Members 2006-2007
CALLIE ALDRIDGE
A native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Callie Aldridge is a junior Journalism and Mass Communications major with minors in both Art and Spanish. She is passionate about overseas experience, and plans on spending her January term in London and summer term in Spain. She has received the Wheeler Medal for outstanding academic achievement and been on the Dean's list for the last two years. Her call to leadership is seen in many on campus and internship opportunities. Currently, she is the Vice-President of the Delta Psi chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha, was the one of two student directors for the Miss Samford scholarship competition last November and spent last summer as an intern for the "Rick and Bubba" radio show. After graduation, she plans to get an MBA. She hopes her love for fine art and degrees in public relations and business will enable her to pursue a career in corporate event planning or own her own wedding planning and design company.
KATY ANDERSON
Katy Anderson is a senior Early Childhood Education major from Nashville, Tennessee. Katy has been involved in numerous organizations since her time at Samford, including Hypatia, Chi Omega, Kappa Delta Pi, Alpha Lambda Delta, and the Student Government Association. She has also been a participant in Step Sing and a volunteer for the Big Oak Girls Ranch. Katy’s largest role came as serving as the 2006 Chi Omega President.
IKE BAKER
A native of Jasper, Alabama, Ike Baker is a Senior Biology major. A former Samford football player, he joined the Iota Chapter of Sigma Nu Fraternity as a freshman and served as his pledge class' treasurer. Since his freshman year, he has also served as Chaplain and Philanthropy Chair. He is now serving as the Lt. Commander(VP) and oversees all areas of the fraternity. Through his fraternity, he has started two charity fundraisers. Sigma Nusball is a fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. He also began a softball tournament that benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Ike has been extensively involved in student government. His positions have included: SGA Senator for West Campus, Pro-tem of Senate, Executive Advisory Board member, and Chairman of the Legislative Affairs Committee and Athletic Promotions. He is also a member of various honor societies including: Alpha Lambda Delta, Beta Beta Beta, and Omicron Delta Kappa. After graduation, he plans on attending the University of Alabama Medical School.
DAVID BAILEY
David Bailey is a senior from Paducah, Kentucky majoring in biochemistry, and he is also pursuing a minor in Spanish. David's leadership activities at Samford have included serving as a summer orientation leader, chaplain of the Student Ministries Choir, and the vice-president of Omicron Delta Kappa. David has also served as the co-chair of Family Weekend and is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Lambda Delta, and the College Society. David has had the opportunity to study abroad in Italy during January of 2004 and also studied in Spain for nine weeks during the summer of 2006. He is graduating in May of 2007, and he plans to begin medical school in the fall. In his free time David enjoys running and playing the guitar.
EMILY BLYTHE
Emily Grace Blythe is originally from Paducah, KY and is pursuing a Biochemistry/Pre-Med major with Spanish and Biology minors. Some of the clubs and organizations she has been involved with while at Samford include the Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society, the Student Activities Council, Executive Advisory Board and the Spanish Club. Emily is a member of Hypatia, Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Epsilon Delta, and Beta Beta Beta, as well as a Samford LEAD scholar. Emily has studied abroad in Spain (summer 2006), Costa Rica (January, 2005), and was involved with an International Mission on Medicine to Australia (summer 2004). She loves spending quality time with family and friends, and being continuously challenged in all areas of life. After graduation she plans to attend medical school.
TAYLOR CLEMENT
Taylor Clement is a senior from Cleveland, Tennessee majoring in history. During his time at Samford, Taylor has served as the SGA President and the SGA Treasurer. He is a member of Pi Kappa Phi, the Order of Omega, Alpha Lambda Delta, Phi Alpha Theta, and the College Society. Taylor studied in Rome, Italy during January 2004 and has traveled extensively visiting France, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, and Turkey. Taylor is graduating in May of 2007 and is getting married in June this year. He plans to begin graduate school this fall. Taylor enjoys supporting the Arkansas Razorbacks and the St. Louis Cardinals.
