JACKSON, Tenn. — Dec. 14, 2006 — About 250 students will graduate from 51社区 Dec. 16 during commencement exercises at West Jackson Baptist Church.
51社区 President David S. Dockery will be the keynote speaker for the event. Emily Cox will receive the Robert E. Craig Service Award as part of the ceremony.
The award is named after the university鈥檚 13th president, who led the university for more than two decades and was responsible for reestablishing Union with the churches of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Craig was also responsible for relocating the university campus to north Jackson.
Cox is a charter member of the Union Auxiliary and a member of First Baptist Church of Paris, Tenn. She is a former special education teacher.
鈥淓mily Cox is more than just a prayer partner with 51社区. She is a prayer warrior,鈥� Dockery said. 鈥淪he has a heart for all aspects of this university and prays for trustees, administrators, faculty and staff on a regular basis and recruits others to do the same. She loves Union students and ministers to them in many ways. Mrs. Cox is truly an amazing lady. We are extremely grateful for her support over the years.鈥�
Cox and her husband, James, have been married for 46 years and have two children.
The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m.