OGLETHORPE UNIVERSITY
/
^^/.
MAT STUDENTS TEACH THE FUTURE STUDENTS ENGAGE ATLANTA, NEW ORLEANS GOLFERS HELP CHILDREN BUILD SKILLS
SOCCER COACH LEADS LOUISIANA TRAINING CAMP PLUS: BRIGHTMAN TAKES CLASS TO NEW YORK CITY, OUMA BRINGS RODIN TO
(ili^Kii
, II,;*
< (Vol. 5, No. 1)
Mark DeLong '03
Kelly Robinson
Alumn[ Board
Communication Committee
Joselyn Butler Baker '91
Chip Evans '95
Karen Head '98
Carletca Hurt '98
Jennifer Jones '98
David Ross '93
Jenifer Cooper
CooperWorks, Inc.
Photographers
Edmund Bator '53
Mark DeLong '03
Bisell Mc'Williams '06
Bill Brightman
Contributing "Writers
Bill Brightman
Maria Osti '10
Laura Masce
Elizabeth Pittman
Beth Roberts
Hoyt Young
Board of Trustees 2006 - 2007
Mrs. Belle Turner Lynch '61, Chair
Mr. Jack Guynn '05 (H), Vice Chair
Mr. Harald R. Hansen, Treasurer
Ms. Susan M. Soper '(
Mr. G. Douglass Alexander '68
Mrs. Yetty L. Arp '68
Mr Robert E. Bowden '66
Mrs. Martha Laird Bowen '61
Mr. M.John Breton, III '97
Mr. Milton C. Clipper
Mr. 'WTlliam A. Emerson
Mr. Norman P Findley 111
Mr. Kevin D. Fitzpatrick, Jr '76
Ms.JeanieF. Flohr'99
Mr. J. Lewis Glenn '71
Dt Joel Goldberg '00 (H)
Mr.JamesJ.HageIow'69
Mr James V Hartlage, Jr '65
Dr. Kennedi K. Hutchinson '71
Mr. 'W'arren Y Jobe
Dr. Charles B. Knapp
Mr. Roger A. Littell '68
Mr William T Mullally '03
Mr Bob T Nance '63
MrR.D. Odom.jT
Mrs. Laura Turner Seydel '86
Mr. Joseph P Shelton '91
Mr. Arnold B. Sidman
Mr Timothy P Tassopoulos '8:
Dr G. Gilman Watson '68
Mr. Raymond S. Willoch
Trustee Emeriti
Mr Franklin L. Burke '66
Mr. Kenneth S. Chestnut
Mr William Goodell
Mr. George E. Goodwin
Mr C. Edward Hansell
Mr Arthur Howell
Mr. J. Smith Lanier
Mr. James EMcLain
Mr.JohnJ. Scalley
Mr. O.K. Sheffield, Jr '53
Carillon is published semiannually
for alumni and friends of Oglethorpe
University Oglethorpe, founded in
1835, is a private liberal arts college
located on Peachtree Road in the heart
of Atlanta.
Oglethorpe University' makes no
distinction in its admission policies
or procedures on grounds of age,
race, gender, religious belief color
sexual orientation, national origin
or disabilit>'.
On The Cover
Top: Lilly Padilla '08 paints a house in
New Orleans.
Bottom (L to R); Tamara Nash welcomes
students from Drew Charter and Cook
Elementary schools to a theatre
production; Jdonas Mikkila landscapes
Achieve Academy: students make
posters for an anti-violence protest in
New Orieans.
Read about these and other Center for
Civic Engagement projects beginning
Contact Oglethorpe UNtvERsrtY
www.oglethorpe.edu
1-800-428-4484 or 404-261- H-(l
Admission 404-364-8307
Alumni Relations 404-364-8893
Athletic Department . . . .404-364-8415
Bookstore 404-364-8361
Business Office 404-364-8302
Career Services 404-364-8533
Certified Financial
Planner Program 404-364-8373
Development 404-364-8439
Evening Degree Program 404-364-8383
Financial Aid 404-364-8354
Georgia Shakespeare. . . .404-264-0020
Master of Arts in
Teaching 404-364-8383
Ubrary 404-364-8511
Oglethorpe University
Museum of An 404-364-8555
President 404-364-8319
Provost 404-364-8317
Public Relations 404-364-8447
Student Affairs 404-364-8335
'riti to us!
Have a comment about this or past
issues? Have a ston- idea for a future
issue of Carillon? We would love to
hear from you. Write to the editor at
mdelongca oglethorpe.edu or Carillon,
Oglethorpe University', 4484 Peachtree
Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30319.
Unsolicited articles and photographs
(5x7 or larger) are welcomed for
possible inclusion in future editions.
Please note that submitted materials
will not be returned. Submission does
not guarantee publication as editors
retain editorial rights.
ron rents
2 President's Message
3 News and Events
8 Faculty Profile: Bill Brightman
10 Center for Civic Engagement
14 Teachers with Class
17 Alumni Alert
18 Class Notes
Future Petrels
Weddings
Alumni Updates
In Memoriam
24 Archives: Ed Bator's 1950s Oglethorpe
president's message
This time of year, I love listening to folks make predictions
about who will finish first in any given division in Major
League Baseball. The National League East has always been
my favorite division and remains so today, although I am
working hard to switch allegiance from the Philadelphia
Phillies, the team of my youth, to the Adanta Braves, the
team of my older/old age. Predictions are as easy to make as
promises. Jimmy Rollins, the Phillies first baseman, promised
before opening day the Fightin' Phils would win the east,
and then they promptly went out and got swept by the
Braves. By season's end, who will remember the promise or
anyone's prediction?
Last April 22, I delivered my inaugural address. I doubt
many of you have kept it posted to your refrigerator over the
past year (Mom, I know you are the exception) checking to
see if I did anything I said I would. But, I want to tell you I
am checking, every day Oglethorpe University, I said, has
a unique obligation in American higher education, derived
from the intersection of three conditions: the visionary
ideals and call to action of our namesake, our tradition of
education in the liberal arts and our place in the city of
Atlanta. I quoted John Dewey who asserted that the measure
of the worth of any social institution is its effect in
enlarging and improving the human experience, and I
claimed that this is how I wanted our university to ultimately
be judged. I promised all of you something: that Oglethorpe
University would lay its hands on the city of Adanta and the
cities of the worid beyond our own and make a difference,
a real difference.
In this issue of the Carillon, I hope you will come to better
understand all that we have accomplished this past year
We are just getting started, but it has been a magnificent
beginning. In February, the Atlanta History Center sponsored
Oglethorpe Day where a number of our students gave special
lectures in coordination with the exhibition of the Martin
Luther King, Jn papers (page 3). "I invite students to
experiment with changing their minds." Sound like Bill
Brightman? You bet it does, and when Dr Brightman
took his entire class to New York City for the day (page 8) to
observe every detail and pay attention to every nuance, he
got to see up-close-and-personal the experiment at work.
This winter, soccer coach John Akin and several of his players
traveled to student Erik Home's home parish in New
Orleans to host a youth soccer camp (page 6). Jon Bookspun,
a 2005 graduate from OU's Master of Arts in Teaching Early
Childhood Education Program (page 14), left his career as
an attorney and now teaches at Morningside Elementary
School in Adanta. Finally but at the center of what we have
accomplished this past year, is Oglethorpe's Center for
Civic Engagement (page 10).
Through its partnership with the Adanta Public Schools and
Hands On Adanta, our students, faculrs' and staff are all over
the city making a difference. New academic courses are
being offered which integrate theory with practice and
several more are in the pipeline. For me, watching our
students engage with each other and especially with the
citizens of Atlanta and other dties such as New Orieans makes
me more proud than you can imagine. Great things are
happening at Oglethorpe. Enjoy reading about all of them.
