THE TALON

A grip on news in the Huntingdon College Community

September 7, 2021

WHAT’S NEW?

On a Roll

We’re past Labor Day, so it feels like the school year is fully underway. Week 5 means we’re officially one-third of the way through the semester by the end of this week. That means the classes, tests, papers, and homework are getting more intense. Mid-terms are this week and next week. Here are some resources that will help you keep up with the demands in the classroom, on your mind, and on your time:

• YOUR PROFESSORS: Huntingdon isn’t a place where weed-out classes are designed to make students fail in a survival-of-the-fittest approach to academia. Just the opposite. Your professor is pulling for you every step of the way. In order to help you, your professor needs to know if you’re having a hick-up in understanding some of the material or keeping up with the work, and they love nothing more than meeting with students to get to know you. Go to your professors’ office hours. Even if you aren’t having difficulties, you’ll find kindly-offered wisdom to guide your path.
• STATON CENTER FOR LEARNING ENRICHMENT: The Staton Center, located on the second floor of the library, offers a number of services—all free—that help students conquer academic challenges, including:
  • Academic coaching, offered by peer tutors in almost every subject area
  • Writing assistance
  • Time management coaching
  • Academic counseling, if you want to talk about academic possibilities for your future or just for todayPlus, they’re super-nice people who care deeply about your success. Get to know them!
• HOUGHTON LIBRARY: Sometimes all you need is some quiet study time; or some help with research or sources when you’re writing a paper. The library’s got your back (and your brain). See Dr. Nordis Smith in the reference area or Ms. Paige Crumbley ’14 at the circulation desk—they can connect you with library resources to match your needs.
• THE COUNSELING CENTER: Just need to talk with someone? Reach out to Dr. Latonya Graham, director of counseling services. Learn more about Huntingdon Counseling Services here: https://www.huntingdon.edu/campus-life/health-wellness/counseling-services/
• CAMPUS MINISTRIES: Chaplain Rhett Butler ’13 also has a listening heart and ear (chaplain@hawks.huntingdon.edu), while involvement in Campus Ministries can help to heal a wounded spirit. Choose Chapel services on Wednesdays, Tuesday Night Worship on (you guessed it) Tuesdays, or bible studies on other days. All are welcome to all, whether you have a faith past you embrace or not.
• OFFICE OF STUDENT DEVELOPMENT: If you’re feeling homesick or lonely, there are two other things that will fix that—getting involved in campus activities and doing community service. Both of those ways to plug-in can be found through the Office of Student Development. See Dean Anthony Leigh; Staci-Jo Palek, director of campus activities; Joe Thomas ’17, director of residential communities; or Cam Nicely ’22, president of the Student Government Association. Join a club, or, if you have a passion but there isn’t a club to match it, form a new club!
• TOMBERLIN FITNESS CENTER AND CAMPUS REC: Whether you’re involved with intercollegiate athletics or not, working out improves your health, both mentally and physically. You can find workout facilities in the Tomberlin Fitness Center (open beginning this week M-T-W-Th, 6:30–9:00 p.m., and Sundays, 2–5 p.m.) You can also get a workout and get involved in campus life through the Campus Rec activities every Friday. Form a team and blow off some steam!
• GET TO WORK: If there is time to fill in your schedule, you can find a part-time job or take on an internship by contacting Sherry Leigh Lacey Farquhar ’13 in the Center for Career and Vocation (CCV), in Jackson Home. Employers are begging for Huntingdon students, and the work will be great for your resume and could provide funds for your trips to La Zona Rosa.

September is the Month for Champions!

The Campaign for Champions has kicked-off right along with fall sports. All 20 athletic teams are participating in this annual fundraiser. You may give to your favorite athletic team by designation on the giving form at this link: https://www.huntingdon.edu/alumni-friends/giving-to-huntingdon/give-now/.

Spruce-up Your Resume

September is also National Update-Your-Resume Month. The CCV is offering a host of events to keep you focused on the future and looking good in the present:

• Resume Pop-Ins for National Update Your Resume Month:
  • Tuesday, September 7, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m., Jackson 108T
  • Tuesday, September 14, 3:00–4:00 p.m., Jackson 108
  • Tuesday, September 21, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m., Jackson 108
  • Tuesday, September 28, 3:00–4:00 p.m., Jackson 108
• Personal Statement Workshop, Wednesday, September 8, 12:30–1:30 p.m., Flowers Hall 218 (RSVP required—email ccv@hawks.huntingdon.edu)
• Networking Luncheon, Friday, September 17, 12:00-1:00 p.m., Stallworth Dining Room, Russell Dining Hall (watch for more info from the CCV)
• Professional Headshots, Wednesday, September 22, 12:30–1:30 p.m., The Green
• Scarlet & Grey Connections Coffee, Friday, September 24, 8:00–9:00 a.m., the Scarlet & Grey Shop

Library Observes September 11 Anniversary

In four days the country will observe the 20^th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Houghton Library invites you to add your thoughts to a Peace Tree in the library this week. From Professor Eric A. Kidwell, director of the library: “We invite members of the college community to contribute quotes, biblical or other sacred text verses or phrases, excerpts from poetry or other literary works, or your own words that speak to peace, love, generosity, hope, wisdom, faith, service, grace, stewardship.  You’ll find white cards on which to write your contribution and then we will hang it for you on the tree.  You’ll discover the tree already adorned with blue paper cranes (traditional symbols of peace) and on blue cards the word “Peace” in a wide range of languages …  Our tree for the 20th anniversary is a birch, which in Celtic mythology is symbolic of renewal and purification.” The Library’s LibGuide on 9-11 provides a wealth of resources.

