TrevEchoes | February | 2018 |

February 2018 | Trevecca Nazarene University’s Official Student Newspaper Since 1944 | TrevEchoesOnline.com

NEWS
Increase in student-run Photography
Trevecca embrac- business pays
es the squirrels businesses tuition
Read how the friendly animals
have impacted campus. BY Ashley Williams
CONTRIBUTOR
Page 2
David Weflen finished his high
school soccer season and needed
FEATURE something to fill his time. What
New chef hired, started as a photography hobby has
turned into a business that now pays
campus food is his college tuition.
changing Weflen, a junior at Trevecca,
spends his days juggling school work
Page 5 and David Weflen Photography, his
growing photography business.

EDITORIAL

It’s not too late to

join a club
Page 6

SPORTS One of Kent’s embroideries. Photo provided by Kent.

A weighted blanket. Photo provided by Durham.

Baseball and softball BY Anna Nail and Miriam Kirk

CONTRIBUTORS
teams prepared for Brittney Kent, a junior music
business major at Trevecca, grabs
season her needle and thread, her notebook
Page 7 and her computer. She turns on the
latest video lecture from her business
law class and simultaneously starts
embroidering a portrait of someone’s
dog in Illinois.
Kent has three orders to fulfill for
her Etsy store, Thistle & Leaves by
CONNECT
the end of next week. She also has a
/TrevEchoesOnline business law test on Friday.
“I go, go and go so much that I
forget how much I have to do and
@TrevEchoes how stressed I am,” she says.
Kent is one of what appears to be a
@TrevEchoes growing population of students who
don’t wait until graduation to launch
a business.
TrevEchoesOnline.com
While there is no official way to
track how many current students own
TrevEchoes@gmail.com and operate their own businesses,
faculty in the business department
confirm there are indications that
TNU Events App interest in entrepreneurship is
growing.
“We have a very bold generation
INSIDE right now that doesn’t see anything
NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 they can’t do,” said David Diehl, dean
of the school of music and worship
OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 arts.
SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 A 2016 Gallup poll found that one
in four high school students said they
FEATURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
wanted to own their own business at
some point. Colleges are responding to
this interest. According to kauffman.
org, the number of courses offered
by colleges in entrepreneurship has
increased from 250 to more than
5,000 in the past 30 years.
At Trevecca, the introduction to
entrepreneurship and small business
management course taught by Diehl,
averages more than 40 students
per semester, and it is not a part of
the liberal arts core. Students take
this class because they want to, not
because they have to.
“Young people are perfect for
entrepreneurship,” said Diehl.
Diehl said that it is easier than
ever for people to start their own
business. His goal in teaching the
entrepreneurship class is to demystify
the process and show that it is really
not that complicated.
Several Trevecca students and
alumni have already taken the leap
and started their own businesses.
Kent started her business after
interest grew when she started
embroidering hoops for Christmas
presents. In the past year, she
has sold nearly 50 custom-made
embroidery pieces, including custom
pet portraits, quotes with floral
patterns, furniture and clothing. On
average, she sells her pieces for $30
to $45.
CONTINUED PAGE 5
One of Weflen’s photos. Provided by Weflen.
“My first year I booked 15 or 17
weddings. It’s been crazy busy. I’ve
been drowning in schoolwork and
editing, but it is putting me through
college,” he said. “At this rate, I’m
hoping to graduate debt free.”
In addition to traveling around the
country to photograph weddings,
Weflen runs an Instagram account
with more than 1,000 followers and his
website—www.davidweflen.com.
When he started, he knew a lot about
photography. He had been studying
other photographers for years. But, he
wasn’t sure how to run a business.
“A lot of it is kind of having to know
your value, I still don’t know to be
honest. I just threw a number out there
and thought, ‘Well if people bite, then
it’s probably good and I’ll raise my
prices as I go.’”
Before each photo session Weflen
works to create a relationship with the
couple so they feel more comfortable.
He enjoys getting to know his clients
and their stories.
“I’ve probably cried at five or six
weddings this year just because I knew
CONTINUED PAGE 3

