August 2009

So long, summer; hello, Shorter!

Think back to your first day on the Hill. Remember the excitement? The nervous butterflies? All that homework? Those same feelings are still floating around Shorter today as students continue to make the transition from summer to fall semester this week. New students began arriving as early as Aug. 17, and student-athletes arrived the week of Aug. 5. Classes began on Aug. 24, and students were met with smiling faculty faces, an updated dining hall and a bookstore packed with all the college necessities.

New and returning students will be on hand Friday, Aug. 28, to help officially ring in Shorter’s 137th academic year. Along with a day full of special activities, the traditional convocation service will be held as Shorter President Dr. Harold Newman officially convenes the new academic year.

Shorter named one of America’s Best Colleges

With its transition toward university status just nine months away, Shorter College has learned that it is again ranked among the top-tier baccalaureate institutions by U.S. News & World Report. This is the ninth consecutive year Shorter has been included among the top regional baccalaureate institutions and marks a three-slot rise over last year’s placement. In addition, Shorter ranked in the Top 10 among Southern baccalaureate institutions in the “Great Schools, Great Prices” listing done by U.S. News in the magazine’s annual college guide.

Read more about Shorter’s ranking>

Shorter was also named “A Best School in the Southeast” by the The Princeton Review for the fifth consecutive year. Shorter is one of 141 schools in the southeast that holds this title.

Read more about this distinction>

Our doors are open, come on in

The Shorter College School of Nursing held an open house for the local community on Aug. 24. Healthy snacks were provided for attendees, and tours of the new top-of-the-line facility were given. “The grand opening marks a milestone in the progress of bringing a Baccalaureate Nursing Program to Northwest Georgia,” said School of Nursing Dean Vanice Roberts.

The School of Nursing will begin its first nursing classes in the fall of 2010.

Read more about the open house and see photos from the event>

MORE ALUMNI NEWS

You don’t want to miss this!

Homecoming on the Hill will be here before you know it, and you don’t want to miss the exciting events your alma mater has planned. On Friday, Oct. 16 come see the “Best of the Caf,” and take part in the annual alumni meeting and dinner. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. After dinner, come and spend some time in the front circle. Be entertained at 8 p.m. by comedian Sammy Wegent (’01) and alumni improv troupe “This, That and The Other.” Once the belly laughs have passed, show your school spirit with a 9 p.m. pep rally. The rally, held in the front circle, will feature the Shorter College Band, the cheerleaders and the football team.

On Saturday, Oct. 17, the fun starts with a family carnival at 10 a.m. in the front circle. Bring the kids, and get ready for big smiles; you’ll have a blast! The alumni baseball game will also begin at 10 a.m. After all that fun, treat yourself to lunch inside the dining hall from noon until 1:30 p.m., and then head over to Barron Stadium to watch the big game.

For more information and reunion event times and locations, log on to http://hawkspace.shorter.edu.

Nursing scholarship established The Hospital Auxiliary at Floyd Medical Center has established a scholarship fund for Shorter College nursing students. The Barbara Holden Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to one Shorter College nursing student on the basis of academic performance and financial need. The yearly scholarship’s namesake was the founder of the Hospital Auxiliary at Floyd Medical Center. Read more>

Faculty Gala: Starting off on the right note

Shorter College’s music department will host its annual Faculty Arts Gala on Monday, Aug. 31, at 7:30 p.m., at Rome’s Historic DeSoto Theatre, and we want to fill the house with alumni. The gala will showcase the vocal and keyboard talents of music faculty and is collaboration between the Shorter College School of the Arts and the Historic DeSoto Theatre Foundation. Proceeds from the event will go directly toward the Historic DeSoto Theatre Restoration Fund.

Read more about this event>

Tolbert promoted to Vice President for Public Relations

Veteran public relations professional Dawn Tolbert has been promoted to the position of vice president for public relations at Shorter College. Mrs. Tolbert has been a member of Shorter’s administrative staff since August 2004, serving as head of the college’s public relations efforts and as a member of the President’s Cabinet. Read more on this story>

Excitement in the air as new turf field created, improvements planned

Dozens were in attendance for a groundbreaking ceremony in early August as Shorter launched improvements to its on-campus practice field. The field, located behind the college’s Robert H. Ledbetter Baseball Complex, will receive the addition of an artificial turf surface and lighting. The field will be utilized as a practice facility for the college’s varsity and junior varsity football teams, men’s and women’s soccer teams, and the Shorter marching band; it will also be available for intramural activities.

Shorter College Board of Trustees Chairman Dr. Nelson Price, along with Shorter College Athletic Director Bill Peterson, The Benjamin F. Brady Charitable Foundation President Phill Bettis and Shorter College President Dr. Harold Newman took part Monday in the official groundbreaking ceremony for Shorter’s new and improved Ben Brady Field.

The Benjamin F. Brady Charitable Foundation is helping to support the improvements to the field. The Shorter College Board of Trustees has approved naming the facility the Ben Brady Field in honor of Mr. Brady, a philanthropist who supported religious causes, including those in the area of higher education.

Read more about the Ben Brady Field>

Shorter hosting a career and job fair next month Know someone who's looking for a job? Know of a company that's hiring? Tell them about the Northwest Georgia / Shorter College Career and Job Fair. The event will take place on Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. in The Forum in downtown Rome. Register for the event online at:

http://nwgashortercollegejobfair.eventbrite.com/

For more information, contact Britt Madden Jr. at britt.maddenjr@apollogrp.edu or call 678-260-3573.

