FURMAN MAGAZINE Letter from the President
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SPRING 2018 AROUND Q&A NOTES FROM THE COMEBACK THE LAKE John Plyler ’56 TINY HOUSES, THE FIELD Furman and the We go behind the shares his thoughts BIG DREAMS Allie Buchalski ’18 Greenville Drive scenes with Senior on Furman then and The embodiment of his passion for sustainability is Furman’s first celebrate a winning Groundskeeper now. pg. 10 and intelligent design, David Latimer’s tiny All-American partnership. pg. 42 Sheree Wright. pg. 4 homes make minimum feel maximum. pg. 30 runner. pg. 14 VOLUME 61 NUMBER 1 SPRING Table of Contents 2018 THE PARTNERS PROGRAM HAS NOT ONLY PROVIDED ME WITH SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO PURSUE MY GOALS, IT HAS ALSO GIVEN ME MENTORS WHO SUPPORT AND CHALLENGE ME pg. 26 TO BE A BETTER LEADER AT FURMAN AND CONTRIBUTOR TO THE Furman’s three institutes take a yearlong look at LARGER GREENVILLE COMMUNITY. — Jessica Norum, class of 2018 climate change. THE PARTNERS PROGRAM LETTER FROM Features NOTES FROM THE FIELD THE PRESIDENT Distance runner Allie GIVES JESSICA Elizabeth Davis on ensuring Buchalski ’18 laid the ground- The Furman Advantage STEEPLE SAVERS work for the Furman running delivers. pg. 3 by Ron Wagner ’93 program’s success. pgs. 14–16 THE ADVANTAGE Three Furman alumnae are working to save Trinity Episcopal Church, the centerpiece of downtown Abbeville. pgs. 20–25 Furman Institute of Running AROUND THE LAKE and Scientific Training works Sheree Wright is Furman’s senior with professional bike racing groundskeeper and unofficial A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER team. pgs. 18–19 swan whisperer. pgs. 4–5 by M. Linda Lee The Partners Program supports The Furman Furman’s yearlong exploration of climate change engaged Advantage by funding student scholarships Furman on Main opens in multiple disciplines in addressing the national and local impact of THE COMEBACK M. Judson Booksellers in climate change. pgs. 26–29 Furman and Greenville’s home and experiences. Investments through the downtown Greenville. pgs. 6–7 team celebrate a winning part- Partners Program enable our students to nership. pgs. 42–47 OLLI at Furman turns 25. engage, push and power transformation. TINY HOUSES, BIG DREAMS pgs. 8–9 by Ron Wagner ’93 David Latimer ’05 is making a name for his company, SHELF LIFE Ruby Morgan leaves a New Frontier Tiny Homes. pgs. 30–35 Works by Doug Campbell ’94, Steinway legacy for Furman’s Carolyn A. Day and Matt Olson. future musicians. pg. 12 Help ensure that every experience they have pgs. 50–51 TEAM PLAYER produces an advantage. Contact us about by Kelley Bruss supporting a Furman student by calling Q&A From the field to the courtroom,Richard Cullen ’71 CLASS NOTES John Plyler ’56, son of 864.294.3436 or Furman.edu/Partners. fights for his own.pgs. 36–37 Where you have been, where Furman’s longest-serving you are going. What life is like president. pgs. 10–11 After the Aisle for twins Ali A REUNION ACROSS THE POND Gunn Napier ’03 and Jenny by Willard Pate Gunn Littlejohn ’03. Getting THEN, NOW, NEXT President Davis joins Furman alumni, students and faculty to Up Close with Janet Kwami and Reflections on what was, celebrate study away in London. pgs. 38–41 John Crabtree. pgs. 56–63 is and will be important at Furman. pgs. 7, 9, 11 FURMAN | SPRING 2018 1 Overheard FURMAN MAGAZINE Letter from the President FURMAN HAS PROMISED A HIGH- IN THE KITCHEN AT Furman magazine is published significant portion of the score that IMPACT EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE WHITE OAKS for alumni and friends of the univer- determines our ranking, increase by a 2017 FALL TO EACH AND EVERY STUDENT, I received my copy of Furman sity by University Communications, point. Anyone familiar with the U.S. Furman University, Greenville, South WHICH IS A LEVEL OF COMMITMENT yesterday and, even though I News rankings knows this is no small feat. Carolina 29613. Correspondence may THAT HAS NEVER BEEN ATTEMPTED. am not an alumnus of Furman, I The best part, though, is that we’re be directed to [email protected]. found it to be of great interest. increasing awareness and reputation by WE NEED STRONG DATA TO MAKE A There is one item I feel should building on what we know and do well. CASE FOR THIS NEW APPROACH TO HIGHER EDUCATION. be clarified. As I read your INTERIM EDITOR In an authentic way, we’re changing the article on “In the Kitchen at Carol Anne Ward ’02 narrative about higher education – “how White Oaks” it seemed to me to do it right.” We’re showing how “Furman’s vision and ambition to pg. 20 CREATIVE DIRECTOR to give the impression that Dr. Elizabeth Geer combining the curricular, cocurricular provide a