Our centerfold article in this magazine, "Hire Education," highlights the experiences of multiple alumni over the decades and the artwork of a recent alumna, Olivia McCarrell, '23. As hiring methods have changed and workplace expectations have evolved, it's important to us that our alumni stay ahead of the curve. No matter your age, current job, or vocational goals, this article has careerfocused insight for everyone.
Q & A: GROWING RECOGNITION
Jacob Ball, MAE ’15
HIRE EDUCATION
Randy Yates, MSISS ’22, Sara (Sherman) Moore, ’21, David Hammiel, ’84, Keirsh A. Cochran, PhD ’24, Amanda Farris, ’08, Josh Frosch, ’11, and Whitney Roark, ’16
HUMAN FIRST. AI SECOND.
Jordyne Carmack, ’11, PhD, ’18
Garrett DeClue, ’22
Editing Committee
CHANCELLOR
Dr. Jerry Jackson, EdD ’11
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Dr. Leslie C. Ryser, PhD ’22
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR ALUMNI RELATIONS
Erica Harris, ’84
ALUMNI DIRECTOR
Paul Stepp, ’12, MSISS ’17
VICE PRESIDENT OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Andrew Powell
SENIOR EDITOR
Gabrielle Mellendorf
SENIOR WRITER
Sarah (Rainous) Shelley, ’17, MACS ’21
RESEARCH
Kelsey (Day) Infield, ’13, MACS ’15
PHOTOGRAPHER AND ATHLETICS EDITOR
William Turner, ’21
DIGITAL CONTENT
Patrick Blevins
STUDENT WRITER
Hannah Schadler, ’27
STUDENT RESEARCH
Amber Simpkins, ’23
The opinions expressed within articles do not necessarily represent the views of the administration but are intended to foster open dialogue and lifelong learning among the Cumberlands community. We welcome your feedback; email alumni@ucumberlands.edu.
DEAR ALUMNI,
I am honored and thrilled to serve as the new president of the University of the Cumberlands Alumni Board of Directors. In my capacity, I will work to grow and invest in our alumni association. I also want to inspire our alumni to give back in whatever ways we feel led.
Leaving a very difficult situation back home, I came to Cumberlands in the fall of 1986 with two of my best friends, not knowing what to expect. What I found was a family of classmates and professors who invested in me and taught me the values of faith, hard work, compassion, empathy, and the importance of knowledge to improve one’s place in life.
I retired in 2017 after serving 28 years in education. I tried to live every day according to Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man.” I currently serve as a school safety and security consultant with the Kentucky Center for School Safety, as well as the assistant superintendent for Estill County Schools. My greatest blessing is being married to my amazing wife of 27 years, Carlee (Ballard) Cornett, ’98. God has blessed us with three beautiful children, Madison, Greyson Wray, and Sophia, ’25, who is a junior studying music education at Cumberlands.
As I stated earlier, I want us all to work together to continue to grow and invest in our alumni association. Let us all seek out new alumni, new ways to give back to the university, new ways of giving to current and future students, and other giving opportunities through our time and resources. Most of all, let us keep seeking the Lord each day, as His grace and mercies are new each morning.
It’s time to reconnect! When was the last time you spoke to your college classmates? When was the last time you came back to the university to see the remarkable changes and remodeling? Now is the time. Get back to campus and see the beauty and excitement surrounding the university!
I thank you all again for giving me the opportunity to represent your Alumni Board of Directors. I pray Numbers 6:24-26 over you and your families.
In Christ,
WES CORNETT, ’90, MAE ’93, RANK I ’93
Alumni Board of Directors President
2024-26 ALUMNI BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
Wes Cornett, ’90
Past President
Michael Addison, ’14, MBA ’16
Secretary
Diana (Dugan) Warmoth, ’87
Term Expiring 2024
Hampton Clark, ’19
Jared Forgety, ’11
Kimé (Malcom) Harris, ’90
Jimmy Huddleston, ’87
Lara (Cornett) Koogler, ’86
Term Expiring 2025
Anita (Miller) Biles, ’92
Nicholas Philpot, ’07
Lara Powers, ’03
Diana (Dugan) Warmoth, ’87
Kandace (Gibson) West, ’17
Term Expiring 2026
Jeff Clark, ’88
Kevin Meuth, ’88
Kelly Miller, ’97, MBA ’22
Joe Salvato, ’04
Lesley Swann, ’97, MBA ’17
Ex-Officio Members
Dr. Larry L. Cockrum
University President
Dr. Joseph Ellison, III, ’01,
Trustee Liaison
Board Member Emeritus
Dick Koeniger, ’67
Bill Lyttle, ’75
Office of Alumni Services
Erica (Broome) Harris, ’84
Executive Director
Paul Step, ’12, MSIS ’17
Director
Starting with the Class of 2024, the Office of Alumni Services will be promoting their newest program, geared toward the "Graduates Of The Last Decade" or GOLD Alumni. The mission is to connect, engage, and support the university and undergraduate alumni from the last ten years.
If you are interested in being involved, please contact:
Amanda Gault, ’24
Volunteer Coordinator Office of Development ucumberlands.edu/alumni
UPCOMING EVENTS
"Nostalgia in the Burg"
Summer Gathering featuring pickleball, cornhole, and music
Patriots Park August 3, 2024
Homcoming GOLD Tailgate
Local Charity fundraiser featuring food & dunking booth
Patriots Stadium September 28, 2024
AIR EVAC GOVENOR'S SERVICE AWARD CUMBERLANDSNEWS
ALL-STATE MUSIC
Members of campus leadership and the Office of Campus Ministries at University of the Cumberlands were honored to receive a Faith-Based Governor’s Service Award for 2023.
The awards ceremony was held in April 2024, with Governor Andy Beshear recognizing the award recipients. Serve Kentucky, an agency within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, coordinates the annual awards ceremony.
The Faith-Based Governor’s Service Award was given in honor of University of the Cumberlands’ annual Shoes 4 the Soul event, which has benefited thousands of schoolchildren since its beginning in 2011. Each year, children are welcomed on to campus, where Cumberlands student, faculty, and staff volunteers wash the children’s feet, give them brandnew socks and shoes, and hand them a backpack filled with hygiene items and, in some years, school supplies. Each volunteer is paired with a child as their “buddy” for the day, guiding them through event’s stations, doing fun activities with them, and getting to know them better. The event is based on the actions of Jesus Christ recorded in John 13 of the Christian Bible, wherein Christ washed the feet of his disciples in an example of deep humility and servant-leadership.
Per the GSA, “The Shoes 4 the Soul event at UC continues to be a powerful tradition, showcasing the institution’s dedication to community service and wellbeing of local children. The impressive numbers and involvement of UC students, faculty and staff highlights the enduring significance of this annual event.”
For the first time, the Williamsburg physician assistant (PA) program, participated in a simulated experience of transferring a patient to an Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter, which representatives from the organization had flown onto campus, to become familiar with how to maneuver in the limited space a chopper provides while simultaneously administering life-saving care.
The helicopter landed in a parking lot on the outskirts of Cumberlands’ Williamsburg campus. After waiting for the turbines to cool and the propeller blades to stop and lower, students were welcomed onto the chopper to familiarize themselves with the layout of the space and the available healthcare tools and machinery within the vehicle.
Kenzie Jones, a PA student, is interested in pursuing emergency medicine as a future PA, so the event was extra appealing to her. She said, “In air evac, you have an emergency situation, you’re in a tight space, and it is a high-pressure situation. It’s amazing what air medics can accomplish.”
For the past few years, members of Air Evac Lifeteam have visited Cumberlands to teach PA students about advanced life support. The students complete certifications in these areas, and, soon enough, they are required to pass a trauma final as part of the required PA school curriculum. It's safe to say AEL took things up a notch this year by bringing a helicopter onto campus!
Multiple students participated in the 2024 Kentucky Intercollegiate Band and All-Collegiate Choir held in conjunction with the Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) Conference held in Louisville, Kentucky. The students joined collegiate musicians from several other Kentucky colleges and universities to form a symphonic band, a jazz band, and an SSAATTBB collegiate choir that rehearsed together for just two days prior to performing at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts.
“Every school who nominates students for the different bands and choirs make sure their students are performing at a very high level,” said David Threlkeld, chair of the Department of Music at Cumberlands. “Every music student, at some point, if they excel, they hope they get to be part of something like these groups. It’s encouraging for them, and it’s also good networking, because sometimes they’ll run into musicians they meet here again at other events in the future.”
Cumberlands students who participated in the symphonic band were Hayden Huff (trumpet), Robert Lewis (clarinet), Chris Miller (alto saxophone), and Mickee Stevens (flute). Choral representatives were Eric Gabbard (baritone), Sophia Cornett (soprano), Jazzlyn Threlkeld (alto), and Bradley Wheeler (tenor). Chris Miller also played in the all-state jazz ensemble.
Overall, though the experience involved a lot of work for the students and Dr. Threlkeld, prior to the conference, they all had a lot of fun. It’s a special experience they’re all hoping to enjoy again.
