THE TALON

A grip on news in the Huntingdon College Community

October 15, 2020

What’s New

Presidential Forum Focuses on Issues

Huntingdon College Republicans and Huntingdon College Democrats will meet to present their parties’ positions on the issues of concern to the nation with this year’s presidential election in A Discussion of Issues from Democratic and Republican Viewpoints, Monday, October 26, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. CST. The discussion will be broadcast live on the Huntingdon Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/huntingdoncollege. Issues to be discussed include criminal justice reform; the COVID-19 pandemic; health insurance; foreign policy; environmental protection and climate change; and access to higher education.

Howard Dedication Set for October 24

Saturday, October 24, at 1:00 p.m., the College will celebrate a Ceremony of Dedication and Naming of the Wanda A. Howard ’81 Black Student Union Center, which will be located in the renovated ground floor of The Hut. The ceremony will be held outside in The Grove. During her student days, Wanda Howard was one of the founders of the Black Student Union. She has served on the College’s board of trustees for 11 years and has been a mentor and counselor to generations of students. Full renovations of the Wanda A. Howard ’81 Black Student Union Center will take place during the extended Winter Break. Students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend the celebration.

Homecoming Goes to Court

Homecoming 2020 was about as different from past Homecomings as one can get. No bands playing. No football—or any sports. No cheerleaders. No hugs and tears and love from returning Hawks reliving time at the Home We Love So Well and revisiting memories with each other. There was only one event: the presentation of the Homecoming Court. Just like normal, students elected four women from each class to serve as court attendants, and the entire student body elected a queen. Congratulations to 2020 Homecoming Queen Hedi Docking ’21 of Lake Charles, La., and to the 15 women who were presented with her:

• Seniors: Lucy Burch, Florence, Ala.; Emily McBrien, Millbrook, Ala., and Mary Stanley, Las Vegas, Nev.
• Juniors: Sydney Conville, Sylacauga, Ala.; Alyssa Lear, Greenville, Ala.; Lydia Lewis, Butler, Ala.; and Hannah Pace, Montgomery, Ala.
• Sophomores: Erin Cembrale, Palm Harbor, Fla.; Abrianna Davis, Calera, Ala.; Kennedy Harp, Brewton, Ala.; and Kennedy Jenkins, Vestavia Hills, Ala.
• Freshmen: Kennedy Chambers, Pelham, Ala.; Olivia Elmore, Hueytown, Ala.; Liz Rivera, Apopka, Fla.; and Brooke Stefankiewicz, Salisbury, Mo.It was different, but it was still Huntingdon, and the Hawk spirit prevails! Leading up to the celebration, the Office of Student Affairs offered “Just Dance on the Green,” the annual Homecoming sidewalk chalk competition, Trivia Night, a movie on the Green, and Spirit Day.  Read more.
  

  Alumni Honored for Achievement, Loyalty, and Athletic Excellence

  Although the in-person celebrations will be delayed until Homecoming 2021, the NationalAlumni Board and the Hawks Hall of Fame announced 2020 alumni honorees, in keeping with tradition. Congratulations to Alumni Achievement Award winners Ethel Heinecke Bauer ’60, retired aeronautical engineer, and Melba Bolten Richardson ’68, educator; Alumni Loyalty Award winners Dr. Billy Gaither ’55 and Sara Dickert Bowden ’51; Outstanding Young Alumni Award winner Dr. James Robinson ’04; and Athletic Hall of Fame inductees Trevor Manuel ’14, football; Joseph Odom ’14, baseball; Pat Pickens ’15, women’s basketball; Tim Walters ’74, men’s basketball; and Brooke Meadows Watson ’15, softball.

  Speaking of Achievement

  The following 15 students have been invited to join the Order of Omega honor society. Order of Omega was founded at the University of Miami in 1959 to recognize student service to Greek life and to the university. There are 300 Order of Omega chapters in the United States. Huntingdon’s Phi Epsilon chapter was chartered December 10, 2007. Congratulations to:

• Shelby Blair, Chi Omega
• Kelvin Bowser, Phi Beta Sigma
• Abigail Brown, Chi Omega
• John Buford, Sigma Nu
• Ashley Burke, Chi Omega
• Abby Cody, Phi Mu
• Sydney Conville, Phi Mu
• Amanda Crowell, Alpha Omicron Pi
• Hayley Haggard, Phi Mu
• Anna Beth Harris, Chi Omega
• Lydia Lewis, Alpha Omicron Pi
• Abigail Marler, Phi Mu
• Mary Stanley, Alpha Omicron Pi
• Claire Tomberlin, Chi Omega
• Megan Ventry, Alpha Omicron Pi
  

