University of North Alabama - Diorama Yearbook (Florence, AL)

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Even when there wasn ' t anything good to be sai she ' d find that something good was definitely an encourager. said She What I remember about her [Dr. Gaunder] is her enthusi- asm for teaching and her willingness to undertake chal- lenges of all kinds, said Dr. Bill Foster, former head of the English Department. Dr. Eleanor Parks Gaunder died October 16, 2006. She was 64 years old. Gaunder joined the UNA English Department in 1980 and was a much-loved member of the faculty until her retirement in 2005. After that, she remained a part of campus life, taking Spanish and art courses, and chatting with students. Gaunder was known on campus as a kind and supportive woman. Dana Burbank, English Department secretarv, thought of Gaunder as an encourager. She was always asking me what mv kids were reading, what they were interested in. She was ery supportive of ever ' - body she worked with, she said. What most people remember is how supportive and encouraging she was of students, and not just students in her classes. Jennifer Butler, Gaunder ' s former advisee and student, is now a graduate student. Butler says that in her first year, she was confused about what she wanted to do and which major she should choose. Gaunder suggested the professional writing major and explained the purpose of the program, and the choice seemed clear to Butler. Butler said that Gaunder took the time to get to know her students, and that made a tremendous difference. She saw the good in people, and she saw the talents in people, and therefore she was able to really help you as a pro- fessor, Butler said. Gaunder was a leader in ever -thinc she did. She took lier — Dana Burbank English Department secretary role in the American Association of UniversiU ' Women very seriously. Dr. Anna Lott, who considered Gaunder a colleague, mentor and friend, said, There ' s been all this talk about town-and-gown relations, and she was doing that beforehand. She was an extremely active member of AAUW. Eleanor knew instinctively that it would connect the communits ' to the cam- pus. Dr. Ron Smith, English Department head, was impressed by Gaunder ' s love of learning. Her interest in ever ' one she encountered had an impact on his entire famih ' . My daughters spent a lot of time in Wilhngham Hall when they were in grade school, and they always loved stop- ping in to visit with her. She would always put aside what she was doing and ask them how thev were doing. They came away from their visits smiling, with the knowledge that their interests had value. Of course. Dr. Gaunder had the same effect on all of us, Smith said. In 2004, Gaunder won the Phi Kappa Phi Award for Teaching Excellence. Ms. Lisa Keys-Mathews, another of Gaunder ' s friends and colleagues, who was presented the award in 2002, recently requested that Phi Kappa Phi rename it in honor of Gaunder. She remembers Gaunder as an excellent teacher. There ' s nobody more deserving of having a teaching award named after her, because she was an excellent teacher, and she worked hard at it, and even after retirement she kept on teaching because it was her passion, she said. Some memories of Gaunder seem universal. She was always smiling and generous with her time. She wUl be missed. — Megan McClellan LIFETIME OF LEARNING. Dr. Gaunder talked with Dr. Bill Foster at the 2005 retirement reception held for her and another English colleague. Dr. Jean Johnson.

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p. ne- ' P mo) ide, ' p . 79-4 2 - 2006

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WHAT ' S IN YOUR TRUNK? At right. Candy Smith stacks a trunkful of cans. Below, a young man tumbles into a pyramid of cans. Opposite, he collapses in the aftermath.