Freed-Hardeman University

FHU's newly established Legacy Jazz Ensemble traveled this spring to Austin, Texas, for a long weekend to perform, mentor and recruit at two private schools: Brentwood Christian School and San Marcos Academy.

After a vote by the student body, Freed-Hardeman University announced the winners of Mr. and Miss FHU 2024 during a special chapel presentation held Thursday, April 25. Will Rawson, from Alamo, Tennessee, was named Mr. FHU, while Anniston McCall, from Winter Garden, Florida, was named Miss FHU.

For the third consecutive year, Freed-Hardeman's analytics teams brought home honors, this time at the Bluegrass DataFest held in late April at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky. In this competition, students had 48 hours to evaluate a complex, real-world dataset and present their findings. This year, Freed-Hardeman fielded two teams of five students each, doubling in size from the team's inaugural appearance in 2022. Team members Lou Joseph, Eli Combs, Justin Steward, Kate Fitzgerald and Taylor Guess secured the Best in Show and Best Visualization honors. Meanwhile, John Robinson, J.T. Moore, Justin Ellis, Carson Kizer and Aidan Harrison won the Best Use of External Data award. "These results continue to demonstrate our students' academic competitiveness nationwide," said Charlie Smith, one of the DataFest faculty advisors. "Their insights into the data and recommendations for action were on par with professional data analysts. I'm proud of their dedication and abilities."

Freed-Hardeman University has announced the eight student finalists who have been nominated for Mr. and Miss FHU. These young men and women have been chosen by their faculty, staff and fellow students because of their positive influence, involvement, leadership and academic abilities. Nominees will be honored with a reception Thursday, April 25, at 9 a.m., in the Hope Barber Shull Academic Resource Center, and winners will be announced at 10:30 a.m. during a special chapel presentation in Loyd Auditorium.

FHU Lions head coach Drew Stutts and the team brought the Big Red Banner and the championship trophy home to Henderson with a 71-67 championship victory over the Langston (Okla.) University Lions in a hard fought game on March 26, 2024. Utilizing phrases such as "Elite is Earned," and "Today is The Day," and "Committed to the Culture," Coach Stutts believes his team lived up to his expectations, saying, "They have just showed so much resilience and so much toughness tonight. The last thing we talked about before we went out of the locker room was 'the tougher team wins' and I think we have proven that throughout the course of this year." The Lions (32-4) lived up to a championship game with neither team leading by more than two possessions. The Lions of FHU shot 47% from the floor while their opponents ended with a 42% mark from the floor. Despite being out-rebounded 39-27, Freed-Hardeman forced 19 Langston turnovers and turned those into 24 points. "We are extremely proud," Freed-Hardeman University President David R. Shannon said. "Any team that wins the national championship there has to be a lot of grit, a lot of skill, and great coaching. And we get to see that at Freed-Hardeman." "This is a huge accomplishment for Coach Stutts and the team and a great day for Freed-Hardeman athletics and the Freed-Hardeman family," said FHU athletic director Jonathan Estes. "The mission is to utilize your God-given abilities to His glory and I think these guys did that." Making the All-Tournament team were FHU starts Quan Lax, Hunter Scurlock, and JJ Wheat. Wheat was honored with the Charles Stevenson Hustle Award while Hunter Scurlock ended his illustrious FHU career being named as the Chuck Taylor Most Valuable Player of the tournament. "It's a good way to end and it's been worth every bit of the ride," said Scurlock after thinking over his five-year career.

Sager Blackman, a Freed-Hardeman University freshman from Lithia, Florida, was officially sworn into the U.S. Army National Guard earlier this month. Blackman is currently studying to earn his Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity from FHU and is also an active participant in the ROTC program. His enlistment into the Tennessee Army National Guard will ensure that his remaining FHU tuition will be taken care of.

