Letter from Tyler Falwell

I’m amazed that the holiday season is already upon us! With Thanksgiving past and Christmas quickly approaching, I am sure this is a busy time for you and your family. In the midst of the craziness that often accompanies this time of year, I encourage you to take a step back and reflect on the things God has done in your life in 2012.

Blessings abound, and I am grateful to see how God has worked in my life and in Liberty University this year. With the rapid growth Liberty is experiencing, we have been gifted with thousands of new alumni — over 12,000 this year alone!

	(Front row Kim Schweighart, Murna Gado) (Back row Mark Watkins, Michael Hammond, Tyler Falwell, Anna Ginn)

Alumnus Spotlight

The year-end alumnus spotlight features Mike and Erica Shanton, Liberty graduates from the class of 1997. The Shantons have three children, including their youngest son, five-year-old Parker. In June 2011, Parker’s parents began seeing bruises all over his body. What they assumed was the evidence of a normal, active little boy soon became a nightmare, as Parker was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). Leukemia is a cancer that affects bone marrow; the white blood cells made there that normally protect the body, suddenly begin attacking it instead. Treatment requires surgery, various levels of chemotherapy, spinal taps, bone marrow draws, and an average of three and a half years of treatment.

During these intense months of painful and isolating treatment, little Parker is proving to be a trooper. In the midst of this trial, Parker still comes out smiling, bringing much encouragement to those who hear his story. “The word 'brave' just doesn’t seem to do him justice,” his proud father writes.

Since Parker is often too sick to travel, his uncle, Tracey Outlaw, started The Flat Parker Project: 50 States in 365 Days. The Flat Parker Project takes a small cartoon cutout of Parker and ships it across the country where the recipient takes a picture with Flat Parker and posts it to the family’s Facebook page.

Flat Parker has already traveled to over 35 states, and every time a new picture is uploaded it brings joy to Parker and his whole family. To find out more about Flat Parker and how you can get involved, visit the project website.

Alumni Top Cities

Liberty University Alumni Cities are quickly spreading across the nation. An Alumni City is made up of Liberty graduates that live in the same area and build friendships through their city’s Facebook page. Participants often attend Flames sporting events together, make trips back to Liberty, and stay connected to their alma mater through relationships in their own community. From Philadelphia to San Diego, our alumni are proud of their Liberty heritage — and they are proving that it is possible to make new university memories even after graduation.

As we finish out the year and head into 2013, consider starting your own Alumni City Facebook group. This is a great way to connect with people in your area who are also Champions for Christ!

To start your own Alumni City group, email alumni@liberty.edu or visit our website for more information.

Upcoming Events

Winterfest
Winterfest is only a few weeks away — have you gotten your tickets yet? If not, there’s still time to purchase them. With 14 scheduled performers including Casting Crowns, Building 429, and Liberty alumnus TobyMac, as well as access to Liberty’s exciting amenities like ice skating and rock climbing, you won’t want to miss it!

Alumni Basketball Doubleheader
Mark your calendars now for the alumni basketball doubleheader on Saturday, Jan. 26. The Lady Flames will take on Longwood at 5 p.m., followed by an 8 p.m. game where the Flames challenge Charleston Southern. Stay tuned for more information — we hope to see you there!

Facebook Photo Contest

Make sure you participate in our ongoing Facebook photo contest, the Liberty Alumni Christmas Spirit Challenge! Check it out now and post a picture of yourself sporting your favorite Liberty gear along with Christmas decorations! This is a great way to get in the Christmas mood and show your hometown pride. The photo contest will run through Jan. 1, 2013. The first place winner will receive an iPad Mini, the second place winner a Kindle Fire, and the third place winner will enjoy a $50 Visa gift card. If you don’t already “like” our page, make sure you do soon so you can participate!

Social Media

The alumni Facebook and Twitter pages have been very active recently! Here are some of the top posts from this month!