The Magazine of Mars Hill University | Fall 2020
Baptism By Fire Nursing Grads Go From Senior Year Into a Pandemic
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The Magazine of Mars Hill University | Fall 2020
MAGAZINE STAFF: Editor: Teresa Buckner, Director of Publications Associate Editor: Mike Thornhill ’88, Director of Communications Additional Contributors: Cassidy Belcher, Junior Elementary Education Major; Bud Christman, Vice President for Advancement; Jimmy Knight, Director of the Cothran Center for Career Readiness; Felice Lopez Bell, Assistant Professor of English; Steven McBride, Adjunct Professor of Art; Jaime McKee ’00, Director of Online Presence; Cindy Whitt ’06, Senior Business Analyst; Adam Williams, Director of Athletic Communications
President’s Leadership Team: Tony Floyd, J.D., President
Tracy Parkinson, Ph.D., Provost
Rick Baker, Director of Athletics
Grainger Caudle, Ph.D., Senior Director of Planning and Strategy
Bud Christman, Vice President for Advancement
Samantha Fender, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications
Joy Kish, Ed.D. ’82, Senior Director of Alumni and Trustee Relations
Jennie Matthews, Director of Human Resources
Rev. Stephanie McLeskey, University Chaplain
Dave Rozeboom, Ph.D., Vice President for Student Life
Neil Tilley, Vice President for Finance
Kristie Vance ’07, Director of Admissions
Mars Hill, The Magazine of Mars Hill University is published regularly by the Office of Marketing and Communications. It is distributed, without charge, to alumni, donors, and friends of the university. Notices of changes of address and class notes should be addressed to the Alumni Office, Mars Hill University, P.O. Box 6792, Mars Hill, N.C., 28754. Phone 828-689-1102. Email alumni@mhu.edu. Letters to the editor and all other correspondence regarding the magazine should be addressed to the Office of Marketing and Communications, Mars Hill University, P.O. Box 6765, Mars Hill, N.C., 28754. Phone 828-689-1304. Email tbuckner@mhu.edu. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Alumni Office, Mars Hill University, P.O. Box 6792, Mars Hill, N.C., 28754. Copyright 2020. All rights reserved.
Cover photo: Rebecca Rhea ’20, at work in her Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), at Haywood Regional Hospital. Photo at right: MHU put on a display of lanterns in May 2020, in honor of university graduates. Photo by Jaime McKee ’00.
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IN THIS ISSUE Tracy Parkinson Named Provost..............................5 MHU Adopts Academic Commitments to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion........................6 MHU Professor Publishes Coronavirus Research.......9 Creativity in Quarantine....................................... 10 #MHUCovid19Creativity Project
Teaching In the Shadow of COVID-19...................... 12 Amazing Alumni................................................... 14 Nursing Graduates Find Themselves on the Front Lines of the Pandemic
MHU Legacies...................................................... 16 Four Faithful Friends of MHU Pass from the Scene
Student Reflection............................................... 21 Bonners Serve In Washington, D.C.
What’s NEW at MHU?............................................ 22 New majors, new minors, and more online programs
Campus News...................................................... 24 Special Issue of the Cadenza and Birthday Parades for Drs. Hart and Jolley
Lions Athletics..................................................... 26 Fall Sports Postponed Until Spring Lions’ Choice Awards Held Online
Class Notes.......................................................... 28
Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2020 3
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Has there ever been a more critical time in the history of our country for young people to become educated and prepared for the real world? Educated not only in the traditional sense but also in the sense of navigating uncertainty, planning, living life in a responsible way, and living with others in a diverse environment and community? We are proud that Mars Hill University provides unique opportunities. We are not a perfect place and we have a lot that we need to work on as a community but I can think of no better place for a young person to come to learn and be surrounded by loving and caring people. We have spent a great deal of time since March reimagining how the university can adapt to the new normal in our country. This fall we face a future of adjusting to campus life in the middle of a global pandemic, and a social revolution in which so many of our students seek to achieve fair and equal treatment for all. At Mars Hill, we acknowledge that there are many things we need to work on as a community. In this edition of the magazine, you will see some of the immediate action steps we are taking this year. We are investing in and raising the visibility of the Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and our new Academic Support Center to make them a focal point of happenings on campus. We have appointed a new full-time director for our center, and created a new location on the first floor of Renfro Library that will centralize and create an intersection between Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion activities and academic support. Our faculty has made a commitment to a more inclusive curriculum. We continue to increase support and commitment to improve the graduation rate of our students and will especially treasure gains in graduation rates of students in minority categories as a reflection of our institution. The emptying of our campus this spring due to the threat of the novel coronavirus and the delay of our students’ return in the fall has been a challenge like no other. Through it all, we see story after story of the perseverance of our students, and the grit and determination of our most recent alumni class, the class of 2020. Although we haven’t even held their graduation ceremony yet, they have jumped right in to their chance at making the world a better place. This is why we are all proud to be a part of this university. Seeing the transformation of our students and their handprint on this world is what should continue to make us all proud to be Lions. Thank you for your support and prayers throughout this season of crisis. We appreciate your presence in our lives. Our students and the people who work here need you more than ever as we face uncertainty throughout the 2020-2021 year. We hope to be able to see you later in the year or early next year as conditions change and hopefully improve.
Tony Floyd, J.D. President
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Tracy Parkinson Named Provost Mars Hill University has appointed Tracy Parkinson, Ph.D., as provost and vice president of enrollment management. Parkinson comes to the university from Coker University in Hartsville, South Carolina, where he most recently served as executive vice president. He began his new position at Mars Hill on June 1.
diversity and inclusion, and interdisciplinary studies. Heavily involved in work with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Parkinson also brings experience with the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education; the Board of Trustees of Carolina Pines Medical Center; the board of the TEACH Foundation, and multiple projects with the Yes We Must Coalition, a national consortium of small, private colleges committed to serving first-generation and Pell-eligible students.
Mars Hill President Tony Floyd said, “Dr. Parkinson is an incredibly well-rounded and gifted academic who has devoted his life to higher education and students. He shares Mars Hill values that emphasize the importance of students being Before going to Coker, Parkinson grounded in the liberal arts. served as professor of modern His love of the humanities is languages and then as associate evident, as he spent many years vice president for academic as a professor of modern foreign affairs at King College in Bristol, languages and literatures. After Tennessee. working side-by-side with him Parkinson said, “I am convinced for a number of years, I know, that higher education’s best work without hesitation, that he is a over the coming years, that of gifted leader. His personal story helping students discover their mirrors that of many of our potential, persist to graduation, students; he grew up in rural and discern a sense of purpose, Tennessee and graduated from will be accomplished at places Tracy Parkinson a small private institution as a like Mars Hill. The places that first-generation student. I love make the biggest difference that he spent much of his life in will be the MHUs of the world. I am honored and international travel and study in France and Spain. humbled to have the opportunity to be part of that He has vast experience with accreditation, a key effort, and I will commit my best effort to help us priority for Mars Hill University as we enter into our achieve our aspirations for the university and its reaffirmation process in 2022.” students.” Parkinson served as provost at Coker University A native of Cleveland, Tennessee, Parkinson earned from 2011–2017 and most recently served as his undergraduate degree at Carson-Newman executive vice president and acting president at College and his master’s and Ph.D. at the University Coker. He has also been a leader in undergraduate of Tennessee at Knoxville. He also has studied at admissions, financial and strategic planning, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela in Spain, student life, and information technology. During Cornell University, and the American University his time as provost, he oversaw the launch of five of Paris. Parkinson is married to Nichole Long, a master’s programs and the development of the Student Success Coach and Adjunct Lecturer university’s first online programs, honors program, in Business at Coker University. They have two two B.F.A. degrees, and centers for teaching children, Adkins, an upcoming kindergartener, and and learning, leadership and entrepreneurship, Abigail, a rising senior at Furman University. Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2020 5
MHU Adopts Academic Commitments to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion When the history of 2020 is written, it will be seen, not just as a time of pandemic, but also as a time when an explosion of rage and protest nationwide forced the country to confront a series of uncomfortable questions about the state of race relations. Chief among them are: Do Black lives really matter in America? And does our nation really offer, as promised in our pledge of allegiance, “liberty and justice for all”? Academic and administration officials at Mars Hill University sought to make a powerful statement to its students, and beyond, that MHU is an institution which is “vigorously committed to anti-racism, equity, and inclusion,” when in June of this year, it published a series of academic commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion. According to Amanda Knapp, Ph.D., chair of the faculty for ’20-’23, the document was created by the academic deans, the provost, the past and current faculty chair, and the directors of the centers for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) and Community Engagement, and included items that the faculty commit to doing in order to be more inclusive. “This document was inspired by reactions of some of our students and alums to the issues of inequality going on in our country,” she said. “Although their reflections on their experiences at Mars Hill were hard to hear, we truly appreciated their honesty. It gave us pause and made us take an honest look at the policies we do and do not have on campus that may be causing inequality.” Jonathan McCoy ’92, director of the Center for DEI, said the goal was to create a unified community, rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion, ideals which are in keeping with the core of MHU, and the liberal arts education it offers. “The goal wasn’t just to look at what MHU has done before, but to admit that we haven’t worked hard
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enough to sustain and advance our mission of creating a diverse, inclusive community equitable to all,” he said. “We then worked to develop sustainable benchmarks with realistic pathways to not only achieving them but to continually improving upon them.” Among the most obvious and visible steps to be taken for this fall, are (1) the movement of the Office of DEI to Renfro Library, where it will have a more accessible and prominent role in the life of the university, and (2) the institution of training and other programs on campus for faculty, staff, and students which raise awareness on issues like implicit bias and microaggressions toward African-Americans, other minority groups, and LGBTQ+ students. But perhaps the most important promise of the commitments is less visible: that the university pledges to maintain a continued stance of listening and learning from underrepresented student groups. “As we come together in the fall, the types of questions our students of color will be asking the MHU community will center around ‘Are you listening to what we have to say and working to act on our concerns?’” McCoy said. “‘Or, are you not really listening to us and are trying to get back to a state of being comfortable?’ Answering these questions means having difficult uncomfortable conversations. This requires listening and meditating on what is said.” Knapp said, “We acknowledge that we do not know all of the actions that need to be taken at Mars Hill in the area of equity and inclusion, but we are committed to listening, learning, and then taking action to improve so that everyone has a richer experience.”
