President George W. Bush to be Speaker at 46th Annual Advisory Board Benefit Dinner
May 15
Freed-Hardeman University announced today that George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States and Founder of the George W. Bush Foundation will be the featured speaker at the 46th Annual Advisory Board Benefit Dinner on December 3, 2010. Bush was selected from a long list of possibilities by the alumni and administration.
“Any time you can get a former president on campus - it is a real win for our university and for our constituency,” said Dave Clouse, vice president of university advancement. “In the last 10 years we have had his father and his mother on our campus and now to have him really shows just how special this event is.”
The annual dinner, which has provided more than $15.5 million in student scholarships over the history of the program, has exceeded $1 million in gifts each year for the past 9 years. This year the university will approach $1.4 million in gifts making it once again, the single largest one-day fundraising event in Tennessee and possibly the southeast.
Partnering with Freed-Hardeman as a corporate sponsor this year is Forever Communications (Froggy 104, Rock 92.3, TJ Network). “We have had a relationship with this event for over a decade, “ said Verla Price, executive vice president, “Freed-Hardeman does an excellent job of creating a first-class event and we naturally want to partner our top-rated radio stations with the excellence that is Freed-Hardeman University. Once again, we want to be a major part of helping students receive an outstanding college education.”
“The gifts we receive as a result of this event are given directly to the scholarship fund,” said Clouse. “We feed close to 3,000 people that night, all served by the students that benefit from the dinner. Our donors get to see how their gift changes the lives of young people at this great university. Combine that with the opportunity to hear George W. Bush and you have an unbelievable event.
George W. Bush will not be the first U.S. president to step foot on FHU’s campus. In the 1970’s the 38th President Gerald Ford was the speaker at this event followed by 41st President, George H.W. Bush in 2000.
For more information about the event visit
www.fhu.edu/w or contact the office of university advancement at 800-348-3481.
George W. Bush Biography
George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States, was sworn into office on January 20, 2001, re-elected on November 2, 2004, and sworn in for a second term on January 20, 2005. Before his Presidency, he served for six years as Governor of the State of Texas.
President Bush was born July 6, 1946, in New Haven, Connecticut, to Barbara and George H.W. Bush – later the 41st President of the United States. In 1948, the family moved to Texas, where President Bush grew up in Midland and Houston. He received a bachelor’s degree in history from Yale University in 1968, and then served as a pilot in the Texas Air National Guard. President Bush received a Master of Administration degree from Harvard Business School in 1975. Following graduation, he moved back to Midland and began a career in the energy business. After working on his father’s successful 1988 Presidential campaign, President Bush led a group of partners that purchased the Texas Rangers baseball franchise in 1989.
On November 8, 1994, George W. Bush was elected the 46th Governor of Texas. He became the first governor in Texas history to be elected to consecutive four-year terms when he was re-elected on November 3, 1998. In Austin, he earned a reputation for his bipartisan governing approach and his compassionate conservative philosophy, which was based on limited government, personal responsibility, strong families, and local control.
As President, George W. Bush worked to expand freedom, opportunity and security at home and abroad. His first initiative as President was the No Child Left Behind Act, a bipartisan measure that raised standards in schools, insisted on accountability in return for federal dollars and led to measurable gains in achievement-especially among minority students. Faced with a recession when he took office, President Bush cut taxes for every federal income taxpayer, which helped lead to an unprecedented 52 straight months of job creation. President Bush also modernized Medicare by adding a prescription drug benefit that provided access to needed medicine for 40 million seniors and other beneficiaries.
President Bush implemented free trade agreements with more than a dozen nations; empowered America’s armies of compassion by creating USA Freedom Corps and the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives; promoted a culture of life; improved air quality and made America’s energy supply more secure; designated more ocean area habitats for environmental protection than any predecessor; modernized the military to meet the changing threats of the 21st century and nearly doubled government support for veterans; pioneered a new model that tied American foreign aid to reform and good governance; launched global HIV/AIDS and malaria initiatives that have saved millions of lives; expanded the NATO alliance; forged a historic new partnership with India; and appointed Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The most significant event of President Bush’s tenure came on September 11, 2001, when terrorists killed nearly 3,000 people on American soil. President Bush responded with a comprehensive strategy to protect the American people. He led the most dramatic reorganization of the federal government since the beginning of the Cold War, reforming the intelligence community and establishing new institutions like the Department of Homeland Security. He built global coalitions to remove violent regimes in Afghanistan and Iraq that threatened America-liberating more than 50 million people from tyranny. Recognizing that freedom and hope are the best alternative to the extremist ideology of the terrorists, he provided unprecedented American support for young democracies and dissidents in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and elsewhere. In the more than seven years following September 11, 2001, the United States was not attacked again.
Since leaving office, President Bush has focused his attention on developing the George W. Bush Presidential Center at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. The Center will house the archives of the Bush Presidency, as well as a museum in which visitors will be able to view a replica of the Oval Office, see historic artifacts such as the bullhorn President Bush used in his visit to Ground Zero on September 14, 2001, and learn more about the Bush Presidency through case studies and exhibits. The Center also includes a policy institute that is promoting action-oriented initiatives in human freedom, education, economic opportunity, and global health, as well as social entrepreneurship and a women’s initiative; Institute programming began in the Spring of 2010.
President Bush also is working on his book, Decision Points, which will be released on November 9, 2010.
President Bush is married to Laura Welch Bush, a former teacher and librarian whom he met at a friend’s backyard barbeque. They have twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna, and a son-in-law, Henry Hager. The Bush family also includes two dogs, Barney and Miss Beazley.
March 4
On Monday and Tuesday, March 8th and 9th, Freed-Hardeman will host Deb Cleveland and Dr. Aaron Johnson, coauthors of Man from Macedonia: My Life of Service, Struggle, Faith and Hope. The book is a retelling of stories on the intense racial climate of the mid-20th Century that draws upon the communal memories of sit-ins, protests and lynchings. Johnson, a long-time advocate of the civil rights movement, along with Cleveland, author of Hugs from Heaven: Portraits of a Woman’s Faith, unite to relate memories that the nation’s consciousness can no longer ignore.
Johnson, a forerunner of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and a pupil of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was the first African-American Secretary of Corrections in the state of North Carolina. After the assassination of Dr. King, Johnson was commissioned by North Carolina Governor, Dan Moore, to help ease racial strife and to encourage unity through the pulpit as a Baptist minister. This fight would bring Johnson toe to toe with extremist organizations like the Klu Klux Klan and the Black Panthers. Though he has faced threats to his life—even kidnappings—as a toll for his position in the corrections system, the pressure never kept Dr. Johnson from being a positive example to all types of people.
Johnson inspired Operation Macedonia that later became Operation Starting Line—a collaborative effort that combines the power of Prison Fellowship, Angel Tree and Justice Fellowship: three spiritual programs started by penitent prisoners. In the fall of 1992, Johnson introduced these influences into his state’s prisons. Remnants of Johnson’s leadership in the North Carolina prison system are still evident today. More than 700,000 inmates have been reached through Charles Colson’s Prison Fellowship since 1977.
During the ensuing weeks, Cleveland and Johnson will be making four stops to promote this new book. Along with Lipscomb University in Nashville and Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, Cleveland is proud to make an appearance at her alma mater—Freed-Hardeman. During their two-day visit, Cleveland and Johnson will be involved in speaking opportunities in various classes to convey the techniques of writing from such a perspective and the life applications of having seen firsthand some of the things that Dr. Johnson has seen. The FHU Bookstore will have copies of the new book and will be hosting a book signing.
In addition to his presentations during chapel on Monday and Tuesday, Dr. Johnson will lead in a communal remembrance of America’s fierce racial history in his presentation “Where We Are and Where We Have Been.” This presentation will be open to the public and will be held in Ayers Auditorium on Monday evening from 7-7:50 p.m. with a question and answer session to follow.
February 3
The recent earthquakes in Haiti have left thousands without homes, jobs and families. Streets are littered with glass and metal, and thousands of survivors are without proper footwear. Soles4Souls, a global footwear non-profit organization, has been counting on the influence of interested individuals since 2004 to help meet the needs of at-risk areas around the world. The charity relies on the individual efforts of concerned citizens who have a heart of giving.
Soles4Souls attempts to be thoughtful and thorough in their estimation of needs before sending shoes to an area. Therefore, the group sends footwear that is appropriate to the climate and conditions of a certain area. In Port-au-Prince, Haiti where there are really no safe walking areas because of sewage and debris, clean, durable shoes are essential.
At Freed-Hardeman University, there is at least one individual who has been a catalyst to this effort. Arianne Krulish, a senior at Freed-Hardeman, is enlisting fellow students, faculty and friends in a mission to meet the sizable goal of 10,000 pairs by February 11, 2010. Soles4Souls faculty contact, Dr. Greg Massey acknowledged the tendency of some to display hesitancy in giving but says, “This is much more tangible…even one pair of shoes makes a difference.”
Krulish challenges fellow FHU students to pledge only two pairs of shoes to the Soles4Souls effort and is looking to area businesses, schools and churches to do the same: “If everyone gave two pairs, we’d already be halfway there.”
In recent weeks, Soles4Souls has gained the support of Payless Shoes, Jackson Christian, Chester County Schools and several others. Krulish hopes that many more businesses will pledge a specific amount of shoes. She said, “If everyone makes a goal that is somewhat challenging and sticks to it, I have no doubt that we can get 10,000 pairs.”
