by jowens | Feb 4, 2013
For Immediate Release
February 4, 2013
Welch College Ministerial Students Attend Ohio Conference and Preach in Area Churches
NASHVILLE, TN—Three Welch College ministerial students attended the January 24 – 26, Ohio Men’s Retreat, and preached in area churches the following Sunday, according to John Murray, Christian service director at Welch College. The students, along with Mr. Murray, travelled to Central Ohio for the three-day retreat at the Heartland Conference Retreat Center, and then separated on Sunday to preach.
The group departed from campus at 6 a.m. on a brisk, 19-degree Thursday morning, January 24. They arrived in Marengo, Ohio at 2:00 p.m. where they met with over 400 other men of varying ages for the retreat. “The Ohio Men’s Retreat was refreshing and challenging. Every age was represented, and the altar was full each day,” Mr. Murray said.
On Sunday, the group split up to preach at their respective churches. In all, the preaching team ministered to over three hundred people.
Noah Demerchant, a Welch College Sophomore from New Brunswick, Canada, said, “I really enjoyed speaking at New Hope Free Will Baptist Church (Chillicothe). The congregation was friendly and welcoming.”
Walther Hernandez, Welch College Sophomore from Kearneysville, West Virginia, said, “Sciotodale Free Will Baptist Church (Portsmouth) was a great church to visit. They made me feel right at home. This was a trip to remember.”
Dustin Walters, Welch College Sophomore from Winfield, Alabama, said, “From the onset of our journey north, God began to bless. The men’s retreat was a time of spiritual refreshing. The wonderful people from Porter Free Will Baptist Church (Portsmouth, Ohio) are very interested in and appreciative of the work of Welch College.”
Mr. John Murray, Christian service director, said, “The people at Harrison Free Will Baptist Church (Minford) were so welcoming. I felt liberty in preaching.”
The trip ended with the students and Mr. Murray returning to campus at 7:30 Sunday evening, January 27, having travelled nearly 1,000 miles in the four-day trip. Mr. Murray said of the weekend, “In spite of having one of our preachers not be able to go with us due to sickness, we had a wonderful trip. The snow and frigid temperature in no way cooled down the exciting weekend. It is always a privilege to work with our student-preachers.”
The next preaching trip is planned for February 2 – 3, and will be to Tupelo, Mississippi. The last trip of the semester will be to East Tennessee and is set for early April.
by jowens | Jan 24, 2013
NASHVILLE, TN—Mrs. Lynsey Riggs, administrative assistant to the provost at Welch College since 2010, has resigned effective February 1, 2013, according to Provost Greg Ketteman. She and her husband Jacob will relocate to Royal Oak, Michigan in February where Jacob will serve as associate pastor at Central Free Will Baptist Church.
Mrs. Riggs is a 2008 Welch College graduate. She went on to receive her Master’s degree in Business Administration from Middle Tennessee State University in May 2012.
During her senior year, she began working with the college’s institutional advancement staff. She also worked in the Enrollment Management office for a time before being named administrative assistant in September 2010.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity I’ve had to serve in different areas at Welch College over the last five years,” Lynsey said. “I enjoyed helping students and getting to know the faculty and staff. It’s been a privilege to learn and grow under such great leaders during my time here. I will miss my Welch family very much, but we are excited to begin our new ministry in Royal Oak.”
Dr. Ketteman, Welch College provost, said, “Mrs. Lynsey Riggs has served Welch College with excellence, providing pleasant, professional, prompt attention to students, visitors, staff, faculty, and administrators. She has been invaluable in the college’s transition to a web-based, digital student information system, and in management of many important college processes such as the college catalog, new-student registration, and commencement. We have come to depend on Mrs. Riggs; her strong skills and outstanding work ethic will be greatly missed. We pray for God’s richest blessings on the Riggs’ new ministry in Michigan.”
Lynsey is the third member of her immediate family to attend Welch College. Her father Mark Stripling graduated from the college in 1986. He pastors First Free Will Baptist Church in North Little Rock, Arkansas, and serves on the Welch College Board of Trustees. Her mother Debbie Landers Stripling also attended the college, graduating in 1983.
