HIWASSEE COLLEGE Spring 2017

Table of

C o n t e n t sHiwassee College MagazineSpring 2017 Vol. 2 No. 1

This is an official publication of Hiwassee College in Madisonville, Tennessee. This is a bi-yearly publication intended to inform alumni, friends of the college, students, par-ents, prospective students, faculty, and staff of various events and involvements. For more information or letters to the editor contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 423-420-1243.

Mailing Address

WebsiteE-mailPhone

Hiwassee.edu poplinas@Hiwassee.edu 420-442-2001

225 Hiwassee College Drive Madisonville, TN 37354

President

Contributing Writers

Photography Credit

On the Cover:Graduating Class of 2017 photo taken at the Hiwassee College Bell Tower.

DEPARTMENTS

FEATURES

See photos from this year’s commence-ment festivivities.

4 Vice-President Appointments 5 Around Campus 9 Alumni Spotlight10 Board of Governors 15 Student Stories16 Student Affairs17 Institutional Advancement Letter20 Alumni Information Update21 Tiger Tracks25 Love and Legacy

Commencement 2017

Dr. Robin J. Tricoli

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Dr. Robin J. TricoliMrs. Blaina BestDr. Christina Hilenshem Dr. Jason LeonardMrs. Julia PaceMs. Ashlyn PoplinMs. Meagan PriceDr. Eppechal T. Smalls

Mrs. Blaina BestMr. Branson GoinsMr. Kendall LaneMs. Halei LequireMs. Danielle ProulxMs. Ashlyn Poplin

Graphic Designer Ms. Ashlyn Poplin

Economists predict that by 2018, America will be 3 million college-educated workers short to meet demand, but college graduation rates are now flat and will be in a decline this coming fall. Employers of today are in need of workers who are able to use a broader set of skills such as the ability to communicate effectively across cultures, departments, and with external constituencies.

“Employers are generally frustrated with their inability to find ‘360 degree college graduates’, essentially those people who have both the specific job/technical skills and the broader skills of strong written and oral commu-nication and problem-solving skills, work ethic, and ability to work with others. All skills necessary to promise success for both the individual and the employer.”

A liberal arts education provides students with a richer knowledge base of human cultures and the physical and natural worlds, ethical reasoning, leadership and team abilities, intellectual and practical skills, personal and social reasonability, as well as integrative and applied learning. In an economy fueled by innovation, the capabilities developed through a liberal education have become America’s most valuable economic asset.

A college education alone is not enough. A liberal arts education prepares students to succeed and lead in creative and innovative environments, work successfully with colleagues from different cultures locally, regionally, and globally.

Value of a Liberal Arts Education

The Seven Centers of Excellence Preparing students to become ethical and educated leaders by integrating faith and service into learning is the pil-lar Hiwassee College is built upon.

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NAMING OPPORTUNITIESLearn more about the new opportu-nities available to make tangible influ-ences at Hiwassee College.

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Letter from the PresidentIt is my privilege to welcome you to the Hiwassee College Spring 2017 magazine! This is a time of great progress and success here at Hiwassee College! We have had many partners, great leadership by so many individuals, and in this magazine, you will see and read about the many transformations taking place in our student success, academic programming, and facility renovations. On April 21, at 11:00 a.m. during a special press conference the Hiwassee College Board of Trustees, representatives from the United States Department of Agriculture and I announced a $7.7M funding award to Hiwassee College. As the recipient of a Community Facili-ties Direct Loan and Guaranteed Loan, Hiwassee College will begin renovation of a dormitory and the campus library early this summer. This award has provided Hiwassee College the opportunity to create a

high technology teaching and learning facility replacing our traditional stacks facility, which was constructed in 1955. The transformation of the old dormitory into a contemporary living and learning community will enhance the entire student experience through placing them in close living proximity to those with the same major. This has been a highly successful experience on many campuses and we will continually assess the effectiveness of this type of learning and adapt to the changing learning styles of our students. We also unveiled our new Seven Centers of Excellence. Hiwassee College continues to strive for excellence through the quality of education our students receive on their educational journeys. We work thoughtfully and strategically to make sure our students can compete in a global society, and be proud to say they have a Hiwas-see College degree. Our faculty work hard to prepare the students to become ethical and educated leaders who enter the market place ready to make substantial and meaningful contributions to the communities in which they live, their chosen career, and their families. Our Seven Centers of Excellence will enable Hiwassee students to thrive through a process of transformational learning in critical academic disciplines, which is the hallmark of our Centers. The Centers will provide practical training in leadership, ethics, research, career development, best practices and athletics that lead graduates to a competitive advantage. Hiwassee is committed to developing students to be the best that they can be through learning, faith, and service. This is what makes Hiwassee College the right place to be and where every student can be a leader. You will read on the following pages about each of our Seven Centers of Excellence! Key to the Hiwassee College Executive Team, we welcome the appointmernt of three new Vice Presidents, Dr. Jason Leonard the Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Eppechal T. Smalls the Vice President for Institution-al Advancement, Mr. Richard Beaubien the Vice President for Enrollment Management. The new team members are featured on the next page. Our doors are open to you as always. I welcome your ideas, your enthusiasm, and your support. We are very grateful for all those who have been so generous with their time, talent, experience, and knowledge. The result is tremendous positivity. Come to campus and let us share our successes with you!

Sincerely,

Robin J. Tricoli, Ph.D.President Hiwassee College

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APPOINTMENTSRECENT VICE-PRESIDENT

Eppechal T. Smalls, Ed.D.Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Richard Beaubien Vice President for Enrollment Management

Jason Leonard, Ph.D.Vice President for Academic Affairs

Georgia State UniversityDegree: Bachelor of Arts, Field of Study: German Language and Literature

Georgia State UniversityDegree: Master of ScienceField of Study: Applied Linguistics

Activities and Societies: Phi Theta Kappa, Golden Key Honor Society

Claflin UniversityDegree: Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education

South Carolina State University: Further research and Masters studies in Elementary Education

University of PhoenixDegree: Masters of Arts in Organizational Management

The Union Institute & University of Cincinnati Degree: Educational Doctorate in Higher Educational Leadership

Certificate: Certified Fundraising Manager, The Indiana University School on Philanthropy.

