Young Harris College is a private Methodist-affiliated liberal arts college in Young Harris, Georgia, United States.
Former names | McTyeire Institute (1886–1891)[1] |
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Motto | Hic iuventus incenditur (Latin) |
Motto in English | "Here Youth Are Inspired"[2] |
Type | Private liberal arts college |
Established | 1886 |
Religious affiliation | United Methodist Church |
Endowment | $100 million |
President | Drew Van Horn |
Academic staff | 134 |
Administrative staff | 50 |
Undergraduates | 1,425 (2020)[3] |
Location | , U.S. 34°55′58″N 83°50′48″W / 34.9328°N 83.8468°W |
Campus | Rural, 485 acres (196 ha)[4] |
Colors | Purple and white |
Nickname | Mountain Lions |
Sporting affiliations | NCAA Division II |
Website | www |
History
editOrigins
editThe school was founded in 1886 by Artemas Lester, a circuit-riding Methodist minister who wanted to provide the residents of the Appalachian Mountains with an education. The college was funded in part by production from an agricultural program, or college farm. Students who could not afford education were allowed to work on the farm to earn tuition.[citation needed]
Originally known as McTyeire Institute for the small village where the school was located, the college struggled for the first year until an Athens judge, Young L.G. Harris, donated enough money to keep the school open. The school was later renamed Young Harris Institute and became Young Harris College in honor of its benefactor, as was the surrounding town in 1895.[5] A fire destroyed the college's main classroom building in 1911, but it was rebuilt by local townspeople and named Sharp Hall in honor of the college president at the time. The Young Harris Academy was founded in the late 19th century and provided a primary education for thousands of students until it closed after World War II.[6]
Bequest
editMargaret Adger Pitts, who died in 1998, left an estate valued at $192 million, mostly in Coca-Cola stock acquired by her father in the 1920s. YHC was one of four Georgia entities named to receive the yearly dividends and trust proceeds, approximately $3 million to each of the beneficiaries. The college announced that the money would be used for scholarships, improvements to the campus, and religious programs.[7]
Transition
editSince the early 1910s, YHC was a two-year school, granting associate's degrees. In 2008, the college earned its four-year accreditation through regional accreditation organization, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and was approved to offer bachelor's degrees in biology, business and public policy, English, and music. In February 2010, Young Harris' accreditation was expanded to include communication studies, history, outdoor leadership, theatre, and musical theatre in the list of sanctioned bachelor's programs.[8]
Presidents
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Academics
editYoung Harris College offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in more than 30 majors and 22 minors.[10] These academic studies consist of course offerings in seven divisions and programs, including the divisions of Education, Fine Arts, Humanities, Mathematics and Science, and Social and Behavioral Sciences; and three or more programs, including Interdisciplinary, Teacher-Preparation, and Pre-Professional programs.
The ratio of students to faculty at Young Harris is 10:1.[10]
Ranking
editAcademic rankings | |
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Liberal arts | |
U.S. News & World Report[11] | 185 (tie) of 185 |
Washington Monthly[12] | 195 of 199 |
In the 2023 U.S. News & World Report rankings of national liberal arts colleges, Young Harris College was tied for 185 of 185.[10]
Athletics
editThis section needs to be updated.(June 2021) |
The Young Harris athletic teams are called the Mountain Lions. The college is a member of the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Conference Carolinas since the 2023–24 academic year. The Mountain Lions previously competed in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) prior to the 2010–11 school year, as well as the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) from 2012–13 to 2022–23.[citation needed]
Young Harris competes in 16 intercollegiate varsity sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, and tennis; women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball; and co-ed sports include spirit cheerleading.
Move to NCAA Division II
editOn July 1, 2014, the school completed the transition from the GCAA and NJCAA to the NCAA at the Division II level. The college originally applied to the NCAA in 2010, but the application was rejected.[13] The school re-applied in 2011 and received acceptance into the three-year process to become a full member. As of the 2011–12 academic year, Young Harris was in the first year of candidacy-membership.[14]
Campus buildings
editNote: Dates of construction given when known[15]
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Rollins Campus Center (2014)
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The Towers (2013)
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The Harp Recreation Center (2010)
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Enotah Hall (2009)
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Hillgrove Hall (2002)
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Goolsby Center (1993)
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Rollins Hall (1986)
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Maxwell Center for Math and Science (1979)
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Department of Athletics (1970)
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Clegg Fine Arts Building (1963)
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Appleby Center (1961)
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Appleby West (1961)
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Manget Hall (1956)
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Pruitt-Barrett Memorial (1949)
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Sharp Hall (1912)
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Campus Gate (c. 1897)
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Susan B. Harris Chapel (1892)
Student life
editThe college offers various opportunities for students to engage, socialize and participate in organizations relating to academic topics, intramural and club sports, media and publications, service, special interest, spiritual and religious, student government and Greek life.[16]
Greek system
editThe roots of the Young Harris Greek system began with the men's debating societies of the late 1880s. During the 1960s, these organizations became more social than academic. Alpha Iota (local) was formed as the third sorority in 1973.[17] In the fall of 1987, Zeta Pi (local)[18] formed as the fourth fraternity on campus.[19] The three other sororities on campus are Delta Phi Epsilon (local), Gamma Psi (local) and Phi Alpha Phi, a Christian-themed local.[20]
