2013 Grads - Welcome to the Alumni Association |
 Spring Commencement means that the Berry Alumni Association has 381 new members! We welcome them and look forward to their continued involvement with their alma mater. See the text of U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson's wonderful advice to our grads here.
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Register for Spring 2013 Events |
 REGISTER ONLINE NOW FOR: WORK WEEK | ALUMNI WEEKEND | YOUNG ALUMNI WEEKEND
Look for your Work Week, Alumni Weekend and Young Alumni Weekend 2013 brochures in the mail or register online above.
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Daughters of Berry Honors Legacy Students |
 Seniors Sarah Sapp, Susan Doane, Allie LeFeuvre, and Krista Madeira (l-r) were honored by the Daughters of Berry at their annual Legacy Dinner. The young women were chosen by the deans of Berry's four colleges for being outstanding representatives of Martha Berry's vision of the "Head, Heart, and Hands" and for representing Berry's motto, "not to be ministered unto, but to minister." Susan Doane, an education major from Montgomery, Ala., won the group's annual Legacy Award. |
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Women's Soccer Alumnae Reunion |
 Berry Women's Soccer alumnae will gather Apr. 26-27 for a Friday night dinner, an alumnae tailgate at the Ford Soccer Fields, scrimmages, and a special reunion dinner in the Krannert Center Spruill Ballroom. REGISTER ONLINE NOW |
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First Annual Student Enterprise Development Conference |
 Alumni are invited to Berry’s First
Annual Student Enterprise Development Conference, April 12-13, 2013. Guest speakers will
include Alan Bridges, Trade Development Manager for Coca-Cola Enterprises, and Frederiek Toney, Corporate VP for Ford Motor Company
and President of Global Ford Customer Service. Registration
is required. Get more information here. |
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Firsthand Campaign |
Firsthand Campaign Wins National Award
 Berry College has earned a national award from the Council for
Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) for “Experience it
Firsthand,” a creative marketing campaign developed in collaboration
with the Blue Sky Agency of Atlanta. The initiative, launched in fall
2008, captured a gold award in the 2010 CASE Circle of Excellence
Contest, topping 11 other entries in the Institution-Wide Branding
Programs category. Read more.
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Berry Viking Email Update |
 Alumni: Please note that your Viking email account has been updated and there's a new address where you'll need to log in: http://mail.office365.com
Your account name and password have not changed. You will be able to log in normally from this address. |
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The Daughters of Berry Legacy Dinner |
 During the annual Daughters of Berry Legacy Dinner, members take time to reflect on their traditions and to celebrate the group's accomplishments throughout the past year. This year's dinner will be held Mar. 26, 2013. Register for the dinner online here. |
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Young Alumni Gathering at Ormsby's |
 Berry Young Alumni recently came together at Ormsby's in Atlanta for a night of reconnecting, networking and sharing stories. To find out about upcoming Young Alumni events, follow the Young Alumni Facebook page or visit our Young Alumni website. |
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100th Anniversary of Mount Berry Church |
 Mount Berry Church recently celebrated its 100 year anniversary of worship, prayer, Bible study, fellowship and service along with those who are part of the Berry community. Dr. Will Willimon was guest speaker. The event included a special historical display and fellowship time afterwards. |
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Mountain Day 5K Results |
 The Mountain Day 5K results are now available. Men's results / Women's results
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Firsthand4You Scholarship Night Candleholding Event |
 Firsthand4You,
scholarship recipients and student volunteers will line the Berry
entrance road with lights to welcome scholarship donors on Friday evening starting at 5 p.m. The students are continuing a tradition of thanks started by Martha Berry. The event is a part of Scholarship Night, during which students thank donors personally for contributions to their education. |
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Pensacola Chapter to Meet Feb. 4 |
 Alumni in the Pensacola area won't want to miss the Feb. 4 meeting at Hall's Seafood Restaurant: Walt Maine (59C) and Mac Gay (59C) will discuss Children in Crisis, Inc. and the Children's Neighborhood, including a new internship opportunity for Berry students. See our event calendar to RSVP.
