Winter 2018 $9.00 Today Contents Winter 2018 02 Winter 2018 | Vol.75, No.1 Today 03 From the Editor 04 WU View 06 Save the Date 07 Ask the President 08 University news 12 Homecoming photosos 16 THE ENTERTAINMENTENT ISSUE Kristen Bartlett Tony Griffey John Crooke Fabio Brazza Brandon Crumpton Ed Winters Mark Gray Troy Press Brian Venable 56 Lara Golesorkhi 58 Bulldog Nation 60 Class Notes Cover photo by Jason Walle WINGATE TODAY From the Editor 03 Chuck Gordon Setting the Stage for Anything graduating from college. But look at Wingate Today celebrates those me now. All grown up!) Bulldogs who have, sometimes Not everyone, however, has it improbably, migrated to the world all figured out in their teens. Take Ed of entertainment, be it performing, Winters, for example. He majored in writing, cutting deals or managing finance at Wingate and then dipped others’ careers. Entertainment is not W his toe in that field before becoming necessarily the most obvious industry a model and actor. He now produces of choice for the average Wingate movies and commercials. student, but it has pulled a good Or Brian Venable. He majored in number of Bulldogs into its orbit. history and poli-sci, considered law Kristen Bartlett’s path involved When my son was 5 years old, he had already school and now travels the country revisiting her first preteen crush: mapped out a varied career for himself: He making sure you can get HBO in your comedy. Sure, lots of kids want to was going to first be a race-car driver, then a hotel room. write for Saturday Night Live. So basketball player, then a paleontologist, and Even Tony Griffey came to do many adults. But unless you finally a king. He’s in high school now, and I can Wingate with the long-term goal stood out at the Harvard Lampoon, confidently say that at least three of those are no of whipping church choirs into that’s a tough gig to get. Bartlett was longer in play. shape, hardly dreaming of where he approaching 30 before she decided For most people, contemplating what they would ultimately end up: Juilliard, to pursue comedy writing as a want to be when they grow up is a lifelong state the Metropolitan Opera and the career. Now she crafts jokes for Kate of mind. Grammys. McKinnon and Kenan Thompson. Oh, there are certainly linear career paths. Those three are probably the A common thread among all the A few kids might have seen the man in the rule, rather than the exception. Life Bulldogs featured in this issue is the white coat on the elevated platform dispensing is complicated, and the developing solid liberal-arts base upon which secret goodies to grateful grown-ups and said, “I brain is a well of uncertainty. they started their journeys. For want to do that.” They majored in biology, got Whatever you think you want to be this Emmy-nominated, Grammy- accepted into pharmacy school and now happily when you’re 15 probably isn’t what winning, world-touring group of fill prescriptions at Rite Aid or CVS. you’ll wind up being. Universities alums, college was about figuring out Quite a few people head off to college are great for adjusting the focus on their strengths, their passions and intending to eventually take over the family your long-term picture so you get a their peer group, not about following business. They get a business degree, come clearer idea of where you’re headed. a predetermined road. back home and keep the insurance agency or It’s where you can find out who Wingate laid a foundation for hardware store running smoothly. And that’s you are, what you can be and, most them, and they took it from there. wonderful. important, who and what you truly I hope you find their stories (To be fair, I wanted to be a sports writer want to be. entertaining. Q in high school, and I did that for a decade after A large portion of this issue of 04 WINGATE TODAY WU View 05 PERFECT ENDING Irwin Belk Stadium’s new lights weren’t the only thing illuminating the night sky after Wingate’s 44-20 Homecoming victory over Limestone in early November. An impressive fireworks show capped off a memorable weekend that featured a street fair, opera performances, an awards celebration and much more. Oh, and with the victory, Wingate claimed sole possession of the South Atlantic Conference title. 