Photos by Rooney Coffman and Maj Uchibeke
MARCH 2017
St. Andrews Two-Way Street
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Mark Smith Statue Emerging 6
Suriname Snapshot 10
Thank you for your support!
Alumni Council holds successful meeting in February
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Members of the St. Andrews Alumni Council were on campus in late February for the first of their two annual meetings. We had a productive (and fun) meeting under the leadership of Council President Lisa Gaw-Chenausky ’90 and Vice President Heather Jenkins Brazzell ’93.
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for Alumni Weekend. Katherine “Cup” Clark was also on campus, helping set up for our meeting.
The Council is made up of alumni from different class years and generations, spanning six decades. Its three committees and their chairs are Communications, led by Gary Brazzell ’93, Development, chaired by Rebecca Harvard Barnes ’92 and Nominations, Awards and Events by Mike Cody ’92.
Special thanks also go to Mike Cody ’92, Marina Lail Kelly ’91 and Gary Brazzell ’93 for funding a recently completed project updating the WiFi in all of our dorms. Mike and his son Brett spent a couple of days on campus doing the labor. This is just another example of the volunteerism, energy, and creative ideas that come out of our Alumni Council. A lot of financial donations and volunteer labor goes in to these projects and both are deeply appreciated by the St. Andrews community.
Several members were on campus early on Friday taking part in mock interviews with students through the Career Services office here. Those interviewing were Marina Lail Kelly ’91, Kellam Parks ’96 and Gregg Phelps ’93. While those three were conducting interviews, Mike Cody ’92 was doing some work in Farrago, in preparation
Do you notice a pattern of names here? The alumni listed above all graduated in the early or mid-90s. If you are interested in joining this dynamic group, email alumni@sa.edu and tell us about yourself. The requirements for membership are to be present at the meetings in February and October, and financially supporting the University.
St. Andrews by the Lake Alumni Magazine
Scenes from Alumni It’s always Council in February a good time to GIVE!
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St. Andrews Thrives o This article was originally published in the Laurinburg Exchange. By Misty McMillan
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Whether it’s setting a positive example for middle schoolers or supporting a local nonprofit, St. Andrews employees are often giving their time and resources to our community. With the Laurinburg Area Campaign kickoff on the horizon, your donations will support these employees and their community efforts. This mutual relationship of giving is an important part of our local culture.
Effectiveness, Loftus is again in the classroom as Emeritus Professor of French. He has served on Boards of the Arts Council, United Way, Chamber of Commerce, and continues serving on the Scotland Regional Hospice Board. Loftus was recognized in 2012 with the Governor’s Award for Volunteer Service and the NC Governor’s Medallion Award for Lifetime Achievement in Volunteer Service.
In 1974, after a general job search, Pennsylvanian Dr. William Loftus packed up and started his trek to St. Andrews. Over 40 years later, he and his wife Edna Ann are still active on our campus and have found numerous opportunities to serve in Laurinburg. Recently retiring from his position as Vice President for Institutional
“It’s important for people to give something to their communities, not just constantly take things from their communities,” said Loftus. “It’s a two-way street.”
St. Andrews by the Lake Alumni Magazine
Ellen Thompson, a graduate of St. Andrews and Director of Alumni Relations, recently found herself accompanying
on a Two-Way Street and sponsoring a group of middle school girls to watch Hidden Figures at the Laurinburg Cinema. She also serves on the Board of the Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Center of Scotland County. In this role she has helped with fundraising activities – yard sales, plate sales and raffles. She also serves on the Board of Deacons (along with Loftus) at the Laurinburg Presbyterian Church. Dr. Larry Schulz, Emeritus Professor of Politics and Asian Studies, has been active in the community since his arrival in 1971. Serving on multiple boards – Chamber of Commerce (Government Affairs & Green Committee), Laurinburg Presbyterian, Habitat for Humanity – much of Schulz’s volunteer work has been through the Rotary Club. One project of the club is giving dictionaries to all third graders in the community. “The students love these books,” said Schulz. “Sometimes it’s the first real book they’ve ever owned.” The Ride like a Knight program at the Equestrian Center has been in existence for almost 20 years. As director of the program, Liz Dulski, also a graduate of St. Andrews, spends about 20 hours a week conducting lessons for over 75 kids from four Scotland County schools. These free lessons promote balance, encourage listening, boost confidence and assist in developing many other life skills. Numerous volunteers from campus and the community help these children learn to ride. The Scottish Pilot Club of Laurinburg has been an avid supporter of the program by purchasing helmets and other equipment for the riders when needed. “Many of these kids started riding in kindergarten and now they are in middle school,” explained Dulski. “It’s great to watch them grow so much because of the program.”