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Join Us for a Garden Party on Feb. 9 |
 Berry alumni are invited to the Oak Hill and the Martha Berry Museum from 12-3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9 for a luncheon to benefit the restoration of the Hillside Garden.
Through the generosity of The Garden Club of Georgia’s Historic Landscape Grant
Program, restoration of the hillside began during fall 2012, and exciting
architectural details have emerged from this effort. Stop in for lunch, see the progress being made on the project, and enjoy jazz-age music. The cost is $25. For information and to make reservations, email Oak
Hill’s director, Tim Brown, at tbrown@berry.edu. |
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Founder's Dinner 2013 |
 The celebration of our college's founding in 1902 is a special event each January. For our Firsthand4You program, the Founder's Dinner is a time to recognize our founder and to show gratitude to the generous alumni and friends who have made a Berry education possible. This year's dinner will be held Thursday, Jan. 24 in the Krannert Center's Spruill Ballroom. Alumni may register for the dinner online here. For more information, email firsthand4you@berry.edu.
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Alumni Council Receives Athletics Update |
 The Berry Alumni Council enjoyed an athletics theme at their November meeting, with updates from Todd Brooks, Athletics Director, Coach David Beasley, Head Baseball Coach, Coach Jeff Harlow, Head Basketball Coach and Coach Tony Kunczewski, Head Football Coach (pictured at left). Kunczewski is currently recruiting for Berry's first ever football season, set to begin in September 2013. |
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Mountain Day 2012 |
 Over 400 people celebrated at Mega Reunion this year as the classes of 72A, 72C, 77A, 77C, 82A, 82C, 87C, 92C, 97C, 02C and 07C celebrated. Up on the Mountain Campus, approximately 8,000 people joined us for the annual picnic and Grand March. See the complete recap here.
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Visit the Alumni Center for Holiday Cheer |
 The Ford Living Room in the Alumni Center provides a warm and welcoming place for alumni to relax throughout the year, especially during the holidays. If you're in the area, drop by to enjoy a quiet moment this season. The Center also houses the Alumni Hall of Fame, a sitting room with yearbooks and memorabilia, and many other amenities for our alumni to enjoy. We are open this year through noon on Dec. 21. |
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Fall Back to Berry |
 Graduate alumni and current graduate students: please note that Fall Back to Berry, scheduled for Nov. 3, has been cancelled.
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Distinguished Alumni Award Nominations Due Oct. 31 |
 Nominate a deserving alumna/us for an award! Categories are the Distinguished Achievement, Distinguished Service, Entrepreneurial Spirit, and Outstanding Young Alumni. The 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award Winners are pictured at left with Barbara McCollum (79C) immediate past president of the Berry Alumni Association, and Stephen Briggs, Berry President. Fill out the online nomination form to let us know who you think deserves an award. |
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Back by Popular Demand: The Printed Alumni Directory |
 The Office of Alumni Relations is happy to announce that we have partnered with Publishing Concepts (PCI) to develop a new printed alumni directory that will be published next year. PCI will be helping us with efforts to confirm that your information will be properly represented in the directory, so be on the lookout for postcards, emails and phone calls from PCI over the next few months. We are under contract with PCI and your data will be protected. We encourage you to respond to PCI and appreciate your participation in this effort which helps Berry alumni stay connected! Please note: Only pre-ordered directories will be printed. It is important that you place your order for your directory with PCI when you are contacted. Additional directories will not be available after the initial printing. |
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Mountain Day |
 More than 7,000 people connected at Berry's annual Mountain Day – making it the largest homecoming in the school’s history! Mountain Day is an annual celebration of Martha Berry’s birthday with a picnic, march and a host of other activities. read more |
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Bart Cox (92C) Earns the Virginia R. Webb Exceptional Service Award |
|  Bart Cox (92C) recently became the first recipient of the Virginia R. Webb Exceptional Service Award, given by the Berry Alumni Association's Executive Committee. Bart has served as the Association's Parlimentarian for the past eleven years. His entire tenure on the Alumni Council was from 1999-2012. Bart is pictured at left with Barbara McCollum (79C), Immediate Past President of the Alumni Association. Learn more about the award here.
