Around the State: HPU dedicates pavilion and courts

Howard Payne University held a dedication ceremony and ribbon cuttings April 26 for the new Ben and Bertha Mieth Outdoor Pavilion and Woody and Miki Martin Volleyball Courts on the campus. The new facilities are located between Veda Hodge Hall and the J. Howard Hodge Bell Towers. Ben and the late Bertha Mieth gave the lead gift for the 8,700-square-foot pavilion. The couple were married for 71 years and devoted their lives to serving the Lord. BenMieth is the founder of International Commission, an organization that has reached millions for Christ since its founding in 1972. Key features of the pavilion include space for a gathering of 250 to 300 people; technology with 10 outdoor televisions and a 12-foot by 16-foot video wall; commercial grade kitchen with gas grill, sinks and refrigerators; a storage area; restrooms; and a serving area for food. Woody and Miki Martin gave the lead gift for the new sand volleyball courts connected to the pavilion. Miki Martin is the daughter of Ben and Bertha Mieth and played volleyball at HPU during her time as a student. The Martins are both alumni of HPU and retired educators. The three NCAA-regulation beach volleyball courts will be used for the launch of beach volleyball at HPU in the fall of 2025 and will be available for intramurals, student events and community gatherings.

Sebastian Balderas, a junior political science major at Wayland Baptist University, participated in Texas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol in Austin on April 10. Accompanied by his advisor, Autumn Lass, Balderas presented his research project titled Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Leadership: Leading During Crisis and Reshaping American Governance for Years to Come. His presentation explored FDR’s influence on modern governance and was one of only a few selected for the statewide event. While there, Balderas learned he was accepted into the New Leadership Texas Internship, a summer program hosted by the Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership at Texas Woman’s University. He will attend the program this June, where he will develop skills in leadership, civic engagement and public policy. Based on his research work, Balderas also was named the 2024–2025 Academic Champion for Wayland’s School of Behavioral and Social Sciences.

Hardin-Simmons University generated a $181 million regional economic impact to the state of Texas in 2024, according to the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas. The report highlights the role higher education institutions like HSU play in driving the state’s economic growth. In total, Hardin-Simmons’ direct spending—by the institution, its employees, students and visitors—amounted to $97 million, with an additional $68 million generated through indirect and induced spending. Of the total, $16 million was generated by the 38 percent of alumni who remained in the region, while $21 million was contributed by the 87 percent of alumni who stayed in Texas. Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas institutions, including Hardin-Simmons, deliver high-quality education to more than 125,000 students annually. According to the report, Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas member institutions collectively contribute $17.2 billion annually to the state’s economy. This data highlights the role Texas Baptists and the Christian education system play “in driving economic development and equipping students with the skills they need to contribute to the workforce,” noted HSU President Eric Bruntmyer.

East Texas Baptist University’s Honors Chapel introduced ETBU’s newest academic honor, the 2 Timothy 4:7 Perseverance Award, designed to recognize students who have overcome significant setbacks during their college experience but have pressed on, persevered and attained the goal of their college degree. This year’s 2 Timothy 4:7 Perseverance Award was presented to Jeremy Lewis, a staff member in the ETBU Physical Operations Department. Lewis’s journey to graduation, nearly 20 years after beginning his college coursework, is a testament to his commitment and determination. Throughout his time at ETBU, Lewis has been known for his positive spirit, servant leadership and humble dedication to the university community. His story reflects the heart of ETBU’s mission to develop Christian servant leaders who pursue excellence with purpose and perseverance. The university recognized Lewis for his inspiring example of faithfulness and endurance to earn his bachelor’s degree. Academic excellence award winners included: Landon Kelley, Sydney Green, Cayden Adamson, Graycee Mosley, Joshua Sewell, Ruby Jane Luce, Heather Auvil, Jessica Kuhlmann and Hannah Jones. Diana Canenquez and De’Leon Jones earned the Priscilla and Aquila Thrive awards.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor announced the development of a new entry-level occupational therapy doctorate academic program. UMHB’s occupational therapy doctorate program will be a 28-month program, with the first cohort starting in the spring of 2026. The program offers expanded career opportunities and is a planned expansion within the university’s Mayborn College of Health Sciences to prepare students for careers in health care. The program expands the occupational therapy master’s program that began in 2020 and will allow students within the master’s program to choose an advanced pathway and receive a doctoral degree. The Mayborn College of Health Sciences aims to prepare approximately 1,300 undergraduate and graduate students annually to engage in inter-professional relationships to provide holistic healing of the mind, body and spirit of their patients.

Katie Alaniz and Charlotte Rodgers of Houston Christian University won two of the three awards given at the 2025 Texas Women in Higher Education Conference. Rodgers, director of academic operations, was awarded theconference’s Emerging Leader award. Earlier this year, Texas Women in Higher Education gave her a grant to support networking on campus, and she led a book study with Kristie Cerling, associate provost for academic affairs, to provide a space for discussion and empowerment among campus leaders. Alaniz was awarded the Contributions to TWHE award, which recognized her service, leadership and commitment to Texas Women in Higher Education’s mission. Alaniz helped expand the organization’s digital reach as website administrator, developed outreach materials and presented alongside HCU colleagues at four consecutive Texas Women in Higher Education conferences.

Two-time Houston Christian University alumnus Pablo Siboldi was named Aldine ISD’s Rookie Principal of the Year for his service at Wortham Elementary School, as he began his12th year as an educator in Aldine. Siboldi previously worked as a bilingual teacher for grades 1-5 in HISD, as assistant principal at Stephens Elementary School and Carroll Elementary School in Aldine ISD and has taught history and humanities courses for Houston Community College.

