THE TALON

A grip on news in the Huntingdon College family

June 1, 2017

Send us your news at news@hawks.huntingdon.edu

WHAT’S NEW?

More about some of these stories may be found in the News section on the Huntingdon website.

Dr. Anna McEwan appointed Provost

President J. Cameron West announced last week the appointment of Dr. Anna McEwan to the post of provost and dean of the college. Her long career in higher education has included service as a faculty member, department chair, and dean. She has served at three institutions, most recently as dean of the College of Education at the University of Montevallo. Dr. McEwan will begin July 5.

Building momentum

Two construction projects are underway this summer. The first is an evolution of the old pool facility in Roland Student Center into a band practice facility and office complex to accommodate the growing Marching Scarlet and Grey and various ensembles. The second is the redesign of the soccer/softball field to separate the facilities, allowing practice and play to occur simultaneously. The soccer field and band facilities will be ready by summer’s end. The softball field will be ready in time for practice and play for the 2018 season.

Partners in Education

The Huntingdon Department of Teacher Education has established a professional classroom at Dozier Elementary School in Montgomery. The classroom allows Huntingdon pre-service teacher candidates to tutor first- and third-grade students in reading, simultaneously receiving feedback on their tutoring and teaching skills from a Huntingdon Teacher Education instructor and realizing the progress of their elementary students. The initial pilot, begun during the spring term, produced dramatic improvement for some of the elementary students. The program, established by Huntingdon Teacher Education faculty member Dr. Shannon Henderson in cooperation with Dozier administration and faculty, will continue in the 2017–2018 academic year.

Largest cast of Hawks ever

The more than 300 members of the Class of 2017, with day and evening programs combined, comprised the largest graduating class in College history, each making their flight across Top Stage, Saturday, May 6. In the day ceremony, Kristen Soltis Anderson gave the Commencement Address and Jaylen Ware ’17 gave the Graduate Address. Eight graduates earned perfect 4.0 grade point averages in their Huntingdon coursework and were honored with the Margaret Read Scholarship Medal: Zachary den Besten, Courtney Harville, Chandler Kemp, Margaret Virginia Murphy, Lexie Ofe, Julia Shappert, Hannah Shirley, and Emily Simon; while the Loyalty Award was given to Victoria Krupa ’17 and the Willard D. Top Award was given to Zach den Besten ’17. Dr. Erastus C. Dudley, dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and professor of biology, was honored by the Classes of 2017 and 2018 with the Julia Lightfoot Sellers Award. Dr. Lisa Clark, assistant professor of sport science and physical education, was recognized with the Winn and Gordon Chappell Academic Enrichment Award. Photos of Senior Brunch, Baccalaureate, and both commencements are on the Huntingdon Facebook Page.

Saying farewell

During traditional day Commencement Exercises, we said farewell to two long-time faculty members who have announced their retirement. Dr. Allen Tubbs, associate professor of biology, has served the College since 2006. Dr. Frank Buckner, associate provost for curriculum and faculty development and a professor of religion and philosophy since 1987, was honored with the Rhoda Coleman Ellison Distinguished Faculty Lifetime Service Award. We will miss their wisdom and their smiles.

Huntingdon Headliners

• Congratulations to the student-athletes who were recognized for their performance during the annual Athletic Awards ceremony as classes concluded this spring.
• Congratulations to the women selected to serve on the 2017–2018 Hawks Cheerleading Team: Sarah Best ’19, Katie Betau ’19, Devin Blackburn ’20, Stori Brown ’21, Anna Blair Cockrell ’19, Manda Findley ’20, Randa Findley ’20, Ahren Gillies ’21, Dria Goodson ’19, Sidney Carol Hall ’19, Tori Hartzog ’20, Hannah Johnson ’18, Raina Lanier ’18, Kinya Lawrence ’19, Emily McBrien ’21, Briley Mims ’21, Shelby Nixon ’19, Miranda Owens ’19, Ashlee Sechrist ’21, Paxton Sellers ’20, Taylor Spatz ’21, Halle Teal ’21, Meg Turner ’21, Megan Ventry ’21, Kasi Wilson ’20.
• Huntingdon’s newest pharmacy technicians, registered by the Alabama Board of Pharmacy, are Aubree Archie ’17, Meagan Clausell ’18, Matthew Gatewood ’17, Josh Hines ’17, Zach McGrady ’17, and Mason Throneberry ’17. They join Mary Elizabeth Whalum, who was certified during the spring semester.
• Congratulations to those who were named to the Dean’s List of Honors or the Dean’s List of High Honors in Day or Evening programs.
• Four Hawks golfers were named to the the PING All-Region Team, announced May 23. Congratulations to Addison Lambeth ’17, Will Thrash ’17, Chad Ring ’17, and Stephen Shephard ’19. Will Thrash and Chad Ring were also named to the Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholars list. After being ranked first in the nation most of the academic year, the team finished tied for fourth in the NCAA-Division III tournament held in May.
• Aubree Archie ’17 and Emily Fike ’17 have received travel grants to attend the 2017 World Chemistry Conference and Exhibition, September 4–6, in Rome, Italy. They will present an invited talk on their Huntingdon undergraduate research: “Metal analysis of deer hooves in South Alabama: Sentinels of deer health, nutrition, and the environment.” Dr. Maureen Kendrick Murphy ’78, professor of chemistry and co-author on the research, will accompany them on the trip.
  
