Milligan College Magazine, Fall 2011

Milligan FALL 2011

Magazine

Presidential Inauguration n Welcome Home Buffaloes n A Career for the Books

Fall 2011 | Volume 13, Number 3

Milligan President Bill Greer (’85) bgreer@milligan.edu

Vice President For institutionAL AdVAncement Jack Simpson (’92) jasimpson@milligan.edu

Vice President For enroLLment mAnAGement And mArketinG A. Lee Fierbaugh (’94) lfierbaugh@milligan.edu

Letter from theEditor

director oF ALumni reLAtions EDITOR Theresa Garbe (’91) tmgarbe@milligan.edu

director oF PuBLic reLAtions ASSISTANT EDITOR Chandrea Shell (’00) chshell@milligan.edu

creAtiVe serVices coordinAtor GRAPHIC DESIGNER Art Brown atbrown@milligan.edu

PuBLic reLAtions AssistAnt FEATuRE WRITER Stories on 9, 16, 22 Melissa Nipper (’96) mhnipper@milligan.edu

sPorts inFormAtion director FEATuRE WRITER Stories on 24, 26 Matt Laws sportsinfo@milligan.edu

coVer PHoto by Mark Peacock contriButors oF PHotos: Photo on 2, © Andrew Hopper (’04) Photos on 4-8, © Hopper and Peter Nelson (’13) Photo on 9, © Mark Peacock Photos on 10-12, © Nelson, Peacock & other staff Photos on 14-15, © Peacock & other staff Photos on 16-18, contributed, © Nelson & other staff Photos on 19, contributed Photo on 20, contributed Photos on 22, staff & © Nelson Photos on 23, © Peacock Photos on 24-25, contributed Photo on 31, © Peacock

our mission As a Christian liberal arts college, Milligan College seeks to honor God by educating men and women to be servant-leaders.

our Vision As a premier Christian liberal arts college where Jesus Christ is exalted and excellence is the standard, Milligan will change lives and shape culture through a commitment to Christian leadership.

GenerAL inFormAtion The Milligan Magazine is published regularly by the Milligan College Office of Institutional Advancement for alumni and friends of the college and is distributed free of charge. The Magazine highlights the college’s vision to change lives and shape culture through a commitment to servant-leadership.

Copyright © 2011 Milligan College.

800.447.5922 | www.milligan.edu AlumniOffice@milligan.edu POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to Advancement, P.O. Box 9, Milligan College, Tennessee 37682.

2 | FALL 2011

“So hear our petition, Lord. Let Milligan College’s past be but a prologue to its even better future.”

Excerpted from the invocation offered by trustee Dr. LeRoy Lawson at the installation of Milligan’s 15th president

My deep affection for Milligan began long before I matriculated in 1987, but never have I been more proud of this place than I was during the inauguration of Dr. Greer. Months of planning that involved numerous faculty, staff and students culminated in a community event that showcased all that makes Milligan unique and relevant and hinted at what lies ahead as the college moves forward.

This issue of Milligan Magazine chronicles and celebrates the Inaugural Week activities that began with a special student vespers service on Sunday and concluded with Homecoming festivities the following Saturday. Of course, the highlight of the week was the installation of our new president.

Heralded by trumpet fanfare, hundreds of delegates, trustees, retired faculty and current faculty processed into the Mary B. Martin Auditorium in Seeger Chapel. Even the swish of their regalia contributed to the pomp of the occasion. Add to that the beautiful music that filled the space—the fullness of the organ, the swell and sweep of the orchestra, the resonance of the combined choirs—together they set a lovely, memorable backdrop for this important event in the college’s history.

Preceding Dr. Greer’s official acceptance of the responsibilities of the office of president were an address by Senator Lamar Alexander, greetings from Milligan’s constituencies, and a charge from the chairman of the board of trustees. Each individual’s remarks served to inspire not only Dr. Greer, but also all of us who are invested in the mission of this institution.

Dr. Greer’s appointment marks the ushering in of a new era for Milligan, but our new president is mindful of all who paved the way for this day. For nearly 150 years, alumni, students, faculty, churches and friends have shaped and formed Milligan, and under the capable leadership of Dr. Greer, I am confident that we will continue to do so.

As you peruse this issue of Milligan Magazine, I hope that you, too, will take pride in Milligan and support the important work for which this college has been ordained.

“Guide Milligan’s people, all of us, as we strive to be conveyors of your peace, your love, and your joy here and throughout the world.” from Dr. Lawson’s invocation Sincerely,

Theresa (Brown ’91) Garbe Director of Alumni Relations

Table of Contents

10

19

FEATURES

26

22

DEPARTMENTS

4

editor’s Letter

The Presidential Inauguration

2

Milligan celebrates the inauguration of its 15th president, Dr. William B. Greer

13 Faculty news

A Career for the Books

27 Athletic news

16

Omer Hamlin (’56) looks back on 50 years of changes on the Milligan campus

20

Alumnus earns an EMMY for Medal of Honor documentary

14 campus close-up

28 class notes 31 Letter from the President

Storytelling On Screen

24

Wrestling Coach Pins Success on Hard Work Former Milligan wrestler named 2010 National Coach of the Year

FALL 2011 | 3

Milligan College

Inauguration OF

FIFTEENTH PRESIDENT

Dr. William B. Greer

4 | FALL 2011

r. Bill Greer was inaugurated as Milligan College’s 15th president in a formal installation service on Friday, October 28, in Milligan’s Mary B. Martin Auditorium in Seeger Memorial Chapel.

Greer’s inaugural address was a celebration of Milligan’s history and a glimpse of his vision for its future. In his remarks, he recognized the work of his predecessors, Dr. Marshall Leggett and Dr. Don Jeanes, Milligan’s 13th and 14th presidents.

“I’m eager for us to work together as a community to establish a vision for Milligan that builds upon the firm foundation that has been laid by Dr. Jeanes, Dr. Leggett, and the leaders who came before them,” Greer said in his address. “I do know, however, that there are three things that must

D

remain central to Milligan College as we serve our students—we must always maintain excellence in scholarship, an emphasis on community, and a dependence on faith.”

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander delivered the keynote address. The ceremony also included words of greeting from several dignitaries and special guests, including U.S. Rep. Phil Roe, representing the first congressional district of Tennessee.

In addition, the congregation joined in singing an inaugural hymn written for the occasion by Dr. Lee Magness, Milligan’s Vera Britton Professor of Bible. Magness wrote the words of the hymn he titled “Fide et Amore: Go with God in Faith and Love,” based on a Latin phrase from the seal of the college that has historical significance at Milligan.

“I

BELIEVE THAT PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION HAPPENS BEST

WHEN IT IS DONE SO UPON AN

EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION THAT

BEGINS WITH A BROAD-BASED, CHRISTIAN LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION. AND THAT IS WHAT MILLIGAN COLLEGE HAS ALWAYS DONE BEST. IN ORDER FOR US TO SUCCEED AT OUR MISSION AND FOR OUR IMPACT UPON THE WORLD TO GROW, WE MUST EAGERLY ExPLORE AND ADD NEW PROGRAMS, NEW MAJORS AND EMBRACE NEW METHODS OF INSTRUCTION—BUT ONLY WHEN WE CAN DO IT IN A WAY THAT SUPPORTS OUR CORE VALUES AND MAINTAINS OUR

CHRISTIAN LIBERAL ARTS INSTITUTION.

IDENTITY AS A qUALITY

”

— PRESIDENT BILL GREER

(top) Dr. Bill Greer receives a standing ovation after he is presented with the presidential robe and medallion and officially named as Milligan’s 15th president. (lower) Three Milligan presidents— Bill Greer, Don Jeanes and Marshall Leggett—bow in prayer together at the inauguration service.

FALL 2011 | 5

Milligan College

Inauguration OF

FIFTEENTH PRESIDENT

Dr. William B. Greer

As part of the activities leading up to the inauguration, Michael Miller of the Acton Institute delivered a convocation lecture titled “The Role of Business in Expanding God’s Kingdom” on October 25.

Senator Rusty Crowe presented a proclamation from the Tennessee State Senate to Dr. Bill Greer at a luncheon for civic leaders on October 25.

The festivities leading up to inauguration included a screening of Star Trek on Derthick Lawn. Bill and Edwina Greer joined the students for Bill’s favorite intergalactic characters on the big screen.

Dr. Aaron Wymer (left), minister at Grandview Christian Church in Johnson City, TN, where Bill is an elder, presented the message at the blessing service for Edwina and Bill Greer on October 27.

The week included a luncheon for church leaders, featuring keynote speaker Ben Cachiaras, minister at Mountain Christian Church in Joppa, MD.

Dr. Bill and Edwina Greer were recognized at an Inauguration Dinner celebration on October 27 at the Millennium Centre in Johnson City.

