News

WILSON, N.C. - Despite a brief rain shower near the beginning of the program, the Barton College community celebrated commencement on center campus in grand fashion on Sunday, May 24.

Some 228 seniors participated in the 107th annual commencement exercises.  Dr. Norval C. Kneten presided over his sixth commencement program as president of Barton College. Dr. Terrence L. Grimes, vice president for academic affairs, presented the graduating class.

Barbara Lyons Goodmon of Raleigh, president and executive director of the A.J. Fletcher Foundation, delivered the commencement address.  Dr. Goodmon was presented with the Doctor of Laws degree, honoris causa, by Barton College during the commencement exercises.

In her address to the Class of 2009, Dr. Goodmon told the graduating seniors that this was "a great time to be a young adult just beginning your journey. You have the opportunity to help determine change. In fact, opportunity is not a strong enough word - you have a responsibility to help bring about change. You have spent four or more years at Barton College developing the tools and competence to help make the world a better place. Your education has given you the skills to be flexible and creative about your future in this fast changing world. You have many challenges ahead of you, but remember sustainable change is driven by young people, not by the people who like it just the way it is.  In fact, the ranks of the satisfied folks are shrinking daily. Things will never be the same again; they will be better."

She also encouraged them to remember the importance of taking chances along their journey in life, to live and work with passion and compassion, to be involved in their neighborhoods, churches, schools, and communities, to reach out to help others, to always vote, to commit to lifelong learning, to take care of their physical, mental, and spiritual health and to never do anything without integrity.

Participating in this year's commencement ceremony were students who completed their baccalaureate degree requirements in December 2008 and May 2009, as well as candidates who expect to fulfill requirements over the summer.

The three highest honors presented to Barton students: the Coggins Cup, the Hilley Cup, and the Hemby Leadership Cup, were awarded during the program. The Coggins Cup, presented annually to the student voted best all-around by the Barton faculty and staff, was awarded to Paola Marte from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, who graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management.  The Hilley Cup, presented annually to the graduating senior with the highest cumulative grade point average, was awarded to Chelsea Katherina Hsieh of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, who graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science.  The Hemby Leadership Cup, presented to the graduating senior, who in the estimation of the college community (including students, faculty and staff) has demonstrated outstanding leadership throughout a career at Barton College, was awarded to Jeremy Joseph Lowe of St. Petersburg, Fla., who graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology.

The Jefferson-Pilot Faculty Member of the Year awards, presented annually to two faculty members, were awarded to Dr. Alan Lane, associate professor of history in the Department of History and Social Sciences in the School of Arts and Sciences and the director of general education and the quality enhancement plan, and Dr. Bettie J. Willingham, associate professor of education in the School of Education.  The awards include a cash stipend for international study in conjunction with Barton's international emphasis.

Jared Parker Morgan of Winterville, senior class president, addressed the graduating class and also offered appreciation for the support and guidance from professors, staff, families, and friends on behalf of his fellow classmates.  Phillip H. Warren of Dunn, class of 1971, president of the Barton College Alumni Association and its Alumni Board, brought greetings to graduating seniors on behalf of the Alumni Association.

The Reverend Hollie Woodruff, chaplain of the college, delivered the baccalaureate sermon earlier Sunday morning.

Other commencement festivities during the weekend included a luncheon for seniors and their parents on Saturday afternoon, hosted by Dr. and Mrs. Norval C. Kneten, at the Barton-Graves House.  The pinning ceremony for the graduates of the School of Nursing followed on Saturday evening at First United Methodist Church.

END

Questions?  Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.

WILSON, N.C. - Barbara Lyons Goodmon of Raleigh, president and executive director of the A.J. Fletcher Foundation, will be the featured speaker at the 107th annual commencement exercises of Barton College in Wilson, scheduled for Sunday, May 24, on center campus at 1:30 p.m. Wilson Gymnasium is the rain site. Dr. Norval C. Kneten will preside over his sixth commencement program as president of Barton College. Dr. Terrence L. Grimes, vice president for academic affairs, will present the graduating class of 230 seniors.

Born in Meridian, Miss., Goodmon was raised in Memphis, Tenn. She moved to Raleigh upon her marriage in 1969 to James Fletcher Goodmon, president and CEO of Capitol Broadcasting Company and chair of the board for the A.J. Fletcher Foundation and The Fletcher Academy School of Achievement. The Goodmons have three children and three grandchildren.

