Lyon College Piper Summer 2015

Inside: New Band Program | Alumni Open Primrose School | Theatre Program Success

Summer 2015

Leaving a Legacy

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Summer 2015 Editor Joshua Tate LAYOUT Nell Tebbetts, ’07 COVER Joshua Tate Lead Writer Hannah Keller CONTRIBUTOR Angelica Holmes, ’15 PhotograpHY Hannah Keller Joshua Tate Mike Kemp, ’88 Alumni Relations Taryn Hill Duncan, ’91 Lyon College 2300 Highland Road P.O. Box 2317 Batesville, AR 72503 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.

President Donald Weatherman Vice President for Institutional Advancement Jon Vestal

SPECIAL FEATURE Leaving a legacy: Deans helped shape the face of Lyon College

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On Campus Lyon marches in excitement with new band program

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Lyon welcomes new VPs, chaplain

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Looking forward to the next chapter

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Lyon couple named new Spragins House mentors

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Theatre program closes curtain on outstanding year

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Professor retires after 21 years

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The 36th Annual Arkansas Scottish Festival

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Class of 2015 Commencement

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Lyon Scots fall schedule

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Liberal Arts in Action Internship leads ’15 grad to career in law enforcement

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Chemistry students plus kids equal formula for success

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Summer program gives students stepping stone for careers

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Alumni Lyon economics degree leads to successful law practice for alum

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Alumni fill need for first-rate early childhood education in urban Dallas

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Class notes

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Giving A cup of coffee leads to tradition of alumni gatherings

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A LETTER FROM

THE PRESIDENT

In higher education, every year is a year of change, but few years have brought as much change to Lyon’s campus as 2014-15. This past year, we implemented a new core curriculum and a Chinese recruiting program, reinstated football, added men’s and women’s wrestling, began a successful trap shooting program, and geared up for a new marching band. All of this contributed to our record freshman class and record total enrollment for the College, both of which are detailed in the following pages.

The growth we have enjoyed has required making some significant changes to campus facilities, as well. Last summer, we remodeled Brown and Barton Apartments; this summer, we are urgently trying to complete two residence halls in time for the opening of 2015-16. These new halls will add over 200 beds to our campus. The Board of Trustees has named the north building “Michael E. and Perry Lee Wilson Hall” and the south building “Charles G. Whiteside III Hall.” We have completed the Greg Hatcher Wrestling Center and are about to complete the new football center. We are also addressing needs in our instructional facilities, most especially in Brown Chapel. A conditions and feasibility study has generated plans for renovations throughout the building. We will approach this project incrementally and have already begun exterior repairs and interior improvements.

We have also experienced significant changes in administrative positions this year. Two key participants in the life of the College over the past quarter of a century have retired: Dr. Virginia Wray, Dean of the Faculty, and Dr. Bruce Johnston, Dean of Students. As much as they will be missed, we are pleased to have appointed Dr. Philip Cavalier and Dr. Patrick Mulick to their positions. We are also pleased that Mr. James Schlimmer is the new Vice President for Enrollment Services. No doubt, these new additions to the Lyon College family will bring continued growth and improvement to our campus and to the lives of our students.

It is never dull around here.

Sincerely,

Donald Weatherman

// Special Feature

Leaving a legacy Deans helped shape the face of Lyon College

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fter more than 50 years of combined service, Dr. Virginia Wray and Dr. Bruce Johnston are more than familiar faces on campus. They have seen extensive growth and change on campus during their years, including the creation of the house system and the honor code, a redesigned curriculum, and even the renaming of the College. Dr. Wray, Vice President for Academic Services and Dean of Faculty, and Dr. Johnston, Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students, stepped down from their respective posts at the end of this academic year, but both agree they are excited for what the future holds for Lyon.

A lifetime of commitment to liberal arts When Dr. Robert Holyer contacted Dr. Virginia Wray about a faculty opening at Lyon College, she told him “the specialties you are looking for aren’t me.” “Apply anyway,” he replied. The rest, as they say, is history.

Born in Hampton, Virginia, Wray spent a great deal of time visiting family in nearby Gloucester County, giving her the advantage of experiencing both urban and rural life. She earned her B.A. in English from

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Westhampton College, the women’s college of the University of Richmond. She went on to earn her M.A. in English from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania and her Ph.D. in American literature from the University of South Carolina.

Wray taught seven years at Converse College, a private liberal arts institution in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and one of the first 15 women’s colleges founded in the United States. Later, she became part of the founding faculty of the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, a residential high school for outstanding juniors and seniors in Natchitosh, Louisiana.

“It was a bizarre but wonderful experience,” Wray said. “I had grown a little tired of 16-year-old hormones, but I wasn’t job hunting.” That’s when she received the call from Holyer requesting she apply at Lyon.

Lyon, then Arkansas College, was a small multipurpose college serving mainly a commuter population of students from the surrounding 10 counties when Wray arrived in 1986. She said it was in 1989 that thenPresident John Griffith began a campaign to transform the College into a Carnegie One liberal arts college. With her education and teaching background rooted in small liberal arts colleges, Wray was one of many faculty members wholly committed to the transformation.

“Many of us who had been formed by such institutions and who had taught previously at such institutions threw ourselves headlong and tirelessly into this task,” she said.

Changes to come in the years that followed included the elimination of much of the preprofessional curricula, the construction of Young House residence halls and subsequent addition of more out-of-state students, the elimination of an evening program that had served part-time nontraditional students, the creation of an honor code, and the changing of the College’s name.

became one per year the next two years, and then I wasn’t teaching any courses my fourth and fifth years as dean. I miss the classroom and relish the chance to go in for a day to fill in for a sick or traveling colleague. A cameo appearance has few responsibilities and allows you to be a ham.”

In 1991, Wray won Lyon’s most distinguished teaching award, the Lamar Williamson Prize for Excellence in Teaching. She was instrumental in bringing a chapter of Mortar Board, a national service honor society, to campus and served as the chapter’s sponsor for several years. In 2007, she was the recipient of the Tartan Chapter’s only service award to date.