The entire text of the document which enumerates the commitments to the campus community is on page 8.
Graphic image by Kendall Bines, MHU Student #mhucovid19creativity
Amanda Knapp (left), chair of the MHU faculty, and Jonathan McCoy, director of the Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are pictured in the beautiful new (unfinished) space to be occupied by the Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. DEI has moved to Renfro Library with the Academic Support Center, in the space formerly occupied by Ramsey Center for Appalachian Studies (which has moved to the first floor of the library). The move is designed to make diversity and academic support more accessible and prominent parts of university life. Mars Hill the Magazine will feature more about these new spaces in the spring 2021 issue.
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OUR COMMITMENTS To the Mars Hill University community: Institutions of higher education, including Mars Hill College/University, despite their high ideals, have long contributed to systemic inequities. We must do better, and we will do better. We promise to endeavor to do so. There are no right words in this watershed moment of such immense suffering and turmoil engulfing communities across our nation and world, but there are right actions we can begin to take together that will move us forward. We are committed to listening to and learning from every voice. We are committed to remembering that there is much we do not know. We are committed to the work of dismantling the systems that serve some but not all. Healthy education, like income, housing, and health care, is a human rights issue. The resolution below is a first step towards becoming a better institution, vigorously committed to anti-racism, equity, and inclusion, and we can only apologize that these actions were not taken sooner. The undersigned members of the Mars Hill faculty, teaching staff, and academic administration, resolve to: • Engage actively in professional development related to diversity, equity, and inclusion as a primary focus of the August, 2020, faculty workshops and commit to ongoing professional development in this vital area. • Make discussions of diversity, equity, and justice a more integral part of the FY (First Year) curriculum. • Revise existing curricula to better include diverse voices and experiences, in all disciplines, at the course and program level. • Embrace and learn about inclusive teaching/ pedagogy, and commit to faculty development in this area. • Ensure that students, faculty, and staff representing diverse viewpoints and experiences have more regular, meaningful opportunities to give voice to those viewpoints and experiences in ways that will bring concrete change to campus (e.g., listening sessions, focus groups). 8 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2020
• Work intentionally to create an academic environment in which all students have an equitable opportunity to be academically successful, and make changes in instruction and support whenever we discover disparities. • Help to create a campus environment free from discriminating symbols historically associated with supremacist or genocide movements. Lists such as this one will always be insufficient and incomplete; this is a working document, and a beginning. We do not limit ourselves to the above resolutions, and we further pledge to create ongoing opportunities designed to identify how else we can improve, both personally and systemically, as we work towards making Mars Hill an educational community more deeply committed to equity and inclusion for all of our diverse voices. We have beliefs and must strive to live up to them. We believe that responsibility is the foundation of a community. Being responsible calls us to do the things we need to do so that we may be who we say we are. Being responsible means that we must acknowledge, confront, and address our shortcomings and reaffirm our commitment to being and doing better. Our responsibility, as an institution and as individuals, is to create and maintain a community that is both safe and empowering (mentally, emotionally, and physically). The inequalities brought into the harsh light of day by COVID-19 and the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery exist not only nationally but here on our campus. And we pledge to work together as a responsible community to be and do better. Amanda Knapp, Faculty Chair, 2020-23
June 2020
Tracy Parkinson, Provost Donna Parsons, Dean of Professional Programs and Social Sciences Scott Pearson, Dean of Math and Sciences Joanna Pierce, Dean of Arts and Humanities Marc Mullinax, Faculty Chair, 2017-20 Jonathan McCoy, Interim Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Deb Myers, Director of the Center for Community Engagement
Faculty Focus
MHU PROFESSOR PUBLISHES CORONAVIRUS RESEARCH by Teresa Buckner, Director of Publications
Researchers worldwide are currently engaged in a race against time with life and death implications for many of the world’s people. Their aim is to defeat or at least stem the tide against a tiny but powerful enemy, SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19. Jeddidiah W.D. Griffin, assistant professor of biology at Mars Hill University, has joined that fight with research which he hopes will provide a starting point for researchers who are developing drug therapies against the virus. Griffin’s research investigates the structure of SARS-CoV-2. His paper, titled “SARSCoV and SARS-CoV-2 main protease residue interaction networks change when bound to inhibitor N3,” was recently published in the Journal of Structural Biology (published online July 2020). According to Griffin, the complicated name of the research article belies a relatively simple concept: to identify how the structure of the enzyme which enables the COVID-19 virus to reproduce changes when inhibited.
The structure and replication process of SARS-CoV-2 is similar in some respects to SARS-CoV, the virus which emerged in in Asia in 2003 and caused severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The same protein, he said, enables both viruses to reproduce. Griffin said he used a branch of mathematics called graph theory to identify the parts of the protein which maintain the network of amino acid interactions which, in turn, may keep the protein molecule working. The goal of the research was to investigate how networks in working proteins differ from inhibited proteins.
Dr. Jedd Griffin
That concept, then, becomes the building block for treatments against the disease. “SARS-CoV-2 uses a protein called the main protease to complete building new viruses inside cells,” Griffin said. “If the main protease can be inhibited by an antiviral drug, it may prevent SARS-CoV-2 from replicating. This is why the structure of the main protease is the focus of my research.”
“Imagine crumpling up a strip of paper. In the crumpled paper, some parts of the strip will touch other parts of the strip, forming a network of interactions,” Griffin said. “This is like a string of amino acid residues that fold up into a protein. In my research, I use computers to make sense of the connections within a protein, much like drawing a map of all the connections within the imagined crumpled strip of paper.”
Griffin’s research conclusions identified several “residue network clusters” in the protein which may disrupt the protein connections if changed. Other researchers then, may use those vulnerable connections as a starting point in the development of therapeutic drugs which target the virus.
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Student Work
Creativity in Quarantine by Steven McBride, MHU Adjunct Professor of Art
As the COVID-19 pandemic tightened its grip on society in March, we soon realized our students would likely not be returning to campus for the remaining semester. As a result, our much anticipated student art exhibition would have to be canceled, which was disheartening for students and faculty alike.
Artist: Emilee Burriss
In an effort to keep students creating while “sheltering in place,” and to create a space where these works could be seen and enjoyed by a wide audience, the MHU art department in collaboration with the art therapy program created the #mhucovid19creativity project. This project was designed as a creative outlet for any MHU student to showcase their creative works done during this time of isolation. All creative genres and mediums were encouraged—painting, drawing, photography, writing/short stories, poetry, mixed media, sculpture/clay, or any other medium the students had at hand. This opened the door for students to creatively and visually express their isolation, in a way that spoke to them, utilizing any tools and supplies they had available. For some, this was a serious reflection upon their isolation; for others it was simply a creative passage of time. Students were asked to post their creative works to their Instagram and Facebook pages with the #mhucovid19creativity hashtag. Right away, it was apparent that this was going to be a success, as many students started posting their creations with the hashtag, #mhucovid19creativity. Paintings, photography, digital art, drawing, ceramics, and other mediums were being submitted. Students “liked” and commented on each others work, as well as many other family, friends, and strangers. Creativity abounds for MHU students, out of isolation and into the world!