While the disaster in Haiti was what spurred the reaction of so many Freed-Hardeman students, Krulish said, “This is a great avenue of service. This is what Christians ought to be doing.” Freed-Hardeman seeks to work alongside the community of Henderson to make this dream reality for thousands of Haitians in need. Businesses are encouraged to set out clearly labeled boxes for this purpose and to bring them to any drop off location before deadline on Thursday, February 11th. The Gardener Center lobby, the library and the lobby of Loyd Auditorium are all FHU drop off locations. If businesses are not able to bring the shoes, they may contact Arianne Krulish at (716) 499-7029 or Dr. Greg Massey at (731) 989-6067.
While this all seems easy enough, the Soles4Souls volunteers at FHU will need plenty of help consolidating, rubber banding, packaging and transporting the shoes, so any other help would be greatly appreciated. From here, the footwear will be moved to the Soles4Souls headquarters in Nashville, TN where they will be sorted, cleaned, laced and shipped to their ultimate destination in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
February 3
On March 1, 2010, Freed-Hardeman University will host the 11th annual Administrative Technology Academy. The Tennessee Technology Association sponsors three regional technology Academies in east, middle, and west Tennessee. This will be the third consecutive year that Freed has had the honor to host the West Tennessee convention.
Each year, companies develop new electronic tools for teachers, but the opportunity to learn about and use these tools are limited. The Academy aims to keep teachers in K-12 classrooms up-to-date on the current technology available for the classroom and teach them how to integrate these instruments into their curriculum. Approximately 85% of the attendants will be teachers, principals, and affiliates of K-12 schools. The other 15% is comprised of university professors and educational students preparing to teach.
All of the sessions will be held in the Brown-Kopel business center. There will be four sessions with eight to ten different classes offered in every session. Participants will be able to choose the classes they attend so they can select topics that will be most pertinent to their current stage of teaching. Several technology vendors, such as AT&T, Personal Computer Systems (makers of the Promethean Board), Discovery Education, and Apple, will give demonstrations on how to use the particular items they market. Teachers and school administrators will teach other sessions over how they personally incorporated different forms of technology into their schools and individual classrooms.
You may register for this event online at www.teta.org. If you have any further questions, please contact Dr. M. Monte Tatom at mtatom@fhu.edu or 731-989-6088.
February 3
Mark your calendars—the next Maroon and Gold Day is fast approaching.
Maroon and Gold day essentially puts a prospective student in the shoes of a current student. From in-depth campus tours to visiting college level classes, parents and prospective students get a look into a day in the life of a Freed-Hardeman University student. The day is hosted by Freed-Hardeman’s Campus Delegate Team (CDT) and Admissions office. All juniors and seniors in high school who are considering FHU as their college home are encouraged to register. The expected 100 students and parents will definitely not be disappointed by their trip. This event goes far beyond the typical campus visit—it is truly a day in the life of a Freed-Hardeman student.
After checking in at Loyd Auditorium, all the students will meet at 10:30 a.m. for daily chapel. The prospective students and their parents will then have the opportunity to eat lunch with faculty from all of the educational departments at Freed. This time will allow the students to discuss their future majors with the people who know about them best: their future teachers. Next, Freed’s popular singing group, The Ambassadors, will perform for all of the attendants. Following the concert, students and parents will be taken to separate sessions. The student session will give the potential “Freedies” a better sampling of the college life; parents will meet with financial aid. At the end of the day, optional dorm tours are offered.
You can register online at http://www.fhu.edu/MaroonAndGold until the events begin on February 15th. If you have any questions you may contact the Admissions Office at 731-989-6651.
Third Annual Chili Bowl Has Community Significance
January 12
On February 1, once again, the people of Henderson, Freed-Hardeman University Alumni, faculty, staff and students will perfect their recipes to create what they hope will be the champion chili in the third annual FHU Chili Bowl.
“This has become a great event on our campus,” said Betsy Hesselrode, director of alumni relations at FHU. “It is a lot of fun for families and friends of the community to come and enjoy a ballgame and some great Chili.”
All proceeds from the ticket sales of this year’s event will go to the Dennis Cagle Memorial Fund. According to Hesselrode, that decision was easy.
“The Henderson Community is very important to Freed-Hardeman University,” said Hesselrode. “From the city and county governments, to the Chamber to all of the wonderful people who help make an education at Freed-Hardeman a reality, Henderson is very important to our mission and what we do in this community. The protection we receive from our police department is no exception. We want this year’s event to be our biggest yet so we can show our appreciation to those who protect our community and our university. Hopefully donations to the Dennis Cagle Memorial Fund will be one more demonstration by the community and the university how we appreciate the Henderson Police force and what they do for our community.
The Chili Bowl is open to everyone. There will be a live music and prizes and of course, lots of tasty Chili. The doors open at 5:30. The Chili Bowl will be followed by a basketball game between the FHU Lions and Lambuth University. Teams can register for $25. Rules and entry forms are available atwww.fhu.edu/chilibowl. Tickets for unlimited tasting are $5. Students and seniors are welcome for $3. For more information contact the FHU Office of Alumni Relations at 731-989-6021.
FHU Hosts 74th Bible Lectureship
Perfecting God's People: Christ and Culture in Corinthians
January 27
Freed-Hardeman students and staff are preparing again to welcome a multitude of FHU friends, alumni and prospective students for the university’s 74th Annual Lectureship. This event will begin Sunday, February 7th in a congregational singing at Loyd Auditorium and will conclude on Friday, February 12th in a chapel presentation at 10:30 a.m.
Each year, the lectureship includes a week of in-depth forums, lectures, workshops and seminars on a specific biblical topic. This year’s topic, Perfecting God's People: Christ and Culture in Corinthians, will focus on issues relative to those addressed by Paul in his first and second letters to the Corinthian church. According to Dr. David Lipe, the lectureship’s director, such issues include unity, inspiration, the cross, preaching, fellowship, marriage, worship, roles of women, spiritual gifts, love, life after death, giving and many more.
During chapel each day, speakers will traverse specific portions of I Corinthians 13 in reference to its central theme, love. The alliterative progression will expound upon what love means for the New Testament Christian: excellent, edifying, enduring, enlightening and endless.
In addition to the 120 speakers and lectures, the Lectureship’s 17th Annual Youth Workers’ Workshop and the 2nd Annual Bible School Workshop as well as a host of special events like women’s writing workshops and special programs regarding missions, preaching, technology, hard sayings of the Bible, leadership, counseling and contemporary concerns will be part of the week’s activities. It is sure to provide something for everyone, everyday.
The lectureship will host two appreciation dinners this year. The first will be on the evening of Tuesday, February 9th at 5 p.m. to honor author and lecturer, Jack P. Lewis, for his academic and spiritual accomplishments at Freed-Hardeman and in the brotherhood of the churches of Christ. The second dinner, in appreciation of elders, preachers and sponsors, will be Thursday night at 5 p.m.
In years past, more than 5,000 guests, sometimes accompanied by their entire families, have come to enjoy the lectures, the workshops, the special events and the nostalgia of being surrounded by old friends and classmates. With a fresh program and a promising theme, Freed-Hardeman anticipates a good crowd. For any further information on Freed-Hardeman’s 74th Annual Lectureship, consult the website at
www.fhu.edu/lectureship. An entire program of the week’s activities can be found at that location. If you have other questions, please call the university at 800-FHU-FHU1.
Broadway Composer and Director Duo to Visit FHU
October 16
Little Women, the FHU homecoming play, will have a bit of the big apple as part of the production. Jason Howland, composer of the Broadway musical Little Women, and Dani Davis, accomplished Broadway director, songwriter and producer will be on campus October 19 and 20 to meet with the FHU theatre department and the cast of Little Women.
“This is an incredible opportunity for our students and our department, “ said Dr. Cliff Thompson, director of theatre at Freed-Hardeman. “Its not often students get to meet with Broadway producers and composers with such rich pedigrees.”
Howland and Davis will meet with the cast of Little Women at 7 p.m. on October 19 followed by a meeting with the Honors College at 9 p.m. They will also host a Brown Bag Lunch Lecture at noon on October 20 and a 3 p.m. workshop for students in FHU’s Black Box Theatre.
Howland, co-founder of Half Pint Studios with Davis, is the composer of the Broadway musical Little Women The Musical, composed the score for the off-Broadway hit, Blessing in Disguise, and is at work on two other musicals, Could it Be, and Mariel. Together Davis and Howland created the Christmas event Handel’s Messiah Rocks: A Joyful Noise a symphonic-rock concert based on the classical oratorio by George F. Handel. Most recently, through their production company Current Half Pint Studios projects include two all new holiday pieces for the Joyful Noise series, the interactive Pirate Adventure Academy, and the score for a new webisode series, The Boardroom, created by Candace Bushnell, author of Sex and the City.
Jason has been a musical director and conductor on Broadway for over twelve years. He served as musical director and conductor for Broadway’s Jekyll and Hyde, Les Miserables and for Rosie O’Donnell’s Broadway production of Boy George’s musical, TABOO. He was musical supervisor for Broadway's The Scarlett Pimpernel and The Civil War. He has appeared as a guest conductor with the Atlanta Symphony, the Florida Orchestra, The New Jersey Symphony, The Maine State Symphony, and The Memphis Symphony and has conducted in concert across the country for such notables as Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Brandy, Bebe & Cece Winans, Carl Anderson, Linda Eder, Sebastian Bach, David Hasselhoff, Rob Evan, Kate Shindle, Lauren Kennedy, Davis Gaines, The Kingston Trio, and Lizz Wright.
