FHU NAMES ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMICS
12/25/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, Tenn. – Freed-Hardeman University looked to its math faculty for a new associate vice president for academics. Dr. Mike Johnson, associate professor of mathematics and chairman of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, will step up to the new position Jan. 1.
“To continue Freed-Hardeman’s trend of growing academic strength will require additional leadership and administrative support in key areas,” said Dr. Sam Jones, FHU’s vice president for academics. “Dr. Johnson has proven effective for such support, in both committee work and as a department head.”
In his first semester as associate vice president, Johnson will help oversee the goals and progress of several academic offices and programs, including the committee for distance learning.
“I appreciate the work Dr. Jones does for Freed-Hardeman University in the office of academics, and I am excited about this opportunity to serve FHU under his direction,” Johnson said.
Johnson has served as chairman of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science since 2003. Computer science instructor Jamie Holtin will serve as interim chairwoman of the department for the spring 2006 semester. Holtin has taught at FHU since 2000.
“The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science is fortunate to have many talented faculty members, and Jamie Holtin is certainly one of our best. She is an experienced member of our department, and I am sure she will do an excellent job as our chair,” Johnson said.
The chair position will officially be filled in June.

29-Dec-05
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FREED-HARDEMAN UNIVERSITY NAMES TWO NEW TRUSTEES
12/12/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, Tenn. – Freed-Hardeman University has added two new members to its board of trustees, FHU president Dr. Milton Sewell announced Dec. 12. New members are Frances Hamilton of West Paducah, Ky., and Jeff Jenkins of Flower Mound, Texas.
Hamilton, retired after 17 years as a State Farm Insurance agent, serves on the governing boards of several community organizations, including Western Baptist Hospital, Baptist Health System, Paducah Transit Authority, Peoples Bank and Regions Bank. She is also a past recipient of the American Business Women Woman of the Year award. Hamilton and her husband, B.A., have four children and are members of the Lone Oak Church of Christ in Paducah.
Jenkins, a 1981 graduate of FHU, is a minister for the Lewisville Church of Christ in Lewisville, Texas, where he has served since fall 2004. He and his wife, Laura, have two children, the oldest of whom is a sophomore at FHU.
FHU has also reappointed three trustees for another five-year term: Mike Lacy of Hendersonville, Tenn., Greg Harrison of New Albany, Miss., and Brett Pharr of Charlotte, N.C.

12-Dec-05
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NATHAN B. PRIDE TO SPEAK AT FHU COMMENCEMENT
12/12/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, Tenn. – One hundred twenty-seven new graduates will walk the stage at Freed-Hardeman University’s fall 2005 commencement ceremony, scheduled for Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. in FHU’s Loyd Auditorium. Degrees will be conferred upon 72 undergraduates and 55 graduate students.
Guest speaker for the ceremony will be FHU trustee Nathan B. Pride of Jackson, Tenn. Pride is a professor at the Faulkner University Jones School of Law as well as a partner at the Highland Law Office in Jackson, where he practices civil, criminal, small business and commercial law. He has been a practicing attorney for almost 25 years.
Pride serves on the governing boards of several local organizations, including FHU, LeBonheur Healthcare, Jackson Regional Hospital and the Jackson-Madison County Bar Association. He is a member of the East Jackson Church of Christ.
For more information on FHU’s fall 2005 commencement ceremony, contact the Office of Academics at 731-989-6004.

12-Dec-05
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FHU STUDENTS AND FACULTY RUN, RAISE FUNDS FOR ST. JUDE
12/6/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, Tenn. – Running is not just good exercise for 10 students and faculty at Freed-Hardeman University. It is also a way to save lives.
Seven FHU students and three professors registered as St. Jude Heroes to run the St. Jude marathon, half-marathon and 5k in Memphis Dec. 3. The team raised $10,757.88, according to totals available Dec. 8. Their goal was $10,000.
This was the second year FHU has entered a team in the St. Jude run. In 2004, the group raised $13,430.93. While people were eager to give again this year, FHU marketing professor Dr. Rich Brown said, many had already given much toward hurricane-relief charity.
Brown’s motivation for gathering a team for St. Jude was two-fold. “There are not many things on earth I feel better about than helping kids,” he said. But he also believes that part of his mission as a teacher is to teach students how to live.
“Teaching how to live is half of [FHU’s] motto, and to me, that part is equally as important as how to make a living,” he said. “I think that doing things like this is part of my job here. I can help students learn that they can raise money or be involved in some kind of charity. That’s very satisfying to me.”
For several on the FHU team, it was their first time to run in the St. Jude benefit, but it was not their first exposure to charity or humanitarian service through the university. Charlie Seaton, a graduate student, had been involved with the FHU hurricane relief teams on the Gulf Coast in recent months. When Brown announced the opportunity to help St. Jude, he decided to sign up.
“I think just taking part in something like this helps you grow spiritually,” Seaton said. The more he becomes involved in charity and humanitarian efforts, he added, he finds himself wanting to help more. Seaton said he plans to run for St. Jude again in 2006.
This year was Brown’s fourth time to run the St. Jude Marathon. The first year, he said, “I didn’t do it to raise money – I just ran the marathon. But after I saw everything they do, I said I’d raise money the next year.” Twelve months later, he raised $6,000.
“You don’t have to have a lot of money to be helpful, to give,” Brown said. “Often, you can simply do something that other people will support. For me, I’m going to run marathons anyway. I like to. I enjoy that. … I might as well take that thing that I’m going to do anyway and try to benefit somebody else.”

9-Dec-05
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MORE THAN $1.2 MILLION FOR SCHOLARSHIPS RAISED AT FHU BENEFIT DINNER WITH BARBARA BUSH
12/2/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, Tenn. – Former first lady Barbara Bush was not the only highlight of Freed-Hardeman University’s 41st annual Advisory Board Benefit Dinner Dec. 2. At the conclusion of the evening, a record $1,220,953 in sponsorships for the event was announced by Advisory Board Chairman Buddy McClain. The previous record was $1,050,277 in 2004.
“This Benefit Dinner is and always has been an event to support the student scholarship fund,” McClain said in his announcement. “While we cannot put a price tag on the value of a Freed-Hardeman education, it does involve considerable costs, which is why scholarships are so important. … We can – and must – make the Freed-Hardeman experience available to deserving students.”
FHU’s Benefit Dinner has raised more than $1 million for student scholarships each year since 2001. Records dating back to 1976 show a total of more than $10 million. The dinner began in 1965.
FHU president Dr. Milton Sewell said the proceeds from the 2005 Benefit Dinner will account for almost 20 percent of the total scholarship funding awarded to students for the year.
“A college experience of the high-quality standards we hold must be supported by many generous alumni and friends,” Sewell said. “When a student wants to attend a university like Freed-Hardeman, scholarships really do make a life-changing difference.”

