The Coker College Experience - A Faculty POV

Cobra women convincing winners

2012-01-15T09:32:00.005-05:00

The Coker College Women's basketball campaign for the 2011/2012 season opened with great games but the Cobras coming up short by one, two of three points -- sometimes more because of fouls to get the ball back but they were close losses. Int he record book it does not matter if it is one point of lots of points. The team with the most points win. That was disheartening to the players, who were all working hard for the "dub" (I hope what means win.) Finally, the past two games the Cobra women have found the secret and they have been on top in convincing fashion in the two conference match ups. You can tell from their smiles, they like winning a lot more than not winning.

Today opens the Spring 2012 Semester

2012-01-05T07:23:00.004-05:00

For Seniors, the opening of a new Spring semester means they are about 16 weeks from graduation. Jessica graduated a couple of years ago and is now in Grad School.

Lacrosse will face off for the first time at Coker College this spring as Coach Tony Smith enters Conference Carolinas play with the first Coker Lacrosse team.

...and there is a great deal going on at Coker in these early days of the semester.

The Classroom is where much of the action begins this morning. Dr. Lellis just arrived, he is teaching a video production class that starts at 8 a.m. I have just about 20 students in a Public Relations Writing Class that begins at 9:30 and I am looking forward to helping guide students in an area that I believe will provide them an opportunity to build a strong work-place skill. Dr. Glantz (Coach)starts a new class this afternoon called Argumentation and Debate. He is going to be coaching Coker's new debate team and will be using this class a core for that team. Okay, there are other disciplines on the Coker campus, but these are some of the Tuesday/Thursday offerings for Communication.

There is a lot more happening today as the home basketball conference games open at 5:30 with the Women and the Men will follow about 8 p.m. They are playing Barton today and both teams are planning to bounce back from close losses on Tuesday night at Mt. Olive.

As basketball continues, many of the Spring sports will be opening practice over the next couple of days. As a former lacrosse player, I am excited about Coker's first-ever lacrosse team. Coach Smith said the team will open official practice on Saturday at the Byerly Park fields in Hartsville. Coach Dave will have the baseball team on the diamond and Coach Baker said his golf teams (Men and Women) will be opening practice on Friday with some focus exercises. Saturday, the tennis coach is hosting a faculty-staff tennis event as he prepares his teams (Men and Women) for their spring seasons.

I have noticed posters advertising a comedian who will entertain and a couple of guys who are going to talk about dating strategies - so I think students are going to find some interesting things to keep them entertained. The entire Hartsville community is in for a Concert treat on Sunday afternoon as former Coker Music Professor Steve Carlson is on stage for a piano concert sponsored by the Hartsville/Coker College Concert Association.

And, not far from the campus this Saturday will be the downtown Marketplace in Hartsville and a lot of Hartsville merchants in their stores wanting to welcome Coker students back for the Spring 2012 semester.

New Semester begins this week - Spring 2012

2012-01-01T16:14:00.003-05:00

With some trepidation I am looking forward to this new semester at Coker College. Overall we have a great selection of classes for the Communication majors and minors and I have a personally rich schedule. This semester I have one public speaking class, a public relations writing class, a persuasion class and a marketing communication class. The trepidation is that the last three are especially time intensive for both the students and instructor and all three have changed significantly since my last time teaching them - about two years ago.

Communication has been changing more than just about any facet of human existence over the past few years and keeping up with these changes is challenge for the classroom. You are right, some basic principles never change and we will get to them. The problem is channels, delivery, audience, audience segmentation methods, results, time frames are radically changed from just two years ago. Persuasion is where I might get the biggest argument from others who say how could that change. We are still using principles brought to us so clearly by Aristotle. I am with you on that. Now, two years ago would most of us have thought that channels of communication would have changed so much that an "Arab Spring" would not only be feasible; it would have happened? This is another example of the cliched or proverbial "double-edged sword." The reason I love teaching in the communication field so much is the dynamism of the subject area. The reason it seems such a challenge is the dynamism of the field.

Looking forward to seeing what this next 16 weeks have to offer.

T

Cobra Women playing Coastal Georgia

2011-12-29T09:10:00.008-05:00

The Cobra Women's basketball team is back from the Christmas vacation and getting ready for a 7 p.m. game against Coastal Georgia this evening. The Cobra women are playing good basketball but they have not yet been able to jump into the win column. The game tonight could be a great way for them to end that win drought and also ignite some momentum for the conference season, which opens next week with a game against Mount Olive, always a tough conference opponent.

Coker SIFE Working on project for/in Muhuru Bay, Kenya

2011-12-21T10:49:00.007-05:00

Children like to get in the picture nearly everywhere and these two arein what is called the CUSTOMS area of Muhuru Bay, what we might call downtown. The village is on the border of Kenya and Tanzania.

Coker College is sending a trio of students and two advisors to Muhuru Bay, Kenya, for some on-the-ground work to help establish a library in this Kenyan village on the shore of Lake Victoria. Neil Sickendick, who directs the Coker SIFE program has been working with a community activist in Muhuru Bay, Dickens Ochiel, and they have the project moving forward with tremendous momentum. Neil used the SIFE contacts to team up with a SIFE program at Maseno University in Nairobi, Kenya, to develop a partnership that is going to make a difference. During the last academic year I was able to use part of my sabbatical to visit Muhuru Bay to observe a research project that was being conducted by Eve Puffer (daughter) as part of the Duke Global Health Initiative and their WISER School for Girls and Research in Muhuru Bay. It is exciting to see more connections being made from Coker.

The Coker contingent (Students are Kaitlynn Jessup, Lindsey Allen and Cody Ellison and advisor is Neil Sickendick and videographer/photographer is Harrison Waters) will travel the first week of January and meet up with the Maseno contingent and head to Muhuru Bay. Here is a short summary of what is happening that was provided by Neil in a recent email:

Coker SIFE

We are working with SIFE Maseno from Maseno University in Nairobi. They have 4 students working on the project with us. They have already traveled to Muhuru Bay last week to begin work on transforming the facility. They have also played a crucial role in finalizing many of our in-country details including hotel and transportation. Additionally, our work with them has allowed secure funding transfers and the ability to acquire books and computers for the facility, which we are calling a Learning Resource Center (LRC).

The LRC will be part library and part classroom space to be used for vocational training initiatives. The project started as a desire to construct a facility to be used for these purposes however, upon Dickens's further research, we located a facility that could be purchased and rehabilitated to fit our purposes: a more reliable and accommodating arrangement.

This preexisting facility will be renovated to better fit our intended use. While in-country, SIFE students will work to accomplish the remaining tasks for the building to become functional. Bookshelves will be constructed, the facility cleaned where needed, and other general maintenance issues will be resolved. With any luck, there will be a grand opening of the facility at the end of Coker's trip.

In addition to working on the facility, Coker SIFE plans on meeting with community members to gain a sense of life in Muhuru Bay. They will also spend time working with local teachers and establishing ways to improve educational programming. Perhaps most importantly, Coker SIFE will explore ways in which they can continue to work with Muhuru Bay in the future.

This project is truly a great first step for Coker and Coker SIFE. By partnering with the local SIFE team in Nairobi, we can ensure that the project continues to be sustainable and successful. Our partnership with Dickens ensures this as well, and lends to our credibility with the people of Muhuru Bay. The SIFE network is massive, and though teams compete against one another, our central mission is to benefit communities in the most direct and needed ways. By partnering with other SIFE teams like the one at Maseno University, we have a much higher chance of satisfying our core mission.

UPDATES TO COME
This is a project that will pay dividends in many ways for the student of both colleges, for the people of Muhuru Bay, for Dickens Ochiel and his efforts of building community in Muhuru Bay and for SIFE, which will have a great example of the difference the organization is making.

Coker December Graduation Becomes Tradition

2011-12-17T08:48:00.005-05:00

Graduates getting into line to join the procession into graduation.

Graduates on stage awaiting the start of Winter Commencement 2011

Coker College held its second Winter commencement on December 16 at the college's Watson Theater. Approximately 78 students received their degrees at the ceremony. Dr. Robert Wyatt, president of the college, told those gathered that since this was the second Winter graduation it could now be considered a new Coker tradition.

Charles Sullivan a member of the Coker College Board of Trustees since 2002 was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters as part of this ceremony. He spoke to the graduates about four concepts to take into their post graduate life -- concepts that have been important to his more than 40 years in industry. Tenacity, Personal Integrity,Passion and Vision are concepts that he noted they had exhibited to achieve their degrees. He said they were concepts that would help them achieve even more in their lives.

How do you know? How do you measure?

2011-12-09T08:49:00.002-05:00

People often have to listen to me say that teaching at Coker College is the best job I have had in a career that has been filled with job satisfaction, job challenge and job growth. But, a question I often ask myself is how do you know and how do you measure this amorphous quality of "best."

We are ending final exams for the semester on the Coker campus and that may be one thing giving rise to the questions of 'knowing' and 'measuring.' Another reason the questions are there is a quick text message I received from a colleague.

The colleague is one of my senior colleagues -- a person who has been building community at Coker College over a significant career. As I was grading some "news" stories for the WRITING FOR THE MEDIA class I came across a quote that I thought was especially telling. The 'reporter' had written a personality profile about a person looking forward to graduation and reflecting on her college career. The quote that struck me was something like "He is the hardest professor that I have had at Coker, and he is also the best."

A short time after grading that story I saw that professor and shared the quote with him. He thanked me and a few hours later sent me a text-email thanking me again for sharing the story.

But, that short email did much more. It affirmed again the message we share with our students and with our prospective students and their parents -- that no matter how long we have been on this campus, we measure our worth by our interactions with our students. This is a teaching college and a learning community. A part of his message was "...Confirmation for us is compensation. We know none of us is in it for the money. I'm convinced that we get in return what we expect..."

So, one way I know this is the best job I have had in my career is the way I feel when I get such a genuine response from a veteran colleague who continues to "expect" great things from his students and whose students continue to get great teaching from him - class, after class, after class.

And we will continue to study how we know and how we measure what we know because assessment continues to be a crucial way of telling how we are doing.

It;s READING DAY at Coker College

2011-12-02T08:47:00.012-05:00

Today is the day before exams begin.

For professors it is sort of deep breath type of day as we understand the teaching part of the semester is over and now we get to do what they pay us for - Grade. Back in my other job the company pilots would often comment that they flew the planes for free, they were paid for the waiting. On campus, the teaching and learning is the fun part -- grading is the chore.

My celebration of the end of the semester meant that when 5 a.m. came this morning I rolled over and fought to stay in bed and asleep until 6:15 -- so the morning walk was in the daylight for the first time in months. And, I did not get to work until about 8:10 -- no 8 a.m. speech class this morning.

Coker's reading day has been introduced by a tradition called the Late Night Breakfast. Photos with today's blog show some of the "breakfast" scenes. Faculty and Staff do the cooking and serving and students do the eating and talking. (if it were not for the great ARAMARK staff help we would not be able to do this.) The breakfast feeds a lot of students, who are trying to get their minds around the papers still due the exams that begin Saturday morning and their hundred-other last minute things to do before semester ends and grades are posted. Not sure this is a perfect analogy but from a student perspective it is a lot like the final meters of the 10K -- a lot of energy still to be expended.

Thanksgiving holidays are upon us at Coker

2011-11-22T10:29:00.002-05:00

On Monday I was talking with my Public Relations class about "Marketing YOU -Inc." As part of that discussion I did mention that teaching at Coker College is the best job I have had so far in my life. So -- obviously something for which to be thankful.

In an email message this morning, President Robert Wyatt, shared some of his Thanksgiving thoughts for the Coker College campus. It seems appropriate to share that message as part of the Coker College Experience:

From Dr. Wyatt
Good morning,
As we prepare to gather with friends and family over the holiday break, I am humbled by the blessings that we share as colleagues and by the commitment to excellence you bring to our community.
Indeed, we have much to appreciate. Working together, Coker’s trustees, faculty, staff, alumni and students have developed a strategic plan to guide us through the most ambitious period of growth in Coker’s history. And, owing to your good work, we have made long strides on the path toward becoming the institution of our shared vision. Consider that in the last six months, among other things, we have:
• Welcomed the largest influx of 14 new faculty members in college history, a new provost and numerous staff members;
• Opened Coker’s first downtown loft apartments;
• Established the Joseph L. and Betty C. Wiggins School of Education;
• Created Trans4mations, an innovative four-year academic program to ensure our students are well prepared for the futures they will lead.
• Found ways to expand co-curricular opportunities to challenge and engage students with new programs to begin in 2012 including a competitive debate team, glee club, gospel choir, wind ensemble, and a Coker-Hartsville chorale;
• Added men’s volleyball for 2012;
• Watched our men’s soccer team make history by winning both the regular season and conference tournament championship.
• Received national recognition for academic excellence from organizations including US News & World Report, Washington Monthly, Princeton Review, Colleges of Distinction and, most recently, the National Survey of Student Engagement.
Beyond these myriad accomplishments, I am personally thankful for the friendship and support you have given to Nancy, Lara and me and to each other. It is an exceptional privilege to count you as my family.
May the warmth of this holiday be a special blessing to you.
Thank you, always.
Robert

Coker hosts NCAA Regional Soccer Tourney

2011-11-07T20:32:00.003-05:00

Cobra soccer players along with some supporters gathered to watch the NCAA Division II Tournament seeding announcements on Monday night. Coker was named the region's top seed and also will host the first round of the tourney beginning on Friday in Hartsville.

The following is a news release from Christian Stryker, Coker College Sports Information Director about the upcoming NCAA Division 2 soccer tournament:

November 7, 2011

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Coker College has been selected as the top seed and host for this week's NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Men's Soccer Tournament. One of just 32 teams selected nationwide, the Cobras will host the first and second round of the tournament with matches being played on Friday, Nov. 11 and Sunday, Nov. 13.

Coker, who is ranked No. 5 in the latest National Collegiate Soccer Coaches Association (NSCAA) national poll, will face the winner of the opening round match between the #4 seed Mars Hill College and the #5 seed the University of Montevallo on Friday at 7 p.m.

The other first round match will feature the #2 seed Flagler College against the winner of the #3 seed Anderson University versus the #6 seed Lees-McRae College on Friday at 4:30 p.m.

The winning teams from the first round will advance to play the second round game on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. All first and second round games will be played at the Coker Soccer Field.

The regional winner advances to the quarterfinal round of the tournament to be held on Saturday, Nov. 19 at a to be determined site.

One of the toughest regions in the nation, the Southeast Regional features four teams ranked in Top 25: No. 5 Coker, No. 11 Anderson, No. 19 Flagler and No. 25 Mars Hill.

This is Coker's first trip to the NCAA Tournament and their first time hosting an NCAA Regional in any sport.

The Regular Season and Conference Carolinas Tournament Champions, the Cobras have only played one of the six teams in the regional during the regular season, Lees-McRae. Coker was 1-1 against Lees-McRae during the regular season, including a 1-0 win over the Bobcats on Sunday to capture the conference tournament championship.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 9- Games played at higher seed

#3 Anderson University vs. #6 Lees-McRae College

#4 Mars Hill College vs. #5 University of Montevallo

FRIDAY, NOV. 11

Game #1 4:30 p.m. #2 Flagler College vs. Winner of #3/#6

Game #2 7:00 p.m. #1 Coker College vs. Winner of #4/#5

SUNDAY, NOV. 13

Game #3 1:00 p.m. Winner of Game #1 vs. Winner of Game #2

For more information, scores and highlights from the 2011 NCAA Southeast Regional Tournament visit the Coker Athletics website www.cokercobras.com.

Charlie Brown opens this weekend

2011-11-07T09:37:00.000-05:00

The following notice was sent out this morning by the producer of YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN, which will be on stage this weekend on the Coker College campus. Dr. Wood's cast has been working hard and this will be a fun show with talented performers. Here is the announcement:

This Friday at 7.30pm, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown will open on the Hartsville campus. Based on the Charles Schultz comic strip Peanuts, the musical presents a day in the life of hapless everyman Charlie Brown, his friends, and his faithful dog, Snoopy.

This production features Dustin Moree as Charlie Brown, Jon Moree as Linus, Ashley West as Lucy, Patrick Doughty as Schroeder, Jill Brantley as Sally, and Briana Lotan as Snoopy. Charlie Brown may be one of the few aspects of popular culture still enjoyed across several generations.

There are 3 public performances of the show in Watson Theater of the Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center:

Friday November 11th @ 7.30pm
Saturday November 12th @ 7.30pm
Sunday November 13th @ 2.30pm

Tickets are FREE with your Coker College ID, otherwise $15 for adults, $5 for non-Coker students.

Graham Wood
Associate Professor of Music
Coker College
Hartsville, SC
gwood@coker.edu

Coker College Cobras are Soccer Champs

2011-11-06T16:04:00.009-05:00

Conference Champions -- The Coker College Cobra Men's Soccer Team

Eric, keeping the ball away...

Noah (21) hit the game winning goal!

Dr. Cathy Cuppett sitting behind her roast of the Bobcats as the game began.

Coker was ranked Number One in the Southeast and fifth in the nation in Division 2 and it looks like they should move up to Number One as the NCAA Regionals take shape. Coker knocked off the only conference team to beat them this year with a 1-nil victory over Lees McRae on Sunday afternoon. Noah Lassell put in the game winner from about thirty yards out in an amazing play.

There is no question that an athletic Conference Championship electrifies the campus. Dr. Robert Wyatt, who is at as many games as he can make, was joined this afternoon by every stakeholder group in the Coker Community from Mayor Mel Pennington to alumni soccer players to Coker staff, Coker faculty, Coker retirees and most importantly STUDENTS and more STUDENTS.

Go Cobras -- Now let's win the NCAA Tournament!!

UK women face Coker on Sunday in only exhibition | University of Kentucky Sports News | Lexington Herald-Leader

2011-11-06T08:23:00.002-05:00

UK women face Coker on Sunday in only exhibition | University of Kentucky Sports News | Lexington Herald-Leader

The Cobra women's basketball team is going against some of the best in the nation and as the article above notes, the Cobra coach, Jenny Pfeiffer Finora, was one of the best at the University of Kentucky.

