WINTER/SPRING 2 020 focusVOL. 116 | NO. 1 LOOKING BACK OUR BICENTENNIAL YEAR IN PICTURES A PUBLICATION FOR ALUMNI & FRIENDS OF MARYVILLE COLLEGE A Publication for Alumni & Friends of Maryville College PRESIDENT Tom Bogart EDITORIAL BOARD Chloe Kennedy, Editor Assistant Director of Communications Karen Beaty Eldridge ‘94 Executive Director for Marketing and Communications This photo, dated October 1969, was taken Suzy Booker from our Vice President for Institutional Advancement during Maryville College’s Sesquicentennial PHOTO year. What can you tell us about it? Angie Harris Director of Alumni Affairs Email us at focus@maryvillecollege. { FILES } edu or send us a letter: FOCUS, Maryville ART DIRECTION & DESIGN College, 502 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy., Mary Workman Maryville, TN 37804. Publications Manager IN THE LAST ISSUE, we featured a photo that was labeled “Becky MARYVILLE COLLEGE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Smith Leading Thumbs Up” and asked readers to tell Rev. Dr. Emily Anderson us what they know about “thumbs up.” Dr. William Kenneth Bell While we thought the photo was taken in the late Dr. William T. Bogart 1960s, O. Perry Tooker III ’63 said the photo had to Mr. Jason D. Brooks ’97 be taken earlier; he recognized Jim Rechtin ’62 as the Mr. Hulet M. Chaney drummer in the far left of the photo. Ms. Mary F. Crawford Rob Kennedy ’71 thought the photo was probably taken in the fall of Mr. Michael C. Davis, Jr. 1965 or 1966; he found Becky Smith ’67 in the Chilhowean, listed as Ms. Jenny Jett Erwin ’68 Ms. Diane Humphreys-Barlow ’70 a cheerleader during her junior and senior years. He said he remembers Mr. J. William Johnson doing the “thumbs up” at football games as a student in the mid-1960s. Dr. James Kulich “It happened when our team did a kick-off or was kicking for the extra Ms. Cheryl S. Massingale point after a touch-down,” Kennedy wrote. “The female cheerleaders Judge W. Neal McBrayer ’86 would stand on the male cheerleaders’ thighs, the guys would hold the Dr. Jennifer McCafferty-Fernandez ’94 gals around their waists, and the gals would do the thumbs-up. All of the Mr. Adriel McCord ’00 audience would stand and hold their thumbs up, and we would all go Mr. Alvin J. Nance ’79 Ms. Erin Palmer Polly ’99 ‘ahhhhhhhh’ in a rising crescendo until the actual kick was made. It was Ms. Judith M. Penry ’73 fun and gave everyone a feeling of participation in the action.” Mr. A. Cole Piper ’68 David Harris ’67, who was a cheerleader at MC from 1963 until Ms. Marcia Kilby Rethwilm ’89 1967, had a similar memory of the “thumbs up” tradition. Ms. Ann L. Rigell ’69 “We had both male and female cheerleaders in that era,” Harris Mr. Donald W. Story ’67 recalled. “Having both male and female cheerleaders, mild acrobatics Dr. Mary Kay Sullivan increased in complexity during the 60s, with male cheerleaders lifting Mr. Timothy A. Topham ’80 Dr. Kenneth D. Tuck ’54 female cheerleaders in various routines and cheers.” Mr. Charles Wright wrote to say that she and husband Elsie Harris Gilmore ’62 David Rev. Sharon K. Youngs ’79 Gilmore ’61 remember the tradition well. “Both arms/hands outstretched, thumbs up, atop your neighbor’s thumbs up; thus a chain of ‘thumbs up’ when Maryville had a kick- MARYVILLE COLLEGE FOCUS MAGAZINE 2020 off during a football game,” she said. “Everyone stood to do this. I PUBLISHED TWICE A YEAR remember a ‘rising roar’ as the ball was kicked and went into the air. 502 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy When we came to games on later trips back, we wondered what had Maryville, TN 37804-5907 865.981.8000 | maryvillecollege.edu happened to ‘thumbs up!’” subscription price - none Copyright © 2020 Maryville College. Contents may not be reproduced in any manner, either whole or in part, without prior permission of Maryville College. PICTURED ON THE COVER: The Bicentennial Mosaic is comprised of photos submitted f ocus by Maryville College alumni and friends. CONTENTS See pages 16-17 for the full mosaic. 3 campusNEWS 8 facultyNEWS NEWS 2 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT 10 sports 3 MC RECEIVES GRANT FROM NSF The National Science Foundation awarded a five-year, $1 million grant to Maryville 27 classNOTES College to fund the College’s Scots Science Scholars program. 6 A DECADE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT In June 2020, Maryville College President Dr. Tom Bogart will depart from Maryville College, concluding a 10-year tenure marked by financial growth, campus improvements and new academic programs. 11 VOLLEYBALL MAKES NCAA TOURNAMENT MC’s volleyball squad concluded the regular season and USA South tournament on a 19-match win streak that propelled it into the program’s 13th NCAA post-season bid – its first since 2014. 