2-Dec-05
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FREED-HARDEMAN ART PROFESSOR LEARNS FROM INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN ARTIST
11/28/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, Tenn. – “Radioactive Cats” has appeared in every textbook used for Dr. Barbara England’s Art Appreciation class. She knows the image well, having lectured on it each semester the past 10 years. But the image did not truly come to life for her until she spent a day with the artwork’s internationally known artist, Sandy Skoglund.
England, chairwoman of Freed-Hardeman University’s Department of Fine Arts, was one of about 25 art teachers enrolled in a workshop led by Skoglund at the Tennessee Art Education Association’s state conference in Memphis Nov. 4.
“When I got the information for the conference, her name was the big draw. … I was like, ‘I’ve got to go,’” England said.
Skoglund has held a leading position in revolutionary photography since 1981, when her works “Revenge of the Goldfish” and “Radioactive Cats” appeared at the Whitney Museum of American Art’s Whitney Biennial Exhibition in New York.
Her technique was to bring the art forms of sculpture and photography together. Her photographs are of scenes she has created through the medium of sculpture.
“The photographs look like digital images that she has taken and then used Photoshop to put things in and alter them. But they’re not,” England said. Viewers are seeing the original photos.
Skoglund is also known for using unusual objects in her sculpture – everything from eggshells to Cheetos. This was a dimension of her artwork that was pulled into her workshop in a hands-on way as participants used bottle caps to create a mural of images.
England said she looks forward to her next semester of Art Appreciation, particularly the unit on modern photography.
“It was great to be able to personally talk with the artist, to work on a piece and to listen to the thought processes behind the creation of her work,” she said. “It will help me as I explain [to students] what she does and the impact that she has on art.”

28-Nov-05
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FHU STUDENT AMY BELIEW DIES FOLLOWING AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT
11/23/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, Tenn. – Freed-Hardeman University freshman Amy Beliew, 18, of Collierville, Tenn., died the night of Nov. 22. She had suffered complications following an automobile accident Nov. 17.
Visitation will be Nov. 25 at noon at the Southwind Church of Christ in Memphis. Funeral services will be the same day at 2:30 p.m. at the Southwind church.
“The Freed-Hardeman family is pained by this loss, but we know that Amy’s family is hurting in a way that most of us cannot understand,” said Wayne Scott, FHU’s vice president for enrollment management. “Leaning on God is the only way to truly heal from those wounds, and so we are offering as much spiritual and emotional support as we can for Amy’s family.”
Beliew, a business major, was a member of FHU’s Sigma Rho social club and a resident of Hall-Roland Hall.
She is survived by her parents, Jim and Lisa Beliew of Collierville, and two brothers.

23-Nov-05
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FREED-HARDEMAN ADDS NEW MEMBERS TO ADVISORY BOARD
11/21/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, Tenn. – Freed-Hardeman University added five new members to its President’s Advisory Board Nov. 18, university president Dr. Milton Sewell announced.
New members are John Kachelman III of Montgomery, Ala.; Chris and Carrie Patterson of Cordova, Tenn.; and Scott and Jenny Harp of Fayetteville, Ga.
The President’s Advisory Board at Freed-Hardeman University is a group dedicated to supporting the university through special service in student recruitment, development, alumni relations and similar areas.

21-Nov-05
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FHU THEATRE HOLDS PLAY AUDITIONS
11/18/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

FHU THEATRE HOLDS PLAY AUDITIONS
HENDERSON, Tenn. - Freed-Hardeman University Theatre will present Pat Cook’s “Three Murders and It’s Only Monday” Feb. 23-25, 2006. The production is directed by senior theatre major Kathryne Guinn.
Auditions for the play are open to the public and will be held Nov. 29 and 30 at 7 p.m. in Loyd Auditorium on the FHU campus. The cast will include five men and four women, who will portray 14 characters.
A lightning-paced comedy and spoof on the old-style private-eye movies, “Three Murders and It’s Only Monday” introduces Harry Monday as he investigates three murders at the Peaceful Pines Sanitarium.
For more information, call 731-989-6938 or e-mail theatre@fhu.edu.

18-Nov-05
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FREED-HARDEMAN PRESENTS ANNUAL ALUMNI AWARDS
11/14/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, Tenn. – Thirteen service awards were presented at Freed-Hardeman University’s 2005 Alumni Awards Banquet Nov. 12. The honors are presented each November in conjunction with FHU’s Homecoming weekend.
“We’re proud to have a base of alumni serving in excellent ways in a variety of communities and a variety of professions,” said Dawn Bramblett, FHU’s alumni relations director. “These annual awards enable us to show a small token of appreciation for the great things they do.”
The 2005 awards included Outstanding Alumnus, presented to Bill Morgan of Benton, Ky., a 1948 alumnus of FHU, and Outstanding Young Alumni, presented to Kyle and Bethany Butt of Montgomery, Ala., 1998 and 1999 graduates, respectively.
Others honored were Gene Gilliland (’73) of Benton for Service to Community, Marie Johnson (’69) of Henderson for Service to Education, Chad (’95) and Ramonda Scott (’95) of Jackson for Service to Profession, Andy (’73) and Susan Baker (’70) of Gallatin, Tenn., for Service to Church and Terry Smith (’85) of Corinth, Miss., for Service to Youth.
Four Director’s Awards were presented to members of an alumni mission team serving in Paraguay: Chris (’99) and Vickie (’98) Fry, Ethan (’01) and Ashley (’01) Hardin, Vanessa Heady (’96) and Enoch Rinks (’99). The Hardins were present to accept the awards.
FHU’s Department of Fine Arts honored two alumni with Service to the Arts awards: John Hall (’62) of Henderson and Dot Doyle (’48) of Pinson.

