CARDBOARD BOAT RACE PUTS CREATIVITY, INGENUITY TO THE TEST
Southern’s Outdoor Adventure Program (SOAP) provides students and employees with
a variety of free or affordable recreation opportunities ranging from caving and rock
climbing to rafting and snowboarding. On one special night every winter, participants
step away from the cold and make use of Southern’s spacious indoor facilities.
On February 23, SOAP hosted the 13th annual Cardboard Boat Race in Iles P.E. Center and Coolidge Pool. Teams of students
were tasked with building a water-worthy vessel using as much cardboard as they needed,
but only a single roll of duct tape each. After 90 minutes of brainstorming and engineering
in the gym, the boats headed to the pool, where they were put to the test.
SOAP awarded monetary prizes for the fastest lap and the most laps completed before sinking. This year, team “Noah’s Ark” won both competitions.
-Staff Report
I CANTORI AND GYM-MASTERS HEAD WEST FOR TOURS
Every year during spring break hundreds of Southern students and employees engage
in service around the country and the world. Gym-Masters and I Cantori, two of Southern’s
student performance groups, are using their gifts to serve by hitting the road and
heading west for tours in Arizona and California. The groups will perform at a number
of academies and churches, sharing their God-given talents with alumni, prospective
students, and friends.
Since more than 2,000 Southern alumni live in California, the students may see some
familiar faces. California ranks third in the list of states from which Southern draws
its students, ranking behind only Tennessee and Georgia. President David Smith, PhD,
will join the tour during the second weekend and host two alumni events in the Loma
Linda area:
• March 8, 7-9 a.m. at Starbucks (25775 Barton Road, Loma Linda, CA). Enjoy a complimentary drink and snack. Come when you can, leave when you want. RSVP is appreciated but not required.
• March 9, 7 p.m. at Napoli Italian Restaurant (24960 Redlands Boulevard, Loma Linda, CA). RSVP required (deadline passed). More than 30 alumni will join students from I Cantori for a complimentary dinner.
For more information about upcoming tours and alumni events, visit Alumni Association’s Facebook page.
SCHOOL OF RELIGION OFFERS NEW MASTER’S IN BIBLICAL COUNSELING
Southern is the first Adventist university to offer a graduate program in Biblical
Counseling. The exciting new emphasis will launch this summer as part of an entire
revamping of the graduate programs in the School of Religion.
“For years, we have had feedback from our students that they need more counseling skills in ministry,” said Alan Parker, director for the new program. “Many of these students are not looking for a professional degree in counseling, but rather a degree that is relevant to ministry in the local church. Whereas many counseling programs are person-centered, our program is gospel-centered. It applies the gospel to everyday situations, allowing the practical wisdom of Scripture to guide decisions, resolve conflict, heal emotional wounds, build relationships, and empower change.”
Eric Bates, ’99, DMin, director of Family Ministries for the Carolina Conference,
is the primary instructor. Students will learn through an interdisciplinary approach.
Experts in abuse, addiction, anxiety, depression, marriage, family, etc. will offer
professional training on how to deal with a wide variety of situations and when to
refer.
Beyond the biblical counseling emphasis, other emphases have also been reworked. All programs will require a core of four classes in biblical hermeneutics, ethics, spirituality, and salvation. “At a time when society is attacking so many core values of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, we want Southern to emphasize the importance of remaining true to Scripture and the everlasting gospel,” said Greg King, ’81, DMin, School of Religion dean.
All religion graduate courses are offered in one-week to two-week intensives over the summers. For employees of conferences in the Southern Union, tuition is waived. Others pay regular tuition rates, although we offer some highly discounted prices at our external sites. Courses offered this summer include:
COLLEGEDALE, TN
• Biblical Hermeneutics and Interpretation – June 3-14
• Doctrine of Salvation – June 3-14
• Principles of Biblical Change I and II – June 17-28
HAYMARKET, VA / LIVING HOPE CHURCH (external site)
• Equipping Laity for Ministry – July 15-26
• Effective Church Leadership – July 15-26
For more information about any School of Religion graduate programs, contact Alan Parker at 423.236.2683 or parker@southern.edu.
