Spotlight on Belhaven Athletes

Get to know a few of our Belhaven Blazer Athletes.

When you attend any Belhaven Blazers’ game you’ll see an action packed display from our talented athletes.  Belhaven sponsors 13 intercollegiate sport programs and creates an atmosphere where student-athletes can compete for championships and mature as men and women created in the image of God.  We believe that the academic and spiritual development of our student-athletes is just as important as their competitive development.

Discover more about Belhaven’s Athletic Departments.

 

Goss, Belhaven Cheerleading

 

Callie Goss, Cheerleading

Callie is from Alexandria, LA. She is a senior and graphic design major.

Favorite aspect of being an athlete at Belhaven University:  “I love how all of the athletes are so supportive of the others sports. The stands are normally full of other athletes cheering each other on.

Lessons learned while being a Belhaven athlete: “That God is the most important thing and that it is possible to be successful in your sport and glorify and keep Him first in your life.

 

Duarte, Belhaven Tennis

 

Daniel Duarte,  Tennis

Daniel is from Bogota, Colombia. He is a freshman and business major.

Favorite aspect of being an athlete at Belhaven University: “I love that even while spending a lot of time studying, I still have enough time to do what I love the most, which is Tennis.”

Lessons learned: “While being an athlete here at Belhaven, I have learned how to be a part of a team and how to utilize teamwork.”

 

Atwood, Belhaven Volleyball

 

Christina Atwood, Volleyball

Christina is from Vancleave, MS.  She is a senior and sports medicine major.

Favorite aspect of being an athlete at Belhaven University:  “Being blessed with the second family I have in my team.”

Lessons learned: “I have definitely learned a sense of self-discipline on a much stronger level. It is very hard to balance school, practice and social life, but over the years I have slowly learned more and more about balancing it, all in a way to be as successful as I can in each of these areas!”

 

Colvin, Belhaven Soccer

 

Michael Colvin, Soccer

Facts: Michael is from Glasgow, Scotland.  He is a freshman and economics major.

Favorite aspect of being an athlete at Belhaven University: “Being part of a very close team  and having lots of other athletes to support you.”

Lessons learned: “I have learned to become a better communicator with my peers, and have become more disciplined through soccer which has helped me in the classroom.

 

Lopez, Belhavn Baseball

 

Kevin Lopez, Baseball

Kevin is from Caracas, Venezuela. He is undecided about his major and is a freshman

Favorite aspect of being a Belhaven University athlete: ”I really feel comfortable. I can see the intentions from the staff and I can tell that they really want to make me better. This is important to me since my primary objective was to go to a school with a good sports organization, and Belhaven is one.”

Lessons learned: “While being part of a team, I have learned how to arrange my priorities. The coaches teach us that God and family come first, school comes second, and our sport should come third.”

 

Kingsbury, Belhaven Women's Soccer

 

Kaylie Kingsbury, Women’s Soccer

Kaylie is from Lansing, Michigan. She is a freshmen and sports medicine major.

Favorite aspect of being an athlete at Belhaven University: ”The friends and awesome people I am surrounded with everyday challenge me to work hard in school, soccer and in my faith.”

Lessons learned: “I have learned that I don’t need to do everything by myself, If I need help I have teammates, coaches, teachers, and other people all willing to help out and give insight on whatever my problem may be.“

 

Stingfellow, Belhaven Basketball

 

Terence Stringfellow, Basketball

Terence is from Memphis, TN. He is a junior and sports administration major.

Favorite aspect of being a Belhaven University athlete: “The coaches stress that we are playing for God, not for our own glory.“

Lessons learned: “A lot of people look up to athletes, therefore we should play in a way that is pleasing to God and live a life that is pleasing to God on or off the court because people are still looking up to us.”

