Archived News Story
Scholarship Honors Distinguished CIU Professor
published 2009 Nov 18
By Deena C. Bouknight
For more than four decades, the generous spirit of CIU Distinguished Professor Emeritus Dr. Terry Hulbert has touched the lives of many through his teaching, leadership, and mission work. Now, because of a substantial donation, a scholarship has been set up to honor both Dr. Hulbert and his wife, Jean that will impact future generations of CIU students.Before coming to CIU, the Hulberts served in Zambia with the Africa Evangelical Fellowship (AEF), teaching at a rural Bible school and later founding the urban Theological College of Central Africa. He served as executive director of AEF before coming to CIU in 1972. Jean Hulbert assisted and ministered in various capacities during their time in Africa.
Dr. Hulbert’s career at CIU began when he was asked by then president, Robertson McQuilkin, to establish the Graduate School of Bible and Missions, now called CIU Seminary & School of Missions. Since then he has served in many capacities at CIU, including as a dean, provost and interim president – but always as a professor.
The lives that Dr. Hulbert and Jean touched along the way included those of Bill and Mary Floyce Sigmon. The Sigmons first met the Hulberts about 40 years ago in Greensboro, N.C. Dr. Hulbert spoke at their church and then at missionary conferences they attended. The Sigmons solidified a friendship with the Hulberts built out of “sincere respect and appreciation” for the couple, that motivated them to recently donate $200,000 to found the Dr. Terry and Jean Hulbert Scholarship.
“The Lord just laid it on our hearts,” says Bill Sigmon. “Everyone who knows them have a great deal of respect for them, for the work they did in missions, and for his influence as a teacher. They’re an intelligent, outstanding couple and we very much appreciate them.”
Columbia physician Dr. Jenny Walsh echoes the Sigmons’ sentiments. Five years ago she took Dr. Hulbert’s Gospels course twice, as well as his Gospel of John course. She says of him: “He is the most gracious, humble person I’ve ever met. He loves the Lord so much, and God’s Word, which just pours out of him. I learned so much sitting under his teaching. He and his wife, who was the dean of women in the 1970s, are so deserving of a scholarship named in their honor.”
Because of another recent matching funds donation, the Hulbert scholarship was elevated to $400,000. Although the criteria for scholarship recipients have not been finalized, qualified recipients should be pursuing a degree in CIU Seminary & School of Missions.
“Our hope is that students who receive this scholarship are ones that Dr. Hulbert would have been proud of,” says Mary Floyce Sigmon.
“I’m so thankful to the Lord that He has moved the Sigmons to invest in future generations at CIU,” says Dr. Hulbert. “My greatest privilege has been teaching the Word, so I would like to see this scholarship give others the opportunity to learn the Word and to teach it themselves.”
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