March 2009

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TOP NEWS

Celebrate Shorter lets students shine

It may be held on April Fools Day, but the annual Celebrate Shorter event is no joke. In fact, April 1 will be an exciting day filled with student honors, accomplishments and awards. Alumni are invited to step back onto the Hill and “Celebrate” along with the rest of us, as student success and achievement will be the focus of this special day. All academic aspects of the college will be honored as part of Celebrate Shorter -- from science and business presentations to award-winning poetry readings and theatre showcases. The morning and afternoon student symposia will span the spectrum of academic disciplines, and an awards luncheon will be held at noon.

This year’s guest speaker will be Phyllis Tickle, a Shorter alumna who serves as founding editor of the religion department of Publishers Weekly. An authority on religion in America, Tickle is a much sought-after lecturer. In addition to lectures and numerous essays, articles, and interviews, she is the author of more than two dozen books in religion and spirituality, most notably the Divine Hours series of manuals for observing fixed-hour prayer.

More information and a complete list of the day’s events>

Spread the word: Invite prospective students to spend Sunday at Shorter Though your Shorter College days are past, don’t let us slip your mind! Invite a college-bound student you know to visit your alma mater. Alumni have the chance to share Shorter with prospective students by simply inviting them to take a tour of the campus. On March 29, prospective students and their parents are invited to attend Sunday at Shorter. The all-day event will allow students to take part in the Shorter College experience. The day starts at 9 a.m. and includes campus tours, special receptions, a worship service and other interesting activities. For more information or to make a reservation, contact Joan Blackwelder at 1-800-868-6980, extension 7310, or via email at jblackwelder@shorter.edu.

Jenica Reed crowned Miss Shorter Earlier this month, Shorter College junior Jenica Reed earned the title of Miss Shorter College along with a $2,000 scholarship. Reed is a vocal performance major and is active in many campus activities. She is a member of Mu Phi Epsilon, Love Thread, the Shorter Chorale, Students National Association for Teachers of Singing and Black Tie Affair. In her free time, Reed enjoys singing, dancing, acting, participating in musical theatre and opera, biking, running, knitting and camping. Presented by Shorter College’s Office of Student Activities and the Student Government Association, the scholarship pageant featured five phases, including a 10-minute private interview, a lifestyle and fitness swimwear competition, an artistic expression/performing arts competition, an on-stage interview and an evening wear competition. Read more and view a photo slideshow from this year’s event>

MORE ALUMNI NEWS

GFIC study sets Shorter College's economic impact at $84.95 million

Shorter College created an $84.95 million boost to the economy of northwest Georgia during the 2007 fiscal year, according to a recently released economic impact study commissioned by the Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges. The report adds that Shorter ’ s economic impact, when adjusted to 2009 dollars, totaled $88.54 million. This economic impact includes an employment impact of 1,059 jobs.

The study estimated that the 26 independent colleges and universities that comprise the GFIC’s membership provide a total economic impact of more than $6.46 billion or $6.52 billion in 2009 dollars. The institutions ’ activity supported more than 57,037 jobs ­ or close to one in every 70 jobs in the state, according to the report ’ s authors, Dr. Michael D. Curley, professor of economics emeritus at Kennesaw State University, and Dr. Roger C. Tutterow, professor of economics at Mercer University.

Of the total impact of the GFIC member institutions, $4.05 billion (65 percent) is initial spending by the institution and its students while $2.21 billion (35 percent) is in the indirect or induced spending in the regional community.

“Shorter College, like our sister private colleges in Georgia, has a significant impact on the communities in which we operate, ” said Dr. Harold E. Newman, president of Shorter College. "This GFIC study attempts to assign a dollar figure to that impact, and the results are noteworthy. Our partnership with Rome and Floyd County to host the 2008 NAIA football national championship showcased the economic impact of one week-long event. This study, however, is a good reminder that the impact of Shorter College on our community is not a short-term equation but rather an ongoing symbiotic relationship. As Shorter College grows and prospers, so does our impact on the local community.”

A similar study conducted for fiscal year 2003 revealed Shorter’s economic impact to be $68.1 million. At that time, the then-27 GFIC member institutions combined to generate more than $5.5 billion in economic activity.