Representatives from many facets of the Milligan community presented Greer with a greeting and special gift. Lauren Austin (’13) presented a gift from the students. Greer donned a buffalo hat, a gift passed down to him by 14th President Don Jeanes. Dr. Robert Mahan, representing the faculty, presented Greer with a reminder of his time on Milligan’s faculty.

More than 400 people attended the gala, including (left) Milligan’s 14th First Lady Clarinda Jeanes, Dr. LeRoy Lawson and Joy Lawson.

6 | FALL 2011

“I

BELIEVE THAT MILLIGAN COLLEGE CAN AND MUST PLAY A ROLE IN PREPARING MEN AND WOMEN FOR THIS NEW ECONOMY—AN ECONOMY THAT DEMANDS PARTICIPATION BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN PREPARED TO THINk, TO REASON, TO COMMUNICATE, AND TO SERVE OTHERS.

”

— PRESIDENT BILL GREER The Honorable A. Lamar Alexander of the United State Senate was the keynote speaker at the October 28 inauguration service. During the processional, Milligan students carried the flags of the nations into Seeger Chapel. Alexandria Glaize (’13) carried the U.S. flag.

FALL 2011 | 7

Milligan College

Inauguration OF

FIFTEENTH PRESIDENT

Dr. William B. Greer

Bill and Edwina’s sons, Logan (’12) and Jeremy (’14), carried the college’s banners. Jeremy proudly carried the banner during the processional (top left). The Greer family (top right) was also part of the festivities, as were the college’s faculty and staff (lower right), and delegates from more than 50 educational institutions and associations throughout the country.

“A

ND SO, MY VISION FOR MILLIGAN COLLEGE IS THAT IN THE AREA OF scholarship, WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD OUR ACADEMIC REPUTATION BOTH REGIONALLY AND NATIONALLY. IN THE AREA OF community, WE WILL BUILD AN EVEN STRONGER SENSE OF CHRISTIAN AND COLLEGIATE COMMUNITY. AND IN THE AREA OF faith, WE WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE LIVES AND SHAPE CULTURE THROUGH A COMMITMENT TO CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP. AS ROMANS 12:1-8 IMPLORES US, WE WILL BE A PLACE THAT DOES NOT CONFORM TO THIS WORLD, BUT INSTEAD, WE WILL BE A PLACE WHERE MINDS ARE RENEWED AND A PLACE WHERE WE SEEk TO DISCERN THE WILL OF GOD FOR OUR LIVES.

”

— PRESIDENT BILL GREER 8 | FALL 2011

FIRST LADY

Edwina Greer “B

I HAVE TALkED A LOT ABOUT OUR WORk BEING A TEAM EFFORT. WE WANT STUDENTS TO SEE US WORkING TOGETHER— BECAUSE IT’S IMPORTANT WORk FOR BOTH OF US. ILL AND

”

dwina (Young ’84) Greer knows she will learn a lot as she settles into her new role as first lady of Milligan College.

However, she begins this new chapter equipped with something that cannot be taught and a quality that will carry her far in her work as first lady—a strong, personal commitment to the mission of Milligan.

It’s a commitment that began when Edwina visited Milligan for the first time as a junior in high school. Since that campus visit, her adult life has been marked by Milligan milestones. Edwina met her husband, Bill, at Milligan. She earned a degree in accounting at Milligan and went on to pursue a successful 21-year career in higher education. Now, she is proud of her role as a parent of Milligan students Logan and Jeremy.

“I’ve always been passionate about Milligan, but I realized just how strongly I feel about it when Logan started thinking about his college choice,” Edwina said. “Of course, Bill had been on the faculty and then was in Milligan’s advancement office, so we were on campus a lot. But it’s different when you’re there as a parent of a prospective student.

“I remember bringing Logan to the fall open house and seeing such a difference between Milligan and other schools. Milligan was grounded spiritually, and that’s what I wanted for our sons.”

Ultimately, the choice to attend Milligan was Logan’s and later Jeremy’s, but Edwina remembers hoping and praying they would opt for her alma mater.

“I think I wanted to do the whole Milligan experience again with them,” she said.

As it turns out, Edwina would get her opportunity to relive her Milligan experience—to a greater degree than she ever imagined. Bill was named the 15th president of Milligan on March 18, 2011. After Bill took office in July, Edwina left her position as director of internal audit at East Tennessee State University in order to devote her time to her work as Milligan’s first lady. She does not take her new role lightly because it reflects many of the blessings she has experienced at Milligan.

“I’ve always been ‘mom’ first, and now that both the boys are at Milligan, my roles as mom and first lady overlap,” Edwina said. “They’re here, Bill is here, and I am so excited to be able to be on campus and focus my efforts here.

“Bill and I have talked a lot about our work being a team effort. We want students to see us working together because it’s important work for both of us.”

E

Edwina plans to spend her first year as first lady getting to know the students, faculty and staff, as well as the areas where she can best focus her attention. She already feels a particularly strong connection to student athletes and transfer students, which goes back to her days as a Milligan student. Edwina, who is from Elizabethtown, kentucky, transferred to Milligan from Elizabethtown Community College her junior year.

“I can identify with transfer students because I, too, was the new student in class,” she said. “I found more of my closer friends were from the younger classes.”

One of those “younger” friends she met was Bill, who sat next to her in her 8 a.m. business law class. “At first we were just friends; we had a lot of business classes together, and we played tennis together,” Edwina said. “Later we went on a TWIRP date, and our relationship grew from there.”

Whether it was making new friends or participating in extracurricular activities, Edwina quickly found her place on campus. She joined the women’s tennis team, and is proud to be one of the players who helped keep the team going when it had no funding and was in danger of folding.

“We ended up raising money so that we could compete,” she said.

“We sent letters to alumni, and their donations helped pay for our uniforms and gas to get to our competitions. We even had six to eight women compete in the state tournament, so I’m proud to say there was no gap in the Milligan College tennis program.”

After she graduated in 1984 with a bachelor of science degree in accounting, Edwina landed her first full-time job as an accountant/ auditor at Blackburn, Childers and Steagall in Johnson City. In 1986, she and Bill married, and four years later she was hired as an auditor at ETSU, where she moved up the ranks to director of the department.

“I enjoyed my work at ETSU, and it was a great position because it allowed me to be available to the boys and my family,” Edwina said. “I appreciated my time there.”

But as she enters this new season in her life, Edwina is thankful to be back at Milligan—the first place she met Bill, the first training ground for her career, her first choice for her sons’ college educations, and where she now proudly serves as first lady.

“My heart has always been at Milligan,” Edwina said. n FALL 2011 | 9

10 | FALL 2011

FALL 2011 | 11

Congratulations!

Athletics Hall of Fame Cassie (Lomison ’06) Mackell Marta Zimon (’06) Professional Excellence Awards Paul Bajko (’53) Jeff Bourn (’86) Tricia Huffman (MBA ’05) Hardin “Spirit of Milligan” Award Clint (’95) and Adele (Adinolfi ’96) Holloway Heritage Award Marvin (’57) and Charliece (Sublett ’60) Swiney Distinguished Alumni Greg (’76) and Becky (Lewis ’75) Johnson

Greg and Becky Johnson

Marvin and Charliece Swiney

12 | FALL 2011

faculTy news

Faculty News AdministrAtion & stAFF rebecca Burgner, MBA program manager, presented “Instructional Strategies for Online Teaching: A Design Course for Faculty” at the Appalachian College Association’s Summit Conference in October.

Gary F. daught, director of library services, attended the Appalachian College Association Library Directors meetings in September (Knoxville, TN). In October, he attended “The Future of the Liberal Arts College Library,” a symposium sponsored by The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR), in cooperation with the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) (Milwaukee, WI). mary Jackson, research and instruction librarian, attended a Library Orientation Exchange (LOEX) conference in May (Fort Worth, TX). Her attendance was paid for by a professional development grant from the Appalachian College Association (ACA). In July, she attended the UNC-Asheville/ACA Undergraduate Research Institute (Asheville, NC) along with colleagues Lee Blackburn, Joy drinnon and John Jackson.

BiBLicAL LeArninG John Jackson, assistant professor of Bible and humanities, preached at Cole Mill Road Church of Christ in May (Durham, NC). In July, he taught “The Psalms and Christian Ministry” in the doctor of ministry program at Emmanuel Christian Seminary, and he was part of the team that attended the UNCAsheville/ACA Undergraduate Research Institute.

Jeff miller, associate professor of Bible, presented the paper, “Saved Through Childbearing: 1 Timothy 2:15 as a Hermeneutical Caveat,” at the annual conference of Christians for Biblical Equality in July (Seattle, WA). His articles, “Asking the Wrong Questions” and “What Can We Say About Phoebe?” have appeared in recent volumes of the journal Priscilla Papers. He published “Prayer and Syncretism in 1 Timothy” as a chapter in Women in the Biblical World (vol. 2, University Press of America, ed. Elizabeth McCabe). Miller continues to serve as a consulting editor for Stone-Campbell Journal and a study-group leader at the Stone-Campbell Journal Conference.