Off-campus, Wray has led by example in the realm of community service. She has been a volunteer, board member, and board president for Family Violence Prevention, Inc. and led a successful drive to eliminate the debt on the organization’s shelter, Safe Haven. She has served on the vestry of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and currently

Below: Wray assists Jenny (Curtis) Harper, ’92, in a freshman composition class

Wray spent a quarter of a century teaching in Lyon’s classrooms before Dr. Donald Weatherman called on her to serve the College as part of the administration.

She became Vice President for Academic Services and Dean of the Faculty in July 2010.

In the beginning, she continued to teach as well as perform her administrative duties.

“I taught a course per semester my first year in the dean’s office,” Wray said. “That Summer 2015

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// Special Feature serves on one of the church’s soup kitchen teams.

As Wray prepares to retire at the end of this academic year, she said she is confident the College is on the right path and that she is leaving her post in good hands with new Vice President of Academic Services, Dr. Philip Cavalier.

“I’m also excited about the opportunity of Lyon’s continued commitment to the region through cooperative programs with UACCB,” Wray said. “Dean Cavalier, I hope, will formalize two 2/2 transfer programs in psychology and business administration. The current College Opportunity Program that allows Lyon students to take classes not offered at Lyon at UACCB, such as anatomy, and UACCB

students to take classes at Lyon will radically improve the success rates of transfer students coming to Lyon for these 2/2 programs.”

While she could see herself occasionally teaching a course as an adjunct professor, Wray said right now she is enjoying not making firm plans and is anticipating not having to set an alarm clock. She intends to enjoy gardening on the 9½ acres where her home sits and plans to attend a Flannery O’Connor conference in Milledgeville, Georgia, in September. Wray has published widely on O’Connor’s fiction and life.

“I have stacks of books to read, a couple of things I want to try to write, and two dogs that will be delighted to have me home to play with them,” she said.

“I relish being at a place where people aren’t anonymous. You know people’s names, and they know you. It’s wonderful to watch the students grow up and become who they are going to be.”

— Dr. Bruce Johnston, Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students

Building a community Dr. Bruce Johnston has lived in Batesville longer than he’s lived anywhere else, but before he became Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students at Lyon, he wasn’t even sure where Batesville was.

“At the time, I was working at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, and I ran every morning with a professor in the math department. I told him I’d gotten a call about a position open at Arkansas College. He said he hadn’t heard of the school, but if it was located in the Ozarks, I owed it to myself to check it out,” Johnston said.

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After 25 years of service, Johnston has seen Lyon transformed from a small campus serving mainly a commuter student population to the close-knit, residential liberal arts college it is today.

The opportunity to lend a hand in creating a residential community on campus intrigued Johnston, and he was at the forefront of founding Lyon’s house system and studentdriven honor code.

“We visited the house system at Harvard, and while there, we visited with the Dean of Houses. He was interested in the concept of our honor system. When we told him

about it, he said there was no way they would implement such a system there, and it was great that we could trust our students to that degree,” Johnston said.

The son of a Presbyterian minister, Johnston spent his childhood in Akron, Ohio, before moving to West Virginia as a teen.

Throughout high school he played football and basketball and ran track. He aspired to become a high school history teacher and track coach, but an internship under the Dean of Students at Westminster College in Pennsylvania put him on the path to a career in student life. Johnston graduated with a B.A. in history from Westminster and went on to earn his M.A. in college student personnel from Bowling Green State University.

He began his career in college administration at West Liberty University in West Virginia as Assistant Dean of Men and Director of Student Housing. After four years there, he took a position at Hope College as Assistant Dean for Student Development, where he was to remain for the next 13 years before coming to Lyon. By that point, he had completed his Ed.D. from Western Michigan University.

As Johnston prepares to retire effective July 1, he said he will miss cultivating the close relationships that he has enjoyed with students.

“I relish being at a place where people aren’t anonymous,” he said. “You know people’s names, and they know you. It’s wonderful to watch the students grow up and become who they are going to be.”

Johnston said his successor, Associate Professor of Psychology Patrick Mulick, will serve the office of Student Life well.

“Pat Mulick is a terrific teacher who is unwavering in his commitment to students

and their growth and learning. He has been a wonderful asset during his years in Spragins House and will make a smooth transition to a broader range of responsibilities,” Johnston said. “His relationship skills, organizational ability, and resolve each bode well for a successful future in student life.

He understands the importance of engaging students outside the classroom and providing exciting developmental experiences, which are an integral dimension of the education each Lyon student receives.”

Above: Johnston (bottom middle) poses with a group of students outside the newlyconstructed Hoke-McCain Hall in the early 1990s

Johnston is looking forward to having more time with his children and grandchildren and traveling with his wife, Sue, who served the Batesville School District as an elementary teacher for 20 years. He also plans to continue preaching at a small Presbyterian church in Doniphan, Missouri, where he has preached almost every Sunday for several years.

Although he’s stepping down from his post, Lyon has far from seen the last of Johnston.

“I’m going to stand on the sidelines and be a Lyon College cheerleader,” he said with a smile.

Summer 2015

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Lyon marches in excitement with new band program

By Angelica Holmes, ’15 Along with the incorporation of the new Scots football team, Lyon College will make another addition: an official pep and marching band. Leading this new venture is Mr. Monty Hill, who has been a band director for almost three decades. Hill looks forward to creating some new traditions at Lyon while celebrating those already established.

“There are so many great traditions already here in place, like the Scottish Heritage program, the bagpipes, the outstanding academic programs, and the honor system,” Hill said. “But I think that starting a band program from scratch and having traditions to go along with it is so unique, and I feel very fortunate to be part of that.”

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While Hill plans to incorporate Lyon’s tartan into the band’s uniforms, there is one element he said the uniforms will not include.

“The band is not going to march in kilts,” Hill said.

