Chowan graduates largest
baccalaureate class
awards first honorary degrees since 1937
j.
Dr. James Howard Royston,
executive director-treasurer of the
Baptist State Convention of
North Carolina, addressed
graduates and their guests during
Commencement ceremonies on
Saturday, May 16.
Exercises for the 133
candidates of the ^
largest baccalaure
ate class in I
Chowan’s history
and seven candi
dates of the associate
degree were held in
the Helms Center.
Royston, who
received his master of
divinity and doctor of
ministry degrees from Southeast
ern Baptist Theological Seminary,
is closely associated with higher
education. His work with
academic institutions includes
lectures on seminary campuses,
supervision of graduate students
and minister-in-residence at
Carson-Newman College.
Student Government Associa
tion President Laura Allgood,
from Danville, Va., and Senior
Class President Melissa Matthws,
from Greenbackville, Va., pre
sented responses from the class.
The Senior Scholastic Award
was presented to Heather Madren,
from Burlington, N.C., and the
Excellence in
Council on Christian Higher
Education, Baptist State Conven
tion of North Carolina. Only four
other honorary doctorate degrees
have been awarded in the 150-year
history of the college, the last in
1937.
Senator Marc Basnight was
presented an honorary doctor of
laws degree in recognition of his
support to northeastern North
Carolina. A native of Manteo,
Teaching Award went to
Dorothy Wallace,
associate professor of
business.
In addition to
presenting diplomas to
graduating seniors, the
college conferred
honorary doctorates on Senator
Marc Basnight, President Pro
Tempore, North Carolina General
Assembly, and Dr. T. Robert
Mullinax, Executive Director,
Basnight was first elected to
represent the First Senatorial
District, North Carolina General
Assembly, in 1984. In addition to
serving the Assembly, he is
President of Basnight
Construaion Company in
Manteo and owner of
Basnight s Lone Cedar
Cafe in Nags Head.
Richard Gay, faculty
marshall and associate
professor of English,
presented Basnight’s
degree. “Quickly recog
nized by his colleagues as a
patient and meticulous
legislator, fellow senators
first elected him to the
prestigious post of
President Pro Tempore of the
North Carolina Senate in 1992,”
said Gay. “Still holding the
position, he has become one of the
most significant and influential
members of state government. We
are grateful for his awareness of,
and attention to, the panicular
problems of the Albemarle Region
and indeed all of northeastern
North Carolina.”
An honorary doaor of leners
degree was awarded to T. Robert
Mullinax in recognition of his
service to the Baptist institutions
of higher education in the state of
North Carolina. His executive
leadership of the Council
on Christian Higher
Education, Baptist State
Convention of North
Carolina covers one-half
the life span of the body.
A native of Cedartown,
Ga., Mullinax earned his
seminary degree from
Southeastern Baptist
Theological Seminary and
went on to pursue
postgraduate studies at Golden
Gate Baptist Theological Semi
nary, Mill Valley, Ca., and
Graduate Theological Union,
Berkeley, Ca.
John R. Jordan, Jr., chairman of
the board of trustees, presented
the degree to Mullinax. “His
qualities of patience, wisdom and
sound counsel have served him,
the educational institutions and
the Baptist State Convention well
throughout his tenure of twenty-
seven years at the helm,” said
Jordan. “We pay tribute to him
on the eve of his retirement from
the Council.”