Central Connecticut State UniversityDegree: Bachelor of ScienceField of Study: Biology

The University of Tennessee Degree: Doctor of PhilosophyField of Study: Ecology/Evolutionary Biology

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RIBBON CUTTING

AROUNDCAMPUS

On Wednesday, May 3, students poured into the Hiwassee Performing Arts Cen-ter for the final public program of the semester: Honors Day. Students, faculty and staff were presented with a plethora of awards celebrating their achievements. The awards included: Theatre, Equine, Business, Political Science, Dental Hygiene’s First-Year Achievement, Rudy Youell Athletic Award, Scholastic Athlete, Chris-tian Service, Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities, outstand-ing Leadership, Hiwassee Heisman of the Year, Excellence in Student Centered Service award, J. H. Brunner Awards, the Distinguished Faculty Member, Mr. and Ms. Hiwassee, the Sidney Gilbreath Citizenship Award, and the Hardwick-John-ston Award.

HONORS DAY

STEP INTO SPRING“Busy as a bee” does not even describe the amount of work that has gone into yet another successful Step Into Spring. This brunch and fashion show has been a staple for thirteen years and has raised over $100,000 dollars for campus beautification. This event has funded projects such as purchasing maroon tables and benches, lighting around the Quad, knock out roses planted at the Barker Learning Center, shrubs at the Rymer Student Center, a granite sculpture in memory of Barbara Arwood in the lobby of the Barker Learning Center and much more. The committee in-cluded Beth Scruggs, Carolynn Greenwood, Cassandra Anderson, Blaina Best, Renea LaRue, Rosemary Cheek, Tammy Bonnough and Ernestine Lucas.

SHAKESPEARE ON THE QUADOn April 27-29, the Hiwassee College Theatre Department performed its final performance of the semester: Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. Though dark clouds and thunderstorms threatened the outside performances, the cast and audi-ence were blessed with gorgeous spring weather. The production, directed by Micah Montague, was an enjoyable performance as the actors interacted with the audience giving a true sense of realism for the Shakespearean production. This timeless classic featuring graduating seniors Jeffrey Benson, Ryan Cooper, Haylee Kennedy, Aman-da Hatfield, and Kent Futrell. Also, making an appearance was Assistant Professor of Chemistry Dr. Christina Hillesheim. This comedy was performed on the Hiwas-see quad incorporating the iconic bell tower within the play.

Though the spring is by far the busiest time on campus, we at Hiwassee College enjoy hosting guests in the winter too. Just ten days after classes be-gan in January, the Dental Hygiene Program celebrated a massive expansion to the campus clinic in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Sheild of Tennes-see. This expansion enables Hiwassee College’s Dental Hygiene Program to double class sizes, and double the number of patients students can serve.

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USDA Rural Development Acting State Director Harriet Cannon along with Hiwassee College President, Dr. Robin J. Tricoli, announced a $7.7M funding partnership with Hi-wassee College. Hiwassee College wishes to thank Congressman Fleis-chmann, Hiwassee College’s congressional representative, for his support of the USDA loan and our continued efforts to secure federal grants. We also appreciate Congressman Duncan’s long time support of Hiwassee College. Hiwassee College is a campus of 400 rolling acres of heavily forested land used for student research, natural spring water and Bat Creek flows through the middle of the campus, the Equine Center and athletic facilities are focal points. The College partners with local interests, and the campus is often used for many community events. “We are excited about Rural Develop-ment’s role in the renovations that will take place at Hiwas-see College, “ Cannon said. “This award provides the funds

“...this is as an extraordinary leap in moving Hiwassee College forward in serving our students

and our community.”

library early this summer. “This award has provided Hiwas-see College the opportunity to create a high technology teaching and learning facility replacing our traditional stacks facility which was constructed in 1955.” According to Tricoli, “the transformation of the old dormitory into a contemporary living and learning community will enhance the entire student experience through placing them in close living proximity to

those with the same major. This has been a highly successful experience on many campuses and we will continually assess the effectiveness of this type of learning and adapt to the changing learning styles of our students.” “The Board of Trustees and I see this is an extraordinary leap in moving Hiwassee College forward in serving our students and our community. Success such as this does not come about without the collective support and leadership of many and we are encouraged about the future for our students today and those who will be joining us this fall.” The USDA loan gives Hiwassee College the opportunity to secure future growth and sustainability for many years to come.

Hiwassee College Receives 7.7 Million Dollar USDA Loan

necessary to assist the college in providing their students with a state-of-the-art environment for teaching, living, and learning.”As the recipient of a Commu-nity Facilities Direct Loan and Guaranteed Loan, Hiwassee College will begin renovation of a dormitory and the campus

-Dr. Robin J. Tricoli, College President

Plans for Hardwick-Johnston Library

Plans for Brock Hall

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COMMEN CEMENT 20 17

On May 12, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. Hiwassee College hosted the 2017 Commencement festivities. It was a beautiful day full of nostalgia as students reflected on their years on campus. To be-gin, faculty and staff met students for breakfast served at the Buckner Chapel Pavilion. Then, as the afternoon approached, Dental Hygiene students suited up in their white lab coats for their pinning ceremony. Finally, the time arrived; students lined up, marched in, and received their degrees. Congratulations to the Hiwassee College Class of 2017!

