Changing Minds. Changing Lives. New brand taking Voorhees by storm

DOUBLE COVER EDITION

FLIP TO THE OTHER SIDE!

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Voorhees College Family and Friends,

The Voorhees College family extends a warm welcome to all of our loyal high school and junior college graduates, baccalaureate graduates, family and friends. It is with great pleasure to share the events of this administration’s first year at Voorhees. From Voorhees’ inception in 1897, our mission has been to offer all students a quality, comprehensive general educational experi-ence, coupled with professional education in a value-centered liberal arts tra-dition. Our mission exemplifies the beliefs of our beloved founder, Mrs. Eliza-beth Evelyn Wright-Menafee. Campus pride is shown every day by our faculty, staff and students. We have launched our new branding campaign, “Changing minds. Changing Lives.”

We are changing our emphasis into a new era for our beloved institution. A great philosopher once said, “change is inevitable, but growth is intentional.” Take a look at our website and see the change. Come visit the campus and see the new majors and minors. Come visit and meet the Class of 2013, which is the largest freshman class in 10 years. Change continues. The Division of Business and Professional Studies successfully received re-accreditation and the college is busy preparing for the SACS re-accreditation in 2012. Voorhees has a dynamic leadership team comprised of faculty, staff and students to steer the institution toward a successful re-affirmation. As we continue with change, the college plans to implement a $25 million capital campaign that will assist with the addition of new residential living and learning facilities, state of the art science and fine arts build-ings as well as a Student and Fitness Wellness Center. Additionally, the capital campaign will allow the in-stitution to enable additional resources for faculty development and provide substantial financial support to provide more scholarships that will increase the number of academically talented students. As president, I would like to encourage you to continue supporting the vision of Voorhees. We want you to know that Voorhees provides a nurturing, supportive environment for each of our students, that we are concerned with the total transformation of our students- not only academically, but spiritually and socially as well. We want the world to know that we are cultivating a community of scholars. We want parents to know that their child is safe with educators who care about his or her success, that their child is receiving a quality, affordable education. “We are Voorhees: A Community of Scholars!” Now that you have had the opportunity to learn about our path and strategic goals for the future, my chal-lenge to you is, “What can we do as a family to help Voorhees continue to fulfill its mission and achieve its vision?” These are exciting times and I am hopeful by your encouragement and enthusiasm. I am thankful that I have you, the Voorhees family, to help us meet the challenges. Sincerely,

Cleveland L. Sellers, Jr., EdD President P.S. A special note to Voorhees College High School and Junior College Graduates: We REALLY need your help! Come home to Voorhees!

The Voorhees VOICE

PRESIDENT Dr. Cleveland L. Sellers, Jr. VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Courtney L. Davenport EDITOR Teesa Johnson Brunson Director of Communications

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Jayme Bradford Priscilla V. Ferrette Cheryl D. McMichael Dr. Sandra Rouse Curtiss Sumner CONTRIBUTORS Dorothy Patterson, Director of Alumni Relations Cecil Williams Photography, LLC Lenora Caldwell, Student Amarantha Davis, Student Shampale Williams, Student The Voorhees Voice is published for alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends of Voorhees College. All items may be reproduced with credit to the Voorhees Voice. Comments or suggestions should be addressed to:

Teesa Johnson Brunson

Voorhees College P.O. Box 678

Denmark, S.C. 29042 (803) 780-1194

tbrunson@voorhees.edu

www.voorhees.edu

Let your VOICE be heard!

In each issue, we include information on the ac-complishments of our alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends. Send story ideas and updates to

tbrunson@voorhees.edu.

