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The Spring edition of the 2013 Milligan Magazine.
Citation preview
MilliganMagazine
A Program of Note n Never Too Late n A Higher Goal
SPRING 2013
Spring 2013 | Volume 15, Number 1
MilliganPReSIdeNt
Bill Greer (’85) [email protected]
VIce PReSIdeNt foR
INStItutIoNal adVaNcemeNt
Jack Simpson (’92) jasimpson @milligan.edu
VIce PReSIdeNt foR eNRollmeNt
maNaGemeNt aNd maRketINGA. Lee Fierbaugh (’94) [email protected]
dIRectoR of alumNI RelatIoNS
EDITOR
Theresa Garbe (’91) [email protected]
dIRectoR of PuBlIc RelatIoNS
aNd maRketING
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Chandrea Shell (’00) [email protected]
cReatIVe SeRVIceS cooRdINatoR
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Art Brown [email protected]
commuNIcatIoNS cooRdINatoR
FEATuRE WRITER Stories on 12, 14Melissa Nipper (’96) [email protected]
SPoRtS INfoRmatIoN dIRectoR
FEATuRE WRITER Stories on 18, 20Matt Laws [email protected]
coVeR Photo © Peter Nelson (’13)
coNtRIButoRS:Photo on 2, © Mark PeacockPhotos on 3, © Danny Davis, © Nelson, contributed Photos on 4-6, © Nelson, archivesPhotos on 7, © PeacockPhotos on 8-11, © Kara Crotts (’08), © Nelson,
© Peacock, © Nathan Rodda (’13), contributed, staff
Photo on 13, contributedPhotos on 14-15, © Nelson, archivesPhotos on 16-17, © Chuck Rector, © NelsonPhotos on 18-19 , contributedPhotos on 20-21, © Davis, contributedPhotos on 22-25, archives, contributedPhoto on 27, © PeacockPhotos on 28, © Nelson, © Peacock
ouR mISSIoNAs a Christian liberal arts college, Milligan College seeks to honor God by educating men and women
to be servant-leaders.
ouR VISIoNAs a premier Christian liberal arts college where JesusChrist is exalted and excellence is the standard,Milligan will change lives and shape culture through acommitment to Christian leadership.
GeNeRal INfoRmatIoNThe Milligan Magazine is published regularly by theMilligan College Office of Institutional Advancement for alumni and friends of the college and is distributedfree of charge. The Magazine highlights the college’svision to change lives and shape culture through acommitment to servant-leadership. Copyright © 2013 Milligan College.
800.447.5922 | [email protected]
POSTMASTeR: Send address corrections to Advancement, P.O. Box 9, Milligan College, Tennessee 37682.
As I write this, spring break is almost here. Are people ready!?! We’ve had our fair share of
cold, gray, blustery days in East Tennessee, and there is nothing like a change of scenery—along
with a little extra sleep and the prospect of warmer, sunnier days—to give you a fresh perspective.
In recent months, the Milligan community has lost several people who were dear to us. Amidst
our sorrow, though, there has been joy: in lives celebrated, in the reconvening of friends and family,
and in the start of a new year. Already this semester, we have enjoyed art exhibits, national
tournaments, concerts, educational trips, a lecture series, an opera and new residence halls being
bricked. Of course, all of this while taking classes, attending chapels and convocations, student
teaching, and participating in internships, clinicals and fieldwork. Those who have gone on, their
indelible marks on this place, surely would be pleased to see the many ways the college carries on.
In this issue, you can read about how our students are involved in the lives of others, whether
it’s preparing income tax returns, helping underprivileged children with homework, or engaging in
global issues. Enclosed are examples of how our faculty share their talents outside of the
classroom, working with the next generation of college students and preparing the next generation
of leaders, whether on the international stage or the music stage. And, through the feature on June
Leonard, you will be reminded of our devoted staff who bear witness to the mission and ministry
of Milligan.
Scholarship, community and faith are distinguishing qualities within this institution, yesterday,
today and tomorrow. We are grateful for those who came before us to set the college on this path.
Their influence is warmly remembered. We are grateful for those who are here now, achieving the
college’s vision in big and small ways. And we look forward to meeting those who have not yet
joined us, those who see a consistency in our past and present and who desire to take part in
shaping Milligan’s future.
The days ahead look bright in so many ways!
Blessings,
Theresa (Brown ’91) GarbeDirector of Alumni Relations
Letter from theEditor
2 | SPRING 2013
SPRING 2013 | 3
T a b l e o f C o n t e n t s
FEATURES
12 Major Achievements
14 Milligan’s Treasure in the Stacks
16 Never Too Late
18 A Higher Goal
20 Serving: On the Court
and in the Classroom22
DEPARTMENTS
2 editor’s letter
7 faculty News
8 campus close-up
21 athletic News
22 class Notes
27 letter from the President
4 12 188
16
Since Milligan’s earliest days, students have studied, played and sung
music together. According to the 1949 yearbook, Milligan’s choir
was first organized in the fall of 1946 by Mr. and Mrs. E. Gordon
Warner. Before that, dating back at least as far as the 1930s, there was a
Glee Club, and prior to that there is archival evidence of various vocal
and instrumental trios and quartets.
For instance, Josephus Hopwood, the college’s founder and the
Prohibition Party’s candidate for governor of Tennessee in 1896, was
accompanied by a quartet of Milligan men whose repertoire consisted
of temperance songs.
Today, Milligan’s students are exposed to a wide variety of musical
ensembles and styles, whether they are patrons or performers. The
college boasts an orchestra, a string quartet, a jazz ensemble, a concert
choir, a women’s chorale, two a cappella ensembles, and this year, for the
first time in decades, Milligan added an opera workshop to its course
offerings.
On March 1 and 2, the music area presented Engelbert
Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel. Fully-staged and employing the
vocal talent of Milligan students, the cast of 13 was joined by
the Milligan Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Kellie Brown, associate professor
of music. Dr. Charlotte Anderson, assistant professor of the practice of
music, provided stage direction, and Noah DeLong, assistant professor of
music, provided vocal coaching.
Hansel and Gretel served as both entertainment and education. The
singers and musicians began rehearsals last fall.
“The reward is that it came together as a cohesive whole and everyone
learned a lot during the process,” Anderson said. “Music education majors
learned the nuts and bolts of putting together a production like this for their
teaching experience. Performance majors honed their skills as performers,
and everyone was enriched by the experience.”
Opera was not the only musical offering in March, however. As part of
Music in Our Schools Month (MIOSM), Milligan students and faculty, in
collaboration with the East Tennessee Regional Symphony (ETRS) and
partially funded by the East Tennessee Foundation, partnered with Carnegie
Hall’s Link Up program—the only Link Up participant in the state of
Tennessee.
With Milligan’s Brown serving as concertmaster and DeLong serving as
narrator, 1,100 elementary students from the region joined Milligan’s
4 | SPRING 2013
orchestra and the ETRS on March 27 to perform a concert in Seeger
Memorial Chapel’s Mary B. Martin Auditorium. Students, who had been
practicing on soprano recorders or violins since early fall 2012, were both
audience and musician, playing their instruments along with the combined
orchestra and enjoying the excitement of being part of the live
performance.
Link Up is an educationally-rich, grant-funded program whose
purpose is to introduce elementary-age students to the instruments and
music of the orchestra—through local orchestras. The program’s
curriculum teaches students about rhythm, melody and moving melodic
motifs. Provided to participating music classes at no cost are curriculum
guides for each music teacher; workbooks for each student;
and a development webinar for lead teachers and orchestra
administrators. Additionally, Link Up partners are given a
concert repertoire list, concert script, and accompanying
concert visuals; and other resources related to curriculum
and professional development.
In addition to hosting the Carnegie Hall Link Up
program, Milligan is serving as a test site for the Carnegie
Hall/Royal Conservatory Achievement Program, whose
purpose is to implement set standards in music education
and performance across the United States. Such graded
national standards have long been in place in Europe, Canada
and elsewhere.
“Milligan is honored to participate in this prestigious
The Temperance Quartet, 1896
String Trio, 1899
Music class, Derthick Auditorium, 1931
SOUNDS of the PAST
SPRING 2013 | 5
6 | SPRING 2013
Faculty are actively engaged in the music community
beyond Milligan’s campus, serving as guest artists
and conductors for other ensembles.
Rick Simerly, associate professor of music and a
nationally-renowned trombonist, conducts all-state
jazz bands in Tennessee, North Carolina, South
Carolina and Ohio; holds residencies at summer jazz
camps on various college campuses; and regularly
serves as a soloist and/or clinician at high schools
throughout the United States.