Goodmon graduated from the St. Joseph's School of Nursing in Memphis in 1965, earning her Registered Nurse licensure. In 1994, she graduated magna cum laude from Meredith College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and later completed a Master of Liberal Studies degree from North Carolina State University in 2000.

In addition to myriad responsibilities with the Fletcher Foundation, Goodmon is an ardent supporter of numerous community organizations. She has served on a variety of community boards in the Wake County area and has brought a wealth of experience to her administrative appointment with the Foundation as well as her leadership roles among the community organizations.

With primary interests in the field of human service, she has served as chair of the Wake County Human Services Board and the Salvation Army Advisory Board, and vice chair for The Healing Place of Wake County, a substance abuse treatment center of which she was one of the three principal founders. She also has served on the Meredith College Board of Trustees and Board of Visitors, the North Carolina State University Veterinary Medical Foundation, the North Carolina State University Advisory Board for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Parents Council for Hampden Sydney College, Ravenscroft School Board of Trustees, and the Board of Visitors for the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Goodmon currently serves on the Pamlico Community College Foundation Board of Directors and the North Carolina School of the Arts Board of Trustees.

A true humanitarian, Goodmon's service to community has been recognized with numerous awards including, but not limited to, the William Booth Award, the "Others" Award, and the Life Membership Award by the Salvation Army. She was inducted into the Academy of Women of the Raleigh YWCA and listed among the Top 100 Distinguished Graduates of Meredith College. Goodmon also has received the Leadership By Example Award from the Rotary Club of Raleigh, the Women's Center of Wake County Star Award, the Sisters Delany Honor Society Achievement Award/N.C. Women of Distinction from Saint Augustine's College, the North Carolina State University 2005 Distinguished Alumni Award, and the 2008 Sertoma Club Regional Service to Mankind Award.

Goodmon and her husband were honored with the Methodist Children's Home 2001 Guardian Angel Award, the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraisers of 2001 Award presented on National Philanthropy Day by the Triangle Chapter of the Association of Professional Fundraisers, the United Arts 2000 Paladin Achievement Award for business support, the Marty Prairie Award at the 2005 North Carolina World AIDS Day Awards, and the 2008 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Award. The Goodmons were also inducted into the Raleigh Hall of Fame in 2008.

In 2002, Goodmon was featured in Metro Magazine Who's Who and, in December 2003, she was listed in Business Leader Magazine as one of the 10 effective women of the Triangle. Goodmon and her husband were featured in the 2006 Edition of Business Leader as distinguished business leaders of 2005.

Goodmon will receive the Doctor of Laws degree, honoris causa, from Barton College during this year's commencement.

Participating in this year's commencement ceremony will be students who completed their baccalaureate degree requirements in December 2008 and May 2009, as well as candidates who expect to fulfill requirements over the summer. The three highest honors presented to Barton students: the Coggins Cup, the Hilley Cup, and the Hemby Leadership Cup, will be awarded. The Coggins Cup is presented annually to the student voted best all-around by the Barton faculty and staff. The Hilley Cup is presented annually to the graduating senior with the highest cumulative grade point average. The Hemby Leadership Cup is presented to the graduating senior, who in the estimation of the college community (including students, faculty and staff) has demonstrated outstanding leadership throughout a career at Barton College.

The Jefferson-Pilot Faculty Member of the Year awards will also be presented. The awards, given annually to two faculty members, include a cash stipend for international study.

Dr. Phillip H. Warren, class of 1971, president of the Barton College Alumni Association and its Alumni Board, will bring greetings to graduating seniors on behalf of the Alumni Association.

Barton's Commencement Day program will begin with the baccalaureate sermon Sunday morning at 11 a.m. in Howard Chapel. The Reverend Hollie E. Woodruff, chaplain of the college, will deliver the address. Lunch will be served in the Hamlin Student Center Dining Hall from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. at no charge for seniors and $5.00 each for family members and guests.

The Commencement festivities will include a luncheon for seniors and their parents on Saturday afternoon, May 23 from noon to 1:30 p.m., hosted by Dr. and Mrs. Norval C. Kneten at the Barton-Graves House. The pinning ceremony for the graduates of the School of Nursing will follow at 6 p.m. on Saturday evening at First United Methodist Church.

END

Questions?  Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.

WILSON, N.C. - Traveling back in time on May 1, Barton College honored the faculty, staff, and students of the 1940s with "Founders' Day 2009: Celebrating the Era of World War II."