RANKED NUMBER 1
The online Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP) program at Cumberlands was ranked No. 1 in Kentucky, No. 8 in the nation, by NurseJournal.org. Among the other colleges ranked in the top 10 for 2024, Cumberlands had one of the highest acceptance rates as well as the lowest tuition rate – not to mention that UC offers free textbooks.
NurseJournal also ranked Cumberlands as having the most affordable family nurse practitioner (FNP) program for 2024 in Kentucky, fifth most affordable in the nation.
“We are very pleased with these high rankings for our online MSN-FNP program,” said Kyra Gambrel, FNP, the family nurse practitioner online program coordinator at Cumberlands. “Our faculty and staff remain committed to providing education in a student-first approach, and rankings like these are a testament to the importance and effectiveness of that mentality.”
Cumberlands’ Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner program is fully accredited and offers students the chance to complete their degree in as little as three years. Its first cohort graduated in 2019. With a curriculum tailored to registered nurses (RNs), the program covers a variety of nursing topics, including implementation of evidence-based plans to improve health outcomes, application of leadership skills and decision making in nursing, integration of research and interprofessional perspectives to improve practice, effective communication strategies, and more.
KCTCS PARTNERSHIP PALMER LECTURE
Cumberlands and KCTCS (Kentucky Community and Technical College System) are separate entities with a common vision: making higher education more accessible for students. With that in mind, the schools signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that offers a clear pathway for KCTCS graduates to complete an affordable bachelor’s degree at UC.
Both institutions have made strides to ensure affordability, accessibility, and relevancy for their programs in recent years.
Dr. Trey Jarboe, ’13, MJA ’13 PhD ’15, provost at Cumberlands, said transfer students from KCTCS account for 35 percent of all transfer credits among students currently enrolled at the university. The university has more than 6,000 students enrolled between its on-campus and online undergraduate programs.
Dr. Jarboe commented, “We are pleased to partner with KCTCS in our shared mission of providing quality education to Kentucky students."
“This new MOA marks the beginning of a strategic partnership that will benefit innumerable Kentucky students for years to come," said Dr. Reneau Waggoner, KCTCS acting provost and vice president of academic and student success. students. This MOA is an example of our commitment to put students first in every aspect of their college experience. We want to offer as smooth a transition as possible for all KCTCS students who choose to pursue their bachelor’s degrees at UC.”
Cumberlands hosted Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle on campus for the annual Palmer Lecture. Clapsaddle is the first member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee to publish a novel. In her Palmer Lecture presentation, “Understanding Modern Cherokee Identity Through Literature,” Clapsaddle discussed native stereotypes and how native characters shouldn’t be flat characters, spoke of craft elements, read portions of her novel aloud, and answered audience questions. She also visited a literature class held on campus the following morning.
Said Jamey Temple, '03, associate professor of English and creative writing at Cumberlands, “It's important to attend events like these not only to hear authors and their processes, but also to learn about heritage and history.”
Cumberlands students, faculty, and staff, as well as local community members, were welcome to attend the annual Palmer Lectures free of charge. The event is held every spring.
Toni “Leeann” Fragosa, a senior at Cumberlands, said, “After learning why she incorporated certain images and symbols into her book, I was able to obtain a deeper connection with the characters. I also have more of an appreciation for her culture, and I enjoyed her lecture and Q and A in class."
Everyone at University of the Cumberlands wishes heartfelt congratulations to all graduates in the Class of 2024!
Just under 6,000 students made up this year’s graduating class. Approximately 170 graduates completed an associate degree, 1,250 finished a bachelor’s degree, 3,770 received a master’s degree, 270 completed an educational specialist degree, and 530 earned a doctoral degree. Graduates represented many different ages, ethnicities, backgrounds, and cultures, but they all now have one thing in common: they made it!
“Graduates, today marks a significant milestone in your lives,” said Dr. Larry L. Cockrum, university president, during commencement ceremonies. “You have persevered through years of hard work and now stand here, ready to take on the world. I am honored to congratulate each and every one of you on your outstanding achievements.”
The Class of 2024 performed 41,574 hours of community service. That equates to 5,197 8-hour workdays, or 1,040 40-hour work weeks. University of the Cumberlands designates graduates who complete 200 or more hours of community service hours as Hutton Scholars. This year, the graduating class had 84 Hutton Scholars.
Two graduates were named Presidential Scholars as recognition of their academic excellence and significant research in their major field of study. Presidential Scholars perform an advanced independent study or creative activity, then give a thesis and oral presentation of their discoveries before their major’s academic department and a select committee. Both Anthony “Cage” Grubb of Barbourville, Kentucky, and Samuel “Blake” McCullah of Williamsburg, Kentucky, were approved as Presidential Scholars for 2024.
Campus award winners, Hutton Scholars, Latin honors students, Presidential Scholars, and J.T. Vallandingham Scholars were recognized during undergraduate commencement ceremonies. Additionally, during the ceremonies, Dr. Cockrum told graduates, “We are living in uncertain times, with many challenges facing our communities and the world at large. But we must not let these challenges deter us. We must continue to persevere, to push through obstacles, and to make a positive impact in the world. So, dream big, work hard, make some mistakes, and always be kind. These are the values that have guided me throughout my life, and I believe they can help you, too, as you embark on your own journey. Once again, congratulations to the graduates of University of the Cumberlands.”
Cumberlands also hosted a commissioning ceremony in Kohn Theatre for four Army ROTC cadets, now second lieutenants (2 LT), including 2 LT Zachary Carlsen (joining active duty – armor branch), 2 LT Chamira Cooper (Kentucky Army National Guard –Quartermaster Corps), 2LT Rylan Reed (active duty – infantry), and 2 LT Alex Ritchie (active duty – infantry). During the ceremony, cadets recited the Oath of Office, then stood as gold bars were pinned onto their uniforms, denoting their new ranks as second lieutenants. Finally, they received their first salutes. These UC graduates are now official members of the U.S. Army Officer Corps. The keynote speaker of this year’s commissioning ceremony was Colonel (Retired) Steven Sears, who graduated from Cumberlands and was himself commissioned as a 2 LT in Gatliff Chapel back in 1990.
BY THE NUMBERS
49 States including District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
18 Countries
84 Hutton Scholars
2 Presidential Scholars
306 J.T. Vallandingham Scholars
1,098 Spring Deans List
1,072 Spring Presidents List
Caps Off
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
Abigail Sharp,’24, who goes by “Abby,” is from Gray, Kentucky. This spring, she completed a double major in physics and mathematics with a minor in information technology sciences.
“Cumberlands has truly been my home away from home for the past four years,” Abby said. “When I talk about the school, I can’t help but smile and think about the friendships, memories, and mentors I have gained throughout my time here. If I could go back four years ago, I still would have chosen UC as my home!”
On campus, Abby was involved in the community outreach committee of the Student Government Association (SGA), served as president of the physics honor society (Sigma Pi Sigma), and was a cabinet member of the mathematics honor society (Kappa Mu Epsilon). She also worked as a student assistant in the Department of Physics as a Hearst Scholar.
“I’ve had many people here who have helped me a great deal, but there are three who have been there through it all,” Abby said. “Dr. Brandy Martin, head of the Office of Admissions, was my cheer coach my freshman year, and she has become a shoulder to lean on and someone I look up to every day. Then there are Dr. Manning and Dr. Newquist, the physics professors at UC.
These two people have helped me grow as a student and a person more than they’ll ever know, and I’m so thankful for their wisdom and motivation throughout my time here.”
Abby’s schoolwork and on-campus commitments kept her busy, but, in her spare time, she also volunteer-coached a cheer team in her hometown and helped with Whitley County High School’s First Priority Club. The past four years have been packed for her, but she wouldn’t have had it any other way.
With her undergraduate degrees now finished, Abby plans on pursuing her master’s degree in physics and one day acquiring a PhD. She would like to return to Cumberlands and become a professor in the Department of Physics. She wants to inspire young people to have confidence in themselves and encourage them to explore careers in math and physics.
Jon Dorenbos blew us away this spring with his mind-bending magic tricks, profound life lessons, and inspiring personal story. Of course, he also mixed in some quick-witted humor, to keep it light. Gotta keep that positive mojo, Cumberlands!
We welcomed Dorenbos onto campus as keynote speaker for the annual Excellence in Leadership Series event, sponsored by Forcht Group of Kentucky. Per usual, the event was free to the public.
Dorenbos is known for his NFL career as long-snapper for the Philadelphia Eagles as well as his astounding magic tricks and inspiring life story. He made it to the final three on America’s Got Talent, appearing again on America’s Got Talent: The Champions, and has been a favorite guest on Ellen. Combining enthusiasm, humor, and an impactful message with his magic tricks, Dorenbos has riveted audiences around the globe for years.
He brought his A-game to Williamsburg, Kentucky, at the end of March. From incredibly precise card shuffling (while telling a story to match the cards) to magically turning normal cards blank to seemingly reading the mind of a Cumberlands student in the audience, Dorenbos wove mindblowing entertainment in with his profound life story.
