Milligan Magazine - Spring 2010

MILLIGAN SPRING 2010

MAGAZINE

‘ A Vo i c e t o t h e Vo i c e l e s s ’ n A P r o g r a m o f D i s t i n c t i o n n A C o a c h i n g L e g a c y

Spring 2010 | Volume 12, Number 1

MILLIGAN PRESIDENT Donald R. Jeanes (’68) drjeanes@milligan.edu VICE PRESIDENT FOR ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT AND MARKETING A. Lee Fierbaugh (’94) lfierbaugh@milligan.edu VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Bill Greer (’85) bgreer@milligan.edu DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS EDITOR Theresa Garbe (’91) tmgarbe@milligan.edu DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS ASSISTANT EDITOR Chandrea Shell (’00) chshell@milligan.edu

Letter from the Editor

CREATIVE SERVICES COORDINATOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jessica M. Stout (’06) jmstout@milligan.edu PUBLIC RELATIONS ASSISTANT Melissa Nipper (’96) mhnipper@milligan.edu SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR Jay Bernhardt (’09) sportsinfo@milligan.edu COVER PHOTO by Aaron & Becky Johnston CONTRIBUTORS OF PHOTOS: Photos on 2, 14, 17 & 27 © Mark Peacock Photos on 4-6 © Aaron & Becky Johnston (’02) Photos on 10 & 19 © Stephanie Wilson (’11) Photo on 10 © Don Jeanes Photo on 10 © Chuck Rector (’09) Photo on 12 © Price Harper Photos on 15 © David Grace Photo on 16 & 21 © Ryan Harris (’08) Photo on 23 © Danny Davis 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

For the past few weeks, as I have scurried out of the cold and into my office, I have been greeted by stubborn crocus and daffodil pushing through the frozen ground surrounding Hyder House. These shoots have served as a welcome reminder that spring will soon arrive and that growth at Milligan continues. The economic downturn of the past eighteen months has not deterred our donors, as evidenced by the muchanticipated opening of our new Gilliam Wellness Center in mid-March. We continue to be overwhelmed and abundantly grateful for God’s provision through individuals and organizations who value our mission and who have confidence in our ability to carry out that mission.

One of the ways our mission is carried out is through our outstanding faculty. Their expertise and commitment to excellence is not only instilled in students but also has gained national and international recognition. Currently in the spotlight are our occupational therapy faculty; we are proud of their groundbreaking work and the many ways graduates of the MSOT program are impacting individuals’ lives.

Our graduates continue to find their Milligan experience a launching pad for vocation and service, sometimes in unexpected ways. In this issue we remember Francis Gary Powers (’50) whose U2 spy plane was shot down over the former Soviet Union fifty years ago, and we hear from an alumni couple whose post-Milligan years have included working as human rights accompaniers.

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 © 2009 Milligan College.

This is an exciting time to be connected to Milligan. There is an energy in the air that is palpable and motivating. We hope that the Spring 2010 Milligan Magazine gives you a glimpse into what inspires all of us to participate in the good work that is being done through this institution.

800.447.5922 | www.milligan.edu AlumniOffice@milligan.edu

Regards,

POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to Advancement, P.O. Box 9, Milligan College, Tennessee 37682.

Theresa (Brown ’91) Garbe Director of Alumni Relations 2 | SPRING 2010

TABLE of Contents

9

12

FEATURES

22

16

DEPARTMENTS

4

‘A Voice to the Voiceless’

2

Editor’s Letter

Milligan alumni serve as human rights accompaniers in Guatemala

7

Faculty News

A Program of Distinction

23 Athletic News

14

Milligan’s occupational therapy faculty, students gain national spotlight

18

Daughter of Heritage founder now sings with group

10 Campus Close-up

24 Class Notes 27 Letter from the President

A Heritage of Song

A Coaching Legacy

20

Milligan not a short stop for Wes Holly

SPRING 2010 | 3

4 | SPRING 2010

‘A VOICE TO THE VOICELESS’ Milligan alumni serve as human rights accompaniers in Guatemala

SPRING 2010 | 5

ALUMNI feature Aaron and Becky Johnston chose the path many newlyweds take after they finish college–they both got full-time jobs and started to put down roots in their community.

The couple settled in Salisbury, Maryland, after graduating from Milligan in 2002. Aaron, who majored in business administration and minored in photography, was hired as a photographer for the local newspaper. Becky, a human performance and exercise science major, worked for the city’s parks and recreation department.

But the couple felt unsettled and experienced a void in their lives that their jobs weren’t filling.

“What we were doing wasn’t quite what we were looking for,” Aaron said. “There are so many things going on in the world, and we wanted a better understanding of it.”

The Johnstons decided to leave their jobs, get rid of their possessions and explore God’s call for them to serve and learn more about the Latin American culture.

Their journey began with the Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS), a program that gives individuals a chance to advocate for justice, work for peace, serve human needs and care for creation in a variety of settings in the United States and other countries.

The Johnstons completed the BVS application and orientation process and moved to Chicago in November of 2005. They were based at Su Casa Catholic Worker House, a hospitality house for Latino families on the south side of Chicago.

The year the Johnstons spent at Su Casa reaffirmed their decision to work with the Latino population.

“We felt this was something we really needed to dedicate ourselves to, and it built up our desire to serve,” Aaron said.

BVS had several project sites around the world, and the Johnstons chose to serve as human rights accompaniers in Unión Victoria, Guatemala.

This resettlement community consists of indigenous Mayans who lived in hiding or on the run from military and paramilitary forces during Guatemala’s civil war, which lasted from 1960 to 1996. The role of human rights accompaniers began during this armed conflict, as thousands of Guatemalans were killed or disappeared.

“During this time, there was a lot of persecution of the indigenous people. Some fled to the mountains to escape,” Becky said. “So organizations started sending people, mainly Westerners to witness what was happening on the ground since it wasn’t being reported in the press.”

The role of human rights accompaniers has evolved to meet today’s needs in Guatemala.

“Our role was an exchange of culture, understanding, solidarity,” Becky said. “We experienced the effects of war, displacement and disruption.”

After they arrived in Guatemala in January of 2007, the Johnstons spent the first year getting to know the families there and learning the language.

During their first month in Unión Victoria, they ate every meal at the home of a different family.

After they became more fluent in the language and gained a better understanding of the social structures, the couple had a clearer picture of the work they could do alongside the indigenous population. They spent the second year developing a tree nursery at a local school and assisting in several sustainable community development projects in an effort to rebuild both lives and infrastructure.

“For me, the most exciting part was not having that typical lifestyle of a North American college graduate,” Becky said. “We got to experience life in a different way.”

During their time in Guatemala, Aaron used his photography skills to document the lives of the people he met there. Since returning to the 6 | SPRING 2010

United States in February of 2009, those photographs have been exhibited at several venues, including Milligan.

“Our whole mindset has been to share our experiences and what we learned,” Aaron said. “The people we met can’t travel here to tell their stories, but they’ve told those stories to us and we can give a voice to the voiceless.”

The Johnstons currently live in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where Becky works as a substance abuse prevention specialist and Aaron works for New Community Project (www.newcommunityproject.org), a faith-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to follow Christ toward a new community of justice, peace and respect for God’s earth. Through his work with New Community Project (NCP), Aaron is helping develop urban sustainability initiatives in Harrisonburg.

Aaron’s work with NCP also brought the couple back to Guatemala in January. They led a small delegation of individuals from Harrisonburg to Unión Victoria.

“Our trip back to Guatemala was a powerful experience,” Aaron said.

