Remember our students

• Special offering on Nov. 26
  
• Updates on colleges and Wesley Foundations
  

United Methodist Student Day comes once a year, but Holston Conference has three colleges and five Wesley Foundations that bless students all year long.

On Nov. 26, Holston congregations will join the denomination in taking a special offering for United Methodist Student Day. Funds from this offering enabled the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) to award 3,000 scholarships and loans to United Methodist students in 2006. Fifty-six were awarded to students in Holston Conference.

In 2005, Holston's then-915 churches gave a total of $5,541 to United Methodist Student Day. Scholarships awarded to Holston students from GBHEM in 2006 totaled $60,354.

To order free resources for observing United Methodist Student Day, call toll-free (888) 346-3862 or visit www.umcgiving.org.

In early 2007, The Call will present two special issues dedicated to higher education in Holston Conference. In the meantime, the conference colleges and Wesley Foundations offer these updates:

Hiwassee College
MADISONVILLE, Tenn. - Hiwassee College has announced a fall enrollment of 444 students, a 15 percent increase from fall 2005. "The numbers are excellent," said President Jim Noseworthy. "The enrollment is 24 students greater than our goal." This year's enrollment is the highest since 1999. Two-thirds of the full-time students are living on campus this fall. The enrollment increase is the result of efforts by the admissions and financial aid staff, Noseworthy said. "Faculty and staff did their part in advising, counseling, registering, and welcoming students. It was a team effort." Visit www.hiwassee.edu.

Tennessee Wesleyan College
ATHENS, Tenn. - On Oct. 14, Tennessee Wesleyan College broke ground for a new $6.2 million apartment-style residence hall. The 102-bed building will be ready for occupancy by fall 2007. "This is a dream come true for the students and a dream come true for the college," said President Stephen Condon. This fall, Tennessee Wesleyan celebrated a record enrollment of 881 students, the largest since 1966, when 878 enrolled. Centennial Hall is currently being renovated, with completion scheduled for spring 2007. Visit www.twcnet.edu.

Emory & Henry College
EMORY, Va. - On Nov. 8, Emory & Henry announced plans for major renovations to historic Byars Hall and Wiley Hall. The combined cost would run close to $10 million and will begin with the Byars Hall renovation in summer 2007. "These projects are only a step toward the great dreams we have for Emory & Henry," said the college's new president, Rosalind Reichard. In August, Emory & Henry was praised by the bestselling book, "Colleges That Change Lives" as a "national asset." E&H's enrollment this fall was 1,051 - the college's third highest enrollment ever. Visit www.ehc.edu.

Wesley Foundation – University of Virginia College at Wise
WISE, Va. - On Thursday nights, students from the Wesley Foundation gather at the football field - "under the goalposts" - until the football team finishes practice, says WF Director Beth Tipton. Football players are then invited to stay on the field for a 15-minute devotion. "One Thursday night this fall, 16 young men came forward and made decisions for Christ," Tipton reports. "The decisions ranged from re-dedications to feeling a call to ministry, but what an accomplishment." Visit http://people.uvawise. edu/wesleyfoundation.

Wesley Foundation – Radford University
RADFORD, Va. - "Our students are aware that many high school students do not know about campus ministry or the Wesley Foundation," says WF Director Martee Buchanan. So on March 3, 2007, youth groups from the Wytheville District are invited to join the Radford WF for a Potato Drop. A tractor-trailer from the Society of St. Andrew will "drop" 45,000 pounds of potatoes for students to bag and distribute. The Radford- Floyd Cluster has already made a donation and Wesley Foundation students have already raised $1,800 to help with the cost of the potatoes, Buchanan says. Call (540) 639-4415 for more information. Visit http:// www.radford.edu/~weslyfdn.

Wesley Foundation – East Tennessee State University
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - The Wesley Foundation recently joined with ETSU's Baptist College Ministry for "the best worship service we've ever had," says WF Director Jerry Everley. Ninety students gathered to hear a testimony from a soldier recently returned from Iraq and to share Holy Communion. The students also took an offering for a communications class project to restore a women's radio station that was bombed in Iraq. Two students - one Baptist, one United Methodist - are students in the communications class. For more information, call (423) 929-2121.

Wesley Foundation – University of Tennessee, Knoxville
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - In September, eight students from UTK's Wesley Foundation participated in a conference young adult retreat held at Camp Wesley Woods. The S.O.A.R. retreat (Seeking Out a Reality) was a semester highlight for these students, according to WF Director David Jackson. Other than the message delivered by speaker Bill Lizor, students enjoyed Friday night karaoke and a Saturday Cade's Cove race. "This was a wonderful time for our students to get away for the weekend, renew spiritually, and grow closer." Visit http://web.utk.edu/~wesfound.

Wesley Foundation – University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The students spent fall break at Epworth by the Sea on St. Simons Island, Ga., WF Director Keith Moore reports. The subject for the retreat was "arts in worship," with workshops led by retired clergy member, the Rev. Ashley Calhoun, and Deanna Prather of St. Johns UMC, Chattanooga District. In addition to creating an altar cloth now being used at Wesley Foundation, the students worked on their drama skills. Visit http://www.wesleyutc.com.

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