Groundbreaking for the May School of Nursing and Allied Health scheduled for June 20

Posted on 5/22/2013 by hallm

Lees-McRae is proud to announce they will break ground on the May School of Nursing and Allied Health on Thursday, June 20 at 11 a.m. in Stinson Parking Lot on West Main Street, across from Tate Lawn. The community is welcome to attend the ceremony. Designed by McMillian Pazdan Smith, this 18,000 square foot facility will soon be the cornerstone of the College’s expanded science and health-related programs.

Based on student interest, marketplace demand and a generous donation from Daniel and Dianne May, Lees-McRae is considering the addition of a pre-licensure undergraduate nursing program as well as allied health programs in healthcare administration and emergency care management.

The May School of Nursing and Allied Health (Rendering courtesy of McMillan Pazdan Smith)

“I believe the May School of Nursing and Allied Health is a vital asset to the revitalization and continued success of Lees-McRae College,” said Ed Shelton ’60 ’95(H), interim chairman of the Lees-McRae College Board of Trustees. “There is great student interest in health-related programs and no shortage of demand for additional health care professionals. We are grateful to Daniel and Dianne May for their love of Lees-McRae College and their unconditional support, and we are grateful to McMillan Pazdan Smith for their incredible vision and guidance.”

The state-of-the-art May School of Nursing and Allied Health will provide classrooms, lab space and technology specific to the nursing and allied health curriculum. Lees-McRae currently offers science programs such as biology with concentrations in nutrition and health science. The health science curriculum prepares students for graduate schools in the areas of dentistry, medical, pharmacy, physician assistant and veterinarian studies. Additionally, the college currently offers allied health programs including athletic training (accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education).

Students may enroll beginning fall 2013. All prospective nursing and allied health students must complete most of their general education requirements and prerequisite courses during their first two-four semesters of study before applying and enrolling in a major-specific program.

For more information on nursing and allied health at Lees-McRae College, please visit go.lmc.edu/nursing-allied-health or contact the Admissions Department at 800-280-4LMC or admissions@lmc.edu.

The media is welcome and encouraged to attend the groundbreaking ceremony. President Buxton will set aside ten minutes after the ceremony to speak with the media and answer any questions. If you are a member of the media, please RSVP to Megan Hall, director of communications, at 828.898.8729 or hallm@lmc.edu no later than Thursday, June 13 to reserve your seat.

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Degrees conferred upon 168 graduates; Speaker Elizabeth Roberts gives the Class of 2013 four friendly suggestions

Posted on 5/14/2013 by hallm

Lees-McRae College conferred degrees upon 168 graduates during commencement exercises Saturday, May 11 beginning at 11 a.m. inside Williams Gymnasium on the campus in Banner Elk.

(left to right) President Buxton, Dr. Allen Speer, faculty emeritus, Dr. Janet Barton Speer, faculty emeritus, and Dr. Katherine Logan, President of Faculty Senate

President of the Student Government Association, Ms. Cassandra Messer, addressed the students, encouraging them to continue to be unique individuals and do what makes them happy. At the conclusion of her speech, Cassandra introduced Katherine Logan, president of the Faculty Senate, who bestowed upon Drs. Allen and Janet Speer the title of faculty emeritus. Dr. Allen Speer taught at Lees-McRae as a distinguished professor of history for 34 years and his wife, Dr. Janet Barton Speer, taught at Lees-McRae for 35 years and is the founder of and artistic director for Lees-McRae Summer Theatre.

Trustee Emeritus, James E. Lauritsen (middle), with President Buxton (left) and trustee Capt. Ken Sullivan ’59 (right)

With the help of trustee Capt. Ken Sullivan ’59, President Barry Buxton presented James E. Lauritsen, trustee emeritus, with an honorary doctorate in business administration. Born in Chicago, Mr. Lauritsen, spent his career as a stockbroker and investment executive. For nearly 25 years, Mr. Lauritsen’s service to Lees-McRae College has been commendable and far-reaching. He is a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and he and his wife, Kay, are namesakes of The Lauritsen Building, which is home to the Performing Arts Department. Mr. and Mrs. Lauritsen made the Track and Field venue a reality and helped to renovate McMillan Residence Hall. Most recently, Mr. and Mrs. Lauritsen are the founding donors of the Lauritsen Technical Theatre and Design Studio.

Commencement Speaker, Elizabeth Roberts, with President Buxton (left) and trustee, Capt. Ken Sullivan ’59 (right)

After Mr. Lauritsen’s honor, President Buxton also honored this year’s commencement speaker, Ms. Elizabeth H. Roberts, former Director of the Financial Stability Institute (FSI) at the Bank for International Settlements in Switzerland, with an honorary doctorate of business administration.

During her commencement address, “The World Awaits You,” Ms. Roberts bestowed upon the graduates four friendly suggestions. “My first suggestion is have a plan but don’t stick to it… Without a plan you will simply meander through life in a random matter but I think the real key to success is not just having a plan but a willingness to be flexible with that plan.”

“My second friendly suggestion is to never stop learning. But the fact of the matter is that today your learning is really just beginning… the key I think is to learn as much from your failures as your successes. Go through life with a sense of curiosity and a willingness to expand your horizons.”

“My third suggestion is to be the best that you can be. Do not settle for mediocrity and never adopt an attitude of ‘okay is good enough’… find your niche, find what you are good at, and then be the best that you can be…find a way to make a contribution to your company, to your community or even to your household.”

“My fourth and final suggestion is to mind your manners…I think in today’s hectic world, many of us have forgotten common courtesies in life…none of you should underestimate the power of manners in the workplace and in life.”

Ms. Roberts concluded her address by saying, “I wish I could say my quotation was from Steven Jobs, Thomas Jefferson or Mother Theresa, but mine is from Dr. Seuss. ‘You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go.’ And so to the Lees-McRae graduating class of 2013, the world awaits you. I wish you a wonderful journey ahead. May it be interesting, may it be challenging, and, most importantly, may it allow you to make a contribution to the world around you. Good luck!”

At the conclusion of Ms. Roberts’ address, degrees were conferred upon the 168 graduates by President Buxton. Then, Alumni Board President Catherine Button Campe ’89/’91 inducted the Class of 2013 into the Alumni Association.

The Graduating Class of 2013

Campe said, “For the last four years you have been Lees-McRae College students but for the rest of your lives you will be Lees-McRae College Alumni. As you go forth in your life, it is my hope that you will remember and cherish your alma mater. You will always be welcome here and Lees-McRae will always be your home.”

Near the end of the ceremony, President Buxton honored two graduates with the H.C. Evans, Jr. Fidelity Award. Named after the late Dr. H. C. Evans, ninth president of Lees-McRae College, the Fidelity Award recognizes academic excellence, campus citizenship, friendliness, and service to the college and community. The recipient is selected by the graduates themselves, approved by the faculty and administration, and represents the highest ideals of the graduating class. Dr. Evans, after whom this award is now named, used to refer to the Fidelity Award recipient as “Mr. or Miss Lees-McRae College.”

(left to right) President Buxton, Nolan McDaniel, and Dr. Ken Craig

Nolan McDaniel, from Morristown, Tenn., was honored with the Fidelity Award for main campus students. A student admired and respected by faculty, staff, administrators, and his peers for his extraordinary ability and leadership, McDaniel served as Alpha Chi President, Resident Director, Order of the Tower Member, Student Academic Mentor, Student Ambassador, and Burton Center Tutor. He was an active member of the Honors Program and graduated with one of the highest GPAs among seniors. He majored in both Religious Studies and English, and, in the fall, he will be attending The University of Tennessee’s School of Law.

(left to right) President Buxton, Sandra Aguirre, and Ms. Kate Gavenus

Originally from Honduras, Sandra Aguirre, who now resides in Morganton, N.C., was honored with the Fidelity Award for extended campus students. She is a mother who works full-time at a legal office and she volunteers in the Hispanic community helping immigrants understand their rights and responsibilities in the U.S. She majored in Criminal Justice through Lees-McRae’s extended campus program at Western Piedmont Community College. In addition to the Fidelity Award, Sandra also received the Exemplary Service Award for Criminal Justice.

About the Speaker

Ms. Roberts was the Director of the Financial Stability Institute (FSI) at the Bank for International Settlements in Basel, Switzerland from June 2000 until her retirement at the end of 2012. In this capacity, she was involved in a wide range of projects to improve financial sector supervision and financial stability in countries around the world. She also served as a lecturer on a broad range of supervisory and financial sector stability topics both at FSI events and at events hosted by other national, regional and international organizations.

Prior to joining the FSI, Ms. Roberts was a staff member of the Federal Reserve Board’s Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation for more than twenty years. In 1993, she was appointed manager of the Division’s International Policy Section where she developed, among other things, the Federal Reserve’s program for supervising the U.S. operations of foreign banks.

In 1996, she was appointed by the Federal Reserve to a three-year secondment to the Secretariat of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision at the Bank for International Settlements. While with the Basel Committee, Ms. Roberts drafted the Committee’s documents related to numerous risk management topics including credit risk management, corporate governance and internal controls. Upon returning to the Federal Reserve Board in August 1999, Ms. Roberts was appointed manager of the Examination Policy and Procedures Section.

Ms. Roberts has also worked in the International Division of First Union National Bank (now Wachovia) and in retail banking at a community bank in Virginia. Since her retirement, she has continued to work in the area of global financial stability, primarily through special assignments with the International Monetary Fund.

Ms. Roberts has a master’s degree in international finance from the American Graduate School of International Management and a Bachelor of Arts degree in German Studies from Sweet Briar College. She also studied for a year at the Ludwig Maximilian Universitaet in Munich, Germany.

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Alumnus of the Month: Jim Bowdish ’91

Posted on 5/13/2013 by hallm

What is your favorite memory from Lees-McRae College?
I have lots of great memories of Lees-Mcrae.  In 1987 there were college programs on Thursday nights with guests like George Lindsey (Goober) and The Elk River Band; there were football games, a National Championship game in Tennessee , a trip to Enid, Oklahoma; there were dances, pep rallies, Spring Fling; there were faculty that knew us by first name; there was Phi Theta Kappa and Order of the Tower…. but my best memory was when my picture showed up on a fund raising can and I raised as much as one of the faculty members so we BOTH had our heads shaved at half time at Homecoming in 1990 by Charlie “the Barber”

Can you attribute any of your current success to your time at Lees-McRae College?
Sam Burton once told us business majors “You can’t buy ethics.  If you are ever lucky enough to be a trusted advisor or decision maker in business… those whom you serve care LESS about how much you know and MORE about how much you care.”  That is still so true.

What advice would you give to current LMC students?
The only way to enjoy your time at Lees-McRae is to get involved.  Find passion in what you love to do or learn – and then share that with someone else.  I have LMC friends today that I see on a regular basis that lived in Cannon Cottage together.  We were in each other’s weddings.  We’ve laughed and cried together.  Those friendships started over 20 years ago by being involved in Order of the Tower, Phi Theta Kappa or Student Government.

Why do you feel it is important to give back to LMC?
In 1987, Lees-McRae was a Junior College with only associate degrees offered.  In 1991, I earned one of the first Business Degrees offered by Lees-McRae.  Lees-McRae gave me a chance to excel in an environment of learning and caring.  We started a volunteer income tax assistance program.  Some of my classmates are CPAs.  We should share what we can of our time, our talent and our resources to an institution that has thrived for more than 110 years.

What are you currently doing?
Today I am married to Susan (Ragan) Bowdish and we have three children. We live in Raleigh.  We have two neighbors that went to Lees-McRae!  I have worked for Edward Jones Investments as a Financial Advisor since 1998.  We are active in Cary Presbyterian Church where I serve as a youth advisor; I am involved with cub scouts, the American Diabetes Association, the West Raleigh Exchange Club, youth baseball, oh, and I play men’s softball.  We are busy but LOVE coming to Banner Elk!

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President Barry Buxton on UNC-TV May 10

Posted on 5/9/2013 by hallm

Lees-McRae is excited to announce that college President Barry M. Buxton will be featured on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Now on Friday, May 10 at 7:30 p.m. This feature will focus on President Buxton’s past experience in higher education, his dissertation and his vision for Lees-McRae College.

“We’re very excited President Buxton is being recognized for his accomplishments at Lees-McRae and in higher education as a whole,” said Ginger Hansen, vice president for enrollment management and communications. “We’re blessed to have such a strong leader and we can’t wait to see how his vision will continue to shape this campus and its students.”

After interviewing President Buxton for a feature on Lees-McRae in January, the UNC-TV producers were so impressed with his background in higher education and his work with former President and First Lady George and Barbara Bush, they asked him to return for a follow-up interview. In addition to his work in higher education, the interview will also discuss his dissertation, a clear predictor of his future work, titled “Job Satisfaction of College and University Presidents.”

UNC-TV, a public television industry leader, produces more than 350 hours of original local programming each year, including North Carolina Now, which profiles North Carolina’s most important people and places, and celebrates its artistic and cultural diversity. Past features include Duke University, East Carolina University and Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute as well as events such as the inauguration of Governor Pat McCrory and the 2012 Presidential Election.

Click here to view his interview.

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18 students were inducted into the Alpha Chi academic honor society

Posted on 5/6/2013 by hallm

The Lees-McRae College Chi chapter of Alpha Chi National College Honor Society is pleased to announce 18 members were inducted into its spring 2013 class. The spring induction ceremony was held on Friday, May 10 at 4:30 p.m. in Evans Auditorium on the Lees-McRae College campus.

Founded in 1922, Alpha Chi was established to recognize academic achievement. Today, Alpha Chi has chapters at 300 college campuses across the United States.