“Families in the community welcomed us into their homes where we heard stories of the war, displacement and the community’s continued struggles as they rebuild. We uncovered some of our own connections to the injustice and oppression in Guatemala. And we examined how our own communities can become healthier and more sustainable through solidarity with the people on the margins in society.”

This summer, the Johnstons will speak at the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in Pittsburgh. Aaron is also planning a photography exhibit next year at Bridgewater College in Virginia.

Although the Johnstons aren’t sure where God will lead them next, they are grateful for the path they have chosen. Looking back, they see Milligan as an important step in their journey.

“Milligan really started the ball rolling for me,” Becky said. “It helped me determine where I fit in and helped me discover where my faith comes from.”

Aaron also appreciates the perspective he gained at Milligan.

“The broadness of education I got at Milligan, from my art classes to the business classes, helped open up the world for me,” Aaron said. “In particular, I remember doing photo essays for Alice Anthony’s photography class. That forced me to spend time with people, teaching me to learn patience and to stick around and understand a situation.

“That seed was planted at Milligan.” n

To view more of Aaron’s photography, visit his website at www.aaronhjohnston.com.

FACULTY news

Faculty News Education Patrick N. Kariuki, professor of teacher education, presented research at the

annual conference of the Mid-South Educational Research Association (MSERA) in November 2009. The research, titled “The Relationship Between Mathematics and Reading/Language Arts TCAP Scores Among Third Grade Males,” is published in ERIC.

Humane Learning Phil Kenneson, professor of theology and philosophy, recently led weekend retreats for Redeemer Community Church (San Francisco, CA) and for Pepperdine University juniors and seniors. His review of Emmanuel Katongole and Chris Rice’s Reconciling All Things: A Christian Vision for Justice, Peace and Healing was published in Reviews in Religion and Theology.

Jeff Miller, associate professor of Bible, has been appointed as a consulting editor for Stone-Campbell Journal.

Ted N. Thomas, associate professor of humanities, history and German, and

his wife Jane-Anne Thomas presented a one-hour lecture titled “Hermann Maas: An Under-reported Holocaust Hero” at Milligan College in January 2010 before an audience of 200.

Occupational Therapy Christy Fellers, assistant professor and academic fieldwork coordinator of occupational therapy, was invited to work with the Academy for Academic Leadership in their Institute for Allied Health Educators. The institute is a professional development program designed to prepare allied health faculty for successful academic careers. In January 2010, Dr. Fellers led a presentation/session titled “Using Case-based/Problem-based Learning to Enrich the Curriculum.” The session also included a discussion on the benefits of collaborative learning.

Jeff Snodgrass, program director and associate professor of occupational

therapy, published an original research article in the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA) Work and Industry Special Interest Section Quarterly titled “Preventing Work-related Low Back Injuries: An Evidence-based Approach,” co-authored with 2009 MSOT alumnae Brittany Hall, Amanda Robinette, Bridget Smith and Sarah Price. He recently served as an expert reviewer for the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) practice guidelines for low-back and hip disorders. In October 2009, he delivered a guest lecture via videoconference titled “Evidence based Practice” for the department of occupational therapy at The University of Texas-Pan American.

Performing, Visual and Communicative Arts Kellie Brown, associate professor of music, conducted the musical Oklahoma!

at Sullivan South High School (Kingsport, TN) and performed in a lecture recital at East Tennessee State University with composer Philip Rhodes. She published an article titled “Remembering Alma Rose and the Women’s Orchestra at Auschwitz” in the November 2009 issue of American String Teacher and published a book review of David Nicholls’s John Cage in the December 2009 issue of Music Educators Journal.

Simon J. Dahlman, associate professor of communications, wrote his final

“Face to Faith” weekly religious column for the Johnson City Press (Johnson City, TN) on January 16, 2010. The six-and-a-half-year old column was cancelled due to budget cuts at the paper. Dahlman is serving as a judge for the Evangelical Press Association’s “Higher Goals” award. In January 2010, he spoke to the Hands of Faith Cancer Ministry, First Christian Church (Johnson City, TN).

Bruce Montgomery, professor of communications and business, led a “Relationships and Evangelism” workshop for Milligan’s Youth in Ministry program at the National Missionary Convention in November 2009. He spoke at a men’s retreat for First Christian Church (Greeneville, TN), and spoke at the Washington County (TN) Christian Men’s Fellowship. He led workshops on interviewing skills and successful public speaking for the Bristol (TN) Youth Leadership group (Chamber of Commerce) and spoke for an area minister’s meeting on preaching. He preached for Love Chapel Christian Church (Erwin, TN) and Union Church of Christ (Jonesborough, TN), where he also led a workshop on church leadership.

Scientific Learning Aaron A. Allen, assistant professor of mathematics, co-authored “Analyticity of a Multilayer Mead-Markus Plate” with Scott W. Hansen in the December 2009 issue of Journal of Nonlinear Analysis. In November 2009, he attended the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference (Nashville, TN).

Social Learning John-Paul Abner, associate professor of psychology and occupational therapy,

has been named chairman of the Parent-Child Interaction Therapy International Training Committee. In January 2010, he served on the panel of experts for PCIT in the Carolinas, a learning collaborative hosted by Duke University. In October 2009, he presented a lecture titled “Breaking Down the Dad Barrier: Engaging Fathers in PCIT” for the ninth annual PCIT International Conference (Traverse City, MI).

Lori Mills, professor of psychology, gave a presentation titled “Positive

Psychology: Personal and Professional Applications” at the October 2009 meeting of IMPA (the Intermountain Psychological Association).

Administrative Faculty and Staff Gary F. Daught, director of library services, presented in October at the

Appalachian College Association’s 2009 summit on college libraries and open access journals.

Jan E. Loveday, admissions coordinator for graduate & professional studies in teacher education, presented a paper titled “Keeping Einstein and Michelangelo Off the Streets: Creative Activities in the Classroom” for a Sullivan County (TN) teacher in-service.

Mark Matson, vice president for academic affairs and dean, presented a

workshop titled “Budget Fundamentals for the CAO” for the Council of Independent College’s 2009 Institute for Chief Academic Officers (Santa Fe, NM). In November 2009, he presented two sessions on “John’s Rhetorical Use of Narrative Time” and presided over a session titled “Reading Gospels for Character Formation” at the Society for Biblical Literature’s 2009 annual meeting (New Orleans, LA). Matson also taught at a leadership retreat for Boone’s Creek Christian Church (Johnson City, TN).

SPRING 2010 | 7

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Expert Milligan professor trains therapists Dr. John-Paul Abner is making a difference not only in the lives of his students at Milligan but also in the lives of many children in Northeast Tennessee who have behavioral issues or who are in or at risk for state custody.

An associate professor of psychology and occupational therapy at Milligan, Abner is an expert in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), an evidencebased therapy that improves the relationship between parents and their children. PCIT is one of the most effective treatments known for children with behavior problems between the ages of 3 and 7.

“When you have a child with behavior problems, parents often don’t know what to do,” said Abner, a licensed psychologist. “But with PCIT, things are very well defined. This is a teaching form of therapy, and it’s very empowering and comforting for parents. We have worked with kids who have been really traumatized and who have struggled, and then we have seen a remarkable turnaround.”

Abner received his PCIT training from the therapy’s developer, Dr. Sheila Eyberg. He trained under Eyberg while completing his doctorate at the University of Florida.

Now Abner is providing hands-on PCIT training for community providers in Northeast Tennessee through the East Tennessee State University Center of Excellence for Children in State Custody (COE). The Center of Excellence for Children in State Custody is funded by the state of Tennessee and is part of a statewide network of five regional Centers of Excellence dedicated to improving behavioral and physical health services to children in or at risk of state custody.

