Volume 101, June 30, 2023 |
|
MFA Students Turn Tassels |
|
Reinhardt University is proud of eight Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing students who graduated last week. Donna Bearden, Elaine Brown, Randy Howard, Althea Hughes, Jessie Latimer, Sara Register, Sarah Syverson, and Scott Wylie received their diplomas and turned their tassels at a commencement ceremony on June 24th.
These Etowah Valley Writers’ Institute graduate students spent two years working one-on-one with published and award-winning writers each semester for two years in a specific genre. The last two weeks of the program are a summer residency on the Waleska campus. Each was immersed in writing workshops and publicly presented their best work at evening readings, leading up to the commencement ceremony and presentation of diplomas.
Donna Bearden won the Faculty Choice Award in Excellence, and Randy Howard second place, for their individual contributions to their craft and adhering to the highest level of creative writing in their class. The Dr. Robert Driscoll Awards honor writing pertaining to the Etowah Valley and nature. They were awarded to Sara Register for Excellence in Writing, Sarah Syverson for Special Interest, and Ted Grosch for Service in Nature.
Professor and Director of the MFA Program Bill Walsh said, “The MFA Class of 2023 is the richest assemblage of talent we’ve had to date. Each year, the graduates surprise us with a level of professionalism that eclipses the previous class. For the mentors, we love it! Especially when students obtain book contracts and find an agent, which is happening in the program.”
Award-winning Irish poet Annemarie Ni Churreáin was the featured commencement speaker. Churreáin was also the visiting writer in residence, each day bringing a level of worldly knowledge to the students. Another highlight of the residency was when two graduates, Dawn Major (’19) and Andrew Winkelmann (’22) returned to give a reading from their newly published novels.
Reinhardt is the only higher education institution in Georgia offering a low-residency MFA in Creative Writing. The 60-hour program offers classes in poetry, fiction, creative-nonfiction/memoir, and scriptwriting.
|
|
In six weeks, the Reinhardt University campus will be teeming again with student life. The university is proud of the diversity the students possess. A shining example is alumna Dr. Elizabeth Gibson.
Dr. Gibson is now a Senior Research Investigator in Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics at Bristol Myers Squibb. She helps lead the design of clinical studies, manages data, works with clinical teams, and helps with clinical trials. She also fills in as a pianist and organist at local churches.
Dr. Gibson credits her current happiness and pursuit of two diverse talents to Reinhardt, “I always had an interest in science and doing music on the side. The unique thing about Reinhardt, is it was the only school that would allow me to do both.” In 2010, she graduated with a Bachelor of Music with the organ, while having all the prerequisites to pass the PCAT test and get into pharmacy school. “The faculty mentors listened to what I wanted to do with my career and helped me get there, without question. They catered to my interests and my goals. So that’s why I enjoy the life I have now. I’m continuing my music but get to do my science every day.”
After Reinhardt, Dr. Gibson went on to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Lipscomb University and a PhD in Pharmacology from Vanderbilt University. Her work at Vanderbilt contributed to the first antibacterial drug approved in the last 20 years for urinary tract infections. She’s now working to find medications to help treat cancer without decreasing a patient’s quality of life with side effects.
For new students, Gibson has this advice, “Keep an open mind. If you’re not sure what you want to do, take different classes to see what you like. It doesn’t matter if it takes longer to get your degree. What’s important is figuring out your passion and what you want to do for the rest of your life. If you like what you do, you won’t feel like you’re working a day in your life.”
|
|
Reinhardt Presence in Antarctica |
|
Representation of Reinhardt University recently transpired in an unlikely place: Antarctica. It was part of a working adventure for Reinhardt Trustee Jeff Dobson and a unique way to celebrate his 78th birthday.
Dobson (class of ’65) is the President and CEO of Global InterLink Corporation. Invited by the Argentine Antarctic Command, his business partners from Buenos Aires installed their products on two projects. They improved and integrated radio communications technology at two Argentine Antarctic Command stations, Bases Petrel and Marambio,and installed special radios designed for harsh conditions on robots to relay control information as well as data for remote engineering and environmental assessments. The Argentines are building an airport to become one of Antarctica’s primary logistics hubs. Their scientific research and environmental stewardship efforts include earthquake prediction, measuring the ozone layer and solar radiation, and studying cloud formation.
“I had three other missions,” said Dobson about his time at the headquarters. “One was to let them know about Reinhardt and recruit any students who would be interested. The second was to see if there were possibilities for student exchange programs. The third was to discuss joint programs with some of the Latin American universities that support activities in Antarctica.” On March 1st, he gave a presentation to base staff and its scientific community in residence. He garnered interest, and everyone gave a big wave to Reinhardt at the end of the presentation.
Before Dobson arrived in Antarctica, he traveled to Buenos Aires to visit the operations of his Latin American Partner Interlink LatinoAmerica. His twin brother and former Reinhardt board member, Jerry Dobson (class of ’65), and five friends accompanied him on this part of the journey. Their Argentina trip included wine country tours, horseback riding in the high Andes mountains, a hike on Mt. Aconcagua, and seeing incredible glaciers in Patagonia. Brightening the night was the Southern Cross, and a spectacular view of Elon Musk’s Starlink chain of satellites coursing the sky.
|
|
High School Football Camps Impress Coaches |
|
Reinhardt University's head football coach James Miller led a series of Skills Camps for high school players throughout June. About 470 youth athletes from across Georgia turned out to the events at Luella, East Coweta and Lowndes High Schools, and one at Reinhardt. The players showed off and honed their skills under the direction of the RU coaching staff.
The camps were aimed at prospective student-athletes to join the successful Eagles team, and those attending are seeking to be recruited. Most are rising juniors and seniors, but some younger players participated to get the experience before returning when they’re eligible for recruitment. An offer for potential scholarship packages was made to about three dozen players.
Coach Miller says, “I am super impressed with our numbers. Our assistant coaches did a fantastic job in recruiting kids to attend. Working with them, evaluating them, and seeing them in a football setting is invaluable to the recruiting process to make sure they’re the right fit for our program and the university.” He looks forward to another successful set of camps next summer.
|
|
Disc Golf Tournament
Tomorrow! Saturday, July 1
on the Reinhardt campus
A two-round, 40-hole PDGA-sanctioned C-tier singles tournament.
All proceeds benefit the Cherokee County YMCA Why it Matters annual giving campaign.
|
|
The Reinhardt Eagle is a weekly e-newsletter to keep you informed about Reinhardt University.
7300 Reinhardt Circle, Waleska, GA 30183 | 770-720-5600 | www.Reinhardt.edu
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
