Erskine Academic Hall of Fame announced

DUE WEST, S.C. (November 13, 2009) — Four Erskine College and Seminary alumni were inducted into the Academic Hall of Fame and David and Linda Chesnut of Decatur, Ga., were honored with the Chairman’s Award Friday evening during a banquet in the Founders Room of Moffatt Dining Hall.

Sponsored by the Erskine Board of Counselors, the banquet recognized graduates David Agnew ’88, Walter Bonner ’51, Ray King ’55 and Christie Bankes Mina ’91 for academic excellence, sacrificial support and dedicated service.

Board of Counselors Chairman Dr. Doug Bowling presided at the event, and Seminary Dean Dr. Robert Bell offered the invocation.

Erskine President Dr. Randall T. Ruble congratulated the honorees and greeted their families and guests. “I’m so glad we’re here tonight,” he said. “It’s wonderful to gather the Erskine community together to see old friends.”

The Erskine Board of Trustees established the Academic Hall of Fame in 1989. The names of inductees are engraved on a wall plaque in the lobby of Belk Hall.

“Tonight’s inductees have helped to make academic excellence and Christian commitment the hallmarks of Erskine College,” Vice President and Dean of the College Dr. Gid Alston said.

McDonald-Boswell Professor Emeritus of History Dr. James Gettys read the citation honoring Agnew, an E.B. Kennedy Scholar and H.M. Young Ring recipient who majored in English and history. Named a Truman Scholar, Agnew spent his junior year at Oxford University and went on to earn a master’s degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He now serves in the White House as Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, working as a liaison between the federal government and local governments. 

Agnew, who travels and speaks on behalf of President Obama, was unable to attend the banquet.

Professor Emerita of Education Zelda Oates read the citation honoring Bonner, a science major and member of Garnet Circle who went on to earn a degree in internal medicine from the Medical University of South Carolina. He was the first rheumatologist in South Carolina, and served as professor and mentor to many students. He practices medicine in McClellanville and is the author of Home in the Village and A Doctor’s Toughest Case.

Accepting the award with thanks, Bonner said, “It’s good to be back in Due West — we always like to come and check out the place.”

The Rev. Dr. Neely Gaston, executive vice president of Erskine Theological Seminary, read the citation honoring King, who served on the seminary faculty from 1962-2000. A graduate of both the college and seminary, King earned the master of theology degree from Austin Seminary and completed additional studies at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and Emory University. He has served numerous congregations in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, worked on committees of the General Synod, and served as moderator of the Catawba Presbytery. 

King expressed his gratitude and said that Ruble, who served as a professor and later dean of the seminary, “helped shape my life and keep me somewhat out of trouble.”

Professor Emerita of Biology Dr. Jan Haldeman, assisted by Professor of Biology Dr. Mary Lang Edwards, read the citation honoring Mina, a biology major who was valedictorian of her class. Earning her M.D. degree at the Medical University of South Carolina in 1995, Mina completed a neurosurgical residency in 2001. Now a member of the Piedmont Neurosurgical Group, she is one of two upstate South Carolina neurosurgeons to use a new surgical technique called percutaneous spinal fusion.

Mina, who considers her work as a surgeon her ministry, said, “I’m very honored to accept this award,” and offered a physician’s prayer in response.

Ruble inducted the honorees into the Academic Hall of Fame.

Vice President for Advancement Ralph Patterson introduced the recipients of this year’s Board of Counselors Chairman’s Award, longtime Erskine volunteers David Chesnut ’61, currently serving his second term as president of the Erskine Alumni Association (his previous term was from 1997-99) and his wife Linda, calling them “an honest, energetic and effective Christian couple.”

“Time and time again, David and Linda have been right here for Erskine,” Patterson said, citing the couple’s willingness to serve in various capacities and noting especially the work of Linda Chesnut, who teaches historic preservation, in guiding the renovation of residence halls and other buildings at Erskine.

“Erskine has meant a lot more to me than I have to Erskine,” David Chesnut said as he accepted the award. He recalled that when his mother became seriously ill, he had to leave Erskine. He later finished his bachelor’s degree at Oglethorpe University and took a law degree at Emory University.

Before offering the closing prayer, Bowling spoke briefly about Erskine’s influence on graduates and also on those who attended for a short time. “I’ve heard a number of people say, ‘I didn’t get to finish Erskine, but I got to be there long enough for it to change my life.’”