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Community News
Faulkner University Family Volunteers at Mercy House for Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
Faulkner students and staff help Mercy House workers organize kitchen
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More than 100 Faulkner student, faculty and staff volunteers spent their Martin Luther King Jr. holiday serving the community and helping a local ministry, Mercy House, on Monday, January 18.
Mercy House, a local, nonprofit outreach ministry, has been serving the needs of Montgomery’s homeless, poor, and unemployed for 16 years. Mercy House is a daytime shelter for the homeless that provides a safe place for people to receive hot meals, wash and dry their clothes and find proper attire for job interviews and school. It also provides the use of bathrooms and showers, a library and computers with Wi-Fi and printers for homework and job searches.
Their mission is to honor God by helping knock down barriers that cause generational poverty.
Faulkner University Vice President of Student Services Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson said serving Mercy House to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday was a blessing.
Because of COVID-19, Faulkner’s annual Devoted 24/7 week of service, regularly held in the fall semester, was canceled and moved to the spring. Thompson and Mercy House Executive Director Ken Austin collaborated on ways for the Faulkner family to serve its community safely.
“During this time of COVID, it certainly is important for us to be careful, but we still have to live and people still have needs,” Thompson said. “I had a conversation with Ken Austin and his director of operations, Madison Darling, and I asked about serving. Ken said needs don’t go away. We just have to be creative and find ways to do it that are safe.”
Faulkner volunteers helped serve and prepare food, pick up trash, clean neighborhood homes, organize the Mercy House library and worked on landscaping one of the Mercy House’s neighborhood homes in west Montgomery.
About midday, another group of Faulkner volunteers across town paused their work organizing and cleaning to participate in a special ribbon-cutting ceremony at Mercy House’s newest location on East Delano Avenue, the former WSFA-TV building. About ten months ago, WSFA moved into its current location on Dexter Avenue and donated the East Delano building to Austin. He accepted and began plans to transform the building into Ministry About People (MAP).
The Faulkner University Chorus sang at the event where many people from the community, including community and religious leaders, Faulkner President Dr. Mike Williams and his family, representatives from Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed’s office, Montgomery County Commission Chairman Elton Dean, former Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange and others came out to show their support of Austin and his vision.
“At Faulkner University, we can think of no better way to honor the legacy of Dr. King than by serving today with our faculty, staff and students at Mercy House,” Williams said.
Faulkner University Chorus
l-r Todd Gentry, Brandt Jean and Dr. Mike Williams
One Hug Showed the Entire World How to Forgive
Faulkner students, staff and faculty had a chance to hear a story of forgiveness that made national headlines following the shooting death of Botham Jean in his Texas apartment in 2018.
Todd Gentry, the campus minister at the College Church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas spoke in chapel on February 22 while Brandt Jean, Botham’s younger brother, shared his story the next day.
Gentry and his wife Debbie served as Botham’s American parents during his time as a student at Harding University. Botham would later serve as Gentry’s intern and as the worship leader at their church. Botham was 26 years old and working as an accountant when he was shot and killed by an off-duty police officer
“One of the things that has hurt us and continues to be very emotional for us is the loss of a student, Botham, who was like our son,” Gentry said. “Botham was a fun loving young man. We talked all the time and he confessed things to me and we went through life together.”
“What made Botham special was how much he valued other people’s lives,” Gentry added. “He believed people needed to be invested in and he believed people’s lives were important and so did his family … because of what happened, people have come to know who Jesus is.”
Brandt’s public display of forgiveness toward the officer convicted of Botham’s murder, shocked the world and the embrace he gave the officer after the trial has been called by many news outlets as “the hug heard around the world.”
On September 6, 2018, Botham got home early to get ready to watch a football game. He was sitting on his couch eating ice cream with the game on when an offduty officer entered his apartment and killed him.
Dallas Police Department patrol officer Amber Guyger was arrested days later and was initially charged with manslaughter. More than a year later on October 1, 2019, Guyger was found guilty of murder and received a sentence of ten years in prison.
