2015 News

Members of the Division of Education presented at the Center for Scholastic Inquiry’s annual International Academic Research Conference held in Charleston, SC, October 28-30. The presentation, by Drs. Susan Gilbert, Lynn Swann, Pam Vesely and Robin Buchanan, demonstrated how to create an online environment that exposes students to a multiplicity of discourses.

Lees-McRae senior James Abraham was named to the 2015 Division I and Division II Men's Scholar All-South Region Team, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America announced Tuesday evening.

Erica Atkinson, a Wildlife Biology major from Matthews, North Carolina, will receive a scholarship for $3,500 during the 2016-2017 academic year. The Duke Energy Foundation awards numerous scholarships annually through the Independent College Fund of NC, a division of Independent Colleges and Universities of North Carolina, to students studying science or math.

Assistant Professor of History Dr. Robert Turpin has signed a contract to publish his first monograph, First Taste of Freedom: The Bicycle and American Culture, with Johns Hopkins University Press. His publication will trace the bicycle’s role as a status symbol in the 1890’s to a child’s toy by the 1950s and its evolution from a means of demonstrating health and wealth to a tool used temporarily during childhood.

Students of Lees-McRae recently met with representatives JoAnn Hedstrom, volunteer specialist, and Brian Womack, disaster program manager of the American Red Cross, with the intent of organizing a local Red Cross Club. They will join a number of college clubs that have been established throughout the country.

What is your favorite memory from Lees-McRae College? This is a really hard one to choose - there are so many. I think rather than just one memory, I remember the friendships I created in college. I still speak to so many people, and I love homecoming every year because you will never know who you will get to see. I miss my professors. I miss playing soccer and lacrosse. I miss being active in Delta Omicron Theta and the list continues. Simply stated, my favorite memory is Lees-McRae College.

Dr. Skeate, professor of wildlife biology and coordinator of the Wildlife Biology Program at Lees-McRae College, has received the Whalen Master Teacher Grant to fund student research projects for the Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education (BFREE). As a scholar involved in tropical research for many years, he understands the challenges and is working to improve the student experience.

On November 16, Lees-McRae's Judicial Process class experienced a common criminal trial first hand. Instructor Howard Donovan, who is also a defense attorney, Avery County Assistant District Attorney Penn Dameron and local attorney Wiliam B. Cocke, Jr. lead the class through the exercise. During the trial, students acted as witnesses, defendants, jurors, and other key members of the case.The purpose of the trial was to encourage students to put their knowledge of legal information, trial procedures and evidentiary and constitutional concepts into practice.

Support the Lees-McRae Communication Arts & Design seniors as they share their works with the community. The show is open to the public November 16 - December 3.

Lees-McRae College’s Department of Performing Arts continues the Fall 2015 performance series with Terra Nova. The drama, written by playwright Ted Tally, is the story of Englishman Robert Falcon Scott’s ill-fated Antarctic expedition in 1912 as his five-man team endeavors to be the first to reach the South Pole. This journey is filled with intense moments of hope to be the first to discover this foreign place, but also of fear, determination, isolation and tragedy.

Nina Fischesser, director of the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, will be releasing a bald eagle at Lake James this Friday. She rescued the eagle from the lake in September and transferred the bird to the Carolina Raptor Center for treatment. The eagle has recovered and was approved for release on November 10.

My favorite memories at Lees-McRae College were spending the spring on the porch in the Village and riding the cyclo-cross course in the fall.

Professor Silver discusses the Lees-McRae Cycling Studies program and how students can apply what they learn after graduation and talks through winter biking safety tips for new cyclists.

Students at Lees-McRae College will now have the opportunity to earn a licensure in Special Education, General Curriculum (K-12) and graduate with a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts. The accredited Special Education program is the most recent addition to the Lees-McRae Division of Education, which offers licensures in both Theatre Arts Education and Elementary Education (K-6).

The May School of Nursing and Health Sciences, in partnership with Hospice and Palliative Care of the Blue Ridge, Life Care of Banner Elk, and the Williams YMCA is presenting this opportunity for area seniors (all ages are welcome) to meet with medical professionals to receive information about depression, fall prevention and balance, medication management, nutrition, dementia, diabetes and home safety.

Leading into the holiday season, Lees-McRae is holding two events to help area families. The Nursing and Health Sciences CLA-199 students are collecting winter gear for Hospitality House and the Avery County YMCA, and the Staff Association is sponsoring a canned food drive for Feeding Avery Families.