Artist: Kendall Bines
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The art department plans to host an exhibition in the Weizenblatt Glass Gallery early in the 2020 fall semester that will feature a selection of these expressions that students have created during this time of COVID-19 isolation. The MHU marketing & communications office has also pulled selected student works from this page to showcase on the Mars Hill social media outlets.
#MHUCovid19Creativity Project
*To see all the posted work, search from your Instagram account. #mhucovid19creativity
Artist: Gabrielle Gianikos
Artist: Gabrielle Gianikos
Artist: Sarah Ingalls
Artist: Emilee Burriss
Artist: Kendall Bines
Artist: Sarah Ingalls
Artist: Sarah Ingalls
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Teaching In the Shadow of COVID-19 The spring semester and summer sessions of 2020 were unprecedented at Mars Hill University and across the nation. From March through August, all classes at MHU were conducted online and professors that have long built their teaching style around the value of personal contact suddenly found themselves teaching across the impersonal space of the internet, many for the first time. One professor shares her thoughts and those of her colleagues during this time of intense adjustment. by Felice Lopez Bell Assistant Professor of English
This spring semester, I taught composition classes and an interdisciplinary class on the undead. In the course, my students and I explore the role of the zombie in contemporary literature, film, and other artistic forms of expression from across the world. Before March, I’d never taught online. I knew that this semester would be different for my colleagues across campus: the Information Technology Department gave out laptops and WIFI hotspots, the Center for Student Success moved their tutoring services online, and faculty adjusted their courses with little time for preparation.
One afternoon my home internet connection was weak, so I walked to Cornwell Hall to grade poetry, short stories, comics, and short films about zombies. When I left the building, the sun had disappeared. The streets were deserted: the sidewalk in front of Papa Nick’s was empty. It was the same street, the same buildings, the same students, but it felt eerily and completely changed. The virus may have killed the semester that we expected, but the semester rose again and shuffled toward the future.
In the Fine Arts
I normally spend hours with my ENG 111 students in my office reading rough drafts aloud and discussing revisions. In ENG 112, we use the library resources to find, evaluate, and utilize research materials--easy to do with a classroom located in Renfro Library. In the undead class, we watch films, discuss Haitian religion and history, touch on concepts from race and gender in film to Bella Lugosi and George Romero.
Shane Mickey, assistant professor of art, highlights the brighter side of the shift to online classes: “Mars Hill has a schedule that does not allow studiobased courses to have long contact hours like most other institutions. That means some things are harder to cover in depth such as art history, contemporary field work, and deeper critical discourse beyond students’ work. I used the move online to fill in some of those gaps!
From March to May, I met with my students on Zoom or over the phone to talk about their papers: instead of 15-minute conferences, we met for 30 minutes. Instead of interactive classroom activities, I created videos, online quizzes, and interactive digital exercises. We peer reviewed by email. Students texted me their papers or photographs of assignments. They submitted work in the days following funerals and hospital visits. I relaxed deadlines and did away with the attendance policy.
Scott Lowery, our drawing and painting professor, at first was perplexed by what to do and started with standard approaches, terminology, research etc. Scott saw an opportunity that would require some work. He used a copy stand to video his demonstrations for his drawing techniques class and had students attempt them remotely. Studio professors are not able to make suggestions and corrections in real time with online processes, but
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Scott made a great and successful attempt at this! The sudden move to online models, while challenging and not ideal, did have its upside. Professors were able to look at their pedagogy in new ways, think creatively about how to disseminate information, and prepare for whatever the fall and spring semesters may bring. After all, that is what we are known for: creativity!”
In the Sciences Dr. Nicole Soper Gorden, assistant professor of biology, said, “I knew that I would have students with poor or no internet, students with unstable living conditions, students who had to work more or help with childcare or caregiving, students dealing with stress and anxiety, and students with a hundred other challenges in their way. And more practically, students were without textbooks and couldn’t use lab equipment.” “One of the most difficult transitions was trying to replicate hands-on learning experiences, like science classes get in lab periods, in an online environment...I had to think about each lab I had planned for in-person instruction, pick apart
its most important goal, and find an activity to address that same goal. For example, one of the big goals of my plant taxonomy lab is to teach students how to identify plants using field guides, dichotomous keys, and other resources. Since we couldn’t do this together at MHU, I instead had each student find and photograph five plants near their home and identify them to species.” “Despite the stress, despite the challenging conditions, despite the extra work and disrupted schedules, students overwhelmingly stepped up. I had student meetings while students were getting ready to go to work or were babysitting younger siblings. I had students with almost non-existent internet access who I could only reliably contact by phone. I had students who were struggling with course material, but they were willing to struggle through it with me until they figured it out. And those students all blew me away with their tenacity, strength, and grace under pressure. So if there’s one thing I hope everyone gets from last semester’s trials, it’s this: our students are fierce, and I’m proud of all of them.”
From left, clockwise: Nicole Soper Gorden, Felice Lopez Bell, and Shane Mickey came up with creative ways to teach their classes this spring, using a series of live and recorded video sessions.
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Amazing Alumni
Baptism By Fire Nursing Graduates Find Themselves on the Front Lines of the Pandemic By Jimmy Knight, Director of the Cothran Center for Career Readiness
Graduation from college is normally a time of excitement, transition, and hope for the future. But imagine graduating this May, into a climate of fear, lockdowns, and social upheaval. Now, imagine that you’re launching into a career that immediately places you on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19. That’s exactly where many of the 2020 graduating class from the Judge-McRae School of Nursing found themselves this summer. We asked three recent graduates what it has been like to transition from college to the working world, into the teeth of a global pandemic.
Cassidy Allen Patterson ’20 Givens Estates Becoming a new nurse during a pandemic is what some would call, “baptism by fire.” The days are long, personal protective equipment is in extremely short supply, patients are inconsolable and lonely without family by the bedside, and protocol and information for COVID-19 is ever changing. As a new nurse you always have the feeling you don’t know enough, but it is much worse when the information is constantly evolving such as with the COVID-19 virus. But it is through this pandemic that I have learned so much from those around me. Each day I see people who show up and get to work regardless of the risks associated with it. Nurses are not the only ones doing it either. I have seen environmental service workers in full PPE cleaning and disinfecting rooms so those rooms can be opened back up and used again; I have seen dining service workers show up everyday to feed patients regardless of the risks associated with our workplace; and I have seen maintenance workers wearing N-95 masks and face shields so they can come in and make sure equipment is in working order. I am sure none of these people ever thought that they would live or work through a time like this. Even so, they have committed themselves to contributing in any way they can. Families truly do not understand that nurses and doctors are the tip of the iceberg. You thank me because I am the face you see all the time, but I would not be able to do my job without the help of so many other people. 14 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2020
Cassidy Allen Patterson ’20 (left) wears a full set of personal protective equipment (PPE), including three masks: an N-95 mask (underneath), a surgical mask, and a plastic face shield. She tested positive for COVID-19 in July, has recovered, and is back at work. You can read more of Cassidy’s testimonial in the “Mountain Movers” section of the MHU website, at www.mhu.edu/mm. Becca Rhea ’20 (below) also wears full PPE on her floor. Maegan Thomas ’20 (below, right) is not on a COVID floor. She wears a surgical mask, but does not have to wear a full set of PPE.
of coaching from another registered nurse. The preceptor I’m with right now has been really helpful. She’s shown me a lot of tips and tricks to stay balanced throughout all this. They like to tell us that they can teach skills and pass on knowledge, but critical thinking skills, personality, and the ability to talk to people are things that can’t be taught.