Future of DACA students still uncertain as congress debates

BY Blake Stewart
MICAH MANDATE EDITOR
The debate to pass a bill that would give
nearly 800,000 DACA recipients a shot at
legal status is still at a stalemate between
both parties of Congress.
In January, Congress forced a
government shutdown, that was
temporarily opened back up.
The shutdown was in part because of
lawmakers’ failure to agree on a solution
for DACA recipients, causing them to
become intertwined in budget negotiations
Students marching for DACA.
with the federal government in exchange
for President Donald Trump’s promised
border wall and crackdown on illegal
immigration.
One of Trump’s campaign promises
was to end the Obama-era executive order
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or
DACA. The program was created in 2012
as a way to allow young people brought
to the United States as children without
documentation to be granted amnesty
from deportation, apply for work permits,
get driver’s licenses and attend college.
Since the executive action went into
e�ect, an estimated 800,000 people were
protected under the order. More than 130
students at Trevecca and around 8,300
Tennesseans have DACA status.
In September, the Trump administration
announced that the White House would
end (DACA) in six months causing mass
protests across the nation and creating
turmoil throughout Congress.
“This has been the most heartbreaking
political debate that I have witnessed in
my lifetime,” said Broderick Thomas,
CONTINUED PAGE 4
2018 | February | TrevEchoes
Trevecca embraces the love of the campus squirrels
BY Diana Corzine and Joshua
Michel
CONTRIBUTORS
Biology majors Courtney Dyer and
Charlotte Sauter had just finished
classes for the day. They headed back
to their dorm room in Tennessee
Hall anticipating a chance to relax
and unwind. As they reached the
door, though, the trashcan next to
them burst open and a squirrel came
hurtling out. It had been frightened by
their approach, but the squirrel wasn’t
the only one to experience fear.
“It scared the crap out of us,” said
Dyer.
Dyer also remembers at a separate
time seeing a squirrel pop out of a
trashcan by the Caf with a french-fry
in its mouth.
Many Trevecca students can tell
similar squirrel stories.
“They’re everywhere,” said Dyer.
“But I love that Trevecca has made the
squirrels at the school a thing.”
Lanyards, t-shirts, stamp cards,
stu�ed animals, library web pages,
posters, co�ee and flyers are just a
few ways Trevecca is capitalizing on
the abundance of campus squirrels in
recent years.
National Squirrel Day is celebrated
on Trevecca’s social media accounts
and Trevor the Squirrel takes over
Trevecca’s Facebook from time to
time.
Matt Toy, associate vice president
Honduran students account for nearly half of international students
BY Hilda Elvir and Claudia Huezo
CONTRIBUTORS
Every other weekend, around 10 Honduran
students gather in either the Benson Hall
lobby or the Tennessee Hall lobby for movie
night. Not much of the movie will be watched
though, it’s more of an excuse to hangout.
This year, 33 Honduran students are
enrolled at Trevecca, making up nearly half
of the international student population on
campus.
Before the 2015 semester, there was
only one Honduran student. Seven more
enrolled that year. Since then, the Honduran
population has continued to grow.
“The fact that there’s so many of us
definitely grabs people’s attention. When I
mention I’m from Honduras they tend to
say ‘oh, just like so and so’ or ‘oh, another
Honduran”. One teacher even said we were
like the cool kids,” said Adabelle Recarte, a
junior at Trevecca.
The large number has helped some
Hondurans feel more comfortable in another
country. Arnaldo Maltez, another Honduran
student, was happy to have people to help
him integrate into the community.
“It’s made it so much easier to integrate.
I feel that when I came in with my group of
Hondurans it made me feel welcomed and I
was able to be myself,” said Maltez.
Recarte, on the other hand, feels like
having so many Hondurans on campus
has made it somewhat harder to get the
experience she was looking for in college.
“It’s a comfort to have so many that
understand your situation. Sometimes it does
make it harder to integrate though. It’s easy
to get comfortable with people that know
your culture, your background and your
language, but we are in college. I came for
of marketing and communication, has
been working the past three years to
integrate the squirrel in local ways on
campus even carrying his own keys on
a Trevecca squirrel lanyard.
“Trevecca’s brand is a fun
community brand and that is what
the squirrel represents,” said Toy.
“The students enjoy it. It’s unique and
di�erent.”
The campus bookstore also recently
acquired squirrel stu�ed animals,
which they started selling in May.
“We were inspired to order the
stu�ed animals just because we know
how important the squirrels are on
campus. Students love the squirrels.
Photo provided by TNU bookstore.
the whole experience of being immersed in
another culture, and make friends of other
cultures, so that’s hard sometimes with so
many Hondurans,” Recarte said.
Maria Petty, international admissions
counselor, said that Honduras was chosen for
recruiting because of a personal connection
a previous admissions recruiter had. Since
then, Petty says word-of-mouth has been key
in drawing more students in.
“Honduras is a communal country. People
share their experience with others in their
community and that is how people continue
to know about Trevecca. Most students come
from similar socio-economic backgrounds, so
Everyone was really excited when
we got them,” said Holly Steinmetz,
bookstore associate.
There are several local legends
surrounding the squirrel population
and its popularity on campus. Perhaps
one of the most well-known belongs
to Ray Thrasher, a longtime resident
of Trevecca Towers. Thrasher, as
many students know, carries a bag of
peanuts with her everywhere she goes.
“I’ve known the squirrels for years,”
said Thrasher. “For decades actually,
and they know when I come around to
come up to me and I’ll feed them.”
She is not the only one to have fond
feelings for the flighty creatures.
“I like squirrels. They bring me
joy,” said Noel Wright, a senior
psychology major. “It would be cool if
we could build a little squirrel house
that students could go into to feed the
squirrels. We could call it the Squirrel-
ban Farm.”
The campus co�ee shop, 1901,
has perhaps embraced the squirrel
the most enthusiastically from a
marketing standpoint. Since their
transition from Abba Java, 1901 has
created two signature drinks.
“Our Caramel Crème and our
White Mocha is now the ‘Squirrel’
and ‘Albino squirrel.’” said manager
Logan Rodgers. “People love it and, I
mean, it’s just always fun to yell, ‘Hot
squirrel on the counter!’”
They have also redesigned their
parents, friends, classmates all know about
Trevecca and continue to tell others,” said
Petty.
Rebecca Merrick, international student
advisor, stays up to date on international
news, knowing it may impact students.
“I think having so many students from one
place is something that has made it easier
for other students to pay attention to that
specific culture. It’s helped them learn about
what other countries look like, and it’s a great
experience for students that want to know
more about other countries,” Merrick said.
Maltez agrees with Merrick, noting the
Honduran students gathered for a Christmas party. Photo provided by Hilda Elvir.
Photo provided by TNU bookstore.
stamp cards to portray squirrels in
a tree and the profile of a squirrel
drinking co�ee has been made into
wall art in the CLCS location.
“People love it. Students love it. It’s
funny to watch outsiders to Trevecca
come in and order a squirrel latte, but
for us it’s just fun,” he said.
In response to rumors that the
squirrel may even be popular enough
to replace the Trojan as Trevecca’s
mascot, the marketing department
quickly replied in the negative.
“No plans.” said Toy.
This is welcome news to some
students.
“I think it’s cool for 1901 to use
the squirrel logo, but I like that it’s
just a small thing,” said IT major
Josiah Magee. “I hope it stays local to
Trevecca.”
benefits of face to face interactions versus an
internet search.
“By knowing us, we can show people so
much more about Honduras than what they’d
be able to read online,” Maltez said.
Petty says Trevecca continues to recruit
from Honduras.
“We are not going to stop recruiting
students from Honduras. We have formed
such good relationships, not just with the
students, but schools and parents. I don’t
think we’ll stop visiting. We do intend to
diversify more of our campus and we have
looked to recruit in new places.”
 TrevEchoes | February | 2018 |