Through a partnership with Frontier Health (TN), Abner goes directly into mental health facilities to train therapists. He has trained five therapists 8 | SPRING 2010

in Frontier Health offices in Johnson City, Kingsport, Greeneville and Mountain City. He continues to provide supervision to those therapists and has begun training additional providers throughout the region.

“This project is the only collaborative project of its kind in Tennessee in which the trainer is directly working in the mental health center to train therapists on this highly effective intervention for young children,” said Dr. Michele R. Moser, director of the ETSU Center of Excellence for Children in State Custody.

Moser is pleased with the success of the program so far. Through Abner’s efforts, not only is PCIT available to children in state custody, but once therapists are trained, they are able to offer PCIT to any children and families with children ages 3 to 7 with externalizing behavior problems.

“Dr. Abner is a gifted teacher and trainer who is not only involved in our local training project but is also part of the international training project,” Moser said.

Abner is currently chairman of a committee that is developing international PCIT training guidelines for PCIT International.

“I believe in PCIT because it works,” Abner said. “We had one child who was in danger of losing his foster placement because of aggressive action. Within 12 weeks of PCIT training he had significant bonding with his foster parents, his aggressive behaviors were eliminated and now his foster parents are planning on adopting him.”

Stories like this make Abner passionate about teaching others PCIT. “Taking it from a Christian perspective, I think of it as an opportunity to provide for the least of these,” Abner said. “Being able to work for the COE and provide this treatment for kids in state custody is really a gift for me, since it allows me to work with kids in need whom I would have difficulty impacting from a private practice.” n

ALUMNI spotlight

CRITICAL COLD WAR EVENT Downed U2 pilot Powers’ son spoke at Milligan, famous father’s alma mater Francis Gary Powers, Jr., son of the renowned U2 pilot shot down over the former Soviet Union 50 years ago, recently shared his father’s remarkable story at Milligan College in Seeger Memorial Chapel.

Powers’ visit to Milligan was one of several international programs planned in 2010 to recognize the 50th anniversary of the U2 plane incident, recognized by historians as one of the most significant events of the Cold War. A native of Southwest Virginia, Francis Gary Powers, Sr., graduated from Milligan in 1950. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was recruited for the U2 program by the CIA in 1956. He achieved international recognition when his U2 spy plane was shot down on May 1, 1960, while conducting a reconnaissance mission over the former Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War.

Powers was held prisoner by the Soviets for 21 months before being exchanged on February 10, 1962, for Soviet spy Col. Rudolf Abel, who was in U.S. captivity.

During his military career, Powers received many awards including the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, the Department of Defense Prisoner of War Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the CIA’s Intelligence Star and Director’s Medal. He died in 1977 in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Powers’ son, Gary, lectures internationally on the U2 incident, the need to preserve Cold War history and how the Cold War impacts us today.

In 1996, he founded the Cold War Museum (www.coldwar.org ) to honor Cold War Veterans and preserve Cold War history. Currently, a mobile exhibit travels internationally, displaying historical artifacts associated with the U2 incident. n SPRING 2010 | 9

CAMPUS close-up

Little Women, the musical

Milligan, Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy announce agreement

The Milligan theater and music departments brought the musical version of the beloved classic Little Women to the stage February 18-21, in the Gregory Center for the Liberal Arts.

Milligan College and the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy at East Tennessee State University announced a dual degree and affiliation agreement that shortens the time students can earn both their bachelor’s and their pharmacy degrees.

The timeless story of Jo March and her sisters as they become adults during the American Civil War was set to music in this 2005 Broadway musical adapted for the stage by Allan Knee with music and lyrics by Jason Howland and Mindi Dickstein. n

Troccoli, Lofaro headline ALM Ladies Conference Award-winning singer, songwriter, speaker and author Kathy Troccoli joined nationally-known speaker Ellie Lofaro to provide a day of renewal, study and worship at the annual Eleanore L. Campbell Ladies Conference at Milligan in February.

Hosted by Associated Ladies for Milligan (ALM), in partnership with 88.3 FM WCQR and the women’s ministry at First Christian Church (Johnson City, TN), the conference for women, titled “Spaghetti for the Soul,” was held in Seeger Memorial Chapel.

The 350 women who attended the conference collectively donated $3,000 to benefit student scholarships at Milligan. n

“Milligan students can complete three years of the allied health science course work and then, if accepted, begin pharmacy school,” said Milligan Academic Dean Mark Matson. “Successful completion of one year of the pharmacy program would in turn satisfy the requirements for a bachelor of science degree from Milligan, allowing students to complete a bachelor’s degree at Milligan and a doctorate (Pharm.D.) from ETSU in as few as seven years.”

The affiliation agreement, signed December 15, 2009, allows Milligan students who meet specific criteria to receive a guaranteed interview at the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy.

For more information about Milligan’s allied health science degree, contact the Office of Admissions Office at 423.461.8730, or email admissions@milligan.edu.

For more information about the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy at ETSU, visit www.etsu.edu/pharmacy. n

Roe speaks at commencement U.S. Rep. Phil Roe was the keynote speaker at Milligan’s commencement ceremony on December 11, 2009.

Milligan awarded 118 degrees at the ceremony. As part of the ceremony, Milligan also honored Carolyn Woolard, associate professor of French, with the distinguished Fide et Amore award in recognition of her 37 years of service to the college. The award is the college’s highest honor and is presented to individuals to recognize loving and faithful service to the college. n

Justice Week features Holocaust survivor, Invisible Children tour Winter of 2010 The winter of 2010 will not soon be forgotten. The region surrounding Milligan received more than double its average snowfall. While this made for picturesque scenes on campus, it also caused some problems. In addition to delayed classes, snow removal expenses far surpassed what is normally budgeted, and a particularly heavy snow downed multiple trees and a utility pole, which led to power outages and damage to Seeger Chapel, the P.H. Welshimer Library and a campus residence. The damage estimate for the winter of 2010 is over $100,000. n 10 | SPRING 2010

Milligan welcomed several special speakers during Justice Week (February 22-26), sponsored by the college’s Cross Cultural Missions Committee.

Holocaust survivor Alfred (Freddie) Traum shared his experiences during World War II in the Gregory Center for the Liberal Arts.

Student advocates for Invisible Children Inc., a non-profit organization that documents the raging war in northern Uganda, shared their gripping stories and hosted a screening of GO: The Schools for Schools Film. Invisible Children’s visit to Milligan was part of their 2010 Legacy Tour. n

CAMPUS close-up

Lilly Endowment awards grant to benefit Youth in Ministry Lilly Endowment Inc., an Indianapolisbased foundation, recently awarded a $440,000 grant to Emmanuel School of Religion in partnership with Milligan College to help continue the work of Youth in Ministry (YiM). YiM is a ministry based at Milligan that encourages high school students to explore God’s call for their lives through workshops, retreats, conventions and the annual YiM Student Leadership Conference.

Since 2001, YiM has encouraged nearly 22,000 students through its mission. With the endowment funding, the organization is poised to grow and expand its programs. YiM will launch several initiatives in 2010 to help students remain connected through encouraging podcasts, mini-workshops offered via Livestream and YouTube and other leadership opportunities.

For more information about YiM, visit www.youthinministry.org. To learn more about Lilly Endowment, visit www.lillyendowment.org. n

Milligan announces partnership with Walters State Community College Milligan College and Walters State Community College (Morristown, TN) announced a new agreement in which Milligan will offer its master of business administration (MBA) program at Walters State.