“That’s the identity of the pipe band. But we do plan on doing some things with the pipe band as well, like the pregame show for football games. I think that will be a unique feature that no one else will have.”

With dozens of current students at the interest meeting coupled with an almost equal number of incoming freshmen who have already filled out applications, Hill does not have to worry about getting students interested.

“You would think the recruiting of students would be the hardest thing,” Hill said, “but there has been so much

interest and so many great responses from students that I feel like we’ll have the students that we need to start the band program.”

Having been a high school band director in Arkansas for 23 years in addition to teaching at a university for five years, Hill will be an asset in many regards.

“My experience as a high school band director in Arkansas definitely links to recruiting because I know practically all of the band directors in Arkansas,” Hill said.

“I know a lot of the administrators in the various school districts, so I have a foot in the door to all of those band rooms to be able to go in and recruit for Lyon College. I think that is going to be the distinct advantage.”

As far as entertainment goes, Hill said he has “a real vision,” including tailgate performances and theme shows in which, he said, the band will “play music that students like and a crowd recognizes.”

Hill said the school has been very receptive to his ideas, and he is excited about joining the College’s community.

Monty Hill

Recruiting is not the only thing Hill brings to the table.

“I also know from teaching college that a college band has to be entertaining,” he said. “You want it to be good, and you want the quality to be great, but you also want to make sure that the crowd is entertained. It’s also important to create good support for the athletic teams; school spirit is important.”

“I am very honored to be chosen to be the director of bands at Lyon College,” Hill said. “They haven’t had a band program like this or a football team in many years.

I think it’s going to add a very new, exciting element to the College that will not only attract more new students to campus but also give our current students something really special to belong to.”

Summer 2015

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Lyon welcomes new VPs, chaplain

Dr. Philip Cavalier

James Schlimmer

The Reverend Ray McCalla

Dr. Philip Cavalier, who has served as Provost and Dean of the College at Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois, will soon join the administration at Lyon College.

Cavalier has accepted the position of Vice President for Academic Services and Dean of the Faculty with Lyon. He will begin his new role July 1.

When James Schlimmer described his ideal career position, he said it would be a role in admissions or enrollment at a church-affiliated small college. He found the perfect fit at Lyon College and has joined the administration as the new Vice President for Enrollment Services.

Schlimmer started working on campus May 1.

The Reverend Ray McCalla will join Lyon College this summer as College Chaplain. McCalla has spent the last decade serving as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Wayne, Nebraska. In addition to his ministry, he also taught at Wayne State College during that time.

Cavalier earned his B.A. in economics from Swarthmore College, his M.A. in English from Northeastern University, and his Ph.D. in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

In his post at Eureka College, he was responsible for academic affairs, student programs and services, ahletics, library, registrar/ records office, and the learning center. He and his wife, who also holds a Ph.D. in English, have three sons.

Schlimmer comes to Lyon after serving as Interim Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management at the University of Wisconsin-Superior.

He also served as an admission consultant for 22 colleges from 2003 to 2014.

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He earned his B.A. in politics from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and his M.S.Ed. in higher education administration from the University of North CarolinaGreensboro.

McCalla earned his B.S. in psychology from Northwest Missouri State, his M.A. in community and agency counseling from the University of NebraskaLincoln, and his M.Div. from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. He and his wife, who is also an ordained Presbyterian minister, have four children.

“My goal for Lyon College is to cultivate spiritual maturity among the students,” McCalla said.

Looking forward to the next chapter

By Hannah Keller, Communications Specialist

said. “I’m also so appreciative to Bruce Johnston for mentoring me and helping me prepare for this role.”

Dr. Patrick Mulick, Associate Professor of Psychology, said his four years as Spragins House Resident Faculty Mentor have helped prepare him for his new role as Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students.

Mulick said he plans to put an intentional focus on preserving the community environment on Lyon’s campus.

“The four years in Spragins was awesome, not only for me, but also for my family. I’m walking away from the experience with a much better understanding of the students’ whole development and not just the importance of their academic development,” Mulick

“In light of the amazing growth we’re undergoing, sometimes you can lose that sense of family and community. We want to be very intentional in preserving that, because it’s so important to what Lyon is,” Mulick said.

Couple named Spragins mentors

By Hannah Keller, Communications Specialist Assistant Professor of Art Dustyn Bork and Carly Dahl, Executive Director of the Batesville Area Arts Council, will soon call the Lyon College campus home — literally.

The husband and wife team, who have been at Lyon for five years, will step into the roles of the new Spragins House Resident Mentors. As such, Bork and Dahl will help freshmen students with the transition into college life.

“We’re looking forward to continuing that tradition of being a helpful presence for those who are new to campus,” Bork said. “When I arrived, Tim Lindblom was the Spragins House mentor, and my move as a new faculty member wouldn’t have been as smooth without his help. That help is even more crucial to new students.”

The couple will also continue the tradition of hosting events at Spragins House to help students discover the many resources available to them on campus and provide an opportunity for new students to get to know the faculty and staff. Bork said he hopes to start a series of

“quirkshops” that would feature faculty and staff members sharing personal hobbies and interests with students that are not necessarily related to their professional fields.

The couple follows Dr. Patrick Mulick and his wife, Dr. Kristi Ketz. Mulick is leaving his post as Spragins House Resident Mentor to take Dr. Bruce Johnston’s position as Vice President of Student Life.

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Theatre program closes curtain on outstanding year

By Hannah Keller, Communications Specialist The stage is now quiet where, earlier this semester, Lyon students drew audiences that packed Holloway Theatre, in some cases, to capacity. The new theatre major entered the scene with impressive vitality, and Dr. Fonzie Geary II, Assistant Professor of Theatre, gives the bulk of the credit to the students.

“It really is the students that make it happen, and they practically kill themselves to do it, which speaks to the dedication and love that they have for the art form,” Geary said.

Lyon kicked off the year with William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Geary said it was magical to watch the show finally come together after hurdling several obstacles and draw sell-out crowds for three of its four performances.