• Macon Armistead ’14 will return to Huntingdon this summer to serve an appointment as director of the Huntingdon Leadership Academy. Sophy Shore, the program’s current director, and her husband, Craig, director of residence life, are expecting a little Shore later this summer and Sophy plans to be with their daughter full-time.
• Huntingdon welcomes Ms. LaKeshia Ball as site coordinator for the Shelby site of the Evening Bachelor’s Degree program.
• Taylor Claire Bean ’14 and Mary Kathryn Allen ’14 completed Master of Divinity degrees at Candler School of Theology, Emory University.
• Luke Boyd ’17 has been accepted to the NSF-REU (National Science Foundation-Research Experiences for Undergraduates) at Mississippi State Univ. for summer 2017.
• Vinson Bradley ’10, director of the Evening Studies program, served as a presenter at the May meeting of the Alabama Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers.
• Heather Jones Butler ’14 has passed her PCUSA ordination exams and completed seminary.
• Rhett Butler ’13 will return to Huntingdon this summer to serve as Chaplain of the College and director of campus ministries. His appointment is through the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church.
• LeeAnn Cahoon ’17 married Corey Knight, May 27, 2017. She will begin a new job as an admission counselor at Huntingdon later this summer.
• Drs. Adam ’09 and Brittany Gaydosh Cotant ’08 welcomed daughter Collins Leigh Cotant, May 23, 2017. They live in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where Adam has a dental practice and Brittany works as a pharmacist.
• Rachel Crawford ’15 has joined the U.S. Army to become an officer.
• Dr. Jennifer Abercrombie Cunningham ’92 works as a physician with Mobile Bay OB/GYN Associates in Mobile, Alabama.
• Dexter Dean ’13 and former coordinator of student activities Sara Beth Terry were married May 13, 2017, in Montgomery. Dexter has one more year of study/research in completion of his doctorate in chemistry.
• Jessica Dickson ’12 completed her PharmD at McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University. She and Evan Haulman ’09, son of Dr. Daniel and Ellen Evans Haulman ’75, will be married later this summer.
• Dr. Lynn Disbrow, dean of the School of Arts and Humanities, has accepted a position as dean of the University College at Kennesaw State University in Georgia. Kennesaw State, a member of the University of Georgia system, is the third-largest university in the state. She will begin her new position in July.
• Robbie Eichhorn ’14 has announced his engagement to Amber Zorn.
• Rebecca Hunter Ellis ’15 is a new mom to son Logan Wade Ellis, born Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017.
• Taber Ellis ’07 and his wife, Grace, welcomed second daughter Hazel Louise Ellis, May 3, 2017.
• David Ellison ’16, a graduate in cell biology and former Hawks baseball player, has been accepted to Harrison School of Pharmacy at Auburn University and will begin this fall.
• Taylor Paradowski Goolsby ’12 and her husband, Robert, welcomed baby Blakely James, May 6, 2017.
• Caleb Hart ’16 has moved to Nashville to work with Brantley Sound Associates.
• Dakota Hooper ’14 married Kristen Swiger, May 13, 2017.
• John Iwaniec ’17 has been accepted into the doctor of physical therapy program at the University of Florida.
• Katie Jones ’13 married Matt Jeter, April 22, 2017.
• Chandler Kemp ’17 married Paige Overton, May 20, 2017.
• Corey Killough ’12 has completed his Master of Education degree.
• Keegan Lambeth ’14 and his wife, Mallory, welcomed son Lawson, May 9, 2017.
• Crystal Bedwell Langford ’04 and her husband have moved to Daphne, Alabama, where he is the owner/operator of ChemStation Gulf Coast. They work together to raise awareness about Type One diabetes since their son, Carson, was diagnosed last June.
• Addison Lambeth ’17 was named to the first-team All-America by the Golf Coaches Association of America at the conclusion of the 2017 season.
• Anthony Leigh, senior vice president for institutional development and college relations, and his wife, Wendy, welcomed their new princess, Carey Mae Leigh, May 17, 2017.
• Olivia Levering ’09, who works as the promotions and box office manager at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, will marry Adam Gunter September 23, 2017, in Charles City, Virginia.
• Dr. Jeremy Lewis, professor of political science, has been elected vice president of the Alabama World Affairs Council, which conducts guest speaker events on foreign affairs. He also serves as chair of the world research committee of the International Political Science Association. In this role, he is co-organizing a global conference in June 2017 in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation.
• Catie Malone ’11 graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law.
• Riley Manasco ’16 has been admitted to the Doctorate of Physical Therapy program at High Point University.
