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2008 Alumni awards
Making an impact
During Homecoming 2008’s Black & Gold Banquet, Harding University will honor a select group of individuals who are making an impact in their communities and around the world. The alumni selected were chosen for their degree of excellence and recognition in their fields; lives consistent with University ideals; active support of the University; and service to their community, church and God.
Distinguished Alumni
Shelter Island , N.Y., residents Cliff (’67) and Tish Larkins (’71) Clark are partners in the truest sense of the word. They own and run the South Ferry Co., which offers year-round service from Shelter Island to North Haven, N.Y., and together their community service has made a huge impact in the town of 2,500. Cliff is a former elite runner and coach who was a three-time All-American and national NAIA champion in track and field. He finished one spot away from qualifying for the 1972 Olympics in the steeplechase. For more than three decades, he has helped improve multiple high school running programs and mentored many high school and collegiate All-Americans. He serves on the board of Timothy Hill Children’s Ranch, was selected the 2002 Citizen of the Year by the Shelter Island Lions Club, and is co-founder of the Shelter Island 10K Run. Tish devotes much of her time to running the ferry business and working with many local organizations, including Girl Scouts. The Clarks, who have two grown daughters, are members of East Hampton Church of Christ, where Cliff serves as an elder.
Outstanding Young Alumni
Craig (’90) and Caryllee Parker (’91) Cheatham of Colorado Springs, Colo., are both known for excellence in their respective fields. Craig is currently president and CEO of The Realty Alliance, one of the largest real estate firms in North America, which serves more than 100,000 real estate practitioners. He has been named one of the “Top 100 Most Influential” individuals multiple times by industry press and has been a featured speaker on five continents. Caryllee is a former public relations specialist and communications manager for the Alabama Housing Finance Authority. Her communications projects have garnered multiple awards, including the National Council of State Housing Agencies’ Communications Award (1994, 1995 and 2000) and the Public Relations Council of Alabama’s Medallion Award (1992). Both Cheathams were recognized as “Top 40 Under 40” business leaders by the Montgomery Adviser, Craig in 2002 and Caryllee in 2004. They are members of Eastside Church of Christ and have a son and daughter.
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Humanities
Ginger Blackstone (’91) is a supervising producer for CNN in Atlanta. Her responsibilities include overseeing network programming, instructing executive and line producers, approving newscast rundowns, evaluating staff, monitoring potential for breaking news, approving correspondent scripts, and flagging sensitive or potentially litigious situations and information. She received a 2005 Peabody Award for CNN coverage of Hurricane Katrina and aftermath and a 2005 Columbia DuPont Award for CNN coverage of the South Asia Tsunami Disaster. She is a member of North Atlanta Church of Christ.
College of Bible and Religion
Landon Saunders (’68), of Norwich, Vt., is founder and president of Heartbeat, a nonprofit organization “dedicated to helping people fulfill the promise of human life by discovering the possibility that, despite circumstances, tragedy and suffering, they can have a life that loves to happen.” He considers the primary focus of his work to be the relationship between culture and religion. He is a frequent speaker who has brought fresh insight for dealing with life’s difficulties to millions via radio and has hosted “Feeling Good About Yourself” and “Life That Loves to Happen” seminars in more than 100 cities throughout North America. He worships with Norwich Church of Christ.
College of Business Administration
Little Rock, Ark., resident Steve Clary (’74) is owner and CEO of Clary Development Corp., where he is involved in the ownership, development, leasing, management and syndication of real estate having an aggregate value in excess of $600 million. He is also a founding partner in Clary Holdings, LLP and a founding member of Evest Group, LLC, both of which have venture capital investments in a number of different companies. He is a member of the Board of Trustees, University Builders Circle and President’s Council. He and his wife, Cindy Cannon (’74), have been members of Pleasant Valley Church of Christ since 1979. The Clarys have two grown daughters, both University graduates, and two grandchildren.
College of Education
Mike Lucas (’71) serves as program adviser of Educator Preparation for the Arkansas Department of Education, where one of his chief responsibilities includes reviewing and evaluating professional education programs in all state and independent colleges and universities throughout Arkansas. From 1993 to 2007, he directed Educator Preparation and Assessment for the Missouri Department of Education. He is a member of the Association of Teacher Educators, Phi Delta Kappa, and the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification and serves on the board of examiners for the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. He is married to Lynn Greenway (’70), with whom he has two grown children and three grandchildren. The couple are members of Windsong Church of Christ.
College of Nursing
Assistant Professor Susan Drinnen (’84) Kehl is a nurse educator at the Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing in Abilene, Texas. She coordinates clinical courses and teaches adult health nursing on different levels of the continuum for the consortium of Abilene Christian, Hardin-Simmons and McMurry universities. An advocate of health care missions, she has led many campaigns to such nations as Guatemala, Hungary and Uruguay and serves on the board of Hope Haven, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing resources for the homeless. She and her husband, Kevin (’84), are members of Highland Church of Christ and have a son and daughter.
College of Sciences
Reconstructive dentist Tim Hacker (’74) has practiced in Bartlett, Tenn., for 30 years, continually learning and implementing the latest advances and technology in his field. His professional memberships include the Tennessee Dental Association, American Dental Association and Academy of General Dentistry. He is an associate fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and also serves on its board of directors and as president of the Southern District. An avid artist, Hacker is past president of the Memphis/Germantown Art League. He was selected Bartlett’s favorite artist in 2000 and 2003. He is married to Tammie Skelton (’73), with whom he has two grown children and one grandson. The Hackers are members of Sycamore View Church of Christ.
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