THE TALON

A grip on news in the Huntingdon College Community

February 14, 2023

WHAT’S NEW?

Celebrate the Great Minds of Huntingdon at the Academic Showcase

Huntingdon’s Office of Academic Affairs and Office of the President are cohosting an Academic Showcase, Friday, Feb. 17, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The full day of experiences will include paper readings, poster presentations, choral and instrumental performances, and facilities tours. See the schedule and learn more.

Say What’s on Your Mind

The annual Black History Month art exhibit was held last night in Seay Twins Art Gallery. Sponsored by the Black Student Union, the show, “Say What’s on Your Mind,” features the work of Birmingham artist Larry Silver and will be on display throughout the week, including during the Academic Showcase.

And Write What’s on Your Mind

The Alabama Writers’ Forum and the Alabama Center for the Book will induct four writers who have Huntingdon connections into the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame in March. Inductees include the late Huntingdon alumna KATHRYN TUCKER WINDHAM, Class of 1939, and former Rhoda Coleman Ellison lecturers Daniel Wallace, author of “Big Fish,” the book upon which the motion picture was loosely based, poet Trudier Harris, and novelist Tom Franklin. We congratulate and celebrate these writers for engaging our minds with their words.

Madison Society Presents Speakers

Huntingdon’s Madison Society, a new club for conservative thinkers, will present Phillip W. Magness, senior research faculty and director of research and education at the American Institute of Economic Research, on the topic, “The 1619 Project: Facts and Fictions,” Wed., Feb. 22, 5:00-6:15 p.m., Delchamps Recital Hall in Smith Music Building. The event is co-sponsored by the History Club. The Madison Society presented two speakers earlier this semester. Michael Maibach, Distinguished Fellow for Save Our States, spoke on the nation’s electoral college system and contrasted the U.S. election system with that of other countries. Rachel Ferguson, director of the Free Enterprise Center at Concordia University Chicago and co-author, with Huntingdon’s own Dr. Marcus Witcher, assistant professor of history, on the book “Black Liberation through the Marketplace: Hope, Heartbreak, and the Promise of America,” spoke on “The Case for Pro-Black Conservatism.”

Counseling Services Offers Seminar Series

The Office of Counseling Services will offer four special seminars aimed at enriching students’ mental health this semester. Come out, learn, paint, and relax at the following events:

• 14: The Art of Love, 6:00 p.m., Wanda A. Howard ’81 Black Student Union Center; come and paint! RSVP by Feb. 13 by emailing hccounseling@hawks.huntingdon.edu
• 22: Black History Month Presentation on Mental Health, 12:30 p.m., Stallworth Dining Room, Russell Dining Hall
• March 15: Van Gogh Experience, 6:00 p.m., Wanda A. Howard ’81 Black Student Union Center; spend an evening painting and discussing the importance of mental health; RSVP by emailing hccounseling@hawks.huntingdon.edu
• April 12: Facing Change When Your Life Isn’t Gouda, 12:30 p.m., Stallworth Dining Room, Russell Dining Hall

Huntingdon Scholars Lead Lenten Luncheon Series

Huntingdon religion faculty and President J. Cameron West will speak for the Lenten Luncheon Series at First United Methodist Church. The series meets weekly on Wednesdays at the church’s Fellowship Hall and welcomes members of the Huntingdon community to attend. The cost is $8 paid at the door, check, cash, or cards are accepted. Watch for a news release about this subject coming soon.

2023–2024 Roommate and Housing Requests for Returning Residents Open in March

The Office of Residential Communities will begin accepting roommate and housing requests from returning residents for the fall semester March 28, 2023. Through the housing request process, students will be able to request their direct roommate as well as additional students with whom they will live.  Housing forms for returning students should be turned in by April 20, 2023.  Priority for living in College houses or apartments will be given to groups of senior students who request to live together.  No sophomore students will be placed in College houses or apartments. All students are encouraged to identify a suitable roommate or roommates.  The Office of Residence Life will be happy to work with students who do not have a roommate to assist them in pairing with a returning student or a transfer student with compatible interests. The deadline for returning students to apply to be a commuter for 2023-2024 is May 1, 2023. The application along with eligibility requirements can be found here:  https://www.huntingdon.edu/campus-life/commuter-students/scarlet-commuter-application/. Applications received after May 1, 2023, will be assessed a $500 late fee.

