Write Christmas

As the head coach for the men’s and women’s swimming teams at North Carolina State University for 25 years, Don Easterling ’55, MA ‘60 looked for an edge in recruiting. Since his boss was frugal, he devised the low budget approach of sending out holiday greetings with essays that tugged at the heartstrings of athletes and their parents.

A member of the American Swimming Coaches Hall of Fame who coached a dozen Olympians, he compiled the best of his annual letters, all showcasing the true joys of the season in a book titled What Did You Get From Christmas.

Easterling, who now makes his home in Charlottesville, Va., has recently updated the paperback collection of essays for the season and wanted to spread the word to fellow Frogs who may want to add it under their trees.
To purchase, contact Easterling directly at coachwufpak@aol.com or call: 434.975.6969.


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Alum writes sex ed book for teachers

Martha Roper '70, a long-time teacher in Missouri, has written a book she wish had when she taught sex education for years. In Healthy Teen Relationships: Using Values and Choices to Teach Sex Education, Roper writes about more than just the biological facts. The book, which is geared for teachers but could be a handy resources for families, explores the emotional side of learning about human sexuality and values behind the choices teen-agers face.

Roper earned a degree in Elementary Education at TCU in 1970 before returning to her native Missouri. Soon, she also earned a master's degree in Family and Community Relations in 1974 from Columbia University in New York.

Roper finds that her book is needed, especially in public schools where she has experienced her own world of misinformation and confusion about the sensitive subject. The book emphasizes "abstinence-plus" with points on personal responsibility and media influences, plus the usual topics on sexually transmitted infections, contraception and teen pregnancy. 

The book, published by Search Institute Press, is available on Amazon.