School of Christian Service Presents Awards, Scholarships

Oklahoma Baptist University's Joe L. Ingram School of Christian Service recognized an outstanding alumnus and outstanding students in Christian service studies during a banquet April 26 and during the 2010 Awards Convocation on Wednesday, May 5, in Raley Chapel. 

Dr. Doug Melton received the School of Christian Service's Outstanding OBU Alumni Award. Melton earned a bachelor's degree from OBU in 1983. He earned a master's degree and his Ph.D. from the University of North Texas. He worked at OBU for 14 years, serving as dean of students during the last seven years of his tenure. He has served as pastor of Southern Hills Baptist Church, which has a membership of 4,000 people, since January 2000. He is married to Lana Kay (Dotson) Melton, a 1986 OBU alum. They have four children: Drew, Zachary, Brandon and Samuel.



Dr. Doug Melton (right) receives the Outstanding OBU Alumni Award from Dr. Mark McClellan, dean of Oklahoma Baptist University's Joe L. Ingram School of Christian Service, during an awards banquet April 26.

"Dr. Melton is not only a long time OBU administrative leader, but also a highly influential and successful Oklahoma Baptist pastor," said Dr. Mark McClellan, dean of the School of Christian Service. "He is a truly exceptional model for students of the School of Christian Service and a wonderful alumni representative of OBU. It was our honor to present Dr. Melton with this award."

Joshua Mugler, a religion: Bible major from St. Peters, Mo., received the School of Christian Service's top honor, the Outstanding Senior in Religion Award. It is presented to the student who has demonstrated exceptional ability in the fields of theology, Christian history and biblical studies. Mugler graduated with the designation summa cum laude with college honors.

"Josh Mugler exhibited outstanding academic achievement in every area and plans to attend Harvard Divinity School," McClellan said.

Emily Eaton, an applied ministry: education major from Siloam Springs, Ark., received the Outstanding Senior in Applied Ministry Award, given to the student who has demonstrated exceptional ability in the field of applied ministry.

Andrew Melton, a religion: biblical languages/philosophy major from Oklahoma City, received the Outstanding Senior in Philosophy Award, given to the student who has demonstrated exceptional ability in the field of philosophy. Melton graduated with the designation summa cum laude with honors in biblical languages/philosophy.

Mugler also received the award for outstanding senior in Hebrew.Eaton received the senior award for education ministry, and Melton received the senior award for Greek. Receiving the senior awards for biblical studies was Jonathon Lookadoo, a religion: biblical languages major from Rogers, Ark.; for theology, Cody Oldacre, a religion: biblical languages major from Talala, Okla.; for Christian history, D. H. Dilbeck, a history/religion: departmental major from Edmond, Okla.; for youth ministry, Kirt Henderson, a religion: Bible major from Edmond, Okla.; for philosophy, Shaun Randall, a religion: biblical languages/philosophy major from Haysville, Kan.; and for church recreation, Jacob Cribbs, a sports ministry major from Macomb, Okla.



Oklahoma Baptist University senior Joshua Mugler (left), a religion: Bible major from St. Peters, Mo., receives the Outstanding Senior in Religion Award, presented by Dr. Mark McClellan, dean of the Joe L. Ingram School of Christian Service.

McClellan presented more than 30 scholarships during the awards banquet. Laura Wesevich, a junior from Bartlesville, Okla., received the Haggard Religious Education Scholarship, given to a rising upperclassman who is a religious education, youth or children's ministry major. Janeth Carreon, a junior from Seminole, Okla., received the Buell Hill Missions Scholarship, given to a rising senior missions volunteer. Veronica Pistone, a junior from Blue Springs, Mo., received the James S. Timberlake Scholarship, given to a rising upper-classman who has excelled in biblical and theological studies. Nathan Maynard, a freshman from El Reno, Okla., received the Alma Baggett Memorial Scholarship, given to a religious or applied ministry major. The Jack and Betty Moore Scholarship, given to a non-traditional major in the School of Christian Service who is preparing for church staff ministry other than pastor or music ministry, was presented to Kimberly May, a junior from Shawnee; Fernando Castro, a sophomore from Vila Velha, Brazil; and Juan Romero, a sophomore from Bethany, Okla. Romero also received the Glen E. and Erma J. Braswell Scholarship, given to church vocation students. The J.W. and Edith May Rolf Scholarship was awarded to Wilson Leal, a sophomore from Shizuoka-shi, China, and Castro.

