L e a d e r s h i p t h ro u g h c h a r i ta b l e g i v i n g
Taking the Lead
Fall 2015
Toasting USA’s Launch
Upward & Onward
Angelia ’79 and Steven ‘80 Stokes
Co-Chairs, Upward & Onward – A Campaign
for the University of South Alabama
Angelia earned her business degree in 1979, and Steven
completed his medical degree in 1980. He is a practicing
radiation oncologist in the Dothan area and has served on the
university’s Board of Trustees since 1993, including a term as
chair pro tempore.
The couple’s philanthropic support has been instrumental in
several important initiatives in the life of the university. The
Stokes’ have established the Angelia and Steven H. Stokes
Center for Creative Writing and supported Moulton Tower,
Alumni Plaza, the Mitchell Cancer Institute and the College
of Medicine. Similarly, their support for USA’s Center for
Environmental Resiliency is enabling the university to help
mitigate the negative impact of the human population on the
Gulf Coast ecosystem.
Celebrating forward momentum was the
purpose of the event that launched USA’s largest
fundraising campaign in its history. “Upward &
Onward- A Campaign for the University of South
Alabama” has a $150 million goal targeted to
elevate and accelerate every aspect of USA’s
mission. “The phrase ‘Upward, Onward’ is
contained in the lyrics of our alma mater, and it
describes today’s University of South Alabama
perfectly,” said Dr. Joseph Busta, vice president
for development and alumni relations. “Although
South Alabama is a relatively young university, we
have accomplished much and are always striving
to accomplish more. This is what our Upward &
Onward campaign is all about.”
Steven and Angelia Stokes, both USA alumni,
are serving as co-chairs of the campaign. The
couple is uniquely qualified to serve in this role –
having played a prominent role in advancing the
interests of USA for more than three decades.
“USA has given us so much,” said Mrs. Stokes.
“We both are compelled to give back in a way
that will encourage others to give too. The
Upward & Onward campaign will enable many
more students to experience what we have
experienced, which is a life-changing University
of South Alabama education. “My wife and I
have benefited enormously from our University
of South Alabama experiences,” Dr. Stokes said.
“The opportunities we had are opportunities that
we want others to experience as well.”
Businessman and longtime supporter Abraham
“Abe” Mitchell, whose record $50 million gift
in the quiet phase of the campaign led to the
creation of the university’s landmark MitchellMoulton Scholarship Initiative, has agreed to
serve as the campaign’s honorary chairman.
Mitchell was named an honorary trustee last year
in recognition of his service to the university.
USA’s Upward & Onward campaign began two
years ago with a quiet phase. More than $73
million has already been raised. USA’s aspirations
are bold but are within reach. One by one as each
new gift to the campaign is added, the university
will be pushed a little further Upward and
Onward – the impact resonating for generations.
Jag-Gals Support Athletes’ Academic Excellence
Jaguar Athletics posted a record year in terms of
athletic and academic success. On the field, the
Jaguar teams earned four Sun Belt Conference
championships across 17 sports. In the classroom
105 of these student-athletes were recognized
for their outstanding academic performance. This
unprecedented success was achieved through
much hard work and with help from the StudentAthlete Academic Center and the generous
support of the Jag-Gals.
“I think it is important that we recognize studentathletes as students and as athletes,” said
President Waldrop. “Last spring was a banner year
for our student-athletes with 105 who had a gradepoint average of 3.5 or greater — the highest it’s
ever been — but it’s noteworthy that over 50
percent of all student-athletes had a 3.0 or greater.
That’s very impressive. It’s very easy for one to
think about a student doing well or an athlete
doing well on the playing field; we compare that
to having two very important jobs. But you can
do well as an athlete and you can do well in the
classroom, as demonstrated by this group.”
Carol Statter, President of the Jag-Gals, a
support group for the Jaguar Athletic Fund, said
group members were overjoyed to learn of this
achievement by so many of USA’s studentathletes, saying, “Our members love South
Alabama athletics and know the importance
of earning a college degree. We feel that the
university has done a great job of promoting
excellence in the classroom through the creation
of the Student-Athlete Academic Center. To
support that effort, we devote the proceeds from
our annual fundraising events to the center.”
To date, the Jag-Gals’ efforts have provided the
funding for nearly 3,000 tutoring hours in the
center. Statter continued, “With the time our
student-athletes dedicate to their respective
sports for our enjoyment, the Jag-Gals want to
give back to them by helping to ensure they will
continue to be successful long after they are able
to compete in sports.”