Freed-Hardeman University accounting majors Caleb Bond, Elizabeth McKeeby, and Re'Elle Crowell sat at the feet of influential business leaders to expand their knowledge and make connections in their field during the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants (TSCPA) Second Annual Leadership Summit in Brentwood, Tennessee. Held in January, the two day TSCPA conference hosts professional CPA's working in Tennessee. With over 10,000 members, the organization is dedicated to empowering the success of its members through resource building for growth and leadership opportunities. "I learned so many skills and have several pages of notes," said McKeeby, a sophomore. "They stressed getting your CPA license, which motivates me even more to pursue it."

Freed-Hardeman University's chapter of Remote Area Medical (RAM) provided 458 patients in need with free dental care during a pop-up clinic at Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry during Meharry Oral Health Day in early March. Twenty-one student volunteers helped to provide an estimated $127,532 in services at the one-day clinic in Nashville, Tennessee. The pop-up clinic set a record for the FHU RAM chapter for the most patients served in a single day. Members of the FHU chapter who attended include: Isaac Amar, Anna Jacobs, Lily Simpson, Addie O'Brian, Dylan Totty, Ben Wade, Matthew Goodin, Emma Guin, Asa Jopson, Ava Cox, Ella Embry, Emily Seibel, Jadyn Allen, Jeanne Seibel, Logan Summers, Luke Sullivan, Maddie Sullivan, Miriam Gallagher, Nina Thompson, Matthew Kuhl and Dan Chang. Chang, who is the RAM chapter president at FHU, said the Church of Christ in Green Hills, Charlotte Heights Church of Christ, Cameron Miller, and Jackson Stephens helped make the clinic possible. Miller, an FHU alumnus and admissions counselor, chaperoned the trip to Nashville and praised the students' work. "By going on the trip, the students showed great maturity. Many of them passed up club retreats to serve the community," Miller said. "The RAM employees complimented their attitudes and work ethic. It was a great chance to show the quality of FHU's spiritual and academic education."

Seven Freed-Hardeman University students studying Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) attended the Tennessee Association of Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists (TAASLP) "Day On The Hill" in Nashville, Tennessee, this month where they met with state legislators to discuss professions, answer questions and share issues facing their fields. The students - Allison Collum, Gracie Doyle, Alexa Neglia, Kenzie Pressnell, Elizabeth Roberts, Taylor Triplett, and Gabe Watts- arrived prepared to meet with Senators and Representatives to discuss how they can help the audiology and speech pathology professions as well as those they will serve. These students were able to meet professional SLPs and audiologists as well as students from other undergraduate and graduate CSD programs. FHU instructor Susan Lankford and Dr. Meagan Spencer, director of FHU's CSD program, organized the day for students whose itinerary included delivering one pagers (information sheets) to share with legislators, participating in letter-writing campaigns with Tennessee's StAMP and SEAL representatives. They discussed reimbursement, dismissal of mandated school-age hearing screenings, and reasons why students choose the CSD field. "The goals for the event were to share information with legislators about the fields of audiology and speech-language pathology and to advocate for improved access to services for all Tennesseans," Lankford said. "The FHU Communication Sciences and Disorders department believes strongly that our undergraduate students are ready to take part in this aspect of their future profession. They proved us right with their participation in the TAASLP Day on the Hill."

Freed-Hardeman University students in Dr. Kenan Casey's Mobile Application Development course developed MOGI - a mobile game that challenges its players to guess random items that would matter most to the lead player. MOGI stands for Matters of Greatest Importance. The result was a fun and engaging project that culminated with a demonstration at the end of the fall semester where FHU Vice President for Student Services T.J. Kirk and FHU President David R. Shannon played the game to celebrate the completion of the project. "This game not only demonstrates students' technical skills but also reflects their steadfast commitment to excellence and innovative problem-solving. I commend them for harnessing their God-given gifts to positively impact our community," Shannon said. Students in the class were thrilled to watch their game in action. "It showed that all the work and dedication we put in over the semester was finally worth it. Having our effort come to light was such a satisfying feeling," said Tucker Brown, a junior computer science major with an emphasis in information systems. Brown along with his classmates Addison Adcock, Austin Applegate, Gavin Boler, Madison Cagle, Jaydon Dulgar, Sam Flowers, Avery Harris, Priscilla Harris, Hallie Hill, Sean Janiec, Savannah Martin, Luke Noles, Kaylee Odom, Kelly Sproule, Kaitlyn Thompson, Lauren Taylor, Abbie Vance, and Allison Walker all worked on the mobile app.

