July 2008

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TOP NEWS

Homecoming 2008 gets closer

Help us spread the word to fellow Shorter grads: Homecoming 2008 will be Sept. 26-28, and no one will want to miss the weekend’s festivities. If your class year ends in 3 or 8, you should definitely make plans to attend because your class reunion needs you!

In addition to class reunions, many other events are also planned for the weekend. Friday night begins with an Athletic Hall of Fame dinner honoring eight individuals who made their mark on Hawks Athletics. The evening will continue with a campus pep rally and a performance by comedian Cary Long.

Saturday, Sept. 27, will begin with the third annual Hawk Hustle 5K, which has moved off the Hill this year to State Mutual Stadium, home of the Rome Braves. A carnival of games and inflatables in the front circle (bring your kids!) is planned for the morning, followed by an alumni baseball game at Ledbetter Field. The class reunion parties will take place Saturday night, and an alumni-led worship service will conclude the weekend on Sunday morning, Sept. 28. The featured worship leader will be former Shorter College President Dr. Larry McSwain with special music by Proclamation alumni and current members.

As you can see, the weekend includes a variety of events for everyone. Your classmates have worked hard to organize multiple opportunities to reminisce, reunite and relive your college years. Additional details and events will be added as the weekend gets closer.

Visit hawkspace.shorter.edu for the current schedule and latest updates. For questions or comments, e-mail homecoming@shorter.edu.

Turn your vacations into alumni donations

Summer is always a great time for a vacation, and now you can help Shorter at the same time! The Shorter College Alumni Association now has its own travel Web site. Instead of booking your next vacation plans through typical travel Web sites, go to www.shortertravel.com . Here, you will find the same airlines, hotels, rental cars, cruises and more. Each time you book travel through Shorter’s site, a portion of the travel commissions will benefit Shorter’s Alumni Association.

Check out the options and travel prices for your next out-of-town getaway, and book your trip where it makes a difference for your alma mater. Visit www.shortertravel.com today!

Hawks soar to new academic heights

During the 2007-2008 academic year, the Shorter Hawks held the highest grade point average of all NAIA men’s soccer teams in the nation. …And, the Lady Hawks volleyball team tied men’s soccer as Shorter’s best academic teams; both held a 3.45 team GPA. …And, four other Shorter teams – men’s basketball, women’s basketball, women’s soccer and softball – joined men’s soccer and volleyball as Scholar Teams, as announced by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics on July 21.

Scholar Teams are those with at least a 3.0 GPA for the team. “These national distinctions speak highly of the standards that our coaches have of their athletes,” said Athletic Director Bill Peterson. “The coaches realize the importance of success in the classroom, and these are huge awards for Shorter Athletics.”

Josh Severns, Shorter’s men’s soccer head coach, acknowledges the hard work required to earn this recognition. “I’m extremely proud of all the players on this team,” said Coach Severns. “This is a credit to the older players who demanded academic excellence and the way it has followed through to the younger guys. The study halls and academic times that we enforce really show their importance with honors like this.”

To congratulate the Hawks’ Scholar Teams on their academic success, visit www.goshorterhawks.com for coach contact information.

Former Italian professor publishes book of Italian devotions If you took Italian at Shorter between 1985 and 1993, you probably recall your teacher Helen Ruchti. It is time to reconnect with those classroom memories because Mrs. Ruchti has published a book on Italy titled La Bella Vita: Daily Inspiration from Italy. Mrs. Ruchti’s love of Italy began long before her time of instruction on the Hill. “In 1959, she wrote a four-line poem for a department store contest and won two deluxe trips from Rome, Ga., to Rome, Italy,” reads the book’s back cover. “Captivated by the country and its people, Mrs. Ruchti and her husband returned to Italy a year later on appointment by the International Mission Board and spent the next 25 years serving there,” until she returned to the States and shared her Italian passion with Shorter students. “As you read the daily entries in her book, you realize that Mrs. Ruchti is an intelligent and talented woman who could have done anything; yet, God called her to Italy and then gave her a deep love for the country,” explained Lana Shealy (’88). “The Ruchtis have an amazing legacy in Italy. The international church they established currently has 180-200 people from 30 nations attending worship on most Sundays.”

