Lees-McRae College News

February will be an exciting month on the campus of Lees-McRae College with five events scheduled that focus on education and elimination of violence against women.

Lees-McRae College Admissions Specialist Katie Hayes will kick-off the month with a self-defense class on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. in the Arthur Student Recreation Complex. Hayes, a black belt, will teach basic defensive moves, so be sure to wear gym appropriate attire. This event is free and open to the public.

On Thursday, Feb. 11 the powerful documentary “Until the Violence Stops” will be shown in Evans Auditorium in the Cannon Student Center at 8p.m. “Until the Violence Stops” features playwright and activist Eve Ensler in a film that documents how “The Vagina Monologues” grew into an international grassroots movement called V-Day to stop violence against women and girls. This event is also free and open to the public.

Then, on Wednesday, Feb. 17 students, faculty, staff and alumni will present the much-anticipated Lees-McRae rendition of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues” at 7 p.m. in Evans Auditorium.

“The Vagina Monologues” is an award-winning play based on Ensler’s interviews with more than 200 women. With both humor and grace the piece celebrates women’s sexuality and strength. Through this play and the liberation of this one word, countless women throughout the world have taken control of their bodies and their lives. For more than 12 years, “The Vagina Monologues” has given voice to experiences and feelings not previously exposed in public.

Tickets are $12 for general admission and $5 with a student ID. For tickets or more information, please contact Selena Hilemon at hilemons@lmc.edu or 828.898.3318. The performance of “The Vagina Monologues” is open to the public and is intended for mature audiences only. It is presented by Lees-McRae Offices of Community Outreach and Campus Life.  This is a community event to raise money for our local partner – Avery Citizens Against Domestic Abuse (ACADA).

Preceding the play will be a free reception with refreshments in King-Shivell Gallery in the Cannon Student Center from 5-6:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend.

Another exciting event is the Green and Pink Party to be held on Tuesday, Feb. 23 in Evans Auditorium at 6 p.m. This event, sponsored by Delta Omicron Theta, is a global movement created by One by One and the Sierra Club to raise money for fistula care. During the party, two documentaries will be shown that outline family planning in third world countries and the effects of fistula. A group discussion will follow.

Obstetric fistula, a devastating childbirth injury caused by unrelieved obstructed labor, affects women and girls living in poverty in the developing world. A mere $300 can provide a life-changing surgery for one woman. If you would like more information or would like to give a donation, contact Charlie Herron at ch0062370@email.lmc.edu. This event is free and open to the public.

Rounding out the series of events is Gabriela Garcia Medina, as she returns to campus by popular demand on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. in Evans Auditorium. Garcia Medina is a dynamic spoken word artist whose topics range from womanhood to sisterhood and everything in between. She is an award-winning poet who has performed at colleges, festivals and conferences all over the world. She graduated from UCLA’s School of Theatre, Film and Television with a major in theatre and a minor in Chicana/o studies. This event is free and open to the public.

For more information on any of these events please contact Selena Hilemon at Hilemons@lmc.edu or 828.898.3318.

Lees-McRae College sorority Delta Omicron Theta will be hosting a Green and Pink Party on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. in Evans Auditorium in the Cannon Student Center.

The Green and Pink Party will raise money for women stricken with obstetric fistula in third world countries. Obstetric fistula, a devastating childbirth injury caused by unrelieved obstructed labor, affects women and girls living in poverty in the developing world.

As a result of their injuries, fistula sufferers leak urine, and sometimes feces, causing others to shun them. Most are relegated to the edges of society, unable to board a bus or share a meal with others. But fistula is both preventable and treatable.

On average, fistula repair surgery costs a mere $300. Such treatment enables women to return to society and teach other women about obstetric fistula and the importance of family planning.

During the Green and Pink Party two documentaries will be shown outlining family planning in third world countries and the affects of fistula. Afterward a group discussion will be held for anyone interested.

For more information or to make a donation please contact Charlie Herron at ch0062370@email.lmc.edu. Donations of any size are welcome and appreciated. The public is invited to attend. Donations of any size are welcome and appreciated. The public is invited to attend.

The Green and Pink Party was developed by One By One, a nonprofit organization committed to ending fistula, and the Sierra Club, the nation’s oldest and largest environmental organization. One By One and the Sierra Club recognize that women’s voices and access to basic rights, including quality healthcare, are crucial to protecting the environment. When women have access to family planning information, they can more safely give birth to healthy children and often choose to have smaller families. Slowing population growth is key to long-term natural resource protection.  For more information about the cause, click here.

It’s not often that pre-service teachers in the first semester of their program get to see the immediate impact of what they are learning within an actual classroom.

This was not the case for two excited new professionals, Carlos Vass and Jennifer Freeman, who currently work as Teacher Assistants in the 2^nd and 3^rd grades, respectively, at Jonesville Elementary School in Yadkin County and are enrolled in Lees-McRae’s Elementary Education Surry Community College Cohort of 2009.

Inspired by the ease of use and potential creativity of creating digital stories learned in their Computer and Media Applications in Education course during the fall of 2009, they both decided to see how well the idea would translate in the real world.

It was met with great enthusiasm and success. “It’s not often that you can get every second grader to sit absolutely still and focused, especially for long periods of time, but when I introduced the idea of creating a class digital story in which they would each get a chance to narrate and depict a particular part of the story and then showed them an example, they were!” stated Mr. Vass.

According to Leslie Rule of the Digital Storytelling Association, “Digital storytelling is the modern expression of the ancient art of storytelling. Digital stories derive their power by weaving images, music, narrative and voice together, thereby giving deep dimension and vivid color to characters, situations, experiences, and insights.”

Mr. Vass’s class dressed in costume and narrated a favorite Halloween story Witch, Witch by Arden Druce. Ms. Freeman’s class had the opportunity to write, illustrate, and narrate their own story called, The House at the End of the Street.

“One of the best parts of the process was the editing phase. Students got to view their work critically and then decide together how they could make their final product even better,” shared Ms. Freeman.

After sharing their result with their class, several other teachers in the school, and the principal, both Mr. Vass and Ms. Freeman were asked to conduct a workshop on how to create and use digital storytelling for other teachers in the school. The Lees-McRae Education Department and their Computer Media Professor, Sabrina Crawford, are proud of the exemplary performance, dedication, and entrepreneurial leadership shown by these two new rising stars in teacher education.

When nearly 200 people converged at Ski Beech for the 29^th Annual Adaptive Snowsports Learn to Ski Clinic January 19-22, Lees-McRae graduate Natalie Burns couldn’t have been more excited to be in attendance. Although it wasn’t her first time participating in the event, her involvement this year was much more meaningful.

Burns took over as director of the Beech Adaptive Snowsports Center this season, and taught adaptive ski techniques during the four-day clinic alongside some of the country’s best instructors including the event’s coordinators Gene Gamber, ski program director of the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center, and Al Kaye, director of the Patricia Neal Innovative Recreation Cooperative out of Knoxville, TN.

The Adaptive Snowsports Learn to Ski Clinic at Ski Beech, sponsored by Disabled Sports USA, gives individuals of all abilities the chance to learn to ski. Many individuals with disabilities and/or special needs are able only to experience the excitement and freedom of skiing in a form adapted to their needs with the use of equipment including mono-skis and bi-skis.

Burns, who worked as a ski and snowboard instructor at Ski Beech for five years, began working in adaptive snowsports when she was introduced to it by Dee Thomas three years ago. Thomas was then the director of the program at Ski Beech, and was working part-time as director of Outdoor Programs at Lees-McRae.

Last winter Burns, who was then a volunteer with the program, and Thomas traveled together to Breckenridge, CO, to attend Ski Spectacular, hosted at the Breckenridge Ski Resort, where they received training in adaptive skiing. Burns knew right away she wanted to continue with the program.

When Thomas began working at Lees-McRae full-time, she knew she wouldn’t be able to continue in her role as director of the program. Burns voiced her interest in taking over the program, and Thomas knew she was ready for the job.

“When Natalie said she was interested in taking over the program, I was thrilled. Because of her personality and her drive, she was the perfect choice to take over the program,” Thomas said.

Although Burns is much younger than most of her counterparts at other ski resorts, her passion and commitment make up for the seeming lack of years in the industry.

“Teaching is a passion for me. I believe in the idea of making dreams and possibilities limitless,” Burns said.

And that’s exactly what she does on the slopes at Ski Beech. One volunteer with the program is George Gillespie, a Lees-McRae student who is confined to a wheelchair. Without adaptive snowsports, Gillespie would not have been able to experience the thrill of skiing.

“My favorite part is going fast,” Gillespie said. “I also really like the view from the top of
the mountain.”

Gillespie says he got the hang of it the first time with the help of Burns, who he describes as “fun to work with.”

Burns enjoys the lessons equally as well. “Each new lesson is a new challenge and great experience!” said Burns. She traveled again this winter to Breckenridge for more training in adaptive snowsports, working toward her Level I adaptive ski instructor certification.

Thomas, who ran the program at Beech for eight years, continues to volunteer with the program organizing the many volunteers needed for training and lessons. Thanks to students and staff at Lees-McRae, she hasn’t run into trouble in that area. Students Dan Morris, Collin Gundry, Kaylie Henne, George Gillespie and Corey Alexander make up a group Thomas considers the core volunteers and leaders in the program. Lees-McRae staff volunteers include Selena Hilemon, Scott Crawford and Mike Hughett.

Burns is excited about growing the program at Ski Beech and has arranged a fundraising event at Lees-McRae to help fund staff training and scholarships for participants in the program at Ski Beech.

The event is a celebration of winter with Warren Miller’s latest film “Warren Miller’s Dynasty” as the feature presentation. The film highlights the Monoskier X event of the Winter X Games, an extreme form of adaptive skiing that has competitors strapped into molded bucket seats perfectly balanced on single skis.

The film will be shown Friday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. in Evans Auditorium in the Cannon Student Center at Lees-McRae College. Admission is $5 for those without a valid Lees-McRae College student ID. All the proceeds will benefit the Ski Beech Adaptive Snowsports Center.

Photos: 1. Natalie Burns in her element as adaptive ski instructor with Lees-McRae volunteer Forrest Sickler seated in bi-skis.

2. Natalie Burns at Ski Spectacular in Breckenridge, Colorado.

3. From left Forrest Sickler, Dee Thomas, George Gillespie (seated) and Natalie Burns practice adaptive ski techniques.

When the fall season came to a close six Lees-McRae College student-athletes were chosen to earn All-American honors for their efforts in the 2009 season.

The men’s soccer team finished up the season with an impressive 18-3-2 record, which culminated in a heartbreaking loss to Fort Lewis College during the 2009 NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer National Championship. Lees-McRae College was the first Conference Carolinas or Southeast Region member to advance to the national semifinals and finals.

Amidst the exhilaration surrounding that incredible game, four players were awarded All-American honors for their performance in the 2009 season: Berin Boracic, Dale Parker, Luke Duffy, and Sean Paradise.

Berin Boracic earned Second Team NSCAA All-American and Third Team Daktronics All-American. Boracic was also First Team All-Southeast Region Daktronics and NSCAA selection. The senior had fifteen goals and nine assists leading the Bobcats in all categories. Off the field Boracic is a sports management major from Orlando, Florida, and Sarajevo, Bosnia, where he grew up during the conflict in the 1990s.

Joining Boracic on the Third Team All-American Daktronics and All-Southeast Region First Team for the NSCAA were defenders Dale Parker and Luke Duffy. Both were stout leaders on the Bobcat back line this season.

Parker, a senior from Worksop, England, is a physical education major who is set to graduate in May 2010. After graduation he hopes to play soccer professionally and then give back to sports by teaching and coaching. Aside from this All-American honor, Parker, a team captain, is a two-time All-American, three-time 1st team All-Region, three-time 1st team All-Conference and two-time All-State. Parker is also a member of the men’s golf team.

Duffy, a sophomore from Wakefield, England, is a physical education major set to graduate in May 2011. Before receiving All-American honors this season, Duffy was a member of the Doncaster Rovers Youth team.

Possibly the biggest star of the season was goalkeeper Sean Paradise. The six foot, two hundred pound North Port, Florida, native has become an unstoppable force between the posts, especially during the NCAA Division II semifinals. Paradise, who had .73 goals against average this season, received Honorable Mention All-America from Daktronics and Second Team All-America from the NSCAA – his first time in four seasons earning All-American honors.

Paradise was also named All-Southeast Region First Team for the NSCAA. His other previous honors have included 1st Team All Conference and All Region. However, he is not all play. Paradise will graduate in May 2010 with a degree in Criminal Justice.

Rounding out the award winning soccer team was sophomore midfielder, David Palmer who earned Third Team All-Southeast Region.

The women’s soccer team finished up the season with a loss to top-seeded Belmont Abbey in the Conference Carolinas Tournament Semifinals, leaving them with a record of 11-8-1. After the loss, the team received uplifting news, sophomore outside midfielder Vickie Rich earned Third Team All-American from Daktronics. Rich paced the Lady Bobcats with fifteen goals and seven assists and was the first Lady Bobcat Women’s Soccer player to earn All-American honors since Lees-McRae joined the Conference Carolinas.  Rich was also First Team All-Southeast Region Daktronics and Third Team All-Southeast Region from the NSCAA. An Arlington Heights, Illinois, native, Rich is a pre-health major.

The Women’s Volleyball team ended their season with a 29-6 record after they fell to Flagler College in the 2009 Women’s Volleyball NCAA Tournament Southeast Regional.

Lady Bobcat Whitney Justice took home Honorable Mention All-American Honors from the AVCA. Justice, who was Conference Carolinas Player of the Year, Second Team All-Southeast Region from Daktronics and First Team All-Southeast Region from the AVCA, led the Lady Bobcats with 386 kills for an average of 3.09 kills per set this season and also led the team with .93 blocks per set with 116 total blocks.  Justice was the first Lady Bobcat Volleyball player to earn All-American honors since Lacie Smith was an All-American in 2006. A Connelly Springs, North Carolina, native, Justice is a junior Communication Arts major. After graduation she hopes to pursue a career in advertising or design.

