Treveccan | Fall 2022

Treveccan

WHO WE ARE

The question of personal identity is a hot topic today. Our culture leads us to believe that each of us is sovereign over our own existence. We’re instructed to think: “I am my own. I can craft and create my own identity. I must be my own moral compass and set the limits of what I can and cannot do. I alone determine my behavior, and I also determine what it means to validate living well.”

At Trevecca, we are engaged in a radically different understanding of how identity is shaped. I am not my own; I belong to Christ. My meaning is rooted in Him. My identity is a gift rather than an acquisition of my own doing. My thoughts, actions and behaviors are guided by Him.

God tells me who I am and how I am to live. He is the ultimate authority over my time, money, body, mind and words. In Christ, I never need to doubt my value, prove my worth or compete for worldly affirmation. God gives all of this freely because He loves me as the world never can.

As Paul says: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). No wonder in Paul’s letters he introduces himself as a slave of Jesus Christ. He is not his own—he belongs to Christ.

Who we are and how we understand our identity matters.

In this issue of the Treveccan , we’re taking time to reflect on who we are as a Christian university.

I pray you’ll be encouraged as you’re reminded of these truths:

• We are individuals who reflect the image of God through our creativity and gifts

• We are people devoted to making a differ ence in the world by working as servant leaders and agents of change

• We are a community that cherishes time together. Gathering helps us remember who we are, and it creates opportunities to celebrate God’s redemptive work in our individual and collective stories. This is the purpose of Homecoming each year!

Speaking of Homecoming, I look forward with great joy to seeing you on campus in just a few weeks. Together, we will remember who we are and to whom we belong. It’s going to be great!

Parts of this message are derived from one of my chapel sermons at Trevecca. I am indebted to a wonderful book by Alan Noble, You Are Not Your Own

Dan L. Boone (’74) President

WHO WE ARE

WE ARE CREATORS 4

The Chapel House 6

From the Hill: News & Notes 9

A Chosen Profession 10

WE ARE SERVANT LEADERS 12

Moving Medicine Forward 14

Never Too Late: A Purpose Refined 16

Passing the TSSAA Torch 18

WE ARE DIFFERENCE MAKERS 20

Restoring Survivors, Stopping Oppression 22

Five Questions with Matthew Powell 24

Trending Treveccans 26

WE ARE TREVECCA 28

Homecoming Preview 30

Alumni Award Honorees 32

In Memoriam: Ace Wimbley 36

Friends Remembered 37

WHO WE ARE

creators

we are creators

One of our foundational beliefs as followers of Christ is that we are made in His image. Every person bears the imago Dei. God was the first creator, and because of this we have the ability to create as a reflection of Him.

This creativity can be seen in a myriad of ways. At Trevecca we celebrate the good gifts of creativity that our alumni are bringing forth in their corners of the world. Their desire to create—whether through film and television, architecture and design or any other means—reflects the beauty and imagination of the good and beautiful God they serve.

Their efforts also remind us, as the theologian Abraham Kuyper once proclaimed, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry ‘Mine!’”

The House Chapel

AN ALUMNI COUPLE’S VISION TO REVITALIZE A HISTORIC CHURCH—FIRST AS THEIR HOME AND LATER AS AN EVENT VENUE—HAS OPENED DOORS FOR PURPOSEFUL CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY IN A CINCINNATI SUBURB.

In terms of real estate, it wasn’t love at first sight for Kate Harden (’97, ’99) the first time she entered the empty chapel 10 years ago in Loveland, Ohio.

Walking through the historic property, which had sat vacant for more than two years, she nearly stepped on a dead bat that lay stuck to the floor. The structure, built in 1859 as a Presbyterian church, appeared to need a lot of work. All she could see were dollar signs.

As church planters, Kate and her husband Shane (’93) were looking for a site where their new congregation in Loveland, Ohio (about 15 miles northeast of Cincinnati), could begin meeting.

They toured the building, but decided the chapel wouldn’t work for the new church. They anticipated needing more room to grow for their new congre gation. “But it could work for our house,” Shane suggested to Kate. They were planning to move to the area and had always dreamed of renovating an old property.

Yet this project seemed daunting to Kate. “I think you’re crazy,” she remembers responding. The couple had already taken a huge leap of faith to start what would become Branches Church (which prov identially now meets in a renovated building on a road named Branch Hill). Plus they were raising three kids, and Kate worked as a physician assistant after graduating from Trevecca’s PA program.

Still, they took time to pray about it. They eventu ally decided to make an offer, although they knew it wouldn’t be the highest. Some local commercial real estate developers were also interested in the property. However, their taking possession would mean the historic church would be demolished.

The owners—a group of Church of God bishops in Columbus—didn’t want to see this happen. As one of the town’s oldest structures and first places of worship, the chapel was constructed during the same year Abraham Lincoln ran for president, when he spoke from the back of a train that stopped in Loveland on the campaign trail.

The bishops surprised everyone with their deci sion to sell the chapel to the Hardens. And the developers ended up helping foot the renovation bill by purchasing the parking lot adjacent to church, which the Hardens would no longer need. It felt like God had opened all the necessary doors.

“I remember thinking, ‘Now we own a church,’” Kate says. It was an incredible—and overwhelming—realization.

The family set out to trans form the 8,000-square-foot chapel with 20-foot-high ceilings into their home. To their surprise, the building was in much better shape than they’d anticipated. While it needed renovations, no major structural issues surfaced. The property, with all its handmade bricks, was exceptionally built.

The goal was to create a warm space for living and extending hospitality to their growing church com munity while honoring the chapel’s rich history. The Hardens preserved the original wood flooring and tin ceilings in what became the kitchen, living and dining spaces. Old light fixtures that formerly hung in the sanctuary were salvaged, rewired and hung above the kitchen island.

In the cellar, they discovered an old “tent revival” sign that they decided to use as wall art. And they kept four original, long wooden church pews to use in various spots, two of which flank their large dining room table that they’ve lovingly tagged their “last supper table.”

Alumni Shane and Kate Harden with their sons, Gabriel and Issac, and their daughter, Eden, who is a sophomore at Trevecca.

It wasn’t long before Kate and Shane began to see the blessings that came from revitalizing the old chapel. Because of its location in the heart of Loveland (a leafy suburb known for its bike trail and vibrant downtown), the family quickly became connected with the community. Their home, coined the chapel house or “chouse,” often served as a home base for church youth activities, ladies Bible studies and other local events.

“Our three kids—now in their 20s— say growing up in the chapel has been one of their greatest experiences,” Kate says. “The house served as a special place of ministry and family time.”

Through the years Kate became known for hosting special events and parties. In 2021, after living in the renovated chapel for seven years, the Hardens decided to renovate the property once more—this time, transforming it into an event venue where special celebrations such as weddings, reunions and birth day parties could once again take place.

