Hobbs College Presents Awards, Scholarships

OBU's Herschel H. Hobbs College of Theology and Ministry recently recognized its exceptional students with an awards assembly on May 6 and during OBU's 2013 Awards Convocation on May 8.

Dr. Mark McClellan, dean of the Hobbs College, presented the awards and scholarships, assisted during the May 6 ceremony by Hobbs College faculty members.

Taylor McDannel (left) receives the Outstanding Senior in Religion Award from Dr. Mark McClellan.

During the Awards Convocation, McClellan recognized three outstanding seniors in Christian service studies. Taylor McDannel, a Bible major with cross-cultural minor from Thornton, Colo., received the Outstanding Senior in Religion Award, presented to the student who has demonstrated exceptional ability in the fields of theology, Christian history and biblical studies. McDannel will graduate in December 2013.

Kasey Chapman (left) receives the Outstanding Senior in Applied Ministry Award from Dr. Mark McClellan.

Kasey Chapman, an applied ministry: pastoral major from Elmore City, Okla., received the Outstanding Senior in Applied Ministry Award, given to the student who has demonstrated exceptional ability in the field of applied ministry. Chapman graduated May 17 with the scholastic designation summa cum laude. He also was listed in the 2012-13 Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

Marcus Crook (right) receives the Outstanding Senior in Philosophy Award from Dr. Mark McClellan.

Marcus Crook, a religion: Bible/philosophy major from Earlsboro, Okla., received the Outstanding Senior in Philosophy Award, given to the student who has demonstrated exceptional ability in the field of philosophy. He graduated with the designation cum laude.

Also during Awards Convocation, Brandon Melton, a junior from Oklahoma City, received the Gaskin Baptist History Award, given annually to encourage research in the history of Baptist life and thought. The award is made possible through a fund established by Dr. J.M. Gaskin, pastor, educator, historian and friend of the University. The winning research papers submitted for the award are included in the Baptist Historical Collection housed at OBU.

During the May 6 awards ceremony, outstanding seniors were recognized for various areas of study. They included Blake Compton, a religion: biblical languages major from Shawnee, Okla., who received the award for outstanding senior in biblical studies and the outstanding senior in Hebrew. Compton graduated with the scholastic predicate magna cum laude, and he also was listed in Who's Who. McDannel received the award for outstanding senior in Greek. Chapman received the award for outstanding senior in theology.

Other outstanding seniors in the Hobbs College included Nathan Howard, an applied ministry: pastoral major from Shawnee, recognized as the outstanding senior in pastoral ministry. Howard graduated with the scholastic predicate cum laude. Josh Franzoni, an applied ministry: youth major from Choctaw, Okla., received the award for outstanding senior in youth ministry. Caroline Reel, an orality studies major from Tishomingo, Okla., received the award for outstanding senior in missions. Reel graduated with the scholastic predicate magna cum laude with college honors, and she was listed in Who's Who.

McClellan also announced the recipients of nearly two dozen scholarships during the awards ceremony. McDannel received the Glen E. and Erma J. Braswell Scholarship, presented to deserving religious vocations students. She also received the Dr. James Samuel Timberlake Memorial Scholarship in Greek, awarded 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, longtime OBU professor of Greek.

Jacob Steward, a junior from Oklahoma City, received the Haggard Religious Education Scholarship, given to a rising upper-class student who is a religious education, youth or children's ministry major. Chase Simonson, a sophomore from Edmond, Okla., received the Warren Forbes Yarborough Scholarship, given to a rising junior or senior entering religious education, and the Alma Baggett Religious Vocation Scholarship, presented to a religious or applied ministry major. Elizabeth Moore, a junior from Gering, Neb., received the Buell Hill Missions Scholarship, given to a rising senior missions volunteer demonstrated by scholarship and commitment.

The James S. Timberlake Scholarship, for rising upper-class students who have excelled in biblical and theological studies, was given to Evan Blackburn, a sophomore from Choctaw. The Murray and Willene Fuquay Pastoral Care Award, presented to a rising junior or senior who is planning to be a pastor and has a grade point average of at least 3.0, was given to Perry Tripp, a junior from Shawnee. The Jack and Betty Moore Scholarship, for a non-traditional major in the Hobbs College who is preparing for church staff ministry other than pastor or music ministry, was presented to Jacob Goff, a junior from Blanchard, Okla.

Kevin Robertson, a junior from Arapaho, Okla., received the Ruth C. Clark Memorial Scholarship, presented to a student who is a child of missionaries and who is planning a career in foreign missions. The Orie and Edna Booze Religious Vocations Scholarship, for students planning to enter a church-related vocation, was presented to Karlie Tipton, a sophomore from Tulsa, Okla.; Kira Howard, a junior from Waurika, Okla.; Nathan Roach, a freshman from Wichita Falls, Texas; and Tyler Fink, a junior from Dewey, Okla.

Barbara Day, a senior from Tecumseh, Okla., received the James J. Dooley Scholarship, presented to a non-traditional student preparing for the ministry. Austin Davis, a senior from Enid, Okla., received the Joe L. Ingram Scholarship, presented to an upper class student preparing for the pastoral ministry who has demonstrated a strong commitment to ministry and outstanding leadership skills. Nolan Cannon, a freshman from Elgin, Okla., received the Alice Routh Memorial Award, presented 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 Baptists are laboring.

Katie Giza, a sophomore from Oklahoma City, received the Ross and Pauline Hughes Scholarship in Home Missions, presented to a student from Oklahoma planning to be a North American missionary and who has at least a 2.5 grade point average. Timothy Livingston, a junior from Claremore, Okla., received the Hough Memorial Scholarship, presented to a student with a major in religion or applied ministry. Davey Billings, a junior from Claremore, received the Rowena Strickland Scholarship, presented to worthy Hobbs College students with demonstrated interest in biblical studies. Jamie Adcock, a junior from Red Rock, Okla., received the Guy L. Carr Memorial Scholarship, presented in part to a religion major through the Hobbs College and in part to a music major through the College of Fine Arts.

Katherine Stevens, a junior from Wagoner, Okla., 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. Kim Powell, a junior from Oklahoma City, received the Bob and Nelle Agee Leadership Scholarship, an annually funded scholarship given to an Oklahoma Baptist student who has demonstrated overall campus leadership in each of the following areas: academic studies, Student Government Association, and religious life activities and programs. Brayden Buss, a sophomore from Okmulgee, Okla., received the Bob and Patsy Evans Scholarship, an annual award given to OBU Christian vocations students.

The seniors participated in Spring Commencement Friday, May 17, in Raley Chapel's Potter Auditorium. Students graduated with the scholastic predicate summa cum laude for maintaining at least a 3.95 grade point average. Students who maintained at least at 3.70 GPA were designated magna cum laude. Students who maintained at least a 3.40 GPA were designated cum laude.