Also representing women’s volleyball was defensive specialist, Luana Rocha, who earned First Team All-Southeast Region honors as well from the AVCA. Rocha, who hails from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, is a freshman.

Congratulations to these eight Bobcats who brought home individual honors and helped their teams to successful seasons.

Lees-McRae senior business major Marko Zivkovic attended the international convention Rotary International United Nations Day at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York in November.  Zivkovic, an international student from Serbia, attended the conference representing the Rotaract Club Nis-Constantine the Great of District 2481, Serbia.

Rotary International [RI] is the world’s first service club organization, with more than 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace and eradicate polio under the motto Service Above Self.

Rotaract, of which Zivkovic is a member, is a Rotary-sponsored service club for young men and women ages 18 to 30. These clubs are either community or university based and are sponsored by local Rotary clubs. There are more than 7,000 clubs in about 163 countries and are true “partners in service” and key members of the family of Rotary.

“The convention included around 900 Rotarians from around the world and over 600 exchange students and high school students. The convention was organized in different panels including ones focused on water, literacy, health and youth, with each containing several speakers.

“The convention began with a speaker addressing some of the goals of the Rotary International, the problems the world is facing right now, some of the actions that have taken place to combat these problems and other plans for the future on how to better serve society,” said Zivkovic.

Within the water panel a presentation was made by an organization called Engineers without Borders, a group of outstanding students from universities in New York. They recently completed a project in Honduras, the second poorest country in Central America. They collected a total of $27,000, with the help of several Rotaract clubs, and built a dam, a pipeline from the dam, a tank for water, a lid, and pipelines for distribution in order to secure clean water for a local community.

Another issue combated by RI is illiteracy. One speaker brought to the attention of the audience that 800 million people in the world cannot read or write and a large number of children die before the age of five because their mothers cannot read medication labels.

Polio is openly fought by RI; though some people might be surprised to learn that Polio is still a threat in four countries: India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The message of the Polio panel was “knowing is not enough, we must apply.”

Zivkovic, who is a member of the men’s tennis team, came away from the convention full of knowledge and experience that he is excited to share with his home country of Serbia and his fellow Bobcats at Lees-McRae.

“The unofficial part was as interesting as the official part. The best things were making contacts and communication with new people.

“When the convention was finished, the Rotaractors had a cocktail party in The Trump World Tower Bar which was really exciting! Part of the entry fee will be used for a project concerning clean water. The trip I made was an incredible experience for the club as well as for me personally. I learned a lot of new things, learned ways to be more creative and got some ideas for possible actions. After this convention our club became more professional and more open to the world,” said Zivkovic.

Zivkovic will graduate in May from Lees-McRae and plans to attend graduate school to pursue an MBA in Finance.

Internationally known biblical and Jesus scholar Dr. Marcus J. Borg will speak at Lees-McRae College February 22-23 as part of the Staley Distinguished Christian Scholar Lecture Series.

Dr. Borg is the Canon Theologian at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, OR, was Hundere Chair of Religion and Culture in the Philosophy Department at Oregon State University until his retirement in 2007 and has authored or co-authored 18 books including the New York Times Best-Seller Jesus: Uncovering the Life, Teachings and Relevance of a Religious Revolutionary (2006).

There will be three opportunities to hear Dr. Borg as he will present three lectures in a series he calls “Christianity in a New Millennium”. The first lecture in the series, “God for a New Millennium,” will be Monday, Feb. 22 at 3 p.m.

On Monday evening, Dr. Borg will present his second lecture called “Jesus Christ for a New Millennium” at 7 p.m. The third lecture will be “The Bible for a New Millennium” at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 23. Each lecture will take place in Evans Auditorium in the Cannon Student Center at Lees-McRae College. These lectures are free and open to the public.

“We are thrilled to be hosting Dr. Marcus Borg for our Staley Lecture Series February 22-23.  His writings have had a powerful impact on my own faith journey, and I know this is true for many others as well,” said Lees-McRae Campus Chaplain Jim Taylor.  “This is a tremendous opportunity to both challenge and strengthen one’s understanding of the Christian experience, and we hope you will attend what is sure to be an informative and enriching series of lectures.”

Described by The New York Times as “a leading figure in his generation of Jesus scholars,” Dr. Borg has appeared on NBC’s “Today Show” and “Dateline,” PBS’s “Newshour,” ABC’s “Evening News” and “Prime Time” with Peter Jennings, NPR’s “Fresh Air” with Terry Gross, and several National Geographic programs. A Fellow of the Jesus Seminar, he has been national chair of the Historical Jesus Section of the Society of Biblical Literature and co-chair of its International New Testament Program Committee, and is past president of the Anglican Association of Biblical Scholars.

He is the author of 18 books including Jesus: A New Vision (1987) and the best-seller Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time (1994); The God We Never Knew (1997) and Reading the Bible Again for the First Time (2001). His newest books are Jesus: Uncovering the Life, Teachings and Relevance of a Religious Revolutionary (2006), a New York Times Best-Seller; Conversations with Scripture: Mark (2009), and three books co-authored with John Dominic Crossan, The Last Week (2006), The First Christmas (2007), and The First Paul (2009). His next book will be a novel, Putting Away Childish Things, to be published early in 2010.

The Staley Christian Scholar Lecture Series at Lees-McRae College is made possible by an endowment funded by the Thomas F. Staley Foundation. The series is designed to provide scholarly evangelical speakers for religious emphasis programs at small Christian colleges. Thomas F. Staley strongly felt that young Americans should have the opportunity of hearing the faith defended by evangelicals who were also well-trained scholars.

The Staley Lecture Series welcomed Dr. Tony Campolo to campus last fall and the legendary Doc Watson last spring. For more information about Dr. Marcus Borg’s lectures and the Staley Distinguished Christian Scholar Lecture Series at Lees-McRae, contact Jim Taylor in the Chaplain’s Office at taylor@lmc.edu or 828-898-3142.

    Sign your daughters up for a cheer clinic offered by Lees-McRae College’s Cheerleading Coach Dani Usedom. Your child will learn Bobcat cheers, a fun dance routine and cheerleading basics.

    The clinic is for girls ages 6-13 and the cost is $50 for a three-day clinic. The clinic will be held Jan. 30-31 from 1-4 p.m. in the Arthur Student Recreation Complex on Lees-McRae’s campus. As a conclusion to the clinic, the Lil’ Bobcats will perform Feb. 3 at 7:15 p.m. during a Lees-McRae men’s basketball game.

    Participants will receive fun prizes and get to spend time with Lees-McRae’s Bobcat Cheerleading Squad. All funds raised by the clinic will benefit the Bobcat Cheerleaders.

    Reserve your child’s spot by January 20. Contact Dani Usedom at 828-898-8858 or usedomdn@lmc.edu. Click here for the registration form.

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Faculty and Staff Accomplishments

Assistant Professor of Education Dr. Warren Doyle was selected recently as the 2009 Outdoor Person of the Year by Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine. This free publication will be available at outfitting stores right before Christmas. Doyle, who has thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail a record number of times, also just concluded directing a four-day preparation session for the Appalachian Trail Institute for 15 people from 10 states including California and Texas. They are all planning their own thru-hikes this upcoming summer.

Distinguished Professor of Performing Arts and Virginia McKenzie Reeves Endowed Chair of Performing Arts Dr. Janet Barton Speer recently received the honor of being named Distinguished Alumni of the Year from her high school in San Marcos, Texas, and was presented with the key to the city from the mayor.

Board of Visitors News

The board of visitors met November 5, 2009, attended classes all day and hosted a reception that evening. More than 50 members, spouses and guests were in attendance. The Highlanders sang, and President Scott Colley presented the state of the college. Board of Visitors’ chair, David Carter and vice chair, Tricia Argabrite presented former chair, Parker Grubbs ‘95 with gifts of appreciation. Professor Ken Craig brought greetings from faculty and stated that faculty really appreciated having members of the board in their classes. The next meeting is May 6^th, 2010.

Events and Highlights from the Arthur Student Recreation Complex and Campus Recreation

The popular program Kidz Zone will resume in January on Mondays and Fridays from 3-5 p.m. Children from the community are invited to attend Kidz Zone where they play games and participate in activities with children of similar ages. Kidz Zone is a great way for children to stay active during the winter months.

Kidz Climbing Team will begin in February on Mondays and Thursdays from 3:30-5:30 p.m.

The Lil Bobcats Cheer Clinic will be held January 30-31 and February 3. More information is available by calling 828.898.8858.

Eat Smart, Move More, a weight loss and healthy living program will be available to all members of the community. Meetings will be Mondays from 3:30 -4:30 p.m. in the Williams Gymnasium classroom. For more information, call 828.898.8858.

Fitness classes offered by Campus Recreation include:

• Beginners Tai Chi Class: Tues./Wed./Thurs. beginning January 26 from 10-11 a.m.
  
• Pilates: Mon./Wed. 12-12:45 p.m. (Bring your own mat. Start date TBA)
  
• Zumba: Mondays 3:30-4:30 p.m. beginning February 1
  
• Bums and Tums: Tues./Thurs. at 3:30 p.m. (Start date TBA)
  
• Other classes to be added soon! Call 828.898.8858 for more information.
  

News from Campus Recreation

The Turkey Trot 5k that took place Saturday, November 21 was a great success.  With over 30 runners and a fantastic day, 13-year-old Michael Holland from Beech Mountain, crossed the finish line first with long-time runner and Hickory resident Mike Lawson close behind.  More than $700 was raised for the Alonzo Clark Memorial fund.

Winners of the Indoor Soccer Tournament won a trip for the team from Vacations Plus Travel in Banner Elk.  Big thanks go out to owner Shawn Banks who has done so much Lees-McRae College Campus Recreation this year!

Campus Recreation extends a special thank you to Kendall Jillings, a Lees-McRae alumna cheerleader, for helping the Bobcat Cheerleaders with tumbling and stunting in November.  Jillings invited the team of 15 students to travel to her tumbling gym, Tumblemania Gymnastics, in Morganton, NC, where the team practiced. The cheerleaders enjoyed it so much, they have scheduled future visits to the gym in the spring.

Competition Climbing Team competes at regional competitions

In the spring of 2007, Lees-McRae Outdoor Programs and student rock climbers came up with the idea to form a Competition Climbing Club.  The club was created as a way to introduce students to the sport of rock climbing on an indoor climbing wall and to provide opportunities for students to attend climbing competitions hosted at local climbing facilities and area universities.

Lees-McRae had not yet built the climbing wall that now stands in the Carol and Glenn Arthur Student Recreation Complex. However, the students participated in several climbing competitions that spring and had the opportunity to meet other college students who enjoyed climbing and were members of climbing teams at their colleges and universities.

In the fall of 2008, the climbing wall was completed in the Student Recreation Complex.  In addition to the wall being used for Outdoor Programs’ rock climbing classes, the wall was opened on Thursday and Sunday nights for Lees-McRae students and the community to enjoy.  A group of about 20 students were excited to have the climbing wall open on Tuesday nights specifically for them to train for area climbing competitions.

Dee Thomas, Director of Outdoor Programs, assisted with the training and helped to schedule and transport students to local competitions.  In the fall of 2009, Jessa Goebel was hired as the coach of the Lees-McRae Competition Climbing Team Club, and the club took on a whole new energy and focus.  Jessa is an excellent climber and has a strong background in competing in climbing competitions herself, as well as training climbers.  She has a company called Climb Fit and also sets the routes for many of the local climbing competitions.  Jessa has been hosting trainings for climbing team students each Tuesday night at the climbing wall.

Students have competed in two climbing competitions this fall.  Appalachian State University’s Southern Comfort Bouldering Competition was held on Saturday, November 14.  Valerie Jones finished first in the Women’s Recreational Division.  East Tennessee State University’s Top Rope Climbing Competition was held on Saturday, November 21.  Karissa Sampson finished second in the Women’s Recreational Division and Valerie Jones finished second in the Women’s Intermediate Division.  Jon Bernal finished first in the Men’s Recreational Division and Jonathan Honchul finished third in the Men’s Recreational Division.

Other Lees-McRae Competition Climbing Team Club members who competed in at least one of the two competitions included Walter Ford, Liz McElroy, Ashley Smith, Eric Rayfield, Andrew Wolford, Aaron Linville, Josh Kline, Aaron Mahaley, and Jose Tinoco.

In September, Lees-McRae Outdoor Programs along with club leaders and members of the Competition Climbing Team Club and the Rock Climbing Club worked together to host “The Reel Rock Film Tour” at Lees-McRae College as a fund raiser for the Carolina Climbers Coalition and the two campus climbing clubs.  The event was a huge success thanks to their efforts and a grant from the Town of Banner Elk Tourism Development Authority. More than $700 was raised.  The members of the Competition Climbing Team Club are excited to continue training in February 2010 for the spring climbing competitions.

“What can give me more stability when I have weak ankles and a flat foot?” That’s the question eighth grade Cranberry Middle School student Jake Hinshaw wanted to answer with his science fair project. Jake wants to pursue a career in the medical field. He combined his foot and ankle instability issue with his desire to learn more about a medically related field for his science project.  

To do this he called on Lees-McRae College Athletic Training student Erin Tyler to help with his project. Erin is a junior in the Athletic Training Education Program. She is a double major in Athletic Training and Physical Education.

Erin and Jake had several sessions where Erin would tape Jake’s foot and then exercise on the treadmill. The results of the testing were analyzed and presented at the annual science fair.

