By Molly Shoulta ‘13
GC News Bureau Intern

During the weekend of March 26-28, the Vocal Music students of Georgetown hit another high note. Since Georgetown’s installment of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and the student chapter (SNATS) several years ago, at least one student has broken past the first rounds of competition in the Regional conference. No other school in the near region can boast of this – not even UK.

This year, the Mid-South Regional competition was held at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee where Senior Cate Kilgore (soprano) and Junior Chuck Harris (countertenor) reached semi-finals and Nathan Van Til (baritone), as a freshman, reached finals and brought home a third place achievement in Musical Theatre. Pianists Daniel Ng and Lori Smith also traveled with the students and have collaborated with them all year to perfect their respective pieces. Dr. Heather Hunnicutt, vocal professor at Georgetown, says that it is hard to express just how hard these students have worked to achieve this and harder still to express how proud she is of their accomplishments.

Jim Durham
News Bureau Director

Horses, Memoirs, Religions and Twangers (?!) – in a word, those are the clues to exciting classroom choices at Georgetown College’s next College for a Day, April 20.

This semi-annual opportunity to return to campus and be enlightened on an exciting topic by some of Georgetown’s most dynamic professors, also includes opening and closing receptions, lunch and the school-year-ending “Last Lecture” worship service with popular Religion professor Jack “Doc” Birdwhistell at the podium.

President Bill Crouch will co-host Lunch in the Hall of Fame Room with former Gov. Martha Layne Collins, our Executive Scholar-in-Residence…and both have words of great interest for the CFD participants. Gov. Collins, a co-architect of GC’s second-year Global Scholars Program, also happens to be Chairman of the Kentucky World Trade Center with a lot of insight about the state’s increasing role in the global marketplace.

College for a Day begins and ends in the Anna Ashcraft Ensor Learning Resource Center (LRC) –8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. The cost for the entire event is only $25 per person, which includes lunch and the choice of two out of four intriguing classes.

Class Options

At 9:15 a.m., you may attend one of these two classes:

“Will the Real Islam Please Stand Up?”
Dr. Paul Redditt, Professor Emeritus of Religion
This session will attempt to outline the principle tenets and practices of Islam that make it the world’s second largest religion. It will do so against the backdrop of war, petroleum, and modernism, issues that profoundly affect Christians and Jews as well as Muslims.

“Speak, Memory!: How to Start a Memoir”
Emma Bolden, Professor of English
Everyone has a story to tell; the question is, what’s your story? And what is the best way to tell it? The memoir is a form of autobiography shaped by your story, by your memories: as Gore Vidal writes in his own memoir, Palimpset, “a memoir is how one remembers one’s own life.” In this class, we’ll cover the basics of memoir writing and practice ways to make our memories speak to the page.

Then choose one of these two for the 2:10 p.m. session:

“Georgetown and the Games”
Sarah Coleman, Executive Director of Equine Scholars
Learn more about the upcoming 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, which will be held in North America for the first time right here at the Kentucky Horse Park four miles away, and the impact they will have on Georgetown, KY.

“Tunes for Twangers – A History of Country Music”
Dr. Pete LaRue, Professor of Music
In our session, we shall explore the impact and influence of The Original Carter Family [AP, Sara and Maybelle] from what is known as the “Big Bang” of country music [The Bristol Sessions – field recordings by Ralph S. Peer] to this day. Special emphasis shall be placed upon the legendary artistry of Mother Maybelle on her beloved Gibson L5 guitar and the important influence that the itinerant, African-American guitarist, Lesley Riddle probably had on her development of the unique playing style for which she is much-beloved – the “Carter-Scratch”.

Registration

Though originally designed for retirees and other life-long learners, College For A Day is also a tremendous opportunity for parents of current or prospective students to get a closer look at the incredible Georgetown College experience.

If you would like to attend College For A Day, please contact Kathleen Johnsona> by April 14. For more information or to register by phone, call 502-863-8041 or toll-free 877-640-0107; or visit
www.georgetowncollege.edu/collegeday.htm

Georgetown College Women’s Basketball Coach Susan Johnson was “totally honored” this past week at being inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame – yet understandably, she was “extremely disappointed” her 2009-10 Tigers weren’t there to witness the enshrinement and compete at nationals. “I’d much rather have been down there on the floor coaching,” she said.

Even though Johnson’s team didn’t make it to Jackson, TN, for the national tournament, President Bill and Jan Crouch, Dean of Students Todd Gambill, Athletics Director Eric Ward, and assistant coach Andrea McCloskey and her parents were there for her. “I really appreciated the Georgetown College support,” Johnson said.

