seuin
Hilltop
Hill, N.C. 28754
Vol. LIL, No. 11, April 13, 1979
The retirement of a long-time faculty member and the switching of another
I ^ part-time to full-time teaching duties has led to the hiring of a new college
plain with a new title and expanded responsibilities for Christian ministry on the
"'PUs.
David Bruce Smith, an alumnus from the Class of 1969 who is currently earn
ing ‘'Minister at Wingate College, will assume the same title at Mars Hill on June 1,
IJ^fiding Dr. Robert Melvin, who will be assigned full-time teaching duties in the
I'^dment of Religion.
Melvin, who has taught at the college 21 years and has been College Chap-
^ since 1963, decided to assume a full teaching load when H. H. Kendall an-
plans to retire at the end of the current academic year. Mr. Kendall,
ijj, Professor of Religion and former chairman of the department, has been a mem-
sf the faculty 40 years.
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Dr. Evelyn
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New Chaplain Appointed
Smith will be the first staff member ever assigned full-time responsibilities
n. e area of campus-wide ministry. The new title, expanded time allotment and
_ vvhi^ Wjolj description are in keeping with a new college commitment to the spiritual
ouristn.l,rl4"»osphere of the campus.
IRichard Hoffman, vice president for academic affairs, was enthusiastic
,/r. Smith’s acceptance of the position.
J 111 • ® appointment of David Smith is one of the most significant made at Mars
in renpnt vppro " tip cairl “because of his strong commitment to building a
‘iitli " years," he said.
,^nd learning community. Making the job a full-time position (free from teach-
W will allow him more time to become involved in the many facets of col-
life."
Seth, Janice, and Dr. David Smith
j.. *'■ Smith entered Mars Hill in 1965 and received a BA degree in history in 1969.
I **8 those years he proved to be an outstanding campus leader as well as an ex-
)tf»:. student. He was a college marshal, was president of his junior class, served as
^tji‘^®tit of the state-wide Baptist Student Union, and was selected for inclusion
^^tional publication “Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and
j^fsities."
Mars Hill he went to Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest. While there
^ married Janice Margaret Rowland of Marion and was ordained by the
baptist Church of Marion. After completing the Master of Divinity degree at
L'emir
«)(j^—inary in 1973 he became associate pastor of the First Baptist Church of
!liji ®l°n. During two years there he took professional training in pastoral coun-
,8 at Memorial Hospital of UNC-Chapel Hill.
1975 he was named campus minister at Wingate, Baptist junior college near
because
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the P fli *Hj.. Smiths have been active in the Wingate Baptist Church, and he has worked
the same
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That same year he began work toward the Doctor of Ministry degree.
•j-/as awarded by Southeastern Seminary in 1978
'**led Way campaigns and has been active in the Charlotte Track Club
At Mars Hill Dr. Smith will join at least five members of the ’69 class who are
members of the faculty or staff: the former Diane Eubanks, now Mrs. Dennis Hill,
director of the Counseling Center; John Hamrick, director of financial aid; the
former Brenda Cummings, nqw Mrs. Gary Spence, assistant professor of home eco
nomics; Dr. Smith Goodrum, Jr., assistant professor in the Education Department;
and Jerry Gault, adjunct professor of physical education in the Continuing Educa
tion Program.
Dr. Smith's appointment was the culmination of several months of serious work
by a search committee appointed by Dr. Hoffman. In addition to Dr. Hoffman and
Dr. Page Lee, chairman of the Religion Department who served as committee chair
man, seven members of the faculty and staff and two students served- on the
committee: Dr. John Hough, dean for continuing education; Jane Holcombe, dean
for student development; Dennis Hill, associate dean of admissions and enrichment;
Gwen Fish, chairman of the Department of Modern Foreign Languages; Dr. Thomas
Sawyer of the Religion Department faculty; Sue Fitzgerald, director of the Center for
Christian Education Ministries; Linda Toth, senior social work major from Baden-
boro; and Wright Culpepper, senior English major from Fort Valley, GA.
Continued on page 3
Commencement Schedule
Hill - Approximately 275 seniors will receive their degrees Sunday, May
Hill College brings to a close its 123 academic year.
Jllikj;p’icement weekend will officially start on Friday afternoon. May 18, with
l^"'’^rday, May 20, the Board of Trustees will hold their semi-annual business
jj^J^Uring the course of their meeting the trustees will approve new faculty
l*tyj^bts, increases for the coming year in
tuition, and approve an overall
is expected to exceed $7.8 million. They will also elect new officers
0
year and elect new members to the Board of Advisors.
I “ ® aiiu new nieniucid lu iiic uuaiu ui i-iuviauid.
tyrf*^bstees and advisors will be addressed by college president Dr. Fred B.
V«Ur'
'''fig a joint luncheon. Dr. Bentley will report on the capital campaign’s
Well as other aspects of the school's year.
fli'for the seniors, their parents and friends will be held in the college
evening. Mars Hill separated the traditional alumni activities
‘'fa
,®^cement weekend last year so that the emphasis could be placed on the
Via'I their families and friends.
Saturday’s activities will be brought to a
Qj " pops” concert by the music department in Moore Auditorium,
the morning, the college community will be joined by the congrega-
i'l'^ty'/ars Hill Baptist Church'to hear Dr. Harold C. Bennett, Executive
K in \ Southern Baptist Convention, deliver the Baccalaureate sermon at
Moore.
be a student recital by seniors Edward Kearney and Craig Cansler in
r^si^’^lng at 2:30 p.m. and at 3 p.m. the seniors will begin receiving their
at 2:30 p.m. and at 3 p.m. the seniors will begin receiving
Dr. Bentley. Tbe weekend's activities will be brought to a close with
® traditional address to the graduates and their guests.
COMMENCEMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, May 18
4 p.m. Art exhibit opens. Fine Arts Build
ing
Saturday, May 19
10 a.m. Board of Trustees meets
12 noon Joint luncheon for trustees and
advisors
5:30p.m. Banquet for graduates, parents,
and other guests
7:30 p.m. Pops Concert
Sunday, May 20
11 a.m. Baccalaureate Service
Speaker: Dr. Harold Bennett
Executive Secretary, Southern
Baptist Convention
2:30 p.m. Student recital
3 p.m. Graduation exercises
Community Meetings
Attract
Large Crowds
Mars Hill College is a school based on
community effort. Its basis is evident on
a stroll around the beautiful campus;
there is a friendly and caring atmo
sphere. In retrospect with this theme a
series of Community meetings have
been introduced to the faculty, students,
and staff throughout the spring semester.
The purpose of the Community meetings
are to share common experience
through worship, to focus attention on
common community issues, and to
raise sensitivities for the need to build
community, and to do so witbin the frame
work of freedom and authority.
There have been four such meetings
thus far this semester. President of the
college. Dr. Fred Bentley spoke at the
first one. Dr. Robert Seymour spoke at
the second. Dr. Charles Boddie spoke at
the third, and Dr. Cecil Sherman spoke
this past Tuesday on the topic of “Tol-
Continued on page 3
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