There are thirteen Greek organizations.[21] The Huffington Post reported in 2013 that the college had a "big hazing problem."[22]
The college also has several honor societies.[23]
Culture
editThere are regularly musical performances on campus, art exhibitions, and theater performances. There are three student publications: the Corn Creek Revue (a literary magazine), the Mosaic (a religious publication), and the Enotah (the yearbook).[citation needed]
Between 1995 and the mid-2000s, Young Harris College's auditorium was home to Georgia's official historic drama, The Reach of Song.[24][25]
Alumni
editOne U.S. senator, two U.S. representatives, two governors, a number of congressmen, state legislators, and mayors all started out at YHC.[26][27]
Notable alumni and instructors
editNotable graduates include former Georgia governors E. D. Rivers and U.S. Senator Zell Miller; Georgia first lady Shirley Miller; U.S. Representatives Jack Brinkley and Buddy Carter; entertainers Oliver Hardy, Wayland Flowers and Amanda Bearse; country music singers Ronnie Milsap and Trisha Yearwood; Major League Baseball players Nick Markakis, Charlie Blackmon, Billy Buckner and Cory Gearrin; Waffle House founder Tom Forkner; state Supreme Court Chief Justices William Henry Duckworth and Charles S. Reid;[28] state Senator J. Ebb Duncan and state Representatives Hank Huckaby[29] and David Ralston.[30] Poet and novelist Byron Herbert Reece was a student and teacher at YHC; theologian and philosopher John B. Cobb taught at the college. James T. McIntyre served as director of the Office of Management and Budget and Fred S. Clinton was a frontier doctor in Oklahoma at the turn of the century. George J. Berry, Atlanta Aviation Commissioner and Georgia Commissioner of Industry, Trade, and Tourism graduated in 1957.[26] Bettie M. Sellers, poet laureate of Georgia taught English at YHC for over 30 years.[31] American correspondent Betty Hester attended YHC.[32] as did journalist Winfield Myers.[33]
Honors and awards
editThe highest honor bestowed by the college is the Young Harris Medallion. It has been presented yearly since 1969 to an alumnus, alumna or friend of the College for extraordinary contributions.[34][35]
Further reading
edit- A History of Young L.G. Harris College, Joseph Milton Brogdon, 1938.
- History of Young L.G. Harris College, Jackson Lance, 1935.
- Young Harris College: 1886-1986, Louisa Franklin & Jeffery S. Moody, 1986.
- The Miracle of Brasstown Valley, Zell Miller, 2007, ISBN 0-9796462-0-0.
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ "History at YHC". yhc.edu. Young Harris College.
- ^ "College Emblems". Yhc.edu. Young Harris College. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
- ^ "About YHC: Quick Facts" Young Harris College website
- ^ "YHC About the area". Yhc.edu. Young Harris College. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- ^ "New Construction" Young Harris College website
- ^ "A History of YHC" Young Harris College website
- ^ Associated Press, "Woman leaves huge sums to Methodist groups" Archived September 19, 2012, at the Wayback Machine The Augusta Chronicle, March 4, 1999 [dead link]
- ^ "Young Harris College Adds Five New Baccalaureate Programs", South Georgia Conference of UMC news release, accessed March 15, 2010 Archived July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Reese, Krista:"Young Harris College" New Georgia Encyclopedia
- ^ a b c "Young Harris College". U.S. News & World Report. 2017.
- ^ "2023-2024 National Liberal Arts Colleges Rankings". U.S. News & World Report. September 18, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
- ^ "2023 Liberal Arts Colleges Rankings". Washington Monthly. August 27, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
- ^ Stillwell, Dan (July 14, 2010). "WVU Tech's bid to return to NCAA rejected". The Register-Herald. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ Staff (July 12, 2011). "YHC granted candidacy for NCAA Division II membership". Enotah Echoes. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ "YHC through the years". Echoes Magazine. Young Harris, Ga.: Young Harris College. June 28, 2011. pp. 22–29.
- ^ "Student life". Young Harris College. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ Rayburn, Eric. "Upsilon Delta Sigma History". 1991. Upsilon Delta Sigma Fraternity. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ^ Zeta Pi
- ^ "Zeta Pi Fraternity - Young Harris College". Zetapi.org. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
- ^ "Greek Life". Young Harris College. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ^ "Sororities & Fraternities". Yhc.edu. Young Harris College. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
- ^ Kingkade, Tyler (April 30, 2013). "Naked Sweethearts & Mud Crawls: A Small College's Big Hazing Problem". HuffPost.com. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
- ^ Singer, Tara (February 17, 2023). "Young Harris College Awarded Charter for National Honor Society". Omicron Delta Kappa Society. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ "Georgia State Historical Drama". eReference Desk. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ "Reach Of Song 1997" (PDF). Archive.org. Georgia Mountains Regional Development Center. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ a b Reese, Krista. "Young Harris College". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Georgia Humanities. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
- ^ Paschal, Paul Holmes: A Tribute To Young L G Harris, Advocate Press, 1977, Page 17
- ^ "Judge Reid Dies in Plunge From 12th Floor After Suit Charges Estate Mismanaged", The Macon Telegraph (November 8, 1947), p. 1.
- ^ "Huckaby legislature biography". Archived from the original on February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
- ^ "Speaker David Ralston" (PDF). house.ga.gov. State of Georgia. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ Warren, Rubin O. "Bettie Sellers". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Georgia Humanities. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ Köhler, Nicholas (May 10, 2016). "The Mysterious Letter Writer Who Beguiled Flannery O'Connor and Iris Murdoch". The New Yorker Magazine. The New Yorker. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ "Winfield Myers". SPME. Scholars for Peace in Middle East. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ "The Young Harris College Medaillion". Young Harris College. Young Harris College. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ "Young Harris College Class of 2022 Commencement". Young Harris College. May 20, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2023.