MARY KATHRYN COVERT
Hailing from Meridian, Mississippi, Mary Kathryn Covert is a senior History major with a Political Science minor. Mary Kathryn has served as President, Activities Director, and Senior Class Representative of the Honors Program and has advocated for reform of the existing program. In the Student Government Association, she served as a Sophomore, Junior, and Chief Justice of the Student Judiciary Council and Traffic Appeals Council. She is a member of the Phi Alpha Theta, Order of Omega, Hypatia, Pi Sigma Alpha, Phi Kappa Phi, President's Leadership Collegium, College Society, and Alpha Lambda Delta honors societies. Mary Kathryn interned at the human rights advocacy firm, Christian Solidarity Worldwide in Surrey, England as the assistant Southeast Asia advocacy officer. The focus of Mary Kathryn's upperclassmen years is her research in Sumter County, Alabama, on debt peonage, involuntary servitude, and social deviance. In the spring of 2006, Mary Kathryn was selected as Samford's nominee for the Rhodes Scholarship and went on to become a national finalist in the competition. Mary Kathryn enjoys traveling, economic theory, eating at non-franchise restaurants, reconciling the spiritual and the rational, roller coasters, and self-actualization.
DANIEL CRANE
Daniel is originally from Mandeville, LA and is pursuing a major in Sports Medicine. While at Samford, Daniel has been involved with many organizations at many different levels -- President of Sigma Nu fraternity, the Student Government Association's Chief of Staff, and serving as a medical researcher during the summers at Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans, LA. He is also a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, the Order of Omega, and volunteers with Habitat for Humanity. Daniel plays several intramural sports, and enjoys working out and spending time with friends. After graduation, he will attend medical school.
CANDIS GARNER
A senior elementary and special education major from Florence, AL, Candis Garner has contributed to the Birmingham community through her involvement with Student Ministries as the Community Involvement Coordinator and tutoring ministries. She has also had the opportunity to represent Samford to trustees and donors through her position as a Samford Ambassador. Her passion for missions led her to spend the 2006 summer in Malaysia to build relationships with college students and spread the love of Christ. A member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, Candis enjoys participating in all of the intramurals on Samford's campus with her sorority sisters. Her leadership on campus includes Hypatia President, SOSA Leader and Intern, and Omicron Delta Kappa Community Outreach Vice President. Her future plan is to teach overseas through a missions organization.
LAUREN GILBERT
Hailing from Birmingham, AL, senior Lauren Gilbert is actively involved in the music department at Samford as a result of her music minor with a concentration in percussion. In her third year as drum major, Lauren has led the marching band through several transitions with a new band director and a new music building. Through her involvement and presidency with Samford bands, Lauren has developed discipline, organization, and motivation that has spilled into other organizations she is involved with on campus. An elementary and special education major, Lauren has had the opportunity to study in London and Italy with Samford. Lauren has been inducted into numerous honor societies including Alpha Lambda Delta, Phi Kappa Phi, Hypatia, and Kappa Delta Pi. In the future she plans to attend graduate school at either the University of Virginia or the University of Georgia.
ADAM HANCOCK
Adam Hancock is a senior from Paducah, KY majoring in Accounting. Adam's leadership activities at Samford have included serving as President of Students In Free Enterprise, Vice President of Sigma Chi Fraternity, summer orientation leader and as a Samford Ambassador. During the fall semester of 2006, Adam served as a White House Intern in Washington D.C. Adam has also participated in several mission trips, including a summer spent in Amman, Jordan, studying Arabic and sharing the Gospel with Muslims. In addition to Middle Eastern travels, Adam has studied abroad in London, England and traveled throughout Europe. Adam's post graduation plans include working for PricewaterhouseCoopers and pursuing a CPA.