“We were pulling out chairs as essentially panic seats to put on the floor to accommodate the people that kept coming in,” Geary said. “It was surprising and amazing. I’ve never seen a matinee sell out, ever. Sunday matinees are

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typically slower shows anywhere you go. They are slower shows by and large. When we were packed Sunday, I was really surprised.”

The department followed Midsummer with No Exit, a production Geary called the “quintessential existentialist play.”

“I was a bit surprised that even No Exit did well each night. Because it’s such a philosophical play, I didn’t think it’d have such a strong draw with the audience as Midsummer, but we had solid crowds for each showing,” he said.

Hello, an entirely student-produced play written by Alexandra Partono-Smith, ’15, was next in the theatre’s lineup. Geary said it was the first time that he was aware that Lyon had ever presented a play written, directed, and produced entirely by the students.

Hello, a semi-autobiographical play centering around the theme of mental illness and severe family discord, was written as part of an independent study project last spring with Geary, Patrono-Smith said.

“It’s basically my interpretation of what I think may have happened if I had not gone to live with my father. My goal with the play was to accurately represent how mental illness affects both those who suffer from it and their families. I’ve known several people in my life with mental illness and have seen the stigma they face because of how they are portrayed in theatre and on television,” Patrono-Smith said.

The theatre finished the year with Picnic, which delves into serious themes within American culture concerning class divisions, sexuality, and the social position of women.

Patrono-Smith, a triple major in theatre, French, and English, was part of the theatre program before Geary came to Lyon and watched as the major was reduced to a minor before Geary restructured the program. She said the theatre has undergone amazing growth since then.

“Lyon College’s theatre program has really risen from the ashes. Where, once upon a time, you really had only theatre majors participating in productions and general theatre business, now you see biology majors, math majors, majors from every corner of Lyon coming out of the woodwork to earnestly collaborate and volunteer,” she said. “The program just keeps getting better and stronger under Dr. Geary’s supervision, which has been not only a delight to see, but a delight to be a part of. I have never been so optimistic about Lyon theatre as I am today.”

Geary added that the increased interest and support from the community was very

encouraging, noting that the Batesville Community Theatre had been a great help to the program. Ultimately, Geary hopes community support will continue to grow along with the program.

“We want to see the community involvement continue to increase,” he said. “My biggest hope is that the program will gain a technical director in the future.

Pulling a show together without technical direction is very intense for the students, but they make it happen.”

Above, clockwise from top: Scenes from No Exit, Picnic, and Hello Opposite: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Summer 2015

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Professor retires after 21 years

By Angelica Holmes, ’15 After finishing his 21st year at Lyon, Dr. Alan McNamee has decided to retire. Though he will miss many things about Lyon, McNamee said he will miss the people most, particularly his fellow professors.

“One of the things that drew me to Lyon was the quality of the faculty here,” he said. “One of the first things I did when I investigated coming here was to take a look at the faculty and the background of the faculty, and I was really impressed that a school this size in the foothills of the Ozarks was able to attract a faculty like that. And that continues to be true to this day. This is an incredibly dedicated faculty who are extremely student-oriented and student-centered.”

the 21 years, there are probably 90 to 100 accounting grads out there that came from Lyon College, and I think that is pretty special.”

Off campus, McNamee has been intimately involved in the Batesville community, serving on the boards of both the Batesville Area Arts Council and the Batesville Community Theatre.

“I’ve been very interested in trying to support the development of the arts and culture in the city of Batesville,” McNamee said. “And that has been a really interesting experience too. It has gotten me outside of the campus and into the community to get to know people.”

Besides the faculty, McNamee counts it a privilege to have worked with the caliber of students Lyon attracts.

Though he will miss Lyon College and Batesville as a whole, McNamee is looking forward to moving to Little Rock to spend time with his family and complete his decades-long to-do list.

“It’s been a great experience, getting to work so closely with some very strong students who are very committed,” McNamee said. “I have had many, many good students who are now working professionally in the field, and that has been extremely rewarding to see them progress. Over

“My wife was an administrator at UACCB (University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville), so we have both been pretty busy,” he said. “She retired last year, so it will be nice to have some time to travel and spend time together.”

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THE 36TH ANNUAL ARKANSAS

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Piping competitions, delicious food, unique handmade crafts, and a community adventure race were all part of the 36th annual Arkansas Scottish Festival held April 10-12. The festival, which draws patrons from across the country, had about 8,000 in attendance. The festival is a celebration of Lyon’s proud Scottish heritage and an avenue to showcase Lyon’s picturesque campus where “the bagpipes never stop… ever.”

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Pipe Major Jimmy Bell Colin Grant-Adams, headline entertainer Opening ceremonies Maxwell tent on Clan Row British car show Highland Adventure Race sheaf toss Highland dancing demonstration Lyon College Pipe Band

Summer 2015

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// On Campus

What a Lyon graduating class

121 GRADUATES

92 Arkansans / 25 Out of State / 4 International 65 Female / 56 Male

DEGREES

72 Bachelor of Arts / 49 Bachelor of Science

MAJORS 30 Double Majors / 2 Triple Majors 29 BIOLOGY 18 PSYCHOLOGY 16 BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 11 ENGLISH 11 MATHEMATICS 10 ECONOMICS 10 HISTORY 8 ART 7 CHEMISTRY 7 POLITICAL SCIENCE 5 ACCOUNTING 5 SPANISH 4 ANTHROPOLOGY 4 MUSIC 3 RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY 3 FRENCH 2 EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION 1 COMPUTER SCIENCE 1 THEATRE 14

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Class of 2015

Commencement

On May 9, Lyon conferred 121 degrees to graduates of the Class of 2015. Those receiving awards at commencement: Ryan Story, the Dr. Margaret Pruden Lester Fellowship; ChinYee Chew, the Daniel Seibert Fellowship; Wesley Perkins, the Dr. Samuel W. Williams Fellowship; Jacob Haddock, the Dr. Ellis G. and Mary Newton Mosley Fellowship; Kristen Elia, the Dr. and Mrs. John D. Spragins Award; Bobie Cooper, the John T. and Diana March Dahlquist Scholar Athlete Award; Caitlin Campbell, the Alma Cole Metcalf Endowed Scholarship Award; and Ralynn Brann, the Charles H. Coffin Scholarship Medal.

