Freed-Hardeman University

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.

Freed-Hardeman University's Eighth Annual Scholars' Day, an annual campus-wide celebration of academic excellence, included oral presentations, poster presentations, a STEM display and musical performances. More than 80 individuals shared research findings and other scholarly accomplishments with fellow faculty, staff and students in a variety of locations across the Henderson campus. As is tradition, academic classes were canceled Nov. 3 to provide the student body the opportunity to attend the presentations of their choosing. FHU Department of Fine Arts Professor Emerita Laquita Thomson, a regional artist with a career spanning more than 50 years, was the keynote speaker at the opening session. Her presentation was moderated by Jud Davis, associate professor of art. Students also discussed social and life issues in presentations that included "Gender, Attachment Style and Rejection Sensitivity as Predictors of the Fear of Being Single in Unmarried Emerging Adults" and "Loneliness and Attachment Styles as Predictors of FOMO in Young Adults." "The presentations made by our faculty and students were outstanding; congratulations to all!" said Dr. C.J. Vires, vice president for academics and provost. "As provost, I have three favorite days of the year: Tolling of the Bell, graduation and University Scholars' Day."

In continuing Freed-Hardeman's annual tradition, the student body has selected 18 of their peers to represent both their classes and their school by serving on the 2023 homecoming court. Chosen representatives will be introduced to the student body during a special chapel presentation Monday, Nov. 6, at 10:30 a.m. This presentation will also be streamed live at fhu.edu/chapel. Homecoming king and queen will later be crowned in a coronation ceremony on the Smith-Kirk Court in the Brewer Sports Center at 6 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 11.

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.

FHU students Lexi Hearn, Re'Elle Crowell, Elizabeth McKeeby, and Noah Stuart, who were awarded one of this year's TSCPA scholarships. Lexi is receiving the highest award for West TN. Elizabeth was one of the first sophomores ever to receive the award. TSCPA scholarships are funded primarily through an endowment program known as the Life Associates Program, established in 1978 to recognize CPAs who made significant contributions to the scholarship fund for accounting students in Tennessee.

Twenty-five Freed-Hardeman University students were inducted into the Iota Chapter of Alpha Chi National College Honor Society in Old Main on Freed-Hardeman University's campus in October. The following students were inducted: Rylee Baker, Emma Barker, Edison Boggess IV, Hannah Brown, Ashlyn Chandler, Gracie Doyle, LeighAnne Dugger, Lacy Dunn, Tabitha Edwards, Sarah Fondren, Cassie Gardner, Reece Hopgood, Asa Jopson, Thaddaeus Lankford, Jayda McClain, Dominique Michaud, Carly Price, Molly Reasons, Kendall Remy, Elizabeth Roberts, Emma Robison, Noah Stuart, Jonathan Timmer, Taylor Triplett and Thomas Yukich. All of this semester's inductees had at least a 3.9 GPA. 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% of the junior and senior class to qualify for membership. New inductees were encouraged to wear their membership pins during the week of induction, to apply for Alpha Chi's national scholarships and to create research projects to present during the national convention. Members of Alpha Chi uphold its principles of Truth and Character and its motto - "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32.

The Freed-Hardeman University College of Business is celebrating senior Re'Elle Crowell, of Henderson, Tennessee, who recently became the school's first B.B.A./M.S. in accounting and fraud examination major to pass the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) exam. Crowell will be among the first students to graduate with this joint degree. She will study abroad in the spring semester before graduating in May 2024 with her degrees, a B.B.A. in accounting and an M.S. in accounting and fraud examination.

Freed-Hardeman University welcomed a new class of freshmen and transferring students into the FHU family this semester with another successful week of "Interface." While many university campuses around the country offer new student orientation, FHU goes the extra mile to build relationships and a strong sense of community on campus by providing incoming freshmen additional opportunities to bond and make their first of many college memories.

Dear Freed-Hardeman University Parents, We hope this email finds you well. We are delighted to introduce you to a wonderful platform named Merit, which is designed to celebrate and share the fantastic achievements of our students at Freed-Hardeman University (FHU). What is Merit? Merit is an innovative web-based platform that helps in documenting and promoting the achievements of students. It is an effortless way to keep track of honors such as making it to the President's and Dean's lists, graduation lists, and much more. Additionally, Merit is not just about accolades; it is also a space where you can find inspiring stories about our students' engagements in international studies, service projects, and academic triumphs. Why Merit is Important for Students For students, Merit is an essential tool to create a positive online presence. It acts as a personalized page that showcases your academic and extracurricular achievements, which can be shared with future employers or graduate schools. Why Parents Should Engage with Merit As parents, Merit allows you to be part of your child's journey in the university. It's a source of pride to see your child's hard work and dedication being recognized. Sharing their achievements through your social networks is a great way to spread the joy with friends and family. How to Get Started To begin using Merit, students should visit Merit's FHU Page and sign up with their university email address. Parents can connect to their child's Merit page via a unique link that the student can share with them. Share and Celebrate! We encourage both parents and students to actively engage with Merit. Share the stories and achievements with your friends, family, and network. Let's work together in celebrating the incredible talents and accomplishments of our Freed-Hardeman University community. Should you have any queries or need assistance getting started with Merit, please do not hesitate to contact us at support@fhu.edu. Let's celebrate success together! Warm regards,