Coker Soccer has Top Coach and Top Player

2011-11-04T11:11:00.001-04:00

This is an announcement that came from the Coker College Sports Information Department. I did not include all the Conference team members.:

November 3, 2011
HIGH POINT, N.C. – Seven members of the nationally ranked No. 5 Coker College men's soccer team have been selected as All-Conference performers by the Conference Carolinas men's soccer coaches.
Leading the way are head coach Paul Leese and junior forward Carlos Recinos (Houston, Texas). Leese and Recinos earned two of the highest conference honors as Leese was named Conference Coach of the Year and Recinos was named Player of the Year.
In just his third year leading the Coker men, Head Coach Paul Leese has turned the Cobras into a national power. Ranked No. 5 nationally, Leese led the Cobras to their first ever Conference Carolinas Regular Season Championship this season.
Recinos has been one of the key components to Coker's successful season. The team leader in goals, assists and points, Recinos has scored 13 goals, including nine game-winners, with nine assists and 35 points this season.
In addition to the Player of the Year honors, Recinos was named First Team All-Conference along with four of his teammates. Junior midfielder Rommel Fondin (Palm Bay, Fla.), freshman defender Fernando Bedoya (Miami, Fla.), sophomore defender Atticus Lum (Advance, N.C.) and junior goalkeeper James Sweeney (Huntingtown, Md.) all received First Team honors.
Sophomore midfielder Stephen Scrivens (Tampa, Fla.) was named Second Team All-Conference as well.
Fondin and Scrivens were the leaders of the midfield for the Cobras. Fondin scored four goals and had five assists, while Scrivens has netted three goals and had two assists so far this season.
Bedoya and Lum anchored the Cobras backline, while providing offensive support along the way. Bedoya has had four assists and Lum has three goals.
Sweeney has been Coker's field general posting a 16-2 record in the net for the Cobras. Along with the help of his defense he has earned nine shutouts this season, while allowing just 10 goals and making 51 saves.
Conference Carolinas announces the All-Conference teams during this week's Conference Carolinas Men's & Women's Soccer Championship Tournament. Awards include All-Conference First, Second, & Third teams, Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and Divisional Regular Season Champions. Head coaches from conference member institutions nominate and then vote on the award winners who represent the best of the best for the league. This year's award winners are as follows:
Men's Soccer Player of the Year
Carlos Recinos, Coker
Men's Soccer Freshman of the Year
Jorge Mackenna, Limestone
Men's Soccer Coach of the Year
Paul Leese, Coker

Seth Godin talks about getting jobs

2011-10-31T20:34:00.008-04:00

Students who have been in my Marketing Communication class recognize the name Seth Godin. People who follow marketing and leadership in today's world recognize the Seth Godin brand. His current blog is about "how to get a job with a company." This column struck me today because we are getting close to a section of the Principles of Public Relations class that I call 'Marketing You - Incorporated.' I teach this class section in several of my "professional" classes because I am not sure we can talk enough to students about the need for a thought process that focuses on what you will do after the college years have ended.

Godin takes a little different tack in this post because he talks about the power of personal approaches to finding a job. He talks about the power of personally offering to show what you can do before the person who owns or run the company even has a thought of paying you for what you might do. His ideas are sound though I wish he had backed them up with a couple of case-in-point specifics that people might relate to. But, I am pretty sure this is a blog post I am going to ask students to consider when we start looking at Marketing-You tactics.

Coker College to add Men's Volleyball

2011-10-31T18:59:00.001-04:00

Christian Stryker, Coker College Sports Information Director (SID) just sent out an announcement of a new Men's Volleyball team and, a year later, a new women's lacrosse team. Here is the news release:

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Coker College will add men's volleyball as an intercollegiate sport for the 2012-13 academic year and women's lacrosse in the following year. The additions represent Coker's 15th and 16th NCAA Division II programs.

"As an emerging sport in Conference Carolinas and across the country, men's volleyball is an excellent fit for Coker," said Coker College President Robert Wyatt, "and judging from the enthusiastic reception that lacrosse is enjoying on campus this fall, we are confident that the women will relish the opportunity to compete in 'America's first sport.'"

"Beyond expanding our athletic program, these additions directly support our strategic growth priorities, which call for elevating institutional visibility and enriching the student experience at Coker," Wyatt added.

As part of the college announcement today, Director of Athletics Lynn Griffin said that Todd Caughlin, Coker's head women's volleyball coach, has been selected to coach the new volleyball team.

"Todd's experience in both coaching and playing men's volleyball makes him well suited to lead our program," Griffin said. Caughlin will continue to serve as the head women's volleyball coach.

As the eighth member of Conference Carolinas with a men's volleyball program – the only men's volleyball conference composed entirely of Division II members – Coker joins Barton College, Erskine College, King College, Lees-McRae College, Limestone College, Mount Olive College and Pfeiffer University.

Currently, all NCAA men's volleyball teams, regardless of division, compete for a single national tournament title.

"Beginning in 2014 Conference Carolinas will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, which means that Coker will have the possibility of competing against perennial national powers such as UCLA, Penn State and Southern California in the NCAA men's volleyball tournament," added Griffin.

Caughlin has served as head coach of the Coker women's team since 2010. A native of Alberta, Canada, Caughlin came to Coker after spending the last nine years at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas. While at St. Mary's, he served as the head women's volleyball coach, leading the Rattlers to a record of 170-168 while also earning a Top 10 Southwest Regional Ranking for four straight years. To go along with his on-the-court leadership, Caughlin led his team to five straight American Vollyball Coaches Association National Team Academic Awards. In addition to being the head volleyball coach, Caughlin served as the assistant athletic director for NCAA Compliance for seven of those nine years.

"I am honored for the opportunity to coach the first men's volleyball team in Coker history," said Caughlin. "I am especially eager to get out on the recruiting trail and start building a competitive program both on the court and in the classroom."

Caughlin envisions a team made up of players from across the country, but will likely draw, in particular, from men's volleyball hotbeds like Pennsylvania, Nevada, Texas and Canada. As a former men's coach and player, he said the addition of a men's program at Coker will not only bring a new and exciting sport to the College, but it will also augment efforts to strengthen the competitiveness of Coker's women's volleyball program.

Caughlin will begin recruiting members of the newest Cobra team immediately in order to begin competition in January 2013.

Coker will become the ninth member of Conference Carolinas to have women's lacrosse. The others are Belmont Abbey College, Converse College, Erskine College, Lees-McRae College, Limestone College, Mount Olive College, Pfeiffer University and Queens University of Charlotte.

Coker will begin the search for a women's lacrosse coach in the fall of 2012.

Coker Soccer wins first conference title

2011-10-30T19:56:00.005-04:00

The Coker College Men's soccer team will begin play in the Carolinas Conference Tournament on the Coker campus at 7 p.m. Tuesday night. For the first time ever, Coker is going into the Championship series as the Conference Champions as they topped St. Andrews 3-0 on Saturday evening. The team enjoyed celebrating following that victory as the video on this page shows. Coach Paul Leese has been aiming for this goal since taking over the reins of the Coker men's team three years ago. His wife and baby were on hand to watch this first conference championship.(photo)

Saturday afternoon on the Coker campus

2011-10-29T14:59:00.008-04:00

And there is a body out in the middle of the road leading to Davidson Hall with crowd gathered and someone waving an oar like a scythe. It must be Halloween weekend and a group of students must be creating their own Halloween Horror video -- you have to enjoy working on a college campus.(turns out this scene is an assignment for Stage Movement class and the "director" has recruited some younger people who thought it would be really interesting to be playing Zombies on the Coker campus.)

As I open the doors to the building housing my office there are orchestral sounds wafting through the halls as the musicians playing for the next Coker production -- Charlie Brown -- are getting familiar with the score.

Another group of students were loudly cheering on the Coker College volleyball team as they get close to the end of their regular season and as I put up a little weight I was joined by a couple of baseball players in the weight room. And, as we lifted Ty called out to one of the girls passing through, "good luck in the game." She is a soccer player heading to the training room to get taped.
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And as this day progresses the Halloween fun will get more diverse and more intense as there are trick or treat parties and a costume party in the den, costume competition at the soccer games. And, the soccer game this evening will determine if the Coker Cobras take first place in their division of Conference Carolinas -- the Coker men have had a superior season but every match is competitive and St. Andrews would like nothing more to upset the Coker bandwagon.

A college campus is just an interesting place to be -- about every day!

RSA Animate - Changing Education Paradigms - An Idea Igniter

2011-10-29T08:58:00.004-04:00

Jean Grosser, chair of the Coker College Art Department, shared the above video with faculty in an email. This video is a thought starter on the entire concept of education and I hope some of us use it as a thought starter to the way we might even redefine classroom learning. There will be nothing easy about it.

I am finding a real convergence of ideas in having this video cross my communication environment this morning. First, I am in the middle of the new biography of Steve Jobs by Walter Issacson and Jobs is a concrete example of a person who took control of his own education. Was Jobs really that much more "special" than a lot of other children in our world? Next, I was reading a statement of teaching philosophy from my daughter, Dr. Eve Puffer and a couple of her comments are directly related to some of the ideas spawned by the above video. Third, I am thinking of days students in my classes become particularly engaged and days when nearly all seem to be somewhere else. What can I do differently to make the first days far more common in their lives?

One of the great things about being in a campus atmosphere is the opportunity for thinking about thinking and thinking about how we think and how we learn and how we can become better at both thinking and learning.

Softball Players earn academic honors

2011-10-24T07:23:00.002-04:00

Darlington and Hartsville Natives Named NFCA Academic All-American

Several Coker College Cobra players have earned fast-pitch academic All American honors and that information is included in the linked news release. Athletes getting academic honors is is a norm not an anomaly at Coker. Congratulations to these recently announced winners.

Here is the news release from S.C. Now:

HARTSVILLE -- Coker College Softball Coach, David Hanna, announced today that five student-athletes have been selected as Academic All-Americans by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) for the 2010-11 academic year.

In order to qualify for the academic honor each student-athlete must have acquired a 3.5 GPA or greater for the year.

The following Cobras received this prestigious honor: junior Jaclin Poole (Clover), sophomores Louise Benton (Kingstree), Stacy Burr (Darlington), Katie McElveen (Hartsville) and former Cobra Sydney Greenwalt (Edwardsville, Ill.). This is the fourth time that Greenwalt has received the Academic All-American honor.

Dr. Steve Terry Receives Student Affairs Award

2011-10-21T18:31:00.005-04:00

This is a news release from Coker College. Steve Terry, vice president Student Affairs at Coker has been innovating at the college since 1975, when he first served as coach of the men's basketball team. He continues to lead innovation as Coker moves forward on an aggressive growth path.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Coker Vice President Steve Terry Receives Statewide Student Affairs Leadership Award

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Oct. 21, 2011 – Coker College Vice President for Student Enrollment Services Steve Terry was honored with the Joseph O. Nixon Award for chief student affairs officers by the South Carolina College Personnel Association at the organization’s fall conference Oct. 21.

“Dr. Terry is an outstanding administrator who has the students’ best interest at heart and always speaks up on their behalf, subtle and firm in his belief that our students come first,” said Coker College President Robert Wyatt. “From serving students at our late-night breakfast event before final exams begin, to attending as many athletic events as I do, to ‘cutting up’ with students all across campus, Dr. Terry personifies Coker College.

“I can think of no other person more deserving of this award,” Wyatt added.

The statewide award, which is not limited to SCCPA members, recognizes excellence in the areas of leadership, commitment to students and efforts to recruit higher education professionals to the field of student affairs.

Terry’s recognition represents the first time the award has been given to an individual from Coker College. Past recipients have come from Furman, Presbyterian College, Converse and the University of South Carolina.

Terry, who joined Coker in 1975, received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from East Carolina University and his doctorate from the University of South Carolina.

Established in 1970, SCCPA’s mission is to support professionals who serve students in South Carolina higher education institutions. In turn, SCCPA derives from its members a shared commitment to help colleges and universities provide a campus environment that promotes academic achievement and personal growth and development for all college students.

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Coker College readies undergraduates for personal and professional success through a distinctive four-year program that emphasizes a practical application of the liberal arts as well as hands-on and discussion-based learning within and beyond the classroom. Coker is ranked among the “Best Colleges” in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review. Located in Hartsville, S.C., Coker is

Coker 101 with David Dorfman Dance Company

2011-10-20T14:03:00.002-04:00

The David Dorfman Dance Company has been on the Coker College campus for the past couple of days. What an amazing opportunity this has been for the dancers and for many others in the Coker community who have been involved in classes with this company.

About an hour ago one of the dancers stopped by to say hello as she was leaving one of the classes. Earlier I happened to see a Facebook status where she was talking about how much working with these dancers means to her. As we talked I said, 'so, you have enjoyed David Dorfman.' Talk about and immediate and from the heart response - "I have so loved being with him and his dancers," she said with a bit of a lump in her throat.

This evening the David Dorfman Dance Company is putting on a concert called the Prophets of Funk. This concert is one of the major arts events for Hartsville and there is no question it is bring an idea of modern dance movement that will be leaving an impact on the audience. Angela Gallo and Erin Leigh, who teach the dance program at Coker, have both known David Dorfman for some time and have been very enthused about this visit to the campus and the community. The group even plans a quick question and answer get together at the Midnight Rooster of Hartsville on Friday morning.

In the Writing for the Media class this morning we were discussing potential story ideas for the "Coker Beat." One of the ideas offered was the dance company's involvement on campus. I happened to mention to three of the golfers who were sitting near each other that for the dancers having a professional company of this caliber on campus was much like having one of the top touring pros on campus. Perhaps the major difference is these dancers are involved directly in teaching and working with students -- majors and non majors. They are conveying their craft through actual movement; not just making an appearance. It is events and experiences like this one that are often tough to assess but are the activities that provide life-long memories for those who become involved. I am certainly not a person who knows dance or who has much luck with "movement" but I am one who is moved by the difference this kind of experience provides for Coker students and for members of the community who take advantage of Hartsville being a college town.

Just because I think it makes sense, I do want to mention that the David Dorfman Company visit to Coker and Hartsville is being partially underwritten with grants from the South ARTS Dance Touring Initiative in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, ARTWORKS and the Hartsville-Coker Concert Association.

Coker CollegeSoccer Nationally Ranked

2011-10-18T15:53:00.006-04:00

A couple of days ago I mentioned to one of the Coker College soccer players they were making me sort of not like soccer bechttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifause their games always go down to the final play with a one goal difference usually the winning edge. They have done a great deal of winning this year and are 12-1 with 11 wins in a row to their credit. They are working hard, playing with talent and showing a great deal of resolve as they move forward in the conference competition, Here is a report on the most recent ranking that was shared by the Coker Sports Information Department:

Coker Athletics
October 18, 2011

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker College men’s soccer team has received a No. 7 national ranking according to this week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll. This is the highest national ranking of any men’s soccer team in Coker’s history.

In addition to the No. 7 national ranking the Cobras are ranked No. 1 in the Southeast region, another program first. Other Conference Carolinas schools that are ranked in the Southeast Region include Lees-McRae at No. 6, Barton College at No. 8 and Limestone College at No. 10.

The Cobras will be back in action on Wednesday when they travel to Wilson, N.C. to face the Barton Bulldogs in a Conference Carolinas match at 7p.m.

NCAA Rankings National Men
Division II 7th Poll - October 18, 2011

Rank School

Prev.
W-L-T

1 Simon Fraser (B.C.)

2 Franklin Pierce (N.H.)

3 Fort Lewis (Colo.)

4 Incarnate Word (Texas)

5 C.W. Post (N.Y.)

6 Northern Kentucky

7 Coker (S.C.)

8 Rollins (Fla.)

9 California (Pa.)

10 Anderson (S.C.)

11 Barry (Fla.)

12

9 - 1 - 3

12

Rockhurst (Mo.)

10

10 - 2 - 1

13

Midwestern State (Texas)

22

9 - 3 - 0

14

Southern New Hampshire

16

11 - 2 - 0

15

Mercyhurst (Pa.)

13

10 - 4 - 0

16

Cal State Dominguez Hills

NR

10 - 3 - 1

17

Flagler (Fla.)

RV

10 - 3 - 1

18

Texas A&M International

13

7 - 2 - 2

19

Metro State (Colo.)

18

9 - 5 - 1

20

Seattle Pacific (Wash.)

17

9 - 2 - 2

21

Christian Brothers (Tenn.)

RV

11 - 3 - 0

22

Saginaw Valley State (Mich.)

NR

7 - 2 - 2

23

Colorado Mines

23

9 - 4 - 1

23

Davis & Elkins (W. Va.)

NR

8 - 4 - 1

25

West Florida

20

8 - 3 - 2

Also receiving votes: Grand Canyon (Ariz.), St. Thomas Aquinas (N.Y.), Mars Hill (N.C.), Fort Hays State (Kan.), Lynn (Fla.), Regis (Colo.)

Lacrosse team looks good in collegiate scrimmages

2011-10-09T10:49:00.010-04:00

The Coker College lacrosse team reached another milestone on Saturday, October 8, 2011 as they played their first intercollegiate lacrosse in a series of scrimmages at the Greensboro Fall lacrosse tournament. Coker played Guilford, Ferrum and UNC-Greensboro in three forty-minute games.

How do they do? They did not win. They did however play some excellent lacrosse with two of the games decided by one goal and the other by two, despite the fact that Coker had a midfielder in goal as both goalies were not able to play in the scrimmage. The team, which just came onto campus this fall, looked like a team. The guys worked well together and executed well. Defense was especially good as each of the three scrimmages wee low scoring, in a sport that can often have scores in double figures, Saturday's games were in the 4-3,5-4,6-4 type of scores. One other exciting aspect of this three-game scrimmage was the following the lacrosse team had. There were parents and relatives from Florida, Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina and probably a couple of other states cheering on the Cobras. In the small-world category, one of the mothers is a graduate of Rome Catholic High School of Rome, NY -- the same school from which I graduated.

This year I have the opportunity of being what Lynn Griffin, Coker Athletic Director, is calling a faculty mentor for the team and it is fun getting to know these guys in their lacrosse environment. Driving the bus to Greensboro is not really in the faculty mentor job description but it was a way to connect with the team and reconnect with some long-ago memories of my own very inadequate lacrosse playing days. The game was intense back then. Heck, lacrosse was a way the Indians used to settle serious disputes instead of going to war so it has always been intense. But, the talent, the speech, the athleticism of today's players is amazing to watch. It is a very different game from the days of wooden sticks.

Yesterday ended the Fall Season and now, except for study halls, the lacrosse team is anxiously awaiting the coming of second semester when they start their official lacrosse schedule, opening with Shorter College of Georgia.

Facets in Time = Fall Dance Concert

2011-10-07T07:21:00.004-04:00

caption for photo: Following the dance concert Angela Gallo, associate professor of dance, had the choreographers answer questions about their pieces from interested members of the audience.

The Fall 2011 Student Choreography Showcase opened in the Watson Theater on the Coker College campus on Thursday evening. It will continue at 7:30 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday nights, October 7 and 8.