Charlotte Anderson, a certified teacher of the
Alexander Technique, conducts both vocal and
Alexander Technique workshops for area schools and
youth choirs.
Kellie Brown serves as assistant conductor of the
Johnson City Symphony Orchestra (TN) and assistant
concertmaster for the Symphony of the Mountains.
Additionally, she is a frequent clinician and performer
throughout the country, her most recent performance
as a guest artist with Mannheim Steamroller.
Anne Elliott, assistant professor of the practice of
music, conducts music workshops for area music
teachers, has been actively involved in Milligan’s
Summer Arts Academy, and directs a vocal ensemble
at Central Baptist (Johnson City, TN).
David Runner, professor of music, serves local
churches as a professional organist and is a frequent
guest artist at the annual Spoleto Festival in
Charleston, South Carolina.
Noah DeLong, the newest member of Milligan’s
music faculty, serves the local community and
beyond as a guest conductor, tenor soloist,
collaborative pianist and church musician. He
will conduct an all-state choral workshop for
high school students in late summer.
program that will bring highly motivated and accomplished music students from
surrounding states to our campus for testing,” Brown said. “Our involvement not only
promotes the high musical standards espoused in this program but also serves as a
recruiting tool for the music area and college.”
National programs, like the Carnegie programs, and faculty involvement in their
churches, in local schools, and in regional and national workshops and festivals attract
students to Milligan’s music program. Many local music undergraduates began their
Milligan music career as secondary students, taking private lessons from faculty and, in
some cases, participating in college ensembles. Such opportunities provide gifted high
school students a venue in which to perform more advanced music and give them a
glimpse of what it means to study music at the college level.
The life of a music major is demanding. In addition to regular coursework and music
lessons, students must practice a minimum of 12 hours per week on their primary
instrument and 4 hours per week on their secondary instrument. They also are required to
participate in or attend weekly recitals, student performances, and the various concerts
hosted by Milligan.
Amanda Eversole (’15), a music performance major from Illinois, says she came to
Milligan with the intention of studying piano.
“I didn’t think it would be much of a challenge, since I’d been playing piano for so
long. I was wrong,” she says with a laugh.
“Being a music major is a lot of responsibility, but I’ve come to appreciate music so
much more since I’ve been here. I have gained a new knowledge and have been exposed to
so many kinds of music—music I’ve played and heard.”
Though the schedule is rigorous, students benefit greatly from being regularly
immersed in the study of diverse musical genres and styles. They leave Milligan
well-prepared for graduate programs or for work in the field—as private
teachers, band directors, elementary and secondary music teachers, music
ministers and professional performers.n
Digital mediaMUsictheatRe
Spend a week at one of America’s premier Christian
liberal arts colleges and explore the world of digital
media, music or theatre. Learn directly from Milligan
faculty. The programs include hands-on workshops
and lessons, evening activities, devotion times,
food and fun outings to local sights.
www.milligan.edu/artsacademy
FAcUlTyin the FIElD
ages 14-18June 16-21, 2013
SPRING 2013 | 7
admINIStRatIoN & Staff
Gary f. daught, director of library services, authors a blogcalled Omega Alpha | Open Access (http://oaopenaccess.wordpress.com), which advocates for open accessacademic publishing (primarily journals) in religion andtheology. Gary’s blog celebrated its first anniversary inNovember, logging 12,000 views (now close to 15,000)from 127 countries worldwide.
mary Jackson, research andinstruction librarian, presented attwo professional developmentwebinars for Appalachian CollegeAssociation librarians: “GettingInvolved with the Community” inDecember 2012 and “CampusOrientations” in January 2013.
BIBlIcal leaRNING
Phil kenneson, professor of theology and philosophy,attended The Society of Christian ethics annual conference(Chicago, IL) in January and the winter board meeting ofThe ekklesia Project (eugene, OR) in February.
Jeff miller, associate professor of Bible, is serving asinterim worship minister at Harrison Christian Church(Johnson City, TN). He also preached at Harrison inFebruary.
educatIoN
angela hilton-Prillhart, assistant professor of education,co-presented a workshop for Valley Forge elementarySchool teachers (elizabethton, TN) titled “UsingInformational Texts to Meet Common Core Standards inReading and Writing” in January. In February, she co-presented a paper titled “Teacher ProfessionalDevelopment and Student Achievement: Opportunities forSchool Psychologists” to the National Association of SchoolPsychologists (Seattle, WA).
humaNe leaRNING
lee Blackburn, assistant professor of history andhumanities, attended the Annual Conference of the Societyof Biblical Literature (Chicago, IL) in November.
mandy Nydegger, adjunct instructor of composition,presented a paper titled “A Fight for the PsychologicalUpper Hand: Man Versus Beast in Charles Reade’s Jack of
All Trades” at the annual Midwest Modern LanguageAssociation conference (Cincinnati, OH) in November.
occuPatIoNal theRaPY
christy Isbell, professor of occupational therapy,presented a session titled “Incorporating SensoryIntegration and Developmentally Appropriate Practice withYoung Children” at the National Association for theeducation of Young Children 2012 Conference (Atlanta, GA)in November. She also published an article titled“Developmentally Appropriate Fine Motor Practices forearly Childhood Settings” in The American OccupationalTherapy Association, Inc.’s December 2012 Early
Intervention & School Special Interest Section Quarterly.
Jennifer Susong crowder, adjunct instructor ofoccupational therapy, completed a doctor of science inrehabilitation sciences degree at the University ofOklahoma in December 2012. She is the co-author of“How did the television get in the child’s bedroom? Analysisof Family Interviews,” which appeared in the December2012 issue of Preventive Medicine.
PeRfoRmING, VISual & commuNIcatIVe aRtS
alice anthony, associate professor of art, attended theCouncil on Undergraduate Research (CUR) meeting inNovember with charlene thomas, adjunct instructor ofhumanities, and Jeff miller.
Noah delong, assistant professor of music, was the tenorsoloist for the Marion (IN) Philharmonic Orchestra’sperformance of Franz Joseph Haydn’s The Creation inNovember, and he conducted the annual east TennesseeChristian Convention’s Combined Choir.
Richard major, professor oftheatre, was recognized at theannual Arts in educationConference in November for hisartistic contribution to the regionthrough the Milligan Theatre forYoung Audiences touring theatricaltroupe. The company, founded byMr. Major in 1987, celebrated its25th anniversary last year. To datethe company has performed fornearly 190,000 students in Appalachia. Major alsoreceived an honorable mention in the January 2013 issueof News Digest International in its listing of “Who’s Who inAcademia.”
SocIal leaRNING
John-Paul abner, associate professor of occupationaltherapy, psychology and counseling, was named executivedirector of the board of Parent Child Interaction Therapy,International. In December, he co-presented “WithinProgram Trainer Training,” an eight-hour continuingeducation workshop presented simultaneously at Milliganand in Memphis, TN. In February, he presented a 10-hourworkshop, “Society of Clinical Child and AdolescentPsychology evidence Based Approaches in Child andAdolescent Mental Health Speaker Series” that was filmedin Miami, FL, for mass distribution on the Internet as partof Division 53’s effort to promote evidenced-basedtreatment.
Faculty News
Runner receives Fide et Amore award
Milligan awarded 101 degrees at the
December commencement ceremony. The
graduates included four Bachelor of Arts (BA),
31 Bachelor of Science (BS), 16 Master of
Business Administration (MBA), 20 Master of
Education (M.Ed.), and 30 Master of Science in
Occupational Therapy (MSOT) students. Dr.
Lori Mills, director of Milligan’s new Master of
Science in Counseling program, was the keynote speaker.
In addition, the college presented the Fide et Amore award to Dr. David
Runner for his loving and faithful service to the college. Runner joined the
Milligan faculty in 1972. He serves as professor of music, teaching organ, piano,
voice and music theory.n
Professors receive ACA fellowships
Professors Simon J. Dahlman and Noah
DeLong are among the recipients of the 2013-
2014 Appalachian College Association Faculty
Fellowship.
Milligan is a member of the Appalachian
College Association (ACA), a non-profit
consortium of 36 private four-year liberal arts
institutions spread across the central
Appalachian mountains in Kentucky, North
Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
The Faculty Fellowship Program is the longest-
running program of the ACA.
Dahlman and DeLong will use the
fellowship money to pursue professional
development opportunities that will help them
complete their terminal degrees.n
Dahlman
DeLong
8 | SPRING 2013
c a m p u s c l o s e - u p
Residence hall to honorDon and Clarinda Jeanes
Milligan College President Dr. Bill Greer announced that a
residence hall in the college’s new housing village will be named in
honor of Milligan’s 14th president and first lady, Don and Clarinda
Jeanes.
