THE TALON

A grip on news in the Huntingdon College Community

January 9, 2023

WHAT’S NEW?

Here’s to New Beginnings!

Happy New Year and Happy Spring Semester, Hawks!

We hate to hit you right away with a bunch of things to get done, but it’s better to know than wonder. Here’s your first week checklist:

• If you’re a resident student and want to adjust your meal plan from the default 15-meals per week to one of the other plans, do so by 4:00 p.m. Friday, January 13.
• If you want to add flex points to your meal plan, or need a new ID card, etc., same deadline.
• If you need to add/drop classes—same deadline.

—All three of the above tasks can be done online. See your email for specific directions on what to do.

• If you haven’t already registered your current vehicle, do so by the same deadline. Go to the Security Office, Wilson Hall. Ticketing will begin next week. (Parking permits are free.)
• Get a library card if you don’t already have one.
• Pick up your books in the Scarlet & Grey Shop (it’s part of the Huntingdon Plan!)
• If you need to request learning accommodations, or if you want to put together a plan for staying on track for your degree, or if you want a little extra advising help, etc.—see the Staton Center for Academic Enrichment on the second floor of Houghton Library.
• First week challenge: find a few new friends. You may already have a “team” of friends with whom you’re associated because of athletics, Fellows, cheer, dance, band, music, etc. But your life will be enriched by every new friendship you make, so step outside your comfort zone and make a few friends in other circles.

Revitalizing Historic Space

Innovations and renovations are making it possible for Campus Ministries to move back to Ligon Chapel this semester, and for the College to envision new possibilities for performance, theater, music, gathering, and lecture space in the historic heart of Flowers Hall. The chapel has been part of the building and central to campus functions since it was built in 1909. In check with this vision, extensive upgrades in lights and sound have begun. And fear not—all the upgrades have been or are being completed without disturbing the beauty or historic features of the chapel. In fact, you won’t even know there’s been a change until the lights and mics come on. We can’t wait to tell you more, and we will, as the upgrades are completed. For now, you can count on the first TNW of spring semester to be held in Ligon Chapel tomorrow night!

Revitalizing Historic Space, Part II

Drum Theater has become the new home of the College’s budding ESports program, the first teams for which will be seated in fall 2023. The Sports Information office released in December impressive renderings of how the space will look. Generous ESports scholarships are available. Coach Justin Ellis is recruiting for Rocket League, Valorant, Super Smash Brothers Ultimate, Fortnite, Overwatch 2, League of Legends, Madden, NBA2K, iRacing, and Chess.

Revitalizing Historic Space, Part III

During the break, two more glass-enclosed study rooms were added to the second floor of Houghton Library. The rooms are available for student use.

Black Student Union Hosts Art Exhibit

Huntingdon College’s annual Black History Month Art Exhibit, sponsored by the College’s Black Student Union, will feature the work of Birmingham artist Larry Silver. An opening reception and talk by the artist will be held at 7:00 p.m., Monday, February 13. The work can be viewed in the College’s Seay Twins Art Gallery during the week of February 13. The reception and show are free and open to the public.  Some artworks will be available for purchase. Look for more information on this event later this week.

Beginning the Year with Giving

Members of the College community are invited to provide elementary school supplies for children in need during this first week of classes. Notebooks, pencils, blunt scissors, glue, markers, crayons, erasers, children’s books, and more are welcome. Place these items in the bin outside the office of Chris Mayer, special assistant to the senior vice president, whose office has moved to Jackson 209. Donate by the end of the day 1/13/23 and the donations will be taken to schools on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, Jan. 16 (no classes/offices open).

Admission Office Reports Record Activity

The Office of Admission reported a record number of deposits from new students at the mid-point of the academic year, December 2022. Deposit counts were 45 percent above last year’s total and 140 percent more than the prior 10-year average. In addition, applications led the prior 10-year average by 63 percent.

Sigma Beta Delta Honorary Recognized

Huntingdon’s chapter of the international business honor society Sigma Beta Delta was highlighted in the recent School Spotlight section of the honorary’s national publication, Aspirations, fall 2022. Huntingdon’s chapter is the oldest active chapter, celebrating 28 years this year. Professor Cinzia Balit Moussalli, adviser to the chapter, said in the article, “It is our aspiration as a chapter to continue to motivate our freshman students to aspire to uphold the values of the society by reaching their highest academic goals. Our goal is for every freshman student to aspire to belong to the society, and thus to be motivated to reach their potential.”

