Wednesday, July 29, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Denise Cook
(706) 379-5237, bdcook@yhc.edu

Young Harris College Alumni Celebrate Homecoming 2009

YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – More than 1,500 Young Harris College alumni, their families and friends made their way back to Young Harris for a weekend of reconnecting and reuniting with old friends, classmates and professors and to celebrate Young Harris College’s transition to a four-year college. Young Harris College hosted what many alumni referred to as the “best Homecoming ever” Friday-Sunday, July 24-26, with many activities for alumni and their families to enjoy on and around the beautiful mountain campus.

Friday’s events included an open house at the Office of Alumni Services, an ice cream social and reunion dinners for the classes of 1935-1947 and classes celebrating their 50- and 60-year reunions.

The highlight of Friday evening was the Celebration Reunion Dinner and Alumni Awards Ceremony at Brasstown Valley Resort in Young Harris. Alumni from across all generations gathered to celebrate the college’s four-year status and a new, unified alumni organization, the Young Harris College Alumni Association. Young Harris College President Cathy Cox addressed the crowd, bringing greetings from the College, and representatives from the alumni association presented alumni awards.

“Tonight we have the opportunity to celebrate all Young Harris College alumni and to honor five outstanding alumni who have provided exceptional service to Young Harris College and who have achieved great success, both personally and professionally,” said Young Harris College Alumni Association President Carol Chastain, ’84.

The Young Alumni Achievement Award was presented to Rev. Catherine Boothe, ’99, of Atlanta, for excelling in her career. The Susan B. Harris Award was presented to Sally Boyd, ’60, of Gainesville, for providing strong support for Young Harris College. The Iuventus Award was presented to Rev. Dr. Donald Harp Jr., ’61, of Atlanta, for rendering the greatest service to Young Harris College and furthering its alumni relations efforts. The Artemas Lester Award was presented to Rev. Dr. Ernest Seckinger, ’37, of Blairsville, for a lifetime dedicated to ministry and a commitment to Christian service. The Distinguished Alumni Award for Lifetime Career Achievement was presented to Tom Forkner, ’37, of Duluth, for great success in his career following a successful foundation laid by Young Harris College. Forkner is co-founder of Waffle House, Inc.

On Saturday morning, alumni enjoyed coffee with President Cox in the Campus Gate Gallery then gathered in Glenn Auditorium for President Cox’s official college update. President Cox recognized members of the classes of 1958 and 1959 in celebration of their 50-year anniversary. The update presentation was followed by a special service in Susan B. Harris Chapel honoring Rev. Fred Whitley, ’66.

Alumni mingled with family, friends and faculty during a lunch on the plaza and an afternoon at the Outdoor Education Center with live music and activities for all ages, such as Frisbee golf, wall climbing, and children’s playgrounds. The Class of 1969 celebrated their 40-year reunion with members from the classes of 1968 and 1970 in the Campus Gate Gallery late Saturday afternoon.

Saturday evening culminated with an outdoor dinner at The Ridges Resort and Club in Hiawassee. Nearly 200 alumni from all classes and groups gathered to reconnect and mingle while enjoying live music on the shore of Lake Chatuge.

Throughout the day on both Friday and Saturday, alumni had the opportunity to attend planetarium shows in Rollins Planetarium, view the Lance Collection of Presidential signatures in Duckworth Library, and participate in campus tours, including a sneak peek of the new 200-bed residence hall.

The weekend’s festivities wrapped up Sunday morning with worship services at Sharp Memorial United Methodist Church led by Young Harris College Campus Minister Rev. Dr. Timothy Moore.

“Homecoming 2009 was a great success. Numerous alumni told me it was the very best Homecoming they had ever attended. They really enjoyed the wide variety of activities we offered and felt like there were more events than ever before,” President Cox said. “As we look toward next year, we will review all of their feedback and ideas in an effort to make the next Homecoming even bigger and better.”

About Young Harris College

Founded in 1886, Young Harris College is a private, baccalaureate degree-granting college located in the beautiful mountains of north Georgia. Historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, Young Harris College educates, inspires and empowers students through the highest quality liberal arts education. Long known for nurturing students during the first two years of college, Young Harris College received accreditation in 2008 to grant bachelor’s degrees. The College currently has approximately 700 students across four divisions—Fine Arts, Humanities, Mathematics and Science, and Social and Behavioral Science—and plans to increase enrollment to 1,200 over the next few years. The historic campus in Young Harris, Ga., is currently undergoing major campus improvements to accommodate the College’s growth. For more information, visit www.yhc.edu.

YHC alumni gather, above, following a lunch on the plaza on Saturday, July 25, as part of the 2009 Homecoming festivities.