Homecoming 2019 Awards Announced

Can you believe 2019 is here? That means, CBC Homecoming is fast approaching. This year the Alumni Association has several events planned during the February 8-9 weekend. One of our highlights during homecoming is honoring several of our past alumni. The annual Alumni Luncheon will be held on Saturday, February 9, beginning at 11:30 am in the Dining Hall in the Mabee Student Services Complex. During the luncheon the recipients of the Distinguished Alumnus Award, the Young Alumnus Award, Mustang Community Impact Award, and the Mustang Ambassador of the Year Award will be honored. Tickets for this event are $25 for adults, $15 for kids 7-12 and children ages 6 and under are free. To purchase tickets online or for more information Visit cbc.edu/homecoming to purchase tickets and to see a full schedule of events. You may also contact Jessica Faulkner at (501) 205-8800 or jfaulkner@cbc.edu. Proceeds raised from the alumni luncheon will benefit the Kenneth Brown Scholarship Fund. 

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. 

This years Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient is Mrs. Judy Gabbard. Mrs. Gabbard graduated CBC in 1966 with her A.A. in General Education. She later obtained her B.S. and Master of Science degrees from the University of Central Arkansas. Mrs. Gabbard recently celebrated her 50th year of teaching at Central Baptist College. One of her favorite things about CBC are the people. I know that if I need help in any way or if I have a prayer request, help is only an email or phone call away. I love my students. I love to watch them grow and change over the four or so years I am able to interact with them. I love teaching biology from a Christian perspective because God is an awesome Creator. The details we barely scratch the surface studying testify to how brilliant & orderly He is! 

The Outstanding Young Alumnus is awarded to those who have been instrumental in the advancement of their chosen profession, primarily within the last few years. This recipient demonstrates the love of service within the community and continues to show interest in CBC. 

This years Outstanding Young Alumnus Award recipients are Andrew and Elizabeth Gunnels. Andrew graduated from CBC in 2009 with a B.A. degree, and Elizabeth graduated from CBC in 2008 with a B.S. degree. Since leaving CBC Andrew and Elizabeth have spent countless hours as House Parents for Soaring Wings Ranch. A lot of what we do is behavior management and life skills. Many of the kids who come out here have not had good parenting and need to be shown what it means to be part of a family who loves each other and works at serving each otherThe biggest job we have is to teach them about God through our actions, family devotionals, and church. Most of the kids have very little knowledge of what it means to be a Christian and we have been blessed to see 4 of our girls saved while at the Ranch We have been privileged to serve about 26 girls in our 3 years at the Ranch. Outside of Soaring Wings Ranch, they are enjoying life with their 4-year-old son Levi. Andrew and Elizabeth attend Antioch Baptist Church in Conway. The 

Mustang Community Impact Award is given to an individual who goes above and beyond to serve their community. They are Mustangs through and through and carry the values of CBC into the community. This years Mustang Community Impact Award recipient is Shannon Riner. Shannon graduated from CBC in 1993 with a A.A. degree. She then went on to the University of Central Arkansas and obtained her degree in early childhood education in 1995 and her masters in 2001. In 2005 she completed her National Board Certification in reading and language arts and in 2011 her Education Specialist from UALR. In 2016, she obtained a masters degree in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. Shannon has been in education for 24 years but her love for children started much earlier. I spent many summers baby-sitting and teaching Sunday School and bible school with my best friend, Misti Ward Weatherly. I still keep in touch with most of my former students and love to hear the wonderful things they are doing in their lives I am blessed to work in a career that is also my passion. Shannon and her husband Chris attend Antioch Baptist Church in Conway. 

The Mustang Ambassador of the Year is given to an individual who is a member of the Mustang Ambassador Program, a volunteer recruitment program which assists the Enrollment Management Division at Central Baptist College. 

This years Mustang Ambassador of the Year is Jerry Bowling. Jerry is a current military veteran in the Arkansas National Guard and a recent Central Baptist College PACE graduate. Jerry has been a tremendous help over the past few years with our military recruitment efforts, says Vice President for Enrollment Management Ryan Johnson. He is a proud graduate who believes in the PACE program and is always responsive to our requests to aid in the recruitment efforts.