Lawrence M. Schall, J.D., Ed.D.
'f'^W'j^A
Compiled by Maria Osti '10
Museum Presents Rembrandt, Rodin
This spring the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art celebrated the 400th anniversary
of Rembrandt's birth with Sordid and Sacred: The Beggars in Rembrandt's Etchings.
Rembrandt's etchings, 35 of which were on display, were completed between 1629 and
1654. He is renowned as the greatest practitioner of the etching technique in the history of
art, using beggars as his main subjects. His sketches of biblical figures portrayed as beggars
show "his formative years as an artist. The way he imagined the beggar is inextricable from
the way he imagined himself, the way he imagined Christ, the way he conceived of imagery
itself, " said Gary Schwartz, Dutch author, art historian and editor of The Complete Etchings
of Rembrandt.
Come fall the museum will present Rodin: In His Own Words, selections from the Iris &
B. Gerald Cantor Foundation from September 10 until November 17, 2007. The exhibition will
feature over 30 works by Auguste Rodin paired with quotes by the sculptor. Works on display
will include The Thifiker, Head of Balzac, Head offohyi the Baptist and, of special educational
importance, the 10-step lost-wax process of Rodin's Sorrow. These works of art and writings
present a vibrant image of this important sculptor and his creative effort. Make plans to attend
this exhibition now. Museum hours will be Tuesday through Sunday from noon until 5:00 p.m.
Rodin's The Thinker
Oglethorpe University Views MLK Exhibition
On Monday February 19, the Oglethorpe University community traveled to the Atlanta History Center for a free, private
viewing of its exhibition, / Have a Dream: The Morehouse College Martin Luther Kingfr Collection, in which many writ-
ten documents by Martin Luther King, Jr. were displayed. Several students from Dr. Kendra King's spring 2006 class From
Montgotne?-)' to Memphis: The Political Evolutio7i ofDr Martin L Kiijg, fr presented leadership portfolios to the visiting
community. The portfolios, which were part of the course requirements, were meant to connect King's endeavors and ex-
periences to their own. Brandi Wilson '07, who was in Dr. Kendra King's class, was amazed by the collection. "It felt unreal
walking around the galleries. The way we've been taught about Martin Luther King, Jr., it seems unreal to see photos of
him with his kids, to read his speeches and to see his handwriting. I feel like I know him now."
Oglethorpe Celebrates
Georgia Founder's Birthday
On February 14, the university community celebrated Oglethorpe
Day an annual celebration in honor of James Edward Oglethorpe.
To begin the day a bagpiper called the Oglethorpe community' to
gather at the Academic Quadrangle, where the Petrels of Fire race
was held. Runners travel 270 yards around the quad in an attempt
to beat the 12 chimes of the carillon bell. None of this year's
half-dozen runners met the challenge. According to track coach Bob
Unger, only one runner has beaten the clock since the race began in
1990 - Mark Olas '01 in 1998.
After the race, the bagpiper led students and guests into the Conant
Performing Arts Center for a keynote speech by Deborah Lipstadt,
Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish and Holocaust Studies at Emory
University Lipstadt spoke about her challenges in proving the
Holocaust occurred in British court after she was sued for libel by
David Irving for calling him a denier in Denying the Holocaust. Her
most recent book. History on Trial: My Day in Court with David
Irving, recalls the experience. Lipstadt is on the United States
Holocaust Memorial Council and is an advisor to the United
States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Left; (L-R) Nathaniel Goldman '10,
Deborah Lipstadt and f
Schall celebrate those who do not
give up. Above; Runners in Petrels of
Fire race the bells around the quad.
Alumni Weekend
From March 30 through April 1, over 500 alumni
attended Oglethorpe's Alumni Weekend 2007.
The weekend included new events, such as a
day of service and Stomp the Lawn Alumni Style,
as well as the annual awards banquet, various
reunions, alumni athletic games and a viewing
of the Capitol City Opera performance An April
Fool's Opera Brief.
Friday, alumni joined over 100 students in
Oglethorpe's spring day of ser\'ice. Projects
included tutoring at Cook Elementar\', mulching
in Freedom Park, conducting a social studies
bowl at Drew Charter School and reading to
toddlers at the Atlanta Children's Shelter.
At the Awards Banquet Friday night, the following
alumni were honored:
Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees: John "Chip"
Evans IV '95 (baseball), Matthew 'Weiner '95
(baseball), Cornell Longino '95 (basketball),
Andrew Schutt '95 (basketball) and Lori "Lu"
Green LeRoy '95 (volleyball)
Talmage Award: Clare "Tia " Findley Magbee '56
(posthumous)
Spirit of Oglethorpe Award: Bob Amick '72
School Bell Awards: Dr. Ir^in Ray and Glenn
Jones '44
Young Alumni of the Year Award: Monique
Anderson '01
Organization Awards for Service: Sigma
Sigma Sigma and Kappa Alpha.
After Saturday's picnic lunch on the quad, alumni
visited the university archi\'es, museum and
Greek Row before heading to reunions. Membei-s
of The Stormy Petrel, Universit\- Singers, Sigma
Sigma Sigma and Kappa .Alpha gathered to
reminisce about their college days, learning
about their organizations through the years. In
the evening the classes of 1962. 1967, 1972, 1977,
1982, 1987, 1992 and 199"" held reunions before
alumni gathered on the quad to Stomp the Lawn
to the sounds of Radio Cult, led by a member of
the class of 1996.
For photos of the events, log in to ePetrel,
Oglethorpe's new online ccimmunity, at
www.alumni.oglethorpe.edu.
Residence Halls
Rising
Oglethorpe's newest residence halls are under construc-
tion for students to occupy beginning this fall, only two
years after the opening of North and South Halls. Many
alumni received a sneak peek of the halls with a hard-hat
tour of the construction zone during Alumni Weekend.
Located behind Dempsey Hall, the floor plan for the new
buildings is similar to that of North and South Halls, with
four private bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and a
common room in each suite. The halls, which will main-
tain Oglethorpe's unique Collegiate Gothic style and
granite fagade, will accommodate 150 students when
they open in August.
LVISS^
LVUlifel
Oglethorpe soccer provides training
camp to Louisiana youth
In Februan', soccer coach Jon Akin led five Oglethorpe soccer
players and four Atlanta-area soccer coaches to St. John the
Baptist Parish outside New Orleans to work with the Louisiana
Spirit River Team in hosting a youth soccer camp. The
Oglethorpe players were Erik Home '07, who is from the
parish, Matthew Brisindine '08, Michael MuUer '09, Danner
Marsden '10 and Michael Hadjisimos '10.
"We want to teach these kids that the skills they learn
tomorrow on the field will help them succeed during a game
and in life. If you practice everyday work hard and stay deter-
mined you can be a success on and off the field," said Akin.
The camp, targeted to children in two FEMA Transitional
Trailer Communities in Edgard, Louisiana, was a collective
effort, with the parish school board and city council offering
transportation to camp, the parish recreational department
providing refreshments, the Louisiana Spirit River Team
giving away T-shirts and Adanta businesses donating 100 new
soccer balls. The parish did not have goals for the camp to
use, so Akin took Oglethorpe's goals for the week-long camp.
"This soccer camp is a welcomed outlet and creates a lasting
beginning for future recreational ventures in the area of St.
