Back to News 
MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (October 25, 2005) – Milligan College will honor eight of its alumni at a celebration banquet this Friday, Oct. 28, as part of the college’s Homecoming Weekend. Honors will include the Athletics Hall of Fame, Professional Excellence Awards, the George W. Hardin Spirit of Milligan Award, and the college’s highest honor for alumni, the 2005 Distinguished Alumnus Award.
“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.
Dr. Fred Norris of Johnson City, Tenn., will be named the Distinguished Alumnus for 2005. Norris graduated from Milligan in 1963 with a bachelor of arts degree in religion. He earned four additional degrees: two from Phillips University and two from Yale University, including both a master’s and doctorate in philosophy. His teaching career began at Milligan College and continued at the Institute for the Study of Christian Origins at Tuebingen, Germany, where he also served as institute director. In 1977, he began a nearly 30-year career as professor of world Christianity at Emmanuel School of Religion. Norris has been a guest lecturer and visiting professor at universities throughout the United States and Europe and has held prestigious Andrew W. Mellon and Pew Evangelical Scholarship fellowships. He retired from teaching at Emmanuel in 2004.
Carol Barker of Baltimore, Md., will receive the George W. Hardin Spirit of Milligan Award in recognition of her lifelong devotion and service to her alma mater. Barker graduated from Milligan in 1964 with a bachelor of arts degree in history. She next earned a master’s in education degree and additional advanced teaching certifications, which prepared her for a 31-year teaching career in history and physical education. Barker was selected four times as Hartford County’s Outstanding Educator, was presented with the Outstanding Service Award by Hartford County’s Children’s Council, and received district honors when presented with the Outstanding Service to Interscholastic Athletics Youth Award. Barker has served on the Milligan College Board of Advisors for nearly 10 years.
Professional Excellence Awards will be presented to three alumni recognized for excelling in their professional area and demonstrating high standards of integrity and Christian character.
Jeff Smith of Dallas, Texas, graduated from Milligan in 1988 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration. He became a McDonald’s operator in 1994 and bought his own restaurant in southern Dallas in 1998. His second store opened in December of 2001, and he has since purchased a third restaurant in partnership with his father. Since 2002, Smith’s stores have been in the top 20 percent of sales nationwide. He serves as chairman of the Operations Committee for the McDonald’s corporation’s Dallas region and has established a second generation program in his area.
Leslie Frasher Williams of Merritt Island, Fla., graduated from Milligan College in 1986 with a bachelor of science degree in healthcare administration. She began her career with the National Healthcare Corporation as an administrator-in-training. After 13 months she was promoted to her own 60-bed facility in Winter Haven, Fla., where she served as an administrator and was nominated for administrator of the year. She has spoken at a senate committee on aging in Washington D.C. and has had various other speaking opportunities. In 2000, Williams was honored with the Florida Health Care Association’s Arthur Harris Legislative Award and became a partner in the Health Center of Merritt Island, where she currently serves as administrator, director and president.
Scott Kent of Chicago, Ill., graduated from Milligan College in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a minor in math. Following graduation, he accepted a position with Price Waterhouse in Johnson City. He became a senior auditor with Price Waterhouse and worked with large companies such as Eastman and the United Company. He next accepted the position of accounting manager for a division of the Brunswick Company, called Sea Ray, in Knoxville. He went on to become controller of the Brunswick Boat group and after two years, assumed the role of director of financial planning and analysis at the corporate headquarters outside of Chicago.
The college’s Athletics Hall of Fame will induct three former standout athletes who have excelled professionally since their graduation.
Becky Olinger of Bristol, Tenn., graduated from Milligan in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in special education. She completed a master of arts degree in education from Cumberland University. Currently, she is a resource teacher at Vance Middle School in Bristol, Tenn. During her impressive basketball career at Milligan, Olinger became Milligan’s all-time leader with 2,965 points scored; 1,649 rebounds; and 271 blocked shots. She also holds NAIA Division II records for scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage. Olinger twice led the nation in field goal percentage and was a three-time All-American. She also received the Conference Player of the Year award and was a four-time first team selection to the All-Conference team.
Donald Onyango of Minneapolis, Minn., becomes the first soccer player to be inducted into the Milligan College Athletics Hall of Fame. Onyango graduated from Milligan College in 2000 with a bachelor of science degree in mathematics. In 2002, he completed a master of science degree in computer science at Duke University. As a soccer player, Onyango ranks second on the Buffaloes’ all-time list for points in a career, with 73, and goals in a career, with 32. Onyango also ranks second all-time for points in a season with 41 and goals in a season with 18. He was a two-time recipient of the Golden Boot Award, which is given to the player who scores the most goals in a season. He was selected to the NAIA’s national All-American and Academic All-American teams in 1999, a year in which he also received All-Region honors. Onyango was awarded with All-Conference honors in both the 1998 and 1999 seasons.
Dr. Jason Pittser of Centerville, Ohio, graduated from Milligan College in 1996 with a bachelor of science degree in biology. Following graduation he entered the Ohio State University School of Optometry and graduated with honors in 2000. In 2001, after working as an associate optometrist for one year, Pittser began his own practice in Wilmington, Ohio. During Pittser’s outstanding basketball career at Milligan, he became the college’s fourth all-time leading scorer with 2,219 points. Over his four years, he averaged 17 points per game, including 22.4 points per game during his junior year and 21.3 points per game during his senior year. He was a two-time first team All-Conference pick and earned NAIA All-American honorable mention honors his junior year. Pittser was also selected three times to the All-Conference Academic team and was an NAIA Academic All-American his senior year.
A complete schedule of Milligan’s HOMECOMING activities is available online at www.milligan.edu or by calling the Alumni Office at 423.461.8718.