1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

Alumni

Charles L. Shearer, president emeritus of Transylvania University, receives honorary degree from University of Kentucky at December commencement; alumnus David Lollis also honored

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Charles L. Shearer, right, receives his honorary degree from UK President Eli Capilouto. Photo by Matt Goins. LEXINGTON, Ky.—Charles L. Shearer, president emeritus of Transylvania University, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree at the December commencement ceremonies at the University of Kentucky for his lifetime service to higher education. Shearer was selected as president of Transylvania in 1983, beginning a distinguished 27-year tenure that is the longest in the university’s history. A native of Louisville, Shearer earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting and a master’s in diplomacy and international commerce, both from the University of Kentucky. He then earned a master’s and a Ph.D. in economics from Michigan State University. Shearer was named to the presidency of Transylvania at the age of 40, after serving four years as the university’s vice president for finance. One of his first priorities was to increase enrollment, which stood at 655. By the next fall, the entering class had climbed 46 percent over the previous year, to 312, and overall enrollment climbed 19 percent to 785. By 2008, 1,153 students were enrolled, a 76 percent increase. Academic quality of the faculty and student body was another priority. The number of students receiving prestigious William T. Young Scholarships, which cover full tuition and fees for four years, grew from 10 to 25, and the innovative Bingham Program for Excellence in Teaching provided financial rewards to high achieving professors. Further bolstering the

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Transylvania alum and Fulbright Scholar receives award for public diplomacy from U.S. Ambassador to South Korea

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania graduate, Rachael Williams, former Fulbright Scholar in South Korea, has been honored for her work in public diplomacy. The U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, Sung Kim, presented Williams an award at the conclusion of a three-day Youth Diplomacy Program for 24 Korean secondary students. Williams has coordinated the program since 2010. The program emphasizes the role diplomacy plays in resolving global conflicts, English language acquisition, leadership and careers in diplomacy. Students listened to guest speakers, participated in small-group discussions and in a mock United Nations session. The students were selected through a highly competitive application process open to schools throughout the Korean peninsula. A Murray, Kentucky native, Williams graduated from Transylvania in 2009. Following graduation she served as a Fulbright Scholar in South Korea. The Fulbright program is a prestigious international exchange program designed to increase mutual understanding between the U.S. and other countries, supported by the U.S. Department of State. As a Fulbright Scholar, Williams was the curriculum director of Camp Fulbright, an English language immersion program. She also mentored incoming Fulbright grantees, volunteered at a community orphanage and taught North Korean defectors. Williams is currently enrolled in the School for International Training in Vermont and plans to fulfill her practicum requirement in South Korea next year. She also works in World Learning’s International Education and Development Program Office as a student assistant.

Harry Stephenson, former student, coach, teacher, and administrator with 63-year legacy at Transylvania University, dies

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Harry Stephenson, whose relationship with Transylvania University as student, coach, teacher and administrator totaled a remarkable 63 years, died May 15 in Lexington. He was 95. Stephenson enrolled as a first-year student at Transylvania in the fall of 1936. His association with the university was interrupted by military service during World War II, a year earning a master’s degree after the war, and another year of high school teaching. He joined Transylvania’s faculty and staff in 1948, and when he retired in 2006 had achieved a 58-year employment tenure at his alma mater that became a 63-year association when his student days were added on. “Transylvania has lost a leading member of its family with the passing of Harry Stephenson,” said President R. Owen Williams. “There have been few people in the long history of this institution in whose hearts the spirit of Transylvania burned so brightly.” “Harry Stephenson was the epitome of an educator,” said athletics director Jack Ebel, a 1977 graduate of the university. “Countless Transylvania students and athletes developed lifelong relationships with Harry through his dedication to mentoring young people. Harry was an exceptional friend to the university whose commitment began 76 years ago when he came here as a student.” Stephenson’s Transylvania studies were sidelined by his service as a crew chief and engineer on a C-47 troop carrier with the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942-45. He had played professional baseball with the St.

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Transylvania wins AIKCU’s annual “Battle of the Bumpers” contest for fourth year running

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—With the help of alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents and friends, Transylvania University is once again the winner in the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities (AIKCU) “Battle of the Bumpers.” Transylvania beat out the other 19 AIKCU campuses to put the most campus license plates on Kentucky highways and the most dollars in the school’s general scholarship fund. Transylvania’s promotional efforts helped increase their total sales to 852 in 2011, an increase of 84 license plates over 2010. Ten dollars from the sale of each plate is returned directly to the school’s general scholarship fund, translating into $8,520 for student scholarships at Transylvania. Overall, sales of Kentucky Independent Higher Education plates raised more than $45,000 for student scholarships in 2011. “Our license plate really stands out on the road,” said Natasa Pajic Mongiardo, director of alumni programs. “Each year I’m more impressed by the number of alumni and friends who purchase or renew the Transylvania plate and support the student scholarships. They are making it very hard for other colleges in Kentucky to catch up to us!” The Kentucky Independent Higher Education series plates took to the roads in 2002. Each independent college and university had its own plate, but they all shared a common design theme. Thanks to advances in license plate printing technology and some changes in state regulations, AIKCU members were able to work with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to redesign their plates in

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Transylvania wins AIKCU’s annual “Battle of the Bumpers” contest for third year running and raises over $7,000 for scholarship fund

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—With the help of alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents and friends, Transylvania University is once again the winner in the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities (AIKCU) “Battle of the Bumpers.” After back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2009, Transylvania aggressively promoted its plates again in 2010, beating out the other 19 AIKCU campuses to put the most campus license plates on Kentucky highways and the most dollars in the school’s general scholarship fund. Transylvania’s efforts helped increase their total sales to 768, an increase of 33 license plates over 2009. Ten dollars from the sale of each plate is returned directly to the school’s general scholarship fund, translating into $7,680 for student scholarships at Transylvania. Overall, sales of Kentucky Independent Higher Education plates raised almost $42,000 for student scholarships in 2010. “I am impressed with the number of alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff and friends who choose to show their Transylvania pride with a white and crimson license plate,” said Transylvania President R. Owen Williams. “In particular, the support of our loyal alumni has been remarkable.” The Kentucky Independent Higher Education series plates took to the roads in 2002. Each independent college and university had its own plate, but they all shared a common design theme. Thanks to advances in license plate printing technology and some changes in state regulations, AIKCU members were able to work with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to redesign their plates in late 2007.

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