December 30, 2002

Wayland language scholarship named for beloved professor
___By Teresa Young
___Wayland Baptist University
___PLAINVIEW--Christa Smith's office bears testimony to the students who have enjoyed her tutelage and value those experiences.
___On one wall, a fabric hanging depicts Jamaica, and a laminated nametag of a former student who participated in the Olympic games representing that country hangs with it. On another w

ARCH MAYFIELD, chaiman of the languages and literature department at Wayland Baptist University, congratulates professor Christa Smith upon naming of a new scholarship in her honor.

all, Oriental art adorns the edge of a bulletin board bearing posters of foreign countries.
___But her favorite memento is a paddle with stuck-on lettering--called by its creators the "German Honorary Stick of Knowledge."
___All are tokens of appreciation from students to Smith, associate professor of modern languages and English at Wayland Baptist University. Now in her 34th year of teaching at Wayland, Smith has been associated with foreign language studies at the West Texas Baptist school longer than any other professor.
___She remains one of the university's most passionate professors, said Arch Mayfield, chairman of the languages and literature division, who recently announced that a new scholarship fund for foreign language students will bear her name.
___Smith, who turned 70 that day and has no plans to retire, finds the whole thing humbling. She explained tearfully that she's served the university gladly.
___She arrived at Wayland in 1959 as a student, attending courses for fun while her husband, Don, studied to become a preacher. After the first semester proved academically successful--she earned three A's and a B despite helping care for a husband and a baby daughter--Smith realized she might actually be able to complete a degree and become a teacher, fulfilling a dream held since childhood.
___She graduated in 1963 and continued at Texas Tech, earning a master's degree in English in 1967 and one in German in 1969. She returned to Wayland in 1969 and taught English, French and German. She's held to that routine over the years, teaching all facets of English and the two languages.
___She helped launch the university's language lab, which began with her own tape recorder hooked to eight headphone sets for students. Now, the state-of-the-art language lab is computerized.
___It has been the personal relationships and Wayland's Christian atmosphere that have kept her in Plainview, she said, acknowledging that she has had opportunities to go elsewhere.
___In the past three years, Smith has been actively involved in Wayland's partnership with Kenya Baptist Theological College, traveling to the African nation three summers to teach English courses.
___

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