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ENGAGEvolume 7 | issue 3FURMANPublishedCourtney DeVoe ’12cowrites book onsustainable buildingp.17Meet theFreshmanBloggers p. 22

from the editortable of contentsENGAGE FURMANVolume 7, Issue 3Published by Furman Universityto provide prospective students withinformation about and insight intothe engaged learning experience.PresidentRod SmollaAssociate Vice President for AdmissionBrad PochardAssociate Director of AdmissionJeny Bishop KerscherSenior Assistant Directors of AdmissionTia SullivanLindsey WalkerLibby WeithAssistant Director of AdmissionBartley SidesAdmission CounselorsAllyson Brown – Transfer CoordinatorMichael DostieMartha Kimmel – InternationalMelissa ClineJoinné RuffLaura Simmons – Regional Representative, GeorgiaJake SintichAs admission applications continue to arrive in my office, I amenjoying reading about students from all across the country.The essay portions of the application and Common ApplicationSupplement are my favorite to read, as these are the placeswhere students have the most freedom to tell me details aboutthemselves that give me a better understanding of who theyare—everything from charity efforts they have spearheadedto championship soccer games they have won to passions forwriting, music, or science.I’m also thrilled by the great feedback I’m hearing from ourFurman Admission Network (FAN) volunteers who are busy allacross the country meeting our applicants in FAN interviews.These Furman alumni and parents are interested in getting toknow students as individuals, and they also really enjoy sharingtheir own Furman experiences.If you have already submitted your application foradmission and requested a FAN interview—congratulations!If not, I encourage you to apply and request an interview. I lookforward to reading and hearing about you and your story.Sincerely,814 12Furman University Admission3300 Poinsett HighwayGreenville, South Carolina 29613–5245admission@furman.edu864.294.2034 Fax: 864.294.2018Furman University is committed toproviding equal access to its educationalprograms, activities, and facilities to allotherwise qualified students withoutdiscrimination on the basis of race, nationalorigin, color, creed, religion, sex, age, disability,veteran status, sexual orientation, genderidentity, or any other category protected byapplicable state or federal law. For informationabout Furman’s compliance with Section 504of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and theAmericans with Disabilities ActAmendments Act, contact the DisabilityServices Coordinator, 864.294.2320,3300 Poinsett Hwy, Greenville, SC 29613.Brad PochardAssociate Vice President for Admissionvisit campusSpend the day with us, and then explore Greenville. Head downtown,cruise the shops and galleries, or enjoy some live music by the river.Spend the night in one of our scenic downtown hotels, and grab a cupof coffee for a morning stroll down Main Street. Find out why we loveFurman and Greenville, and see firsthand why Furman is the place for you.Schedule your campus visit at www.engagefurman.com/visitor by calling 864.294.2034.features81214And the Adventure BeginsFreshmen dive into college life.Renaissance MindsStudents discover Italian culturethrough art, literature, and science.Taking the PlungeA shared passion for marine mammalslands two alums at SeaWorld San Antonio.departments1620222 Ask the Ambassadors3 News and NotesBuilding a Greener GreenvilleFurman students and alums workfor a more sustainable Greenville.The Road to AndalusiaA trip to Flannery O'Connor's farmreveals how facts became fiction.Meet the BloggersStudents give us a front-row seatfor freshman year.23 Admission Advice24 Furman Factson thecoverENGAGE FURMAN 1

ask the ambassadorsnews and notesHave a burning questionabout Furman?WOMAN OF THE YEARVisit www.engagefurman.com orwrite to admission@furman.edu.One of our ambassadors will send youFurman student Emily Schreiber ’15 (Birmingham, Ala.) wasone of five finalists for Glamour Magazine's “Women of theYear: Readers’ Choice Award.” Diagnosed with cystic fibrosisa personal response, and we might printat the age of nine, Emily fought back by founding Laps forit in the next issue of Engage Furman!CF and held the organization’s first swim fundraiser only sixweeks after her diagnosis. Laps for CF has now raised over$2 million to support CF awareness, research, and patientAdmission Ambassadors (left to right)care—far surpassing her original goal of $3,000!Keda DuBard ’14, Columbia, S.C.Madeleine Wright ’13, San Francisco, Calif.Sophie Mire ’12, Knoxville, Tenn.Blake Wood ’13, Charleston, S.C.What is FAN, and why is a FANinterview so important?Why should I join theEngage Community?What do students do for funoff campus?Expanded video content is online wherever yousee this video icon. Visit the Engage Communityat engagefurman.com/video to view.Sophie: The Furman Admission Network(FAN) is made up of Furman alumniand parent volunteers who interviewprospective students—often in thestudent's hometown. The interview givesstudents the opportunity to connect withFurman on a personal level and distinguishthemselves from other applicants.Madeleine: Furman’s application is“test optional,” which means that welook at you as an individual, not justyour test scores. In your interview, youcan help us get to know you by tellingus about your interests and what you’repassionate about.Keda: When you participate in a FANinterview, you can show off a side ofyourself that can’t be conveyed throughan application. You can discuss your lovefor kayaking or even how reading theTwilight series changed your perspective.Blake: The Engage Community isFurman’s social network, a place whereyou can communicate with students,professors, and student groups,and learn pretty much anything aboutFurman. It’s a great way to connect withthe Office of Admission, identify youradmission counselor, and get familiarwith the application process.Sophie: You can find information aboutacademics, financial aid, events, Greeklife, intramural sports, and a lot more inthe Community. Create your profile,write blogs, post photos, upload videos,and network with other Furman students,faculty, and Admission representatives—it's all right there.Keda: When you join the EngageCommunity you can plug into the Furmancampus before you even set foot on it.Madeleine: The city totally took meby surprise. We’re near the mountains,so a lot of students go hiking on theweekends. I love Caesar’s Head andParis Mountain because they have easyhikes but amazing views. Greenville alsohas its own minor league baseball teamthat plays downtown at Fluor Field, andwe often get discounted seats in theFurman section.Keda: My friends and I drive into themountains for contra dancing. We alsolike going to Coffee Underground indowntown Greenville for poetry slams.Blake: I love going to concerts—a coupleI've been to recently are MuteMathat the Handlebar in Greenville andNeedtobreathe at the Orange Peel inAsheville. Several local restaurants aredefinitely considered “Furman hangouts,”and I personally like catching up withfriends at Karrie’s Deli & Pub in University20-10WIN!Square and Hunting Camp BBQ inTravelers Rest.The Paladins powered past third-ranked Appalachian State with a 20-10 upset victory November 5.2 ENGAGE FURMAN watch video at engagefurman.com/video ENGAGE FURMAN 3

