Friday, May 25, 2012

SBU Names 2012 Life Beautiful Award Recipients


Southwest Baptist University News Release
Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications
417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu


BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University’s Life Beautiful Awards for 2012 graduates were announced at Spring Commencement on May 19, 2012. Guest speaker was Clifton Smart, III, the interim president of Missouri State University and father of Murray, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Christian ministry during the ceremony. 

The Life Beautiful presentations were made by President C. Pat Taylor and Provost Bill Brown. The female recipient of the Life Beautiful Award for 2012 was Lydia Nebel, and the male recipient was Scott Davis.  Their biographies follow below.

Lydia Nebel
Lydia is from Bolivar, Missouri, and is graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree in interdisciplinary studies.  She was recognized in Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities.  She is a member of Phi Eta Sigma and Theta Alpha Kappa.  She was crowned Miss Southwest for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Nebel has been on several SBU mission trips where she served as co-leader, including the Philippines and the Lakota Sioux Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. She is a member of Alliance Christian Fellowship in Bolivar.

Nebel currently volunteers at the House of Hope.  She also has worked as a court appointed special advocate for Child Advocates, Inc., and a counselor at Camp David of the Ozarks (a camp for children of prisoners).  She is currently an SBU Resident Assistant, and is vice president of SBU’s chapter of the International Justice Mission.

Nebel is passionate about serving and ministering to others.  She genuinely cares about others and goes out of her way to meet people and encourage them. One faculty member shared that Nebel “exudes joy and her love for the Lord is evident in all she does.”

Nebel’s parents are Krista and the late Rick Nebel.

Scott Davis
Scott is from Kansas City, Missouri and is graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor of music degree in church music.  He was recognized in Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities, is a member of Alpha Chi, Phi Eta Sigma, and Pi Kappa Lambda.  He is a Presser Scholar, and has received the Truett Scholarship for 2012, which is a full scholarship to attend Baylor University and Truett Seminary, where he will purse masters’ degrees in church music and divinity. 

Davis is a member of the SBU Chorale, Wind Symphony and Chamber Singers.  He is the Pep Band Director and has performed in three SBU Opera Theater productions.

Davis is a member of First Baptist Church of Raytown, Missouri, where he currently serves as the youth ministry interim, the children’s choir coordinator and director of 1st through 3rd grade choirs, teaches sign language, has an evangelistic ministry as “Skooter” the clown performing gospel illustrations, and is the music and program coordinator for Pathway Puppet Ministry.
He also has served on many mission trips with his home church.

Davis is known by the faculty as someone whose attitudes and actions always are consistent with his desire to be the best possible example to those around him.  He exhibits a lifestyle of service and compassion.  One faculty member stated that his even temperament and teachable spirit have made him a pleasure to teach.

Davis’ parents are John and Laura Davis.


The Life Beautiful Award
The Life Beautiful Award was established in 1937 by Rosalee Mills Appleby, a career missionary to Brazil. This award is given annually to an outstanding man and woman in the Southwest Baptist University spring graduating class. These individuals have demonstrated by their scholarship and character that they are living a “life beautiful.” The faculty selects the recipients, whose identities remain confidential until commencement.

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PHOTOS: Lydia Nebel and Dr. Bill Brown, Scott Davis and President C. Pat Taylor

Southwest Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at an affordable price. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

SBU’s Office of Marketing and Communications is available to news media 24 hours a day at (417) 399-7918.



Wednesday, May 16, 2012

SBU Spring Commencement on Saturday, May 19



Southwest Baptist University News Release
Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications
417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. –The Southwest Baptist University spring commencement is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 19, on the Merrill Burnidge Memorial Forum on the main campus in Bolivar. 


The commencement address will be given by Clifton M. Smart, interim president of Missouri State University. The Bob R. Derryberry senior address will be given by graduating senior Amanda Michelle Gilmore.


SBU President Dr. Pat Taylor and Provost Dr. William Brown will present the Life Beautiful and Orien B. Hendrex Distinguished Teacher awards.

Biography of Clifton M. Smart

On June 27, 2011, Clifton M. “Clif” Smart III was named interim president of Missouri State University (MSU) in Springfield. Mr. Smart had served as general counsel at MSU since December 1, 2007.

Over the past three and one-half years at MSU, Smart provided legal counsel to the Board, president, faculty, staff and administrators. He also was involved in many campus-wide initiatives including leading the university response to the state auditor’s report on MSU; serving on the John Q. Hammons Arena Task Force; developing a comprehensive on-line library policy for the university; and chairing or serving on a variety of searches including vice president for diversity and inclusion, chief financial officer (twice), director of admissions, director of human resources and men’s basketball coach.

