THE TALON

A grip on news in the Huntingdon College Community

April 26, 2023

WHAT’S NEW?

On Finality, and such

It’s finals week, so that means lots of deadlines and must-dos are swirling around in addition to all of that studying, writing, and testing. Here’s a gentle reminder list. See details in an email from the financial aid office 4/19/2023, an email from the Director of Residential Communities 4/18/23, and an email from the Scarlet & Grey Shop (Bookstore) 4/13/23. It is necessary for you to meet the deadlines to avoid further charges to your student account.

• BOOKS—Return your Spring Semester Informational Resources (textbooks, calculators, etc.) to the Scarlet and Grey Shop no later than April 28, 2023. The bookstore is open daily through Thursday, 6:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m., and Friday, 6:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• MAIL KEY—Students who are not registered for the Summer 2023 or Fall 2023 semester, including Spring 2023 graduates, must return their mail key (if applicable) to the Print and Mail Services office no later than April 28, 2023.
• COMPUTERS AND THEIR COMPONENTS—Students who are not registered for the Summer 2023 or Fall 2023 semester and who are not graduating in Spring 2023 must return their computer and each of its components (bag/sleeve, charger, stylus, and USB dongle (if applicable)) to the Print and Mail Services office no later than April 28, 2023.
• ROOM KEY—If you live in campus housing, complete the check-out process with Residence Life staff and return your room key by noon, April 29, 2023, if you are not graduating, or by noon, May 7, if you are graduating. Be sure to see an email from Logan Gildea, director of residential communities, with a link to the sign-up form to schedule your check-out walk-through and key return.
• PACKAGES AND MAIL—Pick up any packages and mail waiting for you in the mailroom or your mailbox by 4:00 p.m., Friday, April 28. If you forget, they’ll be returned to sender rather than forwarded, so don’t forget.

Speakers, Writers, and Other Visitors

During the final three weeks of classes, the following experts visited campus to speak with students:

• Business and Accounting students met with Anoop Mehta, CPA, CGMA, PMP, NACD.DC, Chair of the American Institute of CPAs, and had the chance to ask career questions one-on-one. Mr. Mehta also serves as president of Science Systems and Applications, Inc.
• “Perceptions on Race and Athletics” brought Mr. Donald Jackson, principal of the Sports Law Group, and Jahmal Kennedy, sports broadcaster for WSFA, the local NBC affiliate, to campus for a discussion monitored by Dr. Chris Clark ’07, vice president for risk management, college diversity and inclusion officer, in-house counsel, and assistant professor of accounting.
• Jacqueline Allen Trimble ’83, poet, professor, and director of the honors program at Alabama State University, read from her acclaimed second book of poetry, “After the Apocalypse,” for a combined Houghton Memorial Library/Department of Languages and Literature/NetVUE Grant event. Dr. Trimble travels the U.S. and is in high demand as a poet, having received an NEA Grant in recent years. New York Public Library chose her latest book as one of the best books of poetry published in 2022.
• Civil rights historian and renowned writer Dr. Tim Tyson, author of “Blood Done Sign My Name” and “The Blood of Emmett Till,” among other volumes, spoke for the Ellison-Chapman Benson Symposium, as well as with two classes while on campus.
• Houghton Memorial Library presented a panel of faculty who are published authors for the event, “How to Become a Published Author,” featuring Dr. Tom Perrin, Dr. Mark Nabholz, Mr. Foster Dickson, Dr. Colin Halloran, Dr. Kyle Christiansen, and Dr. Diana Abernethy.
• The Center for Career and Vocation held a Career Experience Showcase in which students presented information about their internship and other CCV experiences during the past year. Speakers included:
  • Terryn Abner ’24 | “Called to Lead the Church as a Black Woman”
  • Cody Barber ’23 | “My Experience at the Alabama Nature Center”
  • Taylor Bradley ’23, Landon Cotney ’23, Taylor Gay ’23, and Casey Peppers ’23 | “Gameday Ops for Spring Sports”
  • Cassidy Campbell ’25 | “Job Shadowing with TherapySouth-Cullman”
  • Nick Hadley ’23 | “Growing Alabama”
  • Madison Jasinski ’24 | “Physical Education”
  • Avery Roberts ’26 | “Figuring out My Career”
  • Allie Stegall ’23 | “Research Experience in Cancer Biology”
• The Office of Counseling Services presented a workshop on dealing with change, with Dr. Latonya Graham, director of counseling services, speaking.