East Texas Baptist University will expand its support of local churches and the families who lead them through a new initiative: the ETBU Promise Scholarship for children of Texas Baptists/Baptist General Convention of Texas senior pastors. This scholarship provides a tuition-only award of up to $20,000 per year—totaling $80,000 over four years—to help the children of senior pastors pursue Christ-centered higher education at ETBU. As part of the university’s mission to equip servant leaders, the ETBU Promise Scholarship offers up to 50 awards to eligible high school seniors graduating in spring 2025. The scholarship covers tuition for up to eight semesters (or 120 credit hours), and recipients must enroll at ETBU beginning fall 2025. In addition to maintaining a 3.2 GPA, students must enroll full-time and live in on-campus housing, participate in at least one approved student organization, complete 12 hours of community service per semester through the Great Commission Center, and serve as an ETBU ambassador on campus and beyond. Eligible students must be dependents of currently serving Texas Baptists (BGCT) senior pastors, meet ETBU’s admissions requirements and submit the official scholarship application. To learn more or to apply, visit www.etbu.edu/BGCTPromise or contact the Office of Admissions at (903) 923-2000 or admissions@etbu.edu.

Two doctoral students who are researching how to apply Christian ethics to congregational life have been awarded scholarships for the 2025-26 academic year from the T.B. Maston Foundation. Sheila Anderson is a Doctor of Ministry student in Wake Forest University’s Divinity School, and Erica Whitaker is a Doctor of Philosophy student at the International Baptist Studies Center. Each will receive a $5,000 scholarship. The Maston Foundation, chartered in 1986, perpetuates the teaching and legacy of its namesake, a renowned professor of Christian ethics and Baptist champion of racial justice in the 20th century. The foundation awards scholarships to graduate students majoring in Christian ethics. Anderson is the interim staff attorney for the Maryland Center for Legal Assistance and an e-discovery attorney and consultant in private practice in Baltimore. She has been an attorney-adviser for the U.S. Social Security Administration. She was the chief business officer for Reid Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church in Glenn Dale, Md., and taught at the University of Baltimore School of Law. She expects to complete her Doctor of Ministry degree from Wake Forest in 2027. Whitaker is director of development at Baptist Seminary of Kentucky, where she also is a teaching professor of preaching, Christianity and culture, and associate director of the Institute for Black Church Studies. She has been an African American history instructor at Simmons College and the University of Kentucky. She is interim pastor at Mumfordville Presbyterian Church in Mumfordville, Ky., and previously was senior pastor at Buechel Park Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky. She earned an undergraduate degree from the University of North Texas, studied Clinical Pastoral Education in the Methodist Health System in Dallas, and earned a master’s degree from Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary. She expects to complete her Ph.D. degree from the International Baptist Studies Center in 2026. Applications for the 2026-27 Maston Foundation scholarships open this fall. To access the application form, click here.

Baylor University announced the recipients of the 2025 Baylor Alumni Awards. A celebration honoring this year’s recipients will be held on campus Oct. 30. This year’s Baylor Alumni Awards recipients are: Alumnus of the Year—Maj. Gen. Stephen G. Purdy Jr. of Arlington, Va., military deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, Washington, D.C.; Baylor University Young Alumna of the Year—Elizabeth“BB” Sanford of Dallas, a trial lawyer in employment-related legal matters with the Dallas-based Sanford Firm; Pro Ecclesia Medal of Service—Joel C. Gregory, emeritus professor of preaching at Truett Theological Seminary and president of Joel Gregory Ministries; Pro Texana Medal of Service—Ed Kinkeade, United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas.

Hardin-Simmons University hosted a National Day of Prayer Breakfast April 30, a day before the annual national observance. Logsdon School of Theology Dean Jacob West quoted retired Texas Baptists’ Christian Life Commission Director Gus Reyes, who regularly reminded Texas Baptists they do not “pray the will of the donkey or the elephant, but the will of the Lamb.” In his devotional, West said praying creates community within families, among students and colleagues, and beyond one’s city, state and nation. “Whenever we wonder what we should do, we should hear the words of Jesus saying, ‘Pray then in this way,” West said, referring to Jesus teaching his disciples what is now called “The Lord’s Prayer.” Several representing HSU and various constituencies in Abilene offered prayers for different circles of influence. Pastor Richard Darden, senior pastor of Shining Star Fellowship Church in Abilene, prayed: “Help us as a people to turn our hearts towards righteousness, compassion and humility, honoring you in all that we do. Strengthen the foundations of truth and mercy across the breath of this great nation and heal the wounds that separate us from one another. … Moreover, we pray for our leaders to grow cold no longer in their love for you, but … possessing an unquenchable love for you. May they put confusion and division far away from them, may they depart from evil behaviors, and may they hold on tight to your truth as a faithful friend.” HSU graduate Givan Rhodes (2023) closed the prayer breakfast by praying from the Psalms.

Anniversary

Madison Hills Baptist Church in San Antonio (originally called El Dorado Baptist Mission) will celebrate 50 years on May 18. The celebration will begin with worship at 10:30 a.m. followed by a Year of Jubilee picnic catered by Bill Miller Bar-B-Que at noon.

Ordinations

Rigo Ascencio of Primera Iglesia Bautista in Lockney and Alex Tol of Primera Iglesia Baustista in Petersburg were ordained as deacons at Primera Iglesia Baustista Petersburg on April 27.