Education 101 Students End Fall Semester with Giving

Education 101 was divided into two blocks in the fall semester, with each block fulfilling service projects as part of their learning. Prof. Deanna McKinley’s block collected school supplies for needy families. A child advocacy group called Butterfly Bridge accepted the donations and distributed them to students in the tri- county area. Dalraida Methodist Church, Huntingdon’s women’s basketball team, and Huntingdon’s lacrosse team partnered with the Department of Teacher Education to collect school supplies, as well. Dr Stephenson’s block collected clothing, school supplies, and toiletries for girls and boys at Brantwood Children’s Home.

Sports Talk

Composite Sports Schedule

• Baseball: 2023 Schedule
• Basketball 2022–2023 Schedules: Men; Women Both teams are in need of significant cheering from their Roland Rowdies! Step up and help these Hawks bring home wins as their seasons wind down.
• Beach Volleyball: Schedule
• Cross Country 2022–2023 Schedules: Men; Women
• Football: D3football.com named TYRELL DAVIS and CASEY PEPPERS ’23 to the second and third All-Region teams for Region 3 in December. Named to the second team, Tyrell, a cornerback from Opelika, Ala., accumulated 31 tackles, 10 assists, 5 interceptions during the 2022 season, in which the Hawks captured the conference championships for the seventh time in 8 years. Casey, a linebacker from Panama City Beach, Fla., appeared in 7 games and earned 35 tackles, 29 assists, and 5.5 sacks while averaging 9.1 tackles per game. In post-season play, the Hawks were defeated by the Univ. of Mary Hardin Baylor in round one of the Division III national playoffs.
• Golf: 2022–2023 Schedules: Men; Women
• Lacrosse: Schedules:  Men; Women
• Softball: Schedule
• Tennis: Schedules: Men; Women
• Track and Field: Schedules: Men; Women
• Wrestling: Schedules: Men; Women; The Hawks hosted the Hawk Classic over the weekend, with DAVID BURGESS ’25, JACK HAURY ’23, and NICK KENDRICK ’25 placing first; CADE SOUSA ’26, MAC HIRSCH ’23, and STEVEN FLAGG ’26 placing second; JEFFREY TUBBS ’26, KYRON SANKS ’26, and GABRIEL PITTMAN ’23 placing third; and MARK PENNISON ’26 placing fourth. The team also hosted a tri-match with Allen University and Lincoln Memorial University on Jan. 7, defeating LMU and falling to Allen. Earlier in December, Cade Sousa and NICHOLAS BRASHEAR ’25 went undefeated at the Gator Boots Duals in Nashville.