Twenty-one students, alumni, teachers and friends of Freed-Hardeman University returned from Edinburgh Festival Fringe, a world-renowned theatre festival in Scotland, with a healthier dose of self confidence, stronger problem solving skills and adaptability. Following countless hours of planning, rehearsals and fundraising, the group traveled to Scotland from August 1-13, 2023, to make their mark on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world. With lodgings on a local university campus, students were within walking distance of the sights and sounds of beautiful historic Edinburgh. Their time was split between preparing for their own show and attending the shows of others.

Thirty-two Freed-Hardeman University students completed their studies in August. The graduates received baccalaureate, graduate and licensures. 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.

Twenty-one individuals representing Freed-Hardeman University's Theatre program will travel to Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023 to present "The Feed," an original show co-created by FHU Director of Theatre Cliff Thompson and Theatre Design Professor Brandyn Graves. FHU will present four performances of "The Feed" during the Fringe from Sunday, Aug. 6 - Monday, Aug. 9, 2023. In "The Feed" characters explore social media and obsession. Based on a story by Graves, "The Feed" was inspired by a series of social media posts he made during COVID-19 about a mysterious crock pot near a parking space. The posts generated attention and inspired Thompson to ask Graves to collaborate to turn the story into a play.

Freed-Hardeman University has released the names of students who made the President's and Dean's Lists for the Spring 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 honored during the Spring 2023 semester.

It was a final project full of fun, experimentation and laughter. Seven students in Dr. Ben Clark's AI for Robotics class put weeks worth of research into determining if three robots could "play" a game of hide and seek effectively on May 4. The students organized in three teams - Bryce Greene, Allison Walker and Brigitte Turner worked together to program the robot they named Kenan Jr (after another Computer Science faculty member Dr. Kenan Casey). Their robot's objective was to "seek" the other two robots that were "hiding." Decked out with two heart shaped stickers at its back, Kenan Jr. and the other robots, Baymacs and R0B, are Create 3 robots, educational versions of the popular household vacuum appliance, the Roomba. Dallas Yarnell and Sean Janiec worked on R0B and were part of the mapping team, which determined the area where the robots could hide. "We used a technique called SLAM (Simultaneous, Localization and Mapping). It basically helps the robots play hide and seek," Yarnell said. Students Lou Joseph and Addison Adcock were on the path planning team and were responsible for Baymacs.

Freed-Hardeman University student-athletes traded their cleats and uniforms for dresses and suits to celebrate their accomplishments on and off the field during the inaugural Roar Awards Saturday, April 22, 2023. "The Roar Awards are about celebrating the student-athletes that practice and sweat and grind to be the best they can be on the field of competition," FHU's athletic director Jonathan Estes, who spearheaded the event, said. "The student-athletes who aren't motivated by personal glory, but strive to be a part of something bigger: team, relationship, family. The Roar Awards are about celebrating them."

Freed-Hardeman University held its spring commencement exercises in mid-May where approximately 286 students received degrees. Graduates received baccalaureate, graduate and certificates, licensures and associate's degrees. FHU alumna Sheerah Davis was the commencement speaker. With 25 years of human resources experience, Davis is the Global HR Lead and Chief People Officer for Dentsu Sports International, Incorporated, a global sports business network.

Freed-Hardeman University announced Mr. and Miss FHU 2023 Thursday, April 27, at a special chapel presentation. Chosen by the student body from a slate of eight nominees, winners are Jon Moore, a law and politics major from Somerset, Kentucky, and Catherine Crabb, an elementary education major from Meridianville, Alabama. Moore has been vice president of the Student Government Association and a member of the FHU Lion Basketball Team, Honors College and Interclub Council. He is also the inaugural president of Omega Chi social club. Crabb is an all-conference player for the Lady Lion Softball Team and a member of Competitors for Christ and Alpha Chi National Honor Society. She is also an officer in Omega Chi.

