June 22, 2011
For Immediate Release

 

Faculty and staff of the Campbellsville University Louisville Education Center include from left: Front row — Dr. Keith Spears, Kelli Gwilt and Jim Woolums. Second row — Ardeen Top, Nathan Gower, Veronica Offutt, Kasey Durbin, Amanda Efird, Dr. Kathleen Filkins and Ginger Overstreet. Back row — Wes Carter, Dr. Chris Conver, James Gribbins, Sherry Dunn and Dr. Leigh Conver. (CU Photo by Linda Waggener)

By Linda Waggener, marketing and media relations coordinator

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Campbellsville University's Louisville Center brought May and July graduates and their families together for a luau celebration and awards event on June 17 in honor of their successful degree completion.

Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of Campbellsville University, commended the graduates on jobs well done before introducing guest speaker, the Rev. Joel Carwile, pastor of Valley View Church in Louisville.

Carwile holds a Master's Degree in Theology from CU and was recipient of the Campbellsville University Leadership Award in 2010.

“Get it done!” was the message from Carwile. He congratulated the graduates who received master's degrees in theology and said, “Now go on and get your doctorate, never mind how hard, just get it done.”

He told the graduates if they were finishing their bachelor's degrees and thinking how much time it might take to get a master's degree, “get it done.”

Basing his presentation on John 13, he advised everyone to continue in their servant leadership development by “taking up a towel along the way occasionally washing someone's feet,” and, he said, “what may be even harder for you, allow someone to wash yours.”

Carwile ended with encouragement for future students who might be considering college. “When I was a student at CU-Louisville, we got to know each other and became family in the small class sizes. I am glad to be part of this Campbellsville family and urge others to join as well.”

The first Servant Leadership Awards were presented for academic excellence and servant leadership. A pottery basin, pitcher and towel gift were presented to three graduates: Wendy Stout of Mt. Washington, Ky. for organizational management and leadership in the classroom; Rachel Heyne of Louisville for having a 4.0 GPA in Christian Social Ministry; and to Angeliq Barker of Louisville who had a 3.8 GPA in Christian Social Ministry.

Dr. Keith Spears, CU vice president for regional and professional education, welcomed the crowd of over 100 graduates and their families to the luau-style celebration and dinner.

A Hawaiian theme was supported by two skits with Dr. Darlene Eastridge, dean of the Carver School of Social Work and Counseling, as the Ukulele Lady, who was accompanied by Carwile.

Victor Vinson, a master of theology student and a 2010 graduate, welcomes those attending the luau with leis. (Campbellsville University Photo by Linda Waggener)

The second skit, to the '70s rock song YMCA, starred Spears as chief; Jim Woolums, director of Louisville Education Center, policeman; James Gribbins, assistant coordinator for admissions/marketing, construction worker; Kelli Gwilt, assistant director of Louisville Education Center, army officer; and Dr. Chris Conver, part-time Louisville Center recruiter, cowboy.

Woolums and Gwilt recognized faculty, students and family “who make CU Louisville the special place it is.”

The CU-Louisville May term graduates include: Jessica Adcock-Dennison of Bedford, Ky.; George Barber of Jeffersonville, Ind.; Stephanie Barber of Jeffersonville, Ind.; James English of Louisville, Ky.; Karen Gilbert of Simpsonville, Ky.; Allison Hock of Jeffersonville, Ind.; Mary Maidlow of Louisville, Ky.; Joseph Schmitt of Mt. Washington, Ky.; Shannon Skaggs of Louisville, Ky.; and Jessica Zeckner of Louisville, Ky.

The CU-Louisville July Term graduates include: Emmanuel Adewumi of Louisville, Ky.; Antonio Allen of Louisville, Ky.; Cory Bailey of Louisville, Ky.; Angeliq Barker of Louisville, Ky.; Phyllis Baylor of Louisville, Ky.; Joseph Bennett of Elizabethtown, Ky.; Susan Bione-Grevious of Louisville, Ky.; Michelle Brimm of Louisville, Ky.; Kimberlee Cato of Louisville, Ky.; Kevin Chilton of Chaplin, Ky.;

Towanda Dailey of Louisville, Ky.; Sherman Debreaux of Radcliff, Ky.; Crystal Delorch of Louisville, Ky.; Kristina Fletcher of Louisville, Ky.; Cari Frank of Louisville, Ky.; Shirley Gettis of Louisville, Ky.; Cara Hazzard of Buckner, Ky.; Rachel Heyne of Louisville, Ky.; Deborah Ingram of New Albany, Ind.; Michael Jones of Louisville, Ky.;

Stephen Mullins of Louisville, Ky.; Jillian Murphy of Prospect, Ky.; Ginger Overstreet of Louisville, Ky.; Reginald Petty of Louisville, Ky.; Tiffanie Riley of Louisville, Ky.; Christopher Shrout of Louisville, Ky.; William Snyder of Louisville, Ky.; Wendy Stout of Mt. Washington, Ky.; Sharon Vaughn of Louisville, Ky. and Barry Watts of Rogersville, Mo.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky based Christian university with over 3,000 students offering 63 undergraduate programs, 17 master's degrees and five postgraduate areas. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.