Freed-Hardeman University

Four Freed-Hardeman University English majors were among more than 450 students selected to present their work at the annual Sigma Tau Delta International Convention held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 19-22, 2025. Seniors Daniel Douglas, Jessica Flowers, Addie Travis and Hannah Westergard were chosen through a competitive review process to share their original creative and scholarly writings. The students represented FHU's chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society. Flowers and Westergard read their short stories, titled "Automat" and "A Wreck" respectively. Douglas presented a critical essay, "'These Foils Have All a Length?': Character Foils in Julius Caesar and Hamlet," while Travis presented her literary analysis, "Consciousness Personified in Othello." In addition to presenting their work, the students attended writing workshops, professional development sessions, lectures by published authors, and peer presentations from students representing colleges and universities across North America. The students were inducted into Sigma Tau Delta during the 2024-25 academic year, based on overall academic achievement and grade point average in their English courses. Since its founding in 2007, FHU's chapter of Sigma Tau Delta has had 29 students present at the organization's international convention. Dr. Derrick Spradlin, associate professor of English and faculty sponsor for the honor society, accompanied the group to Pittsburgh.

In a historic moment for the school, Freed-Hardeman University's spring 2025 commencement ceremony celebrated the first-ever commissioning of an Army officer, as new graduate Cody Goodwin officially transitioned from student to second lieutenant in the United States Army. This achievement was made possible through FHU's partnership with the University of Tennessee at Martin's Army ROTC Skyhawk Battalion.

Several Freed-Hardeman students answered the call to serve by traveling to nearby Selmer, Tennessee, after an EF-3 tornado devastated the community. The students brought prayers, supplies and assistance clearing debris and downed trees in early April. The storm that affected Selmer and the West Tennessee region was part of the severe weather system that caused record flooding from rainfall during the week of April 2 through April 7.

The Freed-Hardeman University student body has selected Campbell Scott, of Jackson, Tennessee, and Brenna Hobgood, of Smyrna, Tennessee, as Mr. and Miss FHU 2025. The announcement was made during a special chapel presentation in Dryden Auditorium April 24. Scott and Hobgood were selected from among eight senior nominees recognized for their character, leadership and service to the university.

Hundreds of Freed-Hardeman University students wowed audiences with their musical talents during Makin' Music 48, "Rhythm in Our Roots," April 11-12. Thousands of spectators attended one of four performances over the weekend, with Phi Kappa Alpha taking home the coveted sweepstakes trophy on Saturday night. The annual production was brought to life by a dedicated team of student leaders, including staff, managers, coordinators, emcees, hosts and hostesses, the Makin' Music Showband, and hundreds of student performers. Planning for each show begins months in advance, with students balancing creativity and logistics to produce a memorable experience for audiences of all ages.

Freed-Hardeman University ROTC and Veteran Connected students represented FHU in the 18th Annual Mountain Man Memorial March in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. This event draws participants from across the nation to honor fallen service members and support Gold Star families. FHU participants included sophomore ROTC Cadet Sager Blackman, senior ROTC Cadet Cody Goodwin, sophomore ROTC Cadet Parker Pugh, sophomore law and politics major Joshua Roberts and senior nursing major Zachary Roberts.

Freed-Hardeman University students and faculty put their puzzle-solving skills to the test racing to complete a 300-piece jigsaw puzzle during the inaugural Speed Puzzle Showdown held this month in the Hope Barber Shull Academic Resource Center. The top two teams earned a $50 prize, a custom T-shirt and Girl Scout Cookies. Every team that participated received the puzzle they completed. Eleven teams of two participated, five for each round, competing in two separate rounds. Some teams arrived with creative names like "Razzle Dazzle," "We Thought This Was Trivia Night," "Blessed Are the Piecemakers," "Rat," "Piece of Cake," "Sub 40" and "Puzzling Vectors." Others simply entered under their own names, including "Anica Riley & Helen Kennedy" and "Mallory Morris & Tristan Mashburn." The Henderson Campus Ministry from Henderson Church of Christ also fielded a team, even wearing custom headbands with their logos.

"Try to be happy and always appreciate your blessings." "Whatever you do, always put the Lord in it." "Be a good servant to your family." These words of wisdom, shared by local senior citizens, came to life on stage as Freed-Hardeman University students reenacted their stories in Ayers Auditorium. Through humor and heartfelt moments, the Living Memories project recently captured the experiences of four residents from Southern Oaks, an assisted living home in Henderson. The production was the result of a three-week journey in which students conducted interviews, rehearsed and ultimately performed snippets from the seniors' stories. Associate professor of theatre Brandyn Graves described the artistic process as devised theatre, a method in which the performance is developed through improvisation and collaborative staging rather than a prewritten script. Living Memories was funded by the Tennessee Arts Commission's Art Builds Communities grant. For the participating students, this project was more than an academic exercise-it was an opportunity to connect across generations.