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COMMEN CEMENT 20 17

SPOTLIGHTAlumni

DREY TIPTON 16’ Hiwassee College is a place to change the future of any stu-dent. The education I received at Hiwassee College enabled me to obtain a full time job, graduate admittance, and a well-rounded future. During my years at Hiwassee College I played baseball and ran cross-country. Some of the best times were games with teammates and the victories we shared. The best mem-ory was winning the Mid-East Regional Championship. The look on Coach Gard-ner’s face was priceless. Shortly after was the experience of a World Series, which was one of the best times I’ve had with Eric Wolfe #23, Bay Wright #4, and Joshua Watson #21. Every time the song Record Year, by Eric Church, comes on, it takes me back to one of the happiest moments of my life. The small groups my friends and I assembled turned out to be the best times of my life. We shared our life experi-ences and connected

them to God’s truths. The 10-15 people who met together each week helped me to grow in my faith more than I ever expected. One of the best parts of the Hiwassee College experience is the teacher-to-student ratio. You really get all the time you need with your teachers. One of the best was Professor Pace (head of Business). She gave me all sorts of letters of recommen-dations for jobs and colleges. Lastly, Blaina Best was my mentor at Hiwassee College and showed me that the key to a future was to further your educa-

tion. These women are the reason I am at Lee University studying for a Master’s in Business Administration. Life after Hiwassee has been great! I live comfortably in Sweet-

water, Tennessee. I work 40 plus hours at Pilot Flying J and love it. Pi-lot Flying J is showing me a vision for promise in the future for myself and for others that are employed there. When I’m not at work, I am focused on my graduate work at Lee University, where small class sizes, like Hiwassee College has, improved my experi-ence. As a graduate student, I feel more than able to accomplish the work at hand after Hiwassee’s education. I return to Hiwassee College often to see my friends and coaches. I believe in the Hiwassee Dream, and feel that I am living it out day by day.

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Board of

GOVERNORS2017

Kris Loggins ‘81President

Kathy L. White ‘82At Large

Blaina Tallent Best ‘12Panel 2017

Brenda Tuck Malone ‘70President-Elect

Bethany Brady ‘12Secretary

Not pictured: Matt Byrd

From Hiwassee College, Bethany went on to receive a Master of Arts in Human Service Counseling: Executive Leadership, and now serves as the Assistant Director of Admis-sions at Shorter University. Beginning in January 2017, Bethany became the Board of Governors Secretary.

Following graduation from Hiwassee College in 1982, Kathy continued her studies at UTK in the Movement Sciences tract. She graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology/Biomechan-ics. Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia granted her final academic degree of Master of Physi-

cal Therapy in 1989. Kathy now has her private practice in the Bearden district of Knoxville. She is excited to be affiliated again with Hiwassee College and to serve on the Board of Governors.

A native of Tellico Plains, Blaina Tallent Best, transferred to Hiwassee College to complete her degree in Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts. Once at Hiwassee College, Blaina graduated with her Associate of Science Degree and Bachelor of Science Degree. She went on to Liberty University and graduated with a Masters of Arts Degree in Human Services & Executive Leadership in May of 2013. Blaina is currently the Director of Student Affairs at Hiwassee College and is also pursuing her Ph.D. in Psychology at Grand Canyon University.

After graduating from Hiwassee College in 1970, Brenda attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville (UTK) and graduated with a B.S. in Elementary Education. She later earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Tennessee Technological University. She taught school in Mobile, AL, Cleveland and Kingston, TN and retired in 2007. Her interests include quilting, volunteering at church, and serving on the Board of Governors (Alumni Association). Brenda represents the alum-ni on the Hiwassee Board of Trustees.

After graduating from Hiwassee College in 1981, Kris went on to TN Wesleyan to receive her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology/Medical Technology in 1983 and another BS in 1985 for Medical Technology. She is currently working as a Transfusion Technical Special-ist for Ortho Clinical Diagnostics.

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Hiwassee College prepares students to become ethical and educated leaders enter-ing the marketplace ready to make substantial and meaningful contributions. The Seven Centers of Excellence enable Hiwassee students to thrive through a process of transfor-mational learning in critical academic disciplines, which is the hallmark of our centers. These centers provide practical training in leadership, ethics, research, and professional development giving graduates a competitive advantage. Hiwassee College is committed to developing its students to be excellent through learning, faith and service. This makes Hiwassee College the right place to be and where every student can make a difference!

Four-year Bachelors of Science Degree Description: Leadership is an important part of student success, but as a Christian institution, Hiwassee believes incor-porating the tenets of Christianity will create spiritual advisors ready to enrich the lives of the people to which they are called to serve. Graduate schools where alumni are studying include: Bryan College, Lincoln Christian University, John-son University, Liberty University, Lee University, and Crown College. Students in the Christian Leader-ship Program enjoy internships at local churches, ministry groups and through mission trips. Career options include: Pastoral Leadership, Youth Leader, Non-profit Organizations, Execu-tive Leadership, Peace-Corps, Social Services, Mission Leadership, and Higher Education.

CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP DENTAL HYGIENE

Four-year Bachelors of Science Degree Description: Dental Hygiene is an exciting field of study that changes and progresses based on current research and trends in healthcare. Our state of the art facility houses 40 students who are receiving a top notch education. This degree is designed for stu-dents to enter directly into clinical practice, and students will have no trouble expanding their education in graduate schools. Students in the Dental Hygiene Program have received internships in various dental offices and public health organizations.

Career options include: Dental Hygienist, Research, Ad-ministrator, Advocate, Public Health Professional, Higher educa-tion, and more.

INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES

Four-year Bachelors of Arts

Degree Description: Providing a breath of knowledge is the core of every curriculum. The Interdisciplinary Studies Degree challenges students to explore the world from social, cultural, and scientific perspectives and integrate these ideas in a critical way. This program is an opportunity for stu-dents to “build a degree” that best meets their educational needs and career aspirations. Graduate schools where alumni are studying include: South College, Liberty University, Bethel Uni-versity, Lee University, University of Tennessee, Bryan College, East Tennessee State University, Mid-dle Tennessee State University, and many more. Career options include: Social Work, Government Positions, Education, Communi-cations Practitioners, Counselors, Higher Education, Human Re-sources, and more.

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7 CENTERS of

E X C E L L E N C EEQUINE TRAINGING & MANAGEMENTEQUINE SCIENCE

Four-year Bachelors of Science Degree Description: Many students find their passion working with horses. Hiwassee College dedicates itself to ensuring students can turn their passion into a career. The small class sizes and personal instruction in a variety of riding styles allow students to gain the necessary knowledge to enter the workforce directly. Our facil-ities include two barns and three different arenas which assist all students in the program to reach their career goals.