Seniors! Get Ready for Top Stage!

MARCH 10 is the deadline to order your cap and gown, tassel, hood, announcements, notes, and various accompanying celebratory things as you prepare to cross Top Stage in May. To learn more, see prices, and place your order, go to the Huntingdon page on the Herff Jones website.

Is Your Wardrobe SUIT-able?

If you’re planning forward in anticipation of job and internship interviews, you need to look the part, Hawks. Here’s your chance to purchase professional wardrobe pieces at DEEP discounts, at the annual JC Penney/HC Suit-up Event, Sunday, Feb. 19, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the JC Penney at Eastdale Mall. Bring your student ID and check-in at the front table to get your coupon as you enter the store. The sale is open to faculty and staff as well!

Sports Talk

Composite Sports Schedule

• Baseball: 2023 Schedule The Hawks out-batted MUW in their first game, home opener, and first win of the season, 15-2. SAM TOMPKINS ’24 recorded his first collegiate win from the mound and DANIEL PHILLIPS ’24 led the offense going 3/5 with 3 runs, including a homerun and 3 RBIs.
• Basketball 2022–2023 Schedules: Men; Women It’s been the toughest of years for the Hawks men, but attitudes on the team remain strong and hopeful for better times ahead. Meanwhile, the women won a double-overtime game against Belhaven 2/10/23, which leaves them in a good mindset to take on Agnes Scott Wednesday at 6pm in Roland Arena. Both teams will celebrate Senior Day as they face Covenant at 2p/4p Saturday, 2/18/23.
• Beach Volleyball: Schedule The Beach team hit the sand for their first matches of the season at the Truett McConnell Tournament during the weekend, winning against St. Andrews College and losing to D2 Carson-Newman. The team will be home 2/16–2/18 with four contests in three days at Reynolds Courts.
• Cross Country 2022–2023 Schedules: Men; Women The men’s and women’s cross country teams have been named USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams, with the men achieving an average GPA of 3.236 and the women’s average at 3.597. Men’s cross country received the Collegiate Conference of the South Fall Sportsmanship Team Award, with BLAKE BAILEY ’25 and BREANNA SMITH ’23 named individual sportsmanship winners.
• Golf: 2022–2023 Schedules: Men; Women
• Lacrosse: Schedules:  Men; Women BRENNON MADONIA ’25 and GAGE KETTLEWELL ’26 were named USA South Defensive Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week, respectively, for their performances in the Hawks’ home opener win over Point University. Brennon set a single-game USA South record with 25 ground balls and went 34/37 in face-offs. Gage scored a game-high 6 goals with one assist. The women’s team lost their first game of the season and are back in action 2/18 at Brenau.
• Soccer: KATLYN HARRISON ’23 and TAYLOR BRADLEY ’23 were named to the CCS All-Sportsmanship Team for women’s and men’s soccer, respectively.
• Softball: Schedule The Hawks batted a great start for the season, sweeping Sewanee 13-5 in game one of a double-header, with HOLLY SHARP ’23 taking the win from the circle, and 8-0 in game two, with KATELYN HOLCOMBE earning the win from the mound. MADDIE GRACE HUBBARD ’26 and JORDAN HOLMAN ’24 led the game one offense, going 3 for 3 with two scored runs and 3 for 4 with 4 RBIs, respectively. In game two NATALIE RITCHEY ’23 went 3 of 4 at the plate. Games scheduled for this past weekend have been rescheduled for 2/14—check the schedule to catch the Hawks in play this week.
• Tennis: Schedules: Men; Women The men’s team hits the court Feb. 17 (at LaGrange) and 18 (home, vs. Birmingham-Southern), while the women, whose opening matches at Piedmont were canceled last week, will take on Belhaven, Wallace State, and LaGrange at the John McWilliams Invitational Tournament on Gibbs Courts on the 16^th and 17^th.
• Track and Field: Schedules: Men; Women At the KMS Invitational in January KATE SMITH ’25 and RHIANNON SEVIER ’25 finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the Women’s 600. In the Men’s Distance Medley, Huntingdon finished second, with LEVI GARRETT ’26, DYLAN MCCLELLAN ’26, GRAYSON RYLAND ’25, and BLAKE BAILEY ’25 running that event. In the Men’s 4X4, JALYN LEWIS ’24 and WOODY ANTHONY ’25 joined Blake and Grayson for a 10^th-place finish. Both teams will be back on the track in March.
• Volleyball: COURTNEY PATTERSON ’23 was named to the CCS All-Sportsmanship Team for volleyball for fall 2022.
• Wrestling: Schedule: Men; The Hawks have had a stellar season, which will come to a close Feb. 24–25 at the NCAA Lower Midwest Regional Tournament in Decatur, Ill. In January, Huntingdon placed fourth among 23 teams at the Spartan Mat Classic with DAVID BURGESS ’25 placing first in the Open 157 and NICHOLAS BRASHEAR ’25 placing first in the Open 184. JACK HAURY ’23 had three pins and finished second in the OPEN 285. MARK PENNISON ’26 had three pins and finished second in the Open 197. At the Wabash College Invitational, HC placed second of four teams, with DAVE BURGESS ’25 once again winning first place in the Open 157 and four wrestlers bringing home second-place finishes: CADE SOUSA ’26 (Open 165); GABRIEL PITTMAN ’23 (Open 174); NICHOLAS BRASHEAR ’25 (Open 184); and JACK HAURY ’23 (Open 285). Jack repeated his second-place finish at the Newberry Open.