The experience proved to be a positive experience for both Jake and Erin. For Jake, the most exciting part of doing the project was “learning the many different tapings”. Erin enjoyed bringing both of her chosen careers, athletic training and teaching, together to work with Jake.

“This was a great opportunity for Erin! She was able to work one-on-one with Jake and help guide him with his research,” said Rita Smith, Director of the Athletic Training Education Program. “We welcome the opportunity to bring more information about our field to the public.

Congratulations to Jake on an innovative idea for his project! Jake is the son of Lees-McRae College Registrar Lynn Hinshaw.

From conferences to symposiums, the sport management and physical education majors of Lees-McRae College have had an exciting and busy semester.

In October two Lees-McRae students were able to attend the 6^th Annual Student Leadership Retreat in Weddington, North Carolina, hosted by the NCAAHPERD (North Carolina Alliance for Athletics, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance).

Lexi King, a sport management major and member of the women’s lacrosse team, and Bradley Tanis, a physical education major and member of the men’s track and field team, represented Lees-McRae at the conference alongside students from seventeen other colleges and universities.

This retreat allows each participating college to send two students free of charge. This includes lodging, meals, and a ropes course! The retreat stresses the importance of teamwork and networking with professionals and peers. Upon completion, the students are given free membership in NCAAHPERD.

Soon after the retreat, nineteen Lees-McRae students traveled to Winston-Salem for the NCAAHPERD Annual State Convention held on November 12.

The group consisted mainly of sport management or physical education majors, but was also joined by students considering either major. The convention provided excellent professional development sessions and many opportunities for networking. The convention also included many exhibitors with the latest sports and teaching equipment and graduate school representatives.

Rounding out a wonderful semester, senior sport management major Scott Jackson presented his senior research project at the 5^th annual State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium (SNCURCS) held the University of North Carolina at Wilmington November 21. Jackson was in the company of students from sixteen other colleges and universities across the state.

Jackson’s project focused on the lack of scientific research on the subject of bicycle fitting. The objective of his study was to determine the validity of bicycle fit recommendations from industry experts against the actual fits of twenty men and women collegiate cyclists on a nationally ranked collegiate cycling team (Lees-McRae, of course).

Jackson put each of the twenty participants through a series of tests, which involved filming the subject riding a bike, analysis of that data using Pro Trainer Software, and the use of anatomical landmarks as reference points for computer motion analysis.

The preliminary results of the study revealed a significant deviance from the industry standards. The results of this study are important for any cyclist, recreational or professional, because proper bike fit is essential to maximize efficiency and minimize injury.

The Sports Management and Physical Education majors of Lees-McRae College have had a wonderful semester of educational opportunities both inside the classroom and inside the conference room.

The Office of Community Outreach is proud to announce that Lees-McRae students, faculty and staff helped to meet and exceed the goal of 50 meals for the Thanksgiving meal drive during Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. Fifty-four Thanksgiving meals, $500 in grocery gift cards and over $300 in monetary donations were delivered to the Avery County Food Bank on Monday, November 23.

The Office of Community Outreach hosts a meal or canned food drive every year during Hunger and Homelessness Awareness week to raise awareness on campus about local hunger challenges and to help meet a need in the community.

Director of Community Outreach Selena Hilemon said, “While food drives do not address the root causes of hunger in our community, it is a wonderful way to invite our campus to give back to the surrounding community, while educating the campus on the issues at large.”

Lees-McRae typically partners with Janet Millsaps, Director of Reaching Avery Ministry (RAM) to determine the need county-wide. This year, Millsaps identified 100 families in need of a Thanksgiving meal and set the goal of 50 meals for Lees-McRae; the other 50 meals were matched by a local church.

Hilemon was very pleased with the way students, faculty and staff responded to the goal of 50 meals. “It is a pleasure to work with RAM every year, and I hope that Lees-McRae can continue to support RAM and other local agencies that serve the needs of our community,” Hilemon said.

With 44 international students representing 22 different countries and six continents on its campus, Lees-McRae College has launched its International Student Ambassadors Program (ISAP). Through this program, teachers in local Avery County Schools can request to have international students visit their classrooms to speak about their home countries and cultures.

“We’re lucky to have such an international presence on campus,” claims Scott Crawford, director of Lees-McRae’s Global Community Center, the center that manages the program. “ISAP is meant to capitalize on this presence and use it as a learning resource in local schools.”

Already, students from 14 countries have signed up for the program, which has been met with enthusiasm from Avery County teachers. Requests from teachers started coming in immediately after a list of international students was faxed to local schools, according to Crawford, and already two international students have made appearances in classrooms.

On December 3, Abril Rodriguez, a sophomore from Mexico, visited second graders at Freedom Trail Elementary School as part of a unit on “Christmas around the World.” Abril shared Mexican traditions surrounding Christmas, noting that the holiday season lasts much longer in Mexico. “Three Kings Day [January 6] is our big day for gifts,” Abril told students, “because that’s when the kings gave Jesus gifts.” Students especially enjoyed the fact that, instead of writing letters to Santa, Mexican children tie their “wish lists” to helium-filled balloons and let them go into the sky, hoping the lists will find their way to the kings who will bring the gifts.

On December 9, Ochigbo Ameh, a senior from Nigeria who goes by the name of OC, visited seventh graders at Cranberry Middle School as a featured speaker for their unit on Africa. OC, who is 6′ 9″ and played basketball for Lees-McRae, was a big hit with the middle school students, several of whom posed for pictures with him and asked for his autograph. But amidst the fun, serious learning took place. OC had prepared a PowerPoint presentation with many pictures, including slides of rural Africa and slides of his home city of Lagos, a city of 25 million people. “I wanted to show you both,” OC told the students, “so you could see the two sides of Africa. Many people, when they think of Africa, think only of huts in the countryside, but there’s a lot more to Africa than that.”

Both Abril and OC enjoyed their experience immensely. “The students asked good questions,” OC noted. “I was impressed with them.”

Crawford credits much of the program’s success thus far to a strong support staff, notably freshman Britannia Tomlinson, who helps with the program as part of her work as a Lees-McRae Service Scholar, Melinda Davis, a faculty member in Lees-McRae’s education program, and Donna Dicks, a member of the college’s Board of Visitors, who is serving as the primary coordinator of the program and the liaison between the college and the schools.

“Donna is the perfect person to be coordinating this program,” notes Crawford. “After retiring as a librarian from Avery County Schools, she’s spent recent years reaching out to support international students at Lees-McRae, along with her husband Bill. As such, she understands better than anyone what our international students have to offer and how they can be an invaluable resource for local students and teachers.”

ISAP will pause over the next few weeks, as international students travel home during winter break—though with requests already in for students from Brazil, Germany and Ireland to speak next semester, the program looks to continue to bring the world to Avery County schools when classes resume in February. Anyone looking for more information should contact Scott Crawford at 828-898-8788 or crawfords@lmc.edu or Donna Dicks at 828-898-6667 or dicksd@lmc.edu.

Aaron Linville, a senior at Lees-McRae,
received the fourth annual North Carolina Campus Compact Community Impact Student Award during the Compact’s Student Conference held at Western Carolina University Saturday, November 7. Twenty-seven college students across the state received the award for making significant, innovative contributions to their campus’ efforts to address local community needs.

Sylva councilwoman Stacy Knotts and the Compact’s Executive Director, Dr. Lisa Keyne, presented the award to Linville before an audience of more than 220 college students and guests representing 25 higher education institutions. Linville also received the Governor’s Volunteer Certificate of Appreciation and a congratulatory letter from Rep. Heath Shuler.

Linville is a senior honors student, majoring in history and religious studies from Laurel Springs, NC. He approached Danielle Usedom, director of campus recreation and other Lees-McRae College staff with the idea to create a community climbing team for local children in Banner Elk, ultimately leading to the formation of the Kids’ Climbing Team. The team meets twice a week, and is free to children in the community. Members learn rock climbing techniques and teamwork, and are challenged to think creatively and stay active and healthy.

“Aaron’s initiative has made a sincere impact on many at Lees-McRae, his friends and family, and much of the surrounding community. We are proud to have him as a student at Lees-McRae College and hope that his endeavors will inspire others to dream, dare and achieve,” said Nikki Karabinis, NC Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA at Lees-McRae.

North Carolina Campus Compact is a statewide coalition of higher education presidents and chancellors established to encourage and support campus engagement in the community. For more information, contact program coordinator Jonathan Romm (336) 278-7278 or Nikki Karabinis at Lees-McRae at (828) 898-8849.

Pictured is Linville, front, with members of the Kids’ Climbing Team.

Lees-McRae students and faculty participate in Appalachian Heritage celebrations

Members of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia at Lees-McRae College faculty and the center’s clogging team participated in two days of Appalachian Heritage celebration this fall.

Both Avery Middle School and Cranberry Middle School invited professors from the program and the cloggers to expose eighth grade students to various aspects of Appalachian culture. Director of the Center, Dr. Michael Joslin presented programs on the natural heritage of the Toe River Valley, Dr. Allen Speer discussed the role of mountain soldiers in the Civil War, Dr. Warren Doyle told stories and introduced students to Contra Dancing, and Jesse Knight and Melissa Ball demonstrated mountain crafts.

Donese Preswood took several members of the clogging team to both schools to demonstrate their techniques. The middle school students went wild with enthusiasm, jumping up and dancing around the cafeteria, as Lauren Ayer, Cortney Drummond, Brittany Head, Sarah Largen, Julie Loveless, Megan McClellan, Sierra Phipps and Morgan Worch clogged to contemporary tunes.

Nursing Students Volunteer at Avery County Healthy Halloween

Lees-McRae College RN to BSN students volunteered in the annual Avery County Healthy Halloween at the Rock Gym in Newland, North Carolina. Healthy Halloween is sponsored by Avery County Smart Start: A Partnership for Children. Children participated in health-oriented activities and received healthy goodies. “Healthy Halloween was a great experience for our nursing students. The students not only provided health-related services, but also gained valuable knowledge from the organizers of the event,” said Martha Hartley, director of the RN to BSN program. “This was a tremendous experience for our students. They enjoyed being a part of this event and promoting health within the community,” said Linda Smedburg, assistant professor of the RN to BSN Program.

“What a wonderful experience to be involved in promoting and providing healthcare to the community of Avery County! Getting to know committed and wonderful people who organized this event was invaluable. Networking with local resources and identifying health needs within a rural community was an experience I will cherish forever. The turnout was massive and I have never seen so many eager receptive children absorbing and wanting to be a part of this health adventure,” said Sandy Cagle, RN to BSN senior.

“The fair was very fun. It was great to interact with all different ages of children. They really enjoyed themselves!!! And it was great to meet so many people from different community resources,” said Shea Laws, RN to BSN senior

“This experience was fun and exciting. The look on the children’s faces was priceless when their bags were stuffed with all kinds of treats. It would be great to young again and have as much fun as they had that day,” Shilohe Otto, RN to BSN senior.

“I had an awesome time working with the elementary school children. They seemed so energetic to have their weight, temperature, and blood pressure taken. They were interested in their health and asked quite a few questions regarding the data from the various tests. All in all the children had a great day and so did I,” said Angie Houston, RN to BSN senior.

Other new and notes:

Dr. Melinda Davis presented a program in November 2009 at the American Educational Studies Association meeting in Pittsburgh, PA. Her paper was entitled “Changes in Roles and Responsibilities for Social Foundations Educators (from 1970 to the present).

Dr. Katherine Logan, Criminal Justice professor, took her students on an academic field trip to Mountain View Correctional facility in Spruce Pine on October 28, 2009. Students enjoyed this hands-on experience and learned a lot during this prison visit.

Makenzie Simpson, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre student at Lees-McRae College, placed first in the Music Theatre Freshmen/Sophomore College Women category at Meredith College in Raleigh North Carolina in November. Simpson is a student of Jim Taylor, associate professor of performing arts and campus chaplain.

This annual event presented by the North Carolina National Association of Teachers of Singing and was hosted by the faculty of Meredith College. Students from colleges and universities cross North Carolina gathered to sing and be adjudicated. While there is a certain level of competition among the students, the overall purpose of the event is to allow students to get feedback from other teachers and to gain valuable insight into their growth as singers.

“Teachers also benefit from this adjudication as we assess what we are trying to accomplish with each singers program of study. By placing first in her section, Mackenzie will have the opportunity to advance to the regional audition which will be held in Columbia, South Carolina, in April,” said Jim Taylor. “She will be singing alongside the other regional NATS winners from Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. This is a wonderful experience for Mackenzie and we couldn’t be prouder.”

Others schools in attendance were UNC-Greensboro, UNC-Pembroke, Elon University, Meredith College, Peace College, UNC-Chapel Hill, as well as many private studios.

From food drives to beauty pageants, the Bobcats are busy this November with service projects galore.

The Mr. Turkey Pageant is being revived by the Delta Omicron Theta sorority on Thursday, November 19 at 8 p.m. in Evans Auditorium. In the pageant, participants dress like and do their best interpretation of the opposite sex as they compete to be crowned Mr. or Ms. Turkey. The event will follow the typical beauty pageant standards including an opening dance routine, evening wear, interviews and a talent portion.

The winner will be chosen based on the amount of money they raise and their overall score, which will be decided by a panel of judges that include the president of Lees-McRae. All proceeds will go toward the purchase of a Thanksgiving meal for a family in need.

“Mr. Turkey is a great event that helps bring a wide variety of people together on campus, and helps to create a special bond with all of the people involved.  I had the pleasure of participating in the last Mr. Turkey, which was held in the fall of 2005.  It was one of the most memorable times I have from my entire college career,” said Lucretia Butler, community service chair and founding member of the Delta Omicron Theta sorority.  “We’re happy to be able to make this event a way to give back to the community.”

