PRESIDENT Dr. Donald Weatherman V.P. FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Ann Turney DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS Eric Bork, ’07 EDITOR Dr. Diane Tebbetts LEAD WRITER Alexandra Patrono-Smith, ’15 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Katie Wilson, ’17 Jasper “Doc” Freeman, ’55 John Krueger DESIGNERS Chris Hill Wes Obrigewitsch CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Chris Hill John Krueger Dr. Dave Thomas The Parish Group Alexandra Patrono-Smith, ’15 The Scot Yearbook Staff Mike Kemp, ’88 Workhorse Creative ALUMNI RELATIONS Taryn Hill Duncan, ’91 ANNUAL GIVING Daniel Haney, ’08 LYON COLLEGE 2300 Highland Road P.O. Box 2317 Batesville, AR 72503 870.307.7000 www.lyon.edu A selective, independent, undergraduate, residential teaching and learning community affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Lyon College offers a challenging curriculum centered on the liberal arts, guided by an Honor System and coordinated with co-curricular programs, all fostering the critical, creative thought and ethical, spiritual growth that will prepare students for fulfilling personal and professional lives committed to lifelong learning and service.
SPECIAL FEATURE “ D O N ’ T G O I N TO C O A C H I N G ”
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ON CAMPUS A C O L L E G E D R O P O U T, T E C H N I C A L LY G R A D U AT I N G C L A S S O F 2 0 1 6 NEW VICE PRESIDENT ON CAMPUS C A R E E R E X P LO FA L L S P O R T S S C H E D U L E S
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LIBERAL ARTS IN ACTION N I C H O L S I N T E R N AT I O N A L S T U D I E S T H E C E LT I C S T U D I E S M I N O R S C H O L A R AT H L E T E S
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ALUMNI DOC FREEMAN REMEMBERS KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES A LU M N I N E W S
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GIVING S U P P O R T I N G F O R T H E LO N G H A U L CROWDFUNDING 101 B R O W N C H A P E L R E N O VAT I O N
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A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
This is a truly great time to be in higher education,
A Lyon education prepares students for
especially if you are at a liberal arts college like Lyon. Of
productive and responsible lives, not just
course, we hear the warnings about the challenges posed
careers, and represents far more than
to schools like Lyon by free online university courses,
specialized training. In this ever-changing
with the promises of higher paying jobs for graduates
world, a job that provides a living one
with vocational degrees. Allow me to admit that the free
year may be obsolete by the next, but the
education on the web is worth every penny it costs! On the
Lyon graduate is poised to overcome the
other hand, the value of a degree from Lyon’s residential
capriciousness of the job market. Equipped to
teaching and learning community goes far beyond the
think and communicate clearly and to value
price of tuition.
honesty and dependability, Lyon’s graduates can expect to be sought after by employers in
At Lyon, teachers and students enjoy a learning
every field.
environment that cannot be realized by online coursework. In fact, such an environment is not found
The
following
pages
highlight
the
even in the honors colleges that represent universities’
accomplishments of some members of our
efforts to emulate residential liberal arts colleges. No
school’s wonderful community of learners. It
matter what a university’s brochures and recruiters may
is always a joy to tell the Lyon College story.
claim, such institutions simply cannot foster the close working relationship that Lyon students develop with their professors because Lyon’s faculty works directly with our students without the aid and buffer of graduate assistants.
DR. DONA LD WEATHERMA N President of Lyon College
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FEATURE
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“Don’t Go Into Coaching” BY JOHN KRUEGER A D D I T I O N A L I N F O R M AT I O N P R O V I D E D B Y A L E X A N D R A PAT R O N O - S M I T H
T R AC Y S T E WA RT- L A N G E R E T U R N S A N D T U R N S LY O N W O M E N ’ S B A S K E T B A L L I N T O N AT I O N A L C H A M P I O N S H I P C O N T E N D E R S
Five straight trips to the NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship tournament—a first for the program—have one common denominator for the Lyon College women’s basketball program: Head Coach Tracy Stewart-Lange. A 1986 graduate of Lyon (then called Arkansas College) and a member of the Lyon College Athletics Hall of Fame (Class of 2000), StewartLange said she chose AC because of the small class sizes and small setting. “It just felt very comfortable to me. I really felt like it was a good fit, and I wanted to be where I felt like I could make a difference,” she said. In addition, her father attended AC, “so there was some tradition.”
She credits her husband with pushing her to return to Batesville. When Terry Garner, the athletic director at the time, called her and said, “Hey, the job’s open—would you consider it?” she was both flattered and humbled. “My husband looked at me and said, ‘Let’s go.’ He’s always
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Stewart-Lange left a position at NCAA Division I University of Arkansas at Little Rock and took over the Lyon women’s basketball program that had struggled the previous two years before her arrival, posting a combined 27-33 record.
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wanted to live in Batesville. He’s always thought this would be the best place to live—and it is.” She wasn’t so sure about coming home but now believes it was a good thing: “In hindsight— eleven years later—I’m very, very grateful for the time that I’ve had with my family.” Her children have grown up around grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles, and she has found Batesville a wonderful community for raising a family.
‘Well, I couldn’t do it without my husband.’ And it’s true.” She said her husband “holds down the fort. He’s Mr. Mom while I’m away, and it’s just a balancing act.” In addition, she credits her mother with always pitching in. “My family know how much I love my job, and they’re very supportive as well,” she says about her children. “They know what I’m doing. They know where I am. They’re behind me 100 percent.”
Her husband has also been key to balancing family life with her career. “I remember when I was at the Division I level,” Stewart-Lange said, “I sought out coaches who were married and had families and asked them, ‘How do you do this? Can it be done? Is it possible at this level?’ And one of the first things someone told me is,
The Pipers (the name of the Lyon women’s team at the time) didn’t turn around immediately after Stewart-Lange arrived. As she settled in for the first two seasons, Lyon posted records of 11-20 and 12-19 before finishing with winning records three out of the next four seasons. Lyon then reached the 20-win mark and went on to post five consecutive berths in the NAIA national tournament between 2012 and 2016.
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This year she and the team set a program record for most wins in a season, finishing 30-4, and were ranked as high as No. 3 in the NAIA Women’s Basketball Division I Coaches’ Poll. Lyon captured its first outright league title, its first conference tournament championship, and its first victory in the national playoffs. Coming home has clearly paid off for Stewart-Lange
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As a student at AC, Stewart-Lange majored in English, planning to be a lawyer. She was always around sports, however, and her father coached. She says she grew up in a gym, playing sports every day just for fun. Although he was a coach, her father gave her some unexpected career advice: “Don’t go into coaching. It doesn’t pay very much. The kids don’t care as much as you do. It’s going to be very difficult to have a family
and coach.” He was right, she now says, “but it drew me in, and I did it right after college.” She remembers Paul Glover, who is still the sports editor at the Batesville Daily Guard, asking her what she would do after her last college basketball game, “and I just felt numb. I was just in shock that it was my last basketball game, and I wasn’t ready for it to be over.”
Despite her success at Lyon—leading the Pipers in assists and being named All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference and all-district for two years—Stewart-Lange admits she really
“I think I came in pretty blind because I had never seen an NAIA game [as a coach],” StewartLange explained. She didn’t know how much the talent level might drop from NCAA Division I to the NAIA or the level of talent for Lyon’s program “since I came in so late. And I didn’t know the difference in talent in the No. 1 team in the country compared to anyone else. It was totally new.” But there were things that Stewart-Lange did find out very quickly, at least about her team. “There were a lot of good players in the program, and they really wanted to win,” Stewart-Lange stated. “I remember a couple of them coming in right after I got the job, wanting to know what they could do to help us win.” Stewart-Lange said that when she accepted the position with the
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AC’s women’s basketball coach Van Compton left for Mississippi State University when Stewart-Lange was a senior, but she kept her star player in the game, offering her a graduate assistantship. As Stewart-Lange began coaching, she found she “loved it, and I’ve been doing it ever since. But I really had big plans to go to law school and make a lot of money.”
didn’t know what to expect when she arrived as head coach in the fall of 2005. It was a difficult assignment at first.
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Scots, her hunger as a coach took over. She set her sights immediately on molding the returning players into what they are today. She remembers at that time someone told her she couldn’t win, which she saw as a challenge. She decided she had to do everything she could to prove that person wrong. “I’m proud that so many young ladies jumped on board and helped bring this vision to life,” she said. “I’m just so grateful. I think of each young lady that came, each young lady that helped create a winning culture and high expectations, and I’m just so grateful.”
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“As a coach, once you make a decision on taking a job, you’re excited about the direction you’re going,” she explained. “I had a great experience at a private school, and everybody was excited there. So it was a complete change in direction. But once we accepted the job we said, ‘Let’s go.’”
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The new Lyon coach didn’t have to change her style when she came to Lyon; she just had to adjust to the new level of play, which was a complicated role. “It sure was different,” Stewart-Lange said, explaining how she had to learn how to run the program at Lyon because the NAIA level and Lyon do it differently than at the Division I level. “You don’t set up practice time like at a Division I school. At other places you had a set schedule to get everything done. Here at Lyon it’s not the same because players aren’t always available at the same time as they would be at the DI level.” Stewart-Lange, who has a career record of 231-201 and a Lyon record of 218-134 in 11
seasons, said there were two keys in building a conference and national title contender with the Scots. “I guess I’d have to say it all goes back to recruiting,” she stated. “You use recruitment to raise your level of talent to try to grow your goals and talent level. “I also try to encourage our players to grow and progress and get them to a deeper level of commitment in the spring and summer because that is the time they grow the most as a player. The girls followed because they understood. They had a little success and liked it and understood the process of obtaining that success. “And you grow from one season to the next and they followed. That was critical. You may not have those break-through milestones, but you see progress as you go. We really focused on that,
Stewart-Lange said one of the major reasons for the success was team chemistry. “I’ve always felt that team chemistry was a key to building a successful program,” Stewart-Lange reasoned. “And you have to explain that to your team members. For some groups it comes easier than others. It’s a process of how they interact with each other. “But during the season, if we run into a team that has better chemistry than us, many times they’ll beat us because it translates on the court. And that chemistry goes all the way to graduation, and then you see players watching their teammates graduate and they hate to say ‘good bye.’ That’s what it’s all about. Their experience is much richer in those circumstances.” and it directly related to what they did and didn’t do.”
