May 4, 2017 - The history department recognized the accomplishments of eight history-related students and one history alumnus at its annual awards banquet on May 4, 2017. Thirty-one people attended the event, which was sponsored by the Rutledge Honorary History Club.
The banquet program had several layers. It began with history club president Kathryn Mitchell inducting Anna Cook into the club. Mitchell then led the installation of the club’s 2017-2018 officers for 2017-2018, including Ali Renckens (president), Jessica Barton (vice president), and Jonathan Greer (secretary). Dr. Henry Allen, Assistant Professor of History, followed as the banquet speaker, talking about Christian views of history, with a special focus on the writings of St. Augustine and Martin Luther.
Dr. Stephen Carls presided over the program’s awards ceremony. Students who received awards for outstanding work in history were: Emily Littleton, who won the Phi Alpha Theta Scholarship Pin and Academic Excellence Certificate; Beth Adams, who earned the History Major Award; and Thomas Gray, who obtained the History Minor Award. The History Student Teacher Award for exceptional commitment to classroom teaching went to Stephen Lewoczko. Students recognized in the Dr. James Alex Baggett History Research Paper Competition were: Beth Adams, second place; Stephen Lewoczko and Seth Reid, tied for third place; and Priscilla Porter, honorable mention. The department gave books and certificates of commendation to the following students for their paper presentations at the Tennessee Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference at the University of Tennessee at Martin on April 1: Beth Adams, Stephen Lewoczko, Emily Littleton, and Seth Reid. History student club officers who received certificates of appreciation for their work in 2016-2017 were: Jordan Sellers, president, and Kathryn Mitchell, vice president, of Union’s Delta-Psi chapter of Phi Alpha Theta; and Kathryn Mitchell, president of the Rutledge Honorary History Club.
The last act of the program was Carls’s presentation of the Ninth Annual History Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award to Rick Rudesill, who graduated with a history major from Union in 1989. While at Union, Rudesill was initiated into Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society and named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. A star basketball player at Union, he was named Union’s Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame Athlete of the Year in 1989 and honored that same year as the Union University Athlete of the Year. Embarking on a stellar teaching and coaching career in 1991 at the University School of Jackson, Rudesill moved to Bolivar High School in 1996, where he has remained to this day. As the Bolivar boys’ basketball coach, he has taken his team to 11 district championships, nine regional championships, 11 sub-state appearances, nine state tournaments, and three state championships. Rudesill has also served as the Bolivar girls’ basketball coach, and he has led his team to five district championships, two regional championships, three sub-state appearances, and two state tournament appearances. For his many athletic accomplishments, Rudesill was inducted into the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame in April, 2015. Rudesill reached a new level of professional success in 2014, when he became Bolivar High School’s assistant principal and athletic director.
Attendees at the History Department Awards Banquet on May 4, 2017, go through the food serving line. They are (starting on the front left and going clockwise) Louise Rudesill, Dr. Alice-Catherine Carls, Mike Johnson, Dan Rudesill, and Rick Rudesill.
Attendees at the History Department Awards Banquet on May 4, 2017, prepare to enjoy their dinners. They are (starting on the front left and going clockwise) Beth Adams, Emily Littleton, Dr. David Thomas, Seth Reid, Jeremy Ebert, and Dr. Keith Bates.
Dr. Keith Bates makes a point during a table conversation at the history awards banquet on May 4, 2017. Photo by Janelle Vest
Attendees at the History Department Awards Banquet on May 4, 2017, enjoy a lively table conversation. They are (starting on the front left and going clockwise) Beth Adams, Emily Littleton, Dr. David Thomas, and Dr. Keith Bates (back to camera). Photo by Janelle Vest
Guests at the history awards banquet on May 4, 2017, pause for a photo before beginning their meals. They are (starting at the front left and going clockwise) Jessica Barton, Lauren Butler, Leah Atkins, Katie Allison, Haley Hathcock, and Priscilla Porter.
