Huntingdon News

Monday Messages

February 19, 2013

The success of every student is the focus of everything we do.

THE TALON

A grip on news in the Huntingdon College family  

February 19, 2013
Next issue:  Week of March 4 

Victoria Luchner named Miss Huntingdon

The 2013 Miss Huntingdon Pageant, the first-ever event in the new Leo J. Drum Jr. Theater, was entertaining from beginning to end Saturday night. Emcees Skye Esry (who was also the student pageant coordinator) and Ryne Taylor set the tone for a friendly, classy competition, and the nine contestants (Kaison Darden, Katy Hall, Georgianna Hunt, Bailee Ikner, Victoria Luchner, Alyssa McCurry, Brooke Meadows, Jamie Reschke, and Stephanie Yasechko) delivered terrific talent performances, as did the entertainment duos James Temple & James White and Taylor Claire Bean & Josh Johnson. In the end, Victoria Luchner claimed the title and a $600 scholarship after a performance of "Let Me Be Your Star" from the television series, Smash. Her platform is "Active Minds."  The first runner-up ($400 scholarship) was Stephanie Yasechko, who performed a baton twirling routine to "Baby, I'm a Star"; and second runner-up ($200 scholarship) was Katy Hall, who sang an excerpt from "How Great Thou Art." Jamie Reschke was named Miss Congeniality by her fellow contestants, and Bailee Ikner was voted "Most Photogenic" by the student body.  The Pageant Committee included Zack Turner, Halston Michaud, Jhavonn Brown, Sherry Leigh Lacey, Katie Jones, HallieGrace Muncher, Luchner, Ikner, and Hunt, and directors Sara Beth Terry and Lauren Hobbs, both of the Office of Student Life.     

Grace Potter rocks CloverJam 2013

Roland Arena will be rockin' as Grace Potter headlines CloverJam 2013, Saturday, April 6, with opening acts beginning at 8:00 p.m. Each faculty, staff, or student may claim one free ticket in The Hut.  Additional tickets or tickets for others are available for sale by seeing Dr. Frank Parsons, vice president for student life and dean of students, or ordering here:  http://www.eventbrite.com/event/3235440289/eac2#.  See news release:  http://www.huntingdon.edu/aboutNews.aspx?id=10657.  

Come and see the new Drum Theater!

Faculty, staff, and students are invited to a college Open House for the new Leo J. Drum Jr. Theater in the Cloverdale Administrative Building, Cloverdale Campus, Sunday, February 24, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Even if you attended the Miss Huntingdon Pageant, you can learn more about the new space and the donor who made the space possible at this free event.  

Special Olympics comes to Huntingdon

Prospective educators in Huntingdon's Adapted Physical Education class will host part of the Alabama Special Olympics Basketball Tournament Friday, March 8, beginning at 9:00 a.m. in Roland Arena.  More than 200 special needs student-athletes are expected to participate.  Huntingdon students will serve as coaches, referees, cheering crowd members, time- and scorekeepers, and in other necessary roles.

Bands host Symphonic Honor Band

The Huntingdon College Band program will host a Symphonic Honor Band for Alabama high school students Friday–Saturday, April 5–6, 2013, at the College.  The opportunity to participate is free and open to students in grades 9–12.  Applications must be received by March 7.  A list of those who have been accepted to attend and an itinerary will be posted on the band's Web site March 8.  To apply, visit http://music.huntingdon.edu/honorbands.htm.  Read more:  http://www.huntingdon.edu/aboutNews.aspx?id=10653.  Huntingdon's symphonic band, the Huntingdon Winds, and other instrumental ensembles will offer a free public concert Friday, April 5, at 7:30 p.m. in Ligon Chapel, Flowers Hall.   

Room Draw process begins

If you live on campus and plan to return to campus housing next fall, be sure to pick up your Housing Intent Form from The Hut as soon as possible and return the completed form by the Monday, March 4, deadline. When you return the form, pick up a Room Draw Form and a number.  Room Draw will take place Tuesday, March 19, in Smith Recital Hall.  There is no housing deposit required for current students.  

