Society John Wesley Award of Merit

Nomination Form
Nomination Form Downloadable (PDF)

At commencement, Wesley Theological Seminary presents the Society of John Wesley Award of Merit to an individual who, through sacrificial leadership, exemplifies a high standard of commitment and devotion to God, the Church and Wesley Theological Seminary. Recipients are Wesley Theological Seminary graduates nominated and selected by fellow graduates.

2012 Award Recipient
This year, the award was presented to the Rev. Dr. William Dale “Chip” Aldridge, Jr., Director of Admissions at WTS. During Chip’s tenure, Wesley has grown from a medium-sized seminary to one of the largest in the world, and has significantly expanded its program offerings.

Chip graduated from High Point College in 1980 and went on to receive a Master of Divinity from WTS in 1985. Chip was Ordained Deacon in the Western North Carolina Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church in 1983, and Elder in the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference in 1991. His charge conference is Dumbarton United Methodist Church in Georgetown where he has served in many leadership positions. Chip’s call to seminary brought him back to the WTS campus where he served in the offices of Community Life and Development before becoming Director of Recruitment in 1990. As Director of Admissions, he is one of the longest serving in theological education, and easily one of the most effective. Chip is directly responsible for counseling and cajoling, advising and admitting, mothering and matriculating over half of WTS’ living alumni.

It was a surprise and a great joy to be named for the Society of John Wesley Award by graduates of our school. I am humbled and honored by this recognition,” he said as he accepted the award at Commencement. “Being on staff at Wesley Seminary has made me part of a unique Christian community whose mission is to prepare leaders for the church and world.”

Past Recipients

2012
William Dale Aldridge Jr. '85

2011
James L. Gulley '71
Clinton W. Austin '83

2010
Marlin Snider '77, '89

2009
Bishop Peggy Johnson '93

2008
Brenda Girton-Mitchell '04

2007
Kenneth Arthur '61
Keary Kincannon '81

2006
Patricia Jelinek '73 and '80

2005
Robert L. Parsons '68 and '80
Thomas C. Short '61

2004
Lewis A. Parks '73

2003
Kyunglim Shin Lee '93
Frank Trotter '73 and '75

2002
Michael Terry Bradfield '78 and '03

2001
J. Gordon Stapleton '58

2000
W. McCarl Roberts '57
Larry O. Tingle '68 and '84

1985-1999 Recipients

Pre-1985
Howard T. Brinton '44
Douglass R. Chandler '29
John H. Dawson '41
J. Leas Green '19
Nathaniel M. Harrison '18
Paul E. Holdcraft '24
Montgomery J. Shroyer '15
Bishop James H. Straughn '01
Paul F. Warner '21
William F. Wright '12
Yoshio Ito '29
James M. McIntosh '43
Frank L. Shaffer '29
Theodore E. Landis '36
Harold M. MacAdow '29
Frank W. Stephenson '13
J. Harry Haines '49
Norman M. Parr '41
John N. Link '23
Herbert E. Hudgins '27
Howard C. Emrick '32
James L. Carraway '38
Hartwell F. Chandler '30
Paul Erb Myer '44
John Bayler Jones '35
Ferd Wagner '43
Donzel C. Wildey '44
Clarkson R. Banes '19
William H. Revelle, Jr. '48
Odell R. Carr '52
James L. Duley '53
Grantas Hoopert '50
W. Kenneth Lyons, Sr. '33
Merrill W. Drennan '53
Obelia Scott Ross '60
Frank S. Depro '40
Carl E. Price '59
Clifford A. Armour, Jr. '66
Masuo Kaneko '60
Laurence H. Stookey '62
Vaudra N. Rushing '70
Charles I. Wallace, Sr. '42
Canaan S. Banana '75
Hugh D. Crocer '56
Robert K. Smyth '58
C. Douglas Cooney '52
Raymon E. White '59