Join the Southern Family for Campus Christmas Events
The holiday decorations are going up around campus as the semester draws closer to
an end. Combine that with the cooler temperatures and you’ll understand why students
seem to be walking with a spring in their steps. It’s an exciting time of year! Let’s
begin the Christmas season together and celebrate the birth of our Savior with musical
programs and more.
CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING
It’s not Christmastime in Collegedale until the tree on Taylor Circle gets lit! Join
countless alumni and community members for hot drinks, snacks, and performances by:
• Southern Jazz Ensemble
• Southern Ringtones
• A.W. Spalding Elementary String Orchestra
• Collegedale Middle School String Orchestra
• Collegedale Academy Concert Band
• InSpirit (community men's chorus)
• Voculus (student-run a cappella chorus from Southern)
November 28 at 6:30 p.m., Taylor Circle
CHRISTMAS POPS
Wind Symphony, Jazz Ensemble, Ringtones
Conducted by Ken Parsons and Laurie Cooper
December 2 at 8 p.m., Iles P.E. Center (or live online)
SCHOOL OF MUSIC CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Southern Choral Ensembles, Symphony Orchestra, Brass Ensemble
Conducted by Gennevieve Brown-Kibble, Laurie Redmer Minner, and Ken Parsons
December 8 at 7:30 p.m., Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church (or live online)
December 9 at 4 p.m., Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church (or live online)
Road Renamed in Honor of Southern’s Founder 
On November 3, a new name was revealed for Industrial Drive as part of Homecoming
Weekend and Southern’s 125th anniversary celebration. Industrial Drive is now Colcord Drive. The change honors
George W. Colcord, the founding father of Graysville Academy (which later became Southern
Adventist University); additionally, it recognizes the changing campus landscape as
an increasing number of academic and administrative spaces make their home on that
road. The Post Office will honor the old name for up to 12 months.
More information about Colcord and other school luminaries can be found in Dennis
Pettibone’s 1992 book, A Century of Challenge. It’s available for free online.
Southern’s Giving Day Raises Record Amount
More than 600 individuals showed their support of students by making a gift during
Giving Day. This year’s 1892-minute challenge, in honor of Southern’s founding year,
raised in excess of $145,000 to impact student scholarships, academic departments,
The Southern Fund, and other areas across campus.
“For the second year in a row, our Southern Family achieved record-breaking Giving Day levels,” said Ashley Fox, ’15, Annual Giving officer. “The school and students are blessed to have such loyal alumni and friends who support our university year after year.”
More than $60,000 in matching and challenge funds helped incentivize participation.
When the goal of 500 participating donors was met, one alum was so inspired by the
generosity of the Southern community that she offered a last-minute bonus challenge.
For every new donor beyond the 500 donor goal, she gave an additional $25 gift, no
matter the size of the initial gift. To view results from each challenge, visit southern.edu/givingday.
“In addition to those who contributed financially, I’d like to thank the 115 social ambassadors who helped spread news about Giving Day online,” Fox said. “It is truly inspiring to see the Southern community come together in a multitude of ways and rally behind our students.”
Although Giving Day is over, those wishing to show their support can visit southern.edu/give before December 31 to impact students’ lives this year!
Social Work Students Win Civic Engagement Challenge
When the Chattanooga nonprofit Causeway announced its grant competition seeking to
fund creative forms of civic engagement, three graduate students from Southern were
up to the challenge. Their winning proposal describes voting as an indicator of community
health and suggests methods toward increased registration and turnout.
According to Causeway’s website, “[This group] knows that social workers are in a
unique position to empower people who often feel unheard to get involved through voting.
They will be working with Southern’s faculty to add information into the social work
program’s curriculum that empowers social workers to encourage voting in the communities
where they work. Once taught, students will be provided with a downloadable toolkit
to train their internship agencies on voter engagement. After piloting the program,
they will create a resource toolkit for other universities, agencies, and programs
to replicate the strategy.”
Graduate students Carolita Claus, Teana Taka, and Bess Helton were the Causeway Challenge winners.
“We’re excited about what this opportunity holds for our program and the community,”
said Kristie Wilder,’03, JD, dean for the School of Social Work.
Endowment Gift Funds Student, Faculty Research
Southern’s Biology Department recently received a $50,000 gift to support student
and faculty research opportunities, as well as to send students to educational conferences.
Funds required to start this endowment were given anonymously in honor of David Steen,’68,
PhD, a former biology professor and department chair at Southern in the 1970s and
’80s.
“In those days, research was not emphasized here; there simply wasn’t enough time,
money, or equipment,” Steen said.
Much has changed in the years since then. Undergraduate research—across all disciplines—is a signature component of Southern’s academic experience. Students appreciate the opportunity. McKenzie Martin, sophomore biology major, is currently helping with an arboretum research project on campus and will be participating in a dinosaur dig with Biology Department Chair Keith Snyder, PhD, next summer.
“Student research creates a positive cycle of success and is helpful for those of us pursuing graduate school,” Martin said. “It’s also good for Southern, because people who might not be Christian may look at our university and be impressed with the research. It’s good publicity and a great witnessing opportunity.”
Biology conference registration for students, another component of the Steen Endowment, also helps lay the foundation for successful careers.
“These conferences are like internships for business,” Snyder said. “You get to know the people and understand how they think; you learn to better understand the field you’re pursuing and how to communicate with professionals in the same language.”
Southern invites additional gifts to grow the Steen Endowment, part of Southern’s Campaign for Excellence in Faith and Learning. For more information about the campaign, visit southern.edu/webelieve.