The dancers go by my office door all day, all week, including weekends. This close proximity to the Coker College Dance program has helped me become a dance fan. This year's Fall Choreography Concert is another event that makes me glad I am a fan. I hear people say that modern dance is not for everyone. That may be but performances I watch by the Coker dancers make me wonder why. Modern (heck, dance in general) is a complete performance with exquisite movement, intrepid imagination, powerful images and intriguing story lines. And, much of the interpretation is generally left up to the viewer -- providing frameworks for us to build our own stories. The student choreography is an example of that thesis and it was enjoyable watching it performed in the Fall Concert.

Males have long been a part of the dance program at Coker but to have four guys on stage at the same time almost made it feel like we had a visiting company. "Mental Enslavement" was the title of the piece choreographed by Italy Welton and performed by Dache Green, Ty Rogers, Daniel Stevenson and Keon Wilson.

"Break Out" was a duo of Kelsey Grimm and Kaycee Weaver and they were the choreographers for the piece. Watching the performances on Thursday evening it struck me how the pedagogy of project-based learning plays out in this student choreography. Two of the pieces had multiple choreographers and the collaboration involved in the creative process has to be a great learning opportunity.

"Bitter Words and Forgiving Hearts" was the other multi-choregraphed piece as the three dancers - Megan Stone, Devin Jennings and Alicia Nelson were also the choreographers. That piece closes the show.

Other pieces selected for this Fall performance included: "Dying to Live", choregraphed by Akhira Ansari and performed by Akhira Ansari, Devin Jennings, Chekera Lucas, Andria McFadden, Sarah McNamee, Alicia Nelson and Cheyenne Wiseman; "Visceral Instinct" was choregraphed by Devin Jennings and performed by Devin and my one-word response as she finished was "Wow." Ty Rogers choregraphed "Time for Today" and the dancers for that piece included Akhira Ansari, Ashley Lesage, Chekera Lucas, Ty Rogers and Kirsten Sanders. Cheyenne Wiseman choreographed and performed "Dover."

The next major dance event on the Coker Campus and in Hartsville will be the October 20th performance by the David Dorfman Dance company in a show titled "Profits of Funk."

Student journalist posts story from Kuaula Lampur

2011-10-06T14:56:00.007-04:00

Writing for the Media is one of the classes I have the opportunity to teach at Coker College this semester. As luck has it, one of the students in the class is traveling on a Students in Free Enterprise project. This gave me the opportunity to ask Tyler Senegal to become a foreign correspondent for his week in Malaysia. What follows is the first story that he wrote about the trip.

This week we are working on the concept of writing for Online Media and we will probably use this story to see about how we might include links to build an even richer experience for the reader. In fact, if you notice some links in this story I will have inserted to show the students what I was thinking about.

Two Coker Students Travel to Malaysia

Kuala,Lumpur October 2, 2011- On Saturday October 1, 2011 two students from departed from Hartsville on a 9,800 mile journey to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tyler Senecal and Noah Lascell were the two students selected by Coker SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise) to make the trip. The purpose of the trip is for the students to witness the SIFE World Cup Competition and use the knowledge and experience gained in order to improve Coker’s SIFE team. The two were selected because of their leadership positions as members of the SIFE executive council.
SIFE is an international organization founded in 1975 in the United States. According to their website, SIFE is “a non-profit organization that works with leaders in business and higher education to mobilize university students to make a difference in their communities while developing the skills to become socially responsible business leaders.” As of August 2010, had 48,000 students from 40 different countries participating in their program.
Last year, as a first-year team, Coker SIFE finished first in its regional competition, and top 60 in the nation out of around 600 teams.
The students will be returning to Hartsville on Sunday October 9, 2011 after 3 flights and more than 24 hours of travel time. The trip can be followed at http://cokertrans4mations.blogspot.com/.

Coker Alpha Students understand a challenge

2011-09-29T11:32:00.007-04:00

Charles Bethea, a Coker College student at the Marion/Mullins campus. was getting students at the campus to sign a card for one of their own who had recently been diagnosed in breast cancer. He had garnered a lot of signatures from his fellow students.

One thing that becomes quickly apparent when teaching in the evening program at Coker College is that all the students seem to have a story. Some will tell the story and others just continue building their story but you will find people balancing a lot of things in their quest for their college degree.

Lapoleon "Charles" Bethea has one of those stories. At 55, he is one of the older but not the oldest of the students at the Marion/Mullins campus. He graduated from Dillon High School in 1974 and went straight into the work force - not even considering the possibility of college. But now, on disability because of a stroke, a heart problem and twice broken neck, he has focused on a dream and a challenge of getting a degree in psychology that will allow him to take many of his volunteer activities to the next level.

At the Monday night Homecoming gathering, held between the early and late classes, Charles shared a little of his story with his fellow Coker students. He told them about fighting his way back from a 2008 stroke and deciding in the recovery that "I had not lost the will to keep going." During that recovery friends would stop by to check on him and talk about things. A few of those friends were pursuing their college degrees and the spark caught and Charles had a new dream. "I worried that I might not be smart enough or that I might not remember all that I needed to remember but they did it and I thought I could too." So, in 2009 he began his Coker career.

Charles notes, with more than a little surprise, "it was not as difficult as I might have thought. There is always someone a fellow student, a faculty member or a Coker staff member who is interested in helping." Charles, who had loved reading for most of his life, finds that nowadays he is reading psychology texts, or philosophy articles more than his favorite western author, Louis L'Amour, but he his enjoying it at least as much. He describes how his psychology instructor, Dr. Brown brings experience to the classes and how she imparts "so much insight." He notes the challenge of being forced from his normal thinking by a Dr. Isley-taught philosophy class. "He forced you to think out of the box."

Charles is walking with some crutches and a boot on his leg from a recent fracture but he is at class each night. With all of his medical troubles, and they are frequent, he says he has only missed about three class nights over these past three years.

A native and resident of Dillon, he got to live a lot of places as a construction worker during the 1970s and '80s retuning to Dillon in 1990 to recover from a heart attack. Despite health issues, he has been Chairman of the Dillon County First Steps, he is a Guardian Ad Litem and works with a variety of activities and groups in Dillon to build his community. He is certain that the quality education he is getting through the Coker ALPHA program will allow him to build on his volunteerism and find new, more effective, ways to continue helping people.

Charles Bethea is one of the many stories of adults who are back in college working toward a dream deferred and as they tell their stories, it is easy to feel the impact the Coker College ALPHA program is making within the Pee Dee community.

Totally 80s Homecoming Theme

2011-09-27T07:07:00.007-04:00

Zumba photos by Sarah Folsom

Homecoming Events for the 2011 Fall Semester at Coker College are in full swing. Glow-in-the-dark Zumba kicked off Homecoming on Sunday night and on Monday Coker women competed in Powder Puff football.

And, at the Marion campus, Jamie Thomas, who is coordinator of the Marion/Mullins Coker campus, scheduled a Homecoming event for the adult students at that location that featured a current student and two former students discussing the difference the Coker College ALPHA (adult learner) program has made in their lives. One graduate told of being in graduate school and having the instructor discuss the research component of the class. She told the group how prepared she felt and that she was because of the faculty at the Marion/Mullins site. Thomas told the students, who gathered between their first and second session classes, that he wanted some Homecoming events at Marion so they could see and feel what it means to be part of Coker College. Barbara Jackowski, coordinator of the Coker Alpha program, also spoke, telling the audience that seeing them move their Coker years is a dream of hers as an adult-learning educator.

Lecture Series --
Tuesday evening the college is featuring the annual Lois Coker Walters lecture with Harvard Professor Dr. D. N. Rodowick speaking on the The (Fading)/(Future) Memory of Film.

The Homecoming events for current students and alumni continue throughout the week.

Televison Stations Showcases College

2011-09-15T20:25:00.002-04:00

Using this post to establish a link to a web story by WMBF and their coverage of Coker College. Interesting to see another perspective.

2011-09-12T15:41:00.003-04:00

Bob Sloan, editor of The Hartsville Messenger joined the “Writing for Media” class at Coker College to tell the students about the life of a community journalist. “Visiting professionals give the students a new perspective about the class work and this is especially important in the field of journalism,” said R. A. Puffer, associate professor – communication.

The students wrote inverted pyramid stories on the visit, taking the perspective of reporters for this exercise. I hope some of the students will post their stories as comments to the Blog so they can see what they look like when printed in a public forum.

Many in the class commented that they found the visit productive and that they enjoyed hearing about the multiple jobs that are involved in being a community journalist. The Hartsville Messenger is part of the Media General media corporation.

September 11, 2001 Commermoration at Coker College

2011-09-08T09:42:00.012-04:00

Photos contributed by Caleb Dunlop

The bell tolled and the emotions swelled. It was a Darlington County Firefighter pulling the chord and then an Air Force veteran, now a Coker student. As the bell tolled the emotions swelled. TAPS played by a Coker student, and veteran of the United States Navy, capped the morning's commemoration but the feelings of sadness and loss continue flowing like waves on a beach. Those of us alive still and alive that day will always remember.

The Coker College community joins together on most Thursdays for a Coffee in the Courtyard to recognize events and achievements of students, staff or faculty. This morning, September 8, 2011 the Community gathered to remember those lost on 9-11.

It was a moving event. Jason Umfress, Dean of Students, noted that the idea came because of the importance of remembering as a community. He also stressed the importance of passing on the memory to the next generation, those students who were in the third, fourth or fifth grades when the United States of American was attacked by terrorists.

In addition to the Coker Community representatives of the local law enforcement, fire departments and emergency services were on hand to be recognized for their daily commitments to creating a safer community. Coker is also sponsoring another event to commemorate the events of ten years ago. This commemoration will be a gathering of the arts at the Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Auditorium on the Coker Campus at 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, September 11, 2011.

2011-09-01T13:58:00.005-04:00

The Coker College Women's Soccer team opens play for the 2011 season on September 1 at 7 p.m. The following story was put on the college's sports web site this morning.

Coker Women Ready to Get the Season Started
by Caleb Dunlop, Coker Sports Information Intern
9/1/2011
Read this article on the web at http://cokercobras.com/article.asp?articleID=2635.
The Coker Cobras women's soccer team will begin play tonight with not only a group of fresh faces on the pitch, but three new faces roaming the sidelines.
Dan Muns will lead the women's soccer team this season after serving as an assistant at Columbus State University (GA) since the program's birth in 2004. Columbus State became a regionally and nationally ranked program during Muns' tenure. Muns will be assisted by Jackie DeNova and Garrett Vaughan.

Muns is very excited to get the season underway. "The ladies have a terrific work ethic and have embraced our focus on competition and accountability," Muns said, "we have been preparing for the regular season one day at a time."

The new Cobra women's team includes eight new players, six of which are freshmen. "With a new coach there are changes in the philosophy," freshmen keeper Lizz Morris said, "a lot of new players have come on board, and we are looking to change the face of this program ."

Junior Sarah Rountree echoed this thought saying, "There is a different type of atmosphere on the field. There is a lot of team chemistry, we work well together."

Overall, the feel on campus is breathing excitement and energy into the program. New players and returners alike look to make an impact on the pitch when their season kicks off against USC Aiken. "We have a whole new attitude towards this season. We are all very excited," said junior Morgan Hartline.

The bar has been raised for the club this year. With a new coaching staff and plenty of new faces, eyes will be upon the team as they begin their season tonight at 7 p.m. against the USC Aiken Pacers.
Fans can follow all the action live online with live video and live stats. Visit the Live Broadcast Page of cokercobras.com.
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Admissions meets with profs

2011-08-28T10:16:00.003-04:00

Last week the Admissions Department had a few hours set aside to talk to professors from various departments around campus to hear stories of students and graduates of Coker College. The Admissions recruiters were looking for stories they could use when trying to interest prospective students and their families in attending Coker. A bit of news from the college this week was that we have our largest student body ever with a first-year class up 25 from the previous high.

Back to stories. While on sabbatical this past semester I was able to read a number of books on public speaking and one common suggestion was 'story telling.' As a race, we humans have learned from stories for thousands of years. In fact, on my door is a quote who origin is said to be an Indian proverb: "Tell me a fact and I'll learn. Tell me a truth and I will believe. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever." That is a quote I happen to share with my public speaking students about every semester in class. In fact, we start the speech making process with something called an Icebreaker, which is stories about things that have altered a student's life. Tomorrow we start those in the day classes and we had the Icebreakers in the night class last Wednesday.

Back to admissions. The recruiters were interested in the stories and spent a lot of time listening as instructors discussed things about their students. I got to overhear Dr. Joe Flaherty of Biology talk about how his recent research grant has allowed him to purchase IPads for his student researchers and how those IPads are making a difference in their research approach. Looking around the room as instructors talked, you could see the faces light up as they told stories of how students have grown through Coker and beyond. It will be fun to hear from the admissions folks if they find the stories making a difference out on the road.

Coker Cross Country Runner Heading to China

2011-08-27T20:30:00.002-04:00

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE IS FROM AN NCAA PUBLICATION

Not a typical freshman, Coker's Bates competes in international triathlon

by Amy Farnum, NCAA.com
8/26/2011

Read this article on the web at http://cokercobras.com/article.asp?articleID=2625.

Like thousands of freshmen student-athletes across the nation this week, Dylan Bates is learning the ropes of college life.

But while Bates is busy finding his classes at Coker College in Hartsville, S.C., and bonding with his new cross country teammates, the native of Scarborough, Ontario, is also dedicated to training for his first international triathlon.

Before Bates runs his first cross country meet for the Cobras, he will travel to Beijing, China, to race in the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series Grand Final on Sept. 11 as a member of Team Canada. Bates will challenge for the title in the U-20 Age Group category.

While Bates turns just 18 years old on Sept. 4, he has been preparing for the opportunity to compete in an international triathlon for most of his life. He raced in his first triathlon at seven, and his passion was ignited for the endurance event that consists of three disciplines -- swimming, cycling and running.

"It was a local one and very short, but I had an absolute blast doing it," Bates said. "I did that one for a few years, until I decided that I wanted to do more than just the one race. I went and did another that was nearby, and that was when I realized I wanted to get more into the sport."

In 2008, Bates qualified to compete in the Ontario Summer Games as a triathlete, and finished 18th overall in the provincial championship event. It was then that Bates decided to commit himself to triathlons and give up his other pursuits like playing hockey and practicing Tae Kwon Do.

"My life basically started to revolve around doing triathlons," Bates said. "I started training harder and harder for them. In 2010, I ended up winning the U-20 Olympic Distance Provincial Championship, which qualified me for this year's World Championships in Beijing."

The Olympic Distance race is made up of three legs -- a 1500 meter swim, 40 kilom eter bike and 10 kilometer run. The event in Beijing will actually take place at the 2008 Olympic course.

"It will be a great experience to compete on the course where Canadian Olympian Simon Whitfield almost got the gold medal," Bates said. "It was definitely a huge reason why I wanted to do it. Of all the people who qualify, only a small percentage of people actually go to compete. Because it is going to be in China, I thought it would be a great experience and the chance to compete there would be amazing."

While the duration of a triathlon would scare off most potential participants, it may be the training that is even more difficult. Bates' cross-training consumes about 20 hours a week, and sometimes up to six hours a day.

Bates credits learning Tae Kwon Do for the dedication and discipline he exhibits today. At 12 years old, he earned his second degree black belt. The training for that challenge also helped him discover his ru nning talents.

"When I was getting my black belt when I was 10, we had to go on long runs every morning," Bates said. "That really started me running. Two years later, I realized I was a decent runner and that got me into the sport. I joined cross country at school."

While running is definitely his strong suit, Bates is continually elevating all three parts of his training.

"My swimming is definitely the most improved as of late," Bates said. "Ever since I joined the high school swim team a couple years ago, I've seen great jumps in my improvement. It's almost to the caliber of my running now.
I've always been a pretty strong cyclist, but running is definitely my strength."

It was not solely running that attracted Coker head coach Kevin Kelley to Bates' profile on a recruiting web site.

"His academics are really strong, too. He was amazingly strong in both, and that's a big reason why I originally talked to hi m," Kelley said. "Everything that he has done, he's always excelled. That's something we really wanted we wanted to have as a part of our team."

Bates had always dreamt of going to school in the United States, and the warmer temperatures of South Carolina were as attractive as the fact he could double major in mathematics and computer science.

"It was a beautiful campus with great weather for running and training because there aren't those cold winters that force you inside," Bates said. "It seemed like a great opportunity to integrate athletics and academics because it had everything I was looking for."

There was just one issue. Bates would have to miss two weeks of school and Coker's first cross country meet in order to travel and compete in Beijing.

"I was concerned how it would affect training, racing and school," Bates said. "Because Coker started so early, I've been able to tell my teachers in advance and it is not going t o be a huge problem catching up."

In addition, Coker does not sponsor an official spring track season, so that frees up Bates' time to train for triathlons.

"I thought it was a great thing because he is still getting the running in and the other two sports also help with running," Kelley said. "His background has got a really solid cardio base."

The extra training will undoubtedly benefit his budding triathlon career. On Aug. 7, Bates won the U-20 Age Group title, and placed ninth overall (2:11:49.7) at the MultiSport Canada Triathlon Series in Bracebridge, Ontario, already qualifying for a spot in the 2012 World Championships to be held in New Zealand. While he is not sure he will be heading to New Zealand because of academic conflicts, Bates is certainly on the road to becoming a force in the sport.

"After college, if I start training more, I could get an Elite card and become a professional triathlete," Bates said. "If there 's money in it, and I can do it enough to sustain myself, then I would absolutely want the opportunity to try becoming an elite triathlete.

"It's not just a sport, it's a lifestyle."

Bates will miss the Cobras' first meet on Sept. 9, but will return from China in time to compete in the Bridgestone Pacer Invitational in Aiken, S.C., on Sept. 17.

Article originally posted on NCAA.com by Amy Farnum, August 26, 2011 http://www.ncaa.com/news/cross-country-men/2011-08-25/coker%E2%80%99s-bates-competes-triathlon

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Lacrosse debuts at Coker College

2011-08-25T20:40:00.008-04:00

Lacrosse, billed as the "fastest sport on two feet" made its debut at Coker College on Thursday, August 25, 2011 as Coach Tony Smith put his new Cobra team through their first workout as a team. It was an exciting day for the players, who smiled through the pouring sweat enjoying the feeling of finally getting onto the field.