The Scots began seeing success for a number of reasons. Finishing 18-13 in 2007-08, 1713 in 2009-10, and 18-14 in 2010-11, the team appeared to be on the brink of a breakthrough.
Stewart-Lange wasn’t so elated about making the national tournament as she expected to be. “It was just, ‘All right, let’s go. Let’s get the next one,’” she said. When they were in the middle of the conference race, she knew they could make it. “I told the team I was so proud of them because of the effort they gave each and every night. But making the national tournament wasn’t going to be the gauge of whether we were ‘there’ yet.” This year, the Scots made it all the way up to No. 4 in the nation in the coaches’ poll and went
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She says she has coached the same way everywhere she has been, at Division I, junior college, and high school. “I think I have a good balance of everything. I want to be a great mom; that’s the most important thing to me. I want to be a strong leader for the young ladies that have committed to play for me. And I think balance helps me, and that’s really how I try to live my life. And I really do think the liberal arts—that philosophy—is a part of me, and so it’s a part of my coaching style.”
The Scots broke a pair of barriers in 201112: they finished 20-12 for the first time in the Stewart-Lange era and 9-7 in their final year in the TransSouth Athletic Conference; they also received an at-large bid to the national playoffs for the first time in the program’s history.
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to Oral Roberts University, an NCAA Division I school. Not only did they play well, they beat ORU by 19 points. “When you get to that point it was like icing on the cake,” said Stewart-Lange. Lyon’s 2012-13 season was another milestone for the program, as it set a record for the most wins in a season, finishing 28-5. The Scots also claimed their first conference regular season championship in the program’s history, posting a 17-1 record and claiming the co-championship with Columbia College in the first year as a member of the American Midwest Conference.
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“There are similarities between the TSAC and the AMC,” the Lyon coach said. “There are some really strong teams and, if you roll into a game and aren’t mentally tough, they can beat you. When we played in the TransSouth we were ‘down’ and it made it very difficult to build our way back up because that conference was so tough from top to bottom. We knew we were improving and had better talent. We were having strong games out of conference, but conference teams were so tough. We had climbed our way to the fifth spot and knocked on the door to fourth.”
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There were three or four years where StewartLange felt the team deserved a chance to make the playoffs, “but there were so many great teams. But our last year in the TransSouth, we finally made it into the national tournament.” After two straight years of national tournament play and record-breaking marks, the Scots made their third straight postseason appearance in 2013-14 with a 24-9 record and a 19-3 mark in the AMC. This was followed by a fourth trip
in 2014-15 with a 27-7 overall mark and a 21-3 record in the league, setting a record for conference wins. But Lyon pulled out all the stops in 2015-16. After having failed to win a first-round game at the national championship tournament in its four previous tries, Lyon reached the 30win plateau, finishing 30-4 on the season. The Scots set a record for most wins in conference play, finishing 22-2, and won their first outright conference championship. Lyon then won its opening round game for the first time, defeating Louisiana State University – Shreveport, 58-48. Lyon posted winning streaks of 20 and 8 games, defeated No. 1 Campbellsville University and not only defeated Freed-Hardeman (62-57 in OT) for the first time on the road, but also swept all three games of the season series with the Lady Lions, including a 63-57 victory to secure the AMC Postseason Tournament championship. In the last four years, Lyon has posted a 129-37 overall record, including 88-16 in conference play, and finished 58-9 at home. Five AllAmericans have been on the team, 17 allconference players, 30 academic all-conference performers, and 14 AMC Players of the Week. “I think we reached an entirely new level of play this past season,” Stewart-Lange said. “The Freed-Hardeman wins and getting so high in the rankings—reaching as high as No. 3 and finishing No. 4—and we did not have a drop off.”
Lyon suffered a tough loss against Williams Baptist College, its only home loss of the season and the end of the Scots’ 20-game winning streak, “but the girls sustained the strong play even after the loss. The loss definitely hurt us, but it didn’t deny us the conference championship. The girls turned it around and did the right things from that point on. And there were so many milestones.” She has been able to recruit many outstanding women, including her college roommate and teammate’s daughter, Elliot Taylor. “There are so many players,” she said, “and without players that commit to your program, you’re spinning your wheels. You can’t really achieve and grow. And we’ve had some really, really wonderful— obviously talented—young ladies who have committed to our program.”
“To be 22 years old and have a chance to come back to your alma mater is a great opportunity,” Stewart-Lange said. “I can’t say enough about the continuity she has brought to our staff. You work together year after year and you talk about how to make the team better and that goes a long way toward making this team strong.”
Together, Stewart-Lange and Church look to continue making the Scots a team that will be national contenders for years to come.
BE INSPIRED HOW DID YOUR INVOLVEMENT ON CAMPUS—WHETHER IN ATHLETICS, THE ARTS, OR GREEK LIFE—MAKE A LASTING IMPRESSION ON YOU? SHARE YOUR MEMORIES ON FACEBOOK.COM/LYON.
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Despite each season being a building process, combining new players with the returners, Stewart-Lange expects the same kind of success in 2016-17. A big part of the push and the success year after year has been the help of Lyon assistant Julie Church, ’04, who arrived on the scene in 2006-07. Church, who is a member of the Lyon Athletics Hall of Fame (Class of 2015), was a member of the Scots basketball and conference championship golf teams for four seasons and was an Honorable Mention All-American in golf, participating in three NAIA national tournaments.
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A College Drop Out, Technically
T H E LY O N C O L L E G E P I P E R
DR. MARK SCHRAM FINDS NEW MEANING IN PERSEVERANCE
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Born and raised in the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Mark Schram was never your average suburbanite. He did not revel in the chaos of urban living or the cosmopolitan bustle of downtown; he reveled in the quiet outdoors, far away from inner-city soundscapes and the sprawling metropolis he called home. While it was this love of the outdoors that would eventually lead to days spent knee-deep in streams studying zooplankton and weeks snorkeling in the Bahamas, Schram took his first steps into adulthood with a great uncertainty that would lead
him down an unexpected and shortlived path. “Technically I’m a college drop out,” said Schram. “University of Illinois, School of Engineering, 1972. Lasted six weeks.” Uncertain of his future, Schram put his studies on hold to begin a brief career as a machinist, a full-time job
It was not until he started work as a tour guide with Michigan Technological University, backpacking with youth groups in the Isle Royale, that the beginnings of his future in biology began
to stir. These beginnings would continue to stir, lingering in the back of his mind, until a trip to the Shawnee National Forest in Carbondale quickly transformed his future into a reality. “That’s where I had my solidifying experience with the outdoors,” said Schram. “Shawnee National Forest. I got a bite of that, and that was it. I never went back.” Schram
graduated
from
Southern
Illinois
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until his eventual return to college in 1973. Upon his return, however, he was no more certain of what path he wished to take; he began shuffling his way through an assortment of majors, from nursing to psychology to x-ray technology, with no clear direction in sight.
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University in Carbondale with a B.S. in zoology and a concentration in fisheries. From there, he made his way to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in aquatic invertebrate biology. “I study organisms that fall in a feeding level between algae and fish,” said Schram. “They’re basically fish food. I get to go out and play in the woods all the time, study them in lakes and reservoirs and streams and creeks. There are a lot of really interesting questions that make me happy trying to resolve. I can look at something and say, ‘Wow, how does that work?’ And then I can come up with some kind of method of testing how it works, and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t work. Trial and error and research. I like that. I like what I’ve done relative to the group of organisms that I work with. I like the questions, and I like sharing that work.”
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With a doctorate in his back pocket, Schram began his professional career in 1987 as a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Arkansas. He then moved to Murray State University in Kentucky in 1988 to continue his postdoctoral research in the university’s Center for Reservoir Research.
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It wasn’t until 1991, after he had burned through 60 or more job applications, that Schram joined the Lyon College faculty as Assistant Professor of Biology. “It was one of those colleges on my list,” said Schram. “Small, small town, small community. It was a kind of comfort zone that afforded me more options to teach. I knew that in a smaller
college I could adapt.” It would not take long for Lyon to learn that Schram was not a typical professor—he was a man who danced to the beat of his own drum. “I’ll use any method that’s available to me to press a point,” said Schram. “I can go from an extremely stern, formalized lecture to kidding around to a really relaxed question-and-answer session. My approaches are different in all of my classes. Sometimes my approaches are different day-to-day. It depends on what I need to shake up the students, to wake them up. My advising is uniquely different too, but it seems to work for me. School of hard knocks is real, and it’s not
This trust has become abundantly clear as the years have passed, with students showering Schram with personal and professional accolades. In 1995, the sisters of Alpha Xi Delta named him Man of the Year; in that same year, the members of Alpha Chi named him Teacher of the Year; and in 2005 and 2009, the sisters of Phi Mu named him Professor of the Month. “Those were so meaningful for me because they came from the students,” said Schram. “I’m very grateful. I’m very humbled. I mean, you’ve got a bunch of incredible faculty here, and I’m not anywhere near some of my colleagues. Those really mean a lot to me.” No students are more proud of their professor than Schram’s students are of him—and arguably no professor has been more proud of his students.
necessarily a bad thing. I’m very honest with the students, whether it’s good or not so good.”