The Stephenson Center for Appalachia at Lees-McRae College will host an evening with two distinguished Appalachian poets. Dr. Don Johnson and Dr. Jesse Graves will read selections from their poetry on November 3 beginning at 7:00 p.m. in Evans Auditorium on the Lees-McRae campus.

Dixie Seating Company out of Stony Point, N.C. generously donated 10 stools worth $80 apiece to the Whitesell Art Studio at Lees-McRae College. Dixie Seating Company President Dirk E. Baker personally authorized the generous donation of magnificently handcrafted American stools worth over $800.

Charles Singletary, also known by his stage name Charles DaBeast, released his debut album Patience in August after 10 months of writing and studio time.

The Bobcats completed their regular season in mountain bike at the SECCC Conference Championship at Clemson University this past weekend, and rode away with another team omnium championship title in Division I.

After several years without a team, Lees-McRae College is thrilled to announce the return of competition skiing and snowboarding this year. Students will now have the chance to compete against other schools in addition to enrolling in the skiing course or spending nights and weekends on the slopes for recreation. The team will be coached by Aaron Maas, who spent the last six years as a ski/snowboard instructor at the Sugar Mountain Resort in Sugar Mountain. N.C.

Nina Fischesser and two students majoring in Wildlife Rehabilitation were featured on Fox 46’s Good Day Charlotte on October 9. Check out our Saw-Whet owls, leucistic grey squirrel, British Barn owl and more on camera!

Boone novelist Joshua Simcox will present a program at Lees-McRae College on Tuesday, October 20 at 7:00 p.m. in Evans Auditorium. As part of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia lecture series, Simcox will read from his novel Zapheads: Scars and Ashes and will discuss the publication process.

I have many fantastic memories from my time at Lees-McRae, but the ones that really stick with me are the many hours spent sitting in Dr. Stewart Skeate’s office talking about birds, flowers, ecological systems, and graduate school. He was such a great mentor and I really don’t think I would be working as an educator today if it wasn’t for this relationship. For the past 14 years I have had the honor of mentoring hundreds of students at Appalachian State University. I often think about the positive influence a mentor can make because of my experience at Lees-McRae.

Bobcat Cycling Coach Tim Hall covers safety tips, proper technique, bike maintenance and more on Charlotte Today.

Lees-McRae College has implemented a tuition guarantee program for students beginning in fall 2016. As a testament to the College’s commitment to affordability, all students entering the 2016-17 academic year will be guaranteed the same rate of tuition for remaining academic years based on their classification as of fall 2016.

Lees-McRae’s King-Shivell Gallery is thrilled to host a selection of artwork by Scott Lowrey titled “Aspects of Nature”. The exhibit will be on display from October 1-31, with the opening reception scheduled October 8 from 5 – 6 p.m. in King-Shivell Gallery. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

Nina Fischesser, director of the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, spoke with WCNC's Charlotte Today. Students Shannon Granger and Dustin Longstreet assisted with the demonstration.

Lees-McRae College’s Department of Performing Arts kicks off the Fall 2015 performance series with Plain and Fancy, showing October 1-4.

Lees-McRae College Outdoor Programs is excited to host a showing of the 10th annual REEL ROCK Film Tour on Friday, September 25. An opening reception complete with information booths will be held beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Evans Auditorium in the Cannon Student Center at Lees-McRae College. The main event, including short film premieres, will begin at 8 p.m.

What is your favorite memory from Lees-McRae College? This is a very difficult question – I just can’t pick one. In my years at LMC, each moment really shaped the type of person I am today. I often look back and think – “Remember that time?”

To open the new academic year and introduce newcomers to the area, the Stephenson Center for Appalachia at Lees-McRae College will present So You Say You Have Nothing To Do?: Plunging Waterfalls, Invigorating Hikes, Entertaining Beasts and Entrancing Sights on September 15 at 7 p.m. in Evans Auditorium. Lees-McRae, the highest elevation campus in the East, sits in the midst of some of the most vibrant natural attractions in the country, providing students with unmatched opportunities of outdoor adventure and relaxation.

The 2015 rankings are out and we made the cut! After collecting more than 10,000 student surveys, it is official - Lees-McRae is a great place to bring your pet!