  Course Withdrawal Deadline Approaching

  Friday, October 16, is the last day to withdraw from a course and receive either a “WP” or “WF.” Withdrawal requests are being processed by email because of COVID-19. To that end, you should email your instructor and your adviser that you plan to withdraw from a course (list the course from which you want to withdraw, i.e. PSYC201) for the fall term. Your adviser should respond to you and copy the Registrar’s Office on their response, indicating that your request has been approved. Your instructor should do the same, notifying the Registrar’s Office if a “WP” of “WF” should be recorded for the course. Once all email approvals are received, the Registrar’s Office will notify you of approved withdrawal from the course.

  HAWK the Vote

• Last day to register to vote in Alabama online, in-person, or postmarked by mail: October 19
• Last day to request an Absentee Ballot if you live in Alabama: October 29 in person or RECEIVED by mail (by close of business)
• Last day to return your Absentee Ballot if you live in Alabama: November 2 (postmarked or returned in person by 5:00 p.m.)
• Early voting is available September 9–October 29 if you are an Alabama resident, but dates and hours vary depending on where you live.
• In-person voting on election day: November 3, nationwide
• Voting information for other states: https://vote.gov/Houghton Library has listed and continues to add election/voting resources on the library website. A number of the resources are recommended by the AARP and are as unbiased as possible. See the column on the left side of the library site’s homepage.
  

  Don’t Get the Flu! Get a Shot!

  Flu vaccines will be available in the Office of Student Health Services, The Hut, Thursday, October 29. With COVID-19 still in full-on mode, the CDC is especially recommending flu vaccines this year. Getting the vaccine is easy, quick, and pretty close to painless. More information will come soon from Nyree Conville, director of institutional health. Don’t miss it!

  Important Dates

  Upcoming Fall 2020 In-Service Days (Offices Open/No Classes)

• Friday, October 16
• Friday, October 30
• Friday, November 6
• Academic Dates of Note
• Advising for Spring Pre-registration, October 19–23
• Spring 2021 Preregistration:
• Note: Current freshmen will have their spring schedules pre-arranged for them; changes may be made during the “Open” period
• October 26–27: Current Sophomores
• October 29–30: Current Seniors
• November 2: Current Juniors
• November 3 and forward: Open
• Sunday, November 1, Daylight Saving Time begins; turn clocks back one hour
• Friday, November 13, Last Day of Classes, Fall Term
• Monday–Friday, November 16–20, Finals
• Friday, November 20, Thanksgiving and Winter Break begin for students and faculty
• Saturday, November 21, Class of 2020 Commencement Exercises, 11:00 a.m., The Green
• Saturday, November 21, Residence Halls close at noon
• Staff Thanksgiving Break, November 25–27
• Offices closed for Winter Break: December 14, 2020–January 1, 2021 (offices reopen January 4; some offices may stagger dates to ensure necessary coverage).
• Spring Calendar
• Summer 2021 Dates: Session I: May 31–June 29; Session 2: July 1–30
  

  CCV Events Coming Up

  Email the CCV at ccv@hawks.huntingdon.edu for details or to sign up.

• 10/20/2020: Resume Roundup, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• 10/26/2020: Internship Information Session, via Zoom, 4:00–5:00 p.m.
• 10/27/2020: Internship Information Session, via Zoom, 12:00–1:00 p.m.
• 11/2/2020: Meet the Firms Accounting Week
• 11/5/2020: Employer Spotlight: Montgomery Biscuits, via Zoom, 12:00–1:00 p.m.
• 11/9–11/11/2020: Health Fair Week
  

  New 24/7 Tutoring Service Begins

  The Staton Center for Learning Enrichment has made Tutor.com available to Huntingdon day students—at no extra cost to you. Tutor.com is around-the-clock teaching assistance provided by more than 3,000 online tutors in a long list of subjects. You can even drop off writing assignments for review. If you could use a nudge to help your grade in a class, click on the tutor.com link in the sidebar of one of your Canvas courses.