“There is no other thing more important,” said Schram. “Remember that education goes both ways. I would say that in many cases, I’ve learned just as much from my students as I hope they’ve learned from me. Because everyone is different; they make up part of a family, and my family is my class.”
It is not just the students who respect Schram, but faculty, staff, and the community alike. In 1998, Lyon granted him academic tenure and named him Associate Professor of Biology; in 2004, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education named him Arkansas Professor of the Year; and in 2014, Lyon trustees,
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Just as important as maintaining an honest relationship with his students is gaining their trust. For Schram, the trust his students have in him is more important than any other factor of his teaching career.
“I get a smile on my face when I think of what the students have accomplished,” said Schram. “It’s incredible. You should see the track record. If you take a look at the accomplishments of all the students, it’s remarkable. And that suggests that maybe I did something right. There’s a big smile there. I mean, that’s why I’m in the business. Just for that. Because I can see what the students are doing when they leave here.”
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faculty, staff, and students awarded him the Williamson Prize for Teaching Excellence. He has served on and chaired numerous committees at Lyon, including the Division of Math and Science for six years and the Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee for eight years, and he has been an active member of the community, serving as a youth basketball and soccer coach, a youth baseball assistant coach, and a science fair judge at Southside, Batesville, and Cave City schools. Despite these accomplishments, Schram has remained humble in the face of his success, crediting many of his triumphs to timing and luck.
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“The timing was right,” said Schram. “I was chair of the division. I had papers being published. We were revamping the pre-med program. We had bunches of money from grants. I mean, yeah, I worked hard, but I also got lucky. I’ve worked with some incredible people. Tell you what, you’re a fool not to listen to an older, experienced person. You can learn more from them than you can from anything. I have.”
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But luck was not on Schram’s side in November 2015 when he was suddenly and unexpectedly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The tumor in his pancreas, which doctors in Little Rock deemed inoperable due to its position around the celiac artery, presented a grim prognosis— grim, that was, until a dim little light in the form of an experimental surgery in Tampa, Florida, appeared.
“It was a new surgery called electroporation,” said Schram. “I was a trial patient. Essentially, the surgeon put electrodes around the tumor and passed high voltage, low amperage electricity through it, causing the pores in the cells to enlarge 20 times their normal size, at which time the cell can no longer control its metabolism and dies. They essentially electrocuted the tumor.” Schram is currently undergoing chemotherapy
and will start radiation when his current treatment is complete. He will return to Lyon next semester with a modified schedule. “When I come back, it’s going to be a little different,” said Schram. “We don’t really know what it’s going to be, but it’s moving towards a lighter load. Something less scheduled. But I’m feeling pretty good. Everything is going in the right direction.”
This year will mark Schram’s silver anniversary at Lyon College—25 years of a legacy that faculty, staff, and students will embrace. For Schram, it will be 25 years of a professional career enriched by his students and their successes; for him, as the old cliché goes, it really is all about the students. “I think that’s what I reflect on the most,” said Schram. “It’s all about the successes of the students. Those who just try do just fine. They really do. Maybe they’re going to stub their toes for a year, do something stupid, but it’s remarkable when you look at those students who have graduated from Lyon and the incredible things they are doing. Our students never give up. I think we instill that in them. They analyze, change, and reapply. It’s all about them, and anybody who thinks it’s about anything other than about them needs to take a good look at themselves and say, ‘Hey, what am I doing?’ Because it’s worked for me for 25 years. I’m not saying it’s perfect. I’m not even saying it’s right. But it sure has worked for me.” SHARE YOUR STORY IN WHAT WAYS HAVE MARK SCHRAM AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE LYON COMMUNITY AFFECTED YOUR EDUCATION AND LIFE? SHARE YOUR STORY WITH US ON FACEBOOK, OR EMAIL US AT MARKETING@LYON.EDU. T H E LY O N C O L L E G E P I P E R
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On Saturday, May 7, 2016, Lyon conferred 132 degrees on 112 graduates of the Class of 2016. The following students received awards at commencement: Lauren Gunderman, The Alma Cole Metcalf Endowed Scholarship Award; Billy Kittrell, The John T. and Diana March Dahlquist Scholar Athlete Award; Colby Whitlow, The Dr. Margaret Pruden Lester Fellowship; Laura Winters, The Daniel Seibert Fellowship; Jean Mugiraneza, The Dr. Samuel W. Williams Fellowship; Cara Tomlinson, The Dr. Ellis G. and Mary Newton Mosley Fellowship; Katheryn Clemmons, The Dr. and Mrs. John D. Spragins Award; and Robbi Riggs, The Charles H. Coffin Scholarship Medal.
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New Vice President on Campus
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Ann Turney joined the College as Vice President for Institutional Advancement on June 13. She was previously Director for Leadership Gifts at Hendrix College in Conway.
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A Hendrix graduate and 22-year staff member there, Turney was the first woman on the Hendrix President’s Leadership Team. During her 31 years as an advancement professional, she has worked in major gifts, annual fund, communications, campaigns, and events. She has also written successful grant proposals and conducted strong annual giving programs. In addition to her liberal arts college experience, Turney served for nine years as Senior Director
of Development for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy in Little Rock. Turney describes her new position as having tremendous potential. “I am excited about being given this opportunity to engage our constituents in the process of making a difference in the lives of our students,” she said. Her career for the past 31 years has focused on advancing higher education. “My goal is to build on Lyon’s foundation and to apply my experience and knowledge in helping the College grow and flourish,” she added. “Lyon has an impressive leadership team, bright and engaged students, a capable and highly energetic advancement staff, as well as faculty and administrators who all work together to carry out the mission of the College,” she said.
GIVE TO LYON IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP ADVANCE THE COLLEGE, CONTACT ANN AT ANN.TURNEY@LYON.EDU.
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Lyon College Career EXPLO Who is best at modeling success in life after Lyon? Our alumni, of course! The Career Center will host the Career EXPLO, a new networking event, in the Temp on homecoming weekend. Alumni and other professionals will share information regarding their career paths with current students.
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“Career EXPLO is a play on the words ‘expo’ and ‘explore,’” explained Annette Castleberry, Director of Career Development. “Often, knowing what career options they have is a hurdle for college students because there are just so many. So for this reason, we want our students to begin exploring career paths early and often.
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That’s where the EXPLO will be so beneficial.” In addition to career exploration, the EXPLO will allow students to hone their networking skills. As any professional knows, these skills are essential for all job seekers. Networking with seasoned professionals from Lyon’s alumni will give students an edge as they apply for jobs and graduate or professional programs. The Career Center hopes alumni will take the time to reconnect with college friends and colleagues by engaging in this exciting new event for the Lyon community. Participating alumni will each staff a table at the event to provide students with information regarding their career
path, communicate trends in their particular field, give advice to students interested in pursuing the same or a similar line of work, and share their experiences and expertise.
The Career Center has set a goal of registering 50 alumni and other professionals for the EXPLO by October 15. Approximately 250 students are expected to participate in the event, which will take place Friday, October 21, from 3 to 5 p.m. HOW YOU CAN HELP IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HELPING WITH THIS EVENT, REGISTER WITH DEBRA DICKEY AT 870.307.7314 OR
Booy, who currently works as a trader at
DEBRA.DICKEY@LYON.EDU.
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EXPLO registrant and 1999 alumnus Stefan Booy commented, “With so many alternatives in today’s marketplace, it can be overwhelming to see clearly through all the career opportunities available to a Lyon graduate. Having gained experiences in several professional fields, I look forward to connecting with and being a sounding board to current students and [helping] them discover their own potential path.”
Westrock Asset Management, was a religion and philosophy major with a Spanish minor at Lyon. He went on to earn an M.A. at John Brown University and an M.B.A. at Rotterdam School of Management.
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AUGUST 25 27 27 30
8 p.m. 1 p.m. 2 p.m. 7 p.m.
Football vs. Wayland Baptist University Volleyball vs. Philander-Smith Men’s Soccer vs. Martin Methodist Volleyball vs. Harding University
SEPTEMBER
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FALL 2016 HOME GAMES
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Game dates and times are subject to change. View a full schedule at
www.lyonscots.com
1 3 3 10 16 16 17 24 24 27
4 p.m. 2 p.m. 4 p.m. 2 p.m. 3 p.m. 7 p.m. 6 p.m. 1 p.m. 3 p.m. 6 p.m.
Men’s Soccer vs. University of the Ozarks Women’s Soccer vs. Oklahoma City U. Men’s Soccer vs. Oklahoma City U. Football vs. Hendrix College Volleyball vs. Stephens College Volleyball vs. Missouri Southern State Football vs. Morthland College Women’s Soccer vs. Lindenwood-Belleview Men’s Soccer vs. Lindenwood-Belleview Volleyball vs. College of the Ozarks
OCTOBER 1 1 1 1 7 7 8 8 9 18 18 18 22 22 22 29 29 29 29
10 a.m. 12:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 8 p.m. 12 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 12:30 p.m. 3 p.m. 6 p.m. 11 a.m. 1:30 p.m. 6 p.m. 11 a.m. 12:30 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.