Following the pageant, the third annual Turkey Trot will be held November 21 at 10 a.m. at Williams Gymnasium. Proceeds from the 5k race will benefit the Alonzo Clark Memorial Fund, which is a scholarship fund set up in memory of Alonzo Clark, a member of the Lees-McRae Track and Field team who died from injuries sustained in a car accident in September.

“This is our 3^rd Turkey Trot and each year we have been able to watch it grow. This year as we tie it in with the Alonzo Clark Memorial Fund, I think we will see our biggest turnout. The race is a great community event we love to sponsor and help as it promotes running and gives individuals a chance to compete on our campus.

“We are looking forward to it and hope the weather will cooperate. Last year we had over eight inches of snow on the ground with temperatures below freezing, but still had a good turnout of runners, so we hope to have another successful Turkey Trot,” said Craig McPhail, director of athletics for Lees-McRae College.

“I think this year’s Turkey Trot will be the best one yet.  We have already had several people calling in to sign up and many more are still to come.  Since Alonzo Clark was a campus recreation work-study student and a track athlete we think the Turkey Trot is a perfect fundraiser for the scholarship fund,” said Dani Usedom, director of campus recreation. “Alonzo loved to run, and we hope that we can get other passionate runners to join in on the Turkey Trot and remember Alonzo as we create an opportunity for another college runner to come to Lees-McRae.  This race promises to be fun and eventful, and all who participate will walk away with something in hand and a great feeling.”

In the midst of these wonderful events, the Community Outreach office will be hosting the annual Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week November 16-20.

“Participating in Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week brings greater awareness to the poorer areas surrounding the Banner Elk community.  It also helps to promote the national endeavor to end hunger and homelessness. The plight of those without a home can be both lonely and difficult and when there is a national movement to shed light on these issues, more people in need can be reached. Addressing their struggles by organizing and participating in this week may bring greater solidarity and understanding, as well as promote future involvement,” said Charlie Herron, senior intern for the Community Outreach Office at Lees-McRae College.

The week will kick off with a student concert in Wily’s at 8 p.m. in which any student can feel free to come and show their talent! On Tuesday, a “Weighing of the Waste” will be held in the cafeteria. This will show a measurement of how much food students waste each day in the dining hall.

An optional 30-hour fast will begin on Wednesday evening with a dinner and reflection. The fast will end Friday morning with a “break-fast” to celebrate the completion of such an eye-opening experience.

Thursday evening will be a fun-filled collaboration with Delta Omicron Theta and the Mr. Turkey Pageant. The band Do It to Julia will be performing the opening and closing acts of the pageant and will be available for students to meet.

Throughout the duration of the month, a food and clothing drive will be held to support the people and families of Avery County.

“Here’s what I know. Hunger and homelessness look very different in a rural county. We must actually go (physically) out of our way to search out how these issues effect our community members. It is not enough to do food drives, but we must also think about the economics of hunger. We must think about the racism of hunger. And we must consider the ironic nature of the poverty present in our county in culmination with the knowledge that our county also hosts some of the most elite homes in the state. We must consider all of these facts because if we are not working for change and equality, then we cannot call ourselves good neighbors or community members,” said Selena Hilemon, director of campus outreach for Lees-McRae College.

Lees-McRae certainly has its hands full this November, but it is sure to be a fun-filled, service oriented adventure that will help many of those in need. So come on out and show your support for all these wonderful events!

Lees-McRae College Performing Arts presents their annual Candlelight Christmas Concert on December 5 and 6 in Hayes Auditorium. This time honored tradition continues to be a community favorite and marks the beginning of the Christmas season.

This year’s concert will host student and faculty presentations as musical solos and duets, as well as piano solos and dance pieces. Additionally, the show will present Reader’s Theatre, Talking Heads, and a special appearance by the big man himself – Santa! If you would like to learn more about Talking Heads, please search “Nutcracker Lees-McRae Style” at www.youtube.com. Be prepared for the laugh of a lifetime!

This annual tradition is appropriate for all ages and is a great way to get into the Christmas spirit! As usual the Hayes stage will be decked to the nines with several locally grown Christmas trees, wreaths, garland, and thousands of Christmas lights. Just walk into Hayes and the smell will entice you to sit down and enjoy an evening of Christmas spirit.

This year the Highlander show choir will be singing several selections including “Good News”, “This Little Babe”, and a foot stomping version of “Jesus, Oh What a Wonderful Child”, choreographed by Dr. Janet Speer.

Lees-McRae’s production will be held in Hayes Auditorium on December 5 at 7:30 p.m. and December 6 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children and students; any student ID is accepted. Tickets will be available at the door one hour prior to show time.

There is no box office daily or weekly. Please arrive early to purchase tickets the night of the show. There is no reserved seating. For additional show information please visit www.go.lmc.edu/performances or call (828)898-8721.

Skeate is a well-known authority on the natural history of the area. In addition to his years of teaching about the ecology of the region, he has explored the mountains, valleys and coves since the 1980s.

From rare mountain bogs to high elevation spruce/fir forests, he has tramped across northwest North Carolina educating himself and his students about the rich environment of Southern Appalachia. Through his many treks, he has developed a love of the mountains and the creatures that inhabit them, including the mysterious salamanders that lurk in damp places from mountain top to valley floor.

In addition to his field work, lectures and teaching, Skeate has published a guidebook to the natural history of the region. His book, A Nature Guide to Northwest North Carolina, provides a comprehensive look at the different habitats that make this area of Southern Appalachia one of the most biologically diverse sections of the planet.

“I look forward to Dr. Skeate’s lecture,” said Dr. Michael Joslin, director of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia at Lees-McRae College. “His expertise will illuminate a fascinating member of our local wildlife community. I invite everyone with interest in the ecology of our mountains to join us.”
Skeate’s program is free and open to the public. For information, contact Meghan Wright at 898-8729.

Soup Lunch is having another successful semester here at Lees-McRae College. Each Wednesday during the semester Jim Taylor, Campus Chaplain, coordinates with the McRae House staff and college employees to provide homemade soup, bread, salad, and dessert to students, faculty, and staff for only a dollar.

“Students have also been doing some of the cooking this year. Julie Loveless’ Tomato Basil Bisque has been ranked one of the top five soups. This is a wonderful time of fellowship and catching up in the midst of our busy week. I often hear students saying ‘this is the best day of the week for me’, and they really mean it!” said Jim Taylor.

Soup Lunch is a program started by former Lees-McRae Chaplain Rev. Kathy Campbell, and with the support of soup chefs in our campus community and local churches, we are able to provide a warming, wholesome lunch for a very low cost.

“I really enjoy the challenge and the joy of cooking soups and bread each week. As a child I grew up in a family with eight other children, and you either learned how to cook or went hungry,” said Taylor.

The soup chefs make a little over 70 quarts of soup a week and Jim Taylor usually make eight large rounds of homemade bread. There has been a concerted effort this semester to offer a majority of vegetarian soups using ingredients from the College’s Peace Garden adjacent to the McRae House, as well as local produce. “We think this is more sustainable and healthier for both the environment and the students,” said Taylor.

There are many ways for you to get involved with Soup Lunch if you like. There is always a need for new soup chefs as well as numerous supplies such as paper products, spices, flour, fresh vegetables, soup bones (don’t throw those ham bones away after Christmas!), as well as monetary donations.

Soup Lunch has been a real blessing to the college community, and we are now looking at ways to use this as a way to reach out to others in our local community. If you would like to get involved with this wonderful ministry, please feel free to contact Jim Taylor at 828-898-3142 or drop him an email at taylor@lmc.edu. Soup’s on!

Lees-McRae College Performing Arts presents the Lees-McRae Interactive Theatre Project on November 17-18. Described as a dynamic exploration of social justice issues through the eyes of contemporary college students, the project uses an intense rehearsal process that involves performance techniques of Michael Rohd and Augusto Boal, where students explore the history of social issues, statistics and facts which will be presented through monologues, poems and songs.

The performance examines critical social and cultural problems in this contemporary piece. Specifically, students chose to investigate the complex meaning of community within a college campus. The results of their exploration will be presented in a ninety-minute workshop style performances comprised of scenes written by the students, as well as audience discussion and participation.

“The LMC Interactive Project is just the coolest experiment in theatre I have encountered so far. As part of my Service Scholar Scholarship, I teamed up with Dr. Tessa Carr researching various topics that college students may experience such as racism, homophobia, and sexism. The rehearsals are definitely emotionally and physically draining but as an ensemble I believe this project will soar to its fullest degree,” said Rashawndra Doby, ensemble member.

The Lees-McRae Interactive Theatre Project includes two forum theatre scenes. Forum theatre is one of the formats included in the arsenal of the Theatre of the Oppressed, a world-wide movement for social change. In forum theatre scenes the audience members have an opportunity to volunteer to replace an oppressed character on stage. The volunteer will try to change the outcome of the scene through action and dialogue. This interactive style is not to determine that the situation is right or wrong, but instead to create a community dialogue around the given issue.

“Working with this troupe of students has been an incredible journey of discovery for me and for them. Together they have created a piece of work that explores the many facets of the idea of community. This show is a complicated, joyful, and sometimes painful look at the shared culture of college students here at Lees-McRae.  I hope that we can be a catalyst for conversation on our campus,” said Tessa Carr, assistant professor of performing arts at Lees-McRae College and the director of the troupe.

Lees-McRae’s production will be held November 17^th and 18^th at 7:30 pm in Evans Auditorium on Lees-McRae College’s campus in Banner Elk. Free admission. Mature Audiences only due to the serious nature of the material. For more information, visit the Lees-McRae website at http://www.go.lmc.edu/performances or call (828) 898-8709.

Lees-McRae College senior Michael Connor spent his summer at the University of Georgia helping discover and classify a new species of archaea as part of a Research Experience for Undergraduates.

A Chapel Hill, North Carolina, native, Connor is set to graduate in May 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree in pre-health biology and a minor in mathematics. He is a three-year letterman of the men’s track and field team and was also on the residence life staff. Connor is a member of the fraternity Beta Omega Kappa in which he served as vice-president and secretary. To round out his achievements, Connor has also made the Dean’s List for four semesters.

Each year the National Institute of Health (NIH) funds research projects through major universities across the country. Roughly one to two hundred applicants apply to each program, and generally ten to twelve people are selected to participate. Connor was lucky enough to receive one of those coveted spots in the Research Experience for Undergraduates at the University of Georgia this past summer.

Connor spent nine weeks helping to discover and classify a new species of archaea, which in layman’s terms, is the predecessor to bacteria – the closest thing to the root of the tree of life. During this time he was given free housing in a residence hall at the University, had his travel expenses paid, and was given a stipend for his work.

In the spring of 2010, Connor’s work will be published as the supporting evidence for why the archaea they discovered should be classified as a new species.

“The experiences I had working at the University of Georgia are priceless. I learned about formulizing research and analyzing data. I learned about the nuances in research, the amount of repetition and the amount of time that must be spent making sure everything is done perfectly.

“This program really helped to further my interest in this field and helped me decide what I specifically want to research. It also opened my eyes as to how many areas there are to research. After going to seminars and observing my supervisors, I now have a better understanding of the difficulty of graduate and Ph.D. programs,” said Connor.

As if that was not enough excitement for the 21-year-old, Connor received a grant and is currently working on a project funded through the North Carolina Biotechnology Granting Agency.

Lees-McRae College biology professor Dr. Christine Spencer is the primary investigator for this study. She and Connor will be working with Carolina Hemlock trees to determine whether there is a genetic correlation between the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid infestation and survivability.

So how will Connor top these two exciting adventures in research?

“I have a lot of ambitions. I have applied to be a Rhodes Scholar. I have currently made it past the first phase and am now waiting to hear if I received an interview. I am also applying to graduate schools such as Emory, Vanderbilt, the University of Texas at Houston Medical School and several others. As a long-term goal I would like to get my Ph.D. in microbiology and molecular genetics. I want to be involved in researching next generation antibiotics and vaccines.

“The best advice I can give to students in my field is to apply for programs. It never hurts to try. The worst thing that can happen is that you will get turned down. Push yourself to get good grades, because any person you compete against will be just as smart or smarter than you. Take the time to make a list of potential schools, research them, speak with your advisor, and contact the school. Networking is one of the most beneficial things a student can do,” said Connor.

Smyth County, Virginia, native and Lees-McRae College alumnus of the class of 1959 Capt. Ken Sullivan (Ret.) was honored with the 2009 Distinguished Alumnus Award during Homecoming festivities at Lees-McRae College in October.

Known to his classmates as an outstanding athlete, Sullivan was born June 8, 1939, in Seven Mile Ford, Virginia, where he lived until 1945 when his family moved to the Hutton Branch community of Smyth County. There he attended the “one room-one teacher” Centenary School until grade five when he commenced studies at Marion, Virginia schools, graduating in 1957.  He was President of Marion High School Class of 1957 and was a distinguished long distance runner, holding several County and District track and field records.

Soon after graduation Sullivan found himself at Lees-McRae College, which was then a two-year junior college. He attended and graduated with honors from Lees-McRae Junior College, where he earned numerous leadership, academic and athletic awards.  He was an undefeated distance runner, setting several records and earning recognition as “Outstanding Senior Athlete.”

Sullivan, who now resides in Columbia, South Carolina, then attended and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Management from High Point College, High Point, North Carolina, where he again was a campus leader. He was active in numerous organizations, was named to “Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges” and again was a distinguished distance runner who set records and led a North Carolina AAU team, the High Point Track Club, to a second place finish in the 1959 National AAU Cross Country Championship.

After High Point College, Sullivan returned to his first alma mater, Lees-McRae College, where he served as business manager from 1962-1963 and also led the 1962 cross country team to an undefeated season and the conference championship – a first for the Bobcats.