  Announcements

  Students: be sure to complete the online prevention course My Body Essentials by the deadline of Friday, October 30, 2020. The course will educate you on ways to prevent alcohol and substance abuse as well as ways to prevent sexual assault. Participation is mandatory.

  Huntingdon Hawk-Stars

• Mark Alexander ’98 is a partner in the law firm Balch & Bingham in Gulfport, Miss.
• Jack ’14 and Heather Kelly Allen ’14 welcomed a son, Josiah Blankenship, in September 2020.
• Dr. Rick Anderson, professor emeritus of English, celebrated his 90^th birthday September 26.
• Haylan Bailey ’20 married Alyssa Winkles, September 19, 2020.
• Dr. Amanda Gilbert Barnes ’05 is a chiropractor and owner of HealthSource Chiropractic of Hampton Grove in Huntsville, Ala.
• Lynsie Boelsche ’16 completed a master’s degree in applied behavioral analysis from the University of South Florida.
• Bailee Ikner Brantley ’14 and her husband, Jeremy, welcomed a son, Griffin Lane Brantley, in August 2020.
• Tiffany Nicole Brown ’15 is the human resources director for Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission.
• In a special ceremony held on The Green October 13, Chaplain Rhett Butler ’13 was ordained as a full elder in the United Methodist Church by Bishop David Graves, a Huntingdon trustee. We extend our congratulations to Rhett and our thanks to Bishop Graves!
• Chance Byrd ’19 is a proud father to Gracelyn Hazel, born in July 2020.
• Former Hawks football player Eric Cagle ’08 continued his competitive talents earlier this month by winning the 2020 Crappie Masters National Championship on the Ouachita River in West Monroe, La.   
• Michelle Lewis Cameron ’99 is the owner and operator of Five Star Dance Centre in Pace, Florida.
• Dr. Carolyn Corliss, dean of the School of Teacher Education, has been elected to the executive council for the Alabama Association of Colleges of Teacher Education.
• Deidre Corbin ’16 completed a doctorate of occupational therapy from Gannon University in 2020.
• Seth Currie ’13 is a physical education teacher and head baseball coach for Pensacola Catholic High School in Florida.
• Dalton Dalrymple ’16 and his wife, Lindsey, welcomed a son, John Dixon, in September 2020.
• Jagger Eastman ’15 serves as assistant campus pastor for Crosspoint Church in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. He completed his Master of Divinity at Asbury Theological Seminary in 2019.
• Addison Fuller ’21 has been accepted to the University of Alabama School of Law.
• Virginia Gaston ’20 married L.T. Hagood in July 2020.
• Dr. Kelly Long Giaiotti ’03, a physical therapist, was furloughed from her job in March 2020 because of COVID-19, so she decided to open her own practice. Dorset Physio PT in East Dorset, Vermont, opened May 18, 2020. She has earned special licensure to work with patients with Parkinson’s Disease and is a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. Kelly says, “This has been a long career goal owning my own practice, but having the pandemic push me to do so was a blessing in disguise! I believe I learned resilience from many people in my life—my parents and my dance professors at Huntingdon College, Diana and Julian Green—to pursue my dreams. Thank you for always pushing us to greatness!” Kelly and her husband, Rob Gaiotti ’04, have two children.
• Marti Baum Giancola ’81, a high school principal with Pinellas County Schools in Florida was selected as the 2020 Outstanding Administrator from Pinellas County Schools; 2020 PTA Outstanding Administrator in the State of Florida; and Principal of an Emerging School of Excellence by Magnet Schools of America.
• Blake Gillies ’10 and his wife, Brooke, welcomed a son, Liam, in June 2020.
• Logan Henderson Golden ’11 and her husband welcomed their third child, Briggman Joe, in October 2020.
• Yancey Gordon ’07 teaches physical education for Heard Elementary School in Dothan, Ala.
• Jamie DeVeau Hahn ’02 is a college instructor in Las Vegas. She is an elementary reading specialist and is pursuing her Ed.Specialist degree in early childhood education.
• Mary Lawren Hill Hall ’11 has been named Teacher of the Year at Elmore County High School. She teaches mathematics.
• Michael Hanich ’16 completed a master’s degree in journalism from the University of South Alabama.
• Seth Harding ’17 completed his juris doctorate from the University of Alabama School of Law and passed the bar at age 19, becoming the youngest lawyer ever licensed in Alabama (since records began). Read about six Hawks who passed the bar on its lastadministration.
• Mary Christian Hodo ’05 was selected for the 2020 Selma The Magazine/Selma Times-Journal 20 under 40 edition this fall. She works for the Minter Law Firm.
• Katy Hoffmaster ’12 married Brian Hodges, October 10, 2020.
• Katie Holsonback ’12 married Brent Sewell, September 19, 2020.
• Dr. Chris Huckle ’11 and his wife, Brittany, are the proud parents of son Daniel, now 9 months old. Chris is a sports medicine physician with NGPG Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Oakwood, Ga.
• Collin Hughes ’18 is a biologist with USDA Federal Wildlife Services and lives in Dothan, Ala.
• DeJuan Jackson ’06 serves the City of Daphne as a police detective, primarily investigating financial crimes and serving as the public information officer for the department. He also works in financial services for a local investment firm. He earned a Series 6 Registered Representative License and a Series 66 Investment Advisor License in 2019.