Women’s Soccer vs. William Woods Men’s Soccer vs. William Woods Women’s Wrestling vs. Emmanuel College Football vs. Southwest Assemblies of God Volleyball vs. Crowley’s Ridge College Volleyball vs. Hannibal-LaGrange University Women’s Soccer vs. Stephens College Football vs. Texas College Volleyball vs. Columbia College Women’s Soccer vs. Harris-Stowe Men’s Soccer vs. Harris-Stowe Volleyball vs. Henderson Women’s Soccer vs. Missouri Baptist Men’s Soccer vs. Missouri Baptist Homecoming: Football vs. Arizona Christian Volleyball vs. Williams Baptist College Women’s Soccer vs. Columbia College Men’s Soccer vs. Columbia College Volleyball vs. Ouachita Baptist
GAME LOCATIONS Basketball: Becknell Gymnasium Football: Pioneer Stadium, Batesville High School Soccer: Huser Soccer Field Volleyball: Becknell Gymnasium Wrestling: Becknell Gymnasium
NOVEMBER 5:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 1 p.m. 12 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 2 p.m. 4 p.m. 7 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 7 p.m.
Women’s Basketball vs. College of the Ozarks Men’s Basketball vs. College of the Ozarks Volleyball vs. St. Louis College of Pharmacy Volleyball vs. Lindenwood-Belleview Men’s & Women’s Wrestling Duals Women’s Basketball vs. William Woods University Men’s Basketball vs. William Woods University Women’s Basketball vs. Columbia College Men’s Basketball vs. Columbia College Men’s Basketball vs. Bacone College Women’s Basketball vs. Philander Smith College Men’s Basketball vs. Baptist Bible College
DECEMBER 12 20 29 29 31 31
6 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 2 p.m. 4 p.m.
Men’s Wrestling vs. Central Baptist College Men’s Basketball vs. Crowley’s Ridge College Women’s Basketball vs. Freed-Hardeman University Men’s Basketball vs. Freed-Hardeman University Women’s Basketball vs. Williams Baptist College Men’s Basketball vs. Williams Baptist College
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1 1 4 5 16 17 17 19 19 22 29 29
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Nichols International Studies Over the past couple of decades, the Nichols International Studies program has expanded the horizons of dozens of Lyon students through two-week immersion in foreign environments. Established in 1988 when trustee Shuford Nichols donated $1 million for the foundation of a foreign exchange program, the Nichols program has expanded considerably. The first Nichols trips were taken in 1991 to London and France; in more recent times, the Nichols program has been sending students to many other countries, with positive results.
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The one-time Nichols stipend pays 65 percent of the cost of a trip, with the students paying the
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other 35 percent as well as being responsible for meals and personal expenses. To qualify for a Nichols stipend, students must have earned 60 credit hours, have a GPA of at least 2.5, and be in good academic and financial standing. A student can choose to travel with a particular group without meeting these requirements but must then pay the full cost. Each overseas trip is considered a course in itself and is worth 1 credit. The trips are chaperoned by one or two professors who arrange the trip two years in advance. This year’s trips included visits to France, New Zealand, China, Germany, and England. Dr. James Martell, Assistant Professor of Romance Languages, and Dr. Brian Hunt, Assistant Professor of French, led the Nichols trip to France in May 2016. The visiting group went to Marseille and Paris. “In the classroom, you don’t get the ‘touch,’” said Hunt. “We live in a world where some people think they can experience life through a screen. . . . There’s a lot of benefit to that, but there’s still a lack of touch.”
According to Martell, “It wasn’t only the opportunity to, in this real-world context, see the museums and monuments that they had only known before in the classroom. It was also and especially the opportunity to interact with different kinds of people and in very different kinds of contexts, from daily life at stores and restaurants, up to seeing a protest and talking with some French citizens.”
Leading with Robbins was Dr. Edward Tenace, Associate Professor of History. “The countryside was absolutely stunning,” he said. “We went to the site where Wuthering Heights is supposedly
Dr. Scott Roulier, who led the trip to New Zealand, took a slightly different approach. After hiking through the breathtaking landscape, which is a major attraction of New Zealand, the group interacted with Māori, the indigenous people of the country. Part of the educational value of the trip was understanding how New Zealanders and Māori have adapted to one another—although bungee-jumping at Queenstown, which many consider the outdoor capitol of the world, could also be considered enlightening in some circles. Experiencing daily life in other countries is vital to a fully-rounded education. Small, everyday differences are often more astonishing than more obvious ones, turning seemingly simple activities into a learning experience. Anne Kootz, Administrative Assistant for the Nichols program, helped David Sonnier, Associate Professor of Computer Science, lead a group of students to China. According to Kootz, her group accidentally ordered pickled chicken feet instead of mushrooms. “We were ordering based on the
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Each professor asks the students to research the country before they depart. Dr. Helen Robbins, Associate Professor of English, holds five to six class sessions before the trip, gives her students multiple travel-informative handouts, and assigns them a travel journal to be turned in upon arrival back in America. One student, Keely Wooten, wrote about England, “the coastal hike was amazing. The stairs [along the coast] were brutal . . . but the views were the most beautiful I had ever seen.”
based, and you can actually see the foundations of the manor.”
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In Marseille, the oldest city in France, the students were given the opportunity to see a side of the country that many tourists never see. “It was their favorite place in the world; they never wanted to leave. But of course that changed when they went to Paris,” said Hunt. There, the students spent copious stretches of time in museums and witnessed nuit debout—a form of legal protest in which French citizens occupy the Place de la République. The students experienced daily French life as well.
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pictures. . . . It was actually quite edible.” The group had student visas and thus stayed at Hunan University for Arts and Sciences. They took classes in Mandarin as well as additional classes taught in English. Historically, Lyon professors have avoided going to countries requiring a visa because of possible complications. This year that changed—which, according to Sonnier, was more than worth it. Sonnier, who taught computer science in China for a semester, said that even after getting visas, the trip to China still proved to be significantly cheaper than the expected cost for a European trip. “I asked the students to bring at least $150, and they ended up spending maybe half of that.” The students saw the Summer Palace in Beijing and the Forbidden City (the Chinese imperial palace from 1420 to 1912), as well as several sightseeing destinations near the campus of Hunan University of Arts and Science. The group also saw—and climbed—the Great Wall of China.
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While most education is experienced in a classroom or book, traveling the world can also be fulfilling and effective. To quote St. Augustine, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.”
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SHARE YOUR MEMORIES WHERE DID YOU GO ON YOUR NICHOLS TRIP? SHARE YOUR ADVENTURE WITH US ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, OR SEND US AN EMAIL AT MARKETING@LYON.EDU.
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The Celtic Studies Minor
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S C OT T I S H H E R I TA G E P R O G R A M TO O F F E R N E W M I N O R T H I S FA L L
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The Scottish Heritage Program is one of Lyon College’s defining symbols. The sound of bagpipes echoes through the campus as the award-winning Lyon College Pipe Band rehearses “Scotland the Brave,” and through the Ozarks as the Arkansas Scottish Festival bursts into life. Lyon has long celebrated and preserved the Scottish arts and traditions, so it is only fitting that this fall it will introduce the Celtic Studies minor to its curriculum.
The Celtic Studies minor, which has been in development since 2013, will highlight the expertise of Lyon’s history faculty and give students a broad range of courses from which to choose. “It should add a new and exciting energy to an already vibrant community,” said Instructional Technology and Prospect Research Associate Kenton Adler. “Once the new program starts
to catch on, this place is going to be really humming.” Adler, who also serves as a piper in the Lyon College Pipe Band, added that the new minor has the potential not only to bring students to Lyon who might otherwise have gone elsewhere, but also to appeal to existing students who have an interest in Celtic history and culture. Moreover, it will allow students to acquire a greater understanding of Lyon’s Scottish heritage.
Scottish clubs and societies, Irish film, the British Empire, and introductions to Scottish, Irish, and British history. The program will also offer opportunities for students to engage in courses covering Celtic mythology, music, film, literature, religion, and art.
DISCOVER SCOTTISH HERITAGE LEARN
MORE
ABOUT
LYON’S
SCOTTISH
HERITAGE
PROGRAM AT LYON.EDU/SCOTTISHHERITAGE.
“Better understanding leads to greater appreciation,” said Adler. “That greater appreciation will lead to even stronger ties between Scottish Heritage and the rest of the Lyon community.” Lyon will be one of only a handful of colleges and universities in the United States to offer courses in Celtic studies, and the only college in the south-central region. Unlike existing programs, which focus on language and literature, Lyon’s minor will emphasize history.
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“It is an important development,” said Wallace. “Certainly, it emphasizes the Scottish connections . . . and draws attention to Lyon’s Scottish heritage. Additionally, there are not many Celtic Studies programs in the United States, so this is unique, especially for a small liberal arts college.” Courses will include the Scottish Enlightenment,
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To oversee the minor is Associate Professor of History Dr. Mark Wallace. Wallace, who joined the Lyon faculty in 2015, is excited to build upon the foundation of Lyon’s existing Scottish heritage.
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Lyon’s Scholar Athletes
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1 2 AT H L E T E S E A R N 4 . 0 G PA AT E N D O F S E M E S T E R , 1 2 5 E A R N 3 . 0
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Many students at Lyon are able to attend college because of sports scholarships. It is particularly difficult, as many know, to balance academics and the demanding schedule typically required of athletes. Despite this, some students go above and beyond in their performance in the classroom, as well as athletically, inspiring others with their motivation and perseverance. This year, twelve Lyon athletes ended the year with 4.0’s, and 125 others made the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, which requires a GPA of
3.0 or higher. The Scots baseball team led the way with 23 players named to the honor roll. Football was next, with 19, and then volleyball (12), women’s basketball (11), women’s soccer (11), men’s soccer (11), softball (8), men’s basketball (6), men’s wrestling (5), men’s golf (5), women’s wrestling (2), and women’s golf (1). “Lyon is blessed to have great student athletes,” said Athletic Director Kevin Jenkins. “Our athletes are talented on the court, mat, and field, but they also excel in the classroom. It takes a
Several Lyon athletes were also recognized by national organizations. In baseball, Billy Kittrell and Jordan Braswell were two of 353 in the country to receive an award from the NAIA. To be nominated, students must maintain a 3.5 GPA on a scale of 4.0 and have achieved junior academic status. Braswell also received CoSIDA All-America second team honors. This award requires that students maintain a 3.3 GPA, participate in 50 percent of the team’s games at the position listed on the nomination form, and be voted on by members across the nation. “I’m very proud of Jordan for winning that award,” Head Baseball Coach Tony Roepcke said. “He’s a very humble young man, and a 4.0 at Lyon College after three years is impressive.”
