Communication Arts concentration is designed for the student who desires a focus on communication, from written to digital formats, including digital design, graphic design, photography, journalism, film and video, and web design. Students who desire to focus their studies in graphic design, fine art, and visual arts will enjoy the Art and Design concentration. The Creative Marketing concentration is attractive for students who want to combine their interest in business, graphic design, and advertising. Pending approval by the College’s accrediting body, the Southern Association of College and Schools, the new Communication Arts and Design major is slated to be implemented fall 2012.

Sport Management and Sport Science programs become Sport Administration; Four concentrations offered Lees-McRae College Sport Management and Sport Science degree programs have been revised into one major program of study, Sport Administration, with four concentration areas: Coaching, Personal Training, Sports Media and Communication, and Business Management.

The implementation of the Sport Administration program is pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Lees-McRae’s accrediting agency, which is expected later this summer. The program also includes two minors; Cycling Studies and Outdoor Adventure Studies. By combining these two majors, graduates of the program will have a wide range of employment opportunities including working as a coach, personal trainer, sport communications technicians, sports writers, business administrators, marketing, and many other careers.

Division of Business Administration announces new program of study, Forensic Accounting Lees-McRae College is pleased to announce the addition of a new major program of study in Forensic Accounting that will begin enrolling students in the fall 2012 semester, pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Forensic Accounting is a growing field in the business world. Forensic accounting professionals are increasingly asked to assist in the investigation of financial and business related cases including corporate fraud and crime, both reactive and proactive. Their work includes crisis management training and consultancy, fraud investigations and risk consultancy, litigation support, money laundering investigations, pre-transactional assessments, technology audits, and asset tracing. Professionals in the field are retained by attorneys, police departments, insurance companies, government regulatory agencies, banks, courts and the private sector requiring investigative auditing.

Extended Campus Programs creates Birth-Kindergarten Education at Mayland Community College In response to community and profession needs, Lees-McRae College is pleased to announce the creation of a Bachelor of Science degree in Birth-Kindergarten Education in collaboration with Mayland Community College. This degree is designed for students who have already earned an A.A.S. degree in Early Childhood Education. The full-time program is completed in two years through evening classes held two nights a week at Mayland Community College in Spruce Pine, NC. Classroom observation, assisting and student teaching take place in the student’s own community. A Birth-Kindergarten Add-On certification is also available for those who have already completed a four-year degree in Elementary Education and who have a two-year degree in Early Childhood Education.

Dr. Carr engaged in research that resulted in a collaborative autoethnographic script and performance entitled “Hauntings: Marking Flesh, Time and Memory.” This original work explores themes of decay, loss, desire, and transformative discovery through the aging female body, incorporating research in ethnographic practice and performance. Dr. Carr’s creative performance scholarship was presented at the Patti Pace Performance Festival at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and the National Communication Association Conference in New Orleans, LA. Dr. Craig has an interest in feminist perspectives and how they provide insight not only into the Bible, but also into our culture and our world.

He participated in the Phyllis Trible Lecture Series, “The Bible and International Feminisms,” sponsored by the School of Divinity at Wake Forest University. This experience allows him to continue to modify and enhance one of his courses, “Women and Redemption,” which focuses on early and late Christianity’s ambivalent attitude toward women. Currently, Dr. Craig is currently writing a book, Judges and the Contours of Speech, which explores the interesting (and often misunderstood) relationship between narration and quoted speech.

Global Education offers opportunities for study abroad Global Education at Lees-McRae College continues to thrive on multiple fronts. Since summer of 2011, students have studied in Africa, Costa Rica, Belize, London, and Ukraine. Partnerships have been formed with Central College Abroad, Eastern European Study Abroad, Knowledge Exchange International, and the Study Abroad Institute.

The College was able to offer Russian as a foreign language to our students due to having Fulbright scholar Olga Karamalak in residence.

Faculty Senate has approved a Global Citizenship Certificate program for students interested in capitalizing on their interest in global and international education. This certificate program will begin in fall 2012. Dr. Marv Williamsen joins the Lees-McRae community as a volunteer Director of International Programs, working closely with the Global Education Committee and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012 | 5

Campus News

NCICU College Access Grant supports new Career Services programs for students

Summer Theatre opens with Seussical June 27

Career Services moved to new heights during the 2011-12 academic year, re-establishing its home from the Office of Student Development to the James H. Carson Library. The fall semester was filled with workshops and seminars geared towards career development. Students were also introduced to College Central Network, a platform for building resumes, connecting with businesses and alumni, and engaging in the job and internship process. A new course, “Career and Life Planning” was introduced during the spring semester, with 87 students participating, and will be required of all sophomore students.

Lees-McRae College Summer Theatre opens for the 2012 season on June 27 with the magical and charming Seussical, the musical.

The box office opens June 14, and tickets are available to purchase online.

The College held a Job and Internship Fair on March 14 with over 30 businesses represented and 240 students in attendance. On March 31, the first Student Leadership Retreat was held at Blowing Rock Conference Center. A career symposium including a professional dinner and fashion show was held on April 14 with over 200 students participating. The College’s career initiatives were supported by the College

Access Grant program provided by North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities.

Plans are underway to renovate a facility on campus to become the new Center for Career Exploration. Thanks to the generosity of Trustee Del Williamson and wife, Barbara, the proposed location of the Center received a new roof, and new windows and doors are part of Phase II. Director of Library Services Russell Taylor and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Kacy Crabtree serve as co-directors of Career Services.

Two students attend Summer Management Program at Wake Forest University this summer Lees-McRae junior Lindsey Bush and senior Inee Ader joined 110 undergraduate students from throughout the Southeast to participate in the Summer Management Program at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem May 29-July 3. The Summer Management Program, a five-week program, provides business education opportunities for undergraduate students who are not majoring in business or a related field.

The program is designed for students pursuing studies in the liberal arts and sciences and who desire to challenge themselves to become more competitive on graduate school applications and in the job market. Acceptance is based on four criteria: academic success, leadership achievements, being classified as a rising junior or senior, and academic major.

A junior honor student from Catawba, NC, Lindsey is majoring in Pre-Professional Biology, preparing for graduate school so she can become a physician assistant. Lindsey is a Resident Assistant, member of Order of the Tower, and an intern in the Office of the President.

Inee, a senior from Santa Fe, NM is majoring in Pre-Professional Biology. She is a Bonner Leader with AmeriCorps and President/Captain of the LeesMcRae Quidditch Team/Club. In addition, Inee is an honor student and cyclist. After graduation, Inee plans to pursue her Master’s degree in Naturopathy.

Both students will have the opportunity to further their education through this robust study 6 | The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012

in business. The curriculum for the Summer Management Program consists of courses such as Accounting, Business Law, Business Life Skills, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Information System Management, Marketing, and Strategic Management.

Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Kacy Crabtree said, “I am excited about the partnership formed between Lees-McRae College and Wake Forest University. This is an educational opportunity for our students to gain new knowledge and skills, understand the value of business education, and learn strategies on how to transfer business concepts into their chosen career path.” The concept of a partnership stemmed from mutual professional conversations between Biology Adjunct Faculty Steve Saunders, Star Kepner, chair of Business Administration, and Steve Reinemund, Dean of the Schools of Business at Wake Forest University.

Seussical lovingly brings to life all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters. Narrated by The Cat in the Hat himself, the story is centered on Horton, the Elephant, who is challenged with guarding an egg while protecting all the people of Whoville. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged and emerge triumphant in a story that makes you laugh and cry. Show times for Seussical are June 27-30 at 7:30 p.m., June 28 at 10 a.m., and June 30 and July 1 at 2 p.m.

On July 13, the side splitting comedy See How They Run takes to the Hayes Auditorium stage.

This comedy is sure to delight audiences.

Director Janet Speer says, “It’s the funniest play I’ve ever directed!”

This fast paced farce centers on a young vicar’s wife who is trying to fit into a small tightly knit town.

The story moves into light but misinterpreted scandal, mistaken identities, the mugging of the good vicar, and the church matron’s introduction to heavy drinking. Show times for See How They Run are July 13-14 and July 18-20 at 7:30 p.m. and July 18-19 at 2 p.m.

Rounding out the 2012 season is perhaps the most influential musical of the twentieth century, Show Boat. Based on Edna Ferber’s bestselling novel of the same name, the musical follows the lives of the performers, stagehands, and dock workers on the Cotton Blossom, a Mississippi River show boat, over a span of nearly fifty years, from 1880 to 1927. Show Boat tells the story of a showboat family and their struggles with gambling, race, infidelity and poverty. Show times for Show Boat are Aug. 1-4 at 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 2, 3 and 5 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are available to purchase online at www.lmst.lmc.edu or at the box office. For pricing, seating options, and box office hours, visit the website or call the box office at (828) 898-8709.

Campus News

Bobcat Cycling Team sponsor DeFeet International Inc. named Small Business of the Year in 2011 by Business North Carolina magazine Business North Carolina named DeFeet International Inc. Small Business of the Year in 2011. Founder and CEO Shane Cooper is a member of the Lees-McRae College Bicycle Advisory Council and DeFeet is a leading sponsor of the Bobcat Cycling Program. Cooper was also a guest lecturer in the Principles of Bicycling course, one of the foundation courses of the Cycling Studies curriculum at Lees-McRae. Located in Hildebran, NC, DeFeet was founded in 1992 by Cooper and now outfits some of the top professional cyclists in the world. In fact, Tour de France winner Cadel Evans crossed the finish line last year wearing a pair of DeFeet socks.

DeFeet’s success didn’t come easy. It’s a story of perseverance. The company endured a fire, a flood, and theft, ending up with losses Cooper for several years. But since turning a profit again in 2008 and each year since, DeFeet is back on track. According to Business North Carolina, DeFeet saw a 23% increase in revenue in 2010. The small company of 35 employees manufactures all of their products in the U.S. and now sells to distributors around the globe. For more information about DeFeet, visit www.defeet.com.

Three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond visits campus, teaches Foundations of Cycling course Lees-McRae College, in partnership with the Avery Chamber of Commerce, hosted cycling legend Greg LeMond on March 24 for a fundraising dinner and mountain bike ride that supported the Bobcat Cycling program. While staying on campus, LeMond also taught courses for the Principles of Bicycling course that is part of the Cycling Studies curriculum at Lees-McRae. “We are delighted to have three-time Tour de France champion and business President Barry Buxton, Debbie Buxton and Greg LeMond entrepreneur Greg LeMond as an adjunct faculty member at Lees-McRae College. His wealth of experience, both as a cycling competitor and successful businessman, will be invaluable to our Cycling Studies students,” said President Barry M. Buxton. “Having a cycling icon like Greg LeMond at Lees-McRae is another giant step toward our ultimate goal of being the top college for cycling in America.

Our thanks go out to Greg for his recent donation of LeMond Fitness Trainers and we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship.”

Greg LeMond was the first American and the first non-European to win the Tour de France in 1986, a feat that he repeated in 1989 and 1990. A successful entrepreneur, Greg LeMond founded LeMond Bicycles in 1990 and LeMond Fitness in 2002. LeMond Fitness became a sponsor of the Lees-McRae College Cycling Team last year with the donation of 10 LeMond Revolution trainers and two Rev Master spin cycles.

New Opportunity School for Women Founder Jane Stephenson ’57 wins AARP national contest The New Opportunity School for Women (NOSW) in Berea, KY and at Lees-McRae College received an early gift last holiday season. NOSW founder and LeesMcRae College Trustee Emeritus and alumna Jane Stephenson ’57 won the AARP Create Stephenson The Good’s national contest in December celebrating volunteerism and stories of service. Stephenson was the Win & Do Good contest winner, and won a total of $15,000 for the New Opportunity School for Women.

Stephenson’s story was chosen from more than 1,800 volunteer stories submitted online from individuals across the country.

She was one of seven national finalists, and her story about the New Opportunity School for Women, a career and leadership development program for low-income women in the central Appalachian region, received the most votes online by the public to become the grand prize winner. Stephenson founded the organization in 1987 and expanded to Lees-McRae in 2005.

