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DeltaDelta StateStateSPRING 2009 THE MAGAZINEGAZINE FORFOR DELTA SSTATETA UNIVERSITY ALUMNI AND FRIENDS THE ROAD TO WASHINGTON Alumni make their mark on Capitol Hill With a student to teacher ratio of fourteen to one, Delta State’s small class sizes ensure students don’t get lost in the crowd. COMMUNITY OF SCHOLARS Everything a student needs is ready and waiting. Delta State offers a wide range of majors to meet any aspiration. Students can push the frontier of technology, make a difference as a community organizer, or save lives as a registered nurse. Do you 1.800.GO.TO.DSU www.deltastate.edu know an aspiring scholar? Recommend Delta State today! joininstandout.deltastate.edu X Contents Spring 2009 FEATURES Alumni Magazine 16 TTHEHE AARTRT OOFF SEEINGSEEING President...............................................Dr. John Hilpert Sammy Britt’s artistic vision Alumni Magazine Advisory Board: Editor ...........................................Dr. Michelle Roberts Managing Editor ..................................Michael Gann Alumni Board Representative ...................... John Cox Alumni Representative .......................... Edward Pope Foundation Board Representative ..............Billy Nowell Academic Council Representative ............Jeff Slagell Staff Council Representative .............Deborah Moore Alumni, Department Editor ...................... Jeffrey Farris Athletics, Department Editor ......................Matt Jones Executive Director, Alumni-Foundation ... Keith Fulcher 16 Board of Directors Artist Sammy Britt Delta State University Alumni Association: in his studio. John Cox, President; George Bassi, President Elect; Serena Clark, Secretary/Treasurer; Daye Dearing, Past President; Judson Thigpen, Foundation President; Michael Aguzzi, Rob Armour, Drew Barham, Billy Dorgan, Ryan England, Sayward Fortner, Laura Howarth, Felecia Lee, Dr. Wayne Lee, Jr., Mary Luther, 18 CCAPITOLAPITOL CACARREERSEERS Richard Myers, Cary New, Jeremy Pittman, Russ Russell, Karen Swain, Sarah Tapley, Walter Trevathan, Alumni make their mark in Washington Dwaun Warmack, Dana Warrington, Lynn Weaver Board of Directors Delta State University Foundation, Inc.: 22 TTAKINGAKING ITIT TOTO THETHE EXTREMEEXTREME Judson Thigpen, President; Mike Neyman, Vice President; Anne Weissinger, Secretary/Treasurer; Frank Former Delta State tennis stars share adventure Sibley, Past President; John Cox, Alumni President; David Abney, Dr. Bill Alford, Louis Baioni, Hunter in endurance races Cade, Jeff Ross Capwell, Glen Casanova, Dr. Steven Clark, Scott Coopwood, Kevin Cox, John Crawford, Carl Easley, Webster Franklin, Bryce Griffis, Mark Hargett, Earnest Hart, Tim Harvey, Tom Janoush, Peter Jernberg, Gloria Johnson, Ed Kossman, Jr., Rex Lyon, Ned Mitchell, Billy Nowell, Pete Peden, Carol Puckett, Nan Sanders, Charlotte Smith, Gwen Sykes, Jeff DEPARTMENTS Tarver, Dr. Lynn Varner, Brian Waldrop, Jeanne Walker, Margaret Walker, Dr. David Webber 2 President’s Message 8 Athletics The Delta State Magazine is published by the Vice President for University Relations, DSU Box A-1, 1003 West Sunflower Road 3 Alumni Message 12 Development Cleveland, Mississippi 38733 E-Mail: [email protected] Phone: 662.846.4000 4 Campus Briefs 24 With the Classes Design: Laura F. Walker, Department of Communications and Marketing On the cover: The Capitol building in Washington, D.C. Photo by Russ Fortson. Note: In an effort to reduce our environmental impact, only one magazine per household is mailed. Spring 2009 • Delta State Magazine • 1 X President’s Message Dear Alumni and Friends, Delta State is fortunate to have a strong and active alumni association with a long history of supporting the university’s faculty, students, and programs. We pay tribute and express appreciation to those who manage the affairs of the organization as members of the Alumni Board. Below is a list of those who serve. The information includes name, year of baccalaureate graduation, current career position, and community of residence (Mississippi unless otherwise indicated). It is an impressive group. OFFICERS OF THE BOARD • President: John Cox (’96), Attorney, Cox and Moore, Cleveland • President Elect: George Bassi (’87), Executive Director, Lauren Rodgers Museum, Laurel • Past President: Daye Dearing (’85), Director of Internships and Grants, School of Business, Alcorn State University, Natchez • Secretary: Serena Clark (’97), Chief Policy Analyst for Governor Haley Barbour, Office of Recovery and Renewal, Madison MEMBERS OF THE BOARD • Michael Aguzzi (’97), Farmer, Cleveland • Cary New (’98), Communications Manager, Viking Range • Rob Armour (’95), First Vice President of Marketing, Trustmark Corporation, Collierville, TN Bank in Jackson, Madison • Jeremy Pittman (’03), Instructor, Coahoma Community • Drew Barham (current student), President, Student Government College, Cleveland Association, Cleveland • Russ Russell (’77), Attorney, Jackson • Billy Dorgan (’02), Owner, Krispy Kreme, Hattiesburg • Karen Swain (’01), Special Agent Auditor, Clarksdale • Ryan England (’02), Agent, State Farm Insurance, Southhaven • Sarah Tapley (’54), Teacher (retired), Cleveland • Sayward Fortner (’04), Attorney, Griffith and Griffith, Cleveland • Judson Thigpen (’78), Executive Director, Cleveland-Bolivar • Laura Howarth (current student), President, Student Alumni County Chamber of Commerce, Cleveland Association, Cleveland • Walter Trevathan, II (’97), Pilot, Pinnacle Airlines, Collierville, • Felecia Lee (’01), Art Teacher, Pearl High School, Brandon TN • Wayne Lee (’57), Professor, Delta State, Cleveland • Dwaun Warmack (’99), Associate Dean of Students, Rhodes • Mary Luther (’06), Surgical Nurse, Delta Regional Medical College, Memphis, TN Center, Pickens • Dana Warrington (’91), Homemaker, Greenville • Richard Myers (’91), Partner, Stites and Harbison PLLC in • Lynn Weaver (’97), Music Teacher, Petal High School, Raymond Nashville, Brentwood, TN Each year Delta State alumni meet at locations throughout Mississippi and in several other states. They enjoy networking opportunities and visiting about the good old days; but, the serious work of generating support for the university is always high on the list of priorities. Members of the Alumni Board are instrumental in creating these events. They consistently achieve wonderful results in terms of attendance and support. Successes are no surprise because these folks are always conscientious in overseeing the activities of the Delta State University Alumni Association and in building the organization toward an even more positive future. We are tremendously grateful to all who serve and all who give. Thank you. Sincerely, John M. Hilpert President 2 • Delta State Magazine • Spring 2009 X Alumni Message Dear Alumni and Friends: Greetings from the Delta! As I write this letter, your University is back in full swing, with the students, faculty, and staff beginning the spring semester. Wonderful shows are being planned at the Bologna Performing Arts Center, and our students are settling back into the routine of academic life. The Statesmen and Lady Statesmen are heating up the hardwood in Walter Sillers Coliseum, and our spring sports are already preparing for another great year. Your Alumni Association is no different. Our Alumni Director, Jeffrey Farris, and his wonderful staff are busy planning new and exciting events for our alumni and friends. Chapter meetings in Washington County, Bolivar County, Jackson, and Atlanta are already in the works, and this year, we have decided to add a chapter meeting in the District of Columbia to recognize the alumni and friends who have migrated to our nation’s capital. This summer, we will once again make the pilgrimage to New York City for the Mississippi in Central Park picnic, as well as host many other chapter meetings and special events. It is an exciting time in the Alumni Association, and if you would like to participate, then please give the Alumni Office a call at (662) 846-4660 or email [email protected]. We would love to have your input, and I do hope that you will take an active role in your Alumni Association. When I was given the tremendous honor of presiding over the Alumni Association last fall, I knew that it was imperative that we continue to move the Association forward through new and innovative ideas. To that end, your Alumni Board of Directors has dedicated itself to serving as your “voice,” and will do everything within its power to further our fine tradition of excellence. Please take a moment to look at the Alumni Board of Directors listed on the Table of Contents page of this issue. These fine men and women are your representatives, and I encourage you to thank them for their service, as well as challenge them to work as hard as possible to better our fine University. Lastly, on a personal note, let me thank you for allowing me to serve as your National Alumni President. When I see the names of the past Presidents of the Alumni Association, I do not feel worthy to follow in their footsteps. It seems like only yesterday that I was a freshman English major who could not figure out the exit doors of the H.L. Nowell Student Union. But time has flown by, and I am honored to serve my fellow alumni. I look forward to seeing you at our local chapter meetings, special events, or just back on our Cleveland campus very soon! With warmest regards, I am sincerely yours, John C. Cox ’96 National Alumni Association President SEPTEMBER 18 & 19 Join us for Pig Pickin’ 2009! Check the website for more