Apr 28, 2022 - The history department conducted its annual awards program on the patio of the Bowld Student Commons on April 28, 2022. Dr. Stephen Carls, the history department chair, presided over the event which celebrated the achievements of students, a history alumnus, and retiring history professor Dr. W. Terry Lindley.
The first awards were for outstanding academic work in students’ history classes. The prestigious Phi Alpha Theta scholarship pin and academic excellence certificate went to Delta-Psi chapter member Anne Adams. Walker Beasley, Nicholas Terra, and Jackson Waters shared the History Major Award while Sydney Schmude won the History Minor Award.
The next awards were for winners in the Dr. James Alex Baggett History Research Paper Competition. The second place prize went to Nicholas Terra for his paper on “The 1775 Bermuda Gunpowder Plot: An Analysis of Its Historical and Cultural Significance.” Breanna Edmiston won third place in the competition for her paper “’Seize’d by the Passions or Squeeze’d out of Reason?’ An essay Highlighting the Controversy of the Great Awakening.” Since the first place prize was planned for presentation at Union’s Awards Convocation on May 6, the winner was not announced at the history awards program.
Carls then recognized two Phi Alpha Theta members for their outstanding virtual paper presentations at the Arkansas Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference at Harding University on April 2, 2022. Both Anne Adams and Nicholas Terra received a certificate of recognition and a book with a dedicated book plate that included their name on the inside cover.
Recognition of five graduating history majors followed. As Carls introduced each of them, their faculty advisor presented them with a gift award. Carls also read a biographical sketch of each graduating senior to let attendees know who they were and what their plans were in the near future. The students were Anne Adams, Sandra Allen, Walker Beasley, Dalton Lefave, and Nicholas Terra.
The last presentations for students went to 2021-2022 club officers. The department gave certificates of appreciation to Phi Alpha Theta President Nicholas Terra and Vice President Tad Binkley as well as to Rutledge Honorary History Club President Sandra Allen.
Jonathan Nason was the recipient of the Fourteenth Annual History Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award. After earning a bachelor of science degree in history from Union with the distinction of magna cum laude, Nason embarked on a career in banking. As his career moved forward, he earned a master of business administration at Union in 2003. He is currently the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating of the Bank of Ripley in Ripley, Tennessee. In his response to receiving the award, Nason talked about his banking career, citing Proverbs 16:9 to help explain how his career took several unexpected turns and how ultimately God had a plan for him that brought him more success than he ever thought would happen.
The evening program concluded with a special recognition for Dr. W. Terry Lindley, who will retire from Union at the end of the school year. All department members paid homage to Lindley in individually delivered remarks, and Carls presented him with a crystal award that stated, “Dr. W. Terry Lindley. Congratulations on your retirement after 36 years of distinguished service as a professor of history at Union University (1986-2022). From your history department colleagues.”
Refreshments for the evening’s event included cake balls (red velvet, strawberry, lemon, and chocolate), homemade oatmeal cookies, homemade Madeleine tea cakes, and bottled water.
History club members Abigail Gilbert (left) and Anna Guelcher (second from right) stand with Phi Alpha Theta member Anne Adams (second from left) and Dr. Alice-Catherine Carls (right) prior to the History Department Awards Program on the patio of the Bowld Commons on April 28, 2022.
Dr. Stephen Carls welcomes attendees to the History Department Awards Program on April 28, 2022.
Robert Briley presents the Phi Alpha Theta Scholarship Pin and Academic Excellence Certificate to Anne Adams at the History Department Awards Program on April 28, 2022.
Walker Beasley (right) accepts a History Major Award from Dr. David Thomas at the History Department Awards Program on April 28, 2022 for his excellent work in his history classes at Union.
Nicholas Terra (right) receives a History Major Award for his excellent work in his history classes at Union from Dr. David Thomas at the History Department Awards Program on April 28, 2022.
Dr. Terry Lindley presents the third place prize in the 2022 Dr. James Alex Baggett History Research Paper Competition to Breanna Edmiston at the History Department Awards Program on April 28, 2022.
Dr. Terry Lindley presents the second place prize in the 2022 Dr. James Alex Baggett History Research Paper Competition to Nicholas Terra at the History Department Awards Program on April 28, 2022.
Dr. Keith Bates (left) presents a book and certificate of recognition to Nicholas Terra at the History Department Awards Program on April 28, 2022, for the excellent paper Terra presented at the Arkansas Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference on April 2, 2022.
Anne Adams receives a book and certificate of recognition from Dr. Keith Bates at the History Department Awards Program on April 28, 2022, for the excellent paper she presented at the Arkansas Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference on April 2, 2022.
Graduating history major Anne Adams accepts a graduation gift award from Dr. Stephen Carls at the History Department Awards Program on April 28, 2022.
Graduating history major Sandra Allen receives a graduation gift award from Dr. Terry Lindley at the History Department Awards Program on April 28, 2022.
Dr. Terry Lindley (left) presents a graduation gift award to graduating history major Walker Beasley at the History Department Awards Program on April 28, 2022.
Graduating history major Dalton Lefave (right) accepts a graduation gift award from Dr. Terry Lindley at the History Department Awards Program on April 28, 2022.
Dr. Stephen Carls (left) presents a graduation gift award to graduating history major Nicholas Terra at the History Department Awards Program on April 28, 2022.
Nicholas Terra (left) accepts a certificate of appreciation from Dr. Stephen Carls at the History Department Awards Program on April 28, 2022, for his work as president of the Delta-Psi chapter of Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society in 2021-2022.
Dr. Stephen Carls (right) presents a certificate of appreciation to Tad Binkley at the History Department Awards Program on April 28, 2022, for his work as vice president of the Delta-Psi chapter of Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society in 2021-2022.
Sandra Allen accepts a certificate of appreciation from Dr. Henry Allen at the History Department Awards Program on April 28, 2022, for her work as president of the Rutledge Honorary History Club in 2021-2022.
Jonathan Nason (left) accepts the Fourteenth Annual History Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award from Dr. Stephen Carls at the History Department Awards Program on April 28, 2022, for his career of excellence in banking.
History alumnus Jonathan Nason talks about his banking career in his response to receiving the history department's 2022 alumni award at the History Department Awards Program on April 28, 2022.
Dr. Terry Lindley (left) accepts a crystal award from Dr. Stephen Carls at the History Department Awards Program on April 28, 2022, as a retirement gift from his history colleagues for his 36 years of faithful service as a professor of history at Union University.
Dr. Terry Lindley reminisces about his long career as a history professor at Union University after receiving a crystal retirement award from his history department colleagues at the department's awards program on April 28, 2022.
History department faculty members stand with Dr. Terry Lindley (third from right) after recognizing him for his 36 years of service to the department and Union University. They are (left to right) Robert Briley, Dr. David Thomas, Dr. Henry Allen, Dr. Stephen Carls, and Dr. Keith Bates.
Dr. Stephen Carls presents the 2022 History Minor Award to Sydney Schmude in a special ceremony in his office on May 2, 2022.