Membership invitations are extended to those students who are in the top ten percent of the junior and senior class. This year’s inductees are: Stacy Berry, Pierre Brazeau, Crystal Champion, Destini Fleming, Rebekah Harp, Victoria Jenkins, Claire Jordan, Pamela Knaus, Dylan Knutson, Joseph Liston, Courtney Luckadoo, Kimberly Pressley, Meriel Price, Katelin Rooney, Cassandra Schulz, Charity Stevenson, Kathryn Tobias and Dustin Wood.  Each student selected a distinguished faculty mentor, who was also recognized at the induction ceremony.

For more information about Alpha Chi visit their web page at https://www.alphachihonor.org/

Click here to view photos from the event.

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Lees-McRae to host summer camps, lectures and performances

Posted on 5/6/2013 by hallm

After a long winter, and spring, of cabin fever, Lees-McRae has a full slate of summer camps, lectures and performances to get you and your family out of the house for a little fun and education, too!

Lees-McRae is kicking off the summer with some academic fun, so if you’re looking to put on your thinking cap, join us for Summer School. With topics ranging from Appalachian photography and clogging to small business accounting and clinical wildlife rehabilitation, there is a course to match every personality. Online and seated sections, plus introductory and advanced classes, will be offered. Non-Lees-McRae students are welcome to enroll or audit any courses, and participants can register up until the day the course begins. For more information or to register, contact Lynn Hinshaw, registrar, at Hinshaw@lmc.edu or 828.898.3473.

Wildlife Rehabilitation Camp

Adults aren’t the only ones having fun this summer! Lees-McRae College is offering a variety of summer camps for students who seek excitement both in and out of the classroom. Whether they hit the bike trails or take to the stage, we have a camp for your child in a safe and enriching environment. This summer, Lees-McRae is featuring four academic camps for rising 9th-12th grade students, day camps for younger children and athletic camps for five different sports. Academic camp topics include wildlife rehabilitation, performing arts and outdoor leadership. Athletic camp topics include soccer, basketball, cycling, lacrosse and softball. For more information on summer campus, please contact Ben Austin, director of admissions, at austinb@lmc.edu or 828.898.8772.

If you prefer to sit back and watch a great show instead, then Lees-McRae’s Summer Theatre productions are right up your alley. With three fantastic performances scheduled from July 1 – August 10, you’ll have plenty of chances to enjoy the thrills of Broadway in your own backyard. This year’s productions are Chicago, The 39 Steps, and Singin’ In The Rain. All shows are held in the Broyhill Theatre of Hayes Auditorium. For more information on Summer Theatre call 828-898-8709.  Online ticket purchases will be available May 25 at www.lmst.lmc.edu. The Box Office opens June 17 in Hayes Auditorium.

After the glitz and glamour of Summer Theatre, dive back into academia with the Stephenson Center for Appalachia Summer Lecture Series and the Great Decisions Discussion Program.

Scheduled for three consecutive Wednesdays in July, the Stephenson Center will welcome a variety of lecturers focusing their talks on Appalachian issues. This year’s speakers include Joseph Bathanti (July 10), Poet Laureate of North Carolina, presenting a reading of his poetry; Dr. Lloyd Bailey (July 17), professor at Methodist College and Mount Olive College, presenting a lecture: “Old Yancey (The Present Avery-Mitchell-Yancey Counties), the County that Almost Wasn’t and the Character of its Inhabitants”; and Dr. Marie Tedesco (July 24), professor at East Tennessee State University, presenting the lecture “Women and Labor History in Appalachia.” All lectures will be held in the Stafford Room of Carson Library beginning at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Dr. Michael Joslin, director of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia, at Joslin@lmc.edu or 828.898.8758.

Hosted by Mr. Ed Decker, member of the Lees-McRae Business Advisory Council, the Great Decisions Discussion Program will be held on Mondays, July 15-August 15, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. in the Stafford Room of the Carson Library. The centerpiece of the Foreign Policy Association’s (FPA.org) educational outreach efforts, the discussions focus on exchanging ideas and generating informed opinions on U.S. foreign policy. This year, the discussions will be led by Dr. Rosemary Horowitz from Appalachian State University. For more information, please contact Edward Decker at hdblondie34@bellsouth.net.

For more information about summer programs at Lees-McRae College, please contact Megan Hall, director of communications, at hallm@lmc.edu or 828.898.8729.

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Commencement scheduled for May 11 – moved to Williams Gymnasium

Posted on 5/3/2013 by hallm

On Saturday, May 11 at 11 a.m., graduation caps will be seen soaring through the air at Lees-McRae’s annual commencement ceremony. Among the noteworthy attendees will be this year’s keynote speaker, Ms. Elizabeth H. Roberts, former Director of the Financial Stability Institute (FSI) at the Bank for International Settlements in Basel, Switzerland.

Due to weather conditions, the ceremony will be held in the rain location, Williams Gymnasium.

Parking
Parking will be available at the following sites: Chaffee Administration Building, Stinson, Hayes, Cannon Student Center, and Avery parking lots along with the two gravel parking lots of Williams Physical Education Center. These parking lots are on a first come, first served basis. The paved parking lots of Williams Physical Education Center will be reserved for handicapped and VIP/Reserved parking (valid permit required).

Shuttles
Shuttle Service will be available at Hayes, Stinson, Cannon Student Center and Avery parking lots. Signs will be posted for shuttle service at each location. The shuttles will begin at 8:30 a.m. and run continuously until the last person has been shuttled to the ceremony site. Shuttles will also be available at the Best Western Plus Mountain Lodge. That shuttle service will begin at 8:45 a.m. and the last shuttle will run at 10:15 a.m.

Reserved Parking and Seating
The college has reserved the main, paved parking lot of Williams Physical Education Center for guests with mobility impairments; however, the total number of parking spaces is limited. To park in one of these reserved spaces, a valid permit is required. In addition, areas within the seating section have been reserved for wheelchair users and handicapped individuals.

Keynote Speaker
Lees-McRae is honored to welcome Ms. Roberts to campus. Prior to joining the Financial Stability Institute (FSI), she was a staff member of the Federal Reserve Board’s Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation for more than twenty years. In 1993, she was appointed manager of the Division’s International Policy Section where she developed, among other things, the Federal Reserve’s program for supervising the U.S. operations of foreign banks. Ms. Roberts has also worked in the International Division of First Union National Bank (now Wachovia) and in retail banking at a community bank in the U.S. State of Virginia. Since her retirement, she has continued to work in the area of global financial stability, primarily through special assignments with the International Monetary Fund.

Ms. Roberts has a Masters degree in international finance from the American Graduate School of International Management and a Bachelor of Arts degree in German Studies from Sweet Briar College. She also studied for a year at the Ludwig Maximilian Universitaet in Munich, Germany.

Additional Events
In addition to an exciting keynote speaker, commencement weekend will be full of exciting events including a Baccalaureate Dinner and Baccalaureate/Hooding Service on Friday. The Baccalaureate Dinner will be held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in MacDonald Dining Hall. Family and friends are welcome to attend. The cost is: $14.00 adults, $7.00 children 6-12 yrs., and free for children 1-5 yrs. Guests must purchase a ticket in advance to attend the dinner. Tickets can be purchased through the Registrar’s Office by calling 828-898-8256. There is no cost for graduates. After dinner, the Baccalaureate/Hooding Service will take place in Hayes Auditorium at 7 p.m.

For more information on Commencement at Lees-McRae, please contact the Registrar’s Office at 828-898-8856 or click here to visit the graduation page of the Lees-McRae College website.

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Academic and athletic summer camps – Deadline Extended!

Posted on 5/2/2013 by hallm

Great news! The summer camp registration deadline has been extended until Friday, May 17.

Lees-McRae is offering a variety of summer camps for students who seek excitement both in and out of the classroom in a summer climate that is unrivaled. Whether they hit the bike trails or take to the stage, Lees-McRae has a camp for your child in a safe and enriching environment.

This summer, Lees-McRae is featuring four academic camps for rising 9th-12th grade students, day camps for younger children and athletic camps for five different sports.

Lees-McRae College will host the Creative and Performing Arts Camp (CAPA) June 15-21 (session I) and June 22-28 (session II) on the main campus in Banner Elk. CAPA is a model arts program with a curriculum underpinned by The National Standards for Arts Education. This program is designed to allow participants to discover and explore a wide range of arts experiences including, but not limited to, acting, costuming, dance, improvisation, make-up, music, performance, script writing and set design and how all of these theatrical elements work together. The camp will culminate in a performance at the end of the week for family, friends and the college community.

Offered June 15-21, the Outdoor Leadership and Adventure Camp is designed for rising 9th-12th grade students who have an interest in learning and exploring the outdoor environment. Participants will have the opportunity to study in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina, a natural setting for hiking, backpacking, camping, swimming and ziplining.

From June 15-21 (session I) and July 7-12 (session II), Lees-McRae is offering the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Field Studies Camp at the Daniel and Dianne May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. This camp provides high school students an opportunity to experience the academic side of the Wildlife Rehabilitation program and work with actual animal patients. The camp is designed for motivated students and will feature lectures and labs on wildlife rehabilitation and natural history as well as hands-on learning. There will also be an Advanced Wildlife Studies Camp held June 22-28 for those individuals who have completed the wildlife rehabilitation and field studies camp.

Athletic camps include basketball, lacrosse, soccer and softball. Since the ages and genders of these camps range, please visit the website at www.go.lmc.edu/summercamps for details.

For pricing, schedules and additional information about any of the camps offered at Lees-McRae College, visit www.go.lmc.edu/summercamps or contact Ben Austin at 828-898-8772.

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Bobcat’s Battle for the Cure raises more than $2500 for SaraCare Fund

Posted on 5/1/2013 by hallm

On Friday, April 26, Lees-McRae students, faculty, staff and friends gathered on Tate Lawn for festivities and, more importantly, fundraising for SaraCare, a memorial fund based in Berea, Kentucky created to financially assist parents whose young children are battling cancer. With many donation promises still on the horizon, the fundraising total already exceeds $2500.

This was the inaugural year for Bobcat’s Battle for the Cure, a student-led initiative to raise awareness and funds for a non-profit organization chosen by the student body for that year. In order to raise funds for this year’s chosen organization, SaraCare, each club on campus held fundraising events prior to Bobcat’s Battle for the Cure and also ran a variety of booths and activities during the actual event for additional fundraising.

Pre-event fundraising included change collections in the dorms, a rock climbing competition (Climb for the Cure), T-shirt and Tumbler sales, and many other creative ideas. The hallmark event for fundraising was Bobcats in Tiaras, a beauty pageant for the men of campus, which included a People’s Choice Award winner chosen based on the man who received the most donations. During the actual event on Friday, clubs hosted fundraisers such as a dunk tank, massages, a cake walk, face painting, a silent auction, slack lining and smores, and a photo booth.

In addition to all the fundraisers, the event also featured special guest speakers — the parents of Sara Kennedy, the namesake of SaraCare Fund who passed away in 2005 from Rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive childhood cancer. The crowd-favorite Mock Rock, a caricature artist, a snow cone machine and a cotton candy machine helped round out the festivities.

For more information about Bobcat’s Battle for the Cure at Lees-McRae College, please contact Mitch Marlowe, interim dean of students, at marlowem@lmc.edu or 828.898.3311.

All photos courtesy of Jason Els, sophomore at Lees-McRae College.

Parents of Sara Kennedy, namesake of the SaraCare Fund, who spoke at Bobcat's Battle for the Cure

Dunk Tank Fundraiser during Bobcat's Battle for the Cure

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Cycling Olympian Marty Nothstein’s son, Tyler, commits to Lees-McRae College cycling

Posted on 4/25/2013 by hallm

Lees-McRae is proud to announce that Tyler Nothstein, son of legendary Olympic cyclist, Marty Nothstein, has committed to riding for the Bobcat Cycling Team beginning the fall of 2013.

At the young age of 18, Tyler, a native of Pennsylvania, is already becoming known on the cycling circuit. Among his accolades, he had four top five finishes during the 2012 USA Cycling Juniors Track Nationals, and two first place finishes at the 2012 Atlantic Regional Junior Track Championship.

“We’re thrilled to have Tyler joining our team,” said Doug Owen, director of cycling for Lees-McRae College. “He’s a phenomenal young rider and we look forward to working with him and seeing him compete. It’s also been incredibly inspiring for our riders to meet Marty Nothstein and hear his perspective on cycling.”

Being a high-level racer and son of an Olympian aren’t the only things distinguishing Tyler from his fellow riders. Tyler is one of several in the incoming fall 2013 class who will be signing a commitment letter for cycling. This is the first year commitment letters have been in place for USA Cycling. In the past, riders could change their mind and transfer to another program until the last day of the academic drop/ add. The purpose of the letter is to create a sense of commitment when a rider chooses a varsity cycling program.

With Marty Nothstein as his father, it’s no surprise Tyler is following a path of cycling glory. After making his first appearance on the cycling scene in 1989, Marty, better known by his nickname The Blade, won a Silver medal in the sprint at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. As if that wasn’t enough, at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, he became the first American cyclist in 16 years to win an Olympic gold medal, when he took the victory in the sprint. Also in his collection are three world championships in track events. After a seventeen year cycling career, Marty retired from competitive cycling in 2006.

In addition to his support of Tyler, Marty will also actively support the Bobcat Cycling Team. In the fall of 2013, he has agreed to lead a training camp for cyclists racing track at Lees-McRae. He will also travel with the team as a visiting coach to the USA Cycling Collegiate Track Nationals in Boulder, Co.

