Finding your voice
Says Yeater
Alumni
“1892” is published twice annually by North Greenville University, a private Christian liberal arts university often recognized as one of the most notable in the Southeast. Whether learning at our South Carolina campuses in Tigerville and Greer or online from anywhere in the world, every student at NGU receives an exceptional education in an authentic Christian environment for a successful life of service.
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Laura Dyer (’17)
EDITOR
Celeste Hawkins (’11)
DESIGNER
Sheila Price (’08)
Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr.
Celeste Hawkins (’11)
LaVerne Howell
Matthew Huff (’09)
Paola Martinez Villatoro (’16)
Kristen Clardy (expected ’18)
Jake Hardin (’17)
Jennifer Lynch
Jenny Williams (’11)
ADVISORS
Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr.
Haley Gambrell (’07)
LaVerne Howell
Jennifer Lynch
Virginia Madison
Keli Sewell (’89)
Erin Wall (’00, MBA ’07) CONTRIBUTING
Andrew Ratchford (’11)
Allysa Yeater (expected ’19)
Introduction
The great writer Eudora Welty once said that, when she was a child, she looked forward to riding in the country with her parents and other couples. After everyone had packed into the car, she would demand, “Now talk!”
I love that anecdote because, when I was a child, I used to eavesdrop on the conversations between my parents and their visitors, too. My family is filled with raconteurs, storytellers of the first order who taught me about family, life, and faith by vividly recounting their own experiences. Through them, I learned that one of the greatest gifts we can offer someone is a simple question: “Would you tell me your story?”
The challenge we all face is that of finding our own voice, our own unique way of telling the meaningful stories of
our lives. As a child, I emulated what I had heard by repeating other people’s stories. But at some point, I realized that I had my own stories to tell, and my own style for telling them.
I think faith is like this, as well: as youngsters, we emulate what we have heard or observed in others, but at some point, our faith transforms to become deeply personal. I’m not just sharing a story, but rather my story, reflecting how God is personally interested in each of us. And I’m the only one who can tell it just like me.
Around campus, I love to ask the people I meet how they came to be connected with North Greenville University or to be engaged in their specific professional fields. These questions usually lead them to talk
about finding their voice in the world — the unique way they can serve others, as they obey God’s calling on their lives.
The college years are a time when we recover the voices of the past, as we also learn how to listen to the voice of God Himself. At NGU, we practice intellectual discipleship: our strong Christian faculty and staff have followed God’s voice in their lives, which led them here, and now they are coming alongside our students to help them discern that voice for themselves.
And it’s as we follow His voice that we finally discover our own.
Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr.
President
BIG DEAL
Brashiers’ $1 Million Gift Helps Grad Students Realize ‘Potential for Christ’ the
Some college students might wait tables or work at summer camp to help pay for their education. But Dr. T. Walter “Walt” Brashier cleaned bricks.
In July 2017, Walt’s family announced a $1 million commitment to North Greenville University to support scholarships for the T. Walter Brashier Graduate School. The funds help those who need extra help to continue their education, like he did.
Born to a family of modest means in Simpsonville, SC, Walt started working at a mortuary at the age of 16. When he was 20 and married with two small children, he felt called to preach.
Not having the money to attend college, Walt and his wife, Christine, began to clean thousands of old bricks from the Dunean Mill renovation to pay for his schooling.
While attending school and working, Walt began preaching revivals and pastoring two churches. He later went into full-time evangelism, traveling across the U.S. He would spend weeks at a time away from his family.
But his world came to a screeching halt one night when he received a phone call from his wife.
“She did not have money to buy groceries,” says Walt.
Even after sending home all he had, it still was not enough to feed his family.
After several heart-to-heart conversations with God, Walt decided to go home. He continued to accept preaching engagements, but only those closer to his family.
Around the same time, Walt began a business partnership that would change his life forever. His first real estate investment proved lucrative and fueled further projects to enable Walt to change his direction in life.
When revival invitations lessened, the Southern Baptist Convention asked Walt to record radio and television spots, titled “On Target with Walt Brashier.” He agreed, as long as he did not receive money from listeners or stations. Walt often spent his own money producing the broadcast materials.
Later, he decided to use that same money he’d spent on his show to educate young people instead. The Brashiers have helped hundreds of students in the years since then, and NGU has been one of the main recipients of their generosity.
“The best investment you can make is in another person’s life,” says Christine.
Their newest scholarship program, known as the Martin Timothy Brashier Graduate Scholars Program, was created in memory of their
son, Tim, to provide scholarships for residents of Upstate South Carolina and NGU alumni who want to pursue a graduate degree in business, education, or ministry.
The gift was available immediately for cash scholarships to assist with Fall 2017 graduate school enrollment. Twenty students have already received significant financial assistance through this program.
“This is a major act of generosity that will impact the university’s budget positively for the current year to help spur graduate enrollment,” says NGU President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. “Graduate school scholarships make it possible for working adults to continue their education. This is our hope with the Martin Timothy Brashier Graduate Scholars Program.”
Though Walt’s focus shifted from going out to sending others, he and his family remain faithful to their calling by giving generously to educational institutions like NGU.
“Doing something to support students who represent the future of this country and world fills us with hope,” says Walt. “That’s why we’re such big supporters of North Greenville University and the opportunities it gives students to shine and realize their potential for Christ.”
Learn more about the Martin Timothy Brashier Graduate Scholars Program at ngu.edu/graduatescholarship
LaVerne Howell
“I was looking for a Christ-centered program that would offer the best opportunity to complete my undergrad degree. North Greenville University stood out over all the rest.”
Tonya Bethea (’17) Administrative Assistant Greenville County
Learn more at ngu.edu/academics. Whether you’d like to finish your bachelor’s or begin your master’s, NGU’s adult programs provide an authentic Christian context for lifelong learners just like you.
RANK ABOVE
NGU Called Best Online Christian College That’s Still True to Roots
Celeste Hawkins (’11)
North Greenville University has earned recognition as one of the top online Christian colleges.
Both Christian Universities Online and LearnHowtoBecome.org featured NGU in their 2017 rankings for noteworthy online Christian schools across the U.S., with factors ranging from selectivity, student-teacher ratio, and financial aid to student satisfaction and even average alumni earnings.
The lists highlight universities not only founded on biblical principles, but also committed to providing an “intentionally Christian” focus for students today.
“At NGU, I found guidance for biblical integration with my academic studies,” agrees Tonya Bethea (’17).
A single mom wanting to advance in her career, Bethea decided to go back to school last year and complete her bachelor’s degree.
While she considered several online colleges, she settled on NGU because it was “different.”
“The first enticement to NGU was a local advertisement that announced I could earn college credit for life experiences,” says Bethea. “The second enticement was how affordable the program is compared to other institutions and online programs.”
As an NGU student, Bethea felt that NGU Online — an online-only education program designed to help adults complete their bachelor’s degrees in a Christ-centered learning context — offered an “intimate educational journey,” led by “some of the most caring, intelligent instructors in the field.”
“NGU [is] breaking the mold to build our future leaders,” Bethea raves, adding that the business administration degree, in particular, taught her how to lead others by following the example of Jesus.
Through NGU Online, Bethea was able to complete her degree within only eight months and graduate with NGU’s Class of 2017 in May. She was so pleased with her experience that she has already decided to return to NGU for her graduate coursework to earn an MBA.
In addition to the MBA, NGU’s graduate school offers degrees in Christian ministry, education and music education, and health science. Most of these programs also feature online-only or hybrid learning formats.
