Mars Hill College News

OPEN HOUSE AND DEDICATION OF RENOVATIONS TO WALL AND
FERGUSON COURTYARD

The public is invited to an Open House and Dedication of the newly renovated Wall Science Building, and the adjoining Lion’s Eye Courtyard on the campus of Mars Hill College, Saturday, November 7, beginning at 11 am in the Courtyard.

Wall Science Building, which has housed Mars Hill’s science facilities since it was built in 1940, was renovated during the 2008-09 academic year. Classes resumed in the building with the beginning of the 2009-2010 academic year. Wall is connected to the Ferguson Math and Science Center, which was completed in fall of 2008. The completion of the Ferguson/Wall complex doubled the space at the college devoted to science and math, and provided a new and updated location for Mars Hill’s fashion and interior merchandising department.

Lunch will follow at noon on the Wren Patio. To make reservations for lunch contact Barbara Hassen at bhassen@mhc.edu, or at 828/689-1102.

BAILEY MOUNTAIN CLOGGERS WIN TWO MORE NATIONAL TITLES

As many times as it happens, it never gets old.

The Bailey Mountain Cloggers, Mars Hill College’s precision clogging team, added the 17th and 18th national titles to their credit last weekend at the American Clogging Hall of Fame National Championships. BMC won national distinction as Overall Traditional Precision Team and as Overall Show/Artistic Expression Team at the competition, held October 23-25, at the Stompin Grounds in Maggie Valley.

Dancers Nena Bryant and Blake Sanders also brought home an overall show duet title.

According to General Manager Danielle Plimpton, the Overall Traditional Precision Team award was presented for the team’s ability to dance with accurate and parallel movements. Judges also looked for advanced choreography, showmanship, energy, costuming, skill level, and the control and skill of the caller.

The Overall Show/Artistic Expression Team award was based on originality, overall togetherness, difficulty of footwork, stage use, creativity, costuming, and music selection.

Plimpton said BMC has worked extremely hard since August to put together 13 new routines to use at the ACHF Championships. “The Bailey Mountain Cloggers continue to win national championships despite the special challenge of essentially having a new team makeup every year. The team comes together with a whole new class of freshmen each fall, perfects new routines and excels while competing against teams that have been doing the same routines with the same dancers for years.”

This year’s BMC team is especially talented and dedicated, Plimpton said. She described the ACHF competition as one with an atmosphere of fun team spirit.

“The competition was very close with other teams this year and we were very nervous as a whole,” she said. “Everyone at the competition seemed to be rooting for our team, and it made the entire win, much more important to everyone. We also had some tears of joy, and some students who wouldn’t let go of the trophy!”

Dustin Presley a sophomore BMC dancer said, “I am very proud of how the team came together this weekend, and danced as a family. Everyone cheered for everyone the entire night. We were all so supportive of not only our team, but every team that danced.”

Clogger CJ Tate said “I am so proud of being a part of BMC, winning these titles means the world to me.”
 

MARS HILL COLLEGE HOSTS TRIP TO SAN CRISTOBAL, MEXICO

Mars Hill College, in conjunction with the San Cristóbal de las Casas Committee of Asheville Sister Cities, will be hosting a trip to the Mexican state of Chiapas, May 9 through 18, 2010. This trip is open to the public.

Places to be visited are San Cristóbal de las Casas with its rich colonial history and considerable indigenous influence. The tour also includes the waterfalls at Misol-Ha and Agua Azul and the Mayan ruins of Toniná, Palenque, and Bonampak. The indigenous villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán are also on the itinerary as is the 2400-acre national park at Lagunas de Montebello, on the Guatemala border.

The price per person, which includes round-trip airfare, lodging with breakfasts, and all entrance fees is $2417.00 but the cost will decrease with more participants. For information, contact Dr. Greg Clemons, Professor of Spanish at Mars Hill College at gclemons@mhc.edu or (828) 689-1120.