The October alumni highlight is Pastor Donald E. Greene, Jr., who will be the grand marshal for the 2014 Homecoming Parade.

Greene is currently pastor of Andrew Chapel Baptist Church in Orangeburg. Since his arrival in 1995, the church's congregation has experienced an unprecedented growth in ministry to over 637 members during his 17-year tenure. In 1999, to meet the needs of a rapidly growing congregation, Greene led the church in acquiring more than 33 acres of land to construct a new sanctuary. Less than three years later, he oversaw construction of the church's fellowship center, which includes 12 classrooms, a combined computer lab and library, a modern full-service kitchen and a multi- media center.

Prior to becoming the 12th pastor of Andrew Chapel Baptist Church, Greene was licensed and ordained at New St. John Baptist Church in Ocala, Fla. and has served as pastor at New Bethel Baptist Church in Flemington, Fla.

In 2006, under Greene's visionary leadership, Andrew Chapel successfully launched the Community Church Growth Conference. Now entering its seventh year, the conference continues to attract hundreds of participants who engage in dynamic seminars led by nationally recognized preaching practitioners. Greene served as host of the Congress of Christian Education for the State of South Carolina in 2001 and again in 2012, helping to bring thousands of God's people together to engage in thought-provoking seminars.  

Greene's passion for preaching, teaching and educating individuals of all ages is evident through his strides in ministry. In 1998, he established the Andrew Chapel Christian Academy, a fully accredited independent school for children in Pre K - 6 grade. The school saw a rapid increase in enrollment from 15 students in 1998 to 67 students during the 2005-2006 academic school year. He was also instrumental in reorganizing the church's youth ministry and starting a K-12 after-school tutorial program for the Orangeburg community.

Greene is the recipient of the 2011 Unsung Hero Award from the 25th Annual Church and Community Human Relations Awards Banquet. In 2006, the Honorable James E. Clyburn recognized Greene for a decade of pastoral excellence and exemplary service to the community.

A native of Camden, S.C., Greene earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Voorhees College in Denmark and a Master of Ministry degree from Andersonville Theological Seminary.

Cedric Baker

Voorhees inducts five new members into the Hall of Fame

Cedric Baker is currently in his 12th season as head women's basketball coach at Savannah State University and his 22nd year of head coaching. He was named head coach at Savannah State in 2003.

Since arriving at Savannah State, Baker has gradually improved the women's basketball program. In the 2013-14 season, Savannah State went 19-14 overall, 10-6 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), and 10-2 in Tiger Arena. All records were the best in the program's Division I era since the 2002-2003 season. It was also the best MEAC record the program's had since its first year of competition in 2011-12.

Baker graduated from Voorhees College in 1990, earning a bachelor's degree in mathematics and applied sciences. At Voorhees, he was a four year basketball letterman and a member of the 1987 EIAC men's basketball Conference Championship team.

Leah Durphy-Taylor

Leah Elizabeth Durphy-Taylor graduated from Voorhees High School in 1965.  In 1968, Durphy-Taylor began working as a staffing assistant for the U.S. Civil Service Commission, where her duties included performing a variety of administrative tasks. She left after only one year of service to become a full-time wife and mom. She returned to work in 1972 as a graduate coordinator for the Federal City College Office of Admissions.

In 1974, she began an illustrious 40 year career at Howard University, working for the Teacher Corps Recruitment and Community Technical Resource Center and the Department of Pharmacology in the College of Medicine, in an executive and managerial support role. She received many awards throughout her career. In 2011, prior to her retirement, she received the Outstanding Distinguished Dedication Service Award from the Howard University College of Medicine.

Clyde Holliday

Clyde D. Holliday received his Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from Voorhees College. He obtained his Master of Social Work degree from the University of South Carolina. He retired as a human services coordinator for the South Carolina Department of Corrections located in Columbia, S.C.

During the past years, he has presented a variety of workshops and seminars to include topics such as "Stress Management," "Alcohol and Drug Education," "Loss and Grief," "Problem Solving," "Understanding Cultural Diversity" and "Marriage and Interpersonal Relationships."

Holliday is a past member of the National Association of Social Workers, Alliance for Smoke-Free America, Alston Wilkes Society Veterans Home Advisory Counsel, South Carolina Chapter of the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors.

Eva Manigault

Eva O. Manigault graduated from Voorhees College in 1973 with a Bachelor of

Science degree in business administration. Realizing the importance of an education and career building, she received certification in supervision and human resources.