Lees-McRae is home to the 10-time national team champion Bobcat cycling team. With a 12-year history and more than 50 individual national titles, this team boasts riders who race professionally as well as collegiately and former riders such as Brent Bookwalter ’06, who rode for BMC Racing in the Tour de France, and Andrew Talansky, who placed second in Paris-Nice this year for Garmin-Sharp.

For more information about cycling at Lees-McRae College, please contact Doug Owen, director of cycling, at owend@lmc.edu or 828.387.6618.

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Alumnus of the Month: Austin Wright ’10

Posted on 4/20/2013 by hallm

When talking to Austin Wright you can feel just how much he loves Lees-McRae College.  From the feeling of family at LMC, how welcoming and comforting the campus is, or the lifelong friends he has made, he says these are just a few of the reasons to give back to Lees-McRae.

“I have always viewed LMC as a treasure in the mountains and in order to keep it there we must support it. I believe that every single alumnus must give in order to let others experience what they have. Giving to LMC is paying it forward for other students.”

Austin contributes much of his success to LMC.  “It not only taught me how to be a team member but also an independent person.  It helped me develop my morals and social skills, which serve me well every day of my professional career, as well as my personal life.  To this day I still use many lessons I learned at LMC.”

Austin’s favorite memory from Lees-McRae is the moment he walked across the stage at graduation.  “Not because I was finished but because of all that I had accomplished.  As I walked across the stage I remembered everything I had learned, experienced, and the lifelong friends I had made.  That was one of the best feelings I had ever had.”

When asked what advice he would give to students at LMC now he said, “Truly treasure every moment at LMC.  You will look back on these times and they will be some of the sweetest you will ever have.”

Austin is currently the Project Manager at Rebecca Gardner LLC.  It is a luxury event planning and interior design business in Savannah, GA.  He is also pursuing his MFA at SCAD in Luxury Fashion & Design.

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The new Lees-McRae Alumni Directory – Coming Soon!

Posted on 4/19/2013 by hallm

Lees-McRae alumni  are scattered across the country and even around the world.  But no matter where their lives lead them, Bobcats all share a common bond–the place they started out. That’s why we are working on a new project designed to help bring our Bobcats back together.

This new Alumni Association publication will include comprehensive listings with contact information, career overviews, and family highlights of our classmates. Plus, a special section about the school will help you reminisce as you read about our past and learn what’s in store for our future.

Starting in June, to make sure our data is as up-to-date as possible, our provider, Harris Connect, will begin contacting you by email and/or regular mail or by phone to verify that the information we will print is accurate and complete. Harris Connect specializes in alumni and membership publications and the data specifications involved with this type of project.

Please help us make this publication full of the latest information about you and your fellow Bobcats!  For questions or to learn more about this project, please contact Jillian Rosato, director of annual giving and alumni relations, at rosatoj@lmc.edu or (828) 898-2534.

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Vote for Lees-McRae in the Top Adventure College Tournament

Posted on 4/12/2013 by hallm

We all know that Lees-McRae is an outdoor enthusiasts’ dream, and now it’s time to prove it! Blue Ridge Outdoors is hosting a Top Adventure College Tournament and we’re in the running, but the first round ends Sunday, April 28.

In the first round of 32, Lees-McRae has been pitted against Emory & Henry College and it’s been a nail bitter! With only a small margin separating us from making it to the next round, we need your votes!

Each person is allowed one vote per 24 hours, so make voting part of your weekend routine! Go to http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/best-adventure-school/ and vote for Lees-McRae!

With more than 400 acres of pristine, mountainous land, surrounded by some of the most popular ski resorts, hiking trails, and High Country attractions around, Lees-McRae offers a paradise for outdoorsmen. In addition, the Office of Outdoor Programs at Lees-McRae offers a competition rock climbing team, a backpacking club, a class in advanced wilderness skills and plentiful opportunities to enjoy the campus of Lees-McRae.

For more information on this contest, please contact Megan Hall, director of communications, at hallm@lmc.edu or 828.898.8729

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Lees-McRae named in the Top 10 Highest Elevation Schools in the country

Posted on 4/12/2013 by hallm

Lees-McRae has often been known as the campus in the clouds, and we’re not the only ones taking notice! Schools.com recently named Lees-McRae as one of the top ten highest elevation schools in the country in their article “Aim High: 10 high-altitude schools.”

We were also in good company. Our neighboring institution Appalachian State University was named in the list, making our two schools the only east coast representatives. Other recipients included University of Colorado, University of New Mexico, and University of Wyoming.

According to www.schools.com, “Students often get a kick out of top schools lists, whether they rank schools for their academic accolades or their party animal potential. One feature rarely considered takes a more literal interpretation of the word “top,” as in elevation. Sure, a higher elevation often brings with it great views, snow, and plenty of hiking or rock climbing, but it can also create unique learning opportunities, like sports conditioning research, astronomy research or geological studies. The following colleges, which rank among the most elevated campuses in the country, are shining examples how a little altitude can redefine the college experience.”

Click here to view the full article.

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Career Services to host 2nd Annual Career Symposium on April 20

Posted on 4/11/2013 by hallm

On Saturday, April 20, the Office of Career Services will host the 2nd Annual Career Symposium on the campus of Lees-McRae. This event is free and open to all students.

The day will begin with 15-minute mock interviews from 9-11:45 a.m. The interviews, which will be conducted by a panel of Lees-McRae faculty and staff, will provide an excellent opportunity for students to develop skills for job and graduate school interviews. Though they are mock interviews, students are encouraged to dress professionally and bring their resumes to make these simulations as real as possible.

Following the mock interviews will be concurrent fifty-minute learning sessions from 1-4 p.m. These sessions will cover a variety of topics including networking, specific career fields, professional behavior, and overcoming individual and professional challenges. Students are encouraged to attend multiple sessions. Lees-McRae faculty and staff will lead the sessions.

From brand-new freshman to soon-to-graduate seniors, every student can find a session applicable to them because it’s never too early (or too late!) to focus on career preparation. Session titles include Managing the Job Search Process, Social Media Etiquette: Check Your Facebook, Intro to Free Online Web Design Programs and How to Make a Great First Impression, all of which are aimed at helping Lees-McRae students elevate their future.

Click here to view the full Career Symposium schedule.

For more information on the Career Symposium or Career Services at Lees-McRae, please contact Caitlin Neal-Jones, assistant director of career services, at nealjonesc@lmc.edu.

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Honors Program students travel to Washington, D.C.

Posted on 4/10/2013 by hallm

From April 5-9, 23 Honors Program students traveled to Washington, D.C. for fun and adventure in the capital. Each year, the students welcome opportunities to travel on day or weekend trips, listen to visiting speakers and enjoy monthly luncheons as well as dinner at the Honors Program Director’s home. Accompanying the students were professors Dr. Ken Craig, director of the honors program, and Dr. Michael Vines, associate professor of religious studies.

The new Martin Luther King, Jr. statue

“Each year I travel with a group of 20-25 honor students to major east coast cities,” said Dr. Craig, director of the honors program. “In recent years we have visited Savannah, Charleston, Atlanta, and Washington, DC.  These honors trips provide extremely valuable learning opportunities for students who visit museums and learn about important cultural sites. On this trip, honor students designed their own itinerary and could choose literally from dozens of museums in Washington. The two highlights for me were spending time with students and seeing the new Martin Luther King, Jr. statue.”

During the trip, the students had the opportunity to experience some of the best the capital has to offer including the Library of Congress, the National Zoo, the Air and Space Museum, the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and The Lincoln Memorial as well as the shopping and culture unique to downtown Washington, D.C.

“This trip gave the honors students an opportunity to explore one of the most historic and engaging cities in the world,” said Jamison Carrigan, a sophomore honors student, “but more importantly, it gave us an opportunity to bond as a group. We strengthened existing friendships and formed new ones, all while exploring our nation’s capital. What a wonderful experience to share with this great group!”

Senior honors student, Lindsey Bush said, “I have participated in all the honors trips during my time at Lees-McRae. The trips are always a ton of fun and we get to visit and experience a lot of exciting things. My favorite part about the trip to Washington, D.C. was the “design your own trip” aspect Dr. Craig added. There are so many different museums, monuments, and places to visit that selecting a few to please everyone going would have been a challenge. Having the freedom to break off into groups and visit what interested us the most made the trip even more exciting for everyone.”

Students at the Old Slave Mart Museum in Charleston, S.C. on a previous Honors Program trip

The Honors Program at Lees-McRae College is designed to provide a challenging and supportive learning environment for academically gifted, highly motivated students. Select residence halls and dorms have been designated for honors students, and everyone in the program is given unique leadership opportunities on campus. Special lectures, colloquia, service projects, and field trips round out the honors experience.

Each year Lees-McRae hosts a Scholar’s Day for prospective Honors Program students who show a high level of dedication to academics and leadership. These students compete for two full-tuition Elizabeth McRae Scholarships and one full-tuition Shelton Scholars Award. Throughout the event students participate in essay and interview competitions. If selected for one of these scholarships, the students must be active in the Honors Program and maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout their time at Lees-McRae.

For more information about the Honors Program at Lees-McRae, please contact Dr. Ken Craig, director of the honors program, at craig@lmc.edu or 828.898.5241.

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Seven Lees-McRae elementary education alumni named Teacher of the Year

Posted on 4/9/2013 by hallm

Lees-McRae is proud to announce that seven alumni of the Extended Campus Elementary Education program at Surry Community College have been named Teacher of the Year at their respective institutions. All of these individuals are now being considered for Teacher of the Year at the district level.

“This accomplishment is a clear testament to our program and faculty,” said Kacy Crabtree, vice president for academic affairs at Lees-McRae. “We have much to celebrate with our Surry Elementary Education program and Lees-McRae alumni!”

The recipients of this honor are as follows: Amanda Adams (White Plains Elementary School in Mount Airy, N.C.), Brandy Rogers Lawson (Lawsonville Elementary School in Peters Creek, N.C.), Brooke Golding (Pilot Mountain Middle School in Pilot Mountain, N.C.), Lori Beasley (Dobson Elementary School in Dobson, N.C.), Pedro Caro (Franklin Elementary School in Mount Airy, N.C.), and Sarah Johnson (Rockford Elementary School in Dobson, N.C.). Additionally, Stacy Hodge was named Teacher Assistant of the Year at Rockford Elementary School in Dobson, N.C.

“What sets our program apart from others and allows us to develop such superior teachers is the personal attention from staff and faculty,” said Kate Gavenus, director of extended campus programs. “This, combined with the programmatic emphasis on the Reflective Teacher model, helps our students to achieve their full potential and enter the field of education prepared and ready to have a positive impact on the lives of children.”

The extended campus four-year degree in Elementary Education is designed for students who already have a two-year degree. This full-time program takes two years to complete and results in a BA or BS in Elementary Education. Classes are scheduled in afternoons or evenings two days per week and are taught by highly qualified LMC faculty. Classroom observation, assisting and student teaching take place in the student’s own community.

“Student teachers from Lees-McRae College are prepared for education in the 21st century,” said Kimberly Simmons, North Carolina Educator Evaluation Consultant, NCDPI. “I am so impressed with Lees McRae’s program. They are leading educator preparation with innovative strategies and a strong commitment to pushing forward in a time of educational change.”

The Teacher Education program has achieved the high standards required to maintain accreditation by The Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). Lees-McRae’s program is one of four in the state of North Carolina that has chosen to participate in NC FALCON, North Carolina’s Formative Assessment Learning Community’s Online Network. This program supports the implementation of formative assessment in North Carolina classrooms and professional learning community where challenges and successes can be shared with expectations of positive collaboration.

Serving as the lead pilot university to embed this training in their education program, Lees-McRae students not only participate in the professional development series, but are trained in using specific strategies to determine student performance in their classroom, create unit curriculum plans that embed these strategies, and prepare to implement their plans during their student teaching.

For more information about elementary education at Lees-McRae, please contact Robin Buchanan, chair of the Department of Education, at buchananr@lmc.edu or 828.898.8747, or Kate Gavenus, director of Extended Campus Programs, gavenusk@lmc.edu or (828) 898-2518.

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Criminal justice class experiences a simulated crime scene

Posted on 4/4/2013 by hallm
On Tuesday, April 2, crime scene tape and evidence bags could be found on Lees-McRae’s campus as part of a simulated crime scene conducted by Granite Falls Police Department.  Sixteen criminal justice students enjoyed this exciting opportunity to sift through evidence and solve the crime as they brought their classroom studies into the real world.

“We did this exercise as part of our study on investigation in my Principles of Law Enforcement class,” said Tracy Hoilman, professor of Criminal Justice. “It let the students learn hands-on what happens in an actual crime scene.”

Students gather outside the crime scene

The crime scene was staged in an empty house on the campus of Lees-McRae. Students processed evidence which included blood spatter, shell casings, projectiles, and a fake dead body. They took crime scene photographs, identified and interviewed witnesses, and dealt with the media and other parties not involved in the crime scene. In addition, they also learned to interview a child and how to make decisions about search warrants and probable cause.

A student photographs the crime scene

“I had the most fun I’ve had in my two years at Lees-McRae,” said Ryan Harrison, a student in the Principles of Law Enforcement class. “We learned so much about processing a crime scene. We also learned there is more to it than meets the eye.”

A graduate of the Lees-McRae Extended Campus Criminal Justice program, T.J. Bates, now the Assistant Police Chief for

Student examines blood splatter

Granite Falls Police Department, conducted the exercise which included a briefing, the actual exercise of examining the crime scene and the debriefing. The exercise began at 9:30 a.m. and by 2 p.m. the students had examined all the evidence and determined what crime was committed and who committed it.

“We won’t keep you in suspense,” said Hoilman. “The simulated crime was a murder and one of the students actually did it. Some of the students were able to figure it out but it is tougher than it looks on television!”