They partitioned off about 1,200 square feet of the building for their private res idential quarters. The remainder of the chapel house now serves as a commer cial event space.

The bridal suite contains one of the original church pews. Among Kate’s favorites spots is the patio garden where they’ve strung lights and installed landscaping for outdoor parties and celebrations.

The venue, named The 1859 for the year it was built, has hosted a variety of memorable gatherings since open ing more than a year ago—including wedding receptions, a 60th birthday pig

roast and a reunion of family members from the Philippines who gathered for the first time since the pandemic.

“The guests who come through our doors continually share how much love they feel inside our walls,” Kate says. “We’ve had so many meaningful conversations with others.”

The fact that the venue once existed as a church has often opened the door for spiritual conversations. “The structure itself has given me the opportunity to share my faith and Christ’s love,” says Kate. “At church, you always hear how we as Christians need to get outside our walls and reach people for Jesus. That’s exactly what this chapel has allowed me to do.”

Kate also began to realize how the chapel had long stood as a beacon in Loveland, offering residents a root edness and sense of place rich with memories as they recalled worshiping there together, celebrating weddings, and burying loved ones.

“During a historical tour one year, an elderly lady visited and said, ‘I remem ber walking through these doors 60 years ago in my wedding dress,’” Kate recalls.

from the hill

Middle Tennessee product, Vanderbilt legend and former WNBA player

KAREN BOOKER was introduced as the ladies basketball coach this summer, leading into the lady Trojans’ 30th season. Aside from coaching previously at NCAA Division I and Division III schools, Booker has coached in the professional ranks, worked as an NCAA basketball official and served as a Fellowship of Christian Athletes representative on a college campus.

Trevecca has restructured the components of the former School of Graduate and Continuing Studies to create two new schools:

To optimize the delivery of graduate-level courses, THE GRADUATE SCHOOL has integrated Trevecca’s online learning capabilities while retaining the academic oversight of each advanced degree program’s respective school of study. LaMetrius Daniels was selected to serve as dean of the Graduate School.

Trevecca President Dan Boone and Athletic Director Mark Elliot were presented with DISTINGUISHED FOUNDER AWARDS from the Great Midwest Athletic Conference earlier this year. In celebrating its 10th anniversary, the conference acknowledged six individuals who have made significant and distinct contributions to its origination and success.

THE SCHOOL OF LEADERSHIP AND INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES serves as the new academic administrative body for Trevecca’s graduate degree programs in leadership; leadership-related content for undergraduate courses; the master’s degree in instructional design and technology; and professional development programs. Kristin Bledsoe was named dean of the school.

Showing hospitality to those in ministry has been an important focus at Trevecca in recent months.

In late June and early July, Trevecca hosted the PASTORS AND LEADERS CONFERENCE (PALCON), a gathering that Nazarene institutions host for their academic regions every four years.

The first intensive training session for new pastors in Trevecca’s LABORERS IN THE VINEYARD program took place on campus this summer. A 2020 grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc., helped establish the program to support pastors who are in their first five years of service, especially those who lead small congregations, diverse congregations or church plants.

A new channel of financial support is available for teachers in training at Trevecca. Director of Undergraduate Education Tandy Taylor and her husband, Mike, have established the TEACHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE FUND to help students in the School of Education with non-tuition required expenses like fees for background checks, gas for driving to student teach ing assignments and testing fees.

YOU CAN HELP!

To contribute to this fund and help future teachers complete their training at Trevecca, visit trevecca.edu/give and type ‘Teacher Ed Assistance Fund’ in the space for ‘Other Designations.’ Your gift is appreciated!

A Chosen Profession

AFTER DISCOVERING HIS LOVE FOR FILM AT TREVECCA, ADAM DRAKE HAS HELPED BRING A GROUNDBREAKING TV SERIES TO LIFE.

“The Chosen” is what many in the entertainment industry would describe as an unlikely success story. It’s a streaming series about the life of Jesus and those who encountered Him during His years of ministry. What’s remarkable is how the show has steadily raised unprecedented funds while also attracting a massive fan base, becoming the largest crowdfunded TV series project in history.

Behind the scenes of “The Chosen” is the show’s first assistant director and Trevecca alumni Adam Drake (’08).

“Trevecca is where I discovered what I really enjoy,” said Drake. “It was the perfect community to help me find what I wanted to do.”

As an undergraduate communications student at Trevecca, Drake began acting and eventually landed roles in music videos and commercials. Through an internship he learned how to shoot and edit videos. Later, through Trevecca, he took advantage of an opportunity to study at the Los Angeles Film Studies Center. There, he discovered he wanted to be part of the film industry.

His interest in film became more than just a creative outlet or passion. At Trevecca, he discovered it was a calling.

“When I was a junior and really getting into film, the Lord spoke to me and said, ‘This is your mission field,’” said Drake. “There is nothing that has a bigger impact on our culture than television and media. I wanted to be an exam ple of Christ to the people on set and I knew that space could be a mission field just like if I was going overseas.”

After years of acting and filming, he discovered that the position of first assistant director fit well with his nat ural talents. In that role, his task is to keep the production running smoothly.

“I’m basically an on-site producer for logistics. I keep everything moving efficiently because in this business time is money and everything is very

expensive,” said Drake. “It is my job to limit those expenses and make us as successful and safe as possible.”

By 2021, “The Chosen” viewers had contributed upward of $40 million to its filming and production. The show has garnered 300 million views interna tionally, with 30 percent of those views coming from outside the United States.

Drake has been a part of the show since its inception and was integral to its pro duction from day one.

“I was there from the very beginning before anyone knew what it was. I read the scripts and was impressed,” said Drake. “I remember wondering, ‘This is incredible, but can we actually pull this off?’ I knew that if the acting wasn’t there or the production design wasn’t there, it wouldn’t work.”

It did work, but at times it has been difficult to film a production of this size. This is especially true with scenes involving large groups in an expansive setting—like the recent filming of the feeding of the 5,000 for an episode in season three.

“That was the most challenging week we have ever had for ‘The Chosen,’” said Drake. “We had thousands of extras and it was 105 degrees in Texas, where we were filming. People were passing out

“Being part of something that is changing lives is more rewarding that just making a great show.”

ADAM DRAKE

from heat exhaustion. It is my job to handle all of those logistics and to keep everyone safe. It was probably one of the biggest challenges I’ve ever had as a first assistant director.”

Despite the difficulties, Drake finds his work rewarding. “The Chosen” has proven to be more than just a good story—it has touched people around the world.

“The show aligns with my beliefs as a Christian, which is huge. Being able to be a part of something that is chang ing lives is more rewarding than just making a great show,” said Drake. “It has a dual impact. It is well done and well produced and it’s also really speak ing to people and impacting the world. That never gets old.”

“The Chosen” can be viewed on The Chosen app; VidAngel; Amazon Prime Video; and NBC’s Peacock.

we areservant leaders

we are servant leaders

This is what it means to lead.