“We attribute a great deal of our studentathletes’ academic success to the generous
contributions of the Jag-Gals. The money they
raise helps fund our student-athlete tutor
program. We are so thankful for their dedication,”
said Jason Kelly, who directs the center.
Nick Stover, a communications major and member of the
Jaguar men’s basketball team is pictured in the Student-Athlete
Academic Center with Deanna Canfield, a member of the Jaguar
women’s volleyball team, who is majoring in leisure studies with
a concentration in sports and recreation management.
McClellan Honors Co-Worker
Kathy Eslava had a friendly face and a manner that
drew in Steve McClellan when he joined the research
team at the Mitchell Cancer Institute. “She was the
just sweetest woman and had the most uplifted,
positive attitude,” he said. “I never, ever saw her
without a smile. She meant a lot to us.” Kathy Delores
Polk Eslava, a medical secretary at MCI, died in
November 2014 after a five-year battle with breast
cancer. She was 61. To honor her memory, McClellan
established the Kathy Eslava Cancer Stem Cell Research
Endowment to help raise funds for cancer stem
Steve McClellan
cell research. “She was so proud of our research,”
McClellan said. “I think to be able to carry on in her name is one of the most
important things we can do.”
McClellan, who manages the MCI Flow Cytometry Core lab at the cancer
institute, said that the work of cancer stem cell research connects across the
board to every type of cancer. “All tumors literally start from one cell going
bad. And what we are finding is that there is a big difference in which cell that
first one is. If it’s a normal tissue cell … then the tumor that develops tends to
be easier to treat. It responds well to drugs and it rarely spreads to other cells
of the body.” On the other hand, when the cancer forms from an adult stem
cell, McClellan said, “you have a
very aggressive cancer than can
metastasize all over the body and it is
very hard to treat.” When functioning
properly, adult stem cells are
necessary to our survival, enabling
us to heal from injuries, etc. Because
such cells have an “enhanced natural
protective mechanism,” when they
go rogue a percentage of the cancer
cell maintains that characteristic,
making it difficult to destroy, he said.
McClellan said he hopes the
endowment will play a role in the
development of a strategy to combat
such cancers. “We have world-class
technology here. It’s a dream to be
able to work on something like this.
It’s a great opportunity to help in the
research and to honor Kathy’s memory.”
Kathy Delores Polk Eslava
Ittakes
takesaanation—JagNation.
nation—JagNation.
It
Forthe
theRichburg
Richburgquadruplets,
quadruplets,this
thisstatement
statementcouldn’t
couldn’tbebetruer.
truer.
For
MMSI
DONOR
MMSI
DONOR
David
Rose
David
Rose
’78 ’78
RETIREE
ANNUAL
RETIREE
ANNUAL
FUND
DONOR
FUND
DONOR
QUAD’S
ELEMENTARY
QUAD’S
ELEMENTARY
TEACHER
TEACHER
Liberty
Hanks
Liberty
Hanks
’00 ’00
QUAD’S
NICU
QUAD’S
NICU
DOCTOR
DOCTOR
Keith
Peevy
Dr.Dr.
Keith
Peevy
’77 ’77
Richard
Rose
Richard
Rose
EMPLOYEE
ANNUAL
EMPLOYEE
ANNUAL
FUND
DONOR
FUND
DONOR
Denise
Anderson
Denise
Anderson
‘84 ‘84
QUAD’S
NICU
NURSE
QUAD’S
NICU
NURSE
Cathy
McCurley
Cathy
McCurley
’95 ’95
JAG
CLASS
2019
JAG
CLASS
OFOF
2019
Dalton
Richburg
Dalton
Richburg
JAG
CLASS
2019
JAG
CLASS
OFOF
2019
JAG
CLASS
2019
JAG
CLASS
OFOF
2019
JAG
CLASS
2019
JAG
CLASS
OFOF
2019
Richburg
LeeLee
Richburg
Jordan
Richburg
Jordan
Richburg
Connor
Richburg
Connor
Richburg
M
Mostoften,it’sthebigeventsthat
Mostoften,it’sthebigeventsthat
gettheattention—thebigchecks,thenew
gettheattention—thebigchecks,thenew
buildings,thenewdiscoveries.Andwhile
buildings,thenewdiscoveries.Andwhile
thoseeventsareamazingandimportant
thoseeventsareamazingandimportant
toUSA,it’stheeveryday,regular-sized
toUSA,it’stheeveryday,regular-sized
contributionsthatcontinuetoshape
contributionsthatcontinuetoshape
Southintoaworld-classuniversity.