This degree is designed for direct entrance to the workplace upon graduation. Graduates may also choose to further their education in Animal Science Masters Pro-grams.

Career options include: Riding Instructor, Professional Rider, Farm/stable Manager, and Professional Trainers to name a few.

Four-year Bachelors of Science Degree Description: The Equine Science program is designed to enhance a student’s desire to work with large animals, specifically horses. Our first-rate faculty provide a hands-on ap-proach with college owned horses to develop student skills for their future careers. The program has a pre-veterinary focus, but excels at facilitating a student’s needs across multiple equine disciplines.

Currently there are several alumni attending graduate school at the Universtiy of Tennessee. Many students continue their education through veterinary school or Ani-mal Science Masters Programs.

Career options include: Veterinarian, Animal Pharmaceutical Representative, Veterinary Medical Reseach Technician, and many more.

Our students have held internships with veterinary practices, equine pharmaceutical companies, the Ag Extension Service, equine breed-ing operations, equine feed/forage companies, and many racetracks.

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The Biology Center of Ex-cellence offers a diverse back-ground in science and allows students the ability to take various courses that will help secure future career options. Students will focus primarily in areas such as Pre-Med, Pre-Vet, Pre-Physical Therapy, and Pre-Pharmacy. After degree completion, students will have a solid foundation and be ade-quately prepared to enter gradu-ate school or the workforce. After years of research the Hiwassee College recruiters identified biology, specifically pre-professional areas, as degree program often cited by prospec-tive students. With the addition of the four-year Bachelor’s of Science in Biology Hiwassee College, and the community, can expect to see more college students for a longer time. Add-ing this major to the curriculum makes affordable education

convenient for students and en-ables alumni to have a smooth transition into any job or gradu-ate program. Through this program stu-dents can expect to learn how to effectively communicate scien-tific principles verbally, in print, and in electronic formats. Stu-dents will acquire the skills for proper laboratory techniques, safety, and the usage of basic laboratory equipment. Likewise, students will learn to identify and use scientific methodology through designing and conduct-ing experiments. Last, but not least, students will be able to identify, synthesize, and critical-ly analyze information from the scientific literature. These practical skills will prepare Biology students for in-ternships with Hospitals, Phys-ical Therapy Facilities, Medical Offices, Athletic Trainers, Vet-

“Adding this major to the curriculum makes affordable education

convenient for students and enables

alumni to have a smooth transition into any job or graduate

program.”

erinary Offices, and even Phar-macies. Which, in today’s fast paced and hands on learning enviroment, can be one of the most influential and valuable ex-periences of a student’s college career as graduation draws near. Experiencing the practical knowledge in the classroom and in the field as an intern can influence a students area of concentration which can lead to careers such as Medical Doc-tor (After Graduate School), Pharmacist, Physical-Therapist, Veterinarian, Pharmaceutical sales, Lab Technician, Hospital Worker, Entry Level Chemist and much more.

BIOLOGY

-Dr. Jason LeonardVice-President for Academic Affairs

7 CENTERS of

E X C E L L E N C E

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BUSINESSence. It is designed to be com-pleted in four years. Students are expected to follow a specific curriculum which enriches their overall Hiwassee College experience, while allowing them to choose electives that expands their overall knowledge. Graduates of Hiwassee College are equipped to contin-ue their education, by entering Masters of Business Admin-istration (MBA) programs, or to enter directly into the work-force. Business owners and their companies will benefit from employing Hiwassee College graduates. The BSBA will en-hance an employee’s credibility in the financial, investment and venture fields. After graduating with a BSBA from Hiwassee College students are equipped for ca-reers such as Accounting, Con-sulting, Finance, Real Estate, Management, Entrepreneur-ship, Non-Profit, Operations Management, Product Manage-ment Commercial Banking, Corporate Finance, Financial Planning, Hedge Funds, Gen-eral Management, Strategic Planning, Marketing, Retailing, Insurance, Investment Banking, Money Management, Private Equity, Human Resources, Advertising & PR, Market Research, Education and many more.

“Our mission is to make today’s

graduates, tomorrow’s

global leaders.”

ates, tomorrow’s global leaders.” The BSBA provides knowl-edge of essential business skills preparing students to handle tasks such as accounting, nego-tiation, and creating a business plan. It improves their ability to analyze data, equips them with practical skills to make financial decisions, and make better pre-dictions about the future. This specific business classes achieve these goals such as man-agement, marketing, accounting, and finance with a strong base in mathematics and computer sci-

The Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) was developed to pro-vide students a solid, yet versa-tile degree upon completion. The mission of the Busi-ness Administration Center of Excellence is to “provide a life-changing educational expe-rience built on a foundation of business ethics based on honesty and Christian integrity. This experience will foster an attitude of success, use unique cutting edge business strategies, and provide the knowledge to run a business effectively. Our mis-sion is to make today’s gradu-

-Exerpt of the mission developed by the

Marketing Class Fall 2015

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MOLLY CHICOINE “Originally I am from Naperville, Illinois, just outside Chicago then relocated to the Tennessee Walking Horse Capital in Shelbyville. I used to think Shelbyville was a small town until moving to Hiwassee College in Madisonville. In Shelbyville, I was accustomed to several stores, at least half a dozen Mexican cuisine restaurants, a movie the-atre, and Calsonic Arena where the famous Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration is held. Aside from all the hustle and bustle, Shelbyville also hosts as a landmark for horse barns, favoring in Ten-nessee Walking Horses (TWH) which could easily be interpreted as ‘influencing my passions.’ As a senior at Hiwassee College I think back to what peeked my interest and it was during a high school college fair night. When approached by a young lady, whom you all know as Blaina Best. Im-mediately knew what I was interested in: horses. ‘You can board your horse on campus’ is what made me sign-up to be a part of the Hiwassee