The New Opportunity School for Women provides a free, three-week program to teach women basic skills to continue their education or get a job, including computer, math, interview and leadership skills, and more.

They also provide basic health services, place participants in an internship and offer cultural events, among other support.

“Almost 700 women have graduated from our three-week residential program. A recent survey of the Kentucky grads indicated 79 percent are employed, in school, or both,” wrote Stephenson in her winning entry.

Create The Good (www.CreateTheGood. org), which sponsored the Win & Do Good contest, is a unique effort by AARP to help people 50+ find simple ways to give back to their community, whether they have five minutes, five hours or five days.

It’s not too late to apply!

Your Future Elevated

It’s not too late to apply and receive scholarships for fall 2012!

Refer interested students to the Office of Admissions at (828) 898-5241 or www.go.lmc.edu/apply.

The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012 | 7

Enrollment Updates

New Vice President for Enrollment Management joins Lees-McRae College team

Getting the Word Out!

Ginger Hansen brings new energy to enrollment and retention initiatives Ginger Hansen joined the Lees-McRae team in September 2010 as vice president for enrollment management and is enjoying her time in the beautiful High Country of North Carolina.

Hansen brings an enthusiasm for marketing and recruiting garnered by her previous experience including seven years as executive director of recruitment at Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, GA working with both domestic and international students and five years marketing, recruitment, and guest service experience at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL. Originally from Tennessee, she’s lived throughout the Southeast and abroad for a short time in Hong Kong. She and her husband love to travel, be outdoors, and spend time with their pets, Patches and Vincent.

Nestled in the hear

Banner Elk, North t of the Blue Ridge Moun tains in Carolina, Leeshighest camp McRae College us elevation in has the the eastern Unite nearly 4000 feet d States at above sea level.

The 460 acre campus sits in a picturesque valley along the mountain banks of the Elk Mountain and River between Beech Mountain Sugar Ski Resorts. Loca just 20 minutes from ted Grandfather Moun Boone, area attractions includ tain, the Blue Linville Gorge Ridge Parkway, e Wilderness Area. and the

Open House Date

s

June 30 September 29 July 14 (Rising Seniors) November 17 Register online at go.lmc.edu /openhouse.

Private Tours

Available Mond ay thru Saturday go.lmc.edu/priva - Register online tetours. at

Group Tours

Available upon request - Call 800.280.4LMC schedule tours to .

Your Future El

evated

www.lmc.edu | 800.280.4LMC 191 Main Stree admissions@lmc t W. | Banner Elk, NC 28604 .edu | facebook.c om/LMCAdmission s

“I am so proud to be part of the Lees-McRae College family,” said Hansen. “When I first set foot on campus, I knew that Lees-McRae was a special place with tremendous opportunities. Since September, we’ve been working hard to reenergize the enrollment management operation and introduce new opportunities for generating interest in the college.”

“All of our efforts have been guided by two principles in the President’s Revitalization Plan: making recruitment and retention a #1 priority and building a distinct Lees-McRae College brand. In just a few short months, we are proud to reflect on the successes in enrollment management,” Hansen said.

Look for LMC ads in Our State Magazine, High Country Visitors Guide, US Airways Magazine and more!

New enrollment initiatives bring record numbers to visit campus On the Road This past fall, the admissions team completed 426 recruitment activities including over 100 high school visits, 20 community college visits and over 225 college fairs, which resulted in a 38% increase in inquiries received at fairs.

We have plans to participate in over 200 additional recruitment activities in 13 states and attend 12 joint admissions/alumni events in targeted locations.

In recognition of our local students, Lees-McRae introduced additional scholarships for students graduating from schools in Avery, Alleghany, Ashe, Burke, Caldwell, Carter, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey counties.

Online Through a partnership with two popular online college search engines, CAPPEX and Zinch, our admissions counselors connected with over 1500 new interested students in the first three months.

In November, we celebrated our largest number of applications during College Application Week, resulting in a 41% increase over the prior year.

In collaboration with the marketing and 8 | The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012

communications team, we’ve worked diligently to improve the overall presence of the Lees-McRae website by enhancing the visual appearance, online viewbook, adding quick links to the inquire and apply links, homeschool applicant information, an online payment option for applicants, the Lees-McRae blog, “Why Choose Lees-McRae?”, and “My Lees-McRae Experience.” Students and community members have responded well and we hope you will, too. The website is always a work in progress, but one that is so crucial in the enrollment experience.

On Campus The campus visit continues to be one of the primary reasons students choose LeesMcRae College. By streamlining our internal process for campus visitation and focusing on emphasizing the visit to all of our prospective students and educators, we’ve experienced a 57% increase in the number of campus visitors this past fall. Our out of state visitors increased by 6% over the prior year as we welcomed students from 22 states.

Perhaps we’re most proud of the incredible

energy at our largest Open House in recent Lees-McRae history. On November 19, 72 students and over 200 guests visited campus to interact with faculty, staff and students as they experienced campus firsthand. This is a 100% increase in student attendance over the prior November and a 53% increase over the highest attendance in the past.

If you’re interested in being part of prospective family events this summer or fall, or would like to invite students to attend, please contact our office at (828) 898-5241 or admissions@lmc. edu.

Division of Business Administration revolutionizes

Student Internship Program

by Dr. Kacy Crabtree

S

ociety is changing quite rapidly on multiple fronts, forever impacting the marketplace and how we prepare our students for life and work beyond Lees-McRae College. “Internships” has been the new buzz word on campus during the 2011-12 academic year. While we have strong internship programs in several academic programs, the Division of Business Administration has revolutionized how internship programs will develop on campus in the near future.

at the national and international level. In addition, the Business Advisory Council mentors business students as they prepare for applying and interviewing for internships.

Operating a successful internship program is a full-time job in itself. Internships are secured not only through advisory council members, but also through alumni, regional business owners, and public relations events. It is not uncommon to continue placing students at certain venues once relationships at businesses have been established.

The mission of the Division of Business Administration is to provide the highest It is vital that students and internships quality educational experience consisting of are a good match to assure a successful classroom, research, practical experiences and experience for all involved. Let us examine internships, preparing the inner workings of the students to be successful internship placement process in the business industry.

“At BRICA, besides in the Division of Business Specific goals of the Administration: the great opportunity internship program • Each student is given of learning a little bit are threefold: (1) to an Internship Policy and about every aspect provide a real life work Procedure Manual before they experience for students; of a successful begin the process, guiding (2) to empower students, business, I learned a students through the process after completing their and reminding them of the lot about myself.

I’m internship, to bring importance of combining new perspectives to the sure my internship academics with real work classroom during their experience will make experience. final year of study, and all the difference as I • A database containing (3) to build successful internship information is plan my career path.” partnerships within the maintained and updated business communities.

Marcelo Tatai ’12 regularly in order to Faculty in the Business successfully match students Administration program with the proper internship. strives to offer an internship opportunity to • Faculty communication concerning all business majors during the summer before internships begins in October, including their senior year. “An internship is a great making business contacts and students way for our business students to gain practical sending out resumés and cover letters. experience and learn outside of the classroom.

It’s this hands-on experience in a professional • Students look through the database and environment that offers our students the decide what internship opportunity they opportunity to put classroom learning to real are interested in pursuing. The student use. The one thing our students cannot get in can choose to apply for more than one the classroom is experience and internships potential placement. give them that,” said Dr. Trudy Morlino, • A deadline date is set for applying, former program coordinator for the Business resembling that of a job application Administration program. In certain situations, process. the internship experience actually turns into a • Once the resumés and cover letters are job offer upon graduation. submitted, the business faculty reviews Last year, the division formed a Business applications to determine possible Advisory Council, which consists of business placements. professionals from all sectors of society. The • Faculty will ask the employers if they Council assists the business faculty with would like to select their intern or if finding viable internship opportunities for the the faculty should make the placement. students through their business connections

Most of the time, faculty make the final selection as they know the student’s personality, skills, and career goals best.

Business students have been placed in reputable locations throughout the region, country, and internationally, representing the College, the business program and themselves with skill and integrity. Areas of internships include accounting, finance, management, and marketing, along with learning about the infrastructure and operations of their respective organization. Below is a list of recent internship placements: • +3 Network • AARP/TaxAide Volunteer Program • Avery County Economic Development • Bank of America • Banner Elk Winery • Beech Mountain • BRICA Inc. • Chambers of Commerce • Dogout Management • Ripken Baseball • Miami Dolphins • S & D Coffee • Sidi America • Specialized Cycling • Tweetsie Railroad Theme Park • Unibank (Panama) • Unilever (Germany) • Univision Ms. Star Kepner, Chair of the Division of Business Administration states, “As I acquired the internship program, which had four students in the summer of 2010, I never dreamed with just a ‘little’ push and cultivation it could have grown to what I am working with today – 32 possible internship opportunities! The business faculty and advisory council are already cultivating new internship opportunities for summer 2013!”

Moving forward, the Division of Business Administration will be looking for a full-time internship placement coordinator. In addition, the business faculty is readily available to work with colleagues in other programs and will play an important role in the future development of a career center, where all Lees-McRae students can explore internships, service work and career options.

The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012 | 9

Mini-campaign underway this spring for May School of Nursing and Allied Health Lees-McRae College announces a mini-campaign to raise funds for the May School of Nursing and Allied Health project. This new program at Lees-McRae College will prepare students for entry-level healthcare positions within the nursing field and other allied health fields.

Lees-McRae College is excited to announce that friends of the College have issued a fundraising challenge to friends and alumni in support of the $3.8 million May School of Nursing and Allied Health.

The campaign has been broken into three phases. The goal of Phase I is $1.4 million.

Naming opportunities are available. If interested in learning more about how you can support this important project, please contact the Office of Advancement at (828) 898-8777.

Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant brings Russian culture and language to campus Each year, Lees-McRae College welcomes a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) to campus to teach our students about their culture while they are immersed in ours. This year, the FLTA was Olga Karamalak from Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia, on the eastern side of the Ural Mountains near the border of Kazakhstan.

Acclimating to her new surroundings with ease, Olga taught a course in Russian Language and Culture, and was enrolled in Spanish Conversation and Latino Culture I and Cognitive Psychology during the fall semester. During the spring semester, Olga took Business Communications, Social Problems and continued with Spanish Conversation and Latino Culture II, while offering two additional courses in Russian Language and Culture.

“It’s the first time they have Russian here, so students are excited and motivated, and I get much feedback,” said Olga.

“They are all smart and nice,” she said of her students at Lees-McRae. “I try to make the learning environment closer to the natural one when you emerge in the language,” she explained. “We use all the sense and bodily movements.”

Olga strives to make her classes diverse, interesting, and interactive.

Her students act out monologues with Russian dialogue, write about themselves, watch films and cartoons, and play games. Olga’s students also learn about Russian culture through authentic items she has brought from home or from presentations she creates. “It’s amazing when I see them using language in their creative way for the context they need,” she said.

Olga graduated from Magnitogorsk State University in 2005 with two majors: Language and Culture Teaching Theory and Methodology, and 10 | The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012

Theoretical and Practical Foundations of Translation. She also has a candidate degree in Philological Sciences, Theory of Language, from Chelyabinsk State University, which is equal to a Ph.D. in the states.

She studies cognitive linguistics, semantics, communication and language signs, distributed and biocultural language approaches, language acquisition, and cognition. Along with Russian, she speaks professional English, intermediate French, basic German, and began learning Spanish at Lees-McRae. While in Russia, Olga works as an associate professor on the faculty of Linguistics and Translation at Magnitogorsk State University. She applied for the Fulbright Scholarship, and it took her a year to go through different rounds of the contest before she would finally find out she was coming to Lees-McRae College.

She enjoyed Banner Elk to the fullest. “I find Banner Elk [to be] a nice, beautiful, little, ecologically-friendly town,” said Olga. Surprisingly, Olga’s hometown of Magnitogorsk isn’t too much unlike Banner Elk. “In my opinion we have common flora. For example, while hiking I recognize the same trees, grass, and flowers. Staying here is like living in one of our mountain resorts. I love the waterfall on back campus! ... I also appreciate sports on a high level at Lees-McRae College. My hometown is well known for hockey,” she said.