The first day of lacrosse even drew Dr. Wyatt, Coker's president and Dr. Parkinson, Coker's new provost. Dr. Parkinson said, "we were told we could get a view of what lacrosse is all about if we came out to practice. All I've seen is the guys running." It has been a long time since I played this game but I had to tell him, running is one thing lacrosse is all about.

There is little doubt that lacrosse at Coker is going to draw some attention this first year. Turns out the guys are going to do a little scrimmaging on Saturday afternoon, so if you want to see a little more than running, Saturday may be the day.

Semester started Monday night

2011-08-16T09:14:00.005-04:00

A round-table configuration so that we can enhance small group discussions.

Students work on their interview skills while developing information for an introductory speech.

The program where I became introduced to real college teaching was Coker's night program and that was back in the late 1980s when I was an adjunct teaching public speaking when the need arose in the evening programs. From the start I have enjoyed being part of what we call the non-traditional degree program.

Nowadays, we call this the Coker ALPHA program and we have sites for non-traditional learners in Marion/Mullins, Lake City and Hartsville. This term I am at the Marion site teaching public speaking and we had some really good opening-class discussions on Monday. There were 13 students in class and I think there will be two to three more who will be joining us at the second class.

ALPHA learning is a challenge because more than 90% and probably close to 100% of the students have jobs and then they attend Coker two nights a week, most of them in two classes. The classes are 5:30 to 8:00 and then 8:05 to 10:30. This makes for a long day but these students are investing their time and money because they know they will find a payoff. And, most of them do comment that they find the payoff almost weekly as they expand their worlds in these college classes.

It is a challenge and it is a great deal of work. For example, I have the same number and same type of assignments for the night classes that I have for the day classes. The night classes do in eight weeks what we take a full semester to do in the day. The difference for the students that instead of five classes they are focusing on two at a time.

A couple of Sunday photos from Coker 8-14

2011-08-14T20:11:00.007-04:00

We got a bright rainbow that was even a double rainbow from some perspectives

Volleyball practice was pretty intense on Sunday afternoon as the Cobras work to lay the foundation for a strong season.

This was a busy day for first-year students as most had academic overviews in the morning and many still had placement tests to take. There was also an ice cream drop in at President Wyatt's home and later in the evening was the candle lighting ceremony of the Commissioner families. The camera was not around enough to get all those events but you can find a lot of really good weekend shots on the Coker web page.

Morning Practice for Women's Soccer

2011-08-12T08:12:00.006-04:00

On my way into work shortly after 7 this morning I noticed some movement around the Coker soccer fields. The first practice for the Cobra Women's Soccer team of 2011 was underway. Coach Dan Muns said he has 16 women making up the team this season. The fall athletes reported back to campus a few days ahead, though NCAA regulations for Division II did not allow practice to begin until Friday. Rumor had it that the cross country team ran a time trial at Midnight to begin what could also be a strong season for the runners.

Women's soccer is on the field twice a day from 7-9 in these early days of practice and are readying for their first scrimmage in Columbus, GA in seven days. The dew was still on the field and despite one of the coolest mornings of the summer, the team all looked as though they had been hard running since they hit the pitch.

Like almost all the other opening week activities, there was an exciting feel to this opening practice. The men's team was starting at 8 a.m.

What makes for good teaching?

2011-08-11T17:07:00.002-04:00

As the faculty week Coker College workshops got underway this year one of the fascinating topics was, "What makes for good teaching?" It turns out that faculty members seldom get many opportunities to discuss this crucial question in their daily activities. The general feedback was that this was a popular topic and lots of people were happy to talk with colleagues about this most crucial question.

From an audience perspective, I am wondering "What do you think makes a college teacher a good teacher? In sort of a shameless ploy to get comments to this blog, I am seeking some response. So, PLEASE join in this conversation:

Ribbon Cut for Coker's downtown student apartments

2011-08-09T10:38:00.009-04:00

Shared values of community are part of the uniting theme between the city of Hartsville, S. C. and Coker College as the two organizations work toward building a strong town/gown relationship. A very tangible example of this effort was unveiled on Tuesday, August 9 as the ribbon was cut on new apartments in downtown that will be home to 20 Coker students in apartment-like residential living. Dr. Robert Wyatt, president of Coker College, told the crowd that he looks forward to the many ways Hartsville and Coker can become an even stronger partnership because he sees the best of community in both the city and the college.

More than 200 people were on hand for what was an exciting event for downtown Hartsville as Lenora Lefew, director of the Hartsville Downtown Development Association told the crowd that if you were taking "Downtown 101" you would quickly find that downtown residential living would be one of the major requirements. She said the community is excited to welcome the students into the Hartsville downtown.

Jason Umfress, Dean of Students, said that as the relationship between Coker College and Hartsville continues to strengthen, his goal would be see Hartsville recognized as one of the nation's top college towns.

Steve Avant, who owns the buildings in which the new apartments have been created, said this present is a sort of visit to the past. Much of the space that is now the Coker apartments was decades ago the Marguerite Hotel, used for business people on trips to markets in Hartsville. There are many stories about how quickly this project became a reality but Steve Avant summed it up by saying "while I have some visions for the growth of downtown I am only able to implement the vision by responding to the dreams and desires of people in the community."

The students who have seen their new living arrangements are even more excited now than when they found they had won the room draw for the new apartments.

As the quick ribbon cutting broke up and the tours began the prevailing buzz from Mayor Mel Pennington and Lenora Lefew and President Wyatt and many community members and students was how can we keep this partnership building and this excitement growing.

Lots of action in the sauna

2011-08-08T14:36:00.003-04:00

that we call Hartsville, South Carolina in August. The Coker College campus is http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifnot quite abuzz but it is close. The Resident Assistants are back on campus getting ready for a record enrollment in the living areas. The Commissioners are back, training for the largest first-year class in a long time. The new faculty, 14 of them, have been involved in learning about Coker and occasionally I have run into a colleague or two arranging their offices. Tonight is the first official event for faculty as we meet to greet at a dinner that will open the 2011/2012 academic year. It is exciting! I don't think we had anything in the corporate world to compare with the start of a new year on the college campus.

The reason for the sauna reference is humidity nearly off the charts with temperatures hovering between 95 and 103, depending on where you might be standing.

Good news in the morning

2011-08-03T08:21:00.003-04:00

Waking up to the computer this morning there was a note in FACEBOOK and a former Coker student is reporting "I got the role." As I checked email there was another short note from a former student, "I got the job, they sent the offer after the luncheon interview." Education is not all about the jobs but they do play a large part in the assessment of effectiveness. Both of these students have been working for awhile and both these pieces of news show them advancing along their career/life paths. Hearing that kind of news is one reason I really enjoy the professor job in this Coker College learning community!

Coker recognized for strong program

2011-08-02T19:01:00.001-04:00

I am including the recent news release that points to the recognition of Coker as a "best' school. This was released by Coker College on August 2.:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Coker College Named a Best in College the Southeast by The Princeton Review

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Aug. 2, 2011 – Coker College is one of the best colleges in the southeast according to the nationally known education services company, The Princeton Review.

Coker is one of 135 institutions The Princeton Review recommends in its “Best in the Southeast” section of its website feature, “2012 Best Colleges: Region by Region,” released this week on PrincetonReview.com.

“We're pleased to recommend Coker College to users of our site as one of the best schools to earn their undergrad degree. We chose it and the other terrific institutions we name as 'regional best' colleges mainly for their excellent academic programs,” said Robert Franek, Princeton Review's senior vice president and publisher.

“While community members on campus and off understand well the traditions and pride that have shaped Coker College, we know too, that national recognition plays an important role in our future,” said Coker College President Robert Wyatt.

“When national editors at Princeton Review, U.S. News & World Report and, earlier this year, at Colleges of Distinction, take note of excellence – in our case, the extraordinary achievements of Coker College’s students, faculty and staff – they lift not only Coker College, but they call much needed attention to the role of education in the nation’s prosperity. I applaud, in particular, Princeton Review’s commitment to speaking to our students, the individuals whom we serve and by whose promise we are driven,” Wyatt said.

Collectively, the 629 colleges named "regional best(s)" constitute about 25 percent of the nation's 2,500 four-year colleges. From several hundred schools in each region, the company winnows its list based on institutional data collected directly from the schools, visits to schools over the years, invited input from college counselors and advisors, and the opinions of Princeton Review’s staff.

In addition, the firm considers and publishes information provided directly from current students via an 80-question student survey. The survey asks students to rate their own schools on several issues—from the accessibility of their professors to quality of the campus food—and answer questions about themselves, their fellow students, and their campus life.

“Only schools that permit us to independently survey their students are eligible to be considered for our regional 'best' lists,’” Franek said.

Representative responses selected from the student survey featured distinctions of Coker’s vibrant student life including the following:

“There are a wide variety of extracurricular activities at Coker College, but the majority of students here are either involved in theater or play a sport. When they aren’t on stage or on the playing field, students may be hanging out at the on-campus coffeehouse or in each other’s dorm rooms, studying, and socializing. During the warmer months, students enjoy taking advantage of Coker’s beautiful campus. The school owns a boathouse at a nearby lake—it’s a nice place to hang out when it’s hot.”

Other Coker students appreciated advantages of attending a residential college that might sometimes go unnoticed:

“‘In the surrounding community of Hartsville, Coker students take advantage of ‘free Fridays that allow us to bowl, skate, and eat for free,’ and many say they like to ‘go to the local coffee shop or catch a movie for $1.50.’”

For more information about Coker’s listing with the Princeton Review, visit www.coker.edu. For information about admission to Coker College, visit http://www.coker.edu/future-students.html.
-------------------------------------------------
Coker College readies undergraduates for personal and professional success through a distinctive four-year program that emphasizes a practical application of the liberal arts as well as hands-on and discussion-based learning within and beyond the classroom. Coker is ranked among the “Best Colleges” in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review. Located in Hartsville, S.C., Coker is within two hours of the cultural, financial and recreational resources of Charlotte, Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach.

www.coker.edu

SUBSCRIBE TO COKER’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL http://www.youtube.com/cokercollege

Good questions from potential new student

2011-08-02T10:39:00.005-04:00

A great thing about our Coker College learning community being situated in the middle of the small cityhthttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giftp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif ohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giff Hartsville, SC are the serendipitous happenings. Coach Muns of the women's soccer team was leaving Bizzels with a potential recruit recently when he stopped to introduce her. She'd had a relatively long drive in that day and they had just finished supper. I was heading to the Midnight Rooster for an iced Americano.

She is interested in marketing and at this time business marketing. So we had a quick talk about Coker academics there in downtown Hartsville. How is the marketing curriculum was one question. Melinda Norris, who teaches a lot of the Business marketing, would, I think have been happy with the answer. And, for some communication department promotion, I also mentioned the way things like Public Relations, Organizational Communication, Public Relations Writing and some of other courses could also supplement what she picked up in the business courses. That led to another question. What about double majoring, can I do that too?

A double major leads to a discussion she will want to have with an advisor at a later time. There is a simple answer. Yes, you can double major and many students do, even athletes. But the question of should a student double major involves lots of other questions and is one of those issues best answered with an advisor who can have access to a bigger picture. Double majors, while a great academic development strategy, can often lead to some frustration as both majors offer "Must have" courses at the same time during a day -- making it hard for students to schedule. These are often bumps that can be smoothed but are among the considerations when looking into that strategy.

Anyway, we got to the easy answers in the serendipitous meeting in the middle of downtown and I think that gave her a sense that when she NEEDS the more complex guidance she could find it at Coker. That was an assurance that Coach had already made and getting it reinforced seemed good for the prospect.

A real interesting part of the Coker College learning community is being able to have these important serendipitous conversations, sometimes right in the middle of downtown Hartsville.

Exciting to meet new colleagues

2011-08-02T09:15:00.002-04:00

And, it is especially exciting to meet new Coker College colleagues when one of them happens to be a former student. Walking into the Student Affairs building on Monday two people were coming down the stairs. "Speaking of the devil" one of them says as I light up with a greeting of my own. Lindsay Crighton, a former Coker student and communication major, was in the building -- her first day on the job as a new grant writer for Coker College. With Lindsay was Katherine (Katie) Dewey, a new athletic fund raiser with Coker. Katie is coming to Coker from Indiana and Lindsay is coming back to Coker from Virginia Tech, where she recently received her Masters in communication. Lindsay was my advisee while she was at Coker and it is really exciting to watch a former student as she embarks on her new career.

These two new colleagues are among a lot of new faces that will be part of the Coker College community as we officially begin the new semester this month. Their enthusiasm and excitement at coming to work in our Development Office portends great things for the ambitious growth plans of the college.

In Two Weeks Coker will have a large first-year class

2011-07-30T09:49:00.006-04:00

Photo captions -- these photos are some of the shots of the 2010 move in to the Coker dorms. Families get a welcome respite from having to carry all of the clothes, computers, refrigerators, ironing boards, televisions, etc. into the dorms. This only happens for first-time students and it is a good bet that when students move out in the Spring or move back as sophomores they wonder where all the help disappeared to.

One of the small traditions that sets Coker College apart is the Commissioner Family. The first-year classes are divided into "families" headed by a sophomore student who is part of this long-standing campus tradition. The family names are traditional and sometimes nonsensical but in the spirit of college. They are also an amazing tool for helping students adapt quickly to the new environment of the college.

This coming year the Commissioners are going to be working with quite likely the largest first-year class ever and 2011/2012 could be the largest student enrollment in recent history. The campus is abuzz with the projected numbers and plans are in place for accommodating a larger than expected residence life component. These greater numbers are a signal that the growth initiatives are working. That is exciting!

The new first-year students are due on Saturday, August 13 and they and their families will be greeted not only by Commissioners but also by a group of "honorary" commissioners who will make quick work of unloading the vehicles that bring all the comforts for the new life. It will be a hot, sweaty, exercise-filled day with some of the "honorary" commissioners (movers) making upwards of a hundred trips up and down stairs. It is a great workout that may rival both P-90X and Insanity.

Looking forward to August 13 and the beginning of the new academic year.

Dean Umfress gets students thinking about Coker

2011-07-21T16:57:00.003-04:00

With nine things they might see. this is a copy of his memo to students:

Dear Coker,

Hello from Hartsville! I hope this message finds you all well and enjoying the last few weeks of summer. While you guys have been on summer vacation, we have been working hard to get things ready for your return in a few weeks. Below is a list of 9 changes you can look forward to when you get back to campus.

1. The DTL is open! – Coker is proud to announce the opening of the Downtown Lofts (DTL) residential facility. 20 lucky students will be the first people to live in the new property, located above the downtown businesses on the corner of 4th & Carolina Ave. The DTL features two bedroom, one bath, full kitchen apartments. This property will, no doubt, be one of the most sought after addresses in town, and we have scored it exclusively for our upper classmen residential students.

2. New faces in the faculty – See a bunch of names of faculty on the class schedule you don’t recognize? There’s a good reason for that. Coker will welcome it’s largest cohort of new faculty members in college history to campus this fall. Fourteen new faces will be sitting at our roundtables of learning come August. They are: Dr. Andrea Cabus (English); Dr. Margaret Godbey (English Education); Dr. Fei Wang (Chinese); Dr. Karen Carpenter (English Language Arts); Dr. Daniel Ciamarra (Science/Math); Dr. James McLaughlin (Physical Education); Dr. Rachel Manspeaker (Mathematics); Dr. Maria Valeria Avanzato (Biology); Dr. Mohamed El-Bermawy (Chemistry); Ms. Kindra Steenerson (Theater); Dr. Serena Hill (Music); Ms. Meghan Myers (Criminology & Sociology); Dr. Jim La Valle (Criminology); Ms. Megan Johnson (Library). We also welcome a new Provost to campus, Dr. Tracy Parkinson. Dr. Parkinson, who took Dr. Lincoln’s place upon her retirement, will lead the faculty this year. When you see these new faces on campus, be sure to say hi and welcome them to our circle of learning.

3. Doing laundry just got easier – You told us how hard it was to find an available washing machine last year, and we listened. In a partnership with our laundry equipment provider, we are excited to launch Laundry View, an on-line program that allows you to monitor the status of washers and dryers in campus laundry rooms. The program will show you, in real time, when machines are being used, how much time is remaining on the cycle, and which ones are out of order. Additionally, you can opt to have the machine e-mail or text you when your laundry is finished. We are still in the process of ironing out the details, but the program is scheduled to be ready for you when you return to campus.

4. Stryker Cinema hosted by Res Life – Another exciting improvement to campus is the addition of Stryker Cinema hosted by Res Life. On campus residents will have access to a cable TV channel where special programming will be broadcast for the campus. The channel will show movies, announcements, Cobra sporting events, and other programming. Stryker Cinema will be hosted and managed by Res Life. We are working with the cable company on some finishing touches, but we are told we will be up and running in August!

5. Cobra’s Welcome Here! Program Launches – Do you know what restaurants in Hartsville give discounts to Coker students? You don’t? Well now you will! Introducing the Cobras Welcome Here! program. Local businesses who offer special discounts to Coker students will be proudly displaying Cobras Welcome Here! logo stickers in their stores. When you see a sticker, be ready to show your validated ID and ask for your discount. This is another way for local businesses to show their appreciation for your patronage. Return the favor by shopping local!

6. New deck & dock at the boathouse – The boathouse is one of the most popular hangouts around, and we are happy to announce two major improvements to the area. If you didn’t get a chance to see if before you left in the spring, we completed a renovation to the deck. The new structure is ADA accessible with a shelter and a sundeck. Additionally, we will begin renovation to the boat dock next week. The plans are to redesign the dock to extend further out into the lake and accommodate more people. There will still be a place to launch the kayaks and canoes, but the main purpose of the dock will be for socializing. The project is being funded by student activity dollars allocated by the SGA.

7. Bookstore – We agree! After the student center renovation was complete, it was silly to continue to make everyone enter the Bookstore from the exterior. So, we got together, made a few adjustments, and *poof* the interior entrance to the Bookstore is usable! Stop by and try it out. While you are there, check out the new Coker Cobra Nike logo apparel. Also, don’t forget to pre-order your books for the fall. Visit http://bookstore.coker.edu/home.aspx for more info.

8. Cobra Café facelift – As part of phase 2 of the Student Center renovation, the Cobra Café has gotten a facelift over the summer. Be expecting a new look for the café, new menu, and more options.

9. CobraFIT Expands – You had to be living under a rock last year to not have known about the CobraFIT program. In an effort to expand the program even more, we have brought Brandon Fain on full-time as the Director of Intramurals & Wellness. Be on the lookout for more opportunities to “GET FIT!” throughout the semester.