HAWKStars

• Former sports information director SARAH MILES ALLISON and her husband celebrated the birth of a son, Lucas Scott, Jan. 27, 2023.
• NICK ALVERSON ’15 and his wife, Shanice, announce the birth of their son, Michael Ryan, Dec. 30, 2022.
• Former Hawks linebacker AUSTIN ARMSTRONG ’15 has moved from the defensive coordinator role at Southern Miss (he was the youngest defensive coordinator in the nation when he took the job) to an assistant coaching role on the defense at the University of Alabama.
• DAVID BALLARD ’15 works as associate vice president for commercial lending for Valley Bank in Birmingham, Ala.
• JAKE BECHERT ’13 married James Thompson, Jan. 14, 2023.
• Chaplain RHETT BUTLER ’13 presented an information session on pastoral counseling for the Department of Communication Studies, Criminal Justice, and Psychology in January.
• RYAN CAMPION ’23 has been accepted to law school at the University of Mississippi.
• ERIN CEMBRALE ’23 has announced that she will attend the Rome City Institute Academy in fall 2023 and will play soccer in Rome, Italy.
• EMMA COX ’23 has been admitted to the doctorate in occupational therapy program at UAB.
• JESSIE RAY CULEY ’16 has joined Southern Orthopaedic Surgeons as a physician assistant.
• EMILYBETH DICKINSON ’07 works as head of school and lead teacher for the Children’s House Montessori School in Ocean Springs, Miss.
• ANDREW EMFINGER ’15 has a new job as member services coordinator for YMCA of Middle Tennessee-Brentwood Family YMCA.
• LOGAN GILDEA ’19 has assumed the role of director of residential communities. He also continues as Blount RD.
• LATONYA GRAHAM, director of counseling services, was awarded the 2023 Spirit of Diversity Award at the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators-Alabama Drive-In Conference at Auburn University last week. She presented on the topic, “Performative Wellness Champions: Parroting Practices Over Cultural Competence” at the conference. On February 3, Dr. Graham, who also serves as president of the Alabama College Counseling Association, hosted an event, “Lift me Up: Humanistic Interventions to Support Vulnerable Youth Populations,” at the Equal Justice Initiative Legacy Museum and Legacy Annex. Four Huntingdon Counseling Services volunteers and scholar-leaders, NIYAH LUCAS ’26, JUANITA ANGARITA ’23, HANNAH EMFINGER , and PARKER HIGH ’23 assisted with the planning and coordination of the event, which was hosted by ALCCA.
• PARKER HIGH ’23 has been accepted to medical school at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Auburn University.
• MAC HIRSH ’23 was honored as Gulf Shores Fire and Rescue Lifeguard of the Year.
• LEE JONES ’94 serves as chief financial officer for Hercules Inc. in Alexander City, Ala.
• ROBERT LA BRANCHE ’06 has been named vice president for external affairs for the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala.
• MATTHEW ROBERT LEWIS ’07 has signed a contract with Stackpole Books to write a book on fly fishing in Alabama.