Beginning this fall, Milligan’s MBA program will be available at WSCC. The 18-month program is designed for working professionals and will meet one weekend a month, beginning on a Friday evening and concluding Saturday afternoon. The monthly sessions are complemented by ongoing Internet instruction.

For more information, visit www.milligan.edu/MBA. n For more campus news, visit www.milligan.edu/news.

NEW lab gives students an edge “The hands-on experience I get in the lab has provided me with both the confidence and ability I need to be more competitive in my field,” Rufenacht said. “It’s one thing to read about concepts in a textbook, but it’s something entirely different to put those principles in action every day as part of my class work.”

A new state-of-the-art computer lab at Milligan College provides students with hands-on training that makes them more competitive in the computer information systems job market.

The lab began as the brainchild of Tom Barkes, who officially retired from Milligan in 2005 and has been teaching adjunct ever since.

Barkes opened the original lab in 1992 and is impressed with what it has become today.

Located in Milligan’s Derthick Hall, the lab teaches students to configure and maintain a complete computer system—on site and remotely. Students have the opportunity to experience the daily work situations of professionals such as Information Technology (IT) architects, database managers, network administrators and IT technicians.

“The Barkes Technology Development Lab is a cutting-edge facility,” said Teresa Carter, assistant professor of computer information systems (CIS) at Milligan. “The technology used in the lab is the latest offered, and plans have already been put into play to move forward in the near future to the next operating systems available.”

Paul Rufenacht, a junior CIS major at Milligan, appreciates the “real world” environment the lab presents.

Students have used the lab for the last two years, but the facility reached its goal this year when it supported the new computer information systems-mobile (CIS-M) major at Milligan. Now the lab is used at its full capacity by both traditional and online CIS students.

The CIS-M major is a flexible, online degree program for working professionals who are not able to complete their degrees or add a second major in a traditional college setting. The degree allows students to complete their work from the comfort of their own homes or offices. Courses are delivered to CIS-M students via Milligan’s Internet course management system.

Milligan graduates are already reaping the benefits of the hands-on training offered by the college’s CIS program and the new technology development lab.

“Our CIS graduates are enjoying the prestige of jobs in the IT departments of places like Nuclear Fuel Services, BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin, which require high-security clearance, and in the financial sector as IT support personnel,” Carter said.

Barkes is proud of the lab and proud of Milligan’s students.

“The faculty and students have done a fantastic job getting this all to come about,” Barkes said. “It’s a wonderful facility and I am proud of their work.” n SPRING 2010 | 11

9) Price Harper (’0

Disney College Program

by Chelsea Farnam (’10)

12 | SPRING 2010

ACADEMIC feature

Milligan grads take part in the Disney College Program Most people think that graduation means it’s time to grow up—time to get a job, make a living and build a home. But the Disney College Program, which now has employed nearly a dozen Milligan graduates, allows recent grads to earn valuable, real-world skills while helping to perpetuate a land of whimsy and magic.

This past summer, 2009 Milligan grads Baker DeCamp, Scott Glisson and Price Harper traveled to Florida and joined the three to five thousand students worldwide taking part in the Disney College Program. Program participants are hired as paid interns for a minimum of six months, working various entrylevel jobs at the world’s largest tourist destinations; the Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and Disneyland in Anaheim, California.

“I found out about it through Beth Anderson (director of the Institute for Servant Leadership),” said DeCamp. “I just walked into her office to talk, and she ran it by me. I thought I might as well fill out the application.”

In addition to reviewing resumes, giving interview advice and running the Buffs2Work program, Anderson also visits recruiting opportunities like Disney’s in an effort to find job opportunities suitable for Milligan’s skilled graduates.

DeCamp, who worked in transportation at Disney World, ferried guests to the Magic Kingdom’s island resorts.

“The job wasn’t that hard, but it’s good just to learn how a Fortune 100 company works. You have to do it right,” said DeCamp. The Miami native grew up driving the family boat with his brother and was pleased with his job placement.

“I liked driving the boats; it was fun,” said DeCamp. “I really think it’s one of the best jobs.”

But the internship offered far more than a fun summer job. It supplied DeCamp, who majored in business administration with an emphasis in sports management, with many opportunities to interact with Disney’s highprofile guests. In fact, during Disney’s annual charity golf tournament, DeCamp ferried 12time PGA Tour winner Justin Leonard to his destination.

As Disney College Program Recruiter Wayne Hampton commented, “The internship is a great benefit, especially to students from small colleges and small communities who may not have had that experience available to them.”

Glisson thought this was a perfect fit for Milligan students. He is now halfway through his second six-month stint with Disney.

During two years of Buffs sporting events, Glisson suited up as Milligan’s fun and fearless mascot, Brutus—an activity that proved useful when he tried out to become a Disney entertainer. Aided by his vibrant, animated personality, Glisson got the internship. In January, he began

entertaining hundreds of thousands of Disney guests at the park, in shows and in parades.

“It’s Disney World, so it’s awesome,” Glisson remarked. “Beth Anderson sent out an e-mail about the program last year right before Easter.

I had applied to a couple of other places but hadn’t heard back from anyone. I was getting pretty frustrated, then I found out within two weeks that I was accepted into the Disney program.”

Although Glisson has yet to decide what direction he wants to take with his career, he is thankful for the opportunities the internship provides, not the least of which is a paycheck.

Hampton, who recruits in North and South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee, said students facing graduation have been even more interested in the program than usual.

“Particularly with the economy the way it is, when we come on campus offering jobs, students are very excited,” said Hampton.

However, Disney interns come from all over the world. Currently, 76 countries are represented, including Italy, Germany, Botswana, Vietnam, Romania, China, South Africa and Japan.

Disney interns are provided housing in nearby apartments with rent subsidized by the company.

During Glisson’s first six months on the program, he lived with five other Americans, remarkably including a student from nearby Milligan neighbor, ETSU. This time around, Glisson is living with students from China, France and Mexico.

According to Hampton, one of the program’s greatest assets is its multicultural atmosphere. Most interns live with at least one student from another country.

Another asset, according to Harper, is the variety of courses offered to interns. Harper, who interned as a lifeguard at Blizzard Beach and the All-Star Resort, also took a class titled “Exploring Management in Disney.”

The classes are offered for college credit, and Milligan students can receive up to 12 hours of class credit during the internship. Although “Woody” from Toy Story Milligan has only sent graduates to the program, current students are welcome and encouraged to participate for credit.

Harper—who had already graduated—took the class for his own enrichment.

“They brought in people from the corporate office to explain what makes Disney run so well,” Harper said. “I learned a lot from that class, and I would recommend anyone doing this program to take one of those classes.”

Harper graduated with a degree in business administration and used the internship to improve his communication skills with the public. n

SPRING 2010 | 13

a program of

DISTINCTION

Milligan s occupational therapy faculty, students gain national spotlight Dr. Snodgrass working with students

The master of science in occupational therapy (MSOT) program at Milligan College has gained national attention for the work of its faculty and students, poising Milligan’s program at the pinnacle of a field that has been named one of the top secure professions of the next decade.

“Since the inception of Milligan’s MSOT program 11 years ago, we have quickly become a program of distinction, with recognition for our outstanding faculty and staff, and superior student outcomes compared to national 14 | SPRING 2010

benchmarks,” said Dr. Jeff Snodgrass, director of Milligan’s MSOT program and associate professor of occupational therapy.

Occupational therapy is a science-driven, evidence-based profession that enables people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health and prevent–or live better with–illness, injury or disability. As Milligan’s MSOT program moves into its second decade of training students for this growing field, it continues to increase its number of graduates and its national reputation as a respected program that produces well-prepared professionals.

ACADEMIC feature GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH Research has recently propelled the MSOT program into the spotlight.