Stewarding your passion, calling, skills, training and connections not just to earn a living but to make a contribution

Leading others well by first leading yourself

Resolving to never stop learning and growing

Demonstrating humility, grace and professionalism

Caring for minds, bodies and souls

This is what it means to serve.

LEE A N N BROWN

Moving Medicine Forward

IN NEIGHBORING STATES, TWO ALUMNAE ARE SERVING AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF HEALTH CARE.

AS H L I E PULLEN

Health care leaders Lee Ann Brown (’91) and Ashlie Pullen (’04) began pursuing their future medical careers at Trevecca. Both were recently appointed to positions of state authority in their respective areas of expertise.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS YOU SERVE THE PUBLIC AND THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY IN YOUR CURRENT ROLE(S)?

Brown: I’m the founder and owner of the SpinePain & Orthopedic Injury Center in Clearwater, Fla. We manage and treat a variety of musculoskeletal disorders along with the pain that accompanies these maladies.

I serve as both a treating physician and as medical director for the practice. Our approach is novel in the sense that we provide an intermediate specialty step between internal medicine and sur gical intervention.

I also currently serve as president of the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association. Our association educates and advocates for osteopathic physicians throughout the state.

Pullen: I’m the deputy chief nurse of emergency preparedness for the Georgia Department of Public Health. In this role, I provide statewide leadership and technical assistance regarding nursing practices, emergency preparedness planning and all other services provided by public health nurses through out the state.

I work to collaborate with the 18 public health districts and external stakeholders on statewide emergency planning, exercises and quality improvement processes. I also help develop and maintain policies, procedures and guidance related to mass care and emerging health threats, such as COVID-19 and Monkeypox, which influence the practice of public health nurses throughout the state. I provide leadership, consultation and technical assistance regarding the practice of public health nursing in disasters.

WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST FULFILLING ABOUT YOUR JOB? WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING?

Brown: The ability to help my patients get back to their normal lives and activities is the most fulfilling aspect of my career. I chose medicine as a profession because every aspect of our daily lives intersects with our health. Since opening my practice 12 years ago, our patients have become our family.

In terms of challenges, I would say that navigating the treatment protocols of health insurance is at the top of the list. It’s hard to translate broad policies to an individual’s body; we are all different.

Pullen: The most fulfilling part about my job is the opportunity to influence and guide change at the systemic level. The pandemic has also provided me with the opportunity to create new and creative ways to recruit and retain public health nurses.

My doctoral research focused on nursing reten tion, and this has spilled over into my current work, which involves looking into new ways to train public health nurses virtually. The most challenging part of working in public health is that you never know what the next crisis may hold or when it may strike. The key is to always be prepared!

HOW DID YOUR DEGREE AND YOUR TIME AT TREVECCA HELP PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR CURRENT ROLE?

Brown: My father was a Nazarene minister, so Trevecca was the logical choice for my under graduate studies. My time at Trevecca provided a superior education in a faith-based environment, and that gave me the tools to tackle medical school and beyond.

The relationships I made at TNU continue to this day, and this is something I deeply cherish. I am pleased to see how well the physician assistant pro gram at Trevecca is doing and I know this will not only improve and enhance the mission at Trevecca to educate, but it will also help supply the next gen eration of ancillary medical providers.

Pullen: I spent my time at Trevecca studying biol ogy and preparing for a future in the medical field. My professors and advisors encouraged me to pursue advanced studies in nursing. I remember thinking there was no way that I would ever get accepted into an accelerated program at Vanderbilt University, but my advisor told me, “Go for it!” She wrote me the most amazing recommendation and I was accepted into the program.

My undergraduate courses at Trevecca provided me with a solid foundation to pursue a rigorous advanced degree at both the master’s and doctoral level. I am thankful for Trevecca and for those pro fessors who spoke life into me and encouraged me to pursue my passions.

YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT FUTURE SCIENCE GRADUATES!

Lee Ann Brown and her husband, Brad Meinck, have established an endowed scholarship for students at Trevecca majoring in science-related fields. If you’d like to support the endowment financially, contributions can be made at trevecca.edu/give

Never Too Late:

EARNING A COLLEGE DEGREE AFTER AGE 60 PREPARED TAMMY HAMMOND-LOTH FOR FULFILLING NEW ROLES IN AN ALREADY SUCCESSFUL CAREER.

In a season of life when many people are edging toward retirement, Tammy Hammond-Loth (’19) could sense that God had more in store for her personally and professionally. A college degree served as both an asset and a confidence builder, and she made a shift to a rewarding new phase in her career.

A former high school dropout, Hammond-Loth worked her way into a long and successful career in human resources. Based in Kansas in the mid-1990s, she became a regional HR manager for Wild Oats Markets. Her multi-state territory included Tennessee, and she would also travel through Middle Tennessee regularly on the way to visit family in Virginia.

Later, when corporate realignment presented her with a choice between two paths forward at Wild Oats, she felt led to pursue the one that meant moving to Nashville. That was 20 years ago, and she’s called this area home ever since.

Eventually, two other career opportu nities in Middle Tennessee exposed her to new industries, and those experiences shaped her choices later. One, with Court Appointed Special Advocates, offered a glimpse at meaningful nonprofit work. The other, an HR analyst role with the state of Tennessee, involved expo sure to the medical field; one of her primary clients was a residential rehabilitation clinic.

In the meantime, Hammond-Loth and her husband raised a family, and they eventually put all four of their children through college. She was nearing age 50 when her young est graduated, and she could foresee the chance to fulfill a lifelong dream of finishing college herself. But the timing wasn’t right. HammondLoth’s father was ill with COPD, and she needed to devote time to being his caregiver, having lost her mother to cancer several years earlier. She paused her academic pursuit until her father passed away in 2009.

Purpose Refined

“I always wanted to go back to school, and I always wanted a degree in this field that I had such a passion for,” she said. “I consider myself a lifelong learner anyway, and when the Lord eventually opened that door for me, I enrolled and went to college.”

Hammond-Loth took night classes at Volunteer State Community College and earned an associate degree in legal studies at age 57. Still fueled by a life time of motivation and a strong sense of commitment, she then set her sights on Trevecca’s online bachelor’s degree in management and human relations (now the bachelor’s in management and leadership degree completion program) in 2018. She soon finished her courses at Trevecca and became a college grad uate in her sixties.

But a college degree wasn’t just an item to check off her bucket list. She had long been determined to find work that was more meaningful, and her educa tion opened that door. In 2019, she took a position as the HR director for Boys and Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee, also becoming involved as a member of Boys and Girls Clubs committees on safety and diversity, equity and inclu sion, serving to improve the workplace environment.

She also took on a remote volunteer role advising managers for a nonprofit organization in New Mexico, serving on their conflict resolution committee and board of directors. She found ful fillment pouring herself into these new opportunities where her passion, expe rience and now education were put to use like never before.

