Murfreesboro Resident, 210 Grads Honored
A Murfreesboro resident who
graduated 65 years ago and the
210 graduates of the class of 1975
were honored as Chowan College
closed its 127th year with
commencement exercises
Sunday, May 18.
Miss Grace Parker, who taught
school for 47 years and continues
active as a Sunday school teacher
at Murfreesboro Baptist Church,
received Chowan’s Distinguished
Alumni Award during Afternoon
graduation exercises on the front
lawn.
Dr. E. Bruce Heilman,
president of the University of
Richmond, spoke on the
responsibilities of citizenship. He
said some approach the
imperfections found in American
Democracy “not with a hammer
to build up but a torch to burn
down.” He said the country needs
citizens who have faith in
America and who will give
leadership to overcoming
America’s shortcomings.
He said success “is up to you —
the young men and women who
are the leaders of tomorrow.” He
added, “You are all we have. If
we could not believe in you there
would be no hope for the future.”
Speaker for the 11 a.m.
baccalaureate servece was the
pastor of Ahoskie’s First Baptist
Church, the Rev. Billy T. Mobley.
Chowan President Bruce E.
Whitaker presents the
Distinguished Alumni Award to
Miss Grace Parker of
Murfreesboro.
3 Academic
Records Set
Chowan College students set
three records for academic work
during the spring semester of the
1974-75 year.
Twenty-four students were
named to the President’s List for
straight A work. The previous
spring semester record was 16 in
1973.
The number of students named
to the Dean’s List was also a
spring semester high. Seventy
students earned recognition for
maintaining a grade average
between 3.50-3.99 on a 4.0 system.
Another 126 students were named
to the Honors List for recording a
B average with no grade lower
than C.
The third record resulted from
a total of 220 students,
representing approximately one-
fourth of Chowan’s spring
semester enrollment of 896
students, earning a place on one
of the three honors lists. This is
the highest percentage ever at
Chowan.
He told the graduates that while
facts may quickly become
obsolete, “faith is always
relevant.” He said it is important
to be able to say, “I know what I
believe,” but more important for
the graduates to be able to say, “1
know whom I believe.”
Mobley said that real progress
is made on the “goodwill of men
who ardently want to know each
other.” He challenged the
students to bring men of all
races, colors- and creeds
together.
The baccalaureate speaker
said they can take courage in the
fact God is in control and “more
than adequate to meet all of our
needs.” He said the final chapter
in the world’s history will not be
written by man but God as he
establishes his kingdom.
The Distinguished Alumni
Award is presented to alumni for
their contribution to Chowan and
benevolent causes involving
religious, educational and civic
life.
A native of Hertford Co., Miss
Parker graduated from Chowan,
then a four-year woman’s school.
Thirty Chowan College
sophomores were selected for
inclusion in Who’s Who Among
Students in American Junior
Colleges during 1974-75.
Eighteen are from North
Carolina: Joseph Henry Allen,
Roanoke Rapids; Benita Lee
Bridgers, Conway; Janet Louise
Copeland, Edenton; George Ray
Divis, Rocky Mount; Donna Bene
Elks, Lasker; Richard Neil
Harkey, Matthews; Chester
Boyette Hill, Jr., Hugh Banks
Lewis, Mrs. Elizabeth Lewis
Parker, Thomas Wilson Vinson,
all of Murfreesboro; David
Lindsay Hudson, Charlotte;
Helen Elizabeth Kanipe,
Lincolnton; Larry Rickie Oakley,
Rougemont; Barbara Gail
Parrish, Knightdale; Michael
Anthony Salvaggio, Havelock;
Lisa Anne Sellars. Ahoskie; Gary
Lyn Swing, Greensboro; and
Richard (Rick) Lee Weires,
Beaufort.
in 1910. She taught in Severn,
Raleigh at the School for the
Blind, and Wilmington before
accepting a position at
Murfreesboro School in 1923. At
one time she taught the third and
fourth grades and high school
science. In 1924 she became
senior sponsor and coached the
senior plays for the next nine
years.
She retired in June, 1957 but
continued her many volunteer
duties in the Sunday School and
several children’s organizations
at Murfreesboro Baptist Church.
She remains active in the
Primary department as
superintendent and teacher, a
position she has held for over 50
years.
In presenting the award,
Chowan President Bruce E.
Whitaker said Miss Grace, as she
is affectionately known, is
“wonderfully qualified on all
counts to receive this honor.”
Stated Dr. Whitaker, “As an
alumna of Chowan College, Miss
Grace Parker has been
steadfastly loyal, supporting
Chowan in many ways. As a
Six are Virginians: Melinda
Dianne Bolton, Manassas; Claire
Ellen Crickenberger, Newport
News; Jeffrey Joseph Dance,
Arlington; Catherine Lynn
Hemmila, Hampton; Cynthia
Lynn Phelps, Colonial Heights;
and Sheree Dianne Smith, Chase
City.