Rebecca Rhea ’20
Maegan Thomas ’20
Haywood Regional Hospital
Mission Hospitals
It’s definitely been interesting! Not only were we new grads, but we also didn’t get a hands-on transition to practice. We had to do it all online, so from the beginning I felt behind because we missed out on 120 hours of hands-on experience. Throw COVID into that, where there’s continuing research into a new virus, people are still doing trial runs and experimenting with different treatments options—it’s been a lot to take in, and really fast! And I’m working in the ICU, so I’m getting used to wearing the N-95 mask, dressing out for COVID patients, then changing out for other patients; and doing it all appropriately so we don’t contaminate anyone else’s area or room. It’s been a lot, but it’s also been a big learning opportunity. I’m learning a lot more about respiratory issues and treatments. I’m working a lot with ventilator settings and learning about all the medication options that go with that. While it IS a lot, I’m working with a preceptor, so it’s not “just me.” I’m getting a lot
Immediately after we graduated, everyone was having a fairly hard time finding testing centers that were taking students for board testing because of all the social distancing taking place. They were doing a minimal number of students per testing center. So, I got all of a week’s notice before I took my final boards. That was super interesting and stressful! I was studying 24/7 for a week straight so I could make sure I could pass my boards and start my job on time. That’s what I was hit with from the very beginning with COVID. I was hired on at Mission in the staffing pool, initially. And what that means is that you are a nurse that floats to any department that is understaffed for that shift. But I got a call about a month ago to let me know that I was already being transferred to a cardio hall, which is perfectly fine with me, because I love cardio work. I think it makes sense to have more experienced nurses in the pool than folks like me who are just starting out. Thinking about it, we’re probably going to see more COVID cases with these horrible lung and heart complications, and so they’re going to want really experienced nurses to take care of as many as they can. So yes, it’s definitely been a challenging time for us — for everyone in healthcare.” Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2020 15
MHU Legacies
Four Faithful Friends of MHU Pass from the Scene Ferguson, Helvey, Nash, Pittman. For anyone associated with Mars Hill University, their names may sound familiar. Whether you knew them in life or not, they have impacted you and the institution you call home.
Dr. Jack Ferguson by Teresa Buckner, Director of Publications
Some people have the goal to make a million dollars in their lives. Jack Ferguson’s goal was to give away a million dollars. By the time he passed away in May of this year, he had done that many times over.
nature, even in the leaner years of their lives together. From buying things he didn’t need to help out the seller, to making numerous small loans to friends, Jack Ferguson made helping out people in times of need a way of life.
“He was always very much a gentleman,” Carolyn Mars Hill University was one of the primary said. “He was a very outgoing person; never met recipients of the generosity of Jack Ferguson and a stranger. Since he worked in his wife Carolyn. Faculty, staff, sales all his life, he had to be students, and alumni of MHU that way. And he wanted to help experience that generosity any people whenever he could.” time they attend class, have a meeting, or go to a homecoming Jack Ferguson was born in event at Ferguson Math and Clyde, N.C., and lived much Science Center or Ferguson of his childhood during the Health Sciences Center. Less Great Depression. According to visible is the nursing scholarship Carolyn, he always remembered the Fergusons established at the insecurity of having to save MHU, or their contributions to up ration stamps to buy the upgrades to the Ammons Field basic necessities of life. Those House, or to Henderson Field, memories made him want to Jack and Carolyn Ferguson or the time and leadership contribute to a better life for his they have donated, she as a children, his grandchildren, and trustee (multiple terms) and he as a member of the his community. Foundation Board and the university’s Investment After his service in the Korean War, Jack attended committee. Blanton’s Business School (now South College), and
For their many contributions to MHU and to the region, in 2004, MHU named the Fergusons Philanthropists of the Year and in 2006, the university awarded them with doctorates of humane letters. They were also awarded with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by the state of N.C. in 2002. According to Carolyn Ferguson, generosity and kindness were always part of Jack Ferguson’s 16 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2020
he went to work for Lowe’s Home Improvement. He and Carolyn married, and raised cattle, tobacco, and sometimes produce, as well as four children: two boys and two girls.
He became a manager at Lowes, and over time, he managed various stores in western North Carolina. Through an employee payroll deduction program, the Fergusons began buying stock in the growing company, a little at a time.
“It wasn’t very much at a time, but over the years, it amounted to quite a bit,” Carolyn said. As their children grew up, Jack continued working at Lowes and Carolyn oversaw the farming. Their hard work and patience, together with a knack for investing in land and stocks, eventually led the Fergusons to the place where they could invest in their wider community. According to Carolyn, the Fergusons’ giving has been strategically directed at supporting the work of Baptist missions, and at serving the people and communities of western North Carolina. In addition to their generosity to Mars Hill University, the couple has donated generously to AshevilleBuncombe Technical Community College, Mission Hospitals Cancer Center, North Carolina Baptist Children’s Homes, the medical ministry of AshevilleBuncombe Community Christian Ministry, the EnkaCandler YMCA, Enka High School, and the ministries of Hominy Baptist Church in Candler. Their family also evaluates and funds smaller projects through the Ferguson Family Foundation. Their giving criteria drew them to MHU several years ago, where they met and became friends with President Emeritus and former First Lady Dan and Beverly Lunsford. According to Dr. Lunsford, the Fergusons have been faithful stewards of their financial blessings. But in a larger sense, they are the kind of people who live the values of Mars Hill University every day. “First and foremost, Jack and Carolyn Ferguson have been true philanthropic partners with MHU for lifting up the institution and its students. They made decisions together on how they would invest their resources to impact the lives of MHU
students, and other people within their community. Jack, especially, had a heart for helping others, while being practical at the same time in order to maximize the impact of the gift. He didn’t just want to give money; he wanted to make a gift that would impact lives forever and make them better for the long run.” On a personal level, Lunsford said he always treasured the relationship he enjoyed with the Fergusons. “I always felt they were just fine Christian people, and I have the greatest respect and honor for the impact they have had in the areas of education, medical care, recreation, and the ministries of their church, to mention a few.” Jack Ferguson’s wealth, though, never made him forget his roots, according to Jimmy Knight, Director of the MHU Cothran Center for Career Readiness. Knight got to know Jack Ferguson through a previous position in the MHU advancement department. “The thing I enjoyed most about getting to know Mr. Ferguson was how he enjoyed people. He liked being around folks, and he always greeted people with sincere happiness to see them. I was always struck by how genuine he was, all the time. There was never any pretense in the man,” Knight said. “When I had the opportunity to spend time with him in connection to numerous campus-oriented events, I really enjoyed hearing stories of his early career in the 50s and 60s. He also talked about his family a lot; particularly about Carolyn and his admiration of her. It was obvious he never lost touch with his roots; with the history of the area, and his origins in this community.”
Thomas Edward Nash, Jr. by Bud Christman, V.P. for Advancement
“Brenda went to the library to study and Tom went there to study Brenda.” At least that is how former Mars Hill President Fred Bentley told the story of how Brenda Grass ‘66 and Thomas Nash, Jr. ’66 first encountered one another as students at Mars Hill College. Upon first seeing Brenda, Tom told his roommates, “I have met my future wife today.” And
thus began a courtship that resulted in a wedding and ultimately led to a loving life partnership that spanned 56 years. Tom Nash, who passed away in June after a courageous journey home, embodied the spirit and values of Mars Hill: love of family, service to the community, support of his alma mater, and an Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2020 17
MHU Legacies Thomas Nash, continued...
abiding awareness of God’s presence in his life. His four children (Beth, Catherine, Thomas III, and Rachel), twelve grandchildren, and great-grandson revered and respected him. He was a presence in his family’s life, whether he was attending ballgames, serving on the board of his children’s schools, providing spiritual direction, or simply planning annual vacations. With Brenda by his side, his work ethic, intelligence, and business acumen enabled his career with The Coca-Cola Company to spiral upward. He ultimately ascended to the position of CEO and owner of Coca-Cola Affiliated in Asheville and built the business into the 15th largest privately held CocaCola Bottling Company in the U.S. Upon the sale of Coca-Cola Affiliated, Tom and fellow Mars Hill alumnus George Renfro ’75, created Nash-Renfro Investments and developed the Asheville Jet Center (now Signature Flight Support).
the Brenda G. Nash Education Hall. Through the years, the Nashes’ commitment to their alma mater has been evidenced by many other sacrificial gifts to an array of Mars Hill University initiatives ranging from program development (the Master of Education program), to Lions athletics, to endowed scholarships through the Mars Hill Fund, and most recently the reconditioning and restoration of Huffman Hall, where Brenda resided in her sophomore year. In recognition of their longstanding benevolence, the Nashes were recognized as Mars Hill University’s Philanthropists of the Year in 2014.