-Staff Report
UNIVERSITY HIRES FURLOUGHED ALUM DURING GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
The partial government shutdown this winter brought about an unexpected, mutual blessing
to Southern and a furloughed alum.
Lonnie Maize, ’78, is a certified arborist and historic preservationist who currently
works for the Channel Island National Park in Ventura, California. During the shutdown,
Maize used frequent flyer miles to visit Collegedale and spend time with his mother
and his sister, Pamela (Maize) Harris, PhD, ’74, a professor in Southern’s School of
Journalism and Communication.
Southern reached out to Maize while he was in the area and asked if he would use
his expertise to help the university short-term. He agreed, and Southern hired him
to identify hazardous trees along the Sabbath Trail as well as offer training on correct
chainsaw techniques. He also planted dozens of dogwood trees along the trail.
“My experience here was kind of surreal,” Maize said, “to be back at Southern working
on trails I had hiked 41 years ago. One part that was pleasing to me was imagining
that some dogwoods I planted may provide beauty to individuals walking life’s path
behind me.”
Marty Hamilton, associate vice president for Financial Administration, helped coordinate
the details, using allocated donor contributions to fund the work done by Maize.
“I think the Lord impressed me to see if Lonnie was willing to work for us,” Hamilton
said. “It helped him out, and it helped the university out, so it was a win-win for
both of us. Landscape Services told me that it was an awesome experience to have him here.”
Even after the shutdown ended, Maize decided to stay for a few more days to finish
up the work, using his personal vacation time.
“I always say, ‘you never know what a day brings,’” Maize said. “I never dreamed
I would find work at my alma mater while being laid off during a government shutdown.
Friends of mine who work at Southern saw an opportunity for me to use my special skills
in areas where Southern needed help. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity.”
-by Tierra Hayes, senior mass communication major
REGISTRATION OPENS FOR ACADEMIC SUMMER CAMPS
Thoughts of summer camp may be accompanied by fond memories of cabins and horseback
riding, crafts and sitting around a bonfire, making new friends and drawing closer
to Jesus. While Southern’s Academic Summer Camps don’t involve cabins and bonfires,
they do offer high school students a chance to try out a potential career field, make
friends with like-minded young people, and start thinking about God’s purpose for
their lives.
Since 2016, Southern has offered a variety of three-day camps for both day students and overnight campers. Last year, 112 students from 13 states came and experienced a small taste of Southern as they explored topics ranging from business and medicine to creative writing and filmmaking. For many, this was their first experience with Adventist education, since half of the participants were either homeschooled or public school students.
Tahkai Martin attended the camps for two summers in a row. He took part in the graphic
design camp one year, which reaffirmed his interest in the creative arts. Now a sophomore
psychology major at Southern, he chose graphic design as his minor.
“The camps are kind of a college simulation; they give participants a chance to garner some practical life skills, such as having a roommate, being away from home, interacting with other people, and having accountability,” Martin said. “It was a great experience.”
This year’s Academic Summer Camps will be held June 17-19. Topics include:
• Automotive Repair
• Business Entrepreneurship
• Computing (App Development)
• Creative Writing
• Filmmaking
• Journalism
• Outdoor Adventure Leadership
• Photography
• Pre-Med
• Psychology
• Social Work and Missions
• Vegetarian Culinary Arts
Academic Summer Camps cost $150 for day students or $200 for those staying overnight in residence halls. Online registration opened March 1. For more information, visit southern.edu/camps.