• Dr. Mandy McMichael, assistant professor of religion, was ordained for ministry in a service held at Pintlala Baptist Church Sunday, May 28. We wish her well in her new role as Assistant Director of Practical Studies and Ministry Guidance at Baylor University, which she assumes next month.
• Retired Alabama parole officer Glenn Melton ’67 has written a manuscript for a book about his 35 years in law enforcement. He lives in Elkmont, Alabama, with his wife, Jayne.
• Terry Moorer ’83, a federal magistrate judge, has been nominated to become a federal judge in the district court of the Middle District of Alabama.
• Stacey Abney Mottinger ’04 works as an accounting assistant for Wireless Advantage Communications in Dothan, Alabama.
• Huntingdon men’s lacrosse goalie Matt Murphy ’19 was named Southeast Independent Lacrosse Championship Defensive Player of the Year as the season concluded. Joining him on the SEILC All-Conference Team were Josh Clayton ’17 (defense), Kendrick Ballard ’18 (midfield), and Sam Hitt ’19 (face-off specialist).
• Wes Nail ’17 has been accepted to the mechanical engineering program at Auburn University.
• Shane (’01) and Tiffany McGuire Nishibun ’04 welcomed son James, May 17, 2017.
• Katelin Pattillo ’17 has been accepted to the MS in Forensic Science program at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
• Christopher Payne, professor of art, had three sculptures accepted in the 42nd Montgomery Art Guild Museum Exhibition. One of these works, “Of Wax and Wing,” won the Sable Award. The exhibition is on view at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts through August 6.
• Quintarious Perdue ’13 has completed his Doctor of Pharmacy degree and is employed with Rite Aid Pharmacy in Montgomery.
• Kathleen Penney ’15, who works as the executive assistant to the provost at Huntingdon, completed her Master of Psychology degree at Auburn University Montgomery.
• Garrick Pimienta Jr. ’17 has been hired as the head strength and conditioning and linebackers coach at Prattville Christian Academy.
• Jeffery Postell ’17 has been accepted for study at Wesley Theological Seminary.
• Tyler Reeves ’11 will move to a coaching position with Northview High School.
• Dr. Shae Hicks Register ’05 (D.V.M.) and her husband, Scott, welcomed baby girl Radda Rose, May 4, 2017.
• Parker Roberts ’12 married Rachel Whitney, May 20, 2017.
• Dave Schreyer ’89, director of golf, named USA South Athletic Conference Coach of the Year for each of the past two seasons, is one of five finalists for the NCAA-Division III Coach of the Year (Dave Williams Award) title. The winner will be announced June 5. He was the Southeast Region Coach of the Year in 2016, when the team finished as national runner-up.
• Morgan Senn ’13 and Sam Griffin ’11 have announced their engagement. Sam completed nursing school in May 2017.
• Jordan Shelby ’17 has announced his engagement to Bailey Benson.
• Wesley Smithart ’15 completed her master’s degree in theology at Emory University, Candler School of Theology, and moves on to law school at the University of Alabama School of Law.
• Former Huntingdon trustee Dr. Karl Stegall and his wife, Brenda, were presented with the College’s Mary Mildred Sullivan Award in May. The Stegalls are devoting their retirement years to raising money for scholarship support of UMC seminarians from the Alabama-West Florida Conference.
• Matt Tabor ’10 married Katherine Hollinger, May 6, 2017.
• Dr. Beau Bosko Toskich ’02 is a specialist in vascular and interventional radiology and oncology at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.
• Christine Whiten ’11 has completed medical school at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She will be a resident physician with Cahaba Medical Care.
• Breanna Giordana Wiersma ’12 and her husband, Mark, welcomed son Cohen Andre’ Wiersma, April 19, 2017.
• Alexis Butterworth Wineman ’17 is a spokesmodel for Zappos’ new clothing line, Zappos Adaptive, especially made for people who have touch sensitivity or trouble getting dressed on their own. Alexis was Miss Montana 2012 and America’s Choice in the 2013 Miss America Pageant, the first Miss America candidate diagnosed with autism to compete for the crown. Alexis graduated on the birthday she shares with twin sister Amanda Lyn Butterworth Wineman ’16, a law student at Samford University.
• Jakob Works ’16 and Kalyn Spatol ’15 have announced their engagement.

Sympathy and Prayers

• Our sympathy and prayers are extended to Gerry Garrick ’65 and his wife, Dr. Sue Russell Garrick ’64, in the death of Jerry’s mother, Kathleen Collier Garrick, May 12, 2017. The family has suggested memorial contributions to the Garrick Family Endowed Scholarship at Huntingdon.
• Avis Brannon Gunter, the daughter of former Huntingdon College professor of biology Dr. Mary Jane Brannon, passed away May 12, 2017, in Montgomery.  A scholarship in the name of Avis Gunter was established at Huntingdon in 2016 by her local book club, The Readettes.  We extend condolences to her husband, Will, to her family, and to her many friends.

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