But Tom Nash was as generous to Mars Hill with his time and talent as he was with his finances. In 1995 he was appointed to the Board of Trustees, thereby becoming the first “non-Baptist” to hold such a position. As a trustee, he quickly gained a fuller understanding of the opportunities available to the school. One such prospect As Tom’s career broadened, so was in the area of endowment did his influence and footprint management, which had been within the Asheville area. His overseen internally by MHU. He commitment to the betterment recommended the creation of of western North Carolina was a Foundation Board (now the indeed legendary. He served MHU Investment Committee) on the leadership boards for comprised of trustees and other St. Joseph’s Hospital, The professionals with investment Salvation Army, Carolina Day backgrounds. With Tom serving Brenda and Tom Nash School, and Wachovia Bank, and as the board’s first chair, the Mars provided extensive counsel to Hill endowment became more the Asheville Chamber of Commerce. In addition, widely diversified and grew considerably under Tom helped to establish and financially support professional management. Now, some 23 years many organizations including Asheville Christian later, the investment committee is still vital and the Academy, Mission Heart Tower, Mission Cancer Mars Hill endowment program is on firm footing Center, Mission Children’s Hospital Outpatient thanks to the vision and wisdom of Tom Nash. Building, Calvary Episcopal Church, and Central Family man, business man, community leader, United Methodist Church. Nationally, he was esteemed and supportive alumnus. Tom Nash was deeply involved in helping the Juvenile Diabetes all of those things and more. But most importantly, Research Foundation’s quest to find a cure for Type he was a man of God who answered the call of his I diabetes. maker, and lived out the scripture, “Every man And then there was Mars Hill. Tom and Brenda did shall give as he is able, according to the blessing not forget their meeting place. In 2004, following a of the Lord your God that he has given you,” transformational gift made years earlier, the former (Deuteronomy 16:17). Memorial Library was renovated and renamed 18 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2020
Dr. James Helvey by Teresa Buckner, Director of Publications
Doris Helvey’s first introduction to the man who would become her husband was through poetry and letters that he wrote to another girl. “That’s when I first started falling in love with him,” she said recently. At the time, she told her friend— the recipient of the verses—that she would have to make her own decision about the affections of Jim Helvey, but “I can tell you that this is a jewel of a man.” Down the road of life, the unimpressed girlfriend chose another man, and Jim and Doris Helvey (MHC classes of ’48 and ’50, respectively) chose each other. They were married for 68 years, had three children together, buried one of those children, and built a life around service to education and to the church. And when, in April of this year, Dr. Helvey passed away, Doris affirmed that he was, and had always been, “a jewel of a man.”
him, “They are known for producing excellent ministers.” So, he set out with his parents to Mars Hill College, sight unseen. He moved into Rivermont Dorm, an older building on the campus. His daily schedule would include hauling coal for the pot-bellied stove in his room, and going to the basement to take a shower. Despite his initial misgivings, Jim would later tell Doris that he felt a sense of belonging at Mars Hill. He came to love the college, its students and professors, and even his dorm, where he chose to live again the following year.
Helvey graduated from Mars Hill College (then a twoyear institution) in 1948 and completed his bachelor’s degree at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, in 1950. He then went to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Doris and Jim Helvey in 2009 divinity in 1953 and a master’s degree in theology in 1960. He later earned M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in English from According to Bud Christman, Vice President for the University of N.C. at Greensboro. Doris Helvey Advancement at MHU, Dr. Helvey was not just a graduated from MHC in 1950, and obtained both priceless jewel to his family, but he was also a bachelor’s and master’s degrees before pursuing her priceless friend to Mars Hill University. life’s work as a high school English teacher. “Jim Helvey was one of the most approachable Dr. Helvey served as a Baptist pastor of churches people I have ever met,” Christman said. “His in Kentucky and North Carolina for 15 years, and character and actions were informed by a dynamic later as an interim pastor in the Church of Christ. faith, one which held strong to eternal truths yet He also served for over a decade as a professor of remained forever open and growing. He always English and religion and chairman of the fine arts struck me as one of those ‘life-long learners’ whose department at Davidson County Community College inquisitive nature pursued expanding knowledge in in Lexington, N.C. subjects ranging from poetry to space to history.” Jim Helvey grew up in a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri, Throughout his life, the poetry that first drew the heart of his wife was a constant in Jim Helvey’s life. and when he announced a calling to be a minister, He wrote mountains of verse, and published three his pastor recommended a small, little-known books of poetry. college in the mountains of North Carolina, telling
Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2020 19
MHU Legacies “Many things were important to Jim,” Doris Helvey said. “He loved words; he loved books; he loved travel; he loved education. His mind was just a miracle.” The Helveys’ love for education prompted them to give back to the alma mater they loved. They have continually remembered Mars Hill and its
students in their charitable giving , including the establishment of the James and Hazel Helvey Memorial Scholarship (in memory of Jim’s parents), and a gift from Dr. Helvey’s estate. They have also given of their leadership, serving the institution as trustees: he served from 2000–2003 and she served from 2006–2009. Following their service as active trustees, they were both named honorary trustees.
Rev. James Pittman by Bud Christman, V.P. for Advancement
“Big things come in small packages” certainly characterizes the life of James Pittman.
So in addition to being learned, spiritual, and entrepreneurial, he was also a visionary.
Born in the tiny hamlet of Scotland Neck, North Carolina (population 1,802), in rural Halifax County, James Pittman evolved into a “Renaissance Man” who, upon his death on April 7, 2020, was considered one of the most prominent voices in the history of Mars Hill University.
The Pittmans’ financial investment in Mars Hill University has not been limited to a new dining hall, of course. They have also provided support for initiatives ranging from the Mars Hill Fund to residence hall renovations to the establishment of endowed scholarships. In recognition of the Pittmans’ generosity toward statewide nonprofit organizations, they were recognized in 1994 as Philanthropists of the Year among North Carolina Baptists. They received a similar recognition from Mars Hill in 2003.
He was a learned man, with degrees from Mars Hill College (1951), Wake Forest University, East Carolina and Southeastern Seminary. He was also a spiritual man, an ordained Baptist minister, who served churches in countless ways for over 60 years. And he was an entrepreneur, with an innate sense of business intuition that served him well in ventures from farm supply sales to real estate development to motel and rental property management.
Just two months prior to James’ death, Vice President for Advancement Bud Christman visited with him and recorded an audio message that was used during the annual Day4MHU event in March. Even at age 95, Mr. Pittman’s mind was clear and his passion for Mars Hill was as When Rev. Pittman and his wife strong as ever. He said, “What of 44 years, Ganell, offered a $1 James and Ganell Pittman Mars Hill means to me and my million challenge gift in 1989 family is something that no other for the purpose of constructing institution or business has been able to supply. a new cafeteria at MHU, it marked at the time the Mars Hill comes first. It is just my way to pay back largest capital gift ever given to Mars Hill. The gift what they have done for me. I thank the Lord for also served to ignite giving from college board sending me that way.” members, alumni, and friends of the school. Upon completion of the 32,000 square foot Pittman Dining Hall, MHC President Fred Bentley noted that, “This trustee [Pittman] has had the future of Mars Hill College on his mind for some time.”
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While most of us certainly do not have James Pittman’s financial wherewithal, his lifelong enthusiasm for his alma mater is truly a model of inspiration.
