news at free will baptist bible college     Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville, TN, has been the official college of the Free Will Baptist Denomination since 1942. To find out more information about the school, visit their website at www.fwbbc.edu.

 

Attendance Jumps 80% at FWBBC Fall 2011 Welcome Days

Seventy-seven prospective students from 15 states attended Fall 2011 Welcome Days November 10-12 at Free Will Baptist Bible College, according to Rusty Campbell, director of enrollment services. This marks an almost 80% increase over Fall 2010 when 43 students participated. Campbell also reported a 50% rise in the number of states represented, up from 10 a year ago.

The group included 17 students from Michigan, 12 from Tennessee, 11 from North Carolina, seven from Illinois, six from Arkansas, five from Ohio, four from South Carolina, three from Alabama, two each from Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Oklahoma, one from Florida and one from Missouri.

Mr. Campbell said, “Our Enrollment Management Team went all-out this summer and fall to make contact with students, parents, and pastors. They’re a great group to work with, and they’re committed to bringing more students on campus. When the prospective students arrived last week, we were ready with answers to their questions and three days of special events to give them a taste of what it means to be a student at FWBBC. We emphasized FWBBC’s high-quality academic programs as well as its deeply spiritual campus life. We hope many of the students decide to enroll here.” (continued∞)

Visitors enjoyed a full schedule that included two nights in the dormitories and a musical Thursday evening that featured “Front Porch Pickin’ and Games,” plus late-night Spiritual Life group meetings in the dormitories. They attended classes Friday and heard 2006 FWBBC graduate Craig Batts speak in chapel. The President’s Reception for seniors, parents, and sponsors met in Thigpen Theater after chapel.

A campus-wide tour Friday afternoon acquainted visitors with the 17 campus buildings. They then gathered in the Coffee House for a time of interaction with current FWBBC students, and later some kick ball, dinner, and 90 minutes of Camp Fire and Smores, before the Flames Classic Basketball event closed out Friday night activities. Saturday morning the students shared a continental breakfast before packing up and returning home.

Exit evaluations completed by visiting students indicated their preferred areas of study focused on education, English, history, business, biology, music, psychology, science, nursing, missions, and pastoral ministry—all areas in which FWBBC offers associate’s or bachelor’s degrees.

One student reflected, “I had a great time and enjoyed the time with my youth group. I really liked my host—she seemed nice.”
Another visiting student said, “It was swell! Thanks for the fun weekend.” A third student simply cheered, “Welcome Days was great!”

The Spring 2012 Welcome Days is scheduled April 19-21. For more information, contact the Enrollment Management Office at recruit@fwbbc.edu.

Student Named “Best Senator” at Tennessee Intercollegiate Legislature

The 42nd General Assembly of the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature (TISL) met November 17-20 at the state capitol and elected Free Will Baptist Bible College junior Frank Thornsbury as “Best Senator” for the 2011 session. The model legislature which originated in 1966 is conducted by college students from across Tennessee and provides students with an education about state government and an opportunity to express their opinions on state issues.

Mr. Thornsbury, a 20-year-old History major from Kentucky, led a four-person delegation from FWBBC as the college participated in its first TISL event. Other FWBBC students in the legislative team included freshman Collin Lane (Arkansas) who served as alternate senator, sophomore Bethany Coats (South Dakota) who functioned as a higher education lobbyist, and junior Daniel Coker (Mississippi) who served as a representative.

“This was a first for all of us,” Thornsbury said. “It was an exciting four days, almost magical, as we prepared legislative bills and interacted with serious-minded students from 60 colleges regarding political and ethical issues of the day, knowing that some of the legislation we prepared would be presented to the Tennessee General Assembly. Many TISL bills from previous years have, in fact, become law. What a great experience! I’m looking forward to the 2012 session and an even greater involvement by FWBBC students. ”

The FWBBC administration and staff encouraged student participation in TISL. Dr. Jon Forlines, vice president for student services, arranged funding for the Thornsbury-led delegation. The session days were long and full, beginning at 8:00 a.m. and extending to 9:00 p.m.

In addition to winning “Best Senator” designation by his TISL peers, Frank Thornsbury was named to the Committee on Higher Education and appointed to the Election Commission. He was aggressive on the Senate floor, speaking repeatedly, debating and discussing issues to the point that he became known as “The Face” of conservative religious colleges.