He preached at Grandview Christian Church in the spring and at a Milligan chapel service in September. Miller regularly participates in piano playing and worship leading at Grandview Christian Church and has recently done so as a guest leader in Washington and Nebraska.

Business david campbell, assistant professor of economics, attended the Acton Institute’s four-day Acton University conference in June (Grand Rapids, MI). The Acton Institute seeks to create a synthesis of Christian and free market thought; the theme for this year’s conference was “Toward a Free and Virtuous Society.” In July, he attended Koch Industries’ Market Based Management University, a conference designed to explore the application of free market principles within business. carolyn carter, professor of CIS and business; milton carter, director of adult degree completion programs; and rebecca Burgner, attended the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) Center for Research in Adult Learning annual conference titled “Enhancing the Quality of ChristCentered Adult Education” in May (Indianapolis, IN). carolyn carter; John keyt, professor of marketing and business administration; and carolyn massello, assistant professor of business administration, attended the 2011 Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) Annual Conference titled “Managing Business Education in the New Fiscal Reality” in (Indianapolis, IN). In July, c. carter attended Cengage Learning’s Virtual Training & Development Event.

In October, c. carter attended the 2011 ACA Summit (Asheville, NC).

Victoria L. sitter, associate professor of business, served as a leadership panel member for the “Leadership and Motivation Symposium” held by The Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis (ELPA) Department of East Tennessee State University in September. The symposium is held annually to support the work of prominent leaders in the area.

educAtion Angela Hilton-Prillhart, assistant professor of education, published the following: in May—a poster presentation for the International Reading Association (Orlando, FL) titled “Identifying Struggling Readers: Can a Comprehension-based Screener Provide the Answers?”; in August, two poster presentations for the American Psychological Association (Washington, D.C.), one titled “Generalizability Estimates of a Comprehension-based Reading Screener: Examination of the Reliability of Monitoring Academic Progress: Reading” and the other titled “Utilizing Generalizability Theory to Explore the Reliability of an Experimental Multi-dimensional Mathematics Curriculum-based Measure.”

HumAne LeArninG Lee Blackburn, assistant professor of history and humanities, published “Razing Cain: Two North African Christians on the Forgiveness of Debts,” in Leaven: A Journal of Christian Ministry, 19.2 (Second Quarter 2011). In June, he attended the Karl Barth Conference (Princeton, NJ), and in July, he preached for four Sundays at Oak Grove Christian Church (Elizabethton, TN). rebecca stephens, assistant professor of writing, attended the National Humanities Center seminar, “The Concept of the Savage: Fact and Fiction” in June (Research Triangle Park, NC).

In October, she served as the primary organizer of the East Tennessee Local Food Summit, hosted by both East Tennessee State University and Milligan College. In November, she attended the South Atlantic Modern Language Association (SAMLA) Conference and presented a paper titled “The Atom Has Found Its Poetry: Weaving Together Cherokee, Appalachian, and Western Scientific Identities Using the Language of Science in Marilou Awiakta’s Abiding Appalachia: Where Mountain and Atom Meet” (Atlanta, GA). ted thomas, professor of humanities, history and German, and his spouse, Jane-Anne Thomas, represented Milligan College at the 625th Founding Celebration of the University of Heidelberg in June (Heidelberg, Germany). In the name of Milligan’s now retired president, Donald R. Jeanes, Thomas presented a letter of congratulations to University Rector, Prof. Dr. Bernhard Eitel. Accompanying the letter was a gift book to the university library, The Gospel of John in the Sixteenth Century: The Johannine Exegesis of Wolfgang Musculus, written by Milligan professor craig s.

Farmer. Thomas also presented to the rector an academic article on the role Heidelberg pastor Hermann Maas played in keeping the University of Heidelberg open during the summer of 1945. In July, Thomas preached for the Gemeinde Christi in Heidelberg, Germany. The Thomases spent the summer conducting historical research, consulting with university and church leaders in Heidelberg, with staff members of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and with the U.S. State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism.

Their research took them to libraries, archives, collections and the private homes of Holocaust eyewitnesses in the German cities of Heidelberg, Karlsruhe, Kleingartach, Laufen, and Sulzburg.

occuPAtionAL tHerAPY christy Fellers, associate professor of occupational therapy, participated as a course facilitator and an instructor at the Academy for Academic Leadership Institute for Allied Health Educators conference in June. The conference theme was “Advances in Educational Methods for Allied Health Educators.” Conference topics included using technology in teaching, classroom assessments, academic honesty, career planning and professional growth, and conflict management. christy isbell, professor of occupational therapy, was a featured professional in articles in Parents Magazine (August, 2011) and Disney Family Fun Magazine (April/May, 2011). She completed trainings for preschool and pre-K teachers in Atlanta, GA, and for head start teachers in Baltimore, MD. In July, she was a featured speaker at the ETSU Early Childhood Conference.

Jeff snodgrass, program director and associate professor of occupational therapy, delivered a scientific poster presentation titled “Utilization of Ergonomic Interventions in Traditional Hand Therapy: a Survey of Certified Hand Therapists” at the annual American Society of Hand Therapists Conference in September (Nashville, TN). His research was nominated for the outstanding scientific poster award at the conference.

PerForminG, VisuAL & communicAtiVe Arts Anne Brooks elliott, assistant professor of the practice of music, presented a guest lecture titled “The Human Temperament and Practice” at the annual state convention for Tennessee Music Teachers Association held at ETSU in June. In July, she served on the faculty of the Milligan College Summer Fine Arts Academy. In August, she performed a clarinet and piano concert titled “Saint-Saëns and Friends” at Central Baptist Church (Johnson City, TN). Also in August, she served as rehearsal accompanist for the regional high school choral clinic at Milligan. In October, she directed the Milligan Women’s Chorale in a joint concert with Concert Choir and Heritage, and she played keyboard in the orchestra for the theatre department’s musical production of The Secret Garden. david runner, professor of music, served on the faculty of the Milligan College Summer Fine Arts Academy and attended the Region VIII Convention of the American Guild of Organists (Boise, ID) in July. In October, he served as organ accompanist for Milligan’s presidential inauguration ceremony.

sociAL LeArninG John Paul Abner, associate professor of occupational therapy and psychology, presented “Creating a Trauma Informed System” for the Washington County, VA, Best Practices in Children’s Welfare Conference in May (Abingdon, VA). In August, he presented at the West Tennessee Pilot Parent Child Interaction Therapy Learning Collaborative: Session 3 (Memphis, TN). In September, he gave three presentations at the 2011 Biennial Parent Child Interaction Therapy International Conference (Gainesville, FL), and in October, he gave an eight-hour presentation titled “Diagnosis and Treatment of Child and Adolescent Anxiety Disorders” for the Ecumenical Center for Religion and Health National Speaker Series (San Antonio TX).

W. dennis Helsabeck, Jr., associate professor emeritus of history, served as a panelist for Abilene Christian University’s annual Bible lectureship, Summit, in September (Abilene, TX).

The panel’s topic was “Promoting Christian Unity,” with a particular emphasis on relationships among the major subgroups within the Stone-Campbell Movement.

FALL 2011 | 13

campus close-up

Secret Garden comes alive on stage The magical musical The Secret Garden came alive on the Milligan stage during the college’s annual Homecoming weekend.

Performances were held October 28-30 in the McGlothlin-Street Theatre in Milligan’s Gregory Center for the Liberal Arts.

The musical based on the book by Frances Hodgson Burnett was directed by Dr. Dennis Elkins and produced by Dick Major, with scenic and lighting design by Pamela Adolphi.

Dr. Charlotte Anderson served as vocal director, and Dr. Kellie Brown as conductor. n

Milligan hosts Food Summit Milligan hosted the East Tennessee Local Food Summit October 21-22. The Summit brought together consumers, producers, students, educators, elected officials and “foodies” to discuss local food availability and other key issues in two days of dynamic panel discussions and demonstrations.

This event was jointly sponsored by Milligan College and East Tennessee State University’s Center for Appalachian Studies and Services, Department of Literature and Language, and the Environmental Studies minor. n

Lecture calculates the connection between math and literature Marvin Glover, associate professor of mathematics at Milligan, presented a lecture titled “Mathematics in Literature: It’s not fiction, or is it?” on October 3 in Milligan’s Hyder Auditorium. The lecture offered a peek into the unexpected treasure of mathematics and creative writing.

