JACKSON, Tenn. — Nov. 6, 2023 — Union University’s 2023 Homecoming celebration included the recognition of 19 alumni and friends of the university for outstanding achievements in their respective fields and the presentation of Union’s Homecoming Court, among other activities.
“Union has a rich heritage of preparing students to be excellent servants to their employers, their communities and their churches,” said Catherine Kwasigroh, Union’s vice president for institutional advancement. “We’re grateful for the significant contributions of all of our alumni winners and are honored to recognize them for their many achievements.”
This year’s Meritorious Service Award winners were recognized at a Nov. 3 banquet and include:
- Clay Hallmark (’89), Alumnus of the Year Award. This award is presented to a Union University graduate for distinction in his or her profession, service to mankind and/or contribution to Union University. Hallmark is senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Lexington, Tenn. He has served the Tennessee Baptist Convention for seven years on the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, including as chairman in 2019-2020. Additionally, he is serving his second term as TBC president.
- Ryan Griffin (’11), Outstanding Young Alumnus Award. This award is presented to up to three Union graduates who are age 40 or younger with a record of significant accomplishment in their professional life and for service to Union University or the world. Griffin was elected as the mayor of McKenzie, Tenn., in 2022. He also serves as a data specialist for the executive vice president at Bethel University.
- Ericka King (’11), Outstanding Young Alumna Award. King is director of national affairs and government relations for Kentucky Farm Bureau.
- Mark Trammell (’08), Outstanding Young Alumnus Award. Trammell is executive director and general counsel for the Center for American Liberty.
- The Marty Clements Family, Union Family Legacy Award. This award is presented to one family that has a strong tradition of attending Union University, with a minimum of three generations of graduates, and that has been consistently involved with and committed to the university. Marty Clements, a 1975 Union graduate, retired in 2020 from his role as director of the Jackson-Madison County Emergency Management Agency. His grandparents, C.L. and Dorothy Dodds, were 1926 Union graduates, and his parents, Grady and Carolyn (’48) Clements, both attended Union. Marty and his wife Wendy have two sons, with their son Derek earning his Master of Business Administration degree at Union in 2016.
- Peggy Graves, Distinguished Service Award. This award is given to a member of the Union community for distinction in his or her profession, service to mankind and/or contribution to Union University. Graves is a seasoned real estate broker at Coldwell Banker Barnes in Jackson, Tenn., who has served on the board of the Union University Foundation and on Union’s Board of Trustees.
- Sherry Tignor (’72), Lest We Forget Award. This award is presented in recognition of longtime service and contributions to the Union University community. Tignor retired from Union in January after a lengthy tenure in which she served as executive director of the university’s Center for Academic Success.
- Hal Poe, G.M. Savage Legacy Award. This award is given to a faculty or staff member for his or her ongoing commitment to Christ-centered education at Union. Poe serves as the Charles Colson Professor of Faith and Culture in the School of Theology and Missions at Union, a position he has held since 2002.
- Jim and Janet Ayers, Robert E. Craig Service Award. This award is named after Union’s 13th president and given to an individual who has made significant contributions to the university. Jim and Janet Ayers have been significant supporters of Union through their contributions to student scholarships, capital projects and the expansion of the campus.
In addition, Union presented Distinguished Achievement Awards to 10 Union alumni for significant contributions in different professional areas. Those recipients were:
- Clay Smith (’95) in health care. Smith is co-medical director of Convenient Care Services–Walk-In Clinics and Vanderbilt Health Clinic at Walgreens.
- Tony Kirk (’84) in business. Kirk is president and CEO of Bolivar Energy Authority in Bolivar, Tenn.
- Kevin Trowbridge (’96) in education. Trowbridge is chair of the public relations department and director of the strategic communication and leadership graduate program at Belmont University.
- Corey Cain (’99) in church ministry. Cain is pastor of First Baptist Church in Seymour, Tenn., and serves on the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention.
- Roxanne McMurray (’13) in research/science. McMurray is co-founder of McMurray Medical Group, a practicing certified registered nurse anesthetist and retired professor at the University of Minnesota.
- Meredith Boggs (’12) in humanities. Boggs works for Vanderbilt LifeFlight and as a sexual assault nurse examiner. She is the author of “The Journey Home,” published earlier this year by Thomas Nelson.
- Lauren Sumski (’16) in athletics. Sumski is coach of the women’s basketball team at Lipscomb University.
- Stacy Wolfe (’98) in not-for-profit. She established the Stacy Wolfe Breast Cancer Foundation in 2022 to encourage, support and address the immediate needs of cancer patients and their families.
- Sam Mizell (’96) in arts/media. A composer, writer and producer, Mizell has seven No. 1 songs, two Grammy nominations and two Dove Awards and has written songs for such artists as Matthew West, Amy Grant, Sidewalk Prophets and many others.
- John David Cressman (’11) in government/public service. Cressman serves as the general counsel for the Tennessee Department of Military.
Union’s Homecoming Court was presented Nov. 4 during halftime of the Bulldog basketball game. Rachael Volk, an elementary education major from Spring Hill, Tenn., was named Ms. Union, while Campbell Sutton, an athletic training major from Rossville, Tenn., was named Mr. Union.
Other Ms. Union candidates were Ashlea Armstrong, a communications studies major from Merritt Island, Fla.; Gracie Shaddox, a biology major from Mt. Juliet, Tenn.; Prabhavi Aghamkar, a cell and molecular biology major from Louisville, Ky.; and Sarah Beth McGee, a biology major from Savannah, Tenn. Other Mr. Union candidates were Austin Crawford, an athletic training major from Sikeston, Mo.; Hayden Phillips, a chemistry major from Lexington, Tenn.; Jack McDonnell, a political science major from Wears Valley, Tenn.; and Truman Forehand, a journalism major from Garfield, Ga.
The week of events also included a Nov. 3 community prayer breakfast, where attendees gathered to pray for purpose, power, provision and people.
“Prayer for the Lord’s blessing has always been a key emphasis and reason for any success Union has enjoyed,” Kwasigroh said. “We would ask that all of Union’s friends, alumni, employees and students make it a point to regularly ask God to bless the university that we love so deeply.”
Earlier in the week, Union students, faculty and staff participated in dozens of service projects across Jackson as part of the annual Campus and Community: A Day of Remembrance and Service event. The slate of Homecoming events also included the Buster Bowl (an exhibition football game) and tailgate party, as well as Bulldog Madness that featured introductions of the men’s and women’s basketball teams, a three-point shootout, dunk contest and student games.