Student Reflection
Bonners Serve In Washington, D.C. by Cassidy Belcher, junior elementary education major
Sixteen first-year Bonner Scholars from Mars Hill University set out to Washington, D.C., on March 6, 2020, to serve the community and experience the diverse culture of D.C. This trip, which took place during the university’s spring break, was the first time that many of the students had the opportunity to visit the historical sites and monuments of Washington D.C. Accompanying the students were Cindy Frost, Bonner Coordinator, and Tommy Justice, pastor of Mars Hill Baptist Church. The few days we spent together brought us closer together and allowed us to grow as a family of Bonner Scholars. We did not realize that this trip would be the last time we would all be together before the COVID-19 pandemic caused our semester to come to an unexpected end. Looking back, my fellow Bonners and I are thankful to have experienced and served in the beauty of Washington D.C. together. On Saturday, Bonner students volunteered with communitysupport programs through the National Baptist Memorial Church, learned about different non-profit organizations around the city, and spent time picking up trash on the streets. Bonners visited the Holocaust Memorial Museum and the National Museum of African American History, where we became more educated on social justice issues, including racism and oppression. As a group we reflected on what we learned from each day and how it expanded our perspectives. MHU Bonners serving with a non-profit in
On Sunday, students had a free day to explore the city. Some Washington D.C. (top) and seeing the sights students attended a morning service at the National Baptist (bottom). Memorial Church and met many welcoming members who provided tasty refreshments and gave our scholars a glimpse into the culture of this community. Scholars also visited the National Zoo and spent time exploring the landmarks at the National Mall. The students had fun riding scooters through the streets of Washington and for many, this was the first time we had to learn to navigate the subway system, a task which brought out leadership qualities in our fellow Bonners. We spent time visiting national landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial and the White House during the day. In the evenings, we enjoyed great food from a few of the best spots in D.C., like the famous Ben’s Chili Bowl, where we got to meet the owner, and Zorba’s Cafe, where we enjoyed Greek food. The highlight of the trip was learning about the history of the community we stayed in and experiencing the diverse food, cultures, and people of D.C. All that we experienced will no doubt broaden our perspectives, as we go back to Mars Hill in the fall. Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2020 21
Campus News
What’s NEW at MHU? New Majors, New Minors, and More Online Programming Top the News for the Fall Semester by Mike Thornhill, Director of Communications
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Mars Hill University’s academic program has a bit of a new look, as the 2020-21 school year gets underway. There are three new majors now available to MHU students. •
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Fashion Marketing takes the major formerly known as Fashion and Interior Merchandising, and more recently as Apparel and Interior Merchandising, in a direction that should better prepare students to work in the fashion industry. Students in the major will continue to do the hands-on work they’ve done in the labs and with the merchandising displays in Wall Science Building. But they’ll also get a stronger emphasis on the business side of fashion, focusing on consumer buying behaviors, retail analytics, and other factors in fashion as a global economic and cultural force. Biochemistry is a major that’s in high demand across the country, and is a great fit for Mars Hill. Students can use biochemistry as their launchpad into pharmacy or medical school, or as a platform to build a career in medical research, drug design, forensics, or environmental professions. And Mars Hill’s biochem graduates will have a leg up on their peers, thanks to a full year of research experience in the major. The other new major comes at the master’s level, as the education department adds a Master of Arts in Teaching. It’s designed for students who already have a bachelor’s degree but would like to seek teaching licensure. (It’s also Mars Hill’s second graduate education program, joining the Master of Education, which was the university’s first master’s degree program and launched in 2011.) Susan Stigall ’84, chair of Mars Hill’s education department, says the M.A.T. is ideal for people with bachelor’s degrees in biology, history, English, mathematics, business, theatre, or related fields. Although the program is a natural progression for current MHU undergraduate students to continue their education, she says it’s also a good fit for anyone interested in moving from another profession into teaching.
As for the new minors: •
Mars Hill is adding a minor in dance. It will require 24 credit hours in ballet, choreography, hip-hop, jazz, modern dance, and tap. Dance is a program in which prospective students have expressed interest, and is a natural fit for the theatre arts department (not to mention for the Bailey Mountain Cloggers).
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Also new for this fall is a minor in data analytics. The interdisciplinary minor prepares students to manipulate, analyze and interpret data to solve problems involving large datasets such as those found in many natural and social science disciplines. “The core idea is to provide students a suite of skills that make them more employable,” says Robert Zinna, a Mars Hill biology professor and coordinator of the data analytics program. These skills can be applied to research in fields as varied as business, health care, sociology, economics and biology. More Online Learning
The COVID-19 pandemic led Mars Hill and most other U.S. schools into some version of online learning this year. But that’s not new territory for MHU. The university has offered courses with a mix of in-person and online instruction for years. We have online certificate and licensure programs, and the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice was the first degree Mars Hill offered fully online. Now those are getting some company. The business management degree offered through Adult & Graduate Studies transitioned to a fully online model this summer. Business Professor Donna Parsons says students still will get the broad business education in accounting, economics, finance, operations, marketing, and organizational management for which the program is known. “The online business management program is designed for students who are balancing school with work and family,” she says. “I went back to school, myself, when I was 40, so I know that adult students like me need the flexibility offered by an online program to be able to manage all of the priorities in their lives.” Proposals for other new majors and minors already are being considered, and others will follow, as MHU’s faculty and administration continually explore the best ways to prepare our students for life in the “real world.” Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2020 23
Campus News
Our Voice Matters
2020 CADENZA SPECIAL EDITION
The MHU Cadenza Arts and Literature Magazine is excited to announce the publication of a special edition titled “Our Voice Matters,” a collection of works of art and creative writing by Mars Hill College/University students of color dating back to the 1970s, plus several pieces by staff and faculty. All together, it provides a beautiful and eye-opening glimpse of the experiences, dreams, pain, and passion of our students. To explore the magazine, go to: www.mhu.edu/cadenza
OUR VOICE MATTERS
A Blast from the Past ... in Living Color
MAY DAY, 1951 Remembering a tradition from the past, the crowning of the May King and Queen. The 1951 court royalty at Mars Hill College were: queen: Carolyn Getzman (Jordan) ’51; king, Bob Melvin ’51 (who was later a beloved chaplain and professor); maid of honor, Dorothy Rose Morgan (Wood) ’51; crown bearer, Eric Blackwell ’68 (son of President and Mrs. Hoyt Blackwell); ladies of the court: Peggy Stahl (Glenn) ’51, Ramona Allen (Womack) ’51, Peggy Savage (Reavis) ’52, Joan Schwab (Hanley) ’52, Betty Shoaf (Privette) ’51, Mary Ann Jones (Riddle) ’52, Judy Henderson (Lasater) ’51, Gaynelle Chandler (Aldridge) ’52, Louise Norwood (Thomas) ’51, and Sarah Thomas (Coppedge) ’52. (This photo appears in the 1952 Laurel. It was enhanced for clarity and colorized by Wes Heath of Mars Hill.) 24 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2020
Birthday Parades for Drs. Hart and Jolley Creative Pandemic Celebrations As the COVID-19 pandemic shut down almost all in-person contact across the state and nation, two of Mars Hill University’s iconic professors had significant birthdays, prompting the university to find a creative way to celebrate. The university hosted birthday “parades” for Dr. Virginia Hart, professor emeritus of physical education, who turned 97 on May 15, and for Dr. Harley Jolley, professor emeritus of history, who celebrated his 100th birthday on July 5. In both cases, faculty, staff, alumni, and local residents of Mars Hill inched down College Street for the opportunity to spend a few minutes speaking with the birthday celebrants, often expressing their well wishes and gratitude. Both of these well-loved professors have lived storied lives of influence and contribution, and they have been teachers and mentors to countless colleagues and students: Dr. Virginia Hart ’43 taught physical education for 40 years at MHU, in addition to coaching both men’s and women’s tennis and basketball. She is credited with founding the women’s athletic program, beginning with the university’s first extramural basketball club for women in 1964, and she was in the first group of people inducted into the university’s Athletic Hall of Fame, in 1987. She also planned the institution’s annual May Day celebration for many years. Hart retired the first time in 1983, but returned to work in 1999, this time in the cafeteria, where she became known to a new generation of students as “the omelet lady.” She retired for the second time four years ago, at age 93. She received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2018. Dr. Harley Jolley taught history at MHU for over 40 years. He is also a veteran of World War II and a Pearl Harbor survivor. In addition to his teaching career, he spent 25 years as a seasonal ranger with the interpretive division of the U.S. Park Service, on the Blue Ridge Parkway. He has authored eleven books and publications, most of which chronicle the history of the Parkway, and one of which explores the Civilian Conservation Corps, in which he served as a young man in the 1930s. He has given numerous interviews as an an expert on both the Parkway and the CCC program, and about his experiences at Pearl Harbor. He received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2008. Mayor John Chandler presented Jolley with the key to Mars Hill, and issued a proclamation naming July 5 as “Harley Jolley Day” in the town. Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2020 25
Lion Athletics
Fall Sports Postponed Until Spring by Mike Thornhill, Director of Communications
Mars Hill University announced August 7 that all fall sports would be postponed for the first semester of the 2020-2021 academic year, with plans to compete during the spring semester. The decision came following a meeting and vote of the South Atlantic Conference (SAC), in response to numerous mandates passed down from the NCAA two days earlier. For Mars Hill, the announcement affects men’s and women’s cross country, football, men’s and women’s soccer, and volleyball. Until further NCAA clarification can be obtained by the South Atlantic Conference, member schools will suspend all athletics-related activities, including practices, weight training, and voluntary workouts for all sports, until no earlier than September 1. A decision on winter sports is planned for later in the fall. “Obviously, from a competitive standpoint, we’re saddened,” said MHU Athletics Director Rick Baker. “But our student-athletes aren’t here just to be sports competitors. They’re here to learn; to prepare to live a good and productive life after college. And if we need to make some adjustments to our sports seasons in order to help ensure their health and safety, and that of the rest of our campus community, we’re absolutely going to do that.” Mars Hill student-athletes will remain enrolled in full-time classes. “Our athletes love Mars Hill and love competing for the Blue and Gold,” Baker said. “It will be an aspect of the Mars Hill experience that will be sorely missed this semester, but we know that we must always put the health and safety of our students at the forefront of decision making.” Get the latest news on Mars Hill athletics at: marshilllions.com.