Olga’s hometown, Magnitogorsk, Russia, is much larger, however, with a population of 408,000 people.

Magnitogorsk translates to mean “Magnet Mountain” which is the name of the mountain near Magnitorgorsk. The Magnet Mountain is a geological anomaly because it is almost pure iron, and because of this, there is a large iron and steel works factory. “It is metallurgical. The factory is a sort of iron heart of Russia,” explains Olga, who returned home to Russia this spring.

According to the program website, The Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program enables young educators to refine their teaching skills, increase their English language proficiency and extend their knowledge of the cultures and customs of the United States while engaging in non-degree studies at accredited post-secondary U.S. educational institutions. Lees-McRae College has hosted Fulbright Language Teaching Assistants from countries including Tunisia, Jordan, and Morocco.

Athletics Hall of Fame

2011 induction ceremony a time of celebration and remembrance The Lees-McRae College athletic department inducted three new members into the Fred I. Dickerson Athletic Hall of Fame during on October 1, 2011. The induction class included: Carla Swart ’11h, cycling, posthumous; Leonard Wheeler ’89, football; and Allison McDonald Norris ’93, women’s soccer.

The evening was memorable for inductees, staff, and guests alike, as Director of Athletics Craig McPhail and President Barry M. Buxton each shared words of appreciation and gratitude for the athletic talent and service of each inductee to both the College and community.

Carla Swart, ’11h - Cycling (posthumous) “Carla embodied the spirit of life, the character to which greatness is made, and the incredible humanity we all wish we could be,” said McPhail as part of his induction speech for Swart.

Swart almost single-handedly redefined the sport of U.S. collegiate cycling, quickly becoming the most decorated rider in the history of the sport before passing away in a tragic training accident in January 2011 in her native South Africa. During her career with the Bobcats, Swart collected 19 individual and team national titles, while becoming the first cyclist in U.S. collegiate history to win a national title in each of the four disciplines, accomplishing the feat during the 2008 season.

“Let’s all live how Carla wanted us to live,” said Swart’s father, Deon, who accepted the award. “Tonight is not a night to mourn, it is a night of happiness, so please be happy in this life and enjoy.”

Leonard Wheeler, ’89 - Football “One of the keys of success in sports is an intangible product called heart, the invisible quality that contains the soul, strength, and mind of a team,” said Assistant Athletics Director Merritt Yackey. “It cannot be measured, but we cannot win without it.

It is an elusive talent that is difficult to cultivate, but must be carried forward with a person every day for every occasion.”

Wheeler played six seasons in the National Football League after a four-year college career that included stops at Mississippi, Troy, and Lees-McRae. A native of Toccoa, GA, Wheeler was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 1992 NFL Draft, where he spent the first five years of his career.

Wheeler went on to play one season with the Minnesota Vikings and one with the Carolina Panthers before retiring in 2001.

Wheeler is now the CEO and founder of Wheeler Enterprises, Inc., a company specializing in personal and executive coaching to facilitate growth and development meant to improve their clients’ quality of life. He is also an active member of the

NFL Players Association, serving on the association’s financial committee and has also served as a member of the Board of Directors for the NFLPA. “I know that I was not prepared to go anywhere else but here,” said Wheeler. “What this College did for me was amazing, because it really showed me what I was supposed to be as a young man, and as a student-athlete.”

Allison McDonald Norris, ’93 - Women’s Soccer “When I spoke with Ried Estus, her coach of four years, he described her as the right fit for Lees-McRae,” said Senior Woman Administrator Rita Smith. “She was a team player, with not only great physical skills, but also tremendous soccer knowledge. She had the ability to see the field like no one else.

Allison played at a level above everybody else, and when she did that, she made everyone else around her better.”

Norris starred for the women’s soccer team as one of the first four-year athletes in the program’s history, leading the Bobcats to a 63-17-1 record and a trio of conference championships during Lees-McRae’s transition to a four-year institution. A native of Hendersonville, TN, Norris garnered all-region and conference player of the year honors as a senior, while finishing her career ranked second in program history in total assists (36), third in match-winning goals (12), fourth in total points (108), and tied for seventh in total goals (36).

“Initially I was hesitant to venture outside my team for friendship, but as I took full advantage of the Lees-McRae College experience, I began to see that there was more to life than soccer,” said Norris. “Playing soccer was what brought me joy, but playing soccer was also the vessel God used to open so many doors of opportunity.”

The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012 | 11

Athletics Round Up

Bobcat Athletics News Fall teams soar to new heights The Lees-McRae College Department of Athletics enjoyed an unprecedented amount of success this past fall, as each of LMC’s five championship programs clinched a berth in the NCAA postseason for the first time in school history. Women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, and men’s and women’s cross country each secured a spot in the NCAA postseason field with tremendous seasons, establishing countless school records while capturing a pair of Conference Carolinas regular season and tournament titles.

The Bobcat women’s soccer program rose above expectations to become one of the elite teams in the conference, capturing both the league’s regular season and tournament titles en route to the school’s first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

Head coach Cally Morrill led the Bobcats to a 13-5-3 overall record this fall, including a programbest 11-1 mark in league play, to earn her first career Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year honors and the Bobcats to the program’s first title since 2000.

Freshman Meagan Thornton burst on the

conference and national scene this season, becoming the fourth Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year in program history while earning Daktronics NCAA Division II all-Southeast Region honors. The Bobcats placed a programrecord seven players on the all-conference teams, including first-team selections MaryBeth Sullivan, Mary Dorn, and Brooke Santerre.

In men’s play, head coach Lee Squires led the Bobcats to a strong campaign in his first season at the helm of the men’s soccer program, guiding the squad to runner-up finishes for both the Conference Carolinas regular season and tournament titles, as the Bobcats earned an atlarge berth to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive year.

The Bobcat men’s and women’s cross country teams enjoyed tremendous seasons as well, each earning a spot on the NCAA Division II Southeast Region Championships.

The women’s volleyball team continues to perform at a high level, posting its second straight undefeated record in league play this fall en route to the program’s 12th conference crown in the last 13 years.

Under the leadership of head coach Wes Schneider, the Bobcats saw a 27-9 record this fall, including an unbeaten 18-0 mark in league play as they captured the conference’s regular season and tournament titles for the third straight year.

This season also featured an impressive amount of individual success for the Bobcats, as senior Megan Epperson put together a strong campaign to finish her tenure at Lees-McRae as the program’s all-time leader in four statistical categories, while becoming the first player in school history to post 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career. Junior Megan Mitchell also became the program’s all-time leader in assists, while entering her senior campaign needing just nine service aces to eclipse Epperson’s school record.

Junior Taylor Clendenin posted perhaps the best season of her career this fall, posting personalbests in nearly every statistical category. For her efforts, Clendenin earned AVCA all-Southeast Region Honorable Mention honors in addition to a spot on the all-conference first team, joining Epperson, Mitchell, and Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year Sariah Suryadevera.

Bobcat Cycling stays at the top Lees-McRae kicked off the 2011-2012 campaign in championship fashion at Track Nationals this past September, as freshman Iggy Silva took home the individual title in the points race to pace the Bobcats to a fourth-place performance in the team omnium.

Zac Felpel and Spencer Oswald were critical to Silva’s victory, providing crucial protection for their teammate down the stretch as Felpel caught up with Silva by turning in the attack of his life to ensure Silva would top the podium.

Kerry Werner then proved why he was selected to the USA World Championships team, taking home the individual omnium title at both Mountain Bike and Cyclocross Nationals to lead the Bobcats to fourth- and third-place showings, respectively. Teammate Bradford Perley joined Werner on the podium at Mountain Bike Nationals, taking second place with a strong weekend of his own, while Erica Zaveta claimed the fifth spot on the women’s podium.

Werner followed with his second national title of the season at Cyclocross Nationals, topping the men’s podium while freshmen Emily 12 | The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012

and Katherine Shields claimed the third and fifth spots in the women’s individual omnium.

At Road Nationals, Rachel Warner finished fourth in the women’s road race, and Joseph Welsh placed eighth in the men’s competition to propel Lees-McRae College to a sixth-place showing at the USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships.

The Lees-McRae cycling team capped the 2010-2011 season in impressive fashion, finishing second at Collegiate Road Nationals in Madison, WI as Rachel Warner took third in the individual omnium. Warner put together a tremendous weekend for the Bobcats, finishing second in the road race and 14th in the criterium to earn the third spot on the podium.

Lees-McRae had a strong championship season taking third at Cyclocross Nationals and placing fourth at both Mountain Bike and Track Nationals earlier this season.

Athletics Round Up

Bobcats welcome new coaches to four programs The Bobcats welcomed several new members of the family since summer 2011, including tennis coach Aaron Petersen, men’s lacrosse coach Andy Nesdill, and men’s soccer coach Lee Squires.

Aaron Petersen just finished his first season as the head men’s and women’s tennis coach at LeesMcRae College. Petersen has served as the Director of Tennis at Deer Valley Racquet Club since 2009, organizing events and overseeing the club’s tennis program while filling an instrumental role developing sales strategies and managing the pro shop.

While attending Queens University, Petersen served as team captain during his junior and senior seasons, playing No. 1 singles and doubles in each of his four years. Petersen was ranked as high as 34th in the nation’s individual rankings, receiving team MVP and Coach’s Award honors during his career.

Andy Nesdill is in his first season as the head men’s lacrosse coach at LeesMcRae College. Nesdill, a May 2011 graduate of Lees-McRae, was a threeyear starting goalie for the Bobcats from 2009-2011.

A native of Phoenix, AZ, Nesdill logged over 1,300 minutes between the pipes for LeesMcRae during his career, ranking among the program’s all-time leaders with 320 saves.

Lee Squires is moving into his second season as the head men’s soccer coach. Squires, a 2011 graduate of Lees-McRae, led the

Bobcats to the program’s fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance last season, garnering Conference Carolinas Player of the Year honors for the second time in his career. A native of Sheffield, England, Squires enjoyed a tremendous career at Lees-McRae, concluding his tenure as the program’s all-time leader in points (149) and goals (67).

In his career with the Bobcats, Squires posted a pair of 20-goal seasons while garnering All-America honors on three occasions. The two-time conference player of the year tallied at least 10 goals in three of his four seasons with the Bobcats, netting 22 match-winners and recording 15 assists, concluding his playing career as one of the top players in program history.

Ray Cameron ’00 has been named head women’s lacrosse coach for the 2012-13 season, bringing a wealth of coaching experience from the high school level, having started both the men’s and women’s programs at nearby Watauga High School in Boone. The Baltimore, MD native and a 2000 graduate of Lees-McRae has played and coached lacrosse for over 30 years, enjoying a tremendous playing career at Gilman School in Baltimore before moving on to play at Washington College. He has also coached in the Heroes Lacrosse League, one of the most prestigious summer leagues in the country, as well as at the club level in Boone.

LMC Athletics mourns the loss of freshman cyclist Baab Lees-McRae College lost a beloved member of its family December 15, 2011, when freshman cyclist Megan Baab was killed in an accident.

According to reports, Baab, 19, was traveling north on US 221 in Altamont, NC when a southbound truck crossed the center line and struck her. Baab was air-lifted to Johnson City Medical Center, but was pronounced dead soon after arrival at the medical center from the injuries sustained.

Baab, a native of Euless, TX, was a four discipline rider for the Lees-McRae cycling team and had competed on the national level at the USA Cycling National Championships (Track and Mountain Bike) for the Bobcats.

“We all remember Megan as a bright and bubbly member of our campus community,” said President Barry Buxton. “She always had a smile

on her face and a friendly word to say. Her contributions to our campus were noteworthy, even though we were only able to share a single semester with her. We send our most heartfelt condolences to her family and friends in Texas and keep them in our thoughts and prayers.”

