THE TALON

A grip on news in the Huntingdon College Community

September 14, 2022

WHAT’S NEW?

Meet the New Faculty

Huntingdon welcomed seven new members of the full-time undergraduate faculty as the 2022–2023 academic year began. “I’m very pleased to welcome these new faculty members to the Huntingdon family this fall,” said Dr. Perrin senior vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty. “Each brings a breadth of experience and knowledge that will add to the perspectives already offered in his/her department, as well as to each student’s academic experience.”

• Mr. Tommy Carswell, instructor of criminal justice, brings long experience in law enforcement, including 34 years with the City of Auburn Department of Public Safety, Police Division, as a captain, lieutenant, sergeant, corporal, detective, and on patrol, and seven years with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
• Mr. Foster Dickson, instructor of English, earned baccalaureate and graduate degrees from Auburn University-Montgomery, where he has also taught. Since 2003 he has served on the faculty at Booker T. Washington Magnet High School in Montgomery.
• Ms. Lindsay Grinstead ’16, instructor of mathematics, earned Master of Science in mathematics degrees from the Universities of Tennessee and South Alabama after graduating from Huntingdon, serving as a graduate teaching assistant at both institutions. She has also taught for Boyd Buchanan School in Chattanooga, Tenn.
• Dr. William (Bill) Hamby, who served as instructor of accounting during the 2021–2022 academic year, returned as associate professor of accounting this fall. Dr. Hamby taught for many years at institutions including Alabama A&M University, Thomas University (Ga.), Indiana Wesleyan University, Lincoln Memorial University (Tenn.), and St. Mary’s University (Canada), among others. He has also served as a business owner, marketing executive, and consultant.
• Ms. Elizabeth McCord joined the faculty/staff in Houghton Library as assistant professor and access services librarian. She has served as a librarian and head of circulation services for Montgomery City County Public Library.
• Dr. Kimberly Stephenson, assistant professor of teacher education and accreditation support specialist, has taught at the elementary school level; established the gifted program and served as the Gifted Program coordinator; and served as academic director for accreditation, curriculum, and professional development at Prattville Christian Academy since 2006. She has also served as a graduate assistant at the University of Alabama; as a Duke University Duke Tip online instructor; as an EdTPA portfolio evaluator; as a University of Alabama Master Teacher and guest lecturer in special education-multiple abilities; and as a third- and fourth-grade teacher for the Alabama Wildlife Federation for Prattville Elementary School.
• Dr. Daniel Todorovic, instructor of psychology, earned his Bachelor of Arts in psychology and philosophy at Purdue University, followed by Master of Arts and Ph.D. degrees in psychology at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, where he has also taught.

In addition to full-time faculty, several new adjunct faculty have joined the teaching staff, and we welcome their good minds and classroom leadership, as well.

In the Homecoming Stretch

If you’re an alum reading this Talon, here’s your link to sign up for Homecoming 2022, October 28–29. Since COVID restrictions made it unadvisable to gather reunion classes during our last two Homecomings, we’re hosting mega-celebrations this year. The Classes of 1960, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, and 1972 will celebrate their 60^th, 55^th, and 50^th reunions, respectively, and all classes in decades ending in 0, 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7 are encouraged to come back to the Home We Love So Well to celebrate your milestone reunion year! (And since you know everyone at Huntingdon is family, all classes surrounding those years should come back too!) The theme is “Feelin’ 22!” We can’t wait to welcome you home.

Panhellenic and Inter-Fraternity Council Organizations Add Members

Greek life gained casts (the term for a bunch of Hawks) of new Hawks this fall as 50 women joined Alpha Omicron Pi, Chi Omega, and Phi Mu, and 27 men joined Sigma Phi Epsilon, Lambda Chi Alpha, and Sigma Nu. (Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., observe different recruitment processes and timelines.)

Houghton Library Gets into Good Trouble

This year’s Mini-Conference, arranged by Houghton Library, is open to presenters from the Huntingdon community on the theme, “Good Trouble.” Presentations can be online or in person. A list of potential topics and the proposal form are online at https://libguides.huntingdon.edu/2022MiniConferenceGoodTrouble.