When he was a kid, his father murdered his mother and was put in prison. He and his siblings essentially became orphans overnight. Through therapy, Dorenbos learned that he had to face the fullness of his reality – no matter how devastating it felt in the moment – in order to move forward and someday heal and forgive. He faced sudden hardship again as an adult when a heart condition ended his NFL career. Through that and more, Dorenbos learned to face reality, keep moving forward, heal, forgive, and always bring positivity and gratitude into his life and the lives of those around him.
But most don’t know… there was a bit of an after-show as well. Dorenbos hung out after crowds left and helped college students with their own card tricks, geeking out when they got a trick right, and giving them encouragement and professional tips. Long after the rest of the audience had gone, the group’s laughter could be heard across the gym.
PATRIOTS SHINING MOMENTS
TRACK & FIELD
Men’s Track & Field won both the Indoor and Outdoor NAIA National 2024 Championships. Cumberlands became the first school to go six-for-six in MSC Championships, winning cross country, indoor, and outdoor on both the men’s and the women’s side. The men led all teams in the MSC for Academic All-Conference honorees (21). Nigel Steenwinkel scored a program record 6435 points in the decathlon. The women’s 4x100 team set a school record (47.72), and Abia Kante broke two school records – 200m dash (24.57) and long jump (5.82m). Members of both the men’s and women’s teams advanced to the NAIA National Championship.
VOLLEYBALL
The team brought home their first MSC Tournament Championship and received a bid to the NAIA Opening Round for the first time in program history. The team produced the MSC Defender of the Year (Juliet Banks), Player of the Year (Allyson Grava, ’24), Coach of the Year (Kathryn Park), Freshman of the Year (Sara Zampedri), and four First Team All-Conference and three Second Team-All Conference selections.
eSPORTS
Cumberlands’ Rainbow 6 Siege eSports team fought their way through the NECC Emergents Playoffs to arise with the victory. It’s the first R6 win in program history. They had a program record-setting number of Academic All-Conference honorees (12) and tallied a program best 15 MSC All-Conference award winners – the most of any team in the MSC this year.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
They ended the season 28-6, the most wins in a season since 1995-1996. They made their 31st appearance at the NAIA National Tournament and their first trip to the Round of 16 since 2015-2016.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
The team had a historic season, making it to the NAIA National Tournament semifinals for the first time in program history. Kassie Monday, ’24, made program records for single season assists (227), and twin sister Kaylie Monday, ’24, became Cumberlands’ single season leader for steals (109). Kassie is the first player in program history to earn First Team all-Conference honors in each of her first three seasons at UC, and she set the program record for most made free throws without a miss (12).
WOMEN'S BOWLING
Kiara Abanto, ’23, MBA ’24, became the program’s first two-time NAIA All-American and made the university’s single season average record (198.9). She also made program records for MSC First-Team AllConference (4), collegiate singles wins (3), and top-ten finishes (17).
BASEBALL
The team concludes the season, after falling to Southeastern in the 2024 Avista NAIA World Series. Pitcher Cesar Avila tied the season-high wins record (12). The team won their fourth MSC Championship in a row this year.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
The women’s soccer team won the 2023 NAIA Championship for the first time in program history – also marking the first time any Cumberlands team has won an NAIA championship. The UC women’s soccer team is the third team in school history to advance to an NAIA Championship game,
Championship in 15 years. Serhii Shevchenko won MSC Freshman of the Year, the first Patriot to earn this honor since 2008. They won third at the NAIA Championship, which tied their program best.
WOMEN'S GOLF
Women's golf placed second in the MSC Tournament and had their tenth NAIA National Championship appearance, finishing seventh, one of the highest in program history. Atchariya Thanaudomkul made history for UC after being named MSC Player of the Year and MSC Freshman of the Year, being the first golfer in program history to take home both titles.
joining the 2013 football team and the 2021 women's lacrosse team. Jayden Boelter, ’24, became UCWSOC’s first-ever NAIA First Team All-American.
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
The women made program history by finishing ninth overall at the NAIA National Championships. They garnered their fourth consecutive MSC title, six All-Conference honorees, and MSC Runner, Freshman, and Assistant Coach of the Year honors.
SOFTBALL
The Patriots battled through adversity and sweltering heat, but ultimately fell short in the 2024 NAIA Softball World Series. They won the MSC Regular Season Championship and posted a 42-5 record for the regular season. Five players won Golden Gloves, and it was the first time in program history for three Patriots to receive top MSC honors in consecutive seasons. Talli Burgess, ’24, holds the program records for career wins (57).
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
The team secured their first MSC
MEN'S LACROSSE
Made it to the semifinals of the NAIA Invitationals. Michael Toohey, ’24, made a new program record for single-game saves (25) and was the program’s first goalie to be named First Team All-Conference. A program record six team members received AAC First Team honors. Will Rogers became the fastest Patriot ever to reach 100 career goals.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE
Set the program record for NAIA AllAmericans (8), leading the NAIA this season. Emma Rittman was named AAC Player of the Year, breaking the NAIA record for scooped draw controls (185), Ashlee Baker was named AAC Freshman of the Year, and Anna Lobbezoo was named AAC Offensive Player of the Year, and both she and Aleyah Belton were named to the NAIA All-Tournament Team.
MEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING
The team placed third in the NAIA National Championship (a tie for best finish in school history) after winning a sixth straight MSC Championship. Dorian Bachlaj, ’24, set school records for the 100 breaststroke
(54.47) and 200-breaststroke (1:59.73) and was part of the school record-setting 400 medley relay (3:13.68) that finished runnerup at the NAIA Championship. Thomas Holzkamm, ’24, set the school record for the 100 butterfly (47.94) and was part of the 200-freestyle relay and 400 medley relay that broke school records.
WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING
The women won their 12th straight MSC Championship. Alicja Sedlak was named MSC Freshman of the Year. Valentina Zapata Ceballos captured the NAIA national championship in the 100-butterfly.
MEN'S WRESTLING
Gage Hudson, ’24, and Bryce Nickel had podium finishes at the NAIA Championship. The team had two individual champions at the Cumberland Open: Trenton Pagaduan and Dylan Preston. At the MSC Championship, the team finished with one champion (O’Brian Black) and 11 men on the podium.
WOMEN'S WRESTLING
The team had a third-place finish at the MSC Championship. They recorded three podium finishes and an overall 10th place finish at the NAIA National Championship.
ARCHERY
Kaitlyn Shields, ’24, – national runnerup during indoor this season – set a program record by making USA Archery Academic All-American four times in her career. Connor Mullis, Brianna Laux, and Isaac Sullivan broke the Patriots’ outdoor qualification records in their respective events. The team swept gold in both the compound and recurve divisions at the USA Outdoor Regionals and won the MSC Outdoor Championships with a program record 14 gold medals. The team closed out the USA Collegiate Outdoor National Championships as runner-up. The Patriots collected eight gold medals and 14 podium finishes at the competition.
CHEERLEADING
The Patriots won the MSC Championship for the first time since 2019, marking the program’s fourth MSC Championship title. They earned the two highest scores in an NAIA competition in program history at the Patriot Spirit invite.
GROWING RECOGNITION
Jacob Ball, MAE ’15, has taught for 13 years, five of which have been at Carter G. Woodson Academy in Lexington, KY, teaching agriculture to 6th through 12th grade scholars. It’s a fitting occupation, not least of which because he was raised on his family’s Kentucky farm. Jacob won a Milken Educator Award in 2023, a nationwide competition by the Milken Family Foundation that rewards outstanding educators. The award is dubbed “The Oscar of Educators.”
Jacob piloted the agriculture program at CGW and currently serves as an advisor for the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and Junior Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS). Last year, his students participated in 140 agriculture projects across Kentucky, logging 3,000 hours of real-world experience that culminated in a trip to Ireland for nine students to enjoy the Agriculture in Ireland summer tour.
What was your reaction to receiving the Milken Educator Award?
I was completely shocked when I received the award. It has been a complete whirlwind and a blessing. I never would have imagined that I would ever be selected for a recognition like this one. It is an honor to be included with fellow Milken Educators, and I hope that I can use this recognition and platform to advocate for my students and agricultural education.
Why does this award matter so much to you personally?
Being a teacher doesn’t always come with instant gratification or recognition for the hard work and long hours put in. Any time you are recognized for your hard work and accomplishments, it means a great deal, but this level of recognition is unreal. I have always tried teaching with the success of my students in mind, and this award reflects the hard work of all my students over the years just as much as it reflects on me. I am just thankful to have been given the opportunity to work in some amazing programs with amazing students throughout my career.
I believe that education and quality teachers are critical to the future of our society. Sometimes it can feel like teachers are not valued at the level they should be. This award and the Milken Family Foundation are elevating the profession of teaching. Hopefully, my award can inspire a few of my students to become teachers, specifically agriculture teachers!
What are some important “current events” or initiatives in agriculture we should be aware of?
