SpringSpring HillHill THE SPRING HILL COLLEGE MAGAZINE | FALL 2007 Skip’s Place: New Residence Hall Completes Viragh Complex Honor Roll of Donors 2006-2007 The Spring Hill College Magazine From the President Volume 1, Number 3 Editor: Lindsay O’Quin Managing Editor: John Kerr Layout & Design: Luis Blanco-Döring, S.J. Dear alumni and friends: Although we lost Skip in 2003, his gen- erosity and love for the college will be remem- Barbara Spafford The opening of our 177th academic year bered by students who will live and learn in this on the Hill has been the best in my memory. wonderful facility. You can read and enjoy more Photography: Everywhere I turn there is something that tells about Skip’s Place in this issue of the magazine. Chelsea Hare ’07 me that things are “humming” at the college, as We began the fall with some new faces in Seth Laubinger ’02 one person described it. the administration and faculty as well. Dr. The college continues to be recognized Jolie Pollard ’07 George Sims has moved into the position of nationally. We received the good news earlier provost, our chief academic officer, after having Keith Necaise this fall that Spring Hill is ranked 11th among served so capably as associate vice president for Emily Shaffer ’07 the 120 Southern colleges and universities academic affairs for the past two years and as granting master’s degrees, moving up in the acting provost when Dr. Noreen Carrocci left Contributing rankings from 15th last year. Spring Hill College Spring Hill to become president of Newman Writers: is also ranked 8th in the Southeastern region in University. “Great Schools, Great Values” category. Caroline Alvarez Mr. Ed Overbey, class of 1970 and a trustee Three hundred eighty-three freshmen, of the college for 11 years, has been named vice Kelly McCarron ’99 another record class, have begun their journey to president for advancement, with oversight for Jolie Pollard ’07 become leaders in service to others. The profile development and alumni relations, communica- Greta Sharp of the class of 2011 is academically strong with tions and marketing, WHIL radio and real estate an average ACT score of 24 and an average Laura Schramm development. Ed has more than 30 years of G.P.A. of just over 3.5. Our new and returning experience in business, particularly marketing Jim Stennett students are dedicated to their studies and are and sales, and served as president of two differ- committed to service activities and developing a ent companies. The Spring Hill College vibrant campus community. This issue of the magazine also includes our Magazine Beginning with this issue of Spring Hill Honor Roll of Donors. The support of our alum- College Magazine, you will get to know four of ni and friends continues to be vitally important is published three times a year our new students better. During the next four in helping to ensure our students receive the by the Office of years, Spring Hill Magazine will track their education they will need to become both com- Communications and progress and share their successes and challenges petent professionals and persons who will make Marketing. with you as they make their way toward their a difference in our world. And, it is evident by next big goal, to walk across the commencement your generosity that you, as I do, believe that stage on the Avenue of the Oaks in May 2011. President Spring Hill provides that education: one of This year, 82 percent of our traditional mind, body and spirit. Rev. Gregory F. Lucey, S.J. undergraduate students live on campus. They For all the lives you touch by your gifts and returned to find a renovated Mobile Hall and for the trust you have in our stewardship, I Comments the newly opened “Skip’s Place,” the second res- thank you. I hope you enjoy this issue of the idence in our Viragh Complex, named for friend, Spring Hill College Magazine and that you should be addressed to: trustee and benefactor, Albert P. “Skip” Viragh enjoy many blessings all year long. Lindsay O’Quin, Editor ’64, whose generosity to the college has been Spring Hill College Magazine, transformational. Skip’s Place is a modern, hand- Sincerely, 4000 Dauphin Street some complex, with spacious rooms, classrooms and meeting space. It faces a central courtyard Mobile, AL 36608-1791 with beautiful grounds, fountain and gathering 251.380.2280 or 877.SPR.HILL space that also connects to the first Viragh resi- [email protected] dence hall that opened in 2002. Rev. Gregory F. Lucey, S.J. Office of Development • 251-380-2280 • www.shc.edu/giving Tableof Contents From the President . .i Campus News . .2 Badger News . .7 Jim Stennett A Vision Realized . .9 Lindsay O’Quin 4x4 . .13 Lindsay O’Quin Changing Minds, Transforming