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New! See the Alumni Weekend Worship Service Video |
 The annual Worship Service in the College Chapel is a highlight for alumni each year, a time to wrap up the festivities of Alumni Weekend with reflection and song. The Alumni Choir this year performed a variety of hymns under the direction of Alumni Choir Director Len Willingham (70C), including "Our Hope for Years to Come," by Berry's own Stan Pethel, Professor and Chair of the Dept. of Music. Guest Minister Rev. George Gravitte (62C) presented the sermon "Berry Boots." See the entire service here. |
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It's a Labor of Love for the Berry Work Week Crews |
 Work Week is among the most special times of year for Berry alumni. Our 24 work crews this year took the motto of "Service from the Heart" and applied it to much-needed projects all around campus. Crews this year rebuilt a tornado-damaged gazebo at Oak Hill (pictured at left) using wood salvaged from the original structure, built a run-in shed for the Berry horses to take shelter from bad weather, and accomplished a wide range of tasks that help make our campus one of the most beautiful in the world. |
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Running Strong |
Running Strong
 Too bad the Berry Half-Marathon isn't a stock, because it is boasting tremendous growth potential! This year's event set new records for registrants (2,126) and participants (1,845) in the three competitive races and 1-mile fun run. Nearly 200 Berry alumni signed up, and 20 states were represented. This continues a trend of sustained growth for one of Berry's newest traditions. Read more. |
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Thanks Young Alumni! |
 Our very generous Young Alumni raised over $5000 during a live auction at the Party on the Green during Young Alumni Weekend. The money will be used to purchase a tractor for Season's Harvest, a Berry student enterprise that produces sustainably-grown vegetables. Learn more about how you can help with some of our students' immediate needs. |
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We're Proud of our Distinguished Alumni Award Winners |
| Our 2012 award winners are pictured at left with Alumni Association President Barbara McCollum (79C) and President Stephen Briggs. Learn more about the winners in our Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame. If you know an outstanding alumna/us, consider submitting a nomination for next year's awards. |
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Alumni Weekend, Young Alumni Weekend, and Work Week |
|  If you wish to register for Young Alumni Weekend, click here. If you missed the registration deadline for Alumni Weekend or Work Week, please call us at 706-236-2256.
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Young Alumni Career Networking |
|  Berry Young Alumni gathered recently in midtown Atlanta for our Career Networking event. Cheryl Huffman (91C), Berry’s financial aid coordinator, shared her insight into tackling student loan debt. Another networking event is planned for fall; be sure to stay in touch for more details.
