Academic Convocation kicks off year

By Ali Neese, Staff Writer

New and returning Young Harris College students filled the Hilda D. Glenn Auditorium in the Clegg Fine Arts Building on Aug.16 at 7 p.m. for the annual Academic Convocation.

Ruth Looper, dean of the Division of Humanities, welcomed the students and faculty to the event that “mark[ed] the beginning of our academic year.” All students had the opportunity to attend the event, where YHC faculty and staff challenged students to make the most of their college experience.

To open the ceremony, Reverend Tim Moore, YHC campus minister, led the invocation. Following the invocation, Jeff Bauman, professor of Music, led the audience in singing YHC’s alma mater.

President Cathy Cox welcomed both faculty and students to what she called the “new” Young Harris College.  Describing the large number of changes that have occurred on the college’s campus in the last four years, including the addition of new buildings, students, and faculty members, Cox said she believes these changes make the campus feel like a fresh college every year.

Cox also stressed to the incoming freshmen they have “entered a whole new realm of learning” where students who put forth the required time and effort will reach formerly unrecognized levels of potential.

Following Cox’s speech, SGA President Emalyn Cork led the student address and encouraged students to let service “saturate their lives” and to make this year “a year to not only get involved but to pour into the lives of others.”

Dr. Ron Roach, vice president for Academic Affairs, gave the academic charge where he both challenged and encouraged students to make the most of their time here at YHC.

Roach asked students what they would do with the unique opportunity given to them by attending YHC and stated that “small learning communities can inspire great learning and teaching.”

Roach emphasized that students will be pushed and challenged while attending YHC, but the key ingredient to their success here is found in their attitude. He then outlined what he believes is an excellent guide for active learning, modeled after Benton Mackaye’s purpose for hiking the Appalachian Trail, which states, “To walk, to see, to see what you see.”

Roach stated that “being an active learner is like walking, being an observant learner is like seeing, and that being a reflective learner coincides with “seeing what you can see.”

Following Roach’s academic charge, student Chair of the Honor Council, Courtney Moore, presented Cox with the Honor Code signatures from the entering freshman and new students. Cox then pronounced the opening of the academic year.

The benediction was given by Moore and was followed by the recession of the faculty and then the students.

When asked to comment on the night’s events, incoming freshman Madison Perdue, a biology major from Loganville, Ga., said while she did not expect the formality of the ceremony, she found it “inspiring and amazing.”

Returning student Megan Powell, a junior human communication major from Cleveland, Ga., said she found Roach’s speech to be “captivating because he challenged you to want to learn.”

Society preserves legacy of YHC alumni

By Kyle Huneycutt,  A&E Section Editor

Not many people who attend Young Harris College are aware of its rich, cultural history or the men and women who helped shape it. Among these individuals was a man named Byron Herbert Reece. Reece was an alumni of YHC, and later taught from 1935 to 1942. Eventually, he would become a professor at YHC until the time of his death in 1958. He was an incredibly talented poet, and the beautiful Appalachian Mountains served as a wellspring of inspiration for his many works.

Reece’s life was marked by tragedy, first, through the death of his parents and then from the illness that would lead to severe depression and the eventual decision to take his own life. His contribution to poetry and the impact he had in Union County will not be forgotten. In order to preserve Reece’s memory and legacy, The Byron Herbert Reece Society was formed by James and Frances Mathis who were given ownership of the Reece property in Union County several years ago.

The society originally sought to preserve the property that had such a profound impact on Reece’s life and provide a means for anyone interested in him or his poetry to have the resources to discover more about them. In 2002, the Society made Dr. John Kay, professor emeritus of religion and philosophy at YHC, the chair of the organization. Through this appointment the society has flourished by means of reaching out to various members of the community, and the firm determination to immortalize Reece and his works.

Although Dr. Kay is unavailable for an interview at this time, the society’s mission statement is displayed on their website, www.byronherbertreecesociety.org. Its purpose is “to preserve, perpetrate, and promote the literary and cultural legacy of the Georgia mountain poet/novelist, Byron Herbert Reece. In addition to enhancing both knowledge and appreciation for his writings, efforts will be made to honor his way of life, with particular emphasis on his love of nature and his attachment to farming.” Through the efforts of YHC and the Byron Herbert Reece Society, Reece’s voice will continue to echo through the valleys of the Appalachian Mountains and beyond.

YHC women’s tennis begins fall play

by Ethan Burch, Sports Editor
with information from wire reports

Atlanta –The Young Harris College women’s tennis opened its fall season Friday at the SCAD-Atlanta Invitational.

The Mountain Lion netters had some mixed results, but overall head coach Jacob Turner was pleased with some of the positive results.

“It was a long day, with lots of ups and downs,” Turner said. “The highlight of the day was the play of freshman Victoria Herndon (who was undefeated on the day in both singles and doubles) and freshman Taylor Hamala (on the men’s team). Both Victoria and Taylor won their Main Draw singles matches by fighting hard and overcoming some nerves at times. I am hopefully that tomorrow (Saturday) we will be able to pick up our play in both singles and doubles and come out with some more positive results.”

In the Women’s A Flight Singles Main Draw, Sara Rodgers lost to Sadia Mayou, 6-0, 6-0 and Sarah Deese fell to Mary Claire Sliade, 6-0, 6-0. In the consolation bracket, Deese dropped a 6-0, 6-0 decision to Dahbi.

In the Women’s B Flight Singles Main Draw, Mary Beth Maxwell was topped by Asia Boyd, 6-0, 6-0, but Herndon defeated Rebecca Swindall, 6-1, 6-2. In the consolation bracket, Maxwell fell to Adreina Gomez, 6-4, 2-6, 13-11.

In doubles play, the team of Deese and Maxwell lost to Slaide and Mayou, 8-0. Rodgers and Herndon beat Boyd and Gomez, 8-4.

YHC men’s tennis falls in Atlanta

by Ethan Burch, Sports Editor
with information from wire reports

Atlanta — The Young Harris College men’s tennis team opened its fall season Friday at the SCAD-Atlanta Invitational.The Mountain Lion netters had some mixed results, but overall head coach Jacob Turner was pleased with some of the positive results.

“It was a long day, with lots of ups and downs,” Turner said. “The highlight of the day was the play of freshman Victoria Herndon (on the women’s team who was undefeated on the day in both singles and doubles) and freshman Taylor Hamala. Both Victoria and Taylor won their Main Draw singles matches by fighting hard and overcoming some nerves at times. I am hopefully that tomorrow (Saturday) we will be able to pick up our play in both singles and doubles and come out with some more positive results.”

In the Men’s A Flight Singles Main Draw, Mitchell Midkiff fell to Salif Kante, 6-0, 6-0 and Koren Gottenbos lost to Jack Anton, 6-1, 6-0. Martin Harach dropped a hard-fought match to Ismail Lemtoni, 7-5, 7-5.  In the consolation bracket, Gottenbos lost to Harach, 6-3 and then retired. Akeen Bryon topped Midkiff 6-1, 6-4.

In the Men’s B Flight Singles Main Draw, Jacob Greene was blanked by Christian Beling, 6-0, 6-0 and Jacon Scarborough fell to Ali Vazin Homedani, 6-0, 6-0. Hamala won his match over Nathan Singleton, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2). In consolation play, Singleton topped Scarborough, 6-3, 6-1.

In men’s doubles play, Scarborough and Green lost to Konte and Bryan, 8-0 and Harach and Gottenbos defeated Beling and Singleton, 8-5. Midkiff and Hamala dropped a hard-fought 8-5 decision to Lemtouri and Homedani.