Chloe Combs, a senior majoring in Christian Ministry won the 55th Annual Bash-Whisler Bible Reading Contest held in the Morse Event Center at Northwest Christian University on Fri., Feb. 23, 2017.
Chloe Combs ’17, winner of the 55th Annual Bash-Whisler Bible Reading Contest
Contestants selected two passages of scripture, one from the Old Testament, to read aloud, and another from the New Testament, that is recited from memory. Passages are required to be at least 12 verses long. Students from all academic areas of study and faith traditions are encouraged to enter the annual competition.
Combs read from Habakkuk 1:1-2:1 and recited Second Corinthians 11:16-31. Second place winner was Angela Cusano, a sophomore communications major. She read from Psalms 42 and recited Second Corinthians 6:1-13. In third place was Gianna Rains. The sophomore communications major read Psalms 86: 1-5 and then recited First Corinthians 13.
“Chloe was a senior and clearly the performer to beat, but Angela and Gianna are my favorite part of the story,” said Doyle Srader, Ph.D., professor of Speech & Communications at NCU and coordinator of the competition. “They’re both sophomores, both Communication majors, and best friends who’ve known each other since third grade. I think we can look forward to some loving but intense competition in 2018 and 2019.”
This year’s semi-finalists were:
Ryan Bates, junior, Christian Ministry
Alleya Harris, senior, Exercise Science
Gabrielle Herron, senior, Music/Worship Arts
Zoe Herron, junior, English
Jonathan Jury, senior, Teacher Education
Micah Jury, junior, Psychology
Sherry Reeder, senior, Teacher Education
Kiley Shannon, junior, Psychology
Combs will deliver her passages again at baccalaureate in May. All competitors received a cash award for their efforts.
Judges for this year’s competition were the Rev. Troy Dean, NCU Campus Pastor; Dr. Terry O’Casey, Professor of Christian Ministry, and Dr. Dennis Lindsay, Professor of Bible, Theology and Missions and Dean of the Faculty.