Dani Davis, director, songwriter and producer and wife of Howland, has as impressive a resume has her partner at Half Pint Studios. Her Broadway performing and theatrical credits include the The American Dance Machine, the revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, And the World Goes Round, and Fosse. In April 2008, she directed the premiere of Could It Be: Dreams of a Musical, with the Atlanta Symphony, written and conducted by Howland, choreographed by Tiger Martina.
In September, 2008, she directed the premiere of Handel’s Messiah Rocks starring Keith Lockhart, the Boston Pops, Tony Award winner LaChanze, Tony nominee J. Robert Spencer, and international rock star Mig Ayesa. HANDEL’S MESSIAH ROCKS is currently airing nationally on PBS, and the DVD and CD are available on Sony Classical and Integrity Records in October, 2009. A live version of the show is slated to to tour the U.S. in 2010. She was the associate choreographer for Broadway’s The Scarlet Pimpernel, co-director for Blessing in Disguise Off Broadway, and choreographer for Kenny Rogers’ national tour, A Christmas Gift for Hallmark Entertainment. She founded Half Pint Studios with Jason Howland, now in its tenth year. The company creates music properties whose hope-based entertainment appeals to a wide array of audiences. Through Half Pint, Davis was the lead producer for Little Women the Musical on Broadway starring Sutton Foster and Maureen McGovern (one Tony nomination, two Drama Desk nominations), and a co-producer of The Lonesome West (four Tony nominations including Best Play). On tour, she produced Little Women, the Broadway Musical starring Maureen McGovern, and was the Executive Producer of The Wedding Singer for NETworks Presentations. Current projects include two all new holiday pieces for the Joyful Noise series, the interactive Pirate Adventure Academy, and the score for a new webisode series, The Boardroom, with Candace Bushnell, author of Sex and the City. She has a co-publishing deal with Cherry Lane Music Publishing.
Davis and Howland write and create annual benefit music projects including For Aria, Love at Christmastime from Broadway, The Dreams in You for the 9/111 Fund, and Dare to Dream for UNICEF. A graduate of Duke University, Davis is the co-chair of Duke’s Alumnae Mentor Program – D.A.M.E.
Freed-Hardeman Professor Fights for Religion in Education at Oxford University
October 16
While hearing of a Freed-Hardeman professor publicly defending the study of the Bible as the truth of God's word is not a surprising event, it is not very often that they get to do so at Oxford University in England. This past July Dr. Richard England, professor of music and adjunct graduate professor of counseling at FHU, had such an opportunity. For the fourth time Dr. England made his way to the weeklong Oxford Round Table conference at Oxford University in England. When asked how he received such a prestigious invitation all England had to say was, “I honestly have no clue.” Although he may not be exactly sure, there are some pretty good indicators. Apart from being a seasoned attendee to the conference, England has written several book chapters and books. His presentation at the conference his first year resulted in it being published as a chapter in a textbook. The second year he received a second book offer based on his presentation and the third year his paper was published in the academic journal, Forum on Public Policy.
Last year the conference focused on discussing the ability to reconcile mathematics and science with arts and humanities. This year’s forum took the discussion a step further, asking if and how religion could be unified with other disciplines. The discussions focused on the approach to understanding and the approach to knowledge, but many times included debates about educational policy and politics. The caucus was composed of a diverse group of academics, including forty representatives from various religious backgrounds and different countries. Lending to the religious tensions was the keynote speaker, Dr. Richard Dawkins, a well-known and widely published promoter of militant atheism. In his speech Dawkins indicated that religion in any type of educational institution should never be studied as truth; that there is no God; and that no discipline should have an inclusion of God beyond literary studies. “The debates got very personal and very intense at times,” said England.
England, however, had no problem engaging in discussions as a Christian and creationist. England confronted the belief in evolutionary biology and atheism stating at one point, “It’s amazing to me that individuals could say without hesitation exactly what happened 60 billion years ago, and believe they could predict with reasonable certainty the next steps in the evolutionary process, but they bring an umbrella because they are uncertain if it is going to rain.” The conference, England said, was “very enlightening and very frightening.” England reported that what he really understood as a result of attending the conference is that the Christian faith is “ . . . at war in a very strong spiritual sense. There were many times where I thought I was seeing the seeds of the next persecution of Christianity. If people like Dawkins have their way, schools such as Freed-Hardeman would not be allowed to exist. The discussion is not about science, mathematics, arts, or humanities, but it is about a political agenda to silence those who believe in God.”
He went on to say, “I hear from students at times that we are in a ‘bubble’ at Freed-Hardeman. Well good! We need to use the opportunity to know what we believe, and why we believe it without having to endure ridicule and persecution so that when we leave campus we are ready to deal with these things. I am very grateful to have had an opportunity to discuss and debate issues of God, religion, and morality with those that do not believe in God. If there is anything gained by my participation at the conference, I want it to be that you can learn to be confident in your faith and stand up for the truth in the face of those who may seem intimidating.”
FHU CELEBRATES FINE ARTS WEEK WITH A PLETHORA OF PERFORMANCES AND ARTISTIC PRESENTATIONS
September 24
While it may be easy to let academics overshadow the arts in university circles, FHU is working to bring balance to a school that is rich in both arenas. September 24 - October 1 the Fine Arts Department will be presenting Fine Arts Week, a celebration of the creative interests and abilities of artists at FHU and an opportunity for others to actively engage in the arts through choral performances, plays, visual art exhibits, movies and more.
As part of the celebration this month, the Visual Arts Department welcomed Ellis Truett from Henderson County with his exhibit, West Tennessee Musical Instruments. Currently on view at the Troy Plunk Art Gallery, this exhibit is an interesting assortment of 19th and 20th century musical instruments. Truett has worked closely with the Tennessee Folklore Society and Middle Tennessee State University to document early music and instruments used by country folk in Middle and West Tennessee. Included in the collection on view are traditional folk instruments such as dulcimers, fiddles and banjos. Also included are a couple of "homemade dulcimers," officially called Tennessee Music Boxes. This particular vernacular instrument is native to the area of the southern part of middle and western Tennessee, including the counties of Hardin, Wayne, Lawrence and Giles. They have also been found in McNairy and Chester Counties. Nothing more than rectangular wooden boxes with sound holes, the instruments are constructed with simple hardware such as bailing wire, nails, screw eyes and staples. Also of particular interest is a collapsing parson's organ from the 19th century, which was taken to camp meetings. Included with the organ is a shaped note hymnal used by Truett's great-grandfather to teach singing schools.
FHU’s choral group, Chorale, will be performing in chapel on Wednesday the 23 in celebration of the event.
On September 25 at 6:30 FHU will also be hosting Fine Arts Night at the movies: "Angels and Demons" starring Tom Hanks in the Crews Activity Center Movie Theatre. Introducing the movie and leading a discussion session will be Fine Arts and Bible professor Dr. Terry Edwards. Admission is free.
The theatre department will celebrate by welcoming Tom Key in C.S. Lewis Onstage on September 28 at 7 p.m. C.S. Lewis on Stage captures the personality and fiction of the author of The Chronicles of Narnia, The Screwtape Letters, and subject of the Anthony Hopkins’ film Shadowlands—a person he proposes was an Oxford don who could make his audience think as deeply as he made them laugh. Tom Key is the artistic director of a theatrical outfit in Atlanta and has performed off Broadway, in films and on television. Admission is free.
On October 1 the Theatre Department will also be presenting Hurricane Ann, the first stage presentation of a new play by senior theatre major Melanie McCullough and directed by John McLaughlin. The play records a night in the life of the Monroes, a family prepared to weather any storm…except Hurricane Ann. Still reeling from the loss of the family matriarch, the Monroes find themselves trapped in a small basement for what promises to be the biggest landfall in decades. Attitudes and old grievances collide as secrets are revealed, accusations are made and Christmas trees are assembled. Join the Monroes for the wildest and best Hurricane party the South has ever seen, and be a part of theatre history as Melanie develops her new work. The October performance preludes the December 3 performance which will feature a talk-back session led by professional playwright, Jan Buttram. Jan is the artistic director of the Abingdon Theater Company in Manhattan. This week’s staged reading of Hurricane Ann will be at 7 p.m. at the Black Box Theatre. Admission is $3.
September 16
A guest of Freed-Hardeman University Theatre, Tom Key performs his show C.S. Lewis On Stage Monday, September 28 at 7 p.m. in Loyd Auditorium.
Known worldwide, Key has presented this show for over two decades, including performances at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. and the Shaldonean Theater at Oxford University.
C.S. Lewis On Stage puts the audience in the presence of the author himself, as though they are in attendance at one of his popular public appearances. Key explains, “to illuminate important points of his spiritual journey for the audience, Lewis portrays various characters from The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, The Dark Tower and Other Stories, quotes his poetry, and even finishes some alternately hilarious and poignant correspondence from Letters to an American Lady.”
During portions of the show, Lewis "reads" from his work, and Lewis, as a character, vanishes. To establish this convention early, Key integrates a larger-than-life performance of Gabriel and Satan from The Great Divorce, thereby informing the audience what the rules are, and, in turn creating a dynamic yet accessible piece of theatre.
C.S. Lewis was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1898, and died in Oxford in 1963. He held the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance English Literature at Cambridge University. He wrote more than thirty books, ranging from literary criticism to children’s stories.