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Far right, top to bottom: SallyAnne Johnson, Craig Rucker, Jayson Moorman. Above: Craig Rucker runs the ball against Limestone College. Photo by Cindy Whitt ’06. To view the Lions’ Choice Awards video, go to: https://marshilllions.com/athletics/LCA/LCA
Lions’ Choice Awards Held Online by Adam Williams, Director of Athletic Communications
The 2020 edition of the annual end of the year athletic awards banquet, The Lions’ Choice Awards, is the most unique the university athletic department has put on in its short history. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic that altered the world, creating the 2020 LCA’s became a new challenge. Normally, the athletic department would collaborate with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), for an on-stage presentation in Moore Auditorium. However, the 2020 edition was compiled and assembled for a strictly digital presentation and distributed through Stretch Internet as well as the Mars Hill Lions athletic YouTube page. Nominee GIFs, infographic slides, as well as acceptance speech videos from the winners, were new additions in the third installment. Three-peating as the “Make It Yours” Community Engagement Award winners was the MHU baseball team. Players demonstrated their commitment to the Mars Hill community by volunteering their time at the elementary school, the Lord’s Harvest, and other activities throughout the year. The SAAC implemented a new, engaging contest with their peers, encouraging all Mars Hill teams to attend each other’s events. Athletes earned points for their teams by attending events in other sports. At the end of the contest, the men’s soccer team emerged victorious. In the classroom, seniors Jessica Minton of the women’s swim team and Callum Ritchie of the men’s golf team took home the Female and Male Highest GPA awards with a 4.0 and 3.96, respectively. The MHU women’s cross country team was named the Team Highest GPA winners with a cumulative 3.51 GPA. Allen Shelley was named the Athletic Trainer of the Year, as voted on by members of the SAAC and Cindy Whitt broke Craig Goforth’s streak as the Faculty/Staff Supporter of the Year. Whitt attends a majority of the home sporting contests as well as providing the MHU athletic communications department with action shots for each varsity sport. Beginning their careers in fantastic fashion were Dexter Fitzpatrick of the football team and Sydney Joyce of the women’s lacrosse team, as they were selected the Male and Female Newcomers of the Year. Fitzpatrick was named the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Defensive Freshman of the Year, leading the team with 7.2 tackles per game, and was also named a Cliff Harris Award nominee for best small college defensive player. Joyce placed 10th in the SAC in goals (19) and points (26) while leading the conference in groundballs (36) and fifth in the conference in draw controls (27). continued...
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Lions’ Choice Awards Continued...
One thing the Male and Female Athlete of the Year had in common was the fact that they both cemented their legacies by breaking Mars Hill school records. Craig Rucker capped off his sensational career on the gridiron by repeating as Male Athlete of the Year, SAC Offensive Player of the Year, All-SAC First Team selection, and AFCA First Team All-American, among countless other accolades. Rucker is the MHU record holder in receiving touchdowns (43), career receiving yards (4,320), and receiving touchdowns in one game (5), to name a few. The aforementioned are also SAC records. On the court, SallyAnne Johnson followed up her incredible junior campaign with an even better final season. Johnson led the SAC in solo blocks with 29 and finished the season with 93 total, setting the new standard for career blocks with 382 in her
four years on the Hill. The Asheville native was also named an All-SAC Second Team selection. Johnson added another award, one of the most important that can be given, and that is the Woman of the Year award. Highlighted by her accomplishments in the classroom (3.41 GPA in biology), Johnson became the second volleyball student-athlete to take the award in the show’s three-year history (Lauren Hochstetler-2018). Dual-sport athlete Jayson Moorman took home the prestigious Man of the Year award. The soccer/ lacrosse standout served as the SAAC president for two years, the Faculty Athletics Committee male representative, Lions’ Day of Play Committee Chair, and Student Liaison for CREDO communication. The 2020 Lions’ Choice Awards premiered on Wednesday, June 3, through Stretch Internet and YouTube.
Class Notes Mars Hill, the Magazine of Mars Hill University welcomes your personal snapshots when you send in news of weddings, babies, accomplishments, etc. Send your news and photos to alumni@mhu.edu, or Alumni Office, P.O. Box 6792, Mars Hill, N.C. 28754.
1970s
as The American Legion VA Volunteer Service representative there. Scruggs was also named Post Service Officer of the Year, at the American Legion Department Convention in Raleigh in June 2019.
Rev. Bruce Norman Hartgrove ’71 will be retiring this year from First Baptist Church of High Point, N.C., where he has served as minister of music for 39 years. Robert “Bob” Scruggs ’74 has been named the Outstanding Veterans Administration Voluntary Worker of the Year at The American Legion’s Washington Conference in March 2020. Scruggs is a 52-year member of American Legion Post 77 in Hendersonville, N.C. He has volunteered at the Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville, N.C., since 1970, logging over 27,000 hours of service at the facility. Since 2000 he’s served
Bruce Hartgrove
Mary Elliott Williams ’77 published a devotional book in November 2019, titled Under His Wings, in memory of her father, Gordon Elliott. Williams illustrated the book of her father’s writings with her original song bird paintings. Elliott served as a pastor and priest in several churches in the Toronto area before his death at age 90. 1980s
Bob Scruggs
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Dr. Elizabeth “Beth” Abernathy Vogler ’81, has been named North Carolina Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers
Class Notes North Carolina Chapter. Vogler is a professor of social work and chair of the department of social work at MHU. Timothy Greene ’82, has been named the new county manager of Mitchell County, N.C. Greene, a Mitchell County resident, took office in April 2020. He was formerly the county manager of Avery County, N.C. and vice president of administrative services at Mayland Community College. Rev. Carl “Lee” Ziegler, Jr. ’83, has been named the principal of Hixson High School in Chattanooga, Tenn. Previously, Ziegler was the principal of Daisy Elementary. Both schools are part of the Hamilton County (Tenn.) School System. Magay Shepard ’84, Senior Vice President/ Investments for Shepard Wealth Management Group, has been named to Forbes’ America’s Top Women Advisors List. Shepard joined Shepard Wealth Management Group, which is affiliated with Stifel financial services firms, in 2009. She and her husband, Rev. Dr. Tim Moore, live in Charlotte. Aimee Stephens ’84 passed away on May 12 of this year before she saw the outcome of the Supreme Court case in which she was named as a plaintiff. The case, which was ultimately successful, could have major employment rights implications for transgender people. Stephens, a former funeral director in suburban Detroit, was fired in 2013 after she announced to her colleagues in a letter that she would begin living as a woman. She successfully sued her employer, claiming that the protections of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act covered transgender individuals. Her case was upheld by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and by the U.S. Supreme Court. Dr. Carol Bennett ’88 has advanced to the rank of associate professor in the faculty of education and social work at Brigham Young University in Laie, Hawaii, where she has taught for six years. She also recently published a research article Carol Bennett in the Journal of Leadership Accountability and Ethics, titled “Bloom Where You’re Planted: Spreading the Seeds of Leader in Me Everywhere.”
2000s
Mar Perez-Albela ’00 was featured in an online concert in May as part of the Keep Music Live event series. This was a goodwill event intended to bring people together during the COVID-19 pandemic and allow musicians to safely perform during this period of isolation. Donations collected during the event went to CARE Peru to help bring food to vulnerable people in extreme poverty. Jerome Ramsey ’04 has been named the Northwestern Foothills 2A Conference 2019-2020 boys basketball coach of the year. The award was announced in February. This is the second time that Ramsey has received the award in his seven seasons at East Burke High School, in Morganton, N.C. Greta Statler Brammeier ’04 received a master’s degree in occupational therapy in 2008 and has received specialty certification in environmental modification. She is also a certified aging in place specialist. She works full time at a level 1 trauma hospital in Palm Beach County, Fla. She and her husband Marc, have two children, Landon (6) and Alayna (4). 2010s
Megan Weaver ’11, earned a Ph.D. in English from Old Dominion University in May. Megan has accepted a position as collegiate assistant professor of rhetoric and writing at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University beginning in August. Chelsea Parker ’13 has been hired as the new head coach for women’s soccer at Francis Marion University, in Florence, S.C. Previously, she was an assistant coach at Tusculum University in Greeneville, Tenn. Dr. Alison “Ali” Fridley ’16 has been hired by Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D., as a professor of health, human performance, and recreation. She will begin classes in the fall 2020 semester. Faculty/Staff
Dr. Virginia Hart ’43 retired professor of physical education and coach, turned 97 years old on May 16. See celebration photos on page 23. Dr. Harley Jolley, retired professor of history, turned 100 years old on July 5, 2020. See celebration photos on page 23. Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2020 29
In Memoriam
Since the last issue of Mars Hill, the Magazine, we have learned of the following deaths of alumni and other members of the MHU community.
