Around the State: HPU receives scholarship funds

Howard Payne University recently received $25,000 in scholarship funds from TexasBank through the James and Dorothy Doss Foundation. The contribution was provided as a part of the Doss Foundation, TexasBank Scholars—Heart of Texas Scholarship Fund, established to help area students attend HPU. This year’s scholarship recipients are Bailee Bachtel, Addie Carroll, Chase Churchwell, Zachary Ellis, Brady Furry, Austin Gray, Zachary Hallman, Travis Holleman and Jaxon Hermesmeyer. To be considered for this scholarship, students must have graduated from a high school in one of the following counties: Brown, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, McCulloch, Mills or San Saba. Students should be juniors or seniors pursuing a degree in HPU’s School of Business and specializing in finance or accounting. More details on criteria are available from HPU’s Office of Financial Aid. Admission applications are still being accepted for the fall 2024 semester at Howard Payne University.

Cicely S. Jefferson has been named dean of the College of Business at Dallas Baptist University. Prior to serving at DBU as assistant dean of the College of Business and assistant professor in business law, Jefferson was an attorney for the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration for more than 15 years. Jefferson litigated employment law cases before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Merit Systems Protection Board and Federal Court. As an assistant regional counsel for the Social Security Administration, she litigated social security disability and employment law cases and successfully argued cases before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Jefferson also handled Title IX cases as an investigator, representative and deputy Title IX coordinator. Jefferson earned a Master of Business Administration degree and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Texas Tech University. She then completed her doctoral degree in Philosophy of Leadership Studies at DBU. She was ordained to the ministry by Concord Church, serving full-time on staff as connections pastor for seven years, and regularly serves as a resource to others by mentoring student-athletes and young women, providing pro bono legal services to those in need and volunteering in her church.

Houston Christian University has named Mark D. Gaus as the 2023-2024 Opal Goolsby Outstanding Professor of the Year. Gaus is a professor of kinesiology in the Linda Dunham School of Nursing and chair for the department of kinesiology at HCU. Named in honor of Opal Goolsby, a faculty member who taught English and French at Houston Baptist College, the award recognizes the best teaching on the HCU campus. Goolsby was a member of the college’s original faculty in 1963. A selection committee with representatives from the Student Government Association, the faculty professional development committee and the provost’s office examined the record of accomplishment for each nominee and selected the faculty member who best represented the ideals of outstanding teaching.

Four Howard Payne University students were selected as Sumners Scholars by the Sumners Foundation: Madeline Duncan, Kellen McKee, Addison Roden and Adrielle Sloan. Sumners Scholars receive a $7,500-per-semester scholarship from the Sumners Foundation for tuition, fees, books or room and board, alongside unique opportunities to hear from congressional and civic leaders at various events and seminars. Duncan, of Abilene, is majoring in psychology. McKee is from Azle and majors in biomedical science. Roden, a Magnolia native, is majoring in finance. Sloan, from Blue Ridge, majors in strategic communication. All four students are in the Guy D. Newman Honors Academy. Each year, the Sumners Foundation selects students who best represent the foundation’s mission and legacy to participate in the program. The foundation’s purpose is to “encourage the study, teaching, and research into the science and art of self-government, to the end that the American people may understand the fundamental principles of democracy and be guided thereby in shaping governmental policies.” For more information about the Sumners Foundation, visit www.sumnersfoundation.org.

Ninety-eight Wayland Baptist University students participated in commencement ceremonies May 18 on the university’s Plainview campus. Cindy McClenagan, vice president for academic affairs, presented the candidates for degrees to President Bobby Hall, who conferred degrees, assisted by Mark Jones, chair of Wayland’s board of trustees. Luke J. Brockway, a graduating senior from Kilgore, gave the student address, and Dylan Lee Jerden, a graduating senior from New Deal, read Philippians 1:6. Paten Czarina Denton, a graduating senior from Conway, Ark., led prayer, and Aubrey Jaramillo, a graduating senior from Clarendon, gave the benediction. Seven students received doctoral degrees, 17 students received master’s degrees and 74 students received bachelor’s degrees. There were 66 candidates for graduation from Texas, including 12 from Plainview.

Howard Payne University recently celebrated its most recent graduates with commencement ceremonies on May 11. HPU President Cory Hines and other university representatives conferred the degrees. An honorary Doctor of Divinity degree was presented to Ray Still, senior pastor at Oakwood Baptist Church in New Braunfels and former HPU trustee. Draco A. Miller, who serves on the Brownwood City Council, presented the charge to the graduates. Commencement was preceded on May 10 by the Chime Out ceremony, an HPU tradition in which graduating seniors pass a chain of ivy to underclassmen, symbolizing the passing of authority, responsibility and privileges to those students who remain on campus to carry on the traditions of the university.

Jessalyn Brown was awarded one of four Addie Davis Scholarships by Baptist Women in Ministry. Brown is a preacher and poet from Lexington, Ky. She is a graduate of Georgetown College where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in American Studies and Theatre & Film Studies. She is heading into her final year at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary, where she is pursuing a Master of Divinity degree. She also serves as a resident chaplain for undergraduate students in Heritage House, a fine arts residential community at Baylor. Learn more about the scholarship here.

During their recent graduation ceremony, Scott Jones, pastor of First Baptist Church Rockport and Baptist Standard board member, was honored as Faculty of the Year by Stark College & Seminary for his role as both pastor and Stark adjunct faculty member.

Anniversary

Cory Hines, president of Howard Payne University, was recently recognized for five years of service.

Ordination

Isaiah Baba to the gospel ministry by Emmanuel Baptist Church in Waco on May 12. Pastor Marcelo Oliveira and Emmanuel Baptist Church held an ordination council for Baba, a new Truett Theological Seminary graduate. Baba originally is from Ghana. Through Zoom, his father, Pastor Elijah Baba, was able to participate from Ghana in the ordination process for his son.

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