Tom Key is the Producing Artistic Director of Theatrical Outfit, Atlanta’s fastest growing professional theatre company, where he has presented the world premiere of his play based on Walker Percy’s National Book Award Winning Novel The Moviegoer. He is well known for his award-winning performances in the celebrated off-Broadway musical Cotton Patch Gospel.
Admission is free.
FHU Appoints New Deans and Welcomes New Members of Staff
September 16
Over the summer, Freed-Hardeman University brought in several new faces and appointed two new deans on campus. Dr. LeAnn Self-Davis, dean of the School of Sciences and Mathematics, and Dr. Jenny Johnston, dean of the Honors College, look to be two promising additions to the school’s leadership.
A favorite of students and faculty alike, Self-Davis has already played a vital role in the School of Sciences and Mathematics. Joining the department of chemistry and engineering sciences in 1998, she developed three new courses, served as the departmental student advisor, worked as the environmental compliance officer and served on a number of committees. In 2005 she became the director of undergraduate research at FHU where she began to develop the unique program that provides graduate level research for undergraduate students. During her tenure as director of undergraduate research, Self-Davis also began and created Conservation Nation, an award winning science program for junior high-school students. Self-Davis will be replacing the retiring Dr. Allen Walker.
Michael Watson, a graduate of FHU and current medical student at Des Moines University, had this to say: “ Dr. Self-Davis’s appointment as dean is certainly a boon to the School of Sciences and Mathematics. Her academic experience and love for students make her an excellent, and challenging, teacher and advisor. She played a vital role in my preparation for medical school and her appointment as dean is sure to raise the bar on what is already an excellent program,” said Watson.
The Honors College also welcomed a new dean to their program this year. Another favorite among students and faculty, Dr. Jenny Johnson will be replacing Dr. Rolland Pack in spearheading the work of the Honors College. Apart from her work with the Honors College, Johnson has also accepted the position of Director of International Studies.
Celebrating her tenth year as a professor at FHU, Dr. Johnson has taught in the history department, served as internal studies director for the Italy program, is a board member of West Tennessee Community Health Centers, is on the Admissions Policy Committee for FHU, acts as a sponsor for the FHU Pre-Law Legal Society as well as the social club Chi Beta Chi and is a AYSO soccer coach.
Shelly Tilton, a senior Philosophy major and vice-president of the FHU Honors Council excitedly welcomes Johnson’s appointment. “Her previous involvement with both the honors program and Pre-Legal Society have had a huge impact on my education. Dr. Johnson is a wonderful teacher and I believe she will make an even better dean. I think this was a smart move for the University.”
Several new additions have also been made to the faculty this year. Amy Brewster from Claremore, OK will be joining the communications department as a French instructor. She will also be serving as Director of the International studies program in Belgium and is teaching there this semester.
Brewster is a 1999 Graduate of FHU and holds a Masters of Arts in Linguistics from Indiana University. As part of her language training, Brewster has lived and studied in Montreal, Quebec. Before her arrival at FHU, Brewster taught overseas in Shanghai, China and Strasbourg, France, and in the U. S. at DePauw University and Indiana University.
FHU has welcomed Forrest Doddington of Tallahassee, FL to the communications department. Doddington holds a Masters in Marketing Communication from Florida State University. Prior to joining the FHU faculty, Doddington was an instructor at Florida State University and operated his own web design business. Doddington’s work as a technical communicator for Publix Supermarkets, Inc. is also particularly notable. He not only managed and updated training documents, but also worked as a database designer and systems administrator. His exposure to marketing and communication in the workplace is sure to be an asset in the classroom.
Dr. Ernest Jobe will be joining faculty in the School of Business as a finance instructor.
Jobe formerly served as a professor at the University of North Alabama and Northeast Community College, an associate professor at the University of South Alabama and an assistant professor at Mississippi State University. Jobe has worked in marketing and communication apart from teaching and is the proprietor of Dr. Ernest D. Jobe and Associates Financial and Management Consulting.
Dr. Paul Helton of Medina, TN will be joining the faculty as an assistant professor of psychology. Helton is a 1986 and 1998 graduate of FHU. Twenty-plus years of counseling experience along with a doctorate in Psychology make him a promising member of the Psychology department.
Christopher White of Jackson, TN and Rhonda Woodham of Henderson, TN will be joining FHU’s nursing program. White has served at the Jackson-Madison County General Hospital as the Director of Emergency Services from 2007-2009 and as Director of Nursing Education from 2005-2007. He is a retired major of the United States Army. A graduate of Union University, Woodham’s 20 years of nursing experience is sure to make her another valuable asset to the nursing program.
The communication department has welcomed Dr. Garvis Semore of Kosciusko, Mississippi to the faculty. Semore is the former president of Magnolia Bible College and served as minister for 15 years. He is a 1992 graduate of David Lipscomb University, is a 1995 graduate of Freed-Hardeman University’s Graduate School, and holds a doctorate in Ministry from Southern Christian University.
2009 Leadership Summit
September 15
The Freed-Hardeman University School of Business is hosting the 2009 Leadership Summit this Thursday, September 17th. This year will be a first for FHU to present a business event of this caliber.
Sponsored by Regions Bank, West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation and Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, the event will be made up of two “breakout sessions” where participants can choose to attend any one of three, 25-minute classes.
Featured speakers include Tennessee State Representative for District 72 Steve McDaniel, Community President for Regions Bank of West Tennessee, James Dussenberry and Jay Satterfield, Senior Vice-President for Regions-Morgan Keegan Trust. Assistant Vice-President for Development at Freed-Hardeman University, David Newberry, and Judy Renshaw, Senior Vice-President for the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce will also be speaking.
Session topics are all centered on leadership in different areas, from business, to government, to community. The keynote topic and special chapel will be focused on “Servant Leadership” and “Leadership in the Church,” respectively.
Keith Smith, Dean of the School of Business, will give an introduction, along with Chancellor Milton Sewell, and Smith will be wrapping up the event.
“It’s all about developing better leadership skills,” said FHU’s Director of Graduate Admissions, Jim Brown. “This event is a good opportunity for students to be introduced to government and political leaders who have been where the students are going to be.”
In 2008, the School of Business sponsored a picnic. While the event was considered successful, this year the school decided to pursue a purposed idea of two FHU students. Richie Foy and Blaine Dunsmore, now graduates of FHU, developed a plan for a business leadership event as a project for the class, Special Events Management.
Referring to Foy and Dunsmore’s efforts, Brown said, “It really says a tremendous amount about the students we have here at Freed-Hardeman. They demonstrated a great deal of leadership in the planning of this event.” Though the Leadership Summit does not follow the students’ proposal exactly, the School of Business credits them with the original idea.
The Leadership Summit will take place in the Brown-Kopel Business Center and will last from 8:45 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. Though the event is focused on business majors, it is open to students and faculty of all academic areas.
Henderson, FHU Go Big City with 3G
August 26
Henderson, Tenn. – As students return to campus and receive their new iPhone 3GS as part of the FHU iKnow Initiative, they will have resources like no other institution, and access to the nation's fastest 3G mobile broadband network, right here in Henderson.
Last year the iKnow Initiative put an iPhone or iPod touch in the hand of every freshman and student that wanted one. This year, the program enters its second year and now can boast 3G services.
“We congratulate AT&T for bringing 3G service to our community," said John Bentley, chief information officer at Freed-Hardeman University. “This service will continue to elevate the iKnow Initiative and our ability to provide the most technologically advanced education in the state and possibly in the southeast. AT&T’s 3G network will enrich the overall student experience, make our information more readily accessible and most importantly, help us reach the objectives of the program.”
Faculty at Freed-Hardeman University also utilize the power of the iPhone in the classroom. Converting to 3G means new applications created by the faculty, a smarter classroom, and more power all in the palm of their hand.
“We have all been asked to create new apps for campus and for our students,” said Dr. LeAnn Self-Davis, dean of the school of science and mathematics. “We are developing an app that will measure waste on campus allowing us to become a more “green” campus. 3G will only allow us to do this faster.”
Mark Scott, director of instructional technology agrees that AT&T’s 3G network will further enhance the already nationally recognized iKnow Initiative. "This is a significant development for our iKnow Initiative. Previously it was necessary for the students to be connected to the FHU network in order to take advantage of the iKnow application. This 3G network provides a new opportunity for our students to access accelerated data speeds which will allow for a more seamless experience both inside and outside of the classroom."
Classes begin August 26 on the campus of Freed-Hardeman University. All freshman, sophomores, about half of our faculty, and students who decide to opt into the iKnow program will have access to AT&T’s 3G network if they choose to sign up for a calling plan with AT&T and select the iPhone option of the iKnow Initiative.
August 26
Henderson, Tenn. – Freed-Hardeman University earned the 38 spot among numerically ranked Best Universities--Master's North, South, Midwest, West in the 2010 edition of America’s Best Colleges by U.S. News Media Group. Freed-Hardeman University was also one of only two universities in Tennessee (Lee University) to receive the prestigious Great School, Great Price distinction. FHU has received this recognition since 2006. The exclusive rankings, which include more than 1,400 schools nationwide, can be found at www.usnews.com/colleges, and will also appear in the September issue of the U.S.News & World Report magazine, on newsstands starting August 20th.
FHU moved up a spot from last year and remains in the top tier schools, a distinction the school has enjoyed for the last 10 years.
