Coker Athletes Recognized for Achievements

The following is the publicity release put out by Coker following the Athlete Recognition on Wednesday evening. In addition to the students being honored, it was an opportunity to recognize the Coker Cobra Men's Golf Team. That team had just returned as the Conference Champions, coming back from 18 strokes down to win the tourney - an amazing feat.

Here is the story from Chris Dougherty:

April 26, 2012

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Coker College junior James Sweeney was named the C.G. Timberlake Athlete of the Year award to highlight the 2012 Athletic Awards Ceremony held Wednesday night in the Watson Theater. Fernando Bedoya and Kelley Godbout took home the Male and Female Freshmen of the Year honors, respectively.
Sweeney is a junior mathematics major from Huntingtown, Md., who excelled on and off the field this season as the Cobras’ goalie. Sporting a 4.0 GPA, Sweeney started all 21 games, allowing just 13 goals while posting 58 saves. Sweeney led Coker to an 18-3 record and a berth to its first-ever NCAA Division II regional tournament. The team reached as high as No. 5 nationally and finished at No. 18. Sweeney posted a .61 goals-against average that included 10 shutouts and a .817 save percentage.
Sweeney was named to the Capital One Academic All-American First Team as well as the Capital One Academic All-District Team. He was also the Conference Carolinas Scholar-Athlete of the Year, first team all-conference and a Daktronics All-Southeast region selection.
Bedoya, a freshman from Miami, Fla., started all 21 games for the Cobras. He tallied four assists and one goal on the season. Bedoya was named NSCAA Third Team All-American, an NSCAA First Team All-Southeast Region player, a Daktronics First Team All-Southeast Region player and a first team all-conference selection. He is a physical education major with a sport management concentration.
Godbout is a freshman from Mathews, N.C. She played in all 27 games, starting 18 of them, and averaged 10.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Godbout is a biology major with a pre-medical concentration.
In addition to the athlete of the year and freshmen of the year, Coker handed out awards for team MVP and coaches’ pick. They are as follows: Men’s soccer: Carlos Recinos, MVP; Atticus Lum, coaches’ pick. Women’s soccer: Sarah Rountree, MVP; Millie Rogers, coaches’ pick. Men’s cross country: Brandon Cain, MVP; Dylan Bates, coaches’ pick. Women’s cross country: Stephanie Shaw, MVP; Angela Williams, coaches’ pick. Women’s volleyball: Samantha Celek, MVP; Brittany Bass, coaches’ pick. Men’s basketball: Julian Nelson, MVP; Brenden Marcell, coaches’ pick. Women’s basketball: Amber Lau, MVP; Jasmine Alston, coaches’ pick. Men’s golf: Jake Murphy, MVP; Josh Clay, coaches’ pick. Women’s golf: Sara Allen, MVP; Mallory Thompkins, coaches’ pick. Softball: Stacy Burr, MVP; Jaclin Poole, coaches’ pick. Baseball: Dan Meyer, MVP; Kyle Gallman, coaches’ pick. Men’s tennis: Manel Estruga, MVP; Jeremy Curtis, coaches’ pick. Women’s tennis: Alyssa Blanchard, MVP; Cora Berna, coaches’ pick. Men’s lacrosse: Keith LaClair, MVP; Christian Stevens, coaches’ pick.

2012 Athletic Awards Ceremony Photo Gallery

For more information, contact Chris Dougherty, manager of athletics media relations, at 843-383-8018 or cdougherty@coker.edu.

Last Classes of the Semester at Coker College

This week is almost over when it comes to classes. And, it is only Tuesday. Monday and Tuesday are the last days of the semester for Coker College's Spring 2012. This morning is the final class for PR Writing and we are going to be finishing up with a news release about graduation.

As we go into the final class I got an infographic from a blogger at frugaldad that pertains to the class. It has to do with keeping a camera handy so that you can always grab the news. In today's fast-changing world it is important for communicators to keep the technology close at hand. This particular infographic touts the strength of the smart phone as the technology that can go everywhere and it also points out the changes that have happened in photography since the introduction of the smart phone camera technology. Lots of converged journalism operations have begun using this type of technology.

An interesting thing about this week is that just yesterday I had a request from a person for a recommendation for one of the students in this class. Talk about just-in-time education. Sure hope that inquiry turns into a job - the same hope I have for the other seniors who will be graduating from Coker on May 5.

Coker College holds Honors Convocation (4-9-12)

Coker College held its Honors Convocation for the 2011/2012 academic year in the Watson Theater on Monday night. Dean Tracy Parkinson, provost of the College, was hosting his first Honors Convocation and he told the audience one of his reasons for choosing Coker was the unique way the Colleges brings a focus to its Academic Excellence. He was referring not only to the Honors Convocation but to the "Celebration of Academics" that is taking place all week at the Hartsville, SC-based college.

There was recognition of Academic Excellence as those who have achieved the Dean's List and the National Honor Society and the Who's Who of Colleges and the Senior World Scholars and the Susan Coker Watson scholarship winners stood amid applause.

