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JACKSON, Tenn. — Oct. 29, 2021 — ������̳ will celebrate Homecoming 2021 Nov. 1-6 with the theme “Faithful and Loyal May We Ever Be.”

On Nov. 2, students, staff and faculty will participate in Campus and Community Day, a day of service projects in the Jackson community. On Nov. 5, Union’s Student Activities Council will host its annual Homecoming Hullabaloo with a special concert from Jordy Searcy.

Homecoming festivities will conclude on Nov. 6 with the Buster Bowl, a student and faculty flag football game, and with the presentation of Mr. and Ms. Union during the halftime of the men’s basketball game.

On Nov. 5, Union will recognize 18 alumni and friends of the university for outstanding achievements in their respective fields at the Meritorious Service Awards Banquet in the Carl Grant Events Center.

This year’s winners include:

• Aubrey M. “Roe” Neal (‘55), Alumnus of the Year Award. This award is presented to a Union graduate for distinction in his or her profession, service to mankind and/or contribution to ������̳. Neal served as a Navy chaplain for 25 years, including serving on an elite assignment for President Lyndon Johnson’s presidential ship. After retirement, Neal pastored churches for 26 years.
• Gray Coyner (’08), Outstanding Young Alumnus Award. This award is presented to up to three Union graduates who are age 40 or younger with a record of significant accomplishment in their professional life and for service to ������̳ or the world. Coyner has worked for Thompson Greenspon, a Northern Virginia accounting firm, since 2007 and currently serves as the construction niche group leader.
• Melissa Kay Lowe (’07), Outstanding Young Alumna Award.
• Danny Sinquefield, Distinguished Service Award. This award is given to a member of the Union community for distinction in his or her profession, service to mankind and/or contribution to ������̳. Sinquefield has served as the senior pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Bartlett, Tenn., since 1994, and he previously served as a member of the Southern Baptist Executive Committee and as a trustee of ������̳.
• The Robert and Martha Jelks Family, Union Family Legacy Award. This award is presented to one family that has a strong tradition of attending ������̳, with a minimum of three generations of graduates, and that has been consistently involved with and committed to the university. The Jelks family’s legacy at ������̳ began in 1936 and extends 85 years and four generations.
• Commander George Ed Fullerton Jr. (’52), Lest We Forget Award. This award is presented in recognition of longtime service and contributions to the ������̳ community.
• Mark Campbell (’96), G.M. Savage Legacy Award. This award is given to a faculty or staff member for his or her ongoing commitment to Christ-centered education at Union. Campbell has served as the head coach of the women’s basketball team since 1999. In 2018, he made college basketball history, winning his 600th career game faster than any coach in the history of the sport at any level. In 2019, Campbell was selected as the head coach for the USA U16 Women’s Basketball National Team, winning a gold medal in the American’s Championship Tournament, and was elected to the NAIA Hall of Fame.

In addition, Union will present Distinguished Achievement Awards to 10 Union alumni for significant contributions in different professional areas. Those recipients are:

• Catherine Scarbrough (’00) in health care. Scarbrough is the associate program director for the Gadsden Regional Family Medicine Residency Program in Gadsden, Ala., and the assistant professor of family medicine for the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine.
• Matthew Bleecker (’93) in business. Bleecker serves as the director of payment optimization and strategy at BMO Harris Bank.
• Jonathan Kee (’04, ’10, ’11) in education. He has spent the last 16 years in the Huntingdon Special School District and serves on the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association (TSSAA) Legislative Council. He was named the 2021 West Tennessee Principal of the Year.
• Thomas Willis (’12) in arts/media. Willis served at the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberties Council and the NHL’s Nashville Predators before joining EMF and Air 1 (the home of K-LOVE radio station) as the director of digital content.
• Ricky Clark (’79) in church ministry. Clark has served in the local church as a minister of music throughout the United States for over 40 years.
• Rebecca Wilkes (’96) in research/sciences. She currently serves at the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue University and is an associate professor in comparative pathobiology. Wilkes is the 2021 recipient of the Purdue Veterinary Medicine Award for Excellence in Service.
• Carma Dennis McGee (’93) in government/public service. McGee serves as a judge of the Tennessee Court of Appeals and was named Hardin County Woman of the Year in 2019.
• Tim Henderson (’86) in humanities. Henderson is the executive director of Humanities Tennessee, seeking to foster community and civility throughout the state.
• Micky Wolfe (’99) in athletics. Micky is the director of golf operation at The Huntsville Country Club. In 2007, he was awarded the Dixie PGA Section President’s Plaque for outstanding contributions to golf.
• Stephanie Laffoon (’99) in not-for-profit. Laffoon currently serves as capital campaign manager for the Dream Center of Jackson, Tenn.

For a complete schedule of Union Homecoming 2021, visit .