One of the greatest parts of my Lees-McRae College experience has been the opportunity to take pictures for the college. Due to this, I was given an opportunity to do something absolutely incredible. Thanks to Nina Fischesser, I was able to go photograph the mascot of Lees-McRae College: the Bobcat.

Below is one of the many photos I took of the magnificent bobcat. Unfortunately, I am still trying to edit through the rest of them, but I promise more will be available to be seen soon!

To see more of my photos taken at Lees-McRae College, go to:

www.facebook.com/whoelstookmyphoto

The staff and student rock climbers at Lees-McRae College Outdoor Programs are very proud of LMC student Rick Carpenter, who just completed an American Mountain Guides Association Single Pitch Instructors Course this past weekend.  Rick has a passion for rock climbing and a love for sharing his adventures with others.  Rick is currently a member of the LMC Competition Rock Climbing Team and a Climbing Wall Manager at our indoor climbing wall.  Rick is also a student in the spring semester OAS-314 Outdoor Adventure Leadership Skills class.  This class provides Rick with the opportunity to enhance his leadership skills along with having the opportunity to be a student instructor for the OAS-105 Rock Climbing Class.

“Hi all, I’m Rick Carpenter, a senior here at Lees-McRae.  I’ve been rock climbing for 3 years and leading for 2 and a half years in the mountains ranging mostly from the local areas here around Linville Gorge to the New River Gorge in West Virginia.  Since arriving at Lees-McRae I’ve been looking for a way to become more involved with climbing from an instructional standpoint which led me to become a Climbing Wall Manager last summer along with being a student instructor for the Rock Climbing class in the Outdoor Adventure Leadership Skills class this semester. ”

“I’ve found that I feel very comfortable in a teaching position, but I wanted to take it to the next level which led me to take a course through the American Mountain Guides Association to become a Single Pitch Rock Climbing Instructor.  The course took place at Looking Glass Rock and Rumbling Bald, two premier climbing destinations in the southeast.  I was tested with not only my ability to climb strong enough to lead others, but also in my ability to instruct novice climbers while managing all implicit and explicit risks involved.  This course brought out an instructor side of myself I had not yet realized was there: the opportunity to safely lead others into an outdoor setting whether it is with one student or with a large group.  I feel that this is a path that will be very rewarding.  The course I just completed is just the first step in turning rock climbing into a career.  Who knows where it will lead, but I know that it won’t be inside an office but on a mountainside somewhere thanks to the AMGA.”

Rick is one of 7 student instructors in the Outdoor Adventure Leadership Skills class for this spring semester.  Rick, along with the other student instructors are looking forward to leading one of the 3 rock climbing spring day trips planned for this April.  We all congratulate Rick on his AMGA course and are excited to encourage him to go after his goal of a career in the exciting sport of rock climbing.

Dee Thomas, Director of Outdoor Programs

A sunny morning after a windy night on the very summit of Hawksbill Mountain!

For the past two weekends students in the Advanced Wilderness Skills and the Outdoor Adventure Leadership Skills classes have been practicing the leadership and winter backpacking skills they have learned in class by participating in one of two overnight trips.  For the first trip we hiked to the summit of Hawksbill Mountain, set up tents, and enjoyed a beautiful sunset before the 45 mile an hour winds began to blow.  Cooking dinner was a challenge in the wind but the meals were a wonderful combination of pasta, hot soup, and warm tea or hot chocolate…perfect to keep everyone warm when the temps dropped to the low twenties for the night.  We lashed the tents tightly to the trees then enjoyed a star filled sky before heading into the tents for the night.  The wind gusts topped out at around 65 miles an hour at about 11 p.m.  The students were dressed warmly and each had at least 2 sleeping bags.  All of the preparations during the past weeks of class helped prepare the students to take care of themselves as well as their classmates on the trip.  Conor Westling, a student in the Outdoor Adventure Leadership class, was the Trip Leader for this adventure.  Conor came to Lees-McRae College with a vast amount of life experience as well as military training.  His class textbook, Leadership: The Outward Bound Way, as well as the discussions with other student leaders in the Outdoor Adventure Leadership Skills Class helped prepare him to plan and facilitate this very challenging winter overnight trip.