From there he left to join the Navy Air Force, serving 28 years before retiring. He piloted P3s and had three deployments involving operations in the Vietnam combat areas. He served as commanding officer of training squads in California and Alaska. Before going to Alaska he worked at the Pentagon. He was also commander of an ROTC unit at the University of South Carolina for four years.

Sullivan is member of the Kiwanis and the Methodist Church; he enjoys hunting (especially turkeys) and fishing. His leadership at Lees-McRae, both as a student and administrator, and to his country as a distinguished fighter pilot in Vietnam merits Ken Sullivan as an “Alumnus of the Year.”

“Ken Sullivan is a perfect example of the type of person we visualize when we look for nominations for our Distinguished Alumni Award.  He is an encouragement to those around him just by his presence in their lives.  He has given years of his life in service to our country and continues to be very active in his church and community.  I want to encourage our alumni to nominate other deserving Lees-McRae graduates for this award,” said Sandy Ramsey, Director of Internal Affairs: Alumni Relations at Lees-McRae College.

The recipient of the Distinguished Alumni award must be nominated by his/her classmates. In addition to a nomination, the person must be an alumnus of the College, must show continuing interest in the College and must manifest and commend the hallmarks of a Lees-McRae graduate in his/her life.

To learn more about alumni awards at Lees-McRae, to see past recipients of the awards, or to nominate a deserving alumus/na for an award, visit www.go.lmc.edu/alumniawards.

Photo: Martha McAfee Krieger ‘86/’03 presents Ken Sullivan with the 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award.

The Staley Distinguished Christian Scholar Lecture Series brings two of the most challenging Christian scholars of our time to campus in the 2009-2010 academic year – Dr. Tony Campolo, professor emeritus of Sociology at Eastern University in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, opened the series in September, and Dr. Marcus Borg, the Canon Theologian at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, Oregon, will conclude the series in February.

Dr. Tony Campolo presented three lectures in September, beginning with “Creating Community” on Monday, September 28, “Caring for God’s World” on Monday evening, and “Making Faithful Choices,” on Tuesday, September 29.

Dr. Marcus Borg will be on campus February 22-23, 2010. On Monday, February 22, he will present “God for a New Millennium” in Evans Auditorium. On Monday evening, Dr. Borg will present “Jesus Christ for a New Millennium” in Hayes Auditorium. Lastly, he will present “The Bible for a New Millennium” on Tuesday, February 23 in Evans Auditorium (times to be determined).

Campolo is an internationally known speaker, author, sociologist, pastor, social activist, and passionate follower of Jesus. Over his many years of Christian service, Campolo has boldly challenged millions of people all over the world to respond to God’s boundless love by combining personal discipleship, evangelism, and social justice.

Through the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education, Dr. Campolo has developed and nurtured elementary and secondary schools, universities, adult and child literacy centers, tutoring programs, orphanages, AIDS hospices, urban youth ministries, summer camps, and long-term Christian service programs in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Africa, Canada and throughout the United States.

He is the author of thirty-five books, has recorded many video studies based on his writings, and has made countless media appearances worldwide.

His books include: Red Letter Christians, The God of Intimacy and Action, Letters to a Young Evangelical (The Art of Mentoring), 20 Hot Potatoes Christians Are Afraid to Touch, Adventures in Missing the Point: How the Culture-Controlled Church Neutered the Gospel, Carpe Diem, Everything You’ve Heard is Wrong, Following Jesus Without Embarrassing God, How to Rescue the Earth Without Worshiping Nature, The Survival Guide for Christians on Campus, and many more.

Dr. Marcus Borg is internationally known in both academic and church circles as a biblical and Jesus scholar. He was Hundere Chair of Religion and Culture in the Philosophy Department at Oregon State University until his retirement in 2007.

He is the author of 18 books including Jesus: A New Vision, and the best-seller Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time; The God We Never Knew; The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions; Reading the Bible Again for the First Time, and The Heart of Christianity, both best-sellers. His newest books are Jesus: Uncovering the Life, Teachings and Relevance of a Religious Revolutionary, a New York Times Best-Seller; Conversations with Scripture: Mark, and three books coauthored with John Dominic Crossan, The Last Week, The First Christmas, and The First Paul. His next book will be a novel, Putting Away Childish Things, to be published in early 2010.

Described by The New York Times as “a leading figure in his generation of Jesus scholars,” he has appeared on NBC’s “Today Show” and “Dateline,” PBS’s “Newshour,” ABC’s “Evening News” and “Prime Time” with Peter Jennings, NPR’s “Fresh Air” with Terry Gross, and several National Geographic programs. A Fellow of the Jesus Seminar, he has been national chair of the Historical Jesus Section of the Society of Biblical Literature and co-chair of its International New Testament Program Committee, and is past president of the Anglican Association of Biblical Scholars. His work has been translated into eleven languages: German, Dutch, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Indonesian, Italian, Spanish, Portugese, Russian, and French. His doctor’s degree is from Oxford University, and he has lectured widely overseas (England, Scotland, Austria, Germany, Belgium, Hungary, Israel and South Africa) and in North America, including the Chautauqua and Smithsonian Institutions.

The Staley Distinguished Christian Scholar Lecture Series is designed to provide scholarly evangelical speakers for religious emphasis programs at small Christian colleges. The founder, Thomas F. Staley, strongly felt that young Americans should have the opportunity of hearing the faith defended by evangelicals who were also well-trained scholars. His endowment to Lees-McRae College allows the college to bring two of the most challenging Christian scholars of our time to campus in the 2009-2010 academic year.

Dana Crawford, a 2009 graduate of the Lees-McRae College Criminal Justice Program, is the new chief of police for the town of Boone.

With 20 years of law enforcement experience under his belt, Crawford feels more than ready to assume this new position. He spent the past 18 years as the assistant police chief for Beech Mountain where he was also an investigator and deputy sheriff.

“We’re going to miss him a lot, but we’re really excited for him,” said Beech Mountain Police Chief Jay Hefner. “He was a great asset for our department, and he’s going to be good for the town of Boone. He will be great leading them into the future, and I’m wishing him all the best.”

“We’re looking forward to having him on board,” said Boone Town Manager Greg Young. “He is a very personable individual and will be a great fit for Boone.”

Crawford earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice through the Lees-McRae College extended campus Criminal Justice Program. Among his fellow graduates were Banner Elk Police Chief Bill Burleson, Avery County Sherriff Kevin Frye, and Avery County School Resource Deputy Neil Buchanan.

“The program allowed me to obtain a career goal. The best part is that it allowed me to continue working. I would not have been able to complete my degree had I not been able to schedule around work and family,” said Dana Crawford, chief of police for the town of Boone.

The Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree program at Lees-McRae College can be completed in four semesters at one of the satellite campuses through a combination of seated and online courses.

At any given time, anywhere from forty to sixty students are enrolled in the program. Currently the program is offered at two of the satellite campus locations – Mayland Community College and Western Piedmont Community College.

“I believe what we are doing with the Extended-Campus Criminal Justice Program at Lees-McRae College is a wonderful opportunity. It gives working adults with families and responsibilities a chance to achieve great things. It is amazing to see how diverse the student population is at each of our satellite campuses, and how each student is able to succeed and achieve goals they never thought were possible,” said Tracey Hoilman, a criminal justice professor and the Criminal Justice Extended Campus Coordinator.

“It is also so nice to see these students being able to fulfill dreams they have had for years. It makes my job worthwhile every time I see one of my students walk across that stage,” Hoilman said.

For more information about the Lees-McRae College Criminal Justice Program please contact Tracy Hoilman at hoilmant@lmc.edu or 828.898.8784.

Has the 2009 Great Recession pinched you? Do you feel uncertain about how to approach the difficulties you face? Looking to the past can provide both clues to survival and hope for the future. Dr. Gene Spears has done just that to see how small colleges can prosper in these difficult times. This Lees-McRae College professor will present a program, Managing Hard Times: How Five Colleges Survived the Great Depression, on Wednesday, November 4 at the college.

Spears has recently published a book with that title. He has based his work on extensive research into the history of five colleges and universities in North Carolina: Lees-McRae, Wake Forest, Davidson, Louisburg College and Campbell University. Spending hours immersed in the archives of these institutions, he amassed reams of material that documented both the hard times and the creative ways these private colleges responded to the many challenges.

“I started looking into how Lees-McRae College survived the Depression when I was dean of the college and the property bubble was just starting to pop. I was intrigued by the information I ran across from that time period,” says Spears, who has served in faculty and administrative positions at the college. “I decided to visit other schools and found four reasonably close by in North Carolina that had survived the depression and had good archives. As I worked over the material, it became clear that there were several distinct strategies the colleges used to get through the Great Depression.”

Strategies such as delaying capital spending, expanding the customer base, innovating and diversifying, and becoming self-sufficient, as well as others, helped ensure the survival of the institutions that Spears studied. His talk will give specific examples of these strategies that allowed these schools not just to survive, but to thrive during a period when many others closed their doors.

“Some of these strategies can be used by businesses other than colleges,” said Dr. Michael Joslin, Director of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia at Lees-McRae College. “Dr. Spears’ lecture should be both entertaining and enlightening, as well as helpful for all of us as we struggle to progress during these economic hard times.”

Spears’ talk will be presented on Wednesday, November 4, at 2:30 p.m. in the Stafford Room of the Carson Library on the Lees-McRae campus. As part of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia lecture series, the program is free and open to the public. Everyone is welcome to attend. For information call Meghan Wright, at 898-8729.

Dr. John Inscoe, professor of history at the University of Georgia, will lecture on the topic “Appalachian Memoir” on Monday, October 5, 2009 at Lees-McRae College as part of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia Lecture Series. The program is free and open to the public.

Inscoe, who received his doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has written several books on Southern Appalachia, including Race, War, and Remembrance in the Appalachian South and Mountain Masters: Slavery and the Sectional Crisis in Western North Carolina. He is a popular lecturer and scholar who has published widely in history journals and presented programs at conferences and lecture series.

“Dr. Inscoe is one of the scholars most knowledgeable about Appalachia’s role in the Civil War and about memoirs written by mountain folks,” said Dr. Michael Joslin, director of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia at Lees-McRae College. “We look forward to his presentation on memoirs and invite everyone to attend.”

Dr. Inscoe’s lecture will be presented in the Stafford Room of the Carson Library on the Lees-McRae campus at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, October 5^th. The public is invited to attend free of charge.

Mountain music is not all dulcimers and banjoes, tragic ballads and bluegrass rhythms. Come see for yourself this Thursday night, September 24, at Wily’s Place in the Lees-McRae College Cannon Student Center. From 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. the rock and roll jam band Burnt Bridges will demonstrate a new kind of Appalachian music.

Presented by the Stephenson Center for Appalachia at Lees-McRae College, this program of contemporary music will explore life on the reservation of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee, as well as other aspects of modern life in the mountains. Prepare yourself for a whole new experience.

“Some bands play songs. Some bands make music. Burnt Bridges crafts a crazy sonic cocktail of hard-hitting rock & roll, jam band bravado, and roots-rock rabble rousing – all with a hard-hitting aftertaste of sharp-witted political punk! Burnt Bridges is the perfect soundtrack for everyone from well-functioning bohemians to hot-headed hipsters and silver-tongued devils.

“This free-wheeling foursome puts on a live show that should not be missed – it’ll have your head bopping, your toes tapping, and quite possibly your fist in the air all in rhythm to the beat!” writes Max Diablo, journalist/columnist for Hippo Magazine.

“This is a great opportunity for folks to experience the new sounds of the mountains,” says Dr. Michael Joslin, director of the Stephenson Center. “Appalachian culture continues to evolve and diversify, as this band of mountain musicians shouts in their music. We welcome everyone to join us for the blast.”

Burnt Bridges will present their program of Appalachian music in Wily’s Place in the Cannon Student Center on the Lees-McRae campus on Thursday, September 24, at 7:00 p.m. The Stephenson Center for Appalachia Lecture Series is open to the public and free of charge. For information call Meghan Wright at 898-8729.

Dr. Tony Campolo, professor emeritus of Sociology at Eastern University in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, will open the Staley Distinguished Christian Scholar’s Lecture Series at Lees-McRae College on Monday, September 28 in Evans Auditorium in the Cannon Student Center.

The first lecture in a series of three, Campolo will present “Creating Community” on Monday, September 28 from 2:00-3:30pm in Evans Auditorium. His second lecture, “Caring for God’s World,” will be on Monday, September 28 from 7:00-8:30pm in Hayes Auditorium. Last but not least, his third lecture, “Making Faithful Choices,” will be on Tuesday, September 29 from 10:00-11:30am in Evans Auditorium.

“Lees-McRae College is fortunate to welcome Dr. Anthony Campolo to campus to present three lectures.  Campolo is well known all over the country as an important voice of evangelical Christianity and as a writer and speaker.   A theological conservative as well as a committed social activist, Campolo has challenged countless students to live out the gospel in their everyday lives.  All of us at Lees-McRae are grateful to the Staley family for the generosity that has made the Staley Christian Scholar’s Lecture Series possible,” said Lees-McRae College President, Scott Colley.

Campolo is an internationally known speaker, author, sociologist, pastor, social activist, and passionate follower of Jesus. Over his many years of Christian service, Campolo has boldly challenged millions of people all over the world to respond to God’s boundless love by combining personal discipleship, evangelism, and social justice.

Through the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education, Dr. Campolo has developed and nurtured elementary and secondary schools, universities, adult and child literacy centers, tutoring programs, orphanages, AIDS hospices, urban youth ministries, summer camps, and long-term Christian service programs in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Africa, Canada and throughout the USA.

He is the author of thirty-five books, has recorded many video studies based on his writings, and has made countless media appearances worldwide.