John the Baptist Parish," said Councilman Lester Rainey
'"We definitely accomplished our goal of providing a
meaningful and worthwhile experience for the displaced
children who live in St. John Parish. This is the greatest
reward of all of our efforts. I feel the students grew in a
way that we just can't explain," said Sandra Home, Erik's
mother. "Everyone in the community has been smitten with
the soccer bug."
Akin plans to repeat the camp again next spring and hopes
to make it an annual event. 'After all, I get more of a kick out
of it than the kids do," Akin exclaimed.
Sports Wrap-Up
By Hoyt Young
MENS BASKETBALL
The 50-49 loss at the hands of Trinity University in the SCAC Tournament that ended Oglethorpe's season was befitting a team
that endured heartbreaking defeats throughout the 2006-2007 season. In compiling a solid 14-12 (7-7 in the SCAC) record, the
Petrels lost a staggering eight contests by five points or fewer, demonstrating how close this team was to breaking through.
Despite the narrow losses, this Petrel squad had several hallmarks that distinguished the team. They led the conference
in scoring by a wide margin and nearly toppled the school record in the same category as well. This team shot the ball
remarkably well and played stifling defense, leading the conference in both field goal percentage and steals while posting
Oglethorpe's most wins overall and in the conference in the past eight years. The Petrels will return to the hardwood next
season with AIl-SCAC Second Team performer Ahmad Kareem Shaheed '08 leading the charge.
April Harris '07, Brittany Corbett 07
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TAKE SECOND TRIP TO NCAA TOURNAMENT
The women's basketball team continued its rise to prominence this season en route to breaking
more school records in the process. After qualifying for their second consecutive trip to
the NCAA Tournament by finishing second in the SCAC and narrowly defeating DePauw
University in the conference tournament championship, the Petrels lost to Wilmington
College 76-54 in the first round. Before the NCAA Tournament, the Petrels (21-7, 11-3 in the
SCAC) had already matched last year's record-setting 21-win total. This year's team placed
second in the conference standings to set a school record while also setting a record for
conference victories with 11. The Petrels also had three players recognized as All-Conference
performers with Katie Kulavic '09 (First Team), Anna Findley '09 (Second Team) and Biz
Richmann '09 (Second Team) being recognized for their outstanding efforts. "With so much
young talent to choose from, head coach Ron Sattele is certainly excited about the current
and future Stormy Petrels.
Drew students learn from Oglethorpe players
WELCOME TO SPRING SPORTS
As of mid-April, the men's golf team continues to
hold steady as the #4 ranked men's team in the
nation and along with the #10 ranked women's team,
they both made some new friends this past October
in partnering with The First Tee of East Lake. In
exchange for valuable practice time on their illustrious
course, OU golfers taught basic golf skills to students
in grades 2-8 from Drew Charter School at Charlies
Yates Golf Course. The training, which emphasizes
discipline, hard work and integrity, counts as physical
education for Drew students. The men's and women's
tennis teams have their seasons successfully underway
with the men already making noise as a team on the
rise with two players currently ranked in the top 15
of the South region. Finally, the baseball team hit the
diamond this year with a thrilling group of young faces
and some new technology to boot. Fans could watch
games unfold in digital play-by-play online. Log on
next year for more from Anderson Field.
cutvProfii
8
By Mark DeLong '03
For Bill Brightman, taking his students through the
neighborhoods of New York City was an incredible
experience, as seen in the article that follows.
"I can't imagine how any of them will ever forget the trip.
When I ask them about it now, they dissolve into smiles,
reliving the experience," he said, adding he hopes to repeat
the trip next time he teaches Literature of the City and
the Country.
freshman year, become more articulate. That's an
interesting experience."
A handful of former students gain additional discussion time
through the Alumni Book Club, which Brightman has led
since its inception. "That's fun, to see them return; most I
had as students. They've been out, for a few, many years. It's
good to hear their views about what we're reading based on
their experiences."
Brightman, professor of English, joined the Oglethorpe
faculty in 1975. "The job looked attractive a small school
with small classes, and Atlanta was attractive." Those same
qualities have kept him here ever since.
"Teaching was an idea in high school," said Brightman,
adding, "It grew in college. I loved reading, and if I could
get paid for it, that was a good deal. It took about five years
to discover how to teach when to say something rather
than ask a question, how to deal with students."
Leading students through his favorite pastime, Brightman
enlightens students while adding to his knowledge base
as well. "I teach by having discussions, so I learn from my
students," Brightman said. "I like being able to pay great
attention to what students say It's fun when the students
just begin discussing without me starting it."
"I'll have some students as freshmen, and then for later
courses," he said. "You can see someone grow from
"I invite students to experiment with changing their minds,"
Brightman said, returning to the traditional classroom.
"That's difficult because many do not want to get rid of
their received ideas; they're holding onto their beliefs. The
books I teach have conflicting views. They have to tolerate
the ambiguity in that."
Among Brightman's favorite books for an English
professor cannot have just one are works by Tolstoy,
Dostoyevsky, Dickens and contemporary fiction, which he
taught this spring using works created in the past five years.
He particularly enjoys reading and teaching Anna Karenina
and ^ar and Peace.
When not reading or teaching, Briglitman enjo\-s gardening
and golf, a sport he recend)' picked up and plays with
retired Professor Philip Zinsmeister and .Associate Professor
of English Douglas McFariand.
By Bill Brightman, Professor of English
Literary Excursion to
New York City
I had taught Literature of the City and the Country
before, and it had never occurred to me that I
might take my students to New York and say,
"Notice this" or "Pay attention to how this
neighborhood changes into that one." In December
I was able to do just that, through the generosit)'
of an airline.
I met my students at 4:30 Sunday morning at the
Brookhaven/Oglethorpe MARTA station, and by
10:30 we were walking east on West 42nd Street
to that incredible kaleidoscope of neon that
constitutes Times Square. We moved from Bryant
Park through the New York Public Library to Grand
Central Station and Canal Street.
*i uiiiiiii
nghtman's class in New York City
In Chinatown, we stopped at litde markets full of fish and
fishy smells. In one of the novels we had read, The Tortilla
Curtain, T.C. Boyle had repeatedly and satirically contrasted
the overly-packaged and tightly cellophaned American food
markets with a character's memories of the ver)' different
markets of Mexico. My students had no idea what Boyle or I
were talking about. Now they do.
We went quickly through what is left of Little Italy and
up toward Prince Street. In Chinatown we had seen men
squatting on the sidewalks repairing shoes, and I soon
found a shoe store where we peeked through the window
of a place where I assumed only tailor-made shoes were sold
and then on to a number of ver^' pricey boutiques. The point
I wanted to make was that poor neighborhoods could be
right -next to the neighborhoods of the wealthy in contrast
to Atlanta where there is typically a much greater separation.
I hoped to show them that their concept of neighborhoods,
formed in the suburbs of a variety of American cities, was
not a useful tool when considering the life of great American
cities outside of the Sunbelt. In our next class I returned
to this point and reminded students of what they saw
while they read both Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway,
which is set in London, and Toni Morrison's /aar, which is
primarily set in New York. We contrasted that with two novels
set in and around Los Angeles: T. C. Boyle's The Tortilla
Curtain and Thomas Pynchon's The Crying of Lot 49.
We went through SoHo fairly quickly and up to Washington
Square. When you stand in the middle of the square
and look to the west and then to the south, you can see
architectural styles that might have referenced one another.
But when you look from the south to the east, you cannot
miss the fact that some very creative architects very
consciously created a dialogue of colors, lines and forms.
One architect picked up a rusty color found in buildings to
the west, intensified the color and covered a whole building
with it. A different architect noted the conversation between
a chapel of one denomination with a church of another and
created shapes resembling windows one might see in a
cathedral. A small but lovely symphony in stone.