“Without my studies at Trevecca,” she said, “I would not have been prepared to take these roles. My degree was well worth it, and I can’t think of a way it hasn’t touched my life.”

Then, early this year, a friend told her about a job opening at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The job title, associate research data specialist, didn’t sound like anything special. It wasn’t in human resources, and it didn’t involve managing a team of practitioners, the type of work she’d been doing for most of her career. But when her friend told her what the job entailed, it sounded like a perfect fit. She applied, received an offer and quickly accepted.

As a regular part of the job, HammondLoth reaches out to cancer patients after a treatment program has concluded to follow up on their progress and outcomes. At times, she’s tasked with informing patients of news that could be devastating.

“That interaction is really what drew me to this job,” she said. “I knew I was being called to this new line of work, and my degree and experience had given me the skills to handle those situations, and even look forward to them. I have an opportunity to bring compassion and hope to people who need it most, or to share in their great joy. Because of where God has led me before, I feel like I’m uniquely prepared for the work that’s laid before me.”

Hammond-Loth is proof that it’s never too late to pursue something you love, and that even the most rewarding roles can present themselves at any stage of a career. “I remind people all the time that your age shouldn’t keep you from doing something like going back to school or making a career move. You aren’t too old, so don’t think that.”

TAMMY HAMMOND-LOTH

“My degree was well worth it, and I can’t think of a way it hasn’t touched my life.”

Passing the Torch

THE TSSAA DIRECTOR MANTLE WAS IMPARTED FROM ONE TREVECCA ALUMNUS TO ANOTHER THIS SUMMER.

With the retirement this summer of Bernard Childress (’85), who served as the top executive with the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) for 13 years, new Executive Director Mark Reeves (’01) has some large shoes to fill. But he also has a great example to follow.

The paths of these two servant leaders— both Trevecca graduates—share many parallels, and each has shown humility, grace and professionalism in guiding a prominent organization through an era of progress that continues today.

MENTOR AND PROT É G É

In his 14 years working as an assistant director with and for Childress, Reeves hasn’t had to look far in drawing inspi ration for the way he wants to lead.

“Bernard is an incredible leader, and it’s been a pleasure learning from him,” Reeves said. “I never saw him rush to judgment, and he always tries to make the decision that’s best for the kids he serves. More and more over the years, I’ve seen how much wisdom and con sistency there is in his approach, and I hope to emulate that.”

Making decisions that impact student athletes, coaches, parents and fans statewide can be a daunting task. That challenge was central to some of the discussions between Childress and Reeves leading up to the transition.

“A big part of this position is accepting the difficulty of the decisions, and my main advice to Mark has been to get all the information, not to make hasty decisions, to lean on our great team and to let God guide you,” Childress said. “I already see a lot of that in him, and I think he’ll do a great job.”

For Childress, staying grounded in faith was crucial, and a daily prayer was part of his routine. Each morning he’d ask God for strength to do His will for young people, and that’s something else Reeves admired.

Reeves is also thankful that another line of communication is always open. “Bernard told me I could call him anytime, and he’d answer the phone,” Reeves said. “There’s comfort in know ing he still has my back.”

NEW ROLES IN A CHANGING LANDSCAPE

In some ways, the changing landscape in high school athletics was at the root of both men coming to work for the TSSAA.

As a middle school principal, Childress began taking some matters to the asso ciation about the consistency of the rules for middle school sports. That led to the establishment of a rules commit tee for middle schools, and Childress agreed to serve as one of its members.

When the TSSAA brought middle schools under its umbrella in 1995, Childress was offered an assistant director position. Over the course of his tenure as an assistant director and then executive director, middle school membership in TSSAA expanded from 69 schools to more than 450.

Reeves’ former role as a high school wrestling coach and school administra tor led to his familiarity with TSSAA. Later, in checking on an eligibility issue, he came across the TSSAA job posting, and that led to his career with the association.

SERVANT LEADERS

From education, wisdom shared by others and experience in the field, both Childress and Reeves understand that effective leadership means serving others well, from coaches and school administrators to players and families.

“My job lies in finding ways to support those who are changing young peo ple’s lives,” Reeves said. “We may not be in the trenches every day, but we can always be of service to the people who are. I still lean on my coaching background to see things from their viewpoint.”

Childress saw the job through a lens of service as well—and recognizes that’s

an increasing role for the association as a whole. “This is becoming a more ser vice-driven organization, with greater involvement as a resource on issues like player safety, sports medicine and coaching education,” he said.

In the end, serving the student athletes has given both men a sense of purpose. Even if youth are rarely the ones on the other end of the phone calls and emails, they’re still where Childress and Reeves find their greatest motivation. Both men remember often what it was that drew them to the job in the first place.

“I love education-based athletics and what they did for me personally,” Reeves said. “Playing sports in school had an impact on me, and I want to be

sure the same is true for our kids now and into the future.”

In making the decision to retire and handing over the duties of this office, Childress found closure in that over arching mission. “I could walk away knowing I was able to help young people, and that’s what made the job truly rewarding.”

EXTENDING THE CONNECTION

The vacancy left by Mark Reeves’ pro motion was filled by another Trevecca graduate. Joe Blair (’07) was announced as a new TSSAA assistant executive director in August, overseeing wrestling and soccer.

Career Files

BERNARD CHILDRESS

HIGH SCHOOL: Columbia Central (Tenn.)

TREVECCA: Master’s in administration and supervision, 1985

PRIOR ROLES IN EDUCATION: Teacher, coach and assistant principal at Columbia Central High School; principal at Whitthorne Middle School

JOINED TSSAA: 1995

NAMED DIRECTOR: 2009

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

Third African American in the nation to become a state high school athletic association director; served on several committees for the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS); received the NFHS Citation Award in 2005

MARK REEVES

HIGH SCHOOL: Springfield (Tenn.)

TREVECCA: Master’s in education administration, 2001

PRIOR ROLES IN EDUCATION: Teacher, coach and administrator at Springfield High School; assistant principal at East Robertson High School

JOINED TSSAA: 2008

NAMED DIRECTOR: 2022 CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

Served on the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Committee, Wrestling Rules Committee and Sports Medicine Advisory Committee

aredifference

we are difference makers

“Our task as image-bearing, God-loving, Christ-shaped, Spirit-filled Christians, following Christ and shaping our world, is to announce redemption to a world that has discovered its fallenness, to announce healing to a world that has discovered its brokenness, [and] to proclaim love and trust to a world that knows only exploitation, fear and suspicion.”

N.T. Wright

Restoring Survivors

Stopping Oppression

RO N DY SMITH

TREVECCA ALUMNA RONDY SMITH IS HELPING WOMEN CAUGHT IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING FIND FREEDOM.

“It is most fulfilling to see a woman’s transformation after she’s come through our doors traumatized,” said Rondy Smith (’85). “There is no greater joy than witnessing this life-saving work.”