Each of Mrs. Ruchti’s entries include a scripture verse, a devotional and a fact about Italy. A topical index makes her inspirational writings useful to travelers as well.  

Shorter alumni and friends near Rome (Georgia) are invited to Mrs. Rutchi’s book-signing at Rome’s Barnes & Noble on Saturday, Aug. 9, at 2 p.m. For additional information on Mrs. Rutchi’s book, contact Shorter alumna Lana Shealy.

NAIA officials impressed during site visit

The countdown to Dec. 20 continues... Shorter College Athletic Director Bill Peterson, pictured at left, welcomed NAIA Director of Championship Services Dennis Green to Rome during the National Football Championship site visit on July 22. Also viewing the progress was Mike Feminis, NAIA Coaches Association president and St. Xavier head football coach, seen in red. Green and Feminis arrived for the site visit on July 21 and toured Barron Stadium on July 22. They were “pleasantly surprised” with the addition of new coaches boxes, a renovated press box and the re-graded and re-sodded field. “The people of Rome and Shorter College have done everything that needs to be done to make this a first class event,” Coach Feminis told a Rome News-Tribune reporter.

“It would be a huge understatement if I just said I’m pleased,” added Green.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ 2008 and 2009 National Football Championship games were awarded to Shorter College and Rome-Floyd County earlier this year. The 2008 title game will be played at Barron Stadium in Rome on Dec. 20.

For additional information and ticket reservations, visit www.naianationalchampionship.com.

Four cheers & four years for Dr. Newman!

The Executive Committee of Shorter’s Board of Trustees voted in June to approve a new contract for Dr. Harold E. Newman as president of the college. This four-year contract went into effect July 1.

In announcing the new contract, Shorter College Trustee Chairman Dr. Nelson Price said, “Excellence deserves rewarding, and I am most pleased Dr. Newman’s exceptional job as president of the college has been rewarded by a four-year extension of his contract. From a spiritual perspective, I am convinced our Lord had him in training as provost of the school for 20 years to enable him to lead the college at this opportune moment.”

Click here to read more about Dr. Newman’s new contract.

 Grant funding “opens doors” at Shorter

Earlier this month, Shorter College received a $23,160 grant from TG for a scholarship program to help neglected or abused children. TG is a public, nonprofit corporation that helps create access to higher education for millions of families and students through its role as an administrator of the Federal Family Education Loan program (FFELP).

Using the grant funds, Shorter College will partner with the Open Door Children’s Home to provide one year of full tuition, room and board, and a book stipend for two students from the home. “The hope and opportunity this will provide to our residents is a gift that cannot be measured,” said Jennifer Scott, chair of the board of directors of the Open Door Children’s Home. “This scholarship opportunity will make a tremendous difference in the life of the students selected and will impact their future families as well.”

Shorter President Dr. Harold E. Newman added that the grant from TG enables Shorter to provide an important ministry to residents at the Open Door Children’s Home. “We are grateful for TG’s willingness to partner with Shorter College in making this scholarship initiative a reality. As a Christian college committed to excellence in education, Shorter College is proud to develop such collaborative efforts that have a meaningful impact on the lives of others. We look forward to helping make a college education more accessible for the students from the Open Door Children’s Home.”

Click here for additional information on the TG grant at Shorter.

 Emergency warning system, “green” vehicles enhance campus safety

Shorter’s campus safety efforts have increased in unique ways this summer.

On June 27, crews began installation of a new emergency warning system on the Rome campus, which gives college officials the ability to alert and inform the entire campus at once should a crisis situation develop. The Student Alert Mass Notification System offers siren alerts as well as pre-recorded and live-voice announcement capabilities. The siren can be utilized in case of severe weather. Other emergency announcements would be made through a pole-mounted speaker system located near the heart of the campus. Repeater systems inside outlying campus buildings will spread the alerts to the Professional Studies Center and the Art House.

Click here for additional information about the emergency warning system.

