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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (October 20, 2004) —Milligan will honor 11 of its alumni and friends at the “Celebrate Milligan” banquet this Friday, Oct. 22, as part of the college’s Homecoming Weekend.
Dave and Suzie Snyder, Indianapolis, Ind., will be named the Distinguished Alumni of the Year. Dennis and Cookie Helsabeck, Jonesborough, Tenn., will receive the George W. Hardin Spirit of Milligan Award.
Professional Excellence Awards will be presented to Robbie Jones Anderson, Johnson City, Tenn.; Jim Burgen, Nicholasville, Ky.; Laura Caley Matney, Johnson City, Tenn.; and Ed Ringley, Franklin, Tenn. These alumni are recognized for excelling in their professional area and demonstrating high standards of integrity and Christian character.
The college’s Athletics Hall of Fame will induct Dan Clifton, Concord, N.C.; Glenda Blevins Conner, Roan Mountain, Tenn.; and Lowell M. Williams, Jonesville, Va.
“These alumni have been selected by their peers as people who are not only making a difference in their communities, but who are exemplifying Milligan’s vision to change lives and shape culture through Christian leadership in various professions throughout the world,” said Theresa Garbe, director of alumni relations.
David Snyder graduated from Milligan College in 1982 with a degree in missions, and Suzie Snyder graduated summa cum laude in 1983 with a degree in biology. Since 1992, they have worked with Christian Missionary Fellowship as missionaries to Kenya . Suzie works as a medical doctor, and David has served as field business administrator. David is attending Emmanuel School of Religion in pursuit of a doctor of ministry degree.
Dennis and Cookie Helsabeck have left a lasting impression on Milligan. They met and married at Milligan and opened their homes to numerous students on campus. Many alumni have said that the Helsabecks have continued to be one of the finest memories of their Milligan experience. The couple are being honored for their dedication to the individual students in whom they invested their time, love and support.
Cookie is a 1968 graduate of Milligan College and served as house mother in Pardee Hall, which was at that time a women’s dormitory. Dennis served as professor of psychology and counseling at Milligan College.
Robbie Jones Anderson graduated cum laude from Milligan College in 1973. In 1978, she received a master of education degree; and in 1993, she completed her doctorate of education. Anderson is the curriculum director of Johnson City Schools.
Anderson served as chair of the Upper East Tennessee Supervisor’s Study Council from 2000-2001. She was nominated for the Kathleen Wright State Supervisor of the Year Award in 1997, 2001 and 2002. Anderson has also been named the Tennessee Supervisor of the Year Finalist twice — in 2002 and 2003. Anderson was selected to the Tennessee State Board of Examiners in 2003, and recently was selected as a Milligan College Leader in Christian Service for 2004.
Anderson is active in the community and involved with the Johnson City Even Start Advisory Board, the JCACC Arts in Education Conference Advisory Committee and the Keystone Family Resource Center Advisory Board. She is a member of Grandview Christian Church, where she serves as cabinet chair and teaches Sunday school for the two and three-year old class. Anderson and husband, Clifton Alan, have a son, Casey Anderson.
Jim Burgen graduated from Milligan College in 1984. Burgen is the worship minister and executive minister at Southland Christian Church in Lexington, Ky. He collaborated with Standard Publishing and Audio Adrenaline on an interactive book and video curriculum entitled, “Some Kind Of Journey.” Burgen has written two books, “What’s the Big Deal about Sex? Loving God’s Way,” which received the Gold Medallion Book Award from the Evangelical Christian Publisher’s Association, and “What’s the Big Deal about my Parents?” Both books are for teenagers and address problems and issues that adolescents face.
He previously served as a youth minister at First Christian Church in Greeneville, Tenn., and Southern Acres Christian Church in Lexington, Ky., and as a high school minister and director of student ministries at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Ky.
Burgen has participated and led adults and students on mission trips to Poland, Czech, India, Kenya, Cuba, Ghana, Nigeria, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Navajo. He is a frequent speaker for churches, camps, conferences and conventions. His wife, Robin, is a 1983 Milligan College graduate. They have two children, Alison, who is a freshman at Milligan College, and Jordan.
Laura Matney graduated from Milligan College in 1972 with a degree in health and physical education. She received her master’s degree in physical education in 1975 and attended several schools for post graduate studies, including West Georgia College, Milligan College, Johnson Bible College, East Tennessee State University and Cumberland University.