This isn’t an exhaustive list by any means, rather a few highlights we in Campus Life thought you would be most excited about. With all these positive improvements to campus life, Coker is building momentum. We have always been a pretty neat place to live, learn, and work. With these changes (and more to come) it will be an even greater privilege to be a member of the Coker community. With this privilege, however, comes responsibility to your community. Continued focus on the Coker College Student Covenant in the fall will remind us that we are to be “active and honorable scholars both inside and outside of the classroom.” Be expecting to find even more ways you can do this through volunteering and community service opportunities.

I hope you are stretching as much as you can out of the last few weeks of summer. Take some time to visit family, touch base with old friends, and get some rest. Be prepared to make fall 2011 the best semester yet!

Come back to us safe in August. See you soon!

Stay Engaged,

Jason

PS – Don’t forget, returning residential student check-in / move-in will be Monday, August 15 from 9-3 in the Library. Returning commuters and residential students who need to meet with an advisor and register for classes may do so on Tuesday, August 16 from 9-4. Classes begin on Wednesday, August 17.

Seussical Junior Actors getting in character(s)

2011-07-20T11:07:00.011-04:00

Here are some photos of actors getting ready for some serious rehearsals of Seussical The Musical that will be staged at Coker on Thursday and Friday evening.

As I sit in my office there is a constant buzz coming from the Performing Arts classroom as the youngsters in the musical camp sing of the songs that are featured in Seussical The Musical, which will be presented at the end of this week as the culmination of the Coker College Theater camp for young students.

Phyllis Fields, who is directing the camp, just came by the office asking if this was not a cute bunch of actors.(there are some photos, so you can judge) The camp employed a number of Coker students and graduates who seemed to enjoy sharing their love of the theater with the youngsters.
First Paragraphs of News Release on this performance
HARTSVILLE, S.C. – July 18, 2011 – Students enrolled in Coker College’s Summer Performing Arts Camp will present “Seussical Jr.” in the Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 21, and Friday, July 22. Tickets are $3.

The day camp, “Singing & Dancing & Acting,” which served 23 area students aged 10-16 and ran from July 11-22, focused on singing, dancing, acting and a bit of technical theater.

I just glimpsed some rehearsal and the kids are not only having fun -- they are good!

Pearl Fryar making headlines in Massachusetts

2011-07-18T08:16:00.003-04:00

Pearl Fryar, a topiary artist, who works with students on the Coker College campus and who also lives nearby in Bishopville, SC, was recently part of a Lift Every Voice festival in Pittsfield, MA. That festival and Mr. Fryar's demonstration of topiary artistry were covered by a reporter for the Berkshire Eagle.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Pearl is great friends with Jean Grosser, chair of the Coker College Art Department, and he has been working with Coker students for several years and his art can be seen on the Coker campus.

What Questions might prospective students have for a professor?

2011-07-14T10:54:00.003-04:00

Students are the lifeblood of an educational community. A more direct meaning to that statement might be, Students are the lifeblood of Coker College. The admissions process is what gets students into Coker and talking with prospective students is interesting and even a bit exciting.

Yesterday, for example, there was a family that made an appointment to stop by Coker on their way back home (to Staten Island, NY) from their Myrtle Beach vacation. One of the girls will be graduating in May and she is looking around at colleges in places she thinks would be fun to live - like South Carolina. The other daughter, will be a junior, and she was unhappily along for the ride.

One of the exciting parts of getting to talk with prospective students is seeing the effect of a campus visit. The daughter who was really anxious to get on the road and head home appeared to be really enjoying seeing the Coker campus as she ended her tour. She had sort of changed her mind about the visit.

Most of the admissions counselors and most of the coaches like to add some type of faculty connection into a visit, in case there are "academic" questions. Truth is that most prospective students, when they are thinking about college, are not thinking classroom -- they are usually focused on dorm room. Parents will often have some questions but, in truth, while they may be paying, they are not the ones who will be on campus.

So, without pressure of a faculty member across the table, what are some of the questions that you might be wanting answers to in the area of academics on a college campus? ________________________________________________________ Would love to see some answers to that question.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

There are couple of areas on which I focus. For Coker, one of the major differences is the relationship that students can develop with faculty just because of the nature of the college. Classes are small. If a student misses a class it is noticed. When a student is particularly brilliant in a class it is remembered! A major part of the "community" of Coker is the ability to build real attachments that will become more important as the years go by. Coach Dave, for example, reminds his seniors that 'someday we are all 27...' A second area on which I focus is personal interest. I remind the student that college is going to be THEIR education and that they should develop the experience by being open to the new possibilities that the privilege of a college education brings to them. The reason for the question at the top of this blog post is that I am looking for information that will help me know this particular audience even better.

Waking up to news about Coker people

2011-07-14T07:40:00.003-04:00

Because of my background in both public relations and news, I like to keep some google alerts to see what it happening on the "news" front with things in which I have an interest. This morning three Coker alums were part of that news aggregation.

Jean Peterson Design welcomes new employeehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Gazette.net Montgomery County Sports
A native of Lugoff, SC, Susie is a graduate of Coker College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in graphic design. Like many of the other staff http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifat JPD, ...

Blue Bell Golfer Heading to PGA Cup
Patch.com
Rather than stay close to home or look for a school with a Division I program, Sheftic headed to Coker College in South Carolina. ...

Veteran players work with kids to improve their basketball skills
NorthJersey.com
Also in attendance was 2007 Cresskill grad Megan Thomas, who starred in soccer and basketball at CHS and played collegiately at Division II Coker College in ...

The email came today,,,,

2011-07-12T20:52:00.002-04:00

The email arrived today. The email. It is the one from the boss -- also called Provost or Dean of the Faculty. The email explains that in not to many wehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifeks it is time to report back to Coker College and be ready for classes.

Mixed feelings about that email. I was fortunate to have been on sabbatical the past semester. It provided time for things that are generally not part of a normal semester. It also provided time out of the classroom. So, the mixed feelings come with a strong desire to be back in the middle of learning while wondering if I will still remember how to lead the class after time away.

"Are you ready to go back?" has been a common question from both friends and colleagues. I think I am READY. I am not sure I am prepared.

Alum becomes new PIO for Hartsville

2011-07-12T05:55:00.006-04:00

Donald Quist, a novelist, journalist, restauranteur and Coker College communication alumn, has recently been hired by the city of Hartsville as the new public information officer.

The role is new for Hartsville and is one that I think will continue to help the city better communicate with community stakeholders. Donnie remained in Hartsville after graduation and became active in the city as he and his wife opened the Bow Thai restaurant in downtown Hartsville. He is also currently pursuing an MFA degree in creative writing.

As mentioned previously in this blog, it is part of the enjoyment of being a college professor to watch student move forward in their professional lives!

Discussion about SIFE program ongoing

2011-07-11T15:03:00.009-04:00

Photo caption -- This was a barazza(sp) or community gathering called by the local government in Muhuru Bay, Kenya to help people being affected by a severe drought in Eastern Africa.

One of the many facets of the Students Involved in Free Enterprise is an international component. Neil Sickendick is the director of Coker's SIFE program and we had a discussion over lunch today about the potential for a SIFE-type program in a place I visited in Kenya during my sabbatical. We had an interesting discussion.

The SIFE students will be the ones implementing a program. The village of Muhuru Bay, Kenya, is a place that could use a variety of programs to help the residents. The question we are discussing is if there is a fit for SIFE into the needs of Muhuru Bay. One of the SIFE members stopped by my office right after I got back from Kenya and initiated the question of a SIFE program in this part of Kenya. He thought there was strong potential interest from SIFE members. Neil, who was very active in SIFE during his undergrad days at Drury University thinks there is a good possibility of interest. So, our next step is to check with some of the contacts I made during the trip to see if there is a way to bring interests together. I hope so because that would be a major benefit resulting from this part of the sabbatical.

Getting an idea of how to help a community that is poor to begin with and suffering from a natural disaster through the lens of the lens of the principles of free enterprise could be a major educational experience. Hope we will be able to find a way to make something work.

Florida paper highlights student's Coker Connection

2011-07-09T10:01:00.005-04:00

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The following is from TC PALM, a local news outlet in Florida and I thought it was sort of cool to read about Coker Connection from another view:

Mazzola attends Coker Connection

Michael Mazzola of Jupiter recently attended Coker Connection, an intense two-day adventure/experiential learning program that provides students the opportunity to connect with fellow freshmen, stay in the residence halls and explore campus before orientation. The program concentrates on goal setting and relationship building in an effort to position students for a successful start to their Coker College career.

Activities included a trip to the U.S. National White Water Center in Charlotte, N.C., where students were challenged mentally and physically to work on team-building and problem-solving skills with classmates.

Coker College still a few openings for this fall's class

2011-07-05T13:42:00.010-04:00

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Earlier today I stopped by the Wiggins House, which is the location of the College Admissions Department, to meet the new Director of Admissions, Adam Connolly. This is his second week on the job. While in Admissions,I found out Coker still has a few openings for this Fall's class. The college is growing and we expanded the proposed size of the first-year class.

Coker does keep its admissions process open until the new school year begins and this has often proved helpful for students who made late decisions to attend college or who changed plans. Other schools do the same thing, so it really is not too late to apply to college. There is still time to apply to Coker but you should move pretty quickly because it does take some time to get all the questions answered. The online application can give prospective students a bit of head-start. Any students or parents who are looking for more information on the late admissions can talk to someone by calling 843-383-8050.

Colleagues make Coker College a great learning community

2011-07-03T18:09:00.005-04:00

This is a holiday weekend around the country but the Hartsville YMCA did stay open for those wanting to work out on a Sunday. As I began lifting I noticed Mal Hyman in another section putting up some weights. It was good to see him back in the Ville. A few minutes later we began to talk -- instead of lift.
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Mal had recently returned from an eight to ten-day trip (if this was a new story I would check those dates) to Mexico as part of the Witness for Peace program. This is a program in which Mal, a sociologist, has had a long-time interest. This summer he went with the group to learn more about the immigration situation and drug war from the Mexican perspective. In between sets he was telling me about the people involved in the trip and some of the presentations and reports they were hearing from the people involved in these issues on a day-to-day basis. Many times I have commented that being part of a college learning community is probably the best job I have had. My colleagues are really smart people who are on a life-long learning quest.

Professor Hyman is a great example of the kind of colleague I mean. He is one of the most active teachers on campus and when he gets just a little time he looks for ways to broaden his knowledge, experience and perspective with direct activity so that when he teaches SOCIAL PROBLEMS the examples he shares with students are from some of the most up-to-date material possible. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

We are going to spend some time in the next week or two at lunch and I am hoping to get some more descriptions of some of the things he learned on this most recent excursion. His major conclusion is that the linkage between what happens within Mexico and what happens in the United States in sometimes disparate areas must not be ignored. But, we interrupted ourselves quite a bit during today's discussion, so details have to come later.

Mal and I talk frequently and he is a good example but what I stress when I get the opportunity to talk with prospective Coker College students is that the effort and intelligence that Mal puts into his teaching and research is replicated over and over by some of the smartest, most caring people I have known and at Coker, they are the people leading the classes day by day.

Advice for Current Students from Graduates

2011-07-03T17:58:00.002-04:00

Last semester I had the opportunity to be on a sabbatical. The sabbatical gave me some time conduct a researhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifch project that we have discussed for a couple of years in the Coker Communication Department -- a survey of our graduates. I was able to survey a large percentage of the Coker grads from 2000-2010 and we have developed some interesting information. I think one of the most useful questions was the last one, asking grads what advice they might give current students. In past blogs I have shared some of these words of experience and will do that occasionally because I think these thoughts are so vital to understanding the Coker experience -- and, often, if listened to, will help some students get even more from this experience.
RAP

THE MOST RECENT COMMENT -- from a student who has a Masters in Public Administration, a new baby and a job that she is finding very rewarding:

Be fiscally responsible, but take advantage of every learning opportunity available to you while working towards your undergraduate education. This includes lunch & learns and networking and attending college campus events. The more you learn and the more contacts you make the easier it will be for you to land a successful job in a challenging job market. Take advantage of study abroad opportunities if it makes financial sense to you because once you enter the real world those opportunities are far from grasping. Also, don't give up on yourself. Searching for a job is HARD WORK!!! Trust in yourself and your abilities and keep a positive outlook.

STUDENT WHO FOUND VALUE IN HARTSVILLE
Never under-value a job opportunity or anyone you meet upon graduation or while studying in college. If you feel strongly about a job or field of interest, keep networking and working towards building a career for yourself. Most importantly, be direct, positive and patient in your career search. (And soak up your time at Coker-- It was one of the best experiences of my life. I met some of the most influencial people in Harstville, South Carolina. I wouldn't change any of it, and I strongly think that I will feel that way my entire life)

On The Media provides resources for teaching the media

2011-06-12T08:15:00.010-04:00

We used to call the course Journalism but because it was a high concentration of writing we changed the name of the class to Writing for the Media. At Coker, I get to teach this course about every year and a half and we probably would like to get it in more often but so far that is the schedule.

The Writing for the Media (journalism) course is coming this Fall and we have a good number of students signed up. I like to teach this course in a computer room so that we can do some actual writing during some of the class periods. In addition, it helps with being able to do see news up close and personal in a fairly real-time situation.

In this age of everyone a journalist one of the major lessons of this semester is that journalism is about reporting and reporting is about verification. That is not an easy lesson in this age of instant global access. "On The Media" is a radio program that takes an in-depth, weekly look at issues in the media. I find it provides a lot of interesting reporting on the media and will often use ideas and reports to illustrate some issues the students should understand better. This morning there was an excellent piece on ">dead bodies that weren't that should provide a vivid example of why we need verification sooner rather than later in news stories. I am planning to use it early in the semester and thought it might be of interest now, because it is timely (one of the elements of news.)

Early taste of college at Coker Connection

2011-06-07T16:53:00.002-04:00

Just happened to stop by Student Affairs this afternoon and Lisa had the Coker Connection as one of her major activities. Coker Connection is a short period in the summer time when new first-year students get a quick preview of the campus and people in their class. As a faculty http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifvolunteer I get to lead a short class where we will be discussing the movie The Social Network. Looking forward to meeting some of the members of the new class.

Coker College SIFE Video Shows Highlights

2011-05-27T13:29:00.008-04:00

One of the newest organizations on the Coker College campus is the Students Involved in Free Enterprise. This is an organization that Dr. Wyatt, Coker's http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifpresidhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifent, was involved with as the chair of the Business Department at Drury University.

This year's SIFE group had some major success and this video gives a quick highlight tour of some of these successes.

I expect this group will continue to do exciting things both on and off the Coker College campus.

Mitch and his falcon in S.C. Living

2011-05-26T15:53:00.007-04:00

The bird man from South Carolina Living on Vimeo.

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Mitch Brantley is part of the Coker College community. If you look around the campus and find yourself commenting on what a beautiful place it is, you will then not have to look too far before finding Mitch and some of his colleagues as they work on the landscaping and other items that make this one of the most beautiful campuses in South Carolina. And, Mitch has some interesting activities that are part of his life away from the campus.

The imbedded video from South Carolina Living gives you a quick idea of his falconry expertise. They make a special note as to how falconry is more a way of life than a hobby. But, that does not mean Mitch does not have some hobbies. As him sometime, How many ringers in a row? He is a very competitive in horseshoe tourneys and you can sometimes watch that expertise at Byerly Park in Hartsville, where there is a modern competition site.

The Coker College campus is full of interesting individuals contributing in so many different ways to one of the most vibrant learning communities you will find.

Summer is job hunting season for Coker College grads

2011-05-24T14:13:00.006-04:00

Coker College had an impressive graduation a couple of Saturday's ago. And, for many Coker College seniors, this was the timhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gife to begin to looking for jobs. I spoke to several who were still hoping they could enjoy their last summer before the "real world' and have a real vacation. It is more than a guess that the reality of having to find a way to put the degree to use in making a living is kicking in.

In my classes and in our one-on-one discussions I will often tell students that I have found finding a job is just about the hardest job I have had. In today's economy, even as it gets better, this still appears to be the case. One of our former Coker students just announced on Facebook that she has just been offered and taken her first job. She has been in graduate school since her graduation. The company that hired Shannon has made a great decision.

And, the other day I had a call from a good friend who has a job opening and a couple of my former students were in the running. He had a short list of about five who were being considered for that opening. It was a list that had been shortened significantly from a large number of applicants. What kept some of the people off the short list?
-- Resumes that exceeded one page
-- Resumes that used long paragraphs of explanations instead of bullet points
-- Resumes that were not complete
-- Resumes that had errors
In several of the classes that I teach that I consider "professional" we include discussion on the job search. We include discussion on the above resume errors but like most of what we learn in life, we have to keep being reminded.

Just today I got one of those sort of junk emails about jobs. It had a major lesson that kept it from being "junk" in my mind. The person writing the email asked an important question. Is the resume for you or is it for the employer? The right answer to that question is a variation of the lesson most of my students repeat in their sleep -- Know Your Audience. The person writing that email was selling resume-writing services for those who were still writing for themselves.

Also today, PR Daily had an email where they asking PR people about what they tell recent grads who are in the job hunt. One of the unusual but totally on-target pieces of advice was "to say hello to people" - lots of people. Most people get jobs through networking and we tell students that is not something they should fight -- they need to learn to network. We talk about networking books. We talk about elevator pitches and when we put job-search plans together, these activities are part of that hard work that goes into the hard jot of finding a job.

As I was writing I received call on my mobile that was a reference check from someone who may be hiring a former student. The competition for this particular job is intense. There were 134 job applicants. The 134 were whittled to 12. I think the hiring person said the 12 were then trimmed to five. There were at least three rounds of face to face interviews. There was a writing test and there are still three strong contenders for the job. I was delighted to recommended my former student. She was a good student who understood the value of hard work. She was a student who took full advantage of the Coker liberal arts education and then went on for her Masters. If they hire her, she will prove herself in the work place. As the person doing the hiring said she told applicants, it is hard for them and it makes her job a bit more difficult because of the supply but it sure does mean she has the ability to choose from a lot of very strong candidates. That is a message the students get when we discuss the job hunt. Times are frequently hard. The economy is frequently out of kilter and you have to equip yourself to be competitive.

This is the job hunting season so keep your ears open. If you know of jobs that are available tell people who may know people in the hunt. If you are hunting make sure people know you are in the hunt.

Graduation today - could it be you?

2011-05-14T08:16:00.002-04:00

There is a strong group of people who in just an hour or two are going to be Coker College graduates. As one of their instructors, I want to again say congratulations.

