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2021 graduates offer inspiration and thoughts on their collegiate journey See related story, page 4.

Photo/Alena Noakes, Wildcats Media

VIEW FROM THE HILL This was a year like no other, and in many ways not one any of us wish to repeat.

However, the challenges wrought by hurricanes, an unprecedented ice storm, and the continuing threat of COVID-19 —which doesn’t seem to be over yet—don’t tell the real story. The “God” story.

The resilience of our student body, the relevant ways our faculty and staff reached out to students during the time of quarantine, and the reaction of our alumni—stepping up more than ever knowing the financial consequences of this worldwide pandemic.

Thank you is not enough. Columns is dedicated to all of you.

Some of our outstanding, 2021 graduates grace the cover. They are a microcosm of the diverse leaders LC is producing. As our students become alumni, we are confident they will continue to reflect our mission as they seek to fulfill God’s call on their lives. And you will see just that in the profiles of our alumni across the country, who have followed the Lord’s call.

In addition, LC has been recognized with several grant awards for bettering classrooms, living spaces, academic departments, and athletic areas. LC has been noted for being the safest campus and second most diverse campus in the state.

We moved from NCAA Division III to NAIA and began offering athletic scholarships. We refurbished residence halls, had a 100% increase in Wi-Fi capability, added dining options, upgraded computer labs, and initiated a program to help qualified students attend LC debt free.

We are committed to fill our calling to provide quality Christian higher education—a need that is growing in today’s culture.

For all of this and so much more, we give God all the glory!

This edition of Columns captures the resolve of the last 18 months to rise to the challenges that came before us, the blessings that God has given, and the expectations for the upcoming year. So much I am grateful for—thank you all for your continued prayers and support for this worthy, Christ-centered institution. We will continue to follow His call.

Keep Pressing On!

Rick Brewer, PhD, MBA President and CEO Professor of Business

Contents 2020-2021 Academic Year in Review

2

LC holds 166th Commencement/ Students from Class of 2020 also recognized

graduates offer 4 2021 inspiration and thoughts on their collegiate journey

7 CHRISTUS St. Frances 8 LC, Cabrini announces Cabrini

Robinson ‘followed God’s call’ and earns degree at 71

Scholars Program

signs articulation 9 LC agreements with SEBTS and SWBTS in March

College Black 10 Louisiana History Month Symposium, A Celebration of Diversity

a 100-year 12 Commemorating friendship with the City of Alexandria

Christian Faith & Values

14 15

LC’s biblical response to racism in the 5th annual Values & Ethics Series Richards makes ‘Christian Case for Free Enterprise’ in LC lecture series

C3 conference dives deeper 16 LC’s into religious rights and COVID-19/Second C3 focused on Calling, Career

Honors, Awards & Accolades

17 2020-2021 Awards Wildcat student-athletes 18 109 named Academic All-Conference/ LC unveils major renovations to athletic facilities

moves from NCAA DIII to 19 LC NAIA, joins RRAC & SAC

20 21 A Step Up in community fitness enhancement 22 Department grants for 2021

The Louisiana Athletic Club under new ownership & management

23 24 Renovations & landscaping

Louisiana College awarded grant for campus safety and security

Alumni Updates

26 28 32 34 35

Alum and wife provide charitable gift annuity with college as beneficiary Art alumnus turns unemployment into award-winning artwork in 2020 Young LC alums follow the Lord’s lead to Amazon and Pacific Northwest MSW program seeks to fill need in CENLA for graduate level social workers Jimmie Davis dedication

LC Looking Forward

College launches 36 Louisiana The Center for Calling & Career takes over Lady 38 Tejas Wildcats Soccer

39

Students get experience with Louisiana Baptist Foundation Internships

Matherne’s long road to 40 Anna Louisiana College, a true miracle 42 Congresswoman Letlow visits LC to Alumni from Dr. Palmer/ 43 Letter Homecoming schedule 44 Louisiana College in Memoriam

Editorial Staff Publisher Clark Higher Ed

Marketing and Communications Staff Jennifer Dykes,

Director of Marketing

Dr. Elizabeth Clarke,

Director of College Communications

Dr. Beth Palmer,

Assistant Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Jerry Clark,

Assistant Director of Marketing

Richard Thiberville, Jr.,

Sports Information Director

Contributing Writers Brandon Brown Darrell Brown Sierra Boudreaux Alena Noakes Kylei Cornelison Victoria Watson

Contributing Photo Journalists Sierra Boudreaux Breland Morris Alena Noakes

Graphic Design Chris Mallonee Todd Fingleton

Correspondence:

Louisiana College Attn. Columns P.O. Box 588 Pineville, LA 71359-0584 E-Mail: columns@lacollege.edu To update your alumni information, send email to alumni@lacollege.edu or beth.palmer@lacollege.edu Special recognition to Dr. Elizabeth Clarke for her contributions to this edition of the Columns magazine.

2020 - 2021 ACADEMIC YEAR IN REVIEW LC HOLDS COMMENCEMENT Students from Class of 2020 also recognized

By Elizabeth Clarke

2 | COLUMNS Summer 2021

Rep. Mike Johnson, 166th commencement keynote speaker

On May 8, 2021 at the Rapides Coliseum, Louisiana College conducted its 166th commencement. The keynote speaker was U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson who represents Louisiana’s 4th district. In his address, Johnson said that there were “only a handful of institutions in America where God could be honored” the way he was at commencement. He offered the students words of encouragement on the beginning of their journeys as college graduates. “Walk with the Lord; it’s that simple,” Johnson said. “Be humble and faithful in the little things God entrusts you with today. God will reward your faithfulness with more, and you will be set apart.”

LC conferred 178 undergraduate and 65 graduate degrees at the day’s ceremony, which also included many of the 2020 graduates, whose commencement exercises last year were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Rick Brewer recognized the first seven graduates from the C.S. Lewis Honors College. Four students from the first cohort of C.S. Lewis Honors College graduated Saturday: Aaron Howe, B.S., biology; Ragan Delrie, B.S., biology; Carson Elliott. B.S., biology and chemistry; and Caitlyn Scheibal, B.S, biology. Three students from the 2018 cohort also completed their degrees and Honors College requirements in three years: Margaret Avant, B.A., education with math concentration; Lillian Berry, B.S., criminal justice; and Samantha O’Banion, B.A., theatre arts. Brewer also made mention that the first graduates from the pre-engineering program were graduating.

“You all know our three R’s—relevant, relational and rigorous,” Brewer said to the graduates. “But you all have earned a fourth R— resilient,” alluding to the last 14 months of quarantining, hurricanes and snow storms these students have had to overcome.

Several graduates were chosen to share part of their LC journey.

“The road was long, but today we celebrate and look forward to new journeys and opportunities,” said Tanner Guidry, a missions and ministries graduate. “One of the greatest things we learned— adversity is something to overcome because of the One who lives inside us.”

Louisiana College bestowed honorary doctorates on Rep. Johnson, who currently serves as vice chairman of the House Republican Conference, and on Houston-area businessman and media mogul Earl Heard, who attended LC in the 1960s. A posthumous honorary doctorate was awarded the late Louisiana Gov. Jimmie Davis, LC Class of 1924.

Brewer recognized four with distinguished service awards: • Janie Wise, women’s missions and ministries strategist for Louisiana Baptist Convention • The late Dr. Bill Robertson, pastoral leadership team director for Louisiana Baptist Convention (posthumous award) • Dr. Dewey Dunn (’56) and his wife, Bobbie Dunn (’57), of Nashville. Dr. Dunn taught at Vanderbilt University, and specialized in gastroenterology and internal medicine at the VA Center in Nashville. He is a founding member of the Baptist Medical Dental Fellowship. The Dunns have served together on more than 100 mission trips.

It was a day of celebration for the college, Brewer said, who added he hadn’t shaken that many hands since COVID introduced us to the term social distancing last spring. “It’s a blessing to be able to have commencement and to be back together to honor so many well- deserving individuals for their accomplishments,” he said.

“The Lord has truly blessed us.”

Victoria Anderson, public relations major

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2020 - 2021 ACADEMIC YEAR IN REVIEW

2021 graduates offer inspiration and thoughts on their collegiate journey

By Elizabeth Clarke

P

erhaps for the first time ever, a speaker quoted from the mediocre movie “High School Musical 3” in a college commencement address. In his challenge to the 2021 graduating class at Louisiana College on May 8, Student Government Association President Terrell Phillips told the graduates to “always be grateful” and “keep God at the center of all you do,” and most importantly to remember—from HSM3—“Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat.”

Louisiana College actually experienced several “firsts” at its 166th Commencement Ceremonies. In addition to conferring degrees upon 178 undergraduates and 65 graduate students at Saturday’s commencement, The College had its first C.S. Lewis Honors College graduates, its first pre-engineering degree graduates, and its first Bridge Program to graduate.

The pre-engineering program is a 3+2 program with Louisiana Tech that allows LC students to finish a pre-engineering and math degree in three years and finish their engineering degree in two years at Tech.

The Bridge Program began in the summer of 2017 to give high school graduates who were struggling with English or math skills a jump-start on their college courses by offering intensive remedial work in those courses and to make sure they were ready for success in their freshman courses.

Building on a new tradition begun by President Rick Brewer a few years ago, several student leaders were invited to share a little of their LC journey with their fellow classmates and attendees.

This year’s graduating speakers were: Julius Johnson, of Abbeville, a social work major; Bailey Thompson, of Natchitoches, a pre-medical biology major; Aaron Howe, of Hineston, a biology major; Anna Matherne, of Baton Rouge, a business administration/marketing and management major; Lillian Berry, of Marksville, a criminal justice major; Jerry Clark, of

4 | COLUMNS Summer 2021

Grenada, Mississippi, a convergence media/journalism major; and Tanner Guidry, of Hemphill, Texas, a missions and ministry major.

They were chosen because of their “and then some” attitude, Brewer said, and “for the enormity of what the Lord has done in their lives and what they have meant in the lives of others during their time at LC and the gratitude they show in all they do.”

Julius Johnson, social work major Julius Johnson came to LC from Kaplan High School in Abbeville to play football, something he always dreamed of doing.

What he found at LC, he said, was an even greater love. “This is the place I found life in Christ and His salvation,” Johnson said. “I thought that I would just come to this school to play football and that’s it.” He also found his earthly love—his wife, Nicole Keifer Johnson, who graduated with her master’s in social work Saturday.

They married and had a daughter while in college. “I never thought that I would end up starting a family,” he said. “Louisiana College is and will always be a special and precious place for me, a place where God blessed me with my wife Nicole and my beautiful daughter Alohi.” Johnson plans to enroll in the MSW program at LC and play his final season of football.

Bailey Thompson is also not leaving her academic pursuits behind just yet. She is headed to LSU Shreveport to pursue a master’s in business administration with a concentration in health care administration. She said it was meeting an LC professor and visiting campus that won her over to come to the college in the first place. “I loved that the school was smaller, and the class size was not like a big university because I was worried about all the biology and chemistry classes I would take,” Thompson said. “I met Dr. Elliott my senior year of high school, and that started a spark in me. He was so excited to have me as a student and I knew that the professor care for students was unmatched here at Louisiana College. It was after an overnight stay with some students and a few campus tours later that I fell in love with the beauty of Louisiana College and decided to embark on a wonderful journey here.”

David Elliott is the division chair for natural sciences and mathematics. Thompson said leaving LC is bittersweet because of the people who have become family to her over the last four years—friends, professors and soccer teammates—have given her many memories to cherish. “Louisiana College is a place that I can proudly say I will be an alumni from,” she said. “I have grown to be a better person while being challenged in my faith to know the Lord better. I am thankful for the Lord’s faithfulness in all the testimonies shared as I have traveled the halls of this campus.”

Thompson will not be alone in her continued studies in Shreveport. Aaron Howe, who graduated in biology Saturday, will begin LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine. Howe plans to become a primary care physician. Unlike Thompson, however, Howe said he was initially not interested in attending a small college. He received an invitation to compete for the Smith Scholarship, the full-ride scholarship LC offers to one deserving student each year. “I came to participate in the competition one Saturday morning and immediately I knew that LC is where I wanted to be,” he said. Howe said his time at Louisiana College was transformative in his spiritual life and in his education. “Within the classroom, I have been blessed to see the glory of God unveiled in his creation in biology,” he said. “Even in my non-major classes I witnessed professors explaining God’s impact on their field of study.”

Anna Matherne echoed the feeling that she knew from her first steps on campus four years ago, LC was her home. She met Howe at the Smith Scholars competition that day. Matherne was the winner of the competition, earning a four-year full tuition, room and board scholarship. She also worked as a student worker in President Brewer’s office—doing marketing and communications. And she has already accepted a marketing position with Keystone Engineering in Lafayette.

Lillian Berry, unlike her fellow graduates, said she always knew she would attend Louisiana College. Berry is an LC legacy—her mother is an alumnus. Berry is headed to Southern University Law Center to earn her Juris Doctorate and Master’s in public administration. Her goal is to work in immigration law.

Continued on page 6

Honors students 2021 C.S. Lewis Forum The C. S. Lewis program has afforded students the opportunity to learn and grow in their knowledge and understanding of C. S. Lewis and his writings as well as make meaningful connections across disciplines in their Honors coursework. Many have forged lasting relationships with peers and mentors. The culmination of which were senior research and internship projects presented at the first C. S. Lewis Honors Forum in April, where after the forum presentations each student was awarded with a golden C. S. Lewis Honors Medallion to don at graduation.

Any student with a qualifying ACT score is eligible to elect to participate in the program (28+) and they receive a scholarship for their participation.

See names of students (from left) and their thesis titles below.

Lillian Berry, May 2021 graduate History and Functionality of the United States’ Immigration System Maggie Avant, May 2021 graduate The Effects of Data Driven Instruction Samantha O’Banion, May 2021 graduate The Psyche of Laura Wingfield and Symbolism in The Glass Menagerie Carson Elliott, May 2021 graduate Heart Rate Variability and Personality Kaitlyn Johns, December 2021 graduate The Miranda Rights: History through Present Day Allison Sprague, December 2021 graduate Ventilation and COVID-19 Ragan Delrie, May 2021 graduate Heart Rate Variability and Personality Aaron Howe, May 2021 graduate Medical Research Into the Benefits of a High-Protein, Ketogenic Diet Eden Sliman, December 2021 graduate Lost of the Machine: Class Conflict in the Industrialization Period and Elizabeth Gaskell’s Mary Barton Caitlyn Scheibal, May 2021 graduate Polymerase Chain Reaction Dr. Sarah Payne, adviser

COLUMNS Summer 2021 | 5

2020 - 2021 ACADEMIC YEAR IN REVIEW • 2021 graduates offer inspiration and thoughts on their collegiate journey Jerry Clark and Tanner Guidry were two students who found LC from hometowns outside of Louisiana. Clark, from Mississippi, and Guidry, from Texas, agreed, though, that finding the school has been a priceless part of their paths thus far.