Rooney Coffman came to St. Andrews as a freshman in the sixties. Transitioning from student to employee, he was instrumental in creating the first Science Olympiad in 1974. In a few weeks, over 40 years later, he will host hundreds of middle school students from around the state on our campus for the state-wide Science Olympiad. What began as a gathering of a few hundred students in competition on our campus has grown into a massive annual state-wide event with multiple states participating around the country. Cinny Beggs, Theater Instructor, has only been with St. Andrews for a few years. However, she is already making her mark on campus and within the community. Working to reignite a theater program on campus, she has several plays, a musical and three talent shows under her belt. She was recently instrumental in helping the Arts Council organize and deliver their first community talent show where proceeds went to bolster Encore! (Laurinburg’s local theater group). Beggs thinks it is important to have community involvement and is hoping for more. “Sometimes our presence in the community may be put on a back burner, but our presence can increase with involvement,” said Beggs. So when we come to you in the next few weeks asking for support of St. Andrews, know that you will be helping a community of givers. Not only faculty and staff who give but our hundreds of student-athletes and coaches who find ways to support local organizations and businesses throughout the year. St. Andrews has continued to be an economic contributor for the Laurinburg area, providing hundreds of jobs, bringing thousands of visitors to the area, and offering free services to the community. We could not survive without you and we hope you feel you could not survive without us. MARCH 2017
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Emerging re-emerging
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St. Andrews by the Lake Alumni Magazine
Photos by Billy Howard ‘77
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Thirty-seven years ago, Mark Smith began to create the sculpture that became Emerging. Mark had relocated to Atlanta after teaching art at St. Andrews since 1970. Mark, along with Bob Tauber, were both professors in the Art Department. The two started Pynyon Press and Foundry in urban Atlanta in 1978 and were pioneers of the burgeoning art community there. Emerging was completed in 1981 and was installed in downtown Atlanta, next to the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel at the intersection of International Boulevard and Spring Street.
correctly, its improbability,” Mark said. “It came about as a result of being in the right place and time and coincidentally, finding sources of labor, materials and services.” All in all, 18 individuals and companies donated everything from the metal to the concrete, casting, engineering drawings, cranes, etc. “For less than $11,000 we made a sculpture that would have cost $130,000. It could never have been made at any other time without the perfect storm of effort I was fortunate to have found,” Mark added.
Over the years, the sculpture has suffered from exposure to the elements as the City busily exploded around it. As part of the Renew Atlanta ongoing effort to revitalize public works of art, Terra Mae Conservation began restoration of the sculpture in mid-February. Emerging has a brilliant mirrored back intended to reflect surrounding buildings and the blue sky above them.
Mark Smith’s amazing sculptural work Contemplation hangs in the office of campus president Paul Baldasare ’77. He says of the piece, “Contemplation, was given to St. Andrews by the Class of 1976 in honor of Mark Smith for his devotion to students, his inspirational teaching, and his service to the wider St. Andrews community. Mark was a remarkable member of the St. Andrews faculty and over the past 40 years since he left St. Andrews, he has continued to promote and support St. Andrews whenever he can.”
One Atlanta journalist commented that “For the first time in over three decades, Atlantans and visitors will be able to see a major public sculpture as it was originally intended.” When he heard that conservators Claudia Chemello and Paul Mardikian had gotten the go-ahead to begin the cleaning and refurbishment, Mark was elated. The work is now complete, and was documented by photographer Billy Howard ’77, who considers his former professor both a good friend and mentor. Of the sculpture, Mark said that “In all its simplicity there are a million intentions in what is encapsulated in this piece. Because of its apparent simplicity, though, every single aspect of its form is intensely important to its whole, to the aesthetic I felt it would make it enduring for the people and visitors of this city.” “The untold story of Emerging is its funding, or more
Another relief piece by Mark, Ron’s Eye Appearing hangs on the wall in the St. Andrews Press office here on campus. The work is a tribute to retired Professor Emeritus Ron Bayes. Mark describes the inspiration for the piece: “Listening… to friend and colleague Ron Bayes, the first person I’d ever met speaking poetry as everyday conversation. He was revelatory for my own voice….This was first, and finally, my visual vocabulary.” MARCH 2017
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Diane Hogg Flynt is a semi-finalist for the annual James Beard Foundation Awards in the category Outstanding Wine, Beer or Spirits Professional. Dianne started Foggy Ridge Cider in 1997 with a cider apple orchard in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. This is her second James Beard Foundation Awards nomination.
