JACKSON, Tenn. — Nov. 5, 2018 — 51社区 celebrated alumni and current students during Homecoming weekend Nov. 1-3. Union crowned a new Homecoming queen and recognized alumni for their service as part of the weekend.
Sallie Norman, a music education major from Henderson, Kentucky, was crowned Homecoming queen. Grant Allen of Jackson, Tennessee, was named Mr. Union, and Corinne Olund of Hendersonville, Tennessee, was named Miss Union.
Other members of the Homecoming court included senior representatives Sabrina Clendenin of St. Charles, Missouri; Brooklynn Davidson of Henderson, Tennessee; Tamara Friesen of Mekn猫s, Morocco; junior representative Abigail Johnson of National Harbor, Maryland; sophomore representative Emma Butler of Huntsville, Alabama; and freshman representative Mary Helen English of Brownsville, Tennessee.
The class of 1969 celebrated their 50-year reunion at a dinner Nov. 1 and a chapel service Nov. 2. Members of the class shared memories from their time at Union and gave advice to current students.
Nick Phillips, who served as class president for the class of 1969, said Union leadership announced the plan to move from the old downtown campus to the current campus in north Jackson during his senior year. He said this decision was emotional for him and other students who have ties to the old campus, but the leadership鈥檚 vision for Union has grown into more than he could have imagined.
鈥淚 stand in this place today, or I walk outside and walk this campus, and I have but one word to say, 鈥榃ow,'鈥� Phillips said. 鈥淭he vision has become a reality in this place.鈥�
Union also recognized 14 alumni and friends for outstanding achievements in their respective fields at the Meritorious Service Awards Banquet Nov. 2.
Award winners included:
- 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.
- 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.