Since 2005, Snodgrass has collaborated with the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) as a research consultant on a project examining the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions in the rehabilitation of individuals with work-related injuries.

“This project culminated in a publication of occupational therapy practice guidelines,” Snodgrass said.

The work of Snodgrass and several of Milligan’s MSOT students from the class of 2007 will also be featured in a special issue of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, the profession’s flagship journal. Snodgrass will serve as guest editor of this special issue of the journal, tentatively scheduled to publish in January/February 2011.

As guest editor, Snodgrass will write an editorial, publish one of his research manuscripts, and oversee, edit and approve all manuscripts for the issue.

The former Milligan MSOT students who contributed to the project include Lynne Attaway, MS, OTR/L; Stephanie Jones, MS, OTR/L; Courteney McCray, MS, OTR/L; Misty (Smith) Seehorn, MS, OTR/L; and Nicolas Tudor, MS, OTR/L. “This issue of the Journal will give Milligan’s OT program significant visibility on the national and international stage,” Snodgrass said. “This collaboration between AOTA and Milligan’s MSOT program was a new approach that AOTA has since implemented with other academic programs.”

Snodgrass, along with class of 2009 Milligan MSOT students Brittany Hall, Sara Price, Amanda Robinette and Bridget Smith, recently published another article on preventing low back injuries in Work and Industry Special Interest Section Quarterly.

In addition, he has also authored a book chapter in a new edition of a popular occupational therapy leadership/management textbook. The book, The Occupational Therapy Manager, published by AOTA Press, will be available in 2011.

BEST-SELLING BOOKS With an award-winning book, several national speaking engagements and two new books on the horizon, Dr. Christy Isbell, associate professor of occupational therapy at Milligan, is also gaining national attention as one of the leading experts in her field.

Isbell, a pediatric occupational therapist, was recently awarded the Early Childhood News Director’s Choice Award for her book Sensory Integration: A Guide for Preschool Teachers. She co-wrote the book with her mother, Dr. Rebecca Isbell, director of the Center of Excellence in Early Childhood Learning and Development at East Tennessee State University.

Sensory Integration was also the best-selling book of 2009 for Gryphon House, the nation’s top publisher of early childhood resources. The book helps teachers identify children who have difficulties with sensory processing and offers simple, easy-to-use solutions to support the sensory needs of young children in the preschool classroom.

As a follow-up to the book’s success, Isbell was invited to be a featured presenter at the National Association of the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) conference last November, where she received a warm response from more than 2,000 participants in the main exhibit hall.

“The success of Sensory Integration has been very exciting for me,” Isbell said. “And now I have two new books coming out that pull together my two loves, typical childhood development and children with special needs.”

Dr. Isbell lecturing

Her new books, which are tentatively scheduled to publish in May 2010, will be the first solo book projects for Isbell. In addition to Sensory Integration, she has also co-written The Inclusive Learning Center Book for Preschool Children with Special Needs and The Complete Learning Spaces Book for Infants and Toddlers with her mother.

“The two books coming out this spring really grew out of one book I began writing when I was on sabbatical from Milligan in the fall of 2008,” Isbell said. “Being an occupational therapist, fine motor development is really important to me. When I submitted a book for teachers on this topic, the publisher requested that I also write a parent version.”

The book geared toward teachers is titled Mighty Fine Motor Fun: Fine Motor Activities for Young Children. The parent version is called Everyday Play: Fun Games to Develop the Fine Motor Skills Your Child Needs for School.

“My goal with the parent book was to provide a tool for parents of children ages 3 to 5 years,” Isbell said. “It has activities that will help them develop their fine motor skills to get them ready for school, with activities to help them hold a pencil correctly, use scissors and other skills that are developmentally appropriate for their children.”

Isbell has several speaking engagements planned this spring, including conferences in New Jersey and Florida, and is already working on her next book. She is also focusing on publishing research, including a paper she wrote with Dr. John Paul Abner, associate professor of occupational therapy and psychology at Milligan, and Milligan alumna Kelli Scott (’01), a pediatric occupational therapist at Quillen Rehabilitation Hospital in Johnson City, Tennessee.

“No matter where I go and speak, I will have people who come up to me when they see I am from Milligan and say they knew someone who went to Milligan,” Isbell said. “I am always meeting people at conferences who know the college.”

“We are very proud of the accomplishments of our occupational therapy faculty and students,” said Dr. Mark Matson, vice president for academic affairs and dean at Milligan. “A master’s degree in occupational therapy from Milligan is widely respected in the industry, and that can be attributed to our faculty, who are among the finest in their field.” n

To learn more about the master of science in occupational therapy program at Milligan, visit www.milligan.edu/MSOT.

SPRING 2010 | 15

Such Buildings Are for the Ages

For nearly five decades, the P.H. Welshimer Memorial Library has remained a central and important structure on the Milligan campus.

The 1961 dedication program says of the new center of learning: “Such buildings are for the ages.”

In many ways, the P. H. Welshimer Library embodies the educational philosophy of the college, which espouses that all knowledge is one. It continues to serve the campus well. However, many of the primary functions of the library have changed. As part of the current comprehensive fundraising campaign, Forward Ever, the college is seeking to secure the necessary funds to preserve the architectural beauty of this well-built structure while updating the library to meet the needs of today’s students.

Some of these changes relate to energy efficiency. The heating and cooling system installed in the early 1960s needs to be replaced with a more efficient, environmentally friendly system. Plans also call for the replacement of the original windows with ones that will reduce the building’s energy consumption. The college hopes to improve accessibility throughout the library with the addition of a new elevator. These changes will result in a library that will be more comfortable and inviting for our students and much kinder to our environment.

There are also other changes that need to be made to accommodate 21st century students. No longer is a college library simply a quiet repository for books and academic journals. Now, a vibrant college library must provide thoughtfully designed areas for individual and group study and space for a café, where students and faculty can enjoy fellowship and intellectual discourse over a cup of coffee or tea. It must also provide users with stateof-the-art technology and easy, ample access to online databases and other digital resources. While the college has made some progress in meeting these needs, particularly in areas requiring smaller monetary investment, more will be done once funding is secured.

21ST CENTURY LIBRARY Of course, Milligan continues to subscribe to print periodicals, but subscriptions to digital media have given students and faculty immediate 16 | SPRING 2010

access to materials the college could not begin to house physically. Robust databases, like JSTOR, ATLA and Project Muse, allow patrons to search for articles in a matter of seconds with just a few clicks of the mouse. With nearly 17,000 journals and serials at their fingertips, the information can sometimes overwhelm users.

However, library staff are well-equipped to help mediate the information that comes to them. “We are here to help students understand how they can make the best use of the information they can get,” said Gary Daught, director of library services since 2005.

Though enrolled students and college personnel can access many of these digital resources remotely, with the appropriate username and password, people are still inclined to visit the library itself. In fact, they are coming in increasing numbers.

“Counter to intuition, as we’re getting more access to resources, we’re seeing a marked increase in building usage,” Daught said. Since the spring of 2008, the number of visits to the Welshimer Library has increased by more than 50 percent each semester.

Daught is excited about the revival of the Welshimer Library. “The Internet is not making our library irrelevant. Increased electronic information resource use is not undermining physical library use. If anything, we are seeing these uses growing together in complementary fashion,” Daught said.

“Still, the library’s role is changing. The library collection that is most readily accessed and utilized is increasingly moving from physical shelves to virtual space, while library physical space is opening-up for diverse opportunities in teaching and learning,” said Daught.