As higher education institutions continue to face stiff competition from both traditional and alternative learning programs, Lees-McRae College is pleased to report record enrollment growth for the 2015-16 academic year. Student numbers jumped 10%, from 940 in fall 2014 to 1,034 this fall.

The Lees-McRae athletic department is proud to announce the induction of Troy Brown, Shela Moffett-Fabri and Ally Stacher into the Lees-McRae Fred I. Dickerson Athletics Hall of Fame.

Nina Fischesser, director of the May Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation, spoke with Bounce TV on Friday night. Students Shannon Granger and Dustin Longstreet assisted with the demonstration, holding two red tailed hawks and a pair of Saw-Whet owls.

Students, faculty and staff who attended the annual Lees-McRae Opening Convocation ceremony on Thursday, August 20 were inspired by the message woven throughout the program – follow your passion and you'll find success.

Lees-McRae College will host the 2015 Opening Convocation on August 20 at 3:30 p.m. in the Broyhill Theatre of Hayes Auditorium. Each fall, students, faculty and staff come together for the afternoon to celebrate the beginning of a new academic year. Executive Director of Grandfather Mountain and Lees-McRae alumnus Jesse Pope will give the keynote address titled Follow Your Passion, Find Your Success at this year’s Opening Convocation.

Colleges and universities across the country continue to implement new and innovative programs to enrich the faculty and student experience, and Lees-McRae is no exception. Our pet-friendly campus policy is garnering national attention and was just featured on People.com.

I do not have one specific memory of Lees-McRae that is my favorite. Instead I have many! I fondly remember days out at the Field Station for Dr. Skeate’s biology classes with Buckeye, Dr. Skeate’s dog, disappearing into the bushes along the trail only to come back carrying a branch twice the size of himself. Needless to say, fetch was an interesting event.

Dr. Laura Fero, dean of nursing and health sciences at Lees-McRae College, has been elected to the Board of Directors for the North Carolina League of Nursing, the constituent league for the National League of Nursing. This national body promotes excellence in nursing education to advance the health of the nation and global communities through advocacy and public policy. Dr. Fero’s term will begin in the fall of 2015 and run for two years.

After a great production of Oliver!, the cast and crew of Lees-McRae Summer Theatre is excited to begin on their next show of the season, Lend Me a Tenor. This production will be performed on July 15-18 at 7 p.m. and July 16, 18 and 19 at 2 p.m.

Lees-McRae College continues to live by its motto: In the Mountains, Of the Mountains, and For the Mountains. In courses focused on Appalachia, in programs presented to the community, and in research and creative work by students, faculty and staff, the college continues to draw life from its roots.

What is your favorite memory from Lees-McRae College? My favorite would have to be driving to my first day of college at Lees-McRae. I was so excited to be living in the mountains for four years and meet new people. I guess you could say I felt like a free man since I was away from home.

On Friday, July 10, more than 90 faculty, staff, students, alumni, community members and friends of the College celebrated the dedication of the Ann and John Tickle Classroom at the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. The 950 square foot classroom space allows for larger classes and community educational programs to be held.

After a great production of Oliver!, the cast and crew of Lees-McRae Summer Theatre is excited to begin on their next show of the season, “Lend Me a Tenor.” This production will be performed on July 15-18 at 7 p.m. and July 16, 18 and 19 at 2 p.m.

Lees-McRae College has launched a $250,000 fundraising campaign for the renovations of Hayes Auditorium. The auditorium, built in 1975, is located at the front of campus on Highway 194 and serves as an important campus and community venue.

Lees-McRae College was recently named no. 2 on College Raptor’s list of pet-friendly colleges and universities. One of a handful of pet-friendly campuses in the nation, Lees-McRae allows students and their pets to enroll.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) has reaffirmed the accreditation of Lees-McRae College for 10 years. The reaffirmation was announced at a meeting of the SACSCOC Board of Trustees on June 11.

Kicking off the Lees-McRae Summer Theatre season from June 26 – July 3, Oliver!, a beloved musical based on Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, has won numerous awards including the Tony for Best Musical and Academy Award for Best Picture. Set in the 19th century, Dickens makes important social statements about the conditions of poverty in London, yet does it with comedy, empathy and the ever-present sense of hope.