Glover’s insights revealed the rich history of colorful individuals, surprising intrigue, and imaginative literature to be discovered in the world of mathematics. The lecture highlighted the interconnectedness of literature and mathematics, using examples from famous writers such as Edna St. Vincent Millay, Robert Frost and Edwin Abbott Abbott.n 14 | FALL 2011

Milligan in the national spotlight U.S. News ranks Milligan among top 3 best buys in South Milligan College ranked among the top 10 colleges in the South in two college rankings by U.S. News & World Report in its 2012 edition of “America’s Best Colleges.” In addition to a No. 3 ranking in the “Great Schools, Great Prices” subcategory, Milligan also was ranked No. 9 among the “Best Regional Colleges in the South.”

The criteria used to determine the U.S. News rankings include peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, and alumni giving. n

Colleges of Distinction Milligan was one of only seven colleges in Tennessee to be featured in the 2011-2012 “Colleges of Distinction,” a college guide that helps high school students discover the best places to learn, grow and succeed.

“Colleges of Distinction” honors colleges that demonstrate excellence in four distinctions of educational quality including engaged students, great teaching, vibrant communities, and successful outcomes.

Colleges featured in this guide take a holistic approach to admissions, consistently excel in providing undergraduate education, and have a truly national reputation, according to the guide’s criteria. n

Military-friendly designation Milligan was once again designated a Military Friendly School by G.I. Jobs, the premier magazine for military personnel transitioning into civilian life. The 2012 Military Friendly Schools list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members and veterans as students.

The list was compiled through extensive research and a data-driven survey of more than 8,000 schools nationwide. Only 1,518 schools were selected for the 2012 list. n

Enrollment reaches all-time high Milligan’s fall enrollment has reached a historic high for the fifth year in a row, with a record-setting 1,208 students registered for classes. This is a six percent increase over fall 2010 enrollment.

This year’s new student class is one of the largest in the history of the college, with 305 students. The Bachelor of Science in nursing program continues to be the most popular major among incoming freshmen, followed by human performance and exercise science, education, business and communications. n

Professor leads efforts on preparing child care for disasters The tornadoes that struck East Tennessee, Missouri, and other parts of the country earlier this year were devastating reminders of the importance of disaster preparedness in every facet of the community—from emergency responders to child care programs.

A national set of standards written by Dr. Beverly Schmalzried, a nationally known child care advocate and professor of the practice of education at Milligan College, could help child care centers and family child care homes across the country better prepare themselves and their communities for emergencies such as these.

The National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) and Save the Children’s U.S. Programs released the standards, titled “Protecting Children in Child Care During Emergencies.” These standards make specific recommendations and establish guidelines for incorporating disaster preparedness in state child care regulations.

As a result, NACCRRA and Save the Children developed detailed child care emergency preparedness standards to implement Save the Children’s policy recommendations and serve as a model for states.

“Another critical thing child care programs must address is a plan to reopen after a disaster,” Schmalzried said. “There are first responders and others who have to go to work after a disaster, and they’re going to need child care. In communities that have experienced disasters, we also met with employers who wanted to open, but their employees couldn’t come to work because there was no child care.”

Schmalzried hopes her work will encourage states to implement the recommended standards in their state child care licensing rules. She has also completed a training curriculum consisting of 10, one-hour online lessons to accompany the standards.

“I started working on developing training materials for child care centers after Hurricane Katrina,” Schmalzried said. “Later, we held a meeting and brought together people involved in disasters all over the United States. But my interest in this issue really began when I worked at the Pentagon as director of the U.S. Air Force’s child care program.”

Prior to coming to Milligan in 2003, Schmalzried served for 23 years as the chief for Family Member Programs of the United States Air Force, where she directed the Air Force’s early childhood education programs serving more than 65,000 children around the world.

“This is so important because children are our most vulnerable citizens, and we want to do everything we can to make sure the centers and homes that are caring for them are not vulnerable due to lack of preparation,” Schmalzried said. “A lot of child care programs don’t have an emergency plan in place. They might know what they would do, but they don’t have these important things in writing, such as where they’re going to evacuate the children to, how they would get them there, and how they’re going to reunite the children with their parents.”

She was at the helm of the Air Force’s early childhood education programs during several natural disasters, including Hurricane Andrew and a volcanic eruption in the Philippines. In addition, she had to ensure that the Air Force’s child care centers near active runways were prepared for potential emergencies that could occur there, such as plane crashes and chemical spills.

The recommended national standards address issues uncovered in a 2010 Save the Children study, which found that 36 states are missing key child care regulations that would better protect children in child care before, during and after disasters.

“This issue is something I’ve worked on for quite some time,” Schmalzried said. “It’s close to my heart and also on a lot of other people’s minds lately as our country has faced some very serious emergencies and disasters in recent years.”

“Our nation’s children spend, on average, 36 hours per week in some form of child care, and most of the child care workforce has not received basic disaster preparedness training,” said Linda K. Smith, executive director of NACCRRA. “A comprehensive and viable emergency plan must be a core component of state child care regulations to ensure that all children are protected in times of crisis.”

To read or download “Protecting Children In Child Care During Emergencies,” visit www.naccrra.org. n

During this time the Air Force’s 245 early childhood programs earned national accreditation.

FALL 2011 | 15

A

CAREER for the

BOOKS t’s been more than 50 years since Omer Hamlin Jr. (’56) lived in the basement of the old Milligan Post Office on the banks of Buffalo Creek. Back then, Hamlin was the director of Milligan’s library during one of the most important times in its history. In 1961, Hamlin oversaw the library’s move from its cramped quarters in four rooms of Derthick Hall to the brand new P. H. Welshimer Memorial Library.

“When I came to Milligan to work as director of the library in 1959, the bulldozers were on campus to excavate for the P. H. Welshimer Memorial Library,” Hamlin said. “I remember the day we were scheduled to move into the new building, the president (Dr. Dean Walker) and the dean (Guy Oakes) had agreed to cancel chapel. All of the students met in the old library to help us move the books to the new library.”

Hamlin instructed the students to carry out books in order, row by row, to the new library, where someone met them and shelved them correctly. Hamlin estimates that the student body—which at that time included current Milligan Registrar Sue Skidmore—quickly and efficiently moved 25,000 to 30,000 books and materials across campus.

“It took about three to four hours at zero cost to the college,” Hamlin said.

“It was an exciting time at Milligan, and I have many good memories of my time there, both as a student and on staff.”

But just as the Milligan campus was quickly changing, Hamlin’s circumstances also took a new path. In 1962, he accepted a position as a serials librarian at the University of kentucky Medical Center Library in Lexington, kentucky. He worked his way up to director of the U.k. Medical Center Library and Communications Systems, retiring from this role in 1992.

Despite the years that have passed since he lived and worked on campus, Hamlin’s ties to Milligan are as strong today as they were when the college’s beautiful buildings and grounds were the view from his front yard. Like so many Milligan alumni, he has remained connected to the college through his friends, his children, and his wonderful memories of life on the banks of the Buffalo.

I

16 | FALL 2011

“Milligan completely changed my life, and it, along with good parents, probably made me the person I am now,” said Hamlin, a trustee emeritus on Milligan’s Board of Trustees.

A HoME AwAy FroM HoME Hamlin wasn’t a traditional 18-year-old freshman when he came to Milligan in 1952. A native of Tollesboro, kentucky, he had never even heard of the college when he graduated from Tollesboro High School and went to work on the family farm in 1948. After three years of farm life, Hamlin’s desire to become a minister led him to Milligan.

“I had a minister friend named Paul Jones,” Hamlin said. “He was also a friend of Milligan and a friend of Mildred Welshimer. I started looking at colleges and decided that Lexington was too close to home, and I needed to break away and move farther. Paul told me about this little school near Johnson City, Tennessee.

“Before I took off to go to Milligan, I decided I better visit and take a look. I had a new car, so two of my friends rode with me to Tennessee to check out the campus. I drove on campus and the first thing I remember was pulling up in front of Pardee Hall and meeting Duard Walker (’48), who was outside watching his daughter ride a tricycle. He was the resident director of Pardee at that time.”

The campus looked very different then. Several of its main buildings, such as the legendary Pardee Hall and Cheek Hall, now exist only in pictures and memories.

Hamlin liked what he saw and decided to come to Milligan, where he majored in Bible and minored in English and Greek. Although he was older than most of his classmates, he fit right into the Milligan community, joining the Milligan Concert Choir and serving as president of the Milligan Student Council his senior year. rEturNiNg HoME After he graduated from Milligan in 1956, Hamlin went home to Tollesboro and began a ministry at Sand Hill Christian Church. It was a fruitful ministry and a formative time for Hamlin, but his thoughts kept returning to Milligan.

“I wanted to go back to East Tennessee,” Hamlin said. “The best friend I had at Milligan was the academic dean, Guy Oakes, who talked to me about a position with the Milligan library. I started by enrolling in two courses in library science at Morehead State University in kentucky.”

