Around the State: UMHB students partner with H-E-B for Love CTX

As part of this year’s Welcome Week, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor students participated in Love CTX on Aug. 10. The annual event is designed for students to discover service opportunities and grow closer to their Cru Groups by serving the community. For the fifth year, UMHB’s Love CTX event supported One More Child, which provides Christ-centered services to vulnerable children and struggling families. Approximately 400 UMHB students packed 21,000 meals and wrote notes for Belton ISD students. This year, the local H-E-B in Belton donated all food items for the meals, equaling $11,000 of in-kind donations. The meals will go to Belton ISD’s Project Heartbeat program to help students who may not have food at home and will be distributed throughout the school year.

The Howard Payne University School of Nursing will receive a $312,000 grant this fall from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to aid in reducing the professional nursing shortage in the state of Texas. The funds will help HPU enroll and retain nursing students, as well as develop innovative methods for instructional or clinical space and other resources to strengthen the program. HPU’s school of nursing recently was recognized for a 100 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. The nationwide standardized exam assesses nursing knowledge and skills that are required to provide safe and effective patient care. The recognition was for May 2023 graduates and was confirmed by the Texas Board of Nursing. HPU’s BSN program is one of only six BSN programs in Texas to achieve a 100 percent pass rate on the exam. The program has held national nursing accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education since 2020. The Nursing Shortage Reduction Program grant was established in 2001 by the 77th Texas Legislature to address the statewide nursing shortage in Texas. Grants are awarded to public and private colleges and universities with qualifying nursing programs.

A land donation from DeJuan Strickland has pushed Wayland Baptist University’s Thrive Campaign past the $16 million mark and closer to the anticipated goal of at least $18 million. Strickland gifted land in South Dakota through estate planning, with the intent that it would benefit students and enhance the financial resources of the university. The Thrive Campaign is designed to elevate Wayland’s status as a leader in higher education through substantial investments in academic excellence, recruitment and retention, campus improvements, and athletics.

Houston Christian University has been awarded a $100,000 grant from The Cullen Trust for Higher Education to enhance early literacy at two area Title I elementary schools in the Houston Independent School District. The grant helps fund an early literacy program developed and facilitated by faculty and students in HCU’s College of Education and Behavioral Services in partnership with Lovett Elementary School and Neff Early Learning Center for the 2024-2025 school year. Through the program, HCU students will provide one-on-one reading instructional support for early childhood through 4th grade students identified as performing below grade level and writing support for 4th grade students at designated schools. Participating HCU students also will assist with Book Buddy programs, Literacy Nights, Reading Clubs and after-school tutoring and reading sessions at partnering schools. The early literacy initiative, guided by faculty facilitators, not only will provide elementary school students with supplemental support to reach grade-level reading benchmarks and reinforcement of their reading and writing skills, but also allows HCU students to participate in experiential learning in a real-world setting. The grant covers the cost of student orientation, training and background checks, the salaries of program coordinators, student tutors and instructional, motivational and after-school resources for each campus.

David Hardage was presented an honorary doctorate of divinity degree from Dallas Baptist University for his lifetime of servant leadership at the DBU summer graduation ceremony, Aug. 2.  Hardage served as executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas for 11 years, from 2012 until 2022. In this role, he led Texas Baptists by serving churches, staff and institutions across the state and beyond. His focus on the Great Commission and the Great Commandment laid the foundation for the continuing work of Texas Baptists. Hardage’s ministry began with pastoring small churches in Texas and Oklahoma. In 2004, he became the director of the Waco Regional Baptist Network. Then in 2007, he became director of development at Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor. Hardage has served as interim pastor for several churches and with Texans on Mission (formerly TBM). 

San Antonio Baptist Association is opening a Kairos University extension campus this fall. Key features of Kairos University include competency-based assessment, personalized learning, integration of theory and practice, mentorship and coaching and outcome-focused curriculum. San Antonio already is home to Baptist University of the Américas, a Wayland Baptist University campus and a branch of Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary.

Anniversaries

Roger Yancey, executive director of Tryon Evergreen Baptist Association, 20 years.

Northview Baptist Church in Lewisville will celebrate its 60th anniversary Sept. 29th. Kenneth Wells is pastor. He has served the church 44 years. The church will hold celebration services on that day at 9 and 10:30 a.m., joined by former members and staff, as well as receiving state and local recognition.

Ordination

James Mann was ordained to the gospel ministry at Valley Hi First Baptist Church in San Antonio.