As I thought about this ceremony, I also thought of a nephew who is just graduating from college this year in Illinois. "It took me longer than most," he wrote on his Facebook page, "But I am doing it." Mark has children, he is not a traditional student but he persisted and got his degree.

I am wondering about those in today's audience at Coker. I will bet there are some moms, dads, husbands and wives of some of these grads who are saying, 'Man, I wish I could get my college degree." At the risk of being a bit crass on this celebratory day, the answer to that wish is YOU CAN. Coker College has an exciting program for students who cannot attend during the day. Many of today's graduates will be happy to tell you how you can realize that dream. And, my bet is they will not mince their words when they tell you it takes work, sacrifice and a bit of bravery. Today, they will also tell you how much it means to accomplish this goal.

Coker Singers on the big Stage

2011-05-03T17:55:00.006-04:00

photo caption -- Coker Singers perform at Kalmia Gardens during Earth Day 2010.

Dr. Will Carswell, director of the Coker Singers and the Coker Chamber Singers announced this afternoon that the Singers will be performing next April with the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra. This ishttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif going to be a tremendous honor for both the Singers and the College.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

This is the announcement that Dr. Carswell shared:

Colleagues,

I wanted to share some exciting news with you. Yesterday the Coker Singers were officially invited to join the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra in a performance of Beethoven's 9th Symphony next season. The April 2012 concert is the season finale for the SC Philharmonic and is sure to be a sell-out. This is a rare opportunity for our students to perform a monumental work in the history of Western classical music. And it's pretty cool for me too since I have never had the chance to prepare this work!

The performance next April will mark the fifth time the Coker Singers have performed with the SC Philharmonic since 2006 and the ONLY college or university choir to have sung with them during that time. Congratulations singers!

Best,
Will Carswell

William Carswell, D.M.A.
Associate Professor of Music
Director of Choral and Vocal Studies

Coker Graduates Give Some Advice to Continuing Students

2011-05-02T11:33:00.004-04:00

caption -- One of the interesting projects of this academic year was some site-specific dance routines that were part of Hanna Beard's honors research project.

"Remember that things take time. Just because you don't get your dream job right after graduation doesn't mean that it won't come. Be patient and have fun figuring things out. A job is a job until the right one comes along."

As students and faculty approach finals this week, I thought it would be a good time to share some of the advice given by Coker College Communication grads who were graciously took part in my sabbatical survey of graduates. Since there were more than 60 responses of 84 possibilities, I will use this space over time to try get most of the advice in. I really do appreciate those grads who shared their ideas, words and time to complete that survey.

"I will complete an MBA in the next two years. In my case, i wanted some real-world experience before completing a masters of MBA. i would recommend to business students to get some real-world experience; the theoretical business you learn from course work."

You can see that the advice coming from graduates covers a variety of ideas. Here's another than when I might say it will mean one thing but coming from a graduate I think it has a much deeper impact:

"Take full advantage of internships- My first boss told me that he was impressed that I actually had experience in my field of study. In today's job market, it's probably even more important. Accept the fact that you have to start at the bottom and do it with a positive attitude- I can't tell you how many times I've witnessed people my age and younger come into the workforce and expect things (raises, job titles, jobs within the company, vacation) to be given to them instead of working for it. Proof your resumes and writing samples. When I was features editor for a newspaper, I was shocked by the terrible resumes and work that people would submit."

With our seniors getting ready to end their four years at Coker, this last piece of advice is probably a good one to end on for this blog:

"Savor your college, because time is fleeting."

Quck overview of Kenya's collision with Modernization and Social Change with Mal Hyman's Coker Class

2011-04-28T12:09:00.008-04:00

(caption -- Thatched roofs and mud walls are common sights in the villages of Kenya while cities look like cities everywhere.)

Mal Hyman is in the waning days of the 2011 Modernization and Social Change class at Coker College. These are key moments in a class and I really appreciated his invitation to do a quick overview of some of the issues of social change that are facing Kenya. The truth is, my 11 days in the country just began to open my eyes to the situation of our modern world and the third world. I think the students also appreciate that fact. I also believe these Coker students will enjoy a bit of discussion about my quick observations frohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifm Kenya and the wealth of opportunities that country presents for added discussion of the social-change topic.

I am working on contrasts for this short discussion -- the capital city of Nairobi with the small, spread-out village of Muhuru Bay. The contrast of the mud hut with the multi-story Nairobi Baptist Church complex and the contrast between the classroom in which we will be working and the classes I talked with while in Kenya. The physical contrast can be stark but the social side is more the same than different -- especially when it comes to hopes, dreams and desires. Our quick class will focus on some images and then issues built arount "T" -- TIME, TECHNOLOGY, TURMOIL AND TRIBALISM.

Academic Performances Showcased

2011-04-21T08:43:00.002-04:00

Wednesday, April 19, was a special day on the Coker College campus.

Wednesday was a showcase of Academic performance in about every venue that can be imagined. This week students, faculty and even a few alums have been showcasing their talents from science research, to communication analysis to stage performance.

The Theater was packed last night for the Performing Arts part of this showcase and that got me to reflecting again about the rich 'life' environment that characterizes this Coker campus and by extension, the Hartsville community. This academic showcase week was a real reminder that Hartsville is a college town!

Coach Hanna closing in on 700 victories

2011-04-11T13:01:00.004-04:00

The following is from Christian Stryker, Coker College Sports Information Director.

Coker's David Hanna Nears Coaching Milestone Milhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifestone
by Christian Stryker, Director of Athletics Media Relations, Coker College
4/11/2011
Read this article on the web at http://cokercobras.com/article.asp?articleID=2524.
HARTSVILLE, S.C. - With just four games remaining in the regular season Chttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifoker's Head Softball Coach David Hanna is just three games away from a record setting milestone. Hanna needs only three more wins to reach 700 career victories, all of which have come at Coker.
Hanna already holds the title for most wins in Coker history at 697 to date, with the next closest coach being current Cobra Baseball Head Coach Dave Schmotzer at 525 wins at Coker.
When Hanna reaches the 700 win mark he will be the third coach at Coker to reach a coaching milestone during the 2010-11 year. The first was Head Men's Basketball Coach Dan Schmotzer who reached 300 wins on Jan. 3 with an 88-73 victory over St. Andrews. The second was when Dave Schmotzer earned his 600th career victory on Feb. 19 with a 3-2 win over Bluefield College.
Be sure to follow the countdown to Coach Hanna's 700th win by visiting www.cokercobras.com.
Visit cokercobras.com for the latest news and info on Cobras Athletics.

Photos are from a Conference Tournament a couple of years ago. Decided on using past photos because of the milestone coming over a number of years. And, Coker will be hosting the Conference Softball Tournament this weekend at the Byerly Park Softball fields in Columbia.

Students are the lifeblood of a college like Coker

2011-04-07T12:54:00.011-04:00

Our first and our ultimate mission at Coker College is to provide a quality education for our students that will prepare them for a lifetime of learning and earning.

As part of the Sabbatical that I have had the privilege of having this shttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifemester, I was able to undertake a research project that has involved trying to determine the impact of the Coker College communication education on the lives of the students who have graduated during the ten years I have been serving on faculty. If I can develop an effective report, our department is hoping to be able to use this research as part of our evaluation or assessment of the effect of our programs. The graduates were gracious with their time. Out of 86 people on the list I think I was able to get the survey to 81 and had 64 individual responses. Of those responses, more than 60% said they would choose communication as their major if they were to redo the college experience. At the same time, nearly 70% of those responding said the field of work they are no in was not what they had thought they would be in while in college.
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That note is a preface to the idea of college admissions, which is the idea that sparked this post. Earlier in the day Dr. Robert Wyatt, Cokers' presidenthttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif, noted a separate blog that was about students not getting into the colleges to which they had applied. Coker was mentioned in that blog as a college that has a rolling admissions policy and one that takes applications into May.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

A bit later in the day I had the good fortune to be introduced to a high school soccer player who has begun to look at college options in the Southeast.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif She was with Coach Dan, our women's soccer coach as he hosted her visit. Coker is pretty much the type of college that if you do visit you will have an excellent idea if this is the fit for your four-year college experience. Our Admissions people and our student ambassadors do a good job of presenting Coker as it is, giving prospective students (and parents) an authentic view of the campus.
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We are a small liberal arts college that puts our students first. All of our classes are taught by faculty members whose primary evaluation is how they do with students in the classrooms, labs, studios and other educational venues. Those faculty who choose Coker and are chosen by Coker have teaching as their first job. That is a major reason I say students are the lifeblood of our Coker Community. While research, writing and other academic pursuits are important, it is the classroom that counts.

There is an ongoing country-wide discussion of the value of a college education, the work ethic of those who provide that education and other issues that ahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifre providing justifications for such ideas as decimating the Pell Grant program, that provides students with a financial need some funding for their college.

We are seeing the demise of the Middle Class in this country and actions like eliminating funds that help middle class students and even lower middle class students attend college is just going to exacerbate the divide between the rich and the rest. Good, solid college educations for students who are not from the rich is what is going to keep this country strong. That is the kind of student who is the lifeblood of Coker and we think that is the kind of student who is the lifeblood our country.

Coker College has new Provost

2011-04-07T11:29:00.006-04:00

There have been a lot of personnel searches going on across the Coker College campus this year and perhaps the most important is that of the new provost or Dean of the Faculty (the boss). Dr. Tracy Parkinson is the new Provost and he is coming to Coker from King College in Bristol, TN. He will begin with the new academic year in July.

Dr. Pat Lincoln, professor of Biology, has been serving for the past few years as the Dean of the Faculty and Provost and she is retiring this year. She has served the Provost role well and has positioned Coker, along with Dr. Wyatt, for dynamic growth in the next few years. She will be talking to the Coker community and others as she presents the final of the Last Lectures in our new Last Lecture Series on Monday night, April 18 at 7:30.

Coker College Prof's Sabbatical Trip - Kenya

2011-04-06T08:48:00.012-04:00

(caption)Cha-Cha is a motor bike driver in Muhuru Bay, Kenya. Motorbikes are the major form of transportation and I am believing that Motorbike drivers are the major source of communication in that area.

"You never know a place until you have been to that place." Now, I know for certain that is true but I am a bit more convinced that when you know a little you discover how little you know. As I continue on my sabbatical journey in this Spring Term of 2011, I am beginning to believe that this idea may end up as the overall thttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifheme. As I have a little bit more time to reflect on things like community thinking and building; classroom teaching and living life in this second half, I am becoming increasingly aware of how much I don't know but would still love to learn.

As I was flying from Charlotte to New York to Amsterdam to Kenya I finished listening to the new book by David Brooks, THE SOCIAL ANIMAL: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character and Achievement. (It is a solid read but not really the subject of this post.) David Brooks used the line in the book that was something like, "You can never know a place until you have been to that place." As I landed in Nairobi, Kenya and then headed out to Muhuru Bay, Kenya that short passage began to take on real meaning. And, as I rode the motorbike from the WISER compound to the center of Muhuru Bay that they call Customs or took the turn to the church in sight of the Tanzania/Kenya border or went in the other direction toward the Winjo area of Muhuru Bay it became apparent that there was so much to learn.

In future posts, I hope to expand on this idea. It is becoming apparent to me in this time of research and reflection that such different events as teaching Inga's middle school students about speech introductions and watching Eve's enumerators interview under trees in Kenya, and participating in public affairs training with the Red Cross, and working on community innovation in Hartsville all begin to demonstrate for me that the more you begin to know, the more you really need to learn.

"Old Man, my father" other endearments from the market

2011-04-03T02:14:00.003-04:00

One thing that cannot be escaped on this sabbatical trip is age. In almost every situation someone will remind me that I am no longer a youngster as they address me as "Old man." Turns out that no matter what my gut says to me about that epitaph, it is generally a term of respect. When I was 22 and my Marines called me the "Old Man" that was a proud feeling but it is not the feeling that I am getting at my current age as Kenyans wanting my attention call out "Old man." It is sort of the same idea as when guys in the Hartsville YMCA tell me they hope they are still working when they become MY AGE. Now, I have my own story like that: This morning though there was a woman in the breakfast room who has some years on me. She (80 and proud of it) is visiting Kenya with her son, a doctor, and they are heading out to Eldoret where he practiced medicine for a year more than ten years ago. I hope when I get her age I still have the desire to quench a thirst for adventure -- maybe then I will not mind being called "Old Man." This Coker professor is learning a lot of lessons on this sabbatical trip.

Sabbatical Trip (2011 - April 3)

Want to know what's happening? Go to the barber shop

2011-03-28T10:37:00.003-04:00

One of the areas I am hoping to build some insight on through this sabbatical trip from Coker College to Muhuru Bay, Kenya is community thinking and community building.

So, if you want to know what is going on in a community, where do you start. My first inquiries were to the motor bike drivers (Muhuru Bay's main form of transportation) who have been helping me get around Muhuru Bay. Not always easy to hear or concentrate as we negotiate down the dirt-packed highway that gives you the feeling of a bumper car ride but it has provided some good background.

As I wandered around the center of the village retail area, called Customs, I glanced into a shop where a barber was cutting hair on two little children and there were some others sitting in chairs around his shop. And, that was at least a double and maybe a triple in beginning to learn even more about the problems and opportunities of this lake-side community. I also learned that after age 60 you find it very difficult to work in Kenya. The 60-year-old telling me that said the computer rejects him when he goes for a job so, "I am self employed."

As I was walking down the road a man yelled from his shop, "Welcome..." That is a common call to an obvious visitor - I do stick out in this community. I think I may be the only gray-haired person in the town. I answered his welcome and went up to offer or accept a greeting. This was a small retail tailor shop with three tailors hoping more business would come in because times are tough in Muhuru retail. That was another great discussion and helped me get additional community thinking perspectives.

One major observation, the community could be Hartsville, SC or Muhuru Bay, Kenya, or 'name the place' but people are quickly able to list some of the major things needing improvement in their community -- and for Hartsville and Muhuru Bay -- MORE JOBS would be at or near the top of both lists. (lots more thinking on this but the post is getting a bit long.) These are a couple of ways of beginning to gather community information in Muhuru Bay.

Kennedy wants to be a journalist

2011-03-26T11:04:00.020-04:00

Kennedy Adera of Muhuru Bay, Kenya is a hard working student who really hopes some day to become a journalist. He knows he has his work cut out for him because he has what seem like insurmountable challenges.

He is a good student with top grades from his primary school but in Kenya, you have to pay to attending secondary school -- even the government schools. The costs are not cheap and his family was not able to afford one of the good schools. He is now staying with a family friend who is helping him attend a secondary school called Nyaykondo School that is new, not yet accredited and is using other secondary students as teachers. So, he knows getting into a college program will be difficult.

But, "I really want to be a journalist," says this budding Anderson Cooper. "I want to be a journalist because there are a lot of stories that we need to tell people. I have a lot of stories on my chest and I want to let the people know them," said Kennedy as we talked while conducting a quick lesson in writing a Summary Lead for a news story.

Kennedy 18, says he is struggling to make it and should have two years left for secondary school if he can continue to find the funding. Then he would love to go to university or college but he knows there is another challenge -- because right now he has no idea where those funds would come from.

But, he continues this dream because he would love to be a role model for others in Muhuru Bay and be recognized as the well-respected international journalist who was born in Muhuru Bay, Kenya.

Kennedy is sitting next to me as I tell his story and we have discussed his next step. He is going to control that which he can control and become the recognized school journalist from Nyakondo, attempting to get the story of his school to others in the school and the rest of Kenya. I did get to visit Kennedy at his one-room school house that is divided into classes with some screening material. It is obviously not one of the better secondary schools in Kenya -- according to the Principal, barely even adequate. School fees for the Secondary School are between 20,000 and 40,000 Kenya Shillings at about 80 shillings to the dollar. Most people in Muhuru Bay do not have that much extra around. And, even when they do there are the extra expenses like clothes, medical care, travel to and from the school if it is away. We take a lot for granted here in the States with our relatively free public school system.

I got to meet Kennedy because he met my daughter Eve when she began her research and intervention program at the WISER Girl's School for Education and Research back in 2008. She has kept up with his progress and thinks he has great potential. So, we just had a conversation about journalism for about an hour on a Saturday afternoon (March 26, 2011. In that conversation I was able to introduce him to the internet and he is amazed as I am that you can find 2,240,000 Google hits on Kenya Newspapers in less than one second. He does not have regular access to a computer and had never seen that before. He then wanted to see to the DAILY NATION, Kenya's leading independent news paper and the the Kenya Broadcasting System and when we were both interested in the story about the 1953 destruction of a village by colonial authorities that was in the Nation or the Standard or was on All Africa.com.

I know I was totally taken with Kennedy and his passion for becoming a journalist. Hope he has as much fun talking with me as I did talking with him. What an unexpected pleasure for this sabbatical trip -- and he sat still for my first lecture in Writing for the Media, how to write a summary lead.

Getting ready to leave Nairobi for Muhuru

2011-03-23T01:17:00.002-04:00

It is a little after 8 a.m. -- means about 1:20 east coast US time -- and we are getting ready to leave the Upperhill Country Lodge on Bishops Road in Nairobi for a seven-hour drive to Muhuru Bay. I did spend time thinking about enjoying the shower this morning as Eve reminded me this could be the last of those for the next several days. There is pouring water in Muhuru Bay but no running water, she says.

It has been interesting being in the motel and being connected by email and even able to write a blog post from so many thousands of miles away. Interesting because I did learn that the paperwork I thought I turned in for a course to be offered in the Fall didn't make it -- but we are going to offer Principles of Public Relations -- and it will be on the schedule -- so communication majors save me three hours. But, the fact that I could know and that I could make some attempts to get that paperwork circulating is interesting.

Last night I met Joseph, who owns a car service. He has been helping Eve and lots of other people get between Muhuru Bay and other places in Kenya since her second visit here in 2008. It is her research on the implementation of an HIV/AIDS preventive program that gets her here and that I am looking forward to seeing first hand.

Hoping my Kindle recharges so that I can read some of those books I downloaded. I have had it since Christmas and never had to charge it and then it ran out of a full charge while flying yesterday. Lots of other little things and they are the types of things that are going to make this sabbatical trip both interesting and educational.

Sabbatical trip is going to be interesting

2011-03-22T02:43:00.004-04:00

Heading to Muhuru Bay in Kenya to get an idea of what a smaller community in that country might be like. Going to be observing how it is different and how it might be the same as some of the smaller communities in the US. Eve, Dr. Eve Puffer, my daughter is letting me join her as she goes back to evaluate an HIV prevention project that she has been working on through the Duke Global Health Institute. Looking forward to this visit -- have not been out of the US for several years and this trip is going to be interesting. Hoping to meet with some university people to talk about potential for setting up a Coker College study away program.