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Maria Pharr is the new president of South Piedmont Community College. A Biology major at St. Andrews, she most recently served as executive director of BioNetwork and Life Science Initiatives, a statewide workforce development program within the North Carolina Community College System that supports the bioscience industry sector.
Mica Nguyen Worthy has been named a partner in the firm of Cranfill, Sumner & Hartzog. Mica is based in the Charlotte office of CSH Law. She serves as legal counsel to aviation industry clients and is a Certified Global Business Professional (NASBITE) with a focus on international operations including global trade issues, international contracts, international arbitration and dispute resolution. She is a founding member of the Charlotte International Arbitration Society and the Charlotte Asian Pacific American Bar Association.
to 07 Congratulations Elizabeth Jetton ’07 and Justin Jetton ’08 on the 08 birth of their son Tristan Allen Jetton, born on February 17. 2017.
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Jordan Copp has started a video production company, and just recently a YouTube channel DRENCHED: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPjzBVnR03U. Jordan, who is originally from Kansas, attributes her love of adventure to her travels with Neal Bushoven to India and Ted Wojtasik to Brunnenburg.
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Congratulations to Craig Shively who completed his MBA here at St. Andrews this past fall.
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Amy Tripson has returned from Korea and is the Volunteer Manager at High Hopes Therapeutic Riding.
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St. Andrews by the Lake Alumni Magazine
SAU Calendar
For a complete list of events visit www.sa.edu/events
March 2 Tower Club (Rescheduled)
March 4 - 12
March 30
April 14-17
Writers’ Forum Peter McNamara
April 21-23
Easter Break
Spring Break
March 31
March 16
“We Are Beautiful” Art Show
Ragan/Fortner Awards
April 1
March 18 KNIGHT Life Day
March 25
April 29 Exam Week begins
Spring Open House
May 4
April 6
Science Olympiad
Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet & Student Poets
March 24-26
April 6
Scottish Heritage Symposium Register online!
Alumni Weekend & Science Homecoming - register online!
Awards Convocation
Senior Dinner
May 5 Baccalaureate
May 6 Commencement
Alumni Weekend
April 21-23
Register Online https://www.sa.edu/alumni/alumni-weekend-registration
Holocaust Books Donated
Calling All Alumni Authors
A recent gift to DeTamble Library from Pinny Geffert included 16 books on The Holocaust. Her husband, Dr. Carl Geffert, taught German at St. Andrews from 1963-1989. Geff was instrumental in establishing an honor code at St. Andrews and served as chair of the foreign languages department for 25 years. He and Pinny sponsored a German Week at St. Andrews in 1989. Pinny worked in several departments on campus, retiring from the Library 1993 as the first Archives Librarian.
Have you written a book? If so, DeTamble Library would love to have a copy, or maybe we already do. (You can check our catalog.) If not, please consider bringing us one when you come for Alumni Weekend or mailing us a copy. And don’t forget to sign it! Our collection represents a variety of alumni books from young adult fantasy to history, politics to poetry, science to photography…. Some even have pen names! - Mary Harvin McDonald ‘79
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Suriname UN Ambass Siblings Tariq and Xiomara Getrouw are members of the St. Andrews’ swim team and originally from Suriname. They invited MacDonald to come speak on campus to educate people on their home country.
MacDonald began his presentation with a short video to give those in attendance some background information on Suriname, a country with a population of 50,000 people. Suriname thrives on ecotourism because 94 percent of the country is covered by untouched Amazon rain forest — the most in the world. “The entire country of Suriname is 100,000 square miles — twice the size of North Carolina,” said MacDonald. “There are 20 times more people in North Carolina than in Suriname. The population of North Carolina is 20 million compared to Suriname, which has a population of half-a-million.” All of the countries infrastructure, roads and industries are located along a 20 mile stretch of the coastline, the rest of the country is rain forest. The Suriname government has no plans to develop the rain forest, according to Mac-Donald the country is using the rain forest to bring in tourists and has a thriving ecotoursim industry. “We are talking to the governments in our neighboring countries — Guyana and French Guyana — to create a shield to make the rain forests a prime tourism area,” he said. “We are looking to improve and build the ecotourism industry.”
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Through the efforts of two St. Andrews students, a United Nations Ambassador provided university students, faculty and community members with a glimpse into the culture, tradition and heritage of Suriname, a country on the northeastern coast of South America. Henry Leonard MacDonald, the new permanent representative of Suriname to the United Nations, gave a presentation titled “Small Country, Big World: One Ambassador’s Life at the UN, Representing His Country and Solving Global Problems,” on Thursday evening to around 40 people.