HAWKStars

• MORGAN ANGELETTE ’18 married Tyler Elsberry, Dec. 17, 2022.
• CAITLIN WRIGHT APLIN ’21 completed a master’s degree in library and information studies at the University of Alabama in Dec. 2022.
• NICK ALVERSON ’15 and his wife welcomed a son, Michael Ryan, Dec. 30, 2022.
• COURTNEY CURENTON BAKER ’17 completed a master’s degree in public administration from Auburn University-Montgomery in Dec. 2022.
• The American Library Association’s Choice Journal selected Professor BLAKE BALL’s book, “Charlie Brown’s America,” as an Outstanding Book of 2022 in December 2022.
• KENDRICK BALLARD ’18 and Alejandra Chegue welcomed a son, Ashton Lamar, Nov. 9, 2022.
• ADAMS BRAGG ’22 married Rachel Shumaker, Dec. 10, 2022.
• MATT BRINK ’12 began operating a mobile physical therapy clinic, Brink Rehabilitation in 2021 and married Ellen DeFleron, Dec. 4, 2021.
• GARRETT ’14 and ANNE PRESTON SPEED BULLOCK ’14 welcomed a son, Brockton James, Nov. 18, 2022.
• ANGELIA CALE ’79 retired last year after 27 years at USA Health-University Hospital in Mobile. She relocated to Prattville in December 2022.
• CANDACE CARNEGIE ’21 completed a master’s degree in integrated marketing communications from the University of West Alabama in Dec. 2022.
• SCOUT ’20 and CANDY MARTINEZ CARSON ’20 welcomed daughter Sol Violet, Nov. 14, 2022.
• LAUREL BILLY CASSITY ’17 and her husband, Eugene, welcomed a son, Hutton Eugene, Dec. 2, 2022.
• NOLAN CLARK ’17 and TORI KRUPA ’17 were married Dec. 31, 2022.
• SHANE CORLEY ’10 has been named assistant principal at Spanish Fort MS. He moves to Spanish Fort from Saraland HS, where he helped lead the Saraland Spartans to the 6A state championship in football in 2022.
• WILL COSBY ’19 and ALEXIS CREASMAN ’19 were married Dec. 31, 2022.
• LAUREN ATWOOD COWAN ’20 and her husband, Cody, welcomed a son, John Parker, Nov. 11, 2022.
• JESSIE CULEY ’16 completed a master’s degree in physician assistant studies from Faulkner University in Dec. 2022.
• FOSTER DICKSON, formerly instructor of English, has moved to a new role as a student success adviser in the Staton Center for Academic Enrichment. He will also teach in the CALL program.
• Librarian and professor DANIEL DUBEI recently composed a new piece for piano, Prelude No. 1. Listen at https://soundcloud.com/daniel-dubei/prelude-no-1.
• LAUREN GILBERT ’12 married Russell Lloyd, Dec. 17, 2022.
• LOGAN GILDEA ’19, residence director for Blount Hall, will step into the role of director of residential communities later this week. He continues to work toward completion of his Ph.D. in microbiology at Alabama State University simultaneously.
• ZACH GOLSON ’08 was named ALFCA Coach of the Year in 2022. He is the head football coach for 7A-Mary Montgomery HS.
• CRAIG GRANGER ’14 and his wife, Calley, welcomed a daughter, Charlotte “Charlie” Blaire, Jan. 3, 2023.
• DREW HARRELL ’11 stepped up to the role of director of legislative affairs for the State of Alabama in November 2022, at the appointment of Gov. Kay Ivey. He had most recently served as vice president for governmental affairs for the Business Council of Alabama, where he was a key figure in the Rebuild Alabama Act. Drew and his wife, Dr. CHRISTIAN VICK HARRELL ’12, welcomed their second daughter, Grace Evans, Jan. 6, 2023.
• BRADLEY HARRIS ’20 completed an MBA from the University of Alabama-Birmingham in Dec. 2022.
• JESSI ANDREWS HAYES ’13 and her husband, Chris, welcomed a son, Noah Christopher, Dec. 16, 2022.
• TREVOR ’20 and CLAYTON WARING HENSON ’20 welcomed a son, James Christopher, Dec. 27, 2022.
• ALEX HILLMAN ’19 completed a master’s degree in health physics from the University of Alabama-Birmingham in Dec. 2022.
• KYLE ’12 and ABBY BROWN HUFF ’14 welcomed a son, Millard Robert, Dec. 24, 2022.
• JEFF JENKINS ’12 and his wife, Dana, welcomed a son, Kyler Easton, Dec. 22, 2022.
• CHANDLER KEMP ’17 and his wife, Paige, welcomed a daughter, Everly Rose, Dec. 22, 2022.
• HEIDI KNECHT ’16 completed a doctorate in public health from East Carolina University in Dec. 2022.
• AMANDA PICKARK KRAFT ’04 celebrated her 40^th birthday on the Disney stage in a performance with her company, K&A Theatricals. Classmate MARY FUKAI ’04 brought her daughter to be part of the audience.
• MATTHEW ROBERT LEWIS ’07 completed a doctorate in genetics from Auburn University in Dec. 2022.
• ANNA PERRY MARION ’10 and her family welcomed their fifth child, Vivienne Liesl, Dec. 30, 2022.
• ABIGAIL MARLER ’21 completed a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Alabama-Birmingham in Dec. 2022.
• KALI MARTIN ’16 married Jared Myrick, Dec. 31, 2022.
• SANDY MAYSON ’18 graduated from the College of Nursing at the University of South Alabama in Dec. 2022.
• MADISON HARRIS MITCHELL ’19 and her husband, Garrett, welcomed a daughter, Finley Jane, Nov. 26, 2022.
• KATIE MOON ’03 serves as a technical writer with Five Stones Research Corporation in Huntsville, Ala.
• TANJANIK MUNFORD ’15 welcomed a son, Taavi, Dec. 19, 2022.
• RENEE ROBINSON-NGUYEN ’08 completed her Master of Education degree Dec. 8, 2022, just after giving birth (Dec. 5) to daughter Taytum Lien, her fourth child.
• KRISTIE BREWER NORTHERN ’99 completed her second 100-mile trail running race, the No Business 100, in Big South Fork National Recreational Area in Tennessee and Kentucky, in 30 hours and 25 minutes.
• CAM PAGE ’22 and KENNEDY HARP ’23 were married Dec. 31, 2022.
• VICTORIA PARRISH ’18 completed a master’s degree in special education from the University of South Alabama.
• “The Crooked Man,” a detective novel written by DR. TOM PERRIN, senior vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty, is under contract with Pushkin Publishing.
• PAT PICKENS ’15 is the new assistant varsity basketball coach at Faith Christian School, Anniston, Ala. She also works for the City of Anniston’s Department of Parks and Recreation.
• ABBY BLANKENSHIP PFLAUM ’18 and her husband, Adam, welcomed a daughter, Elinor Margaret (named for great-grandmother, ELINOR WARR ROBERTS ’57), Nov. 21, 2022.
• Cox Enterprises name MARNY VEDA ROCHE RIDLING ’92 to serve as vice president for Cox Talent Acquisition in Nov. 2022. She formerly served in human resources with Warner Brothers Discovery for 25 years.
• ISAAC RITCHIE ’21, who formerly served as assistant R.D. for Searcy Hall, will move to the role of R.D. for Searcy when JOE THOMAS ’17 steps down later this week. Joe will return home to work in his family business, and we thank him for the good work he has done as a member of the Office of Student Development staff for the past five years.
• ANISSA RUIZ ’21 graduated from the University of North Texas with a master’s degree in recreation, and event and sport management.
• CATHERINE NAYLOR SHEPPARD ’11 completed an education specialist degree from the University of West Alabama in Dec. 2022.
• KATIE SIMON ’20 married Bradley Fields, Dec. 29, 2022.
• DALIS SMITH ’20 was promoted to the role of director of student life and summer camp for Southern Preparatory Academy in Camp Hill, Ala., in November 2022.
• WESLEY SMITHART ’15 and JUSTIN NOLEN ’16 were married Nov. 19, 2022.
• The gym floor at Brantley HS has been renamed Tony Stallworth Court in honor of the long-time service of Coach TONY STALLWORTH ’78, a Huntingdon trustee.
• MARY HARDIN MITCHELL THORNTON ’91 was named Grand Marshal for the Rome, Ga., Christmas Parade.
• TYLER TIERNEY ’13 and his wife, Carsen, welcomed a daughter, Olivia Blake, Dec. 10, 2022.
• ANNA VAUGHN ’22 has moved to a new role as a student success adviser in the Staton Center for Learning Enrichment in addition to her work as residence director for Ligon Hall.
• JEREMY WHITE ’10, and his wife, Jessica, welcomed a son, Jacob Avritt, Dec. 22, 2022.
• LINDA JACKSON WILLIS ’86 has a new job as a tutor for Grade Power Learning.
• AUSTIN ’13 and LAUREN LUGEN WORLEY ’16 welcomed a daughter, Adeline Jay, Dec. 6, 2022.