Additionally, the office began to “go green” earlier this summer with the purchase of an electric all-terrain vehicle and electric Segway for greater campus access by campus safety officials . Shorter President Dr. Harold E. Newman considers the ATV and Segway important enhancements to the security of the college because they provide efficient mobility to a variety of areas that vehicles cannot reach. Additionally, their electric power is environmentally-friendly and quiet. Other efforts undertaken to heighten campus safety during the past 12 months include a review and revision of the college’s Crisis Response Plan, the creation of an updated Crisis Response Manual, and the addition of the Shorter2U text message and email notification system, which is available for faculty, staff, and students at all Shorter campuses.

 Same faces in new places

A few familiar Shorter faces have taken on new responsibilities for the college. Dick Taylor will now serve as assistant vice president of facilities; Jeff Agan has been promoted to director of facilities management; Melissa Tarrant has been named registrar; and Carrie Fitzsimmons will serve as a gift officer in institutional advancement.

Taylor has served as Shorter’s director of facilities since September 1989. The Rome native will now be responsible for overseeing compliance with EPA and OSHA requirements for the college as well as long-range planning for buildings and grounds.

Agan has been employed by Shorter College since June 1991. His new post includes responsibility for overseeing the operation of the facilities management department. He completed his associate’s degree in business at Shorter and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration through the college’s Professional Studies Program.

“The continued development of Shorter’s physical plant is a key component of our growth for the coming years, and we have recognized an increased need for planning as we seek to manage that growth,” President Harold E. Newman said. “Dick Taylor’s rich experience with Shorter and his knowledge of our campus and our future goals make him ideally suited to lead our long-range planning efforts. We are equally fortunate to have a talented and knowledgeable individual in Jeff Agan who can step into the day-to-day leadership of the facilities management department.”

As Shorter’s registrar, Tarrant will oversee the responsibilities of coordinating course schedules and registration, evaluating and issuing transcripts and maintaining academic records for graduation. Tarrant has been a member of Shorter’s staff since 2005, serving as director of the Center for Learning and Academic Success at Shorter (CLASS) and as director of academic advising. In these roles, she managed tutoring and academic support services for the college and advised undeclared majors.

“Melissa Tarrant has worked closely with the registrar’s office for some time, and she is a great fit to continue in that role,” said Dr. Craig Shull, provost.

Joining Shorter’s institutional advancement staff, Fitzsimmons (’08) will be the primary fundraising officer for Shorter’s School of Sciences and Mathematics as well as the School of Education and Social Sciences. She will also be responsible for all student-directed fundraising programs. Fitzsimmons holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication arts from Shorter; while a student, she served as president of the Student Government Association and as editor of Shorter’s student newspaper.

ATHLETICS NEWS

Shorter alumnus designs national first place softball brochure

Shorter’s 2008 softball brochure received first place in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ publication awards, which were presented at the 2008 NAIA Sports Information Directors of America Convention. Additionally, Shorter tied for seventh place in the Web site contest and placed 10 th in the Walt McAlexander baseball brochure contest. Shorter’s athletic publications are designed and produced by Grant Kersey (’06), Shorter’s sports information director, with the assistance of coaches in the athletic department. “These awards are a tribute to the hard work of Shorter’s SID Grant Kersey,” said Athletic Director Bill Peterson. “I am really proud of him personally, and we are all appreciative of his hard work. He has done a good job of getting our sports information efforts off the ground.” Kersey joined the Shorter College staff in 2006 as the college’s first sports information director. “All of our programs and our Web site are a collaborative effort within the athletic department,” said Kersey. “These awards speak to the dedication of the coaches and their insistence on excellence in all areas of their programs.”

The winning softball program featured the four graduating seniors from the back-to-back national qualifying Lady Hawks and a graphic of the 2007 Southern States Athletic Conference Championship ring.

Shorter and Clemson mourn loss of Dr. I.M. Ibrahim

Dr. I.M. Ibrahim (’64), the “Father of Clemson University soccer” and the only Clemson coach in any sport to win two national championships, passed away on July 12 in Seneca, S.C. The 67-year-old coached the Clemson men's soccer program from its inception in 1967 until his retirement after he 1994 season. Ibrahim was a player-coach for the first-ever men's soccer team at Shorter College; he was an inductee in Shorter's first Athletic Hall of Fame class in 2002. Ibrahim coached Clemson to the NCAA Championship in 1984 and 1987 and took Clemson to the NCAA Tournament 17 of his 28 seasons. He led the program to the Final Four of college soccer six times and won 11 ACC Championships, tied for the most league titles by any coach in Clemson sports history.