Guidry transferred to LC after earning his associates degree at Bossier Parish Community College. LC has reciprocal agreements with BPCC and other community colleges to ensure an easy transition for students who begin their undergraduate studies elsewhere. Even though Guidry hails from Texas, he has decided to stick around in Cenla. He has already begun a position at Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria as associate student minister and said he will continue to listen to God’s call on his life. “My journey through college was anything but traditional, but I am forever grateful for the investment and training I received from LC,” Guidry said. “This place has had such a huge impact on who I am today.”

Even more untraditionally, Clark found Pineville by way of Hollywood. “I lived in Los Angeles chasing my dreams in the entertainment industry and got engulfed in the scene out there,” Clark said. “Realizing how lost I had become, one day I looked at my environment and those who were around me, and it finally hit me that I didn’t want to be like them. I felt like God wanted to me to do more than this, so I left. I had no idea where I was going to go or what I was going to do as I had planned to never leave Los Angeles, it was always my dream to be there. But God had other plans.” God’s plans

6 | COLUMNS Summer 2021

Tanner Guidry, missions and ministry major led him to Louisiana College—as he said, the most hardcore shift from his life in Los Angeles. “Something that shocks me every semester is when I come back and it’s the first day of class and the professor will pray with us,” Clark said. “I cry every time. Coming from places in the entertainment industry and secular culture where I would be judged, berated, scolded, maybe even black-listed for praying with someone or even admitting to being a Christian, that is something that will never get old to me. I will never cease to be thankful for the ability to pray, especially in our university.”

Robinson ‘followed God’s call’ and

earns degree

at

71

By Elizabeth Clarke

W

hen Mary Robinson came to Louisiana College in 2016, she had already experienced a full lifetime of professional and personal accomplishments as a teacher, an ordained minister, a mother and grandmother. The Peabody Montessori elementary teacher was happy with the challenges God had placed before her, but the Lord knew Mary was up for a new challenge.

“My journey was God’s journey,” Mary said. “I enjoyed working with the children, but I heard the call from God to go back to school.”

So that’s exactly what she did at age 67.

Mary, now 72, earned her degree in missions and ministries, with a psychology minor, last year during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. She participated in the May 2021 Louisiana College Commencement Ceremonies.

Mary, who grew up in Shreveport, said she has always had the call of God on her life—becoming ordained at 15 as an evangelist. As an adult, she spent many years living all over, as a military wife, finally settling down in Cenla.

Robinson worked at Pinecrest State Hospital in Pineville for 30 years, 28 as a manager, before retiring in 1998.

Always active in church—the Rose of Sharon Missionary Baptist Church is her current church home— she has also visited many times at Zion Hill Baptist Church, where LC’s Associate Vice President for Engagement and Enrichment, Dr. Joshua Joy Dara, is head pastor.

“Mary has a positive attitude to self-development,” Dara said. “She loves to talk about the word of God, and she is quick to share her faith with anyone. I was so glad when she came to Louisiana College to further her education. I knew she could do it. She is self-motivated, conscientious and hardworking. Also, she is an enthusiastic learner who seems to enjoy school and going to church. Today, I see the value of the support she provided both in the church and student life. I am so proud of her accomplishment.”

Another of Mary’s life’s passions has been singing. “I’ve been singing since I was knee-high to a duck,” she said. “I’ve done piano and voice all my life.”

When she came to LC, she said she didn’t see as much diversity as she would like in the types of activities and music that students had available to them. For example, students had Chapel Band and Voices, but those didn’t offer much diversity of music.

“I was tired of seeing students standing around like wallflowers,” Robinson said. “I know it wasn’t the kind of music some of the students were used to. I tried to tell them, ‘either way, you need to praise God.’” Still, Mary believed she could have more of an impact on campus.

“I started singing every morning when I got to campus,” she said. So much so, in fact, that when she was not around, people took notice.

Mary is a 35-year member of the Evangelical Board of Gospel Music Workshop of America, started by James Cleveland in 1968, and has 150 chapters and 300,000 members.

She went to LC President Rick Brewer about bringing some diversity to campus music. Robinson smiled when she talked about her involvement in the annual summer workshops held all over the world.

“Dr. Brewer knows all about it,” she said. “And so, we started the LC Gospel Choir.” “Age is only a number with Mary, as she engaged the College’s learning and student life experience beyond the classroom just like a traditional age student,” Brewer said. “She and I share a deep love for ‘Old-School Gospel Music.’ Launching the LC Gospel Choir enabled this passion to become reality. Mary Robinson will ALWAYS be part of the LC “family.” The Gospel Choir was finally able to hold a concert on campus in February—with social distancing and masks in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Robinson said one of her other favorite activities at LC was being on the Wildcat Debate Team under the tutelage of Coach Brian Manuel.

“It has been a joy to watch the journey Mary has taken to obtain her degree at LC,” Manuel said. “I know she will be using her degree to make a kingdom impact for years to come.”

Manuel said Mary’s energy, wit and Christian worldview are only matched by her drive to show others the love of Christ.

“I loved every minute of it, the camaraderie, the learning and discussing different topics,” she said of her time in Debate. “Everything starts with good communication.”

Robinson said she enjoyed all her classes, making special mention of her major adviser Dr. Marvin Jones, and Christian education Professor Dr. Tylitha Whatley.

“Dr. Jones created such a great atmosphere in the classroom,” she said. “Each of us gave a scripture from the Bible. I gave one from Proverbs that says ‘a man who says there is no god is a fool.’” She said that she and Jones began praying intentionally for a student in the class who identified as an atheist. “Before the end of the semester, he had become a Christian. We didn’t pressure him. We didn’t force God. God did it.”

Even though her studies at LC are completed, Mary said she still comes to campus occasionally—and still calls and encourages students not to “ever forget God. There is nothing like being in the arms of Jesus.”

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2020 - 2021 ACADEMIC YEAR IN REVIEW

LC, CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini announce Cabrini Scholars Program

By Elizabeth Clarke

CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital and Louisiana College have partnered to establish the Cabrini Scholars program to provide economic support for nursing students.

LC President Rick Brewer and CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital CEO, Chris Karam announced Thursday the Cabrini Scholars program, which will provide grant money to eligible students enrolled in the college’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program.

“Unprecedented times forced upon us by the COVID-19 pandemic has pronounced the significant need for nurses,” Brewer said. “And not just any nurses, but those who possess a skillset borne out of tenacity and discipline—the essence of LC’s ABSN program—adult students seeking a second degree and new career.”

Brewer said the missions of Louisiana College and CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini are similar. Both are built on the foundation of applying the heart of Christ to the hurt of humanity.

“We know the financial burdens of advanced specialty fields like nursing can sometimes be overwhelming for students, especially in light of the national pandemic we are experiencing,” said Karam.“That’s why we are privileged to partner with Louisiana College to further strengthen our healthcare workforce through a Christ-centered approach to healing. We hope these scholarships will be a launching pad for successful careers, positioning these students to give back to the Central Louisiana community that has embraced their journey.”

To be eligible to apply, students much have successfully completed at least one semester of their ABSN program. Grants will be provided in units of $5,000, and students may be awarded grants up to two times.

For a grant of $5,000, a student makes a 24-month commitment of full-time employment as a registered nurse at CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital, and a $10,000 grant award requires a 36-month commitment. All details of the program are available on the grant application.

8 | COLUMNS Summer 2021

Brewer said the Cabrini Scholars benefits the students, the hospital and the college.

“It’s a win, win, win,” Brewer said. “It helps these worthy future nurses with a pathway to affordability and a promised job. It benefits LC’s nursing program, and it benefits Cabrini by having nurses begin their careers with a two to three year guarantee of employment.”

Karam said he would hope that many of the nurses would choose to stay on and make their careers with CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini.

“The ABSN curriculum is an innovative track leading to the BSN degree,” said Dr. Marilyn Cooksey, LC dean of Nursing. “The track is for individuals who have a bachelor’s degree in another field. Many applicants are looking for a second career or to complete a life-long desire to become a nurse.

Cooksey said credit is given for previous college/university courses, but there are prerequisites that must be completed to provide the foundation for success in the nursing program. The December 2019 ABSN graduates from Louisiana College, who took the licensure exam in 2020 had a 100% pass rate.

ABSN students must have a bachelor’s degree and completed the following courses with a grade of “C” or better: General or Introduction to Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Elementary Statistics, a three-hour Chemistry course, Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs, Microbiology with lab, RL 102- Survey of the New Testament, and NU 212- Introduction to Nursing Concepts. The last two courses are taken the summer term before admission to upper level nursing courses.

Applications for the Cabrini Scholars program are available on the Louisiana College website.

Application Instructions: The completed application form and a current resume should be submitted to: CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital; ATTN: NURSING ADMINISTRATION, 3330 Masonic Drive, Alexandria, LA 71301. Application packets should be received 30days prior to the beginning of an upcoming semester for review by St. Frances Cabrini Hospital.

LC signs articulation agreements with SEBTS and SWBTS in March

By Sierra Boudreaux, Wildcats Media --Additional reporting by Elizabeth Clarke Dr. Daniel Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina and Dr. Adam W. Greenway, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, signed articulation agreements with Louisiana College President Rick Brewer in March that allow students to apply college credits to a Master of Divinity degree at seminary. “Students who successfully complete select senior-level courses in LC’s Missions and Ministries program may receive at least 15 credit hours toward the Master of Divinity Degree Program at SWBTS,” Brewer said at the signing. The memorandum of understanding between the Southern Baptist institutions will allow LC graduates to earn their seminary degrees more quickly to pursue God’s calling on their lives.

“Southeastern Seminary loves what’s happening at Louisiana College,” Dr. Akin said.

“We’ve had a sweet relationship for a number of years now. The signing of this document just takes that partnership to another level. We are thrilled to enter into it.” Since 2015, when Brewer became president of LC, the Missions and Ministries program has grown from 15 majors to 55. “The signing with Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary again confirms the quality education that our students here receive,” Brewer said. “It’s another reminder of the partnership we have with our six Southern Baptist seminaries. We are all in the Southern Baptist family together. We have signed three thus far—New Orleans Seminary in 2018, Southwestern and Southeastern this spring. We will sign another agreement with Gateway, a school in California in September.”

“This is a win-win-win for Louisiana College and Southwestern Seminary—and it’s a win for students,” Greenway said. “In light of the shared commitment

between our two institutions to prepare men and women for gospel ministry, this agreement helps students get quality theological education and expand opportunities for greater gospel effectiveness.

We look forward to how this partnership will benefit students and the kingdom.”

Dr. Rick Brewer and Dr. Daniel Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Dr. Rick Brewer and Dr. Adam W. Greenway, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Justin Langford, dean of the School of Missions and Ministries, said many LC graduates with a B.A. in Missions and Ministries go on to seminary to further their theological education. “These students benefit from the robust design of our B.A. degree by having their master’s program shortened,” Langford said. “I am personally grateful for Justin Langford this articulation with our seminaries because it demonstrates a mission-minded cooperation that has long characterized Southern Baptists. Our Lowery Scholarship recipients at LC are the direct beneficiaries of these articulations.”

The Fred Lowery Missions and Ministry Award is available to students pursuing the B.A. degree in the School of Missions and Ministries.

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2020 - 2021 ACADEMIC YEAR IN REVIEW

LOUISIANA COLLEGE BLACK HISTORY MONTH

SYMPOSIUM A CELEBRATION

OF DIVERSITY

By Kylei Cornelison and Victoria Watson, Wildcats Media --Additional reporting by Elizabeth Clarke

10 | COLUMNS Summer 2021

The Gospel Choir was finally able to hold a concert on campus in February 2021—with social distancing and masks in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the first-ever gospel choir event in LC history. It was begun as a result of 2020 graduate Mary Robinson (see profile story p. 7) taking the idea to President Rick Brewer.

Brewer, who has been a champion of diversity on campus, knew very well of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, of which Robinson has been a member for more than 35 years.

The group, begun by James Cleveland in 1968, has more than 150 chapters and 300,000 members worldwide.

She went to LC President Rick Brewer about bringing some diversity to campus music. Robinson smiled when she talked about her involvement in the annual summer workshops held all over the world.

“Dr. Brewer knows all about it,” she said. “And so, we started the LC Gospel Choir.”

Brewer said, “Mary always encouraged him and everyone she met with her “And Then Some” attitude and spirit.”

“She and I share a deep love for ‘Old-School Gospel Music,’” Brewer said. “Launching the LC Gospel Choir enabled this passion to become reality.”

The choir performed under the direction of Kyaus Washington, a senior mathematics major from Alexandria.

Photo/Sierra Boudreaux, Wildcats Media

Pictured from left Castro, Dara and Mazhambe Louisiana College hosted a panel discussion on diversity in February to kick off Black History Month to celebrate diversity on campus.

The event was emceed by Dr. Joshua Dara, associate vice president for engagement and enrichment.

“The world is changing, and diversity is the new norm,” said Dr. Joshua Joy Dara, Associate Vice President for Engagement and Enrichment. Even as our nation deals with many issues, diversity and inclusion is a game changer. I am just so happy that Louisiana College is a part of the solution and not the problem. We really have something precious here at LC. Just look at the facts, our student body is diverse, our faculty is diverse, our staff is diverse, our coaches are diverse, our leadership is diverse and even our SGA is diverse. What you are seeing around here is not tokenism. It is the Lord Jesus Christ who has brought us together in a unique way. I strongly believe that if all of us get on the same journey of diversity and inclusion, we can create the solution that America needs for this generation. The good news is that our College President is very committed to diversity.”

LC was recognized in 2020-2021 as the second most diverse college in Louisiana by niche.com.

The symposium panelists were LC faculty members: • Dr. Juan Castro, professor of finance and economics, from Honduras • Dr. Emmanuel Johnson, associate professor of social work, from India • Dr. Neil Johnson, associate professor of English, from the United States • Dr. Arthur Mazhambe, professor of business, from Zimbabwe • Dr. Lillian Purdy, professor of English, from the United States • Dr. Joshua Dara, assistant professor of criminal justice, from Nigeria “We celebrate the diversity of Louisiana College which is expressed on multiple levels,” said President Rick Brewer. “The recent recognition from Niche.com that LC is among a group of colleges in Louisiana that are the second most diverse institutions is a result of the desire and need for Christian education from a cross-section of society. Indeed, as the College faithfully Prepares Graduates and Transforms Lives, we are equipping students for genuine leadership roles wherever their calling leads. “ After Women’s Soccer Coach Carla Tejas opened the service in prayer, Johnston, an English professor, shared his thoughts on different types of diversity that are often overlooked but add to

our lives. He started by giving an example of how diversity can be represented by different cultures’ foods. Johnston then reiterated that diversity adds richness to life and showcases God’s goodness.