Voorhees College

P.O. Box 678 ~ Denmark, SC 29042 ~ (803) 780-1191

Alumnus appointed to Obama’s administration

Springs joins the Financial Stu-dent Aid (FSA) as senior advisor to the chief operating officer for traditionally under-resourced schools

Voorhees has a new look

A new brand/logo is revealed at Voorhees

Student wins HALO award Freshman student is winner of first-ever HALO award

New chairman

Voorhees elects a new chairman of the Board

Fowler: new chairman

T he Voorhees College Board of Trustees unani-mously appointed Dr. Donald L. Fowler, who

has served on the board since 1983, as the new chairman of the board. Fowler is the chairman of Fowler Communications, Inc., a public re-lations and governmental affairs firm in Columbia. He began teach-ing at the University of South Carolina in 1964, where he now serves as an adjunct instructor of American politics in the political science department. Retiring in 1987, Fowler served for 30 years in the United States Army as an active duty officer and reservist. He also is a former chair of the Democratic National Com-mittee and the South Carolina De-mocratic Party. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology at Wofford College, and a Master of Arts and a doctoral degree from the Univer-sity of Kentucky in political sci-ence. He is a native of Spartanburg.

Fowler is currently a board of visitors member for the Univer-sity of South Carolina and the University of Kentucky. He is also a life member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. In addition, Fowler received the Order of Palmetto under for-mer South Carolina governors John C. West, Richard Riley and Jim Hodges. “I accept the board's charge as both a privilege and a chal-lenge,” Fowler said. “Voorhees College has been a great, c o n t r i b u t i n g institution in South Carolina that has experi-enced some dif-ficulty in recent years. But with our exceptionally fine president, Dr. Cleveland Sellers, our best years are ahead of us.” As chairman of the board, Fowler is replacing former chair-man Dr. Marshall B. Bass, who served on the board since 1995 and as chair of the board since 1998. Bass is president of Mar-shall B. Bass and Associates, a management consultant firm in Winston-Salem, N.C. Fowler spoke highly of the leadership Bass has demonstrated as the chair. “Marshall Bass can-not be replaced as chair of the Voorhees College Board of Trus-tees. He has been a magnificent leader and indeed the savior of our beautiful college.” The Voorhees College Board of Trustees also selected Mary

Ellen Moule to serve as the vice chair of the board replacing St. Clair Guess, III. Moule has served on the board since 2007. Moule is currently a pro se staff attorney in the eastern district of New York. She earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Yale Law School, a master’s degree at Cor-nell University and a bachelor’s degree from Williams College in Massachusetts. Fowler and Moule’s new posi-

tions will be effective Jan. 1, 2010. In addition, new mem-bers to the board in-clude: Sena-tor John L. Scott Jr. of R i c h l a n d

County District 19, who is also owner of J.L. Scott Realty Com-pany, Inc.; Representative Harold Mitchell of Spartanburg County District 31, who is also the ex-ecutive director of the Regenesis Community Health Center of Spartanburg; Virginia L. Crocker, judicial director at the South Carolina Workers’ Com-pensation Commission; Dr. Mi-chael A. Smith, who is currently a student at the Medical Univer-sity of South Carolina and ex-pected to graduate in May 2010; and Veronica Gromada, an asso-ciate attorney for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

“I accept the board's charge as both a privilege and a challenge.”

-Dr. Don L. Fowler

4 SPRING/FALL 2009

Voorhees welcomes largest freshman class

V oorhees College P r e s i d e n t Cleveland L. Sellers, Jr. was

excited to begin the 2009-2010 academic year with the largest freshman class in 10 years. The total new student enrollment at Voorhees College to date is 340 stu-

dents, which includes transfer students and first-time adult education stu-dents. “We are pleased to see that so many students have chosen Voorhees College as their home for the next four years,” Sellers said. “Voorhees is moving for-ward with expansion plans

and continuing to be a student-centered envi-ronment.” Focusing on reclaiming South Carolina as a recruitment territory and recruiting from the bordering state of Georgia were the primary factors that contributed to the 86 percent in-crease in enrollment. “The Office of Admissions, along with En-rollment Management Dean Willie Jefferson, conducted extensive research of geographical market segments that normally yield students to Voorhees,” said Joseph Montgomery, direc-tor of admissions. “By conducting this research, it allowed the college to establish primary and secondary recruitment areas.” Voorhees also saw a record number of appli-cants this year. “We had a total of 2,869 appli-cants this year compared to the 1,791 appli-cants last year,” Montgomery said. Voorhees has prepared for the record number of students in the Class of 2013 by adding addi-tional faculty members. The student-faculty ratio at Voorhees remains 15:1. The total ex-pected enrollment for this academic year is 650.