Six Lyon Scot golfers earned Academic All-
Bartley went on to be named an NAIA Daktronics Scholar-Athlete. She was one of 160 women named nationally. Students must be nominated by an institution’s head coach or sports information director, have at least a 3.5 GPA, and have achieved junior status. As Lyon athletes continue to earn a broad spectrum of national honors and awards, they not only encourage each other to reach higher—they also inspire their fellow students and community members.
FOLLOW THE SCOTS TO KEEP UP WITH LYON SCOTS NEWS AND SCHEDULES, VISIT LYONSCOTS.COM.
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Two softball players, infielder Stephanie Haft and catcher Yumiko Hiroto, earned the CoSIDA All-America award as well. Haft received first team honors, and Hiroto received second team honors. The two women received this award after having already been named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Softball Teams, for which students need at least a 3.3 GPA and must have participated in at least 50 percent of their team’s games at the position listed on the nomination form.
AMC this past spring. To earn this honor, students must have a 3.0 GPA and have been All-AMC selections in the spring. Honorees included Katherine Bartley, Joshua Burcham, Royce Lobianco, Peter Mamula, Jarrod Smiatek, and Nathan Wilson.
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tremendous amount of hard work and dedication to perform at a high level both in their chosen sport and in the classroom. We are very proud of the accomplishments of our student athletes.”
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Doc Freeman Remembers
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Jasper “Doc” Freeman grew up in Nelsonville, Arkansas, and attended school at Poughkeepsie. A basketball standout in high school, he was awarded a full scholarship to then-Arkansas College, where he was a four-year letterman for the Highlanders, as the team was then called, graduating in 1955. He was named to the Lyon College Hall of Fame in 2009. After completing his degree, he taught and coached at Poughkeepsie and earned a master’s degree from Arkansas State University. From 1957-59, he served in the U.S. Army Supply Engineers in Heidelberg, Germany.
For 32 years, he worked for the Game and Fish Commission and became Supervisor of Wildlife Officers, in charge of the northeast quarter of the state. He also led the Game and Fish Commission training school for four years. Freeman has also worked closely with the North Arkansas Electric Cooperative, serving on its Board of Directors from 1967 to 2009, as well as serving on the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation board from 1975 to 2009 and chairing it from 1982 to 1984. Freeman still lives on his family farm near Poughkeepsie and is a frequent visitor to campus.
The Return of a Scot BY JASPER "DOC" FREEMAN, '55
Some 64 years after I was lucky enough to be awarded a full athletic scholarship to Arkansas (now Lyon) College, I decided to attend a basketball game for the first time in many years. I had met the activities director at the College some time earlier. We talked about various things, and he arranged for me to get a pass to the Lyon basketball games. It seemed as if I couldn’t find the right time to travel the 30 miles from Poughkeepsie to see a game, but I finally decided to go and see if I could meet up with anyone I knew. I walked in just as the girls hit the floor to warm up for their game. Looking around for a place to sit, I noticed a section of chairs that had backs. I could also see a sign at the top of the bleachers that read “Reserved.” I couldn’t understand why I wouldn’t be allowed to sit in one of the chairs with a back, so I decided to take a seat. If challenged, I would say, “I’m sorry,” and move on.
one of the important phases of my life. Staring down at the coach and the team sitting just in front of me, my thoughts took me back 64 years to when I played basketball at Arkansas College. That wasn’t the first phase of my life, but it was one that I will always remember. As I was realizing that a phase of my life had ended, never to return, with only the memories left to cherish, the buzzer sounded, and the game was under way. After my four years at Arkansas College passed, I started coaching at my hometown school in Poughkeepsie. It was the smallest school district in Sharp County. At one time we had only eight players, so we couldn’t even practice five on five! I coached there about two years, and then I served in the army two years—another phase of my life.
The game was about to begin when I remembered
The game was moving swiftly, as were my
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This happened to be a great place to sit. I was just behind the coach and the substitute players. I could hear the instructions from the coach to the team and see how attentive the girls were to their coach and the coach to the girls. It reminded me of my coaching days at Poughkeepsie.
When it was half-time of the girls’ basketball game, I made my way to the concession stand for a little refreshment. When I returned, my seat was still unoccupied, so I assumed everyone thought I had paid for the seat, or perhaps they thought I was just a rude person who had come in and taken it. As the second half of the game began, I couldn’t imagine where all the years had gone since I had been a college student and made such fond memories.
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thoughts of all those happenings of the past. Soon the game was over, and the boys were on the floor for their game. My thoughts about the past didn’t go away. I remembered my fellow players on the team of 1952, only three of whom are still living, as far as I know. I thought how fortunate I was to be able to be there to enjoy that game: the coach pacing back and forth in front of his players, as if he were in deep thought, planning a strategy for how to best use each player to the maximum of his ability and to win the game.
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I was deep in thoughts of yesteryear, completely unaware of my surroundings. The boys were giving all they had to score more points by getting open, playing with each other, and doing exactly what the coach told them to do. Soon the buzzer sounded for half time, and I needed to stretch my legs just a bit to keep the circulation going. All those years ago, I never noticed any difficulty running and jumping for two hours of practice each day. As a matter of fact, I really enjoyed it—and didn’t have any pain. The game resumed, and it seemed only a short time until it was over.
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On my way home, I found myself still thinking about the game and how glad I was that I had gone. I thought about all the improvements that had been made at the College and how friendly the few people were who knew me. Thinking of the many phases of my life, I believe the four years I spent at Arkansas College were the most memorable of all. I know my parents were proud of their son when they came to watch me play basketball. At the time it seemed like more than four years. Now, as I come back 64 years later to watch the ball games, I find myself drifting back in time and thinking about all the aspects of Lyon College and its growth and accomplishments. As a recipient of a scholarship myself, I know how appreciative and thankful I was to receive that recognition and obtain the education, friendships, and memories that I would not have otherwise experienced. As proud as I am of my experiences and association with Lyon College over the years, I likewise take pride in giving to such a worthy institution and continue to participate in donating to scholarship funds and other causes which will assist those students who are currently enrolled and those who will be enrolled in the future. May Lyon College continue to grow and develop and maintain its status as one of the top-ranked educational institutions in the United States!
SHARE YOUR MEMORIES DO YOU HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF YOUR TIME AT LYON? SHARE YOUR STORY WITH US ON FACEBOOK.
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Keeping Up With the Joneses L E T I C I A & DAV I D J O N E S
Here
at
Ly o n
we
like
to
keep
up with our alumni, and David a n d Le t i c i a Jo n e s a re t wo a l u m s
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who have done us proud! He is
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a partner at the Wright, Lindsey &
Jennings
law
firm
in
Little
When Leticia Wright and David Jones met on the Lyon campus back in 1997, she thought he might be putting her on a little bit. After all, what were the chances that both of them could be the children of preachers and have nine brothers and sisters? But it was true—and they shared another similarity: both had decided very young on the careers they wanted to follow, medicine and law.
Rock, focusing on business law and
litigation, while
she
is
an
obstetrician and gynecologist at Gen es is Wo m en’s C l in ic, al s o in Little Rock.
Leticia acknowledges, however, that as a youth she had also considered a myriad of different options, including being an astronaut, an archaeologist, and before becoming more attuned to the inherent headaches, even president of the United States. “And then as I
got older, medicine took their place and the other interests faded. For instance, I’m not that good with heights, so the astronaut thing kind of fell away. And archeology—they don’t really fix things; they just find things. That bothered me, too. . . . Nothing was quite as fascinating to me as learning why something inside the body is wrong and being able to fix it,” she recalled. And for a short while David, a three-sport athlete, fantasized about a career in professional sports. “I’d known since the third grade that I wanted to be an attorney. . . . I was on the jungle gym, and I can remember the guys talking about what they wanted to be when they grew up. And I’m hanging upside-down listening, and they’re talking about how they want to be firemen, policemen, the normal things that third graders say. And I just said from nowhere, ‘I want to be an attorney.’ And that desire to be an attorney never left.” He was sidetracked for awhile, however, “by the fact that I was a pretty decent athlete and thought I had some potential there, and I thought I wanted to play that out and see what happened,” he remembered. But when he was sidelined with an injury his senior year in high school, he said, “I was fortunate to have my academic record” to help get the scholarships he needed to prepare for a law career.
Although David is a first generation college student, his father was the pastor of a nondenominational church, and his parents supported his decision to go to Lyon. While an older sister had started college two years before he matriculated, he became an example to his six younger brothers, five of whom attended college. When he worried about the time it would take to achieve his goal, he credits his family for encouraging him to follow his dream: “I remember having a conversation with my dad,
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Despite their similarities, David and Leticia have very different backgrounds. He was born and raised in Bradley, Arkansas, down in the southwest corner of the state. The town of only about 560 people was in some ways more a part of Louisiana than Arkansas, with the available television stations, for instance, located in Shreveport.
Besides being small, Bradley is isolated from industry, with relatively little economic opportunity. Most jobs are in Texarkana or other Arkansas and Louisiana cities. David says that as far as he knows, he is only the second Bradley resident in recent history to become an attorney.