Castro, an economics professor originally from Honduras, addressed the struggle to even discuss diversity in a group of people who are different. He explained that diversity is not an easy topic to discuss because “[people] segregate by nature” because we find comfort in being around people that are like us. Castro also said that oftentimes we are not open to diversity because of security, feeling threatened by people who are different from us, and stereotypes, which affect our ability to mingle and connect with people who are different from us.

Purdy, an English professor and interim director of the library at LC shared her perspectives on the history of diversity at the college and experiences during her 35 years on the faculty. She mentioned 1967, the year that Mildred Joseph became the first black student to enroll at LC. She continued to mention milestones in the realm of diversity at LC in the past and ended her time talking about the present, saying, “I am so glad we have a melting pot of students here at LC because to me it is a glimpse of eternity.”

Johnson, a social work professor at LC, originally from India said America has so much diversity in its culture, but he said accepting said diversity has been an ongoing struggle. He also explained that America is a place that is home to people of different cultures, languages, religions and classes. Johnson said LC has become a melting pot for different cultures, acculturation, cultural diffusion, and cultural assimilation.

The final speaker on the panel was Mazhambe, a business professor at LC originally from Zimbabwe. He shared his story coming to the United States and the discrimination he faced in other parts of the country. Mazhambe said he “never felt like a foreigner [at LC].” He said at LC, “You are accepted because of who you are, not because of your color or anything else, but your character.” Mazhambe said that we need to connect people from around the world to truly understand and appreciate diversity and in his opinion, LC has done that.

After each panelist spoke, the floor was opened to the audience to send in questions for the panel via text. One question was, “How do you combat someone making fun of you for your race?”

Mazhambe said, “It will happen. Build yourself the ability to resist those comments...try to control your emotions.” Castro encouraged students to know who they are and to know their worth. “Pray for them,” Castro said. “They have the problem, not you.”

This event discussed the importance of diversity at Louisiana College, allowed the audience to gain perspectives from those who may have experienced discrimination in their past because of their ethnicity or culture and educated those on how to accept the true beauty that comes with diversity.

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Commemorating a 100-year friendship with the City of Alexandria

2020 - 2021 ACADEMIC YEAR IN REVIEW

By Alena Noakes, Wildcats Media

L

ouisiana College held its annual Founder’s Day Chapel service on the community, including an intellectual impact, economic benefits through industry and employment, educational contributions Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020, in Guinn Auditorium. through developing job skills and training, as well as influencing the This year’s Founder’s Day ceremony recognized the significant spiritual climate of the community. role the city of Alexandria played in As the hub of healthcare and establishing LC’s oldest building, essential services, Alexandria is vital to Alexandria Hall, which stands as improving the quality of life for Central the centerpiece of the LC campus.

Louisiana residents. Hall emphasized Each year, LC holds a special the importance of education to the chapel ceremony to celebrate growth and success of a city. the leadership of those who have “Your education determines where contributed to the continuation you will land and how you will spend of the institution over its 114-year your life,” Hall said. “Once one person history. gains an education and is able to move “I think it’s important for us to forward with better earnings, then always be mindful of the history, Mayor Jeff Hall and Susan Broussard, that family can move forward with a as well as people who have come chief of staff and LC alumna home and better opportunities. When before us,” said LC President Dr. a community or families earn more and Rick Brewer. “And that we stand on the shoulders, in a sense, of those who have come before us, who have have better opportunities, then you create a better city. Louisiana College has made Alexandria a better city.” paid the price, who have sacrificed.”

Alexandria Hall was paid for in part by the city of Alexandria Brewer emphasized Alexandria Hall’s role as a representation of hope, faith and investment in the future of the CENLA community for and Pineville, totaling $100,000 of the $325,000 project. Today, that donation would have amounted to $1.3 million. those who planned and began construction of the building in 1920.

“At the time [of Alexandria Hall’s founding], LC President “LC has been an unbelievable fertile seed that has been planted, Claybrook Cottingham noted the school wasn’t asking for charity or and it certainly has its fruits that a handout. He called it an investment in Alexandria’s future. He was have paid off and are paying right,” Hall said. “The result was an ongoing economic impact.” off,” said Alexandria’s Mayor, The mayor referenced a 2018 study by the Louisiana Association Jeff Hall, the ceremony’s of Independent Colleges and Universities (LAICU), which recorded keynote speaker. that LC generated more than $35 million in goods and services, $13 Brewer noted the million in new household income and supported more than 350 value LC added to private sector jobs in the Alexandria and Pineville metropolitan area.

Hall acknowledged, though LC is located in Pineville, the Red River which divides the two cities does not divide the CENLA community. LC is one example of how the area thrives in unity.

“The building is a symbol of the partnership that exists between this community and Louisiana College. Alexandria Hall shows us that when we pull together for a common goal, we can achieve it,” said Hall. “It is also a symbol that the city of Pineville and the city of Alexandria are tied very close together for the purposes of supporting the people who live here, who want to get an education here, who want to build their families here.”

Susan Broussard, chief of staff for Hall and a 1992 alumna of LC, was also a guest speaker at the event. She recalled the impact the college had on her life as a student and in her career.

12 | COLUMNS Summer 2021

A commuter from the small town of Effie, Broussard experienced a broadening of her world geographically, as well as eternally through the exponential growth of her faith.

Quoting the author of The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Broussard cited how LC’s liberal arts education provided her the necessary ability to be successful in her personal and professional life.

“The idea that we can hold two opposing thoughts in mind at the same time and still function is the innate ability to have critical thinking skills,” Broussard said. “And with that ability, then you can bring value to whatever job you have.”

Broussard spoke to the essential nature of the exchange of knowledge and ideas between the college and the city, which allows for opportunities to develop. This is an idea she believes to be a priority for LC and Alexandria’s relationship going forward.

Following the chapel service, Hall and Broussard unveiled a marker outside of Alexandria Hall, marking the 100-year anniversary of its establishment.

Alexandria Hall houses several academic departments, such as Languages and Literature, Business and Education, as well as faculty and administrative offices.

LC will honor the late Earl Guinn, the longest serving president of the college, in the 2021 Founder’s Day ceremony.

Dr. G. Earl Guinn, Alumnus and the Fifth President of Louisiana College (1951-1974)

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Christian Faith & Values LC’s biblical response to racism in the 5th annual Values & Ethics Series

By Elizabeth Clarke

F

gospel is the main tool to fix it. I ormer professional baseball strongly believe there will be no racial player Chris Singleton was the reconciliation apart from the gospel keynote speaker for Louisiana of Jesus Christ. Racial reconciliation College’s 5th Annual Values & Ethics is the vision of God, it is the work of Series, Nov. 4-5, 2020.

Mr. Chris Singleton Sen. Katrina Jackson Dr. Greg Bevels God, and we cannot accomplish it Singleton, whose mother Inspirational Speaker Senate District 34 Alexandria Physician without the help of God.” Sharonda Coleman Singleton, was Former Pro Athlete Also in attendance were Louisiana murdered in the Charleston, South Sen. Katrina Jackson and Alexandria physician Dr. Greg Bevels.

Carolina racially charged mass shooting at the Mother Emanuel Jackson, a Monroe native, earned her Juris Doctorate from AME Church in 2015, has been traveling the country speaking to Southern University in Baton Rouge in 2004. She first ran for the organizations over the last few years with a message of love and 16th State Seat in the House of Representatives and served until she forgiveness. ran for and was elected to District 34 of the State Senate. She spoke Singleton, a Charleston Southern University alumnus like LC virtually.

President Rick Brewer, was the final speaker in this past year’s Bevels, a family medicine specialist in Alexandria, has been in series: “The Gospel Response to Racism in the 21’st Century”. He practice for two decades and is active in the CENLA community. presented virtually.

Dr. Joshua Dara said, “I am grateful to the leadership of our “Each speaker brought a unique past perspective to this program, college for being so bold to step to the frontline and put our faith on which annually offers a biblical approach to key issues of our life and display about the issues of our times. I appreciate Dr. Brewer’s heart times,” Brewer said. “Singleton has turned a terrible tragedy into an on the question of race relations. I hope that our values and ethics amazing testimony of God’s love and forgiveness.” series this past year will set a different tone and create a divine reset Singleton inspired his city and the nation by forgiving the man on the matter. Our nation has tried political reset, social reset, and who murdered his mother. Now Chris’s mission in life is simple: economic reset. What we need is a kingdom reset, which will come Help others overcome the unthinkable adversity and spread unity from the gospel of Jesus Christ.” in every environment he can. Dr. Joshua Dara said, “The gospel response to racism in the 21st century is a very timely subject matter.

Racism is not a skin problem. It is a sin problem and that is why the

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Richards makes ‘Christian Case for Free Enterprise’ in LC

lecture series

By Elizabeth Clarke

D

r. Jay Richards made a compelling case for how Christianity and capitalism work together to make the world—and individual’s lives—better during Louisiana College’s 5th Annual God in the Workplace Lecture Series in March. Richards, an assistant research professor in The Busch School of Business and Economics at The Catholic University of America, spoke on “Money, Greed and God: The Christian Case for Free Enterprise.” He was previously scheduled to speak last year, but the event was postponed due to COVID-19.

Richards addressed a packed Guinn Auditorium on the myths and misunderstandings surrounding both socialism and capitalism and offered real-world examples to make his points. “We are pleased to host Dr. Jay Richards for Louisiana College’s 5th God in the Workplace Lecture Series,” said President Rick Brewer. “This annual event reminds all of the daily role our Faith provides as we lead and serve in our God-given vocations. This year’s topic is relevant given the public discourse and concern regarding socialism and increasing regulatory measures stifling free enterprise nationwide.”

Richards told the crowd—largely students—that he became interested in the topic as a freshman in college when he read “The Communist Manifesto,” but his understanding of economic realities has changed 180 degrees since then.

Like many college students, he said, he had a flawed understanding of socialism, as do many people today, because the term is never really defined by the news media or in individual debate or conversation. He stated that the literal definition of socialism is not people freely sharing their property and their wealth. It is the state seizing and controlling that wealth. And acting in one’s self-interest does not equate to selfishness. Rather, it often means others benefit as well.

“Every time you breathe, eat three meals a day, drink water, look both ways before you cross the street, you are acting in your own self-interest,” Richards said. “The Golden Rule assumes this view of self-interest.” He quoted from Adam Smith who wrote: “It is not from

the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own self-interest.”

Richards said, however, that free enterprise is fragile. “Of all the economic systems we’ve tried, this is the best alternative, but it’s also the most unstable. Don’t think just because you have it that you necessarily have it for long.”

After his lecture, students asked questions about other countries where socialism has existed and why the theory seems perennially popular with young adults. Richards said it’s because while the morality of socialistic ideals—of everyone sharing in the wealth— sounds good, the reality is that people are not making these choices of their free will. Rather the state is taking wealth by force.

“If you get socialism, you are going to get massive violations of human rights,” he said. “It has been tried several dozen times in the 20th century and ended in disaster and is still disastrous in places like North Korea and Venezuela.” Richards noted that since the collapse of the Soviet Union, more than a billion people have emerged from poverty through free enterprise.

Unfortunately, Richards said, he has noticed a swing back toward a soft socialism, even in America, and the news media play a role in this by not asking tough questions of politicians who claim to espouse socialistic ideals. “The media unfortunately have become, for the most part, kind of a PR arm for a certain class of politicians, so they don’t see their job as asking tough questions because they could absolutely ask these politicians with 25 houses and who live in multi-milliondollar houses in Georgetown . . . ‘you know this doesn’t look like socialism. . .’ but they don’t do that unfortunately,” Richards said. “And this is part of the problem, and so you get a lot of uncritical advocacy of this without any pushback, and that is the basic reality.”

Richards is the executive editor of The Stream and a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute where he works with the Center on Wealth, Poverty and Morality. In addition to writing many academic articles, books and popular essays on a wide variety of subjects, Richards edited the award-winning anthology God & Evolution and co-authored The Privileged Planet. His most recent book is The Human Advantage.

Richards has a Ph.D., with honors, in philosophy and theology from Princeton Theological Seminary, an M.Div., a Th.M., and a B.A. with majors in political science and religion. He lives with his family in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

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Christian Faith and Values

LC’s conference dives deeper into religious rights and Covid-19

By Brandon Brown, Wildcats Media Dana Harris, the regional director for the Alliance Defending Freedom, spoke at Louisiana College’s C3 Conference in March 2021.

ADF is a Christian organization with the goal of advocating, training and funding on religious freedom.

Dana Harris Regional Alliance Harris referenced scripture and the Director for Alliance for First Amendment on how students and Defending Freedom Christians alike have the right to extensive religious freedom. She spoke on how COVID-19 is not an exception to the exercise of such rights.

“Their voice does matter,” Harris said. “One person can make a difference and one voice does matter.”

ADF has serviced individuals such as Jack Phillips a bakery owner who declined to create a wedding cake celebrating a samesex marriage. Phillips’ case was taken to the Supreme Court and ultimately ruled in his favor.

“There is nothing irrelevant to Christ whether we are talking public policy, law, or talking culture shaping ideas,” said LC President Rick Brewer.

Brewer reached out to Harris to talk to the LC student body about public policy according to religious freedom in the age of COVID and the extensive shrinking of rights during the pandemic.

Harris finished the conference with a note from 1 Corinthians 12:26, “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”

LC hosts Christ Church Culture (C3) events each semester on topics relevant to Christianity in today’s culture.

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Second C3 focused on Calling, Career

By Elizabeth Clarke Louisiana College held its second spring C3 Christ Church Culture Lecture Series event April 13, 2021, with a presentation on “Calling and Career” featuring Professor and Author R. Keith Loftin.

Keith Loftin Coinciding with the launch of the college’s Author of Stand Firm: new Quality Enhancement Plan, which Apologetics and the focuses on service-learning, President Rick Brilliance of the Gospel Brewer said he wanted to make sure students understood the importance of their education and their preparation for real-world service.

“No matter what call God has placed on your life,” Brewer said, “our role is to serve others and represent His kingdom. Our QEP, which launches in the fall, is LC Serves. Live Connected. This seminar will focus on better understanding on how college education and experiences are preparation for lives of service. We are so thankful that Keith Loftin will share his thoughts on this with our students and our community.”

A native of Dry Creek, Loftin has been on faculty at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for eight years.

“As human beings, we are created in God’s image. We are created with purpose. We are created to work. Indeed, we are created to flourish,” Loftin said. “These truths harmonize in the Christian notion of vocation, and that notion can revolutionize how we think about education.”

Loftin holds a master’s degree in humanities from the University of Dallas, a master’s degree in philosophy from Louisiana State University, and a master’s degree in theology from SWBTS. His Ph.D. in theology is from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

Loftin is the editor or author of several books, including Stand Firm: Apologetics and the Brilliance of the Gospel.

Honors, Awards & Accolades 2020-2021 AWARDS

1

#

2

#

Louisiana College has been named a Top 30 Christian College by BestValueSchools.org,

a research and resource group committed to helping prospective students and families find the best colleges and universities that meet their educational needs and maximize the student experience.