Smith is the founder and executive director of Rest Stop Ministries, an organization that facilitates the recovery of women coming out of human trafficking.

She got her start at Trevecca, and never imagined where her career might lead. Smith was a com munications studies major and after graduating felt called to join the faculty. She returned to teach in 1987 and went on to serve in multiple positions, eventually laying the foundation for the Master of Arts in organizational leadership (MAOL) program.

Later, she felt a call to ministry and left academia to embark on a new path. She was ordained and became community life pastor at Hermitage Church of the Nazarene in Hermitage, Tenn.

As a pastor, Smith had the oppor tunity to partner with many organizations, one of which ignited her passion for helping to end human trafficking and assisting those trying to escape it.

“I served on a team called the Kenya Gender-Based Violence Partnership,” said Smith. “I saw the issue of human trafficking from a

global perspective. The Lord broke my heart for that injustice and I began to wonder what we could do locally as a church.”

She established Rest Stop Ministries soon after that. In March 2015, she left her position in the church to pursue her dream of creating a recovery program for survivors.

Smith points out that many people perceive the existence of human trafficking in places like Cambodia or Thailand but are not aware of the magnitude of the issue in the United States.

“This is a domestic issue that is more pervasive than any of us have thought or even wanted to imagine,” said Smith. “It’s often families sell ing their own children into slavery for reasons such as cyclical poverty and addiction.”

Rest Stop Ministries is a residential program where survivors live in a home-like environment for two years. They have all their needs met, including job training, counseling, legal aid, education, medical expenses and more. The most rewarding part for Smith is seeing women overcome their pasts and thrive, which can be a difficult journey.

“We know women who don’t make it,” said Smith. “If they don’t com plete our program, they might relapse or choose to go back into

that life, and we’ve known those who have then passed away. So when they make it, it’s is an incred ible feeling.”

As she looks to the future, Smith feels called to further an aspect of her work she has dreamt about for a long time: advocacy. She wants to contribute to bringing a stop to human trafficking once and for all.

“We want to introduce a traffick ing-prevention curriculum to schools, youth groups and other vulnerable audiences. We’d also like to educate churches and communi ties on pornography as a driver of trafficking and exploitation,” said Smith. “We’d love to add a blog, podcast, film, book or other forms of media to magnify our message as well.”

Smith realizes she will need greater resources to accomplish these goals. And it’s not always easy to draw attention and support to the dark reality of human trafficking.

“We need to find a way to take what we’ve learned and share it with more people,” she said. “When God called me to this work, He gave me the opportunity to learn through these precious survivors. I know I’m going to need to be a voice in the wilderness calling, and I feel like that time is coming soon.”

To learn more about the work of Rest Stop Ministries or to donate, visit reststopministries.org.

Five Questions

Matthew Powellwith

IN LAUNCHING A GROUNDBREAKING NEW TRAINING PROGRAM IN NASHVILLE, THIS ALUMNUS IS USING HIS PASSION FOR EDUCATION TO CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG ADULTS WITH AUTISM.

Since his teen years, Matthew Powell (’14, ’18) felt called to the field of education. He completed his Bachelor of Science in special edu cation from Trevecca, working along the way at a local pediatric clinic for kids with special needs. He returned to earn his master’s in educational leadership before teaching at several Middle Tennessee high schools.

One thing became clear the longer Powell worked in special ed: his students needed services that could bridge the gap between what a tra ditional school offers and the skills adults with disabilities need in a vocational setting.

To address this, Powell partnered with Karen Blake, the founder of the Autism Foundation of Tennessee, to launch Autism Career Training (ACT) in 2020. This new organiza tion—the first of its kind in Middle Tennessee—provides training for young adults with autism who are transitioning to a work environment after high school.

From left: Andrew Burnham, Karen Blake and Matthew Powell helped start Autism Career Training (ACT) in 2020.

WHAT DREW YOU TO EDUCATION?

One afternoon in high school during dismissal, I noticed a young man with special needs who was lying on the ground, refusing to budge. Apparently he’d been strug gling every day to get on the bus. He would just lie down on the floor. For whatever reason, getting on the bus was a trigger for him.

I felt prompted to help. I walked over and started talking with him. He responded to me. I helped him get up and onto the bus. It was the start of a mentoring relationship between us that lasted throughout high school. It also influenced my future. That young man is the reason I got involved in special education. I saw how I could make a difference.

WHAT KIND OF SERVICES DOES THE AUTISM CAREER TRAINING CENTER OFFER?

A young adult with autism—who we describe as a trainee—can attend the center two to five days a week to gain pre-vocational employment skills. These often include sensory, social and communication skills neces sary for a job environment. We take a look at what kind of accommodations our trainees most need and then help them work to gain independent living skills. It could be cooking, doing laundry, making their bed or learning how to socialize or communicate on a new level.

HOW HAVE YOU SEEN THE TRAINING MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

We’ve helped trainees get jobs and get promoted. One of our young adults recently got a job at a car dealership. Another was working at Publix as a grocery bagger, and we worked to help expand his role there so he could take on more responsibilities.

We’ve also seen how the quality of life can improve for an entire family when we focus on certain skills. One family came to our center wanting their son to be able to remain seated the entire time they ate together at a restaurant. Previously this young man wanted to get up and move around immediately after he finished eating. After work ing with him for some time, we saw phenomenal results. His sister got married several months ago and the trainee was able to sit through the entire rehearsal dinner and the reception. It meant so much to his family.

IS THERE SOMETHING YOU WISH MORE PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD ABOUT AUTISM?

One of the biggest misconceptions is that everyone with the diagnosis has the same set of characteristics. In reality, they are vastly different and have different strengths. Our goal is to develop those strengths in order to help our trainees be able to make a difference in their community. It’s wonderful to see how far they can go. We’ve hired a passionate group of staff members who love our young adults and want what’s best for them. It’s transformative for our trainees to be part of a place where they feel like they belong and people understand and support them.

HOW DID YOUR TIME AT TREVECCA IMPACT YOUR CAREER?

Andrew Burnham was one of my education professors who became a friend and lifelong mentor to me. We built a relationship through my classes and he was always someone I could call with professional questions or con cerns. When we started ACT, we decided we needed someone to help us write curriculum for our programs. Dr. Burnham was the perfect fit. He became a consultant for the center, and our mentorship turned into a profes sional relationship. I talk with him at least once a week. It’s become a full-circle life experience and I’m incredibly grateful for his expertise and support.

trendingtreveccans

ALUMNI AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TREVECCA COMMUNITY ARE ACCOMPLISHING GREAT THINGS. HERE ARE SOME RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS AND RECOGNITIONS OF NOTE, LISTED CHRONOLOGICALLY BY CLASS:

CLASS OF ’79 – CLASS OF ’99

Lanny Whitener (’74) was named director of commercial sales at ES Robbins Corporation.