Students spend Spring Break spreading love and sharing the Gospel

Instead of soaking up the sun at the beach or sleeping in every morning, two groups of dedicated students from Shorter College’s Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) decided to use their spring break for a higher purpose. One group, comprised of 11 students and two staff organizers, traveled to New Orleans March 8-14 to help rebuild a home ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. The group spent the majority of their five days hanging drywall and participating in evening worship services. This is the fourth consecutive row Shorter College students have participated in the rebuilding of New Orleans. Two students, along with Campus Ministries Intern Dustin Tommey and BCM Campus Minister David Roland, traveled to Lebanon March 5-14. The group shared the Gospel with the people of Lebanon and students enrolled at the American University of Beirut. They were also able to visit historical sites including Sidon and Byblos – cities that have important ancient and Biblical significance.

Art Student Honors Exhibit

Alumni are invited to view the works of four Shorter College art students during this year’s Art Student Honors Exhibition. The exhibit, held inside the Arnold Gallery, opens on March 30. A reception will take place on April 1 during Celebrate Shorter Day.

Paintings, photography and ceramics will be on display for this annual event that presents the most dedicated and most creative art students within the art department.

Heritage on the Hill bringing friends, alumni together

Heritage on the Hill, a favorite springtime reunion tradition, will be held on May 9. This event will serve as the reunion weekend for the class of 1959, 1954, 1949, 1944 and 1939. For more information, please contact Suzanne Scott at sscott@shorter.edu or (706) 233-7341.

Summer at Shorter: Camps offered for tots to teens

If the thought of having your child spend this summer in front of the tube all day makes you cringe, why not send them to one of many camps that Shorter College has to offer? Here, they will get the chance to learn from the best and build team-working skills that will last a lifetime. Shorter’s Summer Arts Institute caters to rising ninth through senior high school students who wish to improve their musical skills. Three camps are offered – a two-week keyboard session, a one-week keyboard session and a two-week voice and musical theatre session.

The keyboard camp offers piano or organ study and will give students first-rate instruction from Shorter’s nationally known keyboard faculty. Each week, students will attend five private lessons and will have the chance to perform for family and friends. Students will be exposed to classes like theory, piano ensemble, improvisation, and performance-stress management and relaxation techniques. Both camps begin on June 14.

The two-week voice and musical theater camp also begins June 14 and gives students the ability to study with some of the greatest voice teachers in the United States. Students can explore a wide-range of music from classical to musical theatre. Classes offered during this camp include music theory, history, keyboard and ear training. The camp also teaches students audition techniques that can be used at college or in competitions.

The Summer Arts Institute tuition for the two-week camp is $1,000 with a $100 deposit due by May 29. The one-week tuition is $475. Tuition includes room and board, along with admission into special performance showcases.

A wide range of sports camps are also offered at Shorter, including basketball for both boys and girls, baseball, softball, cheerleading, boys and girls tennis, and football.

Shorter offers three weeklong sessions for girl’s basketball led by Shorter Lady Hawks coach Vic Mitchell. Two sessions are full-day camps for ages 9 through rising high school freshmen. Session one begins June 15, and session two begins July 6. The additional week is a junior half-day camp for ages 5 through incoming fourth-graders. That camp begins June 22. Early registration into the full-day session camp is $110. The cost is $125 to sign up on the day of the camp. Junior half-day registration is $60. For more information, call 706-233-7344.

Two weeklong sessions are offered for boy’s basketball. The camp is led by Shorter men’s basketball head coach Chad Warner with session one beginning on June 29 and session two on July 13. During these two weeks, a half-day junior camp will be offered for children age five to nine, as well as a full day senior camp for 10-to 14-year-olds. For more information, call 706-233-7343. Fundamentals of pitching, throwing, catching and base running will be taught during Shorter’s three baseball camps. The first camp begins on June 1, followed by the second camp on June 8, and the third on June 22. The camps will last from 8:30 a.m. until noon and cost varies. Multiple weeks and family discounts are available. For more information and an application, call 706-233-7510.

Five sessions of boy’s and girl’s tennis camps will be offered for 8-to 18-year-olds. Camps will be led by head tennis coach Orville Adams and assistant Brian Perry. The first session begins on June 8, followed by session two on June 15 and session three on June 22. Session four will be start on June 29 and session five will begin July 6. All sessions will be held from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Cost varies and multiple weeks and family discounts are available. For more information, call 706-233-7384.