Agriculture is one the most important industries in our society. A safe, reliable food source is critical to the future success of our country and world. Many of the producers in our industry are approaching retirement age and there is a need to replace that work force. We need to continue to support agriculture and farmers to recruit and engage a young, diverse workforce to solve the issues facing agriculture and feeding the world. As an agriculture teacher, my job is to help prepare and recruit our best and brightest to choose agriculture as their career! With challenges like the loss of farmland, increased operating costs, growing populations, and climate change, we need innovative, bright minds to solve these problems!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
None of my success would be possible without the hard work and accomplishments of my students, and I have been fortunate to have had amazing support from family and administrators throughout my career. I would like to highlight the uniqueness of the program that I teach in at Carter G. Woodson Academy. Our school is an all-male college preparatory academy that teaches through the lens of African American and Hispanic history/ culture. Agriculture education and the agriculture industry are working to become more diverse to match the population that we serve and feed. This program is unique, and through the work in the classroom, and FFA, and Junior MANRRS, my scholars are changing the face of agriculture. I could not be prouder of the opportunity to work with them each and every day!
HIRE EDUCATION
This one is for you.
This article is for all alumni with a career, those who hope for one, and those who want to pivot
Graphics created by: Olivia McCarrell, ’23
This article is for the 40-somethings who have spent 20 years working in the same field – maybe the same company – and want to fine-tune their approach so they can land that great promotion.
It’s for the young alumni looking to start a real career – ditching that life-sucking job (or two) that’s only good for paying bills and, instead, beginning a more long-term, sustainable career path in which they can advance down the road.
Anyone looking for a job change, whether it’s because you recently moved, married, or retired but still want a little something to work on part-time, this article is for you.
Maybe you’re an older alumnus who is seeking a new job to last you until retirement. What kinds of hiring trends have changed over the years? What have remained the same? Here is information from fellow Cumberlands alumni to help you increase your chances of landing your last full-time job before you retire.
And, of course, we’ll throw in some quick tips on how to improve your job performance, how the general job market in America has changed over time, and what current expectations are.
What you do matters. You want to spend your time doing something that utilizes your skills, meets your needs, offers a constructive avenue for passions, and is genuinely enjoyable. We want that for you too.
Is it difficult for one position to check all those boxes? Definitely. But it is not impossible.
Just ACCEPT it.
(Looking at you, recent graduates…) The first step is accepting that the one singular impossibility is landing the perfect job. It doesn’t exist. A perfect job would be one in which every single need is met, every single desire is also met, minimal effort is required, and yet the salary is outstanding, right? Well, since nothing in life is perfect, we must all accept the reality that every
job will have less-than-ideal aspects.
Sorry to come out swinging, Millennials and Gen Z. But, hey, we’re all college graduates; if we can get through the major ups and downs of college life, we can adapt to the inevitable inconveniences of the workplace.
You’ve made it through before and come out stronger, and you can do it again.
Building on the BASICS.
The bare necessities when it comes to getting hired, keeping a job, and even earning a promotion are still what they always were: show up on time, present yourself professionally (your job’s environment dictates the details of this, but cleanliness and politeness are a must), and work hard. Those will never change. Cumberlands alumni with ample experience in the workforce also mentioned a couple relatively well-known qualities they look for when hiring potential employees, namely that they are selfmotivated and eager to learn.
There are a few additional aspects, though, that are a bit less commonly known and will boost your chances of getting hired:
Randy Yates, MSISS ’22, Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at Memorial Hermann (Houston, TX), observed, “We try to determine how ‘into’ the industry they are and try to hire candidates that truly enjoy technology, specifically security. Our line of work requires passion and dedication to the craft of securing networks and systems, both on-premises and cloud.”
To determine which candidates show genuine interest in
Sara's Interview Pro Tips
If you want to stand out during the hiring process:
• Apply for jobs FAST.
• Make sure your résumé and application are optimized for technology.
• Download Zoom or a similar app to allow for virtual interviews
• Research the company prior to an interview.
• Dress up for the interview. Ask questions
Follow up an interview with a personal touch such as an email or call.
What to say: “Even if they don’t ask you about their company, knowing about them and inserting some of that knowledge into your answers can really impress them!”
Résumés: “Hiring managers are flipping through resumes for several applicants. So, put yours on off-white card stock that has texture! You can even add photography in your header or footer, or maybe some graphics. Just enough to stand out and be professional.”
Portfolio: “Create a simple website that holds all your best work. I used LinkedIn for my portfolio as well because you can add your experiences, media, a résumé, job experience, projects you’ve worked on, and skills that others can endorse.”
Explaining the gap year: “Nowadays, employers will see that gap year, and, if you haven’t been productive in it, they may assume you quit your job and lived off COVID benefits, and they’ll be less likely to hire you. Before your gap year, find something productive to do. If you’ve already taken one, find a good way to explain it.”
information security, Randy and his associates often ask passive questions about how the candidates work on their skills outside of a classroom or their current job. Those who have created their own labs at home and/or have conducted their own independent implementations of technology, just because they wanted to, are the ones Randy and his team heavily consider.
Other alumni we interviewed agreed with this line of thinking, encouraging all potential hires to build up their portfolio, regardless of what that portfolio entails. Even working at a small mom-and-pop store can show your interest and put you a step above other hiring candidates.
Sara (Sherman) Moore, ‘21, worked her way up from a position as an unpaid marketing assistant at an archery supply store to directing the marketing operations for GAS Bowstrings (Clay City, KY). Her job flexibility was one of the major factors that helped her “climb the ladder.” Now, when considering new candidates for hire, she assesses their flexibility – not just regarding their general mentality, but also regarding their skillset.
Sara said, “I look for their knowledge base and how flexible that is. Does this videographer know anything about computers? Or photography? Do they have financial skills?”
You may have skills or hobbies you’ve pursued for years but would never mention in an interview, for various reasons. But what if one or more of those hobbies could somehow plug into your work and make you a more valuable asset? Maybe it’s a possibility based on your position, or maybe not. But it’s a point worth considering when you’re applying for new jobs. And, on the flip side, especially for younger alumni, if you want to stand out in a field, it’s wise to start strengthening other, related skills within the industry. After all, education isn’t meant to stop after college. Learning something new could make a lasting difference in your career – and subsequently your stress levels, salary, and overall lifestyle.
Now, when it comes to the dreaded job interview, social skills obviously help a lot in making a good impression on the interviewer. But a keen interviewer isn’t just thinking of the halfhour you’re sitting in their office, they’re imagining you working alongside the others in the company. Good social skills aren’t just for first impressions; they can benefit the company you work for by generally boosting morale. That’s a figure that is hard to measure but is valuable nonetheless.
David Hammiel, ’84, USAF Col. (Ret.), the Director of Mental Health Recovery Services and Mental Health Social Work Section Chief for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, has served in senior leadership roles for 17 years and participated in the workforce for 40. He mentioned, “In addition to solid professional qualifications like degrees, training, and experience, I really desire individuals who have strong interpersonal relationship skills and communication skills.”
Strengthening these qualities in yourself will increase your chances of being hired; however, you should know that, at the end of the day, sometimes you still won’t get the job, but it had nothing to do with your performance during the hiring process. It was more about the environment of that specific workplace than about you personally.
Keirsh A. Cochran, PhD ’24, Chief of Police for Huntington University, said, “Honestly, it sounds silly, but you know almost immediately if the applicant is going to be a good fit. It’s not always about qualifications or résumé. For me, it is about how well they will mesh with the culture we are trying to cultivate in the department. It’s intangible, but, when you know, you know.”
It’s important to show interest in the industry, develop flexibility and valuable skill sets, and strengthen social skills. Fortunately, the qualities employers are looking for haven’t changed too much over time. There are a few things about the hiring process itself that have evolved in recent years, though.
You can THANK (or blame) technology.
The entire hiring process has been streamlined thanks to technological advancements. Amanda Farris, ’08, Chief Financial Officer for SEKRI, Inc. (Corbin, KY), remembers hearing about a job opportunity through her professor Margaret Combs back in her college days. Amanda hand-delivered her application and cover letter, which was followed by two rounds of interviews and a job offer. Pretty standard for the time.
“Today, the first step for most organizations is to post job openings online, which broadens the applicant pool but often removes personal elements from initial interactions,” Amanda said. “It's not unusual for applications to undergo several layers of vetting before reaching the hiring manager, making résumé and application optimization for digital tools more critical than ever. As a hiring manager, it’s not uncommon to get a significant
number of applicants for a position in the matter of a couple of days, which would have previously taken several weeks to acquire. With new tools for accepting applications, virtual interviewing, etc., the process tends to move faster than it once did, particularly if a role needs filled quickly.”
There are pros and cons to this. The obvious downside for jobseekers is that jobs can be posted and snatched up within mere days instead of weeks or even months. The benefit, however, is that a plethora of online job postings are at the tips of their fingers and constantly being updated to reflect real-time job openings.
Amanda said, “Personally, I love the new tools as technology has advanced but still find value in candidates who try to reach out or follow-up with traditional methods or a genuine email.”
Wait – isn’t the concept of a “thank-you card” after an interview antiquated? Not entirely. But since positions are filled so quickly, you’ll want to ditch the paper and pen and opt for a quick phone call or email instead.
What about other aspects of the hiring process, like how to dress? Surely, we’ve moved beyond the need for suit-and-tie or blouseand-slacks for every interview. This is 2024 America, after all.
