Southern Launches New Alumni and Donor Networking Hub
Southern Community Online is a networking and information hub geared toward alumni
and donor constituents. As an alum, you will have access to the online directory allowing
you to reconnect with forever classmates or get to know Southern alumni in your area.
As a donor you may update contact information and preferences from a single, safe
location. You will also be able to view your giving history and RSVP for special invitations
you receive.
Visit southern.edu/community to access your online account.
WSMC Presents Oasis at ASI Southern Union Spring Conference
Oasis, an online broadcast ministry from WSMC radio, was presented at the ASI Southern
Union Spring Conference earlier this month. Learn more about its mission by watching
a 5-minute video of the presentation produced by Network 7 Media Center.
The WSMC team can't wait to get Oasis on the radio alongside its classical station.
Click here to see what you can look forward to in terms of sound quality as you walk through
their tech tour. To help reach this goal, you can make a gift for the digital transition or support the current operating budget.
Facebook Group Connects Alumni Athletes
A new Facebook group has been created to connect Southern alumni (and future alumni) who enjoy participating
in athletic activities such as triathlons, marathons, and Ironman events around the
world. Join the group to inform, encourage, and celebrate the accomplishments of those
who have similar interests in athletic activities. Whether you are driven to achieve
personal goals or simply hoping to experience the thrill of crossing the finish line,
share your challenges and triumphs with fellow Southern alumni.
LEAPing for Success
By: MacKenzie Ogan, senior nursing major
It began with driving lessons on a golf course—cart driving lessons! Nursing alumnus
Mike Wyckoff, ’81, ’83, and ’84, and I met during my freshman year at an alumni golf
tournament. It was my first event helping as a student worker, and Mike was assisting
as a Southern Lights volunteer. It was a very memorable day filled with much laughter,
due to Mike’s great sense of humor and my horrible sense of direction.
We bumped into each other around campus a few times later that year and had opportunities
to talk about all sorts of topics like personal finances, retirement options, and
careers. During one of these conversations, I discovered that Mike was a nurse by
profession, which led to even more discussions, since nursing was my major.
When my sophomore year rolled around, and I began classes in the nursing program,
I was excited to see Mike at the golf tournament again and update him on what I had
been learning. He gave me advice whenever we saw each other on campus, and I valued
his input very much. When Evonne Crook, my work supervisor in Alumni Relations, told
me about the LEAP (Leadership Education through Alumni Partnerships) program and explained
how it matches alumni mentors to current students, I asked if I could be part of the
program and requested that Mike become my official mentor. She agreed, and Mike accepted
this new volunteer role.
Mike has been a terrific mentor! He recommended that I read the book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie. This exercise taught me how to better relate to and work with
the doctors, nurses, and patients with whom I will spend many hours during my career.
He also suggested that I make a budget, not as a means of managing the money I currently
make, but rather to discover how much money I will need to earn to stay out of debt
and save for retirement once I graduate.
One of the most meaningful mentoring experiences with Mike happened during the week
before my first major test in a difficult nursing class. I was worried about the test
and felt unprepared. When he realized how stressed I was about it, Mike came to campus
and studied with me in the library for three hours.
As he put it, “This was more to clear your mind and to help you take a step back so
you aren’t so overwhelmed.”
When I took the test, it went very well, and I texted Mike immediately to tell him the results. He has helped me study for
every major test since then.
In celebration of my graduation in May, Mike gave me a beautiful cross-stitched needlework
piece that he made and had framed. I will treasure it always. Until Mike became my
mentor and friend, I didn’t truly understand how much of a positive difference a knowledgeable
and experienced mentor can make to a student’s educational success and transition
into life after college.
To become a mentor or mentee, please visit the LEAP page on the Alumni Relations website.
