Vice President of Finance initiates Vice President of Finance Mel Sansom sits at his desk working in his office on Sept. 20. Sansom held 12 other responsibilities around Searcy and for Harding. [Chris Hamilton] of new programs 140 [leadership] Students congregate in the student center Sept. 28 to participate in the events of the grand opening of Taco Bell and Grille Works. One event included a game of guessing how many pickles the jar contained, won by junior Aubrey Laroche, with a grand prize of $50 in DCB. [Jonathan Lindsay] Very few people would do a job outside of what would be required of them, but for Mel Sansom, he divided his time among many different boards, school and his family. Mel Sansom, Vice President of Finance, had a wide range of responsibilities including finance, human resources, food services, the business office, public safety, the Heritage Inn, the bookstore, the post office, maintenance, construction projects, the print shop, Harding Place and Camp Tahkodah. In addition to this large role at Harding, Sansom also served on the boards for the United Way, the Searcy Board of Public Utilities and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Sansom and his wife had been involved with this program for several years as volunteers. Despite his work load, Sansom always found time for his family. Sansom and his wife, Lori, had two daughters whom he considered to be two of his greatest accomplishments. Emily, a senior, and Sydni, an eighth grader, attended Harding Academy. In regards to renovations,Sansomwas involved in the addition of Taco Bell in the student center, the relocation of the drama department, a new dining hall at Camp Tahkodah and the construction of the pharmacy building. The new pharmacy building would also house the engineering students. In addition to those two departments, plans for a small dining hall in the building were made for students who could not make it across campus to the cafeteria. “It will be a grab-and-go type of place,” Sansom said. “Students can get a sandwich, soup or salad. It will help out since the cafeteria is on the opposite side of campus.” Having all of these jobs could give one an inflated ego, but Sansom gave credit to those he worked with. “I have tremendous managers that run the operations,” Sansom said. “I just try my best to lead and monitor the progress and stress Christian excellence in the service we provide.” According to Sansom’s administrative assistant Brook Light, he was one of the most dedicated and considerate people she knew. “It is such a blessing to come to work every day and work with him,” Light said. “He knows that I don’t come with a background in finance, and he still asks my opinions and really seems to appreciate them.” Light also remarked on Sansom’s whole-hearted nature. “When he’s at work,he gives 100 percent,and when he is with his family,he gives 100 percent,” Light said. “He is dedicated to each job that he does.” [Michelle Greer] Building
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