Hamlin was accepted into the University of kentucky’s Master of Science in Library Science program and earned his master’s degree in 1960. While in Lexington, he also met his wife, Evon. The couple moved to East Tennessee right after they were married so Omer could begin his position as director of Milligan’s library. Evon taught in the Johnson City Schools. Omer worked in the library, occasionally making trips back to kentucky to finish his master’s degree. While in Lexington, he also made recruiting visits for Milligan.

“When we first moved back to Tennessee, we lived in Boxwood Terrace, an old renovated mansion,” Hamlin said. “But Dr. Owen Crouch had renovated the old post office building on campus. He had an office on the second floor. Evon and I moved into the basement apartment in August of 1960.”

Hamlin enjoyed living on campus, just steps from his office in the library and the familiar pulse of campus life.

“I never had to worry about parking,” he said. “We could go to the student union building or cafeteria to eat, and it was convenient to go to all the basketball games in Cheek Hall.”

After the birth of their first son, David, the Hamlins decided they needed more space, and they purchased a house in the Pinecrest neighborhood off the Milligan Highway. Not long after their move from Milligan’s campus, Omer’s job offer at U.k. took them even farther from Milligan.

P.H. Welshimer Memorial Library celebrates 50th anniversary This year marks the 50th anniversary of Milligan College’s P. H. Welshimer Memorial Library. The Library hosted a celebration to mark the milestone during Milligan’s annual Homecoming festivities. Former and current library student workers and staff gathered to reminisce and make new memories at a reception on October 29.

The library was named in memory of P. H. Welshimer, a Restoration Movement leader and the long-time minister of First Christian Church of Canton, Ohio. Construction of the library was funded by a gift of the T. W. Phillips Jr. Charitable Trust and the Phillips family of Butler, Pennsylvania, after an initial gift by the Kresge Foundation of Detroit, Michigan.

Since its dedication on November 24, 1961, the library has been an important center of learning and community on Milligan’s campus. The well-built brick structure, with its beautiful stone and marble accents, has served Milligan well through the years. It has also changed and adapted to meet the 21st century needs of the students and faculty.

“So much has changed over the last 50 years in the way students and faculty utilize the library and its resources,” said Gary F. Daught, director of library services since 2007. “The most dramatic changes are clearly related to the advent of personal computer technology and the growth of electronically accessed information resources.”

In 1961, students had to come to the library because that was really the only place where physical information resources could be accessed. Today, the library increasingly reaches out to students anywhere, at any time, to provide a vast array of resources that are accessible with just a few clicks of a mouse. The role of librarians has also shifted—from gatekeeper of knowledge to empowering instructor of effective search, evaluation, and application of information.

“But in spite of these changes, the library continues to stand as a relevant place of teaching and learning, and a powerful centering symbol for the educational mission of the college,” Daught said.

FALL 2011 | 17

olD KENtucKy HoME After moving back to kentucky, the Hamlins welcomed their second son, Stephen. The family settled into a busy life in the Bluegrass, where they remain active in their church and community.

“After we moved, it would be years before I was back at Milligan,” Hamlin said. “We eventually went back for my 10th reunion.”

Their connections to Milligan continued to strengthen when both sons chose to attend Milligan.

David, who is now senior minister at Shelby Christian Church (Shelbyville, kentucky), graduated in 1983 with a degree in Bible and business. Stephen studied business and now serves as constable of the 3rd District in Fayette County, kentucky.

Omer also delved back into the Milligan community when he became a member of the college’s Board of Advisors in 1984. In 1990, he was named

as a trustee, serving until 2002 when he transitioned to trustee emeritus.

“I have watched the campus grow and change in many ways over the years,” Hamlin said. “President Marshall Leggett was the right man at the right time at Milligan. And what Don and Clarinda Jeanes have done on campus is absolutely wonderful. Don is just a good, common sense guy. And the campus is in the best shape it has ever been.”

While Hamlin spent most of his career in kentucky, his alma mater shaped his life and still feels like home. In recent years, he has battled several health issues, but he still makes a point to come back to Milligan at least once a year.

“I guess there was a time I thought I’d never leave Milligan,” Hamlin said. “And I never really did. I’ve been able to serve the college from right here in Lexington.

Milligan will always be special to me.” n

ExplorE Milligan’s history Milligan College history is right at your fingertips thanks to two new and easy ways to access information and photos from the college’s archives.

A PictoriAl HiStory

The newest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s popular Campus History Series is Milligan College, a pictorial history by local author Jan E. Loveday. The book was released October 3.

The collection of more than 200 images takes readers on a journey through Milligan’s history—from its humble beginnings on the banks of Buffalo Creek in the 1800s to its modern-day milestones, including the appointment of the college’s 15th president Dr. William B. Greer, who wrote the book’s foreword.

Loveday, who serves as director of graduate admissions for Milligan’s Master of Education program, began writing the book about a year ago, when Milligan’s 14th president Dr. Donald Jeanes announced his retirement.

Milligan College is $21.99, and is available at the Milligan College Bookstore, through online retailers or the publisher, at www.arcadiapublishing.com. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Jessi Bryant Assistance Fund, dedicated to helping nontraditional students reach their licensure goals in Milligan’s degree completion program for early childhood education.

18 | SUMMER 2011

oNliNE DigitAl collEctioN

Take a walk down memory lane through Milligan’s digital collection, now freely available for viewing or download in a variety of formats. It’s online at www.archive.org/details/milligancollegearchives.

The digital collection includes a complete run of Milligan’s Buffalo annual, along with registers, bulletins and catalogs from 1880 to 2008. Milligan’s student newspaper, the Stampede (including issues from 1940 to 2005), is also digitized. The images are fulltext searchable and easy to navigate.

The digital collection is part of a cooperative venture involving the Appalachian College Association, LYRASIS (a regional library consortium), and a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

The Crew in Chicago (1992): Ron & Phyllis Sewell; Bill & Bonnie Smith; Lowell & Betty Williams; John & Cindy Wiggins; Don & Alice Alexander

The Crew in Arizona (2009): Back: Bill & Bonnie Smith; Don & Alice Alexander; Ron & Phyllis Sewell Front: John Wiggins; Lowell Williams

the

riendships that began at Milligan College in the late ’50s were rekindled in 1991 during Alumni Weekend when the class of ’61 celebrated its 30-year reunion. Getting together for dinner at the old Steak & Ale in Johnson City were Don and Alice Alexander, Ron and Phyllis Sewell, Bill and Bonnie Smith, John and Cindy Wiggins and Lowell and Betty Williams. The guys—Don, Ron, Bill, John and Lowell—had all been roommates in the legendary and sometimes infamous Pardee Hall. All were athletes and played collegiate sports at Milligan.

On that October evening in 1991, the Crew (a nickname that stuck) recalled their often-misspent college days and shared their versions (sanitized for polite company) of old stories. They laughed until they cried. The staff at Steak & Ale were very accommodating. It was at this dinner that the Crew decided they didn’t want to wait another 30 years to get together again. So, they began to make plans to meet sometime the following year in Chicago.

In Chicago, the Crew spent four days at the Palmer House Hotel, took in a couple of Cubs games, visited the museums, shopped, ate at some really great restaurants, and generally got reacquainted. This was the first annual get-together and a continuation of a “hearts” game that started during their college days.

Since meeting in Chicago, the Crew has gotten together almost every year in a different location: Nashville, TN; Gatlinburg, TN; Gettysburg, PA; Washington, DC; Mackinac Island, MI; Las Vegas, NV; Williamsburg, VA; Lancaster, PA; Charleston, SC; Asheville, NC; Branson, MO; Sedona, AZ; and Pigeon Forge, TN. They have also cruised together to the Panama Canal and to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The Crew’s life journeys are as varied as their travels. Among them are educators, editors, administrators, business executives and volunteers. All five couples were very active and served in leadership roles in their churches. Two of the Crew, Ron Sewell and John Wiggins, are currently serving as trustees at Milligan.

In February 2008, the Crew lost its first member when Betty Williams lost her battle with cancer. Just a year later, in February 2009, Cindy Wiggins also passed away.

The remaining eight members of the Crew continue to enjoy getting together each year, a tribute to the strong friendships developed during their Milligan years and rekindled during their 30th reunion in 1991. n

F

CREW Milligan friends for

50 years

Sewell, Bill Smith, The guys in Pigeon Forge (2010): Ron ins Wigg John nder, Alexa Don ms, Willia Lowell

FALL 2011 | 19

STORYTELLING ON SCREEN MILLIGAN ALUM EARNS EMMY FOR MEDAL OF HONOR DOCUMENTARY By tiffany Weinbender (’13)

Sgt. John Mann, a 2001 graduate of Milligan College, received a 2010 Emmy Award for his one-hour documentary, “Souls of Valor,” which honors three Medal of Honor recipients. Mann was awarded the Emmy by the Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

“Souls of Valor” aired on the Pentagon Channel on November 17, 2010. The documentary honors Army Staff Sergeant Robert Miller and Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Richard Etchberger, who were awarded the medal posthumously, and Army Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta, the first living Medal of Honor recipient since the Vietnam War. As the resident Medal of Honor specialist at the Pentagon Channel, Mann was asked to produce this one-hour special to honor the three soldiers. During the two months Mann spent gathering research for this project, he quickly discovered the burden the Medal becomes to its recipients.