Christina Brannen (’92) was named ESE staffing specialist and district autism coordinator for Sumner County Schools.

Michael McAdory (’92) established a fine arts academy at Midland Valley Church of the Nazarene in Graniteville, South Carolina.

Lynne Waters Griffey (’96) was recognized in the Marquis Who’s Who biographical registry.

David Bradley (’97) was named senior vice president of customer success at Silex Data Solutions.

Malissa Johnson (’98) was named director of special education for Dickson County Schools.

Melissa Moore (’98) was named vice president of legal operations at US Endo Partners.

CLASS OF ’00 – CLASS OF ’09

Mark Reeves (’01) was promoted to exec utive director at the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association.

Kevin Eady (’02) was named principal at Mt. Pleasant Middle School of the Visual and Performing Arts in Mt. Pleasant, Tenn.

Shane Callahan (’04) was appointed chief information security officer and assistant vice chancellor at Vanderbilt University.

Andy Lyons (’04) was named principal at Paragon Mills Elementary School in Nashville.

Louis Brothers (’05) was named senior vice president of human resources at Bristol Bay Native Corporation.

Drayton Hawkins (’06) was named principal at Oak Ridge High School in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Joe Blair (’07) was named assistant executive director at the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association.

James Capozzi (’07) was named vice president of sales at iDoc Telehealth Solutions.

HAVE ALUMNI NEWS TO SHARE?

To submit updates about special accomplishments by members of the Trevecca community, send an email to bwbennett2@trevecca.edu We look forward to sharing your news!

Najuma Atkinson (’00) was appointed chief people officer at Hasbro.

Debra Messenger (’00) was named interim principal at Hayes Middle School in Nashville.

Neelie Parker (’01) was named chief of opportunity and access for Hamilton County Schools.

Anna Maddox (’07) joined LBMC Employment Partners as chief human resources officer.

Joi Mitchell (’07) was named principal at Stratton Elementary School in Nashville.

Jeremy Rowe (’08) opened his own business, Muletown Floors, LLC.

Jill Justus (’09) was named principal of a new elementary school being constructed in Spring Hill, Tenn.

CLASS OF ’10 – CLASS OF ’21

Kevin Ward (’10) was named to the Fayetteville Observer’s “40 Under 40 Class of 2022.”

Kevin Wilkerson (’10) was named vice president of brand marketing at KUIU, a manufacturer of performance hunting gear.

David Sliger (’11) was named vice president of manufacturing at Nissan Motor Corporation’s assembly plant in Canton, Miss.

Nicole Thomas (’11) was named assistant principal at Franklin Elementary School in Franklin, Tenn.

LaDonna Williams (’11, ’20) was promoted to assistant principal at Westmeade Elementary School in Nashville.

Hope Nordstrom (’12) was named special counsel to the president for strategy at Lipscomb University.

Robert Sharpe (’12) was named chief operations officer for Hamilton County Schools in Tennessee.

Krishenna Jackson (’14) was named assistant principal at Springfield High School in Springfield, Tenn.

Stephen Rudge (’14) was promoted to implementation manager at Cigna.

Tyler Whetstone (’14) was named an investigative reporter at the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Ihab Habib (’15) was named Street Department director for the City of Clarksville, Tenn.

Tavia McLeod (’15) was appointed to the Board of Directors of Professional Educators of Tennessee.

Shelley Kofahl (’16) was named prin cipal at Westwood Elementary School in Fairview, Tenn.

Ryan Faggioni (’18) was named vice president of training and development at Redfin.

Danielle Tyson Horton (’18) was named head softball coach at DeKalb County High School in Smithville, Tenn.

Nicolas Reinhard (’18) was named head coach of women’s soccer at Dakota Wesleyan University.

Danisha Williams (’19) was named director of admissions at Lincoln University.

Mark Ernst (’19) was named super intendent of Tooele County School District in Utah.

Tammy Hammond-Loth (’19) was recognized in the Marquis Who’s Who biographical registry.

David Westfall (’20) was named minister of youth and young adults at Forrest Burdette Memorial United Methodist Church in Hurricane, W.Va.

John Anderson (’21) was selected as a cast member on season 19 of the ABC show “The Bachelorette.”

Hayley Mowery (’21) joined the Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee as a physician assistant.

Athziri Reyes Garcia (’21) was named vice president of the Nashville School of Law Legal Aid Society.

Lynette Taschner (’21) was hired as a search consultant at Adecco.

MEET YOUR NEW ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT

Following the end of Heather Parrish’s term, Trevecca’s Alumni Association wel comed Dana Franchetti (’12) to the role of president this summer. Dana received her degree in pastoral ministry from Trevecca before earning a master’s degree in inter cultural studies from Nazarene Theological Seminary. She has served in several pas toral and church leadership ministry roles

and currently lives outside of Orlando, where she is planting a church and working in refugee resettlement.

“The Trevecca community has been the second most influential organization in my life, second to the local church,” she said. “I want as many people as possible to experi ence the grace and support that I have from the Trevecca community.”

we are trevecca

I grew up on a dirt road in North Carolina.

I’ll never forget the first time I returned home after being away for a few months during my freshman year at Trevecca. I turned onto that dirt road and felt the bumps of gravel beneath my tires. I heard the familiar noise of the dry, crumbly dirt. I realized then that the things that make you feel like you’re home are the things that cause memories to rush back.

That road is where I walked to catch the bus. It’s where my dad taught me to drive. It’s the place I’d ride my bike for hours on end (wishing they’d pave it).

It wasn’t until I came back that I remembered how much I loved the sound of dirt and gravel. It meant I was home.

Walking across campus has the same effect on me. And I hear that from others when they come home to the Hill. There’s something about having your feet on the ground in the Quad that reminds you that you belong to a place. You see. And you remember.

The sidewalk where you had the first conversation with someone who is now your best friend. The hallway where your professor offered words of encour agement or challenge that set you on a different trajectory. The practice room where you honed your skills; the stage where you stepped out of your comfort zone; the aisle in chapel you walked down to say ‘yes’ to the call on your life.

A lot of life happens after college. We form new routines and habits, and we make more memories. But when we come home—that’s when we remember who we are. That’s when we remember the moments that shaped us and the people who helped form us.

We have a lot of fun at Homecoming and we connect with traditions from years gone by. But the real beauty of Homecoming is when you can stop, take a deep breath and let the ground beneath your feet remind you: you are home.

Can’t wait to see you,

Jen Showalter (’97) Alumni Engagement Officer

ARE

are

Homecoming Preview

JOIN US FOR CHERISHED TRADITIONS AND EXCITING NEW EVENTS THIS FALL.

There is something for everyone at Homecoming this year. From treasured events to new opportunities for learning and remembering, this is the year to come back home to the Hill!

SCAN HERE to view an up-to-date schedule of all Homecoming activities, and to register and purchase tickets for events.