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and him saying, ‘If that’s what you want to do, do it, because you will learn as you get older that time flies, and eight years is not going to be a long time at all.’ And I can remember my greatgrandmother being really supportive in that same way.”
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Leticia, on the other hand, grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, a city of more than 800,000 that is the second largest banking center in the United States and home to nine Fortune 500 companies, three professional sports teams, and 75 percent of NASCAR race teams. Its airport is a major international hub. Her father, however, grew up in south Arkansas, and when his mother developed health problems, the family moved to Pine Bluff. Leticia was in 10th grade when she transferred to Dollarway High School on the western edge of Pine Bluff.
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Leticia experienced some culture shock at the smaller, less diverse school. Some of her band mates had no idea what her oboe was, for instance. Both of her parents had completed college, and they pushed her to participate in school activities and make the grades that would prepare her for college. They learned about Lyon in different ways. Leticia’s National Honor Society chapter hosted College Days each year. The recruiter she was assigned to help one year wasn’t very communicative, but the recruiter at the next booth spoke right up—had she heard about Lyon College? He gave her a brochure and other information and was so persuasive that she decided to visit. She talked with the pre-med advisor, who told her about the medical school acceptance rate of Lyon students. Leticia visited other schools but kept comparing them to Lyon, “and that’s when I figured out that’s where I wanted to go,” she said. David’s high school counselor, “for whatever reason, had me watch a video of a college where there were guys walking around in kilts, at which point I said to myself, ‘I’ve got to go up there and see these guys in skirts.’” He visited campus, where he was impressed with the people he met, especially President John Griffith. “Even though this guy was the president of a college, he took the time to have a pretty significant conversation with someone who just happened to be up for the weekend to visit. So, I ultimately went back and thought about it and decided that Lyon was the place for me.” It helped that Lyon had close to a 100 percent acceptance rate for law school, he said. “I didn’t think I’d be that one guy who wouldn’t get in.”
Both say they had wonderful experiences at Lyon. They made many friends and got involved in campus activities. Leticia recalled that Lyon “was big enough that you could get in trouble if you really wanted to—but could also just have a lot of fun—and then small enough that everybody knew you, and there was a kind of accountability with that. . . . It was just a good experience.” She was active in Alpha Xi Delta, the Student Government Association, the Student Activities Council, and the Black Students Association, as well as serving as a resident assistant for a year.
They had to adjust to Lyon’s high academic standards. Leticia notes that the science classes at her high school were “not great.” She had to “step up some on science” to get the grades she wanted. David said that his high school was “easy,” requiring little effort on his part to make good grades. At Lyon, “It took me a while to get my sea legs, but then I did fine,” he remembered. They stressed the importance of their relationship with professors, who demonstrated “that willingness to help you conquer a subject” and were “really invested in seeing you succeed,” Leticia said. David agreed, and mentioned in
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David remembered, “For me, it was great because in a certain way it made me look at myself differently. I came out of high school thinking, ‘I’m an athlete,’ and then all of a sudden I was stripped of that, so what was my identity? One of the things I had going into Lyon was a leadership scholarship. I remembered looking at that and thinking, ‘Man, I’ve really got it over on these guys,’ because I didn’t really think of the
stuff that I’d done in high school as leadership activities. So it was interesting for me to get to campus and all of a sudden I’m on SGA. All of a sudden I’m an ambassador. All of a sudden I’m a trustee advisor. All of a sudden I’m senior class president. Going into Lyon, I never thought that was something I would be doing.”
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particular his advisor, Don Weatherman, now Lyon’s president: “You talk about a guy who made it clear that he wanted you to be successful—I can remember skipping class once to go play basketball, and he came walking by and lectured me about the importance of being in class.”
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Both mentioned the diversity of ideas they were exposed to at Lyon. Her family imbued Leticia with strong Christian values, but hearing different viewpoints from people with different experiences and beliefs let her think about things in new ways while still seeing the strength and value of her family’s teachings. Having diverse friends and seeing how they looked at questions opened both of them up to new ideas. David said, “I enjoyed getting to know the other people around me and having a group of friends that were—in terms of geography and where they’d come from—diverse. Their ideas and thoughts and the way they perceived and looked at questions— I enjoyed that immensely.” And their friends learned from them too: David recalled learning that some of his friends had never even seen a black person before attending Lyon. Those same guys remain good friends to this day.
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Both David and Leticia admit that it wasn’t always easy. David said he also felt like the “odd man out” at times. “There were times when you could feel isolated, feel like you were the only one like you, and there would be cultural differences that helped you to feel isolated. It was just fighting your way through those [to remember] this is a really, really good school, and there are a lot of people who want you here and want to see you succeed, professors who not only wanted you to
succeed but made it clear that they wanted you to succeed.” David is especially grateful to Dr. Weatherman. During his senior year, when the time came for taking the LSAT and applying to law school, he didn’t have the money for the required fees, despite working several part-time jobs. Weatherman announced he needed a “research assistant” and hired David, allowing him to earn the money he needed to move ahead with the next step in his education. “And I bet he doesn’t even remember. For him, it’s probably not even a blip on his screen, because he probably did it for other people too. But for me it was huge.”
starting medical school. That gave David time to complete his law degree and find a job. They also had a third child, another daughter. “We’ve never done it the easy way,” David commented. When he was approached about becoming a Lyon trustee, he said it was “an easy decision.” He wanted to give back to the college that had, he said, played an enormous role “in who I am and what I am.” He was elected to serve as an alumni trustee in 2008 and has since become a synod trustee. When asked what he sees ahead for Lyon, he named three challenges: maintaining the positive momentum that has characterized the last several years, continuing to focus on upholding Lyon’s core mission and identity, and doing a better job of “selling” that vision to a more diverse group of potential students.
After she graduated, she took a year off before
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T H E LY O N C O L L E G E P I P E R
They married after her sophomore year, and David commuted to law school in Little Rock. At the beginning of the next spring semester, their family doubled in size, with the birth of twins, a boy and a girl. Leticia credits Sandy Barnett, who managed the bookstore where she was a workstudy student, and Lyon’s honor system with helping her get through her remaining two years, when she had to combine classwork, studying, and childcare. When the bookstore wasn’t busy, Sandy let her study. When she was completely exhausted, she could get her children to bed, sleep a few hours, then get up and take a test at home.
Both credit Lyon with helping them achieve the career success they are now enjoying. Leticia says she would happily “do college” all over again because it was such a good experience for her. As a trustee, David works on something he considers very important: making sure current and future Lyon College students have the same kind of positive experience he and Leticia had.
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ALUMNI
NEWS
PERSONAL NOTES
a story on a killer tornado. He works for the Arkansas
Mr. David Wilkey passed away on Thursday, April
Democrat-Gazette.
14, 2015, due to complications from long-standing health problems. He served at Lyon College as Vice
Ms. Shannon Renn Houston, ’86, has earned a
President of Enrollment from 1999 to 2003.
degree in elementary education and is a teacher at Meadow Oaks Academy in Mesquite, Texas.
President Emeritus Walter Roettger is currently serving SUNY Oswego as Acting Provost and Vice
Mr. J. Ross Jones, ’86, took first place for Single
President of Academic Affairs. He and wife Peggy
News Photograph in a Medium Daily Newspaper in
are enjoying living in a loft apartment with a view of
the Arkansas Press Association’s 2016 awards. Jones
Lake Ontario. They expect to be there through June
is associated with the Batesville Daily Guard.
2017. Dr. Deborah Sisson, ’86, writes, “I was awarded Mr. Bob Qualls, an adjunct instructor in journalism
my Doctorate of Business Administration with a
and former Director of Public Relations and
concentration of marketing this past summer, and
Communications at Lyon, received the Journalism
I have been promoted to Associate Professor at the
Educator of the Year Award recently at the 2016
University of the Ozarks.”
Arkansas Press Association convention. Mr. Jef Cotham, ’91, participated in international
MILESTONES
education efforts, while teaching a variety of courses
Dr. Johnny Henderson, ’73, has been named the
for two community colleges and Latin America’s
Cornelia Marschall Smith Outstanding Professor for
premier university system for 15 years. In the fall of
2016 at Baylor University, where he is Distinguished
2015, he completed his first novel, Beyond the Blue,
Professor of Mathematics. He has taught there for 14
a literary story of love, loss, discovery, buddies, and
years, following 18 years at Auburn and 3 years at the
baseball, for which he’s still seeking a proper venue.
University of Missouri at Rolla.
His supernatural novel Lightning Strikes Twice is
T H E LY O N C O L L E G E P I P E R
available on channillo.com under the name Jeff
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Mr. Clay Sloan, ’81, was recognized in May by
Stone. His short story “Fire” gained the Gold Writer
Legal Aid of Arkansas as one of the Outstanding Pro
distinction in ArtAscent’s April 2016 “Heat” issue,
Bono Attorneys for 2016.
and “Well Enough” was published by ArtAscent in the December 2015 “Haunting” issue. His flash fiction
Mr. Tom Garner, ’82, was also recognized in May
can be read at the WordPress blog Rolling the Stone.
by Legal Aid of Arkansas as one of the Outstanding Pro Bono Attorneys for 2016.