14-Nov-05
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FREED-HARDEMAN CROWNS HOMECOMING KING AND QUEEN
11/14/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, Tenn. – Seniors Gavin Pinkston and Andrea Beck were named Freed-Hardeman’s Homecoming king and queen at the university’s Grand Coronation ceremony Nov. 12. FHU’s Homecoming king and queen are selected from the senior class by the student body each fall.
Pinkston, of Columbia, Tenn., is a missions and biochemistry major planning to work in medical missions following medical school. As a student at FHU, he has been a member of University Student Ambassadors and University Program Council. Pinkston has also been an officer for Chi Beta Chi social club and a group leader for the Interface freshman orientation program. His involvement in student missions has involved work in Guyana, Haiti and New Zealand.
Beck, of Savannah, Tenn., is a social work major planning to work in children’s services after completing a master’s degree. As a student at FHU, she has been a member of University Program Council, the Student Government Association, Missions Group and Social Work Students in Action. She also played for the Lady Lions basketball team, helping win two TranSouth Conference championships, and has been a group leader for the Interface freshman orientation program.
Other nominees for Homecoming king and queen were Michael Alan Bowen I, Kristi Jackson, David Knox and Stacey Renee May.
Freshman Homecoming court attendants were Emilee Alyse Harris, Tyler Hughes, Garrett Meggs and Chelsea Smotherman. Sophomore attendants were Amy Acree, Amanda Bennie, Darryl Culberson and Tristan McPherson. Junior attendants were Hannah Ary, Jared Gott, Joseph Horton and Rebecca Jo Schwartz.

14-Nov-05
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FREED-HARDEMAN TO BENEFIT ST. JUDE WITH RUN FOR THE CHILDREN
11/10/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, Tenn. – In conjunction with homecoming activities, Freed-Hardeman University will host Run for the Children this Saturday. The 5k run and 1-mile run/walk will support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.
Both races are open to the public. The 5k will begin at 8 a.m. and the 1-mile at 9 a.m. from the Henderson Church of Christ. Registration fees are $15 for the 5k and $12 for the 1-mile, payable in advance at the FHU Office of Student Life or on race day at the Henderson Church of Christ Activity Center.
Three overall awards will be given in addition to three awards in each of the seven age divisions. Finish-line timing will be conducted by the Jackson Road Runners’ Club.
A certified athletic trainer will be on site, and traffic will be controlled by event staff at each major intersection.
For more information, contact the FHU Office of Student Life at 731-989-6055 or jweekley@fhu.edu.

10-Nov-05
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FHU SAYS GOODBYE TO FORMER FIRST LADY LOUISE DIXON, DEAD AT AGE 100
11/9/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, Tenn. – Former Freed-Hardeman University first lady Louise Cowan Dixon, 100, died Nov. 9. She had been the university’s first lady from 1950 to 1969.
The family will receive friends at Nov. 12 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Casey Funeral Home in Henderson and Nov. 13 at noon at the Henderson Church of Christ. Funeral services will be Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. at the Henderson Church of Christ, with family members Steve Sargent, Tom Dixon, Sid Dye, David Sargent, David James and Glenn Sargent officiating. Burial will follow at the Henderson City Cemetery.
“We’ve lost one of the dearest members of our Freed-Hardeman family,” said Dr. Milton Sewell, FHU president. “She had been a great influence both on campus and throughout the Henderson area, and she’ll be missed by us all.”
Dixon had been honored by FHU and the community May 28, the day following her 100th birthday. She had also received an honorary doctorate from the university in 1990.
Dixon was born to Andrew Walker Cowan and Eva May Harris Cowan May 27, 1905, in Jefferson City, Tenn. She was the seventh of nine children.
After attending public schools through the 10th grade in Jefferson City, Dixon enrolled in the college preparatory program at Carson Newman College in Jefferson City, where she later earned a B.A. degree in English and history.
Following graduation, she moved to Hampshire, Tenn., where she became a schoolteacher and met her future husband, H.A. Dixon. They were married Oct. 5, 1929, in Jefferson City.
Over the next two decades, Dixon lived in Memphis, Martin, Tenn., Springfield, Mo., Tuscaloosa and Florence, Ala., and Jackson, Tenn., where her husband served as a minister and schoolteacher before becoming president of FHU in 1950.
Dixon was instrumental in establishing the FHU Associates, a national women’s group to raise scholarship funds for the university. Dixon, a faithful Christian for 71 years, was also known for her service as a church Bible class teacher, writer and public speaker.
She was preceded in death by her husband, H.A. Dixon, in 1969. She is survived by her son, Allen Dixon of Memphis; daughter, Sara Dixon Sargent of Mobile, Ala.; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.

9-Nov-05
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FHU TO HOLD FREE COMMUNITY CONCERT NOVEMBER 12
11/9/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, Tenn. – Music will be swinging, rocking and marching inside the walls of Freed-Hardeman’s Old Chapel Hall at a free community concert Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. The event will feature the combined sounds of the Freed-Hardeman University Concert Band and the Freed-Hardeman University Community Band.
The performance will include a variety of musical styles, such as traditional concert music, pop songs, patriotic tunes and marches. Also featured will be Freed-Hardeman senior Thomas Sain on piano, the FHU brass quintet and a special appearance by Dr.Terry Edwards, associate professor of Bible and Humanities.
For more information about this free community event, contact Mark Crawford at 615-963-5210.

09-Nov-05
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FOSTER CARE CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT FHU
11/3/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, Tenn. – As part of the federally funded Path to Excellence program in collaboration with the Department of Children’s Services, the Regional Foster Care Conference for Southwest Tennessee will be held Nov. 15 at Freed-Hardeman University. The conference is a joint effort between FHU and Union University and will be an annual event hosted on a rotating basis between both schools, according to Lisa Beene, chair of FHU’s Department of Behavioral Sciences and Family Studies.
This year’s theme is “Critical Connections: Creating Families Today, Maintaining Families Tomorrow.” Foster care parents and professionals who work in foster care services in the southwest region of the state are invited to attend.
“This conference is for anyone dealing with foster care services,” Beene said. “Primarily, we’re targeted the foster parents, but we’re also offering information to workers who provide foster care services to vulnerable children and families.”
The day’s activities and informational sessions are also open to any professional who provides services to foster children and families, Beene added, such as counselors and educators.
“This day is to educate, but it’s also for support. This gives an opportunity to many parents to share, to talk, to network and to feel that mutual support from each other,” Beene said. “It gives them a chance to talk about the unique issues they face as foster parents.”
Speakers will include FHU social work professor Dr. Mark Crowell, who will present the keynote address on “Critical Connections”; and Lance Foster, a minister from Iuka, Miss., who, with his wife, has cared for more than 40 foster children over the years. All of the sessions will also be open to college students studying for careers in social work, Beene said.
“This is also a wonderful opportunity for our students, who are preparing to become social workers,” Beene said. “This is a very hands-on experience instead of a textbook or a class.”
For a more detailed schedule, contact Laura Brown or Vicki Littlejohn at 800-348-3481 or 731-989-3565. The sign-up deadline for the conference is Nov. 10.

