Features

By Mariah Holliday '13

"The experience was somewhat like stepping into a romanticized fantasy with all of the American cars from the 1950s, the Afro-Caribbean beats ringing in the streets and the vintage architecture of a bygone era," reminisced Chelsea Audibert '13 of her study abroad in Cuba. "But, on the other hand, looming portraits of Fidel Castro and propaganda of 'patria o muerte' ['homeland or death'] imposed quite another tone upon travel within the country."

By Bridget Oswald '14

One of goals of a Spring Hill education is to form leaders in service, and on Feb. 26 history was made during the first Mobile Alumni Day of Service. Spring Hill College alumni from Mobile and Baldwin counties, Spring Hill faculty and staff, and the graduating class of 2013 reached out together to serve the Mobile area.

By Erinn Vogel '15

Communication media and related tools are changing at break-neck pace and, though Spring Hill College's communication arts and graphic design programs have continually evolved, their new space reflects the digital nature of the programs.

"The communication arts department is about 40 years old, and we were in Moorer Hall for about 20 years, so it's a fitting time in the life of the program for this move," said Dr. Sharee Broussard, associate professor and department chair.

Rev. Michael Williams, S.J., associate professor of English at Spring Hill College, celebrates his jubilee year in the Society of Jesus. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Williams entered the Maryland Province of the Jesuits in 1962. He graduated from Fordham University in 1968 with specializations in classics, philosophy and English. He received a full doctoral fellowship from the University of Southern California and received a Ph.D. in English in 1975.  He also studied at the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley and was ordained in 1975.

Faculty and staff ventured out of their offices and classrooms to serve the Mobile community for the third annual Ignatian Day of Service. Celebrated on July 31, the day honors St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits.

Spring Hill employees volunteered at seven local sites: Mobile Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Bay Area Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, Little Flower Catholic School, Little Sisters of the Poor, Penelope's Closet, and the Ronald McDonald House.

The Rev. Robert "Bobby" B. Rimes, S.J., a longtime member of Spring Hill's Jesuit community and beloved theology professor, died May 30, 2012 following a short illness. He was 89 years old and in his 70th year as a Jesuit.

Born in Monroe, La., Rimes came to Spring Hill College as an undergraduate in 1939. An avid baseball player, he was also proud to have served on Spring Hill's football team. He often joked that Spring Hill football has been undefeated since 1942 when he played on the team. (SHC dropped football as a sport after that year.)

For struggling high-school students, one-on-one tutoring can mean the difference between dropping out of school and earning a diploma.

According to the Alabama Department of Education, the graduation rate in the Mobile County Public School System was 64 percent in 2011. But, tutoring in difficult subjects greatly increases high-risk students' ability to pass the Alabama High School Graduation Exam and their incentive to stay in school.

Jessica Pouncy, class of 2013

Scholarship Recipient

Elementary Education major

New Brockton, Ala.

"I chose Spring Hill College because of the intimate feel of the classes and campus community. I loved the beauty of the campus and the close attention every student receives from their professors.

St. Vincent de Paul Center and Marillac Social Center honored long-time supporter Jim McKinney '69, chairman of the SHC board of trustees, at their 18th annual Fleur de Lis Ball, held Feb. 25 in Chicago.

McKinney received the 2012 Fleur de Lis Award for his work and support of the St. Vincent de Paul Center and his outstanding service to Chicago-area children of working-poor families, the homeless and isolated seniors.