“Dr. Bill Greene, a Milligan trustee and chairman of BancTenn
Corporation, has made a generous financial gift to the college. He has not
asked us to acknowledge his gift by placing his own name on one of the
residence halls. Instead, he has asked that we honor the life and work of
Don and Clarinda Jeanes by naming one of the buildings ‘Don and
Clarinda Jeanes Hall’,” Greer said.
Don served as Milligan’s president for 14 years until his retirement in
2011. He passed away unexpectedly on August 27, 2012. Clarinda remains
active in her role as founding president of Associated Ladies for Milligan.
“I appreciate the opportunity to do something for Milligan that
honors the commitment to energy, vision and soul that Don and Clarinda
gave to this wonderful school in East Tennessee,” Greene said.
Greene’s gift is the second major gift to help fund the $12.5 million
first phase of the housing village. In 2012, Richard and Leslie Gilliam of
Charlottesville, Virginia, donated money for the site preparation and
construction of the housing village.
The college broke ground on the housing village in the summer of
2012, and the campus has watched with anticipation as retaining walls and
excavation turned into bricks and mortar—and now five new buildings are
nearing completion.
Jeanes Hall is one of five residence halls in the first phase of the
housing village, which will be ready for occupancy in fall 2013.
These halls are designed to combine the privacy of a suite with the
college’s vibrant community life. Each suite, which will house up to five
students, revolves around a centralized living room, and the village itself
includes a large commons area, which could be used for student activities
such as intramural sports.
Greer is pleased with the progress of the housing village.
“By this fall, we’ll see students moving into the new Milligan Village,”
Greer said. “We are happy that ‘Jeanes Hall’ will be the first name to go up
in the village. Jeanes Hall will contain student housing as well as a large
community room that will serve as a gathering place for students. It will be
a centerpiece of the new village.”
Additional naming opportunities are available for the Milligan housing
village. For more information, contact the Milligan advancement office at
800.447.5922 or 423.461.8955.n
SPRING 2013 | 9
Milligan students earn six ADDY awards
Milligan students earned six ADDY® awards this year, including the
student “Best of Show” honor, at the annual American Advertising
Federation Northeast Tennessee awards banquet held on Saturday,
February 23.
ADDY awards honor the best and most creative advertising work from
students and professionals in the industry. The awards are given in three
levels: local, district and national. Winners in each level are qualified to
compete in higher levels.
A photograph by senior Mickey Brown of Kingsport, TN, earned a
gold ADDY and was named student “Best of Show.” Brown is majoring in
fine arts with an emphasis in photography. His winning photograph will be
entered into the district competition and will compete against entries from
Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Brown also earned a silver ADDY for his publication cover design.
In addition, senior Peter Nelson of Gray, TN, won a silver ADDY for
his photography. Nelson is a business major with an emphasis in marketing
and minors in photography and digital media.
Junior Elise King of Midlothian, VA, earned silver for her public
service announcement television spot. King is majoring in communications
with an emphasis in public relations.
Also earning a silver ADDY for their television spot featuring the
Milligan dance team video campaign were senior Gretchen Allie of
Charlotte, NC, and junior Joe Camarata of St. Clair Shores, MI. Allie is a
communications major with emphases in digital media and public relations.
Camarata is a communications major with a digital media emphasis and a
minor in graphic design.n
Family Weekend, hosted February
15-17, included a variety of activities for
students, parents and siblings. In addition
to open dorms and a dean’s list ceremony
followed by brunch, families were treated
to “A Valentine’s Cabaret.” The concert,
performed in Sub-7, located in McMahan
Sudent Center, featured solos, duets and
several Milligan vocal ensembles. Musical
selections, appropriate for the season,
included fun pieces like Stephen Foster’s
“If You’ve Only Got a Moustache,” Kristin Chenoweth’s “Taylor the Latte
Boy,” and “Adelaide’s Lament” from Guys and Dolls.n
Campus welcomes guests for annual FamilyWeekend
Milligan’s Student Government
Association (SGA) hosted a 27-hour Stand
for Freedom event, on March 5-6, to raise
money and awareness for efforts to end
slavery throughout the world.
During that 27-hour period, participants
raised money, shared stories of rescue, signed pledges to stop slavery, and
learned other ways to get involved.
Stand for Freedom events were part of an outreach of International
Justice Mission (IJM), a human rights agency that brings rescue to victims of
slavery, sexual exploitation, and other forms of violent oppression.
According to statistics from IJM, 27 million people are enslaved
throughout the world today, which is the largest amount in history.
Participants in Milligan’s Stand for Freedom raised awareness of slavery and
took a stand to help end it.
“SGA wanted to inform our campus that slavery still exists and that we
can stand up for the individuals who do not have a voice and cannot stand
on their own,” said SGA President Danica Collins. “The Stand for Freedom
is a way to be become more engaged with the community and help other
people.”
IJM’s justice professionals work in their communities in 16 field offices
in Asia, Africa and Latin America to secure tangible and sustainable
protection of national laws through local court systems. IJM lawyers,
investigators and aftercare professionals work with local officials to secure
immediate victim rescue and aftercare, to prosecute perpetrators, and to
ensure that public justice systems—police, courts and laws—effectively
protect the poor.n
Students take astand for freedom
Mickey Brown (’13), Elise King (’14), Joe Camarata (’14),
Gretchen Allie (’13), and Peter Nelson (’13)
c a m p u s c l o s e - u p
In December, Milligan received reaffirmation of its accreditation for
the next 10 years from its accrediting body, the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools-Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC).
Milligan has been accredited by SACS-COC since 1960. Its next
reaffirmation will take place in 2022.
“It was very gratifying to receive the official word of our reaffirmation,
and I am extremely proud of the individuals who make up such a dynamic
and growing community of Christian scholars at Milligan,” said Milligan
President Dr. Bill Greer.
To gain or maintain accreditation with the COC, an institution must
comply with the standards contained in the “Principles of Accreditation:
Foundations for Quality Enhancement” and with the policies and
procedures of the COC.
Another key step in the reaffirmation process is the concept of quality
enhancement. Each institution seeking reaffirmation of accreditation is
required to develop a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). The QEP
describes a carefully designed and focused course of action that addresses a
well-defined topic or issue(s) related to enhancing student learning.
Milligan’s QEP is titled
“RISE Above,” which stands
for Research Increases
Student Engagement. The
focus of RISE Above, which began in fall 2012, is on faculty-mentored
student research.
Through RISE Above, Milligan’s undergraduate students will learn
more about research in the Introduction to College, Calling and Career, as
well as composition courses. Among other initiatives, the program includes
special events and seminars for students to hear about research from others
or to present their own research. Students who want to do a research project
related to their major can enroll in a special course and work one-on-one
with a faculty mentor.
This spring, 23 students representing 11 disciplines are completing
faculty-mentored research. These students will present their research at
various conferences including the National Conference on Undergraduate
Research, the Stone-Campbell Journal Conference, and the East Tennessee
State University Research Forum.n
SACS reaffirms Milligan’s accreditation
Students offer free incometax preparation
The Nelson Fine Art Center in downtown Johnson City featured “Art
from the Buffalo School,” an exclusive exhibition of art and photography
work by Milligan fine arts students throughout the month of February.
Students presented their photography, paintings, drawings, mixed
media and graphic design in the exhibit. This is the 11th year Milligan has
participated in “Art from the Buffalo School.”
“Student work can be fresh and emotional, and as a result, it
challenges our viewers,” said Dick Nelson, owner of The Nelson Fine Art
Center. “Students also really benefit from an outside exhibit; they learn
about the process of showing their work to the public.”n
Art from the Buffalo School Lisa Harper, popular Bible teacher and
author, spoke at the Eleanore L. Campbell
Ladies Conference hosted by the Associated
Ladies for Milligan on February 23.
The conference, titled “Stumbling into
Grace,” was a day for women of all ages to be spiritually fed and
recharged through biblical teaching, uplifting music and fellowship with
other women from throughout the region.
Harper’s writing and speaking overflow with colorful pop culture
references that connect the dots between the Bible era and modern life.
Her style combines sound scriptural exposition with easy-to-relate-to
anecdotes and comedic wit. She is the author of 10 books and has
appeared on numerous syndicated radio and television programs.n
ALM conferencefeatures Lisa Harper
uResearch Increases Student Engagement
RISE aBOVEMilligan College
Milligan’s IRS VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program
entered its fifth year of serving area residents with a free alternative that
provides the same fast refunds as paid preparers do. In 2012, volunteers
completed nearly 450 returns, saving clients more than $100,000
compared to if they had used fee-based services. This year kicked off
with additional locations, a new website and the usual host of well-
trained, IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers.