3-Nov-05
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FHU TAEKWONDO CLUB KICKS FOR HURRICANE RELIEF
10/31/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, Tenn. - Students of the modern martial art, Taekwondo, live by many basic tenets. One is to build a more peaceful world. The Freed-Hardeman Taekwondo Club decided to act upon this commitment in September by holding a “kick-a-thon” - 1,000 kicks in less than an hour - to raise funds to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. To the surprise of the participants, they were able to raise more than $2,000 to contribute to Disaster Relief Efforts, Inc., said Kay Butterfield, third degree black belt and chief instructor.
“We didn’t know how much money we’d be able to raise and just hoped for $1,000 in pledges. But when the actual donations were finally submitted last week, we were thrilled to discover that we had raised over $2,100,” Butterfield said.
Led by Dr. Brian Butterfield, Department Chair of Biology at FHU, the Taekwondo club is composed of FHU students, faculty, staff, alumni, family, and friends of all ages. The club’s fundraiser collected funds through sponsorships for each student per kick. When the enthusiastic, but exhausted group completed their 1,000 kicks, one of the instructors asked them if they wanted to hold another “kick-a-thon” as a fundraiser in the future. They instantly reacted by filling Freed-Hardeman’s Bader Gym with resounding cheers.

31-Oct-05
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FREED-HARDEMAN TO CELEBRATE HOMECOMING 2005
10/31/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, Tenn. – Freed-Hardeman University will host its 2005 Homecoming celebration Nov. 7-12. The weeklong event will allow Freed-Hardeman alumni a time and place to “Come Together” – the theme for this year’s festivities.
As friends and former classmates reunite, the university will host six class reunions: five-year, 10-year, 20-year, 25-year, 30-year and 40-year. A variety of departmental and program reunions will also be hosted, including Lions basketball teammates, the former Griffins tumbling team, and math and computer science graduates.
Other Homecoming events will include an art gallery show by Meikle Gardner, the Associates’ Country Crafts Fair and Country Holiday Luncheon and the social club Homecoming Champions Trophy competition. Several student vocal and drama groups will also perform throughout the week.
The Homecoming basketball games Nov. 12 will feature the Lady Lions versus the University of Illinois, Springfield, at 1 p.m. and the Lions versus Belhaven College at 3 p.m. Tickets are available for $5 in advance or at the door.
Phi Kappa Alpha social club will host its annual Hootenanny at 7 that evening, featuring Kid Cruise and the T-Birds. Hootenanny tickets are also $5, available in advance or at the door.
The Homecoming play, “Little Shop of Horrors,” will take stage Nov. 10-12 at 7 each evening and at 2 p.m. Nov. 12. Tickets are $12 and can be ordered at www.fhutickets.com.
All advance tickets may be purchased by contacting the Office of Alumni Relations at 731-989-3058 or by e-mailing lblamb@fhu.edu.

31-Oct-05
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CLAYTON HOMES INC. FOUNDER MAKES MAJOR GIFT TO FREED-HARDEMAN UNIVERSITY
10/26/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, Tenn. – Clayton Homes Inc. founder and chairman Dr. Jim Clayton and his wife, Kay Clayton, have become two of the leading donors to Freed-Hardeman University’s Beyond Believe Campaign. Their $1 million gift toward a campaign goal for a new fine arts center was announced Oct. 26.
“Dr. Clayton was born and reared in the Henderson area and has a great respect for the impact Freed-Hardeman makes in this area,” said Dr. Milton Sewell, FHU president. “We are grateful for his generosity and the confidence he is demonstrating in Freed-Hardeman’s excellent programs.”
FHU’s future fine arts center is one of four capital goals of the Beyond Believe Campaign. Other goals include a new library, a new wing for the Associates Science Center, and additional housing and renovations for student living.
“The fine arts programs at Freed-Hardeman have a strong reputation for depth and professional opportunity,” said Dr. Barbara England, chair of FHU’s Department of Fine Arts. “Our alumni apply their education in a variety of fields, and many have gone on to some of the top art schools in the country. We’ve provided this quality of education without a building designed especially for the arts.”
The new fine arts center will house FHU’s programs in art, graphic design, merchandising and interiors, and music. The programs currently operate in four campus buildings.
“As successful as our students and faculty are now, I’m looking forward to seeing them perform to their full strength in state-of-the-art studios and classroom facilities,” England said.
Jim Clayton, of Knoxville, Tenn., established Clayton Homes through the 1966 purchase of a manufactured-home retailer in Knoxville. In the years that followed, he expanded the operation to include additional retailers as well as factories, a financing arm and manufactured-home communities, thereby building the nation’s leading manufactured-homes company. He sold the company to Warren Buffett in 2003.
Clayton Homes has won the Manufactured Housing Institute’s Manufacturer of the Year Award each year since 2000. It has also been named one of Forbes’ 200 Best-Managed Companies and has been the recipient of the Platinum Award as one of the top American companies.
Jim Clayton is also owner of Clayton Bank & Trust, whose subsidiaries include First State Bank and Trust Department in Henderson, American City Bank in Tullahoma, Tenn., and Friendship Bank in Friendship, Tenn.
Jim Clayton, who serves on the board of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, has received several Wall Street Transcript awards and recognition as one of the Forbes 400 wealthiest Americans.
The Claytons’ gift is the second $1 million donation to FHU’s Beyond Believe Campaign. The first $1 million gift, announced July 12, was toward the university’s new library.
The Beyond Believe Campaign, announced in December 2004, is building on the success of the Believe Campaign to reach $80 million by May 2009. The campaign is addressing campus building projects as well as four new academic programs, academic and professional development, athletics, endowment and the university’s Bible Teaching Program. The campaign currently stands at $55 million.