Summer 2015 

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LYON SCOTS

FALL 2015 HOME GAMES August 13 25 25 29

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October Women’s Soccer vs. Northwest Mississippi CC Women’s Soccer vs. Evangel University Men’s Soccer vs. Evangel University Football vs. Tabor College

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Women’s Soccer vs. Arkansas Pine-Bluff Volleyball vs. Harding University Football vs. Lindsey Wilson Women’s Soccer vs. Louisiana State-Alexandria Men’s Soccer vs. Louisiana State-Alexandria Women’s Soccer vs. Central Baptist College Men’s Soccer vs. Central Baptist College Volleyball vs. Central Baptist College Men’s Soccer vs. John Brown University Women’s Soccer vs. Bethel University Volleyball vs. Missouri Baptist University Women’s Soccer vs. Hannibal-LaGrange University Volleyball vs. Harris-Stowe State University Men’s Soccer vs. Hannibal-LaGrange University Women’s Soccer vs. Williams Baptist College Men’s Soccer vs. Williams Baptist College Volleyball vs. John Brown University

Game Locations Basketball: Becknell Gymnasium, Lyon College Football: Pioneer Stadium, Batesville High School, 1 Pioneer Drive Soccer: Huser Field, Lyon College Volleyball: Becknell Gymnasium, Lyon College

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Volleyball vs. William Woods University Volleyball vs. Park University Football vs. Bacone College Women’s Soccer vs. Saint Louis College of Pharmacy Men’s Soccer vs. Saint Louis College of Pharmacy Women’s Soccer vs. Park University Men’s Soccer vs. Park University Volleyball vs. Freed-Hardeman University Football vs. Austin College—Homecoming Game Volleyball vs. College of the Ozarks Volleyball vs. TBA (2 games) Football vs. Langston University

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Football vs. Wayland Baptist University 7:30 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Philander Smith College

Men’s Basketball vs. College of the Ozarks

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December Men’s Basketball vs. Park University Men’s Basketball vs. Missouri Baptist University Men’s Basketball vs. Saint Louis College of Pharmacy Men’s Basketball vs. Crowley’s Ridge College

Game dates and times are subject to change. For updates, and to view a full schedule including away games, visit

www.LyonScots.com facebook.com/LyonAthletics

twitter.com/LyonAthletics

// Liberal arts in action enforcement career on a federal level, such as the FBI or DEA.” Frazier said she eventually wants to be an agent for the federal government, specializing in human trafficking.

“I experienced a specific child sexual assault case through an internship that I was able to follow from start to finish,” she said. “At that point, I knew this is the career path that I was called to enter, and I was going to do whatever necessary to put myself on the streets with these victims to protect those who could not protect themselves.”

Besides the cases themselves, Frazier recognizes that she faces other potential hurdles when she starts her new job. She knows it will be tough to garner respect as a young woman in a predominantly maledominated field. But despite the “many obstacles entering law enforcement as a 21-year-old female,” she said she is prepared to address any doubters.

Internship leads ’15 grad to career in law enforcement

By Angelica Holmes, ’15 Shelby Frazier, a graduating senior from Mountain Home, will pursue a somewhat unconventional route post-Lyon; she plans to work as a patrolman for the Lawrence Kansas Police Department for the next four years and hopes to attend graduate school at Kansas University as well.

“Once I have served my four years as a patrolman I hope to obtain a detective rank,” Frazier said. “With my detective rank and my master’s degree, I hope to apply to a federal agency where I can continue my law

“My response has been and will always be to tell people ‘I have passed every written, physical and mental test to stand next to you today,’” she said. “‘I wear my gun, vest, and boots identical to yours, and in the instance that we enter a sticky situation, I will protect your life just as I expect you to protect mine, because that’s what partners do.’”

Frazier looks forward to the road ahead, knowing there is much work to be done in her field.

“I am beyond excited to share the blessings God has given me as an individual and share those with the victims that I encounter,” Frazier said. “I want to instill in women and children who have fallen victim to sex crimes a sense of justice, hope, and dignity within themselves.”

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// Liberal arts in action

Chemistry students plus kids equal formula for success

By Hannah Keller, Communications Specialist Lyon College students are bringing a love of science to Batesville elementary students in the form of erupting volcanoes and homemade slime. A new science outreach program created by chemistry professor Dr. Irosha Nawarathne focuses on female students, who are underrepresented in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

“Even in the modern era, women are still not equally represented in STEM fields,” Nawarathne said. “This outreach program will focus more on female students by having more female role models involved in the design and execution of the activities. This will help address their fear of being a female scientist, not the norm of the society in rural Arkansas, and increase their confidence.”

This is a volunteer outreach program, and students in Nawarathne’s organic chemistry 18

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and advanced inorganic chemistry courses have taken the helm as student leaders for the launch of the program. She said she hopes to cultivate a larger, more diverse group of volunteers to train as the program grows. The students are currently working with children in kindergarten through sixth grade at Central Magnet Math and Science Elementary School. Nawarathne said the program will be expanded to include elementary students throughout the Batesville School District.

“Being a role model for potential young lady scientists is a very fun, fulfilling experience.

Outreach has given me the opportunity to give back and pass on the wonderful experience I’ve been having in the biology and chemistry departments at Lyon,” said Jami Schmidt, one of the student volunteers.

Student volunteer Megan Parks said the experience of teaching younger students about science has been very inspiring.

