Around the State: Wayland San Antonio nursing school receives grant

Thanks to a $100,000 grant from the Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio, the Ben and Bertha Mieth School of Nursing at Wayland Baptist University has completed significant upgrades to create a state-of-the-art simulation lab at the university’s San Antonio campus in Live Oak. The new technology is now operational, equipping nursing students with advanced tools to sharpen clinical skills and prepare for the evolving demands of the healthcare workforce. The grant funded the addition of a virtual reality-based simulation environment designed to immerse students in a variety of patient-care scenarios, ranging from routine interactions to high-acuity emergencies. The Mieth School of Nursing serves a diverse student population, many of whom are first-generation college students and Pell Grant recipients. With the simulation lab now fully operational, these students can gain critical hands-on experience in a safe, supportive and technologically advanced setting.

A team of archaeologists, led by Baylor University’s Davide Zori, San Giuliano Archaeological Research Project principal investigator, has uncovered a rare, intact Etruscan chamber tomb in central Italy—a discovery hailed as one of the most significant finds in recent decades for understanding the ancient pre-Roman civilization. The sealed chamber tomb at San Giuliano—a site located approximately 70 kilometers northwest of Rome—dates back 2,600 years, according to Zori, who also serves as associate professor of history and archaeology in the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core in the Honors College. Inside the undisturbed tomb, the remains of four individuals lay on carved stone beds surrounded by more than 100 remarkably well-preserved grave goods, including ceramic vases, iron weapons, bronze ornaments and delicate silver hair spools. Preliminary analysis of the tomb objects suggests the buried individuals might be two male-female pairs, but further conclusions await anthropological, isotopic and genetic study of the remains.

Houston Christian University announced the launch of the Master of Science in Human Resources Management—People Analytics degree program in the Archie W. Dunham College of Business beginning this fall. This STEM-designated program blends traditional human resources leadership with advanced data analytics.  Students will have the option of enrolling in a fully online or residential/hybrid format. Designed for working professionals, the fully online format offers flexibility, requiring no campus visits and providing access to virtual networking, faculty engagement and hands-on learning opportunities. Students can enroll in courses across multiple terms throughout the year, allowing for customized pacing while balancing professional commitments. The residential program’s hybrid approach is a 60 percent classroom and 40 percent online for each class.  The residential hybrid approach provides students the advantages of an in-person educational experience while allowing maximum flexibility.

Print and digital materials for the Week of Prayer for Texas Missions—scheduled for Sept. 14-21 this year—can be ordered at iamtexasmissions.org/order. Materials also may be ordered by phone at (214) 828-5150 or by email at wmutx@texasbaptists.org. The Week of Prayer for Texas Missions is a time for churches and individuals to pray for more than 70 Texas Baptists ministries and missionaries dedicated to serving and sharing the gospel across the state.This year, WMU of Texas’ Mary Hill Davis Offering goal is $3.5 million to support these mission efforts. To learn more, visit iamtexasmissions.org/allocations.

Anniversary

Bob Ray has served 60 years as pastor of Fairy Baptist Church in Hico. The congregation will celebrate Aug. 31, with a 4 p.m. worship service followed by a reception in the fellowship hall.