“IT’S BEAUTIFUL”

The following post is contributed by Kelli Joy, our communications intern. Her assignment: interview Eileen Allen, Campus Operations’ quiet administrative assistant with an eye for capturing the beauty around her. Since it’s the people that make Belhaven such a wonderful place, we’ve chosen to highlight Mrs. Allen and a couple of her photos here.


Eileen Allen, Administrative Assistant for Campus Operations

Eileen Allen, Administrative Assistant for Campus Operations

When asked to describe Belhaven University’s campus in three words, Mrs. Eileen Allen explains, “You can describe it in one—Beautiful!” Since 2006, Mrs. Allen has served as the Administrative Assistant in Campus Operations here at Belhaven. She is the beautiful red-haired lady that sits in the glass office upon entering the computer lab.

The beauty of our campus is her motivation for snapping shots of the university grounds. Mrs. Eileen admitted, “I am sure students see me walking around taking pictures, since I do it all the time. I always keep my camera handy; you never know when you will have the opportunity to capture art.”

Belhaven Campus by Eileen Allen

Belhaven Campus by Eileen Allen

Mrs. Eileen was born here in Jackson and has lived in several cities throughout the state. She grew up in a home that valued art: “Since my mother is an artist and an art teacher, I have been exposed to art all my life. I personally love anything dealing with art, from photography to picture framing, and music as well.” Eileen opened an arts and crafts store from 1986-1990 in Brandon, Miss., where she offered “all types of art classes and sold every type of art supply that you could imagine.”

Gillespie Commons by Eileen Allen

Gillespie Commons by Eileen Allen

She plans to dedicate more time and energy to her love of art and photography whenever she retires. When asked to define or explain art in her mind, she referenced her favorite quote: “Love of beauty is Taste. The creation of beauty is Art.”-Ralph Waldo Emerson. It is obvious from Eileen’s campus photographs that she loves capturing beauty and creating art. Thank you for sharing with us, Eileen!

Homecoming Q & A with Michael Dukes

Michael Dukes, Alumni Director

Michael Dukes, Alumni Director

Michael Dukes, class of ‘98, is Belhaven’s Alumni Director. If any of you alumni are on the fence about coming “Back to Belhaven” this year, read this short Q & A before you make up your mind! Register Online for all of the Homecoming events you plan to attend.

What is your favorite aspect of being Alumni Director? The interaction with alumni (and friends) from varying eras is always satisfying to my soul.  Helping connect alumni passions with something that is currently going on at Belhaven, and see them get involved, is the most enjoyable aspect of my role here.

What is your favorite time of year? Homecoming is the pinnacle for alumni involvement during the school year, so naturally it is my favorite time.  I could put together a Homecoming schedule full of activities and events, but my philosophy is to plan a few meaningful events and reserve the bulk of time available for simple conversation and “re-connection” for alumni.

What are some annual favorites that will be back again for Homecoming 09? Of course, the Alumni Awards Luncheon is a highlight each year.  This event allows us to honor a handful of Belhaven’s alumni who have made significant impact in their churches, careers, and communities since departing Belhaven.  This year’s recipients are certainly a worthy group.

Other staple events are the Sports Hall of Fame Banquet (Friday night), the Fifty Year Club Fall Meeting, and the 5k Run/Walk…AND the Football team will square off with Shorter College on the gridiron this year…GO BLAZERS!

Homecoming Court 2008

Homecoming Court 2008

What are some special events that are new this year? The most significant new event for Homecoming this year will be the “Thirty Years of Excellence” Celebration, honoring Drs. Al Chestnut and Phil Kelly.  It’s a pretty remarkable thing to have faculty stay at one institution thirty years or longer, yet alone in one department.  We wanted to do something to honor these gentlemen and allow those who sat under their teaching the opportunity to express their thankfulness.

Although it’s not a totally new event, this year will see the return of our Blazer Basketball Mini-Camp (Saturday morning).  We want to encourage alumni with children or grandchildren to bring them and let our Belhaven student-athletes interact with them and teach them some basketball skills in the process!