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Alumni Celebrate 50 Years of Men's Soccer |
 Over 50 soccer alums dropped in at the Moon Roof on Friday evening to reminisce and re-tell old soccer stories. 125 attended the tailgate and alumni soccer scrimmages on Saturday afternoon at the Ford Soccer Fields, including alumni, the current soccer team, parents, and faculty/staff. |
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Women's Basketball Reunion 2012 |
 On Saturday, February 11th, 2012, the Lady Vikings Basketball team welcomed and honored Berry's 1976 Women's National Championship basketball team back to the Cage as they played against LaGrange College. Before the game, both teams and Coach Dunn mingled over brunch. Celeste Giordano (78c), a member of the 1976 Championship team hoped that her team was "able to change their [the current Lady Vikings] mindset and attitude to think-act-get big together as ONE TEAM, ONE DREAM". The current Lady Vikings include: (from bottom left) Allison Lawrence, Megan Walsh, Maggie Trimble, Alesa Hammaker, Brittany Coughlin and Kelly Hastings. (2nd row left to right) Holli Gibbs, Chanlir Seggara, Danielle Sisk, Mel McLean, Alexa Evans and Brooke Thompson. (3rd Row left to right) Hannah Lowe and Pilar Smith. (4th row) Whitley Caver along with their coach, Stephanie Dunn. The alumna are as follows: (from left to right) Celeste Powell Giordano (78c), Paula Dean (78C), Sharon Adamson Bass (78C), Pam Pinyon Thompson (78C) (kneeling), Margaret Downing (78C), and Lisa Lynn Payne (79C). |
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Scholarship Night 2012 |
 On the evening of Friday, February 17, 2012, students will line the Main
Entrance Road as we welcome scholarship donors onto our campus with
candles. Scholarship recipients will get a chance to meet and thank
their donors for their educational opportunities over dinner. This
annual event is a part of the Firsthand4You program, which educates students on the awareness, gratitude, and giving involved in philanthropy. |
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FirstHand4You Week 2012 |
|  During FirstHand4You week, the junior class raised $249.20 for the Silver Wars Battle winning the competition. They will get to donate the funds to a charity of their choice. Aside from this charitable event, FirstHand4You hosted a Philanthropy 101 class taught by Randy Tibbals (79C) and John Zellars, a basketball tailgate with about 100 people in attendance and a Koffee House Concert. The annual Founder's Dinner (pictured at left) was attended by 90 alumni and students.
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Look for Your Save-the-Date Card This Month |
 Even though winter is in full force, we're already thinking of spring and all our exciting upcoming events! Our Save-the-Date reminder cards are mailing this month for events including Alumni Weekend and Young Alumni Weekend (the card is pictured at left). Both will be held May 18-20, 2012, so mark your calendar and dream of spring along with us.
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Submit a Nomination for Alumni Council |
| Nominations for Berry Alumni Council membership
Nominations
are being accepted for until Dec. 31 for Berry
Alumni Council membership for the 2012-2014 term. The Alumni Council is the
governing body for the Berry Alumni Association. Alumni Council members
are elected volunteers serving as ambassadors for Berry and advisors for the
Office of Alumni Relations. Qualified Alumni Council members will have a
history of involvement with Berry through time, talent and financial giving. If
you know a Berry alum who is a leader committed to playing a role in
keeping Berry strong and the alumni family engaged and you have not yet
submitted a nomination, please let the nominating committee know
by completing the simple
online nomination form.
Alumni
Council membership nominations are due
December 31, 2011.
Online
Nomination Form
Listing of current Alumni
Council members
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Nominations for Berry High School/Academy Outstanding Faculty/Staff Award |
| If you
are a high school or academy alum:
The Berry Breakfast Club is now
accepting nominations for the Berry High School/Academy Outstanding
Faculty/Staff Award. If you attended the Mount Berry School for Boys,
Martha Berry School for Girls or Berry Academy, you
are encouraged to honor a former faculty or staff member with a nomination for
this award. Click here to read about the Berry Breakfast Club and to submit your nomination. Nominations are due
December 15, 2011. The Outstanding Faculty/Staff
Award will be presented at the High School/Academy Breakfast program
on Saturday, May 19 during Alumni Weekend 2012.
Online
Nomination Form
Listing of past award winners
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Alumni Gather in Northeast Georgia |
|  Berry alumni recently gathered for a casual dinner in Young Harris, Ga. In attendance were members of classes spanning five decades as well as Alumni Association President Barbara McCollum (79C) and members of the Office of Alumni Relations. One of the best ways to keep up with alumni events happening in your area is to be sure to sign up for a Viking email address.
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Stadium Plans Currently in the Works |
| Berry College will join other members of the Southern Athletic Association (SAA)
of NCAA Division III in offering football as a varsity sport in 2013, and men’s
and women’s track and field soon thereafter. The plan for building our stadium and the surrounding area will follow two phases.