Named the safest college campus in Louisiana

& Ranked the second

most diverse campus in Louisiana by Niche.com

Niche.com is a rating and review website for facets of the college experience including categories like safety, academics and value.

Louisiana College won Best Business Website at this year’s Central Louisiana Regional Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.

LC’s new website was designed by Jennifer Dykes, director of marketing for LC, and Todd Fingleton of Fing Designs, and launched earlier this year.

From left: Dr. Will Smallwood, Dr. Rick Brewer, Jennifer Dykes, Todd Fingleton, Renee Melder, Dr. Beth Palmer

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Honors, Awards & Accolades

109

Wildcat student-athletes named Academic All-Conference Three teams score 20 Academic All-Conference members

By Richard Thiberville, Jr., LC Sports Information Director Photo/Alena Noakes, Wildcats Media

After a year like no other before it, Louisiana College saw continued success in the classroom as the American Southwest Conference honored 109 Wildcat student-athletes as Academic All-Conference.

To be honored as ASC Academic All-Conference, a studentathlete must complete a full academic year (two semesters) at the institution and hold a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA following the spring semester.

The LC football team notched a total of 27 Academic All-Conference student-athletes, the softball team had 22 hit the qualifications, and the baseball team put 20 players on the list. The women’s soccer team and women’s basketball team each added ten, men’s soccer team seven, men’s golf and women’s volleyball five each, and men’s basketball had three.

Kayla Dauthier hit over .300 in the season while maintaining a 3.96 GPA in the classroom.

LC unveils major renovations to athletic facilities

By Elizabeth Clarke Louisiana College unveiled a more than $300,000 renovation project on the H.O. West Athletic Facilities on Feb. 3, 2021. Media toured all renovated areas.

These included critical renovations to H. O. West locker room space for LC men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, and volleyball. The resources also provided for renovations to the H. O. West lobby restrooms, the creation of a student-athlete lounge and study areas, and the addition of a digital scorer’s table.

In addition to the placement of a new turf field at the Stadium Complex and a new sound system in the H. O. West Complex by the College this past summer, LC is thankful to its community partners— Coca-Cola, Central Louisiana Community Foundation and Don Hill, LC alumnus Class of 1964, and many other alumni and friends—for providing gifts to the College for these upgrades.

The refurbishment came at an opportune time as LC was ramping up for the transition to NAIA, which became effective July 1, 2021.

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Moves from NCAA DIII to NAIA, joins RRAC & SAC

Following a year-plus long process, as of July 1, 2021, Louisiana College is now a member of

By Richard Thiberville the NAIA for the first time since the 1999-2000 season, joining the Red River Athletic Conference for all sports except football, which is now a member of the Sooner Athletic Conference.

“The NAIA is a tremendous fit for Louisiana College’s athletics program,” said Louisiana College President, Dr. Rick Brewer. “The NAIA’s emphasis on building champions of character aligns with the values and priorities of LC. Joining the RRAC for 9 of our sports and the Sooner for football underscores LC’s recruiting footprint while enabling competition with many of our Louisiana peer colleges and universities. We are looking forward to providing competitive teams on the fields and courts of competition while strengthening the character of our student-athletes at Louisiana College as an active member of the NAIA.” “For us, the move to the NAIA was an opportunity to gain some traction in some other areas, have a larger footprint, and create some natural rivalries,” said Reni Mason, Louisiana College Athletic Director & Head Men’s Basketball Coach. “We’re excited about being a part of an organization that has such a long and storied history.

And it should be fun playing our buddies across the river.”

The Wildcats will be a full-time member of the Red River Athletic Conference, becoming the 14th school to be a full member the RRAC, and the fourth member from the state of Louisiana, joining LSU Alexandria, LSU Shreveport, and another recent addition in Xavier University who also moved to the RRAC for this coming season.

“We are thrilled that Louisiana College has opted to become a full member of the RRAC with complete support of our current membership,” said RRAC Commissioner Tony Stigliano. “The growth of our conference is exciting, and it is even better with the addition of a school and a program that are as high caliber as LC. Adding the Wildcats will be a great fit with our footprint and the quality of our institutions.”

Here is the full membership of the RRAC when Louisiana College joins and each school’s home city: • University of Houston – Victoria | Victoria, Texas • Huston-Tillotson University | Austin, Texas • Jarvis Christian College | Hawkins, Texas • LSU Alexandria | Alexandria • LSU Shreveport | Shreveport • Our Lady of the Lake University | San Antonio, Texas • Paul Quinn College | Dallas, Texas • University of the Southwest | Hobbs, New Mexico • Texas A&M University – San Antonio | San Antonio, Texas • Texas A&M University – Texarkana | Texarkana, Texas • Texas College | Tyler, Texas • Wiley College | Marshall, Texas • Xavier University of Louisiana | New Orleans LC will also become an associate member of the Sooner Athletic Conference for football, pushing the SAC to a ten-team league in the sport, including another football member of the SAC that is also a full member of the RRAC in Texas College.

“The Sooner Athletic Conference members are very excited to have Louisiana College join the NAIA and our conference,” said SAC Commissioner John Martin. “We look forward to enjoying Wildcat football in the SAC.” Here are the football playing teams of the SAC, along with each school’s home city: • Arizona Christian University | Phoenix, Arizona • Langston University | Langston, Oklahoma • Lyon College | Batesville, Arkansas • Ottawa University – Arizona | Surprise, Arizona • Southwestern Assemblies of God University | Waxahachie, Texas • Texas College | Tyler, Texas • Texas Wesleyan University | Fort Worth, Texas • Wayland Baptist University | Plainview, Texas • Oklahoma Panhandle State University | Goodwell, Oklahoma

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Honors, Awards & Accolades

The

w e n r e und owner ship & management

L

By Elizabeth Clarke

ouisiana College became the sole owner of the Louisiana Athletic Club locations in Pineville and Alexandria in July 2020.

According to a memo sent by CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital CEO Chris Karam, CHRISTUS made the decision to withdraw its ownership of the athletic clubs for two reasons. The first was the strain on finances and resources because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Second was a re-evaluation of its focus on what it could best provide the Cenla community.

“Customer service has been central to the mission of the LAC, and that will remain of utmost importance,” said LC President Rick Brewer.

“LC and CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini have similar missions, which made for a great partnership. We look forward to the opportunity to continue to provide health and fitness services to our community.”

The change in ownership also installed Ronnie Schwartz as the new manager.

Schwartz has served on the staff at Louisiana Athletic Club since May 2005. He has been a personal trainer in the area for 24 years.

After joining LAC, Ronnie became the fitness manager in 2007. Schwartz combines his passion for fitness with his servant heart, raising money for St. Jude Marathon Ronnie Schwartz Weekend. He organized Cenla Runners, and led them to raise more than $200,000 for the children of St. Jude, and Cenla Runners was named the No. 1 community fundraising team in

20 | COLUMNS Summer 2021

the nation in 2019. He is also a worship assistant in Alexandria. This is the kind of transformational leader he is.

Brewer said he is excited about the opportunity this brings the college and LC is committed to continuing to provide the high quality of service in a family-friendly atmosphere that the public is accustomed to at LAC. “The College has proven to be an excellent partner for CHRISTUS for many years, and we are confident they will maintain the same value and service our members are accustomed to while ensuring a supportive environment for all,” Karam wrote. “As such, we do not anticipate any interruption to member services during the transition.

We are happy that all staff members will remain with the Clubs in the same capacity as they are now.”

“LAC is in a very strong position,” said Scott Cochran, Executive Director of Health & Wellness for CHRISTUS Health, Louisiana & Southeast Texas. “Our priorities have shifted, and we are looking at growth opportunities and ways to improve our current amenities. In my nine years with Louisiana Athletic Club, Louisiana College has been a great partner. We want to thank the community for its support during these difficult times, and we look forward to continued growth and many more great years ahead of us.”

Louisiana Athletic Club has received the distinction of “Best Fitness Club” in Cenla for many consecutive years.

The Louisiana Athletic Club celebrated its 20-year anniversary with a celebration that included the unveiling of a new logo.

A

Step

community

By Elizabeth Clarke

in

fitness

Louisiana College was awarded a Healthy Behaviors Program Grant of $111,200 over three years from The Rapides Foundation.

It increases access to health and fitness opportunities for the greater Pineville area. The grant award began July 1, 2020, to fund in part the Step It Up, Pineville program and the Parrish Fuller Fitness Trail. The grant was written by Dr. Sonia Tinsley, division chair of the Division of Allied Health.

President Rick Brewer said he is incredibly thankful for The Rapides Foundation’s continued support of LC and the community as a whole and believes this project will better the lives of thousands in Central Louisiana. “The Rapides Foundation is an integral community partner for Louisiana College and Central Louisiana. Their financial support continues to support projects to benefit all of us across every demographic. This grant exemplifies the Foundation’s commitment to improving the health status in Cenla. Step It Up, Pineville and the rehabilitation of the Parrish Fuller Fitness Trail will allow LC to put our new mission into action. As a Christ-centered community, we are responsible to reach and engage our entire community, and this is a way we can address some of the physical and health needs of our friends and neighbors.”

The fitness trail was created more than 40 years ago by Parrish Fuller of Oakdale, and at one time was a wonderful resource on campus, Tinsley said. But over the years, trail use decreased and funds had not been available for improvements. “We are thrilled to receive a grant from The Rapides Foundation to help create a positive change in the fitness and health of individuals by increasing physical activity in the community through a physical activity program, Step It Up, Pineville and make improvements to the Parrish Fuller Fitness Trail,” Tinsley said.

According to The Rapides Foundation’s 2018 Community Needs Assessment, currently only 19.1% of Rapides Parish adults meet physical activity guidelines. “Walking is an easy way to start and maintain a physically active lifestyle,” Tinsley said. “The Health and Exercise Science Department will provide physical activity workshops to educate the community on the benefits of exercise, guidance on organizing walking groups, and orientations on using the Parrish Fuller Fitness Trail.”

Community leaders have already shown support for the project.

The City of Pineville is assisting in recruitment of community organizations to participate in Step It Up, Pineville, and hosts

physical activity workshops and provides worksite wellness activities for employees. Louisiana Athletic Club has also assisted in recruiting its members to participate as well as provide professional expertise with designing physical activity programs to be offered at the fitness trail.

Pineville Mayor Clarence Fields said he is glad The Rapides Foundation with its resources always puts the health of the community at the forefront of its funding.

“Louisiana College is a vital part of our community, and anything that benefits LC, we get the opportunity to utilize,” Fields said. “It makes it better for the city of Pineville.”

Dr. Joshua Joy Dara, pastor of the Zion Hill Baptist Church of Pineville, penned a letter on behalf of the grant and will host physical activity workshops for members, as well as organize walking groups to encourage use of the fitness trail. “It will mean a lot to our community,” said Dara, who is also dean of the School of Human Behavior at LC. The walking trail will improve people’s cardiovascular fitness, overall mental wellbeing and strengthen bonds and relationships with family, friends, and loved ones as they walk together. It is much needed.”

The Rapides Foundation award has also been used to repair, widen, and repave the fitness trail along with overlaying existing exercise pads with a rubber safety surface and installing exercise equipment.

These improvements will help incorporate the CDC’s strategies to increase physical activity in the community by enhancing access to places for physical activity. According to Tinsley, another strategy being used in the Step It Up, Pineville program is to provide social support interventions like walking groups in the community.

The trail will be maintained by LC, and the Department of Safety and Security will monitor the grounds. In addition, the Step It Up, Pineville program includes fitness classes taught by health and exercise science faculty and student majors.

Christopher Doyle

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Honors, Awards & Accolades

Department enhancement grants for 2021

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By Elizabeth Clarke

he Louisiana Board of Regents awarded instructors to use collaboration and active learning Louisiana College two department strategies, the project will enhance the Division’s enhancement grants for 2021. The grants fulfillment of its mission to emphasize teaching while totaling more than $135,000 will provide for a business challenging students in a community of learning,” analytics classroom in Alexandria Hall ($79, 972) and LeJeune said. The collaborative learning environment a new stage ($55,802) for the theatre program to be will help reduce the anxiety many students feel about completed in the fall of 2021. statistics. It will also enhance the Division’s ability to The Louisiana Board of Regents recommended prepare graduates who are able to critically evaluate, funding for 32 proposals of the 114 grant applications analyze and interpret information to solve problems. for department enhancement grants this year. The Tabitha Huffman, artistic director of Theatre business proposal ranked 7 and theatre ranked 13, Louisiana College (TLC), wrote the grant proposal for BOARD of REGENTS stage improvements in the Martin Performing Arts which were high in the statewide competition, said STATE OF LOUISIANA Dr. Henry Robertson, LC director of institutional Center, which is one of the largest flexible black box effectiveness and grants coordinator. theatres in the nation. “A flexible theatre is meant “We are always grateful to the Board of Regents for their financial to have the capability to reconfigure the seating and stage to multiple support of our programs at LC,” President Rick Brewer said. “There variations,” she said. “Since the moving platform units are 30 years old, are many worthwhile colleges and universities that need support they are damaged and have become nearly impossible to move around across the state, and money is limited. These two grants will be any longer. Now we will be able to order the new platforms and leg transformational for the students here.” supports to install this summer. My creative wheels are already turning Dr. Adena LeJeune, chair of the Division of Business, wrote the as to how we will ‘play’ with our new stage and seating arrangements grant proposal for the business analytics classroom. “By enabling for our 2021-2022 season of shows.”

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Louisiana College awarded grant for campus safety and security

By Elizabeth Clarke

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ouisiana College announced in September 2020 its $100,000 award for enhancements to campus lighting, security cameras, and personal screening devices for campus events. The funds were part of the FY 2020 Nonprofit Security Grant Program of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP). The grant is spread over a three-year period.

“The safety and security of the Louisiana College campus community is always top of mind,” said LC President Rick Brewer.

“This grant will continue and expedite the College’s safety and security initiatives by funding additional surveillance cameras and external lighting.”

Since 2015, Louisiana College has significantly improved campus safety and security with additional campus lighting and surveillance cameras. This grant money will greatly enhance these measures.

Money is spent at LC for improved lighting around buildings, parking lots, and residence halls. LC will purchase and install cameras around campus for improved watch safety, and airport quality screening devices for large events on campus.

“Students, faculty, staff and visitors to the campus will notice this huge investment in the coming years,” said Chief Clifford Gatlin, director of Safety and Security.

The FY 2020 Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) plays an important role in the implementation of the National Preparedness System (NPS) by supporting the development and sustainment of national preparedness. The grant program from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/FEMA integrates nonprofit preparedness

#1 Recently Ranked the Safest College Campus in Louisiana N i c he . c o m

activities with broader State and local preparedness efforts. It also promotes coordination and collaboration in emergency preparedness activities among public and private community representatives, as well as state and local government agencies. This grant program was open to faith-based organizations.

