Texas Tidbits_40504

Posted: 4/02/04

Texas Tidbits

Estrada named BGCT project manager. Job Estrada, 24, has been named project manager in the Baptist General Convention of Texas Communications Center. He will help various BGCT ministries plan and execute marketing and promotions campaigns. Communications Director Becky Bridges described him as "an ideal staff person for the future of the BGCT … bright, young and bilingual." Prior to joining the BGCT staff, Estrada worked in sales and marketing positions with Starbucks Coffee, Cingular Wireless/Navstar Communications and Compaq Computer in the Houston area. He has been a member of South Main Baptist Church in Houston and holds a bachelor's degree in business marketing and speech communications from Houston Baptist University.

Fletcher to receive honorary doctorate. Jesse Fletcher will receive an honorary doctorate from Hardin-Simmons University at spring commencement May 8. Fletcher, who currently serves as president emeritus of Hardin-Simmons University, was president of the university from 1977 to 1991 and chancellor from 1991 to 2001.

DBU receives grant. Dallas Baptist University has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the Hillcrest Foundation for the construction of the new International Student Center, scheduled to open later this year. DBU has about 300 international students on campus. Since 1968, DBU has received more than $2 million from the Hillcrest Foundation for projects such as the Landry Welcome Center, the Mahler Student Center and a library automation system.

Lecture series set at HBU. Business ethics is the focus of the Prince-Chavanne Distinguished Lecture Series April 22 at Houston Baptist University. O.C. Ferrell, marketing professor at Colorado State University and co-director of the Center for Business Ethics and Social Issues, will speak on "Why do we make bad choices in business ethics?"

Mayors back Baylor bid for Bush library. Four hundred Texas mayors–from Texarkana to Del Rio–have endorsed Baylor University's proposal for the George W. Bush Presidential Library to locate on the school's campus. Representing communities in 127 counties, the mayors noted that more than 80 percent of the state's population live within a 200-mile radius of the Baylor campus in Waco, making the site readily accessible. The mayors also emphasized the cultural and educational importance of having three presidential libraries in the state–the George H.W. Bush Library in College Station and the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library in Austin, as well as the new Bush library. Baylor currently houses the papers of 12 members of Congress and former Texas Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock.

Wayland trustees increase budget, tuition. Wayland Baptist University trustees have approved a $36 million budget for 2004-2005, a 4.7 percent increase. Trustees also approved raising tuition on the Plainview campus by $25 per hour at the undergraduate level and $20 per hour at the graduate level, resulting in a flat $295 per semester hour tuition rate. The tuition increase is the first in two years.

UMHB nursing chapter joins honor society. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor's nursing honor society recently has been approved for chapter status by Sigma Theta Tau, the international honor society for nursing.

Scholarship endowed at HSU. The Prichard Endowed Education Scholarship has been established at Hardin-Simmons University to benefit students working toward teaching certification. Alumni Milford and Rosa Lee Prichard of Abilene set up the perpetually endowed scholarship fund in honor of their daughter, Lou Ann Prichard-Draper. Recipients will be full-time students pursuing teaching careers. They must have at least 30 semester hours of credit and at least a 3.0 grade point average. Student recipients must reapply annually.

HBU grants honorary degrees to lawmakers. Houston Baptist University recently awarded honorary doctorates to Texas representatives Talmadge Heflin and Scott Hochberg. A citation read at the commencement ceremony recognized both Heflin and Hochberg for their commitment to higher education and their support for the Tuition Equalization Grant. Heflin (R-Houston) was named chairman of the House of Appropriations Committee at the beginning of the 78th Legislature. He also is a member of the Legislative Budget Board, the Legislative Audit Committee and the Select Committee on Public School Finance. He is a deacon at First Baptist Church of Alief. Hochberg (R-Houston) serves on the House Committee on Public Education. He is a former chairman of the education subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations and was a member of the Select Committee on Public School Finance.

Baylor names Davis vice provost. Baylor University has named Elizabeth Davis vice provost for academic relations, effective Aug. 1. She has been associate professor of accounting and associate dean for undergraduate business programs in the Hankamer School of Business. In her new position, Davis will focus on improving faculty relations and general communication in the academic sector. In addition, she will take a special interest in student academic life and serve as liaison between the provost's office and Baylor's admissions and recruitment personnel, said David Jeffrey, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Kranz to speak at Hardin-Simmons. Gene Kranz, a former NASA flight director and leader of the "Tiger Team" who brought the crippled Apollo 13 spacecraft safely back to earth in 1970, will speak to a Hardin-Simmons University chapel April 22. He also will address a leadership banquet for area students at the Abilene Civic Center that same day. For more information about banquet reservations, call (325) 670-1375.

UMHB updates website. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor recently launched its updated website at www.umhb.edu. A new link for prospective students has been added to the front page. Future plans include on-line registration, a new alumni site and additional features for prospective students.

'Jesus" video now in DVD. An edited version of the "Jesus" video, developed by Campus Crusade for Christ, was released recently in a digitally remastered and expanded-content DVD format. The DVD is a 94-minute U.S. edition of the two-hour film about the life, death and resurrection of Christ. The movie is offered in seven languages and four subtitle languages, and it includes a scene-by-scene commentary. It also includes the story of Jesus for children, as well as other features. The Jesus Texas organization is seeking to mail the film to every Texas residence and enlist churches in evangelistic outreach. To date, more than 3,000 churches and 30,000 volunteers have worked on this project, and Jesus Texas has facilitated mailing about 2.5 million videos since 2000. For more information, visit the Texas website at www.TexasDVD.org.

Nursing student named Miss ETBU. Pamela Gant, a senior nursing major from Seagoville, recently was crowned Miss East Texas Baptist University 2004. She was selected from a field of 14 young women who were judged on personal interview, beauty, talent, student and faculty vote, and question and answer. The school has held the pageant annually since 1957.

UMHB yell leaders win. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor yell leaders won first place in their division at the recent Christian Cheerleaders of America college nationals in Winston-Salem, N.C. More than 80 teams competed in various divisions at the national event.