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St. Andrews by the Lake Alumni Magazine
Another unique characteristic of Suriname is it’s culture — according to MacDonald is the country’s lack of a dominant ethnic group. “We consider ourselves one of the few countries in the world that don’t have one dominate ethnic group, that is larger than 50 percent,” said MacDonald. “The largest ethnic group are the East Indians at 27 percent, then we have Maroons — the African ancestors of runaway slaves from the 17th and 18th centuries — at 20 percent followed by Indonesians at 17 percent.” The World Factbook from the CIA has Suriname’s ethnic population numbers listed slightly different than Mac-
sador Visits Campus Donald’s figures, with East Indians making up 37 percent, followed by Creole (mixed white and black) at 31 percent, then Javanese at 15 percent and “Maroons” at 10 percent. “We are a mix of cultures and people from all over the world,” said MacDonald. “It is the only place in the world you can see a Muslim Mosque
and Jewish Synagogue right next to each other. We simply see them as places of worship, on the internet it’s a big deal.” MacDonald went on to discuss Suriname’s different importing and exporting practices. The country exports gold and shrimp to the United States and Canada and
recently opened their own oil refinery. The goal of the refinery is to make the country totally self-sufficient. “So that is your snapshot of Suriname,” said MacDonald. This article was originally published in the Laurinburg Exchange by Amber Hatten.
MARCH 2017
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country, they would not. She decided to talk with her professors, Tanner Capps and Dr. Corrinne Nicholson. “They were telling me everything was going to be okay but I didn’t think so,” Kumanwee said. The problem of finding the financial resources to stay enrolled appeared insurmountable.
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During her junior year at St. Andrews, Barine Kumanwee, a student from Nigeria, was informed by her government that they were pulling her scholarship. She had chosen St. Andrews through the influence of her government, and after some research decided the small campus environment would be the best fit for her. But with the loss of the scholarship, she faced having to go back home without a degree. Going back home, uneducated, would guarantee no real future. Job prospects are very limited without a degree. Her future was in jeopardy. Kumanawee petitioned her government to continue supporting her but with the recent political changes in her
After conversations with her professors, she met with the Campus President who in turn shared her story with alumni, while her professors contacted local churches. By their support, she was able to pay her remaining three semesters of tuition and continue her education. “The consequences [of her leaving] were significant. You go from almost getting a degree to having it all ripped out of your hands, by no doing of your own. I was so passionate about it because she is just a phenomenal student and what a tragedy to lose a potential alumna of her caliber,” said Capps. Kumanwee will graduate from St. Andrews in May with a degree in Business Administration. She hopes to continue on to graduate school and now has the hope of a bright future. So as the old African proverb says, “It takes a village to raise a child,” the St. Andrews community has a reputation of taking care of its own!
MBA Expands Staff with Alumna
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Laurie Nederveen has joined St. Andrews as the MBA Program Outreach Coordinator. In this part time position she will be focusing on recruiting new MBA students for on-campus classes and also the live-via-the-web option. She will promote the program to enhance partnerships with businesses that may wish to serve as a practicum site or sponsor employees for the Master’s Degree in Business Administration.
1993. For over 20 years, she worked in the field of Autism Spectrum Disorder treatment mainly with adolescents and adults. She also held a variety of positions in an adult group home, the TEACCH program and the Autism Society of NC. In 2009, she created a coaching business called Aspiring Aspies to support students in transition to college. Her business logo is a picture of a St. Android on graduation day.
Nederveen graduated from E.A. Laney High School in Wilmington, NC. She applied to only one college – St. Andrews. Majoring in Psychology, she graduated with General Honors in
As a long-term member of St. Andrews alumni council and a current student in the MBA program, Nederveen is known for reconnecting classmates to one another and the campus.