“During the sessions, I actually found myself thinking of the lasting impact we could have on these small individuals, especially little girls who might not have been exposed to the concept of female scientists very often. In today’s media, women are not often portrayed in those kinds of roles, and to think that we could make some sort of lasting impression or profound memory with those girls is a wonderful honor. I hope that we, as role models, can continue to inspire these kids to pursue their scientific passions and maybe create similar memories with their own outreach group one day,” Parks said.

The program is a one-hour, after-school session in which students participate in hands-on activities to learn about chemical reactions using common household items.

The program hosted six separate sessions throughout April and May. The experiments conducted included causing volcano eruptions, making Oobleck slime and homemade ice cream, and creating “elephant toothpaste” with yeast and peroxides.

“The event is designed to provide engaging, fun, hands-on experiences to elementary school students in a very supportive environment,” Nawarathne said. “The hands-on activities help improve their

critical skills, build their confidence and curiosity, and inspire them in becoming scientists. Being able to cultivate these skills in young participants at a critical developmental stage is always a plus. The kids are enormously enjoying the activities, and our students are well engaged. The feedback I receive from the parents and teachers at the elementary school is definitely very encouraging.”

Jason Lochmann, another student volunteer, said explaining complex scientific theories to kindergarten students was a fun, but not exactly easy, task.

“It was a lot of fun to run small chemistry experiments with the kids,” Lochmann said.

“They were clearly impressed by the projects, even if they didn’t full comprehend the science behind them. It was a challenge to explain concepts of intermolecular forces and chemical reactions to little people that hardly knew how to tie their shoes.

Above, L-R: Jami Schmidt, ’17, creates “elephant toothpaste” Dr. Irosha Nawarathne supervises an experiment Megan Parks, ’17, teaches students about solids, liquids, and gases Micah Graves, ’17, helps a student blow up a ballon for an experiment

“My favorite moment of the afternoon was when a kindergartner walked confidently up to me and said, ‘I know what science is.’ ‘Oh, yeah?,’ I said, ‘Well, what is it?’ He told me, ‘Science is where you do stuff.’ I thought, ‘Right you are, sir. Right you are.’”

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// Liberal arts in action L-R: Cindy Barton,’ 09; Aaron Green, ’15; Heather Fulbright

Summer program at First Community Bank gives students stepping stone for careers

By Hannah Keller, Comm. Specialist Lyon College is committed to developing the whole student.

Beyond the essays and exams, students are encouraged to take on research projects outside the classroom and be active community participants. First Community Bank provides an avenue for students to develop valuable career skills during the summer, which has led to careers at the bank for many Lyon graduates.

First Community hires students and recent graduates to work in various positions from June to August.

Heather Fulbright, Vice President Director of Human Resources, said the bank hires college and high school students and offered high praise for Lyon students and graduates.

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“Their level of maturity and professionalism are very apparent when they are presenting their resumes,” Fulbright said.

Fulbright said students often work in areas such as bookkeeping, but in some cases could work in departments specifically related to their degree tracts.

“We have one student who is going to go to law school who is working with our legal department,” she said.

Aaron Green, a 2015 Lyon graduate, began working in First Community’s summer program immediately after high school, in May 2011. He is now a loan review assistant and credits Lyon with preparing him for his position.

“I took accounting and corporate finance classes, which I’ve been able to apply here,” Green said. “My course in business statistics made me Excel savvy. Each course prepared me in a different way.”

Green added that First Community was very accommodating in working around his busy class schedule while he was a student.

Cindy Barton, Assistant Vice President Secondary Mortgage Originator, transferred to Lyon after attending the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville.

With 25 years of experience in sales and customer service, she said her classes at Lyon were a good complement to her previous work experience.

Lyon economics degree leads to successful law practice for alum

By Hannah Keller, Communications Specialist Watching three older sisters attend college, Al Malone, ’96, knew at an early age that he wanted to earn a college degree. In high school, he fell in love with Lyon College while participating in the APPLE Project on campus.

“I grew up not far from Lyon College in Newport. It was my idea of what a college should look and feel like,” Malone said.

Malone joined the Navy after high school and was originally interested in schools with a strong NROTC program. After deciding not to continue his career in the military, however, he transferred to Lyon from the University of Memphis during his junior year.

Malone graduated from Lyon with a B.A. in economics in 1996. During his years at Lyon, he became actively involved in the Kappa Sigma fraternity, was a member of the track team, and enjoyed playing intramural sports.

He went on to earn his J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law and his LL.M. in taxation from Sturm College of Law at the University of Denver.

“The schools I received my advanced degrees in are both excellent schools, but more than any place else I consider Lyon College to be where I truly received my education,” Malone said.

Malone worked as a tax associate with Rhea & Ivy, now Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP, and as a tax advisor for FedEx Corporation before opening his own law firm in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. He is now the owner and managing attorney of the Law Offices of Al Malone,

“The schools I received my advanced degrees in are both excellent schools, but more than any place else I consider Lyon College to be where I truly received my education.”

Southlake, Texas. His law firm specializes in bankruptcy, family law, tax law, debt negotiation, and general law.

“My philosophy is client first,” Malone said. “I simply try to find the solution that is best for the client. And I’ve found that there is always a solution.”

Malone said students considering Lyon need only to visit the campus and talk with current students as well as alumni to discover the quality of the campus.

“I believe both the current students and alumni can express what makes Lyon such a great school,” he said.

Summer 2015

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// Alumni

Alumni fill need for first-rate early childhood education in urban Dallas area

By Hannah Keller, Communications Specialist When David and Julia Shelton, both 2000 graduates of Lyon College, decided to open the new Primrose School of Preston Hollow, it was almost pure serendipity.

“It really was something that just kind of fell into our laps,” said Julia, a former middle school and high school teacher in Dallas and Plano.

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David, who works in commercial real estate, became very impressed with the Primrose model through a 15-year working relationship, acting as an advisor to the company and aiding Primrose in opening more than 40 school locations within the Dallas-Fort Worth area. However, the Sheltons’ school is only the fourth in the nation to serve a more urban location, and the first Primrose school within the 635 loop of Dallas.

