GC Tigers Win NAIA National Championship from the President
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INSSUMMER 2013 IGHTSTHE GEORGETOWN COLLEGE MAGAZINE GC Tigers win NAIA National Championship From the President As I near my retirement on June 30, I can’t help but reflect on my 22 years as the president of this excellent college. Put simply, it has been a tremendous honor. There are so many people I’d like to thank. First, my wife Jan and all of our children. When I started in 1991, it only took a few days to realize that serving as president was truly going to be a “family affair.” I appreciate them so much. Thanks to the Trustees. In 1991, they took a chance on me when I was mostly offering hope and promise. They sometimes pushed me to reach higher, and at other times they asked me to slow down (when I was coming up with one idea after another!). But always they supported me. Thanks to the faculty and staff, who truly appreciate how parents trust us when they send their sons and daughters off to Georgetown College. The faculty and staff have always honored and delivered on that trust. Thanks to the community. I knew from day one how proud they were of the college, and it continues unabated. When we won the NAIA National Basketball Championship a few months ago, they filled our Davis-Reid Alumni Gymnasium and welcomed the team home. Thank you for that support. And thanks to the students. It has been my great fortune to serve some 6,000 young men and women. Thanks to each one of them for making my life here such a profound blessing. Looking ahead, although I’m retiring as President of Georgetown College, I’m certainly not retiring from life! Like the title of Maya Angelou’s book suggests, “All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes.” I’m changing shoes, but my life journey continues. Jan and I are in the process of moving back to North Carolina, which is closer to our children (and grand- children!). I will use that as a home base, and plan to continue my work with education and young men and women. As for Georgetown College, I think its best days are still ahead. The college’s strong Christian heritage will keep it on the right path. Its academic credentials will get even better. Its athletics will shine even brighter. Its alumni will get even more engaged. And its reputation as a place that educates leaders in all fields will get even more pronounced. What exactly is the secret to Georgetown College? I believe the answer is somehow defined by relationships, modeled in the love and caring of Jesus Christ. Like the relationship between students who may come from totally different backgrounds but nevertheless form lasting bonds. And like the relationship between a student and a professor, where the student finds a true mentor and the professor finds the true joy of unlocking potential. These relationships last a lifetime. I wish all the best for the college and the new president, and I’m confident in the future of this place we like to call “Tiger Nation.” After all, we are champions, and it’s time to be all we can be. God bless Georgetown College! Dr. William H. Crouch, Jr. President, Georgetown College INSIGHTS contents PUBLISHER ALUMNI Jim Allison 5 Why GC? Alumni tell their stories DESIGNER 7 New Alumni Association Laura Hatton 8 Friends Forever: Russell High to GC CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jim Allison, Jenny Elder, Melanie Ladd, Robin Oldham, Laura Owsley, ACADEMICS Elizabeth D. Sands Wise, Guthrie Zaring 3 New partnerships benefit top academic achievers Photos 4 Biology professor receives Curry Award Paul Atkinson, Richard Davis, 4 Naming of the Blackburn General Chemistry Lab Wesley Folsom, Lauren Meister 4 Academic excellence produces Fulbrights FOR comments, questions AND INFORMATION, contact: ATHLETICS Office of College Relations & Marketing 400 East College Street 11 Sports Shorts Georgetown, KY 40324-1696 13 COVER: Tiger Men’s Basketball NAIA Champions [email protected] 502.863.8174 AROUND CAMPUS Insights is published by the Georgetown College Office 9 Historical Walking Tour of College Relations & Marketing. 10 Commencement Highlights © Copyright Georgetown College, 2013 10 Presidential Search Update 14 President Crouch: A Retrospective POSTMASTER Send address changes to: 34 Hall of Fame Inductees Office of College Relations & Marketing Georgetown College 400 East College Street DEPARTMENTS Georgetown, KY 40324 29 Classnotes FAX: 502.868.8887 32 Memoriam E-MAIL: [email protected] Georgetown College admits students of any race, color and national or ethnic origin. FPO Academics Two new partnerships benefit top academic GC alumnus Dr. Mike Stacy, right, looks on as Dr. Rosemary Allen and Woodford Schools Superintendent Scott Hawkins sign the agreement establishing Woodford achievers Academy at Georgetown College. Two new agreements announced this year promise to “This agreement will provide our students with a benefit high-achieving students. rigorous educational opportunity, increased scholarship Effective immediately, an agreement with Kentucky opportunities, an on-campus experience, access to Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) eases