Lance News
“I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.” - Voltaire
Letter From Corinne Nicholson
Dear St. Andrews
students.
Some of you may
have noticed that 1 have
not been dashing around
the halls of the LA
building during the first
week of classes. 1 am not
teaching any classes this
spring because I have
been fortunate enough to
be granted a sabbatical
for this semester. My
focus this semester will
not be on student learning
on a day-today basis,
but rather my intention
is to look strategically
at the curriculum in the
Business and Economics
Program and how student
learning outcomes
can be improved.
The college has a long
established sabbatical-
leave program that
encourages faculty
Corinne Nicholson. Picture
courtesy of Rooney Coffman.
members who are eligible
to apply for either a full
year or a half year leave.
This program has not
been used the last couple
of years, so you may not
be familiar with it. The
program is one example
of the college’s emphasis
on the effectiveness of
the teaching program to
insure student learning
and the scholarly
competence of the faculty.
My proposed plan for
this spring semester
includes reading articles
and books pertaining to
Strategic Management
and Entrepreneurship
and interviewing
practitioners to continue
my own professional
growth and development.
Additionally, I will
complete an evaluation
of the mission,
educational philosophy,
and core strategies of the
Department of Business
and Economics and
develop a plan for using
assessment data for
continuous improvement.
This application of
strategic management
and business process
reengineering is a natural
extension of my education
and training and an
opportunity to stretch
myself in a new direction.
1 will maintain some
limited contact with the
St. Andrews commiinity
duringthespringsemester,
but 1 will purposely
disconnect myself from
daily activities in order
to have the time to
devote to research and
study. My colleagues
across the campus have
stepped in to assume my
responsibilities for the
semester. Tom Dickey
has been appointed to
serve as chair of the
department for the
semester. My classes are
being taught by others,
and business interns are
being supervised by Doug
Glass. All of my advisees
have been temporarily
assigned to one of the
other faculty members
in the Department, and 1
am working on a limited
basis with some ongoing
committee tasks. Renee
Jones is helping to
promote and provide
guidanceforthelntemship
Program, although 1 am
still a part of the approval
process. I will continue
to serve as a faculty
sponsor for summer
internships in the major.
The granting of this
sabbatical is a clear
signal by the Board of
Trustees that fiirther
investment in the
intellectual capital of the
St. Andrews community
is a top priority. I am
grateful, personally, for
the opportunity to refresh
myself in my academic
discipline. This sabbatical
leave will provide
significant benefits to
me as a professional
educator and scholar.
and my proposed plan
should have a positive
impact on students
and the college in the
future. 1 will miss seeing
students, staff members,
and faculty colleagues on
a regular basis, but these
few months will be gone
quickly. And, one last
thing, 1 absolutely plan
on being present at the
commencement exercises
in May. 1 am extremely
proud of this senior class,
and 1 look forward to
seeing you walk across
the stage and receive those
diplomas that you have
worked so hard to earn.
Best wishes for
a wonderful
spring semester!
Sincerely,
St. Andrews Choir Invited to Perform in Carnegie Hall
For even those complete
ly unattached to the perform
ing arts, there exists knowledge
of the distinction of playing at
Carnegie Hall in New York City.
“Carnegie Hall is a venue that
performers all over the world as
pire to appear in,” said William
McConnell, assistant professor
and chair of the music department
at St. Andrews. “Its acoustics are
considered the finest of any hall in
the world. The greatest perform
ers of all time have performed in
concerts and recitals on that stage.
“To perform there is to per
form alongside the spirits of the
world’s greatest musicians.”
On Feb. 24, 2008, McConnell
will be the maestro conducting a
North American festival chorus
that will include members of out
standing choirs from throughout
the continent. One of those choirs
invited to participate is the St. An
drews Presbyterian College Choir.
Charles Vardell would be proud.
“This excellent chorus received
this invitation because of the qual
ity and high level of musicianship
demonstrated by the singers and the
exceptional recommendation given
by Maestro McConnell’s choral col
leagues,” said Dr. David Thye, Con-
ductor-in-Residence for MidAmer-
ica Productions, the coordinator of
the event at Carnegie Hall. “It is an
elite professional honor to be invited
to perform in Carnegie Hall. These
wonderful musicians not only rep
resent the quality of musicianship
and standard of performance within
the institution, but they also become
ambassadors for the entire commu-
in New York City in prep
aration for their concert.