Phase one, detailed in the first image below, will have stadium seating for 500. Phase two will add 1000 stadium seats, a track, and will allow for new tennis courts with lighting. More information about the athletic expansion is available here.
Phase one:
Phase Two:
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Mountain Memories |
 Berry College welcomed about 7,500 alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff and
friends to Mount Berry recently for the annual Mountain Day celebration. See the highlights.
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Register for the Agricultural Alumni Reunion |
 Join fellow Agricultural Alumni Oct. 21-23 for interaction with former and current faculty, staff and students, campus tours, meals featuring Berry-raised food and more! View the schedule (printable Word file) or register online. |
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Meet the Mountain Day 2011 Convocation Speaker |
|  Laura Sutton graduated from Berry College in May 2009, Magna
Cum Laude, with majors in Management & Marketing. During her time as a
student at Berry, Laura, a Birmingham, Alabama native, served as the Student
Government Association President, SGA Vice President for Campus Services, and a
Freshman Mentor. In 2009 she was awarded the Martha Berry Award for Outstanding
Undergraduate Achievement, the Gordon L. Foy Business Award, and a Voice of
Berry Student Award.
While serving as a member of the Berry Alumni Council from
2009-2011, Laura collaborated with the Alumni Relations team to create a new
Berry young alumni program. She moved to Nashville, Tennessee in July 2009 to pursue
her Masters of Education in Organizational Leadership from Vanderbilt
University. While at Vanderbilt, Laura worked as a special educational research
assistant where she delivered tutoring in math to low performing second grade
students in Metro Nashville Schools. She graduated with her M.Ed in May 2011.
Laura currently works for Deloitte Consulting in Atlanta,
GA. She is a Human Capital Analyst in Deloitte’s HR Transformation service line
specializing in HR Technology-SAP. In her free time Laura enjoys catching up
with her friends, twitter, hula hooping, hiking, the outdoors, Alabama
football, traveling, and spending time with her family. Her brother, Trevor
Sutton, is a sophomore at Berry and is in the WinShape College program. |
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Register Now for Mountain Day 2011 Activities |
 Online registration for Mountain Day 2011 is now available for all reunions and events. Get more information about what's happening with our general schedule or select your reunion class year for more specific information. Look for your brochure in the mail in the next couple of weeks. We look forward to seeing you soon! |
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New Online Alumni Community Up and Running |
 Our new interactive website makes it easier than ever to stay in touch with your Berry friends. AlumniConnect, which replaces Berry's earlier online alumni community, includes many of the features you've come to expect from social media — a personal homepage, editable profile, status updates and friends list. It also offers an online alumni directory with enhanced search options and affinity groups specific to Berry. Click here to establish your free account.
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Join us for a Braves game on Sept. 27 |
| Join us for Berry Alumni Night at the Atlanta Braves on Sept. 27. We'll watch the team battle the rival Philadelphia Phillies. Our
discounted tickets in the Golden Moon Casino Pavilion area offer shade,
access to air conditioning, and $10 worth of food and drinks. Free shuttles from campus available, or purchase a discount parking
pass. Select a date above to reserve your ticket. |
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News from the Young Alumni Career Networking Social |
 Berry Young Alumni enjoyed our first Career Networking Social, held at the Hilton Atlanta/Marietta Hotel and Conference Center. Pictured at left, our Young Alumni are shown making connections during the evening's speed networking activity. The event featured a special presentation by Kelly Quattlebaum, President of Global Marcoms, on using LinkedIn for career advancement.
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Work Week 2011 Crews Spruce Up Campus |
Work Week Group Photo. Get yours for $12 in the Alumni Center.