What is the one thing  you hope all alumni experience when they come “Back to Belhaven?” Much of who I am as a person was shaped during my time at Belhaven, so my passions for the College run deep and true.  I know I am not the only one for whom this is the case.  So, my hope is that all alumni who are even remotely tempted to come back for Homecoming will make the choice to do so.  I am persuaded that just simply being back on campus will bring back some powerful memories for us all of what the Lord accomplished in our lives through Belhaven College and the people who were here with us.

Getting to Know Clara Brown, Campus Security

Clara Brown, Campus Security Officer

Clara Brown, Campus Security Officer

“Belhaven surprised me,” states Clara Brown, who has been a Belhaven campus security officer  for 11 years now. As we continue to talk, I learn that it’s really the students’ openness and warmth that has been surprising. In stark contrast to her previous job on a different campus, Belhaven students were eager to make her part of “the Belhaven family,” as she now calls it. She says, “I like to see how students here volunteer, how they go to church, and how they invite me to pray with them.” In fact, she credits these students with helping her grow spiritually over the years.

When Clara talks about her job, she mentions the things she does (escorting students to and from their cars, unlocking doors, patrolling the campus, etc), but mostly she just talks about the students themselves. Her favorite aspect of her job? “I love helping students.” How has the job changed her perspective? “I am more of an athlete by nature, but hanging around artists at Belhaven has given me an appreciation for all of life.” A first that this job has provided? “It’s my first time working somewhere where I meet people from all over the world.” The most pivotal moment that changed her perspective towards students forever? The day a student athlete came up to her, gave her a hug, and told her she is loved. Today, “Miss Clara,” as she is affectionately known around campus, does her job joyfully–keeping campus safe for “her family.”

6 Degrees of Belhaven…Hold the Bacon

Mr. Eliud Michura and Dr. Randy Russ

Mr. Eliud Michura and Dr. Randy Russ

How did Mr. Eliud Michura, a Kenyan, end up in Jackson, Miss. to observe how Belhaven College integrates faith and learning in student development? To answer this very complex question, I thought it would be interesting to play a little game of “Six Degrees” which usually includes Kevin Bacon. Not today. Today, we’re talking about how Belhaven connections span the globe and how the Lord has used them to bring a Dean of Students from a Kenyan university all the way to Belhaven College. This tale of “6 Degrees of Belhaven” began over a decade ago…

  1. Jane Lang’at (class of 1998) and her husband Robert moved to Kenya, where Robert is the Provost at Kabarak University and Mr. Michura is the Dean of Students.
  2. Dr. Joe Martin, Chair of the Belhaven Biblical Studies dept., connected Jane and Robert with…
  3. Dr. Randy Russ, Belhaven Business professor who was already planning a trip to Africa, and who often gives seminars on faith integration in the classroom.
  4. Dr. Russ changed his summer plans (2008) to include a stop in Kenya, where he did a seminar for small business owners, one of whom was Anne Michura…
  5. Anne told her husband, Eliud, about Randy’s seminar…
  6. A friendship was born between these two men, and Randy returned to Kenya in Winter 2008 and invited Eliud to come and observe how Belhaven trains students in faith integration.

So, by the time I met Eliud on the Belhaven campus last week, the Lord had already created an intricate path to bring him here, and it was filled with Belhaven connections. His stay at Belhaven will last 3 weeks, and during that time he will observe how Belhaven integrates the biblical worldview into student programs. He plans to take back many ideas to Kabarak University when he returns. Several things that Belhaven has impressed upon him include the heavy investment into students’ lives, the integration of faith and learning, and the general hospitality he has felt on our campus.

Dr. Russ hopes that this relationship continues to such a degree that Belhaven students could study in Kenya next summer, learning AND practicing “Business as Ministry” with students from Kabarak University. The goal of this program is to help communities spiritually AND economically. I hope to have follow-up news to this post in the coming months! Until then, welcome to campus Mr. Michura!