Around the State: HPU observes Stinger Spectacular

The Stinger Spectacular at Howard Payne University, Oct. 14-15, combined homecoming festivities, a family weekend and Yellow Jacket Preview. About 800 participants joined in the HPU family picnic, which featured music by Stephen Cox, Stacy Nash and Cody Hutcheson. The Golden Graduate Luncheon celebrated the class of 1972. During halftime at the Yellow Jacket football team’s 48-17 victory over Southwestern University, the 2022 homecoming court was announced. Jessie Paris, a history major and education minor from Splendora, was named homecoming king, and Zoe Sprayberry, a math education and Christian education major from Bonham, was named homecoming queen. Homecoming Prince and Princess honors went to Cyah Daniel, a political/global studies and Guy D. Newman Honors Academy major from Doha, Qatar, and Megan Froese, a middle school education major from Rising Star. Alumni honored at halftime were Mede Nix, distinguished alumna; Elizabeth (Santos) Garcia, coming home queen; Stephen Cox, outstanding young graduate; Bobbie Price, grand marshal; Pat Hardy, Medal of Service; and Pastor Roland Johnson, José Rivas Distinguished Service Award. Bertha (Rey) Valley was honored posthumously with a Medal of Service. The next HPU Stinger Spectacular is scheduled Oct. 13-14, 2023.

Thomas Henderson of Keller, a senior Christian studies major at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, received the U.S. Marine Corps Commandant Trophy for outstanding leadership and superior accomplishments. Henderson, the son of Jerry and Penny Henderson, is Student Foundation president and serves in various ministry roles in the community. Last year, Henderson was selected for the Platoon Leaders Class Program, an undergraduate commissioning program that allows full-time enrolled college students to pursue a commission in the U.S. Marine Corps without interrupting the academic school year. He attended Officer Candidates School the past two summers in Quantico, Va., where he finished first among 224 graduating candidates from Lima Company and was selected as the honor graduate. Out of the hundreds of candidates from across the country trained at OCS this summer, Henderson is one of seven recognized with The Commandant’s Trophy.

East Texas Baptist University’s kinesiology department hosted its annual field day Oct. 31 for more than 300 pre-K students from Marshall Early Childhood Center. Kinesiology students led various physical activities, ranging from parachute play and tricycle riding to obstacle course running. Students in ETBU’s “Teaching Elementary Physical Education” course were provided an opportunity to apply course content, practice their learned content in practical situations, strengthen their servant leadership skills, and build relationships with children and families in the local community. Students spent time building lesson plans specifically for the age range of children that attend the event.

During Dallas Baptist University homecoming on Nov. 19, Gus Reyes will be named as 2022 Honorary Alumnus. The status is awarded to individuals who demonstrate a commitment to Christian servant leadership and values reflective of the mission and vision of DBU. Reyes is director of Hispanic partnerships at DBU. Previously, Reyes led the National Hispanic Leadership Conference’s annual education summit involving more than 20 Christian colleges, and he served the Baptist General Convention of Texas as director of the Christian Life Commission. He also worked in other roles with the BGCT, including service with the Hispanic Education Initiative, affinity ministries, congregational relationships, the service center and in ethnic evangelism. For three years, he was bivocational pastor of First Mexican Baptist Church in Dallas. He serves on the board of directors of the Baptist Spanish Publishing House. He holds degrees from the University of Texas, Angelo State University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

At their quarterly meeting, Baylor University regents heard a year-end financial report highlighted by total assets growing to $3.9 billion, operating revenues totaling $925.1 million and operating expenses reported at $836.5 million. Regents learned Fitch Ratings, a global leader in credit ratings and research, upgraded Baylor’s long-term bond ratings. The ratings agency attributed the upgrade to “Baylor’s strong financial and liquidity position, via solid cash flow trends and better-than-budget results in recent fiscal years through fiscal 2022.” The ratings agency also noted the impact of the university’s strong student demand profile, successful fund-raising with Baylor surpassing its initial $1.1 billion Give Light campaign goal last February, and its positive endowment performance. At their meeting, regents approved $78.6 million for Phase 2 construction of the Fudge Football Development Center. The facility will house the day-to-day operations for Baylor football coaches and support staff. The total project budget, including Phase 1 design and early construction work that began over the summer, is $89.6 million. The facility is expected to be completed during spring 2024.

Shantel Oplotnik, assistant professor of social work and director of field education at Howard Payne University, led a group who participated in a poverty simulation sponsored by Mission Waco. Joining in the poverty simulation were her son, Aidan Oplotnik; Stephanie Russell, an HPU sophomore from San Saba; and Jessica Phariss, an HPU junior from Brownwood. The three-day experience offered participants the opportunity to see the world through a different lens, by walking in the shoes of the impoverished. It marked Howard Payne University’s 11th year participating in Mission Waco’s poverty simulation. Oplotnik first participated in the simulation in 2019 when she was a student at HPU.

East Texas Baptist University faculty, staff and students gathered on the university grounds to plant trees and contribute to the beautification of campus on Texas Arbor Day. Students planted three live oak trees in front of University Park Row Houses on ETBU’s campus. While National Arbor Day occurs in late April, Texas Arbor Day occurs on the first Friday in November due to the cooler temperatures.

The McLane College of Business at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor hosted its second graduate residency day Oct. 22. The event gave online degree candidates a chance to experience campus life and in-person learning. During the event, students engaged in academic breakout sessions and networking and received updates from faculty. Participants also heard from guest speaker Randy’L Teton, a Shoshone-Bannock tribal member who was the model for the Sacagawea dollar coin. She talked about lessons she learned as a motivational speaker, educator, tribal spokesperson and mother.