Student grows photography business from dorm room

CONTINUED FROM COVER
the couple really well, it was cool
seeing them get married and being
part of the process.”
Nashville is a growing city and
Weflen sees it as an opportunity
to build his network around young
couples. Nashville has helped start a
home for his freelance side business.
Through his classes in marketing
and advertising, Weflen is realizing
some of the steps he missed while
creating his business. Weflen is
using his marketing major to make
improvements to his work, such as
creating a color scheme on his website
and creating a theme on his Instagram
page.
“I’ve never seen him more
passionate about something. With
photography, he is extremely
thorough, he’s very passionate about
it, it is something that he loves
therefore he puts everything into
it that he has,” said Lydia Soper,
Weflen’s girlfriend who helps him
with some administrative tasks for his
business.
Juggling school and business
requires discipline and focus. Weflen
can spend up to 20 hours editing
photos from just one session.
Weflen plans on staying in Nashville
this summer to shoot weddings and
take online classes through Trevecca.
“If you are considering anything
freelance or with the risk of it, just
do it. There is no way you’re going
to know what the future will hold.
You just got to jump into it,” he said.
“There is no other way to know if
you’re going to make it until you jump
into it.”
Photo provided by DavidWeflen.com

Anthem Road born on Student releases single

campus
BY Brooklyn Dance
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Three Trevecca students traveled
to South Carolina in Sept. 2016 to
compete for a recording package
that would ultimately lead to the trio
releasing their debut album.
Jacob Lagesse, Brent Sharpe
and Jason Robinson met through
Trevecca’s PR group Redeemed. It
was not the first time the three sang
together, but they had to scramble
to find a group name to enter the
competition.
“Because it was a spur of the
moment decision to compete, we only
had time to practice on the road trip
to South Carolina,” Robinson said.
“However, we did have a few song
choices in mind before meeting.”
Competing against 24 other groups,
the trio sang “I Believe in a Hill
Called Mount Calvary.” Robinson
heard about the competition through
Facebook, where other southern
gospel groups were advertising it.
To their surprise, the trio won the
competition. Placing first place in the
South Carolina competition awarded
them a small recording package:
10 songs recorded with reputable
musicians to launch their album.
Originally self titled “New Life,”
named after Robinson’s church,
the group learned the name was
copyrighted and searched for a new
name after winning.
“We talked to guys in the southern
gospel industry,” Lagesse said.
“We thought about something with
anthem in it … we would text each
other names sporadically.”
The group learned Anthem Road
wasn’t previously copyrighted, and
went with it.
Lagesse said they spent one 12-
hour day of tracking, followed by two
12-hour days of vocals.
The following September, “This is
the Moment,” Anthem Road’s debut
CD, was for sale.
The group ordered 520 CDs, and
have sold close to 300 in two months.
Singing roughly every two weeks,
Anthem Road travels to churches
around Tennessee to perform.
“Every church we’ve sung at has
led to another church,” Sharpe said.
“We have taken every opportunity
given.”
The cost charged to perform varies,
depending on expenses like gas,
lodging, and a love o�ering.
Lagesse does most of the finances
and booking, though all three are
considered owners.
Singing southern gospel is nothing
new to the three.
“I traveled with my parents
growing up, going to Nazarene
Photo provided by Anthem Road.
churches all over the United States
and Canada [singing southern
gospel]” Sharpe said. “I was home-
schooled until seventh grade.”
Lagesse has been singing southern
gospel since he was four, and
Robinson has been singing southern
gospel since his junior year in high
school.
With several months of traveling
and performing, the three have only
paid themselves once, $100 each.
“Financially, we wanted to get
everything paid for; to become
a business, royalties on songs,
marketing stu� and for our music on
iTunes. [We] got all that taken care
of,” Lagesse said.
The group is saving up and looking
towards the future, considering
putting out another album or
purchasing a vehicle.
The three agree that Trevecca has
equipped them with the skills needed.
“We all traveled in PR, it gave us
the logistics side,” Sharpe said.
Robinson added that his voice
lessons at Trevecca helped lay the
groundwork needed for singing on a
regular basis.
Trevecca has booked Anthem Road
for several events, which Lagesse is
thankful for.
“Trevecca has been really
supportive of us,” Lagesse said.
Anthem Road is still a part-
time job, but the three hope it will
eventually lead to something full-
time.
“I hope that it takes o� and we can
quit our day jobs,” Sharpe said.
Robinson is pleased with the
group’s success, but does not lose
sight of Anthem Road’s mission.
“I am surprised by our success this
far. Winning the competition and
recording package was unexpected,
and concert bookings and CD sales
have been better than we hoped for,”
Robinson said. “[But] our hope is to
share the Gospel and encourage the
believer through our music.”
BY Princess Jones
ONLINE EDITOR
Raquel Rivas remembers vividly the
details of the day she found out about her
best friend Auburn McCormick’s audition
to get a song on a record.
“I do remember very clearly, I helped
her pick out an outfit and shoes for it. She
was really nervous, but I knew she had it in
her to make them fall in love with her and
her music. I remember telling her as she
walked out the door, “You’re gonna make
it, and they’re going to see the you I get
to see and they’re going to love you,” said
Rivas.
That audition would land one of
McCormick’s songs on a new album created
by David Webb to help singers get exposure
in the music industry. McCormick’s single
“No Streetlights” was chosen for the
album. This is the first Nashville Dreamin
album to be released.
‘No Streetlights” tells a story that
McCormick, a senior at Trevecca knows all
too well.
“It is about growing up in a small town
and how it could never compare to the city
life,” said McCormick.
Confidence is what Webb looked for
when choosing the 11 artists for the
album. McCormick didn’t lack an ounce of
confidence.
“She was confident, she had a good
story. She’s passionate about her music and
she’s a darn good singer. And she’s a bit
sassy which I like,” said Webb.
Being chosen for the album brought
McCormick joy.
“The most exciting thing was just
knowing that my song got chosen out
of hundreds of di�erent songs,” said
McCormick.
Even with confidence McCormick still
was uncertain in her music at times
“Of course, I doubted myself. I still
doubt myself sometimes. I doubted that
my song was good enough, I doubted
that I was good enough. All artist doubt
themselves, but the important thing for me
to remember is to not compare myself and
to just focus on my craft and how much I
love creating music,” said McCormick.
Webb believes that McCormick has
characteristics of star material.
“She’s confident, she’s got a great
singing voice, she’s passionate, she’s
willing to work very, very hard,” said Webb.
To people that already know McCormick,
she’s already a star.
“I think Auburn is a star because when
she gets up on stage and sings the songs
she has written it’s like truly watching a
performance/show. She belongs up on the
stage,” said Rivas.
McCormick is still the same down to
earth girl, no matter how talented she is.
“Humble. She’s super humble about her
artistry and her music, and most people
don’t know how great of an artist she is
until they listen to her live for the first
time,” said Rivas.
Since the album, McCormick has enjoyed
the thought of her music reaching people
all around the world.
“Since the album came out, I’ve learned
that my music can reach all places and
all ages. I have had people from across
the world to right here in Nashville from
80-years-old to 3- years- old jamming to
my song. I have had such amazing support
from everyone so far, said McCormick.
Webb hopes that this opportunity sets
McCormick on her way towards a music
career.
A simple encouragement is all
McCormick wants from this opportunity.
“I hope encouragement for me to
continue my music will come from this.
Whether it comes from something as
simple as more fans or something as big as
a record deal, I hope this is just one step in
the right direction,” said McCormick.
Photo provided by McCormick..
2018 | February | TrevEchoes