“I believe Freed-Hardeman University will continue to move in the ranking as we continue to grow and become the technological leader among schools in Tennessee and in the south,” said Dr. Joe Wiley, president of Freed-Hardeman University. “This is a tribute to the hard work our faculty and staff have done in the last year to make our university more healthy. We are ready for the challenges of the next decade, and are preparing our students to be prepared for the challenges of the next century.”
Wiley attributes much of the university’s recent success to the iKnow Initiative that began last year.
“Our faculty have been called to go speak all over the nation to talk about what we are doing in the classroom and about our iKnow Initiative. It is exciting to see other universities and even those in the private sector looking to us for leadership in technology and instruction. I believe we can continue this excellence while still providing an affordable Christian college education,” said Wiley.
The 2010 America’s Best Colleges package provides the most thorough examination of how more than 1,400 accredited four-year schools compare on a set of 15 widely accepted indicators of excellence. Among the many factors weighed in determining the rankings, the key measures of quality are: peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving, and graduation rate performance (National Universities and Liberal Art Colleges). For more information about America's Best Colleges, visit www.usnews.com/colleges. To access the Premium Online Edition, go towww.usnews.com/usnews/store/products/college_index.htm.
Tolling of the Bell, August 26
August 26
On August 26, Freed-Hardeman University will hold the 10th annual Tolling of the Bell ceremony in Loyd Auditorium. The ceremony marks the beginning of the new academic school year.
Each year, in addition to officially installing the freshman class as official alumni of the university, the ceremony features individuals that have been significant in the success of Freed-Hardeman University and the work of the church. The Masters of the Bell for this year have supported and served the church and Christian education throughout their many years together. Reared in Christian homes, Joe and Wanda Johnson have dedicated their careers and lives to God’s work. Their support and concern for living righteously makes them ideal examples and deserving of this high honor to begin Freed-Hardeman University’s one-hundred and forty-first year of teaching how to live and how to make a living.
Joe and Wanda Johnson met at Freed-Hardeman in the late 1930s where both earned their Associates degrees and became long-time, dedicated supporters of Christian education. The Joe and Wanda Johnson Endowed Academic Scholarship at Freed-Hardeman University was established in their honor.
Joe preached his first sermon in June 1938 and has served as a “located minister” for congregations in Nashville, Waverly, Tenn. and Hurricane Mills, Tenn., as well as Carbondale, Ill., and Anna, Ill. He currently teaches and preaches each Sunday morning at the Grassylead Church of Christ , south of Corning, Ark. and teaches the Wednesday evening auditorium Bible class at the Pyburn Street Church of Christ in Pocahontas, Ark., where they are members.
He has preached on radio and television for many years and currently broadcasts sixty-second messages daily on KPOC 103.9 FM in Pocahontas. Additionally, he participates with other local ministers who present “Speaking the Truth in Love,” a thirty-minute television program, broadcast every Sunday morning on KAIT-TV in Jonesboro, Ark.
Joe began a forty-year career with Sears, Roebuck and Co. in Shreveport, La., in 1939. At his retirement in 1979 he was serving as sales promotion and advertising manager for 26 Sears stores in Louisiana, Texas and New Mexico.
Wanda has always supported Joe in his work and has served the church as a Bible class teacher for many years. Additionally, she was a substitute teacher for 20 years at the Lakeshore Drive Junior High School in Shreveport, La., having taught “every subject offered, except Boys’ P.E., including band, choir, art and special education.”
Joe was born in Vernon, Ala., the fourth of six children born to the J.A. Johnsons. Wanda was the younger of two children born to the Hubert Halls of Tuckerman, Ark. Both Joe and Wanda were valedictorians of their high school classes. Married for almost 70 years (Sept. 26), the Johnsons have two children, Wanda Jo Moseley of Jonesboro, Ark . and Donald H. Johnson of Springfield, Mo. They have four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Both their son Don and son-in-law, Owen B. Moseley, are elders in their respective congregations.
The ceremony is open to the public. Past Masters of the Bell include John and Rosemary Brown, Rebecca and Regina Woods, Woody and Patsy Loden, Dr. E. Claude Gardner, Dr. Milton Sewell and Dr. Joe Wiley.
Huckabee to Speak at Benefit Dinner
May 27
He may not have received the nomination for president, but the former Republican Arkansas governor and host of Fox News Huckabee got the nod from Freed-Hardeman University to be the speaker at the 45th annual advisory board benefit dinner. Governor Mike Huckabee will be on campus December 4, to headline the event as the university prepares to raise another $1 million for the 8th consecutive year.
“Our alumni and friends continue to make this event one of the greatest in Tennessee,” said Dave Clouse, vice president for university advancement. “Hosting the single largest fundraising event in Tennessee may seem easy, but it is a lot of hard work for both our alumni and staff. The most important thing about this event is the student that is helped because of the generosity of our alumni and friends. All proceeds from this event go to our student scholarships”
And the alumni and friends have been generous. In the last 10 years this event has provided more than $10 million for scholarships. More than 2,000 people are anticipated for the event and although it is just June, plans are well underway.
“We begin planning for the next dinner as the last one ends,” said Burton Williams, associate vice president of advancement. “We begin looking for our next speaker immediately. This year, I think we have found someone that will really strike a cord with our constituency. Mr. Huckabee is renowned for his reputation and convictions. He will be a great addition to our prestigious list of past speakers.”
Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee is the host of the number one rated weekend hit Huckabeeon the FOX News Channel, and is heard three times daily across the nation on the Huckabee Reporton the ABC Radio Network, the fast growing new program on the ABC Radio Network in years.
He is the author of six books, the most recent being Do the Right Thing, which spent its first seven weeks of release in the top ten of the New York Times best-seller list.
After his quest for the Republican nomination for president in 2008, in which he finished second to John McCain, he formed HuckPac to assist Republicans running for office nationwide and has amassed a volunteer army of thousands of activists in all 50 states.
From 1996-2007, Huckabee served as the 44th governor of Arkansas and was recognized as a national leader, having been honored by several renowned publications and organizations for his numerous accomplishments. Governing Magazine named him as one of its “Public Officials of the Year” for 2005, TIME magazine honored him as one of the five best governors in America, and later in the same year, Huckabee received the American Association of Retired Person's Impact Award. In 2007, he was presented with the Music for Life Award by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) for his commitment to music education. He served as the chairman of the prestigious National Governors Association as well as the Education Commission of the States and the Interstate Oil and Gas Commission.
Huckabee became governor in July 1996 when his predecessor resigned. He was one of the youngest governors in the country at the time. Huckabee was elected to a full four-year term as governor in 1998, attracting the largest percentage of the vote ever received by a Republican gubernatorial nominee in Arkansas, and was re-elected to another four-year term in November 2002.
Huckabee first was elected lieutenant governor in a 1993 special election and was elected to a full four-year term in 1994. He was only the fourth Republican to be elected to statewide office since Reconstruction.
A significant part of his early adult life was spent as a pastor and denominational leader. He became the youngest president ever of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, the largest denomination in Arkansas. Huckabee led rapidly growing congregations in Pine Bluff and Texarkana. He said those experiences gave him a deep sense of the problems faced by individuals and families.
Huckabee's efforts to improve his own health have received national attention. Diagnosed with Type II diabetes in 2003, he lost 110 pounds. Barely two years later, he had completed four marathons: te 2005 and 2006 Little Rock Marathons, the Marine Corps Marathon, and the ING New York City Marathon. As a result of his accomplishments, The Road Runners Club of America named him its “Southern Region Runner of the Year” and USA Track & Field has named him their “Athlete of the Week” for the country.
Continuing to call for a national emphasis on living a healthy lifestyle, Huckabee completed his fourth book, Quit Digging Your Grave With A Knife and Fork. This 12-stop program is a no-nonsense approach to managing one's health through lifestyle change rather than a simple diet and exercise plan.
Huckabee, 53, is an avid musician and is bass player in his rock-n-roll band, Capitol Offense, which has opened for artists such as Willie Nelson and the Charlie Daniels Band, and has played the House of Blues in New Orleans, the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Denver, and for two presidential inauguration balls. He is featured each week in the musical segment of his FOX show with the FOX house band, “The Little Rockers.”
His hobbies include hunting, fishing, running, and music. He was named one of the 25 most influential people for conservation by Outdoor Life magazine, and has was named as Man of the Year by the American Sportfishing Association in 1997.
The former governor and his wife, Janet, live in North Little Rock. They have three grown children: John Mark, David and Sarah.
Huckabee joins a long list of impressive benefit dinner speakers including, former president George Bush, Regis Philbin, Norman Schwarzkopf, Walter Cronkite, Tom Brokaw, Tim Conway, Elizabeth Dole and Barbara Bush.
Sponsorships of all levels are available and patrons are urged to purchase their sponsorships and tickets early as the dinner usually sells out.
“We are excited about Mike Huckabee,” said Clouse. “Now, if we can just get a guitar in his hands while he is on campus.”
FHU SHOW CHOIR’S FIRST PERFORMANCE ON APRIL 4
March 25
The music department at Freed-Hardeman University will premier its newest performing group, Standing Room Only, during Makin’ Music weekend. The group will perform on April 3rd and 4th in the Old Main Administration Building in Old Chapel Hall at 5:00 p.m.
Standing Room Only will perform their show titled “Cinemagic,” a choral review of Hollywood’s best movie music, and the performance involves choreography, staging, lighting, costumes and props. Admission is $5 and is open to the public.
“It gives an opportunity for music students to learn how to organize, rehearse and perform with a show choir,” said Sarah Burns, a member of FHU’s music faculty and one of the directors of the show choir. “Cinemagic will feature every member of the group in groups as well as with a solo performance of some kind.”
