May 2, 2019 - The Department of History held its annual awards banquet on May 2, 2019 and recognized several students for their achievements in the department and a history alumnus for his outstanding professional work. Dr. Ray Van Neste, Dean of Union’s School of Theology and Missions, was the banquet speaker; he spoke about the importance of historical knowledge in all areas of life. The Rutledge Honorary History club coordinated the event, which was attended by 30 people.
The department granted several awards to students. Lauren Butler received the Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society Scholarship Pin and Academic Excellence Certificate. The History Minor Award went to William Choate, while Brianna Hammond earned the History Student Teacher Award. Winners announced in the Dr. James Alex Baggett History Research Paper Competition were: Luke Sower, second place; Megan Ledbetter, third place, and Christopher Hearn, honorable mention. Certificates of commendation and books were given to the following students for their paper presentations at the Tennessee Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference at Belmont University on March 30: Lauren Butler, William Choate, and Luke Sower. Finally, Lauren Butler accepted a certificate of appreciation for her work as president of Union’s Delta-Psi chapter of Phi Alpha Theta.
Robert Briley was the recipient of the 11th Annual History Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award. He taught for 30 years at Jackson’s North Side High School where he was named its Faculty Member of the Year in 1988, 1990, and 2010. The Jackson Jaycees gave him their Outstanding Young Educator for Jackson and Madison County Award in 1990, and the Jackson-Madison County School System named him its Secondary Education Teacher of the Year in 2010. Briley was also the coach for the boys’ and girls’ tennis teams at North Side from 1986 to 2000; he was named the Boys’ District Tennis Coach of the Year in 2000. He is currently a history teacher and chair of the Social Studies Department at Trinity Christian Academy in Jackson, and an adjunct history instructor at Union University and Jackson State Community College.
Since 2019 is the 90th anniversary year of the Rutledge Honorary History Club (1929-2019), Dr. Stephen Carls gave a brief history of the club. He pointed out that the initial faculty sponsors of the club were Lovick DeWitt Rutledge, chair of the Social Science Department at Union, and his wife Rosa D. Rutledge. The Rutledges were history professors at Union. Originally called the Union University History Club, the club changed its name to the Rutledge Honorary History Club in May 1942 to honor the Rutledges. Following the death of her husband in 1940, Mrs. Rutledge served as the club’s faculty sponsor for many years. Other faculty sponsors of the club have included Dr. James Edmonson (1967-1992) and Dr. Terry Lindley, who held that responsibility from 1992 until the end of last spring. Dr. Henry Allen now fills that role.
Attendees at the History Department Awards Banquet engage in conversation prior to the meal on May 2, 2019. They are (left to right) Robert Briley, Dr. Ray Van Neste (back to camera), Dr. Terry Lindley, Becky Lindley, Trebor Briley, Jennifer Briley (back to camera), Brenda Briley, and Dr. Alice-Catherine Carls.
Reagan Smith (left) and Miles Randall wait for the history awards banquet to begin on May 2, 2019.
Becky Lindley and Dr. Terry Lindley go through the food line at the History Department Awards Banquet on May 2, 2019.
Attendees at the History Department Awards Banquet on May 2, 2019, enjoy their meals.
Dr. Ray Van Neste talks about the importance of history in people's lives as the keynote speaker at the history awards banquet on May 2, 2019. Photo by Nicole Grim
Dr. Alice-Catherine Carls (center) listens to Dr. Ray Van Neste speak about the importance of historical knowledge in decision-making at the history awards banquet on May 2, 2019. Photo by Nicole Grim
Becky Lindley listens to Dr. Ray Van Neste speak at the history awards banquet on May 2, 2019. Photo by Nicole Grim
Reagan Smith (center) listens to Dr. Ray Van Neste's talk about the relevance of history in modern-day society at the History Department Awards Banquet on May 2, 2019. Photo by Nicole Grim
Lauren Butler accepts the Phi Alpha Theta Scholarship Pin and Academic Excellence Certificate from Robert Briley at the History Department Awards Banquet on May 2, 2019. Photo by Nicole Grim
Will Choate (right) accepts the History Minor Award from Dr. Keith Bates at the history awards banquet on May 2, 2019. Photo by Nicole Grim
Brianna Hammond receives the History Student Teacher Award from Dr. Terry Lindley at the History Department Awards Banquet on May 2, 2019. Photo by Nicole Grim
Dr. David Thomas (left) presents the Honorable Mention Award in the Dr. James Alex Baggett History Research Paper Competition to Christopher Hearn at the history awards banquet on May 2, 2019. Photo by Nicole Grim
Megan Ledbetter accepts the third-place prize in the Dr. James Alex Baggett History Research Paper Competition from Dr. David Thomas at the history awards banquet on May 2, 2019. Photo by Nicole Grim
Lauren Butler receives a certificate of recognition and a book from Dr. Henry Allen at the history awards banquet on May 2, 2019, for her paper presentation at the Tennessee Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference at Belmont University in March. Photo by Nicole Grim
Will Choate (right) receives a certificate of recognition and a book from Dr. Henry Allen at the History Department Awards Banquet on May 2, 2019, for his paper presentation at the Tennessee Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference at Belmont University in March. Photo by Nicole Grim
Dr. Henry Allen (left) receives congratulations and a book from Dr. Stephen Carls at the history awards banquet on May 2, 2019, for his promotion to the rank of associate professor of history. Photo by Nicole Grim
Dr. Stephen Carls reads the inscription on the plaque given to Robert Briley at the history awards banquet on May 2, 2019, as the 11th recipient of the History Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award. Photo by Nicole Grim
Robert Briley accepts the History Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award from Dr. Stephen Carls at the History Department Awards Banquet on May 2, 2019. Photo by Nicole Grim
Robert Briley (second from left), the 2019 recipient of the History Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award, stands with members of his family at the history awards banquet on May 2, 2019. They are (left to right) Jennifer, Brenda, and Trebor. Photo by Nicole Grim