“I will be the first person in my family to have a graduate degree,” Bethea proudly adds.
To learn more about NGU’s online undergraduate and graduate programs, visit ngu.edu/academics.
“Every Voice Was Singing the Same Praise to the Same God,” Says Yeater
JoyfulSOUND
Every service, every bus ride, every overnight stay that we’ve had with Joyful Sound — each one is special to me, and each comes with different memories. Although, there is one memory that I will never be able to forget, and that was the final service of the semester last year.
All the teams were singing together that night. And there were some previous Joyful Sound members in the audience who were invited to come up to the stage and sing with the group, too.
I lack the words to accurately describe that moment: dozens of voices lifted in praise and adoration. But it was worship in its purest form. It was unity as brothers and sisters in Christ, with eyes taken off our differences and focused on the Savior.
It wasn’t about who had the best voice, but that every voice was singing the same praise to the same God.
Honestly, it was as if I was given a small glimpse into what heaven
Did you know?
In 2018, Joyful Sound will celebrate its 40th anniversary at the official inauguration of NGU’s eighth president, Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr.
Mark your calendars for April 13, 2018.
Allysa Yeater (expected ’19)
will be like. It was a moment where I experienced what it genuinely looks like to worship and adore the Lord together as a family.
That’s what this ministry is all about; that is how this ministry is making a difference.
It’s not about putting on a performance in a church service; instead, our ministry is to serve as ambassadors of the university in local churches and lead the body of Christ in worship. Our sole purpose is to share, through song, the gospel and the love of Jesus with every individual that we come in contact with. It’s about coming together as a family to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus and to praise Him for all that He is.
Every person is given a different ability, a different gift, a different calling in life. But we are all given the same command, and that is to go, to tell, to boldly proclaim the gospel. I know that is my command for this life: to faithfully serve Him and make His name known wherever I go in this world.
Quick facts
40 years since Joyful Sound started
• Two ministry teams in Joyful Sound •
• Nine members in each team •
• One album released by Joyful Sound each year •
200+
churches, conferences, and other events Joyful Sound ministers at each year
Let us sing...
Interested in booking Joyful Sound for your event?
Book JS online today! ngu.edu/joyfulsound
CAMPUS NEWS
CENTER OF APOLOGETICS AND CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW
Dr. Alex McFarland — religion and culture expert, national radio host, and author — has released a new book from Tyndale House Publishers and Focus on the Family: “Abandoned Faith: Why Millennials Are Walking Away and How You Can Lead Them Home.” Co-authored with evangelist and apologist Jason Jimenez, the book sheds new light on what Christian parents must do to reach their young adult children when it comes to matters of faith. “Abandoned Faith” also offers a strong voice of hope for church leaders, employers, and others who serve and love the millennial generation.
COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION
Dr. Heidi Campbell (Mass Communication Department) delivered the keynote address in honor of the forming of the new division of Religion and Media at the national convention of the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) in Las Vegas earlier this year. Campbell’s address, titled “The State of Religion and Media,” explored current trends and statistics, while highlighting an analysis of research conducted on the topic of religion and media from the year 2000 to the present. The keynote concluded with a call to action for more scholars to explore this area of research to better understand its impact.
Dr. Rick Sparks (Mass Communication Department) has released a new piano album, “Nightfall London,” which charted in the top 10 this summer on Zone Music Reporter’s world radio airplay chart. The album is being played on broadcast and online radio stations around the world, including the Spa channel on SiriusXM. “I’m so grateful that God has enabled me to use my recordings as a way to share a little of the quiet joy and wellbeing that comes from my faith in Christ,” Sparks says. His three albums are available on Amazon, iTunes, and his artist website at ricksparksmusic.net.
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Dr. Jill Branyon (Secondary Education Department) presented at the 2017 Southeast Regional Conference of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International in Myrtle Beach, SC, on “Impacting Student Learning through Purposeful Field Experiences in Pre-Service Teachers,” which highlighted NGU’s field placement program. Several education faculty members from other universities attended and expressed interest in NGU’s approach.
COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS
Cline School of Music faculty members Dr. Brenda Leonard, Dr. Leslie Warlick, and Dr. Michael Weaver have teamed up with Alice Skaar, faculty member from Southern Wesleyan University, to form a string quartet. They played two concerts in September, one on each campus. The program included works by Haydn, Dvorak, and Shostakovich.
Cline School of Music faculty members Dr. Jackie Griffin and Dr. Marianne Holland taught the AP Music Theory graduate class for South Carolina music teachers in June 2017. Nine teachers were able to earn certification credit to be AP music theory teachers in public schools. In addition, Dr. Seth Killen taught the Vocal Pedagogy and Health class for teachers, and Dr. Brent Coppenbarger taught Graduate Woodwind Techniques.
Dr. Barry Combs (Cline School of Music) was a member of the cast of the Greenville Lyric Opera’s production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera “The Crucible” and the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta “The Gondoliers” in July 2017. Combs was also a member of the South Carolina Baptist Singing Churchmen’s mission trip to the Dominican Republic in June. In addition to concerts in orphanages, hospitals, and churches, Combs presented a lecture on conducting and participated in a round table discussion at the Ministry of Education in Santo Domingo.
Dr. Jackie Griffin (Cline School of Music) continues to work with the National Association of Schools of Music as a team leader evaluator for college and university music programs.
The NGU Concert Choir, under the direction of Dr. Barry Combs, was part of the South Carolina Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Columbia, SC, on Nov. 7, 2017.
North Greenville Indoor (NGI) percussion ensemble completed its inaugural season by competing in the Winter Guard International World Championships in Dayton, OH, last April. The group performed in the quarterfinals for A-class and advanced to the semi-final round, where they finished in 19th place out of 29 groups from across the U.S. Organized by NGU’s Director of Athletic Bands Phil McIntyre, Professor of Music Education Dr. David Cudd, and Professor of Percussion Dr. Christopher Davis and directed by Travis Waters (’07), the group brought in 27 members in its first season, with participants from NGU, Greenville Technical College, and seven different high schools. Along with its performing success, NGI recruited three students who are now attending NGU.
The North Greenville Singers featured at the Aiken Baptist Association’s annual meeting on Oct. 24, 2017. The ensemble also makes an annual appearance at the Biltmore House Candlelight Christmas Evenings each December.
Fabio Parrini (Cline School of Music) performed with violist Miles Hoffman at NGU, as well as in Landrum, SC; Lancaster, SC; and Hendersonville, NC, during Fall 2016 and Spring 2017. Parrini coached and performed for the Peace Chamber Summer Workshop in Greenville in July and also gave a recital with violinist Filip Pogady in August. Parrini performed programs with violinist Sam Parrini in Charleston, SC, and Hilton Head, SC, in October and in Greenville, SC, in November. His upcoming events are viewable at fabioparrini.com.
Joy Sears (Cline School of Music) served on faculty of the Wildacres Flute Retreat held in June in Little Switzerland, NC, where she taught flute repair courses and performed in three recitals. She was honored to perform a world premier flute quintet piece, “Soaring on Eagle’s Wings” by Canadian composer Laura Pettigrew, which was written and dedicated to her and four other flutists. Sears also performed with the Morningstar Flute Ensemble in Kingsport and Blountville, TN, and Black Mountain, NC. She performed a recital at the University of West Georgia in September, along with flutist Janice Joyce Robinson of the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra.
COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES
Dr. Ben Coates (Modern Languages and Linguistics Department) published a book in February — titled “El Teatro Representado en Lengua Española en Los Ángeles - 20002010: Una Reconstrucción de la Vida Escénica” — which explores the impact that Spanish language theater had in Los Angeles during the first decade of the 21st century. While over half of the population of the city has a Hispanic heritage, not all of them speak Spanish. Given these circumstances, the study seeks to answer if there is a public that desires to see theater performed in Spanish in Los Angeles, if the performances are made accessible for the non-Spanish-speaking community, and how the performances are received by critics.
The Modern Languages and Linguistics Department led six NGU students on a study abroad experience to Honduras this past summer. Some students took classes for credit, while others spent time involving themselves in the community. Biology major Aleena Goff (expected ’18), for example, volunteered in a medical clinic in Copán Ruinas. Other students taught English in an elementary school in Ostumán, and at least one student received a job offer. Over the course of the five weeks, the students lived with local families and had plenty of opportunities for excursions such as climbing a volcano, snorkeling, exploring Mayan ruins, wandering through a tropical bird sanctuary, and riding horseback in the mountains.
Dr. Rachel Roberts (English Department) presented at the College English Association Annual Conference in Hilton Head, SC, in April on “‘A Fair and Delectable Island’: Islands as Sites of Entrapment, Refuge, and Nationalism in the Romances of Margaret Tyler and Mary Wroth.”
March 25, 2018
Cline School of Music Easter Cantata Fairview Baptist Church, Greer, SC
April 3, 2018
Auxilio Spring Luncheon
April 5-7 and 12-14, 2018
Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast: The Broadway Musical”
April 10, 2018
Crusader Club Golf Classic
The Cliffs Valley
April 12, 2018
North Greenville Academy and Junior College Reunions
April 13, 2018
Eighth Presidential Inauguration of Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr.
April 13, 2018
Joyful Sound 40th Anniversary Celebration
April 17, 2018
Christian Ministry Scholarship Fund Dinner
FOR 125 YEARS, CHRIST HAS MADE THE DIFFERENCE.
What can God do with people of faith? In 1892, He used them to open a school in Upstate South Carolina; they were just a group of everyday believers who wanted a better future for their children.
Today, that school — North Greenville University — features 50 undergraduate, online, and graduate degrees and serves 2,500 students, preparing them to become the next generation of Christian leaders.
What can God do with people of faith? Make a difference.
CAMPUS NEWS
Garry Smith (Political Science and Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Department) spoke to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) at their annual conference in Denver prior to Secretary of Education Betty DeVos. As chairman of the Communications and Technology Task Force for the ALEC, Smith presented his findings and comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the South Carolina House of Representatives for the FCC’s request for comments on the proposed deletion of Title II regulations.
Dr. H. Paul Thompson, Jr., (History Department) published an extensive article in May titled “Temperance and Prohibition” in the online “Oxford Research Encyclopedia of American History,” edited by Jon Butler of Yale University. In addition, Thompson presented his paper, “Black Al Capones?: Prohibition Enforcement and African Americans in 1910s Georgia” at the biennial international conference of the Alcohol and Drugs History Society, held at Utrecht University in the Netherlands in June. Then in July, he was chosen to be one of 52 members of the 44th class of Leadership Greenville, the premier leadership training program of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce.
Paul Yandle (History Department) presented “At the Very Moment the Accident Happened: Coping with Changes in Physical and Imagined Landscapes Along Railways of the American Appalachians” at BRIDGE: The Heritage of Connecting Places and Cultures, an interdisciplinary conference sponsored by the University of Birmingham. The conference was held in July at the Ironbridge Gorge, a World Heritage Site in Shropshire, England. Yandle’s essay, “‘The Shrill Voice of the Iron Horse’: Railroad Gauge Wars and Cultural Stasis in Western North Carolina, 1854-1910” was published as a chapter in “Historicizing Infrastructure,” edited by Andreas Marklund and Mogens Ruediger and published by Aalborg University Press in February.
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Dr. Tawana Scott (’85, MBA ’08) has been selected as a member of the 38th class of Leadership Greer. The nine-month program began in September with orientation and an overnight retreat, and it ends with graduation in May 2018. Objectives for Leadership Greer are to identify and select highly motivated leaders and potential leaders, examine and challenge participants to respond to the needs of the community and the dynamics of social and economic change, develop a sense of bonding and cooperating between the participants, and provide leadership training and development.
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF CHRISTIAN MINISTRY
Dr. Bill Cashion led sessions on “Strengthening the Church through Intentional Evangelism” during the 2017 Strengthening Churches, Strengthening Leaders Conference sponsored by the Center for Church Renewal at Charleston Southern University. Cashion also recently led a mission trip to Costa Rica, and he continues to serve as a chaplain to Spanish-speaking players and coaches on The Greenville Drive baseball team.
Dr. Larry McDonald recently visited with and spoke to pastors in the Carolina Baptist Association in Hendersonville, NC; the Buncombe Baptist Association in Asheville, NC; and the Catawba Valley Baptist Association in Hickory, NC. He also hosted the monthly pastors’ meeting of the Three Rivers Baptist Association at The Tim Brashier Campus at Greer. McDonald attended the International Mission Board’s Sending Celebration at the Ridgecrest Conference Center as Dr. Anna Lovett was appointed as a medical missionary to Thailand. McDonald had previously pastored and baptized Anna at Castlewoods Baptist Church in Brandon, MS. Her mother, Charlotte, is currently gaining her MA in Christian Ministry at NGU.
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF MUSIC EDUCATION
Dr. Marianne Holland served as chair for music at the Southeast Regional Conference of the Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG) Society International, held at Myrtle Beach, SC, on July 19-22, 2017. Current student Angel Yock (MMED, expected ’18) served as piano accompanist for the chorus at the conference. DKG is an honor society for teacher educators, with members from across North America and Europe.
OFFICE OF CAMPUS SECURITY
Chief Rick Morris recently took part in a national webinar sponsored by the National Association of Campus Safety Administrators. The topic of discussion was the joint dispatch system, a collaborative effort involving NGU Campus Security, Furman University Police Department, and Queen’s University Campus Security and Emergency Services to provide 24-hour dispatch capability to all three agencies. A major benefit for NGU will be the availability of a phone application that gives students a direct emergency phone line to the Campus Security office, providing real-time video, audio, and GPS features when activated.
Thompson Tells Students Their ‘Voice Is Valuable’
MY NAME IS . . . Dr. Becky Louise Thompson.
I’VE BEEN TEACHING AT NGU SINCE . . . 2002.
INTERESTING
PLACES
MY JOB IS . . . the coordinator for English language arts secondary education and the coordinator for freshman English and sophomore literature. And then, of course, I teach. But most of all, I’m almost like a counselor. I can get students from all majors, and it gives me an opportunity to teach them to be good communicators. I want to teach them that their voice is valuable.
WHEN I’M NOT GRADING PAPERS . . . a lot of it is reading! I do know it seems very typical. I’d like to say, “Oh, I love waterskiing!” Or, I don’t know, “Oh, I make cornhusk dolls!” (I don’t know where that just came from. See, I’m already known for the weird dolls and puppets, but if I knew how to make cornhusk dolls, I could make all my own dolls.)
I’VE TRAVELLED TO ARE . . . all of the author homes I’ve visited, from Connecticut with Mark Twain’s house to Stephen King’s house in Maine.
MY FAVORITE AUTHOR IS . . . Oh, my stars! [It] would have to be Emily Dickinson.