English reinstated as a major

Freshman students participate in the annual candlelight ceremony around the Ebe-nezer Rock on campus.

Voorhees has reinstated English for the 2009-2010 academic year. Dr. Don L. Powell, coordinator of the new major, said the pur-pose of adding the major was to continue developing vital pro-grams at the institution. “Voorhees College is a well-established liberal arts institu-tion. At this point, a significant void exists in its academic offer-ings because it is without an

English major. With the reinstate-ment of English, this will rectify the current situation.” Some of the classes that make up the curriculum for the English ma-jor are American Literature I and II, Romantic Literature, World Literature, African-American Lit-erature, History of the English Language, Shakespeare and Mil-ton. Students will also be able to minor in English by completing 18

hours. Powell also stated that the addition of the English major was the result of interest ex-pressed by current students. “More than 300 surveys were distributed to freshmen, sopho-mores, juniors and undeclared majors to determine student in-terest. The survey forms re-turned indicated a definite inter-est in the new English major on the part of some students.”

SPRING/FALL 2009 5

Robert W. Patrick, superintendent of Talbot County Schools in Talbotton, Ga.

6 SPRING/FALL 2009

“I change myself, I change the world” Voorhees student is honored for his commitment to the community

M eeting NBA s u p e r s t a r L e b r o n James and

grammy award-winning singer Alicia Keys and be-ing awarded $10,000 were just two of the fabulous perks that Voorhees stu-dent Darrius Snow re-ceived for the hard work that he puts into his com-munity. Snow, a freshman and native of Atlanta, Ga., was the winner of the first-ever TeenNick HALO (Helping and Leading Others) Award. The TeenNick HALO Awards was a new concept in awards shows that fea-tured four mega-celebrities awarding deserving teens in support of each teen’s philanthropic causes. The mega-celebrities partici-

“The kids in my community deserve this award more. Without them, this award would not have happened.” Some of the community service events that B-Team participates in

include community day cleanup, back-to-school fundraisers for student supplies, after-school tu-toring programs and feeding the homeless. As the recipient of the TeenNick HALO Award, Snow received $10,000 in scholarship money to attend Voorhees and $10,000 to enhance his or-ganization. Snow was orphaned at age 2 and raised by his oldest cousin, Vivilore Rogers. Snow became the first person in his family to graduate from high school and attend college. Graduating from high school with a 3.5 grade point average, Snow also earned a Dean’s scholar-ship to Voorhees College. The TeenNick HALO Awards highlighted the unique story of Snow, along with the three other nominees for the award.

pating were Lebron James, Alicia Keys, Hayden Panet-tiere and Justin Timberlake. The awards show was hosted and produced by TeenNick Chairman Nick Cannon, and it premiered on Dec. 11 on TeenNick. The show also featured an exclusive personal message from First Lady Michelle Obama. Snow, who is 19 years old, founded Bankhead Teens Encouraging Action by Motivating (B-TEAM) in 2005, which is an organi-zation that strives to moti-vate its community by de-veloping strong minds, en-couraging academic excel-lence and increasing social responsibility. “It was an honor to re-ceive this award on behalf of the children in my neighborhood,” Snow said.

Snow is pictured above with celebrities Lebron James and Nick Can-non.

Snow is pictured above with participants of the organization he founded, Bankhead Teens Encouraging Action by Motivating (B-TEAM).

“It was an honor to receive this award on behalf of the children in my neighborhood.”

-Darrius Snow

SPRING/FALL 2009 7

Shampale Williams crowned Miss Voorhees College.

“Captured in a Dream: A Fairytale Come True”

Shampale Williams crowned Miss Voorhees College.