It was in the courtroom following a year of legal proceedings when Brandt forgave Guyger. He said during chapel that he had politely refused to make any comments three times after the official court proceedings had ended. However, his grandmother took his hand and told him to think of Guyger’s soul. Up until then, Brandt was angry toward Guyger for the loss of his brother. He internalized what his grandmother said and took the stand. He spoke slowly as he gathered his thoughts. He wanted his words to convey to Guyger how much she needed Jesus Christ.
“I can speak for myself, I forgive you and I know if you go to God and ask Him, He will forgive you,” Brandt told Guyger. “I love you just like anyone else, and I’m not going to say I hope you rot and die just like my brother did, but I personally want the best for you. And I wasn’t going to ever say this in front of my family or anyone, but I don’t even want you to go to jail. I want the best for you. Because that’s exactly what Botham would want you to do and the best would be giving your life to Christ.”
He then asked the judge if he could hug Guyger. The judge consented and Brandt and Guyger embraced.
Renovations to Faulkner’s New College of Health Sciences Building are Underway
Crews with Marshall Design-Build LLC have been working since October 2020 to transform the former Burlington Coat Factory building into a space for Faulkner’s new college of health sciences.
On June 25 Faulkner University President Mike Williams announced the 13-acre purchase of the Montgomery East Plaza Shopping Center. The empty Burlington building is currently being renovated inside and out.
“The center of health science project is going nicely across the way and it looks like we are on track to complete the first phase of that project by mid-March 2021, with faculty and staff moving in shortly after that,” said Faulkner President Mike Williams. “We won’t have classes in that facility until the fall. Once we do, it will certainly be a positive new asset to the institution to help propel our center of health sciences.”
In the fall of 2020, crews began demolishing the interior floors and walls to create 85,000 square feet of empty space. They began laying down wiring and water lines in the floors, installing duct work overhead and electrical lighting. Then, metal framing for the walls was positioned to create a layout of the spaces to include a lobby, labs, research center, classrooms, offices and more. By the end of December, crew members were installing insulation and drywall for the walls.
Renovations will also include all new frontage and signage. Subsequent renovation will be completed in phases.
Soren A. Geiger
On December 9, 2020, Faulkner University’s Thomas Goode Jones School of Law announced the recipient of its 2019–2020 Most Outstanding First Year Student Award.
Every year, the Most Outstanding First Year Student Award is presented to a first-year student based upon their cumulative GPA, professional character, and contributions to Thomas Goode Jones School of Law and Faulkner University. It is presented in honor of John M. Patterson, former governor and attorney general of Alabama and retired judge of the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals.
This year’s recipient is Soren A. Geiger from Montgomery, Alabama. Mr. Geiger was on the dean’s list both semesters of his first year in law school and wrote multiple best papers in his classes. He is now an editor of the Faulkner Law Review, a dean’s fellow, and a member of the law school’s National Moot Court Competition team.
Geiger is a 2012 honors graduate of Hillsdale College in Michigan and a 2008 graduate of Eastwood Christian School in Montgomery. Prior to law school, he was a research assistant to Hillsdale College President Larry P. Arnn and the director of research for the official biography of Sir Winston S. Churchill.
“My first year of law school was both difficult and rewarding. It required me to work harder than I ever had before. It also confirmed for me that I have found my calling. The more I study the law, build relationships with my professors and colleagues, and observe the practice of the law beyond the walls of the school, the more I am eager to enter the fray myself as a licensed professional,” Geiger said.
“To have been recognized with this award is a great honor and a humbling experience. I am studying the law alongside some highly talented young men and women, who I am confident will go on to lead outstanding legal careers,” Geiger added. “The seriousness and focus with which they approach their legal education has pushed me to excel to the best of my ability. I am also grateful to my professors, whose passion for teaching the law made my first year an enjoyable, enriching, and exciting one.”
Elizabeth Carden, left, receives a check from business professor David Gregor
During Faulkner’s annual Marketplace Faith Friday Forums, the college of business announced business major Elizabeth Carden as the 2020-21 Dr. Mark Churchwell Entrepreneurship Award recipient.
