news at welch college   Welch College (formerly 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.

 

Christa Hill Joins Welch Library Staff

Christa Hill, a 2011 summa cum laude Welch College graduate, will join the Welch Library staff as Library Manager this summer. Since graduating, Christa has worked at her high school alma mater, Wise County Christian School in Wise, Virginia, teaching 6th-12th grade English. She has been an integral part of campus life there, coaching volleyball and creative writing contests and even serving as mascot for the basketball teams. She has also been an active member of Central Free Will Baptist Church in Norton, Virginia, where her father, Rev. Gary Hill, pastors.

Christa worked in Welch Library for three years as a capable and dependable student clerk while completing her B.A. in English. As part of the library staff, she will now assume responsibilities for managing circulation, periodicals, student workers, and the library website. She will also provide reference support for the evening shifts in the library and hopes to soon enroll in graduate classes toward an MLS degree.

“We are delighted to have a person of exemplary Christian character, academic excellence, and loyalty to Welch College as part of our staff here,” commented Librarian Carol Reid.

President Matt Pinson said, “I’m pleased to welcome Miss Hill to this position. She combines sterling intellectual skills with a heart for God, and she has a deep appreciation for the mission and vision of Welch College.”

Christa said, “I am immensely thankful for the time I spent at Welch College as an undergraduate, and I hope, as Library Manager, to impact the lives of students just as my professors, mentors, and bosses impacted me when I was a student.”

Simpson to Coach Flames Golf Team

Barry Simpson was recently named the Head Golf Coach for Welch College. After three years without a program, Simpson accepted the challenge to bring varsity golf back to Welch College.

He has hit the ground running, having met with current student-athletes who plan to play golf and has been on the recruiting trail as well, working hard to put together a solid team for the fall.

“This definitely wasn’t something I had thought about doing,” said Simpson. “But, when Gary (Turner) presented the idea, I was intrigued with the opportunity. I am really looking forward to the fall.”

“When we lost Coach (Sam) Horne after just one season, I was disappointed, to say the least,” said Gary Turner, WC Athletic Director. “I wanted someone who knows golf and understands Welch College. Barry will bring stability to our golf program and take it in the right direction. I am excited for what he is going to do for Welch College.”

Simpson was born in Kansas City, Kansas, and raised in Shawnee, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City. After graduating from Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in 1977, he served four years active duty in the United States Marine Corps. He attended Welch College from 1981-1986, graduating magna cum laude with a B.A. in Pastoral Administration. He served on the pastoral staff of New Hope Free Will Baptist Church in Joelton, Tennessee, for 22 years (1984-2006), 16 as Senior Pastor. He served as director of development for four years (2007-2010) at Free Will Baptist International Missions in Nashville, Tennessee.

Currently, Simpson resides in Joelton, Tennessee, with his wife of 31 years, Jena Carrington Simpson and serves as senior pastor at Heads Free Will Baptist Church in Cedar Hill, Tennessee.

The Simpsons have two sons and two grandchildren.

College Graduates 34 During Commencement Exercises

Welch College conferred degrees on 34 students from 10 states and two other countries in commencement exercises at Memorial Auditorium, Friday, May 9, according to President Matt Pinson. Students completed degrees in multiple programs ranging from two-year associate’s degrees to four-year bachelor’s degrees. Thirty-five percent of the class graduated with honors.

Dr. David Dockery, president of Union University and president-elect of Trinity International University, compared the list of graduates to the list of names in Paul’s closing in his epistle to the Romans. He challenged the graduates to stand firm, not grow weary in doing good, and to stay true to the things learned during their time at Welch. He advocated following in the footsteps of those listed by Paul who were willing to risk everything for the cause of Christ and who found their identity in Him.

Tim Campbell, executive director for Arkansas Free Will Baptists, delivered the Thursday evening baccalaureate message from James 4:13-17, imploring graduates to surrender their dreams and aspirations to the will of God as an act of sacrificial worship to Him. He reminded graduates that while we dream and plan, “our ambitions must be rooted in God’s will.” He concluded by telling the story of Dr. LaVerne and Mrs. Lorene Miley, encouraging graduates to emulate their willingness to be used by God to make an immeasurable difference in the lives of so many.

Theology Program Coordinator and Campus Pastor Matthew McAffee was named Academic Advisor of the Year. President Pinson recognized Ron Callaway, Dr. Kevin Hester, Dr. James Stevens, Brenda Spruill, Wayne Spruill, and Ernie Thompson for 10 years of service to Welch College. Terry Forrest was presented with a plaque recognizing 23 years of service.

The college commends to you, and the work of the Lord, the members of the 2014 graduating class.

2014 Graduates with Majors and Honors 
 
Associate of Science Degrees

Jacy Summer Congleton
Clayton, NC
Business
 
Priscilla Colleen Kacha Good
Nashville, TN
Business
 
Kimberly Gail Hagood+
Whitesburg, TN
Business
 
Nathaniel Matthew Hagood+
Whitesburg, TN
Business
 
Samuel R. Hersey+
Atlanta, GA
Business
 
Stacey Lee Kelley
Marietta, GA
Business
 
Chris Allen Pate
LaVergne, TN
Business
 
Johanna Grace Riggs+
Nantes, France
Nursing
 
Candice Dawn Curtis Smith
Fielding, New Brunswick, Canada
Business

Frances Angela Williams
Nashville, TN
Business
 
Derek Lynn Wilson
Sparta, TN
Ministry
 
 
Associate of Arts Degree

Nathan Ray Colvin
Dickson, TN
 
 

Bachelor of Science Degrees

Jamie Elizabeth Beckermann
Barnhart, MO
Business Administration
 
Victoria Elizabeth Bell*
Lexington, NC
Exercise Science
 
John Preston Cloninger
Hendersonville, TN
Business Administration
 
Daniel Lee Coker*
Iuka, MS
History
Licensure 7-12
 
Taylor Jean Coker*
Chapmansboro, TN
Business Administration

Quentin Michael Dickerson
Nashville, TN
General Christian Ministries
 
Phillip Andrew Easley
Kansas City, MO
General Christian Ministries
 
Haylee Lanise Hubbard
Hot Springs, AR
Psychology
 
Timothy Jack Hutchinson*
Riverview, MI
Youth Ministry
 
Autumn Jade Monroe
Norman, OK
Psychology
 
Edith Barrett Perry***
Ashland City, TN
Business Administration
 
Kayla Marie Sample***
Sesser, IL
Child Development and Learning
Licensure K-6
 
Hope Nicole Sisk
Nashville, TN
Early Childhood Education
Licensure PreK-3
 
Jared Andrew Wall
Knightdale, NC
Youth Ministry

Emily Elizabeth Whitworth**
Pleasant View, TN
Business Administration
 
 
Bachelor of Arts Degrees

Bethany Mae Douglas***
Fredericktown, MO
English
 
Kenneth Robert Engel*
Jacksonville, FL
Pastoral Ministry
 
Anthony Ryan Horton
Joelton, TN
English
 
Jacob Alton Manning***
Greenville, NC
Pastoral Ministry
 
Josue Israel Suarez**
Hialeah, FL
Pastoral Ministry
 
Samantha Jean Williams***
Springfield, AR
English

Bachelor of Music Education Degree

Robert Andrew Blake Cyrus
Nashville, TN
Music Education
Licensure K-12
 
 *** Suma Cum Laude **  Magna Cum Laude *  Cum Laude + Not Present