Then we took a long subway ride to East 86th Street and a
quick side trip into Central Park. They had written a short
paper on the value to Atlanta of the Fernbank Forest, and I
wanted them to see another version of how and why cities
tr>' to create the "country" within themselves. As time was
running out, we made a too-quick tour of the Metropolitan
Museum of Art. We walked absolutely as fast as we could to
catch the 5:30 bus from the Port Authority, and we returned
to the Brookhaven/Oglethorpe station around 11:30. It
made for a long day with almost sLx hours of non-stop walk-
ing, but the educational enrichment was well worth it.
Ember Melcher '09 and other
OU students gutting a home in
New Orleans.
By Mark DeLong '03
Center
for Civic Engagement
In its first six months Oglethorpe's new Center for Civic
Engagement has already demonstrated its force. Students
have volunteered throughout Atlanta at schools, with social
service groups and with environmental agencies and
in New Orleans on Oglethorpe's four hurricane relief
service trips.
The center's inaugural director Tamara Nash is excited
about the university's rededication to service. 'At this time
and place for Oglethorpe the stars have aligned," said Nash,
who came to OU from Georgia-Pacific. "We have a golden
opportunity to take the theory taught in the classrooms and
apply it in very practical ways. Citizens of the world must
make contributions. Students will make heart and humanity
meet on campus, in the community, in our nation and in
our world."
Funded by a near-million-dollar gift by an anonymous donor,
the center has engaged over half the student body in
community efforts during its short existence. The center's
focus is not on service, but rather service learning. The
staff will work with faculty to integrate service learning into
courses and will work to place students in non-profit or
service-oriented internships.
"The most important thing that I see that the Center for
Civic Engagement has to offer faculty is the support to help
us make a wide array of service learning opportunities a
reality," said Lynn Gieger, Assistant Professor of Education.
"When we provide academic service-learning opportunities
to our students, we are working on the premise that
significant learning can be achieved in the traditional
classroom, in the field or a combination of the two. This
may not seem like that complicated or a controversial
idea, but the process of putting it into practice can be very
challenging and time consuming. If you feel as if you are
working alone, then it can be very easy to think 'I just don't
have the time.' That's where the center comes in."
One example of ser\'ice-learning came in early February
when the center sponsored a trip to Blue Heron
Nature Preserve for Associate Professor of Biology
Charlie Baube's General Biology Lab course. Students
did clean-up work, invasive species removal and field
~0^ The center staff greets students
from local elementaty schools before
You Are Speciai
research at the preserve, putting lessons learned in the
classroom to practical use.
This fall four courses will include a service-learning
component with at least two more expected in the spring.
Professors Jay Lutz and Mario Chandler will team-teach a
course on the Dominican Republic, exploring that population
in Atlanta in class and in the Caribbean during a January
2008 trip; Professor Ginger Williams will include a PATH
Academy practicum in her Introduction to Education course;
Professor Margaret Smith "91 will explore the tradition
of giving in the Jewish culture in a history course; and Professor
Deborah Merola will involve her students in community theatre.
Outside the classroom, the center will coordinate volunteer
activities with local schools and through Hands On Atlanta.
Oglethorpe has four partner schools Charies R. Drew
Charter, Ed. S. Cook, Achieve Academy and PATH Academy
Oglethorpe's golf teams have been working with students
at Drew since last fall, teaching basic golf skills through First
Tee of East Lake.
At Cook, Atlanta's oldest public school, a core team of
volunteers works with students on a regular basis. In February
the center sponsored a trip for Cook students to see
ibu Are Special. Oglethorpe theatre's children production.
Achieve Academy is a charter school with spirit. Unfortunately
the dedication of teachers and support of parents is not
always backed by the proper resources. Displaced after
last school year. Achieve found a new home days before
classes began this fall. This left no time to prepare the
new building. The lack of resources has also led to a lack
of upkeep at the facility. Oglethorpe students have painted
hallways, cleaned bathrooms and done landscaping around
the school on numerous occasions and are committed to
seeing these energetic students succeed.
Oglethorpe neighbor PATH Academy was the sight of a service
project during freshman orientation this fall. Students in the
education department frequently complete their student
teaching at PATH, working with a diverse student population.
Volunteers with the center serve as mentors to students,
helping with homework and after-school acti\itjes.
Efforts are not limited to the metro-Atlanta area. In January,
the center sponsored a group of 30 students as they took
a week of their winter vacation to help the residents of
New Orleans clean up and rebuild their city after Hurricane
Katrina, which hit in August 2005. The third effort, in
cooperation with Hands On New Orleans was so successful
a fourth volunteer trip to New Orleans was arranged for
spring break. Read more from New Orleans on the next page.
The center plans to continue its involvement with the
Crescent City as long as there is a need. Other long-temi projects
include campus recycling and the partnership with the four
elementar)' schools. Long-term or short-term, high-visibilit>-
or high-impact, Oglethorpe's Center for Ci\ic Engagement
is bringing the promise to "Make a difference" to life.
Joonas Mikkilia '07, Mercella Davis '08, Clay Kimbrel '09, Ember Melcher '09, Director Tamara Nash and Hannah Wiles '08 volunteering at various center projects.
SIDEBAR: LIVE FROM NEW ORLEANS
In a church on the corner of First and Dr^'ades, thousands
of college students have come to make a difference.
Located in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods of
New Orieans, First United Methodist Church has served as
headquarters for Hands On New Orleans since February
2006. The church holds services in the sanctuary, but the
area surrounding it houses nearly 100 volunteers a night
(on some days as many as 130). In the multipurpose room
next to the sanctuary only a stained glass wall away from
Sunday services bunk beds are arranged in eight rows,
four to a group, leaving only enough floor space for buffet
tables which offer breakfast, lunch and dinner daily cooked
next door in the kitchen. The room behind the sanctuary
serves as a mess hall and meeting space. The back yard
is filled with donated tools, ladders and supplies. Hands
On vans line the streets, while the occasional Home
Depot truck drops off more equipment. At night police cars
fill the spaces between Hands On vehicles, while officers
monitor the neighborhood. Inside, shirts and posters
commemorate the many volunteers who have spent time
workinginNewOrleans.Thebunkbedframesarecoveredwith
Sharpie memories "Michael slept here," 'Amber has dibs
when she returns" and inspiration "'Whatever you are,
be a good one." (Abraham Lincoln), "Be the change you
seek." (Mahatma Ghandi), "Never doubt that a small group
of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the worid.
Indeed it is the only thing that ever has." (Margaret Mead).
The people are just as spirited - the staff, long-term
volunteersandstudents dancingthroughthebunks, touring
the city and interacting with locals. The energy of New
Orleans lives on in its residents and those working to
rebuild the city a year and a half after the storm.
The Center for Civic Engagement planned its first major
outing for the last week of winter break 2007. Thirty students
rode down in three vans to stay at Hands On New Orleans'
headquarters at First and Dryades. They wake up eariy grab
breakfast and head to work sites where they spend the bulk
of their days. Then it's back to the church for dinner and a
community meeting.
"I think a lot of people have forgotten about the victims of
Hurricane Katrina. It happens so often, things will be on
the news for awhile and then they just disappear. I wanted
to show that I remember and am willing to help," said Noel
Curry '10 from Atlanta.
Since Oglethorpe's first group trip last March work is more
widespread, by city and volunteer crews and homeowners
alike. Street signs are up in more neighborhoods. Most roads
are open and passable. FEMA trailers still serve as homes for
many In January, 40,000 trailers were in use on homeowner
property, sitting inches away from mold-infested homes
that serve as a reminder of what remains to be done in the
city; thousands more live in the 70 trailer parks throughout
New Orieans.
