Y O U N G H A R R I S C O L L E G E G R A D U A T E S

First Fine Arts Seniors

C MMUNIQUÉA N EWS L E T T E R FO R F R I END S O F T H E A R T S AT YOUNG HA R R I S CO L L EGE

(From left to right) KatieMarlowe of Clermont, HannahGuest of Crawford, MichelleHonaker of Blairsville, ChristinaKelley of Auburn, Ga., RyanBender of Braselton, and MistyBarber of Nashville, Ga., relaxon the stage in GlennAuditorium, where they haveperformed together throughoutthe last four years.

INS IDE TH I S I SSUE :

Message from the Dean

Theatre Young HarrisAnnounces New Shows

YHC Music MajorsPerform in Georgia All-College Band andChorus

FALL 2011

Young Harris College senior music majorChristina Kelley of Auburn, Ga., and musicaltheatre majors Ryan Bender of Braselton,Michelle Honaker of Blairsville, Katie Marloweof Clermont, Hannah Guest of Crawford, andMisty Barber of Nashville, Ga., are accustomedto being in the spotlight. During the last fouryears, these students acted, sang and dancedtheir way into the hearts of fine arts patrons at YHC.On May 7, these students again stepped into

the limelight and were applauded for theirtalent when they walked across the stage in theYHC Recreation and Fitness Center as membersof the College’s first class of graduating seniorsin nearly a century.After gaining experience by performing in the

YHC Choir and a cappella ensembles andexcelling both onstage and backstage duringTheatre Young Harris productions, thesestudents are ready to embark on paths that will

allow them to shine in variousfacets of the fine arts.“My time at YHC has given me a

sense of professionalism andunderstanding of the businessalong with the opportunity togrow in a comfortable setting,”said Honaker, who will perform inthe outdoor drama Unto TheseHills in Cherokee, N.C., this summer. “Thisfoundation of training and development willserve as the roots for my future career.”Honaker and Barber plan to continue their

acting careers onstage, while Guest will alsoseek out opportunities in the televisionindustry. Bender plans to focus on film.“I am also very interested in pursuing a

career in directing and would love to attendgraduate school for that and eventually open

Continued on page 2

A 3-D sculpturestudio was addedto the Fine ArtsAnnex.

Y O U N G H A R R I S C O L L E G E

Fine Arts Annex Receives Additional RenovationsIn fall 2010, the Young Harris College Department of Art

moved from Clegg Fine Arts Building across Highway 76 tothe new YHC Fine Arts Annex building. This past spring,the facility received further renovations, including additionalstudio and office space.“We are very excited that the majority of the renovations

at the facility were completed this spring,” Department ofArt Chair and Associate Professor of Art Ted Whisenhuntsaid. “Our maintenance staff did a great job installing newlighting in the classrooms and hallways and upgrading theplumbing throughout the building.”A 3-D sculpture studio was completed this spring, along

with art faculty offices that include a studio space, allowingfaculty members to produce artwork while also remainingaccessible to students. “The art majors now have a greater sense of community

and want to spend more time in thestudio,” Whisenhunt said. “We are verypleased with the Fine Arts Annex andhope to see it flourish as the ArtDepartment continues to expand.”

New lightingwas installed inthe classroomsand hallways.

Department of Art Chair and Associate Professor ofArt Ted Whisenhunt’s office includes a studio space.

my own theatre company as managerand director,” Bender said. Kelley plans to attend graduate

school to obtain a degree in churchmusic, while Marlowe hopes tobecome certified to teach in the NorthGeorgia area. “I want my career to be focused

around educating students in dramaand music,” Marlowe said. “I wantstudents to find their place in the artsprograms and feel free to be ascreative as they like.”As the six seniors reflect on four

years of auditions, rehearsals andcurtain calls, the memories theyshared at YHC—both onstage andoff—remain paramount.

“I will never forget my classmates.Through every show and class, wecould always find laughter in amoment. We have been through somuch together and stuck by eachother over the last four years,” Guestsaid. “The most important thing I will

take with me from YHC is thememories,” Kelley added. “YHCdefinitely became my second homeand it’s sad to leave, but I know I willbe welcomed back with open armsany time I visit.”

“I want my career to befocused around educatingstudents in drama andmusic. I want students tofind their place in the artsprograms and feel free tobe as creative as they like.”

