John Whitten Awarded The Hemphill Graduate Honor Award During Hardin-Simmons University Commencement

ABILENE, TX (05/23/2011)(readMedia)-- John Whitten, of Abilene, TX, was awarded the Hemphill Graduate Honor Award during spring commencement ceremonies held this month at Hardin-Simmons University.

The Hemphill Graduate Honor Award is presented by the Graduate School to recognize the graduate who has excelled in academic studies, possesses character and behavior consistent with the university's purpose, and exhibits potential for significant contribution to his or her chosen field.

The award was endowed by Dr. Lee Hemphill and Mrs. Lunelle Nix Hemphill. Dr. Hemphill served Hardin-Simmons for many years as vice president of development. The award is presented each year at the May commencement and includes a plaque and cash award.

This year's Hemphill Award goes to a student who completed an undergraduate degree in business at HSU in 2007, during which time he was elected as Homecoming King and Outstanding Management Student.

As a Master of Divinity student at Logsdon Seminary, Whitten has established a superb academic record and has been a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Leadership Scholar.

In addition to outstanding achievement in the classroom, Whitten has been actively involved in a wide variety of ministries. He has led or participated in numerous mission trips, including service in the Rio Grande Valley and disaster relief in Haiti.

For four years, Whitten has served as the minister to college students at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church. He has been effective and exemplary in his pastoral responsibilities as co-leader of The Gathering, a contemporary worship service at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church. The Gathering is one of the most innovative worship services in Abilene, and with his leadership, it has gone from about 25 to 250-350 worshippers on any given Sunday.

Whitten is married to Elya Hope Whitten, and he is the son of Mark and Ginni Whitten of Spring, Texas.