26-Oct-05
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PROFESSIONAL DESIGNER HELPS SET THE STAGE FOR FREED-HARDEMAN MUSICAL
10/14/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, Tenn. – For most people, painting involves a brush, maybe a roller and a can of paint. For professional scenic and lighting designer Luis Ramirez, it involves stencils, scumbling, stippling, sponging, graining, spattering and rag rolling, among other techniques.
Using these methods, Ramirez has created the scenery and set for the upcoming Freed-Hardeman University Homecoming production of “Little Shop of Horrors,” along with help from several students. FHU Theatre hired Ramirez to not only lend his 27 years of design experience to the job, but to help teach students useful techniques, according to Dr. R. Cliff Thompson, theatre director.
“We don’t have professional design people on campus for very long when they come,” Thompson said. “To have someone of his [Ramirez’s] caliber here gives our students opportunities to work with someone they couldn’t ordinarily work with.”
Working on the set has been no small undertaking, Thompson said. Students began building it in July, and its completion is still several weeks away.
“The set was originally conceived to be much smaller in scale as it was in the original off-Broadway production,” Thompson said. “But after the Broadway revival of “Little Shop of Horrors,” the set became much larger. Our stage is designed to be similar to the Broadway version. This is the most ambitious thing we’ve built since I’ve been here.”
With the help of Ramirez on campus, much progress has been made onstage. During Fine Arts Week on campus last week, Ramirez traveled from his home in Nacogdoches, Texas, to conduct two student workshops. During the painting techniques workshop, students were able to use the skills they learned to finish the three background scenes.
“The set for ‘Little Shop’ really does create a miniature city on stage in Loyd [Auditorium],” Ramirez said. “One impressive aspect for the audience will be the sheer size and scale of the set. There are also a lot of fun scenic tricks and props in the show.”
The prop that is unquestionably the most important to the show, Thompson said, is Audrey II – the man-eating plant. Made up of four puppets – the largest of which is eight feet tall – Audrey II requires up to five puppeteers to bring her to life.
To see Audrey II and the larger-than-life set of “Little Shop of Horrors,” musical-theatre fans should come see the show Nov. 10-12 in FHU’s Loyd Auditorium. Show times are 7 p.m. each evening and 2 p.m. Nov. 12. Tickets are $12. For reservations, visit FHUtickets.com, or purchase tickets at the FHU bookstore.

14-Oct-05
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FHU THEATRE TO PRESENT ‘LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS’
10/14/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, Tenn. – Take a bit of the macabre and add a lot of musical fun and you get the “Little Shop of Horrors” – a show that promises to engage and enrapture audiences at Freed-Hardeman University’s annual Homecoming production Nov. 10-12. The production will be held in Loyd Auditorium at Freed-Hardeman at 7 p.m. each evening and 2 p.m. Nov. 12. Tickets are $12. For reservations, visit FHUtickets.com, or purchase tickets at the Freed-Hardeman bookstore.
According to the show’s director, Dr. R. Cliff Thompson, “Little Shop of Horrors” is a dark comedic spoof of the 1950s sci-fi movie genre. What makes the show so popular, he said, is the upbeat musical numbers that are reminiscent of music from the late 1950s and early 1960s.
“The music is so real,” Thompson said. “If you like ’60s girl-group music and late ’50s music, you’re really going to like this.”
Written by Howard Ashman with music by Alan Menken, “Little Shop of Horrors” is based on the 1960 Roger Corman film of the same name. Movie fans may know the music of Ashman and Menken from Disney blockbusters such as “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin.” The duo brings those same melodic harmonies and creative lyrics to “Little Shop.”
The musical premiered on off-Broadway in 1982 but soon went on to become the highest-grossing and third longest-running musical in off-Broadway history. The popular film version staring Rick Moranis and Steve Martin was produced in 1986. The movie sparked a revival of the show, which led to its opening on Broadway in August 2003.
Set in the seedy streets of Skid Row, the show follows the story of Seymour, a lowly assistant in a floral shop. Seymour becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant and names it Audrey II after the girl he loves. To his dismay, however, he soon discovers that Audrey II has a mysterious craving for fresh blood.
In order to maintain his celebrity status, Seymour feeds the plant his own blood. As the plant’s appetite grows, Seymour must find another way to get blood so that he can keep his newfound fame and impress Audrey. Eventually, Seymour is faced with the decision to either sacrifice human lives to feed the plant or kill it to save the world. What is truly a tragic scenario is lightened mockery and comic-book style, Thompson said.
“This is a cautionary tale of what happens when someone will go to any lengths to get what he wants,” Thompson said. “But I don’t think this is what most people leave the show thinking about. They think about the music.”
A New York Times review described the show as “Hilarious and irresistible, ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ leaves the audience … feeling just like Audrey II between victims – ravenous for more.”

14-Oct-05
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CHILDREN’S PERFORMANCE GROUP HOSTS PLAY DAY OCTOBER 1
9/28/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, Tenn. – Freed-Hardeman University’s Pied Pipers will kick off their fall season this Saturday with Play Day. This improvisational children’s performance group will be at 10 a.m. in Clayton Chapel on the FHU campus.

With games, stories, songs and fun, this year’s group of Pied Pipers combine their talents to bring smiles to the faces of adults and children alike. Students in the group represent five states and one foreign country.

Admission to Play Day is free. Donations will be accepted.

For more information about the Pied Pipers and their performances, visit theatre.fhu.edu/pipers, e-mail pipers@fhu.edu or call 731-989-6780.

28-Sep-05
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FREED-HARDEMAN UNIVERSITY DEDICATES WEEK TO FINE ARTS APPRECIATION
9/22/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON – At Freed-Hardeman University, the fine arts are abounding – from visual art to theatre to musical performance, both vocal and instrumental. To celebrate the talents of the students and faculty, the Department of Fine Arts will dedicate a week to fine arts appreciation Oct. 3-7. This will mark the seventh year for FHU’s Fine Arts Week, but it will be the first year for the event to span five consecutive days. The event is open to the community.