“For the families of posthumous awardees, the Medal comes long after the violent death of their loved one,” Mann said. “For those who lived, the Medal becomes a constant reminder of the horrors they have experienced and the friends they lost.

“Sal Guinta received his medal for saving his best friend from being captured, but that friend later died from his wounds, and now Guinta bears an award that serves as a constant reminder of his friend’s death. In every case the Medal of Honor came with great personal cost that in turn changes the life of the recipient and their family forever.”

Mann emphasizes the pressures associated with the Medal of Honor, as a once average American family becomes an icon of America and its military, feeling as if the eyes of the nation are always upon them. The documentary highlights not only the three recipient’s individual stories, but also includes segments about the history of the Medal of Honor, the decision-making process for awarding the medal, and a dedication to current 20 | FALL 2011

living recipients showing how their lives have changed since receiving the award.

“It was my goal to express these emotions of tragedy and loss in the documentary,” Mann said. “It seemed to me that individuals who have experienced such tragedy and loss and yet still endure are just as heroic as those who died.”

Mann believes that television is first an emotional medium, and filmmakers have to learn and understand the emotional nature of their art.

His ultimate goal is to create meaningful television and film products.

“When you find a way to tell a person’s story so that it engages the viewers, makes it relevant to them, and then creates a catharsis, that is when you have found success in the medium,” said Mann. “My greatest reward is when I know that my work is emotionally moving and has deeply touched the audience.”

In 2005, Mann began his Army career with the specific desire to become a 46R, Public Affairs Broadcast Journalist. Simply put, Mann’s job was to tell the soldier’s story by sending home videos and news packages for broadcast in the states. While most enlisted soldiers work in squads, Public Affairs soldiers often work in pairs or alone. This “one-man band” must produce, shoot, write, voice and edit all material in the field.

In 2008, Mann joined a mix of Department of Defense (DoD) civilians, government contractors, and military members as a reporter/ correspondent for the Pentagon Channel. The Pentagon Channel serves as the primary television conduit to service members and their families around the world. Mann’s skills in all areas of production quickly caught the eyes of management, who set him to work pursuing news stories about service members. Mann found himself involved in many aspects of multiple projects—one day serving as videographer, the next as editor of a story, and the next as anchor.

Despite the stress associated with the job, Mann says, “To utilize all that I have learned, to learn more each day, and to use that knowledge to accomplish something good for our military and my country is truly edifying.”

Mann did not always hold this passion for production. He began his college career at kentucky Christian University (kCU) in 1995, intending to pursue a career in ministry. After enrolling in a creative writing class, Mann realized his talent and passion for writing screenplays. After viewing Mann’s video projects, Dr. Charlie Starr, a professor and valuable mentor at kCU, told Mann he should attend film school. Soon after, Mann applied to Milligan’s English department, believing his future would lie in writing. However, Milligan’s communications major quickly drew his attention. Mann changed his major, becoming a near-permanent resident of the Paxson Communications Center, where he met another great mentor, Dr. Carrie Swanay, chair of Milligan’s area of performing, visual and communicative arts.

“At the time, film studies was only a minor and involved mostly theory classes,” Mann said. “When it would have been easy to say ‘stick with the curriculum,’ Dr. Swanay and Richard Major, professor of theatre, worked with me and a few other students to give us opportunities to learn and practice the art of filmmaking.”

This filmmaking venture culminated in the fall of 2000 when Mann and fellow classmate Chad Garrison wrote, produced, filmed and edited a complete feature film, “The Screen,” which premiered to a packed audience in Seeger Memorial Chapel that December.

“Through my experiences, I have learned there is no better place to grow than in a college setting,” said Mann. “This realization comes primarily from my time at Milligan, where I was allowed much freedom to learn and grow as a television professional.”

Mann graduated from Milligan in 2001 with a bachelor of science degree in communications and film studies. He also completed an internship with the Los Angeles Film Studies Center, where he was able to gain experience within the film industry. Mann is currently completing a master of fine arts degree in motion picture and television from the Academy of Art University.

“Though my time at Milligan was relatively short, it was critical to my career. What I learned and experienced in three semesters catapulted me far ahead in a very competitive career field. I owe so much to the professors who quickly took me under their wing and gave me the freedom to challenge myself,” said Mann.

Mann has returned to Milligan, as well as kentucky Christian University, as a guest lecturer on film aesthetics, story structure and production techniques. As a 15-year veteran of television and film, Mann has written and directed numerous short feature films, documentaries and music videos.

“The pattern of life I started at Milligan, I continue to this day— always pushing myself further, relishing in the successes, while embracing the lessons that come from failures and mistakes,” said Mann.

Once Mann’s contract with the military ends, he plans to launch a production company with his brother, Jim, and produce original products, as well as video projects for client businesses, governments and individuals.

Mann and his wife, Heather, currently reside in Ft. Meade, Maryland, with their two children, Jonathan, 6, and Hanna, 3. n

“THE PATTERN OF LIFE

I STARTED AT MILLIGAN,

I CONTINUE TO THIS DAY...”

FALL 2011 | 21

The

Land of the BUFFALO

Clint Holloway (’95) started amassing a herd of buffaloes long before he ever set foot on the Milligan College campus as a student.

His collection of approximately 150 buffalo figurines, pictures, carvings and accessories had humble beginnings, starting with a few buffalo toys from his childhood.

Holloway family with President Greer at After he came to Milligan as a the Celebrate Milligan dinner student in the early 1990s, Clint began collecting buffaloes in earnest. When he traveled, he was always on the lookout for buffalo items. Friends and family soon learned about his burgeoning batch of buffaloes, and they began giving them to Clint as gifts on special occasions and holidays.

So the collection grew bigger, and bigger, and still bigger—until his offices at home and at work were bursting at the seams with buffaloes.

“People came to visit and said ‘it looks like a Milligan museum’,” Holloway said. “So my wife, Adele (Adinolfi ’96), and I decided to donate about 125 of the buffaloes to Milligan, where they could be enjoyed by the entire Milligan community.”

Clint, who was a member of the planning committee for the inauguration of Milligan’s 15th president, wanted to make the contribution to Milligan to commemorate Milligan’s history and celebrate its future.

He transported the buffalo collection from his office and home in Nashville, Tennessee, to its new home at Milligan just in time for the college’s inaugural festivities and Homecoming weekend. The buffaloes now adorn a reception room in Little Hartland and were on display for several inauguration and alumni events held there during Homecoming weekend.

Milligan’s new herd of buffaloes is more than just decoration. Every buffalo in the collection has a story behind it, and Clint remembers where he obtained each one.

22 | FALL 2011

“One of my favorites is the buffalo tie tack that once belonged to the beloved Milligan Professor Lone Sisk,” Clint said. “His daughter gave me the tie tack, and it’s very special. Retired Milligan Librarian Billie Oakes-Watkins has also given me many buffaloes over the years.”

Some of the buffaloes are displayed in curio cabinets, scrapbooks and picture frames. Some are antiques, like the framed buffalo print Clint purchased from the estate sale of Grand Ole Opry legend Teddy Wilburn.

The collection includes a buffalo afghan, buffalo postcards, and plenty of buffalo plush toys. Clint has found buffaloes everywhere from California to Maine, and there are even some international specimens in the collection.

“I think one of the most unusual places we found a buffalo was in kennebunkport, Maine,” he said. “You find buffaloes everywhere when you’re looking for them. I have tried to stay away from buffaloes with a more southwest motif and stick to those that look more like Milligan’s.”

There are a few exceptions, including a water buffalo that Clint and Adele purchased in China when they were there to adopt their 6-year-old son, Jin, in 2009. In China, they also purchased a carved jade buffalo, which they chose to keep, along with about 20 other buffaloes from the collection.

“We did hold on to some of our buffaloes, like the buffalo from China that is meaningful to our family,” Holloway said. “We hope the buffaloes that are now at Milligan will mean a lot to the Milligan family.”

Clint and Adele are long-time supporters of Milligan. During Homecoming 2011, the Holloways were awarded the Hardin “Spirit of Milligan” award for their devotion and service to Milligan.

The couple met at Milligan, where they both were involved in many campus activities. After they graduated and later married, they continued to remain closely connected to their alma mater through their support of Milligan’s mission and student scholarships.

