University of Mississippi - Ole Miss Yearbook (Oxford, MS)

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2004 ALUMNI HALL OF FAME TOP OF THE CLASS Former alumni and university faculty chosen for top honors 2004 Alumni Award Recipients Gerald M. Abdalla Gerald M. Abdalla is fniin McComb, where he is the ehairinan. president and CEO ol Croft, LLC, a manufaeturer of aluminum and vinyl windows and doors. Abdalla helped create and develop the university ' s Croft Institute for International Studies and sened as its chairman president and trustee. He is also a member of the Ole Miss Chancellor ' s Trust, Accountancy Order and Patterson School of Accountancy Professional Advisory Council. Abdalla is an inductee into the 2004 Alumni Hall of Fame. Henry L. Laws, II- Henr ' L. Laws, II, of Clanlon, Ala., is a retired surgeon and direi lor of surgical residency at Norwood Clinic and Carraway Methodist Medical Center in Birmingham, Ala. Before going to Norwood Clinic, he served as associate professor of surgery at the University of Mabama- Birmingham. Laws was president of Laparoscopic Laparoscopy Practicum where his team developed one of the first centers empowering surgeons to undertake minimally invasive surgery. Laws was inducted into the 2004 Alumni Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 1. Brian K. Roberson Brian K. Roberson ol Washington D.C. is the 2001 n-i i|)icnl of the Outstanding Young Vlumni Award. He is a Professional Accounting Felhjw in the Set uri lies and Exchange Commission ' s OHicc of the Chief Accountant, enabling him to siiuK and dc clop rule piciposals under federal securities laws, serve as liaison to accounting and auditing standards-selling bodies and consull wilh rcgisiranls on accounting and re|)orling matters. a y General Paul V Hester General Paul ' . Hester, from ] HulbiHi Field, Fla., is Commander of Pacific Air Forces and Air Component Commander for the t imm.uider of the L ' .S. Pacific CJommand. He has commanded seven dilTerent units in his 33-year career, including commander of both U.S. Forces in Japan and 5th Air Force at bkota Air Force Base, Japan. He was promoted in JuK from lieiuenant general to general and commander of ir Force Special Operations Command. He is an inductee into the 2004 Alumni Hall of Fame. Rachel McPherson — Rachel McPherson is from Brooklyn, N.V. She is founder and e ecuti e director of The Good Dog Foundation, a non-profit, animal- assisted therapy program. As an independent producer, her first film, Signal through the Flames, was nominated for an Oscar. She also produced Eudora ' elt ' s The Wide Net for American Playhouse. At Ole Miss, she helped found and also chairs the Women ' s Council for Philanthropy. McPherson is also a 2004 .Munmi Hall of Fame inductee. James Butch Rosserjr - James Butih Rosser Jr is from New York. Rosser is chief of minimally inxasive surgery at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York and directs its Adxanced Medical Technology Institute, which enables large numbers of Belli Israel surgeons to use new minimally iinasix ' c jjrocedures. He was included in New York Magazine ' s 2002 The Best Doctors in New ork Hall of lami-. He has also receixcd ihree Smithosonian Awards for technical advancements in medicine. Rosser was also inducted into the 2004 Alumni Hall of Fame. (Hiarles 1). (iaiey of Halliesburg receives the Alinnni Service Award for seni(c Ui ilie iini cisil and the assot iation over an extended |K ' riod. He also chairs the board of the (jaley Agency, Inc., now part of South (irouj) InsmaiKc SeiAic cs. (iaiey has served as director of Iruslmark National liank and |)i( ' sident of the Mississippi .Association of Life I ' ndenvriters, Mississippi Assoc i;ilii in nl lnsnian(c Agents, Ilalliesbiirg . rea Charles D. Galey Chamber of Comineree. Forrest C ' ouiUx Industrial l)e cl(ipmenl Board and Board of Hattiesburg Area Dexi ' lopment Cor])oration. Twice he has served as |)resiclenl of the lorrest-Lamar Count) ' I ' nited Way, nil llie bo.ird of the Soulli C enlral .Mississippi Cha|)ter of American National Red ( aoss, Hatliesburg Cat) ' SchcKjls and YMC:A. 124 I The Oi.k Miss 200. )