“We’ve gone from three to four days to a whole week this year,” said Dr. Barbara England, chair of the Department of Fine Arts. “Every aspect of the arts on campus is featured on a day during the week. There’s something every day for everybody.”

The week of activities will begin with a choral performance at FHU’s 10:30 a.m. chapel service Oct. 3 in Loyd Auditorium. The performance will feature FHU’s University Choral and University Singers. The groups will perform collaboratively that evening at 7:30 in Old Chapel Hall, under the direction of Dr. Gary McKnight and Dr. Terry Edwards.

Tuesday’s chapel service will be hosted by Dr. R. Cliff Thompson, director of theatre. The main presentation will feature Kathy Landon Leatherwood, executive director for the Jackson Arts Council. Leatherwood will speak about the important opportunities that the arts bring to communities. Thompson said the topic is particularly appropriate as FHU hosts a variety of university and community events, such as art exhibits, plays, and summer and after-school music and art programs. FHU also hosts many notable guest artists for the university and community each year through funding from the Tennessee Arts Commission or the Southern Arts Federation.

During the Wednesday chapel service, assistant art professor Warren Greene will make a presentation about the visual arts. Thursday’s chapel service will kick off a two-day visit from professional scenic designer Luis Ramirez, who will speak with Thompson about collaboration in the arts. Ramirez has also been commissioned to design the set for the upcoming FHU Homecoming musical, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Nov. 10-12. At 3 p.m. Thursday afternoon, Ramirez will hold a discussion session on the collaborative process.

“He will use his work with “Little Shop of Horrors” as a template for discussing collaboration in general,” Thompson said. “This really has a broader appeal for people, not just for people in theatre.”

That evening at 7, Ramirez will hold a hands-on workshop where he will teach scenic painting techniques. He will also speak to Thompson’s Theatre and the Christian class the next morning at 8:30, followed by a second session of scenic painting techniques at 12:30 p.m. in Thompson’s Technical Theatre Production class.

“We don’t have professional design people on campus for very long when they come,” Thompson said. “To have someone of his [Ramirez’s] caliber here gives our students an opportunity to work with someone they couldn’t ordinarily work with.”

The final day of Fine Arts Week will include a chapel music program hosted by Dr. Richard England, associate professor of music. Julie Robbins, a senior music major, will perform a piano recital in chapel and again that evening at 7 in Old Chapel Hall.

For more information on Fine Arts Week at FHU, contact the Department of Fine Arts at 731-989-6089 or blengand@fhu.edu.

22-Sep-05
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FREED-HARDEMAN UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCES NEW FACULTY
9/22/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON – Freed-Hardeman University began the 2005-06 school year with its largest recruitment of new faculty since 1975-76, when the school advanced from junior to senior college status. The new faculty members include 15 full time and nine part time and adjunct.

“Freed-Hardeman is growing in substantial ways, in quality as well as size, and the fact that we’re bringing in this many new teachers is yet another indication of this growth,” said Dr. Milton Sewell, FHU president.

FHU employs 106 full-time teaching faculty plus 36 part-time and adjunct teachers. Seventy-six percent of the full-time teaching faculty holds doctorates or similar terminal degrees.

“The selection of excellent teachers is never a light duty,” said Dr. Sam Jones, FHU’s vice president for academics. “We were very careful in our selection of these individuals, considering academic qualifications as well as Christian character, and we look forward to the contributions they’ll make here.”

FHU’s new full-time faculty include Jim Barr, instructor in chemistry; Dr. Shawn Bolton, assistant professor of biology; April Brashier, assistant professor of accounting and economics; Jason Brashier, instructor in management; Dr. Jim Gardner, associate professor of interdisciplinary studies; Linda Gibson, assistant professor of nursing; Sarah Hibbett, instructor in education; Ashlee Hirsh, instructor in education; Mike McCutchen, instructor in interdisciplinary studies and in the Center for Academic Services; Stan Mitchell, assistant professor of Bible; Mark Scott, assistant professor of management information systems; Nicole Scott, assistant professor of social work; Dr. Derrick Spradlin, assistant professor of English; Dr. Monte Tatom, assistant professor of education; and Eric Welch, missionary-in-residence.

New part-time faculty include Dr. Kathryn Clayton, assistant professor of education; Laura Wilson, instructor in art; and Dr. Linda Wright, associate professor of education.

New adjunct faculty include Corey Cagle in accounting, Dr. Paul Helton in graduate counseling, Allen Shull in English, Marcella Trevathan in English, Matthew Vaughn in Spanish and Dan Winkler in Bible.

22-Sep-05
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FHU BUSINESS MAJORS GET A ‘TASTE’ OF THE CORPORATE WORLD AT FALL PICNIC
9/14/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON – Business majors and pre-pharmacy majors at Freed-Hardeman University will soon have an opportunity to get a “taste” of the corporate world at the FHU School of Business fall picnic and chapel service. The Sept. 19 event is sponsored by Walgreens and Enterprise Rent-a-Car. Representatives from the Memphis offices of both companies, along with Freed-Hardeman alumni at both organizations, will attend.

“We’ve got two name-brand national companies coming who have recruited from us before and were very happy with the product,” said Dr. Ray Eldridge, dean of the Freed-Hardeman School of Business. “This [event] is really a win for these companies and a win for the School of Business.”

According to Eldridge, the purpose of the event is to give business majors a sense of community with each other and with the Freed-Hardeman business faculty and staff. It is also a valuable opportunity to network with seasoned business professionals and learn about potential career opportunities.

“This will really show our students that opportunities are there, that Freed-Hardeman students are graduating and doing well,” Eldridge said. “This will also give our students and faculty a chance to fellowship with each other outside of the classroom as Christians.”

In lieu of the daily campus-wide chapel services held for all students, business majors and pre-pharmacy majors will be invited to attend the picnic and chapel service tailored for this special day, Eldridge said. The chapel program held in Ayers Auditorium will be from 10:30 to 11 a.m., followed by a cookout on the grounds of the Brown-Kopel Business Center. Eldridge said he hopes the picnic and chapel service can become an annual event.

For more information, contact Eldridge at 731-989-6093 or reldridge@fhu.edu.