His books include: Red Letter Christians, The God of Intimacy and Action, Letters to a Young Evangelical (The Art of Mentoring), 20 Hot Potatoes Christians Are Afraid to Touch, Adventures in Missing the Point: How the Culture-Controlled Church Neutered the Gospel, Carpe Diem, Everything You’ve Heard is Wrong, Following Jesus Without Embarrassing God, How to Rescue the Earth Without Worshiping Nature, The Survival Guide for Christians on Campus, and many more.

The Staley Distinguished Christian Scholar Lecture Series is designed to provide scholarly evangelical speakers for religious emphasis programs at small Christian colleges. The founder, Thomas F. Staley, strongly felt that young Americans should have the opportunity of hearing the faith defended by evangelicals who were also well-trained scholars. His endowment to Lees-McRae College provides the funding for bringing Dr. Anthony Campolo and Dr. Marcus Borg to this campus during the 2009-10 academic year. These lectures are free and open to the public.

For more information contact the Chaplain’s Office at 828-898-3142 or taylor@lmc.edu.

Lees-McRae College will host the Reel Rock Film Tour Thursday, September 24 at 8:00 p.m. in Evans Auditorium in the Cannon Student Center. The fourth annual film tour delivers the year’s most exciting climbing and adventure films in more than 100 cities around the world, including Banner Elk!

In 2008, Reel Rock Film Tour drew over 20,000 audience members and raised more than $10,000 for non-profits. This year’s tour features the world premiere of First Ascent: The Series featuring adventures in Brazil and alpine madness in Patagonia, and new release Progression, a feature film that tells the story of the world’s best climbers and their efforts to advance the sport in all its forms.

The event is hosted by Lees-McRae College Outdoor Programs and made possible by the Banner Elk Tourism and Development Authority. The event is free and open to the public, and everyone is invited to attend. The doors will open at 7:30 p.m. Come early for community climbing information booths and equipment demos.

“Lees-McRae is excited to host the Reel Rock Film Tour again this year! We hope climbers and outdoor enthusiasts take advantage of this opportunity to watch these great films on our campus in Banner Elk,” said Meghan Wright, associate director of communications.

For more information about Reel Rock Film Tour visit www.reelrocktour.com or call Meghan Wright at 828-898-8729.

The Global Community Center at Lees-McRae College will host its annual Global Community Series this fall on the theme: The Power of Compassion: Crossing Barriers and Bringing Hope. According to Center director Scott Crawford, the series will see a host of speakers and events focused on “people who cross boundaries of faith and culture to show compassion for others.”

In this spirit, guest speakers include Norm Conard on Sept. 14, a member of the National Teacher Hall of Fame, whose high school students in rural Kansas uncovered the story of Irena Sendler, a Polish Catholic who risked her life to save thousands of Jewish children from Nazi concentration camps during World War II. Mr. Conard’s students went on to write a play called “Life in a Jar” about Ms. Sendler’s life, which recently inspired the making of a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler, starring Oscar-winning actresses Anna Paquin and Marcia Gay Harden. The movie will be shown on Sept. 10 on Lees-McRae’s campus in preparation for Mr. Conard’s visit.

Another powerful guest speaker will be Rabbi Brad Hirschfield on Sept. 15, a former West Bank activist now devoted to teaching inclusiveness, celebrating diversity, and promoting acceptance. Rabbi Hirschfield is host of the weekly radio show “Hirschfield and Kula,” has appeared on CNN, MTV, PBS and NPR, and has been voted one of America’s Top 50 Rabbis two years in a row by Newsweek. Besides addressing the High Country community, Rabbi Hirschfield will do a book signing for his book, You Don’t Have to Be Wrong for Me to Be Right, which will be available for sale at the event.

The Global Community Series will conclude on an exciting note with an original play, The Risks of Heroes: A Drama with Music and Dance, written by Dr. Janet Barton Speer, Distinguished Professor and Virginia McKenzie Reeves Endowed Chair of Performing Arts and Artistic Director of Lees-McRae’s Summer Theater, which just celebrated its 25^th
season. Dr. Speer’s newest play, sponsored by the Joseph and Frieda Ross Foundation, is a chronicle of exciting and heartwarming events where ordinary people rise to accomplish extraordinary tasks. The Risks of Heroes highlights individuals, like Irena Sendler, translators in Darfur, school girls in Afghanistan, and others who have risked their lives to save people in need. The play runs from Sept. 30-Oct. 4.

All events are open to the community and will take place on Lees-McRae’s campus in Banner Elk. Please refer to the schedule below for times, locations and other details for each event. For more information, contact Global Community Center director Scott Crawford at crawfords@lmc.edu or 828-898-8788.

Sept. 10        Movie Night: The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler

        7:00 pm, Evans Auditorium, Cannon Student Center

        Admission is free

Sept. 14        Norm Conard speaks on “Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project”

7:00 pm, Evans Auditorium, Cannon Student Center

Light dessert and coffee reception to follow

Admission is free

Sept. 15        Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, author of “You Don’t Have to Be Wrong for Me to Be Right”

7:00 pm, Evans Auditorium, Cannon Student Center

Light dessert and coffee reception to follow

Admission is free

Sept. 30-Oct. 4    The Risks of Heroes: A Drama with Music and Dance by Dr. Janet Barton Speer

        Sept 30, Oct 1, 2 and 3 at 7:30 pm, Oct. 4 at 2:00 pm, Hayes Auditorium

Ticket price: $12.00 Adults, $5.00 Students

Lees-McRae College will hold the Opening Convocation Ceremony on Wednesday, August 26 at 3:30 p.m. in Hayes Auditorium. Opening Convocation is an important part of the academic tradition at Lees-McRae. Literally a ‘coming together’ of the College community, Opening Convocation celebrates the beginning of the academic year and welcomes new and returning students to campus.

Lees-McRae College President Dr. Scott Colley will be this year’s speaker and will address the importance of a liberal education and how it teaches us about the risks in life worth taking.

Dr. Scott Colley is president emeritus of Berry College in Mount Berry, GA, where he served as president from 1998-2006. Before serving Berry College, Dr. Colley was Provost and dean of the faculty at Hampden-Sydney College from 1988-1998 where he also taught freshman writing courses, surveys of literature, humanities and Shakespeare. He also served on the faculty of Vanderbilt University for 20 years.

He has published three dozen scholarly articles and reviews in such publications as Medieval and Renaissance Drama in England, Shakespeare Quarterly and Shakespeare Studies. He is editor and co-editor or two Shakespeare editions and author of books on 17^th-century playwright John Marston and Shakespeare’s Richard III.

He has a Bachelor’s degree from Randolph-Macon College, Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from the University of Chicago and completed the Harvard Institute for Educational Management in 1990.

For additional information, please contact Meghan Wright, Associate Director of Communications, at (828) 898-8729 or wrightm@lmc.edu.

Roy and Marion Krege, honorary alumni of the class of 1981, were presented with the Lees-McRae College Alumni Service Award during the annual Alumni Frolic Week Banquet on Friday, July 17. The Kreges, who reside in Banner Elk, were honored for their overwhelming contributions of time and talent to Lees-McRae College and Lees-McRae Summer Theatre.

The Kreges have served Lees-McRae in countless ways since their coming to Banner Elk in 1968. Roy and Marion, since retiring from Grandfather Home for Children and Crossnore School respectively, have volunteered numerous hours in the local community and at Lees-McRae College.

Roy, sometimes better known as “Mr. Woolly Worm,” volunteers his famous voice during events including the Banner Elk 4^th of July Parade and Party in the Park, Woolly Worm Festival, square dances for civic and community organizations, Banner Elk’s Free Concerts in the Park and auctions for various charities and organizations. Roy is a retired principal of Grandfather Academy and retired associate director from Grandfather Home for Children.

Roy and Marion both serve Lees-McRae Summer Theatre in a variety of ways. Between the two of them, they manage the concessions and will call at every performance of the season, manage the front of house at every performance, they sell each advertisement that appears in the playbill for Summer Theatre and the list goes on. If you ask a member of the cast and crew of Summer Theatre, perhaps the Kreges are best known for the exceptional home cooking.

“I have never seen two people more devoted to service for others than Roy and Marion Krege.  Their selfless energy is apparent in everything they do.  It has been my great pleasure to be their friend for more than thirty years,” said Janet Barton Speer, artistic director for Lees-McRae Summer Theatre. “I have enjoyed the ‘class’ they bring to Summer Theatre as our hosts, and I continue to be amazed at their ability to be ten places at once!  Banner Elk and Lees-McRae are lucky indeed that the Kreges made the High Country their home. ”

Devoted grandparents of nine, Roy and Marion also have a family full of Lees-McRae Bobcats. Each of their children attended and graduated from Lees-McRae – Kim Krege Florio in 1990, Dwayne Krege in 1992, Michelle Krege Burnop in 1997, and daughter-in-law Kelley Corriher Krege in 1997.

“If there is a couple in Avery County that is more widely known and respected than anyone else, it has to be Roy and Marion Krege,” said Lees-McRae Alumni Director Sandy Ramsey.

To learn more about alumni awards at Lees-McRae, to see past recipients of the awards, or to nominate a deserving alumus/na for an award, visit www.go.lmc.edu/alumniawards.

Music has accompanied Appalachian life since the earliest settlers carved their own violins and covered their banjoes with possum hides. Musicians Susan Pepper and Rick Ward bring the old-time music to life with their duo, Beech Mountain Echoes. The Stephenson Center for Appalachia at Lees-McRae College will present their music in a program on July 29 in Evans Auditorium.

Beech Mountain Echoes performs traditional folk music from the Beech Mountain region of western North Carolina, where Rick’s family has lived for well over two centuries.  Rick and Susan perform unaccompanied mountain ballads, harmony singing, dulcimer, fretless mountain banjo and guitar. 

Rick plays a unique mountain banjo style called “double knock” passed on to him by his grandfather, Tab Ward.  Rick is a third generation banjo and dulcimer builder.  His grandfather’s music was collected by East Tennessee State University in the 1960s and was featured on the album “Walking in the Parlor” recorded by Jack Guy. 

Rick also sings the ballads of his Great-Great Uncle Lee Monroe Presnell of Beech Mountain. Rick Ward is a featured musician in the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area’s Traditional Artists Directory as well as the Southern Arts Federation’s Regional Directory.

Susan, originally from Ohio, sings ballads and folk songs she learned from several elderly women singers in western North Carolina, including the late Pearl Hicks from Beech Mountain.  She recently completed a Master’s Thesis in Appalachian Studies about traditional ballad singers. 

Susan has taught mountain music to young students at Junior Appalachian Musicians (J.A.M.) programs in Watauga, Ashe and Alleghany Counties and is the new director of the Alleghany J.A.M. program in Sparta, NC. 

“Susan and Rick bring both talent and understanding to their renderings of the songs sung by mountain folks for centuries,” said Dr. Michael Joslin, director of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia. “Their audience will hear songs and music that have echoed through Appalachia for generations. This program will provide a wonderful opportunity to experience our musical heritage.”

Beech Mountain Echoes will present their program of Appalachian music in Evans Auditorium in the Cannon Student Center on the Lees-McRae campus on Wednesday, July 29, at 7:00 p.m. The Stephenson Center for Appalachia Lecture Series is open to the public and free of charge. For information call Meghan Wright at 898-8729.

Can growing up in Appalachia give you the skills to succeed in life? Dr. Roberta Herrin thinks so and is happy to share her story in her talk Life Words and Life Lessons, which she will present at Lees-McRae College on July 22 as part of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia Lecture Series.

This Carter County, Tennessee, native, the Director of the Center for Appalachian Studies and Services at East Tennessee State University, has literally made a career from her experiences and education in the hills of East Tennessee. Herrin received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from ETSU and her doctorate from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and has been a professor in the English Department at ETSU since 1976.

She credits her upbringing, particularly her mother’s driving lessons, and experiences in the Ripshin Ridge section of Carter County with providing her with the skills that have served her well. Herrin is a widely recognized expert in Appalachian Studies, and has served as President of the Appalachian Studies Association and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Appalachian Consortium.

“We are privileged to have a speaker of Dr. Herrin’s stature as part of our summer lecture series,” said Dr. Michael Joslin, director of the Stephenson Center. “Her talks are full of humor and wisdom that have descended to her through her deep Appalachian roots.”

Herrin will present her program in the Stafford Room of the Carson Library on the Lees-McRae campus on Wednesday, July 22, at 7:00 p.m. The Stephenson Center for Appalachia Lecture Series is open to the public and free of charge. For information call Meghan Wright at 828-898-8729.

What does a boy born in the heart of the Toe River Valley in a house about 50 yards from the public library grow up to be? In Daniel Barron’s case, the answer was clear. He has worked throughout his professional life in the library field, and today he is the director of the AMY Regional Library which serves the valley of his birth.

Barron, who has always spread the gospel of the benefits of libraries, will present his program Books, Buns and Beyond: Get it at Your Public Library on Wednesday, July 15 at 7 p.m. in the Stafford Room of the Carson Library at Lees-McRae College. His talk will be the first of this summer’s Stephenson Center for Appalachia Lecture Series.

“Today’s libraries offer a great deal for everyone, especially during these economic hard times,” says Barron, Distinguished Professor Emeritus from the School of Library and Information Science at the University of South Carolina where he served 30 years as a faculty member and Director of the School.

Barron returned to his Toe River Valley roots in Bakersville after retiring from his career at USC, but quickly found himself back at work, this time as interim director of the AMY Regional Library System. When asked to fill the position on an interim basis he said, “Sure, I can do it for that long. I taught it for 30 years—hey—let’s see if I can do it. About six weeks into the job, I really got interested.”

After his interim period, Barron was appointed Director in January 2007. Since then he has worked diligently serving the people of Avery, Mitchell and Yancey Counties. The system’s libraries today are more than a place simply to check out books, they are full blown information centers ready and willing to help with education from GED through graduate school. Working with families to find help in literacy for adults and children, providing access to information through the Internet, carrying everything from the latest best sellers to a variety of movies are just a few of the many services that Barron will talk about in his program Wednesday evening.