Carden was formally presented with a check for $1,000. Fellow student Taylor Ammons was announced as the runner up and received a $500 scholarship.
The Dr. Mark Churchwell Entrepreneurship Award is an annual competitive award created as a way to honor Mark Churchwell, a long-time faculty member of the Harris College of Business, who died unexpectedly in May of 2017. The award is given annually in the spring term beginning in 2019. All full-time Faulkner University students are eligible to submit proposals for evaluation by a panel of entrepreneurs.
THOMAS GOODE JONES SCHOOL OF LAW
Faulkner University’s Thomas Goode Jones School of Law Named to The Princeton Review’s 2021 Best Law Schools List
Despite all that this year has brought with it, Thomas Goode Jones School of Law has kept the bar high for outstanding academics and has been featured on The Princeton Review’s prestigious list.
The Princeton Review’s rankings are widely considered the national gold standard for colleges and universities. Faulkner Law was also ranked 4th on The Princeton Review’s Most Competitive Students list as well as the Most Conservative Students ranking. In addition, Faulkner Law placed 6th on the Greatest Resources for Minority Students ranking.
Faulkner Women’s Basketball Collects 200th Win in Program History
Faulkner University Women’s Basketball team celebrated the program’s 200th win February 20, 2021, finishing the regular season on a high note with a 99-60 win over Florida College.
“We are so blessed to have had great players, coaches, and trainers in our program who have given their very
best for the sake of the team,” said Head Coach Reed Sutton. “I’m glad that we played today in a way that would honor all of those women who paved our path.”
“It was good to have MC (Bell) Mendoza in the crowd today. She was on our very first team and she got to celebrate the big milestone with us! Those relationships are what makes Faulkner Basketball special.”
During the historic game Faulkner hit 56 percent of its shots from the floor and made 15 threes at a 48 percent clip. The Lady Eagles assisted on 27 of 34 made baskets and won the rebounding battle 47-33.
“It was an awesome game today from our whole team,” Sutton said. “It is nice to see 27 assists on 34 baskets. We are an unselfish team and the ball found the shooter very well today. Our defensive and rebounding effort in the second half was really solid. That allowed us to extend the lead and get separation. We needed to get some momentum and confidence heading into the tournament and we found a rhythm today and accomplished that goal.”
The Eagles women’s basketball team began competing in the NAIA’s Southern States Athletics Conference in the 2010–2011 season.
Jacie Andrews, #22, takes a shot against Florida College
Eagles Take SSAC Crown and Rack Up Awards
On February 27 the Faulkner Men’s Basketball team won the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) Men’s Basketball Championship with a 67-64 win over No. 14 Stillman College. Garrett Sanderson played over two screens and contested Ladarius Carter’s game-tying attempt at the buzzer, sealing the championship.
Faulkner shot 42 percent from the field in the game and 35 percent from three. Jordan Hamlette finished with 21 points. Austin Rogers scored 17 with six rebounds. C. J. Williamson had 11 points, 12 rebounds and three assists.
The conference tournament championship is the first for Faulkner since the 2015-2016 season. The victory also saw Faulkner cutting down the nets exactly one year to the day after the Eagles did so following a win over Dalton State that clinched the 2019-2020 SSAC regular season crown.
Faulkner (25-2) moves on to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes (NAIA) National Tournament Opening Round. The NAIA named Faulkner University as one of eight host sites for the men’s event. Faulkner will play their opening round on their home court March 13 at 7:30 CT against the winner of the game between Warner (Fla.) and Tennessee Wesleyan.
The SSAC released the 2021 yearly awards, as voted on by the league’s head coaches and Faulkner racked up. Williamson was voted Co-Player of the Year, Hamlette was awarded Newcomer of the Year, and Head Coach Scott Sanderson was named Coach of the Year.
Ashlyn Adkins was recognized as the women’s basketball Co-Player of the Year.
