The Tennessee Bible College Class of 2011, along with TBC faculty members, are, sitting, from left, David Hill, president; Malcolm Hill, chancellor; and, standing, Kerry Duke, dean; Paul Wilmoth, B.R.E. graduate; Joshua Brown, B.R.E. graduate; Greg Ausler, two-year diploma recipient; James Ramsey, Christian Service Award recipient and honorary member of the TBC Class of 2011; and Glenn B. Ramsey, vice president. Also earning the B.R.E. degree was TBC Online College student James McDonald of Krum, Texas, who was unable to attend the TBC graduation ceremony, which was June 10.
The accolades have been bestowed and tassels turned to the left.
The Tennessee Bible College Class of 2011 has emerged.
Graduates, who were honored during commencement exercises on June 10, include Joshua Brown of Bowling Green, Ky., Paul Wilmoth of Sparta and James McDonald of Krum, Texas, who each earned a bachelor’s degree in religious education, and Gregory Ausler of Little Rock, Ark., who received a two-year preaching diploma.
Also recognized was James Ramsey, an elder at Burristown Church of Christ in Jackson County, who received the Christian Service Award, making him an honorary member of the TBC Class of 2011.
“Graduation is the highlight of our year,” said TBC President David Hill. “It marks the successful completion of an individual’s work, so that’s always a thrill.”
Hill spoke highly of this year’s graduates.
• “Josh Brown came to us four years ago from Bowling Green, Ky., and has done really good work. He’s a good student, and I believe he’ll be a fine worker in the church.”
• “Paul Wilmoth, who graduated at age 67, is first-class in every way. He has a lot of history with TBC – he was in some of the very first classes when it was a night school in the mid-1970s. He has continued taking courses through the years and this year was within striking distance of getting his undergraduate degree. So he set his mind to finishing, and I couldn’t be happier for him.”
• “James McDonald graduated through our Online Campus. He’s a good example of what the online program is about because he would never have been able to come to our campus. But through the online studies, he was able to earn a college degree, and he did that from his home in Texas.”
• “Greg Ausler is another graduate of our Online Campus. He had come to Cookeville to visit and talked with our chancellor, Malcolm Hill. From that visit, he went home to Little Rock, Ark., and determined that he was going to enroll at TBC. He has worked with the church in different areas and has training in counseling work, but he wanted to get a Bible degree so he could be a preacher.”
• “James Ramsey, who received the Christian Service Award, has served as an elder at Burristown Church of Christ in Jackson County for 27 years. The TBC faculty felt him worthy of this honor because of his years of service and the way he’s appreciated in that community for his dedication to the church. He’s a hardworking man, loves the gospel of Jesus Christ and loves gospel preachers. He makes an excellent addition to the Class of 2011.”
Hill added, “This ceremony was a great way to end our spring quarter at TBC, and we’re thankful for each graduate. We wish them the very best and will help them in every way we can.”
Tennessee Bible College, located at 1616 McCulley Road in Cookeville, was founded in 1975 and is authorized by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to confer a bachelor’s degree in religious education, master’s and doctorate degrees in theology, and a two-year preaching diploma. TBC also offers an Online College for those unable to attend class on campus.