ONE OF MY FUN CLASSROOM TRADITIONS IS . . . I always take pictures of my classes. Teaching is my ministry. And in those three or four months, that’s my chance to make an impact. I take the picture because I would love to think that, when a student leaves my classroom, he or she is different because of knowing me — not just because of me, but seeing Christ in me. And I want to have a memento of sorts.
I KNEW I WANTED TO BE A COLLEGE PROFESSOR WHEN . . . I never thought about teaching college until I actually did it as a grad assistant. But I do love teaching college, and I know it’s a calling. College students are inquisitive, and they’re finding their voice. And it’s such a rewarding experience to witness them figuring out who they are.
MY TEACHING MOTTO IS . . . I pray that I see each one, I listen to each one, I recognize each one.
I THINK MY SUBJECT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE . . . we as humans are made up of words.
I DECIDED TO JOIN THE NGU FAMILY BECAUSE . . . God uprooted me. It was the only time in my life I really didn’t know what I was going to do. When I left Northland — it’s in the Upper Peninsula of Wisconsin — it’s a beautiful place: mountains, forests, and deer everywhere. And when I left, I was crying and crying, and my sister wanted to know why. And I said, “I’m never going to teach anywhere beautiful again.” And it wasn’t even two weeks later that I was driving to Tigerville for the first time. I got out of my car, and I immediately looked towards those mountains. Even before I’d spoken to a person, I knew this was where I was going to be.
THE TITLE OF MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY WOULD BE . . . “Even Though You’re Not Listening, I’m Still Talking.”
MY FAVORITE PART OF TEACHING IS . . . It’s remarkable that I get paid to read books that I already want to read and talk about authors that I already want to talk about, but it’s all about the students.
A Changed Life
Matthew Huff (’09)
Dr. Becky Thompson, in every sense of the phrase, completely changed my life.
I had Dr. Thompson as a professor my very first semester at NGU. We bonded quickly. (In fact, I’m not sure there is anyone whom Dr. Thompson could not instantly reach.) And her kind, gentle, and cheerful attitude put me at ease. She made me feel welcome, loved, and special.
Once she had become my advisor, we met in her office toward the end of that semester to talk about which classes I would take next. Early in the conversation, we had begun discussing some of our favorite writers with excitement and laughter.
She leaned over to me and said, “Matt, why are you not an English major?”
That day, she switched me over to English, and I have never looked back.
The faculty in the English Department quickly recognized a passion and love for literature and poetry within me. They welcomed me in as an English major and spent the rest of my time at NGU — and beyond — shepherding and guiding my passion not only toward the deep waters of beautiful literature, but also toward the deeper and more glorious truth of Jesus.
Through all the classes I took as an English major, I discovered that God had uniquely called me to connect my love for literature to the work I would do upon graduating. Though I did not always know exactly how God would use this passion, my professors allowed me to see what was once a simple interest in books as a wonderful gift that God had placed in my heart to use for His glory. It was not just a hobby; it was my life.
After NGU, I went on to get my MA in English at Belmont University. In 2012, I joined the English Department at Landmark Christian School in Fairburn, GA, where I now teach 12th-grade English classes. In addition to teaching, I recently wrote a book of poetry titled “The Cardinal Turns the Corner” and blog at edenbabel.com.
I credit NGU with providing me a critical stepping stone in my life. I could never fully express my gratitude for the professors and the friends at NGU who helped me discover everything God was calling me to be.
Turmon’s Stage Presence Is Loud — Even if He’s Not
Celeste Hawkins (’11)
Some grip white pieces of paper with handwritten notes in the margins. Others sit still, hands clasped together tightly in their laps.
But his hands are free, moving, communicating with his sign language interpreter at the front corner of the acting studio where auditions for North Greenville University’s fall play are about to begin.
I’ve taken one of the last free chairs in the room; more than 20 students fill the rest, no doubt reviewing their lines and chanting to themselves, “It’s only 60 seconds.” I’m not auditioning, but I feel nervous just being there with all of them, like I’ve somehow time traveled back to my high school audition for a cheesy murder mystery.
Dale Savidge, NGU professor of theatre, interrupts my memories as he steps up and calls our attention. After opening in prayer, he gives instructions and assures students they might not get selected — not because they aren’t promising actors, but the right role for them isn’t in this particular play: “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde. He reminds us it opens only four weeks from today.
The monologues begin with a girl in a red dress who reads from “An Ideal Husband,” also by Oscar Wilde. Another recites from a “diary” written from the perspective of a cat. And yet another quotes lines from a script where his dad’s inside a baked potato.
A few try British accents.
The one I can’t forget, though, is him.
He sits in front of me. The back of his T-shirt says, “A blood donor saved my life.” He keeps his book bag just between his Jordans, maybe in case he decides to bolt.
But when Salvidge calls out “Trei,” he takes the spotlight without hesitation.
I wonder what he’ll do. Can he speak?
Barely audible, he introduces himself and jumps right into his scene, signing as he goes. Most of the other actors relied primarily on their voices, the tone and volume. Not him. His mouth opens with only faint sounds, but his interpreter calls out the words in tandem and with vigor.
My heart raises its hands and shakes them in silent applause.
His motions more than compensate. His body moves not only with signs for the lines, but also the carefully-thought-out embodiment of his character, a man who’s peeved with a colleague for always yelling, “Yo!” to get his attention.
The colleague leaves the room, and there’s a long pause. Shaking his head and rolling his eyes, the character lifts his fist — with just the pinkie sticking up — to his forehead. The interpreter matches, “Idiot!”
His timing is perfect; the audience laughs at all the right moments. His is the most animated, the most fluid audition, I think, reminding me of physical comedians. It’s like nothing I’ve seen before.
a Th
The too-short performance comes to an end, and the whole room — every single one of them — raises their hands and shakes them in silent applause.
On Monday, I can’t wait to see the cast list. I walk back over to the Tigerville School of Theatre just to do that. Instinctively, I look for his name, and there it is: beside the Rev. Canon Chasuble, D.D.
Later in the week, I get to meet with theatre major Treiquon “Trei” Turmon (expected ’18) and find out why he wants to act. I’m not surprised when he tells me that, growing up, he was the family funny man.
“I remember one time, my uncle . . . he just had a weird walk. And I’d copy it, and then my family would — ‘Look, look, look, look! Look, he’s doing it just like him!’ And they’d always laugh, and they’d say, ‘Do it again,’” he remembers.
Imitation: it also drives Turmon in his plans to use acting, and perhaps pastoring, to minister to the deaf community in the future:
“I believe in Jesus and everything He did in preaching and spreading the gospel . . . I want to be the same as that,” he tells me. “I want to be able to do [that] for deaf people because . . . they need to know about Jesus. How are they going to know what to do if no one tells them?”
If you ask me, his voice speaks loud and clear.
Finding
your voice
Celeste Hawkins (’11)
THROUGH INTERDIS, BRUCE GIVES STUDENTS TOOLS TO DO THAT UNIQUE THING ONLY THEY CAN DO
One of the fastest growing degree programs today, interdisciplinary studies (“interdis” or IDS) is popping up all across the country. In fact, in 2015, Forbes reported that the number of interand multi-disciplinary degrees earned had increased by more than 35 percent in recent years.
North Greenville University has been ahead of the interdis wave for more than two decades now.
But early adoption, and strong numbers, aren’t the only ways NGU sets itself apart from the rest.
IDS represents how NGU prepares students to find not only their own distinctive “voice” in the world, but also success along whichever path they take.
THE OFFICE WITH A LINE
I would walk by the copier printing, up the stairs with the three creaky ones at the top, and down the hallway past every professor’s office on the second floor of White Hall for our weekly “Mountain Laurel” meeting during my junior year at NGU. One door seemed always open, with a line of students inside and out.