The group was established in January to provide music students with performance experience in a show choir. The group has 12 singers and two alternates. To audition, a student must be a member of one of the other FHU music ensembles on campus, whether it is the University Singers, University Choral or the FHU Band.
“I am really glad to have the opportunity to be one of the first members to help the show choir at Freed take off,” said Caleb Berry, a Freed-Hardeman student from Alexander City, Ala. “[Show choir] has helped my stage presence, which is one of the biggest things most directors criticize because it is invaluable when performing.”
“The performance is very enjoyable,” Berry said. “We just try to get up there and have fun, and the audience draws from that energy.”
For ticket information, contact Stephen Foster or Sarah Burns at 731.989.6069.
FHU TO PRESENT 32ND-ANNUAL MAKIN’ MUSIC
March 24
Freed-Hardeman University’s Makin’ Music is approaching quickly, and students all over campus are focusing on the production, which features all five FHU social clubs, a six-person host and hostess crew and a full showband. The show, in its 32nd year, has the theme of “Home,” and is dedicated to the town of Henderson.
“We felt like the theme of ‘Home’ was a good fit,” said Tony Allen, the Dean of Student Life at FHU. “It reaches out to the idea that while students are here, they’re still at home because Freed-Hardeman is such a family and becomes a second home to so many students while they’re here.”
The show attracts about 8,000 audience members over three shows each year and involves the on- and off-stage support of around 600 students, making it Freed-Hardeman’s largest annual production. The musical show and competition includes seven-minute performances by FHU social clubs, with intermittent performances by the hosts and hostess and showband. As social clubs compete for the coveted Makin’ Music trophy, each of the club shows is scored by a panel of visiting judges in the areas of vocals, lyrics, blocking and staging, costumes and set design and entertainment value.
Aside from the production itself, several other events are held in conjunction with the weekend. FHU’s Alumni Association hosts Uproar in the university’s commons area. The event is held on Saturday, April 4 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and will include crafts, face painting and carnival games for children and well as an art festival. A few vendors will also be set up in the commons with items available for purchase. Admission to Uproar is free.
On Friday and Saturday at 5:00 p.m., Freed-Hardeman’s show choir will present its debut performance in the Old Main Administrative building with their show “Cinemagic.” The show choir is a 12-person group called Standing Room Only. Admission to the show is $5 and will last about an hour as the group will perform a show involving Hollywood’s best movie music with choreography, staging, lighting, costumes and props.
The Bobby Mays Memorial Scholarship Brunch will also be held in the SportsCenter on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with the theme of “All My Life, There are People and Places I Remember.” There will be a performance by Jon McLemore and the 2008-09 Ambassadors, a live and silent auction and a look at the Ambassadors’ World Tour. For tickets information, call 731-608-7042.
Freed-Hardeman’s baseball team will also face Mid-Continent College in a doubleheader on April 4 at 1:00 p.m., and the admissions office is holding a Maroon and Gold Day, which is an event geared toward showing prospective students what campus life is like and answers any questions the visitors may have about Freed-Hardeman.
Tickets for the Makin’ Music performances are on sale now and can be purchased at www.makinmusictickets.com. Tickets for the Friday, April 3, evening show and Saturday, April 4, matinee are $16.25 while tickets for the Saturday night show, which includes the awards ceremony, are $21.25.
FHU STUDENTS DEDICATE SPRING BREAK TO MISSION TRIPS
March 13
Despite the tragic loss of one of their own a year ago this week, over 125 Freed-Hardeman students have again dedicated their spring break to mission work. At least 13 different groups will be catering to churches and communities in need over the course of the week in the United States and seven other countries.
One campaign, which will be conducted in Buenos Aires, Argentina, will use the Bible to teach English. This campaign is led by FHU Bible faculty members Glen Henton and Ralph Gilmore. Another Bible faculty member, Roy Sharp, will lead a group of students and several members of the Estes Church of Christ to Haiti for a medical mission trip with an evangelistic campaign.
Each year, a group of students, most associated with the Sigma Rho social club, travel to the Dominican Republic to assist missionaries there by conducting a Vacation Bible School, visiting hospitals and doing manual labor around the community of Bobita. Last year, on the last day of the campaign, the group was taking a break and spending some free time on the beach when freshman Shane Ruiz was swept into the ocean, losing a battle with the strong current. This year, they group will visit Ruiz’s memorial there and have asked a counselor to join their team as a precaution.
Other teams traveling abroad include destinations of El Salvador, Aruba, Panama and Mexico.
The remaining mission groups will conduct various campaigns within the United States. About a dozen students will travel to New Martinsville, W.V., to conduct a Gospel Meeting and participate in service projects with a local congregation there. Similarly, groups are traveling to Wewoka, Okla.; Janesville, Wis.; Elkhart, Ind.; Mobile, Ala.; and North Carolina.
Most campaigns are scheduled to return to Henderson by March 20.
MEGGS, RINKS NAMED MR. AND MISS FHU
March 11
Freed-Hardeman seniors Garrett Meggs and Emma Rinks were announced as Mr. and Miss FHU during a special chapel ceremony on March 11. The highest student honors at Freed-Hardeman, the Mr. and Miss FHU awards are given to two seniors each spring semester who best exemplify notable character and Christian values at Freed-Hardeman University.
Rinks, a native of Savannah, Tenn., is a psychology major at FHU and is the daughter of Buddy and Denise Rinks. After graduation, Rinks plans to attend graduate school and earn her LPC and specialize in trauma counseling. During her four years at Freed-Hardeman, Rinks has been a member of the Chi Beta Chi social club, a participant of Makin’ Music and traveled on the Belgium Study Abroad program in 2007.
A biology major from Huntingdon, Tenn., Garrett Meggs plans to become a teacher upon his graduation. Meggs has been a member of Sigma Rho and has held several officer positions including chaplain, vice president, president and Makin’ Music director. He has also been an Interface director and Makin’ Music coordinator as well as a member of the Ambassadors and the Campus Delegate Team. Meggs is the son of Brent and Jane Meggs.
Other nominees for Mr. and Miss FHU included Kakole Cook of Henderson, Tenn.; Tyler Hughes of Arab, Ala.; Laura Newberry of Jackson, Tenn.; Jessica Allen of Albany, N.Y. and Robert Hatfield from Pulaski, Tenn.
GRAPHIC ARTIST LANE LAST TO SHOW EXHIBIT AT FHU
March 5
Lane Last, a graphic artist and associate professor at the University of Tennessee Martin, will exhibit his hybrid computer graphics works in his show “Macro and Microcosm.” The show will open on March 10 with an artist’s talk at 5:30 p.m. and will stay on display through April 17.
Last’s exhibit will serve as the final one of the spring semester at Freed-Hardeman. There will be a reception for Last from 5:00–7:00 on March 10 in the Troy Plunk Gallery in the Bulliner-Clayton Visual Arts Center, where his exhibit will be displayed.
“I like the vivid and powerful way [Last] uses computer graphics by combining programs in unique and provocative ways,” said FHU art professor Laquita Thomson. “I wanted him to come here because we have quite a number of students in the art department who are specializing in graphic design. Because computer imagery is such a fast-developing field, I thought seeing his work and hearing him talk about it would be inspirational to our students.”
Last has presented his work all over the United States as well as in Indonesia, India, Greece, Italy and France over the past few years. His exhibit is open to the public and is free of charge.
CREWS-COLBERT ACTIVITY CENTER GRAND OPENING AT FHU
February 25
On Monday, March 2, Freed-Hardeman University will celebrate the ribbon cutting for the new Crews-Colbert Activities Center and Black Box Theatre, located on Main Street in Henderson, Tenn. The ribbon cutting will honor donors Terry and Regina Crews and their family as well as mark the official opening of both facilities. The Crewses funded the renovation and creation of the new Activities Center and the Black Box Theatre.
The Activities Center, which utilizes nearly 14,000 square feet, has been open to students all semester. Students have taken full advantage of the new space on campus participating in Makin’ Music practices to retreats and lock-ins this spring.
“The main goal as we were renovating this building was to create usable spaces for our students,” said Richard Taylor, Jr., the Vice President for Business Services at FHU. “They have never had a social club storage area or board rooms, and now they do.”
The Activities Center, previously the Henderson Movie Theatre, contains space for KC’s Coffeehouse, a game room, two movie theaters/lecture halls spanning 2,000 square feet each, storage areas and a student board room. The second floor of the building contains the Crews Room, which serves as a meeting room for social clubs and another 1,000-square-foot space that serves as the Office of Student Life.
“The Activities Center has given me a lot more space for all the things that I’m a part of,” Bryson Leach, a sophomore at FHU, said. “Instead of having to pick a corner somewhere to have a meeting or to be with my friends, there is now a place that is more private than the Student Center but offers the comfort of a living room.”
“It’s a great place to kick back and relax with my friends, play games and hang out, but it has a lot of practical uses too,” sophomore Haley Anderson said. “I love the fact that it’s directly connected to the coffee house, too.”
The addition of the center has enabled the university to show movies on Friday and Monday nights to the FHU family for $2 per ticket. At the concession stand, guests can buy popcorn and a cola for just $1 each.
“It’s been great for the students so far,” Tony Allen, the Dean of Student Life, said. “Any student can reserve space for activities, meetings, fun, gatherings, whatever they want. They have their own resources now in their own building, and we’re looking forward to finding even more ways the students can utilize this space.”