college level labs, and many other unique experiences,” the transfer to a four-year institution for many applied said Mike Stacy ‘94, Ph.D., Chief Academic Officer for the associate programs. Woodford County school system. “This agreement moves us closer to our goal of Woodford students will be transported each day from providing KCTCS students with seamless pathways to Versailles to Georgetown’s campus. A Woodford staff getting a baccalaureate degree,” said KCTCS President member will accompany students to provide support and Michael B. McCall. “We are extremely proud of our advise them as necessary. Each student will be eligible partnership with Georgetown College and believe it to take 18 credit hours per academic year or nine hours will increase student access and success.” each semester. Under terms of the agreement, tuition will qualified KCTCS students may apply to Georgetown be discounted for the pilot group. through the Office of Admission. The application fee “Top students respond best when the bar is set is waived for KCTCS students and graduates. This high,” said Rosemary Allen, Provost and Academic agreement will be especially helpful to those seeking Dean at Georgetown. “This innovative agreement the Oxford University experience through Georgetown’s makes it possible for extraordinary students to rise to partnership with Regent’s Park College at Oxford. the challenge of college classes while they’re still The newly-formed Woodford Academy completing their high school at Georgetown College gives education.” Woodford County High School Enrollment in any college Advanced Placement students class by Woodford a jump on college. It allows students will be limited qualified students to enroll so that traditional in college 200-level liberal Georgetown students arts as well as science, may access classes of technology, engineering, their choice. And because and mathematics (STEM) Georgetown’s STEM classes courses at Georgetown. are in high demand by A pilot program for 15 of traditional college students, Woodford’s top AP students enrollment by Academy begins in fall 2014. Starting in students in these disciplines, 2015, up to 40 Woodford County other than computer science, will AP students may enroll through the be limited to 20 students. Academy. INSIGHTS • 3 Biology professor Griffith receives Curry Award for Faculty Excellence Announced at the annual Founders Day Convocation, Timothy Griffith, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology is this year’s recipient of Georgetown College’s prestigious Curry Award for Faculty Excellence. Provost Rosemary Allen called him “a multi-million dollar asset as the lead author of successful grants received from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and a star since the moment he arrived on campus in the behind-the-scenes support” of the College. Dr. Griffith joined the faculty in 2005. The Curry Award, named in honor of former English department chairs Dr. Ralph Curry and Dr. Gwen Curry, recognize service to faculty, excellence in scholarship, and dedication to students. Naming of the Blackburn General Chemistry Lab brings needed upgrades Alumni, friends, colleagues, and family members of Dr. John Blackburn, Professor Emeritis of Chemistry, shared in the April dedication of the Dr. John Blackburn General Chemistry Laboratory in Asher Science Center. The ceremony was the culmination of efforts which had been underway for several months to raise the funds needed to Academic excellence make significant improvements. A donor plaque was unveiled inside the produces Fulbrights laboratory, and a naming plaque now hangs outside its main entrance. Two graduating seniors were named 2013 Fulbright Scholars. From left: Former students Rex Hart Victoria Lee “Tori” Shover, a Spanish ’77, John Elliott ’80, major from Louisville, Kentucky, David Huffman ’80, and Rachel Ann Castillo, an English and Brad Meisburg ’80 were among and Secondary Education major alumni on hand for the from Paducah, will spend the next dedication of Dr. John year teaching English in Spain and Blackburn General South Korea, respectively. Both Chemistry Laboratory. Scholars are excited about their opportunity to travel abroad and From left: Dr. Frank plan to immerse themselves in Wiseman, Jr., learning about the local culture. Chemistry Professor Emeritis; Dr. Todd The Fulbright Program is the Hamilton, Professor flagship international educational and Chair, Department exchange program sponsored by of Chemistry; Dr. the U.S. government. Since 1989, Blackburn; and Dr. David Fraley, Professor Georgetown College has had 28 of Chemistry. Fulbright recipients. INSIGHTS • 4 Alumni Distinguished Georgetown College alumni are taking the lead in a variety of fields. Propelled into professional success and personal fulfillment by GC’s solid liberal arts foundation, our alumni make a difference and their stories tell Why GC! and administrators. He also served as a Georgetown Learning innovations College ambassador in an Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities (AIKCU) through technology pave presentation to the 2013 Kentucky Legislature.