For more information on criminal justice at Lees-McRae College, please contact Sue Hart, chair of the Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, at harts@lmc.edu.

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Lees-McRae announces Elizabeth McRae and Shelton Scholar recipients

Posted on 4/2/2013 by hallm
Lees-McRae is proud to announce that incoming freshman Anthony Carroll (Stevensville, Md.) has been honored as Lees-McRae’s first Shelton Scholar, a scholarship valued at more than $130,000 over the course of four years. Additionally, two other incoming freshman, Emma McGovern (Lexington, N.C.) and Jordan Mayer (Timberlake, N.C.), have been awarded the prestigious full-tuition Elizabeth McRae Scholarship.
Each year Lees-McRae hosts a Scholar’s Day for prospective students who show a high level of dedication to academics and leadership. These students compete for two Elizabeth McRae Scholarships and one Shelton Scholars Award. Throughout the event, which is hosted by the college’s Honors Program, students participate in essay and interview competitions. If selected for one of these scholarships, the students must be active in the Honors Program and maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout their time at Lees-McRae.

Anthony Carroll, winner of the Shelton Scholars Award

Recipient of the Shelton Scholars award, Anthony Carroll, who attends Kent Island High School, has a 4.192 GPA and participates in cross country and track. The Shelton Scholars program is the highest honor to be bestowed upon an entering freshman. This prestigious award will provide full tuition, room and board for four years.

This award, established in September 2012, was named in honor of Ed and Dotti Shelton for their generous and humble leadership, guidance and support of Lees-McRae College. Mr. Shelton is an alumnus of the class of 1960, was awarded an honorary degree in Political Science in 1995, and was presented with an honorary Doctorate of Humanities in 2011. He serves on the College’s Board of Trustees and is currently the interim chairman of the Board. His wife, Dotti, an artist, has donated several paintings to Lees-McRae over the years, both for display and auction at the Scholarship Gala.

Emma McGovern, winner of the Elizabeth McRae Scholarship

The Elizabeth McRae Scholarship, which was named for Mrs. Elizabeth A. McRae, one of the two namesakes of the college, is also determined by Scholar’s Day and is the second largest scholarship awarded by Lees-McRae. This scholarship covers full tuition for a full-time student. Two scholarships are given each year and they are renewable for all four years.

Mrs. McRae was a summer school teacher at Lees-McRae back in 1900 when it was still an all-girls school run by Lees-McRae founder, the Rev. Edgar Tufts. Knowing the devoted character of her work, Rev. Tufts, named the institute for her. A few years later, he added the name of Mrs. McRae’s friend, Mrs. S.P. Lees who had been a generous benefactor.

One of this year’s recipient’s, Emma McGovern, attends North Davidson Senior High School. With a 4.438 GPA, she is a soccer player who is interested in Lees-McRae’s Communication Art & Design program.

Jordan Mayer
Jordan Mayer, winner of the Elizabeth McRae Scholarship

This year’s second recipient, Jordan Mayer, attends Person High School and is an active tennis athlete. Jordan has a 4.35 GPA and is interested in studying Psychology.

For more information on scholarship opportunities at Lees-McRae, please contact the Admissions Department at 800-280-4LMC or admissions@lmc.edu.

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Lees-McRae honored with Division II Presidents’ Award for Academic Excellence

Posted on 4/1/2013 by hallm

Lees-McRae College is one of 26 schools to receive an NCAA Division II Presidents’ Award for Academic Excellence, and the only representative from Conference Carolinas, announced College officials Wednesday. The award, which is in its second year of existence, honors athletic programs with four-year Academic Success Rates of 90 percent or higher.

Lees-McRae ranks 12th nationally with a 93 percent Academic Success Rate, which is 21 percentage points higher than the national average of 72 percent and 38 percent better than the federal graduation rate. The Bobcats are the lone representative from Conference Carolinas, and the only school from the Southeast Region.

“This is a great achievement and shows the dedication we have with our student-athletes, and their commitment to being great in and out of the classroom,” praised Craig McPhail, director of athletics. “From our coaching staff, to faculty and academic support staff we are all very proud of this honor and look forward to keeping academics and athletics at a very high level at Lees-McRae.”

This award is just the latest in a string of exceptional academic achievements for the Bobcats, who combined for a school-record grade point average of 3.13 as a department during the fall 2012 semester. Thirteen of the Bobcats’ 17 intercollegiate athletic programs posted a combined team GPA of 3.0 or higher, including six teams with a GPA over 3.2.

“Our CATS program has been a wonderful addition to the student athlete academic success along with our relationships with faculty and staff, the dedication and balance of our young people, as well as the coaches who have recruited, developed and mentored them,” said McPhail.

In addition to Lees-McRae’s overall ASR of 93 percent, seven of Lees-McRae’s 14 athletic programs (cross country and indoor and outdoor track & field are combined by the NCAA) received perfect scores of 100 percent. Those programs include men’s basketball, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s volleyball, cycling and women’s soccer.

The Academic Success Rate is a measure that reflects the unique qualities of Division II. It measures graduation rates for virtually all Division II student-athletes, including transfers and those not receiving athletically-related financial aid. The inclusion of student-athletes who do not receive athletically related financial aid distinguishes the ASR from Division I’s Graduation Success Rate.

The Division II Academic Success Rate captures about two-thirds more student-athletes than the federal graduation rate, which does not count incoming transfers, counts outgoing transfers as having not graduated and counts only student-athletes receiving athletically related financial aid. The national four-year ASR average is 72 percent.

No matter what measure is used, Division II student-athletes graduate at a higher rate than the general student body. The federal rate for the 2005 entering class of student-athletes was 54 percent, compared to 48 percent for the general student body.

Division II Presidents’ Award for Academic Excellence
Division II programs with a four-year Academic Success Rate of 90 percent of higher:

100% – Maryville University of Saint Louis
100% – Simon Fraser University
99% – William Jewell College
98% – Saint Michael’s College
97% – Stonehill College
97% – University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
95% – Assumption College
95% – University of Puerto Rico, Bayamon
94% – Christian Brothers University
94% – Rollins College
94% – University of California, San Diego
93% – Chestnut Hill College
93% – Lees-McRae College
93% – Oakland City University
93% – Seattle Pacific University
92% – Adelphi University
92% – Bentley University
92% – Merrimack College
92% – Rockhurst University
92% – Truman State University
91% – Eckerd College
91% – Philadelphia University
90% – Bellarmine University
90% – Colorado School of Mines
90% – Hillsdale College
90% – Saint Anselm College
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Lees-McRae participates in Appalachian Studies Conference

Posted on 4/1/2013 by hallm

“In the mountains, of the mountains, and for the mountains” has long been the motto of Lees-McRae College. At this spring’s Appalachian Studies Conference hosted by Appalachian State University in Boone, the college fulfilled the motto with strong representation from students and faculty, as well as an alumna and former trustee, and professors emeriti.

Assistant Professor Kathy Olson

Assistant Professor Kathy Olson played a vital role in the conference, serving as program chair.  She spent hundreds of hours organizing the meeting, which was the largest in the history of the Appalachian Studies Association.  Over a thousand participants gathered to share their research, creative work, and ideas during the 36th Annual Conference with the theme: Communities in Action, Landscapes in Change. Over 150 separate sessions illuminated this topic in a variety of ways.

One roundtable session, On Building Self-Esteem in Appalachian Women through Appalachian Literature and Creative Writing, featured all Lees-McRae participants and drew a roomful of listeners from throughout the region.  Convened by Dr. Michael Joslin, director of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia at Lees-McRae College, the panel included Jane Stephenson, alumna and former chairman of the Board of Trustees; Donese Preswood, research librarian, and Jessica Stone, a junior English major. In the audience were professors emeriti Allen Speer and Ted Ledford, as well as another LMC student, Meg Quinn.

Jessica Stone, Lees-McRae English Major

During the session, Joslin and Stephenson discussed their experiences teaching Appalachian Literature and creative writing to students and to women attending the New Opportunity School for Women.  Preswood told about her role in guiding students as they explored the Stirling Collection of Appalachian Literature in Carson Library at LMC, and she presented members of the audience with a study guide to Appalachian authors. Jessica Stone read a poem she had written, and related how her studies at the New Opportunity School for Women and at Lees-McRae have enriched her life and given her professional goals to pursue. The presentations led to many questions and spirited discussion among those attending.

During the session entitled Think locally: Community Change in Western North Carolina, Joslin also presented his study Buladean: A Good Place to Live and Enjoy the Mountains, a look at how a 200-year-old community has reacted to 21st century changes that have impacted age-old ways of life.

The involvement in the conference of this varied selection of Lees-McRae folks illustrates the most cherished goals of the college: to engage students in personal and professional growth; to encourage meaningful collaboration among students, faculty, and alumni; and to promote lifelong learning and service to the community. 

“As a professor and Director of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia, I could not be prouder of my fellow faculty members and our students, as well as Jane Stephenson, an alumna and former trustee, for their commitment to our region and their fields of study,” said Professor Joslin.  “Their good work shows how we fulfill our mission and our motto.”

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Career Services presents minor league baseball exec Tyler Tumminia April 11

Posted on 3/28/2013 by hallm

Lees-McRae College Career Services will host minor league baseball executive Tyler Tumminia Thursday, April 11. She will present a lecture, “Breaking through Barriers and Hitting a Home Run,” at 7 p.m. in Evans Auditorium. Tumminia is senior vice president of the Goldklang Group and oversees the marketing and broad scale sponsorship, operations and communication efforts for the sports entertainment consulting and management firm.

Tumminia is a sought after speaker on the campuses of elite colleges and universities, educating students on various topics relating to the business of sports. In 2012, Tumminia spoke at the SINC Conference in Washington, DC. During the “Marketing Sport: Action & Adventure to Professional” panel, Tumminia gave an in-depth look at the challenges of operating four minor league teams while providing behind the scenes insight into the marketing goals, sponsorship, operations and communication efforts for the Goldklang Group.
Tyler Tumminia

Tyler Tumminia

In addition to speaking at the SINC Conference, during the 2011-2012 academic school year Tumminia spoke at University of New Haven, St. Thomas University, SUNY Fredonia, University of Florida, Indiana University, University of San Diego, University of Michigan, University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Minnesota State University. She has also previously spoken at NYU and Columbia.

To highlight the start of her speaking tour for 2012-2013, Tumminia was the keynote speaker at the NCAA Women’s Leadership Symposium in Boston, MA in September. In addition she spoke at the Ohio University Sports Business Forum in October, and the world’s leading sports digital conference, Blogs with Balls in Toronto in October. She will be speaking at the Ivy Sports Symposium in November at Columbia University and the Sport Leadership Sportif in Montreal in November.

She is a recipient of the Roland Hemond, MASA and Marcom awards for excellence in her field, and in 2011 was named Executive of the Year by NYU’s sports management program. In the fall of 2011, she successfully completed MLB Scout School in Arizona.

“We are very fortunate to have Tyler Tumminia come and speak on our campus since she is in such high demand as a speaker. I think her message of determination, hard work and perseverance when working to achieve your goals will resonate well with college students and indeed the whole community,” said Russell Taylor, co-director of Career Services and director of libraries at Lees-McRae.

“Her life is a demonstration of those ideals since she has achieved what few others have to become one of only a handful of female executives in all of baseball. I strongly encourage everyone to come hear Tyler’s informative and insightful presentation,” said Taylor.

The Goldklang Group provides operational consulting and management services in all areas relating to sports franchise and event acquisition, promotion and operation. Current clients of the Goldklang Group include Minor League teams the Charleston Riverdogs, St. Paul Saints, Hudson Valley Renegades and Fort Myers Miracle. Past clients include the Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox.

At the Goldklang Group, Tumminia developed the Group’s award winning marketing philosophy, Be Your Own Fan, in response to current market trends and industry analysis. In addition, Tumminia is responsible for the largest group-wide partnership with a major brand and the largest singular themed promotional event in the Group’s history.

Her development of the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame has received tremendous recognition throughout the industry, and has been hailed as a game-changer in how scouts are perceived at the local levels. In February of 2012, Tyler became co-owner of the Pittsfield Suns, a summer collegiate baseball team that plays in the Futures League in Pittsfield, MA.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information call 828-898-8729 or email hallm@lmc.edu.

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Lees-McRae to celebrate Appalachian Heritage Week April 1-5

Posted on 3/25/2013 by hallm

In the Mountains, of the Mountains and for the Mountains—these words have long defined Lees-McRae College. This spring the third annual Appalachian Heritage Week will once again highlight Lees-McRae’s debts and commitment to Appalachia. From April 1 through the 5, each day the college will celebrate a particular aspect of mountain heritage and invites everyone to participate in activities sponsored by the Stephenson Center for Appalachia.

Monday, April 1, will be natural history and outdoor activities day.  In the afternoon from 3-5 p.m. LMC students from the Outdoor Studies program will present different features of outdoor Appalachia. Highlighting the natural denizens of the area will be students from the Wildlife Rehabilitation Program with some of the birds and beasts that are wildlife ambassadors. Also students from the LMC Backpacking Club will display both a contemporary campsite and one typical of a century ago. The Rock Climbing Club will demonstrate belaying, rappelling, and climbing, while the LMC Search and Rescue Team will man a first-aid station.

That evening, beginning at 5 p.m., the cafeteria will serve traditional Appalachian fare while the group Us Fellers led by Trevor McKenzie will play old time mountain music. While the music will be free, the cost of the meal for those without meal tickets will be $9.95.