Why is this PI Day?

2011-03-14T12:16:00.005-04:00

(caption) Today is March 14, 2011 and for the more math inclined, it is 3/14 and for the imaginatively math inclined there is a symbol in this date, which makes today PI day. Dr. Paul Dostert and Trent, James and Brandon are getting ready for an on-campus PI day party at Coker College.

Dance Senior's Piece Performed at College Dance Festival

2011-03-09T11:20:00.005-05:00

Barbara Steadman of Coker College's Marketing Communication office shared the following story -- wish I also had the photos that accompany it but I hope the link gets you to the story with photos. I think I told the dance instructors that this feels like a sports conference championship -- in an arts context.

Coker Senior’s Dance about Change is Performed in South East Conference Dance Festival

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – March 8, 2011 – Coker College dance student Hannah Beard’s senior thesis project “Series: The 21st Multiple” was one of 10 dances (chosen out of 45) to be performed at the gala concert of the American College Dance Festival Association’s South East Conference at Florida State University this week.

Beard’s selection represents the first time that a Coker College student’s work has been selected for the gala.

“Series: The 21st Multiple,” which Beard says is about the constancy of change, was performed during the spring dance concert at Coker College in February.

“We’ve all heard that change is constant,” said Beard. “For humans, our bodies’ cells regenerate roughly every seven years. We become brand new people every seven years, whether change is visible or not. Change is constant. How we embrace change is up to us.”

Beard, a senior dance major with a business administration minor, started dancing when she was three. As a senior at York High School in York, S.C., she traveled to Coker to audition for a talent-based dance scholarship, which she received.

With a concentration in performance and choreography, she has performed in various faculty and student pieces, choreographed dances for shows and completed dance residencies with guest artists from all over the world.

“During the past few years, it has been wonderful to watch Hannah find and hone her artistic voice,” said Angela Gallo, an Assistant Professor of Dance at Coker. “She has become an extremely versatile dancer and a strong choreographer. She has also become a leader and an ambassador for Coker’s dance program.”

In May, Hannah traveled to France to study abroad for two weeks. With her European Contemporary Dance class, she performed site-specific dance in Paris on the Viaduc des Arts, a former railroad viaduct that has been transformed into a garden walkway. Site-specific dance is created to exist in a certain place and can be influenced by the surrounding environment.

Beard’s Honors Project, titled “On Site: Every Rehearsal is a Performance, and Every Performance has an Audience,” involves extensive research on the art as well as creating, staging and showcasing her own site-specific dance around the Coker campus at locations such as the dining hall and the library, in part to promote Performing Arts at Coker.

The American College Dance Festival Association sponsors regional conferences and a national dance festival to provide a venue for students and faculty to engage in three days of performances, workshops, panels and master classes taught by instructors from around the region and country. The conferences also provide an opportunity for students and faculty to have their dance works adjudicated by a panel of nationally recognized dance professionals in an open and constructive forum.

Culminating with the presentation of pieces selected for their exemplary artistic quality, the conferences offer a unique chance for college and university dance programs to perform outside their own academic setting and be exposed to the diversity of the national college dance environment.

Adjudicators at this year’s festival in Florida are Mary Cochran, chair and artistic director of the dance department of Barnard College of Columbia University; Zvi Gotheiner, ZviDance founder and artistic director and company teacher for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City; and Bebe Mille, professor of dance at Ohio State University.

-------------------------------------------------

Coker College readies undergraduates for personal and professional success through a distinctive four-year program that emphasizes a practical application of the liberal arts as well as hands-on and discussion-based learning within and beyond the classroom. Coker is ranked among the “Best Colleges” in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review. Located in Hartsville, S.C., Coker is within two hours of the cultural, financial and recreational resources of Charlotte, Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach.

Coker Tennis Teams split with Barton

2011-03-07T17:40:00.001-05:00

Saturday afternoon the Coker Cobra tennis teams hosted Barton of Wilson, NC and each school went home a winner --- and a loser. The Coker women squeezed out a 5-4 win but the Barton men remained undefeated in Conference Carolinas play as they took a 5-4 victory back home. This story is from the American Chronicle paper:

The Coker College Experience - A Faculty POV: Coker on to tourney chapmpionship

2011-03-04T08:21:00.000-05:00

The Coker College Experience - A Faculty POV: Coker on to tourney chapmpionship

Coker on to tourney chapmpionship

2011-03-03T21:18:00.000-05:00

The Coker Cobras will be heading to the finals of the Carolinas Conference Basketball Championship on Saturday night in Gaffney as they take on Limestone College for the Championship Crown. The Cobras came from behind to in the second half to ice the Crusaders as the game went into the final seconds.

Seth Godin demands that you "poke the box"

2011-03-02T14:00:00.008-05:00

Seth Godin has a new book that is entitled POKE THE BOX. Godin calls this book a manifesto to get people out of their own personal boxes and in a mental position to "start something." He wants people to understand they have much more potential than they will allow themselves to believe.

He hates the idea that so many of us wait around to "get picked." He says that in today's world there is no reason to wait around to get picked. He makes it clear that we can choose ourselves and make things happen. One of his aphorisms is the idea that "he who fails the most generally wins." That makes me think of a friend, former Coker College student and published author -- Donnie Quist. He had a book and he wanted it published. He did not wait to get picked. He used the innovation of Kickstarter and LET ME MAKE YOU A SANDWICH is in the public realm. Had Donnie waited around to be picked he would probably still be unpublished. Seth Godin would like Donnie Quist's story.

Do not pick up this manifesto if you want to continue believing that other people limit you ability to make things happen in this world. Don't pick up this manifesto if you believe that doing what you are told well is all you need to achieve success. Do not look for this extended lecture if you believe the status quo is the way to go. Because, if you believe those things, Godin is going to make you uncomfortable.

Godin is a vision thinker and his books are like a half-time talk for those who feel it is their job to make a difference in this world. I recommend that if you are one who wants to make a difference Godin's book will help ignite that passion to making a start.

Okay, quit reading and start something, NOW.

Some buzz at Coker College

2011-03-01T08:12:00.002-05:00

BASKETBALL

The Coker College Cobra Men's basketball team won the quarter finals of the Carolina's Conference tournament last night resulting in jubilation among the fans. This Thursday night they will be hosting the semi finals in the quest for the Tournament championship.

Golf
Jake Murphy, a Coker College golfer, is going into the final round of a tournament as the leader. Here is the lead paragraph of the news release about the tourney:

Coker sophomore Jake Murphy (Hamilton, N.J.) holds a one stroke lead on Abilene Christian's Alex Carpenter and Barton's Dermont McElhennon after two round s of play at the Golfweek Division II Invitational in Orlando, Fla.

PIANO RECITALL

On Tuesday evening the college is hosting a piano recital in the Elizabeth Coker Watson Theater. Here is what Dr. Jun Sato said as she announced this concert:

Piano Recital

Dr. Charles Fugo, Professor of Piano at the University of South Carolina, will be performing a solo piano recital tonight at 7:30pm in Watson Theater. Admission is free to the public.

Dr. Fugo is one of the most imaginative performers I’ve heard and his recital program for tonight highlights this quality in his playing. The recital includes works by the following composers: Chopin, Liszt, Schumann, Mozart and Scarlatti. Dr. Fugo has an extensive tonal palette and is also one of the few pianists I know who is willing to take risks to achieve the most effective way of communicating music. I promise it will be a treat for everyone who loves to hear live performance.

Art Exhibition

Heather Freeman's mixed media art exhibit opened on Monday night and is on display at the Gallery in the Art Department on campus. Here is a some of what was said in announcing this exhibit:

Ms. Freeman’s exhibition of mixed media prints (ink, graphite and watercolor over digital print on watercolor paper) opens with a reception in the Cecelia Coker Bell Gallery tonight at 7:00. The reception is free, refreshments will be served, and the public is invited. Ms. Freeman’s show remains on view through March 25, 2011.

For Ms. Freeman’s complete press release go to:
http://www.coker.edu/current-top-stories/1496-art-exhibition-heather-freeman-digital-and-traditional-media-to-open-at-coker-college.html

These are just a few of the things creating a bit of buzz on the Coker College campus and they give a glimpse of the richness of activities offered to students and the public.

Fundatmentals of Disaster Public Affairs - Red Cross Training

2011-02-27T21:31:00.006-05:00

Bruce Newton and Judy Sperling Newton discuss a role playing exercise that was part of the American Red Cross Fundamentals of Disaster Public Affairs: The National Response training held this past weekend in North Charleston, SC.

caption -- A role-playing exercise from the Red Cross Training with a volunteer from Rock Hill and Judy Sperling Newton, trainer.

One of the areas I have been wanting to explore further is public affairs response related to disasters. As part of my sabbatical semester at Coker College my plan was to fit in some training along these lines and the opportunity came this past weekend as I was able to participate in Red Cross training on the "Fundamentals of Disaster Public Affairs - The Local Respose" and the following class "The National Response." As a result of this training I hope I am moving closer to becoming a volunteer with the Red Cross with a specialty in the public affairs area. The training this past weekend was interesting and the people involved as trainers and participants were inspiring.

The trainers were a husband-wife team of Judy Sperling Newton and Bruce Newton, who have been volunteering in public affairs with the Red Cross for the past several years after retiring from their full-time careers. Their dedication to this volunteer calling is a case study in itself. Maybe I will ask for the opportunity to write it up one of these days.

The training was offered by the Low Country Chapter of the American Red Cross that is headquartered in North Charleston. There were 12 participants on Saturday and 16 on Sunday. Some of the participants were Red Cross employees who were expanding their expertise with the organization and others were Red Cross volunteers, learning more about how they might be able to serve this organization that shows up providing assistance in the forms of shelter, food, emotional support, other services when disaster strikes 365 days a year, 24 hours a day with services open to anyone in need. Truly, just a cursory study of this organization can be awe-inspiring.

From my personal, sabbatical perspective, this was a valuable training experience. I learned some techniques that will be useful in the Coker College communication classes that I teach. I also learned about what must be a very strong Masters of Public Administration Program with an emphasis in non-profit management that is run by the College of Charleston to which I will be directing some of my Coker communication students.

At the same time, I continued to be impressed by people who give back to their communities as volunteers, which is one of the areas of I am hoping to continue emphasizing during this sabbatical. For example, Betty was in the training from Summerville. She is a retired educator having spent well over 30 years in the classrooms of the low country. She has been exploring opportunities for volunteering and has found the Red Cross an organization that is helping her do meaningful volunteer work. Bill is in security at one of the major Charleston area resorts. He heard the Newtons doing some training and became interested. He is now a DAT team leader and continues to take on more volunteer responsibility with the low-country Red Cross. Each of the people in that room has a strong story involving giving back to the community.

On several levels it was a weekend of training that impressed. It was weekend of training that again made me realize the privilege of a sabbatical semester from/for Coker College.

Reading, reflecting, re-energizing, researching, (W)riting (I hope)

2011-02-24T09:29:00.009-05:00

I have the privilege of being on sabbatical from teaching at Coker College this semester. It has taken me awhile to get used to not teaching. I continue to tell people this teaching job is the best job I have had in my working life and I do miss the day-to-day connection with students. And, maybe reflection is not one of my strong points and that is another reason I miss the structure of an intense teaching and meeting schedule. Truth is, I am getting more comfortable with leisurely coffee-bagel-reading sessions than I might have imagined. The Midnight Rooster is a fun place for that type of focused leisure discussion.

For about the past nine months I had been suggesting to my colleague George Lellis that the list of past advisees that continued to show up in our new advisor system had given me an idea for some research into the "real world" lives of our graduates. We both thought that might be a good idea but did not move forward for all those daily reasons of not enough time. So, one of the things I have accomplished on the Spring 2011 sabbatical is a research survey of the communication majors and minors who have graduated from Coker College since 2000.

Already, this has been an interesting project. One of the major areas of interest is how the distribution process worked. There are just over 90 names in this population study. Clarissa Davis of Coker's Institutional Research Department was able to provide those names and the Christie Happ of the Coker Development and Alumni office was able to provide contact information for many of the names. The major part of interest in this distribution process comes from the fact that most of the surveys were distributed through a communication medium that did not exist when I began teaching mass communication at Coker in 2000 -- FACEBOOK. This new medium has been a major addition to reaching our graduate population.

As of this morning, February 24, 2011, I have responses from 60 people in the survey. That is going to show up as a very strong response rate. So, let me just say here that I appreciate the assistance of Clarissa and Christie and the COOPERATION of all the alumns that have enriched this survey with their responses. I think this project is going to be extremely useful to our Communication Department and to Coker College. Thanks!

Obviously, I will be commenting a great deal more about this project over the next several weeks.

Other sabbatical opportunities so far have included being able to talk with students at Tanglewood Middle School about public speaking (my daughter Inga teaches there) and is doing a project that includes a presentation as one of the metrics for the students. And, this weekend I will be attending some Red Cross training for volunteer public information officers.

Among books read:
How to become a presentation god

Among books read but not understood
The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos by Brian Green

Among the books in progress
The New Rules of PR by David Merriman Scott

Transformations at Coker College this weekend

2011-02-23T07:43:00.004-05:00

Megan Stone and Kayla Webb rehearse a dance piece for the Coker Transformations Dance Concert during Tech Week.

Transformations is the title of the Dance Concert that will presented on the Coker campus this weekend, February 24 through February 26 at 7:30 in the Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center. The concert includes faculty and guest choreography and Senior Thesis Choreography from Hannah Beard and Kayla Webb.

Dance Concert at Coker -- TRANSFORMATIONS

2011-02-22T10:38:00.006-05:00

The following is a release from Coker's Barb Steadman about this weekend's College Dance Concert at the Watson Theater on the Coker College campus.

Dance Program to Present “Transformations
The Coker College Dance Program will present “Transformations: A Faculty and Guest Artist Dance Concert” Feb. 24, 25 and 26, each evening at 7:30 p.m., in the Watson Theater in the Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center.
“The dance program was thrilled when the guest company Doug Varone and Dancers from New York City was able to extend its residency at Coker this past fall,” said Associate Professor of Dance and coordinator of Coker’s dance program Angela M. Gallo. “While they were here, Mr. Varone introduced the beautiful work ‘Bench Quartet’ to our students, who are truly looking forward to this opportunity to share it with our community.”
In addition to “Bench Quartet,” the concert will feature six other very different dance works. It will include, for example, “Loneliness Fragment,” a mysterious dance theater work set by Brazilian choreographer Lara Cerqueira.
Another piece, “Particle Influence,” choreographed by Gallo, showcases a contemporary ballet work that incorporates the interactive video software "Isadora." In this piece, video projections accompany the dancers’ exploration of energy as it is distorted though the physics concept of “spacetime.”
Set to a sound collage composed by choreographer Erin Leigh, an assistant professor of dance at Coker, "Just Passing Through" seeks to represent those brief encounters we have with others as we are traveling through a place. The choreography was based on the uniqueness of the cast and is a collaboration of movement invention by the dancers and Leigh.
The concert will also feature the senior thesis projects of Hannah Beard and Kayla Webb. Beard, inspired by the impressionist paintings of Monet, has created a piece that explores change. Webb will present an especially moving piece that deals with forms of child abuse.
Finally, Coker alumna Heather Watkins will perform a set titled “Wild Chile” that offers a glimpse back to the 1960s, the glory days of Rock.
Tickets are $5 for general admission. Admission is free for Coker faculty, staff and students. For more information, please contact Dance Program Coordinator Angela M. Gallo at 843-383-8381 or agallo@coker.edu.

Coker College Major Part of PULSE Initiative

2011-02-21T15:48:00.006-05:00

Today Sonoco of Hartsville announced a $5 million investment in raising the quality of the Hartsville schools so that within five years Hartsville Schools are recognized in the top quartile of South Carolina.

Several of the institutions that make Hartsville a unique small Southern city are part of this major educational private-public partnership. The Governor's School for Science and Math is taking part, the Darlington County School District is a major factor, Coker College, Sonoco and others in the community. Outside of Hartsville, the Comer Project of Yale University will be very involved in this initiative.

Barbara Steadman -- Media Relations for Coker College -- sent out the following press release:

Public-Private Partnership to Implement Comprehensive Scholastic Excellence Program in Hartsville, S.C., Public Schools

Darlington County School District, S.C. Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics,
Coker College and Sonoco Join Forces to Launch New PULSE Program

Yale University’s Child Study Center to Join Initiative with Pilot School Development Program in Four Hartsville Elementary Schools

Sonoco to Support Programs with $5 Million Grant

Hartsville, S.C. – An unparalleled public-private partnership has been formed to implement a comprehensive scholastic excellence program in Hartsville public schools that will expand curriculum opportunities and further improve student achievement through collaborative academic and social development initiatives.

The PULSE (Partners for Unparalleled Local Scholastic Excellence) Program is a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership involving the Darlington County School District, the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM), Coker College and Sonoco. Sonoco will fund the initiative through a $5 million grant that will be paid over five years.
“The P.U.L.S.E. program will set the standard for public school education in South Carolina. Through the opportunities and promise of this new initiative, the Darlington County School District can and will be
counted among the very best school districts our state has to offer,” said Dr. Rainey Knight, superintendent of education, Darlington County School District.

Yale’s Child Study Center to Help Create Pilot Elementary Student Development Program
A key component of the Hartsville PULSE initiative will be the implementation of a pilot School Development Program (SDP) at four Hartsville elementary schools that is focused on improving academic achievement and personal development. The program will be created with the assistance of Yale University’s Child Study Center Comer School Development Program, which was founded in 1968 by Dr. James P. Comer, Maurice Falk Professor of Child Psychiatry and associate dean of the Yale School of Medicine. The nationally recognized Comer SDP model has been successfully implemented in hundreds of schools in more than 20 states, the District of Columbia, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa, England and Ireland. The pilot program will begin in the 2011-2012 school year in Hartsville’s Thornwell School for the Arts, Washington Street Elementary, West Hartsville Elementary and the Southside Early Childhood Center.

In future years, professional development programs for educators and multiple service-learning activities offered at Coker College via the growing Yale-Coker partnership will play a vital role in the continuing process of improvement in Hartsville.

“Development and learning are inextricably linked, but traditionally development is not intentionally addressed,” said Dr. Comer. “The School Development Program enables educators, parents and families, and community partners to support development, integrate learning, and as a result, improve academic and behavioral outcomes.”