DAWSON HULL
With a gift for music, senior piano performance/theory composition senior Dawson Hull has made his mark on Samford University with his contribution not only to the music department but Greek life as well, serving as the Vice President for Order of Omega. He is also the Fraternity Educator for Lambda Chi Alpha and was actively involved in reestablishing the fraternity at Samford. Dawson has had the opportunity to travel to Italy and France with Samford. Dawson, from Jackson, TN, has been the assistant worship leader at First Baptist Pelham and plans to begin working on his master's of music in piano performance after graduation.
JESSICA JOHNSON
Jessica Johnson is a junior Nursing major from Daphne, Alabama. She is passionate about serving her savior, Jesus Christ, in all aspects of life. She has been on the Dean's List for the past two years and has received a Nursing Academic Honor Medal for having a greater than 3.75 GPA. In addition, she was chosen to be a member of the Hypatia Honor Society and Leading Edge Institute. Her leadership on campus includes being Vice-President of the Samford University Association of Nursing Students as well as Secretary for the Samford Ambassadors. She has also been a CONNECTIONS leader for two years, Peer Mentor for a freshmen Foundations class, and tutored in the campus Communication Resource Center. After receiving her nursing degree, Jessica plans to seek different traveling opportunities and use her love for people in medical mission work. Her other aspirations include being a loving wife and mother.
KENNY KELL
Kenny is originally from Chattanooga, TN, but more recently hails from Sandy Springs, GA. He is pursuing a B.S. in Pre-med/Biology and a B.A. in Spanish Language and Literature. He has served as president of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, Chair of the ODK Academic Endeavors Committee, treasurer of the Intrafraternity Council, and president of Sigma Delta Phi. Kenny is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Beta Beta Beta, Alpha Lambda Delta, the A Cappella Choir, and the Order of Omega. The recipient of the W. Mike Howell Award for Excellence in Biology, Kenny was chosen to represent Samford at Leadershape Conference, ALEEC (Alabama Environmental Educational Consortium), and National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment. He has studied abroad in Spain (summer 2005), and has traveled with the A Cappella Choir to St. Petersburg, Russia (spring 2004) and Beijing, China (summer 2006). He has also has research assistant positions at both Samford University and UAB. After graduation Kenny plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Business Management and would like to work with the health care industry to provide better, more cost effective care to patients. He would also like to work with manufacturers and others to decrease their negative impact on the environment, while at the same time boosting productivity and profits.
AMBERLEIGH KIRK
A senior International Relations and French major, Amberleigh Kirk comes to Samford from Peachtree City, Georgia. Throughout her college career, Amberleigh has been consistently involved with activities like the Student Ministries Choir, In His Hands, University Christian Fellowship and the Global Involvement Committee. She is also a LEAD scholar and an undergraduate fellow with The Fund for Theological Education. Amberleigh is also a recipient of Wheeler and Presidential Scholarships, and a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Delta Phi. Amberleigh enjoys studying languages and the Classical world. She plans to attend seminary in the fall and eventually get her Ph.D. in Church History. She would love to live abroad, perhaps returning to Africa.
KATHRYN LAMB
Kathryn Lamb is a senior Political Science and Spanish major from Conyers, Georgia. During the last few years, she has been fortunate enough to have served as the captain of the Samford Dance Team and as the president of Alpha Omicron Pi. Her interests lie in juvenile advocacy, and she has held several internships working with a Juvenile Court Judge and the First Lady of Georgia to promote children's rights. She will be attending the University of Alabama Law School in the fall.
KATIE LANTZ
Katie Lantz, a native of Lytton, Iowa, is a senior Journalism and Mass Communications major with an emphasis in Public Relations and a minor in Business. She plans on spending her January term preparing for her indoor and outdoor seasons on the Samford Varsity Track and Field team. This past year she has served as the president of Samford Ambassadors, the secretary of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee and the publicist for the campus student magazine Engage. Currently she is an active member of the Public Relations Student Society of America and the 2007 Samford Senior Campaign. Other honors include being chosen as a senior honoree for the Hanging of the Green ceremony and Chi Alpha Sigma, an athletic and academic honor fraternity. Katie's summer internship experience includes working at The Integer Group, an integrated marketing firm in Des Moines, Iowa, and Gibbs & Soell, Inc., a public relations firm in New York, New York. Her plans after graduation include pursuing a career in Public Relations and possibly pursuing her Masters in Business Administration.