Growing A Farm
By: Leslie Ann Schwarzer, Conference Services and Events/Lights Volunteers coordinator
On any given day, as you travel to and from campus along University Drive, you will
see a high tunnel or “hoop house” behind Alabama, one of Southern’s lower state-side
apartment buildings. Recently, the area has become known as “Thatcher Farm”—a seasonal
row-crop garden. For this season, farm manager Seth Shaffer is transitioning spring
crops of lettuce, kale, arugula, and Swiss chard, to a summer produce of tomatoes,
peppers, squash, eggplants, cabbage, beets, garlic, snap peas, and strawberries. In
the fall, offerings will include greens, as well as radishes, turnips, and carrots.
Currently, Thatcher Farm sells its produce to The Farmer’s Daughter, a downtown Chattanooga
restaurant; to the Bald Headed Bistro in Northeast Cleveland; and at the Chattanooga
Market (Red Clay Farm’s booth). It also sells to the Food Service department at Southern,
and the response has been excellent.
One of Shaffer’s year-end goals is to see the farm providing produce to two additional
restaurants in the Chattanooga area and to the campus Community Tree Food Pantry.
“I think this is a realistic goal—especially for summer and fallwhen we have tons of squash, pepper, tomato, and cucumber plants,” Shaffer shared.
Next year’s plan includes doubling the growing area. And although Thatcher Farm isn’t
certified organic, all of its seeds and any amendments incorporated into the soil
are approved for organic use. Shaffer’s dream is to witness Thatcher Farm become certified
organic within the next few years. His long-term goal envisions Southern offering
an agriculture major.
Interested in getting some hands-on experience as a volunteer gardener? Contact volunteer@southern.edu or 423.236.2832. To purchase produce or plants on a first-come, first-serve basis,
email Shaffer at sshaffer@southern.edu and ask to be put on his local distribution list.
John Wagner Joins the A-Team
By: Moriah Arterberry, May 2015 alumna
Dr. John Wagner is no stranger to the campus of Southern Adventist University. Prior
to his retirement, he spent three years, 1983-1986, as president of the university.
Though his time here was short, he never lost his connection to the institution.
During Wagner’s time as president, Gordon Bietz was pastoring at the Collegedale Seventh-day
Adventist Church, which gave them the opportunity to build a connection and a friendship
that has lasted all of these years.
In mid-January, the Advancement staff said goodbye to its previous vice president,
Chris Carey, who played a vital role both within the department and across campus.
Seeing the need for a temporary replacement, Bietz asked Wagner to become the interim
vice president for Advancement.
Wagner, who admits that he’s flunked retirement four times, graciously accepted the
opportunity to join the “A-Team.” He agreed to return to Southern because he says,
“I like the challenge of working with people who have developed a pattern of success.”
Bietz also asked Wagner to take on a major role as liaison between Advancement and
Administration. This was another large contributing factor to Wagner accepting the
temporary position; it allowed him to work closely with his friend and colleague.
Wagner began as the interim vice president in late March and says he feels very welcomed
and is excited to be working with the team on the Campaign for Excellence in Faith
and Learning.
“It’s a huge goal,” Wagner said. “If God blesses us with success, it will transform
this campus.”
Barbara James: Mission Trip Profile
By: Natalia Perez, mass communications major
Barbara James, dean of the School of Nursing, spent five weeks volunteering in Africa
this year. Her nursing expertise helped revitalize the nursing programs in the Rwanda
and Kenya Universities in Central and East Africa. The African government wanted to
establish a more solid program for its schools of nursing and medicine. It determined
majors with the goal of producing more graduate students.
During her time in Africa, James was part of a group that aimed to establish a program
elevating the standards of the country, and then was part of the board of education
that approved it. She founded hospitals in which students could practice nursing and
conducted numerous interviews to write reports for teachers and librarians. James
expressed that there is a need for nursing programs around the world and said she
wanted to offer her services.
James said she enjoyed every bit of her trip and was very touched by the people with
whom she worked.
“I have a huge respect for all the young nurses,” James said. “They were inspiring.
It was so special for me, even for a short time.”
James also mentioned the genocide epidemic in Africa. The area she had been in was
hit hard.