According to university officials, the building was designed by students, for students. “When we began planning the use of this building, we met with different groups of students to give us suggestions about the use of the building. The Student Board Room was their idea, and they also guided us to make the theaters usable for more than just movies, so we wired them so that lectures and meetings could be held there as well. They’re also equipped with lecterns that are connected to the campus system, Internet and projectors,” Taylor said. “We want the various rooms to be used extensively by the students, and I believe they are. The students also suggested that we have screens in the lobby for video games. Of course, those have been a big hit.”
The Crews family also donated money for the 3,250-square-foot Black Box Theatre, which was renovated from a dry cleaning business. The theatre allows for a more personal atmosphere for the university’s plays, featuring a “thrust stage” that allows the audience to surround the stage on three sides, rather than just from the front.
“It’s exciting that the Black Box Theatre is finally opening and our campus community can enjoy a more intimate theatre experience than Loyd Auditorium allows,” said Cliff Thompson, the Director of Theatre at FHU.
The day will be spent honoring the Crews family beginning with a chapel service at 10:30 a.m., followed by the ribbon cutting at 11:15 at the Crews-Colbert Activities Center. That evening, the FHU Theatre will dedicate its performance of Macbeth to the Crews family. Tickets are $7.50 and open to the public by visiting www.fhutickets.com.
FHU THEATRE PRESENTS MACBETH
February 20
Although the original Macbeth’s first showing was 400 years ago, Freed-Hardeman University’s Theatre program presents Shakespeare’s play anew from February 26-March 2 at the university’s new Black Box Theatre.
Director of Theatre Dr. Cliff Thompson, who is also the play’s director, decided to change the play’s setting for this version. Rather than the typical Scottish characters and location, Thompson has moved the setting to northern Kentucky at the end of the American Civil War. In a world of Union officers, Southern belles and otherworldly witches, Macbeth’s lust for power and prophesy overwhelms his faith in divine justice.
“The Civil War setting enhances the production by adding a context to what’s going on,” said senior theatre major Chris Pate, who plays the role of Macbeth. “It helps the audience to relate to something they know.”
Parallels between 1860s America and Shakespeare’s depiction of Scotland abound. Both feature a country divided and the assassination of the country’s leader.
“The play is an exploration off what can happen when a charismatic leader, Macbeth, is given too much power,” Thompson said. “Sometimes in times of crisis, the powerful can more easily prey upon those who yearn for stability.”
Pate, a native of White Bluff, Tenn., plays the title role, and Tansy Waldrop plays Lady Macbeth while Roy Justus plays Banquo, Van Richardson depicts Malcom and Jason Liles plays Macduff. A cast of 23 FHU students and community members complete the cast, bringing the play to life.
An additional element is added to the plays held in the Black Box Theatre with the “thrust stage”, which allows the audience to surround the stage on three sides. The Black Box Theatre was funded by a generous donation from the Crews family of St. Louis, who will be honored at a ribbon cutting of the Crews-Colbert Activity Center on March 2. That day’s performance of Macbeth will also be held in the family’s honor.
On February 26-28 and on March 2, the performances will begin at 7:00 p.m. On February 28 and March 1, the performances will begin at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $7.50 and can be purchased online at www.fhutickets.com or at the door.
RESEARCH CENTER HOSTING FIFTH-ANNUAL CONSERVATION NATION
February 11
The Science Research Center at Freed-Hardeman University will host its fifth-annual Conservation Nation on February 20 at FHU’s Bader Gym. With this year’s theme, “Solutions to Pollution,” middle schools from all over West Tennessee have been invited to participate.
The event is sponsored by Chickasaw-Shiloh RC&D Council, allowing all students to participate free of cost. Each seventh and eighth grade student brings a project that will be judged at the end of the afternoon. The projects can fall under one of two categories: the science poster or using recyclable material as art. Trophies will be awarded for the top five places in each category, and cash prizes of up to $100 will be given for the top three places.
Throughout the day, the students will participate in science experiments and hear lectures from special guests and FHU students.
“The purpose of this is to strengthen students’ awareness of conservation issues and to encourage the development of future scientists,” said LeAnn Self-Davis, the Director of Research at FHU. “It’s offered as a service to local schools, targeting an impressionable age group with the hope that introducing this hands-on experience will challenge them to consider their impact on the environment.”
Last year’s Conservation Nation received an honorable mention award from the Governor’s Group, with the theme of “Living Energy: Biofuel and Beyond.”
Registration on February 20th begins at 8:30 a.m., and the students will participate in the event from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. A sack lunch will be provided for each student in Bader Gym.
EZEKIEL’S WHEELS IS NEWEST SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AT FHU
February 6
Friends and alumni of Freed-Hardeman University always seem to be coming up with new ways to help the university’s students and future students afford a Christian education, and the newest program designed for student scholarships, Ezekiel’s Wheels & More, is no exception.
Founded by Ken Golson and Michael Bolton, both Henderson residents, Ezekiel’s Wheels & More is a vehicle donation program designed to raise money for Bible education.
“I have a lifelong friend at a Baptist church in Georgia that does a similar program, and I thought it would be a good idea to do something like this for Freed-Hardeman,” Golsen said. “I had been brewing on it for several months, then I talked to Mike and him being a car dealer for so many years here in Henderson, I knew he would be a big help to me there.”
Bolton’s car sales experience combined with Golson’s 33 years working as a mechanic for Delta—“I’m kind of mechanically inclined,” he said—was just the reinforcement the two needed to get the program running.
With a goal of having the program ready by the 73rd-Annual Bible Lectureships at FHU, Golson and Bolton received their first donation from Mark Sain, an FHU alum, of Florence, Ala. Sain’s donation, a 1967 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, has 54,000 miles with new paint, new interior, new brakes, a new vinyl top and new tires. The vehicle has only had two owners since 1967.
“We plan for the scope of this program to go far beyond just cars,” Bolton said. “We’ll take trucks, tractors, boats, motorcycles, anything that is in running and saleable condition, we’ll take it.”
“So many times people like our aunts, uncles or parents are in the nursing home or something with a car sitting in the parking lot that they never drive,” Golson added. “If the vehicle is just going to waste, this is a great way to donate it to a good cause in Freed-Hardeman University.”
The cars will be displayed in a parking lot just below Scott Hall on FHU’s campus, Bolton said. The lot will face Washington Avenue. While the lot will only be manned one day a week as of right now, Golson and Bolton’s contact information will be on every vehicle so anyone interested can contact them about buying a vehicle. For those interested in donating a vehicle, the men said they are willing to go anywhere in the country to pick it up.
The money raised through the program will go toward scholarships for Bible students, but if the donor requests that the money go to another department at Freed-Hardeman, their request will be met. The program is expected to raise approximately $150,000 a year for FHU. “But we’d like to see it more like $250,000 or $300,000,” Bolton said.
“We have all the ideas and a desire to help Freed-Hardeman,” Golson said. “We’re ready to turn these old cars into money for the university, no matter how time-consuming it may get.”
For anyone interested in donating a vehicle to Ezekiel’s Wheels, contact Michael Bolton at 731.608.1115 or michaelboltonrealtor@gmaill.com or Ken Golson at 731.879.9045 and kenlynne990@charter.net.
FHU THEATRE HOLDS FIRST PERFORMANCE, “SEASCAPE,” AT BLACK BOX THEATRE
February 2
Freed-Hardeman’s theatre program’s first performance of the New Year also marks another first for the program: its first performance at its new Black Box Theatre.
“Seascape,” a play written by Edward Albee, will open on February 6 at 7:00 p.m. Other performances will take place on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The show will conclude with a final performance on Sunday, February 8 at 2:00 p.m. The Black Box Theatre is located on Main Street in Henderson, next to the university’s new Crews-Colbert Activity Center.
“It is exciting that the Black Box Theatre is finally opening and we can have performances that can be enjoyed in a more intimate theatre experience than Loyd Auditorium allows,” Cliff Thompson, the Director of Theatre at FHU, said.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning play touches on themes such as death, life challenges, evolution and inter-personal relationships. In the play, a couple’s relationship is being tested as they are on the verge of retirement. As the couple, Charlie and Nancy, is discussing these matters on the beach, two human-sized lizards, Leslie and Sarah, join in a conversation with the couple. The lizards, which feel as if they no longer belong in the sea, want to seek life on the land. After almost being scared away, they decide to stay after the couple offers to help the lizards. The conversation takes them on a journey of mutual mentoring and knowledge of what waits at the end of the road for each of them.
It is a story of different seascapes, between land and sea, for different creatures of them both, united still by the common understanding of the inescapability of life, and the knowledge of how all of it will end.
Theatre majors Ashley Crawford, Kristen Mowrey, Matthew Dalton and Mauricio Campos are all featured in the play, which is directed by Campos.
“Directing the play has been really fun,” said Campos, a senior. “It can be stressful, too, but it’s always fun. We’ve been rehearsing for a while now, and I think the final product will be something the audience will really enjoy. The fact that it’s the first performance in the new theatre just makes the whole process even more exciting.”
Tickets are general admission and can be purchased at www.fhutickets.com or by calling 731.989.6938. Ticket cost is $7.50.
FHU HOSTING 73RD-ANNUAL BIBLE LECTURESHIPS
February 2
Freed-Hardeman University is hosting its 73rd-annual Bible Lectureships this week, bringing approximately 5,000 people to campus from all over the country and around the world.