Nope – dressing well for the interview is still critical. And your overall demeanor should mirror your clean, professional attire on interview day. (Granted, if you’re interviewing for an entry-level job at a greenhouse or a coffee shop, doing a full suit and tie is probably overkill – go for the nice slacks and a tucked-in buttonup shirt.)
But the best piece of advice (provided by Sara, marketing director) is this: On interview day, don’t dress for the job you’re applying for. Dress for the position you want in the future. If you’re applying for an entry-level position, but you know you want to be the lead manager someday, dress like a manager on interview day. It’ll impress the interviewer and help you focus on your goal.
LOOK out!
Okay, enough about the hiring process. What about the next big step: the promotion? Odds are that you’re either pursuing a promotion right now or will seek one out in the future. Josh Frosch, ’11, Assistant Plant Manager for The Clorox Company (Atlanta, GA), has held leadership responsibility for 370 people for years. He knows how to spot the good workers… and the not-sogood ones.
Josh said, “Knowing what to look for is critical as a leader when hiring people and in setting existing employees up for success through ongoing coaching and guidance. On the flip side, it’s also been very helpful for me to be aware of the warning signs that might indicate a less effective employee.”
He added, “By recognizing these qualities – or warning signs, as the case may be – you can strive to become a greater employee
JOSH'S GREEN FLAGS FOR PROMOTIONS
Proactive Attitude: Exceptional employees don't just wait for instructions; they take initiative. They actively seek opportunities to contribute to the team's success and are self-motivated.
Effective Communication: Good communication is key to teamwork. Great employees are not only proficient in expressing their ideas but also actively listen to others and are open to feedback.
Reliability: Dependability is a cornerstone of a great employee. They meet deadlines, keep their promises, and consistently deliver high-quality work.
Team Player: Exceptional employees understand the value of collaboration and are willing to support their colleagues. They are positive contributors to the team's dynamics.
Problem-Solving Skills: They approach challenges with a solution-oriented mindset. Great employees are adept at identifying issues, analyzing them, and coming up with effective solutions.
Adaptability: In a dynamic work environment, adaptability is crucial. Exceptional employees can adjust to changes, learn new skills, and continue to excel.
Professional Development: They are committed to their growth and that of their colleagues. Great employees seek opportunities for learning and development and are willing to share their knowledge.
yourself. Or they’ll help you as a leader or manager to build a more effective and collaborative team while addressing potential issues early on.”
Traits like proactivity and professional development aren’t only important while you’re hoping to wow your boss. They’re more of a lifestyle description that should theoretically describe your job performance, no matter your age or position. Again, your education wasn’t meant to end the day you received your diploma. There are always new things you can learn about life and your career.
Retired USAF Col. Hammiel said, “The importance of being a wellrounded professional cannot be overstated. While it is essential to have a solid education as your foundation, it is critical that you continue to grow and develop to be competitive in the workplace. This was true during my 30 years in the Air Force and continues to be true in the civilian sector.”
Those in Leadership, BE AWARE: The Workforce Evolution
The hiring landscape has evolved over the decades – not just in the tools people use to post jobs, apply, or conduct interviews, but deeper in the hearts of workers themselves.
Randy (VP of information security) said, “Thirty years ago, jobseekers were generally looking for a good and stable company to work for with reasonable compensation and good benefits. Today, many candidates are more interested in having the opportunity to build solutions and have access to new technology. In addition, today’s workers are not as loyal to their employer and make more frequent moves from one company to another. Keeping your team engaged with new opportunities, education and training, remote working, and new technology is part of our strategy for employee retention.”
Whitney Roark, MBA ’16, Chief Financial Officer for United Cumberland Bank (Whitley City, KY), concurred, saying, “Throughout my time in the workforce, the biggest challenge I have noticed with the hiring process is the evolvement of expectations from potential employees. There is much more bargaining power on the side of the applicant than there used to be. For instance, people entering the workforce, as well as those switching jobs, are looking for more flexibility on a day-to-day basis. Additionally, employees are looking for jobs that have direct paths to moving up in an organization and defined information on what they can do to make that happen.”
Retired USAF Col. David Hammiel said, “Employees seem much more interested in being able to balance work with their personal life. Most employees seem to desire a mix of virtual and onsite work schedules or alternate, compressed work schedules that give them more time off.”
What jobseekers are looking for more nowadays than in prior decades are a clearly defined path toward advancement within the company and more “flexibility,” meaning remote-work options and
more time for personal life. Both factors will increase retention, but if you want to boost retention further, good managers will find ways to engage their employees in new and creative ways.
How the Pandemic CHANGED Things
The COVID-19 pandemic – specifically the mandated lockdowns during 2020 and, for some locations, part of 2021 – impacted society in countless ways. The workforce was certainly not immune.
A relatively new work trend suddenly became the norm: remote work. Except it isn’t really a trend, it’s here to stay, no ifs, ands, or buts. You may love it or hate it, but the sooner you adapt your work or leadership style to maximize the potential of remote work, the better. (After all, it’s one of the top qualities new hires are hoping to see on their job description.)
Remote work isn’t a perfect option, though. (Remember, there are no truly perfect options.) For one thing, it’s practically impossible for some people based on their speed of WiFi, ability to pay for the equipment to work remotely, or simply their technological savviness. Your personality type is another important factor when deciding to work remotely. If you’re an extrovert who needs to be around people to stay energized, or if you are prone to depression and would likely develop loneliness from being home alone for long periods, then full-time remote work likely isn’t the best option for you. On the other hand, working parents who need to stay home to watch children, or people who deeply love to travel can benefit from working remotely. It all depends on your situation. Some positions offer a combination of remote work and in-person work, which may meet your needs better.
Sara (marketing director) added another point, namely that you can’t learn as much about the job or connect as well with your colleagues if you’re working remotely. She said, “A stay-at-home position can be a hard task for someone just starting their first serious job at a new company. If it’s your first job, get one where you are working at the company, hands-on, and learning from the people around you. Then, down the road, if you have the opportunity for a work-from-home position, and you think you would like it, go for it!”
There’s another way in which the lockdowns impacted (and, in a way, are still influencing) the workforce. Sara laid it all out with a story about her father, who was a hiring manager. “He said that, after COVID, if he saw someone with a gap in employment during that time, he wouldn’t look any further into their résumé because he would assume they quit their jobs to live off COVID benefits, and he didn’t want a worker like that. He wanted to hire someone who would be committed to the position no matter the circumstance. So, if you were ever thinking about taking a gap year, make sure you try and find something in your job interests to work at while you are deciding what you want to do next. Nowadays, employers will see that gap year, and, if you haven’t been productive in it, they will be less likely to hire you!”
It's harsh, but it’s reality. Not every worker is cut out for remote
jobs, and not every hiring manager will give the benefit of the doubt when they notice a gap year. If you assess your situation and find ways to be productive, though, you’ll be all set.
TAKE the leap!
For some, attending Cumberlands was expected. For others, it was a giant leap of faith. The same is true of our careers; one person knows what they want to be back in childhood, and then they get into the field, and the position suits them great. Others, meanwhile, hit their mid-40s and are still figuring out what they want to be when they grow up. That’s all okay! The point is that, once you’ve done your research and homed in on what career you want, the last step is the hardest: taking the leap.
If that’s you today, be encouraged that many before you have stood in your shoes, taken the leap, and landed the job they always wanted. You will never know if you don’t try. At the least, by leaping toward that different job or new promotion, you will learn and grow a lot. At the most, it’ll be even better than you imagined.
What you do matters. You want to spend your time doing something that utilizes your skills, meets your needs, offers a constructive avenue for passions, and is genuinely enjoyable. We want that for you too! And we hope this article gave you some valuable insight to help get you there.
human first. ai second.
Does artificial intelligence help me connect with a fellow human? Or does it only help me be more productive?
Not that productivity is a bad thing; it isn’t. In a world in which artificial intelligence offers, major productivity boosts (especially among data-fueled positions), it’s easy to prize productivity above all. Meanwhile, AI tools can also create “deep fakes” with video and audio that sound like the human it’s attempting to depict. On screen, it looks like a human, moves like a human, sounds like a human, but it isn’t – which means that real, authentic human connection is now more rare and much more valuable than ever before. At least, that’s how Jordyne Carmack, ’11, PhD ’18, sees it.
“I’ve become fixated on this idea,” she said, “this question of whether we as a society are willing to sacrifice human connection for the sake of efficiency, or whether we’ll use AI to empower us to have deeper, richer connection with other humans. If it’s not about that, what’s the point?”
Back in 2017-2018, Jordyne studied authentic leadership for her doctoral dissertation. In 2022, she deep-dived into research about AI, communication, and human connection, considering the multifaceted connections between those topics and authentic leadership. She mulled over the topics for months. The Merriam-Webster Word of the Year in 2023 was even “authentic.” But, Jordyne thought, what does that really mean now? If we can replicate anything, what does it really mean to be authentic?
“During this time, I’m looking at these communication challenges, and I’m worried about human connection,” she said. “I’m wondering, what is the impact of AI going to be on education, on business, on our ability to grow and thrive and build communities? On the flip side, what would the impact of genuine authenticity be on those things? Can we be transparent with others and objective with ourselves and grow in self-awareness in a way that enables us to connect with people, understand ourselves, and lead for the good of others?”