Matney works as an elementary physical education teacher at Woodland Elementary School in Johnson City. She serves as an adjunct instructor of Methods of Elementary Physical Education at both East Tennessee State University and Milligan College.
In 2003, Matney was named the Tennessee Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year. In 2004, she received the NASPE (National Association of Sport and Physical Education) Southern District Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year award. She is certified as a Tennessee Teacher, with certificates in elementary education, physical education, special education and biology. Matney has had articles in publications such as “Great Activities,” “Child,” and “Journal of Physical Education,” “Recreation,” and “Dance.”
In 2004, Matney and a fellow Johnson City teacher traveled to France to bicycle for 10 days on parts of the Tour de France route. She integrated her experience into lesson plans for her classes at Woodland Elementary, incorporating social studies, math, science, language arts and reading with her journey.
Matney is married to Randy, a 1973 graduate of Milligan College . They have two daughters and one grandchild.
Ed Ringley graduated from Milligan in 1973 with a degree in business administration. Ringley serves Hart, Schaffner & Marx Corporation as a sales executive, managing and maintaining accounts for the Southeastern region.
Design firm Christian Dior recognized Ringley with Sales Performance Awards in 1981, 1988, 1989 and 1990. In 1988, Dior honored him with the Salesman of the Year Award. In 1990, Hart, Schaffner & Marx presented Ringley with the 2nd Annual Alfred Katz Award for outstanding sales performance, loyalty and customer service.
Ringley is married to Sara Olson Ringley. They are members of First United Methodist Church in Franklin, Tenn. They have two daughters and two grandchildren.
Dan Clifton graduated from Milligan in 1971. He is the fastest sprinter in the history of Milligan track. With his 9.6 second 100-yard dash and 20.6 second 220-yard dash, Clifton never lost a race on the Milligan track, and he never lost in those events in the college’s conference. In 1971, he was included in the national publication, “Outstanding College Athletes of America.”
Clifton has worked for CitiFinancial now for more than 25 years. He and wife, Stacey, were married in 1989. They are members of Northwest Baptist Church in Concord and are on the Baptismal Committee and Teller Committee.
Glenda Conner is a 1999 Milligan graduate. When Conner graduated, she was Milligan’s all-time leading scorer in women’s basketball history, with 2,868 points, and she still holds the college’s single game scoring record, 47 points in the college’s game with King College in 1997.
Conner earned All-Conference honors all four years and was Conference Player of the Year twice. She also was named All-American for three years. In her freshman season, Conner led the nation in field goal percentage with 64.6%. She was a member of three conference championship teams and made three trips to the National Tournament. The team’s record during her four years at Milligan was 107-29.
Conner teaches ninth grade mathematics at Science Hill High School in Johnson City . She and her husband, Kevin, also a 1999 Milligan graduate, live in Roan Mountain. They are members of Grace Fellowship Church in Johnson City.
Lowell Williams began his lifelong journey in athletics at Milligan College in 1957, earning a total of seven letters before graduating in 1962. In basketball, Williams started for three years as point guard. He served as captain his senior year, making All-Conference and leading his team to win the conference tournament. In tennis, he played at number one his junior and senior year. Williams was named All Sports King in 1960 and 1961, and he was the men’s intramural director and president of the lettermen’s club from 1959-1961.
After serving in the Army National Guard for one year, Williams began his teaching and coaching career at Jonesville High School in Virginia . He taught social studies, government, physical education, science, driver’s education, drama and public speaking. His basketball team boasted 200 wins, three county titles, one district title, and one state appearance. He held the award of Coach of the Year two times. In track, his team won the tournament 12 of 14 seasons, 11 in a row.
He served as principal at Jonesville High School from 1976-1989. There, he led the successful consolidation of five high schools into one. Williams served as chairman of the Virginia High School League from 1985-86, and he is credited with implementing the state of Virginia ‘s current football, basketball and baseball playoff system.
Williams has been active in his community, serving on the Lee County School Board and as president of his local Lions Club. He serves as an elder at First Christian Church in Pennington Gap, where he has been a member for 57 years. He and his wife, Betty, have one son, Lowell Williams, Jr., and one grandson, Landon Williams.