Eleven Freed-Hardeman University students were inducted into the Iota Chapter of the Alpha Chi National Honor Scholarship Society in Old Chapel Hall Monday, March 11, 2024. The following students were inducted: Mikayla Behel, Lauren Cabrera, Maci Cagle, Garyson Campbell, Ava Cox, Zena Dorris, Xavier Falkenheim, Kylee Mckee, Luke Sullivan, Abbie Vance, and Jack Zondervan. Alpha Chi membership is by invitation only to juniors and seniors with a minimum grade point average of 3.75 on at least 80 earned credit hours and candidates must be in the top 10 percent of the junior and senior class to qualify for membership. However, Dr. Loren Warf, the assistant sponsor of the program, said during the ceremony that the average GPA of this semester's inductees was 3.99. The ceremony highlighted the organization's emphasis on both scholarship and character. "Scholarship is the power of the mind to dispel fear and superstition by the power of knowledge. Students should wear the pins for a week to promote not themselves, but the ideals of the organization," Warf said. The ceremony concluded with students repeating the motto found in John 8:32: "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." Falkenheim, a biochemistry, health, and Spanish major, is looking forward to having a well-rounded experience in Alpha Chi. "I have a good academic and social life, but I think this will help take it to the next level for grad school applications," he said. Chapter President Clark Endsley is confident the new members will be valuable additions to the club. "Each inductee has unique talents, and together, they promise a bright future for Alpha Chi and Freed-Hardeman," Endsley said. Following the induction ceremony, a small reception with cake and punch was provided for inductees, family members and friends. The mission of Freed-Hardeman University is to help students develop their God-given talents for His glory by empowering them with an education that integrates Christian faith, scholarship and service. With locations in Henderson and Memphis, FHU offers associate, bachelor's, master's, specialist and doctoral degrees. More information is available at fhu.edu

FHU's Principles of Management class participated in an eye-opening poverty exercise with Missouri's Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS) and West Tennessee's WestStar Leadership class in late February. In the exercise participants take on the roles of individuals and families with limited finances and how they must navigate life's challenges such as unemployment, homelessness and strained financial resources. The simulations raise awareness, foster empathy and inspire participants to make a difference. The project certainly had that effect on FHU sophomore Renae Tabor, who participated in the simulation. "This simulation brought to light how large this problem of poverty really is and how I need to be a part of the solution. I can make a difference in the lives of people I meet if I just talk to them, get to know them and their situation, and actively look for ways to alleviate some of their burdens," said Tabor, an English major. "It would be incredibly selfish, uncaring, and ungodly to sit by in relative comfort and watch this suffering continue." Tabor was one of 28 FHU students to participate in the simulation. Students in principles of management learn how to achieve organizational objectives and cover the history and purpose of organizational management. Students also learn the four core functions of planning - organizing, leading, controlling, and the development of basic management skills.

Members of the Freed-Hardeman University Honors Council recently participated in the Tennessee Collegiate Honors Council 2024 Annual Conference on February 9 and 10. During the event, students presented diverse topics and engaged in learning opportunities from fellow scholars. Notably, FHU students clinched first place trivia trophy, and did so with very few errors, according to Matthew Kuhl, a senior biochemistry major. "The hosts told us we only missed three questions," he said adding the team made the most out of the experience. The conference, hosted by Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, attracted honors programs from various prestigious schools across the state, including Middle Tennessee State University, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and the host institution, Lincoln Memorial University. The annual event serves as a prime platform for highlighting student excellence, according to Dr. Jenny Johnson, dean of the Honors College. "Making presentations in a setting like this offers numerous benefits," Johnson explained. "One tangible advantage is the significant boost it provides to a graduate school application."

