Issue: Summer 2014 | Posted: June 2, 2014
Homecoming 2014
A Celebration of Community
Flags donated by the 1963 Graduating Class are raised for the first time at the campus entrance during Homecoming.
The graduating class of 1964 is recognized in Homecoming Chapel.
Michael Adkisson, junior business administration major, gets some chips at the Union Strong event. The event was a time for the Union community to come together and enjoy fellowship.
A group of students enjoy the photo booth available at the Union Strong event.
Cheerleaders entertain the crowd during a timeout of the homecoming game against Delta State.
A community picnic, a 50 year reunion and a flag raising highlighted Union’s observance of Homecoming 2014 in late February.
The picnic was a large pregame tailgate party in which students were served by faculty and staff. The event, named “Union Strong: A Celebration of Community,” attracted a large crowd and featured fellowship with president-elect Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver and his wife Susie.
One day earlier, several Union alumni were honored alongside students from the class of 1964, who were recognized during a chapel service for their contributions in a variety of fields and occupations.
Charles Fowler (’86), received the Distinguished Service Award. Fowler served as a Union University administrator and faculty member before he became senior pastor at Germantown Baptist Church in Germantown, Tenn.
Kevin Ezell (’85) received the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Ezell served as a pastor for churches in Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee and Texas, and he currently is the president of the North American Mission Board.
Will Gray (’02) received the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award posthumously. Gray died in 2013 from cancer. He began his music career at Union, and his songs were licensed for companies such as Playstation and Motorola. In addition to serving as a songwriting instructor for the Contemporary Music Center at Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., he also was an award-winning film director.
Bob Pavelonis, a former member of the class of 1963, received the Honorary Alumnus Award. He transferred to Southern Illinois University at Carbondale but remained involved with his Union class through the years. Pavelonis has served as an English teacher and coached baseball, basketball, football and golf.
Union also dedicated a new flag display at the main (western) entrance to campus, along Pleasant Plains Road. The Class of 1963 raised money for the project and for an endowed scholarship fund at Union.
It’s the second major campus improvement funded by contributions from the class of ’63. The fountain in front of the Barefoot Student Union Building was a class gift to the University in 1988.
The Class of 1964 tours the Old Campus with the Olivers.