Chowan
A newsmagazine for alumni, parents and friends
SUMMER 1997
Volume 42
Number 2
Week-long inauguration celebration
21st President looks optimistically to 21st Century
With a brass quartet prelude and a bag
piper leading the colorfully-hooded proces
sional to the tune of the traditional Highland
Cathedral, the installation ceremony for
Chowan College President Stanley G. Lott
was officially launched.
The morning observance, held Thursday,
April 17 in the Helms Center, was a fitting
pinnacle to the week-long inauguration
celebration.
B. Franklin Lowe, Jr., vice president for
academic affairs, directed the service as eleven
distinguished guests each greeted the presi
dent.
Honored guests salute president
More than 100 colleges and universities across
the country sent delegates and greetings to the
new president and special guests presented their
salutations at the installation ceremony
Jane Smith Patterson, governor’s advisor for
budget, policy & technology, represented the State
of North Carolina and Douglas Ray Cox, mayor,
represented the Town of Murfreesboro. Patterson
congratulated Chowan for cutting-edge technology
advancements and dedication to student achieve
ment.
Roy Jordan Smith, executive director-treasurer.
Record 105 baccalaureate
degrees bestowed at graduation
PhHp Kirk, Jr.
Under simny skies and comfortable tempera
tures on the lawn of McDowell Columns, President
Stanley Lott, awarded the largest number of
baccalaureate degrees
in the history of
Chowan College,
Saturday, May 17.
Graduates firom as
far away as Fujisawa,
Japan, Sacramento,
Ca., Key West, FI,,
and Weierfield, Ct.,
joined many regional
recipients for the
awarding of 105
bachelor degrees and
26 associate de-grees
in a broad range of
majors.
Introduced by Lott
to deliver the commencement address, Phillip Kirk,
Jr., president and secretary of North Carolina
Citizens for Business and Industry and publisher of
North Carolina magazine, took the opportunity to
congratulate the Class of 1997. “Being at Chowan
on this day is a ‘first’ for me, but it’s an important
On/ . .
B
Jill McCorkle receives 1997
Hobson Prize, Medal Page 3
Criminal Justice program added
to Chowan cun^icula Page 5
Scenes from ‘Cajun
Country’ inauguration ... Pages 9-11
Year 2000 looms on horizon
with computer problems...Page 13
Alumni Loyalty Fund
reached record high Page 16
Athletic awards presented
at close of semester Page 19
one,” said Kirk. “My wife, who is with me; my
minister and his wife; and my administrative
assistant, all had the pleasure of being students
here.”
Kirk, who graduated from Catawba College in
Salisbury, recognized the benefits of attending a
small college. “They are places where our
professors and staff know us by our names.
Classes are usually small, and fiiends become
friends for life. Here at Chowan, we find an
emphasis on excellence, on character, on leadership
and on preparation for a meaningful life.”
Drawing from his own experiences, Kirk
shared bits of wisdom with graduates, families,
friends, faculty and staff. “After God, one’s
family is the most important thing . . . schedule
time for yourself... do what is right, not
necessarily what is popular . . . when you make a
decision, stick to it... a positive attitude will
take you far . . . what you don’t like, work to
change . . . establish goals . . . and, do not give up,
never give up.”
A firm behever in volunteer work, Kirk
advised graduates to learn, earn and return. “Use
your ability, don’t let your life be a passive
See GRADUATION, Page 4
carried greetings from the Baptist State Convention
of N.C. and Roy Everett DeBrand, pastor of the
Franklin Baptist Chiffch in Franklin, Va., brought
salutations from the Baptist General Association
of Va. DeBrand greeted Lott by saying, “You fill a
critical need and we’re glad you Eire here ... we
Virginia Baptists are proud to partner with you.”
Other representatives included Stephen Paul
Carleton, executive director of the Association of
Southern Baptist Colleges & Schools, who
acknowledged Lott’s appointment with, “You have
brought one who has been a leader, I have no
doubt in my mind that the best days are ahead for
this institution.”
Agnes Hope Williams, president of the N. C.
Center for Independent Higher Education, praised
Chowan for providing academic leadership for the
region and being “such an important part of
northeastern North Carolina.” Michael Alston,
member of the board of visitors, and W. Jerry
Holcomb, chair of the board of trustees, repre
sented their fellow board members. Holcomb
recognized Lott’s leadership, “You have been
uniquely prepared to lead . . . we look forward to
your encouragement and insight as you lead
Chowan College to its destiny.”
Richard R. Gay, president of the Faculty
Forum represented the Chowan faculty, Thomas J.
Ballance spoke for the Alumni Association and
Laura B. Allgood, president of the Student
Government Association, brought greetings from
the student body
The welcoming address
Introducing speaker Walter B. Shiu"den, chair of
the Department of Christianity, Mercer University,
was Thomas Robert Mullinax, executive director of
the Council on Christian Higher Education, Baptist
State Convention of North Carolina.
In his welcoming address, Shurden, spoke of
the 149-year history of the original Chowan
Baptist Female Institute and addressed the first of
foitf words in the school’s original name, “I hope
that we all have eyes to see the heroic which hangs
over our humble heritages . . . you are who you
are partially because of where you are . . .
educational elitism is out of place here; educational
See INAUGURATION, Page 8
More than
100 colleges,
universities
send
delegates
and greetings
A record number
of spectators
lined the walkway
to view the
processional as
the candidates
for graduation
approached
historic McDowell
Columns.