By Rachel Crenshaw, student news writer
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky.–Trent Elliott Creason of Campbellsville, Ky., and Heather Marie Campbell of Graysville, Pa., were honored as Mr. and Miss Campbellsville University 2008 at Honors and Awards Day recently in Ransdell Chapel.
Before the winners were announced, Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of Campbellsville University, said, “Each year the Student Government Association (SGA) administers the vote for Mr. and Miss Campbellsville University. Ballots are sent to faculty and staff to vote on a graduating senior that best exemplifies our university as the typical student, based on scholarship, leadership, character and potential for success.”
Trent Creason is the son of Larry and Rita Creason. He will be graduating this May with a pastoral ministry major. Creason is one of the co-valedictorians of the graduating class with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
“Creason is an excellent student. He is always top-notch in every class and I believe his actions and Christian character speaks for itself,” said Dr. Dwayne Howell, professor of Old Testament and Hebrew, who has been Creason’s advisor and professor.
“Creason has been very active in many facets of CU,” said Carter. Creason has been involved in Baptist Campus Ministry since his freshman year and served as BCM president in 2007-2008.
He is an active member of Campbellsville Baptist Church where he has been involved in youth and children’s ministry. In addition, he has participated in a number of mission trips while at CU and has worked several summers with the Center-Kid LifeWay student campus.
Creason has also participated in the Wings Express program at Campbellsville Elementary School where he has taught archery, physical fitness and photography. He has been active in intramural sports and the Flash 7 Frisbee team.
In 2007 he was honored with the Servant Leadership Award. He has been on the President’s List for academic performance for four years and is a member of the Alpha Chi academic honor society. In addition, he has taken two graduate courses in Christian counseling and ESL.
Creason was unable to attend the Honors and Awards Day ceremony due to the funeral of his friend, Lori Morrison, a CU student who graduated in December. Therefore in light of his absence, Carter received a letter from Creason that said, “I thank you for the honor of this award. I apologize for my absence today. But life has a tendency to change rather quickly… I greatly appreciate this recognition and do not take this honor lightly. In my absence I find it only fitting to ask my family, who through God has helped become the person I am today, to share this occasion. I asked my grandfather, Arthur Creason, to accept this award for me.”
Creason’s grandfather accepted the Mr. CU Award on his behalf along with several other awards Creason received including: Outstanding Senior, Co-Valedictorian and Pastoral Ministries Academic Award.
Creason plans on working with LifeWay student camps over the summer and is arranging to attend seminary school in the fall.
Creason’s parents are employed at CU where Mrs. Creason is director of student records and her husband is instructor in criminal justice.
Campbell is the daughter of Phil and Janice Campbell. She graduated in December 2007 with a communication major and music minor.
In addition to the Miss CU Award, Campbell also received the Public Relations Academic Award at the Honors and Awards Day ceremony.
She has been a member of the Tiger Marching Band, Concert Band and Jazz Band for three and half years in which she played the baritone and saxophone.
“Campbell was an absolute pleasure and joy to work with in every way. She was 100 percent dependable, always on time and thinking ahead,” said Jennifer Tinnell, director of the Tiger Marching Band and instructor of the School of Music, who worked with Campbell for a number of years.
Campbell has also been a FIRST CLASS student mentor for two years. “Campbell has been one of my best leaders,” said Dr. Ted Taylor, professor of Christian studies and director of the Character, Leadership, Character and Stewardship Institute. He said she is an outstanding servant leader and person of character.
Campbell has continued working with FIRST CLASS even after graduating. She is helping to rewrite and update the curriculum used for FIRST CLASS and will be assisting Taylor on the Leadership Team in the fall of 2008.
In addition, Campbell is the first recipient of the Stan and Joan Cottongim McKinney Scholarship. She wrote for Campus Times and was assistant editor for a semester. She also worked in the Office of University Communications for four years.
Campbell has participated in three internship programs including: working for the public relations department of Clark Memorial Hospital in Jeffersonville, Ind.; the PR department of the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky.; and working on the Louisville Metro Council with councilperson Robin Engel.
Campbell is a case manager for Kentucky Heartland Outreach and is engaged to Josh Hensley. They will be married in late May.
“The honor of receiving this award is overwhelming,” said Campbell. “I really appreciate CU and all it has done for me. CU’s welcoming and embracing atmosphere made me feel right at home as an out-of-state student. I feel the university has helped me find my calling and has prepared and is still assisting me with my future career.”
Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,405 students who represent 98 Kentucky counties, 25 states and 29 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News& World Report’s 2008 “America’s Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 22nd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South and eighth in the South for “Great Schools, Great Prices.” CU has been ranked 15 consecutive years with U.S.News& World Report. The university has also been named to America’s Best Christian Colleges®. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his ninth year as president.