“Milligan’s VITA site has become one of the strongest in the
Southeast, more than quadrupling in returns prepared the last two years,”
said Dr. Harold Branstrator, director of the VITA program. “We see this
as a ministry of justice to low and moderate-income taxpayers. Our
volunteers (mostly Milligan students) are competent, courteous and
respectful, and we have a near-zero error rate, much lower than the
average for paid preparers.”n
10 | SPRING 2013
SPRING 2013 | 11
MBA executive certificatesnow available
Milligan College is now offering an opportunity for individuals who
already possess a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or
equivalent degree to earn an executive certificate in one of three
specialized tracks—leadership, healthcare management or operations
management. Executive certificate courses in the specialized tracks are
set to begin in September 2013.n
Milligan College is one of six institutions in
Tennessee to be named to the 2013 President’s Higher
Education Community Service Honor Roll with
Distinction. One of only 100 institutions selected
nationwide, this designation is the highest honor a
college or university can receive for its
commitment to volunteering, service-learning and
civic engagement.
“For nearly 150 years, servant-leadership has
been an essential part of Milligan’s mission, so it is an
honor to be recognized among a prestigious group of
institutions that are committed to service,” said Milligan
President Bill Greer. “We encourage our students—through their
scholarship, community and faith—to reflect on what it means to
be called to lives of service in all professions.”
Out of more than 1,025 applicants, 690 were recognized
across four honor roll categories. The other five Tennessee
institutions included in the President’s Higher Education
Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction include Belmont
University, Lee University, Rhodes College, the University of
Tennessee at Chattanooga, and Vanderbilt University.
Honorees were selected for projects deemed meaningful,
relevant and exemplary. Milligan was chosen for the Honor Roll
with Distinction for its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program
(VITA), Theatre for Young Audiences “Health Heroes to the
Rescue!” and Service Saturdays.n
Milligan continues to expand its Master of Science in counseling (MSC)
program to include more options for students.
The program now offers an option for students who want to become
licensed school counselors. Applications are now being accepted for the
program, which is set to begin in fall 2013. Most of the classes for the
school counseling program will be offered two evenings per week to
accommodate the schedules of working adults. Some online courses also
will be available.
In addition, Milligan and Emmanuel Christian Seminary have a
cooperative agreement to offer a certificate of graduate study in counseling
ministry. This collaborative agreement is part of the schools’ ongoing
efforts to work more closely together.
The 18-hour curriculum introduces students to basic knowledge about
both secular and Christian
perspectives on counseling
and how these may be
applied in a church-based
setting. The certificate
program combines existing
courses in Milligan’s MSC
program with courses in
Emmanuel’s Christian care
and counseling emphasis within its existing Master of Divinity program.
To learn more, visit www.milligan.edu/counseling.n
More options added to counseling program
Milligan received a $54,000 grant that will provide free training and
three hours of free graduate school credit for 24 local math teachers this
summer.
The Improving Teacher Quality (ITQ) Grant Program is a federally
funded program that provides grants to public and private higher
education institutions. It is administered in Tennessee by the Tennessee
Higher Education Commission. Milligan is one of
only nine projects selected statewide.
Milligan’s “Teaching Math Matters” grant is
focused on helping secondary (grades 9-12) math
teachers better integrate the Common Core
mathematical content into their instruction.
The program will provide teachers with
hands-on opportunities to practice and refine their
mathematical teaching skills and equip them with
effective strategies for instruction.n
Grant provides training andgraduate credit for local teachers
Milligan earns national recognition
12 | SPRING 2013
As foreign and domestic politics dominated headlines during the 2012
presidential election, the timing could not have been better for Milligan
College’s new political science major, which began last fall.
Now less than a year old, the new major already has provided fresh and
exciting opportunities for students. From national competitions to statewide
recognitions, students have embraced the possibilities in political science.
The major offers two emphases—the general track and the international
politics track. The general track is designed for students who desire a broad
foundation in all areas of politics within the United States, while the
international politics track prepares students to engage political realities
within the context of global studies.
“Political science is about understanding the big discourse, from local
politics all the way to a global perspective. It goes hand in hand with a
liberal arts education and with our call as Christians to be salt and light in
the world,” said Amy Edmonds, assistant professor of political science.
Edmonds taught at Milligan for two years as an adjunct instructor and
joined the faculty full time last fall to help get the political science major
under way. She has a Ph.D. in political science and a master’s degree in
international relations from Baylor University (Waco, Texas). Her primary
concentration is comparative and international politics. Her other areas of
expertise include American government and religion and politics.
Edmonds developed an interest in international politics at a young age,
as the daughter of missionaries in Venezuela. Her experience taught her that
an understanding of political science is not reserved for aspiring lawmakers
and attorneys. It transcends “politics,” as many Americans understand it, and
prepares students for the “big picture” in many fields, she explained.
“Political science is helpful for students who want to become
missionaries because they need to know how governments work,” Edmonds
said. “Students in other majors, such as nursing, also can benefit from
political science courses. I teach a course on public policy, and health care is
a large part of that course. And of course, political science is useful for
students who want to go into business, law and diplomacy, and conflict
resolution.”
During the election, the political science major sponsored its first
campuswide event, “The Choice 2012.” This panel discussion of the
presidential election’s issues featured members of Milligan’s faculty and staff.
The discussion took place in front of a packed crowd.
“There were so many people at the panel discussion that we ran out
of chairs and many could only watch while standing in the back,”
Edmonds said.
In November, Edmonds accompanied seven students who represented
Milligan during the Southern Regional Model United Nations Conference
(SRMUN) in Atlanta. The team negotiated and debated important
international issues with more than 650 students representing more than 50
colleges and universities. Two Milligan students—sophomore Jeff Preptit
and junior Elise King—were recognized as Outstanding Delegates at the
General Assembly. The other Milligan delegates included Colin Blowers, Ian
Burt, Stephen Joiner, Carlton Tugman and Kendall Wash.
MAJORACHIEVEMENTSStudents embrace possibilities in political science
SPRING 2013 | 13
“Attending SRMUN allowed Milligan students to experience what it
would be like to serve as an international diplomat and learn about important
issues like peace and security, nuclear energy and access to food,” Edmonds
said. “I am extremely proud of our students, all of whom were new to
Model UN, for putting in many hours of researching and preparing to
represent Milligan College as a delegation from Lebanon.”
Just a few weeks after SRMUN, Milligan freshman Caleb McNeese was
sworn in as a Supreme Court Justice as part of the Tennessee Intercollegiate
Supreme Court (TISC). The TISC is the judicial branch of the Tennessee
Intercollegiate State Legislature, where the top echelon of the state’s campus
leaders meet to exchange ideas, express their opinions, and learn how
government works. The main job of the court is to preside over the annual
intercollegiate appellate moot court competition.
“There are only five justices chosen from the various colleges and
universities in Tennessee, so this is really a big honor for Caleb—and a great
opportunity for him to learn about state governance and our judicial system,”
said Mark Peacock, associate professor of legal studies at Milligan.
“After listening to Caleb tell of his experience in high school moot court
competition and his passion for the law, I was convinced he would be an
outstanding Supreme Court Justice and representative of Milligan.”
Peacock, who has taught at Milligan for 15 years, sees a growing interest
in political science among students.
“With our existing legal studies program and our newly implemented
political science major, Milligan seeks to expand our involvement with these
organizations in the
future to give our
students opportunities
to apply what they are
learning in the
classroom,” Peacock
said.
Exciting things are happening this spring, as well.
Two political science students, Ian Burt and Stephen Joiner, were invited
to present their mentored research projects to a national audience at the 27th
National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), April 11-13. This
is the first time a Milligan student has presented research at NCUR. Joiner’s
paper is titled “The Politics of Apartheid and Religion: Ideological
Divergence in South African Churches.” Burt’s paper is titled “The Peaceful
Emissary: The Political and Religious Activism of Oscar Romero.”
The culmination of the major’s first academic year will be the May
commencement, when Milligan’s first political science major, Colin Blowers,
will be awarded his degree. Blowers, formerly a humanities major and
political science minor, was one of the students who petitioned Milligan’s
administration to consider adding political science as a major.