Baab came to Lees-McRae in August 2011 as a freshman and looked to make an immediate impact for the Bobcats in all disciplines, specializing in Road and Track.

Athletic facilities receive facelift Lees-McRae’s athletic facilities have

undergone some significant improvements in recent months: including a refinished floor in Williams Gymnasium, new lane lines in the RheaLyons Indoor Pool Complex, as well as major renovations to the women’s soccer locker room and the softball field.

Bobcats put together strong spring season The Bobcat athletics

department had much to be proud of at the conclusion of the spring season. The men’s volleyball team posted its second straight winning season under the guidance of head coach James Goodridge, while the men’s and women’s track and field teams put together impressive team and individual performances this spring, setting six school records and posting a pair of provisional national qualifying marks.

Softball shines during historic spring The Lees-McRae softball team defied

all expectations last spring, posting the program’s first-ever winning record in Conference Carolinas play while advancing to the championship game of the league tournament. The Bobcats placed a school-record four players on the all-conference teams, while Merritt Yackey was named the Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year.

This spring, Lees-McRae College was the recipient of the second annual Conference Carolinas Team Sportsmanship Award for the sport of softball. The award, which was introduced prior to the 2010 fall season, recognizes one conference team from each sport that demonstrates the best sportsmanship, as voted on by member coaches and studentathletes throughout the league.

The Bobcats put together a strong start to the season this spring, opening the campaign with four straight wins, including a no-hitter by Laurel Gregg in the opener.

Lees-McRae posted several key wins during the campaign.

Gregg enjoyed a sensational season in conference play for the Bobcats, posting a 1.42 earned run average to earn a spot on the all-Conference Carolinas First team. The Mars Hill, NC native recorded 45 strikeouts and held batters to a .183 clip in 59 innings of work in league play this season.

Gregg tossed four shutouts this season, including a four-inning no-hitter in the opener against St. Augustine’s to go along with two one-hitters.

The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012 | 13

Celebrating mountain heritage

Stephenson Center for Appalachia hosts Appalachian Heritage Week

If

By Dr. Michael Joslin

Rev. Edgar Tufts looked down on Lees-McRae College’s campus during the second week of April this spring, he would have felt right at home as a horse-drawn wagon carried students around campus. Driven by LMC Admissions Specialist AnnMarie Hall ’10, the team of black Percherons pulled a covered wagon filled with exuberant students from place to place as part of the Stephenson Center In the Mountains, of for Appalachia’s the Mountains and for second annual Appalachian the Mountains—these Heritage Week words have long defined festival. From th Lees-McRae College. April 9th through the 13 , a variety This spring the second of programs, annual Appalachian exhibits, Heritage Week once and lectures again highlighted Lees- highlighted Lees-McRae’s McRae’s commitment to commitment to Appalachia. Appalachia.

Each day of the week celebrated a different aspect of mountain heritage and life as the Center shared with students the richness of Appalachian culture and the depth of LMC’s roots. From traditional music and food to agriculture, crafts, environmental issues, and literature, students, faculty, staff, and community members learned about the world that so attracted Edgar Tufts and inspired him to create a living ministry of education in Banner Elk. On Monday, natural history and outdoor activities were the focus. In the afternoon, tours left from the dam of the Mill Pond to travel Hemlock Trail. Along the path, LMC students presented different features of outdoor Appalachia. Highlighting the natural denizens of the area were students 14 | The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012

from the Wildlife Rehabilitation Program with some of the birds and beasts that are wildlife ambassadors. Also, students from the LMC Backpacking Club displayed both a contemporary campsite and one typical of a century ago. The Rock Climbing Club demonstrated belaying, rappelling, and climbing, while the LMC Search and Rescue Team manned a first-aid station.

That evening, MacDonald Dining Hall served a traditional meal featuring fried chicken, meatloaf, pulled pork, corn bread, corn on the cob, collard greens, and pinto beans. Mountain musicians Trevor McKenzie and Jim Lloyd, known as “Us Fellers,” accompanied the meal with oldtime music that had students clapping and toe-tapping through the meal.

On Tuesday, the campus celebrated Appalachian Women’s Day beginning with a bake sale of traditional Appalachian foods in Swank Park. If you ate too much of the tasty fare, Karen Sabo, director of the New Opportunity School for Women, helped spectators burn off those calories by holding clogging lessons at noon. Later that day, Lees-McRae’s First Lady, Debbie Buxton, emphasized another aspect of traditional Appalachian culture by holding a Domestic Skills Workshop in historic Hemlock Hall.

brought alpacas from her Apple Hill Farm to illustrate the growing craft of agritourism.

Wednesday night, Dr. Michael Joslin, director of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia and author of Highland Handcrafters, presented a slide/lecture on the mountain craft tradition.

Spring’s capricious ways brought cold weather Thursday morning as LMC students, faculty, and staff participated in the annual Mountain Service Day, logging countless hours toward the betterment of campus. Thursday night featured renowned scholar and author Dr. John Inscoe from the University of Georgia who presented the keynote lecture of the week, “Appalachia in Black and White: The Myths and Realities of Race in the Southern Highlands.”

Concluding the festivities Friday was OldTime Horse and Wagon Day. Beginning at noon, Greg (BumbleBee) Miller drove his team of Percherons with a carriage around campus, providing rides for anyone willing to climb aboard. Also, the LMC Equestrian Club had horses on Tate Lawn demonstrating English and Western riding techniques, as well as explaining how to tack up a horse.

The New Opportunity School for Women held an Open House at the Stephenson Center for Appalachia, and at 7 p.m. in Evans Auditorium, acclaimed mountain storyteller and musician Betty Smith presented a program of traditional tales and music.

Research Librarian Donese Preswood held an open house of the Stirling Collection of the James H. Carson Library during Appalachian Heritage Week. With a wide range of Appalachian literature, rare books, and other materials, the Stirling Collection holds a special place in the hearts of area scholars and students.

Wednesday featured Appalachian Arts and Crafts beginning at noon with potter Rob Withrow from Brasstown, NC demonstrating his pot-throwing technique in Swank Park, behind Chaffee Administration building. Also, Lee Rankin

For information on next year’s Appalachian Heritage Week, check the website in the spring. Information on other Stephenson Center for Appalachia events can be found online at www.go.lmc.edu/stephenson.

Photos by Dr. Michael Joslin Photos clockwise from top left: Percherons pulling the covered wagon; Dr. John Inscoe and Dr. H.G. Jones ’43 in the Carson Library; Alpacas on campus; “Us Fellers” perform in MacDonald Dining Hall; Potter Rob Withrow works on the face of one of his pots; Students demonstrate backcountry rescue techniques; Students explain the parts of their modern campsite to onlookers.

The Pinnacles The| Pinnacles Spring/Summer | Spring2012 2012| 15

Alumni

Centenarians

The North Carolina Building as pictured in the 1930 issue of The Ontaroga, the College’s yearbook

By Megan Hall ’10

T

hree Lees-McRae alumni, Louise VonCanon Holshouser, Mary Guignard Elder, and Coach Fred I. Dickerson have lived to see more than 100 years of life and progress in the mountains of western North Carolina.

Since its inception in 1900, Lees-McRae College has evolved from a small, all female boarding school of 14 students and one teacher to a proud college home to nearly 900 students and 18 majors. In that same time, its home in Banner Elk, originally known as Banner’s Elk, has evolved from a pioneer town with almost no automobiles or passable roads to a four-season tourist destination nestled between ski resorts and five-star private communities. Sheltered within the safe valley walls, three esteemed Lees-McRae alumni have also spent the last hundred years living through this evolution and forging their own paths.

Mary Guignard Elder, Louise VonCanon Holshouser and Fred I. Dickerson have lived through events most of us only read about in history books. From World War II and the Great Depression to 9/11 and the War on Terror, these three individuals have lived full lives of success and prosperity, yet they never forgot their fondness for Lees-McRae College and their love of the High Country.

Born on October 19, 1910, Mary Guignard Elder, Class of 1931, attended the girls’ boarding school that eventually became Lees-McRae College, which she would also later attend. She was born to James Guignard and Anna Von Canon. Her father owned and operated the Historic Cheese House, which sits on the banks of the Mill Pond. Though now used as a Welcome 16 | The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012

Center for the College, the cheese house was a functional cheese shop throughout Mary’s youth.

“Everyone had milk because everyone had cows then, and my brother Bill would collect the milk in the morning on the way to school in a one-horse wagon,” said Mary in a 2010 interview with Carolina Mountain Life magazine, “and after school he would return the emptied cans. The finished cheese was aged in a cooling room in the back and it was sold right out of the cheese house because there just weren’t grocery stores then.”

During her time at the girls’ boarding school, Mary rented a room in her Uncle Sam Banner’s home, which later became the Banner House Museum on Hickory Nut Gap Road. When she later returned to the school, which had then become Lees-McRae College, she studied history, English, religion, psychology, economics, and law.

While working in the textile mills in Burlington, NC during World War II, Mary met her future husband, William Elder. After moving to Florida and raising four children (Bill, Jr., Mary Frances, Clifton, and John), the couple realized how much they missed the High Country. So, in 1953, they purchased 640 acres on Beech Mountain. With the help of a Birmingham dentist named Dr. Tom Brigham, along with the capital and management of Grover Robbins and his brothers Harry and Spencer, their land was developed into what is known today as SkiBeech and the Beech Mountain Club. Opened in 1967, this four-season resort forever

changed tourism in the High Country. Though husband Bill Elder has since passed away, as have Grover and Harry, the new management has retained the integrity of the original concept.

These days, Mary Elder finds herself contently living in her childhood home on Dobbins Road, surrounded by her children.

Filled equally with historic mementoes and photographs of family, her home and her life pay homage to the evolution of a woman and a town.

“I think the essence of my mother is that she believes in moderation in all things and maintaining a very positive outlook,” said Mary’s daughter, Mary Elder Frisbie, Lees-McRae Class of 1959. “And she’s always had such an interest in meeting and listening to other people.”

Living just off Dobbins Road in the home her father built in 1909, Mary Elder’s first cousin, Louise VonCanon Holshouser, Class of 1929, has also lived through a century of evolution.

Louise celebrated her 100th birthday on May 19, 2011, just after Avery County’s own Centennial celebration, making them nearly the same age. Her house acts as a time capsule; in one area of the living room Douglas, Louise’s brother, Holshouser, right, with classmates on May Day used to operate Banner Elk’s first telephone switchboard and filling most of a wall stands an expansive board brimming with ribbons won by Louise’s father at the North Carolina State Fair for his livestock. Her father, Frederick Willard, was known for his sheep and cattle, which he kept on roughly 1000 acres of land, known today as Horse Bottom, Diamond Creek Golf Club, and Seven Devils.

During her youth, Louise first attended school at The Old Academy on Hanging Rock Road and then spent third grade through high school at the Lees-McRae Institute. However, when her mother passed away during the flu epidemic of 1918, the trauma of her death caused Louise to develop a stutter for which she was sent to special classes in Detroit, MI. After her time in Detroit, Louise returned to the High Country as a teacher at Cranberry High School.

Louise’s family was instrumental in the development of NC Hwy. 105. In a 2011 interview with Carolina Mountain Life magazine, Louise recalled, “My father told then Gov. Kerr Scott that it was a better way to Boone than through Valle Crucis, and the transportation department agreed.”

However, her father was not the only philanthropist in the family.

Louise and her husband, Bill Holshouser, a metallurgist who worked with the Atomic Bomb, spent nearly two decades (1960s-1980s) living in Washington, D.C. During that time she worked tirelessly to help clothe the runaways and frequent civil rights protesters. She even spent time in Resurrection City, the famed camp constructed after the death of Martin Luther King, Jr.

“I think my mother’s secret to a long life is to maintain a sense of humor and a sense of family,” said Louise’s daughter, Linda Holshouser, Lees-McRae Class of 1985. “She always says she’s happiest when there is music and kids running around.”

Much like her cousin, Mary, Louise has seen her youth and now her elder years through the lens of the High Country, a place they will both always feel is home.