NEWS

CONTINUED FROM COVER

DACA cont’d.
coordinator of student engagement and
diversity.
President Trump took to Twitter,
blasting Senate Democrat Chuck
Schumer saying, “Cryin’ Chuck Schumer
fully understands, especially after his
humiliating defeat, that if there is no Wall,
there is no DACA.”
President Trump posted on Twitter
the next day that he is open to a path
to citizenship after 10 to 12 years for
hundreds of thousands of undocumented
immigrants brought to the United States as
children.
With the government shutdown over,
Dreamers are still uncertain of their future.
“My DACA expires in three month’s
so it’s really disappointing,” said Maria
Robles, sophomore social justice major.
“I’m almost at the point of giving up.”
Organizations like The Council for
Christian Colleges and Universities, of
which Trevecca is a member, are taking a
stance on the matter and advocating for a
way for college students to have a path to
citizenship.
“The CCCU is engaged on a variety
of fronts to help promote a bipartisan,
permanent legislative solution,” Greta
Hays, director of communications
and public a�airs for the CCCU wrote
in an e-mail. “We have been meeting
and communicating with members of
Congress alongside other groups like
the Evangelical Immigration Table and
National Immigration Forum to make
sure that immigration remains a top
priority. We have continually urged
presidents to engage on immigration
issues as well, such as by contacting their
members of Congress and joining the
Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education
and Immigration. As part of the Protect
Dreamers Higher Education Coalition,
we participated in the Protect Dreamers
Higher Education week in October 2017,
during which we collected and shared
accounts of what our institutions are
doing. We participated in the iMarch in
December 2017. We’ve partnered with the
Voices of Christian Dreamers initiative.”
SGA hosting campus cook-off
BY AUDREY YAWN
STAFF WRITER
Welton was hired in December
SGA is bringing back the as the assistant food service
all campus cook-off event in director.
February.
Students know Welton as the
Director of student life, Kelly
man behind reconfiguring the Hub
Hall, says the event is inspired menu and the grab-n-go meals.
by the TV show “Chopped,” with
The participants will have a
contestants from each on-campus
limited time to make a meal out
dorm or apartment.
of surprise ingredients.
“I will try to designate a person
“They will be given a cooking
from each dorm or apartment to
tool like a hot plate or microwave
represent,” said Hall. “[But] no
with limited ingredients,”
more than eight.”
said Hall. “They should try to
Staying true to any cooking get creative and come up with
competition show, Hall plans something interesting.”
on having a panel of judges to
The cook-off event will be held
critique each person’s dish.
February 27 at 7 p.m. in TSAC.
“I’m going to see if Tom
[Welton] is interested in judging
the event along with other well-
known faculty members.” said
Hall.