news and notesUP LATE WITH LENOFurman alums Bear Rinehart ’03 and Joe Stillwell ’03, alongwith their band NeedtoBreathe, made their television debut onNBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno September 14. The bandis currently on tour throughout the U.S. promoting their latestalbum The Reckoning. www.needtobreathe.net/.Expanded video content is online wherever you seethis video icon. Visit the Engage Community atengagefurman.com/video to view.Student CapturesElusive Subjectsat the Institut PasteurAnnelise Gorensek ’12 (Aiken, S.C.) attractedthe attention of a leading field expert in Paristhis past summer when she was able to preciselyphotograph bacteria in action while workingat the world-renowned Institut Pasteur. Shetraveled to Lille and Grenoble, France, alongwith fellow Furman students Will Towler ’11(King George, Va.) and Nadia Shamsedin ’13(Columbia, S.C.), as part of a new program thatbrought together students from five universitiesto conduct biomedical research. Their travel wasfunded by Furman’s Undergraduate ScienceEducation award from the Howard HughesMedical Institute.[ WALK THIS WAY ]Erika Shaver ’14 walks with purpose.Her gait might look strangely roboticto people unfamiliar with race walking,but that doesn’t bother this Furmanathlete from Dayton, Ohio. Her sightsare set on the 2016 Olympics in Rio.Last February, Shaver set a personalrecord with a first-place time of 52:36in the 10-kilometer race at the U.S.team trials, which qualified her for thenational squad that competed the nextmonth at the Pan American Race WalkCup in Medellín, Colombia. In June shewas one of the top two finishers at theJunior Nationals in Eugene, Ore. Nowshe’s stepping up to the 20-k racedby adults; in her first try, in May, shefinished in one hour, 55 minutes.She’ll have to get down to 1:48 to reach the Olympic Trials and 1:38for the 2012 Games themselves, so she knows that London “might bea little too much of a stretch.” But she and her coach and world-classrace walker, Ian Whatley, are serious about Rio de Janeiro in 2016.Shaver, who also runs for the cross country team, says, “The coacheshere have been fabulous, and they’ve supported me. It’s been great tobe a part of a team.”Zhōngqiū JiéFurman CelebratesChinese Moon FestivalOn September 10 Furman and the Greenville ChineseCulture Association jointly sponsored a Chinese MoonFestival. The free community event drew more than 300attendees who enjoyed Chinese cultural performancesand booths with games, arts, and crafts. Patrons feastedon Chinese boxed meals and traditional Chinese MoonCakes. Steeped in tradition and lively legends, the MoonFestival celebrates friends and family and is one of the mostimportant holidays in Chinese culture.GOP PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL NEWT GINGRICH VISITS CAMPUSIn a setting that resembled a Saturdaymorning version of a political scienceclass, former Speaker of the HouseNewt Gingrich delivered a lectureto an assembly of Furman studentson November 14. Speaking on theeconomy, the one-time collegeprofessor illustrated on a green slatechalkboard the two-sided division hesees in the current economic debate.At the lecture’s end, as Gingrich andhis staff filed on to the mall, studentseither sprung for a place in thecrowd of supporters requestingpictures and autographs or looked onpolitely at what could prove a historicmoment—a potential future U.S.president visiting the Furman campus.4 ENGAGE FURMAN watch video at engagefurman.com/video ENGAGE FURMAN 5

news and notesLEADING BY EXAMPLEAt Furman, service isn't a hobby, it's a passion. These five seniors entertains residents in local adult care facilities by performinghave shown spirited leadership in serving others and exemplify on the Celtic harp. She has interned in the Scottish ParliamentFurman's commitment to making the world a better place. As a in Edinburgh, and spent last summer as a National Scienceresult, they were named Furman Fellows and received a $7,500 Foundation research assistant.award to enable them to continue changing lives.Susan Bitetti (Physics; Norwell, Mass.) founded Furman’s firstLindsay Harroff (Political Science and Communication Studies; student science publication, The Spectrum. Captain of theConcord, N.C.) has worked with Habitat for Humanity, Nourish women’s tennis team, she started a pen pal program withInternational, and Reading is Fundamental, and has raised funds a local middle school, connecting Furman athletes withfor pediatric cancer research and juvenile diabetes. She also disabled or troubled students.Michael Sauer (Business Administration; Malvern, Pa.) is a localleader for Young Life, through which he mentors high schoolstudents. Michael also plays in a band that has hosted benefitconcerts for a children’s orphanage in Africa and for Japaneseearthquake relief.Brandon Tensley (Political Science and German; Columbia,S.C.) founded Men of Distinction, a program that enlistsmale Furman students as role models for local middle schoolboys. Brandon also works with the L.E.G.A.C.I.E.S. program,mentoring multicultural freshmen, and is president of Furman’sModel United Nations program.Falling for D.C.Hannah Tedder ’12 (Advance, N.C.) interned for North Carolina Congresswoman Virginia Foxxlast year through Furman's Political Science Department. She reported regularly back tofriends at Furman about her experiences. One of those communications bears repeating:“As a Capitol Hill intern, one of my duties was to give tours of the United States Capitolto visitors from my representative’s district. One day, as my group exited the Rotunda, I pointedout the House Speaker’s office. As all good tour guides know, when walking backwards, it isbest to look back every so often to watch your step. I’d like to think it was the slick marblefloors instead of my clumsiness in high heeled shoes, but whatever the case, I caught the backof my heel, and before I knew it, I was falling backwards, feet soaring in the air.“Suddenly, I felt arms swoop in under me and a hand protect my head from hitting the ground. My rescuer quickly put me backon my feet. Humiliated, I did not turn around instantly but sheepishly looked up at my tour group. Every single person’s mouth waswide open, and their eyes were as big as golf balls. As I began to apologize, I was interrupted by a very familiar voice behind measking, ‘Miss, are you alright?’ Whirling around to see Speaker John Boehner and his security detail, I realized the security guard infront was the one who caught me, and the Speaker himself was the one who caught my head.“I thanked the Speaker, moved my group out of the way so he could enter his office, and heard other tour groups’ applause andshouting, ‘The Speaker just saved that intern’s LIFE!’ My tour group agreed that nothing would trump that experience. We endedthe tour where we were.”Furman Fellows (from left to right) Lindsay Harroff, Susan Bitetti,Michael Sauer, Brandon Tensley, and Cortney McEniryCortney McEniry (Theatre Arts, Concentration in PovertyStudies; Anderson, S.C.) hopes to apply her theatre studiesto enrich poverty-stricken communities. While interning withSynchronicity Theatre Company in Atlanta and its programPlaymaking for Girls, she worked with young women fromabusive and impoverished situations.the furman communityMake connections, postvideo and photos, havereal-time conversations,write a blog, or join a groupof individuals with similarinterests on Furman's onlinecommunity. Get started atengagefurman.com.FUTWEET US!@FUAdmission@Furmannews@FurmanPaladinsFRIEND US!Add us on Facebook.GET THE FU APP!for iPhone, iPod Touch andiPad now available FREE oniTunes or at the App Store.UC Set for a MakeoverFurman's University Center (UC), the hub of studentactivities on campus, is in line for a major makeoverthanks to a $5 million commitment from a Furmanalumnus who has requested anonymity. Most ofthe gift will go toward renovation of the UC. Thenew space will feature larger areas for student clubsand organizations, an expanded food court, and anighttime student entertainment club.IN THELEAD!The Furman women's team won the 39th Gene Mullin Furman Cross Country Invitational October 8; the Paladinmen's team finished second behind VMI.6 ENGAGE FURMAN watch video at engagefurman.com/video ENGAGE FURMAN 7

AND THETHE CLASS OF 2015 MEETS THENEXT FOUR YEARS HEAD ON.BEGINSBy Tina T. UnderwoodYou’ve heard the cliché—“The next fouryears will be the best time of your life.”As you embark on your college career,it’s likely that at no other time in yourlife will so much be compressed into fouryears’ time.On the surface, the on ramp fromhigh school to college may seem like aneasy proposition. Seriously, just how hardis it to live on your own, meet new people,and enjoy your newfound autonomy?The prospect of leaving home foran entirely different academic, living,and social arrangement is exciting, but formany students it can also be a source ofanxiety. We’ve been there, and we knowhow to make the transition to collegelife as smooth as possible (and fun!) whileminimizing potholes and other road hazards.Breaking it downFurman offers a hybrid approach toacclimating students to academics andcollege life—Summer Orientation (thenuts and bolts of class selection) and FallOrientation (navigating life at FU). Prior toFall Orientation, some students choose togo on pre-Orientation trips to connect withfriends having similar outdoor interests.Academically speaking . . .Beginning with the Class of 2016, studentswill attend one of five two-day sessionsin June dedicated primarily to ironing outclass selection and other academic prepdetails. These sessions, a.k.a. “SummerOrientation,” allow students to get an earlyhandle on the classes they’ll take duringthe first semester. Students work in smallgroups and one-on-one with academicadvisors to hammer out class choices. Howliberating is that? Not only can you rest atease for the better part of summer just forhaving checked the “sign up for classes”box on your to-do list, but you’ll have agreater chance of getting your first pick sothat few, if any, schedule adjustments haveto be made come August.P.O.P.—Put yourself out thereNavigating a raft through the churningwaters of the Chattooga River with sevenpeople you’ve just met is one way tobreak the ice. Held the week before FallOrientation and organized by Student Life,“P.O.P.” (the Pre-Orientation Program) gets125 freshmen acquainted, involved, andoutside with trips ranging from the BlueRidge Mountains to the Carolina coast, andfeatures activities like sea kayaking, rafting,zip line, and mountain biking.“My best friends at Furman are peopleI met on the Nantahala rafting and zip linetrip. As a group, we returned to campuswith 20 good friends we didn’t even knowjust two days before,” says Alicia Leary ‘15(Winter Park, Fla.).continued p.108 ENGAGE FURMAN ENGAGE FURMAN 9

O-Week highlights include the carnival, a picnic at President Smolla’shome, and a surprise late-night rave.“Orientation gives students a starting point—how to interact with others, how to traverseacademics, and in many cases, how to dealwith living with someone for the first time.”All five trips begin the same day with dinner, a huge poolparty at President Smolla’s home, and an overnight stay on theFurman campus. Whether you’re in the P.O.P. trip to Charleston,S.C., or Bryson City, N.C., you’ll get to meet your fellowadventurers during your first day at Furman.Students interested in community service can dive right inwith the P.O.P. local service trip to Triune Mercy Center, Greenville’smission church for the homeless. Whether distributing clothing orgroceries, working in the art room, planting a garden, or assistingadults with their job search, this trip is all about getting to knoweach other through service to others. Students wind down aftera busy weekend with dinner downtown and a Greenville Drivebaseball game at Fluor Field in the historic West End.Fall Orientation: Countdown to classesWhile Summer Orientation is about the destination (the classesthemselves), Fall Orientation is about succeeding in those classesand negotiating college life—the roadmap for success, in otherwords. “Ultimately,” says director of Student Life J. Scott Derrick,“our two-pronged approach will prove to be an even betterexperience for the students.”Students get the keys to success for the entire Furmanexperience during “O-Week,” so Fall Orientation is mandatory.Four days of “Furman Life 101” set the tone for four years of yourcollege life. With the academic decks cleared following SummerOrientation, “Fall Orientation gives students a starting point—how to interact with others, how to traverse academics, and inmany cases, how to deal with living with someone for the firsttime,” says Derrick.On top of move-in assistance and computer configurations,O-Week includes programs about how to tackle your first year atFurman, diversity, selecting a major, getting involved, eating well,and, of course, a crash course in managing the shift from highschool to college. “It was difficult saying goodbye to my familyat first, but all the activities made the transition easier. Every dayour hall had places to be and things to do that we could lookforward to,” says Charlotte Leadem ‘15 (Chapel Hill, N.C.).To make O-Week memorable and fun, the Orientationstaff and other organizations pepper the “how-to” sessionswith heaps of hall activities, games, Furman sports, andnighttime events. And there’s nothing like a long laundry listof happenings to squelch the leaving-home blues. “O-Weekactivities got me out of my dorm and out there meeting peoplewhen I might not have otherwise. It also made me realize justhow dedicated the administrators are at Furman to make thecollege experience enjoyable and welcoming. I can’t tell youhow many times I heard ‘Welcome to Furman!’ or ‘We’re soglad you’re here!’” says Coady Shovlain ‘15 (Tallahassee, Fla.).For Leary, even the early move-in day, scheduled beforethe crush of returning upperclassmen, helped her get the layof the land and focus on meeting people. She says, “It wasgood to know that all of us are in the same boat and there’snothing to be afraid of . . . O-Week also gave me a chance tobond with my hall by doing crazy things like dressing up for myhall theme (Super Mario was hers) and exploring downtownGreenville together.Stevie Laughead ‘15 (Lugoff, S.C.), who had broken herfoot two nights before freshman move-in, says, “The O-Weekstaff made move-in wonderful . . . I barely lifted a fingerthe entire day!” Despite the broken foot, Laughead got toparticipate in Field Fest—an event filled with goofy, “awkward”games like passing an orange wedged between chin andcollarbone from one student to another. “I got to know myfirst-year advisor (FRAD) and resident assistant very well alongwith my brother and sister halls, which is good because I’mso busy now, I can’t imagine trying to get us all together toconnect like we did during O-Week,” she says.Other highlights include the O-Week carnival, picnic atPresident Smolla’s home, and an outdoor blockbuster movieon the big screen, among other surprises. So future Furmangrads, enjoy the college ride—it may be bumpy at times, butit promises to be the time of your life, especially with friendsriding along.DID YOU KNOW . . .Fraternity and sorority rush are deferred until secondsemester. There are no individual houses for fraternitiesand sororities, which allows the organizations to bemore inclusive and involved in campus and residentiallife. Each fraternity or sorority member has the optionof living on a hall in Lakeside Housing designated for hisor her Greek association. Based on occupancy, studentswho are not in Greek organizations may choose to liveon these halls as well.WATCH VIDEO COVERAGE OF THE O-WEEKEXPERIENCE AT ENGAGEFURMAN.COM/VIDEO.10 ENGAGE FURMAN ENGAGE FURMAN 11

By Ron WagnerIllustrations by Meredith HamiltonAs a biology professor, Eli Hestermann is quite familiar withthe definition of a symbiotic relationship. So when Furmanreligion professor Bryan Bibb asked if Hestermann couldmake himself a useful part of the spring multidisciplinary Study Awayin Italy, Hestermann knew that he wasn’t simply being offered a ridewith the humanities department.There was a reason, or so it seemed, history students wenton trips with history professors. What kind of class could challengechemistry majors while not overwhelming someone who spendsmost of his or her time in another department? Hestermann admitshe was stumped until he found inspiration in wine.That’s right—he decided to focus his Regional AgriculturalSciences course on Italy’s famous wine industry. Throw in some timespent on olive oil as well, and he had a class that could intrigue 22students from 16 different disciplines. “Fortunately, no matter howmuch biology you’ve had, you’ve never had a class that focused onhow do grapes grow, how do olives grow,” he said. “Even if youknow some of the concepts it’s new information.”Hestermann’s course was particularly exciting for the students,as it focused on the agricultural, scientific, and cultural aspects ofwine and olive production and included in-depth tours of over adozen vineyards and wineries, often led by the owners themselves.Students became experts in the scientific aspects of cultivation,fermentation, bottling, and preservation.History professor Jim Leavell, who taught a more traditionalRenaissance History of Italy course, said Hestermann’s idea was thehighlight of his four trips to Italy as a Furman instructor.“It was fascinating, really fascinating. The students learned agreat deal, as I did, about fermentation and the biochemistry relatedto that endeavor,” he said. “It got us out into the countryside in Italyin a way that we would not have done had we purely been lookingat the monuments and at the art.”LEARN MORE ABOUT STUDY AWAYAT ENGAGEFURMAN.COM.Indeed, students from pretty much every academic corner ofthe Furman campus converged to spend 12 weeks together takingHestermann’s and Leavell’s classes, as well as Representation of theBible in Art and Travel Narratives courses taught by Bibb.Students visited many of the famous historical and religioussites in Northern and Central Italy, but were also able to stay in ruralagriturismo hotels where they experienced country Italian life andfood. The heart of the trip was a three-week stay in Florence. Studentshad time to explore every inch of the city, and also to make excursionsto places such as Cortona, Cinque Terre, and Verona.“It was neat to get a different twist on things. My first twoyears at Furman were so science-heavy. I had little exposure to artbefore this trip, and I got to see so many famous paintings andsculptures that made a huge impact on me,” said senior chemistrymajor Jackie Razzaghy (Taylors, S.C.).Religion major Susannah Morris ’12 (Atlanta, Ga.) offered asimilar take. She said she had long dreamed of seeing great worksof religious art, but she also waited about as long as she could totake a required science class. Being accepted for the trip gave hera chance to do both.“I grew up reading about the depictions of stories of theBible in art, especially Renaissance and Baroque art, and I wantedto see these amazing paintings I had learned about in person andexperience their power that way,” Morris said. “The science classwas definitely a challenge for me, but being in a class with somany science majors made the experience an interesting one.”Megan Novak ’12 (Naperville, Ill.), another senior chemistrymajor, said being around students outside of her departmentwas educational as well. “Everyone brought their specialty to theclasses,” she said. “One of the girls was a religion major so shehad a very different insight on approaching art and the Bible thanI did. Hearing that helped, because we would all talk about it asa group when we were at a museum or a site, and I like to thinkthat I helped with some of the science.”Science, history, art, society, and culture—all in one trip.That’s about as complete a liberal arts experience as 22 studentscould hope to share.12 ENGAGE FURMAN ENGAGE FURMAN 13

y Tina T. UnderwoodTaking the PlungeWhat are the odds that two psychology majors would run into each other soonafter graduation—in San Antonio, working with marine mammals? That’s exactlywhat happened to Liz Kreiser and Kate Lawrence.