Smart received his Bachelor of Arts from Tulane University in 1983, graduating summa cum laude. In 1986, he graduated with a Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas School of Law. While in law school, he received the Leflar Scholarship, was an Oxford Scholar and was on the Arkansas Law Review.

Smart joined the Strong Law Firm in 1992. He has been a shareholder in the firm since 1995 and vice president since 1998. Over the past 15 years, his practice consisted primarily of representing individuals and entities in catastrophic injury, medical malpractice and commercial cases.

Prior to joining the Strong Law Firm, he worked for two years with the firm of Wright, Lindsey & Jennings in Little Rock, Arkansas. From 1986-90, he was with the Judge Advocate Generals Corps in Ft. Knox, Kentucky.

Smart was selected as one of three applicants submitted to the governor for the vacant Missouri Supreme Court positions in 2002 and 2004. In February 2009, he was elected for a five-year term as one of the two lawyer members of the 31st Circuit Judicial Commission. Best Lawyers in America for 2007-08 included Smart in the fields of product liability, personal injury and professional negligence.

Smart and his wife, Gail, have two sons: Murray, graduating this month from SBU in Bolivar, and Jim, an incoming freshman at Hamilton College in New York.

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Southwest Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at an affordable price. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

SBU’s Office of Marketing and Communications is available to news media 24 hours a day at (417) 399-7918.

Friday, May 4, 2012

SBU Senior Earns Outstanding English Education Student Award


Southwest Baptist University News Release
Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications
417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University senior English major Jana Hill has been awarded the Missouri Association of Teachers of English Robert J. Greef Award for the Outstanding English Education Student at SBU. Hill was recognized for her accomplishments at the Association's state conference recently held at Tan-Tar-A Resort. Hill is from Grove, Okla.

Hill has been a tutor in the University Writing Center, has won scholarships in the Department of Language and Literature, has won several awards in SBU's Writing Contest, and is a member of Phi Eta Sigma honor society and Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society.  She was on the Omnibus staff for two and half years and has served as managing editor.

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Southwest Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at an affordable price. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

SBU’s Office of Marketing and Communications is available to news media 24 hours a day at (417) 399-7918.

SBU Professor Co-Presented at NCTM Conference


Southwest Baptist University News Release
Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications
417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University’s Dr. Robert Glasgow, professor of mathematics recently co-presented at the 2012 National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Annual Conference in Philadelphia.  The annual NCTM conference was attended by over 10,000 K-12 and university mathematics teachers.  The presentation was entitled: “Doctorates in Mathematics: A Shortage Continues and Jobs Exist”. 

Dr. Glasgow was a co-speaker with Dr. Robert Reys from the University of Missouri and Dr. Christa Jackson from the University of Kentucky.  The presentation highlighted a decade of research documenting the shortage of doctorates in mathematics education, the current job market, and the process of choosing and entering a doctoral program. 

The presentation was attended by over 200 participants, most of whom were K-12 math teachers considering entering a doctoral program in mathematics education.  Dr. Glasgow’s attendance at the conference was funded partially by Awad Scholarly Activities Funds.

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Southwest Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at an affordable price. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

SBU’s Office of Marketing and Communications is available to news media 24 hours a day at (417) 399-7918.

SBU International Justice Mission Hosts Slavery Awareness


Southwest Baptist University News Release
Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications
417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University’s chapter of the International Justice Mission (IJM) kicked off a slavery awareness event yesterday and continues today in the Goodson Student Union on the Bolivar campus from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.  There are a variety of opportunities to get involved in discussion and research.

The event kickoff in Randolph Chapel featured a music worship session focused on freedom and hope then moving into a prayer vigil about trafficking—victims, buyers, perpetrators, and government officials.

The chapter’s “hope is to involve as many people as possible in the discussion of “what is my response to modern-day slavery to be?”  The chapter belief is “that each person, no matter how old and no matter what area of study or job, has a role in fighting human trafficking. This is our request of you and your organization—to begin the discussion of what your specific role is in abolition today. Then, to come and join us for the awareness event bringing your thoughts and questions.”

Alongside research areas and an art exhibit, there will be a designated discussion area with questions and information.  The public is invited to join the chapter for a debriefing session held Friday after the event from 4 to 5p.m. in the Davis Theater in the Union building.

IJM is an international organization working with localized law enforcement to prevent and eradicate slavery, find and prosecute traffickers, and provide aftercare for victims of both labor and sex trafficking. For more information on all their work and how to become more involved in their abolition efforts, visit www.ijm.org. 
Contact Fiona Scott at 570.313.9441 or Lydia Nebel at 417.399.4872 with questions or concerns.
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Southwest Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at an affordable price. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

SBU’s Office of Marketing and Communications is available to news media 24 hours a day at (417) 399-7918.