“Even if Milligan hadn’t produced a political science major, I still
would’ve been well prepared,” Blowers said. “But to find out they were
adding this major was the cherry on top of my experience here.”n
“Political science is aboutunderstanding the bigdiscourse, from local
politics all the way to aglobal perspective. It goeshand in hand with a liberalarts education and with ourcall as Christians to be salt
and light in the world.”Students participating in the Southern Regional Model United Nations Conference
(left to right) Ian Burt, Jeff Preptit, Kendall Wash, Elise King, Colin Blowers,
Stephen Joiner and Carlton Tugman; front: Dr. Amy Edmonds
4
— DR. AMY EDMONDS
14 | SPRING 2013
Staff SPotlIGht:
June LeonardEditor’s note: This is the second in a series of stories highlighting
some of Milligan’s longtime employees and their contributions to the
college. Their work often is done behind the scenes, but their names
and faces are familiar to the countless students and alumni whose lives
they have touched through their service and commitment to Milligan.
Milligan’s P.H. Welshimer Memorial Library houses the college
archives with its stacks of articles, books and memorabilia. But
just a few steps from the archives sits an individual who is in her own
right a treasure trove of Milligan memories.
June Leonard, library technical services manager, has worked at
Milligan since 1963. She is the only current employee to have served
under the leadership of five Milligan presidents—Dr. Dean E.
Walker, Dr. Jess W. Johnson, Dr. Marshall J. Leggett, Dr. Donald R.
Jeanes and Dr. William B. Greer.
“I’ve appreciated each president and all of the people I’ve
worked with over the years,” Leonard said. “Milligan has been my
second family.”
Just as family dynamics evolve, so has Leonard’s role at
Milligan. Although she’s spent most of her years working in the
library, she has served in several areas of the college including
the business and development offices. After decades of full-time
employment, she now enjoys her part-time position.
During her Milligan tenure, Leonard has witnessed the
construction of more than 15 new buildings and the
removal of two major campus landmarks (Cheek and
Pardee halls). But the transformation that had the
greatest impact on her job is the introduction of
something current Milligan students have never lived
without—computers.
Leonard remembers Milligan’s first computer, a
mammoth machine that was housed in the development
MILLIGAN’Streasure
SPRING 2013 | 15
office. Each department was allotted two hours of
use per day on the computer. That was the
beginning of a new era at Milligan. Gradually, the
typewriter, transcription machine, carbon papers
and card catalog that were once indispensable tools
gave way to a digital age.
“I took a computer course to learn Word and
Excel, and now everything we do is on the
computer,” Leonard said. “This has been the
biggest change for me, but it’s been a good
change.”
A SERvANT’S hEARTTechnology has changed, but Leonard’s focus
has not.
Those who have worked with her say
Leonard’s knowledge of Milligan history and her
commitment to its mission make her contributions
invaluable to the college.
Dr. Gene Wigginton, retired president of
Standard Publishing, recalls the first time he heard
Leonard’s name. It was shortly before he came to
work as Milligan’s director of development in 1971.
“I received a call from LeRoy Lawson (then
Milligan’s vice president) just before I joined the
administration at Milligan,” Wigginton said.
“LeRoy indicated that June Leonard worked for
him. Knowing that I would benefit from her
experience and professionalism, he was going to
sacrifice and let her became a part of my staff. He
said, ‘I’m calling to make this commitment before I
change my mind.’ I soon understood what he
meant by ‘sacrifice.’ June was invaluable in making our efforts on
behalf of Milligan a success.”
Lawson recalls this conversation, as well.
“It was one of my best moments, but it was a sacrifice,” Lawson
said. “Even then, June was one of our most treasured employees.
“We have the privilege in life of working with people who seem to
be a remarkable combination of humility and competence,” he added.
“These words always come to mind when I think of June. She has a
servant’s heart and an expert’s hands.”
ChRISTIAN FAITh AND ChARACTER
Milligan has recognized Leonard on several occasions for her
service. Former President Jeanes presented her with the Fide et Amore
award, Milligan’s highest acknowledgement of service, in 2000.
While Leonard is grateful for the recognition, she points out that the
service goes both ways—Milligan has richly blessed her life, too.
“Throughout a lot of turmoil in my life, Milligan has sustained
me,” she said. “In fact, I don’t know how I would have made it without
Milligan.”
One of Leonard’s most difficult days
occurred in 1968 when a gas leak caused an
explosion at her home while she and her husband
were at work and their two sons were at school. No
one was injured, but everything her family owned
was destroyed.
Lawson still remembers how Leonard
handled this devastating situation.
“One of the most impressive things I saw
June do had nothing to do with her work at Milligan,
but everything to do with exhibiting the strength of
her Christian faith and character,” Lawson said.
“Rather than bemoaning her fate or questioning the
providence of God, June simply went to work to
clean up the damage, to make certain that her family
was okay and that her work at the college was
uninterrupted.
“I already knew she was an outstanding Milligan
employee. That episode gave me insight into the
exemplary person she was—and is.”
When Leonard tells the story, she explains how
the Milligan community wrapped its arms around her
family by donating clothing and money, as well as
offering encouragement and prayers.
In 1976, Leonard continued to cherish Milligan’s
support when one day at work she suffered a brain
hemorrhage that temporarily paralyzed the left side
of her body. She leaned on the strength of her
Milligan friends again when her husband, James,
suffered his second brain aneurysm in 1995. He
passed away in 1997.
“Through it all, my Milligan family has always been there for me
in the good and bad times,” she said. “And there have been so many
good times.
“One of my favorite memories is when I was asked to participate in
one of Milligan’s One-Act Plays, ‘The queens of France,’” she said. “I’d
never done theater before, but the student assured me I just had to sit
there and be ‘queen for a day.’ I got to be on stage, and it was the first
year that the theater department used the new Gregory Center.”
Her reign as queen lasted only a day, but Leonard’s impact on
Milligan continues.
“Perhaps in the future I will take time to write down some personal
experiences,” she said. “Milligan has always been part of my personal
family, and I think they will cherish having a written record of those who
helped our family during these many years and the chance to learn how
Milligan was sustained through the hard work and dedication of many,
many people.”n
“Milligan has been my second family.”
16 | SPRING 2013
By Amerrica Duggan (’14)
Most Milligan graduates can remember the hours and hours of hard
work and effort they put into obtaining their bachelor’s degree. Few,
however, know the determination and strength of finishing that degree
more than 30 years after starting.
Jay Armel (’12) does, though.
In 1978, Armel, a native of Stephens City, Virginia, enrolled at Milligan
as a freshman baseball player. A church friend recommended Milligan to
Armel, who immediately fell in love with the school. Not long into his first
semester as a college student, Armel suffered an ankle injury.
“My injury caused me to lose my aspirations,” said Armel. “I left after
my first semester of college. After that, life just happened.”
Life did happen. He married, had two daughters, and spent 20 years in
the advertising industry before becoming a full-time Realtor®. Though
life was good, Armel always had the intention of attending Milligan once
again.
In July 2009, Armel took his family on a vacation to Roan Mountain
State Park. When he decided to make a detour and show his family
Milligan’s campus, he realized what he missed from so many
years ago.
“From that point on, I decided to finish what I started. Both my wife
and daughters had already graduated from college. It was my turn.”
He enrolled in Milligan’s Adult Degree Completion Program (ADCP).
Milligan offers several convenient programs for working adults, including
Bachelor of Science degrees in business administration, child and youth
development (early childhood education), and computer information
systems. Classes meet one night a week for 16 months in order to help
adults who have busy lives full of job responsibilities and family
commitments.
“I did have other opportunities to pursue my degree closer to home,
but no place had the same allure as finishing something you started,” Armel
said.
For 16 months, Armel commuted from Hickory, North Carolina, in
order to complete his Bachelor of Science in business administration
degree. Once or twice a week, he made the two-hour, 89-mile trek across
the mountain.
As if commuting such a long distance did not cause enough stress,
Armel was diagnosed with Type B cell, bulky, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
after only three weeks of class. This cancer, prevalent in men, requires
active treatment. He underwent several rounds of chemotherapy before
receiving four months of radiation treatment. Instead of getting
discouraged and quitting, he used his night classes to distract himself from
his diagnosis.
“Classes got me through not feeling sorry for myself,” he said. “I could
focus on my studies instead of the negative effects of chemotherapy and
radiation.”
Throughout the program, Armel had support from his peers in his
classes. The 16 adults in his cohort became a close-knit group who
supported each other throughout their studies.
“Milligan is such a ‘we’ community that goes above and beyond the call
to serve others,” Armel said.
Not only did he receive support from his cohort group, but his
professors also helped him during a stressful time in his life. They taught
him important information and valuable skills, and they encouraged him
throughout the entirety of his lymphoma treatment. Drs. Vikki Sitter,
Carolyn Carter, Phil Kenneson and Mark Matson made a huge impact on
his life that he will never forget.