Also receiving the honor were
Laureen Dawn Bell, Columbia,
Md.; Andrew William Han,
Thailand; Jorge Luis Nassar,
Venezuela; Tonia M. Okyne,
Washington, D. C.; Bonnie Gould
Tyler, Cambridge, Md.; and
Thomas Patrick Zgambo,
Malawi.
“This award is based on
scholarship, extracurricular
acitivities, citizenship and
promise for future
development,” explained Dr. B.
Franklin Lowe, Jr., dean of the
college, who added that Chowan
is proud of each individual who
was named to the Who’s Who list.
school teacher, through her
dedication and love of her
students, she endeared herself to
her pupils and the entire
community. As a committed
Christian, she is continuing to
serve her Lord and her church
with a faithfulness that is an
example and inspiration to
others.”
He said her former students
include “doctors, lawyers,
merchants, teachers, housewives
Chowan College students were
honored for citizenship, service,
and academic and athletic
achievement during Honors Day
Friday, May 2.
■ Awards were presented in the
stadium by Chowan President
Bruce E. Whitaker. Hugh Lewis
of Murfreesboro received two
honors. He shared the Pattie
White Sessoms Photography
Award with Rick Lee of St.
Albans, W. V. and was one of five
students named to the Order of
the Silver Feather for
“exceptional service and loyalty
to the college.”
Others named for this award
were Cynthia Phelps of Colonial
Heights, Va.; Benita Bridgers of
Conway; Janet Copeland of
Edenton; and Larry Oakley
Rougemont.
Two international students
were honored. Innocent
Ikwuakor of Nigeria received the
Phi Theta Kappa International
Scholarship Award. The Merit
Award for achievement in the
face of obstacles went to Thomas
Zgambo of Malawi.
The President’s Cup for overall
competition among the residence
halls was won by Parker. Parker
Hall, second floor, was the men’s
intramural sports champion.
The Chowan annual, THE
CHOW ANOKA, was dedicated to
Bob Brown, professor of music
from Ahoskie.
Other awards: Women’s
Recreational Association — Miss
WRA, Lisa Dabney of Staunton,
Va.; Joseph Lee Parker
Scholarship for Physical Fitness,
Art Medlin of Fuquay-Varina;
Most Outstanding Athlete,
Ronnie Green of Charlottesville,
— people in every walk of life —
across the state and nation.” To
these, Chowan’s president noted.
Miss Parker “imparted the
higher things in life which make
for better citizenship.” They
were inspired by Miss Parker to
“achieve and reach the highest
goal in life,” he said.
Va.; Alpha Pi Epsilon
Scholarship Award, Melinda
Diane Bolton of Manassas, Va.;
Circle K Award for Outstanding
Service, David Hudson of
Charlotte; and Day Students’
Scholarship Award, Charlotte
Woodard of Murfreesboro.
Others receiving awards were:
Graphic Arts Award for
Excellency — Outstanding
Sophomore, George Robert
Meyer of Roanoke Rapids;
Graphic Arts Award for
Excellency — Outstanding
Freshman, George McCoy of
Richmond, Va.; Outstanding
Sophomore in Art, Victoria Dale
Stewart of Richmond, Va.;
Special Art Award, Cathy Sutliff
of Glen Allen, Va.; Department
of Business Academic Award,
Bonnie Gould Tyler of
Cambridge, Md.; and the Ellen
Wallace Honorary Award in
Dramatics, James Luxford of
Chesapeake, Va.
Completing the list of awards
are: Mary Pierce Music
Scholarship, (Tie) Wanda Byrum
of Suffolk, Va. and Kathy
Williams of Aulander; Sociology
Club Award, Frank Lucas of
Richmond, Va.; Mary E. Wood
Science Award, Lula Ann
Blizzard of Deep Run; Best All
Around Student, (Tie) Claire
Crickenberger of Newport News,
Va. and Cathy Hemmila of
Hampton, Va.; Superior
Citizenship Award, Chet Hill of
Murfreesboro; Freshman High
est Scholastic Average, David
Guthrie of Morehead City; and
Sophomore Highest Scholastic
Average, Bonnie Gould Tyler of
Cambridge, Md.
QUroroan Qlollrgr AUintnt Aaaortatiiin
StBtingutBifpii Alumnt Awarb
f*eopU make the qualUr of every epoch by ike depth of their devotion and the extent of altruiMu
servtees rrruUred. The Chowon ColUf* Alumiti A»*ocuition. in reco§nUion of multitiUwotu coiUri-
butiotu to ClwHMit College and benevolent «atw«t tntoJcinf relifioiu and eitne life of ihit era,
hereby extols the name and life of « rwerod member of the Cho%tinn CoUege Alumni Auonation
ITuli admirfitiofi onA oppreciation thit at^ri pretetaed to:
Miaa (6ratt i^arki^r
Presented with the authorization md upon tfcr approval of the Board of Trtiueet oj Chowm College
the eighteeiuh day of May, nineteen hundred and xeventy-five.
30 Sophomores Make
Who^s Who Listing
Dr. Whitaker added, “To her
students, she was an admirable
counselor, and to all, a friend.”
Students Recognized
On May Honors Day