Freed-Hardeman University's tradition of honoring outstanding seniors continues for the 85th year, as faculty and students have selected eight finalists for the title of Mr. and Miss FHU. All nominees were chosen based on their positive influence, campus involvement, servant leadership and academic excellence. Nominees for the title of Mr. FHU include: Max Ballard, Garyson Campbell, Campbell Scott, and Carter Welch. Miss FHU finalists include: Mallorie Gardner, Brenna Hobgood, Brylee King and Anna Mae Ramsey.

The Tennessee Iota Chapter of the Alpha Chi National Honor Society officially welcomed nine new student members into its ranks during a spring induction ceremony Monday, March 3, in Old Chapel Hall. Newly inducted members are: Griffin Collins, majoring in finance, law and politics; Ben Cooper, majoring in management and accounting; Miriam Gallagher, majoring in Spanish; Molly King, majoring in nursing; Annabelle Lockridge, majoring in accounting; Caroline Ramey, majoring in psychology; Julieth Rivera, majoring in sports administration and accounting; Jessie Segars, majoring in interdisciplinary studies: elementary education; and Renae Tabor, majoring in English.

Freed-Hardeman University Theatre is set to transport audiences into a gripping vision of the future with its production of "After the Blast," a thought-provoking drama by playwright Zoe Kazan. The show runs Thursday, March 6, through Saturday, March 8, with shows at 7 p.m. There is a matinee at 2 p.m. Saturday. Set in a world where humanity has retreated underground after an environmental disaster, the play follows Anna and Oliver, a couple navigating the strict regulations of their controlled society while holding onto the hope of having a child. With time running out, Anna's struggle with depression and self-worth is brought to the forefront through her unlikely connection with a robot companion, raising deep questions about resilience, identity and the cost of survival in a world shaped by technology. Director and FHU Theatre Professor Dr. Cliff Thompson describes "After the Blast" as an exciting departure from previous productions, incorporating multimedia elements and a visually immersive experience. "This is something new that we've never done before," Thompson said. "The use of futuristic screens, a dynamic set design and standout performances-including a robot brought to life by student actor Luke Noles-makes this a production that will challenge audiences both emotionally and intellectually."

Freed-Hardeman University has released the names of students who made the President's and Dean's Lists for the Fall 2024 semester. To be on the President's List, a student must be full-time and have a 4.0 grade point average. Students on the Dean's List have earned a minimum 3.4 grade point average for the semester. FHU congratulates all of the students on their academic success.

For the 11 students enrolled in Freed-Hardeman University's Intro Engineering Course, the fall semester was more than just a series of lessons-it was a hands-on journey into the world of design, innovation and problem-solving. Guided by Dr. Ben Clark, who is the director of computer science and digital innovation, students were given the opportunity to create unique projects that challenged them to think critically and embrace the engineering process from start to finish. The goal wasn't just about building something impressive; it was about learning how to tackle real-world challenges, refining ideas and finding where their passions could take them.

Freed-Hardeman University has released the names of students who made the President's and Dean's Lists for the Fall 2024 semester. To be on the President's List, a student must be full-time and have a 4.0 grade point average. Students on the Dean's List have earned a minimum 3.4 grade point average for the semester. FHU congratulates all of the students on their academic success.

At the conclusion of a busy fall semester, psychology students in Dr. Chris Creecy's Research Methods II class gathered in the lobby of Brown-Kopel Business Center to present the findings from their ongoing research projects. Displaying posters that highlighted key factors in their research, groups conversed with teachers, fellow students and visitors who were interested in learning more about their unique findings.

Congratulations to seniors Morgan Milliken, Tori Robison, and Cooper Whitney, who were selected from nearly 300 entries across nine states to participate in this year's Bellwethers Exhibition. The Bellwethers is an annual juried exhibition for undergraduate art majors, hosted by UT Martin and displayed at the West Tennessee Regional Art Center in Humboldt. This year's juror was Beth Edwards, Professor Emeritus of Painting from the University of Memphis. FHU's artists showcased their work alongside 53 other students from major universities, including the University of Georgia, University of Kentucky, University of North Carolina, University of Tennessee, and Mississippi State University. FHU students have participated in the Bellwethers Exhibition for 14 of the past 16 years. "We've had past students win 'Best in Show' or first place in '2D Media' over the years," said Brian Bundren, associate professor of art at FHU.