Nearly $1 million was awarded statewide in 2020 to improve the safety and security at 15 nonprofit religious organizations.

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Honors, Awards & Accolades

RENOVATIONS E

xcept for fewer trees, one would never know that the school had been hard hit by a tornado, two hurricanes and an ice storm in the last two years. The grounds and residence halls have received major upgrades, thanks to generous donor funds and some major elbow grease.

Recently, major renovations in Cottingham Hall, women’s residence hall, Tudor Hall, and English Village men’s residence halls, have been completed.

Since 2016, Cottingham Hall roofing was repaired, some interior repairs took place, new furniture was added, and televisions were purchased for common areas. Also, the firstfloor common kitchen was remodeled and upgraded. White Parlor also received new flooring, paint, artwork, wall hangings and furniture.

The men saw major changes to English Village and Tudor, as well. Tudor Hall required major structural repairs, and bathrooms were all remodeled. The lobby and common spaces were remodeled in 2016-2017, and a movie/theatre viewing room with new furnishings was added. Over the last year, English Village had a complete makeover. New siding went up on the exterior of all English Village. The Commons Area, where students gather for studying, television or visiting, received new furniture, wall hangings, chairs, and tables where students can charge up their computers or phones while studying or watching TV together.

One of the unsung heroines of these projects has been LC First Lady Cathy Brewer. Mrs. Brewer is well-known among the student body for hosting student groups at the Brewer home and serving up some delicious homemade delicacies for her Wildcat family. So, it’s no surprise she wanted to lend a helping hand to nurture the living and learning areas of LC, as well. It hasn’t been just internal changes to the buildings, but also the grounds that became a major project of Mrs. Brewer.

COTTINGHAM HALL

ENGLISH VILLAGE

Students study in newly renovated Cottingham and EV Commons spaces

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&

TUDOR HALL

G N I P A C S D N LA

By Elizabeth Clarke

“When Dr. Brewer and I first visited the LC Campus in 2015, it quickly became evident that many areas of the campus were in dire need of facility maintenance and repairs,” she said. Mrs. Brewer also believes it is important to take care of all the Lord has given her family. “It remains important to be faithful stewards of the institution and its assets—that the monetary and in-kind gifts donated to Louisiana’s only Baptist College, be cared for to the best of our ability and that we leave it in better shape than it was when we found it.”

And students universally agree the facilities and grounds are looking great. Anna Matherne, a senior business major, has called Cottingham Hall home for nearly four years. “I was so excited when I found out about the renovations of the dorms, especially since I got to experience them for my final year of college,” Matherne said. “Walking into my newly painted and furnished dorm room was like Christmas morning. I was so eager to see all that had been done.” Gracee Bryant, a junior accounting major and Cottingham resident, echoed Matherne’s comments about the excitement of all the changes around campus. “They give a more modern and welcoming atmosphere,” she said. “EV’s upgraded lobby and living conditions are brand new and in way better condition,” said senior psychology major Jason Rodriguez. “The renovations are really nice.”

Slow to take credit for her efforts, Mrs. Brewer was quick to express gratitude for the generosity of LC alumni and friends of the college who have provided funds to allow for the completion of these projects. She also said she is grateful for the faculty and staff who have been of help in accomplishing all the upgrades.

“If we are unable to attract new students due to run-down facilities, then we are unable to teach and reach young people with an excellent academic experience in a Christ-centered environment,” she said. “I have always thought that we should approach everything we do at Louisiana College as if we were sending our own children or grandchildren to attend.”

President Rick Brewer said he is grateful for all the people who have been involved in making the campus look better—both monetary and sweat equity. “Curb appeal remains in the Top 5 compelling reasons for a student selecting a specific college to attend,” said Brewer, who is grateful for his wife’s time and attention given in these efforts to beautify the campus. “This fact is not lost on Louisiana College as we have made the addition and care of landscaping an esthetic and security matter. Cathy and I are grateful for alums such as Don Hill who have provided significant funding for campus beautification initiatives.”

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Alum and wife provide charitable gift annuity with college as beneficiary

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By Elizabeth Clarke

journey that began from a $100 scholarship for one Baton Rouge teenager has grown over 60 years and affected countless young people at Louisiana College.

Don Hill, president of DMH & Associates, said that $100 was enough back in 1960 to tilt the scales for him, and he enrolled in Louisiana College to study math and business.

“My whole life has been God leading me,” he said. “Louisiana College was the right spot for me.”

Hill, a 1964 Summa Cum Laude graduate of LC, along with his wife Terry, has spent a lifetime giving back. The Hills, founding members of the Board of Visitors, have been providing scholarships for five LC students each year for several years now through the Board of Visitors Scholarship Fund, started by Brewer in 2015.

They have used various ways to give back to LC from cash donations, donating appreciated stocks to making Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD) from his IRA. “After the age 70 ½ you’re mandated by the federal government to take a Required Mandatory Distribution out of your IRA account, a certain percentage each year, and it increases as you age,” Hill explained.

“It would be counted as taxable income if I deposited the yearly distributions or I can make QCD’s, which transfers money directly from the IRA to LC. Using this approach, we do not pay taxes on the distribution because we don’t actually receive the money.”

Most recently, the Hills worked with the Louisiana Baptist Foundation and established a charitable gift annuity with LC as the beneficiary.

Jeff Steed, the executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation, said gifts like that of the Hills provide a two-fold benefit by benefitting the donor and investing in a ministry like Louisiana College that advances the cause of Christ.

Their charitable gift annuity provides retirement income to them and then benefits the tremendous work of Louisiana College by impacting the lives of many students. Steed said it has been a blessing for the Foundation to work with such forward-thinking individuals.

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Don Hill, 1964 LC alum, and Dr. Rick Brewer LC President Rick Brewer said his gratitude for the generosity and support from the Hills never ceases. They are Christians who continuously put their money where their hearts are. “Don and Terry Hill continue to lead the way for Louisiana College with support for Christian higher education now and into the future through this giving initiative,” said President Rick Brewer. “May their charitable gift annuity inspire scores of other Alums of the College to do the same. The value associated with ensuring a Christ-centered education for future generations is inestimable.”

Hill was honored in the fall of 2015 as a Louisiana College Distinguished Alumni. The plaque hangs in their living room in Dallas, Terry said.

Terry is very proud of her husband of 53 years and believes LC played a big part in his early life. “I see how he’s turned out in business and in his personal life. LC is doing a great job. I am a little prejudiced,” she said jokingly. “He’s a good man. He’s smart. I’m smarter, but he is pretty smart.” Seriously, she adds, “His going to LC and the atmosphere there was good for him, and that’s been a blessing to both of us.”

After all these years together, the Hills are still playful. Hill refers to his wife as his soulmate. And it’s easy to see they are of one mind spiritually and financially.

“I’ve been very blessed with intellect and with everything I’ve tried to do,” Hill said. “God has blessed me. I have received nice compensation, and I’ve never forgotten the value of my four years at LC.” Hill said he has tried to give back to the place that gave him his career start ever since he got his first real job—beginning with $1,000 annually to what was then called the President’s Club.

Once Brewer became president in 2015, and Hill saw the direction LC was going then he began to give in earnest. “I knew he’d put the funds to good use,” Hill said.

Hill recounted Brewer’s request during a breakfast meeting in Dallas in which the college president told him the Student Government Association had made a request for additional campus lighting to improve safety on campus. “When he said SGA—I was president of SGA back then—I said ‘OK,’” Hill said. He discussed it with Terry and told Brewer they would provide $50,000 for lighting and landscaping on campus.”

“Dr. Brewer’s quite persuasive,” Hill said with a smile and a chuckle. “Seriously, though, we did hit it off from the first time we met. My wife liked him, and she doesn’t necessarily like all the people I meet.”

Terry is completely supportive of her husband’s philanthropic choices. “Louisiana College is a good school,” she said sweetly. “It did a very good job with my husband.

The Hills have also provided funding at LC for refurbishment of the restrooms in the H.O. West Lobby and the Athletic Facilities Campaign. They also donated money for the computer science classroom in Cavanaugh Hall.

To students, in true businessman jargon Hill offered this advice— to get involved and maximize their return on investment (ROI) while at LC. He said students would do themselves a service to take advantage of all LC offers—the small class sizes, the involvement of their professors and the extracurricular activities because it makes a huge difference in the long run.

Hill, who earned a master’s degree on a fellowship to Florida State University thanks to the encouragement and support of an LC professor, said the value of his time in college can’t be overestimated.

“Going to LC was the most important four-year period of my whole life,” he said, as he explains the trajectory of his life from Pineville to graduate school, to his first job, to meeting his wife, and his successful career journey.

Hill has worked all over the country—beginning as a statistician for the federal government for the Public Health Service, then for IBM—and ultimately becoming executive vice president of a national credit bureau and president of a bankruptcy services company.

“It was here at LC that my intellect was sharpened, my faith deepened, my leadership capabilities expanded, and my social skills enhanced,” Hill said. “It gave a lot to me, and I’m still trying to repay. I still have a long way to go.”

CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY Providing a charitable gift annuity to Louisiana College, like Don and Terry Hill, is an incredible way you can make a transformative impact on the Mission and Vision of Christian higher education at Louisiana College.

A gift annuity is a relatively simple contract between a donor and Louisiana College. The donor transfers cash or other liquid assets, such as stocks, bonds, or mutual funds to the college and the donor is paid a fixed income-an annuity-for life. The amount of the annuity is based on the age of the donor.

After the life of the donor, the remaining balance of the annuity is paid to Louisiana College to advance its mission and vision.

TYPES OF GIFT ANNUITIES Gift annuities can be flexible. In each case the remainder goes to a ministry of your choice.

Single-life - Pays an income to you or a person you choose for the life of the individual.

Two-life - Pays income to you and your spouse simultaneously and continues to pay for the life of the surviving spouse.

BENEFITS TO A CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY 1. Fixed Income for Life 2. Tax Advantages and Deductions 3. Preparing Graduates and Transforming Lives

SETTING UP A CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY We would love to help you in the process of setting up your charitable gift annuity to Louisiana College. Please contact us at the Louisiana College Office of Advancement.

advancement@lacollege.edu | 318-487-7118

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ALUMNI UPDATES

ART ALUMNUS TURNS UNEMPLOYMENT INTO AWARD-WINNING ARTWORK IN 2020

By Elizabeth Clarke

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Alex and his daughter Heidi

Alex Felter found freelance art business to be a 2020 blessing in disguise.

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he year 2020 has been confusing and complicated for everyone—in addition to COVID and hurricanes, which affected all of us in Central Louisiana, Alexandria artist Alex Felter had the additional setback of being let go from his job in January.

Felter, a husband and father of two small daughters, wasn’t sidelined for long, though. Fortunately, Alex had a skill set that transitioned well to working from home. Now, he sees quite clearly—2020 has been one of his best years so far.

“It was gut-wrenching at first,” Alex said, “but it’s been the biggest blessing.”

Now a full-time freelance designer and illustrator, said he has been working steady in the midst of a pandemic. His business is Felter Illustration, and his website is felterillustration.com.

“I could see God working through the whole thing,” he said.

Recently, Alex’s work has received a lot of attention from entirely new audiences.

His artwork won the Great Mississippi River Balloon Festival poster competition, and just weeks later he found out his artwork won the 94th Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights poster competition, as well.

The Great Mississippi River Balloon Race is a festival that began in 1986 and is held in Natchez, Mississippi on the bluffs in October each year. It’s an entire weekend of hot-air balloons, live music and festivities that have turned it into the largest festival in Southwest Mississippi.

“I thought about entering last year,” Alex said.

Alex, a Natchez native, grew up attending the balloon festival as a child with his family, and he has continued the tradition with his own family.

“We were actually at a restaurant at the balloon festival, looking at all the posters they had hanging up,” his wife Lizzie recalled. “And I said, ‘Alex, you could create something really awesome.’”

He said Lizzie’s reaffirmation was just what he needed.

Alex said he had picked up a few freelance design and illustration projects, but he now had time to focus on illustration more, so he could put his all into the poster designs.

Alex and his wife, Lizzie, and their two daughters, Heidi and Nina

Alex is a 2012 Louisiana College graduate in studio and graphic design. His wife, Lizzie Myers Felter, whom he met while both were students, is a 2013 elementary education graduate.

They are parents to Heidi, 6, and Nina, 2. A budding artist herself, Heidi drew nearly non-stop during the interview with her parents. But she did stop long enough to say how much she liked her dad’s balloon poster.

“He’s very good. He got in the newspaper,” Heidi said, referring to the article in the Natchez Democrat about Alex’s poster design.

“There’s so much detail, and I like how he drew the people on the ground. They’re so tiny.”

It’s easy to forget she’s only 6 with the detail she notes when looking at her dad’s design. “It’s very pretty with the different kinds of balloons and the colors.”

Alex said he said he would not have had the time to devote to these two projects if he hadn’t been working from home full-time.

In addition, being at home with his children, he said he has been inspired by his little artist Heidi.

“I see her constantly drawing,” Alex said with a smile. “I realized I had gotten away from all that. Seeing her joy, it’s been an inspiration.”

He said he decided to enter the Natchitoches Festival, too, because it’s also something he and his family attend each year. He was able to work on both at the same time—deciding on two very different visions for each.

Continued on page 30

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ALUMNI UPDATES • Art alumnus turns unemployment into award-winning artwork in 2020 His vision for the Natchez Balloon poster was playful and whimsical, while his design for Natchitoches Christmas was stylish but serious.

“It helped that I did go as a child,” Alex said of the Natchez festival.

“It was a joyful time. I remember always feeling warm as a kid and crossing the bridge and looking up and seeing the peanut man balloon.”

He said he wanted to capture the feeling of what the hot-air balloons are looking down on.

“It captures how vast the landscape could be,” he said. “The festival feels large and small at the same time. I wanted to convey being in a hot-air balloon, too.”

The poster includes the people on the grounds and the recognizable columns of the Rosalie mansion.

Mother Sherri Felter almost teared up describing the joy she felt that Alex, who grew up with the Balloon Festival—he was born in 1988, the festival in 1986—had the winning poster this year.

“It’s my favorite; I absolutely love it,” she said. “I can’t even describe the feeling of his being picked. It just thrilled us. It’s an honor and a dream come true.”

For his Natchitoches poster design, he said he wanted to capture his own feelings from that festival, as well.

“It feels elegant going there,” Alex said. “I kept getting images in my head of the lights and a snow globe. So, I decided to create light that is a snow globe. It has a lot of warmth to it, and the colors are somber.”

It was just after the Balloon Festival was over, Alex found out his design had also been chosen by Natchitoches.

The Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights began in 1927 and has evolved from a one-day festival into a sixweek long seasonal celebration that runs from the Saturday before Thanksgiving through Jan. 6, the Epiphany, and includes more than 300,000 lights and more than 100 set pieces on display every night. It is one of the oldest community holiday celebrations in the country.