Recent News

• Huntingdon Admission Invites Prospective Students and Families to Preview Days, August 31
• Huntingdon Names 2021–2022 Ambassadors, August 25
• CCV Announces Fall 2021 Events, August 18
• Huntingdon Orientation Leaders Welcome New Students, August 16
• Dr. Robert Matson Joins Huntingdon Faculty, August 12
• HC Sport Management Majors Take Over Campus Rec, August 11
• Lane Davis Returns to Join Huntingdon Religion Faculty, August 9
• Two Join Huntingdon Band Staff, August 4
• Sarah Allison Named Huntingdon Sports Information Director, August 3

Announcements

• COVID-19:
  • Masks remain mandatory inside all buildings.
  • Vaccines are available at no cost to anyone age 12 and older at Publix, CVS, Sam’s Club, and Walmart pharmacies. You can also book your vaccine at alcovidvaccine.gov; call the ADPH vaccine hotline at 1-855-566-5333; or register online through Baptist Healthcare at baptistfirst.org under the patients and visitors section.
  • Once you are fully vaccinated, you are invited to provide a copy of your vaccination card to Mrs. Nyree Conville in the Office of Institutional Health by emailing healthandwellness@hawks.huntingdon.edu.
• THANK YOU to the many faculty and staff who participated in the Faculty and Staff Giving Campaign!
• Bills have been posted to students’ accounts. Be sure you have made arrangements for payment in order to avoid extra fines and fees.
  

  COMING ACADEMIC EVENTS and DEADLINES

• Friday, September 10, is the last day to withdraw from a course and receive a grade of W. After this date, students who withdraw will receive a grade of WP (withdrawn, passing) or WF (withdrawn, failing).
• Saturday, September 11: “Toleration and a Free Society,” with Dr. Marcus Witcher, assistant professor of history (for students in the history program).
• Wednesday, September 15: Constitution Day Event: A panel of four faculty members will discuss the evolution in thought on key phrases in the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution, with panelists Dr. Blake Ball, assistant professor of history; Dr. Chris Clark ’07, assistant professor of accounting; Mr. Lane Davis ’03, instructor of religion; and Dr. Robin Gunther, professor of English; questions contributed by Dr. Mike Nicholson, assistant professor of political science; moderated by Mr. Eric A. Kidwell. This is a Zoom event, 6:30–8:15 p.m. Zoom link: https://huntingdon-edu.zoom.us/j/83911696605?pwd=dEd2L2pVa2hFT3FtbTkxaXdyM004UT09
• Thursday, September 16: Freshman Leadership Initiative event (for FLI participants): “Discovering Your Strengths,” 12:30–1:30 p.m., Stallworth Dining Room
• Thursday, October 14 Honors Program Colloquy (for Honors Program students): “Habits of Highly Successful People,” with psychology professors Dr. Allison Mugno and Dr. Kristi Copping, 12:15 p.m., Flowers 217
• Thursday, November 4, Honors Program Colloquy (for Honors Program students): “Vocation,” with Dr. Sara Shoffner, assistant professor of sport management, 12:15 p.m., Flowers 217

Sports Talk

Fall Composite Sports Schedule

• Cross Country: The team competed in the Jacksonville State Foothills Invitational with Mac Brooks ’24 achieving a personal best time of 16:35 and finishing 22^nd for the men. Amelia Smith ’25 had the fastest time for the women at 17:00.84, finishing 56^th. The Hawks will host the Hawk 4K/5K Invitation in Grady, Ala., Sept. 11. Fall Schedule: Men; Women
• Football: The Hawks fought hard in their home opener against UW-OshKosh, but ultimately lost 28-24 on Saturday. Still, the team showed every morsel of Hawk spirit and stick-to-it-iveness. We’ll Hawk ’em next time. The team hosts BSC at 6:00 p.m., 9/11/21. Fall Schedule
• Golf: The JV team is at the SAA Preview at Chateau Elan today. The men’s team travels to Rhodes Sept. 13–14 to begin their fall season. The women’s team hosts the Montgomery Country Club Women’s Intercollegiate tournament, Sept. 12–13, to begin their fall season. Fall Schedule: Men; Women
• Soccer: The men’s soccer team defeated Belhaven 4-0 in the team’s home opener, September 4. Scorers were Austin Priemer ’23 (2) and Liam Kearns ’24 (2). The men are at Millsaps today. Fall Schedule: Men; Women
• Tennis: Fall Schedule: Men; Women
• Volleyball: The volleyball team had a rough start on the season, losing four matches in the Millsaps/Belhaven Invitational this weekend. We wish them a hearty Hawk’em for their match at BSC today.  Fall Schedule
  