Our 2022 Homecoming celebration will include long-stand ing traditions such as the Founder’s Day Chapel, the Town & Country Dinner and Showcase , a street fair , and the Homecoming parade and coronation. You can also catch a basketball game or attend a production of this year’s musi cal presented by the Theatre Department, “She Loves Me.” There will be multiple opportunities to connect with former classmates and friends as well.

We’re also excited about several new events you won’t want to miss.

NEW TO HOMECOMING THIS YEAR

ALUMNI MINI-CONFERENCE

Join us for Trevecca’s first alumni mini-conference centered around our Homecoming theme, Who We Are. Hear from alumni who are living out Trevecca’s motto of Esse Quam Videri—to be rather than to seem. As you connect and network with other alumni and students, you’ll learn about the contributions members of the Trevecca community are making in the world. The free conference will include these sessions:

WE ARE CURIOUS

STEM careers, research and using our minds for God’s kingdom.

Cherie Casey Miller (’98) and Sam Steuckle

WE ARE GOOD NEIGHBORS

An inspiring conversation about the complexity of immigration, compassion and our call to love our neighbors.

Dana Franchetti (’12) and Tabitha Sookdeo (’17)

WE ARE LIFELONG LEARNERS

Making a life pivot when you sense a need for change.

Dean Diehl (’87, ’19)

WE ARE RESILIENT

Learning practices that help build resilience in ministry, education and health care professions.

Daron Brown (’97), Gary Koch (’61), Alice Patterson and others

WE ARE SERVANT LEADERS

Equipping and inspiring worship leaders and musicians.

Vernon Whaley and Music and Worship Arts faculty and alumni

WE ARE YES PEOPLE

A Q&A on how the call of God is for everyone, and how saying “yes” to God changes everything.

Mary Meighan (’66) and Eric Miller (᾽86)

HEALTH SCIENCES BUILDING DEDICATION

Our newest structure on campus is an impressive addition to the Greathouse Science Building that benefits students studying health sciences. This building is one more improve ment that can help us reach a hurting world with the love of Christ.

JERNIGAN DEDICATION

If you haven’t toured the renovated Jernigan Student Center, we hope you’ll take this opportunity to celebrate a new beginning for this beloved campus center.

ONE BIG REUNION

Each year is a reunion at Trevecca, no matter your class year! Everyone is invited to attend the new One BIG Reunion event Saturday morning before the parade. Plan to meet with your class as well as friends who graduated around the same time as you. We’ll divide these gatherings by five-year increments. To make it extra fun, bring along some memorabilia and photos from your time at Trevecca. You may even run into a favorite professor. We will honor our reunion classes with a special photo during this time, so make plans to be there!

TREVECCA FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

This year, Admissions will host a fun gathering for high school students attending Homecoming. It will be a great opportunity for meaningful connections as these students think about their next steps toward becoming who God has called them to be.

COMMUNITY PRAISE AND WORSHIP NIGHT

We are excited to worship together during this new capstone event to close out our Homecoming weekend. Join with the entire Trevecca community Saturday evening in Boone Convocation Center for an amazing night of praise and worship. The evening will involve current students and alumni worship leaders and is also open to churches, youth groups and anyone connected to Trevecca. Dr. Tim Green will be our speaker.

honoring the faithful

TREVECCA PRESENTS THE 2022 HOMECOMING AWARD WINNERS

The opportunity to recognize outstanding alumni and friends is a special part of Trevecca’s Homecoming tradition. In living out the ideals of faith, service and leadership, each of our recipients has made a true and lasting impact on their communities that is worthy of recognition.

This year, we also give thanks for these winners’ calling by God to be faithful and obedient in their work. We celebrate how they are serving others in creative and meaningful ways. As you read their stories, we hope you’ll be inspired to say ‘yes’ to God’s call on your life, wherever that may be. Please join us in honoring these winners!

MACKEY LEADERSHIP AWARDS

CHERIE MILLER ( ’ 99)

Cherie Miller received a bachelor’s in mathematics at Trevecca and is putting her degree into action as strategy director at L3Harris, an aerospace defense com pany in central Florida. Miller focuses on aligning technology developments with customer missions and the market and identifying business growth strategies.

Outside of work, she has served in the church, work ing with her husband in youth ministry for a decade. Following that calling, she continued to volunteer in youth ministry and in support of local missions. Currently, she serves on the finance committee at Somos Church in Lakeland, Fla.

“It has been beneficial to have the liberal arts back ground I received at Trevecca. That has helped me grow into roles that are both technical and rela tional. There were so many mentors at Trevecca who demonstrated true servant leadership, shaping me into the type of leader I strive to be.”

ERIC MILLER ( ’ 86)

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Trevecca, Eric Miller worked as an environmental engineer and an educator before his career took a sweeter turn. He is the current owner of two Pelican’s SnoBalls franchises in the Nashville area.

Miller is also a faithful member of the Church of the Nazarene and served with the Mississippi District following Hurricane Katrina. He is passionate about partnering with churches, schools and charities through his job.

“Although my path has taken many twists and turns, each of my career choices has had a commonality: a chance to invest in young people…a passion I have because Trevecca invested in me first.”

Presented to Trevecca alumni who have excelled in leadership

MACKEY LEADERSHIP AWARDS

Presented to Trevecca alumni who have excelled in leadership

M c CLURKAN AWARD

Presented to a non-alumnus/alumna whose life reflects Trevecca’s values

ALICE PATTERSON

Alice Patterson attended Peabody College for Teachers and taught in Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools for 21 years.

She joined Trevecca in 1989 as an adjunct professor and was instrumental in developing the Doctor of Education in leadership (Ed.D.) program. She became a full-time professor in 1998. She now serves as the on-site direc tor for the Ed.D. program and is an associate professor of graduate education.

“I’m a lifelong educator and feel it is my mission and passion to be available to provide educators with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in their roles. They are the ones who are preparing our future leaders.”

T-AWARD, MINISTRY

Presented to a Trevecca alumnus/alumna in a ministry profession who’s exhibited a life of devotion to service and ministering to others

GARY KOCH ( ’ 61)

Gary Koch studied theology at Trevecca and went on to be a faithful church planter and pastor, serving the Lord in fulltime ministry for 43 years.

He was senior pastor for a number of churches, including Huber Heights Church of the Nazarene and West Carrollton First Church of the Nazarene in Ohio as well as Hampton Church of the Nazarene in Hampton, Va.

As a pastor, he ministered to thousands, and has seen many lives saved and sanctified. He recently retired in Venice, Fla., where he served 16 years in part-time ministry and continues to preach periodically.

“Trevecca prepared me perfectly. At that time I don’t think it could’ve been any better. Dr. Greathouse was the dean of theology and he eventually became my closest lifelong friend.”