Though not kin to Mary or Louise, Lees-McRae College also boasts another alumnus who has spent the better part of a century serving the College and the High Country. Born on May 6, 1911, Fred I. Dickerson, namesake of the Fred I. Dickerson Athletic Complex at LMC, is also in the Class of 1931. This class of a mere 13 students was the first to graduate as a junior college.

The College may have been small, but Dickerson made his mark as a student-athlete. He was the first quarterback at Lees-McRae and, by way of an 83-yard kickoff return, he scored the first ever Bobcat touchdown. He was also known for his skills on the basketball court and the track.

After finishing his education at Davidson College, where he also excelled in many of their athletic programs, Dickerson, who is affectionately referred to as simply ‘Coach’, returned to the campus in the clouds and established an unprecedented coaching record in four different sports. His achievements include: football, 16 seasons, nine conference championships, three bowl games; basketball, 16 seasons, seven conference championships; track, 16 seasons, two conference championships, never finishing lower than second; tennis, 14 seasons, one conference championship.

And he didn’t stop there. At age 92, Dickerson began competing at the state and national level in the Senior Olympics, setting state age group records in three events.

“The term ‘coach’ generally refers to a mentor and reflects terms of respect, trust, leadership, teaching and counseling.

With ‘Coach’ Dickerson it’s now a term of affection. Coach Dickerson is a role model, not only for athletes, but students and colleagues as well,” said Don Baker ’57, former LMC basketball player under Coach Dickerson, former longtime Lees-McRae employee, and a lifelong friend of Dickerson. “He was a man you wished to emulate. Some referred to Coach as ‘Silent Fred,’ but under that stoic façade was a man of integrity, confidence, intelligence, competitive spirit with a desire to give back what he received from his alma mater; a man, quietly and unobtrusively, who knew where he was going in life and why. That journey has lasted over one hundred years for ‘Coach.’”

Mary, Louise and Fred, three proud Lees-McRae alumni, have spent more than one hundred years watching the High Country and the nation transform from pioneer days to the modern age – a feat some can never imagine and most never get to experience.

The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012 | 17

The May Wildlife Center nearing completion this spring. Rendering by Lauren Foster

Dan and Dianne May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center is the new home of the Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute On July 12 at 11 a.m., Lees-McRae College will celebrate the grand opening and dedication of the Dan and Dianne May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, the new home of the Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute and the first new construction on campus in nearly a decade.

By Amanda Goble ’12

F

or the students, staff, and animal patients of the Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute, “bursting at the seams” was taking on a brandnew meaning.

“The program took off quickly,” said Nina Fischesser, the program’s director. “There are more students and wildlife at the facility every year.”

Professor Fischesser, who has led Lees-McRae College’s Wildlife Rehabilitation program since its inception in 2004, has seen the program grow from an annual intake of 322 wild animals that year to 1,271 injured or orphaned animals in 2011. She wasn’t the only one feeling the pressure of caring for more than a thousand creatures – from turtles and opossums to hawks and herons – in the confines of a temporary building. Students felt cramped as well.

“The floor plan just wasn’t set up very well. We were trying to use rooms for multiple purposes, like having a bathtub in the room with our birds of prey, and it has been a big hassle,” Lees-McRae junior Eric Rayfield remarked. In addition to tight arrangements in animal care rooms, students in the program shared a classroom with several large cages housing nonreleasable “animal ambassadors.” That same classroom served as the front entryway for visitors to the wildlife center, including guests from all corners of the nation, as well as prospective students of Lees-McRae College. The building itself was facing difficulty standing up to the hard use associated with animal 18 | The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012

Amanda Goble ’12 and Cloudfeather, a BRWI animal ambassor, enjoy the porch of the new Dan and Dianne May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.

care: water damage from years of daily cleaning was affecting the appearance and safety of the floors, and wear and tear on the facility was growing. Without a doubt, the lack of space and organization was affecting not only the animal patients at the Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute, but its learning environment and public image as well.

That all changed in autumn of 2011, when Lees-McRae College received a $400,000 gift from Dan and Dianne May through the Edwin and Jeanette May Foundation for the construction of the

new Dan and Dianne May Wildlife diets to make and everyone is always Rehabilitation Center. For the first coming in and out,” says Chloe Burdick, time, students and staff involved in a sophomore who serves as a shift wildlife rehabilitation at Lees-McRae supervisor. The new kitchen features could envision working and learning sturdy wooden cabinets with plenty of in a facility as fresh and exciting as counter space and a fully enclosed closet the program itself. for storing dry goods. In the nearby washroom, a sink and bathtub allow Construction began in November cleaning of small items. Two sets of on the building, after much time was stacked washers and dryers will handle spent designing a layout that would the building’s constant flow of laundry. provide for the needs of the animals, the students, and the public. The There are numerous other reasons why May Wildlife Center’s rustic yet students are enthusiastic about working elegant exterior was influenced by and learning in the new building. Some the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains Fischesser with students Eric Rayfied and Amanda Simmons are looking forward to the increased examine a red-tailed hawk in one of the Center’s flight cages. and a desire to reflect the College’s opportunities to educate and inspire the Appalachian heritage. Visitors will be able to enjoy the large front public with the facility’s clean and attractive appearance. Others aim porch that will overlook the landscaped front of the facility, located for the highest standards of animal care and a higher release rate for next to the beautiful Elk River, and a large public room for viewing wild patients. Some students are looking even further into the future, films and presentations. thinking of the construction of new outdoor cages for recovering animals and the center’s educational residents. One thing is certain, For students, a favorite aspect of the May center are the portions however: with the new May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center opening not often displayed to the public: the areas dedicated to the care of in a few short weeks, the wildlife rehabilitation program at Leeswildlife. An injured or orphaned animal begins its treatment in the examination room, which houses professional medical and diagnostic McRae College is soaring ever higher. equipment such as microscopes, triage supplies, and medications.

Following their intake, which can be viewed by visitors through a large observation window, animals will be housed in an intensive care unit. This room, designed to reduce the stress of injured and frightened animals, is soundproof. Patients requiring critical care, such as birds or mammals in very serious condition, can rest Student interest group to learn beekeeping comfortably in this private area.

Trustee Deborah Williams from the Cotswolds, UK donated three beehives, The wild patients spend most of the rehabilitation process in a room bees, and three bee suits to the Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute for a student dedicated to their own kind. The new building features a large interest group to learn beekeeping. songbird room for the small and excitable creatures so often seen Williams keeps bees on her Cotswolds in yards and at bird feeders, such as robins, cardinals, warblers, and estate, where she tends them herself and bluebirds. Most of the Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute’s patients are harvests, spins, and bottles her own honey. songbirds, many of which come to the facility as orphaned nestlings.

She has extensive plantings of lavender, Another room houses birds of prey such as falcons, hawks, and owls. flowers and fruit trees for the bees to enjoy The brand-new raptor room is much larger than its small counterpart when flowering. in the old building and will be able to house many more birds.

Williams also keeps and rehabililitates Raptors large and small are a favorite among several students, who are chickens who have been mistreated and excited about working with more screech owls, Cooper’s hawks, and often maimed by commercial egg producers. other charismatic birds of prey when the move into the new building She raises an endangered breed of Heritage is complete. Just down the hall is the mammal room, dedicated to sheep, having successfully reared the largest the care of various familiar furry creatures. Like songbirds, many flock in the UK. She assists in all levels of mammals enter rehabilitation as orphaned babies, giving students a their care, including helping with difficult chance to work hands-on with baby squirrels, opossums, cottontails, births and administering medications. Their Williams at the Blue Ridge Wildlife and more. wool is used by various designers in the UK Institute with animal ambassador, Sasquatch, a Great Horned Owl to make into products to benefit different An exciting new element in the design of the May building was the charitable organizations. inclusion of a room dedicated to reptiles. The Blue Ridge Wildlife She also keeps ducks, guinea Institute is one of the only state-licensed organizations in western fowl and has a beautiful blond North Carolina that admits injured reptiles, most often turtles who Cocker Spaniel, Bertie. are commonly hit by cars. A reptile room provides a space for these First Lady Deborah Buxton said, shy animals to recover before they are returned to their homes in the “She is truly hands-on in all these wild. altruistic pursuits, and we are so Caring for so many scaly, furred, and feathered creatures requires a incredibly fortunate to have her large amount of behind-the-scenes labor. Feeding the patients and as a role model and advocate for permanent residents at the center is no small task. “The kitchen is students at Lees-McRae College’s one of the busiest rooms in the building. There are so many different Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute.”

Students install bees into the hives

Trustee Deborah Williams donates bees, hives to Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute

The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012 | 19

Donor Impact

Advancement Updates Vice President Caroline Hart shares updates from the Office of Advancement “Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” Henry David Thoreau

W

hen I was in college, my mom gave me a framed and matted print of the quote above to hang in my dorm room. To this day, I still have the print, and it has been with me on three different college campuses.

Today, it sits on my office window sill in the Alumni House.

Day after day, I run into the Alumni House, grab a file and dash out to another meeting. I scan quickly through emails, respond to voicemails, and write notes of thanks to the College’s loyal donors. There is little time for office pranks or simple informal gatherings around the coffee pot, because there are countless projects to implement, ideas to research, and opportunities waiting for attention. Don’t get me wrong, we laugh a lot in the Alumni House, celebrate often, and stop dead in our tracks when a colleague is in need. But the majority of the days, it’s a well-oiled machine full of busy bees, phone conversations, and brainstorming sessions. We are a busy bunch!

A couple of weeks ago on a Saturday, I decided to spend some time cleaning my desk. It wasn’t going to get done during the week, and I needed to get organized! As I sorted files, reviewed projects, and added more to my “to do” list, I started taking notice of what had been accomplished – the stack of files representing completed

projects was growing! The more progress I made cleaning, the more I realized Lees-McRae’s progress in the past 12 months. We have reason to celebrate!

The stories and images on these pages highlight the College’s accomplishments. This revitalization would not be possible without the trust and generosity of alumni and friends. Together, we are making great things happen for Lees-McRae College.

And too, there are some projects and initiatives that are hard to illustrate but worth applauding. I would like to recognize • the establishment of the Family Association, • the successful completion of the first ever Class Agent training day, • the outstanding inaugural year of the President’s Circle (150 members was the goal, and this exclusive recognition society has more than 180 members), and • the completion of more than 15 alumni and friends events in five states!

Where was I when all this was being accomplished? I guess I was running to a meeting, checking my email, returning a phone call, or brainstorming the next big project. Maybe I should replace my 17-year-old Thoreau print with a new quote... “Take time to stop and smell the roses.”

Many thanks for your continued support,

Statue of Rev. Edgar Tufts dedicated during Founder’s Day Celebrations, Gift from Trustee Murray and Carolyn White Last September’s Founder’s Day was celebrated with a special dedication of a lifesize bronze sculpture of Founder Rev. Edgar Tufts in Swank Park. Commissioned and donated by Trustee Murray White and wife, Carolyn, the sculpture in Swank Park honors the life and legacy of service of Rev. Tufts.

Over a hundred years after its founding, LeesMcRae College continues in the vision of Rev. Tufts meeting the educational needs of the Southern Appalachian region and beyond.

The College continues to fulfill its motto, in the mountains, of the mountains, and for the mountains, while extending its ministry of education and service to diverse populations.

Founder’s Day is celebrated each year with a luncheon on campus in honor of current Lees-McRae College scholarship student recipients and donors to their respective scholarship. It is a wonderful opportunity for students and their scholarship benefactors to meet one another.

In 2012, Founder’s Day will become a part 20 | The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012

Thank you!

Lees-McRae Fund exceeds goal

Members of the Tufts family are pictured with Trustee Murray White (back left) and President and Mrs. Buxton

of the Homecoming weekend celebration, with a remembrance service and the annual scholarship luncheon taking place on Friday, October 5. Look for Homecoming and Founder’s Day information in the mail later this summer.

Thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends, the Lees-McRae Fund exceeded its 2011-2012 goal!

The new fiscal year began June 1, 2012. Help us exceed our goal again this year with your donation to the Lees-McRae Fund.