The P.H. Welshimer Library is enjoying its renaissance. Thanks to talented staff and its draw as a sort of campus think-tank, it has become a common meeting place for students and faculty. Though growth in the student body and fifty years of use demand that interior renovations be made, such changes will only strengthen the library’s role as Milligan’s iconic center of knowledge. n

He is wise who knows the sources of KNOWLEDGE – where it is WRITTEN and where it is to be FOUND. – A.A. Hodge

THESE STONES SPEAK From the 1961 program of dedication: a description of the symbols that adorn the façade of the P.H. Welshimer Library Symbols above each window proclaim in carved language the treasures housed within the Library. In synthesis they constitute the learning which makes “Christian Education–The Hope of the World.” A succession of stones, each cut to portray one necessary area of truth, sets forth the disciplines essential to this education.

REVELATION Here is the Dove and the Book, the symbolic decoration of God’s self Revelation, descending through the Holy Spirit, recorded in words delivered to man, and written in the Holy Bible. The Christian religion is our human response to God’s initiative in making Himself known to us. Through our obedient faith in Jesus Christ we are reconciled to our Heavenly Father and restored to His fellowship. So speaks the first symbol.

CREATIVITY The figure showing violin and palette stands for the Creativity with which man is endowed by his Creator, that he may make things beautiful. The artist speaks to us through selected media of sound and sight, to sharpen our sensitivity to the reality of God’s presence. Human culture and religion are intertwined as man creates harmony and beauty. So speaks the second symbol.

GOVERNMENT Government represented in the scales, is the balance tension between human liberty and human responsibility. Laws mark the pathways of freedom.

Courts define justice. Rulers exercise and require responsible conduct. While man is free to devise his social order, he and his devising are under judgment of the God of order. So speaks the third symbol.

LETTERS AND PHILOSOPHY Man may achieve wisdom, the expression of which may be found most adequately in his Letters and Philosophy.

Through Revelation man may know God. Through science he may know the world. Through study of himself he may know man. To fuse this knowledge in his thinking and in his writing is to attain wisdom. In its blend of thought and feeling, of work and worship, of receiving and giving, wisdom raises human culture to a status of enlightened fellowship in the kingdom of God. So speaks the fourth symbol.

SCIENCE God committed to us an enormous work and grave responsibility when He gave man the earth, “to dress it and to keep it.” This is Science. To learn the laws of nature, to unravel the mysteries of being, to loose the resources of the universe, these are the goals of the scientist. This pure science is only an intellectual game until it is adapted to man’s use. To systematize the laws of the universe, to make them known to his fellow men, to devise means of controlling them in the interest of human need–these are the joys and the responsibilities of the man who works with nature. So speaks the fifth symbol.

Set in beautiful harmony with the surrounding stone and brick, blended into the graceful lines and delicate colors of the P.H. Welshimer Memorial Library, these symbols declare to all the magnitude of treasure, human and divine, waiting to be learned and used.

ALUMNI feature

A Heritage of Song Daughter of Heritage founder now sings with group

an Hull (’86) Bolton (’83), Jonath Front (L-R): Hank r, ure Ma ) ’85 g un n (Yo Back (L-R): JoElle y, htl lig ’84) Go Laura (Thompson ) Black Julie (Alexander ’78 John Barto (’85),

18 | SPRING 2010

ALUMNI feature While the faces and voices of Every family has a heritage, Heritage have changed throughout the but Julie (Alexander ’78) Black last three decades, Heritage has and her daughter, Milligan created several signature songs over College senior Haylie Black, the years that alumni and friends still share a musical pursuit that associate with the group. Songs like spans almost 30 years of “Be Ye Glad” and Heritage’s a cappella Milligan tradition. version of the “Hallelujah Chorus” Julie was a founding member have become Milligan favorites over and the first director of Heritage, the years, and dozens of Heritage Milligan’s traveling a cappella voices have put their stamp on those ensemble. Since its inception in pieces throughout the group’s history.

1982, Heritage has shared the “We got the idea to do the Milligan spirit at college functions ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ a cappella, which and in churches and area civic sounded great with all those beautiful, organizations throughout the strong voices,” Julie said. “One of my region. It is also Milligan’s premier favorite memories is singing with the traveling ensemble, regularly group the second year, when we sang representing Milligan at churches at the National Youth Ministers throughout the country.

Convention. The group was so vocally Heritage’s signature songs and strong, and we sang the ‘Hallelujah memorable vocal flavor have been Chorus’ for all those ministers. The a part of senior Haylie Black’s life whole place stood up, as is the as long as she can remember. So tradition of that piece of music. It when she came to Milligan four was very moving.” years ago to study fine arts, Left to Right: Haylie Black (’10), and Kylie Gaulding (’11) in Little Women becoming a member of Heritage was one of her goals. She auditioned A PLACE TO GROW and accomplished that goal as a sophomore.

Watching Haylie sing some of the same songs she performed is also a “I grew up listening to old Heritage music,” said Haylie, who sings moving experience for Julie, who always hoped her daughter would choose soprano and second soprano. “I knew all of the words to several of the Milligan. Julie and her husband, Gary, have four adult children. Haylie’s older songs we do now. I love hearing my mom’s voice on the old Heritage sister, Bethany (’01), also attended Milligan. recordings and I always hoped I would sound like her when I grew up. I “I encouraged Haylie to find a place where she could grow as a person, love hearing our friends who have heard us both sing say we sound alike and also in her music, theater and art,” Julie said. “And I knew that Milligan now.” had helped me in so many ways. I didn’t push her to attend Milligan, but encouraged her in that direction.”

LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER Haylie has found her own niche since coming to Milligan. She has taken No one understands Haylie’s passion to sing with Heritage better than voice and piano lessons at Milligan and performed in the Concert Choir for her mom Julie, who is the worship and arts director at Clayton Christian three years. She is preparing for an upcoming voice recital on April 30 in Church near Indianapolis, Indiana.

Seeger Memorial Chapel and is also recording a CD of her original music as Julie majored in humanities and minored in music and Bible after her senior fine arts project. transferring to Milligan from Ozark Christian College in 1975. She Theater is also in Haylie’s repertoire. She has performed in several graduated in 1978 and began traveling in a musical group called “Sunday,” Milligan productions, including her most recent part as Amy March in which sang in churches. She also performed in a show at Six Flags over Milligan’s production of the musical version of Little Women. After Georgia. In 1981, Julie returned to Milligan to work as an admissions graduation, she plans to marry fiancé Ryan Allcott and attend graduate counselor. school to study storybook illustration.

“My boss and friend, Gary Richardson (’78), had an idea to put Julie is proud that Milligan and Heritage are now a Black family together a premier vocal group that would be able to travel, sing and tradition–a special heritage mother and daughter can always share. represent the school in an excellent and creative way,” Julie said. “We both “I have a lot of proud moments as Haylie’s mom,” Julie said. “And we liked the idea of an a cappella group, so I put together a prototype.” are proud she is at Milligan. n The Heritage “prototype” consisted of Julie, John Barto and Nancy Stoughton Brookshire (’81). The trio learned a couple of songs and auditioned for Dr. Marshall Leggett, Milligan’s president at that time. Leggett liked what he saw and gave the group the go-ahead, offering scholarship Heritage is directed by Mike Imboden, minister of music/worship at money for its members.

First Christian Church (Johnson City, TN). To schedule a visit from To get the ensemble off the ground, Julie sang with Heritage the first Heritage, contact Brent Nipper, associate director of church relations, two years. She was also the director and scheduler for the group, which at 423.461.8708 or wbnipper@milligan.edu. started with six members its first year.

“We traveled several weekends a month, then all summer, mostly to church camps,” Julie said.

