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Castleberrys- Mitchell- Hiland honored at Homecoming

December 15, 2017

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Conway, Ark. (Jan. 11, 2018) Central Baptist College will host an Alumni Luncheon as part of the Annual Homecoming festivities on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 11:15 am in the CBC Dining Hall. The luncheon will have an awards ceremony where CBC will recognize the recipients of the Distinguished Alumnus Award, Tom Mitchell; the Young Alumnus Award, Stephen and Ashley Castleberry; and the Mustang Community Impact Award, Cody Hiland. The Distinguished Alumnus Award is presented to an individual who has served their community for more than 20 years. This individual demonstrates a legacy of service, and continues to serve in a multitude of ways that demonstrate interest in CBC. We are pleased to announce that this year's recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award is Tom Mitchell. Tom attended CBC from 1964-66 and took extension classes from 1974-75. He was a part of the first group to ever live in Williams Hall for a full semester. During his time at CBC, in Room 217 of Williams Hall, Mitchell surrendered his life to the ministry. It was at CBC that Mitchell met his wife, Karen Mitchell (he likes to joke that he married a Mitchell) and the two married in 1968. After CBC, Mitchell served in the United States Army. Over his 53 years in the ministry, Tom has pastored five churches. He now serves in a part-time capacity as the Assistant Executive Director of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. Additionally, Tom has organized and directed 156 charitable golf tournaments, including the CBC Mustang Classic. Karen and Tom are parents to two children: Keri and Cory, and are the proud grandparents to five: Max, Mallory, Sullivan, Brittany, and Chloe. In January, they will become great grandparents. The Outstanding Young Alumnus is awarded to an individual who has been instrumental in the advancement of their chosen profession primarily within the last few years. This individual demonstrates the love of service within the community and continues to show interest in CBC. This year's recipient of the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award is presented to Stephen and Ashley Castleberry. Stephen graduated from CBC in 2008 with a BA in Bible and Ashley attended CBC from 2005-2007, earning her AA in Science. Since leaving CBC both Stephen and Ashley have worked tirelessly to not only better themselves, but also their community. The Castleberry's are currently enjoying life with their one year old son, Luke, and living in Texas as a part of a church planting team for Antioch Georgetown. The Mustang Community Impact Award is given to an individual who goes above and beyond to serve their community. They are a Mustang through and through, and carry the values of CBC into the community. We are proud to announce that this year's recipient of the Mustang Community Impact Award will be presented to Cody Hiland Cody attended CBC from 1990-92 and again from 1994-95. 


He then went on to earn his bachelor's degree from UCA and his JD from the Bowen School of Law at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock. He has served as a legislative and legal aide to former Governor Mike Huckabee, program director for the Arkansas Transitional Employment Board and has been employed by the Arkansas Public Service Commission. He served as a partner at the Hiland, Thomas and Cox law firm before being elected as the 20th district prosecuting attorney in 2010 and won re-election to that post in 2014. He was appointed by President Donald Trump to serve as the United States Attorney for Eastern Arkansas in August of 2017 and was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate in October of 2017. He is married to Jana and they have four children: Claire, Caitlyn, John Reagan and Ethan. The Hilands are members of Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock. Tickets are $11 for adults, $5 for kids and children 2-12 are free. For more information on CBC homecoming, visit cbc.edu/homecoming or contact Deanna Ott at 501-205-8838 or dott@cbc.edu.



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