Lee University’s play therapy center, directed by Trevor Milliron, was recently featured in the Chattanooga Times Free Press. The program has now been in existence for twelve years, and has met a good deal of success recently.

Play therapy may be used to help children who appear to be reacting to abuse, dealing with attention deficit disorder, and confronting fears they have difficulty expressing.

Lee University Associate Professor of telecommunications and pianist, Dr. Richard Sparks, is set to release his newest album, Christmas Love, on November 1.

Christmas Love features piano solos “celebrating the spirit of Christmas.” The album was inspired by a range of artists including George Winston, Vince Guaraldi, Richard Carpenter, and Paul McCartney. The genres comprising Christmas Love are equally diverse, featuring popular works such as Merry Christmas, Darling; Christmas Time is Here; and Tennessee Christmas.

Sparks says, “I wanted this collection of carols, modern classics, and the original title song to evoke both the celebration and the solitude of the season.”

Sparks has previously released four original albums and two collections of smooth jazz and pop piano. However, the style of Christmas Love is markedly different. With the solo acoustic piano and simple arrangements, Sparks feels he has “found a recording style that feels like home for him as a player.”

Sparks recorded the album in his home studio from July to October 2007. Christmas Love contains one original song, and listeners can look forward to hearing more original pieces by Sparks in the future.

Christmas Love is available both at the Lee University Campus Bookstore, and online at www.cdbaby.com/ricksparks. For more information on this album please contact Dr. Richard Sparks at ricksparks@peoplepc.com.

Submitted by the Office of Public Information
Original Article by Katie Gee

The stands of the Paul Dana Walker Arena on the Lee University campus were “packed with pink” on November 2 as Lee University and Berry College were playing their conference volleyball match to raise money for the Mary Ellen Locher Foundation in Chattanooga which works to raise breast cancer awareness.

“As of right now we have raised about $17,000,” said Coach Andrea Hudson. “We far exceeded our goal of $10,000.”

“It was great to see the community get behind this cause,” said Hudson. To show their support, spectators wore pink t-shirts with “Volley For The Cure” printed on the front which were sold for a donation at the university and in the Cleveland community for weeks prior to the event.

During the game, the Mary Ellen Locher Foundation awarded Gretchen Higdon, a student and volleyball player from Ooltewah High School whose mother is a two-time survivor of breast cancer, with a scholarship. The foundation awards these scholarships to children whose parents were lost to or are survivors of breast cancer in an effort to relieve the financial burden that is put on families in this situation.

The success of this event was made possible people and organizations throughout the Cleveland community, said Hudson. “All over town on Friday I saw people wearing their pink shirts,” said Hudson. “The week before the game Bradley, Cleveland, and Walker Valley High Schools got really involved. The principals, teachers, coaches, and volleyball players helped raise awareness at their schools. It was amazing to see how much support we received from the community.”

This event was organized by Zandra Whaley, Hudson’s sister, who works at the Plastic Surgery Center of Cleveland with breast cancer patients.

Submitted by the Office of Public Information
Original Article by Elizabeth Hamilton

Lee University will welcome well-known actor and scholar John Chalberg to its campus on November 15 and 16 as part of the Humanities Lecture Series. Chalberg will portray Teddy Roosevelt on the first night and G.K. Chesterton on the second. Both performances will be in the Rose Lecture Hall at 7 p.m.

Teddy Roosevelt, 26th president of the United States, was also known as an outdoorsman, Rough Rider, historian, progressive reformer and champion of the American navy.

Chesterton is considered one of the great thinkers and commentators of the early twentieth century. He is known in Christian circles for his defense of traditional Christianity, having debated the likes of George Bernard Shaw, H.G. Wells, Bertrand Russell, Clarence Darrow.

John “Chuck” Chalberg holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in American history from the University of Minnesota and has taught at the college level for many years.

Submitted by the Office of Public Information
Pictured is Chalberg portraying Chesterton

Lee University is busily preparing for the hundreds of alumni expected to arrive on November 2 and 3 for Homecoming 2007. The weekend festivities will include class reunions, athletic events, a performance by the drama department, and the School of Music Festival.

The classes of ’57, ’67, ’77, ’87, and ’97 will be highlighted this year. These class reunions as well as the 45th anniversary of Upsilon, the 10th anniversary of TKO, and the 20th anniversary of Pi Kappa Pi will be featured at Homecoming 2007.

Campus Choir is also celebrating their 50th anniversary with a dinner Friday evening and a worship service in the North Cleveland Church of God sanctuary Saturday morning. In addition, the Communications and the Arts Department is having a 10th anniversary reunion.

Other major events will include the Lady Flames volleyball match for Breast Cancer Awareness at 7 pm in the Walker Arena on Friday, November 2. This match versus Berry College and auction to follow is part of the ongoing mission to fight breast cancer. All proceeds from the volleyball match benefit this charity.

Homecoming 2007 will also feature the second annual Homecoming 5k Run. This event begins at 8 am Saturday morning and takes runners through the streets of historic downtown Cleveland.

There will be many other festivities, including men’s and women’s basketball games, at which the Homecoming queen of 2007 will be crowned. Also scheduled are alumni baseball and softball games, the Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet and the Lady Flames softball and volleyball reunion.

The weekend will conclude with a music festival on Saturday evening in the Conn Center.

To register for Lee University Homecoming 2007, call 1-800-LEE-9930 or visit www.leeuniversity.edu/events/homecoming.

Submitted by the Office of Public Information
Original Article By Katie Gee