The Old Made New

“The Loft” Provides Space for Students to Gather

One of the oldest buildings on campus is home to the newest hangout spot for students. The Loft, found on the second floor of the McConnell building, has table games like pool and pingpong as well as games like cornhole for students to decompress and several different seating areas to be able to hangout. But this is just the start; what events could this new place hold in the future?

Many professors and alumni remember when this area was previously renovated from McConnell Gym to The Loft in 1985. It was open until 2014 when it had to be closed due to structural issues. During the time it was open, alumni like Danielle Plimpton, coach for the national champion Bailey Mountain Cloggers and MHU’s cheer and dance teams, remembers the events that used to be hosted there, like “Welcome Back to School” dances, fashion shows, clogging performances, Greek life events, and Mr. and Miss Mars Hill pageants.

Plimpton said, “I loved these events and would love to see them back on this campus. I remember winning the Miss Mars Hill Pageant my senior year. It was just such a fun event for students to take part in and watch. This space has a wonderful opportunity to hold events that would be more engaging for the school that could allow students to express themselves.”

The Loft was used for storage for ten years prior to 2022. That summer, faculty and staff, with the help of some local students, cleaned out The Loft and began repainting the walls and adding seating, lighting, and a sound system. There was a great turnout when students showed up for the opening in September to have fun, play games, and hang out. One of the students who attended the opening was Abby McLeod, a junior dance team member. She said “It doesn’t feel like a classroom space like a lot of the places on campus for us since we have classes

by Samuel Evans

in every building but that one. So, it is nice to have a place to separate yourself from your schoolwork while staying on campus!”

Lisa Wachtman, the Senior Director of Student Persistence at Mars Hill University and one of the faculty members helping clean The Loft, said, “I think it already has had an impact on morale. Reopening The Loft created a gathering space for students that we haven’t seen on this campus in the recent past.”

After only a semester of being open, the space has held events like ice cream socials, holiday parties, a World Cup viewing party, and a clogging performance. A Halloween event in The Loft on October 30 called the “Freak Show” had a costume contest, pizza, dessert, and music.

Aliyah Brewer, a cheerleader and junior at the university, said, “All the events they’ve had there so far have been really fun, especially the Halloween event.”

The Loft is the perfect place for students to gather. It has a rich history and the most comfortable couches. The location is perfect for students to hang between classes or at night to just rest and work on their mental health. For some students, like McLeod, it means even more because “it was a spot for my mom when she was here so I’m excited to make the same memories she did.”

The Mars Hill University student life and Campus Activities Board have been collaborating to find innovative ideas for events in the Loft. Hopefully, they will pull inspiration from what has gone well this first semester and from past events. The Loft is just in the beginning of its effect on the MHU campus. It has the perfect location and space to help students thrive.

Groce Receives Baptist Heritage Award

Trustee Mike Groce has been selected as the Mars Hill University recipient of the Baptist Heritage Award for 2023.

Groce is a graduate of the class of 1968 and has been a member of the board of trustees for three decades, including a term as chair of the board. The university’s recognition of him for the award notes that his reassuring, steady leadership style has contributed mightily to the university’s growth.

The Baptist Heritage Awards are presented each year through the North Carolina Baptist Foundation. This year’s slate of recipients includes some other Mars Hill alumni: George R. Renfro ’75, recognized by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, and Milton Hollifield ’77, recognized by the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.

New Trustees Welcomed

Mars Hill University welcomed the newest members of the board of trustees to their first meeting on May 5. New trustees are (l-r) Austin Lee ’03 of Atlanta, Ga.; Brian Danforth ’06 of Gainesville, Fla.; McKelle Ulm ’02 of Willow Spring, N.C.; Jameson Donnell ’12 of Charlotte, N.C.; and Doug Echols ’67 of Rock Hill, S.C.

To all our alumni and friends who helped make DAY4MHU a success!

We completed the one-day campaign with 462 donors, and a total amount raised of $255,236!

Longtime Faculty Retire

Five longtime members of the faculty retired in December of 2022.

They are, left to right: Dr. Joanna Pierce, dean of arts and humanities, professor of English, department chair; Dr. Marc Mullinax, professor of religion; Cathy Adkins, executive director of general studies, professor of music, campus organist; Dr. Yael Baldwin, professor of psychology, department chair; and Richard Seagle, assistant professor of theatre arts.

Moore Lobby Renovated

Mars Hill University unveiled beautiful new renovations to the lobby of Moore Fine Arts Building on May 5.

As the entry to Moore Auditorium, the lobby is one of the most public areas of the university. Renovations include new wood paneling on the wall facing the entrance, new flooring and carpet, and a beautiful new mural which represents the fine arts subjects taught in the building. The plaque describing the life and career of Dr. Robert Lee Moore, for whom the building is named, has been moved, but remains in the entrance of the building.

Athletics

Mike Kelly To Be Inducted into SAC Hall of Fame with Distinguished Alumni Award

Mars Hill’s Mike Kelly will be named to the South Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame and receive the Distinguished Alumni Award in May.

Kelly, a 1982 graduate of Mars Hill, was a four-year member of the men’s basketball team, scoring over 1,300 points in his career for the Lions, averaging 11.7 points per game.

Kelly enjoyed a very successful career in the corporate world with Macy’s and Michelin, with experience in operations, human resources, finance, marketing, and sales.

After more than 25 years in the corporate world, Kelly and his wife, Melinda, started Right Path Enterprises and Kelly Financial Planning in 2014, with the goal of teaching leader development and culture transformation by providing consulting, training, and coaching services with excellence and integrity.

Kelly is also an active member of the community, having been involved with Rotary International for over 24 years, serving a variety of board and leadership roles in the organization. He also served as the chair of the board of trustees at Mars Hill University for two years from January 2021 through December 2022.

Recently, Kelly authored a book, Leaderfluence: Secrets of Leadership Essential to Effectively Leading Yourself and Positively Influencing Others.