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In addition to the monetary awards the festivals offer the winning artist, Alex said the recognition and having his work seen by thousands of people at these two outlets, is priceless.

Alex said he always knew he would be an artist.

“I entered art competitions throughout childhood,” Alex said. “I did it because I loved it even if I didn’t win.”

His mother did, too.

Sherri said she kept his first drawing, which he did on a Post-It note in church at age 2.

“I had worked with preschoolers for years, and I knew when I saw that drawing at 2 ½ that he was gifted,” Sherri said. “He was incredible. . . the little people, cities, the tree houses. He had such an imagination, and he had a pen and pencil and notepad with him always.”

Nurturing his God-given ability, his parents, Sherri and Ellis Felter, chose to send him to Trinity Episcopal Day School in Natchez for high school because of the art program.

“My first class of the day was art,” Alex said. “Rebecca McGehee pushed me to take art more seriously, portraits, landscapes, perspective.”

When it came time to choose a college, Alex remembered his grandmother Ann Martin, had always loved Louisiana College.

“She would talk about how she always had wanted to attend college there,” her daughter Sherri recalled. “She was raised Southern Baptist and had attended a camp there in the summer as a girl and it was a special place for her.”

Alex attended Preview Day and fell in love with LC himself.

Fortunately, Ann lived just long enough to see her grandson fulfill a dream of hers by attending LC. “She was delighted when Alex decided on LC,” Sherri said. Her mother died right after he began his freshman year in 2007.

He double-majored in studio art and graphic design, under the tutelage of Tim Roper, whom he still affectionately refers to as “like a god of graphic design.”

Tim Roper said he is particularly proud of Alex’s poster competition designs.

“It’s outstanding recognition, and I really love the illustration style he has developed,” Roper said. “He was a very creative and diligent student in graphic design and had an interestingly quirky sense of humor.”

Alex also noted the care and concern from other faculty, like WangLing Chou, who pushed him outside of his comfort zone but was always there to support him.

“I don’t think I would have gotten that at a bigger college,” he said.

Something else Alex wouldn’t have found at another college—his wife Lizzie, who came to LC from Lake Charles.

Alex said he gets a lot of inspiration from his wife, who is a fourth-grade ELA teacher for Rapides Parish Schools.

He and Lizzie married in 2011, while still LC students, and have since planted roots in Cenla. They bought a historic home in the Garden District of Alexandria, and they attend church at The Gathering Place West in Alexandria.

“I can’t write. She can’t draw,” Alex joked. “We need each other.”

Lizzie said she can tell how happy Alex is working from home.

“I see him doing what he loves and supporting our family doing what he loves. It’s been the coolest experience,” she says of the strange year. “It’s the most we have ever been together as a family, and it’s been a wonderful adventure.”

And Sherri and Ellis are so proud of the year their son Alex has had in spite of the setbacks he faced.

“It’s a joy as a parent to see your child accomplish his dreams and see his art escalate,” Sherri said. “I’m excited for the future and what God has in store for him.”

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ALUMNI UPDATES

Young LC alums follow the Lord’s lead to Amazon and Pacific Northwest

By Elizabeth Clarke

F

rom a college class of about 300 in small-town Louisiana, to working with Amazon to deliver smiles. Life since graduating from Louisiana College in 2018 has been nothing short of an adventure for Lake Charles’ natives Grant and Lauren (Hixson) Phillips.

Grant and Lauren Phillips, both 25, say honoring the Lord and having a loving family with a supportive community have brought continued blessings into their young but successful lives.

“We are proud of Grant and Lauren as they represent the ‘best’ of Louisiana College’s alumni base,” said LC President Lauren and Grant enjoyed some Rick Brewer. “Indeed, they cotton candy outside Martin faithfully amplify the Mission Performing Arts Center and Vision of their Alma mater as students. by living the gospel of Christ in the place God has called them to serve. I am confident Grant and Lauren are the people they are because of a solid Christian example from Godly parents and the LC ‘family’.”

Family may have played a major role in young Lauren Hixson’s choice to attend LC, as she hails from a long line of LC alums. Her great-grandfather James Hixon was, in fact, one of the founding language professors at the college. Her aunt and uncle, Sandy and Paul Hixson, attended LC, and cousins Meggie and Emma Hixson graduated from LC. Her uncle Paul Hixson and grandfather Carroll Hixson previously served on LC’s Board of Trustees. Her father John Hixson is currently serving on the Board.

Lauren’s Wildcat roots run deep.

Lauren and Grant’s parents have long ties, as well. Their parents have been friends since the two were babies in Lake Charles, and the two began dating while students at Barbe High School.

“His mother was my middle school Sunday school teacher,” Lauren

32 | COLUMNS Summer 2021

recalls fondly. “I was his (Grant’s) seventh-grade valentine.”

Ultimately, they both say they chose LC because of the experience from their first campus visit.

“I liked LC because it was not the norm,” Lauren said. “My first time on campus I got to see what it was like and fell in love with the one-on-one interaction.”

That’s just not possible at larger state institutions with tens of thousands of students. Grant agreed.

“You had professors who were on your softball team,” Grant remembers fondly, mentioning History professor Scott Pickard and Missions and Ministry professor Justin Langford. “Professors got invested in whatever we were doing, and that was always very meaningful.”

Lauren smiles as she explains why she considers Langford “complicit” in assisting her in moving the relationship with her future husband along— unbeknownst to Grant at the time. Lauren wanted to get the attention of Grant, so she asked Langford if she could enroll in his Greek class, in which Grant was a Lauren and Grant visit with student, to try to catch his eye.

Justin Langford, their professor, Apparently “couples who parse and dean of College of Missions together stay together,” Grant and Ministries. adds.

As she puts it, “it expedited the process,” and before long the two were engaged. She laughs, “We found out the marriage swing does work.”

They married while students. Grant, a biblical studies major, and Lauren, an accounting major, moved from being resident advisers (RAs) in the dorms, to married student housing.

“Grant and Lauren are the epitome of the Christ-centered students we train at LC,” said Langford, who is now dean of the School of Missions and Ministries. “They excelled at everything they did

during their tenure at LC, whether it was in the classroom or on the intramural field. As a team, they demonstrated Christian commitment to one another and to their calling as students and life-long learners. In my upper-level Greek courses, they both were top-notch students and set the example for others in their studies.

It was a genuine privilege to teach and mentor them. I still consider them close friends.”

Listening to what their former professors say about them, one learns they definitely have taken every ounce that was given to them and paid it forward into the lives of those they mentored in college and now in their careers. Lauren was a founding member and the first president of the Business Students Association at Louisiana College. She also served as an LCPA student ambassador. Grant served as vice president and president for the Christian Vocation Fellowship. Both participated in various honor societies.

“Lauren was one of the most enthusiastic students I have ever met,” said Adena LeJeune, chair of the Division of Business. “She was excited about accounting and her future career and brought that energy to the classroom every day. Lauren’s enthusiasm also served her well in other activities.”

Grant and Lauren recall the times spent pouring into the local church body and support they were given by strong mentors at Longview Baptist Church. They also enjoyed the student activities that bonded classmates. Two of their favorite memories being Cochon de Lait, an annual spring event with all-you-can-eat crawfish, music and fellowship, and Mom’s Weekend, when the male students would toilet paper the pine trees outside Cottingham Dorm.

Lauren says LC taught her to be curious and to think for herself, which she applies to her everyday life today.

“Every class was intentional,” Grant says. “They weren’t just for a grade or a credit. They served a larger purpose. I have taken the Christian education model I learned from LC and am replicating it now in my classroom, and I think that’s pretty awesome.”

Authenticity. It’s the theme that surrounds everything the couple say about their education and experiences on The Hill.

“The genuineness—what you see is what you get,” Grant says. “That experience is very authentic to LC. The professors encourage you to think and consider every perspective. They encourage open dialogue.”

And authenticity is also what one feels from spending just a little

bit of time talking to Grant and Lauren.

After graduating in 2018, Lauren passed her CPA exam in 2019 at age 23, the second youngest in Southwest Louisiana, and then completed her MBA in data analytics from LSU-Shreveport. Grant completed his Master of Arts in Teaching from McNeese State University in December of 2020.

Lauren attributes her success in working among such a diverse group of people at Amazon to her critical thinking skills she learned at LC. “I learned how to apply and think through situations,” she said.

“I work and live among many atheists and non-Christians. I live the Gospel in creative ways.”

The Phillips family moved to Bellevue, Washington in August 2020—having never visited the state—for Lauren’s job as a financial analyst at Amazon’s Headquarters. Grant teaches World History AP: Modern and Psychology at Bellevue Christian School—down the road from Bill Gates’ home.

“It was a God thing,” she says. “Amazon reached out to me.”

Today, at 25, Lauren, Grant, and their corgi Kevin live in a wealthy and culturally diverse community routinely listed as one of the best cities to live in the United States. They love to hike, mountain bike and seek out new adventures.

Lauren works with headcount management and optimization for North America delivery stations under Amazon Logistics. Amazon Logistics is one of the fastest growing sections of Amazon. She also implements automation, forecasting and employee relations. Her working from home essentials are sweatpants, fast Wi-Fi, and corgi guest appearances in meetings.

They have found a new “home” church, Crossroads Bible Church, where the pair celebrate the opportunity to teach seventh-grade boys and girls many of the lessons they have learned from their lives in church and Christian academic experience.

“There is tremendous value in Christian education,” Grant offers.

“When done well, it teaches the whole person, not just the mind, but sparks a transformation on the way you view the world. You may not realize its full impact until you have to weigh out hard decisions in your life.”

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ALUMNI UPDATES

MSW program seeks to fill need in CENLA for graduate level social workers

Program receives CSWE accreditation

By Sierra Boudreaux and Elizabeth Clarke Service to others comes in many forms. Allison Dean thought her journey would include being a pastry chef and nourishing the appetites of customers. Instead, her love for her grandmother fed her own soul and led her down a completely different pathway.

When Dean didn’t get accepted Allison Dean, into the pastry school in New York 2020 MSW graduate she dreamed of attending, she found another passion. Helping to care for her grandmother, who suffered from dementia before she died, reminded her how passionate and loving her caretakers had been.

She decided on social work and became the first member of her family to finish college when she completed her bachelor’s degree in 2014.

Over the years since, Dean has realized she has a calling to work with older people, and she decided to return and earn her master’s degree in social work shortly after the program began at LC. She earned her MSW degree in December 2020 from LC. Dean said she knew she could earn more and provide for a family more by earning a graduate degree and one day open her own day center to care for older people.

“I love being at LC,” she said. “My favorite part is the community and sense of family with the professors and classmates.”

“The purpose of the College’s MSW program from its inception has been to apply the Heart of Christ to the Hurt of Humanity,” said President Rick Brewer. “Indeed, Allison Dean is emblematic of the graduates of our program ably led by academic scholars and Christcentered servants.”

Louisiana College’s Master of Social Work program is one of the newest degrees at the school, and despite the challenges brought by COVID-19 this year, it is growing and filling a unique need in the community. The program received accreditation in July 2021 from the Council on Work Education (CSWE) after the nearly four-year process to achieve this recognition.

“Receiving accreditation from CSWE strengthens our goal to ensure that our graduates are prepared to make a positive difference in the lives of the people and communities in which they serve,” said Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Cheryl Clark. “I

34 | COLUMNS Summer 2021

am extremely proud of the faculty, staff and students who made this moment possible, and they are to be commended for this outstanding accomplishment.”

MSW Program Director Sheri Duffy said the accreditation will allow LC to continue to train other students, like Dean, who will go on to be licensed professionals serving the community, region, state and beyond.

“God is making it possible,” Duffy said.

Vanessa Graves, field director of the Master of Social Work program, said she saw how beneficial the MSW program would be for the communities of CENLA. So, in 2017, the process to create the MSW program was started. It was a joint effort among Duffy, LC administrators and The Rapides Foundation.

Graves said this year has brought on even greater needs and challenges due to COVID-19, and students have learned to be quickly adaptable to new ways of treating and interacting with patients in varied settings. “The need for the MSW in the area was great,” Duffy said. Having the program at LC had been a long-time dream of hers, having served first as director of the BSW program.

The program has grown significantly and has already graduated two cohorts of students.

The program was the grateful recipient of a Healthcare Occupations Program Grant from The Rapides Foundation.

“Access to quality healthcare services is important to reduce health disparities and improve health status,” said Joe Rosier, president and CEO of The Rapides Foundation. “Because availability of qualified healthcare professionals is often cited as one of the main barriers limiting care, the Foundation developed its Healthcare Occupations Program Grant to address the supply and demand gap in the healthcare workforce by building the capacity of regional postsecondary institutions to meet healthcare workforce needs. The Foundation’s grant to Louisiana College to develop its new Master of Social Work degree will create a pipeline of behavioral health professionals, which is a great need in all the communities we serve.”

Louisiana College’s mission for the Master of Social Work program is to prepare students to function competently and effectively in a rapidly changing world through an academically challenging social work education within a Christian environment that offers integration of faith and learning. The MSW also includes a healthcare/behavioral health concentration.

For more information about the MSW program at LC, visit the college website at lacollege.edu or email msw@lacollege.edu.

Jimmie Davis dedication

Former Gov. Jimmie Davis to be honored with historical marker at alma mater

By Elizabeth Clarke

L

ouisiana College unveiled a historical marker in honor of the late two-time governor of the State of Louisiana, Jimmie Davis, in a public ceremony May 7.

The musician-turned-politician, Davis served as the governor from 1944-1948 and again from 1960-1964. Perhaps his most lasting legacy, however, is the Grammy-award winning song “You Are My Sunshine,” written in 1940 and named one of the greatest songs of the century by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Dr. Henry Robertson, State Representative Mike Johnson, Mike Tudor, Mike Wynn and Dr. Brewer unveil historical marker “Gov. Davis is one of Louisiana College’s most famous and successful alumni,” said President Rick Brewer. “We are honored to pay tribute to his lasting legacy as governor and as a prolific songwriter and musician.”

Former Louisiana State Sen. Jim Brown and local historians Michael Wynn and Mike Tudor, whose great-grandfather was a friend of Davis, spoke at the unveiling ceremony.

Davis graduated from Louisiana College in 1924 with a degree in history and went on to earn his master’s degree at Louisiana State University, before starting a career in music and later politics.

Known as the singing governor, Davis often performed for crowds on his campaign stops around Louisiana during his gubernatorial races. He was also a long-time Southern Baptist and recorded several gospel albums.

While governor, Davis established the State Employees Retirement System in 1946 and built the Toledo Bend Reservoir and the Louisiana Governor’s Mansion, the residence of the governor since 1963.

Davis lived to be 101 years old and died Nov. 5, 2000.

Louisiana College previously honored the late governor with a scholarship in his name in 2020. Students who qualify for full PELL grants and the TOPS scholarship will have remaining tuition covered by the Governor Jimmie Davis Scholarship.