Phantom Tollbooth takes stage in February

BY MARIA MONTEROS
STAFF WRITER
The Trevecca spring theatre
production will bring a whimsical
adventure to Benson Auditorium
when “The Phantom Tollbooth,”
opens on Feb. 15.
The story follows a bored young
boy named Milo who comes home
one day to find a mysterious
package in his room that contains a
tollbooth which transports him to
a world unlike his own, called the
Land of Wisdom.
As Milo delves deeper into this
peculiar world, his indifference
slowly evolves into curiosity
when he meets a dynamic set
of characters while confronting
challenges that teach him the
value of communication, time, and
education.
“It’s fun for kids and fun for
the kids in us,” said Jeff Frame,
professor of dramatic arts and
producer of the play. “That’s the
spirit of the play. It kind of helps us
recover our childhood.”
“The Phantom Tollbooth” is an
adaptation of American novelist
Norton Juster’s children’s book.
The show is directed by 2010
Trevecca graduate Jillian Frame.
The February release will mark the
fifth Trevecca play Jillian Frame has
directed.
This year, the theater program
is focusing on book to live-action
productions.
“The Phantom Tollbooth” is the
second literary-based show this
year following “The Secret Garden”
last fall.
“Nobody has seen an adaptation
of this pretty well-known children’s
book,” said Jeff Frame. “We’re
always looking for something
students will enjoy.”
The 14 cast members started
rehearsing in December. Since
then, the team has devoted roughly
around six to 14 hours every week.
“Everyone does such a great
job that they carry the show
themselves,” said Andrew Hutton,
a sophomore, who plays Milo. “I
may be the lead role but I would
not be able to do half the stuff I’m
doing on stage or even portray half
the emotion I am if it wasn’t for the
rest of the cast.”
For Hutton, playing the role of
a child meant his practice hours
continued even when rehearsals
are over. When Hutton isn’t
memorizing his lines, he spends
his time researching small details
relevant to his character, like how a
second grader holds his posture or
how he fidgets.
“Not only am I supposed to
act like a kid, I’m supposed to be
that connection for the children
in the audience,” said Hutton.
“I’m supposed to be that visual
representative if they were in the
situation.”
The circumstances Milo deals with
reflect some of the issues adults
face. The play ventures into mature
topics like having difficulty finding
a purpose, and losing the thirst for
knowledge.
With its symbolism and open-
ended interpretations, the story
creates a different appeal to
children and adults.
Cast members said they aim to really about just letting life take you
remind students to take a break and where it will.”
bring out their child-like curiosity. “The Phantom Tollbooth’s”
“The play touches on curiosity opening weekend will run from
and overcoming the boredom of Feb. 15-17 and continue Feb. 22-24.
normal life,” said Zachary Vaughn Tickets are available in the Trevecca
who plays the Gatekeeper and one bookstore. To learn more about the
of the ministers. “I think people performance or to purchase tickets
will get a sense of innocent fun. It’s online visit Trevecca.edu/theatre.
 NEWS
Student business, cont’d.
CONTINUED FROM COVER
“It is just a really fun creative
outlet, that I am shocked people are so
interested in, but it’s really fun.”
Josh Durham, a 2017 graduate, started
a business with his mom during his
sophomore year at Trevecca, called
Weighting Comforts, which sells
weighted blankets that improve sleep
and reduce anxiety. At the time, Durham
was studying business management,
was on SGA and was a student athlete.
“In college, it was definitely more
of a side job. I didn’t pay myself for
two years. Whatever we made, we put
straight back into the business,” he said.
In the time since Durham has
graduated, Weighting Comfort’s sales
have grown more than 400 percent
and the company now has around 33
employees.
New chef hired, students noticing change
BY JOSHUA MICHEL
CONTRIBUTOR
From transforming the food culture of
Cal Poly, Kent State, and Sacramento State
University, to owning his own restaurants
and food truck, Thomas Welton has been
around when it comes to the food industry.
Welton is now the assistant food service
director at Trevecca and has brought
visions of change to the Trevecca’s retail
and catering.
“I want to keep people excited,
nourished and educated,” he said.
Welton was hired by Pioneer College
Caterers in September. He was brought in
to work with John Hampton, director of
food service, to develop catering and retail
locations on campus.
Food and service has been a family
a�air for Welton. His father was in the
hotel business and Welton served as part
of the culinary teams at high-end hotels.
His hotel experience ranged from Canada
to California included jobs at hotels such
as the Park Lane, Ritz-Carlton, and Four
Seasons.
The first restaurant he opened was
called Go Fish in Ojai, California. It was a
sushi bar and Japanese California fusion
restaurant.
Welton’s interest in preparing food was
first sparked by a co-worker. He became
fascinated watching Walter, an older Swiss
chef, in the kitchen of the Park Lane Hotel
in Canada. He would stare in amazement
but was repeatedly yelled at to get out.
New semester, new chances to improve grades
BY MORGAN WOOLUM
CONTRIBUTOR
It’s the start of a new semester and
the start of a new year. Resolutions can
take many forms, and the fresh start is a
common time to set goals for academics.
Listed below are some tips on how to
start your semester o� right, provided
by Donna Gray, associate director of
academic services and associate professor
of academic support.
1. Prepare ahead of time. At the
beginning of the year, make a calendar
with an overview of the semester, this
shows the “big picture.” Then have
a weekly calendar of the upcoming
assignments so you are seeing what
is due soon. Preparing you to begin
“College is a great time to (start a
business) because your liabilities are so
low, you don’t have kids and you don’t
really have to pay a lot for rent,” he
said.
Matt Toy, the associate Vice President
of marketing at Trevecca, said that 10
or 15 years ago it was much harder to
start a business. Most people wanting
to start a business had to create a nice,
expensive website. Now, all people have
to do is create a Facebook or Instagram
page without investing a lot of money
into it.
“Entrepreneurs have the ability to