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RESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS FORMING A BRICK HOUSE 19 STUDENTS WERE SELECTED AS THE SECOND GROUP FOR THE RESIDENTIAL Scholars Program for maintaining a 3.35 GPA THE 19 STUDENTS INCLUDE: Adrus Ashoo, Kaumudi Atapattu, Kamesha Bailey, Charlene Baumann, Carly Blevens, Kimberly Breaux, Laushelle Fair, Erin Floyd, Melinda Howe, Kerric Martin, Lindsey Maxey, Breanna Parker, Melissa Paulk, Haley Peel, John Rippy, Melissa Smith, Allison Stanford, Stephen Taylor and writlen by REBECCA BERTRAND Lince its inceptior: in 2003. thf Residential ScMars Program has awarded sciiolarsliips to 36 wle Miss students. This program encourages outstanding students to live on campus. luHill a leadership position in an Oie Miss organization, complete 30 hours of community service, maintain at least a 3.35 GPA and assist with the program ' s fund raising efibrts. Each student receives a S 1 ,000 scholarship, which is divided between the iall and spring semesters. The 19 students for the 2004-2005 program were selected from a pool of applicants and were rec|uired to submit an application and three references and undergo an interview. The students were notified in June 2004 of their selection. Vanessa Rodriguez, Associate Director of Operations for the Department of Student Housing and Residence Life, said this year ' s students maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.75 and included two members of the inaugural program, Allison Stanford and Haley Peel. Erin Floyd and Kim Breaux facilitated the group ' s meetings, and Melissa Paulk was responsible for community service activities. During the winter break, the students worked on a Habitat lor Humanity project in Birmingham, Ala. John Rippv; a Brandon native and graduate of Northwest Rankin High School, was a member of this year ' s group. The sophomore English education major lived in Kincannon Hall and served as his residence hall ' s senator for the A.ssociated Student Body. In high school. Rip became an Eagle Scout, was active in his church and volunteered for The Salvation Army. According to Ripp); being a residential scholar enabled him to continue his communit - service efforts, make new friends and work on the Habitat for Humanity project. The residential scholars are the cream of the crop, Rippy said. We are involved in community service activities and are able to balance our time to meet the program ' s requirements. ' 5 Rippy highly | recommends the program to anyone else interested in community sen-ice and said it would be great to participate in the program again. The program was begun by Bill McCartney, director for the department. He recently accepted a position at the University of Chicago. We appreciate the housing staff for leading us and taking care of the group. With Mr. Bill leaving, they are taking time out of their busy schedule to work with us and help us to be a better influence on campus, Rippy said. Distinctions j 123

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FACULTY AWARDS Wade Walcrs, professor of pharmarnlopfy, was named as die 2001 Rlisr M. Hood (3utstanding Teacher Award ReeipieiU. Ole Miss is heller because ol ' Dr. Walcrs ' preseiuc iiere, (liiaiKciloi Roherl Khayal said. He is respeeled and admiicd by siiideiUs, lacully, slall ' and die community as one ol our liiicsl reseaiclieis and iea( iiers, and this honor confirms his dediealioii to his students, peers and tiiis instilution. ( )ver the past several years, Waters ' rescarcii has liiciised on cardiovasctihir and pulmonary pharmacology and toxicology. Waters also holds a research professorship with UM ' s Research Insiiiiiie ol Pharmaceutical Sciences and has taught in the School of Pharmacy since IfMjtj. He won the university ' s Faculty Achievement Award in 1987. He is an eight- time winner of the Pharmaceudcal Science Teaching Award, whic li is prescnied annually by the pharmacy school ' s bachelor of science candidates. I am most honored and very happy to be accorded this prestigious award, Waters said. I am fortunate that the pharmacy school allows time for faculty members to develop to their greatest potential. This achievement is not something that can be accomplished alone. 2004 Elise M. Hood Outstanding Teacher Award a- The annual Frist Awards usually recognize one faculty and one statf member for going beyond the call of duty in service to students; however, the committee for the 2004 awards decided to award them to two faculty members. Professor Stuart Bullion and Professor Tom Mason and one stall member, Majorie Potts. Hanh Bullion and Darlene Mason, waves of the late UM professors, accepted the awards on the behalf of their deceased husbands at the May 8, 2004, graduation ceremony. Potts was also honored and rci cived her award during the 2004 ceremony. Mason, 69, professor of law, died April 1 6, 2004, after losing his battle to cancer before receiving word that he had been chosen for the Frist Award. Darlene Mason said her family has been overwhelmed by the honors her husband received from his students, including being named the 2004 Outstanding Law Professor of the year. It makes us proud to know that he touched a lot of lives, she said. Bullion, 56, former chair of the journalism department, died April 21, 2004, shortly after receiving news of the award. Bullion also suffered from cancer. For students and faculty to believe me deserving of this honor is one of the most overwhelming compliments I can ever expect to receive, Bullion said who joined the UM journalism faculty in 1997. Potts, who is considered a subsdtute mom for the more than 100 theatre arts majors who come to her for academic consultation and personal advice, is being honored for her motherly attention, moti ation and dedication to student service. To be able to participate in Ole Miss ' graduation is a dream come true, Potts said. I just wish I was receiving a degree, too, but my turn will come soon. 2004 Frist Student Service Award There is no question or surprise factor in why Professor Benjamin Fisher, IV, has acquired the title of 2004 Outstanding Teacher for the College of Liberal Arts. His presence in and out of the classroom has given influence, sometimes unwillingly, to numerous students who have taken him for various classes, from LIBA102-Poe to ENGL498-Gothic Literature and everything else in between. Fisher was chosen, among a select group of faculty, a few years ago to pilot the university ' s liberal arts seminar program for freshmen. He is hailed for his unfailing enthusiasm and positi ve influence on graduates and undergraduates. While Dr. Fisher ' s enthusiasm for his subject is evident to everyone, it is his concern for his students that sets him apart, Dean Glenn Hopkins said. Dr. Fisher ' s teaching is renowned on campus, said Joe LIrgo, chair of the English department. He brings an extraordinary high level of commitment to student achievement. Selected from among more than 250 liberal arts faculty members, Fisher said the award came as a complete surprise. I was very pleased and humbled to be chosen to receive the award; it is a great honor to share company with the talented colleagues who have been honored in the past, Fisher, a native of Orwig.sburg, Pa., who joined the UM faculty in 1979, said. 2004 Outstanding Teacher for the College of Liberal Arts — Co Distinctions | 125