The Shorter Girl’s Softball Camp features three sessions that focus on different aspects of the game. The first session, June 1 – 4, will teach fastpitch skills. This camp lasts from 8:30 a.m. until noon. A hitting clinic will be held from June 21 to 30 from 8:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m., and a pitcher/catcher clinic will be offered from June 29 — 30 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. The camps will be led by coach Melanie Carter and is for children age six up to rising high school seniors. Cost varies depending on session. For more information, call 706-233-7376.

Shorter’s cheerleading department will host two sessions led by coach Rachel Magness. The Little Hawks Cheer Camp caters to children age 4 to 12 and runs July 20-22 from 9 a.m. until noon. For older children, ages 6 and up, the Super Hawks Tumbling Camp is offered. The camp will be held July 27-29 from 9 a.m. until noon. Camp fees are $50 each and include a special T-shirt. Participants may register for both camps for $90 total. For more information, contact 770-233-7651.

Shorter College will also offer a football summer camp, though dates and times have not been set. Information about that camp will be announced at a later date.

Competitive Speaking Team earns recognition at state

The Shorter College Competitive Speaking Team earned high ratings in their first state competition on Feb. 28. Haley Smith earned second place in the after-dinner speech category, and Chris Cannon earned sixth place in prose interpretation.

Members performed their speeches and interpretations in front of judges and as many as 25 audience members.

Read more about the speaking team’s win>

‘Outstanding Professional’ leads Student Activities Keeping Shorter students active and involved in student life is one of Emily Messer’s goals. It’s a goal that she certainly seems to have a handle on, and others around her have taken notice. Emily was recently honored with the Roger B. Winston Outstanding New Professional Award during the Georgia College Personnel Association conference in Athens. Read more about Emily’s award>

SC 49 receives upgrade

Shorter College’s student-produced radio station, SC 49, now boasts a professional 13-channel audio mixer board thanks to the generosity of several local individuals.

The station is broadcast through local channel 49 and is available to students on campus.

Read more about the college’s radio station>

Shorter students score high at vocal competition

Shorter College students made an impressive showing at a recent Georgia National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition held at Kennesaw State University.

Shorter’s overall final winners were Laura Collins and Emily Tweedy, Evan Meisser and Richard Smagur. Collins and Tweedy are both students of Dr. Linda Lister. Meisser is taught by Dr. Matthew Hoch, and Smagur is a student of Dr. Brian Nedvin.

Read more about the competition>

Spears speaks on gender, justice and environmental history

Dr. Ellen Griffith Spears visited the Shorter campus in February as the featured speaker for Shorter’s bi-annual Whitworth-Muldrow Lectureship. Spears, a fulltime member of the Department of Environmental Studies and a visiting professor of liberal arts at Emory University, spoke to students, faculty and staff on the topic of “Gender, Justice and American Environmental History.” Shorter’s Withworth-Muldrow lectureship is named for the late Sara Beverly Whitworth, a 1969 honor graduate of Shorter College, and the late Dr. Frances Muldrow. Muldrow served as Whitworth’s major professor and faculty adviser. Read more about Spears’ lecture>

ATHLETICS NEWS

Softball, women's basketball, baseball combine to give $15,000 to Breast Center

Rome’s Breast Center at Floyd Medical now has an extra $15,000 in its purse thanks to the combined efforts of several Shorter College sports teams.

Along with the college’s athletic department, the women's basketball, baseball, and softball teams presented a check for $15,000 to the specialized medical center at a recent basketball game.

"We wanted to help out," Shorter head baseball coach Matt Larry said about the decision to support breast cancer awareness and breast cancer victims. "The softball and women's basketball teams have been so successful in the fall raising money for this cause, we wanted to do something in the spring. This has made our guys more aware of the magnitude of breast cancer."

Read more about Shorter’s donation to the Rome Breast Center>

Martinovic named SSAC Player of the Year; Lady Hawks win first-ever Sportsmanship Award

Shorter’s Lady Hawks racked up major SSAC awards this month including senior Katarina Martinovic’s Player of the Year title. Read more about Lady Hawks hoops> The Shorter men also garnered several distinctions from the SSAC. Read more about their honors>

Golf teams finding success on the greens

The Shorter Hawks men’s golf team took third place overall at Rome News-Tribune’s Invitational earlier this month and the Lady Hawks captured fifth placed in the Ann Rhoads Shootout held in February.

