Outstanding student academic performance and faculty achievement in scholarship, research, and ministry were recognized by New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in the annual Celebration of Excellence event that marks the end of the academic year.
The awards were announced online in lieu of a ceremony in Leavell Chapel due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Three faculty members received the Marvin Jones Award for Excellence, named for Louisiana minister of education, church planter and former faculty member Marvin Jones. The award honors service in three areas. The Outstanding Classroom Teacher award was presented to Jeff Riley, professor of ethics. David Lema, associate professor of theology and missions at the NOBTS Center for the Americas in Miami, received the Outstanding Faculty Churchman Award, and Bill Day, distinguished research professor of Evangelism and Church Health, was honored with the Outstanding Research Professor award.
The Outstanding Student Awards presented by publishing houses included these recipients: Mary Unsworth, Zondervan Hebrew Award; Bryan Shuler, Zondervan Theology Award; John Baker, Broadman & Holman Seminarian Award; and Anthony Thibodeaux, LifeWay Pastoral Leadership Award.
Other Outstanding Student Award recipients were: Ashley Roberts, Baptist Association of Christian Educators Award in Christian Education; Brandon Foottit, C. C. Randall Award in Evangelism; Noah Madden, David and Sue Meacham Award for Outstanding Church Planting Student; Tarin Madden, James A. Headrick Award for Excellence in Christian Counseling; Mary Unsworth, Daniel H. Holcomb Christian History Award; Nicolas Holder, Outstanding Student Award in Christian Thought; and Erika Spengler, Excellence in Missional Living Award.
The Jack and Juanita Cunningham Scholarship Fund for Holy Land Travel was awarded to six students: Bryan Schuler, Zach Miller, Augustine Hui, Noah Madden, Linda Littlefield, and Obbie Todd.
Receiving the Robert S. Magee Doctoral Scholar award were Lindsay Holder and Eric Reeves. This award is granted for academic excellence and scholarly potential.
Outstanding Student Award recipients in the degree programs were: Will Spivey, Master of Divinity; Austin Mason, Master of Divinity in Discipleship and Ministry Leadership; Mary Helen Driver, Master of Arts in Christian Education; Jonathan Statham, Master of Music in Church Music; Kreig Todd, Baccalaureate Program; and Kevin Goodman, Associate Program.
