Inauguration Week Celebrates New Era For Reinhardt

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CANTON, GA -- 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 schools superintendent and RU Alumnus Dr. Brian Hightower 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 Performing Arts Center.

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, meet and greet Dr. Mallard.

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 at 9:30 a.m. Friday, April 15 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 6 p.m. Friday at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Conference Center in Canton, will feature a reception, dinner, dancing and the celebration of successful alumni.

Cherokee County Schools Superintendent Dr. Brian Hightower 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 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 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 school board to lead the district as its superintendent. Dr. 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.

Dr. Hightower received an associate’s degree in 1983 from Reinhardt University; a bachelor’s degree in education in 1986 from Kennesaw State University; a master’s degree in education in 1993 from North Georgia College and State University; an education specialist degree in 1996 from Georgia State University; and a doctorate in educational leadership in 2007 from Samford University.

He also received an education leadership certificate in 1997 from the University of West Georgia and gifted certification in 1994 from KSU.

He has dedicated his support to Reinhardt in various ways, including serving as a charter member and co-chair of the Price School of Education’s Alumni Association from 2004 to 2015.

In addition to Dr. Hightower’s recognition, the University will announce its 2015-16 ‘10 Under 10’ award recipients at the gala. 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.

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Photo: Dr. Kina Mallard. Credit: Reinhardt University