14-Sep-05

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INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED FLUTIST TO OPEN CONCERT SERIES AT FREED-HARDEMAN UNIVERSITY
9/12/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON – For those who enjoy the fine arts in a casual atmosphere, Freed-Hardeman University is offering the Brown Bag Concert Series, held the third Thursday of each month at noon in the university’s Old Chapel Hall. Despite the fact that the three-year-old series has featured everything from professional musicians to theater performances to lectures, there is nothing “stuffy” about it, said Dr. Richard England, associate professor of music at Freed-Hardeman.

“This gives our students and the community an opportunity to come and bring their lunch and enjoy the arts in a relaxed setting,” he said. “We’ve had quite a range and variety of artists, and it’s been very successful.”

The 2005-06 series launches this Thursday with professional flutist Sarah Beth Hanson – a Henderson resident who plays piccolo with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra (MSO) and maintains a private flute studio in Jackson.

Before joining the MSO, Hanson spent 20 years as principal flutist for the Baton Rouge Symphony and the Louisiana Sinfonietta and was frequently featured with both groups. She has held faculty positions at Southeastern Louisiana University, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and, most recently, the Jackson Symphony Summer Music Camp. She is also in frequent demand around the Southeast as a recitalist, adjudicator and clinician. In spring 1999, Hanson gave her New York debut at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall, with a return engagement in 2000.

I n 2004, she performed in Athens, Greece, at the historic Parnassas Theatre. Upon her return from Greece, Hanson was featured in a concert at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium in Washington, D.C. She has been listed on the Louisiana State Artist Roster and is a Louisiana Division of the Arts Fellowship Recipient.

Hanson is also featured on several albums by renowned composer Dinos Constantinides and has released a solo album of favorite French melodies, entitled “The Girl with the Flaxen Hair.” She received a bachelor’s and Master of Music degree from Florida State University.

England, who will accompany Hanson on the piano, said she is one of many talented people in the community who “graciously” share their talents on campus.

“This series is something that allows our students to experience a different level of interaction with some very talented people,” he said. “It helps them understand that this is something that they can accomplish. It also just gives them more exposure to the arts.”

This same experience is open and free of charge to all students, faculty and staff at Freed-Hardeman as well as the community. “She’s an incredible musician,” England said. “After she plays, you’re going to want to hear more.”

12-Sep-05
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FREED-HARDEMAN BREAKS 2,000 ENROLLMENT
9/2/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, TENN. – Freed-Hardeman University is beginning the fall 2005 semester with a milestone enrollment of 2,030. The announcement was made after the university’s last day for dropping or adding courses, Sept. 1. FHU’s previous enrollment record was 1,966 in fall 2003. “We’ve been above 1,900 students for several years now, so crossing the 2,000 mark is very special for us,” said Wayne Scott, FHU’s vice president for enrollment management. “Freed-Hardeman has grown significantly in all areas in recent years, and this is another indicator of that trend.” FHU’s fall 2005 student population includes a record of 473 freshmen and new students. The university also has an all-time-high undergraduate enrollment of 1,500 and residential population of 1,243 – areas where the university is placing emphasis for growth. Graduate enrollment is a record 530. “The strength of a Freed-Hardeman education is what the student gets by being here full-time, immersing themselves in the college experience. So the fact that we’ve gained such a strong undergraduate residential population makes this a great year,” said Dr. Belinda Anderson, director of admissions.More than 61 percent of FHU’s students are residential undergraduates.

2-Sep-05
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FREED-HARDEMAN SETS RECORD FOR CASH GIFTS
8/31/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON – 2004-05 was a record year for gifts made to Freed-Hardeman University. The University received $6.8 million in cash gifts, up from its previous record of $6.4 million in 2002-03. More than $20 million was gained in cash and pledges the past year, also a record.

“Freed-Hardeman has grown in many ways in recent years, and we’re making plans for more growth. There are many generous alumni and friends who love this university and are eager to have a part in its future growth,” said Dr. Milton Sewell, FHU president. “We couldn’t do it without them.”

Gifts made to FHU in 2004-05 were in conjunction with the university’s Beyond Believe Campaign, an initiative to raise $80 million for the school by May 2009. The campaign currently stands at $55 million in cash and pledges.

Areas of FHU benefiting from recent gifts include scholarships, projects for students living, academic and professional development, athletics, endowment and the Bible Teaching Program. Gifts have also gone toward several new academic programs as well as three capital projects being planned.

“When people give to Freed-Hardeman through initiatives like Beyond Believe, they like to see that the funds are making a noticeable difference,” said Dave Clouse, FHU’s vice president for university advancement. “With the kind of growth we’re experiencing, they’re noticing a difference.”


2-Sep-05
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FHU ADDS TO ADVISORY AND MSYC BOARDS
8/31/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, TENN. – Freed-Hardeman University added five new members to its President’s Advisory Board and two new members to the Mid-South Youth Camp board Aug. 26, university president Dr. Milton Sewell announced.
New members to the Advisory Board are Jon and Elaine Hackett of Troy, Ala.; Andrew and Kathryn Phillips of Mt. Juliet, Tenn.; and Bonnie Plyler of Jasper, Ala. New members to the Mid-South Youth Camp board are Mitch and Natalie Zlatovich of Henderson.
The Advisory Board at Freed-Hardeman is a group dedicated to supporting the university through suggestions and helpful insight while identifying potential students and donors and representing the university in communities throughout the nation.