In a very personal touch, the seniors who will be completing their four years at Coker with honors were introduced to the audience by their faculty mentors. Those receiving College Honors after completion of a major Honor's Project include Rebeca Armentrout in Biology, Monte Jackson and Ivy Aldrich in English, Marlin Ketter in Music Education and Hannah Jumper in Psychology. Hannah is also a communication major.

Scholar Athletes
A most impressive list of student athletes was also honored as Academic All Conference members for the Conference Carolinas. Among those honored were Brendan Burns, Francisco Suarez, and Matthew Bowman of the baseball team; Jonathon Gardner of the basketball team; Thad Sulek, of the cross country team; Diego Polo and Matthew Kreider of the golf team. There were three men's soccer players -- Noah Lascell, Jonathan Pent and James Sweeney and Robyn Risher of the Women's cross country team. The women soccer players were Morgan Hartline and Sarah Kinsey. And Jennifer Sanborn, Katelyn McElveen and Rebecca Dillon received the all-conference award for the softball team. Becky Dillon, who is a communication major with a minor in both Spanish and Business was the Murphy Osborne Award Finalist from Coker. And, it did not stop there.

Academic All-American
The national Fastpitch Coaches Association named Jaclin Poole, Stacy Burr and Katelyn McElveen All-America Scholar Athletes. Two men's soccer players were named to the Academic All-District team, Tyler Staub and James Sweeney. Sweeney was also a Capital One Academic All-American, as well as the Conference Carolinas Scholar Athlete of the Year.

Departmental Awards

Many of the Coker College Departments chose outstanding students for their Departmental Awards.
Analisa Smith was named the award winner for the Art Department. Josh Bittinger, was the award winner for the Department of Behavioral and Social Science and Diego Polo was the winner for the Department of Business Administration.  Seth Johnson won the award for the Department of Communication, Language and Literature and Marlin Ketter was the winner in the Department of Dance, Music and Theater. Kimberly Edgerton was the winner for the Education Department, Robyn Risher for the Physical Education Department, Emma Hayes for the Department of Science and Mathematics and Patricia Medlin for the Department of Social Work.

Coker's Dance concert theme is Vantage Points

The Coker College Dance Department will open their Spring Concert called Vantage Points at 7:15 on Thursday evening. Here is an announcement that was recently distributed by Erin Leigh, assistant professor - dance.:

Vantage Points Opens Thursday
The Dance Program is proud to present Vantage Points, the 2012 Spring Dance Concert, this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The show begins with a pre-performance show and photo exhibit at 7:15 in Dance Studio 119 followed by the formal concert in the Watson Theater.

Dance Concert includes three Senior Thesis Projects

The concert is composed of works by Coker College dance faculty, Erin Leigh and Ashley Suttlar Martin, guest artists David Dorfman and Terrance Henderson, and senior thesis projects from Devin Jenning, Ali Nelson, and Meagan Stone. The evening provides an eclectic blend of perspectives or “vantage points” such as a 10 X10 cage or an 8’ tall platform, both designed and constructed by theater professor, David Lynn Dawson. A photo exhibit from Coker College alum John Shearer, video projections, and story telling complete this exciting evening.

Dancers would love to see you there
Please come out and support the dancers and choreographers who have worked so hard to put this great show together. We look forward to seeing you!

Coker Marcom student hear of "real world"

Suzy Fielders, a Coker graduate in communication came down from Winston-Salem, NC, to talk with the students about her life after Coker, which has included both graduate school and the working world. She is now with the Hays Group as a marketing person and has also opened her own Agency "Across the Horizons.




Jeanne Cerquone Yohn, who is the Glaxo Smith Kline in their executive communication area told members of the Coker College Marketing Communication class about the wide variety of opportunities that are available to communication majors. She has worked with a television station, a newspaper, trade publication, medical journal and now with a global company.Her daughter Hailey is a first-year student at Coker and a member of the Coker Women's basketball team.



Professionals give students an expanded view

As a Coker College instructor I am particularly grateful to people who will join our class to share some of their insights about how the "real world" works. Students also seem to really appreciate this expanded view and often spend more time after class getting additional conversation with the outside speakers.One of the projects on which the students are working is a marketing communication plan for the Inn and Scott Gupton of the Landmark has been to talk with the class on a couple of occasions.

Coker College hears from David Shribman

This has been quite a week (only Wednesday) from the perspective of a communication professor. Monday there was a presentation of "Enoch Arden" that featured art video by Seth Johnson, a senior who is majoring in both communication and art. He combined his artistic video talents with the Piano presentation by Dr. Jun Sato and the narration of Dr. Graham Wood to bring "Art" alive on stage. Seth worked closely with Dr. George Lellis, Professor of Communication, who advised through the creation of the piece.