• Garrison Johnson ’12 and his wife, Emily, welcomed a daughter, Lyla Jillian, September 13, 2020.
• Greg Johnson ’86 is a national project manager and petroleum contractor. He and his wife, Jennie, live in Fernandina Beach, Fla.
• Jasmine Cardwell Jones ’19 is an examiner with the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts.
• Dr. Woods ’11 and Brianna McClure Lisenby ’13 welcomed a son, Bradshaw Woods, in August 2020.
• Alex Moore Livingston ’17 and her husband, Chandler, welcomed a son, England Miles, in July 2020.
• Caroline McBroom ’18 is a marketing coordinator for her local county Chamber and Economic Alliance in Columbia, Tenn.
• Robbie McKenna ’20 married Kayla Fernandez in July 2020.
• Dr. Storm McWhorter ’15 completed her medical degree at the University of Alabama-Birmingham and married Corey Jackson this summer. They have moved to Spartanburg, S.C., where she is a physician at Spartanburg Regional Hospital.
• Ian Meadows ’16 completed his juris doctorate at Texas A&M School of Law and passed the Alabama bar. He is practicing South Alabama.
• Heath Minor ’12 and his wife, Torie, welcomed a son, Robert Shepherd, in September 2020.
• Dr. Elizabeth Keeble Murphy ’05 and her husband, Quincy, welcomed a son, Asher Blake, in September 2020.
• Cole Muzio ’11 and his wife, Spencer, welcomed a daughter, Audrey, in August 2020.
• Congratulations to Stephanie Dozier Peavy ’14, president-elect of the Montgomery Kiwanis Club, the third-largest Kiwanis Club in the world. She is the first woman to serve as president of the organization in its 101-year history.
• Garrick Pimienta ’17 and Rasheeda May welcomed a daughter, Paxton, in July 2020.
• Jamie Allen Piper ’04 and her husband welcomed a daughter, Isabel Anne, in July 2020.
• Jennifer Thompson Pollitte ’10 works as an administrative assistant in the Office of Student Support Services at Coastal Alabama Community College-Brewton.
• Trina Hamilton-Hardie Pope ’02 is a district manager for CIGH Services dba USAgencies/ Freeway Insurance, managing the Montgomery, Auburn/Opelika, Phenix City, Troy, Selma, & Sylacauga areas. She has been recognized as one of the company’s top district managers.
• Lexi Rangel ’16 and Miguel Vidal ’16 were married July 10, 2020.
• Sydney Robbins ’16 is a registered nurse with Tallahassee Memorial Hospital in Florida.
• Ashton Rodriguez ’12 was named Sequoyah Middle School Teacher of the Year (Riverdale, Ga.) in 2020. He also completed his master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Georgia Southern University.
• Dr. Glenn Rudolph ’09 and his wife, Karen, welcomed a daughter, Rinley Dell, in July 2020. The proud grandmother is trustee Celia Smith Rudolph ’80.
• Ryan Runager ’17 completed his Master of Divinity degree at Candler School of Theology, Emory University.
• Jami Barlow Sikes ’04 serves as central Alabama women’s ministry director for Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
• Cheryl Bray Sirota ’80 is a licensed professional counselor and the owner of Bray Counseling Services in Pensacola, Fla.
• Dalis Smith ’20 has joined Southern Preparatory Academy as parent coordinator. She moved to Auburn, Ala., in October.
• Kristian Smith ’16 began coaching the Springfield Cosmos boy’s soccer team in Vermont in September 2020.
• Hunter Smith ’14 and his wife, Candice, welcomed a son, Hudson Jeffery, September 18, 2020.  Tabitha Smith in the Office of Admission is the proud grandmother.
• Wes Smith ’19 and his wife, Kennedy, welcomed a son, Gerald Bennett, in September 2020.
• Wesley Smithart ’15 has joined the firm Lightfoot Franklin & White in Birmingham, one of the city’s largest litigation firms. Wesley earned her law degree at the University of Alabama, where she interned with the Alabama Sentencing Commission and for U.S. Senator Richard Shelby. She also clerked for Lightfoot during summers. In law school, she served as special works editor for the Alabama Law Review.
• Melinda Kay Cowen Stutes ’87 is a real estate agent in Bentonville, Ark.
• Alex Taylor ’12 and his wife, Alli, welcomed a daughter, Arlee Claire, in September 2020. Dean Fran Taylor is the proud grandmother!
• Wendy Nulph Taylor ’12 and husband Lyndon Taylor have two daughters, born in 2015 and 2017, and live in Hendersonville, Tenn. Wendy earned her master’s degree in 2012 and has worked in higher education for nearly 15 years. She currently advises graduate students in cybersecurity for SANS Technology Institute and is a School Certifying Official for the United States Department of Veteran Affairs (VA).
• Stacy Terry ’14 and his wife welcomed a daughter, August Sage, in July 2020.
• Nikki Tyree Trawick ’14 serves as guest services and connections director for Coastal Church Bay Minette and lives in Perdido, Ala.
• Jack ’08 and Ashley Bunt Vibbert ’09 welcomed a daughter, Madelyn Grace, July 27, 2020.
• We welcome Paige Ward as the new assistant women’s basketball coach.
• Dr. Wade Whatley ’06 and his wife, Ciara, welcomed a daughter, MaryAnn Griggs, in October 2020.
• Jarrett White ’19 serves as a non-profit career coach for Hope Inspired Ministries in Montgomery.
• Dr. Rocky Wool ’09, a cardiology fellow at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, married Jean Robbins August 29, 2020.
• Dr. Kristin Zimbelman, assistant professor of teacher education, welcomed daughter Eleanor Virginia (EV), September 10, 2020.
  