This sixth-generation Western North Carolina native serves the people of the Toe River Valley with skills amassed over a lifetime in his profession and with passion for his people and his libraries. Do yourself a favor and come to Lees-McRae to learn how you can best utilize the many services offered by your library system.

Daniel Barron’s program on July 15 is the first in this year’s series of Stephenson Center Lectures at Lees-McRae. On July 22, Dr. Roberta Herrin, director of the Center for Appalachian Studies and Services at East Tennessee State University will present a lecture, and on July 29 in Evans Auditorium Beech Mountain Echoes will present a program of mountain music showing the heritage of musicians and instrument makers from Beech Mountain.

All of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia’s summer programs are free of charge and open to the public. For information call 828-898-8729.

The 37^th Annual Alumni Arts and Crafts Show and Sale will be held July 11-19 in the Cannon Student Center at Lees-McRae College as part of Alumni Frolic Week.

Come and check out all the handmade arts and crafts on display, and get a head start on your holiday shopping.

The unique show began as an outdoor “clothesline” exhibition held by two alumni in 1973 and has grown to a show of more than 25 vendors. Items for sale include pottery, woodworking items, jewelry, pillows, wooden bowls, paintings, crocheted items, ceramics, stained glass, mosaics, floral arrangements and much more.

“All are welcome at our week-long indoor show! Don’t let the rain keep you from coming out to shop! Our show features high quality work at prices that fit any budget,” said Michelle Vance Scott ‘86/’90, coordinator of volunteers for the show.

The schedule for the show is as follows:

Saturday, July 11, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, July 12, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Monday, July 13 - Friday, July 17, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, July 18, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, July 19, 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The show and sale is free and open to the public. For more information on the Arts and Crafts Show and Sale or Alumni Frolic Week, please contact Sandy Ramsey by email at ramsey@lmc.edu or by telephone at (828) 898-2489.   �

Since its inception, the show has contributed more than $222,500 to College projects, including the purchase of computers, audio-equipment and physical plant improvements. In addition, an invested endowment of $135,000 provides annual Alumni Arts and Crafts Scholarships to worthy students. All proceeds benefit the college.

Lees-McRae College has been honored with a grant from the National Film Preservation Foundation to restore the film In The Mountains Is A Place Called Home. The film, a 1959 production of the college, is the story of an orphan child, brought to Grandfather Home, who grows up, graduates from Lees-McRae, and whose experiences at the home, the college, and hospital are retold as she views her childhood and college years in retrospect.

According to its website, The National Film Preservation Foundation is the nonprofit organization created by the U.S. Congress to help save America’s film heritage. It supports activities nationwide that preserve American films and improve film access for study, education, and exhibition. Founded in 1997 its mission is to preserve American films that would be unlikely to survive without public support.

Other award recipients this year include the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Country Music Hall of Fame, Rhode Island Historical Society, American Museum of Natural History, George Eastman House, and many more. A complete list may be found on the NFPF web site at www.filmpreservation.org.

Once restored, the film will be available in DVD format at the James H. Carson Library for anyone interested in viewing it.

Photo: From The Pinnacles, Fourth Quarter—November, 1959. At left is Daisy Long, a Lees-McRae graduate who played the leading role in the film. The young girl is Kathy Cook of Grandfather Home who played the younger version of Daisy’s character in the film.

Forty Lees-McRae students were inducted into the national college honor society Alpha Chi in ceremonies on campus.

They are Charles Austin; Lauren Ayer; Lynn Barber; Lisa Bell; Ryan Black; Kayla Blevins; Krista Brown; Billy Burleson; Susanna van Rensselaer Buschmann; Kisha Byrd; Karen Cavanaugh; Kelly Chatterton; Ashleigh Contouris; Megan Davis; Amanda Elliott; Ashley Franklin; Samantha Gibbs; Lorrie Gouge; Rodney Graham; April Greene; Della Grindstaff; Benjamin Hill; Jesse Hoots; Jennifer Hurd; Hnicole James; Donna Jones; Miranda Lilly; Ashley May; Aleksander Mojski; Elizabeth O’Hagan; Tina Peterson; Kathryn Smith; Stephanie Stewart; Brittany Thomas; Eva Tomko; Kathy Trice; Anna Vanbuskirk; Megan Vleit; Anne Vue; Vicki Wild; and Michelle Williams.

The organization, with chapters at more than 200 colleges nationwide, recognizes, for academic excellence, juniors and seniors from all academic disciplines.

Alpha Chi’s objectives are to develop and recognize scholarship and those elements of character that make scholarship effective for good. The organization encourages graduate study and offers a scholarship program for outstanding student members.

Photos of Alpha Chi inductees will be available on the Lees-McRae College website soon.

The Lees-McRae College Board of Trustees, under the leadership of Jane B. Stephenson, elected Dr. Scott Colley, President Emeritus of Berry College in Georgia, to be president of Lees-McRae beginning June 1.

Dr. Colley brings years of experience in higher education administration to the College including strategic planning, capitol fund management and alumni relations.

“We are delighted to have as our next President an experienced educator who not only has been a college President, but has taught college level English, served as a Department Chair, and as a Provost. Dr. Colley’s wealth of experience will be most beneficial to Lees-McRae College and we look forward to Dr. Colley and his wife becoming an important addition to the college family,” said Jane B. Stephenson ‘57, Chair of the Board of Trustees.

While serving Berry College from 1998 to 2006, Dr. Colley led the college during a successful $100 million campaign. During his tenure, the college thoroughly renovated two major classroom buildings and an alumni center, constructed a new science building and residence hall, and began construction of a new student athletic center.

Prior to serving as president of Berry College, Dr. Colley served as Provost and dean of the faculty of Hampden-Sydney College from 1988 to 1998. In addition to administrative duties, he continued to teach freshman writing courses, surveys of literature, humanities and Shakespeare. He currently serves as a faculty member of the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies Program at the University of Virginia.

Dr. Colley also served on the faculty of Vanderbilt University for 20 years. He was a member of the English department from 1968 to 1988. In 1981, he was named associate dean of the college, later serving as chair of the department of English.

A graduate of Randolph-Macon College in Virginia, Dr. Colley earned his Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from the University of Chicago. He has published three dozen scholarly articles and reviews in such publications as Medieval and Renaissance Drama in England, Shakespeare Quarterly and Shakespeare Studies. He is the editor or co-editor of two Shakespeare editions and author of books on 17^th-century playwright John Marston and Shakespeare’s Richard III.

Nearly 500 Lees-McRae College students, faculty and staff stepped out of their classrooms and offices on April 29 to participate in the fifth annual Mountain Day of Service. Participants took part in more than 35 service projects throughout the county and across campus.

“Mountain Day of Service is a way for students to give back to our school and the surrounding community. It is really nice to spend the day getting your hands dirty, because then you can look back and see the impact of your work on the community. When I visited Lees-McRae and learned that an entire day each year was dedicated to community service, I knew this was the school for me,” said freshman Katie Alexander.

On-campus projects included planting trees and flowers, building recycling receptacles and a turtle habitat at the Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute, refurbishing the outdoor basketball court, painting parking space lines and general campus clean-up.

As for off-campus work, projects included painting fire hydrants for the Banner Elk Volunteer Fire Department, highway clean-up for Hickory Nut Gap Road, landscaping and window painting at the Banner Elk School, a clean-up of the Valle Crucis Park, Elk River and Shawneehaw Creek clean-ups, as well as projects with community agencies including ACADA, Habitat for Humanity, RAM’s Rack and Blazing Saddles.

Selena Hilemon, director of community outreach, oversees the organization of Mountain Day of Service and continues to be inspired by the overwhelming support from campus. “Mountain Day of Service is a wonderful way to bring our student’s learning full circle. At Lees-McRae we believe that our students’ education is not complete if left in the classroom. Dr. Bushman has led us to take an even more intentional step in this direction and his leadership and support are invaluable,” Hilemon said.

The tradition of Mountain Day at Lees-McRae goes back to the school’s founder, the Rev. Edgar Tufts. Each fall, Tufts would surprise the school during chapel by announcing, “it was a good day to climb Beech.” Following the proclamation, the entire school would set off up the mountain. When they reached the end of the five-mile climb, a feast of potatoes and corn and sandwiches would be waiting on the group.

Mountain Day was renewed during the early years of the 21^st century, more than 100 years after Tufts founded the school. It became a fall and spring tradition, though the hike was limited to Wildcat Lake via the Hemlock Trail. In 2005, President David Bushman began a new tradition making the spring Mountain Day a day of service, and leaving fall Mountain Day a day of rest and fun.

“Mountain Day of Service is a very special way of celebrating community and our stewardship of these ancient mountains, and a way of reminding ourselves that we have an obligation to be in service to each other and to the common good. It represents the transformative power of a Lees-McRae education and is something the whole College takes great pride in. Our students, faculty and staff really do make a difference.”

On April 24, Lees-McRae College raised $7,748 for the American Cancer Society during the College’s fourth annual mini Relay For Life fundraiser, greatly surpassing the $5,000 goal.

Each year, Lees-McRae chooses to host a “mini-relay,” which means the event lasts for six hours (6 p.m. to midnight) instead of the traditional 24 hours. But in only six hours, more than $1,800 was raised during the event with nearly 200 students in attendance.

Fifteen teams of students, faculty, and staff spent two months raising money, with the winning team being service sorority Delta Omicron Theta with a total of $1,300. Each team put together various fundraisers including a spaghetti dinner, spare change collections and selling t-shirts and the signature Relay For Life footprints and luminaries.

To begin the night, Megan Walters, Lees-McRae’s director of campus life and Relay for Life coordinator, welcomed everyone and said a special thank-you to those who helped raise money. She then introduced the screening of a film titled Relay For Life: A Documentary, which was shot and edited by Lees-McRae junior, Megan Hall. The documentary gave a background on Relay For Life at Lees-McRae College, team fundraising efforts and stories of Lees-McRae students’ experiences with cancer.

After the film, Julie Loveless, a Lees-McRae freshman and breast cancer survivor, spoke about her experience with cancer and how much it meant to her to see so many people coming out to support the cause.

“It’s so fun to see the students compete with each other to see who can raise the most money!  They bend over backwards to outdo each other and that’s the best kind of campus competition I can think of,” said Megan Walters, coordinator of the event. “The students, faculty, and staff who come to the Relay event have so much fun and learn a lot about how cancer affects every community, even ours.  I’m thrilled to be involved with this fantastic event!”

The evening also included a Mock Rock featuring choreographed karaoke performances by each participating team. Since this year marks the 25^th anniversary of Relay For Life, each team commemorated the anniversary with 80s themed attire and performances.

With this triumphant event to build on, Lees-McRae Relay participants look forward to many more successful years to come.

If you’d like to find out more about Relay For Life, log on to www.relayforlife.org.

Lees-McRae College will host its second annual Senior Research Symposium on May 8 from 1-4 p.m. in Evans Auditorium in the Cannon Student Center.

The senior research symposium is a celebration of student research and the achievements of graduating seniors. The symposium will feature formal presentations from various academic programs as well as a general poster and project presentation session from 2-3 p.m.  

The entire campus community is invited to attend. 

For information, contact Dr. Michael Vines at (828) 898-8757.

Lees-McRae College will host Run for the Fiesta, a charity race to benefit programming at the Carol and Glenn Arthur Student Recreation Complex at Lees-McRae May 2. The entry fee for the race is $20 and it begins at 1 p.m. at the historic Lees-McRae Mill Pond.

We will run, walk, jog or stroll through Lees-McRae College’s campus and on the Banner Elk Greenway to get to Los Arcoiris for fantastic Mexican food.  All participants will get a fiesta shirt, a raffle ticket for chances at great prizes, a chance at several free giveaways, free food and great drink specials, all while supporting a great cause!

“The Arthur Student Recreation Complex has become a staple in the Banner Elk community, offering programs to the local community, families and, of course, Lees-McRae College students.  We’d love to be able to offer even more activities to the community and continue to keep the events at the lowest possible cost… which is usually FREE!” said Dani Usedom, Director of Campus Recreation at Lees-McRae.

Registration will run from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Participants may also print and mail an entry form from the website, or register online and pay at the event.

Kathryn Gatewood, whose children haven’t missed one Kidz Zone yet, said, “We’re new to the Banner Elk community, and I have appreciated Lees-McRae College so much for opening up the new [Arthur] Student Recreation Complex for Kidz Zone every Monday and Friday.  Not only has it been an awesome place for our kids to have fun with other kids, but it’s also been a good place for parents to hang out.”

Kidz Zone is a free program for local children to come and get active in the Carol and Glenn Arthur Student Recreation Complex on Mondays and Fridays from 3-5 p.m.  Kidz Zone is just one of the many programs that will benefit from the proceeds of the race.

Lees-McRae junior Katie-Marie Legg said, “I am really excited for the event! I have been telling all of my friends and professors about it. I am definitely not going to miss out on this one!”

Prizes include a $50 gift certificate to Nike.com, iTunes gift cards, local restaurant gift certificates, Lees-McRae College gear, water bottles, socks and much more!

Mars Hill Alum, Kate Pritchard said, “I have been looking forward to this event for the past month!  Banner Elk has some great running trails and I can’t wait to take part in the fiesta at Los Arcoiris.”

For those interested in making a weekend out of the trip, we have reserved great rates with our friends over at the Best Western Mountain Lodge.  Call 828.898.4571 and ask for the Run for the Fiesta Lees-McRae College rate!�

There are plenty of other things to do in Banner Elk that weekend, so come on out.  Choppers, in the Best Western Mountain Lodge, is having its grand opening event on May 1 and Lees-McRae College one-act play performances will take place on May 2-3.