“Captured in a Dream: A Fairytale Come True”

S ince i ts founding in 1897, Voor-hees has strived to live up to the values of its founder,

Elizabeth Evelyn Wright-Menafee. Persistence, deter-mination and resilience have always guided the goals and principles of Voorhees. To continue on the path of greatness that Wright-Menafee began 112 years ago, but also convey a sense of progress and transformation, Voorhees has launched a new brand, “Changing Minds. Changing Lives.” “Voorhees is not only cele-brating our proud heritage, but also looking forward to a brighter future with our new

Changing Minds. Changing Lives. How Voorhees is looking ahead to the future

brand,” President Sellers said. “We understand that we must never forget where we come from, but we must also be prepared and focus on be-ing innovative.” Importance of the new Brand The new brand that out-lines a book showing three pages represents the three stages of Voorhees College. From its beginning when the school was the Voorhees Normal and Industrial School, to Voorhees Junior College, and to what it is to-day, Voorhees College. “The new brand is not only our integrated marketing plan, it is also our way of con-tinually telling the Voorhees story in a unique way,” Sell-

Feature Story

[Top] President Sellers with ADCO representatives Jessica Woodrum (left) and Lora Prill. [Bottom] Vice President of Institutional Advancement Courtney L. Davenport passes out giveaways to students.

10 SPRING/FALL 2009

BY TEESA BRUNSON

ers said. Developing the new Brand Developing the new brand was a year-long process that involved focus groups with alumni, faculty, staff and stu-dents. In addition, the results of surveys from the different Voorhees constituents played a big role. The Division of Institutional Advancement led the planning effort. “Once arriving on Voorhees’ campus a little over a year ago, not only did I see all of the po-tential the institution has, but I also saw room for improve-ment,” said Courtney L. Daven-port, vice president of Institu-tional Advancement. “I quickly realized that Voor-hees had to develop one mes-sage and begin to tell this mes-sage consistently to everyone.” In the past, Voorhees has used several different logos. From the logo that was mostly recognized, which was a picture of a dome, to variations of a “V” design, it was critical for Voor-

hees to develop one logo with one message for everyone to begin us-ing. Voorhees contracted ADCO, a marketing firm in Columbia, to as-sist with developing a new brand for the institution. Along with the new brand in-cluded a new Web site and all new promotional materials. Meaning of the new Brand The theme, “Changing Minds. Changing Lives,” was developed because of the overall “Voorhees experience” that students receive. When speaking with current students and alumni, the overall conclusion was that Voorhees transforms its students. “When I first arrived at Voor-hees, I was not a student with the highest grades and the most confi-dence,” said Gordon English II, 2004 alumnus and current assistant professor in the business depart-ment at Voorhees. “Once I matriculated through the institution and graduated, I felt that there was nothing that I could not accomplish.” “Voorhees has a way of building

up a student’s pride and giving them not only the skills, but also the confidence, to go out and conquer the world.” English has not only received his master’s degree and cur-rently pursuing his doctoral degree, but he is also the coach of the Honda Campus All-Star Team and the first-ever debate team. The Voorhees College Debate Team was one of only two His-torically Black Colleges and

“Voorhees is not only celebrating our proud heri-

tage, but also looking forward to a brighter future

with our new brand. We understand that we must

never forget where we come from, but we must

also be prepared and focus on being innovative.”

-President Sellers

Shampale Williams, Miss Voorhees College, during the event

SPRING/FALL 2009 11

“Voorhees has a way of building up a stu-

dent’s pride and giving them not only the

skills, but also the confidence, to go out and

conquer the world.” -Gordon English II

Universities to partici-pate in the Inauguration Debate Series, which was one of the events surrounding the inaugu-ration of President Barack Obama. Not only excelling in academics, Voorhees has also researched its foun-der, Elizabeth Evelyn Wright-Menafee, to better understand her life story and the hard-ships she endured estab-lishing the institution. In April 2009, faculty, staff and students trav-eled to not only Talbot-ton, Ga., which is where Wright-Menafee was reared, but also to Tus-kegee University for-merly Tuskegee Indus-trial Institute where she received her bachelor’s degree. The pilgrimage was a compelling journey of the life and times of Wright-Menafee. “My life was changed after the pilgrimage we took,” said Jasmine Ad-dison, a sophomore

mathematics major.

[Top] One of the most recognized logos that Voorhees has used in the past [Bottom] The most recent logo for Voorhees

“After seeing how Mrs. Elizabeth Evelyn Wright persevered through all of her trials and tribulations, I know that I must not only be a better student at Voorhees, but I must also give back to my community by helping young adults succeed once I graduate.” “Changing Minds. Changing Lives,” is not just a theme for Voor-hees, it is reality. “As Voorhees moves forward, we will con-tinually strive to reach our goal of becoming a premier liberal arts in-stitution dedicated to changing the lives of our students,” President Sellers said.