New Student Leaders Take Office

Elections for Student Government Association executive cabinet, judicial, and legislative officers are complete. Congratulations to the following student-leaders:

Executive Cabinet

• Nevaeh McIntyre ’24, President
• Will Pilgrim ’24, Vice President
• Sammy Cantavespre ’24, Secretary
• Madison Haddock ’24, Treasurer
• Ben Barker ’25, Director of Public Relations

Legislative

Senior Senators

• Joshua Cortez
• Keaton Halfacre
• Dylan Killingsworth
• Marisa LaJone
• Ty Martinez
• Shannon McCarty
• Mary Grace McInnis
• Amya Zatarain

Junior Senators 

• Benjamin Barker
• Tyler Bentheimer
• Evan Bergeron
• Prosser Crow
• Sam Fields
• Luke Fisher
• Ellie Pool
• Sarabeth Sansbury
• Whitt Spurlock
• Carter Wysong

Sophomore Senators

• Brayleigh Cardoza
• Aidan Doss
• DeJon Gibby II
• Delana Green
• Niyah Lucas
• Mekiah Mosley
• Elijah Sims
• Nakaiya Stinson
• Sydney Thompson
• Blair Wyrosdick

At-Large Senators 

• Dawson Farni
• Brodie Gillis
• Tate Goolesby
• Nathan Johns
• Gage Kettlewell
• Kenry Malone
• Braden Ross
• Hagen Rouse
• Blake Smith
• Savannah Smith

Judicial Board

• Michael Storie, Chief Justice
• Ainslie Condrey
• Ariel Dixon
• Addison Jacobs
• Nathaniel Smith

Sports Talk

Composite Sports Schedule

• Congratulations to the recipients of Huntingdon Athletic Awards for the 2022–2023 academic year.
• Baseball: 2023 Schedule The Hawks stand at 20-15, 8-5 CCS, and will play their final regular season games this weekend at LaGrange. PARKER SZUSH ’25 earned his first CCS Pitcher of the Week honors April 17 after pitching 9 complete innings against Belhaven, allowing 5 hits, 1 earned run, and striking out 3 batters. JABEZ SAMPSON ’26 earned CCS Rookie of the Week recognition April 3 after the Hawks swept Maryville, when he went 5 for 9 at the plate, scoring 2 runs and 2 RBIs in the 3-game series.
• Beach Volleyball: The Hawks beach team finished fourth in the national American Volleyball Coaches Association tournament in Hickory Beach earlier this month, earning a record of 18-11 on the season. Overall, these women had a stellar season and we congratulate them for fighting to the end!
• Football: The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) named 5 Hawks to the 2023 NFF Hampshire Honor Society, comprised of college football players from all divisions of the NCAA, NAIA, and sprint football who maintained cumulative 3.2 GPAs or better throughout their college careers and were starters or significant contributors throughout the 2022 season. Congratulations to TYLER JACKSON, ZACH JOHNSON, MIKEY PANAREILLO, CLAY SIPPRELL, and SEBASTIAN VERGER. The Department of Athletics announced the 2023 schedule.
• Golf: The men’s golf team Hawked the first ever CCS Men’s Golf Conference Championship, bringing home first place trophies both for the team and individually (GRANT GRONKA ’23). JACK BURR ’26 placed second overall. In March, JACK HUNDLEY earned CCS Rookie of the Week notice for his performance during the team’s home tournament at Wynlakes Country Club, where he finished only one over par. The Hawks should qualify for competition in the NCAA Championship tournament, May 16–19. Women’s golf finished days 1 and 2 of the first ever CCS Women’s Golf Championship Tournament in second place, with play concluding today. Hawk ’em!
• Lacrosse: Midfielder GAGE KETTLEWELL ’26 earned a third USA South Rookie of the Week honor this season after scoring 6 points on 5 goals and 1 assist. The team will travel for their final regular season game Saturday at Methodist College. The women’s team rebounded in April, earning two Player of the Week honors. SYDNEY PARFAIT ’23 was named USA South Defensive Player of the Week April 24 for collecting 6 caused turnovers and 6 ground balls in the Hawks’ win over William Peace. Goalkeeper MIA HAULBROOK ’24 earned Defensive Player of the Week April 17 after making 17 saves and allowing just 7 goals during the week prior.
• Softball: The red-hot Hawk bats are still flying, finishing the regular season 29-8, 13-3 in the CCS. NATALIE RITCHEY ’23 was named CCS Player of the Week April 10 after going 5-for-7 at the plate, scoring 2 runs and 2 RBIs in the Hawks’ contest against Covenant. She recorded her 100^th career hit during the Hawks’ contest against Piedmont five days later and currently is ranked second in the nation among DIII players for stolen bases and is tied for second for hits. BROOKE STEFANKIEWICZ ’23 also makes the stolen bases chart, tied for 11^th in the nation. JORDAN HOLMAN ’24 is tied at 19^th for hits nationally and tied at 2^nd nationally for RBIs. The team stands at 4^th in the nation for batting average with a .378 as of April 23. The women host Agnes Scott in Round 1 of the CCS Conference Tournament, Thursday at noon.
• Tennis: Schedules: Men; Women CAMERON REED ’24 and ZACH COX ’26 earned CCS Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week recognition, respectively, April 11, for their performances in the Hawks’ match against Mississippi University for Women during the week prior. Zach repeated the honor April 25 after his singles and doubles wins against Belhaven. For the women’s team, MADISON PARKER ’26 captured Rookie of the Week honors April 4 and again April 25 for her wins over Maryville and Berea and in singles and doubles over Belhaven during the weeks prior. Each team is the fourth seed in the CCS Conference Championship Tournament set to begin Thursday at Maryville.
• Track and Field: Schedules: Men; Women The track teams will travel to Belhaven Thursday and Friday for the first ever CCS Track and Field Championship. The Hawks have had their best season yet, setting many new school records!

