The Grand Event: A Student's Perspective

Going to The Grand Event on a winter afternoon, I expected to be cold while leading people around campus; however, what I experienced that Sunday brought me much warmth. I met more people to love and fell deeper in love with Southern! The Grand Event, for me, was much more than a time of work; it was a time of epiphany.
The Grand Event offers a unique opportunity for parents, alumni, donors and guests to catch a glimpse of various things happening on Southern’s campus while they walk through the departmental showcase. This year the event was held on February 15 and was enjoyed by families and friends of Southern.

Meet The Firms


We want to thank the 35+ businesses that participated in this year's Meet The Firms! Close to twodozen alumni were there representing their organizations. We're so proud of our graduates and look forward to their return at these types of activities. Judging by the all the networking we witnessed, there will no doubt be many more alumni representing their businesses here in the years to come.

 

A Tale of Parents' Weekend
~ Camaren Humphrey-Davis, Call Center representative, sophomore clinical psychology major

 

I left home at 17 in the middle of my senior year to attend Southern Adventist University. I had heard the fantastic stories from my two older brothers who were advancing in their college careers both academically and socially. As I drove to campus accompanied by my father and three of my four siblings, my prayer was that my sisters would be able to marvel at me in the same manner that we did my older brothers.

A year later, on a crisp Sabbath morning, I walked to Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists with as much excitement as the day I started my college journey. Parent’s Weekend had begun! I was greeted with warm smiles and embraced by the people that meant the most to me. We were blessed with the timeless sermon on how love, life, and marriage were only possible through God and His love.

After church, we were invited to eat at one of my favorite professor’s house. My parents had the pleasure of meeting my professor and his wife and also a dear friend who is also my boss. The evening was filled with laughter and fellowship and was truly a blessing to all who were there.

As the weekend ended we were treated to a tour of the campus and then brunch. Being able to represent my school and introduce my parents to my everyday life was an incredible experience. That weekend provided the rejuvenation I needed to finish the semester strong.

 

 

Counseling Programs Receive Accreditation

~ Xenia Figueroa, Alumni Relations assistant

 

On January 22, Southern Adventist University received word that its counseling programs (Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health, and Master of Science in School Counseling) housed in the School of Education and Psychology received accreditation under the 2009 Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP) Standards. This decision was made following an extensive review of the program, including prepared self-study documents, the site team’s report, and the program’s response to the site team’s report.

Professor Ileana Freeman-Gutierrez took leadership in leading the accreditation effort, along with John McCoy, the school’s dean, and other members of the counseling faculty and staff. Many hours of work were put in to accomplish this goal. Having the accreditation will allow current and future students to grow in their professional careers. 

 

 

Alumni Association Reorganizes

~ Evonne Crook, director of Alumni Relations

 

Even before Bert Coolidge, ’65, was voted to serve as Southern’s Alumni Association president, he had begun to develop a bold vision for strengthening alumni relationships and increasing meaningful engagement on behalf of the university. This included re-structuring the Alumni Council, a group of volunteers who faithfully served as the association’s governing body and provided meaningful programs and activities for alumni during the past several decades.

Individuals who served on the council were typically loyal, dedicated alums living near campus who represented various affinity groups such as the SMC-ites, So-Mi-Conians, Southern Scholars, Gym-Masters, Black Christian Union, Destiny Drama, music organizations, and young alumni. Affinity groups share common bonds that were developed as part of the Southern Experience through different decades of attendance or involvement in student organizations/clubs.

Alumni constituents from Southern Adventist University now outnumber those who attended under all of the previous school names combined. By looking at trends and best practices in alumni associations around the country, it was determined that Southern’s Alumni Council needed to be re-structured as a larger, national group of alumni representing diversity in geography, academic areas, ethnicity, gender, and age. Chapter groups should be strategically organized in areas where large numbers of alumni live and should be populated with volunteer leaders to help the new council discover creative ways of engaging alumni in the future success of Southern.

A task force comprised of 11 alumni representatives from Maryland to California was established and met both in person and online between June and September of 2014. Last October, the task force co-chairs, Jennie Dee Janssen, ’99, and Will Carroll, ’03, presented the Board of Trustees with two recommendations: a new mission statement and a new organizational structure that includes 24 representatives from 16 geographic locations and eight academic areas.

The nominating committee met initially early in February and is already making considerable progress toward filling the positions for officers and representatives of the academic departments. Additional information will be shared with constituents between now and Alumni Homecoming Weekend 2015, when the re-structuring plan will be presented in its entirety during a business meeting of the Alumni Association at-large.

Please consider how you can become more engaged with Southern in the future! Help impact and change the lives of students today. Share your time and talents by volunteering, mentoring students, and hiring Southern graduates. Alumni interested in offering input and ideas can contact Alumni Relations by email or by calling 423.236.2830.

 

 

Spreading The Love While Relieving Stress

~ Xenia Figueroa, Alumni Relations assistant

 

McKee Library recently hosted a craft station where visitors could create Valentine’s Day cards, providing students with a light-hearted and hands-on activity amid the book reports and tests of a new semester.