Read more about the men’s team>
Read more about Lady Hawks golf>

Lady Hawks track breaks records at indoor championship; men’s track finishes in ninth place The Shorter College Lady Hawks track team finished 21st and captured three school records at the NAIA national championships held recently on the campus of East Tennessee State University. The men’s track team finished in ninth place at the same competition. Want to know more about the Lady Hawks track team? Read more> Read more about men’s track>

Softball finishes NFCA tourney going 3-3, two named All-Tournament

The Shorter softball team finished the recent NFCA tourney and went 3-3, bringing their overall record to 7-5. Players Libby Munson and Dandi Ammons were also named to the Lead-Off Classic All-Tournament team.

Read more about the softball team and season schedule>

Hawks football holds fourth annual banquet; holds annual Blue and White scrimmage

The Shorter College Hawks football team recently held their fourth annual football banquet to honor their 9-4 season, which included a berth in the NAIA National Football Championship playoffs. The Hawks also got a little gridiron action earlier this month in the annual Blue and White spring scrimmage game. Read more about the Hawks’ upcoming season>

Men's soccer championship banner unveiled in Winthrop-King Centre

The Hawks celebrated their 2008 SSAC regular season win last month by unveiling their team banner, which is now displayed in the Winthrop-King Centre.

Find out more about the men’s soccer team>

Tennis season in full swing

The Shorter Hawks men’s and women’s tennis teams opened their season in late January and so far, they’ve stacked up several impressive wins.

Read all about recent matches and keep up with Shorter’s tennis schedules with the links below.

Hawks Tennis
Lady Hawks Tennis

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THESE UPCOMING EVENTS

For more information on the events listed below, call the Alumni Office at 1-800-868-6980, ext. 7353 or 706-233-7353 or e-mail sgraves@shorter.edu.

	April 4 - Shorter Chorus Spring Concert with Somethin' Else Saturday, April 4 at 7:30 p.m., Brookes Chapel The Shorter Chorus will conclude its choral season with a delightful blend of choral works of many periods and styles. This ensemble is under the direction of Dr. Elizabeth Robbins. Come join the Chorus for an evening of choral classics.
	April 5 - William D. Knight Competition Finals Sunday, April 5 at 3 p.m., Brookes Chapel, $12 for general admission; $8 for students and senior adults The eighth annual Knight Performer’s Scholarship Competition honors the outstanding contributions of William and Mary Ann Knight. Mr. Knight is retired distinguished professor of piano (1963-2004), and Mrs. Knight is in her 43 rd year of teaching piano at Shorter. During Mr. Knight’s 55-year concert career, he performed throughout the United States and Central America. During his 42 years at Shorter College, his students were awarded prizes at state, national, and international piano competitions.
	April 15- 19 - The Picture of Dorian Gray Wednesday, April 15 to Saturday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, April 19 at 2 p.m., Callaway Theatre $12 for general admission; $8 for students and senior adults The author of Look Back in Anger, Inadmissible Evidence and The Entertainer has created a brilliant dramatization of this classic about a man who retains his youth while the decay of advancing years and moral corruption appears on a portrait painted by one of his companions.
	April 20 - Faculty Recital Dr. Brian Nedvin Monday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m., Brookes Chapel
	April 25 - Shorter Chorale Spring Concert: Great Hymns and Anthems of the Church Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 7:30 p.m., location TBA, $12 for general admission; $8 for students and senior adults Wonderful anthems such as “My Eternal King,” “Eternal Life,” and “God So Loved the World” have shaped generations of musicians and are part of a shared heritage that is so dear to many of us. A beautiful blend of hymns, hymn arrangements, and traditional anthems, both new and familiar, will be an inspiration and a blessing.
	April 26, 27 - An Afternoon of Opera Scenes Sunday, April 26 at 2 p.m., Monday, April 27 at 5 p.m., Callaway Theatre A spectacular array of scenes from the world's greatest operas featuring Shorter College's most talented aspiring opera singers. All scenes sung in the original languages with English supertitles.
	April 26 - Preparatory Department Spring Recital Sunday, April 26 , 2 p.m.
	May 9 - Spring commencement Saturday, May 9, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Winthrop-King Centre

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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