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OBU—Oklahoma Baptist University

Alumni Couple Praises Music Program, Students Awarded

May 23, 2000

A.L. "Pete" and Jo Ann Butler, retired professors of music at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and 1955 OBU graduates, were honored as the Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts Distinguished Alumni at Oklahoma Baptist University's music awards banquet, May 1.

The evening also featured the announcement of OBU's scholarship recipients for the 2000-2001 school year and outstanding seniors in music awards.

"Every time we pass by this place, and see the steeple of that Raley Chapel sticking up, something really special comes over me," Mrs. Butler told students, in her remarks. "I get a lump in my throat and I hear that alma mater in my heart."

Dr. Butler mentioned three special gifts he had received from OBU: commitment to excellence, flexibility, and life long friendships.

"These are three of the reasons I will always be a fan of this place," Butler said. "And I'm proud to be a product of Oklahoma Baptist University."

During the banquet, awards were also given to current students and graduating seniors.

Scholarship recipients from the Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts included:

Kenneth Barnhart, Tommy Lane Minister of Music Scholarship;

Aubrey Billingsley, Mrs. Cora White Memorial Scholarship, Jacob E. and Maye Young Kirk and Dorothy Kirk Hamilton Scholarship;

James Brandt, Music Endowed Scholarship;

Jeremy Brewer, Charles A. Hudson Memorial Scholarship;

Erin Cain, Clarence E. and H. Helen Sawyer Stith Memorial Music Scholarship, Betty Ruth Davis Memorial Scholarship;

Chris Campbell, Charles A. Hudson Memorial Scholarship;

Sky Chaddick, The Reverend and Mrs. L. C. Robbins Memorial Scholarship, Jack Pearson Bisonette Scholarship, Catherine Mae Bardwell Memorial Scholarship;

Darin Chapin, Hall-Rice Memorial Scholarship, Hilton Music Scholarship;

Nathalie Crim, Catherine Mae Bardwell Memorial Scholarship;

Kathy Cripps, James D. Woodward Musicianship Award Scholarship, John Grover Scales Memorial Scholarship, Lois B. Wiley Public School Music Scholarship;

Kyle Damron, John Roy Harris Church Music Award;

Josh Dumbleton, Virginia Denyer Reese Scholarship;

Cody Evans, Helen Gaskin Church Music Scholarship;

Angela Franklin, Alice Baw Memorial Scholarship in Music;

Suzanne Gett, David W. Bardwell, Sr. and Catherine Mae Bardwell Scholarship in Music;

Jesse Graver, Catherine Mae Bardwell Memorial Scholarship;

Caleb Harris, Warren M. and Evalyn Wells Angell Scholarship, Susan D. Grant Scholarship;

Amy Heine, Catherine Mae Bardwell Memorial Scholarship;

Tricia Kipper, Catherine Mae Bardwell Memorial Scholarship;

Nathan Madsen, Georgia M. Winton Scholarship;

Angela Martin, Floris and Elbert Patterson Music Scholarship, Catherine Mae Bardwell Memorial Scholarship;

Stephanie Moring, Horton Fine Arts Scholarship;

Crystal Morrow, William Rowlett King Memorial Scholarship;

Laura Norton, Clarence E. and H. Helen Sawyer Stith Memorial Music Scholarship;

Stephanie Norton, Clair & Ruth McGavern Piano Scholarship, Catherine Mae Bardwell Memorial Scholarship;

Jennifer Peck, Ford Family Music Scholarship;

Lance Peeler, Music Endowed Scholarship, P.J. and Vivian Higginbotham Scholarship in Music;

Amy Powell, Music Endowed Scholarship, Fred W. and Rhoda L. Hankey Scholarship;

Joy Redfearn, Clarence E. and H. Helen Sawyer Stith Memorial Music Scholarship;

Aaron Robertson, B. B. McKinney Scholarship;

Conor Scholes, Charles A. Hudson Memorial Scholarship, Michael T. Cox Bison Glee Club Scholarship;

Marti Short, Ben C. and Sue White Scholarship;

Stephanie Taylor, Lavaun Smith and Gale Whitaker Music Memorial Scholarship Trust;

Michelle Thompson, Varnum Scholarship;

Jeremy Titsworth, Richard Haskell Bartlett Music Scholarship;

Randy Umstead, Presser Foundation Scholarship; and

Elizabeth Wallace, Clarence E. and H. Helen Sawyer Stith Memorial Music Scholarship.

Outstanding seniors that were awarded included: Allison Short, Bisonette Gold Award; Kyle Damron and Adam Lewis, Chorale Outstanding Member Awards; Elizabeth Wallace, SAI Scholastic Award for highest chapter grade point average; Anne Dicke, SAI College Honor Award for outstanding senior member; Jana Martin, Preparatory Department, Outstanding Student Teacher Award; Randa Mitchell, Outstanding Student Teacher Award; Erika Clausing, MENC Chapter President; and Celeste Koehn, Symphonic Band Gold Award.