“The choir will spend ap
proximately nine to ten
hours in rehearsals during
the five day residency, cul
minating in a performance
in Carnegie Hall with pro
fessional orchestra and so
loists,” says Thye. “Not all
of the time is spent in re
hearsals, though, since there
is so much history and cul
ture to experience in New
York City. However, the
nity.” The festival chorus
will present Franz Josef
Haydn’s MassinTimeofWar.
St. Andrews 2006-2007 Choir.
Picture courtesy of Rooney Coff
man.
The singers will spend
five days and four nights
performance in Carnegie
Hall is the primary purpose
for their visit to the city.”
Each year, a Small group of
conductors are invited to
make guest appeaances at
Carnegie Hall. Other con
ductors and members of the
MidAmerican artistic staff
make recommendations.
“Every conductor’s dream
is to stand in front of an
orchestra on the Carnegie
Hall stage,” said McCon
nell. “This is the kind of
St. Andrews Hosts Martin Luther King Jr. Service
“Cowardice asks the question,
‘Is it sate?' Expediency asks
the question, ' Is it politic?' And
Vanity conies along and asks the
question, 'Is it popular?'” stated
Dr. Martin Luther Jr. in his ad
dress at an SCLC Ministers
Leadership Training Program.
Samuel Hemingway III ad-
dresing the audience. Piclure
courtesy of Communications.
On Monday, January 15, 2007
these questions were answered
at the Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr. Celebration hosted by St. An
drews Presbyterian College. The
Laurinbui^ community and oth
er surrounding communties gath
ered together in the Avinger Au
ditorium to celebrate the life and
achievements of Dr. Martin Lu-
Kelli Hunter
ther King Jr. Avinger was filled
with over 500 people and it was
a night of joys, tears and prayer.
Junior and BSU president,
Samuel Hemingway III became
the commemoration with an
opening prayer and greeting.
“We share one goal: to
move Dr. King’s dream to a
reality” - Rona Leach
“We share one goal: to move Dr.
King's dream to reality,” said Rona
Leach, assistant professor of edu
cation at St. Andrews when giv
ing the formal welcome address.
The NC A&T State University
fellowshipgospelchoirperformed
over five eneqjy packed, excit
ing selections, including a rec
reation of the “Amazing Grace”.
Sommore Teny then followed
with a solo performance. Ms.
Terry is a native to Laurin-
burg , NC and is current
ly enrolled in the 4th grade.
Following was Mr. Kenny
Capel, fi’om Southern Pines, NC
presented Dr. King’s speech,
“But, if not”. This speech was
so strong that if you closed
your eyes you’d swear Dr. King
himself was there reciting it.
“When I share one of Dr.
King’s speeches, I hope it
helps you to look further at
this great man. ”
-Kenny Capel
“When I share one of Dr. King’s
speeches, I hope it helps you to
look fiirther at this great man,”
said Capel. “He took a course in
his life like those of Socrates, G an-
dhi, and Jesus Christ (as a man of
peace). What I want to share with
you is why he did what he did.”
St. Andrews choir led by Dr.
William McConnell, concluded
the event when they led the en
tire room in, “Lift Every voice-
and Sing” and a final blessing.
After the service, the NC
A&T Gosp>el Chior and mem
bers from the St. Andrews com
munity joined together in the
Crossroads Cafeteria where Sod-
hexo prepared a forrnal meal.
opportunity for which we spend
years training and preparing.”
At St. Andrews, McConnell
conducts the Concert Choir and
Chamber Choir, and teaches
courses in music theory, mu
sic history, and music education.
He also holds the position of Artis
tic Director of Charlotte-based Car
olina Voices and conductor of its
MainStage Choir. In this position,
he programs and prepares Carolina
Voices’ annual holiday spectacu
lar, The Singing Christmas Tree.
With a continuous 52-year history,
Carolina Voices’ Singing Christ
mas Tree has the distinction of be
ing the longest running production
of its kind in the United States.
Many students in the St. Andrews
Choir will need financial assistance
to become part of this special choir.
“This Carnegie Hall concert is
an event of extreme pride for every
one involved and deserving of the
community’s recognition and sup
port,” said Thye. “I encourage all
business owners, civic leaders, and
the general public to be generous
in their financial support for this
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
“I look forward to commu
nity support and participation in
this exciting project,” said Mc
Connell. “In fact, members of
our local community and alumni
group may also audition to join
our choir in this performance.”
********** For more information on the
St. Andrews choir contact William Mc
Connell at McConnelhvtf^apc.edu or
ext 5262**********