Because of their influence, Armel plans to eventually become a
professor. He is now enrolled at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, in the online Master of Science in leadership and business
Never
Too
Late
“People may call me
a procrastinator,,
but they can never
call me a quitter.”,,
Jay Armel (top left with yellow hat)
with Dr. Gary Wallace’s Flora and
Fauna of Southern Appalachia class
at Roan Mountain State Park.
ethics program.
“I want to have a positive effect on people’s lives, just like my
professors had such a positive impact on mine,” he said. “God is using
Milligan not only as an instrument of education, but one of healing.”
At the end of February, Armel learned that he is now in full
remission from his lymphoma.
“God is such a good healer!” he said.
Through his time at Milligan, both past and present, Armel has
recognized God’s work in his life. Even though he may have finished his
degree more than 30 years after he intended to, he realizes that it is never
too late to finish what you start.
After all he has been through, he can laughingly say, “People may call
me a procrastinator, but they can never call me a quitter.”n
SPRING 2013 | 17
18 | SPRING 2013
The Milligan College soccer programs are not only making their mark on
the field, but also in the lives of local children.
The Buffaloes partner with the urban ministry One7 to minister to local
youth and their families. One7 was started in Charlotte, North Carolina. After
interning with her hometown ministry for a year and a half, Milligan women’s
soccer player Gretchen Allie was the driving force in starting a One7 ministry
in Johnson City, Tennessee.
“When I came to Milligan in August 2010, a group of college students—
comprised of Milligan men and women soccer players and other Milligan and
East Tennessee State University students—and I decided to start the One7
ministry plant in Johnson City,” said Allie, a senior communications major.
“We started knocking on doors in a local community and meeting
parents, kids and teenagers.”
The results have far exceeded the group’s expectations.
“Since then, God has exploded this ministry into an eclectic family of
over 60 college students, local families, teenagers and children,” Allie said.
“We believe that our teenagers are not defined by their age or mistakes,
but that throughout the Bible, God uses the least likely people to change the
world. “We are encouraging our kids to be leaders now in their communities
and families.”
During the year, the Milligan students hold numerous activities for the
One7 ministry including weekly Bible studies and homework help nights.
Many team members volunteer with an afterschool program. The ministry
also reaches out with community events such as block parties and
Thanksgiving dinner.
“It gives us a chance to meet new families and teenagers,” Allie said. “We
also get the opportunity to encourage a positive community.”
By participating as a team, the Buffaloes have been able to accomplish
just that.
“Every Christmas, One7 gets sponsors to help buy presents for families
who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford Christmas,” Allie said. “As a team,
a h i g h e r g o a lSoccer playerS team up for one7 miniStry
Ryann Williams (’13)
(left) and Gretchen
Allie (’13) (center)
with children from
the One7 ministry.
SPRING 2013 | 19
we were able to sponsor five families to help them have a great Christmas.”
In addition to the activities and outreach projects, the team members go
above and beyond to spend time with the kids of One7.
“I love just spending time with the kids in day-to-day life,” Allie said.
“One of my favorite things to do is to pick them up and take them to
Starbucks or even bring them back to Milligan just to hang out.”
It is rewarding for women’s soccer head coach Lisa Buckley to see her
team participate in such a worthy cause.
“It’s great to see players getting actively involved in this community, and
serving through One7 is a perfect opportunity to do this,” Buckley said. “I
couldn’t be prouder of these women and how they actively display the love
of Jesus through One7 ministries.”
The work Allie and her teammates do with One7 is an example of the
servant leadership that is part of Milligan’s mission.
“The One7 leaders, my teammates and I aren’t perfect servant leaders
like Jesus, and we never will be,” Allie said. “Being a servant leader is a
process. But it’s my hope that if we as college students can learn to serve
others now, when our lives are so busy with class, work, practices and games,
then throughout our lives we will continue to serve and daily learn to be
servant leaders.”
Working with One7 also has enhanced Allie’s Milligan experience.
“My experience with One7 has made my time at Milligan better because
it’s allowed me to get involved in the community, outside my bubble, with my
teammates and fellow students,” Allie said. “When I do ministry alongside
my teammates or classmates, it makes our relationship so much stronger.
God has definitely used the One7 kids and other college leaders to change
and bless my life over these past three years. I feel like they have blessed me
more than I have blessed them.”
Allie is quick to point out that the experience is not just about her or her
teammates.
“Being a servant leader at One7 isn’t about what you can do for
someone else as much as it’s about living life together, being open to listen,
learning from those around you, and telling others what God’s shown you,”
she said.n
t’S my hope that if we aS college StudentS can learn to Serve otherS now, when
our liveS are So buSy with claSS, work, practiceS and gameS, then throughout
our liveS we will continue to Serve and daily learn to be Servant leaderS.“I”
20 | SPRING 2013
Alison Slagle (’08) can barely remember a time when she wasn’t aware
she wanted to be a teacher.
“Teaching is a passion I have always had,” Slagle said. “As a child, my
teachers gave me old teaching manuals, and I took them home over the
summer. I had a playhouse converted into a school room, complete with a
picnic table for lunch outside and a swing-set for recess. My neighborhood
friends were my students.”
That passion became a calling for Slagle, and her work in the classroom
is quickly being recognized. Slagle was one of 29 teachers to receive a grant
through Eastman Chemical Company’s Putting Children First program.
“I am very grateful to have been selected for this grant,” Slagle said.
“This is the first grant I have submitted. I had a great deal of help from my
curriculum specialist, and I couldn’t have done it on my own.”
Putting Children First (PCF) is a business/education partnership
between Eastman Chemical Company and eight school systems within
Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia serving more than 104 schools.
The grant is intended to promote innovative classroom programs that
improve student learning and performance in math and science.
Slagle was selected for her work at Anderson Elementary in the Bristol,
Tennessee, school system, where she has taught since she earned a bachelor’s
degree in early childhood development.
Her PCF grant will assist first and second grade teachers as they
implement highly effective math stations. Students will use the stations in
whole group instruction, small group instruction, and eventually,
independently in math work stations. The stations will help the students gain
an in-depth conceptual understanding of the Common Core Math
Standards.
In addition to teaching, the former Buffalo volleyball standout serves as
the head volleyball coach at Vance Middle School in Bristol.
Slagle’s experience as a student-athlete at Milligan has helped her in the
classroom.
“More than anything, being an athlete provided me with a strong work
ethic and determination,” Slagle said. “In the real world, we are all dealt
issues that make us want to throw in the towel. However, being an athlete
truly gave me a very strong, mature mindset even in my first year of
teaching.”
Not only does her time as a student-athlete help her in the classroom, it
also allows her to pass on the lessons she learned at Milligan to her players
to prepare them for high school athletics and beyond.
“I have been able to take this same mindset and coach it to my first-
year volleyball players,” Slagle said. “While some come to me well-seasoned
in the volleyball world, others are not. They come to me in all shapes and
forms, and it is my job to mold them with the fundamentals for not only
high school, but for life itself.
“Milligan volleyball is much more than a sport,” Slagle added. “It
taught me how to treat others, keep my friends close, and how to live my
SPRING 2013 | 21
life for other people.”
As an educator, Slagle
translates the life lessons she
learned at Milligan into her
teaching—from eating lunch
with her students to
providing snacks and
moments of silence.
“Milligan prepared me
for a life of giving,” Slagle
said. “The lessons learned
at Milligan innately pour
out of me in the classroom
environment toward the
ones who need my love the
most.”
Slagle’s success in the
classroom and on the
court is a blessing to her.
“I am extremely humbled to have
succeeded in the education world,” Slagle said. “The high demands of
teacher evaluations and new state testing standards make the stakes high. I
am competitive and give my all to teaching and coaching these kids.”
In the classroom, Slagle is keeping alive a tradition of Milligan alumni
making an impact in the education field.
“I am thankful to be in this position at this point in my life,” she said.
“I truly feel Milligan’s professors, coaches and administrators play an
integral role in ensuring each student and student-athlete a lifetime of
success.
“I would not take back the lessons learned, the people met, or the
love that was shared among my teammates and friends at Milligan,” Slagle
said. “There are some wonderful memories there that will never be
forgotten.”n
Coach Harold Stout’s vision fora fan-friendly Anglin FieldCoach Harold Stout led the Milligan baseball team in the 1970s and
1980s. During this time the Buffaloes saw many baseball champions
and championships come their way. Although Coach Stout no longer
coaches at Milligan, his heart has remained with the Buffaloes. He
has followed the team over the years, frequently
attending games at Anglin Field.