She applied to TEDxDanville (Kentucky) to give a talk using those concepts as her prompt, taking
what she had studied about authentic leadership and combining it with thoughts about AI and human connection. The application was accepted. Over the next few months, she refined her speech, and, in October 2023, she gave a talk entitled “Embracing Authenticity in an Artificial World.”
In the speech, she posited two tenets of human authenticity:
I know who I am based on my values, beliefs, and experiences.
I use this knowledge to guide my decisions and my actions for the good of others.
Or (as Jordyne noted in her speech) in the words of the queen herself, Dolly Parton, “Find out who you are, and do it on purpose.”
To paraphrase the bulk of her speech, if we rely too much on AI, then we give up our advantage of expertise and human emotion that is key to authenticity. Over the years, our smart phones, social media accounts, and cookie-collecting websites have
collected mountains of data – too much for the ordinary person to process. We need AI tools to help us understand it. What’s vital now is that we try to see through these mountains of data so we can focus on the humans at the center. To do this well, though, we need the data to be organized more efficiently. Fortunately, that’s what AI is good at – so long as we know how to use it.
“The problem won’t be implementing innovation,” said Jordyne as she walked across the TedxDanville stage, “it’ll be aligning our systems with what we already say is most important to us – that we are people first, that humans have dignity and worth. We can leverage our innovations for the good of others.”
In Jordyne’s perception, “leveraging our innovations” won’t be as complicated and futuristic as some people are afraid it will be. A lot of it is simply going back to square one.
After her Tedx talk, she was asked to elaborate on that point, and said, “The advent of AI is putting us back to basics in a lot of ways.” Seems counterintuitive, so she explained, “A lot of foundational principles about human connection need to come back into play. What role does AI play? It’s great at data-related tasks, but not necessarily human-oriented ones. So, if we give AI our data tasks, that frees us up to do more human-related tasks. AI does the data analysis, then we are the ones who must implement it because we’re the ones who have reasoning ability to make it humanfocused. We need to keep that central.”
But keeping human beings central, not peripheral, may take more effort than many people nowadays are used to channeling into authentic human connection. There are reasons behind this: The rise of the smart phone. Social media. Shutdowns during the pandemic. All of this and more have affected our emotional intelligence and social skills – and now, those skills are what set us apart from artificially intelligent computers.
With the advent of AI, what are often called “soft skills” in the workplace just became some of the most differentiating skills around.
Jordyne isn’t a stranger to the power of communication skills, as she spent seven years working full time in Cumberlands’ Department of Communication Arts as a professor, teaching these and other skills to college students. She’s not new to exploring how technology impacts our communication either; she cotaught the Digital Media in Ministry class with Dr. Jefferson Calico from the Department of Missions and Ministry, helping students explore how technology impacts their perception and experience of Christianity and religion.
These days, she still works for University of the Cumberlands (now as an instructional designer supporting faculty development), but she has taken her love for teaching communication to entrepreneurs and leaders in southeastern Kentucky and around the state. This side hustle offers her an outlet to grow leadership capacity for others, especially in these human-to-human skills that may well be the answer to the technological transitions occurring across society.
“ My hope is that these AI tools, when implemented well, will enable us to better connect with the people around us. But if we don't manage them well, they could potentially isolate us and reduce our ability to leverage those human skills. Tech at its worst isolates. Tech at its best amplifies and enhances our lives. ”
Through her small business as a communication and leadership coach, she makes a concentrated effort to equip professionals to communicate more effectively. And, yes, she utilizes AI to help her work go smoother and, most importantly, help her understand and connect with her fellow humans better. She believes these communication skills benefit her clients’ personal lives, but they can also, over time, change the game when it comes to southeastern Kentucky’s business and economic landscape.
“Entrepreneurialism takes a while to build, but it can – in a good way – explode a community, explode an economy, and make sure the area isn’t relying on big businesses coming in,” said Jordyne. “There’s a wave of momentum for this, what with more business pitch contests happening, leadership conferences, women in business conferences, and entrepreneurship training happening at local high schools and colleges. Those are all the dots to connect, the pieces of the puzzle that just need to come together.”
Participating in the business, leadership, and educational sectors of the region has gradually produced bigger dreams in Jordyne’s mind and heart than she ever foresaw. Ultimately, she believes Appalachia has incredible potential, and, in her mind, investing in people and building connected communities is the best way to reach that potential.
“I would say I’m being courageous… on the borderline of stupid,” she laughed. “There’s a fine line! But, really, courage is a muscle that, over time, becomes confidence. Starting a business has built confidence in me.”
Right now, Jordyne feels like she’s wearing a lot of different hats. She likes all of them, even though it always seems like there’s one (or more) about to fall off. But if she can just bring one person along with her, help them launch a business, help them be confident in themselves, then it’s all worth it to her. After all, strengthening them to do that helps them connect authentically with other humans. And that’s kind of the whole point.
Many of Jordyne’s clients are entrepreneurs. She helps them build
BASEBALL BANANAS goes
It’s the show of a lifetime for baseball and dancing fans alike. If the players aren’t catching the ball while doing a flip, they’re doing the worm in the outfield. If they’re not shuffle-stepping to first base, they’re re-enacting “Greased Lightning” from Grease as a walk-up song, driving a tractor onto the field during it. And if the players hit home runs, they just might slide into home base on a literal slip ‘n slide. Comedy, music, and athleticism come together to make every game a brand-new, fan-first experience where anything goes, and there’s only one rule: Party like an animal.
Garrett DeClue, ’22, Animal. But that isn’t referring to his lifestyle (or maybe it is, we didn’t ask). The man is a professional.
In November 2023, Garrett signed with the Party Animals, the Savannah Bananas’ biggest rival. It’s a banana ball team that does way more than just play baseball. Imagine a two-hour dance party and a baseball game combined.
“We’re always moving,” Garrett said.
“We’re not sitting in the dugout, we’re dancing. If somebody hits a home run, you’re supposed to just lose your mind, so we’ll run into the stands. We’re just grooving the whole time.”
Banana ball is booming. It started back in 2016 with the Savannah Bananas, and, thanks in large part to better cameras on cell phones and the speed of social media, videos of the games have gone viral. But if you want tickets now, you may have to wait a while. There’s a raffle every game to see who can buy tickets next, so, who knows, you may get lucky!
But the wait list is two million people long. Your call.
The banana ball players unleash their inner child all game, every game. But don’t underestimate them. Some of these athletes were playing on professional baseball teams before they joined the Party Animals, some have hundreds of thousands of followers on social media, and all of them are in incredible shape.
“This is 100 percent harder than college baseball, as far as fitness goes,” said Garrett. “Even in preseason training, I’m exhausted by the end of the day. It feels like a grind just going to the grocery store. Going from sprinting to dancing to chanting to running up into the stands basically nonstop for two hours straight is exhausting. The hardest part for me so far is that I’m a pitcher, and in typical baseball you have a little time on the mound to focus on the pitch and get control of your breathing and heart rate. But the games are only two hours long. So, they want me to pitch in six seconds or less every time. Just working a lot faster than normal.”
Everything about banana ball is a pivot from how Garrett was taught to play his whole life. It was difficult to adjust at first. Some of the
change has to do with technique; if you thought catching the ball in the outfield was hard, try doing it behind your back or between your legs. Some of the change is more mental, though.
“The Party Animals want us to showboat and celebrate everything,” said Garrett. “Growing up, coaches were usually like, no, no, you don’t showboat, this isn’t about you, it’s about the team, stay calm and focused. But now, during practice, the hitters are practicing bat flips and celebration dances. It’s the total opposite of what I’ve learned my entire life. Basically, it’s like, if somebody’s flipping through the TV channels, and they see a normal-looking pitcher on the mound, they’ll think it’s a normal game and flip the channel. So, they want us, the pitchers, to maybe wear a weird outfit or have face paint on or be doing weird dances. Anything to where it catches someone’s eye for a second so they watch us.”
“The Party Animals want us to showboat and celebrate everything!”
Though Garrett had heard of banana ball before, he wasn’t pursuing a career playing it. It wasn’t on his radar. In fact, he doesn’t even know how he got onto the radar of a guy named Barry with Party Animals, but Barry reached out to Garrett and told him he should try out. Garrett had been planning to try out for a minor league baseball team in a few months, so he figured, why not? He didn’t have anything to lose.
He flew from his home in Colorado to Florida and did the tryout. He didn’t realize the caliber of athletes that would show up, so, when he left, he was fairly certain he wouldn’t make the team. Sure, he
whipped out a backflip during the tryout, but these guys were all amazing players. But a couple weeks later, the Party Animals called Garrett, he signed a contract, and that was that.
Some of the Party Animals were already somewhat of celebrities in the industry, so Garrett was concerned there might be a few divas on the team, guys who were more stuck-up or entitled. Fortunately, none of them are.
“Everybody’s been super cool,” Garrett said. “They’re really down to earth, really chill.”