During winter break, a group of FHU photography students embarked on a transformative journey to New York City for ART339: NYC Photography. This immersive experience took them through the vibrant streets of the Big Apple, where they captured iconic landmarks and intimate moments, each lens revealing a unique perspective. Participating students receive class hour credit for the trip. The pinnacle of their adventure? A full day at Pier59 Studios, where they refined their skills alongside professional models, pushing their boundaries and unlocking new levels of creativity. Splitting into smaller groups, students enjoyed an intimate setting with models ranging from novices to seasoned professionals. Tabitha Edwards, a senior double majoring in public relations and photography, found inspiration in the diverse personalities of the models.

More than 80 Freed-Hardeman students took center stage at the Link Centre in Tupelo, Mississippi, Saturday, Feb. 17, displaying a wide array of talents in visual art, photography, music and theatre. President David R. Shannon welcomed approximately 165 alumni and friends who had gathered to celebrate the talents of the university's fine and performing arts students. The evening began with an art and photography showcase highlighting the work of six students: Leilani Baker's debut oil painting she calls "Motionless," Tori Robison's painting "Madonna and The Frogs," Anniston McCall's photograph in a light and shadows series, Angelina Barr's photo series "I Am Not My Hair," Gabrielle Smith's 4 ft by 3 ft painting called "Pieces" and Morgan Milliken's photo series called "The Difference a Wig Can Make."

Freed-Hardeman University students produced impressive results in their debut appearance at the Hub City Innovation Cup, a regional business pitch competition, winning third place and a cash prize of $500. The two-day event was held Feb. 9-10 at the Jackson Energy Authority Training Center in Jackson and challenged participating college students to create ideas using technology to improve the quality of life for disabled individuals. Students received the topic Friday afternoon and had just under 24 hours to prepare their five-minute pitches to judges. Eleven FHU students competed against other students representing other area higher education institutions. Of the 18 participating teams, FHU sent three, with two advancing to the final round of six.

Two FHU students, Dan Chang and Danny Ngabonziza, won first place for their research poster presentation and third place for their oral presentation during the Tennessee Academy of Science's annual meeting in November. The research is a culmination of the work done by the FHU Summer Research Team under the direction of Dr. Joe Deweese. The 2023 research team consisted of Chang, Ngabonziza, Allison Jones, Addie O'Brian, Matte Hardin, Brooke Latham and Clark Endsley. This was the second year for the Biochemical and Biomedical Sciences Summer Research Program at FHU.

Freed-Hardeman University has released the names of students who made the President's and Dean's Lists for the Fall 2023 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 spent time learning about and praying for international communities in mid-November as part of the university's International Student Days (Nov. 13-14). Dr. Richard England Jr., executive director of FACE (French African Christian Education), gave a presentation about his work and travels in Africa. "Be a bridge - reinforce God's love for all and embrace diversity," England said. "Understand peace and joy, and begin to embrace what God has promised us - hope and life." England challenged the students - "Are you prepared to do the things that are hard?" He said when someone asks him why he makes trips to Africa, England has a three-point response. "I work in Africa - there's great food, wonderful friends and beautiful music," he said. England encouraged students to "go above everything you see and hear - the conflict, the number of the dead and the terrorists - the reality is when we see people coming together to say, 'Thank you, Lord, for the promises and blessings that we have,' we can then begin to embrace the reality of diversity and come full circle." On the second day of prayer, BRIDGES offered prayer for international communities at work, in need of economical and environmental support. The prayer was led by Dr. Justin Rogers, Dr. Jeremy Northrop and Maurice Williams. BRIDGES aims to foster diversity and inclusion on FHU's campus. BRIDGES is an acronym for Belonging to the FHU community, Reinforcing God's love for all, Integrating an inclusive learning environment, Developing a kingdom culture, Growing together, Embracing diversity and Strengthening our communities.