relationship-rich and work- 8 FURMAN | SPRING 2017 Plyler and Dr. Blackwell had Proving Our and extracurricular with reflection leads integrated learning experience for every resided in White Oaks. This is SHARE YOUR ART DIRECTORS to positive outcomes. We’re showing how single student – as a guarantee, not just an Katherine Irvin not the case. John and Martha THOUGHTS placing students at the center of every- option – is truly unprecedented,” he said at LETTERS TO Chris Turner Promise THE EDITOR Johns were the first couple Kaylee Welgraven thing we do and guiding them through the time. “Gallup has the great privilege of to reside there. I remember We welcome letters on any Furman-Gallup study will ensure this ultra-curricular path produces serving as Furman’s strategic evaluation John telling me how Furman subject covered in the maga- DESIGNER successful graduates. partner in this effort to conduct one of the Cara Sanders Robb The Furman Advantage delivers. A dramatic cover photo had to have exterminators to zine. Letters should be limited Again, it’s not enough to just say this, we most comprehensive and multifaceted graces this issue, and the article treat the house before assayers to 150 words, refer to a subject CONTRIBUTORS BY ELIZABETH DAVIS have to prove it. We have seen from Gallup studies ever done in higher ed. It will help on the campus eclipse experience would come in to evaluate its from the most recent issue and Jen Bobo that certain college experiences lead to guide improvements to their practice in is so well done. The sidebar contents. After this, the house include the writer’s name and Kelley Bruss greater engagement in life and careers. real-time and document elements of success on Guy Ottewell, a veritable was prepared for him to move city/state. They may be sent Elizabeth Davis We are going to measure our outcomes – – as well as struggles – over the long-term.” Javonia Davis ’21 polymath, fascinated me, and in. He was followed by the Shis, to [email protected]. Jeremy Fleming ’08 e made a promise and we including alumni engagement, satisfaction We’re not going to hide from the results. I am honored to have my poem Kohrts and now the Davises. Although we make every effort Erikah Haavie plan to keep it. By now, I and success – so we can show our value They might show us that we have a long beside his artwork. Since he is I may be mistaken, but I to include as many submis- Brian Hodes hope, you’ve heard about The and, as needed, make improvements to way to go, or that certain elements need also a poet, I hope he thought remember only four presidents sions as we can, letters may Mary Alice Kirkpatrick Furman Advantage. It is our what we’re doing. We will be reaching out tweaking. If we’re going to make the kind it was a worthy combination! (not five) as having resided in be edited for length or clarity. Blair Knobel ’03 promise to provide every student an in- to you soon to ask you about your experi- of difference we expect, we have to take the M. Linda Lee W That his son’s name is also White Oaks. Letters that address a topic Vince Moore tegrated four-year pathway, with engaged ence at Furman and beyond. Please take good with the bad and constantly work to the name of one of L. D. before the most recent issue of Lindsay Niedringhaus ’07 learning experiences, guided by a commu- the time to reflect and help us understand be better. Johnson’s sons seems a happy Sincerely, Furman will be published at Samir Osman nity of mentors, that will prepare graduates the impact of a Furman education. The pathway for students is four years Willard Pate and fortuitous coincidence. W. Eugene Bondurant the editor’s discretion. for lives of purpose and accelerated impact We knew when we launched The long when they’re here and a lifetime once Lauren Prunkl ’18 in their careers and communities. We Furman Advantage that we would need they leave. We have to examine the entire Leigh Savage The article on Fran and Ron Wagner ’93 believe this will demonstrate in concrete to continually assess and ask questions life cycle to assess how we’re delivering George Ligler clearly exempli- EDITOR'S NOTE Mike Wilson ’88 terms the value of a Furman education. to know what is working and what is not. on our promise. This first year of the fies the incredibly important As W. Eugene Bondurant points out in his letter above, Presidents Plyler Now we have to prove it. What mentoring tactics are particularly Furman-Gallup study will help us establish CLASS NOTES EDITOR accomplishments of some of and Blackwell did not reside at White Oaks, but five Furman presidents This past October, on the one-year successful? Are the internship opportu- a baseline so that in subsequent years we Jen Bobo Furman’s alumni.