-by Lizzie Williams, junior public relations major
New Scholarship Helps Nursing Graduates with Licensure Fees
Statistics show that nursing graduates’ scores on the National Council Licensure Exam
(NCLEX) are highest when taken within a 90-day window after finishing school. However,
some new graduates can struggle to find the $300 necessary to cover applications,
test center fees, and background check costs. Recognizing this gap, two professors
stepped up.
School of Nursing Dean Barbara (Davis) James, ’74, PhD, and Professor Sylvia (Davidson) Mayer, ’75, initiated the Bridge Scholarship in fall 2016 as a part of the Campaign for Excellence in Faith and Learning. This scholarship paves the way for students to take the licensure exam quickly. Adventist Health System has contributed funds toward this process for several years; however, the creation of a specific scholarship for exam fees—as well as the increased funding—ensures the growth of that fund and systematic distribution among all associate graduates.
Passing the NCLEX is required to become a registered nurse, and this assistance helps graduates take the first step in their careers.
“Some of our graduates were stranded needing to take the NCLEX to get a job, but needing
a job to pay for the NCLEX,” Mayer said. “Students attend Southern to learn nursing
in a Seventh-day Adventist environment. They sacrifice and take out loans to do this,
so not having money to apply for and take NCLEX within the best window of time has
been a stress for them!”
While the designated scholarship is new, students have received help with NCLEX fees in the past through gifts to the School of Nursing Affinity Fund. Because of generous donations, Tiffany Lamb, ’17, was able to quickly take the NCLEX.
“I will definitely pay it forward and sow a financial seed for someone like me who may have a need,” Lamb said.
Southern’s School of Nursing is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and has been training students for more than 60 years. Currently operating close to capacity, the School of Nursing has nearly 800 students pursuing degrees ranging from associate to doctorate.
-by Gavin Finch, senior English major
Students, Alumni Unearth Time Capsule from 1992
On November 3, an intergenerational group of students, employees, and alumni gathered
around the Doll House—Southern’s oldest building—to witness the unearthing of a time
capsule buried 25 years ago and to collect new items for the next generation’s discovery.
The anticipation was palpable, as if the entire crowd had gathered to open a single
Christmas present.
Homecoming Weekend is a common place for friends to stroll down memory lane together,
but this unique activity included a literal show-and-tell moment. Former Southern
President Donald Sahly (1986-1997) was the primary speaker, announcing and displaying
each item from the capsule buried during Southern’s centennial celebration in 1992.
Some of the objects included:
• A Southern centennial T-shirt
• Silver Southern coins
• A Southern Accent newspaper
• The 1992 Joker (photo registry)
• The 1992 yearbook
• A stone from Southern’s original campus
“I enjoyed witnessing so much curiosity and nostalgia on the part of attendees,” said Evonne Crook, ’79, Alumni Relations director. “I was delighted to see the fascination of our Student Association president and Southern Accent editor, both of whom spent considerable time after the ceremony poring over items that were included in the old time capsule.”
Current students, administrative leaders, and alumni took the opportunity to create a new time capsule, filling the container with items to bear record of campus life in 2017 when it is opened 25 years from now. There are no historic records of any other time capsules at Southern prior to 1992.
Using technology unheard of in 1992, the time capsule’s opening was streamed live online using Facebook and remains available for viewing.
Library Features Timeline for Milestone Anniversary
A chronological display of university photos and artifacts now on display in McKee
Library provides a historic look at how God has lead Southern during the 125 years
since its humble beginnings. Stories about influential leaders and struggles that
were overcome along the way add personal details to the timeline, giving viewers a
glimpse into the generations who came to campus before them.
“The display serves as an important link to our shared history,” said Katie McGrath,
’00, reference librarian. “When the library was open on Sabbath afternoon of Homecoming
Weekend, quite a large number of alumni came and spent time looking it over. I enjoyed
hearing their conversations as the pieces in the display sparked memories of how things
used to be.”
In addition to stirring old memories, the display offered new information, as well—even for employees who work on campus every day.
“I enjoyed learning about the discovery of a 1929 dictograph machine that had been walled in when Lynn Wood Hall was remodeled years ago,” McGrath said. “I wonder what else might be waiting to be discovered!”
This exhibit is displayed on McKee Library's first floor through December 2017. After
that, it will be repurposed in Lynn Wood Hall for 2018 and beyond.
Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public.
Christmas Tree Lighting. November 28 at 6:30 p.m., Taylor Circle. Join alumni, students, and community members for hot drinks, snacks, and musical performances. For more information, call 423.236.2814.
Christmas Pops Concert. December 2 at 8 p.m., Iles P.E. Center (or live online). The Wind Symphony, Jazz Ensemble, and Ringtones bring in the season with holiday favorites.
For more information, call 423.236.2880.
School of Music Christmas Concert. December 8 at 7:30 p.m and December 9 at 4 p.m., Collegedale Church of Seventh-day
Adventists (or live online). This special performance features Southern’s choral ensembles, Symphony Orchestra,
and Brass Ensemble. For more information, call 423.236.2880.
School of Nursing Student Dedication. December 13 at 7 p.m., Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists. For more information, call 423.236.2940.
Winter Commencement. December 14 at 7 p.m., Iles P.E. Center (or live online). Tickets are required and given to the graduating student for distribution. Overflow
seating for those without tickets is available in the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day
Adventists. For more information, call 423.236.2805.
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