Science Olympiad needs volunteers

Huntingdon will host the Division B (middle school) Alabama Science Olympiad tournament finals for the 13th consecutive year, and the Division C (high school) finals for the 3rd consecutive year, Saturday, March 16.  Faculty, staff, and student volunteers are needed to assist with and run the competitive events for this prestigious event.  To volunteer or learn more, go to http://so.huntingdon.edu.  

Office of Admission offers final Host Day of the year

Do you know a prospective student who may be interested in admission for the fall of 2013 or 2014?  Invite him or her to the Office of Admission's final Host Day of the year Saturday, March 2.  Contact:  (334) 833-4497 or 1-800-763-0313; admiss@huntingdon.edu.  Host Day information:  http://www.huntingdon.edu/futureStudents.aspx?id=1692.    

Briefly:  

• The date of the annual Awards Day Convocation has been set:  Monday, April 15, 2013, 11:45 a.m. in Ligon Chapel, Flowers Hall.  
• Houghton Library is offering a number of "How To" sessions February 20, 25, 26, and 28 to facilitate your research success.  See the list of sessions here: http://libguides.huntingdon.edu/website; click on the links to learn more. 
• If your annual household income is less than $20,000 with no children or $50,000 with children, you may be eligible for free tax preparation services through SaveFirst.  Make an appointment for free tax preparation by calling 1-888-99-TAX-AL (1-888-998-2925).  The hours of operation for the Montgomery site are T-W, 12:00–8:00 p.m.; F, 12:00–6:00 p.m.; and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  The site, located in the Cloverdale Administrative Building, is open until March 8.  
• GRADUATING SENIORS:  A representative from Herff Jones will be in the Huntingdon bookstore to receive your orders and answer your questions regarding graduation regalia, announcements, and memorabilia Thursday, March 7, 9:00 a.m. to noon.  NOTE:  the order deadline is March 15, 2013. Seniors will receive online ordering information directly from the Registrar's Office or Herff Jones.  
• A Spring Break community service trip to New Orleans will partner Huntingdon volunteers with Canal Street Church: A Mosaic Community, Friday, March 22, through Tuesday, March 26.  The trip cost is $100 plus food during the journeys to and from New Orleans.  Space is limited.  Reserve your spot with a $50 deposit by February 22 (remaining $50 due March 8).  See Brian Smith'94, chaplain and director of community service, for more information. 
• The Prelude, Huntingdon's literary magazine, is accepting submissions for consideration for the Spring 2013 edition.  The deadline for submission is March 1.  Send to prelude@huntingdon.edu. 
• FACULTY:  Houghton Library has added a new section to its Web site specifically for you, navigable by clicking on the "Faculty Resources" tab.  Among the information faculty will find are instructions on how to request resources for the library's collections; a link to Turnitin; information on requesting an interlibrary loan and scheduling library instruction sessions; information about LibGuides; and a "Did You Know?" section that will be used to draw attention to resources that may be of particular interest to faculty. 
• The Office of College and Alumni Relationsinvites nominations for the Algernon Sydney Sullivan and Mary Mildred Sullivan Awards.  These awards recognize a student member and a non-student member, respectively, of the College community whose "nobility of character" is such that "the spiritual standard of the institution may be judged by the character of the person to whom the award is made."  For more information, contact Cathy Wolfe at cwolfe@huntingdon.edu. 
• GRADUATING SENIORS:  If you have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher and are in the top 25% of candidates in your class, you my apply for recognition in Tri-Sigma, Huntingdon's most prestigious senior honor society recognizing scholarship, spirit, and service.  Pick up your Sigma Sigma Sigma application in The Hut today.  Deadline:  February 26.  
• The last day to change to P/N grading, audit, or non-credit status is Friday, March 1.     

Huntingdon Headliners

Jake Bechert '13 has been accepted to the Master of Accounting program at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

Frank Buckner, professor of religion and associate provost welcomed his newest grandchild, Lucy Katherine Reynolds, into the world last week.  Lucy's parents are Melissa and Justin Reynolds (Frank and his wife, Diane's, daughter and son-in-law) of Columbus, Mississippi.