On Wednesday, June 17, Dr. Katherine Ledford will present a program on the inter-mountain exchange program between Southern Appalachia and Ukraine at 7 p.m. in the Carson Library on the campus of Lees-McRae College. As part of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia Lecture Series, this event is free and open to the public.

My favorite memory from Lees-McRae was getting to ride my bike in some of the country’s most beautiful mountains. I also really enjoyed the time I was able to spend with my dad working on my senior research project on cardiac arrhythmias in collegiate athletes.

Lees-McRae College is proud to announce that it has received accreditation from the state of North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services (NCOEMS) as an authorized emergency medical services educational institution. This designation allows Lees-McRae to instruct students in this new program and allows students to obtain North Carolina state certifications as an EMT-Basic or EMT-Paramedic as part of the overall Bachelor of Science degree in emergency medical services and management (EMSM).

The Lees-McRae Cycling program finished sixth overall in USA Cycling National Division I Team Rankings for the entire 2014-15 season.

Lees-McRae College President Barry M. Buxton has been named vice president of NCAA Division II Conference Carolinas. The vice president serves on the executive committee and chairs the conference personnel committee, as well as acting on behalf of the conference when the president is unable to attend conference activities. Dr. Buxton will assume the role of president of Conference Carolinas at the conclusion of the 2016 spring conference meeting.

If you are looking to gain insight into Appalachian culture or enrich your summer experience, reserve three Wednesdays in June to participate in the John B. Stephenson Lecture Series at Lees-McRae College. The Stephenson Lecture Series is free and open to the public.

Lees-McRae College conferred 214 degrees upon the class of 2015 in a beautiful commencement ceremony held on historic Tate Lawn. As a result of excellent career preparation and an 88% placement rate, the new graduates are embarking on a journey of endless opportunities.

I have three favorite memories. The first was my initial arrival on campus. My mom and sister accompanied me to the campus. I went in the bookstore to ask for directions where I was to go for housing as I arrived ten days early on campus for football practice. I went to the office where I met Trula Bennett. She directed me to the old gym where I lived for about ten days until formal classes started.

Lees-McRae College conferred degrees upon 214 graduates during commencement exercises Saturday, May 9 on Tate Lawn on the campus in Banner Elk. The 2015 ceremony was the first time commencement has been held on Tate Lawn in the history of the College. Of the graduating class, 15 graduated with honors, 56 graduated summa cum laude (3.90-4.0 GPA), 43 graduated magna cum laude (3.70-3.89 GPA) and 31 graduated cum laude (3.50-3.69 GPA).

The Lees-McRae College Chi chapter of Alpha Chi National College Honor Society is pleased to announce its spring 2015 class of members. Founded in 1922, Alpha Chi was established to recognize academic achievement. Today, Alpha Chi has chapters at 300 college campuses across the United States.

Lees-McRae College will hold its annual commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 9 at 11 a.m. on Tate Lawn. As the culmination of the academic year, commencement is a special time for students, faculty, staff, families and the community to celebrate the accomplishments of the Lees-McRae College graduates. Lees-McRae College Board of Trustees chairman, Harvey Lowd, has been chosen as the 2015 Commencement speaker. Lowd will present his keynote address titled “Dream Big.”

The Communication Arts and Design program at Lees-McRae College is proud to host an exhibit of student artwork titled “The Shop” as part of the program’s senior exit show. An opening reception for the exhibit will be held on Wednesday, April 29 from 6-7 p.m. in King-Shivell Gallery located in the Cannon Student Center. Senior presentations will begin at 7 p.m. in the adjacent Evans Auditorium.

Lees-McRae Summer Theatre is excited to announce the 2015 Summer Theatre schedule. This year’s season, which includes Oliver!, Lend Me a Tenor and The Denim King: The Moses Cone Story, is packed with family-friendly comedy, laughs and good memories. Online ticket sales for the three shows begins April 20.

The spring 2015 semester proved to be a successful one for the Lees-McRae College Robb Center for Career Exploration, which is concluding its first full academic year of operation. The Robb Center provides centralized resources for students seeking guidance on obtaining internships and jobs by providing resume and cover letter assistance, interview preparation and multiple opportunities for students to learn about different career prospects.

What is your favorite memory from Lees-McRae College? There are too many favorite memories but I think what always stands out for me was the personal interaction with professors. I’ll never forget being in John “Doc” Wilson’s sociology class and, on the very first day, he said, “You can have any name you want in my class!” So I told him I wanted to be a Dean at Lees-McRae. From then on I was “Dean McAfee”.

