Southwest Baptist University News
Release
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Charlotte Marsch, Director of Marketing and Communications
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SBU graduates record class of 497
Bolivar’s Cox, Phipps receive SBU
Life Beautiful Awards
BOLIVAR, Mo. — With 497 graduates, Southwest
Baptist University’s May 2013 graduating class was the largest in the
University’s 135-year history. The commencement ceremony also included the
annual presentation of three prestigious awards: two Life Beautiful Awards and
Orien B. Hendrex Distinguished Teacher Award.
Life Beautiful Award
The 2013
recipients of the Life Beautiful Award are Minda Cox and Josiah Phipps, both of
Bolivar.
• Minda Cox graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in
Christian Ministry. She was recognized in Who's Who Among Students in American
Colleges and Universities, and is a member of Phi Eta Sigma and Theta Alpha
Kappa.
“She is a
talented artist and has had artwork displayed in galleries through Southwest
Missouri and Nebraska,” SBU President Dr. C. Pat Taylor said when presenting
the award. “Minda is passionate about ministering to others, especially to
disabled people in third-world countries. She faces her daily obstacles with a
determination, joy and fearlessness that inspires everyone around her. One
faculty member shared that Minda exemplifies God's promise that His strength is
great in our weakness.”
Cox has
been on several SBU mission trips including the Pine Ridge Reservation in South
Dakota, the Mukti Home in Pune, India, and Gaborone, Botswana. She is a member
of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Bolivar where she serves as a Sunday school
teacher and scripture reader.
She
volunteers at the House of Hope and for Share Your Christmas and also does
public speaking engagements on behalf of SBU and the disabled.
Her mother
is Cathy Cox, pastor of St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Bolivar.
Cox also
delivered the Bob R. Derryberry Senior Address, in which she thanked her
classmates for encouraging her.
“I want to
thank the class of 2013 for showing me what Christian community looks like,”
she said. “You cheered me on when I was ready to give up. I will never forget
that.”
But Cox
said her story really is no different than anyone else’s.
“My story
is just one example of a life that has been shaped and directed because of
spending a few years here surrounded by people who love God and have loved us
with His love,” she said.
• Josiah Phipps graduated with a
bachelor of science degree in computer science and in mathematics. He has
represented SBU at the Association for Information Technology National
Collegiate Conference, presented undergraduate research at the Consortium for
Computing Sciences Central Plans Regional Conference and is a recipient of the
Ingman Award and Polk County Scholarship.
He has
been on many SBU mission trips including the Philippines (twice), Honduras,
South Dakota, Joplin, Minnesota and Senegal, where he served as co-leader of
the team. He is a member of Southern Hills Baptist Church in Bolivar.
“Although
recently offered two prestigious positions with two well-known companies, he
turned them down in order to a Southern Baptist International Mission Board
Journeyman,” Dr. Taylor said. “He will leave in October to serve as a
missionary to Southeast Asia as a software engineer.”
Phipps
has assisted with SBU math competitions, has managed a lawn business in Bolivar
since 2001 and volunteered to re-roof the youth building at his church last
August.
“According
to his professors, Josiah exemplifies servant leadership,” Dr. Taylor said. “He
does not call attention to himself and is a hard worker that truly seeks to
glorify God in all that he does.”
His parents
are Michael and Tammy Phipps.
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.
Orien B. Hendrex Award
Bing Bayer,
Ph.D., received the Orien B. Hendrex Distinguished Teacher Award. Bayer is a
professor of Old Testament and Hebrew chair of the Department of Theology in
the Courts Redford College of Theology and Ministry. He has taught at SBU since
1988.
The award
is presented annually to a faculty member who has been judged by the previous
three years’ graduating classes to be outstanding in both teaching ability and
personal guidance. The SBU Board of Trustees designated this award in memory Hendrex,
a former academic dean.
Faculty and staff recognitions
Dr. Taylor
also recognized four retiring faculty members and a staff member who retired
during this school year.
Retiring
faculty are Cathy Beck, P.T., Ph.D., ACCE, a professor in the department of physical
therapy, who has taught at SBU since 2002; Dianna Callahan, a lecturer of art,
who has taught at SBU since 1981; Tom Hollis, Ph.D., a professor of education,
has taught at SBU since 1995; and Rosalyn Snellen, Ph.D., senior professor of
biology, who has taught at SBU since 1978.
Cindy Rice,
director of private scholarship development, retired in March.
Commencement speaker
Commencement
speaker Chaplain Col. Gary D. Gilmore, a 1979 SBU graduate and former member of
the University’s Board of Trustees, outlined responsibilities he says are to be
shared by every SBU graduate.
“Today you
join the ranks of SBU graduates who are lifelong learners, role models and
leaders. While you are on this journey, raise your hands to heaven and enjoy
the ride.”
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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.