The public may visit the marker at the front of the Louisiana College campus, adjacent to the archway.

COLUMNS Summer 2021 | 35

LC LOOKING FORWARD

Louisiana College launches

I

By Elizabeth Clarke

t isn’t uncommon for college students to question their calling or not know what they want to “do” with their degrees –even sometimes as upperclassmen. This fall, Louisiana College launched a center for students seeking guidance on their future paths.

The Center for Calling & Career will provide a one-stop shop for students seeking internships, career advice and information about jobs available in their majors. It is located on the 3rd floor of the Student Center.

Rather than just being a Career Center, which many colleges and universities provide, the CCC will help students gain an understanding of how their values and spiritual gifts should be assessed to fully know what God is calling them to do in their lives and careers.

36 | COLUMNS Summer 2021

The Executive Director of the Center for Calling & Career, Meredith Rennier, who started in her position this summer, comes to LC with a wealth of experience in higher education. She previously served as center director for Upper Iowa University of Alexandria, and the director of Student Services Meredith Rennier for Central Louisiana Technical and Community College.

“Students can go online and compare their values to jobs that would be a best fit for them,” Rennier said. Students enrolled in CC 100 will get to utilize this through our website. CC 100 is a required course of all entering freshmen.

The CCC will host events throughout the academic year to teach resume writing and interview skills and will hold career fairs.

Services will be provided to alumni, as well, she said.

‘This year’s theme is ‘I am called,’” Rennier said. “This is in keeping with the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) of servicelearning that begins in the fall and will last several years.”

QEP Chair Vanessa Graves, who is an associate professor of social work, said the Center for Calling & Career will join with LC faculty to build a commitment to serve by offering training and linking community partnerships.

‘LC Serves Live Connected,’ LC’s QEP title, was aptly chosen to reflect the mission of Louisiana College to learn, lead and serve, Graves said, while also connecting students to local and global communities and their lifelong careers.

“The CCC will serve as the oversight for the College’s Experiential Learning Initiative (ELI) which equips students to complete two of the following during their academic career: research with a professor; study abroad; service learning; and internships,” said President Rick Brewer. “The ELI framework offers students credible learning opportunities which will be legitimate and included as part of a student’s transcript.

“The Center for Calling & Career is consistent with Ephesians 2:10 where scripture informs us that we are God’s Workmanship.”

Rennier said she will be working with non-profits in the community to establish service-learning projects. She has also established a Rotaract Club on campus, a student branch of the Rotary Club of Alexandria, which will do local service projects with community leaders.

The Center will also be obtaining internships with local business and industry, as well as networking with local business and industry leaders, to create opportunities for students and graduates, Rennier said.

In addition to the one-on-one mentoring and relationships students develop at LC, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Cheryl Clark said the Center will provide students with even more resources to discover their true calling.

“As a leading Christian college focused on student success and Christ-centered work, the Center for Calling and Career will provide valuable resources to prepare students for meaningful work and flourishing lives,” Clark said. “Regardless of major, background or socioeconomical circumstances, LC students will gain a deep understanding of themselves and their callings in order to launch purposeful careers. Experiential learning opportunities afforded through the CCC will allow students to integrate and apply academic coursework to a professional work situation, gain valuable skills and experiences, and increase their marketability to future employers.”

Look for more information forthcoming at lacollege.edu/CFCC about a fall workshop on “Professionalism in the Workplace” and a spring “Etiquette Luncheon” or for more information or schedule an appointment for assistance.

The Center for Calling & Career “is consistent with Ephesians 2:10

where scripture informs us that we are God’s Workmanship.

-Rick Brewer

”

President, Professor and Friend

COLUMNS Summer 2021 | 37

LC LOOKING FORWARD

Tejas takes over Lady Wildcats Soccer

By Darrell Brown, Wildcats Media Changing the culture of any program is always a challenge, but that is the main goal of the new Lady Wildcats head soccer coach Carla Tejas. She has high standards and expectations for her players and for herself.

“Winning doesn’t happen overnight,” Tejas said. “Changing doesn’t happen overnight; it’s going to take a while, and they need to understand we are working towards changing the culture.”

With a brand-new coaching staff, Tejas is looking to make a change and various improvements with the program going forward.

Tejas said she wants to build a support base with the fans and is excited to get started with the season.

The student section is the 12th player for the girls going forward and wants the students to get involved.

“Playing for LC is a privilege and should be an honor,” Tejas said on how things will be going forward. “It’s more than pressure; it’s an opportunity.”

She has a roster of 18 players, and six are seniors. No starters have been named and all positions are open. The hope is to start practice in October.

“Coach Carla is honestly one of the best coaches I’ve had in a while,” said sophomore forward Deja Webb. “Not only does she care about us as a team but individually. She has us set goals for the team and ourselves. She is very hard working and lighthearted. She not only shows her passion for the game but also for her team. This is one of the best choices LC has made for the girls’ soccer team.”

Since the Lady Wildcats’ inaugural season in 2007 with a 7-12 overall record and 6-7 conference record, the Wildcats have yet to make a single conference tournament appearance.

38 | COLUMNS Summer 2021

Carla Tejas

The previous head coach only won seven games in five seasons at LC, and Tejas said she does not feel any pressure filling those shoes. The challenge is bringing the woman’s soccer program to prominence, and that includes changing the attitude of the players to one that believes they can win.

“They fight every single ball,” Tejas said of what the team will have to do in order to be successful.

She said she loves to play with high pressure and commitment, while seeing herself as a disciplinarian and a player’s coach.

Senior outside back/defense Madalyn Starns said she likes the coaching staff.

“They are ready to get down to business,” Starns said. “They are very strong and know what they are talking about. They don’t take any slack, and it’s something the program needs to turn around to become a winning team. The coaching style and plans that she has for this team is what it’s going to take to make that happen.”

In order to change the culture, she expects excellence off the field as well. Her players must field a 3.2 GPA. Tejas wants more for her players than a future in soccer. She wants them to be masters at their outside craft and hopes many will go on to graduate school.

“The players have to rise to the standard,” Tejas said. “We don’t care about what happened before. It does not matter if they won one game or two. What matters is what we do from now on.”

Photo/Alena Noakes, Wildcats Media

Students get experiences with Louisiana Baptist Foundation internships

By Elizabeth Clarke

of reconciling accounts to make the Foundation’s reconciliation A quick Google search shows just how important completing process much more efficient.” an internship is to today’s college student. A growing number Hair said his best learning opportunity during his internship was of employers across industries want to hire graduates who have asking the why and how behind each activity. “If you understand real-world experience prior to hiring them. Louisiana College has not only the process, but the reasoning behind the process, it been partnering with local organizations to ensure its students allows you to be more valuable to your company. If you as an are equipped to excel in today’s modern work force. One such employee can identify relevant inefficiencies and organization is the Louisiana Baptist Foundation, understand the root of the problem, you may be able which places student interns in a host of different to provide methods to improve the process and save business and marketing settings. the company money, making yourself much more LC business majors Isaiah Romero of New Iberia, and valuable,” Hair said.

Adam Hair of Silsbee, Texas, both did internships last fall Hair said he thinks all accounting students need an at the Louisiana Baptist Foundation. Romero continued internship before graduation—if for no other reason his internship during the spring. than the hands-on experience with the software needed.

“LC’s Experiential Learning Initiative provides “Excel, Excel, and more Excel,” Hair said. “Working our students with learning opportunities beyond with Excel and other software products is essential in the classroom,” said President Rick Brewer. “The accounting and this is one reason every accounting opportunity for our students to select two initiatives Adam Hair, LC business major needs to have at least one and two, if possible, from four offerings—Research, Study Abroad, major and LBF intern authentic internships before graduation. I want to add Internships and Service Learning— reinforces the that a lot of what you learn on an internship depends on College’s Mission and Vision while providing our your attitude. You need to come ready to learn and be students a competitive edge for the marketplace and willing to mess up—a lot. But realize that each failure is post-graduate education.” Brewer believes so much in moving you closer to succeeding.” the value of internships that he has included it in the Romero did two semesters as a social media marketing Vision 2025 Plan. Students will be required to complete intern at LBF, also under Steed’s direction. at least two initiatives prior to graduation.

“Being under his guidance and having him as a “We are grateful for the learning and leadership resource to go to when I had questions or concerns was development opportunity Dr. Jeff Steed extended to great because I was able to comment and ask questions Adam and Isaiah,” Brewer said. “Indeed, our students as freely as possible,” Romero said. benefited from their internship with the LBF— During his internship, Romero created experience they will be able to leverage for future communication plans, established templates for employment.” Steed, executive director of the LBF, said Jeff Steed, executive marketing material, and scheduled and designed content he is honored to participate in the internship program director of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation, for social media sites for the foundation. “I also edited with LC. “The internship program with Louisiana and Isaiah Romero, LC and recorded a video series that helps people understand College has been and continues to be a great experience business major and the role of the foundation in helping ministries and for the Louisiana Baptist Foundation,” Steed said.

LBF intern individuals advance the kingdom,” Romero said. “My “It is a win-win-win scenario for all involved. The best learning opportunity was that I was given the reins intern students’ participation at the Foundation has on projects and was allowed to work on them, research, and compare enriched our ministry efforts. Also, the program gives students a results from the projects and tasks given.” real-life, ‘behind the scenes’ and practical view of ministry life.”

Dr. Adena LeJeune, chair of the Division of Business, said that type Hair’s internship at LBF in the fall of 2020 was in accounting under of opportunity during college is invaluable. “Internships are a great the supervision of LBF Controller and CPA Chuck Murray. He said he opportunity for our students to gain experience by applying what they grew to understand Murray’s methods and was very thankful for all have learned in the classroom in a real-world setting,” she said. “As I the insight he provided in accounting—even when the constructive interact with the students and read their weekly internship reports, criticism was hard to take in the beginning. “The world of accounting I can see how they are developing their identities as professionals. has an extremely steep learning curve,” Hair said. “Early on, I Students who participate in internships will be well prepared to enter reviewed financial reports to get an understanding of them and the business world full-time after graduation.” how they related to the Foundation’s method of accounting. I also reviewed daily transactions to determine if errors had occurred in their reporting and learned from these assessments. Finally, in the last month of the internship, I had the privilege of building a new model COLUMNS Summer 2021 | 39

LC LOOKING FORWARD

Anna Matherne’s long road to Louisiana College, a true

A

By Kylei Cornelison, Wildcats Media

nna Matherne, a May 2021 LC graduate and the 2017 recipient of the Smith Scholarship, grew up in Baton Rouge, after being adopted from an orphanage in Fuzhou, China, when she was 10 months old. She was raised as an only child by a single, widowed mother, and because of this dynamic, she has a very close relationship with her mom, Patti Matherne. “She is my best friend,” Anna says referring to her mom.

Anna and her mom recall how her adoption process was a miracle and a direct reflection of God’s hand over her life. Anna says there were instances during the process that were almost supernatural, and the only explanation is God. “Before God sent me to China to adopt a little girl, He spent a lot of time making sure that I was ready,” Patti said.

Patti recalls becoming “instant friends” with Anna after she gave her a little box of Cheerios when they met. One of the coolest facts about her adoption, Anna says, is that “[the cumulative process] took right at nine months which is right at the term of a baby.”

Anna’s faith has been immensely important to her as she has gone throughout her life.

Her mom says she accepted Jesus as her Savior near her fifth birthday.

“One of the … lessons that I tried to teach Anna from the earliest of ages was that she was God’s Princess,” Patti said.

Over the past two years, Anna has grown closer in her relationship with God, and she was baptized at her home church (Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria) last March. “I hold my relationship with [Him] very close to my heart,” she said.

Her childhood was filled with an affinity for cheer and dance, a passion that has continued throughout her college career as she became a cheerleader for the Wildcats her freshman year and will be returning to cheer this football season. She also works at a local dance studio. Along with cheerleading, she is involved in the Student Government Association and works as a Wildcat Ambassador and Navigator on campus. When she isn’t focused on her studies or work, Anna enjoys traveling with friends or going back home to visit her family in her free time.

Anna also spends her time as a Smith Scholar building connections and being a representative for the College, which in her opinion, is one of the most rewarding aspects of the title that comes with the scholarship. “Being able to represent this place and this school that I love is a really rewarding thing,” Anna said.

Anna is a marketing and management major graduating in May. She does not have a set plan for her time after college, but that won’t stop her from having big dreams for her career. “My dream, if I could pick right now, straight out of college, would be to go work in a marketing department of a larger company [in Baton Rouge, Lafayette or even in Pineville],” she explained.

Brewer said his wife Cathy was the person who encouraged him to hire Anna after meeting her as a freshman because of her work ethic, energy and customer service skills.

“Indeed, she has demonstrated both the maturity of intellect and the maturity of Christian character during her four years here,” said President Rick Brewer.

“Anna has a wonderful sense of creativity, confidence, and leadership, and she brings all of these skills and more to LC’s marketing team,” said Jennifer Dykes, the director of marketing at LC. Both Brewer and Dykes say Anna has a bright future ahead of her as she graduates, and they believe she will succeed in her future career.

40 | COLUMNS Summer 2021

MIRACLE Even though she fits right into the environment and world of LC, becoming a Wildcat was not necessarily on Anna’s radar when planning for college. “Being from Baton Rouge, all of my family went to LSU, and that’s where I was going to go,” she recalled.

One weekend, Anna came to visit some of her friends who played football at LC, and she decided to schedule a campus tour. After falling in love with the atmosphere on campus, her heart was set on Blue and Orange. Anna’s family was experiencing some financial hardships during the time of her tour at LC. She discovered the Smith Scholarship through an admissions counselor at LC, and after being encouraged to apply, she had her incentive to put in the hard work to raise her ACT score so she could compete for the scholarship.

Anna remembers how nerve-wracking her competition was.

“Just hearing [my peers at the competition] talk I was like ‘oh my gosh I only have the basic 28 ACT, and I’ve never done anything like this before’,” Anna explained. This moment of self-doubt was short-lived as she was announced to be that year’s Smith Scholar.

Anna emphasizes that while the academic aspect of being a Smith Scholar is exceptionally important, being involved in things on campus can enrich one’s experience even further.

A piece of advice she would like to pass on to future Smith Scholars and competitors is: “A part of being a Smith Scholar is being a well-rounded student.”

Anna’s journey as a Smith Scholar shows that balance is the key to success, and talents or skills do not have to be limited to one facet of someone’s educational career.

As she closes out her college education, Anna says that her time at LC has been a blessing.

“It brings such a sweet, tender feeling to my heart, and I’m almost sad that in a couple months I’ll move out for the last time,” she said in March.

Anna is grateful for the best friends she has made both at LC and her home church, the memories she has made and the knowledge she has obtained from her experiences in the last four years. “[I have] gained so much knowledge both inside the classroom, but also in real life experiences that I can take into the next stage of my life.”

