Mars Hill College news

A number of area residents - including Weaverville's Walt Stroud, a 38-year employee of the college, were honored during a recent ceremony recognizing the longtime employees of Mars Hill College.

From the university:

Dr. Virginia Hart first came to Mars Hill College as a student in 1941, and except for additional studies, she has never left. She started teaching at the College in 1945, founded most of the College’s women’s athletic teams, and retired in 1985 after forty years. Bored and missing the vitality of the campus, she returned in 1998 to work part-time in the cafeteria where she quickly established herself as “The Omelet Lady.” Now, with over 90,000 omelets behind her–as well as another thirteen years–she is still going strong, holding the longest record of employment of any employee in the College’s 155-year history. It was to honor Dr. Hart and 62 other employees with thirty or more years of service that a reception–“They came and they stayed!”–was recently given on campus by Mars Hill College’s Board of Trustees and President and Mrs. Dan Lunsford. Only one full-time employee has ever reached the 50-year mark: Nona Moore Roberts, Professor of French, who was also the daughter of the College's longest-tenured president, Dr. R. L. Moore, 41 years. Second in longevity of service was Frances Snelson who served 47 years as Assistant to Presidents Moore, Dr. Hoyt Blackwell, and Dr. Fred Bentley. Closing in on those records are two current employees: groundskeeper Vernon Carver at 46 years and secretary Sylvia Murphey at 44 years. Murphey who came to the College at age 21 said she had no idea she'd spend her whole career in Mars Hill and then added, "My association with the people at Mars Hill College has been special. They care." Indeed, the caring atmosphere became a leitmotif of the program as each of the 63 honorees was recognized briefly by Paige Faircloth, president of the Student Government Association; Mike Groce, Chair of the Board of Trustees; Jim Brown, Chair of the Faculty; Cindy Frost, Chair of the Staff Personnel Committee; and by President Lunsford.

* Also, the school named its 2011 Homecoming Queen and King recently. Brittany Hazeldine replaced the 2010 queen, Weaverville resident Megan Weaver.

From the university:

Brittany Hazeldine of Huntington, WV has been selected 2011 Mars Hill College homecoming queen by the student body. Brittany was crowned during half-time festivities of the homecoming football game at Mars Hill College, held Saturday, October 8. Brittany is a senior musical theatre major, and is active in a number of campus activities including Student Ambassadors, Gamma Chi Epsilon Christian sorority, Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society, The MHC Outdoor Club and blueprint Christian club. Also at the homecoming game, Jameson Donnell of Greensboro, NC was crowned homecoming king. Jameson is a senior sociology major with a concentration in criminal justice. He is the Student Government Association Chief of Defense and a Student Challenger. He is also involved in Christian Student Movement and the Black Student Association. Jameson and Brittany were crowned by the 2010 homecoming king and queen: Christopher “Kit” Powell and Megan Weaver.