Citizens and visitors alike are appreciative of the work
being done by volunteers. They'll walk up to students and
say thanks at the peace rally, at clubs, in restaurants or
driving down the street. It's not hard to spot volunteers in a
neighborhood. If the 15-passenger van on the curb isn't
enough, seeing people in Tyvex suits is certainly a big hint. For
five days the Oglethorpe crew suited up, donning face masks,
goggles and hard hats to tackle homes barely touched since
the storm. The work was of incredible value to residents.
On Tuesday when all Hands On volunteers worked on one
block of homes, the homeowners came together to prepare
lunch for the crew. "It helped bring into focus what I was
doing there in the first place," said Jeffane Millien '08 from
Haiti. "I thought working on one house, or one block, wasn't
significant, but the fact that these homeowners came out to
show their appreciation made me realize that what we were
doing was making a difference."
By Beth Roberts, Ph.D., Vera A. Milner Professor of Education
Teachers
WITH CLASS
14
Accountant. Lawyer. Nurse.
Respiratory Therapist. Director
of Sales. Artist. iVlusician.
Technology Specialist.
Marketing Manager. Engineer.
Director of Human Resources.
What do all of these professionals
have in common?
They all want to give up those careers to teach young
children! They are representative of the students who
chose the Master of Arts in Teaching Early Childhood
program at Oglethorpe University.
Teach young children? Yes. Since its inception in fall 2002,
the Master of Arts in Teaching Eariy Childhood Education
program has attracted a variety of college-educated,
accomplished professionals who decided that it's not
enough to make a living they want to make a difference.
The MAT program at Oglethorpe is designed to prepare
teachers who know what learners need to know and how
to motivate learning. Beyond that, though, we intend for
our MAT graduates to be ready to make a difference in the
public schools in the 21st century. That's where all of the
professional skills learned in those first careers are really
useful. Twenty-first century teachers, you see, are called
upon on a daily basis to create, communicate, manage
resources, solve problems, cross cultural barriers, negotiate
their way through bureaucratic systems, inspire, make
multiple decisions all before lunch (and oh, yes, they
must take lunch count)!
"We are all here for a purpose:
Here to learn, here to thrive,
hereto grow."
Excerpts from a poem on teaching by Kerri Irwin, a 2007
graduate who will teach in Gwinnett County this fall
Andrea Antepenko, a current MAT student, explains her
decision to leave a lucrative career in software development
after participating in a leadership development program
through her job. "This was the kindling of a passion that
has been brewing under the surface all along to teach
and reach young children as an elementary school teacher.
What better way to live out my personal mission statement?
It's short only five words: Teach, Touch, Heal,
Discover, Create."
Each time we admit a group of new students (in August and
January), I am inspired by the enthusiasm and commitment
of the people who choose to enter the MAT program, often
as career changers. The typical MAT student though no
MAT student is really typical is a woman in her eariy 30s
who graduated from college with a degree in a liberal arts
discipline or business and a high grade-point average. In the
back of her mind, she knew all along that teaching was what
she wanted to do with her life. After spending several years
in another career, the time is right to make the change and
become a teacher.
_, j..i was an attorney until he began the program.
A 2005 graduate, he now teaches at Morningside Elementary
Jon Bookspun i
Robin Mollis
School in Atlanta Public Schools. "Even though the
constructivist philosophy and the process of teaching
through inquiry was a lot to take in right away I saw the
same ideas coming up repeatedly in all of the courses and
my field experiences. We could and did build on, review
and expand on those ideas throughout the program. The
idea is to think about deeper, more meaningful learning
and to find as many ways as possible to construct classroom
experiences that support that. With this foundation, I was
well-prepared to begin my teaching career."
At orientation, the time that students meet each other for
the first time, I often see the relief on many faces as new
students realize that it's been awhile since most of the
group has been in school, that many of the other students
will be engaging in the same balancing act with families,
carpools and homework, and that warmth and cooperation
are the hallmarks of student-student and student-faculty
relationships in the program. Once that confidence barrier is
crossed, the excitement of learning and being involved in
schools catches on. By the second class period, I can hear
the buzz of energy as I approach the classroom where eager
MAT students await the challenges they have chosen.
Missy Bain, a 2004 graduate who is a second grade teacher
at Mount Bethel Elementary' School in Cobb County, values
the professional relationships that she developed during
the program. "A few years into my career, I am still in
contact with both my professors and my cohort. I cannot
imagine a better support system!"
The MAT program at Oglethorpe is closely aligned with the
university's mission as a liberal arts college that prepares
students to make a difference in our modern world. Since
early childhood teachers must be able to teach all subject
areas, we require MAT students to have a broad liberal arts
background in their undergraduate education. In addition
to content, of course, a liberal arts education promotes
critical thinking and making connections across disciplinary
lines, both skills that are necessaiy for successful teaching.
John Dewey in Democracy and Education , wrote that the
liberal arts experience should consist of "three essential
elements: it should engage students in the surrounding
community; it should be focused on problems to be solved
rather than academic discipline; and it should collaboratively
involve students and faculty" These goals are realized in
the design of the MAT program as we require students
to engage in field experiences in the public schools each
semester, we model and encourage teaching through
inquiry, and we emphasize cooperation among all learners,
including faculty members who teach courses.
Robin HoUis, a current MAT student who still works in
marketing, describes a course in the MAT program. Arts of
Diverse Peoples. "We learned not only artistic methods and
processes, but also about the cultural perspectives behind
projects. Eventhing we do in class and outside of class
has real-life application for our future classrooms. We also
educate and prepare each other regarding various pedagogical
practices and educational developments and issues. We will
leave this program prepared to start teaching!"
All students deserve: a highly enriched,
highly engaged and
highly generative curriculum.
I am a facilitator of learning.
I have a lotto learn.
Kerri Irwin
Indeed, principals and graduates of the program agree with
her. Many of our students are employed in teaching positions
while still in the program. When asked to compare Oglethorpe
MAT students with students from other colleges and
universities with whom they ha\-e worked, teachers who
work with our students in field experiences and student
teaching consistently describe our MAT students as "better
prepared." Graduates of the program are quickly employed
and find themselves ready for the challenges of teaching.
Literacy is the best subject to teach.
Math is the best subject to teach.
Science is the best subject to teach.
Writing workshop is the best subject to teach.
Social studies is the best subject to teach.
Debbie Williams, a former respirator^'
therapist and 2004 graduate now teaching
pre-kindergarten, found that "the experience
at Oglethorpe was a significant stepping
stone. It gave me courage to enter the
worid of education ready and eager to
make impressions on the lives of children."
Jeannie Leach, a former journalist and now
a fifth grade teacher and team leader at
Bethesda Elementar\' School in Gwnnett
County, says, "My Oglethorpe preparation is
with me ever\' da>- on the job. Oglethorpe's
MAT program helped me make the journe\-
toward readiness to teach a di\'erse group
of students."
Since the first MAT students completed the
program in December 2003, Oglethorpe
MAT alumni ha\'e been making a difference in
mam- public and pri\-ate schools in tlie metro
Atlanta area and be\ond. Teaching, they
have found, is where the\- want to be. As
Robin Hollis says, 'At the end of the day, I
want to know that I'm contributing to the
greater good and getting true personal
\^alue out of what I do. That's wh\- 1 decided
to go into teaching." Oglethoipe's MAT
graduates are teachers with classl
aliimni alert
"Regardless of the age difference, I have
found that we share a common bond
that only comes from the 'OU experience.'