Freed-Hardeman University junior Tucker Brown is proving that pursuing multiple passions is not only possible but can also lead to remarkable achievements. Brown, both a computer science major and an aspiring actor, recently made his full-length film debut in "Camp Hideout," a faith-based comedy about a troubled teen caught between juvenile detention and a youth camp. In the film, he steals an important item from two big-city tough guys and hides in a church summer camp. He enlists the help of his newfound friends when he's tracked down. Brown plays Paulie, one of the campers who aids the main character. Prior to filming "Camp Hideout," Brown's first acting job was in a short film called "Wildness," and another acting opportunity came along in a short film called "Pieces." And to think, all of this started when Brown was bitten by the acting bug at 12 years old, while he was more into running the bases than memorizing lines. "I told my parents that I wanted to quit baseball and that I wanted to sing and act for the rest of my life," Brown said. He made the decision after attending vocal lessons with a friend in 2014 and acquired a mentor who ignited his passion for acting. "I took study trips to both New York and Los Angeles and signed with agents. Then I auditioned and auditioned," he explained. In 2017, he spent a year in LA auditioning for jobs. "I love acting; it is my true calling. I love portraying characters because I get to walk a mile in their shoes. And so far, I've made friends on sets and some great memories." "Camp Hideout" was filmed in Thompson's Station, Tennessee, for six weeks in the fall of 2021 and is his first full-length feature film.

Freed-Hardeman University held its fall commencement ceremony Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, in Loyd Auditorium where more than 100 students received certificates, associates, baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degrees. The mission of Freed-Hardeman University is to help students develop their God-given talents for His glory by empowering them with an education that integrates Christian faith, scholarship and service. With locations in Henderson and Memphis, FHU offers associate, bachelor's, master's, specialist and doctoral degrees. More information is available at fhu.edu.

More than 30 people participated in a unique feast where the goal was to "try edible foods popular in foreign parts of the world." Epulor XII, which was hosted by the Biology Club, celebrated its 12th year with first-time and repeat guests willing to step outside of their culinary comfort zones in late November. "Everyone really loves this event," Allison Jones, a senior biology major, said. Jones is president of the Biology Club. "It's fun, exciting and there are 17 dishes on the menu game. The winner will receive a $20 gift card to Besso's." The menu game isn't as easy as it sounds. The multiple choice questions identify the menu items by their scientific names - for example elk is called "Cervus canadensis" while turkey is called "Meleagris gallopavo." Long time friends, seniors and biology majors Mary Katherine Walker and Madlyn Maples challenged each other to taste many of the items on the unique buffet as they sat across from each other. "I feel like we should taste these in order," Maples said. "We're kind of scared," Walker added. On the opposite side of fear sat biology and Bible major Luke Sullivan who embraced trying new things. "Last year's alligator tasted better than turkey," he said. "This year my favorite was the eel on rice." Sullivan is also the treasurer of the Biology Club.

Freed-Hardeman University's Honors Council recently traveled to Chicago in early November, where they explored, learned and gathered new ideas. The 58th annual National Collegiate Honors Council held its conference from Nov. 8-12, with the theme "Liberty, Equality, and Humanity." Session topics included student moderator training, research and honors, student socials, as well as networking opportunities. FHU's honors program promotes the free exchange of ideas, and students are regularly invited to make honors presentations at the conference meetings of the Tennessee Honors Council, the Southern Regional Honors Council and the National Collegiate Honors Council. "It was helpful in planning the honors competition for high school seniors looking to attend Freed-Hardeman," said Matthan Smith, a senior double major in accounting and financial planning. "I think our advisor, Dr. Jenny Johnson, gathered fun ideas for the competition." Johnson is the dean of the honors college and director of FHU study abroad.

Freed-Hardeman University students in Dr. John McLaughlin's Games in Literature course have spent the fall semester reading classics like Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" and Amy Tan's "The Joy Luck Club," leading discussions and having fun playing challenging games, some familiar and others new to them. The idea for the class was something McLaughlin longed to do, so when Dr. Margaret Payne asked him if wanted to teach a special course, he knew the topic right away. "There are so many great things to read, so I selected a few repeats and some I would not normally do," he said. "I know the students have enjoyed the readings, and, as someone who loves games and has played them all of my life, I want to show them how much fun that is." The weekly class, spanning nearly three hours, features occasional guest speakers, quizzes, student presentations and, most importantly, game sessions. These games are thematically linked to the weekly readings. For example, after discussing "The Joy Luck Club," a novel in which the characters play Mahjong, a four-player game originating from China, students tried their hand at the game in November. In Mahjong, players shuffle tiles and take turns searching for matching pairs to complete a hand of 14 tiles, with the winner being the first to achieve this. The class also delved into "The Girl Who Played Go," a 2001 French novel by Shan Sa. Go is a game of strategy that requires players to acquire as much territory as possible.

