Chowan
A newsmagazine for alumni, parents and friends
Summer 1994
Volume 39
Number 2
Today
PAGE U
Trophies, plaques, awards were
presented to outstanding students at
the annual Awards Day ceremonies
at the conclusion of the 1993-94
academic session.
PAGE
7
Chowan Fine Arts Foundation
completes a very successful
inaugural year; Kenneth Christison
installed as president for coming
year.
PAGE
8
Ward Parlor, in McDowell Columns
and recently renovated and fur
nished with antique and reproduc
tion pieces of furniture, is dedicated
in honor of Kirk and Julie Ward,
PAGE y
Chowan College loses one of its “best
friends” when Mrs. Texie Camp
Marks is claimed by death. She was
the first woman outside of North
Carolina to be elected to the Board
of Trustees.
PAGE
10
Dr. Garth Faile, chairman of the
Department of Science, receives
the “Book of Golden Deeds,”
presented annually by the
Murfreesboro Exchange Club.
PAGE
14
A record number of golfers partici
pate in third annual Chowan Golf
Classic at Beechwood Country Club.
Jim Garrison and a trio of former
players win top honors.
Graduation ’94 is historic day;
54 four year degrees awarded
A historical milestone in the life and progress
of Chowan College was reached on Saturday,
May 14, when the first graduates in 57 years
were awarded baccalaureate degrees and the
college completed the return to four-year status.
The 54 seniors who received bachelor's
degrees comprised the first class since 1937 to
be awarded such degrees.
Charles H. Greiner, Jr., an executive with
Union Camp Corporation, Franklin, VA,
delivered the commencement address for the
exercises held in front of McDowell Columns in
beauUful, sunny, spring weather. He was
introduced by Dr. Jerry F. Jackson, president,
who presided at the program.
The processional, with seniors robed in the
traditional black robes and associate degree
candidates in robes of whisper gray, proceeded
through the tree-lined center walk to the
McDowell Columns Building. Honor graduates
wore the gold tassel on their mortar boards and
gold cords on their shoulders.
128 Receive Degrees
Comprising the historic Class of 1994 were
48 seniors who received the bachelor of science
degree and 6 seniors being awarded the bachelor
of arts degree. There were 70 graduates awarded
associate degrees.
Founded in 1848 as four-year college for
women, Chowan began enrolling men in 1931.
The school became a two-year residential
college in 1937 due to financial difficulties from
the depression years.
A short of students occasioned by World War
Kaye Beasley of Woodland, was the first
person awarded a bachelor’s degree in 57
years as Chowan resumed senior college
status.
I
m
II forced Chowan to close in 1943 and was re
opened in 1949 as a private, two-year co-
educauonal institution.
On September 8,1990, the Board of Trustees
voted unanimously for Chowan to return to
four-year status and in December 1991 the
college was granted candidacy for senior
college accreditation by the Commission on
Colleges of the Southern Association of Col
leges and Schools.
Mrs. Sissy Eakin, assistant professor of
Mathematics and the 1993-94 faculty marshal,
delivered the devotional address to begin the
commencement exercises. The Chowan College
Band, under the direcuon of Dr. James Rogers,
provided music.
Special Guests
Members of the Class of 1937, the last group
to be awarded bachelor degrees before Chowan
became a two-year institution, were special
guests and recognized during the program.
Chowan’s oldest living alumna, 102-year-old
Mrs. O. C. Turner of Gatesville, was presented a
bouquet of a dozen red roses in a renewal of a
tradition at Mrs. Turner’s graduation in 1912.
Greiner saluted the members of the Class of
1937 by saying "aside from the parents of
today’s graduates, you, the Class of '37, may be
the proudest people here. We salute you and
share in the pride you must be feeling for your
See GRADUATION, Page 2
The ceremonies
were held in front
of McDowell
Columns in
beautiful
spring weather.