On Tuesday, the campus will celebrate old and new Appalachian traditions. Beginning at noon, Lee Rankin will bring the denizens of her Apple Hill Farm to campus. From adorable alpacas to feisty goats and pretty pigs, the animals that are the stars of her farm’s agri-tourism enterprise will be on display. She will have available socks, scarves and other products created from the fine alpaca fiber. That evening in the cafeteria, Karen Sabo, will lead a clogging exhibition of dancers from the Appalachian Rhythm Studio in Boone.

Alpacas from Apple Hill Farm

Wednesday will feature Appalachian Arts and Crafts. Beginning at noon, potter Rob Withrow from Brasstown, North Carolina, will demonstrate his pot-throwing technique in Swank Park behind Chaffee Administration building. Students and visitors are invited to get their hands wet and shape clay on the turning wheel. Withrow will also have a selection of his acclaimed work for sale.

Thursday, Karen Sabo, director of the New Opportunity School for Women, will host an open house at the Stephenson Center for Appalachia on campus from noon to 4 p.m. After that a reunion of women who have graduated from the New Opportunity School for Women at Lees-McRae will be held. That night beginning at 7 p.m. in the Stafford Room of the Carson Library, Jane Stephenson, founder of the NOSW and an alumna of LMC, will present a lecture: Appalachia Is My Heart. Stephenson will also have copies of her latest book, Changing Lives in Appalachia, available for purchase and signing.

Concluding the festivities Friday will be Old-Time Horse and Wagon Day. Beginning at noon, Greg (BumbleBee) Miller will drive his team of Percherons with a carriage around campus, providing rides for anyone willing to climb aboard. 

Horse and Wagon riding through campus

Except for the dinners on Monday and Tuesday nights, all events are free and open to the public. The dinner with music in MacDonald Dining Hall of the college will be served from 5-7 p.m. and costs $9.95 per person.

Throughout the week Carson Library will feature a display on Appalachian Women Authors developed by research librarian, Donese Preswood.

“We invite everyone to join us in Lees-McRae’s celebration of our Appalachian Heritage. Whether you can contribute to our understanding of the past, or hope to learn more about mountain culture, please join us for one or all of our activities,” says Dr. Michael Joslin, director of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia. “We look forward to a rewarding week.”

For further information contact Megan Hall at 898-8729 or email Michael Joslin at joslin@lmc.edu.

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Lees-McRae students attend regional competition for Enactus

Posted on 3/22/2013 by hallm

On Wednesday, March 20, ten students and two faculty members from the Lees-McRae Business Administration program attended the Regional Competition for Enactus in Concord, N.C. 

According to their website, Enactus is “a community of student, academic and business leaders committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better more sustainable world.”

The attendees included students, Allison Cook, Morgan Beirne, Catherine Hanby, Rachael Nobbs, Juan Urbina, Zachary Cummings, Joe Liston, Natalija Cakarevic, Layana De Sousa, and Matt Zimmer, along with faculty members Amy Anderson Taylor and John LaCapra.

Students Joe Liston and Matt Zimmer

“Enactus will provide an innovative way to develop students’ strategic and critical thinking skills by developing projects encompassing the Triple Bottom Line of ‘People, Profit, Planet,’” said Amy Taylor,   Enactus advisor and marketing faculty member. “We are providing a competitive advantage for our students by developing an Enactus team on our campus.”

Two of the students in attendance, Catherine Hanby and Juan Urbina, in addition to fellow student, Bradley King, are implementing this organization on the Lees-McRae campus as a part of their Business Administration Senior Research Project. These three seniors, along with a few others, attended the World Cup Competition for Enactus in Washington, D.C. last fall and determined it to be an innovative way to move from the classroom to reality. The Regional Competition served as a recruitment tool and allowed a several underclassman students to experience the presentations, innovations and entrepreneurial spirit of students throughout our region. 

“What I found useful by attending the conference was the clarification of what Enactus is,” said Lees-McRae student, Morgan Beirne. “While previously I had been unsure of the exact purpose of the organization, upon viewing all of the presentations, I feel much more inspired to continue my part in the organization here at Lees-MсRае. The organization appeals to my passions of rhetoric and international studies, along with my overall desire to benefit my community, both locally and globally… I hope that Enactus will be able to flourish on our campus as it so clearly has on those of the universities I heard from yesterday.”

In addition to presentations, major corporations were on hand to discuss internships and careers. The representatives from these groups were available to meet and talk with students over lunch. The corporations included Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, Home Depot, ConAgra, Walgreens, Enterprise and Kellogg.

The Business Administration program at Lees-McRae prepares students to become responsible, productive leaders in today’s global business environment. In addition to providing a strong core business curriculum, students are offered the opportunity to choose concentrations in accounting, finance, international business, management, marketing and small business development.

For more information about Enactus on the campus of Lees-McRae College, please contact Amy Taylor, Enactus advisor and marketing faculty member, at taylora@lmc.edu.

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Lees-McRae announces changes to academic program offerings

Posted on 3/20/2013 by hallm

Based on reduced student interest, Lees-McRae has decided to no longer accept enrollment in five of its academic programs, effective immediately. Concurrently, based on increased student interest and industry demand, the College is considering several other programs.

“It is not uncommon for colleges to make changes in its program offerings based on student interest and demand,” said Dr. Kacy Crabtree, vice president of academic affairs. “These changes will not impact students currently enrolled in any of these programs. Classes will still be offered and students will be able to obtain their degree as planned. We will simply no longer recruit or accept students in these programs at this time. Please discuss any questions or concerns you have with your division chair, academic advisor or me.”

The College will no longer accept enrollment in the following programs:

  • Appalachian Studies (minor)
  • Health and Physical Education (major)
  • Interdisciplinary Studies (major)
  • Outdoor Adventure Studies (minor)
  • Sociology (minor)

In anticipation of incoming and prospective students, information about these programs has been eliminated from the website. Students currently enrolled in these programs should consult the College Catalog for any information pertaining to these programs.

Based on student interest and demand, Lees-McRae is in the process of implementing a pre-licensure nursing program and additional allied health offerings. Please contact Dr. Karen Reesman (reesmank@lmc.edu), director of nursing, if you are a freshman or sophomore at the College and have an interest in obtaining a nursing degree from Lees-McRae College. Several new allied health programs, including Emergency Care Services/Management and Healthcare Administration, are also being explored and updates should be available in a few months.

Lees-McRae continues to have robust outdoors program that supports students’ interest in backpacking, camping, rock-climbing and other outdoor related adventure. The Office of Outdoor Programs offers several outdoor adventure courses available to students who desire to use these courses to complete their wellness requirement in the core curriculum. Since Lees-McRae College is located in such a desirable environment that supports outdoor programming and education, we will be conducting a feasibility study to determine student interest in Outdoor Leadership and Recreation Management. Any student interested in outdoor programs should contact Dee Thomas, director of outdoor programs, at thomasd@lmc.edu or 828.898.8810.

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9th annual Mountain Day of Service on April 8

Posted on 3/15/2013 by hallm

On Monday, April 8, Lees-McRae will roll up its sleeves and celebrate its 9th annual Mountain Day of Service beginning with a 8:30 a.m. welcome session in Evans Auditorium. Throughout the day groups of students, staff, faculty and volunteers will spend time throughout campus working on projects such as painting, planting flowers and cleaning up debris and destruction from the recent flooding.

At the end of the evening, after all the hard work is complete, the college will welcome Relentless Flood, a contemporary rock band featuring Lees-McRae College Alumnus Marshall Huffman, who will perform live in Evans Auditorium.

In the past, the campus and all its volunteers have contributed more than 2, 200 hours of service each year on Mountain Day. The tradition of Mountain Day at Lees-McRae goes back to the school’s founder, the Rev. Edgar Tufts. Each fall, Tufts would surprise the school during chapel by announcing, “It is a good day to climb Beech.” Following the proclamation, the entire school would set off up the mountain. When they reached the end of the five-mile climb, a feast of potatoes, corn and sandwiches would be waiting on the group.

Mountain Day was renewed during the early years of the 21st century; more than 100 years after Tufts founded the school. It became a semiannual tradition, though the hike was limited to Wildcat Lake via the Hemlock Trail.

Beginning in 2005, the spring mountain day was dedicated to community service, leaving the fall celebration as a day of rest and fun.

“The legacy of Lees-McRae is one of service to all things and all people of these great Appalachian Mountains,” said Mitch Marlowe, interim dean of students. “Our continued faith in the power of Mountain Day is a tribute to Edgar Tufts and his life of dedicated service. We honor his legacy and the legacy of this institution each year by taking time to serve these mountains and all the beings that live here. It is a time to be selfless and give back for all the good we see happen on this campus each day.”

For more information about Mountain Day of Service at Lees-McRae College, please contact Mitch Marlowe, interim dean of students, at marlowem@lmc.edu or 828.898.3311.

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Lees-McRae students travel to National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C.

Posted on 3/15/2013 by hallm

From March 4-6, as part of their curriculum, six Lees-McRae students in the Cycling Studies minor traveled to Washington, D.C. for the 2013 National Bike Summit. This annual event, which has long been recognized as the premier advocacy event of the year, gave these students the opportunity to engage in discussion with top cycling industry leaders, potential employers and congressmen.

With more than 750 attendees from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian provinces, this year’s summit featured speakers such as New York City Transportation Commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan, and U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Ray Lahood. Throughout the three days, more than a dozen workshops and one extraordinary day on Capitol Hill focused on this year’s topic, Bicycling Means Business.

“Lees-McRae is providing the opportunity to raise the level of involvement through the educational process,” said Ted Silver, professor of cycling studies at Lees-McRae College and chairman of the Lees-McRae Bicycle Advisory Council. “Most of these students were unaware that legislation and planning began ten or twenty years in advance. We teach about advocacy in our classes, but at the summit the students were able to hear, and participate, in discussions with industry leaders and their own congressmen.”

Students Cody Phillips, TJ Trotter, Lucas Harville, Joe Liston, Gunnar Bergey and Josh Murdock travelled to the summit as part of a Cycling Studies class taught by Professor Ted Silver, who also accompanied the students to Washington along with Doug Owen, the director of cycling for Lees-McRae. This trip was made possible by the generosity of Bikes Belong, The League of American Bicyclists and Lees-McRae College. As part of the preparation for the summit, the students worked through an effective advocacy checklist which helped them with background research, message development, general message delivery, effective written communication and phone calls, and effective follow-ups.

In addition to the workshops, the summit featured Hill Day, during which participates met with senators and representatives from their respective states. The Lees-McRae students represented California, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Maryland. Each state has a coordinator who arranged appointments for the students and updated a mobile app that listed each appointment with a map to each location.

“Our students and the college will greatly benefit from attending this summit,” said Silver. “Our students have already created connections for possible jobs or internships in everything from transportation design to cycling marketing, sales and manufacturing. We were also able to create connections for support of our cycling team. We could not be more appreciative or optimistic about our time in Washington, D.C. Everyone we met praised the maturity of our students.”

Lees-McRae is home to the 10-time national team champion Bobcat cycling team. With a 12-year history and more than 50 individual national titles, this team boasts riders who race professionally as well as collegiately and former riders such as Brent Bookwalter ’06, who rode for BMC Racing in the Tour de France, and Andrew Talansky, who placed second in Paris-Nice this year for Garmin-Sharp.

In the classroom, Lees-McRae offers a minor in Cycling Studies. The Cycling Studies minor is designed to provide students the opportunity to enhance and supplement their chosen field of study with their interest in cycling. The Cycling Studies minor will not only provide exposure to the skills and knowledge of cycling, but also the skills and knowledge of other areas, such as advocacy, design, and infrastructure, that they can combine and parlay with their chosen field of study. Combining this minor and the student’s chosen field of study should allow for a rewarding life pursuit and help preserve cycling for future generations

For more information about cycling at Lees-McRae College, please contact Doug Owen, director of cycling, at owend@lmc.edu or 828.387.6618.

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Lees-McRae offers unique summer classes

Posted on 3/14/2013 by hallm

If you would like to spend the summer in Banner Elk and also take classes or an internship, then come to Lees-McRae for summer school! With topics ranging from Appalachian photography and clogging to small business accounting and clinical wildlife rehabilitation, there is a course to match every person. Online and seated sections, plus introductory and advanced classes, will be offered.

“We’re excited about the courses being offered this summer,” said Lynn Hinshaw, registrar, “and we hope our students, as well as community members, will take advantage of this opportunity for even smaller class sizes and one-on-one attention!”

Course offerings include:

  • History of the Appalachian Trail
  • The Feminine Voice in Appalachian Literature
  • Introduction to Clogging
  • Appalachian Photography
  • Personal Health
  • Clinical Wildlife Rehab I
  • Clinical Wildlife Rehab II
  • Appalachian Ecology
  • Small Business Accounting
  • Study Abroad
  • Financial Decision Making
  • Appalachian Documentary
  • Principles of Law Enforcement
  • Judicial Process
  • U.S. and the World
  • Current Issues and Trends in Sports
  • General Psychology
  • Social Psychology
  • Spanish for the Professions
  • Spanish and Latin American Film
  • Toltec Wisdom Literature
  • Sport & Cinema in Television

In addition to these classes, internships will be available in biology, business, criminal justice, english, sociology, sport science and sports management.

Current students participating in summer school will have the option to live on campus and purchase meals from the Dining Hall.

For more information about summer school at Lees-McRae College, please contact Lynn Hinshaw, registrar, at hinshaw@lmc.edu or 828.898.3473.

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Talansky finishes second at Paris-Nice, wins Best Young Rider

Posted on 3/11/2013 by hallm

NICE, France – Former Lees-McRae College cyclist Andrew Talansky closed out Paris-Nice in style on Sunday, finishing second overall and just 55 seconds behind general classification winner Richie Porte to earn the white jersey as the Best Young Rider. 