Manigault began her career at Voorhees College for seven years in the Business and Social Science Department. She retired from Savannah River Site in Aiken, S.C. as a senior human resources representative.

Eva is member of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Bamberg, S.C. She is a charter member and a past president of Denmark Alumnae Chapter and Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. She has served as president of the Voorhees College Denmark Alumni Chapter. During her tenure, she was able to increase the chapter from seven members to 40 plus and completed a $10,000 challenge.

Roger Moses

Roger C. Moses, Jr. graduated from Voorhees College in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. While at Voorhees, Moses played football for two years and baseball for four years.

After graduating from Voorhees, Moses began his employment at Voorhees and served in various positions in the area of fiscal affairs, including cashier for four years, federal accountant for two years, director of budgeting and accounting for three years and acting business manager for one year.

Moses left Voorhees when he accepted employment with the Bamberg Job CorpsCenter and served as the director of administrative service for four years and center director for four years.

Moses received his Master of Education degree in 1988 from South Carolina State University. After receiving a master's degree, Moses worked as the purchasing agent and tax collector for Bamberg County for two years. He was later employed by Bamberg School District One, where he served as a business education instructor and department chairperson before retiring in 2008.

Tickets to the Hall of Fame are $75. Following the banquet, there will be a Homecoming Concert beginning at 9:30 p.m. featuring award-winning R&B artist Chante Moore, up and coming R&B artist Antoine Dunn, and the concert will be hosted by comedienne and actress Cocoa Brown. Tickets to the Homecoming concert are $35.A combo ticket is available at $100 for the Hall of Fame Banquet and the Homecoming Concert.

Mr. and Miss Homecoming 2014 elected

Dr. Matthew Golson

Voorhees alum donates $100,000 to the institution

Voorhees Chaplain Father James Yarsiah traveled to Korea for a conference

By: Ryanne Persinger

The chaplain and vicar of St. Philip's Episcopal Chapel at Voorhees College traveled to Seoul, Korea this past summer.

The Rev. Dr. James T. Yarsiah, who also teaches religion and philosophy at the institution, represented the college for the first time at the eighth annual Colleges and Universities of the Anglian Communion conference hosted by Sungkonghoe University in July 2014.

Founded in 1993, CUAC is a world-wide association with over 130 institutions of higher education that were founded by and retain ties to a branch of the Anglican Communion. The association says it promotes cross cultural contacts and educational programs. The Episcopal faith falls under the Anglican umbrella. Voorhees has been affiliated with the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina since 1924.

"The mission of CUAC is formed in order for us to promote Christian higher education in colleges and universities around the world and also to provide collaborative networks to exchange ideas," Yarsiah said. "When we get together at these conferences we exchange information and we exchange ideas"

Yarsiah was among 70 delegates from five continents, representing 47 member schools. Voorhees is one of two HBCUs affiliated with the Episcopalian Church. The other HBCU is St. Augustine's College in Raleigh, N.C.

While in Korea, Yarsiah met with several administrators of colleges and universities including the Church Teachers' College in Jamaica, the University of Roehampton - Whitelands College in London, the Anglican College of Erechim in Brazil and Voorhees College in India.

Yarsiah's hope is for Voorhees College to participate in an exchange program with either faculty or students at some of those colleges and universities.

"For me, I made it a special duty to talk to the principal, the head, of the Voorhees College in India," Yarsiah said. "There college has 3,500 students with undergraduate, graduate and post graduate students."

In addition to sharing a namesake, Yarsiah said Voorhees College in India and Voorhees College in Denmark, S.C., have similarities.

"I learned there's some connection between this Voorhees College, in terms of philanthropy," Yarsiah said. "Ralph Voorhees and his wife gave money to establish Voorhees there in India."

The Voorhees family donated $25,000 to Voorhees College in India in 1902 and made another contribution of $10,000 in 1911, according to the college's website. The Voorhees family also gave Voorhees in South Carolina a donation in 1902 as well.

Voorhees College in South Carolina was founded in 1897 and Voorhees College in India was founded a year later in 1898.

After the triennial conference ended, Yarsiah participated in a two day chaplains' conference held July 11-13.

Overall, the Voorhees vicar said his trip to Korea was very productive and for the first time he even ate octopus.

"The culture is different, the food is different and we received such warm hospitality," Yarsiah said. "The Koreans were very, very, warm...in terms of the students and the faculty. The Korean hospitality; you can't beat it."

"The trip was very eye opening and very enlightening," he added.

The next CUAC conference will be hosted by Madras Christian College in 2017 in Chennai, India.