JOHNATHAN DICKSON “Two years ago, a teacher asked me where I envisioned myself going for post-secondary education. At the time, I had a couple choices and Hiwassee College was not even on the list. But that’s the funny part about God; He has this tendency to send us to places we would not fathom for ourselves, to con-tinue molding us into the person he wants us to be. Originally, I came to Hiwassee College to pursue soccer. The team was fresh, and I was bound to get some play time; thus, I knew I could come here and develop into a better player. Soccer, soccer, soccer, that’s all I had on my mind when I first arrived. However, I was so consumed by this passion for soccer I was ignorant to God’s plans for my time here at Hiwassee College. Since my freshman year, I have been involved in the organization Young Life. Through this organization I have grown greatly in my faith. God has shown me in depth what it looks like to be selfless, what is looks like to step out of comfort zones so I can more abundantly experience his love, and he has also taught me how to rely on his strength over mine. I am currently a sophomore at the Hiwassee College, where I work with Student Affairs as the student life coordinator. I love this job! It allows me to

experience life with my peers and in these interactions I see God’s love more clearly through authentic laughs and genuine conversations with my friends. In a lot of ways, Student Life reminds me of Young Life which is just icing on the cake! All in all, my time here at Hiwassee has been a blessing – from life lessons, like making sure to always have quarters for laundry, to the heart-to-heart conversations I have had with my close group of mentors.”

family. Since joining, I have become a member of many organizations and clubs: Future Farmers of America, Phi Theta Kappa, and Student Government Association. I am also involved with the Hiwassee College Theatre Department and Student Veterans Organization. My involvement with most of these have been just member status until recently, I have taken on various officer positions with FFA and Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) and sec-retary with the Student Government Association (SGA). Through the Theatre Department I was part of the productions such as Antigone, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, and Broadway to Buckner, as the light and sound tech-nician, assistant stage manager, and stage manager.”

STUDENTS T O R I E S

STUDENTA F F A I R S

It has been a very busy year already and the fun will only continue! In addition to offering career, health, and counseling services, as well as oversee-ing judicial affairs and residential halls, students have been given the opportu-nity to participate in many student life activities and volunteer engagements through the Office of Student Affairs. Some of the most popular student life activities this year have been Bonfires, Giant Water Pong, Late Night Break-fast, the Semicolon Project, decorating Valentine’s Day cards for the local nursing home, Lip Sync Battle, and Midterm Pancake Madness. Without the leadership from the Student Life Coordinator, Johnathan Dickson, the Director of Tom Black Hall, Jeff Hall, and the Resident Assistants, students would not have the privilege to have over 100 student life and RA events on campus each year Not only do our students at HC know how to have fun, they also know how to give back. With a total of 311.25 hours (and counting) of vol-unteer work, our students have a soft spot for helping those in need. We are proud to have our students spending their free time volunteering for disaster

“With a total of 311.25 hours (and

counting) of volunteer work,

our students have a soft spot for

helping those in need.”

-Blaina Tallent BestDirector of Student Affairs

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relief after the Athens, TN tornado devastated local families, helping out at the local Boys & Girls Club, and serving on campus in beautification efforts. Nothing speaks more about our students than their willingness to serve others. When it comes to serving, the HC Student Government Association (SGA) has done an outstanding job at helping keep the clubs and orga-nizations active on campus, as well as giving back to both the campus and local community. Many do not see all of the hard work that goes into being an elected representative of the stu-dent body, but our representatives are proud to be a part of an organization that goes above and beyond for our students. In the fall, SGA hosted a Trunk-or Treat event (in cooperation with FFA’s Haunted Trail and the Business Department) to bring the community on campus for Halloween festivities that our students could also enjoy. Additionally, SGA partnered with the local Kiwanis Club to donate over $200 in Christmas gifts to be given to the children of underprivi-leged families in our community. In the spring, SGA has added more paw prints on the road leading to campus and donated additional hammocks to hang around our gorgeous campus. So... stay tuned, the Office of Student Affairs is always positively contributing to the student experience here at HC and you don’t want to miss it!

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Greetings: I welcome the opportunity to serve you! Hiwassee College has a long legacy and rich history of providing quality education to youth seeking opportunities to change the world. I know this because of all of the success stories I have heard from day one of my arrival. I am honored to serve as the new Vice President for Institutional Advancement and will serve you well. I look forward to working with the Alumni Board of Governors, alumni chapters, faculty, staff, students, and “you” as we continue to garner support to uphold the mission and vision of the Hiwassee College legacy. As we move forward, there are three areas of focus as we look to continue to build a culture of philanthropy; alumni support, annual fund support, and major gift support.

Alumni Support

Alumni support is very important as we continue to build the culture of philanthropy here at Hiwas-see College. This year during the commencement ceremony, we had for the first time in history, 100% giving from the graduating class. Everyone in the graduating class is accounted for as giving a financial contribution as new alumni. This is truly amazing! It was Mrs. Kris Loggins ‘81 goal as your Board of Governors President, to create the first class of graduating seniors to have a 100% participation in giv-ing to Hiwassee College as alumni. She paid it forward with the hopes that the graduates will continue to support Hiwassee College financially. This begins the process of paving the road for increasing our alumni giving percentage and creating a culture of philanthropy. As we make the case to increase our alumni giving percentage, I want to say thank you to all alumni who are investing in our mission. It is important that we increase alumni giving to meet the educational needs of our students and assist them with financial support. With alumni contributions, we can also maintain the structure and beauty of our campus, assist with funding for faculty and staff development, and provide assistance for our Athletic programs. In order to maintain our level of success, I ask that you work with me to increase the alumni giving percentage to 34%, which would be an increase to over 4,000 alumni making a financial commitment. This significant increase in alumni giving would boost the annual budget of the College significantly. Also having an alumni giving percentage of 34% gives us leverage to secure increased financial support from other external organizations. If you are a graduate from Hiwassee College and are reading this message, and have not made your financial commitment, please make your contribution today. Every contribution helps us get a step closer to fulfilling the mission and vision of Hiwassee College. Thank you in advance. Annual Fund Support

Over the years, it has become apparent that there is a greater need than ever before for organiza-tions in higher education to have a strong and secure annual fund program. A successful annual fund program sets the foundation for all other giving programs. With a successful annual giving program, Hiwassee College can provide a steady flow of income for programs, services, and activities. Without a strong annual fund program, the College cannot meet the needs of the students. It is imperative that we build our annual giving program, and I need your support. We must establish a comprehensive annual fund program to successfully maintain a healthy fund-raising foundation and to set the tone for future major gift contributions to our institution. In the past,

