Volume 1— Number 3
JUNE, 1990
CHOWAN
^ODAY
A Newsmagazine for Alumni, Parents and Friends
Jerry F. Jackson inaugurated as Chowan’s 20th
president, challenges college to go four-year
The inauguration of Dr. Jerry F. Jackson
on April 24 as Chowan College’s 20th presi
dent was a splendid day of regal events.
Baroque trumpets from the balcony of
McDowell Columns summoned the proces
sional of faculty and delegates in full aca
demic regalia Guests luncheoned on the
campus green beneath striped tents of yellow
and white. An inaugural symposium with a
panel of experts on 'educating for the 21st
century’ intrigued participants to discover
new ways of reaching students.
In his inaugural response, President
Jackson challenged the Boards of Trustees
and Visitors, faculty and staff of the college,
saying, “It is time for us to return to ouir full
strength. Chowan was planted here as a four-
year college, and it is time for us to blossom
once again into a four-year coeducational
college.”
A Four-Year Study Committee has been at
work for months examining the issue of
whether Chowan, a two-year liberal arts
college, should become a four-year institu
tion.
“The Baptists claimed this particular plot
of Albemarle land for a college in 1848. A
Biqitist school was planted here, and it has
been tended and grown well,” stated the new
president. “But, we see there is a need here
for new crops, and new planting.”
Crediting the former president of Campbell
University, Leslie H. Campbell, for giving
him his first job in higher education. Dr.
n III! I
Jackson thanked the community and college
‘family’ for their support of his presidency.
He remarked on Dr. Bruce E. Whitaker,
president emeritus of the college, who served
for the past 32 years, saying, “No man in our
time or in times past has ever done more for
Chowan College than President Bruce
Whitaker.”
Dr. Thomas Cents, president of Samford
University in Alabama delivered the keynote
address during the convocation. His address,
which was reprinted in The Biblical Re
corder, was a stirring reflection on the times
we are living, and the challenges we must
face today.
“We are told each person influences 500
people for good or bad every year. Our Lord
... taught us we are helped one by one. This
college will never be what (others) make it,
as important as they may be. But, it may very
well become what you intend it to be,” Dr.
Corts concluded.
Greetings from the state were delivered by
the Hon. Howard Hunter, Jr., N.C. House of
Representatives. Greetings were also brought
by the Rev. Gene Lee Watterson, president
of the Baptist State Convention of North
Carolina, William W. Hill, mayor of
Murfreesboro, Benjamin B. Ussery, Jr. fix)m
the Board of Visitors, Thomas M. McCrary,
from the Board of Trustees, Phyllis Dudley
Dewar tom the faculty, Janelle Langley
Green from the alumni of the college, and
James D. Hobbs, from the students.
Chowan commencement
confers degrees to 150
Student and faculty marshalls lead the graduation processional on the Campus Green.
Chowan College concluded its 142nd
academic year with commencement services
on Sunday, May 13.
During graduation exercises, which began
on the campus green and were moved to
Turner Auditorium because of rain. Presi
dent Jerry F. Jackson conferred Associate
degrees to 148 graduates. Two students were
awarded three-year diplomas in commercial
art. Eleven students graduated with honors.
All graduates were honored at a breakfast in
the home of Dr. and Mrs. Jerry Jackson
graduation morning.
At the conclusion of the graduation cere
monies, the 150 graduates rose to their feet in
ai^lause for I*rofessor Earl Parker, who
received the Excellence in Teaching award
as voted by the faculty members of the col
lege. Dr Parker was also honored on Awards
Day with the dedication of the Chowan
annual, Chowanoka.
B. Franklin Lowe, vice president for aca
demic affairs, in presenting the award, stated,
“Dr. Parker genuinely cares for students and
is always available to give that extra bit of
assistance and that word of encouragement.
He exemplifies every aspect of college teach
ing and takes every opportunity to direct and
challenge young minds.”
The speaker for graduation exercises, Mr.
Brady C. Jefcoat, a retired businessman from
Raleigh, inspired the audience, saying people
can overcome problems in life and succeed.
Earlier that day, the baccalaureate speaker
Dr. David M. Hughes, president of the Coun
cil on Christian Higher Education, challenged
the graduates to ‘dream big’ reminding them
that people ‘laughed at Thomas Edison*.
Graduation exercises brought to a conclu
sion a busy and successful academic year for
Chowan College. It was a year in which the
20th president of the college was officially
inaugurated, and the new Ella Cobb Camp
president’s home was dedicated. For the 32nd
consecutive year, Chowan operated in the
black. Over 80 percent of the college’s gradu
ates U^sferred to senior colleges and uni
versities.
In addition to the liberal arts and sciences,
Chowan students continued to excel in ca
reer education programs such as commercial
art, computer information systems, account
ing, business administration, photography,
printing technology, and merchandise man
agement, all of which lead to employment
after graduation.
Mamie Frey, from Longwood, Florida,
who graduated with an Associate degree in
commercial art plans to transfer to a four-
year institution in Florida to continue her
study of commercial art.
As she was celebrating with friends in
front of the Columns Building Sunday, she
expressed the hope that she could use her
talent and degree in art to get a job with the
Disney corporation for the summer.
“I have really enjoyed Chowan because it
is a small college, and I got so much atten
tion. The Art Department has helped so much,
and my teachers have given me recommen
dations for jobs,” stated the graduate.