Vanessa Murry, a sophomore from Loveland, Colo., received the Ruth C. Clark Memorial Scholarship, given to a student who is a child of missionaries and who is planning a career in foreign missions. The Orie and Edna Booze Religious Vocations Scholarship, given to students planning to enter a church-related vocation, was presented to Jacob Hibbard, a junior from Chickasha, Okla.; Nick Johnson, a junior from Lindsay, Okla.; Calvin Chapman, a sophomore from Muskogee, Okla.; Devin Warfield, a sophomore from Enid, Okla.; and Taylor Kraft, a sophomore from Anthem, Ariz. The Joe L. Ingram Scholarship, given to upper-class students preparing for the pastoral ministry who has demonstrated a strong commitment to ministry and outstanding leadership skills, was presented to Jered Bell, a junior from Magnolia, Texas; Jeremiah Custar, a junior from Ardmore, Okla.; and Ben Moore, a junior from Panhandle, Texas. Ashley Wyatt, a junior from Louisburg, Kan., received the Alice Routh Memorial Award, given to a regularly enrolled student who writes the best essay of 2,500 words on some phase of "missionary opportunities and work in the fields of Africa in which Southern Baptist are laboring." Jade Hansen, a freshman from Jay, Okla., received the Aaron and Hilda Hancock Scholarship, given to a Native American student preparing for the ministry among Native Americans.

Jeremy Lalli, a junior from Krebs, Okla., received the James W. (Bob) and Patsy Evans Scholarship, an annual scholarship given to OBU Christian vocation students. Taylor Phillips, a junior from Mountain View, Okla., and Sara Scott, a senior from Harrah, Okla., received the Ross and Pauline Hughes Scholarship in Home Missions, given to students planning to be home missionaries. Caitlin Dacus, a senior from Overland Park, Kan., received the Rowena Strickland Scholarship, given to worthy religion students with interest in biblical studies. Mary (Beth) Jones, a sophomore from Fletcher, Okla., received the Hough Memorial Scholarship, given to a student with a major in education ministry, youth ministry or children's ministry. Kathryn Barrett, a junior from Neodesha, Kan., received The Dr. James Samuel Timberlake Memorial Prize in Greek, given to the OBU student who has distinguished himself or herself in the study of Greek, as determined by the Greek faculty. The prize was established by Kathryne Mackenzie Susong in honor of the late Dr. Timberlake, long-time OBU professor of Greek.

Sarah Disch, a junior from Tulsa, Okla., received the Bob and Nelle Agee International Study/Missions Scholarship, an annually funded scholarship given to OBU students who have participated in a University-approved overseas study program or missions program. Derek Schuessler, a junior from Valley Center, Kan., received the Bob and Nelle Agee Leadership Scholarship, an annually funded scholarship given to an OBU student who has demonstrated overall campus leadership in each of the following areas: academic studies, Student Government Association and religious life activities and programs. Ellen Richard, a sophomore from Perkins, Okla., received the Gregory D. Pritchard Scholarship, given to an outstanding philosophy student. Weston Potts, a freshman from Grove, Okla., received the Guy L. Carr Memorial Scholarship, with half awarded to a music major through the College of Fine Arts and half awarded to a religion major through the School of Christian Service. Lori Faupell, a sophomore from Edmond, Okla., received the Dr. and Mrs. Warren Forbes Yarborough Scholarship, given to a rising junior or senior entering religious education, youth, or children's ministry. Kimberly May, a junior from Shawnee, received the James J. Dooley Scholarship, given to a student preparing for the ministry who is over 30 years of age.

Graduating seniors participated in Spring Commencement Saturday, May 15, in Raley Chapel's Potter Auditorium. Students graduate with the scholastic predicate summa cum laude for maintaining at least a 3.95 grade point average. Students who maintain at least at 3.70 GPA are designated magna cum laude. Students who maintain at least a 3.40 GPA are designated cum laude.