KATIE MARLOWE

Fine Arts Seniors Continued from page 1

Dear Friends of the Arts,

It was said by some wise person that if you do what you love,you never have to work a day in your life. I’ve been veryfortunate over the last 40-plus years to do what I love during along and sometimes scary adventure as a music educator and arts administrator.Although I love the arts and especially my work as dean of the Division of Fine Arts atYoung Harris College, it has been a lot of work—even though that work is a labor oflove. Having said that, I know I’m blessed to have been able to make my living in thisfascinating field.As co-chair of the College’s Purple and White Club, I have had the opportunity to

speak to my colleagues at various gatherings about giving back to YHC. I usually say thatmy gift is a tangible indication of those things that I value most. I know that we do goodwork here in the arts at YHC, and those efforts often result in truly great work. As I’m sure you will agree, our student work is second to none in undergraduate higher

education. I want to sincerely thank you for your support to make all of this possible.Your contribution to the Young Harris College Friends of the Arts is an indication of whatyou value, and you can be assured that your contributions directly assist our verydeserving students in many ways. Thank you for your generosity and support!There are many successes, honors and awards that I could bring to your attention, but

you will surely hear about these accomplishments and read about them elsewhere. Myintention in this letter is to say thank you for your help and your friendship during mytime here at Young Harris College. This is truly a special place that is made even morespecial by you and your friends who support us through your gifts and your attendanceat concerts, exhibitions and productions. Your encouragement of our faculty andstudents in all that they do is very much appreciated. Although I retired this summer and returned to my home in Effingham County, I want

all of you to know that I truly appreciate all that you have done for our fine artsprograms at Young Harris College. I also want to encourage you to continue that supportby giving to FOTA every year. I look forward to seeing you on my visits to YHC, and thank you again, my friends, for

giving to the Friends of the Arts at Young Harris College.

Benny P. Ferguson, Ph.D.

M E S S A G E F R O M T H E D E A N

Division of Fine Arts LeaderTakes Final Curtain Call

Dr. Benny P. Ferguson, Deanof the Division of Fine Arts

C MMUNIQUÉSUMMER 2011

1 College Street, P.O. Box 98 Young Harris, GA 30582

(706) 379-3111 or (800) 241-3754

A publication of the Office of Communicationsand Marketing at Young Harris College

© 2011 Young Harris College

2

YHC Faculty and AdministratorsLead Professional OrganizationsYoung Harris College was well represented during the 2010-2011academic year in the leadership of three music-related professionalorganizations. In November 2010, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs

Keith DeFoor, Ph.D., took over the presidency of the Georgia MusicTeachers Association (GMTA), the state affiliate of Music TeachersNational Association (MTNA).In June 2010, Dean of the Division of Fine Arts and Professor of

Music Benny Ferguson, Ph.D., began his two-year term as presidentof the Southern Division of the Music Educators National Conference(MENC). Senior Instructor of Music and Director of Bands Mary Land

completed her term as president-elect and began her presidency ofthe Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) in May 2011.

Dr. Keith DeFoor

Dr. Benny Ferguson

Mary Land

Earlier this year, 11 Young Harris College students wereselected to perform in the Georgia All-College Band and GeorgiaAll-College Chorus, comprised of music majors from colleges anduniversities throughout the state. The students performed duringthe Georgia Music Educators Association’s (GMEA) Annual InService Conference held in Savannah in late January.“This is the first time Young Harris College had representation

in this prestigious event,” Senior Instructor of Music and Directorof Bands Mary Land said.“Membership in these groups is asignificant accomplishment in acollege student’s musical career, andwe are extremely proud of thestudents who were chosen.”Students selected to perform in the

All-College Band include senior TaraShiver, clarinet, of Covington, juniorRaquel Jasso, clarinet, of Gainesville,sophomore Jake Wentzek, saxophone,of Blairsville, sophomore JeremiahKersting, trumpet, of Sugar Hill, andsophomore Nic Gannon, percussion, ofBlue Ridge.Students selected to perform in the

All-College Chorus include freshman

Caitlin Davis of Baxley, sophomore JeRee Dukes of Agnes,sophomore Melissa Murphy of Blairsville, junior GenevieveRodriguez of Calhoun, freshman Will Skelton of Hayesville, N.C.,and freshman Brian Walker of Powder Springs.Students were selected to participate in the All-College Band

and All-College Chorus through director recommendation. All-College Band student nominees also underwent an on-siteindividual audition and were ranked according to their ability to

play the full range of major and minorscales and arpeggios, along with publicperformance skills. “It was an honor to be chosen for this

because it will benefit me as a musicianand, most importantly, it will benefit myfuture career,” Wentzek said. “I was ableto meet many music teachers from allover the state of Georgia ranging fromkindergarten teachers to collegeprofessors.”“I was so excited to be chosen for the

Georgia All-College Band,” Shiver added.“It provided a great opportunity for me asa performer to meet new people whileconnecting with individuals that will aid usin our future careers as performers.”

