JACKSON, Tenn. — Nov. 6, 2023 — 萌妹社区鈥檚 2023 Homecoming celebration included the recognition of 19 alumni and friends of the university for outstanding achievements in their respective fields and the presentation of 萌妹社区鈥檚 Homecoming Court, among other activities.
鈥溍让蒙缜� has a rich heritage of preparing students to be excellent servants to their employers, their communities and their churches,鈥� said Catherine Kwasigroh, 萌妹社区鈥檚 vice president for institutional advancement. 鈥淲e鈥檙e grateful for the significant contributions of all of our alumni winners and are honored to recognize them for their many achievements.鈥�
This year鈥檚 Meritorious Service Award winners were recognized at a Nov. 3 banquet and include:
- Clay Hallmark (鈥�89), Alumnus of the Year Award. This award is presented to a 萌妹社区 graduate for distinction in his or her profession, service to mankind and/or contribution to 萌妹社区. Hallmark is senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Lexington, Tenn. He has served the Tennessee Baptist Convention for seven years on the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, including as chairman in 2019-2020. Additionally, he is serving his second term as TBC president.
- Ryan Griffin (鈥�11), Outstanding Young Alumnus Award. This award is presented to up to three 萌妹社区 graduates who are age 40 or younger with a record of significant accomplishment in their professional life and for service to 萌妹社区 or the world. Griffin was elected as the mayor of McKenzie, Tenn., in 2022. He also serves as a data specialist for the executive vice president at Bethel University.
- Ericka King (鈥�11), Outstanding Young Alumna Award. King is director of national affairs and government relations for Kentucky Farm Bureau.
- Mark Trammell (鈥�08), Outstanding Young Alumnus Award. Trammell is executive director and general counsel for the Center for American Liberty.
- The Marty Clements Family, 萌妹社区 Family Legacy Award. This award is presented to one family that has a strong tradition of attending 萌妹社区, with a minimum of three generations of graduates, and that has been consistently involved with and committed to the university. Marty Clements, a 1975 萌妹社区 graduate, retired in 2020 from his role as director of the Jackson-Madison County Emergency Management Agency. His grandparents, C.L. and Dorothy Dodds, were 1926 萌妹社区 graduates, and his parents, Grady and Carolyn (鈥�48) Clements, both attended 萌妹社区. Marty and his wife Wendy have two sons, with their son Derek earning his Master of Business Administration degree at 萌妹社区 in 2016.
- Peggy Graves, Distinguished Service Award. This award is given to a member of the 萌妹社区 community for distinction in his or her profession, service to mankind and/or contribution to 萌妹社区. Graves is a seasoned real estate broker at Coldwell Banker Barnes in Jackson, Tenn., who has served on the board of the 萌妹社区 Foundation and on 萌妹社区鈥檚 Board of Trustees.
- Sherry Tignor (鈥�72), Lest We Forget Award. This award is presented in recognition of longtime service and contributions to the 萌妹社区 community. Tignor retired from 萌妹社区 in January after a lengthy tenure in which she served as executive director of the university鈥檚 Center for Academic Success.
- Hal Poe, G.M. Savage Legacy Award. This award is given to a faculty or staff member for his or her ongoing commitment to Christ-centered education at 萌妹社区. Poe serves as the Charles Colson Professor of Faith and Culture in the School of Theology and Missions at 萌妹社区, a position he has held since 2002.
- Jim and Janet Ayers, Robert E. Craig Service Award. This award is named after 萌妹社区鈥檚 13th president and given to an individual who has made significant contributions to the university. Jim and Janet Ayers have been significant supporters of 萌妹社区 through their contributions to student scholarships, capital projects and the expansion of the campus.
In addition, 萌妹社区 presented Distinguished Achievement Awards to 10 萌妹社区 alumni for significant contributions in different professional areas. Those recipients were:
- Clay Smith (鈥�95) in health care. Smith is co-medical director of Convenient Care Services鈥揥alk-In Clinics and Vanderbilt Health Clinic at Walgreens.
- Tony Kirk (鈥�84) in business. Kirk is president and CEO of Bolivar Energy Authority in Bolivar, Tenn.
- Kevin Trowbridge (鈥�96) in education. Trowbridge is chair of the public relations department and director of the strategic communication and leadership graduate program at Belmont University.
- Corey Cain (鈥�99) in church ministry. Cain is pastor of First Baptist Church in Seymour, Tenn., and serves on the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention.
- Roxanne McMurray (鈥�13) in research/science. McMurray is co-founder of McMurray Medical Group, a practicing certified registered nurse anesthetist and retired professor at the University of Minnesota.
- Meredith Boggs (鈥�12) in humanities. Boggs works for Vanderbilt LifeFlight and as a sexual assault nurse examiner. She is the author of 鈥淭he Journey Home,鈥� published earlier this year by Thomas Nelson.
- Lauren Sumski (鈥�16) in athletics. Sumski is coach of the women鈥檚 basketball team at Lipscomb University.
- Stacy Wolfe (鈥�98) in not-for-profit. She established the Stacy Wolfe Breast Cancer Foundation in 2022 to encourage, support and address the immediate needs of cancer patients and their families.
- Sam Mizell (鈥�96) in arts/media. A composer, writer and producer, Mizell has seven No. 1 songs, two Grammy nominations and two Dove Awards and has written songs for such artists as Matthew West, Amy Grant, Sidewalk Prophets and many others.
- John David Cressman (鈥�11) in government/public service. Cressman serves as the general counsel for the Tennessee Department of Military.
萌妹社区鈥檚 Homecoming Court was presented Nov. 4 during halftime of the Bulldog basketball game. Rachael Volk, an elementary education major from Spring Hill, Tenn., was named Ms. 萌妹社区, while Campbell Sutton, an athletic training major from Rossville, Tenn., was named Mr. 萌妹社区.
Other Ms. 萌妹社区 candidates were Ashlea Armstrong, a communications studies major from Merritt Island, Fla.; Gracie Shaddox, a biology major from Mt. Juliet, Tenn.; Prabhavi Aghamkar, a cell and molecular biology major from Louisville, Ky.; and Sarah Beth McGee, a biology major from Savannah, Tenn. Other Mr. 萌妹社区 candidates were Austin Crawford, an athletic training major from Sikeston, Mo.; Hayden Phillips, a chemistry major from Lexington, Tenn.; Jack McDonnell, a political science major from Wears Valley, Tenn.; and Truman Forehand, a journalism major from Garfield, Ga.
The week of events also included a Nov. 3 community prayer breakfast, where attendees gathered to pray for purpose, power, provision and people.
鈥淧rayer for the Lord鈥檚 blessing has always been a key emphasis and reason for any success 萌妹社区 has enjoyed,鈥� Kwasigroh said. 鈥淲e would ask that all of 萌妹社区鈥檚 friends, alumni, employees and students make it a point to regularly ask God to bless the university that we love so deeply.鈥�
Earlier in the week, 萌妹社区 students, faculty and staff participated in dozens of service projects across Jackson as part of the annual Campus and Community: A Day of Remembrance and Service event. The slate of Homecoming events also included the Buster Bowl (an exhibition football game) and tailgate party, as well as Bulldog Madness that featured introductions of the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball teams, a three-point shootout, dunk contest and student games.