Dear Alumni,
ePetrel ... ewhat? No, I did not forget how to spell our beloved mascot. Nor did I forget that
words at the beginning of a sentence should be capitalized (Dr. Weiss will be glad to know
that my English minor was not wasted!).
ePetrel is the new online community for alumni on the university's website
www.alumni.oglethorpe.edu. ePetrel, a virtual meeting place for all alumni and friends of the
Oglethorpe community, is full of great features, such as your own personal page, class notes,
online directory, message boards, a free email forwarding address plus much more. Please
help us make ePetrel thrive by going online today and registering if you have not already
This summer biings to a close my time serving as president of the National Alumni Association.
While I have always enjoyed reminiscing with my OU classmates, the biggest surprise from
my involvement in the association has been how much fun it is to meet and interact with
fellow Petrels I did not previously know. Regardless of the age difference, I have found that
we share a common bond that only comes from the "OU experience."
Oglethorpe became a major influence in my life the minute I stepped on campus back in
the fall of 1988 as a bright-eyed 18-year-old freshman. While almost 20 years have passed
since that time, Oglethorpe remains important to me. Whether it is cheering like crazy at
a basketball game with my lO-year-old son (who genuinely doesn't understand why OU
players won't go on to play in the NBA) or interacting with fellow alums at great events,
Oglethorpe still pours into my life.
If you are an alum who is actively involved in the Oglethorpe community, I feel confident
that you share my joy and enthusiasm. However, if you are someone for whom Oglethorpe
simply conjures "college memories," please re-engage and see that the OU experience can
continue to be meaningful in your life. I can promise you will not regret it.
As always, the National Alumni Association would welcome your input and we are
continually in need of new volunteers. There are numerous ways to get involved. If you are
interested, please let me know or contact Barbara Bessmer Henry '85, Director of Alumni
Relations, at bhenry@oglethorpe.edu or 404-364-8443.
Joe Shelton '91
President of National Alumni Association
jshelton@laborlawyers.com
404-240-4259
Faces of Alumni Weekend 2007
17
Future Petrels
Bient Andrew Bishop '88
and wife Vicki announce the birth of their daughter, Chloe Elise, born on
September 5, 2006, in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Chloe weighed 6 pounds,
l4 ounces and measured 19 3/4 inches long. Brent runs the Consumer Credit
Counseling Service office in Spartanburg.
18
Liz Miello-Alford '89
and husband Christopher welcomed their first child, Annabelle Matty on
October 13, 2005. Annabelle just celebrated her first birthday and has been the
main source of entertainment for the family dogs! The family currently resides
in Hackettstown, New Jersey, and Liz continues to work in Olympic hospitality
as the director of the consumer division of Jet Set Sports.
.A\a Marie Salerno Conlin, DO, MPH '90
and Col. Christopher Crane Conlin, USMC, are delighted to announce the
arrival of their third daughter, May Isabelle, born December 15, 2005. May
weighed 6 pounds, 6.1 ounces and measured 17.75 inches long. All of the
Conlins recently relocated back to San Diego and would enjoy seeing former
classmates. Ava is board certified in public health and general preventive
medicine and works with the Department of Defense Center for Deployment
Health Research at the Naval Health Research Center, but has been focused
mostly on her role as mom recendy
Heather Davis Phan '92
and husband John recently welcomed son Caulder. Both Heather and John
currently work for Georgia State University.
Shannon GebJTai'dt Holden '94
and husband Chris are elated to announce the birth of their daughter. Erica
Faye, on September 2, 2006. Erica joins adoring big brothers, Matthew, age 5,
and Stephen, age 3. The Holdens live in Alpharetta, Georgia. Shannon is proud
to be entering her fourth year as a professional photographer specializing in
fine art children's portraiture.
Leia Inzerello Paul '95
and husband Brian are proud to announce the birth of their
daughter, Ella Christine. Ella arrived on July 12, weighing 7 pounds and 12
ounces. The family resides in Gaithersburg, Mar\'land,
where Leia is a veterinarian working in Potomac and Brian is a
microbiologist at the NIH in Bethesda.
Mark Bingham '96, Ellen Kimbrell Bingham '9"
and big sister Abigail welcomed baby boy Andrew into the world on November
20, 2006. He weighed 8 pounds and measured 20 inches long. They are
currently living in Nashville, Tennessee. Mark is enjo>1ng success running his
own salvage corporation. Ellen is taking time off from teaching and loxing
being a stay-at-home mom.
K!
Stace\' Chapman Tobin '96
and husband James are
proud to announce the
birth of their son, Colin
Richard, on August 20, 2006.
Rebecca Hester Miller '97
and husband Lewis Coy
Miller, III '98 proudly
announce the birth of
their baby giri, Campbell
Caroline on December 6,
2006. Campbell Caroline
weighed 7 pounds,
1 ounce and measured
20 inches long.
Jennifer Hedgepeth HuU '
and husband David
welcomed a baby boy,
Ryan David, into the
world onjuly 3, 2006.
The little firecracker
weighed in at a whoppii
9 pounds and 4 ounces.
The family lives in
Frisco, Texas.
Mancly McDow Flemming '00
and husband Matthew
welcomed their second
son. Cooper James, on
August 5, 2006. Cooper is
healthy, active and happy
and loves his two-year-old
brother, Jackson. The
Flemmings are in Atlanta
where Mandy is serving as
the minister of family life
at Grace United Methodist
Church in Midtown.
Nicole Spencer Boemanns '99 and Erik Boemanns '98
were happy to welcome their second son, Ian. Ian arrived July 26,
2006, weighing 8 pounds and 6 ounces. He was welcomed home by
his big brother Adrian (born August 19, 2004).
Jiiime Chai-d(xs Watt '00 and Timothy Watt '00
are proud to announce the birth of their daughter
Addison Marie Watt on June 7, 2006.
Jodie Sexton Goff '01
and Todd Goff welcome baby number two, Abigail Margorie Goff,
who was born on September 28, 2006.
Angie Bagley Fitzpatrick '0-t
gave birth to her second child, daughter Patricia Jade "PJ" Fitzpatrick
on August 2, 2006. She was 8 pounds, 3 ounces and measured 21.25
inches long. Her big brother Mark, now 2, is just crazy about her
class notes
Weddings
20
Kasya Taylor '91 recently married Marcel A. Buckley. The happy couple
resides in Swindon, England.
Andrew Noble '97 and Shelley Bridwell were married on March 25,
2006, in Atlanta at Peachtree Presbyterian Church. Jason Karnes '97,
Daiyl Brooks '97, Jeff Wliite '96 and Jason Luginbuhl '96 served as
groomsmen. Jimmy Tabb '95 was the Best Man. Many Oglethorpe
alumni attended the celebration. The happy couple honeymooned in
St. Lucia and now resides in Dunwoody Georgia.
Kendall Blake '02 married Steve Kodey on October 7, 2006, in
Alexandria, "Virginia, at St. Johns Lutheran Church.
Dan Giordano '02 and Jesse De Maria '02 were married October 15,
2006, in Stony Brook, New York. Oglethorpe alumni in the wedding
party included Steven Bloodworth '02, Andy Crosb\' '02, AJ Tiai-smidi '02,
Dan Torrenti '02, Christopher West '04 and Jennifer Bea\'er '02 with
many other former Petrels in attendance. Dan is currently the head
baseball coach at Oglethorpe and Jesse is the head children's librarian
at the Avis G. 'Williams Public Library in Decatur, Georgia.
