Union University’s annual Awards Day Chapel was held at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 19 in the G.M. Savage Memorial Chapel. Friends and family gathered to watch students, faculty and staff recognized for academic excellence, scholarly contributions and Christlikeness.
The program opened with a prayer from Ted Kluck, associate professor of communications and 2023-2024 faculty member of the year, thanking God for safe passage through another academic year.
Provost and Vice-President for Academic Affairs John Netland then gave a brief description of why Union chooses to hold an academic awards day each year. He pointed out that it is important to encourage one another in community, and that it is fitting to recognize members of that community who have done good and hard work.
“This comes at the end of a full year of hard work – a full year of good work,” Netland said. “We have that opportunity to congratulate those in our community who have done great things.”
After special music from Melinda Patterson, a senior commercial music major, Netland began the presentation of awards.
The Carla D. Sanderson Faculty of the Year Award was given to Georg Pingen, professor of engineering, as chosen by the Student Government Association and Union faculty.
“He is a highly respected and popular and teacher and is a devout Christ-follower noted for his intellectual and spiritual mentoring of students,” Netland said. “He is an innovator who holds two U.S. patents and has developed an active summer camp for 3D printing.”
Marcia Joyner, coordinator for educational leadership programs, was awarded Gary L. Carter Staff of the year for outstanding campus and community involvement and Brad Green, professor of theological studies, was given the R. Keith Absher Faculty Researcher of the Year Award for significant scholarly contributions in his discipline.
Among the awards given to students were the John C. Moore Award for Excellence in Academics and Athletics — presented to Reese Owens, a senior digital media communications major — and the Barnabas Leadership Award — given to Camille Haas, a junior conservation biology major, and to Connor Rigby, a junior special education major — for community and ministry service.
The ceremony was closed with a prayer by Union president Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver, asking for strength to serve God another year.
“Help us to live for you faithfully, Lord, with excellence in all things,” Oliver said.
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