Make your gift online at www.go.lmc.edu/ onlinegiving or mail to Office of Advancement, PO Box 128, Banner Elk, NC 28604.

Donor Impact

Class Agents

Investing in the Future

Connect. Engage. Repeat.

There has never been a better way to give back to your Alma Mater than to become a Class Agent. An Agent’s main objective is to engage their classmates in the life of Lees-McRae College by reaching out and connecting them to all that is going on at the College.

A Class Agent helps find lost classmates, updates contact information, shares important class news with the College, and encourages classmates to make an annual gift to the Lees-McRae Fund. In addition, a Class Agent provides valuable input to the Office of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations on how best to communicate the important message of the LeesMcRae Fund and other campus announcements with alumni.

Ken Sullivan ’59 (former chair of the Advancement Committee on the Alumni Board) and alumni board volunteers have been recruiting Class Agents since Homecoming. Have you been called? Would you like to be called? If you are interested in serving as a Class Agent for your class, please contact Michelle Vance Scott ’86, ’90 at (828) 898-2489 or scottmv@lmc.edu.

Invitation “Debbie and I invite you to join us by investing in the future of Lees-McRae College. There is no greater honor for the two of us than to be entrusted with the leadership of Lees-McRae. Our tenure here is a sacred trust and every waking moment is devoted to the well-being of this significant, historic place. Your membership in the President’s Circle means a lot, and neither of us will let you down.” Barry M. Buxton

Benefits With an annual contribution of $1,000 or more, you will join this exclusive group of supporters. Among the privileges associated with membership are: • Special invitations to President’s Circle events and campus programs • Reserved parking, seating and special recognition at campus events • Subscription to the biannual President’s Circle Newsletter • Recognition in the annual Honor Roll of Donors Make your President’s Circle gift today by giving online or by calling Michelle Vance Scott ’86/’90 at (828) 898-2489.

A Class Commits — Historic campus receives upgrades from Class of 1959 gift During Homecoming 2011, the Class of 1959 met and voted to renovate an area on campus that is prominent and meaningful to many. If you graduated last year or decades ago, everyone remembers the stone fountain and steps in front of the historic North Carolina Building. After years of wear and tear, this area was in need of a face-lift.

Renovations to the North Carolina entrance are part of a three-phase project to enhance what is called the College’s “historic district”: Tufts Tower, Virginia Residence Hall, the North Carolina Building, and Tennessee Residence Hall.

Led by Ken Sullivan ’59, the Class of 1959 committed to raise $47,000 to complete this

important project. New native stone steps, strengthening the native stone walls, and bringing back the iron arch forged by Daniel Boone VI will preserve the heritage of the historic area on campus. The project is a memorial gift commemorating the lives of deceased classmates.

If you are interested in making a gift to the Class of 1959 renovation project, please mail your gift to Office of Advancement, LeesMcRae College, PO Box 128, Banner Elk, NC 28604. If you would like to talk with someone about the project, please contact Caroline Hart at (828) 898-8777 or hartc@ lmc.edu.

Phase one of the project is complete with new native stone steps in front of the North Carolina Building.

Raising the Bar (and the Roof) — Golden Heritage Society pledges roof renovations There is no stopping the Golden Heritage Society (GHS) when it comes to raising funds! This increasingly engaged group of alumni has raised restricted funds over the years to support a variety of important initiatives on campus including the Veterans Memorial and refurbishing the Alumni House. During Alumni Frolic Week 2011, a committee of GHS members met and agreed to tackle a new campus project. The Golden Heritage Society is currently working towards a $105,000 goal to replace the roofs on the North Carolina Building, Tennessee Residence Hall, and Virginia Residence Hall.

The Society, made up of Lees-McRae alumni

who have celebrated their 50th Golden Class Reunion, has 1,049 members. Leading the fundraising efforts is Banner Elk native, Carol Lowe Timblin ’60, chair of the Golden Heritage Society. So far, the roofs on the North Carolina Building and Tennessee Residence Hall have been replaced. Once the goal is reached, the roof on Virginia Residence Hall will begin. These efforts compliment the spirit of renovation and restoration on campus.

If you are interested in making a gift to the roof project, please contact Michelle Vance Scott ’86/’90 at (828) 898-2489 or scottmv@ lmc.edu.

The North Carolina Building received the first new roof in the roof replacement project.

The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012 | 21

Donor Impact

Recognizing Generosity Through the generosity of foundations, alumni, and friends of the College, significant improvements have been made to campus infrastructure including residence halls, student spaces, and other campus facilities.

Tate Residence Hall Renovations Funded by the Charles A. Cannon Charitable Trusts, Tate Residence Hall Renovations included new restrooms and a renovated lobby with new flooring, ceiling, and furniture.

Cannon Student Center Renovations The Cannon Student Center received several upgrades including a new brick courtyard, new furniture in King-Shivell Lounge and Evans Auditorium, new gates covering the front utility area, and renovated restrooms. The Cannon Foundation funded these renovations.

Hemlock Hill Student Housing Funded by the Mariam and Robert Hayes Charitable Trust, several homes on Hemlock Hill have been converted to student housing. Each house underwent improvements including converting a dining area to an additional bedroom, along with renovated bathrooms and kitchens.

22 | The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012

Donor Impact Hayes Auditorium Renovations The Hayes Auditorium lobby received a much needed face-lift thanks to The Broyhill Family Foundation, and thanks to the generosity of FORUM patrons, Hayes Auditorium has a new women’s restroom.

New Steps in Several Locations

New Recruitment Initiatives Left: New concrete stairs were replaced in several campus locations thanks to funding from the Charles A. Cannon Charitable Trusts.

Right: Expanded marketing and recruitment initiatives were made possible by a $250,000 commitment from the College’s Board of Trustees.

New Roof for Hemlock Hall

New Fleet of Mini-Buses Left: The Home Depot Corporation funded the new roof project for Hemlock Hall.

Right: Trustee Dr. Ed Shelton ’60/’95 and wife, Dottie, generously funded the replacement of the College’s aging van fleet with new mini-buses.

Opportunity for Support: Performing Arts Scene Shop For many years, audiences have enjoyed the incredible scene work that goes along with academic theatrical performances as well as Summer Theatre shows.

Currently, because of spacing issues, scenes are being built on the Hayes Auditorium stage.

This is an undesirable, and at times, an unsafe work area for students and professionals.

There are specific needs for a scene design area that include such things as storage for

combustibles, an emergency eye wash area, safety wiring, and a paint sink. The National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST), the Lees-McRae Performing Arts accrediting organization, has insisted that the College abandon the current scene shop operation and make plans in short order to build a new shop.

The total cost of construction is $200,000 and a gift of $100,000 would attach your name to this essential initiative. All gift sizes are important and appreciated.

Make your gift today! For more information about the scene shop project, please contact Caroline Hart, vice president for advancement, at (828) 898-8777 or hartc@lmc.edu.

The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012 | 23

Alumni Relations

Alumni Association President Catherine Button Campe ’89/’91 challenges alumni to elevate their engagement

President

Hello Bobcats!

I am honored and privileged to be serving as your Lees-McRae College Alumni Association President.

It is amazing to be working with an Alumni Board that is active, well organized and effectively working together for the betterment of the Lees-McRae experience for students. As president, I am committed to maintaining the established partnership with the College and develop innovative services that meet the needs of our global alumni base and increase our level of commitment to the College.

You should have already received this year’s save-thedate postcard with a magnet, and you can see there are lots of exciting things happening for our alumni.

Class reunions, local events around the Southeast, the grand opening of the Dan and Dianne May Wildlife Center, and finally, Homecoming are just a few events happening at our alma mater. If you haven’t visited the Lees-McRae College campus lately, I invite you to do so. Our campus in the majestic mountains has been elevated even higher with beautification projects and updated facilities. I hope you will join us at Homecoming and reunite your connections!

We are also elevating Alumni Frolic Week. It is under construction, and a special team has been appointed to overhaul the concept of the week to make it affordable and engaging for alumni. I am looking forward to an exciting Summer 2013 for LMC alumni.

I’d like to challenge you to elevate your level of engagement! Make a gift in an amount comfortable to your budget each year to the LMC Fund, participate in Homecoming festivities, host an event in your town, become an alumni mentor to a current student, or volunteer to serve as class agent for your class.

There are many ways you can participate and become an active member of your Alumni Association.

And finally, I would like to welcome the most recent graduates of Lees-McRae College into our Alumni Association. You are now members of our alumni family! Thanks for your service and commitment to the College. I look forward to hearing from our newest alumni, as well as those who have been alumni for quite some time. I also look forward to meeting you at upcoming events, reminiscing about our experiences at LMC, and looking ahead to the future of the College together!

Best regards,

Catherine

Catherine Button Campe ’89/’91 Alumni Association President

Alumni Mentoring: Make a difference in the future of Lees-McRae students The Career Resource Center’s Alumni Mentoring Program is seeking alumni to mentor current students and to take advantage of the many resources of the College Central Network.

“Our alumni have many years of knowledge and experience in their respective fields of employment that could be very useful to our young alumni just entering the workforce,” said Russell Taylor, director of the Career Resource Center in a memo to Alumni Board members. “Lees-McRae invites alumni to share that experience by becoming an alumni mentor.”

Lees-McRae has developed an affiliation with College Central Network to provide internship and employment information for our students. It is through College Central that the College is able to make alumni mentoring a reality. “College Central benefits our students by bringing together job and internship opportunities available on the internet and from local employers in a central location with an easy to use search interface,” said Taylor.

24 | The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012

Meet your Alumni Board

“Additionally with the capacity to electronically create and store resumés, cover letters and other types of files needed for job and internship applications, students have a central location in which to keep all of their application materials and the ability to quickly and easily communicate it to prospective employers,” Taylor continued. “College Central is a powerful, easy to use tool that should make finding and applying for internships and jobs simple and easy for students.”

Founded in 1996, College Central Network, Inc. is the nation’s leading application service provider of career services management tools for small, midsize, and community colleges, as well as art and design schools.

For instructions on how to create your personal profile in College Central for Alumni Mentors, contact Michelle Vance Scott ’86/’90 at (828) 8982489 or scottmv@lmc.edu. You can learn more at www.lmc.edu/academics/crc.

Catherine Button Campe ’89/’91 Charlotte, NC

President-Elect

Karen Gobble Meade ’86 Mocksville, NC

Vice President

Martha W. McAfee ’86/’03 Greenville, SC

Secretary

Deena Powell Chambers ’75 Statesville, NC

Directors Robert B. Boyd ’86 Bill E. Cochran ’54 Robin Wiseman Evans ’86 Dawn Dukes Grimaud ’91 Katie Ward Hall ’88 Morgan Beck Herdklotz ’93 Jenny E. Hix ’72 Gail Miller ’72 Pat W. Monroe ’64 Jean Ogburn Neal ’52 Martha Stone Penny ’59 Don K. Rich ’64 Ben E. Simpson ’04 Ken D. Sullivan ’59 Austin O. Wright ’10

Show Your

B bcat Spirit!

Become involved in the life of Lees-McRae College!

• • • • • •

Recruit a student Register to be a mentor Participate in a career fair Become a Class Agent Host an event in your area Participate in Homecoming

Alumni Relations

Sisters Laws ’50 and Neal ’52 receive 2011 Alumni Service Award The Lees-McRae College Alumni Association honored Bobcat alumnae sisters Karol Ogburn Laws ‘50 and Jean Ogburn Neal ‘52 with the Alumni Service Award at the banquet during Frolic Week 2011.

Fred ’52 and Johnnie Grant ’53 Street honored with 2011 Distinguished Alumni Award

Homecoming Weekend

October 5-7, 2012 Friendships Elevated

Both Laws and Neal are longtime members of the Alumni Board and active supporters and volunteers for Lees-McRae College.

Karol Ogburn Laws ‘50 is a retired medical technologist living in High Point, NC. She is an active member of Grace Community Church.