This past weekend the forecast called for cold temps and snow, so the winter overnight trip was held on the extended LMC campus at “Hidden Boulder” in order to avoid driving on the icy roads.  The icy rain began as the students hiked up the Hemlock Trail, but quickly changed to snow as the temperatures dropped.  The students had previously participated in a “snow hike” to try out their winter clothing and footwear choices as well as reading about hypothermia in their textbook, Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, about how to keep themselves warm and dry in these conditions.  Conor was once again the Trip Leader and demonstrated a compassionate and empowering leadership style as he worked with the students as they set up their tents, cooked dinner, and gathered wood for a very warm late night fire.

The snow continued to fall as the students put out the fire and headed into their tents and sleeping bags.  It was a very cold morning of packing up and heading back to the main campus, but the students were proud of their ability to participate in a snowy overnight trip.  They arrived back on campus after both trips with stories and photos to share of two very challenging trips worthy of an Advanced Wilderness Skills winter overnight experience.  The other 6 students in the Outdoor Adventure Leadership Skills class are looking forward to taking on the role and responsibility of Trip Leaders for the two Rock Climbing class trips planned for later in the semester.  I enjoyed participating in these trips and sharing the adventure with them as well as watching the students as they accomplished their goals for leadership and taking care of each other. 

Dee Thomas, thomasd@lmc.edu

Several groups of Lees-McRae College students will be volunteering this week with the Adaptive Learn-To-Ski Week at the Beech Mountain Ski Resort.  Five women from the LMC Delta Zeta Nu Sorority, Ra’Shawndra Doby, Alli Cook, Sydnie Taylor, Courtney Halford, and Taylor Scheetz, along with Dee Thomas, celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by attending the Volunteer Adaptive Training Workshop.  The students began the day by getting to know other volunteers and adaptive instructors over a pizza lunch in the conference room at the Pinnacle Inn.  This was followed by participating in an indoor clinic that covered  logistics, safety, and adaptive equipment.

After the indoor clinic, the group headed over to the Beech Mountain Ski Resort and unloaded the equipment.  They also learned more about how participants of all abilities can utilize the adaptive equipment to meet each of their specific needs and along with a trained adaptive instructor and a few volunteers can enjoy the fun of skiing and/or snowboarding.

As stated in the Event Information: This is the 32nd year that the Beech Mountain Ski Resort has hosted this event which began with the training and equipment organization on January 21 and will offer lessons for people with disabilities through Friday, January 25.  It is the oldest adaptive clinic in the US, being the first of a group of national clinics started by Disabled Sports USA which in its history was known as National Handicap Sports.  The Atlanta Chapter of NHS assisted the development of the first clinic here at Beech Mountain in 1981 and continued with it through 2004.  The clinic is now run as a cooperative effort amongst programs all interested in sports for individuals with disabilities with the Beech Mountain Resort continuing to be the host.  The sponsors of this event donate to bring together the instructors, equipment, and resources necessary to teach skiing/snowboarding to individuals with disabilities in the southeast region.  We thank DSUSA – Chattanooga Chapter as our event name sponsor for 2013.

Lees-McRae College students, staff, and allumni have been volunteering for this clinic for about 7 years.  Dee Thomas, before becoming the director of Outdoor Programs at Lees-McRae, started a full winter season of adaptive lessons at Beech Mountain in 2001 with a program called the Beech Adaptive Snowsports Center.  This offered participants with disabilities the opportunity to take adaptive lessons that were offered daily from November to March as well as be a part of  the January Adaptive Learn-to-Ski Clinic.  Lees-McRae College alumni, Natalie Burns, took over being the director of the Beech Adaptive Snowsports Center in 2007 and directed the program for two years.  Natalie is back from Florida again this year to join the adaptive instructional staff  at this year’s clinic.  If you have the chance to come up to the Beech Mountain Ski Resort this week you will see our LMC volunteers in action helping to make it possible for people with disabilities to enjoy the fun and adventure of skiing and snowboarding!