Coach Stout recently contacted Milligan’s
administration, expressing his concern that many fans
have difficulty getting into the stands, especially those
who are older. His vision for a more “fan friendly
experience” at Anglin Field even led him to ask a local
architect for help in visualizing his dream.
This project, estimated to cost $2.5 million, will likely
become part of Milligan’s next comprehensive
fundraising effort. In the meantime, the college is
moving ahead with the raising of funds to make this
project a reality.n
athletIc NewSMen’s BasketballFollowing a close conference race, the men’s basketball team finished the season 9-7 in the AAC and 18-13 overall after a 2-point loss to nationally ranked TennesseeWesleyan in the AAC semifinals. Cartree Pettis (Oviedo, FL) was named the AAC Co-Freshman of the Year, while Torian Sitton (hendersonville, NC) was named to theAAC All-Conference second team. The Buffaloes lose Tyler Devault (Kingsport, TN),who surpassed a 1,000 career points and 500 career rebounds, and Rob Larsen(Philadelphia, PA) to graduation.
Women’s Basketball
The women’s basketball team captured the regular season conference title and
secured a berth to the 2013 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National
Championships, where they lost in overtime during the opening round to the College
of Ozarks, ending the season 16-2 in the AAC and 23-10 overall. The Buffaloes were
led by seniors Johneshia Good (Johnson City, TN), Jamiee hill (Johnson City, TN)
and Dorian Freeman (Augusta, GA). Good was named the Co-Player of the Year as
well as the Defensive Player of the Year for the AAC.
Cross Country
The women’s cross country team ran to a 19th place finish at the 2012 NAIA Cross
Country National Championships at the Fort Vancouver (WA) National Site in
Vancouver. It was the team’s 10th straight top 25 finish at the NAIA Cross Country
National Championships and their seventh finish inside the top 20 after capturing
their 10th straight AAC title. The Buffaloes were paced by sophomore Mackenzie
Patten (Kingsport, TN) as she ran to a personal best time of 19:13 to finish 53rd.
Freshman Meagan Wright (Florence, SC) capped off a stellar freshman campaign,
finishing 88th with a time of 19:42, and senior Danielle Mitchell (Johnson City, TN)
covered the 5K course in a time of 19:44 to finish 95th.
Men’s Golf
The Milligan College men’s golf team finished the fall conference tournament in
second at the Clear Creek Country Club in Bristol, VA. As a team, the Buffaloes
finished six strokes behind winner Tennessee Wesleyan. Milligan was paced by
hunter O’Neal (Bluefield, vA) as he finished in a tie for sixth with a two-day total of
150, while freshman Nick Kyte (Elizabethton, TN) finished in eighth as he fired a
two-day total of 151.
Women’s Golf
The Milligan College women’s golf team used a second day rally to finish in fourth in
the fall conference tournament at the Springbrook Country Club in Niota, TN. The
Buffaloes were led by Brittany Branker (Trabuco Canyon, CA) as she finished in
third with a two-day total of 161. Madison Smith (Draper, vA) finished the
tournament with a score of 173 to finish in a tie for 15th.
Men’s volleyball
In January, Milligan announced the addition of men’s volleyball as a club sport to
allow more student-athletes the opportunity to compete at the collegiate level. An
emerging sport on all levels nationally, the team will begin competing next year as
members of the National Collegiate Volleyball Federation (NCVF) and will play a full
schedule, January through April, that consists of club teams and collegiate programs.
For more athletic news, visit www.milliganbuffs.com
24 | SPRING 2013
W. Dennis helsabeck
celebrated his 100th birthday
on December 17, 2012, and
passed away on January 11,
2013. In addition to his
parents, he was preceded in
death by his first and second
wives, Nellie Mae Cox
Helsabeck and Eleanor
hughes hobson helsabeck
(’68); and three sons, Dosier
Helsabeck, Earl hobson (’62)
and P.G. Hobson.
He earned his Bachelor of
Arts degree at Johnson Bible
College, his Bachelor of
Divinity at Butler University
School of Religion, his Master of Arts degree at the University of Michigan
and his doctorate degree at the University of Wisconsin.
Dr. Helsabeck was a pastor in the Christian churches for 27 years,
including First Church of Christ, High Point, NC; Arcadia Christian Church,
Arcadia, IN; First Christian Church, Madison, WI; Hokitika Church of Christ,
New Zealand; and minister of counseling for First Christian Church,
Phoenix, AZ. He served on various committees of the North American
Christian Convention and the British American Fellowship.
He spent the remainder of his career, from 1963-1978, as a professor at
Milligan College and emmanuel Christian Seminary in Johnson City,
Tennessee.
Dr. Helsabeck leaves one son, William Dennis helsabeck, Jr., Milligan
College associate professor emeritus of history. Other surviving family
include daughter-in-law Mary Alice (Randle ’62) hobson; Eric hobson
(’86); Scott (’86) and Elaine (Stoker ’89) hobson; and Seth hobson (’97).
Jack Willard Bible (’50) died October 1, 2012. He
was 85. Jack served in Saipan during the Second
World War and was stationed with the Reserves at
Great Lakes Naval Base during the Korean War. He
attended Milligan, where he played football and
met and married Jean (harris ’50) in 1950; they
had two children and five grand-children. Jack
worked at GM’s Fleetwood plant in Detroit for 30
years before retiring, and Jean taught school for 32
years.
Laken “Red” Warnock (’57), 83, passed away on
February 8, 2013, from complications related to
kidney disease. He was preceded in death by his
beloved wife, Nelta (hyder ’51) Warnock. He is
survived by a son, Tim (Maryglenn), a daughter,
JoAnna (Jerry), and a granddaughter, Mary Nelta.
Following Milligan, Red received his Ph.D. in
biochemistry from Vanderbilt University in 1962.
He taught biochemistry at Oklahoma State
University and Vanderbilt University Medical
School, and he worked for the Veterans
Administration Hospital. He was a member of the
University Club of Nashville and Woodmont
Christian Church, where he served as Scoutmaster
for BSA Troop 92 and also served as an elder, a
deacon and a member of the board. The family
asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to
Milligan College, P.O. Box 750, Milligan College TN
37682.
Richard Lyle Williamson (’68) passed away June
17, 2012, in Hoopeston, IL. He taught for 35 years
at Wellington Grade School and Hoopeston Middle
School in Illinois. Survivors include his wife, Sue;
daughter Andrea (Williamson) Bailey (’97); sons,
Josh Williamson (’98) and Ben Williamson; and
sister, Sue Williamson (’70).
Melissa (Roy ’81) Dahlman, died November 23,
2012, from complications resulting from
Huntington’s Disease. She was 53. Melissa
graduated with honors from Milligan College,
earning a degree in human relations and
elementary education. She and her husband,
associate professor of communications Simon
(Jim) Dahlman (’80), served the Platt Bridge
Church of Christ in Wigan, england, from 1982-
1987. After the family returned to the U.S., they
lived in Cincinnati and Colorado Springs before
moving to Johnson City in 1999. She was an active
member of Hopwood Christian Church. In addition
to her husband, Melissa is survived by daughters
Sarah Dahlman (’06) and Rachael (Corey)
Dahlman Warf.
In memoriam
Roy hampton (’49) died peacefully on
January, 15, 2013. He was 85. After
serving two years in the U.S. Navy during
World War II, Roy chose to pursue a
career in academia. Following the
completion of an undergraduate degree
at Milligan, he went on to earn a master’s
degree in mathematics at the University
of Pittsburgh. He taught for one year at
Bluffton High School in Indiana, before
being invited to teach at the U.S. Naval
Academy in Annapolis, MD. For 10 years
he taught future naval officers
mathematics and engineering. In his
“spare time” he wrote a textbook on basic
mechanisms, founded and pastored Glen
Burnie Christian Church (MD), and reared
five children.
During his academic career, Roy also taught on the faculty at Johns Hopkins
University, the University of Pittsburgh, Virginia Intermont and Milligan
College, and he taught courses and tutored at prisons in Pittsburgh and
Brushy Mountain, TN. Throughout and beyond his academic career, Ray
pastored at additional churches: Hales Chapel Christian Church (Gray, TN),
Central Christian Church (Pittsburgh, PA), and Gap Creek Christian Church
(elizabethton, TN).
Roy leaves behind four surviving children, L. Paul Hampton (Jayne), R. David
Hampton (Mary Ann), Mary Fern (hampton ’74) Phillippe and Rebecca
Anne (hampton ’78) Plumer. Among his grandchildren are Milligan alumni
Crystal Phillippe (’99), Jonathan Phillippe (’02), Chris Phillippe (’09) and
Amber Plumer (’15).
