Point University

Atlanta Christian College was founded in 1937 by Thomas Olin Hathcock (1879–1966), a prominent Fulton County, Georgia judge from 1914 until 1942. He and his wife, Nora Head Hathcock, were members of the Christian churches and churches of Christ, the denomination that the institution has always been affiliated with. The property for the campus was from a 300-acre farm Nora Hathcock had inherited.

Following its 1937 founding, Atlanta Christian College devoted itself mainly to the education of ministers, missionaries, and other church-related workers. In 1965, the college became an accredited member of the American Association of Bible Colleges (AABC).{{cite web|publisher=Point University|url=http://www.acc.edu/s/310/index.aspx?sid=310&gid=1&pgid=935|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121211081738/http://www.acc.edu/s/310/index.aspx?sid=310&gid=1&pgid=935|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 11, 2012|title=History of the University|access-date=July 3, 2011}} In 1990, in conjunction with a broadening of its curriculum, the college was accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award associate and baccalaureate degrees.

In 2011, the institution's name was changed to Point University. The following year, the college relocated its main campus to West Point, Georgia, an hour southwest of the previous main campus near Atlanta.{{cite news|work=Newnan Times-Herald|url=http://www.times-herald.com/local/Atlanta-Christian-to-locate-in-West-Point-1525096|title=Atlanta Christian to locate in West Point|date=February 4, 2011|access-date=July 3, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005142036/http://www.times-herald.com/local/Atlanta-Christian-to-locate-in-West-Point-1525096|archive-date=October 5, 2011}} Adult learning classes were continued to be held at the East Point location, as well as an adult learning program and dual-credit enrollment program for high school students at the off-site locations in Peachtree City with an eventual location also in Savannah.{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=John |title=Atlanta Christian College to change name and head west |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local/atlanta-christian-college-change-name-and-head-west/4MIzjm8DkTPE13eDSztqKN/ |agency=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |publisher=Cox Enterprises}}

In addition to moving its main campus in 2012, the institution was also accepted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).{{cite web|publisher=NAIA|url=http://naia.cstv.com/genrel/041911aaa.html|title=The NAIA Announces New Members at 70th Annual Convention|date=April 19, 2011 |access-date=July 3, 2011}} The institution's athletics program expanded as part of the transition from the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) to the NAIA, including the addition of intercollegiate football, softball and cross country beginning in fall 2011.{{cite news|publisher=WBRC|location=Birmingham, Alabama|url=http://www.myfoxal.com/story/13962348/christian-university-to-relocated-to-west-point?redirected=true|title=Christian college to open at West Point|date=February 3, 2011|access-date=July 3, 2011}} The athletics nickname was also changed from the Chargers to the Skyhawks. In Spring 2014, the Point University Skyhawks were admitted to the recently started Sun conference as a charter member.{{cite web|url=http://www.pointskyhawks.com/article/845.php |title=Point University Athletics - Point football joins The Sun Conference |publisher=Pointskyhawks.com |date=2014-03-13 |access-date=2015-07-27}}

• George W. BonDurant (1937–1947)
• Orvel C. Crowder (1947–1955)
• James C. Redmon (1955–1978)
• Paul K. Carrier (1978–1984)
• James C. Donovan (1984–1993)
• R. Edwin Groover (1993–2006)
• Dean C. Collins (2006–present)

File:Point University Academic Center.jpg

Point University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award associate, baccalaureate, and master degrees.{{cite web |title=Institutions - SACSCOC |url=https://www.sacscoc.org/institutions/?institution_name=Point+University&results_per_page=25&curpage=1&institution=0011N00001h9DvWQAU |publisher=Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) |location=Decatur, Georgia}} The teacher education programs are approved by the Professional Standards Commission (PSC) of the State of Georgia.{{cite web|publisher=U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences|url=http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Atlanta+Christian&s=all&id=138868#accred|title=Institutional Accreditation |access-date=July 3, 2011}}