jump in, feel the water and see if people
respond to their product. The ability to
pivot is so much easier and people have
the ability to try out all of their di�erent
businesses,” he said.
Welton was undeterred and proceeded
to take the job of washing dishes to stay in
the kitchen and watch the chef.
“I was in amazement of what he could
do,” he said.
Welton has also explored jobs outside of
food. He worked in southern California as
a concert promoter before he got married
and knew that he wanted to make serving
quality food to people his career.
His youngest son, Tommy, and his
friends have experienced this quality first
hand.
“On Sunday nights Tommy will have
his friends over and they will play music
together and then I’ll teach them some
cooking methods and they learn how to
cook. It’s really cool how music and food
come together,” he said.
This is what brought Welton to Trevecca.
After owning several restaurants and
experimenting with serving Korean
Mexican taco burritos from a food truck
in California, there was something Welton
was longing for.
“I missed working in colleges. The
students here at Trevecca are incredible,
very nice and respectful. You don’t see that
at a lot of schools,” he said.
Welton has the same praise for the
sta� of Pioneer, Trevecca’s food service
provider.
“Pioneer really, truly makes everything
from scratch. They actually care about the
students they’re serving to,” he said.
studying the suggested amount, which is
about a week before the test. Lastly, each there are a lot of distractions and if you
night create a to do list for things you
need to do the next day.
2. Read. Reading ahead of time helps constantly so your mind can anticipate
students be prepared when they come
to class. If you do not read before class,
then when you get there, you are just
now getting the information, which may
cause some questions later on. There is
a reading comprehension method you
can use called, SQRRR- which stands for
study, question, read, recite, review. Use you understand the material, because you
this to can help you understand the long
material you are trying to comprehend.
3. Find a good environment.
Studying takes focus. You cannot focus
A 2016 Gallup poll found that one in four high
school students said they wanted to their own
business at some point.
Over the last 30 years the number of courses
in Entrepreneurship offered by colleges and
universities in the United States has grown
from less than 250 to over 5,000 according to
Kauffman.org.
At Trevecca, 40 students take the intro to en-
trepreneurship and small business class every
semester, taught by Dean Diehl. It is not a part
of the liberal arts core.
Pioneer employees echo his praise.
“He has a lot of knowledge, very
energetic, and a good guy,” says Katy
Baraentine, Service Manager.
Welton has inherited worse situations.
Cal Poly is a good example.
“I was amazed by their beautiful dining
halls but shocked that they had horrible
menus. On one wall in particular there was
a bunch of spices. I asked the director, for
whom I was taking over, what the spices
were for. She said, ‘So that the students
can season their food.’ I was honestly in
shock. The next day I removed the spices.
Students shouldn’t have to season their
own food, that should be done in the
kitchen. So, from that point forward we
seasoned the food before we put it out,”
he says.
Welton has also made a keen observation
of the people he’s hired throughout his
career to make this food.
“I’ve hired a lot of people coming out
of these big culinary prep schools, where
they’re supposed to be taught everything
about cooking, but I come to find that
many of them don’t even know how to
cook. The best, the very best employees
I’ve had had passion, they just loved
food and that was evident whenever they
cooked,” he says.
Welton plans to throw a few new foods
into the mix in the coming months. The
menu will change with the seasons. Hot
soup will be a mainstay in colder months
while a variety of fresh salads will be the
studying while in your room, because
are on your bed you may fall asleep.
Find a place you are going to study at
that you are about to study.
4. Figure out what kind of learner
you are. Whether you are a visual,
musical, hands on, or verbal learner,
you have a specific way you understand
things. So finding this out will help you
to become a better learner and will help
are learning in a way you are going to
understand.
5. Teach someone else the
information. This is one of the best
TrevEchoes | February | 2018 |
focus during the spring. His goal is to make
the food at Trevecca more “cravable”, so
that students will be excited about eating
it.
Interesting dishes including Thai
chicken pizza, pesto vegetarian pizza,
BBQ chicken pizza, seasoned hamburgers,
Philly steak sandwiches, and even his
signature Korean Mexican taco burrito are
in the works.
Welton is also involved in all the food
outlets outside of the café too.
“He keeps an eye on the Hub, Cube, and
1901. Tom is really focused on the retail
side of things, we’ll probably be seeing
some nicer baked products,” said John
Ferris, Executive Chef, who has been at
Trevecca 10 years.
In 1901, Welton is working with Logan
Rogers, manager of 1901, to change the
meal options come January. Oatmeal, fresh
breakfast sandwiches, sou�és, fresh fruit
cups, yogurts and parfaits, shaker salads,
and more are all planned to be made
available as a Grab N Go on the meal plan.
Welton and Rogers both believe that
even getting involved in some tours
or Experience Trevecca Day would be
something they could do.
“I think people are really going to be
excited about what we’re doing. I want
to do something with admissions, just
be there and answer any question people
have, get prospective students to come
here, I think that would be a great idea,”
he said.
ways for you to solidify and process the
information you are studying. You have
to know it to teach it. Use all of your
senses.
6. Practice test. If you know the
format of the test, take a practice one
that is similar to the actual test. This
will give a good understanding of what is
expected.
7. Find a tutor. If you still feel like
you need help in your general education
classes, the tutors are always available.
Fill out a request card and a tutor will be
assigned to meet your schedule. Everyone
can use a tutor.
2018 | February | TrevEchoes
EDITORIAL & OPINION Editorial: It’s
Column: not too late to
get involved
Meet you BY Brooklyn Dance