Prayers and Sympathy

• ELIA DURR BUCK ’50 passed away Nov. 18, 2022, in Haverford, Pa. She was an icon of civic and philanthropic engagement in the Philadelphia area and a loyal member of the Huntingdon Society. She was inducted previously into the Order of the Countess of Huntingdon and the John Massey Heritage Society.
• OUIDA FAYE ATKINS CLAYTON ’60 died Dec. 19, 2022, in Gainesville, Ga.
• We surround TOMMY DISMUKES ’83 with love and prayers in the death of his wife, Kathy, December 23, 2022, after a two-year battle with glioblastoma. Tommy serves as the College affordability adviser with the Office of Admission.
• MAUD KIRK GARRICK, a friend of the College and aunt of loyal alumnus ERNEST GERALD “GERRY” GARRICK ’65, died Nov. 16, 2022, in Montgomery.
• KATIE GILBERT, a former member of the Huntingdon music faculty, died Nov. 30, 2022, in Brasstown, Ga.
• MARY FRANCES BERRY HARDWICK ’66 died Jan. 1, 2023, in Homewood, Ala. She was predeceased by her sister, MARTHA ATKINS SHEPHERD ’61.
• DONNIE MCGOUGH, a former member of the maintenance/grounds crew, died Nov. 20, 2022, after a long battle with cancer.
• Former Huntingdon professor JACK REED died Nov. 25, 2022
• We received word that WILMA STRIPLING SKAGGS ’72 died May 11, 2022, in Tifton, Ga.
• CHARLES STANTON, a retired member of the College’s Tech Team, died Nov. 20, 2022. Charles served in the Print and Mail Services Center, among other roles, and frequently accompanied the football team and filmed Hawks football games and other events.

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