{{Main|Point Skyhawks}}

The Point athletic teams are called the Skyhawks and were previously known as the Atlanta Christian Chargers. In 2022, the Skyhawks mascot did not have an official name and through a voting process, students and alumni voted on Charger for the name of the Skyhawks mascot.{{cite web |title=Meet our new Mascot, Charger! |url=https://point.edu/mascot/ |publisher=Point University}} The institution is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) for most of its sports since the 2011–12 academic year.{{cite web|publisher=Appalachian Athletic Conference |url=http://www.aacsports.com/article/1367.php|title=Atlanta Christian/Point University Joins AAC|date=May 9, 2011|access-date=July 3, 2011}}{{cite web |title=Schools |url=http://www.naia.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27900&ATCLID=205322922|website=NAIA.ORG|publisher=NAIA|access-date=11 November 2015}} Its football team was a member of The Sun Conference for the 2014 and 2015 fall seasons, before moving to the Appalachian Division of the Mid-South Conference (MSC) where they competed from the 2017 to 2021 fall seasons (2017–18 to 2021–22 school years).{{cite news|last1=Wilson|first1=Michael|title=Local teams officially join Mid-South football conference |url=http://www.theledger.com/article/20160225/SPORTS19/160229601|access-date=27 February 2016|publisher=The Lakeland Ledger|date=25 February 2016}}{{cite web |title=Members |url=http://thesunconference.com/sports/2012/7/2/members.aspx|website=Thesunconference.com|access-date=11 November 2015}} They were also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the South Region of the Division II level.{{cite web |title=Membership |url=http://www.thenccaa.org/sports/2012/6/21/GEN_0621122257.aspx |access-date=11 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625222001/http://www.thenccaa.org/sports/2012/6/21/GEN_0621122257.aspx |archive-date=25 June 2014 |url-status=dead }}

Point competes in 19 intercollegiate varsity sports.{{cite news |last1=Clark |first1=Wayne |title=Point University president speaks on college's plans, future outlook |url=https://www.valleytimes-news.com/2023/11/point-university-president-speaks-on-colleges-plans-future-outlook/ |publisher=Valley Times-News}} Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, distance track, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, distance track, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cheerleading. The sports are supported by 75 coaches and support staff.{{cite news |last1=Jean-Marie |first1=Bryna |title=Rooted in Faith and Sports, Jaunelle White Has Found Her Perfect Home at Point University |url=https://www.si.com/college/2022/02/10/jaunelle-white-point-university-athletic-director-100-influential-black-women |publisher=Sports Illustrated}}

On August 9, 2022, Point was invited and unanimously approved to join the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC), effective July 1, 2023.{{cite news |title=Point University Approved For SSAC Membership In 2023-24 |url=https://ssacsports.com/news/2022/8/9/point-university-approved-for-ssac-membership-in-2023-24.aspx |access-date= |publisher=SSAC |date=August 9, 2022}}{{cite news |title=Point to join Southern States Athletic Conference in 2023-24 |url=https://pointskyhawks.com/general/2022-23/releases/20220809luci38 |access-date= |publisher=Point University |date=August 9, 2022}}

The Skyhawks have won a number of regional and national championships, most recently the 2010 NCCAA Division II national championship in baseball.{{cite web|url=http://www.pointskyhawks.com/coach/0/1.php|title=Point University Athletics - 2016 Baseball Coaches|work=pointskyhawks.com}}

• Jamie Grace (Class of 2012) – Christian singer-songwriter signed to TobyMac-founded label, Gotee Records and was later nominated for a Grammy Award.{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Melony |title=Jamie Grace: Ready to Fly |url=https://kfax.com/music/jamie-grace--ready-to-fly |agency=KFAX-AM |publisher=Salem Interactive Media}}{{cite web |title=Artist: Jamie Grace Harper |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/jamie-grace-harper/2772 |website=GRAMMY Awards |publisher=Recording Academy}}

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• {{Official website}}
• [https://skyhawkathletics.com/ Athletics website]

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Category:Universities and colleges affiliated with the Christian churches and churches of Christ

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Category:1937 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)

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