“I’ve been working toward this job for as long as I canremember,” says Liz Kreiser ’10 (Alpharetta, Ga.), zoo attendant inthe animal care department at SeaWorld San Antonio. It all startedwith family excursions to SeaWorld, and the experience in thoseformative years obviously made a lasting impression. With careerseeds planted early, Kreiser says she is living out her childhooddream of working with dolphins. “I never gave up on this goaland was determined to see it through,” she says.In high school, Kreiser learned that psychology is a commonmajor for professionals who work with marine mammals—thediscipline is all about understanding behavior (human or animal)and how to modify it, Kreiser says. She set her sights on Furmanbecause of its strong psychology department and faculty commitment toproviding unique undergraduate research and internship opportunities.While at Furman, she studied dolphin conservation in Greece and wasintroduced to dolphin-assisted therapy. During her senior year shegained even more experience in real-world animal training throughher work with Dogs for Autism, where she housed and trained dogson campus for public service and therapy.With her liberal arts education, Kreiser says she was able to tryher hand at research, therapy, and training while taking a variety ofclasses. “I was able to pinpoint where my passions and interests lie,”she says.Testing the watersFollowing graduation, Kreiser continued to mine career possibilitiesthrough three internships. The first took her to Island Dolphin Carein Key Largo, Fla., where dolphins are used to help children with avariety of disabilities—an area to which Kreiser was initially drawn.But her stint with Dolphins Plus, also in Key Largo, steered hercloser to the vocation that best suited her talents. “I was exposedto dolphin husbandry there, and was attracted to the medicalaspects of working with these animals,” she says. Following yetanother internship with Miami Seaquarium, Kreiser was invited bySeaWorld, San Antonio, for an interview and swim test—whichresulted in her current role at the park.At SeaWorld, Kreiser is part of a team responsible for the careof Pacific and Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, Pacificharbor seals, Asian otters, and monk seals. “What I love about myjob is the chance to get involved with other departments’ marinemammals like the Beluga whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, andkiller whales—with so many animals under our care, the day isunpredictable. It keeps things exciting!” says Kreiser.Future in focusWhile many seventh graders were honing their dodge ball skills,Kate Lawrence ’11 (Lancaster, Pa.) was boning up on operant andclassical conditioning—principles of psychology she examined inher middle school science fair project. Her interest in psychologyand an early penchant for all things marine solidified her careergoals. Lawrence’s first visit to SeaWorld at the age of four ignited afascination with marine mammals, and throughout her childhood,boating expeditions along the eastern shore of Maryland fueled herinterest in marine ecosystems.Throughout high school and her years at Furman Lawrencevolunteered and interned at such animal care facilities as theIndianapolis Zoo, the Greenville Zoo, and the Philadelphia Zoo.Her sophomore Study Away experience with the Furman BiologyDepartment helped confirm she was on the right track. “Snorkelingand scuba diving the coral reefs in Belize was an incredibleexperience . . . it showed me how vital marine ecosystems are to ourenvironment,” says Lawrence.She is grateful for the support of her Furman professors,especially John Batson and Erin Hahn in the Psychology Departmentand Biology professor Dennis Haney. “If not for their assistance withcourse selection and internships, I wouldn’t be where I am today,”says Lawrence.Love what you doWith so much experience under her belt, it’s easy to see howLawrence snagged a job as instructor in the Education andConservation Department at SeaWorld San Antonio, where,she says, no two days were alike. On any given day, she mightbe found dispensing the 411 to park guests in the bottlenosedolphin habitat, or the preserve that houses sea lions, harborseals, and Asian otters.Lawrence polished her public speaking skills throughpresentations she gave about sharks, penguins, and stingrays,and she often educated park goers about the more diminutivecritters at the conservation center like reptiles, birds, and insects.Adding to the mix of responsibilities, Lawrence assisted with theDine with Shamu program—an outing for park guests who lunchalongside SeaWorld’s family of killer whales.Kreiser and Lawrence, having no inkling they would beworking in the same place, were thrilled to reconnect after theyspotted each other amid the park guests at SeaWorld’s DolphinCove exhibit. They worked together daily, as the animal care andeducation department duties often overlapped.Landing a job at SeaWorld gave Lawrence incredibleexperience, and she recently left the park to pursue a master’sin marine biology at the University of Miami. She says, “Pursuinga career you’re passionate about is essential . . . Nothing is moregratifying than leaving your job at the end of the day, excited to goback tomorrow and feeling as though you’ve made a difference.”Equally unshakeable, Kreiser says, “Don’t let anyone convinceyou to change your dreams. Sure, people were right when theytold me my field would be hard to break into, but somebody hasto do it. I decided I would be one of those people.”READ MORE ABOUT STUDENT INTERNSHIPSAT ENGAGEFURMAN.COM.Liz Kreiser (left), Kate Lawrence, and one of their friendly(and photogenic) SeaWorld residents14 ENGAGE FURMAN ENGAGE FURMAN 15

Building a Greener GreenvilleTackling sustainability projects with real-world resultsFurman is known for helping students become engaged—in their studies, in theircareer choices, and in their community. Nowhere is this engagement more evidentthan in Furman’s hometown of Greenville, where students with various majors andinterests are helping the city plan for the future while preparing for their own.Angela Halfacre, an associate professor and director of the David E. Shi Centerfor Sustainability, says Furman’s expertise on environmental issues is a great way tostrengthen the bond between the university and the community.“We have close ties with the city, and that connection can be fostered byhaving the glue that sustainability provides,” Halfacre says. “We are deciding whatkind of future we want, and how to best use the resources we have. Students canwork on projects that have real-world benefits.”Brian EdensBrian Edens ’94 is an example of how the connectionbetween Furman students and the Greenville communitycan continue long after graduation. An economics majorand football player at Furman, he worked in technologysales for more than a decade before launching ThursoPower Systems in 2010.The Greenville-based company providesinfrastructure for electric vehicles, and has installedcharging stations throughout the region. He started the company because he saw thegrowing market for electric and hybrid vehicles and thought the next step was building“an available and reliable charging system.”His timing fit perfectly with the city of Greenville’s recently announced “Greeningof Greenville” initiative, in which the city is collaborating with local industries to becomemore sustainable. A key aspect of the initiative is reducing the number of gasoline vehicleson the road, in part by creating an electric vehicle ecosystem. More than 40 GE chargingstations are being added throughout Greenville County, with Edens’s company heading upthe installation.“Like Furman itself, Greenville is a beautiful and special place that needs tobe protected and preserved for future generations,” Edens says. “My education andexperiences at Furman gave me a broader view of our world and made me realize thatwe need to work toward things that are bigger than ourselves.”Courtney DeVoeSenior Courtney DeVoe (Loveland, Ohio) didn’texpect to publish a book before graduating,but that’s what happened thanks to her summerinternship with Johnston Design Group, a Greenvillefirm that focuses on sustainable architecture.