JACKSON, Tenn. — Feb. 21, 2005 — More than 1,000 51社区 alumni celebrated their annual homecoming Feb. 18-19, an event which featured the crowning of a new homecoming queen and a men鈥檚 basketball win over a top-ranked opponent.
Lauren Oldham, a senior marketing major from Martin, Tenn., was selected as the 2005 homecoming queen. She is the daughter of Roger and Debbie Oldham and is planning a career in non-profit administration.
She was crowned during halftime of the Lady Bulldogs鈥� 114-56 win over Park University. Following the women鈥檚 game, the Bulldogs defeated Mountain State University, the defending NAIA national champion and the top-ranked NAIA team in the country, 78-75.
Other homecoming court attendants were freshman Rebekah Bothwell, a psychology major from Paw Paw, Mich., who is the daughter of Brian and Kay Bothwell; sophomore Steffanie Grisham, a psychology and family studies major from Bartlett, Tenn., who is the daughter of Steve and Karen Grisham; junior Brooke Fowler, a biology major from Jackson, Tenn., who is the daughter of Glenda and Rex Fowler; senior Kristin Ulmer, a December graduate in public relations from Old Hickory, Tenn., who is the daughter of Tim and Edwina Ulmer; senior Lindsey Brown, a learning foundations major from Olive Branch, Miss., who is the daughter of Jim and Melinda Brown; and senior Katie Murphy, a Christian studies major from Humboldt, Tenn., who is the daughter of Louis and Karen Murphy.
In addition to the homecoming court, seniors Jon Blair and Brown were named Mr. and Miss Union. Blair is a digital media studies major from Clinton, Miss., and is the son of Gary and Deborah Blair.
At the annual alumni luncheon on Saturday, Robert Simpson, 鈥�80, received the Distinguished Faculty/Staff Award. Jerry Kuykendall, 鈥�65, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award posthumously. William H. Walker III, 鈥�55, was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Michael Weeks received the Honorary Alumnus Award, and Michael Johnston, 鈥�97, received the Outstanding Young Achiever Award.
Twenty-three members of the class of 1955 received 50-year commemorative medallions at the annual Founders Day chapel Friday, Feb. 18. Madison County historian Harbert Alexander talked in detail about some of 51社区鈥檚 founders, and offered a prediction about Union鈥檚 future.
鈥淚f the past is any indicator, then the future here is even brighter,鈥� Alexander said.
Other homecoming events included the annual campus variety show, a concert by Christian recording artist Andrew Peterson and reunions for the classes of 1955, 1980 and 1995.