"I had a lot of fun making cards for my friends," said senior public relations major Moriah Arterberry. "It was nice to take a break from studying and do something to clear my mind. My friends loved them."

Senior graphic design and public relations major Alisa Luby especially enjoyed making one for her fiancé who is stationed overseas.

"Being able to make a card at the library was helpful since my schedule is so busy,” Luby said. "It really made his day."

Click here to visit the McKee Library homepage.

 

 

 

 

 

 Summerour "I Am The Way" Sculpture Installed

~ Eloise Ravell, student writer

 

Students have been studying in the newly renovated Summerour Hall since last June. But until now, the vision that School of Education and Psychology dean John McCoy had for his students and staff was incomplete. On February 4, an important piece of art was added near the building’s entrance that encapsulates Southern’s commitment to and understanding of Christian education. The sculpture, titled “I Am the Way,” is made of clay and covered in bronze. It depicts Jesus kneeling next to a girl on a bench while pointing to the open Bible in her hands.

“This is the last project for this building and I think it’s perfect,” McCoy said.

Artist Gregory Johnson was both enthusiastic and challenged by working on a piece that depicts Jesus so literally, but he embraced the task and is excited about the message it sends to those who pass by.

“This piece paints a living scene of Jesus as a teacher,” Johnson said. “If you were sitting on that bench and He appeared next to you, what would your reaction be? Jesus may not physically come visit students like this in their dorm rooms, but He’s there nonetheless!”

 

 

Southern Connects Community through Campaign

 

The “I Love Southern” campaign, held February 1-14, was designed to connect the greater family of Southern such as parents, faculty, alumni, missions, and volunteers.

“The I Love Southern campaign was inspired by another university that did a month long Valentine campaign through the 28 days of February,” said Cheryl Torres, annual giving officer for Development.

Almost every day of the campaign focused on a different group—students, parents, volunteers, givers, alumni, employees, etc. For example, on one day, campaign participants gave students advice on planning for their careers or marriage. Participants also were offered special discount offers Southern’s Campus Shop, free mobile wallpapers, and more.

“Giving is a part of the campaign, because that’s one way to demonstrate love for the mission and purpose of this school,” Torres said. “We thanked our alumni and friends who are donors for providing scholarships, keeping tuition at 20 percent lower than actual cost, and making those extra opportunities for missions, research, and intramurals happen.”

For students, this campaign presented an opportunity to connect with different groups of people around Southern, whether that was alumni, parents, or volunteers. The biggest benefit was seeing the bigger picture: connecting with people that come together to make Southern all it is.

-Parts of this article first appeared in the Southern Accent, the university’s student newspaper.

 

 

 

Alumni Dinner Event - General Conference 2015

 

Alumni and friends of Southern attending the General Conference Session 2015 or who live in the San Antonio, Texas, area are invited to attend a complimentary dinner meeting on Thursday, July 9, starting at 5 p.m. at the Casa Rio Mexican Restaurant, overlooking the beautiful and historic Riverwalk. Join university staff for great food and fellowship, and learn about what’s happening at Southern. You are welcome to bring your family or a guest, but seating is limited to a maximum of 100 attendees. We look forward to visiting with you then!

To RSVP or for more information, contact Alumni Relations by email or by calling 423.236.2830.
  

The School of Music Invites You!

 

Are you a music lover? Join the School of Music and attend some delightful performances by the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, and various other university ensembles. For more information, visit the School of Music online.

Many of these concerts featuring Southern students are held in the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists and are broadcast live, online at southern.edu/streaming. So if you’re not in the Tennessee Valley, consider watching on your computer or mobile device.

Recordings of many performances can also be heard through Classical 90.5 WSMC, which streams online.

 

Loma Linda/Redlands Chapter Meeting

 

Alumni and friends of Southern living in the Loma Linda/Redlands area are invited to attend a complimentary supper meeting on Saturday, March 14, at 6 p.m. in Collins Auditorium (Drayson Center).

Join university staff from Enrollment Services and Advancement for great food and fellowship, and to learn about what’s happening at Southern. You are welcome to bring your family or a guest, but seating is limited to a maximum of 70 attendees. We look forward to visiting with you then!

To RSVP, or for more information, contact Alumni Relations by email or by call 423.236.2830.
 

 

E.A. Anderson Lecture Series

The E.A. Anderson Lecture Series is an annual feature of the School of Business and Management. The series is made possible through a generous endowment set up by the late E.A. Anderson of Atlanta, Georgia, for the purpose of giving the listener a broader understanding of the business world. The public is invited to attend the free lectures and continuing education credit is available.

All lectures are presented in the evening on the third floor of Brock Hall (Room 3205). Videos of last year's presentations are available online, along with the 2015 schedule.

  

 

E.O. Grundset Lecture Series

 

The E.O. Grundset Lecture Series is named in honor of Southern’s beloved biology professor of 35 years. The free monthly talks are open to the public and showcase scientific research and natural history presentations by a variety of scholars.

All lectures take place at 7:30 p.m. in Hulsey Wellness Center (Room 3135) and are available to stream online.