Upperclassmen had been warning me for as long as I could remember: never walk into that office ¬— unless you want to walk out as an interdis major.
Maybe all these years later, I still have the fear of being converted to his major if I go in, so Dr. Gregory “Greg” Bruce and I decide to meet at my office instead for our interview. I feel lucky to have three hours with the teacher students vie to see to change a class, ask a question, get advice.
On campus, Bruce plays the archetypal sage, with blue eyes that look nearly into your soul and light up when the conversation, inevitably, turns philosophical. Thin, he stands at six foot four. He has a white beard and glasses, to boot. And he peppers his speech with words like “chiasm” and “limerence” like you already know them.
He tells me, shortly into our conversation, that
his strength is “helping students figure out their voice,” and I believe him.
To be sure, Bruce, who’s headed the Interdisciplinary Studies (BA) Department at NGU going on 15 years, is in the perfect position to direct students with myriad interests or a mixed bag of earned credits; with IDS, they can select not just one die-cut major, but two or three areas of study to create their own tailor-made degree. Convincing students that interdis will help them find personal fulfillment comes naturally for Bruce because it’s so personal to him.
DINNER WITH DERRIDA
Bruce tells me he first came to NGU in 2003 to become the “expert in the posties,” as he calls them, like postmodernism and post-colonialism. He felt that he could provide more than just the “Cliff Notes version” of those ideologies, since he had literally eaten steak with the likes of Jacques Derrida (a household name for any lit crit student) while he earned his doctorate in literature and religion at Emory University.
I ask him if he’s kidding. He assures me he’s serious.
Emory was also the first time Bruce ever heard the term “interdisciplinary studies,” although he’d been believing in it since at least his under-
grad studies at Georgia State University (GSU), where he majored in philosophy and played jazz drums for fun.
How Does Interdis Work?
Select two components to study from participating disciplines. (But really, there are enough credits available to have three areas of expertise.)
o Primary component – 24 hours
o Secondary component – 18 hours
o Elective courses – 18-20 hours
Depending on your primary component, declare your major as either interdis BA or interdis BS.
Each semester, meet with your advisor to set up a course load unique to your chosen components.
Complete the required credits in each component, as well as the two required interdis courses, where you establish an interdisciplinary identity and learn to integrate your chosen areas.
o Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies
o Senior Seminar
I’m Not Wired to Do One Thing Forever, and
That’s Okay Now
Paola Martinez Villatoro (’16)
The interdis program allowed me to see I don’t have to have only one vocation.
I think for many years I wrestled with this idea, because I wanted to find a single thing I could enjoy enough to see myself doing for the rest of my life. However, not all people are wired like that, and interdis at NGU taught me that.
The interdis program at NGU maintains Christ and His Word as the center, while boldly, fearlessly interacting with the world around us. The context of learning was often in open dialogue, as people journeying together. In class, we explored a wide variety of authors, literary styles, and themes; without exclusively studying religious or Christian authors, I was exposed to many different mindsets, cultures, and perspectives, but kept finding the truth of the gospel in even the rarest places.
was struggling, he blessed me in every interaction. He seemed to always have words of empathy and encouragement. His advice balanced compassion with challenging reminders to keep pushing me forward.
Dr. Bruce believed in my final project for Senior Seminar — even when I doubted myself. He listened to my ideas and helped me find the materials that ended up becoming the meat and bones of my project, which explored economic and linguistic solutions to some of the critical challenges of the refugee crisis. For my presentation, I organized a house concert and talk called “A Voice for the Vulnerable.” The day of the final presentation, I wasn’t sure he was going to make it. Schedules, other commitments, and even weather conditions were not in our favor. But Dr. Bruce went out of his way to ensure he could come.
Thinking like an interdisciplinarian taught me the art of tackling puzzles by analyzing them through different angles. Seeking solutions in this fashion challenged me to integrate my different fields of study — business, linguistics, and multiple languages — and respond to the brokenness in our world with my faith in Christ and my passions in life.
One of the most significant aspects of the interdis program was the people. I could write on and on about the professors who poured into me. However, it would be unfair if I didn’t highlight our beloved Dr. Bruce. His genuine love for students and unquenchable passion have given life to this program; students’ lives are touched by Dr. Bruce’s inspiration, and then that spark continues to grow.
My last semester was by far the hardest. That semester, I was taking Senior Seminar with Dr. Bruce, so we saw each other on a week-to-week basis. Though he could tell I
Today, I am using [the tools NGU gave me] every day at work. As a Spanish interpreter at Greenville Memorial Hospital, I have important responsibilities to ensure a clear delivery of medical information between providers and Spanish-speaking patients from all over Latin America. This role makes me both a communication manager and a cultural broker — both tasks that the linguistics program prepared me for.
Overall, however, my IDS degree strengthened my ability to connect theory and academic knowledge to application and a right understanding of people. [This worldview of connectivity] has proven to be one of the most valuable skills I’ve learned to face the complex realities of our multifaceted world.
Now I know my passion is and will only be Christ, but my vocation and calling may take many turns. And that’s okay! There’s great freedom in embracing that reality about myself as an interdisciplinarian.
“I was the guy that, I would go to my professor at the end of the semester and say, ‘Hey, I’m writing a paper in my lit class that addresses some of these things we’re doing in sociology. Can I combine these?’ And they would go, ‘Of course you can’t! That’s cheating,’” he remembers.
He was actually trying to do more, not less, by combining the knowledge he learned in different classes, he says. This tendency clued him in to go the direction of interdis.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
After finishing his degrees, Bruce bounced between several universities near his hometown of Atlanta, GA, and finally landed at a Christian one. But despite its alignment with the church, one day the school administration reprimanded Bruce for teaching that Jesus was the only way to God.
He taught New Testament.
After that, Bruce decided to leave.
“I wanted to be in an expressly Christian environment. I was tired of being kicked around because I wouldn’t shut up about Jesus in the classroom,” he confides.
He applied to more than 20 schools and got every single job offer, including the one at NGU.
“You know what it really boiled down to? I drove up this hill, and I saw the statue of Jesus washing feet, and I heard God say, ‘You’re supposed to just serve here. That’s it. Period. Don’t try to get too fancy. Just serve. ‘Cause kids need you,’” Bruce remembers fondly.
Bruce and his family still live in Atlanta, so he commutes three hours one way every week to teach. He’s sincere when he calls NGU his “home away from home.”
SWEET VOICES AND POETRY NIGHT
Bruce first started at NGU by teaching freshman English. When he wasn’t in class, he would sneak around, perhaps even hiding behind trashcans, to listen to students and get a grasp on what mattered to them. He says that he heard “sweet voices” eager to make an impact. He noticed right away that NGU students needed a voice — to know how to use their passions, their art, their gifts for God’s kingdom.
His first semester here, he started what would become the biannual Poetry Night, where students could express themselves through any medium: music, improv, poetry. It’s become a favorite for creative types on campus.
Bruce says giving students a voice — just like Poetry Night does on a microscale — is what interdis is all about. He quickly transitioned to lead the program at NGU, which had already been running since the mid-’90s.
THE MAJOR THAT IS WHATEVER YOU WANT IT TO BE
The interdisciplinary studies degree prepares students for the workplace, perhaps like no other major can. From day one, IDS students are groomed to be problem-solvers who can contribute to the world, think outside the box, and work collaboratively — all traits that employers look for in the 21st century more than ever.