Southintoaworld-classuniversity.
Everyday,USAalumni,facultyandstaff
Everyday,USAalumni,facultyandstaff
liveandworkintheircommunityandevery
liveandworkintheircommunityandevery
day,manyofthosesamepeoplechoose
day,manyofthosesamepeoplechoose
togivebackandmakeitpossibleforothers
togivebackandmakeitpossibleforothers
tohaveaccesstoexcellenthealthcareand
tohaveaccesstoexcellenthealthcareand
acollegeeducationthroughtheSouth
acollegeeducationthroughtheSouth
AlabamaAnnualFund.Withagrowing
AlabamaAnnualFund.Withagrowing
numberofalumniandemployeesgiving
numberofalumniandemployeesgiving
regularlytoUSA,suddenlytheordinary
regularlytoUSA,suddenlytheordinary
becomesextraordinary.
becomesextraordinary.
MeetConner,
Dalton,
JordanandLee
MeetConner,
Dalton,
JordanandLee
Richburg.Whenthequadrupletswereborn,
Richburg.Whenthequadrupletswereborn,
JagNationwasthere.Theyweredelivered
JagNationwasthere.Theyweredelivered
atUSAChildren’s&Women’sHospitaland
atUSAChildren’s&Women’sHospitaland
caredforbyDr.
Keith
Peevy
andNICU
caredforbyDr.
Keith
Peevy
‘77‘77
andNICU
nurseCathy
McCurley
‘95.AsUSAhealth
nurseCathy
McCurley
‘95.AsUSAhealth
careprofessionals,Dr.Peevy,Ms.McCurley
careprofessionals,Dr.Peevy,Ms.McCurley
andDenise
Anderson
‘84,directorofcare
andDenise
Anderson
‘84,directorofcare
managementatCWH,understandthat
managementatCWH,understandthat
excellenthealthcaregoesbeyondtheirjobs,
excellenthealthcaregoesbeyondtheirjobs,
andtheygivetotheSouthAlabamaAnnual
andtheygivetotheSouthAlabamaAnnual
Fundinsupportofpatientassistancefunds.
Fundinsupportofpatientassistancefunds.
Theirannualsupporthelpstoensureexemplary
Theirannualsupporthelpstoensureexemplary
healthcareisavailabletoeverypatient.
healthcareisavailabletoeverypatient.
Inelementaryschool,JagNationwas
Inelementaryschool,JagNationwas
there.USACollegeofEducationalumna,
there.USACollegeofEducationalumna,
Liberty
Hanks
‘00,taughtConner,Dalton,
Liberty
Hanks
‘00,taughtConner,Dalton,
JordanandLeeatO’RourkeElementary.
JordanandLeeatO’RourkeElementary.
NowthroughhergiftstotheSouthAlabama
NowthroughhergiftstotheSouthAlabama
AnnualFund,Libertysupportsfuture
AnnualFund,Libertysupportsfuture
teachersinUSA’sCollegeofEducation.
teachersinUSA’sCollegeofEducation.
AstheRichburgquadrupletswere
AstheRichburgquadrupletswere
applyingforcollege,JagNationwasthere
applyingforcollege,JagNationwasthere
again.TheyarenowmembersofUSA’sClass
again.TheyarenowmembersofUSA’sClass
of2019.ThroughthesupportoftheSouth
of2019.ThroughthesupportoftheSouth
AlabamaAnnualFund,donorslikeDavid
AlabamaAnnualFund,donorslikeDavid
Rose
andhistwinbrother,Richard,
Rose
’73’73
andhistwinbrother,Richard,
whospenthiscareeratUSA,helpedmake
whospenthiscareeratUSA,helpedmake
scholarshipsavailabletotheRichburgs
scholarshipsavailabletotheRichburgs
throughtheMitchell-MoultonScholarship
throughtheMitchell-MoultonScholarship
Initiative.Theproudestmemberofthe
Initiative.Theproudestmemberofthe
JagNationthedaythatscholarshipletter
JagNationthedaythatscholarshipletter
arrived?Thequads’mother,USAalumna,
arrived?Thequads’mother,USAalumna,
Rhonda
Richburg
‘86.