“It was a great way to learn more about thefirm and their ideas,” says DeVoe, who learnedhow Johnston incorporates economy, ecology,and wellness in its designs. She served as editorand graphic designer, choosing photos andquotations and working with Johnston on fouressays for A Blank Canvas.Though she originally intended to major inart history, she added an urban studies major aftertaking Halfacre’s environmental policy class. Shewas inspired by a project on using environmentallysound techniques to restore historic properties, andher summer internship, which was funded by theFurman Advantage program, cemented her desireto ensure that historic structures are preserved usingmodern technology and sustainable techniques.“I was impressed with how my summerinternship turned out,” she says. “I led a projectmyself and got to be hands-on,and I know it will help me downthe road, applying for grad programsand jobs. And it’s kind of nice to sayI was published as an undergrad.”continued p.18by Leigh SavageREAD MORE ABOUT DEVOE'S INTERNSHIPAT ENGAGEFURMAN.COM.16 ENGAGE FURMAN ENGAGE FURMAN 17

“We are deciding what kind offuture we want, and how to bestuse the resources we have.”Reece LyerlyRecent Furman graduate Reece Lyerly ’11 (Roswell, Ga.)planted roots in the Greenville community during hisFurman years, and that relationship has continued toflourish after graduation. Within a month of finishing atFurman, he was named director of Gardening for Good,a program guided by Greenville Forward, a coalition oflocal non-profits and businesses.The goal of Gardening for Good is to boost accessto and knowledge about community gardens. Lyerly was anearth and environmental sciences major, and in the springof his senior year, he did an interdisciplinary project in whichhe conducted a food store survey and tracked access tofresh food in low-income areas.“I think that’s one of the best hidden secrets atFurman,” he says. “You can propose an independentproject, and it’s a great way to study what you areinterested in even if there is no class that addresses thetopic.” During his research, he made contacts which ledhim to Gardening for Good, a job that perfectly suits hisinterest in how sustainability and public health intersect.As the sole Gardening for Good staff member,Lyerly is creating a network for the 40 community gardensthat already exist in Greenville County while addinggardens in low-income communities. “I’m impressed withwhat Greenville has in place,” he says. “The city is veryprogressive about how it’s addressing these issues, and I amloving what I’m doing. I hope I can stay in this community.”Catherine PateSenior Catherine Pate (Greenville, S.C.), a studio art majorwith a concentration in poverty studies, spent the summercreating a portfolio documenting life in Greenville’s Westside, which will be used in community planning efforts.“I’m interested in photojournalism, creating awarenessabout people living in impoverished areas,” she says.Though she almost attended art school, Pate decidedshe wanted a liberal arts education. A poverty studies classhelped her fine-tune a career path that brings her interestsand talents together in a way that makes a difference. Shewants to pursue the idea of “sustainability for all people,specifically poor people, a population with less access tosustainable materials and products.”Pate created her portfolio through a livabilityeducation fellowship she found through the Shi Center,and was able to customize the project to suit her majorand skills. She also assisted the city with a logo design andparticipated in meetings on housing strategies. “I cameaway with a lot of knowledge, and I hope I was able tohelp them with something they didn’t have anyone onstaff to do,” she says.Andy WallinSenior Andy Wallin (Simpsonville, S.C.), a music and earthand environmental sciences major, spent his summer helpingthe city of Greenville draft a climate action plan thanks toa fellowship funded by the Arthur Vinings Davis Foundation.“My top priority was gathering data, analyzing it, collectingpublic input, and creating a draft of what the city iscurrently doing,” he says.Wallin worked closely with Brian Graham, the city’sgreenway and sustainability manager, and was pleasedto see the number of initiatives Greenville has taken,including tracking water quality, greenspace, air quality,and installing an electric vehicle ecosystem. He alsofound room for improvement in areas such as recyclingcoordination, building codes, and tax incentives forgreener building.He says he came away with practical experience andknowledge that will help tremendously as he heads into theworkforce. Beyond that, he was gratified by helping to buildthe connection between the university and the community.“The city has so much respect for Furman students,” hesays, and the growing list of collaborations between thetwo “really benefits everyone.”18 ENGAGE FURMANENGAGE FURMAN 19

By Bryan Betts ’14THE ROAD TOANDALUSIAThrough the First Year Seminar (FYS)and First Year Writing Seminar (FYW)programs, freshmen can exploresubjects outside of general educationand major requirements. Seminars arekept small to encourage discussionand collaborative learning overlectures and exams, and learningextends beyond the classroomthrough class dinners and field tripsto places both near and far.Here are some of this year’sIt's easy to miss. Across from aBest Value Inn on the outskirtsof Milledgeville, Georgia, a pairof white signs set back from abusy four-lane highway markour destination. Hidden from theroad by trees, Andalusia, FlanneryO'Connor's farm, exists apart fromthe modern world, preserved moreor less as it was when she livedeasy categorization, but what emerges from the descriptive rubblestands among the best fiction of the 20th century.Brick steps lead up to a large, screened porch and a row ofwhite rocking chairs covered with pollen. O'Connor, who livedat Andalusia for 13 years, would sit on the porch and take in theview. What she saw undoubtedly made its way into her fiction.The porch looks out over a grassy field to the dirt road and arow of trees, and through a clearing in the distance, we can seea small pond, green in the morning light, likely the same “greenspeckled lake” Hulga sees in “Good Country People.”seminar offerings:Poetry from the InsideRead, write, and discuss poems toanswer the question, “What makespoetry a distinctive literary genreworthy of our attention?”To Walk the LandHike with your class and learn toappreciate the environment ofUpstate South Carolina.there. We bump along the dirt andgravel road to the 1950s and ’60s,to the place that inspired many ofthe famed Southern writer’s stories.After three and a half hourson the road and a few months inthe classroom, seven classmatesand I have finally made it to Andalusia on a day trip with ourFirst Year Writing Seminar (FYW in Furman parlance). Throughoutthe semester, we have honed ourwriting skills against the whetstoneof O'Connor's fiction, reading anddiscussing her stories in a small,comfortable setting. Today, though,we enjoy a break from academics andbreathe in the same sweet honeysuckleatmosphere as O'Connor once did.Our guide, English professor Willard Pate, awaits as we pullup to the house. A Southern literature guru, Dr. Pate uses herhands to explain her love for O'Connor.