Around the State: Hispanic Student Union formed at DBU

A Hispanic Student Union formed at Dallas Baptist University this year as a student-led organization to provide social connection and servant leadership opportunities to the university’s growing Hispanic population. Robert Vasquez, inaugural president of the DBU Hispanic Student Union, described the need for the organization. “A saying that has resonated with me is ‘ni de aquí, ni de allá,’ which translates as ‘neither here, nor there.’ As Hispanic-Americans, we are caught between two completely different cultures and sometimes it feels like we don’t really have a place where we fit in,” Vasquez said. “A goal of the Hispanic Student Union is to create a home for students who feel out of place.” Staff sponsors are David Reyes, director of student affairs; Ana Moreno, secretary in the College of Math and Natural Sciences; and Ariel Banda, undergraduate admissions counselor. “Hispanic culture means fellowship, family, sincerity, joy, unity and integrity to me—not to mention, the cuisine is just as rich as the cultural elements,” said Cendy Sánchez, vice president of the DBU Hispanic Student Union. “It’s amazing that DBU is fostering an environment for students to learn about this culture while creating a home for others.”

Jonathan Darnell of Artesia, N.M., and Sebastien Tremulot of France, who will graduate from Wayland Baptist University this semester with degrees in business administration, recently added a world-class accomplishment to their resumes. Working as a team, they finished in a tie for the No. 1 ranking in a global Business Strategy Game, competing against students from more than 49 countries. The game is used by business schools to train students to make management decisions. Teams compete as a shoe company and are evaluated based on earnings per share, return on average equity and stock prices. Darnell and Tremulot earned a top 100 ranking the first week and continued to build on their performance throughout the 10-week exercise. They spent the last five weeks with an overall No. 1 ranking.

East Texas Baptist University recognized 72 graduating seniors by presenting their official ETBU class ring at a Nov. 9 ring blessing ceremony. As a token and gift of appreciation from the university to graduating seniors, the ring symbolizes ETBU’s blessing over students as they commence from school to pursue their vocational callings. Each ring features the ETBU seal, surrounded by the cornerstones of the university—veritas, mores and scientia (Latin for truth, character and knowledge). Also inscribed in the ring are significant icons of ETBU and the Christian faith, such as Marshall Hall, the Light on the Hill, Max Greiner’s Divine Servant statue and the Bible. “Students, you will be challenged to live out your faith while you wear this ring,” ETBU President J. Blair Blackburn said. “This symbol on your hand is a reminder of your Christ-centered educational experience at ETBU, and hopefully, you will use it to create conversations with other people about what faith in Jesus means, and what your ETBU experience meant to you.”

Howard Payne University recently received $150,000 from Creative Solutions in Healthcare founders Gary Blake and Malisa Blake for the university’s nursing program. The gift will be used to establish an endowed nursing scholarship and help provide equipment for the HPU School of Nursing. The scholarship will be available to HPU nursing students from Brown County and the surrounding area. “The Blakes believe that, when God blesses, he does so in order for us to pass those blessings on to others,” HPU President Cory Hines said. “The Blakes share a deep heart to see Brownwood develop as a city known for premiere healthcare and services. They see HPU playing a vital role in training and equipping nurses to provide this high level of compassionate and caring service for the residents of Brown County and beyond.” HPU also received $25,000 from Brookshire Grocery Company to establish a scholarship at HPU. In order to be eligible for the Brookshire scholarship, students must maintain a 2.5 GPA and be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours in the semester they will receive the scholarship. Students majoring in accounting, business administration, computer information systems, finance, management, marketing or communications are eligible to apply. Recipients who maintain the eligibility requirements will continue to receive the scholarship for the duration of their undergraduate careers at HPU.