Dr. Jody Smotherman, ’93, White River Medical Center’s hospital medicine program director, has
Mr. Kenneth Heard, ’82, and two of his fellow
been named Associate Administrator of Graduate
writers won the 2016 Arkansas Press Association’s
Medical Education (GME) at WRMC. In this role, he
first place award for News Story in a Larger Daily for
will be responsible for building the infrastructure of
new medical residency programs in Internal Medicine
Mr. George Jerad, ’03, recently published Witches
and Family Practice. He will also be responsible for
in West Memphis: The West Memphis Three about
the programs’ academic, operational/administrative,
the 1993 deaths of three eight-year-old boys and the
and financial components. After completing a B.A.
subsequent trials of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin,
in chemistry/pre-pharmacy at Lyon, he earned a Pharm.D.
and Jessie Misskelley. A newspaper reporter, he
from UAMS and an M.Div. in biblical studies from
is currently working on a second book, Creekside
Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary.
Bones, about several murder cases.
Mrs. Tammy (Tate) Brock, ’94, writes “Harold and
Mr. Bill Pendergist, ’05, was named by Arkansas
I have five grandsons who range in age from 1-15
Business as one of “40 Under 40” young leaders in the
years. Our daughter, Alyssa Stott, graduates this year
state to be watched. He played baseball in high school
from UAMS with her Pharm.D. I was pregnant with
and at Lyon, but the sport also launched his career by
Alyssa my junior year at Lyon College. We are proud
giving him a connection with one of the co-founders
of her!! She also attended Lyon College to prepare
of the Flake & Kelley real estate firm. After earning
for UAMS Pharmacy School. She graduates with
an M.B.A. from the University of Central Arkansas,
honors.”
Pendergist started a Flake & Kelley office in northwest Arkansas and later returned to Little Rock to become
John Hornor Jacobs, ’94, published his eighth novel,
a partner in the firm at age 31. Pendergist has been
Foreign Devils, earlier this year. While working
involved in more than $80 million in commercial
in advertising for the last 15 years, he has written
sales, an achievement that he ranks as significant. He
Southern Gods, which was shortlisted for the Bram
is deeply involved in Fellowship Bible Church, where
Stoker Award; a young adult series, The Incarcerado
he leads Bible study and a family outdoors ministry.
Trilogy, comprised of The Twelve Fingered Boy, The
He also coaches baseball in the Junior Deputy
Shibboleth, and The Conformity; and a fantasy series,
program and stays busy with his family.
The Incorruptibles. The new book was the second in this series, and he is currently working on the third
Mr. Eric Wilson, ’06, was also recently named as a
book in this trilogy.
2016 Arkansas Business “40 Under 40.” CEO of the K-12 entrepreneurship program at the startup Noble Impact, his focus is on “preparing kids for an economy
Group, was interviewed by Arkansas Business
of uncertainty.” Wilson joined Noble Impact in 2014
about what politicians are looking for from political
after four years with the Clinton School of Public
consulting firms. He noted that social media and
Service and a stint with Ariston Global Solutions, a
their effective deployment “have become a major
company he founded with his brother in Washington,
political tool that did not exist 10 years ago.” He also
D.C. “Noble creates a bridge of engagement between
said he expected this year’s general election to be
the classroom and community. That’s where students
“very volatile” and “extremely negative,” given the
begin to write their own stories,” Wilson said.
unpopularity of both major party candidates.
T H E LY O N C O L L E G E P I P E R
Mr. Clint Reed, ’99, a partner in Impact Management
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ALUMNI
NEWS
Garrard Conley, ’07, has published a memoir, Boy
Mrs. Chelsea (Wilson) Page, ’10, married Craig
Erased, about attending a church-supported twelve-
Page on September 6, 2014, in Sarasota, Florida,
step conversion therapy program that promised to
where the couple resides. Craig teaches math and is
“cure” him of his homosexuality and its effect on
the head baseball coach at Braden River High School.
his and his family's lives. After Lyon, Garrard served
Chelsea works at ASO, LLC where she works in the
in the Peace Corps in Ukraine, earned an M.A. in
supply chain area as the Planning Supervisor.
creative writing and queer theory, and now teaches literature in Sofia, Bulgaria, at The American College
Mr. William Blake Belvin, ’12, graduated from the
of Sofia.
University of Arkansas School of Law in May 2015, passed the February Arkansas Bar Exam, and was
Dr. Ola (Czerwinska) Greer, ’07, announced
sworn in on May 6. In August 2015, he started classes
the birth of her second child, George Wesley, on
at the University of Alabama School of Law, working
September 22, 2015. She says she and her husband
towards an LL.M. in taxation. He plans to focus his
“could not be more excited to raise our two beautiful
practice on estate planning and taxation issues for
children!”
individuals and non-profits and plans on taking the Oklahoma Bar Exam in February 2017. He now is
Mr. Christopher Robertson, ’07, and his wife
working as an attorney in Fayetteville.
graduated from UTHSC College of Dentistry in 2015. “After graduation we moved to Chattanooga,
Mrs. Elizabeth (Niemeyer) Hudgens, ’12, and Mr.
Tennessee, and opened our own practice, Chattanooga
Andrew Tyler Hudgens, ’12, have announced that
Dental Studio,” he says. “We had our first child,
their daughter Virginia Grace Hudgens was born on
Scarlett Ava Robertson, on October 2, 2015. We are
January 12, 2016.
enjoying being new parents, building our practice, and exploring the mountains of East Tennessee.”
Mr. Seth Madison, ’12, says, “After graduating, I did
T H E LY O N C O L L E G E P I P E R
a year of service with AmeriCorps VISTA. I’ve since
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Ms. Ashley Dorsey, ’08, writes, “Last year
been working in mental health and social work, doing
I completed my Masters in College Student
counseling and case management. I’m currently
Development and Administration at Shepherd
a case manager for Columbia CARES, an AIDS
University and began working as an academic advisor
service organization in Columbia, Tennessee. I also
at Penn State in University Park, Pennsylvania.”
just accepted a position as Board Member at LargeCommunity Engagement for OutCentral, Nashville’s
Mr. Neil McCarthy, ’08, graduated from the
LGBT community center.”
University of Texas at Austin with a Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology in 2015 and is now doing his post-
Mrs. Tonya Clapp, ’13, writes, “Just after graduating
doctorate at Harvard Medical School in Boston. He
from Lyon, I worked as a full-time substitute for Cave
will be married to Gizelle Robinson (University of
City School District. In 2014, I moved to Muskogee,
Miami [Florida], ’09) in November 2016. “I still think
Oklahoma, to accept a full-time teaching position
of Lyon, and the pipe band, with fond memories,” he
with the Muskogee School District at the Alice
says.
Robertson Junior High. I teach English to seventh
UAMS neurobiology department. He is studying the
and eighth grade students. I also coach junior high
effect of natural radiation on astronauts in space and
cheerleading.”
ways to combat associated health issues, with the expectation that results could assist with developing
Ms. Maggie Hance, ’13, has completed an M.A. in
treatments for some cancers.
psychology from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, and will soon begin work on
Mr. Robert Austin, ’15, recently began working in the
her Ph.D. at East Tennessee State University.
Mabee-Simpson Library as Administrative Assistant for Technical Services and Special Collections.
Ms. Kaylin Cesarski, ’14, and Dr. Meraj Siddiqui, physician at White River Medical Center, have
Ms. Alexandra Patrono-Smith, ’15, returned to
been recognized for their research on opioids.
Batesville in June from her home in Ballarat, Australia,
They presented their paper entitled “Does the use
to become Lyon’s Communications Specialist in the
of a personal therapy manager (PTM) prevent
marketing and communications office.
opioid withdrawals when converting from oral to intrathecal opiates?” at the New York Society of
Ms. Taylor Gaedtke, ’16, was hired as the head
Anesthesiologists’ 69th PGA meeting. The study was
women’s basketball coach at Harvest Christian
well received by the attending scientists and doctors.
Academy at Watauga, Texas.
Ms. Samantha Jones, ’14, took first-place honors
IN MEMORIAM
in two categories of the 2016 Arkansas Press
Marie Elizabeth Carpenter Erwin, ’42
Association’s awards, Headline Writing and Feature
Dorothy Evolee Walls Catlett, ’43
Story in a Larger Weekly Newspaper. Sam works at
Ella Van Mantooth, ’45
the Carroll County News in Berryville, Arkansas.
Mary Elizabeth (Hess) Conner, ’48 John H. Barker, ’50 Verneita Jean (Renfrow) Self, ’50
recipients of the Citation for Excellence in Teaching
Roy Westerfield, ’50
Chemistry at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He
Edward Love, ’51
received this award for his patience and dedication
Lou Anna (Stone) Hance, ’52
to his students and his endless efforts to keep them
Laura Annas (Bell) Heasley, ’52
engaged in General Chemistry 1 and 2 labs. As an
Anne (Maxfield) Strahl, ’52
undergraduate, Jacob worked in the research lab of
Edward Huff, ’61
Dr. Stuart Hutton, Lyon’s Associate Professor of
Charlie “Pickle” Bell, ’64
Physics. He says his teaching style reflects how he
C. H. Chappell, ’69
was taught by a Lyon chemistry professor, tailoring
David McDaniel, ’75
each lesson to fit the individual’s need.
Kevin Dwight Jumper, ’95
Mr. Fred Kieffer, ’14, is a doctoral student in the
T H E LY O N C O L L E G E P I P E R
Mr. Jacob Teeter, ’14, is one of four Fall 2015
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GIVING
Supporting Lyon for the Long Haul THE REVEREND DR. ROBERT BENNETT
T H E LY O N C O L L E G E P I P E R
Not all Lyon donors are wealthy. In fact, most givers have moderate incomes, but smaller gifts add up, especially when they come in regularly for many years. An inspiring example of such a giver is the Reverend Doctor Robert Bennett, a retired Presbyterian minister now living in a senior retirement community in Jonesboro.