Unlike Bruce’s experience in undergrad, the IDS program focuses on integrating disciplines, rather than keeping them separate. But it begins on a much deeper level.
“There really are three types of integration: you integrate head and heart, you integrate disciplines, and you integrate classroom with real world. And those are the three types of integration that we push in the program,” he says. “Students come in thinking it’s about disciplines. But once we start talking to them, they want to be integrated. And then they really, really want to be able to see that what they’re studying at the collegiate level is connecting to the world.”
That’s what’s at the heart of the interdis senior seminar, which leads students in combining
their components to craft a doable project that solves a real-world problem.
OUTSIDE THE PARTITIONS
Bruce himself continues fine-tuning his own components — English and theology — to help students find their voices so they can impact the world in a way unique to them, just like the senior seminar project allows them to do.
“These partitions that we’ve superficially put up have to fall away because people are hurting. We have to help them. Trying to do that within the confines of one discipline can be restrictive,” he argues.
You could say he’s already been very successful at his interdis project. Under his leadership, the department has experienced tremendous growth: an astonishing 15 percent of NGU’s Class of 2016 traditional graduates earned an IDS degree.
Bruce also facilitates an ever-growing list of Greenville partnerships he’s built on his own watch. In fact, his list features more than 25 businesses and organizations, including NEXT High School, The Collective at Society Hall, and Upstate International. They provide NGU’s interdis students with shadowing, volunteer, and internship opportunities; many have even hired NGU graduates as a result.
But Bruce, late 50s, claims he has 10 to 15 more years left in him to finish his work here at NGU. Curious, I ask him about his end goal.
“I don’t know. I’ll know it when I get there,” he laughs. But with great conviction, he adds: “There’s still more voices that need to be heard.”
Interdis at a Glance
Interdis degree programs in the U.S.
National growth in interdis degrees earned since 2011
Interdis degree type options at NGU: BA and BS
NGU’s Class of 2016 traditional graduates who earned a degree in interdis
Interdis components to choose from at NGU
Students in the interdis program at NGU during an average semester NGU interdisc alumni (1998 to present)
Partner organizations in Greenville that provide hands-on learning opportunities for NGU’s interdis students
Possible combinations for your customized interdis degree at NGU
A Jack of All Trades and Master of None? No, That’s Definitely Not Me
If it were not for the interdisciplinary studies degree [at NGU], I would not have been flexible enough to move from local missions to affordable housing developer to public official and now to a private real estate investment firm.
Dr. Bruce gave me the audacity to believe that focusing on several things does not have to make me a jack of all trades and a master of none, but rather I can pursue excellence in whatever situation I find myself in.
The first example was when I went to him for advice regarding my major. I was not happy with the major I entered with and was simply seeking. Dr. Bruce helped me decide to switch majors into [interdis, with components in history, English, and political science].
While speaking with Dr. Bruce was always impactful, the greater importance came from other students. I was challenged constantly in new ways by attending classes in multiple disciplines with students who thought differently than I did. Another interdis student might be focusing on Christian studies or business, so
their perspective would be varied and require a more holistic consideration of the issue at hand.
After NGU, I was given an opportunity to practice a portion of my senior seminar thesis, which focused on asset-based community development. I gave up my goal to attend law school and moved to a disadvantaged community in Greenville, where I worked with local ministries, schools, and community members to bring new life to the area. I personally went through the low-income rental and home ownership process and was nominated as the community president. I ran a community garden — [with] over $100,000 in donations . . . and more than 2,500 volunteers from Maine to Miami — where we grew food and gave it back to the community.
Eventually, I began working for an affordable housing nonprofit, where I secured funding to build and manage new affordable housing in the community I lived in. I was able to continue ministering to low-income families, but also began to build a network and work history.
I have created value in myself for others because of my flexibility. People have said about unusual or particularly difficult projects, “Just give that to Andrew. He will find a way to get it done.”
Currently, I am an asset manager for a $400+ million real estate portfolio. We own and manage multifamily and assisted living facilities. I gained experience in this field while working for the affordable housing nonprofit. My flexibility and analytical skills continue to afford me success in this new endeavor.
I hope I have truly synthesized the values from my interdis experience with my work experience and newly acquired [Master of Business Administration] degree . . . to be an excellent employee capable of functioning at a high level in many different areas.
Interdis students are often considered jacks of all trades and a master of none. My intent and effort was to be excellent in all that I did. This seems to be paying off. I believe God is giving me success . . . with a call to continue giving back.
Andrew Ratchford (’11)
NGU Celebrates 125th Anniversary with Scholarship Initiative to ‘Open Up’ Student Opportunities
LaVerne Howell
North Greenville University recently announced a $2 million investment initiative called The President’s 125th Scholarship Initiative, in celebration of the school’s history and in anticipation of the limitless opportunities in store for its next 125 years and beyond.
The President’s 125th Scholarship Initiative focuses on funding endowed scholarships for NGU students like Anthony Blair (’17) — and their families.
Blair, who studied accounting at NGU, enrolled this past summer in the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at NGU.
“I received a good Christian education [at NGU] and wanted that [influence] to continue in graduate school,” he says.
Even though Blair is already working successfully as a staff accountant with Burkett, Burkett & Burkett Certified Public Accountants in his hometown of Columbia, SC, he hopes that earning a graduate degree will allow him to advance in his career.
“I hope it will open up my opportunities to work in a managerial position so that I can have more personal contact with clients,” explains Blair. “It will also grant me the necessary hours to take my CPA licensing exam.”
The main reason Blair chose to pursue his MBA at NGU was the flexibility. In fact, all his classes are completely online.
“It fits very well with my work schedule. I work a regular 9 to 5:30 job, and after work I try to get two hours of school work done,” he says.
Blair says being a full-time employee and a full-time student requires dedication. Even so, he realizes his graduate degree will benefit not only himself, but more importantly, his family.
“It’s well worth it,” he says.
Blair also chose NGU because of its affordability. As one of the first twenty recipients of the Martin Timothy Brashier Graduate Scholars Program funds, he is very grateful to the Brashier family for establishing the program (See pages 2-3.), which enables him to attend school while still supporting his family.
The Brashiers’ $1 million gift received in July 2017 has paved the way for supporting graduate students, in particular, at NGU through The President’s 125th Scholarship Initiative.
The initiative also invests in endowed scholarships for areas of need such as NGU ministry teams, missionary kids, and the descendants of NGU alumni.
“The 125th anniversary will celebrate NGU’s history and build momentum for what can be accomplished for our student’s children,” says NGU President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. “Every gift, large or small, will directly impact the lives of our students.”
Give to The President’s 125th Scholarship Initiative at ngu.edu/giving.
What’s an Endowed Scholarship?
When you give to an endowed scholarship, we create a fund in your family’s name that provides an ongoing blessing for future NGU students. While gifts to an endowed scholarship fund remain untouched, a portion of the interest earned from the fund finances student scholarships in perpetuity. Through the legacy of endowed scholarships, future generations will receive the opportunity to pursue their dreams at NGU because of your generosity.
Once family,
always family
So come on back every now and then to catch an event or just to say hello:
SENIOR-DIRECTED ONE ACTS
Feb. 1-3, 2018
FAITH AT WORK BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM
Feb. 8, 2018
OPEN HOUSE
March 16, 2018
125th CELEBRATION
April 2-13, 2018
“BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: THE BROADWAY MUSICAL”
April 5-7 and 12-14, 2018
PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION
April 13, 2018
JOYFUL SOUND 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
April 13, 2018
GRADUATION
April 28, 2018
See more upcoming NGU events at ngu.edu/calendar.