“Lynsey amazes me,” said Jack Williams, director of communications at Welch College. “She’s a self-starter. She’s creative and dependable and meets deadlines with no excuses. She’s one-of-a-kind and greets every day with a smile and a can-do attitude. I already miss her.”
by jowens | Jan 15, 2013
NASHVILLE, TN— Welch College launched its new website on Tuesday, January 15, to replace the former “fwbbc.edu” url, according to Josh Owens, director of media and marketing. The new site combines aesthetics with easy-to-navigate menus and will be the hub for all things Welch College. The new site can be found at www.welch.edu.
Visitors can access all information on the site with a simple scroll and click. Prospective students will find admission and financial aid information, as well as helpful data about campus life and the surrounding Nashville area, all conveniently located and easily accessed.
Josh Owens said, “In a world of ever-changing technology being accessed daily by prospective students, faculty, staff, alumni, and donors, Welch College needed a new footprint on the web. We only have one chance to make a first impression, and our old site did not allow us to make the most of that opportunity.”
The new site is designed to do just that. From the brilliant blue and gold themed pages to the pictures depicting student life, to the efficient design, the college’s new website will make a positive impression on visitors.
While the new site is a major leap forward in aiding prospective students as they make their college decision, it will also be a breath of fresh air for current students, parents, faculty and staff members, and the extended Welch College family. Visitors to the site will have access to up-to-date news and events occurring at the college including the latest press releases and athletics information. Students will also find handy links to the Populi student information system as well as contact data for professors and staff members.
“Since July 2012, the college has updated its social media platforms (Facebook, twitter, instagram) to better communicate the happenings at Welch College,” Owens said. “The new website is the last and largest element needed to complete our media upgrade. Users will find the site very informative and easy to navigate.”
President Matt Pinson said, “It’s exciting that Welch College has a new website to match its new name. I look forward to how this change–the first new website in a decade–will help us communicate our mission more effectively to all interested visitors.”
Check out the new website at www.welch.edu.
by jowens | Jan 11, 2013
Nashville, TN—The fall 2012 semester at Welch College ended with 106 students receiving academic recognition, according to Provost Greg Ketteman. Twenty-nine students made all A’s and were placed on the President’s List—nine seniors, six juniors, seven sophomores, and seven freshmen. Seventy-seven students earned a B average or higher and were placed on the Provost’s (formerly Dean’s) list—12 seniors, 14 juniors, 27 sophomores, and 24 freshmen.
President’s List: “A” Honor Roll
Ailworth, Kameron (Fr.) TN
Ayers, Rebekah (Sr.) AL
Bellar, Brandi (So.) TN
Brown, Brittany (Sr.) VA
Clem, Kristina (Sr.) TN
Cloninger, John (Jr.) TN
Conner, Emily (So.) MI
Cozby, Tina (So.) TN
Dankson, Charity (Jr.) TN
Deel, Austin (So.) TN
Freeman, Amber (Sr.) TN
Hewett, Samantha (So.) AR
Hicks, Kelly (Sr.) TN
Hill, Elizabeth (So.) VA
Hoffmaster, Thomas (Fr.) WV
Hovis, Bethany (Jr.) MO
Jackson, Rachel (Sr.) TN
Lewis, Casey (So.) NC
Manning, Jacob (Jr.) NC
Morgan, Rebekah (Fr.) TN
Parrish, Emily (Fr.) NC
Pierce, Aaron (Sr.) MS
Ramos, Leigha (Sr.) TN
Sample, Kayla (Sr.) IL
Smith, Candice (Fr.) Canada
Trotter, Audrey (Jr.) TN