ATHLETICS NEWS

Lacrosse to hit Shorter’s fields in 2011

Shorter has plans to begin a men's and women's lacrosse program with play scheduled to begin in the spring of 2011. The addition of the two lacrosse programs will push the number of intercollegiate sports at Shorter to 20 and coincides nicely with the beginning of construction on the Ben Brady multi-purpose turf field, located adjacent to the Robert H. Ledbetter Baseball Complex.

Read more on this story>

Cooley, Martinovic named Athletes of the Year

Shorter athletic standouts A.J. Cooley and Katarina Martinovic have been selected as the 2008-2009 Shorter College Male and Female Athletes of the Year as voted upon by the award's selection committee. Cooley and Martinovic each garnered four out of a possible six first-place votes in securing their respective honors. Cooley is a running back for the Hawks football team while Martinovic plays women’s basketball for the Hawks.

Hawks soccer season underway

The Shorter College men’s soccer team opened their season Aug. 22 when they hosted North Carolina’s Montreat College. The Hawks, led by reigning Southern States Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year Josh Severns, won the game with a 4-1 score over Montreat.

Read more about Hawks soccer and view a game schedule>

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER!

You can now keep up with everything happening on the Hill by following Shorter College on Facebook and Twitter.

Follow us on Twitter>
Become a fan of Shorter College by searching for "Shorter College" on Facebook>

MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW FOR THESE UPCOMING ALUMNI EVENTS

	Aug. 28 Shorter College Convocation, celebrating the beginning of Shorter's 137th year
	Aug. 29 Hawks Football at Lenoir-Rhyne in Hickory, NC at 7 pm More information on Shorter football>
	Aug. 31 Shorter College Music Faculty Gala at 7:30 pm at DeSoto Theatre For tickets, call the Shorter Box Office at 706-233-7288.
	Aug. 31-Sept. 17 Guest Artist Exhibition in Arnold Gallery David Underwood "Squares and Other Rectangles" Reception and Artist Lecture on Sept. 17 at 4 p.m. in Arnold Gallery David Underwood makes composite photographs utilizing a variety of subject matter and construction techniques. Most of his recent assemblages include a mixture of color and black and white component original photographs which are stapled to archival backings. His work has appeared in more than 100 exhibitions around the country, and is included in the permanent collections of a dozen museums.
	Sept. 12 Hawks Football vs. LaGrange at 7 p.m. at Barron Stadium For tickets, call the Shorter College Box Office at (706) 233-7288.
	Sept. 12 Faculty and Guest Recital at 7:30 p.m. in Brookes Chapel Pianist Ben Harris collaborates with Susan Davis, flute and Gwendolyn Watson, cello for an evening of chamber music.
	Sept. 14 New Music Concert Jocelyn Hagen at 7:30 p.m. in Brookes Chapel Jocelyn Hagen will premiere two new works for voice and piano: a short song cycle for baritone and piano, and a duet for soprano and tenor. Her music is melodically driven, boldly beautiful, and intricately crafted. Ms. Hagen holds degrees in theory, composition, and voice from St. Olaf College and the University of Minnesota. She has received over 30 commissions, 40 premieres, and 90 performances.
	Sept. 19 Hawks Football vs. Pikeville at 1:30 p.m. at Barron Stadium For tickets, call the Shorter College Box Office at (706) 233-7288.
	Sept. 19 Shorter Chorale Fall Fundraiser Star Spangled Salute at 6:30 p.m. in Hilltop Cafe, $40 per person; for tickets, call the Shorter College Box Office at (706) 233-7288. Join the Shorter Chorale as we honor the service men and women of the American Armed Forces, both past and present. This exciting evening will begin with an outdoor reception in the front circle courtyard, and will continue with a delightful dinner and U.S.O. style revue in the Hilltop Café. Help us support our troops as we pay tribute to their continuing sacrifice for our freedom.
	Sept. 21 Guest Artist Series Gail Archer, organist at 7:30 p.m. in Brookes Chapel Ms. Archer is an international concert organist, lecturer, and recording artist. Living in New York City she serves as Chair of the Music Department at Barnard College, Columbia University and has been appointed Professor of Organ at Manhattan School of Music.
	Sept. 21-Oct. 5 Guest Artist Exhibition in Arnold Gallery Robert Cox "Return to the Center"   Reception and Artist Lecture: Oct. 5 at 4 p.m. in Arnold Gallery Robert Cox is currently Lecturer of Art at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He has taught drawing, painting, color theory and design at various schools including the University of Alabama and Young Harris College in Georgia. The artist employs a variety of materials including: oil on canvas; acrylic on canvas and paper; graphite on film; and charcoal and conte on paper.
	Sept. 24 Northwest Georgia / Shorter College Job and Career Fair Find out more>
	Sept. 26 Hawks Football at Faulkner in Montgomery, Ala., at 12:30 p.m.
	Sept. 28 Guest Artist Series Ruslan Biryukov, cellist at 7:30 p.m. in Brookes Chapel Cellist Ruslan Biryukov, known for his superb artistry, passion and individuality represents a new generation of creative professional musicians whose artistic level is recognized by worldwide audiences.

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 Shorter Public Relations. If you have questions, comments or suggestions for our e-newsletter, e-mail Aimee Madden at amadden@shorter.edu.

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