12 SPRING/FALL 2009

SPRING/FALL 2009 13

April 10, 2010

Presidential Scholarship Gala

Voorhees College will be hosting its first Presidential Scholarship Gala to award more scholarship money to deserving students. For more information, contact the Division of Institutional Advance-ment at 803-780-1191.

President Sellers receives honorary degree

President Sellers was awarded an honorary Doctor of Civil Law from Sewanee: The University of the South, located in Sewanee, Tenn.

Miss Voorhees featured In Essence Magazine

Shampale Williams, Miss Voor-hees College, was featured in an article in the November 2009 is-sue of Essence Magazine. The article, which is titled "Scared Straight," focuses on campus queens having natural hair. “Being featured in Essence Magazine is one of my greatest accomplishments as Miss Voor-hees College,” Williams said. “As Miss Voorhees College, one of my goals was to assist Voorhees with gaining more national expo-sure.” Voorhees chosen to participate

in Budgetball Tournament Voorhees College has been se-lected as one of ten Historically Black Colleges and Universities to participate in the Budgetball Civic Engagement initiative. The purpose of the Budgetball Civic Engagement Initiative is to help young adults take charge of their own financial future. Voorhees College will receive $6,000 to support this initiative. The training session for the

Voorhees voices recognized for the first time

For the first time in history, a student from Voorhees College participated in the “105 Voices of History HBCU Concert Choir.” The choir, which consists of a representative from every HBCU, performs annually during the Na-tional HBCU Week Celebration in Washington, D.C. The 2009 conference was held August 26-30. André Grant, a junior business major from Charleston, S.C. flew on a plane for the first time to participate in the 2009 perform-ance that was held on August 30 at the Kennedy Center. “This experience will always be remembered as one of my major accomplishments in my college career. All of my hard work and dedication on the Voorhees Col-lege Concert Choir was rewarded by being selected to participate on the choir and represent my institution.”

Blake wins first place for research

Rashell Black, a senior biology major from Kingston, Jamaica, won first place at the Louis Stokes Minorities in Research competition. Blake presented her research on epidemiology from her summer internship at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Budgetball tournament will be held January 6-8, 2010 in Washington, DC. The National Academy of Public Administration will provide finan-cial support for Voorhees to engage students in the Budgetball Civic Engagement Initiative.

Teacher Education Program approved by Peer Review Team

Dr. Doris Matthews, director of the Teacher Education Program, has been informed that the new Voorhees College Elementary Edu-cation Program proposal has been approved by the Peer Review Team. The next step in the process is forwarding the proposal to the Professional Review Committee (PRC), and upon approval, the pro-posal will be taken before the South Carolina Board of Education.

The business school’s accreditation reaffirmed

The business department, which is a component of the Division of Business and Professional Studies, has been approved by the Commis-sion of the Association of Colle-giate Business Schools and Pro-grams (ACBSP) for reaffirmation of national accreditation.

14 SPRING/FALL 2009

Lewis appointed as head softball coach

Voorhees College recently named Tifanie Lewis as its new head coach for the girl’s softball team. She played catcher throughout her college career at South Caro-lina State University. She was named Rookie of the Week in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) division in 2004. She was later recognized as the Best Defensive Player Award. Lewis is currently working on her Master of Business Admini-stration degree at Claflin Univer-sity. Voorhees students in Brazil

for exchange program Voorhees accounting students Steven Fletcher, senior, Kyle Lawton, senior, and Arious Salley, junior, are in Brazil at-tending college at the Federal Centers for Technical Education College (CEFET/RJ) as part of an exchange program. The exchange program be-tween Voorhees College in the United States and CEFET/RJ) in Brazil is jointly sponsored by a grant from the United States De-partment of Education (FIPES/CAPES) and the Brazil Depart-ment of Education. "The Voorhees/CEFET/RJ student exchange program is such a big advantage for students from both countries because it provides students with the tools and knowledge to succeed in the

global market place,” said Dr. David Caslan, project director and accounting professor. Voorhees selected as April 2010

Tom Joyner School of the Month

Voorhees College will be the 2010 School of the Month for the Tom Joyner Foundation. As a Tom Joyner Foundation School of the Month participant, Voorhees will partner with the foundation to better leverage its brand and name with the corporate partners of the Tom Joyner Morn-ing Show and Foundation, to in-crease overall visibility, and to raise funds with the foundation to provide scholarships to deserving students. In addition, Voorhees College's name will be announced each day during the month of April to the Tom Joyner School of the Month listening audience and posted on Radio One Web site.

