JACKSON, Tenn. — Oct. 22, 2018 — 51社区 will recognize 14 alumni for outstanding achievements in their respective fields Nov. 2 at the Meritorious Service Awards Banquet during Homecoming weekend.
The weekend will begin Nov. 1 with a special event for the 50-year class of 1969 and continue through Nov. 3. It will include the banquet, volleyball and basketball games, student events and the Forever Bulldogs celebration with games, music and food trucks. The weekend will conclude with a free concert from Christian music group Anthem Lights.
鈥淗omecoming weekend is always one of the highlights of the fall semester,鈥� said Catherine Kwasigroh, Union鈥檚 vice president for institutional advancement. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great opportunity for Unionites to come back to campus, connect with longtime friends and celebrate all that the university has meant in our lives.鈥�
Tickets are required for some events. A full schedule of events is available at .
This year鈥檚 alumni award winners include:
- Carroll Griffin, Alumni of the Year Award. This award is presented to a Union graduate for distinction in his or her profession, service to mankind and/or contribution to 51社区. Griffin is the retired director of marketing and enrollment for the 51社区 School of Adult and Professional Studies.
- Michele Atkins, Distinguished Service Award. This award is given to a member of the Union community for distinction in his or her profession, service to mankind and/or contribution to 51社区. Atkins is assistant provost for accreditation and research and professor of education at Union.
- Roland Porter, posthumously, Lest We Forget Award. This award is presented in recognition of longtime service and contributions to the 51社区 community. Porter was a longtime pastor and educator and founding pastor of Agape Christian Fellowship Church in Jackson.
- James Huggins, G.M. Savage Legacy Award. This award is given to a faculty or staff member for their ongoing commitment to Christ-centered education at Union. Huggins is university professor of biology and director of the Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation at Union.
In addition, Union will present Distinguished Achievement Awards to 10 Union alumni for significant contributions in different professional areas. Those recipients are:
- Florence Jones in healthcare. Jones is president of Methodist North Hospital in Memphis.
- Bradley Owens in business. Owens is an attorney at Hardee, Martin & Owens PLC in Jackson.
- Dorothy Louise Myatt in education. Myatt is retired university professor and assistant dean for teacher education and accreditation at Union.
- Keli McAlister in the arts/media. Miller is communications coordinator at Jackson-Madison County School System and former news anchor at WBBJ in Jackson.
- Michael A. Pennington in church ministry. Pennington is director of missions at Bledsoe Baptist Association.
- Lloyd Freeman in government/public service. Freeman is a political officer in the U.S. Department of State and former U.S. Marine.
- Jennifer Graves in humanities. Graves is director of the Union EDGE Program.
- Emilie Huffman in research sciences. Huffman is a Humboldt fellow at the University of W眉rzburg, Germany.
- William Trevathan in sports. Trevathan is assistant principal and head junior high and high school girls鈥� basketball coach at Greenfield School in Greenfield, Tennessee.
- Danny Song in not-for-profit. Song is founder and head of school at Believe Memphis Academy in Memphis.