SPRING 2010 | 19

a coaching

LEGACY

by Matthew Laws (ETSU Intern)

20 | SPRING 2010

Milligan not a short stop for Wes Holly When Lady Buff Softball Head Coach Wes Holly came to Milligan to start the Lady Buffs fast pitch softball program in 1989, he didn’t think he would be at the school longer than a couple of years.

“Coach (Tony) Wallingford contacted me to start Milligan’s softball program,” Holly said. “I really intended to come down, start the program and stay two or three years because I was actually planning to move to Florida. I guess that isn’t what the Lord wanted me to do because we just started our 22nd year here.”

Instead of going to Florida, Holly fell in love with the college and the program. He recently coached in his 1000th game at Milligan. Holly and the Lady Buffs softball program have amassed more than 600 career wins, including the first-ever national tournament appearance in the history of Milligan athletics in 1992, the fourth year of the program. Holly has also earned eight conference titles and six “Coach of the Year” awards.

However, Holly doesn’t think the wins are what make a program successful.

“It depends on how you look at success,” Holly said. “We have a lot of wins, and of course we have had some losses along the way. Winning is important, and I stress that to my girls. However, when we feel like we get their best effort and they go out and compete, then graduate and become successful in life, to me, that’s winning. The true reward in coaching is building a future for those kids and getting them prepared for their vocation.”

Some program successes do stand out for Holly. Milligan’s 200th victory is memorable because it came against Holly’s former school, Tusculum College. Holly came to Milligan after helping start the fast pitch program at Tusculum as an assistant coach.

Holly spent eight years playing ASA fast pitch out of Greeneville, and noted that his family has several ties to Tusculum. His daughter, Kim, pitched for the Lady Pioneers from 1983-87, while Holly was an assistant.

His son, Wes Jr. (’04), spent two seasons as the head coach there. Ironically, Holly’s 1,000th game was scheduled to be against the Lady Pioneers to open the season.

“I was sort of looking forward to that, to see if we could make another milestone against Tusculum,” Holly said. “Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate with us.”

Another milestone for Holly was when the Lady Buffs softball team had the opportunity to play the U.S. Olympic Softball team in Johnson City in 2008.

“We had a sell-out crowd of 3,457 people, and we were the only NAIA team they have ever played,” Holly said. “It was very gratifying to go over there and play them and let our girls see the elite level of professional softball.”

The experience was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Lady Buffs softball team.

“Those were the best girls in the world, and to say we got the opportunity to compete against them and then after the game to socialize, talk and have photos with them, it is just a great memory for Milligan softball and the girls who played in it,” Holly said.

During his coaching career at Milligan, Holly has watched an excellent group of players pass through the program. Of those, Milligan pitching leaders Tonya (Bailey ’94) Jenkins, Kathy Martinelli (’94), Angie (Gentry ’92) Bratton, Kelly (McGinnis ’92) McCartney and Lady Buffs home run record holder Megan Aldridge (’07) created special memories for the coach.

Current Lady Buff Sidney Burns, who is on pace to break Bailey’s records, also drew praise from Holly.

Burns was also quick to praise Holly.

“Coach Holly has helped me grow in various areas of my life, both as a player and as an adult,” Burns said. “He has helped refine my individual skills, both mentally and physically. I’ve learned to be more aggressive, go after what I want, and never doubt my abilities. Coach has also fostered my personal development. He often takes time out of team meetings to discuss how the lessons we’re learning in softball and school help prepare one for life.”

Burns also noted that Holly has lived up to the promises he made when he recruited her to Milligan.

“My fondest memories of Coach Holly are when he brought me medicine in chapel because I was not feeling well and when he showed up at my broken-down car ready to help,” Burns said.

Over the years, Milligan has become a special place for Holly.

“Milligan means a lot to me,” Holly said. “I am a local guy, and I have always known about Milligan before I even came here to work. I really love what Milligan stands for. It is a great academic institution, but we put the Christian emphasis on it, and we try to do that with our softball team.”

From that, Holly hopes his players can take something meaningful from their time spent as a Lady Buff.

“Well, we just hope they have fond memories, and we want them to feel like we had an impact or did something to contribute and give them a direction in life, so they can go out and do what the Lord wants them to do.”

Holly knows there will be a time when he must relinquish the reins of the Lady Buff softball program; however, he isn’t ready for that yet.

“I am willing to stay as long as the Lord wants me to stay,” Holly said.

“Several people ask me when you think about retiring and I really don’t think about retiring. It’s just a matter of can we still do our job and can we do it efficiently and enjoy the relationship with the girls.” n SPRING 2010 | 21

ATHLETIC feature

A new

BEGINNING Long journey is worth the wait for track and field freshman Three years ago Milligan freshman Yolanda Migoyo came to the United States from Cuba and could not speak a word of English.

Now, Migoyo is a four-time national qualifier in indoor track and field and has etched her name in the history books of Milligan College athletics.

Migoyo, a member of the women’s cross country and track teams, made the trip to America on February 13, 2007, from her native land of Cuba after her father, Pedro Migoyo, won a visa lottery.

Pedro made application for the visa lottery in 1989, but it was not until 1999 that he was awarded the visa. Due to high volumes of applications, it took an additional eight years until the family was notified that he had won.

After they found out they were allowed to come to the United States, it was roughly seven months before Yolanda’s family actually stepped foot on American soil. During the limbo period, the family had to go through a couple of interviews until they were granted their citizenship.

Yolanda and her family moved to Kissimmee, Florida, where they already had relatives living. While in Kissimmee, Yolanda attended Osceola High School, where several of her current teammates also attended.

“Our relationship with Yolanda was a direct result of one student-athlete and his parents being pleased with the environment at Milligan College,” said Chris Layne, head coach of cross country and track and field at Milligan. “I think that says a great deal about our institution, as we currently have five athletes on our roster from Osceola.”

For Yolanda, Milligan was an easy choice to continue her academic and athletic careers.

“When I came to Milligan for my visit, I loved it. I didn’t even apply to any other schools because I was so sure I was going to come here,” said Yolanda, who is majoring in business administration.

In just a short tenure as a Lady Buff, Migoyo has made quite an impression on the track and field scene at the national level and at Milligan.

In just five indoor track and field competitions this season, Migoyo has shattered four school records and had four national qualifying marks.

At the 2010 Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raider Invitational, Migoyo crushed the 200-meter and 400-meter school records with her times of 26:16 and 58:44, respectively. A week later at the 2010 Appalachian State University Mountaineer Invitational, her 600-meter mark of 1:38.83 was a Milligan best, while at the same meet she was a part of the national qualifying and Milligan record 4 x 4 Relay, running the 400-meter leg.

“I think that is what she brings to the table is just an intensity, a focus, a drive and a love,” Layne said. “You can tell she really loves what she is doing right now. She is one of the primary reasons our relays and sprint groups have improved. She brings her ‘A’ game every day in practice.”

22 | SPRING 2010

Milligan has not only helped Yolanda mature as an athlete, but also as a person.

“In just the few months since I’ve been at Milligan, I’ve really grown up a lot,” Yolanda said. “Being here by myself has been a good experience because I have had to make my decisions on my own, which has been really good.”

Currently, Yolanda’s father resides in Nebraska where he is working for one of the nation’s leading shipping companies, FedEx. Her biological mother, Margarita Duran, still lives in Cuba. n In fall 2009, the Milligan College women’s cross country team won their seventh straight Appalachian Athletic Conference and finished 11th at the 2009 NAIA Cross Country National Championships. Individually, sophomore Gillian Giffen (Knoxville, TN) successfully defended her title as AAC Runner of the Year, finishing first with a time of 19:01 in the 5K. She went on to earn All-American honors with her performance at the NAIA Cross Country National Championships.

