Athletics Academic Award Banquet Celebrates Achievement

Lotta Aaltonen of Finland and a four-year member of the Coker Cobra Women's basketball team was awarded Academic Athlete of the Year at Coker College during an awards dinner on March 31.

Dr. Robert Wyatt, president of Coker College, congratulates the academic award winners of the various athletic teams at Coker. This was the largest number of athletes to win major academic honor in most people's memories. I think I was invited because I am a member of the Faculty Athletics Committee and I really enjoyed seeing the athletes honored for their academic achievements. I was amazed at the number of students who had 4.0 semesters.

Jessica Covington and Becky Dillon are communication majors honored for their academic achievement. Jessica is a member of the Coker cheerleading squad and Becky is a pitcher/outfielder for the Coker softball team.

Inauguration was a fun event at Coker College

Dr. Robert Wyatt was inaugurated as the 16th president of Coker College on Friday, March 26, 2001. The inauguration was the culmination of a full week of activities that were billed as "All Things Coker." It was truly an interesting week and the Inauguration itself was a great event for The Academy. Here are a couple of photos and maybe a short video. If the video gets here, there will be a short segment of Dr. Wyatt's daughter Laura singing. Her entire fourth grade class got to come to the event.

Dr, Wyatt's inaugural presentation was built around the theme he defined for the inauguration and for the first years of his presidency, "Redefining Ready At Coker College."

Graduate Students shares some ideas with Coker Communication Seminar

Tyson Thompson, a 2008 graduate of Coker College with a major in communication, visited the campus on March 29th and shared some information about Graduate School with members of the Coker Communication Senior Seminar. Tyson talked about his Sport Management Program at West Virginia University, one of the top ranked in the USA. He talked to the class about internships that were important to getting him into the program as well as some of the interesting things he has been able to work on as part of the WVU program. This was part of the "Morrie" section of this seminar. That is when people from outside come in and share ideas, experiences and often life insights with the students. Tyson is in the same age group as my students and I think his experience with graduate school did provide some insights for the class.

Seems that the Blogger program is not allowing photos today so I will post this without the photo. The students and I really appreciate the time that people give to this section of the class and Tyson's talk was right on target.

KIVA cofounder tells her story to Coker College Community

Inauguration Week at Coker College has been highlight after highlight and the Lois Walters Coker Lecturer Jessica Jackley, co-founder of KIVA made a dynamic presentation that truly demonstrated the theme of this week. Dr. Robert Wyatt, who is being inaugurated as the 16th President of Coker College on March 26, adopted the theme of "redefining ready" for the Inauguration Week. This is the way the theme is described: "Preparing our students for the world as it was, or even as it is, does them a serious disservice. We have to help them to succeed regardless of what the future brings. We have to Redefine Ready. Instead of our graduates wondering, "Am I ready for the real world?" we want them asking, "Is the real world ready for me?"

Jessica Jackley is one of those people making a difference in the world today who could have asked that question. Her KIVA organization is "Changing Lives One Loan at a Time." We will link KIVA so you can learn more. But, Ms Jackley's presentation is educational, energetic and empowering. One person can make a difference!

Photo One -- Jessica Jackley, left, talking with Becky Sullivan, student body president, Steve and Paula Terry.
Photo Two -- View of the stage as Dr. Will Carswell welcomes the speaker on behalf of the Coker Faculty.

Coker Inauguration Week is Exciting

The planners of the Coker College 16th President Inauguration have to be smiling from ear to ear tonight as their nearly week-long planning is producing fantastic event after fantastic event. Minutes ago a full house at the Elizabeth Boatwright Performing Arts Center gave a standing ovation to faculty, students, alumni and friends who staged an exciting, funny, musical, innovative PERFORMING ARTS SHOWCASE. Earlier today faculty and students presented panels and research that were well attended by students and colleagues. On Monday and Tuesday students presented academic research in poster sessions and in presentations.

Several months ago Dr. Robert Wyatt, Coker's 16th president, told the Faculty Senate his wish and goal was for the inauguration to showcase all things Coker. As we go through this week day by day he is able to watch this goal being achieved over and over. His theme for this event is Coker - Redefining Ready. Along the way he may be redefining inaugurations.

It is hard not to want to congratulate all those who were involved in the planning of this event and all those who are bringing together such masterful events. So -- Congratulations to the organizers and participants!

First Photo -- Dr. George Lellis doing a faculty presentation on a German film maker
Second Photo -- Reception following the Performing Arts Showcase

Student Research Presentations Highlighted Monday

Dr. Jen Borgo did an amazing job of bring the Student Research Symposium to life Monday afternoon on the first day of Coker College Inauguration Week. The presentations ran on time and the students I saw appeared ready, if a little nervous, for this academic endeavor. The subjects were impressive and the scope of the research broad. Dr. Wyatt, who is being inaugurated on Friday of this week, spent the afternoon listening and rating the projects. Dr. Lincoln, Coker provost, was also listening closely to the many presentations. At Coker, we talk about being a student-centered community of learning. You don't have to listen to the words, you can judge by the actions. This is one great, concrete example of what we mean by being a student-centered learning community.

Coker Communication Seminar Students hear from Television News Anchor

Rusty Ray, the morning news anchor from WBTW -- Myrtle Beach and Florence, was on the campus of Coker College Monday morning to share some thoughts about a communication career with members of the Communication Senior Seminar. One section of this seminar is something I call "Fridays with Morrie." Sometimes we do this segment on days other than Friday but it is an opportunity for students to get some life lessons from people with whom they don't normally interact. Rusty Ray, who has talked with my media writing classes on occasion, drove up from Myrtle Beach to join us for a Monday/Morrie segment. First -- thanks to Rusty for making this trip.
WHAT DID HE COVER?
Next, the students got to hear from someone who has now been in the broadcasting business since 2002, soon after his graduation from the journalism program at the University of Maryland. Next, the students got to hear from someone who is rapidly approaching his 30th birthday and who find that he is viewing life differently than he did at 22 or 23. Rusty covered a bit about the world of journalism, a bit about the world of a television reporter and a bit of living and learning. I am never certain what the students learn but these are valuable class periods for the professor, reconfirming for me why it is important for students to get information from beyond the classroom walls.
EXAMPLES OF SOME IDEAS
What was Rusty's first idea? He told the students what it was like for him finding a job back in 2002. "I sent out 45 tapes of my work, I did not get one response." We discuss the idea that finding a job is often the most difficult job you will have and this was a first-hand view of that concept. He also mentioned how the economy had affected the news room and the numbers of jobs lost in 2009. But, the TV-13 morning news anchor also had some good news about things in the economy. He said it appears that things are turning a corner and that there may be more hiring in the coming months.

I really enjoy these "Morrie" class segments; and my hope is the students get as much from them as I do.