LWC 2019 Homecoming

Alumni Award Recipients and Hall of Fame Inductees



Six alumni and one longtime member of the LWC college faculty will be honored at the Alumni Awards and Athletic Hall of Fame Celebration and Banquet on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 11 a.m. CT in the Roberta D. Cranmer Dining & Conference Center.


Valerie Adams

Valerie Adams ’90 - Distinguished Alumna Award

Valerie Murrell Adams’ distinguished career with the U.S. federal government has spanned nearly 30 years. Since her graduation from LWC in 1990, she has served as a National Bank Examiner with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), an agency within the U.S. Department of Treasury. In 2013, Adams was promoted to the OCC’s Washington, D.C. headquarters’ Enterprise Governance unit and leads the supervision program. She also serves as an instructor for the OCC’s national Concentrations of Credit Risk and Retail Credit supervision schools.

Adams has received several national awards from the OCC. She was recognized for facilitating new flexible work policies for the Federal Women’s Network and Positive Work Environment groups -- helping the OCC recruit and retain women. During the Great Recession of 2008, Adams was instrumental in establishing and enforcing resolution actions for problem banks and led the effort to strengthen governance programs over bank supervision.

An Adair County native, Adams has a lifelong connection with Lindsey Wilson College. She served as assistant alumni director in the 1980s and later attended as a non-traditional student. In 2004, Adams and her husband, LWC Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management Dean Adams, established the Valerie Adams Non-Traditional Endowed Scholarship to provide financial assistance for female, non-traditional students.

Adams and her husband have been married for 44 years and enjoy spending time with their family. They have three children: Daniel (Ashley), Darren (Lori) and Devon Adams ’02 (Jimmy) Jett. They also have five grandchildren: Mason, Anderson, Ethan, Lilly and Paisley. The Adams are active members of Columbia Christian Church and faithful supporters of LWC athletics.


Josh Conner

Josh Conner ’04 - Outstanding Young Alumnus Award

Josh Conner came to LWC from his home state of Oregon to participate in the cycling program. Even though cycling was his introduction to the college, doors continued to open as Conner also excelled as a pitcher on the Blue Raider baseball team. He completed his bachelor’s degree in communication in 2004.

Conner began his career with Modern Woodmen right out of college and has risen through the ranks to become the Regional Director for the Middle Tennessee area. Conner has received several awards and recognitions during his 15-year career at Modern Woodmen including the District Development Award as a managing partner and the Legacy Builder Award as a regional director.

Community engagement is important to Modern Woodmen and tens of millions of dollars have been put back into the community under Conner’s leadership. Conner is also a faithful supporter of LWC, making the college the sole beneficiary of a $25,000 life insurance policy.

Conner currently lives in Mt. Juliet, Tenn. with his wife, Angela and three children: Lexie, Lily, and Easton. The family attends Bridge Fellowship Church in Lebanon, Tenn., and enjoys spending time outdoors. Conner has completed the Ironman Triathlon two times and plans to compete again in October.


Chris Wells

Chris Wells ’01 - Distinguished Service Award

As one of the most decorated sports information directors in the Mid-South Conference, Chris Wells’ dedication and passion for the college and industry he serves is unquestionable.

In his 18th year at Lindsey Wilson College, Wells serves as the assistant athletic director and sports information director while also directing the Mid-South Conference's communication efforts as the league's sports information director. Wells joined Blue Raider athletics in 2001 after spending two years as an assistant in the college's public relations department.

During his tenure at Lindsey Wilson, Wells has led the communication efforts for four men's soccer NAIA National Championships (2001, 2005, 2009 and 2011), four women's soccer national championships (2004, 2006, 2012 and 2014) and one women's volleyball national championship (2017). Wells also helped usher in four new athletic programs, leading the promotion and media requests of football, men's and women's swimming and wrestling in 2009, and recently archery in 2018.

Along with his responsibilities in sports information, Wells also acts as the "voice of Blue Raider athletics" providing radio, television, and webcast play-by-play for football, basketball and a number of the college's Olympic sports.