It helps that Garrett has never met a stranger. He can strike up a conversation with anyone and have them smiling or laughing by the end of it.
“I just love connecting with people and making relationships,” he said. “The number-one reason I love baseball is because I just love it, it’s fun to me, but I also really love making lifelong friendships with my teammates. At Cumberlands, I had no family close to campus, and the boys on the team and people I met on campus really became my family, in a sense.”
To recap, here’s how Garrett’s checklist is going: Graduate with a bachelor’s degree, check. Sign to play professional baseball – excuse us, banana ball –check. New apartment, check. Beginning a master’s degree at Cumberlands in coaching and fitness leadership, check. Getting into the best physical shape of his life, check. New dance moves, check. Killer mustache, check. New friends, check.
Now all that’s left to do is… PARTY!
LAKE WALES, FL
FLORIDA ALUMS + UC BASEBALL = A WINNING COMBINATION!
On Thursday, March 7th, Cumberlands’ alumni came out to the baseball field at Warner University in Lake Wales, Florida to cheer on their alma mater! The Patriots defeated Calumet College 14-0, but fell in extra innings to Warner University, 6-5. Afterwards, alumni got together for dinner at a local restaurant to share memories, meet new friends and show that no matter how far from campus we gather, the Cumberlands spirit still fills the air.
Cumberlands alumni in attendance: David Neuner, ’71, Christine (Maraist) Neuner, ’71, Ed.D ’13, Bonnie (Austin) Balliet, ’82, Beck (Frierson) Smith, ’81, Bill Sergent, ’78, Hal Bennett, ’98, Nicole (Blacey) Bennett, ’99, and Kim (Coyle) Linn, ’76.
If you would like to help plan or host a Cumberlands on the Road event, email alumni@ucumberlands.edu.
CLASSNOTES
1960s
Bill Carlyle, ’60, retired from coaching men's basketball at Walters State Community College after 46 seasons. He has been inducted into numerous athletic halls of fame at the high school and college level, both for his playing and for his coaching. He was also inducted into Cumberlands' Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000.
1970s
Jeemes Akers, ’70, recently published the first two books in the Prawnocuous Trilogy; "Prawnocuous Rising" and "Prawnocuous Resplendent". Both are Christian technothrillers that are full of unforgettable characters, exotic Asian locations, and future technological advances, along with powerful warnings for future believers. For more information or to purchase, visit Jeemesakers.com.
1990s
David Halcomb, ’91, recently published "Building a Data Culture: The Usage and Flow Data Culture Model." The book emphasizes data strategy and data governance's pivotal role in cultivating a mature data culture using practical insights, frameworks, and best practices. This approach ensures robust data culture structures that uphold data integrity, accessibility, and accountability. These structures operate on the people, processes, and technology through analytics, literacy, governance, process management, and data inventory management.
2000s
Leslie (Witt) Weihe, ‘00, was named as principal at Mount Washington Elementary in the Bullitt County School District.
Heather (Murphree) Cheney, ‘02, was named Director of Program Services at Selah Creek Maternity Home near Rockwall, Texas.
Tocarra Montgomery, ’06, was inducted as a Distinguished Member of The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
Theresa Fennell, ’09, who has run a plus-sized fashion boutique solely online for 8 years, is set to open a brickand-mortar store.
2010s
Marc Webb, ‘11, recently published “A Theology of Sleep: Trusting in the Lord When You Are Most Vulnerable” by Westbow Press, a division of Zondervan and Thomas Nelson.
Amanda Kelly, ‘17, MBA, ’23, hired as communications manager at the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.
Dylon Baker, ’20, MBA ’23, was named Assistant Vice President of Workforce Initiatives for the multi-hospital Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) system.
Carlene Sluberski, MAT ‘18, was inducted into the 2024 Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame.
Diana (Hart) Virgil, PhD ‘21, was awarded the 2024 School Counselor of the Year.
We love hearing about and sharing your good news. Cumberlands Alumni Magazine welcomes Class Notes submissions from alumni. You can visit ucumberlands.edu/ classnotes or scan the QR code to take you to the submission form.
Montgomery, ’06
Baker, ’20, ’23
Halcomb, ’91
Webb, ’11
Virgil, ’21
oh baby!
Debborah (Harrison) Black, ‘19, and her husband welcomed daughter Maggie Fay on March 26, 2023.
Devon McMillin, ‘20, and Jayla (Smith) McMillin, ‘21, welcomed their son Baker Charles McMillin on February 28, 2024.
Jon Brooks, ‘22, and Kelsey (Turner) Brooks, ‘22, welcomed their son Wesley Scott on August 21, 2023.
Nick Fitchpatrick, ’23, and Carissa (Barnett) Fitchpatrick, ‘23, welcomed their son Oliver Reid on February 23, 2024.
Alex Campbell, ’17, and Cassidy (Daugherty) Cambell, ’18, MAED ’22, welcomed their son Sawyer Grant Campbell on April 21, 2024.
C umberlands C ouple^^
Patricia(Magee)& Lawrence Bailey
Lawrence, ’73, and Patricia (Magee) Bailey, ’73, met at Johnson (Gillespie) Hall in a bit of a blind-date scenario: neither had met the other, and Lawrence and the buddy who came with him swapped girls on their way over. (The girls didn’t know that until later.)
Lawrence grew up in rural Morgan County, and Patricia was raised in London, KY, in an area that used to be more country than it is now. Neither of them had much money, but Lawrence had a 1955 Chevrolet, so their typical date was simply a drive and a long talk. If they felt really fancy, had a little money, and wanted to go “out on the town,” they ate dinner at G&E Drive-In (now a diner). Since Lawrence was on the basketball team, Patricia showed up and cheered him on at every home game she could.
ensure she could graduate when Lawrence was scheduled to, Patricia switched her major to a minor and her minor to a major; the credit hours worked out to where she and her husband could both graduate college in May 1973. After, Patricia completed her student-teaching, and then they moved so Lawrence could pursue an assistantship at Eastern Kentucky University.
Both became teachers, and they had two sons who also became teachers. They have four grandchildren thus far: three boys and one girl.
They were married on May 28, 1972, after completing their junior year of college. To
Of course, doting on their grandchildren and watching them grow up is part of the Baileys’ plan for the future. In addition, they hope to have some nice “getaway” trips for a few days at a time. Lawrence is the extrovert, so he enjoys visiting with friends as often as possible. Meanwhile, Patricia is a homebody who loves to read and cook. They balance each other out, and they wouldn’t have it any other way.
IN MEMORIAM e
The following members of the Cumberlands family have passed away since the publication of our last magazine. We send our thoughts and prayers to their families and will forever remember their impact on the Cumberlands community.
alumni
Dr. Elmer S. West,Jr., ’41, passed on November 18, 2023.
Garnett (Beach) Jones, ’50, passed on November 15, 2023.
Stella (Davidson) Steely, ’50, passed on April 19, 2024.
Marjorie (Young) Barrett, ’53, passed on March 2, 2024.
Dr. Charles D. Barnes, ’55, passed on November 6, 2023.
Paul Dean Terry, ’60, passed on February 10, 2024.
Clifton Ray Centers, ’63, passed on January 9, 2024.
Alfreda (Roberts) Boggs, ’64, passed on March 9, 2024.
Carol (Fields) Brown, ’64, passed on March 3, 2024.
Donald F. Garland, ’64, passed on October 7, 2023.
Margaret (Hicks) Lovitt, ’64, passed on January 9, 2024.
Evelyn (Couch) Cobb, ’67, passed on February 20, 2024.
George Bates, attended ’68, passed on March 12, 2024.
Kathleen (Black) Crase, ’68, passed on April 18, 2024.
Jimmy D. Garland, ’68, passed on October 29, 2023.
Dr. Ralph W. Hodge, ’68, passed on December 9, 2023.
Green Odell Calihan, ’69, passed on February 22, 2024.
Bonnie (Wilson) Couch, ’70, passed on January 15, 2024.
Daniel Hayes, ’70, passed on March 18, 2024.
Sharon (Wynn) Vanover, ’70, passed on January 8, 2024.
Lois (Asher) Alford, ’72, passed on February 27, 2024.
Roy Buhl, ’73, passed away on April 8, 2024.
Wilma (Couch) Roberts, ’73, passed on March 24, 2024.
David Edward Baker, ’76, passed on December 26, 2023.
Thelma (Barton) Sasser, ’76, passed on February 16, 2024.
Larry Allen Carte, ’77, passed on January 9, 2024.
Darlene Kay Rogers, ’77, passed on December 5, 2023.
Timothy W. Lovett, ’78, passed on October 26, 2023.
Lenora Eunice King, ’81, passed on February 2, 2024.
Cheryl (Harris) Seevers, ’81, passed on February 10, 2024.
Merrie Lee Stephens, ‘81, passed on October 10, 2023.
Kathleen (Kimble) Beyer, ’83, passed on March 19, 2024.
Paul Jackson, ’84, passed on February 15, 2024.
Jasper Douglas Smith, ’85, passed on December 21, 2023.
Donald Scott Lindsay, ’89, passed on November 18, 2023.