St. Andrews by the Lake Alumni Magazine
“I am thrilled to have a formal position where I can share the exquisite nature of St. Andrews with the greater community,” she said. If interested in the MBA program or connecting with Laurie Nederveen, she would love to meet you! nederveenlr@sa.edu
Around Campus
MARCH 2017
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MLK
Community Celebration
Stronger 14
By Our Differences St. Andrews by the Lake Alumni Magazine
Stronger By Our Differences
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St. Andrews hosted a community event to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., in January. The theme of the free community program was “stronger by our differences.” An ensemeble from the St. Andrews choir opened the ceremony, followed by recitations from students. Nathaniel Rivas-Blackwell transformed into Martin Luther King during his powerful recitation of “The American Dream.” Following was a rhythmic performance of the “Drum Major” by Sullivan Owens and Professor Becky Cameron. Sonny Kelly, an actor and motivator
from Fayetteville, acted as master of ceremonies. He serves as director of the Find-A-Friend program at the Urban Ministry in Fayetteville. He has previously mentored children in the program and served as a youth minister at a church in Texas. Kelly is earning his doctorate in communications at UNC Chapel Hill. Kelly took the audience on a journey of the life of an eagle who though he was a chicken. To view the performance in its entirety, visit the St. Andrews University Facebook page. Guest speaker, in addition to Kelly, was Dr. Regina McClinton, a plant biologist from Grand Valley State University in Michigan. She is the co-founder and inaugural director of the Intercultural Training Certificate at GVSU. She created the certificate to boost students’ intercultural competence, which supports students in valuing and respecting differences. McClinton spent some time prior to the event discussing topics like diversity and collaboration with several groups around campus. During her speech, she reminded us that, “Those few who seek to hold
power over so many have convinced thosed of the same hue that something so meaningless as the amount of pigment in one’s skin has great value. But they have done so only for the purpose of keeping us divided.” “But if we can find commonality in our struggles and our challenges, in our goals and our aspirations, then we will begin to understnd that if we work together, we wll achieve those golas and overcome our challenges.” MARCH 2017
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In Memoriam Ruth Hurley Grimes ’42 died May 11, 2016 in Smithfield, NC.
musician who also taught voice and piano.
Jane Graham McKay ’45 died on December 19, 2016 in Laurinburg.
Jared Alexander “Xan” Law, Jr. ’64 died on December 8, 2016 in Charlotte, NC. His career spanned decades in which worked as a school photographer, a life insurance salesman to a real estate broker. From the age of 11, he had a passion and love of the game of golf.
Betty Thames McInnis ’47 died on February 1, 2017 in Laurinburg. Alice Elizabeth Nye ’48 died on August 30, 2016 in Dublin, VA. An avid bridge player, she also loved making cheese straws and rhubarb pie. Margaret Comer Thompson ’52 died on February 5, 2017 in Pinehurst, NC. Her son, Lindsay Thompson is a member of the class of 1977. Betsy Ross Fleshman MacCord ’57 died on December 14, 2016. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Flora Macdonald in 1957. She went on to be an archivist for the State of North Carolina in Raleigh, and later, in Richmond with the Virginia State Library. Our sympathy is extended to Hazel McLean Hubbard ’58 on the death of her husband, Dr. John R. Hubbard, who died on January 7, 2017 in Gaffney, SC. Barbara Jean Morgan Broadwell ’61 died February 11, 2017 at her home in Somerville, Ohio. Originally from Lillington, NC, a service was held for her there on February 25.
Anne McRae Collins ’65 died on December 27, 2016 at Scotia Village in Laurinburg. She taught in the public school system for 20 years and was also a recruiter for St. Andrews as well as UNC-Wilmington. She had visited every county in North Carolina. James Barbour ’65 died on December 31, 2016. He had lived in Kenansville, NC. Hugh McInnis “Mac” Jones ’71 died January 9, 2017 in Waynesville, NC. A celebration of his life will take place this April during the Masters Golf Tournament. Gregory Mathieson ’72 died on September 10, 2016 in Banner Elk, NC. In 1978, on a trip to Maryland to visit his parents, the train he was riding derailed. Greg was severely injured in the accident, but enjoyed a remarkable life despite his injuries. He had many dear friends and was a loyal fan of the Washington Redskins and the Baltimore Orioles. William M. “Buck” Tredway ’88 died on November 27, 2016.
Shirley Reynolds Hutchens ’62 attended both Flora Macdonald and St. Andrews. She worked 40 years for Bowman Gray School of medicine. She enjoyed basket-weaving, painting, knitting, sewing, gardening, canning and baking.
John Null ’93 died on November 28, 2016 in Laurinburg.
Virginia Wood Rauch ’63 died on December 8, 2016 in Fredericksburg, VA. Like many who studied at Flora Macdonald, she studied music there and then at St. Andrews. She was a lifelong
Yasuko Wada Meyer ’00 died in May of 2016. She had been living in Atlanta, and was working toward her nursing degree.
St. Andrews by the Lake is a publication of the Alumni and Communications Offices of St. Andrews. We welcome your feedback and ideas for future issues. To contact the Alumni Office, call Ellen Thompson at 910-277-5665 or email thompsonje@sa.edu.
A Branch of Webber International University
1700 Dogwood Mile Laurinburg, NC 28352 910-277-5000
Anne Taylor Reeves ’96 died August 8, 2016 at her home in Matthews, NC.