After more than 20 years on the Alumni Board, Laws ended her tenure in 2011. She served as chair of the Golden Heritage Society since 2001, successfully leading fundraising efforts for three major projects including the Veterans Memorial in Swank Park, furnishing the Alumni House and the Alumni Finder software project for the Advancement Office. She has been an active participant in Alumni Frolic Week and Homecoming for many years.

Jean Ogburn Neal ‘52 retired from medical records work in Guilford County.

She is active in several community organizations including High Point Theatre and High Point Museum, volunteering in schools, and remaining active in the American Health Information Management Association.

She is also an active member at Oak Ridge United Methodist Church.

Neal has served on the Alumni Board for more than 20 years, participating on the Bylaws Committee, Nominating Committee, and leading the Greensboro Alumni Chapter for over 20 years. She is a regular and active participant in Alumni Frolic Week and Homecoming.

“It’s extraordinary the work these two Bobcat sisters have done on behalf of LeesMcRae College. It’s been my joy to work with them over the years,” said Michelle Vance Scott ‘86/’90, Assistant Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations.

For more information, visit www.homecoming.lmc.edu.

During the annual Alumni Association meeting and dinner at Homecoming 2011, Fred ’52 and Johnnie Grant ’53 Street of Forest City, NC were the honored recipients of Lees-McRae’s Distinguished Alumni award. The Streets have long been involved with their alma mater, and retirement has not slowed them down at all.

After Lees-McRae, Fred served in the US Navy for four years. He then enjoyed a long, distinguished career with the United States Department of Agriculture. Since retiring, Fred’s interests include real estate development and beef cattle farming.

Johnnie, after Lees-McRae, finished her education at East Tennessee State University with a B.S. in Early Childhood Development. She taught school for 30 years in North Carolina in the public schools systems of Wake, Halifax, Yancey, and Rutherford counties. Before retiring in 1988, Johnnie was awarded Teacher of the Year at Forest City Elementary School.

Johnnie has served as mentor with the McNair Education Foundation, a volunteer with her local hospice and her church.

In December 2001, the Streets established the Fred and Johnnie G. Street Endowed Scholarship Fund with Lees-McRae College. Both continue to work in student recruitment for Lees-McRae in the Rutherford area.

Over the years, they have traveled to all 50 U.S. states and especially enjoyed the West and Alaska. They have two sons, Fred, III (wife, Suzanne) and Robert (wife, Robin).

Class Reunions The following classes are having reunions during Homecoming!

Contact your class reunion planner for details!

1947 Carson Oakley - 336.627.7931

1952 Lucile Gragg Beaman - 336.674.2713 beamanlg@aol.com

1962 JC Roudebush - 276.236.6812 Betty Buch Jenkins - bettybooj@verizon.net

1972 Gail Miller - 336.578.8095 gmiller20@traid.rr.com

1987 If you are interested in planning, call 828.898.2489.

1997 Chase Warner - 919.968.1639 lmcalum97@hotmail.com

2002 If you are interested in planning, call 828.898.2489.

The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012 | 25

Alumni Relations

Class of 1956 - 55th Reunion

Class of 1976 - 35th Reunion

Class of 1961 - 50th Reunion HOMECOMING 2011 Good times were elevated during Lees-McRae College Homecoming 2011 September 30 through October 2! Alumni and students were surprised to see the first snowfall of the season on Saturday, but a little bit of cold weather didn’t deter anyone from enjoying the homecoming festivities. With class reunions, the annual parade on Main Street, the Alumni Mixer, the welcome reception, check-in at the Alumni House, and NCAA soccer and volleyball, campus was buzzing with activity. Make plans to visit campus this fall for Homecoming 2012 October 5-7. For a listing of class reunions, turn to page 23 or visit the Lees-McRae College website at www.homecoming.lmc.edu.

26 | The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012

Class of 1986 - 25th Reunion

Class of 1991 - 20th Reunion

Alumni Class Notes

Keep the Office of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving up-to-date on your recent accomplishments at www.go.lmc.edu/alumni.

1940s

of service. He now owns and operates XMC Lawn Care, LLC. He has three grandchildren.

Lelia Neal Essic ’41 was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Davie County Community Foundation at their annual Oscar Meeting, April 25. It was given in honor of her commitment to the education of young people through scholarships. Since 1989 she and her late husband, James, have given around 170 scholarships to Davie High graduates and Lelia has continued the practice since James died in 2010.

Herbert Bacon ’69 retired from teaching and

Mary Lou Reavis Miller ’48 is the proud greatgrandmother of 21 great-grandchildren.

1950s Rev. Bill S. Goforth ’50 retired from the

Presbyterian Church U.S.A. on September 25, 2011. He is a retired U. S. Army Chaplain, Ltg. and is the CEO of the Gospel Book Store in Abingdon, VA since January 1996. He has two sons, five grandchildren, and one greatgrandchild.

Lewis Glenn Mitchell ’58 recently celebrated

his 55th wedding anniversary with wife, Aleta Joy McGuire Mitchell.

Jim Mahan ’59 ran in the 2012 primary on

the Republican ticket for Governor of North Carolina.

1960s Kay Rich Lyman Eisinger ’61 resides in

Asheboro where her husband Don is a lay preacher. They have five children, 20+ grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Nancy Wakefield Livengood ’61 and husband, Lou, have been married 48 years. They have three children and five grandchildren. They retired in 2000 and moved from Michigan to Tennessee to enjoy the warmer weather.

Melissa Torrence Pittman ’61 has two sons and twin daughters. They have lived in the same house in Charlotte for 30 years. She continues to work as an insurance agent with AAA Carolinas.

Lowell Ward Sexton ’62 and wife are enjoying their granddaughter who was born 10-10-10.

Susie Minnick McConnell ’66 is a retired

Elementary School Teacher. Busy, busy, busy!

Mike Proffitt ’66 is still teaching Driver’s Ed at Cocke County High School in Newport, TN after 42 years.

Allen Sigmon ’67 retired from the North Carolina Department of Labor after 32 years 28 | The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012

coaching at Pennsville Memorial High School in 2009. He is spending retirement between New Jersey and his second home in Chincoteague, VA, the #1 beach town in the USA.

Alumni Super Note

Bob Meier ’78 completes the Assault on Mitchell

James Berry ’69 retired from the education

profession in 2008 after 36 years of service including work as a teacher, guidance counselor, assistant principal, and 20 years as a high school principal.

Patricia Townsend Brookbank ’69 has been disabled with Post Polio Syndrome since 1992.

Prior to becoming disabled, she worked at Moses Cone Memorial Hospital in ICU/Trauma in Greensboro NC. She enjoys hunting, fishing, bluegrass music, camping, volunteering, and spending time with her family, including seven grandchildren.

1970s Barbara Draughn Stout ’70 works at Carolina Anesthesiology and enjoys spending time with her children and grandson.

Robert Cooper ’71 attended Appalachian State

University after Lees-McRae. He worked for the Virginia Department of Corrections as chief probation and parole officer, regional manager, and local facilities manager. He was also director of the local social services department.

He retired in 2008 and is currently teaching school in Yadkin County, NC. He has been married for 37 years and has two kids.

Jim McIntosh ’72 began his 23rd year as the Director of Public Works in Ramseur, NC. He has a daughter in her final year of nursing at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Andy Wright ’72 is Senior Vice President and Managing Director of the Energy and Environment Team at Dutko Worldwide, one of America’s top lobbying firms. He was recently named to the DWW Board of Directors.

Mary-Francis Gentry Pulliam ’73 retired from

teaching in 2008 after 31 years of service. She is working as a social worker for Stokes County DSS.

Deena Powell Chambers ’75 is working

part-time at Mitchell Community College in Statesville, NC as support staff for Continuing Education and Fire & EMS Division.

Robert Cobb ’75 just celebrated his 35th

anniversary with One Main Financial, a subsidiary of Citigroup. He transferred to a new office in Durham, NC in April 2012. He volunteers with Wake County SPCA and with

Bob Meier ’78 completed the 2011 Assault on Mitchell, a bike race from Spartanburg, SC to the top of Mount Mitchell, the highest point in elevation east of the Mississippi River.

The ride totals 102.7 miles with 10,357 feet of climbing. With 10 rest stops along the way, riders are able to refill, refuel, and make mechanical adjustments to their bikes as needed.

More than 1100 cyclists begin the race in Spartanburg. While some finish in Marion, NC, approximately 750 make the 28 mile climb to the top of Mount Mitchell. Finish times for this impressive ride to the top range from five hours to ten and a half.

Meier is President of Northern Trust Bank in Atlanta, GA. church activities where he serves on the board of trustees, worship ministry, and service ministry.

Bryan Juwig ’76 has traveled to 29 countries and 177 different airports worldwide during his career.

James Land ’76 retired as the principal of

Union Cross Elementary School in Forsyth Co., NC on July 1, 2009. He works part time with UNC-Greensboro as a student teacher supervisor. He remarried in 2005. He has two daughters, two stepsons and two grandchildren.

Bonnie Whicker Julia ’77 joined the US Army in June 1980 and retired in June 1998.

Kim Reavis Moore ’77 is the program coordinator for the Therapeutic Massage program at Forsyth Technical Community College.

Donna Isley Mason ’78 is working with Policy Studies, Inc. as a Senior Outreach Representative based in the field in Kentucky helping to identify and work with community groups and organizations to bolster participation in the state’s paternity establishment program.

Gwen Cumming ’79 completed 23 years employed at Sentara Careplex Hospital.

1980s Montrose Streeter ’82 received a doctorate

degree in Executive Leadership from St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY. He was promoted to Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in July 2011.

Beth Tedford ’82 is the special collections assistant at the Z. Smith Reynolds Library at Wake Forest University.

Nicole Baker Crain ’87 moved back to North Carolina after 18 years in California.

David Diimmler ’88 is the owner of Diimmler’s Catering and Special Events, LLC in business for 12 years in partnership with his brother.

1990s Tamara Parnell ’90 is currently teaching history and First Year Seminar for seven years at Appalachian State University. She started the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership in the summer of 2011.

Kelly Watterson Barber ’92 graduated in December 2011 from Mercy School of Nursing in Charlotte. Since 2007, she has been employed as a surgical technologist and an assistant surgical equipment manager at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

Beginning in February 2012, Barber became employed by Carolinas Medical Center as a surgical nurse circulator.

Timothy D. Jones ’96 has worked 21 years at

his firm, Woolpert, Inc.

Walker Cook ’99 is an assistant principal at Odenville Middle School in Odenville, AL.

2000s John Frick ’01 and wife Jennifer are the

parents of two children with one on the way.

Samuel Scott IV ’01 is working for Ralph

Lauren (Polo) Asset Protection Department in High Point, NC.

Drew A. Swanson ’01 recently published

Remaking Wormsloe Plantation: The Environmental History of a Lowcountry Landscape through The University of Georgia Press. Swanson is an Andrew W. Mellon postdoctoral fellow in environmental history at Millsaps College. He was a fellow in environmental history at the Wormsloe Institute for Environmental History from 2008 to 2010.

Sam Richardson ’02 and wife Stephanie, welcomed their first child in 2011.

Nicholas Johnson ’02 attended the National

athletic trainer through a partnership with her employer, Iredell Health System’s Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine programs. Bess and her colleagues at other schools educate players and coaches on nutrition, hydration, strength training, injury management, triage, and rehabilitation

Rebecca Conklin ’08 had been living in Shanghai, China and taught high school for three years after graduating. She is now attending the Harvard Graduate School

Alumni Super Note

Virgie Dawkins Shoaf ’55 honored with inaugural award for outstanding service to Davidson Surgical Associates

Energy Center of Excellence at Bismarck State College and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Energy Management and Associate in Applied Science in Electric Power Technology, thus helping him reach a position in administration within Idaho Power Company.

Christina Jolly ’02 works with the Parents As

Teachers program in Harnett County, NC as a Parent Education Program Specialist. She completed her Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction and is working on her Doctorate.

