Alumni Spotlight
From time to time we will highlight alums who have made a remarkable difference through ministry and dedication to God's work.
Miss Sett (1960)
Miss Sett has faithfully served Toccoa Falls Institute and College for over 56 years! She has impacted the lives of thousands of young women who lived in her dorms, who ate from her smorgasbord buffets, and who were blessed by nightly dorm devotions. Miss Sett has trained hundreds of young men and women in proper etiquette and poise, including how to properly sit, walk, set a table, and serve a fine meal. Her "girls" will never forget her; she has left a lasting imprint upon their (our) hearts that continue to endear us to her.
Elise Webber (2009)
This past year Elise was a valued member of TESTIFY, a music and drama ministry team who ministered to churches and youth camps during Winterim break in January and eight weeks during the summer. This was a spiritually growing period for each team member, even for those who toured on two previous occasions. But for Elise, she talked about how she was “stretched” in many ways.
Jared Ritter (2001)
Jared graduated from Toccoa Falls College magna cum laude with a B.S. in Psychology. His ambition was to attend medical college to study mental health with the goal of making as great an impact as possible, and this field of study is close to his heart.
So, on May 16, 2009, he earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Sarah Diehl (2007)
Sarah graduated in May 2007 with a B.A. in Missions and a minor in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of othr languages). She wanted to be prepared “so that if the Lord called me to work in a creative access country whre traditional missionaries cannot go, I would have the skills to enter.” Her desire was to serve the Lord in Africa. Her senior paper was on the Maninka People group of Guinea, West Africa; and immediately following graduation, she began earning and saving money to support her dream.
Cynthia Poser (1972)
After Cynthia graduated from Toccoa Falls College in 1972, she went to Houghton College in Upstate New York to study art. In addition, she completed additional courses from the "Famous Artists School" in Westport, Connecticut. Cynthia has used many different mediums for her work; however, the images we’ve included here are some of her larger pieces. They are 8 by 8 feet, done with acrylics and are on permanent display in the First Alliance Church Family Life Center in Toccoa, Georgia.
Captain Laura (Pace, HS 1964) Omer
From the time Laura came to Toccoa Falls High School in 1963 as a junior, she possessed certain qualities that propelled her into a lifetime of service and leadership for her country.
Immediately upon graduating from Toccoa Falls she earned her nursing diploma at The Georgia Baptist School of Nursing, Atlanta and by 1977 had been commissioned a Nurse Corps officer in the U.S. Navy.
Dr. G. William Quarterman (1976)
Bill is a professor and Chairman of the Psychology and Counseling Department at Toccoa Falls College. He is also a Licensed Professional Counselor with Quarterman and Associates, a member of the Licensed Professional Counselor Association, and the American Association of Christian Counselors. He is a past member and former chairman of the Action Community Team for a Drug-free Stephens County.
Rev. Gustave "Uncle Gus" Woerner
Dr. Bandy once described Uncle Gus as “a most unusual person in vitality, versatility, and vision.” Those traits led this man of God to pursue a divine call to evangelize the world during a time of great change, world wars, and closed doors throughout Europe and Asia. He then answered God’s call to join the faculty at Toccoa Falls which “became the crowning opportunity of his vision to fulfill the Great Commission . .
Troy Damron (1944)
Mr. Troy Damron grew up as a poor farm boy from Texas during the Great Depression in the mid 1930s. When the stock market crashed in 1929 and a terrible hail storm destroyed their cotton crop that same year, Mr. Damron and his family set about trying to find creative ways to keep their farm intact and their family fed.
Oliver (1958) and Dianne (Essig, 1959) Nealy
During their student days in the mid 1950’s, Dianne’s ambition was to be “In the Lord’s Service” and “Ollie” (as Oliver was affectionately known) stated a similar ambition – “To do the will of God.”
Dr. Goldie Blakeney (HS 1940, BC 1948)
Goldie was the first female to receive an honorary Doctor of Letters from Toccoa Falls College in recognition of her many years of ministry with SIM (Serving in Ministry). Dr. Alford conferred the degree upon her in 1987.