  Sympathy and Prayers

• College friend Kincey Green passed away September 1, 2020, in Selma, Ala. Mr. Green was a representative of the Mary Elizabeth Whetstone Knabe ’31 Trust, which has made a Huntingdon education possible for dozens of Huntingdon men and women.
• Patricia Laird Hitchcock ’75 passed away September 29, 2020. We extend our condolences to her family, including her granddaughter, Huntingdon student Marsa Beck.
• A pioneer for men at Huntingdon and a faithful servant in the Alabama West-Florida Conference, the Rev. Rual Morris ’52, passed away September 28, 2020.  We extend condolences to his family, including his sons, Steve Morris ’73 and the Rev. Dan Morris ’79 (and Dan’s wife, Sharmon Vickers Morris ’79), and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including the Rev. David Morris ’09.
• Former Huntingdon baseball coach Steve Shartzer ’83 died September 17, 2020, in Fairhope, Ala. Steve came to Huntingdon as head coach after being drafted into and playing for the St. Louis Cardinals for three years. He led the Hawks baseball program from 1983 through 1992, with a record of 316-154-2 in 10 seasons and guiding the Hawks to the NAIA World Series in 1987. “The huge impact Coach Shartzer had on the Huntingdon College baseball program is clear,” Huntingdon head baseball coach D.J. Conville ’98 said. “He set the bar extremely high. As you can tell by his record, he was a winner and he was very successful on the field. He had a huge impact on his players’ lives and helped turn young guys into men.” His teams won back-to-back NAIA District 27 championships in 1986 and 1987. The 1987 team continued its run with an NAIA Area 5 championship to advance to the NAIA College World Series. At the time of the Hawks’ World Series appearance, Shartzer had the fourth best winning percentage among active NAIA coaches. After leaving Huntingdon, he coached for Berry College, and in recent years served as a teacher in coach in South Alabama.

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