Her Tigers overcame some challenges and appeared on track to make it to nationals for the 8th time this decade, but a tough road loss at Rio Grande in the regular season finale short-circuited their chances. But, be assured she’s already looking forward to next year and a return to prominence with returnees Kourtney Tyra, the Mid-South Conference Freshman of the Year and a native of McKee; and MSC Honorable Mentions Mikkah Rogers, a sophomore from Corbin; and Emily Drees, a junior from Covington.

Johnson joins three former GC coaches in the NAIA Hall of Fame – Men’s Basketball coaches Bob Davis and the late Jim Reid; and volleyball coach Donna Hawkins.

For more, see Chris Hughes’ story in the Georgetown News-Graphic.

By Molly Shoulta ‘13
GC News Bureau Intern

Currently studying at Oxford, Coran Stewart has accomplished a feat rarely seen by undergraduates. It is not often that a college student is published by an academic press, but Stewart has defied the odds. Men’s Studies Press will publish the book containing a chapter co-authored by the Georgetown student entitled “Micro-Grants and Adventure Travel: Engaging College Men in Vocational Discernment at Georgetown College” in May of this year. Sponsored by a gift from the Lilly Endowment, the book focuses on essays from mentors of college and high school men to increase their involvement in the community or campus for the overall good. It is recommended for all college faculty and staff committed to increase male involvement on campus. The Meetinghouse played an instrumental part in the application process to make it possible for the college to work with the Lilly Endowment and for Stewart to get his work published.

If you have never seen GC professor George McGee doing his Chautauqua Series portrayal of Kentucky statesman Henry Clay, does he have a great spring Sunday drive for you!

On April 11 at 2 p.m., “Clay” will take his audience at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea back to his day – around the end of the 18th Century. He’s also likely to pull people from the audience to stand-in as Andrew Jackson, John Randolph, John Quincy Adams – or even Humphrey Marshall, the first person with whom Clay dueled. He also chooses Indians and farmers.

“I’m having more fun than ever before with the added audience participation…and I think the participants are too,” said McGee, Chair of Georgetown College new Theatre & Performance Studies department.

Double-barreled entertainment: Unique performance art – FREE and open to the public – and the wonderful Kentucky crafts at the Artisan Center, just off Interstate 75 near Berea. For more information, see below.

Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet

Henry Clay to “Visit” the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea – April 11

Release Date: March 19, 2010
Contact: Gwen Heffner
Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea
859/ 985-5448 ext 230
gwen. heffner@ky.gov

BEREA, Ky. – On Sunday, April 11, actor George McGee of Georgetown will portray Henry Clay in a performance titled “Henry Clay – Kentucky’s Great Statesman” beginning at 2 p.m. at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea.

George McGee has been portraying Kentucky’s legendary historical figure Henry Clay for the past 17 years. “I was once told by a fellow actor that I looked like Henry Clay,” says McGee, who teaches theater at Georgetown College, “and this initial comment started me researching Henry Clay. The more I learned the more fascinated I became.” When McGee began looking at what a typical day was like for Henry Clay, he realized that the man was a powerhouse of energy and ideas. McGee states, “Just Henry Clay’s personal correspondence alone is daunting.”

McGee’s performance follows Clay’s life beginning with his education in Virginia and his move to Kentucky in 1797, where he set up a law practice in Lexington. Clay’s tenure as Speaker of the House shaped the history of Congress, for he changed the position to one of ‘rule enforcer’ to one of complex strategy by assigning people of his political views to key congressional committees. Clay became known for his ability to compromise as he brought together different factions over issues of the day. For more than 40 years Henry Clay was a major player on the national political scene, renowned for his oratory and devotion to the Union and while he ran for the Presidency three times, he was never elected.

This performance and portrayal of “Henry Clay – Kentucky’s Great Statesman” will be held Sunday, April 11 beginning at 2 p.m. in the Private Dining Room of the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea. This performance is free and open to the public. As a part of the Kentucky Humanities Council’s Chautauqua Series, this program is funded in part by both the Kentucky Humanities Council Inc. and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea is located at 975 Walnut Meadow Road, just off Interstate 75 at exit 77 (Berea). The Center’s exhibits, shopping and travel information areas are all open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the café from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. The Center currently features works by more than 650 artisans from 100 counties across the Commonwealth and a special exhibit “Kiln-Formed Glass by Kentucky Artisans.” For more information call 859-985-5448 or visit the Center’s Web site at www.kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov .

The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea is an agency in the Kentucky Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.