From Capitol Hill to corporate boardrooms, students in the Freed-Hardeman College of Business recounted the meaningful internship experiences that took them beyond the classroom and into their fields at the Third Annual Beyond BK Intern Recognition Dinner. Sponsored by Watkins Uiberall, PLLC, the event celebrated the hard work, resilience and dedication of students who tested their classroom knowledge in real-world settings. Of the 32 business student interns recognized at the dinner, seven were chosen to speak on their internship experiences and encourage other students to seek opportunities. Speakers were Daniel Grooms, a senior accounting major who interned at Ernst & Young; Griffin Collins, a sophomore finance and law and politics major who interned for U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell; Aidan Harrison, a senior business analytics major who interned with Transcard; Elizabeth McKeeby, a junior accounting major who interned with UHY, LLP; Jadyn Hope, a senior marketing major who interned at DPW Manufacturing; Grigorii Sibilev, a graduate business major who interned at Integrity Music Company; and Zena Dorris, a senior marketing major who interned with 2-COM Communication Components.

For Freed-Hardeman University's Homecoming 2024: Thanks for the Memories, a fun-filled week of celebrations culminated in a coronation ceremony Saturday, Nov. 9, where two senior court representatives were named homecoming king and queen. This year, Spencer Bowen, a senior Bible major from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was crowned king, and Harper Shelton, a senior kinesiology and secondary education major from Centerville, Tennessee, was crowned queen.

Eighteen Freed-Hardeman University students have been chosen by their peers to proudly represent their school as members of FHU's 2024 homecoming court. Representatives will be publicly recognized during a chapel presentation Monday, Nov. 4, at 10:30 a.m. Following a week full of reunions and activities, two seniors will be crowned homecoming king and queen during a special coronation ceremony Saturday, Nov. 9, at 4:30 p.m. on Smith-Kirk Court of the Brewer Sports Center.

What began as a fun hobby of 3D printing Star Wars accessories has turned into a career-defining moment for Freed-Hardeman University sophomore marketing major, Kenyon Hope. His latest invention, the Flexible Wall Repair Patch, has been picked up by manufacturing company DPWagner and is being sold under The Gorilla Glue brand - the company behind the popular adhesive. Now, his innovative product is making its debut in 2,000 Walmart stores, with the potential to expand to over 4,000 stores nationwide. "I started out printing Stormtrooper helmets and lightsabers for fun, and now I'm designing products that are in Walmart," Hope said. "It's definitely a huge step up."

Fourteen Freed-Hardeman University students were officially inducted into the Tennessee Iota Chapter of the Alpha Chi National Honor Society Monday, Oct. 21, in Old Main Administration Building's Chapel Hall. Membership in Alpha Chi is open to students who have earned a minimum GPA of 3.75 on 80 credit hours and who are in the top 10% of the junior and senior classes. This semester, all inductees have a minimum GPA of 3.92. The following students were inducted into the organization: Hannah Ballentine, Molli Deere, Darden Goode, Mia Griffin, Aleia Klamm, Noah LaRue, Elizabeth McKeeby, Mia Morris, Kanvas Phelps, Brenley Ramey, Campbell Scott, Jensen Smith, Ben Wade and Brooke Webb.

Eighteen students from Freed-Hardeman University completed their studies this summer, earning six bachelor's degrees, nine master's degrees and three doctorates.

Freed-Hardeman University has released the names of students who made the President's and Dean's Lists for the Spring 2024 semester. To be on the President's List, a student must be full-time and have a 4.0 grade point average. Students on the Dean's List have earned a minimum 3.4 grade point average for the semester. FHU congratulates all of the students on their academic success.

Freed-Hardeman University conferred 377 degrees upon a talented group of students during FHU's 154th commencement exercises Saturday, May 11, 2024. In addition to the 274 bachelor's degrees, 11 associate degrees, two education specialist degrees, 81 master's degrees and nine doctorates were also awarded. In his opening remarks, FHU President David R. Shannon noted that this group of graduates was unique in that many of them graduated high school at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. "There are a few graduates today for whom this is their first graduation because America was shut down during their high school graduation," he remarked. "And so we celebrate with you a little bit extra today - not just because of today but because of what you have persevered and traveled through to reach this mark of the journey."