Lees-McRae College representatives attended the North Carolina Health Occupations Students of America (NCHOSA) conference to interact with more than 2,400 prospective students and educators by raising awareness about nursing and health science opportunities at Lees-McRae College. In addition to recruiting, Lees-McRae attended as a diamond sponsor, the only institution of higher education to make such a presence at the conference. The conference was held in Greensboro, N.C. in late March.

The Avery County Rotary Club presented a $10,500 check to President Barry Buxton for Lees-McRae’s May School of Nursing and Health Sciences. The donation will be going towards an Omnicell G4 Unity Medication Dispensing System which will help Lees-McRae students enhance their learning experience in the nursing program.

On Wednesday, April 9, Lees-McRae celebrated the 11th annual Mountain Day of Service. This annual day of service resulted in an incredible 1,134 hours of service completed by 378 students, faculty, staff and volunteers. Altogether the campus community participated in 29 projects, two off campus and 27 on campus. After all the hard work was complete, participants gathered on Tate Lawn to enjoy a cookout, fellowship with one another and the beautiful spring weather.

Lees-McRae College is proud to announce three new scholarship recipients for the entering class of fall 2015. Kathryn Webb of Cary, N.C. and Mary Whiteacre of St. Cloud, Fla. have been awarded the prestigious full-tuition Elizabeth McRae Scholarship. In addition, Sabrina Becker of Oneida, N.Y. has been awarded the third annual Video Essay Scholarship.

Lees-McRae performing arts students will present Brunch: The Musical, an original rock musical by New York City-based actor and playwright Rick Kunzi, in a never before seen version of the show. Director and designer Ethan Henry ’15, in conjunction with Lees-McRae students, will perform the show on April 11 – 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the Broyhill Theatre of Hayes Auditorium on the campus of Lees-McRae College. Seating is general admission and entry is free.

Celebrating spring’s return to the mountains, Lees-McRae will host the fifth annual Appalachian Heritage Week April 6 through 10. Each day, the College will highlight a unique aspect of mountain heritage and invites everyone to participate in activities sponsored by the Stephenson Center for Appalachia.

Assistant Professor of Communication Arts and Design Jason Sabbides will participate in the Mountain Man Memorial March (MMMM) on April 10-11 in Gatlinburg, Tenn. The 8th annual march will honor Gold Star families and loved ones.

Lees-McRae performing arts students and faculty recently participated in the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) held in Chattanooga during early March. Of the ten students in attendance, seven scored an audition, interview or made promising contacts for future employment.

Thanks to generous donations and partnerships, Lees-McRae is pleased to announce plans to enhance Bobcat athletic facilities by adding three new venues to the existing athletic complex by fall 2015. Scheduled enhancements include the addition of a media room, indoor training facility, locker rooms, study lounge, and captain’s meeting room as well as remodeled bathrooms and shower facilities and a renovated student recreation center. These enhancements increase the existing athletic footprint by 10 percent and serve over 300 student-athletes participating in one of the College’s 19 athletic teams.

Lees-McRae College is pleased to announce the appointment of Brent Thomas ’85 as Vice President of Advancement. Thomas most recently served as the Director of Development at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina. He will begin his duties at Lees-McRae College on April 1, 2015.

UNC-TV recently featured the May School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Lees-McRae College in a special episode of the North Carolina Now program which provided a behind the scenes look at the new facility and Hart Simulation Center.

On March 20 from 5 - 6 p.m., Lees-McRae’s King-Shivell Gallery will host a reception for artist Tom Root, whose exhibit of portrait paintings will be on display throughout the month of March. Root will also host a portrait painting demonstration on March 18 at 10 a.m. in Whitesell Art Studio. The reception, exhibit and demonstration are free and open to the public.

Playing soccer for four years is Shela Moffett-Fabri’s favorite memory from her days at Lees-McRae. “I was a part of the first group to play all four years. We called ourselves the Fab Five (Allison McDonald Norris, Jeanne Cobbe (JC), Karen VanWert and Julia Callerman-Fullwood). I’ll never forget the National Tournament where we played soccer during Hurricane Hugo. Then, on our return home from the tournament, LMC had its first snow. Seeing the Florida players was a sight, playing in the snow in shorts.”