ALUMNI NOTES
1956
Earl Lee read from his book “The Gayle: A Personal Account of Living on a Mill Village in Upstate South Carolina” in July at the Chester County War Memorial Building. The Chester County Historical Society presented the reading as part of its local programming. Earl pastored churches in Alabama and South Carolina before his retirement in 1999; he still continues ministry with senior adults and serves churches as an interim pastor. He and his wife, Barbara, have two sons, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. They live in Foley, AL.
1973
Phillip Capps retired in June after teaching in South Carolina public schools for 37 years. During that time, he taught general music, chorus, band, and mathematics; he was also voted his school’s Teacher of the Year in 1987 and 1996.
1977
John Brady, vice president for global engagement at the International Mission Board, spoke at NGU’s 2017 Founders Day on Sept. 20, 2017. During the service, Brady shared memories of his time at NGU and encouraged the NGU family “to dream big, to pray large, and to ask God to cause us to be part of His limitless process of bringing this world to Him.”
1983
Camilla Gibson Pitman sang at the historic 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL, in February, which led to an invitation to sing Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” in Montreal at the opening ceremony of the 2017 International Institute Municipal Clerks’ Annual Conference. Pitman has served as city clerk for the city of Greenville, SC, since 2007. She is the current president of the South Carolina Municipal Finance Officers, Clerks, and Treasurers Association.
1990
Kent Merideth is the head coach of the new Upstate Dragons, an arena football team in Anderson County, SC, that is a part of the American Arena League. The team is expected to play its inaugural season in spring 2018 and compete against several teams from Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.
1999
Michael “Hair” Kelley was officially ordained on May 7, 2017, as a Southern Baptist minister at The Foundry Church in Wallingford, PA. He currently serves as the church’s associate pastor overseeing the arts ministries and programs and the teaching pastor. Kelley has been serving at The Foundry for 10 years. He is currently a self-funded missionary with the North American Mission Board.
Dr. Carla Fowler Tucker has been named assistant principal at Beech Springs Intermediate School (BSIS) in Duncan, SC. A National Board-certified teacher, Tucker earned her bachelor’s degree from NGU and her doctorate from Gardner-Webb University. At BSIS, she serves alongside fellow NGU alum Christopher McCants (’98), the school’s principal.
2002
Laura Brooks, director of the York Comprehensive High School (YCHS) Wind Ensemble, has received an invitation to perform as a part of the Symphonic Series at the celebrated Carnegie Hall in spring 2018. The trip, “A Mid-Atlantic East Coast Tour,” will include stops in Baltimore, New York, and Philadelphia and a stop at top attractions in all three cities. All members of the Cougar Band are invited to go on the trip, including Symphonic Band members and the fall Cougarettes. Band members are working hard to raise funds for this once-in-a-life time opportunity: the first time in history for the YCHS band to perform at Carnegie Hall.
Dr. Andy Hooker has been named principal at Wren Middle School in Anderson School District One.
Rachel Leverton is a private music instructor and director of the Northern Illinois Regional Science Fair.
2004
Dr. Mary Chung was hired as assistant professor of music and coordinator of the keyboard area at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, AR.
Erynn Reconnu Newman has published her debut novel, “Out of Darkness,” an inspirational romantic suspense.
2005
Jon Wade Weatherford has been named park manager for Hunting Island State Park in Beaufort, SC. In this role, he manages all aspects of one of South Carolina’s busiest state parks.
2006
Meredith Bridges McKey was elected to the Gaffney Board of Public Works in July. She is a licensed real estate agent who also works as a right-of-way agent for the South Carolina Department of Transportation.
Bob Richey was named Furman University’s head men’s basketball coach in April. He has served as the top assistant for the team since 2010. Richey played basketball at NGU during his senior year.
Jay Watterworth serves as the volleyball coach at Philip Simmons High School in Daniel Island, SC. He coached at Goose Creek High School for a decade, and his teams reached the playoffs six times, with three squads making it to the second round.
2007
Evan Hampton is celebrating 10 years of being self-employed with his business, Evan Hampton Photography. He is a visual storyteller who specializes in weddings and humanitarian portraits — working not only with couples, but also nonprofits and corporations nationwide who are doing good in the world. He lives with the belief that he will increase the positivity in the world through the telling of a great visual story. Hampton is based in Jacksonville, FL, and available to travel worldwide.
Travis Morris, a head sports performance coach with Greenville Health System’s Acceleration Sports Institute, has been selected by “Greenville Business Magazine” as one of Greenville’s “Best and Brightest 35 and Under” in 2017. The annual list honors 35 young professionals who are making a difference in their workplaces and communities.
Matthew Threatt was named lead supervisor at Verizon Wireless in Greenville, SC, in March. This is a leadership development role designed to lead to a senior leadership role within the company. Matthew has worked with Verizon since 2010. He and his wife, Sara Threatt (’07), have also opened Madison Carolina Bridal on Main Street in Simpsonville, SC.
2008
Lauren Cason, a full-time piano instructor at the Music Academy of Western North Carolina, played Keyboard 3 for the Broadway production of “Something Rotten!” at the Peace Center in Greenville, SC, in the spring.
Christian Sarazen started a band program at Ben Lippen School in Columbia, SC, this school year.
2009
Mindy Greenstone Black was recently awarded Teacher of the Year at Taylor Elementary School in Gwinnett County, GA.
Robbie Earle has been called to plant a new church in Upstate South Carolina. Legacy City Church (LCC) is a non-denominational faith community that began meeting in April. Believers at LCC believe God has called the church to reach and impact its community with the gospel of Jesus Christ, specifically seeking to reach the “unchurched” and the “dechurched” — people who have never gone to church or have left church. LCC is also committed to serve and impact those who live in poverty, not just meeting physical needs, but also spiritual needs.
Dustin Fuls (MBA ’11) has been promoted from director of compliance to assistant athletic director of internal operations within NGU Athletics.
Matthew Trotter graduated from Furman University on May 6, 2017, with an EdS degree in school leadership.
Tausha Wallace (MBA ’17) started her own company, Southern Bliss Designs, in 2016. She designs and creates items mostly inspired by the country way of life — slow, easygoing, and hospitable — mixing chic and color. She hopes to bring a welcoming and restful environment into each home or space where her work is featured. Her favorite part of creating is offering custom pieces and being a part of someone’s life story. Her hope is that by seeing Southern Bliss Designs and its unexpected growth, others are encouraged that God can do anything to bring them out of ashes and make them shine in ways that always seemed impossible.
2010
Amber Henline received her MBA from Lenoir-Rhyne University in May 2017.
Barry Mullinax has a new job as the assistant director of bands at Laurens District 55 High School.
2011
James Eaton has become the online director for Highlands Fellowship Church in Abingdon, VA. In this role, he oversees and leads HFOnline, the online campus of Highlands Fellowship. He also leads in the development of website and social media content for the different ministries and campuses of the church. Highlands is a multi-site church in Virginia and Tennessee, with six physical campuses and a growing online campus.
Thomas McAuliff, a third-grade teacher at Taylors Elementary School, is among three Greenville County educators to be named Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) Emerging Leaders. The South Carolina Emerging Leader Program is comprised of an accomplished group of educators, typically with five to 15 years of experience, who desire to become more involved in South Carolina’s educational community. Emerging Leaders are passionate and committed to the “whole child,” a belief that every child in the state of South Carolina deserves to be healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. McAuliff has been a teacher for six years, teaching grades three and five. After graduating from NGU, he went on to obtain his MEd in Learning and Technology from Western Governors University.