Then on Tuesday night Sean Clark and his mother spoke to more than 200 students in the Watson Theater about the difference a decision (or lack of a decision) can make in your life. When I say that Sean spoke, that gets right to the interest of the presentation. Sean's computer spoke for him, since an alcohol-involved CRASH has left Sean without use of his voice or much of the right side of his body. But, today's technology and the fighting spirit of Sean and his mother combine for a strong presentation about thinking before drinking. The students in attendance gave Sean and his mother a heart-felt standing ovation. This was a great example for speech students and also a great example for my Persuasion students, as they got to see a real-life example of persuasive appeals toward basic human needs (exactly the chapter we happen to be looking at this week).

And, tonight the Coker campus hears from the Executive Editor of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, David Shribman, about the architecture of American Politics. After last night's wins by former Senator Santorum, this architecture should be of particular interest to all of us. This lecture is part of the Lois Walters Coker Lecture Series of Coker College.

For those interested, the news release announcing the lecture follows:




Pulitzer-Prize Winner David Shribman to Present Lois Walters Coker Lecture

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – March 7, 2012 – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Executive Editor David Shribman will present the 2012 Lois Walters Coker Lecture at 7:30 p.m. March 14 in the Watson Theater of the Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center.

“We are delighted to welcome Mr. Shribman to campus this month,” said Coker College President Robert Wyatt. “He has built a career that is founded in the highest standards of a liberal education – ideals that have always been at the heart of the Lois Walters Coker Lecture Series.

“Day in and day out, his readers benefit from lessons learned through classical training in the arts and sciences – from literature and history to fine art, mathematics and science – coherently applied to complex issues of public policy and citizenship.”

“David Shribman represents everything that’s good about journalism, and none of the flaws that frustrate so many Americans,” said Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne Jr.

“He’s driven by a thirst for understanding, a hunger for getting the facts right and in context, a passion for fairness, and a devotion to journalism’s essential role in making democracy work. With the depth and breadth of his knowledge about American history, he could win a contest with the very best American historians. And he is a thoroughly engaging human being. Coker is in for a great treat.”

Shribman, who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in journalism in 1995 for his coverage of Washington and the American political scene, will speak on “The New Architecture of American Politics.” His lecture will explore the presidential campaign, considering, in particular, the way it reflects – and causes – changes in the way we conduct our politics.

If time permits, Shribman will entertain audience questions following the lecture.

Shribman became executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2003. He came to Pittsburgh from The Boston Globe where he was assistant managing editor, columnist and Washington bureau chief.

A regular panelist on the Public Broadcasting Service show "Washington Week in Review," Shribman is a frequent analyst for BBC radio. His "I Remember My Teacher," a tribute to the nation’s great educators, was published in April 2002. Mr. Shribman also edited, with Edward Connery Lathem, the book “Miraculously Builded in Our Hearts: A Dartmouth Reader,” published in 1999. He has lectured at universities and colleges around the country.

Shribman joined The Boston Globe after serving as national political correspondent for The Wall Street Journal. Prior to that, he covered Congress and national politics for The New York Times and was a member of the national staff of The Washington Star. A native of Salem, Massachusetts, he began his career at The Buffalo Evening News, where he worked on the city staff before being assigned to the paper's Washington bureau.

Shribman is an emeritus member of the Board of Trustees of Dartmouth College and of the Board of Visitors of the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for the Social Sciences at Dartmouth. Graduating summa cum laude from Dartmouth College, Shribman was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. He did graduate work as a James Reynolds Scholar at Cambridge University in England.


About the 2011-2012 Lois Walters Coker Lecture Series

The annual Lois Walters Coker Lecture Series is a program established in 2000 to bring internationally recognized experts in science, history and public affairs to campus. Among those who have given the lecture are U.S. Senator Elizabeth H. Dole; Holmes Rolston, III, winner of the 2003 Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion; Lucille Clifton, former Poet Laureate of the State of Maryland; and Yale University Dean of the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies James Gustave Speth.

Walters Coker, now deceased, was the daughter of the late Theodore A. Walters, former Idaho Attorney General and Assistant Secretary of the Interior under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. She came to Hartsville in 1936 when she married Robert R. Coker, a leading agriculturist and businessman, who for many years headed Coker Pedigreed Seed Company. Robert Coker was the grandson of Major James Lide Coker, founder of Coker College and Sonoco Products Company.

Walters Coker loved and supported learning throughout her life. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Idaho and a Master of Arts in American History from the University of California at Berkeley. She taught in a one-room schoolhouse in rural Idaho, at a college in Washington, D.C., and in Hartsville’s public schools. In addition to researching and writing a history of Hartsville, Walters Coker served as the national director of the Tamassee D.A.R. School near Greenville and on the Darlington County School Board.

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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 College Relations
Coker College

Coker College spring break coming to close

the Coker lacrosse team is playing near Philadelphia as this is written. They are working hard in this first year of the sport on the Coker campus. It was a long road trip to add some new sights to the season. Coker baseball in action today. Softball is playing and tennis went against Division One Liberty today. The Coker athletes had a fairly busy spring break. They will likely be happy to start seeing other classmates on Sunday.

As break comes to an end the clocks are going forward, vining a whole new look to late afternoon. I think we will like that? this week is full of night events and lots happening. These next eight weeks will probably disappear but they will be full of exciting events on the Coker campus.