Student center reopened

During the fall 2009 semester, Voorhees reopened the doors to the student center. With the reopen-ing, Voorhees students are able to enjoy many exciting additions such as two new pool tables, a flat screen television, a Nintendo WII game system and a foosball table. Timothy Kentopp, chief techno-logical officer for Voorhees, plans to triple the effort put into the stu-dent center this year by adding four more televisions and a slew of

game-ready networked personal computers. The E.E. Wright Players make

their semester debut The E.E. Wright Players had their first performance of the se-mester in November performing the play, “Twelve Angry Jurors.” The drama depicts 12 ap-pointed jurors with very different personalities trying to come to a unanimous decision about a mur-der trial. The play, based on the 1957 movie “12 Angry Men,” was di-rected by Ulysses Williams, as-sistant professor of mass commu-nications and drama coach.

Students produce new bi-monthly newspaper

During fall 2009, students spent countless hours producing a new student newspaper, The Voor-hees Paw Print. The Voorhees Paw Print is a tabloid-size newspaper that will be printed bi-monthly. The first issue was printed and distributed in November during Homecoming Week. Staff members of The Voorhees Paw Print include Shante’ John-son, editor-in-chief, Shaniqua Bennett, Justin Curry, Alex Gallman, Isaiah Lee, Charity Price, Renee Strickland and Shampale Williams.

SPRING/FALL 2009 15

Alumnus poetry featured in Essence Magazine Voorhees 1994 graduate Sanchez Gardner’s poem was featured in the Sep-tember issue of Essence Magazine. The title of the poem was “Blackness.” Sanchez’s poetry reflects the African-American perspective on love, life and politics. Gardner has been writing since 2004 and encourages young writers to read everything that they get their hands on. “I will give young people the advice that Nikki Giovanni gave me, “read

everything that you come across to be exposed to new things.”

Springs appointed to position in President Obama’s admini-stration Voorhees graduate, Lenny F. Springs II, has been appointed to President Obama’s administration joining Financial Student Aid (FSA) as senior advisor to the chief operating officer for tradition-ally under-resourced schools. Springs began his career in 1974 as a field representative for the Labor Education Advancement Program for the Columbia Urban League in South Carolina. He was also an assistant vice president of community relations for Southern Bank and Trust in Greenville prior to his position as senior vice president of the Corporate Rela-tions Division at First Union National Bank. In addition, Springs served as president of The S-Group, Inc, an organizational development and a strategic management firm in Charlotte, N.C. that specializes in implementing Supplier Diver-sity initiatives, Community Development, CRA Compliance, and Business Development processes, as well as Community Relations Consulting within an organization. Springs has been recognized as one of America’s top corporate officers by Dollars and Sense magazine. He has more than 30 years of experience in developing and managing community reinvest-ment programs in the banking industry and non-profits sector. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1968 in business ad-ministration and did post graduate studies at the University of South Carolina.

18 SPRING/FALL 2009

Voorhees alumnus accepts position as superinten-dent Voorhees alumnus Dr. Deonia

Simmons was recently ap-pointed superintendent of

Hampton School District Two. Simmons has been in

the education profession for approximately 15 years. He be-

gan his teaching career in 1993 in Yu-lee, Fla. at Yulee Middle School.