Contact: Dee Thomas, thomasd@lmc.edu, for more information.

Classes could not have begun sooner! As much as I enjoyed the nearly 5 weeks of Christmas break, I am so glad to be back at Lees-McRae College! I have missed the high country and I missed these wonderful mountains. I also missed friends. Its been so great being back on campus! I was so glad to see the North Carolina Building when I first got back onto campus. I also enjoyed a short visit back down to the Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute, where many students got reunited with their favorite animals, especially the white squirrel named Thunder who would not sit still!

I cannot wait to enjoy this new semester! For me, I have 3 jobs and 18 credit hours plus volunteering at the wildlife center, so my semester will be busy, but enjoyable! And I also hope to continue taking photographs for both the college and for the wildlife center!

Welcome back students, faculty, and staff. And welcome transfer students. Hope your semester is great!

Jason Els

Class of 2015

Resident Assistant

Admissions Photographer

PreProfessional Biology Major

Psychology Major

Religious Studies Minor

Mens Road Cyclist

Jillian Rosato and her family moved to Banner Elk two years ago. Husband, Frank is a big deal over at Grandfather Home for Children and their son is at Banner Elk Elementary. They aren’t just passing through—they are committed to living and working here.

So what does Jillian bring to the Alumni Relations table? Oh my… alumni take note! Your LMC world is about to be ramped up more notches than you can count. Jillian is bringing back Alumni Chapter areas. She has already mailed a letter to the Alumni Board and is already organizing a local alumni event in February. Jillian is preparing for the February Alumni Board meeting and she is excited about the weekend at Ski Beech. She is already talking about a new alumni directory and has already reconnected alumni to the College. Jillian is gearing up for a great set of class reunions in 2013.  And I’m not going to reveal any of the other ideas we’ve already discussed over the past four days—having her here is so awesome, I’ve been downright giddy.  Jillian is more than an extra set of hands. Her presence in the Alumni House is making everything better.  I can now pour all of my concentration into annual giving initiatives, including 25 dedicated, successful and hard-working Class Agents and the Bobcat Club; the Welcome Center at the Historic Cheese House, Phone-a-thons, and Thank-a-thons, etc. Caroline Hart, our vice president for advancement has juggled her responsibilities as a vice president with being the interim director of annual giving and alumni relations—no more! None of us in the house could be more pleased now to have Jillian in the Alumni House completely dedicated to our most important advancement constituents: Alumni.

One year from now… I predict that things will not be so quiet around the Alumni House.

When I’m out and about and people ask me how things are going on campus, I’m amused by their faces when I happily gush about LMC paying down debt in the current economy, by our having a new business model, the new School of Nursing and Allied Health, the current numbers out of Enrollment Management, alumni, friends and family events, Coffee and Conversation events, our grants writer—the first one employed full-time by the College since the 1980’s, student success in and out of the classroom, the beauty of campus, the Class of 1959 project in front of the North Carolina building, the Class Agent program, reunions and all yearbooks are available online. Yes, I’m talking about Lees-McRae College!

Don’t be so surprised—be so happy about Lees-McRae’s current emerging status in the Southeast that you tell all of your friends, your classmates, your church, your high schools.  Be so happy about Lees-McRae that you stop by the Alumni House and enjoy a cup of coffee. Be proud of your connection to Lees-McRae!

This time of year is very special as we appreciate all we have been given and are able to look back to give thanks. As we reflect on how the year has gone, the impact we have made, the challenges we have faced and what lies ahead for us, we should be quite proud of what we have achieved.