Memorials gifts may be given to the Roy and Wanda Lee Hampton
scholarship at Milligan College, P.O. Box 750, Milligan College, TN 37682 or
emmanuel Christian Seminary, 1 Walker Dr., Johnson City, TN 37601.
SPRING 2013 | 25
Glen M. Williams, a federal judge whose wit and selfless generosity
gently guided hundreds of young lawyers through the courts and whose
legal brilliance helped mold one of the country’s most controversial
coal-mining environmental laws, died November 4, 2012. He was 92.
The Lee County, Virginia, native, son of a grocery owner, interrupted
his college education to join the Navy the day after Pearl Harbor; he fought
in the Atlantic, Pacific and Mediterranean theaters, as well as in the Allied
invasion of southern France.
Mr. Williams, at the vanguard of a resurgent Republican Party in the
1950s, won election as Lee County commonwealth’s attorney before he
finished law school.
“He was a treasure whose brilliance and understanding of everyday
people’s lives really is beyond words to describe,” said H. Ronnie
Montgomery, a lifelong friend and lawyer in Mr. Williams’ hometown of
Jonesville.
A youth spent at his father’s side in the store listening to the stories of
miners and farmers created a bedrock of understanding and storytelling that
Mr. Williams never lost, Montgomery said.
A U.S. district judge in Virginia’s western district for 34 years, Mr.
Williams was named to the bench in 1976 by President Gerald R. Ford.
A craggy voice and a mind full of stories, the telling of which seemed
to work in harmony with his legal mind, beguiled listeners whether they
grew up in the coalfields or ventured into the Southwest mountains from
top-dollar New York law firms.
“They would come down to Lee County and Big Stone Gap from New
York and places like that and just leave shaking their heads with respect,”
said David Harless, a Lee County native now with the Christian & Barton
law firm in Richmond.
Mr. Williams swore in George Allen, a former clerk of his, as governor.
Allen described Mr. Williams as “a principled man of character with truly
unmatched, insightful decision-making and unsurpassed storytelling.”
Also among Mr. Williams’ clerks is Virginia Supreme Court Chief
Justice Cynthia D. Kinser, who said that Mr. Williams cherished
evenhandedness and worked to show that the law is just.
“He taught us how to work toward fairness but to do that within the
bounds of the law,” she said.
Kinser’s son, Adam, also clerked for Mr. Williams and, as Mr. Williams’
sight lapsed, drove him to court from Jonesville to Abingdon, a trip of
nearly two hours.
“We’d always stop at Hardee’s (in Duffield) for a country ham and
cheese biscuit on the way and he’d be telling his stories,” said Adam Kinser,
who practices with Montgomery.
“We’d get to court and he’d stop, but then we’d start the drive back
home. ‘Now where was I?,’ he said the judge would ask, ready to resume the
tale he’d begun hours earlier.
Mr. Williams was the force behind the establishment of a federal
courthouse in Big Stone Gap in
Wise County, and he presided
there shortly after taking the
bench in one of the country’s
most significant environmental
cases.
Mr. Williams ruled that
some provisions of the 1977
Surface Mining Control and
Reclamation Act were
unconstitutional, a victory for the coal industry. Years later, in 2008, Mr.
Williams issued an opinion that stopped a clear-cutting operation at the site
of a proposed mountaintop-removal coal operation in Wise.
In his decision, Mr. Williams cited the death of a 3-year-old boy killed
in his bed by falling boulders from another strip mine. “The judge told Big
Coal today that they are not above the law and cannot start bulldozing
without a permit,” a spokesman for Southern Appalachian Mountain
Stewards said after Mr. Williams issued an injunction.
Mr. Williams served a term in the state Senate but was upset when late
write-in ballots were counted from the remote mining-camp town of St.
Charles. “The results didn’t come in until Friday,” Montgomery recalled,
suggesting that the ballots may not have been entirely genuine.
Gov. Bob McDonnell praised Mr. Williams as one of the state’s most
respected jurists and “brightest legal minds.” He applied a common-sense
approach to justice, combined with a keen intellect and respect for all who
came before his court.”
In addition to mentoring Allen and Kinser toward achievements that
took them far beyond Virginia’s most distant county, Mr. Williams also
helped guide his own daughter. Judith Williams Jagdmann served as state
attorney general in 2005-06 and now sits on the Virginia State Corporation
Commission.
Big Stone Gap lawyer Henry Kueling-Stout recalled presenting the last
legal arguments Mr. Williams heard in his court, on Jan. 28, 2010. The
opposing lawyer was Adam Kinser, the chief justice’s son. The judge ruled
in favor of both parties.
“He raised up, nurtured and encouraged 30-plus years of often-
homegrown attorneys to proudly represent far Southwest Virginia,”
Kueling-Stout said. The judge’s country wit and storytelling were so
compelling, he said, “it grabbed your soul and maybe your heart before
your mind.”
Mr. Williams is survived by his wife, Jane, and four daughters, including
Jagdmann.
Contributions in Judge Williams’ memory may be made to First
Christian Church, 428 W. Morgan Ave., Pennington Gap, VA 24277 or
The Glen M. Williams Scholarship Fund at Milligan College, P.O. Box 750,
Milligan College, TN 37682.n
JUDgE glEN M. WIllIAMS
Appeared in the November 6 edition
of the Richmond Times-Dispatch
by Bill McKelway
1920–2012
(’40)
Judge Williams received the Distinguished
Alumnus Award in 1980, and he served on the
college’s Board of Trustees from 1992-2011.
In 2011, he became a Trustee Emeritus.
26 | SPRING 2013
For more information please contact Jack Simpson,
Vice President for InstitutionalAdvancement at 800.447.5922,
423.461.8955 [email protected].
Christianliberal arts
TO sUppOrT A
EDUCATION.
There are numerous ways you can make provision
for Milligan College in your estate plans.
SPRING 2013 | 27
Dear friends,
Baseball legend Yogi Berra once said, “If you don’t know
where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else.”
That’s why Milligan periodically engages in a thorough
process of long range and strategic planning, a process that
begins with our trustees, whose leadership ensures that the
college keeps moving toward and achieving its mission
to honor God by educating men and women to be
servant-leaders.
Our most recent process of planning emphasizes those
things that have become hallmarks of Milligan College: the
core values of scholarship, community, and faith, which
provide the foundation upon which we will chart our course
for the coming years.
• Scholarship - We will offer high quality, regionally and
nationally respected academic programs that support
the college’s mission and are relevant to the marketplace.
• Community - We will be a strong, vibrant, and diverse
Christian collegiate community of 2,000 students.
• Faith - We will have increasing global impact by developing
servant leaders with a Christian worldview.
These long range goals guide the administration, staff,
and faculty as we work together to establish strategic plans
that will help ensure that we end up where we’re trying to go.
Milligan has been remarkably successful in fulfilling its mission
over the years, educating thousands of men and women who
have gone on to successful careers and fulfilling lives of
service.
But the world today is far different from the world in
which Milligan was founded, or the world in which Milligan
students graduated only a few years ago. Today, there is
increasing economic pressure. Jobs are more difficult to come
by, which causes families to be concerned about student debt
despite overwhelming evidence that a college degree continues
to be a good and even vital investment. Because of these
growing concerns, colleges are now subject to increased
government scrutiny to demonstrate that the investment is
worth the cost. I am pleased to tell you that Milligan exceeds
national averages on every key federal performance metric
and is also well ahead of every college in our region, public
or private.
We can’t, however, rest on our past successes. In the
coming months, you’ll hear much more about how we will be
seeking to fulfill our mission in a rapidly changing world.
There will be continued improvements to the good things we
are already doing. New and exciting programs will be added to
our robust curriculum, and important fundraising initiatives
will be launched so that we can continue to improve and
expand our campus and ensure that adequate financial
resources are in place.
But no matter how much we plan, we recognize that God
is in control of what takes place at Milligan College. I thank
God every day for the provision he has granted Milligan. I am
grateful for the community of trustees, administrators, faculty,
staff, and students who are committed to excellence in
scholarship. I am grateful for the community of alumni and
friends who make it possible for students to be prepared for
lives of impact. I am grateful for the churches that support
our work. And I am grateful that God has provided us with a
vision to be the very best residential, Christian liberal arts
college we can be. Our students deserve nothing less.
Thank you for being such a valued part of the Milligan
community, and thank you for your continued prayers and
support.
With deepest gratitude,
Bill Greer (’85) Ph.D.
President
From the President
SPRING 2013 | 28
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