Every year, the Parkway Distinguished Professor Award, HLGU鈥檚 highest faculty award, is given by Parkway Baptist Church in St. Louis. This is the 32^nd year for the award. It is presented to an exceptional member of the HLGU faculty. Selection is based on outstanding professional and personal contributions to Christian education.

This year鈥檚 Parkway Distinguished Professor Award recipient is Dr. Miles Mullin. Dr. Mullin began at HLGU in 2015 as the Vice President for Academic Administration. He transitioned to Professor of Christian Studies and Religious History in February of 2020. He currently serves as the as the Director of the Center for Christian Worldview and is the HLGU Honors Program Director.

鈥淒r. Miles Mullin exemplifies what an HLGU professor is: scholar, professor, leader, servant. Mullin represents the best of Christian Higher Education,鈥� said Vice President of Academic Administration Dr. Robert Matz. 鈥淗e and his wife, Jenny, teach, mentor, and disciple students. His vision and implementation of the Colson Fellows program, which is directing our entire faculty towards the integration of Christian faith and learning, helps to shape our entire campus culture. HLGU is blessed to have a man of Mullin鈥檚 character as part of our faculty and this award is well-deserved.鈥�

Each year, the staff member of the year award is sponsored by Immanuel Baptist Church in Hannibal. Full-time staff members are nominated by their colleagues and confirmed by the Executive Cabinet. Criteria for nomination include exemplary performance in contractual duties, contributions to the University in time, effort, and creativity, and understanding and embodiment of 鈥淜nowledge for Service.鈥�

This year鈥檚 Immanuel Baptist Staff Member of the Year Award goes posthumously to Cary Lieurance. Cary began his employment at HLGU in the

library part-time before serving as the full time Director of Computer Services beginning in 1999. He served in this role until his death on April 2, 2022. Despite limited resources, natural disasters, and other obstacles, Cary kept HLGU running and progressing.

鈥淒uring Cary鈥檚 service to HLGU, he initiated much change for campus, including leading in two major database changes, networking campus, and designing a multitude of programs,鈥� said Vice President for Institutional Advancement Dr. Ray Carty. 鈥淐ary gave endless hours and commitment to 番茄社区 University.鈥�

Both HLGU award winners were honored during the May 2022 HLGU commencement ceremony.

On Sunday, March 27, 2022 Immanuel Baptist Church in Hannibal met in a special

called business meeting. At the church鈥檚 request, HLGU officials presented the school鈥檚 financial situation. In response, church leaders reviewed cash reserves and made a recommendation to immediately give $100,000 to the school.

For Immanuel Baptist, which runs around 170 on a typical Sunday, such a proposal was an act of faith. Only four years ago, Immanuel鈥檚 cash reserves were under $40,000. Yet as church members considered how the church has been provided for financially and the impact HLGU has in the community and throughout northeast Missouri, the need to act sacrificially became clear.

Pastor Anthony Schindler stated, 鈥淗LGU is vital to the Christian work occurring both in our church and throughout the state. Our hope is that God uses this gift to spark an outpouring of generosity from other churches and individuals to provide for HLGU, both for its immediate needs and for the next generation of Christian leaders it will train.鈥�

One-week prior, rural Edgewood Baptist Church outside Bowling Green, MO took a similar step of faith. Pastor Mark Albee brought HLGU鈥檚 financial plight to the attention of the church during a regular business meeting. As discussion proceeded, this small church kept increasing the amount they wanted to give.

鈥淚t started at $2,500, then $5,000, then $10,000,鈥� said Albee. 鈥淗LGU provides a great Christian liberal-arts education that helps students to develop a Christian worldview. Our members, many of whom have close connections to the school, recognize its incredible value to our community and our church. We want to provide for HLGU to keep its mission alive for a new generation of students.鈥�

Other churches giving or pledging large gifts to the school in the last two weeks include Waypoint Church in Harvester, Lynwood Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau, and First Baptist Church of Kearney.

HLGU leaders expressed gratitude for this support. Executive Vice President Robert Matz stated, 鈥淲e exist to serve the churches, to train future leaders across a wide variety of disciplines in a distinctively Christian environment that integrates Christian faith and learning. These gifts from churches from across the state speak to the value that Missouri Baptists see in institutions like HLGU. We greatly appreciate them and pray that God will multiply them beyond measure to allow us to continue providing the high-quality unapologetically Christian university education for which we have become known.鈥