For more information on Coach Ibrahim, visit www.goshorterhawks.com .

Hawks football: Our Team. Our Town. Our Time.

The Shorter Hawks football team announced the “kick-off” of their new football season ticket campaign earlier this month with a spirited slogan: “Our Team. Our Town. Our Time.” This is the football team’s fourth season, and it marks the team’s first complete senior class to come through Shorter, most having played since the Hawks’ first season in 2005.

The new football season ticket brochures are available at Shorter’s athletic office, as well as throughout the Rome-Floyd County area. Posters featuring Head Coach Phil Jones and the six all-conference seniors in front of Rome’s clock tower have also been distributed in the community.

“Shorter has always been a huge part of Rome, Floyd County and Northwest Georgia,” said Athletic Director Bill Peterson. “The upcoming season is a milestone for our players, and we believe this campaign is a tribute to that.”

To find out more about the Hawks’ season and ticket information, visit www.goshorterhawks.com.

Shorter cheerleading featured in American Cheerleader Magazine

Shorter’s co-ed cheerleading program has been featured in the August 2008 American Cheerleader Magazine; Shorter is described as "the next go-to cheer school." American Cheerleader is the first and largest national teen magazine dedicated to covering all aspects of sideline and competitive cheerleading. “It’s great for the program and the school to be featured in such a prominent national magazine,” said Shorter Head Coach Rachel Magness. “This will be one of the finest programs in the country, and I hope that more people are becoming aware of that.” To learn out more about Shorter’s co-ed competitive cheerleading program, visit www.goshorterhawks.com.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THESE UPCOMING EVENTS

For more information on the events below, visit Hawkspace, call the Alumni Office at (800) 868-6980, ext. 7353 or (706) 233-7353 or e-mail sgraves@shorter.edu.

Fall semester classes begin
August 20

Convocation
August 22

Music Faculty Celebration
August 25

Click here for a complete calendar of the School of the Arts 2008-2009 events.

Homecoming
September 26-28

If you graduated in a year ending in 3 or 8, this is your class reunion year!

Get more information at hawkspace.shorter.edu

Alumni and Friends Luncheon in conjunction with the GBC Annual Meeting
November 11
Additional information coming soon.

Feaste of Caroles with the Rome Symphony Orchestra
December 6

Click here for more information on the Feaste of Caroles.

NAIA National Football Championship Game
December 20

www.naianationalchampionship.com

SHORTER ALUMNI BENEFITS

Liberty Mutual: Savings on auto and homeowner’s insurance to Shorter alumni

For a free, no-obligation rate quote, call Beth Blalock at 770) 924-6464 x 206 or e-mail Beth.Blalock@LibertyMutual.com.

"I've switched my homeowner's and automobile insurance to Liberty Mutual. Not only does Shorter receive a portion of my payments, but coupled with the discount for alumni, I've realized an annual savings of more than $1,300. I've also made a new friend in Beth Blalock, who
is Liberty Mutual’s quote representative for Shorter.”
Shorter alumnus Clark Samples (’71)

Shorter College Alumni Association Platinum Plus MasterCard Credit Card

"The Bank of America credit card is a wonderful tool for alumni to promote Shorter through name recognition. Every time I present the card, a new person sees the Shorter College name, and often asks about the college.
Shorter alumna Patsy Drummond (’62)

Click here to learn more!

Got news? Maybe a new job or a new baby? Recently married? Share the good news with your friends through class notes in Shorter magazine. E-mail your news to wtaylor@shorter.edu . Be sure to include your full name, class year, e-mail address, mailing address and phone number. Please let fellow alumni know that they can subscribe to Virtually Shorter by visiting Shorter's alumni web community Hawkspace. You also can reach the Alumni Office at (800) 868-6980.

Virtually Shorter is compiled by the Office of Institutional Relations. If you have questions, comments or suggestions for our e-newsletter, e-mail Dawn Tolbert at dtolbert @shorter.edu.

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