06 Winter 2018 | Vol.75, No.1 Today EDITOR Chuck Gordon ’89 EDITORIAL BOARD Amy Jackson ’06 Chuck Gordon ’89 Heather Campbell Miller ’01 Kristen Yost CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Chuck Gordon ’89 JANUARY 26 Luanne Williams ’87 American Spiritual Ensemble PHOTOGRAPHY Ed Cottingham FEBRUARY 2 Chuck Gordon ’89 The Wailin’ Jennys Jason Miczek Idil Sukan FEBRUARY 15 Jason Walle University Singers and Chamber Singers Concert ART & DESIGN Dwayne Cogdill FEBRUARY 18 Pinkalicious: The Musical CREATIVE DIRECTOR David Storey ’90 FEBRUARY 25 A Tribute to Benny Goodman: The Julian Bliss Septet BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIR Chuck Howard ’69 – Charlotte, N.C. MARCH 1 BOARD OF VISITORS CHAIR University Choirs Concert Carolyn Matthews ’69 – Winston-Salem, N.C. MARCH 5-9 Spring break Wingate Today is a magazine for alumni and MARCH 21 friends of Wingate University. The magazine’s editorial staff strives to inform, engage and Speaker: Donisha Rita Claire inspire readers through stories about the Prendergast University’s contributions to the world. We encourage you to send us your story ideas. MARCH 23 POSTMASTER: Balsam Range Send address changes to: Wingate Today P.O. Box 159, Campus Box 3071 APRIL 12 Wingate, N.C. 28174 One Day, One Dog Send correspondence to: Chuck Gordon, Editor Wingate Today magazine MAY 12 P.O. Box 159, Campus Box 3071 Wingate, N.C. 28174 Spring Commencement [email protected] WINGATE TODAY Ask the President 07 Rhett Brown Question: How did your experience at Wingate affect your faith? —Kristi Wilkins York ’90 there were any non-Christians in Hunger Seminar. We became basic training, but it was clear no friends, and he eventually invited one cared if there was. me to stick around after graduation So … by the time I arrived at to start UCAN. What began as a Wingate in 1986, you could say I temporary gig ultimately led to my was a Protestant free agent with no being president of my alma mater. G fixed allegiance. Dr. Mitch Simpson, From near and from distance, Jim then the pastor of Wingate Baptist, has been a constant reminder to me gave the devotion for our first home of how to live a devout life. football game, and I so loved it that Eventually, I met and I periodically dropped in on his married Nicci, and as a life-long Growing up in Pelion, S.C., I attended the church while I was an undergrad. Episcopalian, she helped me find Methodist church along with a few relatives For my second religion class, I had my spiritual home. Father Henry and friends, and everyone else I knew attended Dr. Byrns Coleman. His faith was Presler became my mentor and either the Lutheran church or the Baptist obvious, but he didn’t require us my friend as I traveled the path church. Three choices – that was the scope to check our intellect at the door. to confirmation in the Episcopal of my faith continuum. My dad taught our I took Dr. Jerry Surratt’s History of Church (where I remain today). But 10-year-old Sunday School class, and he the Modern Church and wrapped my it was Wingate that accelerated and became fascinated with Hal Lindsay (and his mind around the differences between gave substance to my faith journey. preaching on the “End Times”), so we focused consubstantiation, transubstantiation The University was foundational on the Book of Revelation for two whole years. and memorialism as they apply for a faith that was finally my own Scared the hell out of me. I also periodically to the Lord’s Supper. My research and has nourished me in good times attended an Assemblies of God church in paper in his class was on the Eastern and bad. Dr. Paul Baxley, my friend Columbia because there was a young woman Orthodox Church. and colleague, introduced me to the there whose attention I coveted. As a student, Dr. Nancy Randall, idea of borrowed faith versus owned When I first went away to Lees-McRae Dr. Bob Doak, Dr. Pam Thomas and faith. And it is my sincere hope that College, I attended the Presbyterian church Dr. Bob Billinger were daily models we set all of our students on the on campus. It was there, in an introductory for how to live out a Christian life course to an “owned” faith that will religion class, that I read the Gospel of that pursued the Kingdom of God on buffet them against the winds and Thomas. Until that point, I had never earth. They embodied my favorite seas of a sometimes stormy life. Q questioned how the books of the Bible came scripture (Micah 6:8) by loving to be. In basic training for the Navy, my whole mercy, doing justice and walking Got a question for the president? company went to the Roman Catholic service humbly with God. E-mail [email protected]. because our company commanders felt the Eventually, I came to know Protestants would be OK there. Not sure if Dr. Jim McCoy through the World University News WINGATE TODAY 808 Byrum leaves Wingate $35 million for scholarships Byrum Scholarship Fund, which will also benefit from the latest gift.