Daniel Davis '13 has received an offer of admission to Yale Divinity School.  He has also received acceptances from Candler School of Theology and Emory University and to Duke Divinity School.

A number of staff members offered a farewell lunch for Walter Gholston, housekeeping staff, last month.  Walter has been with Huntingdon since 1999.

Dr. Doba Jackson, chemistry, presented "The Seven Healthy Benefits of Eating Chocolate" for the Montgomery Exchange Club on Valentine's Day.  

Ten Huntingdon vocalists traveled to the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) auditions held at the University of Alabama Friday, February 15.  Auditioners were:  Taylor Claire Bean, Abby Duke, Jarred Billups, Sarah Fell, Mary Gasson, Josh Johnson, Jonathan Joseph, Jennifer Keith, Bonnie Nicholson, and Cerina Proehl.   

Five Huntingdon runners participated in a 5K run Saturday, with each placing in his or her age division among more than 300 total participants.  Congratulations to Ann Clancy, Kathleen Penney, Cody Causey, Ryan Murry, and alumna Amy Beard Hulsey '90. 

Assistant baseball coach Scott Mularz became a proud papa to son Easton Miller Mularz, Thursday, February 7.  

Huntingdon trustee and alumnus Herb Patterson '71 has been selected to participate in the Huntsville Artist League's Artist Mentorship Program.  The program combines several resources and services provided by the League in support of emerging artists, including education scholarship, the opportunity to exhibit work in the Emerging Artists Gallery, peer critique, Standards Committee feedback, and consultation sessions with successful artists. 

Lauren Randall '11 will join Eclectic UMC as youth director.

U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions '69 was honored with the Naval Distinguished Public Service Award in Washington, D.C., earlier this month.

Catherine Steineker '08 married Jake Ray Saturday, February 16.  She works with Alabama Municipal Insurance Corporation.

President J. Cameron West and his wife, Elizabeth, attended the Presidential Prayer Breakfast as a guest of U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions '69, and his wife, Mary Blackshear Sessions '69, following the inauguration festivities in Washington, D.C.  

Former Huntingdon math professor Joe Wimbish and his wife, Nita, stopped by the campus Monday, February 18.  Joe served as Huntingdon's first soccer coach when the team was a club team.  He has retired from teaching.  Nita serves as a minister of music for a United Methodist church near Orlando.    

Sports Page

More on Huntingdon Athletics:  http://www.huntingdonhawks.com/landing/index
Composite athletic schedule: http://www.huntingdonhawks.com/composite 

Women's basketball clinches first-ever GSAC title

The Lady Hawks achieved a 10-0 record at home, a 15-9 record overall, and an 8-2 GSAC record to earn their first-ever GSAC regular-season title in a victory over Wesleyan College Saturday.  The women's team will host the GSAC tournament February 22–24 in Roland Arena.    

Huntingdon spring sports explode with wins

Baseball, men's lacrosse, JV softball, and men's and women's tennis recorded wins during an explosive weekend of play.  Lacrosse beat Hendrix (score 8-4) Friday in Conway, Arkansas, and Rhodes (score 12-8) Sunday in Memphis.  Hawks baseball swept Oglethorpe in a three-game home-opening series.  Women's tennis swept its first two matches of the season in wins over Wesleyan and Judson at home Friday, February 15.  The men's tennis team hit the road and brought home wins over Virginia Wesleyan and Greensboro College. JV Softball picked up their first win of the season in the second game of a double-header against Jeff Davis Community College at Lagoon Park February 15.  

• Morgan Crawford was named GSAC women's basketball Player of the Week February 6 for her contributions to a pair of Huntingdon wins during the week prior, in which she averaged 17.5 points, 8.5 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2.5 steals, shooting 5-for-10 in the 3-point range.  

CCV News  

• Interested in finding employment or future internships?  Respond to the e-mail sent to all students by the CCV last week. 
• Alabama Rural Ministry is seeking summer home repair and day camp workers to serve families in Sumter, Macon, and Lee Counties.  Find out more on their Web site: www.arm-al.org.   

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Su Ofe
Associate Vice President for
Communications and Marketing
Office: (334) 833-4515
Cell: (334) 324-6591