Theatre Young Harris Announces 2011-2012 Mainstage Series

3

Theatre Young Harris will present an exciting newlineup of performances for the 2011-2012 MainstageSeries, offering audiences a wide range of both classicand contemporary theatre and musical theatreproductions.The series opens in September with its children’s show,

A Year with Frog and Toad, Sept. 20-25. This lightheartedmusical is based on the popular children’s stories writtenand illustrated by Arnold Lobel. Next, Theatre YoungHarris will present English playwright Ray Cooney’srollicking farcical comedy Out of Order, Nov. 10-13 and17-19. In February, the group will present Pride andPrejudice, a play based on Jane Austen’s hugely popularromantic tale, Feb. 16-19 and 23-25. The season willclose with Neil Simon’s Tony Award-winning musicalcomedy Sweet Charity, April 12-15 and 19-21.Season tickets will be available in person through the

YHC Box Office, located in the lobby of Goolsby Center, byphone at (706) 379-4307 or online at www.yhc.edu/tickets. Show details and more ticket information will be

available online soon.

(From left to right) Tara Shiver of Covington,Jeremiah Kersting of Sugar Hill, Raquel Jasso ofGainesville, Senior Instructor of Music and Director of Bands Mary Land, Jake Wentzek of Blairsville, andNic Gannon of Blue Ridge, attended the GeorgiaMusic Educators Association’s (GMEA) Annual InService Conference.

Eleven Students Selected for Georgia All-College Band and Georgia All-College Chorus

Theatre Young Harris closed out the2010-2011 season with threeperformances of the Rodgers andHammerstein groundbreaking Broadwayfavorite Carousel. Above: The chorus ofCarousel performs the well-knownnumber “June is Bustin’ Out All Over.”Right: Tyler Ogburn of Blairsville, ascarnival barker Billy Bigelow, and KatieMarlowe of Clermont, as mill worker JulieJordan, sing the duet “If I Loved You.”

Your support enables theDivision of Fine Arts atYoung Harris College tocontinue offering qualityprogramming that

benefits studentdevelopment and enhances

the local cultural landscape. Friends of theArts supports Young Harris College’s goalsto enable students to grow and learn in anenvironment of uncompromised artisticand academic freedom and integrity.For more information, contact

Jennifer McAfee at (706) 379-5318 orjmcafee@yhc.edu.

PLATINUMAnonymousJeff and Diane BaumanSam H. Coker, ’47 and DianeCokerCathy Cox and Mark DehlerKeith and Cynthia DeFoorH. Frank, ’61 and Clara ErwinBenny and Betty FergusonBill and Betsy GustinRichard H. HoibratenRon and Judy IngleJohn and Linda KniessRichard and Shirley McGinnisMen on the Move Mary Beth Wiles and Leslie DavisJames and Helen Yost

GOLDBob, ‘57 and Barbara Bone Franklin and Sally BoulineauSandy and Karen CallowayEddie and Christina CollinsHigh Country HarmonizersMarvin W. McArthur, '65 and LizMcArthurRoy D. MoultrieKathy Fox Powell '73Nancy SandersonVirginia S. Stephens '57Ted and Eloise Whisenhunt

SILVERRobert and Barbara BannonRonnell and Rebecca BealHarvey S. CohenDan and Anita GussGene and Joyce HallSteve and Barbara HarveyWayne and Pam HundleyBob and Mary KeysGeorge W. LeeHelen W. MathisRob, '75 and Vickie MurrayRon and Debbie RoachRusty, '88 and Rosemary, 89RoystonFritz and Diane SimonsenLarry and Angela SorgenDean and Ruth Twedt

BRONZEElois D. Anderson '45Jon and Paulette AndersonAnonymousJo BearseJulia C. BeemanNorm and Jan BennettWilliam and Lynn Doris BlumreichDon and Nancy BrewerLew and Jean CaputaWilliam and Suzanne CarterCarol A. Chastain, '84Rachel Lea Chaves and GregoryMcGrathRoberta Chereck and VinceCooper Yale Citrin, M.D., Georgia SoutherCitrinPaul and Linda CollinsMelda and Lewis Davis