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Berry Alumni Quilters Create House o' Dreams Quilt |
 The Berry Alumni Quilters have completed a new quilt that will be placed in the House o' Dreams later this summer. At left, Tanya Campbell shows Dr. Jackie McDowell quilting tips and techniques as Wilma Kinney (48H) looks on. The group gives back to the Berry community by donating quilts, afghans and other handmade items to the annual Silent Auction. See the new House o' Dreams quilt. |
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Daughters of Berry Focus on Founder's Ideals |
 The Daughters of Berry feature speakers on topics that foster the ideals of our founder. At left, Joe Cook (88C), executive director of the Coosa River Basin Initiative, discusses the health of area rivers with Alumni
Association President Barbara McCollum (79C). Meetings are held monthly
at Oak Hill and Martha Berry Museum. |
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Get to Know the Berry Breakfast Club |
 The Berry Breakfast Club is dedicated to preserving the heritage of the historic Mount Berry School for Boys, Martha Berry School for Girls and Berry Academy. The Club meets every month to reconnect the alumni of these schools and to honor a shared history. See a group photo of the Club or learn more about our Alumni Interest Groups. |
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Virtual Mountain Day |
Video of the Mountain Day 2010 Grand March
What a celebration!  Visit www.berry.edu/vmtnday to
watch the video of Berry's Mountain Day 2010 Grand March and to read the
chat hosted by Twitter courtesy of Berry's Virtual Mountain Day page.
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Mountain Day 2010 Convocation Speaker |
2007 Alumna to Speak at 2010 Mountain Day Convocation
Callie  Starnes graduated from Berry College in 2007 with a degree in Communications and a minor in Government. She is a reporter and weekend anchor for WRCB-TV Channel 3, the NBC affiliate in Chattanooga, TN. Callie began her broadcast career while at Berry, serving as station manager for Berry's on-campus television station in addition to working at a local radio station. She enjoys returning to campus to serve on Berry's Alumni Council. Read more. |
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Barbara McCollum New Alumni Association President |
Barbara McCollum New Alumni Association President
 Effective July 1, 2010, Barbara Pickle McCollum (79C) began her two-year term as President of the Berry Alumni Association. Many thanks to Frances Richey-Goldby (83A, 87C) for her service as president over the past two years. Read more.
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Alumni Weekend 2010 |
Alumni Weekend 2010
 What a grand homecoming event! Five new Distinguished Alumni Award winners were inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame. Members of the college and high school classes of 1960 were inducted into the Golden Guard. The college and high school classes of 1950, 1955, 1960, and 1965 celebrated reunions. Read more about the festivities.
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Mountain Day 2009 |
Mountain Day 2009
 As many as 6,000 students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends participated in the traditional Mountain Day Grand March and picnic. Alumni came home to visit friends, and the classes of 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999 and 2004 celebrated at a Mega Reunion event. Read more.
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Work Week 2010 |
Work Week 2010
 Anyone who believes Berry’s commitment to firsthand work experiences is limited to students has obviously never attended Alumni Work Week. Each spring, alumni and friends gather to celebrate the enduring power of Martha Berry’s belief in the value of “worthwhile work done well.” Class years represented among this year’s alumni group spanned an amazing eight decades of Berry history, from 1937 to 2010. Read more.
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Another Pledge from Audrey B. Morgan |
Another Pledge from Audrey B. Morgan
 One year after making one of the largest individual gifts to student scholarships in the history of Berry College, Atlanta philanthropist and Berry Board of Visitors member Audrey B. Morgan has pledged an additional $1 million in support of Berry students. Read more.
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Alumna Karen Holley Horrell New Board of Trustees Chair |
Alumna Karen Holley Horrell New Board of Trustees Chair
 Karen Holley Horrell (74C), divisional president of corporate services for the Great American Insurance Co., is the new chair of the Berry College Board of Trustees. She is the first woman to be elected chair of the college’s senior leadership board. She presided over her first meeting in late May. Read more.
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Whatever You Like... |
Whatever You Like...
 Join the growing group of alumni who support scholarships and student work. As Jon Terrell (06C) “sings” in a promotional video, you can give whatever you like. Click here and scroll down for the full story and video.