THE

WILDCAT ADVANTAGE Loan Repayment Assistance Program

LRAP

Attending LC

DEBT FREE

!

just got easier

Louisiana College unveils a loan repayment assistance program for 2021 incoming freshmen.

Louisiana College is the first institution in Central Louisiana to offer a loan repayment assistance program (LRAP) to all incoming freshmen starting in the fall of 2021.

The LRAP can help graduates repay their federal, Parent PLUS and private alternative student loans if their income after graduation is below $43,000.

Louisiana College has partnered with Ardeo Education Solutions to offer the LRAP at no cost to students or families. The assistance will continue until the graduate’s income exceeds $43,000 or until their loans are completely paid off.

“We understand, especially during this difficult time, the huge financial challenges facing families,” said President Rick Brewer.

“LC has always pursued strategies to ensure education is accessible and affordable, and this initiative underscores our commitment to students and families seeking an excellent Christian education.”

For more information or to sign-up

myLRAP.org/lacollege

COLUMNS Summer 2021 | 41

LC LOOKING FORWARD

CONGRESSWOMAN LETLOW VISITS LC says higher ed success equals state’s success

L

By Elizabeth Clarke

ouisiana College welcomed Congresswoman Julia Letlow to campus Thursday—her first visit since taking office in April.

LC President Rick Brewer welcomed Letlow, along with some of her staff members, at a breakfast meeting where he shared campus updates and introduced LC administrators. Letlow recalled fondly how she had attended a faith-based youth camp on the Louisiana College campus several decades ago.

“This tour has been a long time coming,” Letlow said. “Higher ed is near and dear to my heart, and our hearts are here to serve.”

Letlow has worked in higher education for many years. She served most recently as the director of external affairs and strategic communications for the University of Louisiana at Monroe before running to fill her late husband Luke Letlow’s seat in Congress. Letlow had been elected in November 2020 and was slated to take office in January 2021. He died of COVID-19 in December.

“One thing my husband ran on—and that I want to carry on—is that he wanted to be accessible,” she said. “Day or night, we’re here to serve.”

She told LC administrators that as projects and programs arise, her office will be a resource. She introduced each of her staff members and gave each area they will be the best resource for.

Letlow and her staff have been touring all higher educational institutions in her 5th congressional district.

Brewer shared the importance of the Christian mission of the college and briefed the congresswoman on the continuing struggle that faith-based institutions endure. Letlow, a woman of faith herself, acknowledged the challenges he described and listened intently as Brewer recounted how proposed bills in Congress and federal policies have the potential to harm Louisiana College and other similar institutions.

“Congresswoman Julia Letlow is a genuine servant-leader,” said President Rick Brewer. “How encouraging to know we have public servants such as Dr. Letlow who lead with integrity and authenticity.

Her passion for the people of Louisiana is obvious and deeply appreciated. Louisiana College is grateful to have another friend in Washington, D.C. who understands the challenges facing the future of higher education in America.”

Henry Robertson, coordinator of Sponsored Programs, discussed the Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) grant he is completing

42 | COLUMNS Summer 2021

Congresswoman Letlow and President Brewer for the Office of Post-Secondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). Letlow is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Education and Labor Committee. She took great interest in how the USDE grant programs will benefit higher education at LC. Letlow spoke about her experience in higher education and how helping students across the 5th district is one of her top priorities.

She wanted everyone to know that she is a Louisiana-centered public servant who will work to meet the needs of all colleges in the district.

Federal grant programs such as the Title III IDEA grant LC received several years ago have brought millions of dollars in funding for LC programs and students.

Robertson explained how the SIP grant would benefit student services and how the $400,000 grant might provide funds for additional academic support for any student in need.

“The USDE SIP grants are an important tool for making transformative improvements in both retention and graduation rates for the school,” Robertson said. “By keeping students enrolled and graduating on time, Louisiana College becomes stronger, central Louisiana becomes more capable in its workforce, and America is better.”

Robertson added that in the 20-plus years he has followed politics in the 5th district that this is the first time, to his knowledge, anyone elected to this office has made a higher education tour—including her staff—and asserted her heartfelt belief that higher education is a key to advancing Louisiana.

“Dr. Letlow’s visit was most certainly a breath of fresh air and a welcome signal of better days to come for Louisiana, this country, and higher education everywhere,” Robertson said.

LETTER TO ALUMNI

ARE YOU LC ALUMNI?

Mary E “Beth” Poole Palmer, Ph.D.

SHARE YOUR STORY.

Class of 1981 Assistant Vice President for Institutional Advancement

O PLA N IS 20 21 C

IKE EL

THERE

For 115 years, Louisiana College has delivered a distinctively Christian liberal arts education rooted in a vision to Prepare Graduates and Transform Lives. Still today, Louisiana College is a Christ-centered community committed to Academic Excellence where students are equipped for lives of Learning, Leading, and Serving.

Many of you, like me, were transformed into servant leaders because of your time at LC. As alumni, we have taken the Christian liberal arts education received on “The Hill” to every corner of the world. My hope is for each of us to become involved in a local chapter of the Louisiana College Alumni Association, participate on committees, serve on the Alumni Board to help foster relationships that advance the mission of LC, and to encourage future Wildcats to find their place at LC. LC needs—I need, your spirit of volunteerism, service and philanthropy to impact current students and faculty in the pursuit of truth, beauty, and goodness. Louisiana College offers us all the opportunity to help support our enduring vision to Prepare Graduates and Transform Lives.

Our mission is clear, and our vision is strong. Will you join us in this amazing work?

WHAT’S YOUR CAREER? WHERE ARE YOU LIVING? WHAT HAVE YOU CELEBRATED? WHERE ARE YOU SERVING? WHAT ARE YOU LEARNING? WHAT ARE YOUR CHALLENGES? SHARE YOUR ACCOLADES? BRAG ON YOUR FAMILY?

WE WANT TO KNOW. alumni@lacollege.edu More than 115 years of traditions, reunions, and games call alumni, students, faculty and staff home to Louisiana College each year. We invite you to catch the Wildcat spirit and join us October 28-30 for our biggest Homecoming celebration yet!

For more information and a detailed calendar of events, visit

lacollege.edu/homecoming Thursday, October 28

Saturday, October 30

7:00pm Homecoming Hoedown

7:00am Fun “Color” Run 5K*

Friday, October 29

8:00am Alumni Breakfast*

11:45am Board of Visitors Lunch* 5:00pm Reception for Distinguished Alumni and Hall of Fame Inductees 5:30pm Homecoming Celebration Banquet for Distinguished Alumni and Hall of Fame* 8:00pm Homecoming Choral Experience 9:30pm Wildcat Pep Rally & Bonfire

9:30am Coffee Social and Reunion of Fraternal Clubs 11:00am Homecoming Parade 11:30am Wildcat Family Carnival & Tailgate 2:00pm Homecoming Game: Wildcats vs. Langston University *Space is limited, registration is required.

Register at lacollege.edu/homecoming

COLUMNS Summer 2021 | 43

Alumni Association Executive Board Mr. Richard Ainsworth, ‘81 Dr. Frank Ashley, ‘75 Dr. Bakari Beckwith, ‘01 Mr. Greg Baggett, ‘87 Ms. Becky Brown, ‘76 Mr. Wes Cooper, ‘06 Mr. Andy Cutrer, ‘95 Dr. Cathy Eschete, ‘04 Mrs. Marilyn Perry Fain, ‘65 Ms. Roxie Goynes, ‘80 Ms. Angie McCann Ms. Kristetta G. Miller, ‘93 Mr. Howard N. Palmer, Jr., ‘80 Dr. Dennis Phelps, ‘78 Ms. Jade Johnson Porche, ‘16 Ms. Joy Thomason Rister, ‘07 Mr. Chip & Ms. Sandy Turner, ‘69 Ms. Karylon Thornton, ‘15

Louisiana College

Board of Trustees Ms. Nancy Adcock Mr. Tommy Bankston Rev. Steven Beckham Rev. Craig Beeman Mr. Carl Benedict Dr. Andy Buckley Mr. Anthony Bunting Rev. Oren Conner Dr. David Cranford Mr. Christian Doughty Rev. Steve Efferson Dr. John Galey Rev. Russell Givens Mrs. JoAnne Hamby Mr. Frank Hebert Mr. John Hixson Dr. Steve Horn Mr. Charles Howard Ms. Sheila Johnson Dr. Tommy Kiker Dr. David Lane Mrs. Martha Mercado Mrs. Joy Mohr Ms. Claire O’Neal Mr. John Parker Mr. J.D. Perry Mr. David Pool Dr. James Pritchard Rev. Shane Terrebonne Ms. Gwen Wade Rev. Matt Warren Dr. Danny Williams Rev. Joey Williams Rev. Caleb Willis Dr. Eddie Wren

44 44||COLUMNS COLUMNSSummer Summer 2021 2021

Dr. Robert Lynn Celebrating the life of a beloved leader

Dr. Robert Lynn, who faithfully served more than two decades as the sixth president of Louisiana College, died Tuesday, Sept. 8 in Norman, Oklahoma. He was 88.

Lynn served as president of LC from 1975-1997.

“The College mourns the loss of former president, Dr. Robert Lynn,” said President Rick Brewer. “Dr. Lynn’s legacy and imprimatur is still recognizable on the campus. We thank the Lord for the faithful spiritual leadership and standard-bearer for academic excellence Dr. Lynn exemplified during his tenure as the sixth president of Louisiana College.”

Lynn is survived by his wife Dr. Bonnie Moore Lynn, and two children, Susy Calonkey and Chris Lynn.

Lynn succeeded another longtime President, G. Earl Guinn. According to a June 5, 1997 article in the Baptist Message, Lynn instituted a strategic planning process for which the college engaged in for five-year periods. During his tenure, almost 85 percent of the fiveyear goals were met.

He led the college to unprecedented financial growth.

While he was president, the school was never in the red operationally. Lynn also established the President’s Club to recognize donors who gave $1,000 or more to the school in a calendar year. In a 20-year span, beginning in 1976, almost 6,000 people were recognized by the club – representing almost $70 million contributed to the college during that time.

He left the school with $11 million in endowed scholarships and had four capitalfund-raising campaigns; the final one surpassed $16.5 million. Lynn’s wife, Bonnie, was instrumental in raising support for the college with him.

During his tenure, a performing arts center and an apartment-style housing complex were built, and the student center was remodeled. Additionally, the nursing program was reinstated, several new academic programs were launched and four new varsity sports (men’s cross country, women’s basketball, tennis and cross country) were started.

“Dr. Lynn was an impressive, long–range, strategic thinker and planner,” said Dr. Beth Palmer, Assistant Vice President for Institutional Advancement and an LC alumnae. “He came to LC in the fall of 1975 with a clear purpose and direction for the school, and a pathway charted out to get there.

He was the epitome of a servant leader and a true friend of Jesus. He always had an encouraging word and a wonderful smile.”

The Lynn Alumni Center was built in 1956 and last served as the president’s home during Lynn’s tenure.

in Memoriam Elaine Holt Beck Class of ,43 Emily Frances Needham Class of ,46 Stella Harris Wilkes Class of ,46 Judith Palmer Berry Brunson Class of ,49 Ruth “Pill” Granger O’Quinn Class of ,49 Geraldine Forshee Wade Class of ,49 Pauline Broussard Martin Class of ,50 Larry Wells Class of ,50 Lawrence Rollo Yeager Class of ,50 Chiles Irwin Carpenter Class of ,51 O.K “Doc” Bailey, Jr. Class of ,52 Thomas D. Hall Class of ,54 Jean Brown Miller Class of ,54 Katie Ruth Sowell Smith Class of ,54 Evelyn Boyd Temple Class of ,54 Robert Roy Bays Class of ,55 Joseph “Ernie” Ernest Duplechin Class of ,55 Earl Leroy Girlinghouse Class of ,55 JoAnne Holder Spigener Class of ,56 Charlotte Gayle Rockett Christian Class of ,57 Lorris G. Cockerham Class of ,57 Faye Hoyt Guinn Class of ,57 Stanley Geoge Lott Class of ,57 Patricia Ann Brock Owens Class of ,57 Johnny “JC” Clyde Harkness Class of ,58 Glenn Douglas Fairbanks Class of ,59 Gerald “Jerry” Globetti Class of ,59 William Henry Morgan Class of ,59 Gerald Warn Pollard Class of ,59 John E. Sorrells, Jr. Class of ,59 Pauline Herbert Bergeron Class of ,60 Lloyd Funchess, Jr. Class of ,61 Glynn Allen Mathis Class of ,61 Obra T. Bourgoyne Class of ,62 Stacy Langley Moore Class of ,62 Fred B. Elsing, Jr. Class of ,63 Robert Earl Smith Jr. Class of ,63 Wayne Allen Greenleaf Class of ,64 Geneva Hayes Moreau Class of ,64 Glenda Joy Bernard Waits Class of ,64 Winston Alan Welch Class of ,64 Doris “Cookie” Barron Bradford Class of ,66 Johney L. Jeans Class of ,66 Billy Byron Booth Class of ,68 Waldine Robertson Guillot Class of ,73 James Wesley Quillin Class of ,73 Mary Hattie Stringer Tapley Class of ,73 Charles “Milford” Walters Class of ,73 Kenneth “Swede” Donald Swenson Class of ,74 Vernon Butler Class of ,75 Robert “Gene” Eugene Gainous Class of ,75 George Michael Katzman Class of ,79 Michael Talbert Class of ,80

Carla Jo Cammack Richard Randall Ray Jan Marie Villemarette Blake Kilpatrick Cooper Kathy Reeves Wiggins

Class of Class of Class of Class of Class of

,81 , 91 , 95 , 05 , 09

OTHERS Dr. Joe Black Flora West Bardin Jack Carlisle Mattie Louise Johnson Coffman Julius “Carroll” Cotton James “Jim” Francis Curley, Sr. Robert Eldon Dale, Sr Laverne Slater Dupree Catherine Mary Ann Hill Edwards Maude Elayne Glover Colleen “MeMe” Breland Hemphill Isabelle Roberts Hilburn Linda Richard Keller Nathan Richard Lessard Jeannette Fonner McCullough Gloria Comeaux Mixon McGirk John E. Meredith Norma Joyce Dubois Moreau Lloyd Wayne Pourciau Thomas “Ronnie” Ronald Raborn Joseph “PaPa” Winston Salard Robert “Bob” W. Sullivan Faye McDowell Sylvest Dr. Ben H. Yang

“a IfplaceI goforandyou,prepare I

will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

- John 14:3

”

| 45 COLUMNS COLUMNS Summer Summer 2021 2021 |

NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

ASHEVILLE, NC PERMIT NO. 575

Office of Alumni Relations 1140 College Drive, Box 588 Pineville, LA 71359

WILDCAT FOOTBALL 2021 SCHEDULE AUG 28 SEPT 4 SEPT 11 SEPT 18 SEPT 25 OCT 2 OCT 16 OCT 23 OCT 30 NOV 6 NOV 13

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