Greenville University to honor alumni and athletes at homecoming 2023
Published: May 03, 2023
Greenville University announced this week the recipients of its 2023 Alumni Awards and inductees into its Athletic Hall of Fame.
Honored alumni include:
Athletic Hall of Fame inductees include:
- Robert Aguilar ’02 (football)
- Bryson Taylor ’07 (football, men’s basketball, and men’s track and field)
- JaMecia McCall ’08 (women’s track and field)
- The 1989 men's tennis team
The University will formally recognize the awardees this October at The Homecoming Honors Banquet. A new event last autumn, the Homecoming Honors Banquet is a combination of two traditional dinners– the Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet and the Alumni Dinner – and will be when we honor our award recipients, Hall of Fame inductees, and welcome the Class of 1973 into the Wilson T. Hogue Society.
CHARACTER, SERVICE, AND DEVOTION TO JESUS CHRIST
Distinguished Alumnus David Goodnight reflects Greenville University’s mission of Christ-like character and service wherever he goes . . .
- Leading others through business litigation;
- Leading also in Christian higher education as a trustee of Asbury Theological Seminary and helping to launch Immanuel University in India.
- Ministering through his local church as a lay leader and in various denominational positions with the Free Methodist Church.
- Chairing Sister Connection, a 501(3)(c) that helps widows of the Burundian genocide.
Super Lawyers painted this word picture to describe him: “David Goodnight’s client list ranges from Amazon to Monsanto to a Napa Valley vineyard—and in his spare time, the Stoel Rives litigator helps Burundian widows rebuild their lives.”
It’s a fitting description for the man one nominator described as exemplifying James 1:27 — practicing religion that is “pure and undefiled” and helping “orphans and widows . . .”
Outstanding Young Alumna Lindsay Burton hit the ground running right out of college as a junior high school math teacher and coach with Dieterich Unit 30 Schools. Since taking the position, she
- initiated and led the junior high’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes,
- earned recognition as Girls Junior High Coach of the Year by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association, and
- received honors as Outstanding Beginning Teacher by the Illinois Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.
Stories from Burton’s students and their parents attest to Lindsay’s Christ-like character and heart for serving others: Lindsay stepping up to temporarily foster a 13-year-old steeped in crisis. Lindsay initiating “Thankful Thursdays” among her students. Lindsay leading Bible studies, bringing students to church, and participating in their baptisms.
As one of her former students said, “Not a single person I know loves harder than Lindsay Burton . . . she imprinted on me the best image in years when I needed it.”
Dr. Gene A. Kamp Loyalty Awardee Kent Krober is an unabashed fan of his alma mater and the students who pass through its doors. His heart for GU shines just as bright as the vivid GU-orange blazer he’s been known to wear for alumni and athletic events. His applause and good words for students have remained true and unfailing for more than 40 years. Though Krober faithfully answered God’s call to serve in positions away from Greenville (teaching and coaching in schools and fundraising for the University of Missouri-St. Louis), he also said “yes” when God brought him back to campus to serve wherever service was needed:
- Directing its Office of Admissions,
- Coaching men’s basketball,
- Directing alumni relations,
- Directing Panther athletics, and
- Directing major and planned giving for GU’s Office of Advancement.
Even today, students can see Krober’s friendly face at all-campus worship known as The Wednesday Experience, and alumni enjoy his campus tours. Even in retirement, he keeps busy assisting with GU’s athletic complex campaign. As one nominator suggested, you might say Krober bleeds GU orange.
Briner Salt and Light Awardee Carol Langley leveraged her professional expertise and experiences as an educator and administrator to bring a vision God gave her to life — a ranch focused on emotional healing and wellness. Victory Reigns Ranch is a faith-based equine-assisted ministry in Cherry Valley, Illinois.
Bob Briner, the namesake of the Briner award, proclaimed the need for Christ-followers to boldly take the gospel to the secular world through their professions. Langley exemplifies many of Bob Briner’s urgings.
- Briner was an entrepreneur; she is an entrepreneur.
- He believed in showing up as the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to others; she does the same.
- He believed you can’t offer the gospel to people if you don’t meet them in the marketplace; she exemplifies meeting people where they’re at, in their broken and hurting places.
Victory Reigns Ranch is “a place where The Holy Spirit and the horse come together to provide healing to the broken hearted and peace through God's grace.” Carol Langley is the faith-filled Christ-follower behind that unique ministry, who said, “Yes, I’ll go where you lead.”
CELEBRATING PANTHER GREATS: ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Robert Aguilar ’02 played Panther football for four years under head coach Rob Harley. His successful first season as an offensive lineman led to honors in the Illini Badger Football Conference and St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference all-conference teams. He moved to the defensive side of the ball as a linebacker in 1999 and led the team in tackles for three seasons. A first team all-conference linebacker for three seasons, Aguilar ranked second among the NCAA leaders with 16.5 tackles per game in 2000 and earned the NCCAA Linebacker of the Year Award during his team's 2000 NCCAA Victory Bowl qualifying season.
Bryson Taylor ’07 lettered in three sports on the Greenville campus. He played football and basketball, but he dominated in the jumping events for the track and field program under Coach Brian Patton as a six-time NCAA All-American. He earned one All-American honor in the high jump and five in the triple jump, placing as high as second in the indoor triple jump in 2006. He departed Greenville as an eight-time NCCAA individual national champion and established program records in the indoor and outdoor triple jump and the high jump while his teams won three indoor and four outdoor NCCAA national championships.
JaMecia McCall ’08 stood out in track and field as a sprinter and jumper for head coach Brian Patton. She collected two NCAA All-American awards in the indoor long jump, taking fifth in 2007 and eighth in 2008. She participated in five NCAA national championship meets and qualified for the national championships in eight events over four years. Her most notable success came in the long jump with five entries in the national championships. McCall also participated in the outdoor 4x100 meter relay and outdoor 200-meter dash. She set school records in the indoor and outdoor 4x400 meter relay.
The 1989 men’s tennis team was GU’s first men’s team to qualify for the NAIA national championship. Led by NAIA District 20 Coach of the Year Rick Stephens, the team won the NAIA district championship, collected an overall record of 32-6, and took two other tournaments, including Greenville’s John Strahl Invitational and the Illinois College-MacMurray Invitational. The Panthers earned a second-place finish at the Prairie College Conference championship by one point. The team featured two NAIA District championship doubles teams and four singles winners. The team had two conference champion doubles teams and individual conference champions in singles.
Selection for Greenville University Alumni Awards and Athletic Hall of Fame inductees is based on a formal nomination and review process. Go here to view information about nominating honored alumni. Go here to view guidelines for nominating Hall of Fame inductees.
