2024 Mustang Alumni Award Recipients

Those who keep the true spirit of the Mustangs long after they leave this campus are special treasures indeed, and last week, Lipscomb Academy honored six revered members of our community who have done just that. These former students were named recipients of the Mustang Alumni Award, an annual award given to those who embody the mission and core values of Lipscomb’s illustrious history and have made a lasting impact on this institution, in their career fields, or through service to others. 

This year, the recipients were unique in that we honored three couples who began their journey together while students at Lipscomb: Gary and Portia (Ayer) Baker (class of 1964), Mike and Rita (Cato) Cochrane (class of 1975), and Philip and Laura (Manning) Jenkins (class of 2003).

 

Below is a recounting of their journeys together and their accomplishments in life and career.

 

Gary and Portia (Ayer) Baker: class of 1964

Precocious Gary Baker sat by little Portia Ayer in first grade 72 years ago. As Gary described it, they were “elbow hittin’ since the first day of first grade.” Because Baker followed Ayer alphabetically, they sat by each other throughout school. It was not until their freshman year in high school, though, that Gary discovered he was not able to outrun Portia any more. So he threw the towel in and asked her out. They graduated in 1964, continued their education at David Lipscomb College together, and married in 1967.

In the midst of pursuing a law degree from Vanderbilt University, Gary was drafted into the army where he served two years, so they were relocated to Washington state. After completing his tour of duty, they returned to Nashville where Gary finished his law degree. Five years after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in accounting, Gary was finally able to sit for and pass the CPA exam. All the while, Portia was blessed to stay at home and raise their four children.

The faculty at Lipscomb made a lasting impression on Gary and Portia. Gary commented that the “ghosts of the past jump out at you” when they walk through the halls of Harding Hall. They both fondly remember sitting at the feet of Dr. Dennis Loyd learning English and grammar. Portia, to this day, can still name all of her teachers from her Lipscomb years. 

Gary has had a passion for fast cars since the fifth grade. He notoriously snuck a transistor radio and earpiece into a final exam so that he could listen to the Indy 500 during the test. He thought he outsmarted his teacher until Mr. Vandiver asked Gary to give the class an update on the race. 

Gary got his first taste for speed, riding in a car with Team Lotus’s Mario Andretti while racing Team Ferrari’s Clay Regazzoni. After experiencing 202 miles an hour, he was hooked. Gary co-purchased Bristol Motor Speedway and Nashville Motor Speedway, both NASCAR Cup facilities, and eventually, became sole owner of both speedways. He drove for both Sports Car Club of America and Team Ford, driving in a Cup car at both Talladega and Daytona.  

Three of Gary and Portia’s four children graduated from Lipscomb Academy, and all four graduated from Lipscomb University. They have 16 grandchildren, seven of which either graduated from the academy or are currently enrolled as students. 

The Bakers are All-IN on Lipscomb as their Lipscomb journey has opened many doors for them in education and career. As Gary reminded us, “The proof’s in the pudding, and my pudding has been pretty good!”

 

Mike and Rita (Cato) Cochrane: class of 1975

Mike and Rita (Cato) Cochrane balance one another in their passions for the humanities and STEM. Rita loved chorus. Mike wanted to love chorus so he could be with Rita, but he was encouraged to continue with basketball. Instead, he provided technical assistance for all of the choral performances.

Rita and her five siblings were given the gift of education at Lipscomb by philanthropist and David Lipscomb supporter A.M. Burton due in part to her father’s work with Marshall Keeble, an African American preacher who bridged a racial divide prior to the Civil Rights Movement and was an avid friend of A.M. Burton. So Rita began her journey at Lipscomb in the first grade, long before Mike enrolled in the eighth grade.

Rita learned to write and hone her skills to become a future author. Mike thrived at math and science. When they met for the first time in Ms. Van Vleet’s ninth-grade math class, they knew they were perfect for each other and used their strengths to pull one another along. Apparently, though, they talked more than they studied because they received an S- for conduct in Ms. Van Vleet’s class.

Rita and Mike graduated in 1975 and continued their educational journey together at David Lipscomb College. Rita graduated with a degree in education, and Mike graduated with a degree in engineering science and enrolled at Vanderbilt University eventually graduating with a degree in civil engineering. Ironically, Rita returned to Lipscomb to teach for 25 years and ended up being a co-teacher with Ms. Van Vleet who was then Mrs. Luther. During her time as teacher at Lipscomb Academy, Rita was named the Tennessee Social Studies Teacher of the Year.

Mike built a long career in civil engineering and consulting. He had the opportunity to work at three different nuclear power plants and build bridges across the Tennessee River. Through his work he has received many awards, including the 2022 State of Tennessee Most Outstanding Engineer.

Rita is a published author. She has written two faith-based books: Lace Up those Sneakers, Let’s Take a Walk with God and Untying Yesterday’s Knotts, Walking with God in Rundown Sneakers.

Mike and Rita have a passion for serving others. After retiring from teaching, Rita worked for Healing Hands International before transitioning to serving on the board of directors. Mike joined volunteer efforts at Healing Hands by developing mitigation plans for irrigation canals in Haiti, in addition to using his talents to build homes, churches, retaining walls, pedestrian bridges, and clean water collection basins in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and Bangladesh. Together, they travel to serve the people of Nigeria through African Christian Schools where they teach for lectureships there. 

All three of Mike and Rita’s children attended Lipscomb Academy. Additionally, they were a host family to four global students at the academy. They had the honor of sharing the gift of who Jesus is with these students, some of which had no faith at all. To this day, they say they have seven children, three biological and four that were placed into their lives and hearts.

 

Philip and Laura (Manning) Jenkins: class of 2003

Philip and Laura Manning Jenkins either met in the seventh- or eighth-grade shortly after Philip enrolled at Lipscomb. (Apparently, one of their memories isn’t as clear as the other.) But they both agree they started dating their senior year and graduated together in 2003. When asked about impactful moments during their time at Lipscomb, Philip spoke eloquently about the Bible faculty who influenced his faith journey, and Laura recalled influential interactions with teachers that guided her toward becoming a published author. 

Upon graduating high school, Laura, swearing she would never follow a boy to college … followed a boy (Philip) to college (Freed Hardeman). Embracing their passions, Philip majored in theology, and Laura majored in social work and went on to earn a master’s degree from the University of Tennessee. For the past 14 years, Philip has led a youth group of 200 students at Mt. Juliet Church of Christ and said his greatest reward has been watching teens in the group grow in their faith. Shortly after Philip was hired by the church, in 2011, Mt. Juliet Church hired Laura to show God’s love through counseling to those who are hurting. Since 2022, she has been the director of the counseling center, and she and Philip are humbled by their church’s decision to offer free counseling to any student in the youth group with the goal to foster healthy spiritual and emotional well-being.

Philip and Laura are both accomplished authors in their own right. Together, they wrote a children’s book for their son called Thought Garden: Children’s Edition. Drawing from her personal experiences, Laura has gone on to write counseling books for adults and teens and a special book on walking alongside grief called Let It Be. Philip wrote The Lunch Ladies, a poignant account of the convicted hearts of high school students wanting to make a difference in their school. Additionally, Philip has written a Bible study called Take Route.

The Jenkins have a heart for nonprofits and continue to serve on various boards. Philip is actively involved in Evangelism University, an annual conference equipping teens with the tools to talk about Jesus with their peers. Laura remains focused on underserved populations and mental health advocacy.

They have two children: Lucas, age 13, is an avid Alabama football fan and tasteful food critic; and Holley, almost 12 years old, is a creative friend to all and future volleyball star.