The inauguration of Reinhardt University’s 20th President, Dr. Kina S. Mallard, will include festivities throughout the week, as well as the recognition of the Cherokee County School District Superintendent and RU Alumnus, and Reinhardt University’s 10 Under 10.
The inauguration art exhibit remains open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Falany Performing Arts Center and features works by artists connected to Dr. Kina S. Mallard.
The Reinhardt University Jazz Ensemble will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, at the FPAC. Tickets can be purchased at FPAC.Reinhardt.edu.
The Student Inauguration event will be held at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 13, at the Bannister Glasshouse. Students are invited to attend and meet with their new president.
The RU Symphonic Winds will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 13 at the FPAC. The concert features soundtracks from movies, works from musicals, and works from great band composers. It also will feature the first ever student conducting winner. Tickets can be purchased at FPAC.Reinhardt.edu or the event will be live streamed at Inauguration.Reinhardt.edu.
The Inauguration Prayer Service for Dr. Mallard will be held Friday, April 15, at 9:30 a.m. at Hagan Chapel. The Inauguration Ceremony is set for 2 p.m. at the Falany Performing Arts Center. The Ceremony will be live streamed at Inauguration.Reinhardt.edu.
The Inauguration Gala, set for Friday at 6 p.m. at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Conference Center, will feature a reception, dinner, dancing and the celebration of successful alumni. Tickets are available for purchase at Inauguration.Reinhardt.edu. The deadline is Monday, April 11, at 5 p.m.
Dr. Brian Hightower, Cherokee schools superintendent, will be honored as the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. The award recognizes an individual with outstanding personal achievement and an unselfish and dedicated personal devotion to Reinhardt.
Dr. Hightower (’83) has been with the Cherokee County School District for 29 years, starting as a teacher at E.T. Booth Middle School. He taught nine years before moving on to an administrative role as assistant principal then principal. He was appointed director of school operations in 2003 and assistant superintendent of school operations in 2011. He later was named deputy superintendent and most recently, he was tapped by the Board of Education to lead the district as its superintendent.
Hightower credits Reinhardt for making Cherokee County his home and for spurring his educational experience. He said after high school, college was not on the top of his priority list, but now he holds a Doctorate of Education, as well as a Master of Education, Bachelor of Science in education, an Education Specialist Degree, and an Associate of Arts in liberal arts, which he earned from Reinhardt.
He has dedicated his support to Reinhardt with various means, including being a charter member and co-chair of the Price School of Education’s Alumni Association from 2004-2015.
In addition to Hightower’s recognition, the University will announce its 2015-2016 ‘10 Under 10’ award recipients at the gala Friday night. The ‘10 Under 10’ is a group of alumni who graduated in the last 10 years and are successful in business, the military, nonprofits, government, ministry and/or the arts.
The Inauguration festivities will close out Sunday with the Choir Concert at 3 p.m., April 17. For ticket information, visit FPAC.Reinhardt.edu.