He later became principal of Yulee Middle School, where he served in the capacity for six years prior his current position as superintendent. Simmons said that one of his greatest professional accomplishments was having his school designated as an “A” school by the Florida Department of Educa-tion for four consecutive years. He earned his master’s and doctoral degrees from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Simmons graduated from Voorhees in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. While at Voorhees, he was captain of the Men’s Basketball team and an active member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Martin accepts position as executive vice presi-dent Dr. Pamela Martin Wilson, a 1994 Voorhees gradu-ate, was recently appointed to executive vice presi-dent at Allen University. Prior to this position, Wilson served as associate vice president of academic and student affairs and chair of the Division of Humanities and Social Sci-ence at Allen University. Wilson graduated with a Bachelor of Science de-gree in English Communications. She went on to receive a Master of Arts degree in English from Indiana State University and a doctoral degree in English at Ohio State University. Some of Wilson’s awards and honors include the Excellence in Teaching Award in South Carolina’s Independent College and Universities, Who’s Who Among Teachers in American Colleges and Univer-sities and membership in Phi Kappa National Honor Society, Chapter 155, at Ohio State University. Wilson’s professional affiliations include Associa-tion for Business Communication, Modern Lan-guage Association and National Council for Teach-ers in English.

Voorhees College is looking for all alumni! If you have relocated or lost your connection with the Voorhees family, please provide

the information below. Voorhees looks forward to reconnecting with you!

MAIDEN NAME: ________________________________________________

NAME: ________________________________________________

GRADUATION YEAR: _____________________

ADDRESS: ________________________________________________

________________________________________________

E-MAIL ADDRESS: ________________________________________________

PHONE: (HOME) _____________________

(CELL) _____________________

Please mail to the Office of Alumni Relations ~ P.O. Box 678 ~ Denmark, S.C. 29042

If you wish to share any news or

updates with Voorhees to be

published in The Voorhees

Voice, please contact Dorothy

Patterson, director of alumni

relations, at (803) 780-1192 or at

dpatterson@voorhees.edu.

Let your VOICE be heard!

SPRING/FALL 2009 19

Reverend William Courtsworthy Weaver

Reverend William Courtsworthy Weaver, who passed May 16, was a loyal, committed and dedicated son of Voorhees. He was a graduate of Edgefield Academy and a 1951 Voorhees School and Junior College graduate. He served two years in the United States Army during the Korea Conflict. He was a graduate of Allen University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in social stud-ies. He earned a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree from the Philadelphia Divinity School and a Master of Divinity degree from the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass. He did post graduate studies at the College of Preachers at the National Cathe-dral, the Graduate School of Theology and the University of the South in Tenn. Father Weaver was ordained on June 24, 1960 at St. Philip’s Episcopal Chapel at Voorhees. He became a trustee of Voorhees School and Junior College for a four-year term in 1960. He retired on July 11, 1995 after 35 years of service as a priest in the Episco-pal Church. He was a retired director of guidance at James Island High School in Charleston. He also served as a teacher and assistant principal at Central High School in Louisville, Ky. He was appointed commissioner of mental health by former Gov. Jim Hodges for Charleston and Dorchester Counties. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Historic Charles Town Foundation, president of the Lenevar Civic Club and spiritual co-ordinator of Odyssey Healthcare of Charleston. Father Weaver was inducted into the Voorhees College Hall of Fame in November 2008.

2000-2009 Memoriam

Lelon Belton Tobin

Lelon Belton Tobin was featured in the newspaper, The People Sentinel of Barnwell, prior to his death on September 24. The article focused on Tobin’s accomplishments in the academic arena. Tobin was the first African-American assistant principal of Blackville-Hilda High School. Prior to the position as assistant principal, he also served as a transportation supervisor, science teacher and adult education director. He later became principal of A.L. Corbett Middle School in Wagener, S.C. Tobin graduated from Voorhees College in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. Later, he received a Master of Science degree in education from the University of South Carolina.

20 SPRING/FALL 2009

2000-2009 Memoriam

Herbert Breland, Jr, ’78 Zelma Jordon Counts, ’52 Janie Louise Davis Ed Henry Faust Lavenia Whitten Freeman, ’74 Essie Hicks Garrett, ’82 Ida Greggs Michael Guess Larry Gunn, ’05 Mary Williams Hunter Fannie Henderson Jones Clarence Lebby James Alfred Lee Alfred Edward Myers, ’38 Joe Odom Ronnie Parler, ’71 Muriel L. Potts (instructor)

If you know of additional alumni who have passed , please e-mail the names to Dorothy Patterson, director of alumni relations, at dpatterson@voorhees.edu. She may also be reached at 803-780-1192.

