Page 6
Tuesday, September 25, 2001
JTiePlfer
Teacher talents: Drummer in our midst
Photo by Tara Hostetler
Paula Qualls, professor of religion, plays the drums at Mt. Pleasant Baptist
Church for the praise band.
Faculty Talent Show
features the best of staff
mock “Beatlemania.”
Other performers included
Carolyn Billings and Matt
Whitfield of the music depart
ment, Carmen Butler and
Company and Matt Theado of
the English department.
President White, after
playing his rendition of “Mary
Had A Little Lamb,” played
“Ivory Palaces” and “Make Me
a Blessing" on the grand piano.
Possibly the crowd favorite
was the music department’s
newest professor, Paul Etter,
who played “The William Tell
Overture”—on his face.
The crowd erupted into
laughter and applause as he
concluded.
Tickets for the event were
$2 and the proceeds benefited
the Student Alumni Council
Scholarship Fund.
Christ! Hallis
Pilot staff
After the Senior Pinning
Ceremony on Friday night,
Dover Theater was packed for
the annual Faculty & Staff
Talent Show, sponsored by
Student Alumni Council.
Professors and staff mem
bers from a variety of depart
ments participated.
Vice President for
University Relations, Drew
Van Horn, played lead guitar
and was the lead vocalist of the
houseband, “The Roaches.”
The band, which also
included faculty members
Scott White, John Hoyle and
John Varley, played cover
songs of Smokey Robinson’s
“Really Got a Hold on Me” and
closed the show with the
Beaties’, “Twist and Shout.”
After this last number, sev
eral girls rushed the stage in
Mike Shade
Pilot sports editor
Any student that has had
Paula Qualls for class knows
that she’s about as nice and as
genuine as they come.
Her voice is clear, gentle
and sincere. She has a smile
that seems to have been surgi
cally implanted. She comes to
class, asks how everyone is
doing and takes prayer
requests.
They know all that.
Most don’t know she plays
the drums for Mt. Pleasant
Baptist Church every Sunday.
Just by having her for class
and seeing her around, her and
a set of drums just don’t seem
to fit.
If VHl had a show called
“The 100 people who most
look like they would play the
drums,” Qualls probably
wouldn’t make the list. She just
doesn’t seem to fit the drum
mer persona. Or does she?
If you get to know Qualls,
you might see the drummer in
her. Sure she doesn’t have the
torn jeans or bleached hair, but
she has what any good drum
mer needs, which is patience
and a lot of enthusiasm.
It’s the way she lives.
Qualls says her favorite
class to teach is her Old
Testament Introduction class.
The first day of class she goes
around the classroom and asks
everyone the same questions.
What’s your name, your major
and why are you taking this
class? Her favorite answers are
not what you might think.
“I love getting students
who don’t know about the Old
Testament and don’t care, and
then igniting a flame and gen-
“i’m having a blast
I had always
dreamed of playing
in my church. It’s
something I’ve
always wanted to
do and God has
opened that door.”
'“Paula Qualls
erating interest,” she said.
Qualls loves what she does,
and she makes no secret about
it. She loves teaching Biblical
Studies here at Gardner-Webb.
She loves spending time with
her family. And she loves to
play the drums.
“I started playing the
drums in 6th grade,” she says.
“I took lessons for four years,
and became very good and
became very competitive also.
I had the first chair in high
school, and I was determined
not to let anyone get the first
chair ahead of me.”
After high school though,
the drum set was put in the
attic. And it would stay there a
good while.
Last year, Mt. Pleasant
began a praise band and they
needed a drummer.
“It started as a joke really,”
she says. “When the band was
first forming, I always joked
with them that I could play the
drums—just kidding around.”
It had been 15 years since
she had played last, but she
decided to give it a shot. She
took the drums out of her par
ents’ attic and started practic
ing. Now, it’s a weekly event at
Mt. Pleasant.
“The first time I visited Mt.
Pleasant, 1 was shocked to see
my advisor. Dr. Qualls, playing
the drums for worship,” said
GWU student Amy Callahan.
“But 1 was very much
impressed by her talent and
ability on the drums.”
“I’m having a blast,” says
Qualls. “I had always dreamed
of playing in my church. It’s
something I’ve always wanted
to do and God has opened that
door.”
AROLINA FAMILY CARE, P.A.
DEEPAK R. GELOT, M.D.
“Family Practice Dedicated to Quality Personalized Care’
Comprehensive Care for Infants, Children and Adults
Physicals: Executive/Sports/School and
Pre-Employment
Gynecology and Women’s Health Care
Coloscopy
Bone Density Testing
Cancer Screening
• Minor Office Surgery, Cryosurgery
• Diagnostic Procedures
• Lung Function testing (Spirometry)
• Cardiac Testing (Treadmill Exercise/Holter
Monitoring)
•Hearing testing (Audiometry)
►Accepting New Patients and Their Families
Most Insurances accepted
707 West King Street
Kings Mountain, N.C. 28086
(704) 734-0001
327-A West College Avenue
Boiling Springs, N.C. 28017
(704) 434-0101