Fifteen Freed-Hardeman University students played a key role in enhancing library services by serving on the Student Library Advisory Board (SLAB) during the 2023-24 academic year. Organized in early 2023, SLAB provides students with the opportunity to offer feedback on library operations and improvements, ensuring the library meets the needs of the student body. The SLAB members included Caleb Bond, Bre Tonkery, Brigitte Turner, Wesley Baker, Mallorie Gardner, Jackson Guin, Carly Price, Addie O'Brian, Ana Crowell, Eli Neal, David Okantey, Renae Tabor, Ella Williams, Orlando Whiteside, Emily Andrick, and Robin Winckler.

Freed-Hardeman English majors and faculty came together to celebrate National Poetry Month and the conclusion of the spring semester. The event highlighted the annual poetry contest where computer science major Lou Joseph was awarded first place for his submission, "Mother." His poem poignantly captures the emotional turmoil of leaving Haiti, and adjusting to life in the United States. Joseph described the motivation behind his winning piece: "I've never been the most articulate person, so it's easy to feel unheard, especially when you've been stripped of your language." His poem reflects on the language and life left behind, a sacrifice made out of necessity. Though his heart remains in Haiti, Joseph now calls an Orlando suburb home. Following Joseph, students Ella Gehlert and J.T. Moore were also recognized for their impressive submissions. After the winners showcased their poems, students from Professor Neil Segars' Modern Poetry class shared some of their favorite works, adding to the rich tapestry of the day's discussions.

The Lions and Lady Lions traded their jerseys for suits and dresses as the Freed-Hardeman University athletic department honored their student-athletes during the second annual Roar Awards held in late April. The student-athletes joined the athletic staff as well as family and friends to join in a meal before each team recognized three student-athletes. Voted by their teammates, each team selected a "Best Teammate," "Best Christian Example" and "Team MVP" honoree. Capping off the celebrations, the athletic training department honored three student-athletes before the top four awards were announced. The sports medicine department honored Haley Suggs as the "Workhorse," Devin Tomlinson as "Diligent Dan" and Brinley Cousar as "Overcomer." "The Roar Awards are special because it is all about the student-athletes," FHU Director of Athletics Jonathan Estes said. "We have some of the best student-athletes in the world. They embody the spirit and attitudes that we want in our families, in our churches, in our communities and in our world. We want to honor their commitment to the classroom, their commitment to each other, their commitment to the Lord and their commitment to their sport." Voted by the coaches and athletic staff, women's basketball's KJ White was selected as the Outstanding Female Student-Athlete. Men's basketball's Quan Lax was honored as Outstanding Male Student-Athlete, adding to a list of accolades that included first-team All-NAIA tournament, first-team All-American, first-team All-MSC and MSC tournament Most Valuable Player. For the Outstanding Individual Achievement, the staff voted for baseball's Colton Huntt. Men's basketball's Hunter Scurlock was voted as the 2024 recipient.

Two Freed-Hardeman University students have been recognized by the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society for research scholarships and fellowships. Daniel Chang, a junior biology major, was chosen over hundreds of applicants from across the country to receive a $2,000 Alfred H. Nolle Cooperative Scholarship. Josie Gannon, a senior double majoring in biology and English, was chosen as an alternate for a $3,000 H.Y. Benedict Fellowship for her ecological research.

Several Freed-Hardeman University members of Xi Chi Delta spent their spring break spreading the gospel and encouraging the Church around the country. The club sent a total of 36 people to Taylorsville, North Carolina, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and Kayenta, Arizona. In North Carolina, the students worked with the Liledoun Road Church of Christ. One of the students on the trip, Isaac Amar said the congregation's excitement was inspiring. "Just by us being there made me want to serve them so much more. Their excitement was contagious, and it really inspired the team," Amar said. Students on the Massachusetts trip performed an outreach campaign to publicize the church throughout the area and completed several service projects "The experience made me appreciate how good God's people can be in encouraging each other, and how blessed we are to live in a place where our faith is such a common thing that can be openly acknowledged," Scott said. While in Arizona the group served with the Kayenta Church of Christ encouraging youth and completing service projects in the community. They provided blessing bags with food and encouraging notes to visitors of the local farmer's market. "As a group, we were able to learn so much from the kids and community about showing unconditional love to those around us," said Brenna Hobgood, a junior social work major.

Freed Hardeman University honor students spent one weekend in April visiting New Orleans, Louisiana, to experience the rich historical culture of the area. The trip was offered as an educational experience to Honors Council members as well as senior students in the Honors College. The following students took part in the four-day tour: Clark Endsley, Emma Robison, Jessie Segars, Josie Gannon, Lily Simpson, MacKenzie Scarborough, Matthan Smith, Matthew Kuhl, Sarah Henley, Thomas Hastings and Tyler Stafko. Dean of the Honors College Dr. Jenny Johnson led the trip.