SPRING/FALL 2009 21

Curtis Pough Paul Rice Alexander Richberg, ’71 Nathaniel Robinson Janie Marie Sellers Cornelious Shephard, ’70 Wilmer Sojourner Shirley Thomas, ’80 Phinizy Thompson Lelon Belton Tobin, ’75 Betty Ruth Tyler Lue Hightower Tyler, ’54 Ruben Tyler William Courtsworthy Weaver, ’52 Lelia B. White (instructor) Terrance Williams

Lavenia Whitten Freeman

Lavenia Whitten Freeman, who passed on September 23, was a part of the Voorhees family for more than 32 years. Voorhees was her love and her life. During her years of employment at Voorhees, she served in various capacities including director of financial aid, director of career placement and director of WIA activities. After receiving her bachelor’s degree from Voorhees, she obtained a master’s degree in education in 1986. Freeman was an active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority,

Inc. and the Eastern Star Chapter of Denmark.

Atlanta Chapter (Metro) Blondie Peoples 2680 Pine Tree Road # 1 Atlanta, GA 30324 Beaufort County Chapter Inez Smalls P.O. Box 526 St. Helena Island, SC 29920 Berkeley County Chapter Wilhelmina Moore 3283 Highway 45 Pineville, SC 29468 Bowman Chapter Sylvia Stevens P.O. Box 541 Bowman, SC 29018 Central Savannah River Area Chapter Bennie Breeland 923 Todd Ave North Augusta, SC 29841 Charleston Chapter Marilyn Crocham P.O. Box 871 Ravenell, SC 29470 Charlotte Chapter Peter Dingle 1511 Rolling Meadows Lane Gastonia, NC 28054 Colleton County Chapter Verel Martin 23624 Augusta Highway Cottageville, SC 29435

Denmark Chapter Eva Manigault 3159 Charleston Augusta Road Bamberg, SC 29003 Florence Chapter Sally Gardner King 216 Pearl Circle Florence, SC 29501 Georgetown Chapter Phillip Davis 2734 Carvern Bay Road Hemingway, SC 29554 Hampton/Jasper Chapter Ronald Williams P. O Box 705 Varnville, SC 29944 Marion/Dillon Chapter Mildred Watson 2958 Foxworth Road Marion, SC 29571 Midland Chapter Clyde Holliday 7420 Pinedale Drive Columbia, SC 29223 New York Bronx Chapter Elizabeth Wigfall 930 Thieriot Ave, Apt 20F Bronx, New York 10473

New York Chapter Virginia Toomer 6 Convent Ave. New York, NY 10027

Orangeburg Area Chapter St. Julian Snider 2845 Hillcrest Ave. Orangeburg, SC 29118 Philadelphia Chapter Dorian Smith P. O. Box 42336 Philadelphia, PA 19101 Piedmont Alumni Chapter Kenneth Baxter 18 French Lane Greenville, SC 29605 Sumter Chapter Jo Ann Coaxum 3 Carl Ave. Sumter, SC 29150 Washington DC Chapter Herbert Pittman 461 Captain Covington Place Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

Voorhees would like to thank all alumni for making Homecoming 2009 a success!!

22 SPRING/FALL 2009

Martin Luther King Jr. Program January 21 Black History Program February 4 Religious Emphasis Week February 9-11 Honors Day Convocation March 18 Founder’s Day April 8 Presidential Scholarship Gala April 10 National Library Week April 11-17 Commencement Convocation May 8 Summer School May 17-June 30

For more information on these events, contact Willie Jefferson, special events coordinator, at 803-780-1049 or williej@voorhees.edu.

Apply NOW for Spring 2010 or

Fall 2010!

SPRING/FALL 2009 23

You may apply online at www.voorhees.edu. For more information on the admissions process, contact the Of-fice of Admissions at (866) 237-4570 or at (803) 780-1030. You may also e-mail the admissions office at ad-missions@voorhees.edu.