“The school is traditionally more of a suburban model, but we saw a definite need for families in more urban communities for quality childcare and education,” Julia said.

The community response has been overwhelmingly positive since the school opened in February. Already, there are around 100 families on a waiting list for admission to the school, which provides childcare for children beginning at 6 weeks of age, private kindergarten for students up to age 6, and after-school care for children 6-12 years of age.

The Primrose School of Preston Hollow is housed in a two-story building, formerly a Chase Bank building that had sat vacant for a decade. The 16,000-square-foot facility has 12 classrooms with wireless technology throughout and four age-appropriate playgrounds. The curriculum has a strong focus on character building in a balanced environment of teacher-guided and studentinitiated activities. Julia said that Primrose, founded in 1982, recently opened its 300th school nationwide. It is also the first early childhood education organization in the country to receive AdvancED Corporation Systems Accreditation under the new Standards for Quality Early Learning Schools.

David and Julia maintain connections with professors and friends they met while at Lyon.

“We graduated in 2000 and married right after college. We had 10 professors and 50 or 60 friends from campus who came to our wedding, which just speaks to the type of community that Lyon fosters,” Julia said.

Both Julia and David are past members of the Alumni Council, and both serve on the President’s Council. David is also president of the Kappa Sigma Lambda Iota Alumni Association.

L-R: Julia Shelton, ’00; Jo Kirchner, President and CEO of Primrose Schools; David Shelton, ’00 Summer 2015

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// Alumni

Class Notes To submit a class note for the Winter 2016 edition of the Piper, please e-mail Alumni Director Taryn Duncan at alumni@lyon.edu. We love to hear what our alumni are up to!

Bill Walmsley, ’63, writes, “I completed my two-year tenure as a judge on Arkansas Court of Appeals. Retired effective January 1, 2015.”

Woman, and saw them in person in Houston. Fantastic.

Perhaps I can see them again when they come to Little Rock. I am still single — never married.”

George Johnson Jr., ’64, writes, “Our youngest son, Cole J. Johnson, DDS, has joined us in the practice of general dentistry in Fort Smith, Arkansas.”

The Reverend Bill Carl Marion Watson, ’69, writes, “After seminary, I took a couple of jobs while waiting to find a church that needed a minister. I went on into the church type ministry. I found that to not be a good match and went on into the secular world of work.

Because of my family’s high values on work, working through college and seminary, and the liberal arts education, finding jobs has never been a real problem, but finding high-paying jobs has always been a problem.

I believe I fully fit the idea of being able to adapt to all sorts of different work situations in and out of the church setting. Due to physical injuries I had to retire about twelve years ago. I still teach woodworking and wood carving, mostly to individuals and small groups. Two years ago I took a course in welding at Iowa Western College here in Council Bluffs. It was a wonderful class with a number of fellows almost my age, a few young fellows, and an instructor not nearly half my age. (My wife and I) have three daughters, one son-in-law, seven grandchildren, and one great grandson.”

James Milburn, ’67, writes, “This year I moved from Houston, Texas, to Calico Rock, Arkansas, where my parents are from, and about one-third of the population are my relatives. I had major eye surgery on both eyes. I can no longer drive, but I am otherwise in good health. I walk a lot; Calico Rock is a small town — perhaps 1,200 population — and most places are in walking distance.

My eye problems are no surprise; I was warned in grade school that I would have major eye problems later on.

My doctors offer hope that I can drive again in the spring. They tell me, ‘Don’t sell your car.’ Men on my father’s side of my family don’t live long. I have a picture of my father at 23; he had less hair and looked older than I do now. He died at 50, toothless; I did not expect to live past 50 myself. I took my ‘retirement’ as I went along, and have many happy memories. I saw no point in saving or living for an old age I did not expect to have. Despite the advice of a bad dentist, I lost only one tooth to cavities. Fortunately, I take after my mother — a McNeill. Her people live forever. She died at 87; her father at 97. I spend many happy hours watching Celtic

Thomas Nixon, ’77, writes “My novel, Confessions from the Pumpkin Patch, has just been published through Tiger Eye Publishing in Springdale, Arkansas, under the pen name Karlyle Tomms.”

Days gone by The Lyon College campus before the Masonic buildings and original Brown Chapel steeple were destroyed by a tornado in 1973.

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Lynda Beth Milligan, ’84, writes, “In the summer of 2014, I was named Corporate Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care in Little Rock, Arkansas. My education at Lyon definitely prepared me for a future in healthcare and all the challenges that this field offers.”

Cary Walker, ’98, writes, “I led my first set of tours for Rick Steves Europe this year. Thanks to the Nichols Study Program that inspired my love of international travel and culture far beyond my own.”

John Howell, ’00, writes, “We are blessed to have the opportunities each day, embrace it and carry forward.”

Kyla Hurt, ’02, writes, “Welp, I am working for The Source newspaper in Jacksonville, Illinois, as an advertising executive, journalist, and photographer.

Additionally, I am a contracted French interpreter for various medical facilities and hospitals; I’ve even been blessed to interpret for ten births thus far!”

Nick Kimes, ’02, and Allison (Turner) Kimes, ’03, welcomed twin girls, Emma Catherine and Madelyn Hembree, on September 3, 2014, to their family. Big Sister Grace Ann (4 1/2 years old) loves being a big sister and is a great helper! Allison is working in human resources for Commerce Bank, and Nick is a program supervisor for Arc of the Ozarks, an agency for those with mental and developmental disabilities.

Benjamin Gilbert, ’03, writes, “I’ve been working as a forensic chemist at the Arkansas State Crime Lab in Little Rock for a little more than two years now. I work with several other Lyon alumni from the late ’90s to early ’00s. Last year I bought a house in my hometown of Benton.”

Justin McGarity, ’08, writes, “On May 22, I graduated from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis with a D.D.S. I will practice dentistry at Smile Designs in Paragould, Arkansas.”