Freed-Hardeman University has named the finalists for Mr. and Miss FHU 2023. Members of the faculty and staff nominated a slate of outstanding members of the senior class, and the student body selected the final eight nominees. Finalists for the title will be introduced, and the winners will be announced Thursday, April 27, at 10:30 a.m. in Loyd Auditorium. Mr. FHU candidates are Jon Moore, Johnson Ramsey, Chase Rowe and John Sadler. Miss FHU nominees are Brinlee Benson, Catherine Crabb, Caroline Grisham and Brooke Roberts.

Tickets for the 46th annual Freed-Hardeman University Makin' Music are on sale at fhu.edu/makinmusic. The student musical extravaganza is scheduled for Friday, April 14, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 15, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in Loyd Auditorium. Tickets are $20 for Friday night and Saturday matinee and $25 for the Saturday night show. Five social clubs will compete for the sweepstakes trophy, as they, a talented troupe of hosts and hostesses, the Makin' Music Show Band and emcees will entertain thousands of guests. Chi Beta Chi, Omega Chi, Phi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Rho and Xi Chi Delta are the clubs in this year's show, and approximately 500 students comprise the show's cast. The theme for this year's show is "Hold On." According to Makin' Music Coordinator Peyton Cain, the theme was chosen as a tribute to the people and memories FHU alumni hold on to, as well as the Makin' Music traditions that the FHU family holds dear. In addition to the sweepstakes trophy, various category winners and the Spirit of Makin' Music Award, a new accolade has been added to this year's list. Each year, Makin' Music presents a show for area school children in selected grades. A Kids' Choice award will be presented during Saturday's matinee to the show receiving the most votes during the kids' show.

Eighteen Freed-Hardeman University students were inducted this spring into the Iota Chapter of Alpha Chi National Honor Scholarship Society Monday, March 13, 2023, in Old Main on FHU's campus. 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% of the junior and senior class to qualify for membership. The following students were inducted: Anna Barker, Madison Baxter, Caleb Bond, Madison Cagle, Daniel Chang, David Clayton, Charley Fulton, Josie Gannon, Mallorie Gardner, Lexi Hearn, Garrett Herndon, Ana Holland, Matthew Kuhl, Savannah Martin, Anna Mae Ramsey, Anna Shots, Lauren Taylor and Carly Vance. Members of Alpha Chi uphold its principles of Truth and Character and its motto - "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32.

The Freed-Hardeman University Preachers' Club and the American Sign Language (ASL) club recently hosted a joint meeting to share the religious signs that the deaf community uses. The event attracted students from different clubs, towns and communities, who came together to learn how to form religious signs to engage with the deaf community. Organizers hope their efforts will benefit the FHU Annual Bible Lectureship that seeks to encourage Christians to strengthen their faith and better support one another, in addition to other FHU events. "ASL benefits everyone," Madison Cagle, an ASL club member, said. "Learning ASL is important because it shows you care about people and breaking down language barriers. Plus, you don't just learn the signs, but the stories behind them too." Cagle has been practicing ASL for several years, partly taught by her mother and the rest from the club.

FHU senior nursing major Megan Perkins received an invitation to attend The Tennessee Nursing Association Conference (TNA) that helped sharpen her networking skills and learn more about the nursing profession last summer. "When I showed up, I did not know a single person other than my teacher, Dr. Raven Wentworth," Perkins said. "Here, I learned the importance of networking with other nurses who had experience in many different fields. I was taught why we need people in the nursing field to advocate for nurses and what our profession would be like without people willing to put their foot down for us." Perkins, of Iuka, Mississippi, is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in nursing. During the TNA conference, Perkins met several other nursing students from around the country and learned several concepts. Perkins plans to graduate in May and intends to work as a labor and delivery nurse in the Jackson, Tennessee area. The TNA's mission is to "empower the registered nurse, advocate for the practice of nursing, and champion quality health care for all Tennesseans." The association began in 1905 in an attempt to pass a law that would regulate nursing practices. That law was not passed until 1911 and today protects the public from unsafe nursing practices.

Freed-Hardeman University Theatre will offer two productions this month with "Wait Until Dark'' and "Working for Crumbs" beginning Thursday Feb. 23 and continuing through Saturday Feb. 25, 2023. General admission tickets are $12.00 and can be purchased at http://www.fhutickets.com. Performances of the student-directed "Wait Until Dark '' will take place in the Black Box Theatre, and "Working for Crumbs" will be presented in Loyd Auditorium. The shows will run simultaneously with eight total performances beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday.

Freed-Hardeman University announced approximately 121 December graduates this month. Graduates received baccalaureate, graduate and certificates, licensures and associate's degrees.

Freed-Hardeman University has released the names of students who made the President's and Dean's Lists for the Fall 2022 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 honored during the fall 2022 semester.