Author: Bethany Cheesebro

Many pairs of siblings attend Houghton, but one aspect of their college experience heightens through their relationship at teammates. Brothers Jared and Jesse Toth and Sisters Lindsay and Hattie Burgher have experienced life at Houghton as both fellow students and teammates.

Sophomore Jesse Toth’s decision to attend Houghton last year came almost completely from the fact that his older brother, now a fifth year senior, Jared attended Houghton. Jesse and Jared had the opportunity to play on their high school’s soccer team together for one year, while Jared was a senior and Jesse a first year. Because of an injury during Jared’s sophomore year playing for Houghton, he gained an extra season of eligibility. He was able to play for an additional season and this was “surprisingly a blessing” to Jesse. He said, “Playing with my brother in high school was one of the best experiences I ever had and I wasn’t about to pass up playing two years with him here at Houghton.”

The brothers shared nothing but positive experiences and benefits of attending the same college and playing on the same team. They said the biggest benefit they bring to their team is their chemistry and understanding of each other on the field. While playing together, Jesse says “we constantly know what the other person is thinking” which is what makes being on the field together fun and exciting. Jared describes their experience as “unexplainable” because there is nothing like being able to “battle everyday on the soccer field with your brother.”

When asked to share a memorable experience they’ve had while being at the same college, both Jesse and Jared described hard-fought soccer victories. Both games were ones they were not expected to win, but they both credited their victories to their brother’s hard work. This year being Jared’s last season, he shares he was glad he got to play his college soccer career with his “own blood” and is proud of what his brother has brought to the team.

Lindsay and Hattie Burgher bring a slightly different relationship to the aspect of sibling teammates because their relationship broadens to one of a player and coach. Junior Hattie Burgher’s decision to attend Houghton came with a bonus, having her sister already on campus. Her sister, now assistant volleyball coach, Lindsay Burgher, was a senior when Hattie started at Houghton so they only played one year on Houghton’s volleyball team together. Hattie said, “I wish I had more than one year of playing with her… but I’m so grateful for that one year.”

Both sisters commented on the reward they’ve received in watching their sister grow and develop as a player, and for Hattie, seeing Lindsay as a coach. Lindsay and Hattie played two years of volleyball together in high school, but Lindsay said “I valued playing with her a lot more than in high school, because I wanted to make the most of (what I thought was) our time playing together for the one season we had.” When thinking of her transition from player to coach, Lindsay shared how “natural” it was to have Hattie at her school and as a teammate, but the struggles it brought transitioning into a leadership role. Lindsay had to learn to balance her relationship as a sister, friend and now a coach.

Hattie’s most memorable experience with her sister at college was hearing about her recent engagement. Hattie shared her excitement in being able to “revel in that monumental moment with her and to see the ring and give her a hug” which is something she would not have been able to do if Lindsay wasn’t still at Houghton. However, Lindsay’s presence on campus brought some struggles, as Hattie stated “we are sisters.” She said of her sisters coaching position, “she legitimately has the right to boss me around” but said that their relationship would experience some arguments which is natural and expected.

Lindsay’s greatest experience has been watching her younger sister “transform before her eyes” on the court and work to earn her position as a leader on the team. Lindsay is grateful for the opportunities she’s been given while at Houghton with her sister and said, “Whether coaching or playing, I am proud and thankful we can continue to be a part of the Houghton volleyball program together.”

Recent Houghton graduates Madison Murphy and Bretta Hixson have Facebook to thank for their newly hired professor positions. Murphy, a 2011 graduate, and Hixson, a 2010 graduate, were alerted by current Houghton professors on Facebook of positions in their fields that became available.

After graduating with a degree in Communication, Madison Murphy went to Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) in Georgia and earned a master’s degree in Computer Animation with a concentration in 3D Computer Character Animation.  Realizing the range of possibilities her field offered, Murphy attended SCAD knowing that she wanted to teach at a small school.

Murphy got this opportunity earlier this year when she found out Professor David Huth, the current professor of media arts and visual communications, was taking a sabbatical.  “It was a Facebook message that sort of kicked it off,” Murphy said, “Professor Huth asked, ‘Would you mind coming back for a year?’ Then it got a little more professional from there.” Huth will return next fall and Murphy’s position will no longer be available but she would welcome the opportunity to stay. “Would I like to [stay]?” asked Murphy, “Sure, I love it here. I think everything this department is doing is fantastic. I think it’s producing awesome students.” Since her current position will end, Murphy decided she will either look for another teaching job at a place like Houghton or for work in the industry of computer animation.

While a student at Houghton, Murphy was a Teaching Assistant (TA) and very involved in the communications department, so the teaching aspect of her job was a swift transition from student to professor. However, some aspects caused for a more difficult transition. For example, instead of being all around campus like she was used to as a student, she now spends a great amount of time in the building where her office is located. The most prominent difference, Murphy said, were the “little things” like “walking into the cafeteria and noticing that they switched all the chairs around, or that the NERF club is now officially a student-recognized activity.”  Murphy also describes the ups and downs of eating in the cafeteria and mentions she doesn’t eat in the cafeteria as much, but complains because she doesn’t get to “hear as much of the buzz”.

Also new to Houghton is Bretta Hixson who graduated with a degree in Biology before moving to Boston in 2011. Hixson received a master’s degree of public health in international health from Boston University. After graduating she traveled to Cap Haitien, Haiti to work for a non-profit organization, strengthening the medical supply chain of the public Haitian hospitals.  When that project finished she moved back to Boston and worked at a coffee shop until hearing from Houghton.

Hixson was Facebook friends with the previous genetics professor, Matthew Pelletier, and saw that he was leaving Houghton. Shortly after she received an email from the biology department encouraging her to apply and after applying Hixson recalls, “Within a week, I flew out to teach a sample lecture and interview.” Less than two weeks later she got the job.

Hixson describes her first few months at Houghton as a “through-the-looking-glass” experience. She said “I had moments in faculty meetings and division meetings and department meetings – we have a lot of meetings – where I felt a keen sense of absurdity.  Not that the meetings were absurd, just the idea that I belonged in them.” The teaching itself brought more comfort, as Hixson had been a TA and tutor while a student at Houghton. She does admit, however, “Lecturing a class of fifty-six in Schaller is quite different than sitting down with one or two students to drill them on the finer points of a fetal pig anatomy or the polymerase chain reaction.”

Both Murphy and Hixson shared their gratitude for the opportunity to be back at Houghton and felt privileged to be able to continue their experiences at the college.  As Hixson said, “I do remember day-dreaming about what it would be like to come back some day and teach at Houghton…”