From College to University SUMMER 2020 | 1 in This Issue MILLIGAN MAGAZINE Summer 2020 | Volume 22, Number 1 Features Departments
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COVID-19 LEADING THE TEACHER OF AT THE HEART RESPONSE FRONTLINES THE YEAR OF WINNING SUMMER 2020 From College to University SUMMER 2020 | 1 In This Issue MILLIGAN MAGAZINE Summer 2020 | Volume 22, Number 1 Features Departments 4 COVID-19 Response 2 Letter from the President 14 Milligan University 8 Faculty News 18 Leading the Frontlines 10 Campus News 22 Teacher of the Year 23 Athletic News 24 At the Heart of Winning 26 Class Notes From the President Dear Friends, The year 2020 has not gone as planned for anyone, and it is in times of challenge and adversity that we are reminded of our need for God. What a comfort to know that He holds our past, our present, and our future. In the midst of uncertainty and unrest, we have tremendous hope in knowing that God is in control. How reassuring this is for Milligan and for us as believers. In the midst of this unprecedented season, we reflect on the many ways our Milligan and Emmanuel family has triumphed. I applaud the work of our students, faculty, and staff who finished the 2020 academic year strong, online and from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. We celebrate the 241 students who graduated this spring, among them our first graduates in engineering and physician assistant studies programs. We celebrate our alumni working to save lives and help those in need during this pandemic. We celebrate the generosity of alumni, friends, churches, faculty, staff, parents, and students who financially support our mission when the impact of COVID-19 could be felt in every facet of life and work at Milligan. Thank you. The Milligan spirit is alive, well, and stronger than ever. Of that, we can be proud. On June 1, we officially became Milligan University. In the years of exploring, discussing, and praying for the Lord’s leading in this decision, we could not have known the ultimate timing of this transition, but God did. It is through the Lord’s provision that we embark on a new and important era in the life of Milligan. As a Christian institution, there is no better time than now to expand our reach as Milligan University. There is no better time than now to share hope with a world in need. There is no better time than now to pray and work to rectify the problems of racial injustice. May Milligan University influence the world in bigger ways that bring justice, reconciliation, understanding, and most of all, love for one another. There is no better time to share the love of Christ than right now. While we still don’t know what the future holds, we know that Milligan is part of God’s plan. We will carry on our noble mission of educating men and women to be servant-leaders, and we are making plans to safely begin our semester on time and on campus. The world needs servant-leaders who are equipped to lead and to serve. Our mission must not falter. It must not stop. It must not fail. Our Milligan family is strong. We share a bond that can’t be broken, and this community, even socially distanced, can and will continue to bring hope, help, peace, and reconciliation through the power of the Prince of Peace. What a strong way to begin a new era. Forward ever, Bill Greer (’85), Ph.D. President PRESIDENT Bill Greer (’85) [email protected] VICE PRESIDENT FOR ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT AND MARKETING A. Lee Harrison (’94) [email protected] VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Rhajon Smith (’98) [email protected] DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT Theresa Garbe (’91) [email protected] DIRECTOR OF MARKETING EDITOR Chandrea Shell (’00) [email protected] ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS COPY EDITOR Allie Greer [email protected] Features: 4-7, 16-17, 18-20, 22 SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR Daniel Manget [email protected] Feature 24-25 GRAPHIC DESIGNER Keila Lau-Lopez (’18) [email protected] COVER PHOTO: Jeremy Hughes CONTRIBUTORS: Photos on 2, contributed Photo on 3, staff Photos on 6-7, contributed, staff Photos on 8-13, contributed, staff Photos on 14-17, contributed, staff Photos on 19-20, contributed Photo on 21, contributed Photo on 22, staff Photos on 23-25, contributed, staff Photos on 26-27, contributed OUR MISSION As a Christian liberal arts university, Milligan University seeks to honor God by educating men and women to be servant-leaders. OUR VISION As a premier Christian liberal arts university where Jesus Christ is exalted and excellence is the standard, Milligan will change lives and shape culture through a commitment to Christian leadership. GENERAL INFORMATION The Milligan Magazine is published regularly by Milligan University for alumni and friends of the university and is distributed free of charge. The magazine highlights the university’s vision to change lives and shape culture through a commitment to servant-leadership. Copyright © 2020 Milligan University. 