Season Roundup

Mid-South Youth Camp welcomed a record 1,877 campers this summer for eight weeks of fun, friendship and spiritual growth. From hikes, arts and crafts, talent shows and slip-n-slide fun to cabin competitions, Bible classes and lights-out devos, campers made memories while growing in their faith alongside FHU student counselors and staff.

Horizons 2026 brought 7th-12th graders to the FHU campus for a week of Bible classes, devos, service projects and plenty of fun centered around this year’s theme, “Uncharted.” Between worship and service activities, campers filled the week with games, karaoke, Horizons Got Talent, a Mystery Dinner, pizza in the dorms and a Block Party in the Commons, while spending the week exploring how God transforms uncertainty into renewed strength and steadfast faith.

Equip Ministry Camp invested in the next generation of godly leaders, giving 29 young men an opportunity to deepen their understanding of God’s Word and develop practical skills for ministry. Through teaching, mentoring and hands-on lesson preparation, campers gained confidence to share their faith and serve others as they grow into the leaders God is calling them to be.

In July, the Freed-Hardeman family gathered in Nashville for an alumni reception during the annual Connect Conference, hosted by the Crieve Hall Church of Christ, enjoying an evening of fellowship with friends from across the FHU community. We’re grateful to have been part of a week filled with spiritual encouragement, inspiring classes, congregational singing and opportunities to celebrate the work God continues to do through His people.

The annual Golden Year Reunion welcomed alumni from the classes of 1976 and earlier back to campus for three days of fellowship and memories. This year’s gathering celebrated the “Spirit of ’76” and Freed-Hardeman’s first four-year graduating class, whose members helped mark an important milestone in the university’s history. Alumni reconnected with friends, revisited familiar places and celebrated the enduring bond they share with their alma mater.

Spring graduate Lily Simpson Amar earned a $2,000 national scholarship from Alpha Chi for undergraduate research examining how two anticancer drugs may work together to improve cancer treatment. Amar completed the 13-page research paper through FHU’s Undergraduate Research program before submitting it to Alpha Chi’s national scholarship competition ahead of beginning medical school.

Students interested in careers in healthcare and behavioral sciences gathered in the Brown-Kopel Business Center Aug. 22 for Pathways to Success, connecting with practitioners working in a variety of fields. Fifteen guest speakers, most of them FHU alumni, shared their educational journeys and career experiences in medicine, occupational therapy, dentistry, social work, play therapy and more.

FHU welcomed a record number of international students to campus this fall, with nearly 60 students representing more than 20 countries, including 13 new Lions. During an orientation gathering, students had the opportunity to get to know one another, learn more about the international student program and connect with the FHU community as they began the new school year.

FHU’s annual Missions Emphasis Days brought missionaries from around the world to campus Sept. 9-10, giving students opportunities to hear firsthand about the work of missions. Visiting missionaries Daniel Gaines, Benjamin Bruce, Lance Mosher, Wayne and Kristi Parker, and Jason and Devan Pierce shared their experiences serving in Tanzania, Mexico, New Zealand, Cyprus, Fiji and through Global Media Outreach, encouraging students to consider how they might become involved in missionary work.

Retired Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Page, a Chester County native, returned to West Tennessee Sept. 17 to speak with FHU students in observance of Constitution Day. Page shared stories about the Constitution, the nation’s founders and significant amendments before offering practical advice to students considering careers in law, drawing from his years of experience on the bench.