Sarah McAllister ’05 graduated with a Master’s Degree from the Tulane School of Social Work in May 2011. She works at Tulane University for the Newcomb College Institute with undergraduate female students. She moved to New Orleans, LA in 2007 to help with Hurricane Katrina recovery work.

Rachel Campbell Broadway ’05 and husband, Scotty, welcomed their first child in 2011.

Jaime ’06 and Elizabeth McKee ’06 Hall left Chicago in July after Elizabeth was awarded a Master’s Degree in Behavioral Psychology, and now live in New York City. Jaime is a member of SAG, has been auditioning, and has done a bit for a film “to be released.”

Lucy Spain ’06 appeared in an episode of

Royal Pains #3014 “Bottoms Up,” which aired on the USA Network. She resides in New York City where she works as an actor.

Justin C. Hall ’07 was featured in an article in

Winston-Salem Monthly in April. He has been a full-time costume designer at Twin City Stage in Winston-Salem, NC since 2011.

Amber Benfield Horn ’07 married Jerad, on April 15 at Magnolia Plantation in Charleston, SC. They reside in Mooresville, NC. Stacy Bess ’08 was featured in Iredell Living Magazine for her work with South Iredell High School’s athletic programs as a certified

Photo courtesy of the Lexington Dispatch

Virgie Dawkins Shoaf ’55 of Lexington, NC has been the practice administrator for Davidson Surgical Associates for 55 years.

She was recently named the first recipient of the Ken Petersen Award presented by Wake Forest Baptist Health-Lexington Medical Center. The award was named in memory of her former boss, a well-respected general surgeon with whom Shoaf worked for 30 years.

According to the Lexington Dispatch, the medical staff at Wake Forest Baptist HealthLexington Medical Center voted to honor a medical center employee annually in memory of Petersen after his unexpected death Nov. 2, 2010.

Shoaf graduated from Lees-McRae in 1955 with a degree in medical secretarial/medical records. As a practice administrator, Shoaf has handled everything from billing and insurance to payroll and bookkeeping, as well as ordering supplies and even some medical care such as preparing patients for minor in-office surgery.

The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012 | 29

ofEducation to pursue her M.Ed. in human development and psychology.

Chris Stieber ’08 has been working for Cal

Ripken Jr. and Ripken Professional Baseball in Baltimore, MD since February 2009, currently managing the corporate sales department for Ripken Baseball and Ripken Amateur.

Sara Travis ’08 is an animal trainer at the Palm

Beach Zoo in West Palm Beach, FL. She trains various animals for the Wings Over Water bird show as well as the Wild Things show.

2010s Jose Chavira ’10 is enrolled in the Master of

Arts in Liberal Studies at North Carolina State University. He also obtained an internship with AARP of NC as the event coordinator/planner for the AARP Multicultural Outreach Gala in North Carolina.

Josh Kurtz ’10 moved to Selma, NC taking a student-pastor appointment while going to Duke Divinity School last fall.

Ashley Splawn ’10 just completed her master’s degree in Sports Management at California Baptist University in Riverside, CA. After completing an internship with intern for ABC7 Sports in Los Angeles, CA, she began working full-time for Nike. In April, she started a marketing/promotions internship for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes minor league baseball team.

Ashleigh Stumler ’10 is currently employed at

University Sports Publications in Charlotte, NC.

Marko Zivkovic ’10 is in the MBA program at NC State University.

Caroline Butler ’11 is working with the Jerry

Long Family YMCA in Clemmons, NC. She is serving as a site supervisor, office assistant, and has been appointed to be the director of their summer camp.

Michael Fahey ’11 is the assistant lacrosse coach at Concordia University in Wisconsin.

Brittany Head ’11 is teaching math, science,

and design technology at an International Baccalaureate Middle school. She is currently working on her NC license and is in graduate school at UNC Asheville.

Sierra Phipps ’11 is currently substitute

teaching in Ashe and Avery counties.

Christine Vanard ’11 is a full time assistant

tennis pro at Deer Valley Racquet Club and is the tennis coach for Watauga High School.

Carlos Vass ’11 is currently working at

Jonesville Elementary School as a second grade teacher.

30 | The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012

In Remembrance of Alumni & Friends Gifts made in remembrance of a fellow classmate or friend of the College are listed in the Honor Roll of Donors online at www.go.lmc.edu/advancement.

Alumni Ralph Buchanan ’31 – 5.7.2012 Faye Welch Fletcher ’32 – 11.27.2009 Claude Hunter ’34 – 2.18.2011 Margaret Duff Alexander ’35 – 12.23.10 Baxter Pierce ’36 – 9.21.2011 Jacob Thompson Bradsher, Jr. ’39 – 2.22.2012 Van W. Daniel, Jr. ’39 – 3.22.2009 George W. Davis ’40 – 6.3.2010 Carlene Sawyer Mays ’40 – 3.18.2011 Ward R. Robinson ’40 – 4.26.2012 George E. Stokes ’41 – 6.27.2011 Hazel Wood Harris ’42 – 9.12.2010 John Marshall Davenport ’42 – 2.17.2011 Mary “Beth” Toms ’42 – 4.8.2011 Mary “Janie” Hern Highfill ’42 – 4.9.2011 Josephine Osborne Hughes ’45 – 4.21.2012 Gerald R. Lloyd ’46 – 7.12.2010 Ruth Calloway Gregory ’46 – 11.19.2010 William L. Puckett ’46 – 1.9.2012 Lantz Sykes ’47 – 9.18.2011 John Rufus Henley ’48 – 11.22.2011 Edward McCutchan Jones, Jr. ’48 – 11.24.2011 Emily Jane Krider ’48 – 8.11.2011 Margie Richmond Wallace ’48 – 12.14.2011 Francis Crunkleton Wright ’48 – 8.22.2011 Roy E. Hoover ’49 – 1.27.2011 Martha Jones Lyle ’49 – 5.11.2012 Charles R. Turner ’49 – 4.5.2011 Floyd W. Yelton ’49 – 4.20.2011 Max Garland Rieves ’49 – 11.2.2011 Patricia Patterson Duncan ’50 – 1.1.2011 Edward Truman Robbins ’50 – 2.26.2011 Thomas G. Fawcett ’50 – 4.22.2011 Fred Carter ’51 – 10.30.2008 Clayton Gilstrap ’51 – 6.3.2011 Johnson “J.D.” McRorie ’51 – 3.13.2011 Nancy Keller Thompson ’51 – 4.29.2011 Ray Benfield ’51 – 8.6.2011 George W. Alley ’51 – 8.18.2011 Bonnie Ward Knowles ’51 – 9.2.2011 William “Bill” Greene ’52 – 12.26.2009 Alvin W. Rader ’52 – 6.7.2010

Dot Clarence “D.C.” Pratt ’53 – 9.1.2010 Kermit Hill ’53 – 1.27.2011 Fred C. Sink ’53 – 7.3.2011 Billy Boyd Wilson ’53 – 12.16.2011 Carl Edward Hipps ’55 – 7.20.2010 Maxwell D. Efird ’55 – 7.22.2011 Warren Sexton ’55 – 8.9.2011 James B. Glass ’56 – 6.12.2010 Jack Masters ’56 – 2.29.2012 Elsie Kinder Patrick ’56 – 4.22.2012 Janice Smith West ’57 – 4.21.2011 George K. Jones ’58 – 9.18.2010 Julie Polyak Burton ’58 – 1.14.2012 Eugene E. Pruett ’59 – 10.13.2011 James R. “Jim” Brabrand ’60 – 4.17.2011 Frank R. Wright ’66 – 1.6.2011 Roy M. Dellinger ’66 – 11.16.2011 Joyce Shumate Cooke ’67 – 12.12.2010 Charles A. Burleson ’69 – 11.30.2011 Bettye Jo Maggi Mastrine ’69 – 1.25.2012 Diane Phillips Young ’69 – 7.19.2011 Robert Lee Burgess, Jr. ’74 – 11.30.2010 Donald W. Cooper ’74 – 5.18.2008 Ann Haskins Green ’76 – 9.11.2010 Bobby L. Biggerstaff ’76 – 8.25.2011 Henry H.”H.H.” Philips ’80 – 5.21.2011 Donna Gail Cantrell ’84 – 9.25.2010 Donna Gwyn Compton ’90 – 2.26.2011 Joshua S. Prago ’90 – 7.21.2011 Matthew B. Marshburn ’91 – 9.12.2011 Ryan C. Moore ’07 – 4.3.2011 Christopher Williams ’12 – 4.5.2012 Megan Baab ’14 – 12.15.2011

Friends Laverna Lee Boseman, Jr. – 4.21.2012 Rev. Dr. David H. Burr – 7.10.2011 Dr. James McChesney – 4.4.2012 Mary Louise Pritchett – 7.18.2011 Boyd Ramsey – 4.5.2012 Rev. Dr. Daniel R. Thomas, Jr. – 4.29.2012 Rev. Herbert L. Underwood – 11.5.2011 Phillip Tyree Wade – 10.6.2009

Nominate a Classmate!

Please use the form below to nominate an alumnus/a whom you believe deserves recognition through the Lees-McRae College Distinguished Alumni Award or the Alumni Service Award. If you know an alumnus/a who would be a good candidate for the College’s Alumni Board, please use this form, as well.

Please check the appropriate box: Alumni Service Award Distinguished Alumni Award Alumni Board

Alumni Service Award

Distinguished Alumni Award

The Alumni Board will present the Alumni Service Award at Homecoming.

To be considered for this award an individual must meet the criteria listed below: 1. Be an alumnus/a of Lees-McRae College.

2. Provide significant service to Lees-McRae College and/or the LeesMcRae Alumni Association.

3. Demonstrate a continuing interest in Lees-McRae by attending alumni events on and off campus and by contributing time, energy or money to programs of the institution.

4. Manifest and commend the hallmarks of the Lees-McRae graduate in his/her life.

The Alumni Board will award the Distinguished Alumni Award at Homecoming. To be considered for the award an individual must meet the criteria listed below: 1. Be an alumnus/a of Lees-McRae College 2. Demonstrate a respectable profession or life mission for which the College is exceptionally proud.

3. Distinguish himself or herself in business, life work or worthy endeavor.

4. Manifest and commend the hallmarks of the Lees-McRae graduate in his/her life.

Alumni Board The Alumni Board represents the Alumni Association. The Alumni Board is made up of 36 directors who represent several regions and various class years. Each director serves a three-year term and has the opportunity to serve on one of six different committees. The primary role of the Alumni Board is to build, maintain and enhance the relationship between the College and its alumni. Board members work to foster among alumni a spirit of continuing service, fellowship and support of Lees-McRae College.

Nomination Form Name of Person Nominated: Class Year: (include maiden name if married woman) Home Address: Business Address: Phone: Profession: Present Position: Services:

(Civic and community organizations, political and religious activities, fraternal organizations, etc.)

Briefly describe why you think the nominee deserves this particular nomination:

Submitted by:

Please detach this form and return to the Office of Advancement, Lees-McRae College, P.O. Box 128, Banner Elk, NC 28604.

Office of Advancement P.O. Box 128 | Banner Elk, NC 28604

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Parents: If this issue is addressed to a son or daughter who no longer maintains an address at your home, please send the correct address to Lees-McRae College, Office of Advancement, P.O. Box 128, Banner Elk, NC 28604.

Donor Spotlight Gary Moss ’99 Gary Moss ’99 values the education he received at Lees-McRae College. “Lees-McRae means more to me as time passes. Experienced professors who mentored me in the Business Division truly care about their students. They made sure we were prepared for the real world after our time at Lees-McRae College,” said Moss.

A Certified Finanicial Planner™ practitioner, Moss gives back to Lees-McRae College as a Class Agent and President’s Circle member because he recognizes the opportunities afforded to him as a student. “My LeesMcRae education has proved invaluable. It truly takes a group effort to make the Lees-McRae experience what it is. Between the student dedication, the staff and faculty commitment, and the president’s leadership, LMC provides the education and experience that students need to be successful after college.”

Moss and his wife, Fuschia reside in Boone, NC with their three children, Skylar, Thomas and Mitchell.