“Faulkner's about here,” she says, her right hand ather eyes. She holds her left hand an inch below. “And O’Connor'sright here.” It's high praise for a writer whose main body of workconsists of only two novels and two collections of short stories."A Good Man is Hard to Find" and "Good Country People,"two of O'Connor's most well-known and frequently anthologizedworks, exemplify the style for which O'Connor is famous. Dark,grotesque, violent, humorous, religious, absurd—the stories resistO'Connor, who lived at Andalusiafor thirteen years, would sit outon the porch and take in the view,and what she saw undoubtedlymade its way into her fiction.A faded picture of Jesus hanging above the stairwaywelcomes us as we enter the house. The image reminds meof a passage in Wise Blood, O’Connor’s first novel, where shedescribes Jesus as “a wild ragged figure” moving “from tree totree in the back of [the] mind.” O’Connor was a devout RomanCatholic, an oddity in the Protestant South, but was not one tosugarcoat her faith. Her characters—nihilistic preachers, bigotedhousewives, conceited “interlechuls”—are as sinful as they areabsurd, each suffering through their own spiritual journeys.“Grace changes us,” O’Connorwrote, “and the change is painful.”The house’s curator directsour attention to a room on theleft, O'Connor's bedroom. A blacktypewriter sits on her desk. Silvercrutches lean against a dresser. Seeingthe crutches, I realize how physicallyweak and frail the writer was. O'Connor came to Andalusiawith her mother after being diagnosed with lupus, a diseasethat gnawed at her health and eventually killed her. Eachmorning, the curator explains, O’Connor woke up and wrotefor three hours, as long as her lupus would allow. To avoiddistractions, she kept her drapes closed and faced her deskaway from the window. Time was precious, and she couldn’tafford to waste it.After touring the house, we head outside and wander theestate. Around back, a sign on a pump house describes the wellinside, stating that a similar one shows up in O'Connor's secondnovel, The Violent Bear It Away. While wedidn't read that book, the sign reminds methat O'Connor couldn't help but write herhome into her stories.Taking turns, we look down into thedarkness of the well, unimpressed. Thensomeone flips a light switch, revealing thehole that descends deep into the earth.We crowd into the small space and marvelat the well like small children examininga strange bug on the playground.As we walk toward the back of theproperty we find buildings that might havebeen plucked from O'Connor’s stories. Thebarn from “Good Country People.” The milkprocessing shed from “The Enduring Chill.”The stories start to merge with the place,making it harder to distinguish fact fromfiction. Leaning against the barn, a woodenladder leads up to the hayloft where theBible salesman tricked Hulga into givingup her prosthetic leg. In a sense, Hulgais still up there, stranded by both the Biblesalesman and O’Connor’s unresolved ending.At the end of our tour we drive downthe road to Memory Hill Cemetery, whereO’Connor is buried. We gather around thegrave and talk and laugh; it feels like anoddly appropriate way to finish our journey.Here, as in O’Connor's fiction, death andlife, grotesque and beautiful, comic andspiritual, all dwell together. For a moment,I feel as though I’ve entered one of herstories, having left reality to become acharacter in a world that, despite beingfictional, bears a remarkable resemblanceto our own.Bryan Betts is an English major from Fort Mill,S.C. In addition to working as an editorialassistant in Furman's Office of Marketing andPublic Relations, he also writes for Furman’sstudent newspaper, The Paladin.Eating as a Sustainable ActLearn about the food you eat, howthat food is produced, and theeconomic, social, and environmentalimpacts of eating.Chocolate: Science, Culture,and HistoryPrepare and consume chocolate whilestudying the symbolism and history ofchocolate production.House and PhilosophyExamine the early seasons of thetelevision series House, MD usingthe writings of Socrates, Aristotle,Nietzsche, and Sartre.Secret Codes: Wars, Computing,and E-CommerceStudy the history and practice ofcryptography to understand how,during World War II, it was a majorincentive for the development of thefirst computers.FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUTFIRST YEAR SEMINARS, VISITFURMAN.EDU/FYS.20 ENGAGE FURMAN ENGAGE FURMAN 21

By Katie Levans ’07meet thebloggersUncut and unedited—get a frontrowseat for freshman year!Want to know what your first year at Furman will be like? Sure, we canshow you lots of exciting pictures, tell you some great stories, or linkyou to a video, but wouldn’t you rather hear it from the source?Meet five first-year students who'll give you the skinny in theirweekly blogs and answer any questions you have about Furman.Check out their blogs at engagefurman.comMadeline GaborPepper Pike, OhioI devour cookiedough—watch out.Waking up early isthe best. I believe insweating once a day.I love speakingMandarin, Chinese.Watercoloring relaxes me.I am obsessed with Greek, Lebanese,Ethiopian, Thai, and Indian food. I love meeting people.Riding insane rollercoasters excites me. I will never gettired of flying in airplanes. I don’t let my age defineme, and I don’t think anyone should. I’m Italian andHungarian—you know why I love food. I’m not a dancer,but I dance. I believe that everyday is an opportunity tobe the best person I can be, and for that, I am thankful.admission adviceAJ CalhounCharlotte, N.C.I like to cook. I still build LEGOs.Hannah HolmesHouston, Tex.I get into food, fashion, reading,and writing. I love hanging outwith friends, watching movies,exploring downtown Greenville,and eating at new restaurants.The Saturday morning Farmer'sMarket is one of my favorite thingsabout downtown. I chose Furmanbecause it's a school that's smallenough that I see familiar faces aroundcampus, but large enough that I meet new people daily. I’m a cheerleader. I'mconsidering majoring in communications and Spanish . . . but that could verywell change as I explore other majors and classes.My favorite word is “juxtaposition”followed in close second by“irrevocably.” I can be seen perusingthe libretto to a musical, dabbling insome philosophy, deconstructing acase study, demystifying a religious text,intently learning from a dummies guide,or just enjoying a good novel. I am the youngestperson working for Apple Computer in Charlotte, N.C.I am teaching myself to play the mandolin. I listen to music on vinyl.I drink approximately four gallons of Minute Maid lemonade a week.22 ENGAGE FURMANBryson WightmanAiken, S.C.I play the bassoon—it’sbig and uses two reeds.I love to speak German.Sometimes I forgetthat my Palapoints arelimited. Sunday is theworst day of the week—Chick-fil-A is closed. I likereality shows. I danced forsix years before