Around the State: ETBU nursing students serve in the Philippines

Nursing students from East Texas Baptist University traveled to the Philippines as a part of a Global Study and Serve program recently. Rebekah Grigsby, dean of the ETBU School of Nursing, led the 12-member team. David Crim, senior pastor of International Baptist Church in Manila, provided six hours of cross-cultural training. The group also attended five days of nursing clinicals with the students from the Mary Johnston School of Nursing at Philippines Christian University. The ETBU nursing students conducted medical missions among indigenous tribes in Maasin, Aramaywan and Quezon on the island of Palawan, treating wounds and educating tribal leaders about how to use available resources to care for infections. “The global studies course allows students a hands-on experience interacting within a different culture as they grow in their faith, depending on God’s care as they navigate through the physical, emotional and mental challenges of the trip,” Grisby said. “Students also learn that they can use their career to participate in short-term or long-term missions and that their everyday job as a nurse is a mission field of its own.”

Students at several Abilene elementary and middle schools are participating in learning experiences during Dream Catchers, an annual day camp offered at Hardin-Simmons University. The camp for elementary school students focuses on science and literacy, with the goal of students gaining a deeper understanding of the world around them. Sessions for middle school students concentrate on language arts. HSU students majoring in education help teach lessons, guide activities, and in turn they gain experience in a classroom-like setting. Renee Collins, associate dean of the Irvin School of Education at HSU, directs the Dream-Catchers summer camp. Dream Catchers camp is free to attend, thanks to financial support from the Community Foundation of Abilene, HSU alumni and local businesses in Abilene.

Jenna Stuard, a Howard Payne University student from Scurry, was named as recipient of the Yellow Rose Scholarship, given annually by the HPU Woman’s Club. This scholarship is awarded annually to a female student who will begin her junior year the upcoming fall semester and has maintained at least a 3.0 grade point average since beginning her freshman year at HPU. She is to have participated in campus extracurricular activities and exhibited leadership qualities representative of the Christian values and beliefs fundamental to HPU. Stuard, a member of women’s soccer team at HPU, has volunteered as a faith-based mentor at the Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correction Complex and with Fields of Faith, an annual event for area students sponsored by Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship at its general assembly elected several Baptists from Texas to leadership posts. They include Keith Ethridge, a retired chaplain from Belton, named to the Council on Endorsement; Jeni Cook Furr, a retired chaplain and member of Woodland Baptist Church in San Antonio, selected for the Ministries Council; and Jewel London, pastoral assistant and campus minister at The Church Without Walls in Houston, elected to the CBF Governing Board. Anyra Cano, minister at Iglesia Bautista Victoria en Cristo in Fort Worth, was elected to the board of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. Anna Rader of South Main Baptist Church in Houston was recognized among 25 Young Adults to Know in CBF. CBF Texas elected Garrett Vickrey, pastor of Woodland Baptist Church in San Antonio, as moderator-elect; and Amy Wilkins, associate pastor for missions at Valley Ranch Baptist Church in Coppell, as recorder. Individuals elected to the CBF Texas Governing Board are Elias Garcia from Willow Meadows Baptist Church in Houston; Mallory Herridge from Calvary Baptist Church in Waco; Drew Herring from Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth; and Katelyn McWilliams from First Baptist Church in Lufkin.

Hardin-Simmons University named Michael Monhollon to a full-time role in university administration as chief data officer and accreditation officer, as well as associate provost. He has worked the past year as associate provost and liaison with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges while also serving as dean of the Kelley College of Business, a post he held 16 years. Robert Tucker, dean of the College of Fine Arts at HSU, will assume additional responsibilities as interim dean of the Kelley College of Business until the university finds Monhollon’s successor in that role.

Howard Payne University recognized six students for servant leadership. Seniors Jessica Catlett of Alleyton and Caleb Kostreva of Clifton, Colo., each received the Nat Tracy Servant Leader Award. HPU established the award in 1998 to honor the late Nat Tracy, a faculty member in the School of Christian Studies from 1950 to 1975. HPU presented the Servant Leadership Award to juniors Abi Fraser of Wylie, Justin Hughes of Llano, Hannah Williams of May and Anastasia Willis of Katy. The HPU Servant Leadership Award recognizes student excellence in the areas of leadership and service. A $1,000 scholarship is provided to each recipient of the award, and each student designates $250 of the scholarship award to be given to his or her chosen charity. Nominations for both the Nat Tracy Servant Leader Award and the HPU Servant Leadership Award are solicited each spring from HPU staff, faculty and students. HPU also recently recognized faculty and staff for their service. Kristen Hutchins, associate professor of biology, received the Outstanding Faculty Member award and Nikki Donathan, cashier and staff accountant, was presented the Outstanding Staff Member award for the 2018-19 academic year.

Hardin-Simmons University will wrap up its two-week Health Sciences Summer Enrichment Program for high school upperclassmen and incoming college freshmen on June 28. The two-week summer camp focuses on a variety of health fields and skills through a combination of lectures, labs and interactive sessions with professionals and their workplaces. Biology, math, and chemistry are the main subjects. To be eligible for the program, students must be planning to pursue a health-related career, considering HSU as a possible choice for college and have a 3.00 minimum GPA.

Anniversary

50^th for Toby Irwin in vocational Christian ministry. He is pastor of Belmore Baptist Church in San Angelo.