Lives . .18 9 Lindsay O’Quin Theology Programs Celebrate 25 Years . .20 Greta Sharp Chapter Updates . .22 Upcoming Events . .25 Class Notes . .26 Honor Roll of Donors . .29 13 20 18 CampusNews Freshman Class Breaks Improving the Online Record – Again Experience Fall 2006 was a record-breaking year for new students enrolling at After launching a redesigned Web site last year – complete Spring Hill College when 348 freshmen enrolled, but the college oblit- with playful yet informative homepage profiles of students and erated that record this fall with 383 new freshmen. faculty – Spring Hill College continues to bring new technology This year marks the ninth consecutive year of record enrollment into the educational environment. of traditional undergraduates with 1,174 students, an 8.4 percent This year’s improvements to www.shc.edu include a blogging increase from last year. The class of 2011 is also academically strong system for faculty and staff, resulting in an amusing blend of the with an average ACT score of 24 and an average G.P.A. of 3.5. professional and the personal. Examples of the new technology “More and more students are recognizing not only our longstanding that capture the current spirit of the college are academic and teaching excellence, and our focus on providing the hall- http://faculty.shc.edu/swilson and http://faculty.shc.edu/acollins/. marks of a Jesuit, Catholic education, but also the outstanding living and The Web site also provides a new way for prospective stu- learning experience Spring Hill College offers,” said the Rev. Gregory F. dents to get in touch with the college admissions counselors. Lucey, S.J., Spring Hill College president. “We find that students choose They simply click on “Meet the Counselors” from the Admissions Spring Hill after a campus visit, and they also take more notice of the page, and they can chat one-on-one with their favorite counselor, wonderful amenities the Gulf Coast and Mobile have to offer.” right from the Web site. Nearly 1,100 prospective students visited the campus this year. A new A-to-Z site index lists every page in the site alphabet- The residential population is 950 students, an increase of 100 students ically to help visitors better find what they are looking for in the from last year. site. The new search function shows search results as they type, and the new faculty and staff directory is fast and easy. Try it out at www.shc.edu/directories/facstaff-directory. The Spring Hill community can also stay informed about the latest happenings by subscribing to our news and calendar feeds with their favorite browser or newsreader. Visit www.shc.edu/feeds for details. First Lady Visits Team Focus e s i a c on Campus e N h t i e K y b o t o h P Three hundred eighty-five new students fill the Arthur R. Outlaw Recreation Center at freshman convocation in August. Spring Hill College Once Again Among Best in the South Spring Hill College is ranked once again among the best Southern universities and colleges, according to the 2008 edition of r e t s i g U.S.News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges.” e R - s s Spring Hill is ranked 11th among the 120 Southern colleges and e r P / g universities granting master’s degrees, moving up in the rankings from n i l r a t 15th last year. The college is also ranked 8th among only 15 schools S l l i listed in the South’s “Great Schools, Great Values” category, campuses B y b o that offer quality academic programs, affordable tuition and significant t o h financial aid. P The U.S. News rankings are based on several quality measures First lady Laura Bush listens as Rondale Boyd, 15, (not pictured) gives including academic reputation, graduation and retention rates, faculty a testimonial during her campus visit on June 21. She visited with par- ticipants of Team Focus, an outreach program that provides guidance resources, student selectivity, peer assessment and graduation rate per- and support to fatherless young men. Team Focus participants, from formance. Colleges and universities are listed in various categories left, James Shell, 18, Justin Sims, 18, and Andre Taylor, 18, listen to depending on their size, location and other factors. the testimonial as well. 2 Spring Hill College • Fall 2007 College Appoints New Provost and Vice President of Advancement Dr. George Sims Named Provost served as vice president for academic affairs at The Rev. Gregory F. Lucey, S.J., presi- Muskingum College in Ohio from 2001 to dent of Spring Hill College, in July 2005, and he held several academic and announced the appointment of Dr. George E. administrative positions at Belmont Sims as provost, the chief academic officer of University in Tennessee from 1986 to 2001.