On the men’s side, sophomore Austin Ellis (Charlottesville, VA) earned his second All-American honors at the NAIA National Championships. Ellis, the AAC runner of the year, finished the 8K in a time of 25:44 en-route to his 23rd place finish. The Milligan men were named runner-ups in the AAC.

ATHLETIC NEWS Men’s Basketball The 2009-10 season was a rebuilding year for the Buffs basketball program under new Head Coach Bill Robinson. Robinson, after a successful tenure at Montreat College, led the Buffs to 10-20 overall record and a 5-11 AAC record. Milligan will lose Kyle Donahue (Greeneville, TN), Emmanuel Colon (Salinas, Puerto Rico) and Rex Carpenter (Gray, TN) to graduation.

Women’s Basketball The Lady Buffs had an outstanding season as they won a share of the AAC Conference title in Coach Rich Aubrey’s 17th season. Milligan finished the season 19-11 overall and 11-5 in the AAC. Entering the AAC tournament, the Lady Buffs were the number one seed, which gave them home court advantage throughout the tournament. The Lady Buffs lose two graduating seniors in Brit White (Chuckey, TN) and Brittany Kilgore (Kingsport, TN).

Women’s Dance Milligan College’s athletics program will receive a boost next season in their spirit division with the addition of dance as the college’s 23rd intercollegiate sport. Scholarships will be available for new students beginning fall 2010. Current Cheerleading Head Coach Ronda Paulson will head up the dance program along with choreographer Macy Garland, a native of Johnson City, TN, and current nursing student at Milligan.

Swimming The Milligan Aqua Buffs shattered 13 team records at the 2010 NAIA Swimming and Diving National Championships. In only their third year of competition as an official intercollegiate sport, the Aqua Buffs qualified in 12 individual competitions and 10 team competitions.

On the women’s side, juniors Rachel Landry (Boone, NC) and Darcee Kubisiak (Johnson City, TN), along with sophomore Gretchen Grant (Blountville, TN) and freshman Megan Lorencen (Johnson City, TN), set a new team mark in the 200-yard free relay. In the 400-yard medley relay, the team of Grant, Kubisiak, Lorencen and sophomore Victoria Licari (Atascadero, CA) had a time of 4:28.84, which was enough for another team record. The team of Kubisiak, Grant, Landry and Lorencen also set a new team record In the women’s 800-yard free relay.

Individually, Grant set a new team record in the 100-yard backstroke.

On the men’s side, sophomores Aaron Pigford (Johnson City, TN) and Eron Cavanaugh (Plainfield, IN), along with freshman Evan Alfano (Chattanooga, TN) and junior Chris Fry (Greenwood, IN), secured a 10th place finish and a new team record in the men’s 200-yard free relay. The same four Aqua Buffs recorded an 11th place finish and new team record in the 400-yard medley relay. The team of Fry, Cavanaugh, freshman Adam Lewis (Johnson City, TN) and junior Taylor Duran (Johnson City, TN) broke a team record and finished 11th overall in the men’s 800-yard free relay. Individually, Pigford set a new team mark with his 13th place finish in the 100-yard back stroke and recorded another team record in the 50yard freestyle. Alfano set new team records in the 100-yard breast stroke and 200-yard medley relay.

Indoor Track & Field (men’s and women’s) At the 2010 NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships, hosted by Milligan for the 10th consecutive year inside ETSU’s MSHA/Athletic Center, freshman France Makabu (Paris, France) earned the 34th All-American honor in the history of Milligan track and field with a 4th place finish in the triple jump. Her jump of 39-05.00 set a new school record and was also a new personal best for Makabu. Sophomore Austin Ellis (Charlottesville, VA) narrowly missed the All-American mark in the 5000-meter run as his time of 15:00.63 placed him eighth in the final.

Overall, Milligan had 12 athletes compete at nationals. Competing on the women’s side along with Makabu were senior Shanna Raines (Johnson City, TN), juniors Chelsea Leavell (Springfield, TN) and Lili Zaldaňa (Bristol, TN), and freshmen Catie McMahon (Lanoka Harbor, NJ), Yolando Migoyo (Kissimmee, FL), Suzanne Johnson (Atlanta, GA), Lauren Hubbard (Kingsport, TN), Heather Exline (Glouster, OH) and Leah Nelson (Johnson City, TN).

In addition to Ellis, sophomore Tanner Payne (Georgetown, TN) also represented the men’s team at nationals.

For more athletic news, visit www.milliganbuffs.com/news SPRING 2010 | 23

From the President The more things change, the more they stay the same.

If you have been following the progress of Milligan College over the past several years, you’re well aware of the many changes that have come about. This progress continues.

Enrollment remains strong, program and campus improvements are ongoing, and we’re only weeks away from the opening of the new Gilliam Wellness Center, which you’ll hear more about in the next Milligan Magazine. It seems as if change has become the norm for Milligan College–and what a blessing this is!

But even as the college changes, there are many aspects of Milligan College that, thankfully, remain the same. I’m proud of our faculty, who continue to be recognized as leaders in their various fields. They continue to have the same remarkable impact upon the lives of our students that has been the hallmark of Milligan for nearly 150 years. They inspire our students, not only to learn about the world, but also to go out and touch it, making it better and influencing countless lives–just as Aaron (’02) and Becky (Ruby ’02) Johnston have done in Guatemala.

In a fitting symbol of continuity, the iconic center of learning at Milligan, the P.H. Welshimer Memorial Library, also remains virtually unchanged and is still central to the college’s mission. Even in this digital age, the library has seen increased usage, thanks to a dedicated staff who motivate students to take full advantage of the wealth of print and electronic resources the library has to offer. After nearly fifty years of use,

however, the building itself needs to be improved, so we have included it as a funding priority within our ongoing comprehensive campaign, Forward Ever. We hope to improve its interior aesthetics and accessibility, make the building more environmentally sustainable and provide more areas for group study and fellowship.

Above all, throughout all the changes of the past several years, we have never wavered from our commitment to provide the very best Christian, liberal arts education we possibly can.

This is not a small undertaking. It is one that requires the combined efforts of our students, faculty, staff, administration, trustees, alumni, supporting churches and other friends of the college who embrace our mission as something that is both relevant and vital.

Because of your continued prayers and support, Milligan’s impact on the lives of our students is made possible and, in turn, their impact on the world is made real.

With deepest gratitude,

Donald R. Jeanes President

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Johnson City, TN Permit No. 3 lÑÑáÅÉ=çÑ=fåëíáíìíáçå~ä=^Çî~åÅÉãÉåí ml=_çñ=V=ö=jáääáÖ~å=`çääÉÖÉI=qÉååÉëëÉÉ=ö=PTSUO

`Ü~åÖÉ=ëÉêîáÅÉ=êÉèìÉëíÉÇ

Did you know there is a simple way to DOUBLE your investment income?

If you own any of the following stocks, or hundreds of others, it is possible to DOUBLE your investment income while providing generous support for scholarships and programs at Milligan College.

3M Alcoa American Express Archer-Daniels-Midland Best Buy Boeing Deere Disney Dow Chemical

FedEx General Electric General Mills Goldman Sachs IBM International Paper Kellogg Kroger Macy’s

Newell Rubbermaid NIKE Pepsi Bottling Raytheon Schwab (Charles) Target Texas Instruments Textron U.S. Steel

Walmart Walgreens Washington Post Wells Fargo Western Union Weyerhaeuser Whirlpool Xerox

For more information contact Jack Simpson at 800.447.5922 or 423.461.8654.