Shahina Sameja '02 married Christopher Buder on May 31, 2006, in
Atlanta. They held their wedding reception on July 9, 2006, at the
Doubletree Hotel Roswell and celebrated their joyous occasion with
close family and friends. Shahina and Chris spent the first few months
of their marriage residing in 'Virginia Beach but relocated back to
Atlanta in January 2007. Shahina will be working as a psychometrist
for a private practice while Christopher will attend school and work
for the family business.
Emily Gudat 02 and Ian Trimble '05 were married on September 3,
2006, in McDonough, Georgia. The wedding party included
Jill Oriando Patrick '02, Kate Harrison Pazdemick '03, Daniel Callahan '04
and Jason Duchac '06. Many Oglethorpe alumni were in attendance.
Aaron Whitworth '04 and Meredith McKay '06 were married on March
25, 2006, in a small ceremony near Meredith's home town of Lebanon.
New Jersey Along with close family members, the wedding part\-
included best man David Dobbs '0~. The couple now lives in Chamblee,
Georgia, with their dog Essie.
Alumni Updates
Sylvia Plapinger '50 was published in the December/Ianuary
2006/07 issue of The London Magazine. Her article,
entitled "The Jackie I Knew," was about the gifted chellist,
Jacqueline du Pre.
Danforth Larter '68 is currently vice president of sales for
a trucking company. He and his wife, Marg, have been
married for 36 years. They recently relocated to the Lehigh
"Valley in Pennsylvania and are expecting to retire in the next
couple of years. They have two daughters, Kristen, who live
in Indianapolis, and Alison, who is an actress starring in
Heroes on NBC. Her newest movie Resident Evil 3 will be
coming out in September 2007.
Mike Emeiy '82 has been named director of athletics,
student activities and community schools for Gwinnett
County Public Schools. Mike began teaching at Norcross
High School in 1984 and had been the athletic director
there since 1997. He was named State Athletic Director of
the Year in 2005. He and his wife Terri have a 13-year-old
son, Ben, and a 10-year-old daughter, Elaina.
Ricardo Carvalho '84 is president and CEO of The
Latin-American Company The Latin-American Company
provides international business development and management
consulting services to Fortune 100 and 500 companies. Over
one-half of their business is in mergers and acquisitions.
Major clients include The Coca-Cola Company, Coca-Cola
bottlers around the world, JPMorgan Chase and UPS.
lne Jensen '89 is teaching at Clark University as an associate
professor in the psychology department. She serves as
editor-in-chief of New Directions fo7- Child and Adolescent
Developtnent. Jensen received her bachelor's degree from
Oglethorpe University and her Ph.D. from the University
of Chicago. She studies cultural identity development
and moral development. Her present work focuses on
adolescents and their parents who have immigrated
to the United States. Jensen currently resides in
Worcester, Massachusetts.
Geoff Spiess '91 is currently in law school at the University
of Notre Dame and recently fought in the 77th annual
Notre Dame Bengal Bouts. The Bengal Bouts is a boxing
tournament of about 200 boxers to raise money for the Holy
Cross Mission in Bangladesh (in recent years the Bouts have
sent an average of $50,000 per year to the mission). He
advanced to the semi-finals where he lost a split decision.
Cheiyl Zdunek Michels '93 has her master's degree in
social work and is now a school counselor at a local
private school in Baltimore, where she resides with her
husband Jack and their two daughters Greta (4 years) and
Eila (11 months). Being a mother is the greatest joy in her
life. Please feel free to email her and keep in touch!
Mike Steele '93 graduated from Oglethorpe with a B.A. and
has earned an associate's in applied science and a B.S. from
the University of Alaska Anchorage and an MBA from Georgia
State. He is one class and a thesis away from a master's in
aeronautical science from Embry Riddle.
Barbara Miller Hall '94 has been promoted to executive
director of CONTACT Crisis Helpline. Barbara is working
on her M.S. in human services with a concentration in
nonprofit management. Her husbandJeffHair9-4 is currently
serving on a specialized training team in Iraq. Barb, Jeff and
their four children still live in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.
William Mullis '94 was a freelance journalist, UGA law
student, nanny for three (believe it or not), QT manager and
salesman until he was fortunate to get into IT consulting in
1997, specializing in SAP software implementation all across
the countr)'. Some previous clients include: The Coca-Cola
Company, Siemens, The Home Depot, Philip Morris and
Wyeth BioPharma. It's not e.xactly the kind of career he
dreamed about doing as a little boy but anyone who works
inside with a computer certainly can't complain!
lass note^
See Melissa Drouin Funk '97
Shahara Ruth '02
Alison Bess-Meyer '96 received iier Ph.D. in counseling
psychology from Texas Woman's University in Denton,
Texas, on December 16, 2006. She defended her qualitative
dissertation, "The Experiences of Transgendered Clients in
Therapy" on November 2, 2006. Alison currently works as a
clinical counselor at the University of Illinois at Springfield
and lives in Springfield with her husband Curt Meyer and
their guinea pigs, 'Willow and Hermione.
Jenifer Parks '96 is in her fifth year of graduate study at the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is currently
living with her husband in Moscow, Russia, where she is
researching her dissertation on Olympic sport in the Soviet
Union and has recently published a chapter on the Soviet
Union's entrance into the Olympic Games in East Plays
West: Sport in the Cold War.
Jayme Sellards '96 recently accepted a position as manag-
ing editor of the banking/bankruptcy law section of LRP
Publications, a legal publishing company based in Palm
Beach Gardens, Florida. Prior to joining LRi; Jayme served
as in-house counsel for'Whimey National Bank in New Orleans.
Deanna Smith '98 is currently the marketing manager at
Fernbank Museum of Natural History, home of Atlanta's
largest dinosaurs and the original Martini's & IMAX. She
absolutely loves her job and would love to see more
Oglethorpe alumni coming her way
Jason Stackhouse '98 still lives in Atlanta and is a marketing
and listings coordinator for RE/MAX Greater Atlanta. He is
also an actor in Atlanta and a member of an improv troupe
which performs monthly at The Professional Actors Studio
in Buckhead.
Maria Topczij '98 has left the great state of Alaska and has
settled in Redding, California.
Kristine Lawrie '99 is settling in Portland, Oregon, after
living in seven states, three within a seven-month span.
She is an environmental engineer at Armstrong 'World
Industries' St. Helens, Oregon, ceiling tile manufacturing
plant. She has traveled to Japan and Europe, competed in
two duathlons and did a bike centun- She also enjo>-s hing
on the couch and playing with her dog.
Elizabeth Stockton '96 received her Ph.D. in English from
the University of North Carolina in May 2006, after defending
her dissertation, "Troubling 'Women: American Fictions of
Marriage and Property, 1848-1867." A condensed version
of a chapter from the dissertation was published in the fall
2QQ6 New England Quarterly . Elizabeth is now an assistant
professor of English at Southwestern University in George-
town, Texas, where she lives with her husband and their
two dogs.
Melissa Drouin Funk '97 and Jeff Funk moved to New
Orleans, where they were married in March 2004. Having
survived the wrath of Hurricane Katrina, they still reside
in New Orleans and now welcome two additions to their
family Noah and Caiden. Melissa is currently finishing her
10th year with PricewaterhouseCoopers as a systems and
process assurance manager.
Sibylle Bambynek Breunle '00 is currently living in
Eriangen, Germany where she has started a new career
as a consultant for the interior of houses and businesses
using the ancient art of Feng Shui. She studied Chinese in
Germany and encountered this old knov\ ledge which she
learned from Malayan masters. The knowledge Sibx'lle
recieved at Oglethorpe and learning about the American
approach to life has helped her during the last few yeai-s.