Wells has earned numerous awards from his peers in sports information, winning the MSC's Sports Information Director of the Year honor nine times. On the national level, Wells was named the 2016 NAIA Sports Information Director of the Year.

Wells was named the 2015 Clarence "Ike" Pearson recipient by the NAIA Sports Information Directors Association, a lifetime achievement award for outstanding contributions to the profession. He also became the 31st NAIA-SIDA President in 2019.

A native of Burkesville, Kentucky, Wells is married to the former Amy Thompson ’99 and has one daughter, Reilly and one son, Greyson. Wells and his family reside in Columbia.


SusanMinton

Susan Minton - Honorary Alumna Award

When Associate Professor of Communication Susan Minton stepped onto the Lindsey Wilson College A.P. White Campus in 1990, she knew she “had found home.”

As one of the longest-serving professors at LWC, Minton is a respected member of the LWC family. She attended Western Kentucky University and received bachelor's degrees in communication and theatre, and master's degrees in communication and education. She has served on several academic committees and councils at Lindsey Wilson, and currently serves as Communication Program Director.

Minton is the embodiment of the college mission and is an active member of the LWC community. She provides leadership and support to a number of student organizations and takes part in many campus events. In beloved Lindsey Wilson tradition, she leads students in a spirited chorus of It's Malvina Farkle Day, kicking off the campus-wide day of service each year.

Minton has received several awards and recognitions during her career including the Exemplary Teaching Award chosen by the General Board of Higher Education & Ministry of The United Methodist Church and the Lindsey Wilson College faculty. She has been listed several times in Who’s Who registry, including Who’s Who Among American Women, Who’s Who in College Faculty, and 2018 Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement.

A native of LaCenter, Ky., Minton resides in Columbia. She has two sons, Matt (Michelle) and Brandon (MacKenzie) and three grandchildren: Jaxon, Branson and Bryson. She attends Summershade United Methodist Church in Green County, Ky.


Amy Landkord Jones

Amy Lankford '99 Jones - Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee for Women's Basketball

Amy Lankford earned All Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletics Conference honors twice and All Mid-South Region honors once during her playing career. She helped lead Lindsey Wilson to the program's first-ever trip to the NAIA National Tournament during her senior season, ranking second on the team in scoring and rebounding.

Lankford ended her four-year career with 1,205 points, 664 rebounds, and 180 assists. She hit 43.9 percent of her shots while making 33.7 percent of her 3-pointers during her career.

Lankford ranks eighth in the program’s history in field goals made and rebounds. She is one of 13 women in the history of the program to score at least 1,000 career points.


Amy Landkord Jones

Ronyeld Shirley '02 - Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee for Women's Basketball

Ronyeld Shirley earned All Mid-South Conference accolades once during her playing career. She was the third-leading scorer and top rebounder on Lindsey Wilson’s first national tournament team.

Shirley ranks in the program’s top-10 in eight different statistical categories, including third in rebounding, fifth in block shots, and eighth in points. She concluded her career with 1,293 points, 896 rebounds, and 85 block shots.

Shirley ended her four-year career averaging over 10 points per game in her 126 career games while shooting 43 percent from the field.

Shirley is one of five women in the program’s history to eclipse 1,000 points and 800 rebounds for their careers.


Amy Landkord Jones

Chris Lashley ’92 - Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee for Baseball

Chris Lashley earned All Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletics Conference honors and All NAIA District 32 honors twice during his career.

Lashley ranks in the program’s top-10 in five statistical categories -- fifth in home runs, sixth in slugging percentage, seventh in RBIs and walks, and eighth in on-base percentage. In 1991, Lashley set the single-season program record with a .938 slugging percentage -- a record that still stands today.

During his four-year career, Lashley posted a .347 batting average with 41 home runs and 144 RBIs. He was dominant during his senior season, earning the team triple crown with a .416 batting average, 16 home runs, and 54 RBIs.


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