A scientist, a journalist, a law enforcement officer, a minister and a financial planner were among approximately 40 Freed-Hardeman University alumni to return to campus to share their professional journeys with current students during homecoming week in early November. Now in its sixth year, ALUMination Day has grown from a single day to several days of alumni visits in classes as well as guest speakers in daily chapel. This year's chapel speakers were Chuck Morris, class of 1995; Drew Kizer, class of 1997; and Elizabeth Gentle, class of 1996.

At the end of a week-long celebration of homecoming festivities, the Freed-Hardeman University study body announced their choices for the 2023 homecoming king and queen in a special coronation ceremony Saturday, Nov. 11. This year, Elijah Brewer, a senior communication and public relations major from Lexington, Tennessee, was crowned king, and Julie Gann, a kinesiology major from Huntsville, Alabama, was crowned queen.

The Freed-Hardeman University community made "Time to Remember" Nov. 4-12 for its highly anticipated 2023 homecoming week. More than 2,000 alumni, parents, guests and students participated in events throughout the week. Students took part in social club spirit events, athletic competitions, charity fundraising, artistic performances and more during the week-long celebration, publically showcasing the tremendous talents of the FHU student body.

This fall 41 ladies attended the second annual Ladies' Day hosted by Zeteo, a women's Bible study group dedicated to immersive study on Freed-Hardeman University's campus. "This ladies' day would not have been possible without each girl being willing to participate," said Molly King, Zeteo President. "It is only because of their desire to study the Bible that we are able to do this work. I am so proud of each and every girl that participated. This is the second year we have done it and it just seems to get better." The group also participated in FHU's Day of Giving and raised $690 to purchase scripture journals to help in their studies. "FHU Dean of Students Lacy Crowell said, 'Zeteo continues to offer the young women on campus a way to nurture their faith in a supportive environment. As we gather in fellowship and faith, we are humbled by God's grace and guidance. Women's Bible study has been a cornerstone of our spiritual journey, deepening our understanding of His word. Our prayer group has been a source of strength and connection. With gratitude in our hearts, we look ahead, knowing that God's plan for us is to grow, learn, and support one another as we continue to seek His wisdom and share His love through our study and prayers.'"

Two Freed-Hardeman University courses, Death and Dying and Latin American Literature, met to discuss how the Hispanic culture mourns, celebrates and remembers an individual who passes away. Their discussion coincided with Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), which is celebrated Nov. 2. In addition to the discussion, organizers offered a colorful celebratory table and Pan de Muerto (Day of the Dead Bread), a sweet bread baked with a ball on top, representing the skull of the deceased, with remaining pieces shaped into a cross to signify their bones and tears. As part of the combined course activities, students took a survey about their comfort level with death and discussed whether traditions such as sleeping in a bed where a person has died, holding a funeral in a residence, kissing a deceased person goodbye, or dressing and applying makeup to a deceased person would disturb them. The group also shared their memories of loved ones using virtual ofrendas. An ofrenda is a display that celebrates the life of a deceased person with a collection of their favorite things.

Six Freed-Hardeman University students put their pens to paper for the annual Inktober challenge in late October. Inktober artists were Callie French, a sophomore graphic design major; Leilani Baker, a junior fine arts major; Kathryn Johannessen, a junior biology major; Madison Parker, a freshman undeclared major; Gavin Parker, a freshman undeclared major; and Nate Cass, a senior theatre design production major. "Participating artists were asked to turn in original work made with ink without a particular subject or theme. We did, however, ask that they frame their own art before turning it in," said Marla Record, technology librarian at the Hope Barber Shull Academic Resource Center. Artists could use pens or markers, paint with watercolor ink, make stamps and use an ink pad. Ink could also be combined with another medium and could be in black-and-white or color.