Christian Service Students Receive Awards, Scholarships

Oklahoma Baptist University's Joe L. Ingram School of Christian Service recognized outstanding seniors in Christian service studies during the 2009 Awards Convocation on Wednesday, May 13, in Raley Chapel. Dr. Warren McWilliams, OBU Auguie Henry Professor of Bible, presented the awards.

Orrey McFarland, a religion: biblical languages major from Ardmore, Okla., received the School of Christian Service's top honor, the Outstanding Senior in Religion Award. It is presented to the student who has demonstrated exceptional ability in the fields of theology, Christian history and biblical studies. McFarland graduated with the designation summa cum laude with honors in religion: biblical languages.

"Our overall outstanding student in Religion is Orrey McFarland," said Dr. Mark McClellan, OBU dean of the School of Christian Service. "He has been an exemplary student in all of his courses, graduating as an 'Honors Student' which requires a thesis. He wrote a thesis on the Pauline Epistles that was considered excellent by Dr. Bobby Kelly, his OBU professor of Greek and New Testament, as well as an additional reader, a New Testament professor from Duke Divinity School."

Kelly said he considers McFarland "the kind of student that only comes along a few times in a professor's career." McFarland will pursue an advanced degree in biblical studies at Durham University in England.



Courtney Ingram, a children's ministry major from Norman, Okla., received the Outstanding Senior in Applied Ministry Award, given to the student who has demonstrated exceptional ability in the field of applied ministry. She graduated with the designation magna cum laude.

Adam Goggins, a philosophy/history major from Justin, Texas, received the Outstanding Senior in Philosophy Award, given to the student who has demonstrated exceptional ability in the field of philosophy.

McFarland also received the awards for outstanding senior in Greek and theology during a banquet April 20 on campus. Receiving the senior awards for biblical studies and Christian history was Sarah Underwood, a religion: biblical languages major from Edmond, Okla.; for Hebrew, Chris Canary, a religion: biblical languages major from Newcastle, Okla.; for pastoral ministry and for philosophy, Michael Novotny, a philosophy major from Meeker, Okla.; for youth ministry, Peter McCorkle, a religion: Bible major from Tulsa, Okla.; for education ministry, Rachel Sanders, an applied ministry: children's ministry major from Duncan, Okla.; for missions, Whitney Ritchie, a cross-cultural: orality studies major from Pryor, Okla.; for church music, Daniel Evans, a church music: voice major from Moore, Okla.; and for children's ministry, Courtney Ingram.

McClellan presented 30 scholarships during the awards banquet. Derek Schuessler, a sophomore from Valley Center, Kan., received the Haggard Religious Education Scholarship, given to a rising upperclassman who is a religious education, youth or children's ministry major. Thomas Mosley, a senior from Moore, Okla., received the Buell Hill Missions Scholarship, given to a rising senior missions volunteer. Josh Mugler, a senior from St. Peter's, Mo., received the James Timberlake Scholarship, given to a rising upper-classman who has excelled in biblical and theological studies. James Gonzales, a sophomore from Katy, Texas, received the Alma Baggett Religious Vocation Scholarship, given to a religious or applied ministry major. Cody Oldacre, a junior from Talala, Okla.; Devin Warfield, a freshman from Enid, Okla.; Charmaine Thomas, a student seeking a second degree from Ada, Okla.; and Thomas Moseley received the Jack and Betty Moore Scholarship, given to a non-traditional major in the School of Christian Service who is preparing for church staff ministry other than pastor or music ministry.

Hayden Walker, a senior from Almont, Colo., received the Ruth C. Clark Memorial Scholarship, given to a student who is a child of missionaries and who is planning a career in foreign missions. Caitlin Dacus, a junior from Overland Park, Kan.; Mary Elizabeth Jones, a freshman from Fletcher, Okla.; and Ellen Richard, a freshman from Perkins, Okla., received the Orie and Edna Booze Religious Scholarship, given to students planning to enter a church-related vocation. Samuel Simmons, a junior from Blackwell, Okla., and Zach Rider, a sophomore from Oklahoma City, received the Joe L. Ingram Scholarship, given to an upper-class student preparing for the pastoral ministry who has demonstrated a strong commitment to ministry and outstanding leadership skills. Dillon Chilcoat, a junior from Oklahoma City, received the Alice Routh Memorial Award, given to a regularly enrolled student who writes the best essay of 2,500 words on some phase of "missionary opportunities and work in the fields of Africa in which Southern Baptist are laboring." Shane Haff, a freshman from Pryor, received the Aaron and Hilda Hancock Scholarship, given to a Native American student preparing for the ministry among Native Americans.

Matthew Richie, a senior from Fort Gibson, Okla., received the Glen E. and Erma J. Braswell Scholarship, given to a church vocation student. Richie also received the Bob and Patsy Evans Scholarship, an annual scholarship given to OBU Christian vocation students. Jacob Hibbard, a sophomore from Chickasha, Okla., and Veronica Pistone, a junior from Blue Springs, Mo., received the Ross and Pauline Hughes Scholarship in Home Missions, given to a student planning to be a home missionary. Pistone also received the Rowena Strickland Scholarship, given to worthy religion students with interest in biblical studies. Kyle Linn, a junior from Shawnee, Okla., received the Hough Memorial Scholarship, given to a student with a major in education ministry, youth ministry or children's ministry. Kirt Henderson, a junior from Harrah, Okla., received the Guy L. Carr Memorial Scholarship, with half awarded to a music major through the College of Fine Arts and half awarded to a religion major through the School of Christian Service.

Andrew Melton, a junior from Oklahoma City, received The Dr. James Samuel Timberlake Memorial Prize in Greek, given to the OBU student who has distinguished himself or herself in the study of Greek, as determined by the Greek faculty. The prize was established by Kathryne Mackenzie Susong in honor of the late Dr. Timberlake, long-time OBU professor of Greek. Sara Scott, a junior from Harrah, received the Bob and Nelle Agee International Study/Missions Scholarship, an annually funded scholarship given to OBU students who have participated in a University-approved overseas study program or missions program. Sarah Disch, a junior from Tulsa; Mitch Cooper, a senior from Edmond; Josh Mugler; and James Gonzales received the Bob and Nelle Agee Leadership Scholarship, an annually funded scholarship given to an OBU student who has demonstrated overall campus leadership in each of the following areas: academic studies, Student Government Association and religious life activities and programs. Amanda Abernathy, a junior from Cheyenne, Wyo., received the Gregory D. Pritchard Scholarship, given to an outstanding philosophy student.

Graduating seniors participated in Spring Commencement Saturday, May 23, in Raley Chapel's Potter Auditorium. Students graduate with the scholastic predicate summa cum laude for maintaining at least a 3.95 grade point average. Students who maintain at least a 3.70 GPA are designated magna cum laude. Students who maintain at least a 3.40 GPA are designated cum laude.