-by Natalia Perez, senior mass communication major
LIGHTS VOLUNTEERS PROGRAM PUTS GIFTS OF TIME TO GOOD USE
Helen (Case) Durichek, ’56 and ’58, retired from Southern in 2005 after 19 years as
associate vice president for Financial Administration. “I loved coming to work every
day and was sad to retire,” she said. Since then, both Helen and her husband, retired
Southern professor John Durichek, ’58, have been faithful volunteers on campus. Together
they’ve tackled a variety of projects ranging from clerical work to historic preservation.
We interviewed Helen recently about her involvement with the Lights Volunteers program, which connects non-employees of any age—not just retirees—with opportunities
to serve at Southern.
What kinds of projects have you worked on through Lights Volunteers? When I first started, I didn’t have a specific job; I was “on call,” so to speak. I would address envelopes, hand out programs at special events, and package donut holes to serve on the promenade at the Christmas tree lighting. After a while, I asked if there was a need for someone to work with the university’s archives and memorabilia.
History is important to me, because during the time I was employed here, I had the privilege of working with a small group of people who had been associated with the school before it moved from Graysville, Tennessee. Some were born there and had grown up in that little town and attended the school before Southern moved from Graysville to Thatcher Switch. My passion for preserving and sharing the history and stories of Southern has been put to good use in archival and research projects completed for the Heritage Museum on campus and creating displays that celebrate university milestones.
How have you found volunteering to be rewarding? The projects I work on are tangible—that is, I can see how they contribute to the
organization of the memorabilia/history of Southern. I believe this institution should
have some way of marking and remembering its past. The items that make up this history
need to be organized in such a way as to be useful to the future. This “organization”
is what I hope to contribute. It is a goal that will outlive me, but I hope others
will continue to carry it on past my lifetime.
There are numerous organizations where you could volunteer. What binds you so tightly to Southern? For one thing, I met my husband at Southern. We began dating our senior year and just celebrated our 60th anniversary this past summer! We have three children who all attended Southern—two of whom met their spouses on campus—and we even have grandchildren who are alumni. Apart from personal connections such as this, our family has always loved Southern and its mission. It has served the youth from many parts of the world, but I have felt that its primary responsibility is to the youth of the South; its founders came to the South as missionaries when there was little work in this part of the United States. It has been our privilege to support this mission with heart and soul!
Lights Volunteers contributed 7,921 hours to campus projects last year, which represents a monetary value of more than $180,000. Interested in joining this valuable team? Southern has a wide range of opportunities; your time and talent will make a real difference on our campus! For more information, contact the Lights Volunteers coordinator at 423.236.2832 or volunteer@southern.edu.
NEW PROGRAM JUMPSTARTS CHILDREN’S CONNECTION WITH SOUTHERN
Southern is proud of the bond that ties together past, present, and future generations
of alumni. As many as five generations of students have studied on this campus. Your
alma mater is committed to recruiting the next generation alumni.
The Future Southern Alumni Program is designed to excite your children about their possible future at this university
with a series of age-appropriate gifts that celebrate milestone birthdays. If you
or your spouse attended or graduated from Southern, use our online form to enroll your child or children in this complimentary program.
Children are welcome to enroll in the program at any age between birth and 16 years old, although the child’s age will determine the first gift received. For more information, contact the Alumni Relations Office at 423.236.2829 or alumni@southern.edu.
-Staff Report
Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public.
Loma Linda Alumni Morning Meet-Up. March 8 from 7-9 a.m. at Starbucks (25775 Barton Road, Loma Linda, CA). Join President David Smith and other alumni in your area for a complimentary drink and snack to start your day! Come when you can, leave when you want.
E.A. Anderson Lecture Series (Business). March 11 at 7 p.m. in Brock Hall, Room 3205. Real estate developer Ken DeFoor, ’71, will be the presenter.
Brain Awareness Convocation. March 14 at 11 a.m. in Iles P.E. Center. School of Nursing Assistant Professor Michael Liedke, ’97 and ’03, DNP, will draw from his experience as a neurocritical care intensivist and nurse practitioner for this presentation regarding brain awareness.