Laura (Smith) Garlich, ’97, passed on January 14, 2024.
Richard Austin Jones, ’11, passed on January 29, 2024.
Blaine Alan Wear, ’18, passed on January 14, 2024.
Lisa (Winters) Stone, ’21, passed on November 4, 2023.
StaFF
Jennifer Sexton, mathematics professor, passed on June 12, 2023.
Larry Sexton, counseling professor, passed on September 9, 2023.
Robert D. Hughes, missions & ministry professor, passed on November 23, 2023.
Carlos B. Anderson, human services professor, passed on December 27, 2023.
Barbara Carnes, education professor, passed on December 27, 2023.
Dr. Monroe E. Trout, passed on March 4, 2023. Friend and longtime supporter. Friend
Dr. Glenn Willard Reeves
August 20, 1925 - January 4, 2021
Colorful Personality, Compassionate Heart.
If you graduated from Cumberland College between 1963 – 2000, you may remember the late Dr. G. Willard Reeves – if not by his name, then by his outfits. He frequently wore brightly colored suit coats, or at least colorful plaid slacks or a plaid suit coat. His look matched his personality: professional but humorous.
“He was an interesting dresser,” laughed Dr. Bob Dunston, retired religion professor who worked with Dr. Reeves for almost a decade. “He had a sports coat that was just like the tablecloth at Pizza Hut, red and white checked. Sometimes he would wear bright orange or bright green socks to match the color of the bright orange or bright green sport coat he was wearing. He was distinguished, but he also enjoyed having fun.”
Dr. Reeves wore several different hats related to missions and ministry. He was chair of the department for approximately 20 years and taught New Testament, Greek, and other classes, some general education credits, and others more advanced religion courses. For a while, Dr. Reeves directed chapel services, which at the time were a requirement for students to attend. Sometimes, he played the ukulele – quite seriously – during chapel, particularly when the speaker that day couldn’t make it at the last minute. Throughout his time at Cumberlands, he also served as the campus minister, assisted with the Ministerial Alliance (campus club), helped chaperone Baptist Campus Ministries trips, attended evening revival services, and drove students to seminaries to tour their campuses.
Dr. Bob said, “Students enjoyed him, and he really enjoyed working with the students. He was a good teacher, and students respected him. He was also a mentor, someone you could go to and talk about anything, and you knew he cared about you personally. He was a well-liked person, not just in the department but across campus. He had a great sense of humor, which I appreciated! He listened well and gave good advice.”
Once, Dr. Reeves left Cumberlands on an extended leave of absence for a year so he could be a missionary pastor in Malawi. He taught at a seminary there, immersed in the culture, and then returned to Williamsburg after his year was up. And, of course, he brought back some African shirts that matched his personality as well as his suits did.
Dr. Reeves was a committed Christian who not only taught faith and compassion but lived those values daily. For most of his life, he nurtured students, doing his best to prepare them for life after college, particularly if they pursued ministry. His students were his ministry. His legacy of appreciating others, always learning, and consistently following the Lord’s will for his life continue to live on in the hearts of the students he met.
You have two easy yet powerful options for helping more students access the education and experiences offered by University of the Cumberlands. Neither costs you anything today.
Give
Cumberlands
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With a simple statement in your will you can empower future generations to reach for their dreams at Cumberlands. Popular options include giving:
• A specific amount of cash
• A percentage of your total estate
• The rest, residue, and remaining value of the estate after all other bequests have been paid
Including the university in your will is a way to ensure you don’t impact your lifestyle today while providing life-changing support to students after you are gone.
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Explore how you can experience the joy of knowing you will give the lifelong gift of education to future Cumberlands students.
Make Cumberlands Your Beneficiary
It only requires completing a short, simple form to make University of the Cumberlands the beneficiary of retirement assets, including:
• Individual retirement accounts (IRAs)
• 401(k), 403(b)
• Pensions/retirement accounts
• Paid-Up life insurance
Making the university a beneficiary can sometimes allow your heirs to avoid income and estate taxes. We can help you sort through your options.
Please contact William L. Stohlmann at 606.539.3571 or plannedgifts@ucumberlands.edu for no-obligation help. Or visit our planned giving website at ucumberlands.planmylegacy.org to get started today.
THEN & NOW |
Since Cumberlands’ founding in 1888, many things have changed about this institution in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky. In this section, we peel back the layers of time for a glimpse at what life was like “back in the day” to see what is different – and what has stayed remarkably similar – from then to now.
CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS
The earliest record of campus clubs and societies is from 1907, found in the annual yearbook entitled The Eglantine. In the early 1900s, the school body was much smaller, thus there were only a handful of clubs. There was one club called the Athletic Association, but clubs primarily focused on literature and oration. Two popular clubs that year were The Philosophian for women and The Hyperion Literary Society for men, which was nicknamed “The Tin-Can Society” due to its “jovial, gay spirit which characterized its members.”
By the 1920s, the yearbook was called The Echo and was later renamed The Lamp, which remained its name. Some of the clubs had stayed while others fizzled out. Notably, the campus had an orchestra consisting of student musicians.
We don’t have yearbooks from the 1930s, but by the late 1940s clubs were getting interesting. Campus had more than a dozen clubs by this time, and the focuses of the clubs were growing more diversified. A Debating Club is mentioned in the 1949 yearbook, a club which may have had its origins in The Oratorical Association of 1907 (though it’s difficult to tell) and has continued until today, though its name changed to Forensics Team in the ’90s and to Speech and Debate in the early 2000s. Also in the late 1940s are the Dramatics Club, College Choir, Pep Club, International Relations Club (IRC), and more.
More than one Christian club was present in the ’40s, including the Baptist Student Union, which later became Baptist Campus Ministries (BCM) during the 2004-2005 school year. It was officially renamed Campus Ministries in 2019. For decades, Cumberlands hosted clubs for separate Christian denominations, in particular Baptist and Methodist. Over the years, ministry-related clubs came and went, such as the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) (1949), Ministerial Students (1954), and Mission Fellowship (1974). Love in Action began in the ’74-’75 academic year, officially changing its name to Appalachian Ministries in 1982 Mountain Outreach began in 1982 and has maintained the same name since.
In the 1940s, we had a Home Economics Club. It boomed in the ’40s and ’50s, was one of the smallest clubs in 1960 (only 7 people), and was renamed the Homemaker Club in the mid-1960s before gradually fizzling out. Similarly, the Dramatics Club was huge in 1948 and continued in popularity (though at one point was essentially split into three separate clubs) for many years before eventually fading.
1907 · Young Ladies Athletic Club
1982 · Mountain Outreach
1953 · Science Club
Yearbooks from the early 1950s had the earliest mention of a Science Club (which had a comparatively large group in 1960) and a College Vesper Service, both of which continued for many years. (The Science Club evolved over the years and eventually split off into several clubs. Today, campus hosts a Physical Therapy Club, Pre-Health Club, and Alchemist Club.) The ’50s are also when House Councils for campus dorms began meeting, potentially doing many of the same duties that our current Residence Life staff accomplish for their respective dorms. A Towns & Commuting Club formed in the ’50s as well.
Student Council is mentioned in the 1960 yearbook, potentially the precursor to our current Student Government Association (SGA). The ’60s also saw the beginnings of the Young Republicans and Young Democrats clubs. It was the year when the Pep Club was the biggest club on campus. Among others, there was a Physical Education Club, a drama club called the Little Theatre Group, the Touring Choir (possible origins for a traveling choral group begun in 1978, Sunesis), and the short-lived Tumbling and Trampoline Team.
The 1960 yearbook also mentions the Student Life Committee, which may be what evolved to become the Student Activities Board in the ’70s, which was later named Campus Activities Board (CAB) in 1976.
The campus newspaper changed names often in our history. Named The Echo in the 1950s, then Indian Trails in 1986, followed by the name Tribal Tribune in 1987, and finally The Patriot in 2003.
Community service has always been an important part of life for Cumberlands students. The Student Volunteers Club began in the 1940s and has had multiple names over the years, including the Circle K Club in 1969. Today, students participate in a program
called UC Engage that hosts community service “Pats Serve” events twice a year and connects students with additional service opportunities throughout the school year.
A club focusing on students’ ethnic and cultural diversity on campus began in 1972 as United Black Students, renamed to Black Student Union in 1979. In 1991, the name changed to Black Student Fellowship. Today, campus hosts the Diversity Leadership Council, which was established in 2020 after the creation of the campus’ new Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
By the time the 2000s rolled around, clubs surrounding academia, music and the arts, and ministry were well established. In 2006, clubs also existed for ultimate Frisbee, paintball, and WCCR (the campus radio station). Adventurous students could enjoy activities like skiing, whitewater rafting, and paragliding as part of the Patriot Adventure Club (PAC), which began as the Outdoor Adventure club in 1996.
One of the university’s most popular majors has consistently been education. Back in 1957, campus hosted the Student Education Association (SEA), which was known as the Student National Education Association (SNEA) between that year and the late 1960s, when the name changed to Education Club. In the ’90s, it was referred to as NEA-SP (National Education Association – Student Program). Today, its name has reverted to simply Education Club.