  HAWKStars

• Angelo Adams ’01 has been promoted to the position of senior vice president, sales, for IL Group, Gulf Shores, Ala., a leader in insurance, mortgage, real estate, and cyber security industries.
• Spencer Brown ’15 married Abby Forcum in August 2021.
• Mitch ’14 and Georgianna Hunt Clemmons ’16 welcomed a son, Robert Hunt Clemmons, August 12, 2021.
• Ray ’12 and Jessica Sharker Evans ’11 welcomed their second son, Hamton Reid, August 6, 2021.
• Alicia Gauker ’16 has moved to the position of assistant director of marketing and strategic initiatives at Berry College, where she is also working on her MBA. She was awarded Mentor of the Year by the Office of Admission in May 2021.
• The Rev. Dr. Ed Glaize ’85, a Huntingdon trustee, and his wife, the Rev. Alecia Curtis Glaize ’85, have moved to Boone, N.C., where he has begun his tenure as senior pastor for Boone United Methodist Church.
• The College welcomes Jacob Green as pitching coach for the Hawks baseball program. Jacob earned his bachelor’s degree from Western Kentucky University and has coached for Shelton State Community College.
• Michael Hanich ’16 has taken a new job as a sports reporter for Camden News in El Dorado, Ark.
• Bradley Harris ’20 married Krysta Burroughs in August 2021.
• Karsha Hill ’13 is selling real estate in Gadsden, Ala.
• Former Huntingdon all-conference catcher Joey Holcomb ’06 serves as assistant coach with North Carolina State University. This past season, his second as assistant coach for the team, NCS opened the Division I College World Series with a win over 6^th-seed Stanford University. They followed up with a win over 4^th-seed Vanderbilt, then lost to Vanderbilt in their second meeting during the series.
• Kim Holman ’18 was invited to contribute to “Practices and Policies: Advocating for Students of Color in Mathematics,” released August 19, 2021. Her essay, included in the volume, is “Intentional Advocacy and Establishing a New Norm.” She is in the doctoral program in mathematics at Auburn University.
• Jenna Parish Hood ’10 and her husband, Thomas, welcomed twin daughters, July 27, 2021.
• Michael Kazmarik ’14 made a career change in 2019 from teaching to logistics and transportation, serving as an operations analyst for Courier Express. Still following his passion for lacrosse, he’s in his 10^th year officiating high school lacrosse and has begun training for the National Intercollegiate Lacrosse Officials Association tryouts in 2022.
• Lonnitria Keenan ’16 was named Student Nurse of the Year by the National Black Nurses Association. She will complete her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in December 2021 from Samford University’s Moffet and Sanders School of Nursing.
• Jake Kistel ’15 and his wife, Ali, welcomed a second son, Callan Ivor, August 18, 2021.
• Emily McBrien ’21 married Kody Blietz, September 4, 2021.
• Samara Miller ’20 married Cordell McNair, September 4, 2021.
• Temple Prewitt ’21 has joined the Huntingdon Student Financial Aid staff as a financial aid assistant.
• Dr. Kali Sands ’14 is a veterinarian working with the Veterinary Emergency Group in Alpharetta, Ga. She completed an emergency medicine fellowship in Tampa, Fla.
• Two art works by Sarah Cheatham Tanner ’04 will be part of the 55th MAG/Regions Bank Exhibition in Montgomery. The show opens September 14.
• Amanda Houston Toole ’12 and her husband, Brooks, welcomed a son, Bowdoin Alexander, August 5, 2021.
• Huntingdon welcomes Spencer Vaughn to the Campus Security Team.
• Charles ’08 and Gillian Lisenby Walters ’08 welcomed a son, Leo, August 11, 2021. Leo has two older sisters.
• Logan Wilson’19 married Jordan Ponce, September 4, 2021.

Prayers and Sympathy

• Lynn Blalock Cunningham ’58 passed away August 19, 2021, in Knoxville, Tenn. She was a former member of the Huntingdon Society.  Her family is requesting that memorial gifts be made to the Huntingdon Fund in her memory, and we thank them for their generosity.
• Barbara Hubbard Hungerpiller ’58 died August 14, 2021.
• Glory Yarbrough Sanders ’60 died August 12, 2021, in Sandy Springs, Ga.
• The Huntingdon College family mourns the loss of Samuel Schjott ’07, August 22, 2021.  Sam was a veteran employee of Alabama Power and served as a community relations manager in Monroeville. The former Huntingdon SGA president was a current member of the Huntingdon College Alumni Board. We will miss his bright spirit, big laugh, and bold outlook. Sam was one-of-a-kind. Huntingdon College was among three recipients named for gifts in his memory upon his death.
• Jean Kirkpatrick Williams ’42 died April 3, 2021, in Richmond, Va.

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