Madame chair

Karen Holley Horrell (74C) is no stranger to firsts. The first woman to hold the titles of general counsel and senior vice president for the Great American Insurance Company recently became the first woman to be elected chair of the Berry College Board of Trustees. Look for complete coverage in the fall issue of Berry magazine.

Night to remember

A gala celebration recognizing two special groups of alumni served as the ideal kickoff for Alumni Weekend. Honored guests included the 2010 recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Awards and the newest inductees into the Golden Guard, a special distinction reserved for alumni who have been out of school at least 50 years. Award winners (pictured left to right) were Dennis J. DaSilva (74A, 78C), Entrepreneurial Spirit; Karen Holley Horrell (74C), Distinguished Achievement; Dr. Harlan L. Chapman (58C) and Ruth King Martin (65C), Distinguished Service; and Michael D. Williams (03C), Outstanding Young Alumni.

Click here for complete coverage of Alumni Weekend. While you're at it, don't forget to check out photos and video from Alumni Work Week.

Fantastic Fulbright

Samantha Hiner (10C) has a passion for the Spanish language that she has indulged through study abroad in Argentina and service as student director of Berry's English as a Second Language program. Now, thanks to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, Samantha will be working in the heart of Spain itself, the capital of Madrid, as a Fulbright Teaching Assistant. More.

Servant leadership

Laurie Hattaway Chandler (95C), director of Berry's Bonner Center for Community Engagement, is the new chair of the Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism. Joining Laurie (pictured) is Angela J. Stephens, a current student who will be serving as secretary in addition to her role as the board's youth representative. More.

Pioneering publication

A team of students led by Victoria Watkins (10C) recently published Berry's first academic journal intended for widespread external distribution. The first volume of the Undergraduate Business and Economics Research Journal features academic papers submitted by students from Guilford College, the University of Wisconsin at Parkside, Hendrix College and Berry. More.

(Photo by David Chiem)

Whatever you like ...

The 2009-10 Annual Fund campaign ends June 30, but there's still time to make a gift in support of scholarships and student work. As Jon Terrell (06C) "sings" in the video at right, you can give whatever you like. If hip hop isn't your thing, skip the video and click here for a message from Berry students describing the huge difference even a small gift can make.

Viking pride

As students and alumni, Berry athletes continue to prove themselves against all levels of competition. Recent highlights include Ian Adams' winning effort in the Cleveland (Ohio) Half-Marathon; Allie Jones' second-place finish in open reining at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Nationals; a basketball championship for former Berry All-American Tramaine Aaron (07C) in Germany; and a soccer title for Maren Henseler (05C) and 2009 graduate Vanessa Zimmermann (pictured), also in Germany. Complete coverage of Berry athletics is available at www.berry.edu/athletics.

Book of music

Who better to write a book commemorating the 100th anniversary of music making at Berry than someone whose first paying job involved cleaning instruments and working on a new music inventory for the college, all at the tender age of 12? Dr. Stan Pethel, longtime faculty member and chair of fine arts, found just such a person in his daughter, Dr. Mary Ellen Pethel (01G). Her new book, Berry College: A Century of Making Music, features more than 200 pictures that chronicle the amazing history of music on the world's largest campus. More.

Terrific trainer

Josh Tucker (95C) may work for Berry's crosstown rival, but we're still proud of his selection as the Southern States Athletic Conference Trainer of the Year. An employee of Floyd Sports Medicine, Josh has assisted Shorter athletes on a full-time basis since 2004. His primary responsibilities involve men's and women's soccer, volleyball, baseball, and competitive cheerleading. More.

(News and photo courtesy of Shorter University)

Ever thought about returning to the world's largest campus and putting your skills to work on behalf of Berry students today and in the future? The Office of Advancement is currently seeking candidates for two senior-level fundraising positions that will help generate support for major priorities such as scholarships and student work. Click here for full descriptions and application information.

Let's get together

Approximately 500 alumni and friends "turned back the clock" during this year's Alumni Weekend celebration. If you're kicking yourself for missing out, start making plans now to join us for Mountain Day, Oct. 1-2. If you can't wait that long, check out the calendar below to see what else is on tap.

"Movies on the Meadow" featuring Fried Green Tomatoes
Friday, June 25, at Oak Hill and The Martha Berry Museum
Gates open at 8 p.m.; the movie gets under way at 9. Admission is $5 per car, and concessions will be provided. Please, no alcoholic beverages or pets. Contact Patrice Clonts Shannon (08C) at 706-368-6775 or pshannon@berry.edu.

Macon, Ga., Alumni Chapter Meeting
6 p.m., Tuesday, July 13, Jeneane's at Pinebrook restaurant in Macon. Contact Milton Chambers (78A, 82C) at mchambers@berry.edu or 706-368-6835 to RSVP or request more information.

College Class of 1951 Lunch Gathering
Noon, Thursday, July 15, at the Winston, Ga., home of Milton (51C) and Frances (51C) Morgan. Contact Brenda Jenkins (97C) at bjenkins@berry.edu or 706-236-1704.

Reunion of Berry Basketball and Baseball Players from the 1950s
Saturday, July 24, on the Berry campus. Alumni who played college basketball or baseball under Charles F. Seeger are encouraged to attend this day of fellowship with their former coach. The schedule includes a 2 p.m. reception in Krannert Center, a 3 p.m. tour of Berry's athletic facilities and a 7 p.m. dinner in Ford Dining Hall. Contact Jennifer Beard (93C, 00G) at jbeard@berry.edu or 706-290-2170.

On the Horizon

Choir Trip to Great Britain
Dec. 27, 2010-Jan. 3, 2011
Travel abroad with fellow alumni to hear the Berry Concert Choir and Berry College Alumni Choir perform Handel's Messiah at historic venues in Dublin, Ireland, and Oxford, England. More.

Visit www.berry.edu or call 800-782-0130 for more information about upcoming events on the Berry campus.