31-Aug-05
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FHU BEGINS 2005-06 WITH TRADITIONAL TOLLING OF THE BELL
8/22/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, TENN. – Continuing a fall-semester tradition, Freed-Hardeman University will kick off its 2005-06 school year with the annual Tolling of the Bell ceremony. The ceremony, which includes a processional of all university faculty members clad in academic regalia, is scheduled for Aug. 18 at 10:30 a.m. in Loyd Auditorium. Always on the first day of classes, the Tolling of the Bell is a way for FHU to welcome freshmen into the university family as well as to celebrate the university’s heritage, values and vision.
“At many places, the school year will begin simply with a new schedule of classes. But at Freed-Hardeman, we celebrate the year’s beginning because we’re making another year of history. We are building on our past, but at the same time, we’re welcome the next generation of leaders for our homes, churches and world,” said Dave Clouse, FHU’s vice president for university advancement.
“As we begin our 137th academic year this week, we’re introducing several hundred students to an experience that has challenged generations of people not only to grow intellectually but also to grow as leaders and as servants of God.”
Since its inception, the Tolling of the Bell has also been an event to recognize one or more individuals as Master of the Bell, an honor given in appreciation for significant contributions of service and support to Freed-Hardeman. At the 2005 ceremony, FHU will honor retired business professor Dr. Bobby Bush of Henderson.
“Every student has a favorite professor, and Bobby Bush has been a favorite for many,” said Dr. Milton Sewell, FHU president. “He has taken a sincere interest in each student’s professional and personal success, he has spent countless hours working with them inside and outside of the classroom, and he is a true mentor for students to follow, both professionally and spiritually.”
Bush taught in the FHU School of Business from 1976 to 2001, after more than 20 years of management experience. He had previously worked with such companies as Gulf State Manufacturing in Starkville, Miss.; Century Electric Company in Corinth, Miss.; and Mississippi State Employment in Corinth.
While at FHU, Bush was known for his workshops and student counseling in a variety of areas, such as communication, time management, team building, interview techniques and career development. He was also honored with the FHU Alumni Association’s Teacher of the Year award in 1986.
Bush, a deacon for the Henderson Church of Christ, has also done extensive work in the areas of missions and volunteer service. His mission efforts have taken him to such areas as Guyana, Belize, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Austria, Wisconsin and Florida. A member of the Sojourners, a Christian volunteer group, he has also dedicated much of his retirement to serving small churches.
For more information on the 2005 Tolling of the Bell, contact FHU’s Office of University Advancement at 731-989-6019 or wpulse@fhu.edu.

22-Aug-05
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PRINGLES PARK TO HOST ANNUAL FHU NIGHT
8/22/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, TENN. – Pringles Park in Jackson will host its annual Freed-Hardeman University Night Aug. 26, as the Diamond Jaxx take on the Chattanooga Lookouts. Game time is 6:35 p.m., following a 5 p.m. reception for FHU guests.
Postcard invitations have been mailed to FHU’s West Tennessee alumni, students and friends. The invitations should be shown at the gate for free admission.
The pre-game reception will include complimentary snacks, and everyone wearing FHU apparel will be eligible for door prizes.
FHU Night at Pringles Park is an annual event, hosted at the beginning of each school year. For more information, contact FHU’s Office of Alumni Relations at 731-989-6021 or lblamb@fhu.edu.

22-Aug-05
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FHU OFFERS FREE ESTATE PLANNING SEMINAR
8/19/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, TENN. – Freed-Hardeman University will offer a free Estate Planning Continuing Education Seminar Aug. 26 from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Brown-Kopel Business Center. The seminar, which will cover the top 10 issues facing Tennessee estate planners, will offer three hours of CLE credit for attorneys and four hours of CPE credit for accountants.
The seminar will be led by Stephen McDaniel of Williams, McDaniel, Wolfe, and Womack, P.C., in Memphis. McDaniel, who has specialized in estate planning for more than 28 years, is certified as an Estate Planning Specialist by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Education and Specialization. He is also an Accredited Estate Planner with the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils as well as a member of the Tennessee and Missouri Bar Associations.
The seminar will also feature Michael Parham, a frequent guest speaker at seminars related to estate planning and tax-exempt organization. Parham is an attorney for Williams, McDaniel, Wolfe, and Womack.
For registration or more information, contact FHU’s Office of Financial and Estate Planning at 731-989-6020 or bclayton@fhu.edu.

19-Aug-05
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FHU LAUNCHES 2005-06 ART GALLERY SEASON WITH MAAKESTAD
8/19/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, TENN. – The Freed-Hardeman University Art Gallery will open its 2005-06 season Aug. 22 with the works of Memphis-based landscape painter Susan Maakestad. The show will run through Sept. 23, and Maakestad will lecture Sept. 1.
Maakestad, an associate professor at the Memphis College of Art, has shown in numerous galleries throughout the nation and has been reviewed in a variety of publications, including New Art Examiner, the Memphis Flyer and the Nashville Scene. As an artist, she paints familiar urban scenes but avoids an imitation of the scenes’ natural environments.
“I am moved by the internal logic of paintings themselves, a world where things make sense somehow. Or almost don’t. Where everything lives and breathes in tension held together by beauty and paints,” Maakestad wrote in her artist statement.
While not a “political painter,” Maakestad explained that she cannot ignore the environment in her landscapes. “Landscape as we know it is mutating, disappearing. … I am searching for something to love in this urban scene even as I long for the consolations of nature.”
Other shows coming to the FHU Art Gallery this fall will include sculptor Andy Holtin of the University of North Texas and Memphis-based abstract painter Meikle Gardner.
The FHU Art Gallery is open all day Monday-Friday. All shows are free to the public. For more information, contact the Art Gallery director at 731-989-6090, or visit www.fhu.edu/art.

19-Aug-05
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FHU OFFERS FREE ESTATE PLANNING SEMINAR
8/19/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, TENN. – Freed-Hardeman University will offer a free Estate Planning Continuing Education Seminar Aug. 26 from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Brown-Kopel Business Center. The seminar, which will cover the top 10 issues facing Tennessee estate planners, will offer three hours of CLE credit for attorneys and four hours of CPE credit for accountants. For registration or more information, contact Freed-Hardeman’s Office of Financial and Estate Planning at 731-989-6020 or bclayton@fhu.edu.

19-Aug-05
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REP. JOHN DEBERRY RECEIVES LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
8/16/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, TENN. – Rep. John Deberry (D-Memphis) received the Legislator of the Year award from the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police Aug. 5.
Deberry is a trustee for Freed-Hardeman University and a 1973 graduate of the university. As a legislator, he has passed several bills this year, including HB 2082, which revises activities that are considered criminal offenses involving the sexual exploitation of minors. Deberry is chairman of the House Children and Family Affairs Committee and is a strong advocate for the protection and rights of children.

16-Aug-05
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FHU, BASE-TN TO OFFER FREE TUITION FOR STUDENTS SEEKING TENNESSEE SPECIAL-ED LICENSURE
8/16/05 - Contact Jud Davis or Josh Woods, 731-989-6023

HENDERSON, TENN. – Joining a statewide effort to increase the number of certified special education teachers in Tennessee public