Talansky put together his best performance as a pro over the course of the seven-stage race from Houilles (just outside of Paris) to Nice, which covers a total distance of 1,174 kilometers (approx. 729.5 miles). 

The American international won a cold and rainy third stage on Wednesday, March 6, taking the stage with a time of 4:06:15 to claim the overall lead. Talansky held on to the yellow jersey heading into the decisive fifth stage on Friday, when Porte seized control with wins in the fifth and seventh stages to top the overall podium just seconds ahead of Talansky. 

While competing at Lees-McRae, Talansky made his name with the Bobcats as a member of the 2008 Division I Road National Championship team.  That same year, he also won the Division I Men’s Road Race National title and the overall Division I Individual Omnium National title. 

The newly crowned Best Young Rider wasn’t the only Bobcat in the pack. Fellow Lees-McRae cyclist, Brent Bookwalter ’06, was in pursuit of the win as well. Bookwalter, a veteran rider for BMC Racing, finished in 82nd place. 

For more information about cycling at Lees-McRae, please contact Doug Owen, director of cycling, at owend@lmc.edu or 828.898.6618, or visit www.lmcbobcats.com.

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Former LMC cyclist Andrew Talansky wins Stage Three of Paris-Nice

Posted on 3/7/2013 by hallm

Former LMC cyclist Andrew Talansky hit an all-time career high on Wednesday, March 6 when he won Stage Three of Paris-Nice. Congratulations, Andrew!

Article courtesy of Cyclingnews.com (Click here for the full article)

By Peter Cossins

Garmin-Sharp’s Andrew Talansky won the third stage of “the race to the sun” in cold and wet conditions in Brioude. The American edged out Davide Malacarne (Europcar) and Gorka Izagirre (Euskaltel) to give his team their first victory of the season. Also in the seven-rider group that disputed the finish were Sky’s Richie Porte and David López, Ag2r’s Romain Bardet and Astana’s Andriy Grivko. They finished seven seconds clear of a chase group containing most of the other favourites.

Talanksy had double reason to celebrate as he became the fourth rider in four days to wear the yellow jersey after Cannondale’s race leader Elia Viviani was tailed off on the second-category climb of the Cote de Mauvagnat 15km from the finish.

Until the approach to that climb, a four-man break had led the way. Martijn Keizer (Vacansoleil-DCM), Sébastien Minard (Ag2r), Mads Christensen (Saxo Bank) and Alexis Vuillermoz (Sojasun) never gained much more than four minutes on the peloton. Keizer led over the first two climbs of the day, which put him in the mountains jersey, but there was never a chance of the Dutchman adding any more points on the Mauvagnat as the peloton began to chase hard, eventually reeling in the four leaders with 22km remaining.

Astana and Sky were particularly prominent leading into the climb and dominated the action leading up it. Once on the second-category ascent, the pace-setting of Sky’s Jonathan Tiernan-Locke and Xavier Zandio soon resulted in yellow jersey Viviani dropping out of the front group. Local man Bardet and Astana’s Maxim Iglinskiy both attempted to escape from Sky’s lock down on the front of the race. Both failed, Iglinskiy on two occasions. However, his teammate Grivko darted away clear just before the top of the climb, quickly followed by Sky’s Vasil Kiryienka.

The first part of the descent was fairly straightforward, but as the turns became steeper and tighter the wet road became much more treacherous. Soon after pushing on past Grivko, Kiryienka rear wheel slalomed after hitting a slick patch. The Sky man tried vainly to control his bike but hit the deck hard and slid into the roadside ditch. Thankfully, he was soon back on his feet.

Having done well to avoid the sliding Kiryienka, Grivko pressed on. He was joined by López, Bardet, Izagirre and Malacarne. Sensing an opportunity to gain some ground on their rivals, Porte and Talansky scampered across to the leaders as well. Behind this group, BMC’s Tejay van Garderen led the chase.

With 5km remaining, the pursuit appeared to have succeeded as the leaders’ advantage fell to a mere five seconds, but then it started to stretch again. Van Garderen, team-mate Philippe Gilbert, Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma) and Andreas Klöden (RadioShack) all attempted to inject more urgency into the chase, but the seven leaders managed to stay clear.

Malacarne made the first move going into the kilometre-to-go banner, but Porte chased him down and hammered into the home straight, clearly determined to ensure the group held its advantage. Bardet led out the sprint, triggering an immediate response from Talansky, who jumped out of the middle of the group and shouted with delight as he crossed the line.

“This is really important for me because Garmin-Sharp sent a whole team here to help me for the overall. So to win a stage here and take the jersey is a big step in my career,” said the 24-year-old American. “When I realised we were going to go all the way I tried to figure out a way to win this. I have a good sprint out of a small group.”

Having claimed the yellow jersey, Talansky now aims to keep it. “It’s nice to be in the jersey. It’s always easier to defend something than to fight to get it. There’s still a lot of good riders in contention, but we will do what we can to keep the jersey. The Montagne de Lure is a really good climb for me. The final time trial on the Col d’Eze is another good one for me, especially that one. I think overall victory is possible.”

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Lees-McRae is participating in the National Survey of Student Engagement

Posted on 3/1/2013 by hallm

On February 12, students received their first invitation via campus email to participate in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), which takes only 15 minutes to complete. NSSE, a confidential survey, helps faculty and staff understand how Lees-McRae students spend time in and out of the classroom. This information guides decisions made by the College.

With more than 600 four-year colleges and universities in the United States and Canada administering the survey in the spring of 2013, Lees-McRae is excited to see how Bobcat students compare to other students in the nation and understand what changes can be made to create a better experience for the students.

Student engagement represents two critical features of collegiate quality. The first is the amount of time and effort students put into their studies and other educationally purposeful activities. The second is how the institution deploys its resources and organizes the curriculum and other learning opportunities to get students to participate in activities that are linked to student learning. NSSE measures both of these areas.

Students have until June 1 to complete the survey and, until March 19, they will get bi-weekly reminders from NSSE until they have completed the survey. For questions or concerns, please contact Blaine Hansen, director of assessment, effectiveness and institutional research, at hansenb@lmc.edu or 828-898-8838.

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Former Lees-McRae cyclist Andrew Talansky ready to lead pro team at Paris-Nice

Posted on 3/1/2013 by hallm

Former Lees-McRae cyclist, Andrew Talansky, made his name with the Bobcats as a member of the 2008 Division I Road National Championship team.  That same year, he also won the Division I Men’s Road Race National title and the overall Div I Individual Omnium National title that year. Now he is a veteran member of the Garmin-Sharp professional cycling team and making waves at Paris-Nice.

Read below for a great article on Talansky written by Cyclingnew.com. 

 

Article courtesy of Peter Hymas, Cycling News
Photo Caption: Andrew Talansky (Garmin-Sharp) awaits the start of the first stage at the Tour Méditerranéen. Photo Courtesy of © Sirotti.

The WorldTour makes its first foray into Europe at Paris-Nice, with a 2.9km prologue time trial kicking off the eight-day race on Sunday, and Andrew Talansky (Garmin-Sharp) is ready. Now entering his third year at the WorldTour level, all spent with the Garmin organisation, the 24-year-old American faces the first test of a season in which he expects to make his Tour de France debut in July.

“What I’m looking for at Paris-Nice is the kind of the improvement I saw year-to-year in the Vuelta last year – from being who knows what to being 7th overall,” Talansky told Cyclingnews from his residence in Girona, Spain. “That’s what’s going to happen this year in Paris-Nice. I’m going there very conservatively to say I’m racing for the top five but you know the podium is a goal and it’s really a wide-open race this year.”

Talansky made his WorldTour debut at Paris-Nice in his first year with Garmin, 2011, where he finished 61st overall but showed glimpses of his potential with a 7th place finish in the stage 6 time trial. The American has made stellar progress since then, featuring his first pro victory in both a road stage and stage race last year at the Tour de l’Ain, a top-ten finish at the Vuelta a Espana, and a second place overall (by 12 seconds) to Bradley Wiggins (Sky) at the Tour of Romandie where Talansky was also denied victory in the concluding time trial by mere fractions of a second at the hands of the flying Briton. 

While not intimately acquainted with this year’s Paris-Nice parcours, Talansky likes what he sees, particularly on the final day.

“I actually don’t know any of the climbs that well,” said Talansky. “I’ve looked at it all on paper – I’ve looked at the profiles – and it looks good. It looks like it’s going to be a really hard race, which is exactly what I need. By the time we get to that Col d’Èze time trial, even though it’s only 20 minutes on the last stage, people are going to be really tired and that’s usually when I can excel. That looks pretty much like my ideal time trial. 

“If somebody else doesn’t make the race hard then we will definitely make it hard. With the race being a little more open this year I think there’s enough people who have an opportunity to be on the podium or to win that it’s going to be an exciting race. I’ve been preparing all winter for it and I feel I’m where I need to be. Now it’s just a matter of going and doing it.” 

The seeds to Talansky’s 2013 season have been sown during winter training and his off-season training block augers well for this year’s racing programme. 

“This was probably the smoothest winter I’ve had since being on Garmin,” said Talansky. “Things just really clicked. I got into a good rhythm in the US, I base myself out of Napa Valley when I’m there. You have all the roads you need and a nice mix of weather. You have cold, wet days – but you need those because you have to race in it – and then you get plenty of sun. It was good. 

“In one sense a lot did change this winter in that it was my first full winter working with my coach Jesse Moore. He’s a California-based guy and it’s very scientific-based training – everything has a purpose and it’s very, very specific. I followed the program to a T, I have 100 percent trust in him, and it’s paying off.” 

Talansky’s season kicked off at the Tour Méditerranéen on February 6, but unfortunately he was denied the chance to top his 2011 fourth place overall result as the Garmin-Sharp organisation was the victim of a massive theft in which all of the squad’s road bikes were stolen overnight prior to stage four. While the team withdrew from the race, Talansky was still able to test himself in the stage 2 time trial where he finished in 11th place, 59 seconds down on stage winner Lars Boom (Team Blanco). 

“For me, personally, I was just there to do a time trial and get in an uphill finish. It would have been nice to get to race up Mont Faron but for my preparation for the season and the races it wasn’t very crucial. I can simulate an uphill race in training just as well as I can in a smaller race. 

“We have all the data now with power and I got the information I needed, the team got the information they needed,” Talansky said of his time trial performance. “You have a four-minute climb at the end but it was 30 minutes of pancake flat roads with a huge amount of wind – that’s not my specialty at all. It was actually exactly what I was looking for and hoping for regarding how the numbers went so it was good to get a half hour effort in and at Paris-Nice it’s just going to be 20 minutes. Going into Paris-Nice it’s very promising.” 

Talansky has competed at the Vuelta a Espana in each of his prior two seasons with Garmin, but this year he’s focused on the Tour de France where he hopes to make his French Grand Tour debut this coming July. 

“That’s what my season is based around. Barring accident or illness I will be there. You’re not racing it until you’re there on the starting line, but they told me to be ready for that and I will be come July,” said Talansky. 

“It will be exciting since it’s my first Tour, but it’s the Tour so everything will be a little bit harder and a little bit bigger. But at the end of the day when you get to a final climb you still just have to do everything you can to get up that climb and when you’re doing a time trial it’s still just a time trial. That’s just the way I’m looking at it. 

“To the public it’s the biggest race in the world, but at the Vuelta last year we had some of the best riders in the world with Contador, Valverde, Rodriguez and Froome. The list just kind of gets longer when you go to the Tour, everyone’s just that touch better, but it’s still a bike race.”

Click here to view the original article.

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McMillan Pazdan Smith selected to design the May School of Nursing and Allied Health

Posted on 2/27/2013 by hallm

Lees-McRae is proud to announce they have selected the architecture firm McMillan Pazdan Smith to design the May School of Nursing and Allied Health. With groundbreaking slated for as early as June 2013, this 18,000 square foot facility will soon be the cornerstone of the College’s expanded science and health-related programs.

“We are excited about working with Ron Smith and his colleagues at McMillan Pazdan Smith on the May School of Nursing and Allied Health,” said President Barry M. Buxton. “The firm has an impressive track record of working with small private colleges to facilitate cost containment while building structures that are consistent with the architectural heritage of the institution. Their vision for this important building is dynamic and exciting and we know it will continue our efforts to elevate Lees-McRae College.”

Based on student interest, marketplace demand and a generous donation from Daniel and Dianne May, Lees-McRae is considering the addition of a pre-licensure undergraduate nursing program as well as allied health programs in healthcare administration and emergency care management.

The state-of-the-art May School of Nursing and Allied Health will provide classrooms, lab space and technology specific to the nursing and allied health curriculum. Lees-McRae currently offers science programs such as biology with concentrations in nutrition and health science. The health science curriculum prepares students for graduate schools in the areas of dentistry, medical, pharmacy, physician assistant and veterinarian studies. Additionally, the college currently offers allied health programs including athletic training (accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education).

“The Lees-McRae family has articulated a vision and demonstrated true leadership in the creation of the May School of Nursing and Allied Health,” said Ron Smith, AIA, managing principal at McMillan Pazdan Smith. “We have the honor of creating a flexible educational environment that will incorporate advanced teaching technologies and strong fiscal stewardship. Our intent is to add aesthetic value to an already beautiful campus.”

With offices located throughout the Southeast, McMillan Pazdan Smith’s portfolio includes many other higher education healthcare and research facilities including the USC School of Medicine – Greenville, Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Wofford Milliken Science Center.