For me, the best way to give thanks is in my annual Thanksgiving thank-you list, so here goes.

I am thankful for  . . .

• the senior student-athletes who have given the last four years of the life to represent the Green and Gold in such a high manner.
• Freshman student-athletes who come in to help make a difference not only on their team, but in the community and on campus . . .future leaders.
• Friends of the program who believe in what we are doing with their generous contributions to the Bobcat Club and facility enhancements, without you our competitive advantage would fade.
• Bobcat Bank and the folks who inhabit it on game nights, you are a clever bunch of passionate students.
• The new and improved cheerleaders, who have brought a new energy to Williams Gymnasium for basketball games.
• New coaches, their desire to make a difference and impact a young person’s life is humbling.
• Assistant coaches, they pay their dues to make a program better.
• Athletic trainers, because not everyone plays sports without injuries.
• Dining services, as they keep our young people fed and full of energy with healthy food options at home and on the road.
• An admissions staff that works with us to make sure we are all bringing in the best fit Lees-McRae student-athlete.
• An understanding faculty, who realizes that 45% of the student body participates in intercollegiate athletics and allows for success in and out of the classroom.
• The smell of a weight room, you can sense the hard work and dedication it takes to be successful at this level.
• A laundry room after a weekend of athletic activities, keeping our uniforms and practice gear clean and professional looking.
• A sports information director who can stat every sport with ease and makes sure the masses know the result quickly.
• A game day operations manager who sets up for every home event knowing each time it will be someone’s first impression.
• A custodial staff who takes time every day to make sure we are as clean as can be for anyone we might be hosting.
• The work study who becomes the ball boy on a cold, windy and wet Thursday night for a soccer game.
• A grounds crew who keeps our fields manageable and safe for practices and competition.
• The sounds of the indoor tennis court late at night, young people perfecting their game.
• A heated indoor swimming pool, it gives a 2-yr old a place to burn energy, and an 80-yr old a place to swim laps.
• A paved parking lot. Talk about first impressions.
• The views from home plate of the softball field. Talk about giving thanks for where we are located.
• Early morning frost, the majestic beauty on the mountain tops.
• Sounds of the shoes squeaking on the gym floor, whistles blasting, coaches teaching. Progress.
• The CATS program, challenging athletes to success, and insuring strong grade point averages.
• Previous, current and future coaches, because the responsibility is great and love greater.
• Previous, current and future student-athletes, because the bar has been set!
• The Bobcat Club and what it represents, because you help us get better!

Happy Thanksgiving,

Craig

The snow started to fall on Sunday evening, and when I logged on to Facebook my entire news feed was about snow. I admit, my Facebook status was about snow too, and I was excited about the weather. I woke up Monday morning to a winter wonderland, but this was only beginning! It is actually still snowing as I write this blog (10/31 – Happy Halloween).

Due to the high wind warnings and expected amount of snowfall and ice, the decision was made to close the College on Tuesday, October 30th. Closing the College is a rare occurrence, but when we do, our students are still able to “attend” class via the SAKAI web system. Most students slept in on the morning of the 30th, except those students who had shifts at the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. The animals in our care need 24-hour assistance, so a snow day is not an option for the students who work at the Center.  Thank you to these dedicated WLR students!!

Even though the College was closed, I still made my way to campus mid-morning. We are a residential campus, so technically we are never closed, and I needed to make sure everyone was safe and warm. Once on campus, I found our students enjoying the day. Some were in the Student Center studying, others were in the dining hall drinking hot chocolate, and several were outside playing in the snow! It was awesome to see our students embracing the weather and making the most of their snow day!

Today is Halloween, but it feels more like Christmas. We are almost back on our regular College schedule (after a two hour delay today and a one and a half hour delay tomorrow)! We ended up with a about a foot of snow, but it is really hard to get a solid calculation because of the wind.  We are safe.  We are warm.  We are blessed!