Clint serves on Milligan’s Board of Advisors and as president of the Alumni Leadership Council. He is the minister of administration at Aspen Grove Christian Church in Franklin, Tennessee. Adele, who also serves on Milligan’s Alumni Leadership Council, is the director of facilities at Oak Hill School, a top-tier private Christian elementary school in Nashville. The Holloways have two sons, Jin and Jon Campbell. n

u

Milligan College

RISE aBOVE

Research Initiatives and Student Engagement

As part of the reaffirmation of accreditation process with the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Milligan is implementing a quality Enhancement Plan (qEP) that will focus on the development of a robust undergraduate research program. The decision to pursue this emphasis grew out of 18 months of discussion. Ultimately, surveys of faculty, staff, students and trustees, who overwhelmingly chose this qEP topic over several others, led to a program that is being called “RISE ABOVE: Research Initiatives and Student Engagement.”

The goal of RISE ABOVE is “to connect students and faculty in a variety of mentored research experiences aimed at encouraging deep learning and increasing student-faculty engagement.”

Undergraduate research is not new to Milligan. Over the past 10 years, students have conducted interviews and surveys in the field with faculty, presented posters and papers at regional and national conferences, been published in journals, and given gallery talks; however, this qEP seeks to increase the number of students who participate in such opportunities and provide faculty with the resources necessary to support individual students with their projects. the college believes that undergraduate research is important for several reasons: •

it requires students to interact with and apply the material they learn in the classroom, honing critical thinking skills;

•

it gives students the opportunity to more fully explore a field of study, often contributing to decisions related to vocation and/or graduate school;

•

it builds students’ confidence in their abilities;

•

it increases direct contact with professors, which studies have shown increases student success; and

•

it equips students with the skills and experience that are needed to successfully compete for limited slots in graduate school programs or for desirable positions in the workplace.

RISE ABOVE, which will unfold over the course of the next five years, will engage a growing numbers of students from all disciplines in faculty-guided projects, ranging from extended research papers to creative performances and exhibits. Student research, meeting clearly defined criteria, will be presented publicly in a venue or format appropriate to each project’s discipline.

Milligan faculty and students are excited about the opportunities presented by this qEP. Committed to excellence, we look forward to the many ways RISE ABOVE will broaden and strengthen the student experience. n

FALL 2011 | 23

aThleTic feature

Wrestling coach pins success on hard Work Bruce Bittenbender’s love of wrestling really grabbed him in middle school—literally.

“Some guy grabbed me in the back of the neck when I was in junior high school, and it was the wrestling coach,” Bittenbender said. “I was a farm boy, and he said I needed to come out for the wrestling team. That’s how I got into it, and I am forever grateful for that.”

It has been nothing but success since then for Bittenbender (’69), who with 787 wins holds the Michigan state record for career coaching victories in high school wrestling.

Bittenbender wrestled throughout high school and then came to Milligan, where he finished as conference runner-up for three seasons under Milligan’s legendary head coach Orvel Crowder.

“Coach Crowder was a major influence on my life like he was for a lot of guys at Milligan,” Crowder said. “I still think about some of the things that he did and the goals that he set.”

The influences from Coach Crowder are also evident in Bittenbender’s life today.

“I think the words honesty, dignity, hard work and values describe what I learned from Coach Crowder,” Bittenbender said. “He set the bar high.”

During his time at Milligan, the Buffaloes’ wrestling program participated in the South Intercollegiate Wrestling Conference, which featured schools like Auburn University, University of Georgia, University 24 | FALL 2011

of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Appalachian State University, and CarsonNewman. The program allowed Bittenbender the opportunity to travel to other parts of the country.

“I came from a big family and didn’t get around much, but at Milligan we traveled as much as our budget would allow us,” Bittenbender said.

“Traveling was a great experience; it opened my eyes to what was out there.”

After graduating from Milligan, Bittenbender began his legendary career at South Haven High School in Michigan as an assistant. However, Bittenbender points out that it just wasn’t his love of wrestling that took him there.

“After graduation, a lot of recruiters came and talked to me, including one from South Haven,” Bittenbender said. “I always liked to fish, and I interviewed and visited South Haven. It was a nice town right on Lake Michigan, and I thought I would try it for a year.”

After Bittenbender served as an assistant on the South Haven state championship team in 1970, he accepted a position coaching the Lakeshore High School Lancers in a community about 30 miles away.

“When I took the head coaching position at Lakeshore, I always thought I would try it out for a couple of years, and 41 years later I am still there.”

In his tenure at Lakeshore High, Bittenbender has seen his team record 22 conference titles, 22 district titles, and nine regional titles.

Bruce Bittenbender as a milligan student (top left); as coach of the Lakeshore High school Lancers wrestling team, Bittenbender was named national coach of the Year in 2010 (center); milligan coach orvel crowder (right);

“Work hard, get to the top, get to the top in an honest way, with integrity and values.”

Individually, his wrestlers have recorded 81 individual state finishes and 20 state championships, which are more than all of the high schools in southwest Michigan combined.

The key to success for Bittenbender and his program is quite simple.

“First of all, you have to have great support from your community and administration,” he said. “We have had a lot of great assistant coaches and dedicated wrestlers, but it is hard work. There are no ifs, ands or buts about it; it took a lot of hard work and a community that has supported our wrestling program very well.”

However, Bittenbender still wants to check a state title off the accomplishment list.

“Not having a state title leaves a void,” Bittenbender said. “It may be one of the reasons that I keep coaching. We were so close, but winning a state title is a very difficult thing to do. We have had tremendous success individually, but just can’t get to that next level.”

The Lancers have come close to the Michigan state crown, placing second in 1986 and 1994. They were also upset in their march to the state meet in 2004.

Entering his 42nd season, the state title pursuit is one that may be keeping the coach from giving up the reins of the program after retiring from Lakeshore as a teacher at the end of 2010-11.

“I am taking it one year at a time right now,” Bittenbender said. “They would like for me to stay, and I get a lot of support. There comes a time

where you have to say enough is enough, and I will go when that time arrives for me.”

While Bittenbender has written his name into the Michigan record books, he also is second in the nation behind Minnesota coach Scot Davis’s 903 victories. Bittenbender is not sure if he will surpass that record before retirement.

“That is going to be a tough one to break, but it is possible,” Bittenbender said. “If things go well and I can stick around four or five more years, that is what it is going to take to break that mark.”

One accomplishment that Bittenbender wasn’t expecting was being named National Coach of the Year in 2010 by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association.

“They picked eight coaches for each sport as finalists,” Bittenbender said. “This thing is just a huge deal with Tom Osborne (athletic director for University of Nebraska) as the keynote speaker. It was a knee-weakening affair. There were some great people there, as all eight coaches had outstanding accomplishments, and I was given that award.”

Despite all that Bittenbender has achieved throughout in his career, he wants his legacy to be one of a hard-working, honest coach, much like that of his mentor Coach Crowder.

“Work hard, get to the top, get to the top in an honest way, with integrity and values. Those are important values to me,” he said.n

FALL 2011 | 25

RUNNING for the

W

RECORD BOOKS

hen Milligan seniors Austin Ellis and Gillian Giffen started their collegiate cross country careers, Milligan Coach Chris Layne couldn’t imagine the level of success the duo would reach.

“I was definitely optimistic when it came to their potential, especially in Austin’s case,” Layne said. “I think we have a system that focuses on development, so if they both had the fire to run fast, then I was confident they would both excel.”

Layne’s hopes for the runners were realized as Ellis and Giffen have run right into Milligan’s record books. Both student-athletes have earned Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Runner of the Year awards for three consecutive seasons and are now in their final year as Buffaloes. In addition, both ran to NAIA All-American honors in 2009, a year after Ellis became just the third Milligan men’s cross country AllAmerican in 2008.

“You don’t always get it right, but this is how you want recruiting to play out,” Layne said. “I’m not surprised with what they’ve accomplished, and the best part of it is, I think we have a few things figured out so they can really enjoy a successful senior season.”

Giffen has been huge part of the women’s team, capturing eight-straight AAC titles and recording finishes of fourth, 11th and 24th at the NAIA National Championships.

Representing the Buffaloes on the national stage is one of Giffen’s favorite moments of the year.

“Nationals are my favorite races of the year because you are racing the best of the best in the NAIA,” Giffen said. “It is a lot of pressure put on you, but it is also what we’ve worked for all season and a chance to show where that hard work has gone.”

During his career, Ellis saw the Milligan men record their highest finish in nationals at 16th place. They also recorded individual finishes of 23rd and 41st. However, Ellis tries to approach the national championships as just another race.

“There is definitely added pressure, and it is a lot more serious than the other races we run,” Ellis said. “Once the gun goes off though, it is all just racing. You try to beat everybody, and if you can’t do that, then just do your best.”

Ellis also has had an outstanding track career, achieving All-American status during the 2010 NAIA Track and Field National Championships in the men’s 5k.

Despite all of their individual success, both student-athletes point out their favorite moments have been with teammates.