“I believe the May School of Nursing and Allied Health is a vital asset to the revitalization and continued success of Lees-McRae College,” said Ed Shelton ’60 ’95(H), interim chairman of the Lees-McRae College Board of Trustees. “There is great student interest in health-related programs and no shortage of demand for additional health care professionals. We are grateful to Daniel and Dianne May for their love of Lees-McRae College and their unconditional support, and we are grateful to McMillan Pazdan Smith for their incredible vision and guidance.”

Students may enroll beginning fall 2013. All prospective nursing and allied health students must complete most of their general education requirements and prerequisite courses during their first two- four semesters of study before applying and enrolling in a major-specific program.

For more information on nursing and allied health at Lees-McRae College, please visit go.lmc.edu/nursing-allied-health or contact the Admissions Department at 800-280-4LMC or admissions@lmc.edu.

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Webb qualifies for 2013 NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships

Posted on 2/27/2013 by hallm

Lees-McRae College junior Evan Webb (Salisbury, N.C.) has officially qualified for the 2013 NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships, becoming the third indoor national qualifier in program history, announced NCAA officials Tuesday with the release of the official heat lists.

A native of Salisbury, N.C., Webb has enjoyed a tremendous junior season this winter, surpassing the provisionally qualifying mark in the first meet of the campaign when he finished at 4.90 meters to win Appalachian State University’s Indoor Invitational. Webb steadily improved over the course of the season, topping out at a school-record height of 5.05 meters this past weekend at the George Mason University Last Chance Meet.

With his final qualifying height, Webb goes into the national championship meet ranked ninth out of 17 vaulters selected to compete for the 2013 title. Webb is one of 10 athletes in the nation to clear five meters this season.

Webb is the eighth national qualifier in program history – both indoor and outdoor – and the second in the pole vault. Former Bobcat star Jonathan Arthur qualified for outdoor nationals in both 2009 and 2010 in the pole vault, finishing eighth in his second try to earn the program’s second NCAA Division II All-American honors.

Webb and the Bobcats return to action on Friday, March 1 when they travel to nearby Hickory, N.C. to open the outdoor season at the Power Sox Invitational, hosted by Lenoir-Rhyne University.

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Traditional mountain music and poetry at Lees-McRae on March 7

Posted on 2/26/2013 by hallm

If winter’s onslaught has given you cabin fever, come to Lees-McRae College Thursday, March 7, for an evening of poetry and music.  At 7:00 p.m. in the Stafford Room of Carson Library, the Stephenson Center for Appalachia presents Appalachian poet John York and his balladeer daughter, Rachel, in a program of traditional mountain music and original poetry.

John Thomas York was born in Winston-Salem in 1953 and grew up in Yadkin County in northwestern North Carolina. He was educated at Appalachian State (where he was a member of the first class of Watauga College, ASU’s residential college), Wake Forest, and Duke, and he has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he studied with Fred Chappell.

His work has appeared in or is forthcoming from many journals, including Appalachian Journal, Kenyon Review, and Tar River Poetry, as well as anthologies such as Word and Witness: 100 Years of North Carolina Poetry and  The Southern Poetry Anthology, Volume III: Contemporary Appalachia.   In 2011, he received the first annual James Applewhite Poetry Prize from the North Carolina Literary Review. In March 2012, Press 53 published his first full-length collection, Cold Spring Rising.

York’s daughter, Rachel, is a recent graduate of East Carolina University, where she majored in bass performance and minored in art and design. While at ECU, she also spent a semester in Brazil, where she attended the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and performed in the bass section of the Youth Orchestra. Rachel also has a keen interest in organic farming and has spent several summers working on farms in North Carolina and Illinois. Because of her Appalachian heritage—her mother’s parents are from West Virginia, her father’s, from the mountains of North Carolina and Georgia—Rachel has long had an interest in mountain ballads, especially those performed by Sheila Kay Adams and the late Doc Watson.

The program will consist of readings from Cold Spring Rising, as well as John York’s newer poems. York will also read work by Appalachian poets Fred Chappell, Jim Wayne Miller, and Kathryn Stripling Byer. Rachel York will provide musical interludes, singing ballads such as “Pretty Saro,” “The Waggoner’s Lad,” and “Fair and Tender Ladies.”

“We look forward to the Yorks’ unique blend of old-time mountain music and fresh, original poems,” said Dr. Michael Joslin, director of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia at Lees-McRae College.  “Our students eagerly anticipate the program, and we invite everyone to come by to enjoy the show.”

The Yorks’ performance is free and open to the public.  You are invited to attend at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, March 7, in the Stafford Room of Carson Library of Lees-McRae College.  For more information, call Megan Hall at 828-898-8729.

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Lees-McRae College student to compete on National Geographic Channel show

Posted on 2/26/2013 by hallm

Before he heads to Lees-McRae in the fall, incoming freshman, Will Fleming, will compete on the show, Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout? which premieres on National Geographic Channel Monday, March 4 at 8 p.m.

Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout? is a reality competition series following a group of elite Boy Scouts over the course of three days and two nights as they compete against adult men in a variety of scout-based challenges. Produced by Original Productions, the same team responsible for reality show staples such as Ice Road Truckers and Deadliest Catch, this show is sure to be entertaining!

“Scouts were chosen on several criteria and skill sets and Will’s strengths are orienteering and marksmanship,” said Laura Fleming, Will’s mother. “Will is a member of the National Skeet Shooting Association and he is currently ranked as an A Class shooter, shooting all four shotgun gauges with an overall average of 96 percent.”

Will Fleming, a native of Raleigh, N.C., is a third generation Eagle Scout. As one of 11 scouts selected nationwide to participate in the show, Will, who will go by “Big South” on the show, was the only cast member selected from the southeastern United States and one of only two from outside of California.

“We’re thrilled that Will is joining the Lees-McRae family in the fall,” said Ginger Hansen, vice president of Enrollment Management and Communications. “We love seeing students like Will, who come in with a passion for the outdoors, because we know they will thrive on our campus.”

With a strong focus in outdoor programs, Lees-McRae’s location and natural offerings are a perfect match for an outdoor enthusiast like Fleming. The mission of Outdoor Programs is to offer students opportunities for participation in outdoor educational experiences that will develop the mind, body, and soul of the student, while developing essential leadership and developmental skills vital to success in life.

“[Lees-McRae] has the courses … to [help me] meet my goals for a career in the outdoors and the mountain environment will help me excel in my studies,” said Will Fleming.

If you want to learn more about Will, a.k.a. “Big South” like his Facebook page, www.facebook.com/WillFlemingBigSouth. Click here to learn more about Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout?

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Run for Wildlife Half-Marathon scheduled for April 13

Posted on 2/22/2013 by hallm

On Saturday, April 13, the High Country will welcome the inaugural Run for Wildlife Half-Marathon benefitting Lees-McRae’s Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute. Registration is open now with a registration fee of $55.

With a 9 a.m. start, this race will cover 13.1 miles of beautiful mountain property. The race will begin at Sugar Mountain, continue through Banner Elk and the Lees-McRae College campus. It will then wind up through Matney and end back in Banner Elk at the Best Western Plus Mountain Lodge where there will be live entertainment at the finish line.

A couple steep hill climbs and an average altitude of 3500 feet make this a challenging run, but the finale is downhill with beautiful vistas, making it all worth it. At the finish line there will be a runner’s lunch provided by Subway, photo opportunities with the animals from the Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute, and an awards ceremony.

This run was organized to benefit the Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to wildlife rehabilitation, environmental education, and research. This institute is an intricate part of Lees-McRae’s Wildlife Biology program, specifically, their concentration in Wildlife Rehabilitation. The Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute, located in the new, state-of-the-art May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, and its volunteers and students help rehabilitate more than 1,000 animals each year.

Race registration will be from 12 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday April 12 at the Best Western Plus Mountain Lodge. For more information on this run or to register, please visit http://runforwildlife.racesonline.com/.

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Alumnus of the Month: Justin Bulla ’08

Posted on 2/21/2013 by hallm

When talking to Justin Bulla you can feel his excitement when he recalls his days at Lees-McRae College.  A theater student who came to LMC via App State to get a second degree, you can tell Justin found Lees-McRae to be his true home.  He said he is closer to and still in contact with most of his LMC crowd whom he affectionately refers to as his Mcfamily! 

When asked about his favorite memory from Lees-McRae, it took him a while to think of just one but without surprise it came back to the theater.   “I directed a production of You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown for Lees-McRae Summer Theater.  It was great because all of my friends were in it!”

Justin is currently teaching middle and high school drama at an arts magnet school in Winston-Salem, NC.  He said he uses everything he learned at Lees-McRae in his current position.  “I would not know how to do what I am doing without my education at Lees-McRae!” 

Justin also feels it is very important to give back to the alma mater that helped get him where he is today.  “Without our support of LMC you are not allowing future students to have the same experience you did.  And if you can’t give back monetarily give back some other way.”

His advice for current LMC students? “Stay humble!  There is always going to be someone better than you or someone working harder than you.  Appreciate your opportunities because every opportunity is a learning experience.”

Justin is currently in the finishing stages on his Masters of Theater Education at UNC-Greensboro and is a member of the executive board of the Stokes County Arts Council.  He has also started a summer theater series in Stokes County.

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Job and Internship Fair in Evans Auditorium on February 28

Posted on 2/20/2013 by hallm

If graduation is approaching and you’re still job hunting, or if you’re searching for the perfect internship, come to the Lees-McRae Job and Internship Fair! Scheduled for this Thursday, February 28 from 12-4 p.m. in Evans Auditorium, the fair will feature local and regional businesses looking for full-time and part-time employees as well as interns.

Large corporations, independent businesses, non-profits, and direct sales companies will be in attendance. In addition, recruiters from the US Army and US Navy will be available to talk about opportunities in the armed forces. Some of the participants include Lowe’s Hardware, Avery Journal, Burke County Schools, and Appalachian Service Project.

Students are encouraged to dress as they would for a job interview, preferably business casual or professional dress. They are also encouraged to bring multiple copies of their resume to share with employers.

In addition to the fair, the Office of Career Services will be hosting several other major events this semester including a lecture by Tyler Tumminia, a minor league baseball executive (Thursday, April 4 at 7 p.m. in Evans Auditorium) and a Career Symposium (Saturday, April 20 from 1- 5 p.m.). 

For questions on any of these events, please contact Caitlin Neal-Jones, assistant director of career services, at nealjonesc@lmc.edu.

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Lees-McRae Cycling kicks off season

Posted on 2/18/2013 by hallm

The Lees-McRae cycling team, currently ranked number 3 in the country for Division I, kicked off their 2013 road cycling season at Georgia Southern University. 

Racing against Division I rivals, University of Florida, Florida State, Cumberland University, University of Georgia, University of Alabama, University of South Florida and Division II powerhouse Mars Hill, the team had a good start to the season. Spencer Oswald won the Men’s A ITT and the Crit.  Unfortunately, Spencer broke his handlebar in the Road Race and had to drop. The Men’s B TTT finished in second and the Women’s A squad finished third while racing a team with 2 A and 2 B women. Sarah Hill, in her first collegiate road race, finished second in the Women’s B Road Race and won the Crit. The entire team road very well with multiple top 10 finishes in all the A, B and C races.

Men's cyclists, Cody Duffy, Eli Wemyss, Justin Thompson and Gabriel Valencia

The team also sent a group to Greenville, S.C. to compete in the USAC Hincapie Spring Race. The men raced five riders in the pro 1/2 race. It was a challenging race with the Hincapie Professional Cycling Team dominating the men’s race.  The men worked hard and tried to cover the breaks over the 74 miles. Zac Felpel finished second in the field sprint out of the peloton. The women were the strong team in the women’s Pro 1/2/3 race.  The entire 45 mile race the women attacked and controlled the pace of the race.  No riders were able to break away so the entire peloton was together for the field sprint where Cinthia Lehner finished second, Emily Shields fourth and Katherine Shields seventh. It was a good race for the team to stretch their legs and race against some of the top professional riders in the southeast.

Thanks go out to the great sponsors who support the team and made the weekend a success: DeFeet, Smith Optics, Greg LeMond, Banner Elk Café, Highland Mapping, Hampton Trails Bike Shop and Abby Design. 

Next week, the team travels to Florida State University as they continue their drive for the USAC Collegiate Road Nationals in Ogden Utah, May 3-5, 2013.

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Rumors, a comedy by Neil Simon, opens February 28

Posted on 2/15/2013 by hallm

Are you looking for a night of fun and laughter? Join the Lees-McRae Performing Arts Department as they present Rumors, a comedy by Neil Simon. The play will run from Thursday, February 28 to Sunday, March 3.

“Rumors is very silly and entertaining,” said Dr. Michael Hannah, program coordinator, BFA in Musical Theatre. “It’s perfect for someone looking to just leave their troubles at the door and laugh and enjoy a great production.”

Rumors is a farce centered on a group of affluent couples attending a dinner party in New York City. Upon arrival, the first guests discover the hostess is missing, the servants have vanished and the host has shot himself through the ear. With the arrival of each new couple, more and more comic complications arise as the guests try to conceal the truth of the events from each other, the local police and the media.

“We chose this play because it provides great experience for our students and we wanted to do something a little different than the other productions so far this year,” said Dr. Hannah. “We performed this play once before, back in the 2000s, and it was very well received. Rumors allows our students to create a fully realized interior set, get a lot of one-on-one attention because it’s a small 10-person cast, and also perform a contemporary comedy which is great experience.”

This production is open to the public. Show dates and times are as follows: February 28 at 7:30 p.m., March 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m. and March 3 at 2 p.m. Due to language, Rumors is for mature audiences. All performances are in Hayes Auditorium, in the Broyhill Theatre. Tickets are only sold at the door. The box office opens one hour prior to show time. Ticket prices are: $12 for adults and $5 for students and children.