12 LOOKING BACK From January to December 2019, Maryville College carried out almost 40 bicentennial-themed events and projects, which included performances, government proclamations, trail hikes, publications, a podcast, receptions, presentations and more. See photos from our bicentennial year! The Anderson Hall mosaic has been placed in the center to allow for pull-out, framing and display. Maryville College staff members pose for a photo on the Anderson Hall lawn during MC’s Bicentennial Staff Day on May 10, 2019. MESSAGE from THE PRESIDENT Looking Backward, LOOKING FORWARD A NOVEL THAT I OFTEN used to teach economic concepts is Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy. The book tells the story of a person who goes to sleep in 1887 and wakes up in 2000 to discover that the world has become a utopia. That is, of course, a familiar theme. But what is impressive about Bellamy is that he not only describes the ideals but he carefully thinks through the structural details, processes and hard work necessary to achieve those ideals. That makes the book useful for teaching students, and it is why his book comes to mind when I think about Maryville College. This is a place founded on and committed to the highest ideals. Our mission statement emphasizes those ideals, as we “prepare students for a life of citizenship and leadership” so they can “dedicate a life of creativity and service to the peoples of the world.” The mission statement, though, does not shy away from the hard work required to achieve those ideals, reminding us that we accomplish them as we “challenge [students] to search for truth, grow in wisdom [and] work for justice.” This link between the profound and the prosaic permeates Maryville College. Research shows that liberal arts education is not only the best academic preparation but also the best preparation for professional success and personal fulfillment, which is a high ideal. Unfortunately, research also shows that saying “liberal arts” causes people to turn away. Rather than drop the ideal, we have created a structure that helps people see how this goal is not only a good one but also achievable. Maryville College Works provides a structure for students, families and community partners to understand the value of our approach. We have just completed a yearlong celebration of our bicentennial. There were books, commissioned works of music, art, theater, parades, banners, proclamations, a “hashtag mosaic” that will go on permanent display, the restoration of Isaac Anderson’s cabin, and of course we ended the year with a special performance of “Messiah.” The emphasis throughout the celebration was to draw inspiration from our past in order to accomplish even more work in the future. Or to put it in Looking Backward terms, to make this a place that Isaac Anderson or Thomas Jefferson Lamar would wake up to and believe they were indeed in a better world. As I look back on my time here at Maryville College, I am pleased with the work that we have accomplished. I’m proud of the many times people told me how beautiful the campus looked and how friendly and helpful everyone was. I’m satisfied that we all did our best, with what we had available and what we knew at the time, to advance the mission of Maryville College. I feel deep appreciation for the opportunity to work beside you for 10 years. I’ll look forward to hearing about continued progress on the new lab building and renovating Sutton Science Center, the new lower fields locker room complex and renovating Cooper Athletic Center, Fit.Green.Happy.®, the ongoing impact of Maryville College Works, the growing reputation of the Clayton Center, more living/learning communities in the residence halls. And I am grateful for the many ways that people have found and continue to find to “do good on the largest possible scale.” Thank you for the privilege of being part of this community, and thank you for all you do to make it a welcoming and wonderful place. campusNEWS MC AWARDED $1 million NSF GRANT The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a five-year, $1 million grant to Maryville “EXPANDING HORIZONS” College to fund the College’s Scots Science Scholars (S3) program. Now in its seventh year, S3 is a four-year program with a goal of Expanding Horizons at Maryville increasing the number of students graduating in Science, Technology, College is a week-long high school Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs at Maryville College. institute for rising 10th, 11th and Dr. Maria Siopsis, associate professor of mathematics, and Dr. Angelia 12th-grade high school students who Gibson, chair of the Division of Natural Sciences and associate professor of chemistry, are the co-directors of the program. display a promise for leadership and In addition to enabling Maryville College to continue to offer the an eagerness to explore theology in S3 program and its existing programming, the NSF grant will broaden a college setting.