Letter from the Vice-President for INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

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Hiwassee College’s Annual Fund program has maintained an average of a little over $200,000 for annual fund gifts. This amount barely gives us leverage to have a healthy budget. In working with the President Dr. Robin J. Tricoli and the Vice President for Business Affairs, Mr. David Watts ’84, it is recommended that we increase the annual fund contribution total to $500,000. This is a $300,000 increase, that will allow the College to have more financial stability for spending, and ensure more student needs are met. Annual fund gifts can be restricted or unrestricted. Restricted gifts are contributions directed towards a specific cause such as scholarships, campus beautification, or athletics. Unrestricted gifts are gifts that can be used towards any cause at the President’s discretion. Although restricted gifts are good, our students benefit more from unrestricted funds. Our goal is to raise $300,000 in unrestricted funding that can be used for the greatest need for fiscal year 2017-2018. Please support the annual fund with an unrestricted gift.

Major Gift Support Securing major gift support is critical to the success of Hiwassee College. These gifts are used for scholarship money for students and for capital projects. As we look to increase enrollment and build upon our Seven Centers of Excellence, there is a great need to renovate and build new facilities, update our web infrastructure, and hire new faculty and staff. We can only do this through the investments of major gifts. A major gift for Hiwassee college is $100,000 and above. Listed in the magazine, you will find the new “Gift Naming Opportunities” supporting Hiwassee Colleges educational mission. This is an itemized list of the financial support needed. We can only provide these opportunities through gifts of $100,000 and above. Our goal is to find individuals who can support these needs. The gift naming opportunities can be fulfilled through alumni or external organization. Major gift contributions may also come in the form of a planned/estate gifts such as gifts of life insur-ance, stock, trust, or land may be given. We will sell the properties, and the worth at the time of donation is for which the donor gets credit. I need your support, if there is an opportunity for you to support with a named gift opportunity or if you know of someone looking for an opportunity to invest, please contact me. You will also receive soft credit/recognition for helping to secure a major gift.

Fiscal Year End Appeal As we close out the 2016 – 2017 fiscal year, I am asking for your financial commitment in supporting Hiwassee College and the Seven Centers of Excellence. Please make your contribution to Hiwassee Col-lege today. Remember that every gift is greatly appreciated, but we ask you to give a contribution from your heart that will assist the College in meeting the needs of our students. Please feel free to contact me at 423-420-1245 or smallsep@hiwassee.edu to discuss ways and options of supporting Hiwassee College. The Hiwassee College students need your support; please show them you care by investing in their educational career, an envelope is enclosed in the magazine.

Thank you in advance for your support,

Eppechal T. Smalls, Ed.D.Vice President for Institutional Advancement Hiwassee College

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Through these select naming opportunities, your gift to support Hiwassee College’s educational mission will have a tangible impact on the outcome of our students as they seek to further their educations through our Seven Centers of Excellence.

Professorship $2.5 million and above

Associate Professorship $1 millionStudent Scholarships in Biology, Dental Hygiene, Equine Science, and Equine Management $250,000 and above Student Scholarships in Business, Christian Leadership, and Interdisciplinary Studies $250,000 and aboveStudent Scholarships (Athletics) $250,000 and above Student Internship Funding $100,000Student Financial Aid $100,000

FACULTY AND STUDENTSGift Naming Opportunities

(Endowed || Current-use minimums)

GIFT NAMING OPPORTUNITIES

Research Core for Biology, Dental Hygiene, Equine Science, and Equine Management $5 million and above

Research Core for Business, Christian Leadership, and Interdisciplinary Studies $1 million and aboveLeadership Funds for Department Chair or Dean $100,000 and aboveStudent Scholarships in Business, Christian Leadership, and Interdisciplinary Studies $250,000 and above

PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVESGift Naming Opportunities

Buildings, Labs, and Other Iconic Spaces

CAMPUS TRANSFORMATION/BEAUTIFICATION Gift Naming Opportunities

Buildings - (80% of the cost and 20% for the endowment) Labs - $2.5 million Lobby Area - $1.5 millionClassrooms - $1 millionDorm Room - $750,000 Fountain $500,000Monument or Sculpture $300,000 and above

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Year(s) You Attended Hiwassee College: _________________Graduation Year: _________ Major(s): __________________ Are you Married? Yes | No Did your spouse attend Hiwassee? Yes | No What year(s)? ___________

Alumni Information UpdateFirst Name:____________________ MI:_____ Last Name:_______________________

Maiden Name: ________________________ Nic Name: _______________________Date of Birth: _____/_____/__________Cell Phone: (_______) _______ - ____________

Address: _______________________________ _______________________Street City

____________________ _______________State Zip Code

Preferred Email: ___________________________________@____________________

** Please detach the form below, fill it out, and simply mail it in the envelope provide in this magazine. If you wish to mail it sepa-rately send it to Hiwassee College, Office of Institutional Advancement at 225 Hiwassee College Drive Madisonville, TN 37354.

Work Phone: (_______) _______ - ____________Home Phone: (_______) _______ - ____________

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TIGER

T R A C K SMen’s Basketbal l Make His tory

Hiwassee College men’s basketball team traveled to Indiana ear-lier this year to compete in the National Chris-tian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Division 1 National Tournament for the first time since becoming a four-year college. The Tigers came out ready to prove them-selves as the number 1 seed and to secure the road to the national tournament. At half-time, Hiwassee led 32-24 and held Morthland to 26% shooting in the first 20 minutes. They scored in double digits to seal the win, beating Morthland College in the Mideast Regional

Championship Saturday. With 15 minutes to go in the second half, Kevis Jackson and Tevin Henry scored two back to back baskets sending the Tigers on a 10-0 run. Hiwassee never looked back as the final buzzer sounded and the men’s basketball team won 82-64. Winning this game broke the record number of wins in school history since joining the NCCAA. When asked how it felt to win his first regional tournament and get his first bid to the national tournament, Coach Raby stated, “This regional champi-onship is special to me. We started this journey

4 years ago and built it from the ground up. I have always looked up to see the banners in the rafters that Coach Jenkins, Coach Watson and Coach Hughes put up there. It feels pretty special to add one more to the collection.”

