Around the State: HCU hosts future health care leaders camp

Houston Christian University’s Linda Dunham School of Nursing recently joined forces with Memorial Hermann Southwest to host a summer camp for future health care leaders.  The educational initiative provides high school students with a behind-the-scenes look at careers in the health care field. High school students toured the hospital and had a chance to learn about a variety of health care roles, including respiratory therapy technicians, radiologists, cardiac catheterization laboratory technologists, sterile processing technicians, Life Flight pilots and more. Participants also learned about nontraditional health care roles, including hospital operations, engineering, materials management, chaplain services and security. “We hope that this camp helps students understand what it will take to achieve higher education goals, and to achieve their dreams of working in health care. We also hope to show them caring for patients can be their ministry and their way of showing Jesus’ love through their work and the things that they can accomplish as a health care professional,” said Blake Swanson, HCU simulation laboratory director and assistant professor.

Stark Seminary of Stark College & Seminary received associate membership in the Association of Theological Schools, considered the gold standard of theological accreditation. “This step recognizes our commitment to quality theological education and supports our mission to equip students with strong biblical knowledge and practical ministry skills. We’re grateful to our community for their role in this achievement and look forward to the opportunities it brings for Stark students and programs,” Stark posted on Facebook.

East Texas Baptist University and B.H. Carroll Theological Seminary announced their official merger, following approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The commission’s board of trustees approved ETBU’s substantive merger/level change prospectus, endorsing the integration of B.H. Carroll Theological Seminary into ETBU. With this approval, ETBU expands its status as a Level VI institution of higher learning with no further reporting required. The merger expands academic and support resources available to students of both institutions. B.H. Carroll Theological Seminary students will have access to enhanced financial aid options, additional scholarship opportunities and comprehensive student services provided by ETBU. The merger also positions ETBU as a doctoral degree-granting institution, furthering its commitment to academic excellence and advanced theological education. B.H. Carroll’s merger into ETBU will allow the seminary to have a larger role in the life of Texas Baptists, Southern Baptists and like-minded evangelical denominations while preserving a close relationship with supportive churches. It also will grow ETBU, a legacy Texas Baptist institution, adding master’s and doctoral degree programs accredited by the Association of Theological Schools. B.H. Carroll Theological Seminary will retain its identity and stand as one of eight academic schools and divisions of ETBU.

Hardin-Simmons University was named 2023-24 American Southwest Conference Athletic Training Staff Department of the Year by the league’s head athletic trainers. The award recognizes league member staffs judged by their peers to provide a high level of service and professionalism to the student-athletes, their school and the conference. HSU athletic training staff is led by Landon Schumacher, director of athletic training services. Also on the HSU athletic training staff are trainers Sarah Nielsen, Bryanna Schuman and Shelbi Stevens.

Howard Payne University recently welcomed high school juniors and seniors for the second annual Health Science Enrichment Workshop. The two-day program was sponsored by the Joint Admission Medical Program and offered hands-on learning opportunities on the HPU campus and onsite at Hendrick Medical Center Brownwood. The students attending received instruction in basic suturing and stapling, basic EKG interpretation and resume development. Mock code simulation was a new session introduced this year, with training on life support, medication administration and defibrillation. Participants also had hands-on science labs with anatomy dissections. HPU’s School of Nursing and School of Science and Mathematics organized the event. Laci Sutton, dean of the School of Nursing and professor of nursing, and Kristen Hutchins, dean of the School of Science and Mathematics, were co-directors. In addition to the activities on HPU’s campus, participants had the opportunity to shadow health care professionals at Hendrick Medical Center Brownwood, giving them exposure to a variety of career paths.

The historical museum and archives of First Baptist Church of Wichita Falls will be open all day, every day, July 22-26. Dale Dodson, who serves on the church’s history ministry team as archivist and museum curator, started developing an interest in the church’s history about 16 years ago. As he began to look through the church records storage rooms, he saw a need for organization and documentation. Then about a dozen years ago, he realized the artifacts and documents might be interesting to others, and the idea of a museum was born. With the help of many others, he put together a museum and began to catalogue all records and artifacts, with a goal of properly preserving them. The museum has been open about 10 years, but it is not easily accessible. So, the history ministry team decided to hold an open house. First Baptist Church of Wichita Falls began in 1883 but didn’t have its own meeting place for about three years. During those years, the church primarily met in the homes of its eight charter members, one of whom was Susan James Parmer—a sister to Frank and Jesse James. Their father was a Baptist minister. More about the museum can be found here.

Retirement

Rodney Watson, effective June 30, after 40 years as pastor of Lytle South Baptist Church in Abilene and more than 42 years in the gospel ministry.