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 Lees-McRae is in the running. This contest will put Lees-McRae up against other colleges and universities in a head-to-head 32-school bracket. Large Division I schools will battle one side of the bracket while Lees-McRae battles against smaller schools on the other side. At the end of the contest, both division winners will compete for Top Adventure College glory.

Lees-McRae College is proud to announce that incoming freshman, Maggie Thomas, has been named the first recipient of the Sam and Mary Hart Endowed Scholarship. As the winner, Thomas will receive a full tuition scholarship that is renewable for up to four years as long as she maintains a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

Lees-McRae students are making moves to elevate their careers! On March 4, nearly a dozen students and six faculty and staff members from the Performing Arts Department will make the trip to Chattanooga, Tenn. for the four-day Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) 2015 Annual Convention.

The New Opportunity School for Women (NOSW) at Lees-McRae College, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, is accepting applications for its three-week residential summer program that helps low-income women gain the skills and confidence to turn their lives around. This summer’s session will be held from May 31 – June 20.

If you are looking for an escape from the winter blues, come to Lees-McRae College on Thursday, March 5, at 7:00 p.m. in Evans Auditorium to watch a screening of Jesse Knight’s feature film The Orbs. As part of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia Lecture Series, Knight will discuss the process of producing a movie in Appalachia, and show his award-winning film. This event is free and open to the public.

On February 20 from 5 – 6 p.m., Lees-McRae’s King-Shivell Gallery will host a reception for the faculty art show, Across Borders. The featured faculty artists will be available to discuss their work. The reception and exhibit are free and open to the public. The exhibit will be on display until February 27.

For the second consecutive semester and the third consecutive spring semester, Lees-McRae College experienced significant enrollment growth. The overall enrollment for the spring semester has increased 10%, with a 77% increase in new student enrollment and a 6% increase in continuing student enrollment over spring 2014.

Get ready for a great night at the theatre! The Lees-McRae Performing Arts Department is proud to present the British production, She Stoops to Conquer, a classic comedy of errors that debuted in 1773. The production will premiere in Hayes Auditorium on the campus of Lees-McRae College on Thursday, February 26 at 7:30 p.m. and run through March 1. All performances are open to the public.

Lees-McRae's senior class combined for 53 points while the men's basketball team made history by claiming their school-record 14th win in 86-78 fashion against Conference Carolinas foe Emmanuel (Ga.) Tuesday evening at Williams Gymnasium in Banner Elk, N.C.

Like many other Lees-McRae graduates, Leon McLean ’47 felt that his goal in life was to excel and not just get by with mediocrity. And, like so many others at Lees-McRae, he learned that academics in college is serious business. “I learned that you must study diligently and be prepared for challenges you encounter. Lees-McRae experiences taught me to be tenacious; to develop social and emotional assets along with academic success.”

Lees-McRae College is proud to announce a new height of success for its Honors Program. At 84 students, the program is enjoying its largest enrollment to date, while also celebrating a persistence rate of 98.18% from fall 2014 to spring 2015. The program is growing at such a rate that program director Dr. Ken Craig is looking to increase its scope to 100 students by next fall. All of these accomplishments come just as the college gears up for its annual Scholars Day on February 21.

On Thursday, January 29, Lees-McRae College named Dr. Todd Lidh as Provost. Dr. Lidh was most recently the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He will begin his duties on July 1, 2015.

On February 28, 2015, for the first time in 12 years the college will host FAFSA Day in Carson Library on the campus of Lees-McRae from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. College financial aid officers and admissions specialists will assist students in completing the 2015-16 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This event is open to the community for students who plan to attend college in the 2015-2016 academic year.

Lees-McRae is proud to announce that on January 30, 2015, the North Carolina Board of Nursing (NCBON) approved the College to begin offering a pre-licensure nursing program. As the regulating body for the practice of nursing in North Carolina, NCBON approval marks a significant milestone in the progress of pre-licensure nursing at Lees-McRae.

While Thomas Wolfe is famous for both writing and in some ways proving, “You Can’t Go Home Again,” a contemporary Appalachian author disputes the point. Kevin Keck, an adjunct instructor of rhetoric at Lees-McRae, will present a program, “Born Again: My Return to Appalachia,” that explores returning to his mountain roots at Lees-McRae College. His presentation will take place on Thursday, February 12 at 7 p.m. in Evans Auditorium in the first of this semester’s Stephenson Center for Appalachia Lecture Series. This program is free and open to the public.