Sports Talk

Composite Sports Schedule

• Basketball 2022–2023 Schedules: Men; Women
• Cross Country 2022–2023 Schedules: Men; Women HC finished second out of four teams as they competed in and hosted the Hawk 5K/6K Invitational September 10. Among the women, BREANNA SMITH ’23 finished 3rd; RILEY GAGNE ’26, 4^th; and RHIANNON SEVIER ’25, 10^th. MAC BROOKS ’24 finished 2^nd among the men, with BLAKE BAILEY ’25 finishing 5^th and JACK PATE ’26, 9^th. In their first meet of the season, Sept. 2, HC finished 14^th of 18 teams. Mac Brooks finished in the top 50.
• Football: 2022 Schedule. The Hawks beat Birmingham-Southern, 38-35, Sept. 10 and brought home the Wesley Cup for the first time since 2017 (for which multiple exclamation marks are warranted)! With three touchdowns, 210 years, and 24 carries during the game, KAHARI MCREYNOLDS ’24 was named USA South Football Offensive Player of the Week September 12. ZACH JOHNSON ’23 won USA South Special Teams Player of the Week for six punts averaging 42 yards per attempt. Although Huntingdon didn’t quite beat #7 Linfield University in their first game of the season, it was a heck of game with a final score of 41-34 and stellar performances by many Hawk players. Huntingdon was voted #1 in the conference in a preseason coaches poll.
• Golf: Schedules: Men; Women Men’s golf begins their fall season this Saturday, Sept. 18, at the Rhodes Fall Invitational, with the Gate City Invitational in North Carolina the following weekend. The women will tee-off the season at the National Preview in Florida this coming weekend. They will host the Montgomery Country Club Women’s Intercollegiate the weekend of Sept. 25.
• Soccer: 2022–2023 Schedules: Men; Women Men’s soccer was voted 4^th in the preseason Collegiate Conference of the South coaches poll. The team has faced four opponents to date this season, beating Centenary College Sept. 10 but suffering losses from Birmingham-Southern, Warren Wilson, and University of the Ozarks. Women’s soccer also placed 4^th in the CCS preseason poll. They have faced three opponents, tying Birmingham-Southern at 1-1, and dropping matches with Rhodes and Oglethorpe. None of the opponents faced by either team so far is a conference rival.
• Softball: Schedule
• Volleyball and Beach Volleyball: 2022 Indoor Schedule Indoor VB, playing in the Collegiate Conference of the South this year, was voted fourth in the preseason coaches poll. So far they’ve faced 9 opponents in a busy season start, winning 5 of those matches, all of which were non-conference games. Hawk ’em! They travel to Brevard this coming weekend.