E.O. Grundset Lecture Series (Biology). March 14 at 7:30 p.m. in Lynn Wood Hall Chapel. Biology Department Professor Timothy Trott, PhD, will present an overview of the use of model plant systems in several ongoing research projects being conducted by Southern students.
Star Watch. March 15 at 8:30 p.m. in the Hickman Science Center parking lot. Explore the heavens through a telescope (weather permitting).
Symphony Orchestra Performance. March 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church (as well as live online). Performance includes selections from Sibelius, Smetana, and Bizet. See School of Music calendar for specific repertoire.
E.A. Anderson Lecture Series (Business). March 18 at 7 p.m. in Brock Hall, Room 3205. Actor and entrepreneur Catherine Forbes will be the presenter.
Hasel Lectureship (Religion). March 21 at 11 a.m. in Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church (as well as live online). Presenter Bryan Beyer, PhD, is director of the Biblical Languages program at Columbia International University, book review editor for the Journal of Evangelical Theological Society, and the author of three books on the Old Testament.
Percussion Ensemble Performance. March 24 at 7:30 p.m. in Ackerman Auditorium. Guest artist Shane Jones, DMA, will be featured in a performance that includes selections from Brodmann, Deane, Kopetzki, Snowden, and Trevino.
E.A. Anderson Lecture Series (Business). March 25 at 7 p.m. in Brock Hall, Room 3205. Career Karma CEO Ruben Harris, ’10, will be the presenter.
“Year of the Adventist Composer” Concert. March 25 at 7:30 p.m. in Ackerman Auditorium. The School of Music performance features works by Seventh-day Adventist composers, including Blythe Owen and J. Bruce Ashton.
Holocaust Awareness Convocation. March 28 at 11 a.m. in Iles P.E. Center. Guest speaker Eva Kor’s story of survival is documented in the award-winning film, Forgiving Dr. Mengele and the popular young adult book Surviving the Angel of Death.
Senior Art Exhibit Opening. March 28 at 6 p.m. in the John C. Williams Art Gallery. This year’s Bachelor of Arts show features pieces created by seniors from the School of Visual Art and Design. The exhibit will be on display through April 12.
Choir of Clare College Cambridge. March 30 at 7 p.m. in Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Choir of Clare College Cambridge is a mixed-voice choir with an extensive recording catalog and experience at churches and festivals in China, Europe, Japan, Russia, and the United States.
Archaeology Lecture Series. April 1 at 7 p.m. in Lynn Wood Hall Chapel. Scott Stripling, DMin, provost at The Bile Seminary in Houston, Texas, will present "Go Now to Shiloh: Have We Found the House of God?"
Asian-American Heritage Convocation. April 4 at 11 a.m. in Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church (as well as live online). Presenter Justin Khoe, known online as “That Christian Vlogger,” leverages social media to help reach unchurched young adults. His YouTube videos have been viewed more than 2 million times.
Cave Exploration. April 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Student Park Cave (beside the Goliath Wall). The Student Park Cave is an educational and recreational resource that contains nearly a mile of walking, squeezing, crawling, and swimming passages. For $3 per person, the public can get a headlamp and entrance into the cave.
Wind Symphony Performance. April 7 at 7:30 p.m. in Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church (as well as live online). Performance includes a variety of selections on the theme “With Liberty and Justice for All.” See School of Music calendar for specific repertoire.
Origins Convocation. April 11 at 11 a.m. in Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church (as well as live online). Presenter Marcus Ross, PhD, director of the Center for Creation Studies at Liberty University, has been published in numerous academic and professional journals. His graduation from the University of Rhode Island as a young-Earth creationist who earned a PhD studying paleontology was front-page news in TheNew York Times.
E.O. Grundset Lecture Series (Biology). April 11 at 7:30 p.m. in Lynn Wood Hall Chapel. Marcus Ross, PhD, will present “(Mostly) Dry Bones: What Fossils Can Tell Us About the Flood.”
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