Attendees at the History Department Awards Banquet on May 4, 2017, enjoy food and fellowship together to begin the evening.
Rutledge Honorary History Club President Kathryn Mitchell (right) inducts Anna Cook into the club during the History Department Awards Banquet on May 4, 2017. Photo by Janelle Vest
Rutledge Honorary History Club President Kathryn Mitchell (left) leads the induction ceremony of 2017-2018 club officers at the history awards banquet on May 4, 2017. The incoming officers are (left to right) Ali Renckens (president), Jonathan Greer (secretary), and Jessica Barton (vice president). Photo by Janelle Vest
Dr. Henry Allen discusses Christian views of history, particularly those of St. Augustine and Martin Luther, as the featured speaker at the History Department Awards Banquet on May 4, 2017. Photo by Janelle Vest
Emily Littleton accepts the Phi Alpha Theta Scholarship Pin and Academic Excellence Award from Robert Briley (left) and Dr. Stephen Carls at the history awards banquet on May 4, 2017. Photo by Janelle Vest
Beth Adams accepts the History Major Award from Dr. David Thomas at the history awards banquet on May 4, 2017. Photo by Janelle Vest
Dr. Terry Lindley (right) presents the History Minor Award to Thomas Gray at the history awards banquet on May 4, 2017. Photo by Janelle Vest
Priscilla Porter accepts the honorable mention certificate in the Dr. James Alex Baggett History Research Paper Competition from Dr. Keith Bates at the history awards banquet on May 4, 2017. Photo by Janelle Vest
Seth Reid (left) accepts a third place award in the Dr. James Alex Baggett History Research Paper Competition from Dr. Keith Bates at the history awards banquet on May 4, 2017. Photo by Janelle Vest
Dr. Keith Bates presents the second place award in the Dr. James Alex Baggett History Research Paper Competition to Beth Adams at the history awards banquet on May 4, 2017. Photo by Janelle Vest
Beth Adams receives a book and a certificate of recognition from Dr. Henry Allen at the history awards banquet on May 4, 2017, for her paper presentation at the 2017 Tennessee Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference on April 1. Photo by Janelle Vest
Dr. Henry Allen presents a book and certificate of recognition to Emily Littleton at the history awards banquet on May 4, 2017, for the paper she gave at the 2017 Tennessee Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference on April 1. Photo by Janelle Vest
Seth Reid (left) accepts a book and a certificate of recognition from Dr. Henry Allen at the History Department Awards Banquet on May 4, 2017, for his paper presentation at the 2017 Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference on April 1. Photo by Janelle Vest
Dr. Stephen Carls gives a certificate of appreciation to Kathryn Mitchell at the history awards banquet on May 4, 2017, for her work as the 2016-2017 vice president of the Delta-Psi chapter of Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society. Photo by Janelle Vest
Kathryn Mitchell accepts a certificate of appreciation from Dr. Terry Lindley at the history awards banquet on May 4, 2017, for her work as president of the Rutledge Honorary History Club in 2016-2017. Photo by Janelle Vest
Rick Rudesill (right) accepts the 2017 History Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award from Dr. Stephen Carls at the History Department Awards Banquet on May 4, 2017. Photo by Janelle Vest
Rick Rudesill expresses gratitude to the history department for honoring him with the 2017 History Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award at the history awards banquet on May 4, 2017. Photo by Janelle Vest
Rick Rudesill (center), the 2017 recipient of the History Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award, stands with his parents, Dan and Louise Rudesill, following the History Department Awards Banquet on May 4, 2017. Photo by Janelle Vest
History award winners join with history department faculty for a photo at the department awards Banquet on May 4, 2017. They are: (front row left to right) Dr. David Thomas, Seth Reid, Beth Adams, Priscilla Porter, and Kathryn Mitchell; (back row, left to right) Dr. Henry Allen, Dr. Keith Bates, Emily Littleton, Thomas Gray, Rick Rudesill, Robert Briley, Dr. Stephen Carls, and Dr. Terry Lindley. Photo by Janelle Vest