“They have been trying to rebuild and are doing an excellent job at it,” James said.
“The Lord has done so much through Adventist education. Since new people and new skills
are needed in the country, so many people are working together. There’s a beacon of
life in their country. It’s heartwarming.”
When asked if James recommended that others go on mission trips, she responded, “Absolutely.”
Southern Shortcuts the Wait to Enter Nursing Program
By: Sylvia Mayer, associate professor of nursing
An extra class of eager nursing students just started a new “summer semester.” As a result
of this interdepartmental endeavor, the campus is busy with students—dorms, cafeteria,
wellness center, academic departments, and student services.
The great need for nurses and a reciprocal demand for entry into nursing programs
has created a nationwide backlog of qualified students waiting for acceptance into
a nursing program. The new university initiative to accept winter, summer, and fall
cohorts allows qualified students to shortcut the wait to enter nursing.
Starting in 2015, the university admitted three nursing classes by utilizing a 12-week
summer term that is the academic equivalent of a third semester. It is anticipated that this will be an every-other-year opportunity.
The School of Nursing at Southern Adventist University provides a baccalaureate degree (BS) in nursing
with an embedded associate degree completed at the end of the junior year. These cohorts—groups
of students who work through the curriculum simultaneously and graduate together with the same academic degree—study for two consecutive terms and then take one term off. So while some students
enjoy “summer break” in the actual summer, other cohorts are taking their three-month
break during fall and winter seasons. Those taking classes in the summer will enjoy
many of the same co-curricular opportunities available to those in fall and winter
terms.
Senior BS classes may be completed in two additional semesters on campus, four continuous
semesters online, or two years in the Consortium Off-campus BS Completion Program.
For more information about this program or MSN and DNP nursing programs, contact Sylvia
Mayer, director of nursing admissions, via email.
Carolina Camp Meeting Picnic Lunch this Friday
Alumni and friends of Southern Adventist University attending the Carolina Camp Meeting
are invited to attend a complimentary picnic lunch gathering on Friday, May 29, at
noon at Lake Junaluska, NC.
To ensure that we provide the most comfortable experience possible, a maximum of 200
reserved tickets are available from Alumni Relations on a first-to-respond basis.
Guests with tickets will be served first with others being served as long as food
and chairs are available.
Join university staff hosts for great fellowship and delicious food as you learn more
about what’s happening at Southern. To RSVP contact Alumni Relations by emailing alumni@southern.edu or call 423.236.2830.
60’s Alumni Reunion Potluck Brunch this Sunday
Alumni who attended Southern Adventist University (formerly Southern Missionary College)
during the 1960’s are invited to attend a potluck brunch on Sunday, May 31.This event will be hosted by Lamar Phillips, ’63, Damaris Crittenden
Robinson, ’63, and Bill Wood, ’66, from 10 a.m. to12 p.m. in the Activity Room at
Garden Plaza of Greenbriar Cove, located at 4586 Forsythia Way, Ooltewah, Tennessee
37363.
Come for the weekend to enjoy the Georgia-Cumberland Conference Camp Meeting activities
and stay over for the brunch. Drinks and dessert will be provided by the Alumni Association.
For more information or to RSVP, contact Alumni Relations by emailing alumni@southern.edu or by calling 423.236.2830.
Michigan Conference Camp Meeting Lunch
Alumni and friends of Southern Adventist University attending the Michigan Camp Meeting
or who live in the Cedar Lake area are invited to attend a complimentary haystack
lunch following the main worship service on Sabbath, June 20, in the Cedar Lake SDA
Church downstairs fellowship hall. Join us for a great meal and to learn more Southern
news.
RSVP on Facebook or contact Alumni Relations via email or by calling 423.236.2830.
General Conference Session 2015 – Southern Dinner
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, which
overlooks the beautiful and historic Riverwalk.
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 and sharing the recent updates
on Southern’s campus!
To RSVP or for more information, contact Alumni Relations by email or by calling 423.236.2830.