CHRIS MCCAGRHEN
Name: Chris McCaghren. Hometown: Montgomery, AL. Major: Double in communication studies and classics. Leadership: Coordinator for Samford Sunday, the undergraduate preaching program, and founder of the Samford Ministerial Alliance. Summer revival preacher for the Alabama state board of missions, and active itinerant evangelist. Hobbies: Golf and Billy Graham. Career goals: Itinerant evangelist.
EDEN RICHARDSON
Hailing from Helena, AL, senior Eden Richardson is involved with several honor societies on campus and has directed the Independent Ladies to a winning Step Sing show. With a family studies with child life concentration major, Eden also founded Global Women. She has had the opportunity to travel extensively, including trips to London, Romania, Thailand, China and Russia. Eden is also involved in several honor societies on campus including Phi Kappa Phi and Hypatia. In the future, she plans to work as a child life specialist in a children's hospital.
HANNAH GRACE ROWLAND
Hannah Grace Rowland is a senior from Oak Ridge, Tennessee double majoring in psychology and French. Hannah Grace's leadership activities include serving as the President of Zeta Tau Alpha in 2005 and she is currently a Samford University Ambassador. Hannah Grace is a Volunteer Girls State Counselor, a member of the Student Recruitment Team, a Connections Leader in 2004, and a member of the Eating Disorders Awareness Team. She is also a member of Phi Kappa Phi National Academic Honor Society, Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society, Order of Omega Greek Honor Society, Hypatia Women's Honor Society, and Alpha Lambda Delta. She spent the spring of 2006 at the Centre Universitaire d'Etudes Francaises, Grenoble, France and earned a Diploma of French Studies of Language, History, and Culture (Diplome d'Etudes Francaises, Universite Stendhal). She also obtained the Diploma of French Language Studies (Diplome D'Etudes de la Langue Francaises), granted by the French government. Hannah Grace has had internships with the Arkansas Supreme Court and with the Harold Ford, Jr. for U.S. Senate campaign. She is graduating in December 2006 and plans to move to Little Rock, Arkansas and work for Justice Jim Gunter of the Arkansas Supreme Court before going to law school.
SARAH SPIRES
Sarah Spires is a senior music education major from Columbus, Georgia, and a student of Paul A. Richardson. She has served as music director of Delta Omicron, a professional music fraternity, and as treasurer and section leader of A Cappella Choir. Sarah is currently vice president of A Cappella Choir and publicity co-chair of Samford's chapter of the Collegiate Music Educators National Conference. She is a member of Samford's chapter of the American Choral Directors Association and has been on the Division of Music Student Council. Sarah was a soloist in the 2006 Mozart Solemn Vespers concert with the combined choirs and Samford Orchestra and has played with the Bells of Buchanan. She toured Russia in 2004 and China in 2006 with the A Cappella Choir. She is also involved in the Leadership Education, Awareness and Development program at Samford and the President's Leadership Collegium. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Hypatia honor societies as well as Kappa Delta Pi educational honor society. She works for Samford's Music Preparatory Department and sings in the Shades Mountain Baptist Church choir.
BOBBY SMITH
Bobby Smith, a native of Pensacola, Florida, is a Music major with an emphasis in Voice Performance and Jazz Piano studies. His passion for music has lead to many endeavors in the arts, including journeys to China, Brazil, England, France, and Canada. His love for travel and international relationships has led to fluency in Portuguese and study in Spanish and German. He currently holds the position of the Tenor section leader of the Samford A Cappella Choir, and is its mascot as well. With a second place finish last year, the Dudes-A-Plenty show was musically directed by Bobby, and will be again for the upcoming season. He had the lead role of Dickon in Samford's production of The Secret Garden, and lead roles in the 10-Minute Play Festival in 2005 and 2006. His visual artwork has been commissioned by Samford in last year's "Stations of the Cross" and he was the featured artist for the Shiloh Worship service. Bobby currently leads worship with the Birmingham college ministry UCF (University Christian Fellowship) and at Shades Mountain Baptist church. His self-produced cd was also released in October. His future plans include more music and possible pursuit of a Masters in Music or seminary.