2012
Cory Guinn (MAT ’14) is the assistant sports information director at Queens University in Charlotte, NC. In this role, Guinn serves as the media contact for men’s and women’s volleyball, swimming, tennis, and more. Other duties include maintaining the athletic website, assisting with game operations at home athletic events, and promoting Queens Athletics through social media. Prior to joining the Royals, Guinn was the new media coordinator at Barton College in Wilson, NC. Additionally, Guinn also worked on the in-game entertainment and video production staff for the Carolina Mudcats, the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, for three seasons.
2013
Nick Viviano is the new director of bands at Chapel Hill High School in Douglas County, NC. He previously taught band and music appreciation at Boiling Springs Middle School in Inman, SC.
2014
Freddie Martino was named to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad for the 2017-18 season. A 2014 undrafted free agent, Martino spent time with Dirk Koetter in Atlanta and then with the Eagles, before joining “the Bucs” in May 2016. He played in 16 games in 2016 and caught a 43-yard touchdown pass last season in his team’s win against the Chicago Bears. He had eight catches for 142 yards.
Katy Brank Nguyen has earned a new position as the seventh-grade English language arts teacher at Fort Settlement Middle School in Sugar Land, TX — often considered one of the best middle schools in the state. Her first year of teaching, Nguyen won an award for District Rookie Teacher of the Year in the Fort Bend Independent School District.
2015
Caleb Ruppe, music teacher and choral director at Mayo and Cooley Springs-Fingerville Elementary Schools in Spartanburg County School District Two, was one of 197 music teachers nominated from 187 cities across the U.S. as quarterfinalists for the Music Educator Award presented by The Recording Academy and the Grammy Museum. The Music Educator Award was established to “recognize current educators from kindergarten through college who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education and who demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in the schools.”
2016
Omar Collier is serving as a business education teacher this year at Batesburg-Leesville High School. He also serves as co-defensive coordinator for the football team. Omar earned a degree in business administration from NGU. He and his wife, Danielle, have two children: Donovan and Amaya.
Zach McLean is the music theory graduate assistant at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC, this fall.
Mitchell Shugars has started his own business. After working for a pest control company for one year in Charleston, SC, Shugars decided to open Mitchell’s Mosquito Control in Upstate South Carolina.
2017
Anthony Blair is a staff accountant at Burkett, Burkett & Burkett Certified Public Accountants in Columbia, SC. Blair is currently enrolled in the MBA program at NGU’s graduate school.
Carlee Colvard has been named graphic designer at the Baptist State Convention of NC in Cary, NC.
Madison Gregory is the childcare director at the Cherokee County Family YMCA in Gaffney, SC.
Christian Segers is a licensed insurance agent/broker at The Assurance Group in Archdale, NC.
Margaret Stuckey was recently hired as the piano accompanist for the choral program at Clemson University, where she accompanies four choral ensembles for rehearsals and performances. Stuckey also works at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Hendersonville, NC, as the part-time music director. She directs the children’s choir, as well as the handbell choir.
SHARE YOUR NEWS
You are doing incredible things, too, right? Well, this could be your highlight section right here. Whether you’ve started a business or married the love of your life, won a prestigious award or gone on a mission trip to a far corner of the globe, we want to celebrate and showcase you.
Share your news at ngu.edu/shareyournews.
FAMILY MILESTONES
WEDDINGS
Jeni Lyn Sinclair (’06) to John Rosengren Mills (’04) on Nov. 5, 2016
Shelley Burroughs to Matthew Trotter (’09) on April 23, 2016
Susan Lesser to Dustin Fuls (’09, MBA ’11) on July 22, 2017
Allison Grier Bouknight (MCM ’12) to Craig Carl Scott on April 29, 2017
Emily Michelle McDonald (’15) to Kevin Garrett Donahoo on Aug. 27, 2016
Becklin Blankenship (’17) to Franklin Gossett (’16) on May 3, 2017
IN MEMORIAM
Trudy Browning Carnahan (’46) on Aug. 25, 2017
Eugene Meyer (’46) on June 28, 2017
Frances Kathleen Lockaby Smith (’46) on July 22, 2017
Andrea Noel Grant to Peter Matthew Michael Lance (’07) on Dec. 23, 2016
Madison Allen (’15) to Will Raines on June 10, 2017
Emily Michelle McDonald (’15) to Kevin Garrett Donahoo on Aug. 27, 2016
Becklin Blankenship (’17) to Franklin Gossett (’16) on May 3, 2017
Sofia Colmenares (’17) to Terry Thompson, Jr., (’15) on July 22, 2017
Camilla Marcoux (’17) to Adam Fleming (’17) on July 7, 2017
Joe Harrison Lesley (’60) on Aug. 12, 2017
Lanny Pigg (’64) on July 8, 2017
Edward “Eddie” Charles Case (’72) on Aug. 5, 2017
G.B. “Buddy” White (’72) on June 29, 2017
Geneva Fleming Hilton (’74) on July 27, 2017
Richard Andrew “Andy” Bradley (’07) on July 3, 2017
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fallparty
Kate Welkner (expected ’18) takes a plunge for an apple at NGU’s 2017 Fall Party.
Jennifer Marie Rothenburg Barnes (’07) and her husband, Bryce Allen Barnes, welcomed their son Kristopher Allen into their lives on Aug. 21, 2016. He weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces and measured 21 inches long.
Jessica Ann Boulware Upchurch (’09) and her husband, Jared McGee Upchurch, welcomed their son Jared McGee II on Jan. 5, 2016. He weighed 10 pounds, 5 ounces and measured 20 inches long.
Samantha Morton Powers (’10) and her husband, Zach Powers (’08), are pleased to announce the birth of twin girls: Langley Chase and Presley Shane. The sisters were born on June 6, 2017.
Emily Brannon Dean (’14) and Ethan Dean (’13) announce the birth of their son, William Styles, on May 15, 2017. He weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces and was 20 inches long.
Elizabeth Pirkle Harrison (’14) and William Bryce Harrison (’14) are pleased to announce the birth of their son, Coleman Brooks. He was born on May 1, 2017, and weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces.
It’s perfect for your seat in Younts Stadium.
Carmen Revis Mennear (’15) and Jacob John Mennear (’15) are pleased to announce the birth of their son, Zayn Anthony, on May 18, 2016. Also, at the end of 2017, their family of three plans to uproot from their hometown of Gastonia, NC, to move overseas and study language.
Jessica Ivey Longenecker (’04) would like to announce her son, Caleb Lee, who was born on March 7, 2017, in Beijing, China. He weighed 8 pounds, 3 ounces and was 20 inches long.
Brittany Collom Black (’11) and her husband, Joe Black, are pleased to announce the birth of their son, Greyson Ray. He was born on April 21, 2017, and weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces.
Hannah Harvell Kurhajec (’12) and Tomas Kurhajec (’09) announce the birth of their daughter, Claire Elizabeth. She was born in Amman, Jordan, on Dec. 22, 2016, and weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce.
Take NGU wherever you go with this Nike backpack!
Show your school spirit with our new adventure-themed T-shirts.
RED CARPET GALA
The NGU family gathered in October 2017 at the Poinsett Club in downtown Greenville for a Red Carpet Gala to celebrate not only our 125th anniversary, but also the community that has nurtured the institution these many decades. The university recognized donors who have shown exemplary service and commitment during their lifetime of giving to NGU.
P.O. BOX 1892 TIGERVILLE, SC 29688