800.447.5922 | www.milligan.edu [email protected] POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to Advancement, P.O. Box 9, Milligan, Tennessee 37682. The 2020 RISE Above Research Conference will be presented online Today we made the difficult via ZOOM on Thursday, decision to extend Spring APRIL 23. Break an additional week and transition to online classes for two weeks. Wherever we are, no matter how far apart we may be, we are united by our membership in the community that is Milligan University. My prayer for us all is that during this time apart, COVID-19 we actually grow closer together. Love one another, be kind to one Response another, help one another, and live in the way Christ would have us live, and as scripture teaches us. “Celebrating Milligan’s Wonderful “Four years of growth and I Wednesday Quarantine Style!” couldn’t have done it without the most supportive family and friends. @milliganuniversity thanks for the people and experiences you gave me.” Stay well. Take care of yourself and each other. 4 | MILLIGAN Magazine Today we made the difficult decision to extend Spring Break an additional week and transition to online classes for two weeks. hile change was on the horizon with the transition to Milligan WUniversity on June 1, the Milligan community, like the rest of the world, quickly adapted to far more unprecedented and sudden changes this spring in response to COVID-19. On March 12, President Greer announced an extended spring break and a transition to online courses, and by March 20, the administration decided it was safest to complete the semester online. Even in the midst of a global pandemic and a drastically different end to the semester, Milligan’s administration, faculty, staff, and students continued to uphold the university’s commitment to scholarship, community, and faith. This semester affirmed this community’s resilience and optimism, and it reinforced the importance of Milligan’s mission—to prepare the next generation of servant-leaders. Scholarship Each year, the spring semester spotlights the many academic achievements of our students, and with creativity and innovation, Milligan still offered those events this spring. Dr. Joy Drinnon, director of undergraduate research, organized a virtual presentation of our annual RISE Above Research Conference on Zoom. “Research skills are critical for students preparing for graduate work; therefore, we made certain our students could present their research,” said Drinnon. “This year’s theme reflected the many changes our Emmanuel students experienced in the midst of the pandemic.” graduates, please The theme for this year’s conference was “ReVision,” and students join us at the were encouraged to revision an old topic or pursue an innovative new Emmanuel Village design. Over 25 research projects were successfully presented, and topics “Four years of growth and I at 10 a.m. for a included how AI can help predict the spread of COVID-19; predicting couldn’t have done it without a theoretical 2020 March Madness winner; and engineering water special graduation purification systems for rural communities in Sneedville, Tennessee, the most supportive family and parade in your and Turkana County, Kenya. friends. @milliganuniversity honor. Please wear thanks for the people and Milligan celebrated the end of the spring semester with a virtual your regalia! Awards Convocation and Blessing Service. This service combined experiences you gave me.” the annual awards ceremony, where more than 80 awards and scholarships were presented, with a worship service to honor the year’s graduating class. Bo Pless (’20), of Elizabethton, Tennessee, received Milligan’s most distinguished student honor, the Ivor Jones Outstanding Senior Award. The May 2020 graduating class will always hold a special place in Milligan’s 154-year-old history, as they represent the last class to graduate from Milligan College before we officially became Milligan SUMMER 2020 | 5 This year’s graduating class will always hold a special place in Milligan’s 154-year-old history, as they represent the last class to graduate from Milligan College before we officially became Milligan University on June 1. As Milligan completed the spring semester remotely and online, the Milligan community remained bound to each other and continued to celebrate beloved traditions. Students participated in a virtual Wonderful Wednesday, faculty celebrated graduates through a video compilation, and Emmanuel graduates enjoyed a drive-through parade in the Emmanuel Village on commencement day. University on June 1. In addition, this in their regalia, Emmanuel graduates, Milligan celebrated this beloved tradition year’s graduating class included the first faculty, students, and friends drove through entirely online. graduates of three historic programs the close-knit residential community. “Even as our semester finished online, at Milligan—the bachelor’s degree in Graduates stood outside of their our administration was determined to engineering and master’s degrees in apartments or drove through the streets to surprise our students with Wonderful physician assistant studies and humanities.