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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (April 28, 2011) — Milligan College installed an endowed faculty chair, naming Dr. Patricia P. Magness the George and Janet Arnold Chair of Humanities, at the college’s annual awards convocation on Thursday, April 28.
Magness holds a B.A. from Milligan, an M.A. from Vanderbilt University, and a Ph.D. in interdisciplinary liberal studies from Emory University.
She has been teaching at Milligan since 1984, serving as director of humanities from 1992 through 2005. She currently serves as area chair of humane learning. Her teaching emphases include women’s studies, African-American literature and humanities. She is married to Dr. J. Lee Magness, professor of Bible, and serves as an elder at Hopwood Memorial Christian Church.
An endowed chair, explained Dr. Mark Matson, Milligan vice president for academic affairs and dean, is supported by an endowment provided by generous friends of the college. The income from the endowment fund provides the salary for the professor named to the position.
“Named chairs have a long and illustrious place in academia,” said Matson. “The appointment to a named chair signifies that a faculty member has achieved a special place in the college by virtue of academic accomplishments and teaching excellence. In every case, a named chair is an honor.”
Magness is honored with the George and Janet Arnold Chair of Humanities, established through the generosity of the Arnolds. Reared in Wythe County, Va., George Arnold attended Milligan from 1938 to 1941. After serving in World War II, George and his wife, Janet, settled in Kingsport where George worked for Home Federal Savings and Loan as vice president and director for public relations until his retirement in 1993. In 1994, Milligan’s Patricia Arnold Nursing Science Center was named in memory of their daughter.
In addition to Magness’ honor, faculty and administration announced more than 60 student awards and scholarships during the annual ceremony.
Katie Lindner, a senior from Bel Air, Md., received the year’s most distinguished award, the Ivor Jones Outstanding Senior Award. She also was honored as Student Psychology Major of the Year and as a member of Sigma Tau Delta and Alpha Chi honor societies. In addition, she was named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.
The Ivor Jones Outstanding Senior Award recipient is nominated by the faculty. The award is presented each year to a graduating senior who demonstrates outstanding performance in service to the college, potential for continuing the objectives of the college, academic record, and participation in college life.
Lindner will graduate May 7 with a degree in psychology.
In addition to student awards and scholarships, the Student Government Association Student Appreciation Award was presented to Milligan First Lady Clarinda Jeanes for her service and dedication to the college.
Local students receiving awards include:
The Outstanding Student Scholarship Award for Music, which is presented to the person deemed to have the most consistently exhibited excellence in music courses, ensembles and personal performance, was presented to Lucas Schmidt of Jonesborough. Shauna Slemp of Fall Branch earned the Ross Bader Concert Choir Award.
The Johnson City Press Tom Hodge Journalism Scholarship was presented to Derek Smallwood of Bluff City. Gretchen Grant of Blountville was presented the Tri-Cities Society of Professional Journalists Scholarship. Shannon Slaughter of Gray received the Outstanding Student Scholarship Award for Communication. Slaughter also received The Outstanding Student Scholarship Award for Business.
Rebekah Rollston of Johnson City was presented the Spanish Award. Rollston also received the Outstanding Biology Student Award. The German Award went to Lacie Black of Jonesborough. Timothy Laurio of Jonesborough was honored with theOutstanding Student Scholarship Award for Humane Learning.
The Outstanding Student Scholarship Award for Biblical Learning was presented to Shannon Schaefer of Milligan College.
Ellyn Treadway of Johnson City received the Accounting Award, while Ben Treadway of Johnson City was presented theBusiness Administration Award. Sarah Green of Bristol, Va., received the Eugene P. Price Excellence in Business Studies Award.
The Dick Lura Honorary Pre-Med Award was presented to Ricky Jones of Elizabethton. Rachel Martin of Blountville received theOutstanding Student Scholarship in Scientific Learning.
Katie Payne of Gray earned the Human Performance and Exercise Science Award. The Human Performance and Exercise Science Physical Education Award was presented to Melanie Strickler of Kingsport.
C. Renee Wood of Bristol, Tenn., received a Master of Education Intern Award for her internship in elementary education. Forrest Hall of Johnson City received the Paul Clark Teacher Education Award, named in honor of Milligan’s education area’s founding professor. The Delta Kappa Gamma Outstanding Teacher Award went to Tiffany Erwin of Unicoi. Kellie Anderson of Abingdon, Va., earned the Undergraduate Student Teaching Award.
The Board of Trustees/Board of Advisors Award for Outstanding Male Athlete was presented to Jason Trivett of Bristol, Tenn.
Other award recipients include:
Michael Johnston of McDonough, Ga., received the Dennis Bratton Leadership Award. This award recognizes a student for service in the community and on campus, excellence in Christian character, evidence of Christian service in a local church and advocacy for change to improve society. The award was established by Hugh Jones and is named in honor of Dennis Bratton, senior minister at Christ’s Church in Jacksonville, Fla., and a member of the Milligan College Board of Trustees.
Johnston also received the Board of Trustees/Board of Advisors Award for Outstanding Academic Student and the Student Government Association Distinguished Service Award.
Heather Mandela of Burke, Va., and Sidney Burns of Tallahassee, Fla., received the Board of Trustees/Board of Advisors Award for Outstanding Female Athlete.
The Performing and Visual Arts Outstanding Student Scholarship was awarded to Emma Rees of Redford, Mich. The Outstanding Senior Fine Arts Award was presented to Ashley Fennell of North Baltimore, Ohio.
The Women’s Chorale Award was presented to Melanie Richards of Knoxville, Tenn. Erika Hiteshew of Bel Air, Md., Earned theOrchestra Award. Alex Henderson of Ooltewah, Tenn., earned the Concert Choir Award. Henderson also received the Award for Outstanding Promise in Christian Education.
Kate Daly of Indianapolis, Ind., earned the French Award, while Kara Patterson of Gastonia, N.C., received the English Award. Katie Cachiaris of Rochester, Minn., received the Humanities Award.
The Earl R. Stuckenbruck Award for Excellence in Greek was presented to Kendra Fiddler of Colorado Springs, Colo. Adam Tomlinson of Kenosha, Wis., was presented with the Fred and Esther Meding Honorary Award for Preaching. Joshua Little of Plainfield, Ind., was named the Stone-Campbell Journal Promising Scholar Award.
The Service-Learning Student Award was presented to Allison Hill of Franklin, N.C. Helen Biard of Asheville, N.C., was namedStudent Sociology Major of the Year. Ben Richardson of Darlington, Md., received the Outstanding Student Scholarship Award for Social Learning.
The Bill Rhoades Outstanding Accounting Student Scholarship was presented to Marshall O’Neal of Bluefield, Va. Paul Rufenacht of Bel Air, Md., earned the Computer Information Systems Award.
The Outstanding Mathematics Student Award was presented to Adam Knust of Plainfield, Ind.
Christopher Swift of Severna Park, Md., earned the Outstanding Senior Chemistry Student Award. The Lone L. Sisk Award in science was presented to Curtis Gibson of Lewis Center, Ohio.
The Outstanding Student Scholarship for Nursing Award was presented to Katherine Haehl of Columbus, Ind. TheOutstanding Senior Nursing Award went to Rachel Landry of Boone, N.C. Landry also earned the Student Leadership Award, presented by the Student Government Association.
Aaron Wood of Aurora, Colo., received a Master of Education Intern Award. Taylor Speciale of Evansville, Ind., earned theOutstanding Student Scholarship Award for Education.