social life EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

From Grandma club to Psychology club,

director there is a club for everyone. Twenty-six

By Kelly Hall
Columnist
Hey there! My name is Kelly
Hall and I am currently serving
as your Social Life Director. What
that means is, I have the pleasure
of creating and planning all of
the fun events that happen on
campus throughout the year. If
you are familiar with events such
as Paintapalooza, Trojan Idol,
FNL, Boonearoo, and much more,
my team and I work so incredibly
hard to make those happen for
you to come and have fun. As your
Social Life Director, I have four
wonderful coordinators who help
me pull these events off. I could
not do my job without the help of
my coordinators Sydney Wisman,
Rebecca Sweeney, Michaela Slown
and Nicolette Thayer. They each
have certain events that they
are over and responsible for.
As a team, we meet weekly to
brainstorm exciting events that
we think students would enjoy.
We do all of this work because
we want students to not only
have fun with their friends but to
participate in events that will be
forever held with their favorite
college memories. Check out the
TNU Events App to see what our
next event is. This is the first
year that all events are free to
students, so there is no excuse
not to come. If you have any
questions, feel free to contact me
at KBHall@trevecca.edu.
clubs are open for students to join on
campus. Whether you’re a first semester
transfer student or you never got around
to joining a club at the beginning of last
semester, it isn’t too late to get involved.
Clubs provide a consistent community
Social Justice Club
on campus, and are a great way to meet ACDA (American Choral Directors
new friends or try new things. There are Association)
clubs for those who want to stay active Resident Hall Association
and clubs for those who want to learn a Debate Club
new skill. Rotaract club and the National
Model United Club
Student Leadership Society are both resume
building clubs that can aid in professional
Diversity Council
development. Below is a list of the current Commuter council
26 clubs. If you are interested in joining Namaste
a club, contact Sarah Goodman, ASB vice Best Buddies
president, at SEGoodman@trevecca.edu.
OCCM (Orthodox Christian Campus
Ministries)
2017-2018 clubs Coptic Christian Club
Rotary SGA
Ultimate Frisbee Darda
Young adults book club Trevechoes
Psychology Club NSLS
Concert Team Trevecca o� campus
Futuro Grandma Club
Improv Club
Marketing Club If you are interested in starting your
All Aboard Game Club own club, contact Sarah Goodman or Dean
Harris, SHarris@trevecca.edu.

Upcoming events in
February
EDITORIAL
EDITORIALSTAFF
Feb. 3: Thrift Store Prom STAFF
Editor-In-Chief
Editor-In-Chief
Brooklyn
BrooklynDance
Dance
Feb. 10: Valentine’s Party BEDance@trevecca.edu
BEDance@trevecca.edu

Feb. 16: Family Game Night Sports

SportsEditor
Andrew
Editor
AndrewPreston
Preston
AMPreston@trevecca.edu
AMPreston@trevecca.edu

Feb. 17: Trevecca Off Campus Online

OnlineManager
Manager
Princess
PrincessJones
Jones
- Chattanooga Aquarium PMJones@trevecca.edu
PMJones@trevecca.edu

Photographers Copy
CopyEditor
Editor
Feb. 21: Blood Drive Photographers
Uy
UyNguyen
Nguyen Amanda
AmandaJohnson
Johnson
AGJohnson@trevecca.edu
UTNguyen@trevecca.edu
UTNguyen@trevecca.edu AGJohnson@trevecca.edu

Feb. 21: Hub Show Narada

NaradaSomboon
Somboon
NHSomboon@trevecca.edu
NHSomboon@trevecca.edu

STAFF WRITERS
Feb. 23: Cook-Off Blake
BlakeStewart
Stewart
STAFF WRITERS
Abby
AbbyDuren
Duren
SBStewart@trevecca.edu
SBStewart@trevecca.edu AKDuren@trevecca.edu
AKDuren@trevecca.edu

Feb. 24- Service Project Ashley

AshleyWalling
Walling
AMWalling@trevecca.edu
AMWalling@trevecca.edu
Audrey
AudreyYawn
Yawn
AAYawn@trevecca.edu
AAYawn@trevecca.edu

Alexis
AlexisGarcia
Garcia Mary
MaryEaton
Eaton
Feb. 28: Hub Show AGarcia@trevecca.edu
AGarcia@trevecca.edu

Daniela Hernandez Duque

MCEaton@trevecca.edu
MCEaton@trevecca.edu
Maria Lourdes Monteros
DAHernandezDuque@trevecca.edu MGMonteros@trevecca.edu