Governor’s School, Coker College to Provide Curriculum Excellence Program
The second PULSE initiative is focused on expanding scholastic learning opportunities for eligible students in Hartsville’s secondary and high schools through collaborative teaching programs from the Hartsville-based GSSM and Coker College.

As an example, GSSM instructors will provide qualified Hartsville public school students with enhanced science, math and language classes, such as organic chemistry, advanced physics and Mandarin Chinese.

Coker College, a leading liberal arts private college also based in Hartsville, will provide college credit courses to eligible high school students in such programs as art, design, music, theater and dance.

“GSSM is a statewide residential high school for academically talented students that just happens to be located in Hartsville. As a result, there is no place we would rather make a positive educational impact than right here in our own backyard,” says Dr. Murray Brockman, GSSM president. “As a national leader in science and math education, we are excited beyond words to help implement a program that will advance the students of Hartsville in a way that exposes them to new opportunities and inspires them to reach their full potential.”

Brockman adds, “PULSE will be available to every student who meets the academic requirements, regardless of financial means, and it complements both local and statewide outreach programs already under way. Hartsville schools and our community’s commitment to education will look dramatically different in the next five years thanks to PULSE.”

“Students who aspire to scholarship at the highest levels can look forward to participating in intellectually enriching experiences in the fine arts under the mentorship of Coker’s distinguished faculty and in our unparalleled facilities, including the Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center, a jewel of Hartsville named for South Carolina’s ‘First Lady of Letters,’” said Coker College President Robert Wyatt.

“And, as pleased as we are to welcome our community’s young women and men into Coker’s classrooms, we are humbled by the knowledge that working with Hartsville’s brightest young minds and with one of our nation’s strongest corporations will inspire us to strive for greater achievement as well,” he said.

Sonoco’s Targeting Education Improvement in its Hometown
Primary funding for the PULSE programs will come from a $5 million grant made over five years from Sonoco, one of the largest diversified global packaging companies. Founded in Hartsville in 1899, Sonoco employs nearly 1,800 workers and has more than 750 retirees and their families living in the Hartsville area.

“We have always had a strong commitment to improving education in communities where we operate, particularly in our hometown,” said Harris DeLoach, Sonoco chairman and chief executive officer. “We believe we must continue to work with our public schools, as well as other centers for learning, to improve local educational excellence to ensure we have the workers we need to be competitive over the next century.

“In addition, we must do all we can to make Hartsville attractive to the others recruited to build our company and other businesses in the area. South Carolina, Hartsville and area businesses will not be able to grow without continued investment in education and economic development. That is why we are making this commitment to our public schools. Together we will all prosper.”

###

Coker's cloudless Saturday a great day for BALL

2011-02-19T09:14:00.009-05:00

The Coker baseball team will start at noon and the Cobra softball team will start at 1 p.m. and the February temperatures will be in the high sixties or seventies as the games progress -- seemed these warm days would never get here this winter but they are back.

I came down to the office this Saturday morning and as I was opening the door several frosh baseball players were heading over to the field - a little after 8 a.m. Yesterday I got this great promotional video from a former student and a former Coker baseball player, Tom Oschip. He is helping to manage a brand new sports park in Northeastern Ohio call Victory Park. When I saw the video a fleeting thought was it's a good thing he learned a little about field management when on the Cobra team. While I did get a strange look when I mentioned that field maintenance was a good skill to develop, I do believe the player I said that to will feel it in the future. Often, when you are doing the things you really enjoy doing, you are a bit more committed than you might have ever expected. In fact, bet if I rode my bicycle down to the softball field Coach Hanna is probably dragging the baselines getting ready for today's souble header after yesterday's opening season victories.

Division II coaches often find themselves not only the leader of the team but also the primary maintenance crew, the primary recruiter, the primary general manager, the primary equipment manager. Those things are part of the investment for doing the things you really want to do - instead of opting for a "real" job that might give you time to enjoy part of those things on some weekends.

February 18 - 2011 Opening of Coker Softball

2011-02-18T16:22:00.004-05:00

The Cobra Softball Team opened the 2011 season with a couple of bit wins over a team from Brooklyn, NY. The temperatures were in the high sixtys - at least- with a most beautiful blue February sky. Sometimes you just have to love winter in the South.

Governor Haley in Hartsville to discuss emergency response

2011-02-16T15:45:00.006-05:00

City, county, state and company officials survey the fire fighting efforts to quell the hot spots still smoking from the fertilizer plant fire. There was significant property damage but no injuries from this major blaze.

From all reports, the coordination among city, county and state emergency responders to the fertilizer plant fire worked really well and was continuing on Wednesday afternoon as the Governor was in the city to get a close view of the situation.

Red Cross was still on the scene of the fertilizer plant fire providing food for emergency response personnel including fire fighters from several departments, law enforcement from several departments and state organizations.

Governor Haley arrives at the American Legion Hut in Hartsville to begin a short discussion with emergency responders and local officials. Accompanying the Governor are Mayor Mel Pennington and Representative Jay Lucas.

Lacrosse season coming to Coker

2011-02-16T11:12:00.005-05:00

The Coker College Lacrosse team is getting closer to reality. Coach Tony Smith has been night and day recruiting and current students have been talking about becoming walk-ons as the college gears up for its first lacrosse team beginning in the Fall of 2011. The mean looking helmet is more tangible evidence of the approaching season.

I was able to play lacrosse for a couple of years while in college -- guess because they needed bodies. I was not that good and had never seen a lacrosse stick before getting to Cortland. I still remember it as one of the most enjoyable sports I have played. I do believe it is called the fastest sport on two feet and, while I could be wrong about this, i think it is the official sport of Canada. I know hockey is more popular up there but I believe lacrosse has that title. No matter, college lacrosse is an amazingly entertaining sport!

I am looking forward to Coker Lax.

Pay me attention but don't single me out; a lesson from working with Middle School

2011-02-16T08:18:00.007-05:00

Inga Puffer is one brave teacher. She teachers Seventh Grade Language Arts at Tanglewood Middle School in Greenville, SC. Yesterday, she let her father become part of her classes for a day. She made like I was doing her a favor to join her classes as they begin working on a speech about their hero. Her reaching out and letting me join her was the favor and it will be one of the memorable sabbatical moments from this Spring of 2011.

The assignment that she and a fellow teacher have given their students is to research a person they have identified as their hero. One major stipulation -- the person had to or has to be real. Superman, Supergirl, batman and robin were not working for this assignment. And, hours later I am still not certain if the guy who asked me if Superman is real was serious or messing around. Now, honestly, it is not that easy to tell with Middle Schoolers. They are not far from the age when they were asked to believe in Santa, the tooth fairy, the total triumph of good over evil. They really are working those things out in their mind. They may believe that a type of superman does exist to balance out some of the super bad they see and read about. This is an age that sort of eludes adult understanding as they are beginning to develop some sense of their own what it might be to think in "adult" terms. Cognitively, they are in a major life transition. I am glad there are people -- Middle School Teachers -- who do take the time to understand, who reach out to share and care and most importantly continue to prepare these students for what comes after this childhood. So, Middle School Teachers -- you are my heroes.

A couple of quick observations from my perspective as a college teacher:
-- It was fun being able to observe future college students in the making. As I talked with these four classes I began to compare these boys and girls with some of those I know at Coker.

-- Public speaking is one class I teach a lot and I believe you can become an excellent public speaker. These four classes showed me also that a couple of people might be born to it. We were talking mostly about how to construct an effective speech introduction. After the writing part of the class one girl volunteered. I think Eartha Kitt was her hero. She stood, then began to sing the opening lines of one of Kitt's songs. That quieted her classmates and GRABBED their attention -- exactly as I had been talking about. She is going to be good.

-- As we went around to the tables where the students were working, many would ask a question or ask me to read what they were doing. They were looking for that attention. Sometimes I would say -- Great, I am going to call on you. Quickly, they would make it known they did not want that MUCH attention -- they will single themselves out with some behaviors but they are not really wanting others to single them out.

-- The teachers are doing a great job of preparing the foundations. Even the guy who was not going to write anything (too cool for that) was able to provide me with a great reason there was nothing on his paper - "I need to do more research," is what he told me.

-- The techniques of effective introductions work. For one class, I improvised an introduction of one of the heroes -- Rosa Parks. I knew just enough to get the intro down and as I ended one boy to my right says -- "Where is the rest, I want to hear more." That could not have been a better reaction for the point that introductions are supposed to make you audience want to hear more.

So, I am not sure how much those Tanglewood Middle School seventh graders are going to remember about the four functions of an effective speech introduction but I am sure this experience is going to be one of the strong, positive memories of my sabbatical semester from Coker College.

So, Inga, and Phillip, thank you for letting your classes share with me.

Coker College takes to the court at the Time Warner Arena in Charlotte

2011-02-12T09:49:00.006-05:00

cutline -- Coker takes a shot over the Barton defense at the Charlotte Time Warner Arena

(cutline -- Charlotte Bobcats in some pregame warm ups on Friday, February 11.)

Coker's Athletics operations and Development Office joined forces to draw attention to the proposed new Coker College Wellness Center that is under consideration for the Coker College community. Coker's Women's and Men's basketball teams played against Barton early on Friday (February 11) on the floor of the Time Warner Arena in downtown Charlotte. Then, later that night the Charlotte Bobcats took the floor against the New Jersey Nets in NBA action. Coker had invited board members, friends, supporters and alumni to enjoy these events in Charlotte and get a look at some proposed drawings for new Coker Wellness Center, which will also include new basketball and gym facilities.

The alumni I got to talk with were excited about the higher visibility that Coker is taking for this type of project. They enjoyed meeting with some of the coaches and getting to talk with some of this year's players. It was an exciting, interesting event from both the fund raising and athletic perspectives.

Conducting a survey of Coker Communication Grads

2011-02-11T08:27:00.003-05:00

I have the privilege of being on Sabbatical this semester from my job at Coker College. For someone whose life is so wrapped up in the happenings of the college, this has not yet been as comfortable as you might imagine. But, as I hear a tidbit about a meeting or think about not having to lead an 8 a.m. class, it does get a bit more enjoyable.

One of the first projects of this sabbatical has been a survey of those who have majored or minored in Communication since I began teaching full time in 2000. We have a strong major but the number are not overwhelming. I have the survey on surveymonkey for computer response and in the first few days have had 22 grads.

One of the major areas of this survey is jobs. We are hoping that there will be some use for this data as we continue to move toward some outcome assessment of the major. My preliminary assessment is that more students than I hypothesized are in communication-related professions.

For this morning's blog, the question I am highlighting is how they found out about the job they are in. The answer, especially for someone like me who got my real professional beginnings in the newspaper business, is surprising. Not a single one of the first 22 people saw their current job in a newspaper classified ad. The times are not changing; they have changed.

Cobras amped for Charlotte | SCNOW

2011-02-11T06:36:00.002-05:00

Big day for Cobra Athletics

Hartsville is a small cosmopolitan city. Charlotte is a a much larger cosmopolitan city. And, Charlotte is about 80 miles north west of Hartsville. But, on February 10 the Charlotte Bobcat Arena will be the home venue for the Coker Cobras playing Barton. Those basketball games, women starting about 12:30 and the men at 2:30 will be a prelude to the Bobcats game that begins at 7:30 Friday evening. Some of Coker's followers and donors will also be at that Bobcat game to enjoy the professional sports atmosphere of the NBA and learn more about plans for a new field house complex for the Coker College campus. This should be an interesting day in Charlotte for the Cobras and their fans. Below is a link to a good story in the Morning News about today's games.

Cobras amped for Charlotte | SCNOW

The history of Black History at Coker College

2011-02-03T20:17:00.004-05:00

Dean Jason Umfress addressed a letter to the Coker College Community that is really interesting and that makes some interesting reading. This is Black History Month and sometimes we hear questions about Why black history -- reason -- because it was so often ignored by those writing the histories. But I think it makes sense to share the thoughts Dr. Umfress shared. Earlier today I finished a Condolezza Rice's memoir, EXTRAORDINARY, ORDINARY PEOPLE, She addresses her experience at Stanford University in a couple of chapters of that book. We should know OUR history.

Here is Jason's letter:

Dear Coker,

I hope this message finds you well and staying warm/cool during this strange weather. South Carolina weather patterns can be so strange - warm one day and cold the next. Like we say around here, “if you don’t like the weather, wait a minute.”

The month of February is set aside every year as a chance for us as a nation to celebrate Black History month. I thought I would use this “Dear Coker” letter to reflect on the integration of our own college and honor those pioneering African Americans who paved the way for the integration process of our College.

Let me take you back to Coker College in the turbulent 1960’s. Our student population was very small (only a few hundred people)…we were very female (all female, to be exact)…and we were very White. Considering what was happening in the county in the way of the Civil Rights movement, the issue of racially integrating the college was complex enough. Coker’s integration challenges were compounded by the decision to integrate the campus along gender lines at the same time. In the History of the College, the author writes:

Issues surrounding diversity at Coker College centered on the two matters of gender diversity and racial diversity. Originally separate issues, they intersected in the 1960s as the College wrestled with the implementation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In addition, no institution can escape the attitudes of its surrounding, nor could Coker College. Founded as a college for women by a retired officer of the Confederate Army, and located in Darlington County, SC, diversity at Coker occurred slowly as the institution distanced itself from prevalent attitudes about gender and race.

In the fall of 1967, Coker admitted its 1st two African American students – two females. Due to poor record keeping, only one of the two has been positively identified: Evelyn Alsbrooks. The documents don’t seem to indicate there were any protests, outrages or violence as a result of their enrollment, as had been witnessed at other institutions around the country.

Racial diversity and the movement toward integration was influenced most directly by outstanding members of the student body, faculty, and staff. Here is a list of instrumental and influential African Americans who have shaped our College into what it has become today:

1. 1st African American students admitted to Coker: Evelyn Alsbrooks and a “mystery woman” thought to be Evelyn’s sister, Alfrieda.

2. 1st African American SGA President: Johnnie Dawkins (1976)

3. 1st African American May Queen: Vikki Sheryl Coleman (1978)

4. 1st African American on faculty: Dr. Ernest Nichols, Professor of Education (1973)

5. 1st African American to receive the Master Professor Award: John Foster (1995)

6. 1st African American senior staff person: George Hogan, Asst Director of Military Programs (1986).

7. 1st African American Dean of Students (or the equivalent): Shelia Hill (1990).

8. 1st African American Officer of the College: Dr. Ron Carter, Provost (1997).

Although they may not have realized it at the time, these individuals were pioneers. They most certainly faced challenges as they bravely walked into our Coker community. Much like the Rosa Parks, James Merediths, and Fannie Lou Hammers, these people chose to bravely face the status quo in pursuit of equality for all. For this, they should be honored and remembered.

Today, as we look around our campus, we take note of how diverse we are. Minority students make up 40% of our student population - far above the national average at other institutions of higher education. We interact with people from all races, genders, cultures, sexual orientations, and religious backgrounds. It is important for us to pause to remember that these things didn’t happen overnight. Brave men and women who came before us broke those social and cultural norms so that we might enjoy a campus that is more inclusive and welcoming of its community members.

While we as a community have come a long way since the 1960s, the work is far from done. We must continue to strive to be inclusive and respectful of our community members. We must continue to value diversity of background, culture, and thought. We must continue to appreciate the value added to our educational experience from being around people who are different from us. We must continue to educate ourselves on, and be open to, other cultures. We must continue to strive to be the Coker College we all know we can be. Let this be our aim.

Stay Engaged,

Jason

Jason W. Umfress, Ph.D.
Dean of Students

Coker College

Noted Activist for Children to Speak At Coker College Graduation

2011-02-03T06:37:00.003-05:00

Coker College's 2011 graduates will have Marian Wright Edleman as their graduation speaker. This announcement was in the current issue of THE MORNING NEWS in Florjavascript:void(0)ence.

Coker College Establishes "Last Lecture" Series

2011-02-01T22:05:00.006-05:00

For nearly ten years I had the opportunity of teaching the Coker Communication Senior Seminar. This is our Capstone Course. During those years I established a section called 'Tuesdays with Morrie' that was based on a book by that name. I used it as an opportunity for the students to get life lessons from faculty, staff and others with whom they might not normally have regular interaction. The cooperation was amazing as lots of people came in to share with the students.

Just recently, the college has established a "Last Lecture" series that begins this year giving retiring faculty the opportunity for that LAST LECTURE. I think this is a fantastic idea and really hope students take advantage of the wisdom that I know is going to be shared.

Barb Steadman, our new director of media relations, prepared the following news release about this series and I am including it for convenience in the blog. You can find it on the Coker web site:

Coker College Establishes “The Last Lecture Series”

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Feb. 1, 2011 – Coker College President Robert Wyatt announced today that the college is establishing a new program, The Last Lecture Series, to celebrate academic excellence and individual achievements of Coker faculty.

“It has been several years since computer science professor Randy Pausch gave his now-famous lecture at Carnegie Mellon University. His presentation drew millions to his story and to a greater appreciation for the importance of taking full advantage of individual opportunities—regardless of one’s challenges—in the quest for achievement,” Wyatt said.

“Colleges are not immune from the tendency to take more note of obstacles than opportunities. It is incumbent on an institution as blessed as Coker College is with talented, accomplished faculty to look beyond the obvious boundaries, to redefine what it means to be ready for tomorrow’s challenges. In establishing this forum for retiring faculty presentations, we invite students of all ages to pay tribute to excellence and step into stories that will inspire greater individual and shared successes than we have yet imagined,” he said.

In its inaugural year, The Last Lecture Series will include four presentations:

* Joseph H. Rubinstein, Professor of Education – Feb. 18, 3:30 p.m.

Watson Theater in the Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center; Reception in the Stein Gallery

* Russell R. Hamby, Professor of Sociology – Mar. 22, 7 p.m.
Charles W. Coker Auditorium in Davidson Hall; Reception in the Drawing Room

* Deborah I. Bloodworth, Associate Professor of Theater – April 1, 3:30 p.m.
Watson Theater in the Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center; Reception in the Stein Gallery

* Patricia G. Lincoln, Provost and Dean of the Faculty, Professor of Biology – April 18, 7:30 p.m.
Watson Theater in the Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center; Reception in the Stein Gallery

The Last Lecture Series is free and open to the public.

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Coker College readies undergraduates for personal and professional success through a distinctive four-year program that emphasizes a practical application of the liberal arts as well as hands-on and discussion-based learning within and beyond the classroom. Coker is ranked among the “Best Colleges” in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review. Located in Hartsville, S.C., Coker is within two hours of the cultural, financial and recreational resources of Charlotte, Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach.

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Barb Steadman
Director of Media Relations
Coker College