Tuttobene, Raven (Fr.) TN
Williams, Samantha (Jr.) AR
Zuniga, Zuri (Fr.) AR
Provost’s List: “B” Honor Roll
Seniors
Coker, Daniel (MS)
Culwell, Jacob (TN)
Cyrus, Christian (KY)
Hampton, Nicholas (TN)
Horton, Toney (TN)
Looney, Jordan (TN)
Pointer, Catherine (AR)
Shope, Bethany (TN)
Sims, Brittani (MI)
Stone, Kacy (KY)
Thornsbury, Frank (KY)
Wilkerson, Allison (AL)
Juniors
Cox, Cassandra (TN)
Forlines, Joel (TN)
Frisbee, Tracy (TN)
Fry, Katy (MO)
Hall, Mary (NC)
Ham, Pamela (TN)
Hutchinson, Tim (MI)
Kyburz, Richie (MO)
Monroe, Jade (TX)
Mouser, Matthew (TN)
Nelson, Melissa (NC)
Sisk, Hope (TN)
Suarez, Josue (FL)
Whitworth, Emily (TN)
Sophomores
Bell, Victoria (NC)
Brown, Reese (TN)
Burns, Rachel (OH)
Coats, Bethany (SD)
Dunbar, Joshua (AR)
Fondren, Brooke (MS)
Herren, Dakota NC)
Houske, Russell (TN)
Lane, Collin (AR)
Lindgren, Madison (CA)
Lindsay, Deandra (AL)
Lute, Derreck (OH)
Mouser, Amanda (TN)
Nelson, Kelsey (NC)
Petty, Maria (IL)
Pool, Mary-Catherine (NC)
Pugh, Daniel (TN)
Reeves, David (KY)
Riggs, Johanna (France)
Riggs, Laura (France)
Shamblin, John (MS)
Smith, Wayne (SC)
Snow, Elizabeth (TN)
Trussell, Kristin (FL)
Tucker, Gregory (TN)
Wilson, Christian (TN)
Wilson, Derek (TN)
Freshmen
Armstrong, Eric (AL)
Campbell, Anna (TN)
Clarke, Staci (OH)
Congleton, Jacy (NC)
Driggers, Hannah (SC)
Forlines, Jared (TN)
Hampton, Rachel (TN)
Heeter, Marissa (OH)
Hester, Spencer (TN)
Holden, Trevor (AR)
Hollis, Michael (NC)
Jenkins, Lesley (TN)
Melvin, Jessica (TN)
Merkh, Caroline (TN)
Milling, Caleb (TN)
Newland, John (TN)
Owen, Melissa (GA)
Pickett, Amy (AR)
Price, Hannah (OH)
Simpson, Keri (VA)
Stonerock, Paula (OH)
Thrasher, Emily (MI)
Trimble, Alyssa (CA)
Williams, Hannah (FL)
by jowens | Jan 1, 2013
NASHVILLE, TN—The Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature (TISL) met at the State Capitol November 15 – 18, and selected Welch College Student Body President Frank Thornsbury to receive its prestigious Carlisle Award. Sixty colleges and universities were represented at the model legislature which takes place annually and provides Tennessee college students an opportunity to learn about, and be involved in, the law-?making processes of the state.
Frank Thornsbury, a graduating senior from Kentucky, led a four-person delegation from Welch College. This marks the second year this team has represented Welch College at TISL. Collin Lane, a sophomore from Arkansas, served as alternate senator. Sophomore Bethany Coats (South Dakota) and senior Daniel Coker (Mississippi) both served in the House of Representatives.
“Our students had a very successful session.” Thornsbury said. “We represented the conservative Christian values espoused by our campus. Although we as conservatives were in the minority, we were able to push through some excellent legislation and block bad legislation. We took that role seriously in that TISL bills have the potential to become actual legislation.”
The 2011 session saw TISL participants vote Frank Thornsbury “Best Senator.” This year, Thornsbury was given the oldest and most prestigious award TISL offers participants: the Carlisle Award, voted on by the executive council.
“Receiving the Carlisle Award was a bit of a surprise. Honestly, I went in focused on defending my ‘Best Senator’ title,” Thornsbury remarked. “I was honored to receive this prestigious award and grateful for the opportunity to represent Welch College in the process.”
Welch College Provost Greg Ketteman said, “The Carlisle Award is evidence of Mr. Thornsbury’s commitment to excellence. I commend Mr. Thornsbury and our other TISL representatives for their voluntary service and for exercising their right and responsibility to bring Christian principles to bear in the public arena.”