“This event should be a total blast and is a great way to do something active, make a difference in a community and meet some new people,” said Usedom.

Click here to register for the race.

Lees-McRae College Performing Arts will perform The Love of the Nightingale by British playwright Timberlake Wertenbacher. This production is will begin Friday, April 24 and run through Monday, April 27. Nightingale is a re-visioning of the Greek myth of Philomele and Procne, two Athenian sisters. While the play deals with an ancient myth, it is by no means a story without meaning for today’s audience.

In the play, the sisters are separated by Procne’s marriage to a military commander from a distant land. In the course of events, Philomele is silenced both physically and mentally by acts of violence that are carried out in the name of love. The responsibility of onlookers in tragedy is explored through a traditional chorus that commentates throughout the production. While the sisters are reunited through a magical ending, there are no easy answers given for questions of justice and accountability.

The production team for Nightingale includes Dr. Tessa Carr as director, Dr. Michael Hannah as costume designer, Chris Carr as set designer, Danielle Curtis as lighting designer, and Jason Pickering as sound designer. Together they have created a world situated somewhere between the past and the future with elements that blend ancient traditions with modern twists.

For the Love of the Nightingale opens on Friday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m. in Hayes Auditorium in Banner Elk, North Carolina on the campus of Lees-McRae College and runs through April 27 with daily shows at 7:30 p.m. except for Sunday, April 26 at 2 p.m.

There is no box office daily or weekly. Please arrive early to purchase tickets the night of the show. There is no reserved seating. For more information, visit the Lees-McRae website at www.go.lmc.edu/performances, call (828) 898-8709 for an automated message system, or email baisdend@lmc.edu.

Amanda Elliott of Lees-McRae College received the third annual North Carolina Campus Compact Community Impact Student Award during the Compact’s Student Conference held at High Point University last. Twenty-seven college students across the state received the award for making significant, innovative contributions to their campus’ efforts to address local community needs.

State Senator Vernon Malone of Wake County and the Compact’s Executive Director, Dr. Lisa Keyne, presented the award to Elliott before an audience of more than 250 college students and guests representing 33 higher education institutions. President of High Point University, Dr. Nido Qubein, initiated the ceremony, emphasizing the conference’s theme, “The Power is Yours.”

Elliott is a senior honors student who has been a part of the Bonner Leaders Program on campus since her freshman year. She has already completed over 1,900 hours of community service, is a member of Amnesty International and Optimist International, and serves as senior class president, as well as the Senior Intern in the Community Outreach Office. In her various roles, Elliott has organized protests against human rights violations, worked on campaigns to raise awareness about hunger and homelessness and used her energy to increase the capacity and ability of the Community Outreach Office to connect volunteers and local organizations. Elliott, along with a fellow student from a service-learning class, wrote a proposal for the campus’ food service about the potential benefits of using local and organic foods.

North Carolina Campus Compact is a statewide coalition of higher education presidents and chancellors established to encourage and support campus engagement in the community. For more information, contact Jamarl Clark at (336) 278-7194.

Celebrated novelist Lee Smith will present a program on her work in the Stafford Room of the Carson Library at Lees-McRae College on Thursday, April 23, at 1:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Stephenson Center for Appalachia, the event is open to the public.

The author has received numerous awards for her fiction, including two O’Henry Awards, the Southern Book Critics Award and the Academy Award in Literature presented by the American Academy of Arts and Letters. While Appalachia is proud to claim her as a regional novelist, Lee Smith has won a national audience for her novels and short stories.

Smith has been a story-teller for as long as she can remember.

“I started telling stories as soon as I could talk–true stories, and made-up stories, too. It has always been hard for me to tell the difference between them. My father was fond of saying that I would climb a tree to tell a lie rather than stand on the ground to tell the truth. In fact, in the mountains of southwestern Virginia where I grew up, a lie was often called a story,” she writes on her website.

Smith will specifically address her novel, Saving Grace, which Professor Allen Speer has taught in one of his classes this semester.

“We are looking at the theme of what part the natural world plays in our life stories,” says Speer. “We explore nature and the sacred in Appalachia, and Lee Smith’s work concerns those same issues.”

Lees-McRae’s Stephenson Center for Appalachia invites the public to participate in this special event, the third in a series of Stephenson Center lectures this semester. The Stafford Room is located on the second floor of the James H. Carson Library.

For information contact Meghan Wright in the Communications Office at Lees-McRae College at (828) 898-8729.

Nina Fischesser, Director of the Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute (BRWI) at Lees-McRae College, was selected by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to attend a national forum, February 19 and 20 in San Diego, California, entitled “It’s Alive! Petals to Primates: Preservation Challenges of Living Collections.” She is one of more than 50 representatives of small and medium-sized living collection institutions nationwide invited to participate based on their leadership in the profession and in their communities.

The conference program explored the range of challenges facing America’s smaller institutions housing collections of plants and animals. National conservation leaders, government officials, and professionals from zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, nature centers and living history farms addressed issues relevant to caring for and sustaining treasured living collections. IMLS, the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries, museums and living collections, presented this event in cooperation with the San Diego Zoo, and Heritage Preservation, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit dedicated to preserving the country’s heritage.

“Living collection institutions—from aquariums to zoos—play a very special role in our communities. We value them as places where we can learn about natural history and science, consider concepts of conservation and sustainability, and experience nature with friends and family,” said IMLS Director Anne-Imelda Radice, Ph.D. “At IMLS, we know that these special museums face unique conservation challenges. We are delighted to offer this opportunity for professionals from these institutions to come together and learn from each other.”

The Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute at Lees-McRae College cares for more than 600 injured or orphaned wild animals from western North Carolina annually. These include animals attacked by cats, hit by cars, with gunshot wounds, caught in fences and a myriad of other human-induced causes. This vital wildlife rehabilitation work includes medical assistance (in conjunction with trained veterinarians), feeding, housing and supportive care. Fully recovered animals are released in appropriate wild habitats.

The BRWI is also the central point of the wildlife rehabilitation and pre-veterinary science disciplines at Lees-McRae College. Students at the Institute become intimately familiar with the care, needs, and behavior of wild and domesticated vertebrates. The program offers a wide range of classroom and laboratory courses balanced with clinical experience performed in the Institute.

Nina Fischesser, the Institute’s director, has been rehabilitating wildlife since 1989 and serves as the guiding force behind the mission of the Institute. Dr. Lee Bolt, the veterinarian who treats the all the wildlife that at the Institute, accompanied Fischesser to the conference. They both hope to bring back much of what they learned at the conference and put it into action at the Institute.

“We were the only rehab center [at the conference]. We’re one of a kind. It was almost like our debut into the world of living collections. Even though the Institute is not as large as other places, our program has a big impact on our communities. It was a great opportunity to introduce all of these people to what wildlife rehabilitation is like in the higher education setting,” said Fischesser.

Fischesser was also able to make some unique connections at the conference. The San Diego Zoo, largely considered the best zoo in the world, expressed interest in collaborating with the BRWI, which would be an incredible resource for students. Fischesser also made some international connections that could open up possibilities for future international service trips. One trip would take students to China to work with giant pandas, and the other would travel to Mexico and work in all of the three zoos located in the heart of Mexico City.

“What this was all about was connections - connecting to other places and other people. Dr. Radice basically told us ‘Don’t be shy.’ Make friends, make connections. This is how we will succeed in protecting what is precious to us. Overall, we’re much more effective when we have each other,” said Fischesser.

The BRWI was awarded a Conservation Project Support grant from the IMLS last spring. One goal of the grant is to install and utilize digital cameras and hardware to monitor rehabilitation animals and maintain digital archives.

While in San Diego, Fischesser and Dr. Bolt consulted with personnel at the zoo on use of the video equipment that will be installed at the center this year.

Dr. Bolt will use the video equipment in his office, Sweeten Creek Animal Hospital, so that Fischesser and  students can follow the wildlife cases from beginning to end, including observation of treatments at the animal hospital.

“Dr. Bolt wanted to see how he could use the new technology in his office too,” Fischesser explained. “[At the BRWI], we will be able to follow behaviors of animals in the absence of human presence. We can track who is having a hard time and why and who is successful and why.”

Also with funds from the grant, the BRWI will improve its website, utilizing the digital videos on the Web. Visitors to the website will be able to follow an animal’s progress online.

“We will record and archive progress in the flight cages. We’ll have video from when the bird first arrives at the center until he’s ready for release,” Fischesser said. “We can follow the rehab of these animals full-circle.”

The improvements in technology at the Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute will benefit the center greatly, both in the rehabilitation of the animals and in the education of the students.

For more information about the IMLS, log on to www.imls.gov. For more information about the BRWI, log on to www.brwi.lmc.edu.

Lees-McRae College just released an Economic Impact Study outlining the economic impact the College has on Banner Elk, Avery County and Western North Carolina communities. The recent study found that during the 2007-2008 fiscal year, Lees-McRae College contributed $48 million to the area.

“We have always known that Lees-McRae is a cultural and educational anchor in the region, and this study confirms that we are a significant economic driver as well. With an annual total economic impact of nearly $50 million, Lees-McRae and our alumni form an essential part of the fabric of life in Western North Carolina,” said President David W. Bushman. “The impact of our commitment to educating young people reaches well beyond just those who get a diploma from Lees-McRae.”

In 2007, the Town of Banner Elk gained a net benefit of $50,000 from the presence of Lees-McRae College. Lees-McRae produced 30.3% of the Town’s revenues, and only accounted for 28.6% of expenditures.

Avery County’s economy also benefited from the presence of Lees-McRae in 2007. The College contributed $15.4 million to the County’s economy in 2007. One out of every $15 spent in Avery County was a result of the College’s presence.

Taking into account the cumulative contributions of Lees-McRae College, the county government gained a net benefit of $1.4 million from the presence of the College. The College accounted for 7.7% of revenue in the county and only 2.9% of the expenditures, a 4.8% net benefit.

The study found that Lees-McRae College and its alumni also have a significant impact on the economy of Western North Carolina. Contributions of $48 million in the 2007-2008 fiscal year to the region included $37.5 million as a result of the College, its employees, students, and visitors; $5.8 million in increased earnings of alumni; and $3.2 million as a result of social benefits due to positive lifestyle choices.

Outside of monetary contributions, Lees-McRae College also provided numerous employment opportunities in the area. During the 2007-2008 fiscal year, the College and its subcontractors employed 201 full-time people and were responsible for creating 525 other new jobs in Western North Carolina.

In essence, Lees-McRae College provides numerous advantages for Banner Elk, Avery County and Western North Carolina. The College offers education for area residents whose lifestyles and earning capacities are measurably enhanced by its programs. The College’s presence also generates many economic opportunities for local government and businesses.

The College attracts students and visitors from elsewhere and therefore brings in substantial dollars from outside Western North Carolina. The town and region report net revenues from the College’s presence. These economic advantages, coupled with the additional cultural benefits the College offers, attest to the significant contribution of Lees-McRae College to Banner Elk and Western North Carolina.

On February 10, over 200 Lees-McRae College students skated the night away in Reynolds Gym in the Carol and Glenn Student Recreation Complex.

Hosted by Campus Recreation, the 1970s and 80s themed roller skating night was one of the most successful events so far this year, and had a very special sponsor – Stacy Thompson, a Lees-McRae College Alumna.

Thompson graduated in 2004 with a degree in sociology. She then decided to go into the family business – Kate’s Skating Rink with locations in Gastonia and Lowell, NC.

“I thank Lees-McRae because they have helped me and the family business, in ways we never thought possible. My degree in Sociology has been endlessly helpful, because it allows me to better understand the diversity of people that walk through our doors every day and night. Also, I took a lot of education classes, and that has spurred me to stay very close with all the school principals and PTO representatives. We have all kinds of reward parties, fundraisers and school trips each year! Kate’s isn’t just a skating rink to me, it’s my life, and I thank Lees-McRae for opening my eyes to that,” said Stacy Thompson, owner and operator of Kate’s Skating Rink.

Kate’s Skating Rink provided all of the skates, which Thompson delivered personally so she could join in the festivities.

“I wish I had brought more skates! There were students lined up ready to go, but luckily everyone was really nice about sharing sizes. I had a really good time. I was pleasantly surprised with the turnout and happy to see all the students having fun together,” said Thompson.

Students waited in line dressed in spandex, loud makeup and knee-high socks just to get a chance to lace-up a pair of roller skates and glide across the floor with all their friends.

“I’ve never seen so many different groups of students smiling and hanging out together!  Everyone was packed into the Carol and Glenn Arthur Student Recreation Complex and had a blast doing something a little out of the ordinary! Stacy Thompson helped us put on one of the most successful events of the year,” said Dani Usedom ‘07, director of campus recreation.

Delta Omicron Theta, one of four Greek organizations on campus, helped organize contests throughout the night. They held a costume contest and a skate-off, both for prizes, and traditional games like Limbo and Red Light-Green Light just for fun!

“Delta Omicron Theta was so excited about the opportunity to work with the Student Recreation Complex and Campus Recreation to host Lees-McRae’s first Retro Skate Night!  This was something all the Sisters wanted to do as a group, and to be able to bring it to the campus as a whole made it that much better. We all had such a great time, and we hope we will be able to do it again next year!” said Lindsey Pike, President of Delta Omicron Theta.

Although the Skate Night was planned for students, faculty and staff alike came out to join in the roller skating craze.

“When Dani [Usedom] suggested a roller skating event, I thought, ‘This is going to be really great, or really scary!’  The good news is that it was a huge success, and people came out of the woodwork to skate the night away and impress us with their 80s outfits. The bad news is that it can’t happen every single night!  I am excited that Dani and the wonderful alumna Stacy Thompson are both interested in putting this program on again in the future. I can’t wait to wear a side ponytail again!” said Megan Walters, Director of Campus Life.