coming to Furman,and I’m in the Paladin Regiment, Furman’s super-awesomemarching band. I have an infatuation with left things:left-handedness, left-side traffic, etc.Qidan GuoShenzhen,Guangdong,ChinaI am fromShenzhen,a city that isonly a 45-minutedrive from HongKong. I love cooking,listening to music, andriding bikes. I haven't decided yet, but I might major ineconomics or computer science, and after graduation,I may go to graduate school and study business.Have you applied yet?It’s not too late!If you’re talented, driven, fun, intellectually curious, andpassionate, then Furman is the school for you. At Furman,we educate students to be the next generation’s problemsolvers.Our signature approach to the liberal arts helpsstudents cross disciplinary boundaries and think withopen minds, ensuring success in life.If you want to feel like you matter, if you want an educationthat will help you to change the future, then you want toapply to Furman.The deadline to apply Regular Decision is January 15.Already applied? Congratulations!We look forward to learning more about you through yourapplication and supplement.STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? Visit engagefurman.com and click on “Join Now”to create your profile and connect with your admission counselor.If you haven’t already, please take a moment to sign up fora Furman Admission Network (FAN) interview. These informalinterviews with Furman alumni or parents allow you to speakwith someone who knows Furman personally and to see ifFurman is the right fit for you. It also allows us to get to knowyou in ways that your application may not have revealed.At Furman, we take a personal approach to the admissionprocess, which means we want to get to know you as anindividual. Sure, all schools say this, but our test-optionalpolicy, FAN interviews, and attention to all details aboutyour application prove that we approach each student onan individual basis.To sign up for a FAN interview, visit engagefurman.com andclick on the Engage Community banner. After creating a profileand being matched with your counselor, click on “Home (Feed)”at the top of the page. On the right-hand side of your homepage will be a box titled “Furman Admission Network InterviewRequest.” Click on “Sign me up!” and follow the prompts.the furman communityENGAGE FURMAN 23

furman factsDid you know?Furman University was apioneer in engaged learningas a practice and a concept.Today many colleges anduniversities use the term“engaged learning” topromote their programs.Furman is flattered—after all,imitation is the highest formof praise.Background—A private liberalarts university founded in 1826and nationally acclaimed for itsacademic excellence, engagedlearning program, Division Iathletics and campus beautyLocation—Greenville, SouthCarolina (metropolitan population400,000), five miles north ofdowntownStudents—2,700 undergraduatesfrom 46 states and 47 countriesFaculty—231, 96 percent withthe highest degree in their fieldCampus—750-acre campus with lake; 36major buildings including 490,000-plusvolume library; newly renovated sciencecomplex with more than $6 million ofscientific equipment; 2,000-seat auditorium;music complex with recital halls andtechnology lab; physical activities centerwith workout facilities; chapel; 16,000-seatfootball stadium; tennis center; soccerstadium; and 18-hole golf courseSports—Furman fields 17 NCAA Division Imen’s and women’s teams, as well as 16club sports and a host of intramural teams.Honor Societies—Phi Beta Kappa,Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Eta Sigma,and numerous departmental honorariesIn 2011, the Office of Admission received5,800 applications for a freshman class of795. Admitted students typically displayedan academic record that included advancedcourses with strong grades.Majors, Programs, andConcentrationsAccountingAncient Greek and Roman Studies*ArtAsian StudiesBiologyBlack Cultures in the Americas*Business AdministrationChemistryClassicsCommunication StudiesComputer ScienceComputer Science–MathematicsEarth and Environmental SciencesEconomicsEducationEarly Childhood EducationElementary EducationSecondary EducationStudent-to-Faculty Ratio—11:1Special EducationEngineering (dual degree)Plan Your Visit!You can visit Furman almost anytime. To schedule a visit, go towww.engagefurman.com/visit orcall 864.294.2034.Average Class Size—19EnglishEnglish for Speakersof other Languages*Environmental Studies*FrenchGerman StudiesGreekApply Onlinewww.engagefurman.com/applyHealth SciencesHistoryIndividualized Curriculum ProgramInformation TechnologyLatinLatin American Studies*MathematicsMathematics–EconomicsSelect an application date that suits you.MusicChurch MusicCompositionMusic EducationMusic TheoryPerformanceYou now have more options when it comes toapplication deadlines. The application date youchoose all depends on when you would like to makeyour final college decision. Select the date that worksbest for you, and go online to www.engagefurman.com/apply to complete your Furman application.OPTION 1 | Early DecisionIf Furman is your first choice, apply Early Decision.If admitted, withdraw all other applications, andthen you can relax while your friends are filling outapplication after application.November 1—Your application is due.November 15—Complete the CSS Profile, with notificationof financial aid award on or about December 15.December 1—Decision letters are mailed.OPTION 2 | Early ActionBy applying Early Action, you’re notified ofyour admission decision sooner, allowing youmore time to make your choice.November 15—Your application is due.February 1—Decision letters are mailed.February 15—Complete the FAFSA and CSSProfile, with notification of financial aid awardon or about March 1.OPTION 3 | Regular DecisionIf you want to keep your options open andwon’t be able to decide until May 1, applyRegular Decision.January 15—Your application is due.March 1—Complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile,with notification of financial aid award on orabout April 1.April 1—Decision letters are mailed.NeurosciencePhilosophyPhysicsPolitical SciencePoverty Studies*Prelaw Studies**Premedical Studies andHealth Careers**PsychologyReligionScience Education*January 5—Statement of Intent and enrollment deposit due.March 1—Complete the FAFSA.May 1—Statement of Intent and enrollmentdeposit due.May 1—Statement of Intent and enrollmentdeposit due.SociologySustainability ScienceSpanishTheatre ArtsUrban StudiesWomen, Gender, andSexuality Studies*24 ENGAGE FURMAN*concentration**program of study

ENGAGEFurman University Admission3300 Poinsett HighwayGreenville, South Carolina 29613-5245MEET THE CLASS OF 2015They’re athletes and authors, researchers and award-winners,daredevils and visionaries.210 two-sport athletes157 traveled outside the U.S.168 captains of varsity sports41 student body presidents47 editors of school publications34 theater stars5 black belts33 Eagle/Gold Scout Award winners24 valedictorians10 conducted academic research6 published authors309 NHS members3 squash playershas raised over $2 millionPro racecar driverLicensed skydiverPilotIrish step dancingchampionLemur caretaker