ERIN STEWART
Erin Stewart is a senior from Springfield, Tennessee with a History major and Biology minor. Among her many activities on campus she is the president of Bread for the World, president of Phi Alpha Theta History Society, and the production manager for Samford's radio station, WVSU FM 91.1. Erin is also the director of a documentary about the decline of rural communities in the wake of the American agricultural shifts of the late twentieth century, as well as the current optimism of family farmers who have moved into the organic/sustainable agriculture sector. The film is currently in production. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Lambda Delta, the social justice committee for University Ministries, and is the Secretary/Treasurer for Omicron Delta Kappa. Erin has taken full advantage of Samford's study abroad opportunities and has spent a combined six months in London with Samford students, taking time to travel from Ireland to Morocco. She plans to attend Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. this fall with a full fellowship to get her Ph.D. in Environmental History.
JOHN ANDREW WESLEY
John Andrew Wesley is a junior in the Bachelor of Arts in Music degree program from Texarkana, Texas. John Andrew has served as Treasurer of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Senator for the School of Performing Arts, and Public Relations Chairperson for the SGA Senate. John Andrew is a member of the Samford University A Cappella Choir, is principle trumpet of the Orchestra, and is co-section leader of the Marching Band. In addition, he has been on the Dean's list for 3 years and was recently inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi honor society and Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society. John is also a part of the Samford University President's Leadership Collegium and LEAD scholars program. He was named a recipient of the 2006 National Alpha Lambda Delta Jo Anne J. Trow Undergraduate Scholarship. John Andrew traveled to Beijing, China in 2006 with the A Cappella Choir. He also served as a Patient Care Secretary for the Baptist Princeton Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama. John Andrew enjoys volunteering at the Multicultural Center of Birmingham teaching ESL courses to Spanish speakers as well as being an active member at Vestavia Hills Baptist Church. John Andrew has been accepted to Mount Sinai School of Medicine in Manhattan, New York.
LAUREN WELTY
Lauren Welty is a junior from Carmel, Indiana double majoring in Journalism and Mass Communication with an emphasis in advertising and French. She is also pursuing a minor in Christian missions and ministry. Her leadership activities on campus include her position as Editor-in-chief of The Samford Crimson, the Recruitment Vice President for Alpha Delta Pi, and Director of the Miss Samford University Scholarship Pageant. Lauren also serves as the President of French Club, and the Secretary for Alpha Lambda Delta. She is a member of Phi Delta Pi and Kappa Tau Alpha. Lauren has also spent time studying abroad in Grenoble, France working toward her French major. Lauren has interned at the Carmel Mayor's office of community relations and the Zionsville Times Sentinel newspaper. She enjoys running, reading, writing, and playing the French horn in her free time.
JENNIFER WILMORE
A senior political science major from Hendersonville, TN, Jennifer Wilmore has held leadership positions in several social justice organizations as a result of her passion to see hope restored to the world. She is currently the Social Justice Coordinator for University Ministries and was actively involved in starting a Food for the Hungry campaign on Samford's campus. Her Spanish minor has led her to study in Lima, Peru and Spain. She has also spent a summer in Northern Ireland with University Christian Fellowship on a mission trip.
CLAIRE WOODS
Claire Woods is a senior nursing major from Birmingham, AL. A consistent leader on and off campus, Claire is a Samford Ambassador, serves on the University Association of Nursing Students, is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society, and teaches Sunday School at Trinity Presbyterian Church. A recipient of the Auxiliary Scholarship, Claire is also a Ralph Beeson Nursing Scholar. Her future plans include attending graduate school in the fall to get her Master's Degree in Nursing. She hopes to become a Family Nurse Practitioner.