HAWKStars

• LUKE BAILEY ’17 and his wife, Taylor, welcomed a son, Conrad, in March 2023.
• MIRANDA OWENS DAMRON ’18 and her husband, Justin, welcomed a son, Owen Michael, March 30, 2023.
• HEDI DOCKING ’21 has been admitted to the graduate program in mental health counseling at Auburn University.
• While completing his student teaching practicum at Opp HS in his hometown of Andalusia this spring, music education major LEE HERRING ’23 has gone far beyond his day job in order to provide county-wide community service. Lee organized, directed, and conducted a community cantata involving more than 75 actors, singers, and instrumental musicians from 10 churches for the Easter season. He also serves as minister of music for Harmony Baptist Church. Definitely an example of providing wisdom in service!
• CHAD HOBBS ’01 married Beverly Williams, April 16, 2023.
• STEPHEN HOMEYER ’86 serves as vice president of defense and space intelligence for BAE Systems. He earned an M.S. in inorganic chemistry and a Ph.D. in chemistry from Northwestern University.
• JACQUES LAMOUR ’11 is finishing his medical residency in Champaigne, Illinois.
• ASHLEIGH MONCRIEF NALL ’17 and her husband, Owen, welcomed a son, James Beckett, March 11, 2023.
• VICTORIA LUCHNER ROMMEL ’15 and her husband, Michael, welcomed a daughter, Palmer Ann, April 13, 2024.
• JACK ’08 and ASHLEY BUNT VIBBERT ’09 welcomed a son, Jonah Tyler, March 20, 2023.
• CALEB WHITE ’24 and his girlfriend, Amy Heard, welcomed a son, Matthew James, March 2, 2023. Caleb has been admitted to South Alabama’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program.
• JOSH WHITE ’06 and his wife welcomed daughter Harmony Faith, April 7, 2023.
• CHANCE ’15 and ASHTON BRINLEY WILLIAMS ’17 welcomed a daughter, Brinley Chase, in March 2023.
• DAKOTA WILLIAMS ’20 and his fiancé welcomed daughter Iyla Marie, April 5, 2023.

Prayers and Sympathy

• Prayers for recovery are extended to SANDY KELSER, former executive assistant to President West who retired in January, who is undergoing surgery this morning.
• LUCILE HOLMES MARTIN ’46 died April 6, 2023, in Baton Rouge, La. She was 98.
• Dr. GAYLEN SCHREIBER PUGH ’70 died April 21, 2023, in Venice, Fla. A former Huntingdon Honey and Homecoming Queen, Gaylen and her husband, Dr. Henry Pugh, have been generous donors to the College and members of the Huntingdon Society, Hall of Honor, President’s Club, and John Massey Heritage Society. The Pughs created the Henry Lewis Pugh Sr. Endowed Scholarship and the Kate Lee Reaves Schreiber Endowed Scholarship.

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