“I have always looked up to see

the banners in the rafters that Coach

Jenkins, Coach Watson and

Coach Hughes put up there. It feels pretty special to add one more to

the collection.” -Will Raby

Men’s Basketball Head Coach

The men’s basketball team had the best record in the Mid-East Region while being in the top ten in the nation in scoring multiple weeks in a row. Raby is in his third year as head coach for the Tigers and has qualified for post season and played in the Mid-East Regional Championship every year. “This group has stayed together all season long,” said Coach Will Raby. “We don’t have one standout player; but we have a group of standout players. We usually have four or five student-athletes score in double digits each game.” Ben Snider had 14 points and 6 steals. Daniel Graves put up 13 points while Kev-is Jackson, Tevin Henry and Aario Johnson all scored 10 points. Kevis Jackson also grabbed 13 rebounds while Henry had 9 rebounds. Marius Williams had 6 assists and Ben Snider had 6 steals on the evening.

Hiwassee Tigers Head Coach Will Raby was honored as the Mideast Region Coach of the Year. This is Raby’s third year as head coach and he has made it to the post season every year. Raby has competed twice now for the Mideast Re-gion Championship. Raby has built a foundation over a three year period at Hiwassee College. “Preparation started exactly three years ago when I brought my recruits in and have kept them here,” stated Coach Raby. “Having the stability and keeping players in the program has really been the key. What made this year special was that every single player bought in to what we were trying to accomplish and that ultimately led to winning a championship. Having a group of guys that were hungry and played every game so hard made it easy for me as a coach. I told

WILL RABY EARNS NCCAA MIDEAST COACH OF THE YEAR

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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL GARNERS NATIONAL AND MIDEASTREGION AWARDS

#TIGERTALES

The Hiwassee College women’s basketball team had three players earn awards in the NCCAA. Ny’Asia Holmes was named Mideast Region First-Team and an NCCAA All-American candidate. Halei LeQuire was named to the Mideast Region Second-Team while being awarded as an NCCAA Scholar-Athlete as well. Kend-ra King also joins the NCCAA Scholar-Athlete Team. A junior from Macon, Georgia, Ny’Asia Holmes put up big numbers in her first year as a Tiger. She averaged a team high 13 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. She averaged double figures in all but 5 games. Holmes was 8th in the nation and led the Mideast Region in rebounds per game. Halei LeQuire, from Bledsoe, Tennessee, averaged 10 points a game and 4.8 rebounds per game as a guard. LeQuire shot 46% from 3 point range. The senior is 2nd in the nation and led the Mid-East Region in 3 point field goal percentage. LeQuire was also a NCCAA Scholar-Athlete. Sophomore Kendra King from LaFollette, Tennessee joined the NCCAA National Scholar-Athlete Team with a 3.9 GPA. King also made the President’s List while playing women’s basketball at Hiwassee College.

Senior, Halei LeQuire led the Hiwassee Lady Tigers to a record-breaking year as cap-tain of the team. The Lady Tigers finished the year with an 18-5 record and received votes for Top Ten in the Nation multiple weeks this season. During her freshman year,LeQuire was the top scoring freshman in the country. LeQuire led the Mideast Region in 3 point percentage all four years. She garnered several awards throughout her four years as a Lady Tiger including All-Region First Team (2015-2016) and All-Region Second Team (2016-2017). LeQuire also was an NCCAA All-American Candidate and received the honor of NCCAA player of the week. Totaling 1,604 points in four years, Halei LeQuire was an outstanding basket-ball player. She also grabbed 587 rebounds and was in the top 10 in the country for 3 point percentage all four years as a Tiger. Halei is graduating with a 3.9 GPA and received the honor of becoming an NCCAA-Scholar Athlete. LeQuire is the all time leading scorer at Hiwassee College.

each team the past three years stick with me we will win. I have been blessed with a great group of guys.” Raby will return 11 out of his 14 Elite Eight team into next season. Both he and the team are ready to pre-pare for another Mideast Region Championship and the National Championship Run.

Three seniors put forth their time and effort for several years for the Lady Tigers Softball team. Angie Pollock, Amanda Hatfield, and Morgon Barnard were honored for Hiwassee this past weekend as they were celebrated on Senior Day. Amanda Hatfield (left), from Lenior City, Tennessee as been in the outfield for the Lady Tigers for two years. Hatfield plans to work for the Loudon County Police Department after graduation. Amanda is the daughter of Michael Hatfield and Jennifer Stiegler.

Softball Honors Three Seniors

Angie Pollock (pictured middle) is from Mayfield, Kentucky and has been a pitcher for the Tigers throughout the last three years. “Thank y’all for making my final year of Hiwassee the most memorable,” stated Pollock. Angie is the daughter of Darryl and Tracey Pollock Morgon Barnard (pictured right) is from Knoxville, Ten-nessee and played softball for Hiwassee throughout her college career. Barnard has played catcher a and outfield for the Lady Tigers. Since she was little, Barnard’s father influ-enced and supported her to play softball. Head Coach Ethan Carroll made a statement about these three seniors. “These seniors have withstood a lot of adversity and hard times, and they were able to overcome that and finish their careers strong. I am very proud of them and their hard work and leadership! I appreciate everything they have done for this program, team, and for me. I have nothing but respect and admiration for all of them and wish them the best in their futures and throughout their lives. They laid the foundation for future Lady Tigers and I will be forever grate-ful!”

Shooting TeamThis year was filled with excitement for the Hiwassee College Skeet and Trap Team as the Tigers traveled from the east coast to San Antonio, Texas competing against major Universities. The Tigers competed at the highest level against shooters from the Universi-ty of Tennessee and the University of Alabama. The Hiwassee College Shooting Team has raised over $12,000 for our endowment and brought home three top three finishes. Earlier this year while in Winchester, Tennessee Jessica Pearson won first place in the women’s division and Jeffery Benson won second place in the men’s competition. Sarah Goodman won third place at a

shoot in Benton, Tennessee. Jessica Pearson also finished Fifth overall in B class as the top overall Women’s Trap Shooter at the national competition in San Antonio Texas. These students have been a blast to be around as each of them have strong GPAs and an even better heart,” said shooting coach, Eric Best.