T-AWARD, LAY PERSON

Presented to a Trevecca alumnus/alumna who is not in a ministry profession who’s exhibited a life of devotion to service and ministering to others

MARY MEIGHAN ( ’ 66)

During her time at Trevecca, Mary Meighan felt called to be a nurse in Africa. She ful filled that dream a few years later, eventually becoming the principal of a nursing college in Swaziland.

While serving in that position, she was part of an effort to help the school become accredited, making it an official part of the University of Swaziland. After 34 years of service, she returned to the U.S. and worked as a home nurse until retirement.

“Trevecca was a catalyst for my life. I knew the Lord well when I arrived at the University and was seek ing to fill my life with preparation for Him to move at will. Then while I was in Swaziland, I learned so much from my colleagues. I learned perseverance and determination when things got rough.”

FIRST CHAPTER AWARD

Presented to a recent Trevecca alumnus/alumna who has begun a distinguished professional career

TABITHA SOOKDEO ( ’ 17)

As a social justice major at Trevecca, Tabitha Sookdeo learned to combine her inter ests in migration and climate change. She has continued to pursue that calling in a joint graduate degree program, earning her juris doctorate from Vermont Law School and a master’s in environmental management from Yale University with a specialization in climate-induced migration.

After graduating from Trevecca in 2017, Sookdeo served her community in a variety of positions in nonprofit development as well as founding Sookdeo Consulting Solutions. Most recently, she has served as the interim director of community engagement for Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS).

“Working at IRIS is incredibly meaningful to me because each day, I get to ‘welcome the stranger,’ and practice radical hospitality to asylum seekers, refugees and undocumented immigrants.”

In Memoriam

CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF WALLACE “ACE” WIMBLEY

By Daron B. Brown

At the heart of what it means to truly experience Trevecca are the people we encounter during our time on the Hill who become instruments of God’s grace.

While some friendships endure beyond our college years, others are limited to the time we spend on campus. This was the case with my friend Wallace “Ace” Wimbley.

Loved by all who knew him, Ace died during his senior year in 1996. More than a quarter century later, his impact and legacy far exceed his brief lifetime.

Ace came from a broken family with few means in Lake Wales, Fla. Through his involvement in community the ater, he connected with a circle of friends who attended Winter Haven First Church of the Nazarene. The group made the journey to Trevecca together from Florida.

Ace was a Black student on campus at a time when Trevecca was much less diverse. He was six feet four inches tall and weighed about 250 pounds. As if he did not stand out enough, Ace’s favorite clothes were his purple sweats. He donned them regularly, with his long rope of a keychain swinging against his thigh.

Life had been hard on Ace. But he was not hardened. As I reminisce with friends, a recurring description of Ace is how he was a gentle giant. He was a large man, but not imposing. He lived humbly and laughed heartily. His presence was generous, and his love was indiscriminate.

Ace was a few years older than most of us, making him a big brother of sorts. Because he had little connection to

his parents and siblings back home, the Trevecca com munity became like his immediate family. He remained and worked on campus during breaks and summers. He took turns going home with students for holidays and weekend trips.

Ace drove an old, white clunker of a car that stayed stuck in second gear and rarely left its spot in the Benson Hall parking lot. He was a religion major, called to pastoral ministry. He was involved in theater, sang tenor in the Ambassadors Choir and served as resident assistant (RA) in Benson Hall.

I worked together with Ace as an RA for three years. I will never forget the night when I had late lobby duty. Ace came down the steps in the quiet of the night with a basin of water and a towel. While the campus slept, Ace washed my feet—an act of service and love from one brother in Christ to the other.

The summer before his senior year, Ace began losing weight and feeling ill. Doctors had trouble determining a diagnosis at first. Eventually, Ace was hospitalized with a fast-spreading form of cancer. He deteriorated quickly and died on November 4, 1996, during Homecoming week.

The Trevecca community grieved heavily and ministered to one another earnestly. Millard Reed, Trevecca’s pres ident at the time, quietly covered the expenses related to his family’s travel and Ace’s funeral, crediting the University with the gift.

Those of us who belonged to Trevecca in the mid-’90s remember Ace fondly. The thought or mention of him brings an instant smile and warm thoughts. We honor him annually when the Office of Student Development presents the RA of the Year Award in memory of Ace.

From time to time, a group of former classmates who knew Ace—myself included— gathers at his gravesite near the University. Last year, we came together to remember that autumn day 25 years ago when Ace passed from this life into the next. During his short time on earth, he made a difference in the lives of so many who were privileged to call him friend.

We trust he is resting in peace and will rise with Christ. Until then, the memory of Ace serves as a means of grace as we keep on with our lives. Our friend Jeffrey Sykes (’98) offered this prayer at Ace’s grave:

God, you gather your children like a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings. That gentleness is a gift—especially when we see how your grace creates beauty in your children.

The world and culture around us worship fear and hate. You remind us that neither fear nor hate will have the final word when you send us gentle friends like Ace Wimbley.

As you bless us with memories of our brother, remind us to practice the hospitality and welcome he extended to so many.

Help us to laugh at ourselves and the little absurdities of life. Teach us to sing songs as beautiful as Ace’s laughter.

Allow us to be sensitive to the pain and suffering of others so that we might be instruments of your grace.

Shape us into the likeness of your Son even as you did for Ace by the power of your Holy Spirit.

Enable us to love your children and recognize that the lowly and despised of this world are given the purple of royalty to wear, reminding us of the upside-down nature of your Kingdom.

Amen.

Daron B. Brown (’97) serves as pastor of Waverly Church of the Nazarene in Waverly, Tenn.

Friends Remembered

Please join us in honoring the memory of those in the Trevecca community who passed away in recent months.

Dale Beardslee (’91)

Daniel Blair (’91)

Karen Bryant (’16)

Phoebe Church (’79)

Gary Cook (’86)

Grace Cooning (friend of Trevecca)

Jim Cooning (friend of Trevecca)

Raymond Cowan (’61)

Randy Crenshaw (friend of Trevecca)

William Criss (’78)

Lloyd Davis (alumnus)

Linda Deason (’68)

Sherri Dobbs (’06)

Bettye Dunning (’69)

Lee Eby (’58)

Joe Finger (’55)

Wesley Frederick (’59)

Judy Greathouse (friend of Trevecca)

Wayne Hilburn (friend of Trevecca)

Kathryn Hill (friend of Trevecca)

Don Irwin (’65)

James Jarrett (alumnus)

Charles Johnson (friend of Trevecca)

Phyllis Kilbourn (’72)

Ronald Mezime (’06)

Vivian Moore (’83)

Thomas Morris (alumnus)

Aubrey Ponce, Jr. (’61)

Michael Pretorius (’15)

Diana Reaves (’09)

Donald Simpson (friend of Trevecca)

C. Harold Smith (’54)

Gregory Story (’81)

Michael Vannatta (’93)

Wanda Vitatoe (’45)

Herman Whitby (’99)