Quicknotes | april 2015
President Gordon Bietz Announces Plan
to Retire in 2016
Launch of Southern Community Online
~Geovanny Ragsdale, associate vice president for Development
Southern's alumni will have access to the alumni directory and be able to search for former friends or get to know new Southern alumni living in their area. The interactive search engine allows users to search by name, city, state, field of study, or graduation year. Alumni may update contact information and preferences from a single, secure location.
Donors will have access to view their giving history and make future gifts. All members will also have the ability to RSVP to special invitations they receive.
The goal is to have 1,000 active members by May 31, so plan now to join the Southern Community Online.
Contact Advancement with any questions via email or by calling 423.236.2829.
Legacy Society Members Begin New Scholarship
~Ashley Noonan, Advancement intern
At this year's event, $5,430 was received in gifts and pledges to initiate the Legacy Society Scholarship Fund. This new scholarship will benefit current students who present a financial need.
Southern Hospitality, the theme for this year's event, was chosen to honor several local residents who provide or have provided off-campus housing to students at little or no cost. Forrest, '45, and Norma, '45, Fuller, Ralph M. Hendershot, '62, and Roy and Martha "Jo" Edwards are among those who have opened their hearts and homes so students can continue their Christ-centered education at Southern.
"Southern has been a real blessing for me," Schimbischi said. "Many wonderful people have done what they can do to help me financially and when it seems that it is not enough, God does amazing things."
The Planned Giving team is pleased to announce that 12 new members have joined the Legacy Society since last year's event. If you are not a current member, we invite you to join now. If you would like to make a gift to the Legacy Society Scholarship Fund or have any questions, please email plangiving@southern.edu or call 423.236.2832.
Alumnus Reaches Out to Hamilton County
Teachers and Staff
~Moriah Arterberry, Advancement intern
On April 1, a group of six teachers and staff members from Ooltewah High School and
Ooltewah Middle School—along with the program director for the Hamilton County Bible History program—toured Southern's campus. The visit was no coincidence.
While attending a Bible Donors luncheon, Rusty McKee, '87, approached Grey Briggs,
Bible History teacher at Ooltewah High School. He offered to set up a tour of the Archaeology Museum, located in Hackman Hall, and the Origins Exhibit, located in Hickman Science Center, for a few of the Hamilton County educators.
Martin Klingbeil, professor in the School of Religion, served as the museum tour guide.
He spoke with the group about different stories and historical artifacts that existed
during biblical time periods.
"I was so impressed by the professor that I honestly considered auditing one of his
classes!" Briggs said. "I will definitely be looking into taking my Bible History
class on a field trip to the museum."
The visitors enjoyed their time on campus and appreciated both McKee's invitation and his interaction with them that day.
"He was so gracious to accompany us there, and he truly has a heart for people and his community." Briggs said.
Giving to Change Lives:
The Daphne Alyse Knecht Gym-Masters Spirit Endowed Scholarship
~Cheryl Torres, Annual Giving Officer
When tragedy struck the Knecht family, they chose to look to the future. Daphne Alyse
Knecht was a student at Southern and a second-generation member of Gym-Masters, as well. She had a passion for gymnastics and was nearing her graduation from Southern
when a brain tumor took her life on January 28, 2012.
Her family chose to honor her memory by supporting future students with a passion
for gymnastics, and they created the Daphne Alyse Knecht Gym-Masters Spirit Endowed
Scholarship. This spring the endowment reached its fully-funded level of $50,000 which
allows it to provide a $2,000 scholarship to a gymnast every year in perpetuity.
Daphne's grandparents attended the Gym-Masters Home Show on April 11 to honor their
granddaughter's memory by personally presenting a scholarship to Kenzie Trupp, an
art-therapy and psychology major on the team.
Over the three years of building this endowment, a total of 106 people contributed
in Daphne's memory to help current and future students at Southern.
1960s Alumni Reunion Potluck Brunch
Come for the weekend to enjoy the Georgia-Cumberland Conference Camp Meeting activities and stay over for the brunch. Drink and dessert will be provided by the Alumni Association.
For more information, or to RSVP, email alumni@southern.edu or call 423.236.2830.