Piedmont College - Yonahian Yearbook (Demorest, GA)

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Prayer for Guidance Dear God, Please teach me to remember Life is beautiful, is gay; That somewhere in each moment Of every dreary day There lies one ray of sunshine That I ' m too blind to see, That somewhere is an answer To pain and misery. Please teach me to be patient Of things not understood; And know that all life ' s workings Can be a power for good. Let me love my neighbor, No matter what he be, For such is all Your teaching To all who would be free. Please give me will to follow In the footpaths You have trod, And let my eyes be opened To brotherhood in God. Let my heart be humbled By faith my brothers share, For creeds should never matter When men are met in prayer. H

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Piedmont College Demorest, Georgia 30535

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THE PRESIDENT ' S MESSAGE by James E. Walter My heartiest congratulations to the Class of 1980. As we enter the decade of the 1980 ' s, we turn with high hopes to the future and among our brightest hopes are the young men and women of your class who have successfully earned their degrees at Piedmont College. As I talk with young men and women who seek the best way to make their contribution to life, I recall many of you of the Class of 1980 who have contributed much to our College life and whose later careers I shall follow with deep interest. Among the many high lights of your years at Piedmont College, I recall that your freshman class (1976) was the largest class of incoming students in the history of the College! That meant that Piedmont was continuing to meet a very real need in the lives of young people by providing a quality education in a Christian environment. It meant also that Piedmont College must continue to find additional resources to provide for the academic needs of this greater number of young people. I am happy to report that this was accomplished through the sensitive and concerned friends of the College who joined with the faculty, staff, and trustees in meeting the increased needs and insuring the future of the College. In 1977, Piedmont College was able to accomplish its long-sought goal when its Endowment Fund Campaign went over the top of the $1.5 million goal, thereby matching on a two-for-one basis the generous gift of $750,000 from an anonymous donor. I am deeply grateful to God and to every donor who had a part in this beautiful miracle for our College. These permanent endowment funds will produce essential income throughout the future for the enrichment of the young people who will follow you in seeking to know the truth which makes them free. Another high light which I recall from your years at Piedmont was your response as a part of our student body to the tragedy which struck our neighboring college at Toccoa Falls. Never shall I forget that morning when representatives of the Student Government Association approached me to request the privilege of inviting everyone at our regular Wednesday morning chapel service to share in a free-will offering for the relief of our unfortunate friends at Toccoa Falls College who had been the victims of the raging flood torrent. Here in our College, indeed, was God-inspired compassion at work! Your response was tremendous. We had known the young men and women of Toccoa Falls College as fellow students. Now we knew them also as persons who, facing bitter losses, nevertheless continued to sing their faith with confidence. As I move around the country, I am proud to tell our supporters of the College choir and musical ensemble. It was a member of your class, also, who organized the volunteer group of young men and women who provided us with several chapel numbers as well as evening -concerts. We shall always remember this joyous group of young people who took the name, Joy Explosion, and their leader, Wendy Hawks. It was a member of your class, also, who put Piedmont College on the map when Martha Kelly, as Piedmont ' s 1978 Homecoming Queen, represented Georgia at the Orange Bowl Festival in Miami in 1978. I am proud that we have in Martha a person chosen to represent the College on the basis of academic achievement, extracurricular activities, personal interests, and good grooming. She is every inch the young woman we delight to help to acquire a college education. I am proud that for four years she served in my office as student secretary. I am also proud that as a class you elected her as your president for the coming years in the Alumni Association. During your class ' s years at Piedmont, in 1977, womens ' interscholastic basketball was reinstated after an interim period of 25 years! The Lady Lions have since well earned the reputation as one of the outstanding teams of Northern Georgia. During those years mens ' basketball also has brought Piedmont glory, and during your freshman year advanced the farthest in the conference and district tournaments in the history of the College. During your Class ' s years at Piedmont, the College faculty and administration underwent inevitable changes. On February 25, 1979, you shared our sorrow in the passing of Mrs. Edith Scott, who had been so long artist-in-residence and who had made her home in Getman-Babcock Residence Hall. One year later we dedicated in the College Library a number of panels for the display of art work, the gift of her son as a memorial to his mother. Your Class saw the departure of Dean Jodie L. Burton and his lovely wife, one of our alumnae, and of our Registrar for many years, Dr. John Ben Ayers. They were happily replaced in 1978 by Dr. Mary C. Lane, as Dean, with whom many of you had studied professional education; and Mr. Nolan Nix, as Registrar. Many of you also knew and loved Dr. Mary L. Griggs, professor of mathematics, who retired in 1978 after many years of service at Piedmont College. As President of Piedmont College, now for more than 30 years, I feel humble and grateful for the role Mrs. Walter and I have had in working together for society ' s enrichment through the dedicated labor of Christian young people who have matured under the discipline of four years at Piedmont College. I am grateful to all the churches and individuals who support us financially. Most of all I am grateful for the opportunity God provides for spiritual growth, social maturity, and academic achievement for all who come to Piedmont College and who are receptive to its teachings. May God richly bless you in the coming years and may you remember us at Piedment College with the affection we feel for each one of you.