From February 5 – 10, Lees-McRae students and faculty will participate in a University of Florida-led (UF) oral history research and interview collaboration designed to preserve the cultural history of Southern Appalachian people, specifically residents of Avery County and the surrounding area.

Lees-McRae’s newly formed Nerd Club Gaming Association’s (NCGA) League of Legends team garnered 4th place in its first tournament, competing against 32 teams and earning Riot Points used for in game content. The formation of the collegiate League of Legends team, created by the Vice President of Nerd Club Paul Scherer, has set a new standard for pursuing competitive gaming passions at Lees-McRae.

From January 19 – 23, volunteers from Lees-McRae College participated in the 34th Annual DSUSA Adaptive Learn to Ski event at Beech Mountain Resort. Students, staff and alumni assisted instructors and volunteers with many of the lessons for the more than 70 individuals with disabilities as they learned to ski and snowboard.

From her home in Horse Shoe, N.C., Lees-McRae College alumna Ally Stacher ’10 is building an empire powered by sweet potato flavored bars simply named Ally’s Bar. In addition to operating a thriving energy bar business, Stacher is also a professional cyclist riding in multiple disciplines. It was her love of training married with a love of cooking that spawned this delightfully tasty treat and business venture.

On Tuesday, January 20, Lees-McRae welcomed Rep. Josh Dobson to campus for a private tour of the newly constructed May School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Dobson was appointed to the N.C. House of Representatives in January 2013 and represents the 85th District including Avery, McDowell and Mitchell counties.

Pity Kerry Shields. He’d filled an oversized van with gear and driven halfway across the country to watch his twin daughters compete for national championships in cyclocross bicycle racing. To be sure, it’s a niche sport followed mostly by the riders, their friends and families and hardcore spokeheads. The crowds that turned up to watch in a muddy city park in Austin, Texas last weekend wouldn’t rival that found at an average high-school football game. Still, for the Shieldses – and their beleaguered father — it was the culmination of 10 years of hard work, a rare shot at being the best in the country in a sport they love.

Lees-McRae College will be the first institution to benefit from this new partnership. Omnicell, Inc., (NASDAQ: OMCL), today announced that Pocket Nurse, a leading provider for nursing healthcare education and medical simulation initiatives, has entered into an agreement to bring state-of-the-art medication automation solutions to the nursing education market. Pocket Nurse will develop real-world simulated education curriculums using Omnicell® automated medication dispensing systems for nursing students in healthcare education and medical simulation education programs in the USA & Canada.

As with many alumni, it’s impossible for Kim Coley Rosenfeld ’13 to choose her favorite memory from Lees-McRae. “I have so many great memories with my former softball teammates including games, trips and 'family nights.' My junior year, I was able to embark on a trip of a lifetime to London. While in London, I experienced navigating a foreign country all alone: I booked my flight for the wrong day, saw amazing things, experienced food poisoning for the first time and made life-long friends that I probably would never have crossed paths with outside of the trip. Lastly, one cannot spend an extended amount of time in Banner Elk and not have memories involving snow; I will never forget snowboarding on Tate Lawn and 'bobsledding' down our driveway on Sugar Mountain!”

The Lari beetle controls adelgids well because it is a voracious predator that feeds exclusively on woolly adelgids, according to the WRC. Lari beetles are winter feeders and can eat up to six adelgids per day before laying 200 to 400 eggs in the adelgid egg sacs. Each larva can consume 200 to 250 adelgid eggs or crawlers before they pupate in June. Once established, Lari beetles can advance up to two miles per year. Since the initial release of 300 lab-reared Lari beetles in 2003 on Hemlock Hill in Banner Elk, 10 generations of beetles have spread some 45 miles from the Lees-McRae College Elk Valley Preserve.

Senior Emily Shields claimed the national title in the women's Division I cyclocross and the Lees-McRae cycling teams grabbed third overall in the Division I team omnium at the 2015 USA Cycling Collegiate Cyclocross Nationals in Austin, Texas.

(High Country Press) It may still be wintertime, but Lees-McRae College already has great things in store for the High Country community for the upcoming summer months. The highly-anticipated 2015 lineup of the annual Lees-McRae Summer Theatre has officially been announced, and the 2015 summer season is sure to be yet another great year of theatrical treats.