A memorabilia tent on center campus greeted guests as they arrived, and newspaper clippings and yearbooks from the World War II period brought back memories of bygone days. Junior Deese, a World War II collector and parent of Barton senior Ben Deese, displayed his collection of German and American ordnance, including a flamethrower and a Willy jeep.

At noon, "Reveille," played by Jim Bradshaw of the Barton College/Wilson Symphony Orchestra, called attendees to assemble in the large pavilion tent for lunch. Beginning the program, Billy Leegins and Vann Raper of American Legion Post 13 presented our national and state colors; and Barton College President Norval Kneten led the assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Dr. Jeff Broadwater, professor and chair of the department of history and social studies, shared interesting facts about the wartime period: "It was a simpler, if not necessarily an easier, time. Cokes sold for $.05. You could rent a house for $35 a month; you could buy a house for less than $4,000. The average new car sold for a fraction of that."

Broadwater recalled the launchings of M&M's and McDonald's and the death of actor Tom Mix against the backdrop of war and unrest on the other side of the world. This political turmoil led to the cancellation of the 1940 Olympic games and in America the beginning of a peacetime draft. Despite the protests of a campus pacifist movement, the draft sent many of the College's males off to war.

In a conversation after the program, alumnus Dr. John Goff, Jr. ('47) described the College's wartime campus as matriarchal: "There weren't any guys here, so the women ran the show," he said.

"There were about 300 girls and 25 boys," recalled alumna Aileen Reel ('47) Parish.

In spite of the dark backdrop of war, Miriam "Mickey" Moore ('47) Dunn had pleasant memories of the time: "It was wonderful, except for the war. We didn't have a lot of boys. We had a lot of girls, and we had a lot of fun. We didn't think about having to do without. We rationed sugar, shoes - you name it.

"I can remember trying to go home on the weekends; and if there were service men in line, I had to stand back and wait for them to board first. Never thought a thing about it," said Dunn.

Following Broadwater's "fast facts," senior Lizzie Stafford read an article from the May 15, 1943, issue of "The Collegiate," describing wartime mail in the campus post office.

"Of the 231 letters going out that same day, around two-thirds of them were addressed to men in the Army, Navy, or Marines."

Freshman Alex Minton sang "America the Beautiful"; then, senior David King shared draft and conscientious objector information from "Barton College: Our Century" by Dr. Jerry MacLean.

"Ironically," King read, "Marvin Jackson, class of 1937, who initially requested conscientious objector status, changed his mind, enlisted, and became ACC's first student, or former student, killed in the war."

Next, junior Nathanael Shelton read an article written by Georgia Brewer ('36) Campion for the Atlantic Christian College column in the North Carolina Christian," which told of then-senior Howard Blake's ('43) efforts to enter the Naval Reserve.

"He spent the whole summer trying to get his weight up to the minimum required by the Naval Reserve of 132 pounds, but all he could get was 128. However, four pounds of bananas eaten on the morning of his physical examination got him by," quipped the author.

A slideshow prepared by Keith Tew, Barton's director of publications, followed the readings and presented images of the College from the war era, accompanied by swing music from the same period. The nostalgic tunes, to the delight of the rest of the audience, led alumna Etta Rae Tyndall ('47) Oliver and husband James to give an impromptu display of their dancing skills.

Barton College junior Jensen Davis' reading from a Sept. 30, 1942, article in "The Collegiate," spoke of students picking cotton to help local farmers harvest their crops. Senior Emily Jamieson shared the dedication of 1943's "The Pine Knot," written in honor of the boys who had gone to war.

"During the past several months, those of our boys who had not previously registered did so, and they will be in the various branches of the service - on the land, in the air, on the seas - doing their bit to preserve for our country all the principles of democracy about which they have learned at Atlantic Christian College.

"Our hearts are with the boys who have gone out from Atlantic Christian College. It is to them that we would dedicate this book," read Jamieson.

Calling the event "a wonderful way to commemorate a time that so many of us will never forget," Barton College President Norval Kneten closed the program and invited the Rev. Hollie Woodruff, chaplain of the College, to lead the singing of the alma mater.

More than 60 years after the horrors and victories of World War II, Barton College remembers those who fought, rationed, and sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy today. Acknowledging a debt we can never fully repay, we humbly say, "Thank you."

END.

Questions? Contact Ken Dozier, web services manager, at 252-399-6596 or email kdozier@barton.edu.