GALLATIN, TN—The Welch College Choir will conduct a three-state spring tour March 6-11, according to Todd Parrish, Vice President for Institutional Advancement. The 30-member choir, directed by Dr. James Stevens, dean of the School of Music at Welch, will minister in six churches. The tour program, Walk Worthy, will consist of sacred choral selections and gospel songs designed to edify, encourage, and evangelize.
“We invite youth groups and local churches to make every effort to attend a service in their area.” Parrish said. “This is a wonderful opportunity for people to see what Welch is all about and to interact with our students. We also ask that people join us in praying for the health and safety of the choir as they travel and present the gospel message through music.”
GALLATIN, TN—Welch College recently announced that it was among the ten teacher education programs in the state of Tennessee that “exceeded expectations” on the annual Educator Preparation Report Card issued by the Tennessee Department of Education. The Report Card evaluated teacher preparation programs at forty-two Tennessee institutions. Welch’s overall percentage of points earned in the Report Card’s performance rating ranked fourth in the state.
Other colleges and universities that “exceeded expectations” included Carson-Newman University, Lipscomb University, Trevecca Nazarene University, Union University, the University of Memphis, and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
Dr. Stephen Beck, Undergraduate Dean of Teacher Education, said, “We are very proud of our students and graduates. Clearly, they are extremely well prepared for classroom teaching. This reflects well not only on them but also on their very capable faculty and our excellent program. The college faculty have done a superb job preparing them for their careers. We commend them all.”
Welch College has offered a teacher education program since 1976 which includes teaching licensure programs in Mathematics, Special Education, English as a Second Language, Biology, English, History, Music, Physical Education, Elementary Education, and Instructional Leadership. Hundreds of Welch graduates have taught not only in Tennessee but also across the nation, indeed, around the world.
For more information on bachelor’s and master’s degrees in teacher education at Welch, please contact Dr. Stephen Beck at sbeck@welch.edu.
Due to severe winter weather, Welch College has been forced to cancel public activities on its campus this week. Thus Welcome Days, which was scheduled for Thursday and Friday, January 18–19, will be cancelled. The home basketball games scheduled for Friday and Saturday evenings, January 19–20, will also be cancelled.
High school students are encouraged to attend Junior-Senior Days on April 18–19 (welch.edu/jrsrdays) or to arrange a personalized visit to campus (welch.edu/admissions) for students and their parents. Seniors and their parents who would like to come for a Personal Campus Visit will receive a voucher for fuel as well as lodging in a Gallatin hotel. During a Personal Campus Visit, you will tour the Welch campus, attend chapel, go to a class in your major, meet with the financial aid office, and talk with a faculty member and/or coach. Schedule your visit at welch.edu/admissions.
For more information on visiting or attending Welch, please email gotowelch@welch.edu.
GALLATIN, TN—William Slater, Dean of Adult and Online Studies at Welch College, has been awarded the 2024 Harold Bradley Legislative Leadership Award by the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA), according to Welch President Matt Pinson. The award is presented to state legislators who have shown distinguished support for higher education.
“Serving in the Tennessee legislature is a great honor,” Slater said. “I am humbled to be recognized for the work accomplished for the benefit of students enrolled in independent colleges and universities in our state. TICUA member institutions, like Welch College, provide important educational choices and opportunities for our citizens. It is a joy to be a voice for them in the General Assembly.”
Slater serves part-time as the Representative for District 35 in the Tennessee State House of Representatives. In addition to holding this position, he has been broadly active in the civic and community life of Sumner County and is a proponent for the advancement of higher education.
“We at Welch are so thankful for what William Slater has brought to us as Dean of Adult and Online Studies at Welch College,” Pinson said. “He does such an excellent job in his role here, and we’re so thankful to have him representing our interests as vice-chairman of the education committee in the Tennessee House. He’s so deserving of this award.”
The award honoring Slater’s commitment to higher education will be presented at the TICUA Annual Meeting on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, in Nashville, Tennessee.
GALLATIN, TN—Welch College Athletic Director Greg Fawbush has announced that Emma Guthrie has resigned as the volleyball coach for Welch. Coach Guthrie has coached the Lady Flames for the past four seasons. She was a four-year starter for the Lady Flames before she was hired as the head coach following her senior year.
“The Flames Volleyball program has shown great improvement under Coach Guthrie,” Coach Fawbush said. “Her leadership was demonstrated when she coached her first season during the pandemic. There were many obstacles that she was able to lead the players through during this difficult time. Coach Guthrie also made program history in her third season when she led the team to regional championship and first ever trip to the NCCAA national tournament.”
While at Welch Guthrie helped produce several all-regional volleyball players and an NCCAA DII player of the year. “Coach Guthrie has been a constant spiritual mentor to the team in the volleyball program,” Fawbush added. “She was a constant professional during her four years as a coach. Welch College has been blessed to have Emma as part of the athletic program for the past eight years as a player and coach. Coach Guthrie believes that God is opening up other ministry opportunities for her. The Welch College Athletic department looks forward to supporting her on her path.”
For information about Welch athletics, email Coach Fawbush at gfawbush@welch.edu.