Scott and Krystin DeanGarry and Melinda DentonJack and Kay, '64 DuggerJames and Nancy '76 ElwoodRichard and Catherine FiserBill '50 and Mary Ann FoxDavid and Louisa FranklinMyron and Margret GrizioTed and Maureen GustafsonDorothy Biggers Harmon '58Gene and Nancy HinsonKen and Sandy JohnsonBenjamin and Claudia KennedyLeon, '55 and Judith LeeMargaret L. McCamyL.K. MetzKevin and Leigh MillerMurphy C., '74 and Susan MillerCarl and Janice MooreHarold and Denise MurphyLynne NationArthur and Jean NetheryMargret OswaldMichael and Adeline PizyckiEve Respess, '76Bob, '62 and Betty RogersAlexis O'Kon SchlarbBob, '51 and Diana ShortBetty Shuler, '52Larry and Frances SmithSue SoriceAmy C. Spivey and Timothy S.MooreEllis and Evelyn Wiley

FRIENDCindy ArringtonDon BerryEarl and Idalu '55 BishopGene and Susan BoydAthelyn ButtrillDennis Gray and Kay CameronHenry and Helen ChildsKi CurtisWayne and Gloria DeatonMarion and Margaret, '55 DeckerMichael and Dawn DickinsJackie and Susan DobbinsJohn and Mary DolvinAllan and Joyce DriskellMr. and Mrs. Edward P. EndresJohn and Karen GalloglyMax M. Gilstrap, 56Joy E. GrahamCyrus and Malinda GrayDennis Gray and Kay CameronRaymond A. GrothLoy Jay '57 and Vivian GrovesHenry and Cornelia HarnageCarol Anne and Gene HarrisonCharlotte J. HeadrickPete and Sharon HerrmannWilliam and Irene HildClint, '88 and Teresa HobbsJames E. and Barbara HollimanBrenda HuntFrances JohnstonVictor and Christina Kane

John, '56 and Patti KayJames and Marilyn KimseyRichard KneppGeorge A. KollerEmmett, '61 and Carole LangleyRonald and Cynthia LarsonThomas and Judith LaymanSamuel M. Leslie '99Charles and Lois LooperMac MacDiarmidBarry and Marian MalacMike and Melody MarloweMike '79 and Jennifer Marshall '79 Bud and Judy MillerDonald and Sally MillerStuart A. MillerKenneth and Martha MinerJohnny C. and Urania P. MossLinda K. Murley '72Lonnie, '64 and Carol, '64 NicholsLanier, '53 and Freddie NicholsonAlice S. Orourke-CushmanBrenda PaulLeonard and Millie PooleJayne RobertielloPatricia (Charlie) Rogers '91Fred and Linda RohlandJane Miller, '42 RossE. Clayton Scofield and Lucy W.ScofieldGeorge and Madeline SeifermanR. L. and E. D. ShepherdCarol and David SmuckerHong and Sunnie SonRobert and Norma Jean, '55StewartBob and Shirley StillwellGary and Bonita SuggsRob Sturgess and Laurie TossingDanae C. TurchynCarol WadeTony and Nicolette WadeRaymond and Jean WardCourtney Elizabeth WattsJerry F. WestmorelandForrest, '56 and Kaye WheelerRoy and Marynell YahlJohn and Kay Yandell

IN HONORBill, ’50 and Mary Ann Fox

Given by Kathy Fox Powell, ’73Jordan Marshall

Given by Mike, ’79 and Jennifer, ’79 Marshall

IN MEMORYDorothy Luella Roberts

Given by E. Clayton Scofieldand Lucy W. Scofield

Ruth D. WilliamsGiven by Julia C. Beeman

Jerry WoodGiven by Mike, ’79 and Jennifer, ’79 Marshall

Members listed above made a gift to Friends of the Arts July 1, 2010–June 30, 2011.

Play a Leading Role in the Artsat Young Harris College with

2 0 1 0 – 2 0 1 1 F R I E N D S O F T H E A R T S M E M B E R S

4

All members receive:• welcome packet• semi-annual newsletter• annual spring dinner• name recognition in event programs

Gold and platinum members also receive:• private reception and dinner• priority seating for theatre events

Please select your membership level:

Platinum $1,000+

Gold $500-$999

Silver $250-$499

NAME List name as it should appear in publications. Check box if you do not want your name published.

STREET ADDRESS

CITY/STATE/ZIP

PHONE

EMAIL

Check enclosed, made payable to Young Harris College.

Please charge my

American Express Discover MasterCard VISA

CARD #

NAME ON CARD

EXPIRATION DATE 3-DIGIT SECURITY CODE

SIGNATURE

I commit to a one-time charge of $ _________________

OR ____________ per month for ___________ months.

Multiple payments are billed in consecutive months.

Return completed form with your gift to

Young Harris College Offi ce of AdvancementP.O. Box 275 • Young Harris, GA 30582

Or join online at www.yhc.edu.

Bronze $100-249

Friend $25-$99

Join Today!