Wilson County Students Receive Awards at Mount Olive College

MOUNT OLIVE- Several Wilson County students were recognized for their achievements at University of Mount Olive’s Annual Awards Ceremony.  Among those receiving awards were:

Brian Parnell of Lucama received The Dr. Thomas R. Morris for Academic Excellence.  Parnell, a senior business administration major, is the son of Keith and Amanda Parnell.

The Dr. Thomas R. Morris Award for Academic Excellence is a $3,000 award presented to the baccalaureate graduate with a minimum 3.7 grade point average who is a full-time student and leader in extracurricular activities.  This is a nominated student that best exemplifies serious academic pursuit and love and breadth of learning. The award is given by Dr. Thomas R. Morris, retired optometrist of Wilmington, North Carolina.  Parnell was also recognized as being an Honor’s Program graduate.

Kayla Pridgen of Wilson received the FWB Ministerial Award.  Pridgen, a senior religion major, is the daughter of Carl and Melinda Pridgen.  The Free Will Baptist Ministerial Award is a scholarship given by the North Carolina Ministerial Association of Original Free Will Baptists to an outstanding returning Free Will Baptist student who has demonstrated potential for excellence in the Christian ministry. The student is selected by a committee designated by the Ministerial Association.

Kelly Minshew of Stantonsburg received the Outstanding Recreation/Leisure Studies Major Award.  Minshew, a senior RLS exercise science major, is the daughter of Mike and Terry Minshew.  Minshew was also recognized as being an Honor’s Program graduate.

University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The College, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Goldsboro, Research Triangle Park, Washington and Jacksonville.  For more information, visit www.moc.edu.