This year’s theme, “Crying Out to God: Prayer and Praise in the Psalms,” focuses on the book of Psalms, a theme that was chosen over a year ago for the event. Over 100 guests have been brought in to teach at the lectures this year.
“I believe that this book is something that is very relevant to the world today,” said Billy Smith, the Dean of the School of Biblical Studies at FHU and also a member of the lectureship committee. “From our financial crisis to our daily struggles with forgiveness and tough times, this book remains relevant to everyone.”
During the university’s daily chapel services, the week will focus on the book’s most popular song: the 23rd Psalm. Each day, the lectures will begin at 8:00 a.m. and continue though the 7:30 p.m. service. The event will conclude on Friday at chapel with a lesson by FHU professor Stan Mitchell, who will speak on “His People” from Psalm 23:1-6.
The committee has also added new features to this year’s meetings, including the Bible School Workshop, which will highlight teaching the Bible in local congregations. A Freed-Hardeman student will also be awarded the first Lectureship Scholarship, which will go to a student who exhibits all the moral and academic traits of a faithful Christian.
Freed-Hardeman has also added a feature to its website to allow individuals who cannot travel to campus this week to still be a part of the lectureships. By going to the lectureship website at www.fhu.edu/lectureship, anyone can click on the “Watch Live” link and be able to watch any of the lectures at any time. The lectureships are open to the public.
For more information, visit the lectureship website.
LONG-TIME FHU TRUSTEE WOODY LODEN DIES
January 21
Woody Loden, Freed-Hardeman University’s longest-serving board member, died on Tuesday morning at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville after complications from a surgery he had on December 28.
Loden, who was known at Freed-Hardeman for his sense of humor, his generosity and his Christian example, was the longest-serving member of the Board of Trustees with 42 years of dedication to FHU’s Christian education. Approved to serve on the Board of Trustees in 1967, he had already spent two years on the President’s Advisory Board. During his time on the Board of Trustees, he served as vice chair from 1976-1983 and as the Board’s chairman from 1983-1992.
While Loden contributed much of his time and energy to Freed-Hardeman and his service on the Board, he also contributed to the university financially. Over the course of his life, he and his wife, Patsy, furnished dozens of buildings on campus, contributed to the renovation of multiple buildings, provided funds for landscaping across campus periodically and yearly donated finances to the student scholarship fund. The Lodens’ most visible gift to the university, however, was the Loden-Daniel Library, which was constructed in 1973.
“Woody was a wonderful man,” said former FHU president, Dr. Milton Sewell. “He was committed to the Lord, and he saw Freed-Hardeman as a way to increase that commitment. He had a great sense of humor; he enjoyed himself and making people laugh, and he was a very generous man. He gave of himself and all that he had and encouraged other people to experience the joy of giving, too.”
Perhaps what the student body most readily remembers Loden for, however, is his annual Valentine’s Day gift to his wife. Each year since 1995, Loden had a Valentine’s Day card printed in poster-size rather than settling for a typical card. Last year, in celebration of their 50th Valentine’s Day together, he presented his card to Patsy in Freed-Hardeman’s chapel service.
“He viewed his Valentine’s Day gift to Patsy as a symbol of his commitment to her,” Sewell said. “It was a great demonstration of love, and it’s a great model for any couple to follow.”
Loden graduated from Freed-Hardeman in 1948, when FHU was a junior college. He then went to David Lipscomb University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1950. In 1974, he earned his LL.D. from Oklahoma Christian University. Throughout his career, Loden was the owner of several businesses ranging from real estate to concrete products. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Patsy; his two children Woody and Lisa and their spouses, Crystal and Mark; and their four grandchildren, Tyler, Madison, Luke and Brenna. Loden also served as an elder at the Batesville Church of Christ.
The visitation will take place on Friday at Wells Funeral Home in Batesville, Miss., from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. The funeral will be on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at the Batesville Church of Christ. Sewell and FHU President Dr. Joe Wiley will be presiding the funeral.
DAVE BARNES COMING TO FHU ON FEBRUARY 10
January 20
With his soulful style and meaningful lyrics, Dave Barnes will appear on Freed-Hardeman’s campus on February 10 in Loyd Auditorium. The show, which will begin at 8:00 with an opening act from More Than A Movie, is open to the public with a ticket price of $10.
Barnes, who was raised in Mississippi, is an up-and-coming artist popular with many college-age students. The performance comes to Freed-Hardeman courtesy of the campus’s University Program Council, a student organization that is responsible for many of the social events on campus.
Barnes currently has three albums, Brother, Bring the Sun, Chasing Mississippi and, his most recent album, Me and You and the World, which was released last April.
Barnes graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Recording Industry Management and is currently based out of Nashville.
Opening for Barnes will be More Than a Movie, whose lead singer is FHU student Scott Utter. Utter and the band’s keyboardist, Zach DeBerry are currently working on their debut EP album called Mistakes, which includes five studio-recorded tracks. They are signed with Busted Van Records.
Barnes has a stand-up comedy act that he does on the side, although his primary focus remains on his music. However, the singer/songwriter never really made a conscious decision to arrive where he is today in his performing career. Barnes said that he often has young aspiring artists approach him asking for a roadmap of how he arrived on the music scene like he has. “The truth is,” Barnes said, “I don’t know. I can’t tell you that I’ve ever planned anything. And I like that, because it must mean I was meant to do this, right?”
Tickets to the show are available by calling or visiting Freed-Hardeman’s Student Activity Center at 731.989.6055 and will also be available on Tuesday, February 10. The show is general admission and will begin at 8:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.fhu.edu/student+life.
FHU’S MAKIN’ MUSIC TICKETS ON SALE THURSDAY
January 13
As Freed-Hardeman students arrive back on campus, many of them will be gearing up for practices for FHU’s 32nd-annual Makin’ Music show, a full student production that takes place on Freed-Hardeman’s campus the first weekend of every April. Tickets for the event will go on sale Thursday and can be purchased at
www.makinmusictickets.com.
Tickets go on sale Thursday, January 15 and can be purchased at
www.makinmusictickets.com. Tickets for the Friday, April 3, evening show and Saturday, April 4, matinee are $16.25 while tickets for the Saturday night show, which includes the awards ceremony, are $21.25.
Freed-Hardeman students have been immersed in the planning for Makin’ Music for months, many diving into 2009’s show shortly after the 2008 show concluded. The 2009 show, which will feature a performance by each of Freed-Hardeman’s five social clubs in addition to performances by this year’s hosts and hostesses and a 13-piece show band, has the theme of “Home.” To show their appreciation for the town of Henderson as well as the university, the show will be dedicated to the city of Henderson.
“We felt like the theme of ‘Home’ was a good fit,” said Tony Allen, the Dean of Student Life at FHU. “It reaches out to the idea that while students are here, they’re still at home because Freed-Hardeman is such a family and becomes a second home to so many students while they’re here.”
The performance usually brings about 8,000 combined audience members over the course of the three shows and incorporates the on- and off-stage support of about 600 students who are involved in everything from creating the social club shows to designing the programs for the performances.
The university utilizes off-campus judges to evaluate each of the social clubs’ performances based on vocals, blocking and staging, costumes and set design lyrics and entertainment value. The winners will be announced at the end of the Saturday-night show.
The evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and the Saturday matinee begins at 2:00 p.m. on April 3 and 4.
FHU THEATRE PRESENTS GUEST PERFORMER IN MOLIÈRE THAN THOU
January 13
Speculation says that the famous 17th-century French playwright Molière died, the victim of a coughing seizure amid the performance of his final play The Imaginary Invalid. But thanks to Freed-Hardeman’s theatre department teaming with artist Timothy Mooney, Molière will be alive and well and on Freed-Hardeman’s campus on January 26th.
Mooney, a nationally-known performance artist, will present scenes from Molière’s plays. In the course of his 90-minute, one-man performance, the Chicago-based actor charms the audience with the complexity of Molière’s language and personality. Parading through the best-loved plays of France’s history, Molière Than Thou reinvigorates renaissance theatre, the court of Louis XIV and the vision that generated some of the most beloved plays of all time. Molière has often been referred to as France’s Shakespeare; he was also a comic master whose plays are still produced throughout the world.
In Molière Than Thou, Mooney plays the part of Molière, who is left without a cast when all his performers consume a shell fish at a local inn that made them sick. Rather than refund the audience for the show, he performs a “greatest hits” of sorts and leads the audience, who occasionally participates, through a succession of favorite speeches that trace his career.
Mooney’s performance is literate, enthusiastic and athletic. The play won a “Best of” award from the San Francisco Fringe Festival and was awarded the first position on the list of Top Ten Artistic Events of 2006 from the Chattanooga Pulse. In its Orlando Fringe performances, the press raved, “Clearly Molière lives,” and said he was “a delight for all those who appreciate the barbed satire and slyly nuanced language in Molière’s classic skewering of the rich and pompous.”
Mooney has also received accolades from The New York Times, saying, “Move over, Richard Wilbur, Timothy Mooney is the real deal. … A very
tight performance that should be seen by any aspiring actor who wants to tread the boards.”
“Tim is a dynamic, charismatic performer who really knows his stuff,” said Cliff Thompson, the Director of Theatre at Freed-Hardeman. “I think we’re in for an unexpected treat with his visit to Freed-Hardeman.”
Mooney’s performance on Freed-Hardeman’s campus is free and open to the public. The show will begin at 7:00 p.m. at FHU’s Loyd Auditorium. For more details, visit theatre.fhu.edu or call FHU’s theatre department at 731.989.6780.