For more information on purchasing tickets, please call the box office at 828-898-8709.

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New Changes to technology services at Lees-McRae

Posted on 2/14/2013 by hallm

Tired of having to register your computer to get wireless internet? Tired of waiting for help with technology? Not anymore! In an effort to revitalize its operational focus, technology services has implemented two exciting new initiatives.

First, access to the College’s wireless network no longer requires registration through the IT office. Just look for “LMC” on your wireless device and you’re ready to go.

Second, all technology support requests will now be tracked through a portal on the Lees-McRae website. With three simple steps, you can submit a request and receive confirmation within 10 minutes. All requests go immediately to Suzette Fronk, vice president of finance and business affairs, Mike Hughett, network/systems administrator, and Tom Burne, technical support specialist.

To visit the technology portal, visit the Lees-McRae website, scroll to the bottom of the homepage and click “Technology Services” under the Helpful Links section. Select “Please click here to visit our helpdesk site,” then select “Open New Ticket.” Fill out the necessary information and you’re done!

For more information on technology services at Lees-McRae, please visit www.lmc.edu.

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Professor Ted Silver named Chairman of Bicycle Advisory Council

Posted on 2/5/2013 by hallm

Lees-McRae College is proud to announce Professor Ted Silver as the new Chairman of the Bicycle Advisory Council. The council aims to provide resources and support to the College’s cycling program and athletes as well as the cycling curriculum.

“I think we all feel that [Professor Silver] has the knowledge, experience, and desire to provide great leadership for the Council,” said Lees-McRae College President, Barry M. Buxton. “I am very happy he is assuming this new role and he has my unqualified support.”

A 55-year resident of Miami, Fl., Silver was the chairman of the Miami-Dade Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee as well as a member of Randonneurs USA (RUSA), a non-profit organization that supports and promotes long-distance cycling. In May 2008, Silver and his wife, Dr. Carol Berns, became permanent residents of Banner Elk and is now the Chairman of the Banner Elk Bicycle Pedestrian Committee and one of three Avery County representatives on a regional bike planning committee.

Before his years as a cycling enthusiast, Silver attended pharmacy school at the University of Georgia and then law school at the University of Miami. Silver is now an adjunct professor for the cycling minor offered by Lees-McRae, teaching classes such as Linear Systems, Product Development and Course Design, and Principles of Cycling.

“Lees-McRae is the first college in the country to offer a curriculum in cycling,” said Silver. “I was available and willing to teach because I want to help grow the curriculum and support the athletes. I’m excited to make a long-term plan for the advisory council so we can continue to give resources and references to cyclists and help them as students and as athletes.”

The cycling curriculum supports the knowledge and skills of competitive cyclists and enthusiasts, and prepares future generations of cycling professionals. The Cycling Studies minor is designed to provide students with knowledge and hands-on experience in the cycling industry and serves as an excellent complement to other degree programs.

For more information on the Bicycle Advisory Committee, please contact Professor Ted Silver at silvert@lmc.edu.

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Former Lees-McRae cyclist, Brent Bookwalter ’06, wins Stage 1 of the Tour of Qatar

Posted on 2/5/2013 by hallm

Brent Bookwalter, a 2006 graduate of Lees-McRae and 2010 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, won Stage 1 of the Tour of Qatar and had an overall second-place finish. Bookwalter, who went pro in 2008, races for BMC Racing, a Swiss-based racing team, and has made two appearances in the Tour de France.

According to reporter Barry Ryan of Cyclingnews.com, “A typically windswept day of racing at the Tour of Qatar ended with a surprise winner as Brent Bookwalter (BMC) claimed victory on stage 1 to Dukhan Beach. The American was part of a three-man group which forged clear in the finale, and then defied the odds and a block headwind to fend off the peloton.”

As a rider for Lees-McRae, Bookwalter won seven national titles in collegiate mountain biking, a clear star on a team full of talented cyclists. The Bobcat cycling team now boasts 10 national team championships, more than 50 individual national titles, and many riders compete both professionally and collegiately. 

Though most people are more familiar with famed races such as the Tour de France, the Tour of Qatar has quickly become popular. Running from Sunday, February 3 to Friday, February 8, 2013, the 12th Tour of Qatar will be made up of six stages and cover a total distance of 732.5 kilometers or 455.15 miles.

Click here to read more about Bookwalter’s win.

For more information on cycling at Lees-McRae College, please contact Doug Owen, director of cycling, at owend@lmc.edu.

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Dr. Gene Spears presents “The History and Future of the American Chestnut in Appalachia” on Thursday, February 14

Posted on 2/4/2013 by hallm

Are you looking for an interesting way to spend Valentine’s evening? Lees-McRae College offers a fascinating lecture on the American Chestnut tree, the former sweetheart of the Appalachian forest. Dr. Gene Spears, chairman of the Division of Science and Mathematics at the college will present his program “The History and Future of the American Chestnut in Appalachia” at 7:00 p.m. in the Stafford Room of the Carson Library on Thursday, February 14.

Spears’ lecture is part of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia Lecture Series, and is free and open to the public. The biology professor has studied the chestnut tree for many years, participating in attempts to raise a tree resistant to the fungus that has attacked this species that was crucial to the settling of the mountains. Formerly he served as Secretary for the Carolina Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation.

The Appalachian forest today is far different from that of a century ago. Then the chestnut was the dominant species of the climax forest and played an important role in the lives of both human and animal denizens of Southern Appalachia.

Woodland wildlife depended on the annual bounty that literally fell from high above. Chestnut trees grew to great heights, over 70 feet, and reached several feet in diameter, and the huge limbs bore thousands of the spiky nutcases. When fall arrived, the wild animals, livestock, and mountain farmers depended upon the rich harvest of nuts, and the strong, resistant wood formed fences, furniture, buildings, and wagons. Chestnut also made excellent firewood and was used as acid wood for tanning leather.

Then in 1904 the forester of Bronx Park in New York City noticed that his American chestnuts were dying. By 1950, virtually the entire stand of American chestnuts in the East had been destroyed by the chestnut blight caused by the fungus Cryphonectria parasitica, unwittingly imported from China. For decades scientists have worked to find a way to restore this legendary tree to the American forest.

“We are fortunate to have Dr. Spears to tell the story of the Chestnut,” said Dr. Michael Joslin, director of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia at Lees-McRae College. “He has been involved for several years in the attempts develop a tree resistant to the blight but having all the characteristics of the original tree. I look forward to hearing his story and invite everyone to join us for what should be an entertaining and illuminating evening.”

Spears will present his talk on Thursday, February 14 at 7:00 p.m. in the Stafford Room of the Carson Library on the Lees-McRae campus.  As part of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia lecture series, the program is free and open to the public.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  For information call Megan Hall, at 828-898-8729.

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Lees-McRae College to be featured on UNC-TV on January 29 at 7:30 p.m.

Posted on 1/28/2013 by hallm

Lees-McRae College is excited to announce they will be featured on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Now on Tuesday, January 29 at 7:30 p.m. This feature will include information on academic and athletic programs, campus history and plans for the future of the college as well as interviews with President Barry Buxton, faculty members and students.

“Lees-McRae College is one of the best kept secrets in North Carolina!” said Ginger Hansen, vice president for enrollment management and communications. “We are so pleased that UNC-TV will be sharing our story with students and families across the state. We hope this will inspire you to visit campus and experience the tradition and beauty of our unique location.”

UNC-TV, a public television industry leader, produces more than 350 hours of original local programming each year, including North Carolina Now, which profiles North Carolina’s most important people and places, and celebrates its artistic and cultural diversity. Past features include Duke University, East Carolina University and Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute as well as events such as the inauguration of Governor Pat McCrory and the 2012 Presidential Election.

“I am truly excited for Lees-McRae to be featured on UNC-TV,” said Lindsey Bush, a Lees-McRae senior from Catawba, N.C. and interviewee for the UNC-TV feature. “Our school is a special place, and this television segment is a fantastic opportunity to increase awareness of what we have to offer. I am so thankful that UNC-TV is allowing us to share our story!”

If you miss the initial broadcast, click here to view the video: http://video.unctv.org/video/2330293689

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Dr. Fiona Chrystall selected as ACA Salzburg Global Seminar Fellow

Posted on 1/28/2013 by hallm

Lees-McRae College is proud to announce that Dr. Fiona Chrystall, director of the College’s Burton Center for Learning Assistance, has been selected by the Appalachian College Association as one of the 2013 Salzburg Global Seminar Fellows.

“In recent years, Lees-McRae College has established international connections through the Appalachian College Association (ACA) and our global education programs,” said Dr. Kacy Crabtree, vice president for academic affairs. “We have participated in ACA Salzburg Global Seminar initiatives, sending faculty and students to Austria to participate in conferences.  I am proud to have Dr. Chrystall on our faculty as an international scholar and very pleased to learn she was accepted as an ACA Salzburg Global Seminar Fellow. Her achievements as an environmental biologist, educator and scholar have impacted the lives of the students she teaches and the global education initiatives at Lees-McRae College.”

Founded in 1947, the mission of the Salzburg Global Seminar, held in Salzburg, Austria, is to challenge present and future leaders to solve issues of global concern. To accomplish their mission, seminars are held thought the year, each offering a unique topic for discussion. In June, Dr. Chrystall will attend the session titled, “A Climate for Change: New Thinking on Governance for Sustainability.”

“I am, indeed, honored and grateful to have received this generous scholarship from the Appalachian College Association,” said Dr. Chrystall, director of the Burton Center for Learning Assistance, “and I am very excited for June to come around. I can think of nothing more energizing for my teaching and career than dedicating a full week to learning and debate with some of the great leaders and thinkers in the world of global climate change, governance, and sustainability. My goal is to come back with a head and bag full of new thoughts, materials, and connections about this important topic to share with my students, both inside and outside of the classroom.”

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Alumni Winter Ski Weekend at Beech Mountain on February 23

Posted on 1/25/2013 by hallm

Escape to the mountains for Lees-McRae College’s Winter Ski Weekend at Beech Mountain Resort! Scheduled for the weekend of February 23, the Ski Weekend will offer Lees-McRae College alumni, friends and families special rates on lift tickets and rentals at Ski Beech and special lodging rates at the Pinnacle Inn on Beech Mountain.

All day (9 a.m. to 10 p.m.) lift tickets will cost only $30 ($94 value) and the lift ticket prices are good for Saturday and Sunday. And don’t forget to grab your legwarmers and parachute pants, because it’s 80s weekend on the slopes. The Pinnacle Inn, Beech Mountain will also offer a 10% discount for Lees-McRae alumni. After a chilly day on the slopes, join us for a pizza and beer reception scheduled for the evening of February 23.

For more information, contact Jillian Rosato, director of annual giving and alumni relations, at rosatoj@lmc.edu or (828) 898-2534.

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Lees-McRae College receives ICAN grant in support of career services

Posted on 1/24/2013 by hallm

Lees-McRae College is proud to announce they have received funding from the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU) under the Independent College Access Network (ICAN) grant to continue its Career and Life Planning Program for a second year.

Rendering of the Robb Center for Career Exploration

The grant will fund a variety of programs and initiatives that enhance the awareness of students and families about post-secondary education opportunities in order to increase persistence and graduation among new American, first generation, low income and minority populations.

“We are excited to build on our very successful 2012 Career and Life Planning Program that reached 433 resident and extended-campus students with a variety of programming,” said Russell Taylor, co-director of career services. “This year, we will enhance our Career and Life Planning programming by increasing the number and variety of information sessions and increase the number of major career services events including a new study abroad fair, a graduate school fair and both fall and spring job and internship fairs. We will also work harder to get the campus community, including alumni, more involved in career services events.”

In addition to receiving the ICAN grant, career services will also be gaining a new home in a historic stone cottage on campus. With funds generously provided by friend of the college, Dick Robb, Trustee Dell Williamson, and wife, Barbara, the Robb Center for Career Exploration, which is currently being renovated, will provide a central space for these invaluable resources.

For more information about career services at Lees-McRae College, please contact Russell Taylor at 828-898-5241 or taylorrg@lmc.edu.

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Lees-McRae College receives $1,500 gift from Sustainability For Generations to Come for the Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute

Posted on 1/22/2013 by hallm

Lees-McRae College is pleased to announce that in December 2012 Sustainability For Generations to Come (SFGC) gave a $1,500 gift in support of the Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute, which is an integral part of the college’s wildlife rehabilitation program.

“We are pleased to support Lees-McRae College and the Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute,” said SFCG partner, Mark Harrill. “Through scientific research and their wildlife rehabilitation and community educational programs, the Institute is doing important work to conserve the wildlife of our region.”

SFGC is a western North Carolina organization formed to support the preservation of open lands and conservation efforts in the mountain region. Their partners are Mark Harrill and Tommy Soffield of Boone, Tim Campbell of Dillsboro, Jeff Murphy of Waynesville, and R.K. Whitehead of Gainesville, Ga.

“We are grateful for the support of SFGC,” said Caroline Hart, vice president for advancement. “Gifts such as this one help give our students the tools they need to continue their work, which benefits not only the local community, but the wildlife research community at large.”

Wildlife rehabilitation has existed for many years as one of Lees-McRae’s most distinct programs. Educational operations and animal care are now centrally located in the newly constructed Daniel and Dianne May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. This premier facility features a separate lecture space, a multipurpose work room, and a quarantine and intensive care unit for animals. Each year, students receive hands-on training while caring for more than 1,000 animals of various species with a variety of ailments.

For more information on donating to Lees-McRae College, please contact Caroline Hart, vice president for advancement, at 828-898-5241.

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