1940s
Dr. James “Rush” Beeler ’40, Edison, N.J., January 24, 2020 Mary Lois Leach Harper ’42, Troy, N.C., December 31, 2019 John Wesley Carty ’43, Mount Union, Iowa, April 22, 2019 Dr. Marcus Marcellus Gulley ’43, Winston-Salem, N.C., April 15, 2020 Mary “Kitty” Kathryn Monteith Hupman ’43, Mebane, N.C., March 15, 2020 Marian McEachin McNeill Hutto ’43, Florence, S.C., March 18, 2020 Jane Elizabeth Lee Froneberger ’44, Gastonia, N.C., February 19, 2020 Nancy Carolyn Bearden Telle ’45, Shelby, N.C., March 5, 2020 Billie Sue Triplett Isbell ’46, Fuquay-Varina, N.C., February 25, 2020 Nancy Josephine Joyce Dunlap ’47, WinstonSalem, N.C., March 5, 2020 Billy “Bill” Dale Edwards ’47, Canton, N.C., February 10, 2020 Dr. Robert Carpenter Hanes ’47, Charlotte, N.C., March 8, 2020 Aleine Dawn Holcomb Wright ’47, Oxford, N.C., April 19, 2020 Dr. James Relerford Helvey ’48, Honorary Trustee, Winston-Salem, N.C., April 5, 2020 Rev. Ray Keith Hodge ’48, Smithfield, N.C., May 5, 2020 Everett McNeil Kivette ’48, Burnsville, N.C., April 7, 2020 Gene Thomas Ross ’48, Pinehurst, N.C., April 28, 2020
30 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2020
Ernestine Lake Hockaday Bender ’49, Wilmington, N.C., March 10, 2020 Martha Stribling Easler ’49, Leesburg, Va., May 23, 2020 Hilda Christine Boone Sherard ’49, Burlington, N.C., May 18, 2020 Ruth Smith Walpole ’49, Largo, Fla., January 20, 2020 1950s
Barbara Jean Mitchell Brock ’50, Spartanburg, S.C., March 9, 2019 Rev. Edgar Ervin Ferrell, Jr. ’50, Summerville, Ga., May 7, 2020 Anne Pearline Booe Reavis ’50, Mocksville, N.C., May 23, 2020 Dr. John Wesley Whitehead, Jr. ’50, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, April 11, 2020 Grover Aubret Gore, Sr. ’51, Winston-Salem, N.C., March 8, 2020 Hunter Chester Lang, Sr. ’51, Charlottesville, Va., November 21, 2019 Jack Clifton Mosteller ’51, Bellevue, Wash., December 18, 2018 Rev. James A. Pittman ’51, Former Trustee, Roanoke Rapids, N.C., April 7, 2020 Robbie “Inez” Matthews Rudisill ’51, Charlotte, N.C., April 21, 2020 Boyd George Brogden, Jr. ’52, Princeton, N.C., May 13, 2020 Willa “Jene” McGlamery ’52, Myrtle Beach, S.C., March 17, 2019 Rev. Duncan Lacy Futrelle, Jr. ’53, Wilmington, N.C., March 3, 2020 Dr. Fred Nelson Knott ’53, Oxford, N.C., May 14, 2020 Alice Jeanette Radford Radcliff ’53, Asheville, N.C., January 7, 2017 Dr. James Dewitt Whetstone ’55, Wilmington, N.C., March 7, 2020
Larry Neal Painter, Sr. ’56, Charlotte, N.C., March 24, 2020
Robert “Bob” Glenn Pierce ’68, Dunn, N.C., March 15, 2020
Timna “Timmie” A. Smith Voyles ’56, Spartanburg, S.C., May 12, 2020
Patrick “Pat” Boyd Spivey ’69, Florence, S.C., January 26, 2020
Dr. Marshall Macon Wilson ’56, Altamonte Springs, Fla., March 19, 2020
1970s
Walter Edwin Yow ’57, Hattiesburg, Miss., March 4, 2017
Constance “Conny” Ann Henderson Price ’72, Twin Falls, Idaho, April 19, 2020
Melba Rea Murphy Bridges ’58, Rutherfordton, N.C., January 7, 2020
Thaddeus Winfred Brendle ’73, Charlotte, N.C., March 15, 2018
Edwin “Ed” Donald Sizemore ’58, Asheville, N.C., May 28, 2020
John Dale Starnes ’74, Leicester, N.C., March 11, 2020
Wayne Wilson Stafford ’58, Rural Hall, N.C., March 27, 2020
John Edwards Watts ’74, Winston-Salem, N.C., June 9, 2020
Lynda Jean Crawford Wentz ’58, Arden, N.C., May 5, 2020
Patricia Ann Phillips ’76, Richmond, Va., July 7, 2019
Anne Marie Buttemere Davis ’59, W. Columbia, S.C., January 28, 2020
Blanche Elaine Jones Tennent ’79, Arden, N.C., April 20, 2020
Elizabeth Loretta “Lori” Duncan Gilliam ’59, Lexington, N.C., April 30, 2020 Patricia Morgan Harden ’59, Wilmington, N.C., March 18, 2020 Charles Glen Toms, Jr. ’59, Forest City, N.C., April 15, 2020 1960s
1980s
Sandra Jean Thornton Westall ’82, Stokesdale, N.C., February 16, 2020 Aimee Stephens ’84, Redford, Mich., May 12, 2020 Ricky Melvin Chandler ’85, Weaverville, N.C., March 7, 2020 1990s
John “Gary” Vannoy, Sr. ’60, Millers Creek, N.C., March 15, 2020
Alan Dean Coley ’90, King, N.C., May 25, 2020
Verlie Lawing Leatherwood ’61, Black Mountain, N.C., March 13, 2020
William “Bill” Edward Wright ’95, Weaverville, N.C., June 10, 2020
Paul Albert Clark, Jr. ’64, Washington, D.C., April 3, 2020 Phyllis Anne Dunning ’65, Covington, La., December 25, 2019 Thomas “Tom” Edward Nash, Jr. ’66, Former Trustee, Asheville, N.C., June 4, 2020 Charles “Charlie” Iredell Pierce, Jr. ’67, Colerain, N.C., March 26, 2020 Philip Mark Bryson ’68, Kings Mtn., N.C., December 14, 2019
2010s
Jennifer Ann McCullough Huff ’19, Fletcher, N.C., April 15, 2020 Faculty/Staff/Friends
Dr. Joseph P. Schubert, Jr., Ret. Faculty, Dania Beach, Fla., May 26, 2020 Dr. Jack Ray Ferguson, Donor and Friend of MHU, Candler, N.C., May 6, 2020
Richard Gunter Crommelin, Jr. ’68, Virginia Beach, Va., March 8, 2019 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2020 31
P.O. Box 370 Mars Hill, N.C. 28754
Homecoming 2020
REdesigned MHU alumni and friends will experience a “redesigned” homecoming weekend this fall. While most “inperson” events will not be possible, MHU will host a number of virtual or live-streamed events in honor of Homecoming 2020, including: u New: Virtual Variety Show Release
Hosted by Producer/Composer Mark Cabaniss ’82.
u New: The Lion’s Roll
A fundraiser to benefit the MHU Student Relief Fund. Watch as hundreds of balls race downhill through an obstacle course. Will yours survive?
u New: The Encouraging Light
A special event to send light and love to all MHU students.
u Virtual 5K Race
A virtual 5K is a walk or a run that you complete on your own any time October 1–4.
u Alumni of the Year Announcement
The traditional announcement, but online.
u Alumni & Friends Golf Tournament * in person* Reems Creek Golf Club, Weaverville, N.C. Friday, October 2, Tee off at 9:30 a.m.
Make plans to be a part of this entertaining, safe, and fun new take on Homecoming 2020! Times/dates, registration information, and more event details will be updated daily on
www.mhu.edu/homecoming