William (Billy) Leonard '00 has been in Taipei, Taiwan,
for the last seven years. Currendy, he's the production
manager for a daily TV show and monthly publiaition. He also
co-hosts the TV program. This summer he and his family
will head to business school to get his MBA.
Shahara Ruth 02, well-known poet and playwright, had a
sold out performance of her play Women Dating Badly
featuring Tony Award winner Georgia Me. GoldFire
Productions (a member of Atlanta Coalition for Performing
Arts) is the dynamic brainchild of Shahara. Her renowned
work has been touted as pragmatic, thought-provoking and
timely Shahara's newest play Behind Safe Walls performed
at Oglethorpe on March 24, 2007.
Meiyen Bell '03 and Shaniece Broadus diss '02 were freshman
roommates at Oglethorpe, and they are now co-workers
at Victory Worid Church in Norcross, Georgia. This church
of over 5,000 members hosts many programs within the
church, in the local community and around the worid.
Meiyen serves as the church's communications manager
and Shaniece serves as curriculum director for small group
development. Meiyen and Shaniece love working together
and reminiscing about their years at Oglethorpe.
Natalie Hayman 03 and Vasek Cekan celebrated their
two-year anniversary this past October. They were married
October 30, 2004. The couple now lives in Sugar Hill, and
Natalie is an international product development manager
and is currently in school for her MBA.
Aerie Jones '02 published a poetry book entitled PoeTaree:
The Jurisprudence of Life as AerleTaree. This collection of
poems and art was created while on tour with Lalapolooza.
Emily Lawson '03 has been accepted into a master's
program in nurse-midwifery at Yale University School of
Nursing. The program will begin fall 2007 after her return
from Peace Corps in Thailand.
Cariissa Carson 05 is currently enrolled in her second year
at Emory Law School. She is a member of and writer for the
Emory Law Journal. This summer she will be working for
Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker in the criminal
justice division. She is also a military intelligence officer in
the Army Reserves.
Charity Pirkle '05 is working for Ferrazzi Greenlight, a
marketing consulting fum. She is also on the board of directors
for Women's Entertainment Troupe of Los Angeles.
Whit Yelton 06 is currently living in Atlanta working with
Hardin Construction, LLC as a project accountant. He is
currently working on a condominium residence. Sovereign,
which will tower 48 stories at 3344 Peachtree Road in Buck-
head. It will be the tallest structure to be built in Adanta
since 1992.
Brittxiny Bennett '06 is currently in the library and information
science master's degree program at the University of South
Florida in Tampa.
Corrections:
Daniel Louis Uffncr, Jr. '51 has served on the Sun City
Emergency Squad for eight and a half years, not 20. Prior
to moving to Sun City Center in 1997, he lived on a 40-foot
sailboat for eight years, mostly in the Caribbean, after he
sold his public accounting company in 1989. The Emergency
Squad is comprised of over 450 volunteers using four
ambulances and three wheel-chair carrying vans to make
about 12,000 runs a year
In the Honor Roll of Donors, a gift in memory of
Kevin Bradley '86 from Nancy and David Kerr was mistakenly
not acknowledged.
In Memoriam
Evelyn Bird '30 on November 11, 2006
Col. John Fain '30 on September 29, 2006
Hubert E. Tucker '31 on October 9, 2006
John H. SmUey '36 on May 30, 2006
Claude Rex Clark '37 on October 15, 2006
Rufus W Hutchinson, Jr. '38 on December 20, 2006
Augustus Nash Lyle '38 on February 9, 2007
Mariema Miller Maddox '38 on November 10, 2006
Jack Perry '39 on February 23, 2007
Joseph J. Barenie '41 on November 11, 2006
Ralph G. Lewis, Jr. '41 on October 12, 2006
Edgar L. Pinson '41 on February 5, 2007
Martha Shealey Axelberg '43 November 5, 2006
Thomas M. Hunter '43 on October 15, 2006
Virginia Murray McLucas '43 on November 20, 2004
B. Eugene Doyal '44 on February 2, 2005
Franklin Bagley '45 on August 31, 2006
James M. Powell '47 on January 25, 2004
Addie Hill Veno '48 in December 2004
Mozelle Satcher "Whidaw '55 on November 4, 2006
Cora Stephens Colquitt '56 on December 5, 2006
Alfred D. Ingersol '56 on November 16, 2006
Everett R. Blanchett '57 on October 7, 2006
Ethelyn Boswell Purdie '59 on November 20, 2006
Eugenia Thompson Palmer '62 on March 5, 2007
Frederika Rapp Preacher '67 on November 17, 2006
James Qimmy) B. Ramage, Jr '70 on February 7, 2007
Catherine E. Eaton '72 on January 10, 2007
Kelly Gewinner Elliott '74 on February 15, 2006
PhUip Lee Elliott '74 on January 25, 2007
Doris Berry Underwood '74 on October 14, 2006
Luann Sands Kadel '86 on March 13, 2007
Anna Kristin Grods '91 on November 7, 2006
23
By Laura Masce
Ed Bator's
1950s Oglethorpe
The Oglethorpe archives recently had a wealth of beautiful images added to its
collection by Edmund Bator '53 and Martha Mayson Bator '51, who donated
numerous sleeves of negatives and several wonderful print photographs.
During his time at Oglethorpe, Edmund worked as a photographer for the
Yamacraw yearbook, and many of the images he donated to the archives appear
in the yearbooks. The images offer a rare glimpse into life during the vibrant
years of the early 1950s at Oglethorpe, and these are but a small sampling of
the negatives that the Bators donated.
A Modern Dance class practicing in Hermance
Stadium is shown in the above 1952 image.
During the late 1940s and early 1950s, female
students had to abide by more regimented
regulations than the male students. Females
were to be in their dormitories by 7:00 p.m.
during the week unless they had permission
from the house mother or were signed in
at the library. The girls also had to receive
authorization and sign in and out whenever they
left campus. In addition, a student telephone
monitor was on duty in the girls' dormitories
to answer the hall phone and to make sure
that student telephone calls were limited to
five minutes.
Horseback riding was part of the men and
women's intramural programs at Oglethorpe
for a few years during the late 1940s and
eariy 1950s. A small stable was conveniently
located on campus. At the time of these 1950
photographs, Oglethorpe owned the Silver
Lake area, which was then known as Lake
Phoebe. The wooded area offered numerous
riding trails to follow. This photograph captui^es
two students, Dudley Engelson '53 and
Sheldon Fleitman '53, standing with a horse.
In the above image, children enjoy a Christmas party in the Great Hall in December 1950. The celebration, held
primarily for children of faculty and staff, included a fully decorated tree and refreshments. During the party,
the children made paper crowns, which they decorated with stickers and drawings. Santa Claus, toting a bag of
treats, also made a surprise entrance at the celebration.
A couple is shown above dancing at the 1951
Black and White Formal, held in April. The
event was generally sponsored by the freshmen
class every year in the spring and featured a
live band. The freshmen class also held an
old-fashioned barn dance with square dancing
in the spring of that year. The dance, like
the Black and White Formal, was held in the
g)'mnasium, and the space was decorated
to look like a barn. The admission price was
thirty-five cents and included refreshments.
In 1950, when this photograph was taken,
the science division of the university was
led by Professors David Camp, Roy Goslin,
Lois Williamson, Charles Rice and Arthur Cohen.
In the early 1950s, a Bachelor of Science degree
was awarded to students who had completed
at least one-fourth of their 194 required
course hours in science. This scene shows
students dissecting in a biology laboratory'.
r
OGLETHORPE
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Atlanta, GA 3031 9
PERMIT No. 523
4484 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30319
www.oglethorpe.edu
rr,^.