“I felt right at home confronting colleagues in open debate,” Thornsbury said, “and for that, I credit all the C-Span I’ve watched since age 14. The world of public policy needs more individuals with a jurisprudence guided by biblical truth. My greatest experience at TISL was being named ‘Best Senator’ on the Senate floor. While some self-gratification was involved, the overwhelming sense of representing FWBBC well trumped all other emotions.”

Mr. Thornsbury serves as president of the FWBBC student body. His plans for 2012 TISL participation include writing more bills for the legislature and leading a larger delegation of FWBBC students to the state capitol.

“Since day one of my FWBBC student body presidency,” he said, “it has been my goal to build up our community domestically and to share that community of faith and learning on a local, national, and global stage. Attending TSIL is the first step in our reaching out to a lost and dying world that desperately needs to hear the Good News.”

89 FWBBC Students Make President’s / Provost’s List

The fall 2011 semester at Free Will Baptist Bible College ended with 89 students earning academic recognition, according to Provost Greg Ketteman. Twenty students made all As and were placed on the President’s List—seven seniors, four juniors, six sophomores, and three freshmen. Sixty-nine students earned a B average or higher and were placed on the Provost’s (formerly Dean’s) list—29 seniors, 8 juniors, 14 sophomores, and 18 freshmen.

President’s List: “A” Honor Roll

Ayers, Rebekah (Sr.) AL
Brown, Reese (Fr.) TN
Dankson, Charity (So.) TN
Ford, Taylor (So.) TN
Franks, Alyssa (Sr.) TN
Fry, Katy (So.) MO
Hill, Elizabeth (Fr.) VA
Looney, Jordan (Sr.) TN
Lute, Derreck (Fr.) OH
Martin, Michael (Sr.) OH
Nelson, Megan (Sr.) TN
Pierce, Aaron (Jr.) MS
Pointer, Catie (Jr.) AR
Richards, Shawn (Sr.) TN
Rish, Rebecca (Sr.) IN
Sample, Kayla (Jr.) IL
Sims, Brittani (Jr.) MI
Timmons, Jesse (So.) SC
Trotter, Audrey (So.) TN
Williams, Samantha (So.) AR

Provost’s List: “B” Honor Roll

Seniors
Bradford, James (IN)
Calhoun, Matthew (GA)
Carpenter, Elijah (TN)
Cyrus, Beth (KY)
Douglas, Thad (GA)
Duttine, Katie (WV)
Forrest, Lauren (TN)
Harden, Kim (MO)
Howard, Thomas (MI)
Hubbard, Haylee (AR)
Jeffreys, Georgia (AL)
Jordan, Blake (MS)
Landers, David (AR)
Maloney, Zachery (KY)
Martin, Jaclyn (OH)
McCuin, Hanna (KS)
McGhee, Jennifer (TN)
Nelson, Stephen (NC)
Phenicie, Judson (AL)
Pointer, Christen (AR)
Price, Lacey (OH)
Ramos, Leigha (TN)
Reeder, Amanda (MO)
Shearon, Michael (TN)
Smith, Greg (MI)
Snow, David (TN)
Spruill, Carl (VA)
Trimble, Rachel (TN)
Willaford, Jason (NC)

Juniors
Bryan, Katie (TN)
Coker, Daniel (MS)
Culwell, Jacob (TN)
Hagood, Kimberly (TN)
Hagood, Nathaniel (TN)
Hampton, Nicholas (TN)
Hovis, Bethany (MO)
Munsey, Rachel (TN)

Sophomores
Barwick, Deana (GA)
Chambless, Samantha (MI)
Dankson, Brooke (TN)
Engel, Kenneth (FL)
Fondren, Brooke (MS)
Hall, Mary (NC)
Hutchinson, Timothy (MI)
Kyburz, Richie (MO)
Manning, Jake (NC)
Nelson, Melissa (NC)
Scott, Kaitlen (TN)
Suarez, Josue (FL)
Thomas, Miranda (AR)
Whitworth, Emily (TN)

Freshmen
Bozeman, Stephen (GA)
Burns, Rachel (OH)
Deel, Austin (TN)
Dunbar, Josh (AR)
Gedeon, Rebekah (MS)
Lindgren, Madison (CA)
Lindsey, Deandra (AL)
Mouser, Amanda (TN)
Parton, Stefani (KS)
Petty, Maria (IL)
Pierce, Andrew (MS)
Pool, Kaitlyn (NC)
Riggs, Johanna (France)
Saverance, Nathan (SC)
Snow, Elizabeth (TN)
Walters, Dustin (AL)
Williams, Joel (MO)
Wilson, Derek (TN)