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TIGER

T R A C K SBaseball Returns to NCCAA National Championship

After a loss to Blue-field College the Hiwas-see College Tigers base-ball team prepared to hang up their uniforms for the season when they received an at-large bid. The Tigers will make a second 320-mile trip to Mason, Ohio for the 2017 National Christian College Athletic Associ-ation (NCCAA) World Series! The Tigers (30-18) are ranked in the top 10 NCCAA National Poll and ended the sea-son at #9. Head Coach Shane Gardner said, “It was tough, we had a very good season, but we left some wins off the board so I wasn’t sure if we would get the call.” The call came through and the Ti-gers had been awarded an at-large bid to the World Series. This would be their second in program history and its third straight 30-win season (30 in 2017 *and counting, 34 in 2016, and 30 in 2015). Coach Gardner “This program has worked hard to get to

this point. Our players that came before set the foundation and our cur-rent players are building on that foundation. I am just honored to be their coach and to see them grow as men on and off the field. My Assistant Coach Bryan Woodlief has been outstanding. He goes above and beyond and I am so thankful for him!” said Gardner. The NCCAA World Series is in Mason, Ohio at Prasco Park. The tournament will be pool play with 10 teams. Each team plays 4 games with the top 2 teams in each pool ad-vancing to the semi-fi-nals. The Tigers are the 10th seed and will open play on Wednes-

day. In Pool B with the Tigers are Emmanuel College (NCAA D2), Southwestern Chris-tian College (NAIA), Bethesda Univ. (NAIA), and Oakland City University (NCAA D2). The Tigers played three of the ten World Series participates during the regular season. “We are excited to be going back to Ma-son, Ohio. That is our goal each year, play well enough to get to the NCCAA Cham-pionship Round. We competed last year in all four games so we have been there, I believe that will help calm any nerves we might have. We are young with only 3 seniors so hopefully playing there last year and going back with experience helps. I’m

“That is our goal each year, play well enough to

get to the NCCAA

Championship Round.”

-Shane GardnerMen’s Baseball

Head Coach

excited for the challenge and I know our players are too!” stated Gardner. For continual updates follow the Hiwassee Col-lege Tigers on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and on the Tigers website at HiwasseeTigers.com.

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After graduating high school at age 15, Doris (Collier) Trent left rural Virginia for Hiwassee College. While at Hiwassee College Doris learned to jitterbug and how to be an excellent teacher. Little did she know, God had brought her future husband to Hiwassee College too. Cable Trent, form Independence, Virginia was called to become a Methodist preacher, and was serving from a church just down the road in Etowah, Tennessee. After just two years, Doris graduated from Hiwassee College with an associated degree and went back home to teach in Virginia while Cable remained in Tennessee. Though distance could have ended this young love, Cable continued to pursue Doris and in 1948 they married. After a thirty-year long career as a teacher Doris earned a second degree from the Uni-versity of Tennessee in Knoxville. Cable continued to serve within the Methodist Church for the next 65 years. This couple was a true embodiment of what it is to serve Christ by serving others. Even until their last days together this couple radiated the love and dedication of Christ. Reverend Andrew Ferguson served as a communication channel between the couple. While in the nursing home together, it became difficult for Doris to hear Cable, so when Rev. Ferguson would visit, Cable would ask him to convey phrases to Doris such as I love you and you are my love and my joy. This pattern was repeated until their last days togeth-er. In his remembrance of Doris, Rev. Ferguson had this to say: “…. It occurred to me that what I was doing for Cable and Doris was, in fact, the work of the Church. We, the peo-ple of God’s Church, hear the whispered voice of God speaking to the world….’God says to this troubled world, “I love you…you are my love and my joy…you are my child, my beloved.’” Through these visits and conversations between Cable and Doris, God revealed compassion and the importance of speaking love to the world. Cable Trent passed away in January of 2017, and just a month later his beloved wife, Doris Trent, followed suit. To say this world has been enriched by Doris and Cable Trent is certainly an understatement. Though they have no children their legacy will certainly live on through the lives they have touched through their ministry, and will continue to influence and inspire students at Hiwassee College.

Doris & Cable Trent

Jamacio ( Jam) Kimble transfered to Hiwassee College in 2016 for the new Business Degree program and to join the Tigers Baseball team. On March 1, Jam left work to attend church on the eve of his anniversary with Kayla, his girlfriend. Jam had been planning to propose for months and he coor-dinated with his future enlaws. This would be the perfect evening. Everything was set at their church; the choir would sing, roses were at the alter, and her sister had gotten the ring from Jam earlier that day. After work, Jam rushed to campus to change in preparation for this monumen-tal event. Minutes later, on his way to church, Jam felt the tires of the car sliding, he overcorrected and his car slid across the road, throwing him into the ditch. When Jam awoke, he saw a part of a powerpole in the passenger seat. He crawled into the back seat where he found a baseball bat he had been meaning to take to his room at

Jamacio & Kayla

Tom Black Hall. After knocking out the back window, Jam was met by the paramedics and rushed to the hospital. As Kayla walked to the door to leave for church she recieved the call explaining Jam’s wreck, then went to meet him at the hospital. Thankfully, Jam walked away from the crash with a few scrapes and bruises, and at the hosptial he chose to continue with his proposal. “I could have died not asking [her to marry me], so while I have breath, I’m going to ask that,” he said. It was truly the hand of God keeping Jam safe that evening and we are excited to see the couple get married after grad-uating next spring.

Love andLEGACY

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Hiwassee College Advancement Office225 Hiwassee College DriveMadisonville, TN 37354

NON PROFIT ORG.US POSTAGE

PAIDKNOXVILLE, TNPERMIT #475

“This is the first time in memory that the theatre

department has performed a full-length

Shakespeare production in the college courtyard,”

-Micah Montague, Director