HAWKStars

• Thank you to MILES BARNHARDT ’18, director of youth ministries at Aldersgate UMC; MICHAELA TILLERY POPE ’16, deputy district attorney for the 15^th Judicial District DA’s office; and MERITA STOVALL ’17, Alabama Department of Finance staff accountant, for presenting their expertise during the Center for Career and Vocation’s Networking Luncheon, Friday, September 9.
• TYLER ’15 and ERIKA MEBIUS CAMPBELL ’14 welcomed a son, Clayton Rhett, August 9, 2022.
• DALTON DALRYMPLE ’16 and his wife, Lindsey, welcomed a son, Dallas Jones, August 23, 2022.
• NATHAN EDWARDS ’16 married Caitlyn Daniel, August 27, 2022.
• Former Hawks quarterback ZACH GOLSON ’08 is the head coach of the Mary Montgomery HS Vikings in Semmes, Ala.
• SHERRY LEIGH LACEY FARQUHAR ’13 serves on the Alabama Distinguished Young Woman State Committee, for which Huntingdon will be the site of the Alabama At-Large competition in Drum Theater on October 1. Nineteen young women from 17 counties will participate.
• DIANA GRAY ’04 presented a lunch and learn talk on “Leadership Gold” for students in the Freshman Leadership Initiative, September 7, 2022.
• QUINN HAMBRITE ’12 is the head coach for the Charles Henderson HS Trojans in Troy, Ala.
• MEREDITH HARRISON ’19 and GARRETT HEADLEY ’20 were married September 10, 2022.
• PATSY MOORES HOLMES ’58 has announced her retirement from the board of directors of the Central Alabama Electric Cooperative, on which she has served for 30 years.
• We welcome JOHN HUNNICUTT ’19 as a student success adviser in the Staton Center for Learning Enrichment.
• FARRAH MAHAN JACKSON ’16 and her husband, Will, welcomed a daughter, Ellison Jean, August 29, 2022.
• JEAN JOCELYN ’20 completed his Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
• JENNIFER KEITH ’15 and Will Taft were married September 4, 2022.
• MARY MARGARET KINNEY ’02 completed her Master of Library and Information Science degree and a Graduate Certificate in Youth Services and Literature at the University of Southern Mississippi.
• We welcome ALEX MANNING ’17 back to her alma mater as an admission counselor with the Office of Admission.
• We welcome DEON MAXWELL ’19 as assistant coach for men’s wrestling.
• CHRIS MAYER ’22 has stepped into the role of special assistant to the dean of students, and as such is coordinating student activities, campus recreation, and event planning forms for student organizations.
• MICHELE SCHARFF OLSON ’86, senior clinical professor of sport science, is quoted as an expert in the article, “How to Breathe When Running,” in Runners World, August 30, 2022 online.
• TREY ’16 and ZOYA ROBINSON PIRTLE ’19 welcomed a daughter, Poet Lynn-Marie, August 6, 2022.
• AALIYAH RUDOLPH ’18 is working with LifeSouth as a donor recruiter. She has been accepted to the University of St. Augustine’s physical therapy program.
• JESS SKAGGS ’13 will become chief of staff for Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth October 1. “Jess Skaggs has already accomplished great things at a young age,” Ainsworth stated. “His success in drafting and passing 22 bills that have made Alabama the nation’s most welcoming state for military families and veterans is just one example of his hard work.”
• GARRETT STACKS ’20 married Kaitlyn Riley, September 10, 2022.
• ABIGAIL BELLMAN STRINGHAM ’16 and her husband, Mike, welcomed son Christopher, their first child, in September 2022.
• VANN STUEDEMAN ’94, head coach at Mississippi State University, 2011–2019, and assistant coach during six Women’s College World Series appearances and three titles at the University of Alabama, 2000–2011, is moving to the University of Illinois to serve as pitching coach. She and her sister, LES STUEDEMAN ’93, are both members of the Huntingdon Athletic Hall of Fame.
• NATHAN SUMNER ’02 has been promoted to the rank of colonel in the U.S. Air Force.
• JACQUELINE ALLEN TRIMBLE ’85 has published her second poetry collection, “How to Survive the Apocalypse.” The book, published by Read Herring Books, is available at Amazon.com and at the Read Herring Books bookstore.
• JEREMIAH WILSON ’10 and his wife, Chelsie, welcomed a daughter, Marcie Rae, in August 2022.
• MARCUS WITCHER, assistant professor of history, and his wife, Takayla, welcomed their first child, son Oliver Wesley, July 20, 2022.

Prayers and Sympathy

• SARA CHAMLESS AUSTIN ’56 died July 28, 2022, in Melbourne, Fla.
• HUBERT “HUB” CHASON JR. ’80 died September 10, 2022, in Tallahassee, Fla.
• CATHERINE BURNS GRAY ’45 died August 27, 2022, in Oak Ridge, Tenn.
• VIRGINIA MALONE HADEN ’56 died September 10, 2022, in Dothan, Ala. She was predeceased by her husband, Bill Haden ’56.
• ANN LOUISE KLINE ’84 died August 23, 2022, in Montgomery, Ala.
• MARY ALLEN WEAVER MEADOWS ’63 died July 29, 2022, in Lowndesboro, Ala.
• ANITA WATTS ROBERTS ’53 died September 8, 2022, in Tallahassee, Fla.
• We are saddened to share the news that former Huntingdon soccer coach and athletic director TODD SCHILPEROORT passed away after a battle with ALS earlier this month. We honor his service to the College and to the students he served during his career.
• MARY VIRGINIA PERDUE STANFORD ’46 died August 9, 2022, in Montgomery.
• ANN BLACKMON THOMPSON ’50 died September 8, 2022, in Montgomery.
• JOANN DAVIS THORPE ’59 of Opelika, Ala., died September 8, 2022, in Orlando, Fla.
• Legendary Alabama broadcaster KIM WANOUS ’63 died August 16, 2022, in Prattville, Ala.

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