Bridget Nutt, ’10, writes, “On May 1, 2015, I started working for a company called RAP Index as the new Director of Business Development. The RAP Index is

an innovative, web-based advocacy software service that enables non-profits, state and federal associations, or corporate entities to locate and leverage key personal relationships to impact public policy. I am responsible for growing our direct sales, improving our marketing efforts, and finding strategic partnerships for the company. I am still living in Northern Virginia and loving the D.C. metropolitan region.”

Katherine (Crowell) Dubois, ’11, writes, “I was married to Matt Dubois on May 17, 2014. We are happily living in Juneau, Alaska, where he is a detective and I work on helicopter maintenance.”

Lesley Milton, ’11, writes, “I recently graduated from University of Tennessee College of Dentistry. I will now be moving to Pennsylvania to pursue a specialty in pediatric dentistry. I would like to thank God, family, friends, professors, and mentors who have helped me in my journey.”

In Memoriam Edward E. Pratt, ’38 Charlotte (Agee) Ray, ’42 Polly (Lenehan) Bell, ’46 Betty Jo (McNealy) Krenz, ’50 Robert D. Lotridge, ’52 Billie N. Orr, ’53 Grace Virginia Tidrow, ’53 Betty (Huddleston) Calaway, ’54 Avondale (Morris) Street, ’57 Doris (Elms) House, ’59 John Mumma Young, ’63 William Lloyd Lackey, ’66 Ronald H. Dunn, ’69 Willene O. Harper, ’75 Earl Wayne Lee, ’75 Laura D. Baker, ’93 Stephen Jacob Bell, ’00 William Keith Howard, ’02 Vicki Kay Dalton, ’09 Rachel Kay Stevens, ’15 Zachary Kern Lillard, ’19

Summer 2015

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// Giving

A cup of coffee leads to tradition of alumni gatherings

Above, L-R: Ed Hibbard, ’60 Cliff Tackett, ’60

What started out as a few friends agreeing to get together for a cup of coffee and a piece of pie turned into regular annual gatherings of 30 to 40 Arkansas College/Lyon College alumni.

“Fred Gray (’60) and I were going to get together with John and Sallye Dobbins (’60) for a cup of coffee,” said Cliff Tackett, ’60, one of the organizers of the group’s social gatherings. “We had trouble connecting with each other. Eventually, our plans mushroomed into dinner with 13 people.

That’s how it got started in October 2003.”

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Tackett said Sallye Dobbins suggested the group begin meeting more than just once a year. A Valentine’s dance was organized, followed by a fall festival in September.

Initially, Tackett said, the group did not hold events in conjunction with events at Lyon to avoid scheduling conflicts.

“Lynn and Dr. (Donald) Weatherman suggested we start holding our events on the same weekend as Lyon events, so those who might attend our events could also know about the events on campus and attend both,” Tackett said.

The alumni also host a Saturday night dinner in conjunction with homecoming at Lyon. The group — known to many as the “River Rats” because of their former meeting venue, the River Rats Lodge in Rosie — is composed of students who originated from small Arkansas towns such as Rosie, Floral, Earle, Ash Flat, Sidney, and more.

“We were Spragins people, so to speak,” Tackett said. “Dr. (John) Spragins had a vision of building a college where kids from these small, local towns could come and get an education and then return to their hometowns and help build up their communities.”

The group holds a weekend of events when they gather, typically having dinner Friday night, lunch in Batesville on Saturday, and then a potluck dinner Saturday evening.

Tackett said the group met for 14 years at the River Rats Lodge before it sold. Recently, they have met at the Barnett Farm in Batesville and at various members’ homes.

According to Tackett, the alumni are very dedicated to the College, and many contribute to the school in some way.

“Our group is made up of some of the best people I know. There’s a closeness among us,” he said.

Ed Hibbard, ’62, credits that family atmosphere with helping him get through college.

“I attended a very small school in the Hoxie/ Walnut Ridge area, so moving to Arkansas College was a big move for me. A big part of my education was gained living in the dormitory and being a part of that family atmosphere on campus,” said Hibbard, who went on to be a pilot in the Air Force after college and later flew commercially for Delta

“Dr. (John) Spragins had a vision of building a college where kids from these small, local towns could come and get an education and then return to their hometowns and help build up their communities.”

Airlines. “I’m convinced that I would not have graduated from college had I attended a larger state university. I will never forget what Arkansas College did for me.”

Above, L-R: Andy Buck,’63, and Ed Jolly, ’62, grilling at the River Rats Lodge

The group’s next gathering will be August 29 in conjunction with the tailgate party for Lyon’s first intercollegiate football game. All alumni are invited to attend.

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Higher Learning Commission request for third party comments Lyon College is seeking comments from the public about the College in preparation for its periodic evaluation by its regional accrediting agency.

The College will host a visit November 9-10, 2015, with a team representing the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. Lyon College was first accredited by the Commission in 1959. The team will review the institution’s ongoing ability to meet the Commission’s Criteria for Accreditation.

The public is invited to submit comments regarding the College: Public Comment on Lyon College The Higher Learning Commission 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500 Chicago, IL 60604-1411 The public may also submit comments on the Commission’s website: www.ncahlc.org Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution or its academic programs. Comments must be in writing. All comments must be received by October 9, 2015.

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Lyon College is

growing...

With the entrance of one record-breaking freshman class after another, Lyon College is bigger than ever—which means more students need your support than ever. Give to the Annual Scholarship Fund today and help us make history.

lyon.edu/give

Office of Communications P.O. Box 2317 Batesville, AR 72503-2317 lyon.edu

Lyon Scots Football Season Opener Saturday, August 29 12 p.m. Tailgate 1 p.m. Kickoff

Pioneer Stadium Batesville High School 1 Pioneer Drive

Lyon College vs. Tabor College See Page 16 for a schedule of all fall 2015 home games. www.LyonScots.com