• Former assistant football coach ZACH MALLARD has joined the coaching staff as a graduate assistant at Auburn University.
• LINN BOYKIN MCAULIFFE ’86 is a realtor with Keller Williams in Orlando, Fla.
• KATHERINE MILLER MILLICAN ’75 reports that she has retired from her IT consulting work after 40 years with various companies and is enjoying her two daughters and four grandchildren.
• KATHLEEN PENNEY ’15, director of external affairs, and CHRIS MAYER ’21, special assistant to the dean of students, have been elected as state director-elect and secretary-treasurer, respectively, for the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators-Alabama.
• GABRIEL PITTMAN ’23 has been admitted into Auburn University School of Veterinary Medicine.
• BRIANNE PUESCHELL ’23 has been accepted to law school at Mississippi College.
• ISAAC RITCHIE ’21 now serves as Searcy Hall RD.
• SAVANNAH RYAN ’21 reports that she is loving her first year in the doctoral program in occupational therapy at UAB. She and CHRIS BISHOP ’21 have announced their engagement.
• KATIE HOLSONBACK SEWELL ’12 and her husband welcomed a son, Rhett Anders, Feb. 3, 2023.
• HOLLY SHARP ’23 has been admitted to the doctorate in occupational therapy program at UAB.
• STEPHEN SHEPHARD ’19 began a new job as an IT incident response analyst for Starr Companies, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., in January 2023.
• KATIE SIMON ’20 married Bradley Fields, Dec. 29, 2022.
• ALLIE STEGALL ’23 has been admitted to Tulane University School of Medicine’s biomedical sciences Ph.D. program and to the Tulane University Ph.D. program in cell and molecular biology.
• JON DAVID SWIGER ’15, who owns and operates Swiger Studios, unveiled a wall mural he painted for Souvenir City in Gulf Shores, Ala. Swiger Studios was recently voted best commercial art studio in the city.
• JACQUELINE ALLEN TRIMBLE ’83 served as an artist-in-residence for the MFA program at California Institute of Integral Studies in January. She is a National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Fellow, a Cave Canem Fellow, and an Alabama State Council on the Arts Literary Fellow. She is a professor of English and chairs the Department of Languages and Literatures at Alabama State University.
• KAILY WERTHEM ’23 has been admitted to Life University for the Doctor of Chiropractic program.
• ADAM WHITTAKER ’11 and his wife welcomed a daughter, Mia Isabella, Jan. 20, 2023.

Prayers and Sympathy

• TODD EDWIN ANDERSON ’86, died Jan. 19, 2023, in Covington, Ga. He was 61.
• ANN BONNER ECKELBARGER ’56 died Dec. 31, 2023, in Marble Falls, Texas.
• Huntingdon’s oldest living alumna, ELIZABETH COX HASSELL ’35, died Feb. 11, 2023, just shy of her 108^th
• NELDA JONES ’48 died Jan. 7, 2023, in Lexington, S.C.
• BETTIE BERMAN KAHN ’50 died Jan. 12, 2023, in Gulf Breeze, Fla.
• JOAN GLENN MITTS ’73 died Feb. 3, 2023, in Montgomery.
• ABBIE CHAPMAN HENDERSON TAYLOR ’48 died Jan. 13, 2023, in Andalusia, Ala.

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