Feb. 15-17: Drama Production TrevEchoes

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SPORTS
BY ANDREW PRESOTN
SPORTS EDITOR
Softball ranked fifth in GMAC “Our defense and experience is what’s
When the Great Midwest Conference
preseason coaches’ poll was announced,
head coach Ben Tyree knew his team
would be motivated by the results.
The Trojans received 107 points, good
enough to place fifth in the conference,
but the 11th year head coach knows his
team can exceed expectations.
“I think it’s right where we need to
be,” Tyree said. “It gives our girls a slap
on the wrist and tells them what we
need to do to go to work and hopefully
we’ll have a little chip on our shoulders
to show we’re not number five.”
The Trojans finished the 2016-17
season with a 26-25 (16-8) record,
entering the Great Midwest Athletic
Conference tournament as the third
seed.
After defeating Davis & Elkins and
rival Cedarville, the Trojans dropped
a pair of games to eventual G-MAC
Champion Kentucky Wesleyan and
were eliminated from post season
competition.
Photo provided by Trevecca Athletic Communications
Trojan baseball showcases 16 new players
BY ANDREW PRESOTN
SPORTS EDITOR
Head coach, Ryan Schmalz was dealt
almost an entirely new hand of players
to compete with for the 2017-18
baseball season.
Sixteen of his 29 guys from a season
ago have graduated or transferred,
leaving the sixth year head coach just
13 players with Trevecca experience.
“We’re drastically different this
year,” said Schmalz who has compiled
an 168-98 record over his six seasons.
“There’s much more competition than
ever before, and we’re much deeper
than ever before.”
However, after graduating seven
seniors, the inexperience on Schmalz’
roster doesn’t leave him concerned
about his team’s success this year.
“We expect to be at the top of the
league,” Schmalz said. “We want to
compete for a regional. That’s the next
step for this program is to compete in
a national tournament.”
The Trojans finished the 2016-17
season in familiar territory, entering
the Great Midwest Athletic Conference
(G-MAC) the top seed after putting
together a 20-21 (12-4 G-MAC) regular
season record.
After defeating rivals Cedarville and
Alderson Broaddus, the Trojans were
eliminated from post season play when
they lost 7-3, to eventual the G-MAC
Champion Kentucky Wesleyan and
then to Malone University, 1-0.
New to the G-MAC this season is
the addition of five schools: Findlay,
TrevEchoes | February | 2018 |
going to help us the most,” said Tyree,
who has a 262-122-1 record as the
Trojans manager. “We’re not putting a
whole new team on the field this year.”
Despite the graduation of four
seniors, Tyree has most of his team back
from last season and will lean on the
experience of his squad for success this
season.
“Last year we had a whole pitching
staff that had no college experience
to speak of,” Tyree said. “They were
in their first year of college and that’s
what showed last year. Now they’ve
grown and improved.”.
The Trojans feature two seniors: Kat
Burbrink and Danielle Horton.
“It’s been a journey,” said Burbrink
who patrols center field. “I came
in feeling like a freshman but was
welcomed by the team. Since then, I
have grown and developed as a leader
while here at Trevecca.”
The G-MAC expanded and will now
feature 13 schools with the addition
of Findlay, Hillsdale, Lake Erie, Ohio
Dominican and Walsh to the conference. assistant coaches.
“Traveling will be one of our biggest “Both are working on their master’s
challenges this year,” Tyree said. degree here. So it’s kind of a two and
“We’ve played most of the schools in two, they get to stay within the sport
our conference already in our pre- they love, and will be a good part of
season games the last few years.” what we do this year in leadership
With travel times increasing, Burbrink roles,” Tyree said.
is excited about the challenges her team The Trojans’ season begins with a
faces. pair of road games on Feb. 9 when they
“It’s definitely going to be different, face McKendree University and Lee
because we’re playing every team University in a doubleheader.
twice,” Burbrink said of the road trips. “They’re a really good team, we
“We’re going to have to adjust to it, played in our tournament last year and
we’ve already played a lot of the teams, we’ll find out really quick what we’re
but we’re ready for it.” made of,” Tyree said. “They’re real
The Trojans retain a pair of seniors similar to a lot of the teams we added
from last season’s team, Taylor Green into our conference.”
and Kaitlin Crumpler who now serve as
Hillsdale, Lake Erie, Ohio Dominican Along with 16 new players, the Wiseman, Ethan Hurt and Ryan
and Walsh to the conference. Trojans will also introduce Chase Sain Shultz, all of whom Schmalz’ touts as
“It’s going to be better (having new to complete Schmalz’ coaching staff. only some of the leaders on his team.
schools in our conference),” Schmalz “He’s terrific,” Schmalz said simply “We’ve already been through the
said. “Some of the new conference of his newest assistant. “His coaching hard part of the season which is the
teams have historically been really pedigree speaks for itself. Coach Sain fall, with all the conditioning,” Hurt
good. It’s going to get a little more will be our hitting coach as well as said. “A lot of hard work goes into a
challenging to compete.” work with our catchers.” season, but also a lot of excitement,
Despite travel times increasing for Sain served as a volunteer assistant and we’re ready to go out and
roads trips, Schmalz sees the new coach at the University of Tennessee compete.”
conference schools as a positive for last season where he functioned as a The Trojans season begins with a
his team. catching coach. Prior to the University three-game home stand on Feb. 9-10
“It helps our conference as a whole, of Tennessee, Sain spent two seasons when they host the University of
they have a little more credibility in at Middle Tennessee State University Montevallo.
getting more than one team into a assisting with hitting instruction, “They’re really good,” Schmalz
regional, hopefully,” Schmalz said. coached catchers, and coordinating said. “We opened up with Montevallo
“The scheduling is tough going camps. last year at their place and they
up north early in the season, but This season the Trojans will boast swept us; we played some pretty good
we’re looking forward to it. We’ll be four seniors, Tyler Burns, Carter ballgames, but they’re good.”
playing new teams and forming new
rivalries.”
In the Preseason coaches’ poll, the
Trojans were tipped to finish second
in the newly formed South division,
something Schmalz says will motivate
his team.
“Pre-season rankings are
historically how you finished last
season,” Schmalz said. “Kentucky
Wesleyan won the conference last
year and so they deserve to be first. As
soon as the season starts you forget
the preseason rankings.”
“We’re looking forward to playing
somebody new, facing new arms, and
going new places,” fifth-senior Ethan
Hurt added. “These teams are very
talented and we’ll see how we stack
up against them.” Photo provided by Trevecca Athletic Communications
2018 | February | TrevEchoes