26 | FALL 2011

AtHLetic neWs “It was nice to crack the top 30 at nationals my sophomore year, but I enjoyed getting on the stage as a team when we finished fourth at nationals,” Giffen said. “It was my favorite race because we all worked together, and all of us were so connected.”

Both Giffen and Ellis admit that they wouldn’t have achieved their success without the help of Layne.

“Overall, my time with Coach Layne has been a huge learning experience,” Ellis said. “I know he has taught me a lot about running and life in general. I feel lucky to run for a coach like Coach Layne because there have been a lot of positives in the past four years from being coached by him, and I know he has improved my running dramatically from high school.”

“Coach Layne asks a lot of you and sets a high standard for you, but that is how it should be at the college level,” Giffen said. “You should be held to that higher standard because it is a step up from high school, and I have found it rewarding and have learned a lot from him.”

Layne admires Ellis and Giffen, not only because of their athleticism, but also because of their toughness and commitment to their sport.

“Both athletes lead by example, and more than the talent, they know how to get the most out of their bodies,” Layne said. “Unfortunately that’s a tougher trait to duplicate than talent. This sport isn’t rocket science, and if you have the kind of innate toughness both of these athletes possess, then you can be great at this sport.”

Layne also noted that their mark on the program is substantial and will be felt for years to come.

“Both Gillian and Austin have had a major impact on our recent success,” Layne said. “They’ve both played a larger role than they know when it comes to putting us on the map.”

The duo is scheduled to graduate in May of 2012. Ellis is majoring in public relations, and Giffen is an exercise science major.

“I want people to remember me as someone who got the job done,” Ellis said. “If you put everything you have into it and trust those around you, at the end of the day you are going to accomplish things that you didn’t think were possible.” n

The Milligan College athletics program received national recognition from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) as a recipient of their Champions of Character Five Star Award. In addition to special recognition on the Champions of Character website, Milligan will receive a special web banner and certificate to celebrate the honor. Five Star Institutions will be recognized during the NAIA National Convention held in April. In all, the NAIA will recognize 220 member schools and 23 conferences, including the Appalachian Athletic Conference, which was one of only four conferences nationwide to land in the top spot with 100% of its member schools making the grade. cross country The Milligan women’s cross country team claimed their ninth consecutive AAC title while the men finished second in the conference race. Gillian Giffen (knoxville, tn) claimed her fourth straight AAC Runner of the year title, while Austin ellis (charlottesville, VA) secured his third straight runner of the year honor. The women, who ended the final regular season coaches poll ranked 25th, also had strong seasons from catie mcmahon (Lanoka Harbor, nJ) and Lauren Hubbard (kingsport, tn). On the men’s side, matt murphy (Greeneville, tn), nathan meeuwenberg (Hudsonville, mi), and Brendan Hawkins (Limestone, tn) joined Ellis at the top to pace the squad and qualify individually for nationals. The 2011 NAIA Cross Country National Championships are slated for Nov. 19, in Vancouver, Wash. dance The second-year Milligan dance squad won the college division of the home pom competition, defeating an impressive list of teams including East Tennessee State University and Carson-Newman at the 2011 Universal Dance Association’s (UDA) camp held on the campus of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in July. The Buffaloes won 21 blue ribbons and three red and were named most improved program at the camp. In addition, they were asked to perform their winning dance in front of the entire camp crowd, a group of more than 700 cheerleaders, dancers and fans. mountain Biking The Milligan College mountain biking team saw sophomore ethan Quisenberry (Johnson city, tn) make the first appearance in the Collegiate National Championships for the young squad this season. Quisenberry competed in the gravity events and finished inside the top 50 in both the downhill and dual slalom events. He finished 41st in the downhill and recorded a dual slalom finish of 40th in the 2011 Collegiate National Championships in Angel Fire, NM. men’s soccer The men’s soccer team capitalized on a fast start as they claimed the Appalachian Athletic Conference regular season title with a perfect 7-0 record in conference play.

The Buffaloes survived a strong non-conference schedule with wins over NCAA D-II Carson-Newman and NAIA power Mount Vernon Nazarene that allowed Milligan to go 11-4 overall during the regular season. The Buffaloes received votes in the NAIA coaches’ poll throughout the season. AAC Players of the Week honors went to chris ochieng (nairobi, kenya), nahom tekle (ethiopia), sandre Wilson (mandeville, Jamaica), Andrew stewart (newcastle upon tyne, england), and karlo soto-castillo (Los Angeles, cA) for their performances throughout the season.

Women’s soccer The women’s soccer team started the 2011 season off steadily and finished third in the regular season with a 5-2 conference record and 9-6-1 overall. Their season came to a close in the AAC tournament quarterfinals after being defeated by Columbia on penalty kicks. rachel martin (Blountville, tn) and Lauren mcinturff (kingsport, tn) were named AAC Offensive and Defensive Players of the week, respectively.

Volleyball The Milligan College volleyball team entered the 2011 as favorites in the AAC conference race. After a 1-8 start against one of the nation’s toughest schedules, the Buffaloes rebounded to finish 11-18 overall and 9-7 in the AAC. Milligan saw numerous players receive AAC Player of the week honors in their respective positions during the season, including morgan rutledge, Holly english and katelin Henson (kingsport, tn); chelsea spivey (Gate city, VA); and kendra Fiddler (colorado springs, co). other coach Harold stout has published a memoir of his baseball coaching days at Milligan and ETSU. For more information, email coachstout@hargray.com For more athletic news, visit www.milliganbuffs.com

SUMMER 2011 | 27

From the President Dear friends, Thank you for the outpouring of support that you have shown Edwina and me since I took office on July 16.

The Inauguration and Homecoming festivities were truly extraordinary, full of memories we will cherish for years to come. It is a great honor to serve as Milligan’s 15th president and to feel the trust that has been placed in me at this exciting time in Milligan’s history. Serving as a member of Milligan’s faculty for 12 years and as vice president for institutional advancement for the past five years has given me a deep appreciation for the impact that our faculty and staff have on our students and, in turn, the impact our students have on the world as they become alumni. I truly believe that we are changing lives and shaping culture and that this would not be so without the support of our alumni and friends. Thank you!

Certainly, great things are happening at Milligan. This year we enrolled 1,208 students in the fall semester—our fifth consecutive fall semester with record enrollment. This growth has not come at the expense of quality either. For the new student class, the average high school ACT is 24, the second highest score in the past 20 years. The average GPA is 3.65, also one of the highest in the past several years. Both of these figures continue to be above state and national averages. Additionally, enrolling higher caliber students has resulted in higher retention rates among upperclassmen; currently, our overall retention is 88 percent. Others continue to notice our success too. Our 2012 U.S. News ranking has risen to ninth place on the list of “Best Regional Colleges in the South” and third in their “Great Schools, Great Prices” subcategory.

As we celebrate our accomplishments, we are also working harder than ever to shape the Milligan of the future. Right now, plans are being made to accommodate the record number of students who are seeking a Milligan education. In addition, my leadership team is exploring new programs that will allow us to continue to remain relevant in a changing world. Before these plans can be made, however, I am seeking the advice of the entire Milligan family. With our long heritage, Milligan is bigger than any one leader—it is for this reason that I am engaging in a “listening tour.” I value the input and insight from our trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni, supporting churches and donors, and I want to hear your dreams for the Milligan of the future. Together, we are casting the vision for the Milligan of tomorrow, a Milligan that will be as vibrant and vital as ever.

While we shape the Milligan of the future together, there is one thing of which I am certain. Milligan will remain committed to scholarship, community and faith while we also remain relevant and responsive to the ever changing needs of our students. Thank you once again for all your support and prayers as we continue to serve Milligan and move Forward Ever!

Best Wishes,

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Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Johnson City, TN Permit No. 3 Office of Institutional Advancement PO Box 9 | Milligan College, Tennessee | 37682

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prepared “ Milligan me for the future by helping me build a strong educational framework that I can take anywhere… I hope to put the educational background fostered at Milligan to good use by being a continual learner and consistently increasing my level of responsibility at each role I take on in the workplace. I am confident that my experiences and education at Milligan will have a lasting effect on my ability to stay centered throughout my life post-graduation.

With a degree in applied finance and accounting, 2011 Milligan graduate Taylor Duran is eager to put his education to work. He is now pursuing a Master of Science in accounting at Wake

”

Forest and is looking forward to his winter 2012 internship with Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) in Chicago.

Thanks to the financial partnership of our alumni, friends and churches, Milligan students like Taylor are receiving a Christ-centered education and are being equipped with the skills necessary to succeed in their chosen career fields.

Make an investment that will reap great dividends. Invest in Milligan—a nationally recognized college that is reaching more students than ever before.

Impact the world

Your investment in Milligan’s Annual Scholarship Fund provides hope and opportunity for our students. Make your gift today by calling 800.447.5922 or visit www.milligan.edu/advancement.