I thought it would be fun to share some of the Facebook status updates and pictures from our first snow…enjoy.

Victoria Kearney Insert status about snow and classes.

Samantha Davis I’m loving this weather!!  I guess it is time to get the winter gear out! =)

Emma Sheffer It can no longer be denied… This is snuggie-wearing weather.

Alli Cook I hate to sound like everyone else in BE, but in Mooresville 2″ of snow is a HUGE deal, so I’m super excited about the weather right now.

Sarah Hill Woke up this morning, to find an inch of snow!!  Wind is blowing tiny little flakes all over the place and to think I was in shorts a couple of days ago!!  I can’t believe it :  This is SICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Genay Miller First snow day of the year…Where did I put my Super Suit…

Lindsey Bush Winter will breathe cold on our necks, snow in our paths.

Dubois Hines Okay now LMC students I mean no disrespect about this status, but can we PLEASE keep the snow statuses to a minimum.  LOL.  I just don’t want my news feed filled with the same exact status.  Thanks.    Have a nice day!

Eric Rayfield Looks like we will be having a white Halloween…

Brittany Michelle Walker It’s that time again where Banner Elk becomes our personal snow globe.

Jason Els If it was not for every person currently in Banner Elk updating their Facebook status about how it has snowed/currently is snowing, I probably would not have known it was snowing.  Thank you kindly, friends!

Rachael Nobbs That awkward moment when you can’t tell if its still snowing outside or if the wind is  just blowing all the snow from yesterday around.

Victoria Lob I just saw someone in shorts?

Michael Prather Hurray for our first snow!  I wish we could have the snow without the cold, but I will take what I can get!

In a previous professional life, I worked in health education. My colleagues and I would display a healthy lung for youngsters to see and then show them the diseased lung of an inactive smoker. Talk about visual impact….every child understood the direct impact of lifestyle and life choices.

The Nike motto of “just do it” resonates with me. Being an athlete teaches you that you have to do the work yourself. You have to practice; you have to learn strategy and fundamentals; you have to think and work together as a team. These are valuable lessons that help Lees-McRae students perform in the classroom and in life.

At Lees-McRae College, our athletes are first and foremost student-athletes. They are high achievers in the classroom, active in community service, and engaged in internships and work-study. These young men and women are well on the road to becoming the engaged citizens our participatory democracy demands. The best student-athletes at Lees-McRae do not just come here to play soccer or volleyball. They come to Lees-McRae because they want to excel in those areas, but also because they want a fine education that will prepare them for a successful career and community engagement.

As competition for top-performing students gets tougher and tougher, Lees-McRae’s diverse athletics program remains one of our strengths. One out of every three Lees-McRae students is a scholarship athlete. Our coaches help to recruit almost half of our first-year class each year. They scour the playing fields, courts, and training facilities to find students with that rare combination of athletic talent and academic achievement who want to study at a small regional college high in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Our coaches reach out to student-athletes and, together with our admissions counselors, inform applicants about the “value equation” and special qualities of Lees-McRae.

We are proud of our athletes, not only for their individual accomplishments and their team’s championship trophies, but also for the way in which our athletes get engaged in the life of our community and express their desire to serve others. At Lees-McRae we strongly believe in the ancient Greek value of a balanced life….intellectual, spiritual, and physical growth. A sound mind requires a sound body. Students who learn the discipline, strategy, and perseverance required of successful athletes are the same students who will succeed in other arenas once they matriculate at Lees-McRae.

In playing sports, we reveal who we are….a simple round of golf can tell you more about a potential business partner than hours spent in a conference room. In competition, we really understand the character of the person: who cheats, who is gracious in defeat, and who gloats over success.

At Lees-McRae, we revel in the glory of competition and we subscribe to the values of fairness and good sportsmanship. We love our student-athletes and we hold our Bobcat spirit high.

Many thanks,
Barry