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He was ordained in 1956 and retired in 1991 after serving Arkansas churches in Gurdon, Paragould, and Walnut Ridge, where he organized a program to provide free meals to low-income families. Before coming to Arkansas, he had ministries in New Orleans, where he and a Catholic priest worked with Dutch seamen. They founded a suicide prevention service. Dr. Bennett began giving to Lyon in the mid-1970s and has given small amounts nearly every year since then. He says, “I can’t give much, but I do give.” He also supports Rhodes College, his alma mater, and University of the Ozarks, another Presbyterian institution.
Besides his gifts of money, Dr. Bennett also brought potential students and their families to campus. “The only chance anybody’s got today,” he said, “they’ve got to have a diploma.” At one time he helped organize family rallies on campus that featured an engaging speaker or preacher. The College recognized his support of the College by awarding him an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 1981. According to former Lyon president Dan West, “Bob Bennett was highly respected in the presbytery and beyond and regarded as an outstanding individual who was among our best and brightest. At some point [during West’s presidency] he decided he would support AC, now Lyon, and he never wavered in that.” Dr. Bennett’s generosity extends to his home life, as well. He said that at one point, his family comprised “something like 20 fosters. They called my house a zoo!” Currently, his family includes five children and two foster children that he and his wife adopted. He commented that “one adopted us, and we adopted the other!”
An entertaining conversationalist, he knows much of the history of the College and knew John D. Spragins, Arkansas College president from 1942-52, as well as James Becknell, who supported the building of Becknell Gymnasium. He characterizes himself as a liberal, stating that he saw through the “color barrier” before most people did. He also supports equal pay for women. He noted that when he was in the pulpit, most of the people in the pews were women. He needed those women to support his church, so “Of course I wanted them to be paid well!” Dr. Bennett enjoys company and likes to take time to chat with visitors. While he cannot get out and about much, he continues to lead a life of service to others.
BE INSPIRED EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS. VISIT LYON.EDU/GIVE TO GIVE TODAY, OR CALL CINDY QUALLS AT 870.307.7211 FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PLANNED GIVING.
T H E LY O N C O L L E G E P I P E R
His daughter Becky attended Lyon, graduating in 1982. She says that her father regularly brought students from his churches to visit Lyon, praising the College for its academics and also praising Arkansas Presbyterians for their support of scholarships to make Lyon affordable.
Nearly 90 years old now, he walks five miles before breakfast each day. He started this exercise program after falling and breaking a hip. He decided then to keep himself strong so such a thing would not happen again.
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GIVING
Crowdfunding 101
T H E LY O N C O L L E G E P I P E R
I N N O VAT I V E I D E A S M E E T P R OJ E C T- D R I V E N F U N D R A I S I N G
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Lyon College is taking advantage of a new way to give. In April, Annual Fund Director Daniel Haney worked with the marketing and communications office to launch Impact Lyon (impact.lyon.edu), becoming the first private institution in Arkansas to use crowdfunding to raise money for specific projects. Crowdfunding raises many small amounts of money from a large number of people, typically via the Internet. It’s not new. Platforms like Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and GoFundMe have been around since as early as 2008. These sites, which are used to jumpstart new ventures or
fundraise for personal causes, cater primarily to individuals, not organizations like colleges. Recently, however, new platforms have been created to serve higher education exclusively. “I had seen friends on Facebook post different crowdfunding campaigns for various causes, and many of them reached their intended goals. When I came to Lyon, I thought that same concept would work well here,” said Haney. Lyon has completed three campaigns since April, with 335 different donors contributing a total of $19,672. The first campaign, an effort to
raise $5,000 for the Lyon College Pipe Band to purchase five new snare drums, was an instant success. In 30 days, 64 donors raised $6,012 for the campaign. Moreover, of those 64 donors, 31 were first-time donors to Lyon, and another 8 gave their first gift of FY 2016. Lyon staffer Kenton Adler, a long-time member of the pipe band, had this to say: “Because of the nature of this method of fund-raising we were able not only to purchase the needed equipment but to reach out electronically to re-visit some older relationships and to also establish some new relationships with people who are willing to support the band in some way. It also gave us an opportunity to express our appreciation directly through the premiums that were offered to donors at various levels,” such as a signed drumstick for donors of $100.
Jerry Hawkins, whose son Greg worked with LEAP Director WT Taylor before he came to Lyon. Greg passed away two years ago from cancer, so Jerry and his wife Ann made a donation to LEAP in Greg's memory. After the campaign ended, WT was moved to do more to honor Greg. He worked with several of Greg’s friends, and together they raised an additional $500, thus qualifying for the campaign premium of having a plaque with Greg's name displayed on a ropes course element. While this campaign reached its monetary goal, it also allowed family and friends to continue to remember the life of Greg Hawkins. Unlike some platforms, if an Impact Lyon campaign does not reach its goal, that group
“Every dollar donated goes directly to the projects and campaigns we support on Impact Lyon,” Haney stated. “If we raise more money than we’re asking for, the extra money still goes to the group that headed the project. For instance, the pipe band raised roughly $1,000 more than they were asking for. With that extra money, they were able to buy harnesses for the new snare drums.” T H E LY O N C O L L E G E P I P E R
T H E LY O N C O L L E G E P I P E R
Lyon’s LEAP program benefited from the second project, with an effort to raise $1,500 to help complete a low element ropes course on the Lyon College campus. Like the pipe band campaign, LEAP more than met the goal, successfully raising over $1,800. One of the donors to the LEAP campaign was
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GIVING
still receives the funds it was able to raise. “It’s not an ‘all or nothing’ setup,” Haney explained. “Contributions are immediately drafted into the appropriate account, and the group running the campaign has access to those funds at the end of the campaign.” Also unlike some crowdfunding campaigns, contributions to Impact Lyon are fully taxdeductible, and 100 percent of every dollar donated goes to the project. Scalefunder, the third-party vendor hosting the platform, takes no percentage.
T H E LY O N C O L L E G E P I P E R
Impact Lyon raises more than money: it also increases the College’s donor participation rate. This is the percentage of alumni who give to an institution and is monitored closely by U. S. News & World Report when it determines college rankings as well as by corporate and private foundation donors. They want to see whether a particular college is important enough to its graduates that they support their alma mater.
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Lyon’s third campaign aimed to build the participation rate, issuing a challenge to alumni who joined Greek organizations as students. This campaign, the Greek Challenge, set a goal to encourage at least 300 participants to donate. Because this was a participation-driven campaign, there was no monetary goal. At the end of the campaign, 248 Greeks had given. The 248 that participated donated a combined amount of $11,805. Even more impressive, 74 percent of those who donated were either previous donors making their first donation for FY 2016 or were first-time donors.
And while the numbers are impressive, the Greek Challenge also had additional benefits, including reconnecting with old friends. As Chris Schluterman, ’00, commented “[The Greek Challenge] was a success. We contributed to Lyon’s Annual Fund, and I was able to talk to brothers I hadn’t heard from in years!” So far, campaigns have originated in the Office of Institutional Advancement. Starting this fall, however, Impact Lyon will offer an application process that will allow students, staff, and faculty to submit projects which support the strategic plan for approval, with technical support provided by the marketing and communications office. As Haney points out, “If students can learn how to fundraise, appreciate the work behind it and the reward when they receive a donated dollar, then they may have a more receptive mindset when they begin to donate to other causes.” Haney tells this story of attracting an unexpected donor: "While I was attending a conference in Dallas, I met Scalefunder’s founder and CEO, Michael Greenberg. He was very down-to-earth and took the time to talk to me. I asked Michael if he ever donated to any of his clients’ causes, and he said he did a few times but stopped when he began receiving mailers from those schools. I had planned to ask if he would donate to the pipe band campaign, but after hearing that, I simply asked him to visit our campaign and give me any feedback he thought would be helpful. Not long after this conversation, I saw a $25 donation to the pipe band campaign from a Michael Greenberg, followed by an e-mail from Michael explaining that he used to be a drummer and that he felt our campaign was compelling enough that he’d make
an exception to his “give no more” rule. To have the founder of the crowdfunding platform we use give to our campaign felt huge. I knew then that this new tool could make a big impact on Lyon.” So far, Haney’s expectation is turning out to be true. CHECK IT OUT VISIT IMPACT.LYON.EDU TO SEE WHAT PROJECTS WE’RE WORKING ON.
T H E LY O N C O L L E G E P I P E R
T H E LY O N C O L L E G E P I P E R
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GIVING
Brown Chapel Renovation PHASE 1 NEARS COMPLETION
T H E LY O N C O L L E G E P I P E R
The planned major rehabilitation of Brown Chapel and Fine Arts Building is well under way. On the outside, the massive wooden columns at the front have been repaired, with new wood or consolidation of parts that were beginning to fail, topped off with a fresh coat of gleaming white paint.
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Inside, the cramped offices near the rear entrance are gone, replaced by two spacious new offices and a green room where speakers and performers can prepare before going on stage. A large handicapped-accessible bathroom opens off the hall near the back of the stage. Next summer, the stage area will be redesigned
to better support vocal and instrumental performances. The sound system will be replaced, a video presentation system added, and stage lighting upgraded. In the auditorium itself, the seating and flooring will be replaced, the shutters removed and replaced with blackout shades, and acoustical diffusers added to the back wall. Lights, heat and air, and the fire alarm system will all be upgraded. This phase is expected to cost $1.9 million dollars. RENOVATE WITH US TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE RENOVATION OF BROWN CHAPEL, GIVE ONLINE AT LYON.EDU/GIVE. TO DISCUSS A POSSIBLE GIFT, CALL THE OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT AT 870.307.7211.
T H E LY O N C O L L E G E P I P E R
T H E LY O N C O L L E G E P I P E R
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Office of Institutional Advancement 2300 Highland Road Batesville, Ar 72501 lyon.edu