Rhonda
Richburg
‘86.
Thinkwhatadifferenceyourgifttothe
Thinkwhatadifferenceyourgifttothe
SouthAlabamaAnnualFundcanmake.
SouthAlabamaAnnualFundcanmake.
ThankstotheUSAfamily—JagNation—
ThankstotheUSAfamily—JagNation—
Connor,Dalton,JordanandLee’sliveshave
Connor,Dalton,JordanandLee’sliveshave
beenenrichedbeyondmeasure.Yourgift,
beenenrichedbeyondmeasure.Yourgift,
workingwithmanyothers,produces
workingwithmanyothers,produces
extraordinaryresults.
extraordinaryresults.
Alumni Board Leads By Example
Several members of the National Alumni Association’s Board of Directors gather prior to the “Onward and Upward- A Campaign for the University of South Alabama” launch on October 13,
2015. From left: Jim Moore '90, Jimmy Shumock '80, Robert E. Percy, MD’96, Lulu Crawford ’73, Michael Diehl ‘73, Holle W. Briskman ’69, and Douglas Whitmore ’05.
A new scholarship designed to benefit the children of alumni association
members is being established by the association’s board of directors. Speaking
on behalf of the board, Association President Jeb Shell said, “We feel it is
an honor to serve the university as part of the alumni board. Creating this
scholarship was another way for us to show our commitment to USA. With the
added incentive of matching funds available through the Mitchell – Moulton
Scholarship Initiative, the timing to support scholarships could not be better.”
Shell is grateful for his time as a USA student and hopes the scholarship will
give more students the opportunity to have the kind of experiences he had
while a student, believing those opportunities will help them be successful
after graduation. Shell continued, “Board members are excited by the
university’s growth and progress and wanted to show that we are willing to
make this financial investment to further that momentum. Our hope is that by
establishing this scholarship, more alumni will be inspired to give in support of
scholarships to assist future Jaguars.”
Reflecting on the board’s contribution, Karen Edwards, executive director of
the National Alumni Association said, “The impact our engaged alumni board
has on this institution is truly remarkable. Establishing this scholarship is a
testament to the board’s dedication to positively influence more alumni to
support the goals of the university.”
Marshall J. Walton Honored Through Scholarship
The Marshall J. Walton Memorial Scholarship
Endowment will support generations of students
who come to USA as graduates of St. Paul’s
Episcopal School. The scholarship honors Marshall
J. Walton, a St. Paul’s graduate who was recently
killed in a tragic accident at the age of 25. Members
of the Alabama Association of General Contractors
joined together with Marshall’s parents, Johnny and
Kathy Walton, to make this fund possible.
Marshall J. Walton
“We are truly touched by all the people who gave,”
said Johnny Walton, a former president of the
Alabama Association of General Contractors. “We
are overwhelmed by the support and generosity of
numerous family, friends and contractor friends.”
Speaking about the scholarship, Kathy Walton said,
“We felt that it would be Marshall’s wish to help
other people achieve their goals and pursue their
dreams. We believe this would be exactly what
he would want us to do.” She recalled a son who
enjoyed the outdoors: an avid fisherman with a
warm heart and friendly spirit. “He loved all of his
family and friends. He had a contagious laugh, a
beautiful smile, a tremendous heart. Every time one
of his friends was feeling down, they knew if they
came around Marshall he would lift them back up.”
The sudden and unexpected death of someone
so young is a painful reminder of the extreme
fragility of life. “It is Marshall’s spirit that’s being
memorialized,” said Charlotte Kopf, manager of the
Mobile Section of the association. “On behalf of the
Alabama Association of General Contractors, we are
thankful to all who have so generously made gifts
in honor of Marshall Walton to help establish this
scholarship. This scholarship will give many students
the opportunity to pursue an education while at the
same time honoring Marshall.”
President Tony Waldrop, far left, is pictured with the parents
of Marshall J. Walton, Johnny and Kathy, and Charlotte Kopf,
manager of the Mobile Section of the Alabama Association of
General Contractors
Taking the Lead is a publication featuring the impact of recent philanthropic gifts made to the University.
If you have questions or comments please contact the development office at 414-8116 or development@southalabama.edu.