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History of Music at Berry |
History of Music at Berry
 When Dr. Stan Pethel, longtime faculty member and chair of fine arts at Berry College, decided to commission a book celebrating the 100th anniversary of music making on the world’s largest campus, he didn’t have to look beyond his own daughter, Dr. Mary Ellen Pethel, to find a historian who would bring an insider’s perspective to the project. Read more.
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Best of Times |
Championship baseball team honored
This story was written by Ashley McIntyre, sports editor for the Campus Carrier. The photo is courtesy of student photographer David Chiem. Both are reprinted with permission from the Carrier.
In 1966, the Beatles proclaimed themselves to be "more popular than Jesus," actor Ronald Reagan was elected the governor of California and the Vietnam War was still being heavily contested. Garland Dickey was the athletic director at Berry and college baseball players still used wooden bats. That was the same year the Vikings baseball team won its first championship, with one of the best seasons in school history.
On Saturday, Feb. 20, Berry's first conference championship baseball team met for a reunion to celebrate their accomplishments and memories. The Vikings won the Georgia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship in 1966 and were runners-up in the NAIA Area 7 Tournament. They broke Berry's single-season wins record with 29, and had a regular season record of 25-10. The 1965 team, who won 13 regular season games, set the previous record. Head coach Jerry Shelton was named GIAC coach of the year and was the NAIA District 25 coach of the year.
The Vikings defeated West Georgia 3-1 to clinch the GIAC title. Don Law hit a home run, while his brother Gerry Law and Terry Jones had one RBI each. The Vikings played an errorless game while Renny Bryner pitched a six-hit game.
"This was the greatest part of my life," said Don Law, former Vikings infielder. "We traveled in two vans. The facilities weren't so great back then, but the fans were great and it was great winning. We got in a few scraps too."
Randy Davis, owner of the local radio stations TalkRadio WLAQ 1410 and 95.7 "The Ridge," was the event's master of ceremonies at Saturday's event. Davis introduced baseball head coach David Beasley and shared an experience from traveling with the team. Davis said that in his time broadcasting games and traveling with Beasley's team, he has picked up on a few things.
"I've learned that there’s Eastern Standard Time, Eastern Daylight Time and then there’s Coach Beasley Time," Davis said. "You’d better be on Beasley time, or else the bus will leave you."
Beasley spoke to the team before coaching the Vikings’ doubleheader against UVa.-Wise on Saturday.
"Looking at you guys today represents what we try and teach our kids about sports; the long lasting friendships," he said. "Forty-three years later and you guys are still all together."
Beasley addressed Berry's transition to the NCAA's Division III and although his team will not be able to compete for a championship for another three years, Beasley said he is encouraging his team to believe in the transition, and that Berry gives students and athletes a chance to be successful.
"I told them that the next championship we win will be up to them. The soonest one will be up to them, and I believe we will make it to the NCAA World Series," Beasley said.
During the course of the program, an anonymous $2,000 donation was given to the baseball program on behalf of the 1966 team.
Shelton and brothers Gary Law and Don Law were all recently inducted into the Rome/Floyd Sports Hall of Fame.
Former outfielder and current author John Dixon was in charge of the reflections portion of the program. He told stories about haggling the players at Georgia Tech, playing cards on team trips and surviving the repair of a pitching machine.
"I'm lucky to be alive fixing that pitching machine," Dixon said.
Dixon also expressed his appreciation to his former coach Shelton.
"We owe you more than you’ll be able to know, or how much we appreciate you," Dixon said.
Towards the end of the luncheon, Dixon reflected on how far they had come over the years.
"If our lives are a baseball game, we'd be at the top of the 8th inning, and that's sad," Dixon said. "We'll never be around quite like this again, and I’m glad to be around such great people as this."
The 1966 team was honored by the 2010 team before the first half of a double-header against UVa.-Wise on Feb. 20. Shelton threw the ceremonial first pitch. The Vikings went on to sweep the double-header, with scores of 13-2 and 3-2. |
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